IN the beginnyng GOD created {th}e heauen and the earth.
And the earth was without fourme, and was voyde: & darknes [was] vpon the face of the deepe, and the spirite of God moued vpon the face of the waters.
And God sayde, let there be light: and there was light.
And God sawe the lyght that it was good: and God deuided the lyght from the darknes.
And God called the light day, and the darknes night: and the euenyng & the mornyng were the first day.
And God said: let there be a firmament betwene the waters, and let it make a diuision betwene waters and waters.
And God made the firmament, and set the diuision betwene the waters which [were] vnder the firmament, and the waters that [were] aboue the firmament: and it was so.
And God called the firmament the heauen: and the euenyng and the mornyng were the seconde day.
And God saide: let the waters vnder the heauen be gathered together into one place, and let the drye lande appeare: and it was so.
And God called the drie lande {th}e earth, and the gatheryng together of waters called he the seas: and God sawe that it was good.
And God sayde: let the earth bryng foorth [both] budde and hearbe apt to seede, and fruitfull trees yeeldyng fruite after his kynde, which hath seede in it selfe vpon the earth: and it was so.
And the earth brought forth [both] bud and hearbe apt to seede after his kynde, and tree yeeldyng fruite, whiche hath seede in it selfe, after his kynde.
And God sawe that it was good. And the euenyng and the mornyng were the thirde day.
And God sayde: let there be lyghtes in the firmament of the heauen, that they may deuide the day and the nyght, and let them be for signes, & seasons, and for dayes, and yeres.
And let them be for lyghtes in the firmament of the heauen, that they maye geue light vpo{n} the earth: and it was so.
And God made two great lyghtes: a greater lyght to rule the day, and a lesse lyght to rule the nyght, and [he made] starres also.
And God set them in the firmament of the heauen, to shyne vpon the earth,
And to rule the day and nyght, and to make difference betweene the lyght and the darknesse: and God saw that it was good.
And the euenyng and the mornyng were the fourth day.
And God sayde: let the waters bryng foorth mouyng creature that hath lyfe, and foule that may flee vpon the earth in the open firmament of heauen.
And God created great whales, and euery lyuyng & mouing creature, which the waters brought foorth after theyr kynde, & euery fethered foule after their kynde: and God saw that it was good.
And God blessed them, saying: Be fruiteful, and multiplie, and fyll the waters of the sea, and let foule multiple in the earth.
And the euenyng and mornyng were the fift day.
And God sayde: let the earth bryng foorth lyuyng creature after his kynde, cattell, worme, and beastes of the earth after his kynde: and it was so.
God made the beast of the earth after his kynde, and cattell after his kynde, and euery thyng that creepeth vpon the earth after his kynde: and God sawe that it was good.
God saide: let vs make man in our image, after our lykenesse, and let them haue rule of the fisshe of the sea, & of the foule of the ayre, and of cattell, & of all the earth, and of euery creepyng thyng that creepeth vpon the earth.
So God created man in his owne image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them.
And God blessed them, and God sayde vnto them: be fruitefull, & multiplie, and replenishe the earth, & subdue it, and haue dominion of the fisshe of the sea, and foule of the ayre, & of euery lyuing thing that moueth vpon the earth.
And God sayde: beholde, I haue geuen you euery hearbe bearing seede, which is in the vpper face of all {th}e earth, and euery tree in the which is the fruite of a tree bearing seede, [that] they may be meate vnto you:
To euery beast of the earth also, and to euery birde of the aire, and to euery such thing that creepeth vpon {th}e earth, which doth liue, I haue geuen euery greene hearbe for meate: and it was so.
And God sawe euery thyng that he had made: and beholde, it was exceedyng good. And the euenyng & the mornyng were the sixth day.
THe heauens also & the earth were finisshed, & all the hoast of them.
And in the seuenth day God ended his worke whiche he had made. And the seue{n}th day he rested from all his worke which he had made.
And God blessed the seuenth daye, & sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his worke whiche God ordeyned to make.
These are the generations of the heauens and of the earth when they were created, in the day when the Lord God made the earth and the heauens.
And euery plant of the fielde before it was in the earth, and euery hearbe of the fielde before it grewe. For the Lord God had not [yet] caused it to rayne vppon the earth, neither [was there] a man to tyll the grounde.
But there went vp a miste from the earth, & watered the whole face of the grounde.
The Lorde God also dyd shape man, [euen] dust fro{m} of the grounde, & breathed into his nosethrylles the breath of lyfe, and man was a lyuyng soule.
And the Lord God planted a garden eastwarde in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had shapen.
Moreouer, out of the grounde made the Lorde God to growe euery tree, that was fayre to syght, and pleasaunt to eate: The tree of lyfe in the myddest of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and euyll.
And out of Eden there went foorth a flood to water the garden, and from thence it was deuided, and became into foure heades.
The name of {th}e first is Pison, the same is it that compasseth the whole lande of Hauilah, where there is golde:
And the golde of the lande is very good. There is also Bdellium, and the Onix stone.
The name of the seconde riuer is Gyhon: the same is it that compasseth the whole lande of Ethiopia.
The name of {th}e thirde ryuer is Hidekel, & it goeth toward the east side of Assiria: & the fourth ryuer is Euphrates.
And the Lord God toke the man, and put hym in the garden of Eden, that he myght worke it, and kepe it.
And the Lorde God commaunded the man, saying: eating, thou shalt eate of euery tree of the garden:
But as touching the tree of knowlege of good and euyll thou shalt not eate of it: For in what daye so euer thou eatest therof, thou shalt dye the death.
And the Lord God sayde: It is not good {tha}t the man should be alone, I wyll make hym an helpe lyke vnto hym.
And so out of the grounde the Lorde God had shapen euery beast of the field, and euery foule of the ayre, and brought it vnto man, that he myght see howe he woulde call it. For lykewyse as man hym selfe named euery lyuyng thyng, euen so was the name therof.
And the man gaue names to all cattell, and foule of the ayre, & euery beast of the fielde: but for man founde he not an helpe lyke vnto hym.
The Lord God caused a deepe sleepe to fall vpon Adam, and he slept, and he toke one of his ribbes, and closed vp the place with fleshe in steade therof.
And the ribbe which the lord god had taken from man, made he a woman, & brought her vnto the man.
And man saide: this is nowe bone of my bones, and fleshe of my fleshe, she shalbe called woman, because she was taken out of man.
For this cause shall man leaue his father and his mother, and shalbe ioyned with his wyfe: and they shall become one fleshe.
And they were both naked the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
AND the serpent was suttiller then euery beast of the fielde which {th}e lord God hadde made, and he sayde vnto the woman: yea, hath God saide, ye shall not eate of euery tree of the garden?
And the woman sayde vnto the serpent: We eate of {th}e fruite of the trees of the garden.
But as for the fruite of the tree which is in the myddes of the garden, God hath sayde, ye shall not eate of it, neither shal ye touche of it, lest peraduenture ye dye.
And the serpent sayde vnto the woman: ye shall not dye the death.
For God doth knowe, that the same day that ye eate therof, your eyes shall be opened, and ye shalbe eue{n} as gods, knowyng good and euyll.
And so the woman, seing that the same tree was good to eate of, and pleasaunt to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, toke of the fruite therof, and dyd eate, and gaue also vnto her husbande beyng with her, and he dyd eate.
Then the eyes of them both were opened, and they knewe that they were naked, and they sowed fygge leaues together, & made them selues apernes.
And they heard the voyce of the Lord God, walkyng in the garden in {th}e coole of the day: and Adam and his wyfe hyd themselues from the presence of the lord God amongst {th}e trees of the garden.
And the Lorde called Adam, & sayde vnto hym: where art thou?
Which sayde: I hearde thy voyce in the garden, and was afrayde because I was naked, and hyd my selfe.
And he sayde: Who tolde thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou not eaten of the same tree, concernyng the which I commaunded thee that thou shouldest not eate of it?
And Adam said: The woman whom thou gauest [to be] with me, she gaue me of the tree, and I dyd eate.
And the Lord God sayd vnto the woman: Why hast thou done this? And the woman sayde: the serpent begyled me, and I dyd eate.
And the lord god said vnto {th}e serpent: Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed aboue all cattel, and aboue euery beast of the fielde: vpon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eate all the dayes of thy lyfe.
I wyll also put enmitie betweene thee & the woman, betweene thy seede and her seede: and it shall treade downe thy head, and thou shalt treade vpon his heele.
But vnto the woman he sayde: I wyll very much multiplie thy sorowe, and thy griefes of chylde bearyng, In sorowe shalt thou bring foorth children: thy desire [shalbe] to thy husbande, and he shall haue the rule of thee.
Vnto Adam he sayde: Because thou hast hearkened vnto the voyce of thy wyfe, and hast eaten of the tree concernyng the whiche I commaunded thee, saying, thou shalt not eate of it, cursed is the grounde for thy sake, in sorowe shalt thou eate of it all the dayes of thy lyfe.
Thorne also and thistle shall it bryng foorth to thee, and thou shalt eate the hearbe of the fielde.
In the sweatte of thy face shalt thou eate thy breade, tyll thou be turned agayne into the ground, for out of it wast thou taken: For dust thou art, and into dust shalt thou be turned agayne.
And Adam called his wyfes name Heua, because she was the mother of all lyuyng.
Vnto Adam also and to his wyfe dyd the Lorde God make garmentes of skynnes, and he put them on.
And the Lorde God sayde: Beholde, the man is become as one of vs, in knowing good and euyll: And now lest peraduenture he put foorth his hande, and take also of the tree of lyfe and eate, and lyue for euer.
Therefore the Lorde God sent hym foorth fro{m} the garden of Eden, to worke the grounde whence he was taken.
And so he droue out man, and at the east side of the garde{n} of Eden he set Cherubins, and a fierie two edged sworde, to kepe the way of the tree of lyfe.
AND Adam knewe Heua his wyfe, who conceauing bare Cain, saying: I haue gotten a man of the Lorde.
And she proceading, brought foorth his brother Habel, and Habel was a keper of sheepe, but Cain was a tyller of the grounde.
And in processe of dayes it came to passe, that Cain brought of the fruite of the grounde, an oblation vnto {th}e lorde:
Habel also brought of the firstlynges of his sheepe, & of the fatte thereof: and the Lorde had respect vnto Habel, and to his oblation.
But vnto Cain and to his offeryng he had no respect: for the whiche cause Cain was exceedyng wroth, and his countenaunce abated.
And the Lorde saide vnto Cain: why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenaunce abated?
If thou do well, shalt thou not receaue? and yf thou doest not well, lyeth not thy sinne at the doores? Also vnto thee shall his desire be, and thou shalt haue dominion ouer hym.
And Cain talked with Habel his brother: and it came to passe when they were in the fielde, Cain rose vp agaynst Habel his brother, & slewe him.
And the Lorde said vnto Cain: where is Habel thy brother? Which sayde I wote not: Am I my brothers keper?
And he sayde: What hast thou done? the voyce of thy brothers blood cryeth vnto me out of the grounde.
And nowe art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receaue thy brothers blood from thy hande.
If thou tyll the grounde, she shall not yeelde vnto thee her strength. A fugitiue and a vacabound shalt thou be in the earth.
And Cain sayde vnto the Lord: My iniquitie is more then that it may be forgeuen.
Beholde, thou hast cast me out this day from the vpper face of the earth, & from thy face shall I be hyd, fugitiue also and a vacabounde shall I be in the earth: and it shall come to passe, that euery one that fyndeth me shal slay me.
And the Lorde said vnto him: Veryly whosoeuer slayeth Cain, he shalbe punished seuen folde. And the Lorde set a marke vpon Cain, lest any man fyndyng hym shoulde kyll hym.
And Cain went out from the presence of the Lorde, & dwelt in the lande of Nod, eastwarde from Eden.
Cain also knewe his wyfe, whiche conceaued and bare Henoch, and buyldyng a citie, he called the name of the same citie after the name of his sonne Henoch.
Vnto {th}e same Henoch was borne Irad: Irad begat Mehuiael, Mehuiael begat Methusael, Methusael begat Lamech.
And Lamech toke vnto hym two wyues, the name of the one was Ada, and the name of the other was Sella.
And Ada bare Iabel, which was the father of such as dwel in the tentes, and of such as haue cattell.
His brothers name was Iubal, which was the father of such as handle Harpe and Organ.
And Sella also bare Thubalcain, which wrought cunnyngly euery craft of brasse and of iron, the sister of Thubalcain was Noema.
And Lamech saide vnto his wiues Ada and Sella: Heare my voyce ye wyues of Lamech, hearken vnto my speache: for I haue slayne a man to the woundyng of my selfe, & a young man to myne owne punishment.
If Cain shalbe auenged seuen folde, truely Lamech seuentie tymes & seuen tymes.
Adam knewe his wyfe agayne, and she bare a sonne, and called his name Seth: For God [sayde she] hath appoynted me another seede in steade of Habel whom Cain slewe.
And vnto the same Seth also there was borne a sonne, and he called his name Enos: then began men to make inuocation in the name of the Lorde.
THis is the booke of the generations of Ada{m}. In the day that God created man, in the lykenesse of God made he hym.
Male and female created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam in the daye of their creation.
And Adam lyued an hundreth and thirtie yeres, and begate a sonne in his owne lykenesse, after his image, & called his name Seth.
Al the dayes of Adam after he had begotten Seth, were eyght hu{n}dreth yeres, and he begat sonnes and daughters.
And all the dayes that Adam lyued were nine hundreth and thirtie yeres, and he dyed.
Seth lyued an hundreth & fyue yeres, and begat Enos.
And Seth lyued after he begat Enos eyght hundreth and seuen yeres, and begat sonnes and daughters.
And all the dayes of Seth were nine hundreth & twelue yeres, and he dyed.
Enos lyued ninetie yeres, and begate Kenan.
And Enos lyued after he begate Kenan eyght hundreth & fiftie yeres, and begate sonnes and daughters.
And all the dayes of Enos were nine hundreth & fyue yeres, and he dyed.
Kenan lyued seuentie yeres, and begate Mahalaleel.
And Kenan liued after he begate Mahalaleel eyght hu{n}dreth & fourtie yeres, and begate sonnes and daughters.
And all the dayes of Kenan were nine hundreth and ten yeres, and he dyed.
Mahalaleel liued sixtie and fiue yeres, and begate Iered.
And againe Mahalaleel liued after he begate Iered eyght hundreth & thirtie yeres, and begate sonnes & daughters.
And al the dayes of Mahalaleel, were eyght hundreth ninetie and fiue yeres, and he dyed.
Iered lyued an hundreth sixtie & two yeres, and he begate Henoch.
And Iered liued after he begat Henoch, eyght hundreth yeres, & begate sonnes and daughters.
And all the dayes of Iered were nine hundreth sixtie and two yeres, & he died.
Henoch lyued sixtie and fiue yeres, & begate Methuselah.
And Henoch walked with God after he begate Methuselah three hundreth yeres, and begate sonnes & daughters.
And al {th}e dayes of Henoch were three hundreth sixtie and fiue yeres.
And Henoch walked with God: and he was no more seene, for God toke him away.
Methuselah also lyued an hundreth eyghtie and seue{n} yeres, and begate Lamech.
And agayne Methusalah lyued after he begat Lamech seue{n} hundreth eightie and two yeres, and begate sonnes and daughters.
And all the dayes of Methuselah were nine hundreth sixtie & nine yeres, and he dyed.
Lamech liued an hundreth eyghtie & two yeres, and begate a sonne,
And called his name Noah, saying: This same shall comfort vs as concerning our worke, & sorowe of our handes about the earth, which God cursed.
And Lamech lyued after he begat Noah, fiue hu{n}dreth ninetie & fiue yeres, and begate sonnes and daughters.
And all the dayes of Lamech were seuen hundreth seuentie and seue{n} yeres, and he dyed.
Noah was fiue hundreth yere olde, & Noah begate Sem, Ham, & Iapheth.
AND it came to passe, that when men began to be multiplied in the vpper face of the earth, there were daughters borne vnto the{m}:
And the sonnes of God also sawe the daughters of men that they were fayre, & they toke them wyues, such as they liked, from among them all.
And the Lorde sayde: My spirite shall not alwayes stryue with man, because he is fleshe: yet his dayes shalbe an hundreth and twentie yeres.
But there were Giantes in those dayes in {th}e earth: yea & after that the sonnes of God came vnto the daughters of me{n}, and hadde begotten chyldren of them, the same became myghtie men of the worlde, and men of renowme.
But God sawe that the malice of man was great in the earth, and all the imagination of the thoughtes of his heart [was] only euyll euery day.
And it repented the Lord that he had made man vpon the earth, & he was touched with sorowe in his heart.
And the Lorde sayde: I wyll from the vpper face of the earth, destroy man whom I haue created, from man vnto cattell, vnto worme, and vnto foules of the ayre: For it repenteth me that I haue made them.
But Noah founde grace in the eyes of the Lorde.
These are the generations of Noah: Noah [was] a iust man, and perfect in his generations: And Noah walked with God.
Noah begat three sonnes, Sem, Ham, and Iapheth.
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the same earth was fylled with crueltie.
And God loked vpon the earth, and beholde it was corrupt: for all fleshe had corrupt his way vpon earth.
And God sayd vnto Noah: the ende of all fleshe is come before me, for the earth is fylled with crueltie through them, and beholde I wyl destroy them with the earth.
Make thee an Arke of Pine trees: Habitations shalt thou make in the arke, and shalt pitch it within and with out with pitche.
And of this fashion shalt thou make it: The length of the arke [shal•e] three hundreth cubites, the breadth of it fiftie cubites, & the height of it thirtie cubites.
A wyndowe shalt thou make in the arke, and in a cubite shalt thou finishe it aboue: but the doore of the arke shalt thou set in the syde therof. With three loftes one aboue another shalt thou make it.
And beholde, I, euen I do bryng a fludde of waters vpon the earth, to destroy all fleshe wherin is the breath of lyfe vnder heauen, and euery thyng that is in the earth shall perishe.
With thee also wyll I make my couenaunt: and thou shalt come into the arke, thou and thy sonnes, thy wife, and thy sonnes wyues with thee.
And of euery lyuyng thyng of all fleshe, payre of euery one shalt thou bryng into the arke to kepe them alyue with thee, they shalbe male & female.
Of fethered foules also after their kinde, and of all cattell after their kinde: of euery worme of the earth after his kynde, two of euery one shall come vnto thee, to kepe [them] alyue.
And take thou with thee of all meate that is eaten, and thou shalt lay it vp with thee, that it may be meate for thee and them.
Noah therfore dyd according vnto all that God commaunded hym [euen] so dyd he.
ANd the Lord said vnto Noah: come thou and al thy house into {th}e arke: for thee haue I seene ryghteous before me in this generation.
Of euery cleane beast thou shalt take with thee seuen and seuen, the male and his female, but of vncleane cattell two, the male and his female.
Of foules also of the ayre seuen and seuen, the male and the female, to kepe seede alyue vpon the face of all the whole earth.
For after seuen dayes, I wyl rayne vpon the earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes: & all substaunce that I haue made, wyll I destroy from the vpper face of the earth.
Noah therfore did according vnto all that God commaunded him.
And Noah was sixe hundreth yere olde, when the fluddes of water came vpon the earth.
And Noah came, and his sonnes, and his wyfe, and his sonnes wyues with him to the arke, because of the waters of the fludde.
Of cleane beastes, and of vncleane beastes, and of foules, and of euery such as creepeth vpon the earth,
There came two & two vnto Noah vnto the arke, the male and the female, as God had commaunded Noah.
And so it came to passe after seuen dayes, that the waters of the flud were vpon the earth.
In the sixe hundreth yere of Noahs lyfe, in the seconde moneth, the seuenteene day of {th}e moneth, in the same day were all the fountaynes of the great deepe broken vp, and the wyndowes of heauen were opened.
And the rayne was vpon the earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes.
In the selfe same day, entred Noah, and Sem, and Ham, and Iapheth the sonnes of Noah, and Noahs wyfe, and the three wiues of his sonnes with the{m} into the arke.
They, and euery beast after his kinde, and al the cattel after their kinde, yea, and euery worme that creepeth vpon the grounde after his kinde, and euerye byrde after his kinde, and euery fleeyng and fethered foule.
And they came vnto Noah into the arke, two and two, of all fleshe wherein is the breath of lyfe.
And they entryng in, came male and female of all fleshe, as God had commaunded him: and God shut hym in rounde about.
And the fludde came fourtie dayes vpon the earth, and the waters were increased, and bare vp the arke, whiche was lyft vp aboue the earth.
The waters also waxed strong, and were encreased exceedyngly vpon the earth: and so the arke went vpon the vpper face of the waters.
And the waters preuayled exceedingly vpon the earth, and al the high hilles that are vnder the whole heauen, were couered.
Fyfteene cubites vpward did the waters preuayle, so that the mountaynes were couered.
And all fleshe perished, that moued vpon the earth, in foule, in cattell, in beast, and in euery worme that creepeth vpon the earth, yea, and euery man also.
So that all that had the breath of lyfe in his nostrilles throughout all that was on the drye lande, dyed.
And euery substaunce was destroyed that remayned and that was in the vpper part of the grounde, both man and cattell, and worme, and the foule of the heauen, they were euen destroyed from of the earth, and Noah onlye remayned aliue, and they that were with him in the arke.
But the water preuayled vpon the earth, a hundreth and fiftie dayes.
AND God reme{m}bred Noah and euery beast, and all the cattell that was with hym in the arke: and God made a wynde to passe vpon the earth, and the waters ceassed.
The fountaynes also of the deepe, and the windowes of heauen were stopped, and the rayne from heauen was restrayned.
And the waters from the earth returned, goyng and comming agayne: and after the ende of the hundreth and fiftith day, the waters were abated.
And in the seuen moneth, in the seuenteenth day of {th}e moneth, the arke rested vpon the mountaynes of Armenia.
And the waters were goyng and decreasing vntyll the tenth moneth: In the tenth moneth, and in the first day of the same moneth, were the toppes of the mountaynes seene.
And after the ende of the fourtith day, it came to passe [that] Noah opened the wyndowe of the arke which he had made,
And he sent foorth a Rauen, whiche went out, goyng foorth, and returnyng, vntyll the waters were dryed vp vpon the earth.
And agayne he sent foort a Doue from him, that he myght see yf the waters were abated from the vpper face of the grounde.
And the Doue founde no rest for the sole of her foote, and she returned vnto him into the arke, for the waters [were] in the vpper face of the whole earth, Then he put foorth his hande, & tooke her, and pulled her to him into the arke.
And he abode yet other seuen dayes, and agayne he sent foorth the Doue out of the arke:
And the Doue came to hym in the euentide, and loe, in her mouth was an Oliue leafe that she had pluct, wherby Noah dyd knowe that the waters were abated vpon the earth.
And he abode yet other seuen dayes, and sent foorth the Doue, whiche returned not vnto him any more.
And it came to passe, in the sixe hundreth and one yere, in {th}e first moneth, the first [day] of the moneth, the waters were dryed vp from the earth, and Noah remoued the coueryng of the arke, and looked, and beholde, the vpper face of the grounde was dryed vp.
And in the seconde moneth, in the seuen and twentie day of the moneth was the earth dryed.
And God spake vnto Noah, saying:
Go foorth of the arke, thou, and thy wife, thy sonnes, and thy sonnes wiues with thee.
And bryng foorth with thee euery beast that is with thee, of all fleshe, both foule and cattell, and euery worme that crepeth vpon the earth, that they may breede in the earth, and bring foorth fruite, and multiplie vpon earth.
And so Noah came foorth, and his sonnes, his wyfe, and his sonnes wiues with hym:
Euery beast also, and euery worme, euery foule, and whatsoeuer crepeth vpon the earth after their kyndes, went out of the arke.
And Noah builded an aulter vnto {th}e Lorde, and tooke of euery cleane beast, and of euery cleane foule, & offred burnt offering on the aulter
And the Lorde smelled a sweete [or quiet] sauour, and the Lord sayde in his heart: I wyll not hencefoorth curse the grounde any more for mans sake, for the imagination of mans heart is euyll [euen] from his youth: neyther wyll I smyte any more euery thyng lyuyng, as I haue done.
Yet therefore shall not sowyng tyme and haruest, colde and heate, sommer and wynter, day and nyght, ceasse all the dayes of the earth.
ANd god blessed Noah, and his sonnes, & saide vnto them, be fruitfull and multiplie, and replenishe the earth.
The feare of you, & the dread of you, shalbe vpon euery beast of the earth, and vpon euery foule of the ayre, vpon al that moueth vpon the earth, and vpon all the fishes of the sea, into your hande are they deliuered.
Euery thyng that moueth it selfe, and that liueth, shall be meate for you, euen as the greene hearbe haue I geue{n} you all thinges.
But flesh in the life therof [which is] the blood therof, shall ye not eate.
And surely your blood of your lyues wyl I require: at the hande of euery beast wyll I require it, and at the hand of man, at the hande of mans brother wyll I require the life of man.
Who so sheddeth mans blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made he man.
But be fruitefull, and multiplie you, breede in the earth, and increase therein.
God spake also vnto Noah, & to his sonnes with hym, saying:
Beholde, I, euen I establishe my couenaunt with you, and with your seede after you:
And with euery liuing creature that is with you, in foule, in cattell, in euery beast of the earth whiche is with you, of all that go out of the arke, whatsoeuer liuing thyng of the earth it be.
And my couenaunt I make with you, that from hencefoorth euery fleshe be not rooted out with the waters of a fludde, neither shall there be a fludde to destroy the earth any more.
And God sayde: this is the token of the couenau{n}t which I make betweene me and you, and euery lyuyng creature that is with you, for euer.
I do set my bowe in the cloude, and it shall be for a token betweene me and the earth.
And it shall come to passe, that when I bryng a cloude vpon the earth, the bowe also shalbe seene in {th}e same cloude.
And I wyll thinke vpon my couenaunt whiche is betweene me and you, and euery liuing creature in all fleshe: and it shall no more come to passe, that waters make a fludde to destroy all fleshe.
And the bowe shalbe in the cloude, and I wyll loke vpon it, that I may thinke vpon the euerlasting couenaunt, betweene god and euery liuing creature in all fleshe that is vpon the earth.
And God sayd vnto Noah, This is the token of the couenaunt which I haue made betweene me and all fleshe that is vpon earth.
The sonnes of Noah goyng foorth of the arke, were Sem, Ham, & Iapheth: and Ham is the father of Chanaan.
These are the three sonnes of Noah, & of them was the whole earth ouerspread.
Noah also began to be an husbandman, and planted a vineyarde.
And he drynkyng of the wyne, was dronken, and vncouered within his tent.
And Ham the father of Chanaan, seeyng the nakednesse of his father, tolde his two brethren without.
And Sem and Iapheth takyng a garment, layde it vpon their shoulders, and commyng backwarde, couered the nakednesse of their father, namely their faces beyng turned away, lest they should see their fathers nakednesse.
And Noah awoke from his wine, and knewe what his younger sonne had done vnto him.
And he sayde: cursed be Chanaan, a seruaunt of seruauntes shall he be vnto his brethren.
He sayde moreouer: blessed be the Lord God of Sem, and Chanaan shalbe his seruaunt.
God shall enlarge Iapheth: and he shall dwell in the tentes of Sem, and Chanaan shalbe his seruaunt.
Noah liued after the fludde three hundred and fiftie yeres.
And all the dayes of Noah, were nine hundred and fiftie yeres, and he dyed.
THese are the generations of the sonnes of Noah, Sem, Ham, and Iapheth: and vnto them were chyldren borne after the fludde.
The children of Iapheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Iauan, and Thubal, Mesech, and Thiras.
The children of Gomer: Askenas, and Ripath, and Thogarma.
The children of Iauan: Elisa, & Tharsis, Kitthim, and Donanim.
Of these were the Iles of the gentiles deuided in their landes, euery one after his tongue, and after his kinrede, in their nations.
The children of Ham, Chus: and Mizraim, and Phut, and Chanaan.
And the children of Chus: Seba, and Hauilah, and Sabthah, and Raamah, and Sabtheca.
The children of Raamah: Seba, and Dedan, Chus also begat Nimrod.
The same began to be mightie in the earth, for he was a mightie hunter before the Lorde: Wherfore it is sayde, Euen as Nimrod the mightie hunter before the Lorde.
The begynnyng of his kingdome was Babel, and Erech, & Acad, and Calneh, in the lande of Sinar.
Out of that lande came Assur, and builded Niniue, and the citie Rehoboth, and Calah,
Resen also betweene Niniue & Chalah, and it is a great citie.
Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Nephthuim,
Pathrusim also, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philisthiim) & Capthorim.
Chanaan begat Sidon his first borne sonne, and Heth,
And Iebusi, and Emori, and Girgasi,
And Hiui also, and Arki, and Sini,
And Aruadi, and Semari, and Hamathi: and afterwarde were the kinredes of the Chanaanites spread abrode.
The border of the Chanaanites was from Sidon as thou commest to Gerar vnto Azah, and as thou goest vnto Sodoma and Gomorra, and Adama, and Seboim, euen vnto Lesa.
These are the children of Ham in their kinredes, in their tongues, countreys, and in their nations.
Vnto Sem also the father of all the children of Heber, and elder brother of Iapheth, there were chyldren borne.
The chyldren of Sem: Elam, and Assur, Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
The chyldren of Aram: Vs, and Hul, Gether, and Mas.
Arphaxad begat Selah, and Selah begat Heber.
Vnto Heber also were borne two sonnes: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his dayes was the earth deuided, and his brothers name was Iactan.
Iactan begat Almodad, and Saleph, Hazarmaueth, and Ierah,
And Hadoram, and Vzal, and Dicla,
Obal also, and Abimael, and Seba,
And Ophir, and Hauilah, and Iobab, all these were the chyldren of Iactan.
And their dwelling was from Mesa, as thou goest vnto Sapher, a mount of the east.
These are the chyldren of Sem after their kinredes and tongues, in their landes and nations.
And so these are the kinredes of the chyldren of Noah after their generations in their peoples: and of these were the nations deuided in the earth after the flood.]
AND all the whole earth was of one language and lyke speache.
And when they went foorth from the east, they founde a playne in the lande of Sinar, and there they abode.
And one sayd to another: Come, let vs prepare brycke, and burne them in the fire. And they had brycke for stones, and slyme had they in steade of morter.
And they sayd: Go to, let vs buylde vs a citie and a towre, whose toppe may reache vnto heauen, and let vs make vs a name, lest peraduenture we be scattered abrode into the vpper face of the whole earth.
But the Lorde came downe to see the citie and towre whiche the chyldren of men buylded.
And the Lorde sayd: Beholde, the people is one, and they haue all one language, and this they begin to do: neither is there any let to them from all those thinges whiche they haue imagined to do.
Come on, let vs go downe, and there confounde their language, that euerye one perceaue not his neighbours speache.
And so the Lorde scattered them from that place into the vpper face of all the earth, and they left of to buylde that citie.
And therfore is the name of it called Babel, because the Lord dyd there confounde the language of all the earth: and from thence dyd the Lorde scatter them abrode vpon the face of all the earth.
[These are the generations of Sem: Sem was an hundreth yere old, and begat Arphaxad two yeres after the flood.
And Sem liued after he begat Arphaxad fiue hundreth yeres, and begat sonnes and daughters.
Arphaxad liued fiue and thirtie yeres, and begat Selah.
And Arphaxad liued after he begat Selah, foure hundreth and three yeres: and begat sonnes and daughters.
Selah liued thirtie yeres, and begat Heber.
And Selah liued after he begat Heber, foure hundreth and three yeres, and begat sonnes and daughters.
And Heber liued thirtie and foure yeres, and begat Peleg.
And Heber liued after he begat Peleg, foure hundreth and thirtie yeres: and begat sonnes and daughters.
And Peleg liued thirtie yeres, and begat Reu.
And Peleg lyued after he begat Reu two hundreth and nyne yeres: and begat sonnes and daughters.
And Reu liued two and thirtie yeres, and begat Serug.
And Reu lyued after he begat Serug two hundreth and seuen yeres: and begat sonnes and daughters.
And Serug liued thirtie yere, and begat Nachor.
And Serug liued after he begat Nachor, two hundreth yeres: and begat sonnes and daughters.
And Nachor lyued nyne and twentie yeres, and begat Tarah.
And Nachor liued after he begat Tarah an hundreth and nineteene yeres: and begat sonnes and daughters.
Tarah liued seuentie yeres, and begat Abram, Nachor, and Haran.
These are the generations of Tarah: Tarah begat Abram, Nachor, and Haran: Haron begat Lot.
And Haran dyed in the presence of his father Tarah, in the lande of his natiuitie, euen in Vr of the Chaldees.
Abram & Nachor toke them wiues: the name of Abrams wife [was] Sarai, and the name of Nachors wyfe, [was] Milcha, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcha, & the father of Iischa.
But Sarai was baren, and had no chylde.
And Tarah toke Abram his sonne, and Lot the sonne of Haran his sonnes sonne, and Sarai his daughter in lawe his sonne Abrams wyfe, and they departed together from Vr of the Chaldees, that they myght go into the land of Chanaan: and they came vnto Haran, and dwelt there.
And the dayes of Tarah, were two hundreth and fiue yeres, and Tarah died in Haran.
AND the Lord had sayde vnto Abram: get thee out of thy cou{n}trey, and out of thy nation, and from thy fathers house, vnto a lande that I wyll shewe thee:
And I will make of thee a great people, and wyll blesse thee, and make thy name great, that thou shalt be [euen] a blessyng.
I wyll also blesse them that blesse thee, and curse the{m} that curseth thee: and in thee shall all kinredes of the earth be blessed.
And so Abram departed, euen as the Lorde had spoken vnto hym, and Lot went with him: and Abram was seuentie and fiue yeres old when he departed out of Haran.
And Abram toke Sarai his wyfe, and Lot his brothers sonne, & all their substaunce that they had in possession, and the soules that they had begotten in Haran, and they departed, that they might come into the lande of Chanaan: and into the lande of Chanaan they came.
Abram passed through the lande, vnto the place of Sichem, vnto the plaine of Moreh. And the Chanaanite [was] then in the lande.
And the Lorde appearyng vnto Abram, sayd, Vnto thy seede wyl I geue this lande: And there buylded he an aulter vnto the Lorde whiche appeared vnto hym.
And remouyng thence vnto a mountayne that was eastwarde from Bethel, he pitched his tent, hauyng Bethel on the west syde, & Hai on the east: and there he buyldyng an aulter vnto the Lorde, dyd call vpon the name of the Lorde.
And Abram toke his iourney, goyng and iourneying towarde the south.
And the{n} there was a famine in that lande, and therfore went Abram downe into Egypt, that he myght soiourne there, for there was a greeuons famine in the lande.
And when he was come neare to enter into Egypt, he sayde vnto Sarai his wife: beholde, I knowe that thou art a fayre woman to loke vpon:
Therfore shall it come to passe, that when the Egyptians see thee, they shall say, she is his wyfe, and they wyll kyll me, but they wyll saue thee aliue:
Say I pray thee, that thou art my sister, that I may fare well for thy sake, and that my soule may liue through thy occasion.
And so when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians behelde the woman, for she was very fayre.
The princes also of Pharao sawe her, and co{m}mended her before Pharao, and the woman was taken into Pharaos house.
And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheepe and oxen, and he asses, menseruauntes, & maydeseruauntes, she asses and camelles.
But the Lorde plagued Pharao and his house with great plagues, because of Sarai Abrams wyfe.
And Pharao callyng Abram, sayde: why hast thou done this vnto me?
Why diddest thou not tel me, that she was thy wyfe? why saydest thou, she is my sister? and so I might haue taken her to be my wyfe? Nowe therfore beholde, there is thy wyfe, take her, and go thy way.
And Pharao gaue his men commaundement concerning him: and they conuayed him foorth, and his wyfe, and all that he had.
ANd so Abram gat hym vp out of Egypt, he and his wife, and al that he had, and Lot with hym, toward the South.
And Abram was very ryche in cattell, in siluer, and in golde.
And he went foorth on his iourney, from the south towarde Bethel, vnto the place where his tent had ben at the begynnyng, betwene Bethel and Hai:
Euen vnto the place of the aulter whiche he had made there at the first, and there Abram called on the name of the Lorde.
Lot also whiche went with Abram, had sheepe, cattell, and tentes.
And the lande was not able to beare them, that they might dwell together: for theyr substaunce was great, so that they coulde not dwell together.
And there fell a stryfe betwene the heardmen of Abrams cattell, and the heardmen of Lottes cattell: Moreouer, the Chanaanites, and Pherisites dwelled at that tyme in the lande.
Then sayde Abram vnto Lot: let there be no strife I pray thee betweene thee and me, and betweene my heardmen and thyne, for we be brethren.
Is not the whole lande before thee? Seperate thy selfe I pray thee from me: yf thou wilt take the left hande, I wyll go to the ryght: or yf thou depart to the ryght hande, I wyll go to the left.
And so Lot lyftyng vp his eyes, behelde all the countrey of Iordane, whiche was well watred euery where before the Lorde destroyed Sodome and Gomorrh, euen as the garden of the Lorde, lyke the lande of Egypt as thou commest vnto Soar.
Then Lot chose all the playne of Iordane, and toke his iourney from the east, and so departed the one [brother] from the other.
Abram dwelled in the lande of Chanaan, and Lot abode in the cities of the playne, and pitched his tent vntill Sodome.
But the men of Sodome [were] wicked, and exceedyng sinners agaynst the Lorde.
And the Lorde saide vnto Abram, after that Lot was departed fro{m} hym: Lyft vp thyne eyes nowe, and loke fro{m} the place where thou art, northwarde, southward, eastwarde, and westward:
For all the lande whiche thou seest, wyll I geue vnto thee, and to thy seede for euer.
And I wyl make thy seede as the dust of the earth: so that yf a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seede also be numbred.
Arise, and walke about in the lande, after the length of it, & after the breadth of it: for I wyll geue it vnto thee.
Then Abram taking downe his tent, came and dwelled in the playne of Mamre, which is in Hebron, & buylded there an aulter vnto the Lorde.
AND it came to passe in the dayes of Amraphel kyng of Sinar, Arioch kyng of Elasar, Chodorlaomer kyng of Elam, and Thidal kyng of the nations:
[These] made warre with Bera kyng of Sodome, and with Birsa kyng of Gomorrhe, and with Sinab kyng of Adma, and with Semeber kyng of Seboiim, and with the kyng of Bela, the same is Soar.
All these were ioyned together in the vale of Siddim, where [nowe] the salt sea is.
For twelue yere were they subiecte to kyng Chodorlaomer, and in the thirteenth yere rebelled.
And in the fourteenth yere came Chodorlaomer and the kynges that were with hym, and smote the Giauntes in Astaroth-carnaim, and the Lusimes in Ham, and the Emims in the playne of Cariathaim.
And the Horites in their mount Seir, vnto the playne of Paran, which bordereth vpon the wyldernesse.
And they returnyng, came to En-mispat, which is Cades, and smote all the countrey of the Amalecites, and also the Amorites that dwelt in Hazezonthamar.
And there went out the kyng of Sodome, and the kyng of Gomorrhe, and the kyng of Adma, and the kyng of Seboiim, and the kyng of Bela, whiche is Soar.
And they ioyned battell with them in the vale of Siddim: that is to saye, with Chodorlaomer the kyng of Elam, and with Thidal kyng of nations, and with Amraphel kyng of Sinar, and with Arioch kyng of Elasar, foure kynges agaynst fyue.
And the vale of Siddim was full of slyme pyttes: and the kynges of Sodome and Gomorrhe fledde, and fell there, and they that remayned, fledde to the mountayne.
And they takyng all the goodes of Sodome and Gomorrhe, and all their vittayles, went their way.
And they caryed awaye Lot also Abrams brothers sonne, & his goodes, (for he dwelled in Sodome) and departed.
And there came one that had escaped, and tolde Abram the Hebrewe, whiche dwelled in the playne of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eschol, and brother of Aner, whiche were confederate with Abram.
When Abram hearde that his brother was taken, he armed his exercised [seruauntes] whiche were borne in his owne house, three hundreth & eyghteen, and folowed on them vntyll Dan.
And he and his seruauntes were parted [in companies] agaynst the{m} by nyght, and smote them, and pursued them vnto Hoba, which lyeth on the left hand of Damascus.
And recouered all the goodes, and also brought agayne his brother Lot, & his goodes, the wome{n} also, & the people.
After that he returned agayne from the slaughter of Chodorlaomer, and of the kynges that were with hym, came the kyng of Sodome foorth to meete hym in the valey Saueh, which is the kynges dale.
And Melchisedech kyng of Salem brought foorth breade and wine: & he [was] the priest of the most highest God,
And blessed hym, saying: Blessed be Abram vnto the hygh God possessour of heauen and earth.
And blessed [be] the high God, which hath deliuered thyne enemies vnto thy hande: and Abram gaue him tithes of all.
And the kyng of Sodome sayde vnto Abram: geue me the soules, and take the goodes to thy selfe.
And Abram aunswered the kyng of Sodome: I haue lyft vp my hande vnto the Lord the hye God, possessour of heauen and earth,
That I wyll not take of all that is thyne so muche as a threede or shoe latchet, lest thou shouldest saye, I haue made Abram ryche:
Saue onlye that which the young men haue eaten, and the portions of the men which went with Aner, Eschol, & Mamre, which shal take their portio{n}s.
AFter these thynges, the worde of the Lorde came vnto Abram in a vision, saying: feare not Abram I am thy shielde [and] thy exceedyng great rewarde.
And Abram sayde: Lorde God what wylt thou geue me when I go chyldelesse, the chylde of the stewardship of my house is this Eleazer of Damasco?
And Abram saide: See, to me thou hast geuen no seede: lo [borne] in my house is myne heire.
And beholde, the worde of the Lorde came vnto hym, saying, he shall not be thine heire: but one that shall come out of thine own bowels shalbe thine heire.
And he brought hym out, and sayde: loke vp vnto heauen, and tell the starres, if thou be able to number them. And he sayde vnto hym: euen so shall thy seede be.
And [Abram] beleued the Lord, & that counted he to hym for righteousnesse.
And agayne he saide vnto him: I am the Lorde that brought thee out of Vr of the Chaldees, to geue thee this lande, & that thou myghtest inherite it.
And he sayde: Lorde God wherby shall I knowe that I shall inherite it?
He aunswered vnto hym: Take an Heyfer of three yere olde, & a she Goate of three yere olde, and a three yere olde Ramme, a turtle Doue also, & a young Pigeon.
He toke therefore all these vnto hym, and deuided them in the middes, and layde euery peece one ouer agaynst another: but the birdes deuided he not.
And when the foules fell on the carkases, Abram droue them away.
And whe{n} the sunne was downe, there fell a deepe sleepe vpon Abram: and lo, an horrour of great darknesse fell vpon hym.
And he sayde vnto Abram: Knowe this of a suertie, that thy seede shalbe a straunger in a lande that is not theirs, and shall serue them, and they shall entreate them euyll foure hundreth yeres.
But the nation whom they shall serue wyll I iudge: and afterward shall they come out with great substaunce.
And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace, and shalt be buried in a good olde age.
But in the fourth generation they shal come hyther agayne: for the wickednesse of the Amorites is not yet full.
And so it was, that when the sonne went downe, and it was twylyght, beholde a smokyng furnesse and a fire brande goyng betweene the said peeces.
In that same day the Lorde made a couenaunt with Abram, saying: vnto thy seede haue I geuen this lande, fro{m} the ryuer of Egypt, euen vnto the great ry••r, the ryuer of Euphrates.
The Kenites and the Kenizites, and the Cadmonites,
And the Hethites, and the Perizites, and the Giauntes,
The Amorites also, and the Chanaanites, and Girgasites, & the Iebusites.
SArai Abrams wyfe bare hym no chyldren: but she had an handemayde an Egyptian, Hagar by name.
And Sarai sayde vnto Abram: beholde, nowe the Lorde hath restrayned me, that I can not beare, I pray thee go in to my mayde, it may be that I may be builded by her: and Abram obeyed the voyce of Sarai.
And Sarai Abrams wyfe toke Hagar her mayde the Egyptian, after Abram hadde dwelled ten yeres in the lande of Chanaan, and gaue her to her husbande Abram to be his wyfe.
And he went in vnto Hagar, and she conceaued. And when she sawe that she had conceaued, her mistresse was despised in her eyes.
And Sarai sayde vnto Abram: there is wrong done vnto me by thee: I haue geuen my mayde into thy bosome, whiche seyng that she hath conceaued, I am despised in her eyes, the Lorde be iudge betweene thee & me.
But Abram sayde to Sarai: beholde thy mayde is in thy hande, do with her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fledde from the face of her.
And the angel of the Lord founde her beside a fountaine in {th}e wildernes, [euen] by the well that is in the way to Sur,
And he said: Hagar Sarais mayde, whence camest thou? and whither wylt thou go? She sayde: I flee fro{m} the face of my mistresse Sarai.
And the angell of the Lorde sayde vnto her: Returne to thy mistresse agayne, and submit thy selfe vnder her handes.
And agayne the angell of the Lord sayde vnto her: I wyll multiplie thy seede in such sort, that it shal not be numbred for multitude.
And the Lordes angell said vnto her: See, thou art with chylde, and shalt beare a sonne, and shalt cal his name Ismael: because the Lorde hath hearde thy tribulation.
He also wyll be a wylde man, and his hande wyll be agaynst euery man, and euery mans hande against hym: and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
And she called the name of the Lorde that spake vnto her, Thou God lokest on me: for she sayde, haue I not also heare loked after hym that seeth mee?
Wherfore {th}e well was called the well of hym that lyueth and seeth me: and it is betweene Cades and Bared.
And Hagar bare Abram a sonne, and Abram called his sonnes name which Hagar bare vnto hym, Ismael.
And Abram was foure score and sixe yeres olde, when Hagar bare Ismael to hym.
WHen Abram was ninetie yere olde and nine, the Lorde appeared to hym, and sayde vnto hym: I am the almightie God, walke before me, and be thou perfect.
And I wyll make my couenaunt betweene me and thee, and wyll multiplie thee exceedyngly.
And Abram fell on his face, & God talked with hym, saying:
It is I, behold my couenau{n}t [is] with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shalbe called Abraham: for a father of many nations haue I made thee.
I wyll make thee exceedyng fruitefull, and wyll make nations of thee, yea and kynges shall spryng out of thee.
Moreouer I wyll make my couenaunt betweene me and thee, & thy seede after thee, in their generations, by an euerlasting couenau{n}t, {tha}t I may be God vnto thee, and to thy seede after thee.
And I wyll geue vnto thee and to thy seede after thee, the lande wherein thou art a strau{n}ger [euen] al the lande of Chanaan, for an euerlastyng possession, and wyll be their God.
And God said agayne vnto Abraham: thou shalt kepe my couenaunt therfore, both thou & thy seede after thee in their generations.
This is my couenaunt which ye shall kepe betweene me & you, and thy seede after thee: euery man chylde among you shalbe circumcised.
Ye shal circumcise the fleshe of your foreskyn, and it shalbe a token of the couenaunt betwixt me and you.
And euery man chylde of eyght dayes olde shalbe circumcised amongst you in your generations, both he that is borne in thy house, as he that is bought with money of any straunger, whiche is not of thy seede.
He that is borne in thy house, and he also that is bought with money, must needes be circumcised: & my couenau{n}t shalbe in your fleshe for an euerlastyng couenaunt.
And the vncircumcised manchylde, in whose fleshe the foreskyn is not circumcised, that soule shalbe cut of from his people, because he hath broken my couenaunt.
And God sayde vnto Abraham: Sarai thy wyfe shalt thou not call Sarai, but Sara [shall] her name be.
And I wyll blesse her, and geue thee a sonne of her: yea, I wyll blesse her, and she shalbe [a mother] of nations, yea & kynges of people shall sprynge of her.
But Abraham fell vppon his face, and laughed, and sayde in his heart: shall a chylde be borne vnto hym that is an hundreth yere olde? And shall Sara that is ninetie yere olde beare?
And Abraham sayde vnto God: O that Ismael myght lyue in thy syght.
Vnto who{m} God sayd: Sara thy wife shall beare thee a sonne in deede, & thou shalt call his name Isahac: and I wyll establishe my couenaunt with hym for an euerlastyng couenaunt [and] with his seede after hym.
And as concernyng Ismael also I haue hearde thee: for I haue blessed him, and wyll make him fruitefull, and wyl multiplie him excedingly: Twelue princes shall he beget, and I wyll make a great nation of hym.
But my couenaunt wyl I make with Isahac whiche Sara shall beare vnto thee, euen this tyme twelue moneth.
And he left of talkyng with hym, and departed vp from Abraham.
Abraham toke Ismael his sonne, and such as were borne in his house, & al that was bought with money, as many as were men chyldren, whiche were amongst the men of Abrahams house, & circumcised the fleshe of their foreskinne euen in the selfe same day, as God had sayde vnto hym.
Abraham also hym selfe was ninetie yere olde and nine when the fleshe of his foreskynne was circumcised.
Ismael his sonne was .xiii. yere old when he was circumcised in the fleshe of his foreskynne.
The selfe same day was Abraham circumcised and Ismael his sonne.
And all the men of his house, borne in his house, or bought with money of straungers were circumcised with him.
AND the Lorde appeared vnto hym in the playne of Mamre, and he sate in his tent doore in the heate of the day.
And he lift vp his eyes and loked, and loe, three men stoode by hym: And when he sawe them, he ranne to meete them from the tent doore, and bowed hymselfe towarde the grounde,
And sayde: Lorde, yf I haue nowe founde fauour in thy sight, passe not away I praye thee from thy seruaunt.
Let a litle water, I pray you, be fet, and washe your feete, and refreshe your selues vnder the tree.
And I wyll fet a morsell of bread to comfort your heartes withall, and then shall you go your wayes: for euen therefore are ye come to your seruaunt. And they sayde: do euen so as thou hast sayde.
And Abraham went apace into the tent vnto Sara, & sayde: Make redy at once three peckes of fine meale, kneade [it] and make cakes vpon the hearth.
And Abraham runnyng vnto his beastes, fet a calfe tender and good, and gaue it vnto a young man, and he hasted to make it redy at once.
And he toke butter and mylke, and the calfe which he had prepared, and set it before them, and stoode hym selfe by them vnder the tree: & they dyd eate.
And they sayde vnto hym: where is Sara thy wife? He aunswered, behold, in the tent.
And he sayde: I wyll certaynely returne vnto thee according to the time of lyfe: and lo, Sara thy wyfe shall haue a sonne. That heard Sara in the tent doore, which was behynde hym.
Abraham and Sara were both olde, and well stryken in age: and it ceassed to be with Sara after the maner as it is with women.
Therefore Sara laughed within her selfe, saying: Nowe I am waxed olde shal I geue my selfe to lust, and my Lorde olde also?
And God said vnto Abraham: wherfore dyd Sara laugh, saying, shall I of a suertie beare a chylde, which am olde?
Is any thing vnpossible to God? Accordyng to the tyme appoynted wyll I returne vnto thee [euen] according to the time of life: & Sara [shall] haue a sonne.
The{n} Sara denied it, saying: I laughed not: for she was afrayde. And he sayde: it is not so, but thou laughedst.
And the men rysyng vp from thence, loked toward Sodome: and Abraham went with them to bryng them on the way.
And the Lorde sayde: shall I hyde from Abraham that thing which I do,
Seyng that Abraham shall surely be a great and a myghtie nation, and all the nations of the earth shalbe blessed in hym?
I knowe this also, that he wyll commaunde his chyldren and his householde after him, that they kepe the way of the Lord, and to do iustice and iudgement, that the Lorde may bryng vppon Abraha{m} that he hath spoken vnto him.
And the lorde saide: because the crye of Sodome and Gomorrhe is great, and because their sinne is exceding greeuous:
I wyll go downe nowe, and see whether they haue done altogether accordyng to that crye whiche is come vnto me: and yf not, I wyll knowe.
And the men departed thence, & went to Sodomeward: but Abraham stoode yet before the Lorde.
And Abraham drewe neare, and said: Wylt thou also destroye the righteous with the wicked?
If there be fiftie ryghteous within the citie, wylt thou destroye and not spare the place for the sake of fiftie ryghteous that are therein?
That be farre from thee that thou shouldest do after this maner, and slaye the ryghteous with the wicked, & that the ryghteous should be as the wicked, that be farre from thee: Shall not the iudge of all the worlde do accordyng to ryght?
And the Lorde sayde: If I fynde in Sodome fiftie ryghteous within the citie, I wyll spare all the place for their sakes.
And Abraham aunsweryng, sayde: beholde I haue taken vppon me to speake vnto the Lorde, whiche am but dust and asshes.
If there shall lacke fiue of fiftie ryghteous, wylt thou destroy all the citie for [lacke] of fiue? And he saide: If I fynde there fourtie and fiue I wyl not destroy them.
And he proceaded to speake vnto hym agayne, and sayde: What yf there shall be fourtie founde there? He aunswered: I wyll not do it for fourties sake.
He sayde vnto hym agayne: O let not my lord be angry that I speake: What yf there shall thirtie be founde there? And he sayde: I wyll do nothyng yf I fynde thirtie there.
He sayde agayne: O see I haue taken vppon me to speake nowe also vnto my Lord: What if there shalbe twentie founde there? He aunswered, I wyll not destroy [them] for twenties sake.
And he sayde: O let not my Lorde be angry, and I wyll speake yet but this once: What if ten shalbe found there? He aunswered, I wil not destroy [them] for tennes sake.
And the Lorde went his way assoone as he had left communyng with Abraham, and Abraham [also] turned vnto his place.
AND there came two angels to Sodome at euen, and Lot sate at the gate of Sodome: and Lot seing [them] rose vp to meete them, and he bowed hym selfe with his face towarde the grounde.
And he sayde: Oh my Lordes, turne in I praye you, into your seruauntes house, and tary all nyght, and washe your feete, and ye shall ryse vp early to go in your wayes. Whiche sayde, nay: but we wyll byde in the streates all nyght.
And he preassed vpon them exceedinglye: and they returnyng in vnto hym, entred into his house, & he made them a feast, and did bake vnleuened bread, and they did eate.
And before they went to rest, the men of the citie [euen] the men of Sodome compassed the house rounde about, both olde and young, all people fro{m} [all] quarters.
And they callyng vnto Lot, sayde vnto hym: Where are the men whiche came in to thee this nyght? bryng them out vnto vs, that we may knowe them.
And Lot went out at the doore vnto them, and shut the doores after hym.
And sayde: Nay, for Gods sake brethren, do not [so] wickedly.
Behold, I haue two daughters whiche haue knowen no man, them wyll I bryng out nowe vnto you, and do with them as it [seemeth] good in your eyes: only vnto these men do nothyng, for therefore came they vnder the shadowe of my roofe.
And they sayde, stande backe: And they said agayne, he came in as one to soiourne, and wyll he be nowe a iudge? we wyll surely deale worse with thee then with them. And they preassed sore vpon the man [euen] Lot, and came to breake vp the doore.
But the men put foorth their hande, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the doore.
And the men that were at the doore of the house they smote with blyndenesse both small and great, so that they were weryed in sekyng the doore.
And the men sayde vnto Lot: Hast thou here any besides? sonne in lawe, and thy sonnes, and thy daughters, and whatsoeuer thou hast in the citie, bryng them out of this place:
For we wyl destroy this place, because the crye of them is great before the face of God: for the Lorde hath sent vs to destroy it.
And Lot went out, and spake vnto his sonnes in lawe which maried his daughters, saying: Stande vp, get ye out of this place, for the Lorde wyll ouerthrowe this citie. But he seemed as though he had mocked, vnto his sonnes in lawe.
And when the mornyng arose, the angels caused Lot to speede him, saying: Stande vp, take thy wyfe, and thy two daughters which be at hande, lest thou perishe in the sinne of the citie.
And as he prolonged the tyme, the men caught both him, his wife, and his two daughters by the handes, the Lorde beyng mercyfull vnto hym: and they brought hym foorth, and set hym without the citie.
And when he had brought them out, he sayde: Saue thy selfe, and loke not behynde thee, neither tary thou in all this playne [countrey] Saue thy selfe in the mountaine, lest thou perishe.
And Lot sayde vnto them: Oh not so my Lordes.
Beholde thy seruaunt hath founde grace in thy syght, and thou hast magnified thy mercy which thou hast shewed vnto me in sauyng my lyfe: Beholde I can not be saued in the mountayne, lest some harme fall vppon me, and I dye.
Beholde here is a citie by to flee vnto, euen yonder litle one: Oh let me escape thyther: Is it not a litle one, and my soule shall lyue?
And he sayde to hym: See, I haue receaued thy request as concernyng this thing, that I wyll not ouerthrowe this citie for the whiche thou hast spoken.
Haste thee, and be saued there: for I can do nothyng tyl thou be come thyther, and therfore the name of the citie is Soar.
And the sonne was nowe rysen vpon the earth, and Lot was entred into Soar.
Then the Lorde rayned vpon Sodome and Gomorrhe brymstone and fire, from the Lorde out of heauen:
And ouerthrewe those cities, and all that plaine region, and all that dwelled in the cities, and that that grewe vpon the earth.
But Lots wyfe folowyng him, loked behynde her, & was turned into a piller of salt.
Abraham rysyng vp early, gote hym to the place where he stoode before the presence of God, and loked towarde Sodome and Gomorrhe, and towarde all the lande of that playne countrey,
And behelde, and lo the smoke of the countrey arose, as the smoke of a furnesse.
And it came to passe, that when God destroyed the cities of that region, he thought vpon Abraham, and sent Lot out from the middest of the ouerthrow, when he ouerthrewe the cities, in one of the whiche Lot dwelled.
And Lot departed out of Soar, and dwelled in the mountayne with his two daughters: for he feared to tary in Soar, but dwelled in a caue, he and his two daughters.
And the elder said vnto the younger: our father is olde, and there is not a man in the earth to come in vnto vs after the maner of all the worlde.
Come, let vs geue our father wine to drynke, and lye with hym, that we may saue seede of our father.
And so they gaue their father wine to drinke that night: and the elder daughter went and lay with her father, and he perceaued it not neither when she laye downe, neyther when she rose vp.
And on the morowe the elder sayde vnto the younger: beholde, yesternight lay I with my father: let vs make hym drynke wyne this nyght also, & go thou and lye with hym, that thou mayest rayse vp seede of our father. And they made their father drynke wyne that nyght also.
And the younger arose, and laye with hym: & he perceaued it not, neither whe{n} she lay downe, neither whe{n} she rose vp.
Thus were both the daughters of Lot with chylde by their father.
And the elder bare a sonne, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites vnto this day.
And the younger bare a sonne also, & called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the chyldren of Ammon vnto this day.]
AND Abraham departed thence towarde the south countrey, & dwelled betweene Cades and Sur, and soiourned in Gerar.
And Abraham sayde of Sara his wyfe, she is my syster: And Abimelech kyng of Gerar sent, and fet Sara away.
But God came to Abimelech by night in a dreame, and saide to hym: See, thou art but a dead man for the womans sake whiche thou hast taken away, for she is a mans wyfe.
But Abimelech had not yet touched her: and he sayde, Lorde wylt thou slay ryghteous people?
Saide not he vnto me, she is my sister? yea and she her selfe sayde, he is my brother: with a single heart, and innocent handes haue I done this.
And God sayde vnto him in a dreame: I wote well that thou dyddest it in the singlenesse of thy heart: I kept thee also that thou shuldest not sinne against me, and therefore suffred I thee not to touche her.
Nowe therefore delyuer the man his wyfe agayne, for he is a prophete, and he shall pray for thee, that thou mayest lyue: But and yf thou delyuer her not agayne, be sure that thou shalt dye the death, [both thou] and all that thou hast.
Therefore, Abimelech rysyng vp betimes in the mornyng, called all his seruauntes, and tolde all these sayinges in their eares: and the men were sore afrayde.
Then Abimelech called Abraham, & sayde vnto hym: What hast thou done vnto vs? & what haue I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me & on my kingdome [so] great a sinne? thou hast done deedes vnto me that ought not to be done.
And Abimelech saide vnto Abraham: what sawest thou that thou hast done this thyng?
Abraha{m} aunswered: For I thought [thus] surely the feare of God is not in this place, and they shal slaye me for my wyues sake.
Yet in very deede she is my sister, for she is {th}e daughter of my father, though she be not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wyfe.
And after God caused me to wander out of my fathers house, I sayde vnto her: this kyndnesse shalt thou shewe vnto me, in all places where we come, that thou say of me, he is my brother.
Then toke Abimelech sheepe and oxen, men seruauntes and women seruauntes, & gaue [them] vnto Abraham, and delyuered hym Sara his wyfe agayne.
And Abimelech sayde: beholde my lande lyeth before thee, dwell where it pleaseth thee best.
But vnto Sara he saide: See I haue geuen thy brother a thousand peeces of syluer: beholde, it is as a coueryng of thyne eyes vnto all that are with thee, and to all [other:] and thus she was reproued.
And so Abraham prayed vnto God, & God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maydens, & they bare chyldren.
For the Lorde had closed vp all the wombes of the house of Abimelech, because of Abrahams wyfe.
THe Lord visited Sara as he had promised, and did vnto her accordyng as he had spoke{n}.
For Sara conceaued, and bare Abraham a sonne in his olde age, euen the same season whiche the Lorde had appoynted.
And Abraham called his sonnes name that was borne vnto him, whiche Sara bare hym, Isahac.
And Abraham circumcised his sonne Isahac, when he was eyght dayes olde, as God commaunded him.
And Abraham was an hundreth yere olde, when his sonne Isahac was borne vnto him.
But Sara sayde: God hath made me to reioyce, so that all that heare, wyll ioy with me.
She sayd also: who would haue sayde vnto Abraham, that Sara shoulde haue geuen chyldren sucke? for I haue borne [him] a sonne in his olde age.
The chylde grewe, and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isahac was weaned.
Sara saw also the sonne of Hagar the Egyptian, whiche she had borne vnto Abraham, [to be] a mocker.
Wherfore she sayd vnto Abraham: cast out this bond woman, & her sonne: for the sonne of this bonde woman, shal not be heyre with my sonne Isahac.
And this saying was very greeuous in Abrahams sight, because of his sonne.
And God sayde vnto Abraham, let it not be greeuous in thy sight, because of the lad and of thy bonde woman: In al that Sara hath said vnto thee, heare her voyce, for in Isahac shall thy seede be called.
Moreouer, of the sonne of the bonde woman wyll I make a nation, because he is thy seede.
And so Abraham rose vp early in the mornyng, and tooke bread, and a bottel of water, and gaue it vnto Hagar, puttyng it on her shoulder, and the lad also, and sent her away: who departing, wandered vp and downe in the wildernesse of Beer seba.
And the water was spent in the bottell, and she cast the lad vnder some one of the trees:
And went, and sate on the other syde a great way, as it were a bowe shote of: for she sayd, I wyll not see the death of the chylde. And she sitting downe on the other side, lyft vp her voyce & wept.
And God hearde the voyce of the lad, and the angell of God called to Hagar out of heauen, and said vnto her, what ayleth thee Hagar? feare not: for God hath hearde the voyce of the lad where he lyeth.
Aryse and lyft vp the lad, and take him in thyne hande, for I wyll make of hym a great people.
And God opened her eyes, and she sawe a well of water, and she went and filled the bottell with water, and gaue the lad drinke.
And God was with the lad, and he grewe, and dwelt in the wyldernesse, and became a principall archer.
And he dwelt in the wyldernesse of Paran, and his mother got hym a wyfe out of the lande of Egypt.
And at the same season, Abimelech and Phicol his chiefe captayne spake vnto Abraham, saying, God [is] with thee in all that thou doest:
And nowe therefore, sweare vnto me euen here by God, that thou wylt not hurt me, nor my chyldren, nor my chyldrens children: but that thou shalt deale with me and the countrey where thou hast ben a straunger, accordyng vnto the kyndnesse that I haue shewed thee.
And Abraham saide, I will sweare.
And Abraham rebuked Abimelech for a wel of water, which Abimeleches seruauntes had violently taken away.
And Abimelech said, I wote not who hath done this thing: also thou toldest me not, neyther hearde I [of it] but this day.
And Abraham toke sheepe and Oxen, and gaue them vnto Abimelech: & they made both of them a leage together.
And Abraham set seuen ewe lambes by them selues.
And Abimelech sayd vnto Abraham: what meane these seuen ewe lambes whiche thou hast set by them selues?
He aunswered: for these seuen ewe lambes shalt thou take of my hande, that they may be a wytnesse vnto me, that I haue digged this well.
Wherefore the place is called Beer seba, because that there they sware both of them.
Thus made they a leage together at Beer seba: and Abimelech and Phicol his chiefe captayne rose vp, and turned agayne into the lande of the Philistines.
And Abraham planted a wood in Beer seba, and called there on the name of the Lorde the euerlasting God.
And Abraham soiourned in the Philistines lande a long season.
AFter these sayinges, god did tempt Abraham, and sayde vnto him Abraham. Which answered, here I am.
And he saide: take thy sonne, thyne onlye sonne Isahac whom thou louest, & get thee vnto the lande Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt offering vpon one of the mountaines which I wyl shewe thee.
Then Abraham rose vp early in the mornyng, and sadled his Asse, and toke two of his young men with hym, and Isahac his sonne, and cloue wood for the burnt offering, and rose vp, and got hym to the place whiche God had appointed hym.
The thirde day Abraham lyft vp his eyes, and sawe the place a farre of:
And sayde vnto his young men, byde here with the Asse, I and the lad will go yonder & worship, and come agayne to you.
And Abraham toke the wood of the burnt offeryng, and layde it vpon Isahac his sonne: but he him selfe toke fire in his hande and a knyfe, and they went both of them together.
Then spake Isahac vnto Abraham his father, and sayd, my father. And he aunswered, here am I, my sonne. He sayde, see here is fyre and wood, but where is the beast for burnt sacrifice?
Abraham aunswered: My God wyll prouide a beast for burnt sacrifice: and so they went both together.
And when they came to {th}e place which God had shewed him, Abraham buylt an aulter there, and dressed the wood, and bound Isahac his sonne, and layde him on the aulter aboue vpo{n} the wood.
And Abraham stretchyng foorth his hande, toke the knyfe to haue killed his sonne.
And the angell of the Lord called vnto him from heauen, saying: Abraham, Abraham. And he sayd, here [am] I:
And he sayde: lay not thy hande vpon the chylde, neyther do any thyng vnto hym, for nowe I knowe that thou fearest God, & hast for my sake not spared [yea] thine onlye sonne.
And Abraham lifting vp his eyes, looked: and beholde, behynde [hym] there was a Ramme caught by the hornes in a thicket: and Abraham went & tooke the Ramme, and offered hym vp for a burnt offering in the steade of his sonne.
And Abraham called {th}e name of the place, the Lorde wyll see. As it is sayde this day, in the mounte will the Lorde be seene.
And the angell of the Lorde cryed vnto Abraham from heauen the seconde tyme,
And sayd: by my selfe haue I sworne, sayeth the Lorde, because thou hast done this thyng, and hast not spared yea thyne onlye sonne,
That in blessing I wyll blesse thee, and in multiplying I wyll multiplie thy seede as the starres of heauen, and as the sande which is vpon the sea side, and thy seede shall possesse the gates of his enemies.
And in thy seede shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast hearde my voyce.
So turned Abraham againe vnto his young men: and they rose vp, and went together to Beer seba, and Abraham dwelt at Beer seba.
And after these thynges, one tolde Abraham, saying: beholde Milcha, she hath also borne chyldren vnto thy brother Nachor,
Hus his eldest sonne, and Buz his brother, and Camuel the father of the Syrians,
And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Iidlaph, and Bethuel.
And Bethuel begat Rebecca. These eyght did Milcha beare to Nachor Abrahams brother.
And his concubine called Reumah, she bare also Tebah, & Gaham, Thahas, and Maacha.
SAra was an hu{n}dreth and seuen and twentie yere olde (so long liued she.)
And Sara dyed in Ciriath arba, the same is Hebron, in the lande of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourne for Sara, and to weepe for her.
And Abraham stoode vp fro{m} the sight of his corse, and talked with the sonnes of Heth, saying:
I am a straunger and a foriner amongest you: geue me a possession to bury in with you, that I may bury my corse out of my sight.
And the chyldren of Heth aunswered Abraham, saying vnto hym:
Heare vs my Lorde, thou art a prince of God amongest vs, in the chiefest of our sepulchres bury thy dead: none of vs shall forbyd thee his sepulchre, but thou mayest bury thy dead [therin.]
Abraham stoode vp and bowed hym selfe before the people of the lande, that is, the chyldren of Heth.
And he communed with them, saying: If it be your mynde that I shal bury my dead out of my sight, heare me, and speake for me to Ephron the sonne of Sohar,
That he may geue me the caue of Machpelah, whiche he hath in the ende of his fielde: but for as much money as it is worth shall he geue it me, for a possession to bury in amongest you.
(For Ephron dwelleth amongest the chyldren of Heth) and Ephron the Hethite aunswered Abraham in the audience of the chyldren of Heth, and of all that went in at the gates of his citie, saying:
Not so my Lord, heare me: the fielde geue I thee, and the caue that therin is geue I thee also, in the presence of the sonnes of my people geue I it thee, burye thy dead.
And Abraham bowed him selfe before the people of the lande.
And spake vnto Ephron in the audience of the people of the countrey, saying: yf thou wylt [geue it] then I pray thee heare me, I wyll geue syluer for the fielde, take it of me, and I will bury my dead therin.
Ephron aunswered Abraham, saying vnto hym:
My Lord, hearken vnto me, the lande is worth foure hundred sicles of siluer, what is that betwixt thee and me? bury therfore thy dead.
And Abraham hearkened vnto Ephron, and wayed him the siluer which he had sayde in the aundience of the sonnes of Heth, euen foure hundred syluer sicles of currant money amongest marchauntes.
And the fielde of Ephron in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, eue{n} the fielde and the caue that was therein, and all the trees that were in the fielde, and that were in al the borders rounde about, was made sure
Vnto Abraham for a possession in the sight of the chyldren of Heth, before all that went in at the gates of the citie.
After this dyd Abraham bury Sara his wyfe in the double caue of the fielde that lyeth before Mamre, the same is Hebron in the land of Chanaan.
And so both the fielde & the caue that is therein, was made vnto Abraham a sure possession to bury in, by the sonnes of Heth.
AND Abraham was old & stricken in dayes, and the Lorde had blessed Abraham in all thinges.
And Abraham saide vnto his eldest seruau{n}t of his house, whiche had the rule ouer all that he had: put thy hande vnder my thigh:
And I wyll make thee sweare by the Lorde God of heauen, and God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wyfe vnto my sonne of the daughters of the Chanaanites, amongest which I dwel:
But thou shalt go vnto my countrey, and to my kinred, and take a wife vnto my sonne Isahac.
But the seruaunt sayd vnto hym: peraduenture the woman wyll not agree to come with me vnto this lande, shall I bryng thy sonne againe vnto the land whiche thou cammest out of?
To whom Abraham aunswered: beware that thou bring not my sonne thyther agayne.
The Lorde God of heauen whiche toke me from my fathers house, & from the land of my kinred, and which spake vnto me, and that sware vnto me, saying, vnto thy seede wyll I geue this lande: he shall sende his angell before thee, and thou shalt take a wyfe vnto my sonne from thence.
Neuerthelesse, if the woman wyl not folowe thee, then shalt thou be cleare from this my othe: onlye bring not my sonne thyther agayne.
And the seruaunt put his hand vnder the thigh of Abraham his maister, and sware to hym as concernyng {th}e matter.
And the seruaunt toke ten Camelles of the Camelles of his maister, & departed (& had of al maner of goods of his maister with him) and so he arose & went to Mesopotamia, vnto {th}e citie of Nachor.
And made his Camelles to lye downe without the citie by a welles side of water at euen, about the time that women come out to drawe water.
And he saide: Lord God of my maister Abraham, I pray thee sende me good speede this day, and shewe mercy vnto my maister Abraham.
Lo, I stande here by the well of water, and the daughters of the me{n} of this citie come out to drawe water:
Nowe let the damsel to whom I say, stoupe downe thy pitcher I pray thee, that I may drinke: If she say also, drinke, and I wyll geue thy Camelles drinke also: let the same be she that thou hast ordeyned for thy seruaunt Isahac, and thereby shall I knowe that thou hast shewed mercy on my maister.
And it came to passe yer he had lefte speakyng, beholde, Rebecca came out, the daughter of Bethuel, sonne to Milcha, the wyfe of Nachor Abrahams brother, and her pytcher vpon her shoulder:
The damsel was very fayre to looke vpon, and yet a mayde, and vnknowen of man: and she went downe to the wel, and filled her pitcher, and came vp.
And the seruaunt runnyng to meete her, sayde: let me I pray thee drinke a litle water of thy pitcher.
And she sayd: drinke my Lorde. And she hasted, and let downe her pytcher vpon her arme, and gaue him drinke.
And when she had geuen him drinke, she sayde: I wyll drawe water for thy Camelles also, vntyl they haue dronke ynough.
And she poured out her pytcher into the trough hastyly, and ranne agayne vnto the well to draw [water] and drew for all his Camelles.
And the man wondred at her, but held his peace, to witte whether the Lorde had made his iourney prosperous, or not.
And as the Camelles had left drinking, the man tooke a golden earring of halfe a sickle wayght, and two bracelettes for her handes, of ten sickles wayght of golde,
And sayde: whose daughter art thou? tell me I pray thee: is there rowme in thy fathers house for vs to lodge in?
She aunswered hym: I am the daughter of Bethuel the sonne of Milcha whiche she bare vnto Nachor.
And said moreouer vnto him, we haue litter and prouender ynough, and also rowme to lodge in.
And the man bowed hym selfe, and worshipped the Lorde,
And sayde: blessed be the Lorde God of my maister Abraham, whiche hath not left destitute my maister of his mercye and trueth: for when I was on my iourney, the Lorde brought me to my maisters brothers house.
And the damsell ranne, and told them of her mothers house these thinges.
And Rebecca had a brother called Laban: and he ranne out vnto the man, [euen] to the well.
For assoone as he had seene the earerynges, and the bracelettes in his sisters hande, and hearde the wordes of Rebecca his sister, saying, thus sayde the man vnto me: he went out vnto the man, and lo, he stoode with the Camelles by the well syde,
And he sayde: come thou blessed of the Lord, wherfore standest thou without? I haue dressed the house, & rowme for thy Camelles.
And then the ma{n} came into the house, and he vnharnessed the Camelles, and brought lytter and prouender for the Camelles, and water to wash his feete, & the mens feete that were with him.
And there was set meate before hym to eate: but he sayd, I wyll not eate vntyll I haue sayde myne arande. And he sayd: say on.
And he sayde: I am Abrahams seruaunt,
And God blessed my maister merueylously, that he is become great, and hath geuen him sheepe and oxen, siluer and golde, men seruauntes, and mayde-seruauntes, camelles and asses.
And Sara my maisters wyfe bare hym a sonne when she was olde, and vnto him hath he geue{n} all that he hath.
And my maister made me sweare, saying: thou shalt not take a wyfe to my sonne amongest the daughters of the Chanaanites, in whose lande I dwell:
But thou shalt go vnto my fathers house, and to my kinred, and take a wife vnto my sonne.
And I sayde vnto my maister: peraduenture the woman wyll not folowe me.
And he answered me: the Lord before whom I walke, wyll sende his angell with thee, and prosper thy iourney, and thou shalt take a wyfe for my sonne of my kinred, and of my fathers house.
Then shalt thou be free from this othe [made] to me, when thou commest to my kinred: and yf they geue not thee [one] thou shalt be free from this othe [made] to me.
And so I came this day vnto the wel, and sayde: O Lorde the God of my maister Abraham, if it be so nowe that thou makest my iourney whiche I go prosperous,
Beholde, I stande by the well of water: and when a virgin commeth foorth to drawe water, and I say to her, Geue me [I pray thee] a little water of thy pitcher to drinke:
And she say to me, Drinke thou, and I wyll also drawe for thy Camelles: let the same be the woman whom the Lorde hath prepared for my maisters sonne.
And before I had made an ende of speakyng in myne heart, beholde, Rebecca came foorth, and her pitcher on her shoulder, and she went downe vnto the well, and drewe water, and I sayde vnto her, Geue me drinke I pray thee.
And she made haste, and toke downe her pitcher from her [shoulder] and said: Drinke, and I wyll geue thy Camelles drinke also. So I dranke, and she gaue the Camelles drinke also.
And I asked her, saying: whose daughter art thou? She answered: the daughter of Bethuel Nachors sonne, whom Milcha bare vnto hym: and I put the earring vpon her face, and the bracelettes vpon her handes.
And I bowed my selfe, and worshipped the Lorde, and blessed the Lorde God of my maister Abraham, whiche had brought me the ryght way, to take my maisters brothers daughter vnto his sonne.
Nowe also if [he] wyll consent to deale mercyfully and truely with my maister, tel me: and if not, tel me also, that I may turne me to the ryght hande, or to the left.
Then aunswered Laban and Bethuel, saying: This saying is proceeded euen of the Lorde, we can not therefore say vnto thee eyther good or bad.
Beholde, Rebecca [is] before thee, take her, and go, that she may be thy maisters sonnes wife, euen as god hath sayde.
And when Abrahams seruaunt heard theyr wordes, he worshipped the Lord, bowyng hym selfe towarde the earth.
And the seruaunt toke foorth iewelles of syluer, and iewelles of golde, and rayment, and gaue them to Rebecca: and to her brother, and to her mother he gaue costly gyftes
And they did eate and drinke, both he and the men that were with hym, and taried all night: and when they rose vp in the mornyng, he said: let me depart vnto my maister.
Her brother and her mother aunswered: let the damsell abyde with vs, and it be but euen ten dayes, and then shall she go.
He sayde vnto them: hynder me not, beholde, the Lorde hath prospered my iourney, sende me away therefore, that I may go to my maister.
And they sayde: we wyll call the damsell, and enquire at her mouth.
And they called foorth Rebecca, and sayde vnto her: wylt thou go with this man? And she aunswered, I wyll go.
So they let Rebecca theyr sister go, and her nurse, & Abrahams seruaunt, and his men.
And they blessed Rebecca, and sayde vnto her: thou art our sister, growe into thousande thousandes, and thy seede possesse the gate of his enemies.
And Rebecca arose and her damselles, and gat them vp vpon the Camelles, and folowed the man: and the seruaunt toke Rebecca, and went his waye.
And Isahac was commyng from the waye of the well of the lyuyng and seeyng me: for he dwelt in the South countrey.
And Isahac was gone out to pray in the fielde at the euentide, and he lift vp his eyes, and saw the Camelles commyng.
And Rebecca lyft vp her eyes, & when she sawe Isahac, she lyghted of the Camell,
(For she said vnto the seruaunt: what man is this, that commeth walkyng against vs in the fielde? And the seruaunt sayd, it is my maister): therfore she toke her vayle and couered her.
And the seruaunt tolde Isahac all thinges that he had done.
And Isahac brought her into his mother Saraes tent, and toke Rebecca, and she became his wife, and he loued her: and so Isahac receaued comfort after his mother.
ABraham proceeded further, and toke hym another wyfe, called Cetura.
Whiche bare hym Zimran, and Iocsan, and Medan, and Midian, and Iesbac, and Suah.
Iocsan begat Seba and Dedan, and the sonnes of Dedan were Assurim, and Letusim, and Leummim.
And the sonnes of Midian, Ephah, & Epher, & Hanoch, & Abida, & Eldaah: all these were the children of Cetura.
And Abraham gaue al his goodes vnto Isahac:
But vnto the sonnes of the concubines whiche Abraham had, he gaue gyftes, and sent them away from Isahac his sonne (whyle he yet lyued) eastwarde vnto the east countrey.
And these are the dayes of the yeres of Abrahams lyfe which he liued, an hundred threscore and fifteene yeres.
And then Abraham waxyng away, dyed in a lustie age, beyng an olde man, when he had liued ynough, and was gathered to his people.
And his sonnes Isahac and Ismael buryed hym in the double caue in the fielde of Ephron sonne of Soar the Hethite, before Mamre.
Whiche fielde Abraham bought of the sonnes of Heth: there was Abraham buryed, and Sara his wyfe.
And it came to passe after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his sonne Isahac, and Isahac dwelled by the well of liuing and seeing me.
These are the generations of Ismael Abrahams sonne, whiche Hagar the Egyptian Saraes handmayde bare vnto Abraham.
And these are the names of the sonnes of Ismael, accordyng to the names of their kindred: the eldest sonne of Ismael, Nabaioth, and Cedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
And Misma, and Duma, and Massa, Hadar, and Thema,
Ietur, Naphis, and Cedma.
These are the sonnes of Ismael, and these are their names by theyr townes and castles, twelue princes of their housholdes.
And these are the yeres of the lyfe of Ismael, an hundred and thirtie and seuen yere: and he waxing away, dyed, and was layed vnto his people.
And they dwelled from Hauilah vnto Sur, that is by the border of Egypt as thou goest toward Assur, and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
And these are the generations of Isahac, Abrahams sonne: Abraham begat Isahac.
And Isahac was fourtie yere olde when he toke Rebecca to wyfe, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Mesopotamia, and sister to Laban the Syrian.
And Isahac made intercession vnto the Lorde for his wyfe, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of hym, and Rebecca his wyfe conceaued.
And the childre{n} stroue together within her wombe: therfore she said, if [it be] so, why am I thus? wherefore she went to aske the Lorde.
And the Lorde sayde vnto her: there are two maner of people in thy wombe, and two nations shalbe deuided out of thy bowelles, and the one nation shalbe mightier then the other, and the elder shalbe seruaunt vnto the younger.
Therefore when her tyme was come to be deliuered, behold, there were two twynnes in her wombe.
And he that came out fyrst, was red, and he was all ouer as it were a hearie garment, and they called his name Esau.
And after hym came his brother out, and his hande holdyng Esau by the heele, and his name was called Iacob: and Isahac was threscore yere olde when they were borne.
And the boyes grewe, and Esau became a cunnyng hunter, and a wylde man: but Iacob was a perfect man, and dwelled in tentes.
Isahac loued Esau, because he dyd eate of his venison, but Rebecca loued Iacob.
Iacob sodde pottage, and Esau came from the fielde, and was fayntie:
And Esau sayd to Iacob: feede me I pray thee, with that same red pottage, for I am fayntie: and therfore was his name called Edom.
And Iacob saide: sell me this day thy byrthryght.
Esau sayde: lo, I am at the poynt to dye, and what profite shall this byrthryght do me?
Iacob aunswered: sweare to me then this day. And he sware to him, & solde his byrthryght vnto Iacob.
Then Iacob gaue Esau bread and pottage of ryse, and he dyd eate and drinke, and rose vp, and went his way: and Esau little regarded his byrthright.
ANd there fell a famine in the land, besides the first that was in the dayes of Abraham: And Isahac went vnto Abimelech, king of the Philistines, vnto Gerar.
And the Lorde appeared vnto hym, and sayde: Go not downe into Egypt, [but] abyde in the lande whiche I shall shewe vnto thee.
Soiourne in this lande, and I wyl be with thee, and wyll blesse thee: for vnto thee and vnto thy seede I wyll geue all these countreys, and I wyll perfourme the othe whiche I sware vnto Abraham thy father.
And wyl make thy seede to multiplie as the starres of heauen, and wyll geue vnto thy seede al these countreys: and in thy seede shall all the nations of the earth be blessed:
Because that Abraham hearkened vnto my voyce, & kept my ordinaunce, my commaundementes, my statutes, and my lawes.
And Isahac dwelled in Gerar.
And the men of the place asked [him] of his wyfe. And he sayde, she is my sister: for he feared to say, she is my wyfe, lest the men of the place shoulde haue kylled hym, because of Rebecca, whiche was beautifull to the eye.
And after he had ben there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines loked out at a windowe, & sawe Isahac sportyng with Rebecca his wyfe.
And Abimelech called Isahac, and said: beholde, she is of a suretie thy wife, and why saydest thou, she is my sister? To whom Isahac aunswered: because I thought that I might peraduenture haue dyed for her sake.
Abimelech said: why hast thou done this vnto vs? one of the people myght lyghtly haue lyne by thy wyfe, and so shouldest thou haue brought sinne vpon vs.
And so Abimelech charged al his people, saying: He that toucheth this man or his wyfe, shall dye the death.
Then Isahac sowed in that lande, and receaued in the same yere an hundred folde: and the Lorde blessed hym.
And the man waxed myghtie, & went foorth, and grewe tyll he was exceeding great.
For he had possessio{n} of sheepe, of oxen, and a myghtie housholde: and therfore the Philistines had enuie at hym.
For the Philistines stopped and fylled vp with earth all the welles which his seruauntes had digged in his father Abrahams tyme.
And Abimelech sayde vnto Isahac: Get thee from vs, for thou art mightier then we a great deale.
Therefore Isahac departed thence, and abode in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
And Isahac returning, digged againe the welles of water which they digged in the dayes of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham, & named them after the same names by the which his father had named them.
Isahacs seruauntes digged in the valley, and founde a well of springyng water.
And the heardmen of Gerar did striue with Isahacs heardmen, saying: the water is ours. Then called he the well contention, because they stroue with hym.
And they digged another well, and stroue for that also: and he called the name of it enmitie.
And then he departed thence, & digged another well, for the which they stroue not. Therfore called he it roomth, saying: the Lorde hath made vs nowe roome that we may encrease vpon the earth.
And he went vp thence to Beer-seba.
And the Lorde appeared vnto hym the same night, and sayde: I am the God of Abraham thy father, feare not, for I am with thee, and wyl blesse thee and multiple thy seede for my seruaunt Abrahams sake.
And he builded an aulter there, and called vpon the name of the Lorde, and pitched his tent: and there Isahacs seruauntes dygged a well.
Then came Abimelech to him from Gerar, and Ahuzath his friende, and Phicol the captaine of his armie.
And Isahac sayde vnto them: wherfore come ye to me, seyng ye hate me, and haue put me away from you?
Whiche aunswered: We sawe most certainly that the Lord was with thee, and we sayde: let there be nowe an oth betwixt vs, euen betwixt vs and thee, and let vs make a league with thee:
That thou shouldest do vs no hurt, as we haue not touched thee, and as we haue done vnto thee nothyng but good, & sent thee away in peace: for thou art nowe the blessed of the Lorde.
And he made them a feast, and they dyd eate and drynke.
And they rose vp betymes in the mornyng, and sware one to another: And Isahac sent them away, and they departed from hym in peace.
And the same daye Isahacs seruauntes came and tolde hym of a well which they had dygged, and sayde vnto hym, we haue founde water.
And he called it Sebah: and the name of the citie is called Beer-seba vnto this day.
Esau was fourtie yere olde, & he toke a wyfe [called] Iudith, the daughter of Beeri an Hethite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon, an Hethite [also.]
Which were disobedient vnto Isahac and Rebecca.
AND it came to passe, that whe{n} Isahac waxed olde, & his eyes were dimme, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest sonne, & saide vnto hym, my sonne? And he sayde vnto hym: here am I.
And he sayde: Beholde, I am nowe olde, and knowe not the daye of my death.
Nowe therefore take I pray thee thy weapons, thy quyuer and thy bowe, and get thee to the fielde, that thou mayest take me some venison.
And make me well tastyng meates, such as I loue, and bryng it to me, that I may eate, that my soule may blesse thee before that I dye.
But Rebecca hearde when Isahac spake to Esau his sonne: And Esau we{n}t into the fielde to hunt venison, and to bryng it.
And Rebecca spake vnto Iacob her sonne, saying: Beholde, I haue hearde thy father talkyng with Esau thy brother, and saying:
Bring me venison, and make me daintie meate, that I may eate, and blesse thee before the Lorde, afore my death.
Nowe therfore my sonne heare my voyce in that which I co{m}maunde thee.
Get thee to the flocke, and bryng me thence two good kyddes fro{m} the goates, and I wyll make of them pleasaunt meates for thy father, such as he loueth.
And thou shalt bryng it to thy father that he may eate, and that he may blesse thee before his death.
Then said Iacob to Rebecca his mother: Beholde, Esau my brother is a heary man, and I am smoothe:
My father shall peraduenture feele mee, and I shall seeme vnto hym as though I went about to begyle hym, and so shall I bryng a curse vpon me, and not a blessyng.
And his mother sayde vnto him, Vpon me be the curse my sonne: only heare my voyce, and go and fetche me them.
And [Iacob] went, and fet them, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made pleasaunt meate, such as she knewe his father loued.
And Rebecca fet goodly rayment of her eldest sonne Esau, whiche were in the house with her, and put them vpon Iacob her younger sonne:
And she put the skynnes of the kiddes vpon his handes, and vpon the smoothe of his necke.
And she put that pleasaunt meate and bread, whiche she had prepared, in the hande of her sonne Iacob.
When he came to his father, he sayde: my father? And he aunswered, here am I: who art thou, my sonne?
And Iacob sayde vnto his father: I am Esau thy eldest sonne, I haue done accordyng as thou baddest me: aryse I pray thee, syt, and eate of my venison, that thy soule may blesse me.
And Isahac said vnto his sonne: how commeth it that thou hast founde it so quickly my sonne? He aunswered: the lorde thy God brought it to my handes.
Then sayde Isahac vnto Iacob: Come neare, and I wyll feele thee my sonne, whether thou be my very sonne Esau, or not.
Then went Iacob to Isahac his father, and he felt hym, and sayde: The voyce is Iacobs voyce, but the handes are the handes of Esau.
And he knewe him not, because his handes were heary as his brother Esaus handes: and so he blessed hym.
And he asked him: art thou my sonne Esau? And he sayde: that I am.
Then sayde he: Bryng me, & let me eate of my sonnes venison, that my soule may blesse thee. And he brought hym, and he ate: and he brought hym wine also, and he dranke.
And his father Isahac said vnto him: Come neare, and kysse me, my sonne.
And he went vnto him, & kyssed him, and he smelled the sauour of his rayment, and blessed hym, & saide: See, the smell of my sonne, is as the smell of a fielde which the Lorde hath blessed.
God geue thee of the deawe of heauen, and of the fatnesse of the earth, and plentie of corne and wine.
People be thy seruauntes, and nations bowe to thee: be lorde ouer thy brethren, and thy mothers children stowpe with reuerence vnto thee: cursed be he that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
Assoone as Isahac had made an ende of blessyng Iacob, & Iacob was scarse gone out from the presence of Isahac his father, then came Esau his brother from his huntyng.
And he also had made a pleasaunt meate, and brought it vnto his father, and saide vnto his father: let my father aryse, and eate of his sonnes venison, that thy soule may blesse me.
Then his father Isahac sayde vnto hym: who art thou? He aunswered: I am thy sonne, thy first borne Esau.
And Isahac was greatly astonied out of measure, and sayde: which [is he] and where [is he] then that hath hunted venison and brought it me, and I haue eaten of al before thou camest? and haue blessed hym, yea & he shalbe blessed.
When Esau hearde the wordes of his father, he cryed aloude & bitterly, aboue measure, and sayde vnto his father: blesse me, I also am [thy sonne] O my father.
Who aunswered. Thy brother came with subtiltie, and hath taken awaye thy blessyng.
And he said agayne: Is not he rightly named Iacob? for he hath vndermyned me nowe two tymes. [First] he toke away my birthright: and see, nowe hath he taken away my blessyng also. And he sayde: hast thou kept neuer a blessyng for me?
Isahac aunswered, and sayde vnto Esau: Beholde, I haue made hym thy Lorde, & all his brethren haue I made his seruauntes: Moreouer, with corne and wine haue I stablisshed him, what shall I do vnto thee nowe my sonne?
And Esau sayde vnto his father: hast thou but that one blessyng my father? blesse me, I am also [thy sonne] O my father. So lyfted vp Esau his voyce, and wept.
Then Isahac his father aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: beholde, thy dwellyng place shalbe the fatnesse of the earth, and of the deawe of heauen from aboue.
And through thy sworde shalt thou liue, and shalt be thy brothers seruaunt: and it shal come to passe, that thou shalt get the maisterie, & thou shalt loose his yoke from of thy necke.
And Esau hated Iacob, because of the blessyng that his father blessed hym withall. And Esau sayde in his heart: The dayes of sorowyng for my father are at hande, then wyll I slaye my brother Iacob.
And these wordes of Esau her elder sonne were tolde to Rebecca: And she sent, & called Iacob her younger sonne, & saide vnto him: Beholde, thy brother Esau as touchyng thee doth comforte hym selfe [full purposyng] to kyll thee.
Nowe therefore my sonne heare my voyce: make thee redy, and flee to Laban my brother at Haran,
And tary with him awhyle vntyl thy brothers fiercenesse be swaged,
And vntyll thy brothers wrath turne away from thee, & he forget the thinges which thou hast done to hym: then wyll I sende and fet thee away from thence: why should I be desolate of you both in one day?
And Rebecca spake to Isahac: I am weery of my lyfe for the daughters of Heth. Yf Iacob take a wyfe of the daughters of Heth, such as these [which are] of the daughters of the lande, what good shall my lyfe do me?
AND so Isahac called Iacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and sayde vnto hym: See thou take not a wyfe of the daughters of Chanaan:
Arise, and get thee to Mesopotamia, to the house of Bethuel thy mothers father, and there take thee a wyfe of the daughters of Laban thy mothers brother.
And God almyghtie blesse thee, and make thee to encrease, & multiplie thee, that thou mayest be a number of people:
And geue the blessing of Abraham vnto thee, and to thy seede with thee, that thou mayest receaue to inherite {th}e lande wherein thou art a straunger, whiche God gaue vnto Abraham.
Thus Isahac sent foorth Iacob: and he went towarde Mesopotamia, vnto Laban, sonne of Bethuel the Syrian, and brother to Rebecca Iacob and Esaus mother.
When Esau sawe that Isahac had blessed Iacob, and sent hym to Mesopotamia to fet hym a wyfe from thence, and that as he blessed him, he gaue him a charge, saying, thou shalt not take a wyfe of the daughters of Chanaan:
And that Iacob had obeyed his father and mother, and was gone to Mesopotamia:
And Esau seyng also that the daughters of Chanaan pleased not Isahac his father:
Then went Esau vnto Ismael, and toke vnto the wyues [which he had] Mahalah the daughter of Ismael Abrahams sonne, the sister of Nebaioth to be his wyfe.
Iacob departed from Beer-seba, and went towarde Haran.
And he came vnto a certayne place, & taryed there all night, because the sunne was downe: and toke of the stones of the place, and put vnder his head, and layde hym downe in the same place to sleepe.
And he dreamed, and beholde there stoode a lather vpo{n} the earth, and the toppe of it reached vp to heauen: and see, the angels of God went vp & downe vpon it.
Yea, and God from aboue leaned vppon it, and sayde: I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isahac, the land which thou sleepest vpon, wyll I geue thee and thy seede.
And thy seede shalbe as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spreade abrode to the west, to the east, to the north, and to the south: and in thee, and in thy seede, shall all the kynredes of the earth be blessed.
And see, I am with thee, and wyll be thy keper in all [places] whyther thou goest, and wyll bryng thee agayne into this lande: For I wyl not leaue thee, vntyll I haue made good that whiche I haue promised thee.
When Iacob was awaked out of his sleepe, he sayde: Surely the Lorde is in this place, and I knewe it not.
And he was afrayde, and saide: howe dreadefull is this place? it is none other but euen the house of God, & it is the gate of heauen.
And Iacob rose vp early in the mornyng, and toke the stone that he hadde layed vnder his head, and pitched it vpon an ende, and powred oyle in the toppe of it.
And he called the name of the place Bethel: but the name of the citie was called Luz, before tyme.
And Iacob vowed a vowe, saying: Yf God wyll be with me, and wyll kepe me in this iourney in which I go, and wyll geue me bread to eate, and clothes to put on:
So that I come agayne vnto my fathers house in saftie: then shal the Lord be my God.
And this stone whiche I haue set vp on an ende, shalbe Gods house: and of all that thou shalt geue me, I wyl surely geue the tenth vnto thee.
THen Iacob went on his iourney, & came into the lande of the people of the east.
And [as] he loked about, beholde, there was a wel in the field, and loe, three flockes of sheepe lay there by, for at that well were the flockes watered: and there was a great stone vpon the well mouth.
And thyther were all the flockes brought, and they roulled the stone fro{m} the welles mouth, & watred the sheepe, & put the stone agayne vpon the welles mouth vnto his place.
And Iacob saide vnto them: My brethren, whence be ye? And they sayde: of Haran are we.
And he sayde vnto them: Knowe ye Laban the sonne of Nachor? They sayde: we knowe hym.
And he sayde vnto them: is he in good health? And they sayde: he is in good health, and beholde his daughter Rachel commeth with the sheepe.
And he sayde: loe [it is] yet a great whyle to nyght, neither is it tyme that the cattell should be gathered together: water ye the sheepe, and go and feede [them.]
And they sayde: we may not vntyll all the flockes be brought together, and tyl they roule the stone from the welles mouth, and so we water our sheepe.
Whyle he yet talked with them, Rachel came with her fathers sheepe: for she kept them.
Assoone as Iacob sawe Rachel the daughter of Laban his mothers brother, & the sheepe of Laban his mothers brother, Iacob went & rouled the stone from the welles mouth, & watered the flocke of Laban his mothers brother.
And Iacob kyssed Rachel, and lift vp his voyce and wept.
And Iacob tolde Rachel that he was her fathers brother, and that he was Rebeccaes sonne: Therefore ranne she and tolde her father.
And when Laban hearde certaynely tell of Iacob his sisters sonne, he ranne to meete hym, and imbraced hym, and kyssed hym, and brought hym to his house: And he tolde Laban all these thynges.
To whom Laban sayde: Well, thou art my bone & my fleshe. And he abode with hym the space of a moneth.
And Laban said vnto Iacob: Though thou be my brother, shouldest thou therfore serue me for naught? Tell me what shall thy wages be?
Laban had two daughters, the elder called Lea, and the younger Rachel.
Lea was tender eyed: but Rachel was beautifull and well fauoured.
And Iacob loued Rachel, and sayde: I wyll serue thee seuen yere for Rachel thy younger daughter.
Laban aunswered: It is better that I geue her [vnto] thee, then that I shoulde geue her to another man: abide with me.
And Iacob serued seuen yere for Rachel: and they seemed vnto hym but a fewe dayes, for the loue he hadde to her.
And Iacob said vnto Laban: geue [me] my wife that I may lye with her, for my dayes are fulfylled.
Then Laban gathered together all the men of that place, and made a feast.
And when euen was come, he toke Lea his daughter, and brought her to hym, and he went in to her.
And Laban gaue vnto his daughter Lea Zilpha his mayde [to be] her seruaunt.
And when the mornyng was come, beholde it was Lea. Then sayde he to Laban: Wherefore hast thou played thus with me? dyd not I serue thee for Rachel? wherfore then hast thou begyled me?
Laban aunswered: It is not the maner of this place, to marry {th}e younger before the first borne.
Passe out this weeke, & then we wyll geue thee this also for the seruice whiche thou shalt serue me yet seuen yeres more.
And Iacob dyd euen so, and passed out the weeke: and then he gaue hym Rachel his daughter to wyfe also.
And Laban gaue to Rachel his daughter Bilha his handmayde, to be her seruaunt.
So lay he by Rachel also, and loued Rachel more then Lea, and serued hym yet seuen yeres more.
When the Lorde sawe that Lea was despised, he made her fruitfull, and Rachel remayned baren.
And Lea conceaued and bare a sonne, and she called his name Ruben: for she sayde, the Lord hath loked vpon my tribulation: nowe therfore my husband wyll loue me.
And she conceaued agayne, and bare a sonne, & sayde: The Lorde hath hearde that I am despised, and hath therefore geuen me this [sonne] also: and she called his name Simeon.
And she conceaued yet, & bare a sonne, and sayde: Nowe this once wyll my husbande kepe me company, because I haue borne him three sonnes: and therfore was his name called Leui.
And she conceaued yet agayne, and bare hym a sonne, saying: Nowe wyll I prayse the Lorde. Therefore she called his name Iuda, & left bearyng.
RAchel when she sawe that she bare Iacob no children, she enuied her sister, and sayde vnto Iacob: Geue me children, or els I am but dead.
And Iacobs anger was kyndled agaynst Rachel, and sayde: Am I in Gods steade, whiche kepeth from thee the fruite of thy wombe?
Then she sayde: Here is my mayde Bilha, go in vnto her, & she shall beare vpon my knees, that I also may haue chyldren by her.
And she gaue him Bilha her handmayde to wyfe: and Iacob went in vnto her.
And Bilha conceaued, and bare Iacob a sonne.
Then saide Rachel: God hath geuen sentence on my side, and hath also heard my voyce, and hath geuen me a sonne: therfore called she hym Dan.
And Bilha Rachels seruant conceaued againe, & bare Iacob another sonne.
And Rachel said: With godly wrastlynges haue I wrastled with my sister, & haue gotten the vpper hande: and she called his name Nephthali.
When Lea sawe that she had left bearyng chyldren she toke Zilpha her mayde, and gaue her Iacob to wyfe.
And Zilpha Leas mayde bare Iacob a sonne.
Then sayde Lea, Good lucke: and called his name Gad.
And Zilpha Leas seruaunt bare Iacob an other sonne.
Then saide Lea: happy am I, for the daughters wyll call me blessed: and called his name Aser.
And Ruben went out in the dayes of the wheate haruest, & founde Mandragoras in the fielde, and brought them vnto his mother Lea. Then said Rachel to Lea: Geue me I praye thee of thy sonnes Mandragoras.
To whom Lea aunswered: Is it not enough that thou hast taken away my husband, but wouldest take away my sonnes Mandragoras also? Then saide Rachel: well, let hym sleepe with thee this night for thy sonnes Mandragoras.
And Iacob came from the fielde at euen, and Lea went out to meete hym, and sayde: thou shalt come in to me, for I haue bought thee in deede with my sonne Mandragoras. And he slept with her that same nyght.
And God hearde Lea, that she conceaued, and bare Iacob the fift sonne.
Then sayde Lea: God hath geuen me a rewarde, because I gaue my mayden to my husbande: and she called him Isachar.
And Lea conceaued yet agayne, and bare Iacob the sixt sonne.
And Lea sayde: God hath endued me with a good dowrie, nowe wyll my husbande dwell with me, because I haue borne hym sixe sonnes: and called his name Zabulon.
After that, she bare a daughter, and called her name Dina.
And God remembred Rachel, & God hearde her, and made her fruitefull,
So that she conceaued & bare a sonne: and sayde, God hath taken awaye my rebuke.
And she called his name Ioseph, saying: the Lorde geue me yet another sonne.
Assoone as Rachel had borne Ioseph, Iacob sayde to Laban: Send me away, that I maye go vnto my owne place, and to my countrey.
Geue me my wyues and my chyldren for whom I haue serued thee, and let me go: for thou knowest what seruice I haue done thee.
To whom Laban aunswered: I pray thee, yf I haue founde fauour in thy syght [tary]: for I haue proued that the Lorde blessed me for thy sake.
Also he sayde: Appoynt what thy rewarde shalbe, and I wyll geue [it thee.]
But he saide vnto him: Thou knowest what seruice I haue done thee, and in what takyng thy cattell haue ben vnder me:
For that litle which thou haddest before I came, is nowe increased into a multitude, and the Lord hath blessed thee through my trauell: but nowe when shall I make prouision for myne owne house also?
And he sayde: What shall I then geue thee? And Iacob aunswered, Thou shalt geue me nothyng at all: yf thou wylt do this thyng for me, then wyll I turne agayne, feede thy sheepe, and kepe them.
I wyll go about all thy flockes this day, and seperate from them all the cattell that are spotted & of diuers colours: and all the blacke among the sheepe, & the partie & spotted amongst the kiddes [the same] shalbe my rewarde.
So shall my ryghteousnes aunswere for me in time to come: for it shal come for my rewarde before thy face. And euery one that is not specked and partie amongst the goates, & blacke amongst the sheepe, let it be compted theft in me.
And Laban sayde: go to, would God it myght be accordyng to thy saying.
Therfore he toke out the same day the hee goates that were ryngstraked and of diuers colours, & all the shee goates that were spotted and coloured, and all that had whyte in them, & all the blacke amongst the sheepe, and put them in the kepyng of his sonnes.
And set three dayes iourney betwixte himselfe and Iacob: and so Iacob kept the rest of Labans sheepe.
Iacob toke roddes of greene populer, hasell, and chesse nut trees, and pilled whyte strakes in them, and made the whyte appeare in the roddes.
And put the roddes which he had pilled, [euen] before the sheepe, in the gutters and watryng throughes when the sheepe came to drynke, that they should conceaue when they came to drynke.
And the sheepe conceaued before the roddes, & brought foorth lambes ryngstraked, spotted, and partie.
And Iacob did seperate these lambes, and turned the faces of the sheepe whiche were in the flocke of Laban, towarde these ryngstraked, and al maner of blacke: and so put his owne flockes by them selues, and put them not with Labans cattell.
And in euery conceauyng tyme of the stronger cattel, Iacob layed the roddes before the eyes of the cattell in the gutters, namely that they myght conceaue before the roddes.
But when the cattell were feeble, he put them not in: and so the feebler were Labans, and the stronger Iacobs.
And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattell, and mayde seruauntes, and man seruauntes, and camels, and asses.
AND he heard the wordes of Labans sonnes saying, Iacob hath take{n} away all that was our fathers, and of our fathers [goodes] hath he gotten all his glorie.
And Iacob behelde the countenaunce of Laban, and beholde, it was not towardes hym as it was wont to be.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Iacob: turne agayne into the lande of thy fathers, and to thy kynrede, and I wyll be with thee.
Therfore Iacob sent, & called Rachel and Lea to the fielde vnto his flocke,
And sayde vnto them: I see your fathers countenau{n}ce that it is not toward me as it was wont to be: but the God of my father hath ben with me.
And ye knowe howe I haue serued your father to the best of my power.
But your father hath deceaued me, and chaunged my wages ten tymes: but God suffred hym not to hurt me.
When he sayde, the spotted shalbe thy wages: then al the sheepe bare spotted. And when he sayd, the ringstraked shalbe thy rewarde: then bare all the sheepe ringstraked.
Thus hath God taken away the increase of your fathers flocke, and geuen it to me.
But in rammyng tyme, I lifted vp myne eyes, and sawe in a dreame, and beholde, the Rammes leaped vpon the sheepe that were ringstraked, spotted, and partie.
And the angell of God spake vnto me in a dreame, saying: Iacob? And I aunswered: here am I.
And he sayd: lift vp nowe thyne eyes, and see all the Rammes leapyng vpon the sheepe that are ringstraked, spotted, and partie: for I haue seene all that Laban doth vnto thee.
I am the God of Bethel, where thou annoyntedst the stone set vp on an ende, and where thou vowedst a vowe vnto me: nowe therefore aryse, and get thee out of this countrey, and returne vnto the lande where thou wast borne.
Then aunswered Rachel, and Lea, and said vnto him: haue we had as yet any portion or inheritaunce in our fathers house?
Doth not he count vs euen as straungers? for he hath solde vs, & hath quite deuoured also our money.
Therfore all the ryches whiche God hath taken from our father, that is ours and our chyldrens: nowe then whatsoeuer God hath sayde vnto thee, that do.
Then Iacob rose vp, & set his sonnes and wyues vp vpon camelles:
And caryed away all his flockes, and all his substaunce whiche he had procured, the increase of his cattell which he had gotten in Mesopotamia, for to go to Isahac his father vnto the lande of Chanaan.
But Laban was gone to sheare his sheepe: and Rachel had stolen her fathers images.
And Iacob stale away the heart of Laban the Syrian, in that he tolde him not that he fled.
So fled he, and all that he had, and made hym selfe redy, and passed ouer the ryuer, and set his face strayght towarde the mounte Gilead.
Vpon the thirde day after, was it told Laban that Iacob fled.
Then he toke his brethren with him, and folowed after him seuen daies iourney, & ouertoke him at the mounte Gilead.
And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dreame by nyght, and sayd vnto him: take heede that thou speake not to Iacob ought saue good.
And Laban ouertoke Iacob, and Iacob had pitched his tent in the mounte: And Laban with his brethren, pitched also vpon the mounte Gilead.
And Laban said to Iacob: what hast thou done? for thou hast stollen away my heart, and caryed away my daughters as though they had ben taken captiue with the sworde.
Wherfore wentest thou away secretly vnknowen to me, and dyddest not tell me, that I myght haue let thee go thy way with mirth and songues, with tymbrell and harpe?
And hast not suffred me to kysse my chyldren and my daughters? thou wast a foole nowe in so doyng.
For it is in my hand through God to do you hurt: But the God of your father spake vnto me yesternight, saying: Take heede that thou speake not to Iacob ought saue good.
And nowe though thou wouldest nedes be gone away, because thou sore longest after thy fathers house, yet wherfore hast thou stollen my gods?
Iacob aunswered and sayde to Laban: because I was afrayde, & thought that peraduenture thou wouldest take away thy daughters from me.
But with whomsoeuer thou findest thy gods, let hym dye. Here before our brethren, seeke that thyne is by me, and take it to thee: But Iacob wyst not that Rachel had stolen them.
Then went Laban into Iacobs tent, and into Leas tent, and into the two maydseruaunts tentes: but found them not. Then went he out of Leas tent, and entred into Rachels tent:
And Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camelles strawe, & sate downe vpon them: And Laban tossed vp all {th}e tent, but found them not.
Then sayde she to her father: my Lord, be not angry that I can not ryse vp before thee, for the custome of women is come vpon me. So searched he, but founde not those images.
And Iacob was wroth, and chode with Laban. Iacob also aunswered and sayd to him: what haue I trespassed? or what haue I offended thee, that thou doest sore pursue after me?
Thou hast tossed vp all my stuffe, and what hast thou founde of all thy householde stuffe? put it here before thy brethren and my brethren, that they may iudge betwixt vs both.
Behold, this twentie yere haue I ben with thee, thy sheepe and thy goates haue not ben barren, and the rammes of thy flocke haue I not eaten.
Whatsoeuer was torne [of beastes] I brought it not vnto thee, but made it good my selfe: of my hande diddest thou require it that was stolen by day or nyght.
I was in suche case, that by day the heate consumed me, and the frost by nyght, and my slepe departed from mine eyes.
Thus haue I ben twentie yere in thy house, and serued thee fourteene yeres for thy two daughters, and sixe yere for thy sheepe, and thou hast chaunged my rewarde ten tymes.
And except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the feare of Isahac had ben with me, surely thou haddest sent me away nowe all emptie: but God behelde my tribulation and the labour of my handes, and rebuked [thee] yesternyght.
And Laban aunswered and sayd vnto Iacob: these daughters are my daughters, and these chyldren are my chyldren, & these sheepe are my sheepe, and all that thou seest is myne: and what can I do this day vnto these my daughters, or vnto their children which they haue borne?
Nowe therfore come on, and let vs make a league I and thou, which may be a wytnesse betwene me and thee.
Then toke Iacob a stone, and set it vp on ende.
And Iacob sayde vnto his brethren: gather stones. And they toke stones, and made an heape: and they dyd eate there vpon the heape.
And Laban called it Iegar Sahadutha: but Iacob called it Galeed.
Then saide Laban: this heape is witnesse betwene thee and me this day, therfore it is called Galeed,
And Mispah: for he said, the Lord loke betwene thee and me when we are departed one from another,
If thou shalt vexe my daughters, or shalt take other wyues beside my daughters: here is no man with vs, beholde, God [is[ wytnesse betwixt me and thee.
And Laban sayde moreouer to Iacob: beholde this heape, and this stone set vp on ende, whiche I haue layde betwixt me and thee,
This heape be witnesse, and also this stone set vp on ende, that I wyll not come ouer this heape to thee, and thou shalt not come ouer this heape and this stone set vp on ende vnto me, to do any harme.
The God of Abraham, and the God of Nachor, and the God of theyr father, be iudge betwixt vs. And Iacob sware by the feare of his father Isahac.
Then Iacob dyd sacrifice vpon the mounte, and called his brethren to eate bread: and they did eate bread, and taryed all nyght in the hyll.
And early in the mornyng Laban rose vp, and kyssed his sonnes and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departyng, went into his place agayne.
BVt Iacob went foorth on his iourney, and the angelles of God came and met him.
And when Iacob saw them, he sayde: this is gods hoste, & called the name of the same place, Mahanaim.
And Iacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother, vnto the lande of Seir, the fielde of Edom:
And he commaunded them, saying: Thus shall ye speake to my Lorde Esau, thy seruaunt Iacob sayeth thus: I haue ben a straunger with Laban, and haue stayed there vnto this time.
And haue oxen, asses, and sheepe, menseruauntes, and womenseruauntes: and haue sent to shewe [it] my Lord, that I may finde grace in thy sight.
And the messengers came agayne to Iacob, saying: we came to thy brother Esau, and he commeth to meete thee, and hath foure hundred men with him.
But Iacob was greatly afrayde, and wist not whiche way to turne him selfe: and deuided the people that was with him, and the sheepe, and oxen, and camelles, into two companies:
And sayd, if Esau come to the one part and smite it, the other shall saue it selfe.
And Iacob said agayne: O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isahac, Lorde whiche saydest vnto me, returne vnto thy countrey, and to thy kinred, & I will do well with thee:
I am not worthy of the least of all the mercyes and trueth whiche thou hast shewed vnto thy seruaunt: for with my staffe came I ouer this Iordane, & nowe haue I gotten two companies.
Deliuer me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I feare hym, lest he wyll come and smyte me, [yea] the mother with the chyldren.
Thou saydest, I wyll surely do thee good, and make thy seede as the sande of the sea, whiche can not be numbred for multitude.
And he taryed there that same nyght, and toke of that whiche came to hande, a present for Esau his brother:
Two hundred shee gotes, and twentie hee gotes, two hundred sheepe, & twentie rammes,
Thirtie milche camelles with theyr coltes, fourtie kine, and ten bulles, twentie shee asses, and ten foales:
And deliuered them into the handes of his seruauntes, euery droue by them selues, and sayde vnto his seruauntes: go foorth before me, and put a space betwixt droue and droue.
And he commaunded the formost, saying: If Esau my brother meete thee, and aske thee, saying, whose art thou? and whyther goest thou? and whose are these [that go] before thee?
Thou shalt say, they be thy seruaunt Iacobs, and it is a present sent vnto my Lorde Esau, and beholde, he him selfe commeth after vs.
And so commaunded he the seconde, and the thirde, and all that folowed the droues, saying: on this maner see that you speake vnto Esau when ye meete hym.
And say moreouer: beholde, thy seruaunt Iacob also commeth after vs: for he sayde, I wyll appeace his wrath with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see him my selfe, peraduenture he wyll receaue me to grace.
So went the present before hym: and he taryed al that night in the company.
And he rose vp the same nyght, and toke his two wyues, & his two maydeseruauntes, and his eleuen sonnes, and went ouer the forde Iaboc.
And he toke them, and sent them ouer the ryuer, and sent ouer that he had.
And Iacob was left hym selfe alone: and there wrasteled a man with hym, vnto the breakyng of the day.
And when he sawe that he coulde not preuayle agaynst hym, he smote hym vpon the hucklebone of his thigh, and the hucklebone of Iacobs thigh loosed out of ioynt as he wrastled with him.
And he said: let me go, for the day breaketh. Whiche aunswered: I will not let thee go, except thou blesse me.
And he sayde vnto hym: what is thy name? He aunswered: Iacob.
He sayde: thy name shalbe called no more Iacob, but Israel: For as a prince hast thou wrasteled with God, and with men, and hast preuayled.
And Iacob asked him, saying: tell me thy name. And he sayde: wherefore doest thou aske after my name? And he blessed hym there.
And Iacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I haue seene God face to face, and my life is preserued.
And as he went ouer Peniel, the sunne rose vpon hym, and he halted vppon his thigh.
And therefore it is that the chyldren of Israel eate not of the sinnowe that shranke in that place of the thigh, vnto this day: because that he touched the hucklebone of Iacobs thigh, about the sinnowe that shranke.
IAcob lyftyng vp his eyes, looked, and beholde Esau came, hauyng with hym foure hundred men: and he deuided the childre{n} vnto Lea, and vnto Rachel, and vnto the two handmaydens.
And he put the handmaydens & theyr chyldren formost, and Lea and her children after, and Rachel and Ioseph hindermost.
And he went before them, and bowed him selfe to the grounde seuen tymes, vntill he came to his brother.
Esau ranne to meete hym, and imbraced him, and fel on his necke, and kissed him, and they wept.
And he lyft vp his eyes, and sawe the women & the children, and said: whence hast thou these? And he aunswered: they are the children which god hath geuen thy seruaunt.
Then came the handmaydens foorth, and their chyldren, and dyd their obeysaunce.
Lea also with her children, came and dyd their obeysaunce? And last of all came Ioseph and Rachel, and dyd theyr obeysaunce.
And he sayde: what is all the droue whiche I met? He aunswered: that I may finde grace in the sight of my lorde.
And Esau saide: I haue inough my brother, kepe that thou hast vnto thy selfe.
And Iacob aunswered: Nay I pray thee, but if I haue founde grace in thy sight, receaue I pray thee my present of my hande: for I haue seene thy face, as though I had seene the face of God, and so thou hast receaued me to grace.
Oh take my blessyng that is brought thee: for God hath had mercy on me, and I haue inough. And so he compelled him, and he toke it,
And he saide: let vs take our iourney, and go, I wyll go before thee.
Iacob aunswered him: my lord, thou knowest that the chyldren are tender, and the small and great cattell with young vnder my handes, which if men should ouerdryue but euen one day, all the flocke wyll dye.
Oh let my Lorde go before his seruaunt, and I wyll dryue fayre and softly, according as the cattell that goeth before me, and the chyldren be able to endure, vntill I come vnto my Lord vnto Seir.
And Esau sayd: I will leaue some of my folke with thee. And he aunswered: what needeth it? I shall finde grace in the sight of my Lorde.
So Esau went his way agayne that same day vnto Seir.
And Iacob toke his iourney towarde Suchoth, and buylt him an house, and made boothes for his cattell: and therefore is it, that the name of the place is called Suchoth.
And Iacob came to Sale, a citie of Sichem, whiche is in the lande of Chanaan, after that he was come from Mesopotamia, and pitched before the citie.
And bought a parcell of grounde, where he pitched his tent, of the chyldren of Hemor Sichems father, for an hundreth peeces of money.
And he made there an aulter, and called it, the mightie God of Israel.
DIna the daughter of Lea, whiche she bare vnto Iacob, went out to see the daughters of the lande.
Whom whe{n} Sichem the sonne of Hemor the Heuite Lorde of the countrey sawe, he toke her, & lay with her, and forced her.
And his heart laye vnto Dina the daughter of Iacob, and he loued that damsell, and spake kyndly vnto her.
And Sichem spake vnto his father Hemor, saying: get me this mayden vnto my wyfe.
And Iacob heard that he had defiled Dina his daughter, (his sonnes beyng with their cattell in the fielde) and Iacob helde his peace vntill they were come.
And Hemor the father of Sichem, went out vnto Iacob to common with hym.
And when the sonnes of Iacob (comming out of the fielde) hearde it, it greeued them, and they were not a little wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel, in that he had lien with Iacobs daughter, which thing ought not to be done.
And Hemor communed with them, saying: the soule of my sonne Sichem, longeth for your daughter, I pray you geue her him to wyfe.
And make maryages with vs, and geue your daughters vnto vs, and take our daughters vnto you.
And ye shall dwell with vs, and the lande shalbe before you: dwell, and do your busines therein, and haue possessions therin.
And Sichem said, vnto her father and vnto her brethren: let me finde grace in your eyes, and whatsoeuer ye appoint me, that wyll I geue.
Aske freely of me both dowry and gyftes, and I wyll geue accordyng as ye say vnto me, so that ye geue me the damsell to wyfe.
But the sonnes of Iacob aunswered to Sichem and Hemor his father, talking amongest themselues deceiptfully, because he had defiled Dina their sister.
And they sayde vnto them: we can not do this thing, that we shoulde geue our sister to one that is vncircumcised, for that were an abomination vnto vs.
But in this will we consent vnto you: if ye wyll be as we be, & all the males amongest you be circumcised:
Then wyll we geue our daughters vnto you, and take your daughters to vs, and will dwell with you, and be one people.
But and if ye wyll not hearken vnto vs to be circumcised, then wyll we take our daughter, and go our wayes.
Theyr wordes pleased Hemor, and Sichem his sonne.
And the young man deferde not for to do the thing, because he had a lust to Iacobs daughter: he was also most set by, of all that was in his fathers house.
Then Hemor and Sichem his sonne went vnto the gate of their citie, and communed with the men of their citie, saying:
These men lyue peaceably among vs, and dwell in the lande, and do theyr occupation therein: and beholde, the lande is large inough for them, we will take their daughters to wiues, & geue them our daughters.
Only herein will they consent vnto vs for to dwell with vs, and to be one people: if all the males that are among vs be circumcised, as they are circumcised?
Shall not their goodes and their substaunce, and all their cattell be ours? let vs only consent vnto them, and they will dwell with vs.
And vnto Hemor & Sichem his sonne, hearkened all that went out at the gate of his citie: and all the males were circumcised, whatsoeuer went out at the gate of his citie.
And the thirde day, whyles they were sore, two of the sonnes of Iacob, Simeon & Leui Dinas brethren, toke eyther of them his sworde, and went into the citie boldely, and slue all that was male,
And slue also Hemor and Sichem his sonne with the edge of the sworde, and toke Dina out of Sichems house, and went theyr way.
And the sonnes of Iacob commyng vpon the dead, spoyled the citie, because they had defiled their sister.
And toke their sheepe, oxen, and their asses, and whatsoeuer was in the citie, and also in the fieldes.
And all their goodes, and all their children, and their wiues, toke they captiue, and made hauocke of all that was in the house.
But Iacob sayde to Simeon & Leui: ye haue troubled me, and made me to be abhorred of the inhabitours of the land of the Chanaanite and the Pherezite: and I beyng fewe in number, they shall gather the{m} selues together against me, and slay me, and so shall I and my house be destroyed.
And they aunswered: shoulde he deale with our sister, as with an harlot?
AND God sayd vnto Iacob: aryse, and get thee vp to Bethel, and dwell there, and make there an aulter vnto God that appeared vnto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
Then sayde Iacob vnto his householde, and to all that were with hym: put away the straunge gods that are among you, and be cleane, and chaunge your garmentes.
For we wyll aryse and go vp to Bethel, and I wyll make an aulter there vnto God, whiche hearde me in the day of my affliction, and was with me in the way whiche I went.
And they gaue vnto Iacob all the straunge gods whiche they had in their hand, and al their earinges which were in theyr eares, and Iacob hyd them vnder an oke whiche was by Sichem.
And when they departed, the feare of God fel vpon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue the sonnes of Iacob.
So came Iacob to Luz, whiche is in the lande of Chanaan (the same is Bethel) he and all the people that was with him.
And he builded there an aulter, and called the place, the God of Bethel, because that god appeared vnto him there when he fled fro{m} the face of his brother.
But Debora Rebeccas nurse died, and was buryed beneath Bethel vnder an oke: and the name of it was called, the oke of lamentation.
And God appeared vnto Iacob agayne, after he came out of Mesopotamia, and blessed him.
And God sayd vnto him: thy name is Iacob, notwithstanding thou shalt be no more called Iacob, but Israel shalbe thy name: & he called his name Israel.
And God sayd vnto him: I am God almightie, be fruitefull and multiplie: a nation, and a multitude of nations shall spring of thee, yea and kinges shall come out of thy loynes.
And the lande which I gaue Abraham and Isahac, wil I geue vnto thee, and vnto thy seede after thee wyll I geue that lande also.
And so God departed from him, in the place where he had talked with him.
And Iacob set vp on ende in the place where he talked with him [euen] a stone set he vp on ende, & powred drinke offering theron, & powred also oyle theron.
And Iacob called the name of the place where God spake with hym, Bethel.
And they departed from Bethel: and when he was but a fielde breadth from Ephrath, Rachel began to trauell, and in trauayling, she was in perill:
And as she was in paynes of her labour, the midwife saide vnto her: feare not, for this sonne is thyne also.
Then as her soule was a departing (for she died) she called his name Benoni, but his father called hym Beniamin.
And thus died Rachel, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, whiche is Beth-lehem.
And Iacob set vp a stone on ende vpon her graue: whiche is called Rachels grauestone vnto this day.
And Israel went thence, and pitched his tent beyonde the towre of Eder.
And as Israel dwelt in that land, Ruben went and lay with Bilha his fathers concubine: And it came to Israels eare. The sonnes of Iacob were twelue in number.
The sonnes of Lea: Ruben Iacobs first borne sonne, and Simeon, & Leui, and Iuda, and Isachar, and Zabulon.
The sonnes of Rachel: Ioseph and Beniamin.
And the sonnes of Bilha Rachels handmayde: Dan and Nephthali.
And the sonnes of Zilpha Leas handmayde: Gad and Aser: These are the sonnes of Iacob which were borne him in Mesopotamia.
And so Iacob came vnto Isahac his father to Mamre, vnto Ciriath-arba, whiche is Hebron, where Abraham and Isahac dwelt.
And the dayes of Isahac were an hundred and fourescore yeres.
And Isahac decayed away, and dyed, and was layde vnto his people, beyng olde and full of dayes: and his sonnes Esau and Iacob buryed him.
THese are the generations of Esau, the same is Edom.
Esau toke his wiues of {th}e daughters of Chanaan: Ada {th}e daughter of Ebon an Hethite, and Aholibama the daughter of Ana, the daughter of Sibeon an Heuite,
And Basemath Ismaels daughter, and sister of Nebaioth.
And Ada bore vnto Esau Eliphas: and Basemath bare Rehuel.
And Aholibama bare Iehus, and Ialam, and Corah. These are the sonnes of Esau, whiche were borne hym in the lande of Chanaan.
And Esau toke his wyues, and his sonnes and daughters, and al the soules of his house, his goods, and all his cattell, and al his substaunce which he had got in the lande of Chanaan, and went into a countrey away from the face of his brother Iacob.
For theyr ryches was much, and they coulde not dwell together: and the land wherein they were straungers coulde not receaue them, because of theyr possessions.
Thus dwelt Esau in mounte Seir, the same Esau, is Edom.
These are the generations of Esau, father of the Edomites in mount Seir.
And these are the names of Esaus sonnes: Eliphas the sonne of Ada, the wyfe of Esau, and Rehuel the sonne of Basemath the wife of Esau.
And the sonnes of Eliphas, were Theman, Omar, Sepho, and Gatham, and Cenaz.
And Thimna was concubine to Eliphas Esaus sonne, and bare vnto Eliphas Amalec: and these be the sonnes of Ada Esaus wife.
And these are the sonnes of Rehuel: Nahath, and Zerah, Samma, and Mizza: these were {th}e sonnes of Basemath Esaus wyfe.
And these were the sonnes of Aholibama the daughter of Ana, daughter of Sebeon Esaus wife: and she bare vnto Esau, Iehus, and Ialam and Corah.
These were dukes of the sonnes of Esau. The children of Eliphas the first borne sonne of Esau were these.
Duke Theman, duke Omar, duke Sepho, duke Cenaz, and duke Corah, duke Gatham, & duke Amalec: these are the dukes that came of Eliphas in the lande of Edom, and these were the sonnes of Ada.
These also are the children of Rehuel Esaus sonne: duke Nahath, duke Serah, duke Samma, duke Mizza. These are the dukes that came of Rehuel, in the lande of Edom: and these are the sonnes of Basemath Esaus wyfe.
These were the chyldren of Aholibama Esaus wyfe: duke Iehus, duke Ialam, duke Corah: these dukes came of Aholibama the daughter of Ana Esaus wyfe.
These are the chyldren of Esau, and these are the dukes of them, whiche Esau is Edom.
These are the chyldren of Seir the Horite, the inhabitauntes of the lande, Lotan, and Sobal, & Sebeon, & Ana,
And Dison, and Eser, and Disan: these are the dukes of the Horites the chyldren of Seir in the lande of Edom.
And the chyldren of Lotan, were Hori, and Hemam: and Lotans sister [was called] Thimna.
The chyldren of Sobal were these: Aluan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Sepho, and Onam.
These are the chyldren of Sebeon, both Aia and Ana: this was that Ana that founde mules in the wyldernesse as she fedde her father Sebeons asses.
The chyldren of Ana were these: Dison, & Aholibama the daughter of Ana.
These are the chyldren of Dison: Hemdan, and Esban, and Iethran, and Cheran.
The chyldren of Eser are these: Bilhan, and Saauan, and Acan.
The chyldren of Disan also are these: Vs and Aran.
These are the dukes that came of the Horites: duke Laton, duke Sobal, duke Sebeon, duke Ana,
Duke Dison, duke Eser, duke Disan: these be the dukes that came of Hori, after theyr dukedoms in the lande of Seir.
These are the kinges that raigned in the lande of Edom, before there raigned any king vpon the chyldren of Israel.
Bela the sonne of Beor raigned in Edom: and the name of his citie was Dinhabah.
And when Bela dyed, Iobab the sonne of Serah out of Bosra, raigned in his steade.
When Iobab also was dead, Husam of the lande of Temani, raigned in his steade.
And after the death of Husam, Hadad the sonne of Bedad, which slew the Madianites in the field of the Moabites, raigned in his steade: & the name of his citie was Auith.
When Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrecah raigned in his steade.
When Samlah was dead, Saul of the ryuer of Rehoboth raigned in his steade.
When Saul was dead, Baal-hanan the sonne of Achbor raigned in his steade.
And after the death of Baal-hanan the sonne of Achbor, Hadar raigned in his steade: and {th}e name of his citie was Pau, & his wyfes name Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
These are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, accordyng to their kinredes, places, & names: duke Tunna, duke Aluah, duke Ietheth,
Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
Duke Cenaz, duke Theman, duke Mibsar,
Duke Magdiel, duke Iran. These be the dukes of Edom, accordyng to their habitations in the lande of their possessions. This Esau is the father of the Edomites.
IAcob dwelt in the land wherin his father was long a straunger, euen in {th}e lande of Chanaan.
These are {th}e generations of Iacob: when Ioseph was seuenteen yeres olde, he kept sheepe with his brethren, and the ladde was with {th}e sonnes of Bilha, and with the sonnes of Zilpha, his fathers wyues. And Ioseph brought vnto his father their euyll report.
But Israel loued Ioseph more then all his chyldren, because he begate hym in his olde age: and he made hym a coate of many colours.
And when his brethren saw that their father loued hym more then all his brethren, they hated hym, and coulde not speake peaceably vnto hym.
Moreouer, when Ioseph had dreamed a dreame, he tolde it his brethren, which hated hym yet the more.
And he said vnto them: Heare I pray you this dreame which I haue dreamed.
Beholde, we were byndyng sheaues in the fielde: and lo, my sheafe arose and stoode vpright, & beholde, your sheaues stoode rounde about, and made obeysaunce to my sheafe.
To whom his brethren sayde: Shalt thou be a kyng in deede on vs? or shalt thou in deede haue dominion ouer vs? And they hated hym yet the more, because of his dreames and of his wordes.
And he dreamed yet another dreame, and tolde it his brethren, saying: behold I haue had one dreame more, and beholde, the sunne, and the moone, & xj. starres made obeysaunce to me.
And when he had tolde it to his father and his brethren, his father rebuked hym, and sayde vnto him: What is this dreame that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren in deede come to bowe to thee?
And his brethren enuied hym: but his father noted the saying.
His brethren also went to kepe his fathers cattell in Sichem.
And Israel sayde vnto Ioseph: do not thy brethren kepe in Sichem? come, and I wyll sende thee to them.
He aunswered: here am I. And he sayde vnto hym: Go [I praye thee] see whether it be well with thy brethren and the cattell, and bryng me worde agayne. And so he sent hym out of the vale of Hebron, & he came to Sichem.
And a certayne man founde hym, and beholde he was wandryng out of his waye in the fielde, and the man asked hym: what sekest thou?
He aunswered: I seke my brethren, tell me I praye thee where they kepe [cattell]
And the man sayde, They are departed hence: for I haue hearde them say, let vs go vnto Dothan. Thus went Ioseph after his brethren, and founde them in Dothan.
And when they sawe hym a farre of, before he came at them, they toke councell agaynst hym for to slea hym.
For one sayde to another: beholde, this notable dreamer commeth.
Come nowe therefore and let vs slaye hym, and cast hym into some pit, and we wyll say, some naughtie beast hath deuoured hym: and we shall see what wyll come of his dreames.
When Ruben hearde that, he ryd hym out of their handes, and sayde: let vs not kyll hym.
And Ruben sayde moreouer vnto the{m}: shed no blood [but] cast hym into this pit that is in the wyldernesse, and laye no hande vppon hym: [this he sayde] namely that he myght ryd hym out of their handes, and delyuer hym to his father agayne.
And when Ioseph was come vnto his brethren, they strypt hym out of his coate, his partie coloured coate that was vpon hym.
And they toke hym, and cast hym into an emptie pit, wherein was no water.
And they sate them downe to eate bread: and as they lyft vp their eyes and loked about, and behold there came a company of Ismaelites from Gilead, and their camelles laden with spicerie, bawlme, and mirrhe, and were goyng downe ta cary it to Egypt.
And Iuda sayde vnto his brethren: What auayleth it yf we slay our brother, and kepe his blood secrete?
Come on, and let vs sell hym to the Ismaelites, and let not our hande be vpon him: for he is our brother and our fleshe. And his brethren were content.
Then as the Madianites marchaunt men passed by, they drewe and lyft Ioseph out of the pit, and solde him vnto the Ismaelites for twentie peeces of syluer. And they brought Ioseph into Egypt.
Then Ruben came agayne vnto the pit, and beholde, Ioseph [was] not in the pit: then he rent his clothes,
And went agayne vnto his brethren, saying: the lad is not [yonder] wo is me, whyther shall I go?
And they toke Iosephes coate, and kylled a kyd, and dipped the coate in the blood.
And they sent that partie coloured coate, and caused it to be brought vnto their father, and sayde: This haue we founde, see whether it be thy sonnes coate, or no.
And he knewe it, saying: It is my sonnes coate, a naughtie beast hath deuoured hym, Ioseph is without doubt rent in peeces.
And Iacob rent his clothes, & put sackcloth about his loynes, and mourned for his sonne a long season.
But all his sonnes & all his daughters rose vp to comfort hym: neuerthelesse he woulde not be comforted, but sayde, I wyll go downe into the graue vnto my sonne, mournyng: And thus his father wept for hym.
And the Madianites solde hym in Egypt vnto Putiphar, chiefe officer of Pharaos, and his chiefe stewarde.
ABout that tyme Iudas went downe from his brethren, and gate him to a man called Hirah of Adulam.
And there he saw {th}e daughter of a man called Sua, a Chanaanite: and he toke her, and went in to her.
And she conceaued, and bare a sonne, and called his name Er.
And she conceaued agayne, and bare a sonne, and called hym Onan.
And she conceaued agayne, and bare yet a sonne, whom she called Selah: & he was at Chezib whe{n} she bare him.
And Iudas gaue Er his first borne sonne a wyfe, whose name was Thamar.
And Er Iudas first borne sonne was wicked in the syght of the Lorde, and the Lorde slewe hym.
And Iudas sayde vnto Onan: Go in to thy brothers wyfe, and marrie her, that thou mayest stirre vp seede vnto thy brother.
And when Onan perceaued that the seede shoulde not be his, therfore when he we{n}t in to his brothers wyfe, he spylled it on the grounde, & gaue not seede vnto his brother.
And the thyng which he dyd, displeased the Lorde: wherfore he slewe hym also.
Then sayde Iudas to Thamar his daughter in lawe: Remayne a wydowe at thy fathers house, tyll Selah my sonne be growen. (For he sayde, lest peraduenture he dye also as his brethren dyd.) And Thamar went & dwelt in her fathers house.
And in processe of tyme, the daughter of Sua Iudas wyfe dyed: Then Iudas when he had left mournyng, went vnto his sheepe shearers to Thimnath, he and his friende Hirah of Adulam.
And one tolde Thamar, saying: beholde, thy father in lawe goeth vp to Thimnath to sheare his sheepe.
And she put her widowes garmentes of from her, and couered her with a vayle, and disguysed her selfe, and sate her downe in an open place, whiche is by the way syde to Thimnath, for because that she sawe Selah was growen, and she was not geuen vnto hym to wyfe.
When Iuda sawe her, he thought it had ben an harlot, because she had couered her face.
And he turned to her vnto the way, & sayde, Come I praye thee, let me lye with thee. (For he knewe not that it was his daughter in law.) And she answered: What wylt thou geue me for to lye with thee?
Then sayde he: I wyll sende thee a kyd from the flocke. She sayde: Then geue me a pledge tyll thou sende it.
He sayde: What pledge shall I geue thee? She sayde: Thy signet, thy bracelet, and thy staffe that is in thyne hande. And he gaue it her, and laye by her: and she was with chylde by hym.
And she gate her vp, and went, and put her vayle from her, and put on her wydowes rayment.
And Iudas sent the kyd by his friende Adulam, for to receaue his pledge againe from the womans hand: but he founde her not.
Then asked he the men of the same place, saying: where is the harlot that sate openly by {th}e wayes syde? They aunswered: There is no harlot here.
He came therfore to Iuda againe, and sayde vnto hym, I can not fynde her: and also the men of the place sayde, that there was no harlot there.
And Iuda sayde: Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: beholde, I sent the kyd, & thou hast not found her.
And it came to passe, after three monethes one tolde Iuda, saying: Thamar thy daughter in lawe hath played the harlot, and with playing the harlot is become great with chylde. And Iuda sayde: Bryng her foorth, that she may be brent.
And when they brought her foorth, she sent to her father in lawe, saying: By the man vnto whom these thynges [pertaine] am I with chylde: And saide also, Loke I pray thee whose are these, this seale, and this bracelet, and this staffe.
And Iuda acknowledged them, and saide: She hath ben more righteous then I, because I gaue her not Selah my sonne. And he lay with her no more.
But when the tyme was come that she shoulde be deliuered, beholde there was two twynnes in her wombe.
And when she trauayled, the [one] put out his hande, & the mydwyfe toke & bounde a red [threede] about it, saying: this is come out first.
And he plucked his hand backe againe, and beholde, his brother came out. And she sayde: Wherefore hast thou rent a rent vppon thee? and called his name Phares.
Afterward came out his brother, that had the red threede about his hande: and his name was called Zarah.]
IOseph was brought vnto Egypt, and Putiphar, a Lorde of Pharaos, and his chiefe stewarde, an Egyptian, bought hym of the Ismaelites, whiche had brought hym thyther.
And God was with Ioseph, and he became a luckie man, continuyng in the house of his maister the Egyptian.
And his maister saw that God was with hym, and that God made all that he dyd to prosper in his hande.
And Ioseph founde grace in his maisters syght, and serued hym: And he made hym ouerseer of his house, & put all that he had in his hande.
And it came to passe from the tyme that he had made hym ouerseer of his house, and ouer all that he had, the Lorde blessed the Egyptians house for Iosephes sake: and the blessyng of the Lorde was vpon all that he had in the house and in the fielde.
And therfore he left all that he had in Iosephes hande: and he knewe nothyng with hym, saue onlye the breade which he dyd eate. And Ioseph was a goodly person, and a well fauoured.
And after this, his maisters wyfe cast her eyes vpon Ioseph, and saide: [come] lye with me.
But he refused, and sayde vnto his maisters wyfe: Beholde, my maister woteth not what he hath in the house with me, and hath committed all that he hath to my hande.
There is no man greater in the house then I, neither hath he kept any thyng from me but only thee, because thou art his wyfe: how then can I do euen this so great a wickednes, & sinne against God?
And after this maner spake she to Ioseph day by day: but he hearkened not vnto her to sleepe neare her, or to be in her company.
And on a certaine conuenient day, Ioseph entred into the house to do his businesse, and there was none of the housholde by, in the house.
Then she caught him by the garment, saying: lye with me. And he left his garment in her hande, and fledde, and got hym out.
And when she sawe that he had lefte his garment in her hande, and was fled out:
She called vnto the men of her house, and tolde them, saying: See, he hath brought in an Hebrue vnto vs, to do vs shame: for he came in to me to haue lyen with me, and I began to crie with a loude voyce:
And when he hearde that I lyft vp my voyce and cryed, he left his garment with me, & fled away, and got hym out.
And she layed vp his garment by her, vntyll her Lorde came home.
And she tolde him with these wordes, saying: This Hebrue seruaunt whiche thou hast brought vnto vs, came vnto me to do me shame.
But assoone as I lyft vp my voyce and cryed, he left his garment with me, and fledde out.
When his maister hearde the wordes of his wyfe whiche she tolde hym, saying, after this maner dyd thy seruaunt to me: he waxed wroth.
And Iosephes maister toke hym, and put hym in pryson, euen into the place where the kynges prysoners laye bounde: and there continued he in prison.
But the Lord was with Ioseph, and shewed hym mercie, and got hym fauour in the sight of the lord of the prison.
And the keper of the prison committed to Iosephes hande all the prisoners that were in the prison house, and what so euer was done there, that dyd he.
And the keper of the prison loked vnto nothyng that was vnder his hande, seyng that the Lord was with hym: For whatsoeuer he dyd, the Lorde made it to prosper.
AND it came to passe after these thynges, that the butler of {th}e king of Egypt and his baker, had offended their lorde the kyng of Egypt.
And Pharao was angry agaynst his two officers, agaynst the chiefe butler and the chiefe baker.
And put them in warde in his chiefe stewardes house, euen in the prison and place where Ioseph was bounde.
And the chiefe steward gaue Ioseph a charge with them, & he serued them: and they continued a season in warde.
And they dreamed eyther of them in one night, both the butler and the baker of the kyng of Egypt, whiche were bounde in the pryson house, eyther of them his dreame, & eche mans dreame of a sundry interpretation.
When Ioseph came in vnto them in the mornyng, and loked vpon them, beholde they were sadde.
And he asked Pharaos chiefe officers that were with hym in his maisters warde, saying: Wherfore loke ye so sadlye to day?
They aunswered him: We haue dreamed a dreame, and haue no man to declare it. And Ioseph sayde vnto them: do not interpretinges belong to God? tell me I pray you.
And the chiefe butler tolde his dreame to Ioseph, and saide vnto him: In my dreame, me thought there stoode a vine before me,
And in the vine [were] three braunches, and it was as though it budded, & her blossomes shot foorth: and the clusters therof brought foorth rype grapes.
And I had Pharaos cup in my hand, and toke of the grapes and pressed them in Pharaos cuppe, and deliuered Pharaos cuppe into his hande.
And Ioseph sayde vnto hym, this is the interpretatio{n} of it. The three braunches are three dayes.
For within three dayes shall Pharao lyft vp thine head, and restore thee into thine office agayne, and thou shalt deliuer Pharaos cup into his hande after the olde maner when thou wast his butler.
But thynke on me when thou art in good case, and shewe mercy [I praye thee] vnto me, and make mention of me to Pharao, & bring me out of this house:
For I was priuily by stealth taken away out of the lande of the Hebrewes: and here also haue I done nothyng at all wherfore they shoulde haue put me into this dungeon.
When the chiefe baker sawe that the interpretatio{n} was good, he sayd vnto Ioseph: me thought also in my dreame that I had three whyte wycker baskettes on my head,
And in the vppermost basket there was of all maner bake meates for Pharao, and the birdes dyd eate them out of the basket that was vpon my head.
And Ioseph aunswered and saide: this is the interpretation thereof. The three baskettes, are three dayes: For within three dayes shall Pharao take thy head from thee, and shall hang thee on a tree, and the birdes shall eate thy fleshe from of thee.
And it came to passe the thirde day, which was Pharaos birth day, that he made a feast vnto all his seruauntes: and he lyfted vp the head of the chiefe butler, and of the chiefe baker among his seruauntes:
And restored the chiefe butler vnto his butlership agayne, whiche also reached the cuppe into Pharaos hande.
But he hanged the chiefe baker, euen as Ioseph had interpreted vnto him.
Neither dyd the chiefe butler remember Ioseph, but forgat hym.
ANd after two yeres Pharao dreamed, and beholde, he thought that he stoode by a ryuers syde.
And there came out of the ryuer seuen goodly kyne, and fat fleshed, and fedde in a medowe.
And seuen other kyne came vp after them out of the ryuer, euyll fauoured, and leane fleshed, & stoode by the other kyne vpon the brynke of the ryuer.
And the euyll fauoured & leane fleshed kyne dyd eate vp the seuen well fauoured and fat kyne: and Pharao awoke.
And he slept agayne, and dreamed the seconde tyme: and beholde, seuen eares of corne grewe vppon one stalke, ranke and goodly.
And agayne, seuen thinne eares, blasted with the east winde sprang vp after them.
And the seuen thinne eares deuoured the seuen ranke & full eares. And Pharao awaked, and see [it was] a dreame.
And when the mornyng came, his spirite was troubled, and he sent and called for all the southsayers of Egypt, and all the wyse men thereof: And Pharao tolde them his dreame, but there was none of them that coulde interprete it vnto Pharao.
The{n} spake the chiefe butler vnto Pharao, saying: I do remember my faultes this day:
Pharao beyng angry with his seruauntes, put in warde in the chiefe stewardes house both me, and the chiefe baker.
And we dreamed both of vs in one nyght, and eche mans dreame of a sundry interpretation.
And there was with vs a young man, an Hebrue borne, seruaunt vnto the chiefe stewarde: to whom when we tolde them, he declared our dreames to vs, accordyng to eyther of our dreames.
And as he declared them to vs, euen so it came to passe: For he restored me to myne office agayne, and hanged hym.
Pharao sent therfore and called Ioseph: and they brought him hastyly out of the dungeon. And he shaued himselfe and chaunged his rayment, and came vnto Pharao.
And Pharao sayde vnto Ioseph: I haue dreamed a dreame, & no man can interprete it: & I haue heard say of thee that assoone as thou hearest a dreame, thou canst interprete it.
Ioseph aunswered Pharao, saying: Not I, but God shall geue Pharao an aunswere of peace.
And Pharao sayde vnto Ioseph: In my dreame me thought I stoode by a ryuers syde,
And there came out of the ryuer seuen fat flesshed and well fauoured kyne, and fedde in a medowe.
And then seuen other kyne came out after them, poore, and very yll fauoured and leane flesshed, such as I neuer saw in all the lande of Egypt, they were so yll fauoured.
And the seuen leane and yll fauoured kyne, did eate vp the first seuen fat kine:
And when they had eaten them vp, a man coulde not perceaue that they had eaten them, but they were styll yll fauoured as they were at the begynnyng: and I awoke.
And I saw againe in my dreame, and beholde, seuen eares sprang out of one stalke, full and fayre.
And beholde, seuen eares agayne withered, thinne, and blasted with the east wynde, sprang vp after them.
And the thinne eares deuoured the seuen good eares: and I haue tolde the southsayers, but there was no man that coulde tell what it meaneth.
And Ioseph aunswered Pharao: [both] Pharaos dreames are one, God hath shewed Pharao what he is about to do.
The seuen good kyne, are seuen yeres, and the seuen good eares are seue{n} yeres also: and it is but one dreame.
Lykewyse the seuen thinne and euyll fauoured kine that came vp after them, are seuen yeres, and the seuen emptie & blasted eares with the east wynde, shalbe seuen yeres of famine.
This worde which I haue sayde vnto Pharao, is it that God is about to do, and sheweth it vnto Pharao.
Beholde there come seuen yeres of great plenteousnes throughout all the lande of Egypt.
And agayne, there shall aryse after them seuen yeres of famine, and all the plenteousnes shalbe forgotten in the lande of Egypt: and the famine shall consume the lande.
Neither shall the plenteousnes be knowen in the lande, by reason of that famine that [shall come] after: for it shalbe exceedyng great.
And as concernyng that the dreame was doubled vnto Pharao the seconde tyme: beholde, the thyng is certainly prepared of God, and God wyll shortly bryng it to passe.
Nowe therfore let Pharao prouide for a man of vnderstandyng, and wisedome, & set him ouer the land of Egypt.
And let Pharao do this also, that he make officers ouer the lande, & take vp the fift part of the inheritaunce in {th}e land of Egypt in the seuen plenteous yeres.
And let them gather all the foode of these good yeres that come: and laye vp corne vnder the hande of Pharao, and let them kepe foode in the cities.
And so shall that foode be for store in the lande agaynst the seuen yeres of famine, which shall come in the lande of Egypt, that {th}e lande perishe not through famine.
And the saying seemed good in {th}e eyes of Pharao, and in the eyes of all his seruauntes.
Then saide Pharao vnto his seruauntes: May there be founde a man suche as this is, in whom the spirite of God is?
And Pharao saide vnto Ioseph: Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is no man of vnderstandyng or of wisedome lyke vnto thee.
Thou therfore shalt be ouer my house, and accordyng to thy worde shall all my people be ruled: only in the [kynges] seate wyll I be aboue thee.
And Pharao sayde agayne vnto Ioseph: beholde, I haue set thee ouer all the lande of Egypt.
And Pharao toke of his ryng from his hande, and put it vpon Iosephes hande: & arayed him in cloth of raynes, & put a golden cheyne about his necke.
And set hym vpon the best charet he had saue one: and they cried before him, tender father, and made hym ruler ouer all the lande of Egypt.
And moreouer Pharao said vnto Ioseph: I am Pharao, and without thee shal no man lyft vp his hande or foote in all the lande of Egypt.
And Pharao called Iosephes name Zaphnath Paaneach, & he gaue hym to wyfe Asnath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. Then went Ioseph ouer the lande of Egypt.
(And he was thirtie yere olde when he stoode before Pharao king of Egypt) And Ioseph departyng from the presence of Pharao, went throughout all the lande of Egypt.
And in the seuen plenteous yeres, the earth brought foorth great store for to lay vp.
And he gathered vp all the foode of the seuen plenteous yeres which were in the lande of Egypt, and layed vp the foode in the cities: the foode of the fieldes that grew rounde about euery citie, layed he vp in the same.
And Ioseph layed vp corne in store lyke vnto the sande of the sea, in multitude out of measure, vntyll he left numbryng: for it was without number.
And vnto Ioseph were borne two sonnes before the yeres of famine came: which Asnath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On, bare vnto hym.
And Ioseph called the name of the first sonne, Manasse: for God [sayde he] hath made me forget al my labour, and all my fathers housholde.
The name of the seconde called he Ephraim, for God [sayd he] hath caused me to be fruitefull in the lande of my trouble.
And when the seuen yeres of plenteousnesse that was in the land of Egypt, were ended,
Then came the seuen yeres of dearth, according as Ioseph had sayde, and the dearth was in all landes: but in all the lande of Egypt, was there yet foode.
And when the lande of Egypt also began to hunger, the people cryed to Pharao for bread. And Pharao sayde vnto al the Egyptians, go vnto Ioseph: and what he sayeth to you, that do.
And the dearth was throughout all the lande: and Ioseph opened all the barnes wherein was corne, and solde vnto the Egyptians: for the famine waxed sore in the lande of Egypt.
And all countreys came into Egypt to Ioseph, for to bye [corne] because that the famine was so sore in all landes.
AND Iacob seing that there was corne in Egypt, sayde vnto his sonnes: why gape ye one vpon another?
And he said: behold, I haue hearde that there is corne in Egypt: get you downe thyther, and bye vs corne from thence, that we may liue, and not dye.
So went Iosephes ten brethren downe to bye corne in Egypt.
But Beniamin Iosephes brother, woulde not Iacob sende with his other brethren: for he saide, lest peraduenture destruction come vpon hym.
And the sonnes of Irael came to bye corne among other that came: for there was dearth in the lande of Chanaan.
And Ioseph was gouernour in the lande, and solde to all the people of the lande. And Iosephes brethren came and bowed them selues with theyr faces downe to the grounde before him.
When Ioseph sawe his brethren, he knewe them, and made hym selfe straunge vnto them, & spake roughly vnto them, saying: Whence come ye? They aunswered, out of the lande of Chanaan to bye vitayle.
And Ioseph knewe his brethren, but they knewe not him.
And Ioseph remembred his dreames whiche he dreamed of them, and sayde vnto them: ye are spyes, and to see where the lande is weake, is your commyng.
And they sayde vnto hym: nay my Lord, but to bye vitayle thy seruauntes are come.
We are all one mans sonnes, and meane truely, and thy seruauntes are no spyes.
And he sayde vnto them agayne: nay but euen to see where the lande is weake, is your comming.
And they said: we thy seruauntes are twelue brethren, the sonnes of one man in the lande of Chanaan, and beholde, the youngest is this day with our father, & one, no man woteth where he is.
And Ioseph saide vnto them: that is it that I spake vnto you when I sayd, ye are spyes.
Hereby ye shalbe proued: [by] the lyfe of Pharao, ye shall not go hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
Sende out one of you, whiche may fet your brother, and ye shalbe kept in pryson, that your wordes may be proued whether there be any trueth in you: or els [by] the lyfe of Pharao, ye are but spyes.
And he put them altogether in warde three dayes.
And Ioseph said vnto them the thirde day: this do & liue, [for] I feare God.
If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bonde in the house of your pryson: and go ye, carry corne to put away the famine from your housholde.
But bryng your youngest brother vnto me, and so shal your wordes be tryed true, and ye shall not dye: & they dyd so.
And one sayde to another: we haue veryly sinned agaynst our brother, in that we sawe the anguishe of his soule, when he besought vs, and we woulde not heare him: and therfore is this trouble come vpon vs.
And Ruben aunswered them, saying: sayd I not vnto you, that you shoulde not sinne against the lad, and ye would not heare? and see, nowe his blood is required.
They were not aware that Ioseph vnderstoode them: for he spake vnto them by an interpreter.
And he turned from them and wept: and turned to them agayne, and communed with them, and toke out Simeon from amongest them, and bounde him before theyr eyes.
And Ioseph commaunded to fill their sackes with corne, & to put euery mans money in his sacke, and to geue them vitayle to spende by the way: and thus dyd he vnto them.
And they laded theyr asses with the corne, and departed thence.
And as one of them opened his sacke for to geue his asse prouender in the Inne, he espied his money, for it was in his sackes mouth.
And he said vnto his brethren, my money is restored me agayne, for lo, it is euen in my sacke. And their heart fayled them, and they were astonyed, and sayd one to another, why hath God dealt thus with vs?
And they came vnto Iacob their father, vnto the lande of Chanaan, & tolde him all that befell vnto them, saying:
The man, euen the Lord of the lande, spake roughly to vs, and toke vs for spyes of the countrey.
And we sayd vnto him: we meane truely, we neuer were spyes.
We be twelue brethren, sonnes of our father: one is away, and the youngest is this day with our father in the lande of Chanaan.
And the Lorde of the countrey sayde agayne vnto vs, Hereby shall I know that ye meane truely: leaue one of your brethren here with me, and take [foode] to put away the famine fro{m} your householdes, and get you away.
And bring your youngest brother vnto me, that I may knowe that you are no spyes, but meane truely: so wyll I deliuer you your brother, and ye shall occupie in the lande.
And as they emptied theyr sackes, beholde, euery mans bundell of money was in his sacke: And when both they and their father sawe the bundelles of money, they were afrayde.
And Iacob theyr father sayde vnto them: Me haue ye robbed of my children, Ioseph is away, and Simeon is away, & ye will take Beniamin away: all these thinges are agaynst me.
Ruben said vnto his father: slay my two sonnes, yf I bring hym not to thee agayne: deliuer him to my hande, and I will bring him to thee agayne.
And he said: My sonne shall not go downe with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if destruction come vpon hym by the way whiche ye go, ye shall bring my gray head with sorowe vnto the graue.
AND the dearth was great in the lande.
And it came to passe when they had eaten vp the corne which they had brought out of the lande of Egypt, theyr father sayde vnto them: go agayne [and] bye vs a litle foode.
Iuda aunswered him, and sayd, The man did solemply protest vnto vs saying: ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
If thou wylt sende our brother with vs, we wyll go downe, and bye thee foode.
But yf thou wylt not sende hym, we wyll not go downe: for the man sayde vnto vs, ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
And Israel sayd: wherefore dealt ye so cruelly with me, as to tell the man that ye had yet a brother?
They aunswered, The man asked vs straytely of our [state] and of our kinrede, saying: Is your father yet aliue? haue ye [not another] brother? And we tolde hym accordyng to the tenour of these wordes: Could we by any meane knowe, that he would say, bryng your brother downe with you?
The{n} said Iuda vnto Israel his father: send the lad with me, that we may arise and go, and that we may liue, & not dye, yea both we & thou, & also our meany.
I wylbe sure•ie for hym, of my handes shalt thou require hym: yf I bryng hym not to thee agayne, and set him before thine eyes, then let me beare the blame for euer.
Truely except we had made this tarying, by this we had returned the seconde tyme.
And their father Israel sayde vnto them: if it must nedes be so, nowe then do thus. Take of the best fruites of the lande in your vesselles, and bryng {th}e man a present, a curtsie of bawme, and a curtsie of hony, spyces and mirre, nuttes and almondes.
And take double money in your hande, & the money that was brought agayne in your sackes, take it agayne with you, peraduenture it was some ouersight.
Take also your brother with you, and arise and go agayne vnto the man.
And God almightie geue you mercye in the sight of the man, that he may deliuer you your other brother, & [this] Beniamin: and thus I am as one that is quite robbed of his chyldren.
Thus toke they the present, and twyse so muche more money in their hande, with Beniamin, and rose vp, and went downe to Egypt, & stode before Ioseph.
When Ioseph sawe Beniamin with them, he sayd to the ruler of his house: bryng these men home, and slay, and make redy, for these men shall dyne with me at noone.
And the man did as Ioseph bad, and brought them into Iosephes house.
When the men were brought into Iosephes house, they were afrayde, and said: because of the money that came in our sackes mouthes at the first tyme, are we brought in, that he may seeke occasion agaynst vs, and violently lay handes vpon vs, to bryng vs in bondage, and our asses also.
Therefore came they to the man that was the ruler ouer Iosephes house, and communed with him at the doore of the house,
And sayde: oh sir, we came downe hyther at the fyrst tyme to bye foode.
And as we came to an Inne, we opened our sackes, and behold, euery mans money was in the mouth of his sacke, [euen] our money in ful wayght, and we haue brought it againe in our hande.
And other money haue we brought also in our handes to bye foode: but we can not tell who put our money in our sackes.
And he sayd: peace be vnto you, feare not: your God, and the God of your father, hath geuen you that treasure in your sackes: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out to them.
And the man led them into Iosephes house, and gaue them water to washe their feete, & gaue their asses prouender.
And they made redy their present agaynst Ioseph came at noone: for they hearde [say] that they should eate bread there.
When Ioseph came home, they brought the present into the house to hym, whiche was in their handes, and bowed them selues to the grounde before him.
And he asked them of their welfare, and sayd: Is your father, that old man whiche ye tolde me of, in good health? and is he yet aliue?
They aunswered: Thy seruaunt our father is in good health, & is yet alyue. And they bowing them selues, made theyr obeysaunce.
And he lifting vp his eyes, behelde his brother Beniamin his mothers sonne, and sayd: is this your younger brother of whom ye spake vnto me? And he said: God be mercyfull vnto thee my sonne.
And Ioseph made haste (for his heart did melt vpon his brother) and sought [where] to weepe, and entred into his chaumber and wept there.
And he washed his face, and came out, and refrayned hym selfe, and sayde: set bread on the table.
And they prepared for hym by hym selfe, and for them by them selues, and for the Egyptians which dyd eate with him, by them selues, because the Egyptians may not eate bread with the Hebrewes: for that is an abhomination to the Egyptians.
And they satte before hym the first borne, according to his age, & the youngest according to his youth: and the men merueyled among them selues.
And he sent rewardes vnto them from before him selfe: but Beniamins part was fiue times so muche as any of theirs: and they dronke, and were made mery with him.
AND he commaunded the ruler of his house, saying: fill the mens sackes with foode, as much as they can cary, & put euery mans mony in his sackesmouth:
And put my cup, my siluer cup in the sackes mouth of the youngest, and his corne money also. And he did according to the worde that Ioseph had saide.
And in the morning assoone as it was lyght, the men were let go, they, and their asses.
And when they were out of the citie, and not yet farre away, Ioseph sayde vnto the ruler of his house: vp, and folowe after the men, & when thou doest ouertake them, thou shalt say vnto them: wherfore haue ye rewarded euyl for good?
Is not that the cuppe in the whiche my Lord drinketh? and for the which he consulteth with the propheciers? Ye haue euill done that ye haue done.
And when he ouertoke them, he sayd the same wordes vnto them.
And they aunswered him: wherfore sayeth my Lorde suche wordes? God forbid that thy seruauntes should do so.
Beholde the money which we founde in our sackes mouthes, we brought agayne vnto thee, out of the land of Chanaan: howe then shoulde we steale out of thy Lordes house eyther siluer or golde?
With whomsoeuer of thy seruauntes it be founde, let him dye, and we also wyll be my Lordes bondmen.
And he said, Nowe also let it be according vnto your wordes: he with whom it is founde, shalbe my seruaunt, and ye shalbe blamelesse.
And at once euery man toke downe his sacke to the ground, and euery man opened his sacke.
And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cuppe was founde in Beniamins sacke.
Then they rent theyr clothes, and laded euery ma{n} his asse, and went againe vnto the citie.
And Iuda and his brethren came to Iosephes house (for he [was] yet there) and they fell before him on the ground.
And Ioseph sayde vnto them: what deede is this that ye haue done? Wote ye not that suche a man as I do consult with propheciers?
Then saide Iuda: what shall we say vnto my lorde? What shall we speake? or howe shall we cleare our selues? God hath founde out the wickednes of thy seruauntes: beholde, we are my lordes seruauntes, both we, yea, and he also with whom the cup is founde.
And he aunswered, God forbid that I shoulde do so: but the man with who{m} the cup is found, he shalbe my seruaunt, and get ye hence vp in peace vnto your father.
Then Iuda went vnto him, and said: Oh my lorde, let thy seruaunt [I pray thee] speake a worde in my lordes eares, and be not inflamed with wrath agaynst thy seruaunt, for thou art euen as Pharao.
My lorde asked his seruauntes, saying: haue ye a father, or a brother?
And we aunswered my lorde: we haue a father that is olde, and a young lad, which he begat in his age: and the brother of the sayd lad is dead, and he is all that is left of his mother, and his father loueth him.
And thou saidest vnto thy seruauntes: bryng him vnto me, that I may set my eyes vpon him.
And we aunswered my Lorde, that the lad could not go from his father, for if he shoulde leaue his father, he were but dead.
Then saydest thou vnto thy seruauntes: except your youngest brother come with you, loke that ye see my face no more.
And when we came vnto thy seruaunt our father, we shewed hym the wordes of my Lorde.
And our father sayde vnto vs: go agayne, and bye vs a litle foode.
And we aunswered, we can not go downe: neuerthelesse, if our youngest brother be with vs, then wyll we go downe, for we may not see the mans face, except our youngest brother be with vs.
And thy seruaunt our father sayd vnto vs: ye knowe that my wyfe bare me two sonnes.
And the one went out from me, and I sayd, of a suretie he is torne in peeces, and I sawe him not since.
And if ye take this also away from me, and destruction come vnto him, ye shall bryng my gray head with sorowe vnto the graue.
Nowe therefore when I come to thy seruaunt my father, and the lad be not with vs (seing that his life hangeth by the laddes life.)
Then shall it come to passe, that assoone as he seeth that the lad is not come, he wyll dye: so shall we thy seruauntes bryng the gray head of thy seruaunt our father with sorowe vnto the graue.
For I thy seruaunt became suretie for the lad before my father, and saide: If I bryng hym not vnto thee agayne, I shal beare the blame vnto my father all my lyfe long.
Nowe therefore I pray thee, let me thy seruaunt byde here for the lad, and be my lordes bondman, and let the lad go vp with his brethren.
For howe can I go vp to my father, if the ladde be not with me? vnlesse I woulde see the wretchednesse that shall come on my father.
IOseph coulde no longer refrayne before all the{m} that stoode by hym, wherefore he cryed: cause euery man to auoyde. And there remayned no man with him, whyle Ioseph vttered hym selfe vnto his brethren.
And he wept aloude, and the Egyptians, and the house of Pharao heard.
And Ioseph sayde vnto his brethren: I am Ioseph, doth my father yet lyue? And his brethren could not aunswere him, they were so abashed at his presence.
And Ioseph sayde vnto his brethren, come neare to me I pray you. And they came neare. And he said, I am Ioseph your brother who{m} ye solde into Egypt.
Nowe therefore be not greeued herewith, neither let it seeme a cruel thing in your eyes, that ye solde me hyther: for God did sende me before you to preserue lyfe.
For this is the seconde yere of dearth in the lande, and fiue more are behinde, in the whiche there shall neyther be earyng nor haruest.
Wherfore God sent me before you, to preserue you a posteritie in the earth, and to saue your liues by a great deliueraunce.
So nowe, it was not ye that sent me hyther, but God whiche hath made me a father to Pharao, and lorde of all his house, and ruler throughout all the lande of Egypt.
Haste you, and go vp to my father, and tell him: thus saieth thy sonne Ioseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt, come downe therfore vnto me, tary not.
And thou shalt dwell in the land of Gosen and be a neyghbour vnto me, thou, & thy chyldren, and thy chyldrens children, thy sheepe, and thy beastes, and all that thou hast.
And there wyll I prouide thee sustenaunce (for there remaine yet fiue yeres of dearth) lest thou and thy housholde, & all that thou hast come to pouertie.
And beholde your eyes do see, and the eyes also of my brother Beniamin, that mine own mouth speaketh vnto you.
Therfore tell my father of all my glorie in Egypt, and of all that you haue seene, and make hast, and bryng my father hyther.
And he fel on his brother Beniamins necke, and wept: and Beniamin wept on his necke.
Moreouer he kissed al his brethren, and wept vpon them: and after that, his brethren talked with him.
And the fame [thereof] was hearde in Pharaos house, so that they sayde: Iosephes brethre{n} are come. And it pleased Pharao well, and all his seruauntes.
And Pharao spake vnto Ioseph: say vnto thy brethren, this do ye: lade your beastes, and go [and] returne vnto the lande of Chanaan:
Take your father, and your housesholdes, and come vnto me, and I wyll geue you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eate the fat of the lande.
And thou also shalt co{m}maunde [them] this do ye: take charets with you out of the lande of Egypt for your chyldren, and for your wyues, and bryng your father, and come.
Also regarde not your stuffe, for the good of all the lande of Egypt is yours.
And the children of Israel dyd euen so: and Ioseph gaue them charettes, accordyng to the commaundement of Pharao, and gaue them vitayle also to spende by the way.
And he gaue vnto eche of the{m} chaunge of raiment: but vnto Beniamin he gaue three hundred peeces of siluer, and fiue chaunge of rayment.
And vnto his father he sent after the same maner ten asses laden with good out of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corne, & bread, and meate, for his father by the way.
So sent he his brethren away, and they departed: and he sayd vnto them, see that ye fall to no stryfe on the way.
They departed therfore from Egypt, and came into the lande of Chanaan, vnto Iacob theyr father.
And tolde him, saying: Ioseph is yet aliue, and is gouernour ouer al the land of Egypt. And Iacobs heart wauered, for he beleued them not.
And they tolde hym all the wordes of Ioseph, whiche he had said vnto them: And when he sawe the charets whiche Ioseph had sent to cary him, the spirite of Iacob their father reuiued.
And Israel saide: [I haue] inough, that Ioseph my sonne is yet alyue: I will go, and see him, yer that I dye.
ISrael toke his iourney with all that he had, and came to Beerseba, and offred offeringes vnto the God of his father Isahac.
And God spake vnto Israel in a vision by nyght, saying: Iacab, Iacob? And he aunswered: here am I.
And he sayde: I am God, the God of thy father, feare not to go downe into Egypt: for I wyll there make of thee a great people.
I wyll go downe with thee into Egypt: and I wyll surely make thee come vp agayne, and Ioseph shall put his hande vpon thyne eyes.
And Iacob rose vp from Beer-seba: and the sonnes of Israel caryed Iacob their father, and their childre{n}, and their wyues, in the charettes whiche Pharao had sent to cary him.
And they toke their cattell, and the goodes whiche they had gotten in the lande of Chanaan, & came into Egypt, both Icob and all his seede with him,
His sonnes, & his sonnes sonnes with him, his daughters, and his sonnes daughters, and all his seede brought he with him into Egypt.
These are the names of the chyldren of Israel which came into Egypt, [both] Iacob and his sonnes. Ruben Iacobs first borne.
[The children of Ruben: Hanoch, and Phallu, Hesron, and Charmi.
The children of Simeon: Iemuel, & Iamin, and Ohad, and Iachin, and Sohar, and Saul the sonne of a Chanaanitishe woman.
The chyldren of Leui: Gerson, Cehath, and Merari.
The children of Iuda: Er, & Onan, Selah, & Phares, and Zarah: but Er and Onan dyed in the lande of Chanaan. The children of Phares also were Hefron and Hamul.
And the children of Isachar: Thola, Puuah, and Iob, and Simron.
The chyldren of Zabulon: Sered, and Elon, and Iahelel.
These be the children of Lea, whiche she bare vnto Iacob in Mesopotamia, with his daughter Dina. All the soules of his sonnes and daughters, [make] thirtie and three.
The children of Gad: Siphion, and Haggi, Suni, and Esbon, Eri, & Arodi, and Areli.
The children of Aser: Imnah, and Iisuah, and Iisui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister. And the chyldren of Beriah: Heber, and Malchiel.
These are the sonnes of Zilpha, who{m} Laban gaue to Lea his daughter: and these she bare vnto Iacob, [euen] sixteene soules.
The chyldren of Rachel Iacobs wife: Ioseph and Beniamin.
And vnto Ioseph in the lande of Egypt, were borne Manasses, and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipera priest of On bare vnto him.
The children of Beniamin: Bela, and Becher, and Asbel, Gera, & Naaman, Ehi, and Ros, Muppim, and Huppim, and Arde.
These are the chyldren of Rachel which she bare vnto Iacob, foureteene soules altogether.
And the children of Dan: Husim.
The children of Naphthali: Iahseel, and Gum, Ieser, and Sillem.
These are the sonnes of Bilha, which Laban gaue vnto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these vnto Iacob altogether seuen soules.
And so the soules that came with Iacob into Egypt, whiche came out of his loynes, besides Iacobs sonnes wyues, were altogether threscore & sixe soules.
And the sonnes of Ioseph whiche were borne hym in Egypt, were two soules: so that all the soules of the house of Iacob whiche came into Egypt, [were] threscore and ten.]
And he sent Iuda before hym vnto Ioseph, to direct his face vnto Gosen, and they came into the lande of Gosen.
And Ioseph made redy his charet, and went vp to meete Israel his father vnto Gosen, and presented him self vnto him, and he fell on his necke, and wept on his necke a good whyle.
And Israel sayd vnto Ioseph: nowe am I content to dye, insomuche as I haue seene thy face, and because thou art yet aliue.
And Ioseph sayde vnto his brethren, and vnto his fathers house: I wyll go vp, and shewe Pharao, and tell him: my brethren, and my fathers house, whiche were in the lande of Chanaan, are come vnto me.
And they are shepheardes, for theyr trade hath ben to feede cattell: and they haue brought theyr sheepe and theyr cattell, and all that they haue.
And if that Pharao call you, and aske you, what your occupation is?
Ye shal aunswere: thy seruauntes haue ben occupied about cattell from our childhood vnto this tyme, we and our fathers: that ye may dwell in the lande of Gosen. For euery one that kepeth cattell, is an abhomination vnto the Egyptians.
IOseph came therfore & tolde Pharao, and said: My father & my brethre{n}, theyr sheepe, and theyr cattell, and all that they haue, are comeout of {th}e lande of Chanaan: and beholde, they are in the lande of Gosen.
And Ioseph toke of the company of his brethren [euen] fiue men, and presented them vnto Pharao.
And Pharao sayd vnto his brethren: what is your occupation? And they aunswered Pharao: thy seruauntes are kepers of cattell, both we, and also our fathers.
They said moreouer vnto Pharao, for to soiourne in the land are we come, for thy seruaunts haue no pasture for their cattell, so sore is the famishment in the lande of Chanaan: Nowe therefore let thy seruauntes dwell in the lande of Gosen.
And Pharao sayde vnto Ioseph: thy father & thy brethre{n} are come vnto thee.
The lande of Egypt is before thee: In the best place of the lande make both thy father and thy brethren dwell, eue{n} in the land of Gosen let them dwel. Moreouer, if thou knowest any man of actiuitie amongest them, make them rulers ouer my [cattell].
And Ioseph brought in Iacob his father, and set hym before Pharao: and Iacob blessed Pharao.
And Pharao said vnto Iacob: howe olde art thou?
Iacob sayd vnto Pharao, The dayes of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirtie yeres: Fewe and euill haue the dayes of my life ben, and haue not attayned vnto the yeres of {th}e lyfe of my fathers, in the dayes of theyr pilgrimage.
And Iacob blessed Pharao, and went out of his presence.
And Ioseph prepared dwellinges for his father, and his brethren, and gaue them possessions in the lande of Egypt, in the best of the land, euen the land of Rameses, as Pharao had co{m}maunded.
And Ioseph made prouision for his father and his brethren, and all his fathers housholde with bread: euen to the mouthes of the young chyldren.
There was no bread in all the lande, for the dearth was exceedyng sore, so that the lande of Egypt, and the land of Chanaan were famished by reason of the dearth.
And Ioseph brought together all the money that was founde in the lande of Egypt and of Chanaan, for the corne which they bought: and he layed vp the money in Pharaos house.
When money fayled in the lande of Egypt and of Chanaan, all the Egyptians came vnto Ioseph, and saide, Geue vs bread: wherefore suffrest thou vs to dye before thee whe{n} our money is spent?
Then sayde Ioseph, Bryng your cattell: and I wyll geue you for your cattell yf money fayle.
And they brought their cattell vnto Ioseph: and Ioseph gaue them bread for horses and sheepe, and oxen, & asses, and fedde them with bread for all their cattell that yere.
But when that yere was ended, they came vnto hym the next yere, and sayde vnto hym: We wyl not hyde it from my lorde, howe that our money is spent: my lorde also had our heardes of cattel, nether is ther ought left in {th}e sight of my lorde but euen our bodies & our landes.
Wherefore lettest thou vs dye before thine eyes, both we and our lande? bye vs and our land for bread, and both we and our lande wyll be bounde vnto Pharao: onlye geue vs seede, that we may lyue, and not dye, & that the lande go not to waste.
And so Ioseph bought all the lande of Egypt for Pharao: For the Egyptians solde euery man his possessions, because the dearth was so sore vpon them: and so the lande became Pharaos.
And he caused the people to moue from citie to citie, fro{m} one syde of Egypt into the other.
Only the lande of the priestes bought he not: for the priestes had a portion assigned them of Pharao, and dyd eate their portio{n} which Pharao gaue them: wherfore they solde not their landes.
Then Ioseph sayde vnto the folke: beholde, I haue bought you this daye and your lande for Pharao: Lo, here is seede for you, & ye shall sowe the land.
And of the increase you shall geue the fyfth part vnto Pharao, and foure partes shalbe your owne for seede of the fielde, and for you & them of your householdes, and for your chyldren to eate.
And they aunswered: Thou hast saued our lyues, let vs fynde grace in the syght of my lorde, and we wylbe Pharaos seruauntes.
And Ioseph made it a lawe ouer the lande of Egypt vnto this daye, that Pharao shoulde haue the fyft part, except {th}e lande of the priestes only, which was not Pharaos.
And Israel dwelt in Egypt, euen in they countrey of Gosen, and they had their possessions therin, and grewe and multiplied exceedyngly.
Moreouer Iacob lyued in the lande of Egypt seuenteene yeres, so that {th}e whole age of Iacob was an hundred and fourtie and seuen yeres.
When the tyme drewe nye that Israel must dye, he sent for his sonne Ioseph and sayde vnto him: If I haue founde grace in thy syght, oh put thy hande vnder my thygh, and deale mercifully and truly with me, that thou bury me not in Egypt.
But I shall sleepe with my fathers, and thou shalt cary me out of Egypt, & bury me in their buryall. And he aunswered: I wyll do as thou hast sayde.
And he sayde: Sweare vnto me. And he sware vnto him. And Israel worshipped towarde the beddes head.
AFter these deedes, one tolde Ioseph: beholde, thy father is sicke. And he toke with hym his two sonnes, Manasses and Ephraim.
Then this message was declared vnto Iacob: beholde, thy sonne Ioseph co{m}meth vnto thee. And Israel toke his strength vnto hym, and sate vpon the bedde.
And Iacob sayd vnto Ioseph: God almyghtie appeared vnto me at Luz in the lande of Chanaan, and blessed me, and sayde vnto me:
Beholde, I wyll make thee fruiteful, and cause thee to multiplie, and wyll make a great number of people of thee, and wyll geue this lande vnto thy seede after thee vnto an euerlastyng possession.
And nowe thy two sonnes Manasses and Ephraim, whiche were borne vnto thee in the land of Egypt before I came vnto thee into Egypt, are myne, euen as Ruben and Simeon are mine.
And the children which thou hast gotten after them, shalbe thyne owne, and shalbe called after the names of their brethren in their inheritaunce.
And when I came from Mesopotamia, Rachel dyed vpon my hande in the land of Chanaan, by the way, when there was but a fieldes breadth to come vnto Ephratha: and I buried her there in the waye to Ephratha, the same is Beth-lehem.
And Israel beheld Iosephes sonnes, and sayde: What are these?
Ioseph sayde vnto his father: They are my sonnes whiche God hath geuen me here. And he sayde: Oh bring them to me, and let me blesse them.
(And the eyes of Israel were dymme for age, so that he coulde not [well] see) And he brought them to hym, and he kyssed them, and imbraced them.
And Israel sayde vnto Ioseph, I had not thought to haue seene thy face: and yet loe, God hath shewed me also thy seede.
And Ioseph toke them away fro{m} his lappe, and he bowed hym selfe with his face towarde the earth.
Then toke Ioseph them both, Ephraim with his ryght hande towarde Israels left hande, and Manasses with his left hande towarde Israels ryght hande, and brought them vnto hym.
And Israel stretched out his ryght hande, and layed it vppon Ephraims head, which was the younger: and his left hande vpon Manasses head, guydyng his hande wyttyngly, for Manasses was the first borne.
And he blessed Ioseph, and sayde: God in whose syght my fathers Abraham & Isahac dyd walke, God which hath fedde me al my lyfe long vnto this day,
And the angell which hath deliuered me from al euyl, blesse these laddes, and let my name be named in them, and the name of my fathers Abraham & Isahac, & that they may growe into a multitude in the middes of the earth.
When Ioseph sawe that his father layed his ryght hande vpon the head of Ephraim, it displeased hym: and he lift vp his fathers hande, to haue remoued it from Ephraims head vnto Manasses head.
And Ioseph sayde vnto his father, Not so my father, for this is the first borne: put thy right hande vpon his head.
And his father would not, but sayde: I knowe it well my sonne, I knowe it well, he shalbe also a people, and shalbe great: But his younger brother shalbe greater then he, and his seede shall become a great people.
And he blessed them that day, & saide: In thee let Israel blesse & saye, God make thee as Ephraim, & as Manasses. And he set Ephraim before Manasses.
And Israel said vnto Ioseph: behold I dye, & God shalbe with you, & bryng you againe vnto {th}e land of your fathers.
Moreouer, I haue geuen vnto thee a portion of lande aboue thy brethren, which I gat out of the hand of the Amorite in my sworde, and in my bowe.
AND Iacob called for his sonnes, and sayde: Come together, that I may tell you what shall come on you in the last dayes.
Gather ye together, & heare ye sonnes of Iacob, hearken vnto Israel your father.
Ruben my first borne, thou art my myght, & the beginning of my strength, the noblenesse of dignitie, and the noblenesse of power.
Vnstable as water, thou shalt not be the chiefest, because thou wentest vp to thy fathers bedde: for then defiledst thou my couche with goyng vp.
Simeon and Leui brethren, are cruell instrumentes in their habitations.
O my soule, come not thou into their secretes, neither into their congregations let mine honour be vnited: for in their wrath they slewe a man, and in their selfe wyll, they dygge downe a wall.
Cursed be their wrath, for it was shamelesse, and their fiercenesse, for it was cruell: I wyll deuide them in Iacob, and scatter them in Israel.
Iuda, thou art he whom thy brethren shall prayse: Thy hande shalbe in the necke of thine enemies, thy fathers children shall stowpe before thee.
Iuda is a lions whelpe: fro{m} thy spoyle my sonne thou art come on hye. He layed him downe, and couched himselfe as a lion, and as a lionesse: who wyll stirre hym vp?
The scepter shal not depart from Iuda, and a law geuer from betweene his feete, vntyll Silo come: And vnto hym shall the gatheryng of the people be.
He shall bynde his foale vnto {th}e vine, and his asses colt vnto the braunche: He wasshed his garment in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes.
His eyes [shalbe] redde with wine, and his teeth whyte with mylke.
Zabulon shall dwell besyde the hauen of the sea, & nye the haue{n} of shippes, his border shalbe vnto Sidon.
Isachar [is] a strong asse, couchyng hym downe betweene two burthens.
And sawe that rest was good, and the lande that it was pleasaunt: and bowed his shoulder to beare, and became a seruaunt vnto tribute.
Dan shall iudge his people, and one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan shalbe a serpent in the way, an adder in the path, bytyng {th}e horse heeles, and his ryder fell backewarde.
I haue wayted for thy saluation O Lorde.
Gad, an hoast of men shall ouercome hym: but he shall ouercome [him] at the last.
Out of the fat [lande] of Aser shalbe his bread, and he shall geue pleasures for a kyng.
Nephthalim is a hynde sent for a present, geuyng goodly wordes.
Ioseph is lyke a floryshyng bough, a bough floryshyng by a well syde [whose] small boughes ran vpon the wall.
The archers haue greeuously prouoked hym, and shot him through with dartes, they haue hated him to his hinderaunce.
But his bowe abode fast, and the armes of his handes were made strong by the handes of the myghtie God of Iacob: Out of him shal come an heardman, a stone in Israel.
From thy fathers God which hath helped thee, and from the almyghtie which hath blessed thee with blessinges from heauen aboue, with blessynges of the deepe that lyeth vnder, & with blessynges of the brestes and of the wombe.
The blessynges of thy fathers shall be stronger then the blessinges of my elders: vnto the vtmost of the hylles of the worlde, they shalbe on the head of Ioseph, and on the toppe of the head of hym that was seperate from his brethren.
Beniamin shall rauishe as a wolfe: In the mornyng he shall deuour the pray, and at nyght he shall deuide the spoyle.
All these are the twelue tribes of Israel: and this their father spake vnto them, and blessed them, euery one of them blessed he with a seueral blessing.
And he charged them, and sayde vnto them: When I shalbe gathered vnto my people, bury me with my fathers in the caue that is in the field of Ephron the Hethite,
In the caue that is in the fielde of Machpelah, which is before Mamre in the lande of Chanaan, which Abraham bought with the fielde of Ephron the Hethite for a possession to bury in.
Where as were buried Abraham and Sara his wyfe, and where as were buried Isahac and Rebecca his wife: & there I buried Lea.
The fielde and the caue that is therin was bought of the chyldren of Heth.
And when Iacob had made an ende of commaundyng all that he would vnto his sonnes, he plucked vp his feete vnto the bedde, and dyed: and was put vnto his people.
AND Ioseph fell vpon his fathers face, and wept vpon him, and kyssed hym.
And Ioseph co{m}maunded his seruauntes the phisitians to imbawme his father. And the phisitians enbawmed Israel.
And fourtie dayes were continued (for so long doth the imbawmyng last) and the Egyptians mourned for him thre score and ten dayes.
And when the dayes of mournyng were ended, Ioseph spake vnto {th}e house of Pharao, saying: If I haue founde fauour in your eyes, speake I pray you in the eares of Pharao, saying:
My father made me sweare, & sayde, Lo I dye, bury me in the graue which I haue made me in the lande of Chanaan. Nowe therfore let me go vp I pray thee, and bury my father, and then wyl I come agayne.
And Pharao sayde: Go vp, and bury thy father, accordyng as he made thee sweare.
And Ioseph went vp to bury his father, and with hym went all the seruau{n}tes of Pharao that were the elders of his house, and all the elders of the lande of Egypt:
And all the house of Ioseph and his brethren, and his fathers house: onlye their chyldren, and their sheepe, & their cattell, left they behynde in the lande of Gosen.
And there went with hym also charrettes and horsemen: and it was an exceedyng great companie.
And they came to the corne floore of Atad, which is beyonde Iordane, and there they made a great and exceedyng sore lamentation: and he mourned for his father seuen dayes.
And when the inhabiters of the lande [euen] the Chananites, sawe the mournyng in the corne floore of Atad, they sayde: This is a great mournyng vnto the Egyptians. Wherefore the name of the place is called, The mournyng of the Egyptians, & it is beyond Iordane.
And his sonnes dyd vnto hym accordyng as he had commaunded them.
For his sonnes caryed hym into the lande of Chanaan, & buryed hym in the caue of the fielde Machpelah, whiche fielde Abraham bought to be a place to bury in of Ephron the Hethite, before Mamre.
And Ioseph returned into Egypt agayne, he and his brethren, and all that went vp with hym to bury his father, assoone as he had buryed hym.
And when Iosephes brethren sawe that their father was dead, they saide: Ioseph may peraduenture hate vs, & rewarde vs againe all the euyll whiche we dyd vnto hym.
And they dyd sende a message vnto Ioseph, saying: Thy father dyd commaunde before he dyed, saying:
This wyse shall ye say vnto Ioseph, Forgeue [I pray thee] the trespasse of thy brethren, and their sinne: for they rewarded thee euyll. And nowe we praye thee forgeue the trespasse of the seruauntes of the God of thy father. And Ioseph wept when they spake vnto hym.
Also his brethren came vnto hym, and fell flat before his face, saying: beholde, we be thy seruauntes.
To whom Ioseph sayde: Feare not, am I God?
Ye thought euil against me, but God turned it vnto good, to bryng to passe as it is this day, and to saue muche people alyue.
Feare not therefore, nowe I wyll noryshe you and your chyldren. And he comforted them, and spake kyndly vnto them.
Ioseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his fathers house: and Ioseph lyued an hundred and ten yeres.
And Ioseph sawe Ephraims children euen vnto the thirde generation: and vnto Machir the sonne of Manasses, were chyldren borne on Iosephes knees.
And Ioseph sayde vnto his brethren, I dye, & God wyll surely visite you, and bryng you out of this lande, vnto the lande whiche he sware vnto Abraham, Isahac, and Iacob.
And Ioseph toke an othe of the chyldren of Israel, saying: God wyll not fayle but visite you, and ye shall cary my bones hence.
And so Ioseph dyed when he was an hundred and ten yeres olde: And they imbawmed hym with spyces, puttyng hym in a chest in Egypt.
THese are the names of the children of Israel, whiche came into Egypt with Iacob, euery ma{n} came with his housholde:
Ruben, Simeon, Leui, and Iuda:
Isachar, Zabulon, and Beniamin,
Dan and Nephthali, Gad & Aser.
All the soules that came out of the line of Iacob, were seuentie:
But Ioseph was in Egypt alredy, & Ioseph dyed, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
And the children of Israel were fruitfull, encreased, multiplied, & waxed exceedyng myghtie, and the lande was full of them.
But there arose vp a newe kyng in Egypt, which knewe not Ioseph:
And he sayde vnto his folke, Beholde, the people of the chyldren of Israel are greater and myghtier then we.
Come on, let vs deale wyttyly with the{m}, lest they multiplie, & lest it come to passe, that if there be any warre, they ioyne them selues vnto our enemies, & fight agaynst vs, & so get them vp out of {th}e land.
Therfore dyd they set taske maisters ouer them, to kepe the{m} vnder with burthens: And they buylt vnto Pharao treasure cities, Pithom & Raamses.
But the more they vexed them, the more they multiplied and grewe: so that they abhorred at the syght of the chyldren of Israel.
And the Egyptians helde the children of Israel in bondage without mercie,
And they made their lyues bytter vnto them in that cruell bondage, in claye, and bricke, and all maner of worke in the fielde: for all their bondage wherein they serued them was ful of tirannie.
And the kyng of Egypt spake vnto the mydwyfes of the Hebrues women: (of which the one was named Siphrah and the other Puah) and sayde:
When ye do the office of a mydwyfe to the women of the Hebrues, and see in the birth tyme that it is a boy, ye shall kyl it: but if it be a daughter, it shal liue.
Notwithstanding, the mydwifes feared God, and dyd not as the kyng of Egypt commaunded them, but saued the men chyldren.
And the kyng of Egypt called for the mydwyfes, and sayde vnto them: why haue ye dealt on this maner, and haue saued the men chyldren?
And the mydwyfes aunswered Pharao: that {th}e Hebrues women are not as the women of Egypt: for they are more liuely women, and are deliuered yer the mydwyfes come at them.
And God dealt well therefore with the mydwyfes: and the people multiplied and waxed very myghtie.
And it came to passe, that because the midwifes feared God, he made them houses.
And Pharao charged all his people, saying: All the men chyldren that are borne, cast into the ryuer, and saue the mayde chyldren alyue.
ANd there went a man out of the house of Leui, and toke to wyfe a daughter of Leui.
And the wyfe conceaued and bare a sonne: and when she sawe that it was a proper childe, she hyd him three monethes.
And when she coulde no longer hyde hym, she toke a basket [made] of bull russhes, and dawbed it with slyme and pitche, and layed the chylde therein, and put it in the flagges by the riuers brinke
And his sister stoode a farre of, to wit what woulde come of it.
And the daughter of Pharao came downe to wasshe her selfe in the ryuer, and her maydens walked along by the ryuers syde: And when she sawe the basket among the flagges, she sent her mayde to fetch it.
And when she had opened it, she sawe it was a chylde: and beholde, the babe wept. And she had compassion on it, and sayde: it is one of the Hebrues chyldren.
Then sayde his sister to Pharaos daughter: shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrues women, to nurse thee the chylde?
Pharaos daughter aunswered her: go. And the mayde ranne and called the chyldes mother.
To whom Pharaos daughter sayde: Take this chylde away, and nurse it for me, and I wyll rewarde thee. And the woman toke the chylde, & nursed it vp.
The chylde grewe, and she brought it vnto Pharaos daughter, and it was made her sonne. And she called {th}e name of it Moyses: because [sayde she] I toke hym out of the water.
And in those dayes, when Moyses was waxed great, he went out vnto his brethren, & loked on their burdens, and spyed an Egyptian smytyng an Hebrue which was one of his brethren.
And he loked rounde about, and when he sawe no man by, he slewe the Egyptian, and hyd hym in the sande.
And when he was gone out another day, beholde, two men of the Hebrues stroue together: And he saide vnto him that dyd the wrong, Wherefore smytest thou thy felowe?
He aunswered: Who made thee a man of aucthoritie and a iudge ouer vs? intendest thou to kyll me, as thou kylledst the Egyptian? And Moyses feared and sayde: Of a suretie this thyng is knowen.
And Pharao heard of it, and went about to slaye Moyses. And Moyses fleyng from the face of Pharao, dwelt in the lande of Madian: and he sate downe by the welles syde.
The priest of Madian had vij. daughters, which came and drewe [water] and filled the troughes for to water their fathers sheepe.
And the shepheardes came and droue them away: but Moyses stoode vp and helped them, and watred their sheepe.
And when they came to Raguel their father, he sayde: Howe came it to passe that ye are come so soone to day?
And they aunswered: A man of Egypt deliuered vs from the handes of the shepheardes, and so drewe vs water, and watered the sheepe.
He saide vnto his daughters: & where is he? why haue ye so left the man? Call hym, that he may eate bread.
And Moyses was content to dwell with the man: & he gaue Moyses Sephora his daughter:
Which bare him a sonne, and he called his name Gershom: For he saide, I haue ben a straunger in a straunge land.
And in processe of tyme the kyng of Egypt dyed, and the chyldren of Israel syghed by the reason of bondage, and cryed.
And their complaynt came vp vnto God from the bondage: and God heard their mone, and God remembred his couenaunt with Abraham, Isahac, and Iacob.
And God loked vpon the chyldren of Israel, and God had respecte vnto them.
MOyses kept the sheepe of Iethro his father in lawe, priest of Madian: and he droue the flocke to the backesyde of the desert, and came to the mountayne of God Horeb.
And the angell of the Lorde appeared vnto hym in a flambe of fire out of the middes of a busshe: And he loked, and beholde the busshe burned with fire, and the busshe was not consumed.
Therfore Moyses sayde: I wyll go nowe and see this great syght, howe it commeth that the busshe burneth not.
And when {th}e Lorde sawe that he came for to see, God called vnto him out of the middes of the busshe, & sayde: Moyses, Moyses? And he answered, here am I.
And he said: Draw not nigh hither, put thy shoes of thy feete, for the place whereon thou standest, is holy ground.
And he sayde: I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isahac, and the God of Iacob. And Moyses hid his face, for he was afrayde to loke vpon God.
And the Lorde saide: I haue surely seene the trouble of my people which are in Egypt, and haue heard their crie from the face of their taske maisters: for I knowe their sorowes,
And am come downe to deliuer the{m} out of the hande of the Egyptians, and to bryng them out of that lande, vnto a good lande & a large, vnto a lande that floweth with mylke and hony, euen vnto the place of the Chanaanites, and Hethites, and Amorites, and Pherizites, and Heuites, and of the Iebusites.
Nowe therfore beholde the complaint of the chyldren of Israel is come vnto me: and I haue also seene the oppressio{n} wherwith {th}e Egyptians oppressed them.
Come thou therfore, and I wyll sende thee vnto Pharao, that thou mayest bryng my people the chyldren of Israel out of Egypt.
And Moyses saide vnto God: what am I to go vnto Pharao, and to bryng the chyldren of Israel out of Egypt?
And he aunswered. For I wyll be with thee: and this shalbe a token vnto thee that I haue sent thee, After that thou hast brought the people out of Egypt, ye shall serue God vpon this mou{n}tayne.
And Moyses sayde vnto God: behold [when] I come vnto the chyldren of Israel, and shall say vnto them: the God of your fathers hath sent me vnto you. And if they saye vnto me, what is thy name? what answere shall I geue the{m}?
And God aunswered Moyses: I am that I am. And he said: This shalt thou say vnto the chyldren of Israel, I am, hath sent me vnto you.
And God spake further vnto Moyses, Thus shalt thou say vnto the chyldren of Israel: The Lorde God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isahac, and the God of Iacob hath sent me vnto you: This is my name for euer, and this is my memoriall into generation and generation.
Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and thou shalt saye vnto them, The Lorde God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isahac, and the God of Iacob appeared vnto me, and sayde: In visityng, haue I visited you, and know that which is done to you in Egypt.
And I haue sayde: I wyll bryng you out of the tribulation of Egypt, vnto the land of the Chanaanites, and Hethites, and Amorites, and Pherizites, and Heuites, and Iebusites, euen into a land which floweth with milke & hony.
And they shall heare thy voyce: Then both thou and the elders of Israel shall go vnto the kyng of Egypt, and say vnto him: The Lord God of the Hebrues hath met with vs, and nowe let vs go [we beseche thee] three dayes iourney into the wyldernesse, and do sacrifice vnto the Lorde our God.
And I am sure that the king of Egypt wyl not let you go, no not in a mightie hande.
And I wyll stretche out my hande, & smyte Egypt with al my wonders whiche I wyll do in the middes therof, and after that he wyll let you go.
And I wyll get this people fauour in the syght of the Egyptians, so that when ye go, ye shall not go emptie:
But a wyfe shall borowe of her neighbour, and of her that soiourneth in her house, iewels of syluer, and iewels of golde, and rayment: and ye shall put them on your sonnes and daughters, & shall robbe the Egyptians.
MOyses aunswered, and said: See, they wyll not beleue me, nor harken vnto my voyce: but wyll saye, The Lorde hath not appeared vnto thee.
And the Lorde sayde vnto him: What is that [which is] in thine hande? He aunswered: a rodde.
And he sayde: Cast it on the grounde. And he cast it on the grounde, and it became a serpent: and Moyses fled fro{m} the syght of it.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Put foorth thy hande, and take it by the tayle. And therefore he put foorth his hande, and caught it: and it became a rodde in his hande.
By this thing shall they beleue, that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isahac, & the God of Iacob hath appeared vnto thee.
And the Lorde sayde furthermore vnto hym: Thrust thyne hande into thy bosome. And he thruste his hande into his bosome: and when he toke it out agayne, beholde his hande was leprous, euen as snowe.
And he sayde: Put thine hande into thy bosome againe. And he put his hand into his bosome agayne: and plucked it out of his bosome, and behold, it was turned agayne as his [other] fleshe.
Therfore yf they wyll not beleue thee, neither heare {th}e voyce of the first signes, yet wyll they beleue for the voyce of the seconde signes.
But & if they wyl not beleue these two signes, neither hearken vnto thy voyce: thou shalt take of the water of the riuer and powre it vpon the drye lande, and the water which thou takest out of the riuer shalbe [turned] into blood vpon the drye lande.
Moyses sayd vnto the Lorde: Oh my Lord, I am neither yesterday nor yer yesterday a man eloque{n}t, neither sence thou hast spoken vnto thy seruaunt: but I am slowe mouthed, & slowe tounged.
And the Lorde sayd vnto hym: who hath made mans mouth? or who maketh the dumbe, or deafe, the seyng, or the blynde? Haue not I the Lorde?
And nowe go, and I wyll be with thy mouth, and teache thee what thou shalt say.
He said: oh my Lorde, sende I pray thee, by the hande of hym whom thou wylt sende.
And the Lorde was angry with Moyses, and sayde: Do not I knowe Aaron thy brother the Leuite, that he can speake? For lo, he commeth foorth to meete thee: and when he seeth thee, he wyll be glad in his heart.
Therfore thou shalt speake vnto him, and put these wordes in his mouth, and I wilbe with thy mouth, and with his mouth: and wyll teache you what you ought to do.
And he shalbe thy spokesman vnto the people, and he shalbe [euen] he shalbe to thee in steade of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him, in steade of God.
And thou shalt take this rodde in thy hande, wherewith thou shalt do miracles.
Therfore Moyses went and returned to Iethro his father in law againe, and said vnto him: Let me go I pray thee nowe, and turne agayne vnto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet aliue. And Iethro said to Moyses: go in peace.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses in Madian, Go and returne agayne into Egypt: for all the men are dead whiche went about to kill thee.
And Moyses toke his wyfe, and his sonnes, and put them on an asse, and went agayne to Egypt: And Moyses toke the rodde of God in his hande.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: When thou art entred and come into Egypt agayne, see that thou do all the wonders before Pharao whiche I haue put in thy hand: but I wyll hold his heart, & he shal not let the people go.
And thou shalt saye vnto Pharao: Thus sayeth the Lorde, Israel is my sonne [euen] my first borne sonne.
And I sayde vnto thee, that thou let my sonne go, that he may serue me. And if thou refuse to let him go: beholde, I do slay thy sonne [euen] thy first borne.
And it came to passe by the way in the Inne that the Lorde met hym, and woulde haue kylled hym.
And Sephora toke a stone, and cut away the foreskin of her sonne, and cast it at his feete, and sayd: a blooddy husbande art thou vnto me.
Then he let him go, and she sayde: a blooddy husbande, because of her circumcision.
Then said the Lorde vnto Aaron: go meete Moyses in the wyldernesse. And he went and met him in the mounte of God, and kissed him.
And Moyses tolde Aaron all the wordes of the Lorde whiche had sent him, and all the signes whiche he had charged him withall.
So went Moyses and Aaron, and gathered all the elders of the chyldren of Israel.
And Aaron told all the wordes which the Lord had spoken vnto Moyses: and did {th}e miracles in the sight of the people.
And the people beleued, And when they hearde that the Lorde had visited the children of Israel, and had looked vpon their tribulation, they bowed the{m} selues, and worshipped.
MOyses and Aaron went in afterward and told Pharao, Thus sayeth the Lorde God of Israel: let my people go, that they maye holde a feast vnto me in the wyldernesse.
And Pharao sayde: who is the Lorde that I shoulde heare his voyce, and let Israel go? I knowe not the Lorde, neyther wyll I let Israel go.
And they sayde, The God of the Hebrewes is called ouer vs: let vs go we pray thee three dayes iourney into the desert, and do sacrifice vnto the Lorde our God: lest he smyte vs with pestilence or with the sworde.
Then saide the kyng of Egypt vnto them: wherfore do ye Moyses and Aaron let the people from their workes? get you vnto your burthens.
And Pharao sayde furthermore: beholde, there is much people nowe in the lande, and you make them leaue theyr burthens.
And Pharao co{m}maunded the same day, {th}e taskmaisters which were amongest the people, and the officers, saying:
Ye shall geue the people no more strawe to make brycke withal, as ye did in tyme passed: let them go and gather them strawe them selues.
And the number of bricke which they were wont to make in tyme passed, lay vnto their charges also, and minishe nothing therof: for they be idell, and therfore crye, saying: we wyll go, and do sacrifice vnto our God.
They must haue more worke layed vpon them, that they may labour therin, and not regarde vayne wordes.
Then went the taskemaisters of the people, and the officers out, and tolde the people, saying: Thus sayeth Pharao, I wyll geue you no more strawe.
Go your selues and gather you straw where ye can finde it: yet shall none of your labour be minished.
And so were the people scattered abrode throughout all {th}e land of Egypt, for to gather stubble in steade of strawe.
And the taskemaisters hasted them forwarde, saying: fulfyll your worke, your dayly taskes in their due tyme, as if you had strawe.
And the officers of the children of Israel which Pharaos taskemasters had set ouer them, were beaten. And they sayde vnto them: wherfore haue ye not fulfilled your taske in makyng of brycke both yesterday and to day, as well as in tymes past?
The officers also of the children of Israel, came & complayned vnto Pharao, saying: Wherfore dealest thou thus with thy seruauntes?
There is no strawe geuen vnto thy seruauntes, and they say vnto vs, make brycke: and thy seruauntes are beaten, and the fault is thyne owne people.
He sayde: you are idle, idle are you: and therfore you say, we will go, and do sacrifice vnto the Lorde.
Go therfore nowe, & worke, and there shall no strawe be geuen you, & yet shall ye deliuer the whole tale of bricke.
And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in worse case, after it was sayde, ye shall minishe nothyng of your brycke, of your dayly taske in due tyme:
And they met Moyses and Aaron, which stoode in their way as they came out from Pharao.
And saide vnto them: The Lorde looke vpon you & iudge you, which hath made the sauour of vs to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharao, and in the eyes of his seruauntes, and haue put a sworde in their hande to slay vs.
Moyses returned vnto the Lorde, and sayd: Lorde, wherfore hast thou so euyll intreated this people? And wherfore hast thou sent me?
For since I came to Pharao to speake in thy name, he hath fared foule with this folke, and yet thou hast not deliuered thy people at all.
THen the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Nowe shalt thou see what I wyll do vnto Pharao: for in a mightie hande shal he let them go, and in a mightie hande shall he dryue them out of his lande.
And God spake vnto Moyses, and said vnto him: I am Iehouah.
I appeared vnto Abraham, Isahac, and Iacob as an almightie God: but in my name Iehouah was I not knowen vnto them.
Moreouer I made a couenaunt with them, to geue them the lande of Chanaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were straungers.
And therefore I haue also heard the groning of the childre{n} of Israel, whom the Egyptians kepe in bondage, and haue remembred my couenaunt.
Wherfore say vnto the children of Israel: I am Iehouah, I wil bryng you out from the burthens of the Egyptians, and will ryd you out of their bondage, and will deliuer you in a stretched out arme, and in great iudgementes.
And I will take you for my people, and wilbe to you a God: And ye shall knowe that I am the Lord your God which bring you out from the burthens of the Egyptians.
And I will bryng you into the lande, concerning the whiche I did lift vp my hand to geue it vnto Abraham, Isahac, and Iacob, and wyll geue it vnto you for a possession: [for] I am Iehouah.
And Moyses tolde the children of Israel euen so: but they hearkened not vnto Moyses for anguishe of spirite and for cruell bondage.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Go in, and speake vnto Pharao king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his lande.
And Moyses spake before the Lorde, saying: beholde, the children of Israel hearken not vnto me: howe then shall Pharao heare me, whiche am of vncircumcized lippes?
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and vnto Aaron, & gaue them a charge concerning the chyldren of Israel, and concerning Pharao king of Egypt, that they shoulde bring the children of Israel out of the lande of Egypt.
[These be the heades of theyr fathers houses. The children of Ruben {th}e first borne sonne of Israel, are these: Hanoch and Phallu, Hesron, and Charmi: these be the children of Ruben.
The chyldren of Simeon: Iemuel, and Iamin, Ohad, & Iachin, Sohar, and Saul the sonne of the Chanaanitishe woman: these are the kinredes of Simeon.
These also are the names of the chyldren of Leui in their generations: Gerson, and Cehath, and Merari: Leui liued an hundred thirtie and seuen yere.
The sonnes of Gerson: Libni, and Simi by their kinredes.
The chyldren of Cehath: Amram, & Ishar, and Hebron, and Vziel. And Cehath liued an hundred thirtie and three yere.
The children of Merari: Mahli, and Musi: these are the kinredes of Leui by their generations.
Amram toke Iochebed his fathers sister to wyfe, and she bare hym Aaron and Moyses: and Amram liued an hundred and thirtie and seuen yeres.
And the chyldren of Ishar: Corah, Nepheg, and Sichri.
The chyldren of Vsiel: Misael, Elzaphan, and Zithri.
And Aaron toke Eliseba, daughter of Aminadab, and sister of Nahason to wyfe, whiche bare hym Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
The chyldren of Corah: Assir, and Eleanah, and Abiasaph: these are the kinredes of the Corahites.
Eleazar Aarons sonne, toke him one of the daughters of Putiel to wyfe, whiche bare hym Phinees: and these are the principal fathers of the Leuites throughout their kinredes.
This is that Aaron and Moyses to whom the Lorde sayd: Leade the children of Israel out of the lande of Egypt, according to theyr armies.
These are that Moyses and Aaron, which spake to Pharao king of Egypt, that they might bryng the chyldren of Israel out of Egypt.
And in the day when the Lorde spake vnto Moyses in the lande of Egypt.
He spake vnto hym, saying: I am the Lorde: speake thou vnto Pharao the king of Egypt all that I say vnto thee.
And Moyses sayde before the Lorde: beholde, I am of vncircumcized lippes, & how shall Pharao geue me audience?
AND the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: behold, I haue made thee Pharaos God: and Aaron thy brother shalbe thy prophete.
Thou shalt speake all that I commaunde thee, and Aaron thy brother shall speake vnto Pharao, that he sende the children of Israel out of his lande.
And I will harden Pharaos heart, and multiplie my miracles & my wonders in the lande of Egypt.
But Pharao shall not hearken vnto you, that I may set my hande vpon Egypt, and bryng out myne armies, and my people the chyldren of Israel out of the land of Egypt in great iudgmentes.
And the Egyptians shall knowe that I am the Lord, when I stretch foorth my hande vpon Egypt, and bryng out the children of Israel fro{m} among them.
Moyses and Aaron did as the Lord commaunded them, [euen] so did they.
Moyses was fourescore yere olde, and Aaron fourescore and three, when they spake vnto Pharao.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron, saying:
If Pharao speake vnto you, saying, shewe a miracle for you: thou shalt say vnto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharao, that it may be a serpent.
Then went Moyses and Aaron in vnto Pharao, and dyd euen as the Lorde had commaunded: and Aaron caste foorth his rodde before Pharao, and before his seruauntes, and it [turned] to a serpent.
Then Pharao called for the wyse men, and enchaunters: and those sorcerers of Egypt dyd in like maner with their sorcerie.
For they cast downe euery man his rod, and they [turned] to serpentes: but Aarons rodde did eate vp their roddes.
And he helde Pharaos heart that he hearkened not vnto them, euen as the Lorde had sayde.
The Lorde also sayde vnto Moyses: Pharaos heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
Get thee vnto Pharao in the morning, loe, he wyll come vnto the water, and thou shalt stand vpo{n} the ryuers brincke agaynst he come: and the rodde whiche was turned to a serpent, shalt thou take in thyne hande:
And thou shalt say vnto hym: the Lorde God of the Hebrewes hath sent me vnto thee, saying: Let my people go, that they may serue me in the wyldernesse: and beholde, hytherto thou wouldest not heare.
Thus sayeth the Lord, In this thou shalt knowe that I am the Lorde: beholde, I wyll smyte with the rodde that is in my hande, the waters whiche are in the ryuers, and they shalbe turned to blood.
And the fishe that is in the riuer, shall dye: and the ryuer shall corrupt, and it shall greeue the Egyptians to drinke of the water of the ryuer.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses: say vnto Aaron, Take thy rodde, and stretche out thyne hand ouer the waters of Egypt, ouer their streames, ouer their riuers and pondes, and all pooles of water whiche they haue, that they may be blood, and that there may be blood throughout all {th}e lande of Egypt, both in [vesselles] of wood, & also of stone.
And Moyses and Aaron did euen as the Lorde commaunded: and he lyfte vp the rodde, and smote the waters that were in the ryuer in the sight of Pharao, and in the sight of his seruauntes: and all the water that was in the ryuer, turned into blood.
And the fishe that was in the ryuer dyed: and the ryuer corrupted, and the Egyptians coulde not drinke of the waters of the ryuer, and there was blood throughout all the lande of Egypt.
And the enchaunters of Egypt dyd lykewyse with their sorceries, and he heardened Pharaos heart, neyther did he hearken vnto them, as the Lorde had sayde.
And Pharao turned him selfe, and went agayne into his house, and set not his heart thervnto.
And the Egyptians dygged rounde about the ryuer for water to drinke: for they coulde not drinke of the water of the ryuer.
And it continued seuen dayes after that the Lorde had smyten the ryuer.
THE Lorde spake vnto Moyses, go vnto Pharao & tell hym, Thus sayeth the Lord: Let my people go, that they may serue me.
And if thou refuse to let them go, beholde, I wyll smyte all thy borders with frogges:
And the riuer shall scraule with frogges, whiche shall go vp and come into thine house, and into thy priuie chaumber where thou slepest, and vpon thy bed, & into the house of thy seruauntes, and vpon thy people, and into thyne ouens, and vpon al thy vitayles in store:
And the frogges shall come vp vppon thee, and on thy people, and vpon all thy seruauntes.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses: say vnto Aaron, stretch foorth thyne hande with thy rod ouer the streames, ouer the ryuers, and ouer the pondes: and cause frogges to come vp vpon the lande of Egypt.
And Aaron stretched his hande ouer {th}e waters of Egypt, & the frogges came vp and couered the lande of Egypt.
And the sorcerers did likewise with their sorcerie, and brought frogges vp vpon the lande of Egypt.
Then Pharao called for Moyses and Aaron, and sayde: pray ye vnto the Lorde that he maye take away the frogges from me, and from my people: and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice vnto the Lorde.
And Moyses sayde vnto Pharao: glory herein because of me, and [appoynt] when I shall pray for thee, and for thy seruauntes, and for thy people to dryue away the frogges from thee and thy houses: and they may remayne but in the ryuer onlye.
He sayd: to morowe. And he sayde, euen as thou hast said: that thou mayest knowe that there is none like vnto the Lorde our God.
And so the frogges shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, from thy seruauntes, and from thy people: and shall remayne in the ryuer onlye.
Moyses and Aaron went out from Pharao, and Moyses cryed vnto the Lorde, as touching the frogges whiche he had brought against Pharao.
And the Lorde dyd accordyng to the saying of Moyses: and the frogges dyed out of the houses, out of the courtes and fieldes.
And they gathered them together vppon heapes, and the lande had an euill smell [through them.]
But when Pharao sawe that he had rest geuen him, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not vnto them, as the Lorde had sayde.
And the Lord sayd vnto Moses, Say vnto Aaron: Stretche out thy rod, and smyte the dust of the lande, that it may be [turned] to lyce throughout all the lande of Egypt.
And they did so: for Aaron stretched out his hande with his rodde, and smote the dust of the earth, whiche turned to lyce in man and beast: so that all the dust of the lande [turned] to lyce throughout all the lande of Egypt.
And the enchaunters assayed likewise with their enchauntme{n}tes to bring foorth lyce, but they coulde not: and the lyce were both vpon men & beastes.
Then said the enchaunters vnto Pharao: this is the finger of God. And Pharaos heart remayned obstinate, and he hearkened not vnto them, euen as the Lorde had sayde.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: ryse vp early in the mornyng, and stand before Pharao, lo, he wyll come foorth vnto the water, and thou shalt say vnto him, Thus sayeth the Lorde: Let my people go that they may serue me.
Els if thou wylt not let my people go, behold, I will send all maner of flyes both vpon thee and thy seruauntes, and thy people, & into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shalbe full of flyes, and the ground wheron they are.
And the land of Gosen where my people are, will I cause to be wonderfull in that day, so that there shal no flyes be there: wherby thou shalt know that I am the Lorde in the myddest of the earth.
And I will put a diuision betweene my people and thine: and euen to morowe shall this miracle be done.
And the Lord dyd euen so, & there came an intollerable swarme of flyes into the house of Pharao, and into his seruauntes houses, and into all the land of Egypt: and the land was corrupt with these flyes.
And Pharao called for Moyses and Aaron, and sayd: Go, and do sacrifice vnto your God in this lande.
And Moyses aunswered, It is not meete that we so do: for we must offer vnto the Lorde our God, that [which is] an abhomination vnto the Egyptians. Lo, if we sacrifice that which is an abhomination vnto the Egyptians before theyr eyes, wyl they not stone vs?
We wyll go three dayes iourney into the desert, and sacrifice vnto the Lorde our God, as he hath co{m}maunded vs.
And Pharao sayd: I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice vnto the Lorde your God in the wyldernesse, but go not farre away: pray for me.
And Moyses sayd, beholde, I will go out from thee, and pray vnto the Lord, that the flyes may depart from Pharao, and from his seruauntes, and from his people to morowe: but let Pharao from hence foorth deale deceiptfully no more, that he wyll not let the people go, to sacrifice vnto the Lorde:
And Moyses went out from Pharao, and prayed vnto the Lorde.
And the Lorde did accordyng to the saying of Moyses: and the flyes departed from Pharao, and from his seruauntes, and from his people: and there remayned not one.
And Pharao hardened his heart once more at this time, and dyd not let the people go.
THe Lorde said vnto Moyses, go in vnto Pharao, and thou shalt tell hym, Thus sayeth the Lorde God of the Hebrues: Let my people go, that they may serue me.
If thou refuse to let them go, and wylt holde them styll,
Beholde, the hande of the Lorde is vpon thy flocke which is in the fielde, [for] vpon Horses, vpon asses, vpon camelles, vpon oxen, and vpon sheepe, there shalbe a mightie great morayne.
And the Lorde shall do wonderfully betweene the beastes of Israel, and the beastes of Egypt, so that there shall nothyng dye of all that pertayneth to the children of Israel.
And the Lorde appoynted a tyme, saying: to morowe the Lorde shall finishe this worde in the lande.
And the Lorde dyd that thyng on the morowe, and all the cattell of Egypt dyed: but of the cattell of the children of Israel, dyed not one.
And Pharao sent, and beholde, there was not one of the cattell of the Israelites dead: And the heart of Pharao heardened, and he did not let the people go.
And the Lord said vnto Moyses and Aaron: take your handes full of asshes out of {th}e furnace, & Moyses shal sprinckle it vp into the ayre in {th}e sight of Pharao:
And it shalbe dust in all the lande of Egypt, and shalbe swelling sores with blaynes both on man & beast throughout all the lande of Egypt.
And they toke asshes out of the furnace, and stoode before Pharao: and Moyses sprinkled it vp into the ayre, and there were swellyng sores with blaynes, both in men and in beastes:
And the sorcerers could not stande before Moyses because of the blaynes: for there were botches vpon the enchaunters, and vpon al the Egyptians.
And the Lorde hardened the heart of Pharao, and he hearkened not vnto them, as {th}e Lord had said vnto Moyses.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: rise vp early in the morning, and stande before Pharao, and thou shalt tell him: Thus sayeth the Lorde God of the Hebrues: Let my people go, that they may serue me:
Or els I wyll at this tyme sende all my plagues vpon thine heart, and vpon thy seruauntes, and on thy people, that thou mayest knowe that there is none lyke me in all the earth.
For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smyte thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou shalt peryshe from the earth.
And in very deede for this cause haue I kept thee, for to shewe thee my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the worlde.
Yet exaltest thou thy selfe agaynst my people, that thou wylt not let them go?
Beholde, to morowe this time I wyl sende downe a mightie great hayle, euen suche a one as was not in Egypt since the foundation thereof was layde, vnto this tyme.
Sende therfore nowe, and gather thy beastes, & all that thou hast in the fielde: For vpon all the men and the beastes whiche are founde in the fielde, and not brought home, shall the hayle fall, and they shall dye.
And as many as feared the worde of the Lorde amongest the seruauntes of Pharao, made their seruauntes and their beastes flee into the houses.
But he that regarded not the worde of the Lord, left his seruauntes and his beastes in the fielde.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: stretche foorth thyne hande vnto heauen, that there may be hayle in all the lande of Egypt, vpon man, and vpon beastes, and vpon all the hearbes of the fielde throughout the lande of Egypt.
And Moyses stretched foorth his rod vnto heauen, and the Lord thundred and hayled, and the fire ranne a long vpon the grounde, and the Lorde hayled in the lande of Egypt.
So there was hayle, and fire mingled with the hayle, so greeuous, and such as there was none throughout al the land of Egypt since people inhabited it.
And the hayle smote throughout all the lande of Egypt all that was in the fielde, both man & beast: and the hayle smote all the hearbes of the fielde, and broke all the trees of the fielde.
Only in the lande of Gosen where the chyldren of Israel were, was there no hayle.
And Pharao sent and called for Moyses and Aaron, and sayde vnto them: I haue nowe sinned: the Lorde is righteous, and I & my people are vngodly.
Pray ye vnto the Lorde, that these thundringes of God and hayle may be sufficient, and I will let you go, and ye shall tary no longer.
Moyses sayd vnto him: Assoone as I am out of the citie, I wyll spreade abrode my handes vnto the Lorde, and the thunder shall ceasse, neyther shall there be any more hayle: that thou mayest knowe howe that the earth is the Lordes.
But I knowe that thou and thy seruauntes yet feare not the face of the Lorde God.
And so the flaxe and the barlye were smytten, for the barly was shot vp, and the flaxe was boulled:
But the wheate and the rye were not smytten, for they were late sowen.
And Moyses went out of the citie fro{m} Pharao, and spread abrode his handes vnto the Lorde: and the thunder and hayle ceassed, neyther rayned it vpon the earth.
And when Pharao sawe that the rayne, and the hayle, and thunder were ceassed, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his seruauntes:
And the heart of Pharao was hardened, neyther woulde he let the chyldren of Israel go, as the Lorde had sayd by the hande of Moyses,
AND the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses, go in vnto Pharao: for I haue hardened his heart, & the heart of his seruauntes, that I might shewe these my signes before hym,
And that thou tell in the audience of thy sonne, & of thy sonnes sonne what thinges I haue done in Egypt, and the miracles which I haue done amongest them: that they may know howe that I am the Lorde.
And so Moyses and Aaron came vnto Pharao, and said vnto him, Thus sayeth the Lord God of the Hebrues: How long wilt thou refuse to submit thy selfe vnto me? Let my people go, that they may serue me.
Or els if thou refuse to let my people go, beholde, to morowe wyll I bryng greshoppers into thy coastes:
And they shall couer the face of the earth, that it can not be seene: and they shall eate the residue which remayneth vnto you and is escaped from the hayle, and they shall eate euery greene tree that beareth you fruite in the fielde.
And they shall fill thy houses, and all thy seruauntes houses, and the houses of all the Egyptians, after suche a maner, as neyther thy fathers, nor thy fathers fathers haue seene since the tyme they were vpon the earth vnto this day. And he turned him selfe about, and went out from Pharao.
And Pharaos seruauntes sayde vnto him: howe long shall he be hurtfull vnto vs? Let the men go, that they may serue the Lorde their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?
And Moyses & Aaron were brought againe vnto Pharao, and he sayde vnto them, Go and serue the Lorde your God: but who are they that shall go?
And Moyses aunswered: we will go with our young, and with our olde, yea, and with our sonnes, & with our daughters, and with our sheepe, and with our oxen we must go: for we must holde a feast vnto the Lorde.
And he said vnto them: Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, and your chyldren: take heede, for ye haue some mischiefe in hande.
Nay not so, but go they that are men, and serue the Lorde: for that was your desire. And they were thrust out of Pharaos presence.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Stretch out thyne hand ouer the lande of Egypt for greshoppers, that they may come vpon the land of Egypt, and eate all the hearbes of the lande, and all that the hayle left behynde.
And Moyses stretched foorth his rod ouer the lande of Egypt, and the Lorde brought an east winde vpon the lande all that day, and all that nyght: and in the morning the east winde brought the greshoppers.
And the greshoppers went vp ouer all the lande of Egypt, and remayned in all quarters of Egypt very greeuouslye: before them were there no suche greshoppers, neither after them shalbe.
For they couered all the face of the earth, so that the lande was darke, and they did eate al the hearbes of the land, and all the fruites of the trees whatsoeuer the hayle had lefte: there was no greene thyng left in the trees & hearbes of the fielde through al {th}e land of Egypt.
Therefore Pharao called for Moyses and Aaron in haste, and sayde: I haue sinned agaynst the Lord your God, and agaynst you:
And nowe forgeue me my sinne only this once, and pray vnto the Lord your God that he may take awaye from me this death only.
And [Moyses] went out from Pharao, and prayed vnto the Lorde.
And the Lorde turned a myghtie strong west wynde, and it toke awaye the grashoppers, and cast them into the red sea: so that there was not one grashopper in all the coastes of Egypt.
And the Lorde hardened Pharaos heart, so that he woulde not let the children of Israel go.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Stretche out thy hande vnto heauen, that there may be vpon the lande of Egypt darknesse which may be felt.
And Moyses stretched foorth his hand vnto heauen: and there was a thicke darkenesse vpon all the lande of Egypt three dayes long.
No man sawe another, neither rose vp from the place where he was by the space of three dayes: But al the children of Israel had light where thei dwelled.
And Pharao called for Moyses, and sayde, Go, and serue the Lorde: onlye let your sheepe & your oxen abyde, and let your chyldren go with you.
And Moyses sayde: Thou must geue vs also offeringes and burnt offeringes, for to do sacrifice vnto the Lorde our God.
Our cattell also shall go with vs, and there shall not one hoofe be left behynd, for therof must we take to serue {th}e Lorde our God: neither do we knowe with what we must do seruice vnto the Lord vntyll we come thyther.
But the Lorde hardened Pharaos heart, and he woulde not let them go.
And Pharao sayde vnto hym: Get thee from me, and take heede vnto thy selfe that thou seest my face no more: for whensoeuer thou commest in my syght, thou shalt dye.
And Moyses sayde: Let it be as thou hast sayde, I wyll see thy face no more.
AND the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Yet wyl I brynge one plague more vpo{n} Pharao, and vpon Egypt, and after that, he wyll let you go hence: when he shal let you go quite, he shall vtterly dryue you hence.
Speake thou therfore in the eares of the people, that euery man borowe of his neighbour, and euery woman of her neighbour, iewels of syluer, and iewels of golde.
And the Lorde shall geue the people fauour in the syght of the Egyptians: Moreouer, Moyses was a very great man in the lande of Egypt in the syght of Pharaos seruauntes, and in the syght of the people.
And Moyses sayde, Thus sayth the Lorde: At mydnyght, wyll I go out into the myddest of Egypt,
And all the first borne in all the land of Egypt shall dye, euen fro{m} the first borne of Pharao that sytteth on his seate, vnto the first borne of the mayde seruaunt that is behynde the myll, and all the first gendred of the cattell.
And there shalbe a great crye throughout all the lande of Egypt, such as there was neuer none lyke, nor shalbe.
But amongst the chyldren of Israel shal not a dogge moue his tounge, from a man vnto a beast: that ye may knowe how that the Lord putteth a difference betweene the Egyptians and Israel.
And these thy seruauntes shal al come downe vnto me, and fall before me, and say: Get thee out, and all the people that are vnder thee, and then wyll I depart. And he went out from Pharao with an angry countenaunce.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Pharao shall not heare you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.
And Moyses and Aaron dyd all these wonders before Pharao: And the Lord hardened Pharaos heart, so that he woulde not let the chyldren of Israel go out of his lande.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron in the lande of Egypt, saying:
This moneth shalbe vnto you {th}e begynnyng of monethes, and the first moneth of the yere shall it be vnto you.
Speake ye vnto all the congregation of Israel, saying: In the tenth daye of this moneth, euery man take vnto hym a lambe according to {th}e house of the fathers, a lambe throughout euery house.
If the houshold be to litle for {th}e lambe, let hym take his neyghbour whiche is next vnto his house, accordyng to the number of the soules, euery one of you accordyng to his eatyng shal make your compt for a lambe.
And let the lambe of yours be without blemishe, a male of a yere olde [whiche] ye shal take out from among the sheepe, and from among the goates.
And ye shall kepe hym in vntyll the fourteenth day of the same moneth: and euery assemble of the congregation of Israel shall kyll hym about euen.
And they shall take of the blood and stryke it on the two [syde] postes, and on the vpper doore post, euen in the houses where they shall eate hym.
And they shall eate the fleshe the same nyght, rost with fire, and with vnleauened bread: and with sowre hearbes they shall eate it.
See that ye eate not therof rawe, nor sodden with water, but roste with fire: the head, feete, and purtenaunce therof.
And ye shall let nothyng of it remayne vnto the morning: That which remayneth of it vntyll the morowe, shall ye burne with fire.
Of this maner shall ye eate it: with your loynes girded, and your shooes on your feete, and your staffe in your hand, and ye shall eate it in haste: for it is the Lordes passouer.
For I wyll passe through the lande of Egypt this same nyght, and wyll smyte all the first borne of Egypt from man to beast, and vpon all the gods of Egypt I wyll execute iudgement: I [am] the Lorde.
And the blood shalbe vnto you a token in the houses wherin you are: and whe{n} I see the blood, I wyll passe ouer you, and the plague shall not be vpon you to destroy you when I smyte the lande of Egypt.
And this day shalbe vnto you a reme{m}braunce: and you shall kepe it an holy feast vnto the Lorde throughout your generations, ye shall kepe it holy for an ordinaunce for euer.
Seuen dayes shal ye eate vnleauened bread, so that euen the first day ye put away leauen out of your house: For who so euer eateth leauened bread from the first daye vntyll the seuenth daye, that soule shalbe rooted out of Israel.
The first day shalbe a holy conuocation, and the seuenth day shalbe an holy conuocation vnto you: there shalbe no maner of worke done in the{m}, saue about that only which euery man must eate, that only may ye do.
And ye shal obserue the feast of vnleauened bread: for this same day haue I brought your armies out of the lande of Egypt, therefore ye shall obserue this day and all your chyldren after you, by an euerlastyng decree.
The first moneth, and the fourteenth daye of the moneth, at euen ye shall eate vnleauened bread, vnto the .xxi. day of the same moneth at euen againe.
Seuen dayes shal ther be no leauened bread founde in your houses: and whosoeuer eateth leauened bread, that soule shalbe rooted out from the congregatio{n} of Israel, whether he be straunger or borne in the lande.
Ye shall eate nothyng leauened: but in all your habitations shall ye eate vnleauened bread.
Moyses called for the elders of Israel, and sayde vnto them: Choose out, and take you to euery housholde of you a lambe, and kyll the passouer.
And take a bunche of Isope and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, & strike the vpper post of the doore, and the two syde postes, with the blood that is in the bason: & none of you go out at the doore of his house vntyll the mornyng.
For the Lord wyll passe ouer to smyte the Egyptians: and when he seeth the blood vpon the vpper doore post and the two syde postes, he wyll passe ouer the doore, and wyll not suffer the destroyer to come into your house to plague you.
Therfore shall ye obserue this thyng for an ordinaunce to thee & thy sonnes for euer.
And when ye be come to the lande whiche the Lorde wyll geue you, accordyng as he hath promised, ye shall kepe this seruice.
And when your chyldren aske you, what maner of seruice is this ye do?
Ye shall saye, it is the sacrifice of the Lordes passouer, whiche passed ouer the houses of the chyldren of Israel in Egypt, and he smote the Egyptians, and saued our houses. And the people bowed them selues, and worshipped.
And the chyldren of Israel went and dyd as the Lorde hadde commaunded Moyses and Aaron, euen so dyd they.
And at mydnyght the Lorde smote the first borne in the lande of Egypt, fro{m} the first borne of Pharao that sate on his seate, vntyl the first borne of the captiue that was in prison, and all the firste gendred of cattell.
And Pharao rose in the nyght, he and his seruauntes, and all the Egyptians, and there was a great crye in Egypt: for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
And he called vnto Moyses and Aaro{n} by nyght, saying: Ryse vp, and get you out from amongst my people, both you and also the chyldren of Israel: and go, and serue the Lorde as ye haue sayde.
And take your sheepe and your droues with you as ye haue sayde: and depart, and blesse me.
And the Egyptians were fierce vpon the people, that they myght sende them out of the lande in haste: for they sayde, we be all [but] dead men.
And the people toke there dowgh before it was sowred, whiche they had in store, being bounde in clothes vpon their shoulders.
And the chyldren of Israel dyd accordyng to the saying of Moyses: and they borowed of the Egyptians iewels of siluer, and iewels of golde, and rayment.
And the Lord gaue the people fauour in the syght of the Egyptians, so that they graunted such thynges as they required: And they robbed the Egyptians.
And the children of Israel toke their iourney from Rameses to Suchoth, sixe hundred thousand men of foote, besyde chyldren.
And a great multitude of sundry other nations we{n}t also with them, and sheepe and oxen, and exceedyng much cattell.
And they baked vnleauened cakes of the dowgh whiche they brought out of Egypt, for it was not sowred: For they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tary, nether had they prepared for them selues any prouision of meate.
The dwellyng of the chyldren of Israel which they dwelled in Egypt, was foure hundred and thirtie yeres.
And when the foure hundred & thirtie yeres were expired, euen the selfe same day departed al the hoastes of the Lord out of the lande of Egypt.
It is a nyght to be obserued vnto the Lorde, in the whiche he brought them out of the lande of Egypt: This is that nyght of the Lorde, whiche all the chyldren of Israel must kepe throughout their generations.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses and Aaron, This is the lawe of passouer: there shall no straunger eate thereof.
But euery seruaunt that is bought for money, after that thou hast circumcised hym, shall eate therof.
A straunger & an hired seruaunt shall not eate therof.
In one house shall it be eaten, thou shalt carry none of the flesshe out of the house, neither shall ye breake a bone therof.
All the congregation of Israel shall obserue it.
If a straunger also dwell among you, and wyl holde passouer vnto the Lord, let him circumcise all that be males, and then let him come and obserue it, and he shalbe as one that is borne in the lande: for no vncircumcised person shall eate therof.
One maner of lawe shalbe vnto hym that is borne in the lande, and vnto the straunger that dwelleth among you.
And all the chyldren of Israel dyd as the Lorde commaunded Moyses and Aaron, euen so dyd they.
And the selfe same day, dyd the Lorde bryng the chyldren of Israel out of the lande of Egypt with their armies.
ANd the Lord spake vnto Moyses, saying: Sanctifie vnto me al the first borne, what so euer openeth the wombe among {th}e chyldren of Israel, aswell of man as of beast, for it is mine.
And Moyses saide vnto the people: ye ought to remember this day in whiche ye came out of Egypt out of {th}e house of bondage: for through a myghtie hande the Lorde brought you from thence: there shall no leauened bread be eaten.
This daye came ye out, in the month Abib
When the Lorde hath brought thee into the lande of the Chanaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Heuites, and Iebusites, which he sware vnto thy fathers that he would geue thee, a lande wherin mylke and hony floweth: thou shalt kepe this seruice in this same month.
Seuen dayes thou shalt eate vnleauened bread, and in the seuenth daye it is the feast of the Lorde.
Vnleauened bread shalbe eaten seuen dayes, and there shal no leauened bread be seene nor yet eaten with thee in al thy quarters.
And thou shalt shewe thy sonne in that day, saying: This is done because of that whiche the Lorde dyd vnto me when I came out of Egypt.
And it shalbe as a signe vnto thee vppon thyne hande, and as a remembraunce betweene thyne eyes, that the Lordes lawe may be in thy mouth: for in a strong hande the Lorde brought thee out of Egypt.
Kepe therfore this ordinaunce in his season from yere to yere.
And it wyll come to passe that {th}e Lord shal bryng the land of the Chanaanites, which he sware vnto thee and to thy fathers, and shall geue it thee.
And then thou shalt appoynt vnto the Lorde all that openeth the matrice, and euery firstlyng that commeth of a beast which thou hast, yf it be a male, it shalbe the Lordes.
And euery firstlyng of an asse, thou shalt redeeme with a lambe: yf thou redeeme hym not, thou shalt breake his necke: All the first borne amongst thy chyldren also shalt thou bye out.
And when thy sonne aske thee in time to come, saying: what is this? Thou shalt saye vnto hym: With a myghtie hande the Lorde brought vs out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
And when Pharao was very loth to let vs go, the Lorde slewe all the first borne in the lande of Egypt, aswell the first borne of man, as the firstlyng of beast: Therefore I sacrifice vnto the Lorde all the males that open the matrice: but all the first borne of my chyldren I redeeme.
This shalbe as a token vppon thyne hande, & as a remembraunce betweene thyne eyes, that the Lorde brought vs out of Egypt through a myghtie hande.
It came to passe, that when Pharao had let the people go, God caryed them not through the way of the lande of the Philistines, which was the more nygh way. But God saide: lest peraduenture the people repent whe{n} they see warre, and so turne agayne to Egypt.
But God led the people about through the way of the wyldernesse of the redde sea, and the chyldren of Israel went vp harnessed out of the lande of Egypt.
And Moyses toke the bones of Ioseph with him: for he made the children of Israel sweare, saying: God wyl surely visite you, and ye shall take my bones away hence with you.
And they toke their iourney from Sucoth, and abode in Etham in the edge of the wyldernesse.
And the Lorde went before them by day in a pyller of a cloude to leade them the way, and by nyght in a pyller of fire to geue them lyght, that they myght go both by day and nyght.
The piller of the cloude departed not by daye, nor the pyller of fire by nyght, out of the syght of the people.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake to the chyldre{n} of Israel, that they turne & pitch their tentes before Pi-hahiroth betweene Migdol and the sea, ouer agaynst Baal-sephon, and before that shall they pitche by the sea.
For Pharao wyll say of the chyldren of Israel: they are tangled in the lande, the wyldernesse hath shut them in.
And I wyll harden Pharaos heart, that he shall folowe after you, and I wyll get me honour vpon Pharao, and vpon al his hoast: The Egyptians also shall knowe that I am the Lorde. And they dyd euen so.
And it was tolde the kyng of Egypt that the people fledde. And the heart of Pharao and of his seruauntes turned agaynst the people, and they said: Why haue we done this, that we haue let Israel go out of our seruice?
And he made redy his charette, and toke his people with hym.
And toke sixe hundred chosen charets, and all the charets of Egypt, and capitaynes vpon euery one of them.
And the Lorde hardened the heart of Pharao kyng of Egypt, and he folowed after {th}e children of Israel: but the childre{n} of Israel went out with an hye hande.
And the Egyptians folowed after the{m}, and al the horses and charettes of Pharao, and his horsemen, and his hoast ouertoke them pitchyng of their tent by the sea beside Pi-hahiroth before Baal-sephon.
And when Pharao drewe nygh, the chyldren of Israel lift vp their eyes, and beholde, the Egyptians folowed after them, and they were sore afrayde: and the chyldren of Israel cryed out vnto the Lorde.
But they sayde vnto Moyses: because there were no graues in Egypt, hast thou therfore brought vs away for to dye in the wildernesse? Wherfore hast thou serued vs thus, for to carry vs out of Egypt?
Dyd not we tell thee this in Egypt, saying, let vs be in rest, that we maye serue the Egyptians? For it had ben better for vs to haue serued the Egyptians, then for to dye in the wyldernesse.
And Moyses saide vnto the people: Feare ye not, stande styll, and beholde the saluation of the Lorde whiche he wyll shewe to you this day: For ye that haue seene the Egyptians this day, shal see them no more for euer.
The Lorde shall fyght for you, and ye shall holde your peace.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Wherfore cryest thou vnto me? speake vnto the children of Israel that they go forwarde.
But lyft thou vp thy rod, and stretche out thy hande ouer the sea, and deuide it a sunder, and let the children of Israel go on drye grounde through the middes of the sea.
And beholde I [euen] I wyll harden the heart of the Egyptians, and they shall folowe after them: and I wyll get me honour vpon Pharao, and vpon all his hoast, and vpon his charettes, and vpon his horsemen.
And the Egyptians shal know that I am the Lorde, when I haue gotten me honour vpo{n} Pharao, vpon his charets, and vpon his horsemen.
And the angell of God which went before the hoast of Israel, remoued and went behynde them: and the pyller of the cloude went from before their face, and stoode behynde them,
And came betweene the tentes of the Egyptians, and the tentes of Israel, and it was a cloude and darknesse, and gaue lyght by nyght: and all the nyght long the one came not at the other.
And Moyses stretched out his hande ouer the sea, & the Lorde caused the sea to go backe by a very strong east wynde all that nyght, and made the sea drye [lande] and the waters were deuided.
And the children of Israel went into the middest of the sea vppon the drye [grounde,] and the waters were a wall vnto them on their ryght hande and on their left hande.
And the Egyptians folowed, & went in after them to the myddest of the sea, euen all Pharaos horses, his charettes, and his horsemen.
And in the mornyng watche, the Lord loked vnto the hoast of the Egyptians out of the pyller of the fire and of the cloude, and troubled the hoast of the Egyptians,
And toke of his charet wheeles, and caryed them away violently: So that the Egyptians sayde, Let vs flee fro{m} the face of Israel, for the Lord fighteth for them agaynst the Egyptians.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Stretche out thyne hande ouer the sea, that the waters may come againe vpon the Egyptians, vpon their charets, and vpon their horsemen.
And Moyses stretched foorth his hand ouer the sea, and it came agayne to his course early in the mornyng, and the Egyptians fled agaynst it: and the Lorde ouerthrewe the Egyptians in the middest of the sea.
And the water returned, and couered the charettes, and the horsemen, and all the hoast of Pharao that came into the sea after them, so that there remayned not one of them.
But the children of Israel walked vppon drye [lande] through the middest of the sea, and the waters were a wall vnto them on the right hande of them, and on the left.
Thus the Lorde deliuered Israel the selfe same daye out of the hande of the Egyptians: and Israel sawe the Egyptians dead vpon the sea syde.
And Israel sawe that myghtie power which the Lorde shewed vpon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lorde, and beleued the Lorde and his seruaunt Moyses.
THen Moyses & the children of Israel sange this sounge vnto the Lorde, and sayde on this maner: I wil sing vnto the Lorde, for he hath triumphed gloriouslie, the horse and hym that rode vpon hym hath he ouerthrowen in the sea.
The Lorde is my strength and praise, and he is become my saluation: he is my God, and I wyll glorifie hym, my fathers God, and I wyll exalt hym.
The Lorde is a man of warre, the Lorde is his name.
Pharaos charets and his hoast hath he cast into the sea, his chosen captaynes also are drowned in the red sea.
The deepe waters hath couered them, they sunke to the bottome as a stone.
Thy ryght hande Lorde is become glorious in power, thy ryght hande Lorde hath all to dasshed the enemie.
And in thy great glorie thou hast ouerthrowe{n} them that rose vp agaynst thee: thou sendest foorth thy wrath, whiche consumed them euen as stubble.
Through the wynde of thy nosethrils the water gathered together, {th}e fluddes stoode styll as an heape, and the deepe water congeled together in the heart of the sea.
The enemie sayde, I wyll folowe [on the{m}] I wyll ouertake [them] I wyll deuide the spoyle, and my lust shalbe satisfied vppon them: I wyll drawe my sworde, myne hande shall destroy them.
Thou diddest blowe with thy wynde, the sea couered the{m}, they sanke as leade in the myghtie waters.
Who is like vnto thee O Lord amongst gods? Who is like thee, so glorious in holynesse, fearefull in prayses, shewyng wonders?
Thou stretchedst out thy right hande, the earth swalowed them.
Thou in thy mercie hast caryed this people which thou hast redeemed, and hast brought them in thy strength vnto thy holy habitation.
The nations shal heare, & be afraide, sorowe shall come vpon Palestina.
Then the dukes of the Edomites shalbe amazed, and the myghtyest of the Moabites tremblyng shall come vpon them, al the inhabiters of Chanaan shal waxe faynt hearted.
Feare & dreade shal fall vpon them, in the greatnesse of thine arme they shalbe as styll as a stone, tyll thy people passe through, O Lorde, whyle this people passe through which thou hast gotten.
Thou shalt bryng them in, and plant them in the mountayne of thine inheritaunce, the place Lord which thou hast made for to dwell in, the sanctuarie, O Lord, which thy handes haue prepared
The Lorde shall raigne for euer and euer.
For Pharao on horsebacke went in with his charettes and horsemen into the sea, and the Lorde brought the waters of the sea vpon them: But the chyldren of Israel went on drye [land] in the middest of the sea.
And Miriam a prophetisse, the sister of Aaron, toke a tymbrell in her hande, and all the women came out after her with tymbrelles and daunces.
And Miriam sang before them: Sing ye vnto the Lorde, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he ouerthrowen in the sea.
And so Moyses brought Israel from the redde sea, and they went out into the wyldernesse of Sur: and they went three dayes long in the wildernesse, and founde no waters.
And when they came to Marah, they coulde not drynke of the waters of Marah, for they were bytter: therefore the name of the place was called Marah.
And the people murmured agaynst Moyses, saying: What shall we drinke?
And he cryed vnto the Lorde, and the Lorde shewed hym a tree, whiche when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweete: There he made them an ordinaunce and a lawe, and there he proued hym,
And sayde: If thou wylt hearken vnto the voyce of the Lorde thy God, & wylt do that which is right in his sight, and wylt geue eare vnto his commaundementes, and kepe all his ordinaunces: then wyll I put none of these diseases vpon thee, which I haue brought vpon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
And the children of Israel came to Elim, where were twelue welles of water, and threescore and ten palme trees: and they pitched their tentes there by the waters.
AND they toke theyr iourney from Elim, & all the congregation of the chyldren of Israel came to the wildernes of Sin, whiche is betweene Elim & Sinai, the fyfteenth day of the seconde moneth after their departyng out of the lande of Egypt.
And the whole congregation of the chyldren of Israel murmured agaynst Moyses and Aaron in the wyldernesse.
And the chyldren of Israel sayde vnto them: Woulde to God we had dyed by the hande of the Lorde in the lande of Egypt, whe{n} we sate by the fleshe pottes, and when we dyd eate bread our bellies full: for ye haue brought vs out into this wildernesse, to kyl this whole multitude with hunger.
Then sayde the Lorde vnto Moyses: Beholde, I wyll rayne bread from heauen to you, and the people shall go out & gather a certaine rate euery day, that I may proue them whether they wyll walke in my lawe, or no.
The sixt day they shall prepare for them selues that which they will bring in, and let it be twyse as muche as they gather in dayly.
And Moyses and Aaron sayde vnto the chyldren of Israel: At euen ye shall know that it is the Lord which brought you out of the lande of Egypt.
And in the morning ye shal see the glorye of the Lorde, because he hath heard your grudgynges agaynst the Lorde: And what are we, that ye haue murmured agaynst vs?
And Moyses sayde: At euen shall the Lord geue you fleshe to eate, and in the mornyng bread inough, for the Lorde hath heard your murmuringes which ye murmure agaynst him: for what are we? Your murmurings are not against vs, but agaynst the Lorde.
And Moyses spake vnto Aaron: say vnto al the congregation of the children of Israel, come foorth before the Lord: for he hath hearde your grudgynges.
And as Aaron spake vnto the whole congregation of the chyldren of Israel, they looked towarde the wyldernesse, and beholde, the glory of the Lorde appeared in the cloude.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
I haue hearde the murmuringes of the children of Israel, tell them therfore and say: at euen ye shall eate fleshe, and in the mornyng ye shalbe fylled with bread, and ye shall knowe that I am the Lorde your God.
And at euen the quailes came vp and couered the tentes, and in the mornyng the deawe lay rounde about them.
And when the deawe was gone, beholde, vpon the grounde in the wyldernesse there lay a small rounde thyng, as small as the hoare frost on the ground.
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said euery one to his neighbour, it is Manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moyses said vnto the{m}: This is the bread whiche the Lorde hath geuen you to eate.
This is the worde whiche the Lorde hath commaunded: gather of it euerye man for him selfe for to eate, a gomer full for euery man, according to the number of your soules, and take euery man for them whiche are in his tentes.
And the children of Israel did euen so, and gathered some more, some lesse.
And when they did meate it with a gomer, vnto him that gathered much, remayned nothyng ouer, and vnto hym that had gathered litle, was there no lacke: euery man gathered sufficient for his eatyng.
And Moyses sayde vnto them: see that no man let ought remayne to the mornyng.
Notwithstanding, they hearkened not vnto Moyses: but some of them left of it vntill the mornyng, and it waxed full of wormes, & corrupted: and Moyses was angry with them.
And they gathered all mornynges euery man as muche as fufficed for his eatyng: and assoone as the heate of the sunne came, it moult.
And the sixt day they gathered twise as muche bread, two gomers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and tolde Moyses.
He sayd vnto them, This is that whiche the Lorde hath sayd: To morowe is the rest of the holy sabboth vnto the Lorde, bake that whiche you will bake to day, and sethe that ye will sethe, and that whiche remayneth, lay vp tyll the mornyng.
And they layed it vp till the morning as Moyses bad: and it did not corrupt, neyther bred there any worme therein.
And Moyses sayde: eate that to day, for it is the sabboth vnto the Lorde, to day ye shall not finde it in the fielde.
Sixe dayes ye shall gather it, and in the seuenth day whiche is the sabboth, in it there shalbe none.
Notwithstandyng, there went out some of the people in the seuenth day for to gather, and they founde none.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Howe long refuse ye to kepe my commaundementes and my lawes?
See, the Lorde hath geuen you a sabboth, therfore he geueth you the sixt day bread for two dayes: byde therfore euerye man at home, and let no man go out of his place the seuenth day.
And the people rested the seuenth day.
And the house of Israel called the name therof Manna: and it was like coriander seede, but yet whyte, and the taste of it was lyke wafers made with honye.
And Moyses sayd: this is that which the Lorde commaundeth, fill a gomer of it, whiche may be kept for your chyldren after you, that they may see the bread wherwith I haue fed you in the wyldernesse when I brought you out of the lande of Egypt.
And Moyses spake vnto Aaron: Take a pot, and put a gomer full of Manna therein, and lay it vp before the Lorde, to be kept for your children after you.
As the Lorde commaunded Moyses, so Aaron layde it vp before the testimonie to be kept.
And the chyldren of Israel dyd eate Manna fourtie yeres, vntil thei came to a land inhabited, and so they did eate Manna, euen vntill they came vnto the borders of the lande of Chanaan.
A gomer, is the tenth part of an epha.
AND all the congregation of the children of Israel went on theyr iourneys fro{m} the wyldernesse of Sin, after the commaundement of the Lorde, and pitched in Raphidim, there was no water for the people to drinke.
And {th}e people dyd chyde with Moyses, and sayde: geue vs water to drinke. Moyses said vnto them: why chyde you with me? wherfore do ye tempt {th}e Lord?
There the people thirsted for water, and {th}e people murmured agaynst Moyses, and saide: wherefore hast thou thus brought vs vp out of Egypt, to kil me, & my children, and my cattell with thyrst?
And Moyses cryed vnto the Lorde, saying: What shall I do vnto this people, they be almost redy to stone me?
And the Lorde said vnto Moyses: Go before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel: & thy rod wherewith thou smotest the ryuer take in thine hande, and go.
Beholde, I stande before thee vpon the rocke that is in Horeb, & thou shalt smyte the rocke, and there shall come water out thereof, that the people may drinke. And Moyses dyd euen so before the eyes of the elders of Israel.
And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lorde, saying: Is the Lorde amongest vs, or not?
Then came Amelec and fought with Israel in Raphidim.
And Moyses sayde vnto Iosua: Chose vs out men, and go fight with Amelec, and to morowe I will stande on the toppe of the hill, and the rodde of God shalbe in my hande.
Iosua did as Moyses bad hym, and fought with Amelec: and Moyses and Aaron, and Hur, went vp to the toppe of the hyll.
And it came to passe, that when Moyses helde vp his hande, Israel had the better: and when he let his hande downe, Amelec had the better.
But Moyses hands were heauie, and therfore they toke a stone and put it vnder him, and he sat downe theron: and Aaron and Hur stayed vp his handes, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side: And his handes remayned stedye, vntill the goyng downe of the sunne.
And Iosua discomforted Amelec and his people with the edge of the sworde.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Wryte this for a remembraunce in a booke, and commit it into the eares of Iosua, for I will vtterly put out the remembraunce of Amelec from vnder heauen.
And Moyses made an aulter, and called the name of it: The Lorde is he that worketh miracles for me.
For he said: the hande is on the seate of God, the Lord wil haue warre with Amalec fro{m} generation to generation.
IEthro {th}e priest of Madian Moyses father in lawe, heard of all that god had done for Moyses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.
Therefore he toke Sephora Moyses wyfe, after he had sent her backe,
And her two sonnes, of which the one was called Gershom: for he sayde, I haue ben an aliaunt in a straunge land:
The name of the other was Eliezer: for the God of my father [sayde he] was mine helpe, and deliuered me from the sworde of Pharao.
And Iethro Moyses father in lawe, came with his two sonnes, & his wife, vnto Moyses into {th}e wildernesse, where he abode by the mounte of God.
And he saide vnto Moyses: I thy father in lawe Iethro am come to thee, and thy wyfe also, and her two sonnes with her.
And Moyses went out to meete his father in lawe, and did obeysaunce, and kyssed hym: and eche asked other of his health, and they came into the tent.
And Moyses tolde his father in lawe all that the Lorde had done vnto Pharao and to the Egyptians for Israels sake, and al the trauaile that had come vpon them by the way, and howe the Lorde deliuered them.
And Iethro reioyced ouer al the goodnesse which the Lorde had done to Israel, and because he had deliuered them out of the handes of the Egyptians.
And Iethro sayd: blessed be the Lord which hath deliuered you out of {th}e hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharao, which hath also deliuered his people from {th}e captiuitie of {th}e Egyptians.
Nowe I knowe that the Lorde is greater then all gods: for in the thyng whereby they dealt cruelly with them, were they destroyed them selues.
And Iethro Moyses father in lawe toke burnt offeringes and sacrifices, to offer to God: And Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eate bread with Moyses father in lawe before God.
And on the morowe Moyses sate to iudge the people: and the people stoode about Moyses from morning vnto eue{n}.
And when Moyses father in lawe sawe all that he dyd vnto the people, he sayd: what is this that thou doest vnto the people? Why sittest thou thy selfe alone, and all the people stande about thee from morning vnto euen?
And Moyses sayde to his father in lawe: because the people come vnto me to seeke counsayle of God.
When they haue a matter, they come vnto me, and I iudge betweene euery man & his neyghbour, & shew them the ordinaunces of God and his lawes.
And Moyses father in lawe sayde vnto hym: It is not well that thou doest.
Thou both weryest thy selfe, and this people that is with thee: For this thing is of more wayght, then thou art able to perfourme thy selfe alone.
Heare therfore nowe my voyce, and I wyll geue thee councell, and God shalbe with thee: Be thou vnto the people to Godwarde, that thou mayest bring the causes vnto God:
And thou shalt teache them ordinaunces and lawes, and shew them the way wherein they must walke, & the worke that they must do.
Moreouer, thou shalt seeke out among all the people, men of actiuitie [and] such as feare God, true men hating couetousnes, and place [of these] ouer the [people] rulers of thousandes, rulers of hundrethes, rulers of fiftithes, and rulers of tennes,
And let them iudge the people at all seasons: and euery great matter that commeth, let them bryng vnto thee, but let them iudge all small causes them selues, and so shall it be easier for thy selfe, and they shall beare a [burthen] with thee.
If thou shalt do this thing, and God charge thee withall, thou shalt be able to endure, and yet the people shall come to their place in peace.
And so Moyses obeyed the voyce of his father in lawe, and dyd all that he had sayde.
And Moyses chose actiue men out of all Israel, and made them as heades ouer the people, namely rulers of thousandes, rulers of hundrethes, rulers of fiftithes, and rulers of tennes,
And they iudged the people at all seasons: but brought the harde causes vnto Moyses, and iudged all small matters them selues.
And Moyses let his father in lawe depart: and he went into his owne lande.
IN the thirde moneth when the chyldren of Israel were gone out of the lande of Egypt, the same day came they into the wyldernesse of Sinai.
For they were departed from Raphidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched their tentes in the wyldernesse, and there Israel campped before the mounte.
But Moyses went vp vnto God, and the Lorde called vnto hym out of the mountayne, saying: Thus shalt thou fay vnto the house of Iacob, and tell the chyldren of Israel,
Ye haue seene what I did vnto the Egyptians, and toke you vp vpon Eagles wynges, and haue brought you vnto my selfe.
Nowe therefore yf ye wyll heare my voyce in deede, and kepe my couenaunt, ye shall be [as] a deare treasure vnto me aboue all nations: for al the earth is myne.
Ye shalbe vnto me also a kingdome of priestes, & an holy people: And these are the wordes whiche thou shalt say vnto the children of Israel.
Moyses came and called for the elders of the people, and layde before theyr faces all these wordes whiche the Lorde commaunded hym.
And the people aunswered altogether, and sayde: All that the Lorde hath sayd, we will do. And Moyses brought the wordes of the people vnto {th}e Lord.
And the Lorde sayd vnto Moyses: lo, I come vnto thee in a thicke cloude, that the people may heare me talkyng with thee, and beleue thee for euer. Moyses shewed the wordes of the people vnto the Lorde.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Go vnto the people, and sanctifie the{m} to day and to morowe, and let them washe theyr clothes.
And be redy against the thirde day, for the thirde day the Lorde wyll come downe in the sight of all the people vppon mount Sinai.
And thou shalt set boundes vnto the people rounde about, & say: take heede to your selues that ye go not vp into the mount, or touche the border of it: whosoeuer toucheth the mounte, shall surelye dye.
There shall not an hande touche it, els he shalbe stoned, or shot through: whether it be beast, or man, it shall not liue: when the trumpet bloweth long, then may they come vp into the mountayne.
And Moyses went downe from the mount vnto the people, and sanctified them, and they washed their clothes.
And he sayd vnto the people: be redy agaynst the thirde day, and come not at [your] wyues.
And the thirde day in the mornyng there was thunder and lyghtnyng, and a thicke cloude vpon the mount, and the voyce of the trumpet exceedyng loude, so that all the people that was in the hoast was afrayde.
And Moyses brought the people out of the tentes to meete with God, and thei stoode at the neather part of the hil.
And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lorde descended downe vpon it in fire, and the smoke thereof, ascended vp as the smoke of a furnace, and all the mount quaked exceedyngly.
And when the voyce of the trumpet blewe long, and waxed louder and louder, Moyses spake, and God aunswered hym by a voyce.
And the Lorde came downe vpon mount Sinai, euen in the toppe of the hill: & when the Lord called Moyses vp into the top of the hil, Moyses went vp.
And the Lorde sayd vnto Moyses: Go downe, charge the people, lest they breake out from their boundes to see the Lorde, and so many of them perishe.
And let the priestes also whiche come to the Lorde sanctifie them selues, lest the Lorde destroy them.
And Moyses said vnto the Lord: The people can not come vp into the mount Sinai, for thou chargest vs, saying: set boundes about the hill, and sanctifie it.
And the Lord sayd vnto him: Away, and get thee downe, & thou shalt come vp, thou and Aaron with thee: but let not the priestes and the people presume for to come vp vnto the Lord, lest he destroy them.
And so Moyses went downe vnto the people, and tolde them.
AND God spake all these wordes, and said.
I am the Lord thy GOD, whiche haue brought thee out of the lande of Egypt, out of {th}e house of bondage.
Thou shalt haue none other Gods in my sight.
Thou shalt make thee no grauen image, neyther any similitude that is in heauen aboue, eyther in the earth beneath, or in the waters vnder the earth.
Thou shalt not bowe downe to them, neyther serue them: for I the Lord thy God, am a gelous God, and visite the sinne of the fathers vpon the chyldren, vnto the thirde and fourth generation of them that hate me:
And shewe mercy vnto thousandes in them that loue me, and kepe my commaundementes.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vayne: for the Lorde will not holde him giltlesse that taketh his name in vayne.
Remember the sabboth day that thou sanctifie it.
Sixe dayes shalt thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do.
But the seuenth day is the sabboth of the Lorde thy God: in it thou shalt do no maner of worke, thou and thy sonne, and thy daughter, thy man seruaunt, and thy mayde seruaunt, thy cattel, and the straunger that is within thy gates.
For in sixe dayes the Lorde made heauen and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seuenth day: wherfore the Lorde blessed the seuenth day, and halowed it.
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy dayes may be long in the lande whiche the Lorde thy God geueth thee.
Thou shalt not kyll.
Thou shalt not commit adulterie.
Thou shalt not steale.
Thou shalt not beare false witnesse agaynst thy neyghbour.
Thou shalt not couet thy neyghbours house, neyther shalt thou couet thy neyghbours wyfe, nor his man seruau{n}t, nor his mayde, nor his oxe, nor his asse, or whatsoeuer thy neighbour hath.
And all the people saw the thunder and lightning, and the noyse of the trumpet, and the mountayne smoking: And when the people sawe it, they remoued, and stoode a farre of:
And said vnto Moyses, Talke thou with vs, and we wyll heare: But let not God talke with vs, lest we dye.
And Moyses sayde vnto the people: feare not, for God is come to proue you, and that his feare may be before your eyes, that ye sinne not.
And the people stoode a farre of: and Moyses went into the thicke cloude where God was.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses, Thus thou shalt say vnto the chyldren of Israel: Ye haue seene that I haue talked with you from out of heauen.
Ye shall not make therfore with me gods of siluer, neyther shall ye make ye gods of golde.
An aulter of earth thou shalt make vnto me, and theron offer thy burnt offeringes, and thy peace offeringes, thy sheepe, and thyne oxen: In all places where I shall put the remembraunce of my name, thyther I wyll come vnto thee, and blesse thee.
And if thou wylt make me an aulter of stone, see thou make it not of hewen stone: els if thou lyft vp thy toole vpon it, thou hast poluted it.
Neyther shalt thou go vp by steppes vnto myne aulter, that thy shame be not shewed theron.
THese are the lawes whiche thou shalt set before them.
If thou bye a seruaunt that is an Hebrue, sixe yeres he shall serue, & in the seuenth, he shall go out free [paying] nothyng.
If he came alone, he shall go out alone: and yf he came maryed, his wyfe shall go out with hym.
And if his maister haue geuen hym a wyfe, and she haue borne him sonnes or daughters: then the wyfe and her chyldren shalbe her maisters, and he shall go out alone.
And yf the seruaunt say: I loue my maister, my wyfe, and my chyldren, I wyll not go out free:
His maister shall bryng hym vnto the iudges, and set hym to the doore or the doorepost, and his maister shal bore his eare through with a naule, and he shalbe his seruaunt for euer.
And if a man sell his daughter to be a seruaunt, she shal not go out as the men seruauntes do.
If she please not her maister, who hath [nowe] promised her mariage, then shall he let her redeeme her selfe: To sell her vnto a straunge nation shall he haue no power, seyng he despised her.
If he haue promysed her vnto his sonne to wyfe, he shall deale with her as men do with their daughters.
And if he take hym another wyfe: yet her foode, her rayment, and duetie of maryage shall he not minishe.
And if he do not these three vnto her, the{n} shal she go out free & pay no money.
He that smyteth a man, that he dye, shalbe slayne for it.
If a man lay not awayte, but God deliuer [him] into his hande, then I wyll poynt thee a place whither he shal flee.
If a man come presumpteously vpon his neyghbour to slay hym with guyle, thou shalt take him from myne aulter that he dye.
He that smyteth his father or his mother, let hym be slayne for it.
He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, if he be proued vppon hym, shalbe slayne for it.
And he that curseth his father or mother, shalbe put to death for it.
If men stryue together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fyste, and he dye not, but lyeth in his bed:
If he rise agayne, and walke without vpon his staffe, then shall he that smote hym go quite, saue only he shall beare his charges for leesyng his tyme, and shall paye for his healyng.
And if a man smyte his seruaunt or his mayde with a rod, & they dye vnder his hande, he shalbe greeuously punished.
And if he continue a day or two, it shal not be reue{n}ged, for he is his money.
If men striue, & hurt a woman with chylde, so that her fruite depart from her, and yet no destruction folow: then he shalbe sore punished according as the womans husbande wyll laye to his charge, and he shall pay as the dayes men wyll appoynt hym.
And if any destruction folowe, then he shall geue life for life,
Eye for eye, tothe for tothe, hande for hande, foote for foote,
Burnyng for burnyng, wounde for wounde, strype for strype.
And if a man smyte his seruaunt or his mayde in the eye, that it perishe, he shall let them go free for the eyes sake.
Also if he smyte out his seruaunt or his maydes tothe, he shall let them go out free for the tothes sake.
If an oxe gore a man or a woman, that they dye, then the oxe shalbe stoned, and his fleshe shall not be eaten: but the owner of the oxe shall go quite.
If the oxe were wont to pushe with his horne in time past, and it hath ben tolde his maister, and he hath not kept him, but that he hath killed a man or a woman: then the oxe shalbe stoned, and his owner shall dye also.
If there be set to hym a su{m}me of money, then he shal geue for the redeeming of his life whatsoeuer is layde vpo{n} him.
And whether he haue gored a sonne or a daughter, accordyng to the same iudgement shall it be done vnto him.
But if it be a seruaunt or a mayde that the oxe hath gored, then he shall geue vnto their maister thirtie sicles, and the oxe shalbe stoned.
If a man open a well, or digge a pitte, and couer it not, and an oxe or an asse fall therein:
The owner of the pitte shall make it good, & geue money vnto their maister, and the dead beast shall be his.
If one mans oxe hurt another, that he dye: then they shall sell the lyue oxe, and deuide the money, and the dead oxe also they shall deuide.
Or if it be knowen that the oxe hath vsed to pushe in tyme past, & his maister hath not kept hym: he shall paye oxe for oxe, and the dead shalbe his owne.
IF a man steale an oxe or a sheepe, and kill it, or sell it: he shall restore fiue oxen for an oxe, foure sheepe for a sheepe.
If a theefe be found breaking vp, and be smitten that he dye: there shall no blood be shed for hym.
But if the sunne be vp vpon him, then there shalbe blood shed for hym, for he should make restitution: if he haue not wherwith, he shalbe solde for his theft.
If the theft be founde in his hande, aliue, whether it be oxe, asse, or sheepe, he shall restore double.
If a man do hurt fielde or vineyarde, and put in his beast to feede in another mans fielde: of the best of his owne fielde, and of the best of his owne vineyarde, shall he make restitution.
If fire breake out and catche in the thornes and the stackes of corne, or the standyng corne, or fielde be consumed therewith: he that kyndeled the fyre, shall make restitution.
If a man deliuer his neyghbour money or stuffe to kepe, and it be stolen out of his house: if the theefe be founde, let hym pay double:
And if the theefe be not founde, then the good man of {th}e house shalbe brought vnto the Iudges, that it may be knowen whether he haue put his hande vnto his neyghbours good.
And in al maner of trespasse, whether it be for oxe, asse, or sheepe, rayment, or any maner of lost thing, which another chalengeth to be his: the cause of both parties shall come before the Iudges, and whom the Iudges condemne, let him pay double vnto his neyghbour.
If a man delyuer vnto his neyghbour to kepe, asse, oxe, sheepe, or whatsoeuer beast it be: and it dye, or be hurt, or taken away by enemies, & no man see it:
Then shall an oth of the Lorde be betweene them, that he hath not put his hande vnto his neyghbours good: and the owner of it shall take the oth, and the other shall not make it good.
And if it be stollen from hym, then he shall make restitution vnto the owner therof. If it be torne in peeces, then let him bryng recorde of the tearing, and he shall not make it good.
And if a man borowe ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or els dye, and the owner therof be not by: he shall surely make it good.
But if the owner therof be by, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.
If a man entice a mayde that is not betrouthed, and lye with her, he shall endowe her, and take her to his wyfe.
And if her father refuse to geue her vnto him, he shal pay money, according to the dowrie of virgins.
Thou shalt not suffer a witche to lyue.
Whosoeuer lyeth with a beast, shall be slayne for it.
He that offereth vnto any gods, saue vnto {th}e Lord only, he shalbe killed.
Vexe not a straunger, neither oppresse him: for ye were straungers in the land of Egypt.
Ye shall trouble no wydowe nor fatherlesse chylde.
If ye shall euyll entreate them, and they crye out vnto me, I wyll surelye heare theyr crye.
And then wyl my wrath waxe hotte, and I wyll kyll you with the sworde, & your wyues shalbe widowes, and your chyldren fatherlesse.
If thou lende money to any of my people that is poore by thee, thou shalt not be as a tiraunt vnto him, neither shalt thou lay vpon him vsurie.
If thou take thy neyghbours rayment to pledge, thou shalt deliuer it vnto him by that the sunne go downe.
For that is his couering only, euen the rayment for his skinne, wherein he slepeth: and when he cryeth vnto me, I wyll heare him, for I am mercyfull.
Thou shalt not rayle vpon {th}e gods, neither blaspheme {th}e ruler of the people.
Thy fruites, whether they be drie or moyst, see thou kepe the{m} not backe: thy first borne sonne thou shalt geue me.
Likewise also shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheepe: seuen dayes it shalbe with the damme, & the eyght day thou shalt geue it me.
Ye shalbe an holy people vnto me, neither shall ye eate any fleshe that is torne of beastes in the fielde, but shall cast it to a dogge.
THou shalt not haue to do with any false report, neither shalt thou put thine hand with the wicked, to be an vnrighteous witnesse.
Thou shalt not folow a multitude to do euill, neither shalt thou speake in a matter of iustice according to the greater number, for to peruert iudgement.
Neither shalt thou esteeme a poore man in his cause.
If thou meete thyne enemies oxe or asse goyng astray, thou shalt bryng them to him agayne.
If thou see the asse of him that hateth thee sincke vnder his burthen, thou shalt not passe by and let him alone, but shalt helpe hym to lyft hym vp agayne.
Thou shalt not hinder the right of thy poore in his suite.
Kepe thee farre from a false matter, and the innocent and righteous see thou slay not: for I wyll not iustifie the wicked.
Thou shalt take no gyftes: for gyftes blinde the seyng, and peruert the wordes of the righteous.
Thou shalt not oppresse a straunger: for ye know the heart of a straunger, seyng ye were straungers in the lande of Egypt.
Sixe yeres thou shalt sowe thy lande, and gather in the fruites therof.
And the seuenth yere thou shalt let it rest and lie styll, that the poore of thy people may eate: And what they leaue, the beastes of the fielde shall eate. In lyke maner thou shalt deale with thy vineyarde and thyne oliue tree.
Sixe daies thou shalt do thy worke, and in the seuenth day thou shalt rest: that thyne oxe and thyne asse may rest, and the sonne of thy mayde and the straunger may be refreshed.
In all thinges that I haue saide vnto you, be circumspect: and make no rehearsall of the names of straunge gods, neither let it be hearde out of thy mouth.
Three feastes thou shalt holde vnto me in a yere.
Thou shalt kepe the feast of vnleauened bread: thou shalt eate vnleauened bread seuen daies long, as I commaunded thee, in the tyme appoynted of the moneth Abib: for in that moneth ye came out of Egypt, and see that no man appeare before me emptie.
And the feast of haruest when thou reapest the first fruites of thy laboures, whiche thou hast sowen in the fielde: And the feast of in gathering, [whiche is] in the end of the yere, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
[These] three times in the yere, shall all thy men chyldren appeare before the Lorde God.
Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice vpon leauened bread, neither shall the fat of my feast remayne vntyll the mornyng.
The first of the first fruites of thy land, thou shalt bryng into the house of the Lorde thy God: thou shalt not seethe a kydde in his mothers mylke.
Behold I sende an angell before thee, to kepe thee in the way, and to bryng thee into the place whiche I haue prepared.
Beware of hym, and heare his voyce, and resist him not: for he wyll not spare your misdeedes, and my name is in him.
But and if thou shalt in deede hearken vnto his voyce, & do al that I speake, I wylbe an enemie vnto thyne enemies, & an aduersarie vnto thine aduersaries.
For myne angell shall go before thee, and bryng thee in vnto the Amorites, and Hethites, and Pharezites, & Chanaanites, Heuites, and Iebusites, and I shall destroy them.
Thou shalt not bowe downe to their gods, neither serue the{m}, neither do after {th}e workes of them: but ouerthrowe the{m}, and breake downe the images of them.
And ye shall serue the Lord your God, and he shall blesse thy bread and thy water: and I wyll take all sicknesses away from the middest of thee.
There shall no woman haue any vntymely byrth, nor be vnfruitefull in thy lande: the number of thy dayes I wyll fulfill.
I will sende my feare before thee, and wyll destroy all the people whyther thou shalt go: & I wyll make all thine enemies [turne] theyr backes vnto thee.
And I wyll sende hornettes before thee, which shall driue out the Heuites, the Chanaanites, and the Hethites, before thee.
Neuerthelesse, I wyll not cast them out before thee in one yere, lest the land growe to a wyldernesse, and the beast of the fielde multiplie agaynst thee.
By litle and litle I wyll dryue them out before thee, vntyl thou be increased, and inherite the lande.
And I wyll make thy coastes from the red sea, vnto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert vnto the riuer: For I wyll deliuer the inhabitours of the lande into thyne hand, and thou shalt driue them out before thee.
Thou shalt make no couenaunt with them, nor with theyr gods.
Neither let them dwell in thy lande, lest they make thee sinne against me: for if thou serue their gods, it wyll surely be thy decay.
ANd he said vnto Moyses: Come vp vnto the Lorde, thou and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, & the threscore and ten elders of Israel, and ye shall worship a farre of.
And Moyses hym selfe alone shall go vnto the Lorde: but they shall not come nygh, neither shall the people go vp with hym.
And Moyses came and tolde the people all the wordes of the Lorde, and all the iudgementes: And all the people aunswered with one voyce, and sayde: All the wordes whiche the Lorde hath sayde wyll we do.
And Moyses wrote all the wordes of the Lord, and rose vp early, and set him an aulter vnder the hill, and .xii. stones, according to the .xii. tribes of Israel.
And sent young men of the children of Israel, whiche brought burnt offeringes, and offered peace offeringes of oxen vnto the Lorde.
And Moyses toke halfe of the blood, and put it in basins, and the other halfe he spinckled on the aulter.
And he toke the booke of the couenau{n}t, & read it in the audience of the people: And they sayd, All that the Lord hath sayd, wyll we do, and be obedient.
And Moyses toke the blood, & sprinckled it on the people, and sayd: Beholde, this is the blood of the couenau{n}t which the Lorde hath made with you vpon all these wordes.
Then went Moyses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and the threscore and ten elders of Israel vp.
And they saw the God of Israel: and there was vnder his feete as it were a worke of a Saphire stone, & as it were the heauen when it is cleare.
And he layde not his hande vpon the nobles of the children of Israel: and they saw God, and did eate and drinke.
And the Lord said vnto Moyses: Come vp to me into the hill, and be there, and I wyll geue thee tables of stone, and a law & co{m}maundementes which I haue written, that thou mayest teache them.
And Moyses rose vp, and his minister Iosuah: and Moyses went vp into the hill of God,
And said vnto the elders, Tary ye here vntill we come agayne vnto you: Behold, here is Aaron and Hur with you. If any man haue any matters to do, let hym come to them.
And Moyses went vp into the mount, and a cloude couered the hyll.
And the glory of the Lord abode vpon the mou{n}t Sinai, & the cloude couered it six days: & the seuenth day he called vnto Moses out of {th}e middes of the cloude.
And the sight of the glory of the Lord, was like consumyng fire on {th}e top of the hill, in the eyes of {th}e children of Israel.
And Moyses went into the middes of the cloude, and gate hym vp into the mou{n}taine: & Moyses was in the mount fourtie dayes and fourtie nyghtes.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the childre{n} of Israel, that thei bring me an offering: ye shall take it of euery man that geueth it willingly with his heart.
This is the offering whiche ye shall take of them, golde, and siluer, & brasse,
And blewe silke, and purple, and scarlet, and white silke, and goates [heere.]
And Rammes skynnes that are red, & the skynnes of Taxus, & Sittim wood.
Oyle for lyght, spyces for annoyntyng oyle and for sweete sence:
Onix stones, and stones to be set in the Ephod, and in the brest plate.
And let them make me a sanctuarie, that I may dwell amongst them.
And accordyng to all that I shewe thee, both after the fashion of the tabernacle, and after the fashion of the ornamentes therof, euen so shall ye make it.
And they shall make an arke of Sittim wood, two cubites and a halfe long, a cubite and a halfe brode, and a cubite and a halfe high.
And thou shalt ouerlay it with pure golde, within and without shalt thou ouerlay it, and shalt make an hye vpon it a crowne of golde rounde about.
And thou shalt caste foure ringes of golde for it, and put them in the foure corners therof: two ringes shalbe in the one corner, and two in the other.
And thou shalt make barres of Sittim wood, and couer them with golde,
And put the barres in the ringes along by the sydes of the arke, that the arke may be borne with them.
And the barres shalbe in the ringes of the arke, and shall not be taken from it.
And thou shalt put in the arke, the testimonie whiche I shall geue thee.
And thou shalt make a mercy seate of pure golde: two cubites and a halfe long, and a cubite and a halfe brode.
And thou shalt make two Cherubims of golde: euen of a whole worke shalt thou make them, in the two endes of the mercy seate.
And the one Cherubim shalt thou make on the one ende, and the other on the other ende: euen of the same mercy seate shall ye make Cherubims in the two endes thereof.
And the Cherubins shal stretch foorth theyr winges abrode ouer an hye, couering the mercy seate with their winges, and their faces shall loke one to another: euen to the mercy seateward shall the faces of the Cherubins be.
And thou shalt put the mercy seate aboue vpon the arke, and in the arke thou shalt put the witnesse that I shall geue thee.
And from thence I wyll testifie vnto thee, and I wyll common with thee from vpon the mercy seate, from betweene the two Cherubins whiche are vpon the arke of witnesse, of all thinges whiche I wyll geue thee in commaundement vnto the chyldren of Israel.
Thou shalt also make a table of Sittim wood, of two cubites long, and one cubite brode, and a cubite & an halfe hye.
And thou shalt couer it with pure golde, and make thereto a crowne of golde rounde about.
And make vnto that an hoope of foure fingers brode rounde about, and make a golden crowne also to the hoope rounde about.
And make for it foure ringes of golde, and put the rynges in the corners that are on the foure feete thereof.
Euen ouer against the hoope shall the ringes be, to put in barres to beare the table withall.
And thou shalt make {th}e barres of Sittim wood, & ouerlay them with golde, that the table may be borne with them.
And thou shalt make his dishes, and spones, coueringes, & bowles to powre out with all: euen of fine golde shalt thou make them.
And thou shalt set vpon the table shewe bread before me alway.
And thou shalt make a candelsticke of pure golde, euen of a whole worke shall the candelsticke be made, with his shaft, his braunches, his bolles, his knoppes, and his flowres proceeding therout.
Sixe braunches also shall proceede out of the sides of it: three braunches of the candelsticke out of the one side, and three out of the other.
Three bolles like vnto almondes, with a knop and a flowre in one braunche: And three bolles like almondes in the other braunche, with a knop & a flowre, according to the sixe braunches that proceede out of the candelsticke.
And in the candelsticke it selfe [there shalbe] foure bolles like vnto almondes, with their knoppes and flowres.
And there shalbe a knop vnder two braunches of the same in three places, according to the sixe braunches that proceede out of the candelsticke.
Their knoppes and their braunches shalbe of it: and it shalbe one whole worke, euen of pure golde.
And thou shalt make the seuen lampes of it, and the seuen lampes therof shalt thou put on hye theron, to geue light vnto the other syde that is ouer agaynst it.
The snuffers and the vessels of the snuffe, shalbe of pure golde.
Of a talent of fine gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
Loke therefore that thou make them after the fashion that was shewed thee in the mount.
THou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtaines of whyte twyned sylke, and blewe sylke, and purple, and scarlet: and in them thou shalt make Cherubins of brodered worke.
The length of one curtayne [shalbe] eight & twentie cubites, and the breadth of one curtayne, foure cubites: and euerye one of the curtaynes shall haue one measure.
Fiue curtaynes [shalbe] coupled together one to another, and [other] fiue curtaynes shalbe coupled one to another.
And thou shalt make loupes of blewe sylke a long by the edge of the one curtaine [which is] in the seluedge of the coupling curtayne: and likewise shalt thou make in the edge of the vttermost curtayne, in the seconde couplyng.
Fiftie loupes shalt thou make in the one curtayne, & fiftie loupes shalt thou make in the edge of the curtayne that is to be coupled therewith on the other syde, that the loupes may take holde one of another.
And {tho}u shalt make fiftie taches of gold, and couple the curtaines together with the taches: and it shalbe one tabernacle.
And thou shalt make curtaynes of goates heere, to be a coueryng vpon the tabernacle, a leuen curtaines shalt thou make.
The length of one curtaine [shalbe] thirtie cubites, and the breadth of one curtayne foure cubites: & the eleuen [shalbe] all of one measure.
And thou shalt couple fiue curtaynes by them selues, and sixe curtaynes by them selues, & shalt double the sixt curtayne in the forefront of the tabernacle.
And thou shalt make fiftie loupes in the edge of the vttermost curtayne on the one side, euen in the edge of the couplyng [curtayne] and fiftie loupes in the other certayne of the seconde coupling.
And thou shalt make fiftie taches of brasse, and put them on the loupes, and couple the coueryng together, that it may be one.
And the remnaunt that resteth in the curtaines of the couering, euen the halfe curtaine that resteth, shalbe left on the backe sydes of the tabernacle.
That a cubite on the one syde, and a cubite on the other syde, which may remayne in the length of the curtaines of the coueryng, may remayne on eyther syde of the tabernacle to couer it withal.
And vppon the tabernacle, thou shalt make a coueryng of Rammes skynnes dyed red, and yet a coueryng aboue all of Taxus skynnes.
And thou shalt make boordes for the tabernacle of Sittim wood, to stande vpryght.
Ten cubites long shall euery boorde be, and a cubite and a halfe brode.
Two tenons shall there be in one boorde, set in order, as ladder staues one from another: and thus shalt thou make for all the boordes of the tabernacle.
And thou shalt make boordes for the tabernacle [euen] twentie boordes on the south side, euen full south.
And thou shalt make fourtie sockettes of siluer vnder the twentie boordes: two sockettes vnder one boorde for his two tenons, and two sockettes vnder another boorde for his two tenons.
In lyke maner, in the seconde syde of the tabernacle towarde the north, [there shalbe] twentie boordes.
And fourtie sockettes of syluer: two sockettes vnder one boorde, and two sockettes vnder another boorde.
And in the west ende of the tabernacle, thou shalt make sixe boordes.
And two boordes shalt thou make in the corners of the tabernacle, in the meetyng together of the two sydes:
And they shalbe coupled together beneathe, and lykewyse shalbe coupled aboue to a rynge: and thus shall it be for the two boordes that are in the corners.
And they shalbe eyght boordes, hauing sockettes of siluer, euen sixteene sockets: [that there may be] two sockets vnder one boorde, & two vnder another boorde.
And thou shalt make barres of Sittim wood, fiue for the boordes of the tabernacle in one syde,
And fiue barres for the boordes of the tabernacle on the other syde, and fiue barres for the boordes of the tabernacle in the west ende.
And the middle barre shall go alonge through the middest of the boordes fro{m} the one ende to the other.
And thou shalt couer the boordes with golde, and make their ringes of golde to put the barres through, and thou shalt couer the barres with golde also.
And thou shalt reare vp the tabernacle, accordyng to the fassion therof, as it was shewed thee in the mount.
And thou shalt make a vayle of blewe silke, of purple, skarlet, and whyte twyned silke: of brodered worke with Cherubims shall ye make it.
And hang it vpon foure pillers of Sittim wood couered with golde (whose head shalbe of golde) standing vpon foure sockets of siluer.
And thou shalt hang vp the vayle on the taches, that thou mayest bryng in within the vayle the arke of witnesse, and the vayle shall deuide vnto you the holy [place] from the most holy [place.]
And thou shalt put the mercy seate vpon the arke of witnesse, in the holyest place.
And thou shalt put the table without the vayle, and the candelsticke ouer against the table on the south side of the tabernacle, and put the table on the north syde.
And thou shalt make an hanging for the doore of the tabernacle of blew silke, purple, scarlet, and whyte twyned silke wrought with needle worke.
And thou shalt make for the hanging fiue pillers of Sittim wood, and couer them with golde, and their knoppes shalbe of golde, and thou shalt cast fiue sockets of brasse for them.
AND thou shalt make an aulter of Sittim wood, fiue cubites long & fiue cubites broade, it shalbe foure square, and three cubites hye.
And thou shalt make vnto it hornes in his foure corners: his hornes shalbe of the same as it is of, and thou shalt couer it with brasse.
And make his ashpannes for his ashes, his beesomes, his basons, his fleshehookes, his firepannes: and all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brasse.
And thou shalt make vnto it a grediren also like a net of brasse, and vpon that net shalt thou make foure brasen ringes in the foure corners therof.
And thou shalt put it vnder the compasse of the aulter beneath, that the net may be in the middest of the aulter.
And thou shalt make two barres for the aulter of Sittim wood, and couer them with brasse,
And let them be put in the ringes along by the sides of the aulter, to beare it with all.
And make the aulter holowe with boordes: euen as it was shewed thee in the mount, so shalt thou make it.
And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle on the south side, euen full south: the curtaines for the court shalbe of whyte twined silke of an hundreth cubites long for one side.
And twentie pillers therof, with their twentie sockets of brasse: but the knops of the pillers and their whopes shalbe siluer.
In likewise on the north syde there shalbe curtaynes of an hundred cubites long, and twentie pillers, with their twentie sockets of brasse, and the knops and the whopes of siluer.
And the breadth of the court whiche is westwarde, shall haue curtaynes of fiftie cubites, and the pillers of them shalbe ten, and the sockets of them ten.
Fiftie cubites shalbe in the court eastwarde, euen full east.
The curtaynes of one syde shalbe of fifteene cubites, the pillers of them three, and the sockets three.
And likewise on the other side shalbe curtaines of fifteene cubites, with their three pillers and three sockets.
And in the gate of the court shalbe a vayle of twentie cubites of blewe silke, purple, and scarlet, and white twyned silke wrought with needle worke, and foure pillers with their foure sockets.
All the pillers rounde about the court shalbe whoped with siluer, and their knoppes shalbe of siluer, and their sockets of brasse.
The length of the court shalbe an hundred cubites, and the breadth fiftie on euery side, and the heyght of the curtaynes shalbe fiue cubites of whyte twyned silke, and their sockettes of brasse.
All the vessels of the tabernacle in all maner of seruice, and the pinnes therof, yea and all the pinnes also of the court, shalbe of brasse.
And thou shalt commaunde the chyldren of Israel that they geue thee pure oyle oliue beaten for the light, that they may make the lampes to borne alwayes.
In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vayle whiche is before the witnesse, shall Aaron & his sonnes dresse the lampes both euening and morning before the Lorde: and it shalbe a statute for euer vnto the generations of the chyldren of Israel.
AND take thou vnto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sonnes with him from among the children of Israel, that Aaron may minister vnto me in the priestes office, Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aarons sonnes.
And thou shalt make holy rayment for Aaron thy brother, glorious and beautifull.
And thou shalt speake vnto all that are wise hearted, whom I haue filled with the spirite of wisdome, that they make Aarons rayment to consecrate him, that he may minister vnto me in the priestes office.
These are the garmentes which they shall make, a brestlap and an ephod, a tunicle, a brodered coate, a miter, and a girdle, these holy garmentes shall they make for Aaron thy brother and his sonnes, that they may minister vnto me in the priestes office.
And let them take golde, blewe silke, purple, scarlet, and whyte twined silke,
They shall make the ephod of golde, blewe silke, purple, scarlet, and whyte twined silke, with brodered worke.
The two sides shall come together, and be closed vp in the two edges therof.
And the girdle of the ephod shalbe of the same workmanship, and of the same stuffe, euen of golde, blewe silke, purple, scarlet, and whyte twined silke.
And thou shalt take two Onyx stones, and graue in them the names of the children of Israel.
Sixe names of them in the one stone, and the other sixe in the other stone, accordyng to their birth.
After the worke of a stone grauer and of him that graueth signettes, shalt thou graue the two stones, with the names of the children of Israel, and shalt make them to be set in ouches of golde.
And thou shalt put the two stones vpon the two shoulders of the ephod [that they may be] stones of remembraunce vnto the children of Israel: and Aaron shal beare their names before the Lord vpon his two shoulders for a remembraunce.
And thou shalt make ouches of golde:
And two chaynes of fine golde of a certayne length, linke worke & wreathed, and fasten the wreathed chaynes to the ouches.
And thou shalt make the brestlap of iudgement with brodered worke: euen after the worke of the ephod thou shalt make it [namely] of golde, blewe silke, purple, scarlet, and whyte twined silke.
Foure square it shalbe and double, an hande bredth long, and an hande bredth brode.
And thou shalt fill it with foure rowes of stones: in the first rowe shalbe a Sardius, a Topas, and Smaragdus.
In the seconde rowe, a Rubi, Saphir, and Diamonde.
In the thirde a Lyncurius, an Achat, and an Ametyst.
In the fourth a Turcas, an Onyx, and a Iaspis: and they shalbe set in golde in their inclosers.
And the stones shalbe grauen, as signettes be grauen with the names of the children of Israel, euen with twelue names, euery one with his name accordyng to the twelue tribes.
And thou shalt make vpon the brestlap two fastenyng chaynes of pure golde and wreathen worke.
And thou shalt make likewise vpon the brestlap two ringes of golde, and put them on the edges of the brestlap.
And put the two wreathen chaynes of golde in the two ringes which are in the edges of the brestlap.
And the other two endes of the chaines thou shalt fasten in two close ouches, and put them vpon the shoulders of the ephod on the foreside of it.
And thou shalt yet make two ringes of golde, which thou shalt put in the two edges of the brestlap [euen] in the borders therof, towarde the inside of the ephod ouer agaynst it.
And yet two [other] ringes of gold thou shalt make, and put them on the two sides of {th}e Ephod beneath ouer agaynst the brestlap, alowe where the sides are ioyned together vpon the brodered gyrdle of the Ephod.
And they shall bynde the brestlap by his ringes, vnto {th}e ringes of the Ephod, with a lase of blewe silke, that it may lye close aboue the brodered gyrdle of the Ephod, and that the brestlap be not loosed from the Ephod.
And Aaron shall beare the names of the children of Israel in the brestlap of iudgement vpon his heart, when he goeth into the holy place, for a remembraunce before the Lorde alway.
And thou shalt put in the brestlap of iudgment the Vrim & the Thummim, and they shalbe [euen] vpo{n} Aarons heart whe{n} he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall beare the iudgement of the children of Israel vpon his heart before the Lorde alway.
And thou shalt make the tunicle vnto the Ephod, altogether of blewe silke.
And there shalbe an hole for the head in the middest of it, hauyng a bonde of wouen worke rounde about the coller of it, as it were the coller of a partlet, that it rent not.
And beneath vpon the hem, thou shalt make pomgranates of blewe sylke, and of purple, and of scarlet, rounde about the hem, and belles of gold betweene them rounde about.
And let there be euer a golden bell and a pomgranate: a golden bell and a pomgranate rounde about vpon the hem of the tunicle.
And Aaron shall haue it vpon hym when he ministreth, and the sound shalbe hearde when he goeth into the holy place before the Lorde, & when he commeth out: and he shall not dye.
And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and graue theron as signettes are grauen, the holynes of the Lorde.
And put it on a blewe sylke lase to be vpon the mytre, euen vpon the forefront of it.
And it shalbe vpon Aarons forehead, that Aaron may beare the sinne of the holy thinges, whiche the children of Israel halowe in all their holy gyftes: and it shalbe alwayes vpon his forehead, for the reconciling of them before the Lorde.
And thou shalt make a coate of white sylke, embrodered with knottes, & thou shalt make a mytre of whyte sylke, and a gyrdle of needle worke.
And thou shalt make for Aarons sonnes also coates, and thou shalt make for them gyrdles, & bonettes shalt thou make for them, glorious and bewtiful.
And thou shalt put them vpon Aaron thy brother, & on his sonnes with hym, and shalt annoynt them, and fill their handes, & sanctifie them, that they may minister vnto me in the priestes office.
And thou shalt make them lynnen sloppes to couer their priuities: fro{m} the loynes vnto {th}e thighes they shal reache.
And they shalbe vpon Aaron and his sonnes when they come into the tabercle of the congregatio{n}, or whe{n} they come vnto the aulter to minister in holines: that they beare no sinne, & so dye. And it shalbe a lawe for euer vnto Aaron, and his seede after him.
THis thyng also shalt thou do vnto them, when thou halowest the{m} to be my priestes. Thou shalt take one young calfe, and two rammes {tha}t are without blemyshe:
And vnleauened bread, and cakes vnleauened tempered with oyle, and wafers vnleauened annoynted with oyle: of wheaten floure shalt thou make the{m}.
And thou shalt put them in a maunde, and bryng them in the maunde with the calfe and the two rammes.
And bryng Aaron and his sonnes vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation, & washe the{m} with water.
And take the garmentes, and put vppon Aaron, the coate, the tunicle of the Ephod, and the Ephod it selfe, and the brestlap, & gyrde them to hym with the brodered gyrdle which is in the Ephod.
And put the mytre vpon his head: and put the holy crowne vpon the mytre.
Then shalt thou take the anoyntyng oyle, and powre it vpon his head, and anoynt hym,
And bryng his sonnes, and put coates vpon them:
And gyrde them with gyrdels, aswell Aaron as his sonnes, and put the bonnettes on them, and the priestes office shalbe theirs for a perpetuall lawe, and thou shalt fill the handes of Aaron, and the handes of his sonnes.
And thou shalt cause a calfe to be brought before the tabernacle of witnesse: and Aaron and his sonnes shall put theyr handes vpon the head of the calfe.
And thou shalt kyll hym before the Lord, by the doore of the tabernacle of witnesse.
And take of the blood of the calfe, and put it vpon the hornes of the aulter with thy finger: and powre all [the rest] of the blood beside the bottome of the aulter.
And take all the fat that couereth the inwardes, and the kall [that is] on the lyuer, and the two kydneys, and the fat that is vpon them, and burne them vpon the aulter.
But the flesh of the calfe, and his skin, and his doung, shalt thou burne with fire without the hoast: it is a synne offeryng.
Thou shalt also take one Ramme, and Aaron and his sonnes shall put theyr handes vpon the head of the Ramme.
And when thou hast slaine the Ra{m}me, thou shalt take his blood, and sprinckle it rounde about vpon the aulter:
And cut the Ramme in peeces, and washe the inwardes of hym, and his legges, and put them vnto the peeces, and vnto his head.
And then burne the whole Ramme vpo{n} the aulter: [for] it is a burnt offering vnto the Lorde for a sweete sauour, a sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lord.
And take the other Ramme, and Aaron & his sonnes shall put theyr handes vpon his head.
Then shalt thou kyll hym, and take of his blood and put it vpon the tip of the right eare of Aaron, and vpon the tip of the right eare of his sonnes, and vpon the thombe of theyr right handes, and vpon the great toe of theyr right foot, and sprinckle the blood vpon the aulter rounde about.
And thou shalt take of the blood that is vpon the aulter, & of the anoyntyng oyle, and sprinckle it vpon Aaron & his vestmentes, and vpon his sonnes and vpon theyr garmentes, with hym, and he shalbe halowed and his clothes, and his sonnes and theyr clothes, with him.
And thou shalt take the fat of the Ramme, & his rumpe, and the fat that couereth the inwardes, and the kall of the lyuer, and the two kydneys, and the fat that is vpon them, and the right shoulder, for that Ramme is a ful offeryng:
And a synmell of bread, and a cake of oyled bread, and a wafer out of the basket of vnleauened bread that is before the Lord.
And put all vpo{n} the handes of Aaron, and on the handes of his sonnes, and waue them for a waue offeryng before the Lord.
And agayne thou shalt take it from of their handes, and burne it vpon the aulter for a burnt offeryng, to be a sauour of sweetnes before the Lorde: for it is a sacrifice by fire vnto the Lord.
And thou shalt take the brest of the Ramme of Aarons consecration, and waue it for a waue offeryng before the Lord, and it shalbe thy part.
And thou shalt sanctifie the brest of the waue offeryng, and the shoulder of the heaue offeryng, which is waued & heaued vp of the Ramme of the consecration for Aaron and for his sonnes.
And it shalbe Aarons and his sonnes by a statute for euer from the childre{n} of Israel, for it is an heaue offeryng: & it shalbe an heaue offeryng fro{m} the children of Israel of the sacrifice of theyr peace offerynges, euen theyr heaue offeryng [shall it be] vnto the Lord.
And the holy garmentes of Aaron shalbe his sonnes after him, to be anoynted therein, and to fyll theyr handes therein.
And that sonne that is priest in his steede after hym, shall put them on seuen dayes, when he co{m}meth into the tabernacle of wytnesse to minister in the holy place.
And thou shalt take the Ramme of the consecration, & seethe his flesh in the holy place.
And Aaron and his sonnes shall eate the fleshe of the Ramme, and the bread that is in the basket, euen by the doore of the tabernacle of wytnesse.
And they shall eate them, because the attonement was made therwith to fyll theyr handes and to consecrate them: but a straunger shall not eate therof, because they are holy.
And yf ought of the flesh of the consecration, or of the bread, remayne vnto the mornyng, thou shalt burne it with fire: and it shall not be eaten, because it is holy.
Therfore shalt thou do vnto Aaron and his sonnes euen so, accordyng to all thynges which I haue commaunded thee: seuen dayes shalt thou fyll theyr handes.
And thou shalt offer euery day a calfe for a sinne offeryng for to reco{n}sile withall: and thou shalt clense the aulter whe{n} thou reconsilest vpon it, and thou shalt annoynt it, to sanctifie it.
Seuen dayes thou shalt reconsile vpo{n} the aulter, and sanctifie it, & it shalbe an aulter most holy: and whatsoeuer toucheth the aulter, shalbe holy.
This is that which thou shalt offer vpon the aulter, euen two Lambes of one yere old day by day continually:
The one thou shalt offer in the mornyng, and the other at euen.
And with the one Lambe, a tenth deale of flowre mingled with the fourth part of an hyn of beaten oyle: and the fourth part of an hyn of wyne for a drynk offeryng.
And the other Lambe thou shalt offer at euen, and shalt do thereto accordyng to the meate offeryng & drinke offeryng in the morning, to be an odour of a sweet sauour, and a sacrifice by fire vnto the Lorde.
And let this be a continuall burnt offering amongst your children after you, before the doore of {th}e tabernacle of witnesse before the Lord, where I will meete you, to speake there vnto thee.
There I will meete with the children of Israel, and [the place] shall be sanctified in my glorie.
And I will sanctifie the tabernacle of witnesse and the aulter: and I will sanctifie also both Aaron & his sonnes, to be my priestes.
And I will dwell amongst the chyldren of Israel, and will be their God:
And they shall knowe that I am the Lord theyr God, that brought them out of the lande of Egypt, for to dwell amongst them [euen] I the Lord their God.
AND thou shalt make an aulter for sweete incense: of Sittim wood shalte thou make it.
A cubite long, and a cubite brode, eue{n}fore square shall it be, and two cubites hye: the hornes therof shall proceede out of it.
And thou shalt ouerlaye it with fine gold, both the ruffe & the walles round about, and his hornes also: and shalt make vnto it a crowne of gold round about.
And two golden ringes shalt thou make to it on either side, euen vnder the crowne, that they maye be as places for the barres to beare it withall.
And thou shalt make the barres of Sittim wood, & couer them with gold.
And thou shalt put it before the vayle that is by the arke of testimonie before the mercie seate, that is, vpon the testimonie where I wyll meete with thee.
And Aaron shall burne theron sweete incense euery mornyng when he dresseth the lampes, euen then shall he burne it.
And lykewise at euen when he setteth vp the lampes he shall burne incense, & this incensing shall be perpetually before the Lord throughout your generations.
Ye shall offer no straunge incense thereon▪ nor burnt sacrifice nor meate offeryng, neither powre any drinke offeryng thereon.
And Aaron shall reconsile vppon the hornes of it once in a yere, with the blood of the sinne offeryng of reconsiling, euen once in the yere shal he reconsile vpon it through your generations: it is most holy vnto the Lorde.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
If thou takest the su{m}me of the childre{n} of Israel after theyr number, they shal geue euery man a reco{n}siling of his soule vnto the Lorde when thou numbrest them, that there be no plague amongst them when thou nu{m}brest them.
And thus much shall euery man geue that goeth into the number: halfe a sicle after the sicle of the sanctuarie. A sicle is twentie halfpence: an halfe sicle shalbe the heaue offeryng of the Lorde.
All that are numbred from twentie yere olde and aboue, shall geue a heaue offeryng vnto the Lorde.
The riche shall not passe, and the poore shall not go vnder halfe a sicle, but ye shall geue an heaue offeryng vnto the Lorde, that he may haue mercie on your soules.
And thou shalt take the reconsilyng monye of the children of Israel, and shalt put it vnto the vse of the tabernacle of the congregation, that it may be a memoriall vnto the chyldren of Israel before the Lord, that he may haue mercie vpon your soules.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Thou shalt make a lauer of brasse, & his foot also of brasse, to washe withall, and shalt put it betwene the tabernacle of the congregation and the aulter, and put water therin.
For Aaron and his sonnes shall washe their handes and their feete therin.
Euen when they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they go in to the aulter to minister and to burne the Lordes offeryng, they shall washe them selues with water, lest they dye.
Likewise they shal washe their handes & their feete, lest they dye: and it shalbe an ordinaunce vnto them for euer, both vnto hym & his seede, throughout their generations.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Take vnto thee principal spices, of the most pure Mirrhe fiue hu{n}dreth sicles, of sweete Synamond halfe so much, euen two hundreth and fiftie sicles, of sweete Calamus two hundreth and fiftie sicles.
Of Cassia fiue hundreth sicles, after the waight of the sanctuarie, and of oyle Olyue an hyn:
And thou shalt make of the oyle an holy oyntment, euen an oyntment compound after the craft of the apoticarie:
It shalbe the oyle of holy oyntment, and thou shalt annoynt the tabernacle of the congregation therwith, and the arke of the testimonie,
And the table and al his apparell, and the candlesticke and all his vessels, and the aulter of incense,
And the aulter of burnt sacrifice with all his vessels, and the lauer & his foote.
And thou shalt sanctifie them, that they may be most holye: whatsoeuer toucheth them, shalbe sanctified.
And thou shalt anoynt Aaron and his sonnes, and consecrate them, that they may minister vnto me in the priestes office.
And thou shalt speake vnto the children of Israel, saying: This shalbe an holy oynting oyle vnto me, throughout your generations.
Vpon mans fleshe shall it not be powred, neither shal ye make any other after the makyng of it: for it is holy, and shalbe holy vnto you.
Whosoeuer maketh lyke that, or whosoeuer putteth any of it vpon a strau{n}ger, shall perishe from amongst his people.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Take vnto thee sweete spices, Starte, Onycha, sweete Galbanum: these spices with pure Frankensence, of eche a lyke wayght.
And make of them sweete smellyng incense, after the craft of the apoticarie, mingled together, pure and holy.
And beate it to powder, and put of it before [the arke] of the testimonie in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I wyll meete with thee: it shalbe vnto you most holy.
And you shal not make to your selues, after the makyng of that incense which thou shalt make: it shalbe vnto you holy for the Lorde.
Whosoeuer shall make lyke vnto that to smell thereto, shall perishe from amongst his people.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Beholde, I haue called by name Besaleel the sonne of Vri, the sonne of Hur, of the tribe of Iuda,
And I haue fylled hym with the spirite of God, in wisedome and vnderstandyng, in knowledge, and in all maner worke,
To fynde out wittie deuises, and to worke in golde, siluer, and in brasse,
And in the craft to set stones, and to carue in tymber, and to worke in all maner workmanship.
And beholde, I haue geuen hym to be his companion Ooliab the sonne of Achisame•, of the tribe of Dan: and in the heartes of all that are wise hearted I haue put wisedome, to make all that I haue commaunded thee:
The tabernacle of the congregation, the arke of the testimonie, & the mercie seate that is thervpon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle:
And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlesticke with all his furniture, and the aulter of incense,
And the aulter of burnt offeryng and all his furniture, and the lauer with his foote,
The vestmentes to minister in, and the holy garmentes for Aaron the priest, and the garmentes of his sonnes to minister in:
And the annoyntyng oyle, and sweete incense for the sanctuarie: accordyng to all that I haue commaunded thee, shal they do.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the children of Israel, and say, In any wyse see that ye kepe [my] Sabbothes: for it is a signe betweene me & you in your generations, for to knowe that I the Lorde am he that doth sanctifie you.
Kepe my Sabboth therefore, for it is holy vnto you. He that defileth it shalbe put to death: for whosoeuer worketh therin, the same soule shalbe rooted out from amongst his people.
Six dayes shall men worke, and in the seuenth day is the Sabboth of the holy rest of the Lorde: whosoeuer doth any worke in the Sabboth day shall dye the death.
Wherefore let the children of Israel kepe the Sabboth, that they obserue the Sabboth throughout their generations: it is a perpetuall couenaunt.
For it is a signe betweene me and the children of Israel for euer: for in six dayes the Lorde made heauen and earth, and in the seuenth day he rested and was refreshed.
And when the Lorde had made an end of commnuyng with Moyses vpon the mount Sinai, he gaue hym two tables of witnesse, euen tables of stone, writen with the finger of God.
ANd when {th}e people sawe that it was lo{n}g or Moyses came downe out of the mountaine, they gathered them selues together vnto Aaron, and sayd vnto hym, Vp, make vs Gods to go before vs: for we wote not what is become of this Moyses, the man that brought vs out of the lande of Egypt.
And Aaron sayd vnto them: Plucke of the golden earynges which are in the eares of your wiues, of your sonnes, & of your daughters, & bring them vnto me.
And all the people plucked of the golden earinges which they had in their eares, and brought them vnto Aaron.
And he receaued them of their handes, & fashioned it with a grauer, & made of it a calfe of molten mettel: and they said, These be thy gods O Israel, which brought thee out of the lande of Egypt.
And when Aaron sawe that, he made an aulter before it, and Aaron made proclamation, saying: To morowe is the holy day of the Lorde.
And they rose vp in the mornyng, and offered burnt offeringes, and brought peace offeringes also: and the people sat them downe to eate and drinke, and rose vp agayne to play.
And the Lord sayd vnto Moyses: Go get thee downe, thy people which thou broughtest out of the lande of Egypt, hath marred all.
They are turned quickly out of the way whiche I commaunded them: for they haue made them a calfe of moulten mettall, and haue worshipped it, and haue offred thervnto, saying: These be thy goddes O Israel, whiche haue brought thee out of the lande of Egypt.
And the Lorde sayd vnto Moyses, I haue seene this people: and beholde, it is a styfnecked people.
And nowe suffer me, that my wrath may waxe whot against them, and consume them: and I wyll make of thee a mightie people.
And Moyses besought the Lorde his God, and sayd: O Lord, why doth thy wrath waxe whot agaynst thy people whiche thou hast brought out of the lande of Egypt with great power, and with a mightie hande?
Wherfore should the Egyptians speake and say: For a mischiefe dyd he bryng them out, euen for to slay them in the mountaynes, & to consume them from the face of the earth? Turne from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this euyll [deuise] agaynst thy people.
Remember Abraham, Isahac, and Israel thy seruauntes, to whom thou swarest by thy owne selfe, and saydest vnto them: I wyll multiplie your seede as the starres of heauen, and all this lande that I haue spoken of wyll I geue vnto your seede, and they shall inherite it for euer.
And the Lorde refrayned hym selfe from the euill whiche he sayd he would do vnto his people.
And Moyses turned his backe, & went downe from the hyll, & the two tables of the testimonie were in his hande.
And the same tables were written in both the leaues, [euen] on the one side, & on the other, were they written: And these tables were the worke of God, and the writing was the writing of God, grauen in the tables.
And when Iosuah hearde the noyse of the people as they showted, he sayde vnto Moyses: [there is] a noyse of warre in the hoast.
And he aunswered: It is not the crie of them that haue the masterie, nor of the{m} that haue the worse: [but] I do heare the noyse of them that sing.
And assoone as he came nigh vnto the hoast, he sawe the calfe, and the daunsing: and Moyses wrath waxed whot, and he cast the tables out of his handes, and brake them beneath the hyll.
And he toke the calfe whiche they had made, and burned it in the fire, & stampt it into pouder, & strawed it in the water, & made the childre{n} of Israel drinke of it.
And Moyses said vnto Aaron: What did this people vnto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sinne vpon them?
And Aaron aunswered, Let not the wrath of my Lorde waxe fierce: thou knowest the people that they are [euen] set on mischiefe.
For they sayde vnto me: Make vs goddes to go before vs, for we wote not what is become of Moyses, the man that brought vs out of {th}e land of Egypt.
And I said vnto them: Let them that haue gold, plucke it of: And thei brought it vnto me, and I did cast it into the fire, and therof came out this calfe.
Moyses therfore sawe that the people were naked (and that Aaron had made them naked vnto their shame, amongest their enemies)
And Moyses stode in the gate of the hoast, and sayd: Who [pertayneth] to the Lorde, [let hym come] vnto me. And all the sonnes of Leui gathered the{m}selues together vnto hym.
And he said vnto them, Thus sayeth the Lord God of Israel: Put euery ma{n} his sworde by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the hoast, and slay euery man his brother, & euery man his companion, and euery man his neighbour.
And the chyldre{n} of Leui dyd as Moyses had said: And there fel of the people {th}e same day about three thousande men.
And Moyses sayd: Fill your handes vnto the Lord this day, euery man vpo{n} his sonne, & vpo{n} his brother, & that there may be geuen you a blessing this day.
And on the morowe Moyses said vnto {th}e people, Ye haue sinned a great sinne: And nowe I will go vp vnto the Lord, peraduenture I may purchase an attonement for your sinne.
Moyses therefore went agayne vnto the Lorde, and sayde: Oh, this people haue sinned a great sinne, and haue made them gods of golde.
And nowe forgeue them their sinne: or if thou wylt not, wype me I pray thee out of thy booke whiche thou hast written.
And the Lorde sayd vnto Moyses: I wyll put hym out of my booke that hath sinned agaynst me.
And nowe go thou, bryng the people vnto the place whiche I said vnto thee, behold, mine angell shal go before thee: Neuerthelater, in that day when I visite, I wyl visite their sinne vpo{n} them.
And the Lorde plagued the people, because they made the calfe whiche Aaron made.
AND the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Depart and go vp hence, thou and the people whiche thou hast brought out of the lande of Egypt, vnto the land which I sware vnto Abraham, Isahac, & Iacob, saying, vnto thy seede wyll I geue it.
And I will send an angell before thee, and I wyll cast out the Chanaanites, the Amorites, & the Hethites, the Pherezites, the Heuites, and the Iebusites:
Vnto a lande that floweth with mylke and hony. For I wyll not go amongest you my selfe: for ye are a styfnecked people, lest I consume thee in the way.
And when the people hearde this euil tidinges, they sorowed: and no man dyd put on his best rayment.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses: Say vnto the chyldren of Israel, ye are a styfnecked people: I must come once sodaynly vpon you, and make an ende of you: therefore nowe put thy goodly rayment from thee, that I may wyt what to do vnto thee.
And the children of Israel layde their goodly rayment from them, euen by the mount Horeb.
And Moyses toke the tabernacle, and pitched it without the hoast a farre of from the hoast, and called it the tabernacle of the congregation: And so it came to passe that euery one whiche woulde pray vnto the Lorde, went out vnto the tabernacle of the congregation whiche was without the hoast.
And when Moyses went out vnto the tabernacle, all the people rose vp, and stode euery man at his tent doore, and loked after Moyses, vntill he was gone into the tabernacle.
And assoone as Moyses was entred into the tabernacle, the cloudie piller descended, and stode at the doore of the tabernacle, and he talked with Moyses.
And all the people sawe the cloudie piller stand at the tabernacle doore, and they rose vp and worshipped euery man in his tent doore.
And the Lord spake vnto Moyses face to face, as a man speaketh vnto his freende. And he turned agayne into the hoast: but the young man Iosuah his seruaunt the sonne of Nun, departed not out of the tabernacle.
And Moyses said vnto the Lord: See, thou sayest vnto me, Leade this people foorth: & thou hast not shewed me who{m} thou wylt send with me. And thou hast sayd moreouer, I knowe thee by name, & thou hast also found grace in my sight.
Nowe therfore, if I haue founde fauour in thy sight, then I pray thee shew me thy way, that I may know thee, and that I may finde grace in thy sight, and consider also that this nation is thy people.
And he said: My presence shall go with thee, and I wyll geue thee rest.
He sayd vnto hym: If thy presence go not with me, cary vs not hence.
For howe shall it be knowen here, that I and thy people haue founde fauour in thy sight, but in that thou goest with vs? If thou goest with vs, shall not I and thy people haue preeminence before all the people that are vpon the face of the earth?
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: I wyll do this also that thou hast sayd, for thou hast founde grace in my sight, and I knowe thee by name.
And he sayde: I beseche thee shewe me thy glorie.
Who aunswered: I wyll make all my good go before thee, & I wyll call in the name of Iehouah before thee: and wyl shewe mercy to whom I wyll shewe mercy, and wyll haue compassion, on whom I wyll haue compassion.
And he said furthermore, Thou mayest not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and lyue.
And the Lorde sayd: Beholde, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stande vpon a rocke.
And whyle my glory goeth foorth, I wyll put thee in a clyft of the rocke, and will put my hand vpon thee, while I passe by.
And I wyll take away myne hande, and thou shalt see my backe partes: but my face shall not be seene.
ANd the Lord saide vnto Moyses: hewe thee two tables of stone like vnto the first, and I wyll wryte vpon these tables, {th}e wordes that were in the first tables whiche thou brakest.
And be redy in the morning, and come vp early vnto the mount of Sinai, and thou shalt stande there for me in the top of the mount.
There shall no man come vp with thee, neither let any man be seene thorowout al the mount, neither let sheepe nor oxen feede before the hyll.
And Moyses hewed two tables of stone like vnto the first, and rose vp earlye in the mornyng, and went vp vnto the mount Sinai as the Lorde had commaunded hym, & toke in his hande the two tables of stone.
And the Lord descended in the cloude, and stode with him there: and he called vpon the name of the Lorde.
And the Lorde passed by before hym, and cryed, Lorde, Lorde, God, strong, mercyfull and gracious, long suffering, and aboundaunt in goodnes & trueth,
And kepyng mercy in store for thousandes, forgeuing wickednes, vngodlynes and sinne, and not leauing one innocent, visiting the wickednes of the fathers vpon the chyldren, and vpon the chyldrens chyldren, [euen] vnto the third and fourth generation.
And Moyses made haste, and bowed hym selfe to the earth, and worshipped,
And sayd: If I haue founde grace in thy sight, O Lorde, then let my Lorde I pray thee go in the middest of vs, for it is a styfnecked people: and thou shalt haue mercy vpon our wickednes and our sinne, and shalt take vs for thine inheritaunce.
And he said: Beholde, I make a couenaunt before all thy people, & I will do meruayles, such as haue not ben done in all the worlde, neither in all nations: & all the people amongest whiche thou art, shall see the worke of the Lorde: for it is a terrible thyng that I wyll do with thee.
Kepe diligently those thinges that I commaunde thee this day: Beholde, I cast out before thee, the Amorites, Chanaanites, Hethites, Pherezites, Heuites and Iebusites.
Take heede to thy self, lest thou make any compact with the inhabitours of the lande whyther thou goest, lest they be cause of ruine amongest you:
But ouerthrowe their aulters, and breake their images, and cut downe their groues.
Thou shalt worship no straunge God: for the Lorde is called ielous, because he is a ielous God.
Lest if thou make any agreement with the inhabitours of the lande, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice vnto their gods: they call thee, and thou eate of theyr sacrifice.
And thou take of their daughters vnto thy sonnes, and their daughters go a whoryng after their gods, and make thy sonnes go a whoryng after their gods also.
Thou shalt make thee no gods of mettall.
The feast of vnleauened bread shalt thou kepe: Seuen daies thou shalt eate vnleauened bread, as I commaunded thee in the tyme of the moneth Abib: for in the moneth Abib thou camest out of Egypt.
All that openeth the matrice is myne, and al that breaketh the matrice amongest thy cattell if it be male, whether it be oxe or sheepe.
But the firstling of the asse thou shalt bye out with a lambe: and if thou redeeme hym not, thou shalt breake his necke. All the first borne of thy sonnes thou shalt redeeme: & see that no man appeare before me emptie.
Sixe dayes thou shalt worke, and in the seuenth day thou shalt rest, both from earyng and reapyng.
Thou shalt obserue the feast of weekes with thy first fruites of wheate haruest: and the feast of ingatheryng at the yeres ende.
Thryse in a yere shall all your men chyldren appeare before the Lorde Iehouah God of Israel.
For I wyll cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy coastes: neyther shall any man desyre thy lande, when thou shalt go vp to appeare before the Lorde thy God thryse in a yere.
Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice vpon leauen, neither shal ought of the sacrifice of the feast of Passouer be left vnto the mornyng.
The first rype fruites of thy lande, thou shalt bryng vnto the house of the Lorde thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kyd in his mothers mylke.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Write these wordes, for after the tenour of these wordes, I haue made a couenaunt with thee and with Israel.
And he was there with the Lorde fourtie dayes and fourtie nyghtes, and dyd neither eate bread, nor drinke water: and he wrote vpon the tables the wordes of the couenaunt, [euen] ten commaundementes.
And when Moyses came downe from mount Sinai, the two tables of testimonie were in Moyses hande: when he came downe from the mount, Moyses wyste not that the skynne of his face shone, whyle he talked with hym.
And Aaron and all the chyldren of Israel looked vpon Moyses: and beholde, the skynne of his face shone, and they were afrayde to come nye hym.
And when Moyses had called them, Aaron and all the chiefe of the congregation came vnto him: and Moyses talked with them.
And afterwarde all the chyldren of Israel came nye: and he commaunded them all that the Lorde had sayde vnto hym in mount Sinai.
And when Moyses had made an ende of communyng with them, he put a coueryng vpon his face.
And agayne when Moyses went in before the Lorde to speake with hym, he toke the coueryng of, vntyll he came out: And he came out and spake vnto the chyldren of Israel, that whiche he was commaunded.
And the chyldren of Israel sawe the face of Moyses: that the skynne of Moyses face shone, and Moyses put the coueryng vpon his face agayne, vntyll he went in to commune with hym.
ANd Moyses gathered al the congregation of the children of Israel together, and sayd vnto the{m}: These are the wordes whiche the Lord hath commaunded, that ye shoulde do them.
Sixe dayes ye shall worke: but the seuenth day shalbe vnto you the holy Sabboth of the lordes rest, whosoeuer doth any worke therin, shall dye.
Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitation vpo{n} the Sabboth day.
And Moyses spake vnto all the congration of the childre{n} of Israel, saying: This is the thyng whiche the Lorde commaunded, saying:
[Take from amongest you an heaue offering vnto the Lorde: Whosoeuer is of a wyllyng heart, let hym bryng that [heaue offeryng] to the Lorde, namely golde, syluer, and brasse,
And blewe silke, purple, scarlet, white sylke, goates heere,
And Rammes skynnes red, & Taxus skynnes, with Sittim wood,
Oyle for light, and spyces, for annoyntyng oyle, and for the sweete incense.
And Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the Ephod, and in the brestlap.
And let all them that are wise hearted among you, come and make all that the Lorde hath commaunded.
The tabernacle, and the tent therof, & his couering, & his ringes, his boordes, his barres, his pillers and his sockets.
The arke & the staues therof, with the mercy seate, & the vaile that couereth it:
The table and his barres, and all his vessels, and the shew bread:
The candelsticke of light and his furniture, and his lampes with the oyle for the lyght:
The incense aulter and his barres, the annoyntyng oyle, and the sweete incense, and the hangyng of the doore at the entryng in of the tabernacle:
The aulter of burnt sacrifice, with his brasen grediron, his staues, and all his vessels, the lauer and his foote:
And the hangynges of the court, with his pyllers, and their sockettes, and the hangyng in the doore of the court,
The pinnes of the tabernacle, and the pinnes of the court with their cordes:
The ministring garmentes to minister in the holy place, and the holy vestmentes for Aaron the priest, and the vestmentes of his sonnes, that thei may minister in the priestes office.
And all the congregation of the chyldren of Israel, departed from the presence of Moyses:]
And euery one came, as many as their heartes couraged them, & as many as their spirites made them wyllyng, and brought an heaue offering for the Lord, to the makyng of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his vses, & for the holy vestmentes.
And they came both men and women, euen as many as were wyllyng hearted, and brought bracelettes and earinges, ringes and chaynes, whiche iewelles were all of golde: & all the men brought a waue offeryng of golde vnto the Lorde.
And euery man with whom was found blewe silke, purple, scarlet, whyte silke, and Goates heere, & red skynnes of Rammes, and Taxus skynnes, brought them.
All that dyd heaue vp an oblation of golde and brasse, brought an heaue offering vnto the Lorde: and all men with whom was founde Sittim wood for any maner worke of the ministration, brought it.
And all the women that were wyse hearted, dyd spinne with their handes, and brought the spun worke, both of blewe silke, purple, scarlet, & white silke.
And all the women that excelled in wisdome of heart, spun Goates heere.
And the lordes brought Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the Ephod, and in the brestlap.
And spyce, and oyle for lyght, & for the anoynting oyle, & for the sweete incense.
And the chyldren of Israel brought a willing offeryng vnto the Lorde, both men & women, as many as had willing heartes, to bryng for all maner workes, whiche the Lorde had commaunded to be made by the handes of Moyses.
And Moyses sayde vnto the chyldren of Israel: beholde, the Lord hath called by name Besaleel {th}e sonne of Vri, the sonne of Hur, of the tribe of Iuda.
And hath filled hym with the spirite of God, in wisdome and vnderstanding, in knowledge, and in all maner worke,
To finde out curious workes, which are made in golde, siluer, and brasse:
In the crafte of stones to set them, and in caruing of wood to make any maner of subtile worke.
And he hath put in his heart that he may teache, both he and Ooliab, the son of Achisamech, of the tribe of Dan.
Them hath he filled with wysdome of heart, to worke al maner of grauen, and brodered, & needle worke, in blew silke and purple, in scarlet and whyte silke, and in weauyng, and to do all maner of worke and wittie deuises.
ANd Besaleel wrought and Ooliab, and all wyse hearted men, to whom the Lord gaue wysdome and vnderstandyng, to knowe howe to worke all maner of worke for the seruice of the sanctuarie, and all that the Lorde had commaunded.
And Moyses called Besaleel, Ooliab, and all the wyse hearted men, and such as the Lord had geuen wysdome vnto, and as many as their heartes couraged to come vnto that worke, to worke it.
And they receaued of Moyses all the heaue offering whiche the chyldren of Israel had brought for the worke of the seruice of {th}e sanctuarie, to make it withall: And beside {tha}t, they brought free offeringes vnto it euery day in {th}e morning.
And all the wyse men that wrought all the holy worke, came euery man from his worke whiche they made:
And they spake vnto Moyses, saying: The people bryng to muche, and more then enough for the seruice and worke whiche the Lorde hath commaunded to be made:
And then Moyses gaue commaundement, and they caused it to be proclaymed throughout the hoast, saying: See that neither man nor woman prepare any more worke for the heaue offering of the sanctuarie: & so the people were forbydden to bryng.
For the stuffe they had, was sufficient for all the worke to make it, & to much.
[All the wyse hearted men therefore, and they that wrought for the tabernacle, made ten curtaynes of whyte twyned silke, blewe silke, purple, and scarlet, with Cherubims of brodered worke made he them.
The length of one curtaine was twentie & eyght cubites, & the breadth foure: and the curtaynes were all of one sise.
And he coupled fiue curtaines by them selues, and other fiue by them selues.
And he made loopes of blewe silke along by the edge of one curtayne, euen in the seluedge of the coupling curtaine: and lykewyse he made on the syde of the coupling curtayne on the other side.
Fiftie loopes made he in the one curtayne, and fiftie in the edge of the couplyng curtayne on the other side: & the loopes helde one curtayne to another.
And he made fiftie taches of golde, and coupled the curtaynes one to another with the taches: [& so] was it made one tabernacle.
And he made eleuen curtaynes of goates heere, to be a tent ouer the tabernacle.
The length of one curtayne had thirtie cubites, & was foure cubites brode, and they all eleuen of one sise.
And he coupled fiue curtaynes by the{m} selues, and sixe by them selues.
And he made fiftie loopes along by the border of the vttermost couplyng curtayne, and fiftie in the edge of the other couplyng curtayne.
And he made fiftie taches of brasse, to couple the tent together, that it myght be one.
And he made a coueryng vpon the tent of Rammes skynnes red, and yet another of Taxus skynnes aboue that.
And he made standyng boordes for the tabernacle, of Sittim wood.
The length of a boorde was ten cubites, the breadth one cubite & a halfe.
One boorde had two tenons, wherby they were ioyned one to another: and thus made he for all the boordes of the tabernacle.
And he made twentie boordes for the south side of the tabernacle.
And fourtie sockettes of siluer vnder the twentie boordes: two sockettes vnder one boorde for his two tenons, and two sockettes vnder another boorde for his two tenons.
And for the other side of the tabernacle, whiche is towarde the north, he made twentie boordes,
And their fourtie sockettes of siluer: two sockettes vnder one boorde, and two sockettes vnder the other boorde.
And towarde the west ende of the tabernacle he made sixe bordes.
And two other boordes made he in the corners of the tabernacle, for either side.
And they were ioyned close beneath and aboue with a ring: and thus they dyd to both the corners.
And there were eyght boordes, and sixteene sockettes of siluer: vnder euery boorde two sockettes.
And he made barres of Sittim wood: fiue for the boordes of the tabernacle in the one side,
And fiue for the boordes of the tabernacle in the other side, and fiue barres for the boordes of the tabernacle in the west ende.
And he made the myddest barre to shut through the boordes, euen from the one ende to the other.
And ouerlayde the boordes with gold, and made rynges of golde to thrust the barres through, and couered the barres with golde.
And he made a vayle of blewe silke, purple, scarlet, and whyte twined silke: euen with Cherubims made he it of brodered worke.
And he made thervnto foure pillers of Sittim wood, and ouerlayde them with golde: their knoppes were also of golde, and he cast for them foure sockettes of siluer.
And he made an hangyng for the tabernacle doore, of blewe silke, purple, scarlet, and whyte twined silke of needle worke,
And the fiue pyllers of it, with theyr knoppes: and ouerlayde the knoppes of them, and the hoopes with golde: theyr fiue sockettes also were of brasse.
ANd Besaleel made the arke of Sittim wood: two cubites & a halfe long, & a cubite and a halfe brode, and a cubite and a halfe hygh.
And ouerlaide it with fine golde within & without, and made a crowne of golde to it rounde about.
And cast for it foure rynges of golde for the foure corners of it: two rynges for the one syde, and two for the other.
And made barres of Sittim wood, and couered them with golde.
And put the barres in the rynges, along by the side of the arke, to beare the arke withall.
And he made the mercy seate of pure golde: two cubites and a halfe was the length thereof, and one cubite and a halfe the breadth.
And he made two Cherubims of thicke gold, vpo{n} the two endes of {th}e mercy seat.
One Cherub on the one end, and another Cherub on the other ende: euen of the mercy seate made he the Cherubims, namely in the endes therof.
And the Cherubims spread out theyr wynges aboue on hye, & couered {th}e mercy seate therwith: And their faces were one to another, euen to the mercy seate warde were the faces of {th}e Cherubims.
And he made the table of Sittim wood: two cubites [was] the length therof, and a cubite the breadth, and a cubite and a halfe the height of it.
And he ouerlayde it with fine golde, and made thervnto a crowne of golde rounde about.
And made therevnto an hoope of an hande brode rounde about: and made vpon the hoope a crowne of golde rounde about.
And he caste for it foure rynges of golde, and put the rynges in the foure corners that were in the foure feete thereof.
Euen harde by the hoope were the ringes into the whiche the barres were put, to beare the table withall.
And he made the barres of Sittim wood, and couered them with golde, to beare the table withall.
And made the vessels for the table of pure gold, his dishes, his [incense] cuppes, his couerynges, & his bowles to powre out with all.
And he made the candelsticke of pure golde, euen of a whole worke made he the candelsticke, his staffe, his braunches, his bolles, his knoppes, and his flowres were of one peece.
Sixe braunches proceeding out of the sides therof: three braunches of the candelsticke out of the one side thereof, and three braunches of the candelsticke out of the other side thereof.
And in one braunch three bolles made like vnto almondes, with a knop and a flowre: and in another braunche three bolles made like almondes, with a knop and a flowre: and so throughout the sixe braunches that proceede out of the candelsticke.
And vpon the candelsticke selfe, were foure bolles after the fashion of almondes, with knoppes and floures.
Vnder euery two braunches a knop of the same, and a knop vnder two braunches of the same, and a knop vnder two brau{n}ches of the same according to the sixe brau{n}ches {th}e proceede out of it.
And the knoppes and the braunches proceeded out of it: and it was all one peece of pure thicke golde.
And he made his seuen lampes, with the snuffers, and vessels for the snuffe, of pure golde.
Euen of a talent of pure golde made he it, with all the vessels therof.
And he made the incense aulter of Sittim wood: the length of it was a cubite, and the breadth a cubite, for it was foure square: and two cubites hye, with hornes proceedyng out of it.
And he couered it with pure golde, both the top and the sides therof round about, and the hornes of it: and made vnto it a crowne of golde round about.
And he made two rynges of golde for it [euen] vnder the crowne therof in the two corners of it, & in the two sides therof, to put barres in, for to beare it withal.
And he made the barres of Sittim wood, & ouerlayde them with golde.
And he made the holy anoynting oyle, and the sweete pure incense, after the apoticaries craft.
ANd he made the burnt offering aulter of Sittim wood: fiue cubites was the length thereof, and fiue cubites the breadth [euen] foure square, and three cubites hye.
And he made vnto it hornes in the foure corners of it, proceedyng out of it: and he ouerlayde it with brasse.
And he made all the vessels of the aulter, the ashpannes, and besomes, and basins, fleshehokes, & fire pannes: all the vessels therof made he of brasse.
And he made a brasen grediron of networke vnto the aulter, rounde about alowe beneath, vnto the middest of the aulter.
And cast foure ringes of brasse for the foure endes of the grediron, to put barres in.
And he made the barres of Sittim wood, and couered them with brasse:
And put the barres into the ringes in the foure corners of the aulter to beare it with all, and made the aulter holowe within the boordes.
And he made the lauer of brasse, and the foote of it also of brasse of the glasses of the women assemblyng, whiche came together at the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And he made the court on the south side, full south: and the hanginges of the court were of whyte twined silke, hauing a hundreth cubites.
Their pillers were twentie, and their brasen sockettes twentie: but the knoppes of the pyllers and their hoopes were of siluer.
And on the northsyde the hangynges were an hundred cubites, their pillers were twentie, and their sockettes of brasse twentie: but the knoppes and the hoopes of the pyllers were of siluer.
On the west syde were hangynges of fiftie cubites, ten pillers, and their ten sockettes: but the knoppes and the hoopes of the pyllers were of siluer.
And towarde the east syde full easte, were hangynges of fiftie cubites.
The hangynges of the one syde of the gate were fifteene cubites long, with three pillers and three sockettes.
And of the other side of the court gate, were hangynges also of fifteene cubites long, with three pillers & three sockets.
All the hangynges of the court rounde about, were of whyte twyned silke:
But the sockettes of the pillers were of brasse, and the knoppes & the hoopes were of siluer, and the coueryng of the heades was of siluer: and all the pillers of the court were hooped about with siluer.
And the hangyng of the gate of the court was needle worke, of blewe silke, purple, scarlet, and whyte twyned silke: twentie cubites long, & fiue in breadth, ouer against the hanginges of the court.
And their pillers were foure, and their foure sockettes of brasse, & the knoppes of siluer, and the heades ouerlayde with siluer, and hooped about with siluer.
And all the pynnes of the tabernacle and of the court rounde about, were of brasse.
This is the su{m}me of the tabernacle [euen] of the tabernacle of {th}e congregation, as it was cou{n}ted accordyng to the co{m}maundement of Moyses, for the office of the Leuites by the hande of Ithamar, sonne to Aaron the priest.
And Betsaleel the sonne of Vri, the sonne of Hur, of the tribe of Iuda, made all that the Lorde commaunded Moyses:
And with hym was Aholiab, sonne of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, a cunnyng workeman, an embroderer, and a worker of needle worke, in blewe silke, purple, scarlet, and whyte twyned silke.
All the golde that was occupyed for all the worke of the holy place, was the golde of the waue offeryng, twentie and nine talentes, and seuen hundred and thirtie sicles, after the sicle of the sanctuarie.
And the summe of siluer of them that were numbred in the congregation, was an hundred talentes, and a thousande seuen hundred and three score and fifteene sicles, after the sicle of the sanctuarie.
For euery man an halfe weyght, euen halfe a sicle, after the sicle of the sanctuarie, for all them that went to be numbred, from twentie yere olde and aboue, euen for sixe hundred thousande and three thousande, and fiue hundreth and fiftie men.
And of the hundred talentes of siluer were cast the sockets of the sanctuarie, and the sockettes of the vayle: an hundred sockettes of the hundred talentes, a talent to euery socket.
And of the thousande seuen hundred seuentie and fiue sicles, he made knoppes to the pillers, and ouerlayde the heades, and hooped them.
And the brasse of the waue offeryng was three score & ten talentes, and two thousande and foure hundred sicles.
And therwith he made the sockettes to the doore of the tabernacle of the congregatio{n}, and the brasen aulter, & the brasen grediron for it, with all the vessels of the aulter,
And the sockettes of the court rounde about, and the sockettes for the court gate, and all the pinnes of the tabernacle, and all the pinnes of the court rounde about.
ANd of the blewe silke, purple, & scarlet, they made vestmentes of ministration, to do seruice in the holy place: and made the holye garmentes for Aaron as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And he made the Ephod of golde, blewe silke, purple, scarlet, and whyte twyned silke.
And they dyd beate the golde into thinne plates, and cut it into wyers to worke it in the blewe silke, purple, scarlet, and in the fine whyte with brodered worke.
And they made two sydes for it, to close them vp by the two edges.
And the broderyng of the girdle that was vpon it, was of the same stuffe, and after the same worke, of golde, blewe silke, purple, scarlet, and twyned whyte silke, as the Lord co{m}maunded Moyses.
And they wrought Onyx stones closed in ouches of golde, and graued as signettes are grauen, with the names of the chyldren of Israel.
And he put them on the shoulders of the Ephod, that they shoulde be stones for a remembraunce of the children of Israel, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And he made the brestlap of brodered worke lyke the worke of the Ephod, euen of gold, blewe silke, purple, scarlet, and twyned whyte silke.
It was foure square: and they made the brestlap double, an hande breadth long, and an hande breadth brode.
And they fylled it with foure rowes of stones. The first rowe, a Sardius, a Topazius, and a Smaragdus.
The seconde rowe, a Rubie, a Saphire, and a Diamonde.
In the thirde rowe, a Lyncurius, an Achates, and an Amethyst.
In the fourth rowe, a Turcas, an Onyx, and a Iaspis: and they were closed in ouches of golde in their inclosers.
And the twelue stones were grauen as signets, with the names of the children of Israel, euery stone with his name, accordyng to the twelue tribes.
And they made vpon the brestlap two fastenyng chaynes of writhen worke and pure golde.
And they made two ouches of golde, and two golde ringes: and put the two ringes in {th}e two corners of the brestlap.
And they put the two chaynes of golde in the two ringes in the corners of the brestlap.
And the two endes of the two chaynes they fastened in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulders of the Ephod, vpon the forefront of it.
And they made two ringes of golde, and put them on the two corners of the brestlap vpon the edge of it [which was] on the insyde by the Ephod.
And they made two golden ringes, and put them on the two sydes of the Ephod, beneath on the fore syde of it, and ouer agaynst his felowe, aboue vpon the broderyng of the Ephod.
And they strayned the brestlap by his ringes vnto the ringes of the Ephod with a lase of blewe silke, that it myght be vpon the broderyng of the Ephod, & that the brestlap shoulde not be loosed from of the Ephod, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And he made the tunicle vnto the Ephod of wouen worke, altogether of blewe silke:
And there was a hole in the myddest of the tunicle, as the coller of a partlet, with a bande rounde about the coller, that it shoulde not rent.
And in the tunicle they made hemmes with pomgranates of blewe silke, purple, scarlet, and whyte twyned silke.
And they made litle belles of pure golde, and put them amongst the pomgranates rounde about vpon the edge of the tunicle.
A bell and a pomgranate, a bell and a pomgranate rounde about the hemmes of the tunicle to minister in, as the Lord commaunded Moyses.
And they made coates of fine whyte silke of wouen worke, for Aaron and his sonnes.
And a mitre of fine whyte silke, and goodly bonettes of fine whyte silke, and lynnen sloppes of twyned whyte silke.
And a girdle of twyned whyte silke, blew, purple, and scarlet, euen of needle worke, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And they made the plate of the holy crowne of fine golde, and wrote vpon it with grauen worke as signets are grauen, The holynes of the Lorde.
And tyed vnto it a lase of blewe silk, to fasten it an hye vpon the mitre, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
Thus was all the worke of the tabernacle [euen] of the tabernacle of the congregation finished: And the children of Israel did according to al that the lorde commaunded Moyses, euen so did they.
And they brought the tabernacle vnto Moyses [euen] the tabernacle and all his furniture, his taches, his boordes, his barres, his pillers, & his sockettes.
The coueryng of Rammes skynnes redde, and the coueryng of Taxus skynnes, and the hangyng vayle,
The arke of the testimonie, and the barres therof, and the mercie seate,
The table and all the vessels thereof, and the shewe bread,
The pure candlesticke with {th}e lampes therof, euen with the lampes to be prepared, and al the vessels therof, and the oyle for lyght,
The golden aulter, and the annointing oyle, and the sweete incense, and the hangyng of the tabernacle doore,
And {th}e brasen aulter with his grediron of brasse, his barres and all his vessels, the lauer and his foote.
The curtaynes of the court with his pillers and sockettes, the hangyng to the court gate and his pynnes and cordes, and all the vessell of the seruice of the tabernacle, euen of the tabernacle of the congregation.
The ministryng vestmentes to serue in the holy place, & the holy vestmentes for Aaron the priest, and his sonnes raymentes to minister in, in {th}e priestes office:
Accordyng to all that the Lorde commaunded Moyses, euen so the chyldren of Israel made all the worke.
And Moyses dyd loke vpon all the worke: and beholde, they had done it as the Lorde had commaunded, euen so had they done it: and Moyses blessed them.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
In the first day of the first moneth shalt thou set vp the tabernacle, euen the tabernacle of the congregation.
And put therin the arke of the testimonie, and couer the arke with the vayle: and thou shalt bring in the table, and order it accordyng to the appoyntment therof:
And thou shalt bryng in the candelsticke, and lyght his lampes,
And set the incense aulter of golde before the arke of the testimonie, and put the hangyng at the doore of the tabernacle.
And set the burnt offeryng aulter before the doore of the tabernacle [euen] of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And set the lauer betweene the tabernacle of the congregatio{n} and the aulter, and put water therein.
And make the court rounde about, & hang vp the hangyng at the court gate.
And thou shalt take the annoyntyng oyle, and annoynt the tabernacle, and all that is therin, and halow it with all the vessels therof: and it shalbe holy.
And thou shalt annoynt the aulter of burnt offeryng and all his vessels, and sanctifie the aulter: and it shalbe an aulter most holy.
And thou shalt also annoynt the lauer and his foote, and sanctifie it.
And thou shalt bryng Aaron and his sonnes vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation, and washe them with water.
And thou shalt put vppon Aaron the holy vestmentes, and annoynt hym, & sanctifie hym, that he may minister vnto me in the priestes office.
And thou shalt bryng his sonnes, and clothe them with garmentes.
And annoynt them as thou diddest annoynt their father, that they may minister vnto me in the priestes office: For their annoyntyng shalbe an euerlasting priesthood vnto them throughout all their generations.
And Moyses dyd accordyng to all that the Lorde commaunded hym, euen so dyd he.
Thus was the tabernacle reared vp the first day in the first moneth, in the seconde yere.
And Moyses reared vp the tabernacle, and fastened his sockettes, and set vp the boordes therof, and put in the barres of it, and reared vp his pillers.
And spread abrode the tent ouer the tabernacle, and put the coueryng of the tent an hye aboue it, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And he toke the testimonie, and put it in the arke, and set the barres to the arke, and put the mercie seate an hye vpon the arke.]
And he brought the arke into the tabernacle, and hanged vp the vayle, and couered the arke of the testimonie, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And he put the table in the tabernacle of the congregation in the north syde of the tabernacle without the vayle,
And set the bread in order before the Lorde [euen] as the Lorde had commaunded Moyses.
And he put the candlesticke in the tabernacle of the congregation, ouer agaynst the table towarde the south syde of the tabernacle,
And set vp the lampes before {th}e Lorde: as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And he put the golden aulter in the tabernacle of the congregation before the vayle,
And burnt sweete incense thereon, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And he hanged vp the hangyng at the doore of the tabernacle:
And set the burnt offeryng aulter by the entryng in of the tabernacle [that is] the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered burnt offerynges, and meate offerynges theron, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And he set the lauer betweene the tabernacle of the congregation and the aulter, and powred water therein, to washe withall.
And Moyses, Aaron, and his sonnes, wasshed their handes and their feete thereat,
When they went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and when they went to the aulter they wasshed them selues, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And he reared vp the court rounde about the tabernacle and the aulter, and set vp an hangyng at the court gate: and so Moyses finished the worke.
And the cloude couered the tabernacle of the congregatio{n}, and the glorie of the Lorde fylled the tabernacle.
And Moyses coulde not enter into the tabernacle of the congregation, because the cloude abode theron, and the glorie of the Lorde fylled the tabernacle.
And when the cloude was taken vp from of the tabernacle, the children of Israel toke their iourneys throughout their armies:
And whe{n} the cloude was not taken vp, they iourneyed not tyll it was taken vp.
For the cloude of the Lord was vpon the tabernacle by day, and fire by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their armies.
ANd the Lord called vnto Moyses, and spake vnto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying:
Speake vnto the children of Israel, & thou shalt say vnto them: If a man of you bring a sacrifice vnto the Lorde, ye shall bryng your sacrifice from among these cattell, euen fro{m} among the beefes and the sheepe.
If his sacrifice be a burnt offeryng of beefes, let hym offer a male without blemishe, and bryng hym of his owne voluntarie wyll, vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lorde.
And he shall put his hande vpon the head of the burnt sacrifice, and it shalbe accepted for hym to be his attonement.
And he shal kill the bullocke before the Lord: And the priestes Aarons sonnes shall bryng the blood, and sprinkle it rounde about vpon the aulter that is by the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And then shall he flay the burnt offeryng, and hewe hym in peeces.
And the sonnes of Aaron the priest shall put fire vpon the aulter, and put wood vpon the fire.
And the priestes Aarons sonnes shall lay the partes, euen the head and the fat, vpon the wood that is on the fyre in the aulter.
But the inwardes and the legges thereof shall he washe in water, & the priest shall burne all in the aulter, that they may be a burnt sacrifice, an offeryng made by fire for a sweete odour vnto the Lorde.
And if his sacrifice be of flockes, namely of the sheepe or goates, let hym bryng a male without blemishe for a burnt offeryng:
And let hym kyll it on the north syde of the aulter, before the Lorde: And the priestes Aarons sonnes, shall sprinckle the blood round about vpon the aulter.
And he shall cut it into his peeces, euen with his head and his fat: and the priest shall put them vpon the wood that lyeth vpon the fire in the aulter.
But he shall washe the inwardes and the legges with water, and the priest shall bryng altogether, and burne it vpon the aulter for a burnt offeryng, an oblation made by fire for a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde.
If the burnt offeryng for the sacrifice of the Lorde be of fowles, he shall bring his sacrifice of turtle doues, or of the young pigeons.
And the priest shall bryng it vnto the aulter, and wryng the necke a sunder of it, and burne it on the aulter: but the blood therof shalbe wroung out vpon the syde of the aulter.
And he shall plucke away his croppe with his fethers, and cast them besyde the aulter on the east part, in the place of asshes.
And he shall breake the wynges of it, but plucke them not asunder: And the priest shal burne it vpon the aulter, euen vpon the wood that is vpon the fire, that it may be a burnt offeryng, an oblation made by fire for a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde.
THe soule that will offer a meate offeryng vnto the Lorde, his offering shalbe of fine flowre: and he shall poure oyle vpon it, and put frankensence theron:
And shal bring it vnto Aarons sonnes the priestes: And he shall take therout his handfull of the flowre, & of the oyle with all the frankensence, and the priest shall burne it for a memoriall of hym vpon the aulter, to be an offeryng made by fire for a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde.
And the remnaunt of the meate offeryng shalbe Aarons and his sonnes, a thyng most holy of the sacrifices of the Lorde, made by fire.
If thou bryng also a meate offeryng that is baken in the ouen, let it be an vnleauened cake of fine flowre myngled with oyle, or an vnleauened wafer annoynted with oyle.
If thy meate offeryng be baken in the frying pan, it shalbe of vnleauened flowre myngled with oyle.
And thou shalt part it in peeces, and powre oyle thereon: that it may be a meate offeryng.
And yf thy meate offeryng be a thyng broyled vpon the grediron, let it be of flowre myngled with oyle.
And thou shalt bryng the meate offeryng that is made of these thinges vnto the lord, & shalt deliuer it vnto the priest, that he may offer it vpon the aulter.
And the priest shall take from the meate offeryng a memoriall therof, and shall burne it vpon the aulter: that it may be a burnt offeryng for a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde.
And that which is left of the meate offeryng, shalbe Aarons & his sonnes: It is a thyng moste holye of the offerynges of the Lorde made by fire.
All the meate offerynges which ye shal bryng vnto the Lorde, shalbe made without leauen: For ye shall neither burne leauen nor hony in any offering of the Lorde made by fire.
In the oblation of the first fruites ye shall offer them vnto the Lorde: but they shall not be burnt vpon the aulter for a sweete sauour.
All the meate offerynges also shalt thou season with salt, neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the couenaunt of thy God to be lackyng from thy meate offeryng: but vpon all thyne offerynges thou shalt bryng salt.
And yf thou offer a meate offeryng of the first fruites vnto the Lorde, thou shalt offer for the meate offeryng of thy first fruites, eares of corne dryed by the fire [euen] beaten wheate, of full eares.
And thou shalt put oyle vpon it, and lay frankensence theron: that it may be a meate offeryng.
And the priest shall burne part of the beaten corne, and part of that oyle with al the franckensence, for a reme{m}braunce: and it shalbe a sacrifice vnto the Lorde made by fire.
ANd if his sacrifice be a peace offeryng, and he take it from among the droues, whether it be a male or female, he shall bryng such as is without blemishe before the Lorde.
And put his hande vpon the head of his offeryng, and kyll it at the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation: And Aarons sonnes the priestes shal sprinkle the blood vpon the aulter round about.
And he shall offer somewhat of the peace offeryng, to be a sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lorde: euen the fat that couereth the inwardes, and all the fat that is vpon the inwardes:
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, and vpon the flankes, & the kall with the lyuer shall he take away with the kidneys.
And Aarons sonnes shall burne them on the aulter, with the burnt sacrifice which is vpon the wood that is on the fire, to be a burnt sacrifice made by fire for a sweete sauour vnto the Lord.
If he bryng a peace offeryng vnto the Lorde from of the flocke, let hym offer male or female, but without blemishe.
[And] yf he offer a Lambe for his sacrifice, he shall bryng it before the Lorde,
And put his hand vpon his offeringes head, and kyll it before the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aarons sonnes shall sprinkle the blood therof rounde about the aulter.
And of the peace offeryng let hym bryng a sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lorde, the fat thereof, and the rumpe altogether, which they shall take of harde by the backe bone: and the fat that couereth the inwardes, and all the fat that is vpon the inwardes,
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is vpon them, and vpon the flankes, and the kall that is vpon the liuer shall he take away with the kidneys.
And the priest shall burne them vpon the aulter, to be the foode of a sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lorde.
If his offeryng be a Goate, he shall bryng it before the Lorde,
And put his hande vpon the head of it, and kyll it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sonnes of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood therof vpon the aulter rounde about.
And he shall bring therof his offering, euen a sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lord, the fat that couereth {th}e inwardes, & all the fat that is vpon the inwardes.
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is vpon them, and vpon the flankes, and the kall vpon the liuer shall he take away with the kidneys.
And the priest shall burne them vpon the aulter, for the foode of the sacrifice made by fire for a sweete sauour: All the fat is the Lordes.
Let it be a perpetuall statute for your generations throughout your dwellynges, {tha}t ye eate neither fat nor blood.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the chyldren of Israel, and saye, If a soule shall sinne through ignoraunce in any of the commaundementes of the Lord which ought not to be done, but shall do contrarie to any of them:
As yf the priest that is annoynted, do sinne accordyng to the sinne of the people, let hym bryng for his sinne which he hath sinned, a young bullocke without blemishe, vnto the Lorde for a sinne offeryng.
And he shall bryng the young bullocke vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord, and shall put his hand vpon the young bullockes head, and kill the young bullocke before the Lorde.
And the priest that is annoynted shall take of the young bullockes blood, and bryng it into the tabernacle of the congregation.
And the priest shall dippe his finger in the blood, and sprinckle therof seuen tymes before the Lorde, euen before the vayle of the sanctuarie.
And the priest shall put some of the blood before the Lord, vpon the hornes of the aulter of sweete insence, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation, & shall powre all the blood of the young bullocke vnto the bottome of the aulter of burnt offeryng, which is at the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And he shall take away all the fat of the bullocke for the sinne offeryng, the fat that couereth the inwardes, and all the fat that is about the inwardes,
And the two kidneyes, and the fat that is vpon them, & vpon the flanckes, and the kall vpon the liuer shall he take away with the kidneys,
As it was taken away in the bullocke of the peace offeringes: and let the priest burne them vpon the aulter of burnt offeryng.
But the skinne of the young bullocke, and all his fleshe, with his head and his legges, with his inwardes & his doung, [shall he beare out]
And cary the whole bullocke altogether out of the hoast vnto a cleane place, euen where the asshes are powred out, & burne hym there on wood in the fire: euen by the place where the asshes are cast out, shall he be burnt.
If the whole congregation of Israel sinne through ignoraunce, & the thing be hyd from the eyes of the multitude, and haue done somewhat agaynst any of the co{m}maundementes of {th}e Lorde which shoulde not be done, and haue offended:
Whe{n} the sinne which they haue sinned is knowen, the congregatio{n} shal bring a young bullocke for the sinne, & bring him before {th}e tabernacle of the congregation,
And the elders of the multitude shall put their handes vpon the head of the bullocke before the Lorde: And the bullocke shalbe slayne before the Lord.
And the priest that is annoynted, shall bryng of the bullockes blood into the tabernacle of the congregation.
And the priest shall dippe his finger in the blood, and sprinckle it seuen tymes before the Lorde, euen before the vayle.
And shall put of the blood vpon the hornes of the aulter, which is before the Lorde in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall powre all the blood vnto the bottome of the aulter of burnt offeryng, which is before the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And he shall take his fat from hym, and burne it vpon the aulter,
And shall do with this bullocke as he dyd with the bullocke for sinne, euen so shall he do with this: And the priest shal make an attonement for them, and it shalbe forgeuen them.
And he shall bryng this bullocke without the hoast, & burne him as he burned the first bullocke: For it is an oblation for the sinne of the congregation.
When a Lorde sinneth, and co{m}mitteth through ignorau{n}ce any of these thynges which the Lorde his God hath forbidden to be done in his commaundementes, and hath offended:
And if his sinne be shewed vnto hym which he hath done, he shall bryng his offeryng, [euen] an hee goate without blemishe,
And lay his hande vpon {th}e head of the hee goate, and kyll it in the place where the burnt offeryng is vsed to be kylled before {th}e Lorde: For it is a sinne offering.
And let the priest take of {th}e blood of the sinne offeryng with his finger, & put it vpon the hornes of the burnt offeryng aulter, and powre his blood vnto the bottome of the burnt offeryng aulter,
And burne all his fat vpon {th}e aulter, as {th}e fat of the peace offeringes: And {th}e priest shal make an attonement for him as co{n}cerning his sinne, & it shalbe forgeue{n} him.
If one of the common people of the lande sinne through ignoraunce, & commit any of the thynges which the Lord hath forbidden in his co{m}maundementes to be done, and so hath trespassed:
If his sinne which he hath sinned come to his knowledge, he shall bryng for his offeryng a shee goate from among the flockes without blemishe for his sinne which he hath sinned,
And lay his hande vpon the head of the sinne offeryng, and slay the sinne offering in the place of burnt offerynges.
And the priest shall take of the blood therof with his finger, and put it vpon the hornes of the burnt offeryng aulter, & powre all the blood vnto the bottome of the aulter,
And shall take away all his fat, as the fat of the peace offeryng is taken away: And the priest shal burne it vpon the aulter, that it may be a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde, and the priest shal make an attonement for hym, and it shalbe forgeuen hym.
And yf he bryng a sheepe for a sinne offeryng, he shall bryng a female without blemishe,
And lay his hande vpon the head of the sinne offeryng, and slea it for a sinne offering in the place where they kill the burnt offeryng.
And the priest shal take of the blood of the sinne offeryng with his finger, & put it vpon the hornes of the burnt offering aulter, and shall powre the blood thereof vnto the bottome of the aulter.
And he shall take away all the fat therof, as the fat of {th}e sheepe of the peace offering is wont to be taken away: And the priest shall burne it vpon the aulter, that it may be the Lordes burnt sacrifice, and the priest shall make an attonement for his sinne that he hath committed, and it shalbe forgeuen hym.
IF a soule sinne, and heare the voyce of swearing, and is a witnesse, whether he hath seene or knowen of it, if he do not vtter it, he shall beare his sinne.
Either if a soule touche any vncleane thyng, whether it be the carion of an vncleane beast, or a carion of vncleane cattell, or a carion of vncleane creeping thynges, and is not ware of it: beholde, he is vncleane, and hath offended.
Either if he touche any vncleannesse of man, whatsoeuer vncleannesse it be that a man is wont to be defiled withall, and is not ware of it, and commeth to {th}e knowledge of it, he hath trespassed.
Either if a soule sweare, and pronounceth with his lippes to do euill or to do good, whatsoeuer it be that a man shall pronounce with an othe, and the thyng be hyd from hym, and commeth to the knowledge of it, and hath offended in one of these:
When he hath sinned in one of these thinges, he shall confesse that he hath sinned in that thyng.
Therfore shall he bryng his trespasse offering vnto the Lorde, for his sinne whiche he hath sinned, a female from the flocke, a lambe or a shee goate, for a sinne offering: And the priest shal make an attonement for hym concerning his sinne.
And if he be not able to bryng a sheepe, he shall bryng for his trespasse whiche he hath sinned, two turtle doues, or two young pigeons vnto the Lorde: one for a sinne offering, & the other for a burnt offering.
And he shall bryng them vnto {th}e priest, which shall offer the sinne offering first, and wryng the necke a sunder of it, but plucke it not cleane of.
And he shall sprinckle of the blood of the sinne offering vpon the side of the aulter, and the rest of the blood shall he powre by the bottome of the aulter: for it is a sinne offering.
And he shall offer the seconde for a burnt offering, as the maner is: and so shall the priest make an attonement for hym for the sinne whiche he hath sinned, and it shalbe forgeuen hym.
And if he be not able to bryng two turtle doues, or two young pigeons, then he that hath sinned shall bryng for his offering the tenth part of an Epha of fine floure for a sinne offering: but put none oyle thereto, neither put any frankensence theron: for it is a sinne offering.
Then shall he bryng it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handfull of it for a remembraunce thereof, & burne it vpon the aulter, to be a sacrifice for the Lord made by fire: for it is a sinne offering.
And the priest shall make an attonement for hym as touchyng his sinne that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shalbe forgeuen hym: And the remnaunt shalbe the priestes, as a meate offering.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
If a soule trespasse and sinne thorowe ignoraunce in thinges that are consecrated vnto the Lorde, let hym bryng for his trespasse vnto the Lord, a Ramme without blemishe out of the flockes, valued in money at two sicles, after the sicle of the sanctuarie, that it may be for a trespasse offering.
And he shall make amendes for the harme that he hath done in the holy thyng, & let hym put the fift part more thereto, and geue it vnto the priest: And the priest shall make an attonement for hym, with the Ramme that is for the trespasse, and it shalbe forgeuen hym.
If a soule sinne, and commit any of these thinges whiche are forbydden to be done by the co{m}maundementes of the Lorde, and wyst it not, & hath offended, and beare his sinne:
Then shall he bryng a Ramme without blemishe out of the flocke, that is esteemed to be worth a trespasse offering, vnto the priest: And the priest shall make an attonement for hym concerning his ignoraunce, wherein he erred, and was not ware, and it shalbe forgeuen hym.
This is a trespasse offering, for the trespasse committed against the Lorde.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying.
If a soule sinne and trespasse agaynst the Lorde, and denie vnto his neyghbour that which was taken him to kepe, or that was put into his hands, or doth violent robberie or wrong vnto his neyghbour,
Or if he haue founde that which was lost, and denieth it, and sweareth falsely vpon whatsoeuer thing it be that a man doth, and sinneth therein:
If he haue so sinned and trespassed, he shall restore agayne that he toke violently away, or the wrong which he did, or that whiche was deliuered hym to kepe, or the lost thyng which he founde:
And all that about whiche he hath sworne falsely, he shall restore it agayne in the whole summe, and shall adde the fifth part more thereto, and geue it vnto him to whom it appertayneth, the same day that he offereth for his trespasse.
And let him bryng for his trespasse vnto the Lorde a Ramme without blemishe out of the flocke, that is esteemed worth a trespasse offering vnto {th}e priest.
And the priest shall make an attonement for hym before the Lorde, and it shalbe forgeuen hym whatsoeuer thing it be that he hath done and trespassed therein.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Commaunde Aaron and his sonnes, saying: (This is the lawe of the burnt offering. The burnt offering shalbe vpon the harth of the aulter all nyght, vnto the mornyng, and the fire shall be kyndled on the aulter.)
And the priest shall put on his linnen garment, and his linnen breeches vpon his fleshe, and take away the asshes vppon the whiche the fire consumed the burnt sacrifice in the aulter, and he shall put them beside the aulter,
And put of his rayment, and put on other, and carry the asshes out without the hoast vnto a cleane place.
The fire vpon the aulter shall burne styll, & neuer be put out: But the priest shall laye wood on it euery day in the morning, and put the burnt sacrifice vppon it, and he shall burne theron the fat of the peace offeringes.
The fire shall euer burne vpon the aulter, and neuer go out.
This is the lawe of the meate offering, which Aarons sonnes shall bryng before the Lord, euen before the aulter:
And one of them shall take his handfull of the floure of the meate offering, and of the oyle, and al the franckensence whiche is vpon the meate offering, and shall burne it vnto a remembraunce vppon the aulter for a sweete sauour, euen a memoriall of it vnto the Lorde.
And of the rest therof, shall Aaron and his sonnes eate: vnleauened shall it be eaten in the holy place, euen in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eate it.
It shall not be baken with leauen: I haue geuen it vnto them for their portion of my sacrifices made by fire: It is most holy, as is the sinne offering, and the trespasse offering.
All the males among the chyldren of Aaron shall eate of it: It shalbe a statute for euer in your generations concerning the sacrifice of the Lorde made by fire: let euery one that toucheth it, be holy.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
This is the offering of Aaron, and of his sonnes, whiche they shall offer vnto the Lord in the day when he is annoynted: The tenth part of an Epha of floure for a meate offering perpetuall, halfe of it in the morning, and halfe therof at nyght.
In the frying panne it shalbe made with oyle, and when it is fryed, thou shalt bryng it in: and the baken peeces of the meate offeringes shalt thou offer for a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde.
And the priest of his sonnes, that is annoynted in his steede, shall offer it: It is the Lordes ordinaunce for euer, it shalbe burnt altogether.
For euery meate offering that is made for the priest, shalbe burnt altogether, and shall not be eaten.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto Aaron, and vnto his sonnes, and say, This is the lawe of the sinne offering: In the place where the burnt offering is kylled, shall the sinne offering be kylled before the Lorde, for it is most holy.
The priest that offereth it, shall eate it: In the holy place shall it be eaten, euen in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Whatsoeuer shall touche the fleshe thereof, shalbe holy: and when there droppeth of the blood therof vpon any garment, thou shalt washe that wheron it droppeth, in the holy place.
But the earthen pot that it is sodden in, shalbe broken: And yf it be sodden in a brasen pot, it shalbe scoured, & rensed in the water.
All the males among the priestes shal eate therof, for it is most holy.
And no sinne offeryng whose blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withall in the holy place, shalbe eaten: but shalbe burnt in the fire.
LIkewyse this is the lawe of the trespasse offering: it is moste holy.
In the place where they kyll the burnt offering, shall they kyll the trespasse offering also, & the blood thereof shall he sprinckle rounde about vpon the aulter.
All the fat thereof shall he offer, the rumpe, and the fat that couereth the inwardes,
And the two kydneys, and the fat that is on them, and vpon the flankes, and the kall that is on the liuer shalt thou take away with the kydneys.
And the priest shall burne them vpon the aulter, to be a sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lorde: for it is a trespasse offering.
All the males among the priestes shall eate thereof: it shalbe eaten in the holy place, for it is most holy.
As the sinne offering is, so is the trespasse offering, one law serueth for both: that wherwith the priest shall make attonement, shalbe his.
And the priest that offereth any mans burnt offering, shall haue the skynne of {th}e burnt offering whiche he hath offred.
And all the meate offering that is baken in the ouen, and that is dressed in the panne, and in the frying panne, shalbe the priestes that offereth it.
And euery meate offering that is mingled with oyle, and that is drye, shall pertayne vnto all the sonnes of Aaron, and one shall haue as muche as another.
This is the law of the peace offering, whiche he shall offer vnto the Lorde.
If he offer it to geue thankes, he shall bryng vnto his thanke offering vnleauened cakes mingled with oyle, and vnleauened wafers annoynted with oyle, and cakes mingled with oyle of fine floure fryed.
He shall bryng his offering, with cakes of vnleauend bread for his peace offeringes, to geue thankes:
And of all the sacrifice he shall offer one for an heaue offering vnto the Lorde, and it shalbe the priestes that sprinckled the blood of the peace offeringes.
And the fleshe of his peace offeringes for thankesgeuing, shalbe eate{n} the same day that it is offred: And let hym leaue nothyng of it vntill the morowe.
But if the offering of his sacrifice be a vowe, or of his owne free wyll, it shalbe eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and if ought remayne vntill the morowe, it may be eaten.
But as muche of the offered fleshe as remayneth vnto the thirde day, shalbe burnt with fire.
And if any of the flesh of his peace offeringes be eaten in the thirde day, then shall he that offereth it obtayne no fauour, neither shall it be reckened vnto him, but shalbe an abhomination: therfore the soule that eateth of it, shal beare his sinne.
And the fleshe that toucheth any vncleane thing, shal not be eaten, but burnt with fire: and of this fleshe all that be cleane, shall eate therof.
But if any soule eate of the fleshe of the peace offering that pertayneth vnto the Lord, hauing his vnclennesse vpon him: the same soule shall be cut of from among his people.
Moreouer, the soule that doth touche any vncleane thyng, that is of the vncleannesse of man, or of any vncleane beast, or any abhomination that is vncleane, and then eate of the fleshe of the peace offering whiche pertayneth vnto the Lorde: that soule shal be cut of from his people.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the chyldren of Israel, and say: Ye shall eate no maner fat of beeues, of sheepe, and of goates.
Neuerthelater, the fat of the beast that dyeth alone, and the fat of that which is torne with wilde beastes, shalbe occupied in any maner of vse: but ye shall in no wyse eate of it.
For whosoeuer eateth the fat of the beast, of which men vse to bryng an offering made by fire vnto the Lorde: that soule that eateth it, shall be cut of from his people.
Moreouer, ye shall eate no maner of blood, whether it be of foule or of beast, in any your dwellynges.
Whatsoeuer soule it be that eateth any maner of blood, the same soule shall be cut of from his people.
And the Lorde talked with Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the chyldren of Israel, and say: He that bringeth his peace offeryng vnto the Lorde, let hym bryng his gift vnto the Lord of his peace offering:
Let his owne handes bryng the offeringes of the Lorde made by fire: euen the fat with the brest shal he bryng, that the brest may be waued for a waue offering before the Lorde.
And the priest shall burne the fat vpon the aulter, and the brest shalbe Aarons and his sonnes.
And the ryght shoulder shall ye geue vnto the priest for an heaue offeryng of your peace offerynges.
The same that offereth the blood of the peace offeringes and the fat among the sonnes of Aaron, shall haue the right shoulder for his part:
For the waue brest and the heaue shoulder haue I taken of the chyldren of Israel, eue{n} of their peace offeringes, and haue geuen them vnto Aaron the priest, & vnto his sonnes, by a statute for euer fro{m} among the chyldren of Israel.
This is the annoynting of Aaron, and the annoynting of his sonnes co{n}cerning the sacrifices of the Lorde made by fire, in the day when he offred them to be priestes vnto the Lorde.
And these be the [portions] whiche the Lorde commaunded to be geuen them in the day of their annoynting from among the chyldren of Israel, by a statute for euer in their generations.
This is the law of the burnt offering, and of the meate offering, and of the sacrifice for sinne and trespasse, for consecrations, and for the peace offering:
Whiche the Lord commaunded Moyses in the mount of Sinai, whe{n} he commaunded the children of Israel to offer their sacrifices vnto the Lorde in the wyldernesse of Sinai.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Take Aaron and his sonnes with hym, and the vestures, and the annoynting oyle, and a bullocke for a sinne offering, and two Rammes, and a basket of vnleauened bread:
And gather thou all the congregation together vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And Moyses dyd as the Lorde commaunded him: and the people were gathered together vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And Moyses sayd vnto the congregation: This is the thing which the Lord commaunded to be done.
And Moyses brought Aaron and his sonnes, and washed them with water:
And put vpon him the coate, and gyrded hym with a gyrdle, and put vpon hym the robe, and put the Ephod theron, whiche he gyrded with the brodered garde that was in the Ephod, and bounde it vnto him therewith.
And he put the brestplate theron, and put in the brestplate the Vrim and the Thummim.
And he put the cap of estate vpon his head, and put vpon the cap, euen vpon the forefront, the golden plate, the holy crowne, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And Moyses toke the annoyntyng oyle, and annoynted the tabernacle and al that was therin, and sanctified them.
And sprinckled therof vpon the aulter seuen tymes, and annoynted the aulter and all his vesselles, the lauer and his foote, to sanctifie them.
And he powred of the annoynting oyle vpon Aarons head, & annoynted hym, to sanctifie hym.
And Moyses brought Aarons sonnes, and put coates vpon them, and gyrded them with gyrdles, and put bonettes vpon their heades, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And he brought the Bullocke for the sinne offering: and Aaron & his sonnes put their handes vpon the head of the Bullocke for the sinne offering.
And Moyses slewe hym, and toke the blood, which he put vpon the hornes of the aulter rounde about with his finger, and purified the aulter, and powred the blood at the bottome of the aulter, & sanctified it, to make reconciliatio{n} vpo{n} it.
And he toke all the fat that was vpon the inwardes, and the kall of the liuer, and the two kydneys and their fat, and Moyses burned it vpon the aulter.
But the Bullocke, & his hide, his flesh, and his dounge, he burnt with fyre without the hoast, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And he brought the Ramme for the burnt offering, and Aaron & his sonnes put their handes vpon the head of the Ramme,
Whiche Moyses killed, and sprinckled the blood vpo{n} the aulter rounde about.
And Moyses cut the Ramme into his peeces, and burnt the head, the peeces, and the fat.
And washed {th}e inwardes & the legges in water, & Moyses burnt the Ramme euerywhyt vpon the aulter: for it was a burnt sacrifice for a sweete sauour, and an offering made by fire vnto the Lord, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And he brought the other Ramme, namely the Ramme of consecrations: and Aaron and his sonnes put their handes vpon the head of the Ramme,
Which Moyses slewe, and toke of the blood of it, and put it vpon the tip of Aarons right eare, and vpon the thumbe of his ryght hande, and vpon the great toe of his ryght foote.
And Moyses brought Aarons sonnes, and put of the blood on the •ippe of the right eare of them, & vpon the thumbes of theyr right handes, & vpon the great toes of their ryght feete: and Moyses sprinckled the blood vpon the aulter rounde about.
And he toke the fat, and the rumpe, and all the fat that was vpon the inwardes, and the kall of the liuer, and the two kydneys with their fat, and the ryght shoulder.
And out of the basket of vnleauened bread that was before the Lorde, he toke one vnleauened cake, and a cake of oyled bread, and one wafer, & put them on the fat, and vpon the right shoulder:
And put altogether vpon Aarons handes, & vpon his sonnes handes, and waued it a waue offering before the Lord.
And Moyses toke them from of their handes, and burnt them vpon the aulter for a burnt offering: These were consecrations for a sweete sauour and sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lorde.
And Moyses toke the brest, and waued it for a waue offering before the Lorde: for of the Ramme of consecrations, it was Moyses part, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And Moyses toke of the annoynting oyle, and of the blood which was vpon the aulter, & sprinckled it vpon Aaron and vpon his garmentes, and vpon his sonnes and on his sonnes garmentes with him: and sanctified Aaron and his vestures, and his sonnes and his sonnes vestures with hym.
And Moyses sayde vnto Aaron and his sonnes: Boyle the fleshe at the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation, and there eate it with the bread that is in the basket of consecration, and as I commaunded, saying, Aaron and his sonnes shall eate it.
And that whiche remayneth of the fleshe and of the bread, shall ye burne with fyre.
And ye shall not depart from the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation seuen dayes, vntyll the dayes of your consecrations be at an ende: for seuen dayes shall he fill your hande.
As he did this day: euen so the Lorde hath commaunded to do, to make an attonement for you.
Therefore shall ye abyde at the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation day and nyght seuen dayes long, and kepe the watch of the Lord, and ye shal not dye: for so I am commaunded.
And so Aaron and his sonnes, dyd all thinges whiche the Lorde commaunded by the hande of Moyses.
AND in the eyght day, Moyses called Aaron and his sonnes, and the elders of Israel.
And he sayd vnto Aaro{n}: Take thee a young Calfe for a sin offering, and a Ramme for a burnt offering, both without blemishe, and bryng them before the Lorde.
And vnto the chyldren of Israel thou shalt speake, saying: Take ye an hee Goate for a sinne offering, and a Calfe & a Lambe both of a yere olde, without blemishe, for a burnt sacrifice.
Also a Bullocke & a Ramme for peace offeringes, to offer before the Lord, and a meate offering mingled with oyle: for to day the Lord will appeare vnto you.
And they brought that whiche Moyses commaunded, before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation came and stode before the Lord.
And Moyses sayd: This is the thyng whiche the Lord commaunded that ye should do, & the glory of the Lorde shall appeare vnto you.
And Moyses sayde vnto Aaron: Go vnto the aulter, and offer the sacrifice for thy sinne, & thy burnt offering, and make an attonement for thee and for the people: & thou shalt offer the offering of the people, and make an attonement for them, as {th}e Lord co{m}maunded.
Aaron therfore went vnto the aulter, and slewe the Calfe of the sinne offering, whiche was for him selfe.
And the sonnes of Aaron brought the blood vnto him, and he dypt his finger in the blood, and put it vpon the hornes of the aulter, and powred the blood at the bottome of the aulter.
But the fat and the two kydneys, and the kall of the liuer of the sinne offering he burnt vpon the aulter, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
The flesh and the hyde he burnt with fyre without the hoast.
And he slewe the burnt offering, and Aarons sonnes brought vnto hym the blood, whiche he sprinckled rounde about vpon the aulter.
And they brought the burnt offering vnto hym with the peeces therof, & the head: and he burnt [them] vpo{n} the aulter.
And he dyd washe the inwardes and the legges, and burnt them vpon the burnt offeryng in the aulter.
And then he brought the peoples offering, taking the Goate whiche was the sinne offering for the people, & slewe it, & offered it for sinne, as he dyd the first.
And brought the burnt offering, and offered it as the maner was.
And he brought the meate offering, and filled his hande therof, and burnt it vpon the aulter, beside the burnt sacrifice of the mornyng.
He slewe also the Bullocke and the Ramme for the peace offering, whiche was for the people: and Aarons sonnes brought vnto hym the blood, which he sprinckled vpon the aulter round about:
And the fat of the Bullocke, and of the Ramme, the rumpe, and that couereth the inwardes, and the kidneyes, and the kall of the liuer.
And they put the fat vpon the breastes, and he burnt the fat vpon the aulter:
But the breastes and the ryght shoulder, Aaron waued for a waue offering before the Lorde, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And Aaron lift vp his hande ouer the people, and blessed them, & came downe fro{m} offering of •he sinne offering, burnt offering, and peace offeringes.
And Moyses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, & came out, and blessed the people: and the glorie of the Lorde appeared vnto all the people.
And there came a fire out from before the Lorde, and consumed vpon the aulter the burnt offering & the fat: Whiche when all the people sawe, they gaue thankes, and fell on their faces.
ANd Nadab and Abihu, the sonnes of Aaron, toke eyther of the{m} his censar, and put fire therein, and put cense therevpon, and offred straunge fire before the Lorde, whiche he commaunded them not.
And there went a fire from the Lord, and consumed them, and they dyed before the Lorde.
Then Moyses sayde vnto Aaron: This is it that the Lorde spake, saying: I wyll be sanctified in them that come nye me, and before all the people I wylbe glorified. And Aaron helde his peace.
And Moyses called Misael and Elsaphan the sonnes of Oziel, the vncle of Aaron, & sayd vnto them: Come neare, cary your brethren from before the sanctuarie, out of the hoast.
And they went to them, & caryed them in their coates out of the hoast, as Moyses had sayde.
And Moyses sayde vnto Aaron, and vnto Eleazar & Ithamar his sonnes: Vncouer not your heades, neither rent your clothes, lest ye dye, and lest wrath come vpon all the people: But let your brethren the whole house of Israel, bewayle the burnyng whiche the Lorde hath kyndled.
And go not ye out from the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye dye: for the annoynting oyle of God is vpon you. And they dyd as Moyses sayde.
And the Lorde spake vnto Aaron, saying:
Thou shalt not drinke wine nor strong drinke, thou nor thy sonnes that are with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye dye: Let it be a lawe for euer throughout your generations.
And that ye may put difference betweene holy and vnholy, betweene vncleane and cleane:
And that ye may teache the chyldren of Israel all the statutes whiche the Lorde hath spoken vnto them by the handes of Moyses.
And Moyses sayde vnto Aaron, and vnto Eleazar, and Ithamar his sonnes that were left: Take the meate offering that remayneth of the sacrifices of the Lord made by fire, and eate it without leauen beside the aulter: for it is most holy.
Ye shall eate it in the holy place, because it is thy duetie, & thy sonnes duetie, of the sacrifices of the Lord made by fire: for so I am commaunded.
And the waue brest and heaue shoulder shall ye eate in a cleane place, thou and thy sonnes and thy daughters with thee: For they be thy duetie, and thy sonnes duetie, geuen out of the peace offeringes of the children of Israel.
The heaue shoulder & the waue brest shall they bryng in with the sacrifices made by fire of the fat, to waue it for a waue offering before the Lorde: and it shalbe thyne and thy sonnes with thee by a lawe for euer, as the Lorde hath commaunded.
And Moyses sought the goate that was offred for sinne, & see, it was burnt. And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar the sonnes of Aaron whiche were left aliue, saying:
Wherefore haue ye not eaten the sinne offering in the holy place? seing it is most holy, & God hath geuen it you, to beare the sinne of the congregation, to make agreement for them before the Lorde.
Beholde, {th}e blood of it was not brought in within the holy place: Ye shoulde haue eaten it in the holy place, as I commaunded.
And Aaron sayde vnto Moyses: Beholde, this day haue they offered their sinne offering, and their burnt offering before the Lorde: and suche thinges are come vnto me, if I had eaten the sinne offering to day, shoulde it haue ben accepted in the sight of the Lorde?
And when Moyses hearde that, he was content.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron, and sayde vnto them:
Speake vnto the chyldren of Israel, and say: These are the beastes whiche ye shall eate, among all the beastes that are on the earth.
Whatsoeuer parteth the hoofe, and is clouen footed, and chaweth cud among the beastes, that shall ye eate.
Neuerthelesse, these shall ye not eate, of them that chawe cud, and deuideth the hoofe: [onlye] as is the Camell, whiche chaweth cud, but he deuideth not the hoofe, therefore is he vncleane vnto you.
Euen so the Connie whiche chaweth the cud, but deuideth not the hoofe, he is vncleane to you.
And the Hare, though he chaweth the cud, yet because he deuideth not {th}e hoofe, he is therefore vncleane to you.
And agayne the Swyne, though he deuide the hoofe, and is clouen footed, yet he chaweth not the cud, he is vncleane to you.
Of their fleshe shall ye not eate, and their carkasses shall ye not touche: but let them be vncleane to you.
These shall ye eate, of all that are in the waters: whatsoeuer hath finnes and skales in the waters, seas, and riuers, that shall ye eate.
And all that haue not finnes nor skales in the sea and riuers, of all that moue and liue in the waters, let them be abhomination vnto you.
They I say, shalbe an abhomination vnto you: ye shall not eate of their flesh, but abhorre their carkasses.
Let all that haue no finnes nor skales in the waters, be abhominable vnto you.
These are they whiche ye shall abhorre among the foules, and that ought not to be eaten, for they are an abhomination: The Egle, the Goshauke, and the Ospray,
The Vultur, and the Kyte after his kinde,
And all Rauens after their kinde,
The Estrich, the nyght Crowe, the Coockowe, and the Hauke after his kynde,
The Falcon, the Cormorant, the great Owle,
The Backe, the Pellicane, the Pye,
The Storke, the Iay after his kinde, the Lapwyng, and the Swalowe.
Let all foules that creepe and go vpon all foure, be an abhomination vnto you.
Yet these may ye eate, of euery creepyng thyng that hath wynges, and go vpon foure [feete]: euen those that haue not bowynges aboue vpon their feete, to leape withall vpon the earth.
Euen these of them ye may eate: the Arbe after his kinde, the Selaam after his kinde, the Hargol after his kinde, and the Hagab after his kinde.
All [other] foules that creepe and haue foure feete, shalbe abhomination vnto you.
In such ye be vncleane: and whosoeuer toucheth the carkasse of them, shalbe vncleane vntyll the euen:
And whosoeuer beareth the carkasse of them, shall washe his clothes, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.
And euery beast that hath hoofe, and is not clouen footed, nor chaweth cud, such are vncleane vnto you: euery one that toucheth them, shalbe vncleane.
And whatsoeuer goeth vppon his pawes, among all maner beastes that go on all foure [feete] such are vncleane vnto you: and who so doth touche their carkasse shalbe vncleane vntyll the euen.
And he that beareth the carkasse of them, shall washe his clothes, and be vncleane vntyll the euen: for such are vncleane vnto you.
And let these also be vncleane to you, among the thynges that creepe vpon the earth: the Weasel, and the Mouse, and the Toade after ther kinde:
The Hedhogge, the Stellio, the Lacert, the Snayle, and the Moole.
These are vncleane to you among all that creepe: whosoeuer doth touche them when they be dead, shalbe vncleane vntyll the euen.
And whatsoeuer any of the dead carkasses of them doth fall vpon, shalbe vncleane, whether it be vessell of wood, or rayment, or skinne, or sacke, or whatsoeuer vessell it be that any worke is wrought in: and it must be plunged in the water, and it shalbe vncleane vntyll the euen, and so shall it be cleansed.
All maner of earthen vessell wherinto any of them falleth, shalbe vncleane, with all that therein is, and it shalbe broken.
All maner meate also that is vsed to be eaten, yf any such water come vpo{n} it, shalbe vncleane: And all maner drynke that is vsed to be drunke in all maner such vessels, shalbe vncleane.
And euery thyng that their carkasse falleth vpon, shalbe vncleane, whether it be ouen or kettle, let it be broken: For they are vncleane, and shalbe vncleane vnto you.
Neuerthelater, yet the fountaynes, and welles, and collection of waters, shalbe cleane styll: but that which toucheth their carkasses, shalbe vncleane.
If the dead carkasse of any such fall vpon any seede vsed to sowe, it shall yet be cleane styll:
But and yf any water be powred vpon the seede, and a dead carkasse fall theron, it shalbe vncleane vnto you.
If any beast of which ye may eate, dye, and any man touche the dead carkasse thereof, he shalbe vncleane vntyll the euen.
He that eateth of the dead carkasse of it, shall washe his clothes, and be vncleane vntyll the euen: And he also that beareth the carkasse of it, shall washe his clothes, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.
Let euery creepyng thyng that creepeth vpon the earth be an abhomination, and not be eaten.
Whatsoeuer goeth vpon the brest, and whatsoeuer goeth vpon foure, or that hath mo feete among all creepyng thynges that creepe vpon the earth: of that see ye eate not, for they are abhominable.
Ye shall not make your soules abhominable with nothyng that creepeth, neither make your selues vncleane with them, that ye shoulde be defyled therby.
For I am the Lorde your God: Be sanctified therfore, and ye shalbe holy, for I am holy: and ye shall not defyle your soules with any maner of creeping thyng that creepeth vpon the earth:
For I am the Lorde that brought you out of the lande of Egypt, to be your God: ye shalbe holy therfore, for I am holy.
This is the lawe of beastes & foules, and of euery lyuyng creature that moueth in the waters, and of euery creature that creepeth vpon the earth,
That there may be a difference betweene the vncleane and cleane, and betweene the beast that may be eaten, and the beast that ought not to be eaten.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the children of Israel, and say: yf a woman hath conceaued seede, and borne a man chylde, she shalbe vncleane seuen dayes: euen according to the dayes of the seperation of her infirmitie shall she be vncleane.
And in the eyght day, the fleshe of the childes foreskinne shalbe cut away.
And she shall then continue in {th}e blood of her purifiyng three and thirtie dayes: She shall touche no halowed thyng, nor come into the sanctuarie, vntyll the tyme of her purifiyng be out.
If she beare a mayde chylde, she shalbe vncleane two weekes, accordyng as in her seperation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifiyng three score and sixe dayes.
And when the dayes of her purifiyng are out, whether it be for a sonne or for a daughter, she shall bryng a lambe of one yere olde for a burnt offeryng, and a young pigeon or a turtle doue for a sinne offeryng, vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation, vnto the priest:
Which shall offer them before the Lord, and make an attonement for her, and she shalbe purged of the issue of her blood. And this is the lawe for her that hath borne a male or female.
But and yf she be not able to bryng a lambe, she shall bryng two turtles or two young pigeons, the one for {th}e burnt offering, & the other for a sinne offering: And the priest shall make an attoneme{n}t for her, and she shalbe cleane.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses & Aaron saying:
The man that shall haue in the skinne of his fleshe, a swellyng, either a scabbe, or a glistryng whyte, and the plague of leprosie be in the skinne of his fleshe, he shalbe brought vnto Aaron the priest, or vnto one of his sonnes the priestes.
And the priest shall loke on the sore in the skinne of his fleshe: and when the heere in the sore is turned to whyte, and the sore also seeme to be lower then the skinne of his fleshe, it is a plague of leprosie: and the priestes shall loke on hym, and iudge hym vncleane.
If there be a whyte plecke in {th}e skinne of his fleshe, and seeme not to be lower then the skinne, nor the heere thereof is turned vnto whyte, the priest shall shut vp [hym that hath] the plague seue{n} dayes.
And {th}e priest shall loke vpon him againe the seuenth day: and if the plague seeme to him to abide styll, & the plague growe not in the skinne, the priest shall shut vp [hym that hath] {th}e plague, seuen dayes mo.
And the priest shal loke on him agayne the seuenth day: Then yf the plague be darker, and not growen in the skynne, the priest shall iudge hym cleane, for it is but a scabbe: And he shall washe his clothes and be cleane.
But yf the scabbe growe in the skynne after that he is seene of the priest and iudged cleane, he shalbe seene of the priest agayne.
If the priest see that the scabbe be growen abrode in the skinne, the priest shall make hym vncleane: [for] it is a leprosie.
When the plague of the leprosie is in a man, he shalbe brought vnto the priest.
And the priest shall see hym: And yf the swellyng be whyte in the skynne, and haue made the heere whyte, and there be rawe fleshe in the swellyng,
It wilbe an olde leprosie in the skynne of his fleshe, and the priest shall make hym vncleane, and shall not shut hym vp, seyng he is vncleane.
If a leprosie breake out abrode in the skynne, and couer all the skynne from his head to his foote wheresoeuer the priest loketh,
Then the priest shall consider: and yf the leprosie haue couered all his fleshe, he shall iudge the plague to be cleane, because it is all turned into whytenesse, and he shalbe cleane.
But and if there be rawe fleshe on him when he is seene, he shalbe vncleane.
And the priest shal see the rawe fleshe, and declare hym to be vncleane: for the rawe fleshe is vncleane, seyng it is a leprosie.
Or yf the rawe fleshe turne agayne and chaunge vnto whyte, he shall come to the priest:
And the priest shall see him: & behold, yf the sore be chaunged vnto whyte, the priest shall iudge the plague cleane, and he shalbe cleane.
The fleshe also in whose skinne there is a byle, and is healed,
And in the place of the byle there appeare a whyte rysyng, either a shynyng whyte and somewhat reddishe, it shall be seene of the priest.
And yf when the priest seeth hym, it appeare lower then the skynne, and the heere therof be chaunged vnto whyte, the priest shall iudge hym vncleane: for it is a plague of leprosie, broken out of the byle.
But and yf the priest loke on it, and there be no whyte heeres therin, and yf it be not lower then the skynne, but be darker, the priest shall shut hym vp seuen dayes.
And yf it spreade abrode in the skynne, the priest shall make hym vncleane, seyng it is a sore.
But and yf the spot stande styll and growe not, it is a scarre of a byle, and therfore the priest shall declare hym to be cleane.
If there be any fleshe in whose skynne there is a hotte burnyng, and the quicke fleshe that burneth haue a whyte spot, somewhat reddishe or whyte,
The priest shall loke vpon it: and yf the heere in that bright spot be chau{n}ged to whyte, and it appeare lower then the skynne, it is a leprosie broken out of the burnyng, and therfore the priest shall iudge hym vncleane, seyng it is {th}e plague of leprosie.
But yf the priest loke on it, and there be no whyte heere in the bryght spot, and be no lower then the other skynne, but be darker, the priest shall shut hym vp seuen dayes.
And the priest shall loke on hym the seuenth day: and yf it be growen abrode in the skynne, the priest shall iudge hym vncleane, seyng it is {th}e plague of leprosie.
And yf the spot stande styll in it, and growe not in the skynne, but is darke, it is a risyng of the burnyng, and the priest shall therfore declare hym cleane, seyng it is a scarre of the burnyng.
If man or woman hath a sore vpon the head or the bearde,
The priest shall see the sore: and yf it appeare lower then the skynne, and there be in it a yelowe heere and thinne, the priest shall iudge him vncleane, seing that the same frettyng is a token of leprosie vpon the head or bearde.
And yf the priest loke on the sore of the fret, and it seeme not lower then the skynne, and that the heere is not blacke, the priest shall shut vp the frettyng sore seuen dayes.
And in the seuenth day the priest shall loke on the sore: and yf the fret be not growen, and there be in it no yelowe heere, and the fret seeme not lower then the skynne,
He shalbe shauen, but the fret shall he not shaue: and the priest shall shut vp the fret seuen dayes mo.
And in the seuenth day the priest shall loke on the fret: and yf the fret be not growen in the skynne, nor seeme lower then the other skynne, the priest shall clense him: & he shall washe his clothes, and be cleane.
But if the fret growe in the skynne after his clensyng,
The priest shall loke on hym: and yf the fret be growen in the skynne, the priest shall not seeke for yelowe heere, for he is vncleane.
But if he see the fret stande still, & that there is blacke heere growen vp therein, the fret is healed, & he shalbe cleane, & the priest shal declare him to be cleane.
If there be many white spottes in the skinne of the fleshe of man or woman,
The priest shall loke vpon it: and yf the spottes in the skynne of their fleshe be somewhat darke and whyte withal, it is a frekell growyng in the skynne: therfore he is cleane.
And the man whose heere is fallen of his head, he is baulde, yet cleane.
And he that hath his heere fallen of on the part of his head towarde his face, is forehead baulde, yet cleane.
If there be in {th}e baulde head or baulde forehead a whyte reddishe sore, there is leprosie sprong vp in his baulde head or baulde forehead.
And the priest shall loke vpon hym: & yf the rysyng of the sore be whyte reddishe in his baulde head or baulde forehead, after the maner of leprosie which is in the skynne of the fleshe,
Then he is a leprous man & vncleane: And the priest shal make him vncleane, for the plague therof is in his head.
The leper in whom the plague is, shal haue his clothes rent, & his head bare, & shall put a coueryng vpon his lippes, and shall crye: vncleane, vncleane.
And as long as the disease lasteth vpon hym, he shalbe defiled and vncleane: he shall dwell alone, euen without the campe shall his habitation be.
The garment also that the plague of leprosie is in, whether it be a woollen garment or a lynnen garment,
Whether it be in the warpe or woofe of lynnen or of woollen, either in a skin, or any thyng made of skynne:
If the disease be light greene, or somewhat reddishe in the garme{n}t or skinne, whether it be in the warpe or woofe, or any thyng that is made of skinne: then it is a plague of leprosie, & shalbe shewed vnto the priest.
The priest therfore shal see the plague, and shut it vp seuen dayes.
And he shall loke on the plague the seuenth day: which, yf it be increased in the garment, whether it be in {th}e warpe or woofe, or in a skinne, or in any thyng that is made of skinne, it is the leprosie of a frettyng sore, it is vncleane.
And he shall burne that garment, eyther warpe or woofe, whether it be woollen or lynnen, or any thyng that is made of skinne wherin the plague is, for it is a frettyng leprosie, it shalbe burnt in the fire.
If the priest see that the plague is not growen in the garment, either in the warpe or woofe, or in whatsoeuer thing of skinne it be,
The priest shall commaunde them to washe the thyng wherin the plague is, and he shall shut it vp seuen dayes mo.
And the priest shall loke on the plague agayne after that it is wasshed: and yf the plague haue not chaunged his colour, and is spread no further abrode, it is vncleane, thou shalt burne it in the fire: for it is fret inwarde, whether it be bauld behynd [in the head] or before.
And yf the priest see that the plague is darker after that is is wasshed, he shall cut it out of the garment or out of the skinne, or out of the warpe, or out of the woofe.
And yf it appeare styll in the garment, either in the warpe, or in the woofe, or in any thyng made of skinne: it is a spreadyng plague, thou shalt burne that wherin the plague is, with fire.
Moreouer the garment, either warpe or woofe, or whatsoeuer thing of skinne it be which thou hast wasshed, yf the plague be departed therfrom, it shalbe wasshed once agayne, and then it shalbe cleane.
This is the lawe of the plague of leprosie in a garment whether it be woollen or lynnen, either in the warpe or woofe, or in any thyng of skinnes, to make it cleane or vncleane.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
This is the lawe of the leper in the day of his clensyng: He shalbe brought vnto the priest,
And the priest shal go out without the campe, and the priest shall loke vpon hym, and yf the plague of leprosie be healed in the leper,
Then shall the priest commaunde to take for hym that is clensed, two lyue birdes and cleane, and ceder wood, and a scarlet [lase] and ysope.
And the priest shall commaunde that one of the birdes be killed in an earthen vessell, and vpon runnyng water.
And he shall take the lyuyng birde, with the ceder wood, the scarlet [lase] and the ysope, and shall dippe them, and the liuing birde in the blood of the slaine birde vpon the runnyng water.
And he shall sprinckle vpon hym that must be clensed of his leprosie seuen tymes, and clense hym, and shall let the lyuyng birde go free into the fielde.
And he that is clensed shall washe his clothes, and shaue of all his heere, and washe hym selfe in water, that he may be cleane: And after that shall he come into the hoast, and shall tary without his tent seuen dayes:
But in the seuenth day, he shall shaue of all his heere, [namely] his head, his bearde, and his browes, euen all his heere shalbe shauen of: And he shall washe his clothes, and also washe his fleshe in water, and he shalbe cleane.
In the eyght day he shall take two hee lambes without blemishe, and an ewe lambe of a yere olde without blemishe, and three tenth deales of fine flowre for a meate offeryng myngled with oyle, and a logge of oyle.
And the priest that maketh him cleane, shall bryng the man that is to be made cleane, & those thynges, before the Lord at the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And the priest shall take one lambe, and offer hym for a trespasse offeryng, & the logge of oyle, and waue them for a waue offeryng before the Lorde.
And he shal slea the lambe in the place where the sinne offeryng and the burnt offeryng are slayne, euen in the holy place: for as the sinne offeryng is the priestes, euen so is the trespasse offering, seyng it is most holy.
And the priest shall take of the blood of the trespasse offering, and put it vpon the tippe of the ryght eare of hym that is to be clensed, and vpon the thumbe of his right hande, and vpon the great toe of his ryght foote.
The priest shall take of the logge of oyle, and powre it into the paulme of his left hande:
And he shall dippe his ryght finger in the oyle that is in his left hande, and sprinckle of the oyle with his finger seuen tymes before the Lorde.
And of the rest of the oyle that is in his hande, shall the priest put vpon the tippe of the ryght eare of hym that is for to be clensed, and vpon the thumbe of his ryght hande, and vpon the great toe of his ryght foote, euen vpon the blood of the trespasse offeryng.
And the remnaunt of the oyle that is in the priestes hande, he shal powre vpo{n} the head of hym that is for to be clensed: and the priest shall make an attonement for hym before the Lorde.
And the priest shall offer the sinne offeryng, and make an attonement for hym that is to be clensed from his vncleannesse, and then shall he kyll the burnt offeryng.
And the priest shall offer the burnt offeryng and the meate offeryng vpon the aulter: and the priest shall make an attonement for hym, & he shalbe cleane.
If he be poore and can not get so much, he shall take one lambe for a trespasse offering, to waue it for his attonement, and a tenth deale of fine flowre mingled with oyle for a meate offeryng, and a logge of oyle,
And two turtle doues, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get: wherof the one shalbe for a sinne offeryng, and the other for a burnt offeryng.
And he shall bryng them the eyght day for his clensyng vnto the priest before the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lorde.
And the priest shall take the lambe that is for the trespasse offeryng, & the logge of oyle, and waue them for a waue offeryng before the Lorde.
And he shal kill the lambe for the trespasse offeryng, and the priest shall take of the blood of the trespasse offeryng, and put it vpon the tippe of his right eare that is to be clensed, and vpon the thombe of his right hande, and vpon the great toe of his right foote.
And the priest shall powre of the oyle into the paulme of his owne left hande:
And the priest shall with his right finger, sprinckle of the oyle that is in his left hand, seuen tymes before the Lord.
And the priest shal put of the oyle that is in his hande, vpon {th}e tippe of the right eare of hym that is to be clensed, & vpon the thombe of his right hande, and vpon the great toe of his right foote, euen in the place where the blood of the trespasse offeryng was put.
And {th}e rest of the oyle {tha}t is in the priestes hande, he shal put vpon the head of him that is to be clensed, that he may make an attonement for him before the Lord.
And he shall offer one of the turtle doues, or of the young pigeons, such as he can get:
Such [I say] as he is able to get: the one for a sinne offering, & the other for a burnt offeryng, with {th}e meate offeryng: And {th}e priest shall make an attonement for hym {tha}t is to be clensed before {th}e Lord.
This is the lawe of hym in whom is the plague of leprosie, and whose hande is not able to get that which pertaineth to his clensyng.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron, saying:
When ye be come vnto the lande of Chanaan, which I geue you in possession, and yf I put the plague of leprosie in a house of the land of your possession:
He that oweth the house shall come, & tell the priest, saying: Me thinke that there is as it were a plague in {th}e house.
Then the priest shall co{m}maunde them to emptie the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made vncleane: and the{n} must the priest go in, to see the house.
And he shall see the plague: and yf the plague be in the walles of the house, & that there be hollowe strakes, greenish or reddishe, which seeme to be lower then the wall it selfe:
Then the priest shall go out of {th}e house, to the doore of the house, and shut vp the house seuen dayes.
And the priest shall come agayne the seuenth day, & yf he see that the plague be increased in the walles of the house,
Then the priest shall co{m}maunde them to take away {th}e stones in which {th}e plague is, and let them cast them into a foule place without the citie,
And he shall commaunde the house to be scraped within rounde about, and powre out the dust that they scrape of, without the citie into a foule place.
And they shall take other stones, and put the{m} in the place of those stones, and other morter to plaster {th}e house withall.
And if the plague come againe, & breake out in the house after that he hath taken away the stones and scraped the house, & after that he hath plastered the house,
Then the priest shall come and see it: & yf that the plague hath growen further in the house, it is a frettyng leprosie in the house, it is therfore vncleane.
And he shall breake downe the house, and the stones of it, and the timber therof, and all the morter of the house: and he shall cary them out of the citie into a foule place.
Moreouer, he that goeth into {th}e house all the whyle that it is shut vp, shalbe vncleane vntyll the euen.
He also that sleepeth in the house, shal washe his clothes: he lykewyse that eateth in {th}e house, shall washe his clothes.
And yf the priest come and see that the plague hath spread no further in {th}e house after that it is newe plastered: the priest shall iudge that house cleane, because the plague is healed.
And let hym take to clense the house withall, two birdes, ceder wood, and a scarlet [lase] and ysope.
And he shal kill one of the birdes in an earthen vessell, & vpon runnyng water:
And take the ceder wood, and the ysope, and the scarlet [lase] with the lyuyng birde, and dippe them in the blood of the slayne birde, and in the runnyng water, & sprinckle the house seue{n} tymes.
And he shall clense the house with the blood of {th}e birde, & with the running water, with the liuing birde, with the ceder wood, & the ysope, and the scarlet [lase].
But he shall let the lyuyng birde flee out of the towne into the brode fieldes, & so make an attonement for the house, and it shalbe cleane.
This is the lawe for all maner plague of leprosie and fret,
And of the leprosie of garment & house,
For a swellyng, for a scabbe, and for a shynyng whyte,
To teache when it must be made vncleane, and cleane: this is the lawe of leprosie.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron, saying:
Speake vnto the children of Israel, and say vnto them: Whosoeuer hath a runnyng issue out of his fleshe, is vncleane by reason of that issue.
And this shalbe his vncleannesse in his issue: if his fleshe runne, or yf his fleshe be stopped from his issue, then it is vncleannesse.
Euery bed wheron he lyeth that hath the issue, is vncleane: and euery thyng wheron he sitteth, is vncleane.
Whosoeuer toucheth his bed, shall washe his clothes and bath hymselfe in water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.
And he that sitteth on any thing wheron he sat that hath the issue, shal washe his clothes, and bath him selfe in water, and be vncleane vntyll the euenyng.
He that toucheth the fleshe of him that hath the issue, shall washe his clothes, and bathe hym selfe in water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.
If he also that hath the issue, spyt vpon hym that is cleane, he shall washe his clothes, and bath him selfe in water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.
And what saddle soeuer he rydeth vpon that hath {th}e issue, shalbe vncleane.
And whosoeuer toucheth any thyng that was vnder hym, shalbe vncleane vnto the euen: And he that beareth any such thynges shall washe his clothes, and bathe hym selfe in water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.
And whosoeuer he toucheth that hath the issue, and haue not wasshed his handes in water, shall washe his clothes and bathe hym selfe in water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.
The vessell of earth that he toucheth which hath the issue, shalbe broken: and all vessels of wood shalbe rensed in water.
When he also that hath any issue, is clensed of his issue, he shall number him seuen dayes for his clensyng, and washe his clothes, and bathe his fleshe in runnyng water, and so shall he be cleane.
And the eyght day he shall take to hym two turtle doues, or two young pigeons, and come before the Lorde vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation, & geue them vnto the priest.
And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sinne offeryng, and the other for a burnt offeryng: and the priest shall make an attonement for hym before the Lorde, as concernyng his issue.
If any mans seede depart fro{m} hym in his sleepe, he shall washe all his fleshe in water, and be vncleane vntyll {th}e euen.
And euery garment, and euery skinne wherin is such seede of sleepe, shalbe wasshed with water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.
And if he {th}e hath such an issue of seede, do lye with a woman, they shall both washe them selues with water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.
Also yf a woman shall haue an issue, [and] her issue in her fleshe shalbe blood, she shalbe put apart seuen dayes: whosoeuer toucheth her, shalbe vncleane vntyll the euen.
And all that she lyeth vpon in {th}e tyme of her seperation, shalbe vncleane: lyke as euery thing also that she sitteth vpon, is vncleane.
Whosoeuer toucheth her bed, shall washe his clothes, and bathe hym selfe with water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.
And whosoeuer toucheth any thyng that she sat vpon, shall washe his clothes, and bathe hym selfe in water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.
So that whether he touche her bed, or any vessell wheron she hath sytten, he shalbe vncleane vntyll the euenyng.
And yf a man lye with her, and her seperation come vpon hym, he shalbe vncleane seuen dayes: and all the bedde wheron he lyeth shalbe vncleane.
Also if a woman haue an issue of her blood many dayes, out of the tyme of her seperation, or if it runne beyond her seperation, let all the dayes of the issue of her vncleanenesse, be euen as {th}e dayes of her seperation, [for] she is vncleane.
Euery bedde whereon she lyeth as long as her issue lasteth, shalbe vnto her as the bedde of her seperation: and whatsoeuer she sitteth vpon shalbe vncleane, as the vncleanenesse of her seperation.
And whosoeuer toucheth any of these shalbe vncleane, and shall washe his clothes, and bathe hym selfe in water, and be vncleane vntyll the euen.
But if she be cleansed of her issue, she shall count her seuen dayes: and after that, she shalbe cleane.
And in the eyght day, she shall take vnto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bryng them vnto the priest, before the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And the priest shall offer the one for a sinne offeryng, and the other for a burnt offeryng, and make an attonement for her before the Lord, as concernyng the issue of her vncleanenesse.
Thus shall ye syft the chyldren of Israel from their vncleanenesse, that they dye not in their vncleanenesse: if they defyle my tabernacle that is among the{m}.
This is the lawe of hym that hath an issue, and of hym whose seede runneth from hym in his sleepe, and is defyled therin:
Also of her that for her seperation is put apart, & of whosoeuer hath a runnyng issue, whether it be man or woman, and of hym that lyeth with her which is vncleane.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses after the death of {th}e two sonnes of Aaron, when they offered before {th}e Lorde, and dyed.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Speake vnto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all tymes into the holy place within the vayle, before the mercie seate which is vpon the arke, that he dye not: For I wyll appeare in the cloude vpon {th}e mercie seate.
But with this thyng shal Aaron come into the holy place: euen with a young bullocke for a sinne offeryng, and with a ramme for a burnt offeryng.
He shall put the holy lynnen coate vpon hym, and shall haue lynnen breeches vpon his fleshe, and shalbe girded with a lynnen girdle, and with a lynnen cap shall he be attired. These are holy garmentes: therfore shall he washe his fleshe in water when he doth put them on.
And he shall take of the congregation of the childre{n} of Israel, two hee goates for a sinne offeryng, and a ramme for a burnt offeryng.
And Aaron shall offer his bullocke for his sinne offering, and make an attonement for hym and for his house.
And he shall take the two hee goates, and present them before the Lorde at the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And Aaron shall cast lottes ouer the two goates: one lot shalbe for the Lord, and the other for the scape goate.
And Aaron shall bryng the goate vpon which the Lordes lot fell, and offer hym for a sinne offeryng.
But the goate on which the lot fell to be the scape goate, shalbe set aliue before the Lorde to reconcile with, and to let hym go as a scape goate into the wildernesse.
And Aaron shall bryng the bullocke for his sinne offeryng, and reconcile for hym selfe and for his house, and shall kyll the bullocke for his sinne offeryng.
And he shall take a censer full of burning coales from of the aulter before the Lorde, and shall fill his hand full of sweete incense beaten small, and bryng them within the vayle.
And put the incense vpon the fire before the Lorde, that the cloude of the incense may couer the mercy seate that is vpon the witnesse, and he shall not dye.
And he shall take of the blood of the bullocke, and sprinckle it with his finger vpon the mercy seate eastward: and before the mercy seate shall he sprinckle of the blood with his finger seuen tymes.
Then shall he kyll the goate that is the peoples sinne offering, & bryng his blood within the vayle, & do with that blood as he dyd with the blood of the bullocke, sprinklyng it vpon the mercy seate, and before the mercy seate.
And he shall reconcile the holy place from the vncleannesses of the chyldren of Israel, and from their trespasses in all their sinnes: And so shal he do for the tabernacle of the congregation that is set among them, euen among their vncleannesses.
And let there be no body in the tabernacle of the co{n}gregation when he goeth in to make an attonement in the holy place, vntyll he come out, and haue made an attonement for hym selfe, and for his housholde, and for all the congregation of Israel.
And he shall go out vnto the aulter that is before the Lorde, and reconcile vpon it, and shal take of the blood of the bullocke, and of the blood of the goate, and put it vpon the hornes of the aulter rounde about.
So shall he sprinckle of the blood vppon it with his finger seuen tymes, and cleanse it, & halowe it from the vncleannesse of the chyldren of Israel.
And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the aulter, he shall bryng the liue goate.
And Aaron shall put both his handes vpon the head of the liue goate, and confesse ouer hym all the misdeedes of the chyldren of Israel, and all their trespasses in all their sinnes, puttyng them vppon the head of the goate, and send him away by the hand of a conuenient man, into the wyldernesse.
And the goate shall beare vpon hym all theyr misdeedes vnto the lande of seperation, and he shall let the goate go into the wyldernesse.
After Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and put of the linnen clothes whiche he put on when he went in into the holy place, and leaue them there.
And let hym washe his fleshe with water in the holy place, and put on his owne rayment, and then come out, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an attonement for hym selfe, and for the people.
And the fat of the sinne offering shall he burne vpon the aulter.
And he that caryed foorth the goate for the scape goate, shall washe his clothes, and bathe his fleshe in water, and then come into the hoast.
And the bullocke for the sinne offering, & the goate for the sinne offering, whose blood was brought in to clense the holy place, shall one cary out without the hoast to be burnt in the fire, with their skinnes, their fleshe, and their dounge.
And he that burneth them, shall wash his clothes, and bathe his fleshe in water, and then come into the hoast.
And this shalbe an ordinaunce for euer vnto you: that in the tenth day of the seuenth moneth ye humble your soules, and do no worke at all, whether it be one of your owne countrey, or a straunger that soiourneth among you.
For that day shall the priest make an attonement for you to cleanse you, and that ye may be cleane from all your sinnes before the Lorde.
Let it be a Sabbath of rest vnto you, and ye shall humble your soules by an ordinaunce for euer.
And the priest whom he shal annoynt, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in his fathers steade, shal make the attonement, and shall put on the linnen clothes, and holy vestmentes.
And shall reconcile the holy sanctuarie, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall cleanse the aulter, & make an attonement, for the priestes, and for all the people of the congregation.
And this shalbe an euerlastyng ordinaunce vnto you, to make an attonement for the chyldren of Israel for all their sinnes once a yere. And he dyd as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto Aaron and vnto his sonnes, and vnto all the chyldren of Israel, and say vnto them: This is the thing whiche the Lorde hath charged, saying:
What man soeuer of the house of Israel kylleth an oxe, or lambe, or goate in the hoast, or that kylleth it out of the hoast,
And bryngeth it not vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering vnto the Lorde before the dwelling place of the Lord, blood shalbe imputed vnto that man, he hath shed blood, and that man shalbe cut of from among his people.
Wherfore, when the chyldren of Israel bryng their offeringes that they offer in the wylde fielde, they shall bryng them vnto the Lorde, euen vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation by the priest, to offer them for peace offeringes vnto the Lorde.
And the priest shall sprinckle the blood vpon the aulter of the Lorde, whiche is before the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burne the fat for a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde.
And let them no more offer their offeringes vnto deuyls, after whom they haue gone a whoryng: This shalbe an ordinaunce for euer vnto them in their generations.
And thou shalt say vnto them: Whatsoeuer man it be of the house of Israel, or of the straungers whiche soiourne among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,
And bryngeth it not vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation to offer it vnto the Lorde: that man shalbe cut of from among his people.
And whatsoeuer man it be of the house of Israel, or of the straungers that soiourne among you, that eateth any maner of blood, I wyll set my face against that soule that eateth blood, and wyll cut hym of from among his people:
For the life of the fleshe is in the blood, and I haue geuen it vnto you vpon the aulter, to make an attonement for your soules: for this blood shall make an attonement for the soule.
Therfore I sayd vnto the chyldren of Israel: Let no soule of you eate blood, neither let any straunger that soiourneth among you, eate blood.
And whatsoeuer man it be of the chyldren of Israel, or of the straungers •hat soiourne among you, whiche hunteth and catcheth any beast or foule that may be eaten, let hym powre out the blood thereof, and couer it with dust.
For the lyfe of the fleshe is the blood of it [ioyned] with his lyfe: therefore I sayde vnto the chyldren of Israel, ye shal eate the blood of no maner of flesh, for the life of all fleshe is the blood therof: whosoeuer eateth it, shalbe cut of.
And euery soule that eateth it whiche dyed alone, or that whiche was torne with wylde beastes, whether it be one of your owne countrey, or a straunger, he shall washe his clothes, and bathe hym selfe in water, and be vncleane vnto the euen: and then shall he be cleane.
If he washe them not, nor bathe his fleshe, he shall beare his sinne.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the chyldren of Israel, and say vnto them: I am the Lorde your God.
After the doynges of the lande of Egypt wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doinges of the lande of Chanaan whyther I wyll bryng you, shall ye not do: neither walke in their ordinaunces.
But do after my iudgementes, and kepe mine ordinaunces, to walke therin: I am the Lorde your God.
Ye shall kepe therfore mine ordinaunces, and my iudgementes: which if a man do he shall lyue in them: I am the Lorde.
None shall approche to any kinred of his fleshe, for to vncouer their nakednesse: I am the Lorde.
The nakednesse of thy father, & the nakednesse of thy mother shalt thou not vncouer, for she is thy mother: therfore shalt thou not discouer her nakednesse.
The nakednesse of thy fathers wife shalt thou not discouer: for it is thy fathers nakednesse.
Thou shalt not discouer the nakednesse of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be borne at home, or without.
Thou shalt not vncouer the nakednesse of thy sonnes daughter, or thy daughters daughter, for that is thyne owne nakednesse.
The nakednesse of thy fathers wiues daughter begotten of thy father, which is thy sister: thou shalt not discouer her nakednesse.
Thou shalt not vncouer the nakednesse of thy fathers sister: for she is thy fathers kinswoman.
Thou shalt not discouer the nakednesse of thy mothers sister: for she is thy mothers kinswoman.
Thou shalt not vncouer the nakednesse of thy fathers brother, that is, thou shalt not go in vnto his wyfe, whiche is thyne aunt.
Thou shalt not discouer {th}e nakednesse of thy daughter in lawe, for she is thy sonnes wyfe: therefore shalt thou not vncouer her nakednesse.
Thou shalt not vncouer the nakednesse of thy brothers wife, for that is thy brothers nakednesse.
Thou shalt not discouer the nakednesse of the wyfe and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her sonnes daughter, or her daughters daughter, to vncouer their nakednesse: For they are her kinswomen, and it were wickednesse.
Thou shalt not take a wyfe and her sister also, to vexe her, that thou wouldest vncouer her nakednesse vpon her in her lyfe [tyme].
Thou shalt also not go vnto a woman to vncouer her nakednesse, as long as she is put apart for her vncleannesse.
Moreouer, thou shalt not lye with thy neighbours wyfe, to defile her with seede.
Thou shalt also not geue of thy seede to offer it vnto Moloch, neither shalt thou defile the name of thy God: I am the Lorde.
Thou shalt not lye with mankynde as with womankynde, for it is abhomination.
Thou shalt lye with no maner of beast to defile thy selfe therwith: neither shall any woman stande before a beast to lye downe therto, for it is vnnaturall confusion.
Ye shall not defile your selues in any of these thinges: for in all these, the nations are defiled whiche I cast out before you.
Wherthrough the lande is defiled, and I wyll visite the wyckednesse thereof vpon it, yea and the lande it selfe hath vomited out her inhabitauntes.
Ye shall kepe therfore mine ordinaunces and my iudgementes, and commit none of these abhominations, neither any of your owne nation, nor any strau{n}ger that soiourneth among you:
(For all these abhominations, haue the men of the lande done whiche were before you, and the lande is defiled.)
Shall not the lande spewe you out also if ye defile it, as it spewed out the nations that were before you?
For whosoeuer shall commit any of these abhominations, the same soules that commit them shall be cut of from among their people.
Therefore shall ye kepe myne ordinaunces, that ye commit not one of these abhominable customes whiche were committed before you, and that ye defile not your selues therein: I am the Lorde your God.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto all the congregation of {th}e chyldren of Israel, and say vnto them: Ye shalbe holy, for I the Lorde your God am holy.
Ye shall feare euery man his mother and his father, & kepe my Sabbathes: I am the Lorde your God.
Ye shal not looke vnto idols, nor make you moulten goddes: I am the Lorde your God.
If ye offer a peace offering vnto the Lorde, ye shall offer it at your pleasure.
It shalbe eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morowe: And if ought remayne vntyll the thirde day, it shalbe burnt in the fire.
And if it be eaten the thirde day, it is vncleane, and not accepted.
Therfore he that eateth it, shall beare his sinne, because he hath defiled the halowed thing of the Lord, and that soule shalbe cut of from among his people.
When ye reape the haruest of your land, thou shalt not thorowly reape the corners of the fielde, neither shalt thou gather the gleaninges of thy haruest.
Thou shalt not dishonest thy vineyarde, neither gather in thorowly the grapes of thy vineyarde, but thou shalt leaue them for the poore and straunger: I am the Lorde your God.
Ye shall not steale, neither deale falselye, neither lye one to another.
Ye shall not sweare by my name falsely, neither shalt thou defile the name of thy God: I am the Lorde.
Thou shalt not do thy neighbour wrong, neither rob hym,neither shall the workmans hyre abyde with thee vntyll the mornyng.
Thou shalt not despise the deafe, neither put a stumblyng blocke before the blynde, but shalt feare thy God: I am the Lorde.
Ye shall do no vnrighteousnesse in iudgement, thou shalt not fauour the person poore, nor honour the person mightie, but in righteousnes shalt thou iudge thy neighbour.
Thou shalt not go vp and downe with tales among thy people, neither shalt thou stande agaynst the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lorde.
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thyne heart, but shalt in any wyse rebuke thy neighbour, & suffer not sinne vpon hym.
Thou shalt not auenge nor wayte to do displeasure agaynst the chyldren of thy people, but shalt loue thy neighbour euen as thy selfe: I am the Lorde.
Ye shal kepe mine ordinaunces. Thou shalt not let cattell gender with a contrary kinde, neither sow thy fielde with mingled seede, neither shalt thou put on any mingled garment of linnen and wollen.
Whosoeuer lieth and medleth with a woman that is a bondmayde betrothed to a husbande, but not redeemed, nor freedome geue{n} her, she shalbe scourged, [but] they shall not dye, because she was not free.
And he shall bryng for his trespasse vnto the Lorde, before the doore of the tabernacle of {th}e congregation, a Ramme for a trespasse offering.
And the priest shall make an attonement for hym with the Ramme which is for the trespasse before the Lord, concernyng his sinne whiche he hath done: and the sinne which he hath done, shalbe forgeuen him.
When ye come to the lande, and haue planted all maner of trees conuenient to be eaten of, ye shall counte the fruite thereof as vncircumcized: euen three yere shall they be vncircumcized vnto you, and shall not be eaten of.
But in the fourth yere, all the fruite of them shalbe holy and commendable to the Lorde.
In the fifth yere shall ye eate of the fruite thereof, that it may yeelde vnto you the encrease thereof: I am the Lorde your God.
Ye shall not eate vpon blood, neither shall ye vse witchcraft, nor obserue tymes.
Ye shall not rounde the corners of your heades, neither shalt thou marre the tuftes of thy bearde.
Ye shall not rent your fleshe for any soules sake, nor print any markes vpon you: I am the Lorde.
Thou shalt not make thy daughter common, that thou wouldest cause her to be an whore, lest the lande also fall to whoredome, and become ful of wickednesse.
Ye shall kepe my Sabbathes, & feare my sanctuarie: I am the Lorde.
Ye shall not regarde them that worke with spirites, neither seeke after soothsayers to be defiled by them: I am the Lorde your God.
Thou shalt ryse vp before the hore head, and reuerence the face of the olde man, and dreade thy God: I am the Lorde.
If a straunger soiourne with thee in your lande, ye shall not vexe hym.
But the straunger that dwelleth with you, shalbe as one of your owne nation, and thou shalt loue hym as thy selfe, for ye were straungers in the lande of Egypt: I am the Lorde your God.
Ye shall do no vnrighteousnesse in iudgement, in metyarde, in wayght, or in measure.
True balaunces, true wayghtes, a true Epha, and a true Hin shal ye haue: I am the Lorde your GOD whiche brought you out of the lande of Egypt.
Therfore shall ye obserue all my ordinaunces, and al my iudgementes, and do them: I am the Lorde.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
This shalt thou say to the chyldren of Israel: whosoeuer he be of the chyldren of Israel, or of the straungers that dwell in Israel, that geueth of his chyldren vnto Moloch, let hym be slayne: the people of the lande shall ouerwhelme hym with stones.
And I wyl set my face agaynst that man, and wyll cut hym of from among his people, because he hath geuen his chyldren vnto Moloch, for to defile my sanctuarie, & to pollute my holy name.
And though that the people of the lande hyde their eyes from the man that geueth his chyldren vnto Moloch, and kyll hym not:
I wyll put my face agaynst that man, and agaynst his kynred, and wyll cut hym of, and all that go a whoring after hym to commit whordome with Moloch, from among their people.
If a soule turne hym selfe after suche as worke with spirites, and after soothsayers, to go a whoring after them, I wyll put my face agaynst that soule, and wyll cut hym of fro{m} among his people.
Sanctifie your selues therefore and be holy: for I am the Lorde your God.
Kepe ye myne ordinaunces, and do them: I am the Lorde whiche sanctifie you.
Whosoeuer he be that despiseth his father or his mother, let hym dye: for he hath deminished the estimation of his father & mother, his blood be vpon him.
And the man that breaketh wedlocke with another mans wyfe, euen he that breaketh wedlocke with his neyghbours wyfe, let be slayne both the adulterer and the adultresse.
And the man that lyeth with his fathers wyfe, and vncouereth his fathers nakednes, let them both die, their blood be vpon them.
If a man lye with his daughter in lawe, let them dye both of them: they haue wrought abhomination, their blood be vpon them.
If a man also lye with mankinde after the maner as with women kynde, they haue both committed an abhomination: let them dye, their blood be vpon them.
And if a man take a wyfe, and her mother also, it is wickednesse: They shall burne with fire both hym & them, that there be no wickednesse among you.
And if a man lye with a beast, let hym dye, and ye shall slea the beast also.
If a woman go vnto any beast, and lye downe thereto, thou shalt kyll the woman and the beast also: let them dye, their blood be vpon them.
If a man take his sister, his fathers daughter, or his mothers daughter, & see her nakednesse, and she his nakednesse, it is a wicked thing, they shalbe cut of in the sight of their people: he hath vncouered his sisters nakednesse, he shall beare his sinne.
If a man lye with a woman hauing her natural disease, and vncouer her nakednesse, and open her fountayne, and she also open the fou{n}tayne of her blood, they shall both be cut of from among their people.
Thou shalt not vncouer the nakednesse of thy mothers sister, nor of thy fathers sister: for he that doth so, hath vncouered his next kyn, they shal beare their misdoyng.
If a man lye with his vncles wyfe, and vncouer his vncles nakednesse, they shall beare their sinne, and shall dye chyldlesse.
If a man take his brothers wyfe, it is an vncleane thyng: he hath vncouered his brothers nakednesse, they shalbe chyldlesse.
Ye shall kepe therefore all myne ordinaunces, and all my iudgementes, and do them: that the lande whyther I bryng you to dwell therein, spewe you not out.
Ye shall not walke in the maners of this nation, whiche I caste out before you: For they committed all these thinges, and therfore I abhorred the{m}.
But I haue sayde vnto you, ye shall enherite their lande, and I wyll geue it vnto you to possesse it, euen a lande that floweth with mylke and hony: I am the Lorde your God, whiche haue seperated you from other nations.
And therefore shall ye put difference betweene cleane beastes and vncleane, betweene vncleane foules and cleane: Ye shal not defile your soules in beastes and foules, and in all maner creeping thinges that the grounde bryngeth foorth, whiche I haue seperated from you as vncleane.
Therfore shall ye be holy vnto me, for I the Lorde am holy, and haue seuered you from other nations, that ye shoulde be myne.
If there be a man or woman that worketh with a spirit, or that is a soothsayer, let them dye: Men shall ouerwhelme them with stones, their blood be vpon them.
AND the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses, Speake vnto the priestes the sonnes of Aaron, & say vnto them: Let none be defiled by a corse among his people:
But by his kynsman that is nye vnto him, [that is] by his mother and his father, by his sonne, and his daughter, and his brother,
And by his sister a mayde that is nye vnto hym, whom no man hath knowe{n}: for her shall he be defiled.
But he shall not be defiled vpon hym that hath aucthoritie among his people, to pollute him selfe.
Let them not make baldnesse vpon their head, nor shaue of {th}e lockes of their bearde, nor make any cuttinges in their fleshe.
They shalbe holy vnto their God, and not pollute the name of their God, for the sacrifices of the Lorde made by fire, [and] the bread of their God they do offer, therfore they shall be holy.
Let them not take a wyfe that is an whore, or polluted, nor put from her husband: for such a one is holy vnto his god.
Thou shalt sanctifie hym therfore, for he offereth vp the bread of thy God: he shall therefore be holy vnto thee, for I the Lorde which sanctifie you, am holy.
If a priestes daughter fall to play the whore, she polluteth her father, therefore must she be burnt with fire.
He that is the hie priest among his brethren, vpon whose head the annoynting oyle was powred, and that consecrated his hand to put on {th}e vestments, shal not vncouer his head, nor rent his clothes:
Neither go to any dead body, nor make hym selfe vncleane by his father or his mother.
Neither shall go out of the sanctuarie, nor pollute the holy place of his God, for the crowne of the annoynting oyle of his God, is vpon him: I am the Lord.
He shall take a mayde vnto his wife.
But a wydowe, a deuorsed woman, or a polluted, or a harlot, these shall he not marrie: but shall take a mayde of his owne people to wyfe.
Neither shal he defile his seede among his people: for I am the Lorde whiche sanctifie hym.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto Aaron, and say: Whosoeuer of thy seede in their generations hath any deformitie, let hym not prease for to offer bread vnto his God:
For whosoeuer hath any blemishe, shall not come neare: as if he be blynde or lame, or that hath a brused nose, or that hath any misshapen member:
Or is broken footed, or broken handed,
Or is crooke backt, or bleare eyed, or haue a webbe or other blemishe in his eyes, or be skuruie, or skabbed, or hath his stones broken:
No man that hath a blemishe, & is of the seede of Aaron the priest, shall come nye to offer the sacrifices of the Lorde made by fire: When he hath a deformitie, let him not prease to offer the bread of his God.
Let him eate the bread of his God, euen of the most holy, and of the holy:
Only let him not go in vnto {th}e vayle, nor come nye the aulter, because he is deformed, that he pollute not my sanctuarie: for I am the Lorde that sanctifie them.
And Moyses tolde it vnto Aaron and to his sonnes, and vnto all the chyldren of Israel.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto Aaron and his sonnes, that they be seperated from the holy thinges of the children of Israel, and that they pollute not my holy name in those thinges whiche they halowe vnto me: I am the Lorde.
Say vnto them: Whosoeuer he be of all your seede among your generations after you, that goeth vnto the holy thinges whiche the chyldren of Israel halowe vnto the Lorde, hauing his vncleannes vpon hym, that soule shall be cut of from out of my sight: I am the Lorde.
What man soeuer of the seede of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue, he shall not eate of the holy thinges, vntyll he be cleane: And who so toucheth any man that is vncleane [by reason] of a dead body, or a man whose seede runneth from hym in his sleepe,
Or whosoeuer toucheth any creeping thyng, whereby he may be made vncleane, or a man, of whom he may take vncleannes, whatsoeuer vncleannes he hath:
The same soule that hath touched any suche, shalbe vncleane vntyll euen, and shall not eate of the holy thynges, vntyll he haue washed his fleshe with water.
And when the sunne is downe, he shalbe cleane, and shall afterwarde eate of the holy thynges, forasmuche as it is his foode.
Of a beast that dyeth alone, or is rent with wylde beastes, wherby he may be defiled, he shall not eate: I am the Lorde.
Let them kepe therefore myne ordinaunce, lest they for the same lade sinne vpon them, and dye for it, if they defile it: I the Lorde sanctifie them.
There shall no straunger eate of the holy thing, neither a ghest of {th}e priestes, neither shall an hyred seruaunt eate of the holy thyng.
But if the priest bye any soule with money, he shall eate of it, like as he that is borne in his house: they shall eate of his meate.
If the priestes daughter also be maried vnto a staunger, she may not eate of the halowed heaue offeringes:
Notwithstanding, if {th}e priestes daughter be a wydowe or deuorsed, and haue no chylde, but is returned vnto her fathers house agayne, she shall eate of her fathers meate, aswell as she dyd it in her youth: But there shall no straunger eate therof.
If a man eate of the holy thyng vnwittingly, he shal put the fifth part thervnto, and geue it vnto the priest with the halowed thyng.
And the priestes shall not defile the holy thynges of the chyldren of Israel, whiche they offer vnto the Lorde:
To lade them selues with misdoyng and trespasse while they eate their holy thinges: for I the Lorde do halowe them.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto Aaron and his sonnes, and vnto all the children of Israel, and say vnto them: Whatsoeuer he be of the house of Israel, or straunger in Israel, that wyll offer his sacrifice for all his vowes, and for all his freewyll offeringes whiche they wyll offer vnto the Lorde for a burnt offering:
Ye shall offer at your pleasure, a male without blemishe, of the beefes, of the sheepe, or of the goates.
But whatsoeuer hath a blemishe, that shall ye not offer: for it shal not be acceptable for you.
And whosoeuer bryngeth a peace offering vnto the Lorde, to accomplyshe his vowe, or a freewyll offering in beefes or sheepe, it shalbe perfite to be accepted, there shalbe also no blemishe therein.
Blynde, or broken, or lame, or hauyng a wen, or skuruie, or scabbed, ye shall not offer suche vnto the Lorde, nor put a burnt offering of any suche vpon the aulter vnto the Lorde.
A bullocke or a sheepe that hath any member superfluous or lackyng, mayest thou offer for a freewyll offering: but for a vowe it shall not be accepted.
Ye shall not offer vnto the Lord that which is brused, or crusshed, or broken, or cut away, neither shal you make any offeryng therof in your lande.
Neither of a straungers hande shall ye offer the bread of your God of any such, because their corruption is in the{m}, and they haue deformitie in the{m}selues: and therfore shall they not be accepted for you.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
When a bullocke, or a sheepe, or a goate is brought foorth, it shalbe seuen dayes vnder the damme: And from the eyght day and thencefoorth, it shalbe accepted for a burnt sacrifice vnto the Lorde.
And whether it be cowe or ewe, ye shall not kyll it and her young both in one day.
When ye wyll offer a thanke offeryng vnto the Lorde, offer it wyllyngly:
And the same day it must be eaten vp, so that ye leaue none of it vntyll the morowe: I am the Lorde.
Therfore shall ye kepe my co{m}maundementes and do them: I am the Lorde.
Neither shal ye pollute my holy name, but I wyll be halowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lorde which halowe you,
And that brought you out of the lande of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lorde.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the children of Israel, and say vnto the{m}: The feastes of the Lorde which ye shall call holy conuocations, euen these are my feastes.
Sixe dayes ye shall worke: but the seuenth day is the Sabboth of rest, an holy co{n}uocation, so that ye do no worke therin: it is the Sabboth of the Lorde in all your dwellynges.
These are the feastes of the Lorde, euen holy conuocations, which ye shall proclayme in their seasons.
In the fourteenth day of the first moneth at euen, is the Lordes Passouer:
And on the fifteenth day of the same moneth, is the feast of vnleauened bread vnto the Lorde: seuen dayes ye must eate vnleauened bread.
In the first day ye shall haue an holy conuocation: ye shal do no seruile worke therin.
But ye shall offer sacrifices made by fire vnto the Lorde throughout these seuen dayes: and in the seuenth day is an holy conuocation, ye shall do no seruile worke therin.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the children of Israel, and say vnto them: When ye be come into the lande which I geue vnto you, and reape downe the haruest therof, ye shall bryng a sheafe of the first fruites of your haruest vnto the priest:
Which shall waue the sheafe before the Lorde, to be accepted for you: and euen the morowe after the Sabboth the priest shall waue it.
And ye shall offer that day when ye waue the sheafe, an hee lambe without blemishe of a yere olde, for a burnt offeryng vnto the Lorde:
And the meate offeryng therof, shalbe made of two tenth deales of fine floure myngled with oyle, to be a sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lord for a sweete sauour: and the drynke offeryng therof shalbe of wine, euen the fourth deale of an hyn.
And ye shal eate neither bread nor parched corne, nor greene eares, vntyl {th}e selfe same day that ye haue brought an offering vnto your God: Let this be a lawe for euer in your generations, and in all your dwellynges.
And ye shall count vnto you from the morowe after the Sabboth, euen from the day that ye brought the sheafe of the waue offeryng, seuen Sabbothes they shalbe complet:
Euen vnto the morowe after {th}e seuenth Sabboth shall ye number fiftie dayes, and ye shall bryng a newe meate offeryng vnto the Lorde.
And ye shall bryng out of your habitations two waue loaues made of two tenth deales of fine flowre, and that are made with leauen, for first fruites vnto the Lorde.
And ye shall bryng with the bread seuen lambes without deformitie, of one yere of age, and one young bullocke, and two rammes, which shall serue for a burnt offeryng vnto the Lorde, with their meate offeringes and their drinke offeringes, to be a sacrifice made by fire for a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde.
Then ye shall prepare an hee goate for a sinne offeryng, and two lambes of one yere olde for peace offerynges.
And the priest shall waue them with the bread of the first fruites for a waue offering before the Lorde, and with the two lambes: they shalbe holy to the Lorde for the priestes.
And ye shall proclayme the same day, that it may be an holy conuocation vnto you: ye shall do no seruile worke therin, let it be a lawe for euer in all your dwellynges throughout your generations.
And whe{n} ye reape downe the haruest of your lande, thou shalt not make cleane riddaunce of the corners of thy fielde when thou reapest, neither shalt thou make any after gatheryng of thy haruest, but shalt leaue them vnto the poore and the straunger: I am the Lorde your God.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the chyldren of Israel, and say: In the seuenth moneth, in the first day of the moneth shall ye haue Sabbath, euen the remembraunce of blowyng of trumpettes, an holy conuocation.
Ye shall do no seruile worke therein, but offer sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lorde.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
The tenth day also of the selfe seuenth moneth is a day of reconcilyng, therfore shal it be an holy conuocation vnto you, & ye shall humble your soules, and offer sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lord.
Ye shall do no worke {th}e same day, for it is a day of reco{n}ciling, to make an attonement for you before the Lord your God.
For whatsoeuer soule it be that humbleth not hym selfe that day, he shalbe cut of from among his people.
And whatsoeuer soule do any worke that day, the same soule wyll I destroy from among his people.
Ye shall do no maner worke therfore: let it be a lawe for euer in your generations, and in all your dwellynges.
Let it be vnto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall humble your soules in the ninth day of the moneth at euen: from euen to euen shall ye celebrate your Sabbath.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the chyldren of Israel, & say: The fifteenth day of the same seuenth moneth is the feast of tabernacles seuen dayes vnto the Lorde.
The first day is an holy conuocation: ye shall do no seruile worke.
Seuen dayes ye shall offer sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lorde, and in the eyght day shalbe an holy conuocation vnto you, and ye shall offer sacrifices made by fire vnto the Lorde: It is the solempne assemblie, and ye shall do no seruile worke therin.
These are the feastes of the Lorde which ye shall call holy conuocations, for to offer sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lorde, burnt offeryng, meate offeryng, sacrifices, and drynke offerynges, euery thyng vpon his day:
Besyde the Sabbathes of the Lorde, and besyde your giftes, besyde all your vowes, and all your free offerynges which ye geue vnto the Lorde.
Moreouer, in the fifteenth day of the seuenth moneth when ye haue gathered in the fruite of the lande, ye shall kepe holy day vnto the Lorde seuen dayes: The first day shalbe a Sabbath, lykewise in the eyght day shalbe a Sabbath.
And ye shall take you in the first day the fruites of goodly trees, braunches of palme trees, and the bowes of thicke trees, and willowes of the brooke, and shall reioyce before the Lord your God seuen dayes.
And ye shall kepe this feast vnto the Lorde seuen dayes in the yere: It shalbe a lawe for euer in your generations, that ye kepe it in the seuenth moneth.
Ye shal dwell in boothes seuen dayes: euen all that are Israelites borne shall dwell in boothes:
That your children after you may knowe howe that I made the children of Israel to dwell in boothes when I brought them out of the lande of Egipt: I am the Lorde your God.
And Moyses declared vnto the children of Israel the feastes of the Lorde.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Commaunde the children of Israel that they bryng vnto thee pure oyle oliue beaten for the lyght, to cause the lampes to burne continually,
Without the vayle of witnesse in the tabernacle of the congregation shall Aaron dresse them both euenyng and mornyng before the Lorde alwayes: Let it be a lawe for euer in your generations.
He shall dresse the lampes vpon {th}e pure candlesticke before {th}e Lord perpetually.
And thou shalt take fine floure, and bake twelue cakes therof, two tenth deales shalbe in one cake.
And thou shalt set the{m} in two rowes, sixe on a rowe, vpon the pure table before the Lorde.
And put pure frankensence vpon the rowes, that they may be bread of remembraunce, and an offeryng made by fire vnto the Lorde.
Euery Sabbath he shall put them in rowes before the Lorde euermore, of the chyldren of Israel shall they be offered for an euerlastyng couenaunt.
And they shalbe Aarons and his sonnes, which shall eate them in the holy place: For they are most holy vnto hym of the offerynges of the Lorde made by fire, by a perpetuall statute.
And the sonne of an Israelitishe wife, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: And this sonne of the Israelitishe wyfe and a man of Israel stroue together in the hoast.
And the Israelitishe womans sonne blasphemed the name of the Lorde, and cursed, and they brought hym vnto Moyses: His mothers name was Selomith, which was the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.
And they put hym in warde, that the minde of {th}e Lorde might be shewed the{m}.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Bryng the cursed speaker without the
And ye shall take them as inheritau{n}ce for your children after you, to possesse them for an inheritaunce, they shalbe your bondmen for euer: but ouer your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one ouer another cruelly.
If a soiourner or straunger waxe riche by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by hym waxe poore, and sell hym selfe vnto the straunger or soiourner by thee, or to the stocke of the straungers kinne:
After that he is solde, he may be redeemed agayne: one of his brethren may redeeme hym:
Either his vncle, or his vncles sonne may bye hym out: or any that is nye of kinne vnto hym of his kinred, may redeeme hym: either yf his hande can get so much, he may be bought out.
And he shall recken with hym that bought hym, from the yere that he was solde in, vnto the yere of Iubilee: and the price of his beyng, shalbe accordyng vnto the number of yeres, according to the tyme of an hired seruaunt shall he be with hym.
If there be yet many yeres behynde, accordyng vnto them let hym geue againe for his deliueraunce, of the money that he was bought for.
If there remayne but fewe yeres vnto the yere of Iubilee, let hym count with hym agayne: and accordyng vnto his yeres, geue hym agayne for his redemption.
And he shalbe with hym yere by yere as an hired seruaunt: and the other shal not raigne cruelly ouer him in thy sight.
If he be not redeemed thus, he shall go out in the yere of Iubilee, both he and his children with hym:
For vnto me the children of Israel are seruauntes, they are my seruauntes which I brought out of the lande of Egypt: I am the Lorde your God.
YE shall make you no idols nor graue{n} image, neither reare you vp any piller, neither shall ye set vp any image of stone in your lande to bowe downe vnto it: for I am the Lorde your God.
Ye shall kepe my Sabbathes, and reuerence my sanctuarie: for I am the Lorde.
If ye walke in my ordinaunces, and kepe my commaundementes, & do the{m}:
I wyll sende you rayne in due season, and the lande shall yeelde her increase, and the trees of the fielde shall geue their fruite:
And your thresshyng shal reache vnto the vintage, & the vintage shall reache vnto sowyng tyme: and ye shall eate your bread in plenteousnesse, and dwell in your lande safely.
And I wyll sende peace in the lande, and ye shall lye downe without any man to make you afrayde: And I wyll ridde euyll beastes out of the lande, and there shall no sworde go throughout your lande.
And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shal fall before you vpon {th}e sworde.
And fiue of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousande to flight: & your enemies shall fall before you vpon the sworde.
For I wyll haue respect vnto you, and make you increase, and multiplie you, and set vp my couenaunt with you.
And ye shall eate olde store, and cary out olde, because of the newe.
And I wyll make my dwellyng place among you, and my soule shal not lothe you.
I wyll walke among you, and wilbe your God, and ye shalbe my people.
I am the Lorde your God which brought you out of the lande of Egypt, that ye shoulde not be their bondmen, and I haue broken the chaynes of your yoke, and made you go vpright.
But and if ye wyll not hearken vnto me, nor wyll not do after these commaundementes:
And yf ye shall dispise myne ordinaunces, either if your soule abhorre my lawes, so that ye wyll not do all my commaundementes, but breake my couenaunt,
I also wyll do this vnto you: For I wyll bryng vpon you fearefulnesse, consumption, and the burnyng ague to consume your eyes, and gender sorowe of heart: And ye shall sowe your seede in vayne, for your enemies shall eate it.
And I wyll set my face agaynst you, & ye shall fall before your enemies: they that hate you shal raigne ouer you, and ye shall flee whe{n} no man foloweth you.
And yf ye wyl not yet for all this hearken vnto me, then wyll I punishe you seuen tymes more for your sinnes:
And wyll breake the pride of your power, and I wyll make your heauen as iron, and your earth as brasse.
And your labour shalbe spent in vayne: for your lande shall not geue her increase, neither shall the trees of the lande geue their fruites.
And if ye walke contrarie vnto me, and wyll not hearken vnto me, I wyll bryng seuen tymes mo plagues vpon you, accordyng to your sinnes.
I wyll also sende in wylde beastes vpon you, which shall robbe you of your children, and destroy your cattell, and make you fewe in number, and cause your hye wayes to be desolate.
And if ye may not be refourmed by these thynges, but shall walke contrary vnto me:
Then wyll I also walke contrarie vnto you, and wyl punishe you yet seuen tymes for your sinnes.
And I wyll sende a sworde vpon you, that shall auenge my couenaunt: And when ye are gathered together within your cities, I wyll sende the pestilence among you, and ye shalbe delyuered into the hande of the enemie.
And whe{n} I haue broken the staffe of your bread ten wyues shall bake your bread in one ouen, and they shall deliuer you your bread agayne by wayght, ye shall eate, and not be satisfied.
And if ye wyl not yet for all this hearken vnto me, but walke agaynst me:
I wyll walke contrary vnto you also in indignation, and wyll chastise you seuen tymes more for your sinnes.
And ye shall eate the fleshe of your sonnes, and the fleshe of your daughters shall ye deuour.
I wyll destroy your hye places, and cut away your images, and cast your carkasses vpon {th}e bodyes of your idols, and my soule shall abhorre you.
And I wyll make your cities desolate, and bring your sanctuarie vnto naught, and wyll not smell the sauour of your sweete odours.
I wyll bryng the lande vnto a wildernesse, and your enemies which dwell therin shall wonder at it.
And I wyll strowe you among the heathen, and wyll drawe out a sworde after you: and your lande shalbe waste, and your cities desolate.
Then shall the lande enioy her Sabbathes as long as it lyeth voyde, and ye shalbe in your enemies lande: euen then shall the lande rest and enioy her Sabbathes.
As long as it lyeth voyde, it shall rest: because it dyd not rest in your Sabbathes when ye dwelt vpon it.
And vpon them that are left alyue of you, I will sende a fayntnesse into their heartes in the landes of their enemies: and the sounde of a shakyng leafe shall chase them, and they shall flee as fleyng from a sworde: they shall fall, no man folowyng vpon them.
They shall fall one vpon another as it were before a sworde, euen no man folowyng vpon them, and ye shall haue no power to stand before your enemies.
And ye shall perishe among the heathen, and the lande of your enemies shall eate you vp.
And they that are left of you, shal pine away in their vnrighteousnesse [euen] in your enemies landes, & in the misdeedes of their fathers shall they consume with them.
And they shal confesse their misdeedes and the misdeedes of their fathers, for their trespasse which they haue trespassed agaynst me, and for that also that they haue walked contrary vnto me.
Therfore, I also wyll walke contrarie vnto them, and wyl bring them into the lande of their enemies: And then at the least way their vncircumcised heartes shalbe tamed, and they shall willingly accept their sinne.
Then I wyll remember my couenaunt with Iacob, and my couenaunt with Isahac, and my couenaunt with Abraham wyll I remember, and wyll thynke on the lande.
The lande also shalbe left of them, and shall enioy her Sabbathes whyle she lyeth waste without them: And they shall willingly accept their sinne, because they dispised my lawes, & because their soule abhorred my ordinaunces.
And yet for all that, when they be in the lande of their enemies, I wyll not cast them away, neither wyll abhorre them to destroy them vtterly, and to breake my couenaunt with them: for I am the Lorde their God.
I wyll for their sakes remember the couenaunt of olde, when I brought the{m} out of the lande of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I myght be their God: I am the Lorde.
These are the ordinaunces, and iudgementes, and lawes, which the Lorde made betweene hym and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hande of Moyses.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the children of Israel, and say vnto them: If any man wyl make a singuler vowe of a person vnto the Lorde, by thy estimation,
Then thy estimation shalbe [thus]: Of the male from twentie yeres olde vnto sixtie, shalbe by thy estimation fiftie sicles of siluer, after the sicle of the sanctuarie:
And if it be a female, then thy valuation shalbe thirtie sicles.
And from fiue yeres to twentie, thy valuation shalbe of the male twentie sicles, and of the female ten sicles.
And from a moneth vnto fiue yeres, thy estimation shalbe of the male at fiue sicles of siluer, and the female at three sicles of siluer.
And from sixtie yeres olde and aboue, if he be a male, then thy price shalbe fifteene sicles, and for the female ten sicles.
But if he be poorer then thou hast esteemed hym, he shall present hym selfe before the priest, and the priest shall value hym: accordyng as the hande of hym that vowed is able to get, euen so shall the priest value hym.
If it be a beast of which men bryng an offeryng vnto the Lorde, all that any man geueth of such vnto the Lord, shalbe holy.
He shall not alter it, nor chaunge it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good: And if he chaunge beast for beast, then both the same beast and it also wherwith it was chaunged, shalbe holy.
If it be any maner of vncleane beast, of which men do not offer a sacrifice vnto the Lorde, he shall set the beast before the priest:
And the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad: and as the priest setteth it, so shall it be.
But if he wyll bye it agayne, he shall geue the fift part more aboue that it was set at.
If any man dedicate his house to be holy vnto the Lorde, the priest shall set it, whether it be good or bad: and as the priest hath set it, so shall it stande.
And when he that sanctified it wyll redeeme his house, let hym geue the fift part of the money that it was iudged at therto, and it shalbe his.
If a man halowe a peece of his inherited lande vnto the Lorde, thou shalt value it accordyng to the seede therof: An Homer of barly seede shalbe set at fiftie sicles of siluer.
If he halowe his fielde immediatly fro{m} the yere of Iubilee, it shalbe worth accordyng as thou doest esteeme it.
But and if he halowe his fielde after the Iubilee, the priest shall recken vnto hym the money, accordyng to the number of the yeres that remayne, vnto the yeres of Iubilee folowyng, and it shalbe abated by thy estimation.
If he that consecrated the fielde wyll redeeme it agayne, let hym put the fift part of the price that thou didst value it at therunto, and it shalbe his.
And if he wyll not redeeme the fielde, but selleth the fielde to another man: he [that vowed] may redeeme it no more.
But when the fielde goeth out in the yere of Iubilee, and it shalbe holy vnto the Lord, euen as a fielde seperate from common vses, and it shalbe the priestes possession.
If a man sanctifie vnto the Lorde a fielde which he hath bought, and is not of the grounde of his inheritaunce:
The priest shal recken vnto him what it is worth vnto the yere of Iubilee, and he shall geue the price that it is set at the same day, as a thyng consecrate vnto the Lorde.
And in the yere of Iubilee, the fielde shall returne vnto him of whom it was bought, to hym whose inheritaunce of lande it was.
And all thy valuation shalbe according to the sicle of the sanctuarie: One sicle contayneth twentie gerahs.
But the first borne of the beastes that is the Lordes first borne, may no man sanctifie, whether it be oxe or sheepe, for it is the Lordes alredie.
If it be an vncleane beast, he shall redeeme it as thou shalt set it at, and geue the fift part more therto: Or if it be not redeemed, it shalbe solde accordyng to thy estimation.
Notwithstandyng, nothyng seperate from the common vse that a man doth seperate vnto the Lorde of all that he hath, whether it be man or beast, or lande of his inheritaunce, may be solde or redeemed: for euery thyng seperate from the common vse, is most holy vnto the Lorde.
Nothing seperate from the common vse, whiche shalbe seperate from man, shalbe redeemed, but dye the death.
Euery tithe of the lande also, both of the seede of the lande, and of the fruite of the trees, is the Lordes, and is sanctified vnto the Lorde.
And if a man wyll redeeme ought of his tithes, let hym adde the fift part thereto.
And euery tythe of oxe and of sheepe, and of euery beast that goeth vnder the rod, euen euery tenth shalbe holy vnto the Lorde.
He shall not looke if it be good or bad, nor chaunge it: els if he chaunge it, both it and that it was chaunged withall, shalbe halowed, and may not be redeemed.
These are the commaundementes whiche the Lorde commaunded by Moyses vnto the chyldren of Israel in mount Sinai.
ANd the Lord spake vnto Moyses in the wildernesse of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, the first day of the seconde moneth in the second yere after they were come out of the lande of Egypt, saying:
Take ye the summe of all the multitude of the children of Israel, after their kinredes & housholdes of their fathers, with the number of their names, all that are males, head by head,
From twentie yeres olde and aboue, euen all that go foorth to the warre in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them throughout their armies.
And with you shalbe men of euery tribe, such [as are] the heades of the houses of their fathers.
And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of [the tribe of] Ruben, Elizur, the sonne of Sedeur.
Of Simeon, Selumiel the sonne of Suri Saddai.
Of Iuda, Nahesson, the sonne of Aminadab.
Of Isachar, Nathanael the sonne of Zuar.
Of Zabulon, Eliab the sonne of Helo{n}.
Among the chyldren of Ioseph: of Ephraim, Elisama the sonne of Ammihud: of Manasse, Gameliel the sonne of Pedazur.
Of Beniamin, Abidan the sonne of Gedeon.
Of Dan, Ahiezer the sonne of Ammi Saddai.
Of Aser, Pagiel the sonne of Ocran.
Of Gad, Elisah the sonne of Duel.
Of Nephthali, Ahira {th}e sonne of Enan.
There were of great fame in the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, and heades ouer thousandes in Israel.
And Moyses & Aaron toke these men whiche are expressed by their names.
And they called all the congregation together the first day of the second moneth, and they were reckened throughout their kinredes and houses of their fathers, accordyng to the number of their names, from twentie yeres olde and aboue, head by head.
As the Lorde commaunded Moyses, euen so he numbred them in the wildernesse of Sinai.
So were the chyldren of Ruben, Israels eldest sonne, throughout their generations, and their kinredes, and houses of their fathers, accordyng to the number of their names, head by head, all males from twentie yeres old & aboue, as many as did go foorth to the warre:
The number of them that were of the tribe of Ruben, was fourtie & sixe thousande, and fiue hundred.
Of the chyldren of Simeon throughout their generations, & their kinredes, and houses of their fathers, the summe of the{m} in the number of names head by head, all the males from twentie yeres and aboue, whosoeuer myght go foorth to the warre:
The summe of them that were of the tribe of Simeon, fiftie & nine thousande and three hundred.
Of the chyldren of Gad throughout their generations, and their kinredes, & housholdes of their fathers, the number of the names from twentie yeres & aboue, all that went foorth to {th}e warre:
The number of them that were of the tribe of Gad, was fourtie and fiue thousand, sixe hundred and fiftie.
Of the chyldren of Iuda throughout their generations, and their kinredes, and houses of their fathers, the number of names fro{m} twentie yeres & aboue, all that were able to go foorth to {th}e warre:
The number of them that were of the tribe of Iuda, was threscore and fourteene thousande, and sixe hundred.
Of the chyldren of Isachar throughout their generations, & their kinredes, & houses of their fathers, the number of names from twentie yeres and aboue, whiche went all foorth to the warre:
The number of them that were of the tribe of Isachar, was fiftie and foure thousande and foure hundred.
Of the chyldren of Zabulon, through out their generations, & their kinredes, and houses of their fathers, the number of names from twentie yeres and aboue, all whiche were able to go foorth in the hoast:
The number of them that were of the tribe of Zabulon, was fiftie and seuen thousande and foure hundred.
Of the chyldren of Ioseph [namely] of the chyldren of Ephraim throughout their generations, and their kinredes and houses of their fathers, the number of names from twentie yeres & aboue, all that went out to the warre:
The number of them that were of the tribe of Ephraim, was fourtie thousand and fiue hundred.
Of the chyldren of Manasse throughout their generations, & their kinredes, and houses of their fathers, the number of names from twentie yeres olde and aboue, all that went out to the warre:
The number of them that were of the tribe of Manasse, was thirtie and two thousande and two hundred.
Of the chyldren of Beniamin throughout their generations, & their kinredes and houses of their fathers, the number of names from twentie yeres and aboue, all that went foorth to the warre:
The number of them that were of the tribe of Beniamin, was thirtie and fiue thousande, and foure hundred.
Of the chyldren of Dan throughout their generations, and kinredes, and houses of their fathers, the number of names from twentie yeres olde and aboue, all that went foorth to the warre:
The number of them that were of the tribe of Dan, was threscore and two thousande and seuen hundred.
Of the chyldren of Asar throughout their generations, and their kinredes, and houses of their fathers, the number of the names from twentie yeres and aboue, all that went out to the warre:
The number of them that were of the tribe of Aser, was fourtie and one thousande and fiue hundred.
Of the children of Nephthali throughout their generations, and their kinredes, and houses of their fathers, the number of names from twentie yeres and aboue, all that myght go foorth to the warre:
The number of them that were of the tribe of Nephthali, was fiftie and three thousande and foure hundred.
These are the summes whiche Moyses and Aaron numbred, and the princes of Israel, those twelue men which were euery one for the house of their fathers.
So were all the numbers of the chyldren of Israel throughout the houses of their fathers, from twentie yeres and aboue, all that went foorth to the warre in Israel:
All they I say, were in number sixe hundred thousand, and three thousand, fiue hundred and fiftie.
But the Leuites after the tribes of their fathers, were not numbred among them.
For the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Leui, neither take the summe of them among the chyldren of Israel.
But thou shalt appoynt the Leuites ouer the tabernacle of wytnesse, & ouer all the vessels therof, and ouer all thinges that are in it: Yea, they shall beare the tabernacle, and all the vessels therof, and they shall minister in it, and shall dwell rounde about the tabernacle.
And whe{n} the tabernacle goeth foorth, the Leuites shall take it downe: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Leuites shal set it vp: and if any straunger come nye, he shall dye.
And the chyldren of Israel shall pitch their tentes, euery man in his owne campe, and euery man vnder his owne standerd throughout their hoastes.
But the Leuites shall pitche rounde about the tabernacle of wytnesse, that there be no wrath vpon the congregation of the chyldren of Israel: and the Leuites shall kepe the watche of the tabernacle of wytnesse.
And the chyldren of Israel dyd accordyng to all that the Lorde commaunded Moyses, euen so dyd they.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron, saying:
Euery man of the chyldren of Israel shal pitche vnder his owne standerd, & vnder the ensigne of their fathers houses: farre of about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitche.
On the east side towarde the rising of the sunne, shall they of the standerd of the hoast of Iuda pitche, throughout their armies: And Nahesson the sonne of Aminadab, shalbe captayne of the sonnes of Iuda.
And his hoast & the number of them, threscore and fourteene thousande and sixe hundred.
Next vnto hym shall they that be of the tribe of Isachar pitch: and Nathanael the sonne of Zuar, shalbe captayne of the chyldren of Isachar.
His hoast and the number thereof, fiftie & foure thousand and foure hundred.
And then the tribe of Zabulon, and Eliab the sonne of Helon, shalbe captayne ouer the chyldren of Zabulon.
And his hoast & the number of them, fiftie and seuen thousand and foure hundred.
So that the whole number of the whole hoast of Iuda, are an hundred thousande, fourscore and sixe thousand, and foure hundred, throughout their armies: and these shall first moue.
On the southside shalbe the standerd of the hoast of Ruben, according to their armyes: and the captayne ouer the sonnes of Ruben, shalbe Elizur the sonne of Sedeur.
And his hoast & the number of them, fourtie and sixe thousand and fiue hundred.
And fast by hym shall the tribe of Simeon pitche, and the captayne ouer the sonnes of Simeon, shalbe Salumiel the sonne of Zuri Saddai.
And his hoast & the number of them, fiftie and nine thousande and three hundred.
And the tribe of Gad also, and the captayne ouer the sonnes of Gad, shalbe Eliasaph the sonne of Duel.
And his hoast & the number of them, fourtie and fiue thousande, sixe hundred and fiftie.
Al that were numbred with the campe of Ruben, an hundred thousande, fiftie and one thousande, foure hundred and fiftie, throughout their armies: and thei shall set foorth in the seconde place.
And the tabernacle of the congregation shall go with the hoast of the Leuites, in the middes of the campe: And as they lye in their tentes, euen so shall they proceede in the iourney, euery man in his degree, and vnder their owne standerdes.
On the west side shalbe the standerd of the campe of Ephraim, accordyng to their armies, and the captaine ouer the sonnes of Ephraim, shalbe Elisama the sonne of Amihud.
His hoast and the number of them, fourtie thousande and fiue hundred.
And fast by hym, shalbe the tribe of Manasse: and the captayne ouer the sonnes of Manasse, shalbe Gamaliel the sonne of Pedazur.
His hoast and the number of them, thirtie and two thousande, and two hundred.
And the tribe of Beniamin also: and the captayne ouer the sonnes of Beniamin, shalbe Abidan {th}e sonne of Gedeon.
His hoast & the number of them, thirtie and fiue thousande & foure hundred.
All the number of the campe of Ephraim, were an hundred thousande, eyght thousande, and an hundred, thorowout their armies: and they shall go in the thirde place.
The standerd of the hoast of Dan, shal kepe the north side with their armies: and the captayne ouer the chyldren of Dan, shalbe Ahiezer the sonne of Ammi Saddai.
His hoast and the number of them, threscore and two thousande, and seuen hundred.
And fast by hym shal the tribe of Aser pitch: and the captayne ouer the sonnes of Aser, shalbe Pagiel {th}e sonne of Ocran.
His hoast & the number of them, fourtie and one thousand and fiue hundred.
And the tribe of Nephthali: & the captayne ouer the chyldren of Nephthali, shalbe Ahira the sonne of Enan.
His hoast and the number of them, fiftie and three thousande and foure hundred.
All they that were numbred with the hoast of Dan, were an hundred thousande, fiftie and seuen thousand and sixe hundred: And they shall go hinmost with their standerdes.
These are the summes of the chyldren of Israel throughout the houses of their fathers, euen all the numbers that pitched throughout their hoastes, sixe hundred thousande, three thousand, fiue hundred and fiftie.
But the Leuites were not numbred among the chyldren of Israel, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And the chyldren of Israel dyd accordyng to all that the Lorde commaunded Moyses, so they pitched with their standerdes, and so they iourneyed euery one throughout their kinredes, according to the housholdes of their fathers.
THese also are the generations of Aaron and Moyses, in {th}e day that the Lorde spake with Moyses in mount Sinai.
And these are the names of the sonnes of Aaron: Nadab the eldest sonne, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
These are the names of the sonnes of Aaron whiche were priestes annoynted, and whose hande was consecrated to minister.
And Nadab and Abihu dyed before the Lorde, when they offred straunge fire befor the Lorde in the wyldernesse of Sinai, and had no chyldren: And Eleazar and Ithamar ministred in the sight of Aaron their father.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Bryng the tribe of Leui, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may serue hym:
And take the charge with hym, euen the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the seruice of the tabernacle.
They shall kepe all the instrumentes of the tabernacle of the congregation, & haue the charge of the chyldren of Israel, to do the seruice of the tabernacle.
And thou shalt geue the Leuites vnto Aaron and to his sonnes: for they are geuen and deliuered vnto hym of the chyldren of Israel.
And thou shalt appoynt Aaron and his sonnes to wayte on their priestes office: and the straunger that commeth nye, shalbe slayne.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Beholde, I haue taken the Leuites from among the chyldren of Israel for all the first borne that openeth the matrice among the chyldren of Israel, and the Leuites shalbe mine.
Because all the first borne are myne: for the same day that I smote all the first borne in the lande of Egypt, I halowed vnto me all the first borne in Israel, both man and beast, and mine they shalbe: I am the Lorde.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses in the wyldernesse of Sinai, saying:
Number the chyldren of Leui after the houses of their fathers in their kinredes: All that are males from a moneth old and aboue, shalt thou number.
And Moyses numbred them, according to the worde of the Lorde, as he was commaunded.
And these were the chyldren of Leui in their names: Gerson, and Caath, and Merari.
And these are the names of the chyldren of Gerson in their kinredes: Libni, and Semei.
The sonnes of Caath in their kinredes: Amram, Iesaar, Hebron, and Oziel.
And the sonnes of Merari in their kinredes: Maheli, and Musi. These are the kinredes of the Leuites, accordyng to the houses of their fathers.
Of Gerson came the kinred of the Libnites and the kinred of the Semeites. These are the kinredes of the Gersonites,
And the summe of them after the number of all the males, from a moneth old and aboue, was counted seuen thousande and fiue hundred.
And the kinredes of the Gersonites shall pitch behinde the tabernacle westwarde.
The captayne and most auncient of the house of the Gersonites, shalbe Eliasaph the sonne of Lael.
And the charge of the chyldren of Gerson in the tabernacle of the congregation, shalbe the tabernacle and the pauilion, the couering thereof, and the vayle of the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation:
And the hangynges of the court, and the curtayne of the doore of the court whiche is rounde about the tabernacle, and the aulter, and the cordes of it for all the seruice thereof.
And of Caath, came the kinred of the Amramites, and the kinred of the Izecharites, the kinred of the Hebronites, and the kinred of the Ozielites: These are the kinredes of the Caathites.
And the number of all the males from a moneth olde and aboue, was eyght thousande and sixe hundred, hauing the charge of the sanctuarie.
And the kinred of the chyldren of Caath, shall pitche on the south syde of the tabernacle.
The captayne and most auncient of the house of the kinred of the Caathites, shalbe Elisaphan the sonne of Oziel.
And their charge shalbe the arke, the table, the candelsticke, and the aulters, & the vessels of the sanctuarie that they minister in, and the vayle, & whatsoeuer belongeth to the ministration therof.
And Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the priest, shalbe captayne ouer all the captaines of the Leuites, and haue the ouersight of them that wayte vpon the sanctuarie.
And of Merari came the kinred of the Mahelites, and the kinred of the Musites: These are {th}e kinredes of Merari.
And the summe of them accordyng to the number of al the males, from a moneth olde and aboue, was sixe thousand and two hundred.
The captayne and the most auncient of their house that were of the kinred of Merari, was Zuriel the sonne of Abihael: and these shall pitche on the north syde of the tabernacle.
And vnder the custodie and charge of the sonnes of Merari, shalbe {th}e boordes of the tabernacle, & the barres, pyllers, and sockettes therof, and all the vessels therof, and all that serueth therto:
And the pillers of the court rounde about, with their sockets, their pinnes, and their cordes.
But on the forefront of the tabernacle towarde the east, before the tabernacle of the congregation eastwarde, shall Moyses & Aaron and his sonnes, pitche and wayte to kepe the sanctuarie, and to kepe the chyldren of Israel: And the straunger that commeth nye, shalbe slayne.
And the whole summe of the Leuites whiche Moyses and Aaron numbred at the commaundement of the Lorde throughout their kinredes, euen all the males from a moneth olde and aboue, was twentie and two thousande.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Number all {th}e first borne that are males among the chyldren of Israel, from a moneth olde and aboue, and take the number of their names.
And thou shalt appoynt the Leuites to me (for I am the Lorde) for all the first borne of the children of Israel, and the cattell of the Leuites for all the first gendred of the cattell of the chyldren of Israel.
And Moyses numbred, as the Lorde commaunded hym, all the first borne of the chyldren of Israel.
And all the first borne males, rehearsed by their names, from a moneth olde and aboue, accordyng to their number, were twentie and two thousande, two hundred and threscore and thirteene.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Take the Leuites for al the first borne of the chyldren of Israel, and the cattell of the Leuites for their cattell, & the Leuites shalbe myne: I am the Lorde.
And for the redeeming of the two hundred and threscore and thirteene, which are mo then the Leuites, in the first borne of the chyldren of Israel,
Take fiue sicles of euery head, after the wayght of the sanctuarie, the sicle contaynyng twentie gerahs.
And geue the money wherewith the odde number of them is redeemed, vnto Aaron and his sonnes.
And Moyses toke the redemption money of them that were redeemed, beyng mo then the Leuites:
Of the first borne of the children of Israel toke he this money: [euen] a thousande three hundred and three score and fiue sicles, after {th}e sicle of the sanctuarie.
And Moyses gaue the money of them that were redeemed, vnto Aaron and his sonnes, according to the word of the Lorde, euen as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron, saying:
Take the summe of the chyldren of Caath fro{m} among the sonnes of Leui, after their kinredes and houses of their fathers:
From thirtie yeres and aboue, vntill fiftie, all that enter into the hoast for to do the worke in the tabernacle of the congregation.
This shalbe the office of the chyldren of Caath in the tabernacle of the congregation, [about] the most holy.
And when the hoast remoueth, Aaron and his sonnes shall come and take downe the couering vayle, and wrap the arke of wytnesse in it:
And shall put thereon a coueryng of Badgers skinnes, and shall spreade vppon it a cloth that is altogether of blew silke, and put in the barres therof.
And vpon the shewe table, they shall spreade abrode a cloth of blew silke, and put thereon the dishes, [incense] cuppes, and goblets, and pottes to powre with: and there shalbe bread thereon continually.
And they shall spreade vpon them a couering of skarlet, and couer the same with a couering of Badgers skinnes, and put in the barres thereof.
And they shall take a cloth of blewe silke, and couer the candelsticke of light, with his lampes, snuffers, and censars, and all the oyle vessels whiche they occupie about it.
And they shall put both it and all the vessels thereof, within a coueryng of Badgers skinnes, and put it vpon a barre.
And vpon the golden aulter, they shall spreade a cloth of blewe silke, and couer it with a couering of Badgers skinnes, and put to the barres therof.
And they shall take all the instrumentes wherewith they minister in the sanctuarie, and put a cloth of blew silke vpon them, and couer them with a couering of Badgers skynnes, and put them on a barre.
And they shall take away the asshes from the aulter, and spreade a purple cloth thereon.
And put vpon it all the vessels thereof that they minister withall, euen the cole pannes, the fleshe hookes, the fire shouels, the basens, & the other vessels of the aulter: and they shall spreade vppon it a couering of Badgers skinnes, and put to the barres of it.
And when Aaron & his sonnes haue made an ende of couering the sanctuarie, and all the vessels of the sanctuarie, agaynst that the hoast remoue, then the sonnes of Caath shall come in for to beare: but they shall not touche any holye thyng, lest they dye. And this is the charge of the sonnes of Caath, in the tabernacle of the congregation.
And to the office of Eleasar the sonne of Aaron the priest, pertayneth the oyle for the light, the sweete incense, the daylye meate offering, and the annoyntyng oyle, and the ouersight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, both in the sanctuarie, and in all the vessels thereof.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron, saying:
Ye shall not cut of the tribe of the kinred of the Caathites, from among the Leuites:
But thus do vnto them, that they may lyue and not dye: when they go vnto the most holy thinges: let Aaron and his sonnes go in, and appoint them euerye one to his office, and to his charge.
But let them not go in, to see when the holy thinges are folden vp, lest they dye.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Take also the summe of the chyldren of Gerson, throughout the houses of their fathers, and throughout their kinredes.
From thirtie yeres olde, and aboue, vntill fiftie yeres, shalt thou number them, al that enter into the assemblie for to do seruice in the tabernacle of the congregation.
And this is the seruice of the kinred of the Gersonites, to serue and to beare.
They shall beare the curtaynes of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his couering, and the couering of Badgers skinnes that is an hye vpon it, and the vayle of the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation:
And the curtaynes of the court, and the vayle that is in the entring in of the gate of the court, whiche is neare the tabernacle, and neare the aulter rounde about, with the cordes, and al the instrumentes that serue vnto them, & all that is made for them, and so shal they serue.
At the mouth of Aaron & his sonnes, shal all the seruice of the chyldren of the Gersonites be done, in all their charges and in all their seruice: and ye shall appoynt vnto them all their burdens to kepe.
And this is the seruice of the kinred of the chyldren of Gerson in the tabernacle of the co{n}gregation, and their watche shalbe vnder the hand of Ithamar the sonne of Aaron the priest.
And thou shalt number the sonnes of Merari after their kinredes, and after the houses of their fathers:
From thirtie yeres olde and aboue, vnto fiftie yeres shalt thou number them, euery one that enter into the assemblie, to do the seruice of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And this is their office and charge, according to all their seruice in the tabernacle of the congregation: The borders of the tabernacle, with the barres, pyllers, and sockettes therof.
And the pyllers that are round about the court, with their sockettes, pinnes, and cordes, & with all the instrumentes of it, for all their seruice: And by name ye shal recken the instrumentes of their office and charge.
This is the seruice of the kinredes of the sonnes of Merari, accordyng to all their office in the tabernacle of the congregation, vnder the hand of Ithamar the sonne of Aaron the priest.
And Moyses and Aaron and the princes of the multitude, numbred {th}e sonnes of the Caathites, after their kinredes and houses of their fathers,
From thirtie yeres olde, and aboue, vnto fiftie yeres, all that enter into the assemblie, to do seruice in the tabernacle of the congregation.
And the numbers of them throughout their kinredes, were two thousande, seuen hundred, and fiftie.
This is the number of the kinredes of Caath, [namely] all that might do seruice in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moyses and Aaron did number, accordyng to the commaundement of the Lorde by the hande of Moyses.
Also the numbers of the sonnes of Gerson throughout their kinredes and houses of their fathers:
From thirtie yeres olde, & aboue, vnto fiftie yeres, all that enter into the assemblie for to do seruice in the tabernacle of the congregation.
And the numbers of them throughout their kinredes, and houses of their fathers, were two thousande, sixe hundred, and thirtie.
This is the number of the kinredes of the sonnes of Gerson, of all that dyd seruice in the tabernacle of the congregation, whiche Moyses and Aaron dyd number, accordyng to the commaundement of the Lorde.
And the numbers of the kinredes of the sonnes of Merari throughout their kinredes and houses of their fathers:
From thirtie yeres olde, and vp, vnto fiftie yeres, all that enter into the assemblie for the seruice of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And the numbers of them after their kinredes, were three thousand and two hundred.
These be the summes of the kinredes of the sonnes of Merari, which Moyses & Aaro{n} numbred, according to the word of the Lorde, by the handes of Moyses.
And so al the numbers of the Leuites, which Moyses, Aaron, and the Lordes of Israel numbred after their kinredes and housholdes of their fathers:
From thirtie yeres olde and vp, vnto fiftie yeres, euery one that came to do his duetie, office, seruice, and charge in the tabernacle of the congregation. So the numbers of them were seuen thousande, fiue hundred, and fourescore.
Accordyng to the worde of the Lorde dyd [Aaron] number them by the hande of Moyses, euery one according to their seruice and charge: Thus [were] they of that tribe numbred, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Commaunde the children of Israel that they put out of the hoast euery leper, and euery one that hath an issue, & whosoeuer is defiled by the dead:
Both male and female shal ye put out, euen out of the hoast shall ye put them, that they defile not their tentes, among which I dwell.
And the children of Israel dyd so, and put them out of the hoast: euen as the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, so dyd the children of Israel.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the children of Israel: When a man or woman shall commit any sinne that men co{m}mit, and trespasse agaynst the Lorde: when that person shall trespasse,
Then they shall knowledge their sinne which they haue done, and let hym restore againe the hurt that he hath done, with his principall, and put the fift part of it more therto, and geue it vnto hym whom he hath trespassed agaynst.
But and if the man haue no kinseman to restore the hurt vnto, let the trespasse be made good vnto the Lorde, and it shalbe the priestes, beside the Ramme of the attonement, wherby an attonement shalbe made for hym.
And euery heaue offering that is made of the holy thynges of the children of Israel which they bring vnto the priest, shalbe his.
And euery mans halowed thynges shalbe his: whatsoeuer any man geueth the priest, it shalbe his.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the children of Israel, and say vnto them: If any mans wyfe go aside, and trespasse agaynst hym,
So that another man lye with her fleshly, and it be hid from the eyes of her husbande, and is kept close that she is defyled, and there is no witnesse against her, neither she taken with the maner,
And the spirite of gelousie commeth vpon hym, so that he is gelous ouer his wyfe which is defyled: or if the spirite of gelousie come vpon hym, so that he is gelous ouer his wyfe which is yet vndefyled:
Then let the man bring his wyfe vnto the priest, and bring her offeryng with her, the tenth part of an Epha of barly meale: but let hym put no oyle vpon it, nor put frankensence theron, for it is an offeryng of gelousie, an offeryng for a remembraunce, causyng the sinne to be thought vpon.
And the priest shall bryng her, and set her before the Lorde.
And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel, and of the dust that is in the floore of the tabernacle, the priest shal take it, and put it into {th}e water.
And let the priest set the woman before the Lorde, and vncouer the womans head, and put the offering of memoriall in her handes, which is the gelousie offeryng: and the priest shall haue bytter and cursed water in his hande.
And the priest shall charge her by an othe, and say vnto the woman: If no man haue lyen with thee, neither hast gone aside to vncleannesse without thy husbande, then haue thou no harme of this bitter and cursed waters.
But and if thou hast gone aside from thyne husbande, and art defiled, and some man hath lyen with thee beside thyne husbande:
(Then {th}e priest shal charge the woman with an othe of cursing, & the priest shall say vnto the woman) the Lorde make thee accursed and detestable for the othe among the people, when the Lord doth make thy thigh to rot, & thy belly swell.
These cursed waters go into the bowels of thee, that they may make thy belly swell, and thy thigh to rotte. And let the woman say, Amen amen.
And let the priest write these curses in a booke, and shall blot them out with the bitter waters:
And geue the woman those bitter and cursed waters to drinke, {tha}t those cursed and bitter waters may enter into her.
And then the priest shall take the gelousie offeryng out of the womans hande, and waue it before the Lorde, and bryng it vnto the aulter.
And the priest shall take an handfull of the offeryng for a memoriall, & burne it vpon the aulter, and then make the woman drynke the waters:
And when he hath made the woman drynke the waters, if she be defiled and haue trespassed agaynst her husbande, then shall the cursed and bytter waters go into her, and her belly shal swell, and her thigh shall rotte: and the woman shalbe a curse among her people.
And yf the woman be not defiled, but is cleane, she shall haue no harme, but shall conceaue and beare.
This is the lawe of gelousie, when a wyfe goeth aside from her husbande, and is defiled:
Or when the spirit of gelousie co{m}meth vpon a man, and he beyng gelous ouer his wyfe, doth bryng her before {th}e Lord: And the priest shall do to her accordyng vnto all this lawe,
And the man shalbe giltlesse, and this woman shall beare her sinne.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the children of Israel, and say vnto them: Whe{n} either man or woman doth seperate them selues to vowe a vowe of a Nazarite, to seperate them selues vnto the Lorde:
He shall seperate him selfe from wine and strong drynke, and shall drynke no vineger of wine or of strong drinke, nor shall drinke whatsoeuer is pressed out of grapes, and shall eate no freshe grapes, neither yet dried.
As long as his abstinence endureth, shall he eate nothyng that is made of the vine tree, or of the cornels, or of the huske of the grape.
And as long as he voweth and is seperated, there shall no rasure come vpon his head, vntyll his dayes be out in the which he seperateth hym selfe vnto the Lorde, he shalbe holy, and shall let the lockes of his heere growe.
As long as he seperateth hym selfe vnto the Lorde, he shall come at no dead body.
He shall not make hym selfe vncleane at the death of his father, mother, brother, or sister: because that the consecration of his God is vpon his head,
All the dayes of his seperation, he is holy vnto the Lorde.
And if any man dye sodenly before him, or he be ware, the head of his consecration shalbe defiled: and he shall shaue his head the day of his cleansyng, euen the seuenth day shall he shaue it.
And the eyght day he shall bryng two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, before the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And the priest shall offer the one for a sinne offeryng, and the other for a burnt offeryng: and make an attonement for hym as concernyng that he sinned by the dead, and shall halowe his head the same day.
And he shall consecrate vnto the Lord the tyme of his seperation, & shall bring a lambe of a yere olde for a trespasse offeryng: but the dayes that were before are lost, because his consecration was defiled.
This is the lawe of the Nazarite: when the tyme of his consecration is out, he shalbe brought vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation:
And he shall bryng his offeryng vnto the Lorde, an hee lambe of a yere olde without blemishe for a burnt offeryng, and a shee lambe of a yere olde without blemishe for a sinne offering, & a ramme without blemishe also for peace offerynges,
And a basket of vnleauened bread, euen cakes of fine floure mingled with oyle, and wafers of vnleauened bread annoynted with oyle, with their meate offerynges and drynke offerynges.
And the priest shall bryng them before the Lorde, and offer his sinne offeryng and his burnt offeryng.
And shall prepare the ramme for a peace offering vnto the Lorde, with the basket of vnleauened bread: and the priest shall make also his meat offeryng and his drynke offeryng.
And the Nazarite shal shaue the head of his consecration at the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shal take the heere of the head of his consecration, and put it in the fire which is vnder the peace offeryng.
And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ramme, and one vnleauened cake out of the basket, and one vnleauened wafer also, and put them vpon the handes of the Nazarite, after he hath shauen his consecration.
And the priest shall waue them before the Lorde: And these holy thynges shalbe the priestes, with the waue brest and the heaue shoulder: and then the Nazarite may drynke wine.
This is the lawe of the Nazarite which hath vowed his offeryng vnto the Lorde for his consecration, besides those thynges that his hande can get: according to the vowe which he vowed, euen so he must do after the lawe of his consecration.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto Aaron and his sonnes, saying: On this wyse ye shall blesse the chyldren of Israel, and say vnto them:
The Lorde blesse thee, and kepe thee:
The Lorde make his face shine vpon thee, and be mercyfull vnto thee:
The Lorde lyft vp his countenaunce vpon thee, and geue thee peace.
And they shall put my name vpon the chyldren of Israel, and I wyll blesse them.
AND when Moyses had full set vp the tabernacle, & annoynted and sanctified it, and all the instrumentes therof, the aulter also & all the vessels therof: and had annoynted them & sanctified them.
Then the princes of Israel, heades ouer the houses of their fathers (which were the lordes of the tribes, and ouer them that were numbred) offered,
And brought their sacrifice before the Lorde, sixe couered charettes, & twelue oxen: one charet for two lordes, and for one an oxe, and they brought them before the tabernacle.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Take it of them, that they may be to do the seruice of the tabernacle of the congregation, and thou shalt geue them vnto the Leuites, to euery man accordyng vnto his office.
And Moyses toke the charettes and the oxen, & gaue them vnto the Leuites.
Two charettes and foure oxen he gaue vnto the sonnes of Gerson, accordyng vnto their office.
And foure charettes & eyght oxen he gaue vnto the sonnes of Merari, according vnto their offices, vnder {th}e hande of Ithamar the sonne of Aaron the priest.
But vnto the sonnes of Caath he gaue none: because the charge of the sanctuarie belonged vnto them, which they dyd beare vpon shoulders.
And the princes offered for the dedicatyng of the aulter in the day that it was annoynted, and brought their sacrifices before the aulter.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: The princes shal bring their offeringes, euery day one prince, for the dedicating of the aulter.
And so on the first day dyd Nahesson the sonne of Aminadab, of the tribe of Iuda, offer his sacrifice.
And his offeryng was a siluer charger of an hundred and th•rtie sicles, a siluer boule of seuentie sicles, after the waight of the sanctuarie, and they were both full of fine floure, mingled with oyle, for a meate offeryng:
An [incense] cup of ten sicles of golde, full of incense:
A young bullocke, a ramme, a lambe of a yere olde, for a burnt offeryng:
An hee goate for a sinne offeryng:
And for a peace offering, two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue hee goates, & fiue lambes of a yere olde. This was the gift of Nahesson the sonne of Aminadab.
The seconde day Nathaniel the sonne of Zuar, captayne ouer Isachar, did offer:
And he offered for his gyft, a siluer charger of an hundred and thirtie sicles, a siluer boule of seuentie sicles, after the sicle of the sanctuarie, both full of fine floure mingled with oyle, for a meate offeryng:
An [incense] cup of golde of ten sicles, full of incense:
One you{n}g bullocke, a ramme, a lambe of a yere olde, for a burnt offeryng:
And an hee goate for a sinne offeryng:
And for a peace offering, two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue hee goates, fiue lambes of one yere olde. This was the offering of Nathanael the sonne of Zuar.
The thirde day, Eliab the sonne of Helon, captayne of the children of Zabulon, did offer:
And his gyft was, a siluer charger of an hundred and thirtie sicles, a siluer boule of seuentie sicles, after the sicle of the sanctuarie, and both were full of fine floure mingled with oyle, for a meate offeryng:
A golden [incense] cup of ten sicles, full of incense:
A young bullocke, a ramme, a lambe of a yere olde, for a burnt offeryng:
An hee goate for a sinne offeryng:
And for a peace offering, two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue hee goates, fiue lambes of one yere olde. This was the offeryng of Eliab the sonne of Helon.
The fourth day, Elizur the sonne of Sedeur, captayne of the children of Ruben, dyd offer.
And his gyft was, a siluer charger of an hundred and thirtie sicles, a siluer boule of seuentie sicles, after the sicle of the sanctuarie, and they were both full of fine floure mingled with oyle, for a meate offeryng:
A golden [incense] cup of ten sicles, full of incense:
A young bullocke, a ramme, a lambe of a yere olde, for a burnt offeryng:
An hee goate for a sinne offeryng:
And for a peace offeryng, two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue hee goates, & fiue lambes of one yere olde. This was the offering of Elizur the sonne of Sedeur.
The fifth day, Selumiel the sonne of Zuri Saddai, captayne of the children of Simeon, offered:
His gyft was, a siluer charger of an hundred and thirtie sicles, a siluer boule of seuentie sicles, after the sicle of the sanctuarie, and they were both full of fine floure mingled with oyle, for a meate offeryng:
A golden [incense] cup of ten sicles, full of incense:
A young bullocke, a ramme, a lambe of a yere olde, for a burnt offeryng:
An hee goate for a sinne offeryng:
And for a peace offeryng, two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue hee goates, fiue lambes of a yere olde. This was the offeryng of Selumiel the sonne of Zuri Saddai.
The sixt day, Eliasaph the sonne of Duel, captayne of the children of Gad, offered:
His gyft was, a siluer charger of an hundred and thirtie sicles, a siluer boule of seuentie sicles, after the sicle of the sanctuarie, both full of fine floure mingled with oyle for a meate offeryng:
A golden [incense] cup of ten sicles, full of incense:
A young bullocke, a ramme, a lambe of a yere olde, for a burnt offeryng:
An hee goate for a sinne offeryng:
And for a peace offeryng, two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue hee goates, fiue lambes of one yere olde. This was the offeryng of Eliasaph, the sonne of Duel.
The seuenth day, Elisama the sonne of Amiud, captayne of the children of Ephraim, offered:
And his sacrifice was, a siluer charger of an hundred and thirtie sicles, a siluer boule of seuentie sicles, after the sicle of the sanctuarie, both full of fine floure mingled with oyle for a meat offeryng:
A golden [incense] cup of ten sicles, ful of incense.
A young bullocke, a ramme, a lambe of a yere olde, for a burnt offeryng:
An hee goate for a sinne offeryng:
And for a peace offeryng, two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue hee goates, fiue lambes of a yere olde. This was the offeryng of Elisama, the sonne of Amiud.
The eyght day, offered Gamaliel the sonne of Pedazur, the captayne of the children of Manasses.
And his offering was, a siluer charger of an hundred and thirtie sicles, a siluer boule of seuentie sicles, after {th}e sicle of the sanctuarie, both full of fine floure mingled with oyle for a meate offeryng:
A golden [incense] cup of ten sicles, full of incense
A young bullocke, a ramme, a lambe of a yere olde for a burnt offeryng,
An hee goate for a sinne offeryng:
And for a peace offeryng two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue hee goates, fiue lambes of a yere olde. This was the offeryng of Gamaliel the sonne of Pedazur.
The ninth day, Abidan the sonne of Gedeon captayne of the children of Beniamin, offered.
And his gift was a siluer charger of an hundred and thirtie sicles, a siluer boule of seuentie sicles, after the sicle of the sanctuarie, both full of fine floure mingled with oyle for a meate offeryng:
A golden [insence] cup of ten sicles, full of insence:
A young bullocke, a ramme, a lambe of one yere olde for a burnt offeryng:
An hee goate for a sinne offeryng:
And for a peace offeryng, two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue hee goates, fiue lambes of one yere olde. This was the offeryng of Abidan the sonne of Gedeon.
The tenth day, Ahiezer the sonne of Ammi Saddai, captayne of the childre{n} of Dan offered.
And his offeryng was, a siluer charger of an hundred and thirtie sicles, a siluer boule of seuentie sicles, after the sicle of {th}e sanctuarie, both full of fine floure mingled with oyle for a meate offeryng:
A golden [incense] cup of ten sicles, full of insence:
A young bullocke, a ramme, a lambe of a yere olde for a burnt offeryng:
An hee goate for a sinne offeryng:
And for a peace offering, two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue hee goates, fiue lambes, of a yere olde. This was the offeryng of Ahiezer the sonne of Ammi Saddai.
The eleuenth day, Pagiel the sonne of Ocran, captayne of the children of Aser, offered.
And his offeryng was, a siluer charger of an hundred and thirtie sicles, a siluer boule of seuentie sicles, after the sicle of the sanctuarie, both full of fine floure mingled with oyle for a meat offeryng:
A golden [incense] cup of ten sicles, full of incense:
A young bullock, a ramme, a lambe of a yere olde for a burnt offeryng:
An hee goate for a sinne offeryng:
And for a peace offering, two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue hee goates, fiue lambes of one yere olde. This was the offeryng of Pagiel the sonne of Ocran.
The twelfth daye, Ahira the sonne of Enan, captaine of the children of Nephthali, offered.
And his offering was, a siluer charger of an hundred and thirtie sicles, a siluer boule of seuentie sicles, after the sicle of the sanctuarie, both full of fine floure mingled with oyle for a meate offeryng:
A golden [incense] cup of ten sicles, full of incense:
A young bullocke, a ramme, a lambe of one yere olde for a burnt offeryng:
An hee goate for a sinne offeryng:
And for a peace offering, two oxen, fiue rammes, fiue hee goates, fiue lambes of one yere olde. This was the offeryng of Ahira the sonne of Enan.
This was the dedication of the aulter in the day when it was annoynted by the princes of Israel: twelue chargers of siluer, twelue siluer boules, twelue [incense] cuppes of golde.
Euery charger conteynyng an hundred and thirtie sicles of siluer, euery boule seuentie: And all the siluer vessels conteyned two thousande & foure hundred sicles, after the sicle of the sanctuarie.
And the golden [incense] cuppes were twelue, full of incense, conteynyng ten sicles a peece after {th}e sicle of the santuarie: so that all {th}e golde of the [incense] cuppes was an hundred and twentie sicles.
All the bullockes for the burnt offeryng were twelue, the rammes twelue, the lambes of a yere olde twelue, with their meate offerynges: and the hee goates for sinne offeryng, twelue.
And all the oxen for the peace offerynges were twentie and foure, the rammes sixtie, the hee goates sixtie, the lambes of a yere olde sixtie. This was the dedication of the aulter, after that it was annoynted.
And when Moyses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregatio{n} to speake with hym, he hearde the voyce of one speakyng vnto hym from of the mercie seate that was vpon the arke of witnesse betweene the two Cherubims, and he talked with hym.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto Aaron, and say vnto hym: When thou settest vp the lampes, the seuen lampes shal geue light towarde {th}e forefront of the candlesticke.
And Aaron dyd euen so, and lyghted the lampes thereof towarde the forefront of the candlesticke, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And this was the worke of the candlesticke, euen of golde beaten out with the hammer, both the shaft and the flowres therof was beaten out with {th}e hammer: accordyng vnto the paterne which the Lorde had shewed Moyses, euen so he made the candlesticke.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Take the Leuites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.
And thus shalt thou do vnto them, when thou cleansest them: Sprinckle water of purifiyng vpon them, and let them shaue all their fleshe, and let them washe their clothes, and so make them selues cleane.
Then let them take a young bullocke with his meate offeryng [euen] fine floure minged with oyle, and another young bullocke shalt thou take for a sinne offeryng.
And thou shalt bryng the Leuites before the tabernacle of the congregation, thou shalt gather the whole multitude of the children of Israel together,
And bryng the Leuites before the Lorde, and the children of Israel shall put their handes vpon the Leuites.
And Aaron shall waue the Leuites before the Lorde for a waue offeryng of the children of Israel, that they may execute the ministration of the seruice of the Lorde.
And the Leuites shal put their handes vpon the heades of the bullockes: and thou shalt offer the one for a sinne offeryng, and the other for a burnt offeryng vnto the Lorde, that thou mayest make an attonement for the Leuites.
And thou shalt set the Leuites before Aaron and his sonnes, and waue them for a waue offeryng vnto the Lorde.
And thus thou shalt seperate the Leuites from among the children of Israel, and the Leuites shalbe myne.
After that, shall the Leuites go in, to do the seruice of the tabernacle of the congregation: And thou shalt cleanse them, & waue them for a waue offering:
For they are geuen and deliuered vnto me from among the children of Israel for such as open euery wombe, euen for the first borne of all the children of Israel haue I taken them vnto me.
For all the first borne of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: since the day that I smote euery first borne in the lande of Egypt, I sanctified them for my selfe.
And I haue taken the Leuites for all the first borne of the children of Israel.
And haue geuen the Leuites as a gift to Aaron and his sonnes from among the children of Israel, to do the seruice of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an attonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, if the children of Israel come nye vnto the sanctuarie.
And Moyses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, dyd with the Leuites: accordyng vnto all that the Lorde co{m}maunded Moyses concernyng the Leuites, euen so did the children of Israel vnto them.
And the Leuites were purified, and wasshed their clothes: And Aaron waued them as a waue offeryng before the Lorde, and made an attonement for them, to cleanse them.
After that, went the Leuites in, to do their seruice in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron and his sonnes: as the Lorde had co{m}maunded Moyses concernyng the Leuites, euen so they dyd vnto them.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
This is it that belongeth vnto the Leuites: From twentie and fiue yeres olde and vpwarde, they shall go in to wayte vpon the seruice of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And from the age of fiftie yeres, they shall ceasse waytyng vpon the seruice therof, and shall serue no more:
But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to kepe thynges committed to their charge: but shall do no more seruice. Thus therfore shalt thou do vnto the Leuites touchyng their charge,
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses in the wildernesse of Sinai, in the first moneth of the seconde yere, after they were come out of the lande of Egypt, saying:
Let the children of Israel celebrate the Passouer at the tyme appoynted thervnto:
Euen {th}e fourteenth day of this moneth at euen: ye shall kepe it in his season accordyng to all the ceremonies of it, and according to all the maners therof, shall ye kepe it.
And Moyses spake vnto the children of Israel, that they should celebrate the Passouer.
And they kept the Passouer the foureteenth day of the first moneth at euen in the wildernesse of Sinai: according to all that the Lorde co{m}maunded Moyses, euen so dyd the children of Israel.
And certayne men were defiled by a dead man, that they myght not kepe the Passouer the same day, and they came before Moyses & Aaron the same day.
And those men sayde vnto hym, we are defiled by a dead man: wherfore are we kept backe, that we may not offer an offeryng vnto the Lorde in due season, among the children of Israel?
And Moyses sayd vnto them: Stande styll, and I wyll heare what the Lorde wyll commaunde concernyng you.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the children of Israel, and say: If any man be vncleane by the reason of a coarse, or be in a way farre distaunt from you and from your generations, he shall kepe the Passouer vnto the Lorde.
The fourteenth day of the seconde moneth at euen let them kepe it: and eate it with vnleauened bread, & sowre hearbes.
Let them leaue none of it vnto the morning, nor breake any bone of it: But accordyng to all the ordinaunce of the Passouer, let them kepe it.
But the man that is cleane, and is not in a iourney, and yet was negligent to kepe the Passouer: the same soule shalbe cut of from his people, because he brought not the offeryng of the Lorde in his due season, that man shall beare his sinne.
And if a straunger dwell among you, and wyll kepe the Passouer vnto the Lorde: accordyng to the ordinance of the Passouer and maner therof, so shall he do. Ye shall haue one lawe both for the straunger, and for hym that was borne in the same lande.
And the same day that the tabernacle was reared vp, a cloude couered the tabernacle, [namely] the tabernacle of the testimonie: and at euen, there was vpon the tabernacle, as it were the appearaunce of fire, vntyll the mornyng.
So it was alway: the cloude couered it by day, and the appearaunce of fire by nyght.
And when the cloude was taken vp from the tabernacle, then the children of Israel iourneyed: and in the place where the cloude abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tentes.
At the mouth of the Lorde the childre{n} of Israel iourneyed, and at the mouth of the Lorde they pitched: And as long as the cloude abode vpon the tabernacle, they lay styll:
And when the cloude taryed styll vpon the tabernacle long tyme, the children of Israel kept the watche of the Lorde, and iourneyed not.
And when the cloude abode a fewe dayes vpon the tabernacle, they abode in their tentes, accordyng to the commaundement of the Lorde: and they iourneyed also at the commaundement of the Lorde.
And when the cloude abode vpon the tabernacle from euen vnto the mornyng, & was taken vp in the mornyng, then they iourneyed: Whether it was by day or by nyght that the cloude was taken vp, they iourneyed.
Or if the cloude taryed two dayes, or a moneth, or a yere vpon the tabernacle and remayned theron, the children of Israel remayned styll and iourneyed not: And assoone as the cloude was taken vp, they iourneyed.
At the mouth of the Lord they rested in the tentes, and at the co{m}maundement of the Lorde they iourneyed, kepyng the watche of the Lorde at the commaundement of the Lord by the hande of Moyses.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Make thee two trumpettes of siluer: of an whole peece shalt thou make them, that thou mayest vse them to call the congregation together, and when the campe shall iourney.
And when they shal blowe with them, all the multitude shall resort to thee before the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And if they blowe but one trumpet, then the princes which are heades ouer the thousandes of Israel shall come vnto thee.
But if ye blowe an alarme, the hoastes that lye on the east partes shall go forwarde.
And if ye blowe the alarme the second tyme, the hoast that lyeth on the south side shall take their iourney: for they shall blowe an alarme when they take their iourneyes.
But when the congregation is to be gathered together, they shall blowe without an alarme.
And the sonnes of Aaron the priestes shall blowe with their trumpettes, and ye shall haue them as a lawe for euer in your generations.
And if ye go to warre in your lande agaynst your enemies that vexe you, ye shall blowe an alarme with the trumpettes, and ye shalbe remembred before the Lorde your God, to be saued from your enemies.
Also in the day of your gladnesse, and in your feast dayes, & in the begynnyng of your monethes, ye shall blowe the trumpettes ouer your burnt sacrifices and peace offerynges, that they may be a remembraunce for you before your God: I am the Lorde your God.
And it came to passe the twentith day of the seconde moneth in the seconde yere, that the cloude was taken vp from of the tabernacle of the testimonie.
And the children of Israel toke their iourney out of the desert of Sinai, and the cloude rested in the wildernesse of Pharan.
And they first toke their iourney at the mouth of the Lorde by the hande of Moyses.
In the first place went the standerde of the hoast of the children of Iuda accordyng to their armies: whose captayne was Nahasson the sonne of Aminadab.
And ouer the hoast of the tribe of the children of Isachar, was Nathanael the sonne of Zuar.
And ouer the hoast of the tribe of the chyldren of Zabulon, was Eliab the sonne of Helon.
And the tabernacle was take{n} downe, and the sonnes of Gerson and Merari went foorth bearing the tabernacle.
And the hoast of Ruben went foorth with their standerd and armies, whose captaine was Elizur {th}e sonne of Sedeur.
And ouer the hoast of the tribe of the chyldren of Simeon, was Salamiel the sonne of Suri Saddai.
And ouer the hoast of the tribe of the chyldren of Gad, was Eliasaph the sonne of Duel.
The Caathites also went forwarde and bare the sanctuarie, & the other dyd set vp the tabernacle against they came.
And the standerd of the hoast of the chyldren of Ephraim went foorth accordyng to their armies, whose captayne was Elisama the sonne of Ammiud.
And ouer the hoast of the tribe of the sonnes of Manasse, was Gamaliel the sonne of Pedazur.
And ouer the hoast of the tribe of the sonnes of Beniamin, was Abidan the sonne of Gedeon.
And the standerd of the hoast of the children of Dan came foorth (gathering all the hoastes together) throughout their armies, whose captaine was Ahiezer the sonne of Ammi Saddai.
And ouer the hoast of the tribe of the chyldren of Aser, was Pagiel the sonne of Ochran.
And ouer the hoast of the tribe of the chyldren of Nephthali, was Ahira the sonne of Enan.
These are the iourneys of the chyldren of Israel throughout their armies, and thus the hoastes remoued.
And Moyses sayde vnto Hobab the sonne of Raguel the Madianite, which was Moyses father in lawe: We go vnto the place of whiche the Lorde sayde, I wyll geue it you. Come thou therefore with vs, and we wyll do thee good: for the Lorde hath promised good vnto Israel.
And he aunswered hym: I wyll not go, but wyl depart to mine owne lande, and to my kinred.
He said: Oh nay, leaue vs not, for thou knowest our mansions in the wyldernesse, and thou mayest be to vs in steade of eyes.
And if thou go with vs, looke what goodnesse the Lorde sheweth vnto vs, the same wyll we shewe vnto thee.
And they departed from the mount of the Lorde three dayes iourney, and the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde went before them in {th}e three dayes iourney, to search out a resting place for the{m}.
And the cloude of the Lorde was vppon them by day, when they went out of the campe.
And when {th}e arke went foorth, Moyses sayde: Rise vp Lorde, and let thine enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee, flee before thee.
And when the arke rested, he sayde: Returne O Lord, vnto the many thousandes of Israel.
ANd when the people dyd wickedly, it was a displeasure in the eares of the Lorde: And when the Lorde hearde it, his countenaunce was prouoked to wrath, and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were the vttermost of the hoast.
And the people cryed vnto Moyses: And when Moyses made intercession vnto the Lorde, the fire quenched.
And he called the name of the place Taberah, because the fire of the Lorde burnt among them.
And a number of people that was among them fell a lustyng, and turned them selues, and wept (euen as dyd also the chyldren of Israel) and sayd: who shall geue vs fleshe to eate?
We remember the fishe which we did eate in Egypt for naught, & the cucumbers, & melons, leekes, onions & garleck.
But now our soule is dryed away: for we can see nothing els, saue Manna.
The Manna was as coriander seede, and to see to lyke Bedellion.
And the people went about and gathered it, & grounde it in milles, or beat it in morters, and baked it in pannes, and made cakes of it: And the taste of it, was lyke vnto the taste of freshe oyle.
And when the deawe fell downe vpon the hoast in the nyght, the Manna fell vpon it.
And when Moyses hearde the people weepe throughout their housholdes, euery man in the doore of his tent, the wrath of the Lord was kindeled exceedingly, and it greeued Moyses also.
And Moyses sayde vnto the Lorde: Wherefore hast thou dealt cruelly with thy seruaunt? And wherefore haue I not founde fauour in thy sight, seyng that thou puttest the wayght of all this people vpon me?
Haue I conceaued all this people? Or haue I begotten them, that thou shouldest say vnto me, Cary them in thy bosome as a nurse beareth the suckyng chylde, vnto the lande which thou swarest vnto their fathers?
Where shoulde I haue fleshe to geue vnto all this people, whiche weepe before me, saying: Geue vs fleshe that we may eate.
I am not able to beare all this people alone, seyng it is to heauie for me.
If thou deale thus with me, kyll me I pray thee, if I haue founde fauour in thy sight, {tha}t I see not my wretchednesse.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Gather vnto me threscore and ten men of the elders of Israel, which thou knowest that they are the elders of the people & officers ouer them: and thou shalt bryng them vnto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stande there with thee:
And I wyll come downe, and talke with thee there, and take of the spirite which is vpon thee, and put vpon them, and they shall beare the burthen of the people with thee, lest thou be constrayned to beare it alone.
And say thou vnto the people, Be halowed agaynst to morowe, and ye shall eate fleshe: for your whyning is in the eares of the Lorde, seyng ye sayd, Who shall geue vs fleshe to eate? We were happy in Egypt: Therefore the Lorde wyll geue you fleshe, and ye shall eate.
Ye shall not eate one day nor two, nor fiue dayes, neither ten, nor twentie dayes:
But euen a moneth long, vntill it come out at the nostrels of you, and it shalbe lothsome vnto you, because that ye haue cast the Lorde aside whiche is among you, and haue wept before hym, saying: Why came we thus out of Egypt?
And Moyses sayde: Sixe hundred thousand footemen are there of the people, among which I am: And thou hast sayd, I wyll geue them flesh, that they may eate a moneth long.
Shall the sheepe & the oxen be slayne for them, to finde them? either shall all the fishe of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffise them?
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Shall the Lordes hande be waxed short? Thou shalt see now whether my word shal come to passe vnto thee or not.
And Moyses went out, and tolde the people the saying of the Lorde: and gathered the threscore and ten elders of the people, and set them rounde about the tabernacle.
And the Lord came downe in a cloude, and spake vnto him, and toke of the spirite that was vpon him, and gaue it vnto the threscore & ten elders: And when the spirite rested vpon them, they prophesied, and dyd not ceasse.
But there remayned two of the men in the hoast, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: And the spirite rested vpon them, (and thei were of them that were written, and went not out vnto the tabernacle) and they prophesied in the hoast.
And there ran a young man, and tolde Moyses, and sayd: Eldad and Medad do prophesie in the hoast.
And Iosuah the sonne of Nun the seruaunt of Moyses, one of his young men aunswered, and sayde: My lorde Moyses, forbyd them.
And Moyses sayd vnto hym: Enuiest thou for my sake? woulde God that all the Lordes people could prophesie, and that the Lorde woulde put his spirite vpon them.
And Moyses gate hym into the hoast, he and the elders of Israel.
And there went foorth a wynde from the Lorde, and brought quayles from the sea, & let them fall about the hoast, euen a dayes iourney rounde about on euery side of the hoast, and [they did flee in the ayre] as it were two cubites hye ouer the earth.
And the people stoode vp all that day, and all that nyght, and all the next day, and they gathered quayles: And he that gathered litle, gathered ten homers ful: And they spread them abrode for their vse, rounde about the hoast.
And whyle the fleshe was yet betweene their teeth, & yer it was chewed vp, the wrath of the Lorde was •dled against the people, & the Lorde smote the people with an exceedyng great plague.
And he called the name of the place, The graues of lust: because the buried the people that lusted there.
And the people toke their iourney from the graues of lust vnto Hazeroth, and abode at Hazeroth.
AND Miriam and Aaron spake agaynst Moyses, because of the women of Ethiopia whiche he had taken: for he had take{n} to wife one of Ethiopia.
And they sayde: Hath the Lorde in deede spoken onlye through Moyses? Hath he not spoken also by vs? And the Lorde hearde it.
(But Moyses was a very meeke man, aboue all the men of the earth.)
And the Lorde spake at once vnto Moyses, vnto Aaron, and to Miriam: Come out ye three vnto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they came out all three.
And the Lorde came downe in the pyller of the cloude, and stoode in the doore of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they went out both of them.
And he sayde, Heare my wordes: If there be a prophete of the Lordes among you, I wyll be knowen of him in a vision, and wyll speake vnto hym in a dreame.
My seruaunt Moyses is not so, which is faythfull in all myne house.
Vnto hym wyll I speake mouth to mouth in a vision, not in darke speaches and similitudes of the Lord shall he see: Wherfore then were ye not afrayde to speake against my seruaunt Moyses?
And the Lord was moued vnto wrath agaynst them, and he went his way.
And the cloude departed from the tabernacle, and beholde Miriam was become leprous, as it were snowe: And Aaron looked vpon Miriam, and beholde, she was leprous.
And Aaron saide vnto Moyses: Alas my Lorde, I beseche thee put not the sinne vpon vs whiche we haue foolishlye committed and sinned.
Oh, let her not be as one dead, of who{m} the fleshe is halfe consumed when he commeth out of his mothers whom.
And Moyses cryed vnto the Lorde, saying: Heale her nowe, O God, I beseche thee.
And {th}e Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: If her father had spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seue{n} dayes? Let her be shut out of the hoast seuen dayes, and after that, let her be receaued in againe.
And Miriam was shut out of the hoast seuen dayes: and the people remoued not, tyll she was brought in agayne.
And afterwarde the people remoued from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wyldernesse of Pharan.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses saying:
Sende men out to searche the lande of Chanaan, whiche I geue vnto the chyldren of Ifrael: of euery tribe of their fathers shall ye sende a man, and let them all be suche as are rulers among them.
And Moyses at the commaundement of the Lorde, sent foorth out of the wyldernesse of Pharan, suche men as were all heades of the chyldren of Israel.
[Their names are these. Of the tribe of Ruben, Sammua the sonne of Zacur.
Of the tribe of Simeon, Saphat the sonne of Hori.
Of the tribe of Iuda, Caleb the sonne of Iephune.
Of the tribe of Isachar, Igal the sonne of Ioseph.
Of the tribe of Ephraim, Osea the sonne of Nun.
Of the tribe of Beniamin, Palti the sonne of Raphu.
Of the tribe of Zabulon, Gaddiel the sonne of Sodi.
Of the tribe of Ioseph, namely of the tribe of Manasse, Gaddi the sonne of Susi.
Of the tribe of Dan, Amiel the sonne of Gemalli.
Of the tribe of Aser, Sethur the sonne of Michael.
Of the tribe of Nephthali, Nahabi the sonne of Vaphsi.
Of the tribe of Gad, Guel the sonne of Machi.]
These are the names of the men which Moyses sent to spie out the land: And Moyses called the name of Osea the sonne of Nun, Iosuah.
And Moyses sent them foorth to spie out the lande of Chanaan, and said vnto them: Get you vp this way southward, that ye may go vp into the hie countrey,
And see the lande what maner thing it is, and the people that dwelleth therin, whether they be strong or weake, eyther fewe or many:
And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad, and what maner of cities they be that they dwell in, whether they dwell in tentes or walled townes:
And what maner of lande that is, whether it be fat or leane, and whether there be trees therin or not. Be of good courage, and bryng of the fruite of the lande: And it was about the tyme that grapes are first rype.
And so they went vp, and searched out the lande from the wildernesse of Zin, vnto Rehob, as men come to Hemath.
And they ascended vnto the south, and come vnto Hebron, where Ahiman was and Sesai, and Thalmai, the sonnes of Anac. Hebron was buylt seuen yeres before Zoan in Egypt.
And they came vnto the ryuer of Escol, and cut downe there a braunch with one clouster of grapes, and twayne bare it vpon a staffe: and [they brought] also of the pomgranates, and of the figges.
And the place was called the riuer Escol, because of {th}e cluster of grapes whiche the children of Israel cut downe thence.
And they turned backe agayne from searching of {th}e lande after fourtie dayes.
And they went, and came to Moyses and Aaron, and vnto all the multitude of the chyldren of Israel in the wyldernesse Pharan to Cades, and brought them worde, and also vnto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruite of the lande.
And they tolde hym, and sayde: We came vnto the lande whyther thou sendedst vs, & surely it floweth with milke and hony, and here is of the fruite of it.
Neuerthelesse, the people be strong that dwell in the lande, and the cities are walled and exceedyng great: and moreouer, we sawe the chyldren of Anac there.
The Amalechites dwell in the south countrey: and the Hethites, and the Iebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountaynes: & the Chanaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Iordane.
And Caleb stylled the people before Moyses, saying: Let vs go vp at once, and possesse it, for we be able to ouer come it.
But the men that went vp with him, sayde: We be not able to go vp agaynst the people, for they are stronger then we.
And they brought vp an euyll report of the lande whiche they had searched, saying vnto the children of Israel: The lande whiche we haue gone through to searche it out, is a lande that eateth vp the inhabitours therof, and the people that we sawe in it, are men of a great stature.
And there we sawe also giauntes the chyldren of Anac [whiche come] of the giauntes: And we seemed in our sight as it were grashoppers, and so we dyd in their sight.
AND all the multitude of the people cried out, and wept throughout that nyght.
And all the chyldren of Israel murmured agaynst Moyses and Aaron, and the whole congregation sayde vnto them: Woulde God that we had dyed in the lande of Egypt, either that we had dyed in this wyldernesse.
Wherfore hath the Lorde brought vs vnto this lande to fall vpon the sworde, and that our wyues and our chyldren should be a pray? Were it not better that we returne vnto Egypt agayne?
And they sayd one to another: Let vs make a captayne, and returne vnto Egypt agayne.
Then Moyses & Aaron fell on their faces before all the assemblie of the congregation of the chyldren of Israel.
And Iosuah the sonne of Nun, and Caleb the sonne of Iephune [whiche were] of them that searched the lande, rent their clothes:
And spake vnto al the companie of the chyldren of Israel, saying: The lande whiche we walked through to searche it, is a very good lande.
If the Lord haue a loue to vs, he will bryng vs into this lande and geue it vs, whiche is such a lande as floweth with mylke and hony.
But in any wyse rebell not ye agaynst the Lorde, neither feare the people of the lande, for they are but bread for vs: Their shielde is departed from them, and the Lorde is with vs, feare them not therfore.
But all the congregation bade stone them with stones: And the glory of the Lorde appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the chyldren of Israel.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Howe long do this people prouoke me, and how long wyll it be yer they beleue me, for all the signes which I haue shewed among them?
I will smyte them with the pestilence and destroy them, and wyll make of thee a greater nation and mightier then they.
And Moyses sayde vnto the Lorde: Then the Egyptians shall heare it, (for thou broughtest this people in thy might from among them.)
And it wylbe tolde to the inhabiters of this lande also: for they haue hearde lykewyse, that thou Lorde art among this people, and that thou Lorde art seene face to face, and that thy cloude standeth ouer them, & that thou goest before them by day tyme in a pyller of a cloude, and in a pyller of fire by nyght.
If thou shalt kyll all this people as they were but one man: then the nations whiche haue hearde the fame of thee, wyll say:
Because the Lord is not able to bryng in this people into the lande whiche he sware vnto them, therefore he hath slaine them in the wyldernesse.
And nowe I beseche thee, let the power of my Lord be great, accordyng as thou hast spoken, saying:
The Lorde is long yer he be angrie, and of great mercy, and suffreth iniquitie and sinne, and leaueth no man innocent, and visiteth the vnrighteousnesse of the fathers vpon the chyldren, in the thirde and fourth generations.
Be mercyfull I beseche thee vnto the sinne of this people accordyng vnto thy great mercy, as thou hast forgeuen this people from Egypt, euen vntyll nowe.
And the Lorde sayde: I haue forgeuen it, according to thy request.
But as truely as I liue, all the earth shalbe filled with the glory of the Lord.
But all those men whiche haue seene my glory, and my miracles whiche I did in Egypt and in the wildernesse, and haue tempted me nowe this ten tymes, and haue not hearkened vnto my voyce:
Shall not see the lande whiche I sware vnto their fathers, neither shall any of them that prouoked me see it.
But my seruaunt Caleb, because he had another maner of spirite, (and because he hath folowed me vnto the vtmost) hym wyll I bryng into the lande which he hath walked in, and his seede shall inherite it.
And also the Amalechites and Chanaanites, remayne in the valley: To morowe turne you, and get you into the wyldernesse, euen by the way of the red sea.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron, saying:
Howe long doth this euyll multitude murmure agaynst me? I haue hearde the murmuringes of the children of Israel with the whiche they murmure agaynst me.
Tell them therefore: As truely as I liue sayeth the Lorde, I wyll do vnto you euen as ye haue spoken in myne eares:
Your carkasses shall fall in the wyldernesse: And all you that were tolde throughout your numbers from twentie yeres and aboue, whiche haue murmured against me,
Shall not come into the lande ouer which I lifted vp myne hand to make you dwell therin, saue Caleb the sonne of Iephune, and Iosuah the sonne of Nun.
But your chyldren whiche ye sayde shoulde be a pray, them I wyll bryng in, and they shall knowe the lande whiche ye haue refused.
And your carkasses shall fall in this wyldernesse.
And your chyldren shall wander in the wildernesse fourtie yeres, and suffer for your whordome, vntyll your carkasses be wasted in the wyldernesse.
After the number of the dayes in whiche ye searched out the lande, euen fourtie dayes, euery day for a yere shal ye beare your vnrighteousnesse, euen fourtie yeres, and ye shall knowe my breache of promise.
I the Lorde haue sayde, that I wyll do it vnto all this euyll congregation that are gathered together against me: For in this wildernesse they shalbe consumed, and there they shall dye.
And the men whiche Moyses sent to searche the lande, and whiche (when they came agayne) made all the people to murmure against hym, and brought vp a sclaunder vpon the lande:
Euen those men that dyd bryng vp that sclaunder vpon it as though it had ben euill, dyed in a great plague before the Lorde.
But Iosuah the sonne of Nun, and Caleb the sonne of Iephune, whiche were of the men that went to searche the lande, liued styll.
And Moyses tolde these sayinges vnto all the chyldren of Israel, and the people toke great sorowe.
And they rose vp early in the morning, and gate them vp into the toppe of the mountayne, saying: lo, we be here, and wyll go vp vnto the place of which the Lorde sayde: For we haue sinned.
And Moyses sayde: Wherfore transgresse ye thus the worde of the Lorde? it wyll not come well to passe.
Go not vp therefore, for the Lo•e is not among you: that ye be not slayne before your enemies.
For the Amalechites and the Chanaanites are there before you, & ye wyll fall vpon the sworde, because ye are turned away from the Lorde, & the Lorde wyll not be with you.
But they presumed ••stinatly to go vp into the hyll top: Neuer the later, the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde and Moyses, departed not out of the hoast.
Then the Amalechites and the Chanaanites which dwelt in that hill, came downe, and smote them, and consumed them euen •nto Horma.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the children of Israel, and say vnto them: when ye be come into the lande of your habitations, whiche I geue vnto you:
And will make an offering by fire vnto the Lorde, namely a burnt offering, or a sacrifice to fulfill a vowe, or a free offering, or in your principall feastes, to make a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde, of the heard, or of the flocke:
Then let hym that offereth his offering vnto the Lord, bryng also a meate offering of a tenth deale of floure, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oyle.
And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drinke offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering, or any other offering, for one lambe.
Or if it be a ramme, thou shalt prepare for a meate offering two tenth deales of floure, mingled with the thirde part of an hin of oyle.
And for a drinke offering, thou shalt offer the thirde part of an hin of wine, for a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde.
And when thou preparest a bullocke for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice to fulfill a vowe or peace offering vnto the Lorde:
Let him bring with a bullocke a meate offering of three tenth deales of floure, mingled with halfe an hin of oyle.
And thou shalt bryng for a drinke offering, euen halfe an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire of a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde.
After this maner shall it be done for a bullocke, or for a ramme, or for a lambe, or a kid,
According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to euery one, accordyng to their number.
All that are borne of the countrey, shal do these thynges after this maner, to offer an offering made by fire of a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde.
And if a straunger soiourne with you, or whosoeuer be among you in your generations, and wyll offer an offering made by fire of a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde: euen as ye do, so he shall do.
One ordinaunce shalbe both for you of the co{n}gregation, and also for the straunger that dwelleth [with you:] It shalbe an ordinaunce for euer in your generations: as ye are, so shall the straunger be before the Lorde.
One lawe and one maner shall serue, both for you, and for the straunger that soiourneth with you.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the chyldren of Israel, and say vnto them: When ye be come into the land to the which I bring you,
Then when ye wyll eate of the bread of the lande, ye shall offer vp an heaue offering vnto the Lorde.
Ye shall offer vp a cake of the first of your dowe for an heaue offering: as ye do the heaue offering of the barne, euen so ye shall heaue it.
Of the first of your dowe ye shall geue vnto the Lorde an heaue offering in your generations.
And if ye haue erred, and obserue not all these commaundementes which the Lorde hath spoken vnto Moyses,
Euen all that the Lorde hath commaunded you by the 〈…〉 Moyses from the first day that the Lorde commaunded Moyses, and hence forwarde among your generations.
Yf ought be comm•ted ignorauntly of the congregation, al the multitude shall offer a bullocke for a burnt offering, to be a sweete sauour vnto the Lord, with the meate offering and drinke offering therto accordyng to the maner, and an hee goate for a sinne offering.
And the priest shall make an attonement for all the multitude of the chyldren of Israel, and it shalbe forgeuen them, for it is ignoraunce: And they shal bryng their offering, a sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lord, & their sinne offering before the Lorde for their ignoraunce.
And it shalbe forgeuen vnto all the congregation of the chyldren of Israel, and vnto the straunger that dwelleth among you, seyng all the people were in ignoraunce.
If any one soule sinne through ignoraunce, he shall bryng a shee goate of a yere olde for a sinne offering.
And the priest shall make an attonement for the soule that sinneth ignorauntly, when he sinneth by ignoraunce before the Lorde to reconcile hym, and that it may be forgeuen hym.
And both thou that art borne of the chyldren of Israel, and the straunger that dwelleth among you, shall haue one lawe who so doth sinne thorowe ignoraunce.
But the soule that doth ought presumptuously, whether he be borne in the lande or a straunger, the same blasphemeth the Lorde: and that soule shalbe cut of from among his people.
Because he hath despised the worde of the Lorde, and hath broken his commaundement, that soule therefore shalbe vtterly cut of, and his sinne shalbe vppon hym.
And whyle the chyldre{n} of Israel were in the wyldernesse, they founde a man that gathered stickes vpon the Sabbath day.
And they that founde hym gathering stickes, brought hym vnto Moyses and Aaron, and vnto all the congregation.
And they put hym in warde, seyng it was not declared what shoulde be done to hym.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Let the man dye, & let all the multitude stone him with stones without {th}e hoast.
And all the multitude brought hym without the hoast, and stoned hym with stones, and he dyed, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the chyldren of Israel, and byd them, that they make them fringes in the borders of their garmentes throughout their generations, and put vpon the fringe of the borders a ribande of blewe silke.
And the fringe shalbe vnto you 〈◊〉 vpon, that ye may remember all the co{m}maundementes of the Lorde, and do them: and that ye seeke not after your owne heart, or your owne eyes, after the which ye vse to go a whoryng.
But ye shall remember rather, and do all my commaundementes, and be holy vnto your God.
I am the Lorde your God, which brought you out of the lande of Egypt, for to be your God: I am the Lorde your God.
AND Corah the sonne of Isaar, the sonne of Caath, the sonne of Leui, went a part with Dathan and Abiram, the sonnes of Eliab, & On the sonne of Peleth, the sonne of Ruben:
And they rose vp before Moyses, with certayne of the children of Israel, two hundred & fiftie, which were captaynes of the multitude, famous in the congregation, and men of renoune.
And they gathered them selues together agaynst Moyses and Aaron, and sayde vnto them: Ye take much vpon you, seyng all the multitude are holy euery one of them, and the Lorde is among them: Why lyft you your selues vp aboue the congregation of the Lord?
And when Moyses hearde it, he fell vpon his face,
And spake vnto Corah and vnto all his company, saying: To morowe the Lord wyll shewe who are his, who is holy, and who ought to approche nye vnto hym: and whom he hath chosen, he will cause to come neare vnto hym.
This do therfore: Take you firepannes, both Corah & all his companie,
And do fire therin, and put incense in them before the Lorde to morowe: And the man whom the Lorde doth chose, the same shalbe holy: Ye take much vpon you ye sonnes of Leui.
And Moyses sayd vnto Corah: Heare I pray you, ye sonnes of Leui,
Seemeth it but a small thyng vnto you, that the God of Israel hath seperated you from the multitude of Israel, and brought you to hym selfe, to do the seruice of the tabernacle of the Lorde, and to stande before the multitude, and to minister vnto them?
He hath taken thee to hym, and all thy brethren the sonnes of Leui with thee: and seeke ye the office of the priest also?
For which cause both thou and all thy companie are gathered together against the Lorde: And what is Aaron, that ye murmure agaynst hym?
And Moyses sent, and called Dathan and Abiram the sonnes of Eliab: which sayde, We wyll not come vp.
Is it a small thyng, that thou hast brought vs out of the land that floweth with mylke and honie, to kyll vs in the wildernesse: except thou make thy selfe lorde and ruler ouer vs also?
Moreouer, thou hast not brought vs vnto a lande that floweth with mylke & honie, neither geuen vs inheritaunce of fieldes and vineyardes: Wylt thou put out the eyes of these men? We wyll not come vp.
And Moyses waxed very angry, and sayde vnto the Lorde, Turne not thou vnto their offeryng: I haue not taken so much as an asse from them, neither haue I hurt any of them.
And Moyses sayde vnto Corah: Be thou & al thy company before the Lord, both thou, they, and Aaron, to morowe.
And take euery man his censer, and put incense in them, and bryng ye before the Lorde euery man his censer, euen two hundreth and fiftie censers: thou also and Aaron, euery one his censer.
And they toke euery man his censer, and put fire in them, and layde incense theron, and stoode in the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moyses and Aaron.
And Corah gathered all the congregation agaynst them, vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation: And the glorie of the Lorde appeared vnto all the congregation.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron, saying:
Seperate your selues from among this congregation, that I may consume them at once.
And they fell vpon their faces, and sayde: O God, the God of spirites of all fleshe, hath not one man sinned? Wilt thou be wroth with all the multitude?
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the congregation, and say: Get you away from about the tabernacle of Corah, Dathan, & Abiram.
And Moyses rose vp, and went vnto Dathan and Abiram: and the elders of Israel folowed hym.
And he spake vnto the congregation, saying: Depart I pray you from the tentes of these wicked men, and touche nothyng of theirs, lest ye perishe in all their sinnes.
And so they gate them from the tabernacle of Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, on euery syde: And Dathan & Abiram came out, & stoode in the doore of their tentes, with their wiues, their sonnes, and their litle children.
And Moyses sayde: Hereby ye shall knowe that the Lorde hath sent me to do all these workes, for I haue not done them of myne owne mynde.
If these men dye the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men, then the Lorde hath not sent me:
But and if the Lorde make a newe thyng, and the earth open her mouth, and swallowe them vp with all that they haue, and they go downe quicke into the pit: then ye shall vnderstande that these men haue prouoked {th}e Lorde.
And assoone as he had made an ende of speaking al these wordes, the ground cloue asunder that was vnder them:
And the earth opened her mouth, and swalowed them vp, and their houses, and all the men that were with Corah, and all their goodes.
And they and all that they had went downe alyue vnto the pit, and the earth closed vpon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
And all Israel that were about them, fled at the crye of them: And they sayde, lest the earth swalowe vs vp also.
And there came out a fire from the Lorde, and consumed the two hundred and fiftie men that offered incense.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the priest, that he take vp the censers out of the burnyng, and scatter the fire here and there, for they are halowed,
The censers of these sinners agaynst their owne soules: let them make of them brode plates for a coueryng of the aulter: For they offered them before the Lorde, and therfore they are halowed, and they shalbe a signe vnto the children of Israel.
And Eleazar the priest toke the brasen censers, which they that were burnt had offered, and made brode plates for a coueryng of the aulter,
To be a remembraunce vnto the children of Israel, that no straunger which is not of the seede of Aaron, come neare to offer incense before the Lorde, that he be not lyke vnto Corah and his companie, as the Lorde sayde to hym by the hande of Moyses.
But on the morowe, all the multitude of the children of Israel murmured agaynst Moyses and Aaron, saying: Ye haue kylled the people of the Lorde.
And whe{n} the multitude was gathered agaynst Moyses and Aaron, they loked towarde the tabernacle of the congregation: And beholde, the cloude couered it, and the glorie of the Lorde appeared.
And Moyses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Get you from among this congregation, that I may consume the{m} quickly. And they fell vpon their faces.
And Moyses sayd vnto Aaron: Take a censer, and put fire therin out of the aulter, and powre on incense, and go quickly vnto the congregation, & make an attonement for them: For there is wrath gone out from the Lorde, and there is a plague begunne.
And Aaron toke as Moyses co{m}maunded hym, and ranne into the middes of {th}e congregation: and beholde, the plague was begunne among the people, and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.
And whe{n} he stoode betweene the dead and them that were alyue, the plague was stayed.
They that dyed in the plague, were fourteene thousand and seuen hundred, besyde them that dyed about the conspiracie of Corah.
And Aaron went againe vnto Moyses before the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the plague was stayed.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the children of Israel, and take of euery one of them a rodde, after the houses of their fathers, of all their princes accordyng to the familie of their fathers, euen twelue roddes: and write euery mans name vpon his rodde.
And write Aarons name vpon the rodde of Leui: for euery rodde shalbe for {th}e head of the house of their fathers.
And put them in the tabernacle of the congregation, before [the arke] of the testimonie, where I wyll declare my selfe vnto you.
And the mans rodde whom I chose, shall blossome: And I wyll make ceasse from me the grudgynges of the children of Israel, wherby they grudge agaynst you.
And Moyses spake vnto the children of Israel, and all the princes gaue hym a rodde, one rodde for euery prince, accordyng to their fathers houses, euen twelue roddes: and the rodde of Aaron was among their roddes.
And Moyses put the roddes before the Lorde in the tabernacle of witnesse.
And on the morowe, Moyses went into the tabernacle of witnesse: and beholde, the rodde of Aaron for the house of Leui was budded, and brought foorth buddes, bare blossomes, and rype almondes.
And Moyses brought out all {th}e roddes from before the Lorde, vnto all the children of Israel: and they loked vpon them, and toke euery man his rodde.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Bryng Aarons rodde agayne before the witnesse, to be kept for a token to the rebellious children, and that their murmuryng may ceasse from me, and that they dye not.
And Moyses dyd as the Lorde commaunded hym, euen so dyd he.
And the children of Israel spake vnto Moyses, saying: Beholde, we are wasted away and perished, we all come to naught.
Whosoeuer co{m}meth nye, or approcheth to the tabernacle of the Lord, shall dye: Shall we vtterly consume away, and dye?
AND the Lorde sayde vnto Aaron: Thou & thy sonnes, and thy fathers house with thee, shal beare the iniquitie of the sanctuarie: And thou and thy sonnes with thee, shall beare the iniquitie of your priestes office.
And thy brethren of the tribe of Leui, & of thy fathers householde thou shalt bryng with thee, that they may be ioyned vnto thee, and minister vnto thee: but thou and thy sonnes with thee [shal minister] before the tabernacle of witnesse.
They shall kepe thy charge, euen the charge of all the tabernacle: only let them not come nye the vessels of the sanctuarie and the aulter, that they and ye also dye not.
And they shalbe ioyned with thee, and kepe the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation for all the seruice of the tabernacle: and let no straunger come nye vnto you.
Therfore shall ye kepe the charge of the sanctuarie, and the charge of the aulter, that there fall no more wrath vpon the children of Israel:
Beholde, I haue taken your brethren the Leuites from among the children of Israel, which as a gyft of yours are geuen vnto the Lorde, to do the seruice of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Therfore shalt thou & thy sonnes with thee kepe your priestes office for all thynges that pertayne vnto the aulter and within the vayle: And ye shal serue, for I haue geue{n} your priestes office vnto you as a gift, and therfore {th}e straunger that commeth nye, must be slayne.
And the Lorde spake vnto Aaron: Beholde, I haue geuen thee the keping of myne heaue offerynges, of all the halowed thynges of the children of Israel [euen] vnto thee I haue geuen the{m} for the annoyntyng, and to thy sonnes for an ordinaunce for euer.
This shalbe thyne of the most holy thynges [reserued] from the fire [of the aulter.] All their sacrifices for all their meate offerynges, sinne offerynges, or trespasse offerynges, which they bryng vnto me, that shalbe most holy vnto thee, and to thy sonnes.
In the most holy place shalt thou eate it, and all that are males shall eate of it, let it be holy vnto thee.
And this also is thyne: the heaue offerynges of their gyftes, throughout all the waue offerynges of the children of Israel: I haue geuen them vnto thee, & thy sonnes and thy daughters with thee, to be a dutie for euer: and all that are cleane in thy house, shall eate of it.
Al the fat of the oyle, & al the fat of the wine, & of the wheate, which they shall offer vnto the Lorde for first fruites, the same haue I geuen vnto thee.
And whatsoeuer is first rype in their lande which they bryng vnto the Lord, shalbe thyne, and all that are cleane in thyne house, shall eate of it.
All thinges seperate from the common vse in Israel, shalbe thyne.
All that breaketh the matrice in all fleshe that men bryng vnto the Lorde, whether it be of men or beastes, shalbe thyne: Neuerthelater, the first borne of man shalt thou redeeme, & the first borne of vncleane beastes shalt thou redeeme.
Those that are to be redeemed, shalt thou redeeme from {th}e age of a moneth, accordyng to thyne estimation, for the money of fiue sicles, after the sicle of the sanctuarie, which is twentie gerahs.
But the first borne of a cowe, sheepe, & goate, shalt thou not redeeme, for they are holy: therfore thou shalt sprinckle their blood vpon the aulter, and shalt burne their fat as a sacrifice made by fire, for a sweete sauour vnto the Lord.
And the fleshe of them is thyne, as the waue brest and the right shoulder: these are thyne.
All the heaue offerynges of holy thynges which the children of Israel offer vnto the Lord, haue I geuen thee & thy sonnes and thy daughters with thee, to be a duetie for euer: let it be a salted couenau{n}t for euer before {th}e Lord, both vnto thee, & to thy seede with thee.
And {th}e Lord spake vnto Aaron: Thou shalt haue no inheritau{n}ce in their lande, neither shalt thou haue any part amo{n}g them: I am thy part & thy inheritaunce among the children of Israel.
Beholde, I haue geuen the children of Leui all the tenth in Israel to inherite, for the seruice which they serue in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Neither must the children of Israel hencefoorth come nie {th}e tabernacle of the congregation, lest they beare sinne, & die.
But the Leuites shal do {th}e seruice in the tabernacle of the congregation, & beare their sinne: It shalbe a lawe for euer in your generations, that among {th}e childre{n} of Israel they possesse no inheritaunce.
But the tithes of the childre{n} of Israel which they pay as an heaue offeryng vnto the Lord, I haue geuen {th}e Leuites to inherite: and therfore I haue sayde vnto them, Among the children of Israel ye shall possesse no inheritaunce.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the Leuites, and say vnto them: When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I haue geuen you of the{m} for your inheritaunce, ye shal take an heaue offering of {th}e same for the Lorde, euen the tenth part of that tithe.
And this your heaue offeryng shalbe reckened vnto you, euen as though it were of the corne of the barne, or as the fulnesse of the wine presse.
Of this maner ye shall therfore offer an heaue offeryng vnto the Lorde, of all your tithes which ye receaue of the children of Israel, and ye shall geue therof the Lordes heaue offeryng to Aaron the priest.
Of all your giftes ye shall offer all the Lordes heaue offeryng, euen all the fat of the same, [to wit] the holy thynges therof.
Therfore thou shalt say vnto them: When ye haue taken away the fat of it from it, it shalbe counted vnto the Leuites, as if it were {th}e increase of the corne floore, or the increase of the winepresse.
And ye shall eate it in all places, both ye and your householdes, for it is your rewarde for your seruice in the tabernacle of the congregation.
And ye shall beare no sinne by the reason of it, when ye haue offered from it the fat of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy thynges of the children of Israel, lest ye dye.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses & Aaron, saying:
This is the ordinaunce of the lawe which the Lord hath commaunded, saying: Speake vnto the children of Israel that they bring thee a redde cowe without spot, and wherin is no blemishe, and vpon which neuer came yoke.
And ye shall geue her vnto Eleazar the priest, that he may bryng her without the hoast, and cause her to be slayne before his face:
And let Eleazar the priest take of her blood with his finger, and sprinckle it directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seuen tymes.
And cause the cowe to be burnt in his sight, with her skinne, fleshe, & blood: and the doung of her shal he burne also.
And let the priest take Cedar wood, and hysope, and scarlet [lase] and cast it in the middes of the burnyng of the cowe.
Then let the priest washe his clothes, and he shall bathe his fleshe in water, and then come into the hoast, and the priest shalbe vncleane vntyll the euen.
And he that burneth her shall washe his clothes in water, & bathe his fleshe in water, and be vncleane vntyll euen.
And a man that is cleane, shall gather vp the asshes of the cowe, and lay them without the hoast in a cleane place, and it shalbe kept for the multitude of the children of Israel for a water of seperation: It is a sinne offeryng.
Therfore he that gathereth the asshes of the cowe, shall washe his clothes, and remayne vncleane vntill euen: And it shalbe vnto the children of Israel, and vnto the strau{n}ger that dwelleth among them, a statute for euer.
He that toucheth the dead body of any man, shalbe vncleane seuen dayes.
And he shall purifie hym selfe with this water the thirde day, & the seuenth day he shalbe cleane: But if he purifie not hym selfe the thirde day, then the seuenth day he shall not be cleane.
Whosoeuer toucheth the dead coarse of any man that is dead, & purgeth not hym selfe, defileth the tabernacle of the Lorde, and that soule shalbe cut of from Israel, because the water of seperation was not sprinckled vpon hym: he shalbe therfore vncleane, his vncleanesse is yet vpon hym.
This is the lawe of a man that dyeth in a tent: All that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shalbe vncleane seuen dayes.
And all the vessels that be open, which haue no coueryng bounde vpon them, shalbe vncleane.
And whosoeuer toucheth one that is slayne with a sworde in the fieldes, or a dead person, or a bone of a dead man, or a graue, shalbe vncleane seuen dayes.
Therfore, for an vncleane person they shal take of the burnt asshes of the sinne offeryng, and runnyng water shalbe put therto in a vessell.
And let a cleane person take hysope, & dippe it in the water, and sprinckle it vpon the tent, and vpon all the vessels, and on the persons that were therin, and vpon hym that touched a bone, or a slaine person, or a dead body, or a graue.
And the cleane person shall sprinckle vpon the vncleane the thirde day and the seuenth day: And the seuenth day he shall purifie hym selfe, and washe his clothes, & bathe hym selfe in water, and shalbe cleane at euen.
But the man that is vncleane, and purifieth not him selfe, the same soule shalbe cut of from among the congregation: because he hath defiled the sanctuarie of the Lorde, and the water of seperation hath not ben sprinckled vpon hym, therfore shall he remayne vncleane.
And it shalbe a perpetuall lawe vnto them, that he that sprinckleth the water of seperation, shall washe his clothes: and he that toucheth the water of seperation, shalbe vncleane vntyll euen.
And whatsoeuer the vncleane person toucheth, shalbe vncleane: And the soule that toucheth [the thyng that was touched of the vncleane person] shalbe vncleane vntyll euen.
AND the children of Israel came with the whole multitude into the desert of Zin in the first moneth, and the people abode at Cades: And there died Miriam, and was buryed there.
But there was no water for the multitude: and they gathered them selues together agaynst Moyses and Aaron.
And the people chode with Moyses, and spake, saying: Woulde God that we had perished when our brethren dyed before the Lorde.
Why haue ye brought the congregation of the Lorde into this wildernesse, that both we and our cattell shoulde dye in it?
Wherfore haue ye made vs to come vp out of Egypt, to bryng vs into this euyll place, which is no place of seede, nor of fygges, nor vines, nor pomgranates, neither is there any water to drynke?
And Moyses and Aaron went from the presence of the congregation, vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation, and fel vpon their faces, and the glorie of the Lorde appeared vnto them.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Take the rodde, and gather thou and thy brother Aaron the congregation together, and speake vnto the rocke before their eyes, and it shall geue foorth his water: And thou shalt bryng them water out of the rocke, to geue the companie drynke, and their beastes also.
And Moyses toke the rodde from before the Lord, as he commaunded hym.
And Moyses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rocke, and [Moyses] sayde vnto them: Heare ye rebelles, must we fetch you water out of this rocke?
And Moyses lyft vp his hande, and with his rodde he smote the rocke two tymes, and the water came out aboundauntly, and the multitude dranke, and their beastes also.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron: Because ye beleued me not, to sanctifie me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therfore ye shall not bryng this congregation into the lande which I haue geuen them.
This is the water of strife, because the children of Israel stroue with {th}e Lorde, and he was sanctified in them.
And Moyses sent messengers from Cades vnto the kyng of Edom, thus sayeth thy brother Israel: Thou knowest all the trauayle that we haue had.
Our fathers went downe into Egypt, & we haue dwelt in Egypt a long tyme: and the Egyptians vexed vs and our fathers.
And when we cryed vnto the Lorde, he hearde our voyce, and sent an angell, and hath fet vs vp out of Egypt: And beholde, we are in Cades, euen in the vttermost citie of thy border.
Let vs passe I pray thee through thy countrey: but we wyll not go through the fieldes or vineyardes, neither wyll we drynke of the water of the fountaynes: we wyll go by the kynges hye way, and neither turne vnto the ryght hande nor to the left, vntyll we be past thy borders.
And Edom aunswered hym: Thou shalt not go by me, lest I come out agaynst thee with the sworde.
The children of Israel sayd vnto him, we wyll go by the beaten way: and if I and my cattell drynke of thy water, I wyll pay for it: I wyll but only (without any harme) go through on my feete.
He aunswered: Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out agaynst hym with much people, and with a mightie power.
And thus Edom denied to geue Israel passage through his countrey: wherfore Israel turned away from hym.
And the children of Israel departed from Cades, and came vnto mount Hor, with all the congregation.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron in mount Hor, harde by the coast of the lande of Edom, saying.
Aaron shalbe gathered vnto his people: for he shall not come into the lande which I haue geuen vnto the children of Israel, because ye disobeyed my mouth at the water of strife.
Take Aaron and Eleazar his sonne, and bryng them vp into mount Hor.
And cause Aaron to put of his garmentes, and put them vpon Eleazar his sonne: and Aaron shalbe gathered vnto his people, and shall dye there.
And Moyses dyd as the Lorde commaunded: and they went vp into mount Hor, in the sight of all the multitude.
And Moyses toke of Aarons clothes, and put them vpon Eleazar his sonne, and Aaron dyed there in the toppe of the mount: And Moyses and Eleazar came downe out of the mount.
When all {th}e multitude sawe that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaro{n} thirtie dayes, all the housholde of Israel.
ANd when kyng Arad the Chananite which dwelt towarde the south, hearde tell that Israel came by the way that the spyes had founde out, he fought agaynst Israel, and toke some of them prisoners.
And Israel vowed a vowe vnto the Lorde, and sayde: If thou wylt deliuer this people into my hande, I wyll vtterly destroy their cities.
And the Lorde hearde the voyce of Israel, and deliuered them the Chanaanites: And they destroyed them and their cities, and called the name of the place Horma.
And they departed fro{m} mount Hor, by the way of the red sea, to compasse the lande of Edom: and the soule of the people was sore greeued, because of {th}e way.
And the people spake agaynst God and agaynst Moyses: Wherefore haue ye brought vs out of Egypt, for to dye in the wildernesse? for here is neither bread nor water, and our soule lotheth this lyght bread.
Wherfore the Lorde sent fierie serpentes among the people, which stong them: and much people of Israel dyed.
Therfore the people came to Moyses, & sayd: We haue sinned, for we haue spoken agaynst the Lord and agaynst thee: make intercession to the Lord that he take away the serpentes from vs. And Moyses made intercession for {th}e people:
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Make thee a fierie serpent, and set it vp vpon a pole: that as many as are bitten may loke vpon it, and lyue.
And Moyses made a serpent of brasse, and set it vpon a pole: and when the serpent had bitten any man, he behelde the serpent of brasse, and lyued.
And the children of Israel departed thence, and pitched in Oboth.
And they departed from Oboth, and pitched at the heapes of Abarim, euen in the wildernesse which is before Moab, on the east syde.
And they remoued thence, and pitched vpon the riuer of Zared.
And they departed thence, and pitched on the other syde of Arnon, which is in the wildernesse, and commeth out of the coastes of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, betweene Moab and the Amorites.
Wherfore, it shalbe spoken in the booke of the warres of the Lord, what thyng he dyd in the red sea, and in the riuers of Arnon,
And at the streame of the riuers, that goeth downe to the dwellyng of Ar, and lyeth vpon the border of Moab.
From thence [they returned] vnto Beer: The same is the well wherof the Lord spake vnto Moyses: Gather the people together, and I will geue them water.
Then Israel sang this song: Spryng vp well, syng ye vnto it:
The princes digged this well, the captaynes of the people digged it with the lawe geuer, and with their staues. And from the wildernesse they went to Mathana:
And from Mathana to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth,
And from Bamoth of the valley that is in the fielde of Moab, vnto the top of the hyll that loketh towarde Iesimon.
And Israel sent messengers vnto Sehon kyng of the Amorites, saying:
Let me passe through thy lande, we wyll not turne into the fieldes or vineyardes, neither drynke of the waters of the well: but we wyll go along by the kynges hye way, vntyll we be past thy countrey.
But Sehon woulde geue Israel no lisence to passe through his countrey: but gathered all his people together, & went out agaynst Israel into the wildernesse: And he came to Iaza, and fought agaynst Israel.
And Israel smote him in the edge of the sworde, & conquered his lande from Arnon vnto Iabok, vnto the children of Ammon: For the border of the children of Ammon was strong.
And Israel toke all these cities, and dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites in Hesbon, and in all the townes that long therto.
For Hesbon was the citie of Sehon the kyng of the Amorites, which fought before agaynst {th}e kyng of the Moabites, and toke all his lande out of his hande, euen vnto Arnon.
Wherfore they that speake in prouerbes, say: Come to Hesbon, and let the citie of Sehon be built and repayred.
For there is a fire gone out of Hesbon, and a flambe from the citie of Sehon, and hath consumed Ar in Moab, and the lordes of Bamoth in Arnon.
Wo to thee Moab, O people of Chamos ye are vndone: he hath suffered his sonnes to be pursued, & his daughters to be in captiuitie vnto Sehon the kyng of the Amorites.
Their empire is lost from Hesbon vnto Dibon, and we made a wildernesse euen vnto Nopha, which reacheth vnto Medaba.
And thus Israel dwelt in the lande of the Amorites.
And Moyses sent to searche out Iaezer, and they toke the townes belonging therto, & rooted out the Amorites that were therein.
And they turned, and went vp towarde Basan: And Og the kyng of Basan came out agaynst them, he and all his people to fight at Edrai.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: feare hym not, for I haue deliuered hym into thy hande, and all his people and his lande, and thou shalt do to him as thou diddest vnto Sehon the king of the Amorites whiche dwelt at Hesbon.
They smote hym therefore, and his sonnes, and all his people, vntyll there was nothyng left hym, and they conquered his lande.
ANd the children of Israel departed and pitched in the fieldes of Moab, on the other side of Iordane from Iericho.
And Balac the sonne of Ziphor, sawe all that Israel had done to {th}e Amorites.
And the Moabites were sore afrayde of the people, because they were many, and they were stroken with feare of the chyldren of Israel.
And Moab sayde vnto the elders of Madian: Nowe shall this companie lycke vp all that are rounde about vs, as an oxe licketh vp the grasse of {th}e fielde. And Balac the sonne of Ziphor, was kyng of the Moabites at that tyme.
He sent messengers therefore vnto Balaam the sonne of Beor to Pethor, which is by the riuer of the lande of the chyldren of his folke, to call him, saying: Beholde, there is a people come out of Egypt, and beholde they couer the face of the earth, & dwell ouer against me.
Come nowe therfore I pray thee, and curse me this people, for they are to mightie for me, so peraduenture I myght be able to smyte them, & to driue them out of the lande: For I wote that he whom thou blessest, is blessed, and whom thou cursest is cursed.
And the elders of Moab, and the elders of Madian departed, hauyng the [rewarde] of the southsaying in their hande: And they came vnto Balaam, and tolde hym the wordes of Balac.
He aunswered them: Tary here this nyght, and I wyll bryng you worde, euen as the Lorde shall say vnto me. And the lordes of Moab abode with Balaam.
And God came vnto Balaam, and sayd: What men are these with thee?
And Balaam sayd vnto God: Balac the sonne of Ziphor kyng of Moab hath sent vnto me [saying:]
Beholde, there is a people come out of Egypt, and couereth the face of the earth: Come nowe therefore, and curse them for my sake, if so peraduenture I may be able to ouercome them in battayle, and to dryue them out.
And God said vnto Balaam: Go not thou with them, neither curse the people: for they are blessed.
And Balaam rose vp in the mornyng, and sayd vnto the lordes of Balac, Get you vnto your lande: for the Lord wyll not suffer me to go with you.
And the lordes of Moab rose vp, and went vnto Balac and sayde: Balaam would not come with vs.
And Balac sent againe a greater companie of lordes, and more honourable then they.
Whiche came to Balaam, and tolde hym, Thus sayeth Balac the sonne of Ziphor: Oh let nothyng let thee, but come vnto me:
For I wyll greatly promote thee vnto great honour, and wyll do whatsoeuer thou sayest vnto me: come I pray thee, curse this people for my sake.
And Balaam aunswered and said vnto the seruauntes of Balac: If Balac woulde geue me his house full of syluer and golde, I can not go beyonde the worde of the Lorde my God, to do lesse or more:
Nowe therefore I pray thee, tarie ye here this nyght, that I may wit what the Lorde wyll say vnto me more.
And God came vnto Balaam by night, and sayde vnto hym: If the men come to call thee, ryse vp and go with them: but loke what I say vnto thee, that shalt thou do.
And Balaam rose vp early, and sadled his asse, & went with the lordes of Moab.
And the wrath of God was kindled, because he went: And the angell of the Lorde stoode in the way to be agaynst hym, as he rode vpon his asse, and his two seruauntes were with hym.
And when the asse sawe the angell of the Lord stand in the way, and hauyng his sworde drawen in his hand, the asse turned aside out of the way, and went out into the fielde: And Balaam smote the asse, to turne her into the way.
But the angell of the Lorde stoode in a path betweene the vineyardes, and there was a wall on the one syde, and another on the other.
And when the asse sawe the angell of the Lorde, she thrust her selfe vnto the wall, & crusht Balaams foote agaynst the wall: and he smote her agayne.
And the angell of the Lord went further, & stoode in a narowe place, where was no way to turne either to the right hande, or to the left.
And when the asse sawe the angell of the Lorde, she fell downe vnder Balaam: and Balaam was wroth, & smote the asse with a staffe.
And the Lorde opened the mouth of the asse, and she sayde vnto Balaam: What haue I done vnto thee, that thou hast smytten me nowe three tymes?
And Balaam sayd vnto the asse, Because thou hast mocked me: I would also there were a sworde in myne hande, for euen nowe woulde I kyll thee.
And the asse sayd vnto Balaam: Am not I thine asse, whiche thou hast rydden vpon since the first tyme vnto this day? Was I euer wont to do so vnto thee? He sayde, nay.
And the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, hauing his sworde drawen in his hande: He bowed hym selfe therefore, and fell flat on his face.
And the angell of the Lorde said vnto him: Wherfore hast thou smytten thine asse these three times? Beholde, I came out to withstande thee, because [thyne heart] hath declined out of the way before me.
And the asse saw me, and turned from me now three times: or els if she had not turned fro me, I had surely slayne thee, and saued her aliue.
Balaam sayde vnto the angell of the Lorde: I haue sinned, for I wyst not that thou stoodest in the way agaynst me: Nowe therefore if it displease thee, I wyll turne home agayne.
The angell of the Lorde sayde vnto Balaam, Go with the men: but what I say vnto thee, that shalt thou speake. And so Balaam went with the lordes of Balac.
And when Balac heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meete hym, vnto a citie of Moab, whiche is in the border of Arnon, eue{n} in the vtmost coast.
And Balac sayd vnto Balaam: Dyd I not sende for thee to call thee? And wherfore camest thou not vnto me: Am I not able in deede to promote thee vnto honour?
And Balaam made aunswere vnto Balac, Lo, I am come vnto thee, and can I nowe say any thyng at all? The worde that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speake.
And Balaam went with Balac, and they came vnto a citie of streates.
And Balac offered oxen and sheepe, and sent [thereof] to Balaam, and to the lordes that were with hym.
And on the morowe Balac toke Balaam, and brought hym vp into the hye places of Baal, that thence he might see the vtmost part of the people.
AND Balaam said vnto Balac: Buylde me here seuen aulters, & prepare me here seuen oxen & seuen rammes.
And Balac dyd as Balaam sayde: And Balac and Balaam offred on euery aulter an oxe and a ramme.
And Balaam said vnto Balac: Stand by thy sacrifice, and I will go, if happly the Lorde will meete me: and whatsoeuer he sheweth me, I wyll tell thee. And he went vp hyer.
But God met Balaam, & [Balaam] sayd vnto hym: I haue prepared seuen aulters, and haue offred vpon euery aulter an oxe and a ramme.
And the Lorde put a saying in Balaams mouth, and sayde: Go agayne to Balac, and say on this wyse.
And when he went agayne vnto him, lo, he stoode by his burnt sacrifice, he and all the lordes of Moab.
And he toke vp his parable, and sayd: Balac the king of Moab hath brought me fro{m} Mesopotamia, out of the mountaynes of the east, [saying] Come, curse Iacob for my sake, come and defie Israel.
Howe shall I curse hym, whom God hath not cursed? or howe shall I defie hym, whom God hath not defied?
For from the toppe of the rockes I see hym, and from the hylles I beholde hym: lo, the people shall dwell by them selues, and shal not be reckened among the nations.
Who can tell the dust of Iacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? I pray God that my soule may dye the death of the righteous, and that my last ende may be like his.
And Balac sayd vnto Balaam: What hast thou done vnto me? I toke thee to curse myne enemies, and beholde thou hast blessed them altogether.
He aunswered and sayd: Must I not take heede to speake that whiche the lorde hath put in my mouth?
And Balac sayde vnto hym: Come I pray thee with me vnto another place, whence thou mayest see them, and thou shalt see but the vtmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: curse them out of that place for my sake.
And he brought hym into a fielde, where men myght see farre of, euen to the toppe of an hyll, and buylt seuen aulters, and offred an oxe and a ramme on euery aulter.
And he said vnto Balac: Stande here by thy burnt sacrifice, whyle I meete [the Lorde] yonder.
And the Lord met Balaam, and put a worde in his mouth, and sayd: Go agayne vnto Balac, and say thus.
And when he came to hym, beholde he stoode by his burnt sacrifice, and the lordes of Moab with hym. And Balac saide vnto hym: What hath the Lorde sayde?
And he toke vp his parable, and aunswered: Rise vp Balac, and heare, and hearke{n} vnto me thou sonne of Ziphor.
God is not a man that he should lye, neither the sonne of a ma{n} that he should repent: should he say & not do? or should he speake, and not make it good?
Beholde, I haue taken vpon me to blesse: for he hath blessed, and it is not in my power to aulter it.
He behelde no vanitie in Iacob, nor saw transgression in Israel: The Lord his God is with hym, and the ioyfull shout of a king is among them.
God brought them out of Egypt, they haue the strength as an Vnicorne.
For there is no sorcerie in Iacob, nor soothsaying in Israel, according to this time it shalbe sayde of Iacob and Israel: What hath God wrought?
Beholde, the people shall ryse vp as a Lion, and heaue vp him self as a young Lion: He shall not lye downe, vntyll he eate of the pray, and drinke the blood of them that are slayne.
And Balac sayde vnto Balaam: Neither curse them, nor blesse them at all.
But Balaam aunswered and said vnto Balac: Tolde not I thee, saying, All that {th}e Lorde speaketh, that I must do?
And Balac said vnto Balaam: Come I pray thee, and I wyll bryng thee yet vnto another place, if at all it will please God, that thou mayst thence curse them for my sake.
And Balac brought Balaam vnto the toppe of Peor, that looketh towarde Iesimon.
And Balaam said vnto Balac: Make me here seuen aulters, and prepare me here seuen oxen, and seuen rammes.
And Balac dyd as Balaam had sayd, and offered an oxe and a ramme on euerie aulter.
AND when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lorde that he should blesse Israel, he went not as he dyd twise before to meete a soothsaying: but set his face towarde the wyldernesse.
And Balaam lift vp his eyes, and loked vpon Israel as he lay accordyng to his tribes, and the spirite of God came vpon hym.
And he toke vp his parable and sayd: Balaam the sonne of Beor hath sayde, and the man whose eyes is open hath sayde:
He hath sayde whiche heareth the wordes of God, and seeth the visions of the almightie, and falleth downe with open eyes.
Howe goodly are thy tentes O Iacob, and thyne habitations O Israel?
Euen as the valleys are they layde abrode, & as gardens by the riuers side, as the tentes whiche the Lorde hath pitched, and as cypres trees beside the waters.
The water droppeth out of his bucket, & his seede shalbe in many waters, and his king shalbe hier then Agag, and his kingdome shalbe exalted.
God brought hym out of Egypt, his strength is as the Vnicorne: He shall eate the nations his enemies, & gnawe their bones, and pearce them through with his arrowes.
He couched hym selfe, and lay downe as a Lion, and as an elder Lion: who shall stirre hym vp? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
And Balac was wroth with Balaam, and smote his handes together, and Balac said vnto Balaam: I sent for thee to curse mine enemies, and behold thou hast blessed them this three tymes.
Therfore nowe get thee quickly vnto thy place: I thought that I would promote thee vnto honour, but lo the Lord hath kept thee backe from worship.
Balaam aunswered vnto Balac: Tolde I not thy messengers whiche thou sendedst vnto me, saying:
If Balac woulde geue me his house full of siluer and golde, I can not passe the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine owne minde: But what the Lorde sayeth, that wyll I speake.
And nowe behold, I go vnto my people: Come therfore, and I wyll aduertise thee what this people shall do to thy folke in the latter dayes.
And he toke vp his parable and sayd: Balaam the sonne of Beor hath sayde, the man whose eye is open, hath sayde:
He hath said that heareth the wordes of God, and hath the knowledge of the most hygh, and beholdeth the vision of the almightie, and that falleth and his eyes are opened.
I shal see him, but not nowe, I shall beholde him, but not nigh: There shall come a starre of Iacob, and ryse a scepter of Israel, & shall smyte the coastes of Moab, and vndermine all the chyldren of Seth.
And Edom shalbe possessed, & Seir shall fall to the possession of their enemies, and Israel shall do manfully.
Out of Iacob shall come he that shall haue dominion, and shall destroy the remnaunt of the citie.
And when he loked on Amaleck, he toke vp his parable, and said: Amaleck is the first of the nations, but his latter ende shall perishe vtterly.
And he loked on the Kenites, and toke vp his parable, and sayde: Strong is thy dwelling place, and thou puttest thy nest in a rocke.
Neuerthelesse, the Kenite shalbe rooted out, vntyll Assur take thee prisoner.
And he toke vp his parable, and sayd: Alas, who shall lyue when God doth this?
The shippes also shall come out of the coast of Chittim, and subdue Assur, and subdue Eber, and he hym selfe shall perishe at the last.
And Balaam rose vp, and went and returned to his place: and Balac also went his way.
AND Israel abode in Sittim, and the people began to commit whoredome with the daughters of Moab.
Whiche called the people vnto the sacrifice of their gods: And the people dyd eate, and bowed downe to their gods.
And Israel coupled hym selfe vnto Baal Peor, and the indignation of the Lorde was kindeled against Israel.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Take all the heades of the people, and hang them vp before the Lorde against the sunne, that the wrath of the Lordes countenaunce may be turned away from Israel.
And Moyses sayde vnto the Iudges of Israel: Euery one slay his men that were ioyned vnto Baal Peor.
And behold, one of the chyldren of Israel came & brought vnto his brethren a Madianitishe woman, euen in the sight of Moyses, and in the sight of all the multitude of the children of Israel, that wept before the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And when Phinehes the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose vp out of the myddes of the companie, & toke a iauelin in his hande,
And went after the man of Israel into the tent, & thrust them through both the man of Israel & also the woman, euen thorowe the belly of her: And the plague ceassed fro{m} the chyldre{n} of Israel.
And there dyed in the plague twentie and foure thousande.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Phinehes the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the priest, hath turned myne anger away from the chyldren of Israel, whyle he was zelous for my sake among the{m}, that I had not consumed the childre{n} of Israel in my ielousie.
Wherfore say: beholde, I geue vnto hym my couenaunt of peace.
And he shall haue it, and his seede after hym, euen the couenaunt of the priestes office for euer, because he was zelous for his Gods sake, and made an attonement for the chyldren of Israel.
The name of the Israelite thus kylled, which was slayne with the Madianitishe woman, was Zamri the sonne of Salu, a Lorde of an house and kinred of Simeon.
And the name of the Madianitishe woma{n} that was slayne, was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, a head ouer the people of his fathers house in Madian.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Vexe the Madianites, & smyte them:
For they trouble you with their wyles, whiche haue begyled you by deceyte in the cause of Peor, & in the cause of their sister Cozbi, the daughter of a Lorde of the Madianites, whiche was slayne in the day of the plague for Peors sake.
AND after the plague, the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, and vnto Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the priest, saying:
Take the number of al the multitude of the chyldren of Israel, from twentie yeres old and aboue, throughout their fathers houses, all that are able to go to warre in Israel.
And Moyses and Eleazar the priest spake vnto them in the fieldes of Moab, by Iordan [ouer against] Iericho, saying:
[Ye shall number the people] From twentie yeres & aboue, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses and the children of Israel, when they were come out of Egypt.
Ruben the eldest sonne of Israel. The chyldren of Ruben: Hanoch, of whom commeth the kinred of the Hanochites: and Pallu, of whom commeth the kinred of the Palluites.
Of Hesron, commeth the kinred of the Hesronites: of Charmi, commeth the kinred of the Charmites.
These are the kinredes of the Rubenites, and they were in number fourtie and three thousand, seuen hundred and thirtie.
And the sonnes of Pallu, Eliab.
And the sonnes of Eliab, Nemuel, Dathan, & Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, and stroue against Moyses and Aaron in the company of Corah, when they stroue agaynst the Lorde.
And the earth opened her mouth, & swalowed them vp: Corah also was in the death of that multitude, what tyme the fire consumed two hundred and fiftie men: and they became a signe.
Notwithstanding, the chyldren of Corah dyed not.
And the chyldren of Simeon after their kinredes, were Nemuel, of whom co{m}meth the kinred of the Nemuelites: Iamin, of whom commeth the kinred of the Iaminites: Iachin, of whom commeth the kinred of the Iachinites.
Of Zareh, commeth the kinred of the Zarehites: And of Saul, commeth the kinred of the Saulites.
These are the kinredes of Simeon, euen twentie and two thousande and two hundred.
The chyldren of Gad after their kinredes, were Zephon, of whom co{m}meth the kinred of the Zephonites: Haggi, of whom commeth the kinred of the Haggites: Suni, of whom commeth the kinred of the Sunites.
Of Ozni, commeth the kinred of the Oznites: and of Eri, commeth the kinred of the Erites.
Of Arod, commeth the kinred of the Arodites: Of Ariel, commeth the kinred of the Arielites.
These are the kinredes of the children of Gad, according to their numbers, fourtie thousande and fiue hundred.
The children of Iuda, Er and Onan, and Er and Onan dyed in the lande of Chanaan.
But the chyldren of Iuda after their kinredes, were Sela, of whom co{m}meth the kinred of the Selanites: Phares, of whom commeth the kinred of the Pharezites: Zareh, of whom co{m}meth the kinred of the Zarehites.
And the children of Phares, were Hesron, of whom commeth the kinred of the Hesronites: Hamul, of whom commeth the kinred of the Hamulites.
These are the kinredes of Iuda after their numbers, threscore and sixteene thousande and fiue hundred.
The chyldren of Isachar after their kinredes, were Thola, of whom commeth the kinred of the Tholaites: Phuua, of whom commeth the kinred of the Phuuaites.
Of Iasub, commeth the kinred of the Iasubites: of Simron, commeth the kinred of the Simronites.
These are the kinredes of Isachar after their numbers, threscore and foure thousande and three hundred.
The chyldren of Zabulon after their kinredes, were Sered, of whom commeth {th}e kinred of the Seredites: Elon, of whom commeth the kinred of the Elonites: Iaheliel, of whom commeth the kinred of the Iahelelites.
These are the kinredes of the Zabulonites after their numbers, threscore thousande and fiue hundred.
The chyldren of Ioseph throughout their kinredes, were Manasse and Ephraim.
The chyldren of Manasse, Machir, of whom commeth the kinred of the Machirites: And Machir begat Gilead, and of Gilead commeth the kinred of the Giliadites.
And these are the chyldren of Gilead, Hiezer, of whom commeth the kinred of the Hiezerites: Helech, of whom commeth the kinred of the Helechites.
And Asriel, of whom commeth the kinred of the Asrielites: and Sechem, of whom commeth the kinred of the Sechemites.
Semida, of whom commeth the kinred of the Semidites: and Hepher, of whom commeth the kinred of the Hepherites.
And Zalphaad the sonne of Hepher had no sonnes, but daughters: And the names of the daughters of Zalphaad, were Mahela, Noa, Hagla, Milcha, and Thirza.
These are the kinredes of Manasse, and the number of them fiftie and two thousande and seuen hundred.
These are the chyldren of Ephraim after their kinredes: Suthelah, of whom commeth the kinred of the Suthelahites: Becher, of whom commeth the kinred of the Becherites: Thahen, of whom commeth the kinred of the Thahenites.
And these are the chyldren of Suthelah: Eran, of whom commeth the kinred of the Eranites.
These are the kinredes of the children of Ephraim after their numbers, thirtie and two thousande and fiue hundred. And these are the chyldren of Ioseph after their kinredes.
These are the chyldren of Beniamin after their kinredes: Bela, of whom commeth the kinred of the Belaites: Asbel, of whom commeth the kinred of the Asbelites: Ahiram, of whom commeth the kinred of the Ahiramites:
Supham, of whom commeth the kinred of the Suphamites: Hupham, of who{m} came the kinred of {th}e Huphamites.
And the chyldren of Bela, were Ard and Naaman, from whence commeth the kinred of the Ardites, and of Naaman the kinred of the Naamites.
These are the chyldre{n} of Beniamin after their kinredes, & after their numbers fourtie & fiue thousande & sixe hundred.
These are the chyldren of Dan after their kinredes: Suham, of whom commeth the kinred of the Suhamites. These are the housholdes of Dan after their kinredes.
All the kinredes of the Suhamites were after their numbers threscore and foure thousande, and foure hundred.
The chyldren of Aser after their kinredes, were Iemna, of whom co{m}meth the kinred of the Iemnites: Iesui, of whom commeth the kinred of the Iesuites: Bria, of whom co{m}meth the kinred of the Brites.
The chyldren of Bria, were Heber, of whom commeth the kinred of the Heberites: Malchiel, of whom came the kinred of the Malchielites.
And the daughter of Aser, was called Sarah.
These are the kinredes of Aser after their numbers, fiftie and three thousand and foure hundred.
The children of Nephthali, after their kinredes, were Iaheziel, of whom came the kinred of the Iahezielites: Guni, of whom came the kinred of the Gunites.
Iezer, of whom came the kinred of the Iezerites: Sellem, of whom came the kinred of the Sellemites.
These are the kinredes of Nephthali accordyng to their housholdes, whose numbers is fourtie and fiue thousande, and foure hundred.
These are the numbers of the children of Israel, sixe hundred thousande, and a thousande, seuen hundred and thirtie.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Vnto these the lande shalbe deuided to inherite, accordyng to the number of names.
To many thou shalt geue the more inheritaunce, and to fewe the lesse: to euerie [tribe] shall the inheritaunce be geuen, according to the number therof.
Notwithstanding, the lande shalbe deuided by lot, & according to the names of the tribes of their fathers, they shall inherite.
According to the lot shall the possession thereof be deuided betweene many and fewe.
These are the numbers of the Leuites after their kinredes: Gerson, of whom came the kinred of the Gersonites: Caath, of whom came the kinred of the Caathites: Merari, of whom came the kinred of the Merarites.
These are the kinredes of the Leuites, the kinred of the Libnites, the kinred of the Hebronites, the kinred of the Mahelites, the kinred of the Musites, the kinred of the Corathites, and Caath begat Amram.
And Amrams wyfe was called Iochebed a daughter of Leui, which was borne vnto Leui in Egypt: And she bare vnto Amram, Aaron, Moyses, and Miriam their sister.
And vnto Aaron were borne Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
And Nadab and Abihu dyed when they offered straunge fire before the Lorde.
And after their numbers, they were twentie and three thousande, all males from a moneth olde and aboue: For they were not numbred among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritaunce geuen them among the children of Israel.
These are the numbers when Moyses and Eleazar the priest numbred the chyldren of Israel in the playne of Moab, fast by Iordane [ouer agaynst] Iericho.
And among these there was not a man of them whom Moyses & Aaron numbred, when they tolde the chyldren of Israel in the wyldernesse of Sinai.
For the Lorde sayde of them: They shall dye in the wyldernesse. And there was not left a man of them, saue Caleb the sonne of Iephune, and Iosuah the sonne of Nun.
THen came the daughters of Zalphaad the sonne of Hepher, the sonne of Gilead, the sonne of Machir, the sonne of Manasse, of the kinred of Manasse the sonne of Ioseph: whose names were Maala, Noha, Hagla, Melcha and Thirza.
And stode before Moyses and Eleazar the priest, and before the lordes, and all the multitude by the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying:
Our father dyed in the wyldernesse, and was not in the company of them that gathered them selues together agaynst the Lorde in the congregation of Corah: but dyed in his owne sinne, and had no sonnes.
Wherefore then is the name of our father taken away from among his kinred, because he hath no sonne? Geue vnto vs therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.
And Moyses brought their cause before the Lorde.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying.
The daughters of Zalphaad speake ryght: thou shalt geue them a possession to inherite among their fathers brethren, and shalt turne the inheritaunce of their father vnto them.
And thou shalt speake vnto the chyldren of Israel, saying: If a man dye and haue no sonne, ye shall turne his inheritaunce vnto his daughter.
If he haue no daughter, ye shall geue his inheritaunce vnto his brethren.
If he haue also no brethren, ye shall geue his inheritaunce vnto his fathers brethren.
And if his father haue no brethren, ye shall geue his inheritaunce vnto hym that is next to him of his kinred, and he shall possesse it: And this shalbe vnto the chyldren of Israel a lawe of iudgement, as the Lorde hath commaunded Moyses.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Get thee vp into this mount Abarim, and beholde the lande whiche I haue geuen vnto the chyldren of Israel:
And whe{n} thou hast seene it, thou shalt be gathered vnto thy people also, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.
For ye were disobedient vnto my mouth in the desert of Zin, in the stryfe of the congregation, neither dyd ye sanctifie me in the waters before their eyes: That is, the water of stryfe in Cades in the wyldernesse of Zin.
And Moyses spake vnto the Lorde, saying:
Let the Lord God of the spirites of all fleshe set a man ouer {th}e congregation,
Which may go out & in before them, and leade them out and in, that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheepe which haue not a sheephearde.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Take thee Iosuah the sonne of Nun, a man in whom is the spirite, and put thyne handes vpon hym,
And set hym before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: and geue hym a charge in their sight.
And put of thy prayse vpon him, that all the companie of the children of Israel may be obedient.
And he shall stande before Eleazar the priest, which shall aske counsell for hym after the iudgement of Vrim, before the Lorde: And accordyng vnto his worde, shall they go out and in, both he and all the children of Israel with him, and all the congregation.
And Moyses dyd as the Lorde commaunded him: and he toke Iosuah, and set hym before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:
And put his handes vpon hym, and gaue hym a charge, as the Lorde commaunded through the hand of Moyses.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Commaunde the children of Israel, and say vnto them: My offeryng and my bread for my sacrifices which are made by fire for a sweete sauour, shal ye obserue to offer vnto me in their due season.
And thou shalt say vnto them: This is the offeryng made by fire, which ye shall offer vnto the Lord: two lambes of a yere olde without spot, day by day for a continuall burnt offeryng.
One lambe shalt thou prepare in the mornyng, and the other at euen.
And therto the tenth part of an Epha of floure for a meate offeryng, mingled with the fourth part of an Hin of beaten oyle.
It is a dayly burnt offeryng, such as was ordayned in the mount Sinai for a sweete sauour, a sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lorde.
And let the drinke offering of the same be the fourth part of an Hin for one lambe, and in the holy place shalt thou commaunde the wine to be powred vnto the Lorde:
And the other lambe thou shalt offer at euen, after the maner of the meate offeryng and the drynke offeryng of the mornyng, a sacrifice made by fire, shalt thou offer for a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde.
And on the Sabbath day, two lambes of a yere olde without spot, and two tenth deales of floure for a meate offeryng mingled with oyle, and the drynke offeryng therto.
This is the burnt offeryng of euery Sabbath, beside the dayly burnt offeryng, and his drynke offeryng.
And in the begynnyng of your monethes, ye shall offer a burnt offeryng vnto the Lorde: two young bullockes, and a ramme, and seuen lambes of a yere olde without spot,
And three tenth deales of floure for a meate offeryng mingled with oyle for one bullocke, and two tenth deales of floure for a meate offeryng mingled with oyle for one ramme.
And a tenth deale of floure mingled with oyle for a meate offeryng vnto one lambe, for a burnt offeryng of a sweete sauour, and a sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lorde.
And their drynke offerynges shalbe halfe an Hin of wine vnto one bullocke, and the thirde part of an Hin of wine vnto a ramme, and the fourth part of an Hin vnto a lambe: This is the burnt offeryng of euery moneth throughout the monethes of the yere:
And one hee goate for a sinne offeryng vnto the Lorde shalbe offered, besides the dayly burnt offering, and his drinke offeryng.
And the fourteenth day of the first moneth, is the Passouer of the Lorde.
And in the fifteenth day of the same moneth is the feast: seuen dayes long shall vnleauened bread be eaten.
In the first day shalbe an holy conuocation, ye shall do no maner of seruile worke therin.
But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire, for a burnt offering vnto the Lord, two young bullockes, one ramme, and seuen lambes of a yere olde, let them be without spot.
And let their meate offeryng be of floure mingled with oyle: three tenth deales also shall ye offer for a bullocke, and two tenth deales for a ramme.
One tenth deale shalt thou offer for euery lambe of the seuen lambes.
And a hee goate for a sinne offeryng, to make attonement for you.
Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offeryng in the mornyng, which is a continuall burnt sacrifice.
After this maner ye shall offer throughout the seuen dayes, the fleshe of the sacrifice made by fire, for a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde: And it shalbe done beside the dayly burnt offeryng and his drynke offeryng.
And in the seuenth day ye shall haue an holy conuocation, [wherin] ye shall do no seruile worke.
Also in the day of your first fruites, when ye bryng a newe meate offeryng vnto the Lorde accordyng to your weekes, ye shall haue an holy co{n}uocation, and ye shal do no seruile worke in it.
But offer a burnt offering for a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde, two young bullockes, a ramme, and seuen lambes of a yere olde,
With their meate offerynges of floure mingled with oyle, three tenth deales vnto a bullocke, two tenth deales to a ramme,
And one tenth deale vnto a lambe throughout the seuen lambes,
And an hee goate to make an attonement for you.
This ye shall do, besides the continual burnt offeryng and his meate offeryng, (and they shalbe vnto you without spot) with their drinke offerynges.
ANd in the first day of the seuenth moneth ye shall haue an holy co{n}uocation, ye shal do then no seruile worke: For it is a day of blowyng the trumpettes vnto you.
And ye shall offer a burnt offeryng for a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde, one young bullocke, one ramme, and seuen lambes of a yere olde, without blemishe:
And their meate offering shalbe made of floure mingled with oyle, three tenth deales vnto the bullocke, and two tenth deales vnto the ramme,
And one tenth deale vnto one lambe, throughout the seuen lambes:
And an hee goate for a sinne offeryng, to make an attonement for you:
Beside the burnt offeryng of the moneth and his meate offeryng, and beside the dayly burnt offeryng and his meate offeryng, and the drynke offerynges of the same, which must be done accordyng vnto the maner of them, for a sauour of sweetnesse, it is a sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lorde.
And ye shall haue the tenth day of that moneth an holy conuocation, and ye shall humble your soules, and shall do no maner worke therin.
But ye shall offer a burnt offeryng vnto the Lorde for a sweete sauour, one young bullocke, a ramme, and seuen lambes of a yere olde, which shalbe vnto you without blemishe.
Their meate offeryng shalbe of floure mingled with oyle, three tenth deales to a bullocke, and two tenth deales to a ramme:
And a tenth deale vnto euery lambe, throughout the seuen lambes:
And an hee goate for a sinne offeryng, beside the sinne offeryng of attonement & dayly burnt offeryng, and the meate and drynke offerynges that long to the same.
And in the fifteenth day of the seue{n}th moneth, ye shall haue an holy conuocation, and do then no seruile worke, and ye shall kepe a feast vnto the Lorde seuen dayes long.
And ye shall offer a burnt offeryng for a sacrifice made by fire for a sweete sauour vnto the Lorde, thirteene young bullockes, two rammes, and fourteene lambes of a yere olde, which shalbe without blemishe.
And their meate offeryng shalbe of floure mingled with oyle, three tenth deales vnto euery one of the thirteene bullockes, two tenth deales to either of the two rammes,
And one tenth deale vnto eche of the fourteene lambes:
And one hee goate for a sinne offering, beside the dayly burnt offeryng, with his meate and drynke offeryng.
And the seconde day ye shall offer twelue young bullockes, two rammes, fourteene yerelyng lambes without spot.
And let their meate offerynges and drynke offerynges, vnto the bullockes, rammes, and lambes, be accordyng to the number of them, & after the maner.
And an hee goate for a sinne offeryng, beside the dayly burnt offeryng and his meate and drynke offeryng.
And the thirde day ye shall offer a leuen bullockes, two rammes, & foureteene yerelyng lambes without spot:
And let their meate and drynke offerynges vnto the bullockes, rammes, and lambes, be after the number of them, and accordyng to the maner.
And there shalbe offered an hee goate for a sinne offeryng, beside the dayly burnt offeryng, and his meate & drynke offeryng.
In the fourth day, ye shall offer ten bullockes, two rammes, and fourteene yerelyng lambes without blemishe.
Let their meate & drynke offeringes vnto the bullockes, rammes, & lambes, be accordyng to the number of them, and after the maner:
And an hee goate for a sinne offeryng, beside the dayly burnt offeryng, & his meate and drynke offeryng.
In the fifth day ye shall offer nine bullockes, two rammes, and fourteene lambes of one yere olde without spot:
And let their meate and drynke offeringes vnto the bullockes, rammes, and lambes, be accordyng to the number of them, and after the maner:
And an hee goate for a sinne offeryng, beside the dayly burnt offeryng, and his meate and drynke offeryng.
And in the sixt day, ye shall offer eyght bullockes, two rammes, and fourteene yerelyng lambes without spot.
And let their meate and drynke offeringes vnto the bullockes, rammes, and lambes, be accordyng to the number of them, after the maner:
And an hee goate for a sinne offeryng, beside the dayly burnt offeryng, and his meate and drynke offeryng.
In the seuenth day, ye shal offer seuen bullockes, two rammes, and fourteene lambes that are yerelynges without blemishe.
And let their meate and drynke offeringes vnto the bullockes, rammes, and lambes, be accordyng to their number, and after the maner:
And an he goate for a sinne offeryng, beside the dayly burnt offeryng, and his meate and drynke offeryng.
In the eyght day, ye shall haue a solempne assemblie, and ye shall do no seruile worke therin:
But ye shall offer a burnt offeryng, a sacrifice made by fire for a sweet sauour vnto {th}e Lorde, one bullocke, one ramme, & seuen yerelyng lambes without spot.
Let their meate and drinke offeringes vnto the bullocke, ramme, and lambes, be accordyng to the number, and accordyng to the maner:
And an hee goate for a sinne offeryng, beside the dayly burnt offeryng, and his meate and drynke offeryng.
These thynges ye shall do vnto the Lorde in your feastes, beside your vowes & freewil offeringes, your burnt offerynges, meate offerynges, drynke offerynges, and peace offerynges.
And Moyses tolde the children of Israel, all that the Lord co{m}maunded him.
AND Moyses spake vnto the heades of the tribes concernyng the children of Israel, saying: This is the thyng which the Lorde hath commaunded.
If a man vowe a vowe vnto the Lorde, or sweare an othe to bynde his soule: he shall not go backe with his worde, but shall fulfyll all that is proceeded out of his mouth.
If a woman also vowe a vowe vnto the Lorde, & bynde her selfe being in her fathers house in the tyme of her youth:
And her father heare her vowe and bonde which she hath made vpon her soule, & holde his peace therto: then all her vowes and bondes which she hath made vpo{n} her soule, shal stande in effect.
But and if her father disalowe her the same day that he heareth al her vowes and bondes which she hath made vpon her soule: they shall not be of value, and the Lorde shall forgeue her, because her father disalowed her.
If she had an husbande, when she vowed or pronounced ought out of her lippes, wherwith she bounde her soule:
And her husbande hearde it, and helde his peace therat the same day he hearde it: then her vowes shall stande, and her bondes wherwith she bounde her soule, shall stande in effect.
And if her husbande disalowe her the same day that he hearde it, then he shall make her vowe which she hath vpon her, and the openyng of her lippes wherwith she bounde her soule, of none effect, and the Lorde shall forgeue her.
But euery vowe of a widowe, and of her that is deuorsed, that they haue bounde their soule withall, shall stande in effect with them.
If she vowed in her husbandes house, or bounde her soule with an othe:
And her husbande hearde it, and helde his peace concernyng her, & disalowed her not: then all her vowes shal stande, and euery bonde wherwith she bounde her soule, shall stande.
But if her husbande disanulled them the same day {th}e he hearde them: then nothyng that proceedeth out of her lippes in vowes and bondes wherwith she bounde her soule, shall stande in effect: for her husbande hath disanulled them, and the Lorde shall forgeue her.
All vowes and othes that binde to humble the soule, may her husbande stablishe or breake.
But if her husbande holde his peace from one day to another, then he stablissheth all her vowes & bondes which she had vpon her: he confirmeth them, because he helde his peace concernyng her the same day that he hearde them.
But if he breake them, after that he hath hearde them, he shall beare her sinne hym selfe.
These are the ordinaunces which the Lord commaunded Moyses betweene a man and his wyfe, and betweene the father and his daughter, beyng yet a damsell in her fathers house.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Auenge the children of Israel of the Madianites, & afterwarde shalt thou be gathered vnto thy people.
And Moyses spake vnto the folke, saying: Harnesse some of you vnto warre, and let them go vpon the Madianites, & auenge the Lorde of the Madianites.
Of euery tribe a thousande, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shal ye sende to the warre.
And there were deliuered out of the thousandes of Israel, twelue thousand prepared vnto warre, of euery tribe a thousande.
And Moyses sent the{m} to {th}e warre, euen a thousande of euery tribe, & with them Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the priest to the warre, and the holy vessels, & the trumpets to blowe were in his hande.
And they warred agaynst the Madianites as the Lord co{m}maunded Moyses, and slue all the males.
And they slue the kynges of Madian among other that were slayne: Namelye, Eui, and Rekem, Zur, & Hur, and Reba: fiue kynges of Madian, with Balaam the sonne of Beor, whom they slue with the sworde.
And the children of Israel toke all the women of Madian prisoners, and their children, and spoyled all their cattel, and all their flockes, and all their goodes.
And they burnt all their cities wherin they dwelt, and all their goodly dwellynges, with fire:
And they toke all the spoyle, and all the bootie, both of men and beastes.
And they brought the captiues, and that which they had taken, and the spoyle, vnto Moyses and Eleazar the priest, and vnto the companie of the children of Israel, euen vnto the hoast that were in the fieldes of Moab by Iordane, ouer agaynst Iericho:
And Moyses and Eleazar the priest, and all the lordes of the congregation, went out of the hoast to meete them.
And Moyses was angrie with the officers of the hoast, with the captaynes ouer thousandes, and ouer hundredes, which came from the warre & battayle.
And Moyses sayde vnto them: Haue ye saued all the women alyue?
Beholde, these caused the children of Israel through the councel of Balaam, to commit trespasse agaynst the Lorde in the businesse of Peor, and there folowed a plague among the congregation of the Lorde.
Nowe therfore, slay all the men children, and kyl the women that haue lien with men fleshly.
But all the women children that haue not lien with men carnally, kepe alyue for your selues.
And ye shall remayne without the hoast seuen dayes, all that haue kylled any person, and all that haue touched any dead body, and purifie both your selues and your prisoners the thirde day and the seuenth.
And purifie all your raymentes, and that is made of skinnes, and all worke of goates heere, and all thinges made of wood.
And Eleazar the priest sayde vnto the men of warre which went to the battayle: This is the ordinau{n}ce of the lawe which the Lorde co{m}maunded Moyses:
As for golde, siluer, brasse, and iron, tinne, and lead,
And all that may abide the fire, ye shal make it go through the fire, and it shal be cleane: Neuerthelesse, it shalbe purified with water of seperation: And all that suffereth not the fire, ye shall make go through the water:
And washe your clothes the seuenth day, and ye shalbe cleane, and afterwarde come into the hoast.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Take the summe of the pray that was taken, both of the persons and of cattell, thou and Eleazar the priest, and the chiefe fathers of the congregation:
And deuide the pray into two partes, betweene them that toke the warre vpon them and went out to battayle, and all the congregation.
And take a tribute vnto the Lorde of the men of warre which went out to battayle: one soule of fiue hundred, both of the persons, and of the beefes, and of the asses, and of the sheepe.
And ye shall take it of their halfe, and geue it vnto Eleazar the priest, as an heaue offeryng of the Lorde.
And of the halfe of the children of Israel, thou shalt take one portion of fiftie, of the persons, and of the beefes, of the asses, and of the sheepe, and of al maner of beastes, and geue them vnto the Leuites which wayte vpon the charge of the tabernacle of the Lorde.
And Moyses and Eleazar the priest, dyd as the Lorde co{m}maunded Moyses.
And the bootie, and the rest of the pray which the men of warre had caught, was sixe hundred thousande, and three sore and fifteene thousande sheepe,
And three score and twelue thousande of beefes,
And three score & one thousande asses,
And thirtie & two thousande persons in all, of women that had lyen by no man.
And the halfe, which was the part of them that went out to warre, was in number three hundred thousande, and seuen and thirtie thousande, & fiue hundred, sheepe.
And the Lordes part of the sheepe, was sixe hundred & threescore & fifteene.
And the beefes were thirtie and sixe thousande, of which the Lordes part was threescore and twelue.
And the asses were thirtie thousande and fiue hundred, of which the Lordes part was threescore and one.
And the persons were sixteene thousande, of which the Lordes part was thirtie and two persons.
And Moyses gaue the tribute, which was the Lordes heaue offeryng, vnto Eleazar the priest, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses:
And the other halfe of the children of Israel which Moyses deuided from the men of warre,
[That is to wit] the halfe that pertayned vnto the congregation, was three hundred thousande, and thirtie & seuen thousande, and fiue hundred, sheepe:
And thirtie and sixe thousande beefes:
And thirtie thousande asses, and fiue hundred:
And sixteene thousande persons.
And Moyses toke of the halfe that pertayned vnto the children of Israel, one portion of fiftie, both of the persons and of the cattell, and gaue them vnto the Leuites which wayted vpon the charge of the tabernacle of the Lorde, as the Lorde commaundded Moyses.
And the officers of thousandes of the hoast, {th}e captaynes ouer the thousandes, and the captaynes ouer the hundredes, came foorth.
And sayde vnto Moyses: Thy seruauntes haue taken the summe of the men of warre which are vnder our aucthoritie, and there lacketh not one man of vs:
We haue therfore brought a present vnto the Lord what euery man found, of iewels of golde, bracelets, chaynes, rynges, eare rynges, and spangles, to make an attonement for our soules before the Lorde.
And Moyses and Eleazar the priest, toke the golde of them, all the wrought iewels.
And all the golde of the heaue offering that they heaued vp to the Lorde, of the captaynes ouer thousandes & hundredes, was sixteene thousande, seuen hundred and fiftie sicles.
(For the men of warre had spoyled, euery man for hym selfe.)
And Moyses and Eleazar the priest toke the golde of the captaynes ouer the thousandes & hundredes, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, for a memoriall of the children of Israel before the Lorde.
THe childre{n} of Ruben & the children of Gad had an exeeding great multitude of cattell: And when they sawe the lande of Iazer, & the lande of Gilead, that it was an apt place for cattell,
The children of Ruben, and the children of Gad, came & spake vnto Moyses and Eleazar the priest, and vnto the lordes of the congregation, saying:
The lande of Ataroth & Dibon, Iazer and Nenrah, Hesbon and Elealeh, Sabam, and Nebo, and Beon:
Which countrey the Lorde smote before the congregation of Israel, is a lande meete for cattell, and we thy seruauntes haue cattell.
Wherfore said they: If we haue found grace in thy sight, let this lande be geue{n} vnto thy seruauntes to possesse, & bryng vs not ouer Iordane.
And Moyses sayde vnto the children of Gad and of Ruben: Shall your brethren go to warre, and ye shall sit here?
Wherfore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel, that they shoulde not go ouer into the lande which the Lorde hath geuen them?
Thus dyd your fathers when I sent them from Cades Barnea to see {th}e land.
For when they went vp euen vnto the riuer of Eschol, and sawe the lande, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the lande which the Lord hath geue{n} them.
And the Lordes wrath was kindled the same tyme, and he sware, saying:
None of the men that came out of Egypt, fro{m} twentie yeres olde & aboue, shall see the lande which I sware vnto Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, because they haue not wholly folowed me:
Saue Caleb the sonne of Iephune the Kenesite, and Iosuah the sonne of Nun: for they haue constantly folowed the Lorde.
And the Lorde was verie angry with Israel, and made them wander in the wildernesse fourtie yeres, vntyll all the generation that had done euyll in the sight of the Lorde, were consumed.
And beholde, ye are rysen vp in your fathers steade, as an increase of sinfull men, to augment the fierce wrath of the Lorde towarde Israel:
For if ye turne away from after hym, he wyll yet agayne leaue the people in the wildernesse, and ye shall destroy all this folke.
And they went neare hym, and sayde: We wyll builde sheepe foldes here for our sheepe & for our cattell, and [walled] cities for our children:
But we our selues wyl go redy armed before the children of Israel, vntyll we haue brought them vnto their place: And our children shall dwell in the fensed cities, because of the inhabiters of the lande.
We wyll not returne vnto our houses, vntyll the children of Israel haue inherited, euery man his inheritaunce:
Neither wyll we inherite with them on yonder side Iordane forwarde, because our inheritaunce is fallen to vs on this side Iordane eastwarde.
And Moyses sayde vnto them: If ye wyll do this thyng, and go harnessed before the Lorde to warre,
And will go all of you in harnesse ouer Iordane before the Lord, vntil he haue cast out his enemies from his sight,
And vntyll the lande be subdued before the Lorde: then ye shall returne, and be without sinne before the Lorde and before Israel, and this lande▪ shalbe your possession before the Lorde.
But and if ye wyll not do so, beholde, ye haue sinned agaynst the Lorde: and be sure your sinne wyll finde you out.
Nowe therfore, builde cities for your children, and foldes for your sheepe, and do that ye haue spoken.
The children of Gad, and the children of Ruben, spake vnto Moyses, saying: Thy seruauntes wyll do as my Lorde commaundeth.
Our children, our wyues, our sheepe, and our cattell, shall remayne here in the cities of Gilead:
But thy seruauntes wyll go all harnessed for the warre, and vnto battayle before the Lorde, as my Lorde sayth.
And for their sakes, Moyses commaunded Eleazar the priest, & Iosuah the sonne of Nun, and the chiefe fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel,
And Moyses sayde vnto them: If the children of Gad, and the children of Ruben wyl go with you ouer Iordane, all armed, to fyght before the Lorde, then when the lande is subdued before you, ye shall geue them the lande of Gilead to possesse:
But and if they wyll not go ouer with you in harnesse, they shall haue their possessions among you in the lande of Chanaan.
And the children of Gad, and the children of Ruben, aunswered, saying: As the Lorde hath sayde vnto thy seruauntes, so wyll we do:
We wyll go harnessed before {th}e Lorde into the lande of Chanaan, that the possession of our inheritaunce may be geuen vs on this side Iordane.
And Moyses gaue vnto the children of Gad, and to the children of Ruben, and vnto halfe the tribe of Manasse the sonne of Ioseph, the kyngdome of Sehon kyng of the Amorites, and the kyngdome of Og kyng of Basan, the lande with the cities therof, in {th}e coastes and cities of the countrey rounde about.
And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer,
And Atoth, Sophan, Iaaser, and Iogbea,
Bethnimra, and Betharan, fensed cities: & they built foldes for the sheepe.
And the children of Ruben built Hesbon, Eleale, Kiriathaim,
Nebo, Baalmeon, and turned their names, and Sibama also: and gaue other names vnto the cities which they builded.
And the children of Machir the sonne of Manasse went to Gilead and toke it, and put out the Amorites that dwelt therin.
And Moyses gaue Gilead vnto Machir the sonne of Manasse, and he dwelt therin.
And Iair the sonne of Manasse went and toke the smal townes therof, and called them Hauoth Iair.
And Nobah went and toke Kenath, and the townes longyng therto, and called it Nobah, after his owne name.
THese are the iourneis of the children of Israel, which went out of the land of Egypt with their armies, vnder the hand of Moyses and Aaron.
And Moyses wrote their goyng out by their iourneis, accordyng to the commaundement of the Lorde: euen these are the iourneis of their goyng out.
They departed from Rameses the fifteene day of the first moneth, on the morowe after the Passouer: and the childre{n} of Israel went out with an hie hande in the sight of the Egyptians.
(For the Egyptians buryed all their first borne which the Lord had smitten among them, and vpon their gods also the Lorde dyd execution.)
And the children of Israel remoued from Rameses, and pitched in Sucoth.
And they departed from Sucoth, and pitched their tentes in Etham, which is in the edge of the wildernesse.
And they remoued from Etham, and turned agayne vnto Pihairoth, which is before Baal Zephon: and they pitched before Migdol.
And they departed from Pihairoth: and went through the middes of the sea into the wildernesse, and went three dayes iourney in the wildernesse of Etham, and pitched in Marah.
And they remoued from Marah, and came vnto Elim, where were twelue fountaynes of water, and threescore & ten Palme trees, & they pitched there.
And they remoued from Elim, and camped fast by the red sea.
And they remoued from the red sea, and camped in the wildernesse of Zin.
And they toke their iourney out of the wildernesse of Zin, and set vp their tentes in Daphka.
And they departed from Daphka, and lay in Alus.
And they remoued from Alus, and lay at Raphidim, where was no water for the people to drynke.
And they departed from Raphidim, & pitched in the wildernesse of Sinai.
And they remoued from the desert of Sinai, & pitched at the graues of lust.
And they departed from {th}e sepulchres of lust, and lay at Hazeroth.
And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitched in Rithma.
And they departed from Rithma, and pitched at Rimon Pharez.
And thei departed from Rimon Pharez, and pitched in Libna.
And they remoued from Libna, and pitched at Rissa.
And they iourneyed from Rissa, and pitched in Kehelatha.
And they went from Kehelatha, and pitched in mount Sepher.
And they remoued from mount Sepher, and lay in Harada.
And they remoued from Harada, and pitched in Makeloth.
And they remoued from Makeloth, and lay at Thahath.
And they departed from Thahath, and pitched at Tharath.
And they remoued from Tharath, and pitched in Mithca.
And they went from Mithca, and pitched in Hasmona.
And they departed from Hasmona, and lay at Moseroth.
And they departed from Moseroth, and pitched in Bene Iaakan.
And they remoued fro{m} Bene Iaakan, and lay at Horgadgad.
And they went from Horgadgad, and pitched in Iethebatha.
And they remoued from Iethebatha, and lay at Abrona.
And they departed from Abrona, and lay at Ezeon gaber.
And they remoued from Ezeon gaber, and pitched in the wyldernesse of Sin, whiche is Cades.
And they remoued from Cades, and pitched in mount Hor, whiche is in the edge of the lande of Edom.
And Aaron the priest went vp into mount Hor at the commaundement of the Lorde, and dyed there, euen in the fourteeth yere after the chyldren of Israel were come out of {th}e lande of Egypt, and in the first day of the fifth moneth.
And Aaron was an hundred and twentie and three yeres olde when he dyed in mount Hor.
And king Erad the Chanaanite (which dwelt in the south in the lande of Chanaan) heard of the comming of the children of Israel:
And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmona.
And they departed from Zalmona, and pitched in Phunon.
And they departed from Phunon, and pitched in Oboth.
And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in Iim abarim, in the border of Moab.
And they departed from Iim abarim, and pitched in Dibon Gad.
And they remoued from Dibon Gad, and lay in Almon Diblathaim.
And they remoued from Almon Diblathaim, and pitched in the mountaines of Abarim before Nabo.
And they departed from the mountaynes of Abarim, and pitched in the fieldes of Moab, fast by Iordane [ouer against] Iericho.
And they pitched by Iordane, from Beth Iesimoth, vnto the playne of Sittim in the fieldes of Moab.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses in the fielde of Moab by Iordane [ouer agaynst] Iericho, saying:
Speake vnto the chyldren of Israel, and say vnto them: When ye are come ouer Iordane [to enter] into the lande of Chanaan.
Ye shall dryue out all the inhabiters of the lande before you, and destroy all their pictures, & breake a sunder al their images of mettall, and plucke downe all their hye places.
And possesse the lande, and dwell therin: for I haue geuen you the lande to enioy it.
And ye shall deuide the inheritaunce of the land by lot among your kinredes, and geue to the moe, the more inheritounce, and to the fewer, the lesse inheritaunce: And your inheritaunce shalbe in the tribes of your fathers, euery mans inheritaunce in the place where his lot falleth.
But and if ye wyll not dryue out the inhabiters of the lande before you, then those whiche ye let remayne of them, shalbe prickes in your eyes, and dartes in your sides, and shall vexe you in the lande wherein ye dwell.
Moreouer, it wyll come to passe, that I shall do vnto you, as I thought to do vnto them.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Commaunde the children of Israel, and say vnto them: When ye come into the lande of Chanaan, this is the lande that shall fall vnto your inheritaunce, [euen] the lande of Chanaan with her coastes.
And your south quarter shalbe from the wyldernesse Zin, along by the coast of Edom, so that your south quarter reache vpon the syde of the salt sea eastwarde.
And fet a compasse from the south vp to Acrabim, and Recahe to Zinna: And go out fro{m} the south to Cades Barnea, and go out also to Hazar Adar, and go along to Azmon.
And fet a compasse agayne from Azmon, vnto the riuer of Egypt, and shall go out at the sea.
And let your west quarter be the great sea, let the same sea be your west coast.
And this shalbe your north quarter: ye shall compasse your border from the great sea, vnto mount Hor.
And from mount Hor, ye shall describe your border, tyll it come vnto Hemath, & the end of the coast shalbe at Zedada.
And the coast shall reache out to Ziphron, and go out at Hazar Enan: This shalbe your north quarter.
And ye shall describe your east quarter from Hazar Enan to Sepham.
And the coast shall go downe from Sepham to Ribla on the east syde of Ain: And the same border shall descend and go out at the side of the sea of Cenereth eastwarde.
And then go downe along by Iordane, and leaue at the salt sea: And this shalbe your land, with the coastes therof rounde about.
And Moyses commaunded the chyldren of Israel, saying: This is the land which ye shal inherite by lot, and which the Lorde commaunded to geue vnto nine tribes and an halfe.
For the tribe of the chyldren of Ruben, according to the housholdes of their fathers, and the tribe of the chyldren of Gad accordyng to their fathers householdes, and halfe the tribe of Manasse, haue receaued their inheritaunce.
Two tribes and an halfe haue receaued their inheritaunce on the other side of Iordane, ouer agaynst Iericho eastwarde.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
These are the names of the men which shall deuide the lande vnto you: Eleazar the priest, and Iosuah the sonne of Nun.
And ye shall take also a Lorde of euery tribe, when ye deuide the lande.
The names of the men are these: Of the tribe of Iuda, Caleb the sonne of Iephune.
Of the tribe of the chyldren of Simeon, Semuel the sonne of Amiud.
Of the tribe of Beniamin, Elidad the sonne of Cislon.
Of the tribe of the chyldren of Dan, the lorde Bucki, the sonne of Iogli.
From among the chyldren of Ioseph, for the tribe of the chyldren of Manasse, the lorde Haniel, the sonne of Ephod.
Of the tribe of the childre{n} of Ephraim, the lorde Camuel the sonne of Siphtan.
Of the tribe of the sonnes of Zabulon, the lorde Elisaphan the sonne of Pharnach.
Of the tribe of the chyldren of Isachar, the lorde Palthiel the sonne of Asan.
Of the tribe of the sonnes of Aser, the lorde Ahihud the sonne of Salomi.
Of the tribe of the chyldren of Nephthali, the lorde Pedael, the sonne of Ammihud.
These are they whom the Lord commaunded to deuide the inheritaunce vn-the chyldren of Israel in the lande of Chanaan.
AND the Lorde spake vnto Moyses in the fieldes of Moab by Iordane ouer against Iericho, saying:
Commaunde {th}e chyldren of Israel, that they geue vnto the Leuites of the inheritaunce of their possession, cities to dwell in: And ye shal geue also vnto the cities of the Leuites, suburbes harde by their cities rounde about them.
The cities shall they haue to dwell in, and the suburbes for their cattell, and for their possession, & al maner of beastes of theirs.
And the suburbes of the cities whiche ye shall geue vnto the Leuites, shall reache from the wall of the citie outwarde, a thousande cubites rounde about.
And ye shall measure without the citie of the east syde, two thousande cubites: and of the south syde, two thousande cubites: and of the west side, two thousand cubites: and of the north side, two thousande cubites also, and the citie shalbe in the middes: and these shalbe the suburbes of their cities.
And from among the cities whiche ye shall geue vnto the Leuites, there shal be sixe cities for refuge, whiche ye shall appoynt [to that intent] that he whiche kylleth, may flee thyther: And to them ye shall adde fourtie and two cities mo.
So that all the cities whiche ye shall geue the Leuites, may be fourtie and eyght, them [shall ye geue] with their suburbes.
And these cities whiche ye shall geue, shalbe out of the possession of the chyldren of Israel. They that haue many, shall geue many: but of them that haue fewe, ye shall take fewe. Euery one shal geue of his cities vnto the Leuites, accordyng to the inheritaunce whiche he inheriteth.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses, saying:
Speake vnto the chyldren of Israel, and say vnto them: When ye be come ouer Iordane into the lande of Chanaan:
Ye shall appoint you cities, to be cities of refuge for you: that he whiche sleeth a person vnwares, may flee thyther.
And these cities shalbe vnto you a refuge from the auenger of blood: that he which killeth, dye not, vntill he stand before the congregation in iudgement.
And of these cities which ye shal geue, sixe cities shall ye haue for refuge.
Ye shal geue three on this side Iordane, and three in the land of Chanaan, whiche shalbe cities of refuge.
And these sixe cities shalbe a refuge, both for the chyldren of Israel, and for the straunger, & for hym that dwelleth among you: that all they whiche kyll any person vnwares, may flee thyther.
And if any man smyte another with an instrument of iron that he dye, then is he a murtherer, and the murtherer shall dye for it.
If he smyte hym with throwyng a stone, that a man may dye with, and if he dye, he that smote hym is a murtherer: let the same murtherer be slayne therefore.
Or if he smyte hym with a handweapon of wood that a man may dye with, then if he dye, he is a murtherer: let the same murtherer be slaine therfore.
The reuenger of blood himselfe shal slay the murtherer: when he meeteth hym, he shall slay hym.
But if he thrust hym of hate, or hurle at hym by laying of wayte, that he dye,
Or smyte hym with his hande of enmitie that he dye: he that smote hym shall dye the death, for he is a murtherer: the reuenger of the blood shall slay the murtherer when he meeteth hym.
But if he pusshed hym vnaduisedly, and not of hate, or cast vpon hym any thing, and not in laying of wayte,
Or any maner of stone that a man may dye with, and saw him not, and he caused it to fall vpon hym, and he dye, and was not his enemie, neither sought hym any harme:
Then the congregation shal iudge betweene the slayer and the reuenger of blood, according to these lawes.
And the congregation shall deliuer the slayer out of the hande of the reuenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore hym to the citie of his refuge, whyther he was fled: and he shal abide there vnto the death of the hye priest, whiche was annoynted with the holy oyle.
But if the slayer come without the borders of his citie of refuge, whyther he was fled:
And the reuenger of blood finde hym without the borders of the citie of his refuge, and the reuenger of blood kyll the slayer, he shalbe gyltlesse:
Because he shoulde haue bydden in the towne of his refuge vntill the death of the hye priest: and after the death of the hye priest, the slayer should returne vnto the lande of his possession.
So these thynges shalbe a lawe of iudgement vnto you, throughout your generations, in al your dwellinges.
Whoso kylleth any person, the [Iudge] shall put the murtherer to death thorowe wytnesses: but one wytnesse shall not testifie agaynst any person, to cause hym to dye.
Moreouer, ye shal take no recompence for the lyfe of the murtherer whiche is worthy to dye: but he shalbe put to death.
And ye shall take no recompence for him that is fled to the citie of his refuge, that he shoulde come againe and dwell in the lande before the death of the hye priest.
So ye shall not pollute the lande whiche ye shall dwell in, for blood defileth the lande: and the lande can not be clensed of the blood that is shed therin, but by the blood of hym that shed blood.
Defile not therefore the lande whiche ye shal inhabite, for I am in the middes therof: [euen] I the Lord dwell among the chyldren of Israel.
ANd the chiefe fathers of the families of the chyldren of Geliad, the sonne of Machir, the sonne of Manasse, of the kinred of the sonnes of Ioseph, came foorth and spake before Moyses, and before the princes the chiefe fathers of the chyldren of Israel,
And sayd: The Lorde commaunded my Lorde to geue the land to inherite by lot to the chyldren of Israel: and my Lorde was commaunded by the Lord, to geue the inheritaunce of Zelaphead our brother, vnto his daughters.
If they be maryed to any of {th}e sonnes of the other tribes of the chyldren of Israel, then shall their inheritaunce be taken from the inheritaunce of our fathers, and shalbe put to the inheritaunce of the tribe which they are receaued into, and so shal it be taken from the lot of our inhertaunce.
And when the Iubilee of the children of Israel commeth, then shall their inheritaunce be put vnto the inheritaunce of the tribe wherinto they are receaued, and so shall their inheritaunce be taken away from the inheritaunce of the tribe of our fathers.
And Moyses commaunded the chyldren of Israel, according to the worde of the Lorde, saying: The tribe of the sonnes of Ioseph haue sayd well.
This therefore doth the Lorde commaunde the daughters of Zelaphead, saying: Let them be wyues, to whom they them selues thinke best: only to the familie of the tribe of their father shall they marry.
So shall not the inheritaunce of the children of Israel remoue from tribe to tribe: for euery one of the chyldren of Israel shall ioyne hym selfe to the inheritaunce of the tribe of his fathers.
And euery daughter that possesseth any inheritaunce in any tribe of the chyldre{n} of Israel, shalbe wyfe vnto one of the kinred of the tribe of her father, that the chyldren of Israel may enioy euery man the inheritaunce of his father.
Neither ought the inheritaunce to go from one tribe to another: but euery one of the tribes of the chyldren of Israel shalbe ioyned to his owne inheritaunce.
And as the Lord commaunded Moyses, euen so dyd the daughters of Zelaphead:
For Mahela, Thirza, Hagla, Milcha, and Noa the daughters of Zelaphead, were maryed vnto their fathers brothers sonnes.
They were wyues vnto the families of the sonnes of Manasse the sonne of Ioseph, and so their inheritaunce remayned in the tribe of the kinred of their father.
These are the co{m}maundementes and lawes whiche the Lorde commaunded by the hande of Moyses vnto the chyldren of Israel, in the fieldes of Moab, by Iordane [towarde] Iericho.
THese be the wordes whiche Moyses spake vnto all Israel on the other side Iordan in the wyldernesse, in {th}e playne ouer agaynst the red sea, betweene Pharan & Thophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Disahab.
There are eleuen dayes iourney from Horeb, by the way of mount Seir, vnto Cades Barnea.
And it came to passe in the first day of the eleuenth moneth, in the fourtie yere, that Moyses spake vnto the chyldren of Israel, accordyng vnto all that the Lord had geuen hym in commaundement vnto them:
After he had slayne Sehon the king of the Amorites whiche dwelt in Hesbon, & Og king of Basan whiche dwelt at Astaroth in Edrai.
On the other side Iordane in the land of Moab, began Moyses to declare this lawe, saying:
The Lorde our God spake vnto vs in Horeb, saying: Ye haue dwelt long inough in this mount.
Turne you and take your iourney, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and vnto all the places nye therevnto, both vnto the playne, and hilles, and dales, to the south, to the seas side, to the lande of Chanaan, and vnto Libanon, euen vnto the great riuer, the riuer Euphrates.
Beholde, I haue set the lande before you: Go in and possesse the land which the Lord sware vnto your fathers, Abraham, Isahac, and Iacob, to geue vnto them, & to their seede after them.
And I spake vnto you in the same time, saying: I am not able to beare you my selfe alone.
For the Lorde your God hath multiplied you: so that you be this day as the starres of heauen in number.
(The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many mo as ye are, and blesse you as he hath promised you.)
Howe can I my selfe alone, beare your cumbraunce, your charge, & your stryfe that is among you?
Bryng you men of wysdome, and of vnderstanding, and expert, accordyng to your tribes, and I wyll make them rulers ouer you.
And ye aunswered me, & sayde: That which {tho}u hast spoken, is good for vs to do.
And so out of your tribes I toke the chiefe men of wysdome, and that were expert, and made them rulers ouer you, captaynes ouer thousandes, & captaines ouer hundredes, captaines ouer fiftie, and captaines ouer ten, and officers among your tribes.
And I charged your Iudges that same tyme, saying: Heare the cause of your brethren, and iudge righteously betweene euery man and his brother, and the straunger that is with hym.
Ye shall haue no respect of any person in iudgement, but you shall heare the small aswell as the great: You shall not feare the face of any man, for the iudgement is Gods. And the cause that is to harde for you, referre it vnto me, and I wyll heare it.
And I co{m}maunded you the same season, all the thinges which ye should do.
And when we departed from Horeb, we went thorow all that great and terrible wyldernesse, as ye haue seene by the way of the mountayne of the Amorites, as the Lorde our God commaunded vs: and we came to Cades Barnea.
And I sayd vnto you: Ye are come vnto {th}e mountaine of {th}e Amorites, which the Lorde our God doth geue vnto vs.
Beholde, the Lorde thy God hath set the lande before thee: go vp and possesse it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath sayd vnto thee: feare not, neither be discouraged.
And ye came vnto me euery one, and sayde: we wyll sende men before vs, to searche vs out the land, and to bryng vs worde agayne what way we must go vp by, & vnto what cities we shall come.
And the saying pleased me well: and I toke twelue men of you, of euery tribe one.
Whiche departed, & went vp into that mountayne, and came vnto the valley Eschol, and searched it out,
And toke of the lande in their handes, and brought it vnto vs, and brought vs word agayne, and sayd: It is a good lande whiche the Lorde our God doth geue vs.
Notwithstandyng, ye woulde not go vp, but were disobedient vnto the word of the Lorde your God,
And murmured in your tentes, and said: Because {th}e Lord hateth vs, therfore hath he brought vs out of the lande of Egypt, to deliuer vs into the hande of the Amorites, and to destroy vs.
Whyther shal we go vp? Our brethren haue discouraged our heart, saying: the people is greater and taller then we, the cities are great, and walled euen vp to heauen, and moreouer we haue seene the sonnes of the Anakims there.
Then I sayde vnto you: Dreade not, nor be afraide of them.
The Lorde your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, accordyng to all that he dyd vnto you in Egypt before your eyes:
And in the wyldernesse, where thou hast seene howe that the Lord thy God bare thee, euen as a man doth beare his sonne, in al the way which ye haue gone by, vntill ye came vnto this place:
And yet in this thing ye did not beleue the Lorde your God.
He went in the way before you, to searche you out a place to pitche your tentes in, in fyre by nyght, {th}e ye myght see what way to go, & in a cloude by day.
And the Lorde hearde the voyce of your wordes, & was wroth, and sware, saying:
There shall not one of these men, and of this frowarde generation, see that good lande whiche I sware to geue vnto your fathers:
Saue Caleb the sonne of Iephune, he shall see it, and to him wyll I geue the lande that he hath troden vpon, and to his chyldren, because he hath folowed the Lorde.
Also the Lorde was angry with me for your sakes, saying: Thou also shalt not go in thyther.
But Iosuah the sonne of Nun which standeth before thee, he shal go in thyther. Encourage hym therfore: for he shall cause Israel to inherite the lande.
Moreouer, your chyldren, which ye sayde should be a pray, and your sonnes whiche in that day had no knowledge betweene good and euyll, they shall go in thyther, and vnto them wyll I geue it, and they shall enioy it.
But as for you, turne your face, and take your iourney into the wildernesse, euen by the way of the red sea.
Then ye aunswered and sayde vnto me, We haue sinned agaynst the Lord: we wyll go vp and fight, according to all that the Lorde our God commaunded vs. And when ye had gyrde on euery man his weapons of warre, ye were redie to go vp into the hyll.
And the Lord sayd vnto me: Say vnto them, go not vp, neither fight, for I am not among you: lest ye fall before your enemies.
And I tolde you these thynges, & you woulde not heare, but disobayed the worde of the Lord, and went presumptuously vp into the hyll.
And the Amorites whiche dwelt in that mountayne, came out against you, and chased you as bees vse to do, and destroyed you in Seir, euen vnto Horma.
And ye came agayne, and wept before the Lorde: but the Lorde would not heare your voyce, nor hearken vnto you.
And so ye abode in Cades a long season, according vnto the tyme that ye remayned [before.]
THen we turned our face, & toke our iourney into the wyldernesse, euen by the way of the red sea, as the Lorde spake vnto me: And we compassed mount Seir a long tyme.
And the Lord spake vnto me, saying:
Ye haue compassed this mountayne long inough, turne you northwarde.
And warne thou {th}e people, saying: Ye shall go through the coast of your brethren the chyldren of Esau which dwelt in Seir, and they shalbe afraide of you.
Take ye good heede vnto your selues therfore: Ye shall not prouoke them, for I wyll not geue you of their lande, no not so much as a foote breadth, because I haue geuen mount Seir vnto Esau to possesse.
Ye shall bye meate of them for money, to eate, and ye shall procure water of them for money, to drinke.
For the Lorde thy God hath blessed thee in all the workes of thy hande, and knoweth thy walkyng through this great wyldernesse this fourtie yeres, and the Lorde thy God hath ben with thee, so that thou hast lacked nothing.
And when we were departed from our brethren the children of Esau which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the wyldernesse from Elath, & from Ezion Gaber, we turned and went by the way of the wyldernesse of Moab.
And the Lorde sayd vnto me: Thou shalt not fight agaynst the Moabites, neither prouoke them to battayle: for I wyll not geue thee of their lande to possesse, because I haue geuen Ar vnto the chyldren of Loth to possesse.
The Emims dwelt therin in tymes past, a people great, many, and tall, as the Anakims,
Whiche also were taken for giauntes as the Anakims, whom the Moabites call Emims.
The Horims also dwelt in Seir before tyme, whom the chyldren of Esau chased out, & destroyed them before them, and dwelt in their steade, as Israel did vnto the lande of his possession, whiche the Lorde gaue them.
Nowe ryse vp [sayde I] and get you ouer the riuer Zared: and we went ouer the riuer Zared.
The space in whiche we came from Cades Barnea, vntill we were come ouer the riuer Zared, was thirtie and eyght yeres, vntyll all the generation of the men of warre were wasted out from among the hoast, as the Lorde sware vnto them.
For in deede the hande of the Lorde was against them to destroy them fro{m} among {th}e hoast, til they were co{n}sumed.
And so it came to passe, that all the men of warre were consumed and dead from among the people.
And the Lord spake vnto me, saying:
Thou shalt go thorowe Ar, the coast of Moab, this day:
And when thou commest nye vnto the chyldren of Ammon, thou shalt not lay siege vnto the{m}, nor moue warre against them: For I wyll not geue thee of the lande of the chyldren of Ammon any possession, but I haue geuen it vnto the chyldren of Loth to possesse.
That also was taken for a lande of giauntes, and giauntes dwelt therin in olde tyme, whom the Ammonites call Zamzummims.
A people that was great, many, and tall, as the Anakims: But the Lorde destroyed them before them, and they succeeded them in their inheritaunce, and dwelt in their steade:
As he dyd for the chyldren of Esau, whiche dwell in Seir, for whom he destroyed the Horims before them, and they possessed them, and dwelt in their steade vnto this day.
And the Auims which dwelt in Hazarim, euen vnto Azza, the Caphthorims whiche came out of Caphthor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their steade.
Rise ye vp therefore, & take your iourney ouer the ryuer Arnon: Beholde, I haue geuen into thy hande Sehon the Amorite, king of Hesbon and his lande: begin to possesse it, and prouoke hym to battayle.
This day will I beginne to sende the feare and dread of thee vpon al nations that are vnder all the heauen, so that they whiche heare speake of thee, shall tremble and quake before thee.
And so I sent messengers out of {th}e wildernes of Kedemoth, vnto Sehon king of Hesbo{n}, with wordes of peace, saying:
Let me passe through thy lande, I wyll go along by the hye way, I wyll neither turne vnto the ryght hande, nor to the left.
Thou shalt sell me meate for money, for to eate, & geue me water for money, for to drinke: Only I wyll go through on my feete,
As the children of Esau, which dwel in Seir, and the Moabites which dwel in Ar, dyd vnto me, vntyll I be come ouer Iordane, into the lande which the Lorde our God geueth vs.
But Sehon {th}e kyng of Hesbon woulde not let vs passe by hym: for the Lorde thy God hardened his spirite, and made his heart obstinate, because he woulde deliuer him into thy hande, as it is come to passe this day.
And the Lord said vnto me: Beholde, I haue begunne to geue Sehon & his lande before thee: begunne to possesse and inherite his lande.
Then both Sehon and all his people came out agaynst vs to fight at Iaza.
And the Lorde set hym before vs, and we smote hym, and his sonnes, and all his people.
And we toke all his cities the same season, and slue the men, women, and children of all the cities, and let nothyng remayne,
Saue the cattell onely we caught vnto our selues, and the spoyle of the cities which we toke.
From Aroer which is by the brinke of the riuer of Arnon, and from the citie that is in the riuer, vnto Gilead, there was not one citie to strong for vs: The Lorde our God deliuered all vnto vs.
Only vnto the lande of the children of Ammon thou camest not, nor vnto euery place of the riuer Iabock, nor vnto the cities in the mountaynes, nor vnto whatsoeuer the Lorde our God forbad vs.
THen we turned, and went vp the way to Basan: And Og the kyng of Basan came out agaynst vs, he and all his people, to fyght at Edrai.
And the Lorde sayde vnto me: Feare hym not, for I wyll deliuer hym, and all his people, and his lande, into thy hande, and thou shalt do vnto hym, as thou diddest vnto Sehon kyng of the Amorites, which dwelt at Hesbon.
And so the Lorde our God deliuered into our handes Og also the kyng of Basan, and all his folke: And we smote hym vntyll none was left hym alyue.
And we toke all his cities the same season, neither was there a citie which we toke not from them, euen threescore cities throughout the region of Argob, of the kyngdome of Og in Basan.
All these cities also were made strong with hye walles, gates, & barres, beside vnwalled townes a great meany,
And we vtterly destroyed them, as we dyd vnto Sehon kyng of Hesbon, bryngyng to naught all the cities, with men, women, and children:
But all the cattell and the spoyle of the cities, we toke for our selues.
And thus we toke the same season out of the hande of two kynges of the Amorites, the land that was on the other side Iordane, from the riuer of Arnon, vnto mount Hermon:
(Which Hermon the Sidons call Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir)
All the cities that lay in the playne, and all Gilead, and all Basan vnto Selcha and Edrai, cities of the kyngdome of Og in Basan:
For only Og kyng of Basan, remayned of the remnaunt of the giauntes, whose bed was a bed of iron: And is it not yet at Rabbath among {th}e children of Ammon? Nine cubites doth the length therof contayne, and foure cubites the breadth of it, after the cubite of a man.
And so we conquered this lande the same tyme, from Aroer which is by the riuer of Arnon, vnto halfe mount Gilead, and the cities therof gaue I vnto the Rubenites and Gadites.
And the rest of Gilead, and all Basan of the kyngdome of Og, gaue I vnto the halfe tribe of Manasse: euen all the region of Argob, with all Basan, which is called the lande of giauntes.
Iair the sonne of Manasse, toke all the countrey of Argob, vnto the coastes of Gessuri & Maachati, and called them after his owne name, Basan Hauoth Iair, vnto this day.
And I gaue Gilead vnto Machir.
And vnto the Rubenites and Gadites I gaue Gilead vnto the riuer of Arnon, halfe the valley and beyonde, euen vnto the riuer Iabock, which is the border of the children of Ammon:
The playne also, and Iordane, and the coast therof, from Cenereth, euen vnto the sea which is in the playne, euen the salt sea vnder the springes of the hyll, eastwarde.
And I commaunded you the same tyme, saying: The Lorde your God hath geuen you this lande to enioy it: ye shall go harnessed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are meete for the warre.
Your wyues only, your children, and your cattell (for I knowe that ye haue much cattell) shall abyde in your cities which I haue geuen you,
Vntyll the Lorde haue geuen rest vnto your brethren as well as vnto you, and vntyll they also possesse the lande which the Lorde your God hath geuen them beyonde Iordane: and then shall ye returne agayne, euery man vnto his possession which I haue geuen you.
And I commaunded Iosuah hym selfe the same tyme, saying: Thyne eyes haue seene all that the Lorde your God hath done vnto these two kynges: euen so shall he do vnto all kyngdomes whither thou goest.
Ye shall not feare them: for the Lorde your God he shall fyght for you.
And I besought the Lorde the same tyme, saying:
O Lorde God, thou hast begunne to shewe thy seruaunt thy greatnesse and thy mightie hande: for where is there a God in heauen or in earth, that can do after thy workes, and like to thy power?
I pray thee let me go ouer, and see the good lande that is beyonde Iordane, that goodly mountayne, & Libanon.
But the Lorde was angry with me for your sakes, and woulde not heare me. And the Lorde sayde vnto me: Be content, speake no more vnto me of this matter.
Get thee vp into the top of the hyll, & lift vp thyne eyes westwarde, northwarde, southwarde, and eastwarde, and beholde it with thyne eyes: for thou shalt not go ouer this Iordane.
But charge Iosuah, and encourage hym, and bolden hym: For he shall go before this people, and he shall deuide vnto the{m} the lande which thou shalt see.
And so we abode in the valley ouer agaynst the house of Peor.
NOwe therfore harken O Israel, vnto the ordinaunces and lawes which I teache you, for to do them, that so ye may lyue, and go in, & possesse the lande which the Lorde God of your fathers geueth you.
Ye shall put nothyng vnto the word which I commaunde you, neither shall you take ought from it, that ye may kepe the co{m}maundementes of the Lord your God which I commaunde you.
Your eyes haue seene what {th}e Lorde dyd agaynst Baal Peor: for all the men that folowed Baall Peor, the Lorde thy God hath destroyed from among you.
But ye that cleaue vnto the Lord your god, are aliue euery one of you this day.
Beholde I haue taught you ordinaunces and lawes, such as the Lorde my God co{m}maunded me, that ye should do euen so in the lande whither ye go to possesse it.
Kepe them therfore and do them, for that is your wisdome and vnderstandyng in the syght of the people, that they may heare all these ordinaunces, and say: Surely it is a wise and vnderstandyng people, it is a great nation.
For what other nation is so great that gods come so nye vnto, as the Lorde our God is nye vnto vs in all thinges as oft as we call vnto hym?
Yea, and what nation is so great, that hath ordinaunces & lawes so righteous, as all this lawe which I set before you this day?
Take heede to thy selfe therefore, and kepe thy soule diligently, that thou forget not the thynges which thyne eyes haue seene, and that they depart not out of thy heart all the dayes of thy life: but teache them thy sonnes, & thy sonnes sonnes.
Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lorde thy God in Horeb, when the Lorde sayd vnto me: Gather me the people together, & I wyll make them heare my wordes, that they may learne to feare me all the dayes that they shall lyue vpon the earth, and that they may teache their children.
Ye came and stoode also vnder the mountayne, and the mountayne burnt with fire euen vnto the middes of heauen, and there was darknesse, cloudes, and mist.
And the Lorde spake vnto you out of the middes of the fire, and ye hearde the voyce of the wordes: but sawe no similitude, saue hearde a voyce only.
And he declared vnto you his couenaunt which he commaunded you to do [euen] ten commaundementes, which he wrote vpon two tables of stone.
And the Lorde commaunded me that same season that I shoulde teache you ordinaunces & lawes, which ye ought to do in the lande whyther ye go to possesse it.
Take therfore good heede vnto your selues as pertaynyng vnto your soules, (for ye sawe no maner of image in the day that the Lorde spake vnto you in Horeb, out of the middes of fire)
Lest ye marre your selues, & make you a grauen image, & picture of any maner of figure, whether it be the likenesse of man or woman.
The likenesse of any maner of beast that is on the earth, or the likenesse of any maner fethered foule that fleeth in the ayre,
Or the likenesse of any maner worme that creepeth on the earth, or the likenesse of any maner fishe that is in the waters beneath the earth:
Yea, and lest thou lift vp thyne eyes vnto heauen, and when thou seest the sunne, the moone, and the starres, with all the hoast of heauen, shouldest be driuen to worship them, & serue them, and shouldest worship and serue the thynges, which the Lorde thy God hath made to serue all nations vnder the whole heauen.
But the Lorde hath taken you, and brought you out of the iron furnace, euen out of Egypt, to be vnto hym a people & inheritaunce, as ye be this day.
Furthermore, the Lorde was angry with me for your wordes, and sware that I shoulde not go ouer Iordane, and that I shoulde not go in vnto that good lande which the Lorde thy God geueth thee to inheritaunce.
But I must dye in this lande, and shal not go ouer Iordane: But ye shall go ouer, and possesse that good lande.
Take heede vnto your selues, that ye forget not {th}e appoyntment of the Lorde your God which he made with you, & that ye make you no grauen image or likenesse that the Lorde thy God hath forbidden thee.
For the Lorde thy God, is a consumyng fire, and a ielous God.
When thou shalt beget children, and thy children beget children, and shalt haue remayned long in the lande, ye do wickedly, & make any maner of grauen image, and worke euyll in the sight of the Lorde thy God, to prouoke hym to anger:
I call heauen and earth to recorde agaynst you this day, that ye shall shortly perishe from of {th}e lande whervnto you go ouer Iordane to possesse it: Ye shall not prolong your dayes therin, but shall vtterly be destroyed:
And the Lord shall scatter you among the people, and ye shalbe left fewe in number among the nations whyther the Lorde shall bryng you.
And there ye shall serue gods which are the worke of mans hande, wood and stone, which neither see, nor heare, nor eate, nor smell.
If from thence thou shalt seke the Lorde thy God, thou shalt finde hym, if thou seke hym with all thy heart, and with all thy soule.
When thou art in tribulation, & when all these thynges that be here spoken of, are come vpon thee, euen in the latter dayes yf thou turne to the Lorde thy God, & shalt be obedient vnto his voyce:
(For the Lorde thy God is a mercifull God) he wyll not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the appoyntment of thy fathers, which he sware vnto them.
For aske of the dayes that are past, which were before & since the day that God created man vpon the earth, and [aske] from the one side of heauen vnto the other, if euer there came to passe such a great thyng, or whether any such lyke thyng hath ben hearde as this.
Dyd euer any people heare the voyce of God speakyng out of the middes of a fire, as thou hast hearde, and yet lyued?
Or hath God assayed to go and take hym a people from among nations, by temptations, by signes, by wonders, by warre, by a mightie hand, by a stretched out arme, & by great sightes, accordyng vnto all that the Lorde your God dyd vnto you in Egypt before your eyes?
Vnto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest knowe that the Lord is God, and that there is none other but he.
Out of heauen he made thee heare his voyce, that he might instruct thee: & vpon earth he shewed thee his great fire, and thou heardest his worde out of the middes of the fire.
And because he loued thy fathers, he chose their seede after them, & brought thee out in his sight with his mightie power out of Egypt,
To thrust out nations great and mightier then thou before thee, and to bryng thee in, and to geue thee their lande to inheritaunce, as it is come to passe this day.
Vnderstande therfore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lorde he is God in heauen aboue, and vpon the earth beneath, neither is there any other.
Thou shalt kepe therefore his ordinaunces and his commaundementes which I commaunde thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy dayes vpon {th}e earth, which the Lorde thy God geueth thee for euer.
Then Moyses seuered three cities on the other side Iordane towarde the sunne rysyng:
That he shoulde flee thyther which had kylled his neyghbour vnwares, & hated hym not in tyme past, and therfore shoulde flee vnto one of the same cities, and lyue:
Namely Bezer in the wildernesse, euen in the playne countrey of the tribe of Ruben, and Ramoth in Gilead, of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Basan, of the tribe of Manasse.
And so this is the lawe which Moyses set before the children of Israel:
These are the witnesse, statutes, and ordinaunces, which Moyses tolde the children of Israel after they came out of Egypt,
On the other side Iordane, in the valley ouer agaynst the house of Peor, in the lande of Sehon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Hesbon, whom Moyses & the children of Israel smote, after they were come out of Egypt,
And possessed his lande, and the lande of Og kyng of Basan, two kynges of the Amorites, which were on the other side Iordane towarde the sunne rising,
From Aroer which is by the bancke of the riuer Arnon, vnto mount Sion which is Hermon,
And all the playne on the other side Iordane eastwarde, euen vnto the sea which is in the playne vnder {th}e springes of the hyll.
AND Moyses called all Israel, and sayde vnto them: Heare O Israel the ordinau{n}ces and lawes which I speake in your eares this day, that ye may learne them, and fulfill them in deede.
The Lord our God made a couenaunt with vs in Horeb.
The Lorde made not this couenaunt with our fathers, but with vs: euen with vs, which are all here alyue this day.
The Lorde talked with you face to face in the mount, out of the middes of the fire:
And I stoode betweene the Lorde and you the same tyme, and shewed you the worde of the Lord: For ye were afrayde at the sight of the fire, and went not vp into the mount, and he sayde:
I am the Lorde thy God, which brought thee out of the lande of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Thou shalt haue none other Gods in my presence.
Thou shalt make thee no grauen image, or any likenesse of that which is in heauen aboue, and that is in earth beneath, and that is in the waters beneath the earth.
Thou shalt neither bowe thy selfe vnto them, nor serue them: for I the Lord thy God, am a ielouse God, visityng the wickednesse of the fathers vpon the children, euen vnto the third and fourth generation among them that hate me:
And shewe mercie vpon thousandes, among them that loue me, and kepe my commaundementes.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vayne: for the Lorde wyll not holde him giltlesse that taketh his name in vayne.
Kepe the Sabbath day, that thou sanctifie it as the Lorde thy God hath commaunded thee.
Sixe dayes thou shalt labour, and do all that thou hast to do:
But the seuenth day is the Sabbath of the Lorde thy God: thou shalt not do any worke, thou nor thy sonne, nor thy daughter, nor thy man seruaunt, nor thy mayde, nor thine oxe, nor thine asse, nor any of thy cattell, nor the straunger that is within thy gates: that thy man seruaunt, and thy mayde, may rest as well as thou.
Remember that thou wast a seruaunt in the lande of Egypt, and howe that the Lorde thy God brought thee out thence, through a mightie hande and a stretched out arme: For which cause the Lorde thy God commaunded thee to kepe the Sabbath day.
Honour thy father & thy mother, as the Lorde thy God hath commaunded thee: that thy dayes may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee in the lande which the Lorde thy God geueth thee.
Thou shalt not slay.
Thou shalt not commit adulterie.
Thou shalt not steale.
Thou shalt not beare false witnesse agaynst thy neyghbour.
Thou shalt not lust after thy neyghbours wyfe, thou shalt not couet thy neyghbours house, his fielde, his seruaunt, or his mayde, his oxe, his asse, or ought that thy neyghbour hath.
These wordes the Lorde spake vnto all your multitude in the mount, out of the middes of the fire, of the cloude, and of the darkenesse, with a great voyce, and added nothyng: and wrote them in two tables of stone, and deliuered them vnto me.
And it came to passe, that when ye hearde the voyce out of the middes of the darkenesse (for the mountayne dyd burne with fire) then ye came vnto me, with the captaynes of your tribes, and your elders,
And ye sayde: Beholde, the Lorde our God hath shewed vs his glorie and his greatnesse, and we haue hearde his voyce out of the middes of the fire: we haue seene this day that God doth talke with man, and he yet lyueth.
Nowe therfore why shoulde we dye? that this great fire shoulde consume vs: If we heare the voyce of the Lord our God any more, we shall dye:
For what fleshe hath it ben that euer hearde the voyce of the lyuyng God speakyng out of the middes of the fire (as we haue done) and yet dyd lyue?
Go thou and heare all that the Lorde our God sayth, and tell thou vnto vs all that the Lord our God sayth vnto thee, and we wyll heare it, and do it.
And the Lorde hearde the voyce of your wordes when ye spake vnto me, and the Lorde sayde vnto me: I haue hearde the voyce of the wordes of this people, which they haue spoken vnto thee: they haue well sayde all that they haue spoken.
Oh that there were such an heart in them that they woulde feare me, & kepe all my co{m}maundementes alway, that it myght go well with them, and with their childen for euer?
Go, and say vnto them, Get you into your tentes agayne:
But stande thou here by me, and I wyll tell thee all the co{m}maundementes, ordinaunces, & lawes, which thou shalt teache them, that they may do them in the lande which I geue the{m} to possesse.
Take heede therfore that ye do in deede as the Lord your God hath commaunded you, and turne not aside, either to the right hande, or to the left:
But walke in all the wayes which the Lorde your God hath co{m}maunded you, that ye may lyue, and that it may go well with you, and that ye may prolong your dayes in the lande which ye shall possesse.
THese are the co{m}maundeme{n}tes, ordinaunces, and lawes, which the Lorde your God commaunded me to teache you, that ye might do them in the lande whither ye go to possesse it:
Namely, that thou mightest feare the Lord thy God, & kepe all his ordinaunces and his commaundementes which I commaunde thee, thou & thy sonne, & thy sonnes sonne all the dayes of thy lyfe: that thy dayes may be prolonged.
Heare therfore O Israel, and take heede that thou do it, that it may go well with thee, & that ye may encrease mightily, euen as the Lorde God of thy fathers hath promised thee, a lande that floweth with mylke and honie.
Heare O Israel, the Lorde our God is Lorde only.
And thou shalt loue the Lorde thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soule, and with all thy myght.
And these wordes which I commaunde thee this day, shalbe in thine heart:
And thou shalt shewe them vnto thy children, and shalt talke of them when thou art at home in thine house, and as thou walkest by the way, & when thou lyest downe, and when thou risest vp.
And thou shalt binde them for a signe vpon thine hande, and they shalbe as frontlettes betweene thine eyes,
And thou shalt write them vpon the postes of thy house, & vpon thy gates.
And when the Lorde thy God hath brought thee into the lande which he sware vnto thy fathers, Abraham, Isahac, and Iacob, and shall geue to thee great & goodly cities which thou buildedst not,
Houses full of all maner of goodes which thou filledst not, & welles digged which thou diggedst not, vineyardes and oliue trees which thou plantedst not, and when thou hast eaten & art full:
Then beware lest thou forget {th}e Lorde which brought thee out of the lande of Egypt from the house of bondage.
Thou shalt feare the Lorde thy God and serue hym, and shalt sweare by his name.
See that ye walke not after straunge gods, the gods of the nations which are about you:
(For the Lorde thy God is a ielous God among you) lest the countenaunce of the Lorde thy God be moued to wrath agaynst thee, and destroy thee from the face of the earth.
Ye shall not tempt the Lorde your God, as ye dyd in the place of temptation.
But you shall diligently kepe the commaundementes of the Lord your God, & his testimonies, and his ordinaunces which he hath commaunded thee:
And thou shalt do that which is right & good in the sight of the Lorde: that thou mayst prosper, and that thou mayst go in, & possesse that good lande which the Lorde sware vnto thy fathers,
To cast out all thine enemies before thee, as the Lorde hath sayde.
And when thy sonne asketh thee in tyme to come, saying: What meaneth these testimonies, ordinaunces, and lawes, which the Lorde our God hath commaunded you?
Then thou shalt say vnto thy sonne: We were Pharaos bondmen in Egypt, and the Lorde brought vs out of Egypt with a mightie hande:
And the Lorde shewed signes, and wonders, great and euyll vpon Egypt, vpon Pharao, and vpon all his householde, before our eyes:
And brought vs out from thence, to bryng vs in and to geue vs the lande which he sware vnto our fathers.
And he hath commaunded vs to do all these ordinaunces, & to feare the Lorde our God for our wealth all the dayes of our lyfe, as it is come to passe this day.
Moreouer, this shalbe our righteousnesse before the Lorde our God, if we take heede, & kepe all these commaundementes, as he hath commaunded vs.
WHen the Lord thy God shall bryng thee into {th}e lande whither thou goest to possesse it, and hath cast out many nations before thee: Namely the Hethites, the Gergesites, the Amorites, the Chanaanites, the Pherezites, the Heuites, & the Iebusites, seuen nations, greater and mightier then thou:
And when the Lorde thy God hath set them before thee, thou shalt smyte them, and vtterly destroy them, & make no couenaunt with them, nor haue compassion on them.
Thou shalt make no mariages with them: neither geue thy daughter vnto his sonne, nor take his daughter vnto thy sonne.
For they wyll deceaue thy sonne, that he shoulde not folowe me, and they shal serue straunge gods: and then wyll the wrath of the Lorde waxe hot agaynst thee, and destroy thee sodenly.
But thus ye shall deale with them: Ye shall ouerthrowe their aulters, & breake downe their pillers, cut downe their groues, and burne their grauen images with fire:
For thou art an holy people vnto the Lorde thy God, the Lorde thy God hath chosen thee, to be a speciall people vnto hym selfe, aboue all nations that are vpon the earth.
The Lorde dyd not set his loue vpon you, nor chose you because ye were mo in number then any people (for ye were the fewest of all people)
But because the Lorde loued you, and because he would kepe the othe which he had sworne vnto your fathers, therfore hath the Lorde brought you out through a mightie hande, and deliuered you out of the house of bondage, euen from the hande of Pharao kyng of Egypt.
Vnderstande therfore, that the Lorde thy God he is God, and that a true God, which kepeth appoyntment and mercie vnto them that loue hym and kepe his commaundementes, euen throughout a thousande generations:
And rewardeth them that hate hym to their face, so that he bryngeth them to naught, and doth not deferre the tyme, but rewardeth hym that hateth hym before his face.
Kepe thou therfore the commaundementes, and ordinaunces, and lawes, which I commaunde thee this day, that thou do them.
If ye hearken vnto these lawes, and obserue & do them: the Lord thy God also shall kepe vnto thee the appoyntment and the mercie which he sware vnto thy fathers.
He wyll loue thee, and blesse thee, and multiplie thee: he wyll also blesse the fruite of thy wombe, and the fruite of thy lande, thy corne, thy wine, and thine oyle, and the increase of thy kine, and the flockes of thy sheepe, in the lande which he sware vnto thy fathers to geue thee.
Thou shalt be blessed aboue all nations: there shalbe neither man nor woman vnfruitfull among you, nor any of your cattell shalbe barren.
Moreouer the Lorde wyll take away from thee all maner infirmities, & wyll put none of the euyll diseases of Egypt (which thou knowest) vpon thee: but wil sende them vpon all them that hate thee.
Thou shalt consume all the nations which the Lorde thy God shall deliuer thee: thine eye shall haue no pitie vpon them, neither shalt thou serue their gods, for that shalbe thy decay.
If thou say in thine heart: these nations are mo then I, howe can I cast them out?
Thou shalt not feare them: but remember what the Lorde thy God dyd vnto Pharao and vnto all Egypt.
The great temptations which thine eyes sawe, and the signes, & wonders, and the mightie hande, and stretched out arme, wherby the Lorde thy God brought thee out: euen so shall the Lord thy God do vnto all nations of whom thou art afrayde.
Moreouer the Lorde thy God wyll sende hornets among them, vntil they that are left, and hide them selues from thee, be destroyed.
Thou shalt not feare the{m}: for the Lord thy God is among you, a mightie God and a terrible.
For the Lorde thy God wyll put out these nations before thee by a litle and a litle: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beastes of the fielde increase vpon thee.
But the Lorde thy God shall geue them ouer before thee, and shall destroy them with a mightie destruction, vntyll he haue brought them to naught.
And he shall deliuer their kynges into thine hande, and thou shalt destroye their name from vnder heauen: There shall no man be able to stande before thee, vntyll thou haue destroyed them.
The graue{n} images of their gods shalt thou burne with fire: and couet not the golde and siluer that is on them, nor take it vnto thee, lest thou be snared therin: for it is an abhomination before the Lorde thy God.
Bryng not therfore abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thyng as it is: but vtterly defie it and abhorre it, for it is a cursed thyng.
ALl the commaundementes which I commaunde thee this day, shal ye kepe for to do the{m}, that ye may liue, and multiplie, and go in and possesse the lande which the Lorde sware vnto your fathers.
And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lorde thy God led thee this fourtie yeres in the wildernesse, for to humble thee, & to proue thee, and to knowe what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest kepe his co{m}maundementes, or no.
He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, & fed thee with Manna, which neither thou nor thy fathers knewe of, to make thee knowe that a man doth not lyue by bread only: but by euery [worde] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lorde, doth a man lyue.
Thy rayment waxed not olde vpon thee, neither dyd thy foote swell these fourtie yeres.
This also shalt thou consider in thine heart: that as a man chastiseth his sonne, euen so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.
Therefore shalt thou kepe the commaundementes of the Lorde thy God, that thou walke in his wayes, and feare hym.
For the Lorde thy God bryngeth thee into a good lande, a lande in the whiche are riuers of water, and fountaines and deapthes that spring out of valleys and hylles:
A lande wherin is wheate and barlie, vineyardes, fightrees, & pomgranates, a lande wherein is oyle oliue and honie:
A lande wherin thou shalt eate bread without scarcenes, neither shalt thou lacke any thyng: a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hylles thou shalt digge brasse.
When thou hast eaten therfore & filled thy selfe, thou shalt blesse the Lorde thy God for the good lande whiche he hath geuen thee.
Beware that thou forget not the Lorde thy God, that thou wouldest not kepe his co{m}maundementes, his lawes, and his ordinaunces, whiche I commaunde thee this day:
Yea, and when thou hast eaten and filled thy selfe, and hast buylt goodly houses and dwelt therein:
And when thy beastes and thy sheepe are waxen many, and thy siluer and golde is multiplied, and all that thou hast is encreased:
Then beware lest thyne heart ryse, and thou forget the Lorde thy God, whiche brought thee out of the lande of Egypt, and from the house of bondage:
And whiche was thy guyde in the great and terrible wyldernesse [wherein were] firie serpentes, scorpions, and drouth without any water: But he brought out water for thee, euen out of the rocke of flint.
He fed thee in the wyldernesse with Manna, which thy fathers knewe not, euen for to humble thee, and to proue thee, and that he might so do thee good at thy latter ende,
Lest thou shouldest say in thine heart, my power and the myght of myne owne hande hath prepared me this aboundaunce:
But remember the Lorde thy God, for it is he whiche geueth thee power to get substaunce, for to make good the promise whiche he sware vnto thy fathers, as appeareth this day.
And if thou forget the Lord thy God, and walke after straunge gods, and serue them, and worship them: I testifie vnto you this day, that ye shal surely perishe.
As the nations whiche the Lorde destroyed before your face, euen so ye shall perishe, because ye woulde not be obedient vnto the voyce of {th}e Lord your God.
HEare O Israel, thou passest ouer Iordane this day, to go in and possesse nations great and mightier then thy selfe, cities great and walled vp to heauen:
A people great & tall, euen the children of the Anakims, whiche thou knowest of, & of whom thou hast heard say, who wyll stand before the children of Anac?
Vnderstande therefore this day, that the Lorde thy God is euen he whiche goeth ouer before thee as a consuming fire, he shall destroy them, and he shall bryng them downe before thy face: So thou shalt caste them out, and bryng them to naught quickly, as the Lorde hath sayde vnto thee.
Speake not thou in thyne heart, after that the Lorde thy God hath cast them out before thee, saying, for my ryghteousnesse the Lorde hath brought me in, to possesse this lande: but for the wickednesse of these nations the Lord hath cast them out before thee.
It is not for thy righteousnesse sake, or for thy right heart, that thou goest to possesse their lande: But for the wickednesse of these nations, the Lord thy God doth cast them out before thee, eue{n} to perfourme the worde whiche the Lord thy God sware vnto thy fathers, Abraham, Isahac, and Iacob.
Vnderstand therfore that it is not for thy righteousnes sake, that the Lorde thy God doth geue thee this good lande to possesse it, seyng thou art a stifnecked people.
Remember & forget not, howe thou prouokedst the Lorde thy God in the wildernesse, since the day that thou diddest depart out of the lande of Egypt, vntyll ye came vnto this place, ye haue rebelled agaynst the Lorde.
Also in Horeb ye prouoked the Lord to anger, so that the Lorde was wroth with you, euen to haue destroyed you.
When I was gone vp into the mount, to receaue the tables of stone, the tables of the couenaunt which the Lord made with you, and I abode in the mount fourtie dayes & fourtie nightes, whe{n} I neither did eate bread nor drinke water.
And the Lorde deliuered me two tables of stone, written with the finger of God, and in them was contayned all the wordes whiche the Lorde saide vnto you in the mount out of {th}e middes of fire, in the day when ye came together.
And when the fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes were ended, the Lorde gaue me the two tables of stone, the tables of the couenaunt.
And the Lord sayde vnto me: Arise, and get thee downe quickly from hence, for thy people which thou hast brought out of Egypt, haue marred all: They are turned at once out of the waye which I commaunded them, and haue made them a moulten image.
Furthermore, the Lorde spake vnto me, saying: I haue seene this people, and beholde it is a stifnecked people.
Let me alone, that I may destroy them, & put out the name of them from vnder heauen, and I wyll make of thee a mightie nation, & greater then they be.
And I turned me, and came downe from the hyll, euen from the hyll that burnt with fire, and the two tables of the couenaunt were in my handes.
And I loked, and beholde ye had sinned against the Lorde your God, and had made you a moulten calfe, and had turned at once out of the way whiche the Lorde had commaunded you.
And I toke the two tables, and cast them out of my two handes, and brake them before your eyes.
And I fell downe flat before the Lord euen as at the first time, & fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes I did neither eate bread nor drinke water, because of all your sinnes which ye sinned, in doyng wyckedly in the sight of the Lorde in that ye prouoked hym vnto wrath.
(For I was afrayde, that for the wrath and fiercenes wherwith the Lord was moued agaynst you, he would haue destroyed you) But the Lorde heard me at that tyme also.
The Lorde was very angry with Aaron also, euen to haue destroyed hym: and I made intercession for Aaron also the same tyme.
And I toke your sinne, the calfe which ye had made, and burnt hym with fire, and stamped hym, and grounde hym very small, euen to dust: and I cast the dust therof into the brooke that descended out of the mount.
Also at the burnyng place, at the place of temptyng, and at the sepulchres of lust, ye prouoked the Lorde to anger.
Likewise when the Lorde sent you from Cades Barnea, saying, go vp and possesse the lande which I haue geuen you: you rebelled against the worde of the Lorde your God, and neither beleued him, nor hearkened vnto his voyce.
You haue ben rebellious vnto the Lorde since the day that I knewe you.
And I fell downe flat before the Lorde fourtie dayes & fourtie nightes, as I fell downe before: for the Lorde sayde, he woulde destroy you.
I made intercession therfore vnto the Lord, and sayd: O Lord God, destroy not thy people and thyne inheritaunce whiche thou hast deliuered through thy great goodnesse, and whiche thou hast brought out of Egypt thorowe a myghtie hande.
Remember thy seruauntes, Abraham, Asahac, and Iacob, and looke not vnto the stubbernesse of this people, nor to their wickednesse and sinne:
Lest the lande whence thou broughtest them, say, The Lorde is not able to bryng them into the land which he promised them, and because he hated them, therefore hath he caryed them out to slay them in the wyldernesse.
Beholde, they are thy people, & thyne inheritaunce, whiche thou broughtest out in thy myghtie power, and in thy stretched out arme.
IN the same season the Lorde sayde vnto me: hewe thee two tables of stone lyke vnto the first, and come vp vnto me into the mount, and make thee an arke of wood.
And I wyll wryte in the tables, the wordes that were in the first tables whiche thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the arke.
And I made an arke of Sittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone lyke vnto the first, and went vp into the mountayne, hauyng the two tables in myne hande.
And he wrote in the tables according to the first wrytyng, the ten commaundementes whiche the Lord spake vnto you in the mount out of the myddes of the fire, in the day when you were gathered together: and the Lorde gaue them vnto me.
And I departed, and came downe from the hyll, and put the tables in the arke whiche I had made, and there they be, as the Lorde commaunded me.
And the chyldren of Israel toke their iourney from Beroth of the chyldren of Iakan to Mosera, where Aaron dyed and was buryed, and Eleazer his sonne became priest in his steade.
From thence they departed vnto Gudgodah: and from Gudgodah to Iethebath, a lande whiche hath riuers of waters.
The same season the Lorde seperated the tribe of Leui, to beare the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde, and to stande before the Lorde, and to minister vnto hym, and to blesse in his name vnto this day.
Wherefore the Leuites haue no part nor inheritaunce with their brethren: but the Lorde is their inheritaunce, as the Lorde thy God hath promised them.
And I taryed in the mount, euen as at the first time, fourtie dayes and fourtie nyghtes: and the Lorde hearde me at that tyme also, and the Lorde would not destroy thee.
And the Lorde sayde vnto me: Arise, and go foorth in the iourneys before the people, that they may go in and possesse the lande whiche I sware vnto their fathers to geue vnto them.
And now Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to feare the Lorde thy God, and to walke in all his wayes, to loue hym, and to serue the Lord thy God with all thyne heart, and with all thy soule?
Namely, that thou kepe the co{m}maundementes of the Lorde, and his ordinaunces whiche I commaunde thee this day for thy wealth.
Beholde, heauen and the heauen of heauens, is the Lordes thy God, and the earth with all that therin is.
Notwithstandyng, the Lorde had a delight in thy fathers to loue them, and chose their seede after them, euen you aboue all nations, as thou seest this day.
Circumcise therefore the foreskinne of your heart, and be no more stifnecked.
For the Lorde your God, is God of Gods, and Lorde of Lordes, a great God, a mightie and a terrible, whiche regardeth no mans person, nor taketh rewarde.
He doth right vnto the fatherlesse and wydowe, and loueth the straunger, to geue hym foode and rayment.
Loue ye therfore the straunger also: for ye were straungers your selues in the lande of Egypt.
Thou shalt feare the Lord thy God, and hym only shalt thou serue, to hym shalt thou cleaue, and sweare by his name.
He is thy prayse, & thy God that hath done for thee these great and terrible thinges whiche thyne eyes haue seene.
Thy fathers went downe into Egypt with threscore and ten persons: and nowe the Lorde thy God hath made thee & multiplied thee as the starres of heauen.
THerefore thou shalt loue {th}e Lord thy God, & kepe his obseruances, his ordinaunces, his lawes, & his commau{n}dements alway.
Know you this day, (for I speake not to your chyldren which hauve neither knowen nor seene) the chastisement of the Lord you God, his greatnesse, his mightie hande, and his stretched out arme,
His miracles and his actes whiche he dyd in the middes of Egypt, euen vnto Pharao the king of Egypt, and vnto all his lande:
And what he dyd vnto the hoast of Egypt, vnto their horses and charets: howe he brought the water of the red sea vpon them as they pursued you behinde, and how the Lord hath brought them to naught vnto this day:
And what he did vnto you in the wildernesse, vntill ye came vnto this place:
And what he dyd vnto Dathan and Abiram the sonnes of Eliab the sonne of Ruben: howe the earth opened her mouth and swalowed them, with their housholdes & their tentes, and all their substaunce that was in their possession, in the middes of Israel.
Doubtlesse, your eyes haue seene all the great actes of the Lorde whiche he dyd.
Therefore shall ye kepe all the commaundementes whiche I commaunde thee this day, that ye may be strong and go in and possesse the lande whyther ye go to possesse it:
And that ye may prolong your dayes in the lande whiche the Lorde sware vnto your fathers, to geue vnto them and to their seede, a lande that floweth with mylke and honie.
For the lande whyther thou goest to possesse it, is not as the lande of Egypt that ye came out of, where thou sowedst thy seede, and wateredst it with thy feete, as a garden of hearbes.
But the lande whyther ye go ouer to possesse it, is a lande that hath hylles and valleys, and drinketh water of the rayne of heauen.
This lande doth the Lorde thy God care for, and the eyes of the Lorde thy God are alwayes vpon it, from the beginning of the yere, vnto the ende of the yere.
If you shall hearken therefore vnto my commaundementes which I commaunde you this day, that ye loue the Lorde your God, and serue hym with all your heart, and with all your soule:
I also wyll geue rayne vnto your lande in due season, the first rayne and the latter, that thou mayest gather in thy corne, thy wine, and thyne oyle.
And I will sende grasse in thy fieldes for thy cattel, that thou mayest eate and fyll thy selfe.
But beware that your heart deceaue you not, and ye turne asyde, and serue straunge gods, and worship them:
And then the Lorde beyng wroth agaynst you, shut vp the heauen that there be no rayne, and that your lande yelde not her fruite, and lest ye perishe quickly from of the good lande whiche the Lorde geueth you.
Therefore shall ye put vp these my wordes in your heart & in your soule, and binde them for a signe vpon your hande, that they may be as a frontlet betweene your eyes.
And ye shall teache them your chyldren, that they may talke of them when thou sittest in thyne house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou lyest downe, and when thou risest vp.
Yea, and thou shalt wryte them vpon the doore postes of thyne house, and vpon thy gates:
That your dayes may be multiplied, and the dayes of your chyldren, in the lande which the Lord sware vnto your fathers to geue them as long as the dayes of heauen last vpon the earth.
For if ye kepe all these commaundementes whiche I commaunde you, so that ye do them: namely, that ye loue the Lorde your God, and walke in all his wayes, and cleaue vnto hym:
Then wyll the Lord cast out all these nations before you, and ye shalbe the heyres of great nations, and of them that are mightier then your selues.
All the places whereon the soles of your feete shall treade, shalbe yours: euen from the wyldernesse, and from Libanon, and fro{m} the riuer Euphrates, euen vnto the vttermost sea shal your coast be.
There shall no man be able to stande before you: for the Lord your God shall cast the feare and dread of you vpon all the lande that ye shall treade vpon, as he hath sayde vnto you.
Beholde, I set before you this day, a blessing and a curse
A blessing, if ye obay the commaundementes of the Lord your God which I commaunde you this day:
And a curse, if ye wyll not obay the commaundemeutes of the Lorde your God, but turne out of the way whiche I commaunde you this day, to go after straunge gods whiche ye haue not knowen.
When the Lorde thy God therefore hath brought thee into the lande whyther thou goest to possesse it, thou shalt put the blessing vpon mount Garizim, and the curse vpon mount Ebal.
Are not these mountaynes on the other side Iordane, on that part of the way where the sunne goeth downe, in the lande of the Chanaanites, whiche dwell in the playne ouer against Gilgal besyde the groue of Moreh?
For ye shall passe ouer Iordane, to go in and possesse the lande whiche the Lorde your God geueth you, and ye shall possesse it, and dwell therein.
Take heede therfore that ye do all the commaundementes and lawes whiche I set before you this day.
These are the ordinaunces and lawes whiche ye shall obserue and do in the lande, whiche the Lorde God of thy fathers geueth thee to possesse it as long as ye liue vpon the earth.
Ye shall destroy all places wherin the nations whiche ye shall possesse serued their gods, vpon hye mountaynes, on hylles, and vnder euery greene tree.
You shall ouerthrowe their aulters, and breake their pillers, and burne their groues with fire, and you shall hewe downe the grauen images of the gods that they haue, and bryng the names of them to naught out of that place.
Ye shall not do so vnto the Lorde your God:
But ye shall seeke the place which the Lorde your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, and there to dwell, and thyther thou shalt come:
And thyther ye shal bryng your burnt sacrifices, your offeringes, your tithes, and heaue offeringes of your hande, your vowes, your freewyll offeringes, and the first borne of your kyne, and of your sheepe.
And there ye shall eate before the Lorde your God, and ye shall reioyce in all that ye put your hande vnto, both ye and your housholdes, wherin the Lord thy God hath blessed thee.
Ye shall not do after all the thinges that we do here this day, euery man what seemeth hym good in his owne eyes.
For ye are not yet come to rest, and to the inheritaunce whiche the Lord your God geueth you.
But when ye go ouer Iordane, and dwell in the lande whiche the Lorde your God hath geuen you to inherite, and when he hath geuen you rest from al your enemies rounde about, and shal dwell in safetie:
Then vnto the place which the Lord your God hath chosen to put his name there, ye shall bryng all that I commaunde you: namely, your burnt sacrifices, your offeringes, your tithes, the heaue offering of your hande, and all your speciall vowes whiche ye vowe vnto the Lorde.
And ye shall reioyce before the Lorde your God, ye and your sonnes, and your daughters, your seruauntes, and your maydens, and the Leuite that is within your gates, forasmuche as he hath no part nor inheritau{n}ce with you.
Take heede that thou offer not thy burnt offeringes in euery place that thou seest:
But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offeringes, and there thou shalt do al that I co{m}maunde thee.
Notwithstanding, thou mayest kyll and eate fleshe in all thy cities, whatsoeuer thy soule lusteth after, accordyng to the blessing of the Lorde thy God, whiche he hath geuen thee: both the vncleane and the cleane may eate therof, euen of the Roe bucke, and of the Hart.
Only ye shall not eate the blood, but powre it vpon the earth as water.
Thou mayest not eate within thy gates the tithe of thy corne, of thy wine, and of thy oyle, and the first borne of thy kine, and of thy sheepe, neither any of thy vowes which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offeringes, or heaue offering of thyne hande:
But thou must eate them before the Lorde thy God, in the place whiche the Lorde thy God hath chosen, thou and thy sonne, & thy daughter, thy seruaunt, and thy mayde, and the Lenite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt reioyce before the Lorde thy God, in all that thou puttest thyne hande to.
Beware that thou forsake not the Leuite, as long as thou liuest vpon the earth.
If when the Lorde thy God shall enlarge thy border as he hath promised thee, thou say, I will eate flesh (because thy soule longeth to eate fleshe) thou mayest eate fleshe whatsoeuer thy soule lusteth.
If the place whiche the Lorde thy God hath chosen to put his name there, be to farre from thee, then thou shalt kil of thy oxen and of thy sheepe which the Lord gath geuen thee, as I haue commaunded thee, and thou shalt eate in thyne owne and whatsoeuer thy soule lusteth.
And as the Roe bucke and the Hart is eaten, euen so thou shalt eate them: both the cleane and the vncleane shall eate of them.
But be strong, that thou eate not the blood: for the blood is the life, and thou mayest not eate the life with the fleshe.
Thou shalt not eate it, but powre it vpon the earth as water.
Thou shalt not eate it, that it may go well with thee, and with thy chyldren after thee: But thou shalt do that whiche is ryght in the sight of the Lorde.
But thy holy thynges whiche thou hast, and thy vowes, thou shalt take, and come vnto the place whiche the Lorde hath chosen.
And thou shalt offer thy burnt offeringes, both fleshe and blood vpon the aulter of the Lorde thy God: and the blood of thyne offeringes shalbe powred out vpon the aulter of the Lord thy God, and thou shalt eate the fleshe.
Take heede, & heare all these wordes which I commaunde thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy chyldren after thee for euer, if thou doest that whiche is good and ryght in the sight of the Lorde thy God.
When the Lord thy God shall destroy the nations before thee whyther thou goest to possesse them, and thou succeedest in their inheritaunce, and dwellest in their lande:
Beware that thou be not taken in a snare after them, after that they be destroyed before thee, and that thou aske not after their gods, saying: Howe do these nations serue their gods? I wyll do so likewise.
Nay, thou shalt not do so vnto the Lorde thy God: for all abhominations, and that whiche the Lorde hateth, the same haue they done vnto their gods.
For they haue burned both their sonnes and their daughters with fire before their gods. Therefore whatsoeuer I commaunde you, take heede ye do it: and put thou naught therto, nor take ought there from.
IF there aryse among you a prophete or a dreamer of dreames, and geue thee a signe, or a wonder.
And that signe or wonder whiche he hath sayde come to passe, and then say: Let vs go after straunge gods (which thou hast not knowen) and let vs serue them:
Hearken not thou vnto the wordes of that prophete or dreamer of dreames: For the Lorde thy God proueth you, to knowe whether ye loue the Lorde your God with all your heart and with all your soule.
Ye shall walke after the Lorde your God, and feare him, kepe his commaundementes, and hearken vnto his voyce, you shall serue hym, & cleaue vnto hym.
And that prophete or dreamer of dreames shal die ( because he hath spoken to turne you away from the Lorde your God whiche brought you out of the lande of Egypt, and deliuered you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out the way which the Lorde thy God commaunded thee to walke in) and therefore thou shalt put the euyll away from thee.
If thy brother, the sonne of thy mother, or thine owne sonne, or thy daughter, or the wyfe that lieth in thy bosome, or thy frende whiche is as thyne owne soule vnto thee, entire thee secretely, saying: Let vs go and serue straunge gods (which thou hast not knowen, nor yet thy fathers)
And they be any of the gods of the people whiche are rounde about you: whether they be nye vnto thee or farre of fro{m} thee, from the one ende of the earth vnto the other:
Thou shalt not consent vnto hym, nor hearken vnto hym, thyne eye shall not pitie hym, neither shalt thou haue compassion on hym, nor kepe hym secrete:
But cause him to be slayne: Thine hande shalbe first vpon him to kill him, and then the handes of all the people.
And thou shalt stone hym with stones that he dye: because he hath gone about to thrust thee away from the Lord thy God, whiche brought thee out of the lande of Egypt, and from the house of bondage.
And all Israel shall heare and feare, and shall do no more any suche wickednesse, as this is among you.
If thou shalt heare say in one of thy cities, whiche the Lorde thy God hath geuen thee to dwell in,
That certaine men beyng the children of Belial, are gone out fro{m} among you, and haue moued the inhabiters of their citie, saying: let vs go and serue straunge gods, whiche ye haue not knowen:
Then thou must seeke, & make searche and enquire diligently: And behold, if it be true, & the thing of a suretie, that such ahbomination is wrought among you:
Then thou shalt smyte the dwellers of that citie with the edge of the sworde, and destroy it vtterly, & all that is therin, and euen the very cattell therof, with the edge of the sworde:
And gather all the spoyle of it into the middes of the streate therof, and burne with fire both the citie and all the spoyle therof euery whyt for the Lorde thy God: and it shalbe an heape for euer, and shall not be buylt agayne.
And there shal cleaue naught of the damned thyng in thyne hande, that the Lorde may turne from the fiercenesse of his wrath, and shew thee mercy, and haue compassion on thee, and multiplie thee, as he hath sworne vnto thy fathers.
Therefore shalt thou hearken vnto the voyce of the Lorde thy God, to kepe all his commaundementes whiche I commaunde thee this day, that thou do that whiche is ryght in the eyes of the Lorde thy God.
YE are the childre{n} of the Lord your God: Ye shall not cut your selues, nor make you any baldnes betwene your eyes for {th}e dead man.
For thou art an holye people vnto the Lorde thy God, and the Lorde hath chosen thee to be a seuerall people vnto hym selfe, aboue all the nations that are vpon the earth.
Thou shalt eate no maner of abhomination.
These are the beastes which ye shall eate of, Oxen, Sheepe, and Goates:
Roe, Bucke, and Bugle, Wilde Goate, Vnicorne, Wylde Oxen and Camoise,
And all beastes that cleaue the hoofe, and cleaueth the clift into two clawes, and chewe the cud, them ye shall eate.
Neuerthelesse, these ye shall not eate of them that chewe cud & of them that deuide and cleaue the hoofe only, the Camel, the Hare, and the Conie: for they chewe the cud, but deuide not the hoofe: therfore they are vncleane vnto you.
And also the Swine, though he deuide the hoofe, yet he cheweth not cud, therefore is he vncleane vnto you: ye shall not eate of the fleshe of suche, nor touche the dead carkasse of them.
These ye shall eate of all that are in the waters: All that haue finnes and scales shall ye eate:
And whatsoeuer hath not finnes and scales, of that ye may not eate, but it is vncleane vnto you.
Of all cleane byrdes ye shall eate.
But these are they of whiche ye shall not eate: the Egle, the Goshauke, and the Ospray.
The Glede, the Kite, and the Vulture after their kinde.
And all kinde of Rauens.
The Estritch, the Nightcrowe, the Cockowe, and the Sparowehauke after their kinde.
The litle Owle, the great Owle, nor the Redshanke.
The Pellicane, the Swanne, nor the Cormorant.
The Storke, the Heron in his kinde, the Lapwing, the Backe.
And let euery creeping thing that fleeth, be vncleane vnto you, and not be eaten of.
But of all cleane foules ye may eate.
Ye shall eate of nothyng that dyeth alone: But thou shalt geue it vnto the straunger that is in thy citie, that he eate it, or thou mayest sell it vnto a straunger: For thou art an holy people vnto the Lorde thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mothers milke.
Thou shalt tythe all the increase of thy seede, that the fielde bringeth foorth yere by yere.
And thou shalt eate before the Lorde thy God, in the place whiche he hath chosen & where he hath put his name, the tithe of thy corne, and of thy wine, and of thyne oyle, and the first borne of thy kine, and of thy sheepe: that thou mayest learne to feare the Lorde thy God alwayes.
If the way be to long for thee, so that thou art not able to carie it, and if the place be farre from thee, whiche the Lorde thy God hath chosen to set his name there, and the Lorde thy God hath blessed thee:
Then shalt thou make it in money, and take the money in thine hande, and go vnto the place which the Lorde thy God shall chose,
And thou shalt bestowe that money for whatsoeuer thy soule lusteth after, for oxen and sheepe, wine and strong drinke, and for whatsoeuer thy soule desireth: and thou shalt eate there before the Lorde thy God, and be merie, both thou and thyne housholde.
And the Leuite that is within thy gates, shalt thou not forsake, for he hath neither part nor inheritaunce with thee.
At the ende of three yeres thou shalt bryng foorth all the tythes of thyne encrease the same yere, and lay it vp within thyne owne gates.
And the Leuite whiche hath no part nor inheritaunce with thee, shal come, and the straunger, the fatherlesse, & the widowe whiche are within thy gates shall eate and be filled, that the Lorde thy God may blesse thee in al {th}e workes of thyne hande whiche thou doest.
AT the terme of seuen yeres, thou shalt make a freedome.
And this is the maner of the freedome: Who so euer lendeth ought with his hande vnto his neighbour, may not aske agayne (that which he hath lent) of his neighbour or of his brother, because it is called the Lordes free yere:
Yet of a straunger thou mayst call it home agayne: but he that is thy brother, hym shall thine hande remit.
Neuerthelesse, there shalbe no begger among you: for the Lorde shall blesse thee in the lande which the Lorde thy God geueth thee for an inheritaunce:
So that thou hearken vnto the voyce of the Lord thy God, to obserue and do all these commaundementes which I commaunde thee this day:
For the Lorde thy God hath blessed thee, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt lende vnto many nations, but thou thy selfe shalt not borowe: And thou shalt raigne ouer many nations, and they shall not raigne ouer thee.
If one of thy brethren among you be poore within any of thy gates in thy lande which the Lorde thy God geueth thee: thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut to thine hande from thy poore brother:
But thou shalt open thine hande vnto hym, and lende hym sufficient for his neede which he hath.
Beware that there be not a wicked thought in thine heart, that thou wouldest say, the seuenth yere, the yere of freedome is at hande: and therfore it greeueth thee to loke on thy poore brother, and geuest hym naught, and he then crye vnto the Lorde agaynst thee, and it be sinne vnto thee:
Thou shalt geue hym, and let it not greeue thine heart to geue vnto hym: Because that for this thyng the Lorde thy God shall blesse thee in all thy workes, and in all that thou puttest thine hande to.
The lande shall neuer be without poore: and therfore I co{m}maunde thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hande vnto thy brother that is needy & poore in thy lande.
If thy brother an Hebrue sell hym selfe to thee, or an Hebrue woman, and serue thee sixe yeres, in the seuenth yere thou shalt let hym go free from thee.
And when thou sendest hym out free from thee, thou shalt not let hym go away emptie:
But shalt geue hym of thy sheepe, of thy corne, and of thy wine, and geue hym of that wherwith the Lorde thy God hath blessed thee.
And remember that thou wast a seruaunt in the lande of Egypt, and the Lorde thy God deliuered thee thence: and therfore I commaunde thee this thyng to day.
And if he say vnto thee, I wyll not go away from thee: because he loueth thee and thine house, and is well at ease with thee:
Then shalt thou take an aule, & nayle his eare to the doore therwith, and let hym be thy seruaunt for euer: And vnto thy mayde seruaunt thou shalt do likewise.
And let it not greeue thine eye, when thou lettest him go out free fro{m} thee, for he hath ben worth a double hired seruaunt to thee in his seruice sixe yeres: And the Lord thy God shall blesse thee in all that thou doest.
All the first males that come of thy cattell and of thy sheepe, thou shalt halowe vnto the Lorde thy God: Thou shalt do no worke with the first borne bullocke, nor sheare the first gendred of thy sheepe.
Thou shalt eate it before the Lorde thy God yere by yere, in the place which the Lorde shall choose, both thou and thy housholde.
If there be any blemishe therin: as if it be lame, or blynde, or haue any other euyll fauourednesse, thou shalt not offer it vnto the Lorde thy God:
But shalt eate it within thine owne gates, the vncleane and cleane person shal eate it alike, as the Roe & the Hart.
Only eate not the blood therof: but powre it vpon the grounde as water.
OBserue the moneth of newe corne, that thou mayest offer the Passouer vnto {th}e Lord thy God: For in the moneth when corne begynneth to rype, the Lorde thy God brought thee out of Egypt by nyght.
Thou shalt therfore offer the Passouer vnto the Lorde thy God (of sheepe and oxen) in the place which the Lorde shall choose to put his name there.
Thou shalt eate no leauened bread with it: but seuen dayes shalt thou eate vnleauened bread therwith, euen the bread of tribulation (for thou camest out of the lande of Egypt in haste) that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest out of the lande of Egypt, all the dayes of thy lyfe.
[And there shalbe no leauened bread seene in al thy coastes seuen dayes long, neither shall there remayne any thyng of the fleshe which thou offerest the first day at euen vntyll the mornyng.
Thou mayest not offer the Passouer within any of thy gates which {th}e Lorde thy God geueth thee:
But in the place which the Lorde thy God shal choose to set his name in, there thou shalt offer the Passouer at euen, about the goyng downe of the sunne, euen in the season that thou camest out of Egypt.
And thou shalt roste and eate it in the place which the Lorde thy God hath chosen, and thou shalt returne on the morowe, and go vnto thy tentes.
Sixe dayes thou shalt eate sweete bread, and the seuenth day shalbe a solempne assemblie before the Lorde thy God: thou shalt do no worke therin.
Seuen weekes shalt thou number vnto thee, and begynne to number the seuen weekes, when thou begynnest to put the sicle to the corne:
And kepe the feast of weekes vnto the Lorde thy God, with a free wyll offeryng of thine hande, which thou shalt geue vnto the Lord thy God, according as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee.
And thou shalt reioyce before the Lord thy God, thou, and thy sonne, thy daughter, thy seruaunt, and thy mayde, & the Leuite that is within thy gates, and the straunger, the fatherlesse, and the widdowe that are among you, in the place which the Lorde thy God hath chosen, to put his name there.
And remember that thou wast a seruaunt in Egypt: and thou shalt obserue and do these ordinaunces.
Thou shalt also obserue the feast of tabernacles, seuen dayes after that thou hast gathered in thy corne & thy wine.
And thou shalt reioyce in thy feast, thou and thy sonne, thy daughter, thy seruaunt, and thy mayde, the Leuite, the straunger, and the fatherlesse, & the widdowe, that are within thy gates.
Seuen dayes shalt thou kepe a solempne feast vnto thy Lorde thy God, in {th}e place which the Lorde shall choose: for the Lord thy God shal blesse thee in all thy fruites, & in all {th}e workes of thine handes, therfore shalt thou be glad.
Three tymes in the yere shall all thy males appeare before the Lorde thy God, in the place which he shall choose: In the feast of vnleauened bread, in the feast of weekes, and in the feast of tabernacles: And they shal not appeare before the Lorde emptie.
Euery man shall geue accordyng to the gift of his hande, & accordyng to the blessyng of the Lorde thy God which he hath geuen thee.]
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy cities which the Lorde thy God geueth thee throughout thy tribes, and they shall iudge the people with iust iudgement.
Wrest not thou the lawe, nor knowe any person, neither take any rewarde: for giftes do blinde the eyes of the wise, & peruert the wordes of the righteous.
That which is iust and ryght shalt thou folowe, that thou mayst lyue, and enioy the lande which the Lorde thy God geueth thee.
Thou shalt plant no groue of any trees neare vnto the aulter of the Lord thy God, which thou shalt make thee.
Thou shalt set thee vp no piller: which the Lorde thy God hateth.
Thou shalt offer vnto the Lorde thy God no oxe nor sheepe wherin is blemishe or any euyll fauourednesse: for that is an abhomination vnto the Lorde thy God.
If there be founde among you within any of thy gates which the Lorde thy God geueth thee, man or woman that hath wrought wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde thy God, in transgressyng his couenaunt:
And gone and serued straunge gods, and worshipped them, as the sunne or moone, or any of the hoast of heauen, which I haue not commaunded:
And it is tolde thee, & thou hast hearde of it, then shalt thou enquire diligently: and if it be true, & the thyng of a suretie that such abhomination is wrought in Israel:
Then shalt thou bryng foorth that man or that woman (which haue committed that wicked thyng) vnto the gates, and shalt stone them with stones tyll they dye.
At the mouth of two or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death, dye: and at the mouth of one witnesse, let no man dye.
The handes of the witnesses shalbe first vpon him, to kyll him, & afterward the handes of all the people: and thou shalt put the wicked away from thee.
If there rise a matter to harde for thee in iudgement betweene blood and blood, betweene plea and plea, betweene plague and plague, and the matters come to strife within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee vp vnto the place whiche the Lorde thy God hath chosen,
And come vnto the priestes the Leuites, and vnto the iudge that shalbe in those dayes, and aske: and they shall shewe thee the sentence of iudgement.
And thou must do accordyng to that which they of that place (which the Lord had chosen) shewe thee, and thou shalt obserue to do accordyng to all that they enfourme thee:
Accordyng to the sentence of the lawe which they tell thee, shalt thou do: and bowe not from that which they shewe thee, neither to the right hande nor to the left.
And that man that wyll do presumptuously, and wyll not hearken vnto the priest (that standeth there before the Lorde thy God to minister) or vnto the iudge: that man shall dye, and thou shalt put away euyll from Israel.
And all the people shall heare, & feare, and shall do no more presumptuously.
When thou art come vnto the lande which the Lorde thy God geueth thee, and enioyest it, and dwellest therin, and if thou shalt say, I wyll set a king ouer me, lyke as all the nations that are about me:
Then thou shalt make hym king ouer thee whom the Lorde thy God shall choose: Euen one from among thy brethren shalt thou make kyng ouer thee, and thou mayest not set a straunger ouer thee, which is not of thy brethren.
But he shall not multiplie horses to hym selfe, nor bryng the people agayne to Egypt to increase the number of horses: forasmuch as the Lorde hath sayde vnto you, ye shall hencefoorth go no more agayne that way.
Also he ought not to multiplie wyues to him selfe, lest his heart turne away, neither shall he gather hym siluer and golde to much.
And when he is set vpon the seate of his kingdome, he shall write hym out a copie of this lawe in a booke before the priestes the Leuites:
And it shalbe with hym, and he ought to reade therin all the dayes of his life, that he may learne to feare the Lorde his God, and to kepe all the wordes of this lawe and these ordinaunces, for to do them:
And that his heart arise not aboue his brethren, and that he turne not from the commaundement to the right hand or to the left: but that he may prolong his dayes in his kyngdome, he and his children in the middes of Israel.
THe priestes of the Leuites, & all the tribe of Leui, must haue no part nor inheritaunce with Israel: but shall eate {th}e fierie offeringes of the Lorde, and his inheritaunce.
Therfore shall they haue no inheritaunce among their brethren: but the Lorde he is their inheritaunce, as he hath sayde vnto them.
And the priestes duetie of the people, and of them that offer, whether it be oxe or sheepe, they must geue vnto the priest the shoulder, & the two chekes, and the mawe.
The first fruites also of thy corne, wine, and oyle, and the first of the fleece of thy sheepe shalt thou geue hym.
For the Lorde thy God hath chosen hym out of all thy tribes, to stande and to minister in the name of the Lorde, he and his sonnes for euer.
If a Leuite come out of any of thy cities of all Israel, where he is a soiourner, and come with all the lust of his heart vnto the place which the Lorde hath chosen:
He shall minister in the name of the Lorde his God, as his other brethren the Leuites do which remayne there before the Lorde.
And they shall haue lyke portions to eate, beside that which commeth of the sale of his patrimonie.
When thou art come into the lande which the Lorde thy God geueth thee, thou shalt not learne to do after the abhominations of those nations.
Let there not be founde among you any one that maketh his sonne or his daughter to go through the fire, or that vseth witchcraft, or a regarder of tymes, or that regardeth the fleeyng of fowles,
Or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or that cou{n}celleth with spirites, or a soothsayer, or that asketh counsayle of the dead.
For all that do such thynges, are abhomination vnto the Lorde: and because of these abhominations, the Lorde thy God doth cast them out before thee.
Thou shalt be perfect therfore in the sight of the Lorde thy God.
For these nations which thou shalt possesse, hearken vnto regarders of tymes, and vnto sorcerers: but the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
The Lorde thy God wyll stirre vp vnto thee a prophete among you, euen of thy brethren like vnto me, vnto hym ye shall hearken,
Accordyng to all that thou desiredst of the Lorde thy God in Horeb in the day of the assemblie, when thou saydest: Let me heare the voyce of my Lorde God no more, nor see this great fire any more, that I dye not.
And the Lorde sayde vnto me: They haue well spoken.
I wyll raise them vp a prophete from among their brethren lyke vnto thee, and wyll put my wordes in his mouth, and he shall speake vnto them all that I shall commaunde hym.
And whosoeuer wyll not hearken vnto my wordes, which he shall speake in my name, I wyll require it of hym.
But the prophete which shall presume to speake a worde in my name, which I haue not co{m}maunded hym to speake, or that speaketh in the name of strau{n}ge gods, the same prophete shall dye.
And if thou say in thine heart: howe shall we knowe the worde which the Lorde hath not spoken?
Euen when a prophete speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing folowe not, nor come to passe: that is the thyng which the Lorde hath not spoken, but the prophete hath spoken it presumptuously: Thou shalt not therfore be afrayde of hym.
WHen the Lord thy God hath rooted out the nations whose lande the Lorde thy God geueth thee, and thou succeedest in their inheritaunce, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses:
Thou shalt seperate three cities for thee in the middes of the lande which the Lorde thy God geueth thee to possesse it:
Thou shalt prepare the way, and deuide the coastes of thy lande which the Lorde thy God geueth thee to inherite, into three partes, that whosoeuer committeth murther, may flee thyther.
For this cause must the slayer flee thyther, that he may lyue: Who so kylleth his neighbour ignorauntly, and hated hym not in tyme passed:
And whe{n} a man goeth vnto the wood with his neighbour to hewe wood, and as his hande fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut downe the tree, the head slippeth from the helue, and smyteth his neighbour that he dyeth: the same shall flee vnto one of the same cities, and lyue:
Lest the auenger of the blood folowe after the slayer whyle his heart is hot, & ouertake hym because the wayes is long, and slay hym, and yet there is no cause worthy of death in hym, in as much as he hated hym not in tyme passed.
Wherfore I commaunde thee, saying: Thou shalt appoynt out three cities for thee.
And if the Lorde thy God enlarge thy coastes (as he hath sworne vnto thy fathers) and geue thee all the lande which he sayde he woulde geue vnto thy fathers:
Thou shalt kepe all these commaundementes to do them, which I commaunde thee this day, that thou loue the Lorde thy God, and walke in his wayes euer: and adde three cities mo for thee beside these three,
That innocent blood be not shed in thy lande, which the Lord thy God geueth thee to inherite, and so blood come vpon thee.
But and if any man hate his neyghbour, and lay awayte for hym, and ryse agaynst hym, and smyte hym that he die, & then fleeth vnto any of these cities:
The elders of his citie shall sende and fetch hym thence, and deliuer hym into the handes of the auenger of blood, that he may dye.
Thine eye shall not spare hym, but thou shalt put away [the crye of] innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
Thou shalt not remoue thy neyghbours marke, which they of olde time haue set in thine inheritaunce, that thou shalt inherite in the lande which the Lorde thy God geueth thee to enioy it.
One witnesse shall not rise agaynst a man for any maner trespasse, or for any maner sinne, or for any maner fault that he offendeth in: but at the mouth of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall the matter be stablished.
If a false witnesse rise vp agaynst a man, to accuse hym of trespasse:
Then both the men which stryue together, shall stande before the Lorde, before the priestes and the iudges which shalbe in those dayes:
And the iudges shall make diligent inquisition: and if the witnesse be founde false, and that he hath geuen false witnesse agaynst his brother:
Then shall ye do vnto hym, as he had thought to do vnto his brother, & thou shalt put euyll away from the middes of thee.
And other shall heare, and feare, and shall hencefoorth commit no more any such wickednesse among you.
And thine eye shall haue no co{m}passion, but lyfe for lyfe, eye for eye, toothe for toothe, hande for hande, foote for foote.
WHen thou goest out to battayle agaynst thine enemies, & seest horses, and charettes, and people, mo then thou, be not afrayde of them: for the Lorde thy God is with thee, which brought thee out of the lande of Egypt.
And when ye are come nye vnto battayle, {th}e priest shall come foorth to speake vnto the people,
And shall say vnto them: Heare O Israel, you are come this day vnto battayle agaynst your enemies, let not your heartes faynt, neither feare, nor be amazed, nor a dread of them:
For the Lord your God goeth with you, to fyght for you agaynst your enemies, and to saue you.
And let the officers speake vnto the people, saying: If any man haue built a newe house, and haue not dedicate it: let hym go and returne to his house, lest he dye in the battayle, and another man dedicate it.
And if any man haue planted a vineyarde, and haue not made it co{m}mon: let hym go and returne agayne vnto his house, lest he dye in the battayle, and another make it common.
And if any man be betrouthed vnto a wyfe, and haue not taken her: let hym go and returne agayne vnto his house, lest he dye in the battayle, and another man take her.
And let the officers speake further vnto the people, and say: If any man feare and be faynt hearted, let hym go & returne vnto his house, lest he make his brothers heart faynt as well as his.
And when the officers haue made an ende of speakyng vnto the people, they shall make captaynes of the armie to gouerne the people.
When thou commest nye vnto a citie to fyght agaynst it, offer them peace.
And if they aunswere thee agayne peaceably, and open vnto thee, then let all the people that is founde therin, be tributaries vnto thee, and serue thee.
And if they wyll make no peace with thee, but make warre agaynst thee, thou shalt besiege it.
And when the Lorde thy God hath deliuered it into thine handes, thou shalt smyte all the males therof with the edge of the sworde:
But the women, and the children, and the cattell, and all that is in the citie, and all the spoyle therof shalt thou take vnto thy selfe, and eate the spoyle of thine enemies, which the Lorde thy God hath geuen thee.
Thus shalt thou do vnto all the cities which are a great way of from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.
But of the cities of these nations which the Lorde thy God shall geue thee to inherite, thou shalt saue alyue nothyng that breatheth:
But shalt destroy them without redemption, namely the Hethites, the Amorites, the Chanaanites, the Pherezites, the Heuites, and the Iebusites, as the Lorde thy God hath commaunded thee:
That they teache you not to do after all their abhominations which they haue done vnto their Gods, and so ye shoulde sinne agaynst the Lorde your God.
When thou hast besieged a citie long tyme, and made warre agaynst it to take it, destroy not the trees therof, that thou wouldest thrust an axe vnto them: but eate of them, and cut them not downe to further thee in thy siege: for the tree of the fielde is mans life.
Only those trees which thou knowest to be vnfruitfull, those shalt thou destroy & cut downe, and make bulworkes agaynst the citie that maketh warre with thee, vntyll thou subdue it.
IF one be founde slayne in the lande which the Lord thy God geueth thee to possesse it, and lyeth in the fielde, and it is not knowen who hath slayne hym:
Then thine elders and thy iudges shal come foorth, and measure vnto the cities that are rounde about hym that is slayne:
And let the elders of that citie which is next vnto the slayne man, take out of the droue an heyffer that hath not ben put to labour, nor hath drawen in the yoke:
And let the elders of that citie bring the heyffer vnto a harde & rough valley which is neither eared nor sowen, and stryke of the heyffers necke there in the valley:
And the priestes the sonnes of Leui (whom the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister, and to blesse in the name of the Lorde) shall come foorth: and by their worde shall all strife and plague be tryed.
And all the elders of the citie that come foorth to the slayne man, shall washe their handes ouer the heyffer that is beheaded in the valley,
And shall aunswere, and say: Our handes haue not shed this blood, neither haue our eyes seene it.
Be mercifull Lorde vnto thy people Israel which thou hast deliuered, and lay no innocent blood vnto thy people of Israels charge. And the blood shalbe forgeuen them.
And so shalt thou put innocent blood from thee, when thou shalt haue done that which is ryght in the syght of the Lorde.
When thou goest to warre agaynst thine enemies, and the Lorde thy God hath deliuered them into thine handes, & thou hast taken the{m} captiue,
And seest among the captiues a beautifull woman, and hast a desire vnto her, that thou wouldest haue her to thy wyfe:
Thou shalt bryng her home to thine house, and she shall shaue her head, and shall pare her nayles,
And put her rayment that she was taken in, from her, and let her remayne in thine house, and beweepe her father & her mother a moneth long: and after that shalt thou go in vnto her, and mary her, and she shalbe thy wyfe.
And if thou haue no fauour vnto her, then let her go whither she lusteth, and sell her not for money, nor make marchaundize of her, because thou hast humbled her.
If a man haue two wyues, one beloued, and another hated, and they haue borne hym children, both the loued and also the hated: If the first borne be the sonne of the hated:
Then when the tyme commeth that he dealeth his goodes among his children, he may not make the sonne of the beloued first borne, before the sonne of the hated, which is in deede the first borne:
But he shall knowe the sonne of the hated for the first borne, and geue hym dowble portion of all that he hath: For he is the first of his strength, and to hym belongeth the ryght of the first borne.
If any man haue a sonne that is stubburne and disobedient, that he wyll not hearken vnto the voyce of his father and voyce of his mother, and they haue chastened hym, and he woulde not hearken vnto them:
Then shall his father and his mother take hym, and bryng hym out vnto the elders of that citie, and vnto the gate of that same place,
And say vnto the elders of the citie: This our sonne is stubburne and disobedient, and wyll not hearken vnto our voyce, he is a rioter & a drunkarde.
And all the men of that citie shall stone hym with stones vnto death: And thou shalt put euyll away from thee, and all Israel shall heare, and feare.
If a man haue committed a trespasse worthy of death, and is put to death for it, and thou hangest hym on tree.
His body shall not remayne all nyght vpon the tree, but thou shalt bury hym the same day, for the curse of God is on hym that is hanged: Defile not thou thy lande which the Lorde thy God geueth thee to inherite.
THou shalt not see thy brothers oxe or sheepe go astray, and withdrawe thy selfe from them: but shalt bryng them agayne vnto thy brother.
And if thy brother be not nye vnto thee, or if thou knowe hym not, then bryng it vnto thine owne house, and it shall remayne with thee vntyll thy brother aske after them, and then deliuer hym them agayne.
In lyke maner shalt thou do with his asse, and so shalt thou do with his rayment: and with all lost thynges of thy brother, which he hath lost and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise, and thou mayest not hide it from them.
Thou shalt not see thy brothers asse or oxe fall downe by the way, and withdrawe thy selfe from them: but shalt helpe hym to heaue them vp againe.
The woman shall not weare that whiche parteyneth vnto the man, neither shall a man put on womans rayment: For all that do so, are abhomination vnto the Lorde thy God.
If thou chaunce vpon a birdes nest by the way, in whatsoeuer tree it be, or on the grounde, whether they be young or egges, and the damme sittyng vpon the young, or on the egges: thou shalt not take the damme with the young:
But shalt in any wyse let the damme go, & take the young to thee, that thou mayest prosper, and prolong thy dayes.
When thou buyldest a newe house, thou shalt make a battlement on the roofe, that thou lade not blood vpon thyne house if any man fal from thence.
Thou shalt not sowe thy vineyarde with diuers seedes: lest the fruite of the seede which thou hast sowen, and the fruite of thy vineyarde, be defyled.
Thou shalt not plowe with an oxe and an asse together.
Thou shalt not weare a garment made of wool and linnen together.
Thou shalt not make thee gardes vppon the foure quarters of thy vesture wherewith thou couerest thy selfe.
If a man take a wyfe, and when he hath lyen with her, hate her,
And lay shamefull thynges vnto her charge, and bryng vp an euyll name vpon her, and say, I toke this wyfe, and when I came to her I founde her not a mayde:
Then shall the father of the damsell & the mother, bryng foorth the tokens of the damsels virginitie vnto the elders of the citie in the gate,
And the damsels father shall say vnto the elders: I gaue my daughter vnto this man to wyfe, and he hateth her,
And lo, he layeth shamefull thynges vnto her charge, saying, I founde not thy daughter a mayde: and yet these are the tokens of my daughters virginitie. And they shall spreade the vesture before the elders of the citie.
And the elders of that citie shall take that man, and chastise hym,
And mearse hym in an hundred sicles of syluer, and geue them vnto the father of the damsell, because he hath brought vp an euyl name vpon a mayde of Israel: And she shalbe his wyfe, and he may not put her away all his dayes.
But and yf the thyng be of a suretie that the damsell be not founde a virgin:
They shall bryng the damsell to the doore of her fathers house, and the men of that citie shall stone her with stones to death, because she hath wrought folly in Israel to play the whore in her fathers house: And so thou shalt put euyl from among you.
If a man be founde lying with a woman that hath a wedded husband, they shall both dye, both the man that laye with the wyfe, and also the wyfe: and so •ou shalt put away euill from Israel.
If a mayde be betrouthed vnto an husbande, and then a man finde her in the towne, and lye with her:
Ye shall bring them both out vnto the gates of the same citie, and shall stone them with stones to death: The damsell, because she cryed not beyng in the citie: And the man, because he hath humbled his neighbours wife: and thou shalt put away euyll from thee.
But if a man finde a betrouthed damsell in the fielde, and force her, and lye with her: then the man that lay with her, shall dye alone.
But vnto the damsell thou shalt do no harme, because there is in the damsell no cause of death: For as when a man ryseth against his neyghbour and slayeth hym: euen so is this matter.
For he found her in the fieldes: and the betrouthed damsell cryed, & there was no man to succour her.
If a man finde a mayde that is not betrouthed, and take her, and lye with her, and they be founde:
Then the man that lay with her, shall geue vnto the damsels father fiftie sicles of siluer, and she shall be his wyfe, because he hath humbled her: and he may not put her away all his dayes.
No man shall take his fathers wife, nor vnheale his fathers couering.
NOne that is hurt by burstyng, or hath his priuie members cut of, shal come into the congregation of {th}e Lord.
And a bastarde shall not come into the congregation of the Lorde: no not in the tenth generation he shall not enter into the congregation of the Lorde.
The Ammonites and the Moabites shall not come into the congregation of the Lorde, no not in the tenth generation, nor they shall neuer come into the congregation of the Lorde:
Because they met you not with bread and water in the way, when ye came out of Egypt, and because they hyred against thee Balaam the sonne of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
Neuerthelesse, the Lorde thy God woulde not hearken vnto Balaam: but the Lord thy God turned the curse to a blessing vnto thee, because the Lord thy God loued thee.
Thou shalt not seeke their peace nor wealth all thy dayes, for euer.
Thou shalt not abhorre an Edomite, for he is thy brother: neither shalt thou abhorre an Egyptian, because thou wast a straunger in his lande.
The children that are begotten of the{m}, shal come into the congregation of the Lorde in the thirde generation.
When thou goest out with the hoast against thyne enemies, kepe thee from all wickednesse.
If there be among you any man that is vncleane, by the reason of vncleannesse that chaunceth hym by nyght: let him go out of the hoast, and not come in agayne into the hoast.
But at euen let hym washe hym selfe with water: and then when the sunne is downe, let hym come into the hoast agayne.
Thou shalt haue a place also without the hoast, whyther thou shalt resort to.
And thou shalt haue a paddle staffe vpon thy weapon: and when thou wilt ease thy selfe, digge therwith, and turne and couer that which is departed from thee.
For the Lorde thy God walketh in the middes of thyne hoast, to ryd thee, and to set thyne enemies before thee: Therfore shall the place of thyne hoast be pure, that he see do vncleane thyng in thee, and so turne him selfe from thee.
Thou shalt not deliuer vnto his maister, the seruaunt whiche is escaped from his maister vnto thee.
He shall dwell with thee [euen] among you, in what place he hym selfe liketh best, in one of thy cities where it is good for hym, and thou shalt not vexe hym.
There shalbe no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor whore keper of the sonnes of Israel.
Thou shalt neither bryng the hyre of a Whore, nor the pryce of a dogge into the house of the Lorde thy God, in any maner of vowe: for eue{n} both of them are abhomination vnto the Lord thy God.
Thou shalt not hurt thy brother by vsurie of money, nor by vsurie of corne, nor by vsurie of any thyng that he may be hurt withall.
Vnto a straunger thou mayest lend vpon vsurie, but not vnto thy brother: that the Lord thy God may blesse thee in all that thou settest thyne hande to in the lande whyther thou goest to possesse it.
When thou hast vowed a vowe vnto the Lorde thy God, thou shalt not slacke to pay it: For the Lorde thy God wyll surely requir• it of thee, and it shalbe sinne in thee.
If thou shalt leaue vowyng, it shalbe no sinne in thee.
But that whiche is once gone out of thy lippes, thou must kepe and do, accordyng as thou hast vowed vnto the Lorde thy God of a freewyll, and as thou hast spoken with thy mouth.
When thou commest into thy neighbours vineyarde, thou mayest eate grapes thy belly ful at thine owne pleasure: but thou shalt put none in thy vessell.
Euen so, when thou commest into thy neighbours corne, thou mayest plucke the eares with thyne hande: but thou shalt not moue a sickle vnto thy neyghbours corne.
WHen a man hath taken a wife and maried her, if she finde no fauour in his eyes, because he hath spyed some vncleannes in her: then let hym wryte her a byll of deuorcement, and put it in her hande, and sende her out of his house:
And when she is departed out of his house, let her go and be another mans wyfe.
And if the seconde husbande hate her, let him write her also a letter of deuorcement, and put it in her hande, and sende her out of his house: Or if the seconde man dye whiche toke her to wyfe,
Her first man whiche sent her away, may not take her agayne to be his wyfe after that she is defiled: For that is abhomination in the sight of the Lorde, and thou shalt not cause the lande to sinne, whiche the Lorde thy God shall geue thee to inherite.
When a man taketh a newe wyfe, he shall not go a warfare, neither shalbe charged with any businesse: but shalbe free at home one yere, and reioyce with his wyfe whiche he hath taken.
No man shall take the neather or the vpper mylstone to pledge: for then he shall hurt a mans life.
If any man be founde stealing any of his brethren the chyldren of Israel, and abuseth hym, or selleth hym: the thiefe shall dye, and thou shalt put euill away from the middest of thee.
Take heede to thy selfe as concerning the plague of leprosie, that thou obserue diligently, and ye shall do according to all that the priestes the Leuites shall teache you: euen as I commaunded them, so ye shall obserue to do.
Remember what the Lorde thy God dyd vnto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come out of Egypt.
When thou doest lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetche a pledge from thence:
But shalt stande without, and the man that borowed it of thee, shall bring the pledge out of the doores vnto thee.
Furthermore, if it be a poore body, thou shalt not sleepe with his pledge:
But deliuer hym the pledge agayne when the sunne goeth downe, that he may sleepe in his owne raiment, & blesse thee: And it shalbe righteousnes vnto thee before the Lorde thy Lorde.
Thou shalt not oppresse an hyred seruaunt that is needie and poore, whether he be of thy brethre{n}, or of the straungers that are in thy lande within thy gates:
But shalt geue him his hyre the same day, & let not the sunne go downe theron, for he is needie, and therwith sustayneth his life: lest he crye against thee vnto the Lorde, and it be sinne vnto thee.
The fathers shall not be put to death for the chyldren, nor the chyldren for the fathers: but euery man shalbe put to death for his owne sinne.
Thou shalt not peruert the ryght of the strau{n}ger, nor of the fatherlesse, nor take a wydowes rayment to pledge:
But remember that thou wast a seruaunt in Egypt, and howe the Lorde thy God deliuered thee thence: And therfore I commaunde thee to do this thyng.
When thou cuttest downe thyne haruest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheafe in the fielde, thou shalt not go agayne to fet it: But it shalbe for the straunger, the fatherlesse, and the wydowe: that the Lorde thy God may blesse thee in all the workes of thyne hande.
When thou beatest downe thine oliue tree, thou shalt not search {th}e boughes agayne, to gather vp that thou leftest behinde thee: but it shalbe for the strau{n}ger, the fatherlesse, and the wydowe.
When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyarde, thou shalt not gather the grapes cleane after thee: but leaue them for the straunger, the fatherlesse, and the wydowe.
And remember that thou also wast a seruaunt in the lande of Egypt: & therfore I co{m}maunde thee to do this thing.
IF there be strife betweene men, they shall come vnto the lawe, and let the Iudges geue sentence betwene them: and iustifie the righteous, & condemne the vngodly.
And if any man be vngodly, and worthy of strypes, then let the Iudge cause him to lye downe and to be beaten before his face, accordyng to his trespasse, vnto a certayne number.
Fourtie stripes he shall geue hym, and not passe: lest if he shoulde exceede, and beate hym aboue that with many stripes, thy brother should appeare despised and vile before thyne eyes.
Thou shalt not moosell the oxe that treadeth out the corne.
If brethren dwell together, and one of them dye, and haue no chylde, the wyfe of the dead shall not marry without vnto a straunger: but his kinsman shall go in vnto her, & take her to wife, and occupie the rowme of his kinsman.
And the eldest sonne whiche she beareth, shall succeede in the name of his brother whiche is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.
And if the man wyll not take his kinswoman, then let her go vp to the gate vnto the elders, and say: My kinsman refuseth to stirre vp vnto his brother a name in Israel, neither wyll he marry me.
Then the elders of his citie shall call hym, and commune with hym: and if he stande and say, I wyll not take her:
Then shall his kinswoman come vnto hym in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe of his foote, and spit in his face, and aunswere, and say: So shal it be done vnto that man, that doth not buylde vp his brothers house.
And his name shalbe called in Israel, the vnshodhouse.
If when men striue together one with another, the wife of the one drawe neare for to ryd her husbande out of the handes of hym that smyteth hym, and put foorth her hande and take hym by the secretes:
Thou shalt cut of her hande, and let not thyne eye pitie her.
Thou shalt not haue in thy bagge two maner of wayghtes, a great and a small:
Neither shalt thou haue in thine house diuers measures, a great and a small.
But thou shalt haue a right and iust waight, and a perfect and a iust measure shalt thou haue: that thy dayes may be lengthed in the lande which the Lorde thy God geueth thee.
For all that do such thynges, and all that do vnright, are abhomination vnto the Lorde thy God.
Remember what Amalech dyd vnto thee by the way, when ye were come out of Egypt.
Howe he met thee by the way, and smote the hyndmost of you, all that were feeble and came behynde, when thou wast faynted and weerie, and he feared not God.
Therfore when the Lorde thy God hath geuen thee rest from all thine enemies rounde about, in the lande which the Lord thy God geueth thee to inherite and possesse: see that thou put out the remembraunce of Amalech from vnder heauen, and forget not.
WHen thou art come into the lande which the Lord thy God geueth thee to inherite, and hast enioyed it, & dwellest therin:
Take of the first of all the fruite of the earth, and bryng it out of the lande that the Lorde thy God geueth thee, and put it in a basket, and go vnto the place whiche the Lorde thy God shall chose to set his name in it.
And thou shalt come vnto the priest that shalbe in those dayes, and say vnto hym: I knowledge this day vnto the Lorde thy God, that I am come vnto the countrey whiche the Lorde sware vnto our fathers for to geue vs.
And the priest shall take the basket out of thyne hande, and set it downe before the aulter of the Lorde thy God.
And thou shalt aunswere and say before the Lorde thy God: The Syrians went about to destroy my father, and he went downe into Egypt, and so soiourned there with a fewe folke, and grewe there vnto a nation great, mightie, and full of people.
And the Egyptians vexed vs, and troubled vs, and laded vs with most cruel bondage.
And when we cryed vnto the Lorde God of our fathers, the Lorde hearde our voyce, and loked on our aduersitie, labour, and oppression.
And the Lorde brought vs out of Egypt, in a mightie hand, and a stretched out arme, and in great terriblenesse, and signes, and wonders.
And he hath brought vs into this place, and hath geuen vs this lande that floweth with mylke and hony.
And nowe lo, I haue brought the first fruites of the lande whiche thou O Lord hast geuen me: And thou shalt set it before the Lorde thy God, and worship before the Lorde thy God,
And reioyce in all the good thynges whiche the Lorde thy God hath geuen vnto thee and vnto thyne house, thou and the Leuite, and the straunger that it among you.
When thou hast made an ende of tithing all the tithes of thyne encrease the thirde yere, which is the yere of tithing: thou shalt geue it vnto the Leuite, the straunger, the fatherlesse, and the wydowe, that they may eate within thy gates, and fill them selues:
And thou shalt say before the Lord thy God: I haue brought the halowed thinges out of thine house, and haue geuen them vnto the Leuite, the straunger, the fatherlesse, and the wydowe, according to all thy commaundementes whiche thou hast commaunded me: I haue not transgressed thy commaundementes, nor forgotten them.
I haue not eaten thereof in my mournyng, nor suffred ought to perishe thorowe vnclennesse, nor geuen ought therof for the dead: but haue hearkened vnto the voyce of the Lorde my God, and haue done after all that thou hast commaunded me.
Loke downe therfore from thy holy habitation, euen from heauen, and blesse thy people Israel, and the lande which thou hast geuen vs, as thou swarest vnto our fathers [a land] that floweth with mylke and honye.
This day the Lord thy God hath commaunded thee to do these ordinaunces and lawes: kepe thou them, & do them, with all thine heart, and all thy soule.
Thou hast set vp the Lord this day to be thy God, & to walke in his wayes, and to kepe his ordinaunces, his commaundementes, and his lawes, and to hearken vnto his voyce.
And the Lorde hath set thee vp this day, to be a seuerall people vnto hym, as he hath promised thee, and that thou kepe his commaundementes:
And to make thee hye aboue all nations whiche he hath made, in prayse, in name, and honour, and that thou mayest be an holy people vnto the Lord thy God, as he hath sayde.
ANd Moyses with the elders of Israel commaunded the people, saying: Kepe al {th}e commaundements which I commaunde you this day.
And in that day when you shall passe ouer Iordane vnto the lande whiche the Lord thy God geueth thee, thou shalt set thee vp great stones, and plaster them with plaster:
And wryte vpon them all the wordes of this lawe when thou art come ouer, because thou art come into the lande whiche the Lord thy God geueth thee, a lande that floweth with mylke and honie, as the Lorde God of thy fathers hath promised thee.
Therfore when ye be come ouer Iordane, ye shal set vp these stones which I commaunde you this day in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster.
And there shalt thou buylde vnto the Lorde thy God an aulter of stones, and lift vp no iron vpon them.
Thou shalt make the aulter of the Lorde thy God of whole stones, and offer burnt offeringes thereon vnto the Lorde thy God.
And thou shalt offer peace offeringes, and shalt eate there, and reioyce before the Lorde thy God.
And thou shalt wryte vpon the stones all the wordes of this lawe, manifestly and well.
And Moyses and the priestes the Leuites spake vnto all Israel, saying: Take heede and heare O Israel, this day thou art become the people of the Lorde thy God.
Thou shalt hearken therfore vnto the voyce of the Lorde thy God, and do his commaundementes, and his ordinaunces which I commaunde thee this day.
And Moyses charged the people the same day, saying:
These shall stande vpon mount Garizim to blesse the people, when ye are come ouer Iordane, Simeon, Leui, Iuda, Isachar, Ioseph, & Beniamin.
And these shall stande vpon mount Ebal to curse, Ruben, Gad, Aser, Zabulon, Dan, Nephthali.
And the Leuites shall aunswere and say vnto all the men of Israel with a loude voyce:
Cursed be the man that maketh any carued or moulten image, an abhomination vnto the Lorde, the worke of the handes of the craftesman, and putteth it in a secrete place: and all the people shall aunswere and say, Amen.
Cursed be he that curseth his father and his mother: and all the people shall say, Amen.
Cursed be he that remoueth his neighbours marke: and all the people shall say, Amen.
Cursed be he that maketh the blynde to go out of his way: and all the people shall say, Amen.
Cursed be he that hindreth the ryght of the straunger, fatherlesse, and widdowe: & all the people shall say, Amen.
Cursed be he that lyeth with his fathers wyfe, and vnhealeth his fathers couering: and all the people shall say, Amen.
Cursed be he {th}e lieth with any maner of beast: & all the people shal say, Amen.
Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or {th}e daughter of his mother: and al the people shal say, Amen.
Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in lawe: and al the people shall say, Amen.
Cursed be he that smyteth his neighbour secretly: and all the people shall say, Amen.
Cursed be he that taketh a rewarde to slay the soule of innocent blood, and all the people shall say, Amen.
Cursed be he that continueth not in all the wordes of this lawe to do them, and all the people shall say, Amen.
IF thou shalt hearken diligently vnto the voyce of the Lord thy God, and obserue and do all his commau{n}dementes which I commaunde thee this day: the Lorde wyll set thee on hye aboue all nations of the earth.
And all these blessinges shall come on thee and ouertake thee, if thou shalt hearken vnto the voyce of the Lord thy God.
Blessed shalt thou be in the citie, and blessed in the fielde
Blessed shalbe the fruite of thy body, and the fruite of thy grounde, and the fruite of thy cattell, the increase of thy kine, and the flockes of thy sheepe.
Blessed shalbe thy basket & thy store.
Blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out, & blessed when thou commest in.
The Lord shall geue ouer thyne enemies that ryse agaynst thee, that they may fall before thy face: They shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seuen wayes.
The Lord shall commaunde the blessing vpon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thyne hande to, and wyll blesse thee in the lande whiche the Lorde thy God geueth thee.
The Lorde shall make thee an holy people vnto him self, as he hath sworne vnto thee: if thou shalt kepe the commaundementes of the Lorde thy God, and walke in his wayes.
And all nations of the earth shall see that the name of the Lorde is called vpon ouer thee, and they shalbe afraide of thee.
And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goodes, in the fruite of thy body, in the fruite of thy cattell, & in the fruite of thy grounde, in the lande whiche the Lorde sware vnto thy fathers to geue thee.
The Lorde shall open vnto thee his good treasure, euen the heauen to geue rayne vnto thy land in due season, & to blesse all thy labours of thy hande: And thou shalt lende vnto many nations, but shalt not borowe thy selfe.
And the Lorde shall make thee chiefest, and not the lowest, and thou shalt be aboue only, and not beneath: if that thou hearken vnto the commaundementes of the Lorde thy God which I commaunde thee this day, to kepe and to do them:
And see that thou bow not aside from any of these wordes whiche I commaund thee this day, either to the right hande or to the left, that thou wouldest go after straunge gods to serue them.
But and if thou wilt not hearken vnto the voyce of the Lorde thy God, to kepe and to do all his commaundementes and his ordinaunces whiche I commaunde thee this day, all these curses shal come vpon thee and ouertake thee.
Cursed shalt thou be in the citie, and cursed in the fielde.
Cursed shalbe thy basket & thy store.
Cursed shalbe the fruite of thy body, and the fruite of thy lande, and the increase of thy kine, and the flockes of thy sheepe.
Cursed shalt thou be when thou goest in, and cursed when thou goest out.
The Lorde shal sende vpon thee cursing, destruction, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand to and that thou doest, vntyll he destroy thee, and bryng thee to naught quickly, because of the wickednesse of thyne inuentions, and because thou hast forsaken me.
The Lorde shall make the pestilence cleaue vnto thee, vntyll he haue consumed thee from of the lande whyther thou goest to enioy it.
The Lorde shall smyte thee with swelling, with feuers, heate, burnyng, and with the sworde, with blasting and mildeawe: and they shall folowe thee vntyll thou perishe.
And the heauen that is ouer thy head shalbe brasse, and the earth that is vnder thee, iron.
The Lorde shall turne the rayne of the lande vnto powder and dust, euen from heaue{n} shal they come downe vpon thee, vntill thou be brought to naught.
And the Lorde shall cause thee to fall before thine enemies: Thou shalt come out one way agaynst them, and flee seuen wayes before them, & shalbe scattered among al the kingdomes of {th}e earth.
And thy carkasse shalbe meate vnto all maner foules of the ayre, and vnto the beastes of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.
The Lorde wyll smyte thee with the botch of Egypt, and the emarodes, scab, and itche, that thou mayest not be healed therof.
And the Lorde shall smyte thee with madnesse, and blyndnesse, and dasing of heart.
Thou shalt grope at noone dayes as the blinde gropeth in darknesse, & shal not prosper in thy wayes: Thou shalt be oppressed with wrong, & be poulled euermore, & no man shall succour thee.
Thou shalt be betrouthed vnto a wyfe, and another man shall lye with her: Thou shalt buylde an house, and not dwell therein: thou shalt also plant a vineyarde, and shalt not gather the grapes.
Thine oxe shalbe slayne before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eate thereof: Thyne asse shalbe violently taken away euen before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee agayne: Thy sheepe shalbe geuen vnto thyne enemies, and no man shall rescue them.
Thy sonnes and thy daughters shall be geuen vnto another nation, and thine eyes shall see it, and dase vpon them all the day long: and there shalbe no might in thyne hande.
The fruite of thy lande and all thy labours, shall a nation whiche thou knowest not, eate: and thou shalt continuallye suffer violence, and be oppressed alway:
So that thou shalt be cleane beside thy self, for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
The Lorde shall smyte thee in the knees and legges with a mischeuous botch that can not be healed, euen from the sole of thy foote, vnto the top of thy head.
The Lord shall bryng thee and thy kyng whiche thou shalt set ouer thee, vnto a nation whiche neither thou nor thy fathers haue knowen, that there thou mayest serue straunge gods, euen wood and stone.
And thou shalt be wondred at, spoken of, and iested at among al nations whyther the Lorde shall carry thee.
Thou shalt carry muche seede out into the fielde, and shalt gather but litle in: for the grashoppers shall destroy it.
Thou shalt plant a vineyarde and dresse it, but shalt neither drinke of the wine, neither gather the grapes: for the wormes shall eate it.
Thou shalt haue oliue trees throughout al thy coastes, but shalt not annoynt thy selfe with the oyle, for thine oliues shall fall downe.
Thou shalt beget sonnes and daughters, but shalt not haue them: for they shalbe carryed away captiue.
All the trees and fruite of thy lande shall wormes consume.
The straunger that is among you, shall clyme aboue thee vp on hye: and thou shalt come downe beneath alowe.
He shall lende thee, and thou shalt not lende him: he shalbe the head, and thou shalt be the tayle.
Moreouer, all these curses shall come vpon thee, and shall folowe thee, and ouertake thee tyll thou be destroyed: because thou hearkenedst not vnto the voyce of the Lorde thy God to kepe his commaundementes, and his ordinaunces whiche he commaunded thee.
And they shalbe vpon thee for signes and wonders, & vpon thy seede for euer.
Because thou seruedst not the Lorde thy God with ioyfulnesse, and with a good heart, when thou haddest aboundaunce of all thinges.
Therfore shalt thou serue thyne enemie whiche the Lorde shall sende vpon thee, in hunger, and thirst, in nakednes, and in neede of all thyng: and he shall put a yoke of iron vpon thy necke, vntyll he haue brought thee to naught.
And the Lorde shall bryng a nation vpon thee from a farre, and from the ende of the worlde, as swyft as an eagle fleeth, a nation whose tongue thou shalt not vnderstande:
A nation of a shamelesse and cruell countenaunce, whiche shall not regarde the person of the olde, nor haue compassion on the young:
The same shall eate the fruite of thy cattell, and the fruite of thy lande, vntill he haue destroyed thee: and shall leaue thee neither corne, wyne, nor oyle, neither the encrease of thy kine, nor the flockes of thy sheepe, vntyll he haue brought thee to naught:
And he shall kepe thee in, in all the cities, vntyll he haue cast downe thy hye walles and strong holdes, wherin thou trustedst, throughout all the lande: And he shall besiege thee in al thy cities thorowout all the lande whiche the Lorde thy God hath geuen thee.
And thou shalt eate the fruite of thine owne body, the fleshe of thy sonnes, and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath geuen thee, in that straitnesse and siege, wherewith thyne enemie shall inclose thee.
So that it shall greeue the man (that is tender and exceeding delicate among you) to loke on his brother, and vpon his wyfe that lieth in his bosome, and on the remnaunt of his chyldren which he hath yet left,
For feare of geuyng vnto any of them of the fleshe of his chyldren, whom he shall eate: because he hath nothyng left hym in that straitnesse and siege, wherwith thine enemie shall besiege thee in all thy cities.
Yea, and the woman that is so tender and delicate, that she dare not aduenture to set the sole of her foote vpon the grounde, for softnesse and tendernesse, shalbe greeued to loke on her husbande that lieth in her bosome, & on her sonne, and on her daughter,
And on her afterbyrth that is come out from betweene her feete, and her chyldren whiche she shall beare: For when all thinges lacke, she shall eate them secretly, duryng the siege & straitnesse wherewith thyne enemies shall besiege thee in thy cities.
If thou wylt not kepe and do all the wordes of this lawe that are written in this booke, and feare this glorious and fearefull name, The Lorde thy God:
The Lord wyll sende vnto thee and thy seede, great plagues, and of long continuaunce, euyll sicknesses, and of long duraunce:
Moreouer, he will bryng vpon thee all the diseases of Egypt, and those whiche thou wast afrayde of shall cleaue vnto thee.
And all maner sicknesses, and all maner plagues whiche are not written in the booke of this lawe, wyll the Lorde bryng vpon thee, vntyll he bryng thee to naught.
And ye shalbe lefte fewe in number, where before ye were as the starres of heauen in multitude: because thou wouldest not hearken vnto the voyce of the Lorde thy God.
And it shall come to passe, that as the Lord reioyced ouer you, to do you good, and to multiplie you: euen so he will reioyce ouer you, to destroy you, & to bring you to naught, and ye shalbe wasted from of the lande whyther thou goest to enioy it.
And the Lord shal scatter thee among all nations, from the one ende of the worlde vnto the other: and there thou shalt serue straunge gods, whiche thou nor thy fathers haue knowen, euen wood and stone.
And among these nations thou shalt finde no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foote haue rest: But the Lorde shal geue thee there an vnquiet heart, and dasing eyes, and sorowe of minde.
And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee, and thou shalt feare both day and nyght, and shalt haue none assuraunce of thy lyfe.
In the morning thou shalt say, would God it were nyght: And at nyght thou shalt say, would God it were mornyng, for feare of thyne heart whiche thou shalt feare, and for the sight of thyne eyes whiche thou shalt see.
And the Lorde shall bryng thee into Egypt agayne with shippes by the way whiche I sayde to thee, thou shalt see it no more againe: And there ye shalbe solde vnto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall bye you.
THese are the wordes of the couenaunt which the Lorde commaunded Moyses to make with the children of Israel in the lande of Moab, besyde the appoyntment which he made with them in Horeb.
And Moyses called all Israel, & sayde vnto them: Ye haue seene all that the Lorde did before your eyes in the lande of Egypt, vnto Pharao and vnto all his seruauntes, and vnto all his lande,
The great temptations which thine eyes haue seene, those great miracles and wonders:
And yet the Lorde hath not geuen you an heart to perceaue, and eyes to see, and cares to heare, vnto this day.
And I haue led you fourtie yeres in the wildernesse: and your clothes are not waxed olde vpon you, and thy shoe is not waxed olde vpon thy foote.
Ye haue eaten no bread, nor drunke wine or strong drynke: that ye myght knowe howe that I am the Lorde your God.
And ye came vnto this place, and Sehon the kyng of Hesbon, and Og the kyng of Basan came out agaynst vs vnto battayle, and we smote them,
And toke their lande, and gaue it for an inheritaunce vnto the Rubenites and Gadites, and to the halfe tribe of Manasse.
Kepe therfore the wordes of this couenaunt, and do them, that ye may vnderstande all that ye ought to do.
Ye stande this day euery one of you before the Lorde your God: your captaynes, your tribes, your elders, your officers, and all the men of Israel:
Your childre{n} also, your wiues, and the straunger that is in thine hoast, from the hewer of thy wood, vnto the drawer of thy water:
That thou shouldest go into the couenaunt of the Lorde thy God, and into his othe which the Lorde thy God maketh with thee this day:
For to make thee a people vnto hym selfe, and that he may be vnto thee a God, as he hath sayde vnto thee, and as he hath sworne vnto thy fathers, Abraham, Isahac, and Iacob.
I make not this bonde and this othe with you only:
But both with hym that standeth here with vs this day before the Lorde our God, and also with hym that is not here with vs this day.
For ye knowe howe we haue dwelt in the lande of Egypt, and howe we came through the myddes of the nations which ye passed by:
And ye haue seene their abhominations, and their idols, wood and stone, siluer and golde, which were among them.
Lest there be among you man or woman, kinrede or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lorde our God, to go and serue the gods of these nations: and lest there be among you some roote that beareth gall and wormewood.
So that when he heareth the wordes of this othe, he blesse hym selfe in his heart, saying: I shall haue peace, I wyll walke in the meanyng of myne owne heart: to put the drunken to the thirstie.
And so the Lorde wyll not consent to be mercifull vnto hym, but then the wrath of the Lorde and his gelousie shall smoke agaynst that man: and all the curses that are written in this booke shall lyght vpon hym, and the Lorde shal do out his name from vnder heaue{n}.
And the Lorde shall seperate hym vnto euyll, out of all the tribes of Israel, accordyng vnto all the curses of the couenaunt that are written in the booke of this lawe.
So that the generatio{n} to come of your children that shall ryse vp after you, and the straunger that shall come from a farre lande, shall say, when they see the plagues of that lande, and the diseases wherwith the Lorde hath smitten it:
Howe all the lande is burnt vp with brimstone and salt, and that it is neither sowen, nor beareth, nor any grasse groweth therin, lyke as in the place of {th}e ouerthrowyng of Sodome, Gomor, Adama, and Zeboim, which the Lorde ouerthrewe in his wrath and anger.
Euen then shal all nations say: Wherfore hath the Lord done on this fashion vnto this lande? O howe fierse is this great wrath?
And men shall say: Because they haue forsaken the couenaunt of the Lorde God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them out of the lande of Egypt.
For they went and serued straunge gods, and worshipped them, gods which they knewe not, and which had geuen them nothyng.
And the wrath of the Lorde waxed hot agaynst this lande, to bryng vpon it all the curses that are written in this booke.
And the Lorde cast them out of their lande in anger, wrath, and great indignation, and cast them into a straunge lande, as this day beareth witnesse.
The secretes of the Lorde our God are opened vnto vs, and to our children for euer, that we may do all the wordes of this lawe.
WHen all these wordes are come vpon thee, the blessyng and the curse whiche I haue set before thee, thou shalt turne vnto thine heart, among all the nations whyther the Lorde thy God hath dryuen thee,
And come agayne vnto the Lorde thy God, and hearken vnto his voyce in all these thynges that I commaunde thee this day, thou, and thy children, with all thine heart, and all thy soule:
And the Lorde thy God wyll turne thy captiuitie and haue compassion vpon thee, and wyll turne and fetche thee agayne from all the nations among which the Lord thy God had scattered thee.
Though thou wast cast vnto the extreme partes of heauen: euen from thence wyll the Lorde thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
And the Lorde thy God wyll bryng thee into the lande whiche thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt enioy it: And he wyll shewe thee kindnesse, and multiplie thee aboue thy fathers.
And the Lorde thy God wyll circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seede, that thou mayest loue the Lorde thy God, with all thine heart, and all thy soule, that thou mayest lyue.
And the Lorde thy God wyll put all these curses vpon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, and that persecute thee.
But thou shalt turne, and hearken vnto the voyce of the Lorde, and do all his commaundementes which I commaunde thee this day:
(And the Lorde thy God wyll make thee plenteous in al the workes of thine hande, in the fruite of thy body, and in the fruite of thy cattell, and in the fruite of thy lande, for thy wealth: For the Lorde wyll turne agayne and reioyce ouer thee to do thee good, as he reioyced ouer thy fathers.
If thou hearken only vnto the voyce of the Lorde thy God, to kepe his commaundementes and his ordinaunces which are written in the booke of this lawe, and if thou turne vnto the Lorde thy God with all thine heart and all thy soule.)
For the commaundement which I co{m}maunde thee this day, is not hidden from thee, neither farre of.
It is not in heauen, that thou needest to say: Who shall go vp for vs to heauen, and bryng it vnto vs, that we may heare it, and do it?
Neither is it beyonde the sea, that thou shouldest say: Who shall go ouer the sea for vs, and bryng it vnto vs, that we may heare it, and do it?
But the worde is very nye vnto thee, euen in thy mouth, and in thine heart, that thou do it.
Beholde I haue set before thee this day, lyfe and good, death and euyll:
For where as I commaunde thee this day, to loue the Lorde thy God, to walke in his wayes, and to kepe his commaundementes, his ordinaunces, and his lawes, [yf thou so do] thou shalt lyue and multiplie, and the Lorde thy God shall blesse thee in the lande whyther thou goest to possesse it.
But and yf thine heart turne away, so that thou wylt not heare, but shalt go astray and worship straunge gods, and serue them:
I pronounce vnto you also this day, that ye shall surely perishe, and that ye shall not prolong your dayes vpon the lande whyther thou passest ouer Iordane to go and possesse it.
I call heauen and earth to recorde this day agaynst you, that I haue set before you, lyfe and death, blessyng and cursyng: Therfore choose lyfe, that both thou and thy seede may lyue:
That thou mayest loue the Lord thy God, and be obedient to his voyce, and cleaue vnto hym: For he is thy life, & the length of thy dayes, that thou mayest dwell vpon the earth, which the Lord sware vnto thy fathers, Abraham, Isahac, and Iacob, to geue them.
ANd Moyses went and spake these wordes vnto all Israel,
And sayd vnto them: I am an hundred and twentie yeres olde this day, and can no more go out and in: Also the Lorde hath sayd vnto me, Thou shalt not go ouer this Iordane.
The Lorde thy God he wyll go ouer before thee, and he wyll destroy these nations before thee, and thou shalt possesse them: And Iosuah he shall go before thee, as the Lorde hath sayde.
And the Lorde shall do vnto them, as he dyd to Sehon and Og kynges of the Amorites, and vnto the lande of them whom he destroyed.
And the Lorde shall geue them ouer before your face, that ye may do vnto them accordyng vnto all the co{m}maundementes which I haue co{m}maunded you.
Plucke vp your heartes therfore, and be strong, dreade not, nor be afrayde of them: for the Lorde thy God hym selfe doth go with thee, he shall not fayle thee, nor forsake thee.
And Moyses called vnto Iosuah, and sayd vnto him in the sight of all Israel: Be strong & of good courage, for thou must go with this people vnto the lande which the Lord hath sworne vnto their fathers to geue them, and thou shalt geue it them to inherite.
And the Lorde he doth go before thee, he shalbe with thee, he shall not fayle thee, neither forsake thee: feare not therfore, nor be discomfyted.
And Moyses wrote this lawe, and deliuered it vnto the priestes the sonnes of Leui which bare the arke of the testament of the Lorde, and vnto all the elders of Israel.
And Moyses co{m}maunded them, saying: Euery seuenth yere, in the solempnitie of the free yere, euen in the feast of tabernacles,
When all Israel is come to appeare before the Lorde thy God in the place which he hath chosen: thou shalt reade this lawe before all Israel, that they may heare it.
Gather the people together, men, women, and children, and the straunger that is within thy gates, that they may heare, and learne, and feare the Lorde your God, and kepe and obserue all the wordes of this lawe,
And that their children which knowe nothyng, may heare, and learne to feare the Lorde your God, as long as ye lyue in the lande whyther ye go ouer Iordane to possesse it.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Beholde, thy dayes are come that thou must dye: Call Iosuah therfore, and stande ye in the tabernacle of the congregatio{n}, that I may geue him a charge. And Moyses and Iosuah went & stood in the tabernacle of the congregation.
And the Lorde appeared in the tabernacle, euen in the piller of the cloude: and the piller of the cloude stoode ouer the doore of the tabernacle.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Beholde, thou shalt sleepe with thy fathers, and this people wyll ryse vp, and go a whoryng after straunge gods of the lande whyther they go, and wyll forsake me, and breake the appoyntme{n}t which I haue made with them.
And then my wrath wyll waxe hot against them in that day, & I wil forsake them, & wyll hide my face from them, and they shalbe consumed, and much aduersitie and tribulations shall come vpon them, so that then they wyll say: Are not these troubles come vpon me, because God is not with me?
And I also wyll surely hyde away my face in that day, for all the euyls sake which they shall haue wrought, in that they are turned vnto straunge gods.
Nowe therfore write ye this song for you, and teache it the children of Israel, and put it in their mouthes, that this song may be my witnesse agaynst the children of Israel.
For I wyll bryng them into the lande which I sware vnto their fathers, that floweth with mylke and honye: and they shall eate, and fyll them selues, and waxe fat, and turne vnto strau{n}ge gods, and serue them, and blaspheme me, and breake my couenaunt.
And when much mischiefe and tribulation is come vpon them, this song shall aunswere them as a witnesse: For it shall not be forgotten out of the mouthes of their seede: for I knowe their imagination, which they go about euen nowe, before I haue brought the{m} into the lande which I sware.
Moyses therfore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.
And he gaue Iosuah the sonne of Nun a charge, and sayde: Be bolde and strong, for thou shalt bryng the children of Israel into the lande which I sware vnto them: & I wil be with thee.
And when Moyses had made an ende of writing the wordes of this lawe in a booke, vntyll he had finished them,
Moyses commaunded the Luites, which bare the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde, saying:
Take ye the booke of this lawe, and put it in the syde of the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde your God, that it may be there for a witnesse agaynst thee.
For I knowe thy rebellion and thy stiffe necke: whyle I am yet alyue with you this day, ye haue ben disobedient vnto the Lorde, and howe much more after my death?
Gather vnto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speake these wordes in their eares, and call heauen and earth to recorde against them.
For I am sure, that after my death ye will vtterly be corrupt, and turne from the way which I haue commaunded you: and tribulation wyll come vpon you in the latter dayes, because ye shall haue wrought wickednesse in the syght of the Lorde, to prouoke hym through the workes of your handes.
And Moyses spake in the eares of all the congregation of Israel the wordes of this song, vntyll he had ended them.
HEare O ye heauens, and I shal speake, and let the earth heare the wordes of my mouth.
My doctrine shal drop as doth the rayne: and my speache shall flowe as doth the deawe, as the shoure vpon the hearbes, and as the droppes vpon the grasse.
For I wyll publishe the name of the Lorde: Ascribe ye honour vnto our God.
Perfect is the worke of the most mightie God, for all his wayes are iudgement: He is a God of trueth, without wickednesse, righteous and iust is he.
Frowardly haue they done agaynst hym by their vices, not beyng his owne children, but a wicked and frowarde generation.
Do ye so rewarde the Lord, O foolishe nation and vnwise? Is not he thy father that hath bought thee? Hath he nat made thee, and ordeyned thee?
Remember the dayes of the worlde that is past, consider the yeres of so many generations: Aske thy father, and he wyll shewe thee, thy elders, and they wyll tell thee.
When the most hyest deuided to the nations their inheritaunce, and when he seperated the sonnes of Adam, he put the borders of the nations accordyng to the number of the children of Israel:
For the Lordes part is his people, and Iacob is the portion of his inheritau{n}ce.
He founde hym in a desert lande, in a voyde grounde, and in a roaryng wildernesse: He led hym about, he gaue hym vnderstandyng, and kept hym as the apple of his eye.
As an Egle that stirreth vp her nest, and flittereth ouer her young, & spreadeth her wynges, taketh them, and beareth them on her wynges:
The Lorde alone was his guyde, and there was no straunge god with hym.
He caryed hym vp to the hygh places of the earth, that he myght eate the encrease of the fieldes: And he fed hym with honye out of the rocke, and with oyle out of the most harde stone:
With butter of kine, and mylke of the sheepe, with fat of the lambes, and fat of rammes and hee goates, with the fat of the most plenteous wheate, and that thou myghtest drynke the most pure blood of the grape.
But he that shoulde haue ben vpright, when he waxed fat, spurned with his heele: Thou art well fed, thou art growen thicke, thou art euen laden with fatnesse: And he forsoke God his maker, and regarded not the God of his saluation.
They prouoked hym to anger with straunge gods, euen with abhominations prouoked they hym.
They offered vnto deuils, and not to God: euen to gods whom they knewe not, to newe gods that came newly vp, whom their fathers feared not.
Of God that begat thee thou art vnmyndfull, and hast forgotten God that made thee.
The Lorde therfore sawe it, and was angry: because of the prouokyng of his sonnes and his daughters.
And he sayde: I wyll hyde my face from them, and wil see what their ende shalbe: For they are a very frowarde generation, childre{n} in whom is no faith.
They haue angred me with that which is no god, and prouoked me with their vanities: And I also wyll prouoke them with those whiche are no people, I wyll anger them with a foolishe nation.
For fire is kindled in my wrath, and burneth vnto the bottome of hell, and hath consumed the earth with her increase, and set a fire the botomes of the mountaynes.
I wyll heape mischiefes vpon them, & wyll destroy them with mine arrowes.
They shalbe burnt with hunger, and consumed with heate, and with bitter destruction: I wyll also sende the teeth of beastes vpon them, with the furiousnesse of serpentes in the dust.
Withoutforth shall the sworde robbe them of their children, and within in the chamber feare: both young men & young women, and the suckelynges, with the men of gray heades.
I haue sayde, I wyll scatter them abrode, and make the remembraunce of them to ceasse from among men:
Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemie, lest their aduersaries should vtterly withdrawe the{m} selues, and lest they shoulde say: our hye hande hath done all this, and not the Lorde.
For it is a nation voyde of counsayle, neither is there any vnderstandyng in them.
O that they were wyse, and vnderstoode this, that they woulde consider their latter ende.
Howe shoulde one chase a thousande, & two put ten thousand to flyght, except their maker had solde them, and except the Lorde had shut them vp?
For their god is not as our God: our enemies also them selues are iudges.
For their vine is of the vineyarde of Sodome, & of the fieldes of Gomorra: their grapes are grapes of gall, and their clusters be bitter.
Their vine is the poyson of dragons, and the cruell gall of aspes.
Is not this layde in store with me, and sealed vp among my treasures?
Vengeaunce is myne, and I wyll rewarde, their feete shall slyde in due tyme: For the day of their destruction is at hande, and the thynges that shall come vpon them, make haste.
For the Lord shal iudge his people, and haue compassion on his seruau{n}tes, when he seeth that their power is gone, and that they be in a maner shut vp, or brought to naught and forsaken.
And he shall say: Where are their gods, their god in whom they trusted?
The fat of whose sacrifices they dyd eate, & dranke the wine of their drinke offerynges: let them ryse vp, and helpe you, and be your protection.
See nowe howe that I, I am God, and there is none but I: I kyll, and wyll make alyue: I wounde, and wyll heale, neither is there any that can delyuer out of my hande.
For I wyll lift vp myne hande to heauen, and wyll say: I lyue euer.
If I whet the edge of my sworde, and mine hande take holde to do iustice, I wyl recompence vengeaunce on mine enemies, and wyll rewarde them that hate me.
I wyll make myne arrowes drunke with blood, and my sworde shal deuour fleshe, & that for the blood of the slayne, and for their captiuitie, sence the begynnyng of the wrath of the enemie.
Prayse ye heathen his people, for he wyll auenge the blood of his seruau{n}tes, and will auenge him of his aduersaries, and wyll be mercifull vnto his lande, and to his people.
And Moyses came and spake all the wordes of this song in the eares of the people, he & Iosuah the sonne of Nun.
And Moyses spake all these wordes vnto the ende, to al the people of Israel,
And sayde vnto them: Set your heartes vnto all the wordes which I testifie vnto you this day, and ye shall commaunde them vnto your children, that they may obserue and do all the wordes of this lawe.
And let it not be a vayne worde vnto you: for in it is your lyfe, and through this worde ye shall prolong your dayes in the lande whyther ye go ouer Iordane to possesse it.
And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses the same day, saying:
Get thee vp into this mountayne Abarim, vnto mount Nebo, which is in the lande of Moab, ouer agaynst Iericho, and beholde the lande of Chanaan which I geue vnto the children of Israel to possesse:
And dye in the mount whiche thou goest vnto, and thou shalt be gathered vnto thy people, as Aaron thy brother dyed in mount Hor, and was gathered vnto his people:
Because ye trespassed agaynst me among the children of Israel at the waters of stryfe at Cades in the wildernesse of Zin: for ye sanctified me not among the children of Israel.
Thou shalt therfore see the lande before thee, and shalt not go thyther vnto the lande which I geue the children of Israel.
THis is the blessyng wherwith Moyses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death, and sayde:
The Lorde came from Sinai, and rose vp from Seir vnto them, and appeared from mount Pharan, & he came with ten thousande of saintes, and in his ryght hand a lawe of fire for them.
And he loued the people, all his saintes also are in thy handes: They were smitten to go after thy feete, and to receaue of thy wordes.
Moyses gaue vs a lawe for an inheritaunce of the congregation of Iacob:
And he was in Israel king, when the heades of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.
Let Ruben lyue, and not dye, and be fewe in number.
This same also happen to Iuda: And he sayde: Heare Lorde the voyce of Iuda, & bryng him vnto his people: his handes shalbe good enough for hym, yf thou helpe hym agaynst his enemies.
And vnto Leui he sayde: Thumim and Vrim shalbe with thee, and with euery one that is godly in thee: Thou dyddest proue hym also in the temptation, & striuedst with hym at the waters of stryfe.
He that hath sayde vnto his father & to his mother (I haue not seene hym) and he that knewe not his brethren, nor knewe his owne children, those are they that haue obserued thy worde, and shall kepe thy couenaunt.
They shall teache Iacob thy iudgementes, and Israel thy lawe: They shall put incense before thy nose, and the burnt sacrifice vpon thine aulter.
Blesse Lorde his first fruites, and accept the worke of his handes: smyte the loynes of the{m} that rise agaynst him, and of them that hate hym, that they ryse not agayne.
And of Beniamin he sayde: The beloued of the Lorde shall dwell in safetie vpon hym, and the Lorde shall couer hym all the day long, and he shall dwell betweene his shoulders.
And of Ioseph he sayde: Blessed of the Lorde is his lande for the fruites of heauen, through the deawe & springes that lye beneath,
And for the sweete fruites of the increase of the sunne, and rype fruites of the moone:
For the first fruites of the principall mountaynes, and for the fruites that the hylles bryng foorth for euer:
And for the fuites of the earth, and fulnesse therof: and for the good wyll of hym that dwelt in the bushe, shall the blessing come vpon the head of Ioseph, and vpon the toppe of the head of hym that was seperated from among his brethren.
His first borne oxe hath beautie, and his hornes are as the hornes of an vnicorne, and with them he shall trouble the nations together, euen vnto the endes of the worlde: These are also ten thousandes of Ephraim, and the thousandes of Manasses.
And vnto Zabulon he sayde: Reioyce Zabulon in thy goyng out, and thou Isachar in thy tentes.
They shall call the people vnto the hyll, & there they shall offer offeringes of righteousnesse: For they shall sucke of the aboundaunce of the sea, and of treasure hyd in the sande.
And vnto Gad he sayde: Blessed be he that inlarged Gad: he dwelleth as a Lion that catcheth for a pray the arme with the head.
He loked to hym selfe at the beginning, because there was a portion of the law-geuer hid, & he came with the heades of the people, and executed the ryghteousnesse of the Lorde, and his iudgementes with Israel.
And vnto Dan he sayde: Dan is a Lions whelpe, he shal leape fro{m} Basan.
And vnto Nephthali he sayde: O Nephthali, satisfied with Gods fauour, and full with the blessing of the Lorde, possesse thou the west and the south.
And to Aser he sayde: Aser shalbe blessed with children, he shalbe acceptable vnto his brethren, and shall dyp his foote in oyle.
Thy shoes shalbe iron and brasse, and thy strength shall continue as long as thou lyuest.
There is none lyke vnto the God of Israel, which though he syt vpon the heauen [as vpon an horse] yet is he thine helper, whose glorie is in the celestiall places.
The eternall God is thy refuge, and vnder the armes of the euerlastyng God shalt thou lyue: He shall cast out the enemie before thee, and say, destroy them.
Israel then shall dwell in safetie and alone, and the fountayne of Iacob shalbe vpon a lande of corne and wine, and his heauens shall drop the deawe.
Happy art thou O Israel, who is like vnto thee O people, that art saued in the Lorde which is the shielde of thy helpe and sworde of thy glorie? Thine enemies haue lost their strength to thee warde, and thou shalt treade vpon their hye places.
AND Moyses went from the playne of Moab, vp into mount Nebo, and vnto the top of the hyll that is ouer agaynst Iericho: And the Lord shewed hym all the lande of Gilead, euen vnto Dan:
And all Nephthali, and the lande of Ephraim, & Manasse, and all the lande of Iuda, euen vnto the vtmost sea:
And the south, and the playne of the valley of Iericho, the citie of palme trees [euen] vnto Zoar.
And the Lorde sayd vnto hym: This is the lande which I sware vnto Abraham, Isahac, and Iacob, saying, I wyll geue it vnto thy seede: I haue caused thee also to see it with thine eies, but thou shalt not go ouer thyther.
So Moyses the seruaunt of the Lord dyed there in the lande of Moab, accordyng to the worde of the Lorde.
And he buryed hym in a valley, in the lande of Moab, ouer agaynst the house of Peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre vnto this day.
Moyses was an hundred and twentie yeres olde when he dyed: his eye was not dymme, nor his naturall force abated.
And the children of Israel wept for Moyses in the playne of Moab thirtie dayes: And the dayes of weepyng and mournyng for Moyses were ended.
And Iosuah the sonne of Nun was ful of the spirite of wisdome, for Moyses had put his handes vpon hym: And the children of Israel were obedient vnto hym, and dyd as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And there arose not a prophete since in Israel, lyke vnto Moyses whom the Lorde knewe face to face,
Accordyng vnto all the miracles and wonders which the Lorde sent hym to do in the lande of Egypt before Pharao and all his seruauntes, and before all his lande,
And accordyng to all that mightie hande, and all the great feare which Moyses shewed in the syght of all Israel.
AFter the death of Moyses the seruaunt of the Lord, it came to passe also that the Lorde spake vnto Iosuah {th}e sonne of Nun, Moyses minister, saying:
Moyses my seruaunt is dead: Nowe therefore arise, go ouer this Iordane, thou and all this people, vnto the lande the whiche I to them the chyldren of Israel do geue.
All the places that the soles of your feete shall treade vpon, haue I geuen you, as I sayde vnto Moyses.
From the wyldernesse and this Libanon, vnto the great riuer Euphrates, all the lande of the Hethites, euen vnto the great sea towarde the goyng downe of the sunne, shalbe your coast.
There shal not a man be able to withstande thee all the dayes of thy life: For as I was with Moyses, so wyll I be with thee, and wyll not fayle thee, nor forsake thee.
Be strong therfore and bolde: for vnto this people shalt thou deuide {th}e lande for inheritaunce, whiche I sware vnto their fathers to geue them.
Only be thou strong, and of a stoute courage, that thou maiest obserue and do according to all the law which Moses my seruaunt commaunded thee: Turne from the same neither to the right hande, nor to the lefte, that thou maiest do wisely in al that thou takest in hande.
Let not the booke of this lawe departe out of thy mouth , but occupie thy minde therein day & night, that thou maiest obserue and doe according to all {tha}t is written therin: For then shalt thou make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt do wisely.
Haue not I co{m}maunded thee, that thou shouldest be strong & hardie, and not feare nor be faint hearted? For I the Lorde thy God am with thee, whyther soeuer thou goest.
Then Iosuah commaunded the officers of the people, saying:
Go thorowe the middes of the hoaste, and co{m}maunde the people, saying, Prepare you vitailes: for after three daies ye shal passe ouer this Iordane, to go in and enioye the lande, which the Lorde your God geueth you, to possesse it.
And vnto the Rubenites, Gadites, and halfe the tribe of Manasses spake Iosuah saying:
Remember the worde whiche Moyses the seruaunt of the Lorde commau{n}ded you, saying: The Lorde your God hath geuen you rest, & hath geuen you this lande.
Your wyues, your children, and your catell shall remaine in the lande which Moyses gaue you on this syde Iordane: but ye shal go before your brethren armed, all that be men of warre, and helpe them:
Vntill the Lorde haue geuen your brethren rest as he hath you, and vntill they also haue obtained the lande whiche the Lorde your God geueth them: And then shal ye returne vnto the lande of your possession, and enioye it: which lande Moyses the Lordes seruau{n}t gaue you on this side Iordane towarde the sunne rysyng.
And they aunswered Iosuah, sayinge: Al that thou hast commaunded vs we will do, and whyther soeuer thou sendest vs, we will go.
According as we obeyed Moyses in al thinges, so will we obey thee: only the Lorde thy God be with thee, as he was with Moyses.
And whosoeuer he be that doth disobey thy mouth, and wil not hearken vnto thy wordes in all that thou commau{n}dest him, let him dye: Only be strong, and of good courage.
ANd Iosuah {th}e sonne of Nun sent out of Sittim two men to spye secretely, saying: Go, and viewe the land, and also Iericho. And they went, and came into a harlotes house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
And it was tolde the king of Iericho, saying: Beholde, ther came men in hyther to night, of the children of Israel, to spye out the countrey.
And the king of Iericho sent vnto Rahab, saying: Bring foorth the men that are come to thee, and which are entred into thyne house: for they be come to searche out all the lande.
And the woman toke the two men and hyd them, and sayd thus: In deede there came men vnto me, but I wiste not whence they were.
And about the time of the shutting of the gate when it was darke, the men went out, whyther the men went I wote not: folowe ye after them quickly, for ye shall ouertake them.
But she had brought them vp to the rooffe of the house, & hyd them with the stalkes of flaxe which she had lying abrode vpon the rooffe.
And the men pursued after them the way to Iordane vnto the fourdes: and assoone as they whiche pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
And or euer they were asleepe, she came vp vnto them vpon the rooffe,
And sayd vnto the men: I knowe that the Lorde hath geuen you the land, for the feare of you is fallen vpo{n} vs, and the inhabitantes of the lande faint at the presence of you:
For we haue hearde howe the Lorde dried vp the water of the red sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you dyd vnto the two kynges of the Amorites that were on the other syde Iordane, Sehon and Og, whom ye vtterly destroyed.
And assoone as we had hearde these thynges, our heartes dyd faynt, and there remained no more courage in any man at the presence of you: For the Lorde your God he is the God in heauen aboue, and in earth beneath.
Nowe therfore, I pray you sweare vnto me by the Lorde, that as I haue shewed you mercie, ye shall also shewe mercie vnto my fathers house, and geue me a true token:
And that ye shall saue alyue both my father and my mother, my brethren and my sisters, and all that they haue: and that ye shall delyuer our soules from death.
And the men aunswered her: Our lyues for you to dye, yf ye vtter not this our busynesse. And when the Lorde hath geuen vs the lande, we wyll deale mercyfully and truely with thee.
And then she let them downe by a corde through a wyndow: for her house was vpon the towne wall, & she dwelt vpon the towne wall.
And she sayde vnto them: Get you into the mountaine leste the pursuers meete you, and hyde your selues there three dayes vntyl the pursuers be returned, & then shall ye go your owne way.
And the men sayde vnto her: We wyl be blamelesse of this thy o•h which thou hast made vs sweare▪
Behold, when we come into the lande, thou shalt bynde this corde of red threde in the wyndowe whiche thou dydst let vs downe by: and thou shalt bryng thy father and thy mother, thy brethren, & all thy fathers housholde [euen] into thy house.
And then whosoeuer doeth go out at the doores of thy house into the streate, his blood shalbe vpon his owne head, and we wyll be gyltlesse: And who soeuer shalbe with thee in the house, his blood shalbe on our head yf any mans hande touche hym.
And if thou vtter these our wordes, we wilbe quite of thy oth which thou hast made vs sweare.
And she saide: According vnto your wordes, so be it. And she sent the{m} away, and they departed. And she bounde the red corde in the windowe.
And they departed, and came into the mountaine, & there abode three dayes, vntyl the pursuers were returned: And the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but founde them not.
And the two men returned, and descended from the mountaine, and passed ouer, and came to Iosuah the sonne of Nun, and tolde him all that came vnto them.
And they saide vnto Iosuah: Truely the Lorde hath delyuered into our handes all the lande, and all the inhabitauntes of the countrey faint at the presence of vs.
ANd Iosuah rose early and they remoued fro{m} Sittim, and came to Iordane, he and all the chyldren of Israel: and lodged there before they went ouer.
And after three dayes, the officers went throughout the hoaste,
And commaunded the people, saying: When ye see the arke of the testament of the Lorde your God, and the priestes that are Leuites bearing it, ye shall depart from your place, and go after it.
So yet that there shalbe a space betweene you and it, about two thousand cubites by measure: And ye shall not come nye vnto it, that ye may know the way by whiche ye must go: for ye haue not gone this way in times past.
And Iosuah sayde vnto the people: Sanctifie your selues, for to morowe the Lord shal do wonders among you.
And Iosuah spake vnto the priestes, saying: Take vp the arke of the couenaunt, and go ouer before the people. And they toke vp the arke of the testament, and went before the people.
And {th}e Lord sayd vnto Iosuah: This day will I beginne to magnifie thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may knowe howe that as I was with Moyses, so will I be with thee.
And thou shalt co{m}maunde {th}e priestes that beare the arke of the couenaunt, saying: when ye are come to the edge of the waters of Iordane, ye shall stande still in Iordane.
And Iosuah saide vnto the children of Israel: Come hyther, and heare the wordes of the Lorde your God.
And Iosuah sayde: Hereby ye shall knowe that the liuing God is among you, and that he will without fayle cast out before you the Chanaanites, and the Hethithes, the Heuites, the Pherezites, the Gergesites, the Amorites, and the Iebusites.
Beholde, the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde of all the world, goeth before you into Iordane.
Nowe therfore take from among you twelue men out of the tribes of Israel, out of euery tribe a man.
And assoone as the soles of the feete of the priestes that beare the arke of the Lorde the gouernour of all the worlde, treade in the waters of Iordane, the waters of Iordane shalbe deuided: and the waters that come from aboue shall stande still vpon an heape.
And so, when the people were departed fro{m} their tentes to go ouer Iordane, the priestes bearing the arke of the couenaunt, went before the people.
And assoone as they that bare {th}e arke came vnto Iordane, and the feete of the priestes that bare the arke were dypped in the brym of the water (For Iordane vseth to fyll all his banckes all the time of haruest)
The waters also that came downe fro{m} aboue, did rise vp vpon an heape and departed farre from {th}e citie of Ada{m}, that was beside Zarthan: And the waters that were beneath towarde {th}e sea of the wildernes, euen the salt sea, fayled and were cut of: and the people went right ouer against Iericho.
And the priestes that bare the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde, stoode drie within Iordane, redy prepared, and all the Israelites went ouer thorowe the drie, vntill all the people were gone cleane ouer thorowe Iordane.
AND so when the people were al gone ouer Iordane (after {th}e Lord had spoken vnto Iosuah, saying:
Take you twelue men out of the people, out of euery tribe a man,
And commaunde you them, saying: Take you hence out of the middes of Iordane [euen] out of the place where the priestes stoode in a redinesse, twelue stones, which ye shall take away with you, and leaue them in the lodgyng where you shall lodge this nyght)
Then Iosuah called the twelue men, which he had prepared of the chyldren of Israel, out of euery tribe a man.
And Iosuah sayde vnto them: Get you before the arke of the Lorde your God, euen through the middes of Iordane, and take vp euery man of you a stone vpon his shoulder, accordyng vnto the number of the tribes of the chyldren of Israel,
That this may be a signe among you: That when your chyldren aske their fathers in tyme to come, saying, What [meane] these stones with you?
Ye maye aunswere them: howe that the waters of Iordane deuided at the presence of the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde, (for when it went ouer Iordane, the waters of Iordane deuided) And these stones are become a memoriall vnto the chyldren of Israel for euer.
And the chyldren of Israel dyd euen so as Iosuah commaunded, and toke vp twelue stones out of the middes of Iordane as the Lorde sayde vnto Iosuah, accordyng to the number of the tribes of the chyldren of Israel, and caryed them away with them vnto the place where they lodged, & layde them downe there.
And Iosuah set vp twelue stones in the middes of Iordane, in the place where the feete of the priestes whiche bare the arke of the testament stoode: and there haue they continued vnto this day.
For the priestes whiche bare the arke stoode in the middes of Iordane, vntyll all was finished that the Lorde commaunded Iosuah to saye vnto the people, accordyng to all that Moyses charged Iosuah: And the people hasted, & went ouer.
And when all the people were cleane passed ouer, the arke of the Lord went ouer also, and the priestes before the people.
And the chyldren of Ruben, and the chyldren of Gad, and halfe the tribe of Manasse, went before the chyldren of Israel armed, as Moyses charged the{m}.
Euen fourtie thousande prepared for warre, went before the Lorde vnto battayl, through the plaine of Iericho.
That day the Lorde magnified Iosuah in the syght of all Israel: and they feared hym, as they feared Moyses all dayes of his lyfe.
And the Lorde spake vnto Iosuah, saying:
Commaunde the priestes that beare the arke of the testimonie to come vp out of Iordane.
Iosuah therefore commaunded the priestes, saying: Come ye vp out of Iordane.
And when the priestes that bare the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde, were come vp out of the middes of Iordane, and assoone as the soles of the priestes feete were set on {th}e drie land, the waters of Iordane returned vnto their place, and went ouer all their bankes as they dyd before.
And the people came vp out of Iordane the tenth [day] of the first moneth, and pitched in Gilgal, euen in the east border of the citie Iericho.
And the twelue stones whiche they toke out of Iordane, dyd Iosuah pitch in Gilgal.
And he spake vnto the chyldren of Israel, saying: If your chyldren aske their fathers in tyme to come, and saye: What [meane] these stones?
Ye shall shewe your chyldren, and say: Israel came ouer this Iordane on drye lande.
For the Lorde your God dried vp the water of Iordane before you, vntill ye were gone ouer, as {th}e Lorde your God dyd the red sea, which he dried vp before vs, tyll we were gone ouer.
That all the people of {th}e world may knowe the hande of the Lorde howe mightie it is, and that ye might feare the Lorde your God for euer.
ANd whe{n} al the kinges of {th}e Amorites which are beyonde Iordane westwarde, and al the kynges of the Chanaanites which were by the sea, heard howe {th}e Lorde had dried vp the waters of Iordane before the chyldren of Israel vntill they were gone ouer, their heartes faynted for feare, and there was no spirite in them any more for the presence of the children of Israel.
That same time the Lorde saide vnto Iosuah: Make thee sharp kniues, and go to agayne and circumcise the children of Israel the seconde time.
And Iosuah made him sharpe kniues, and circumcised the children of Israel in the hill of the foreskinnes.
And this is the cause why Iosuah circumcised all the people, euen the males that came out of Egypt: because that al the men of warre died in the wildernes by {th}e way, after they came out of Egypt.
For all the people that came out, were circumcised: but al the people that were borne in the wildernes by the way after they came out of Egypt were not circumcised.
For the chyldren of Israel walked fourtie yeres in the wildernesse, till al {th}e people of {th}e men of warre that came out of Egypt were consumed, because they hearkened not vnto the voyce of the Lorde: Vnto whom the Lorde sware, that he woulde not shewe them {th}e lande which the Lorde sware vnto their fathers that he woulde geue vs, euen a lande that floweth with mylke & hony.
And their children whom he set vp in their steede, them Iosuah circumcised, for they were vncircumcised: because they circumcised them not by the way.
And when they had circumcised al the people, they abode in their places in the campe tyll they were whole.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Iosuah: This day haue I taken away the shame of Egypt from you: wherefore the name of the same place is called Gilgal, vnto this day.
And the children of Israel abode in Gilgal, and helde the feast of Passouer the fourteenth day of the moneth at euen, in the playne of Iericho.
And they did eate of the corne of the lande on the morowe after the Passouer sweete cakes and parched corne, in the selfe same day.
For the Manna ceassed on the morowe after they had begun to eate of the corne of the lande, neither had the chyldren of Israel Manna any more, but did eate of the fruite of the lande of Chanaan that yere.
And when Iosuah was nye to Iericho, he lift vp his eyes and loked: and behold, there stoode a man against him, hauing a sworde drawen in his hande: And Iosuah went vnto him, and sayde vnto him, Art thou on our syde, or on our aduersaries?
And he sayde, Naie: but as a captaine of the hoast of the Lord am I nowe come. And Iosuah fell on his face to {th}e earth, and did worship, and sayde vnto him: What saith my Lord vnto his seruaunt?
And the captaine of the Lordes hoast sayde vnto Iosuah: Do thy shoe of thy foote, for the place wheron thou standest, is holy. And Iosuah did so.
AND Iericho was shut vp and closed, because of the childre{n} of Israel, neither myght any man go out, or in.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Iosuah: Behold, I haue geuen into thyne hande Iericho, and the kyng therof, and the strong men of warre.
And ye shall compasse all the citie, all ye that be men of warre, and go rounde about it once: & so shal you do sixe dayes.
And seuen priestes shall beare before the arke seuen trumpettes of rammes hornes: And the seuenth day ye shall compasse the citie seuen tymes, and the priestes shal blowe with the trumpets.
And when they make a long blast with the rammes horne, and ye heare the sounde of the horne, all the people shall shout with a great shout: And then shall the wall of the citie fall downe, and the people shall assende vp, euery man strayght before hym.
And Iosuah the sonne of Nun, called the priestes, and sayde vnto them: Take vp the arke of the couenaunt, and let seuen priestes beare seuen trumpets of rammes hornes before the arke of the Lorde.
And he sayde vnto the people: Go, and compasse the citie, & let hym that is harnessed go before {th}e arke of the Lord.
And when Iosuah had spoken vnto {th}e people, the seuen priestes bare the seuen trumpets of rammes hornes, and went foorth before the arke of the Lorde, and blewe with the trumpets: and the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde folowed them.
And the men of armes went before the priestes that blewe with the trumpets: & the gatheryng hoast came after the arke as they went, and blewe with trumpets.
And Iosuah had commaunded the people, saying: Ye shall not shout, nor make any noyse with your voyce, neither shall any worde proceede out of your mouth vntyll the day I byd you shout, then shall ye shout.
And so the arke of the Lorde compassed the citie, and went about it once: and they returned into the hoast, and lodged there.
And Iosuah rose early in the mornyng, and the priestes toke vp the arke of the Lorde.
And seuen priestes bare seuen trumpettes of rammes hornes, and went before the arke of the Lorde: and goyng, blewe with the trumpettes. And the men of armes went before them: but the gatheryng hoast came after the arke of the Lorde, whiche went before with the blowyng of the trumpettes.
And the seconde daye they passed the citie once, and returned againe into the hoast: and so they dyd sixe dayes.
And when the seuenth day came, they rose early [euen] with the dawnyng of the day, & compassed the citie after the same maner seuen tymes: only that day they compassed the citie seue{n} times.
And at the seuenth tyme when the priestes blew with the trumpettes, Iosuah sayde vnto the people: Showt, for the Lorde hath geuen you the citie.
And the citie shalbe accursed and al that are therin, vnto the Lorde: onlye Rahab the harlot shal liue, and all that are with her in the house, because she hyd the messengers that we sent.
And in any wyse be ye ware of the accursed thinges, lest ye make your selues accursed, & take of the accursed thynges, and make the hoast of Israel accursed, and trouble it.
But all the syluer, golde, vesselles of brasse and iron, shalbe consecrate vnto the Lorde, and all shall come into his treasurie.
And the people showted, and blewe with trumpettes: And when the people heard the sound of the trumpe, they showted with a great showt, and the wall fell downe flat, so that the people went vp into {th}e citie, euery man straight before hym, and toke the citie:
And they vtterly destroyed all that was in the citie, both man and woman, young and olde, oxe, sheepe, and asse, with the edge of the sworde.
But Iosuah had sayde vnto the two men that had spyed out the countrey: Go into the harlottes house, and bryng out thence the woman and all that she hath, as ye sware vnto her.
And the young men that were spyes, went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father and mother, & her brethren, and all that she had: and they brought out all her kynred, & put them without the hoast of Israel.
And they burnt the citie with fire, and all that was therin: only the syluer and the golde, the vesselles of brasse & iron, they put vnto {th}e treasure of the house of the Lorde.
And Iosuah saued Rahab the harlot, and her fathers household, and all that she had: and she dwelt in Israel euen vnto this day, because she hyd the messengers which Iosuah sent to spye out Iericho.
And Iosuah sware at that tyme, saying: Cursed be the man before the Lord that ryseth vp, and buyldeth this citie Iericho: He shall lay the foundation thereof in his eldest sonne, and in his youngest sonne shall he set vp the gates of it.
And so the Lorde was with Iosuah, and his fame was noysed throughout all landes.
BVt yet the chyldren of Israel trespassed in {th}e forbydden thyng: for Achan {th}e sonne of Charmi, the sonne of Zabdi, {th}e sonne of Zareth, of the tribe of Iuda, toke of the forbydden thyng: And the wrath of the Lorde waxed hot against the chyldren of Israel.
And Iosuah sent men from Iericho to Ai, which is besyde Bethauen, on the east syde of Bethel, and spake vnto them, saying: Get you vp, and viewe the countrey. And the men went vp, & viewed Ai,
And returned to Iosuah, and sayde vnto him, Let not all the people go vp: but let as it were two or three thousande men go vp, and smyte Ai: and make not all the people to labour thycher, for they are but fewe.
And so there went vp thyther of the people about a three thousande men, and they fled before the men of Ai.
And the men of Ai smote of them vpon a thirtie and sixe men: for they chased them from before the gate euen vnto Sebarim, and smote them in the goyng downe: Wherfore the heartes of the people for feare melted away lyke water.
And Iosuah rent his clothes, & fell to the earth vpo{n} his face before the arke of the Lorde vntill the euentide, he and the elders of Israel, and put earth vpon their heades.
And Iosuah sayde: Alas, O Lorde God, wherfore hast thou brought this people ouer Iordane, to deliuer vs into the hande of the Amorites, & to destroye vs? Would to God we had ben content, and dwelt on the other side Iordane.
Oh Lorde what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backes before their enemies?
Surely the Chanaanites, and all the inhabitauntes of the lande shal heare of it, and shall conspire against vs, and destroy the name of vs out of the worlde: And what wilt thou do vnto thy mightie name?
And the Lorde sayde vnto Iosuah: Get thee vp, wherfore liest thou thus vpon thy face?
Israel hath sinned, and they haue transgressed myne appointment which I commaunded them: for they haue taken of the excommunicate thinges, and haue also stolen, and dissembled also, & put them vnto their owne stuffe.
And therfore is it that the children of Israel can not stande before their enemies, but shal turne their backes before their enemies, because they be excommunicate: Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the excommunicate from among you.
Vp [therfore] and sanctifie the people, and say: Sanctifie your selues against to morowe, for so sayde the Lorde God of Israel, there is a dampned thyng among you, O Israel: and therfore ye cannot stande against your enemies, vntyll ye haue put the dampned thing from among you.
To morowe morning therfore ye shalbe brought according to your tribes: And the tribe which the Lorde taketh, shal come according to the kinredes therof: And the kinred which the Lorde shall finde giltie, shall come by housholdes: And the housholde which the Lorde shal finde faultie, shall come ma{n} by man.
And he that is founde with the accursed thing, shalbe burnt with fire, he, and all that he hath, because he hath transgressed the couenaunt of the Lord, and wrought follie in Israel.
And so Iosuah rose vp early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes, & the tribe of Iuda was caught.
And he brought the kinredes of Iuda, and toke the kinred of the Zarehites: And he brought the kinred of the Zarehites man by ma{n}, & Zabdi was caught.
And he brought his housholde man by man, & Achan the sonne of Charmi, the sonne of Zabdi, {th}e sonne of Zared of the tribe of Iuda, was caught.
And Iosuah sayde vnto Achan: My sonne, I beseche thee geue glorie to the Lorde God of Israel, and make confession vnto him, and shewe me what thou hast done, hyde it not from me.
And Achan au{n}swered Iosuah, & sayd: Of a trueth I haue sinned against the Lorde God of Israel, and thus & thus haue I done.
I sawe among the spoyles a goodly babilonishe garment, and two hundred sicles of siluer, and a tonge of golde of fiftie sicles wayghte, and I coueted them, and toke them: and beholde they lye hyd in the earth in the middest of my tent, and the siluer is ther vnder.
And so Iosuah sent messe{n}gers: which whe{n} they ranne vnto his tent, beholde they were hyd in his tent, and the siluer ther vnder.
Therfore they toke them out of the middest of his tent, and brought them vnto Iosuah, and vnto all the children of Israel, and layed them out before the Lorde.
And Iosuah toke Achan the sonne of Zareth, and the siluer, and the , and the tonge of gold, and his sonnes, and his daughters, & his oxen, and his asses, his sheepe, his tent, and all that he had: and al Israel with him brought them vnto the valley of Achor.
And Iosuah sayde: In as much as thou hast troubled vs, the Lorde shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned hym with stones, and burned them with fire, and ouerwhelmed them with stones.
And they cast vpon hym a great heape of stones vnto this day: And so the Lord turned from the wrath of his indignation. And the name of the place is called the valley of Achor vnto this day.
AND the Lorde sayde vnto Iosuah: Feare not, neither be thou faint hearted: Take all the men of warre with thee, and vp, & get thee to Ai. Beholde, I haue geuen into thy hande the kyng of Ai, and his people, his citie, and his lande:
And thou shalt do to Ai and her kyng, as thou dyddest vnto Iericho and her king. Neuerthelesse, the spoyle & cattell thereof, shall ye take vnto your selues: Thou shalt lye in wayte agaynst the citie, on the backside thereof.
And so Iosuah arose, and all the men of warre, to go vp agaynst Ai: And Iosuah chose out thirtie thousande strong men and valiaunt, and sent them away by nyght:
And he commaunded them, saying: Beholde, ye shall lye in wayte agaynst the towne on the backside thereof: Go not verie farre from the citie, but be all redie:
And I, and al the people that are with me, wyll approche vnto the citie: And when they come out against vs, as they dyd at the first tyme, then wyll we flee before them:
For they wyll come out after vs tyll we haue brought them out of the citie. For they wyll say, They flee before vs, as at the first tyme: and we will flee before them.
In the meane tyme shall ye ryse vp from lying in wayte, and destroy the citie: for the Lorde your God wyll delyuer it into your hande.
And when ye haue taken the citie, ye shall set it on fire: Accordyng to the commaundement of the Lorde shall ye do. Beholde, I haue charged you.
Iosuah therfore sent them foorth, and they went to lye in wayte, and abode betweene Bethel & Ai, on the westsyde of the citie of Ai: But Iosuah lodged that nyght among the people.
And Iosuah rose vp early in the mornyng, and numbred the people, & went vp, he and the elders of Israel before the people, against Ai.
And all the men of warre that were with him, went vp, & drue nye, and came agaynst the citie, and pitched on the northsyde of Ai: and there was a valley betweene them and Ai.
And he toke vpon a fiue thousande men, and set them to lye in wayte betweene Bethel and Ai, on the westsyde of the citie.
And the people set all the hoast that was on the northsyde agaynst the citie, & the lyers in wayte on the west, against the citie: And Iosuah walked the same nyght in the myddes of the valley.
And when the kyng of Ai sawe it, they hasted and rose vp early, and the men of the citie went out agaynst Israel to battayle, he and all his people at a tyme appoynted, euen before the playne: and wyst not that there were lyers in wayte agaynst him on the backsyde of the citie.
And Iosuah & all Israel as beaten before them, fledde by the way of the wildernesse.
And all the people of the towne were called together, to folowe after them: And they folowed after Iosuah, and were drawen away from the citie.
And there was not a man left in Ai and in Bethel, that went not out after Israel: And they left the citie open, and folowed after Israel.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Iosuah: Stretch out {th}e speare that is in thine hand towarde Ai, for I will geue it into thy hand. And Iosuah stretched out the speare that he had in his hand, towarde the citie.
And the lyers in waite arose quickly out of their place, and ran assoone as Iosuah had stretched out his hande: and they entred into the citie, and toke it, and hasted, and set the citie on fyre.
And when the men of Ai loked backe after them, they sawe the smoke of the citie ascend vp to heauen, and they had no place to flee either this way or that: and the people that fled to the wildernes, turned backe againe vpon the folowers.
And when Iosuah & all Israel sawe that the lyers in waite had taken the citie, and that the smoke of it ascended, they turned againe and slue the men of Ai.
And the other issued out of the citie against them, and so were they in the middest of Israel: for these were on the one side of them, and the rest on the other side. And they laide vpon them, so that they let none of them escape, nor remaine:
And the kyng of Ai they toke aliue, and brought him to Iosuah.
And when Israel had made an ende of slayeng all the inhabitantes of Ai in the fielde of the wildernesse where they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sworde, vntill they were wasted, all the Israelites returned vnto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sworde.
And al that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelue thousande, euen all the men of Ai.
For Iosuah plucked not his hande backe againe which he stretched out vpo{n} the speare vntil, he had vtterly destroyed al the enhabitours of Ai.
Onely the cattell and the spoile of the citie, Israel toke vnto them selues, according vnto the word of the Lorde, whiche he commaunded Iosuah.
And Iosuah set Ai on fire, and made it an heape for euer, & a wildernesse, [euen] vnto this day.
And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree, vntill euen: And assoone as the sunne was downe, Iosuah commaunded that they should take {th}e carkasse downe of the tree, and cast it at the entring of the gate of the citie, and laye theron a great heape of stones, [that remaineth] vnto this day.
Then Iosuah buylt an aulter vnto the Lorde God of Israel in mount Ebal,
As Moyses the seruaunt of the Lord commaunded the chyldren of Israel, and as it is written in the booke of the lawe of Moyses, an aulter of whole stones, ouer which no man hath lyft an iron: And they sacrificed theron burnt sacrifices vnto the Lorde, and offered peace offerynges.
And he wrote there vpon the stones a rehearsal of the lawe of Moyses, and wrote it in the presence of the chyldren of Israel.
And all Israel and the elders therof, and their officers & iudges, stoode part on this syde the arke, and part on that syde, before the priestes that were Leuites whiche bare the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde, aswell the straunger, as they that were borne among them: halfe of the{m} ouer against mount Garizim, & halfe of them ouer against mount Ebal, as Moyses the seruaunt of the Lorde had commaunded before, that they shoulde blesse the people of Israel.
Afterwarde he read all the wordes of the lawe, the blessinges, and cursinges, accordyng to all that is written in the booke of the lawe.
And there was not one worde of all that Moyses commaunded, which Iosuah read not before all the congregation of Israel, aswel the women and chyldren, as the straungers that were conuersaunt among them.
AND when al {th}e kinges that dwell beyonde Iordane in the hylles and valleys, & along by all the coastes of the great sea, ouer against Libanon: [Namely] the Hethites, the Amorites, the Chanaanites, the Pherezites, the Heuites, and the Iebusites, hearde therof:
They gathered them selues together, to fyght against Iosuah, and against Israel, with one accorde.
And the inhabitours of Gibeon heard what Iosuah had done vnto Iericho, and to Ai,
And they dyd worke wylylye, & went and made them selues embassadours, and toke olde sackes vpon their asses, & wine bottels old, both rent & bou{n}de vp:
And olde clowted shoes vpon their feete, and their rayment was olde: and all their prouision of bread was dryed vp, and hored.
And they came vnto Iosuah into the hoast to Gilgal, and sayde vnto him and vnto all the men of Israel, We be come from a far countrey: and nowe make ye agreement with vs.
And the men of Israel sayde vnto the Heuite: It may be thou dwellest amo{n}g vs, and then howe can I make peace with thee?
And they sayde vnto Iosuah: We are thy seruauntes. And Iosuah sayde vnto them againe: What are ye, & whence come ye?
They aunswered him: From a very farre cou{n}trey thy seruauntes are come, for the name of the Lorde thy God: for we haue hearde the fame of him, & all that he did in Egypte,
And all that he did to the two kinges of {th}e Amorites that were beyonde Iordane, Sehon king of Hesbon, and Og king of Basa{n}, which were at Astaroth.
Wherfore our elders and all the enhabitours of our countrey spake to vs, saying: Take vitailes with you to serue by the way, and go meete them, and say vnto them, We are your seruau{n}tes: And now make ye a couenaunt of peace with vs.
This our foode of bread we toke with vs out of our houses whot, {th}e daye we departed to come vnto you: But nowe beholde, it is dried vp, and hored.
And these bottelles of wine whiche we filled, were newe, and see they be rent: And these our garmentes and shoes are worne for oldenesse, by the reason of the exceeding long iourney.
And the men toke of theyr vitayles, & counseled not with the mouth of the Lorde.
And Iosuah made peace which the{m}, and made a couenaunt with them, that they shulde be suffered to liue: And the princes of the congregation sware vnto them.
But at the ende of three dayes, after they had made a league with them, they hearde that they were their neighbours, & that they dwelt among them.
And the children of Israel toke their iorney, and came vnto their cities the thirde day: and their cities were Gibeon, and Caphira, Beroth, and Kiriathiarim.
And the children of Israel slue them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworne vnto them by the Lord God of Israel: and all the multitude mourned agaynst the princes.
But all the princes sayde vnto all the congregation: We haue sworne vnto them by the Lorde God of Israel, and therfore we may not hurt them.
But this we wyll do to them, We wyll let them liue, lest wrath be vpon vs because of the othe which we sware vnto them.
And the princes said vnto them againe, Let them liue, and hewe wood, & drawe water vnto all the congregation, [and they dyd] as the princes sayde vnto them.
And Iosuah called for them, & talked with them, and sayde, Wherfore haue ye beguiled vs, saying, We dwell farre from you: when ye dwell among vs?
And nowe are ye cursed, and there shal not ceasse to be of you bondmen, and hewers of wood, & drawers of water for the house of my God.
And they aunswered Iosuah, & sayd, It was tolde thy seruauntes how that the Lorde thy God had commaunded his seruaunt Moyses to geue you all the lande, and to destroy all the inhabitours therof out of your sight, and therfore we were exceedyng sore afrayde for our liues at the presence of you, and haue done this thing.
And beholde, we are in thyne hande: as it seemeth good and right in thyne eyes to do vnto vs, so do.
And euen so did he vnto them, and rid them out of the hande of the chyldren of Israel, that they slue them not.
And Iosuah made them that same day hewers of wood, and drawers of water for the congregation and for the aulter of God, vnto this day, in the place whiche he shoulde choose.
NOwe when Adonizedec kyng of Hierusalem had hearde howe Iosuah had taken Ai and had destroyed it: (and howe that as he had done to Iericho and her king, euen so he had done to Ai and her king) and howe the inhabitours of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them:
They feared exceedingly, for Gibeon was a great citie as any citie of the kingdome, and was greater then Ai, & all the men therof were very mightie.
Wherfore Adonizedec king of Hierusalem sent vnto Hoham king of Hebron, and vnto Pira king of Iarmuth, and vnto Iaphia king of Lachis, and vnto Dabir king of Eglon, saying:
Come vp vnto me, and helpe me, that we may smite Gibeon: for they haue made peace with Iosuah, and with the chidren of Israel.
Therfore the fiue kinges of the Amorites, the king of Hierusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Iarmuth, the king of Lachis, and the king of Eglon, gathered them selues together, and went vp, they with all their hoastes, and besieged Gibeon, & made warre against it.
And the men of Gibeon sent vnto Iosuah to the hoast in Gilgal, saying: Withdrawe not thy hande from thy seruauntes, come vp to vs quickly, and saue vs, and helpe vs: for all the kinges of the Amorites which dwell in the mountaynes are gathered together agaynst vs.
And so Iosuah ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of warre with him, and all the men of might.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Iosuah, Feare them not: for I haue deliuered them into thine hande, neither shall any of them stande agaynst thee.
Iosuah therfore came vnto them sodaynly, and went vp from Gilgal all nyght.
And the Lorde troubled them before Israel, and slue them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth vp to Bethoron, and smote them to Azeka and Makeda.
And as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going downe to Bethoron, the Lorde cast downe great stones from heauen vpon them vntyll Azeka, and they dyed: there were mo dead with hayle stones, then they were whom the children of Israel slue with the sworde.
Then spake Iosuah to the Lorde in the day when the Lorde deliuered the Amorites before the children of Israel, & he sayd in the sight of Israel, Sunne, stande thou styll vpon Gibeon, and thou Moone in the valley of Aial•n.
And the sunne abode, and the moone stoode styll, vntyll the people auenged them selues vpon their enemies. Is not this written in the booke of the righteous? So the sunne [I say] abode in the middest of heauen, and hasted not to go downe by the space of a whole day.
And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lorde hearde the voyce of a man: for the Lorde fought for Israel.
And Iosuah returned and all Israel with him, vnto the campe to Gilgal.
But the fiue kinges fled, and were hyd in a caue at Makeda.
And it was tolde Iosuah [of one] saying, The fiue kinges are founde hyd in a caue which is at Makeda.
And Iosuah sayd, Roule great stones vpon the mouth of the caue, and set men by it, for to kepe it:
And stand ye not styll, but folowe after your enemies, & smite all the hindmost, and suffer them not to enter in•o their cities: for the Lorde your God hath deliuered them into your hande.
And when Iosuah and the children of Israel had made an ende of slaying them with an exceedyng great slaughter, tyll they were wasted: the rest that remayned of them, entred into walled cities:
And all the people returned to the hoast to Iosuah at Makeda in peace, neither dyd any man moue his tongue agaynst the children of Israel.
Then sayde Iosuah, Open the mouth of the caue, and bryng out these fiue kinges vnto me out of the caue.
And they did so, and brought those fiue kinges vnto him out of the caue, [euen] the king of Hierusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Iarmuth, the king of Lachis, and the king of Eglon.
And when they brought out those kinges vnto Iosuah: Iosuah called for all the men of Israel, and saide vnto the chiefe of the men of warre which went with him: Come neare, & put your feete vpo{n} the neckes of these kinges. And they came neare, and put their feete vpon the neckes of them.
And Iosuah sayd vnto them, Ye shall not feare, nor be faynt hearted: but be strong, and plucke vp your heartes, for thus shall the Lorde do to al your enemies against whom ye fight.
And then Iosuah smote them, and slewe them, and hanged them on fiue trees: And they hanged still vpon the trees vntill the euening.
And at the goyng downe of the sunne, Iosuah gaue commaundement: And they toke them downe of the trees, and cast them into the caue wherin they had ben hyd, and layed great stones in the caues mouth, [which remayne] vntil this daye.
And that same day Iosuah toke Makeda, and smote it with the edge of the sworde, & the king therof also destroyed he vtterly, with al the soules that were therin, and let none remayne: And he dyd to the king of Makeda, as he dyd vnto the king of Iericho.
Then Iosuah went from Makeda, and all Israel with him, vnto Libna, and fought agaynst Libna.
And the Lorde deliuered it & the king therof into the hande of Israel: and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the soules that were therin: He let none remayne in it, but dyd vnto the king therof as he did vnto the king of Iericho.
And Iosuah departed from Libna, and all Israel with him vnto Lachis, and besieged it, and assaulted it.
And the Lorde deliuered Lachis into the hande of Israel, which toke it the seconde day, and smote it with the edge of the sworde, & all the soules that were therin: doing according to all, as he had done to the citie of Libna.
Then Horam king of Geser came vp to helpe Lachis: And Iosuah smote him and his people, vntill none remayned of him.
And from Lachis Iosuah departed vnto Eglon, and all Israel with him: and they besieged it, and assaulted it.
And toke it the same day, and smote it with the edge of the sworde: & al the soules that were therin he vtterly destroyed the same day, according to all that he he had done to Lachis.
And Iosuah departed vp from Eglon, and all Israel with him, vnto Hebron: And they fought against it.
And when they had taken it, they smote it with the edge of the sworde, & the king therof, and all the townes that parteined to it, and all the soules that were therin, and he left none remayning: but dyd according to all, as he had done to Eglon, and destroyed it vtterly, and all the soules that were therin.
And Iosuah returned, and all Israel with him to Dabir, & fought against it.
And when he had taken it, & the king therof, and all the townes that parteyded therto, they smote them with the edge of the sworde, & vtterly destroyed all the soules that were therin, neither let he any remayne: Euen as he dyd to Hebron, so he dyd to Dabir and the king therof, as he had done also to Libna and her king.
Iosuah therfore smote al the hil countreyes, and the south countreyes, & the valleyes, and the downes, and al their kinges, and let none remayne of them, but vtterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lorde God of Israel commaunded.
And Iosuah smote them from Cades Barnea vnto Asah, and all the countrey of Gosan [euen] vnto Gibeon.
And all these kinges and their lande dyd Iosuah take at one time: because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.
And Iosuah and all Israel, returned vnto the hoast that was in Gilgal.
And when Iabin king of Hazor had hearde those thinges, he sent to Iobab king of Madon, and to the king of Sunron, & to the king of Achsaph.
And vnto the kinges that were by the north in the mountaynes and playnes towarde the southside of Ceneroth, & in the lowe countreys, and in the borders of Dor westwarde.
And vnto the Chanaanites both by east and west, and vnto the Amorites, Hethites, Pherezites, and Iebusites in the mountaines, and vnto the Heuites that were vnder Hermon in the lande of Mispah:
And they came out, & all their hoastes with them, a multitude of folke, euen as the sande that is on the sea shore, in a great number, with horses and charettes exceeding many.
And all these kinges met together, and came & pitched together at the waters of Merom, for to fight against Israel.
And the Lord sayde vnto Iosuah, Be not afrayde at the presence of them: for to morow about this time will I deliuer them all slayne before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burne their charettes with fire.
And so Iosuah came, and all the men of warre with him against them by the waters of Merom, and sodenly fell vpon them.
And the Lorde deliuered them into the hande of Israel, and they smote them, and chased them vnto great Sidon, & vnto Misrephothmaim, & vnto the valley of Mispah whiche is eastward: and smote them, vntill they had none remaining of them.
And Iosuah dyd vnto them as the Lorde bad him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their charettes with fire.
And Iosuah at that time turned back, and toke Hazor, & smote the king therof with the sworde: And Hazor before time was the head of all those kingdomes.
And they smote all the soules that were therin with {th}e edge of the sworde, vtterly destroying al, and nothing that breathed, was let remaine: And he burnt Hazor with fire.
And all the cities of those kinges, and all the kinges of them did Iosuah take, and smote them with the edge of the sworde, and vtterly destroyed them, as Moyses the seruaunt of the Lord commaunded.
But Israel burnt none of the cities that stoode still in their strength, saue Hazor only that Iosuah burnt.
And all the spoyle of the sayde cities & the cattel, the children of Israel caught vnto them selues: But euery ma{n} they smote with the edge of the sword, vntill they had destroyed them, neither left they ought that had breath.
As the Lorde commaunded Moyses his seruaunt, so did Moyses co{m}maunde Iosuah, and euen so did Iosuah: so that he minisshed no worde of all that the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And so Iosuah toke all that lande of the hilles, and al the south countrey, and all the lande of Gosan, and the lowe countrey, & the playne, and the mountayne of Israel, and the lowe countrey of the same:
Euen from the mount Halak, that goeth vp to Seir, vnto Baal Gad in the valley of Libanon, vnder mount Hermon: And all the kinges of the same he toke, and smote them, and slewe them.
Iosuah made warre long time with those kinges:
Neither was there any citie that made peace with the children of Israel, saue those Hethites that inhabited Gibeon, and therfore all other they toke with battayle:
For it came of the Lorde, whiche dyd harden their heartes that they should come against Israel in battell, and that they shoulde destroy them vtterly, and shew them no mercy: but to bring them to naught, as the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And that same season came Iosuah & destroyed the Anakims out of the mou{n}taynes: as out of Hebron, Dabir, Anab, and out of al the mountaynes of Iuda, and out of all the mountaynes of Israel: And Iosuah destroyed them vtterly, with their cities.
There was not one Anakim left in the lande of the children of Israel: only in Asah, Gath, and Asdod, there remayned of them.
And Iosuah toke the whole lande, according to all that the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses, and Iosuah gaue it for a possession vnto Israel according to their partes and tribes: and the lande rested from warre.
These are the kinges of the lande which the childre{n} of Israel smote, & possessed their lande, on the other side Iordane eastward, from the riuer Arnon, vnto mount Harmon, and all the plaine eastwarde.
Sehon king of the Amorites, that dwelt in Hesbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is beside the riuer of Arnon, and from the middle of the riuer, and from halfe Gilead vnto the riuer Iabok, which is in the border of the children of Ammon:
And from the playne vnto the sea of Ceneroth eastward, and vnto the sea of the plaine, euen the salt sea eastward, the way to Beth Iesimoth, and from the south vnder the springes of Pisgah.
And the coast of Og king of Basan, which was of the remnaunt of the giauntes, and dwelt at Astharoth, and Edrai:
And raigned in mount Harmon, and in Salcah, and in all Basan, vnto the border of the Gessurites, and the Machathites, and halfe mount Gilead, vnto the borders of Sehon king of Hesbon.
Moyses the seruaunt of the Lorde, and the children of Israel smote them, and Moyses the seruaunt of the Lord gaue their land for a possession vnto the Rubenites, Gadites, and the halfe tribe of Manasses.
These are the kinges of the countrey which Iosuah and the children of Israel smote on this side Iordane westwarde, from Baal Gad, whiche is in the valley of Libanon, euen vnto the mount Halak, that goeth vp to Seir: whiche lande Iosuah gaue vnto the tribes of Israel to possesse, to euery man his part,
In the vpper lande and neather land, in the plaines, and in the hil sides, in the wildernesse & southe countrey the Hethites, the Amorites, {th}e Chanaanites, the Pherezites, {th}e Heuites, & the Iebusites.
The king of Iericho, was one: the king of Ai which is beside Bethel, one:
The king of Hierusalem, one: the king of Hebron, one:
The king of Iarmuth, one: the king of Lachis, one:
The king of Eglon, one: the king of Gazer, one:
The king of Dabir, one: the king of Gader, one:
The king of Horma, one: the king of Arad, one:
The king of Libna, one: the king of Adullam, one:
The king of Makeda, one: the king of Bethel, one:
The king of Taphuha, one: the king of Hepher, one:
The king of Aphek, one: the king of Lasaron, one:
The king of Madon, one: the king of Hasor one:
The king of Simron Meron, one: the king of Achsaph, one:
The king of Thanach, one: the king of Megiddo, one:
The king of Kedes, one: the king of Iokneam of Carmel, one:
The king of Dor in the cou{n}trey of Dor, one: the king of the nations of Gilgal, one:
The king of Thirza, one: al the kinges together thirtie and one.
IOsuah was olde, and stricken in yeres, and the Lorde sayde vnto him: Thou art olde, and stricken in yeres, and there remaineth yet exceeding muche lande to be possessed.
This is the lande that yet remaineth: all the regions of the Philistines, and al Gessuri:
From Nilus which is vpon Egypt, vnto the borders of Accaren northward, which land is counted vnto Chananie, euen fiue lordeshippes of the Philistines, the Azathites, Asdothites, Ascalonites, Gethites, Accaronites, and the Euites.
And from the south, al the lande of the Chanaanites, and the caue that is beside the Sidomans, euen vnto Aphak & to the borders of the Amorites.
And the lande of the Giblites, and all Libanon towarde the sunne rising, from the plaine of Gad vnder mount Hermo{n}, vntil a man come to Hamath:
All the inhabitours of the hil countrey from Libano{n} vnto the Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians will I cast out from before the children of Israel: only see that thou in any wise deuide it by lot vnto the Israelites to inherite, as I haue commaunded thee.
Nowe therfore deuide this lande to inherite vnto the nine tribes, and the halfe tribe of Manasses.
For with that other, the Rubenites & the Gadites haue receaued their inheritaunce which Moyses gaue them beyonde Iordane eastwarde, euen as Moyses the seruaunt of the Lord gaue them:
From Aroer that lieth on the brim of the riuer Arnon, and from the citie that is in the middest of the ryuer, & all the plaine of Medeba vnto Dibon:
And al the cities of Sehon king of the Amorites, which raigned in Hesbon, euen vnto the border of the children of Ammon:
And Gilead, and the border of Gessuri and Machati, and all mount Hermon, with al Basan vnto Salecha:
Euen all the kingdome of Og in Basan, which raigned in Astharoth and Edra•: which same remained yet of the rest of the giauntes. These dyd Moyses smite, and cast them out.
Neuertelesse, the children of Israel expelled not the Gesurites and the Machathites: But the Gesurites and the Machathites dwell among the Israelites euen vntill this day.
Onely vnto the tribe of Leui he gaue none inheritaunce: but the sacrifices of the Lord God of Israel is their inheritaunce, as he sayde vnto them.
Moyses gaue vnto the tribe of the children of Ruben inheritaunce, according to their kinredes:
And their coast was from Aroer that lyeth on the bancke of the riuer Arnon, and from the citie that is in the middest of the riuer, and all the playne which is by Medeba:
Hesbon, with all their townes that lye in the playne: Dibon and the hill places of Baal, and the house of Baalmeon,
And Iahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath.
Kiriathaim, Sabamath, and Zarath Zahar, in the mount of the valley,
The house of Peor, and the springes of the hilles, and Bethpheor, and Ashdoth Pisgah, and Besiesimoth:
And al the cities of the plaine, and all the kingdome of Sehon king of the Amorites, which raigned in Hesbon, which Moyses smote, with the lordes of Madian, Eui, Bekem, Zur, and Hur, & Keba, the whiche were dukes of Sehon, dwelling in the countrey.
And Balaam also the sonne of Beor the soothsayer, did the childre{n} of Israel slay with the sworde among other of them that were slayne.
And the border of the children of Ruben, was Iordane, with the countrey that lieth theron. This was the inheritaunce of the children of Ruben after their kinredes, cities, and villages perteyning therto.
And Moyses gaue [inheritaunce] vnto the tribe of Gad, euen vnto the children of Gad he gaue by their kinredes:
And their coastes were Iazer, and al the cities of Gilead, and halfe the lande of the children of Ammon vnto Aroer that lieth before Rabba.
And from Hesbon vnto Ramath, Mispeh, and Betonim: and from Mahanaim vnto the borders of Dabir.
And in the valley they had Betharam, Bethnimra, Socoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kyngdome of Sehon king of Hesbon, vnto Iordane and the coastes that lie theron, euen vnto the edge of the sea of Cenereth, on the other side Iordane eastwarde.
This is the inheritaunce of the children of Gad, after their kinredes, their cities, and villages.
And Moyses gaue inheritaunce vnto the halfe tribe of Manasses: And this was the possession of the halfe tribe of Manasses by their kinredes.
Their coast was from Mahanaim, euen all Basan, and all the kingdome of Og king of Basan, and all the townes of Iair which lie in Basan, euen threescore cities.
And halfe Gilead, Astaroth, & Edrai, cities of the kingdome of Og in Basan, which pertayne vnto the children of Machir the sonne of Manasses, euen to the one halfe of the children of Machir by their kinredes.
These are the heritages which Moyses did distribute in the fieldes of Moab on the other side Iordane, ouer agaynst Iericho eastwarde.
But vnto the tribe of Leui, Moyses gaue none inheritaunce: for the Lorde God of Israel is their inheritaunce, as he sayde vnto them.
ANd these are the countreis which the childre{n} of Israel inherited in the lande of Chanaan, which Eleazer the priest, and Iosuah the sonne of Nun, and the auncient heades of the tribes of the children of Israel distributed to them:
By lot they receaued their possessions, as the Lord commaunded by the hand of Moyses, to geue vnto the nine tribes, and vnto the halfe tribe.
For Moyses had geue{n} inheritaunce vnto two tribes & an halfe, on the other syde Iordane: But vnto the Leuites he gaue none inheritaunce among the{m}.
For the children of Ioseph were two tribes, Manasses and Ephraim: And therfore they gaue no parte vnto the Leuites in the land, saue cities to dwell in, with the suburbes of the same, for their beastes and cattel.
As the Lord commaunded Moyses: euen so the children of Israel dyd, when they deuided the lande.
And the children of Iuda came vnto Iosuah in Gilgal: And Caleb the sonne of Iephune the Kenesite sayde vnto him: Thou wottest what {th}e Lorde sayd vnto Moyses the man of God about me and thee in Cades Barnea.
Fourtie yeres olde was I whe{n} Moyses the seruaunt of the Lorde sent me from Cades Barnea to espie out the land: and I brought him worde againe euen as it was in myne hearte.
Neuerthelesse, my brethre{n} that went vp with me, discouraged the hearte of the people: And I folowed the Lorde my God.
And Moyses sware the same day, saying: The lande wheron thy feete haue troden, shalbe thyne inheritaunce and thy childrens for euer, because thou hast folowed the Lorde my God.
And behold, the Lorde hath kept me aliue as he sayde this fourtie and fyue yeres, euen sence the Lorde spake this worde vnto Moyses, whyle the children of Israel wandred in the wildernesse: And nowe lo, I am this day fourscore and fyue yeres olde:
And yet am as strong at this time, as I was when Moyses sent me: Loke howe strong I was then, so strong am I nowe, eyther for warre, or for gouernment.
Nowe therfore geue me this mountaine wherof the lorde spake in that day (for thou heardest in that day, howe the Anakims were there, and the cities great and walled,) If the Lorde will be with me, and I shalbe able to dryue them out, as the Lorde sayde.
And Iosuah blessed him, and gaue vnto Caleb the sonne of Iephune, Hebron to inherite.
And Hebron therfore became the inheritaunce of Caleb {th}e sonne of Iephune the Kenesite, vnto this day: because he folowed constantly the Lorde God of Israel.
And the name of Hebron was called in old time, Kiriath Arba, which [Arba] was a great man among the Enekims: And the lande ceassed from warre.
THis was the lot of the tribe of the children of Iuda by their kinreds, euen to the border of Edom in the wildernesse of Zin southwarde, euen from the vtmost parte of the south coast.
And their south coast was from the brinke of the salt sea, from a rocke that leaneth southwarde.
And it went out to the southside towarde {th}e goyng vp to Maale Acrabim, & went along to Zin, and ascended vp on the southside vnto Cades Barnea: and went along to Hezron, and went vp to Adar, and fet a compasse to Karcaa.
From thence went it along to Azmon, and reached vnto the riuer of Egypt, & the ende of that coast was on the westside: This is their south coast.
Their east coast is the salt sea, euen vnto {th}e ende of Iordane: And their border in the north quarter, was from the rocke of the sea and from the ende of Iordane.
And the same border went vp to Bethhagla, and went along by the northside of Betharabah, and vp from thence to the stone of Bohen {th}e sonne of Ruben.
And againe, the same border went vp to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northwarde, turning towarde Gilgal, that lieth before the goyng vp to Adomnum, which is of the south side of the riuer: And the same border went vp to the waters of the fountayne of the sunne, and ended at the well of Rogel.
And then went vp to the valley of the sonne of Hennom, euen vnto the south syde of Iebusi, the same is Hierusalem: And then went vp to the toppe of the hyll that lyeth before the valley of Hennom westwarde, and by the end of the valley of the giauntes northwarde.
And then it compasseth from the top of the hill vnto the fountaine of the water of Nephthoah, and goeth out of the cities of mount Ephron, and draweth to Baala, which is Kiriathiarim.
And then it compasseth from Baala westward vnto mount Seir, and then goeth along vnto the side of mount Iarim, which is Chesalon on the northside, and commeth downe to Bethsames, and goeth to Thimnah.
And goeth out againe vnto the syde of Akaron northward: And then draweth to Secron, and goeth along to mount Baala, and stretcheth vnto Iabneel: and the endes of the coastes leaue at the west sea.
And the west border was the great sea, and the same coast was the coast of the children of Iuda round about, in their kinredes.
And vnto Caleb the sonne of Iephune did Iosuah geue a parte among the childre{n} of Iuda, according to the mouth of the Lorde, euen Kiriatharba of the father of Enac, whiche citie is Ebron.
And Caleb droue thence the three sonnes of Enac, Sesai, and Ahiman, and Thalmai, which were the sonnes of Enac.
And he went vp thence, to the inhabitours of Dabir: and the name of Dabir in the old time was Kiriath Sephar.
And Caleb sayde: He that smyteth Kiriath Sephar, & taketh it, to him wil I geue Achsah my daughter to wyfe.
And Othniel, the sonne of Kenez, the brother of Caleb toke it: And he gaue him Acsah his daughter to wife.
And as she went in vnto him, she moued him to aske of her father a fielde: And she alighted of her asse. And Caleb sayde vnto her what ayleth the?
Who aunswered: Geue me a blessing, for thou hast geuen me a south lande, geue me also springes of water. And he gaue her springes of water, both aboue and beneath.
This is the inheritaunce of the tribe of the children of Iuda by their kinredes.
And the vtmost cities of the tribe of the children of Iuda, towarde {th}e coastes of Edom southwarde, were Kabzeel, Eder, and Iagur,
Kinah, Dimonah, and Adadah,
Kedes, Hazor, and Iethnan,
Ziph, Telem, and Baloth,
Hazor, Hadathah, Karioth, Hesron, which is Hazor,
Amam, Shema, and Moladah,
Hazar, Gadah, Hasmon, and Bethpheleth,
Hazarsual, Beersabe, and Baziothia,
Baala, Iim, and Azem,
Eltholad, Cecil, and Horma,
Zikelag, Medemenah, and Sensenna,
Labaoth, Selhim, Ain, and Rimon: all the cities are twentie and nine, with their villages.
And in the lowe countrey they had Esthaol, Zareah, and Asenah,
Zanoah, Engannim, Thaphuah, and Enam:
Iarmuth, Adulam, Socoh, and Azekah,
Saarem, Adithaim, Gederah, & Gederothaim: fourteene citie with their villages.
Zenan, Hadazah, and Magdalgad,
Delean, Mispeh, and Iektheel,
Lachis, Bazeath, and Eglon,
Chabbon, Lehamam, and Eethlis,
Gederoth, Bethdagon, Naamah, & Makedah: sixteene cities with their villages.
Lebnah, Ether, and Asan,
Iephthah, Asnah, and Nezib,
Keilah, Achzib, and Maresah: nine cities, with their villages.
Akron with her townes and villages.
From Akron euen vnto the sea, all that lieth about Asdod, with their villages.
Asdod with her townes and villages, Azah with her townes & villages, vnto the riuer of Egypt, and the great sea was their coast.
And in the mountaines, they had Samir, Iathir, and Socoh.
Danah, and Kariah Sennah, which is Dabir,
Anab, Esthemoh, and Anim,
Gosen, Holon, and Giloh, a leuen cities with their villages.
Arab, Dumah, and Esean,
Ianum, Beththaphuah, & Aphecah:
Humtah, & Kiriatharbe (which is Hebron) & Sior, nine cities with their villages.
Maon, Carmel, Ziph, and Iutah,
Iesrael, Iukadan, and Zanoah
Cain, Gabaah, and Thamnah: ten cities with their villages.
Halhul, Bethzur, and G•dor,
Maarath, Bethanoth, and Elthe•on: sixe cities with their villages
Kariah Baal, whiche is Kariath Iarim, and Rabba: two cities with their villages.
In the wildernesse they had Betharabah, Meddin, and Sacacah,
Nebsan, & the citie of Salte, & Engaddi: syxe cities with their villages.
Neuerthelesse, {th}e Iebusites that wer the inhabitaunts of Hierusale{m}, could not the children of Iuda cast out: But the Iebusites dwell with the children of Iuda at Hierusalem vnto this daye.
ANd the lot of the children of Ioseph fell fro{m} Iordane by Iericho, vnto the water of Iericho eastwarde, & to the wildernesse that goeth vp fro{m} Iericho throughout mount Bethel.
And goeth out fro{m} Bethel toLuz, and runneth along vnto the borders of Archiataroth:
And goeth downe againe westward euen to the coast of Iaphleti, and vnto the coast of Bethhoron the neather, & to Gazer, and the endes of their coastes leaue at the west sea.
And so the children of Ioseph, Manasses, & Ephraim, toke their inheritaunce.
And the border of the children of Ephraim was by their kynreds. Their border on the east side was, Ataroth Adar, euen vnto Bethhoron the vpper.
And went out westwarde to Machmethath on the northside, and returneth eastward vnto Thaanath Silo, & past it on the eastside vnto Ionoah.
And went downe from Ionoah to Atharoth and Naarath, and came to Iericho, and went out at Iordane.
And their border went from Thaphuah westward vnto the riuer Kanah, and the endes were the west sea. This is the inheritaunce of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their kynredes.
And the seperate cities for the childre{n} of Ephraim, were among {th}e inheritau{n}ce of the children of Manasses, euen the cities with their villages.
And they draue not out the Chanaanites that dwelt in Gazer: but the Chanaanites dwelt among the Ephraites vnto this day, and serue vnder tribute.
THis was the lot of the tribe of Manasses, which was the eldest son of Ioseph, to witte of Machir the eldest sonne of Manasses, which was the father of Gilead: now because he was a man of warre, he had Gilead and Basan.
This is the possession of the rest of the children of Manasses by their kinreds: [Namely] of the children of Abiezer, the children of Helek, the children of Ariel, the children of Sichem, the children of Hepher, the children of Semida: for these were the male children of Manasses, the sonne of Ioseph by their kinredes.
But Selaphead the sonne of Hepher, the sonne of Giliad, {th}e sonne of Machir, the sonne of Manasses, had no sonnes: but daughters, whose names are these, Mahala, Noa, Hagla, Melcha, and Thirsa.
Which came before Eleasar the priest, and before Iosuah the sonne of Nun, & before the Lordes, saying: The Lord commaunded Moyses to geue vs an enheritaunce among our brethren.
And therfore according to the commaundement of the Lorde, he gaue them an enheritaunce among the brethren of their father. And there fel ten portions to Manasses, beside the lande of Gilead and Basan, whiche were on the other side Iordane.
Because the daughters of Manasses dyd enherite among his sonnes: And Manasses other sonnes had the lande of Gilead.
And the coaste of Manasses was from Aser to Machmathath that lieth before Sichem, and went along on the right hande, euen vnto the inhabitantes of Entaphuah,
And the lande of Thaphuah belonged to Manasses: which Thaphuah is beside the border of Manasses, beside the border of the children of Ephraim.
And the coaste descended vnto the riuer Canah southwarde, euen to the riuer: These cities of Ephraim, are among {th}e cities of Manasses. The coaste of Manasses went also on the northside to the riuer, and the endes of it go out at the sea:
So that {th}e south partained to Ephraim, & the north to Manasses, & the sea is his border: And they met together in Aser northwarde, & in Isachar eastwarde.
And Manasses had in Isachar and in Aser, Bethsean & her townes, Iib•ean and her townes, and the inhabitours of Dor, with the townes pertaining to the same, and the inhabitours of Endor with the townes of the same, and the inhabitours of Thaanach with her townes, and the inhabitours of Magedo with the townes of the same, euen three countreys.
Yet the children of Manasses coulde not ouercome those cities: but the Chanaanites presumed to dwell in the same lande.
Neuerthelesse, assoone as the children of Israel were waxed strong, they put the Chanaanites vnder tribute, but expelled them not.
And the children of Ioseph spake vnto Iosuah, saying: Why hast thou geue{n} me but one lotte and one portion to inherite, seyng I am a great people, and forasmuche as the Lorde hath blessed me hytherto?
And Iosuah au{n}swered them: If thou be much people, then get thee vp to the wood [countrey] and prepare for thy selfe therein the lande of the Pherezites and of the Giauntes, yf mount Ephraim be to narowe for thee.
And the children of Ioseph sayd, The hill is not ynough for vs: And all {th}e Chanaanites that dwel in the lowe countrey haue charettes of iron, and so haue they that inhabite Bethlean & the townes of the same, and they also that dwell in the valley of Iezreel.
And Iasuah sayde vnto the house of Ioseph, Ephraim, & Manasses: Ye be much people, and haue great power, and shall not therfore haue one lotte.
Therfore the hyll shalbe yours, and ye shall cut downe the wood that is in it: and the endes of it shalbe yours, yf ye cast out the Chananaites which haue iron charettes, and are very strong.
ANd the whole congregation of the children of Israel came together at Silo, and set vp the tabernacle of the congregation there, after the land was in subiection before them.
And there remained among the children of Israel seuen tribes, which had not yet receaued their enheritaunce.
And Iosuah sayde vnto the children of Israel: Howe long are ye so slacke to come and possesse the lande whiche the Lord God of your fathers hath geuen you?
Geue out from among you for euery tribe three men, that I may sende them: and that they may ryse, and walke through the lande, and distribute it accordyng to the inheritaunce therof, & come againe to me.
And let them deuide it vnto them into seuen partes: And (Iuda shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Ioseph shall stande in their coastes on the north.)
Describe ye the lande therfore into seuen partes, and bryng the description hyther to me: and I shall cast lottes for you here before the Lord our God.
But the Leuites haue no part among you, for the priesthood of the Lorde is their inheritaunce: And Gad, and Ruben, and halfe the tribe of Manasses, haue receaued their inheritaunce beyond Iordan eastward, which Moyses the seruaunt of the Lord gaue them.
And the men arose, and went their waye: And Iosuah charged them that went to describe the lande, saying: Depart, and go through the lande, and describe it, and come againe to me, that I may here cast lottes for you before the Lorde in Silo.
And the men departed, and walked through the lande, and described it by cities into seuen partes in a booke, and returned to Iosuah into {th}e hoast at Silo.
And Iosuah cast lottes for them in Silo before the Lorde: & there Iosuah diuided the lande vnto the children of Israel, to eche their portion.
And the lot of the tribe of the children of Beniamin came vp according to their kinredes: And the coast of their lot came betweene the children of Iuda, and the children of Ioseph.
And their north coast was from Iordane, & went vp to the side of Iericho on the north side, and went vp through the mountaines westwarde, and they ended at the wildernesse of Bethauen.
And went from thence toward Luz, euen to the south side of Luz (the same is Bethel) & descended againe to Ataroth Adar, vnto the hyll that lyeth on the south side of {th}e neather Bethhoron.
And the coast turneth thence, & compasseth the corner of the sea southward, euen from the hyll that lyeth before Bethhoron southward, and goeth out at Kiriathbaal (which is Kiriath Iarim) a citie of the childre{n} of Iuda: This is the west quarter.
And the south coast goeth from the ende of Kiriathiarim, and goeth out westwarde, and thence it turneth to the well of waters of Nephthoah,
And commeth downe againe to the end of the hyll that lyeth before the valley of the sonne of Hennom, euen in the valley of the giauntes northwarde, and descendeth into the valley of Hennom beside Iebusi southward, & goeth downe to the well of Rogel,
And compasseth from the north, and goeth foorth to En shemesh, and departeth from thence to the places of Geliloth, whiche are towarde the going vp vnto Adommim: and goeth downe to the stone of Bohan the sonne of Ruben.
And then goeth along toward the side of the plaine northward, and goeth downe into the fieldes.
And goeth along to the syde of Bethhagla northwarde, and endureth the poynt of the salt sea north therefrom, [euen] at the south ende of Iordane: This is the south coast.
And Iordane kepeth in this coast on the east syde: And this is the inheritaunce of the chyldren of Beniamin by their coastes rounde about, throughout their kinredes.
These were the cities of the tribes of the chyldren of Beniamin throughout their kinredes: Iericho, Bethhagla, and the plaine of Casis.
Betharabah, Samaraim, and Bethel.
Auim, Parah, and Ophrah,
Haamonai, Ophni, & Gaba, twelue cities with their villages.
Gabaon, Ramah, Beeroth,
Mispeh, Chephirah, and Mosah,
Recem, Iarephel, and Tharela,
Sela, Eleph, and Iebusi (which is Hierusalem) Gibath, and Ciriath, fourteene cities with their villages. This is the inheritaunce of the chyldren of Beniamin throughout their kinredes.
ANd the seco{n}d lot came out to Simeon, euen for the tribe of the children of Simeon by their kinreds: And their inheritau{n}ce was in the middes of the inheritaunce of the children of Iuda.
And they had in their inheritaunce, Beersabe, Sabe, and Moladah,
Hazorsual, Balah, and Azem,
Eltholad, Bethul, and Hormah,
Zikelag, Bethmarcaboth, and Hazetsusah,
Bethlebaoth, & Saruhen, thirteene cities with their villages.
Ain, Remmon, Ether, & Asan, foure cities with their villages.
And therto all the villages that were rounde about these cities, euen to Balasah Beer, and Ramath southward. This is the inheritaunce of the tribe of the children of Simeon throughout their kinredes.
Out of the lot of the children of Iuda, came the inheritaunce of the children of Simeon: For the part of the children of Iuda was to much for them, and therfore the children of Simeon had their inheritaunce in the inheritaunce of them.
And the third lot arose for the childre{n} of Zabulon throughout their kynreds: And the coastes of their inheritaunce came to Sarid.
And went vp westward euen to Maralah, and reached to Dabbaseth, & came thence to the riuer that lyeth before Iokneam.
And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunne risyng vnto the border of Chisloth Thabor, & then goeth out to Dabereth, and goeth vp to Iaphia.
And from thence goeth along eastward to Gethah Hepher, to Itthah Kazin, and goeth to Remmon, and turneth to Neah:
And compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon, and endeth in the valey of Iephthahel,
And Katath, Nahalol, Simeon, Iedalah, and Bethlehem: twelue cities with their villages.
This is the inheritaunce of the children of Zabulon throughout their kynredes, and these are the cities with their villages.
And the fourth lot came out to Isachar, euen for the children of Isachar by their kinreds.
And their coast was Iesraelah, Casuloth, and Sunem,
Hapharaim, Sion, and Anaharath,
Harabith, Kision, and Abez,
Rameth, Enganim, Enhadah, and Bethphazez.
And his coast reacheth to Thabor, & Sahazimah, and Bethsames: and endeth at Iordane, syxteene cities with their villages.
This is the inheritaunce of the tribe of the children of Isachar by their kinreds: and these are the cities with their villages.
And {th}e fyfth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Aser by their kinreds.
And their coast was, Helkath, Hali, Beten, and Achsap,
Alamelech, Amaad, and Miseal: and came to Carmel westwarde, and to Sihor Libanath.
And turneth toward the sunne rising to Bethdagon, and commeth to Zabulon, and to the valley of Iephthahel, towarde the north side of Bethemek & Neiel, and goeth out on the lefte side of Cabul,
And to Hebron, Rohob, Hammon, and Kanah, euen vnto great Sidon.
And then the coast turneth to Ramah & to the strong citie of Zor, and turneth to Hozah, & endeth at the sea, by the possession of Achzibah,
Amah also, and Aphek, and Rohob: twentie and two cities with their villages.
This is the inheritaunce of the children of Aser by their kinreds: these are the cities with their villages.
And the syxth lot came out to the children of Nephthali [euen] to the childre{n} of Nephthali by their kinredes.
And their coast was from Heleph, and from Elon to Zaenanim, Adami Nekeb, and Iabneel, euen to Lakum, and doth go out at Iordane.
And then the coast turneth westward to Asanoth Thabor, & then goeth out from thence to Hukokah, and reacheth to Zabulon on the south side, and goeth to Aser on the west side, and to Iuda vpon Iordane toward the sunne risyng.
And their strong cities are Ziddim, Zer, Hamath, Raccath, & Cenereth,
Adamah, Ramah, and Hazor,
Kedes, Edrai, and Enhazor,
Ieron, Magdalel, Horem, Bethanah and Bethsames, ninteene cities with their villages.
This is the inheritaunce of the tribe of the children of Nephthali by their kynredes: these also are the cities and their villages.
And the seuenth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan by their kinredes.
And the coast of their inheritaunce was, Zaraah, Esthaol, Irsemes,
Saelabin, Aialon, Iethlah,
Elon, and Themnathah, and Akron,
Elthekeh, Gibbethon, and Baalath,
Iehud, Banebarac, & Gathrimon,
Meiercon, and Arecon, with the border that lyeth before Iapho.
And the coastes of the childre{n} of Dan went out from them: And the children of Dan went vp to fyght against Lesem, and toke it, and smote it with ye edge of the sworde, & conquered it, and dwelt therin, and called it Dan, after the name of Dan their father
This is the inheritaunce of the tribe of the childre of Dan in theyr kinredes: these also are the cities, with their villages.
When they had made an ende of deuiding the lande by her coastes, the children of Israel gaue an inheritaunce to Iosuah the sonne of Nun among the{m}:
According to the worde of the Lorde they gaue hym the citie whiche he asked, euen Thimnath Serah in mount Ephraim: and he buylt the citie, & dwelt therin.
These are the inheritaunces whiche Eleazar the priest, & Iosuah the sonne of Nun, and the auncient fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel deuided by lot in Silo before the Lorde at the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation: and so they made an ende of deuidyng the countrey.
The Lorde also spake vnto Iosuah, saying:
Speake to the children of Israel, and saye: Appoint out fro{m} amo{n}g you cities of refuge, wherof I spake vnto you by the hande of Moyses:
That the slear that kylleth any person vnwares and vnwyttyngly, may flee thyther: And those cities shall be your refuge from the auenger of blood.
And he that doth flee vnto one of those cities, shall stande at the entryng of the gate of the citie, & shall shewe his cause in the eares of the elders of the citie: And they shall take him into the citie vnto them, and geue hym a place, that he may dwell among them.
And if the auenger of blood folow after him, they shall not deliuer the slear into his hand: because he smote his friend ignorauntly, and hated him not before tyme.
And he shall dwell in the sayd citie vntyl he stande before the congregation in iudgement, or vntyll the death of the hye priest that shall be in those dayes: for then shall the slear returne, and come vnto his owne citie, and vnto his owne house, and vnto the citie from whence he fled.
And they sanctified Kedes in Galilee in mount Nephthali, & Siche{m} in mount Ephraim, and Kiriatharba (which is Hebron) in the mountayne of Iuda.
And on the other syde Iordane ouer against Iericho eastward, they appoynted Bezer in the wildernesse vpon the playne, out of the tribe of Ruben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Basan out of the tribe of Manasses.
These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, & for the straunger that soiourned among them, that whosoeuer kylled any person ignorau{n}tly, the same might flee thyther, & should not dye by the hand of the auenger of blood, vntil he stoode before the congregation.
And then came the principall fathers of {th}e Leuites vnto Eleazar the priest, and vnto Iosuah the sonne of Nun, & vnto the auncient fathers that were ouer {the}e tribes of the children of Israel.
And spake vnto the{m} at Silo in the lande of Chanaan, saying: The Lorde commaunded by Moyses to geue vs cities to dwell in, with the suburbes thereof for our catell.
And the children of Israel gaue vnto the Leuites, out of their inheritaunce at the biddyng of the Lorde, these cities folowing with their suburbes.
And the lot came out for the kynred of the Caathites: the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Leuites, had geuen them by lot out of the tribe of Iuda, out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Beniamin, thirteene cities.
And the rest of the children of Caath had by lot, out of the kynredes of the tribe of Ephraim, out of {th}e tribe of Dan, and out of the halfe tribe of Manasses, ten cities.
And the children of Gerson had by lot out of the kynredes of the tribe of Isachar, and out of the tribe of Aser, & out of the tribe of Nephthali, and out of the other halfe tribe of Manasses in Basan, thirteene cities.
And the childre{n} of Merari by their kinredes, had out of the tribe of Ruben, & out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zabulon, twelue cities.
And the children of Israel gaue by lot vnto the Leuites these cities with their suburbes, as the Lord commaunded by the hand of Moyses.
And they gaue out of the tribe of the children of Iuda, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities by name.
Which the children of Aaron being of the kynredes of the Caathites, and of the childre{n} of Leui, obtained: (for theirs was the first lotte.)
And they gaue them Kiriath Arba of the father of Enac (which is Hebron) in the hyll countrey of Iuda, with the suburbes of the same rounde about it.
But the lande that pertayned to the citie and the villages therof, gaue they to Caleb the sonne of Iephune, to be his possession.
And thus they gaue to the childre{n} of Aaron the priest, a citie to the which the slayer myght flee, euen Hebron with her suburbes, and Libna with her suburbes,
And Iathir with her suburbes, and Estemoa with he suburbes:
Holon with her suburbes, Dabir with her suburbes:
Ain with her suburbes, Iuttah with her suburbes, Bethsames with her suburbes: nine cities out of those two tribes.
And out of the tribe of Beniamin, they gaue Gibeon with her suburbes, Gabae with her suburbes,
Anatoth with her suburbes, Almon with her suburbes, foure cities.
All these cities of the children of Aaron priestes, were thirteene cities with their suburbes.
And the kynredes of the children of Caath that were Leuites, that is to say, the other children of Caath, had cities geuen them for their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
For they gaue them the citie that the slear might flee vnto, Sichem with her suburbes in mount Ephraim, and Gazer with her suburbes.
And Cibraim with her suburbes, and Bethhoron with her suburbes, foure cities.
And out of {th}e tribe of Dan, Elthee with her suburbes, Gabethon with her suburbes.
And Aialo{n} with her suburbes, Gathremon with her suburbes, foure cities.
And out of the halfe tribe of Manasses, Thanach with her suburbes, & Gathremon with her suburbes, two cities.
26. All the cities for the other kynredes of the children of Caath, were ten, with their suburbes.
And vnto the childre{n} of Gerson, which were of the kynredes of the Leuites, they gaue out of the other halfe tribe of Manasses, the citie of refuge for {th}e slear, Golan in Basan with her suburbes, & Beestherah with her suburbes, two cities.
And out of the tribe of Isachar, Kision with her suburbes, and Dabereh with her suburbes:
And Iarmuth with her suburbes, Enganim with her suburbes, foure cities.
And out of the tribe of Aser, Misal with her suburbes, Abdo{n} with her suburbes.
Helcath with her suburbes, and Rohob with her suburbes, foure cities.
And out of the tribe of Nephthali the citie for the slear to flee vnto, Kedes in Galilee with her suburbes, Hamothdor with her suburbes, and Carthan with her suburbes, three cities.
All the cities of {th}e Gersonites throughout their kynredes, were thirteene cities with their suburbes,
And vnto the other kynredes of the children of Merari, the rest of the Leuites, they gaue out of the tribe of Zabulon, Iecnam with her suburbes, and Cartha with her suburbes.
Dimnah with her suburbes, and Nahalal with her suburbes, foure cities.
And out of the tribe of Rube{n}, Bezer with her suburbes, and Iahasa with her suburbes,
Kedmoth with her suburbes, and Mephaath with her suburbes, foure cities.
And out of the tribe of Gad, they gaue the citie for the slear to flee vnto, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbes, and Mahanaim with her suburbes,
Hesbon with suburbes, and Iaser with her suburbes, foure cities in all.
So that all the cities of the children of Merari throughout their kinredes which were the rest of the kynredes of the Leuites, were by their lot twelue cities.
And all the cities that the Leuites had, among the possession of the children of Israel, were .xlviii. with their suburbes.
And these cities lay euery one seuerally, hauing their suburbes rounde about them throughout al the said cities.
And the Lorde gaue vnto Israel all the lande which he sware to geue vnto their fathers: And they conquered it, & dwelt therin.
And the Lord gaue them rest rounde about, according to all that he sware vnto their fathers: and there stoode not a man of all their enemies before them: The Lorde also deliuered all their enemies into their handes.
There scaped nothing of al the good thinges which the Lord had sayd vnto {th}e house of Israel, but all came to passe.
THen Iosuah called the Rubenites, the Gadites, & the halfe tribe of Manasses,
And sayd vnto them: Ye haue kept all that Moyses the seruau{n}t of the Lord co{m}maunded you, and haue obeyed my voyce in all that I co{m}maunded you.
Ye haue not lefte your brethren of a long season vnto this day, but haue kept the commaundement of the Lorde your God.
And now that the Lorde hath geuen rest vnto your brethren as he promised them: therfore returne ye, and go vnto your tentes, and vnto the lande of your possession, which Moyses the seruaunt of the Lord gaue you on the other side Iordane.
But in any wyse take diligent heede, to do {th}e commaundement & lawe which Moyses the seruaunt of the Lord charged you: that ye loue the Lorde your God, and walke in all his wayes, and kepe his commaundements, and cleaue vnto him, and serue him with all your heartes, and all your soules.
And so Iosuah blessed them, & sent them away: And they went vnto their tentes.
Vnto the one halfe of the tribe of Manasses Moyses gaue possession in Basan: & vnto the other halfe thereof gaue Iosuah, among their brethren on this syde Iordane westwarde. And Iosuah sent them away also vnto their tentes, and blessed them,
And sayde vnto them: Returne with much riches vnto your tentes, and with a great multitude of cattell, with syluer and golde, with brasse, and iron, and with much rayment, and deuide the spoyle of your enemies with your brethren.
And the children of Ruben, the childre{n} of Gad, & the halfe tribe of Manasses returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Silo, which is in the lande of Chanaan, to go vnto the countrey of Gilead, to the lande of their possession, which they had obtayned, according to the word of the Lorde by the hand of Moyses.
And when they came vnto the borders of Iordane that are in the land of Chanaan, there the children of Ruben, the children of Gad, and the halfe tribe of Manasses buylt there an aulter by Iordane, & that a great aulter to see to.
When the children of Israel hearde saye, beholde the children of Ruben, the children of Gad, and the halfe tribe of Manasses, haue buylt an aulter in {th}e forefront of the lande of Chanaan in the borders of Iordane, at the passage of the children of Israel:
When the children of Israel hearde of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered them together at Silo, to make battell against them.
And the children of Israel sent vnto the children of Ruben, and to the children of Gad, and to the halfe tribe of Manasses into the la{n}de of Gilead, Phinehes the sonne of Eleazar the priest,
And with him ten lordes, of euery cheefe house a lorde, throughout all the tribes of Israel, which were heades of their fathers housholdes among the thousandes of Israel.
And they went vnto the children of Ruben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of the halfe tribe of Manasses, vnto the lande of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying:
Thus say the whole congregation of the Lorde: what transgression is this, that ye haue transgressed agaynst the God of Israel, to turne away this day from the Lord, in that ye haue buylded you an aulter for to rebell this day against the Lord?
Is the wicked deede of Peor to litle for vs, wherof we are not yet cleansed vnto this day, and there was a plague in the congregation of the Lorde?
Ye also are turned away this day from the Lorde: And seyng ye rebell to daye against the Lorde, it wyll come to passe that to morowe he shalbe wroth with all the congregation of Israel.
Notwithstandyng, yf ye thynke that the lande of your possession is vncleane, then come ouer vnto the lande of the possession of the Lorde, wherein the Lordes tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among vs: But rebell not against the Lorde, nor rebell against vs, to buylde you any other aulter, saue the aulter of the Lorde our God.
Dyd not Achan the sonne of Zareth trespasse greeuouslie in the accursed thyng, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and this man alone perished not in his wickednes.
Then the chyldren of Ruben, and the chyldren of Gad, and the halfe tribe of Manasses aunswered, and sayde vnto the heades ouer the thousandes of Israel:
The Lorde God of gods, the Lorde God of gods knoweth, and also Israel shall knowe, yf it be to rebell or to transgresse against the Lorde, then thou Lorde saue vs not this day.
Or els yf we haue buylt vs an aulter to turne from folowyng the Lorde, or to offer theron burnt offeryng or meate offeryng, or to offer peace offerynges theron, let {th}e Lord him selfe require it.
And yf we haue not rather done it for feare of this thyng, saying, In tyme to come your chyldren myght say vnto ours: What haue you to do with the Lorde God of Israel?
The Lorde hath made Iordane a border betweene vs and you ye children of Ruben and of Gad, ye haue no part therfore in the Lorde: and so shall your children make our children ceasse from fearyng the Lorde.
Therfore we saide, We wyll make vs an aulter, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:
But for a witnesse betweene vs and you, and our generations after vs, that we should serue the Lorde with our offerynges, sacrifices, & peace offerynges before him: & that your children shoulde not say to ours in tyme to come, Ye haue no part in the Lorde.
Therfore sayde we, that yf they should so say to vs or to our generations in tyme to come: that we wolde say again, Behold the fassion of the aulter of the Lord which our fathers made, neither for burnt offringes nor sacrifices, but for a witnesse betweene vs and you.
God forbyd that we should rebell agaynst the Lord, & turne this day from after hym, and buylde any other aulter for burnt offringes, oblations, or sacrifices, saue the aulter of the Lorde our God that is before his tabernacle.
And when Phinehes the priest, and the lordes of the congregation, & heades ouer the thousandes of Israel which were with him, hearde these wordes that the children of Ruben, and the children of Gad, and the children of Manasses spake, they were well content.
And Phinehes the sonne of Eleazar the priest sayd vnto the children of Ruben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasses: This day we perceaue that the Lord is among vs, because ye haue not done this trespasse agaynst the Lorde: Now ye haue rydde the children of Israel out of the hand of the Lorde.
And Phinehes the sonne of Eleazar the priest, with the lordes, returned from the children of Ruben, and from the children of Gad, out of the lande of Gilead, vnto the lande of Chanaan, to the children of Israel, & brought them this worde agayne.
And the saying pleased the children of Israel, and they blessed God, and dyd not entende to go agaynst the{m} in battell, and to destroy the lande which the children of Ruben and Gad dwelt in.
And the children of Ruben, and the children of Gad, called the aulter [Ed] for it shalbe a witnes betweene vs, that the Lorde is God.
ANd it came to passe, along season after that the Lorde had geuen rest vnto Israel from al their enemies round about, that Iosuah waxed olde, and was stricken in age.
And Iosuah called for all Israel, and for their elders, their heades, their iudges, and officers, and sayd vnto them: I am olde and stricken in age,
And ye haue seene all that the Lorde your God hath done vnto all these nations before you, how the Lorde your God him self hath fought for you.
Beholde, I haue deuided vnto you by lot these nations that remayne, to be an inheritaunce for your tribes, euen from Iordane, with all the nations that I haue destroyed, euen vnto the great sea westward.
And the Lorde your God shall expel them before you, & cast them from out of your sight, and ye shall conquer their lande, as the Lord your God hath sayd vnto you.
Go to therfore, and be of a good courage, that ye take heede and do all that is written in the booke of the lawe of Moyses, that ye bowe not aside therefrom to the right hande or to the left.
Neither company with these nations that is with them that are left with you, neither make mention of the name of ther gods, nor cause to sweare by them, neither serue them, nor bowe your selues vnto them.
But sticke fast vnto the Lorde your God, as ye haue done vnto this day.
So shall the Lord cast out before you great nations and mightie, as no man hath ben able to stande before you hytherto.
One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lorde your God he fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
Take good heede therfore vnto your selues, that ye loue the Lord your God.
Els, if ye go backe and cleaue vnto the rest of these nations that remaine with you, & shall make mariages with them, and go in vnto them, and they to you:
Be ye sure that the Lorde your God will no more cast out all these nations from before you: but they shalbe snares and trappes vnto you, and scourges in your sides, & thornes in your eyes, vntill ye perishe from of this good land whiche the Lorde your God hath geuen you.
And behold, this day do I enter into the way of all the world, and ye knowe in al your heartes and in al your soules, that nothyng hath fayled of all the good thinges whiche the Lorde your God promised you, but all are come to passe vnto you, and nothing hath fayled therof.
Therfore, as al good thinges are come vpon you, whiche the Lorde your God promised you: so shall the Lorde bring vpon you all euyll, vntill he haue destroyed you fro{m} of this good land which the Lorde your God hath geuen you.
When ye haue transgressed the appointme{n}t of the Lord your God which he commaunded you, and haue gone & serued straunge goddes, & bowed your selues to them: then shall the wrath of the Lorde waxe whot vpon you, and ye shall perishe quicklie from of the good lande which he hath geuen you.
ANd Iosuah gathered all {th}e tribes of Israel to Sichem, and called for the elders of Israel, & for their heades, iudges, and officers, & they presented them selues before God.
And Iosuah sayde vnto al the people, Thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel: Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the fludde in olde time, euen Thare the father of Abraham and of Nachor, and serued straunge goddes.
And I toke your father Abraham from the other side of the fludde, and brought him throughout all the lande of Chanaan, and multiplied his seede, and gaue him Isahac.
And I gaue vnto Isahac, Iacob and Esau, and I gaue vnto Esau mount Seir, to possesse it: But Iacob and his children went downe into Egypt.
I sent Moyses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, and when I had so done among them, I brought you out.
And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and as they came vnto the sea, the Egyptians folowed after your fathers with charettes and horsmen vnto the red sea.
And when they cryed vnto the Lord, the Lord put darcknesse betweene you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea vpon them, & couered them, and your eyes haue seene what I haue done to the Egyptians: and ye dwelt in thee wildernesse along season.
And I brought you into the lande of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other syde Iordane: And they fought with you, and I gaue them into your hande, that ye might conquer their countrey, and I destroied them from out of your sight.
Then Balak the sonne of Ziphor king of Moab, arose & warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the sonne of Beor for to curse you:
But I woulde not hearken vnto Balaam, & therfore he rather blessed you: and so I deliuered you out of his hand.
And ye went ouer Iordane, and came vnto Iericho: and the men of Iericho fought against you, the Amorites, Pherezites, Chanaanites, Hethites, Gergesites, Heuites, and Iebusites, & I deliuered them into your hande.
And I sent hornettes before you, whiche caste them out of your sight, euen the two kinges of the Amorites: but not with your owne sworde, or with your owne bowe.
And I haue geuen you a lande in which ye dyd no labour, & cities which ye buylt not, & which ye dwell in: vineyardes also and olyue trees whiche ye planted not, and whereof ye do eate.
Nowe therfore feare the Lorde, and serue him in perfectnesse and trueth, and put away the goddes whiche your fathers serued on the other side of {th}e fludde and in Egypt, and serue ye the Lorde.
And yf it seeme euyll vnto you to serue the Lorde, then chose you this day who{m} you wil serue, whether {th}e goddes which your fathers serued (that were on the other side of the fludde) either {th}e goddes of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwel: As for me and my house, we wil serue the Lorde.
The people aunswered and sayd: God forbyd, that we should forsake the Lord, and serue straunge goddes.
For the Lorde our God, he it is that brought vs & our fathers out of the land of Egypt, & from the house of bondage, and whiche did those great miracles in our sight, and preserued vs in al the way that we went, and among al the people which we came thorowe.
And the Lord did cast out before vs all the people, euen the Amorites whiche dwelt in the lande: And therfore wil we also serue the Lord, for he is our God.
And Iosuah sayde vnto the people, Ye can not serue the Lord: for he is an holy God, and a ielous God, and cannot beare your iniquite and sinne.
Yf ye forsake the Lorde and serue straunge goddes, he will turne and do you euill, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
And the people sayde vnto Iosuah: Nay, but we will serue the Lorde.
And Iosuah sayde vnto the people: Ye are witnesses against your selues, that ye haue chosen you the Lorde to serue him. And they sayde: we are witnesses.
Then put away [sayde he] the strau{n}ge goddes whiche are among you, & bowe your heartes vnto the Lorde God of Israel.
The people sayde vnto Iosuah: The Lorde our God will we serue, and his voyce will we obey.
And so Iosuah made a couenau{n}t with the people the same day, and set an ordinaunce & lawe before them in Sichem.
And Iosuah wrote these wordes in the booke of the lawe of God: and toke a great stone, and pitched it on ende in the sayde place, euen vnder an oke that was in the sanctuarie of the Lorde.
And Iosuah sayde vnto al the people: Behold, this stone shalbe a witnesse vnto vs, for it hath hearde al the wordes of the Lorde whiche he spake with vs, it shalbe therfore a witnesse vnto you, lest ye denie your God.
And so Iosuah let the people depart, euery man vnto his inheritaunce.
And after these thinges it came to passe, that Iosuah the sonne of Nun, the seruaunt of the Lorde died, being an hundreth and ten yeres old.
And they buryed him in the countrey of his inheritaunce, euen in Thamnath Serah, whiche is in mount Ephraim, on the northside of the hill of Gaas.
And Israel serued the Lorde all the dayes of Iosuah, and all the dayes of the elders that ouer lyued Iosuah, and whiche had knowne all the workes of the Lorde that he had done for Israel.
And the bones of Ioseph whiche the childre{n} of Israel brought out of Egypt, buried they in Sichem, in a parcell of ground whiche Iacob bought of the sonnes of Hemor the father of Sichem for an hundreth peeces of siluer, and it became the inheritaunce of the children of Ioseph.
And Eleazar the sonne of Aaron died, whom they buried in a hill that pertayned to Phinehes his sonne, which [hill] was geuen him in mount Ephraim.
AFter the death of Iosuah, it came to passe, that the childre{n} of Israel asked the Lord, saying: who shall go vp for vs against the Chanaanites, to fight fyrste aagainst them?
And the Lorde sayde, Iuda shall go vp: beholde, I haue deliuered the land into his handes.
And Iuda sayde vnto Simeon his brother: Come vp with me in my lot, that we may fight against the Chanaanites, and I likewyse will go with thee into thy lot. And so Simeon went with him.
And Iuda went vp, and the Lord deliuered the Chanaanites and Pherezites into their handes: And they slue of them in Bezek ten thousande men.
And they found Adombezek in Bezek: And they fought against him, and slue the Chanaanites and Pherezites.
But Adonibezek fled, and they folowed after hym, caught hym, and cut of his thombes and his great toes.
And Adonibezek sayde, Three score and ten kinges hauing their thombes & great toes cut of, gathered their meate vnder my table: As I haue done, so God hath done to me agayne. And they brought him to Hierusalem, and there he died.
(The childre{n} of Iuda had fought against Hierusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, & set the citie on fire.)
Afterward the children of Iuda went downe to fight against the Chanaanites that dwelt in the mountayne & towarde the south, & in the lowe countrey.
And Iuda went against the Chanaanites that dwelt in Hebron, whiche before time was called Kiriath Arba, & slue Sesai, Ahiman, and Thalmai.
And from thence they went to the inhabitauntes of Dabir, whose name in olde time was called Kiriathsepher.
And Caleb sayd: He that smiteth Kiriathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I geue Achsah my daughter to wyfe.
And Othoniel the sonne of Kenez Calebs younger brother toke it: to whom he gaue Achsah his daughter to wyfe.
When she came to him, she counsayled him to aske of her father a fielde: And then she lighted of her asse, and Caleb sayde vnto her, What wilt thou?
She aunswered vnto him, Geue me a blessing: for thou hast geuen me a southward land, geue me also springes of water. And Caleb gaue her springes, both aboue and beneath.
And the childre{n} of the Kenite Moyses father in lawe, went vp out of the citie of paulme trees with the children of Iuda, into the wildernesse of Iuda, that lieth in the south of Arad, and they went and dwelt among the people.
And Iuda went with Simeon his brother, and they slue the Chanaanites that inhabited Zephath, and vtterly destroyed it, and called the name of the citie Horma.
And also Iuda toke Azzah with the coastes therof, & Askalon with {th}e coastes therof, and Akaron with the coastes therof.
And the Lorde was with Iuda, and he conquered the mountaines: but could not dryue out the inhabitauntes of the valleyes, because they had charettes of iron.
And they gaue Hebron vnto Caleb, as Moyses sayde: And he expelled thence the three sonnes of Anak.
And the children of Beniamin did not cast out the Iebusites that inhabited Hierusalem: but the Iebusites dwell with the children of Beniamin in Hierusalem vnto this day.
And in like maner they that were of the house of Ioseph went vp to Bethel, and the Lorde was with them.
And the house of Ioseph searched out Bethel, whiche before time was called Luz.
And the spyes sawe a man come out of the citie, & they sayd vnto him: Shewe vs we pray thee the way into the citie, and we will shewe thee mercy.
And when he had shewed them the way into the citie, they smote it with the edge of the sworde: but let the man and all his housholde go free.
And the man went into the land of the Hethites, and buylt a citie, and called the name therof Luz: whiche is the name therof vnto this day.
Neither did Manasses expell Bethsean with her townes, Thanach with her townes, the inhabitours of Dor with her townes, the inhabitours of Ieblaam with her townes, neither the inhabitours of Magiddo with her townes: but the Chanaanites were bolde to dwell in the lande.
But it came to passe, that assoone as Israel was waxed mightie, they put the Chanaanites to tribute, and expelled them not wholly.
In lyke maner Ephraim expelled not the Chanaanites that dwelt in Gazer: but the Chanaanites dwelt still in Gazer among them.
Neither dyd Zabulon expell the inhabitours of Ketron, neither the inhabitours of Nahalol: but the Chanaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
Neither did Aser cast out the inhabitours of Acho, neither the inhabitours of Zidon, and of Ahalab, Aczib, & Helbah, Aphek, nor of Rohob:
But the Aserites dwelt among the Chanaanites the inhabitours of the lande: for they dyd not dryue them out.
Neither dyd Nephthalim dryue out the inhabitours of Bethsames, nor the inhabitours of Bethanath: but dwelt amongest the Chanaanites the inhabitours of the lande. Neuerthelesse, the inhabitours of Bethsames and of Bethanath became tributaries vnto them.
And the Amorites droue the children of Dan into the mountayne, and suffered them not to come downe to the valley.
And the Amorites were content to dwell in mount Heres in Aialon, and in Salabim: And the hande of Ioseph preuayled, so that they became tributaries.
And the coast of the Amorites was from the goyng vp to Acrabim, & from the rocke vpwarde.
ANd the angel of the Lorde came vp from Gilgal to Bochim, and sayde: I made you to go out of Egipt, & haue brought you vnto the lande whiche I sware vnto your fathers: And I sayde, I will neuer breake myne appoyntment that I made with you.
And ye also shall make no couenaunt with the inhabitours of this lande, but shall breake downe their aulters: Neuerthelesse, ye haue not hearkened vnto my voyce: why haue ye this done?
Wherfore I haue lykewyse determined, that I will not cast them out before you: but they shalbe as thornes vnto you, and their goddes shalbe a snare vnto you.
And when the angel of the Lord spake these wordes vnto all the children of Israel, the people cryed out and wept:
And called the name of the sayd place Bochim, & offered sacrifices vnto the Lorde.
And whe{n} Iosuah had sent the people away, the children of Israel went euery man into his inheritaunce to possesse the lande.
And the people serued the Lorde all the dayes of Iosuah, & all the dayes of the elders that outlyued Iosuah, & had seene al the great workes of the Lorde that he dyd for Israel.
And Iosuah the sonne of Nun, the seruaunt of the Lorde died, when he was an hundreth and ten yeres olde:
Whom they buried in the coastes of his inheritaunce [euen] in Thimnath Heres in mount Ephraim, on the northside of the hil Gaas.
And euen so all that generation were put vnto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which neither knewe the Lorde, nor yet the workes whiche he had done for Israel.
And then the children of Israel dyd wickedly in the sight of the Lorde, and serued Baalim,
And forsoke the Lord God of their fathers, whiche brought them out of the lande of Egypt, and folowed straunge goddes, euen of the goddes of the nations that were rounde about them, and bowed them selues vnto them, and angred the Lorde:
They forsoke the Lorde, and serued Baal and Astharoth.
And the wrath of the Lord waxed hot agaynst Israel, and he deliuered them into the handes of raueners, that spoyled them, & solde them into the handes of their enemies rounde about them, so that they had no power any longer to stande before their enemies.
But whythersoeuer they went out, the hand of the Lord was sore against them, euen as the Lord promised them, and as he sware vnto them: And he punished them sore.
Neuerthelesse the Lorde raysed vp iudges, which deliuered them out of the handes of their oppressers.
And yet for all that they woulde not hearken vnto their iudges: but rather went a whoring after straunge goddes, and bowed them selues vnto them, and turned quickly out of the way, whiche their fathers walked in, obeying the co{m}maundementes of the Lorde: But they dyd not so.
And when the Lorde raysed them vp iudges, he was with the iudge, and deliuered them out of the handes of their enemies all the dayes of the iudge: (for the Lord had compassion ouer their sorowinges, whiche they had by the reason of them that oppressed them & vexed them:)
Yet for all that, assoone as the iudge was dead, they returned, and dyd worse then their fathers, in folowing straunge goddes, to serue them & worship them: and ceassed not from their owne inuentions, nor from their malitious way.
And the wrath of the Lorde was moued against Israel, and he sayde: Because this people hath tra{n}sgressed myne appoyntment whiche I commaunded their fathers, and haue not hearkened vnto my voyce:
I will hencefoorth not cast out before them one man of the nations whiche Iosuah left when he dyed:
That through them I may proue Israel, whether they wil kepe the way of the Lorde, and walke therin as their fathers dyd, or not.
And so the Lorde left those nations, and droue them not out immediatly, neither deliuered them into the hande of Iosuah.
THese are the nations whiche the Lorde left, that he might proue Israel by them: (euen as many of Israel as had not knowen al the warres of Chanaan:
Onely for the learning of the generations of the childre{n} of Israel that he also might teach them warre, onely such as before knewe nothing therof.)
Of those whom he left, there were fiue lordes of the Philistines, and all the Chanaanites, and the Sidonites, & the Heuites that dwelt in mount Libanon, euen from mount Baal Hermon, vnto one come to Hamath.
Those remayned to proue Israel by, and to wyt whether they would hearken vnto the commaundementes of the Lorde, which he commaunded their fathers by the hande of Moyses.
And the children of Israel dwelt among the Chanaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Pherezites, Heuites, and Iebusites,
And toke the daughters of them to be their wiues, & gaue their own daughters to their sonnes, and serued their goddes.
And the children of Israel did wickedly in the sight of the Lorde, and forgat the Lorde their God, and serued Baalim and Astheroth.
Therfore the Lorde was angry with Israel, and he solde them into the handes of Chusan Risathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel serued Chusan Risathaim eyght yeres.
And when the children of Israel cryed vnto the Lorde, the Lorde stirred vp a sauer to the children of Israel, & saued them, euen Othoniel the sonne of Kenes, Calebs younger brother.
And the spirite of the Lorde came vpon him, and he iudged Israel, & went out to warre: And the Lorde deliuered Chusan Risathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hande, and his hande preuayled against Chusan Risathaim.
And the land had rest fourtie yeres: and Othoniel the sonne of Kenes died.
And the children of Israel agayne committed wickednes in the sight of the Lorde: And the Lorde strengthed Eglon the king of the Moabites, against the children of Israel, because they had committed wickednes before the Lorde.
And this [Eglon] gathered vnto him the children of Animon, and the Amalekites, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the citie of Paulme trees.
And so the children of Israel serued Eglon the king of Moab .xviii. yeres.
But when they cryed vnto the Lord, the Lord stirred them vp a sauer, Ahud the sonne of Gera the sonne of Gemini, a man lame of his right hande: and by him the children of Israel sent a present vnto Eglon the king of Moab.
But Ahud made him a dagger with two edges, of a cubite length, and he did gyrde it vnto his rayme{n}t vpon his right thygh,
And caried the present vnto Eglon the king of Moab: (And Eglon was a very fatte man.)
And when he had presented the present, he sent the people that bare it away:
But he him selfe turned agayne (from the place of grauen images, that was by Gilgal) and sayde: I haue a secret errande vnto thee, O king. which sayde: Kepe scilence. And all that stoode before hym, went out from him.
And Ahud came vnto him, and in a sommer parler whiche he had, sate he him selfe alone: and Ahud sayd, I haue a message vnto thee from God. And he arose out of his seate.
And Ahud put foorth his left hande, & toke the dagger from his right thygh, and thrust it into his belly.
And the hafte went in after the blade: and the fatte closed the haft, so that he might not drawe the dagger out of his belly, but the dyrt came out.
Then Ahud gat him out into the porche, and shut the doores of the parler vpon him, and locked them.
When he was gone out, his seruauntes came: And when they sawe that the doores of the parler were locked, they sayde, Suerly he couereth his feete in his sommer chamber.
And they taried till they were ashamed, and seyng he opened not the doores of the parler, they toke a key and opened them: And beholde, their Lorde was fallen downe dead on the earth.
And Ahud escaped whyle they taried and was gone beyonde, to the place of the grauen images, and escaped into Seirath.
And when he was come, he blewe a trumpet in mount Ephraim: And the childre{n} of Israel went downe with him from the hill, and he went before them.
And he sayde vnto them, folowe me: for the Lorde hath deliuered your enemies the Moabites into your hande. And they descended after him, and take the passages of Iordane toward Moab, and suffered not a man to passe ouer.
And they slue of the Moabites the same time vpon a ten thousande men, which were all fatte, & men of warre, and there scaped not a man.
So Moab was subdued that day vnder the hande of Israel: And the lande had rest fourescore yeres.
After him was Samgar the sonne of Anath, whiche slue of the Philistines sixe hundred men with an oxe goade, and deliuered Israel also.
ANd the children of Israel began agayne to do wickedly in {th}e sight of the Lord, when Ahud was dead.
And the Lorde sold them into the hand of Iabin king of Chanaan, that raigned in Hazor, whose captayne of warre was called Sisara, which dwelt in Haroseth of the gentiles.
And the children of Israel cried vnto the Lord (for he had nine hundreth charettes of yron: & twentie yeres he troubled the children of Israel very sore.)
And Debora a prophetisse, the wife of Lapidoth, iudged Israel the same time.
And the same Debora dwelt vnder a pauline tree, betweene Ramath & Bethel, in mount Ephraim: And the children of Israel came vp to her for iudgment.
And she sent, and called Barak the sonne of Abinoam, out of Kedes Nephthalim, and sayd vnto him: Hath not the Lorde God of Israel commaunded, saying: Go, and drawe toward mount Thabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Nephthalim, and of the children of Zabulon?
And I will bring vnto thee to the riuer Kison, Sisara {th}e captayne of warre, vnto Iabin, with his charettes and his people, and will deliuer him into thyne handes.
And Barak said vnto her, If thou wilt go with me, I will go: But and if thou wilt not come with me, I will not go.
She sayd: I will surely go with thee, but this iourney that thou takest, shall not be for thyne honour: for the Lorde shall sell Sisara into the hande of a woman. And Debora arose and went with Barak to Kedes.
And Barak called Zabulon & Nephthalim to Kedes, and led after him ten thousande men: and Debora went vp with him.
(But Haber the Kenite which was of the childre{n} of Hobab, the father in lawe of Moyses, remoued from the Kenites, and pitched his tent vntill the playne of Zaana•m, whiche is by Kedes.)
And they shewed Sisara, that Barak the sonne of Abindam was gone vp to mount Thabor.
And Sisara gathered together al his charettes, euen nine hundreth charettes of iron, & all the people that were with him from of Haroseth of the gentiles, vnto the ryuer of Kison.
And Debora sayd vnto Barak: Vp, for this is the day in which the Lorde hath deliuered Sisara into thyne hand: Is not the Lorde gone out before the? And so Barak went downe fro{m} mount Thabor, and ten thousande men after him.
But the Lorde destroyed Sisara and all his charettes, and all his heaste with the edge of the sworde, before Barak: so that Sisara lyghted downe of his charet, and fled away on his feete.
But Barak folowed after the charettes and after the hoast, euen vnto Har•seth of the gentiles: And all the hoast of Sisara fell vpon the edge of the sworde, and there was not a man left.
Howebeit Sisara fled away on his seete to the tent of Iael the wife of Haber the Kenite (for there was peace betweene Iabin the king of Hazor, and the houshoulde of Haber the Kenite.)
And Iael went out to meete Sisara, and sayd vnto him: Turne in my lorde, turne in to me, feare not. And whan he had turned in vnto her into her tent, she couered him with a mantell.
And he sayd vnto her: Geue me I pray thee a litle water to drincke, for I am thirstie. And she opened a bottle of milke, and gaue him drincke, & couered him.
And agayne he sayd vnto her: Stande in the doore of the tent, and whan any man doth come and enquere of thee, whether ther be any man here, thou shalt say, naye.
Then Iael Habers wyfe, toke a nayle of the tent, & an hammer in her hande, and went softly vnto him, and smote {th}e nayle into the temples of his head, and fastened it into the ground (for he slumbred sore, and was wery) and so he died.
And beholde, as Barak folowed after Sisara, Iael came out to meete him, & said vnto him: Come, and I will shewe thee the man whom thou sekest. And when he came in to her tent, behold Sisara lay dead, and the nayle was in his temples.
And so God brought Iabin the kyng of Chanaan into subiection that day before the children of Israel.
And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and preuayled against Iabin the kyng of Chanaan, vntil they had destroyed Iabin king of Chanaan.
THen Debora and Barak the sonne of Abinoam sange the same day, saying:
Prayse ye the Lord, for the auengyng of Israel, and for the people that became so willing.
Heare O ye kinges, hearken O ye princes: I, euen I will syng vnto the Lord, I will prayse the Lord God of Israel.
Lorde, whan thou wentest out of Seir, whan thou departedst out of the fielde of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heauens rayned, the cloudes also dropped water:
The mountaynes melted before the Lord, euen as dyd Sinai before {th}e Lord God of Israel.
In the dayes of Samgar the sonne of Anath, in the dayes of Iael, the hye wayes were vnoccupied, and the trauelers walked thorowe bye wayes.
The inhabitants of the townes were gone, they were gone in Israel, vntyll I Debora came vp, which came vp a mother in Israel.
They chose new goddes, and then had they the enemie in the gates: was there a shielde or speare seene among fourtie thousande of Israel?
My heart loueth the gouerners of Israel, and them that are willyng among the people: O prayse ye the Lord.
Speake ye that ryde on fayre asses, ye that dwell by Middin, and that walke by the wayes.
For the noyse of the archers among the drawers of water ceassed, there shall they speake of the righteousnes of the Lorde, his righteousnesse in his vnfensed townes in Israel: Then shal the people of the Lorde go downe to the gates.
Vp Debora vp, get thee vp, and sing a song: Arise Barac, and leade thy captiuitie captiue, thou sonne of Abinoam.
Then shall they that remayne, haue dominion of the proudest of the people: The Lord hath geuen me dominion ouer the mightie.
Out of Ephraim was there a roote of them agaynst Amelek, and after thee Beniamin among thy people: Out of Machir came rulers, and out of Zabulon they that handell the penne of the writer.
And of Isachar there were princes with Debora, and Isachar, and also Barak, he was sent on foote into the valley: for the diuisions of Ruben [were] great thoughtes of heart.
Why abodest thou among the sheepe foldes, to heare the bleatinges of the flockes? for the diuisions of Ruben, were great thoughtes of heart.
Gilead also abode beyonde Iordane: and why doth Dan remayne in shyppes? Aser co{n}tinued on the sea shore, and taried in his decayed places.
[But] the people of Zabulon haue ieoparde their lyues euen vnto the death, lyke as dyd Nephthalim in the hye places of the fielde.
The kynges came and fought, then fought {th}e kynges of Chanaan in Thanach by the waters of Megiddo, and wan no money.
They fought from heauen, euen the starres in their tourses fought agaynst Sisara.
The ryuer of Kison swept them away, that auncient ryuer the ryuer Kison: O my soule, thou hast marched valiauntly.
Then were the horse hoofes smitten asunder by the meanes of the praunsings that their mightie men made.
Curse ye the citie of Meros (sayd the angel of the Lord) curse the inhabitants therof: because they came not to helpe the Lord, to helpe the Lord against the mightie.
Iael the wyfe of Haber the Kenite, shalbe blessed aboue other women, blessed shall she be aboue other women in the tent.
He asked water, and she gaue him mylke, she brought foorth butter in a lordly dysshe.
She put her hande to the nayle, & her ryght hande to the smythes hammer: with the hammer smote she Sisara, & smote his head, wounded him, and pearsed his temples.
He bowed him downe at her feete, he fell downe, and lay styll: At her feete he bowed him selfe, & fell. And whe{n} he had sunke downe, he lay there destroyed.
The mother of Sisara loked out at a wyndowe, and cryed thorowe the lattesse: Why is his charret so long a commyng? Why tary the wheeles of his charettes?
Al the wyse ladyes aunswered her, yea and her owne wordes aunswered her selfe.
Surely they haue found, they deuide the spoyles, euery man hath a damsell or two: Sisara hath a pray of diuers couloured garmentes, euen a pray of rayment dyed with sundry colours, and that are made of nedle worke: rayment of diuers colours and of nedle worke on both sydes, which is meete for him that is chiefe in distributing of {th}e spoyles.
So perishe all thine enemies, O Lord: But they that loue him, let them be as {th}e sunne whan he ryseth in his myght. And the lande had rest fourtie yeres.
ANd the children of Israel committed wickednesse in the syght of the Lorde: And the Lorde deliuered them into the handes of Madian seuen yeres.
And the hand of Madian preuayled against Israel: & because of the Madianites, {th}e children of Israel made them dennes in the mountaynes and caues, and strong holdes.
And when Israel had sowen, then came vp the Madianites, the Amalechites, and they of the east, and came vp agaynst them,
And pitched their tentes against them, and destroyed the encrease of the earth, euen tyll thou come vnto Azah, & left no sustenaunce for Israel, neither sheepe, oxe, nor asse:
For they went vp, they and their cattel, and came with their tentes as a multitude of grasshopers, so that both they and also their camels were without number: And they entred into the land to destroy it.
And so was Israel exceedingly impoueryshed in the sight of the Madianites, and cried vnto the Lorde.
And when the children of Israel cried vnto the Lord, because of the Madianites,
The Lorde sent vnto them a prophet, which sayd vnto them, Thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel: I fet you from Egypt, & brought you out of the house of bondage.
And I ryd you out of the hande of the Egyptians, & out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and cast them out before you, and gaue you their land:
And I sayd vnto you: I am the Lord your God, feare not the goddes of the Amorites in whose lande you dwell: But you haue not obeyed my voyce.
And the angel of the Lorde came and sate vnder an Oke which was in Ephrah, that parteyned vnto Ioas the father of the Esrites: And his sonne Gedeon threshed wheat by the wyne presse, to hyde it from the Madianites.
And the angel of the Lorde appeared vnto him, and said vnto him: The Lord is with thee, thou mightie man.
And Gedeon aunswered him: Oh my Lord, if the Lorde be with vs, why is all this come vpon vs? Yea, & where be all his miracles which our fathers tolde vs of, and sayd: Dyd not the Lord bryng vs out of Egypt? But nowe the Lord hath forsaken vs, and deliuered vs into the handes of the Madianites.
And the Lord loked vpon him, and sayde: Go hence in this thy might, and thou shalt deliuer Israel out of the handes of the Madianites: Haue not I sent thee?
And he aunswered him: Oh Lorde, wherwith shall I saue Israel? Behold my kinred is poore in Manasses, and I am litle in my fathers house.
The Lord sayd vnto him: I will be with thee, & thou shalt smyte the Madianites, as they were but one man.
And he aunswered him: Oh, yf I haue founde grace in thy syght, than shew me a a signe, that it is thou that talkest with me:
Departe not hence I pray thee vntyll I come vnto thee, & tyll I bryng myne offring, and haue set it before thee. And he sayd: I will tary vntyll thou come againe.
And Gedeon went in, and made redy a kyd, and sweete cakes of an Epha of floure, and put it with the fleshe in a basket, and put the broth in a pot, and brought it out vnto him vnder the Oke, and presented it.
And the angel of God sayd vnto him: Take the flesh and the sweete cakes, & lay them vpon this rocke, and powre out the broth. And he dyd so.
Then the angel of the Lord put foorth the end of the staffe that he helde in his hande, and touched the fleshe and the sweete cakes, and there arose vp fire out of the rocke, and consumed the flesh and the sweete cakes: But the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.
And when Gedeon perceaued that it was an angel of the Lorde, he sayde: Alas, O Lorde God, haue I therfore seene an angel of the Lorde face to face, [that I should dye?]
And the Lorde sayd vnto him: Peace be vnto thee, feare not, thou shalt not dye.
Then Gedeon made an aulter there vnto the Lord, and called it, The Lord of peace. And vnto this day it is yet in Ephrath, that parteyneth vnto the father of the Esrites.
And the same nyght the Lorde sayde vnto him: Take thy fathers young bullocke, & an other bullocke of .vii. yeres olde, and destroy the aulter of Baal that thy father hath, and cut downe the groue that is by it:
And make an aulter vnto the Lord thy God vpon the top of this rocke in a conuenient place, and take the second bullocke, and offer burnt sacrifice vpo{n} the wood of the groue which thou shalt cut downe.
Then Gedeon toke ten men of his seruauntes, & did as the Lord bad him: But because he feared to do it by daye for his fathers housholde and the men of the citie, he dyd it by nyght.
And when the men of the citie arose early in the mornyng, beholde the aulter of Baal was broken, & the groue cut downe that was by it, and the seconde bullocke offered vpon the aulter that was made.
And they sayde one to another: who hath done this thing? And whan they enquered and asked, they sayd: Gedeon {th}e sonne of Ioas hath done this thing.
Then the men of the citie sayde vnto Ioas, Bring out thy sonne, that he may dye: because he hath destroyed the aulter of Baal, and cut downe the groue that was by it.
And Ioas sayd vnto al that stoode by him: Will ye pleade Baals cause? or will ye saue him? He that will contende for him, let him dye or the morning. If he be a God, let him pleade for himselfe agaynst him that hath caste downe his aulter.
And from that day, was Gedeon called Ierobaal: because his father had sayd, Let Baal pleade for himselfe, because he hath broken downe his aulter.
All the Madianites therfore, and the Amalekites, and they of the east, were gathered together, & went and pytched in the valley of Iesrael:
But the spirite of the Lorde came vppon Gedeon, and he blewe a trumpet, and Abiezer was ioyned with him.
And he sent messengers throughout all Manasses, which also was ioyned with him, and he sent messengers vnto Azar, Zabulon, and Nephthalim, and they came to meete them.
And Gedeon sayd vnto God: Yf thou wilt saue Israel by myne hand, as thou hast sayd:
Beholde, I wil put a fleece of wool in the treashing place: And if the dewe come on the fleece onely, and it be drye vpon all the earth besyde, then shall I be sure that thou wilt saue Israel by my hand, as thou saydest.
And it came so to passe: For he rose vp early on the morowe, & thrust the fleece together, and wrong the dewe therout, and fylled a bowle of water.
And Gedeon sayde agayne vnto God: Be not angry with me, that I speake once more, for I wil proue once agayne by the fleece. Let it be drye onely vpon the fleece, and dewe vpon al the ground.
And God dyd so that same nyght: For it was drye vpon the fleece only, & there was dewe on all the grounde.
THen Ierobaal (who is Gedeon) and all {th}e people {tha}t were with him, rose vp early, & pytched besyde the wel of Harad: so that the hoaste of the Madianites were on the northsyde of them by the hyll of Moreh in the valley.
And the Lord sayd vnto Gedeon: The people that are with thee, are to many for me to geue {th}e Madianites into their handes, lest Israel make their vaunt against me, and saye: Myne owne hand hath saued me.
Nowe therfore make a proclamation in the eares of people, and saye: If any man dread or be afeard, let him returne and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people xxii. thousande, & there abode ten thousande.
And the Lord sayd vnto Gedeon: The people are yet to many, bryng them downe vnto the water, and I will trye them vnto thee there. And of whom I say vnto thee, this shal go with thee: the same shal go with thee. And of whom soeuer I say vnto thee, this shal not go with thee: the same shal not go.
So he brought downe the people vnto the water: And the Lord said vnto Gedeon, As many as lappe {th}e water with their tongues as a dogge lappeth, them put by them selues, and [so do] them that kneele downe vpon their knees to drincke.
And the number of them that put their handes to their mouthes and lapped, were three hundred men: But all {th}e remnaunt of {th}e people kneeled downe vpon their knees to dryncke water.
And the Lorde sayd vnto Gedeon: By these three hundred men that lapped will I saue you, and deliuer the Madianites into thyne hande: And let all the other people go euery man vnto his place.
They therfore of the people toke vittailes with them, and their trumpettes: And he sent all the rest of Israel, euery man vnto his tent, and retayned those three hundreth men: And the hoast of Madian was beneath him in a valley.
And the same nyght the Lorde sayde vnto him: Aryse, get thee downe vnto the hoast, for I haue delyuered it into thyne hand.
But and if thou feare to go downe, then go thou and Phara thy ladde downe to the hoast.
And thou shalt hearken what they say, and so shall thine handes be strong to go downe vnto {th}e hoast. Then went he downe & Phara his ladde vnto the outsyde of the men of armes that were in the hoast.
And the Madianites, the Amalekites, and all they of the east, lay along in the valley lyke a multitude of grashoppers, and their camelles were without numbre, euen as the sande by the sea syde in multitude.
And when Gedeon was come, behold, there was a man that tolde a dreame vnto his neyghbour, and sayd: Behold, I dreamed a dreame, and me thought that a cake of barley bread tumbled into the hoast of Madian, and came vnto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and ouerturned it that the tent lay along.
And his felowe aunswered and sayd: This is nothing els saue the sworde of Gedeon {th}e sonne of Ioas, a man of Israel: for into his hande hath God deliuered Madian, and all the hoast.
When Gedeon heard the telling of the dreame, & the interpretation of the same, he worshypped, and returned vnto the hoast of Israel, and sayde: Vp, for the Lorde hath deliuered into your hande the hoast of Madian.
And he deuided the three hundred men into three companies, and gaue euery man a trumpet in his hande, with emptie pytchers, and lampes therin.
And sayde vnto them, Loke on me, and do lykewyse: that when I come to the syde of the hoast, euen as I do, so do you.
When I blowe with a trumpet and all that are with me, blowe ye with trumpettes also on euery syde of the hoast, and say: For the Lord, and for Gedeon.
So Gedeon and the hundred men that were with him, came vnto the outsyde of the hoast in the begynnyng of the myddle watche, & raysed vp the watch men: And they blewe with their trumpettes, & brake the pytchers that were in their handes.
And the three companies blewe with trumpettes, & brake the pytchers, and helde the lampes in their left handes, and the trumpettes in their right, to blowe withal: And they cryed, The sworde of the Lorde, and of Gedeon.
And they stoodestyll, euery man in his place rounde about the hoast: And all the hoast ranne, and cryed, and fled.
And the three hundreth blewe with trumpettes, and the Lorde set euery mans sworde vppon his neyghbour throughout all the hoast: and the hoast fled to Bethhasitah, to Zererath, and to the edge of the playne of Meholah vnto Tabbath.
And the men of Israel being gathered together out of Nephthalim, of Aser, and of all Manasses, folowed after the Madianites.
And Gedeon sent messengers vnto al mount Ephraim, saying: Come downe against the Madianites, and take before them the waters vnto Bethbarath, and to Iordane. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered together, & toke the waters vnto Bethbarath, & to Iordane.
And they toke two princes of the Madianites, Oreb and Zeb: and slue Oreb vpon the rocke Oreb, and Zeb at the winepresse of Zeb, and folowed after Madian: and brought the heades of Oreb and Zeb to Gedeon on the other syde Iordane.
ANd the men of Ephraim said vnto him: Why hast thou serued vs thus, that thou calledst vs not, when thou wentest to fyght with the Madianites? And they chode with him sharpely.
And he sayde vnto them: What deede haue I done lyke vnto yours? Is not the gleaning of grapes of Ephraim, better then the vinetage of Abiezer?
God hath delyuered into your handes the lordes of Madian, Oreb and Zeb: And what was I able to do lyke as you haue done? And then their spirites abated from of him, when he had sayde that.
And Gedeon came to Iordane to passe ouer, he & the three hundred men that were with him weery, and yet folowed the chase.
And he sayd vnto {th}e men of Sucoth: Geue I pray you, takes of bread vnto {th}e people that folow me, for they be fayntie, that I may folowe after Zebah, and Zalmana, kynges of Madian.
And the lordes of Sucoth sayde: Are the handes of Zebah and Zalmana now in thyne handes, that we should geue bread vnto thyne armie?
Gedeon sayde: Therfore when the Lord hath deliuered Zebah and Zalmana into mine hande, I will teare the flesshe of you with the thornes of the wildernes, and with bryers.
And he went vp thence to Phanuel, & spake vnto them lykewyse: And {th}e men of Phanuel aunswered him, as did the men of Sucoth.
And he sayd also vnto the men of Phanuel: When I come agayne in peace, I will breake downe this towre.
Zebah & Zalmana were in Carcor, and their hoastes with them, vpon a fifteene thousande men, which were all that were left of all the hoastes of them of the east: For there was slaine an hundred and twentie thousande men that drewe swordes.
And Gedeon went thorowe them that dwelt in tabernacles on the east syde of Nobah and Iegbahah, and smote the hoaste: for the hoaste dyd cast no perylles.
And whan Zebah and Zalmana fled, he folowed after them, and toke {th}e two kynges of Madian, Zebah and Zalmana, and discomfited all the hoaste.
And Gedeon the sonne of Ioas, returned from battel afore the sunne was vp,
And caught a ladde of the men of Sucoth, & enquired of him: And he wrote him of the lordes and elders of Sucoth threescore and seuenteene men.
And he came vnto the men of Sucoth, and sayd: Beholde Zebah and Zalmana, with which ye dyd cast me in the teeth, saying: Are the handes of Zebah and Zalmana alredy in thyne hande, that we should geue bread vnto thy fayntie men?
And he toke the elders of the citie, and thornes of the wildernesse, and bryers, and dyd teare the men of Sucoth with them.
And he brake downe the towre of Phanuel, & slue the men of the citie.
And then sayde he vnto Zebah and Zalmana: what maner of men were they whom ye slue at Thabor? And they aunswered: The lykenesse of thee and them is al one, eue{n} after the fashion of the children of a kyng.
And he sayd, They were my brethren, euen my mothers children: As truly as the Lord liueth, if ye had saued their lyues, I would not slay you.
And he sayde vnto Iether his eldest sonne, Vp and slay them. But the ladde drue not his sworde: for he feared, because he was yet young.
Then Zebah and Zalmana sayde: Ryse thou, and fall vpon vs: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gedeon arose, and slue Zebah and Zalmana, and toke away the ornamentes that were on their camels neckes.
Then the men of Israel sayde vnto Gedeon: Raigne thou ouer vs, both thou, thy sonne, and thy sonnes sonne, for thou hast deliuered vs out of {th}e hand of Madian.
And Gedeon sayd vnto them: I wyll not raigne ouer you, neither shall my childe raigne ouer you: but the Lorde shall raigne ouer you.
And agayne Gedeon said vnto them: I would desire a request of you, euen that you would geue me euery man the earinges of his pray. For they had golden earinges, because they were Ismaelites.
And they aunswered: We will gyue them. And they spread a mantell, and dyd cast therin euery man the earynges of his pray.
And the wayght of {th}e golden earinges that he required, was a thousand and seuen hundred sicles of golde, besyde chaynes and iewelles, and purple rayment that was on the kynges of Madian, and besyde the chaynes that were about their camels neckes.
And Gedeon made an Ephod therof, and put it in his citie Ephrah: And all Israel went a whoryng after it in the same place, which thing became a ruyne vnto Gedeon and to his house.
Thus was Madian brought lowe before the children of Israel, so that they lyft vp their heades no more: And the countrey was in quietnes fourtie yeres in the dayes of Gedeon.
And Ierobaal {th}e sonne of Ioas, went and dwelt in his owne house.
And Gedeon had threescore and ten sonnes of his body begotten: for he had many wyues.
And his co{n}cubine that was in Sichem bare him a sonne also, whose name he called Abimelech.
And Gedeon the sonne of Ioas dyed in a good age, and was buryed in the sepulchre of Ioas his father, euen in Ephrah, that parteyned vnto the father of the Esrites.
But assoone as Gedeon was dead, the children of Israel turned away, & went a whoryng after Baalim, and made a couenaunt with Baal to be their God.
And the children of Israel thought not on the Lorde their God, which had deliuered them out of the handes of all their enemies on euery syde:
Neither shewed they mercy on the house of Ierobaal [otherwyse called] Gedeon, according to all the goodnes which he had shewed vnto Israel.
ABimelech the sonne of Ierobaal went to Sichem vnto his mothers brethren, & communed with them, & with all the kynrede of the house of his mothers father, saying:
Saye I pray you, in the eares of all the men of Sichem, whether is better for you, that all the sonnes of Ierobaal, (which are threescore and ten persons) raigne ouer you: either that one raigne ouer you? Remember that I am of your bone, and of your fleshe.
And his mothers brethren spake of him in the audience of all the men of Sichem all these wordes, & their heartes were moued to folow Abimelech: For they sayde, He is our brother.
And they gaue him threescore and ten peeces of siluer out of the house of Baal Berith, wherwith Abimelech hyred vayne and light persons, which went with hym.
And he went vnto his fathers house at Ephrah, and slue his brethren, the sonnes of Ierobaal, beyng threescore & ten persons, vpon one stone: Notwithstandyng, yet Ioatham the youngest sonne of Ierobaal escaped, for he hyd hymselfe.
And all the men of Sichem gathered together, and al the house of Mello, and came and made Abimelech kyng in the playne, where the stone was in Sichem.
And when they tolde it to Ioatham, he went and stoode in the top of mount Garizim, and lyft vp his voyce, & cryed, and sayd vnto them: Hearken vnto me you men of Sichem, that God may hearken vnto you.
The trees went foorth to annoynt a kyng ouer them, and sayde vnto the Olyue tree: Raigne thou ouer vs.
But the Olyue tree sayd vnto them: Should I leaue my fatnesse wherwith by me they honour God and man, & to be promoted ouer the trees?
And the trees sayd to the figge tree: Come thou, and be kyng ouer vs.
The figge tree aunswered them: should I forsake my sweetnes, and my good fruite, and go to be promoted ouer the trees?
Then sayde the trees vnto the vine: Come thou and be kyng ouer vs.
The vine sayde vnto them: Should I leaue my wine wherby I cheare both God and man, and go to be promoted ouer the trees?
Then said all the trees vnto the bryer: Come thou and raigne ouer vs.
And the bryer sayde vnto the trees: If it be true that ye will annoynt me kyng ouer you, then come and put your trust vnder my shadow: If no, the fyre come out of the bryer, & waste the Cedar trees of Libanon.
Nowe therfore, if ye do truely and vncorruptly to make Abimelech kyng, and if ye haue dealte well with Ierobaal & his house, and haue done vnto hym according to the deseruing of his handes:
(For euen my father fought for you, and aduentured his life, and ridde you out of the hande of Madian.
And ye are rysen vp agaynst my fathers house this day, and haue slayne his children, beyng threescore & ten persones vpon one stone, and haue made Abimelech the sonne of his mayde seruaunt, king ouer the men of Sichem, because he is your brother.)
If ye then haue dealt truely and purely with Ierobaal and with his house this day, then reioyce ye with Abimelech, and let him reioyce with you.
But if you haue not dealt truely, then let a fire come out of Abimelech, & consume the men of Sichem, & the house of Mello: and let there come out a fire fro{m} among the men of Sichem, & out of the house of Mello, & consume Abimelech.
And Ioatham ran away and fledde, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for feare of Abimelech his brother.
When Abimelech had raigned three yeres ouer Israel,
God sent an euyll spirite betweene Abimelech, & the men of Sichem: and the citezins of Sichem brake their promise to Abimelech,
That the wickednes done to the threescore and ten sonnes of Ierobaal might come on him, and that God might lay the blood of them vnto Abimelech their brother, which slue them, and vpon the other men of Sichem which ayded him in the killing of his brethren.
And the citezins of Sichem set men to lay awayte for hym in the toppe of the mountaynes, which men robbed al that came along the way by them: And it was tolde Abimelech.
And Gaal the sonne of Obed came with his brethren, and they gat them to Sichem: and the men of Sichem put their confidence in him.
And they went out into the fieldes, and gathered in their grapes, & trode them, and made mery, & went into the house of their god, and dyd eate and drinke, and cursed Abimelech.
And Gaal the sonne of Obed sayde: what is Abimelech? & what is Sichem, that we shoulde serue him? Is he not the sonne of Ierobaal? & Zebul is his officer? Serue such as come of Hemor the father of Sichem: for what reason is it that we shoulde serue him?
Woulde God this people were vnder my hande, then would I take Abimelech out of {th}e way. And he spake against Abimelech: Make thine hoast greater, and go out.
And when Zebul the ruler of the citie hearde the wordes of Gaal the sonne of Obed, he was wroth.
And sent messengers vnto Abimelech priuyly, saying: Behold, Gaal the sonne of Obed and his brethren be come to Sichem, and beholde they fortifie the citie agaynst thee.
Now therfore vp by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lye in wayte in the fielde.
And rise early in the morning assone as the sunne is vp, and fall vpon the citie: And if he & the people that is with hym come out against thee, do to hym what thine handes shalbe able.
And Abimelech rose vp, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they layde awayte against Sichem in foure companies.
And Gaal the sonne of Obed went out, and stoode in the entring of the gate of the citie: And Abimelech rose vp, and the folke that were with him, from lying in wayte.
And when Gaal sawe {th}e people, he sayd to Zebul: Beholde, there come people downe from the top of the mountaines. And Zebul sayd vnto him: The shadow of the hylles seeme men vnto thee.
And Gaal aunswered agayne, & sayd: See, there come folke downe by {th}e middle of the land, & another company come along by the playne of the charmars.
Then sayd Zebul vnto him: Where is nowe thy mouth that said, what felowe is Abimelech, that we should serue him? Is not this the people that thou hast despysed? Go out now & fight with the{m}.
And Gaal went out before the citezins of Sichem, & fought with Abimelech.
And Abimelech chased him, that he fled before him, and many were ouerthrowen & wounded, euen vnto the entring of the gate.
And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal & his brethre{n} that they shoulde not dwell in Sichem.
And on the morow, the people we{n}t out into the fielde: And they told Abimelech.
And he toke the people, & deuided them into three co{m}panies, & layd awayte in the fielde, and loked, and behold the people were come out of the citie, and he ran vpon them, and smote them.
And Abimelech and the companions that were with him, rushed forward, & stoode in the entring of the gate of the citie: and the two other companions ran vpon all the people that were in the fieldes, and slue them.
And when Abimelech had fought against the citie al that day, he toke it, and slue the people that was therin, and destroyed the citie, and sowed salte in it.
And when all the men of the towre of Sichem heard that, they entred into an holde of the house of the god Berith.
And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the towre of Sichem were gathered together.
And Abimeleh gat him to mount Zelmon, both he & all the people that were with him, & toke axes with him, and cut downe bowes of trees, & toke them and bare them on his shulder, & sayde vnto the folke that were with hym: what ye haue seene me do, speede your selues, & do lykewyse as I haue done.
And al the men that were among the people, cut downe bowes, and folowed Abimelech, and put them into the hold, and set the holde a fire by them: so that al the men of the towre of Sichem died also, vpon a thousande men & women.
Then went Abimelech to Thebez, & besieged it, and toke it.
But there was a strong towre within the citie, and thyther ranne all the men and women, and all the chiefe that were in the citie, and shut it to them, and gate them vp to the toppe of the towre.
And Abimelech came vnto the towre, and fought agaynst it, and went harde vnto the doore of {th}e towre to set it on fire.
And a certayne woman cast a peece of a mylstone vpon his head, & all to brake his brayne panne.
Then Abimelech called hastyly vnto the young man that bare his harnesse, and sayde vnto him: Drawe thy sworde and slea me, that men say not of me, A woman slue him: And his lad thrust him thorowe, and he died.
And when the men of Israel sawe that Abimelech was dead, they departed euery man vnto his owne house.
Thus God rendred the wickednesse of Abimelech which he dyd vnto his father, in sleyng his seuentie brethren.
And therto all the wickednesse of the men of Sichem, dyd God bryng vpon their heades: And vpon them came the curse of Ioatham the sonne of Ierobaal.
AFter Abimelech, there arose to defende Israel Thola the sonne of Phuah the sonne of Dodo, a man of Isachar, whiche dwelt in Samir in mount Ephraim.
And he iudged Israel twentie & three yeres, & died, & was buried in Samir.
And after him, arose Iair a Gileadite, and iudged Israel twintie and two yeres.
And he had thirtie sonnes that rode on thirtie Asse coltes, and they had thirtie cities, which are called Hauoth Iair vnto this day, and are in the lande of Gilead.
And Iair died, and was buried in Camon.
And the children of Israel wrought wickednesse yet agayne in the sight of the Lord, and serued Baalim and Astaroth, and the gods of Siria, the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsoke the Lorde, and serued not him.
And the Lord was wroth with Israel, and he solde them into the handes of the Philistines, and into the handes of the children of Ammon.
Which from that yere foorth, pilde and oppressed the children of Israel eyghtteene yeres, al that were on the other side Iordane, in the lande of the Amorites whiche is in Gilead.
Moreouer, {th}e children of Ammon went ouer Iordane to fight agaynst Iuda, Beniamin, and the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was sore cumbred.
And the children of Israel cryed vnto {th}e Lord, saying: We haue sinned against thee, for we haue forsaken our owne God, and haue carued Baalim.
And the Lorde sayde vnto the childre{n} of Israel: Dyd not I ryd you from the Egiptians and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
The Sidonites also, and the Amalekites, & the Maonites dyd oppresse you, and ye cryed to me, and I deliuered you out of their handes.
And for all that, ye haue forsaken me and serued straunge gods, wherfore I will helpe you no more.
Go and crye vnto the gods whiche ye haue chosen, and let them saue you in the tyme of your tribulation.
And the children of Israel sayde vnto the Lord: We haue sinned, do thou vnto vs whatsoeuer please thee, deliuer vs onely we pray thee this day.
And they put away the straunge gods from them, & serued the Lord: And his soule had pitie on the miserie of Israel.
Then the children of Ammon gathered together, & pitched in Gilead: And the children of Israel gathered them together, and pitched in Mispah.
And the people and lordes of Gilead sayde eche to other: whosoeuer will beginne the battell agaynst the children of Ammon, the same shalbe head ouer all the inhabitauntes of Gilead.
AND there was one Iephthaha Gileadite, a strong man, the sonne of an harlot.
And Gilead begat Iephthah: And Gileads wyfe bare him sonnes, which when they were come to age, thrust out Iephthah, and said vnto him: Thou shalt not inherite in our fathers house, for thou art the sonne of a straunge woman.
Then Iephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the lande of Tob: And there gathered ydle men to Iephthah, and went out with him.
And in processe of time, the children of Ammon made warre agaynst Israel.
And when the children of Ammon fought thus agaynst Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fet Iephthah out of the lande of Tob,
And sayde vnto him: Come, and be our captayne, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.
Iephthah aunswered the elders of Gilead: Dyd not ye hate me, & expell me out of my fathers house? howe then come you vnto me nowe in time of your tribulation?
And the elders of Gilead sayde vnto Iephthah: Therfore we turne agayne to thee nowe, that thou mayest go with vs, & fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head ouer all the inhabitauntes of Gilead.
And Iephthah sayde vnto the elders of Gilead: If ye bring me home againe to fight against the children of Ammon, then yf the Lorde deliuer them before me, shall I be your head?
And the elders of Gilead sayd to Iephthah: The Lorde be witnesse betweene vs, if we do not according to thy wordes.
Then Iephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and {th}e people made hym head & captayne ouer them: And Iephthah rehearsed al his wordes before the Lorde in Mispah.
And Iephthah sent messengers vnto the king of the children of Ammon, saying: What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me, to fight in my lande?
The king of the children of Ammon aunswered vnto {th}e messengers of Iephthah: Because Israel toke away my lande when they came out of Egypt, euen from Arnon vnto Iabok, and vnto Iordane: Nowe therfore restore those landes agayne with faire meanes.
And Iephthah sent messengers agayne vnto the king of the children of Ammon.
And sayd vnto him, thus sayth Iephthah: Israel toke not away the lande of Moab, nor the lande of the children of Ammon.
But when Israel came vp fro Egypt, and walked thorowe the wildernesse, euen vnto ye red sea, they came to Cades
And Israel sent messengers vnto the king of Edom, saying, Let me I praye thee go thorow thy lande: But the king of Edo{m} would not agree therto. And in lyke maner they sent vnto the king of Moab: but he woulde not consent. And Israel abode stil in Cades.
And then they went along thorowe the wildernesse, and compassed the land of Edom, & the land of Moab, and came along by the east syde of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, and woulde not come within the coast of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.
And then Israel sent messengers vnto Sehon king of the Amorites, & king of Hesbon, and sayde vnto him: Let vs passe we pray thee thorow thy land vnto our owne countrey.
But Sehon consented not to Israel, that he shoulde go thorowe his coast: but gathered all his people together, & pitched in Iasa, & fought with Israel.
And the Lorde God of Israel deliuered Sehon & all his folke into the handes of Israel, and they smote them: So Israel smote them, and possessed all the land of the Amorites the inhabitauntes of that countrey.
And they possessed al the coastes of the Amorites, from Arnon vnto Iabok, & from the wildernesse vnto Iordane.
So nowe, seyng the Lord God of Israel hath cast out the Amorites before his people Israel, shouldest thou possesse it?
Nay, but what people Camos thy God dryueth out, that lande possesse thou: Euen so whatsoeuer nation the Lord our God expelleth before vs, that lande ought we to enioy.
And art thou better then Balac the sonne of Zephor king of Moab? Did he not stryue with Israel and fight against them,
All the whyle Israel dwelt in Hesbon and her townes, in Aroer and her townes, and in all the cities that be along by {th}e coastes of Arnon three hundred yeres? Why did ye not recouer them in all that space?
Wherfore I haue not synned agaynst thee, but thou doest me wrong to warre against me: The Lord therfore whiche is a iudge, be iudge this day betweene the children of Israel, and the children of Ammon.
Howbeit, the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not vnto the wordes of Iephthah, which he sent him.
Then the spirite of the Lord came vpo Iephthah, and he passed ouer to Gilead & to Manasses, and came to Mispah that lieth in Gilead, & from thence vnto the children of Ammon.
And Iephthah vowed a vowe vnto ye Lorde, & sayd: If thou shalt deliuer the children of Ammon into my handes,
Then that thing that commeth out of the doores of my house against me, whe{n} I come home in peace from the children of Ammon, shalbe the Lordes, and I will offer it vp for a burnt offering.
And so Iephthah went vnto the children of Ammon to fight agaynst them, and the Lorde deliuered them into his handes.
And he smote them from Aroer tyll thou come to Mennith, euen twentie cities, and so foorth to the playne of the vineyardes, with an exceeding great slaughter: And thus the childre of Ammon were brought vnder, before the children of Israel.
When Iephthah came to Misphah vnto his house, see, his daughter came out agaynst him with timbrelles and daunces, which was his onely chylde: so that beside her, he had neither sonne nor daughter.
And when he sawe her, he rent his clotes, & sayde: Alas my daughter, thou hast brought me lowe, & art one of them that troubleth me: For I haue opened my mouth vnto the Lorde, and cannot go backe.
And she sayde vnto him: My father, if thou haue opened thy mouth vnto the Lorde, then do with me according to it that proceeded out of thy mouth, for as much as the Lorde hath auenged thee of thyne enemies {th}e children of Ammo.n
And she sayd vnto her father, Do this much for me: Let me alone two monethes, that I may go to the mountaynes and bewayle my virginite, I and my felowes.
And he sayd, go. And he sent her away two monethes: And so she went with her companions, & lamented her maydenhead vpon the mountaynes.
And after the ende of two monethes, she turned agayne vnto her father, whiche dyd with her according to his vowe whiche he had vowed, & she had knowne no man: And it grewe to a custome in Israel,
The daughters of Israel came yere by yere to lame{n}t the daughter of Iephthah the Gileadite, foure dayes in a yere.
And the men of Ephraim gathered them selues together, & went northwarde, & sayd vnto Iephthah: Wherfore wentest thou to fight against the children of Ammon, and dyddest not call vs to go with thee? we will therfore burne thine house vpon thee with fire.
And Iephthah sayde vnto them, I & my people were at great stryfe with the children of Ammon: And when I called you, ye deliuered me not out of their handes.
And when I sawe that ye deliuered me not, I put my lyfe in my handes, and went vpon the children of Ammon, and the Lorde deliuered them into my handes: Wherfore then are ye come vppon me nowe, to fight against me?
Iephthah therfore gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with the Ephraites. And the men of Gilead smote the Ephraites, because they sayd: Ye Gileadites are but runneagates of Ephraim, among the Ephraites and the Manassites.
Moreouer, the men of Gilead toke the passages of Iordane before the Ephraites: And when those Ephraites that were escaped, said, Let me go ouer: then the men of Gilead sayde vnto hym, Art thou an Ephraite? If he sayde, nay:
Then sayde they vnto him: Then say, Schibboleth. And he sayde, Sibboleth: for he coulde not so pronounce. And then they toke him, and slue him at the passages of Iordane: And there were ouerthrowen at that time of the Ephraites fourtie and two thousande.
And Iephthah iudged Israel six yeres, then died Iephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in [one of] {th}e cities of Gilead.
After this man, iudged Israel one Ibzan of Bethlehem.
And he had thirtie sonnes and thirtie daughters, whom he sent out, and toke in thirtie daughters from abrode for his sonnes. And when Ibzan had iudged Israel seuen yere,
He died, & was buried at Bethlehem.
After him, Elon a Zabulonite iudged Israel ten yeres.
And Elon the Zabulonite died, & was buried in A•alon, in the countrey of Zabulon.
After him, Abdon the sonne of Hellel, a Pharathonite, iudged Israel.
And he had fourtie sonnes, and thirtie neuewes, that rode on threscore and ten asse coltes: And when Abdon the sonne of Hellel the Pharathonite had iudged Israel eight yeres,
He died, & was buryed in Pharathon in the lande of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.
ANd the children of Israel began agayne to co{m}mitte wickednesse in the sight of the lord, and the Lorde deliuered them into the handes of the Philistines fourtie yeres.
And there was a man in Zaraah of the kinred of Dan, named Manoah, whose wife was barren, and bare not.
And the angell of the Lord appeared vnto the woman; & sayde vnto her: Beholde, nowe thou art barren, & bearest not, but thou shalt conceaue, and beare a sonne.
And nowe therfore beware that thou drinke no wyne, nor strong drinke, neither eate any vncleane thing:
For lo, thou shalt conceaue and beare a sonne, And ther may no rasor come on his head, for {th}e ladde shalbe a Nazarite vnto God euen from his byrth: And he shal beginne to saue Israel out of the handes of the Philistines.
Then the wife came, & tolde her husbande, saying: A man of God came vnto me, and the fashion of him was lyke the fashion of an angell of God, exceeding fearful: But I asked him not whence he was, neither tolde he me his name:
But sayde vnto me, behold, thou shalt be with childe and beare a sonne, & now drinke no wyne nor strong drinke, neither eate any vncleane thing, for the ladde shalbe an abstayner to God, euen from his byrth to the day of his death.
Then Manoah made intercession to the Lorde, and sayde: I pray thee my Lorde, let the man of God whiche thou sendedst, come agayne vnto vs, & teache vs what we shal do vnto the ladde whe{n} he is borne.
And God heard the voyce of Manoah: and the angel of God came agayne vnto the wife as she sate in the felde: but Manoah her husba{n}d was not with her.
And the wife made haste, and ranne & shewed her husbande, & sayde vnto him: behold, the man appeared vnto me that came vnto me to day.
And Manoah arose & went after his wife, and came to the man, and sayde vnto him: Art thou the ma{n} that spakest vnto the woman? And he sayde: I am.
Manoah sayde, Nowe let thy saying come to passe: Howe shall we order the childe, and do vnto him?
And the angell of the Lord sayd vnto Manoah: The woman must absteyne from all that I sayde vnto her:
She may eate of nothing that co{m}meth of the vine tree, nor drinke wine or strong drinke, nor eate any vncleane thing: but must obserue all that I bad her.
Manoah sayde vnto the angell of the Lorde: I pray thee let vs retayne thee vntill we haue made redy a kyd before thee.
And the angel of the Lord sayde vnto Manoah: Though thou make me abide, I wil not eate of thy bread: And if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it vnto the Lorde. For Manoah wist not that it was an angell of the Lorde.
And Manoah sayde agayne vnto the angell of the Lord: What is thy name, that when thy saying is come to passe, we may do thee worshippe?
And the angel of the Lorde sayde vnto him:Why askest thou thus after my name, which is secrete?
And so Manoah toke a kyd, with a meat offring, and offred it vpon a rocke vnto the Lorde: And the angell did wonderously, Manoah and his wife lokyng vpon.
And whe{n} the flambe came vp toward heauen from the aulter, the angell of the Lorde ascended vp in the flambe of the aulter: And Manoah and his wyfe loked vpon it, and fell on their faces vnto the grounde.
(But the angel of the Lord did no more appeare vnto Manoah and his wyfe:) And then Manoah knewe that it was an angel of the Lorde,
And sayd vnto his wyfe: We shal surely dye, because we haue seene God.
But his wyfe sayde vnto him: Yf the Lord would kyll vs, he would not haue receaued a burnt offering and a meate offering of our handes, neither woulde he haue shewed vs al these thinges, nor woulde nowe haue tolde vs any suche.
And the wyfe bare a sonne, and called his name Samson: And {th}e ladde grewe, and the Lorde blessed him.
And the spirite of the Lorde began to strengthen him in the hoast of Dan, betweene Zaraah and Esthaol.
SAmson went downe to Thamnath, and sawe a woma{n} in Thamnath of the daughters of the Philistines:
And he came vp, and told his father and his mother, & said: I haue sene a woman in Thamnath of the daughters of the Philistines: & nowe geue me her to wyfe.
Then his father and mother sayd vnto him: Is there neuer a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, & among al my people, but that thou must go, and take a wyfe of the vncircumcised Philistines? And Samson sayd vnto his father: Geue me this woman, for she pleaseth me well.
But his father and mother wist not that it was the Lordes doyng, and that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines raigned ouer Israel.
Then went Samson and his father & his mother downe to Thamnath, and came to the vineyardes of Thamnath: and beholde, a young Lion roared vpon him.
And the spirite of the Lord came vpo{n} him, and he tare him as he would haue rent a kydde, and yet had nothing in his hande: neither tolde his father and mother what he had done.
And he went downe, & talked with the woman, whiche seemed well fauoured in the sight of Samson.
And within a short space after, as he we{n}t thyther againe to take her to wife, he turned out of the way to see the carkasse of the Lion: And beholde, there was a swarme of bees and hony in the carkasse of the Lion.
And he toke therof in his handes, and went eating, and came to his father and mother, and gaue them also, and they did eate: But he tolde not them that he had taken the hony out of the carkasse of the Lion.
And so his father went downe vnto the woman, and Samson made there a feast: for so vsed the younge men to do.
And whe{n} they sawe him, they brought thirtie companions to be with him
And Samson sayd vnto them, I will nowe put foorth a riddle vnto you: & yf you can declare it me within seuen dayes of the feast, and finde it out, I will geue you thirtie sheetes, & thirtie chaunge of garmentes:
But and if you can not declare it me, then shal ye geue me thirtie sheetes and thirtie chaunge of garmentes. And they aunswered him: Put foorth thy riddle, that we may heare it.
And he sayd vnto them: Out of the eater came meate, and out of the strong came sweetnesse. And they coulde not in three dayes expounde the riddle.
And whe the seuenth day was come, they sayd vnto Samsons wyfe: Flatter thyne husband that he may declare vs the riddle, lest we burne thee and thy fathers house with fire: Haue ye called vs hyther, to make vs beggers? is it not so?
And Samsons wyfe wept before him and sayd, Surely thou hatest me and louest me not: for thou hast put foorth a riddle vnto the children of my folke, and hast not tolde it me. And he sayde vnto her: Beholde, I haue not tolde it my father and my mother, and shall I tell it thee?
And Samsons wyfe wept before him seuen dayes, whyle the feast lasted: And the seuenth day he told her, because she lay so sore vpo{n} him. And she tolde the riddle to the children of her folke
And the men of the citie sayd vnto him the seuenth day, before the sunne went downe: What is sweeter then hony? and what is stronger then a Lion? Then sayd he vnto them: Yf ye had not plowed with my heyffer, ye had not founde out my riddle.
And the spirite of the Lord came vpon him, and he went downe to Askalon, and slue thirtie men of them, and spoyled them, & gaue chaunge of garmentes vnto them which expounded the riddle: And he was wroth, and went vp to his fathers house.
But Samsons wyfe was geuen to one of his companions that he had taken vnto him.
But within a while after, euen in the time of wheat haruest, Sa{m}son visited his wife with a kyd, saying: I wil go in to my wyfe into the chaumber. But her father woulde not suffer him to go in.
And her father sayde, I thought that thou haddest hated her, & therfore gaue I her to thy companion: Is not her younger sister fayrer then she? Take her I pray thee, in steade of the other.
Samson sayde vnto hym: Nowe am I more blamelesse then the Philistines, and therfore will I do them displeasure.
And Samson went out, and caught three hundred foxes, & toke firebrandes, and turned them tayle to tayle, and put a firebrand in the middes betweene two tayles.
And when he had set the brandes on fire, he sent them out into the standyng corne of the Philistines, & burnt vp both the reaped corne, and also the standing, with the vineyardes and oliues.
Then the Philistines sayd: Who hath done this? And they aunswered: Samson the sonne in lawe of the Thamnite, because he had taken his wife, & geuen her to his companion. And the Philistines came vp, and burnt her and her father with fire.
And Samson said vnto them: Though ye haue done this, yet will I be auenged of you, and then I will ceasse.
And he smote them legge and thygh with a myghtie plague, and then he went & dwelt in the toppe of the rocke Etam.
Then the Philistines came vp, and pytched in Iuda, and camped in Lehi.
And the men of Iuda sayde: Why are ye come vp vnto vs? They aunswered: To bynde Samson are we come vp, & to do to hym, as he hath done to vs.
Then three thonsande men of Iuda went to the toppe of the rocke Etam, & sayde to Samson: Wottest thou not that the Philistines are rulers ouer vs? Wherfore then hast thou done thus vnto vs? He aunswered them: As they dyd vnto me, so haue I done vnto them.
And they sayd vnto him agayne: We are come to bynde thee, and to deliuer thee into {th}e hande of the Philistines. And Samson said vnto them: Sweare vnto me, that ye shall not fal vpon me your selues.
They aunswered him, saying: No, but we will bynde thee, & delyuer thee vnto their handes: but we wyll not kyll thee. And they bounde hym with two new cordes, and brought him from the rocke.
And when he came to Lehi, the Philistines showted agaynst him: And the spirite of the Lord came vpon him, and the cordes that were vpon his armes, became as flaxe that was burnt with fire, for the bandes loosed from of his handes.
And he founde a newe iawe bone of an Asse, & put foorth his hande, and caught it, and slue a thousande men therwith.
And Samson sayde: With the iawe of an Asse, heapes vpon heapes: with the iawe of an Asse haue I slayne a thousande men.
And when he had left speakyng, he cast away the iawe bone out of his hande, and called the place Ramath Lehi.
And he was sore a thyrst, and called on the Lord, and sayde: Thou hast geuen this great victory in the hande of thy seruaunt: and nowe I must dye for thirst, and fall into the handes of the vncircumcised.
But God brake a great tooth that was in the iawe, & there came water therout, and when he had drunke, his spirite came agayne, & he was refreshed: wherfore the name thereof was called vnto this day, The well of the caller on: which came of the iawe.
And he iudged Israel in the dayes of the Philistines, twentie yeres.
THen went Samson to Azzah, and sawe there an harlot, and went in vnto her.
And it was tolde the Azathites, saying: Samson is come hyther. And they went about, and layde a wayte for hym there all nyght in the gate of the citie, and were styll all the nyght, saying: In the mornyng whan it is day, we shall kyll hym.
And Samson toke his rest tyll mydnyght, and arose at mydnyght, and toke the doores of the gate of the citie, and the two postes, and rent them of with the barre and all, and put them vppon his shoulders, and caryed them vp to the top of an hyll, that is before Hebron.
And after this, he loued a woman by the ryuer of Sorek, whose name was Dalila.
Vnto whom came the lordes of the Philistines, and sayde vnto her: Perswade him, and see wherin his great strenght lyeth, and by what meanes we may ouercome him, that we may bynde him, and punishe hym: and euery one of vs shall geue thee a leuen hundred siluer lynges.
And Dalila sayde to Samson: Oh, tell me where thy great strength lyeth, and how thou myghtest be bounde and brought vnder.
Samson aunswered vnto her: Yf they binde me with seuen greene wythes that were neuer dryed, I shalbe weake, and be as an other man.
And then the lordes of the Philistines brought her seuen wythes that were yet greene & neuer dryed, and she bound hym therwith.
(Notwithstanding she had men lying in wayte with her in the chaumbre): And she said vnto him, The Philistines be vpon thee Samson. And immediatly he brake the cordes, as a stryng of towe breaketh when it fealeth fire. And so his strength was not knowen.
And Dalila sayde vnto Samson: See, thou hast mocked me, and tolde me lies: Now therfore tell me wherwith thou myghtest be bounde.
He aunswered her: Yf they bynde me with newe ropes that neuer were occupied, I shall be weake, and be as an other man.
Dalila therfore toke newe ropes, and bounde him therwith, and sayde vnto him, The Philistines be vpo{n} thee Samson. (And there were lyers of wayte in the chamber.) And he brake them from of his armes, as they had ben but a threade.
And Dalila sayde vnto Samson, Hytherto thou hast beguyled me, and tolde me lyes: Yet tell me howe thou myghtest be bounde. He sayde vnto her: Yf thou plattest the seuen lockes of my head with the threades of the wooffe.
And she fastened it with a pynne, and sayde vnto him: The Philistines be vpo{n} thee Samson. And he awaked out of his sleepe, and went away with the pynne of the webbe and the wooffe.
And she sayde vnto him agayne: How canst thou saye I loue thee, when thyne heart is not with me? Thou hast mocked me this three tymes, and hast not tolde me wherin thy great strength lyeth.
And as she laye vpon hym with her wordes, continually vexyng of him, his soule was encumbred eue{n} vnto {th}e death.
And so he tolde her all his heart, & said vnto her: There neuer came rasor vpon myne head, for I haue ben a Nazarite vnto God, euen from my mothers wombe: Therfore when I am shauen, my strength will go from me, & I shall waxe weake, and be lyke all [other] men.
And when Dalila sawe that he had tolde her all his heart, she sent and called for the lordes of the Philistines, saying: Come vp yet this once, for he hath shewed me all his hearte. Then {th}e lordes of the Philistines came vp vnto her, and brought the money in their handes.
And she made hym sleepe vpon her knees, and she sent for a man, and he dyd shaue of the seuen lockes of his head, & began to vexe him, and his strength was gone from him.
And she sayde, The Philistines be vpon thee Samson. And he awoke out of his sleepe, and sayde: I will go out now as at other tymes before, & shake my selfe. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from hym.
But the Philistines toke hym, and put out his eyes, and brought him downe to Azzah, and bounde him with fetters of brasse: and he dyd grynde in the prison house.
Howbeit the heere of his head began to growe agayne after that he was shauen.
Then the lordes of the Philistines gathered them together, for to offer a solempne offring vnto Dagon their God, and to reioyce: For they sayd, Our God hath deliuered Samson our enemie into our handes.
And when the people sawe him, they praysed their God: for they sayde, Our God hath delyuered into our handes our enemie, and destroyer of our countrey, whiche slue manye of vs.
And when their heartes were mery, they sayde: Send for Samson, that he may make vs laugh. And they fet Samson out of the prison house, and he played before them: and they set hym betweene the pyllers.
And Samson sayde vnto the lad that led hym by the hande: Set me that I may touche the pyllers that the house standeth vpon, and that I may leane to them.
And the house was full of men and women, and there were all the lordes of the Philistines: And there were vpon the roofe a three thousande men and women, that behelde whyle Samson played.
And Samson called vnto the Lorde, and sayde: O Lorde God I pray thee thyncke vpon me, and strengthen me I beseche thee at this tyme onelye O God, that I may be at once auenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
And Samson caught the two middle pyllers on which the house stoode and on which it was born• vp, the one in his ryght hande, and the other in his left.
And Samson sayde: My soule shall dye with the Philistines, and bowed them with all his myght, and the house fell vpon the lordes and vpon all the people that were therin: And so {th}e dead which he slue at his death, were mo then they which he slue in his lyfe.
And then his brethren & all the house of his father came downe, and toke him vp, and brought hym, and buryed hym betweene Zarah and Esthaol, in the burying place of Manoah his father: And he iudged Israel twentie yeres.
THere was a man of mount Ephraim, named Micah.
And he sayde vnto his mother: The seuen hundred siluerlynges that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest it in myne eares, behold the syluer is with me, I toke it away. And his mother sayd: Blessed be thou my sonne, in the Lorde.
And when he had restored the leuen hundreth syluerlynges to his mother, his mother sayde: I had dedicated the syluer vnto the Lorde of myne hande for thee my sonne, that thou shouldest make a grauen and moulten image: Now therfore I will geue it thee agayne.
And when he restored the money vnto his mother, his mother toke two hundreth syluerlynges, and gaue them the founder, which made therof a grauen moulten image, and it was in the house of Micah.
And the man Micah had an house of goddes, and made an Ephod and Theraphim, and consecrated one of his sonnes, which became his prieste.
In those dayes there was no kyng in Israel, but euery man dyd that which was good in his owne eyes.
And there was a young man out of Bethlehem Iuda, of the kynred of Iuda, which young man was a Leuite, & soiourned there.
And the man departed out of the citie of Bethlehem Iuda, to go dwell where he coulde fynde [a conuenient place]: And he came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah as he iourneyed.
And Micah sayde vnto him: Whence co{m}mest thou? The Leuite aunswered hym: I am of Bethlehem Iuda, and go to dwell where I may fynde [a place].
And Micah sayde agayne vnto hym: Dwell with me, and be vnto me a father and a prieste, and I will geue thee ten syluerlynges by yere, two garmentes, and thy meate and dryncke. So the Leuite went in.
And {th}e Leuite was content to dwell with the man, and was vnto hym as one of his owne sonnes.
And Micah consecrated the Leuite, & the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.
Then sayde Micah: Now I am sure that the Lord will be good vnto me, seing I haue a Leuite to my prieste.
IN those dayes there was no kyng in Israel, and in those dayes the tribe of Dan sought them an inheritaunce to dwell in: For vnto that tyme all their inheritaunce had not fallen vnto them among the tribe of Israel.
And the children of Dan sent of their kynred fyue actiue men in feates of warre out of their coastes, euen out of Zaraah & Esthaol, to viewe the lande and searche it out, and sayde vnto them: Go, and searche out the lande. Which whan they came to mount Ephraim, euen to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
And when they were in the house of Micah, they knewe the voyce of the young man the Leuite: And when they turned in thyther, they sayde vnto him: Who brought thee thyther? What makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?
And he aunswered them: Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hyred me, and I am become his priest.
And they sayd vnto hym agayne: Aske counsell now of God, that we may knowe whether the way which we go shalbe prousperous, or no.
And the priest sayde vnto them: Go in peace, for the Lorde guydeth your way which ye go.
Then the fyue men departed, & came to Lais, and sawe the people that were therin, howe they dwelt carelesse, after the maner of the Sidons styll, & without castyng of perils, and that no man made any trouble in the lande, or vsurped any dominion: but were farre from the Sidons, and had no busynesse with other men.
And they came agayne vnto their brethren to Zaraah and Esthaol, and their brethren sayde vnto them: What haue ye done?
And they aunswered: Aryse, that we may go vp agaynst them, for we haue seene the lande, surely a very good one: And do ye syt styll? Be not slouthfull to go and entre to possesse the lande.
Yf ye will go, ye shall come vnto a people that casteth no perils, and it is a very large countrey, which God hath geuen into your handes: It is also a place which doth lacke nothing that is in the worlde.
And there departed thence of the kynred of the Danites, euen out of Zaraahand Esthaol, sixe hundred men appoyntted with instrumentes of warre.
And they went vp, and pytched in Kiriath iarim, whiche is in Iuda: Wherfore they called the place, Mahaneh Dan, vnto this day, and it is on {th}e backsyde of Kiriath iarim.
And they went thence vnto mount Ephraim, & came vnto the house of Micah.
Then aunswered the fiue men that went to spye out the countrey of Lais, and saide vnto their brethren: Wot ye not that there is in these houses an Ephod, Theraphim, and a grauen and a moulten image? Nowe therfore consider what ye haue to do.
And they turned thytherwarde, and came to the house of the young man the Leuite, euen vnto the house of Micah, and saluted hym peaceablie.
And the sixe hundred men girded with weapons of warre, which were of the children of Dan, stoode by the entryng of the gate.
And the fiue men that went to spye out the lande, went in thyther, & toke the graue{n} image, & the Ephod, Theraphim, and the moulten image: (And the priest stoode in the entryng of the gate with the sixe hundred men that were appointed with weapons of warre.
Whyle the other went into Micahs house, and fet the carued image, the Ephod, Theraphim, and the moulten image: Then saide the priest vnto them, what do ye?
They aunswered hym: Holde thy peace, lay thine hande vpon thy mouth, and come with vs, to be our father and priest: Is it better for thee to be a priest vnto the house of one man, then to be a priest vnto a tribe or kynred in Israel?
And the priestes hearte was glad, and toke the Ephod, and Theraphim, and the grauen image, and went in the middest of the people.
And they turned and departed, and put the children, the catell, and their other substaunce before them.
And whe{n} they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses neare to Micahs house, gathered together, & folowed after the children of Dan:
And called vnto them, and they turned their faces, & said vnto Micah: What ayleth thee, that thou makest an outcrye?
And he sayd: Ye haue taken away my goddes which I made, and also {th}e priest, and go your wayes: and what haue I more? How then saye ye vnto me, What ayleth thee?
And the children of Dan said vnto him: Let not thy voyce be hearde among vs, lest angrye felowes runne vpon thee, & thou lose thy lyfe, with the lyues of all thyne housholde.
And so the children of Dan went their wayes: And when Micah sawe that they were to strong for hym, he turned and went backe vnto his house.
And they toke the thinges which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came vnto Lais, euen vnto a people that were at rest and without mystrust, and smote them with the edge of the sword, & burnt the citie with fire.
And there was no man to helpe, because Lais was farre from Sidon, & they had medlyng with any other man: And it was in the valley that lyeth by Bethrehob.
And they buylt them there a citie, and dwelt therin, & called it Dan after the name of Dan their father, which was borne vnto Israel: Howbeit, the name of the citie was Lais at {th}e begynnyng.
And the chyldren of Dan set them vp the grauen image: And Ionathan the sonne of Gersom, the sonne of Manasses, and his sonnes, were the priestes in the tribe of Dan, vntyl the day of the captiuitie of the lande.
And they set them vp the carued image which Micah made, all the while that the house of God was in Silo.
Also in those dayes, when there was no kyng in Israel, a certayne Leuite soiournyng on the syde of mount Ephraim, toke to wyfe a concubine out of Bethlehem Iuda.
And his concubine played the whore by him, and went awaye from him vnto her fathers house to Bethlehem Iuda, and there continued foure monethes.
And her husbande arose, and went after her, to speake frendly vnto her, and to bryng her agayne, hauyng his lad with him, and a couple of asses: And she brought hym vnto her fathers house, & when the father of the damosell sawe hym, he reioyced of his commyng.
And his father in lawe, the damosels father, retayned hym, and he abode with hym three dayes: and so they dyd eate and drinke, and lodged there.
The fourth day whan they arose early in the mornyng, the man stoode vp, to depart. And the damosels father sayde vnto his sonne in lawe: Comfort thyne heart with a morsell of bread, and then go your way.
And they sate downe, and dyd eate and drincke both of them together. And the damosels father sayde vnto the man: Be content I pray thee, and tary all nyght, and let thyne heart be mery.
And when the man stoode redy to depart, his father in lawe compelled hym: therfore he returned, and taryed all nyght there.
And he rose vp early the fyfth day to departe, and the damosels father said: Comforte thyne hearte I pray thee. And they taryed vntyll after mydday: and they dyd eate both of them together.
And when the man arose to depart with his concubine and his lad, his father in lawe the damosels father, sayd vnto hym: Behold nowe, the day goeth fast away, and draweth towarde euen, I pray you tary all night: Behold the sunne goeth to rest, lodge here, that thyne hearte may be mery: and to morowe get you early vpon your waye, that thou mayest get thee to thy tent.
Neuerthelatere the man woulde not tary, but arose and departed, and came as farre as Iebus (which is Hierusalem) and his two asses laden, and his concubine with hym.
And when they were fast by Iebus, the day was sore spent, and the young man sayde vnto his maister: Come I pray thee, and let vs turne in into this citie of the Iebusites, and lodge al night there.
His maister aunswered him: We wyll not turne into a straunge citie that are not of the children of Israel, we will go foorth to Gibea.
And he sayd vnto his lad: Go forwarde and let vs drawe neare to one of these places to lodge all nyght, either in Gibea, or in Rama
And they went forwarde vpon their way, and the sunne went downe vpon them when they were fast by Gibea, which belongeth to them of Beniamin.
And they turned thytherwarde to go in, and lodge all nyght in Gibea: And when he came, he sat him downe in a streate of the citie, for there was no man that toke them into his house to lodgyng.
And behold, there came an olde man from his worke, out of the fielde at eue{n}, which was also of mount Ephraim, and dwelt as a straunger in Gibea: But the men of the place, were the children of Iemini.
And when he had lyft vp his eyes, he sawe a wayfaryng man in the streate of the citie: And the olde man sayde, Whyther goest thou? and whence commest thou?
He aunswered hym: We come from Bethlehem Iuda towarde the syde of mount Ephraim, from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehem Iuda, and go nowe to the house of the Lorde, and there is no man that receaueth me to house.
We haue strawe and prouender for our asses, and bread and wyne for me and thy handmayde, and for the lad that is with thy seruaunt: & we lacke nothing.
The olde man sayd: Peace be with thee, all that thou lackest shalt thou fynde with me: Only abyde not in the streate [all nyght].
And so he brought him into his house, and gaue fodder vnto the Asses: and they wasshed their feete, and dyd eate and drynke.
And as they were makyng their heartes mery, beholde, the men of the citie which were wicked, beset the house rounde about, and thrust at the doore, & spake to the man of the house, the olde man, saying: Bring foorth the man that came into thyne house, that we may knowe him.
And this man the maister of the house went out, and sayd vnto them: Oh, nay my brethren, do not so wickedly, seyng that this man is come into myne house, do not so vnmeete a thyng.
Behold, here is my daughter a mayden, and this mans concubine, them I wyll bryng out nowe vnto you, and humble them, & do with them what seemeth you good: but vnto this man do not so abhominable a thing.
But the men woulde not hearken to hym: And the man toke his concubine, and brought her out vnto them, whiche knewe her, and abused her al the night, euen vnto the mornyng: and when the day began to spryng, they let her go.
And then came the woman in the dawnyng of the day, and fell downe at the doore of the mans house where her lord was, tyll it was day.
And her lorde arose vp in the morning, and opened the doores of the house, and went out to go his way: and beholde the woman, euen his concubine, laye along before the doore of the house, and her handes vpon the thresholde.
And he sayde vnto her, Vp, and let vs be goyng: But she aunswered not. Then the man toke her vp vpo{n} an asse, & stoode vp, & gate hym vnto his place.
And whe{n} he was come into his house, he toke a knyfe, and caught his concubine, and deuided her in peeces, with the bones, into twelue partes, and sent her into all quarters of Israel.
And all that sawe it, sayde: There was no suche deede done or seene sence the childre{n} of Israel came out of Egypt vnto this day. Consider the matter, take aduisement, and say your myndes.
THen all the chyldren of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, euen from Dan to Beerseba, with the lande of Gilead, vnto the Lorde in Mispah.
And there assembled the chiefe men of all the people, [and] of all the tribes of Israel, in the congregation of the people of God, foure hundred thousande footemen that drewe swordes.
(Now the chyldren of Beniamin heard that the chyldren of Israel were gone vp to Mispah) Then sayde the chyldren of Israel: Tell vs howe this wickednes is commi•ted?
And the Leuite the womans husband that was slayne, aunswered and saide: I came into Gibea that is in Beniamin with my concubine, to lodge all nyght:
And the men of Gibea rose against me, and beset the house rounde about vpon me by night, & thought to haue slayne me, and my concubyne haue they forced, that she is dead.
And I toke my concubine, & cut her in peeces, and sent her throughout all the countrey of the inheritaunce of Israel: For they haue committed abhomination and villanie in Israel.
Beholde ye are all children of Israel, geue your aduice and counsel herein.
And all the people arose as one man, saying: There shal not a man of vs go to his tent, neither turne into his house.
But this shalbe it that we will do to Gibea: [we will go vp] by lot against it:
And we will take ten men of the hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of the thousande, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch vitayle for the people, that they may do when they come to Gibea Beniamin, according to all the abhomination that they haue wrought in Israel.
And so all the men of Israel gathered together against the citie, knyt together as one man.
And the tribes of Israel sent men thorowe all the tribe of Beniamin, saying: What wickednesse is this that is committed among you?
Nowe therfore deliuer vs the men, those children of belial whiche are in Gibea, that we may slea them, and put away euill from Israel.
Neuerthelater, the children of Beniamin would not hearke{n} vnto the voyce of their brethren the children of Israel: But the children of Beniamin gathered the{m} selues together out of the cities vnto Gibea, to come out and fight agaynst the children of Israel.
And the children of Beniamin were numbred at that time out of the cities, twentie & sixe thousand men that drewe swordes, besyde the inhabitauntes of Gibea, which were numbred seuen hundred chosen men.
And among all these folke, were seuen hundred chosen men beyng left handed, whiche euery one coulde slyng stones at an heere breadth, and not misse.
And the children of Israel beside Beniamin, were numbred foure hundred thousand men that drewe swordes, and were all men of warre.
And the children of Israel arose, and we{n}t vp to the house of God, and asked of God, saying: Whiche of vs shall go vp first to the battel against the children of Beniamin? And the Lorde sayd: Iuda shall begin.
And the children of Israel stoode vp early, and camped against Gibea.
And the men of Israel went out to battell against Beniamin, and the men of Israel put the{m} selues in aray to fight against them, beside Gibea.
And the children of Beniamin came out of Gibea, and destroyed downe to the ground of the Israelites that day twentie and two thousand men.
And the people the men of Israel plucked vp their heartes, and set their battel againe in aray, in the same place where they dyd the first day.
(And the children of Israel went vp, and wept before the Lorde vnto euen, and asked of the Lord, saying: Shal we go agayne to battell against the children of Beniamin our brethre{n}? And the Lord sayde: Go vp against them.)
And the children of Israel came neare against the children of Beniamin the seconde day.
And the children of Beniamin went against them out of Gibea the seconde day, and destroyed to the earth of the childre{n} of Israel once againe eyghteene thousand men that drewe swordes euerie man of them.
Then al the children of Israel, and all the people, went vp and came vnto the house of God, and wept, and sate there before the Lord, and fasted the same day vnto euen, and offered burnt offerynges and peace offerynges before the Lorde.
And the children of Israel asked the Lord: (for there was the arke of the appoyntment of God, in those dayes:
And Phinehes the sonne of Eleazar, the sonne of Aaron stoode before it at that time) saying: Shal I get me vp to go out any more to battell against the children of Beniamin my brethren, or shal I ceasse? The Lorde sayde: Go vp, for to morow I wil deliuer them into your handes.
And Israel set lyers awayte round about Gibea.
And the children of Israel went vp against the childre of Beniamin the third time, & put them selues in aray against Gibea, as twyse before
And the children of Beniamin came out against the people, & were drawen away from the citie, & they began to smite of ye people, dead as twise before, by two hye wayes in the fielde (of whiche one goeth vp to the house of god, & the other to Gibea) vpon a thirtie men of Israel
(And the children of Beniamin sayde: They are fallen before vs, as at the first. But the children of Israel sayd: Let vs flee, and plucke them away from the citie, vnto the hye wayes.
And all the men of Israel rose vp out of their place, & put them selues in aray at Baal Thamar: And lykewyse the liers in wayte of Israel came foorth out of their places, euen out of the medowes that were about Gibea
And came against Gibea ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and there was a sore battel: But they wist not that euyll was neare them
And the Lord plagued Beniamin before Israel, and the children of Israel destroyed of the Beniamites the same day twentie and fyue thousand and an hundred men, that drue swordes euerie one of them
And the children of Beniamin sawe that they were put to ye stricken downe: for the men of Israel gaue place to ye Beniamites, because they trusted vnto the lyers in wayt which they had layde beside Gibea
And the lyers in wayte hasted, & brake foorth against Gibea, & the embushment drewe them selues along, and smote all the citie with the edge of the sworde
And an appoyntment had the men of Israel from the lyers in wayt, that they should make a great flambe and smoke ryse vp out of the citie
And when the men of Israel retired in ye battell, Beniamin began to smyte dead of the children of Israel about a thirtie persons, and sayde: Surely they are stricken downe before vs, as in the first battell
But when there began to aryse out of the citie a flambe as a piller of smoke, the Beniamites loked backe, & behold the flambe of the whole citie began to ascende vp to heauen
When the men of Israel also turned agayne, the men of Beniamin were abashed, for they sawe that euyll approched them
And therfore they turned their backes before the men of Israel, vnto the way that leadeth to the wildernesse, but the battel ouertoke them: And besyde that, they which came out of the citie, destroied the in the middle of the
And thus they compassed the Beniamites about, and chased them at Menuha, and ouerranne them, euen ouer against Gibea on the east syde
And there were slayne of Beniamin eyghteene thousand men, whiche were men of warre
And they turned & fled to the wyldernes ward, & vnto the rocke of Rimmon: and they gleaned by ye way of the rest of them, fiue thousande men: & pursued after them, vntyll they came to Gidom, and slue two thousand men of them
So that al that were slayne that same day of Beniamin were twentie & fyue thousand men that drue swordes, which were all men of warre
Onely sixe hundred men turned and fled to the wildernes, vnto the rocke of Rimmon, and abode in the rocke of Rimmon foure monethes
And the men of Israel turned backe againe vnto the children of Beniamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword in the cities, both man & beast, and al that came to hande, and set on fyre all the cities that they coulde come by
And the men of Israel sware in Mispah, saying: Ther shal none of vs geue his daughter vnto any of Beniamin to wife.
And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till euen, before God, & lift vp their voyces, and wept sore,
And sayde: O Lorde God of Israel, why is this come to passe in Israel, that there shoulde be this day one tribe lacking in Israel?
And on the morowe the people rose vp betyme, and made there an aulter, and offered burnt offeringes and peace offeringes.
And the children of Israel sayd: Who is he among al the tribes of Israel, that came not vp with the congregation vnto the Lorde? for they had made a great othe concerning him that came not vp to the Lord to Mispah, saying: He shall surely dye.
And the children of Israel had pitie on Beniamin their brethren, and sayde: There is one tribe cut of from Israel this day:
What shall we do vnto the remnaunt of them, that they may haue wiues? we haue sworne by the Lorde, that we wyl not geue the{m} of our daughters to wiues.
And they sayde: Is there any of the tribes of Israel, that came not vp to Mispah to the Lord? And behold, there came none of Iabes Gilead vnto the hoaste and congregation.
For the people were viewed, and beholde there were none of the inhabitauntes of Iabes Gilead there.
And the congregation sent thyther twelue thousand men of the strongest, and commaunded them, saying: Go, and smyte the inhabitauntes of Iabes Gilead with the edge of the sworde, both women and children.
And this is it that ye shall do: ye shall vtterly destroy all the males, and al the women that haue lyen by men.
And they found among the inhabitautes of Iabes Gilead foure hundred damoselles, virgins, {tha}t had knowne no man, by lyeng with any male: And they brought them vnto the hoast to Silo, whiche is in the lande of Chanaan.
And the whole congregation sent and spake with the children of Beniamin that were in the rocke of Rimmon, and called peaceably vnto them.
And Beniamin came againe at that time, and they gaue them wyues which they had saued alyue of the woman of Iabes Gilead: But they suffised them not.
And the people were sory for Beniamin, because that the Lord had made a breache in the tribes of Israel.
And then the elders of the congregation, sayd: What shall we do to the remnaunt of them, to get them wiues? seyng all the women of Beniamin are destroyed?
And they sayde: There must be an inheritaunce for them that be escaped of Beniamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.
Howbeit, we may not geue the{m} wyues of our daughters. For the children of Israel had sworne, saying: Cursed be he that geueth a wyfe to Beniamin.
Then they sayde: Behold, there is a feast of {th}e Lorde yerely in Silo, which is on the northside of Bethel, & on the cast side of the way that goeth from Bethel to Sichem, and south from Libanon.
Therfore they commaunded the children of Beniamin, saying: Go, and lye in wayte in the vineyardes.
And when ye see that the daughters of Silo come out to daunce in daunces, the{n} come ye out of the vineyardes & catche you euery man a wyfe of the daughters of Silo, & go to the lande of Beniamin.
And when their fathers or brethren come vnto vs to complayne, we will say vnto them, Haue pitie on vs for their sakes: because we reserued not to eche man his wyfe in tyme of warre, neither haue ye geuen vnto them, that ye should sinne at this time.
And the children of Beniamin did eue{n} so, and toke them wyues according to the numbre of them that dau{n}ced, whom they caught: and they went, and returned vnto their inheritaunce, and repayred the cities, and dwelt in them.
And the children of Israel departed thence at that tyme, & went euery man to his tribe, and to his kinred, and went out from thence euery man to his inheritaunce.
In those dayes there was no king in Israel: but euery man dyd that whiche seemed right in his owne eyes.
IT came to passe that whe{n} the iudges ruled, there fel a dearth in the land, & a certein man of Bethlehe{m} Iuda went for to soiourne in the countrey of Moab, he and his wyfe, and his two sonnes.
The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wyfe Naomi, and the names of his two sonnes were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephraites out of Bethlehem Iuda: And whe{n} they came into the lande of Moab, they continued there.
And Elimelech Naomies husbande died, and she remayned with her two sonnes.
Whiche toke them wyues, Moabitesses, of the Moabites: the ones name was Orpha, and the others Ruth: And they dwelled there about a ten yeres.
And Mahlon & Chilion died also euen both of them, and the woman was left destitute of her two sonnes and of her husband.
Then she arose with her daughters in lawe, and returned from the countrey of Moab: for she had hearde say in the countrey of Moab, howe that the Lorde had visited his people, and geuen them bread.
Wherfore she departed out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in lawe with her: And they went on their way to returne vnto the lande of Iuda.
And Naomi said vnto her two daughters in lawe, Go & returne eche of you vnto your mothers house: & the Lorde deale as kindly with you, as ye haue dealt with the dead, and with me:
And the Lord geue you, that you may fynde rest, either of you in the house of her husbande. And when she kyssed them, they lift vp their voyce and wept,
And sayde vnto her: Surely we will returne with thee vnto thy folke.
And Naomi sayde, Turne againe my daughters: for what cause will you go with me? Are there any moe children in my wombe, to be your husbandes?
Turne againe my daughters, go your way, for I am to olde to haue an husbande: And if I sayd, I haue hope, if I toke a man also this night, yea & though I had alredy borne sonnes:
Would ye tary after them, till they were of age? or woulde ye for them so long refrayne from taking of husbandes? Not so my daughters: for it greeueth me muche for your sakes, that the hand of the Lorde is gone out against me.
And they lift vp their voyces, & wept againe: and Orpha kissed her mother in lawe, but Ruth abode still by her.
And Naomi said: See, thy sister in law is gone backe againe vnto her people, & vnto her gods: returne thou after her.
And Ruth aunswered: Entreat me not to leaue thee, and to returne from after thee: for whyther thou goest, I will go also, & where thou dwellest, there I wil dwell: Thy people shalbe my people, and thy god my god:
Where thou diest, there will I die, and there wyl I be buried: The Lord do so to me and more also, if ought but death depart thee and me.
When she sawe that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, she left speaking vnto her.
And so they we{n}t both, vntil they came to Bethlehe{m}: And whe{n} they were come to Bethlehem, it was noysed of them thorow all the citie, and they sayde: Is not this Naomi?
And she aunswered them: Cal me not Naomi: but call me Mara, for the almightie hath made me verie bitter.
I went out full, and the Lorde hath brought me home agayne emptie: Why then call ye me Naomi, seying, the Lord hath humbled me, & the almightie hath brought me vnto aduersite?
And so Naomi with Ruth the Moabitesse her daughter in lawe, returned out of the countrey of Moab, and came to Bethlehe{m}, in the beginning of barlie haruest.
ANd Naomies husba{n}d had a kinsman, a ma{n} of power and wealth [which was] of the kinred of Elimelech, named Booz.
And Ruth the Moabitesse sayd vnto Naomi: Let me nowe go to the fielde, & gather eares of corne after any man in whose sight I finde grace. And she sayde vnto her: Go my daughter.
And she went, and came to the fielde, and gathered after the reapers: and so it was, that the same fielde parteyned vnto Booz, whiche was of the kinred of Elimelech.
And beholde, Booz came from Bethlehem, and sayde vnto the reapers: The Lorde be with you. And they aunswered him: The Lorde blesse thee.
Then sayde Booz vnto his young man that stode by the reapers? Whose damosel is this?
And the young man that stode by the reapers aunswered, and sayd: It is the Moabitishe damosel, that came with Naomi out of the countrey of Moab,
And she sayde vnto vs, I pray you let me gleane and gather after the reapers, amongst the sheaues: and so she came, and hath continued euen from the morning vnto nowe, saue that she taried a litle in the house.
Then sayd Booz vnto Ruth: Hearest thou my daughter? Go to no other fielde to gather, neither go from hence, but abyde here by my maydens.
Let thyne eyes be on the fielde that they do reape, & go thou after the [maydens:] Haue I not charged the young men, that they shall do thee no hurte? Moreouer, when thou art a thyrst, go vnto the vessels, & drinke of that which the laddes haue drawen.
Then she fell on her face, and bowed her selfe to the ground, and sayde vnto him: Howe is it that I haue founde grace in thyne eyes, & that thou shouldest knowe me, seing I am an aliaunt?
And Booz aunswered and sayde vnto her: Al is tolde & shewed me that thou hast done vnto thy mother in law sence the death of thyne husband: howe thou hast left thy father and thy mother and the land where thou wast borne, and art come vnto a people which thou knewest not in time passed.
The Lord quyte thy worke, and a full reward be geuen thee of the Lord God of Israel, vnder whose winges thou art come to trust.
Then she sayde: Let me finde fauour in thy sight my lord, thou that hast comforted me, and spoken comfortably vnto thy mayde, whiche yet am not lyke vnto one of thy maydens.
Booz sayde vnto her agayne: At the meale tyme come thou hyther, and eate of the bread, and dyp thy morsel in the vineger. And she sat besyde the reapers: and he reached her parched corne, & she dyd eate, and was suffised, & left part:
And when she was rysen vp to gather, Booz co{m}maunded his young men, saying: Let her gather euen among the sheaues, and rebuke her not.
And leaue her some of the sheaues for the nonce, and let it lye, that she may gather it vp, and rebuke her not.
And so she gathered in the fielde vntil euen, and threshed that she had gathered, and it was in measure vpon an Epha of barlye.
And she toke it vp, and went into the citie: and when her mother in lawe had seene what she had gathered, she plucked out also, & gaue to her that she had reserued when she had eaten enough.
And her mother in lawe sayde vnto her: Where hast thou gathered to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that knewe thee. And she shewed her mother in lawe howe she had wrought with him, and sayde: The mans name with whom I wrought to day is Booz.
And Naomi said vnto her daughter in lawe: Blessed be he of the Lord, for he ceasseth not to do good to the lyuing & to the dead. And Naomi sayd agayne vnto her: The man is nye vnto vs, and of our affinitie.
And Ruth the Moabitesse sayd: he sayd vnto me also, Thou shalt be with my young men, vntil they haue ended al my haruest.
And Naomi aunswered vnto Ruth her daughter in lawe: It is best my daughter that thou go out with his maydens, that they come not against thee in any other fielde.
And so she kept her by the maydens of Booz, to gather, vnto the ende of barlye haruest and of wheate haruest also, & dwelt with her mother in lawe.
THen Naomi her mother in lawe sayde vnto her: My daughter, shal I not seke rest for thee, {tha}t thou mayest prosper?
And is not Booz our kinsman, with whose maydens thou wast? Beholde, he winnoweth barlie to night in the thresshing floore.
Wasshe thy selfe therfore, and annoynt thee, and put thy rayment vpon thee, & get thee downe to the floore: but let not the man knowe of thee, vntill he haue left eating and drincking.
And when he goeth to sleepe, marke the place where he layeth him downe, and then go and lyft vp the clothes that are on his feete, & lay thee downe there: and he shall tel thee what thou shalt do.
And she aunswered her: All that thou biddest me, I will do.
And she went downe vnto the floore, and dyd according to al that her mother in lawe bad her.
And when Booz had eaten and drunken, & cheared his heart, he went to lye downe at the ende of the heape of corne: and she came softly, and lift vp the clothes of his feete, and layed her downe.
And at midnight, the man was afraide, and caught holde: and beholde, a woman lay at his feete.
And he sayde: What art thou? She aunswered, I am Ruth thyne handmayde: Spreade the wing of thy [garment] ouer thyne handmayde, for thou art the kinsman.
He sayde: Blessed be thou in the Lord my daughter, for thou hast shewed more goodnesse in the latter ende, then at the beginning, inasmuche as thou folowedst not young men, whether they were poore or riche.
And nowe my daughter feare not, I will do to the all that thou requirest: for all the citie of my people doth know, that thou art a woman of vertue.
And it is true that I am of thy next kinne, howbeit there is one nier then I.
Tary this night, and when morning is come, if he wil perfourme the part of a kinsman vnto thee, it is good, let him do the kinsmans part: but if he wyl not do the kinsmans part, then wyl I do the duetie of a kinsman, as the Lorde liueth: sleepe vntil the morning.
And she lay at his feete vntill the morning: and she arose vp before one coulde knowe another. And he sayde: Let no man knowe that there came any woman into the floore.
And he sayde againe: Bring the mantel that thou hast vpon thee, & holde it. And when she held it, he mette in sixe measures of barlye, and layde it on her: And she gat her into the citie.
And when she came in, to her mother in lawe, she sayde: Who art thou, my daughter? And she tolde her all that the man had done to her,
And sayde: These sixe measures of barlye gaue he me, and sayde: Thou shalt not come emptie vnto thy mother in lawe.
Then sayde she: My daughter, sit still vntil thou knowe howe the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, vntill he haue finished the thing this same day.
THen went Booz vp to the gate, and sat him downe there: and beholde, the kinsman of which Booz spake, came by, vnto whom, he sayde: Ho, suche one, come, sit downe here. And he turned, & sat downe.
And he toke ten men of the elders of the citie, and said: sit ye downe here. And they sat downe.
And he sayd vnto the kinsman: Naomi that is come agayne out of the countrey of Moab, will sel a parcell of lande, which was our brother Elimelechs.
And I thought to do thee to wyt, and byd the bye it before thee inhabitauntes and elders of my people. If thou wilt redeeme it, redeeme it: but & if thou wilt not redeeme it, then tell me, that I may knowe: For there is none to redeeme it, saue thou, and I next thee. And the other aunswered: I will redeeme it.
Then sayd Booz: What day thou biest the fielde of the hande of Naomi, thou must bye it also of Ruth the Moabite the wyfe of the dead, to stirre vp the name of the dead vpon his inheritaunce.
The kinsman aunswered: I can not redeeme it, for marring of myne owne inheritaunce: redeeme thou my right to thee, for I cannot redeeme it.
Nowe this was the maner of olde time in Israel concerning redeeming & chaunging, for to stablishe al thing: that a man must plucke of his shoe, & geue it his neyghbour: And this was a sure witnesse in Israel.
Therfore the kinsman sayde to Booz, Bye it thou: and so drue of his shoe.
And Booz sayde vnto the elders and vnto all the people: Ye are witnesses this day, that I haue bought all that was Elimelechs, and all that was Chilions, and Mahalons, of the hande of Naomi.
And moreouer, Ruth the Moabite the wyfe of , haue I purchased to be my wyfe, to stirre vp the name of the dead vpon his inheritaunce, & that the name of the dead be not put out fro{m} among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, sayde, We are witnesses: The Lord make the woma{n} that is come into thyne house, lyke Rahel and Lea, whiche twayne dyd buylde the house of Israel: & that thou mayest do worthyly in Ephrata, and be famous in Bethlehem.
Thy house be like the house of Pharez (whom Thamar bare vnto Iuda) eue{n} of the seede whiche the Lord shall geue thee of this young woman.
And so Booz toke Ruth, and she was his wyfe: And when he went in vnto her, the Lorde gaue, that she conceaued and bare a sonne.
And the women sayde vnto Naomi: Blessed be the Lorde, the whiche hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, and his name shalbe continued in Israel.
And that shall bring thy lyfe agayne, and cherishe thyne olde age: For thy daughter in lawe whiche loueth thee, hath borne vnto him, and she is better to thee then seuen sonnes.
And Naomi toke the child, & layed it in her lappe, and became nurse vnto it.
And the women her neyghbours gaue it a name, saying: There is a child borne to Naomi, & called it Obed: the same is the father of Isai, the father of Dauid.
These are the generations of Pharez, Phares begat Hezron,
Hezron begat Ram, Ram begat Aminadab,
Aminadab begat Naasson, Naasson begat Salmon,
Salmon begat Booz, Booz begat Obed,
Obed begat Isai, Isai begat Dauid.
THere was a man of one the two Ramathaim Zophim, mou{n}t Ephraim, named Elkana, the sonne of Jeroham, the sonne of Elihu, the sonne of Thohu, the sonne Zuph, an Ephrathite:
Which had two wyues, the one called Hanna, & the other Phenenna: And Phenenna had children, but Hanna had no children.
And this man went vp out his citie euery yere, to worhip and to sacrifice vnto the Lord of hoastes in Silo, where were the two sonnes of Eli, Hophni and Phinehes, the Lordes priestes.
And it fel on a day, dat Elkana offered, and gaue to Phenenna hist wyfe, and to all here sonnes and daughters, portions.
But vnto Hanna he gaue a worthy portion: for he loued Hanna, & the Lorde had made her barren.
And her enemie [Phenenna] vexed her sore, forasmuche as she vpbrayded her, because the Lord had made her barren.
(And so dyd he yere by yere) and as of as she we{n}t vp to the house of the Lord, thus she vexed her, that she wept, and dyd not eate.
Then sayde Elkana her husband to her: Hanna, why wepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thine hearte troubled? Am not I better to thee then ten sonnes?
So Hanna rose vp after that they had eaten and drunke in Silo. (And Eli the priest sate vpon a stoole by one of the postes of the temple of the Lorde.)
And she was troubled in her minde, and prayed vnto the Lorde, & wept sore,
And vowed a vowe and sayd: O Lord of hoastes, if thou wilt loke on the troubleof thyne handmayde and remembre me, and not forget thyne handmayde, but geue vnto thyne handmayde a man childe, I will geuve him vnto the Lorde all the dayes of his lyfe, and there shall norasor come vpon his head.
And as she continued praying before the Lord, Eli marked her mouth.
For Hanna spake in her hearte, & her lippes did but moue onely, but her voyce was not hearde, & therefore Eli thought she had ben drunken.
And Elis sayde vnto her: Howe long wilt thou be drunken? Put away from thee the wine that thou hast.
Hanna aunswered, and sayde, Not so my Lord: I am a woman of a sorowful hearte, I haue drunke neither wine nor strong drincke, but haue powred out my soule before the Lorde:
Count not thine handmayde for a wicked woman: for out of the aboudaunce my heauynesse & griefe, haue I spoken hytherto.
Eli aunswered here agained and sayde: Go in peace, the God of Israel graunt thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
She said, Let thyne handmayde finde grace in thy sight. And so the woman went her way, and dyd eaten and loked no more sad.
And they rose vp early, & worshipped before the Lorde, and then returned, & came to their house to Ramath: And when Elkana knewe Hanna his wyfe, the Lorde remembred her.
For in processe of time it came to passe, that she conceauved, and bare a sonne, & called his name Samuel, [saying:] Because I haue asked him of the Lorde.
And the man Elkananand all his house, went vp to offer vnto the Lorde the yerely sacrifice, and also his vowe. Neuerthelesse, Hanna we{n}t not vp, but sayde vnto here husband: I will tary vntill the lad be weaned, and then I will bryng hym, that he may appeare before the Lorde, and there abyde for euer.
Elkana her husband aunswered here: Do what seemeth thee best, tary at home vntyll thou hast weaned him, and I beseche the Lord to make good his saying. And so the womand abode, and gaue here sonne sucke, vntyll she weaned hym.
and when she had weaned hym, she toke hym with here, with three bullockes, and an Epha of floure, and a bottle of wine, and brought hym vnto the house of the Lorde in Silo, and the child was young.
and they slue a bolloke, and brought in the lad to Eli.
And she sayd: Oh my Lorde, as thy soule lyueth my Lorde, I am the womand that stoode before thee here praying vnto the Lorde.
For this lad I prayed, and the Lorde hath geuen me my desyre whiche I asked of him:
And therefore I haue geuen him vnto the Lorde, as long as he liueth he shalbe geuen to the Lorde. And he worshipped the Lorde there.
ANd Hanna prayed, & sayde: Myne heart reioyceth in the Lrode, and myne horne is exalted in the Lorde: My mouth is wyde open ouer myne enemies, for I reioyce in thy saluation.
There is none holy as the Lorde: for without thee is nothing, neither is there any of strength as is our God.
Talke no more proudly, let not arrogancie come out of your mouthes: for the Lorde is a God of knowledge, and his purposes come to passe.
The vowe with the mightie men are broken, and they that were weake haue gyrde them selues with strength.
They that were full, haue hyred out them selues for bread, and they were hungry, ceasse, tyll the barren hath borne seuen, and she that had many children is waxed feeble.
The Lord kylleth and maketh alyue, bryngeth downe to the graue & fetcheth vp agayne.
The Lord maketh poore, and maketh ryche, bringeth lowe, and heaueth vp on hye.
He reyseth vp the poore out of the dust, and lyfteth vp the beggar from the dounghyll, to set them among princes, and to make them inherite the seate of glory: For the pyllers of the earth are the lordes, and he hath set the worlde vpon them.
He wyll kepe the feete of his saintes, and the wicked shall kepe scilence in darknesse, and in his own myght shal no man be strong.
The lordes aduersaries shal be destroyed of hym, & out of heauen shall he thunder vpon them: The Lorde shall iudge the endes of the worlde, and shall gyue myght vnto his king, and exalt the horne of his annoynted.
And Elkana went to Ramath to his house and the lad dyd minister vnto the Lorde before Eli the priest.
But the sonnes of Eli were children of Belialm and knewe not the Lord.
And the priestes custome toward the people was, that whensoeuer any man offered any offring, {th}e priestes lad came whyle the fleshe was a seethyng, and a fleshhoke with three theeth in his hande:
And thrust it into the panne, kettle, caldren, or pot: and all that the fleshehoke brought vp, that the priest toke for hym self: And so they dyd vnto all the Israelites that came thyther to Silo.
Yea, and thereto before they burnt the fat, the priestes lade came and sayde to the man that offered, Geue fleshe, that I may roste it for the priest: for he wyll not haue sodde{n} fleshe of thee, but rawe.
And yf any man sayde vnto hym, Let them burne the fat according to the custome, and then take as muche as thyne hearte desireth: Then he would aunswere hym, Yea, thou shalt geue it me nowe: and if thou wilt not, I wyll take it with violence.
And the sinne of the young men was very great before the Lord: For men abhorred the offering of the Lord.
But the childe Samuel ministred before the Lorde, girded with a linnen Ephod.
Moreouer, his mother made him a litle coate, and brought it to him from yere to yere, when she came vp with her husband to offer the yerely sacrifice.
And Eli blessed Elkana and his wife, and said: The Lorde geue thee seede of this woman, for the petition that she asked of the Lord. And they went vnto their owne home.
And the Lorde visited Hanna, so that she conceaued, and bare three sonnes, & two daughters: And the childe Samuel grew before the Lorde.
Eli was very olde, and heard all that his sonnes did vnto Israel, & how they lay with the women that wayted at the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And he saide vnto them: Why do ye such thinges? For of all these people I heare euill reportes of you.
Oh, nay my sonnes: For it is no good report that I heare, how that ye make the Lordes people to trespasse.
If one man sinne against another, the Iudge shall iudge it: But if a man sinne against the Lord, who will be his dayseman? Notwithstanding, they hearkened not vnto the voyce of their father, because the Lorde would slay the{m}.
(The childe Samuel profited & grew, and was in fauour both with the Lord and also with men.)
And there came a man of God vnto Eli, and sayde vnto hym, thus saith the Lorde: Dyd not I playnely appeare vnto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaos house?
And I chose him out of al the tribes of Israel to be my priest, for to offer vppon mine aulter, and to burne incense, and to weare an Ephod before me: and I gaue vnto the house of thy father, all the offerynges made by fire of the chyldren of Israel.
Wherfore treade ye downe my sacrifice and mine offering which I co{m}maunded in the tabernacle, and honorest thy chyldren aboue me, to make your selues fat of the first fruites of all the offerynges of Israel my people?
Wherefore the Lorde God of Israel saith: I sayde, that thy house and the house of thy father should walke before me for euer: But nowe the Lorde saith, That be farre fro{m} me: For them that worship me, I wyll worship, and they that despise me, shall come to shame.
Behold, the dayes come, that I wyll cut of thine arme, and the arme of thy fathers house, that there shall not be an olde man in thine house.
And thou shalt see thine enemie in the habitation [of the Lorde] and in all the wealth which [God] shall geue Israel, and there shall not be an olde man in thyne house for euer.
Neuerthelesse, I wyll not destroy euery one that come of thee from mine aulter, to make thine eyes to fayle, and to make thine heart sorowfull: And all they that be multiplied in thine house, shall dye [when they be] men.
And this shalbe a signe vnto thee, that shal come vpon thy two sonnes Hophni and Phinehes: euen in one day they shall dye both.
And I wyll stirre me vp a faythfull priest, {tha}t shall do according to my heart and minde, and I wil builde him a sure house, and he shall walke before mine annoynted for euer.
And all that are left in thyne house, shall come and crouch to him for a peece of siluer and a morsell of bread, and shal saye: Put me (I pray thee) in one office or other among {th}e priestes, that I may eate a morsell of bread.
AND the chylde Samuel ministred vnto the Lorde before Eli, and the worde of the Lord was precious in those dayes, neither was there any open vision.
And as at that tyme Eli lay in his place, his eyes began to waxe dymme that he coulde not see.
And yer the lampe of God went out, Samuel layde hym downe to sleepe in the temple of the Lord, where the arke of God was.
And the Lorde called Samuel. And he aunswered, I am here.
And he ran vnto Eli, and sayde: Here am I, for thou calledst me. And he said, I called thee not, go againe and sleepe. And he went, and layde hym downe to sleepe.
And the Lorde called once againe, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and sayde: I am here, for thou diddest call me. And he aunswered: I called thee not my sonne, go againe and sleepe.
Samuel knewe not yet the Lorde, neither was the worde of the Lorde yet opened vnto hym.
And the Lorde went to, and called Samuel the thirde tyme. And he arose and went to Eli, and saide: I am here, for thou hast called me. And Eli perceaued that the Lord had called the childe.
Therefore Eli sayde vnto Samuel: Go and sleepe, and yf he call thee, then say: Speake Lorde, for thy seruaunt heareth thee. So Samuel went, and slept in his place.
And the Lorde came, and stoode and called as before, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel aunswered: Speake, for thy seruaunt heareth.
And the Lorde saide to Samuel: Beholde, I wyll do a thing in Israel, that both the eares of as many as heareth it shall tyngle.
In that day, I wyll rayse vp against Eli all thynges whiche I haue spoken concernyng his house: when I begyn, I wyll also make an ende.
I haue tolde hym that I wyll iudge his house for euer, for the wickednesse which he knoweth: For whe{n} [the people] cursed his sonnes for {th}e same [wickednesse] he hath not corrected them.
And therfore I haue sworne vnto the house of Eli, that the wickednesse of Elies house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offeryng for euer.
Samuel slept vntyl the mornyng, and opened the doores of the house of the Lorde: and Samuel feared to shewe Eli the vision.
Then Eli called Samuel, and sayde: Samuel, my sonne. And he aunswered: Here am I.
He saide: What is that the Lord hath saide vnto thee? I pray thee hyde it not from me: God do so to thee, & more also, if thou hyde any thyng from me of all that he sayde vnto thee.
And Samuel tolde hym euery whyt, and hyd nothyng from hym. And he saide: It is the Lord, let hym do what seemeth hym good.
And Samuel grewe, and the Lorde was with hym, and left none of his wordes vnperfourmed.
And all Israel, from Dan to Beerseba, wyst that faythfull Samuel was the Lordes prophete.
And the Lorde appeared againe in Silo: for the Lorde opened him selfe to Samuel in Silo, through the worde of the Lorde.
AND Samuel spake vnto all Israel: And Israel went out against the Philistines to battell, and pitched besyde the Eben ezer, and the Philistines pitched in Aphec,
And put them selues in aray against Israel: and when they ioyned the battell, Israel was smytten downe before the Philistines, and the Philistines slue of the armie in the fielde about a foure thousand men.
And when the people were come into their tentes, the elders of Israel sayde: Wherfore hath the Lorde caste vs downe this day before the Philistines? let vs fetch the arke of the appoyntme{n}t of the Lorde out of Silo vnto vs, that when it co{m}meth among vs, it may saue vs out of the hand of our enemies.
And so the people went to Silo, and fet from thence the arke of the appoyntment of the Lorde of hoastes, which dwelleth betweene the cherubims: And there wer the two sonnes of Eli, Hophni and Phinehes, with the arke of the appoyntment of God.
And when the arke of the appoyntment of the Lorde came into the hoast, all Israel showted a mightie showte, so that the earth rang againe.
And when the Philistines heard the noyse of the showte, they saide: What meaneth the sounde of this mightie showte in the hoast of the Ebrues? And they vnderstode howe that the arke of the Lorde was come into the hoast.
And the Philistines were afraide, and saide: God is come into the hoast. And they said againe: Wo vnto vs, for it was neuer so before this.
Wo vnto vs, who shall deliuer vs out of the hand of these mightie goddes? these are the goddes that smote the Egyptians with many plagues in the wildernes.
Be strong and quite your selues lyke men, O ye Philistines, that ye be no seruaunts vnto the Ebrues, as they haue ben to you: Be of a manly corage therfore and fight.
And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten downe, and fled euery man into his tent: And there was an exceeding great slaughter, for there were ouerthrowen of Israel thirtie thousand footemen.
And the arke of God was taken, and the two sonnes of Eli, Hophni & Phinehes, were dead.
And there ran a man of Beniamin out of the armie, and came to Silo the same day with his clothes rent, and earth vpon his head.
And when he came, lo, Eli sat vpon a stoole by the way side, wayting: for his heart feared for the arke of God. And when the man came into the citie, and tolde it, all the citie cryed.
And when Eli heard the noyse of the crying, he saide: What meaneth this noyse of the tumult? And the man came in hastyly, and tolde Eli.
Eli was .xcviii. yeres olde, & his sight failed, him that he could not see.
And the man said vnto Eli: I am he that came out of the armie, & fled this day out of the hoast. And he said: What thing is done my sonne?
The messenger aunswered, and said: Israel is fled before the Philistines, & there hath ben a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sonnes Hophni and Phinehes are dead, and the arke of God is taken.
And when he made mention of the arke of God, Eli fell from of his stoole backward by the side of the gate, and his necke brake, and he dyed: For he was an olde man and heauy, and iudged Israel fourtie yeres:
And his daughter in lawe Phinehes wyfe was with childe, and nye the birth: And when she heard the tidinges that the arke of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, the bowed her selfe, and trauayled, for her paynes came vpon her.
And about the tyme of her death, the women that stoode about her, saide vnto her: Feare not, for thou hast borne a sonne. But she aunswered not, nor regarded it.
And she named the childe Ichabod, saying: The glorie is departed fro{m} Israel, (because the arke of God was taken, and because of her father in lawe and her husband.)
And she saide againe: The glorie is gone from Israel, for the arke of God is taken.
AND the Philistines toke the arke of God, and caryed it from the Eben ezer vnto Asdod.
Yea the Philistines toke the arke of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
And when they of Asdod were vp in the next daye in the mornyng, beholde, Dagon was fallen vpon his face on the earth before the arke of the Lorde: And they toke Dagon, and set him in his place agayne.
And when they were come earlie in the next morning, beholde, Dagon was fallen vpon his face on the grounde before the arke of the Lorde, and his head and his two handes cut of vpon the thresholde, that onely the stumpe of Dagon was left to him.
And therfore is it, that the priestes of Dagon, neither any man that commeth into Dagons house, treade not on the thresholde of Dagon in Asdod, vnto this day.
But the hand of the Lorde was heauie vpon them of Asdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerodes, both Asdod, and all the coastes thereof.
And when the men of Asdod sawe that it was so, they saide: The arke of the God of Israel shal not abide here with vs, for his hand is sore vpon vs, & vpon Dagon our God.
They sent therfore, and gathered all the lordes of the Philistines vnto them, and saide: What shall we do with the arke of the God of Israel? They aunswered: Let the arke of the God of Israel be caryed about vnto Gath. And they caried the arke of the God of Israel about.
And when they had caryed it about, the hand of the Lorde was agaynst the citie with a very great destruction, and he smote the men of the citie both small and great, and they had emerodes in their secrete partes.
Therfore they sent the arke of God to Acaron: and assoone as the arke of God came to Acaron, the Acaronites cryed out, saying: They haue brought the arke of the God of Israel to vs, to slea vs, and our people.
And so they sent, and gathered together al the lordes of the Philistines, and saide: Send away the arke of the God of Israel, to go agayne to his owne place, that it slea vs not, and our people. For there was a destruction and death thorowout all the citie, and the hand of God was exceeding sore there.
And the men that dyed not, were smitten with the emerodes: And the crye of the citie went vp to heauen.
ANd the arke of the Lord was in the countrey of the Philistines seuen monethes.
And the Philistines called for the priestes and the soothsayers, saying: What shall we do with the arke of the Lord? Tell vs wherewith we shall sende it home againe:
They sayde: If you send away the arke of the God of Israel, send it not emptie: but rewarde it with sinne offeryng, and then ye shall be whole, and it shall be knowen to you, why his hand departeth not from you.
Then sayd they: And what shalbe the sinne offering, which we shall rewarde him with? They aunswered: Fiue golden emerodes, and fiue golden myce, accordyng to the number of the princes of {th}e Philistines: For one plague was on you all, and on your princes.
Wherfore ye shall make images lyke to your emerodes, & images like to your myce that corrupt the land, and ye shall geue glorie vnto the God of Israel, that he may take his hand from of you, and from of your goddes, and from of your land.
Wherfore do ye harden your heartes, as the Egyptians and Pharao hardened their heartes? Which when he wrought wonderfullie among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
Now therfore, make a newe cart, and take two melche kyne, on whom there hath come no yocke, and tye the kyne to the carte, and bring the calues home from them.
And take the arke of the Lorde, and lay it vpon the cart, and put the iewels of golde whiche ye rewarde him with for a sinne offering, in a coffer by the side thereof, and send it awaye, that it may go.
And if ye see that he go vp by the way of his owne coaste to Bethsames, then it is he that did vs this great euill: If no. we shall knowe then that it is not his hand that smote vs, but it was a chaunce that happened vs.
And the men did euen so: And toke two kyne that gaue milke, & tyed them to the cart, and kept the calues at home.
And they layde the arke of the Lorde vpon the cart, and the coffer with the myce of golde, and with the images of their emerodes.
And the kyne toke the strayght way to Bethsames, & went on the strayght way: and as they went, lowed, and turned neither to the ryght hande nor to the left: And the princes of the Philistines went after them, vnto the borders of Bethsames.
And they of Bethsames were reaping their wheate haruest in the valley: And they lyft vp their eyes, and spied the arke, and reioyced when they sawe it.
And the carte came into the fielde of one Iehosua, a Bethsamite, and stoode still ther. There was also a great stone: And they claue the wood of the carte, and offred the kyne a burnt offring vnto the Lorde.
And the Leuites toke downe the arke of the Lorde, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the iewels of golde were, and put them on the great stone: And the men of Bethsames sacrificed burnt sacrifice, and offered offeringes the same day vnto the Lorde.
And when the fiue princes of the Philistines had seene it, they returned to Acaron the same day.
And these are the golden emerodes which the Philistines gaue for a sinne offering to the Lord: for Asdod one, for Gaza one, for Ascalon one, for Gath one, and for Acaron one.
And golden myce, accordyng to the number of al the cities of the Philistines [belongyng] to the fyue lordes, both of walled townes, and of townes vnwalled, euen vnto the great [stone] of Abel, whereon they set downe the arke of the Lorde vnto this day, in the fielde of Iehosua the Bethsamite.
And he smote of the men of Bethsames, because they had loked in the arke of the Lorde, and he slue among the people fiftie thousand and three score and ten men: And the people lamented, because the Lorde had slaine the people with so great a slaughter.
Wherfore the men of Bethsames said: Who is able to stand before this holie Lorde God? And to whom shall he go from vs?
And they sent messengers to the inhabitaunts of Kiriathiarim, saying: The Philistines haue brought againe the arke of the Lord, come ye downe and set it vp to you.
AND so the men of Kiriathiarim came and fet vp the arke of the Lorde, & brought it into the house of Aminadab in the hyll, and sanctified Eleazar his sonne, to keepe the arke of the Lorde.
And while the arke abode in Kiriathiarim, the tyme was long, for it was twentie yeres: & all the house of Israel lamented after the Lorde.
And Samuel spake vnto al the house of Israel, saying: If ye be come agayne vnto the Lorde with all your heartes, then put away the straunge gods and Astaroth from among you, and prepare your heartes vnto the Lord, and serue him onely: For he shall ryd you out of the hand of the Philistines.
Then the children of Israel dyd put away Baalim and Astaroth, and serued the Lorde onely.
And Samuel sayde: Gather all Israel to Mispah, and I wyll praye for you vnto the Lord.
And they gathered together to Mispah, and drewe water, and poured it out before the Lorde, and fasted the same day, and sayd there: We haue sinned against the Lorde. And Samuel iudged the children of Israel in Mispah.
When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mispah, the princes of the Philistines went vp against Israel: And when the children of Israel hard that, they were afrayde of the Philistines.
And the children of Israel sayd to Samuel: Ceasse not to crye vnto the lord our God for vs, that he may saue vs out of the hand of the Philistines.
And Samuel toke a sucking lambe, and offered it altogether for a burnt offering vnto the Lord, and cryed vnto the Lorde for Israel, and the Lorde heard him.
And as Samuel offered the burnt offering, the Philistines came to fight against Israel: But the Lorde thundred a great thunder the same day among the Philistines, & scattered them, that they were slaine before Israel.
And the men of Israel went out of Mispah, and pursued the Philistines, & smote the{m} vntill [they came] vnder Bethchar.
And then Samuel toke a stone, and pitched it betweene Mispah & Shen, and called the name thereof Ebenezer, saying: Hitherto hath the Lorde helped vs.
And so the Philistines were brought vnder, and they came no more into the coaste of Israel: and the hande of the Lorde was against the Philistines all the dayes of Samuel.
Therto the cities which that the Philistines had taken from Israel, were restored to Israel euen from Acaron to Gath, and the coastes of the same dyd Israel deliuer out of the handes of the Philistines: And there was peace betweene Israel and the Amorites.
Samuel iudged Israel all the dayes of his life:
And went about yere by yere to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mispah, and iudged Israel in all those places.
And came againe to Rama, for there was his house, and there he iudged Israel also, & there he buylt an aulter vnto the Lorde.
WHen Samuel was old, he made his sonnes iudges ouer Israel.
The name of his eldest sonne was Ioel, and the name of the seconde Abia, and they were iudges in Beerseba.
And his sonnes walked not in his wayes, but turned aside after lucre, and tooke rewarde, and peruerted the ryght.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered them together, and came to Samuel vnto Rama,
And sayd vnto him: Beholde, thou art olde, and thy sonnes walke not in thy wayes: Now therfore make vs a king to iudge vs, as all other nations [haue]
But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, geue vs a king to iudge vs: And Samuel prayed vnto the lorde.
And the Lorde saide vnto Samuel, Heare the voyce of the people in all that they say vnto thee: For they haue not cast thee away, but they haue cast me away, that I should not raigne ouer them.
And as they haue euer done sence I brought them out of Egypt vnto this day, and haue forsaken me, and serued other gods, euen so do they vnto thee.
Now therefore hearken vnto their voyce: howbeit yet testifie vnto them, & shewe them the maner of the king that shall raigne ouer them.
And Samuel tolde all the wordes of the Lorde vnto the people that asked a king of him,
And he said: This shal be the maner of the king that shall raigne ouer you, he will take your sonnes and put them to his charets, and make his horsemen of them, to run before his charet.
And will make him of the{m} captaines ouer thousandes and ouer fifties, and will set them to eare his grounde, and to gather in his haruest, & to make instrumentes of warre, and thinges that serue for his charets.
And he will take your daughters, and make them appoticaries, cookes, and bakers.
And he shall take your fieldes, and your vineyardes, and your best oliue trees, and geue them to his seruauntes.
And he shall take the tenth of your seede, and of your vineyardes, and geue it to his eunuches, & to his seruauntes.
And he shal take your men seruauntes, and maide seruauntes, young men, and the chiefe of your asses, and put them to his worke.
And he shall take the tenth of your sheepe, and ye shall be his seruauntes.
And ye shall crie out at that time, because of your king whiche ye shall haue chosen you, & the Lorde wil not heare you at that day.
Neuerthelesse, the people woulde not heare the voyce of Samuel, but did say, Nay, not so: But there shalbe a king ouer vs,
That we may be lyke other nations, and that our king may iudge vs, and go out before vs, and fight our battailes.
Therfore when Samuel hearde all the wordes of the people, he rehearsed them in the eares of the Lord.
And the Lord sayd to Samuel: Hearken vnto their voyce, and make them a king. And Samuel said vnto the men of Israel: Go euery man vnto his citie.
THere was a man of Beniamin named Cis the sonne of Abiel, the sonne of Zeror, {th}e sonne of Bechorath, the sonne of Aphiah, the sonne of a man that was a Ieminite, mightie in power.
And the same had a sonne called Saul, a goodly young man and a faire, so that among the children of Israel there was none goodlier then he: From the shoulders vpwarde he was hygher then all the other people.
And the asses of this Cis Sauls father were lost, and Cis sayd to Saul his sonne: Take one of the laddes with thee, and arise, go and seke the asses.
And he went through mount Ephraim, and passed through the lande of Salisa: but they founde them not. Then they went through the lande of Salim, and there they were not. When they went also through the land of Iemini, they found them not.
At the last, when they were come to the lande of Zuph, Saul sayde to his lad that was with him: Come, let vs returne, lest my father leaue caring for the asses, and take thought for vs.
He sayde vnto him: Behold, there is in this citie a man of God, & he is an honorable man, all that he sayth, commeth suerly to passe: Now then let vs go thyther, if so be he can shewe vs what way we may go.
Then sayde Saul to his lad: If we will go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our vessels, & there is no other present to bring the man of God: what haue we?
And the lad aunswered Saul againe, and sayde: Behold I haue found about me the fourth part of a sicle of siluer, that will I geue the man of God, to tell vs our way.
(Before time in Israel when a man went to seke an aunswere of God, thus wyse he spake, Come and let vs go to the Seer: For he that is now called a prophete, was in the olde tyme called a Seer.
Then sayde Saul to his lad, wel sayd of thee: Come, let vs go. And so they we{n}t vnto the citie where the man of God was.
And as they went their way vp the hil to the citie, they met with damosels that came out to drawe water, and sayd vnto them: Is there here a Seer?
And the maydens aunswered them, and sayd: yea, beholde he is before you, make hast nowe, for he came this day to the citie, for ther is an offring of the people this day in the hill.
When ye be come into the citie, ye shall finde him strayghtway yer he go vp to the hil to eate: for {th}e people wil not eate vntil he come, because he doth blesse the offring, and then eate they that be bydden to the feast: Nowe therfore get you vp, for this day shal ye finde him.
And they went vp into the citie: And when they were come into the middes of the citie, beholde Samuel came out agaynst them, for to go vp to the hill.
But the Lorde had tolde Samuel in his eare (a day before Saul came) saying:
To morowe this tyme I wyll sende thee a man out of the lande of Beniamin, him shalt thou annoynt to be captaine ouer my people Israel, that he may saue my people out of {th}e handes of the Philistines: for I haue loked vpon my people, and their crie is come vnto me.
When Samuel therfore sawe Saul, the Lorde aunswered him: See, this is the man whom I spake to thee of, this same shall raigne ouer my people.
Then went Saul to Samuel in the middle of the gate, and sayd: Tell me I pray thee where the sears house is?
Samuel aunswered Saul and sayd, I am the sear: Go vp before me vnto the hil, for ye shall eate with me to day, and to morowe I wil let thee go, and wil tel thee all that is in thyne heart.
And as for thyne asses that were lost three dayes ago, care not for them, for they are founde: And whose shall the beawtiful thinges of Israel be? Belong they not to thee, and vnto all thy fathers house?
But Saul aunswered and sayde: Am not I the sonne of a Ieminite, of the smallest tribe of Israel? and my kinred is the lest of all the kinredes of the tribe of Beniamin? Wherfore then speakest thou so to me?
And Samuel toke Saul and his lad, and brought them into the parler, and made the{m} sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, whiche were vpon a thirtie persons.
And Samuel sayde vnto the cooke: Bring foorth the portion which I gaue thee, and of which I said vnto thee, kepe it with thee.
And the cooke toke vp the shoulder, & that which was vpon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel sayd: Behold that which is left, put it before thee and eate: for hytherto hath it ben kept for thee, saying: Also I called the people. And so Saul dyd eate with Samuel that day.
And when they were come downe fro{m} the hyghe place into the citie, Samuel communed with Saul vpon the top of the house.
And when they arose earely about the spring of the day, Samuel called Saul vpon the toppe of the house, saying: Vp, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out, both he and Samuel.
And when they were come almost out of the towne, Samuel sayde to Saul: Bid the lad go before vs (and he went before) but stande thou stil a whyle, that I may shewe thee the worde of God.
ANd the{n} Samuel toke a vessell of oyle, and powred it vpon his head, and kissed him, and sayd: Hath not the Lord annoynted thee, to be captaine ouer his inheritaunce?
When thou art departed from me this day, thou shalt finde two men by Rahels sepulchre in {th}e border of Beniamin, euen at Zalezah, and they wil say vnto thee, {th}e asses which thou we{n}test to seke, are found: And lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, & soroweth for you, saying: What shal I do for my sonne?
Then shalt thou go foorth fro{m} thence, & shalt come to the playne of Thabor, and ther shal meete thee three me{n} going vp to God to Bethel, one carying three kiddes, & another carying three loues of bread, & another carying a botel of wine.
And they wil salute thee and geue thee two loues of bread, which thou shalt receaue of their handes.
After that, shalt thou come to the hil of God, wher is the garison of the Philistines: And when thou art come thyther to the citie, thou shalt meete a companie of prophetes comming downe fro{m} the hyghe place, with a psalter, a timbrell, a pype, & a harpe before them, and they shal prophesie.
And the spirite of the Lorde wil come vpon thee also, and thou shalt prophsie with them, & shalt be turned into another man.
Therfore when these signes are come vnto thee, do what thou hast to do, for God is with thee.
And thou shalt go downe before me to Gilgal, and I also will come downe vnto thee to sacrifice burnt sacrifices, & to offre peace offringes: Tary for me seuen dayes till I come to thee, & shewe thee what thou shalt do.
And when he had turned his backe to go fro{m} Samuel, God gaue him another hearte, and all those tokens came to passe that same day.
And when they came thyther to the hill, beholde, the companie of prophetes met him, and the spirite of God came vpon him, & he prophecied among the{m}.
And all that knewe him before, when they sawe that he prophecied among the prophetes, they sayd eche to other: what is this that is come vnto the sonne of Cis? Is Saul also among the prophetes?
And one of the same place aunswered, and sayde: Who is their father? And therof came {th}e prouerbe: What is Saul also among the prophetes?
And whe{n} he had made an ende of prophecying, he came to the hyghe place.
And Sauls vncle sayde vnto him, and to his lad: Whyther went ye? He sayde, To seke the asses: And when we sawe that they were no where, we came to Samuel.
And Sauls vncle sayde: Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel sayd vnto you?
Saul aunswered his vncle: He tolde vs plainely that the asses were found. But of {th}e kingdome wherof Samuel spake, tolde he him not.
And Samuel called the people together vnto the Lorde to Mispah,
And sayd vnto the children of Israel: Thus sayde the Lorde God of Israel, I brought Israel out of Egypt, and deliuered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the handes of al kingdomes that troubled you.
And ye haue this day cast away your God, who onely deliuereth you out of al your aduersities and tribulations. And ye haue sayd vnto him: No, but make a king ouer vs. Nowe therfore stande ye before the Lorde by your tribes, & your thousandes.
And when Samuel had assembled together all the tribes of Israel, the tribe of Beniamin was taken.
When he had assembled together the tribe of Beniamin by their kinredes, the kinred of Matri was caught, and at the last Saul the sonne of Cis was caught: And when they sought him, he coulde not be founde.
Therfore they asked the Lord further, if the man should yet come thyther? And the Lord aunswered: Behold he hath hyd him selfe among the stuffe.
And they ranne and fet him thence, and when he stoode among the people, he was hygher then any of the people from the shoulders vpwarde.
And Samuel said to al the people: See ye not him whom the Lorde hath chosen, and howe there is none lyke him among all the people? And all the people showted, and sayd: God saue the king.
Then Samuel tolde the people the duetie of the kingdome, & wrote it in a booke, and laide it vp before the Lord, and sent all the people away, euery man to his house.
And Saul also went home to Gibea, and there folowed him a band of men, whose heartes God had touched.
But the children of Belial sayd: Howe shall he saue vs? And they despised him, and, brought him no presentes: And he helde his tongue.
THen Nahas {th}e Ammonite came vp, & besieged Iabes in Gilead: And all the men of Iabes sayd vnto Nahas, Make a couenau{n}t with vs, and we wilbe thy seruauntes.
And Nahas the Ammonite aunswered them: In this will I make a couenaunt with you, if I may thrust out al your right eyes, and bring that shame vpon all Israel.
To whom the elders of Iabes sayde: Geue vs seuen dayes respite, that we may sende messengers vnto all {th}e coastes of Israel: and then if there be no man to deliuer vs, we will come out to thee.
Then came the messengers to Gibea of Saul, and tolde this tydinges in the eares of the people: And all the people lift vp their voyces, and wept.
And beholde, Saul came folowing the cattell out of the fielde, and Saul sayde: what alyeth this people that thei wepe? And they tolde him the tydinges of the men of Iabes.
And the spirite of God came vpon Saul when he heard those tydinges, & he was exceeding angrie.
And toke a yoke of oxen, & hewed them in peeces, and sent them thorowout all the coastes of Israel by the handes of messengers, saying: Whosoeuer co{m}meth not foorth after Saul and after Samuel, so shal his oxen be serued. And the feare of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
And whe{n} he numbred them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand men, and the men of Iuda thirtie thousande.
And they sayd vnto the messengers that came: So say vnto the men of Iabes in Gilead, To morowe by that time {th}e sunne be hotte ye shal haue helpe. And the messengers came, and shewed it to the men of Iabes, which were glad.
Therfore the men of Iabes sayde: To morowe we will come out vnto you, and ye shall do with vs all that pleaseth you.
And on the morowe Saul put the people in three partes, & they came in vpon the hoast in the morning watche, and slue the Ammonites vntill the heate of the day: And they that remayned, were skattered, so that two of them were not left together.
And the people sayd vnto Samuel: Who is he that sayde, shal Saul raigne ouer vs? bring those men, that we may slay them.
And Saul sayde: There shall no man dye this day: For to day the Lorde hath saued Israel.
Then sayde Samuel vnto the people: Come, that we may go to Gilgal, and renue the kingdome there.
And all the people went to Gilgal, and made Saul king there before the Lord in Gilgal, and there they offred peace offringes before the Lorde: And there Saul and al the men of Israel reioyced exceedingly.
ANd Samuel sayd vnto al Israel: Beholde, I haue hearkened vnto your voyce in all that ye sayde vnto me, and haue made a king ouer you.
Nowe therfore, your king walketh before you: and I am olde and graye headed, and behold my sonnes are with you, & I haue walked before you from my childehod vnto this day.
Beholde here I am, beare recorde of me before the Lorde & before his annoynted: Whose oxe haue I taken? or whose asse haue I taken? whom haue I done wrong to? Whom haue I hurt? Or of whose hande haue I receaued any bribe, to blind myne eyes therwith? and I will restore it you.
They sayde: Thou hast done vs no wrong, nor hurt vs, neither hast thou taken ought of any mans hande.
He sayd vnto them againe: The Lord is witnesse against you, and his annoynted is witnesse this day, that ye haue found naught in my handes. And they aunswered: He is witnesse.
And Samuel sayd vnto the people: It is the Lorde that made Moyses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers out of the lande of Egypt.
Nowe therfore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lorde, according to all the righteousnesses of the Lorde, whiche he shewed both you and your fathers.
After {th}e Iacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cryed vnto the Lord, the Lord sent Moyses & Aaron, which brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwel in this place.
And whe{n} they forgat the Lord their God, he solde the{m} into {th}e hand of Sisara captayne of the hoast of Hazor, & into the hande of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
And they cryed vnto the Lord, & sayd: We haue sinned, because we haue forsaken the Lord, and haue serued Baalim and Astharoth: Nowe therfore deliuer vs out of the handes of our enemies, and we will serue thee.
And {th}e Lord sent Ierobaal, Bedan, Iephthah, and Samuel, and deliuered you out of the handes of your enemies on euerie side, and ye dwelled safe.
And for all that, when you sawe that Nahas the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye sayd vnto me: Not so, but a king shall raigne ouer vs: when yet the Lord your God was your king.
Nowe therfore behold the king whom ye haue chosen, and whom ye haue desired: lo, {th}e Lorde hath set a king ouer you.
If ye will feare the Lorde and serue him, and heare his voyce, & not disobey the worde of the Lorde, both ye and the king that raigneth ouer you, shall folowe the Lord your God.
If ye will not hearken vnto the voyce of the Lorde, but disobey the Lordes mouth, then shall the hand of the Lord be vpon you, and on your fathers.
Now also stand, & see this great thing whiche the Lorde will do before your eyes.
Is it not nowe wheate hearuest? I will call vnto the Lorde, & he shal sende thunder & rayne, that ye may perceaue and see howe that your wickednes is great which ye haue done in the sight of the Lord in asking you a king.
And so Samuel called vnto the Lord, and the Lorde sent thunder and rayne the same day: And all the people feared the Lord and Samuel exceedingly.
And al the people sayd vnto Samuel: Pray for thy seruauntes vnto the Lord thy God, that we dye not: for we haue sinned in asking vs a king, besyde all our [other] sinnes.
And Samuel sayde vnto the people, feare not (Ye haue in deede done al this wickednesse, yet depart not from folowing of the Lorde, but serue the Lorde with all your heartes:
Neither turne ye away, for [then ye go] after vayne thinges, which are not able to profite you, nor deliuer you, for they are but vanitie.)
For the Lorde will not forsake his people, because of his great names sake: because it hath pleased the Lorde to make you his people.
Moreouer, God forbid that I shoulde sinne against the Lord, and ceasse praying for you: but I will shewe you the good and right way.
Therfore feare you the Lorde, & serue him in the trueth, and with all your heartes: & consider howe great thinges he hath done for you.
But and yf ye do wickedly, then shall ye perishe, both ye and your king.
SAul now had ben king one yere (& he raigned two yeres ouer Israel.)
And Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel: Two thousand were with Saul in Michmas and in mount Bethel, and a thousand with Ionathan in Gibea Beniamin: and the rest of the people he sent euery man to his tent.
And Ionathan smote the garison of the Philistines that was in the hill, and it came to the Philistines eares: And Saul blewe {th}e trumpet throughout al the land, saying: Let the Hebrues heare.
And all Israel hearde say howe that Saul had destroyed a garison of {th}e Philistines: wherfore Israel was had in abomination with {th}e Pilistines. And the people gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.
The Philistines also gathered them selues together to fyght with Israel, thirtie thousand charettes, & sixe thousand horsemen, with other people lyke the sand by the seas side in multitude, & came vp, and pitched in Michmas, eastwarde from Bethauen.
And when the men of Israel sawe it, they were in a strayte (and the people were in a distresse) & the people hyd the{m} selues in caues, and in holdes, and in rockes, and iin hye places, and in pittes.
And some of the Hebrues went ouer Iordane to go vnto the land of Gad and Gilead: And Saul was yet in Gilgal, and all the people being afrayde, folowed him.
And he taried seuen dayes, euen vnto the time that Samuel had appoynted: But Samuel came not to Gilgal, and the people were therfore skattered from him.
And Saul sayde: Bring a burnt sacrifice to me, and peace offeringes. And he offered a burnt sacrifice.
And assoone as he had made an ende of offering the burnt sacrifice, beholde Samuel came, and Saul went against him, to salute him.
And Samuel sayde: What hast thou done? Saul sayde: Because I sawe that the people skattered from me, and that thou camest not within the dayes appointed, and that the Philistines gathered them selues together to Michmas:
Therfore sayde I, The Philistines shal come downe nowe vpon me to Gilgal, and I haue not made supplication vnto the Lord: I was bolde therfore, & offred a burnt offring.
And Samuel sayd to Saul: Thou art become a foole, thou hast not kept the commaundeme{n}t of the Lord thy God which he commau{n}ded thee: For at this time woulde the Lorde haue stablished thy kingdome vpon Israel for euer.
But nowe, thy kingdome shal not continue: The Lorde hath sought him a man after his owne heart, and the Lord hath commaunded him to be captayne ouer his people, because thou hast not kept that whiche the Lorde commaunded thee.
And Samuel arose, & gate him vp from Gilgal in Gibea of Beniamin, and Saul numbred the people that were found with him, and they were about a sixe hundred men.
And Saul and Ionathan his sonne, & the people that were found with them, had their abiding in Gibea of Beniamin: but {th}e Philistines pitched in Michmas.
And there came out of the hoast of the Philistines three co{m}panies to destroye: one companie turned vnto the way that leadeth to Ophra vnto {th}e lande of Sual:
And another companie turned the way to Bethoron: And the thirde companie turned to the way of the coast that is seene aboue {th}e valley of Zeboim toward the wildernesse.
There was no smith founde throughout all the lande of Israel: For the Philistines sayde, Lest the Hebrues make them swordes or speares.
But all the Israelites went downe to the Philistines, to mende euery man his share, his mattocke, his axe, & weeding hooke.
Yet they had a file for the shares, for the mattockes, for the pickforkes, and for the axes, and for to sharpen to goades.
And so in time of battel there was neither sword nor speare found in the handes of any of the people that were with Saul and Ionathan: But with Saul & Ionathan his sonne was there found.
And the garison of the Philistines came out, to go ouer vnto Michmas.
THen on a time Ionathan the sonne of Saul sayde vnto his young man that bare his harnesse: Come, & let vs go ouer to the Philistines garison that are yonder on the other syde: and he tolde not his father.
And Saul taried in the vttermost part of Gibea vnder a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were vpo{n} a sixe hundred men.
And Ahia the sonne of Ahitob, Ichabods brother, the sonne of Phinehes the sonne of Eli, was the Lordes priest in Silo, and ware an Ephod: And the people wist not that Ionathan was gone.
And in the middes of the passage by which Ionathan sought to go ouer vnto the Philistines garison, there was a sharpe rocke on the one syde, & a sharpe rocke on the other syde: the one called Bozez, and the other Sene.
The forefront of the one leaned northwarde towarde Michmas, & the other was southward toward Gibea.
And Ionathan sayd to the young man that bare his harnesse: Come, and let vs go ouer vnto the garison of these vncircumcised, it may be that the Lorde will worke with vs: for it is no hardnesse with the Lord to saue either in manie or in fewe.
And his harnesse bearer said vnto him, Do all that is in thyne heart: Go where it pleaseth thee, behold I am with thee as thyne heart lusteth.
Then sayd Ionathan: Beholde, we go ouer vnto these men, and shall shewe our selues vnto them.
Yf they say on this wyse to vs, Tarie vntil we come to you: then we wil stand still in our place, & not go vp vnto them.
But and if they say, Come vp vnto vs: then we wil go vp, for the Lorde hath deliuered them into our handes: And this shalbe a signe vnto vs.
And they both shewed them selues vnto the garison of the Philistines. And the Philistines sayde: See, the Hebrues come out of the holes where they had hyd them selues in.
And the men of the garison aunswered Ionathan & his harnesse bearer, & sayd: Come vp to vs, and we will shewe you a thing. And Ionathan sayde vnto his harnesse bearer: Come vp after me, for the Lorde hath deliuered them into the hande of Israel.
And Ionathan clymed vp vpon handes and feete, and his harnesse bearer after him: And they fell before Ionathan, & his harnesse bearer slue the after him.
And that first slaughter whiche Ionathan & his harnesse bearer made, was vpon a twentie men, within the compasse as it were about an halfe aker of land which two [oxen plowe.]
And there was a feare in the hoast, in the field, & among al {th}e people: insomuch that they that were gone out of the garrison to robbe, were afrayde also, & the earth trembled, for the feare that was sent of God.
And the watchmen of Saul in Gibea Beniamin, sawe: And behold, the multitude were discomfited, & were smitten as they went.
Then sayd Saul vnto the people that was with him: Searche, and see who is gone away from vs. And when they had numbred, beholde, Ionathan and his harnesse bearer were not there.
And Saul sayd vnto Ahia: Bring hyther the arke of God. (For the arke of God was at time with the children of Israel.)
And while Saul talked vnto {th}e priest, the noyse that was in the hoaste of the Philistines spred farther abrode and encreased. And Saul sayd vnto the priest: Withdrawe thyne hande.
And Saul ioyned him selfe vnto al the people that were with him, & they came to the battell, and behold euery mans sword was against his felow, and there was a very great discomfiture.
Moreouer, the Hebrues that were with the Philistines before that tyme, & were come with them into all partes of the hoaste, turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Ionathan.
And all the men of Israel also, whiche had hyd the{m} selues in mount Ephraim, assoone as they hearde howe that the Philistines were fled, they folowed after them in the battel.
And so the Lorde saued Israel that day: and the battel continued vnto Bethauen.
And when the men of Israel were kepte downe with hunger that day, Saul charged the people with an oth, saying: Cursed be the man that eateth any foode vntill night, till I be auenged of myne enemies. And so none of the people tasted any sustenaunce.
And al they of the land came to a wood, where honie lay vpon the grounde.
And the people came into the wood: And behold, the honie dropped, and no man moued his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oth.
But Ionathan hearde not whe{n} his father charged the people with the oth, wherfore he put foorth the ende of the rod that was in his hand, and dipt it in an honie combe, & put his hande to his mouth, and his eyes receaued sight.
Then aunswered one of the people, and sayde: Thy father made the people to sweare, saying: Cursed be the ma{n} that eateth any sustenaunce this day. And the people were faynt.
The{n} sayd Ionathan, My father hath troubled the lande: See howe myne eyes hath receaued sight, because I tasted a litle of this honie:
Howe muche more then to day, if the people had eaten of the spoyle of their enemies whiche they found? And had there not ben then a muche greater slaughter among the Philistines?
And they smote the Philistines that day, from Michmas to Aialon: And the people were exceeding faynt.
And the people gat them to the spoyle, and toke sheepe, oxen, and calues, & slue them on the ground, and the people dyd eate them with the blood.
Then men tolde Saul, saying: Behold, the people sinne against the Lorde, in that they eate with the blood. And he sayde, Ye haue trespassed: Rowle a great stone vnto me this day.
And Saul sayde againe: Go abrode among the people, and bid them bring me euery man his oxe, and euery man his sheepe, and slay them here, and eate, and sinne not against the Lorde in eating with the blood. And the people brought euery man his oxe in his hande that night, and slue them there.
And Saul made an aulter vnto {th}e Lord: And that was the first aulter that he made vnto the Lorde.
And Saul sayde: Let vs go downe after the Philistines by night, and spoyle them, vntil it be day in the morning, and let vs not leaue one man of them. And they sayde: Do whatsoeuer thou thinkest best. Then sayde the priest: Let vs come hyther vnto God.
And Saul asked of God: Shall I go downe after the Philistines? Wilt thou deliuer them into the handes of Israel? But he aunswered him not at that time.
And Saul sayde: Let al the chiefe of the people come hyther, and knowe and see by whom this sinne is done this day.
For as the Lorde liueth, whiche saued Israel, though it be in Ionathan my sonne, he shal dye the death. But there was no man among all the people that aunswered him.
Then he sayde vnto al Israel: Be ye on one syde, and I and Ionathan my sonne will be on the other syde. And the people saide vnto Saul: What thou thinkest best, that do.
Therfore Saul saide vnto the Lorde God of Israel, geue a perfect lot. And Saul and Ionathan were caught: but the people scaped free.
And Saul said: Cast lot betweene me and Ionathan my sonne. And Ionathan was caught.
Then Saul saide to Ionathan: Tell me what thou hast done. And Ionathan tolde him, and sayde: I tasted a litle honie with the ende of the rod that was in myne hand, & lo, I must dye.
Saul aunswered: God do so & more also to me, thou shalt dye the death Ionathan.
And the people said vnto Saul: Shal Ionathan dye, which hath so mightilie deliuered Israel? God forbid. As the Lord lyueth, there shall not one heere of his head fall to {th}e ground, for he hath wrought with God this daye. And so the people deliuered Ionathan, that he dyed not.
And then Saul departed vp from folowing the Philistines: And the Philistines went to their owne place.
And so Saul helde the kingdome ouer Israel, and fought against all his enemies on euery side, against Moab, against the children of Ammon, against Edom, against the kinges of Zoba, and against the Philistines: And whyther soeuer he turned him selfe, he put them to the worse.
And he gathered his hoast together, & smote the Amalekites, & rid Israel out of the handes of them that spoyled them.
The sonnes of Saul were, Ionathan, Iessui, and Melchisua: And his two daughters were thus named, the elder was called Merob, and the younger Michol.
And the name of Sauls wife, was Ahinoa, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of his chiefe captaine, was Abner the sonne of Ner, Sauls vncle.
And Cis was Sauls father: & Ner the father of Abner, was the sonne of Abiel.
And there was sore warre against the Philistines all {th}e dayes of Saul: And whomsoeuer Saul sawe to be a strong man, and meete for the warre, he toke him vnto him.
SAmuel also saide vnto Saul: The Lord sent me to anoynt thee, to be king ouer his people, ouer Israel: Now therfore hearken thou vnto the voyce of the wordes of the Lorde.
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how they layed waite for them in the waye as they came vp from Egypt.
Nowe therfore go, and smyte Amalek, and destroye ye all that pertaineth vnto them, and haue no compassion on them, slay both man & woman, infant and suckling, oxe and sheepe, camel and asse.
And Saul gathered the people together, and numbred them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footemen, and ten thousand men of Iuda.
And Saul came vnto a citie of Amalek, and set watch in the brooke.
And Saul saide vnto the Kenites: Go, & depart, & get you downe from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed mercie to all the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. And so the Kenites departed from among {th}e Amalekites.
And Saul smote the Amalekites, from Heuila, as thou commest to Sur, that lyeth before Egypt.
And toke Agag the king of the Amalekites alyue, and vtterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sworde.
But Saul and the people spared Agag, the better sheepe, and the fatter oxen, and the lambes, and all that was good, & would not destroy them: But al that was foule & naught worth, that they destroyed vtterlie.
Then came the word of the Lord vnto Samuel, saying:
It repenteth me that I haue made Saul king: For he is turned from me, & hath not perfourmed my commaundementes. And Samuel was euill apayed, & cryed vnto the Lord all night.
And whe{n} Samuel rose early to meete Saul in the morning, it was tolde Samuel that Saul was come to Carmel, and beholde, he hath made him there a place, and is returned, and departed and gone downe to Gilgal.
And Samuel came to Saul, & Saul said vnto him, Blessed be thou in the Lorde: I haue fulfilled the co{m}maundement of the Lord.
Samuel sayde: What meaneth then the bleating of the sheepe in mine eares and the lowing of the oxen which I heare?
Saul aunswered, They haue brought them from the Amalekites: For the people spared the best of the sheepe, and of the oxen, to sacrifice them vnto the Lorde thy God, and the remnaunt haue we destroyed vtterlie.
Samuel said to Saul: Let me tell thee what the Lorde hath saide to me this night. And he sayd vnto him: saye on.
Samuel said: When thou wast litle in thyne owne sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lorde annoynted thee kyng ouer Israel?
And the Lorde sent thee on a iourney, and said: Go, and vtterly destroy those sinners the Amalekites, & fight against them vntyll thou destroy them.
And wherfore hast thou not hearkened vnto the voyce of the Lorde? but hast turned to the praye, and hast done that which is wicked in the syght of the Lorde?
And Saul sayde vnto Samuel: Yea, I haue hearkened vnto the voyce of the Lorde, and haue gone the way which the Lord sent me vnto, & haue brought Agag the kyng of Amalek, and haue destroyed the Amalekites.
But the people toke of {th}e spoyle, sheepe, oxen, and the chiefest of the thynges whiche shoulde haue ben destroyed, to offer vnto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.
And Samuel sayde: Hath the Lorde as great pleasure in burnt sacrifices and offerynges, as when the voyce of the Lorde is obeyed? Beholde, to obey, is better then sacrifice: and to hearken, is better then the fat of rammes.
For rebellion is as the sinne of witchcraft, and stubbernnesse is as the wickednes of idolatrie: Because thou hast cast away the worde of the Lorde, therefore he hath cast away thee also from being king.
And Saul sayde vnto Samuel, I haue sinned: For I haue gone farther then the saying of the Lorde and thy wordes, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voyce.
Now therfore I pray thee take away my sinne, and turne agayne with me, that I may worship the Lorde.
And Samuel sayde vnto Saul, I wyll not returne with thee: For thou hast cast away the worde of the Lorde, and the Lord hath cast away thee, that thou shalt not be kyng ouer Israel.
And as Samuel turned hym selfe to go away, he caught the lappe of his coate, and it rent.
And Samuel sayde vnto hym: The Lorde hath rent the kyngdome of Israel from thee this day, and hath geuen it to a neighbour of thine that is better then thou.
The strength of Israel wyl not beguyle, nor repent: for he is not a man that shoulde repent.
He sayde, I haue sinned: But nowe honour me before the el•rs of my people and before Israel, and turne againe with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.
And so Samuel turned againe, and folowed Saul: and Saul worshipped the Lorde.
Then sayde Samuel: Bryng you hyther to me Agag, the kyng of the Amalekites. And Agag came vnto hym dilicately, and Agag sayde: Truely the bitternesse of death is past.
And Samuel sayde: As thy sworde hath made women chyldlesse, so shall thy mother be chyldlesse aboue other women. And Samuel hewed Agag in peeces before the Lorde in Gilgal.
And then Samuel departed to Rama, and Saul went home to his house to Gibea Saul.
And Samuel came no more to see Saul, vntyll the day of his death: Neuerthelesse Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lorde repented that he had made Saul kyng ouer Israel.
THE Lorde sayd vnto Samuel: Howe long wilt thou mourne for Saul, seing I haue cast him away from raigning ouer Israel? Fill thyne horne with oyntment, and come, that I may send thee to Isai the Bethlemite: for I haue prouided me a king among his sonnes.
And Samuel sayd: How can I go? For if Saul heare it, he will kill me. The Lord aunswered: Take an heyfer with thee, and saye: I am come to offer to the Lorde.
And call Isai to the offering, and I will shewe thee what thou shalt do: And thou shalt annoynt vnto me him whom I name vnto thee.
And so Samuel did as the Lord bade him, and came to Bethlehem: and the elders of the towne were astonyed at his comming, and saide: Commest thou peaceably?
He aunswered: Yea, I am come to offer vnto the Lorde: Sanctifie your selues, and come with me to the offering. And he sanctified Isai and his sonnes, and bade them to the offering.
And when they were come, he loked on Eliab, & saide: Surelye the Lordes annoynted is before him.
But the Lorde sayde vnto Samuel: Loke not on his fashion, or on {th}e height of his stature, because I haue refused him: For [God seeth] not as man seeth. For man loketh on the outward appearaunce, but the Lorde beholdeth the heart.
Then Isai called Abinadab, & made him come before Samuel, and he sayd: Neither hath the Lorde chosen this.
Then Isai made Samma come, and he sayd: Neither yet hath the Lorde chosen him.
Againe Isai made seuen of his sonnes to come before Samuel, and Samuel sayd vnto Isai: The Lorde hath chosen none of these.
And Samuel sayde vnto Isai: Are heare all thy children? He sayde: There is yet a litle one behind, that kepeth the sheepe. And Samuel said vnto Isai, Sende and fet him: for we will not syt downe, till he be come hyther.
And he sent, and brought him in: And he was ruddie, and of an excelle{n}t beawtie, and wel fauoured in sight. And the Lorde said, Aryse & annoynt him: For this is he.
Therefore Samuel toke the horne with the annoyntment, and annoynted him in the middes of his brethren. And the spirite of the Lorde came vpon Dauid from that daye forwarde: And Samuel rose vp, and went to Rama.
But the spirite of the Lorde departed from Saul, and an euill spirite [sent] of the Lord vexed him.
And Sauls seruauntes said vnto him: Beholde, an euill spirite [sent] of God vexeth thee.
Let our Lorde therefore commaunde thy seruauntes (that are before thee) to seeke a man that is a cunnyng player with an harpe: that when the euill spirite of God commeth vpon thee, he may play with his hande, & thou shalt be eased.
Saul sayd vnto his seruauntes: Prouide me a man then that can play well, and bring him to me.
The{n} aunswered one of his seruauntes and said: Beholde, I haue seene a sonne of Isai the Bethlehemite, that can play vpon instrumentes, and is strong, valiaunt, and a man of warre, and prudent in doing of feates, and well made, and the Lorde is with him.
Wherefore Saul sent messengers vnto Isai, and said: Sende me Dauid thy sonne, which is with the sheepe.
And Isai tooke an asse [laden] with bread, and a flacket of wine, and a kyd, and sent them by Dauid his sonne vnto Saul.
And Dauid came to Saul, and stoode before him, and he loued him very well, & he was made his harnesse bearer.
And Saul sent to Isai, saying: Let Dauid nowe remaine with me, for he hath founde fauour in my sight.
And so when the [euill] spirite of God came vpon Saul, Dauid toke an harpe and played with his hand: and so Saul was refreshed, & did amende, and the euyll spirite departed from him.
The Philistines gathered their hoast to battayle, and came together to Socho which is in Iuda, and pytched betweene Socho and Azekah, in the coaste of Dammim.
And Saul & the men of Israel came together, and pytched in the valley of Elah, and put them selues in battaile aray, to meete the Philistines.
And the Philistines stoode on a mountaine on the one syde, and Israel stoode on a mountaine on the other syde, and there was a valley betweene them.
And there came a man betweene the both, out of the tentes of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath: sixe cubites and a handbreadth long:
And had an helmet of brasse vpon his head, and a coate of male about him. And the weight of his coate of mayle, was fiue thousand sicles of brasse.
And he had bootes of brasse vpon his legges, and a shielde of brasse vpon his shoulders.
And the shaft of his speare was lyke a weauers beame, and his speare head wayed sixe hundred sicles of iron: And one bearing a shielde went before him.
And he stoode and cryed against the hoast of Israel, and sayde vnto them: Why are ye come to set your battaile in array? am not I a Philistine, and you seruauntes to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come downe to me.
And if he be able to fyght with me, & to kill me, then will we be your seruauntes: But if I can ouercome hym & beate him, then shal ye be our seruau{n}tes and serue vs.
And the Philistine sayde: I defie the hoast of Israel this day, geue me a man, that we may fight together.
When Saul and all Israel heard those wordes of {th}e Philistine, they were discouraged, and greatly afraide.
Dauid was the sonne of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem Iuda, named Isai, which had eyght sonnes, & this man was taken for an olde man in the dayes of Saul.
And the three eldest sonnes of Isai went, and folowed Saul to the battell: And the names of his three sonnes that went to battaile, were: Eliab the eldest, and the next Abinadab, and the thyrd Samma:
And Dauid was the leaste. And the three eldest, went after Saul.
Dauid also went, and departed from Saul, to feede his fathers sheepe at Bethlehem.
And the Philistine came foorth in the morning and euening, and continued fourtie dayes.
And Isai sayd vnto Dauid his sonne: Take for thy brethren an Epha of this partched corne, & these ten loaues, and runne to the hoast to thy brethren.
And cary these ten freshe cheeses vnto the captayne, and loke howe thy brethren fare, and set out their pledge.
And Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the valley of Elah, fyghtyng with the Philistines.
And Dauid rose vp early in {th}e morning, and left the sheepe with a keper, & toke, and went as Isai had commaunded him, and came within the compasse of the hoast: And the hoast went out in array, and shouted in the battaile.
For Israel and the Philistines had put them selues in array armie against armie.
And Dauid left the thinges which he bare, vnder the handes of the keper of the vessels, and ran into the hoast, and came, and saluted his brethren.
And as he talked with them, behold, there stoode a man in the middes (Goliath the Philistine by name, of Gath) out of the armie of the Philistines, & spake such wordes: and Dauid heard it.
And all the people of Israel, when they sawe the man, ranne away from him, and were sore afrayde.
And euery man of Israel said: Sawe ye not this man that commeth vp? euen to reuile Israel is he come: And to him that killeth him, will the king geue great ritches, and will geue him his daughter thereto, yea and make his fathers house free in Israel.
And Dauid spake to {th}e men that stoode by, and sayd: What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh awaye the shame from Israel? And what is this vncircumcised Philistine, that he shoulde reuile the hoast of the liuing God?
And the people aunswered him (after this maner) saying: So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake vnto the men, and Eliab was angrye with Dauid, & sayde: Why camest thou downe hyther? and with whom hast thou left those fewe sheepe in the wildernes: I know thy pride and the malice of thyne heart, that thou art come downe to see the battel.
And Dauid sayde: And what haue I nowe done? is there not a cause?
And he departed from him into the presence of another, and spake of the same maner: and the people aunswered him againe, as before.
And they that heard the wordes which Dauid spake, rehearsed them before Saul, which caused him to be fet.
And Dauid sayde to Saul: Let no mans heart fayle him because of him: Thy seruaunt will go, and fight with yonder Philistine.
And Saul sayde to Dauid againe: Thou art not able to go against yonder Philistine, to fight with him: For thou art but a childe, but he is a man of warre euen from his youth.
Dauid aunswered vnto Saul: Thy seruaunt kept his fathers sheepe, & ther came a lion and likewise a beare, and toke a sheepe out of the flocke:
And I went out after him, and smote him, and toke it out of his mouth: And whe{n} he arose against me, I caught him by the bearde, and smote him, and slue him.
And so thy seruaunte slue both the lion, and the beare: And trulie this vncircumcised Philistine shalbe as one of them, seing he hath rayled on the hoast of the liuyng God.
And Dauid spake moreouer: The Lord that deliuered me out of the hand of the lion, and out of the hande of the beare, he shal deliuer me also out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul sayd vnto Dauid: Go, and the Lorde [shall] be with thee.
And Saul put his rayment vpon Dauid, and put an helmet of brasse vpon his head, and put a coate of mayle vpon him.
And gyrded Dauid with his owne sword vpon his rayment, and he assayed to go, and because he neuer proued it, Dauid saide vnto Saul: I cannot go with these, for I haue not vsed my selfe thereto. And Dauid put them of him,
And toke his staffe in his hand, and chose him fiue smoth stones out of a brooke, and put them in a shepheardes bagge which he had, that is in a scrippe, and his sling was in his hande, and he went to the Philistine.
And the Philistine came and drewe neare against Dauid, and the man that bare the shielde went before him.
And when the Philistine loked about & sawe Dauid, he disdayned him: for he was but young, ruddie & of a comly face.
And the Philistine sayd vnto Dauid: Am I a dogge, that thou commest to me with staues? And the Philistine cursed Dauid in {th}e name of his goddes.
And the Philistine sayde to Dauid: Come to me, and I wyll geue thy fleshe vnto the foules of the ayre, and to the beastes of the fielde.
Then sayde Dauid to the Philistine: Thou commest to me with a sword, a speare, & a shielde: But I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hoastes, the God of the hoast of Israel, whom thou hast rayled vpon.
This day shal the Lorde close thee into my hand, and I shall smite thee, & take thyne head from thee, & will geue the carkases of the hoast of the Philistines this daye vnto the foules of the ayre, & to the beastes of the earth, that all they which be in the worlde, maye knowe that there is a God in Israel:
And all this congregation shal know that the Lorde saueth not with sword, & speare (For the battaile is {th}e Lordes) and he shall geue you into our handes.
And when the Philistine arose to come and drawe nye to Dauid, Dauid hasted, and ran to fight against the Philistine,
And Dauid put his hand in his bagge, and toke out a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone suncke into his forehead, and he fell groueling to the earth.
And so Dauid ouercame the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and smote the Philistine, & slue him, euen when Dauid had no sword in his hand.
But Dauid ran and stoode vpon the Philistine, and toke his sword, and drue it out of his sheathe, & slue him, and cut of his head therewith. And when the Philistines sawe that their champion was dead, they fled.
And the men of Israel and of Iuda arose, and showted, and folowed after the Philistines, vntill they came to the valley, and vnto the gates of Acaron: And the Philistines fell downe wounded by the way to Saaraim, euen vnto Gath, and Acaron.
And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and spoyled their tentes.
And Dauid toke the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Hierusalem, but he put his armour in his tent.
When Saul sawe Dauid go foorth against the Philistine, he sayd vnto Abner the captaine of his hoast: Abner, whose sonne is this young man? Abner aunswered: As thy soule liueth (O king) I cannot tell.
And the king sayde: Enquire thou whose sonne the youngling is.
And whe{n} Dauid was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner toke him, & brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
And Saul sayde to him: whose sonne art thou, thou young man? Dauid aunswered: I am the sonne of thy seruaunt Isai the Bethlehemite.
ANd whe{n} he had made an end of speaking vnto Saul, the soule of Ionathan was knit with the soule of Dauid, and Ionathan loued him as his owne soule.
And Saul toke him that daye, and woulde let him go no more home to his fathers house.
Then Ionathan and Dauid made a couenaunt, because he loued him as his owne soule.
And Ionathan put of the robe that was vpon him, and gaue it to Dauid, and thereto his garmentes, euen to his sword, and to his bowe, and to his gyrdel.
And Dauid went out whythersoeuer Saul sent him, and behaued him selfe wysely: And Saul set hym ouer his men of warre, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, & in the sight of Sauls seruauntes.
And as they came againe when Dauid was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dau{n}sing, to meete king Saul, with timbrels, with ioy, and with [instrumentes of] musicke.
And the women aunswered one another in their play, and sayde: Saul hath slaine his thousand, and Dauid his ten thousand.
And Saul was exceeding wroth, and the saying displeased him, and he sayd: They haue ascribed vnto Dauid ten thousand, & to me but a thousande: and what can he more haue, saue the kingdome?
Wherfore Saul had an eye on Dauid from that day forwarde.
And on the morow, the euyll spirite sent of God came vpon Saul, and he prophesied in the middes of {th}e house: And Dauid played with his hand, like as at other tymes: & there was a iauelyn in Sauls hand.
And Saul toke the iauelyn, and sayd: I will nayle Dauid to the wall with it. And Dauid auoyded out of his presence two times.
And Saul was afrayde of Dauid, because the Lorde was with him, & was departed from Saul.
Therefore Saul put him from him, and made him a captaine ouer a thousand, and he went out and in before the people.
And Dauid behaued him selfe wisely in all his wayes, and the Lorde was with him.
Wherefore when Saul sawe that he was so exceeding wise, he was afrayde of him.
But all Israel and Iuda loued Dauid, because he went out and in before them.
And Saul sayde to Dauid: Beholde my eldest daughter Merob, her I will geue thee to wife: Onely be a valiaunt sonne vnto me, & fight the Lordes battayles. For Saul thought: Mine hand shall not be vpon him, but the hande of the Philistines shalbe vpon him.
And Dauid aunswered Saul: what am I? and what is my lyfe or the kynred of my father in Israel, that I should be sonne in lawe to the king?
Howbeit, when the time was come that Merob Sauls daughter shoulde haue ben geuen to Dauid, she was geue{n} vnto Adriel a Meholathite, to wife.
Howbeit, Michol Sauls daughter loued Dauid: and they shewed Saul, and the thing pleased him.
And Saul sayde: I will geue him her that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul sayde to Dauid: Thou shalt this day be my sonne in lawe in the one of the twayne.
And Saul co{m}maunded his seruau{n}tes to come with Dauid secretely, & to say: Behold, the king hath a fauour to thee, and all his seruau{n}tes loue thee: be now therefore the kinges sonne in lawe.
And Sauls seruauntes spake those wordes in the eares of Dauid. And Dauid said: semeth it to you a light thing to be a kinges sonne in lawe? seeing that I am a poore man, and of smal reputation.
And the seruauntes brought Saul word againe, saying: Of this maner spake Dauid.
And Saul sayde, This wise shall ye saye to Dauid: The king careth for no other dowry, but for an hundred foreskinnes of the Philistines, to be auenged of the kynges enemies. But Saul thought to make Dauid fall into the handes of the Philistines.
And when his seruauntes tolde Dauid these wordes, it pleased Dauid wel to be the kinges sonne in lawe: And the dayes were not expired.
Afterward Dauid arose with his men, and went and slue of the Philistines two hundred men, and Dauid brought their foreskinnes, and they gaue them wholly to the king, that he might be the kinges sonne in lawe: Wherefore Saul gaue him Michol his daughter to wife.
And Saul saw and vnderstoode how that the Lorde was with Dauid, and that Michol his daughter loued him:
And he was the more afrayde of Dauid, and Saul became alway Dauids enemie.
The Lordes of the Philistines vsed to go foorth, and whe{n} they went foorth Dauid behaued him selfe more wysely then all the seruauntes of Saul, so that his name was much set by.
SAul spake to Ionathā his sonne, and to all his seruauntes, that they should kill Dauid.
But Ionathā Sauls sonne had a great fauour to Dauid, & Ionathan tolde Dauid, saying, Saul my father goeth about to slay thee: Nowe therfore I pray thee take heede to thy selfe vntyll the mornyng, and abyde in some secrete place, and hyde thy selfe:
And I wyll go out, and stande by my father in the fielde where thou art, and wyll commune with my father of thee, and whatsoeuer I see, I wyll tell thee.
And Ionathan spake good of Dauid vnto Saul his father, and sayde vnto him: Let not the king sinne against his seruaunt, against Dauid: for he hath not sinned against thee, and his workes haue ben to theewarde very good.
For he dyd put his life in his hande, and slue the Philistine, and the Lorde brought to passe a great health for all Israel: Thou sawest it, and thou reioycedst: Wherfore then wilt thou sinne against innocent blood, and slay Dauid without a cause?
And Saul hearkened vnto the voyce of Ionathan, and Saul sware, as the Lorde lyueth he shall not dye.
And Ionathan called Dauid, & Ionathan shewed hym all those wordes: & Ionathan brought Dauid to Saul, & he was in his presence as in tymes past.
And the warre began againe, and Dauid went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slue them with a great slaughter, and they fled from hym.
And the euyl spirite of the Lorde was vpon Saul as he sate in his house, hauing a iauelin in his hand: And Dauid played with his hand.
And Saul entended to smyte Dauid to the wall with the iauelyn: But he ryd him selfe out of Sauls presence, as he smote the speare into the walle: And Dauid fled & was saued the same night.
Saul also sent messengers vnto Dauids house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: And Michol Dauids wyfe tolde it him, saying: If thou saue not thy selfe this night, to morowe thou shalt be slayne.
And so Michol let Dauid downe through a windowe: and he went and fled, and was saued.
And Michol toke an image, and layde it in the bed, & put a pillowe stuffed with goates heere vnder the head of it, and couered it with a cloth.
And when Saul sent messengers to fetche Dauid, she said, he is sicke.
And Saul sent the messengers againe to see Dauid, saying: Bring him to me bed and all, that I may slay him.
And when the messengers were come in, behold there lay an image in the bed, with a pillowe of goates heere vnder the head of it.
And Saul sayde vnto Michol: Why hast thou mocked me so, and sent away mine enemie, that he is escaped? Michol aunswered Saul: For he sayd vnto me, let me go, or els I will kill thee.
And so Dauid fled, and escaped, & came to Samuel to Rama, and tolde him all that Saul had done to him: And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.
And one tolde Saul, saying: Beholde, Dauid is at Naioth in Rama.
And Saul sent messengers to fet Dauid: And when they sawe a company of prophetes prophecying, & Samuel standing as appoynted ouer them, the spirite of God fell vpon the messengers of Saul, and they prophecied to.
And when it was tolde Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophecied lykewyse. And Saul sent messengers yet againe the third time, and they prophecied also.
Then went he him selfe to Rama, and came to a great well that is in Sechu, and he asked and sayde: Where are Samuel & Dauid? And one sayd: Beholde, they be at Naioth in Rama.
And he went thyther euen to Naioth in Rama, and the spirite of God came vpon him also, and he went prophecying vntill he came to Naioth in Rama.
And he stript of his clothes & prophecied before Samuel in lyke maner, and fell naked al that day and all that night: And therof it is that they say, Is Saul also among the prophetes?
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?
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.
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.
Then sayde Ionathan vnto Dauid: Whatsoeuer thy soule desireth, that I will do vnto thee.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
Then sayd Dauid to Ionathan: Who shall tell me? howe [shall I knowe] if thy father aunswere thee cruelly?
And Ionathan sayde vnto Dauid: Come, and let vs go out into the fielde. And they went out both of them into the fielde.
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:
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.
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:
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.
And so Ionathan made a bonde with the house of Dauid, [saying:] Let the lord require it at the handes of Dauids enemies.
And Ionathan sware againe vnto Dauid, because he loued him (For he loued him as his owne soule)
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.
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.
And I wil shoote three arowes on the syde therof, as though I shot them at a marke,
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:
But and if I say vnto the lad, behold the arows are beyond thee, go thy way, for the Lorde hath sent thee away.
And as touching this which thou and I haue spoken, behold the Lorde be betweene thee and me for euer.
And so Dauid hid him selfe in the fielde: And when the newe moone was come, the king sate him downe to eate meate.
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.
Neuerthelesse, Saul sayde nothing at all that day: For he thought, Some thing hath befallen him, though he were cleane.
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?
And Ionathan aunswered vnto Saul: Dauid asked licence of me to go to Bethlehem.
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.
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?
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.
And Ionathan aunswered vnto Saul his father, and sayde to him: Wherfore should he dye? what hath he done?
And Saul lift vp a speare to hit him, wherby Ionathan wist well that it was vtterly determined of his father to slay Dauid.
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.
On the next morning, Ionathan went out into the fielde, at {th}e time appoynted with Dauid, and a litle lad with him.
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.
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?
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.
But the lad wist nothing of the matter, only Ionathan an Dauid wist it.
And Ionathan gaue his instrume{n}tes vnto the lad that was with him, and sayd vnto him: Go, and carry them to the towne.
And assoone as the lad was gone, Dauid arose out of a place that was towarde the south, & fel on his face to the ground, & bowed him selfe three times, And they kissed either other, and wept together, so long till Dauid exceeded.
And Ionathan sayd to Dauid, Go in peace: And the thinges which we haue sworne both of vs in {th}e name of the lord, saying, the Lord be betweene thee & me, and betweene thy sede & myne: let them stand for euer. And he arose, & departed: And Ionathan went into the towne.
THen came Dauid to Nob to Ahimelech the priest, and Ahimelech was astonied at the meeting of Dauid, & sayd vnto him: Why art thou alone and no man with thee?
And Dauid said to Ahimelech the priest: The king hath commaunded me a certaine thing, and hath sayd vnto me, Let no man know wher about I send thee, and what I haue commaunded thee: And I haue appoynted my seruauntes to suche and suche places.
Nowe therfore if thou hast ought vnder thyne hand, geue me fyue loaues of bread, or what commeth to hande.
And the priest aunswered Dauid, and sayd: There is no common bread vnder myne hand, but here is halowed bread: if the young me{n} haue kept them selues, specially from women.
Dauid aunswered the priest, and sayd vnto him: Of a trueth, women hath ben separated fro vs this two or three days since I came out, & the vessels of the young men were holy: Howebeit, this way is vnpure, and howe muche more shall there be holines in the vessell?
And so the priest gaue him halowed bread: for there was none other bread there, saue the shew bread that was taken from before the Lord, to put freshe bread there the day that it was taken away.
(And there was there the same day a certaine man, of the seruau{n}tes of Saul, abyding before {th}e Lord, named Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of Sauls heardmen.)
And Dauid sayd vnto Ahimelech: Is not here vnder thyne hand either speare or sworde? for I haue neither brought my sword nor my harnesse with me, because the kinges busines required haste.
And the priest sayd: The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou sluest in the valley of Elah, beholde it is here wrapt in a cloth behind the Ephod: If thou wilt take that, take it: for ther is no other saue that here. And Dauid sayd: There is none to that, geue it me.
And Dauid arose, & fled the same day from the presence of Saul, and went to Achis the king of Gath.
And the seruauntes of Achis sayde vnto him: Is not this Dauid the king of the land? Dyd they not sing vnto him in daunses, saying: Saul hath slayne his thousand, and Dauid his ten thousand?
And Dauid put those wordes into his heart, & was sore afrayde of Achis the king of Gath.
And he chaunged his speache before them, and fained him selfe mad in their handes, and scrabled on the doores of the gate, and let his spettell fall downe vpon his beard.
Then sayd Achis vnto his seruauntes: Lo, ye see that this man is besyde him selfe, wherfore then haue ye brought him to me?
Haue I neede of mad men, that ye haue brought this felowe to play the mad man in my presence? Shall he come into my house?
Dauid therfore departed thence, & escaped to the caue Adullam: Whe{n} his brethren also & his fathers house heard it, they went downe thyther to him.
And there gathered vnto him all men that were in combraunce, and in det, and troubled in their mindes, & he became a captayne ouer them: And there were with him vpon a foure hundred men.
And Dauid went thence to Mispah in the land of Moab, and sayde vnto the king of Moab: Let my father and my mother (I pray thee) come foorth vnto you, till I knowe what God wyl do for me.
And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the whyle that Dauid kept him selfe in the holde.
And the prophete Gad sayde vnto Dauid: Abyde not in the hold, but depart & go into the land of Iuda. Then Dauid departed, & came into the forest Hareth.
And Saul hearde that Dauid was discouered, and also the men that were with him: and Saul sat in Gibea vnder a tree in Rama, hauing his speare in his hande, and all his men stoode about him.
And Saul sayde vnto his seruauntes that stoode about him, Heare I pray you, ye sonnes of Iemini: will {th}e sonne of Isai geue euery one of you fieldes and vineyardes, and make you all captaines ouer thousandes and ouer hundredes,
That ye haue also conspired agaynst me, & there is none that telleth me that my sonne hath made a couenaunt with the sonne of Isai, and there is none of you yt is sory for me, or sheweth me that my sonne hath stirred vp my seruaunt to lye in wayte agaynst me [as appeareth] this day?
Then aunswered Doeg the Edomite (which was appoynted by {th}e seruauntes of Saul) and sayd: I sawe the sonne of Isai, when he came to Nob to Ahimelech the sonne of Ahitob,
Whiche asked councel of the Lorde for him, and gaue him vittayles, and the sword of Goliath the Philistine also.
Then the king sent and called for Ahimelech the priest the sonne of Ahitob, & all his fathers house [that is to saye] the priestes that were in Nob: And they came all to the king.
And Saul sayde: Heare nowe thou sonne of Ahitob. He aunswered: Here I am, my lorde.
And Saul sayde vnto him: Why haue ye conspired agaynst me, thou, and the sonne of Isai, in that thou hast geuen him vittayle, and a sworde, and hast asked councel of God for him, {tha}t he shoulde aryse against me, and lye in waite for me [as appeareth] this day?
Ahimelech aunswered the king, and sayde: Who is so faithfull among all thy seruauntes, as Dauid, and therto the kinges sonne in lawe: and goeth at thy bidding, and is had in honour in thyne house?
Haue I this day begun first to aske councell of God for him? That be farre from me: Let not the king impute any thing vnto his seruaut, nor to all {th}e house of my father: For thy seruaunt knewe nothing of all this, either lesse or more.
The king sayde, Thou shalt surely die Ahimelech, thou, & al thy fathers house.
And the king sayde vnto the footemen that stoode about him: Turne, and slay the priestes of the Lorde: both because their hand is with Dauid, and because they knewe when Dauid fled, and shewed it not to me. But the seruauntes of the king would not moue their hades to fal vpon the priestes of the Lorde.
And the king sayde to Doeg: Turne thou, & fall vpon the priestes. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and ranne vpon the priestes, & slue that same day fourescore and fiue persons that did weare a linnen Ephod.
And Nob the citie of {th}e priestes, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklinges, oxen and asses, & sheepe, with the edge of the sworde.
And one of the sonnes of Ahimelech the sonne of Ahitob, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled to Dauid.
And Abiathar shewed Dauid howe that Daul had slayne {th}e Lordes priestes.
And Dauid sayde vnto Abiathar: I wist it the same day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would tel Saul: and I am cause of the death of all the persons of thy fathers house.
Abyde thou with me, and feare not: For he that seketh my lyfe, he shall seke thine also, with me thou shalt be in safegarde.
THen they tolde Dauid, saying: Beholde, the Philistines fight against Keila, and spoyle the barnes.
Therfore Dauid asked counsell of the lord, saying: Shal I go and smyte these Philistines? And the Lord aunswered vnto Dauid: Go, and smite the Philistines, and saue Keila.
And Dauids men said vnto him, See, we be afrayde here in Iuda: howe much more then if we come to Keila against the hoast of the Philistines?
Then Dauid asked counsell of the Lorde agayne. And the Lorde aunswered him, and sayd: Aryse, and go downe to Keila, for I will deliuer the Philistines into thyne hande.
And so Dauid and his men went to Keila, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattell, & smote them with a great slaughter, and so Dauid saued {th}e inhabitauntes of Keila.
And when Abiathar the sonne of Ahimelech fled to Dauid to Keila, he brought an Ephod with him in his hande.
And it was tolde Saul that Dauid was come to Keila: And Saul sayde, God hath deliuered him into myne hande: For he is shut in, now that he is come into a towne that hath gates and barres.
And Saul called all the people together to warre, for to go downe to Keila, and to besiege Dauid and his men.
And Dauid hauing knowledge that Saul imagined mischiefe agaynst him, sayde to Abiathar the priest: Bring the Ephod.
Then sayde Dauid: O Lorde God of Israel, thy seruaunt hath hearde that Saul is about to come to Keila to destroye the citie for my sake:
Will the lordes of Keila deliuer me into his hande? And will Saul come downe, as thy seruaunt hath hearde, O Lorde God of Israel? I besech thee tell thy seruaunt. And the Lorde sayde: He wil come downe.
Then sayde Dauid: Will the lordes of Keila deliuer me and the men that are with me into the hand of Saul? And the Lorde sayde: They will deliuer thee vp.
Then Dauid, & his men, whiche were vpon a sixe hundred, arose and departed out of Keila, and went whyther they coulde: And it was tolde Saul that Dauid was fled from Keila, and he let the iourney alone.
Dauid abode in the wildernesse in strong holdes, and remained in a mountayne in the wildernesse of Ziph: And Saul sought him euery day, but God deliuered him not into his hande.
And Dauid sawe that Saul was come out to seke his lyfe: And Dauid was in the wildernesse of Ziph in the wood.
And Ionathan Sauls sonne arose and went to Dauid into the wood, and comforted his hande in God,
And sayd vnto him: Feare not, for the hand of Saul my father shall not finde thee, & thou shalt be king ouer Israel, and I shall be next vnto thee: and that doeth Saul my father knowe.
And they made a bond both of them together before the Lorde: And Dauid taried still in the wood, and Ionathan went to his house.
Then came the Ziphites to Saul to Gibea, saying: Doth not Dauid hyde him selfe fast by vs in strong holdes, in the wood in the hill of Hachila, on the right side of Iesimon?
Nowe therfore O king, thou mayest come downe according to all the lust of thy soule, and our part shalbe to deliuer him into the kinges hande.
And Saul sayde: Blessed are ye in the Lord, for ye haue compassion on me:
Go I pray you and prepare yet better, knowe and see where his foote hath ben, & who hath seene him there: for it is tolde me that he is very subtyll.
See therfore, and know al the lurking places where he hydeth him selfe, and come ye againe to me with {th}e certaintie, and I wil go with you: And yf he be in the lande, I will searche him out throughout al the thousandes of Iuda.
And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: But Dauid & his men were in the wildernesse of Maon, in the plaine that is on the right hande of Iesimon.
Saul also and his men went to seke him: And they told Dauid, wherfore he came downe vnto a rocke, and abode in the wildernesse of Maon: And when Saul heard that, he folowed after Dauid in the wildernesse of Maon.
And Saul and his men went on the one syde of the mountayne, and Dauid & his men on the other syde of the mountaine: And Dauid made haste to get fro{m} the presence of Saul. For Saul and his men, compassed Dauid and his men round about, to take them.
But ther came a messenger to Saul, saying: Haste thee and come, for the Philistines haue inuaded the lande.
Wherfore Saul returned from persecuting Dauid, and went against the Philistines: And therfore they called that place, Sela Hanmahlekoth. And Dauid went thence, and dwelt in strong holdes at Engadi.
WHen Saul was come againe fro{m} folowing after {th}e Philistines, there were which told him, saying: Behold, Dauid is in the wildernesse of Engadi.
Then Saul toke three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seke Dauid and his men in the heyght of the rockes where wilde goates remayne.
And he came to the sheepe coates by the way, where there was a caue, & Saul went in to do his easement: And Dauid and his men remayned in the inward partes of the caue.
And the men of Dauid sayd vnto him: See, the day is come, of which the Lord sayde vnto thee, Behold I will deliuer thyne enemie into thyne hand, and thou shalt do to him as it shall seeme good in thy sight. Then Dauid arose, and cut of the lappe of Sauls garment priuily.
And afterwarde Dauids heart smote him, because he had cut of the lap of Sauls garment.
And he sayd vnto his men: The Lorde kepe me from doyng that thing vnto my maister the lordes annoynted to lay myne hande vpon him, seing he is the annoynted of the Lorde.
And so Dauid kept of his seruauntes with these wordes, and suffred them not to rise against Saul: But Saul rose vp out of the caue, and went away.
Dauid also arose afterward, and went out of the caue, and cryed after Saul, saying: My Lorde king. And when Saul loked behind him, Dauid stowped [with] his face to the earth, and bowed him selfe.
And Dauid sayde to Saul: Wherfore geuest thou an eare to mens wordes that say, beholde Dauid seketh euyll against thee?
Behold, this day thyne eyes haue seene howe that the Lord hath deliuered thee this day into myne hande in the caue: And some bad me kill thee, but I had compassion on thee, and sayd: I will not lay myne handes on my maister, for he is the Lordes annoynted.
And moreouer my father, beholde and see yet the lap of thy garment in my hand: Inasmuch as I killed thee not when I cut of the lap of thy garment, vnderstand therfore, & see that there is neither euyll nor wickednesse in me, and that I haue not sinned against thee: And yet thou huntest after my soule to take it.
The Lorde be iudge betweene thee and me, & the Lorde auenge me of thee: but myne hande be not vpon thee.
According as the olde prouerbe sayeth, wickednesse proceedeth fro{m} the wicked: But myne hande be not vpon thee.
After whom is the king of Israel come out? After whom doest thou pursue? After a dead dog, and after a flea.
The Lorde therfore be iudge, & iudge betweene thee & me, and see & pleade my cause, & auenge me out of thyne hande.
When Dauid had made an ende of speaking these wordes to Saul, Saul sayde: Is this thy voyce my sonne Dauid? And Saul lift vp his voyce, and wept.
And sayde to Dauid, Thou art more righteous then I: for thou hast rewarded me with good, where as I haue rewarded thee with euyll.
And thou hast shewed this day, howe that thou hast dealt wel with me: forasmuch as when the Lorde had closed me in thyne handes, thou killedst me not.
For who shall finde his enemie, and let him depart into a good way? Wherfore the Lord reward thee with good, for that thou hast done vnto me this day.
And nowe beholde, I wote wel that thou shalt be king, & that the kingdome of Israel shalbe stablished in thyne hande:
Swere nowe therfore vnto me by the Lorde, that thou shalt not destroy my seede after me, and that thou shalt not put my name out of my fathers house.
And Dauid sware vnto Saul, & Saul went home: But Dauid and his men gat them vp vnto the holde.
And Samuel died, and all the Israelites gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his owne house at Rama. And Dauid arose, & went downe to the wildernesse of Pharan.
And ther was a man in Maon, whose possession was in Carmel, and the man was exceeding mightie, and had three thousande sheepe & a thousand goates: And he was shearing his sheepe in Carmel.
The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wyfe was Abigail, and she was a woman of a singuler wysedome, and beautifull: But the man was churlishe, and of shrewde conditions, & was of the kinred of Caleb.
And Dauid hearde in the wildernesse, that Nabal did sheare his sheepe.
And Dauid sent out ten young men, and sayd vnto them: Get you vp to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greete him in my name.
And ye shal say: So mayest thou lyue, peace be to thee, peace be to thyne house, and peace be vnto all that thou hast.
Beholde I haue hearde say that thou hast shearers: Nowe, thy shepheardes were with vs, & we did them no spite, neither was there ought missing vnto them al the while they were in Carmel:
Aske thy laddes, & they will shew thee: Wherfore let these young men finde fauour in thyne eyes (for we come in a good season) & geue I pray thee whatsoeuer commeth to thyne hande vnto thy seruauntes, and to thy sonne Dauid.
And when Dauids young men came, they told Nabal all those wordes in the name of Dauid: and helde their peace.
And Nabal aunswered Dauids seruauntes, and said: Who is Dauid? and who is {th}e sonne of Isai? There is plentie of seruauntes now a dayes that breake away euery man from his maister
Shal I then take my bread, my water, and my fleshe that I haue killed for my shearers, and geue it vnto men whom I wot not whence they be?
And so Dauids seruauntes turned their way, and went againe, and came and tolde him all those sayinges.
And Dauid sayd vnto his men: Girde euery man his sword about him. And they girded euery man his sword about him, and Dauid was girded with his sword: And there folowed Dauid vpon a foure hundred men, and two hundred abode by the stuffe.
But one of the laddes tolde Abigail Nabals wyfe, saying: Beholde, Dauid sent messengers vnto our maister out of the wildernesse to salute him: and he rayled on them.
And yet the men were very good vnto vs, and dyd vs no displeasure, neither missed we any thyng as long as we were conuersaunt with them when we were in the fieldes.
They were a wall vnto vs both by night and day, all the while we were with them keping sheepe.
Now therefore take heede, & see what thou shalt do: for surelie euyll will come vpon our maister and al his housholde, for he is so wicked, that a man can not speake to him.
Then Abigail made haste, and tooke two hundred loaues, and two bottels of wine, and fiue sheepe redie dressed, and fiue measures of parched corne, and an hundred frailes of reasynges, and two hundred cakes of fygges, & laded them on asses,
And sayde vnto her young men: Go before me, beholde I come after you. But she tolde her husband Nabal nothing thereof.
And as she rode on her asse, she came priuylie downe the syde of the hill, and behold Dauid and his men came downe against her, and she met them.
And Dauid saide: Surelie in vayne haue I kept all that this felow hath in the wildernes, so that nothing was missed of all that pertayned vnto him: and he hath quite me euill for good.
So and more also do God vnto the enemies of Dauid, if I leaue of all that pertayne to him by the dawnyng of the day, any that pysseth against the wall.
And when Abigail sawe Dauid, she hasted and lyghted of her asse, and fell before Dauid on her face, and bowed her selfe to the grounde,
And fell at his feete, and sayde: Let this iniquitie be counted myne my lord, and let thyne handmaide I praye thee speake in thyne audience, & heare the wordes of thy handmayd
Let not my lorde I pray thee regarde this wicked man Nabal: For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, & folly is with him: But I thyne handmayd sawe not the young men of my lorde whom thou sendedst.
Now therefore my lorde, as the Lord lyueth, and as thy soule liueth, euen the Lorde that hath withholden thee from comming to shed blood, and saued thee thyne hand: So nowe, I pray God that thyne enemies, & they that intende to do my lorde euyll, may be as Nabal.
And now this blessing which thyne handmayd hath brought vnto my lord, let it be geuen vnto the young men that folowe my lorde.
I praye thee forgeue the trespasse of thyne handmayd: for the Lorde will make my lord a sure house, because my lorde fighteth the battailes of the Lord, and there could none euill be found in thee in all thy dayes.
And yet a man hath rysen to persecute thee, and to seeke thy soule: but the soule of my Lorde shall be bound in the bundel of the lyuyng with the Lord thy God, and the soules of thy enemies shall God cast out, euen as out of the middle of a slyng.
And when the Lorde shall haue done to my lord al the good that he hath promysed thee, and shall haue made thee ruler ouer Israel:
Then shall it be no griefe vnto thee, nor offence of mynde vnto my lorde, that thou hast not shed blood causelesse, and that my lord hath not auenged him selfe: But when the Lorde shall haue dealt well with my lord, then thinke on thyne handmayde.
And Dauid said to Abigail: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meete me.
Blessed is thy saying, and blessed art thou which hast kept me this day from comming to shed blood, & from auengeing my selfe with myne owne hande.
For in very deede, as the Lorde God of Israel lyueth, which hath kept me backe from hurting thee: except thou haddest hasted and met me, surely there hadde not ben left vnto Nabal by the dawnyng of the day, any that pysseth against the wall.
And so Dauid receaued of her hande that which she had brought him, and sayde vnto her: Go vp in peace to thyne house, beholde I haue heard thy voyce, and haue graunted thy petition.
And Abigail came to Nabal, and beholde, he held a feast in his house lyke the feast of a king, and Nabals heart was mery within hym, for he was very drunken: Wherfore she tolde him nothyng neither lesse nor more, vntyll the morowe mornyng.
But in the morning when the wine was gone out of Nabal, his wyfe tolde him these wordes, and his heart dyed within him, and he became as a stone.
And vpon a ten dayes after, the Lord smote Nabal, that he dyed.
And when Dauid heard that Nabal was dead, he sayd: Blessed be the Lord that hath iudged {th}e cause of my rebuke of the hand of Nabal, & hath kept his seruaunt from euill: For the Lord hath recompenced the wickednes of Nabal vpon his owne head. And Dauid sent to commune with Abigail, to take her to his wyfe.
And when the seruauntes of Dauid were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake vnto her, saying: Dauid sent vs vnto thee, to take thee to his wyfe. And she arose, & bowed her selfe on her face to the earth, and saide: Beholde, let thy handmayd be a seruaunt, to washe the feete of the seruauntes of my lorde.
And Abigail hasted, and arose, & gate her vpon an Asse, with fiue damosels of hers that went at her feete, and she went after the messengers of Dauid, & became his wyfe.
Dauid also toke Ahinoam of Iezrael, and they were both his wyues.
But Saul had geuen Michol his daughter, Dauids wyfe, to Phalti the sonne of Lais, which was of Gallim.
THE Ziphites came againe vnto Saul to Gibea, saying: Doth not Dauid hide him selfe in the hill of Hachil•a, which is before Iesimon?
Saul arose, & went downe to the wildernes of Ziph, hauing three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, for to seke Dauid in the wildernesse of Ziph.
And Saul pitched in the hil of Hachilia, which is before Iesimon by the way side: But Dauid dwelt in the wildernesse, and he sawe that Saul came after him into the wildernesse:
Dauid therefore sent out spies, & vnderstoode that Saul was come in very deede.
And Dauid arose, & came to the place where Saul had pitched: & Dauid beheld the place where Saul lay, & Abner the sonne of Ner which was his chiefe captayne: for Saul lay in the fort, & the people pytched rounde about him.
Then aunswered Dauid, and spake to Ahimelech the Hethite, and to Abisai the sonne of Zaruia, & brother to Ioab, saying: Who wyll go downe with me to Saul to the hoast? And Abisai saide: I wyll go downe with thee.
And so Dauid and Abisai came downe to the people by night, and behold Saul lay sleepyng within the fort, and his speare stacke in {th}e grounde at his head: but Abner and the people lay rounde about hym.
Then saide Abisai to Dauid, God hath closed thyne enemie into thyne hand thys day: Nowe I pray thee let me smite him once with my speare to the earth, & I will not smite him the second tyme.
And Dauid saide to Abisai, Destroye him not: For who can laye his hand on the Lordes annoynted, and be giltlesse?
And Dauid sayd furthermore: As the Lorde lyueth, the Lorde shall smyte him or his day shall come to dye, or he shall descend into battaile, and perishe.
The Lorde kepe me from laying myne hand vpon the Lordes annoynted: But I praye thee take thou nowe the speare that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let vs go.
And so Dauid toke the speare and the cruse of water from Sauls head, and they gat them away, and no man sawe it, nor marked it, neither awaked: For they were all asleepe, because the Lorde had sent a dead sleepe vpon the{m}.
Then Dauid went ouer to the other syde, and stoode on the toppe of an hill a farre of (a great space being betweene them:)
And Dauid cryed to the people, and to Abner the sonne of Ner, saying: Hearest thou not Abner? Abner aunswered and sayd: Who art thou that cryest to the king?
And Dauid sayde to Abner: Art not thou a man? and who is lyke to thee in Israel? Wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lorde the king? For there came one of the folke in to destroye the king thy lorde.
It is not well done of thee: As the Lorde lyueth, ye are worthy to dye, because ye haue not kept the Lordes annoynted: And nowe see where the kinges speare is, and the cruse of water that was at his head.
And Saul knew Dauids voyce, and sayd: Is this thy voyce my sonne Dauid? And Dauid sayde: It is my voyce my lorde, O king.
And he sayde: Wherefore doth my lorde thus persecute his seruaunt? for what haue I done? or what euyll is in myne hand?
Nowe therefore I praye thee, let my lorde the king heare the wordes of his seruaunt: If the Lorde haue stirred thee vp against me, let him smell the sauour of a sacrifice: But and if they be the children of men, cursed are they before the Lorde, for they haue cast me out this day from abidyng in the inheritaunce of the Lorde, saying: Go, serue other goddes.
Now therefore let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lorde: For the king of Israel is come out to seeke a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountaynes.
Then saide Saul, I haue sinned: Come agayne my sonne Dauid, for I will do thee no more harme, because my soule was precious in thyne eyes this day: Beholde, I haue played the foole, and haue erred exceedinly.
And Dauid aunswered and said: Beholde the kinges speare, let one of the young men come ouer and fet it.
The Lorde rewarde euery man according to his righteousnes, and faythfulnesse: For the Lorde deliuered thee into my hand this day, but I would not lay mine hand vpon the Lordes annoynted.
And behold, like as thy life was much set by this day in myne eyes: so be my lyfe set by in the eyes of the Lorde, that he deliuer me out of all tribulation.
Then Saul saide to Dauid: Blessed art thou my sonne Dauid, for thou shalt do great thinges and preuaile. And so Dauid went his way, and Saul turned to his place agayne.
ANd Dauid sayd in his heart, I shall perishe one day by the hand of Saul: therefore is there nothing better for me, then to flee and saue my self in the land of the Philistines, and Saul shall ceasse and seeke me no more in all the coastes of Israel, and so shall I escape out of his hand.
And Dauid arose, and he and the sixe hundred men that were with him, went vnto Achis the sonne of Maoch, king of Gath.
And Dauid dwelt with Achis at Gath, both he and his men, euery man with his housholde, and Dauid with his two wiues, Ahinoam the Iezrahelite, and Abigail Nabals wyfe the Carmelite.
And it was tolde Saul that Dauid was fled to Gath, and he sought no more for him.
And Dauid sayde vnto Achis: If I haue now founde grace in thyne eyes, let them geue me a place in some towne in {th}e countrey, that I may dwell there: For why should thy seruaunt dwell in the head citie of the kingdome with thee?
Then Achis gaue him Ziklag that same day, for which cause Ziklag pertayneth vnto the kinges of Iuda vnto this day.
And the tyme that Dauid dwelt in the countrey of the Philistines, was foure monethes, and certaine dayes.
And Dauid and his men went vp and inuaded the Gesurites, the Gerzites, & the Amalekites: For those natio{n}s were from the beginnyng the inhabitauntes of the lande, as men go to Sur, vnto the land of Egypt.
And Dauid smote the lande, & left neither man nor woman alyue, and droue away the sheepe, the oxen, the asses, camelles, and clothes, and returned, and came to Achis.
And Achis saide: Where haue ye ben a rouing this day? And Dauid aunswered: Against the south of Iuda, and against the south of the Ierameelites, and against the south of the Kenites.
And Dauid saued neither man nor woman alyue to bring to Gath, saying: lest they should tell on vs, saying, so dyd Dauid, and so will be his maner all the whyle he dwelleth in the countrey of the Philistines.
And Achis beleued Dauid, saying: He hath made his people Israel vtterly to abhorre him, & therefore he shalbe my seruaunt for euer.
ANd in those dayes, the Philistines gathered theyr hoast together to warre, to fight with Israel: And Achis sayd to Dauid, Be sure thou shalt go out with me to battayle, thou and the men that are with thee.
And Dauid sayde to Achis: Surelie thou shalt knowe what thy seruaunt can do. And Achis said to Dauid: Then I will make thee keper of my head for euer.
Samuel was then dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Rama his owne citie: And Saul had put away the sorcerers, and the soothsayers out of the land.
And the Philistines gathered together, and came, and pytched in Sunem: And Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pytched in Gilboa.
And when Saul sawe the hoast of the Philistines, he was afrayde, & his heart was sore astonied.
And when Saul asked councell of the Lorde, the Lorde aunswered him not, neither by dreames, nor by Vrim, nor yet by prophetes.
Then sayd Saul vnto his seruau{n}tes: Seeke me a woman that hath a familier spirite, that I may go to her, and aske of her. And his seruauntes sayd to him: Beholde, there is a woman that hath a familier spirite at Endor.
And Saul chaunged him selfe, and put on other rayment, and then went he & two men with him, and they came to the woman by nyght, and he sayde: I pray thee coniecture vnto me by the familier spirite, & bring me him vp whom I shall name vnto thee.
And the woman saide vnto him: Beholde, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath destroyed the sorcerers, and the soothsayers out of the land: Wherfore then layest thou a snare for my soule, to cause me to die?
And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying: As the Lorde lyueth, there shall no harme come to thee for this thyng.
Then saide the woman: Whom shall I fetch vp vnto thee? He aunswered: Bring me vp Samuel.
When the woman sawe Samuel, she cryed with a loude voyce, and spake to Saul, saying: Why hast thou deceaued me? for thou art Saul.
And the king saide vnto her: Be not afrayd: What sawest thou? The woman saide vnto Saul: I sawe gods ascending vp out of the earth.
He saide vnto her againe: What fashion is he of? She aunswered: There co{m}meth vp an olde man with a mantel vpon him. And Saul perceaued that it was Samuel, and he stowped with his face to the ground, and bowed him selfe.
And Samuel said to Saul: Why hast thou vnquieted me, to make me be brought vp? Saul aunswered: I am sore encumbred, for {th}e Philistines make warre against me, and God is departed from me, and aunswereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreames: And therefore I haue called thee, that thou mayest tell me what I shall do.
Then saide Samuel: Wherefore doest thou aske of me, while the Lord is gone from thee, and is become thyne enemie?
Trulie the Lord hath done to him, euen as he spake by my hand: For the Lorde hath rent the kingdome out of thyne hand, and geuen it thy neyghbour Dauid.
Because thou obeyedst not the voyce of the Lorde, nor executedst his fierce wrath vpon the Amalekites, therefore hath the Lord done this vnto thee this day.
And moreouer, the Lord will deliuer Israel with thee into the handes of the Philistines: To morrowe shalt thou and thy sonnes be with me, and the Lorde shall geue the hoast of Israel into the handes of the Philistines.
Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afrayde because of the wordes of Samuel. And there was no strength in him: for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
And the woman came vnto Saul, & sawe that he was sore troubled, & sayde vnto him: See, thyne handmayde hath obeyed thy voyce, & haue put my soule in my hand, and haue hearkened vnto thy wordes which thou sayedst vnto me.
Nowe therefore I pray thee hearken thou also vnto the voyce of thyne handmayde, and let me set a morsell of bread before thee, that thou mayest eate, and get thee strength, & then go on thy iourney.
He refused, and sayde: I will not eate. But his seruauntes and the woman together compelled him, and he hearkened vnto their voyce: And so he arose from the earth, and sat on a bed.
The woman had a fat calfe in the house, and she hasted and killed it, and tooke floure and kneded it, and did bake vnleauened bread thereof:
And brought them before Saul, and before his seruauntes: And when they had eaten, they stoode vp, & went away the same night.
SO the Philistines were gathered together with all their armies in Aphec: and the Israelites pytched by Ain, which is in Iezrael.
And the princes of the Philistines went foorth by hundreds and thousandes: But Dauid and his men came behinde with Achis.
The{n} sayd the princes of the Philistines, what do these Ebrues [here]? Achis said vnto the princes of the Philistines: Is not this Dauid, the seruaunt of Saul the king of Israel, which hath ben with me these dayes, or these yeres, and I haue found no fault in him, since he fell vnto me, vnto this day?
And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with hym, and the princes of the Philistines sayde vnto hym: Make this felowe returne, that he may go againe to his place which thou hast appoynted hym, and let hym not go downe with vs to battayle, lest in the battayle he be an aduersarie to vs: For wherewith shoulde he obtayne the fauour of his maister? shoulde it not be with the heades of these men?
Is not this Dauid, to whom they sang in daunces, saying: Saul slue his thousande, & Dauid his ten thousande?
Then Achis called Dauid, and sayde vnto him: As the Lorde lyueth, thou hast ben honest, and good in my sight, when thou wentest out and in with me in the hoast, neither haue I founde euyll with thee sence thou camest to me, vnto this day: Neuerthelesse, the princes fauour thee not.
Wherefore nowe returne, and go in peace, that thou displease not the princes of the Philistines.
And Dauid sayde vnto Achis: And what haue I done? what hast thou founde in thy seruaunt as long as I haue ben with thee vnto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lorde the king?
Achis aunswered and sayd to Dauid: I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angell of God: Notwithstanding, the princes of the Philistines haue sayde, Let him not go vp with vs to battaile.
Wherefore now ryse vp earlie in the morning with thy maisters seruau{n}tes that are come to thee: and whe{n} ye be vp earlie, assoone as ye haue lyght, departe.
And so Dauid & his men rose vp earlie, to depart in the morning, and to returne into the land of the Philistines: And the Philistines we{n}t vp to Iezrael.
BVt when Dauid and his men were come to Ziklag the third day, the Amalekites had inuaded vppon the south, euen vnto Ziklag, and had smitten Ziklag, and burnt it with fyre.
And had taken the women that were therein prisoners, both small and great: but slue not a man, saue carryed them away, and went their wayes.
So Dauid and his men came to the citie, and beholde it was burnt with fyre: and their wiues, their sonnes, and their daughters were taken prisoners.
Then Dauid & the people that were with him, lift vp their voyces and wept, vntill they could weepe no more.
And Dauids two wiues were taken prisoners also, Ahinoam the Iezrahelite, and Abigail the wyfe of Nabal the Carmelite.
And Dauid was in great cumbraunce: For the people entended to stone him, because the heartes of all {th}e people were vexed euery man for his sonnes and for his daughters: But Dauid toke a good courage to him in the Lorde his God,
And sayde to Abiathar the priest Ahimelechs sonne: I pray thee, bring me the Ephod. And Abiathar brought the Ephod to Dauid.
And Dauid asked councel at the Lord, saying: Shall I follow after this company? shall I ouertake them? And he aunswered him: Folowe, for thou shalt suerlie ouertake them, and recouer all.
So Dauid and the sixe hundred men that were with him, went and came to the ryuer Besor, where a parte of them abode.
But Dauid and foure hundred men folowed: (For two hundred abode behinde, being to weery to go ouer the ryuer Besor)
And they founde an Egyptian in the fielde, and brought him to Dauid, and gaue him bread, & he did eate, and water to drinke.
And gaue him a fewe fygges, and two clusters of reasinges: And when he had eaten, his spirite came againe to him: For he had eaten no bread nor druncke any water in three dayes and three nightes.
And Dauid said vnto him: To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? He sayd: I am a young man of Egypt, and seruaunt to an Amalekite, and my maister left me, because three dayes agone I fell sicke.
We came a rouyng vpon the south of Chretus, and vpon the [coast] belonging to Iuda, and toward the south of Caleb, and we burnt Ziklag with fyre.
And Dauid saide to him: Canst thou bring me to this company? And he said: Sweare vnto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliuer me into the handes of my maister, and I will bring thee to this company.
And when he had brought him thyther, beholde they laye scattered abrode vpon all the earth, eating, and drynking, & daunsing, because of al the great praye that they had carried away out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Iuda.
And Dauid layde vpon them from the twylight, euen vnto the euening of the next morowe: so that there escaped not a man of them, saue foure hundred young men which rode vpon cammels, and fled.
And Dauid recouered all that the Amalekites had carryed away, and Dauid reseued his two wyues:
So that there was nothing lacking to them, small or great, sonne or daughter, or of the spoyle of all that they had taken away, Dauid recouered them all.
And Dauid tooke all the sheepe, and the oxen, and they draue them before his cattaile, and saide: This is Dauids pray.
And Dauid came to the two hundred men, that were to weery for to folowe Dauid, whom they had made also to abyde at the ryuer Besor: And they came to meete Dauid & the people that were with him: And when Dauid came to the people, he saluted them.
Then aunswered all the wicked and the vnthryftes of the men that went with Dauid, and saide: Because they went not with vs, therfore wil we geue them none of the pray that we haue recouered: But let euery man take his wife and his children, those let them carry away and departe.
Then sayd Dauid: Ye shall not do so my brethren with that which the Lord hath geuen vs, who hath preserued vs, and delyuered the company that came against vs, into our handes.
For who will hearke{n} vnto you in this matter? But as his parte is that goeth downe and fighteth, so shall his parte be that tarryeth by the stuffe: they shall parte alyke.
And so from that day forward, was that made a statute and lawe in Israel, vnto this day,
When Dauid therefore came to Ziklag, he sent of the pray vnto the elders of Iuda and to his friendes, saying: See, there is a blessing for you of the spoyle of the enemies of the Lorde.
He sent to them of Bethel, to them of south Ramoth, to them of Iathir,
To them of Aroer, to them of Sephamoth, to them of Esthema,
To them of Rachal, to them of the cities of Jerahmeel, to them of the cities of the Kenites,
To them of Horma, to them of Chorashan, to them of Athach,
To them that are in Hebron, and to all places where Dauid and his men were wont to haunt.
AND the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled away from the Philistines, and fell downe wounded in mount Gilboa.
And the Philistines preassed sore vpon Saul & his sonnes, & slue Ionathan, & Abinadab, & Melchisua, Sauls sonnes.
And when the battaile went sore against Saul, the archers with bowes found him, and he was fore afrayde of the archers.
The{n} said Saul vnto his harnesse bearer, Draw out thy sword, & thrust me through therewith: lest the vncircumcised come and thrust me through & mocke me. And his harnesse bearer wolde not, for he was sore afrayd: Therefore Saul toke a sword, and fell vpon it.
And when his harnesse bearer sawe that Saul was dead, he fell lykewise vpon his sword, and dyed with him.
And so Saul dyed, & his three sonnes, and his harnesse bearer, and al his men that same day together.
And when the men of Israel, that were on the other syde of the valley, and they of the other syde Iordaine, sawe that the men of Israel were put to flight, and that Saul and his sonnes were dead, they left the cities, and ran away, and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
On the morow when the Philistines were come to spoyle them that were slaine, they founde Saul and his three sonnes lying in mount Gilboa.
And they cut of his head, and stripped him out of his harnesse, & sent into the land of {th}e Philistines on euery syde, that they should puplishe it in the temple of their idolles, and among the people.
And they layed vp his harnesse in the house of Astaroth: but they hanged vp his body on the wall of Bethsan.
When the inhabitauntes of Iabes in Gilead heard thereof, what the Philistines had done to Saul:
They arose, as many as were strong men, and went all night, & toke the bodie of Saul, & the bodies of his sonnes, from the wall of Bethsan, and came to Iabes, and burnt them there.
And toke their bones & buryed them vnder a tree at Iabes, & fasted seuen dayes.
AFter the death of Saul, when Dauid was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and had ben two daies in Ziklag:
Beholde, there came a man the thirde day out of the hoast from Saul, with his clothes rent, & earth vpon his head: And when he came to Dauid, he fell to the earth, and did obeysaunce.
Dauid sayde vnto him: whence co{m}mest thou? He sayde vnto him: Out of the hoast of Israel I am escaped.
And Dauid sayde vnto him: And what is done I pray thee? tell me. He sayde: The people is fled from the battell, and many of the people are ouerthrowen and dead, and Saul and Ionathan his sonne are dead also.
And Dauid sayd vnto the young man that tolde it him: Howe knowest thou that Saul and Ionathan his sonne be dead?
The young man that tolde him, aunswered: As I came vnaduisedly to mount Gilboa, beholde Saul leaned vpon his speare: and lo, the charettes and horsemen folowed hard after him.
And when he loked backe, he sawe me, and called me. And I aunswered: here am I.
And he sayde vnto me: Who art thou? I aunswered him: I am an Amalekite.
He sayde vnto me agayne: I pray thee come vpon me, and slea me: For anguyshe is come vpon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
And so I stoode vpon him, and slue him, and because I was sure that he coulde not liue after that he had fallen, I toke the crowne that was vpon his head, and the braselet that was on his arme, and haue brought them hyther vnto my lorde.
Then Dauid toke holde on his clothes, and rent them, and so did all the men that were with him.
And they mourned, and wept, and fasted vntil euen for Saul and Ionathan his sonne, & for the people of the Lorde, and for the house of Israel, because they were ouerthrowen with the sworde.
And Dauid sayd vnto the young man that brought him these tidings: Whence art thou? He aunswered: I am the sonne of an aliaunt, an Amakelite.
And Dauid sayde vnto him: Howe is it that thou wast not afrayde to lay thyne hande on the lordes annoynted, to destroy him?
And Dauid called one of his young me{n}, and sayd: Go to, and fall vpon him. And he smote him, that he died.
Then said Dauid vnto him, Thy blood be vpon thyne owne head: For thyne owne mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I haue slayne the lordes annoynted.
And Dauid mourned with this lamentation ouer Saul and ouer Ionathan his sonne,
(Also he bad them teache the children of Iuda the vse of the bowe: And beholde, it is written in the booke of the righteous:)
O noble Israel, he is slaine vpon thy hie places: howe are the mightie ouerthrowen?
Tell it not in Gath, nor publishe it in the streates of Askalon: lest the daughters of the Philistines reioyce, and lest the daughters of the vncircumcised triumph.
Ye mountaynes of Gilboa, vpon you be neither deawe nor raine, nor fieldes of offeringes: For there the shield of the mightie is cast downe, the shielde of Saul, as though he had not ben annoynted with oyle.
The bowe of Ionathan neuer turned backe, neither did the sword of Saul returne emptie fro{m} the blood of the slayne, and from the fat of the mightie.
Saul and Ionathan were louely and pleasaunt in their lyues, and in their deathes they were not deuided: They were swyfter then Egles, and stronger then Lions.
Ye daughters of Israel weepe ouer Saul, which clothed you in scarlet with pleasures, and hanged ornamentes of golde vpon your apparell.
Howe were the mightie slayne in the middest of the battel? O Ionathan thou wast slayne in thyne hye places.
Wo is me for thee my brother Ionathan, very kinde hast thou ben vnto me: Thy loue to me was wonderful, passing the loue of women.
O how are the mightie ouerthrowen, and the weapons of warre destroyed?
AFter this, Dauid asked counsel at the lord, saying: Shall I go vp into any of the cities of Iuda? And the Lorde sayd vnto him: Go vp. And Dauid said: Whyther shall I go? He aunswered: Vnto Hebron.
And so Dauid went thyther with his two wyues, Ahinoam the Iezraelite, & Abigail Nabals wyfe the Carmelite.
And the men that were with him did Dauid cary vp also, euery man with his housholde: And they dwelt in the townes of Hebron.
And the men of Iuda came, and there they annoynted Dauid kyng ouer the house of Iuda: And they tolde Dauid, saying, It is the men of Iabes Gilead that buried Saul.
And Dauid sent messengers vnto the men of Iabes Gilead, and sayde vnto them: Blessed are ye vnto the lord, that ye haue shewed suche kindnesse vnto your lord Saul, and haue buried him.
And nowe the Lorde shewe mercy and trueth vnto you: And I will do you also suche kindnes, as ye haue done in this thing:
Therfore nowe let your handes be strong, and play ye the men: For your maister Saul is dead, and they that are of the house of Iuda haue annoynted me king ouer them.
But Abner the sonne of Ner that was captayne of Sauls hoaste, toke Isboseth the sonne of Saul, and brought him to Mahanaim,
And made him king ouer Gilead, and ouer the Assurites, and ouer Iezrael, Ephraim, Beniamin, & ouer all Israel.
And Isboseth Sauls sonne was fourtie yeres olde when he began to raigne ouer Israel, and raigned two yeres: But the house of Iuda folowed Dauid.
(And the time whiche Dauid raigned in Hebron ouer the house of Iuda, was seuen yeres and sixe monethes.)
And Abner the sonne of Ner, and the seruauntes of Isboseth the sonne of Saul we{n}t out of Mahanaim to Gibeon
And Ioab the sonne of Zaruia, and the seruauntes of Dauid, went out and met one another by the poole of Gibeon: And they sate downe, the one on the one side of the poole, and the other on the other side.
And Abner sayde to Ioab: Let the young men nowe aryse, and play before vs. And Ioab sayde: Let them aryse.
Then there arose & went ouer twelue of Beniamin by numbre, which pertayned to Isboseth the sonne of Saul, and twelue of the seruauntes of Dauid.
And euery one caught his felowe by {th}e head, & thrust his sword in his felowes side, and so they fell downe together: Wherefore the place was called Helkath hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
And there was an exceeding cruell battel that same day: For Abner and the men of Israel fell before the seruauntes of Dauid.
And there were three sonnes of Zaruia there: Ioab, Abisai, and Asahel: And Asahel was as light of foote as a wilde Roe.
And Asahel folowed after Abner, and in goyng he turned neither to the right hande nor to the left, from Abner.
Then Abner loked behynd him, and sayde: Art thou Asahel? He aunswered: Yea.
Abner sayd: Turne thee either to the right hande or the left, and catche one of the young men, and take thee his weapons. But Asahel woulde not depart from him.
And Abner sayd agayne to Asahel, Depart fro{m} me: Wherfore should I smite thee to the grounde, and not be able to holde vp my face to Ioab thy brother?
Howebeit, when he woulde in no wyse depart, Abner with the hynder ende of the speare smote him vnder the fyft ribbe, that the speare came out behinde him, that he fell downe in the same place, and died there: And as many as came to the place where Asahel fell downe and died, stoode still.
Ioab also and Abisai pursued after Abner: And the sunne went downe when they were come to the hil Amma, that lyeth before Giah, by the way of the wildernesse of Gibeon.
And the children of Beniamin gathered them selues together after Abner, & were on a heape, and stoode on the top of an hill.
Then Abner called to Ioab, and said: Shall the sword deuour for euer? Knowest thou not, that it wil be bitternesse in the latter ende? Howe long then shall it be yer thou bid the people returne from folowing their brethren?
And Ioab sayde: As God lyueth, if thou haddest not spoken, suerly euen in the morning the people had departed, euery one from persecuting his brother.
And so Ioab blewe a trumpet, and all the people stoode still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
And Abner and his men walked all that night through the playne, & went ouer Iordane, & past through all Bethhoron, till they came to Mahanaim.
And Ioab returned from persecuting Abner, and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of Dauids seruau{n}tes nineteene men, & Asahel.
But the seruauntes of Dauid had smitten of Beniamin and of Abners men, [so that] three hundred and threescore men died.
And they toke vp Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem: And Ioab and his men went all night, and the day arose to them at Hebron.
THere was then long warre betweene the house of Saul, and the house of Dauid: But Dauid waxed stro{n}ger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
And vnto Dauid were children borne in Hebron: his eldest sonne also was Amnon of Ahinoam the Iesraelite:
The seconde, Cheleab of Abigail the wyfe of Nabal the Carmelite: the third, Absalom the sonne of Maacha the daughter of Thalmai, the king of Gessur:
The fourth, Adonia the sonne of Haggith: the fyft, Sephatia the sonne of Abital:
And the sixt Iethream, by Egla Dauids wyfe: These were borne to Dauid in Hebron.
And whyle there was warre betweene the house of Saul and the house of Dauid, Abner held vp the house of Saul.
And Saul had a concubine named Rispha, the daughter of Ahia: And Isboseth sayd to Abner, Wherfore hast thou gone in vnto my fathers concubine?
Then was Abner very wroth for the wordes of Isboseth, and sayde: Am I a dogges head, whiche against Iuda do shew mercie this day vnto the house of Saul thy father, and to his brethren and frendes, & haue not deliuered thee into the hande of Dauid: and thou fyndest a fault in me this day for this woman?
So do God to Abner, and more also, except as the Lorde hath sworne to Dauid, euen so will I do to him,
To bring the kingdome fro{m} the house of Saul, that the throne of Dauid may be stablisshed ouer Israel and ouer Iuda, euen from Dan to Beerseba.
And he coulde geue Abner neuer a worde to aunswere, because he feared him.
And Abner sent messengers to Dauid secretly, saying: Whose is the land? Who should [also] say, Make a bond with me, and beholde my hande is with thee, to bring all Israel vnto thee.
He sayde: Well, I will make a bonde with the: But one thing I require of thee, that is, that thou see not my face, except thou first bring Michol Sauls daughter, when thou co{m}mest to see me.
And Dauid sent messengers to Isboseth Sauls sonne, saying: Deliuer me my wife Michol, whiche I maried for an hundred foreskinnes of {th}e Philistines.
And Isboseth sent, and toke her from her husband Phalti the sonne of Lais.
And her husband went with her, and came weeping behinde her, til they came to Bahurim. Then sayde Abner vnto him, Go and returne. And he returned.
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying: Ye sought for Dauid in times past, that he might be your king:
Nowe then do it: for the Lorde hath spoken of Dauid, saying: By the hande of my seruaunt Dauid, I will saue my people Israel out of the handes of the Philistines, and out of the hande of all their enemies.
And Abner spake in the eares of Beniamin: and afterward Abner went to speake in the eares of Dauid in Hebron all that Israel was content with and the whole house of Beniamin.
And so Abner came to Dauid to Hebron, hauing twentie men with him: & Dauid made him & the men that were with him a feast.
And Abner sayde vnto Dauid: I will vp, & go gather all Israel vnto my lorde the king, that they may make an appoyntment with thee, and that thou mayest raigne ouer all that thyne heart desireth. And when Dauid had let Abner depart, he went in peace.
And behold, the seruauntes of Dauid and Ioab came from the campe, and brought a great pray with them: (But Abner was not with Dauid in Hebron, for he had sent him away to depart in peace.)
When Ioab and al the hoast that was with him were come, men tolde Ioab, saying: Abner the sonne of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, that he is gone in peace.
Then Ioab came to the king, and said: What hast thou done? Behold, Abner came vnto thee, and why hast thou sent him away, and he is quyte gone?
Thou knowest Abner the sonne of Ner, for he came to deceaue thee, and to knowe thy outgoyng and ingoyng, and to knowe all that thou doest.
And when Ioab was come out from Dauid, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him againe from the well of Sira, vnknowing to Dauid.
And when Abner was come againe to Hebron, Ioab toke him asyde in the gate to speake with him peaceably, and smote him vnder the fyft ribbe, that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother,
And when afterwarde it came to Dauids eare, he sayde: I and my kingdome are giltlesse before the Lord for euer concerning the blood of Abner the sonne of Ner.
Let the blood fall on the head of Ioab and on all his fathers house, that the house of Ioab be neuer without one or other that hath running issues or leper, or that leaneth on a staffe, or that doth fall on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
(So Ioab & Abisai his brother slue Abner, because he had slayne their brother Asahel at Gibeon in battell.)
And Dauid sayde to Ioab and to all the people that were with him: Rent your clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourne before Abner. And king Dauid him selfe folowed the beere.
And when they buried Abner in Hebron, the king lift vp his voyce, & wept besyde the sepulchre of Abner, and al the people wept.
And the king lamented ouer Abner, and sayde: Died Abner as a foole dieth?
Thy handes were not bounde, nor thy feete brought into fetters of brasse: but as a man falleth before wicked children, so fellest thou. And all they that were of the people, wept yet more ouer him.
And when all the people came to cause Dauid eate meate whyle it was yet day, Dauid sware, saying: So do God to me and more also, if I taste bread or ought els tyll the sunne be downe.
And all the people wist it, and it pleased them: as whatsoeuer the king did, pleased all the people.
For all the people and all Israel vnderstoode that day, how that it was not the kinges deede that Abner the sonne of Ner was slayne.
And the king said vnto his seruauntes: Knowe ye not howe that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
And I am this day tender and newly annoynted king, and these men the sonnes of Zaruia be to hard for me: The Lorde rewarde the doer of euyll, according to his wickednesse.
AND when Sauls sonne hearde that Abner was dead in Hebron, his handes were feeble, & al the Israelites were afrayde.
And Sauls so{n}ne had two me{n} that were captaines of bandes, the one called Baanah, & the other Rechab, the sonnes of Rimmon a Berothite, of the children of Beniamin: (for Beroth was reckened to Beniamin,
And these Berothites fled to Githaim, and soiourned there vntill this day)
And Ionathan Sauls sonne had a sonne that was lame on his feete, and was fiue yeres olde when the tydinges came of Saul & Ionathan out of Iesrael: And his nurse toke hym vp, and fled away, and as she made haste to flee, the chylde fell, and began to halt, and his name was Miphiboseth.
And the sonnes of Rimmon the Berothite, Rechab and Baanah, went and came in the heate of the day to the house of Isboseth (whiche slept on a bed at noone.)
And behold, they came into the middes of the house, as though they woulde haue fetched wheate, and Rechab and Baanah his brother smote him vnder the fyft ribbe, and fled.
For when they came into the house, he slept on his bed in his bed chamber, and they smote him and slue him, & beheaded him, and toke his head, & gat them away through the plaine all the night.
And they brought the head of Isboseth vnto Dauid to Hebron, and sayde to the king: Behold, there is the head of Isboseth Sauls sonne thyne enemie whiche sought after thy lyfe, and the Lorde hath auenged my lorde the kyng this day of Saul and of his seede.
And Dauid aunswered Rechab and Baanah his brother {th}e sonnes of Rimmon the Berothite, and said vnto them: As the Lorde lyueth, whiche hath deliuered my soule out of all aduersites:
When one tolde me & sayde that Saul was dead (thynking to haue brought good tydinges) I caught him, and slue him in Ziklag: whiche thought that I woulde haue geuen him a rewarde for his tydinges bringing:
Howe much more when wicked men haue slayne a righteous person in his owne house and vpon his bed? Shal I not nowe therfore require his blood of your hande, & take you from the earth?
And Dauid commaunded his young men, and they slue them, and cut of their handes and feete, and hanged them vp ouer the poole in Hebron: But they toke the head of Isboseth, & buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
THen came all the tribes of Israel to Dauid vnto Hebron, and sayde thus: Beholde, we are thy bone, and thy fleshe.
And in time past whe{n} Saul was our king, thou leddest Israel in and out: and the Lord hath sayd to thee, thou shalt feede my people Israel, & thou shalt be a captayne ouer Israel.
And so all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and king Dauid made a couenaunt with them in Hebron before the Lorde: and they annointed Dauid king ouer Israel.
Dauid was thirtie yeres olde when he began to raigne, and he raigned fourtie yeres.
In Hebron he raigned ouer Iuda seuen yeres and sixe monethes: and in Hierusalem he raigned thirtie and three yeres ouer all Israel and Iuda.
The king also and his men went to Hierusalem vnto the Iebusites the inhabitauntes of the lande, whiche spake vnto Dauid, saying: Except thou take away the blinde and the lame, thou shalt not come in hyther: For they said, Thou art not able to come in hyther.
Neuerthelesse, Dauid toke the strong hold of Sion: the same is the citie of Dauid.
And Dauid sayde the same day: Whosoeuer smyteth the Jebusites, and getteth vp to the gutters of the houses, and smyteth the lame and the blinde, hated of Dauid soule, [I will preferre him.] Wherfore they said: The blinde and the lame shal not come into that house.
And so Dauid dwelt in the towre, and called it the citie of Dauid, and buylt round about it, from Millo & inward.
And Dauid prospered and grewe, and {th}e Lord God of hoastes was with him.
And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to Dauid, and Cedar trees, & carpenters, and masons for walles: and they buylt Dauid an house.
And Dauid perceaued that the Lord had stablished him king ouer Israel, & that he had exalted his kingdome for his people Israels sake.
And Dauid toke him mo concubines and wyues out of Hierusalem, after he was come from Hebron, and mo sonnes & daughters were yet borne to Dauid.
And these be the names of the sonnes that were borne vnto him in Hierusalem: Samua, Sobab, Nathan, & Solomon,
Ibhar also and Elisua, Nepheg, and Iaphia,
Elisama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
But when the Philistines hearde that they had annoynted Dauid king ouer Israel, they came all vp to seke Dauid: And assoone as Dauid hearde of it, he gat him to an holde.
And when the Philistines came, they spread them selues in the valley of Raphaim.
And Dauid asked counsel of the Lord, saying: Shall I go vp to the Philistines? wilt thou deliuer them into my handes? And the Lorde aunswered vnto Dauid: Go vp, for I will doubtlesse deliuer the Philistines into thy handes.
And Dauid came to Baal Perazim, and smote them there, and sayde: The Lorde hath deuided myne enemies asunder before me, as waters be deuided asunder: And therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
And there they left their images, and Dauid and his men burnt them.
And the Philistines came yet againe, and layde them selues in the valley of Rephaim.
And when Dauid asked counsel of the Lorde, he aunswered, Thou shalt not go vp: but compasse them on the backsyde, and come vpon them ouer against the Mulbery trees.
And when thou hearest the noyse of a thing goyng in the toppe of the Mulbery trees, then remoue: for then shall the Lorde go out before thee, to smyte the hoast of the Philistines.
And Dauid did as the Lorde had commaunded him: and smote the Philistines from Geba, vntill thou come to Gazer.
AGaine Dauid gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, euen thirtie thousand.
And arose, and went with all the folke that were with him, from Baala of Iuda, to fet away from thence the arke of God, whose name is called by the name of the lord of hoastes that dwelleth vpon it betweene the cherubims.
And they put the arke of God vpon a newe cart, & brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibea: And Vzza and Ahio the sonnes of Abinadab draue the newe carte.
And when they brought the arke of God out of the house of Abinadab that was at Gibea, Ahio went before the arke.
And Dauid and all the house of Israel played before the lord on sundry instrumentes made of Cedar wood, with harpes, psalteries, timbrelles, hornettes, and simbals.
And when they came to Nachons thresshing floore, Vzza put his hand to the arke of God, & helde it, for the oxen did shake it.
And the Lord was wroth with Vzza, and God smote him in the same place for his fault, and there he died before the arke of God.
And Dauid was displeased, because the Lorde had smitten Vzza: And he called the name of the place Perez Vzza, vntill this day.
And Dauid was then afraide of the Lorde, and sayd: Howe shall the arke of the Lord come to me?
And so Dauid woulde not bring the arke of the Lorde vnto him into the citie of Dauid: but Dauid caried it into the house of Obed Edom, a Gethite.
And the arke of the Lorde continued in the house of Obed Edom the Gethite three monethes: and the Lorde blessed Obed Edom, and all his housholde.
And one tolde king Dauid howe that the Lorde had blessed the house of Obed Edom, and all that parteyned vnto him, because of the arke of God. And Dauid went, and brought the arke of God from the house of Obed Edom, into the citie of Dauid with gladnes.
And when they that bare the arke of the Lorde, had gone sixe paces, he offered an oxe and a fat beast.
And Dauid daunced before the Lorde with all his might, & was girded with a linnen Ephod.
So Dauid and all the house of Israel brought the arke of the Lorde with showting and trumpet blowing.
And as {th}e arke of the Lord came into the citie of Dauid, Michol Sauls daughter loked through a windowe, and sawe king Dauid spring and daunce before the Lord, and she despysed him in her heart.
And when they brought in the arke of the Lord, they set it in his place, euen in the middes of the tabernacle that Dauid had pitched for it: and Dauid offered burnt offeringes & peace offeringes before the Lorde.
And assoone as Dauid had made an ende of offering burnt offeringes and peace offeringes, he blessed the people in the name of the Lorde of hoastes,
And gaue among all the folke, euen among the whole multitude of Israel, aswel to the women as men, to euery one a cake of bread, & a peece of flesshe, and a flacked of wine: And so al the people departed euery one to his house.
Then Dauid returned to blesse his housholde, and Michol the daughter of Saul came out to meete Dauid, & sayd: O howe glorious was the king of Israel this day, whiche was vncouered to day in the eyes of the maydens of his seruauntes, as a foole vncouereth him selfe?
And Dauid sayd vnto Michol: It was before the Lorde, whiche chose me rather then thy father and all his house, and commaunded me to be ruler ouer all the people of the Lorde, euen ouer Israel, and therefore will I play before the Lorde:
And will yet be more vyle then so, and will be meeke in myne owne sight: and of the very same mayde seruauntes which thou hast spoken of, shall I be had in honour.
Therfore Michol the daughter of Saul had no childe vnto the day of her death.
AFterward when the king sate in his house, & the Lord had geuen him rest round about from all his enemies,
The king sayde vnto Nathan the prophete: Beholde, I dwell nowe in an house of Cedar trees, but the arke of God dwelleth within the curtaynes.
And Nathan sayde to the king: Go, and do all that is in thyne heart, for the Lord is with thee.
And the same night the worde of the Lorde came vnto Nathan, saying:
Go, and tell my seruaunt Dauid, thus sayeth the Lorde: shalt thou buylde me an house to dwell in?
For I haue not dwelt in any house, sence the time that I brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, vnto this day: but haue walked in a tent and tabernacle.
In al the places wherin I haue walked with all the childre{n} of Israel, spake I one worde with any of {th}e tribes of Israel, when I commaunded [the iudges] to feede my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of Cedar trees?
Now therfore, so say vnto my seruaunt Dauid: thus sayeth the lord of hoastes, I toke thee from the sheepe coate as thou wast folowing sheepe, that thou mightest be ruler ouer my people ouer Israel.
And I was with thee in all that thou wentest to, and haue destroyed all thyne enemies out of thy sight, & haue made thee a great name, lyke vnto the name of the great men that are in the earth.
(Also I will appoynt a place for my people Israel, and will plant it, that they may dwell in a place of their owne, & moue no more: neither shall wicked people trouble them any more, as before time,
And sence the time that I set iudges ouer my people of Israel) And I will geue thee rest from all thyne enemies: And the Lorde telleth thee, that he will make thee an house.
And when thy dayes be fulfilled, thou shalt sleepe with thy fathers, and I will set vp thy seede after thee, whiche shall proceede out of thy body, and will stablyshe his kingdome.
He shall buyld house an for my name, & I wil stablyshe the throne of his kingdome for euer.
I will be his father, and he shalbe my sonne: If he sinne, I will chasten him with the rodde of men, and with the plagues of the children of men.
But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I toke it from Saul, who{m} I put away before thee.
And thyne house, and thy kingdome shall be stablished for euer before thee, [euen] thy throne shalbe stablished for euer.
According to all these wordes and according to all this vision, so dyd Nathan speake vnto Dauid.
Then went king Dauid in, and set him downe before the Lord, and sayde: Who am I, O Lorde God? and what is my house that thou hast brought me hyther to?
And this was yet a small thing in thy sight O Lorde God: but thou hast spoken also of thy seruauntes house for a great whyle: but doth this appertayne to man, O Lorde God?
And what can Dauid say more vnto thee? for thou Lorde God knowest thy seruaunt.
Euen for thy wordes sake, & according to thyne owne heart, hast thou done al these great thinges, to make them knowen vnto thy seruaunt.
Wherfore thou art great, O Lorde God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to al that we haue heard with our eares.
And what one people in the earth is lyke thy people, lyke Israel, whose God went and redeemed them to hym selfe, that they myght be his people, and that he myght make hym a name, and do for you great thynges and terrible for thy lande, O Lorde [euen] for thy people which thou redeemedst to thee out of Egypt [euen] from the nations and their gods.
For thou hast ordeyned thy people Israel to be thy people for euer, and thou Lorde art become their God.
And nowe Lorde God, the worde that thou hast spoken concernyng thy seruaunt and his house, make it good for euer, and do as thou hast saide:
And let thy name be magnified for euer of men that shall say, The Lorde of hoastes is the God ouer Israel: and let the house of thy seruaunt Dauid be stablished before thee.
For thou, O Lorde of hoastes, God of Israel, hast tolde in the eare of thy seruaunt, saying, I wyll buylde thee an house: And therefore hath thy seruaunt founde in his heart to pray this prayer vnto thee.
Therefore nowe Lorde God (thou art God, and thy wordes be true, thou that hast tolde this goodnes vnto thy seruaunt)
Therefore nowe let it please thee to blesse the house of thy seruaunt, that it may continue for euer before thee: for thou Lorde God hast spoken it, and with thy blessyng let the house of thy seruaunt be blessed for euer.
AFter this, now Dauid smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and Dauid toke the bridel of bondage out of the hand of the Philistines.
And he smote the Moabites, and measured them with a lyne, and cast them downe to the grounde, euen with two lynes measured he them, to put them to death, and with one full corde to kepe them alyue: And so became the Moabites Dauids seruauntes, and brought giftes.
Dauid smote also Hadarezer {th}e sonne of Rehob king of Zoba, as he went to recouer his border at the ryuer Pherath.
And Dauid toke of his, a thousand and seuen hundred horsemen, and destroyed all the charets, and twentie thousand footemen: but reserued an hundred charets of them.
And when the Syrians of Damascon came to succour Hadarezer king of Zoba, Dauid slue of the Syrians two and twentie thousand men.
And put souldiers in Syria Damascon: And the Syrians became seruau{n}tes to Dauid, and brought giftes, and the Lorde saued Dauid, in all that he went vnto.
And Dauid toke the shieldes of golde that belonged to the seruauntes of Hadarezer, & brought them to Hierusalem.
And out of Beta and Berothai, cities of Hadarezer, did Dauid bryng exceeding much brasse.
When Thoi king of Hamath heard how Dauid had smitten all the hoast of Hadarezer,
Thoi sent Ioram his sonne vnto king Dauid, to salute him, and to blesse him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and beaten him (for Thoi had great warre with Hadarezer) And [Ioram] brought with him vessels of siluer, vessels of golde, and vessels of brasse.
Which brasse king Dauid did dedicate vnto the Lorde, with the siluer & golde that he had deditate of al nations which he subdued.
Of Syria, of the Moabites, & of the children of Ammon, of the Philistines, and of Hamalek, and of the spoyle of Hadarezer sonne of Rehob king of Zoba.
And Dauid gat him a name after that he returned & had smitten of the Syrians in the valley of salt xviii. thousand men.
And he put a garison in Edom, euen throughout all Edom put he souldiers, and all they of Edom became Dauids seruauntes: And the Lorde kept Dauid whatsoeuer he toke in hand.
And Dauid raigned ouer all Israel, and executed iudgement and iustice vnto all his people.
And Ioab the sonne of Zaruia was ouer the hoast, & Iehosaphat the sonne of Ahilud was recorder.
And Sadoc the sonne of Ahitob, and Ahimelech the sonne of Abiathar were the priestes, & Saraiah was the scribe.
And Banaiahu the sonne of Iehoida and the Cherethites, and the Phelethites, and Dauids sonnes, were chiefe rulers.
AND Dauid sayde: Is there yet any man left of {th}e house of Saul? For I wil shewe him mercie for Ionathans sake.
And there was of the householde of Saul, a seruaunt whose name was Ziba, and when they had called him vnto Dauid, the king saide vnto him: Art thou Ziba? He said: Thy seruaunt is he.
And the king saide: Remaineth there yet any man of the house of Saul, who{m} I may shewe the mercie of God vpon? Ziba aunswered the king: Ionathan hath yet a sonne, which is lame on his feete.
The king said vnto him: where is he? Ziba saide vnto the king: Behold, he is in the house of Machir the sonne of Amiel of Lodeber.
Then king Dauid sent, & fet him out of the house of Machir the sonne of Amiel of Lodeber.
Now when Miphiboseth the sonne of Ionathan {th}e sonne of Saul was come vnto Dauid, he fell on his face, and dyd reuerence: And Dauid saide, Miphiboseth? He aunswered: Beholde thy seruaunt.
Dauid saide vnto him: Feare not, for I will surelie shewe thee kindnesse for Ionathan thy fathers sake, and will restore thee all the fieldes of Saul thy father, & thou shalt eate bread on myne owne table continually.
And he bowed him selfe, and sayde: What is thy seruaunt, that thou shouldest loke vpon such a dead dogge as I am?
Then the king called to Ziba Sauls seruaunt, and said vnto him: I haue geuen vnto thy maisters sonne all that parteyned to Saul and to all his house.
Thou therefore, and thy sonnes, and thy seruauntes, shall tyll the land for him, & bring in, that thy maisters sonne may haue foode to eate: But Miphiboseth thy maisters sonne shall eate bread alway vpon my table. For Ziba had fifteene sonnes, & twentie seruauntes.
Then saide Ziba vnto the king: According to all that my Lorde the king hath commaunded his seruaunt, so shall thy seruaunt do, that Miphiboseth may eate [as the king saide] vpon my table, as one of the kinges sonnes.
Miphiboseth had a sonne that was young, named Micha: and al that dwelt in the house of Ziba, were seruauntes vnto Miphiboseth.
And Miphiboseth dwelt in Hierusalem, for he dyd eate continually at the kinges table, and was lame on both his feete.
AFter this, the king of the children of Ammon dyed, and Hanon his sonne raigned in his steade.
Then saide Dauid: I will shewe kindnesse vnto Hanon the sonne of Nahas, as his father shewed kindnesse vnto me. And Dauid sent to comfort him by the hand of his seruauntes, ouer his father: And Dauids seruauntes came in to the land of the children of Ammon.
And the princes of the children of Ammon sayde vnto Hanon their lorde: Thinkest thou that Dauid doth honor thy father, that he hath sent comfortours to thee? Hath not Dauid rather sent his seruauntes vnto thee, to searche the citie, and to spie it out, and to ouerthrowe it?
Wherefore Hanon toke Dauids seruauntes, and shaued of the one halfe of their beardes, & cut of their garme{n}tes in the middle, euen hard to the buttockes of them, and sent them away.
When they tolde it vnto Dauid, he sent to meete them (for they were men exceedingly ashamed) and the king said: Tary at Iericho vntill your beardes be growen, and then returne.
And when the children of Ammon sawe that they stancke in the sight of Dauid, they sent & hyred the Syrians of the house of Rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba .xx. thousand footemen, and of king Maacha a thousand men, and of Istob twelue thousand men.
And when Dauid heard of it, he sent Ioab and all the hoast of strong men.
And the children of Ammon came out, and put their armie in aray at the entring in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, of Rehob, Istob, and Maacha, were by them selues in the fielde.
Whe{n} Ioab sawe that the front of the battaile was against him before and behinde, he chose of all the choyse of Israel, and put them in aray against the Syrians.
And the rest of the people he deliuered into the hand of Abisai his brother, that he might put them in aray against the children of Ammon.
And he saide: If the Syrians be stronger then I, thou shalt helpe me: But if the children of Ammon be to strong for thee, I will come and succour thee.
Therefore quite thee lyke a man, and let vs be valiaunt for our people and for the cities of our God: And the Lorde do that which is good in his owne eyes.
And Ioab proceeded foorth, & the people that was with him, to fight against the Syrians: but they fled before him.
And when the children of Ammon sawe that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abisai, and entred into the citie: And so Ioab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Hierusalem.
And whe{n} the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered them together.
And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the ryuer, and they came to Helam: & Zoba the captayne of the hoast of Hadarezer went hefore them.
And when it was shewed Dauid, he gathered al Israel together, & passed ouer Iordane, and came to Helam: And the Syrians set them selues in aray against Dauid, and fought with him.
And the Syrians fled before Israel, and Dauid destroyed seuen hundred charets of the Syrians, & fourtie thousand horsemen, and smote Zoba the captaine of their hoast, which also dyed there.
And when all the kinges that were seruauntes to Hadarezer, saw that they fel before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and serued them: and so the Syrians feared to helpe the children of Ammon any more.
AND it came to passe that after the yere was expired, in the time when kinges go foorth to battaile, Dauid sent Ioab & his seruau{n}tes with him, and all Israel, which destroyed the children of Ammon, & besieged Rabba: But Dauid taryed still at Hierusalem.
And in an euening tyde, Dauid arose out of his bed, and walked vpon the roofe of the kinges palace, and from the roofe he sawe a woman washing her selfe, and the woman was very beautifull to loke vpon.
And Dauid sent to enquire what woman it should be: And one saide, Is not this Bethsabe the daughter of Eliam, and wyfe to Vrias the Hethite?
And Dauid sent messengers, and toke her away: And she came in vnto him, and he lay with her (and she was purified from her vnclennesse) and returned vnto her house.
And the woman conceaued, and sent and tolde Dauid, & sayde: I am with childe.
And Dauid sent to Ioab, saying: Send me Vrias the Hethite. And Ioab sent Vrias to Dauid.
And whe{n} Vrias was come vnto him, Dauid demaunded of him howe Ioab did, and how the people fared, and how the warre prospered?
And Dauid sayde to Vrias: Go downe to thy house, & washe thy feete. And Vrias departed out of the kinges palace, and there folowed him a present from the king.
But Vrias slept at the doore of {th}e kinges palace, with all the seruauntes of his lorde, and went not downe to his house.
Which when they had tolde Dauid, saying, Vrias went not downe vnto his house: Dauid saide vnto Vrias, Camest thou not from thy iourney? why diddest thou not go downe then vnto thyne house?
Vrias aunswered Dauid: The arke, & Israel, and Iuda dwell in pauilions, and my lorde Ioab and the seruauntes of my lorde abyde in the open fieldes, and shall I then go into myne house, to eate, and drinke, & lye with my wyfe? By thy lyfe, and by the lyfe of thy soule, I will not do this thing.
And Dauid saide vnto Vrias: Tary here this day also, and to morow I wil let thee departe. And so Vrias abode in Hierusalem that day, and the morow.
And when Dauid had called him, he did eate and drinke before him, and he made him drunke: And at euen he went out to lye on his couch with {th}e seruau{n}tes of his lorde, but went not downe to his house.
On the morowe Dauid wrote a letter to Ioab, and sent it by the hand of Vrias.
And he wrote thus in the letter: Put ye Vrias in the forefront of the sharper battaile, and come ye backe from him, that he maye be smytten, and dye.
So when Ioab besieged the citie, he assigned Vrias vnto a place where he wist that strong men were.
And the men of the citie came out, and fought with Ioab: And there were certayne ouerthrowen of the people of the seruauntes of Dauid: & Vrias the Hethite dyed also.
Then Ioab sent, and tolde Dauid all the thinges concerning the warre:
And charged the messenger, saying: When thou hast made an ende of telling the matters of the warre vnto the king:
If the kinges anger aryse, and he say vnto thee, wherfore approched ye so nye vnto the citie when ye did fight? wyst ye not that they would hurle and shoote from the wall?
Who smote Abimelech sonne of Ierubesheth? Did not a woman cast a peece of a mylstone vpon him from of the wall, and he dyed in Thebes? why went ye nye the wall? Then say thou: Thy seruaunt Vrias the Hethite is dead also.
So the messenger went, & came and shewed Dauid all that Ioab had sent him for.
And the messenger saide vnto Dauid: The men preuailed against vs, & came out vnto vs into the fielde, & we pursued them, euen vnto the entring of the gate:
And the shooters shotte from the walles vpon thy seruauntes, and some of the kinges seruauntes be dead, and thy seruaunt Vrias the Hethite is dead also.
And Dauid saide vnto the messenger, thus shalt thou saye vnto Ioab: Let not that thing trouble thee, for {th}e sword deuoureth one as well as another: Make thy battayle more strong against the citie to ouerthrowe it, & encourage thou him.
And when the wyfe of Vrias heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him.
And when the mourning was past, Dauid sent and fet her to his house, and she became his wyfe, and bare him a sonne: But this thing that Dauid dyd, displeased the Lorde.
ANd the Lord sent Nathan vnto Dauid, and he came vnto him, and tolde him: There were two men in one citie, the one rich, & the other poore.
The rich man had exceeding many sheepe and oxen:
But the poore had nothing saue one litle sheepe, which he had bought and nouryshed vp: And it grew vp with him and with his children also, and did eate of his owne meate, and drancke of his owne cuppe, & slept in his bosome, and was vnto him as his daughter.
And there came a straunger vnto the rich man, and he spared to take of his owne sheepe and of his owne oxen to dresse for {th}e straunger that was come vnto him: But toke the poore mans sheepe, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
And Dauid was exceeding wroth with the man, and saide to Nathan: As the Lorde lyueth, the man that hath done this thing is the childe of death.
He shal restore the lambe foure folde, because he did this thyng and had no pitie.
And Nathan saide to Dauid, Thou art the man: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I annoynted thee king ouer Israel, and ryd thee out of the hand of Saul.
I gaue thee thy maisters house, and thy maisters wyues into thy bosome, and gaue thee the house of Israel and of Iuda, and might (if that had ben to litle) haue geuen thee so muche more.
Wherefore then hast thou despised the commaundement of the Lorde to do euill in his sight? Thou hast kild Vrias the Hethite with the sword, & hast taken his wyfe to thy wyfe, and hast slaine him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
Now therefore, the sword shall neuer depart from thyne house, because thou hast despised me, and taken the wyfe of Vrias the Hethite to be thy wyfe.
Wherefore thus saith the Lorde: Beholde, I will stirre vp euil against thee, euen out of thyne owne house, and wyll take thy wyues before thyne eyes, and geue them vnto thy neyghbour, and he shall lye with thy wyues in the sight of this sunne.
For thou diddest it secretly: but I wil do this thing before al Israel, and in the open sunne lyght.
And Dauid saide vnto Nathan: I haue sinned against the Lord. And Nathan than saide vnto Dauid: The Lord also hath put away thy sinne, thou shalt not dye.
Howbeit, because in doing this deede thou hast geuen {th}e enemies of the Lord a cause to blaspheme, the childe that is borne vnto thee shall surely dye.
And Nathan departed vnto his house: And the Lorde strake the childe that Vrias wyfe bare vnto Dauid, and it sickened sore.
Dauid therefore besought God for the childe, and fasted, and went in, & laye all night vpon the earth.
And the elders of his house arose and went to him, to take him vp from the earth: But he would not, neither did he eate meate with them.
And the seuenth day the childe dyed, and the seruauntes of Dauid feared to tell him that the childe was dead: For they said, beholde, while the childe was yet alyue we spake vnto hym, and he would not hearke{n} vnto our voyce: how will he then vexe him selfe, if we tell him that the childe is dead?
But Dauid seing his seruau{n}tes whispering, perceaued that the childe was dead: & Dauid said vnto his seruauntes, Is the childe dead? They saide: He is dead.
And Dauid arose from the earth, and washed and annoynted him selfe, and chaunged his apparell, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: and afterward came to his owne house, & bad that they should set bread before him, and he dyd eate.
Then said his seruauntes vnto him: What thing is this that thou hast done? Thou diddest fast & weepe for the childe while it was alyue, & assoone as it was dead, thou diddest ryse vp & eate meate.
He said: While the childe was yet ailue I fasted and wept: for this I thought, Who can tell whether God wyll haue mercy on me, that the childe may lyue?
But now seeing it is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him againe any more? I shall go to him, rather then he shall come againe to me.
And Dauid comforted Bethsabe his wyfe, & went in vnto her and lay with her, and she bare a sonne, and he called his name Solomon, and the Lord loued him,
And had sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet: therefore he called his name Iedidia, of the Lordes behalfe.
Then Ioab fought against Rabba of the children of Ammon, and toke the citie of the kingdome.
And Ioab sent messengers to Dauid, saying: I haue fought against Rabba, and haue taken the citie of waters.
Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and besiege the citie, that thou mayst take it: lest I take it, & it be called after my name.
And Dauid gathered al the people together, & went against Rabba, and besieged it, and toke it.
And he toke their kinges crowne from of his head (which wayed a talent of golde, & in it were precious stones) and it was set on Dauids head, and he brought away the spoyle of the citie, in exceeding great abundaunce.
And he caryed away the people that was therein, & put them vnder sawes, and vnder iron harrowes, and vnder axes of iron, & thrust them into the tylekyll: thus dyd he with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And so Dauid and al the people returned vnto Hierusalem.
AFter this, so it was that Absalom the sonne of Dauid had a fayre sister, named Thamar, whom Amnon {th}e sonne of Dauid loued.
And he was so sore vexed, that he fell sycke for his sister Thamar: for she shas a virgin, and he thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
But Amnon had a frende called Ionadab, the sonne of Simah, Dauids brother: And Ionadab was a very subtile man.
And he said vnto him: How commeth it, that thou being the kinges sonne, art thus consumed from day to day? Wylt thou not tell me? Amnon aunswered him: I loue Thamar my brother Absaloms sister.
Ionadab saide vnto him, Lay thee downe on thy bed, and make thy selfe sicke: And when thy father is come to see thee, saye vnto him: I pray thee let my sister Thamar come, and geue me meate, and dresse it in my syght, that I may see it, and eate it of her hand.
And so Amnon laye downe, and made him selfe sicke: And when the king was come to see him, Amnon saide vnto the king: I pray thee let Thamar my sister come, and make me a coople of cakes in my sight, that I may eate of her hand.
Then Dauid sent home to Thamar, saying: Go now to thy brother Amno{n}s house, and dresse him meate.
So Thamar went to her brother Amnons house, & he was layed downe: And she toke floure, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and dyd bake them.
And toke a panne, and powred them out before him: but he would not eate. And Amnon saide: Haue out all men from me. And they went all out from him.
And Amnon saide vnto Thamar: Bring the meate into the chamber, that I may eate of thyne hand. And Thamar toke {th}e cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother:
And whe{n} she had set them before him to eate, he toke her, and saide vnto her: Come, lye with me my sister.
And she aunswered him: Nay my brother, do not force me, for there hath no such thing ben done in Israel: Do not thou this folly.
And I, whyther shall I cause my shame to go? And thou shalt be as one of the fooles in Israel: Now therefore, I pray thee speake vnto the king, and he wyll not denie me vnto thee.
Howbeit, he would not hearken vnto her voyce: but being stronger then she, forced her, and lay with her.
And then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred wherewith he hated her, was greater then the loue with which he before loued her: And Amnon saide vnto her: Vp, and get thee hence.
She aunswered him, There is no cause: This euill that thou puttest me away, is greater then the other that thou diddest vnto me. Neuerthelesse, he would not heare her:
But called his boye that serued him, and saide: Put away this woman from me and bolt the doore after her.
And she had a garment of diuers colours vpon her: for with such wer the kinges daughters (that were virgins) appareled. Then his seruaunt brought her out, and locked the doore after her.
And Thamar toke and put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of diuers colours that was on her, & layed her hand on her head, and so went, and as she went, cryed.
And Absalom her brother saide vnto her: Hath Amnon thy brother ben with thee? Now yet be still my sister, he is thy brother, let not this thing greeue thyne heart. And so Thamar remayned desolate in her brother Absaloms house.
But when king Dauid heard of all these thinges, he was very wroth.
And Absalom sayde vnto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: Howbeit, Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Thamar.
And after the tyme of two yeres, Absalom had sheepe shearers in the playne of Hazor beside Ephraim, & bade all the kinges sonnes.
And came to the king, and saide: Beholde, thy seruaunt hath sheepe shearers, I pray thee that the king with his seruauntes come to thy seruaunt.
The king aunswered Absalom: Nay my sonne, I pray thee let vs not go all, lest we be chargeable vnto thee. And Absalom laye sore vpon him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
Then saide Absalom: but I pray thee shall not my brother Amnon go with vs? And the king aunswered him: what needeth it that he go with thee?
But Absalom made such instaunce, that he let Amnon & all the kinges children go with him.
Now had Absalom commaunded his young men, saying: Marke when Amnons heart is mery with wine, and when I bid you smyte Amnon: then kil him, and feare not: haue not I bidden you? be bolde therfore, & play the men.
And the seruauntes of Absalom dyd vnto Amnon euen as Absalom had commaunded: And al the kinges sonnes arose, and euery man gat him vp vpon his mule, and fled.
And whyle they were yet in the way, tydinges came to Dauid, saying: Absalom hath slaine all the kinges sonnes, and there is none left alyue.
Then the king arose, & tare his garmentes, and lay along on the earth: and all his seruauntes stoode by with their clothes rent.
And Ionadab the sonne of Simeach Dauids brother, aunswered, and sayde: Let not my lorde suppose that they haue slaine all the young men of the kings sonnes, but Amnon onely is dead: For that hath ben determined in Absaloms minde, since he forced his sister Thamar.
Now therefore, let not my lorde the king take the thing so greuously, to thinke that all the kinges sonnes are dead, for Amnon onely is dead.
But Absalom fled: And {th}e young man that kept the watch, lyft vp his eyes & loked, and beholde there came much people by the way of the hill syde behinde him.
And Ionadab said vnto the king, Beholde, the kinges sonnes come: As thy seruaunt said, so it is.
And assoone as he had left speaking, beholde the kinges sonnes came, & lyft vp their voyces, and wept: The king also & all his seruauntes wept exceedingly sore.
But Absalom escaped, and went to Thalma• the sonne of Ammihur kyng of Gesur: And Dauid mourned for his sonne euery day.
And so Absalom escaped, and went to Gesur, and was there three yeres.
And king Dauid desired to go foorth vnto Absalom: For where as Amnon was dead, he was comforted ouer him.
IOab {th}e sonne of Zaruia perceaued that the kynges heart was toward Absalom:
And he sent to Thekoa, and fet thence a wyse woman, & sayde vnto her: I pray thee faine thy selfe to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparell, and annoynt not thy self with oyle, but be as a woman that had long tyme mourned for the dead:
And come to the king, and speake on this maner vnto hym (And so Ioab taught her what she should say.
And when the woman of Thekoa spake with the king, she fell on her face to the grounde, and did obeysaunce, and sayde: Helpe, O king.
The king said vnto her: What ayleth thee? She aunswered: I am in deede a wydow, and myne husband is dead.
And thy hande mayde had two sonnes, and they two fought together in the fielde, where was no man to go betweene them, but the one smote the other, and slue him.
And beholde, the whole kindred is risen against thy handmayd, & they said: Delyuer hym that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the soule of his brother whom he slue, we will destroy the heyre also: And so they shall quenche my sparkle which is left, and shall not leaue to my husband neither name nor issue vpon the earth.
And the king sayde vnto the woman: Go home to thyne house, I wyll geue a charge for thee.
And the woman of Thekoa saide vnto the king: My lorde O king, this trespasse be on me and on my fathers house: and the king and his throne be giltlesse.
And the king saide: If any man say ought vnto thee, bring him to me, and he shall hurt thee no more.
Then saide she: I pray thee let the king remember the Lord thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer many reuengers of blood to destroy, lest they slay my sonne. And he aunswered: As the Lorde lyueth, there shal not one heere of thy sonne fall to the earth.
The woman sayde: Let thyne handmayde speake one worde vnto my lorde the king. And he sayde: Say on.
The woman sayd: Wherfore then hast thou thought suche a thing against the people of God? For the king doth speake this thing as one which is faultie, that he shoulde not fet home againe his banished.
For we must nedes dye, and are as wather spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered vp againe: Neither doth God spare any person, yet doth he appoynt meanes that his banished be not vtterly expelled from him.
Nowe therfore I am come to speake of this thing vnto the my lord the king, [because] they that be of {th}e people haue made me afrayd: And thy handmayde sayd, Now will I speake vnto the king, it may be that the king will perfourme the request of his handmayde.
And the king shall heare his handmayde, to deliuer her out of the hand of the man that woulde haue destroyed me, and also my sonne out of the inheritaunce of God.
And thyne handmayde sayde: The worde of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: For my lord the king is as an angel of God, in hearing of good & bad: Therfore the Lorde thy God be with thee.
Then the king aunswered, and sayde vnto the woman: Hyde not from me I pray thee {th}e thing that I shall aske thee. And the woman sayde: Let my lord the king nowe speake.
And the king sayd: Is not the hand of Ioab with thee in all this matter? The woman aunswered, and sayde: As thy soule liueth my lorde the king, I wil not turne to the right hande nor to the left from ought that my lorde the king hath spoke{n}: for euen thy seruaunt Ioab bad me, and he put all these wordes in the mouth of thyne handmayde:
For to the intent that I shoulde chaunge the fourme of speach, hath thy seruaunt Ioab done this thing: And my lorde is wyse, according to the wisdome of an angel of God, to vnderstande all thinges that are in the earth.
And the king sayd vnto Ioab: Behold, I haue done this thing: Go & bring the young man Absalom againe.
And Ioab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed him selfe, and thanked the king: And Ioab sayd, Now thy seruaunt knoweth, that I haue founde grace in thy sight my lorde O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his seruaunt.
And so Ioab arose, and went to Gesur, and brought Absalom to Hierusalem.
And the king sayde: Let him turne to his owne house, & not see my face. And so Absalo{m} returned to his owne house, and sawe not the kinges face.
But in al Israel there was none to be so muche praysed as Absalom for beautie: from {th}e sole of his foote to the toppe of his head, there was no blemishe in him.
And when he polled his head (for at euery yeres ende he polled it, because the heere was heauy on him therfore he polled it) he weighed the heere of his head at two hundreth sicles, after the kinges wayght.
And Absalom had three sonnes borne him, and one daughter named Thamar, whiche was a fayre woman to loke vpon.
So Absalom dwelt two yeres in Hierusalem, and sawe not the kinges face.
Therfore Absalom sent for Ioab to haue sent him to the king, but he would not come to him: And when he sent againe, he would not come.
Therfore he sayde vnto his seruauntes: Behold, Ioab hath a field by my place, & he hath barlye therin: Go, & set it on fyre. And Absaloms seruauntes set it on fire.
Then Ioab arose, and came to Absalom vnto his house, and sayd vnto him: Wherfore haue thy seruauntes burnt my fielde with fire?
And Absalo{m} aunswered Ioab: Behold, I sent for thee, desiring thee to come, because I woulde haue sent thee to the king, for to say, Wherfore am I come from Gesur? It had ben better for me to haue ben there still: Nowe therfore would I see the kinges face: And if ther be any trespasse in me, let hym kil me.
And so Ioab came to the king, and tolde him: Which when he had sent for Absalom, he came to the king, and fel to the ground on his face before him, and the king kissed Absalom.
AFter this, Absalo{m} prepared him charettes & horses, and fiftie men to runne before him.
And Absalom rose vp early, and stoode in the place of the entring in of the gate: And euery man that had any matter and came to the king for iudgement, him did Absalom cal vnto him, and sayde: Of what citie art thou? He aunswered: Thy seruaunt is of one of the tribes of Israel.
And Absalom said vnto him: See, thy matters are good and righteous, but there is no man [deputed] of the king to heare thee.
Absalom sayde moreouer: Oh, that I were made iudge in the land, that euery man which hath any plea and matter in the lawe, might come to me, and that I might do him iustice.
And when any man came nye to him, and dyd him obeysaunce, he put foorth his hande, and toke him to him, and kissed him.
And on this maner dyd Absalom to al Israel that came to the king for iudgement: so Absalom stale the heartes of the men of Israel.
And after fourtie yeres, Absalom said vnto the king: I pray thee let me go to Hebron, & pay my vowe which I haue vowed vnto the Lorde:
For thy seruaunt vowed a vowe (when I was in Gesur in Siria) saying: If the Lorde shall bring me againe in deede to Hierusalem, I wil serue the Lorde.
And the king said vnto him: Go in peace. And so he arose, and went to Hebron.
But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying: Assoone as ye heare the voyce of the trumpet blow, ye shall say, Absalom raigneth in Hebro{n}.
And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Hierusalem, that were called: And they went with pure heartes, not knowing of any thing.
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite Dauids counseller, fro{m} his citie Gilo, while he offered sacrifices, and there was wrought strong treason: For the people went and increased with Absalom.
And ther came a messenger to Dauid, and sayde: The heartes of the men of Israel are turned after Absalom.
And Dauid said vnto all his seruau{n}tes that were with him at Hierusalem: Vp, that we may flee, for we shall not els escape from Absalom: Make speede to departe, lest he come sodenly & catche vs, and bring euyll vpon vs, and smyte the citie with the edge of the sworde.
And the kinges seruauntes sayd vnto him: Beholde, thy seruauntes are redy to do whatsoeuer my lord the king shall appoynt.
And the king departed, and al his housholde at his feete: And the king left ten concubines to kepe the house.
And the king went foorth and all the people at his feete, and taried in a place that was farre of.
And al his seruauntes went about him: and all the Cerethites, and all the Phelethites, and all the Gethites, euen sixe hundred men whiche were come after him from Geth, went before the king.
Then sayde the king to Ithai the Gethite: Wherfore commest thou with vs? Returne, and abyde with the king, for thou art a straunger, depart therfore to thy place.
Thou camest yesterday, and should I vnquiet thee to day to go with vs? I will go whyther I can: Therfore returne thou, & cary againe thy brethren: Mercy and trueth be with thee.
And Ithai aunswered the king, & said: As the Lord lyueth, and as my lord the king lyueth, in what place my lorde the king shalbe, whether in death or lyfe, euen there also will thy seruaunt be.
And Dauid said to Ithai: Come then, and go forward. And Ithai the Gethite went foorth, and all his men, and all the children that were with him.
And all the countrey wepte with a loude voyce, & all the people went ouer: The king also him selfe passed ouer the brooke Cedron, and all the people went ouer towarde the waye that leadeth to the wildernesse.
And lo Sadoc also and all the Leuites were with him, & bare the arke of the appoyntment of God, and they set downe the arke of God, and Abiathar went vp, vntill the people were all come ouer, out of the citie.
And the king sayde vnto Sadoc, Cary the arke of God againe into the citie: If I shall finde fauour in the eyes of the Lorde, he will bring me againe, & shewe me both it, and the tabernacle therof.
But if he thus say, I haue no lust vnto thee: beholde here am I, let hym do with me what semeth good in his eyes.
The king sayde also vnto Sadoc the priest: Art not thou a Sear? Returne into the citie in peace, and take your two sonnes with you, Ahimaaz thy sonne, and Ionathan the sonne of Abiathar.
Behold, I wil tary in the fieldes of the wildernesse, vntil there come some word from you to be tolde me.
Sadoc therfore and Abiathar caried the arke of God againe to Hierusalem, and they taried there.
And Dauid went vpon mount Oliuet, and wept as he went vp, and had his head couered, & went barefoote: And all the people that was with him, had euery man his head couered: & as they went vp, they wept.
And one tolde Dauid, saying: Ahithophel is one of them that haue conspired with Absalom. And Dauid sayde: O Lorde I pray thee, turne the counsell of Ahithophel into foolishnes.
When Dauid was come to the toppe of the mount, he worshipped God: and beholde, Husai the Arachite came against him, with his coate torne, and hauing earth vpon his head.
Vnto whom Dauid sayde: If thou go with me, thou shalt be a burthen vnto me.
But if thou returne to the citie, and say vnto Absalom, I will be thy seruaunt O king: as I haue thus long ben thy fathers seruaunt, so am I nowe thy seruaunt, thou mayest for my sake destroy the counsel of Ahithophel.
And hast thou not there with thee Sadoc and Abiathar the priestes? therfore whatsoeuer thou shalt here out of the kings house, thou shalt shewe to Sadoc and Abiathar the priestes.
And behold, they haue there with them their two sonnes, Ahimaaz Sadocs sonne, and Ionathan Abiathars sonne: by them also shal ye sende me all that ye can heare.
And so Husai Dauids freende went to the citie, and Absalom entred into Hierusalem.
ANd when Dauid was a litle past the toppe [of the hill] beholde, Ziba the seruaunt of Miphiboseth mette him with a coople of asses sadled, & vpon them two hundred loues of bread, & one hundred bunches of resinges, and an hundred of dried figges, & a bottel of wyne.
And the king sayde vnto Ziba: What meanest thou with these? And Ziba sayde: They be Asses for the kinges houshold to ryde on, and bread and fruit for the young men to eate, and wine, that such as be faynt in the wildernesse may drinke.
And the king sayde: Where is thy maisters sonne? Ziba aunswered vnto the king, Behold he tarieth still at Hierusalem: For he sayde, This day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdome of my father.
Then sayd the king to Ziba: Behold, thyne are all that pertayned vnto Miphiboseth. And Ziba sayde: I humbly beseche thee that I may finde grace in thy sight, my lorde O king.
And when king Dauid came to Bahurim, beholde, thence came out a man of the kinred of the house of Saul, named Semei the sonne of Gera, and he came out cursing.
And he cast stones at Dauid, and at all the seruauntes of Dauid: And all the people and al the men of warre were on his right hande, and on his left.
And thus sayd Semei when he cursed: Come foorth, come foorth thou bloodsheder, and thou man of Belial.
The Lord hath brought vpon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose steade thou hast raigned, and the Lorde hath deliuered the kingdome into the hande of Absalom thy sonne: And beholde, thou art come to thy mischiefe, because thou art a bloodsheder.
Then sayde Abisai the sonne of Zaruia vnto the king: Why doth this dead dogge curse my lord the king? let me go nowe, and take of the head of him.
And the king sayde: What haue I to do with you ye sonnes of Zaruia? for he curseth euen because the Lord hath bidden him curse Dauid: Who dare then say, Wherfore hast thou done so?
And Dauid sayde to Abisai, and to all his seruau{n}tes, Behold, my sonne which came of myne owne bowels, seketh my lyfe: How much more then may this sonne of Iemini do it? Suffre him to curse, for the Lorde hath bidden him.
It may be that the Lorde will loke on myne affliction, and do me good for his cursing this day.
And as Dauid and his men went by the way, Semei went along on the hilles syde ouer against him, & cursed as he went, and threwe stones at him, and cast duste.
And the king and all that were with him came weery, and refreshed them selues there.
And Absalom & al the people the men of Israel came to Hierusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
And assoone as Husai the Arachite Dauids frend, was come vnto Absalo{m}, Husai sayde vnto Absalom: God saue the king, God saue the king.
And Absalom sayde to Husai: Is this the kindnesse to thy frende? Why wentest thou not with him?
Husai aunswered vnto Absalom, Nay not so: But whom the Lorde and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, & with him wil I dwell.
And moreouer, vnto whom shal I do seruice? not to his sonne? And as I was seruaunt before thy father, so will I before thee.
Then spake Absalom to Ahithophel: Geue counsel what we shall do.
And Ahithophel said vnto Absalom: Get thee in vnto thy fathers co{n}cubines whiche he hath left to kepe the house, and all Israel shal heare, that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the ha{n}des of al that are with thee, be strong.
And so they spread Absalom a tent vpon the toppe of the house, and Absalom went in vnto his fathers concubines in the sight of all Israel.
And the counsel of Ahithophel whiche he counseled in those dayes, was as a man had asked counsel at the oracle of God: euen so was all the counsel of Ahithophel, both with Dauid and with Absalom.
AHithophel also said vnto Absalom: Let me choose out now twelue thousand men, and I wil vp and folowe after Dauid this night:
And I wil come vpo{n} him whyle he is weery and weake handed, and will feare him: And all the people that are with him, shall flee, and so will I smite the king only,
And wil bring againe all the people vnto thee: and when al shall returne, the man whom thou sekest [beyng slayne] all the people shalbe in peace.
And the saying pleased Absalom wel and al the elders of Israel.
Then sayde Absalom: Cal nowe Husai the Arachite also, and let vs heare lykewyse what he sayth.
When Husai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake vnto him, saying: Ahithophel hath geuen such counsel: Shal we do after his saying, or no? tell thou.
Husai aunswered vnto Absalom: The counsel that Ahithophel hath geuen, is not good at this time.
For sayde Husai, thou knowest thy father & his men howe that they be strong men, and they be chafed in their mindes, and are euen as a Beare robbed of her whelpes in the fielde: Thy father is a man also practised in warre, and wil not lodge with the people.
Behold he is hyd nowe in some caue, or in some other place: And though some of his men be ouerthrowen at the first brunt, yet they that heare it, will say: The people that foloweth Absalom, be put to the worse.
And he also that is valiaunt, whose heart is as {th}e heart of a Lio{n}, shal shrink and faynt: For all Israel knoweth, that thy father is a mightie man, and they which be with him are stout men.
Therfore my counsell is, that al Israel be gathered vnto thee fro{m} Dan to Beerseba, as the sande of the sea in numbre, and that thou go to battayle in thyne owne person.
For so shall we come vpon him in one place or other where we shal finde him, and we wil fal vpon him, euen as thicke as the deawe falleth on {th}e ground: And of al the men that are with him, we shal not leaue him one.
Moreouer, if he be gotten into a towne, then shall al the men of Israel bring ropes to that citie, and we will drawe it into the riuer, vntil ther be not one small stone founde there.
And Absalom and all the men of Israel sayde: The counsel of Husai the Arachite, is better then the counsell of Ahithophel. For it was euen the Lordes determination to destroy the good counsell of Ahithophel, that the Lorde might bring euyll vpon Absalom.
Then sayde Husai vnto Sadoc & Abiathar the priestes: Of this & that maner did Ahithophel and the elders of Israel counsel Absalom, and thus & thus haue I counsayled.
Nowe therfore send quickly, & shewe Dauid, saying: Tarie not this night in {th}e fieldes of the wildernesse, but get thee ouer, lest the king be deuoured, & all the people that are with him.
Now Ionathan and Ahimaaz abode by the well Rogel: (for they might not be seene to come into the citie) and a wench went and told them: And they went, and shewed king Dauid.
Neuerthelesse, a lad sawe them, and tolde it to Absalom: But they went both of them away quickly, & came to a mans house in Bahurim, which had a well in his yarde, into the whiche they went downe.
And the wyfe toke and spread a couerlet ouer the welles mouth, & spread ground corne theron: and the thing was not spied.
And when Absaloms seruauntes came to the wyfe to the house, they sayde: Where is Ahimaaz & Ionathan? The woman aunswered the{m}: They be gone ouer the brooke of water. And whe{n} they had sought them, and coulde not finde them, they returned to Hierusalem.
And assoone as they were departed, the other came out of the wel, and went and tolde king Dauid, and sayde vnto him: Vp, and get you quickly ouer the water, for suche counsel hath Ahithophel geuen against you.
Then Dauid arose, and all the people that were with him, & they were come ouer Iordane by that it was day: so that there lacked not one of them that was not come ouer Iordane.
And when Ahithophel sawe that his counsel was not folowed, he sadled his Asse, and arose and gate him home to his owne house, and to his owne citie, & put his housholde in order, and hanged him selfe, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
Then Dauid came to Mahanaim, And Absalom passed ouer Iordane, he and all the men of Israel with him.
And Absalom made Amasa captaine of the hoast in stede of Ioab: which Amasa, was a mans sonne named Iethra an Israelite, that went into Abigail the daughter of Nahas, sister to Zaruia Ioabs mother.
So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
And when Dauid was come to Mahanaim, Sobi the sonne of Nahas, out of Rabba of the children of Ammon, & Machir the sonne of Ammiel out of Lodeber, and Barzellai the Gileadite out of Rogelim,
Brought beddes, basens, earthen vessels, wheat and barly, floure & parched corne, beanes, lentiles, & parched pulse,
Hony, butter, sheepe, & cheese of kyne, for Dauid and for the people that were with him, to eate: For they sayde, The people is hungry, weery, and thirstie, in the wildernesse.
AND Dauid numbred the people that were with him, and set captaynes of thousandes and of hundredes ouer them.
And Dauid se{n}t foorth the third part of the people vnder the hande of Ioab, and the third part vnder the hand of Abisai the sonne of Zaruia Ioabs brother, and the other third part vnder the hand of Ithai the Gethite: And the king said vnto the people, I will go with you my selfe also.
And the people aunswered, Thou shalt not go foorth: for if we flee away, they wil not care for vs, neither shal they regard vs, though halfe of vs were slaine: but thou art nowe worth ten thousande of vs, Wherfore it is better that thou succour vs out of the citie.
And the king sayde vnto them: What seemeth you best, that wil I do. And the king stoode by the gate syde, and all the people came out by hundredes, and by thousandes.
And the king commaunded Ioab, and Abisai, and Ithai, saying: Intreate the young man Absalom gently for my sake. And all the people hearde that the king gaue all the captaynes charge concerning Absalom.
And so the people we{n}t out into the fielde against Israel (and the battel was in the wood of Ephraim)
Where the people of Israel were slaine before the seruauntes of Dauid: & there was a great slaughter that day, euen of twentie thousande men.
For the battell was scattered ouer al the countrey: And the wood deuoured mo people that day, then dyd the sword.
And Absalom mette the seruauntes of Dauid ryding vpon a mule, whiche caried him vnder the thycke bowes of a great oke, and his head was caught of the oke, and he was lift vp betweene the heauen and the earth: and the mule that was vnder him, went away.
And one that sawe it, tolde Ioab, saying: Beholde, I sawe Absalom hange in an oke.
And Ioab sayd vnto the man that told him: If thou diddest see him, why diddest not thou there smite him to the ground, and I would haue geuen thee ten sicles of siluer, and a gyrdle?
The man sayd vnto Ioab: Though I should receaue a thousande sicles of siluer in myne hande, yet woulde I not stretche out myne hand against {th}e kinges sonne: For we heard with our eares when the king charged thee, & Abisai, and Ithai, saying: Beware that none touche the young man Absalom.
Moreouer, if I had done it, I shoulde haue done against mine owne lyfe: for there is no matter hyd from the king, yea & thou thy selfe wouldest haue ben against me.
Then sayde Ioab, I may not stand thus tarying with thee: And he toke three dartes in his hande, & thrust them through Absalom whyle he was yet alyu• in the middes of the oke.
And ten seruauntes that bare Ioabs weapons, turned and smote Absalom, and slue him.
And Ioab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from folowing Israel: for Ioab held backe the people.
And they toke Absalom, and cast him into a great pyt in the wood, and layed a mightie great heape of stones vpon him: And all Israel fled euery one to their tentes.
And this Absalom yet in his lyfe time toke and reared vp a piller, whiche is in the kinges dale: For he sayd, I haue no sonne to kepe my name in remembraunce, and he called the piller after his owne name, and it is called vnto this day Absaloms place.
Then sayd Ahimaaz the sonne of Sadoc: Let me runne nowe and beare the king tydinges, how that the Lord hath iudged him quyte of the hande of his enemies.
And Ioab sayd vnto him: Thou art no man to beare tidinges to day, thou shalt beare tydinges another time: but to day thou shalt beare none, because the kinges sonne is dead.
Then sayd Ioab to Chusi: Go and tell the kyng what thou hast seene. And Chusi bowed him selfe vnto Ioab, and ranne.
Then sayd Ahimaaz the sonne of Sadoc againe to Ioab: What I pray thee, if I also runne after Chusi?
And Ioab sayde: Wherfore wilt thou runne my sonne, seyng that thou hast no tydinges to bring?
Yet what if I runne? He said vnto him: Runne. Then Ahimaaz ranne by the way of the playne, & came before Chusi.
And Dauid sate betweene the two gates: And the watchman went vp to the roofe ouer the gate vnto the wal, and lift vp his eyes and sawe, & beholde there came a man runnyng alone.
And the watchman cryed, & tolde the king. And the king sayd: If he be alone, there is tydinges in his mouth. And he came a pace, and drewe neare.
And the watchman sawe another man running, and the watchman called vnto the porter, and sayd: Behold, there commeth another man running alone. And the king sayd: He is also a tydinges bringer.
And the watchman sayde: Me thinketh the running of the formost, is lyke the running of Ahimaaz the sonne of Sadoc. The king sayde: He is a good man, and commeth with good tidinges.
And Ahimaaz called & said vnto {th}e king, peace be with thee: And he fell downe to the earth vpo{n} his face before the king, and sayd: Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath shut vp the me{n} that lift vp their handes against my lorde the king.
And the king sayd: Is the young man Absalom safe? Ahimaaz aunswered: When Ioab sent the kinges seruaunt, and me thy seruaunt, I sawe a great tumult, but I wote not what it was.
And the king sayde vnto him: Turne aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stoode styll.
And behold, Chusi came also, and sayd: Tydinges my lorde the king, for the Lord hath deliuered thee this day out of the hande of al them that rose against thee.
And the king sayde vnto Chusi: Is the young man Absalom safe? Chusi aunswered: The enemies of my lorde the king, and all that ryse against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
And the king was moued, and went vp to the chamber ouer the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he sayde, O my sonne Absalom, my sonne, my sonne Absalom: woulde God I had died for thee, O Absalom my sonne, my sonne.
ANd it was told Ioab, beholde the king weepeth, & mourneth for Absalom.
And the victorie of that day was turned into mourning vnto al the people: for the people heard say that day howe {th}e king sorowed for his sonne.
And the people went that day into the citie by stealth, as people confounded to conuey them selues when they flee in battell.
But the king hyd his face, and cryed with a loude voyce: O my sonne Absalom, O Absalom my sonne, my sonne.
And Ioab came into the house to the king, and sayd: Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy seruau{n}tes, which this day haue saued thy life, & the liues of thy sonnes, and of thy daughters. & the liues of thy wyues, and of thy concubines,
In that thou louest thyne enemies, and hatest thy frendes: For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither thy princes nor seruauntes: And this day I do perceaue, that if Absalom had lyued, and all we had died this day, that had pleased thee well.
Nowe therfore vp, and come out, and speake co{m}fortably vnto thy seruauntes: For I sweare by the Lorde, except thou come out, there will not tary one man with thee this night, and that wilbe worse vnto thee, then all the euyll that fell on thee from thy youth vnto this houre.
Then the king arose, and sate in the gate: And they tolde vnto all the people, saying, beholde the king doth sit in the gate, and all the people came before the king: For Israel had fled, euery man to his tent.
And al {th}e people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying: The king saued vs out of the hand of our enemies, & he deliuered vs out of the hande of the Philistines, and nowe he is fled out of the lande for Absalom:
But Absalom whom we annoynted ouer vs, is dead in battell: Therefore, why are ye so still, that ye bring not the king agayne?
And king Dauid sent to Sadoc & Abiathar the priestes, saying: Speake vnto the elders of Iuda, and say: why are ye behinde to bring the king againe to his house (seyng that such tydinges is come from all Israel vnto the king, euen to his house?)
Ye are my brethren, my bones, and my fleshe: wherfore then are ye the last that bryng the king againe?
And say ye to Amasa: Art thou not of my bone and of my fleshe? God do so to me and more also, if thou be not captayne of the hoast to me for euer in the roome of Ioab.
And he bowed the heartes of all the men of Iuda, euen as the heart of one man, so that they sent [this word] to the king: Returne thou with all thy seruauntes.
So the king returned, and came to Iordane: And Iuda came to Gilgal for to go to meete the king, and to conuey him ouer Iordane.
And Simei the sonne of Gera the sonne of Iemini, whiche was of Bahurim, hasted and came downe with the men of Iuda to meete king Dauid.
And there were a thousand men of Beniamin with him, and Ziba the seruaunt of the house of Saul and his fyfteene sonnes and twentie seruauntes with him, and they went ouer Iordane before the king.
And there went ouer a boate to carie ouer the kinges housholde, and to do him pleasure: And Simei the sonne of Gera fel before the king as he was come ouer Iordane,
And sayde vnto the king: Let not my lorde impute wickednes vnto me, nor remembre the thinges that thy seruaunt dyd wickedly when my lord the king departed out of Hierusale{m}, that the king should take it to his heart.
For thy seruaunt doth knowe howe that I haue done amisse: And therfore behold, I am the first this day of all the house of Ioseph, that am come downe to meete my lorde the king.
But Abisai the sonne of Zaruia aunswered, and sayd: Shall not Simei dye for this, because he cursed the Lordes annoynted?
And Dauid sayde: What haue I to do with you ye sonnes of Zaruia? For this day ye be aduersaries vnto me: Shall there any man dye this day in Israel? Do not I knowe that I am this day kyng ouer Israel?
And therfore the kyng sayde vnto Simei, Thou shalt not dye: and the kyng sware vnto hym.
And Miphiboseth the sonne of Saul came downe to meete the kyng, and had neither washed his feete, nor dressed his bearde, nor washed his clothes, from the tyme the kyng departed, vntyll he came againe in peace.
And when he was come to Hierusalem and met the king, the king sayde vnto him: Wherfore wentest not thou with me Miphiboseth?
He aunswered: My lorde O king, my seruaunt deceaued me: For thy seruaunt saide, I would haue myne asse sadled to ryde thereon, for to go to the king: because thy seruaunt is lame.
And he hath accused thy seruaunt vnto my lorde the king, and my lorde the king is as an angell of God: do therfore what seemeth good in thine eyes.
For all my fathers house were but dead men before my lorde the king, and yet diddest thou put thy seruaunt among the{m} that dyd eate at thyne owne table: What right therefore haue I yet to crye any more vnto the king?
And the king said vnto him: Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I haue saide, Thou and Ziba deuide the landes betweene you.
And Miphiboseth sayd vnto the king: yea, let him take all, forsomuch as my lord {th}e king is come againe in peace vnto his owne house.
And Barzellai {th}e Gileadite came downe from Roglim, and went ouer Iordane with the king, to conduct him ouer Iordane.
Barzellai was a very aged man, euen foure score yeres olde, and prouided the king of sustenaunce while he laye at Mahanaim: for he was a man of very great substaunce.
And the king said vnto Barzellai, come ouer with me, & I will feede thee with me in Hierusalem.
And Barzellai saide vnto the king: How long haue I to liue, that I shuld go vp with the king vnto Hierusalem?
I am this day foure score yeres olde: & can I deserue betweene good or euyll? Hath thy seruaunt any taste in that he eateth or drinketh? Can he heare any more the voyce of syngyng men and women? wherfore the{n} should thy seruaunt be yet a burthen vnto my lord the king?
Thy seruaunt will go a litle way ouer Iordane with the king: & why wyl the king recompence it me with such a rewarde?
O let thy seruaunt turne backe agayne, that I may dye in myne owne citie, and [be buryed] in the graue of my father & of my mother: Beholde, here is thy seruaunt Chimham, let him go with my lorde the king, and do to him what shall please thee.
And the king aunswered: Chimham shall go with me, and I will do to him that thou shalt be content with: And what soeuer thou shalt require of me, that same will I do for thee.
And al the people went ouer Iordane: and whe{n} the king was come ouer Iordane, he kissed Barzellai, & blessed him, & he went backe againe vnto his owne place.
And then the king went to Gilgal, & Chimham went with him: And al the people of Iuda, conducted the king, and also halfe the people of Israel.
And beholde, all the men of Israel came to the king, & saide vnto the king: Why haue our brethren the men of Iuda stolen thee away, and haue brought the king and his housholde and all Dauids men with him ouer Iordane?
And all the men of Iuda aunswered the men of Israel, Because the king is neare of kinne to vs: Wherefore be ye angry for this matter? Haue we eaten of the kinges cost? or haue we taken any brybes?
And the men of Israel aunswered the men of Iuda, and saide: We haue ten partes in the king, and haue thereto more ryght to Dauid then ye: Why then did ye despise vs, that our aduise should not be first had, in restoring our king? And the wordes of the men of Iuda were fiercer the{n} the wordes of the men of Israel.
WHen there came thither a certaine man of Belial, named Seba, the sonne of Bichri, a man of Iemini, he blew a trumpet, and said: we haue no part in Dauid, neither haue we inheritaunce in the sonne of Isai: euery man to his tentes, O Israel.
And so euery man of Israel went fro{m} Dauid, and folowed Seba the sonne of Bichri: But the men of Iuda claue fast vnto their king from Iordane to Hierusalem.
And Dauid came to his house to Hierusalem, and the king toke the ten women his concubines, that he had left behind him to kepe {th}e house, & put them in warde, & fed them, but lay no more with them: And so they were inclosed vnto the day of their death, lyuing in wydowhood.
Then saide the king to Amasa: Call me the men of Iuda together within three dayes, and be thou here also.
And so Amasa went to gather {th}e men of Iuda together, but taryed longer the{n} the time which he had appoynted him.
And Dauid saide to Abisai: Now shal Seba the sonne of Bichri do vs more harme then did Absalom: Take thou therefore thy lordes seruauntes, and folowe after him, lest he get him walled cities, and escape vs.
And there went out after him Ioabs men, and the Cerethites, and the Phelethites, and all the mightyest men: And they departed out of Hierusalem to folow after Seba the sonne of Bichri.
And when they were at {th}e great stone in Gibeon, Amasa went before them: And Ioabs garment that he had about him, was girde vnto him, & he had gyrded thereon a sword, which was ioyned fast to his loynes in a sheath, that as he went it fell sometime out.
And Ioab saide to Amasa: Art thou in health my brother? And Ioab toke Amasa by {th}e beard with the right hand, to kisse him.
But Amasa toke no heede to the sword that was in Ioabs hand: for there with he smote him in the fyft [rybbe] & shed out his bowels to the grounde, and thrust at him no more, & he dyed: So Ioab and Abisai his brother folowed after Seba the sonne of Bichri.
And one of Ioabs men stoode by him, and saide: He that beareth any fauour to Ioab, or good will to Dauid, let him go after Ioab.
And Amasa wallowed in blood in the middes of the way: And when the man sawe that all the people stoode still, he remoued Amasa out of the way into the fielde, and cast a cloth vpon him, because he saw that euery one that came by him stoode still.
And assoone as he was remoued out of the way, al the people went after Ioab, to folow after Seba the sonne of Bichri.
And he went thorow all the tribes of Israel, vnto Abel, and to Bethmaacha, and all the places of Berim: And they gathered together, and went after him.
And they came and besieged him in Abel, neare to Bethmaacha: And they cast vp a bancke against the citie, and the people therof stoode on the ramper, and all the people that was with Ioab, thrust at the wall to ouerthrowe it.
Then cryed a wyse woman out of the citie, heare, heare, I pray you say vnto Ioab: Come hither that I may speake with thee.
When Ioab was come vnto her, the woman saide: Art thou Ioab? He aunswered: I am he. She saide vnto him: Heare the wordes of thyne handmayd. And he aunswered: I do heare.
Then she spake thus: They spake in the olde tyme, saying, They should aske of Abel: And so haue they continued.
I am one of them that are peaceable & faithfull in Israel, and thou goest about to destroy a citie, and a mother in Israel: Why wilt thou deuour the inheritaunce of the Lorde?
And Ioab aunswered, and sayd: God forbyd, God forbid it me that I should either deuour, or destroy.
The matter is not so: But a man of mount Ephraim (Seba the sonne of Bichri by name) hath lyft vp his hand against the king, euen against Dauid: Delyuer vs him onely, & I wyll depart from the citie. And the woman said vnto Ioab: Behold, his head shalbe throwen to thee ouer the wall.
And then the woman went vnto all the people with her wisedome, and they smote of the head of Seba {th}e sonne of Bichri, and cast it out to Ioab: And he blew a trumpet, & they retyred from the citie, euery man to his tent: And Ioab returned to Hierusalem, vnto the king.
Ioab was ouer all the hoast of Israel, and Banaia the sonne of Iehoida was ouer the Cerethites & Phelethites.
And Aduram was ouer the tribute, and Iehosaphat the sonne of Ahilud, was recorder.
Seua was scribe, and Sadoc and Abiathar were the priestes.
And Ira the Iairite was chiefe about Dauid.
THEN there was an hunger in the dayes of Dauid three yeres together: And Dauid enquired of {th}e Lorde. And the Lorde aunswered: It is for Saul, and the house of blood, because he slue the Gibeonites.
And the king called the Gibeonites, and saide vnto them: (Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but a remnaunt of the Amorites, and the children of Israel sware vnto them: And Saul sought to slay them, for a zeale that he had to the children of Israel and of Iuda.)
Wherefore Dauid saide vnto the Gibeonites: What shall I do for you, & wherewith shall I make the attonement, that ye may blesse {th}e inheritaunce of the Lorde?
The Gibeonites aunswered him: We will haue no siluer nor golde of Saul nor of his house, neither is it our mind that thou shouldest kil any man in Israel. He saide: What you shall say, that will I do for you.
They aunswered the king: The man that consumed vs, and imagined to bring vs to naught, that we are destroyed from remaining in any of the coastes of Israel:
Let seuen men of his sonnes be deliuered vnto vs, & we will hang them vp vnto the Lorde in Gibeah of Saul whom {th}e Lord did choose. And the king saide: I will geue them you.
But the king had compassion on Miphiboseth the sonne of Ionathan the sonne of Saul, because of the Lordes oth that was betweene them, euen betweene Dauid & Ionathan the sonne of Saul.
But the king toke the two sonnes of Rispha the daughter of Aia whom she bare vnto Saul, euen Armoni and Miphiboseth, and the fiue sonnes of Michol the daughter of Saul, whom she bare to Adriel the sonne of Barzellai the Meholathite.
And he deliuered them vnto {th}e handes of the Gibeonites, which hanged them in the hill before the Lorde: And they fell all seuen together, and were slaine in the dayes of haruest, euen in the first dayes, and in the beginning of barlye haruest.
And Rispha the daughter of Aia, toke sackcloth, & hanged it vp for her vpon the rocke [euen] from the beginning of haruest, vntill water dropped vpon them out of heauen, & suffered neither the byrdes of the ayre to lyght on them by day, nor beastes of {th}e fielde by night.
And it was tolde Dauid what Rispha the daughter of Aia the concubine of Saul, had done.
And Dauid went and toke the bones of Saul and of Ionathan his sonne, from the citezins of Iabes in Gilead, which had stolen them from the streate of Bethsan where the Philistines had hanged them, whe{n} the Philistines had slaine Saul in Gilboa:
And he brought thence the bones of Saul, and the bones of Ionathan his sonne, and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.
And the bones of Saul & Ionathan his sonne buryed they in the countrey of Beniamin, in Zela, in the sepulchre of Cis his father: And when they had perfourmed al that the king commaunded, God was then at one with the land.
Moreouer, {th}e Philistines had yet warre againe with Israel, and Dauid went downe and his seruauntes with him, & fought against the Philistines: And Dauid waxed faintie.
And Iesbi benob one of the sonnes of the giauntes (the iron of whose speare wayed three hundred sicles of brasse) and he being gyrded with a new sword, thought to haue slaine Dauid.
But Abisai the sonne of Zaruia succoured him, & smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the seruauntes of Dauid sware vnto him, saying: Thou shalt go no more out with vs to battaile, that thou quenche not the light of Israel.
And yet after this, there was a battaile with the Philistines at Gob, and then Sibbechai the Husathite slue Saph which was one of {th}e sonnes of the giauntes.
And there was another battaile in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the sonne of Iaere Oregim a Bethlehemite slue Goliath {th}e Gethite: the staffe of whose speare was as great as a weauers clothbeame.
And there was yet another battaile in Geth, wher was a man of a great stature, and had on euery hand sixe fingers, & on euery foote sixe toes, foure & twentie in number, and was borne also of the kindred of the giauntes in Geth.
And when he defyed Israel, Ionathan the sonne of Simea the brother of Dauid slue him.
These foure were borne to the giaunt in Geth, and dyed by the hand of Dauid, & by the handes of his seruauntes.
AND Dauid spake the wordes of this song vnto the Lorde, what time the Lorde had delyuered him out of the hand of al his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul.
And he saide: The Lorde is my rocke, and my castell, and my delyuerer.
God is my strength, in him will I trust: he is my shielde, and the horne of my saluation, my hie towre, and my refuge, my sauiour, thou hast saued me from wrong.
I will call on the Lorde which is prayse worthy: and so shall I be saued from myne enemies.
For the panges of death closed me about: the fludes of Belial put me in feare.
The sorowes of hell compassed me about, the snares of death ouertoke me.
In my tribulation did I call vppon the Lorde, and crye to my God: and he dyd heare my voyce out of his temple, and my crye [did enter] into his eares.
The earth trembled and quaked: the foundations of heauen moued & shooke when he was angry.
Smoke went out at his nosthryls, & consuming fyre out of his mouth: coles were kindled thereat.
And he bowed heauen & came downe: and there was darkenesse vnder his feete.
And he rode vpon Cherub and did flee: he was seene vppon the winges of the winde.
He made darknes a tabernacle rounde about him: with waters gathered together in thicke cloudes.
Through the brightnes of his presence were the coles of fyre kindled.
The Lorde thundred from heauen: & he that is most hie, put out his voyce.
He shot arrowes, and scattered them: [to wit] lyghtning, & ouerthrew them.
The chanels of the sea appeared: and the foundatio{n}s of the world were seene, by the reason of {th}e rebuking of the Lord, and through the blasting of the breath of his nosthryls.
He sent from aboue and toke me: he drew me out of many waters.
He deliuered me from my mightie enemie, and from them that hated me: for they were to strong for me.
When they had preuented me in the daye of my calamitie: the Lorde stayed me vp.
For he brought me out into roomth: he deliuered me, because he had a fauour vnto me.
The Lorde rewarded me according to my righteousnesse: accordyng to the purenes of my hands he recompensed me.
For I haue kept the wayes of {th}e Lord: and did not wickedly agaynst my God.
For all his lawes were in my sight: & his statutes, I did not depart therefro{m}.
In his sight also haue I ben vpright: and haue kept me from myne owne iniquitie.
And the Lorde did to me againe according to my righteousnesse: euen after my purenes in his eye sight.
With the godly thou shalt be godlie: and with the man that is vpright, thou shalt be vpright.
With the pure thou shalt be pure: and with the froward thou wilt shewe thy selfe froward.
And the poore people thou wilt saue: but thyne eyes are vpon the proude, to bring them downe.
For thou art my lyght, O Lorde: and the Lorde shall light my darkenesse.
For by thee I shall breake through an hoast of men: and by my God wyll I spring ouer a wall.
God is vncorrupt in his way, the word of the Lord is tryed in the fyre: he is a shielde to all them that trust in him.
For who is a God saue the Lord? and who is mightie saue our God?
God strengthneth me in battaile: & ryddeth the way cleare before me.
He maketh my feete lyke hyndes feete: and setteth me vpon my hie places.
He teacheth my handes to fight: that euen a bowe of steele is broken with myne armes.
Thou hast geuen me the shielde of thy saluation: and with thy louing mekenesse thou doest multiplie me.
Thou hast enlarged my steps vnder me: and my legges shall not faile me.
I haue folowed vpon myne enemies, and destroyed them: and turned not againe, vntill I had consumed them.
I haue wasted them, and wounded them, that they shal not be able to aryse: yea, they shall fall vnder my feete.
Thou hast gyrded me about with might to battayle: and them that rose against me, hast thou subdued vnder me.
And thou hast geuen me the neckes of myne enemies: that I might destroye them that hate me.
They loked about, but there was none to saue them: [euen] vnto the Lorde, but he heard them not.
Then did I beate them as small as the dust of the earth: I did stampe them as the clay of the streate, and did spreade them abrode.
Thou also hast deliuered me from the discention of my people, thou hast kept me to be an head ouer nations: the people which I knew not, do serue me.
Straunge childre{n} dissemble with me: at the hearing of the eare, they obey me.
Straunge children wil shrinke away: and they shall be smytten with feare in their priuie chamber.
Let the Lord lyue, and blessed be my strength: magnified be God [euen] the force of my saluation.
It is God that geueth me [power] to reuenge me: & bringeth downe the people vnder me.
He deliuereth me from myne enemies, thou also hast lyft me on hie from them that rose against me: thou hast delyuered me from the wicked man.
And therefore I wyll prayse thee O Lorde among the nations: and wyll sing vnto thy name.
He is the towre of saluation for his king, and dealeth mercyfully with his annoynted: euen with Dauid, and with his seede for euermore.
THese also be the last wordes of Dauid: Dauid the sonne of Isai said: and {th}e man which was ordayned the annoynted of the God of Iacob and the sweete Psalmist of Israel, sayde:
The spirite of the Lorde spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
The God of Israel spake to me, euen the most mightie of Israel sayde: A ruler ouer men being iust, ruling in {th}e feare of God:
And as the morning lyght when the sunne is vp, a morning in which are no cloudes, [so shal my house be, but not] as the grasse of the earth is by bryghtnesse and rayne.
For so shal not my house be with God: For he hath made with me an euerlasting couenaunt, perfect and sure in all poyntes: and this is truly all my health, and all my desyre, that it growe, but not as grasse.
But the vngodly man, shall be as a thorne cleane pluckt vp, which can not be taken with handes:
But the man that shall touche them, must be defenced with iron, or with the shaft of a speare, and they shalbe burnt with fire in the same place.
These be the names of the mightie men whom Dauid had: One that sate in the seate of wisedome, being chiefest among the princes, was Adino of Ezni, he slue eyght hundred at one tyme.
After him was Eliazar the sonne of Dodo the sonne of Ahohi, one of the three worthies with Dauid, which defyed the Philistines that were there gathered together to battaile, when the men of Israel were gone vp.
He arose and layed on the Philistines, vntill his hand was weery, and claue vnto the sword: And the Lorde gaue great victory the same day, and the people returned after him, only to spoyle.
After him was Samma the sonne of Age the Hararite: & the Philistines gathered together besyde a towne, where was a parcell of land full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines:
But he stoode in {th}e middest of the grou{n}d, and defended it, & slue the Philistines: and the Lorde gaue great victorie.
These three (which were of the thirtie chiefe captaines) went downe to Dauid in the haruest tyme vnto the caue Adullam: and the hoast of the Philistines pytched in the valley of giauntes.
And Dauid was then in an houlde, and the souldiers of {th}e Philistines were in Bethlehem.
And Dauid longed, & saide: Oh that I had of the water that is in the wel by the gate of Bethlehem for to drynke.
And the three mightie brake through the hoast of the Philistines, & drue water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and toke and brought it to Dauid: Neuerthelesse he would not drinke thereof, but powred it vnto the Lorde,
And saide, The Lorde forbyd that I should do so: Is not this the blood of the men that went in ieoperdie of theyr lyues? & therefore he would not drinke it. And these thinges did these three mightie men.
Abisai the brother of Ioab the sonne of Zaruia, was chiefe among the three, & he lyft vp his speare against three hundred, and slue them, & had the name among the three:
For he was most excellent of the three, and was their captayne: Howbeit he attayned not vnto [the first] three.
And Banaiah the sonne of Iehoida the sonne of a mightie man, valiaunt in actes, of Kabzeel, slue two stro{n}g men of Moab: He went downe also, and slue a lion in the middest of a pit in time of snowe.
And he slue an Egyptian a goodly bigge man, and the Egyptian had a speare in his hand: But he went downe to him with a staffe, and plucked the speare out of the Egyptians hand, and slue him with his owne speare.
These thinges did Banaiah {th}e sonne of Iehoida, and had the name among the three worthies.
He was honorable among thirtie, but he attayned not to [the first] three: And Dauid made him of his counsel.
Asahel the brother of Ioab, was one of the thirtie: Elhanan the sonne of Dodo, of Bethlehem:
Samma the Harodite, Elica the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira the sonne of Acces the Thecoite:
Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai {th}e Husathite:
Zelmon an Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite:
Heleb the sonne of Baanah an Netophatite, Ithai the sonne of Ribai out of Gibea of the children of Beniamin:
Banaiah the Pirathonite, Heddai of the ryuer of Gaas:
Abialbon the Arbathite, Asmaueth the Barhumite:
Eliahba a Saalbonite: of the sonnes of Iasen, Ionathan:
Samma the Hararite, Ahiam {th}e sonne of Sarar an Hararite:
Eliphelet {th}e sonne of Aasbai the sonne of Maachathi, Eliam the sonne of Ahithophel the Gilonite:
Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite.
Igal the sonne of Nathan of Zoba, Bani the Gadite:
Zelec the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, which was the harnesse bearer of Ioab the sonne of Zaruia:
Ira the Iethrite, Gareb {th}e Iethrite:
Vria the Hethite: thirtie and seuen in all.
ANd agayne the Lorde was wroth against Israel, and he moued Dauid agaynst them, in that he sayde: Go number Israel & Iuda.
For the king sayde to Ioab the captaine of the hoast which was with him: Go thou abrode now throughout al the tribes of Israel, euen from Dan to Beerseba, and number ye the people, that I may knowe the number of them.
And Ioab saide vnto the king: The Lorde thy God encrease the people an hundreth folde mo then they be, & that the eyes of my lorde the king may see it: And what is the cause that my lorde the king hath a lust to this thyng?
Notwithstanding, the kinges word preuayled agaynst Ioab & against the captaines of the hoast: And Ioab & the captaynes of the hoast, went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.
And they passed ouer Iordane, & pitched in Aroer on the right syde of the citie that lyeth in the myddest of the valey of Gad, and toward Iazer.
And then they came to Gilead, and to the land Tahtim hodshi, & from the{m}ce they came to Dan Iaan, and about to Sidon.
And came to the strong hould of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Heuites and of the Chanaanites: & then went out to the south of Iuda, euen to Beerseba.
And so when they had ben abrode throughout all the land, they returned to Hierusalem, after the end of nine monethes and twentie dayes.
And Ioab deliuered the number and summe of the people vnto the king, and there were in Israel eyght hundred thousand men of might that drewe swordes: and the men of Iuda were fiue hundred thousand men.
And Dauids heart smote him, after that he had numbred the people: And Dauid saide vnto the Lord, I haue sinned exceedingly in that I haue done: And nowe I beseche thee Lord take away the trespasse of thy seruaunt, for I haue done very foolishly.
And when Dauid was vp in the morning, the word of the Lorde came vnto the prophet Gad Dauids sear, saying:
Go and say vnto Dauid, thus sayth the Lorde: I offer thee three thynges, choose thee which of them I shall do vnto thee.
So Gad came to Dauid, and shewed him, and said vnto him: Wylt thou haue seuen yeres hunger to come vpon thy land: or wilt thou flee three monethes before thyne enemies, they folowyng thee: or that there be three dayes pestilence in thy land? Now therefore aduise thee, and see what aunswere I shall geue to him that sent me.
And Dauid saide vnto Gad, I am in a wonderfull strayte: Let vs fall now into the hand of the Lorde (for much is his mercy) and let me not fall into the hand of man.
And so the Lorde sent a pestilence in Israel, from the morning vnto the time appoynted: And there dyed of the people from Dan to Beerseba seuentie thousand men.
And when the angel stretched out his hand vpon Hierusalem to destroy it, the Lorde repented him of the euill, & saide to the angel that destroyed the people: It is now sufficient, holde thyne hand. And the angell of the Lord was by the threshing place of Arenna the Iebusite.
And Dauid spake vnto the Lorde, when he saw the angell that smote the people, and saide: Lo, it is I that haue sinned, and that haue done wickedlie: But these sheepe, what haue they done? Let thyne hand I pray thee be against me, and against my fathers house.
And Gad came the same day to Dauid, and said vnto him: Go vp and reare an aulter vnto the Lorde in the threshing floore of Areuna the Iebusite.
And Dauid according to the saying of Gad, went vp as the Lorde commaunded.
And Areuna loked, and sawe the king and his seruauntes comming toward him: and Areuna went out, and bowed him selfe before the king on his face vpon the ground.
And Areuna sayde: Wherefore is my lord the king come to his seruaunt? Dauid aunswered: To bye the threshing floore of thee, and to make an aulter vnto the Lord, that the plague may ceasse from the people.
And Areuna saide vnto Dauid: Let my lorde the king take and offer what seemeth him good in his eyes: Beholde, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and charets, and the other instrumentes of the oxen for wood.
All these thinges did Areuna as a king geue vnto the king, & said moreouer vnto the king: The Lorde thy God accept thee.
And the king saide vnto Areuna: Not so, but I will bye it of thee at a price, and wil not offer sacrifice vnto the Lord my God of the which doth cost me nothing. And so Dauid bought the thresshing floore and the oxen for fiftie sicles of siluer.
And Dauid buylt there an aulter vnto the Lorde, and offered burnt sacrifices, and peace offeringes: And so the Lorde was intreated for the land, and the plague ceassed from Israel.
AND king Dauid was olde and stricken in yeres, so that whe{n} they couered him with clothes, he caught no heate.
Wherefore his seruauntes sayde vnto him: Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgyn, to stande before the king and to cherishe him, and let her lye in thy bosome, that my lorde the king may get heate.
And so they sought for a faire damosell throughout al the coastes of Israel, and founde one Abisag a Sunamite, and brought her to the king.
And the damosell was exceeding faire, and cherished the king, and ministred to him: But the king knewe her not.
And Adonia the sonne of Haggith exalted him selfe, saying: I wilbe king. And he gat him charettes and horsemen, and fyftie men to runne before him.
And his father for his time would not displease him, to say why hast thou done so? And he was a very goodly man: and his mother bare him next after Absalom.
And he toke counsell at Ioab the sonne of Zaruia, and at Abiathar the priest: and they helped forward Adonia:
But Sadoc the priest, Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada, Nathan the prophete, Semei, and Rei, and the men of might which were with Dauid, they were not with Adonia.
And Adonia sacrificed sheepe, and oxen, and fat cattel, by the stone of Zoheleth, whiche is by the well of Rogel, and called all his brethren the kinges sonnes, and all the men of Iuda the kinges seruauntes:
But Nathan the prophete, and Banaiah, and the mightie men, and Solomon his brother he called not.
Wherfore Nathan spake vnto Bethsabe the mother of Solomon, saying: Hast thou not hearde that Adonia the sonne of Haggith doth raigne, and Dauid our lorde knoweth it not?
Nowe therfore come, and I will geue thee counsell howe to saue thyne owne lyfe, and the lyfe of thy sonne Solomon.
Go and get thee in vnto king Dauid, & say vnto him: Diddest not thou my lorde O king, sweare vnto thy handmayde, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy sonne shall raigne after me, and he shall sit vpon my seate? why is then Adonia king?
Beholde, whyle thou yet talkest there with the king, I wil come in after thee, and confirme thy wordes.
And Bethsabe went in vnto the king into the chamber: And the king was very olde, and Abisag the Sunamite ministred vnto the king.
And Bethsabe stouped & made obeysaunce vnto the king: And the king sayd, What is thy matter?
She aunswered: My lorde, thou swarest by the Lorde thy God vnto thine handmayde [saying] Assuredly Solomon thy sonne shall raigne after me, and he shall sit vpon my seate.
And beholde, nowe is Adonia king, and thou my lorde the king knowest it not.
And he hath offered oxen, fat cattel, and many sheepe, and hath called all the sonnes of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Ioab the captayne of the hoast: But Solomon thy seruaunt hath he not bydden.
And nowe my lorde O king, the eyes of all Israel wayte on thee, that thou shouldest tell them who ought to sit on the seate of my lord the king after him:
For els when my lorde the king shall sleepe with his fathers, I & my sonne Solomon shalbe synners.
And lo whyle she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet came also.
And they told the king, saying: Behold, [here commeth] Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in to the king, he made obeysaunce before the king vpo{n} his face on the grounde.
And Nathan sayde: My lord (O king) hast thou sayde, Adonia shall raigne after me, and he shall sit vpon my seate?
For he is gone downe this day, & hath slayne oxen, & fat cattell, and sheepe a great meany, & hath called al the kinges sonnes, and the captaynes of the hoast, and Abiathar the priest: And beholde, they eate & drinke before him, and say: God saue king Adonia.
But me thy seruaunt, and Sadoc the priest, and Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada, & thy seruaunt Solomon, hath he not called.
Is this thing done of my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it vnto thy seruaunt who should sit on the seate of my lorde the king after him?
Then king Dauid aunswered, & sayd: Cal me Bethsabe. And she came into the kinges presence, and stoode before him.
And the king sware, saying: As the Lord lyueth that hath ryd my soule out of all aduersite,
Euen as I sware vnto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy sonne shal raigne after me, & he shal sit vpon my seate for me: so will I certeinly do this day.
Then Bethsabe bowed on her face to the earth, and dyd reuerence vnto the king, & sayde: I pray God that my lorde king Dauid may lyue for euer.
And king Dauid sayde: Call me Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada. And they came before the king.
The king also sayde vnto them: Take with you the seruauntes of your lord, & set Solomo{n} my sonne vpon myne owne mule, and cary him downe to Gihon:
And let Sadoc the priest and Nathan the prophet annoynt him there king ouer Israel: And blowe ye with trumpettes, & say, God saue king Solomon.
And then ye shall come vp after him, that he may come and sit vpo{n} my seate, for he shalbe king in my steade: and I haue commaunded him to be captayne ouer Israel and Iuda.
And Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada aunswered the king, and sayde, Amen: And the Lord God of my lorde the king say so to.
And as the Lorde hath ben with my lord the king, eue{n} so be he with Solomo{n} also, and make his seate greater then the seate of my lord king Dauids hath ben.
And so Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada, and the Cerethites, and Phelethites went downe, and set Solomon vpon king Dauids mule, and brought him to Gihon.
And Sadoc the priest toke an horne of oyle out of the tabernacle, & annoynted Solomon: And they blew the trumpettes, and al the people sayde: God saue king Solomon.
And all the people came vp after him, pyping with pypes and reioysing greatly, so that the earth rang with the sounde of them.
And Adonia and al the ghestes that he had called vnto him, hearde it [euen] as they had made an ende of eating. And when Ioab hearde the sounde of the trumpet, he sayde: What meaneth this noyse and vprore in the citie?
And as he yet spake, beholde Ionathan the sonne of Abiathar the priest came, and Adonia said vnto him: Come in, for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tydinges.
And Ionathan aunswered and sayde to Adonia: Veryly our lorde king Dauid hath made Solomon king.
And the king hath sent with him Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada, & the Cerethites, and the Phelethites, & they haue set him vpo{n} the kinges mule.
And Sadoc the priest & Nathan the prophete, haue annoynted him king in Gihon. And they came vp from thence, & reioyced, that the citie did sounde againe: And that is the noyse, that ye haue hearde.
And Solomon sitteth on the seate of the kingdome.
And moreouer, the kinges seruauntes came to blesse our lorde king Dauid, saying: God make the name of Solomo{n} more honorable then thy name, & make his seate greater then thy seate. And the king bowed him selfe vpon the bed.
And thus sayd the king: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which hath made one to sit on my seate this day, myne eye seyng it.
And al the ghestes that were with Adonia were afrayde, and rose vp, & went euery man his way.
And Adonia fearing the presence of Solomon, arose, and went and caught hold on the hornes of the aulter.
And one tolde Solomon, saying: Behold, Adonia feareth king Solomon: for lo he hath caught hold on the hornes of the aulter, saying: Let king Solomon sweare vnto me this day that he wil not slay his seruaunt with the sword.
And Solomo{n} said: If he wil shew him selfe a worthy ma{n}, ther shal not an heer of hym fal to the earth: But & if wickednesse be founde in him, he shall dye.
And so king Solomon sent, and they brought him from the aulter, and he came and did obeysaunce vnto king Solomon: And Solomon sayde vnto him, Get thee to thyne house.
THe dayes of Dauid drew me that he should dye, & he charged Solomon his sonne, saying:
I go the way of al the earth, be thou strong therfore, & shewe thy selfe a man.
Kepe thou the watch of the Lorde thy God, that thou walke in his wayes, and kepe his statutes, and his preceptes, his iudgementes, and his testimonies, euen as it is written in the lawe of Moyses: that thou mayst prosper in all that thou doest, and in euery thing that thou medlest withall.
That the Lorde also may make good his worde which he spake vnto me, saying: If thy children take heede to their way, that they walke before me in trueth, with all their heartes, & with al their soules, thou shalt not (saith he) be without a man on the seate of Israel.
Moreouer, thou wottest howe Ioab the sonne of Zaruia serued me, and what he did to the two captaynes of the hoastes of Israel, vnto Abner the sonne of Ner, and vnto Amasa the sonne of Iether, whom he slue, and shed blood in time of peace (euen as it had ben in warre) & put the blood of warre vpon his girdle that was about his loynes, and in his shoes that were on his feete.
Deale with him therefore according to thy wisdome, and bring not his hoore head downe to the graue in peace.
But shewe kindnes vnto the sonnes of Barzellai {th}e Gileadite, that they may eate at thy table: For they came to me whe{n} I fled from Absalom thy brother.
And behold, thou hast with thee Semei the sonne of Gera the sonne of Iemini of Bahurim, whiche cursed me with an horrible curse, in the day when I went to Mahanaim: But he came to meete me at Iordane, & I sware to him by the Lord, saying: I wil not slay thee with the sworde.
But thou shalt not count him as vngiltie: For thou art a man of wisdome, and knowest what thou oughtest to do vnto him, his hoore head shalt thou bring to the graue with blood.
And so Dauid slept with his fathers, and was buried in the citie of Dauid.
And the dayes whiche Dauid raigned vpon Israel were fourtie yeres: seuen yeres raigned he in Hebron, & thirtie and three yeres raigned he in Hierusalem.
Then sate Solomon vpon the seate of Dauid his father, and his kingdome was stablished mightyly.
And Adonia the sonne of Haggith came to Bethsabe the mother of Solomon, and she sayde: Co{m}mest thou peaceably? And he sayde, peaceably.
He sayde moreouer: I haue somwhat to say vnto thee. She sayd: Say on.
And he sayd: Thou knowest that the kingdome was myne, & that all Israel set their faces on me, that I shoulde raigne: howbeit, the kingdome is turned away, and geuen to my brother: for it is appoynted him of the Lorde.
And nowe I aske a petition of thee, deny me not. And she sayde vnto him: Say on.
And he said: Speake I pray thee, vnto Solomo{n} the king (for he wil not say thee nay) that he geue me Abisag the Sunamite to wyfe.
And Bethsabe sayd: Wel, I wil speake for thee vnto the king.
Bethsabe therfore went vnto king Solomon, to speake vnto him for Adonia: And the king rose vp to meete her, and bowed him selfe vnto her, and sate hym downe on his seate, & there was a seate set for the kinges mother, & she sate on his right syde.
Then she sayd: I desire a litle petition of thee, I pray thee say me not nay. And the king sayd vnto her: Aske on, my mother, for I will not say thee nay.
She sayde: Let Abisag the Sunamite be geuen to Adonia thy brother to wyfe.
And king Solomon aunswered and sayde vnto his mother: Why doest thou aske Abisag the Sunamite for Adonia? aske for him the kingdome also: for he is myne elder brother, and hath for him Abiathar the priest, and Ioab the sonne of Zaruia.
Then king Solomon sware by the Lord, saying: God do so and so to me, if Adonia haue not spoken this worde against his owne lyfe.
Nowe therefore, as the Lorde lyueth, whiche hath ordeyned me, and set me on the seate of Dauid my father, and made me an house as he promised, Adonia shall dye this day.
And king Solomon sent by the hande of Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada, and he smote him that he died.
And vnto Abiathar the priest sayd the king: Get thee to Anatoth vnto thine owne fieldes, for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time kill thee, because thou barest the arke of the Lorde God before Dauid my father, and because thou hast suffered with my father in all his afflictions.
And so Solomon put away Abiathar from beyng priest vnto the Lord: that he might fulfill the wordes of the Lord, which he spake ouer the house of Eli in Silo.
Then tydtnges came also to Ioab (for Ioab had turned after Adonia, though he turned not after Absalom) and Ioab fled vnto the tabernacle of the Lorde, and caught holde on the hornes of the aulter.
And it was told king Solomon howe that Ioab fled vnto the tabernacle of the Lorde, and beholde he is by the aulter: Then Solomon sent Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada, saying: Go and fall vpon him.
And Banaiah came to the tabernacle of the Lorde, and sayde vnto him: Thus sayeth the king, Come out. And he sayde: Nay, but I wil dye euen here. And Banaiah brought the king word againe, saying: Thus sayde Ioab, and thus he aunswered me.
And the king sayde vnto him, Do euen as he hath sayd: Smite him, & burie him, that thou mayest take away the blood which Ioab shed causelesse, from me, and from the house of my father.
And the Lorde shall bring his blood vpon his owne head: for he smote two men righteouser and better then he, and slue them with the sworde, my father Dauid not knowing therof, euen Abner the sonne of Ner captayne of the hoast of Israel, and Amasa the sonne of Iether captayne of the hoast of Iuda.
Their blood shal therfore returne vpon the head of Ioab, & on the head of his seede for euer: But vpon Dauid, & vpon his seed, & vpon his house, & vpo{n} his seat shall there be peace for euer of the Lord.
So Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada went vp, & he fel vpon him and slue him, and buried him in his house in the wildernesse.
And the king put Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada in his roome ouer {th}e hoast, and put Sadoc the priest in the roome of Abiathar.
And the king sent and called Semei, & sayde vnto him: Buylde thee an house in Hierusalem, and dwell there, & see that thou go not foorth thence any whyther.
For be thou sure, that the day that thou goest out, and passest ouer the riuer of Cedron, thou shalt dye that day, and thy blood shalbe vpon thyne owne head.
And Semei sayde vnto the king, This saying is good: As my lorde {th}e king hath sayde, so will thy seruaunt do. And Semei dwelt in Hierusalem many a day.
And it chaunced after three yeres, that two of the seruauntes of Semei ranne away vnto Achis sonne of Maacha king of Geth: And they told Semei, saying, Behold, thy seruauntes be in Geth.
And Semei stoode vp, and sadled his asse, and gat him to Geth to Achis to seke his seruauntes: And Semei we{n}t & brought his seruauntes againe from Geth.
And it was tolde Solomon, howe that Semei had gone from Hierusalem to Geth, and was come againe.
And the king sent & called Semei, and said vnto him: Did I not charge thee by the Lorde with an oth, & testified vnto thee, saying: Be sure, that whensoeuer thou goest out & walkest abroade any whyther, thou shalt bye the death? And thou saydest vnto me: It is good tydinges that I haue heard.
Why then hast thou not kept the oth of the Lorde, and the commaundement that I charged thee withall?
The king sayde moreouer to Semei: Thou remembrest all the wickednesse which thyne heart knoweth, and that thou diddest to Dauid my father: the Lorde also shall bring thy wickednesse vpon thyne owne head:
And king Solomon shalbe blessed, and the seate of Dauid stablished before the Lorde for euer.
So the king commaunded Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada: which went out, and smote him that he died: And the kingdome was stablished in the hande of Solomon.
SOlomon made affinitie with Pharao king of Egypt, & toke Pharaos daughter, and brought her into the citie of Dauid, vntil he had made an ende of buylding his owne house, and the house of the Lorde, and the wall of Hierusalem round about.
Onely the people sacrificed in hygh places, because there was no house built vnto the name of the Lorde vntill those dayes.
And Solomon loued the Lorde, walking in the ordinaunces of Dauid his father: saue onely that he sacrificed and offered incense vpon aulters in hygh places.
And the king went to Gibeon, to offer there, for that was the speciall hygh place: And a thousande burnt offringes dyd Solomon offer vpon that aulter.
And in Gibeon the Lorde appeared to Solomon in a dreame by night, and God sayd: Aske what thou wilt, that I may geue it thee.
And Solomon sayde: Thou hast shewed vnto thy seruau{n}t Dauid my father great mercie, when he walked before thee in trueth, in righteousnesse, and in plainnesse of heart with thee, and thou hast kept for him this great mercy, that thou hast geuen him a sonne to sit on his seate, as it is come to passe this day.
And nowe O Lord my God, it is thou that hast made thy seruaunt king in steade of Dauid my father: And I am but young, & wote not howe to go out and in.
And thy seruaunt is in the middest of thy people which thou hast chosen: and veryly the people are so many, that they cannot be told nor nu{m}bred for multitude.
Geue therfore thy seruaunt an vnderstanding heart to iudge thy people, that I may discerne betweene good & bad: For who is able to iudge this thy so mightie a people?
And this pleased the Lorde well that Solomon had desired this thing,
And God sayde vnto him: Thou hast not asked for thy selfe long lyfe, neither hast asked riches for thy selfe, nor hast asked the lyfe of thy enemies, but hast asked for thy selfe vnderstanding & discretion in iudgement:
Behold, I haue done according to thy wordes, lo I haue geuen thee a wyse & an vnderstanding heart, so that there was none lyke thee before thee, neither after thee shal any aryse lyke vnto thee.
And I haue also geuen thee that which thou hast not asked, euen rychesse and honour, so that ther shalbe no king lyke vnto thee all thy dayes.
And if thou wilt walke in my wayes, to kepe myne ordinaunces and my commaundementes, as thy father Dauid dyd walke, I will lengthen thy dayes.
When Solomon awoke, beholde it was a dreame: And he came to Hierusalem and stoode before the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde, & offred burnt offringes and peace offringes, and made a feast to all his seruauntes.
Then came there two women that were harlottes, vnto the king, & stoode before him.
And the one woman sayde: Oh my lorde, I and this woman dwell in one house, and I was deliuered of a childe, with her in the house:
And the thirde day after that I was deliuered, she was deliuered also: and we were together, & no straunger with vs in the house, saue we two.
And this wiues childe died in the night, for she smothered it.
And she rose at midnight and toke my sonne from my syde while thyne handmayde slept, and layde it in her bosome, and put her dead childe in my bosome.
And when I rose in the mornyng to geue my chylde sucke, beholde it was dead: But when I had loked vpon it in the morning, beholde, it was not my sonne which I dyd beare.
And the other woman sayd: It is not so, but my sonne liueth, and thy sonne is dead. And she sayde againe: No, but thy sonne is dead, and my sonne is alyue. And thus they pleaded before the king.
Then sayde the king: The one sayth, this that is alyue is my sonne, and the dead is thyne: And the other sayth, nay: but thy sonne is the dead, and the liuing childe is myne.
And the king sayde: Bring me a sworde. And they brought out a sworde before the king.
And the king sayde: Deuide the liuing child in two, and geue the one halfe to the one, and the other to the other.
Then spake the woman whose the liuing childe was, vnto the king (for her bowelles yerned vpon her sonne) and sayde: I besech thee my lorde geue her the liuing childe, and in no wyse slay it: But the other sayde, Let it be neither myne nor thyne, but deuide it.
Then the king aunswered and sayde: Geue her the liuing childe, and slay it not, for she is the mother therof.
And all they of Israel hearde of the iudgement which the king had iudged, and feared the king: for they sawe that the wysdome of God was in him to do iustice.
ANd so king Solomon was king ouer all Israel.
And these were his lordes: Azariahu the sonne of Sadoc the priest.
Elihoreph and Ahiah the sonnes of Sisa, scribes: Iehosaphat the sonne of Ahilud, the recorder.
Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada was ouer the hoast: Sadoc and Abiathar were the priestes.
And Azariahu the sonne of Nathan was ouer the officers: And Zabud the sonne of Nathan was a priest, {th}e kinges companion.
And Ahisar was steward of {th}e houshold: And Adoniram the sonne of Abda was ouer the tributes.
And Solomon had twelue officers ouer all Israel, which prouided vittayles for the king and his houshold: eche man his moneth in a yere, made prouision for necessarie thinges.
And these are their names: the sonne of Hur in mount Ephraim,
The sonne of Dekar in Makaz and in Saalbin, and Bethsames, Elon, and Bethhanan.
The sonne of Hesed in Aruboth, to whom parteyned Socho and all the land of Hepher.
The sonne of Abinadab in all the region of Dor, whiche had Tapheth the daughter of Solomon to wyfe.
Baana the sonne of Ahilud was ouer Thaanach and Megiddo, and ouer all Bethsan, whiche is by Zarthana beneath Iezrael, fro{m} Bethsan to {th}e plaine of Mehola, euen vnto the place that is ouer against Ie•meam.
The sonne of Gaber had Ramoth Gilead, and his were the townes of Iair the sonne of Manasse which are in Gilead: and vnder him was the region of Argob whiche is in Basan threescore great cities with walles and barres of brasse.
Ahinadab the sonne of Hiddo had Mahenaim.
Ahimaaz was in Nephthalim, and he toke Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wyfe.
Baana the sonne of Husai was in Aser and in Aloth.
Iehosaphat the sonne of Paruah was in Isachar.
Semei the sonne of Ela was in Beniamin.
Gaber the sonne of Vri was in the countrey of Gilead, the land of Sehon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Basan, & was officer alone in the lande.
And Iuda and Israel were many [euen] as the sande of the sea in numbre, eating, drincking, and making mery.
And Solomon raigned ouer all kingdomes from the riuer vnto the lande of the Philistines, [euen] vnto the border of Egypt: and they brought presents, and serued Solomon al the dayes of his life.
And Solomons bread for one day was thirtie quarters of manchet flowre, & threescore quarters of meale:
Ten stalled oxen, and twentie out of the pastures, and a hundred sheepe, beside hartes, buckes, and wilde goates, and capons.
For he ruled in all the region on the other syde Euphrates, from Thiphsah to Azza, ouer al the kinges on the other syde the riuer: And he had peace with all his seruauntes on euery syde.
And Iuda and Israel dwelt without feare, euery man vnder his vine and vnder his figgetree, from Danto Beerseba all the dayes of Solomon.
And Solomon had fourtie thousand stalles of horses for charettes, & twelue thousande horsemen.
And the officers prouided vittayle for king Solomon and for all that came out of any place to king Solomons table, euery man his moneth, so that they lacked nothing.
Barly also and strawe for the horses and mules brought they vnto the place where the officers were, euery man in his office.
And God gaue Solomon wysdome and vnderstanding exceeding much, and a large heart, euen as the sand that is on the sea shore.
And Solomons wysdome excelled the wysedome of all the children of the east countrey, and al the wisdome of Egypt.
For he was wiser then al men, yea then Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda the sonnes of Mahol: And his name was spoken of throughout all nations on euery syde.
And Solomon spake three thousande prouerbes: And his songes were a thousande and fiue.
And he spake of trees, euen from the Cedar tree that groweth in Libanon, vnto the Isope that springeth out of the wall: He spake also of beastes, of foules, of wormes, and of fishes.
And there came of all nations to heare the wysdome of Solomon, and from all kinges of the earth, which had heard of his wysdome.
ANd Hira{m} king of Tyre sent his seruauntes vnto Solomon (for he had hearde that they had annoynted him king in the roome of his father) For Hira{m} was euer a louer of Dauid.
And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:
Thou knowest howe that Dauid my father could not buyld an house vnto the name of the Lorde his God for the warres which were about him on euery syde, vntill the Lorde put them vnder the soles of his feete.
But now the Lorde my God hath geuen me rest on euery syde, so that there is neither aduersarie nor euill to resist.
And beholde, I am determined to build an house vnto {th}e name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spake vnto Dauid my father, saying: Thy sonne whom I wil set vpon thy seate for thee, he shal build an house vnto my name.
Now therefore commaund thou that they hewe me Cedar trees out of Libanon, & my seruau{n}tes shalbe with thyne, and vnto thee wyll I geue the hyre for thy seruauntes, accordyng to all such thinges as thou shalt appoynt: for thou knowest that there are not among vs that can skyl to hewe tymber, lyke vnto the Sidones.
And it came to passe, when Hiram heard {th}e wordes of Solomo{n}, he reioysed greatly, & said: Blessed be the Lord this day, which hath geuen vnto Dauid a wyse sonne ouer this mightie people.
And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: I haue considered the thinges which thou sentest to me for, & wyl accomplishe all thy desyre concerning tymber of Cedar trees and firre.
My seruauntes shall bring them from Libanon to the sea, and I wyl conuey them by sea in flootes vnto the place that thou shalt shew me, and wyl cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receaue them: and thou shalt do me a pleasure againe, if thou minister foode for myne house.
And so Hiram gaue Solomon Cedar trees and firre trees according to all his desyre.
And Solomon gaue Hiram twentie thousand quarters of wheate for foode to his housholde, and twentie buts of pure oyle: Thus much gaue Solomon to Hiram yere by yere.
And the Lorde gaue Solomon wisedome as he promysed him: And there was peace betweene Hiram and Solomon, & they two were confedered together.
And king Solomon raysed a summe out of Israel, and the summe was thirtie thousand men:
Whom he sent to Libanon, ten thousand a moneth by course: so that when they had ben one moneth in Libanon, they abode two monethes at home: And Adoniram was ouer the summe.
And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and foure score thousand masons in the mountaines:
Besides the lordes whom Solomon appoynted to ouersee the worke, euen three thousand & three hundred, which ruled the people [& them] that wrought in the worke.
And the king commaunded them to bring great stones, costly stones, & hewed stones, for the foundatio{n} of the house.
And Solomons masons, and the masons of Hiram did hewe them, and the stone squarers: And so they prepared both tymber and stones, for the building of the house.
AND it came to passe, that in the foure hundred & fourescore yere, after the childre{n} of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, and in the fourth yere of the rayne of Solomon vpon Israel, & in the moneth Zif, which is the second moneth, he began to build the house of the Lorde.
And the house which king Solomon built for the Lorde, was threescore cubites long, and twentie cubites broade, and thirtie cubites hie.
And he made a porche before the temple of the house, which was twentie cubites long, after {th}e breadth of the house, and ten cubites brode, [euen] in the fore front of the house.
And in the house he made windowes, broade without, and narow within.
And by the wall of the house he made chambers round about [euen] in the walles of the house round about the temple & the quier: and he made chambers round about.
The neathermost chamber was fiue cubites broade, & the middle was sixe cubites broade, & the third was seuen cubites broade: For without in the wall of the house he made restes round about that [the beames of the chambers] shoulde not be fastened in {the}e walles of the house.
And the house was built of stone, made perfect alredye before it was brought thyther: so that there was neither hammer nor axe, either any toole of iron heard in the house while it was in buylding.
The doore of the middle chamber was in the ryght syde of the house: and men went vp with wineding stayres into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third.
And so he built the house, and finished it: and he roofed the house vaultly with beames of Cedar tymber.
And then he built chambers to all the temple fiue cubites heyght, & they were ioyned to the house with beames of Cedar.
And the word of the Lorde came to Solomon, saying:
Concerning the house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walke in myne ordinaunces, and execute my lawes, and kepe all my commaundementes to walke in them: then wyll I make good vnto thee my promise which I promysed Dauid thy father:
And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.
Solomon therefore built the house, and finished it.
And seeled the walles of the house within with boordes of Cedar tree: euen fro{m} the pauement of the house vnto the roofe did he seele the walles of it within with Cedar tree: and boorded the floore of the house with planckes of firre.
And he builded twentie cubites in the sydes of the quier of the temple both floore & walles with boordes of Cedar: and dressed it within the secret place of the temple, euen in the most holy.
But the house, that is the temple before it, was fourtie cubites [long.]
And the Cedar of the house within, was carued with knoppes, and grauen with flowres: & all was Cedar timber, so that no stone was sene.
And the quier that was within the temple he prepared, to set there the arke of the appoyntment of the Lorde.
And the quier before was twentie cubites long, & twentie cubites in breadth, and twentie cubites in height: And he couered it with pure golde, and boorded the aulter with Cedar.
So Solomon couered the house within with pure golde: And he made golde barres runne along the quier, which he had couered with golde.
And the whole house he ouerlayde with golde vntil he had ended it: also al the aulter that was in the quier he ouerlayde with golde.
And within the quier he made two Cherubims of Oliue tree ten cubites hie.
Fiue cubites long was a wing of the one Cherub, & fiue cubites long was a wing of the other Cherub: so that from the vttermost part of one wing, vnto the vttermost part of the other, were ten cubites.
And the other Cherub was ten cubites hie also: so that both the Cherubs were of one measure, and one sise:
For the height of the one Cherub was ten cubites, and so was it of the other.
And he put the Cherubs within the inner house: And the Cherubs stretched out their winges, so that the one wing of the one touched the one wall, and the one wing of the other touched the other wall: And the other two winges of them touched one another in the middest of the house.
And he ouerlayde the Cherubs with golde.
And in all the walles of ye house round about, he made figures of carued & seeled worke: [as namely] pictures of Cherubs, & paulme trees, & grauen flowres, [both] within [in the quier] and without [in the temple.]
And the floore of the house he couered with golde, [both] within [in the quier] and also without [in the temple.]
And in the entering of the quier, he made two doores of Oliue tree: And both the vpper & two side postes were fiue square.
The two doores also were of oliue tree, & he graued them with grauing of Cherubs and paulme trees and grauen flowres, & couered them with golde, & layde thinne plates of golde vpon the Cherubs and paulme trees.
And so made he for the doore of the temple, postes of Oliue tree foure square.
The two doores were of firre tree, and either doore with foulding leaues.
And he graued thereon Cherubs, paulme trees, & carued flowres: and couered the carued worke with golde finelie wrought.
And he built the inner court with three rowes of hewed stone, and one rowe of Cedar wood.
In the fourth yere was the foundation of the house of the Lorde layde, euen in the moneth Zif
And in the leuenth yere, in the moneth Bul (which is the eyght moneth) was the house full finished throughout all the partes thereof, according to all the fashion of it: And so was he seuen yeres in building it.
But Solomon was buildinge his owne house thirteene yeres, and finished it all.
And he built ye house in the wood Libanon, an hundred cubites long, and fiftie cubites broade, and thirtie cubites hie: And it stoode vpon foure rowes of Cedar pillers, and Cedar beames were layde vpon the pillers.
And the roofe was Cedar aboue vpon the beames that laye on the pillers, euen .xlv. beames in fifteene rowes.
And there were windowes in three rowes, and the windowes were one against another three folde.
And al the doores with the syde postes & the vpper postes were foure square, and had windowes one against another three folde.
And he made a porche by the pillers [that bare vp the house] fiftie cubites long, and thirtie cubites broade, and the porche was before those and the other pillers: for there was a thicke tree set before them.
Then he made a porche to sit & iudge in, euen a porche of iudgme{n}t, seeled with Cedar throughout all the pauementes.
And his house wherein he dwelt had an other hall, more inward then the porche, of lyke worke: And then Solomo{n} made an house for Pharaos daughter (whom he had taken to wyfe) lyke vnto the fashion of the porche.
And all these were of the best stones, hewed after a measure and sawed with sawes within and without, from the foundation vnto the beames that laye aboue, after the measure, and euen so on the out syde toward the great court.
And the foundation was layde vpon rich stones, and that very great stones, whereof some were ten cubites, and some eyght cubites.
And aboue were riche stones, squared after a certayne rule, and couered with Cedar.
And the great court round about, was with three rowes of hewed stones, and one rowe of Cedar planckes, after the maner of the inner court of the house of the Lorde, and of the porche of the temple.
And king Solomon sent and fet one Hiram out of Tyre,
A widowes sonne of {th}e tribe of Nephthalim, his father being a man of Tyre: Which Hiram was a craftesman in brasse, ful of wisedome, vnderstanding, and cunning, to worke all maner of worke in brasse: And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his worke.
For he cast two pillers of brasse of eyghteene cubites hie a peece: & a string of twelue cubites did compasse either of them about.
And he made two pommels of moulten brasse, [after the fashion of a crowne,] to set on the toppes of the pillers: The height of the one head peece contayned fiue cubites, and the height of the other head peece contayned fiue cubites also.
He made networke, & wrythen worke like chaines for the pommels vpon the head peeces that were on the top of the pillers: euen seuen [rowes] vpon the one head peece, and seuen vpon the other.
And so he made the pillers, and two rowes of pomegranets rounde about in the one networke to couer the pommels that were vpon the top: and this he did also, for the other head peece.
And the pommels that were on the top of the pillers, were after lillie worke in the porche foure cubites.
And the pommels vpon the two pillers had also aboue ouer against the middest within the networke: [pomegranets] and vpon the second head peece were there two hundred pomegranets in [two] rowes round about.
And he set vp the pillers in the porch of the temple: And when he had set vp the right piller, he called the name therof Iachin: and when he had set vp the left piller, he called the name thereof Boaz.
And vpon the top of the pillers [were] lillie worke: & so was the workmanship of the pillers finished.
And he made a moulten lauatorie ten cubites wide from brim to brim, round in compasse, and fiue cubites hie: And a string of thirtie cubites did compasse it about.
And vnder the brim of it there were knoppes round about, ten in one cubite, and thei compassed the lauatorie round about: And the knoppes were cast with it in two rowes when it was cast.
And it stoode on twelue oxen, of which three loked toward the north, three toward the west, three toward the south, and three toward the east: and the lauatorie stoode vpon them, and al their hinder partes were inward.
It was an hand breadth thicke, and the brym was wrought lyke the brym of a cup with flowres of lilies, and it contained two thousand battes.
And he made ten feete of brasse: foure cubites long, and foure cubites broade a peece, and three cubites hie.
And the worke of the feete was on this maner: They had sides, and the sides were betweene the ledges.
And on the sides that were betweene the ledges, were lions, oxen, and Cherubs: and likewise vpo{n} the ledges that were aboue: and beneath the lions and oxen, were certayne additions made of thynne worke.
And vnder euery foote were foure brasen wheeles, and boordes of brasse: and in the foure corners thereof vnder the lauatorie, were vndersetters moulten at the side of euery addition.
And the stalke of the lauatorie was in the middle of it, and aboue one cubite: But the stalke thereof was round after the worke of the foote, a cubite & a halfe: and also vpon the stalke were grauings with their bands, foure square and not round.
And vnder the sydes were foure wheeles, and the axeltrees ioyned fast to the bottome, and the height of euery wheele was a cubite and an halfe.
And the workmanship of the wheeles was lyke the worke of a charet wheele: and the axeltrees, the nauelles, spokes, and shaftes, were al moulten.
And there were foure vndersetters in the foure corners of one foote, & the vndersetters were of {th}e very bottome selfe.
And in the height of the bottome was there a rounde compasse of halfe a cubite hie: and in that height of the bottome there proceeded both ledges and sydes out of the same.
For in the boordes of the ledges and on the sydes, he had grauen pictures of Cherubims, lions, & paulme trees, one by another rounde about.
Thus made he the ten feete after this maner: and they had all one fashion of casting, one measure, and one syse.
Then made he ten lauers of brasse, one lauer contayning fourtie battes: and euery lauer was foure cubites, & vpon euery one of the ten feete, he put one lauer.
And he put fiue of those feete on the ryght syde of the house, and other fiue on the left: and he set the lauatorie on the right syde of the house eastward, and toward the south.
And Hiram made pots, shouels, and basons, & so finished all the worke that he made king Solomon for the house of the Lorde:
That is to say, two pillers, and two round head peeces that were to be set on the toppes of the two pillers.
And foure hundred pomegranates for the two networkes, euen two rowes of pomegranates in one networke to couer the two head peeces that were to be set on the toppes of the pillers:
And the ten feete, and ten lauers on the feete:
The lauatorie, and twelue oxen vnder it:
And pottes, shouels, and basons: And all these vessels which Hiram made to king Solomo{n} for the house of the Lord, were of bright brasse.
In the playne of Iordane did the king cast them [euen] in the thicke claye, betweene Socoh and Zarthan.
And Solomon left all the vessels [vnwayed] because they were so exceeding many, neither founde they out the waight of the brasse.
And so Solomon made al the vessels that parteyned vnto the house of the Lorde, the golden aulter, and the golden table wheron the shew bread was:
And fiue candelstickes for the ryght side, and fiue for the left before the quier, of pure golde, with flowres, lampes, and snuffers of golde.
And bowles, flat peeces, basons, spoones, & masours, of pure golde: and hyndges made he of golde, both for the doores of the quier the place most holy, and for the doores of the temple also.
And so was ended all the worke that king Solomon made for the house of the Lorde: And Solomon brought in the thinges which Dauid his father had dedicated, euen the siluer, golde, and vessels, and layde them vp among the treasures of the house of the Lord.
THen Solomon gathered the elders of Israel, & al the heads of the tribes, and them that were captaynes amo{n}g the fathers of the children of Israel, vnto him in Hierusalem, that they might bring vp the arke of the appoyntment of the Lorde out of the citie of Dauid, which is Sion.
And all the men of Israel assembled vnto king Solomon to the feast that falleth in the moneth Ethanim, which is the seuenth moneth.
And al the elders of Israel were come, and the priestes tooke vp the arke,
And they bare the arke of the Lorde, the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle: those dyd the priestes and the leuites beare.
And king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled vnto him and went with him before the arke, did offer sheepe and oxen, that could not be tolde nor numbred for multitude.
And so the priestes brought the arke of the appoyntment of the Lord vnto his place euen into the quier of the temple and place most holy, vnder the winges of the Cherubs:
For the Cherubs stretched out their winges ouer the place of the arke, and couered both it and also the staues therof a hie vpon it.
And they drew out the staues, that the endes of them might appeare out of the holy place within the quier, but they were not seene without, and there they haue ben vnto this day.
And there was nothing in the arke saue the two tables of stone, which Moyses put there at Horeb, in {th}e which [tables] the Lorde made an appoyntment with the children of Israel when he brought them out of the lande of Egypt.
And it fortuned that when the priestes were come out of the holy place, the cloude filled the house of the Lorde,
That the priestes could not stand and minister because of the cloude: for the glory of the Lorde had filled the house of the Lorde.
Then spake Solomon: The Lorde saide that he would dwell in the darke cloude.
I haue built thee an house to dwell in, an habitation for thee to abyde in for euer.
And the king turned his face, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stoode still.
And he saide: Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel, which spake with his mouth vnto Dauid my father, & hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying:
Sence the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no citie of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein: But I haue chosen Dauid to be ruler ouer my people of Israel.
And it was in the heart of Dauid my father to build an house for the name of the Lorde God of Israel:
And the Lorde saide vnto Dauid my father: Whereas it was in thyne heart to build an house vnto my name, thou diddest well that thou wast so minded:
Neuerthelesse, thou shalt not build the house: but thy sonne that shall come out of thy loynes, he shall build the house vnto my name.
And the Lorde hath made good his word that he spake, and I am rysen vp in the roome of Dauid my father, and sit on the seate of Israel, as the Lorde promysed, and haue built an house for the name of the Lorde God of Israel:
And I haue prepared therein a place for the arke, wherein is the couenaunt of the Lorde which he made with our fathers when he brought them out of the lande of Egypt.
Solomon stoode before the aulter of the Lorde in the sight of all the congregation of Israel, and stretched out his handes toward heauen, and sayde:
Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heauen aboue, or in the earth beneath, thou that kepest couenaunt & mercy for thy seruauntes that walke before thee with all their heart.
Thou that hast kept with thy seruau{n}t Dauid my father that thou promisedst him: Thou spakest also with thy mouth and hast fulfilled it with thyne hand, as it is come to passe this day.
Therfore now Lorde God of Israel, keepe with thy seruaunt Dauid my father that thou promisedst him, saying, Thou shalt not be without a man in my sight to syt on the seate of Israel: so that thy childre{n} take heede to their way, that they walke before me, as thou hast walked in my sight.
And now O God of Israel, let thy word be verified which thou spakest vnto thy seruaunt Dauid my father.
Wyll God in deede dwell on the earth? Beholde, the heauens and heauens of all heauens are not able to contayne thee: and how should then this house do it that I haue builded?
Haue thou therefore respect vnto the prayer of thy seruaunt, and to his supplication O Lorde my God, to heare the crye and prayer which thy seruaunt prayeth before thee this day:
That thyne eyes may be open toward this house nyght and day, euen toward this place, of which thou haste said, My name shal be there: That thou mayst hearken vnto the prayer which thy seruaunt prayeth in this place,
And regarde thou the supplication of thy seruaunt and of thy people Israel when they pray in this place: and heare thou in heauen thy dwelling place, and when thou hearest haue mercy.
If any man trespasse against his neyghbour, & there go an oth betweene them, and the one compel the other, and come, swearing before thyne aulter in this house:
Then hearken thou in heauen, and do and iudge thy seruauntes, that thou condemne the vngodly, to bring his way vpon his head: and iustifie the righteous, to geue him according to his righteousnesse.
When thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemie, because they haue sinned against thee, & afterwarde turne againe to thee, and knowledge vnto thy name, and pray and make supplication vnto thee in this house:
Then heare thou in heauen, to be mercifull vnto the sinne of thy people Israel, and bring them againe vnto the land which thou gauest vnto their fathers.
If heauen be shut vp, and there be no rayne, because they haue sinned against thee: yet if they pray in this place, and knowledge vnto thy name, and turne from their sinne through thy scourging of them:
Then heare thou in heauen, and be mercyfull vnto the sinnes of thy seruauntes, and of thy people Israel, that thou shewe them a good way to walke in, and geue rayne vpon the lande that thou hast geuen to thy people to inherite.
If there be in the lande dearth, or pestilence, drouth, blasting, grashopper, or caterpiller: or if their enemie besiege the in the lande of their cities, or whatsoeuer plague or sickenesse chaunce,
Then what prayers and supplication soeuer be made of any man, of all thy people Israel, which shall knowledge euery man the plague of his owne heart, and stretch foorth his handes toward this house:
Heare thou then in heauen, euen in thy dwelling place, and be mercyfull, and do and geue euery man according to his wayes, euen as thou that onely knowest his heart (for thou onely knowest the heartes of all the children of men:)
That they may feare thee as long as they lyue in the lande which thou gauest vnto our fathers.
And likewyse if a straunger that is not of thy people Israel, come out of a farre countrey for thy names sake.
(For they shal heare of thy great name, and of thy mightie hand, & of thy stretched out arme) and shall come and pray in this house:
[Therfore] heare thou in heauen thy dwelling place, & do all that the straunger calleth to thee for: that all nations of the earth may knowe thy name, and feare thee as do thy people Israel, and that they may knowe that thy name is called vpon in this house which I haue builded.
If thy people go out to battell against their enemie whythersoeuer thou shalt send them, and shal pray vnto the Lord [toward] the way of the citie which thou hast chosen, and [toward] the house that I haue built for thy name:
Heare thou in heauen their prayer and supplication, and iudge their cause.
If they sinne against thee (for there is no man that sinneth not) & thou be angry with them, and delyuer them into the hand of their enemies, so that they cary them away prisoners, vnto the lande of their enemies whether farre or neare:
Yet if they turne againe vnto their heartes in the lande of them that caryed them away captiues, & returne and pray vnto thee in the lande of their enemies, saying, we haue sinned, we haue done wickely, and haue committed vngodlynesse:
And so turne agayne vnto thee with all their heart and all their soule in the lande of their enemies which led them away captiue, and pray vnto thee, [toward] the way of their land which thou gauest vnto their fathers, and [toward] the citie which thou hast chosen, and [toward] the house which I haue built for thy name:
Then heare thou their prayer and supplication in heauen thy dwellyng place, and iudge their cause:
And be mercyfull vnto thy people that haue sinned against thee, and vnto all their iniquities wherby they haue done wickedly against thee, & get thou them the fauour of those whiche led them away captiue, that they may haue compassion on them.
For they be thy people, and thyne inheritaunce, whiche thou broughtest out of Egypt, euen from the middest of the fornace of iron.
And let thyne eyes be open vnto the prayer of thy seruaunt, and vnto the prayer of thy people Israel, to hearken vnto them in all that they call for vnto thee.
For thou dyddest seperate them from among all the nations of the earth to be thyne owne inheritaunce, as thou saydest by the hande of Moyses thy seruaunt, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt O Lorde God.
And when Solomon had made an ende of praying all this prayer and supplication vnto the Lorde, he arose from before the aulter of the Lorde, & from kneling on his knees, & from stretching of his handes vp to heauen,
And stoode & blessed all the congregatio{n} of Israel, with a loude voyce, saying:
Blessed be the Lorde that hath geuen rest vnto his people Israel, according to al that he promised: there hath not fayled one worde of all the good promise which he promised by the hand of Moyses his seruaunt.
The Lorde our God be with vs, as he was with our fathers, and forsake vs not, neither leaue vs:
But that he may bowe our heartes vnto him, that we may walke in all his wayes, & kepe his commaundementes, his statutes, and his lawes whiche he commaunded our fathers.
And these my wordes whiche I haue prayed before the Lorde, be nye vnto the Lorde our God day and night, that he defende the cause of his seruaunt, and the cause of his people Israel, what thing soeuer chaunce at any time:
That al nations of {th}e earth may knowe that the Lord is God, and none but he.
Let your heart therfore be perfect with the Lord our God, that ye walke in his statutes, and kepe his commaundementes, as this day.
And the king and al Israel with him offered offeringes before the Lorde.
And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offringes whiche he offered vnto the Lorde [to wit] twentie and two thousande oxen, and an hundred and twentie thousande sheepe: And so the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lorde.
The same day dyd the king halowe the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord: for there he offered burnt offeringes, meate offeringes, and the fat of the peace offeringes: because the brasen aulter that was before the Lorde, was to litle to receaue the burnt offringes, meate offeringes, and the fat of the peace offeringes.
And Solomon helde that same time an hye feast, and all Israel with him, a verie great congregation, euen from the entring in of Hemath vnto the riuer of Egypt before the Lorde our God seuen dayes, and seuen dayes, euen foureteene dayes.
And the eyght day he sent the people away, & they blessed the king, and went vnto their tentes, ioyous and with glad heart, because of all the goodnesse that the Lorde had done for Dauid his seruaunt, and for Israel his people.
ANd when Solomon had finished the buylding of the house of the Lorde, and the kinges palace, and all that he had in his minde & was appoynted to make:
The Lorde appeared to Solomon the second time, as he appeared vnto him at Gibeon.
And {th}e Lord said vnto him, I haue heard thy prayer & thy intercession that thou hast made before me: For I haue halowed this house, which thou hast built to put my name there for euer, & mine eies & myne hearte shalbe there perpetually.
And if thou wilt walke before me, as Dauid thy father walked, in purenes of heart and in righteousnes, to do all that I haue commaunded thee, and wilt kepe my statutes, and my lawes:
Then will I stablishe the seate of thy kingdome vpon Israel for euer, as I promised to Dauid thy father, saying: Thou shalt not be without a ma{n} vpon the seate of Israel.
But and if ye and your children turne away from me, and will not kepe my commaundementes and my statutes whiche I haue set before you, but go and serue other gods, & worship them:
Then will I weede Israel out of the lande which I haue geuen them, and this house which I haue halowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and Israel shalbe a prouerbe and a fable among all nations,
And this house shalbe taken away: so that euery one that passeth by it, shalbe astonied, and shall hysse, and they shall say: Why hath the Lord done thus vnto this lande, and to this house?
And they shal aunswere: Because they forsoke the Lorde their God, whiche brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and haue taken hold vpon other gods, and haue worshipped them, and serued them: therfore hath the Lorde brought vpon them all this euyll.
And it fortuned, that at the ende of twentie yeres when Solomon had finished the buylding of the two houses, [that is to wyte,] the house of the Lorde and the kinges palace,
(And Hiram the king of Tyre brought Solomon timbre of Cedar, & firre trees, golde, and whatsoeuer he desired) Then Solomon gaue Hiram twentie cities in the lande of Galilee.
And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities whiche Solomon had geuen hym, and they pleased him not.
And he sayde: What cities are these which thou hast geuen me my brother? And he called them the lande of barren vnto this day.
And Hiram sent the king sixe score talentes of gold.
(And this is the summe whiche king Solomon raysed for a tribute when he buylded the house of the Lorde, and his owne house, and Millo, and the wall of Hierusalem, and Hazor, and Megeddo, and Gazer.
For Pharao king of Egypt went vp, and toke Gazer and burnt it with fire, and slue the Chanaanites that dwelt in the citie, and gaue it for a present vnto his daughter, Solomons wyfe.
And Solomon buylt Gazer & Bethhoron the neather,
And Baalath and Thamar in the wildernesse in the lande:
And all the treasure cities that Solomon had, and cities for his charettes, and cities for his horsemen, and all that Solomon desired, and woulde buyld in Hierusalem, in Libanon, and in all the lande of his dominion)
And al the people that were left of the Amorites, Hethites, Pherezites, Heuites and Iebusites, whiche were not of the children of Israel,
Their children that were left after them in the lande, whom the children of Israel also were not able to destroy: those dyd Solomon compell to bring tribute, vnto this day.
But of the children of Israel dyd Solomon make no bondmen: But they were men of warre, his ministers, his lordes, his captaynes, and rulers of his charettes, and his horsemen.
And these were the lordes that were set ouer Solomons worke [euen] fiue hundred were they and fiftie, and they ruled the people that wrought {th}e worke.
And Pharaos daughter came vp out of the citie of Dauid, vnto her house which Solomon had buylt for her: and then dyd he also buylde Millo.
And thryse a yere did Solomon offer burnt offringes & peace offringes vpon the aulter whiche he buylt vnto the Lorde, and he burnt incense vpon the aulter that was before the Lord, and so he finished the house.
And king Solomon made a nauie of shippes in Azion Gaber, which is beside Eloth, on the brinke of the red sea, in the lande of Edom.
And Hiram sent by shippe also of his seruauntes, that were shipmen and had knowledge of the sea, with the seruauntes of Solomon:
And they came to Ophir, and set from thence foure hundred and twentie talentes of golde, and brought it to king Solomon.
ANd the queene of Saba hearing the fame of Solomon (concerning the name of the Lord) came to proue him with harde questions.
And she came to Hierusalem with a verie great trayne, with camels that bare sweete odours, and gold exceeding much, & precious stones: And she came to Solomon, and communed with him of al that was in her heart.
And Solomon declared vnto her all her questions, so that there was not one thing hyd from the king whiche he expounded not vnto her.
And the queene of Saba considered al Solomons wysdome, & the house that he had buylded,
And the meate of his table, and the sitting of his seruauntes, the order of his ministers & their apparell, & his drinke, and his burnt sacrifices that he offred in the house of the Lorde: and she was astonied.
And she sayde vnto the king: It was a true word that I hearde in myne owne land of thy sayinges, & of thy wisdome.
Howbeit I beleued it not, till I came & sawe it with myne eyes: And beholde, the one halfe was not tolde me: for thy wysdome and prosperitie exceedeth the fame which I hearde of thee.
Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy seruauntes whiche stand euer before thee, and heare thy wysdome.
Blessed be the Lorde thy God, whiche loued thee, to set thee on the seate of Israel, because the Lorde loued Israel for euer, & made thee king to do equite and righteousnes.
And she gaue the king sixe score talentes of golde, and of sweete odours exceeding much, and precious stones: There came no more suche aboundaunce of sweete odours, as the queene of Saba gaue to king Solomon.
The nauie also of the shippes of Hiram (that caried golde from Ophir) brought lykewyse great plentie of Almuge trees, and precious stones from Ophir.
And the king made of the Almuge trees pillers for the house of the Lorde and for the kinges palace, and made harpes and psalteries for singers: Ther came no more suche Almuge trees, nor were any more seene vnto this day.
And king Solomon gaue vnto the queene of Saba according to all her desire whatsoeuer she asked, besides that he gaue her of a free wil with his owne hande: And so she returned vnto her owne countrey, both she and her seruauntes.
The waight of golde that came to Solomon in one yere, was sixe hundred theescore and sixe talentes of golde,
Besydes that he had of marchauntes, and of the marchaundises of the spices, and of all the kinges of Arabia, & of the lordes of the countrey.
And king Solomon made two hundred targettes of beaten golde: sixe hundred sicles of golde went to a target.
And he made three hundred shieldes of beaten golde: three pounde of gold went to one shielde, and the king put them in the house of the wood of Libanon.
And the king made a great seate of iuorie, and couered it with the best golde.
And the seate had sixe steppes, and the toppe of the seate was rounde behinde, & there were pommelles on either syde on the place of the seate, and two lions stoode besyde the pommelles.
And there stoode twelue lions on the steppes, sixe on a syde: There was none lyke worke seene many kingdome.
And al king Solomons drinking vessels were of golde, and lykewyse all the vessels of the house of the wood of Libanon were of pure golde: And as for siluer, it was nothing worth in the dayes of Solomon:
For the kinges nauie of shippes went on the sea vnto Tharsis with the nauie of Hirams shippes: euen once in three yeres went the nauie to Tharsis, and brought golde and siluer, Elephantes teeth, apes, and pecockes.
And so king Solomon exceeded al the kinges of the earth both in ryches and wysdome.
And all the worlde resorted to Solomon, to heare his wysdome which God had put in his heart:
And brought him euery man his present, vessels of siluer, & vessels of golde, rayment, harnesse, and sweete odours, and horses, and mules, yere by yere.
And Solomon gathered together charettes and horsemen: and he had a thousande and foure hundred charettes, and twelue thousande horsemen, whom he bestowed in the charet cities, and with the king at Hierusalem.
And the king made siluer in Hierusalem as plenteous as stones, and Cedar as plenteous as the wilde fegge trees that growe aboundauntly in the fieldes.
Also Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and fine linnen: the kinges marchauntes receaued the linnen for a price.
A charet came vp out of Egypt for sixe hundred sicles of siluer, that is, one horse for an hundred and fiftie: And euen so for al the kinges of the Hethites, and for the kinges of Siria, did they bring them out through their handes.
BVt king Solomo{n} loued many outlandishe women, & the daughter of Pharao, and women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonites, & Hethites:
Wher as yet concerning these nations, the Lorde sayd vnto the children of Israel: Go not ye into them, nor let them come into, els will they turne your heartes after their gods: Neuerthelesse, Solomon claue vnto them in loue.
And he had seuen hundred queenes, and three hundred concubines: and his wyues turned away his heart.
For it came to passe when Solomon was olde, his wyues turned his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of Dauid his father.
For Solomon folowed Astaroth the god of the Zidons, and Milcom the abhomination of the Ammonites.
And Solomon wrought wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde, and folowed not the Lorde perfectly, as dyd Dauid his father.
For then dyd Solomon buylde an hye place for Chamos the abhomination of Moabim the hill that is before Hierusalem, & vnto Moloch the abhomination of the children of Ammon.
And lykewyse dyd he for all his outlandishe wyues, which burnt cense and offered vnto their gods.
And the Lorde was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned fro{m} the Lord God of Israel which had appeared vnto him twyse,
And gaue him a charge concerning this thyng, that he shoulde not folowe other gods: But he kept not that which the Lorde commaunded him.
Wherfore the Lorde sayde vnto Solomon: Forasmuche as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept myne appoyntment, and my statutes whiche I commaunded thee, I wil rent the kingdome from thee, and will geue it to thy seruaunt.
Notwithstanding, in thy dayes I will not do it, because of Dauid thy father: but wil take it fro{m} the hand of thy sonne.
Howbeit, I will not take away all the kingdome: But will geue one tribe to thy sonne, because of Dauid my seruau{n}t, and because of Hierusalem whiche I haue chosen.
And the Lorde stirred vp an aduersarie vnto Solomon, euen one Hadad an Edomite, of the kinges seede, whiche was in Edom.
For when Dauid was in Edom, and Ioab the captayne of the hoast was gone vp to burie them that were slaine, he smote all the men children in Edom:
(For sixe monethes dyd Ioab remayne there, and all Israel, till he had destroyed all the men children of Edom.)
And this Hadad fled, and certaine other Edomites of his fathers seruau{n}tes with hym, to come into Egypt, Hadad beyng yet a litle childe.
And they arose out of Madian, & came to Paran, and toke men with them out of Paran, and came to Egypt vnto Pharao king of Egypt, whiche gaue him an house, and appoynted him vittailes, and gaue him lande.
And Hadad gat great fauour in the sight of Pharao, so that he gaue him to wyfe the sister of his owne wyfe, euen the syster of Thahpenes the queene.
And the sister of Thahpenes bare him Genubath his sonne, who{m} Thahpenes norished in Pharaos house: And Genubath was with Pharaos housholde among the sonnes of Pharao.
And when Hadad hearde in Egypt that Dauid was layde to sleepe with his fathers, & that Ioab the captayne of the hoaste was dead also, he sayde to Pharao: Let me depart, that I may go to myne owne countrey.
Pharao sayde vnto him: What hast thou lacked here with me, that thou wouldest thus go to thyne owne countrey? He aunswered, Nothing: howbeit, let me go.
And God stirred him vp another aduersarie, one Rezon the sonne of Eliada, whiche fled from his lorde Hadadezer king of Zoba:
And he gathered men vnto him, and became captayne ouer the companie when Dauid slue them: And they went to Damasco, and dwelt there, and raigned in Damasco.
Therfore was he an aduersarie to Israel all the dayes of Solomon, and this was the mischiefe, in that Hadad dyd abhorre Israel and raigned ouer Syria.
And Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, an Ephrathite of Zareda (whose mother was called Zeruah, whiche was a wydowe) and he Solomons seruaunt, lyft vp his hande against the king.
But this was the cause that he lift vp his hande against the king: Solomon buylt Mello, and mended the broken places of the citie of Dauid his father.
And this felowe Ieroboam was a man of strength & courage: And Solomon sawe the young man that he was able to do the worke, he made him ruler ouer all the charge of the house of Ioseph.
And it chaunced at that season that Ieroboam went out of Ierusalem, and the prophete Ahia the Silonite met him by the way, hauing a newe mantel on him, and they two were alone in the fielde.
Ahia caught the newe mantel that was on him, & rent it in twelue peeces,
And sayd to Ieroboam, Take thee ten peeces: For thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel, Behold, I will rent the kingdome out of the handes of Solomon, and will geue ten tribes to thee.
And he shal haue one for my seruaunt Dauids sake, and for Hierusalem, the citie which I haue chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:
Because they haue forsaken me, & haue worshipped Astharoth the god of the Zidons, and Chamos the god of the Moabites, & Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, & haue not walked in my wayes, to fulfill my pleasure, my statutes, and my lawes, as dyd Dauid his father.
I will not take the whole kingdome out of his hand: But I will make him chiefe all his lyfe long for Dauid my seruauntes sake whom I chose: because he kept my commaundementes and my statutes:
But I will take the kingdome out of his sonnes hande, and will geue it vnto thee, euen ten tribes of it:
And vnto his sonne will I geue one tribe, that Dauid my seruaunt may haue a light alway before me in Hierusalem, the citie which I haue chosen me to put my name there.
And I will take thee, and thou shalt raigne according to all that thy soule desireth, and shalt be king ouer Israel.
And if thou hearken vnto all that I commaunde thee, and wilt walke in my wayes, and do that is right in my sight, that thou kepe my statutes and my commaundementes as Dauid my seruaunt dyd, then will I be with thee, and buyld thee a sure house, as I buylt for my seruaunt Dauid, and will geue Israel vnto thee:
And I will for this [offence whiche Solomon hath committed] vexe the seede of Dauid, but nor for euer.
Solomon sought therfore to kil Ieroboam, and Ieroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, vnto Sisac king of Egypt, and continued there in Egypt vntill the death of Solomon.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Solomon, and all that he dyd, and his wysdome, are they not written in the booke of the wordes of Solomon?
The tyme that Solomon raigned in Hierusalem vpon al Israel was fourtie yeres.
And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the citie of Dauid his father: and Rehoboam his sonne raigned in his steade.
ANd Rehoboam went to Siche{m}: for all Israel were come to Sichem, to make him king.
And when Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat whiche was yet in Egypt, heard of it: for he fled to Egypt from the presence of king Solomon, and dwelt in Egypt.
So they sent, and called him: and Ieroboam and all the congregation of IsIsrael came, & spake vnto Rehoboam, saying:
Thy father made our yocke greeuous, nowe therfore make thou the greeuous seruice of thy father and his sore yocke whiche he put vpon vs, lighter, and we will serue thee.
And he sayde vnto them: Depart yet for the space of three dayes, and then come againe to me. And the people departed.
And king Rehoboam toke counsel with the olde men that stoode before Solomon his father, while he yet lyued, and sayd: What counsel geue ye, that I may haue matter to aunswere this people?
And they sayd vnto him: If thou be a seruaunt vnto this people this day, and folowe their mindes, and aunswere them, & speake kinde wordes to them, they will be thy seruauntes for euer.
But he forsoke the counsell that the old men had geuen him, and called vnto his counsel young men, that were growe{n} vp with him and wayted on him,
And he sayde vnto them: What counsell geue ye, that we may aunswere this people? for they haue communed with me, saying: Make the yocke whiche thy father did put vpon vs, lighter.
And {th}e young men that were growen vp with him, spake vnto him, saying: Thus shalt thou speake vnto this people that haue sayd vnto thee, thy father made our yocke heauy, but make thou it vs lighter: Euen thus shalt thou say vnto them, My litle finger shalbe wayghtier then my father was in the loynes.
And nowe where as my father did lade you & put a greeuous yocke vpon you, I will make it heauier: My father hath chastised you with roddes, but I will correct you with scourges.
And so Ieroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the thirde day, as the king had appoynted, saying, Come to me againe the thirde day.
And the king aunswered the people churlishly, and left the old mens counsel that they gaue him:
And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying: My father made your yocke greeuous, and I will make it greeuouser: My father also chastised you with roddes, but I will chastise you with scourges.
And the king hearkened not vnto the people: for it was the ordinaunce of God, that he might perfourme his saying, whiche the Lord spake by Ahia the Silonite vnto Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat.
And so when all Israel sawe that the king regarded them not, the people aunswered the king with these wordes, saying: What portion haue we in Dauid? we haue no inheritaunce in the sonne of Isai: To your tentes O Israel, nowe see to thyne owne house Dauid. And so Israel departed vnto their tentes.
Howebeit, ouer the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Iuda, dyd Rehoboam raigne still.
The king Rehoboam sent Aduram the receauer of the tribute, and all they of Israel stoned him to death: But king Rehoboam made speede to get him vp to his charet, and to flee to Hierusalem.
And they of Israel rebelled against the house of Dauid, vnto this day.
And when al Israel heard that Ieroboam was come againe, they sent, and called him vnto the multitude, and made him king ouer al Israel: and there was no tribe that folowed the house of Dauid, but Iuda onely.
And when Rehoboam was come to Hierusalem, he gathered all the house of Iuda, with the tribe of Beniamin, an hundred and fourescore thousande of chosen men which were good warriours, to fight against the house of Israel, and to bring the kingdome againe to Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon.
And the worde of God came vnto Semaia the man of God, saying:
Speake vnto Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon king of Iuda, & vnto all the house of Iuda and Beniamin, & to the remnaunt of the people, saying:
Thus sayeth the Lorde, Ye shall not go vp, nor yet fight against your brethren the children of Israel: returne euery man to his house, for this thing is my doyng. They hearkened therfore to the worde of the Lorde, and returned to depart, according to the word of the Lord.
Then Ieroboam buylt Sichem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therin: and went from thence, and buylt Penuel.
And Ieroboam thought in his heart: nowe shall the kingdome returne to the house of Dauid.
For if this people go vp and do sacrifice in the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem, then shall the heart of this people turne againe vnto their lorde Rehoboam king of Iuda, and so shal they kill me, and go againe to Rehoboam king of Iuda.
Wherupon the king toke counsel, and made two calues of golde, and sayd vnto them, It is muche for you to go vp to Hierusalem: Behold O Israel, these are thy goddes, which brought thee out of the lande of Egypt.
And he set the one in Bethel, and the other set he in Dan.
And this thing turned to sinne: for the people went (because of the one) as farre as Dan.
And he made an house of hill aulters, and made priestes of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sonnes of Leui.
And Ieroboam made a feast the fyfteene day of the eyght moneth, lyke vnto the feast that is in Iuda, and offered on the aulter: And so did he in Bethel, to offer vnto the calues that he had made: And he put in Bethel the priestes of the hill aulters which he had made.
And he went vp to the aulter to burne incense whiche he had made in Bethel the fyfteene day of the eyght moneth, euen in the moneth whiche he had imagined of his owne hearte: and made a solemne feast vnto the children of Israel, and offered vpon the aulter, and burnt incense.
And behold, ther came a man of God out of Iuda by the worde of the lord, vnto Bethel: and Ieroboam stoode by the aulter to put incense.
And he cried against the aulter in the worde of the Lorde, and sayd: O aulter aulter, thus sayeth the Lorde: Behold, a childe shall be borne vnto the house of Dauid, Iosia by name, and vpon thee shall he offer the priestes of the hill aulters that burnt incense vpon thee, and mens bones shalbe burnt vpon thee.
And he gaue a token the same time, saying: This is the token that the Lorde hath spoken it: Beholde, the aulter shall rent, and the ashes that are vpon it shall fall out.
And when the king hearde the saying of the man of God whiche had cryed against the aulter in Bethel, he stretched out his hande from the aulter, saying, Holde him: And his hand which he put foorth against him dried vp, & he coulde not pull it in againe to him.
The aulter also claue asunder, and the ashes fell out from the aulter, according to the token which the man of God had geuen by the worde of the Lorde.
And the king aunswered, and sayd vnto the man of God: Oh pray vnto the Lorde thy God, and make intercession for me, that my hande may be restored me againe. And the ma{n} of God besought the Lord, and the kinges hand was restored againe, and became as it was afore
And the king sayde vnto the man of God: Come home with me, that thou mayest dine, and I will geue thee a reward.
And the man of God sayde vnto the king: If thou wouldest geue me halfe thyne house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eate bread, nor drinke water in this place:
For so was it charged me through the word of the Lord, saying: Eate no bread nor drinke water, nor turne agayne by the same way that thou camest.
And so he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.
And there dwelt an olde prophet in Bethel, and his sonnes came and tolde him al the workes that the man of God had done that day in Bethel, and the wordes which he had spoken vnto the king tolde they their father also.
And their father sayde vnto them: What way went he? And his sonnes shewed him what way the man of God went which came from Iuda.
And he saide vnto his sonnes: Saddle me the asse. Which when they had saddled, he gat him vp thereon,
And went after the man of God, and founde him sytting vnder a tree, and he said vnto him: Art thou the man of God that camest from Iuda? And he sayde, I am.
He sayde vnto him: Come home with me, and eate bread.
He aunswered: I may not returne with thee, to go in with thee: neither wyl I eate bread, or drinke water with thee in this place.
For it was saide to me in the word of the Lord: Thou shalt eate no bread, nor drinke water there, nor turne againe to go by the way that thou camest.
He saide vnto him: I am a prophet also as well as thou, and an angell spake vnto me in the word of the Lorde, saying: Bryng him againe with thee into thyne house, that he may eate bread, & drinke water. [And] he lyed vnto him.
And so he went againe with him, and did eate bread in his house, and drancke water.
And it fortuned, that as they sat at the table, the word of the Lorde came vnto the prophet that brought him againe:
And he cryed vnto the man of God that came from Iuda, saying, Thus saith the Lord: Because thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lorde, and hast not kept the commaundement which the Lorde thy God commaunded thee:
But camest backe againe, and hast eaten bread, & druncke water in the place concerning the which the Lorde did say vnto thee, Thou shalt eate no bread, nor dryncke no water: thy carkasse shall not come vnto the sepulchre of thy fathers.
And so it came to passe that when he had eaten bread, and druncke, he sadled him the asse, to wit, to the prophet who{m} he had brought againe.
And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slue him: and his carkasse was cast in the way, & the asse stoode thereby, and the lion stoode by the corse also.
And men that passed by sawe the carcasse cast in the way, & the lion standing by the carcasse: and they came and tolde it in the towne where the olde prophet dwelt.
And when the prophet that brought him backe againe from the way heard thereof, he sayd: It is the man of God, he was disobedient vnto the word of the Lorde, and therefore the Lord hath deliuered him vnto the lion, which hath rent him, & slaine him according to the word of the Lorde which he spake vnto him.
And he spake to his sonnes, saying: Sadle me an asse: And they sadled him.
And he went, and founde his body cast in the way, and the asse and the lion stoode by the corse, and the lion had not eaten the carcasse, nor hurt the asse.
And the prophet toke vp the body of the man of God, and layde it vpon the asse, and brought it againe: and the olde prophet came to the citie to lament, and to burie him.
And he layde his body in his owne graue, and then lamented ouer him [saying] Alas my brother.
And when he had buryed him, he spake to his sonnes, saying: When I am dead, see that ye burie me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried: laye my bones beside his bones.
For the saying which he cryed at the word of the Lorde against the aulter in Bethel, and against all the houses of hie places which are in the cities of Samarie, shall come to passe.
Howbeit, for all that Ieroboam conuerted not from his wicked way: but turned backe, and made of the lowest of the people priestes of the hie places: And who so pleased him, he filled his hand, and he became priest of the hie places.
And this thing turned to sinne vnto the house of Ieroboam, euen to destroy him, and to bring him to naught from of the face of the earth.
AT that time Abia the sonne of Ieroboam fel sicke.
And Ieroboam saide vnto his wyfe: Vp I pray thee, and disguise thy selfe, that thou be not knowen to be the wyfe of Ieroboam: and get thee to Silo, for there is Ahia the prophet which tolde me that I should be king ouer this people.
And take with thee ten loaues, and cracknelles, and a cruse of hony, and go to him, that he may tell thee what shall become of the childe.
And Ieroboams wyfe did so, and arose, and went to Silo, and came to the house of Ahia: But Ahia could not see, for his eyes were waxen dimme for age.
And the Lorde saide vnto Ahia: Beholde, the wyfe of Ieroboam commeth to aske a thing of thee for her sonne, for he is sicke: But thus & thus shalt thou saye vnto her. And whe{n} she came in, she fayned her selfe to be an other woman.
But when Ahia heard the sounde of her feete as she came in at the doore, he sayd: Come in thou wyfe of Ieroboam, why faynest thou thy selfe so to be another? I am sent to thee [to shesh thee] heauy thynges.
Go, tell Ieroboam, thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel: [It repenteth me] forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince ouer my people Israel,
I did rent the kingdome away from the house of Dauid, & gaue it thee: Neuerthelesse, thou hast not ben as my seruaunt Dauid, which kept my commaundementes, and folowed me with all his heart, to do that onely which was right in myne eyes:
But hast done euil aboue al that were before thee: For thou hast gone & made thee other gods, and moulten images, to prouoke me, and hast cast me behinde thy backe:
Therefore beholde, I wyll bring euill vpon the house of Ieroboam, and wyll roote out from Ieroboam euen him that pysseth against the wall, and him that is in pryson and forsaken in Israel, and wyll take away the remnaunt of the house of Ieroboam, as a man taketh away doung tyll he hath •aryed all.
Whosoeuer of Ieroboams house die in the towne, him shall the dogges eate: and he that dyeth in the fielde, shall the foules of the ayre eate: for the Lorde hath saide it.
Vp therfore & get thee to thyne owne house: [Beholde,] when thy foote entreth into the citie, the childe shall dye,
And all they of Israel shall mourne for him, and burie him: For he onely of Ieroboam shal come to the sepulchre, because in him there is found goodnesse toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Ieroboam.
Moreouer, the Lord shal stirre him vp a king ouer Israel which shall destroy the house of Ieroboam in that day: But what is it now?
For the Lorde shall smyte Israel as when a reede is shaken in the water, & he shall weede Israel out of this good lande which he gaue to their fathers, & shall scatter them beyond the ryuer, because they haue made them groues, and angred the Lorde.
And he shall geue Israel vp because of the sinnes of Ieroboam, which did sinne, and made Israel to sinne.
And Ieroboams wyfe arose, and departed, and came to Thirzah: & when she came to the thressholde of the doore, the childe was dead.
And al Israel buried him, and lamenting him, according to the word of the Lorde which he spake by the hande of his seruaunt Ahia the prophet.
And the rest of the wordes that concerne Ieroboam, how he warred, and how he raigned, beholde they are written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel.
And the dayes which Ieroboam raigned, were two and twentie yeres: And when he was layed asleepe with his fathers, Nadab his sonne raigned in his steade.
Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon raigned in Iuda: and Rehoboam was fourtie and one yeres olde when he began to raigne, & he raigned seuenteene yeres in Hierusalem, the citie which the Lorde did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there: His mothers name was Naama, an Ammonite.
And Iuda wrought wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde, and angred him in mo thinges then their fathers dyd in their sinnes which they sinned.
For they also made them hie places, images, and groues on euery hie hill, and vnder euery thicke tree.
And there was a stewes of male children in the lande, and they did according to all the abhominations of the nations which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.
And it fortuned, that in the fift yere of king Rehoboam, Sisac king of Egypt came vp against Hierusalem:
And toke away the treasures of the house of the Lorde, and the treasures of the kings house, & spoyled all that was to be had: And he toke away all the shieldes of golde which Solomon had made.
In whose steade king Rehoboam made brasen shieldes, and committed them vnto the handes [of the keping] of the captaynes of the garde, which wayted at the doore of the kinges house.
And when the king went into the house of the Lorde, they of the garde bare them, & brought them againe into the garde chamber.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda?
And there was warre betweene Rehoboam and Ieroboam all their lyues.
And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buryed besyde his fathers in the citie of Dauid: His mothers name was Naama, an Ammonite. And Abiam his sonne raigned in his steade.
IN the eighteenth yere of king Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, raigned Abiam ouer Iuda.
Three yeres raigned he in Hierusalem: and his mothers name was Maacha, the daughter of Abisalom.
And he walked in all the sinnes of his father which he had done before him, and his heart was not perfect with the Lorde his God, as the heart of Dauid his father.
Neuerthelesse, for Dauids sake did the Lorde his God geue him a lyght in Hierusalem, that he set vp his sonne after him, and stablished Hierusalem:
Because Dauid did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and turned from nothing that he commaunded him all the dayes of his lyfe, saue onely in the matter of Vrias the Hethite.
And there was warre betweene Rehoboam and Ieroboam, as long as he lyued.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Abiam, and all that he did, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda? And there was warre betweene Abiam & Ieroboam.
And Abiam slept with his fathers, & they buried him in the citie of Dauid: and Asa his sonne raigned in his steade.
In the twentith yere of Ieroboam king of Israel raigned Asa ouer Iuda.
Fourtie & one yeres raigned he in Hierusalem: and his mothers name was Maacha, the daughter of Abisalom.
And Asa did [that seemed] ryght in the eyes of the Lorde, as did Dauid his father.
And he toke away the male stewes out of the lande, and put away all the abhominable idols that his fathers had made.
And he put downe Maacha his mother from bearing rule, because she had made an idoll in a groue: And Asa destroyed her idoll, and burnt it by the brooke Cedron.
But the hie places were not put downe: Neuerthelesse Asa his heart was perfect with the Lorde all his dayes.
He brought in the holy vessels of his father, and that he had dedicate vnto the house of the Lord, golde, and siluer, and iewels.
And there was warre betweene Asa, & Baasa king of Israel all their dayes.
And Baasa king of Israel went vp against Iuda, and built Rama, so that he woulde let none go out or in to Asa king of Iuda.
Then Asa toke al the siluer and golde that was left in the treasures of the house of the Lorde, and the treasures of the kinges house, and deliuered them vnto the handes of his seruauntes, and king Asa sent them to Benhadad the sonne of Tabrimon the sonne of Hezion king of Syria that dwelt at Damasco, saying:
There is a bonde betweene me & thee, betweene my father and thy father: and beholde I haue sent vnto thee a present of siluer and golde, that thou come and breake the bonde that thou hast with Baasa king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
So Benhadad hearkened vnto king Asa, & sent the captaynes of the hoastes which he had, against the cities of Israel, and smote Hion, and Dan, and Abel, Beth Maacah, and all [the region] of Ceneroth, with all the lande of Nephthali.
And when Baasa heard thereof, he left building of Rama, and dwelt in Thirza.
Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Iuda, that none should be excused: And so they toke the stones of Ramah and the tymber wherewith Baasa had builded, and king Asa built with them the hill of Beniamin and Mispah.
The remnaunt of all the wordes that concerne Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he builded, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda? Neuerthelesse, in his olde age he was diseased in his feete.
And Asa slept with his fathers, & was buried beside his fathers in the citie of Dauid his father: And Iehosaphat his sonne raigned in his steade.
And Nadab the sonne of Ieroboam began to raigne vpon Israel the second yere of Asa king of Iuda, and raigned vpon Israel two yeres.
And he did euill in ye sight of the Lord, walking in {the}e way of his father, & in his sinne wherewith he made Israel sinne.
And Baasa the sonne of Ahia, which was of the house of Isachar, conspired against him, and Baasa smote him at Gibbethon, which is a citie of the Philistines (for Nadab and al Israel layed siege to Gibbethon)
Euen in the third yere of Asa king of Iuda, did Baasa slay him, and raigned in his steade.
And it fortuned that when he was king, he smote all the house of Ieroboam, and he left him naught that breathed, vntill he had put him cleane out, according vnto the saying of the Lorde which he spake by his seruaunt Ahia the Selonite:
Because of the sinnes of Ieroboam, wherewith he sinned and made Israel sinne, when he with his prouocation angred the Lorde God of Israel.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel?
And there was warre betweene Asa & Baasa king of Israel all their dayes.
So in the third yere of Asa king of Iuda, began Baasa the sonne of Ahia to raigne ouer all Israel in Thirza, twentie and foure yeres.
And he did that which is euill in the sight of the Lorde, walking in the way of Ieroboam, and in his sinne, wherewith he made Israel to sinne.
Then the worde of the Lorde came to Iehu the sonne of Hanani against Baasa, saying
Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the duste, and made thee captayne ouer my people Israel, and thou hast walked in the way of Ieroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sinne, to anger me with their sinnes:
Beholde, I will roote out the posteritie of Baasa, and the posteritie of his house: and will make thy house lyke the house of Ieroboa{m} the sonne of Nabat.
That man of Baasa which dyeth in the citie, him shall the dogges eate: and that man of him which dyeth in the fieldes, shall the foules of the ayre eate.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Baasa, and what he did, & his power, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel?
And so Baasa slept with his fathers, and was buried in Thirza, and Ela his sonne raigned in his steade.
And by the hande of the prophet Iehu the sonne of Hanani, came the worde of the Lord against Baasa, and against his house, & against all the wickednesse that he did in the sight of the Lorde, in angryng him with the worke of his owne handes, that he should be like the house of Ieroboam, and because he killed him.
The twentie & sixth yere of Asa king of Iuda, began Ela the sonne of Baasa to raigne ouer Israel in Thirza, two yeres.
And his seruaunt Zimri (which was captayne of halfe his charets) conspired against him as he was in Thirza drinking, and was druncken in the house of Arza, steward of his house in Thirza.
And Zimri came, and smote him, and killed him in the twentie & seuenth yere of Asa king of Iuda, and raigned in his steade.
And it fortuned that when he was king and sat on his seate, he slue al the house of Baasa, not leauing thereof one to pysse against a wall: Yea, he slue his kinsefolkes and freendes also.
And thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasa, according to the worde of the Lorde, which he spake against Baasa by the hande of Iehu the prophet,
For all the sinnes of Baasa and sinnes of Ela his sonne which they sinned, and made Israel to sinne and angre the Lorde God of Israel with their vanities.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Ela & all that he did, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel?
In the twentie & seuenth yere of Asa king of Iuda, did Zimri raigne seuen dayes in Thirza: & the people was then in the hoast besieging Gibbethon, a citie of the Philistines.
And the people in the hoast heard [one] saye, Zimri hath conspired, and slayne the king: Wherefore all they of Israel made Amri the captayne of the hoast, king ouer Israel that same day, euen in the hoast.
And Amri departed vp from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Thirza.
And when Zimri sawe that the citie must needes be taken, he went into the palace of the kinges house, and burnt him selfe & the kinges house with fyre, and so dyed.
For his sinnes which he sinned, in doing that which is euill in the sight of the Lorde, and in walking in the waye of Ieroboam, and in his sinnes which he did, and in that he made Israel to sinne.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Zimri, & the treason that he wrought, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel?
Then were the people of Israel deuided into two partes: for halfe the people folowed Thibni the sonne of Ginath, making him king: and the other halfe folowed Amri.
But the people that folowed Amri, preuayled against the people that folowed Thibni the sonne of Ginath: And so Thibni dyed, and Amri raigned.
In the thirtie and one yere of Asa king of Iuda, began Amri to raigne ouer Israel twelue yeres: Sixe yeres raigned he in Thirza.
He bought the hill Schomron of one Schemar for two talents of siluer, and buylt in the hill, and called the name of the citie which he buylt, after the name of Schemar, which had ben owner of the hill Schomron.
But Amri wrought that which is euil in the eyes of the Lorde, and did worse then all that were before him.
For he walked in all the way of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, and in his sinnes, that made Israel sinne, to anger the Lorde God of Israel with their vanities.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Amri, & al that he did, and his strength that he shewed, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel?
And so Amri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria, & Ahab his sonne raigned in his steade.
In the thirtie and eyght yere of Asa king of Iuda, began Ahab the sonne of Amri to raigne ouer Israel, & the same Ahab the sonne of Amri raigned ouer Israel in Samaria twentie and two yeres.
And Ahab the sonne of Amri did euill in the sight of the Lorde aboue all that were before him.
For it seemed vnto him but a light thing to walke in the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat: He toke Iezabel also the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonites to wyfe, and went and serued Baal, and worshipped him.
And he reared vp an aulter for Baal in the temple of Baal which he had builded in Schomron:
And Ahab made a groue, and proceeded further in angring the Lorde God of Israel then all the kinges of Israel that were before him.
In his dayes did Hiel of Bethel build Iericho: He layde the foundation therof in Abiram his eldest sonne, and set vp the gates thereof in his youngest sonne Segub, according vnto the word of the Lorde which he spake by Iosuah the sonne of Nun.
ANd Elias {th}e Thesbite, which was of the inhabiters of Gilead, sayde vnto Ahab: As the Lorde God of Israel lyueth, before whom I stande, there shalbe neither deawe nor rayne these yeres, but according to my worde.
And the worde of the Lorde came vnto him, saying:
Get thee hence, & turne thee eastward, and hide thy selfe in the brooke Cherith, that is, it that lyeth before Iordane.
Thou shalt drinke of the ryuer, and I haue commaunded the rauens to feede thee there.
And so he went, and did according vnto the word of the Lorde: for he went, and dwelt by the brooke Cherith that is before Iordane.
And the rauens brought him bread and fleshe in the morning, and likewyse bread and fleshe in the euening: and he drancke of the brooke.
And it chaunced after a while that the brooke dryed vp, because there fell no rayne vpon the earth.
And the word of the Lorde came vnto him, saying:
Vp, and get thee to Zarphath, which is in Sidon, and dwell there: Beholde, I haue commaunded a wydow there to sustaine thee.
So he arose, and went to Zarphath: and when he came to the gate of the citie, beholde the widow was there gathering of stickes: And he called to her, and said: fet me I pray thee a litle water in a vessel, that I may drincke.
And as she was going to fet it, he cryed after her, and saide: bryng me I pray thee a morsell of bread also in thyne hand.
She sayde: As the Lorde thy God lyueth, I haue no bread redy, but euen an handful of meale in a barrel, & a litle oyle in a cruse: And beholde, I am gathering two stickes, for to go in and dresse it for me and my sonne, that we may eate it, and dye.
And Elias saide vnto her, Feare not, go, and do as thou hast saide: but make me thereof a litle cake first of all, & bring it vnto me, and afterward make for thee and thy sonne.
For thus saith the Lord God of Israel: The meale in the barrel shall not be wasted, neither shal the oyle in the cruse be minished, vntil the Lorde haue sent rayne vpon the earth.
And she went, and did as Elias sayde: And she, and he, and her house, did eate a good space.
And the meale wasted not out of the barrell, neither was the oyle spent out of the cruse, according to the word of the Lorde which he spake by the hande of Elias.
And after these thinges, it happened that the sonne of the wyfe of the house fel sicke, & his sicknesse was so sore that there was no breath left in him.
And she said vnto Elias: What haue I to do with thee O thou man of God? Art thou come vnto me to call my sinne againe to remembraunce, and to slay my sonne?
He saide vnto her: geue me thy sonne. And he toke him out of her lap, & caried him vp into a lost where he abode, and layde him vpon his owne bed:
And called vnto the Lorde, and saide: O Lorde my God, hast thou punished also this wydow with whom I dwell as a straunger, & hast slaine her sonne?
And he stretched him selfe vpon the childe three tymes, and called vnto the Lorde, and saide: O Lorde my God, I pray thee let this childes soule come into him againe.
And the Lord heard the voyce of Elias, & the soule of the childe came into him againe, and he reuiued.
And Elias toke the boye, and brought him downe out of the chamber into the house, and deliuered him vnto his mother: And Elias saide, Behold, thy sonne lyueth.
And the woman said vnto Elias: Now I knowe that thou art a man of God, and that the worde of the Lorde in thy mouth, is true.
AFter processe of many dayes, the word of the Lord came to Elias in the third yere, saying: Go shewe thy selfe vnto Ahab, and I wyll sende rayne vpon the earth.
And Elias went to shewe him selfe vnto Ahab: and there was a great famishment in Samaria.
And Ahab called Obadia, which was the gouernour of his house: (and Obadia feared God greatly.
For when Iezabel destroyed the prophets of the Lord, Obadia toke an hundred prophets, and hid them by fiftie in a caue, and prouided bread and water for them.)
And Ahab saide vnto Obadia: Go into the lande, vnto all fountaines of water, and vnto all brookes, if happyly we may finde grasse to saue the horses and mules aliue, and that we destroy not [some of] the beastes.
And so they deuided the lande betweene them to walke through it: Ahab went one way by him selfe, and Obadia went another way by him selfe.
And it chaunced that as Obadia was in the way, beholde Elias met him, and he knew him, and fell on his face, and saide: Art not thou my lorde Elias?
And he aunswered him, I am he: Go, and tel thy lorde, beholde, Elias is here.
He saide: What haue I sinned, that thou wouldest delyuer thy seruaunt into the hande of Ahab, to slay me?
As the Lorde thy God liueth, there is no nation or kingdome, whyther my lord hath not sent to seeke thee: And when they saide, he is not there: he toke an oth of the kingdome and nation when he found thee not.
And now thou sayest, Go, and tell thy lorde that Elias is here.
And assoone as I am gone from thee, the spirite of the Lorde shall carrie thee into some place that I do not knowe, and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can not finde thee, he shall slay me: But I thy seruaunt feare the Lorde from my youth vp.
Was it not tolde my lorde what I did, when Iezabel slue the prophets of the Lorde? how I hid an hundred men of the Lordes prophets, fiftie men in one caue, and fiftie in another, and prouided them of bread and water?
And thou sayest, Go thou now & shewe thy lorde, beholde Elias is here: that he may slay me.
And Elias saide: As the Lorde of hoastes liueth before whom I stand, I wyll shewe my selfe vnto him this day.
So Obadia went to meete Ahab, and tolde him: And Ahab went to meete Elias.
And it fortuned that when Ahab sawe Elias, he saide vnto him: Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
He aunswered: It is not I that haue troubled Israel, but thou and thy fathers house, in that ye haue forsaken the commaundements of the Lorde, & thou hast folowed Baal.
Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel vnto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal foure hundred and fiftie, and the prophets of the [idols] groues foure hundred, which eate at Iezabels table.
So Ahab sent vnto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together vnto mount Carmel.
And Elias came vnto all the people, and said: how long halt ye betweene two opinions? If the Lorde be God, folowe him: but if Baal be he, then go after him. And the people aunswered him not one worde.
Then saide Elias vnto the people [againe] I onely remayne a prophete of the Lorde: but Baals prophets are foure hundred and fiftie.
Let them therefore geue vs two oxen, and let them choose the one, & cut hym in peeces, and lay him on wood, and put no fire vnder: and I wyll dresse the other oxe, and laye him on wood, & wyll put no fyre vnder.
And call ye on the name of your gods, & I wyl call on the name of the Lorde: and then the God that aunswereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people aunswered and saide, It is wel spoken.
And Elias saide vnto the prophets of Baal: Choose you an oxe, & dresse him first, for ye are many: & call on the name of your gods, but put no fire vnder.
And they toke the one oxe that he dyd geue them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noone, saying, O Baal heare vs. But there was no voyce, nor one to aunswere: And they lept vpon the aulter that they had made.
And at noone Elias mocked them, and sayde: Crye lowde, for he is a God, peraduenture he is talking, or occupied in folowing vpon his enemies, or is in his iourney, or happyly he slepeth, and must be awaked [with your crie.]
And they cried lowde, and cut them selues as their maner was with kniues & launcers, till the blood folowed on the{m}.
And it chaunced, that when midday was passed, they prophesied vntill the time of the euening sacrifice: But there was neither voyce, nor one to aunswere, nor any that regarded them.
And Elias said vnto all the folke: Come to me. And all the people came to him: And he repaired the aulter of the Lord that was broken.
And Elias toke twelue stones, according to the number of the twelue tribes of the sonnes of Iacob, vnto whom the word of the Lorde came, saying: Israel shalbe thy name.
And with the stones he made an aulter in the name of the Lorde: And he made a ditch about the aulter, as great as would conteyne two measures of seede.
And he put the wood in order, and hewed the oxe in peeces, and layed him on the wood, and said: Fill foure barrels with water, and powre it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
And he sayde: Do so againe. And they dyd so the seconde time. And he sayde againe: Do it the thirde time. And they dyd it the thirde time:
And the water ran round about the aulter, & he filled the pitte with water also.
And it fortuned, that when they should offer the euening sacrifice, Elias the prophete came, and sayde: Lorde God of Abraham, Isahac, and of Israel, it shalbe knowen this day that thou art the God in Israel, & [that] I [am] thy seruaunt, and that I haue done all these thinges at thy commaundement.
Heare me O Lord, heare me, that this people may knowe that thou art the Lorde God, and [that] thou hast turned their heart againe nowe at the last.
And the fire of the Lord fel, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the duste, and licked vp the water that was in the pit.
And when all the people sawe it, they fell on their faces, and sayde: The Lord he is God, the Lorde he is God.
And Elias sayd vnto them: Take the prophetes of Baal, and let not one of them escape. And they toke them, and Elias brought them vnto the brooke Kison, and slue them there.
And Elias sayde vnto Ahab: Get thee vp, eate and drinke: for there is a sounde of much rayne.
And so Ahab went vp to eate and to drinke, and Elias went vp to the top of Carmel, and he layde him selfe flat vpo{n} the earth, and put his face betweene his knees,
And sayde to his seruaunt: Go vp [I pray thee] and loke towarde the way of the sea. And he went vp, and loked, and sayde: There is nothing. And againe he sayde: Go againe seuen times.
And it fortuned that at the seuenth time, he sayde: Beholde there aryseth a litle cloude of the sea lyke a mans hand. He sayde: Go, and say vnto Ahab, Make fast [thy charet] and get thee downe, that the rayne stoppe thee not.
And it came to passe, that in the meane whyle the heauen was blacke with cloudes and winde, & there was a great rayne: And Ahab gat vp, and came to Iezrahel.
And the hande of the Lorde was on Elias, and he girded vp his loynes, and ranne before Ahab, till he came to Iezrahel.
ANd Ahab tolde Iezabel all that Elias had done, and how he had slayne al the prophetes with the sworde.
Then Iezabel sent a messenger vnto Elias, saying: So and so let the gods do to me, if I make not thy soule lyke one of theirs by to morowe this time.
When he sawe that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beerseba in Iuda, and left his seruaunt there.
But he him selfe went a dayes iourney into the wildernesse, and came and sat downe vnder a Iuniper tree, and desired for his soule that he might dye, and sayde: It is nowe enough O Lorde, take my soule, for I am not better then my fathers.
And as he lay and slept vnder the Iuniper tree: behold an angel touched him, and sayde vnto him: Vp, and eate.
And when he loked about him, beholde there was a cake baken on the coales, and a vessell of water at his head: And he dyd eate and drinke, and layde him downe againe to sleepe.
And the angel of the Lord came againe the seconde time, and touched him, and sayde: Vp, and eate, for thou hast yet a great iourney.
And he arose, and dyd eate and drinke, & walked in the strength of that meate fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes, euen vnto Horeb the mount of God.
When he came thyther vnto a caue, he lodged therein al night: And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and sayd vnto him: What doest thou here Elias?
And he aunswered, I haue ben ielous for the Lorde God of hoastes sake: For the children of Israel haue forsaken thy couenaunt, broken downe thyne aulters, and slayne thy prophetes with the sword: and I onely am left, and they seke my lyfe to take it away.
And he sayd: Come out and stand vpon {th}e mount before the Lorde. And behold, the Lorde went by, & a mightie strong winde that rent the mountaynes and brake the rockes before the Lorde, but the Lord was not in the winde: And after the winde, came an earthquake, but the Lorde was not in the earthquake:
And after the earthquake came fire, but the Lorde was not in the fire: And after the fire, came a small still voyce.
And when Elias hearde, he couered his face with his mantle, and went out, and stoode in the entring in of the caue: And beholde, there came a voyce vnto him, & said: What doest thou here Elias?
And he aunswered: I haue ben ielous for the Lorde God of hoastes sake, because the children of Israel haue forsaken thy couenaunt, cast downe thyne aulters, and slayne thy prophetes with the sworde: and I onely am left, & they seke my lyfe to take it away.
And the Lord sayde vnto him: Go, and turne thy way to the wildernesse vnto Damasco: & when thou commest there, annoynt Hazael king ouer Syria:
And Iehu sonne of Nimsi shalt thou annoynt king ouer Israel: And Elisa the sonne of Saphat of Abel Meholah shalt thou annoynt to be prophete in thy roome.
And it shall come to passe, that whoso escapeth the sworde of Hazael, him shall Iehu slay: & if any man scape the sword of Iehu, him shall Elisa put to death.
And [therto] I haue left me seuen thousande in Israel, of whiche neuer man bowed his knees vnto Baal, nor kissed him with his mouth.
So he departed thence, & found Elisa the sonne of Saphat plowing, & hauing twelue yocke of oxen before him, and he with the twelue: And Elias went by him, and cast his mantle vpon him.
And he left the oxen, and ranne after Elias, and sayde: Let me I pray thee kysse my father and my mother, & then I will folowe thee. He sayde vnto him: Go backe againe, for what is it that I haue done to thee?
And when he went backe againe from him, he toke a couple of oxen, and slue them, and dressed the fleshe with the instrumentes of the oxen, and gaue vnto the people, and they dyd eate: And then he arose and went after Elias, and ministred vnto him.
AND Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his hoast together, hauing thirtie & two kinges with him, and horses and charets: and went vp and besieged Samaria, & warred against it.
And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the citie, and sayde vnto him, thus saith Benhadad.
Thy siluer & thy gold is myne, & the fayrest of thy wiues & of thy childre{n} be mine.
And the king of Israel aunswered and said: My lord king, according to thy saying, I am thyne and all that I haue.
And when the messengers came againe, they sayd, thus sayth Benhadad: Forasmuch as I haue sent vnto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliuer me thy siluer and thy golde, and thy wyues, and thy children:
I will therfore send my seruauntes vnto thee to morowe this time: and they shall searche thyne house, & the houses of thy seruauntes, and whatsoeuer is pleasaunt in thyne eyes, they shall take it in their handes, and bring it away.
Then the king of Israel sent for all the elders of the land, and said: Take heede I pray you, and see howe this felowe goeth about mischiefe: For he sent vnto me for my wiues, for my children, for my siluer, and for my golde, and I denyed him not.
And all the elders and all the people said: Hearken not vnto him, nor consent.
Wherfore he sayde vnto the messengers of Benhadad: Tell my lord the king, all that thou dyddest send for to thy seruau{n}t at the first time, that I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought aunswere againe.
And Benhadad sent vnto him againe, and sayde: Thus and thus do the gods vnto me, if the dust of Samaria be enough for al the people that folowe me, to take euery man an handfull.
And the king of Israel aunswered, and sayd: Tell him, let not him that putteth on his harnesse boast him selfe, as he that putteth it of.
And it fortuned, that when Benhadad hearde that tydinges, as he was with the kinges drinking within the pauilions, and he saide vnto this seruauntes, Put your selues in order. And they set them selues in aray against the citie.
And beholde, there came a prophete vnto Ahab king of Israel, saying, thus sayeth the Lord: Hast thou seene all this great multitude? beholde, I will deliuer it into thyne hand this day, & thou shalt knowe that I am the Lorde.
And Ahab sayd: By whom? He sayde: Thus sayth the Lorde, euen by the seruauntes of the gouernours of {th}e shyres. He sayd againe: who shall order the battayle? And he aunswered: Thou.
Then he numbred the seruauntes of the gouernours of the shyres, & they were two hundred and thirtie and two: And after them also he numbred all the people of the children of Israel [euen] seuen thousande.
And they went out at noone: but Benhadad dyd drinke till he was drunken in the pauillions, both he and the kinges: eue{n} thirtie & two kinges, that helpe him.
And the seruauntes of the gouernours of the shyres went out first, and Benhadad sent out, & they shewed him, saying: There are men come out of Samaria.
He sayde: Whether they be come out for peace, take them alyue: or whether they be come out to fight, take them yet alyue.
And so those young men of the gouernours of the shyres came out of the citie, and the hoast after them:
And they slue euery one his enemie [that came in his way:] and the Syrians fled, & they of Israel folowed after the{m}: And Benhadad the king of Syria scaped on a horse, with his horsemen.
And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and charettes, & with a great slaughter slue he the Syrians.
(And there came a prophete to the king of Israel, and said vnto him: Go foorth, and play the man, be wyse, & take heede what thou doest: for when the yere is gone about, the king of Syria will come vp against thee.)
And the seruauntes of the king of Syria sayde vnto him: The gods of the hilles are their gods, and therefore they had the better of vs: but let vs fight against them in the playne, and [for what ye will] we shall haue the better of them.
And this do: Take the kinges away euery man out of his place, & put dukes in their roomes:
And do thou number thee an hoast, lyke the hoast that thou hast lost, such horses and suche charets, and we will fight against them in the plaine, and thou shalt see vs get the better of the{m}. And he hearkened vnto their voyce, and dyd euen so.
And it fortuned, that after the yere was gone about, Benhadad numbred the Syrians, and went vp to Aphec to fight against Israel.
And the children of Israel were numbred, & with their whole number went they against them, and the children of Israel pitched before them lyke two litle •lockes of kiddes: but the Syrians filled the countrey.
And there came a man of God, and sayd vnto the king of Israel, thus sayth the Lorde: Because the Syrians haue sayd, the Lorde is but God of the hilles, and not God of the valleys: therfore wil I deliuer all this great multitude into thyne hande, and ye shall knowe that I am the Lorde.
And they pitched one ouer against the other seuen dayes: and it came to passe, that in the seuenth day the battaile was ioyned, and the children of Israel slue of the Syrians an hundred thousande footemen in one day.
But the rest fled to Aphec into the citie, and there fell a wall vpon twentie and seuen thousande of the men that were left: And Benhadad fled, and came into the citie, from chamber to chamber.
And his seruauntes said vnto him: Behold, we haue heard say that the kinges of the house of Israel are mercyfull kinges: We will therfore put sackcloth about our loynes, and ropes about our heades, and go out to the king of Israel, if happyly he will saue thy lyfe.
And so they girded sackcloth about their loynes, & put ropes about their heades, and came to the king of Israel, and said: Thy seruaunt Benhadad sayth, I pray thee let me lyue. He sayde: Is he yet alyue? he is my brother.
And {th}e men toke that word for good lucke and hastyly caught it out of his mouth, and sayd: Yea thy brother Benhadad. He sayde: Go, bring him hyther. And Benhadad came out vnto him, and he caused him to come vp into the charet.
And he said vnto him: The cities which my father toke from thy father, I will restore agayne, and thou shalt make streates for thee in Damasco, as my father dyd in Samaria: And I wil make an appoyntment with thee, & send the away. And so he made an appoyntment with him, and sent him away.
And there was a certayne man of the children of the prophetes, whiche sayde vnto his neyghbour in the word of the Lord: Smyte me I pray thee. And the man woulde not smyte him.
Then sayd he vnto him: Because thou hast not hearkened vnto the voyce of the Lorde: beholde, assoone as thou art departed fro{m} me, a lion shal slay thee. And it came to passe, that assoone as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slue him.
Then he founde another man, & sayde: Smyte me I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smyting he wounded him.
So the prophete went foorth, & wayted for the king by the way, and put him selfe out of knowledge with ashes whiche he layed vpon his face.
And when the king came by, he cryed vnto the king, and sayde: Thy seruaunt we{n}t out in the middes of the battel, and behold there went away a man, whom another man brought vnto me, & sayde, Kepe this man: and if he be myssed or lost, thy lyfe shall go for his, or els thou shalt pay a talent of siluer.
And as thy seruaunt had here & there to do, he was gone. And the king of Israel sayde vnto him: Euen so shall thy iudgement be, as thou hast defined it thy selfe.
And he hasted, & toke the ashes away from his face, and the king of Israel knewe him, that he was of {th}e prophetes.
And he sayde vnto him, Thus sayth the Lorde: Because thou hast let go out of thy hande a man that is in my curse, thy lyfe shall go for his lyfe, and thy people for his people.
And the king of Israel went to his house wayward and in displeasure, and came to Samaria.
AFter these thinges, it chaunced, that Naboth the Iezraelite had a vineyard in Iezrahel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
And Ahab spake vnto Naboth, saying: Geue me thy vineyarde, that I may make me a garde{n} of hearbes thereof, because it lyeth so nye my house, and I wil geue thee for it a better vineyarde then it is: or rather if it please thee, I will geue thee the worth of it in money.
And Naboth sayd to Ahab: The Lord forbid that from me, that I should geue the inheritau{n}ce of my fathers vnto thee.
And Ahab came into the house heauy and euyll apayde because of the worde whiche Naboth the Iesraelite had spoken to him, for he had sayde: I will not geue thee the inheritaunce of my fathers. And he layde him downe vpon his bed, and turned away his face, and woulde eate no bread.
But Iezabel his wyfe came to him, and sayde vnto him: Why is thy spirite so wayward that thou eatest no bread?
And he sayd vnto her: For I spake vnto Naboth the Iezraelite, and said vnto him, Geue me thy vineyarde for money: Or els if it please thee, I will geue thee [another] vineyarde for it. And he aunswered: I will not geue thee my vineyarde.
And Iezabel his wyfe sayde vnto him: Doest thou nowe gouerne the kingdome of Israel? vp, and eate bread, and set thyne heart at rest: I wil geue thee {th}e vineyarde of Naboth the Iezraelite.
And so she wrote a letter in Ahabs name, and sealed it with his seale, and sent the letter vnto the elders, and to the nobles that were in his citie dwelling with Naboth.
And she wrote in the letter, saying: Proclayme a fast, and set Naboth on hye among the people:
And set two vnthriftes before him, to beare witnesse against him, saying, Thou dyddest blaspheme God and the king: And then carie him out, and stone him to death.
And the men of his citie, euen the elders and gouernours whiche dwelt in his citie, dyd as Iezabel had sent vnto them, and as it was written in the letter whiche she had sent vnto them.
They proclaymed a fast, and set Naboth among the chiefe of the people.
And there came in two men the children of Belial, and sate before him: And the [two] vnthriftie persons witnessed against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying: Naboth dyd blaspheme God and the king. And they caried him out of the citie, & stoned him with stones, that he died.
And then they sent to Iezabel, saying: Naboth is stoned to death.
And it fortuned, when Iezabel hearde that Naboth was stoned to death, she sayde to Ahab: Vp, and take possession of the vineyarde of Naboth the Iezraelite, whiche he denied to geue for money: for Naboth is not alyue, but dead.
And when Ahab hearde that Naboth was dead, he stoode vp to go downe to the vineyarde of Naboth the Iezraelite, and to take possession of it.
And the worde of the Lorde came vnto Elias the Thesbite, saying:
Vp, and go downe to meete Ahab king of Israel, whiche is in Samaria: Beholde he is in the vineyarde of Naboth, whyther he is gone downe to possesse it.
And therfore shalt thou say vnto him, thus sayth the Lorde: Hast thou killed & also gotten possession? And thou shalt speake vnto him, saying, thus sayth the Lord: In the place were dogges licked the blood of Naboth, shall dogges licke euen thy blood also.
And Ahab sayde to Elias: Hast thou founde me, O thou myne enemie? He aunswered: I haue founde thee, for thou hast sold thy selfe to worke wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde.
Behold, I will bring euyll vpon thee, & wil make cleane riddaunce of thy posteritie, and wil destroy fro{m} Ahab, [euen] him that maketh water against the wal, and him that is shut vp, & left behind in Israel.
And will make thyne house lyke the house of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, & lyke the house of Baasa the sonne of Ahia, for the prouocation wherwith thou hast prouoked, and made Israel to synne.
And of Iezabel spake the Lord, saying: The dogges shall eate Iezabel by the wall of Iezrahel,
And he that dieth of Ahab in {th}e towne, him shall dogges eate: and he that dieth in the fielde, him shal the fowles of the ayre eate.
But there was none lyke Ahab, which dyd euen sell him selfe to worke wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde, and that because Iezabel his wyfe pricked hym forwarde.
He dyd exceeding abhominablie in folowing foule idols, according to all thinges as dyd the Ammorites whom the Lorde cast out before the children of Israel.
And it fortuned, that whe{n} Ahab heard those wordes, he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth about his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth & went bare foote.
And the worde of the Lorde came to Elia the Thesbyte, saying:
Seest thou howe Ahab humbleth him selfe before me? because he so submitteth him selfe before me, I wil not bring that euil in his dayes: but in his sonnes dayes will I bring euyll vpon his house.
ANd they co{n}tinued three yeres without warre betweene Syria & Israel.
And in the third yere dyd Iehosaphat the king of Iuda come downe to the king of Israel.
(And the king of Israel sayde vnto his seruauntes: Know ye not that Ramoth [in] Gilead is ours, and we sit still, and take it not out of the hande of the king of Syria?)
And he sayde vnto Iehosaphat: Wilt thou come with me to battayle against Ramoth [in] Gilead? And Iehosaphat sayde vnto the king of Israel: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.
And Iehosaphat sayde vnto the king of Israel: Aske counsel I pray thee at the worde of the Lorde to day.
And then the king of Israel gathered the prophetes together, vpon a foure hundred men, & sayde vnto them: Shall I go against Ramoth [in] Gilead to battayle, or shall I let it alone? And they sayde, Go vp: for the Lorde shall deliuer it into the handes of the king.
And Iehosaphat sayd: Is there here neuer a prophete of the Lord more, that we might inquire of him?
And the king of Israel sayde vnto Iehosaphat: There is yet one man (Michea the sonne of Iimla) by whom we may aske counsell of the Lorde: But I hate him, for he doth not prophecie good vnto me, but euyll. And Iehosaphat sayde: Let not the king say so.
Then the king of Israel called a chamberlayne, & sayde: Fet Michea the sonne of Iimla hyther at once.
And the king of Israel, and Iehosaphat the king of Iuda, sate eyther in his seate, and their apparell on them, in a voyde place besyde the entring in of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophetes prophecied before them.
And Zedekia the sonne of Chanaana made hornes of iron, and sayde, thus sayth the Lord: With these [hornes] shalt thou pushe the Syrians, vntill thou haue made an ende of them.
And all the prophetes prophecied euen so, saying: Go vp to Ramoth [in] Gilead, and prosper: for the Lorde shall deliuer it into the kinges hande.
And the messenger that was gone to cal Michea, spake vnto him, saying: Beholde, the wordes of {th}e prophetes speake good vnto the king with one mouth: Let thy worde therefore I pray thee, be lyke the worde of euery one of them, to speake that whiche is good.
And Michea sayde: As the Lorde lyueth, whatsoeuer the Lord sayth vnto me, that will I speake.
And so he came to the king, & the king sayd vnto him: Michea, ought we to go against Ramoth [in] Gilead to battayle, or to be stil? He aunswered to him: Go, and prosper, the Lorde shall deliuer it into the hande of the king.
And the king sayde vnto him: So and so many times do I charge thee that thou tell me nothing but that whiche is true, in the name of the Lorde.
He sayd: I saw all them of Israel scattered vpon the hilles, as sheepe that haue not a sheephearde. And the Lorde sayde: These haue no maister, let euery man returne to his house in peace.
(And the king of Israel sayde vnto Iehosaphat: Dyd I not tell thee, that he woulde prophecie no good vnto me, but euyll?)
And he sayd againe: Heare thou therefore the word of the Lorde. I sawe the Lord sit on his seate, and all the hoast of heauen stoode about him on his right hande and on his left.
And the Lorde sayde: Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go and fall at Ramoth [in] Gilead? And one sayde on this maner, and another on that.
And there came foorth a certayne spirite, and stoode before the Lorde, and sayde: I will persuade him. And the Lorde sayde vnto him: Wherwith?
And he sayde: I will go out, and be a false spirite in the mouth of all his prophetes. He sayde, Thou shalt persuade him and preuayle: Go foorth then, & do euen so.
Nowe therefore beholde the Lorde hath put a lying spirite in the mouth of all these thy prophetes, and the Lorde hath spoken euyll towarde thee.
But Zedekia the sonne of Chanaana went to & smote Michea on the cheke, and sayde: When went the spirite of the Lorde from me, to speake vnto thee?
And Michea sayde: Behold, thou shalt see in that day when thou shalt go from chamber to chamber to hyde thee.
And the king of Israel sayde: Take Michea and cary him vnto Amon the gouerner of the citie, and vnto Ioas the kinges sonne,
And say: Thus sayeth {th}e king: Put this felow in the prison house, and feede him with bread of affliction, and with water of trouble, vntill I returne in peace.
And Michea sayde: If thou returne in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And he sayde: Hearken ye people euery one of you.
And so the king of Israel, and Iehosaphat the king of Iuda, went vp to Ramoth [in] Gilead.
And the king of Israel sayde vnto Iehosaphat: I wil chaunge my apparell, and will enter into the battel, but put thou on thyne apparell. And the king of Israel chaunged him selfe, and went to battell.
But the king of Syria commaunded the thirtie and two captaynes that had rule ouer his charettes, saying: Fight neither with small nor great, saue onely against the king of Israel.
And when the captaynes of the charets saw Iehosaphat, they sayd: Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned to fight against him: And Iehosaphat cryed.
And so it came to passe, that when the captaynes of the charettes sawe that he was not the king of Israel, they turned backe from him.
And a certayne man drewe a bowe ignorantly, & smote the king of Israel betweene the ribbes and his harnesse: Wherfore he sayd vnto the driuer of his charettes, Turne thy hand, and cary me out of the hoast, for I am hurt.
(And the battel encreased that day: and the king stoode still in his charet against the Syrians) and died at euen: And the blood ran out of the wounde into the middes of the charet.
And ther we{n}t a proclamation throughout the hoast about the goyng downe of the sunne, saying: Euery man to his citie, and to his owne countrey.
So the king died, and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.
And one washed the charet in the poole of Samaria, & the dogges licked vp his blood: and they washed his armour, according vnto the worde of the Lorde whiche he spake.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Ahab and all that he did, and the iuorie house whiche he made, and all the cities that he buylded, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel?
And so Ahab slept with his fathers, & Ahazia his sonne raigned in his steade.
Iehosaphat the sonne of Asa began to raigne vpon Iuda in the fourth yere of Ahab king of Israel.
And Iehosaphat was thirtie and fiue yeres old when he began to raigne, and raigned twentie and fiue yeres in Hierusalem: His mothers name was Azuba the daughter of Silhi.
And he walked in all the wayes of Asa his father, and bowed not therefrom, but dyd that whiche was right in the eyes of the Lorde: Neuerthelesse the high places were not taken out of the way: for the people offred and burnt incense yet in the high places.
And Iehosaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Iehosaphat, & the might that he vsed, & howe he warred, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda?
And the remnaunt of the stewes of the males which remayned in the dayes of his father Asa, he put cleane out of the lande.
There was then no king in Edom, the deputie was king.
And Iehosaphat made shippes in the sea, to come through Tharsis to Ophir for golde, but they went not: for the shippes brake at Ezion Gaber.
Then sayd Ahazia the sonne of Ahab vnto Iehosaphat: Let my seruau{n}tes go with thy seruauntes in the shippes. But Iehosaphat woulde not.
And Iehosaphat dyd sleepe with his fathers, & was buried with his fathers in the citie of Dauid his father: And Iehoram his sonne raigned in his steade.
Ahazia the sonne of Ahab began to raigne ouer Israel in Samaria the seuenteenth yere of Iehosaphat king of Iuda, & raigned two yeres ouer Israel.
But he did euyl in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, & in the way of his mother, & in the way of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, whiche made Israel to synne.
For he serued Baal, & worshipped him, and prouoked the Lorde God of Israel vnto wrath, according vnto all that his father had done.
THen Moab rebelled against Israel, after the death of Ahab.
And Ahazia fell through a lattesse wyndowe of his vpper chamber that he had in Samaria, and while he was in his sickenesse, he sent messengers and saide vnto them: Go, and enquire of Beelzebub the god of Ekrom, whether I shall recouer of this my disease.
But the angell of the Lorde spake to Elias the Thesbite: Arise, and go vp against the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say vnto them: Is there not a God in Israel, that ye go to aske counsel at Beelzebub the God of Ekrom?
Wherefore thus saith the Lorde: Thou shalt not come downe fro{m} the bed on which thou art gone vp, but shalt die the death. And Elias departed.
And when the messengers turned backe againe vnto him, he saide vnto them: Why are ye now come againe?
They aunswered him: There came a man vp against vs, and sayde vnto vs: Go, & turne againe vnto the king that sent you, and saye vnto him, thus saith the Lorde: Is there not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquyre of Beelzebub the God of Ekrom? Therefore thou shalt not come downe from the bed on which thou art gone vp, but shalt dye the death.
And he said vnto them: What maner of man was that which came vp and met you, and tolde you these wordes?
And they aunswered him: It was an heery man, and girt with a girdell of leather about his loynes. And he saide: It is Elias the Thesbite.
Then the king sent vnto him a captayne ouer fiftie, with his fiftie men: which came to him (and beholde he sat on the top of an hill) And he spake vnto him, Thou man of God, the king hath saide: come downe.
Elias aunswered and saide to the captaine ouer the fiftie: If I be a man of God, let fyre come downe from heauen & consume thee & thy fiftie. And there came fyre from heauen, and consumed him and his fiftie.
Againe also he sent vnto him an other captaine ouer fiftie, with his fiftie: And he spake and saide vnto him, O man of God, thus hath the king saide: Make haste, and come downe.
Elias aunswered & saide vnto them: If I be a man of God, let fyre come downe from heauen, and consume thee and thy fiftie. And there came fyre of God from heauen, and consumed him and his fiftie.
And the king yet againe sent the third captaine ouer fiftie, with his fiftie men: And the third captaine ouer fiftie went vp, and came and fell on his knees before Elias, and besought him, & sayde vnto him: Oh man of God, I pray thee let my lyfe and the lyfe of the fiftie thy seruauntes be precious in thy sight.
Beholde, there came fyre downe from heauen, and burnt vp the two fore captaines ouer fiftie with their fifties: therfore let my lyfe now be precious in thy sight.
And the angell of the Lorde saide vnto Elias: Go downe with him, and be not afrayde of him. And he arose, and went downe with him vnto the king.
And he saide vnto him, thus saith the Lorde: Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to aske counsell at Beelzebub the god of Ekrom, as though there had ben no God in Israel, whose word thou mightest seeke after: therfore thou shalt not come downe of the bed on which thou art gone vp, but shalt dye the death.
And so he dyed according to the worde of the Lorde which Elias had spoken: And Iehoram [his brother] began to raigne in his steade, in the second yere of Iehoram the sonne of Iehosaphat king of Iuda, because he had no sonne.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Ahazia, what thinges he dyd, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel?
AND it chaunced, that whe{n} the Lord would take vp Elias into heauen by a whorle wind, Elias went with Elisa from Gilgal.
And Elias saide vnto Elisa: Tary here I praye thee, for the Lorde hath sent me to Bethel. Elisa saide vnto him: As the Lorde lyueth, and as thy soule liueth, I will not leaue thee. And they came downe to Bethel,
And the children of the prophetes that were at Bethel came out to Elisa, and saide vnto him: knowest thou not how that the Lord wyll take away thy maister from thy head this day? He saide: I knowe it also, holde you your peace.
And Elia saide vnto him: Elisa, tary here I praye thee, for the Lorde hath sent me to Iericho. He saide: As the Lorde lyueth, and as thy soule lyueth, I will not leaue thee. And so they came to Iericho.
And the children of the prophetes that were at Iericho came to Elisa, and said vnto him: Knowest thou not, that the Lorde wil take away thy maister from thy head this day? He aunswered: I know it also, holde ye your peace.
And Elias said vnto him: Tary I pray thee here, for the Lorde hath sent me to Iordane. He saide: As the Lord liueth, & as thy soule lyueth, I wyll not leaue thee. And so they two went together.
And fiftie men of the sonnes of the prophetes came & stoode on the other syde a farre of: and they two stoode by Iordane.
And Elias toke his mantell, & wrapt it together, and smote the waters, and they were deuided parte the one way, and part the other, so that they two went ouer through the drye lande.
And it fortuned, that assoone as they were ouer, Elias saide vnto Elisa: Aske what I shal do for thee, yer I be taken away from thee. And Elisa saide: I pray thee let thy spirite be double vpon me.
And he said, Thou hast asked an hard thing: Neuerthelesse, if thou see me whe{n} I am taken away from thee, thou shalt haue it so: yf thou do not, it shall not be.
And it fortuned, that as they went walking and talking: beholde, there appeared a charet of fyre, and horses of fyre, & parted them both a sunder, and Elias went vp through the whorle winde into heauen.
And Elisa sawe, and cryed: O my father, O my father, the charet of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he sawe him no more: and he toke his owne clothes, and rent them in two peeces.
He toke vp also the mantell of Elias that fell from him, and went backe againe, and stoode by Iordanes syde.
And toke the mantel of Elias that fel from him, and smote the waters, & he said: Where is the Lord God of Elias, & he him selfe? And when he had smitten the waters, they parted this waye and that waye: and Elisa went ouer.
And when the childre{n} of the prophetes which were at Iericho sawe him from a farre, they sayde, The spirite of Elias doth rest on Elisa: And they came to meete him, and fel to the grounde before him,
And saide vnto him: See, now there be with thy seruauntes fiftie strong men, let the{m} go we pray thee & seeke thy maister: yf happly the spirite of the Lorde hath taken him vp, and cast him vpon some mountaine, or into some valley. And he saide: Ye shall send none.
And when they laye vpon him tyll he was ashamed, he said: Send. They sent therefore fiftie men, which sought him three dayes, but found him not.
And when they came againe to him (which taryed at Iericho) he saide vnto them: Did I not saye vnto you, that ye should not go?
And the men of the citie saide vnto Elisa: beholde sir, the dwelling of this citie is pleasaunt, as thou thy selfe seest: but the water is naught, & the grounde barren.
He saide: Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
And he went vnto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in thyther, and saide, thus saith the Lord: I haue healed these waters, there shall not come hencefoorth either death or barennesse.
So the waters were healed vnto this day, according to the saying of Elias, which he spake.
And he went vp from thence vnto Bethel: And as he was going vp the way, there came litle children out of the citie, and mocked him, & saide vnto him: Go vp thou balde head, go vp thou balde head.
And he turned backe, and loked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lorde: And there came two shee beares out of the wood, and tare fourtie and two children of them.
And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he turned againe to Samaria.
NOW Iehoram the sonne of Ahab began to raigne vpon Israel in Samaria the eyghtteenth yere of Iehosaphat king of Iuda, and raigned twelue yeres.
And he wrought euil in the sight of the Lorde, but not lyke his father and lyke his mother: for he put away the images of Baal that his father had made.
Neuerthelesse, he cleaued vnto the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat which made Israel to sinne, and departed not therefrom.
And Mesa king of Moab was a lorde of sheepe, and rendered vnto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambes, and an hundred thousand rammes with the wooll.
But when Ahab was dead, it fortuned that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
And king Iehoram went out of Samaria the same season, and numbred all Israel:
And went, & sent to Iehosaphat the king of Iuda, saying: The king of Moab hath rebelled against me, wilt thou come with me against Moab in battell? He aunswered, I will come vp: for as I am, so art thou: and as my people be, so are thy people: & thy horses, as myne.
And he saide: What way shall we go vp? And he aunswered: The way through the wildernesse of Edom.
And so the king of Israel toke his iourney, and the king of Iuda, and the king of Edom: And when they had compassed the way seuen dayes, they had no water for the hoast, and for the cattayle that folowed them.
And the king of Israel saide: Alas, the Lorde hath called these three kinges together, to deliuer them ouer into the hande of Moab.
But Iehosaphat said: Is there not here a prophete of the Lorde, that we maye enquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israels seruauntes aunswered and saide: Here is Elisa the sonne of Saphat, which powred water on the handes of Elias.
And Iehosaphat saide: The word of the Lorde is with him. And so the king of Israel, & Iehosaphat, and the king of Edom went downe to him.
And Elias saide vnto the king of Israel: What haue I to do with thee? Get thee to the prophetes of thy father, & to the prophetes of thy mother. And the king of Israel saide vnto him, Oh naye: for the Lorde hath called these three kinges together, to deliuer them into the hand of Moab.
And Elias saide: As the Lorde of hoastes liueth, in whose sight I stande, and it were not that I regarde the presence of Iehosaphat the king of Iuda, I would not loke towarde thee, nor yet see thee.
But now bryng me a minstrell. And when the minstrell played, the hand of the Lorde came vpon him:
And he sayde, thus saith the Lorde: Make this valley full of ditches:
For thus saith the Lorde: Ye shall see neither wynde nor rayne, yet the valley shall be filled with water, that ye maye drinke, both ye, and your beastes, & your cattayle:
And this is yet but a small thing in the sight of the Lorde, forasmuch as he wil geue ouer the Moabites also into your handes.
And ye shal smite euery strong towne, and euery goodly citie, and shal fell euery pleasaunt tree, and stop euery well of water, and marre euery good platte of ground with stones.
And in the morning when the meate offering was offered, beholde, there came water by the way of Edom, and the cuntrey was filled with water.
And when al the Moabites heard that the kinges were come vp to fight against them, they gathered all that was able to put on harnesse, and stoode in the border of the lande:
And they were vp earlie in the morning, and the sunne shone vpon the water, that the Moabites sawe the water a farre of as red as blood.
And they saide, This is the blood of slaughter: The kinges are slaine, & one haue smitten another: Now therefore Moab get thee to the spoyle.
And when they came to the hoast of Israel, the Israelites stoode vp & smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they folowed vpon them and smote Moab,
And they ouerthrew the cities, and on euery good parcell of lande cast euery man his stone, and filled it, & they stopt all the welles of water, and feld all the good trees, onely in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof: howbeit they went about it with slinges, & smote it.
And when the king of Moab saw that the battaile was to sore for him, he toke with him seuen hundred men that drew {th}e sword, to haue gone through [euen] vnto the king of Edom: but they could not.
And then he toke his eldest sonne that should haue raigned in his steade, and offered him for a burnt offering vpon the wall: And there was great indigtion against Israel, and they departed from him, and returned to their owne lande.
AND there cryed a certayne woman of the wyues of the sonnes of the prophetes, vnto Elisa, saying: Thy seruaunt my husband is dead, & thou knowest that thy seruaunt did feare the Lorde: And the creditor is come to fet my two sonnes to be his bondmen.
Elisa saide vnto her: Tell me what I shall do for thee? What hast thou in thyne house? She saide: Thyne handemayde hath nothing at all in the house, saue a pitcher with oyle.
He saide vnto her: Go, and borow vessels for thee [of them that are] without, [euen] of all thy neighbours, emptie vessels, and that not a fewe:
And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the doore after thee and after thy sonnes, and powre out into all those vessels: and set asyde that which is full.
And so she went from him, and shut the doore after her & after her sonnes: And they brought to her, & she powred out.
And it came to passe, that when the vessels were ful, she said vnto her sonne: Bryng me yet a vessel. And he said vnto her: I haue no mo. And {th}e oyle ceassed.
Then she came and tolde the man of God: And he sayde, Go, and sell the oyle, and pay them that thou art in debt vnto: but lyue thou and thy children of the rest.
And it fell on a day, that Elisa came to Sunem, where was a great woman, that toke him in for to eate bread: And so it came to passe, that from that tyme foorth (as oft as he came that way) he turned in thyther to eate bread.
And she saide vnto her husband: Beholde, I perceaue that this is an holy man of God which passeth by vs continually.
Let vs make him a little chamber I pray thee, with walles, & let vs set him there a bed, and a table, and a stoole, and a candelsticke: that he may turne in thyther when he commeth to vs.
And it fortuned on a day that he came thither, and turned into the chamber, & lay therein,
And saide to Gehezi his seruaunt: Call this Sunamite. And when he called her, she presented her selfe before him.
And againe he said vnto him: Tel her, beholde thou hast ben carefull for vs with all this care, What shal we now do for thee? Wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captayne of the hoast? She aunswered: I dwell among myne owne people.
And he said againe: What is to be done for her? Gehezi aunswered: Veryly she hath no childe, and her husband is olde.
And he said: Call her. And when he had called her, she stoode in the doore.
And he saide: At this tyme appoynted, according to the tyme of lyfe, thou shalt imbrace a sonne. And she said: Oh nay my lorde thou man of God, do not lye vnto thyne handmayde.
And the wyfe conceaued, and bare a sonne that same season that Elisa had sayde vnto her, acording to the tyme of lyfe.
And when the childe was growen, it fell on a day that he went out to his father, and to the reapers,
And he said vnto his father: My head, my head. And he saide to a lad: Cary him to his mother.
And when he had taken him & brought him to his mother, he sate on her knees till noone, and then dyed.
And she went vp, and laide him on the bed of the man of God, & shut [the doore] vpon him, and went out,
And called vnto her husband, & sayde: Send with me I pray thee one of the young men, and one of the asses: for I will runne to the man of God, and come againe.
And he saide: Wherefore wylt thou go to him? seing that to day is neither newe moone nor sabbath day. And she aunswered: All shalbe well.
Then she sadled an asse, and saide to her seruaunt: Dryue and go forwarde, staye not for me to get vp, except I byd thee.
And so she went, and came vnto the man of God to mount Carmel: And it fortuned, that when the man of God sawe her farre of, he saide to Gehezi his seruaunt: Beholde, yonder is the Sunamite:
Runne therefore to meete her, & saye vnto her: Is all well with thee, & with thy husband, and with the lad? And she aunswered: All is well.
And when she came to the man of God vp to the hill, she caught him by the feete: But Gehezi went to her, to thrust her away. And the man of God sayde: Let her alone, for her soule is vexed within her, and the Lorde hath hid it from me, and hath not tolde it me.
Then she saide: Did I desire a sonne of my Lorde? did I not require thee that thou shouldest not deceaue me?
Then he saide to Gehezi: Girde vp thy loynes, and take my staffe in thyne hande, and go thy way: If thou meete any man salute him not: And if any salute thee, aunswere him not againe: And lay my staffe vpon the face of the childe.
And the mother of the childe said: As the Lorde lyueth, and as thy soule lyueth, I wyll not leaue thee. And he arose, and folowed her.
Gehezi went before them, and layed the staffe vpon the face of the childe, but ther was neither voyce nor any feeling: wherfore he went againe to meete him, and tolde him, saying: The childe is not awaked.
And when Elisa was come into the house, behold the childe was dead, and layde vpon his bed.
He went in therefore, & shut the doore vpon them twayne, & prayed vnto the Lorde,
And went vp, and laye vpon the lad, and put his mouth on his mouth, & his eyes vpon his eyes, & his handes vpon his handes, & when he so laye vpon the childe, the fleshe of the childe waxed warme.
And he went againe, and walked once vp and downe in the house, & then went vp, & layde him selfe vpon him againe: And then the childe gasped seue{n} times, and opened his eyes.
And he called Gehezi, and saide: Call for this Sunamite. So he called her: which when she was come in vnto him, he saide vnto her: Take thy sonne.
Therfore she went in, and fell at his feete, and bowed her selfe to the ground, and toke vp her sonne, and went out.
Elisa came againe to Gilgal, and there was a dearth in the lande, and the children of the prophetes dwelt with him: And he saide vnto his seruaunt, Set a great pot on [the fyre] and make potage for the children of the prophetes.
And one went out into the fielde to gather hearbes, and found a wylde vine, and gathered therof wylde gourdes his lap ful, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew it not.
So they powred out for the men to eate: And it fortuned, that when they tasted of the pottage, they cryed out and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eate therof.
But he saide: bring meale. And he cast it into the pot, and he saide: Fill for the people, that they may eate. And there was no more harme in the pot.
There came a man from Baal Salisa, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruites, euen twentie loaues of barlye, & full eares of corne in the huske: And he said, Geue vnto the people, that they may eate.
And his minister aunswered: Why shall I set this before an hundred men? He said againe, Geue it vnto the people, that they may eate: For thus saith the Lorde, They shall eate, and there shal be left ouer.
And so he set it before them, and they did eate, and left ouer, according to the word of the Lorde.
NAaman captayne of the hoast of the king of Syria, was a great man, and honorable in the sight of his maister, because that by him the Lorde had geuen health vnto Syria: He was also a mightie man, & expert in warre [but he was] a leaper.
And the Syrians had gone out by companies, & had brought out of the countrey of Israel a litle mayde, & she was with Naamans wyfe.
And she saide vnto her lady: I would to God my lorde were with the prophet that is in Samaria, for he would delyuer him of his leprosie.
And he went in, and tolde his lorde, saying: Thus and thus saide the mayd that is of the lande of Israel.
And the king of Syria saide: Go thy way thither, and I wyll send a letter vnto the king of Israel. And he departed, and toke with him ten talentes of siluer, and sixe thousand peeces of golde, and ten chaunges of raymentes,
And brought the letter to the king of Israel, conteyning this tenour. Now, when this letter is come vnto thee, beholde I haue therewith sent Naaman my seruaunt to thee, that thou mayest ridde him of his leprosie.
And it fortuned, that when the king of Israel had red the letter, he rent his clothes, and saide: Am I God, that I should slay, and make a lyue? For he doth send to me that I should delyuer a man from his leprosie: Wherefore consider I pray you, & see how he seeketh a quarell against me.
Which when Elisa the man of God had heard how that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, he sent to the king, saying: Wherfore hast thou rent thy clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall knowe that there is a prophet in Israel.
And so Naaman came with his horses and with his charets, and stoode at the doore of the house of Elisa.
And Elisa sent a messenger vnto him, saying: Go, and washe thee in Iordane seuen tymes, and thy fleshe shall come againe to thee, and thou shalt be cleansed.
But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and saide: Beholde, I thought with my selfe, he would surely come out, and stande and call on the name of the Lord his god, & put his hand on the place, that he may heale the leprosie.
Are not Abana and Pharphar riuers of Damasco, better then all the waters of Israel? If I washe me also in them, shal I not be cleansed? And so he turned him, and departed with displeasure.
And his seruauntes came, and communed with him, and saide: Father, if the prophet had byd thee do some great thing, oughtest thou not to haue done it? How much rather then when he saith to thee, washe, and be cleane?
Then went he downe, & washed him selfe seuen tymes in Iordane, according to the saying of the man of God, and his fleshe came againe lyke vnto the fleshe of a litle childe, and he was cleansed.
And he turned againe to the man of God, he and al his company, and stoode before him, and saide: Behold, I know nowe that there is no God in all the worlde, but in Israel: Now therfore I pray thee take a blessing of thy seruaunt?
But he saide: As the lorde lyueth before whom I stande, I wyll receaue none: And when the other would haue constrayned him to receaue it, he would not.
And Naaman saide: Shall there not be geue{n} to thy seruaunt as much of this earth as two mules may beare? For thy seruaunt wyll hencefoorth offer neither burnt sacrifice nor offering vnto any other God, saue vnto the Lorde.
But herein the Lorde be mercyfull to thy seruaunt, that when my maister goeth into the house of Rimmon for to worship there, and leaneth on my hand, and I bowe my selfe in the house of Rimmon: when I do bowe downe I say in the house of Rimmon, the Lorde be mercyfull vnto thy seruaunt because of this thing.
Vnto whom he saide: Go in peace. And when he was departed from him as it were a furlong of grounde,
Gehezi the seruaunt of Elisa the man of God, said: Beholde, my maister hath spared Naaman this Syrian, that he would not receaue at his hande those thinges that he offered: As the Lorde lyueth, I wyll runne after him, & take some what of him.
And so Gehezi folowed Naaman: And when Naaman saw him running after him, he light downe from the charet to meete him, and saide: Is all well?
He aunswered, All is well: Beholde, my maister hath sent me, saying: See, there be come to me euen nowe from mount Ephraim two young men of the children of the prophetes: Geue them I pray thee one talent of siluer, and two chaunge of garmentes.
And Naaman said: With a good will, take two talentes: And he constrained him, & bounde two talentes of siluer in two bagges, with two chaunge of garmentes, and laide them vpon two of his seruauntes, to beare them before him.
And when he came to the lower place, he toke [them] from their hand, and bestowed [them] in the house, and he let the men go, and they departed.
But he went in and stoode before his maister: And Elisa said vnto him, whe{n}ce commest thou Gehezi? He saide: Thy seruaunt went no whyther.
But he saide vnto him: went not myne heart [with thee] when the man turned againe from his charet to meete thee? Is it now a tyme to receaue money, to receaue garmentes, olyue trees, vnieyardes, sheepe, and oxen, men seruauntes, and mayde seruauntes.
The leprosie therefore of Naaman shal cleaue vnto thee, and vnto thy seede for euer. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snowe.
THe children of the prophetes saide vnto Elisa: Beholde we pray thee, the place where we dwell with thee is to litle for vs:
Let vs go we pray thee vnto Iordane, & take thence euery man a beame, & build vs a place to dwel in. And he aunswered, Go.
And one saide: Be content I pray thee, and come with thy seruauntes. And he aunswered: I wyll come.
And so he went with them: And when they came to Iordane, they cut downe wood.
But it fortuned, that as one was felling downe of a tree, the axe head fell into the water: And he cryed, and saide, Alas maister, it was lent me.
And the man of God saide: Where fell it? And he shewed him the place: And he cut downe a sticke, and cast it in thyther, and immediatly the iron did swymme.
Therfore sayde he: Take it vp. And he stretched out his hand, and toke it vp.
But the king of Syria warred against Israel, and toke counsell with his seruauntes, and sayde: In such and such a place shalbe my campe.
And the man of God sent vnto the king of Israel, saying: Beware that thou go not ouer to such a place, for there the Syrians are lurkyng.
Therfore the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God tolde him and warned him of, and saued him selfe from it, not once, nor twyse.
And the heart of the king of Syria was troubled for this thing, and he called for his seruauntes, and said vnto them: Wil ye not shewe me, whiche of our men [betrayeth me] to the king of Israel?
And one of his seruauntes sayde, None my lorde O king: But Elisa the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel, yea euen the wordes that thou speakest in thy priuie chamber.
He sayde: Go, and spie where he is, that I may sende and fet him. And one told him, saying: Behold, he is in Dothan.
Therefore sent he thyther horses and charets, and a mightie hoast: and they came by night, and compassed the citie about.
And when the seruaunt of the man of God rose vp early to go out: beholde, there was an hoast rounde about the towne with horses & charets: And his seruaunt sayde vnto him, Alas maister, what shall we do?
He aunswered, Feare not: for they that be with vs, are mo then they that be with them.
And Elisa prayed and sayd: Lord I besech thee open his eyes that he may see. And the Lorde opened the eyes of the young man, and he loked: and beholde the mountayne was full of horses, and charets of fire round about Elisa.
And when they came downe to him, Elisa prayed vnto the Lord, and sayde: Smyte this people I pray thee with blindnesse. And he smote them with blindnesse, according to the worde of Elisa.
And Elisa sayd vnto them: This is not the way, neither is this the towne: folowe me, & I will bring you to the man whom ye seke. But he led them to Samaria.
But it fortuned that when they were come to Samaria, Elisa sayde: Lorde, open their eyes that they may see. And the Lorde opened their eyes, and they sawe, & behold they were in the middes of Samaria.
And the king of Israel sayde vnto Elisa when he sawe them: My father, shall I smyte them, shall I smyte them?
And he aunswered, Thou shalt not smyte them: But smyte those that thou hast taken with thine owne sworde, and with thyne owne bowe: But rather set bread and water before them, that they may eate & drinke, & go to their maister.
And he prepared a great refection for them, and when they had eaten and drunke, he sent them away, & they went to their maister: And so the souldiours of Syria came no more into the lande of Israel.
After this it chaunced, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered al his hoast and went vp, and besieged Samaria.
But there was a great dearth in Samaria: and beholde, they besieged it, vntill an asses head was sold for fourescore siluer pence, and the fourth part of a cab of doues doung for fiue peeces of siluer.
And as the king of Israel was goyng vpon the wal, there cryed a woman vnto him, saying: Help me my lord O king.
He sayde: If the Lorde do not succour thee, wherwith can I helpe thee? with the barne, or with the wine presse?
And the king sayde vnto her: What wilt thou? She aunswered: Yonder woman sayd vnto me, Bring thy sonne, that we may eate him to day, and we will eate myne to morowe.
And so we dressed my sonne, and dyd eate him: And I sayde to her the other day, bring thy sonne, that we may eate him: And she hath hyd her sonne.
And it came to passe, that when the king hearde the wordes of the woman, he rent his clothes, and went vp on the wall, and the people loked, and beholde he had a sackcloth vnder vpon his fleshe.
Then he sayd: God do so & more also to me, if the head of Elisa the sonne of Saphat shall stande on him this day.
But Elisa sate in his house (& the elders sate by him) And the king sent a man before him: but yer the messenger came to him, he sayd to the elders: haue ye not seene howe that the sonne of this murtherer hath sent to take away myne head? Be circumspect when the messenger commeth, and shut the doore, and hold him at the doore: Is not the sound of his maisters feete behynde him?
While he yet talked with them: behold, the messenger came downe vnto him, & sayd, Behold, this euyl is of the Lorde: And what more shall I loke for of the Lorde?
THen Elisa saide: Heare ye the word of the lord, thus sayth the Lorde: To morow this time [shall] a bushell of fyne flowre [be solde] for a sicle, and two bushels of barlye for a sicle in the gate of Samaria.
Then a certayne lorde (on whose hand the king leaned) aunswered the man of God, and sayde: Beholde, if the Lorde would make windowes in heaue{n}, might this saying come to passe? He sayde: Behold, thou shalt see it with thyne eyes, but shalt not eate therof.
And there were foure leperous men at the entring in of the gate: And they sayd one to another, Why sit we here vntill we dye?
If we say, we will enter into the citie: behold, the dearth is in the citie, and we shal die therin: And if we sit stil here, we dye also. Nowe therfore come, and let vs fall vpon the hoast of the Syrians: If they saue our liues, we shall lyue: If they kill vs, then are we dead.
And they rose vp in the twylight to go to the hoast of the Syrians: And when they were come to the vtmost part of the hoast of Syria, behold there was no man there.
For the Lorde had made the hoast of the Syrians to heare a noyse of charets, & a noyse of horses, & the noyse of a great hoast: Insomuch that they sayde one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hyred against vs the kinges of the Hethites, and the kinges of the Egyptians, to come vpon vs.
Wherfore they arose, and fled in the twylight, and left their tentes, their horses, and their asses, and the fielde which they had pitched, euen as it was, and fled for their lyues.
And when these lepers came to the edge of the hoast, they went into a tent, and did eate and drinke, and caried thence siluer, and golde, and rayment, & went and hyd it: and came againe and entred into another tent, and caried thence also, and went and hyd it.
Then sayde one to another: We do not well this day, forasmuche as it is a day to bring good tydinges, and we holde our peace. If we tarie till the day light, some mischiefe wil come vpon vs: Now therfore come, that we may go and tell the kinges housholde.
And so they came, and called vnto the porter of the citie, and told them, saying: We came to the pauillions of the Syrians, and see there was no man there, neither voyce of man, but horses & asses tyed, and the tentes were euen as they were wont to be.
And so the man called vnto the porters, and they told the kinges house within.
And the king arose in the night, & sayde vnto his seruauntes: I wil shewe you nowe what the Syrians haue done vnto vs: They knowe that we be hungrie, and therefore are they gone out of the pauillions to hyde them selues in the fielde, saying: When they come out of the citie, we shall catche them alyue, and get in to the citie.
And one of his seruauntes aunswered, and sayde: Let men take I pray you fyue of the horses that remayne and are left in the multitude: (Beholde they are euen as all the multitude of Israel that are left in the citie: Beholde [I say] they are euen as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed) and we will send, and see.
They toke therfore the horses of two charets, and the king sent after the hoast of the Syrians, saying: Go, and see.
And they went after them euen vnto Iordane, and lo, all the way was full of clothes, and vessels, which the Syrians had cast from them in their haste: And the messengers returned, and tolde the king.
And the people went out, and spoyled the tentes of the Syrians: And so it came to passe that a bushell of fyne flowre was solde for a sicle, and two bushelles of barlye for a sicle, according to the worde of the Lorde.
And the king appoynted that lorde (on whose hand he leaned) to be at the gate: And the people trode vpon him in the gate, and he dyed according to the word of the man of God whiche he sayde when the king came downe to him.
And so came the thing to passe, that the man of God had spoken to the king, saying: Two bushels of barlye for a sicle, and a bushell of fyne flowre for another shalbe to morowe this tyme in the gate of Samaria.
Whervnto that lorde aunswered the man of God, and sayde: Yea and if the Lorde made windowes in heauen, might it come to passe? And he sayd: Beholde, thou shalt see it with thyne eyes, and shalt not eate thereof.
And euen so chaunced it vnto him: For the people trode vpon him in the gate, and he dyed.
THen spake Elisa vnto the woman (whose sonne he had restored to lyfe againe) saying: Vp, and go thou and thyne house, and soiourne where so euer thou canst: For the Lord hath called for a dearth, and the same shall come vpon the lande seuen yeres.
And the woman arose, and dyd after the saying of the man of God, and went both she and her houshold, & soiourned in the land of the Philistines seue{n} yeres.
And at the seuen yeres ende, it fortuned that the woman came againe out of the land of the Philistines, and went out to call vpon the king for her house and for her lande.
And the king talked with Gehezi the seruaunt of the man of God, saying: Tel me I pray thee al the great deedes that Elisa hath done.
He told the king howe he had restored a dead body to lyfe againe: but in the meane time the woman whose sonne he had raysed vp againe, cryed to the king for her house, and for her land: And Gehezi sayde, My lorde O king, this is the woman, and this is her sonne whom Elisa raysed vp againe.
And when the king asked the woman, she tolde him: And so the king deliuered her a chamberlayne, saying, Restore thou vnto her all that are hers and all the fruites of the fielde, sence the day that she left the land, vnto this tyme.
And Elisa came to Damascon, & Benhadad the king of Syria was sycke: And one tolde him, saying, The man of God is come hyther.
And the king sayd vnto Hazael: Take a present in thyne hande, and go meete the man of God, that thou mayest inquire of the Lord by him, saying: Shal I recouer of this disease?
And so Hazael went to meete him, and toke the present with him, and of euery good thing of Damascon, euen as much as fourtie camels coulde beare: & came and presented him selfe before him, and said: Thy sonne Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying: Shal I recouer of this disease?
And Elisa sayde vnto him: Go, and say vnto him, Thou shalt recouer: howebeit, the Lorde hath shewed me that he shall surely dye.
He loked vpon him stedfastlie, vntill he was ashamed: & the man of God wept.
And Hazael sayde: Why weepeth my lorde? He aunswered: For I knowe the euyl thinges that thou shalt do vnto the children of Israel: for their strong cities shalt thou set on fire, and their young men shalt thou slay with the sword, and shalt dashe out the braynes of their sucking children, and al to teare their women with childe.
But Hazael sayd: What is thy seruaunt a dogge, that I shoulde do this great thing? And Elisa aunswered: The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king of Syria.
And so he departed from Elisa, & came to his maister: which sayd to him, What sayde Elisa to thee? He aunswered: He tolde me, that thou shouldest recouer.
And on the morowe it fortuned, that he toke a thycke cloth, and dipt it in water, and spread it on his face: & he died, and Hazael raigned in his steade.
The fyft yere of Ioram the sonne of Ahab king of Israel, Iehosaphat being also king of Iuda, Ioram the sonne of Iehosaphat king of Iuda began to raigne.
Thirtie and two yeres olde was he when he began to raigne, and he raigned eyght yeres in Hierusalem.
And he walked in the wayes of the kinges of Israel, as they that were of the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wyfe, and he dyd euyll in the sight of the Lorde.
And the Lord woulde not destroy Iuda [and that] because of Dauid his seruaunt, as he promised him, to geue him alway a light among his children.
In those dayes Edom rebelled from vnder the hand of Iuda: for they made them a king of their owne.
So Ioram we{n}t to Zair, he & al his charettes with him: And he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in with the captaynes of his charettes, and the people fled into their tentes.
But Edom rebelled, so that he woulde not be vnder the hande of Iuda vnto this day: Then Libnah rebelled that same time.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Ioram, and al that he dyd, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda?
And Ioram rested with his fathers, and was buried besyde his fathers in the citie of Dauid: And Ahaziahu his sonne raigned in his steade.
In the twelfth yere of Ioram the sonne of Ahab king of Israel, dyd Ahaziahu the sonne of Ioram king of Iuda begin to raigne.
Two and twentie yeres old was Ahaziahu when he began to raigne, and he raigned one yere in Hierusalem: and his mothers name was Athaliahu, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
But he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and dyd euyll in the sight of the Lorde [euen] as dyd the house of Ahab: for he was the sonne in law of the house of Ahab.
And he went with Ioram the sonne of Ahab, to warre against Hazael king of Syria in Ramoth Gilead, and the Syrians wounded Ioram.
And king Ioram went back againe to be healed in Iezrahel of the woundes whiche the Syrians had geuen him at Ramoth when he fought against Hazael king of Syria: And Ahaziahu the sonne of Ioram king of Iuda, went downe to see Ioram the sonne of Ahab in Iezrahel because he was sicke there.
ANd Elisa the prophete called one of the childre{n} of the prophetes, and sayd vnto him: Gyrde vp thy loynes, and take this boxe of oyle in thyne hand, & get thee to Ramoth [in] Gilead.
And when thou commest thyther, loke wher is Iehu the sonne of Iehosaphat the sonne of Nimsi, and go to him, and make him arise vp from among his brethren, & cary him to a secrete chamber.
Then take the boxe of oyle, and powre it on his head, and say, thus saith the Lord, I haue annoynted thee to be king ouer Israel: And then open the doore, and flee, without any tarying.
And so the seruaunt of the prophete gat him to Ramoth Gilead:
And when he came in, beholde, the captaynes of the hoast were sitting together: And he sayde, I haue an errand to thee, O captayne.
And Iehu sayd: Vnto whiche of al vs? He sayd: To thee, O captayne. And he arose, and went into the house, and he powred the oyle on his head, and sayde vnto him: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I haue annoynted thee to be king ouer the people of the Lorde, euen ouer Israel.
Thou shalt smyte the house of Ahab thy maister, that I may auenge the blood of my seruauntes the prophetes, & the blood of all the seruauntes of the Lord, of the hande of Iezabel:
For the whole house of Ahab shall be destroyed, and I will destroy from Ahab [euen] hym that maketh water against the wal, and him that is prysoned and forsaken in Israel:
And I wil make the house of Ahab, like the house of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, and like the house of Baasa the sonne of Ahia.
And as for Iezabel, the dogges shall eate her in the fielde of Iezrahel, and there shalbe none to burie her. And he opened the doore, and fled.
Iehu came out to the seruauntes of his lord, and one sayd vnto him: Is al well? Wherfore came this madde felowe to thee? And he sayd vnto them: Ye knowe what maner of man it is, and what his communication is.
They said vnto him againe: It is not so, tell vs. He said: Thus & thus spake he to me, saying, thus saith the Lord: I haue annoynted thee to be king ouer Israel.
Then they hasted, and toke euery man his garment, and put it vnder him on the toppe of the staires, and blewe with trumpettes, saying: Iehu is king.
And so Iehu the sonne of Iehosaphat the sonne of Nimsi, conspired against Ioram: (Ioram kept Ramoth Gilead, he and al Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria:
And king Ioram returned to be healed in Iezrahel of the woundes which the Syrians had geuen him when he fought with Hazael king of Syria) And Iehu sayde: If it be your mindes, then let no man depart and escape out of the citie, to go and tell in Iezrahel.
So Iehu gat vp [into a charet] & went to Iezrahel where Ioram lay: and Ahaziahu king of Iuda was come downe thyther to see Ioram.
And the watchman that stoode on the towre in Iezrahel, spied the companie of Iehu as he came, and sayde: I see a companie. And Ioram sayde: Take an horsman, and send to meete them, that he may aske whether it be peace.
And so there went one on horsbacke to meete him, and sayde: Thus sayth the king: is it peace? And Iehu sayd: What hast thou to do with peace? turne thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying: The messenger came to them, but he commeth not againe.
Then he sent out another on horsbacke, whiche came to them, and sayde: Thus sayth the king: is it peace? Iehu aunswered: What hast thou to do with peace? turne thee behynd me.
And the watchman tolde, saying: He came to them also, and commeth not againe: And the driuing, is lyke the driuing of Iehu the sonne of Nimsi: for he driueth the charet as he were mad.
And Ioram sayde: Make redy. And the charet was made redy. And Ioram king of Israel, and Ahaziahu king of Iuda, went out eyther of them in his charet against Iehu, and met him in the fielde of Naboth the Iezrahelite.
And it fortuned, that when Ioram sawe Iehu, he sayd: Is it peace Iehu? He aunswered: What peace should there be, so long as the whordoms of thy mother Iezabel and her wytchcraftes are so great?
And Ioram turned his hande, and fled, and sayde to Ahaziahu: There is falshood O Ahaziahu.
And Iehu toke a bow in his hande, and smote Ioram betweene the armes, & the arrowe went through his heart, and he fell downe flat in his charet.
Then said Iehu to Bidkar a captayne: Take [him] and cast him in the plat of the ground of Naboth the Iezrahelite: For I remember that when I & thou rode together after Ahab his father, the Lorde layed this heauy burthen vpon him:
I haue seene yesterday the blood of Naboth & the blood of his sonnes, sayde the Lord: and I wil quite it thee in this ground sayth the Lord. Nowe therfore take [him] and cast him in the plat of ground, according to {th}e word of the Lord.
But when Ahaziahu the king of Iuda sawe this, he fled by the way of the garden house: And Iehu folowed after him, and sayde, Smyte him also in the charet, at the goyng vp to Gur by Iebleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and ther died.
And his seruauntes caryed him in a charet to Hierusalem, and buried him there in his sepulchre with his fathers in the citie of Dauid.
And in the eleuenth yere of Ioram the sonne of Ahab, began Ahaziahu to raigne ouer Iuda.
And when Iehu was come to Iezrahel, Iezabel hearde of it, & paynted her face, and tired her head, and loked out at a wyndowe.
And as Iehu entred at the gate, she sayd: Had Zimri peace, which slue his maister?
And he lift vp his eyes to the windowe, and sayde: Who is of my side, who? And there loked out to him two or three chamberlaynes.
And he sayd: Throwe her downe. So they threwe her downe, & her blood dasshed toward the wall, and towarde the horses: and he troade her vnder foote.
And when he was come in, he dyd eate and drinke, & sayd: Go and visite I pray you yonder cursed creature, and burie her: for she is a kinges daughter.
And so when they came to burie her, they founde no more of her then the skull, and the feete, and the palmes of her handes.
Wherfore they came againe, and tolde him: And he sayd, This is the worde of the Lorde whiche he spake by the hand of his seruaunt Elias the Thesbite, saying: In the fielde of Iezrahel shall dogges eate the fleshe of Iezabel.
And so the carkasse of Iezabel was euen as dounge vpon the earth in the fielde of Iezrahel, so that no man might say, This is Iezabel.
AHab had threescore & ten sonnes in Samaria: And Iehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, vnto the rulers of Iezrahel, to the elders, and to them that brought vp Ahabs children, saying:
Nowe when this letter commeth to you (ye that haue with you your maisters sonnes, ye haue with you both charets and horses, a strong citie haue ye also, and harnesse)
Loke which of your maisters sonnes is best and most meete, and set him on his fathers seate, and fight for your lordes house.
But they were exceedingly afrayde, & sayde: See, two kinges were not able to stande before him: howe shall we then be able to stande?
And he that was gouernour of Ahabs house, & he that ruled the citie, the elders also, & the tutours, sent to Iehu, saying: We are thy seruauntes, & will do all that thou shalt byd vs, we wil make no man king: therefore do thou what seemeth good in thyne eyes.
Then he wrote another letter to them, saying: If ye be myne, and wil hearken vnto my voyce, then take the heades of the men that are your maisters sonnes, and come to me to Iezrahel by to morowe this time: (And the kinges sonnes were threescore and ten persons, and they were with the great men of the citie which brought them vp.)
And when the letter came to them, they toke the kinges children, and slue them, euen threescore and ten persons, & layed their heades in baskettes, and sent them to him to Iezrahel.
And there came a messenger, and told him, saying: They haue brought the heades of the kinges sonnes. And he said: Let them lay them on two heapes in the entring in of the gate, vntill the morning.
And when it was day, he went out, and stoode, and sayde to al the folke, Ye be righteous: Behold, I conspired against my maister, and slue him: But who slue all these?
Learne here that there shall fall vnto the earth nothing of the worde of the Lorde, whiche he spake concerning the house of Ahab: For the Lorde hath brought to passe {th}e thinges that he spake by the hande of his seruaunt Elias.
And so Iehu slue all that remayned of the house of Ahab in Iezrahel, and all that were great with him, and his kinsfolkes, and his priestes, so that he le• nothing of him remayne.
And he arose, & departed, and came to Samaria: And when Iehu was in the way of the house where the sheepheardes dyd sheare their sheepe,
He met with the brethren of Ahaziahu king of Iuda, and sayde: What are ye? They aunswered: The brethren of Ahaziahu are we, and go downe to salute the children of the king & of the queene.
And he said: Take them alyue. Whom when they had taken them alyue, they slue them at the wel whiche was beside the house where the sheepe are shoren, euen two and fourtie men, neither left he any of them.
And when he was departed thence, he met with Iehonadab the sonne of Rechab comming against him, and he blessed him, & sayde to him: Is thyne heart right, as myne heart is true with thine? And Iehonadab aunswered: Yea that it is. Then geue me thyne hand. And when he had geuen him his hande, he toke him vp to him into the charet,
And sayde: Come with me, and see the zeale that I haue for the Lord. And so they made him ride in his charet.
And when he came to Samaria, he slue al that remained vnto Ahab in Samaria, till he had wiped him out, accorcording to the saying of the Lord which he spake to Elias.
And Iehu gathered all the people together, and sayd vnto them: Ahab serued Baal a litle, but Iehu shall serue him more.
Now therfore call vnto me all the prophetes of Baal, all such as serue him, and al his priestes, & let none be lacking: For I haue a great sacrifice to do to Baal, & therefore whosoeuer is missed he shall not lyue. But Iehu dyd it for a sutteltie, to the intent that he might destroy the seruauntes of Baal.
And Iehu sayde: Proclayme an holy conuocation for Baal. And they proclaymed it.
And Iehu sent vnto all Israel, and al the seruauntes of Baal came, that there was not a man left behind that came not: And they came into the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was full from one ende to another.
And he sayde vnto him that was the keper of the vestrie: Bring foorth garmentes for all the seruauntes of Baal. And he brought them out garmentes.
And when Iehu went with Iehonadab the sonne of Rechab into the house of Baal, he sayd vnto the seruauntes of Baal: Searche, & loke that ther be here with you none of the seruauntes of the Lord, but the seruauntes of Baal only.
And when they went in to offer sacrifice and burnt offring, Iehu appoynted foure score men without, and sayde: If any of {th}e men whom I haue brought vnder your handes escape, he that letteth him go, shall dye for him.
And it fortuned, that assoone as he had made an ende of offring the burnt sacrifice, Iehu sayd to the men of warre and to the captaynes: Go in, and slay them, let none come out. And they smote them with the edge of the sword: And the men of warre & the captaynes cast them out, & went to the citie of the temple of Baal,
And fet the images out of the temple of Baal, and burnt them.
And they brake the image of Baal, and brake the house of Baal, & made a draft house of it vnto this day.
And so Iehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
But from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat whiche made Israel to sinne, Iehu departed not from them [neither from] the golden calues that were in Bethel and in Dan.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Iehu: Because thou hast done right wel, in bringing to passe the thing that is right in myne eyes, and hast done vnto the house of Ahab according to all thinges that are in myne heart, therefore shall thy children vnto the fourth generation sit on the seate of Israel.
But Iehu cared not for this, to walke in the lawe of the Lorde God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sinnes of Ieroboam whiche made Israel to sinne.
In those dayes the Lorde began to cut Israel short, and Hazael smote them in all the coastes of Israel,
From Iordane eastward, euen all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, the Rubenites, and them that were of Manasses, from Aroer (which is by the riuer Arnon) euen Gilead and Basan.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Iehu, and al that he did, & al his power, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel?
And Iehu slept with his fathers, and they buryed him in Samaria, & Iehoahas his sonne raigned in his steade.
And the time that Iehu raigned vpon Israel in Samaria, is twentie & eyght yeres.
ANd Athalia {th}e mother of Ahaziahu, when she saw that her sonne was dead, she arose, and destroyed all the kinges seede.
But Iehosaba the daughter of king Ioram and syster of Ahaziahu, toke Ioas the sonne of Ahaziahu, and stale him from among the kinges sonnes that were slayne, and his nurse with him in the bedde chamber: and hyd him from Athalia, that he was not slayne.
And he was with her hyd in the house of the Lord sixe yeres: And Athalia dyd raigne ouer the lande.
And the seuenth yere Iehoiada sent and fet the rulers ouer hundredes, with the captaynes and them of the garde, and toke them to him into the house of the Lorde, & made a bonde with them, and toke an oth of them in the house of the Lorde, and shewed them the kinges sonne.
And he commaunded them, saying, This is it that ye must do: One third part of you, whose duetie is to come in on the Sabbath day, shall keepe the watch of the kinges house:
And another third part shal keepe the gate of Sur: And another third part shall keepe the gate which is behinde them of the garde: and so shall ye keepe the watch of the house of Mesiah.
And two partes of you, that is, al that go out on the Sabbath day, shall keepe the watch of the house of the Lorde about the king.
And ye shall compasse the king round about, & euery man shall haue his weapon in his hand: And whosoeuer commeth within {th}e ranges, let him be slaine: And see that ye be with the king as he goeth out and in.
And the captaynes ouer the hundredes did according to all thinges that Iehoiada the priest commaunded: and they toke euery man his men that were to come in on the Sabbath day, with them that should go out on the Sabbath, and came to Iehoiada the priest.
And to the captaynes ouer hundredes, did the priest geue king Dauids speares and shieldes, that were in the temple.
And they of the garde stoode, and euery man had his weapon in his hande rounde about the king, from the ryght corner of the temple to the left, along by the aulter and the temple.
And he brought out the kinges sonne, and put the crowne vpon him, and delyuered him the witnesse, & made him king, & annoynted him: And they clapt their handes, and saide: God saue the king.
And when Athalia heard the noyse of the running of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the Lorde.
And whe{n} she looked, behold, the king stoode by a piller as the maner was, & the singers & the trumpets by the king, and all the people of the land reioysed, and blew with trumpets: And Athalia rent her clothes & cryed, treason, treason.
But Iehoiada the priest commaunded the captaines of the hundredes that had the rule of the hoast, and saide vnto them: Haue her foorth of the ranges, & if any folowe her, kill him with the sword. For the priest had saide: she may not be slaine in the house of the Lorde.
And they layde handes on her, till she came into the way by the which the horses went in to the kinges palace, and there was she slaine.
And Iehoiada made a bond betweene the Lorde and the king and the people, that they should be the Lordes people, and also betweene the king and the people.
And all the people of the lande went into the house of Baal, and destroyed it, his aulters also, and his images brake they downe lustylie, and slue Mathan the priest of Baal before the aulters: And the priest set watch ouer the house of the Lorde.
And toke the rulers ouer hundredes, the captaines, and them of the gard, and all the people of the lande, and they brought the king from the house of the Lorde, and came by the way of the gate of them of the gard to the kings palace, and he sat him downe on the seate of the kinges.
And all the people of the lande reioyced, and the citie was in quiet: And they slue Athalia with the sword, beside the kinges palace.
Seuen yeres olde was Iehoas when he began to raigne.
ANd Iehoas began to raigne in the seuenth yere of Iehu, fouretie yeres raigned he in Hierusalem: & his mothers name was Zebiah of Beerseba.
And he did that which was good in the sight of the Lorde, as long as Iehoiada the priest enfourmed him.
But the high places were not taken away: for the people offred and burnt incense yet vpon the high places.
And Iehoas sayde to the priestes: All the siluer of the dedicate thinges that be brought to the house of the Lorde, that is, the money of them that were numbred, the money that euery man is set at, and all the money that euery man with a willing heart geueth and bryngeth into the house of the Lorde:
Let the priestes take it to them, euery man of his acquayntaunce, to repayre the broken places of the house wheresoeuer any decaye is founde.
And so it came to passe, that vnto the three and twentith yere of king Iehoas, the priestes had mended nothing that was decayed in the temple.
Then king Iehoas called for Iehoiada the priest, and the other priestes, and saide vnto them: Why repaire ye not the broken places of the temple? Now therfore, see that ye receaue no more money of your acquayntaunce, except ye deliuer it to repaire the temple withall.
And the priestes consented to receaue no more money of the people, except to repaire the decayed places of the temple.
But Iehoiada the priest toke a chest, and bored a hole in the lyd of it, and set it besyde the aulter, on the right syde as euery man commeth into the temple of the Lorde, and the priestes that kept the vessels put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the Lorde.
And it fortuned, that when they sawe ther was much money in the chest, the kinges scribe & the hye priest came vp, and tolde the money that was found in the house of the Lorde, and put it into a bagge.
And they gaue the money sealed into the handes of them that executed the worke, and that had the ouersight of the house of the Lorde: and they brought it out to the carpenters and builders that wrought vpon the house of the Lorde,
And to masons, and hewers of stone: And they bought timber and free stone to repaire the decaye in the house of the Lorde, and to al that went out to mend the temple.
Howbeit, there was not made for the house of the Lorde bowles of siluer, instrumentes of musicke, basons, trumpets, or any vessels of golde, or vessels of siluer, of the money that was brought into the house of the Lorde.
But they gaue that to the workemen, and repaired therewith the house of the Lorde.
Moreouer, they reckened not with the men into whose handes they deliuered that money to be bestowed on workme{n}: for they did their busines faithfully:
Howbeit, trespasse money, and sinne money, was not brought into the house of the Lorde, for it was the priestes.
Then came Hazael king of Syria vp, and fought against Geth, and toke it: And Hazael set his face to go vp to Hierusalem.
And Iehoas king of Iuda, toke all the halowed thinges that Iehosaphat, Iehoram & Haziahu his fathers kinges of Iuda had dedicate, and that he him selfe had dedicated, and al the gold that was founde in the treasures of the house of the Lorde and in the kinges house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria, & so he departed from Hierusalem.
The remnaunt of the wordes that concerne Iehoas, and all that he dyd, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda?
And his owne seruauntes arose, and wrought treason, and slue Iehoas in the house Millo, when he came downe to Silla:
Iozachar the sonne of Semaath, and Iehozabad the sonne of Somer his seruauntes, smote him, and he dyed: And they buryed him with his fathers in the citie of Dauid, and Amaziahu his sonne raigned in his steade.
IN the three & twentith yere of Ioas the sonne of Ahaziahu king of Iuda, Iehoahaz the sonne of Iehu began to raigne ouer Israel in Samaria seuenteene yeres.
And he wrought that which was euil in the sight of the Lorde, and folowed the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat which made Israel to sinne, and departed not therfrom.
And the Lorde was angry with Israel, and delyuered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, & into the hand of Benhadad the sonne of Hazael all their dayes.
And Iehoahaz besought the Lord, & the Lorde heard him: For he considered the trouble of Israel, wherewith the king of Syria troubled them.
(And the Lord gaue Israel a deliuerer, so that they went out from vnder the subiection of the Syrians: And the children of Israel dwelt in their tentes as before tyme.
Neuerthelesse, they departed not from the sinnes of the house of Ieroboam which made Israel sinne, but walked in them: And there remayned an idols groue still also in Samaria.)
Neither did he leaue of the people to Iehoahaz but fiftie horsemen, ten charets, and ten thousand footemen: for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them lyke thresshed dust.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Iehoahaz and all that he dyd, and his power, are they not writte{n} in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel?
And Iehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buryed him in Samaria, and Ioas his sonne raigned in his steade.
In the thirtie and seuenth yere of Ioas king of Iuda, began Iehoas the sonne of Iehoahaz to raigne ouer Israel in Samaria sixteene yeres.
And did that which is euill in the sight of the Lorde, and departed not from all the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat that made Israel sinne: for he walked therein.
The remnaunt of the wordes that concerne Ioas, and all that he did, and his power wherewith he fought against Amaziahu king of Iuda, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel?
And Ioas slept with his fathers, and Ieroboam sat vpon his seate: And Ioas was buryed in Samaria among the kinges of Israel.
When Elisa was fallen sicke of his sicknesse whereof he dyed, Ioas the king of Israel came downe vnto him, and wept before him, and saide: O my father, my father, the charet of Israel, & the horsemen of the same.
Elisa saide vnto him: Take bowe and arrowes. And he toke vnto him bowe and arrowes.
And he saide to the king of Israel: Put thyne hand vpon the bowe. And he put his hand vpon it: And Elisa put his handes vpon the kinges handes,
And said: Open a windowe eastward. And when he had opened it, Elisa sayd: shoote. And he shot: And he saide, The arrowe of health of the Lorde, and the arrowe of health against Syria: For thou shalt smyte Syria in Aphec, till thou haue made an ende of them.
And he saide: Take the arrowes. And he toke them: And he said vnto the king of Israel, Smyte the grounde. And he smote thrise, and ceassed.
And the man of God was angry with him, and saide: Thou shouldest haue smitten fiue or sixe tymes, and then thou haddest smytten Syria till thou haddest made an end of them: where now thou shalt smyte Syria but thrise.
And so Elisa dyed, & they buried him: and the souldiers of the Moabites came into the lande the same yere.
And it chaunced as some of them were burying a man, and spyed the souldiers, they cast {th}e man into the sepulchre of Elisa: And when the man was roulled downe, and touched the bones of Elisa, he reuiued, and stoode vpon his feete.
But Hazael king of Syria vexed Israel all the dayes of Iehoahaz.
And the Lorde had mercie on them, and pitied them, and had respect vnto them, because of his appoyntment made with Abraham, Isahac, and Iacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from him as yet.
So Hazael the king of Syria dyed, & Benhadad his sonne raigned in his steade.
And Iehoas the sonne of Iehoahaz went againe, and toke out of the hande of Benhadad the sonne of Hazael, the cities which he had taken away out of the hande of Iehoahaz his father in warre: For three times did Ioas beate him, and restored the cities vnto Israel againe.
THE second yere of Ioas, sonne of Iehoahaz king of Israel, raigned Amaziahu the sonne of Ioas king of Iuda.
He was twentie and fiue yeres olde when he began to raigne, and raigned twentie and nyne yeres in Hierusalem: and his mothers name was Iehoadan, of Hierusalem.
And he did that which is good in the sight of the Lorde, yet not lyke Dauid his father: but did according to all thinges as Ioas his father did.
Neither were the high places taken a way: For as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.
And assoone as the kingdome was setled in his hande, it came to passe, that he slue his seruauntes which had killed the king his father.
But the children of those murtherers he slue not, according vnto it that is written in the booke of the law of Moyses, wherein the Lorde commaunded, saying: Let not the fathers dye for the children, nor let the children be slaine for the fathers: but let euery man be put to death for his owne sinne.
He slue of Edom in the salt valley ten thousand, and toke the castell on the rocke in the same battaile, and called the name of it Ioktheel vnto this day.
Then Amaziahu sent messengers to Iehoas the sonne of Iehoahaz sonne of Iehu king of Israel, saying: Come, let vs see eche other.
And Iehoas the king of Israel sent to Amaziahu king of Iuda, saying: Did not a thistle that is in Libanon, send to a Cedar tree that is in Libanon, saying: Geue thy daughter to my sonne to wife? And the wilde beast that was in Libanon went and trode downe the thystle.
Thou hast smitten Edom, thyne heart hath made thee proude: Enioye this glory, & tarry at home: Why doest thou prouoke to mischiefe, that thou shouldest be ouerthrowen & Iuda with thee?
But Amaziahu would not heare: And Iehoas king of Israel went vp, and he and Amaziahu king of Iuda, sawe either other at Bethsames, which is in Iuda.
And Iuda was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled euery man to their tentes.
And Iehoas king of Israel toke Amaziahu king of Iuda the sonne of Iehoas the sonne of Ahaziahu at Bethsames, and came to Hierusalem, & brake downe the wall of Hierusalem, from the gate of Ephraim, to the corner gate, foure hundred cubites.
And he toke all the golde and siluer, and all the vessels that were founde in the house of the Lorde, and in the treasures of the kinges house: and the children toke he to be his wardes, and returned to Samaria againe.
The rest of the actes of Iehoas which he did, and his power, & how he fought with Amaziahu king of Iuda, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel?
And Iehoas slept with his fathers, and was buried at Samaria among the kinges of Israel, & Ieroboam his sonne raigned in his steade.
Amaziahu the sonne of Ioas king of Iuda, liued after the death of Iehoas sonne of Iehoahaz king of Israel fifteene yeres.
And the remnaunt of the wordes that concerne Amaziahu, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda?
But they conspired treason against him in Hierusalem: And when he fled to Lachis, they sent after him to Lachis, and slue him there.
And they brought him on horses, and he was buried at Hierusalem with his fathers in the citie of Dauid.
And all the people of Iuda toke Azaria (which was sixteene yeres olde) and made him king for his father Amaziahu.
He built Elath, and brought it againe to Iuda after that the king was layde to rest with his fathers.
In the fifteenth yere of Amaziahu the sonne of Ioas king of Iuda, was Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas made king ouer Israel in Samaria, and raigned fourtie and one yeres:
And wrought that which was euill in the sight of the Lorde, neither turned he away from all the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat which made Israel to sinne.
He restored the coast of Israel from the entring of Hemath vnto the sea of the wildernesse, according to the worde of the Lorde God of Israel which he spake by the hande of his seruaunt Ionas the sonne of Amithai the prophete, which was of Geth Hepher:
For the Lorde sawe howe that the affliction of Israel was exceeding bytter, insomuch that the prisoned and the forsaken were at an ende, and there was none to helpe Israel.
And the Lorde saide not that he would put out the name of Israel from vnder heauen: but he helped them by the hande of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Ieroboam, and all that he did, and his strength, and howe he fought in the warres, & howe he restored Damascon & Hemath to Iuda in Israel, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel?
And Ieroboam slept with his fathers, euen with the kinges of Israel, & Zacharia his sonne raigned in his steade.
IN the twentie and seuenth yere of Ieroboam king of Israel, began Azaria sonne of Amazia king of Iuda to raigne.
Sixteene yeres olde was he when he was made king, and he raigned two and fiftie yeres in Hierusalem: and his mothers name was Iecholiahu, of Hierusalem.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lorde, according to all thinges as did his father Amaziahu.
Saue that the high places were not put a way: For the people offered and burnt incense still on the high places.
And the Lorde smote the king, and he was a leaper vnto the day of his death, and dwelt in a seuerall house at libertie: and Iotham the kinges sonne gouerned the palace, and iudged the people of the lande.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Azaria, and all that he did, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda?
And so Azaria slept with his fathers, and they buryed him with his fathers in the citie of Dauid, and Iotham his sonne raigned in his steade.
In the thirtie and eyght yere of Azaria king of Iuda, did Zacharia the sonne of Ieroboam raigne vpon Israel in Samaria sixe monethes:
And wrought that which was euill in the sight of the Lorde, as did his fathers: And turned not away from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat which made Israel to sinne.
And Sallum the sonne of Iabes conspired against him, and smote him in the •ight of the people, and killed him, and raigned in his steade.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Zacharia, beholde they are written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel.
This is also the worde of the Lorde which he spake vnto Iehu, saying: Thy sonnes shall sit on the seate of Israel in the fourth generation after thee. And so it came to passe.
Sallum the sonne of Iabes began to raigne in the thirtie and ninth yere of Vzziah king of Iuda, and he raigned a moneth in Samaria.
For Menahem the sonne of Gadi went vp from Thirza, & came to Samaria, and smote Sallum the sonne of Iabes in Samaria, and slue him, and raigned in his steade.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Sallum, and the treason which he conspired, beholde they are written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel.
The same time Menahem destroyed Thiphsah, and all that were therein, & the coastes therof from Thir•: And because they opened not to him, he smote it, and ript vp al the women with childe.
The thirtie and ninth yere of Azaria king of Iuda began Menahem the sonne of Gadi to raigne vpon Israel ten yeres in Samaria.
And he did euil in the sight of the Lord, and turned not away al his dayes from the sinne of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat which made Israel to sinne.
And Phul the king of Assyria came vpon the lande: And Menahem gaue Phul a thousand talentes of siluer, that his hand might be with him & stablishe the kingdome in his hande.
And Menahem made a proclamation for the money in Israel, that all men of substaunce should geue the king of Assyria fiftie sicles of siluer a peece: And so the king of Assyria turned backe againe, and taryed not there in the lande.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel?
And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pecahia his sonne did raigne in his steade.
In the fiftith yere of Azaria king of Iuda, began Pecahia the sonne of Menahem to raigne ouer Israel in Samaria two yeres:
And did that which was euill in the sight of the Lorde, and left not of from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat which made Israel sinne.
But Pecah the sonne of Remaliahu, which was a captaine of his, conspired against him, & smote him in Samaria, euen in the place of the kinges house, with Argob and Aria, and with hym were fiftie men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and raigned in his roome.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Pecahia, & all that he did, behold they are written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel.
In the fiftie and two yere of Azaria king of Iuda, began Pecah the sonne of Remaliahu to raigne ouer Israel in Samaria twentie yeres:
And did euill in the sight of the Lorde, and turned not away from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat that made Israel sinne.
In the dayes of Pecah king of Israel, came Thiglath Pelesar king of Assyria, & toke Iion, Abel Beth maacha, Ianoah, Kedes, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and all the lande of Nephthali, and carryed them away to Assyria.
And Hosea the sonne of Ela, conspired treason against Pecah the sonne of Remaliahu, and smote him, & slue him, & raigned in his steade in the twentith yere of Iotham the sonne of Vzziah.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Pecah, and al that he did, behold they are written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel.
The second yere of Pecah the sonne of Remaliahu king of Israel, began Iotham the sonne of Vzziah king of Iuda to raigne.
Fiue and twentie yeres olde was he when he began to raigne, and he raigned sixteene yeres in Hierusalem: His mothers name was Ierusa, the daughter of Zadoc.
And he did that which is right in the sight of the Lorde: euen according to all as did his father Vzziah, so did he.
But the high places were not put away, for the people offered and burnt in cense still in the high places: he built the higher doore of the house of the Lorde.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Iotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda?
(In those dayes the Lorde began to sende into Iuda, Rezin the king of Syria, & Pecah the sonne of Remaliahu.)
And Iotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the citie of Dauid his father, and Ahaz his sonne raigned in his steade.
THe seuenteenth yere of Pecah the sonne of Remaliahu [king of Israel] Ahaz the sonne of Iotham king of Iuda began to raigne.
Twentie yeres olde was he when he was made king, and raigned sixteene yeres in Hierusalem, & did not that which was right in the eies of the Lorde his God, lyke Dauid his father:
But walked in the way of the kinges of Israel, yea and made his sonnes to go through the fire after the abhominations of the heathen whom the Lorde cast out before the children of Israel.
And he offred and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hilles, and vnder euery thicke tree.
Then Rezin king of Syria, and Pecah sonne of Remaliahu king of Israel, came vp to Hierusalem to fight: And they fought against Ahaz, but could not ouercome him.
At the same tyme Rezin king of Syria brought Elath againe to Syria, and ryd the Iewes thence: And the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt therein vnto this day.
So Ahaz sent messengers to Thiglath Peleser king of Assyria, saying: I am thy seruaunt and thy sonne, come vp and deliuer me out of the hande of the king of Syria, and out of the hande of the king of Israel, which rise vp against me.
And Ahaz toke the siluer and golde that was founde in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the kinges house, and sent a rewarde to the king of Assyria.
And the king of Assyria consented vnto him: For the king of Assyria went vp against Damasco{n}, and when he had taken it, he carryed the people away to Kir, and slue Rezin.
And king Ahaz went to Damascon to meete Thiglath Peleser king of Assyria: And when king Ahaz sawe an aulter that was at Damascon, he sent to Vria the priest, the paterne of the aulter and the fashion of it, and all the workemanship thereof.
And Vria the priest made an aulter, in all poyntes lyke to the paterne which king Ahaz had sent from Damascon, euen so did Vria {th}e priest make it against king Ahaz came from Damascon.
And so when the king was come from Damascon, he sawe the aulter: and the king went to it, and offred thereon:
And he burnt his burnt offring, and his meate offring, & powred his drincke offring, and sprinckled the blood of his peace offringes beside the aulter,
And by the brasen aulter which was before the Lorde, and set it without the temple betweene the aulter and the temple of the Lorde, and put it on the northsyde of the aulter.
And king Ahaz commaunded Vria the priest, & saide: Vpon the great aulter, set on fire in the morning the burnt offring, and in the euen the meate offering, and the kinges burnt sacrifice, and his meate offring, with the burnt offering of all the people of the lande, and their meate offring, and their drinke offringes, and powre thereby al the blood of the burnt offring, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen aulter wyll I come, and see.
And Vria the priest did according to al thinges as king Ahaz commaunded him.
And king Ahaz brake the sydes of the botomes, and toke the lauer from of them, & toke downe the lauatorie from of the brasen oxen that were vnder it, and put it vpon a pauement of stones.
And the vayle for the Sabbath that they had made in the house, and the kinges entrie without, turned he to the house of the Lorde, for feare of the king of Assyria.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Ahaz what he did, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda?
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the citie of Dauid, & Hezekia his sonne raigned in his steade.
IN the twelfth yere of Ahaz king of Iuda, began Hosea the sonne of Elah to raigne in Samaria vpon Israel nine yeres:
And did that which was euill in the sight of the Lorde, but not as the kinges of Israel that were before him.
And Salmanasar king of Assyria came vp against him, and Hosea became his seruaunt, and gaue him presentes.
And the king of Assyria founde treason in Hosea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present vnto the king of Assyria from yere to yere: and therefore the king of Assyria shut him vp, and bounde him in the pryson house.
And then the king of Assyria came vp throughout all the lande, and gat vp against Samaria, and besieged it three yeres.
In the ninth yere of Hosea, the king of Assyria toke Samaria, and carryed Israel away vnto Assyria, & put them in Hala & in Habor by the ryuer of Goza and in the cities of the Medes.
For it came to passe, that the children of Israel sinned against the Lord their God which had brought them out of the land of Egypt, from vnder the hand of Pharao king of Egypt, and feared other gods.
And they walked in the ceremonies of the heathen whom the Lorde cast out before the children of Israel, and [in the [ceremonies] which the kinges of Israel had made:
And the children of Israel went about to hide those thinges that were not wel from the Lorde their God: And they buylt them hygh places in all their cities, both in the towres where they kept watch, and also in the strong townes:
And they made the{m} images & groues in euery hye hill, & vnder euery thicke tree.
And there they burnt incense in all the hygh places, as did the heathen whom the Lord caryed away before them, and wrought wicked thinges to anger the Lorde withall:
For they serued most vile idols, wherof the Lorde had sayd vnto them: Ye shall do no such thing.
And the Lorde testified in Israel and in Iuda by all the prophetes and by all the sears, saying: Turne from your wicked wayes, and kepe my commaundementes and my statutes, according to all the law which I commaunded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my seruauntes the prophetes.
Nothwithstanding they woulde not heare, but rather hardened their neckes, lyke to the stubburnesse of their fathers, that dyd not beleue in the Lorde their God.
For they refused his statutes, and his appoyntment that he made with their fathers, and the witnesses wherwith he witnessed vnto them, and they folowed vanitie, and became vayne, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lorde had charged them that they shoulde not do lyke them.
But they left al the commaundeme{n}tes of the Lord their God, and made them images of metal, euen two calues, and [made] idol groues, & worshipped all the hoast of heauen, and serued Baal.
And they sacrificed their sonnes and their daughters in fire, and vsed witchcraftes, & enchauntmentes, euen selling them selues to worke wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde, and to anger him.
And the Lorde was exceeding wroth with Israel, & put them out of his sight, that there was left but the tribe of Iuda onely.
Neuerthelesse, Iuda also kept not the commaundementes of the Lorde their God, but walked in the ceremonies of Israel whiche they made.
And the Lord cast of all the seede of Israel, and vered them, & deliuered them into the handes of spoylers, vntil he had cast them out of his sight.
For he cut of Israel from the house of Dauid, and made them a king, euen Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat: And Ieroboam drewe Israel away that they shoulde not folowe the Lorde, and made them sinne a great sinne.
For the children of Israel walked in all the sinnes of Ieroboam whiche he dyd, and departed not therfrom,
Vntill the Lord put Israel away out of his sight, as he had sayd by all his seruauntes the prophetes: And so was Israel caried away out of their owne land to Assyria euen vnto this day.
And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, from Cutha, fro{m} Aua, from Hamath, and from Sepharuaim, and put them in the cities of Samaria in steede of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities therof.
And it fortuned, that at the beginning of their dwelling there, they feared not the Lorde, and the Lorde sent lions among them, which slue them.
Wherfore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying: The nations which thou hast translated & put in the cities of Samaria knowe not the lawe of the God of the lande: therefore he hath sent lions vpon them, and behold they slay them, because they knowe not the maner of worshipping the God of the lande.
Then the king of Assyria commaunded, saying: Cary thyther one of the priestes whom ye brought thence, and let hym go and dwell there, and teache them the fashion how to serue the God of the countrey.
And then one of the priestes whom they had caried from Samaria, came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them howe they shoulde feare the Lorde.
Howebeit euery nation made them gods of their owne, and put them in the houses of the hygh places whiche the Samaritans had made, euery nation in their cities wherin they dwelt.
The men of Babylon made Socoth Benoth, & the men of Cuth made Nergal, & the men of Hamath made Asima,
The Auites made Nibbaz and Tharthak: And the Sepharuites burnt their children in fire for Adramelech and Anamelech, the gods of Sepharuaim.
And so they feared the Lorde, & made them priestes of the basist of them, which sacrifised for them in the houses of the hygh places.
And so they feared the Lord, and serued their owne gods, after the maner of the people whom they caryed thence.
And vnto this day they do after the olde maner: and neither feare God, neither do after their ordinaunces and customes, and after the lawe & commaundement which the Lorde commaunded the children of Iacob, whom he called Israel.
And the Lorde made an appoyntment with them, and charged them, saying: Feare none other gods, nor bowe your selues to them, nor serue them, nor sacrifice to them:
But feare the Lorde whiche brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power & a stretched out arme, him feare, and to him bow, and to him do sacrifice.
The statutes, ordinaunces, lawe and commaundement whiche he wrote for you, see that ye be diligent to do for euermore, and feare not any other gods.
And the appoyntment that I haue made with you see ye forget not, and feare none other gods:
But the Lord your God ye shal feare, & he shall deliuer you out of the handes of all your enemies.
Howebeit, they dyd not hearken, but did after their olde custome.
And so these nations feared the Lord, and serued their images also, like as did their children and their childrens children: Euen as dyd their fathers, so do they vnto this day.
IN the thirde yere of Hosea sonne of Ela king of Israel, it came to passe that Hezekia {th}e sonne of Ahaz king of Iuda did raigne.
Twentie and fyue yeres olde was he when he began to raigne, and raigned twentie and nine yeres in Hierusalem: His mothers name also was Abi, {th}e daughter of Zacharia.
And he dyd that whiche is right in the sight of the Lord, according to al as did Dauid his father.
He put away the high places, & brake the images, and cut downe the groues, and all to brake the brasen serpent that Moyses had made: For vnto those dayes the children of Israel dyd burne sacrifice to it: and he called it Nehustan.
He trusted in the Lorde God of Israel, so that after him was none lyke him among all the kinges of Iuda, neither were there any such before him.
For he claue to the Lorde, and departed not from him: but kept his commaundementes, which the Lorde commaunded Moyses.
And the Lorde was with him, so that he prospered in all thinges whiche he toke in hande: And he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and serued him not.
He smote the Philistines euen vnto Azza & the coastes therof, both castels where they kept watches, and strong cities.
And in the fourth yere of king Hezekia, (whiche was the seuenth yere of Hosea sonne of Ela king of Israel) it fortuned that Salmanazar king of Assyria came vp against Samaria, and besieged it.
And after three yeres they toke it: euen in the sixth yere of Hezekia (that is to say the nynth yere of Hosea king of Israel) Samaria was wonne.
And the king of Assyria dyd cary away Israel vnto Assyria, & put them in Halah and in Habor by the riuer of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:
Because they woulde not hearken vnto the voyce of the Lord their God, but transgressed his appoyntment, and all that Moyses the seruaunt of the Lorde commaunded: and would neither heare them, nor do them.
Therfore in the fourteenth yere of king Hezekia, did Sennacherib king of Assyria come vp against all the strong cities of Iuda, and toke them.
And Hezekia king of Iuda sent to the king of Assyria to Lachis, saying: I haue offended: depart from me, and all that thou puttest on me, that will I beare. And the king of Assyria appoynted vnto Hezekia king of Iuda three hundred talentes of siluer, and thirtie talentes of golde.
And Hezekia gaue him all the siluer that was founde in the house of the Lorde, & in the treasures of the kinges house.
At the same season dyd Hezekia rent of the doores of the temple of the Lorde and the pillers (whiche the sayde Hezekia king of Iuda had couered ouer) and gaue them to the king of Assyria.
And the king of Assyria sent Tharthan, and Rabsaris, & Rabsakeh from Lachis, to king Hezekia with a great hoast against Hierusalem: And they went vp, and came to Hierusalem, and gat them vp and stoode by the conduite of the vpper poole, whiche is in the way of the fullers fielde.
And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the sonne of Elkia, which was stewarde of the houshold, and Sobna the scribe, and Ioah the sonne of Asaph, the recorder.
And Rabsakeh sayd vnto them: Tell ye Hezekia I pray you, thus sayth the great king, euen the king of Assyria: what confidence is this that thou hast?
Thou thinkest surely I haue eloque{n}ce, but counsell and strength are for the warre: On whom then doest thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
Doest thou trust to the staffe of this broken reede Egypt, on which if a man leane, it will go into his hande, & pearse it: Euen so is Pharao king of Egypt vnto all that trust on hym.
If ye say vnto me, we trust in the Lorde our God: Is not that he whose hygh places and whose aulters Hezekia hath put downe? and hath sayd to Iuda and Hierusalem, ye shall worship before this aulter here in Hierusalem.
Nowe therfore I pray thee geue hostages to my lorde the king of Assyria, and I will deliuer thee two thousande horses, if thou be able to set ryders vpon them:
Why thinkest thou scorne at the presence of one of the least Dukes of my maisters seruauntes, and trustest to Egypt for charets and horsmen?
Moreouer, am I come nowe without the bidding of the Lorde to this place, to destroy it? The Lord said to me: Go vp to this lande, and destroy it.
And Eliakim the sonne of Helkia, and Sobna, & Ioah, sayde vnto Rabsakeh: Speake I pray thee to thy seruauntes in the Syrians language (for we vnderstande it) and talke not with vs in the Iewes tongue in the eares of this people that are on the wall.
And Rabsakeh sayde vnto them: Hath my maister sent me to thy maister and thee, to speake these wordes? Hath he not sent me because of the men which sit on the wall, that they may eate their owne dongue, & drinke their owne pisse with you?
And so Rabsakeh stoode, & cryed with a lowde voyce in the Iewes language, and spake, saying: Heare the wordes of the great king, euen of the king of Assyria.
Thus sayth the king: Let not Hezekia beguile you, for he shal not be able to deliuer you out of myne hande:
Neither let Hezekia make you to trust in the Lorde, saying, The Lorde shall surely deliuer vs, & this citie shall not be geuen ouer into the hande of the king of Assyria.
Hearken not vnto Hezekia: For thus sayth the king of Assyria, Deale kindely with me, and come out to me, and then eate euery man of his owne vine, and of his owne figge tree, and drincke euery man of the water of his owne well,
Till I come, and fet you to as good a lande as yours is, a lande of corne and wine, a lande of bread and vineyardes, a lande of oyle, of olyue trees, and of hony, that ye may liue, and not dye: And hearken not vnto Hezekia, for he beguileth you, saying: The Lorde shall deliuer vs.
Hath euery one of the gods of the nations deliuered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
Where is the god of Hamath, & of Arphad? and where is the god of Sepharuaim, Hena, and Iua? Dyd they deliuer Samaria out of myne hande?
And what god is among al the gods of the nations, that hath deliuered his land out of myne hande? Shall the Lorde deliuer Hierusalem out of myne hande?
But the people held their peace, and aunswered not him a word: for the king had commaunded, saying: Aunswere hym not.
Then Eliakim the sonne of Helkia, which was the steward of the houshold, and Sobna the scribe, & Ioah the sonne of Asaph the recorder, came to Hezekia with their clothes rent, and tolde him the wordes of Rabsakeh.
SO it came to passe, that when king Hezekia hearde it, he rent his clothes, & put on sacke, & came into the house of the Lorde,
And sent Eliakim which was the steward of the houshold, and Sobna the scribe, and the elders of the priestes clothed in sacke, to Isai the prophete, the sonne of Amoz.
And they sayd vnto him, thus sayth Hezekia: This day is a day of tribulation, & of rebuke and blasphemie: For the children are come to the byrth, and there is no strength to be deliuered.
Peraduenture the Lorde thy God will heare al the wordes of Rabsakeh, who{m} the king of Assyria his maister hath sent to rayle on the lyuing God, & to rebuke him with wordes which the Lorde thy God hath hearde: And lift thou vp thy prayer for the remnaunt that are left.
So the seruauntes of king Hezekia came to Isai.
And Isai sayde vnto them, So shall ye say to your maister: Thus sayth the Lorde, Be not afrayde of the wordes which thou hast heard, with which the young men of the king of Assyria haue rayled on me.
Beholde, I will put hym in another mynde, and he shall heare tydinges, and so returne to his owne land, and I will bring to passe, that he shall fall vpon the sworde euen in his owne land.
And Rabsakeh went backe againe, and founde the king of Assyria fighting against Libna: for he had hearde howe that he was departed from Lachis.
And when he hearde men say of Thirhaka king of the blacke Mores, Behold he is come out to fight against thee: he departed, and sent messengers vnto Hezekia, saying.
Thus speake to Hezekia king of Iuda, saying: Let not thy God deceaue thee in whom thou trustest, saying: Hierusalem shall not be deliuered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
Beholde, thou hast hearde what the kinges of Assyria haue done to all landes, how they haue vtterly destroyed them: And shalt thou escape?
Haue the gods of the heathen deliuered them, whiche myne auncestours haue destroyed? As Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelassar?
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, the king of the citie of Sepharuaim, and of Hena and Iua?
And Hezekia receaued the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: And Hezekia went vp into the house of the Lorde, and layde it abrode before the Lorde.
And Hezekia prayed before the Lord, and sayd: O Lord God of Israel which dwellest betweene {th}e Cherubs, thou art God alone ouer al the kingdomes of the earth, thou hast made heauen & earth.
Lorde bowe downe thyne eare, and heare: Open Lorde thyne eyes, [I besech thee,] and see: and heare the wordes of Sennacherib whiche hath sent [this man] to rayle on the lyuing God.
Of a trueth Lorde, the kinges of Assyria haue destroyed nations and their landes,
And haue set fire on their gods: For they were no gods, but the worke of the handes of man, euen of wood and stone: and they destroyed them.
Nowe therfore O Lord our God I besech thee, saue thou vs out of his hande, that all the kingdomes of the earth may knowe that thou onely art the Lorde God.
And Isai the sonne of Amoz sent to Hezekia, saying, Thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel: That whiche thou hast prayed me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, I haue hearde it.
This is therefore the worde that the Lorde hath sayd of him: The virgin, euen the daughter of Sion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorne [O thou king of Assyria,] the daughter of Hierusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
Whom hast thou rayled on? and whom hast thou blasphemed? Against whom hast thou exalted thy voyce, and lyfted vp thyne eyes so hye? Euen against the holy of Israel.
By the hande of thy messengers thou hast rayled on the Lord, and sayd: With the multitude of my charets I am come vp to the toppes of the mountaynes, euen along by the sides of Libanon, and I will cut downe the hye Cedar trees and the lusty fyrre trees therof: and I will go into the lodging of his borders, and into the wood of his Carmel.
I haue digged and druncke straunge waters: & with the steppe of my goyng wil I drye al the water pooles that are besieged.
Hast thou not heard howe I haue ordeyned such a thing a great whyle ago, and haue prepared it from the beginning? And shall I not nowe bring it foorth that it may destroy and bring strong cities into wast heapes of stones?
And the inhabiters of them shalbe of litle power, and faynt hearted, and confounded, and shalbe lyke the grasse of the field, or greene hearbe, or as the hay on the toppes of the houses, or as the corne that is vnripe & smitten with blasting.
I knowe thy dwelling, thy comming out and thy goyng in, and thy fury against me.
And because thou ragest against me, & thy tumult is come vp to myne eares, I will put my hoke in thy nostrels, and my byt in thy lippes, and wil bring thee backe againe the same way thou camest.
And this shalbe a signe vnto thee, O Hezekia: Ye shall eate this yere of such thinges as grow of themselues, and the next yere such as come vp of those that dyd growe of their owne accorde, and the thirde yere sowe ye and reape, plant vineyardes, and eate the fruites therof.
And it that is escaped and left of the daughter of Iuda, shall yet againe take roting downewarde, and beare fruite vpwarde.
For out of Hierusalem shall go a remnaunt and a number that shall escape out of mou{n}t Sion: The zeale of the lord of hoastes shal bring this thing to passe.
Wherfore thus sayth the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: he shall not come to this citie, nor shote an arrowe into it, nor come before it with shielde, nor cast a banke against it.
But shall go backe againe the way he came, and shall not come into this citie, sayth the Lorde.
For I will defende this citie, to saue it, for myne owne sake, and for Dauid my seruauntes sake.
And it came to passe, that the selfe same night the angell of the Lorde went out, and smote in the hoast of the Assyrians an hundred fourescore & fyue thousand: And when the remnaunt were vp early in the morning, beholde they were all dead coarses.
And so Sennacherib king of Assyria auoyded and departed, and went againe and dwelt at Niniue.
And it fortuned, that as he was in a temple worshipping Nisroch his God, Adramelech & Saresar his owne sonnes smote hym with the sworde: And they escaped into the lande of Armenia, and Asarhaddon his sonne raigned in his steade.
ABout that time was Hezekia sicke vnto the death: And the prophete Isai the sonne of Amoz came to him, and sayde vnto him, Thus saith the Lord: Put thine houshold in an order, for thou shalt dye, and not lyue.
And Hezekia turned his face to the wal, and prayed vnto the Lord, saying:
I beseche the, O Lorde, remember now how I haue walked before thee in trueth and with a perfect heart, & haue done that whiche is good in thy sight. And Hezekia wept sore.
And it fortuned that afore Isai was gone out into the middle of the court, the word of the Lorde came to him, saying:
Turne againe, and tell Hezekia the captayne of my people, thus sayth the Lorde God of Dauid thy father: I haue hearde thy prayer, and seene thy teares, and beholde I will heale thee, so that on the thirde day thou shalt go vp into the house of the Lorde.
And I wil adde vnto thy dayes yet fifteene yeres, & I will deliuer thee & this citie out of the hand of {th}e king of Assyria, & will defende this citie, for myne owne sake, & for Dauid my seruauntes sake.
And Isai sayd: Take a lumpe of dried figges. And they toke and layed it on the sore, and he recouered.
And Hezekia sayde vnto Isai: What shalbe the signe that the Lorde will heale me, and that I shal go vp into the house of the Lorde the thirde day?
Isai aunswered: This signe shalt thou haue of the Lord, that the Lord will do that he hath spoken: Shall the shadowe go forwarde ten degrees? or go backe againe ten degrees?
Hezekia aunswered: It is a light thing for the shadowe to go downe ten degrees, I desire not [that:] but let the shadowe go backwarde ten degrees.
And Isai the prophete called vnto the Lord, and he brought the shadowe ten degrees backwarde, by whiche it had gone downe in the dyall of Ahaz,
The same season Berodach Baladan the sonne of Baladan king of Babylon, sent letters and a present vnto Hezekia: for he had hearde howe that Hezekia was sicke.
And Hezekia was glad of them, and shewed them all his treasure house, siluer, golde, odours, precious oyntment, all the house of his armory, and all that was found in his treasures: There was nothing in his house, & in all his realme, that Hezekia shewed them not.
And Isai the prophete came vnto king Hezekia, and sayd vnto him: What sayde these men? and from wence came they to thee? And Hezekia sayde: They be come from a farre countrey, euen from Babylon.
And he sayde againe: What haue they seene in thy house? Hezekia aunswered: All {th}e thinges that are in my house haue they seene: there is nothing among my treasures, that I haue not shewed the{m}.
And Isai sayde vnto Hezekia: Heare the word of the Lord,
Beholde, the dayes come, that all that is in thy house, and whatsoeuer thy fathers haue layde vp in store vnto this day, shalbe caryed into Babylon: and nothing shalbe left sayth the Lorde.
And of thy sonnes that shall proceede out of thee, and which thou shalt beget, shall they take away, and they shalbe chamberlaynes in the palace of the king of Babylon.
And Hezekia sayde vnto Isai: Welcome be the worde of the Lorde whiche thou hast spoken. And he sayde: Shall there not be peace & trueth in my dayes?
The remnaunt of the wordes that concerne Hezekia, and all his power, and howe he made a poole and a conduite, & brought water into the citie, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda?
And Hezekia slept with his fathers, & Manasse his sonne raigned in his steade
MAnasse was twelue yeres old when he began to raigne, and raigned fyftie and fyue yeres in Hierusale{m}: his mothers name also was Hephziba.
And he did euil in the sight of the Lord, euen after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lorde cast out before the children of Israel.
For he went and buylt vp the hygh places whiche Hezekia his father had destroyed, and he reared vp aulters for Baal, and made idol groues as dyd Ahab king of Israel, and worshipped all the hoast of heauen, and serued them.
And he buylt aulters in the house of the Lord, of which the Lorde sayde: in Hierusalem will I put my name.
And he buylt aulters for all the hoast of heauen, [euen] in two courtes of the house of the Lorde.
And he offred his owne sonne in fire, and gaue heede vnto witchcraft and sorcery, and mainteyned workers with spirites, and tellers of fortunes, and wrought much wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde to anger him.
And he put an image of a groue that he had made [euen] in the temple, of which the Lord had sayd to Dauid and Solomon his sonne: in this house and in Hierusalem which I haue chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for euer.
Neither will I make the feete of Israel moue any more out of the lande which I gaue their fathers: so that they will obserue and do all that I haue commaunded them, and according to all the law that my seruaunt Moyses commaunded them.
But they hearkened not: and Manasse led them out of the way, to do more wickedly then dyd the heathen people whom the Lorde destroyed before the children of Israel.
And the Lord spake by his seruauntes the prophetes, saying:
Because Manasse king of Iuda hath done such abhominations, and hath wrought more wickedly then all the Amorites whiche were before him dyd, and hath made Iuda sinne also with his idols:
Therfore thus sayth the Lord God of Israel: Behold, I will bring such euyll vpon Hierusalem and Iuda, that whoso heareth of it, both his eares shal tingle.
And I will stretche ouer Hierusalem the squaryng line of Samaria, & the plummet of the house of Ahab: And I will wype out Hierusalem, as a man wypeth a dishe, and when he hath wyped it, turneth it vp syde downe.
And I will leaue the remnaunt of myne inheritaunce, and deliuer them into the hand of their enemies, and they shalbe robbed and spoyled of all their aduersaries:
Euen because they haue done euyll in my sight, and haue angred me, sence the time their fathers came out of Egypt, vnto this day.
And Manasse shed innocent blood exceeding much, till he replenished Hierusalem from corner to corner, besyde his sinne wherwith he made Iuda to sinne and to do euyll in the sight of the Lorde.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Manasse, and all that he dyd, and his sinne that he sinned, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda?
And Manasse slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his owne house, euen in the garde{n} of Vzza, & Amon his sonne raigned in his steade.
Amon was twentie and two yeres olde when he began to raigne, and he raigned two yeres in Hierusalem: His mothers name also was Mesullemeth the daughter of Harus of Iotba.
And he dyd euyll in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasse dyd:
And walked in al the way that his father walked in, and serued the idols that his father serued, and worshipped them:
And he forsoke the Lord God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the Lorde.
And the seruauntes of Amon conspired against hym, & slue the king in his owne house.
And the people of the land slue al them that had conspired against king Amon, and the people made Iosia his sonne king in his steade.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Amon what thinges he dyd, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda?
And they buryed him in his sepulchre in the garden of Vzza, & Iosia his sonne raigned in his steade.
IOsia was eight yeres olde when he began to raigne, & he raigned thirtie & one yeres in Hierusalem: His mothers name also was Iedida the daughter of Adaia of Bozcath.
He dyd that which is right in the sight of the Lorde, & walked in all the wayes of Dauid his father, and bowed neither to the right hande or to the left.
And it came to passe, that in the eyghtteenth yere of the raigne of king Iosia, the king sent Saphan the sonne of Azalia the sonne of Mesulam the scribe to the house of the Lord, saying:
Go vp to Helkia the hye priest, that he may summe the siluer whiche is brought into the house of the Lorde, which the kepers of the porche haue gathered of the people:
And let them deliuer it into the hande of them that do the worke, and that haue the ouersight of the house of the Lord: and let them geue it to them that worke in the house of the Lorde, to repaire the decayed places of the temple,
Euen vnto carpenters and masons, and workers vpon the walles, and for to bye tymber and free stone, to repaire the temple.
Howbeit, let no reckenyng be made with them of the money that is deliuered into their hande, for their vse is to deale faithfully.
And Helkia the hie priest said vnto Saphan the scribe: I haue founde the booke of the lawe in the house of the Lorde. And Helkia gaue the booke to Saphan, and he read in it.
And Saphan the scribe came to the king, and brought him worde againe, and sayde: Thy seruauntes haue gathered the money that was founde in the temple, and haue deliuered it vnto them that do the worke, and that haue the ouersight of the house of the Lorde.
And Saphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Helkia the priest hath deliuered me a booke: And Saphan read in it before the king.
And it fortuned, that when the king had hearde the wordes of the booke of the lawe, he rent his clothes.
And the king commaunded Helkia the priest, and Ahikan the sonne of Saphan, and Achbor the sonne of Michaia, and Saphan the scribe, and Asahia a seruaunt of the kinges, saying:
Go ye and enquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for al Iuda, concerning the wordes of this booke that is founde: For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kyndled against vs, because our fathers haue not hearkened vnto the wordes of this booke, to do according vnto al that which is written therin for vs.
So Helkia the hye priest and Ahikam, Achbor, and Saphan, and Asahia, went vnto Hulda the prophetisse the wyfe of Sallum the sonne of Thikua the sonne of Harhas keper of the wardrope: (which prophetisse dwelt in Hierusalem in the house of the doctrine:) & they communed with her.
And she aunswered them: thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,
Thus sayth the Lorde: Behold, I wil bring euyll vpon this place, and on the inhabiters therof, euen all the wordes of the booke whiche the king of Iuda hath read:
Because they haue forsaken me, and haue burnt incense vnto other gods, to anger me with all the workes of their handes: My wrath also shalbe kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
But to the king of Iuda whiche sent you to aske counsell of the Lord, so shall ye say: Thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel, as touching the wordes whiche ye haue hearde:
Because thyne heart dyd melt, and because thou hast humbled thy selfe before me the Lorde, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabiters of the same, howe that they should be destroyed and accursed: and hast rent thy clothes and wept before me, of that also haue I hearde sayth the Lorde:
Beholde therefore I wyll receaue thee vnto thy fathers, and thou shalt be put into thy graue in peace, and thyne eyes shall not see all the euill which I wyll bryng vpon this place. And they brought the king worde againe.
AND then the king sent, and there gathered vnto him all the elders of Iuda and of Hierusalem.
And the king went vp into the house of the Lorde, with all the men of Iuda, and all the inhabitours of Hierusalem, with the priestes, and prophetes, and all the people both small and great: And he read in the eares of them al the wordes of the couenaunt which was founde in the house of the Lorde.
And the king stoode by a piller, & made a couenaunt before the Lorde, that they should walke after the Lorde, and kepe his commaundementes, his witnesses, and his statutes, with all their heart and all their soule, and make good the wordes of the sayde appoyntment, that were written in the foresayde booke: And all the people consented to the appoyntment.
And the king commaunded Helchia the hie prieste, and the inferior priestes, and the kepers of the ornamentes, to bryng out of the temple of the Lorde all the vessels that were made for Baal, for the idoll groues, and for all the hoast of heauen: And he burnt them without Hierusalem in the fieldes of Cedron, and carryed the asshes of them into Bethel.
And he put downe the ministers [of Baal] whom the kinges of Iuda had founded to burne incense in the high places and cities of Iuda that were rounde about Hierusalem, & also them that burnt incense vnto Baal, to the sunne, to the moone, to the planets, and to all the hoast of heauen.
And he brought out the groue from the temple of the Lorde without Hierusalem vnto the brooke Cedron, and burnt it there at the brooke Cedron, and stampt it to powder, and cast the dust thereof vpon the graues of the children of the people.
And he brake downe the celles of the male stewes that were by the house of the Lorde, where the women woue hanginges for the idol groue.
And he brought all the priestes out of the cities of Iuda, and defiled the high places where the priestes had burnt incense, euen from Geba to Beerseba, and destroyed the high places of the gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Iosua {th}e gouernour of the citie, which were [as a man goeth in] on the left hande of the gate of the citie.
Neuerthelesse, the priestes of the high places came not vp to the aulter of the Lorde in Hierusalem, saue onely they did eate of the sweete bread among their brethren.
And he defiled Thopheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, because no man should offer his sonne or his daughter in fire to Moloch.
He put downe the horses that the kinges of Iuda had geuen to the sunne, at the entering in of the house of the Lorde, by the chambre of Nathanmelech the chamberlayne, which was ruler of the suburbes, and burnt the charets of the sunne with fire.
And the aulters that were on the top of the parlour of Ahaz which the kinges of Iuda had made, and the aulters which Manasse had made in the two courtes of the house of the Lorde, did the king breake downe, & ran thence, and cast the dust of them into the brooke Cedron.
And the high places that were before Hierusalem, on the right hand of the mount Oliuet, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Astaroth the idol of the Zidons, and for Chamos the idol of the Moabites, and for Milchon the abhominable idoll of the children of Ammon, those the king defiled:
And brake the images, and cut downe the idol groues, and filled their places with the bones of men.
Moreouer, the aulter that was at Bethel, the high places made by Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat which made Israel sinne, both the aulter and also the high places he brake downe, and burnt the high places, and stampt it to powder, and burnt the idol groue.
And as Iosia turned him selfe, he spyed the graues that were in the mount, and sent and fet the bones out of the graues, and burnt them vpon the aulter, to pollute it, according to the word of the Lorde that the man of God proclaymed which tolde the same wordes.
Then he saide: What title is that that I see? And the men of the citie tolde him: It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Iuda, and tolde the selfe same thinges that thou hast done to the aulter of Bethel.
And he saide, let him be: see that no man moue his bones. And so his bones were saued, with the bones of a prophete that came out of Samaria.
And all the houses of the high places in the cities of Samaria, which the king of Israel had made to anger [the Lorde withal] those Iosia put out of the way, & did to them according to all the actes that he had done in Bethel.
And he sacrifised all the priestes of the high places that were there, euen vpon the aulters, and burnt mens bones vpon them, and returned to Hierusalem.
And the king commaunded all the people, saying: Kepe the feast of Passouer vnto the Lorde your God, as it is written in the booke of this couenaunt.
There was no Passouer holden lyke that from the dayes of the iudges that iudged Israel, and in all the dayes of the kinges of Israel and of the kinges of Iuda.
In the eighteenth yere of king Iosia, was this Passouer holden to the Lord in Hierusalem.
And therto workers with spirites, & soothsayers, images, idols, and all the abhominations that were spyed in the lande of Iuda and in Hierusalem, those did Iosia put out of the way, to perfourme the wordes of the lawe, which were written in the booke that Helchia the priest founde in the house of the Lorde
Lyke vnto him was there no king before him that turned to the Lorde with all his heart, with all his soule, and all his might, according to all the lawe of Moyses, neither after him arose ther any such as he.
Notwithstanding, the Lorde turned not from the fiercenesse of his great wrath wherewith he was angry against Iuda, because of all the prouocations that Manasse had prouoked him withall.
And the Lorde sayde: I wyll put Iuda also out of my sight, as I haue done away Israel, and wyll cast of this citie Hierusalem which I haue chosen, and the house of which I sayde, My name shall be there.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Iosia, and all that he did, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda?
In his dayes Pharao Necho king of Egypt went vp against the king of Assyria to the riuer of Euphrates: And king Iosia went against him, and was slaine of him at Megiddo when he had seene him.
And his seruauntes carryed him dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Hierusalem, & buryed him in his owne sepulchre: And the people of the lande toke Iehoahaz the sonne of Iosia, and annoynted him, and made him king in his fathers steade.
Iehoahaz was twentie & three yeres olde when he began to raigne, and raigned three monethes in Hierusalem: His mothers name also was Hamiel, the daughter of Ieremia of Libna.
And he did euil in the sight of the Lord, according to all thinges as his fathers had done.
And Pharao Necho put him in bondes at Ribla in the lande of Hamath while he raigned in Hierusalem, and put the lande to a tribute of an hundred talents of siluer, and a talent of golde.
And Pharao Necho made Eliakim the sonne of Iosia king in the roome of Iosia his father, and turned his name to Iehoakim, and toke Iehoahaz away: which when he came to Egypt, dyed there.
And Iehoakim gaue the siluer and the golde to Pharao, & tayed the lande, to geue the money according to the commaundement of Pharao: requiring of euery man according to their habilitie siluer and golde, euen of the people of the lande, to geue vnto Pharao Necho.
Iehoakim was twentie & fiue yeres olde when he began to raigne, and he raigned aleuen yeres in Hierusalem: His mothers name also was Zebuda, the daughter of Pedaia of Ruma.
And he did that which was euill in the sight of the Lord, according to al things as his fathers had done.
IN his dayes came Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon vp, & Iehoakim became his seruaunt three yeres: and then turned, and rebelled against him.
And the Lord sent against him bandes of the Chaldes, and bandes of the Syrians, and bandes of the Moabites, and bandes of the Ammonites: and sent them against Iuda to destroye it, according to the saying of the Lorde which he spake by his seruauntes the prophetes.
Onely at the bidding of the Lorde happened it so to Iuda, to put them out of his sight for the sinnes of Manasse, according to all that he did.
And for the innocent blood that he shed, and filled Hierusalem with innocent blood: and the Lorde would not be reconciled.
The rest of the wordes that concerne Iehoakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda?
And so Iehoakim slept with his fathers: and Iehoachin his sonne raigned in his steade.
And the king of Egypt came no more out of his lande: For the king of Babylon had taken from the ryuer of Egypt vnto the ryuer of Euphrates, all that pertayned to the king of Egypt.
Iehoachin was eighteene yeres olde when he began to raigne, and raigned in Hierusalem three monethes: His mothers name also was Nehusta, the daughter of Elnathan of Hierusalem.
And he did that which was euil in the sight of the Lorde, according to all as his father had done.
In that tyme came the seruauntes of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon vp against Hierusalem, & the citie was besieged.
And Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came against the citie, and his seruauntes did besiege it.
And Iehoachin the king of Iuda, came out to the king of Babylon, he and his mother, his seruauntes, his lordes, and his chamberlaynes: and the king of Babylon toke him in the eight yere of his raigne.
And he carryed out thence al the treasures of the house of the Lorde, and the treasure of the kinges house, and brake al the vessels of golde which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lorde, as the Lorde had sayde.
And he carryed away all Hierusalem, and al the lordes, and all the strong men of warre, euen ten thousand, into captiuitie, and all the craftesmen, & kepers, none remaining saue the poore common people of the lande.
And he carryed away Iehoachin to Babylon, and the kinges mother, and the kinges wyues, his chamberlaynes: & them that were mightie in the lande those carryed he away into captiuitie, from Hierusalem to Babylon.
And all the actiue men of warre, euen seuen thousand, and craftesmen, and porters a thousand, all that were strong and apt for warre, did the king of Babylon bryng to Babylon captiue.
And the king of Babylon made Mathania his fathers brother king in his steade, and chaunged his name to Zedekia.
Zedekia was twentie and one yeres olde when he began to raigne, and he raigned aleuen yeres in Hierusalem: His mothers name also was Hamital, the daughter of Ieremia of Libna.
And he did euill in the sight of the Lorde, according to all as Iehoachin had done.
For the wrath of the Lorde was moued against Hierusalem & Iuda, vntill he cast them out of his sight: And Zedekia rebelled against the king of Babylon.
ANd it fortuned, that in the ninth yere of his raigne, the tenth day of the tenth moneth, Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came, he & all his hoast, against Hierusalem, and pitched against it, and made engins against it on euery syde.
And the citie was besieged vnto the eleuenth yere of king Zedekia.
And the ninth day of the moneth, there was so great hunger in the citie, that there was no bread for the people of the lande.
And the citie was broken vp, and all the men of armes [fled] by night by a way through a gate [which is] betweene two walles by the kinges garden (the Chaldees lying about the citie:) And the king went the way toward the playne.
And the souldiers of the Chaldees folowed after the king, and toke him in the playne of Iericho: and all his army were scattered away from him.
So they toke the king, and brought him to [Nabuchodonosor] the king of Babylon to Ribla, where they gaue iudgement vpon him.
And they slue the sonnes of Zedekia before his eyes, and he put out the eyes of Zedekia, and fettered him with chaynes, and carryed him to Babylon.
And the seuenth day of the fifth moneth (which is the nineteenth yere of king Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon) came Nebusaradan a seruaunt of the king of Babylon & chiefe captayne of the men of warre, vnto Hierusalem:
And burnt the house of the Lord, and the kinges house, and all the houses of Hierusalem, and all great houses burnt he with fire.
And all the souldiers of the Chaldees that were with the chiefe captayne of the men of warre, brake downe the walles of Hierusalem rounde about.
But the rest of the people that were left in the citie, and them that were fled to the king of Babylon, with the remnaunt of the common people, did Nabusaradan the chiefe captayne of the men of warre carry away.
But the captaine of the souldiers left of the poore of the land, to dresse the vines and to tyll the grounde.
And the pillers of brasse that were in the house of the Lorde, and the sockets, and the brasen lauatorie that was in the house of the Lorde, did the Chaldees breake, & carryed all the brasse of them to Babylon.
And the pots, shouels, instrumentes of musicke, spoones, and all the vessels of brasse that they ministred in, toke they away,
And the fire pannes, and basons: and such thinges as were of golde and of siluer, them toke the chiefe captayne away:
Euen two pillers, one lauatorie, and the sockets which Solomon had made for the house of the Lorde: The brasse of al these vessels was without waight.
The height of the one piller was eightteene cubites, and the pommel thereof was brasse: and the height of the pommel was with wreathen worke three cubites, & pomegranates vpon the pommel rounde about all of brasse: And of the same fashion was the second piller, with a wreathen worke.
And the chiefe captayne of the men of warre toke Saraia the chiefe priest, and Zephoniah the highest priest saue one, and the three kepers of the holy things:
And out of the citie he toke a chamberlayne that had the ouersight of the men of warre, & fiue men of them that were euer in the kinges presence which were founde in the citie, and him that was scribe to the captaine of the hoast which brought out the people of the lande to warre, and threescore men of the people of the lande that were founde in the citie.
And Nebusaradan the chiefe captaine of the men of warre, toke these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Ribla.
And the king of Babylon smote them, and slue them at Ribla in the lande of Hamath: And so Iuda was carryed away out of their lande.
Howebeit, there remayned people in the lande of Iuda, whom Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon left, & made Gedalia the sonne of Ahikam the sonne of Saphan ruler ouer them.
And all the captaynes of the souldiers, & other men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedalia gouernour, and there came to Gedalia to Mizpah Ismael {th}e sonne of Nathania, Iohannan the sonne of Karea, Saraia the sonne of Thanhumeth the Netophatite, and Iaazania the sonne of Maachati, they and their men.
And Gedalia sware to them and to the men whom they had with them, and saide vnto them: Feare not ye because ye are the seruauntes of the Chaldees: dwell in the lande, and serue the king of Babylon, and ye shall be well.
But it chaunced in the seuenth moneth, that Ismael the sonne of Nathania the sonne of Elisama of the kinges blood, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedalia that he dyed: and so did he the Iewes and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah.
And all the people both small & great, and the captaynes of warre, arose and came to Egypt: for they were afrayde of the Chaldees.
Notwithsta{n}ding, yet in the seuen & thirtith yere after Iehoachin king of Iuda was carryed away, the seuen and twentith day of the twelfth moneth Euilmerodach king of Babylon the same yere that he began to raigne, did lyft vp the head of Iehoachin king of Iuda out of pryson.
And spake kindely to him, and set his seate aboue the seate of the kinges that were with him in Babylon,
And chaunged his pryson garmentes, and he did euer eate bread before him al the dayes of his lyfe.
His portion was a continuall portion that was assigned him of the king, euery day a certaine as long as he lyued.
ADam, Seth, Enos.
Kenan, Mahalehel, Iared.
Henoh, Methusalah, Lamech.
Noah, Sem, Ham, and Iapheth.
The sonnes of Iapheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Iauan, and Thubal, Mesech, and Thiras.
The sonnes of Gomer: Aschenaz, Riphath, and Thogarma.
And the sonnes of Iauan: Elisa, and Tharsis, Citim, and Dodanim.
The sonnes of Ham: Chus, and Mizraim, Phut, and Chanaan.
The sonnes of Chus: Seba, and Hauila, Sabbetha, and Raama: and Sabtheca. And the sonnes of Raama: Seba, and Dedan.
And Chus begat Nimrod: and he began to be mightie vpon the earth.
Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, Lahabim, and Naphthuim,
Phathrusim, and Casluim, of which came the Philistines and the Caphthorites.
Chanaan begat Zidon his eldest sonne, and Heth.
Iebusi also, and Amori, and Girgasi,
Heui, Araki, and Sini,
And Aruadi, Zamari, and Hemathi.
The sonnes of Sem: Elam, and Assur, Arphacsad, Lud, and Aram, & Vz, Hul, and Gether, and Mesech.
Arphacsad begat Selah, and Selah begat Eber.
And vnto Eber were borne two sonnes: the name of the one was Peleg, because that in his dayes the land was deuided, and his brothers name was Ioktan.
Ioktan begat Almodad, and Saleph, Hazermaneth, and Ierah,
Hadoram also and Vsal, and Dikla,
Ebal, and Abimael, and Seba,
And Ophir, Hauila, and Iobab:
All these were the sonnes of Ioktan: Sem, Arphacsad, Selah,
Eber, Peleg, Rehu,
Serug, Nahor, Therah,
Abram, otherwyse called Abraham.
The sonnes of Abraham: Isahac, and Ismael.
And these are their generations: the eldest sonne of Ismael was Nabaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, and Mibsam.
Misma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Thema,
Ietur, Naphis, and Kedma: These are the sonnes of Ismael.
The children of Ketura Abrahams concubine, she bare Zimram, Ioksan, Medan, Midian, Iisbok, and Suah. The children of Ioksan: Seba, and Dedan.
The children of Midian: Epha, and Ephar, Henoch, Abida, and Eldaa: All these are the children of Ketura.
And so Abraham begat Isahac. The sonnes of Isahac: Esau and Israel.
The sonnes of Esau: Eliphaz, Rehuel, Iehus, Iaelam, and Korah.
The children of Eliphaz: Theman, Omar, Zephi, and Gatham, Kenas, Thimna, and Amalek.
The children of Rehuel: Nahath, Zerah, Samma, and Miza.
The sonnes of Seir: Lotan, Sobal, Zibeon, and Ana, Dison, Ezer, and Disan.
The children of Lotan: Hori, and Homan: and Thimna was Lotans sister.
The children of Sobal: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Sephi, and Onam. The sonnes of Zibeon: Aia, and Ana.
And the sonnes of Ana: Dison. The sonnes of Dison: Hamran, Esban, Iethran, and Cheran.
The sonnes of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaeuan, and Iakan. The sonnes of Dison: Vz, and Aram.
These are the kinges that raigned in the land of Edom, before any king raigned ouer the children of Israel: Bela, the sonne of Beor, and the name of his citie was Dinhaba.
And Bela dyed, and Iobab the sonne of Zerah of Bozra raigned in his steade.
And when Iobab also was dead, Husam of the lande of {th}e Themanites raigned in his steade.
And when Husam was dead, Hadad the sonne of Bedad, which smote Midian in the fielde of Moab, raigned in his steade: and the name of his citie was Auith.
So Hadad dyed, and Samla of Masreka raigned in his steade.
And Samla dyed, and Saul of Rehoboth by the ryuer syde, raigned in his steade.
And when Saul was dead, Baalhanan the sonne of Achbor raigned in his steade.
And Baalhanan dyed, & Hadad raigned in his steade: and the name of his citie was Phai, and his wyues name was Mehetabel the daughter of Matred the daughter of Mesahab.
Hadad dyed also. And there were dukes in Edom: Duke Thimna, Duke Aliah, Duke Ietheth,
Duke Aholibama, Duke Ela, Duke Pinon,
Duke Kenaz, Duke Theman, Duke Mibzar,
Duke Magdiel, Duke Iram. These are the Dukes of Edom.
THese are the sonnes of Israel: Ruben, Simeon, Leui, Iuda, Isachar, and Zabulon,
Dan, Ioseph, Beniamin, Nephthali, Gad, and Aser.
The sonnes of Iuda: Er, Onan, and Sela: These three were borne vnto him of Bath Sua {th}e Chanaanitesse. And Er the eldest sonne of Iuda was euil in the sight of the Lorde, and he slue him.
And Thamar his daughter in lawe bare him Pharez, and Zara: and so all the sonnes of Iuda were fiue.
The sonnes of Pharez: Hezron, and Hamul.
The sonnes of Zara: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Chalchol, and Dara: which were fiue in all.
And the sonnes of Charmi, Achan, that troubled Israel, transgressing in the thing that was dampned.
The sonnes of Ethan: Azaria.
The sonnes also of Hezron that were borne vnto him: Ierameel, Ram, and Chelubai.
And Ram begat Aminadab, and Aminadab begat Naasson a lorde of the children of Iuda.
And Naasson begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz.
Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Isai.
And Isai begat his eldest sonne Eliab, and Aminadab the second, and Simaa the third,
Nathanael the fourth, and Radai the fifth,
Ozem the sixt, and Dauid the seuenth:
Whose sisters were Zeruia and Abigail. The sonnes of Zeruia: Abisai, Ioab, and Azael, three.
And Abigail bare Amaza, the father of which Amaza, was Iether an Ismaelite.
And Caleb the sonne of Hezron begat Asuba, of his wyfe Asuba, and Ierioth, whose sonnes are these: Iaser, Sobab, and Ardon.
And when Asuba was dead, Caleb toke Euphrata, which bare him Hur.
And Hur begat Vri, and Vri begat Bezaleel.
Afterward came Hezron to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, and toke her when he was threescore yeres olde: and she bare him Segub.
And Segub begat Iair, which had three and twentie cities in the lande of Gilead.
And he ouercame Gessur and Aram the townes of Iair, from them [which dwelt in them] and Kenath and the townes therof, euen threescore townes: All these were the sonnes of Machir the father of Gilead.
And after that Hezron was dead at Caleb in Euphrata, Abia Esroms wyfe bare him Ashur the father of Thekoa.
And the sonnes of Ierahmeel the eldest sonne of Hezron, were: Ran the eldest, Buna, Oren, Ozem, and Ahia.
And Ierahmeel had yet another wyfe named Atara, which was the mother of Onam.
And the sonnes of Ram the eldest sonne of Ierahmeel, were: Maaz, Iamin, and Ekar.
The sonnes of Onam were: Sammai, and Iada. The sonnes of Sammai: Nadab, and Abisur.
And the wyfe of Abisur was called Abihail, and she bare him Ahban, and Molid.
The sonnes of Nadab: Seled, and Appaim. And Seled dyed without children.
The sonne of Appaim, Iesi: And the sonne of Iesi, Sesan: And the sonne of Sesan, Ahlai.
And the sonnes of Iada the brother of Samai, Iether & Ionathan: And Iether dyed without children.
The sonnes of Ionatham: Peleth, & Zaza. These were the sonnes of Ierahmeel.
Sesan had no sonnes, but daughters: And Sesan had a seruaunt that was an Egyptian, named Iarha:
To whom he gaue his daughter to wyfe, and she bare him Athai.
And Athai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad.
And Zabad begat Aphlal, and Aphlal begat Obed.
Obed begat Iehu, and Iehu begat Azaria.
Azaria begat Helez, and Helez begat Elasa.
Elasa begat Sisamai, and Sisamai begat Sallum.
Sallum begat Iecamia, Iecamia begat Elisamah.
The sonnes of Caleb the brother of Ierahmeel: Mesa his eldest sonne, which was the father of Ziph: and the sonnes of Maresa the father of Hebron.
The sonnes of Hebron: Corah, and Thapuah, Rekem, and Sama.
Sama begat Raham the father of Ierkoam, and Rekem begat Sammai.
The sonne of Sammai was Maon: And Maon was the father of Bethzur.
And Epha a concubine of Calebs, bare Haran, and Mosa, and Gazez: Haran begat Gazez.
The sonnes of Iahdai, were: Regem, Iotham, Gesan, Phelet, Epha, & Saaph.
And Maacha was Calebs concubine, of whom he begat Seber and Thirhana:
And she bare also Saaph the father of Madmanna, and Seua the father of Machbena, and the father of Gibea: And Achsa was Calebs daughter.
These were the sonnes of Caleb the sonne of Hur the eldest sonne of Ephrata: Sabal the father of Kiriath Iarim,
Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.
And Sobal the father of Kiriath Iarim had sonnes, and he sawe the halfe of the countrey of the mansions.
The kinredes of Kiriath Iarim are these: The Iethrites, the Puthites, the Sumathites, & the Misrahethites: And of them came the Zarathites, and the Esthaulites.
The sonnes of Salma: Bethlehem, and Netophathi, the glory of the house of Ioab, and halfe the countrey of the Manahethites, the Zaraites.
The kinredes of the wryters dwelt at Iabes, the Thirathites, the Simeathites, the Suchathites, which are the Kenites that came of Hemath the father of the house of Rechab.
THese were the sonnes of Dauid whiche were borne vnto him in Hebron: {th}e eldest, Ammon of Ahinoam the Iesraelitesse: the seconde, Daniel of Abigail the Carmelitesse:
The thirde Absalom the sonne of Maacha, the daughter of Thalmai king of Gesur: the fourth, Adonia the sonne of Haggith:
The fyft, Sephatia of Abital: the sixt, Iethream, by Egla his wyfe.
These sixe were borne vnto him in Hebron, and there he raigned seuen yeres and sixe monethes: and in Hierusalem he raigned thirtie and three yeres.
And these were borne vnto him in Hierusalem: Sima, Sobab, Nathan, and Solomo{n}, foure, of Bathsua the daughter of Ammiel,
Ibhar also and Elisama, Eliphelet,
Noga, Nepheg, and Iephia,
Elisama, Eliada, and Eliphelet: nine [in number.]
These are all the sonnes of Dauid, beside the sonnes of the concubines: and Thamar was their sister.
Solomons sonne was Rehoboam, whose sonne was Abia, and Asa was his sonne, and Iehosaphat his sonne,
Whose sonne was Ioram, & his sonne was Ahazia, and Ioas was his sonne,
Amazia his sonne, Azariah his sonne, and Iotham his sonne,
Ahaz was his sonne, Hezekia his sonne, and Manasse his sonne,
And Amon was his sonne, and Iosia was his sonne.
And the sonnes of Iosia, were: the eldest sonne Iohanan, the second Iehoakim, the thirde Zedekia, and the fourth Sallum.
The sonnes of Iehoakim, were: Ieconiah his sonne, and Zedekiah his sonne.
The sonne of Ieconiah: Assir, and Salathiel his sonne.
Malchiram also and Pedaia, Senazar, Iecamia, Hosama, and Nedabia.
The sonnes of Pedaia, were: Zorobabel, and Semei: The sonnes of Zorobabel, Mesullam, Hanania, and Selomith their sister:
And Hasubah, Ohel, Berechia, Hasadia, and Iusabhesed, fiue [in number.]
The sonnes of Hanania: Pelatia, and Iesaia: whose sonne was Rephaia, and his sonne Arnan, & his sonne was Obadia, and his sonne Sechania.
The sonne of Sechania was, Semaia: and the sonnes of Semaia, were: Hattus, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Saphat, sixe.
And the sonnes of Neariah, were: Elioenai, Hizciiah, and Azricam, three.
And the sonnes of Elioenai, were: Hodauiahu, Eliasib, Pelaiah, Accub, Iohanam, Dalaia, and Anani, seuen.
THe sonnes of Iuda: Pharez, Hesron, Charmi, Hur, & Sobal.
And Reaia the sonne of Sobal begat Iahath, and Iahath begat Ahumai and Lahad: and these are the kinredes of the Zorathites.
And these were of the father of Etam: Iezrahel, Isma, and Idbas: and the name of their sister was Hazlelphuni.
Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Eser the father of Husa: And these are the sonnes of Hur the eldest sonne of Ephratha the father of Bethlehem.
And Ashur the father of Thekoa had two wyues: Helah, and Naarah.
And Naarah bare him Ahusam, Hepher, Themeni, and Ahasthari: These were the sonnes of Naarah.
And the sonnes of Helah, were: Zereth, Iezoar, and Ethnan.
And Coz begat Anob, and Zobeba, and the kinred of Aharhel the sonne of Harum.
And Iabes was more honorable then his brethren: And his mother called his name Iabes, saying: because I bare him with sorowe.
And Iabes called on the God of Israel, saying: If thou wilt blesse me in deede, and enlarge my coastes, and shalt let thyne hande be with me, and wilt kepe me from euyll that it hurt me not. And God graunted him his desire.
Chelub the brother of Suah begat Mehir, which was the father of Esthon.
And Esthon begat Beth rapha and Paseha, & Thehinna the father of the citie of Nahas: these are the men of Recha.
The sonnes of Kenas: Othniel, and Saraia: And the sonne of Othniel was, Hathath.
And Meonathi begat Ophrah: And Seraia begat Ioab the father of the valley of craftes men, [so called] because they were craftes men.
And the sonnes of Caleb the sonne of Iephune were, Iru, Ela, and Naam: And the the sonne of Ela was Kenas.
And the sonnes of Iehaleleel, were: Ziph, and Ziphah, Thiria, and Asarel.
And the sonnes of Ezra: were, Iether, Mered, Epher, and Ialon: and he begat Miriam, and Sammai, and Iisbah the father of Esthemoa.
And his wife Iehudia bare Iered the the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Iecuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these are the sonnes of Bithiah the daughter of Pharao, which Mered toke.
The sonnes of the wife of Hodia the sister of Naham {th}e father of Keilah, were: Garmi, & Esthemoia the Maachathite.
The sonnes of Simon, were: Ammon, and Rimna, Ben hanan, and Thilon: And the sonnes of Iissi, were: Zoheth, and Ben zoheth.
The sonnes of Selah the sonne of Iuda, were: Er the father of Lecha, and Laada the father of Maresa, and the kinredes of the housholdes of them that wrought linnen in the house of Asbea.
And Iokim and the men of Chozebah, and Ioas, and Saraph whiche had the dominion in Moab, and Iasubi Lehem: these also are wordes of olde.
These were potters, and dwelt there among trees and hedges, nye vnto the king, because of his worke.
The sonnes of Simeon were: Nemuel, Iamin, Iarib, Zerah, and Saul:
Whose sonne was Sallum, and the sonne of him was Mibsam, & his sonne was Misma,
And the sonne of Misma was Hamuel, and his sonne was Zachur, & the sonne of him was Semehi.
Semehi had sixteene sonnes and sixe daughters: But his brethren had not many children, neither was all the kinred of them like to the children of Iuda in multitude.
And they dwelt at Beerseba, Molada, and at Hazar Sual,
At Bilha, at Ezem, and at Tholad,
At Bathuel, at Horma, & at Ziklag,
At Bethmarcaboth, Hazer, Susim, at Bethbirei, & at Saaraim: These were their cities vnto the raigne of Dauid.
And their villages were: Etan, and Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, & Asan, fiue townes.
And all their villages that were round about the same cities, vnto Baal. This is the habitation of them, and their genealogie:
Mosobab, and Iamlech, and Iosa the sonne of Amasia,
And Ioel, and Iehu the sonne of Iosibi, the sonne of Saraia, the sonne of Asiel,
And Elioenai, and Iaakoba, Isohaia, and Asaiah, Adiel, Ismiel, and Benaia,
And Ziza the sonne of Siphi, the sonne of Allon, the sonne of Iedaia, the sonne of Zimri, the sonne of Semaia.
These are famous captaynes in their kinredes, setting vp greatly the house of their fathers.
And they went to the entring in of Gedor, euen vnto the eastsyde of the valley, to seke pasture for their sheepe:
And they founde fat pasture and good, and a wide lande, quiete and fruitefull: for they of Ham had dwelt there before.
And these now afore written by name, came in the dayes of Hezekia king of Iuda, and smote the tentes of them, and the habitations that were found there, and destroyed them vtterly vnto this day, and dwelt in their roomes: because ther was pasture there for their sheepe.
And some of the children of Simeon went to mount Seir, euen fiue hundred men, hauing for their captaynes, Phelathia, Nearia, Raphaia, and Vzziel, the sonnes of Isi:
And smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and they dwelt there vnto this day.
THe sonnes of Ruben, the eldest sonne of Israel (forasmuch as he was the eldest, & had defiled his fathers bedde, his birthright was geuen vnto the sonnes of Ioseph the sonne of Israel: Howbeit the genealogie is not reckened after this birthright.
For Iuda preuayled aboue his brethren, & of his tribe came the chiefe, and the birthright was geuen to Ioseph.)
The sonnes then of Ruben the eldest sonne of Israel, were: Henoch, Phalu, Hezron, and Charmi.
The sonnes of Ioel: Samaiah his sonne, Gog his sonne, and Semhi his sonne,
Micah his sonne, Reaia his sonne, and Baal his sonne.
Beera his sonne, whom Thiglath Pilneser king of Assyria caried away: for he was a great lorde among the Rubenites.
And when his brethren in their kinredes reckened the genealogie of their generations, Ieiel and Zachariah were the chiefe,
And Baal the sonne of Azan, the sonne of Sema, the sonne of Ioel, dwelt in Aroer, & so foorth vnto Nebo, and Baalmeon.
And eastwarde he inhabited vnto the entring in of the wildernesse, from the riuer Euphrates: for they had much cattel in the land of Gilead.
And in the dayes of Saul, they warred with the Agarites, whiche were ouerthrowen by their hand: and they dwelt in their tentes throughout all the east [land] of Gilgal.
And the children of Gad dwelt ouer against them in the land of Basan, euen vnto Salcha:
And in Basan Iohel was the chiefest, and Sapham the next: then Ianai, and Saphat.
And their brethren of the housholde of their fathers, were Michael, Mesullam, Seba, Iorai, Iahcan, Zia, Eber, seuen.
These are the children of Abihail the sonne of Huri, the sonne of Iaroah, the sonne of Gilead, the sonne of Michael, the sonne of Iesisai, the sonne of Iahdo, the sonne of Buz:
Ahi the sonne of Abdiel, the sonne of Guni was a captayne of the housholde of their fathers.
And they dwelt in Gilead in Basan and in her townes, and in all the suburbes of Saron and in their borders.
And these were reckened by kinredes in the dayes of Iotham king of Iuda, and in the dayes of Ieroboam king of Israel.
The sonnes of Ruben, and of Gad, and of halfe the tribe of Manasse, were fighting men, and hable to beare shielde and sworde, and to shoote with bowe, exercised in warre, euen foure and fourtie thousand, seuen hundred and threescore, that went out to the warre.
And they fought with the Hagarites, with Ietur, Nephis, and Nodab.
And they were helped [of the Lorde] against them, and the Hagarites were deliuered into their hande, and so were all that were with them: For they cryed to God in the battayle, and he heard them, because they put their trust in him.
And they toke of their cattell & of their camels, fiftie thousande and two hundred, and fiftie thousande sheepe, and two thousande asses, and of the soules of men an hundred thousande.
And there fell many wounded, because the warre was of God: And they dwelt in their steades, vntil the time that they were caryed away.
And the children of the halfe tribe of Manasse dwelt in the lande, from Basan vnto Baal Hermon, and Semir, and vnto mount Hermon: [for] they were growen to a great multitude.
And these were the heades of the housholdes of their fathers: Epher, and Iesi, Eliel, and Azriel, Ieremia, and Hodauia, and Iahdiel, strong men and valiaunt, famous men, and heades of the housholdes of their fathers.
And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the lande whom God destroyed before them.
And the God of Israel stirred vp the spirite of Phul king of Assyria, & the spirite of Thiglath Pilneser king of Assyria, and caried them away: euen the Rubenites, the Gadites, and the halfe tribe of Manasse, and brought them vnto Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the riuer Gosan, vnto this day.
THe sonnes of Leui: Gersom, Caath, and Merari.
The sonnes of Caath: Amram, Izahar, Hebron, & Vzziel.
The childre{n} of Amram: Aaron, Moyses, & Miriam. The sonnes also of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
Eleazar begat Phinehes, Phinehes begat Abisua.
Abisua begat Boki, Boki begat Vzzi,
Vzzi begat Zarahia, Zarahia begat Meraioth,
Meraioth begat Amaria, and Amaria begat Ahitob,
Ahitob begat Zadoc, and Zadoc begat Ahimaaz,
Ahimaaz begat Azaria: and Azaria begat Iohonan,
Iohonan begat Azaria, whiche ministred in the temple that Solomon buylt in Hierusalem.
Azaria begat Amaria, Amaria begat Ahitob,
Ahitob begat Zadoc, and Zadoc begat Sallum,
Sallum begat Helkia, and Helkia begat Azaria.
Azaria begat Saraia, and Saraia begat Iehozedech,
And Iehozedech departed when the Lorde caryed away Iuda and Hierusalem by the hand of Nabuchodonoser.
The sonnes of Leui: Gersom, Caath, and Merari.
And these be the names of the sonnes of Gersom: Libni, and Simhi.
And the sonnes of Caath were: Amram, Izahar, Hebron, and Vzziel.
The sonnes of Merari: Mahali, and Musi: and these are the kinredes of Leui concerning their fathers.
The sonne of Gersom was Libni, whose sonne was Iahath, & his sonne Zemma,
And his sonne Ioah, and his sonne Iddo, and his sonne Zerah, and his sonne Ieathrai.
The sonnes of Caath: Aminadab, and his sonne Korah, and his sonne Assir,
And his sonne Elcana, and his sonne Ebiasaph, and his sonne Assir,
And Thahath was his sonne, and Vriel his sonne, and Vzzia his sonne, and Saul was his sonne.
The sonnes of Elcana: Amasai and Ahimoth.
And Elcana: The sonnes of Elcana, Zophai, whose sonne was Nahath,
And his sonne Eliab, and Ieroham his sonne, and Elcana his sonne,
And the sonnes of Samuel: the eldest Vasni, and Abia.
The sonnes of Merari: Mahali, & his sonne Libni, and his sonne Simhi, and his sonne Vzza,
And his sonne Simha, and his sonne Haggia, and his sonne Asaia.
And these be they whom Dauid set for to sing in the house of the Lorde, after that the arke had rest.
And they ministred before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, vntill Solomon had buylt the house of the Lorde in Hierusalem: and then they wayted on their offices, according to the order of them.
These are they that wayted with their children, of the sonnes of Caath, Heman a singer, whiche was the sonne of Ioel, the sonne of Samuel,
The sonne of Elcana, the sonne of Ieroham, the sonne of Eliel, the sonne of Thoah,
The sonne of Zuph, the sonne of Elcana, the sonne of Mahath, {th}e sonne of Amasai,
The sonne of Elcana, the sonne of Ioel, the sonne of Azaria, the sonne of Zephania.
The sonne of Thahath, the sonne of Assyr, the sonne of Ebiasaph, the sonne of Korah,
The sonne of Izahar, the sonne of Caath, the sonne of Leui, the sonne of Israel:
And his brother Asaph stoode on his right hande, and Asaph was the sonne of Barachia, the sonne of Simha,
The sonne of Michael, the sonne of Baasa, the sonne of Melchia,
The sonne of Athan, the sonne of Zarah, the sonne of Adaia,
The sonne of Ethan, the sonne of Zimma, the sonne of Simhi,
The sonne of Iahath, the sonne of Gersom, the sonne of Leui.
And their brethren the sonnes of Merari stoode on the left hand, euen Ethan the sonne of Kisi, the sonne of Abdi, the sonne of Maluch,
The sonne of Hazabia, the sonne of Amazia, the sonne of Helkia,
The sonne of Amzi, the sonne of Bani, the sonne of Samer,
The sonne of Mahli, the sonne of Musi, the sonne of Merari, the sonne of Leui.
Their brethren also the Leuites were appoynted vnto all maner of seruice of the tabernacle of the house of God.
But Aaron and his sonnes burnt incense vpon the aulter of burnt offering, and on the aulter of incense [and were appoynted] for all that was to do in the place most holy, and to make an attonement for them of Israel, according to all that Moyses the seruaunt of God had commaunded.
These are the sonnes of Aaron: Eleazar his sonne, whose sonne was Phinehes, and his sonne Abisua,
And his sonne Bocci, whose sonne was Vzzi, and his sonne Zerahiah,
And the sonne of him Maraioth, and his sonne Amaria, and the sonne of him Ahitob,
And Zadoc his sonne, and Ahimaaz his sonne.
And these are the dwelling places of them througout their townes & coastes, euen of the sonnes of Aaron throughout the kinredes of the Caathites: for so the lot fell for them.
And they gaue them Hebron in the land of Iuda, and the suburbes thereof rounde about it.
But the fieldes of the citie and the villages pertayning thereto, they gaue to Caleb the sonne of Iephune.
And to the sonnes of Aaron they gaue the cities of refuge, euen Hebron and Libna with their suburbes, Iathir and Esthemoa with their suburbes:
And Hilen with her suburbes, and Dabir with her suburbes,
Asan and her suburbes, Bethsemes and her suburbes.
And out of the tribe of Beniamin, Geba and her suburbes, Alemeth and her suburbes, Anathoth and her suburbes: all their cities throughout their kinredes were thirteene.
And vnto the sonnes of Caath the remnaunt of the kynrede of the tribe, were cities geuen out of the halfe tribe of Manasse by lot, euen ten cities.
And the sonnes of Gersom throughout their kinredes, had out of the tribe of Isachar, out of the tribe of Aser, & out of the tribe of Nephthali, and out of the tribe Manassein Basan, thirteene cities.
And vnto the sonnes of Merari were geuen by lot throughout their kinredes out of the tribe of Ruben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zabulon, twelue cities.
And the children of Israel gaue the Leuites cities with their suburbes,
And that by lot, out of the tribe of the children of Iuda, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Beniamin, these cities, whiche they called by their names.
And they [that were] of the kinredes of the sonnes of Caath, had cities & their coastes out of the tribe of Ephraim.
And they gaue vnto them cities of refuge: Sichem in mount Ephraim and her suburbes, Gaser and her suburbes,
Iocmeam and her suburbes, Bethhoron and her suburbes,
Aialon and her suburbes, Geth Rimmon and her suburbes.
And out of the halfe tribe of Manasse, Auer and her suburbes, and Bileam and her suburbes, for the kinred of the remnaunt of the sonnes of Caath.
And vnto the sonnes of Gersom were geuen out of the kinred of the halfe tribe of Manasse: Golon in Basan and her suburbes, and Assharoth and her suburbes.
Out of the tribe of Isachar, Kedes, and her suburbes, Dabrath and her suburbes,
Ramoth also and her suburbes, Anem and her Suburbes.
And out of Aser, Masal and her suburbes, Abdon and her suburbes,
Hukock and her suburbes, Rehob and her suburbes.
Out of the tribe of Nephthali, Kedes in Galilea and her suburbes, Hammon and her suburbes, Kiriathaim and her suburbes.
And vnto the rest of the children of Merari were geuen out of the tribe of Zabulon, Rimmon and her suburbes, Thabor and her suburbes.
And on the other syde Iordane by Iericho, euen on the east syde of Iordane, [were geuen them] out of the tribe of Ruben, Bezer in the wildernesse with her suburbes, Iahzah with her suburbes,
Kedemoth also with her suburbes: Mephaath with her suburbes.
Out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth [in] Gilead with her suburbes, Mahanaim with her suburbes,
Hesbon with her suburbes, and Iazer with her suburbes.
THe sonnes of Isachar: Thola, Phua, Iasub, Simron, foure.
And {th}e sonnes of Thola: Vzzi, Rephaia, Ieriel, Iamai, Iebsam, and Sehmuel, which were heades in the housholdes of their fathers. Of Thola [ther were] men of might in their generations, whose number [was] in the daies of Dauid two & twentie thousande and sixe hundred.
The sonnes of Vzzi: Izrahia. The sonnes of Izrahia, Michael, Obadia, Ioel, & Iesiah, fiue men, all captaynes.
And with them in their generations after the houshold of their fathers, were sixe and thirtie thousande souldiers and valiaunt men of warre: For they had many wyues and sonnes.
And their brethren among all the kinredes of Isachar were valiaunt men of warre, reckened in all by their genealogies fourescore and seuen thousande.
[The sonnes] of Beniamin: Bela, Becher, and Iediel, three.
The sonnes of Bela: Ezbon, Vzzi, Vzziel, Ierimoth, & Iri, fiue heades of the houshold of their fathers, men of might, and were reckenened by their genealogies twentie and two thousand and thirtie and foure.
The sonnes of Becher: Zemira, Ioas, Eliezer, Elionai, Omri, Ieremoth, Abia, Anathoth, and Alamath: All these are the children of Becher.
And the number of them after their genealogie and generations, & captaynes of the housholdes of their fathers, men of might [were] twentie thousande and two hundred.
The sonnes of Iediel: Bilhan. The sonnes of Bilhan: Ieus, Beniamin, Ehud, and Chanaana, Zethan, Tharsis, and Ahisahar.
All these are the sonnes of Iediel, auncient heades and men of warre, seuenteene thousande and two hundred, that went out harnessed to battayle.
And Suppim and Huppim were the children of Ir: and the Husites were the children of Aher.
The sonnes of Nephthali: Iahziel, Guni, Iezer, and Sallum, the children of Bilha.
The sonnes of Manasse: Azriel, whom his wife bare vnto him: But Aramiah his concubine bare Machir the father of Gilead.
And Machir toke wyues for Huppim, and Suppim: And the name of his sister was Maacha, and the name of an other sonne was Zelophahad: and Zelophahad had daughters.
And Maacha the wyfe of Machir bare a sonne, and called his name Pherez: and the name of his brother was Zeres, and his sonnes were Vlam, and Recem.
The sonnes of Vlam: Bedam. These are the sonnes of Gilead, the sonne of Machir, the sonne of Manasse:
And his sister Molecath bare Ieshud, Abieser, and Mahelah.
And the sonnes of Semida, were: Ahia, Sechem, Lichi, and Amham.
The sonnes of Ephraim: Suthalah, whose sonne was Bered, and Thahah his sonne, and his sonne Eladah, and Thahah his sonne,
And Sabad his sonne, and Suthelah his sonne, and Eser, and Elead: And the men of Gath that were borne in that lande, slue them, because they were come downe to take away their cattell.
And Ephraim their father mourned many a day, and his brethren came to comfort hym.
And when he went in to his wyfe, she conceaued and bare him a sonne, and he called the name of it Beria, because it went euyll with his housholde,
And his daughter was Seera, which buylt Bethhoron the neather and also the vpper, and Vzan Seera,
And Raphah was his sonne: whose sonne was Reseph, and Thelah, whose sonne was Thaham,
And his sonne Ladan, and his sonne Amihud, and his sonne Elisama,
And his sonne Nun, and his sonne Iosuah.
Their possessions and habitations was in Bethel, and the townes that longed thereto, & vnto the east of Naeram, and on the west syde of Gazer with the townes thereof, Sichem and the townes thereof, Adaia and the townes therof,
And a long by the borders of the children of Manasse, Bethsean and her townes, Thaanach and her townes, Megiddo and her townes, and Dor and her townes: In those dwelt the children of Ioseph the sonne of Israel.
The sonnes of Aser: Iimna, Iesua, Isui, and Beria, and Serah their sister.
The sonnes of Beria, Heber, and Melchiel, which is the father of Birsaith.
And Heber begat Iaphlet, Somer, Hotham, and Sua was their sister.
The sonnes of Iaphlet: Pasah, Bimhal, & Asuah: These are the children of Iaphlet.
The sonnes of Semer: Ahi, Rohga, Iehubba, and Aram.
And the sonnes of his brother Helem: Zophah, Iimna, Seles, and Amal.
The sonnes of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Sual, Beri, and Iimrah,
Bezer, Hod, Samma, Silsa, Iethran, and Beera.
The sonnes of Iether: Iephune, Pispa, and Ara.
The sonnes of Olla: Areh, Haniel, and Rezia.
Al these were the children of Aser, and heades of their fathers house, noble men, and mightie head captaynes: The number throughout the genealogie of them that were apt to the warre and battel, was twentie and sixe thousande men.
BEniamin begat Bela his eldest sonne, Asbel the second, and Aharah the thirde,
Nohah the fourth, & Raphah the fyfth.
And the sonnes of Bela, were: Adar, Gera, Abihud,
Abisna, Naaman, and Ahoha,
Gera, Sephuphan, and Huram.
And these are the sonnes of Ehud, and these are auncient heades among the inhabiters of Geba, and they caryed them to Manahath:
Naaman, Ahia, and Gera, which Gera caryed them away, and begat Vzza, and Ahihud.
And he begat Saharaim in the fielde of Moab, after he had sent them away, Husim also, & Baarah were his wyues.
And he begat of Hodes his wyfe, Iobab, and Zibia, Mesa, and Malcham,
Ieuz, and Sachia, and Mirma: These were his sonnes [and] auncient fathers.
And of Husim he begat Ahitob, and Elpaal.
The sonnes of Elpaal, were: Eber, Misaham, and Samed, which buylt Ono, Lod, and the townes therof.
Beria and Sema were auncient fathers among the inhabiters of Aialon, and they draue away the inhabiters of Geth,
And Aio, Sasac, and Ierimoth,
Zebadia, Arad, and Ader,
Michael, and Iispa, and Ioha, the sonnes of Beria.
Zebadia, Mesullam, Hezeki, & Heber,
Ismerai also and Iesliah, and Iobab the sonnes of Elpaal.
Iakim, and Zicri, and Sabdi,
Elienai, Zilthai, and Eliel,
Adaia, and Beraia, and Zimreth the sonnes of Simhi.
Iispan, Eber, and Eliel,
Abdon, and Zicri, and Hanan,
Hanania, Elam, and Anathothia,
Iephdeia, and Phenuel, the sonnes of Sadac.
And Samserai, Seharia, and Athaliah,
Iaresiah, Elia, and Zichri, the sonnes of Ieroham.
These were auncient fathers and captaynes in their kinredes, & these dwelt in Hierusalem.
And at Gibeon dwelt Abi Gibeon, whose wyfe was called Maacah.
And his eldest sonne was Abdon, then Zur, Cis, Baal, and Nadab,
Gedor, Ahio, and Zacher.
And Mikloth begat Simea: And these also dwelt with their brethren in Hierusalem ouer against them.
Ner begat Cis, and Cis begat Saul, and Saul begat Iehonathan, Malchisua, Abinadab, and Esbaal.
And the sonne of Iehonathan was Meribbaal, & Meribbaal begat Micah.
And the sonnes of Micah were Piton, Melech, Tharea, and Ahaz.
And Ahaz begat Iehoiada: And Iehoiada begat Alemeth, Asmaneth, and Zimri: Zimri begat Moza.
Moza begat Binea, whose sonne was Rapha, and his sonne was Elasa, and his sonne Azel.
And Azel had sixe sonnes, whose names are these: Esricam, Bochri, Ismael, Searia, Obadia, and Hanan: Al these were the sonnes of Azel.
And the sonnes of Esek his brother, were: Vlam his eldest, Iehus the second, and Eliphelet the thirde.
And the sonnes of Vlam were mightie men, & strong archers, and had many sonnes, and sonnes sonnes, an hundred & fyftie. All these are of the sonnes of Beniam.
ANd so all Israel numbred by kinredes, beholde they are written in the booke of the kinges of Israel and of Iuda, and were caryed away to Babylon for their transgression:
Euen the olde inhabiters that dwelt in their owne possessions and cities, the Israelites, the priestes, Leuites, and Nathenei.
And in Hierusalem dwelt of the children of Iuda, of the children of Beniamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasse:
Vthai the sonne of Amihud, the sonne of Omri, the sonne of Imri, the sonne of Bem, of the children of Pharez the sonne of Iuda.
And of Siloni: Asaia the eldest, and his sonnes.
And of the sonnes of Zerah: Iehuel, •& their brethren sixe hundred & ninetie.
And of the sonnes of Beniamin: Salu the sonne of Mesullam, the sonne of Hodauia, the sonne of Senua.
And Iibneia the sonne of Ieroham: And Ela the sonne of Vzi the sonne of Michri: And Mesullam the sonne of Sephatia the sonne of Rehuel the sonne of Iibnia.
And their brethren according to their kinredes, nine hundred fyftie and sixe: All these were principall men and auncient in the housholdes of their fathers.
And of the priestes: Iedaia, Iehoiarib, and Iachin,
Azaria the sonne of Helkia, the sonne of Mesullam, the sonne of Zadoc, the sonne of Maraioth, the sonne of Ahitob the chiefest in the house of God.
And Adaiah the sonne of Ieroham, the sonne of Phashur, the sonne of Melchia: and Maasi the sonne of Adiel, the sonne of Iehezrah, the sonne of Mesullam, the sonne of Mesillamith, the sonne of Immer.
And their brethren which were heads of the auncient housholdes of their fathers, a thousand seuen hundred and threescore, actiue men for the worke of the seruice of the house of God.
And of the Leuites: Semeia the sonne of Hasub, {th}e sonne of Asricam, the sonne of Hasabia of the sonnes of Merari.
And Bacbakar Heres, and Galal: And Mathania the sonne of Micah, the sonne of Zicri, the sonne of Asaph.
And Obadia the sonne of Semeia, the sonne of Galal, the sonne of Iduthun: And Berechia the sonne of Aza, the sonne of Elcana, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.
The porters were, Sallum, Accub, Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brother: Sallum was the chiefe.
For they watched hitherto, euen vnto the kinges gate eastwarde by course, the children of Leui.
And Sallum the sonne of Core, the sonne of Abiasaph, the sonne of Corah, and his brethren the Corathites of the house of their father, had their busines and office to kepe the porches of the tabernacle: and their fathers being ouer the hoast of the Lorde, kept the entering.
And Phinehes the sonne of Eliazar was their foreguide, and the Lord was with him.
And Zacharia the sonne of Meselemia kept the watch before the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation.
All these were chosen men to kepe the thressholdes, euen two hundred and twelue: and throughout all the genealogie wer they numbred in their villages: And them did Dauid and Samuel the sear institute, because of their fidelitie.
So they and their children had the ouersight of the gates of the house of the Lorde, euen of the tabernacle, to kepe them.
In foure quarters did they kepe the watch: toward the east, west, north, and south.
And their brethren remayned in the countrey, and came after seuen dayes from tyme to tyme with them.
For the Leuites which had the ouersight of the vestries and treasures of the house of God, were vnder the custody of foure notable porters.
And they laye rounde about the house of God, because the keping thereof pertayned to them, and they had the charge to open it euery mornyng.
And certaine of them had the rule of the ministring vessels, & brought them in and out by tale.
Some of them were appoynted to ouersee the vessels, and al the ornaments of the sanctuarie, and the flowre, wine, oyle, frankencense, and sweete odours.
And certaine of the sonnes of the priestes made oyntmentes of the sweete odours.
And Mathathia one of the Leuites, (which was the eldest sonne of Sallum the Corathite) had the ouersight of the thinges that were made in the frying panne.
And other of their brethren the sonnes of Cahath had the ouersight of the shew bread, which they prepared euery Sabbath.
These are the singers, euen auncient fathers of the Leuites, which dwelt in seperate chambers and were free: for they had to doe in the temple both day and nyght.
These were auncient fathers of the Leuites in their generations, & dwelt at Hierusalem.
And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Iehiel: whose wyfe was called Maacha.
His eldest sonne was Abdon, then Zur, Cis, Baal, Ner, and Nadab,
Gedor, Ahio, Zacharia, and Mikloth.
And Mikloth begat Simeam: And they also dwelt with their brethren at Hierusalem, euen hard by them.
And Ner begat Cis, and Cis begat Saul, and Saul begat Iehonathan, Malchisua, Abinadab, and Esbaal.
And the sonne of Iehonathan, was Meribbaal: And Meribbaal begat Micah.
And the sonnes of Micah, were: Pithon, Melech, and Thahrea.
And Ahaz begat Iahra, Iahra begat Alameth, and Asmaueth, and Zimri: Zimri begat Moza,
Moza begat Binea, whose sonne was Rephaia, and his sonne was Elasa, and his sonne Azel.
And Azel had sixe sonnes, whose names are these: Azricam, Bochru, Ismael, Searia, Obadia, and Hanan: These are the sonnes of Azel.
AND the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and were ouerthrowen & wounded in mount Gilboa.
And the Philistines folowed after Saul and his sonnes, and the Philistines smote Ionathan and Abinadab and Malchisua the sonnes of Saul.
And the battaile went sore against Saul, and the archers founde him, and he was wounded of shooters.
Then saide Saul to his harnesse bearer: Drawe thy sword, and thrust me through therwith, that these vncircumcised come not and do me shame. But his harnesse bearer would not, for he feared exceedingly: So Saul caught a sword, and fell vpon it.
And when his harnesse bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell on a sword also, and dyed.
And thus Saul and his three sonnes and al they of his house, dyed together.
And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley, sawe how they fled, and that Saul & his sonnes were dead, they forsoke their cities, and ran away: and the Philistines came, and dwelt in them.
And it fortuned, that on the morowe when the Philistines came to strip the dead bodies, they founde Saul and his sonnes ouerthrowen in mount Gilboa.
And when they had stript him, they toke his head and his harnesse, and sent them into the lande of the Philistines rounde about, to shewe them vnto their idols, and to the people.
And they put his harnesse in the house of their god, and set vp his head in the temple of Dagon.
And when all they of Iabes [in] Gilead hearde all that the Philistines had done to Saul:
They arose all the strongest of them, and fet away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sonnes, and brought them to Iabes, and buried the bones of them vnder an oke in Iabes, and fasted seuen dayes.
So Saul dyed for his trespasse that he trespassed against the Lorde, in that he kept not the word of the Lorde, and in that he sought and asked counsaile of a woman that wrought with a spirite:
And asked not of the Lorde, and therefore he slue him, and turned the kingdome vnto Dauid the sonne of Isai.
THen all Israel gathered them selues to Dauid vnto Hebron, saying:
Beholde, we be thy bones, and thy fleshe: And moreouer in tyme past, euen when Saul was king, thou leddest Israel out & in: And the Lorde thy God sayde vnto thee, Thou shalt feede my people Israel, and thou shalt be captayne ouer my people Israel.
Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron, and Dauid made a couenaunt with them in Hebro{n} before the Lorde: And they annoynted Dauid king ouer Israel according to the worde of the Lorde, by the hande of Samuel.
And Dauid and all Israel went to Hierusalem (which is Iebus, where as were the Iebusites, the inhabiters of the lande.)
And the inhabiters of Iebus sayde to Dauid: Thou commest not in here. Neuerthelesse, Dauid wan the castel of Sion: which is called the citie of Dauid.
And Dauid sayde: Whosoeuer smyteth the Iebusites first, shalbe the principall captayne, and a lorde. So Ioab the sonne of Zaruia went first vp, and was made the chiefe captayne.
And Dauid dwelt in the castell [Sion] and therefore they called it the citie of Dauid.
And he built the citie on euery syde, euen from Millo round about: and Ioab repaired the rest of the citie.
And Dauid prospered & waxed great, & the Lorde of hoastes was with him.
These are the principall men of power whom Dauid had, and that claue to him in his kingdome with all Israel to make him king, according to the word of the Lorde ouer Israel.
And this is the number of the mightie men whom Dauid had: Iosobeam the sonne of Hachmoni the chiefe among thirtie: he lift vp his speare against three hundred, and wounded [them] at one tyme.
After him was Eleazar his vncles sonne an Ahothite, which was one of the three mightiest:
He was with Dauid at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battaile: And there was there a parcell of grounde full of barly, and the people fled before the Philistines.
And they stept foorth into the middest of the fielde, and saued it, and slue the Philistines, and the Lorde gaue a great victorie.
And the three of the thirtie chiefe captaynes went to a rocke to Dauid, into the caue Adullam: And the hoast of the Philistines abode in the valley of Rephaim.
And when Dauid was in the holde, the Philistines watch was at Bethlehem that same tyme.
And Dauid longed, and sayde: Oh that one woulde geue me drinke of the water of the well that is at the gate at Bethlehem.
And the three brake through the hoast of the Philistines, and drewe water out of the wel that was by {th}e gate at Bethlehem, and toke it and brought it to Dauid: Neuerthelesse, Dauid woulde not drinke of it, but rather offered it to the Lorde,
And sayd: my God forbyd it me that I shoulde do this thing: Shall I drinke the blood of these men, that haue put their liues in ieoperdie? for with the ieoperdie of their liues they brought it: therefore he would not drinke it. And this did these three mightiest.
And Abisai the brother of Ioab, he also was captayne among three: For he lyft vp his speare against three hundred, and wounded them, and had a name among the three:
Yea among three, he was more honorable then the two, for he was their captayne: Howbeit, he attayned not to the [first] three.
Banaia {th}e sonne of Iehoiada, the sonne of a very strong man, which had done many actes, of Cabzeel: he slue two strong [lions] of Moab, & went downe and slue a lion in a pit in time of snowe.
And he slue an Egyptian, whose stature was euen fiue cubites long, and in the Egyptians hand was a speare lyke a weauers beame: And the other went downe to him with a waster, & plucked the speare out of the Egyptians hand, and slue him with his owne speare.
Such thinges did Banaia the sonne of Iehoiada, and had the name among the three mightiest,
And was honorable among thirtie: but attayned not vnto the [first] three: And Dauid made him of his counsaile.
The other men of armes were these: Asahel the brother of Ioab, Elhanan his vncles sonne, of Bethlehem:
Samoth the Harodite, Helez the Pelonite,
Ira the sonne of Ickes the Thekoite, Abieser the Anatothite,
Sibbecai the Husathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
Maharai the Nepthophathite, Heled the sonne of Baana the Nethophathite,
Ithai the sonne of Ribai of Gibea [that pertayned] to the children of Beniamin, Benaia the Phirathonite,
Hurai of the riuers of Gaas, Abiel the Arbathite,
Azmaueth the Baharumite, Elihaba the Salabonite.
The sonnes of Hassem the Gezonite: Ionathan the sonne of Sage an Hararite,
Ahiam the sonne of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the sonne of Vr.
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahia the Pelonite,
Hezro the Carmelite, Naari the sonne of Ezbai,
Ioel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the sonne of Hagari,
Zelec the Ammonite, Naharai a Berothite the bearer of the harnesse of Ioab the sonne of Zaruia,
Ira the Iethrite, and Gareb a Iethrite,
Vria the Hethite, and Zahad the sonne of Ahlai,
Adina the sonne of Sisa a Rubenite a captaine of the Rubenites, and thirtie with him.
Hanan the sonne of Maacah, and Iosaphat a Mithanite,
Vzzia an Astherathite, Sama & Iehiel the sonnes of Hothan an Aroerite:
Iediel the sonne of Zimri, and Ioha his brother a Thosaite,
Eliel a Mahauite, Ieribai and Iosaia the sonnes of Elnaam, and Iithma a Moabite,
Eliel and Obed, and Iasiel a Mesobaite.
THese are they that came to Dauid to Ziklag while he yet kept himselfe close because of Saul the sonne of Cis: and they were very strong helpers in battaile.
They were weaponed with bowes, and could hurle stones with the right hand and with the left, and shoote arrowes out of a bowe, & were of Sauls brethren, euen of Beniamin.
The chiefest were Ahiezer, and Ioas the sonnes of Simaa a Gibeonite, and Ieziel and Pelet the sonnes of Asmaueth, Beracah and Iehu of Anathoth.
And Ismaia a Gibeonite, a mightie man among thirtie, and more then the thirtie: Ieremiah, Iehaziel, Iehonan, and Iosabad of Gedor.
Eleusai, Ierimoth, Bealia, Semaria, and Seaphatia, the Haraphites.
Elcana, Iesia, Azarael, Ioezer, Iosebeam, Coranites.
Ioela and Zebadiah the sonnes of Ieroam of Gedor.
And of the Gadites there seperated themselues some vnto Dauid into the houlde of the wildernesse, men of might and men apt for the warre, & that coulde handle shielde and speare, whose faces were lyke the faces of lions, and they were as swyft as the Roes in the mountaynes.
Ezer the first, Obdia the seconde, and Eliab the third,
Masmana the fourth, Ieremia the fifth,
Atthai the sixt, Eliel the seuenth,
Iohanan the eight, Elsabad the ninth,
Ieremia the tenth, and Machbanai the eleuenth,
These were of the sonnes of Gad, and were captaines ouer the men of warre: one of the least coulde resist an hundred, and the greatest a thousand.
These are they that went ouer Iordane in the first moneth when he had filled ouer all his banckes, and they put to flight all them of the valley both toward the east and west.
And there came of the children of Beniamin & Iuda to the houlde vnto Dauid.
And Dauid went out to meete them, and aunswered, and sayd vnto them: If ye be come peaceably vnto me, to helpe me, myne heart shalbe knit vnto you: but and if you come to betraye me to myne aduersaries, seeing there is no wickednes in myne handes, the God of our fathers loke thereon and rebuke it.
And the spirite came vpon Amasai, which was the chiefe among thirtie, & saide: Thyne are we Dauid, and on thy side thou sonne of Isai: Peace, peace be vnto thee, & peace be to thy helpers, for thy God is thyne helpe. Then Dauid receaued them, & made them heades of companies of the men of warre.
And there fell some of Manasse to Dauid, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battaile, but they helped them not: For the lordes of the Philistines toke aduisement, and sent him away againe, saying: he will fall to his maister Saul to the ieoperdie of our heades.
As he went to Ziklag, there fel to him of Manasse Adna, Iozadad, Iediel, Michael, Iozabad, Elihu, and Zilthai, heades of the thousandes that were of Manasse.
And they holpe Dauid against the rouers: For they were all mightie men of warre, and captaynes in the hoast.
For at that tyme there came one or other to Dauid day by day to helpe him, vntil it was a great hoast, like the hoast of God.
And this is the number of the chiefe captaynes that were prepared to battaile, and came to Dauid to Hebron, to turne the kingdome of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lorde.
The children of Iuda that bare shield and speare, were sixe thousand & eight hundred, redie prepared to the warre.
Of the children of Simeon, men of might to warre .vii.M. & one hundred.
Of the children of Leui, foure thousand and sixe hundred.
And Iehoiada was the chiefe of them of Aaron, and with him three thousand and seuen hundred.
And Zadoc a young man, strong and valiaunt, and of his fathers housholde, twentie and two captaines.
And of the children of Beniamin the brothren of Saul, three thousand: And a great part of them did vnto that tyme folowe the house of Saul.
And of the children of Ephraim, twentie thousand and eight hundred, mightie men of warre, and famous men in the houshoulde of their fathers.
And of the halfe tribe of Manasse, eyghteene thousand, which were appointed by name to come and make Dauid king.
And of the children of Isachar, which were men that had vnderstanding of the tymes, to knowe what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred: & all their brethren were at their wyll.
And of Zabulon which we• out to battaile, expert in warre and in all instrumentes of warre, fiftie thousand, which coulde set the battaile in arraye, they were not of double heart.
And of Nephthali a thousand captaines, and with them with shielde and speare thirtie and seuen thousand.
And of Dan expert in battayle, twentie & eyght thousand and sixe hundred.
And of Aser that went out to the warre and kept the forefront of the battaile fourtie thousand.
And of the othersyde of Iordane, of the Rubenites, and Gadites, and of the halfe tribe of Manasse, with all manner of instrumentes of warre, an hundred and twentie thousand.
All these were men of warre, keping the forefront of the battel [and] with perfecte heart came to Hebron to make Dauid king ouer all Israel: And all the rest of Israel was of one accorde to make Dauid king.
And there they were with Dauid three dayes eating & drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.
Moreouer, they that were nye them, euen vnto Isachar, Zabulon, & Nephthali, brought bread on asses, cammels, mules, & oxen, & meate, flowre, figges, reasinges, wine, & oyle, oxen, and sheepe aboundantly: For there was ioy in Israel.
ANd Dauid counsailed with the captaynes of thousandes and hundredes, and with al the Lordes,
And sayde vnto all the congregation of Israel: If it seeme you good, & to be of the Lord our God, we will send abrode vnto our brethren that are left in all the lande of Israel, and with them also to the priestes and Leuites which are in their suburbes, to gather them together vnto vs:
And we will bring againe the arke of our God to vs: for we regarded it not in the dayes of Saul.
And all the congregation was content that he should do so: for the thing seemed good in the eyes of all the people.
So Dauid gathered all Israel together from Sihor in Egypt, vnto the entering of Hemath, to bring the arke of the Lorde from Kiriathiarim.
And Dauid went vp and all Israel to an high place towarde Kiriathiarim, that was in Iuda, to fet thence the arke of the Lorde God that dwelleth betweene the Cherubs, where his name is called on.
And they carryed the arke of God in a newe carte out of the house of Abinadab: and Vzza and his brother guided the carte.
And Dauid and all Israel played before the arke of God with all their might, with singing, and harpes, psalteries, and tymbrels, and cymbales, and trumpettes.
And when they came vnto the thresshing floore of Chidon, Vzza put foorth his hande to holde the arke, for the oren stumbled.
And the Lorde was wroth with Vzza, and smote him, because he put his hand to the arke: and there he dyed before God.
And Dauid was out of quiet because the Lorde had rent a rent in Vzza, and he called the name of that place, the renting of Vzza, vnto this day.
And Dauid was afrayde of God that day, saying: how shall I bring the arke of God home to me?
And so Dauid brought not the arke home to him to the citie of Dauid: but carryed it into the house of Obed Edom a Gethite.
And the arke of God remayned with Obed Edom, euen in his house, three monethes: And the Lorde blessed the house of Obed Edom, & all that he had.
SO Hiram the king of Tyre sent messengers to Dauid, and timber of Cedar trees, with masons and carpe{n}ters, to builde him an house.
And Dauid perceaued that the Lorde had confirmed him king vpon Israel, & that his kingdome was lift vp on hie because of his people Israel:
And Dauid toke yet mo wyues at Hierusalem, and begat mo sonnes and daughters.
These are the names of his children, which were borne vnto him at Hierusalem: Samua, Sobab, Nathan, & Solomon,
Iibhar, Elisua, and Eliphalet,
Noga, Nepheg, and Iaphia,
Elisama, Beeliada, and Eliphalet.
And when the Philistines heard that Dauid was annoynted king vpon all Israel, all the Philistines went vp to seeke Dauid: And Dauid heard of it, & went out against them.
And the Philistines came in, and spread them selues through the valley of Rephaim.
And Dauid asked counsaile at God, saying: Shall I go against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliuer them into myne hand?
And the Lorde saide vnto him: go vp, for I wil deliuer them into thyne hand. And so they came vp to Baal Perazim, and Dauid smote them there, and Dauid saide: God hath deuided myne enemies with myne hand, as a man would deuide water, and therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
And when they had left their gods there, Dauid gaue a commaundement, and they were burnt with fire.
And the Philistines came together againe, and russhed into the valley.
And Dauid asked againe at God: And God said to him, Go not vp after them, but turne away from them that thou mayest come vpon them ouer against the peretrees.
And when thou hearest a sounde go in the toppes of the peretrees, then go out to battaile: for God is gone forth before thee, to smyte the hoast of the Philistines.
Dauid therfore did as God commaunded him, and they smote the hoast of the Philistines, from Gibeon to Gazer.
And the fame of Dauid went out into all landes, and the Lorde made all nations feare him.
AND Dauid made him houses in the citie of Dauid, and prepared a place for the arke of God, and pitched for it a tent.
Then Dauid saide: The arke of God ought not to be carryed but of the Leuites: For them hath the Lord chosen to beare the arke of the Lorde, and to minister vnto him for euer.
And Dauid gathered all Israel together to Hierusalem, to fetch the arke of the Lorde vnto his place which he had ordayned for it.
And Dauid brought together the children of Aaron and the Leuites.
Of the sonnes of Caath, was Vriel the chiefe, & of his brethren there were an hundred and twentie.
Of the children of Merari, Asaia the chiefe, and of his brethren two hundred and twentie.
Of the sonnes of Gersom, Ioel the chiefe, and of his brethren an hundred and thirtie.
Of the children of Elizaphan, Semaia the chiefe, & of his brethren two hundred.
Of the sonnes of Hebron, Eliel the chiefe, and of his brethren fourescore.
Of the sonnes of Vzziel, Aminadab the chiefe, and of his brethren an hundred and twelue.
And Dauid called Zadoc and Abiathar the priestes: and the Leuites, Vzziel, Asaia, Ioel, Semaia, Eliel, and Aminadab,
And saide vnto them: Ye that are the principall fathers of the Leuites, see that ye be holy with your brethren, that ye may bring in the arke of the Lorde God of Israel vnto the place that I haue prepared for it.
For, because ye were not there at the first, the Lorde our God made a rent among vs, for that we sought him not as the fassion ought to be.
So the priestes and the Leuites sanctified them selues, to fet the arke of the Lorde God of Israel.
And the children of the Leuites bare the arke of God vpon their shoulders with staues thereon, as Moyses commaunded according to the worde of the Lorde.
And Dauid spake to the chiefe heades of the Leuites, that they should appoynt certaine of their brethren to sing with instrumentes of musicke, psalteries, harpes, and cymbales, that they might make a sounde, and to sing on hie with ioyfulnesse.
And the Leuites appoynted Heman the sonne of Ioel, and of his brethren, Asaph the sonne of Berechia, and of the sonnes of Merari and of their brethren, Ethan the sonne of Cusaiahu.
And with them their brethren of the second degree, Zacharia, Ben, Iaziel, Semiramoth, Iehiel, Vnni, Eliab, Benaiahu, Maasiah, Mathathiahu, Eliphalehu, Mikniahu, Obed Edom, and Ieiel, porters.
So Heman, Asaph, and Ethan the singers, made a sounde with cymbales of brasse.
And Zacharia, Aziel, Semiramoth, Iehiel, Vnni, Eliab, Maasiahu, and Banaiahu, played with psalteries on an Alamoth.
Mathathiahu, Eliphalehu, Mikniahu, Obed Edom, Ieiel, and Azaiahu, played vpon harpes an eyght aboue, with courage.
And Chenaniahu the chiefe of the Leuites was maister of the song: for he taught other to sing, because he was a man of vnderstanding.
Bere•hia and Elcana kept the doore of the arke.
And Sebaniahu, Iehosaphat, Nathanael, Amasai, Zachariahu, Banaiahu, and Eliezer the priestes did blowe with trumpettes before the arke of God: And Obed Edom and Iehia were kepers of the doore of the arke.
And Dauid and the elders of Israel, and the captaynes ouer thousandes, went to fet the arke of the appoyntme{n}t of the Lorde out of the house of Obed Edom with gladnesse.
And when God helped the Leuites that bare the arke of the appoyntment of the Lorde, they offered seuen oxen, and seuen rammes.
And Dauid had on him a linnen garment, lyke as had also all the Leuites that bare the arke, & so had the singers and Chenania the ruler of the songe, with the singers: and Dauid had vpon him an Ephod of linnen.
And al they of Israel brought the arke of the Lordes couenaunt with showting, and blowing of the shawme, and trumpettes, making a noyse with cymbales, psalteries, and harpes.
And as the arke of the appointment of the Lorde came into the citie of Dauid, Michol the daughter of Saul looking out at a windowe, sawe king Dauid daunsing and playing, and she despised him in her heart.
SO they brought in the arke of God, and set it in the middest of the tent that Dauid pitched for it: And they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offringes before God.
And when Dauid had made an end of offring the burnt offringes and peace offringes, he blessed the people in the name of the Lorde.
And he dealt to all Israel both man and woman, a cracknel of bread, and a good peece of fleshe, and a flacket of wine.
And he appoynted certaine of the Leuites to minister before the arke of the Lord, and to repeate, and to thanke and prayse the Lorde God of Israel.
And Asaph was the chiefe, and nexte to him Zacharia, Ieiel, Semiramoth, Iehiel, Mathathia, Eliab, Benaia, Obed Edom, & Ieiel with instruments, psalteries, & harpes: But Asaph made a sounde with cymbales.
Banaia and Iahaziel priestes blewe with trumpettes continually before the arke of the couenaunt of God.
And that same tyme Dauid did appoynt chiefely to thanke the Lorde by Asaph and his brethren.
Confesse you [it] vnto God, call vpon his name: cause the people to vnderstande his deuises.
Sing vnto him, sing psalmes vnto him: talke you of all his wonderous workes.
Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them reioyce that do seeke God.
Seeke God and his strength: seeke his face euermore.
Remember the marueylous workes that he hath done: his wonders, and the iudgementes of his mouth,
O ye seede of Abraham his seruaunt, ye his chosen children of Iacob: he is God our Lorde, his iudgementes are in all the earth.
He hath ben mindfull alwayes of his couenaunt (for he promysed a word to a thousande generations:) euen of his couenaunt that he made with Abraham, and of his othe vnto Isaac.
And he appoynted the same vnto Iacob for a law: and to Israel for an euerlasting couenaunt.
Saying, vnto thee I wyll geue the lande of Chanaan: the lot of your inheritaunce.
When they were a fewe men in number, and had ben straungers but a litle while in it: and when they went from one nation to another, from one kingdome to another people,
He suffred no man to do them wrong: yea he reproued euen kinges for their sakes.
Touche not myne annoynted: and triumph not ouer my prophetes.
Sing vnto the Lorde all the earth: and shewe from day to day his saluation.
Tell of his glory among the heathen: his wonderfull deedes among all natitions.
For great is the Lorde, and worthy to be praysed exceedingly: he is to be feared aboue all gods.
For all the gods of the people are but idoles: but the Lorde made heauen.
Prayse and honour are in his presence: strength and gladnesse are in his place.
Asscribe vnto the Lord ye kinredes of people, Asscribe to the Lorde glorie and dominion.
Asscribe vnto the Lord the glorie due vnto his name, bring sacrifices, and come before him, and worship the Lord in his glorious sanctuarie.
Let all the earth feare him: surely the world shalbe stable and not moue.
Let the heauens reioyce, and let the earth be glad, and let men tel among the nations that the Lorde is king.
Let the sea rore & the fulnesse thereof: let the fieldes reioyce, & all that is therin.
Then shall the trees of the wood reioyce at the presence of the Lord, because he commeth to iudge the earth.
O geue thankes vnto the Lorde, for he is good, for his mercie endureth euer:
And say ye, saue vs O God our saluation, gather vs together, and deliuer vs from among the heathen, that we may geue thankes to thy holy name, and triumph in the prayse of thee.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for euer and euer: & let all people say Amen, and prayse the Lorde.
And so he left there before the arke of the lordes couenaunt Asaph & his brethren, to minister before the arke continually, [in such thinges as were to be done] day by day.
And Obed Edom and his brethren, threescore and eyght, and Obed Edom the sonne of Ieduthun, and Hosa, were appoynted to be porters.
And Zadoc the priest & his brethren the priestes were before {th}e tabernacle of the lord, in the hie place that was at Gibeon,
To offer burnt offeringes vnto the Lorde vpon the burnt offering aulter perpetually, in the morning and euening, according to all that which is written in the lawe of the Lorde whiche he commaunded Israel.
And with them were Heman and Ieduthun, and other that were chosen, whose names were expressed to geue thankes to the Lorde, That his mercie lasteth euer.
And with them dyd Heman an Ieduthun sing with the trumpets and cymbales, making a sweete melodie with instrumentes of musicke & godly songues: And the sonnes of Ieduthun were porters.
And al the people departed euery man to his house, & Dauid returned to blesse his house.
AND it fortuned, that when Dauid dwelt in his house, he sayde to Nathan the prophete: Lo, I dwel in an house of Cedar tree, but the arke of the lordes couenaunt remayneth vnder curtaynes.
And Nathan sayde vnto Dauid: Do all that is in thyne heart, for God is with thee.
And the same night, it fortuned that the worde of God came to Nathan, saying:
Go and tell Dauid my seruaunt, thus sayth the Lorde, Thou shalt not buylde me an house to dwell in:
For I haue dwelt in no house sence the day that I brought out the children of Israel, vnto this day: but haue gone from tent to tent, and from one habitation to an other.
And whersoeuer I haue walked with all Israel, spake I euer one worde to any of the iudges of Israel, whom I commaunded to feede my people, saying, Why haue ye not buylt me an house of Cedar tree?
Nowe therfore thus shalt thou say vnto my seruaunt Dauid, thus sayth the Lorde of hoastes: I toke thee from the sheepe coate, and from folowing the sheepe, that thou shouldest be captayne ouer my people Israel:
And I haue ben with thee whyther soeuer thou hast walked, and haue weeded out all thyne enemies out of thy sight, & haue made thee a name like the name of the greatest men that are in the earth.
And I haue ordeyned a place for my people Israel and made it fast, so that nowe they may dwell in their place, and moue no more: Neither shall the children of wickednesse vexe them any more as at the beginning.
And sence the time that I commaunded iudges to be ouer my people Israel, I haue subdued all thyne enemies: and I told thee that the Lord would buyld thee an house.
This also shal come to passe: when thy dayes be expired that thou must go vnto thy fathers, I will rayse vp thy seede after thee, which shalbe of thy sonnes, and I will stablishe his kingdome.
He shall buylde me an house, and I wil stablishe his seate for euer.
I wilbe his father, and he shalbe my sonne, and I will not take my mercie away from him, as I toke it from hym that was before thee.
But I wil stablishe him in myne house and my kingdome for euer, and his seate shalbe sure for euermore.
According to all these wordes, and according to al this vision, did Nathan tell king Dauid.
And Dauid the king came and sate before the Lord, and sayde: What am I O Lord God, and what is myne houshold, that thou hast promoted me thus farre?
And yet this seemed litle in thyne eyes, O God: But thou hast also spoken of thy seruauntes house for a great whyle to come, and hast loked vpon me as vpon a man of hye degree, O Lorde God.
What shall Dauid desire more of thee for the honour of thy seruaunt? For thou hast knowen thy seruaunt.
O Lord, for thy seruauntes sake, euen according to thine owne heart, hast thou done all this magnificence, to shewe all great thinges.
Lord there is none like thee, neither is there any God saue thou, according to al that we haue hearde with our eares.
Moreouer, what nation on the earth is like thy people Israel, to whom God hath vouchsafed to come and redeeme them to be his owne people, and to make thee a name of excellencie & terriblenes, with casting out nations from before the people, whom thou hast deliuered out of Egypt?
Thy people of Israel diddest thou make thyne owne people for euer, and thou becamest their God.
Therfore now Lord, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy seruaunt & his house, be true for euer, that thou Lord do as thou hast sayde:
Let it come to passe, that thy name may be magnified for euer, that it may be said, The Lord of hoastes is the God of Israel, euen the God of Israel, and the house of Dauid thy seruaunt endureth stable before thee.
For thou O my God, hast tolde thy seruaunt that thou wilt buylde him an house, and therefore thy seruaunt hath founde in his heart to pray before thee.
And now Lorde, thou art God, & hast promised this goodnes vnto thy seruau{n}t
Nowe therefore let it be thy pleasure to blesse the house of thy seruaunt, that it may continue before thee for euer: For whom thou blessest O Lorde, the same is blessed for euer.
ANd after this, it fortuned that Dauid smote the Philistines, & subdued them, and toke Geth and the townes that longed therto out of the handes of the Philistines.
And he smote Moab, and the Moabites became Dauids seruauntes, and payde him tribute.
And Dauid smote Hadarezer king of Zoba vnto Hanath, as he went to stablishe his dominion by the riuer Euphrates.
And Dauid toke from him a thousand charets, and seuen thousande horsemen, and twentie thousande footemen, and lamed all the charet horses, and reserued of them an hundred charets.
And when the Syrians of Damascon came to helpe Hadarezer king of Zoba, Dauid slue of the Syrians twentie and two thousande.
And Dauid put souldiers in Syria Damascon, and the Syrians became Dauids seruauntes, and brought him tribute: And the Lord preserued Dauid in all that he went to.
And Dauid toke the shieldes of golde that were on the seruauntes of Hadarezer, and brought them to Hierusalem.
And from Tebhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezar, brought Dauid exceeding much brasse, wherwith Solomon made the brasen lauatorie, the pillers, and the vessels of brasse.
And when Thou king of Hemath heard how Dauid had beaten al the strength of Hadarezer king of Zoba,
He sent Hadoram his so{n}ne to king Dauid, to make peace with him, & to blesse him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and beaten him (for Thou had warre with Hadarezer) and [Hadoram brought] all maner of iewels of golde, siluer, and brasse, with him.
And king Dauid dedicated them vnto the Lord, with the siluer and golde that he brought fro{m} all nations, from Edom, fro{m} Moab, from {th}e children of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from Amelec.
And Abisai the sonne of Zaruia slue of the Edomites in the salt valley eyghteene thousande,
And put souldiers in Edom, and all the Edomites became Dauid seruauntes: Thus the Lorde kept Dauid in all that he toke in hande.
And Dauid raigned ouer all Israel, and executed iudgement and righteousnesse among all his people.
And Ioab the sonne of Zaruia was ouer the hoast, & Iehosaphat the sonne of Ahilud recorder:
And Zadoc the sonne of Ahitob and Abimelech the sonne of Abiathar were the priestes, and Sausa was scribe,
And Banaiahu the sonne of Iehoiada was ouer the Crethites and the Phelethites: and the sonnes of Dauid were next vnto the king.
AFter this, it chaunced that Nahas the king of the children of Ammon dyed, & his sonne raigned in his steade.
And Dauid sayde: I will shewe kindnesse vnto Hanon the sonne of Nahas, because his father dealt kindly with me. And Dauid sent messengers to comfort him ouer the death of his father: And the seruauntes of Dauid came into the lande of the children of Ammon to Hanon, to comfort him.
But the lordes of the children of Ammon sayd to Hanon: Thinkest thou that Dauid doeth honour thy father in thy sight, that he hath sent comforters vnto thee? Are not his seruauntes come to search, to loke, and espie out the land?
Wherefore Hanon toke Dauids seruauntes, and shaued them, and cut of their coates harde by their buttockes, & sent them away.
And there went certayne and told Dauid how the men were serued: And the king sent to meete them (for the men were exceedingly ashamed) and the king sayde: Tary at Iericho vntill your beardes be growen, and then returne.
And when the children of Ammon saw that they stanke in the sight of Dauid, Hanon and the children of Ammon sent a thousande talentes of siluer to hyre them charets and horsmen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syria Maacha, and out of Zoba.
And they hyred thirtie and two thousande charets, and the king of Maacha and his people: which came and pitched before Medeba: And the children of Ammon gathered them selues together fro{m} their cities, and came to battayle.
And when Dauid hearde of it, he sent Ioab and all the hoast of strong men.
And the children of Ammon came out, and put them selues in aray to battayle before the gate of the citie: And {th}e kinges that were come, kept them by them selues backe in the fielde.
When Ioab also saw that the frunt of the battayle was against him before and behind, he chose out of al the chosen men of Israel, and put them in aray against the Syrians.
And the rest of {th}e people he deliuered vnto the hand of Abisai his brother, & they put them selues in aray against the children of Ammon.
And he sayde: If the Syrians be to strong for me, thou shalt succour me, and if the children of Ammon preuayle against thee, I will helpe thee.
Plucke vp thyne heart, and let vs play the men for our peoples sake, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord shall do that which is good in his owne sight.
So Ioab and the people that were with him, drue nye before the Syrians vnto the battayle: and they fled before him.
And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they ran away likewise before Abisai his brother, and gat them into the citie: and Ioab came to Hierusalem.
And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers and fet out the Syrians that were beyond the riuer: and Sophach the captayne of the hoast of Hadarezer went before them.
And it was told Dauid: and he gathered all Israel, and went together ouer Iordane, and came and set vpon them: And when Dauid had put hym selfe in aray against the Syrians, they fought with him.
But the Syrians fled before Israel, and Dauid destroyed of the Syrians seuen thousand charets, and fourtie thousand footemen, and killed Sophach the captayne of the hoast.
And when the seruauntes of Hadarezer sawe that they were put to {th}e worse before them of Israel, they made peace with Dauid, & became his seruauntes: Neither would the Syrians helpe the children of Ammon any more.
AND it came to passe, that after the yere was expired (about {th}e time that kinges go out a warrefare) Ioab caryed out the armie of the hoast, and destroyed the countrey of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabba, and destroyed it: But Dauid taried at Hierusalem whyle Ioab smote Rabba and destroyed it.
And Dauid toke the crowne of their king from of his head, and sounde that it had the wayght of a talent of golde, and there were precious stones in it, and it was set vpon Dauids head: And he brought also exceeding much spoyle out of the citie.
And he brought out the people that were in it, and tormented them with sawes and harrowes of iron, and with other sharpe instrumentes, and so dealt Dauid with all the cities of the children of Ammon: And Dauid and all the people came againe to Hierusalem.
After this, it fortuned that there arose warre at Gazer with the Philistines: at which time Sobokai the Husathite slue Sippai that was of the children of Rephaim, and they were subdued.
And there was battayle agayne with the Philistines, & Elhanan the sonne of Iair slue Lahemi the brother of Goliah the Gethite, whose speare was lyke a weauers beame.
And there chaunced yet againe warre at Geth, where as was a man of a great stature, with twentie and foure fingers and toes, sixe on euery hand, and sixe on euery foote, and was the sonne of Raphah.
But when he defyed Israel, Iehonathan the sonne of Simea Dauids brother slue him.
These were borne vnto Raphah at Geth, and were ouerthrowen in the hande of Dauid and in the hande of his seruauntes.
ANd Satan stoode vp against Israel, and prouoked Dauid to number Israel.
And Dauid sayde to Ioab and to the rulers of the people: Go ye and number Israel from Beerseba to Dan: & bring it to me, that I may knowe the number of them.
And Ioab aunswered: The Lorde make his people an hundred times so many mo as they be: But my lorde, O king, are they not all my lordes seruauntes? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will my lorde be a cause of trespasse to Israel?
Neuerthelesse the kinges word preuayled against Ioab: And Ioab departed, and walked throughout all them of Israel, and came to Hierusalem againe,
And gaue the summe of the number of the people vnto Dauid: And all they of Israel were a thousande thousand and an hundred thousande men that drue sworde: and Iuda was foure hundred threescore and ten thousande men that drue sworde.
But the Leuites and Beniamin counted he not among them: For the kinges word was abhominable to Ioab.
And the Lorde was displeased with this thing, and smote Israel.
And Dauid sayde vnto God: I haue sinned exceedingly in doyng this thing: And nowe I besech thee, do away the wickednesse of thy seruaunt, for I haue done very foolyshly.
And the Lord spake vnto Gad Dauids sear, saying:
Go, and tell Dauid, saying, thus sayth the Lord, I geue thee the choyse of three thinges: choose the one of them, that I may do vnto thee.
And Gad came to Dauid, and sayd vnto him, thus sayth the Lorde: Choose thee
Eyther three yeres famishment, or three monethes to be destroyed before thyne aduersaries, & that the sworde of thyne enemies may ouertake thee: or els the sworde of the Lord and pestilence in the lande three dayes, and the angell of the Lorde destroying throughout all the coastes of Israel: And nowe aduise thy selfe, what worde I shal bring againe to him that sent me.
And Dauid sayde vnto Gad, I am in an exceeding strayte: Let me fall nowe into the hande of the Lorde (for passing great are his mercies) but let me not fal into the hand of men.
So the Lorde sent pestilence vpon Israel: and there were ouerthrowen of Israel threescore and ten thousande men.
And God sent the angell into Hierusalem to destroy it: And as he was about to destroy, the Lorde behelde, and had compassion on the euyll, & sayde to the angel that destroyed: It is enough, let nowe thyne hand ceasse. And the angel of the Lorde stoode by the threshing floore of Ornan the Iebusite.
And Dauid lift vp his eyes, and sawe the angell of the Lorde stand betweene the earth and heauen, hauing a drawen sword in his hand, stretched out toward Hierusalem: Then Dauid and the elders of Israel whiche were clothed in sacke, fell vpon their faces.
And Dauid sayde vnto God: Is it not I that commaunded the people to be numbred? It is I that haue sinned and done euyll in deede: and what haue these sheepe done? Let thyne hande O Lorde my God be on me, and on my fathers house: but not on thy people, that they shoulde be punished.
And the angell of the Lord commaunded Gad to say to Dauid, that Dauid shoulde go vp and set vp an aulter vnto the Lorde in the threshing floore of Ornan the Iebusite.
And Dauid went vp according to the saying of Gad whiche he spake in the name of the Lorde.
And Ornan turned about, and saw the angell, and his foure sonnes were with him, and hyd them selues: But Ornan was threshing wheate.
And as Dauid came to Ornan, Ornan loked and sawe Dauid, and went out of the threshing floore, and bowed hym selfe to Dauid with his face to the grounde.
And Dauid sayde to Ornan: Geue me the place of the threshing floore, that I may buylde an aulter therin vnto the lord: Thou shalt geue it me for as much money as it is worth, that the plague may ceasse from the people.
And Ornan sayd vnto Dauid: Take it to thee, and let my lorde the king do that which seemeth good in his eyes: Lo, I geue thee oxen also for burnt sacrifices, and treshing instrumentes for wood, & wheate for meate offring, I geue it all.
And king Dauid sayde to Ornan: Not so, but I will bye it for as much money as it is worth: For I will not take that whiche is thyne for the Lorde, nor offer burnt offringes without coast.
And so Dauid gaue to Ornan for that place sicles of golde sixe hundred by wayght.
And Dauid buylt there an aulter vnto the Lorde, and offred burnt offringes and peace offringes, and called vpon the Lorde, and he hearde him from heauen in fire vpon the aulter of burnt offring.
And when the Lorde had spoken to the angel, he put vp his sword againe into the sheathe of it.
At that time when Dauid sawe that the Lorde had hearde him in the thresshing floore of Ornan the Iebusite, he vsed to offer there:
For the tabernacle of the Lorde which Moyses made in the wildernesse, & the aulter of burnt offring, were at that season in the hill of Gibeon:
And Dauid coulde not go before it, to aske counsell at God, for he was afrayde of the sword of the angel of the Lorde.
ANd Dauid said: This is the house of the lord God, & this is the aulter for the burnt offring of Israel.
And Dauid commaunded to gather together the straungers that were in the lande of Israel, and he set masons to hew and pullishe stones for the building of the house of God.
And Dauid prepared plentie of iron for nayles, & doores of the gates, & to ioyne withal, and aboundaunce of brasse without wayght,
And Cedar trees without number: For the Zidons and they of Tyre brought much Cedar wood to Dauid.
And Dauid sayde: Solomon my sonne is young and tender, and the house that is to be buylded for the Lorde must be magnificall, excellent, and of great fame and dignitie throughout all countreys: I wil therfore make ordinaunces for it. And so Dauid prepared many thinges before his death.
And he called Solomon his sonne, and charged him to buylde an house for the Lorde God of Israel.
And Dauid sayde to Solomon: My sonne, I thought [as it was] in myne heart to buylde an house vnto the name of the Lorde my God:
But the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Thou hast shed much blood, and hast made great battayles: thou shalt therefore not buylde an house vnto my name, for thou hast shed much blood vp on the earth in my sight.
Behold, a sonne is borne to thee, and he shalbe a man of rest, for I wil geue him rest from all his enemies rounde about: For his name is Solomon, & I wil send rest and peace vpon Israel in his dayes.
He shall buylde an house for my name, and he shalbe my sonne, and I wilbe his father, and I wil establishe the seate of his kingdome vpon Israel for euer.
Nowe therfore my sonne, the Lorde be with thee, and prosper thee, and thou shalt buylde an house to the Lorde thy God, as he hath sayde of thee.
And the Lord shall geue thee wysdom and vnderstanding, and shall geue thee commaundementes for Israel, that thou mayst kepe the lawe of the Lorde thy God.
For then thou shalt prosper, euen when thou takest heede and fulfillest the statutes and lawes which the Lorde charged Moyses with for Israel: Plucke vp thyne hearte therfore, & be strong, dread not, nor be discouraged.
Behold, according to my pouertie haue I also prepared for the house of the Lorde, an hundred thousande talentes of golde, and a thousande thousande talentes of siluer: and as for brasse & iron, it can not be nu{m}bred, (for it is verie much) And I haue prepared timber and stone, and thou mayest prouide more thereto.
Moreouer, thou hast workemen with thee mowe, and masons, and carpenters [to worke in stone and timber,] & many men that be actiue for euery worke.
And of golde, siluer, brasse, & iron, there is no number: Vp therefore, and be doing, and the Lorde shalbe with thee.
And Dauid commaunded al the lordes of Israel to helpe Solomon his sonne, saying:
Is not the Lord your God with you? and hath he not geuen you rest on euery side? for he hath geuen the inhabitours of the lande into my hande, and the land is subdued before the Lorde, and before his people.
Nowe therefore set your heartes and your soules to seke the Lord your God: Vp, and buylde ye the temple of the Lord God, to bring the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde and the holy vessels of God into the house so buylt for the name of the Lorde.
SO when Dauid was olde and full of dayes, he made Solomon his sonne king ouer Israel.
And then he gathered together all the lordes of Israel, with the priestes and the Leuites.
And the Leuites were numbred from the age of thirtie yeres and aboue: and the number and summe of them was thirtie and eyght thousande men.
Of which twentie and foure thousand were set to further the worke of the house of the Lorde: and sixe thousande were officers and iudges.
Foure thousande were porters, & foure thousand praysed the Lorde with such instrumentes as was made to prayse withall.
And so Dauid put an order among them deuiding them, in partes: Of the children of Leui, Gerson, Caath, and Merari.
Of the Gersonites was Laadan, and Semei.
The sonnes of Laadan, the chiefe was Iehiel, Zethan, and Ioel, three.
The sonnes of Semei: Selomith, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the auncient fathers of Laadan.
And the sonnes of Semei: were, Iahath, Zina, Ieus, & Beria: these foure were the sonnes of Semei.
And Iahath was the chiefe, Ziza the seconde: but Ieus, and Beria had not many sonnes, therfore they were in one reckening according to their fathers housholde, reckened for one auncient housholde.
The sonnes of Caath: Amram, Izahar, Hebron, and Vzziel, foure.
The sonnes of Amram: Aaron, and Moyses: And Aaron was separated to haue the rule of the holy thinges in the place most holy, he & his sonnes for euer, and to burne incense before the Lorde, and to minister vnto him, and to blesse in his name for euer.
Moyses also the man of God, and his children, were named with the tribe of Leui.
The sonnes of Moyses: Gersō, & Eliezer.
Of the sonnes of Gersom, Sebuel was the chiefe.
The sonnes of Eliezer, Rehabia the chiefe: And Eliezer had none other sonnes, but the sonnes of Rehabia were verie many.
The sonnes of Izahar, Selomith the chiefe.
The sonnes of Hebron, Ieriahu the first, Amaria the seconde, Iahaziel the thirde, and Iecmaam the fourth.
The sonnes of Vzziel: Micha the first, and Iesia the seconde.
The sonnes of Merari: Mahli, & Musi. The sonnes of Mahli: Eleazar and Cis.
And Eleazar dyed, and had no sonnes, but daughters: and their brethren the sonnes of Cis toke them.
The sonnes of Musi: Mahli, Eder, and Ieremoth, three.
These are the children of Leui after the houshold of their fathers, euen the auncient of the fathers according to their offices, and after the number and summe of the names of them that dyd the worke in the seruice of the house of the Lord, from the age of twentie yeres and aboue.
And Dauid sayde: The Lorde God of Israel hath geuen rest vnto his people, that they may dwell in Hierusalem for euer.
That the Leuites also shoulde nowe no more beare the tabernacle, and al the vessels for the seruice thereof.
For according to the last wordes of Dauid, the Leuites were numbred from twentie yeres and aboue.
And their office was vnder the hande of the sonnes of Aaron, for the seruice of the house of the Lorde in the courtes and celles, and in the purifying of all holy thinges, and in the worke of the seruice of the house of God:
In the shewbread, in the fine ••owre, in the meate offring, in {th}e wafers of sweete bread, in the frying panne, in the gredyron, and in all maner of measures & sise:
And to stand euery day in the morning to thanke and prayse the Lorde, and so likewise at euen:
And to offer all burnt sacrifices vnto the Lord, in the Sabbathes, in the new moones, and on the feastfull dayes, by number and custome continually as they were commaunded, before the Lord.
And that they should wayte on the tabernacle of the congregation, & on the holy place, and on the sonnes of Aaron their brethre{n}, in the seruice of the house of the Lord.
THese are the deuisions of the sonnes of Aaro{n}. The sonnes of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
Nadab also and Abihu dyed before their father, & had no children: But Eleazar, & Ithamar executed the priestes office.
And Dauid ordred them on this maner: Zadoc of the sonnes of Eleazar, and Ahimelec of the sonnes of Ithamar [were] according to their offices in their ministration.
And there were mo auncient men founde among the sonnes of Eleazar, then the sonnes of Ithamar. And thus were they ordred together: Among the sonnes of Eleazar there were sixteene rulers according to the houshold of their fathers, and eyght among the sonnes of Ithamar according to the housholde of their fathers.
And thus were they put in order by lot the one sort from the other: and so were there rulers in the sanctuarie and lordes before God, aswell of the sonnes of Eleazer, as of the sonnes of Ithamar.
And Semeia the sonne of Nathanael the scribe, of the kinred of the Leuites, wrote them before the king & the lordes, & before Zadoc the priest and Ahimelec the sonne of Abiathar, and before the auncient fathers of the priestes and Leuites, one principall housholde being reserued for Eleazar, and one for Ithamar.
And the first lot fell to Iehoiarib: and the seconde to Iedaia,
The third to Harim, and the fourth to Sehorim,
The fyft to Melchia, and the sixth to Miiamin,
The seuenth to Hakos, and the eyght to Abia,
The nynth to Iesua, and the tenth to Secaniah,
The eleuenth to Eliasib, & the twelfth to Iakim,
The thirteenth to Huppa, and the fourteenth to Iesebeab,
The fyftenth to Bilga, and the sixtenth to Immer,
The seuenteenth to Hezir, and the eyghteenth to Aphses,
The nynteenth to Pethahia, and the twentieth to Ieheskel,
The twentie and one to Iachin, and the twentie and two to Gamul,
The twentie and three to Delaiahu, and the twentie and foure to Maasiahu.
These are the ordinaunces of them in their offices when they came into the house of the Lord, according to their maner vnder Aaron their father, as the lord God of Israel had co{m}maunded him.
The rest of the sonnes of Leui, are these: Of the sonnes of Amram, Subael: of the sonnes of Sabuel, Iehediahu.
Of the sonnes of Rehabia, the first Iesia.
Of the Iezaharites Selomoth: Of the sonnes also of Selomoth Iahath.
His sonnes Ieriahu the first, Amariahu the second, Iahaziel the third, and Iekameam the fourth.
Of the sonnes of Vzziel, Micha: Of the sonnes of Micha, Samir.
The brother of Micha was Issia: Of the sonnes also of Issia, Zechariahu.
The sonnes of Merari, were Mahli, and Musi: The sonnes of Iaaziahu, Beno.
The sonnes of Merari by Iaaziahu, Beno, Soham, Zacur, and Ibri.
Of Mahli came Eleazar, and he had no sonnes.
Of Cis: the sonnes of Cis, Ierahemeel.
The sonnes of Musi, Mahli, Eder, and Ierimoth: These are the children of the Leuites, after the housholde of their fathers.
And these cast lottes next to their brethren the sonnes of Aaron in the presence of Dauid the king, and Zadoc, and Ahimelec, and the auncient fathers of the priestes & Leuites, euen the principall fathers, before their younger brethren.
ANd so Dauid and the captaynes of the hoast appoynted out to do seruice the sonnes of Asaph, and Heman, & Ieduthun, which should prophecie with harpes, psalteries, and cymbales: And there was a multitude of the men that were appoynted to the seruice and ministration:
Of the sonnes of Asaph, Zacur, Ioseph, Nathania, and Asarela that wayted on Asaph which prophecied according to the commaundement of the king.
Of Ieduthun: the sonnes of Ieduthun, Gedeliahu, Zeri, Iesaiahu, Hasabiahu, and Mathathiahu, sixe, vnder the handes of their father Ieduthun, which prophecied with a harpe, for to geue thankes & prayses vnto the Lorde.
Of Heman: the sonnes of Heman, Bucciahu, Matthaniahu, Vzziel, Zebuel, Ierimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliatha, Geddalthi, Romanthi Ezer, Iosbekasa, Malothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.
All these were the sonnes of Heman which was {th}e kinges sear in the wordes of God, to lyft vp the horne [of the regall dignitie:] And God gaue to Hemā foureteene sonnes, and three daughters.
All these also were at the hand of their father, singing in the house of the Lord, with cymbales, psalteries, and harpes, when Asaph, Ieduthun, and Heman executed the seruice in the house of God at the kinges commaundement.
And the multitude of them with their brethre{n} that were instruct in the songes of the Lorde, euen all that were cunning, were two hundred fourescore and eyght.
And they cast lottes among them selues how they should waite, aswel for the small as for the great, for the scholler aswell as for the schoolemaister.
And the first lot in Asaph fell to Ioseph, the second to Gedaliahu with his brethren and sonnes, which men were twelue.
The third fell to Zacur with his sonnes and brethren, being twelue persons.
The fourth, to Izri with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The fifth to Nathaniahu with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The sixt to Bucciahu with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The seuenth to Iesrarela with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The eyght to Iesaiahu with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The ninth to Mathaiahu with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The tenth to Semei with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The eleuenth to Azareel with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The twelfth to Hazabia with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The thirteenth to Subael with his sonnes and brethren twelue persons.
The foureteenth, to Mathathiahu with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The fifteenth to Ieremoth with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The sixteenth to Hananiahu with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The seuenteenth to Iosbekasa with his sonnes & brethren, twelue persons.
The eyghteenth to Hanani with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The nineteenth to Malothi with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The twenteeth to Eliatha with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The twentie and one to Hothir with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The twentie & two to Geddalthi with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The twentie and three to Mahazioth with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
The twentie and foure to Romamthi Ezer with his sonnes and brethren, twelue persons.
THese are the deuisions of the porters. Among the Corethites, Meselemiahu, the sonne of Kore of the children of Asaph.
And the sonnes of Meselemiahu were these: Zachariahu the eldest, Iedihel the second, Zebadiahu the third, and Iahniel the fourth,
Elam the fifth, Iehohanan the sixt, and Eiloenai the seuenth.
The sonnes of Obed Edom, Semeia the eldest, Iehosabad the second, Ioah the third, Sacar the fourth, and Nathanael the fifth,
Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seuenth, Peulthai the eyght, for God blessed him.
And vnto Semeia his sonne, were sonnes borne, that ruled in the house of their father: for they were men of might.
The sonnes of Semeia, Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, and his brethren were strong men, Elihu and Samachiahu.
All these were of the children of Obed Edom: they and their children, and their brethren, actiue men and of strength to do seruice, euen threescore and two of Obed Edom.
And Meselemiahu had sonnes and brethren, actiue men, eyghteene.
The sonnes of Hosa of the children of Merari, Simri the chiefe, & though he was not the eldest, yet his father set him in the chiefest place:
Helkiahu the second, Tebaliahu the third, and Zechariahu the fourth: all the sonnes and brethren of Hosa were thirteene.
Among these was deuided the office of the portership, that they shoulde be auncient men, to wayte with their brethren, when they ministred in the house of the Lorde.
And they cast lottes betweene the great and small, after the housholde of their fathers, for euery gate.
And the lot on the eastsyde fell vpon Selemiahu: And for Zachariahu his sonne (which was a wyse counsailour) they cast lottes, and his lot came out toward the north.
And Obed Edoms lot fell to the south: And for his sonnes fell the houses of Asuppim.
For Shuppim and Hosa toward the west, with the gate Shallecheth by the paued streate that goeth vpward, one watch being ouer against an other.
In the east were sixe Leuites, and toward the north foure a day, toward the south foure a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.
In Parbar toward the west two at the going vp, and two in Pharbar.
These are the deuisions of the porters among the sonnes of Koreh, & among the sonnes of Merari.
And of the Leuites, Ahiah had the ouersight of the treasures of the house of God, & of the treasures of the dedicate thinges.
As concerning the sonnes of Laadan, which were the children of the Gersonites of Laadan, came auncient fathers, euen of Laadan there came Gersuni, and Iehieli.
The sonnes of Iehieli, Zetham, and Ioel his brother, which were ouer the treasures of the house of the Lorde.
Of the Amramites also and Izaharites, Hebronites, and Ozielites.
And Subael the sonne of Gersom the sonne of Moyses, [was] a ruler ouer the treasures.
And of his brethren the sonnes of Eliezer was Rahabiahu, whose sonne was Iesaiahu, whose sonne was Ioram, whose sonne was Zichri, whose sonne was Selomith.
Which Selomith & his brethren were ouer all the treasures of the dedicate thinges, which Dauid the king, and the auncient fathers, the captaynes ouer thousandes and hundredes, and the captaynes of the hoast had dedicated,
Out of the spoyles wonne in battailes, they did dedicate to maynetayne the house of the Lorde.
And all that Samuel the sear, & Saul the sonne of Cis, and Abner the sonne of Ner, and Ioab the sonne of Zaruia, had dedicated, and whosoeuer had dedicated any thing, it was vnder the hand of Selomith and of his brethren.
Of the Izaharites was Chenamahu and his sonnes appoynted to the busynesse without foorth ouer Israel: for they were officers and iudges.
And of the Hebronites, Hasabiahu and his brethren, men of actiuitie, a thousand and seuen hundred, were officers among them of Israel beyond Iordane westward, in al busynesse belonging to God, and seruice of the king.
Among the Hebronites was Iedia the chiefest, euen a prince among the Hebronites and fathers of his kinred: And in the fourtith yere of the kingdome of Dauid, they were sought for, and there were founde among them men of actiuitie at Iazer in Gilead.
And his brethren were men of actiuitie, euen two thousand and seuen hundred auncient fathers: whom king Dauid made rulers ouer the Rubenites, Gadites, and ouer the halfe tribe of Manasse, for euery matter pertayning to God, and for the kinges busynesse.
THE children of Israel, after the number of them, {th}e auncient heads and captaynes of thousandes and hundredes, and their officers that serued the king by dyuers courses, which came in and went out moneth by moneth, throughout all the monethes of the yere: And in euery course were twentie and foure thouthousand.
Ouer the first course for the first moneth, was Iasoboam the sonne of Zabdiel, and in his course were twentie and foure thousand.
And the chiefest of all the captaynes of the hoast for the first moneth, was of the children of Pharez.
Ouer the course of the second moneth, was Dodai an Ahohite, & in his course was Mikloth a ruler, [his helper:] and in his course were twentie and foure thousand.
The chiefe captayne of the third hoast for the third moneth, was Banaiahu the sonne of Iehoiada the hie priest, and in his course were twentie and foure thousand.
This is that Banaiahu which was most mightie among thirtie, and aboue thirtie: And in his part was Amizabad his sonne.
The fourth captayne for the fourth moneth, was Asael the brother of Ioab, and Zabadaia his sonne after him, and in his course were twentie & foure thousand.
The fifth captayne for the fifth moneth, was Samhut the Iezrahite, and in his course were twentie and foure thousand.
The sixt captayne for the sixt moneth, was Ira the sonne of Ickes a Theckuite, and in his course were twentie and foure thousand.
The seuenth captayne for the seuenth moneth, was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim, and in his course were twentie and foure thousand.
The eyght captayne for the eyght moneth, was Sibbechai an Husathite of {th}e kynrede of Zarhi, & in his course were twentie and foure thousand.
The ninth captayne for the ninth moneth, was Abiezer an Anathothite of the sonnes of Iemini, and in his course were twentie and foure thousand.
The tenth captayne for the tenth moneth, was Maharai the Netophatite of the Zarahites, & in his course were twentie and foure thousand.
The eleuenth captayne for the eleuenth moneth, was Banaia the Pirathonite of the children of Ephraim, and in his course were twentie and foure thousand.
The twelfth captayne for the twelfth moneth, was Heldai the Netophatite of Othoniel, and in his course were twentie and foure thousand.
And the rulers ouer the tribes of Israel were these: Among the Rubenites, was Eliezer the sonne of Zichri: Among the Simeonites also, was Saphathiahu the sonne of Maacha.
Among the Leuites, Hasabia the sonne of Kemuel: Among the Aaronites, Zadok.
Among them of Iuda, Elihu of the brethren of Dauid: Among them of Issachar, Omri the sonne of Michael.
Among them of Zabulon, Iesmaiahu the sonne of Obadiahu: Among the{m} of Nephthali, Ierimoth {th}e sonne of Azriel.
Among the children of Ephraim, Hosea the sonne of Azariahu: In the halfe tribe also of Manasse, Ioel the sonne of Pedaiahu.
Of the halfe tribe of Manasse in Gilead, I•ddo the sonne of Zachariahu: Among them of Beniamin, Iaasiel the sonne of Abner.
Among them of Dan, Azarel the sonne of Ieroham. These are the lordes of the tribes of Israel.
But Dauid toke not the number of them vnder twentie yeres, because the Lorde saide he would encrease Israel lyke vnto the starres of the skye.
And Ioab the sonne of Zaruia began to number: but he finished it not, because that there fell wrath for it against Israel, neither was the number put into the cronicles of king Dauid.
Ouer the kinges treasures was Azmaueth the sonne of Adiel: And ouer the treasures of the fieldes, in the cities, and villages, and castels, was Iehonathan the sonne of Vzziahu.
And ouer the workemen in the fieldes that tilled the grounde, was Ezri the sonne of Chelub.
And the ouersight of the vineyardes, had Semei the Ramathite: Ouer the encrease also of the vineyardes, & ouer the winesellers, was Sabdi the Zaphonite.
And ouer the oliue trees and mulberie trees that were in the valleyes, was Baal Hanan the Gederite: And ouer the treasure of oyle, was Ioas.
Ouer the oxen that fed in Saron, was Setrai the Saronite: And ouer the oxen that were in the valleyes, was Saphat the sonne of Adlai.
Ouer the cammels, Obil the Ismaelite: And ouer the asses, was Iehdeiahu the Meronothite.
Ouer the sheepe was Iazez the Hagerite: All these were the rulers of the substaunce of king Dauid.
And Iehonathan Dauids vncle, a man of counsell and of vnderstanding, was a scribe, and Iehiel the sonne of Hachmoni was with {th}e kinges sonnes [instructing them.]
And Ahitophel was of the kinges counsell: And Husai the Arachite was the kinges companion.
And next to Ahitophel was Iehoiada the sonne of Banaiahu, and Abiathar: and the captayne of the kinges warre, was Ioab.
AND Dauid gathered all the lordes of Israel, the lordes of the tribes, the lordes of the companies that ministred to the king by course, {th}e captaines ouer the thousandes and ouer the hundredes, & the lordes that had the ouersight ouer all the substaunce and possession of Dauid, & of his sonnes, with the chamberlaynes, & al the mightie and valiaunt, and all actiue men, vnto Hierusalem.
And king Dauid stoode vp vpon his feete, and sayde: Heare me my brethren and my people, I had in myne heart to builde an house of rest, for the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde, and for the footestoole of our God, and had made redie for the building
But God saide vnto me: thou shalt not builde an house for my name, because thou hast ben a man of warre, and hast shed blood.
Moreouer the Lorde God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father, to be king ouer Israel for euer: for in Iuda would he choose a captaine, & of the householde of Iuda is the house of my father, & among the sonnes of my father he had a lust to me to make me king ouer all Israel.
And of all my sonnes (for the Lorde hath geuen me many sonnes) he hath chosen Solomon my sonne, to sit vpon the seate of the kingdome of the Lorde in Israel.
And he saide vnto me: Solomon thy sonne he shall builde me an house and courtes: I haue chosen him to be my sonne, and I will be his father.
I wyll stablishe his kingdome for euer, if he wyll be strong to do my commaundementes and my lawes, as it goeth this day.
Nowe therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lorde, and in the audience of our God, keepe and seeke for all the commaundementes of the Lorde your God, that ye may enioy a good lande, and leaue inheritaunce for your children after you for euer.
And thou Solomon my sonne, knowe thou the God of thy father, and serue him with a pure heart and with a wyllyng minde: For the Lord searcheth al heartes, and vnderstandeth all the immaginations of thoughtes: And if thou seeke him, he wyll be founde of thee: but if thou forsake him, he wyll cast thee of for euer.
Take heede now, for the Lorde hath chosen thee to builde him an house of a sanctuarie: Be strong therefore & play the man.
And Dauid gaue Solomon his sonne the paterne of the porche, and of the houses that longed thereto, of the storehouses, vpper chambers, inner parlours, and of the house of the mercie seate:
And the example of all that he had in his minde for the courtes of the house of the Lorde, and for all the celles rounde about, for the treasures of the house of God, and for the treasures of the dedicate thinges:
For the deuisions of the priestes and Leuites that wayted by course, and for al the workemanship that should serue for the house of the Lorde, and for all the vessels that shoulde serue in the house of the Lorde:
For golde, and for the waight of golde, for all vessels of sundry ministrations, for all maner of vessels of siluer in waight, and for all vessels whatsoeuer purpose they serued vnto:
The waight of golde for the candelstickes, and the golde for their lampes, with the waight for euery candelsticke and for the lampes thereof: And for the candelstickes of siluer by waight, both for the candelsticke & also for her lampes, according to the diuersitie of the vse of euery candelsticke.
And by wayght [he gaue] golde for the tables of shewe bread, euen for euery table, and likewyse siluer for the tables of siluer.
And pure golde for the fleshehookes, cuppes, and drinking pots: and [pure] golde in wayght for basons, euen for euery bason: and likewyse siluer by waight, for euery bason of siluer.
And for the aulter of incense, pure golde by waight, and golde for the patterne of the charret of the Cherubs that stretched out their winges and couered the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde.
All [he sayde] was geuen me by wryting of the hande of the Lorde, which made me vnderstand al the workemanship of the patterne.
And Dauid said to Solomon his sonne: be strong & of good courage, & do manfullye, feare not nor be faint hearted, for {th}e lord God, euen my God, is with thee, & he shall not faile thee, nor forsake thee, vntill thou hast finished al {th}e worke that must serue for the house of the Lorde.
Beholde, the priestes and Leuites are deuided in companies for all maner of seruice that pertayneth to the house of God, they are with thee for all maner of workmanship, and so are al that excel in wysedome for any maner of seruice: thou hast also the princes and all the people who ly at thy commaundement.
AND Dauid the king saide vnto all the congregation: God hath specially chosen Solomon my sonne which is yet young & tender, & the worke is great: for the house shall not be for man, but for the Lorde God.
Moreouer, I haue prepared with all my might for the house of my God, golde for vessels of golde, siluer for them of siluer, brasse for thinges of brasse, iron for thinges of iron, & wood for thynges of wood, and onix stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of diuers colours, & al maner of precious stones, & marble stones in great aboundaunce.
And because I haue lust to the house of my God, I haue of myne owne proper good of golde and siluer which I haue geuen to the house of my God, beside all that I haue prepared for the holy house,
Euen three thousand talentes of golde of Ophir, and seuen thousand talentes of tried siluer, to ouer laye the walles of the house withall.
The golde for thinges of golde, siluer for them of siluer, and for all maner of worke by the handes of artificers: And whosoeuer is wylling, may this day consecrate his hande vnto the Lorde.
And so the auncient fathers and the lordes of the tribes of Israel, the captaynes of thousandes and hundredes, with the lordes that were rulers ouer the kinges worke, were willing,
And gaue for the seruice of the house of God, fiue thousand talentes of golde, and ten thousand peeces [of golde,] and ten thousand talentes of siluer, & eyghtteene thousand talentes of brasse, and one hundred thousand talentes of iron.
And they with whom precious stones were founde, gaue them to the treasure of the house of the Lord by the hand of Iehiel the Gersonite.
And the people reioyced when they were so wylling to geue their goodes, and with a perfect heart they offered wyllingly to the Lord: And Dauid the king reioyced with great gladnesse.
And Dauid blessed the Lorde before all the congregation, and sayde: Blessed be thou Lorde God of Israel, our father from euer and for euer.
Thyne O Lorde is greatnesse, and power, glory, victorie, and prayse: for all that is in heauen and in earth is thyne, and thyne is the kingdome O Lorde, and thou excellest aboue all, euen as the head of all.
And richesse and honour come of thee, and thou raignest ouer all, and in thyne hande is power & strength, and in thyne hand it is to make great and to geue strength vnto all.
And nowe our God we thanke thee, and prayse thy glorious name.
But who am I? and what is my people? that we should enforce our selues to geue these thinges so willingly? But all thinges come of thee, & of that which we receaued at thyne hand, we haue geuen thee.
For we be but straungers before thee, and soiourners, as were al our fathers: Our dayes on the earth also are but as a shadowe, and there is none abiding.
O Lorde our God, all this stuffe that we haue prepared to builde thee an house for thy holy name, commeth of thyne hand, and is all thyne.
I wot also my God that thou tryest the heartes, and hast pleasure in vnfaynednesse, & in the vnfaonednesse of myne heart I haue wyllingly offered al these thinges: And now haue I seene thy people which are founde here to offer vnto thee wyllyngly, and with gladnesse.
O Lorde God of Abraham, Isahac, and of Israel our fathers, keepe this for euer in the desire of the thoughtes of the heart of thy people, & prepare their heartes vnto thee.
And geue vnto Solomon my sonne a perfect heart, to keepe thy commaundementes, thy testimonies, & thy statutes, and to do all, and builde the house, for the which I haue made prouision.
And Dauid saide to all the congregation: Now blesse the Lorde your God. And all the congregation blessed the Lorde God of their fathers, and bowed downe their heades, and worshipped the Lorde and the king.
And they offered offringes vnto the Lorde: And on the morowe after the saide day, they offred burnt offringes vnto the Lorde, euen a thousand young oxen, a thousand rammes, and a thousand sheepe, with their drinke offrings: Many sacrifices offred they for all Israel,
And did eate & drinke before the Lord the same day with great gladnesse: And they made Solomon the sonne of Dauid king the second time, and annoynted him prince before the Lorde, and Zadoc to be the hie priest.
And Solomon sate on the seate of the Lorde, and was king in steade of Dauid his father, and prospered: and all they of Israel obeyed him.
And all the lordes and men of power, and all the sonnes of king Dauid, submitted them selues, & were vnder king Solomon.
And the Lorde magnified Solomon in dignitie in the sight of all them of Israel, and gaue him so glorious a kingdome, as no king had before him in Israel.
And so Dauid the sonne of Isai raigned ouer all Israel.
And the space that he raigned ouer Israel, was fouretie yeres: Seuen yeres raigned he in Hebron, and thirtie and three yeres raigned he in Hierusalem.
And he dyed in a good age, ful of dayes, riches, and honour: and Solomon his sonne raigned in his steade.
The actes of Dauid the king first and last, beholde they are written in the booke of Samuel the sear, and in the booke of Nathan the prophete, and in the booke of Gad the sear:
With all his kingdome, and power, and times, that went ouer him, & ouer all Israel, and ouer all the kingdomes of the earth.
ANd Solomon the sonne of Dauid waxed strong in his kingdome, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him in dignitie.
And Solomon spake vnto all Israel, to the captaynes ouer thousandes, to the captaynes ouer hundredes, to the iudges, and to euery officer in all Israel, and to the auncient fathers.
And so Solomon and all the congregation with him went to the hie place that was at Gibeon: for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moyses the seruaunt of the Lorde made in the wyldernesse.
But the arke of God had Dauid brought from Kiriathiarim, into the place which Dauid had prepared therfore: For he had pitched a tent for it at Hierusalem.
Moreouer, the brasen aulter that Bezaleel the sonne of Vri the sonne of Hur had made, was there before the tabernacle of the Lorde: And Solomon and the congregation went to visite it.
And Solomon gat vp there before the Lord, to the brasen aulter that was before the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt sacrifices vpon it.
And the same night did God appeare vnto Solomon, and said vnto him: Aske what I shall geue thee.
And Solomon saide vnto God: Thou hast shewed great mercie vnto Dauid my father, and hast made me to raigne in his steade.
Now therefore, O Lorde God, let thy promise which thou madest vnto Dauid my father, be true: For thou hast made me king ouer a people which is lyke the dust of the earth in multitude:
Wherefore geue me now wysedome and knowledge, that I may be able to go in and out before this people: for who els can iudge this people that is so great?
And God saide to Solomon: Because this was in thyne heart, and because thou hast not asked treasure and riches, and honour, & the liues of thyne enemies, neither yet long lyfe, but hast asked wysedome and knowledge for thy selfe, to iudge my people ouer which I haue made thee king:
Wysedome and knowledge is graunted vnto thee, and I will geue thee treasure, & riches, and glory: so that among the kinges that haue ben before thee, or after thee, none was or shalbe lyke thee.
And so Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon to Hierusalem from the tabernacle of the congregation, and raigned ouer Israel.
And Solomon gathered charets and horsemen: and he had a thousand and foure hundred charets, & twelue thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the charet cities, and with the king at Hierusalem.
And the king made siluer and golde at Hierusalem as plenteous as stones, and Cedar trees made he as plentie as the Mulbery trees that growe in the valleyes.
Also Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, & fine linnen: The kinges marchaūtes receaued the fine linnen for a price.
They came also and brought out of Egypt a charet for sixe hundred peeces of siluer, euen an horse for an hundred and fiftie: And so brought they [horses] for all the kinges of the Hethites, and for the kinges of Syria, by their owne hande.
AND Solomon determined to buylde an house for the name of the Lord, and an house for his kingdome.
And Solomon tolde out threescore and ten thousande men to beare burthens, and fourescore thousand men to hewe stones in the mountayne, and three thousand and sixe hundred to ouersee them.
And Solomon sent to Hiram the king of Tyre, saying: As thou diddest deale with Dauid my father, and diddest send him Cedar wood to buyld him an house to dwell in [euen so deale with me:]
Behold I buylde an house for the name of the Lorde my God, to offer vnto him holy thinges, & to burne sweete incense, and to set shewe bread before him continually, to offer burnt sacrifices of the morning and euening on the Sabbath dayes, in the firste day of euery newe moone, and in the solempne feastes of the Lorde our God: for it is an ordinaunce to be continually kept of Israel.
And the house which I buylde shalbe great: for great is our God aboue all gods.
But who is able to buylde him an house? when that heauen and heauen aboue all heauens is not able to receaue him, what am I then that should buyld him an house? nay, but euen to burne sacrifice before him [shall this buylding be.]
Sende me nowe therefore a cunning man, that can worke in golde and siluer, in brasse and iron, in purple, crymosin, yelowe silke, & that can skyll to graue with the cunning men that are with me in Iuda and Hierusalem, whom Dauid my father dyd prepare.
Sende me also Cedar trees, pine trees, and algume trees, out of Libanon: For I wot that thy seruauntes can skill to hewe timber in Libanon: and behold my men shalbe with thyne,
That they may prepare me timber enough: For the house whiche I am determined to buylde, shalbe wonderfull great.
And behold, for the vse of thy seruauntes the cutters and hewers of timber, I haue geuen twentie thousande quarters of beaten wheat, and twentie thousand quarters of barlye, and twentie thousande battes of wine, and twentie thousande battes of oyle.
And Hiram {th}e king of Tyre aunswered in writing, whiche he sent to Solomon▪ Because the Lorde hath loued his people, therefore hath he made thee king ouer them.
And Hiram sayde moreouer. Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel whiche made heauen & earth, & that hath geuen Dauid the king a wise sonne, and one that hath descretion, prudence, and vnderstanding, to buyld an house for the Lord, and a palace for his kingdome.
And now I haue sent a wise man, and a man of vnderstanding, whom my father Hiram dyd vse:
The sonne of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, and he can skil to worke in gold and siluer, in brasse and iron, in stone and timber, in purple and yelowe silke, in fine whyte and crymosin, and can graue sundry maner of grauinges, and to finde out diuers maner of subtill worke that shalbe set before hym, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lorde Dauid thy father.
Nowe therefore, the wheate and barlye, oyle and wine, which my lorde hath spoken of, let him sende vnto his seruauntes:
And we will cut wood in Libanon as much as thou shalt neede, and wil bring it to thee in flotes by sea to Iapho, from whence thou mayest cary them to Hierusalem.
And Solomon numbred all the straungers that were in the lande of Israel, after the number of them whom his father Dauid had numbred: And they were founde an hundred fiftie and three thousand, and sixe hundred.
And he set threescore and ten thousande to beare burthens, and fourescore thousande to hewe stones in the mountayne, and three thousande & sixe hundred officers to set the people a worke.
ANd Solomon began to buylde the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem in mount Moria where the Lorde appeared vnto Dauid his father, euen in the place that Dauid prepared in the thresshing floore of Ornan the Iebusite.
And he began to buylde in the seconde day of the seconde moneth, the fourth yere of his raigne.
And these are the patternes whereby Solomon was instruct to buylde the house of God: The length was threescore cubites after the olde measure, and the breadth twentie cubites.
And the porche that was before the length in the front, according to the breadth of the house, was twentie cubites, and the heyght was an hundred and twentie cubites: and he ouerlayed it on the inner syde with pure golde.
And the greater house he seeled with firre tree, whiche he ouerlayed with the best golde, and graued thereto paulme trees and chaynes.
And he ouerlayed the house with precious stone beautyfully: And the golde was golde of Paruaim.
The house [I say] the beames, postes, walles, and doores therof, ouerlayed he with golde, and graued Cherubs on the walles.
And he made the house most holy: whose length was twentie cubites like to the breadth of the house, and the breadth therof was also twentie cubites: and he ouerlayed it with good golde, euen with sixe hundred talentes.
And the wayght of the nayles of golde was fiftie sicles: and he ouerlayed the vpper chambers with golde.
And in the house most holy he made two Cherubims of image worke, like children, and ouerlayed them with gold.
And the wynges of the Cherubs were twentie cubites long: The one wyng was fiue cubites, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wyng was likewise fiue cubites, reaching to the wyng of the other Cherub.
And euen so the one wyng of the other Cherub was fiue cubites, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wyng was fiue cubites also, and reached to the wyng of the other Cherub.
So that the wynges of the sayde Cherubs were stretched out twentie cubites: and they stoode on their feete, and loked inwardes.
And he made a fore hanging of yelow silke, purple, crymosin, and fine white, & caused the pictures of Cherubs to be brodred theron.
And he made before the house two pillers of thirtie and fiue cubites high, and the head that was aboue on the top of euery one of them was fiue cubites,
And he made chaynes of wreathe{n} worke for the quier, & put them on the heades of the pillers: and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chaynes.
And he reared vp the pillers before the temple, one on the right hande, and the other on the left: and called the right Iachin, and the left Boaz.
ANd he made an aulter of brasse, twentie cubites long, and twentie cubites broade, and ten cubites hie.
And he cast a brasen lauatorie of ten cubites from brym to brym, rounde in compasse, and fiue cubites hie: and a line of thirtie cubites dyd compasse it round about.
And vnder it was the fashion of oxen, whiche dyd compasse it rounde about: with ten cubites dyd they compasse the lauatorie rounde about, and there were two rowes of oxen whiche were cast lyke molten worke.
And it stoode also vpon twelue oxen: three loked towarde the north, three towarde the west, three toward the south, and three toward the east: and the lauatorie was set vpon them, and all their backes were towarde the lauatorie.
And the thyckest of it was an hande breadth, and the brym like the brym of a cuppe, with floures of lilies: and it receaued and helde three thousande battes.
And he made ten lauers, and put fiue on the right hand, and fiue on the left, to washe and clense in them such thinges as they offered for a burnt offring: But the great lauatorie was for the priestes to washe in.
And he made ten candelstickes of gold, according to the patterne that was geue{n} of them, and put them in the temple, fiue on the right hande, and fiue on the left.
And he made also ten tables, and put them in the temple, fiue on the right side, and fiue on the left: And he made an hundred basens of golde.
And he made the court of the priestes, and the great court, and doores to it, and ouerlayde the doores of them with brasse.
And he set the great lauatorie on the right side of the east ende, ouer against the south.
And Hiram made pottes, shouels, and basens, & finished the worke that he was appoynted to make for king Solomon in the house of God.
The two pillers, and the bowles, and the pommels on the toppe of the two pillers, and the two wreathes to couer the two bowles of the pommels whiche were on the toppe of the pillers,
And foure hundred pomegranates on the two wreathes: two rowes of pomegranates on one wreath to couer the two bowles of the pomels.
And he made two bottomes, and lauers made he vpon the bottomes.
The great lauatorie, and twelue oxen vnder it.
Pottes also, shouels, and fleshhokes: and all these vessels dyd Hiram his father make to king Solomon for the house of the Lord, of bright brasse.
In the playne of Iordane did the king cast them, euen in the clay grounde that is betweene Socoth and Zaredatha.
And Solomon made al these vessels in great aboundaunce: for the weyght of brasse coulde not be reckened.
And Solomon made al the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden aulter also, & the tables to set the shewe bread vpon.
Moreouer, the candelstickes with their lampes, to burne after the maner before the quier, and that of precious golde.
And the floures, and the lampes, and the snoffers made he of golde, and that perfect golde.
And the dressing knyues, basens, spoones, and censers of pure golde: And the doore of the temple, and the inner doores within the place most holy, and the inner doores of the temple were gilted.
ANd so all the worke that Solomon made in the house of the lord was finished: And Solomon brought in all the thinges that Dauid his father had dedicated, with the siluer and golde, and al the iewels, and put them among the treasures of the house of God.
Then Solomon gathered the elders of Israel together, and all the heades of the tribes and auncient fathers of the children of Israel, vnto Hierusalem, to bring the arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde out of the citie of Dauid, whiche is [in] Sion.
Wherefore all the men of Israel resorted vnto the king in the feast, euen in the seuenth moneth.
And all the elders of Israel came, and the Leuites toke vp the arke.
And the priestes & the Leuites brought away the arke of the tabernacle of {th}e congregatio{n}, & al the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, and they bare them.
And king Solomon & all the congregation of Israel that were assembled vnto him before the arke, offered sheepe and oxen, so many that they coulde not be tolde nor numbred for multitude.
And the priestes brought the arke of the appoyntment of the Lorde vnto his place, euen into the quier of the temple within the place most holy, and set it vnder the wynges of the Cherubs,
So that the Cherubs stretched out their wynges ouer the place of the arke, and the Cherubs couered both the arke and her barres aboue on hye.
And the barres of the arke were so long, that the heades of the barres were seene without the arke within the quier, but not without: and there the arke remayned vnto this day.
But there was nothing in the arke saue the two tables which Moyses put therin at Horeb, when the Lord made a couenaunt with the children of Israel after they were come out of Egypt.
And it fortuned, that when the priestes were come out of the holy place (for all the priestes that were present, were sanctified, and did not then wayte by course)
That both the Leuites and the singers, vnder Asaph, Heman, and Ieduthun, were appoynted to sundry offices with their children and brethren, and were arayed in syne whyte, hauing cymbales, psalteries, and harpes, and stoode at the east ende of the aulter, and by them an hundred and twentie priestes blowing with trumpets:
And the trumpet blowers and the singers so agreed, that it seemed but one voyce in praysing & thanking the Lorde: And when they lift vp their voyce with the trumpets, cymbales, and other instrumentes of musicke, and when they praysed the Lord, How that he is good, and that his mercie lasteth euer: the house of God was filled with a cloude,
So that the priestes coulde not endure to minister by the reason of the cloude: For the maiestie of the Lorde had filled the house of God.
THen Solomon sayde: The Lord hath spoken, howe that he wil dwell in the darcke cloude.
And I haue buylt thee an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for euer.
And the king turned his face and blessed the whole congregation of Israel, & all the congregation of Israel stoode.
And he sayde: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which hath with his handes fulfilled it that he spake with his mouth to my father Dauid, saying:
Since the day that I brought my people out of the lande of Egypt, I chose no citie among all the tribes of Israel to buylde an house in, that my name might be there, neither chose I any man to be a ruler ouer my people Israel:
Sauing that I haue chosen Hierusalem, that my name might be there, and haue chosen Dauid to be ouer my people Israel.
And when it was in the heart of Dauid my father to buylde an house for the name of the Lorde God of Israel,
The Lorde sayde to Dauid my father: Forasmuch as it was in thyne heart to buylde an house for my name, thou diddest well that thou thoughtest in thyne heart.
Notwithstanding, thou shalt not buyld the house: but thy sonne which is proceeded out of thy loynes, he shall buylde an house for my name.
The Lorde therefore hath made good his saying that he hath spoken: and I am rysen vp in the roome of Dauid my father, and am set on the seate of Israel, as the Lorde promised, and haue buylt an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.
And in it haue I put the arke wherein is the couenaunt of the Lorde that he made with the children of Israel.
And the king stoode before the aulter of the Lorde in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and stretched out his handes:
(For now Solomon had made a brasen scaffold of fyue cubites long, and fyue cubites brode, and three of heyght, and had set it in the middes of the great courte, and vpon it he stoode and kneeled downe vpon his knees before al the congregation of Israel, and stretched out his handes towarde heauen,)
And sayde: O Lorde God of Israel, there is no god like thee in heauen and earth, which kepest couenaunt & shewest mercie vnto thy seruauntes that walke before thee with al their heartes.
Thou whiche hast kept with thy seruaunt Dauid my father the thinges that thou promisedst him, thou saydest it with thy mouth, & hast fulfilled it with thyne handes, as it is to see this day.
And nowe Lorde God of Israel, kepe with thy seruaunt Dauid my father the thinges that thou promisedst him, saying, Thou shalt in my sight not be without a man that shall sit vpon the seate of Israel, so that thy children take heede to their wayes to walke in my lawe, as thou hast walked before me.
And nowe Lord God of Israel, let thy saying be true whiche thou spakest vnto thy seruaunt Dauid.
(And wil God in verie deede dwel with men on earth? Beholde, heauen and heauen aboue all heauens do not contayne thee, howe much lesse the house which I haue buylded?)
Let it be thy pleasure therfore to turne to the prayer of thy seruaunt and to his supplication O Lorde my God, to hearken vnto the voyce and prayer whiche thy seruaunt prayeth before thee.
And let thyne eyes be open towarde this house day & night, ouer this place wherof thou hast sayde that thou wouldest put thy name there, to hearken vnto the prayer whiche thy seruaunt prayeth in this place.
Hearken vnto the prayers of thy seruaunt and of thy people Israel, which they pray in this place: heare thou I say, out of thy dwelling place, euen out of heauen, heare, and be mercifull.
If a man sinne against his neyghbour, and take an oth agaynst hym and make him to sweare, and they both come before thyne aulter in this house:
Then heare thou from heauen, and do and iudge thy seruauntes, that thou rewarde the vngodly & recompence hym his way vpon his head, and iustifie the righteous, and geue him according to his righteousnes.
And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemie, because they haue sinned against thee: Yet if they turne & geue thankes vnto thy name, and make intercession, and pray before thee in this house:
Then heare thou from heauen, and be merciful vnto the sinne of thy people Israel, and bryng them againe vnto the lande which thou gauest to them and to their fathers.
When heauen is shut vp, and there be no rayne, because they haue sinned against thee: yet if they pray in this place, and confesse thy name, and repent from their sinne for the which thou chastenest them:
Then heare thou in heauen, and be merciful vnto the sinne of thy seruauntes & of thy people Israel, and guyde thou them into the good way to walke in, and send rayne vpon thy lande whiche thou hast geuen vnto thy people for an inheritaunce.
And if ther be dearth in the land, or pestilence, corruption, or blasting of corne, grashoppers, or caterpillers, or that their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land, or whatsoeuer plage or sickenesse it be:
Then what supplications and prayers soeuer shalbe made of any man and of all thy people Israel, which shall know euery man his owne sore, and his owne griefe, & shall stretche out their handes towarde this house:
Thou shalt heare from heauen, euen from thy dwelling place, and shalt be mercifull, and geue euery man according vnto all his wayes, euen as thou doest know euery mans heart: (for thou only knowest the heartes of the children of men,)
That they may feare thee, & walke in thy wayes as long as they liue, in {th}e land which thou gauest vnto our fathers.
Moreouer, the straunger whiche is not of thy people Israel, if he come from a farre lande for thy great names sake, and thy mightie hande, and thy stretched out arme: If they come I say, and pray in this house:
Thou shalt heare from heauen, euen from thy dwelling place, and shalt do according to all that the straunger calleth to thee for: That all people of the earth may knowe thy name, and feare thee as doth thy people Israel, and that they may knowe how that in this house whiche I haue buylt, thy name is called vpon.
If thy people go out to warre against their enemies by the way that thou shalt sende them, and they pray to thee in the way towarde this citie whiche thou hast chosen, euen toward the house which I haue buylt for thy name:
Then heare thou from heauen their supplication and prayer, and helpe them in their right.
If they sinne against thee (as there is no man but he doth sinne) and thou be angry with them, and deliuer them ouer before their enemies, and they take them and carie them away captiues vnto a lande farre or neare:
Yet if they repent in their heart in the lande where they be in captiuitie, and turne, and pray vnto thee in the land of their captiuitie, saying, We haue sinned, we haue done euyll and wickedly:
And turne againe to thee with all their heart and all their soule in the lande of their •aptiuitie where they kepe them in bondage, and so pray towarde their land whiche thou gauest vnto their fathers, euen toward the citie which thou hast chosen, & toward the house whiche I haue buylt for my name:
Then heare thou from heauen, euen from thy dwelling place, their supplication and their prayer, and iudge their cause, and be mercifull vnto thy people which haue sinned against thee.
Now my God, let thine eyes be open, and thyne eares attent vnto the prayer that is made in this place.
Nowe vp O Lorde God into thy resting place, thou and the arke of thy strength: O Lorde God, let thy priestes be clothed with health, & let thy sainctes reioyce in goodnesse.
O Lord God, turne not away the face of thyne annoynted: remember the mercies whiche thou hast promised to Dauid thy seruaunt.
ANd when Solomon had made an ende of praying, there came downe fire from heauen, and consumed the burnt offring and the sacrifices: & the house was filled with the glorie of the Lorde,
And the priestes coulde not go into the house of the Lorde, because the glorie of the Lord had filled the lordes house.
And when al the children of Israel saw howe the fire and the glorie of the Lord came downe vpon the house, they fell downe flat vpon their faces to the earth vpon the pauement, and worshipped and confessed vnto the lord, That he is gracious, and that his mercie lasteth euer.
And the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lorde.
And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twentie and two thousande oxen, and an hundred and twentie thousande sheepe: and so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
And the priestes wayted on their offices, & the Leuites had the instrumentes of musicke of the Lord, which king Dauid had made to confesse vnto the Lord, that his mercie lasteth euer, Dauid praysing God by the{m}: And the priestes blew with trumpettes before them, and all they of Israel stoode.
Moreouer, Solomon halowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lorde, for there he offred burnt offringes: & the fat of the peace offringes, because the brasen aulter which Solomon had made, was not able to receaue the burnt offringes, and the meate offringes, and the fat.
So at the same time Solomon kept a feast of seuen dayes, and al they of Israel with him, an exceeding great congregation, euen from the entring in of Hamath vnto the riuer of Egypt.
And in the eyght day they made an assemblie: For they kept the dedication of the aulter seuen dayes, & the feast seuen dayes.
And the three and twentie day of the seuenth moneth he let the people depart into their tentes glad and mery in heart, for the goodnesse that the Lorde had shewed to Dauid and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.
And so Solomon finished the house of the Lorde, and the kinges house: and all that came in his heart to make in the house of the Lorde, & in his owne house, went prosperously forwarde.
And the Lorde appeared to Solomon by night, and sayd to him: I haue heard thy petition, and haue chosen this place for my selfe to be an house of sacrifice.
If I shut vp heauen that there be no rayne, or if I commaund the locustes to deuour the lande, or if I sende pestilence among my people:
And if they that are of my people, among whom my name is called vpon, do humble them selues, and make intercession, and seke my presence, and turns from their wicked wayes: then will I heare from heauen, and be mercifull to their sinne, and will heale their lande.
And from hencefoorth myne eyes shalbe open, and myne eares attent vnto the prayer that is made in this place.
And therfore nowe I haue chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for euer: and myne eyes and myne heart shalbe there perpetually.
And if thou wilt walke before me, as Dauid thy father walked, to do all that I haue commaunded thee, and shalt obserue my statutes and my lawes:
Then will I stablishe the seate of thy kingdome, according as I made the couenaunt with Dauid thy father, saying: Thou shalt not be without a man to be ruler in Israel.
But and if ye turne away, and forsake my statutes & my commaundementes which I haue set before you, and shall go and serue other gods, and worship them:
Then will I plucke them vp by the rootes, out of my lande whiche I haue geuen them, and this house whiche I haue sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a prouerbe and a iest among all nations.
And this house whiche is most high, shalbe an astonishement to euery one that passeth by, and shal say: Why hath the Lorde dealt on this fashion with this lande, and with this house?
And they shal aunswere: Because they forsoke the Lorde God of their fathers which brought them out of the lande of Egypt, and caught holde on other gods, and worshipped them, and serued them: euen therefore hath he brought all this euyll vpon them.
ANd it fortuned, that after twentie yeres, when Solomon had buylt the house of the Lorde and his owne house:
He buylt the cities that Hiram gaue hym, and put of the children of Israel in them.
And Solomon went to Hamath Zoba, and strengthed it.
And he buylt Thadmor in the wildernesse, & repaired all the store cities which were in Hamath.
And he buylt Bethhoron the vpper, and Bethhoron the neather, strong cities, hauing walles, gates, and barres:
And Baalah, and al the store cities that Solomon had, and all the charet cities, and the cities of the horsmen, and euery pleasaunt place that Solomon had l•st to buyld in Hierusalem & Libanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.
And all the people that were left of the Hethites, Amorites, Pherezites, Heuites and Iebusites, whiche were not of the children of Israel,
But were the children of them whiche were left after them in the lande, and were not consumed of the children of Israel, them dyd Solomon make to pay tribute, vntill this day.
But of the children of Israel dyd Solomon make no bondemen for his worke: but they were men of warre, and rulers, and great lordes with him, and captaynes ouer his charets and horsemen.
And king Solomons officers that ouersawe and ruled the people, were two hundred and fiftie.
And Solomon brought the daughter of Pharao out of the citie of Dauid, into the house that he had buylded for her: For he sayde, My wyfe shall not dwel in the house of Dauid king of Israel, for it is holy, because that the arke of the Lorde is come vnto it.
Then Solomon offred burnt offringes vnto the Lorde on the aulter of the Lorde, whiche he had buylt before the porche:
Doyng euery thing in his due time, and offering according to the commaundeme{n}t of Moyses, in the Sabbathes, new moones, and solempne feastes, three times in the yere, [that is to say] in the feast of sweete bread, in the feast of weekes, and in the feast of tabernacles.
And Solomon set the sortes of priestes to their offices as Dauid his father had ordered them, and the Leuites in their watches, for to prayse and minister before the priestes day by day, and the porters by course at euery gate: for so had Dauid the man of God commaunded.
And they omitted not the commaundement of the king vnto the priestes and Leuites, concerning any maner of thing, and concerning the treasures.
For Solomon made prouision for the charges, from the first day that the foundation of the house of the Lorde was layed, till it was finished, that the house of the Lorde was perfect.
Then went king Solomon to Ezion Gaber, and to Eloth at the sea side in the lande of Edom.
And Hiram sent hym by the handes of his seruauntes, shippes, and seruauntes that had knowledge of the sea: and they went with the seruauntes of Solomon to Ophir, and caryed thence foure hundred and fyftie talentes of golde, and brought it to king Solomon.
ANd when the queene of Saba hearde of the fame of Solomon, she came to proue him in hard questions at Hierusalem, with a verie great companie, with camels that bare spices, and plentie of golde, and precious stones: And when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that she had in her heart.
And Solomon soyled her all her questions: and there was not one word hyd from Solomon, which he tolde her not.
And when the queene of Saba had seene the wisdome of Solomon, and the house that he had buylt,
And the meate of his table, the sitting of his seruauntes, and the standing of his wayters, their apparell, his butlars, their apparell, his goyng vp by the whiche he went into the house of Lord: there was no more spirite in her.
And she sayde to the king: The saying which I hearde in myne owne lande of thyne actes and of thy wisdome, is true.
I beleued not the wordes of them, vntill I came and myne eyes had seene it: And beholde, the one halfe of thy wysdome was not tolde me: for thou exceedest the fame that I hearde.
Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy seruauntes which stand before thee alway, and heare thy wysdome.
Blessed be the Lorde thy God, whiche had lust to thee, to set thee [king] on his seate, that thou mightest be king for the Lord thy God: because thy God loueth Israel [and hath delyte] to make them continue euer, therefore made he thee king ouer them, to do right and equitie.
And she gaue the king an hundred and twentie talentes of golde, and of spices exceeding great aboundaunce, and precious stones: neither was ther any more such spyce as the queene of Saba gaue king Solomon.
And the seruauntes of Hiram and the seruauntes of Solomon which brought gold from Ophir, brought also Algume wood and precious stones.
And the king made of the Algume wood stayres in the house of the Lorde and in the kinges palace, & harpes, and psalteries for singers: And there was none such wood seene before in the land of Iuda.
And king Solomon gaue to the queene of Saba euery pleasant thing that she asked, besides that which she had brought vnto the king: And so she turned and went away to her owne lande with her seruauntes.
The waight of golde that came to Solomon in one yere, was sixe hundred threescore and sixe talentes of golde:
Besides that which chapmen & marchauntes brought: and all the kinges of Arabia and rulers of that countrey brought golde and siluer to Solomon.
And king Solomon made two hundred tarkets of beaten golde: and sixe hundred sicles of beaten golde were spe{n}t vpon one target.
And three hundred shieldes made he of beaten golde, & one shielde cost three hundred peeces of golde: and the king put them in the house that was in the forest of Libanon.
And the king made a great seate of yuory, & ouerlayde it with pure golde.
And there were sixe steps to the seate, with a footestoole of golde fastened to the seate: and pommels on eche syde of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the pommels.
And twelue lions stoode on the one side and on the other vpon the sixe steppes: so that there was no such worke made in any kingdome.
And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of golde, and al the vessels of the house that was in the forest of Libanon were of precious golde: for siluer was counted nothing worth in the dayes of Solomon.
For the kinges shippes went to Tharsis with the seruauntes of Hiram, euery three yeres once came the shippes to Tharsis, and brought golde, siluer, yuorie, and apes, and pecockes.
And king Solomon passed all the kinges of the earth, in richesse & wysedome.
And all the kinges of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to heare his wysedome that God had put in his heart.
And they brought euery man his present, vessels of siuer, & vessels of golde, rayment, harnesse, spises, horses, and mules, and whatsoeuer might be gotten yere by yere.
And Solomon had foure thousand stalles for horses, and charrettes, and twelue thousand horsemen: whom he bestowed in the charet cities, and [some were] with the king at Hierusalem.
And he raigned ouer all the kinges that were from Euphrates, vnto the lande of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.
And the king made siluer in Hierusalem as plenteous as stones, and Cedar trees as plenteous as {th}e Mulberie trees that growe in the valleys:
And they brought vnto Solomon horses, out of Egypt, and out of all landes.
The rest of the actes of king Solomon first and last, are they not written in the sayings of Nathan the prophete, and in the prophecie of Ahiah the Silonite, and in the visions of Iddo the sear of visions against Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat?
And Solomon raigned in Hierusalem vpon all Israel fouretie yeres.
And Solomon slept with his fathers: and they buried him in the citie of Dauid his father, & Rehoboam his sonne raigned in his steade.
ANd Rehoboam went to Sichem: for to Sichem were all Israel come together to make him king.
And when Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat (which was fled into Egypt from the presence of Solomon the king) heard it, he returned out of Egypt.
And they sent and called him: And so Ieroboam and all they of Israel, came and communed with Rehoboam, saying:
Thy father layde a greeuous yoke vpon vs: nowe therefore remit thou somewhat of the greeuous seruice of thy fafather, & of his heauy yoke that he put vpon vs, and we wyll serue thee.
And he saide to them: Come againe vnto me after three dayes. And the people departed.
And king Rehoboam counsailed with the elders that had stande before Solomon his father while he yet lyued, and he saide: what counsaile geue ye me, to aunswere this people againe?
And they tolde him, saying: If thou be kinde to this people, and shewe thy selfe lowlie to them, and speake louyng wordes to them, they wyll be thy seruauntes for euer.
But he left the counsaile which the elders gaue him, and toke counsaile with the young men that were growen vp with him, and that stoode in his presence.
And he saide vnto them: What aduise geue ye, that we may aunswere this people, which haue communed with me, saying, Abate somewhat of the yoke which thy father did put vpon vs?
And the young men that were growen vp with him, spake vnto him, saying, Thus shalt thou aunswere the people that speake to thee, saying: Thy father made our yoke heauy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for vs: Thus shalt thou say vnto the{m}, My litle finger, shalbe heauier then my fathers loynes.
For where my father put a heauy yoke vpon you, I will put more to your yoke: My father chastised you with whyppes, but I wyll chastise you with scourges.
And so Ieroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come againe to me the third day.
And the king aunswered them cruelly: and king Rehoboam left the counsaile of the aged men,
And aunswered them after the aduise of the young men, saying: My father made your yoke greeuous, and I wyll adde thereto: my father chastised you with whyppes, but I wyll chastise you with scourges.
And so the king hearkened not vnto the people: but the occasion came of God, that the Lorde might make good his saying which he spake by the hand of Ahia the Silonite to Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat.
And when all they of Israel saw that the king woulde not agree vnto them, the people aunswered the king, saying: What portion haue we in Dauid? For we haue no inheritaunce in the sonne of Isai: Euery man to his tent oh Israel, and nowe Dauid, see to thyne owne house. And so all Israel gat them to their tentes:
So that Rehoboam raigned ouer no mo of the children of Israel then dwelt in the cities of Iuda.
Then king Rehoboam also sent Haduram that was ruler ouer the tribute, and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he dyed: But king Rehoboam made speede to get him vp to his charet, to flee to Hierusalem.
And they of Israel rebelled against the house of Dauid vnto this day.
ANd when Rehoboam was come to Hierusalem, he gathered of the house of Iuda and Beniamin, nine score thousand chosen men of warre, to fight against Israel, & to bring the kingdome againe to Rehoboam.
And the worde of the Lorde came to Semiahu the man of God, saying:
Speake vnto Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon king of Iuda, & to all them of Israel that are in Iuda and Beniamin, and say:
Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go vp nor fight against your brethren: returne euery man to his house, for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the wordes of the Lorde, and returned from going against Ieroboam.
And Rehoboam dwelt in Hierusalem, and built strong cities in Iuda.
He built vp Bethlehem, & Etam, and Chekoa,
Bethzur, Socho, and Adullam,
Gath, and Maresa, and Ziph,
Adurahim, Lachis, and Azecah,
Zoraa, Aialon, and Hebron, which is in Iuda and Beniamin, strong cities.
And he repaired the strong holdes, and put captaynes in them, and store of vittaile, and wine, and oyle:
And in all cities he put shieldes and speares, & made them exceeding strong, hauing Iuda and Beniamin on his syde.
And the priestes and the Leuites that were in all Israel, resorted to him out of all their coastes.
For the Leuites left their suburbes, and their possession, and came to Iuda and Hierusalem: For Ieroboam and his sonnes had cast them out from ministring vnto the Lorde.
And he ordayned him priestes for the high places, for the deuils, and for the calues which he had made.
And after the Leuites, there went out all the tribes of Israel, such as submitted their heartes to seeke the Lord God of Israel, and came to Hierusalem to offer vnto the Lorde God of their fathers.
And so they strengthed the kingdome of Iuda, & made Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon mightie three yeres long: for three yeres they walked in the way of Dauid and Solomon.
And Rehoboam toke him Mahalath the daughter of Ierimoth the sonne of Dauid to wyfe, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the sonne of Isai.
Which bare him children, Ieus, Samaria, and Zaham.
And after her he toke Maacha the daughter of Absolon, which bare him Abia, Atthai, Ziza, and Selomith.
And Rehoboam loued Maacha the daughter of Absolo{n} aboue al his wyues and concubines: for he toke eyghteene wyues and threescore concubines, and begat twentie and eyght sonnes & threescore daughters.
And Rehoboam made Abia the sonne of Maacha, the chiefe ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
And he played wyselie, and scattered all his children throughout al the countryes of Iuda and Beniamin vnto euery strong citie, and he gaue them aboundaunce of vittaile, and obtayned many wyues.
AND it came to passe, that when Rehoboam had stablished the kingdome & became mightie, he forsooke the law of the Lorde, and all Israel with him.
And it fortuned, that in the fifth yere of king Rehoboam, Sesac the king of Egypt came vp against Hierusalem, because they had transgressed against the Lorde,
With twelue hundred charettes, and threescore thousand horsemen: And the people wer without number that came with him out of Egypt, Lubim, Suckim, and the blacke Moores.
And he toke the strong cities in Iuda, and came to Hierusalem.
Then came Semeia the prophete to Rehoboam and to the Lordes of Iuda that were gathered together within Hierusalem for Sesac, and saide vnto them: Thus saith the Lorde, Ye haue left me, and therefore haue I also left you in the handes of Sesac.
Whereupon the lordes of Israel and the king humbled themselues, and said: The Lorde is righteous.
And when the Lorde saw that they submitted them selues, the worde of the Lorde came to Semeia, saying: They submit them selues, therefore I wyl not destroye them, but I wyll deliuer them somewhat, and my wrath shall not be powred out vpon Hierusalem by the hand of Sesac.
Neuerthelesse, they shalbe his seruauntes: to knowe what difference is betweene my seruice and the seruice of the kingdomes of the worlde.
And so Sesac king of Egypt came to Hierusalem, & toke away the treasures of the house of the Lorde, and the treasures of the kinges house, he toke euen all: and he carryed away the shieldes of golde which Solomon made.
In steade of which, king Rehoboam made shieldes of brasse, and committed them to the handes of the chiefe of the garde, & that kept the entraunce of the kinges house.
And it came to passe, that when the king entred into the house of the Lorde, the garde came and fet them, & brought them againe vnto the gard chamber.
And when he humbled himselfe, the wrath of the Lorde turned from him, that he woulde not destroy altogether: and in Iuda all was well.
And so king Rehoboam waxed mightie, & raigned in Hierusalem: And Rehoboam was one and fourtie yeres olde when he began to raigne, and he raigned seuenteene yeres in Hierusalem, the citie which the Lorde had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there: And his mothers name was Naama, an Ammonitesse.
And he did euill, because he prepared not his heart to seeke the Lorde.
The actes also of Rehoboam first and last, are they not written in the sayinges of Semeia the prophete, & of Iddo the sear, which noted the genealogie? And there was warre alway betweene Rehoboam and Ieroboam.
And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the citie of Dauid, and Abia his sonne raigned in his steade.
THE eyghteenth yere of king Ieroboam began Abia to raigne ouer Iuda.
And he raigned three yeres in Hierusalem: (His mothers name also was Michaiahu, the daughter of Vriel of Gibea:) And ther was warre betweene Abia and Ieroboam.
And Abia set the battaile in aray with the armie of valiaunt men of warre, eue{n} foure hundred thousand chosen men: And Ieroboam set him selfe in aray to fight agaynst hym with eyght hundred thousand pickt men, which were strong, and men of armes.
And Abia stoode vp vpon Zemaraim, an hill which is in mount Ephraim, and saide: Heare me thou Ieroboam and al Israel.
Do not you knowe how that the Lord God of Israel gaue the kingdome ouer them of Israel to Dauid for euer, euen to him and to his sonnes, with a salted couenaunt?
And Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat the seruaunt of Solomon the sonne of Dauid is risen vp, and hath rebelled against his lorde.
And there gathered to him lewde men, the children of Belial, and preuailed against Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender hearted, and could not stand before them.
And now ye say, that ye be able to preuaile against the kingdome of the Lord, which is in the hande of the sonnes of Dauid, and ye be a great multitude, and haue the golden calues which Ieroboam made you for gods.
And haue ye not cast out the priestes of the Lorde the sonnes of Aaron and the Leuites, and haue made you priestes after the maner of the nations of other landes? so that whosoeuer commeth & consecrateth his hande with a young oxe and seuen rammes, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.
But we belong vnto the Lorde our God whom we haue not forsaken, and the priestes are the sonnes of Aaron which minister vnto the Lorde, and the Leuites wayte vpon their office.
They burne vnto the Lorde euery morning and euening burnt sacrifices, and sweete incense: the shewe bread set they in order vpon a pure table, and prepare the candelsticke of golde with the lampes of the same to burne euer at eue{n}: And truly we kept the watch of the lord our God, but ye haue forsaken him.
And beholde, God him selfe is our captayne, and his priestes blowe with the trumpettes and crie alarum against you. O ye children of Israel, fight not against the Lorde God of your fathers: for it wyll not prosper with you.
But for all that, Ieroboam conuayed men priuyly about, to come behinde the{m}: and so they were before Iuda, and the layers in wayte were behinde them.
And when they of Iuda loked about, beholde the battaile was before and behinde, and they cryed vnto the Lorde, and the priestes blewe with the trumpettes,
And the men of Iuda gaue a showte: And as the men of Iuda showted, it came to passe that God smote Ieroboam and all Israel before Abia and Iuda.
And the children of Israel fled before Iuda, and God delyuered them into their hande.
And Abia and his people slue a great slaughter of them: There fell downe wounded of Israel fiue hundred thousand chosen men.
And so the children of Israel were brought vnder at that time, & the children of Iuda preuayled, because they leaned vnto the Lorde God of their fathers.
And Abia folowed after Ieroboam, and toke cities from him, Bethel with the townes belonging thereto, Iesana with the townes that belonged thereto, and Ephron with her townes.
And Ieroboam recouered no strength againe in the dayes of Abia: And the Lorde plagued him, and he dyed.
But Abia waxed mightie, and maryed foureteene wiues, and begat twentie and two sonnes, and sixteene daughters.
The rest of the actes of Abia, his maners and his sayinges, are written in the story of the prophete Iddo.
SO Abia slept with his fathers, and they buryed him in the citie of Dauid, and Asa his sonne raigned in his steade, in whose dayes the lande was in quietnesse ten yeres.
And Asa did that was good & right in the eyes of the Lorde his God.
For he toke away straunge aulters and the high places, and brake downe the images, and cut downe the groues:
And commaunded Iuda to seeke the Lorde God of their fathers, and to do according to the lawe and commaundement.
And he put away out of all the cities of Iuda the high places & the images: & the kingdome was quiet before him.
And he built strong cities in Iuda, because the lande was in rest, and he had no warre in those yeres: for the Lorde had geuen him rest.
Therefore he saide vnto Iuda: let vs builde these cities, & make about them walles, towres, gates, and barres, for the lande is yet in rest before vs: because we haue sought the Lorde our God, we haue sought him, and he hath geuen vs rest on euery side. And so they built, and it prospered with them.
And Asa had an armie of men that bare shieldes and speares out of Iuda three hundred thousand, & out of Beniamin that bare shieldes & drewe bowes two hundred and fourescore thousand: all these were valiaunt men.
And there came out against them Zarah the blacke Morian with an hoast of ten hundred thousand, & three hundred charettes, & came as farre as Maresa.
And Asa went out before him, and they ioyned the battaile in the valley of Zephata, beside Maresa.
And Asa cryed vnto the Lorde his God, and saide: Lorde, it is no harde thing with thee to helpe with many or them that haue no power: Helpe vs therfore O Lorde our God, for we trust to thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude: Thou art the Lord our God, and no man shall preuaile against thee.
So the Lord smote the blacke Moores before Asa and Iuda, and the blacke Moores fled.
And Asa & the people that was with him, folowed after them vnto Gerar: And the blacke Moores hoast was ouerthrowen, that there was none of them left, but were destroyed before the Lord and before his hoast: And they caryed away a mightie great pray.
And they smote all the cities rounde about Gerar, for the feare of the Lorde came vpon them: And they spoyled all the cities, & there was exceeding much spoyle in them.
They smote also the tentes of cattaile, and caryed away plentie of sheepe and camels, and returned to Hierusalem.
AND the spirite of God came on Azaria the sonne of Obed,
And he went out to meete Asa, and said vnto him: Heare me Asa, and al Iuda and Beniamin, the Lorde is with you, while ye be with him: and when ye seeke him, he wyll be founde of you: and againe when ye forsake him, he also wyll forsake you.
Nowe for a long season Israel hath ben without the true God, and without priestes to teache, and without law.
And when any man in his trouble did turne vnto the Lorde God of Israel and sought him, he was found of them.
And in that time there was no peace to him that did go out and in, but great sedition was there among all the inhabiters of the earth.
And nation was destroyed of nation, and citie of citie: for God did moue all aduersitie among them.
Play ye therefore the men, and let not your handes slacke: for your worke shal be rewarded.
And when Asa heard those wordes, and the prophecie of Azaria the sonne of Obed the prophete, he toke courage, and put away the abhominable idols out of all the lande of Iuda and Beniamin, and out of the cities which he wan in mount Ephraim, and renued the aulter of the Lorde that was before the porche of the Lorde.
And he gathered al Iuda and Beniamin, and the straungers with them, out of Ephraim, Manasse, & Simeon: For there fell many to him out of Israel, when they sawe that the Lord his God was with him.
So they assembled together at Hierusale{m} the third moneth, the fifteenth yere of the raigne of Asa.
And they offered vnto the Lorde the same time of the spoyle which they had brought, seuen hundred oxen, and seuen thousand sheepe.
And they made a couenaunt to seeke the Lorde God of their fathers, with all their heart, and all their soule.
And whosoeuer woulde not seeke the Lorde God of Israel, shoulde dye for it, whether he were small or great, man or woman.
And they sware vnto the Lorde with a loude voyce, showting and blowing with trumpettes and shawmes.
And all they in Iuda reioyced at the oth: for they had sworne vnto the Lord with all their heart, & sought him with all their lust, and he was found of them: And the Lorde gaue them rest rounde about on euery syde.
And king Asa put Maacha his mother out of aucthoritie, because she had made an abhominable idol in a groue: And Asa broke downe her idol, & stamped it, & burnt it at the brooke Cedron.
But al the high places were not taken away out of Israel, though the heart of Asa was perfect all his dayes.
And he brought into the house of God the thinges that his father had dedicate, and that he him selfe had dedicate: euen siluer, and golde, and iewels.
And there was no more warre vnto the thirtie and fiue yere of the raigne of Asa.
IN the thirtie and sixth yere of the raigne of Asa, came Baasa king of Israel against Iuda, & built Rama, to the intent that he would let none passe out or in to Asa king of Iuda.
And Asa fet out golde and siluer out of the treasures of the house of the Lord, & [out] of the kings house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria that dwelt at Darmese•, and saide:
There is a confederation betweene me and thee, betweene my father and thyne: beholde I haue sent thee siluer and golde, that thou wilt come & breake thyne appoyntment with Baasa king of Israel, that he may departe from me.
And Benhadad graunted vnto king Asa, and sent the captaynes of his armies to the cities of Israel: and they smote Iion, Dan, and Abelmaim, & all the strong cities of Nephthali.
And when Baasa heard this, he left building of Rama, and let his worke ceasse.
And then Asa the king toke all Iuda, and caryed away the stones and timber of Rama wherewith Baasa was a building, and he built therewith Geba and Mispah.
At that time Hanani the sear came to Asa king of Iuda, and saide vnto him: Because thou hast trusted in the king of Syria, and not rather put thy trust in the Lord thy God, therfore is the hoast of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hande.
Had not the blacke Moores and Lubim an exceeding great hoast, with many charettes and horsemen? And yet because thou trustedst in the Lorde, he deliuered them into thyne hande.
For the eyes of the Lorde beholde all the earth, to strength them that are of perfect heart toward him: Herem thou hast done foolishly, and therefore from hencefoorth thou shalt haue warre.
And so Asa was wroth with the sear, and put him into a prison house, for he was displeased with him because of this thing: And Asa destroyed [certaine] of the people the same season.
And beholde, these deedes of Asa first and last, are written in the booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel.
And Asa in the thirtie and ninth yere of his raigne fell sicke in his feete, and that his disease continued very long: And in his sickenesse he sought not the lord, but phisitions.
And Asa slept with his fathers, and dyed in the fourtie and one yere of his raigne.
And they buried him in his owne sepulchre which he had made for himselfe in the citie of Dauid, and layde him in the bed which he had filled with diuers kindes of spices, & sweete odours made by the craft of the appothecaries: and burnt very much spice about him.
AND Iehosaphat his sonne raigned in his steade, and preuailed against Israel.
And he put souldiers in all the strong cities of Iuda, and set rulers in the lande of Iuda, and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had wonne.
And the Lorde was with Iehosaphat, because he walked in the olde wayes of his father Dauid, and sought not Baalim,
But sought the Lorde God of his father, and walked in his commaundementes, and not after the doinges of Israel.
And the Lorde stablished the kingdome in his hande, & all they that were in Iuda brought him presentes, so that he had aboundaunce of richesse and honour.
And he lyft vp his heart vnto the wayes of the Lorde, and he put downe yet more of the high places and groues out of Iuda.
In the third yere of his raigne he sent to his lordes, euen to Benhail, Obadia, Zacharia, Nethanel, and to Michaiahu, that they shoulde teache in the cities of Iuda:
And with them he sent Leuites, euen Semeiahu, Nethaniahu, Zebadiahu, Asael, Semiramoth, Iehonathan, Adoniahu, Tobiahu, & Tob adoniahu, & with them Elisama, and Iehoram, priestes.
And they taught in Iuda, and had the booke of the lawe of God with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Iuda, and taught the people.
And the feare of the Lorde fell vpon all the kingdomes of the landes that were rounde about Iuda, and they fought not against Iehosaphat.
And some of the Philistines brought Iehosaphat giftes, and tribute siluer, and therto the Arabians brought him cattaile, euen seuen thousand and seuen hundred rammes, and seuen thousand and seuen hundred hee goates.
And so Iehosaphat prospered, and grew vp an hie: And he built in Iuda castels and cities of store.
And he had great substaunce in the cities of Iuda: but the men of armes and strongest souldiers were in Hierusalem.
And these are the offices of them in the house of their fathers: the captaines ouer thousandes in Iuda, Adna the captayne, and with him of fighting men three hundred thousand.
And next to his hand was Iehohanan a captayne, and with him two hundred and fourescore thousand.
And next him was Amazia the sonne of Zichri, which of his owne good wyll offered him selfe vnto the Lorde, and with him two hundred thousand mightie men of warre.
And of the children of Beniamin, Eliada a man of might, and with him armed men with bowe and shielde two hundred thousand.
And next him was Iehosabad, and with him an hundred and fourescore thousand, that were prepared for the warre.
These wayted on the king, besides those which the king put in the strong cities throughout all Iuda.
AND Iehosaphat had abou{n}daunce of richesse and honour, and ioyned affinitie with Ahab.
And after certayne yeres he went downe to Ahab to Samaria: And Ahab slue many sheepe and oxen for him and for the people that he had with him, and entreated him to go vp with him vnto Ramoth [in] Gilead.
And Ahab king of Israel saide vnto Iehosaphat king of Iuda: wylt thou go with me to Ramoth [in] Gilead? And he aunswered him: I wyll be as thou, and my people shall be as thyne [and we wyll go] with thee to the warre.
And Iehosaphat saide vnto the king of Israel: Seke counsel I pray thee at the worde of the Lorde this same day.
Therfore the king of Israel gathered together of prophetes foure hundred men, & saide vnto them: Shall we go to Ramoth [in] Gilead to fight, or should I ceasse? And they saide: Go vp, & God shall deliuer it into the kinges hand.
But Iehosaphat saide: Is there yet here neuer a prophete more of the Lordes, that we myght aske of him?
And the king of Israel said vnto Iehosaphat: There is yet one man by who{m} we may aske the Lorde: but I hate him, for he neuer prophecieth me good, but alway euill, and the same is Michea the sonne of Iemla. And Iehosaphat sayde, Let not the king say so.
And the king of Israel called one of his chamberlaynes, and sayde: Fetch hyther quickly Michea the sonne of Iemla.
And the king of Israel and Iehosaphat king of Iuda, sate eyther of them on his seate in their apparell, in a thresshing floore beside the gate of Samaria, & al the prophetes prophecied before the{m}.
And one Zedekia the sonne of Chanaana had made him hornes of iron, and sayde, thus sayth the Lorde: With these thou shalt pushe Syria, vntill they be brought to naught.
And all the prophetes prophecied euen so, saying, Go vp to Ramoth [in] Gilead, & it shall prosper with thee: for the Lord shall deliuer it into the hand of the king.
And the messenger that went to call Michea, spake to him, saying: Behold, the wordes of the prophetes speake good to the king with one assent: let thy wordes therefore I pray thee be like one of theirs, that thou speake that whiche is pleasaunt.
And Michea sayde: As the Lorde liueth, euen what my God sayth, that wil I speake.
And when he was come to the king, the king sayd vnto him: Michea, should we go to Ramoth [in] Gilead to fight, or leaue of? And he sayd: Go vp, & al shalbe well, and they shalbe deliuered into your hande.
And the king sayde to him: So and so many times do I charge thee that thou say nothing but the trueth to me in the name of the Lorde.
Then he sayd: I did see all them of Israel scattered in the mountaynes, as sheepe that haue no sheephard: And the Lorde sayde, These haue no maister, let them returne euery man therfore to his house in peace.
And the king of Israel said vnto Iehosaphat: Did I not tel thee, that he would not prophecie good vnto me, but euyll?
But he said againe, Therfore heare ye the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sit vpon his seate, and all the companie of heauen stoode on his right hande and on his left.
And the Lord sayd: Who shall deceaue Ahab king of Israel, that he may go vp and be ouerthrowne at Ramoth [in] Gilead? And one sayde this, a nother that.
And there came out a spirite, & stoode before the Lorde, and sayde: I will deceaue him. And the Lorde sayde vnto him, Wherin?
And he sayde: I wil go out and be a lying spirite in the mouth of all his prophetes. And the Lord sayd, Thou shalt deceaue him, and shalt preuayle: go out, and do euen so.
And nowe therfore behold the Lorde hath put a lying spirite in the mouthes of [all] these thy prophetes, and the Lord hath spoken euyll against thee.
And Zed•kia the sonne of Chanaana went to, and smote Michea vpon the cheeke, & sayde: By what way went the spirite of the Lorde from me, to speake with thee?
And Michea sayd: Beholde, thou shalt see the day whe{n} thou shalt go fro{m} chamber to chamber, for to hyde thy selfe.
And the king of Israel sayd: Take ye Michea, and bring him to Amon the gouerner of the citie, & to Ioas the kinges sonne.
And ye shall say, thus sayth the king: Put this felowe in the prison house, and feede him with bread of affliction and water of trouble, vntil I come againe in peace.
And Michea said: If thou come againe in peace, then hath not the Lord spoken by me. And he sayde: Hearken to ye people euery one of you.
And so the king of Israel and Iehosaphat the king of Iuda, went vp to Ramoth [in] Gilead.
And the king of Israel sayde vnto Iehosaphat, I must chaunge me when I go to the battell: but see that thou haue thyne owne apparel vpon thee. And the king of Israel chaunged him selfe, and they came to the battel.
But the king of Syria had commaunded the captaynes of the charets that were with him, saying: See that ye fight not against small or great, saue against the king of Israel only.
And when the captaynes of the charets saw Iehosaphat, they sayd, It is {th}e king of Israel: And therfore they compassed about hym to fight. But Iehosaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him, and God chased them away from him.
For it came to passe, that when the captaynes of the charets perceaued that it was not the king of Israel, they turned backe againe from him.
And a certayne man drewe a bow with all his might, and smote the king of Israel beweene the ioyntes of his habergin, and he sayde to his charetman: Turne thyne hand, that thou mayst carie me out of the hoast, for I am wounded.
And the battel increased that day: Howbeit the king of Israel caused his charet to stand still against the Syrians vntill euen: And about the time of the sunne goyng downe, he died.
ANd Iehosaphat the king of Iuda came home againe in peace to Hierusalem.
And Iehu the sonne of Hanani the sear went out to meete him, and sayd to king Iehosaphat: Wouldest thou helpe the vngodly, and loue them that hate the Lorde? Therfore is wrath come downe vpon thee from before the Lorde:
Neuerthelesse, there are some good actes founde in thee, in that thou hast hewen downe the groues out of the lande, and hast prepared thyne heart to seke God.
And Iehosaphat dwelt at Hierusalem, and turned and went out to the people from Beerseba to mount Ephraim, and brought them againe vnto the Lorde God of their fathers.
And he set iudges in the lande throughout all the strong cities of Iuda, citie by citie:
And sayde to the iudges, Take heede what ye do: for ye execute not the iudgementes of man, but of God, whiche is with you in the iudgement.
Wherfore now let the feare of the Lord be vpon you, and take heede, & be doyng [the thing that pleaseth hym] for there is no vnrighteousnes with the Lorde our God, that he shoulde haue any respect of persons, or take rewardes.
Moreouer, in Hierusalem did Iehosaphat set of the Leuites, & of the priestes, and of the auncient fathers, ouer Israel in the iudgement and cause of the Lord: And they returned againe to Hierusale{m}.
And he charged them, saying, Thus shal ye do in the feare of the Lord faythfully, and with a pure heart:
What cause soeuer come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, betweene blood and blood, betweene lawe and commaundeme{n}t, betweene statutes and ordinaunces: ye shall warne them that they trespasse not against {th}e Lorde, and so wrath come vpon you and your brethren: Thus do, & ye shal not offende.
And beholde, Amaria the hie priest is among you in all matters of the Lorde, and Zebadia the sonne of Ismael, a ruler of the house of Iuda for all the kinges matters: There be officers of the Leuites also before you, Take courage to you therfore, and be doyng [manfully] and the Lorde shalbe with such as be good.
AFter this also, it fortuned that the children of Moab and the children Ammon, & with them other of the Ammonites came against Iehosaphat to battell.
And there came some that told Iehosaphat saying: There commeth a great multitude against thee from the other side of the sea, and out of Syria, and behold they be in Hasason Thamar, which is Engadi.
And Iehosaphat feared, & set him selfe to seke the Lorde: and proclaymed fasting throughout all Iuda.
And they that were in Iuda gathered the{m} selues together to aske counsel of the Lord: And they came out of al the cities of Iuda, to make intercession to {th}e lord.
And Iehosaphat stoode betweene the congregation of Iuda & Hierusalem in the house of {th}e Lord before the new court,
And sayd: O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heauen, and raignest not thou on all the kingdomes of the Heathen, and in thyne hande is power and might, and there is no man that is able to withstande thee?
Art not thou our God, whiche diddest cast out the inhabiters of this lande before thy people Israel, & gauest it to the seede of Abraham thy louer for euer?
And they dwelt therin, and haue buylt thee a te{m}ple therin for thy name, saying:
If euyll come vpon vs, as the sword of iudgement, pestilence or hunger: then, if we stande before this house in thy presence (for thy name is in this house) and crye vnto thee in our tribulation, heare thou, and helpe.
And nowe beholde the children of Ammon and Moab, and mount Seir, by whom thou wouldest not let them of Israel go when they came out of the lande of Egypt, but they departed from them, and destroyed them not:
See howe they rewarde vs, to come for to cast vs out of thy possession whiche thou hast geuen vs to inherite.
O our God, wilt thou not iudge them? for we haue no might against this great companie that commeth against vs: neither wote we what to do, but our eyes be vnto thee.
And all Iuda stoode before the Lorde, with their young ones, their wiues, and their children.
And there was Iahaziel the sonne of Zacharia, the sonne of Banaia, the sonne of Iehiel, the sonne of Matthania, a Leuite, of the sonnes of Asaph, & vpon hym came the spirite of the Lorde euen in the middes of the congregation:
And he sayd, Hearken all Iuda, and ye inhabiters of Hierusalem, and thou king Iehosaphat, thus sayth the Lorde vnto you: Be not afrayd nor faynt hearted by reason of this great multitude: for the battell is not yours, but Gods.
To morow go ye downe against them: behold they come vp by the clift of Ziz, and ye shall finde them at the ende of the brooke before the wildernesse of Ieruel
Ye shall not neede to fight in this battell: but steppe foorth and stand, and beholde the helpe of the Lorde whiche is with you: feare not, nor let your heartes fayle you O ye of Iuda and of Hierusalem: To morowe go out against them for, the Lord wilbe with you.
And Iehosaphat bowed his face to the earth, and all Iuda and the inhabibiters of Hierusalem fel before the Lord, worshipping the Lorde.
And the Leuites of the children of the Caathites, & of the children of the Corahites, stoode vp to prayse the Lorde God of Israel with a loud voyce on hie.
And when they arose early in the morning, they gat them out vnto the wildernesse of Thekoa, and as they went out, Iehosaphat stoode and sayd, Heare me O Iuda, and ye inhabiters of Hierusalem: Put your trust in the Lorde your God, that ye may be founde faythfull: Geue credence to his prophetes, and so shall ye prosper.
When he had consulted with the people, and set some to sing vnto the Lorde, and to prayse him in the beautie of holinesse, and to go out before the armie, and to say, Prayse the Lorde, for his mercie lasteth euer.
And when they began to shout and to prayse, the Lord layde ambushementes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, whiche were come against Iuda: And they were ouerthrowen with strokes among the{m}selues.
For the children of Ammon and Moab, rose against the inhabiters of mount Seir, and they slue and destroyed them: And when they had made an end of the inhabiters of Seir, euery one helped to destroy another among them selues.
And when Iuda came towarde Mispah in the wildernesse, they loked vnto the multitude: and beholde, they were dead carcasses fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
And when Iehosaphat and his people came to take away the spoyle of them, they founde among them aboundaunce of goods, rayment, & pleasaunt iewels, which they toke for them selues, more then they could cary away: so that they were three dayes in gathering of the spoyle, it was so much.
And the fourth day they assembled in the valley of blessing, for there they blessed the Lord: And therfore they called the name of the same place the valley of blessing, vnto this day.
And so all the men of Iuda and Hierusale{m} returned with Iehosaphat their head, for to go againe to Hierusalem with gladnesse: for the Lord had made them to reioyce ouer their enemies.
And they came to Hierusalem with psalters and harpes, & shawmes, euen vnto the house of the Lorde.
And the feare of God fell on the kingdomes of all landes, when they had heard that the Lorde fought against the enemies of Israel.
And so the realme of Iehosaphat was in tranquillitie, and his God gaue him rest on euery side.
And Iehosaphat raigned vpon Iuda, and was thirtie & fiue yeres olde when he began to raigne, & he raigned twentie and fiue yeres in Hierusalem: And his mothers name was Azuba the daughter of Silhi.
And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and bowed not therfrom, doyng that which was right in the sight of the Lorde.
Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for the people had not yet prepared their heartes vnto the God of their fathers.
The rest of the actes of Iehosaphat first and last, behold they are written among the sayinges of Iehu the sonne of Hanani, which noted them in the booke of the kinges of Israel.
After this did Iehosaphat king of Iuda ioyne himselfe with Ahaziahu king of Israel, whose mind was to do wickedly.
He coupled him selfe with him, to make shippes to go to Tharsis: And they made the shippes in Ezion Gaber.
And Eliezer the sonne of Dodauah of Maresa prophesied against Iehosaphat, saying: Because thou hast ioyned thy selfe with Ahaziahu, {th}e lord hath broken thy workes. And the shippes were broke{n} that they were not able to go to Tharsis.
IEhosaphat also slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the citie of Dauid: and Iehoram his sonne raigned in his steade.
And he had brethren whiche were the sonnes of Iehosaphat, Azaria, Iehiel, Zacharia, Azariahu, Michael, and Sephatiahu: All these are the sonnes of Iehosaphat king of Iuda.
And their father gaue the{m} many great giftes of gold and siluer, and other speciall substaunce, with strong cities in Iuda: but the kingdome gaue he to Iehoram, for he was the eldest.
And Iehoram rose vp against the kingdome of his father, and preuayled, and siue all his brethren with the sworde, and diuers of the lordes of Israel.
Iehoram was thirtie and two yeres olde when he began to raigne, and he raigned eyght yeres in Hierusalem.
And he walked in the way of the kinges of Israel, like as dyd the house of Ahab, for he had the daughter of Ahab to wise: and he wrought euyll in the eyes of the Lorde.
Howbeit the Lord woulde not destroy the house of Dauid, because of the couenaunt that he had made with Dauid, as he promised to geue a light to hym and to his sonnes for euer.
In his dayes the Edomites rebelled when they were vnder the dominion of Iuda, and made them selues a king.
And Iehoram went foorth with his lordes, and all his charets were with him: and he rose vp by night, and smote the Edomites, which compassed him in, and the captaynes of the charets.
But Edom rebelled still, so that they woulde not be vnder the hande of Iuda vnto this day: That same time also dyd Libna depart from being vnder his hande, because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers.
Moreouer, he made high places in the mountaynes of Iuda, & caused the inhabiters of Hierusalem to commit fornication, and prouoked Iuda [to idolatrie.]
And there came a writing to him from Elia the prophete, saying, Thus sayth the Lord God of Dauid thy father: Because thou hast not walked in the wayes of Iehosaphat thy father, and in the wayes of Asa king of Iuda:
But walkedst in the wayes of the kinges of Israel, and hast made Iuda and the dwellers of Hierusalem to go a whoring like to the whordome of the house of Ahab, and hast slayne thy brethren, euen thy fathers house, whiche were better then thou:
Beholde, with a great plague will the Lorde smite thy folke, thy children, thy wyues, and all thy goods:
And thou shalt suffer great payne, euen a disease of thy bowels, vntill thy guttes fall out, by reason of thy sicknes day by day.
And so the Lorde stirred vp against Iehoram the spirite of the Philistines, and the Arabians that were besyde the blacke Moores.
And they came vp into Iuda, and wasted it, & caried away all the substaunce that was found in the kinges house, and his sonnes, and his wyues: so that there was neuer a sonne left hym, saue Iehohahaz, which was the youngest among his sonnes.
And after all these thinges, the Lorde smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
And it came to passe, that in processe of time, euen after the ende of two yeres, his guttes fell out in his sicknes, and so he died of very euyll diseases: And they made no burning for him, lyke the burning of his fathers.
When he began to raigne he was thirtie and two yeres olde, and raigned in Hierusalem eyght yeres, and liued wretchedly: howebeit they buried him in the citie of Dauid, but not among the sepulchres of the kinges.
ANd the inhabiters of Hierusalem made Ahaziahu his young sonne king in his stead: For the men of warre that came with the hoast of the Arabians, had slayne all his eldest sonnes: And so Ahaziahu the sonne of Iehoram king of Iuda was made king.
Two & fourtie yeres old was he when he began to raigne, and he raigned one yere in Hierusalem: His mothers name was Athaliahu, the daughter of Amri.
And he walked also in the wayes of the house of Ahab: for his mother by her counsel enticed him to do wickedly.
Wherfore he dyd that which was euyll in the sight of the Lord, as dyd they that were of the house of Ahab: for they were his counselers after the death of his father, to his destruction.
And he walked after their counsel, and went with Iehoram sonne of Ahab king of Israel, to fight against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth [in] Gilead: and the Syrians smote Iehoram.
And he returned to be healed in Iezrahel, of the woundes whiche were geuen him at Rama, whe{n} he fought with Hazael king of Syria: and Ahaziahu the sonne of Iehoram king of Iuda, went downe to see Iehoram the sonne of Ahab at Iezrahel, because he was diseased.
At it came of God that Ahaziahu shoulde be dispised for his comming to Iehoram: for when he was come, he went out with Iehoram against Iehu the sonne of Nimsi, whom {th}e Lord had annointed to destroy the house of Ahab.
And so it came to passe, that when Iehu was executing iustice vpon the house of Ahab, and had founde the lordes of Iuda and the sonnes of the brethren of Ahaziahu that wayted on Ahaziahu, he slue them.
And he sought Ahaziahu: & they caught him where he was hid in Samaria, and brought him to Iehu, and when they had slayne him, they buried him: because said they, he is the sonne of Iehosaphat, whiche sought the Lorde with all his heart: And the house of Ahaziahu had no powre to kepe still the kingdome.
But when Athaliahu the mother of Ahaziahu sawe that her sonne was dead, she arose and destroyed all the kinges seede in the kinred of the house of Iuda.
And Iehosabeth the daughter of the king, toke Ioas the sonne of Ahaziahu, and stale him from among the kinges sonnes that were slayne, & put him and his nurse in a priuie chamber: and so Iehosabeth the daughter of king Iehoram the wyfe of Iehoiada the priest, and the sister of Ahaziahu hid him from Athaliahu, that he was not slayne.
And so he was with them hyd in the house of God sixe yeres: and Athaliahu raigned ouer the lande.
ANd in the seuenth yere Iehoiada beyng bolde, toke the captaynes of hundredes, Azariah the sonne of Iehoram, & Ismael the sonne of Iehohanan, Azariahu the sonne of Obed, Maasiahu the sonne of Adaiahu, & Elisaphat the sonne of Zichri, & made a bonde with them.
And they went about in Iuda, and gathered the Leuites out of all the cities of Iuda, & the auncient fathers of Israel, and they came to Hierusalem.
And all the congregation made a bonde with the king in the house of God, and he sayd vnto them: Beholde, the kinges sonne must raigne, as the Lorde hath sayde of the children of Dauid.
This is it therfore that ye shal do: The thirde part of you shall on the Sabbath come to the priestes, Leuites, & kepers of the porches,
And another thirde part shalbe by the kinges house, and another thirde part shalbe at the gate of the foundation: and al the people shalbe in the courtes of the house of the Lorde.
But there shal none come into the house of the Lorde, saue the priestes and they that minister vnto the Leuites, they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shal kepe the watch of the Lord.
And the Leuites shall compasse the king round about, and euery man shall haue his weapon in his hand: and what other man soeuer doth come into the house [of the Lorde] he shalbe slayne: and let them be with the king when he commeth in and when he goeth out.
And the Leuites and all Iuda dyd according to al thinges that Iehoiada the priest had commaunded, and toke euery man his men that came in on the Sabbath, with them that went out on the Sabbath day: neither did Iehoiada the priest let the companies depart.
And Iehoiada the priest deliuered to the captaynes of hundredes, speares, shieldes, and bucklers, that had parteyned to king Dauid, and were in the house of God.
And he set all the people (euery man hauing his weapon in his hande) from the right side of the temple to the lift side of the temple, along by the aulter and the temple, rounde about the king.
And they brought out the kinges sonne, and put vpon him the crowne, and the testimonie, and made him king: and Iehoiada and his sonnes annoynted him, and sayde, God saue the king.
When Athaliahu hearde the noyse of the people running, and praysing the king, she came to the people into the house of the Lorde.
And she loked, and beholde the king stoode in his place at the entring in, and the lordes and the trumpettes were by the king, and all the people of the lande reioysed, blowing with trumpets, and the singers were with instrumentes of musicke, and such as could sing prayse: But Athaliahu rent her clothes, and sayde, Treason, treason.
And Iehoiada the priest went out to the captaynes of hundredes that were gouernours of the hoast, and sayde vnto them, Haue her foorth of the ranges: & whoso foloweth her, let him be slayne with the sword. For the priest sayd, that they should not slay her in the house of the Lorde.
And they layde handes on her till she was come to the entring of the horse gate beside the kinges house, and there they slue her.
And Iehoiada made a bond betweene him and al the people and the king, that they shoulde be the Lordes people.
And all the people went to the house of Baal, and destroyed it, and brake his aulters and his images, and slue Mathan the priest of Baal before the aulters.
And Iehoiada put the officers for the house of the Lord, vnder the hand of the priestes and Leuites, as Dauid had distributed them in the house of the Lord, to offer burnt offeringes vnto the Lord, as it is written in the lawe of Moyses, with reioysing and singing, as it was ordeyned by Dauid.
And he set porters by the gates of the house of the Lord, that none which was vncleane in any thing shoulde enter in.
And he toke the captaynes of hundredes, and all the nobles, and the gouernours of the people, and al the folke of the lande, and caused the king to come downe out of the house of the Lorde, and they came through the hye gate into the kinges house, & set the king vpon the seate of the kingdome.
And all the people of the land reioysed, and the citie was in tranquilitie after that they had slayne Athaliahu with the sworde.
IOas was seuen yeres olde when he began to raigne, & he raigned fourtie yeres in Hierusalem: His mothers name also was Zibia of Beerseba.
And Ioas dyd that whiche was right in the sight of the Lorde all the dayes of Iehoiada the priest.
And Iehoiada toke him two wyues, and he begat sonnes and daughters.
And it chaunced after this, that Ioas was minded to renue the house of the Lorde.
And he gathered together the priestes and the Leuites, and sayde to them: Go out vnto the cities of Iuda, and gather of all Israel money to repaire the house of your God from yere to yere, and see that ye haste the thing: Howebeit the Leuites were slacke.
And the king called Iehoiada that was the chiefest, & sayd vnto him: Why requirest thou not of the Leuites to bring in out of Iuda and Hierusalem the collection of money, according to the commaundement of Moyses the seruaunt of the Lorde, and of the congregation of Israel for the tabernacle of witnesse?
For wicked Athaliahu and her children brake vp the house of God, and all the thinges that were dedicate for the house of the lord, did they bestow for Baalim.
And at the kinges commaundement they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the Lorde:
And made a proclamation through Iuda & Hierusalem, to bring in to the Lord the taxation of money that Moyses the seruaunt of God set vpon Israel in the wildernesse.
And the lordes and al the people reioysed, and brought in, & cast into the chest vntill it was full.
And it fortuned, that at the same time they brought in the chest vnto them whiche were in the kinges businesse by the hand of the Leuites, and when they sawe that there was much money, the kinges scribe, and one appoynted by the hye priest, came, and emptied the chest, and toke it, and caried it to his place agayne. Thus they dyd day by day, and gathered much money.
And the king and Iehoiada gaue it to such as dyd the labour and worke in the house of the Lorde, and hired masons and carpenters to repaire the house of the Lorde, and so dyd they artificers in iron and brasse to mende the house of the Lorde.
And so the workmen wrought, and the worke mended through their handes: and they made the house of God as it ought to be, and strengthed it.
And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Iehoiada, and therwith were made vessels for the house of the Lorde, euen vessels to minister withall, [and to serue for burnt offringes] chargers and spoones, vessels of golde and siluer: And they offered burnt offringes in the house of the Lord continually all the dayes of Iehoiada.
But Iehoiada waxed olde, and dyed full of dayes: for an hundred and thirtie yeres olde was he when he died.
And they buried him in the citie of Dauid among the kinges, because he dealt well with Israel, and with God and with his house.
And after the death of Iehoiada, came the lordes of Iuda and made obeysaunce to the king: And the king hearkened vnto them.
And so they left the house of the Lorde God of their fathers, and serued groues and idoles, and then came the wrath of God vpon Iuda and Hierusalem for this their trespaces sake.
And he sent prophetes to them, to bring the{m} againe vnto the Lord, & they testified vnto them: but they woulde not heare.
And the spirite of God came vpon Zacharia the sonne of Iehoiada the priest, which stoode by the people, and sayd vnto them, thus sayth God: Why transgresse ye the commaundementes of the Lorde, that ye can not prosper? For because ye haue forsaken the Lord, he also hath forsaken you.
And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commaundement of the king, euen in the court of the house of the Lorde.
And so Ioas the king remembred not {th}e kindnesse whiche Iehoiada his father had done to him, but slue his sonne: And when he died, he sayde, The Lorde loke vpon it, and require it.
And when the yere was out, it fortuned that the hoast of Syria came vp against him, and they came against Iuda and Hierusalem, and destroyed all the lordes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoyle of them vnto the king to Damascon.
For the Syrians came with a small companie of men, and the Lorde deliuered a verie great hoast into their hande, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers: And they gaue sentence against Ioas.
And when they were departed from him, they left him in great diseases: and his owne seruauntes conspired against him for the blood of the children of Iehoiada the priest, and slue hym on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the citie of Dauid, but not in the sepulchres of the kinges.
And these are they that conspired against him: Zabad the sonne of Simeath an Ammonite, & Iehosabad the sonne of Simrith a Moabite.
And his sonnes, & the summe of the taxe that was raysed in his time, and the repairing of the house of God, beholde they are written in the storie of the booke of the kinges: and Amaziahu his sonne raigned in his steade.
AMaziahu was twentie and fiue yeres olde when he began to raigne, and he raigned twentie and nine yeres in Hierusale{m}: His mothers name was Iehoadan, of Hierusalem.
And he dyd that which is right in the sight of the Lorde, but not with a perfect heart.
And assoone as he was setled in the kingdome, he slue his seruauntes that had killed the king his father.
But he slue not their children, because it is written thus in the lawe and booke of Moyses, where the Lorde commaunded, saying: The fathers shall not dye for the children, neither shall the children dye for the fathers, but euery man shall dye for his owne sinne.
And Amaziahu gathered Iuda together, and made them captaynes ouer thousandes and ouer hundredes, according to the houses of their fathers throughout all Iuda and Beniamin: And he numbred them from twentie yeres olde and aboue, and found among them three hundred thousande chosen men, able to go to battell, and that could handle speare and shield.
He hired also an hundred thousande strong fighting men out of Israel for an hundred talentes of siluer.
And there came a man of God to him, and sayde, O king, let not the armie of Israel come with thee: for the Lorde is not with Israel, [to wit] with al the children of Ephraim.
But if thou wilt needes [be faytlesse:] come on, and take the battell in hande, and God shall make thee fall before the enemie: For God hath power to helpe, and to cast downe.
And Amaziahu saide to the man of God: What shal we do then for the hundred talentes which I haue geuen for the hoast of Israel? The man of God aunswered: The Lorde is able to geue thee much more then they be.
And Amaziahu separated them, [to wit] the armie that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home againe: Wherefore they were exceeding wroth with Iuda, & returned home in great anger.
And Amaziahu toke heart, and caried out his people, and went to the salt valley, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.
And other ten thousand did the children of Iuda take alyue, & caried them vnto the top of a rocke, and cast them downe from the top of the rocke, that they all to burst.
But the souldiers of the armie which Amaziahu sent away that they should not go with his people to battaile, fell vpon the cities of Iuda from Samaria vnto Bethron, and smote three thousand of them, and toke much spoyle.
And it chaunced after that Amaziahu was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them vp to be his gods, and bowed him selfe before them, and burned incense vnto them.
Wherfore the Lorde was wroth with Amaziahu, & sent vnto him a prophete, which saide vnto him: Why hast thou sought the gods of the people which were not able to delyuer their owne people out of thyne hande?
And it chaunced, that as {th}e prophete talked with him, the king saide vnto him: Haue men made thee of the kinges counsel: Ceasse, why wylt thou be beaten? And the prophete ceassed, and said: I am sure that God is minded to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and agreest not vnto my counsell.
Then Amaziahu king of Iuda toke aduise, and sent to Ioas the sonne of Iehoahaz the sonne of Iehu king of Israel, and said: Come, that we way see either other.
And Ioas king of Israel sent to Amaziahu king of Iuda, saying: A thistle that is in Libanon, sent to a Cedar tree of Libanon, saying, Geue thy daughter to my sonne to wyfe: And there came a wylde beast of Libanon, and trode downe the thistle.
Thou sayest: Loe, thou hast smitten the Edomites, & thyne heart maketh thee proude to glorifie thy selfe: Now therefore byde at home, why doest thou prouoke vnto euyll, that thou mayest perishe, both thou and Iuda with thee?
But Amaziahu woulde not hearken to him: for it came of God, euen to delyuer them into the hande of their enemies, because they sought counsell at the gods of Edom.
And so Ioas the king of Israel came vp, and they sawe either other both he and Amaziahu king of Iuda, at Bethsames which is in Iuda.
And Iuda was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled euery man to his tent.
And Ioas the king of Israel toke Amaziahu king of Iuda the sonne of Ioas the sonne of Iehoahaz at Bethsames, and brought him to Hierusalem, and tare the wall of Hierusalem (from the gate of Ephraim, vnto the gate that was ouer against it) foure hundred cubites.
And he toke away also all the golde and siluer, and all the iewels that were founde in the house of God with Obed Edom, and the treasures of the kinges house, and the young wardes, and returned to Samaria.
And Amaziahu the sonne of Ioas king of Iuda, lyued after the death of Ioas sonne of Iehoahaz king of Israel fifteene yere.
The rest of the actes of Amaziahu first and last, are they not written in the booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel.
And after the time that Amaziahu did turne away from the Lorde, they conspired treason against him in Hierusalem: and when he was fled to Lachis, they sent to Lachis after him, and slue him there:
And brought him vp with horses, and buryed him with his fathers in the citie of Iuda.
THen all the people of Iuda toke Vzzia, which was sixteene yeres olde, & made him king in the roome of his father Amaziahu.
And he built Eloth, and brought it againe to Iuda, after that the king was layde to sleepe with his fathers.
Sixteene yeres olde was Vzzia when he began to raigne, and he raigned fiftie and two yeres in Hierusalem: His mothers name also was Iecholia, of Hierusalem.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lorde, according to all as did his father Amaziahu.
And [it came to passe that] he sought God in the dayes of Zachariahu, who had vnderstanding in the visions of God: And as long as he sought the Lorde, God made him to prosper.
And he went to battaile against the Philistines, and brake downe the wall of Geth, and the wall of Iabne, and the wall of Asdod, & built cities about Asdod and among the Philistines.
And God holpe him against the Philistines and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur baal and Hamehunim.
And the Ammonites gaue tribute to Vzzia, & his name spread abrode euen to the entring in of Egypt: for he played the man exceedingly.
Moreouer, Vzzia built towres in Hierusalem by the corner gate, and by the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and made them strong.
And he built towres in the wildernesse, and digged many welles: For he had much cattaile in the valleyes & playnes, plowmen and vinedressers in the mountaines and in Charmel: for he loued husbandry.
And Vzzia had an hoast of fighting men, that went out to warre in the armie, according to the number of their office, vnder the hande of Ieiel the scribe, and Maasiahu the ruler, and vnder the hand of Hananiahu, which was one of the kinges lordes.
And the whole number of the auncient fathers and of the men of might, were two thousand and sixe hundred.
And vnder the hand of them was the armie of the men of warre, euen three hundred and seuen thousand, and fiue hundred that made warre with the power of an armie, helping the king against the enemies.
And Vzzia prouided them throughout all the hoast, shieldes, speares, helmets, haberginnes, bowes, and slinges for to cast stones.
And he made subtyll engins in Hierusalem, which he inuented and layed on the towres and corners, to shoote arrowes and great stones withall: And his name spread farre abrode, because he had prepared to him selfe marueylous strength.
But in his strength his heart arose to his destruction: For he transgressed against the Lorde his God, and went into the temple of the Lorde to burne incense vpon the aulter of incense.
And Azariahu the priest went in after him, and with him fourescore priestes of the Lorde, that were valiaunt men:
And they stoode by Vzzia the king, and saide vnto him: It parteyneth not to thee Vzzia to burne incense vnto the Lorde, but to the priestes the children of Aaron, that are consecrated for to offer incense: Come therfore out of the sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed, and it is no worship to thee before the Lorde God.
And Vzzia was wroth, & had incense in his hande to burne it, and so while he had indignation against the priestes, the leprosie sprang in his forehead before the priestes in the house of the Lorde, euen beside the incense aulter.
And Azariahu the chiefe priest, with al the other priestes, loked vpon him, and beholde he was become a leaper in his forehead, and they vexed him thence: and he was fayne to go out, because the Lorde had smytten him.
And Vzzia the king continued a leper vnto the day of his death, & dwelt seuerall in an house being a leper and shut out of the house of the Lorde: and Iotham his sonne had the gouernau{n}ce of the kinges house, and iudged the people of the lande.
The rest of the acres of Vzzia first and last, did Isai the prophete the sonne of Amos write.
And so Vzzia slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the fielde of the buriall which was beside the sepulchres of the kinges: for they saide, he is a leper: And Iotham his sonne raigned in his steade.
IOtham was fiue and twentie yeres olde when he began to raigne, and he raigned sixteene yeres in Hierusalem: His mothers name also was Ierusa, the daughter of Zadoc.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lorde, in all poyntes as did his father Vzzia, saue that he came not into the temple of the Lorde: and the people did yet wickedly.
He built the hie gate of the temple of the Lorde, and on the wall (where the house of ordinau{n}ce was) he built much.
Moreouer, he built cities in the mountaines of Iuda, and in the wood countrey he built castels and towres.
He fought with the king of the children of Ammon, and preuailed against them: And the children of Ammon gaue him the same yere an hundred talentes of siluer, & ten thousand quarters of wheate, and ten thousand of barlye: So much did the children of Ammon geue him the second yere, and the third also.
So Iotham became mightie, because he directed his way before the Lorde his God.
The rest of the actes of Iotham, and all his warres, & his conuersation, loe they are written in the booke of the kinges of Israel and Iuda.
He was twentie and fiue yeres olde when he began to raigne, and raigned sixteene yeres in Hierusalem.
And Iotham slept with his fathers, and they buryed him in the citie of Dauid: and Ahaz his sonne raigned in his steade.
AHaz was twentie yeres olde when he began to raigne, and raigned sixteene yeres in Hierusalem, and he did not that which is right in the sight of the Lorde, as did his father Dauid:
For he walked in the wayes of the kinges of Israel, & made moulten images for Baalim.
He offered incense in the valley of the sonne of Hinnon, and burnt his children in fire, after the abhominations of the heathen whom the Lorde cast out before the children of Israel.
He offered also and burnt incense in the high places, and on mountaynes, and vnder euery greene tree.
Wherefore the Lorde his God delyuered him into the hande of the king of the Syrians, which beat him, and caryed away a great multitude of his captiue, and brought them to Damascon: And he was deliuered into the hand of the king of Israel, which smote him with a great slaughter.
For Pekah the sonne of Remaliahu slue in Iuda an hundred and twentie thousand in one day, which were all fighting men: and that because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.
And Zichri a mightie man of Ephraim slue Maasiahu the kinges sonne, and Africa the gouernour of the house, and Elcana that was next to the king.
And the children of Israel toke prisoners of their brethren two hundred thousand women, sonnes, and daughters, and caryed away much spoyle of them, and brought the spoyle to Samaria.
But there was a prophet of the Lordes, whose name was Obed: and he went out before the hoast that came to Samaria, & saide vnto them: Beholde, because the Lorde God of your fathers is wroth with Iuda, he hath deliuered them into your hande, and ye haue slaine them with cruelnesse, that reacheth vp to heauen.
And nowe ye purpose to keepe vnder the children of Iuda and Hierusalem, and to make them bondmen and bondwomen: And do ye not lade your selues with sinne in the sight of the Lord your God?
Now heare me therefore, and deliuer the captiues againe which ye haue taken of your brethren: for els shall the great wrath of God be vpon you.
Wherfore certayne of the heads of the children of Ephraim, as Azariahu the sonne of Iehohanan, Berechiahu the sonne of Mesillemoth, and Iehezkiahu the sonne of Sallum, & Amasa the sonne of Hadlai, stoode vp against them that came from the warre,
And saide vnto them, Bryng not in the captiues hither: for where as we haue offended toward God alredy, ye entende to adde more to our sinnes and trespasse: For our trespasse is great alredie, and there is a fierce wrath against Israel.
And vpon that, the men of armes left the captiues and the spoyle before the lordes and all the congregation:
And the men that were now rehearsed by name, rose vp, and toke the prisoners, and with the spoyle clothed all that were naked among them, & arayed them, & shoed them, and gaue them to eate and to drinke, and annoynted them, and carryed al that were feeble of them vpon asses, & brought them to Iericho the citie of Paulme trees, to their brethren: and then they returned to Samaria againe.
At that same time did king Ahaz send vnto the kinges of the Assyrians, to haue helpe of them.
And the Edomites came againe, and slue some of Iuda, and caryed away captiues.
And the Philistines inuaded the cities in the lowe countrey, and toward the south of Iuda: and toke Bethsames, and Aialon, and Gederoth, and Socho with the townes longing thereto, and Thimna with the townes of the same, Gimso and the townes thereof, and dwelt there.
For the Lorde brought Iuda lowe, because of Ahaz king of Iuda, which made Iuda naked, & transgressed sore against the Lorde.
And Thilgath Pilneser king of the Assyrians came vpon him, and troubled him rather then strengthed him.
For Ahaz toke away a portion out of the house of the Lorde, and out of the kinges house, and out of the lordes houses, and gaue vnto the king of the Assyrians: and yet it helped him not.
And in the very time of his tribulation, did king Ahaz trespasse yet more against the Lorde.
For he offered vnto the gods of them of Damascon, which beat him: and he sayd, Because the gods of the kinges of Syria helpe them, therefore wyll I offer to them, that they may helpe me also: But they were his destruction, and the destruction of all Israel.
And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, & brake them, and shut vp the doores of the house of the Lorde, and made him aulters in euery corner of Hierusalem.
And in all the cities of Iuda he made high places to burne incense vnto other gods, and angred the Lorde God of his fathers.
The rest of his actes, and his workes first and last, beholde they are written in the booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel.
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the citie of Hierusalem: but brought him not vnto the sepulchres of the kinges of Israel: and Hezekia his sonne raigned in his steade.
HEzekia began to raigne when he was fiue and twentie yeres olde, and he raigned nine & twentie yeres in Hierusalem: And his mothers name was Abia, the daughter of Zachariahu.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lorde, in all poyntes as did Dauid his father.
He opened the doores of the house of the Lorde in the first yere and first moneth of his raigne, and repaired them.
And he brought in the priestes and the Leuites, and gathered them together into the east streate,
And saide vnto them: Heare me ye Leuites, and now be sanctified and halow the house of the Lorde God of your fathers, bring filthynesse out of the holy place.
For our fathers haue trespassed, and done euill in the eyes of the Lorde our God, and haue forsaken him, and turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord, and turned their backes on it.
And beside that, they haue shut vp the doores of the porche, and quenched the lampes, and haue neither burnt incense, nor offered burnt offringes in the holy place vnto the God of Israel.
Wherefore the wrath of the Lorde fell on Iuda & Hierusalem, and he hath brought them to trouble to be wondred on, & to be hissed at, euen as ye see with your eyes.
For loe, our fathers were ouerthrowen with the sword, and our sonnes, our daughters, and our wyues were caried away captiue for the same cause.
And now it is in myne heart to make a couenaunt with the Lord God of Israel, that he may turne away his heauy indignation from vs.
Now therefore my sonnes, be not negligent: for the Lorde hath chosen you to stande before him, and for to minister and serue him, and to burne incense.
Then the Leuites arose, Mahath the sonne of Amasai, and Ioel the sonne of Azariahu of the children of the Caathites: And of the sonnes of Merari, Cis the sonne of Abdi, and Azariahu the sonne of Iahalelel: And of {th}e sonnes of the Gersonites, Ioah the sonne of Simma, and Eden the sonne of Ioah:
And of the sonnes of Elizaphan, Simri and Iehiel: And of the sonnes of Asaph, Zechariahu and Matthamahu:
And of the sonnes of Heman, Iehiel, and Simer: And of the sonnes of Ieduthun, Semaia and Vzziel.
And they gathered their brethren, and purified them selues, and came according to the commaundement of the king and the wordes of the Lord for to clense the house of the Lorde:
And the priestes went into the inner partes of the house of the Lord to clense it, and brought out all the vnclennesse that they founde in the temple of the Lorde, into the court of the house of the Lorde: And the Leuites toke it, to cary it out into the brooke Cedron.
They began the first day of the first moneth to purifie, and the eyght day of the moneth came they to the porche of the Lorde: So they sacrified the house of the Lorde in eyght dayes, and in the sixteenth day of the first moneth they made an end.
And they went in to Hezekia the king, and saide: We haue clensed all the house of the Lorde, the aulter of burnt offring with all his vessels, and the shew bread table with all his apparell:
And all the vessels which king Ahaz did cast aside, when he raigned, & transgressed, them we haue prepared and sanctified, and beholde they are before the aulter of the Lorde.
And Hezekia the king rose earlye, and gathered the lordes of the citie, and went vp to the house of the Lorde.
And they brought seuen oxen, seuen rammes, seuen sheepe, and seuen hee goates, to be a sinne offring for the kingdome, for the sanctuary, and for Iuda: And he commaunded the priestes the sonnes of Aaron, to offer them on the aulter of the Lorde.
And they slue the oxen, and the priestes receaued the blood and sprinckled it on the aulter: likewyse when they had slaine the rammes, they sprinckled the blood vpon the aulter: They slue also the sheepe, and they sprinckled the blood vpon the aulter.
And then they brought foorth the hee goates for the sinne offering before the king and the congregation, & put their handes vpon them.
And the priestes slue them, and with the blood of them they clensed the aulter, to make satisfaction for all Israel: for the king co{m}maunded that the burnt offering and the sinne offering shoulde be made for all Israel.
And set the Leuites in the house of the Lorde with cymbales, psalteries, and harpes, according to the commaundement of Dauid and of Gad the kinges sear, and Nathan the prophete: For so was the commaundement of the Lord through the hande of his prophetes.
And the Leuites stoode, hauing the instrumentes of Dauid: and the priestes helde the trumpettes.
And Hezekia commaunded to offer the burnt offring vpon the aulter: And when the burnt offring began, the song of the Lorde began also, and the trumpettes, with the instrumentes that were ordayned by the hand of Dauid king of Israel.
And all the congregation worshipped, singing a song, and blowyng with the trumpettes, and all this [continued] vntill the burnt offring was finished.
And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him, bowed them selues, and worshipped.
And Hezekia the king and the lordes, spake to the Leuites to prayse the Lord with the wordes of Dauid & of Asaph the sear: And they sang prayses with gladnesse, and the other bowed them selues, and worshipped.
And Hezekia aunswered, and saide: Now ye haue consecrated your handes to the Lorde: go to therefore, and bryng the sacrifices and thanke offeringes into the house of the Lorde. And the congregation brought in the sacrifices & thank offeringes, and burnt offringes, as many as were of a free liberall heart.
And the number of the burnt offringes which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten oxen, an hundred rammes, & two hundred sheepe: which were all for the burnt offering of the Lorde.
And there were dedicated sixe hundred oxen, and three thousand sheepe.
And the priestes were to fewe to flay al the burnt offringes: but their brethren the Leuites did helpe them, till they had ended the worke, & vntil the priestes were sanctified: For the Leuites were purer hearted to be sanctified, then the priestes.
And therto {th}e burnt offringes were many, with the fat of the peace offringes, & the drinke offringes, that belong to the burnt offring: And so the seruice parteyning to the house of the Lorde, was finished.
And Hezekia reioyced, and all the people, that God had made the folke so readie, & that the thing was so soone done.
AND Hezekia sent to all Israel and Iuda, and wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasse, that they shoulde come to the house of the lorde at Hierusalem, and offer passouer vnto the Lorde God of Israel.
And the king helde a counsell with his lordes, and all the congregation of Hierusalem, to kepe the feast of passouer in the second moneth:
For they coulde not kepe it at that time, because the priestes were not sanctified sufficiently, neither was the people gathered together to Hierusalem.
And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.
And they decreed that it shoulde be proclaymed throughout all Israel from Beerseba to Dan, that they shoulde come & holde the feast of Passouer vnto the Lord God of Israel at Hierusalem: For they had not done it of a great season, as it was written.
So the postes went with letters of the king and of his lordes throughout all Israel & Iuda, and at the commaundement of the king they sayde: Ye children of Israel, turne againe vnto the Lorde God of Abraham, Isahac, and Israel, and he wyll returne to the remnaunt that are escaped of you out of the hande of the kinges of the Assyrians.
And be not ye lyke your fathers and your brethren, which trespassed against the Lorde God of their fathers, which gaue them vp to be destroyed, as ye see.
And now be not ye stiffe necked lyke as were your fathers: but yeelde your selues vnto the Lord, and enter into his holy place which he hath sanctified for euer, and serue the Lord your God, and the fiercenesse of his wrath shall turne away from you.
For if ye turne againe vnto the Lorde, then shall your brethren and your children finde compassion in the presence of them that toke them captiue, and they shall come againe vnto this lande: For the Lorde your God is gratious and mercifull, and wyll not turne away his face from you, if ye conuert vnto him.
And so the postes went from citie to citie in the lande of Ephraim & Manasse, euen vnto Zabulon: but they laughed them to scorne, and mocked them.
Neuerthelesse, yet diuers of Aser, Manasse, and of Zabulon, submitted them selues, and came to Hierusalem.
And the hande of God was in Iuda, and he gaue them one heart to do the commaundement of the king and of the rulers, according to the worde of the Lorde.
And there assembled to Hierusalem much people, and there was present a mightie great congregation, to hold the feast of sweete bread in the second moneth.
And they arose, and remoued the aulters that were in Hierusalem: And all the aulters for incense did they away, and cast them into the brooke Cedron.
And they slue Passouer the foureteenth day of the second moneth: And the priestes and Leuites which were ashamed, sanctified them selues, and brought in the burnt offringes into the house of the Lorde.
And they stoode in their office after their maner and according to the lawe of Moyses the man of God: And the priestes sprinckled the blood, [which they receaued] of the hande of the Leuites.
For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified, and therefore the Leuites had the charge of the killing of the Passouer for euery one that was not cleane, to sanctifie him vnto the Lorde.
For many of the people, and very many out of Ephraim, Manasse, Isachar, and Zabulon▪ were not clensed, and yet did eate Passour against the lawe appoynted: but Hezekia prayed for them, saying, The good Lorde be mercifull toward euery one
That prepareth his heart to seeke the Lorde God, the God of his fathers: though he be not [clensed] accordyng to the purification of the sanctuarie.
And the Lorde heard Hezekia, and healed the people.
And the children of Israel that were present at Hierusalem, held the feast of sweete bread seuen dayes, with great gladnes: and the Leuites & the priestes praysed the Lorde day by day, singing with loude instrumentes vnto the lord.
And Hezekia spake comfortablie vnto all the Leuites that had good knowledge [to sing] vnto the Lorde: and they did eate throughout that feast seuen dayes long, and offered peace offringes, and thanked the Lorde God of their fathers.
And the whole assemblie toke counsel to do so other seuen dayes: & they helde those seuen dayes with gladnesse:
For Hezekia king of Iuda, did geue to the congregation a thousand young oxen, and seuen thousand sheepe: And the lordes gaue out to the congregation a thousand oxen, & ten thousand sheepe, and a great number of the priestes were sanctified.
And all the congregation of Iuda, with the priestes & Leuites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, & the straungers that came out of the lande of Israel, & that dwelt in Iuda, reioyced.
And there was great gladnesse in Hierusalem: For since the time of Solomon the sonne of Dauid king of Israel, there was no such [ioy] in Hierusalem.
And the priestes and the Leuites arose, and blessed the people: and their voyce was heard [of the Lorde] and their prayer came vp vnto heauen his holy dwelling place.
AND when all these thinges were finished, all they of Israel that were present in the cities of Iuda, went out and brake the images, and cut downe the idol groues, and all to brake the high places and aulters throughout al Iuda and Beniamin, in Ephraim also and Manasse, vntil they had vtterly destroyed them all: And all the children of Israel returned euery man to his possessions, and to their owne cities.
And Hezekia appoynted sundry companies of the priestes and Leuites after the diuersitie of their ministrations, euery man according to his office both priestes and Leuites, for the burnt offering and peace offringes, to minister and to geue thankes and praise in the gates of the hoast of the Lorde.
And the kinges portion of his substaunce that he gaue, were dayly burnt offringes in the morning and euening, and burnt offringes for the Sabbath dayes, newe moones, & solempe feastes, according as it is written in the lawe of the Lorde.
And he bade the people that dwelt in Hierusalem, to geue a parte to the priestes and Leuites, that they might substancially applie them selues to the lawe of the Lorde.
And assoone as the kinges commaundement came abrode, the children of Israel brought abou{n}dance of first fruites, of corne, wine, oyle, hony, and of all maner of fruites of the fielde, & the tythes of all maner of thinges brought they in plenteously.
And the children of Israel and Iuda that dwelt in the cities of Iuda, they also brought in the tithes of oxen and sheepe, & other holy tithes which were consecrate vnto the Lorde their God, they did offer and brought them all by heapes.
In the third moneth, they began to lay the heapes in maner of a foundation, and finished them in the seuenth moneth.
And when Hezekia and the lordes came and sawe the heapes, they blessed the Lorde, and his people Israel.
And Hezekia questioned with the priestes and the Leuites concerning the heapes.
And Azaria the chiefe priest of the house of Zadoc, aunswered him and saide: Since the people began to bryng the heaue offringes into the house of the Lorde, we also haue had inough to eate, there remayned so much: for the Lorde hath blessed his people, and this heape is left.
And Hezekia bade prepare the chambers in the house of the Lord: And they did prepare them,
And caried in the first fruites, the tithes, and the dedicate thinges faithfully: ouer which Chonaniahu the Leuite had the rule, and Semei his brother next to him:
And Iehiel, Azariahu, Nahath, Asael, Ierimoth, Iosabad, Eliel, Iesmachiahu, Mahath, and Banaiahu, were ouerseres ordayned by Chonaniahu, & Semei his brother was an officer of Hezekia the king, & Azariahu was the ruler of the house of God.
And Core the sonne of Imna the Leuite, and porter of the east doore, had the ouersight of the thinges that were offered of a free wyll vnto God, & were geuen in maner seuerally vnto the lord, and ouer the thinges most holy.
And vnder his hand were Eden, Miniamin, Iesua, Semeiahu, Amariahu, and Sechaniahu in the cities of the priestes [appoynted] of their fidelitie to geue to their brethren their portions, aswell to the small as to the great.
Beside their generation, beyng males, from three yeres old and vpwarde, euen vnto euery one that entereth into the house of the Lord, they should geue day by day, for their ministration, and for their geuing attendaunce, and for their diuers waytinges by course,
Both to the generation of the priestes and Leuites throughout the housholde of their fathers, from twentie yeres and aboue, to wayte when their courses came:
And to the families of all their babes, wyues, sonnes and daughters through all the congregation: For vpon the fidelitie of them were the holy thinges bestowed.
And to the children of Aaron the priestes whiche were in the fieldes and suburbes of their cities, citie by citie, the men whose names were expressed afore, shoulde geue portions, euen to all the males among the priestes, and to all the Leuites, according to their number.
And of this maner did Hezekia throughout all Iuda: & wrought it that is good, and right and true before the Lorde his God.
And in al the workes that he began, for seruice of the house of God, for the lawe, & for the commaundementes, he sought his God: and that did he with all his heart, and prospered.
AFter that these deedes were faythfully done, Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came, and entred into Iuda, & compassed the strong cities, and thought to winne them for him selfe.
And so when Hezekia sawe that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Hierusalem,
He toke counsell with his lordes and men of might, to stop the water of the fountaynes without the citie: And they dyd helpe him.
For there gathered many of the people together, and stopt all the welles, and the broke that ran through the middes of the land, saying: Why shall the kinges of the Assyrians come and finde much water?
And Hezekia went to lustyly, and buylt vp the wall where it was broken, and made ordinaunce vpon the towres, and to the other wall without, and repaired Millo in the citie of Dauid, and made many dartes and shieldes.
And he set captaynes of warre ouer the people, and gathered them together to him in the large streete of the gate of the citie, and spake gentylly to them, saying:
Plucke vp your heartes and be strong: be not afrayde nor discouraged for the king of the Assyrians, & for all the multitude that he hath with hym: for there be mo with vs then with hym.
With him is an arme of flesh: but with vs is the Lord our God for to helpe vs, and to fight our battayles. And the people toke a courage through the wordes of Hezekia king of Iuda.
After this did Sennacherib king of the Assyrians send of his seruauntes to Hierusalem (but he him selfe remayned beside Lachis, hauing all his power with him) vnto Hezekia king of Iuda, and vnto all Iuda that were at Hierusalem, saying,
Thus saith Sennacherib king of the Assyrians: wherin do ye trust O ye that dwell in Hierusalem which is besieged?
Doth not Hezekia entice you to geue ouer your selues vnto death, hunger, and thirst, saying: The Lord our God shall ryd vs out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians?
Hath not the same Hezekia put downe his hye places and his aulters, & commaunded Iuda and Hierusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one aulter, and burne incense vpon the same?
Knowe ye not what I and my fathers haue done vnto the people of all landes? Were the gods of the people of other landes, able or mightie to saue their landes out of my hande?
Which of all the gods of those nations that my fathers destroyed, could deliuer his people out of my hande? And shall your God be able to deliuer you out of my hande?
Wherfore nowe let not Hezekia deceaue you, nor persuade you of this fassion, nor yet beleue him: For as no god among all nations and kingdomes, was able to rid his people out of my hand and out of the hand of my fathers: Howe much lesse shall your gods be able to kepe you out of my hande?
And yet mo thinges did his seruauntes speake against the Lorde God, and against his seruaunt Hezekia.
And Sennacherib also wrote a letter to rayle on the Lord God of Israel, and spake against him, saying: As the gods of the nations of [other] landes haue not ben able to deliuer their people out of my hande: euen so shal not the God of Hezekia deliuer his people out of my hande.
And they cried with a loude voyce in the Iewes speach vnto the people of Hierusalem that were on the wall, to feare them, and to make them faynt hearted, and that they might so take the citie.
And they spake against the God of Hierusalem, as against the gods of the nations of the earth, [whiche were] the workes of the handes of men.
But Hezekia the king, and the prophet Esai the sonne of Amos prayed against that [blasphemie,] and cried vp to heauen.
And the Lord sent an angel, which destroyed all the men of warre and the lordes and captaynes of the hoast of the king of the Assyrians, that he turned his face againe with shame towarde his owne lande: And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came of his owne body slue him therewith the sworde.
And so the Lorde saued Hezekia and the inhabiters of Hierusalem out of the hand of Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians, and from the hande of all other, and mayntayned them on euery side.
And many brought offeringes vnto the Lorde to Hierusalem, and presentes to Hezekia king of Iuda: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thence foorth.
In those dayes Hezekia was sicke to the death, and prayed vnto the Lorde: which aunswered him, and shewed him a wonderfull miracle.
But Hezekia dyd not againe vnto God according to it that he had shewed him: for his heart arose, & there came wrath vpon hym, and vpon Iuda and Hierusalem.
Notwithstanding Hezekia submitted him selfe after that his heart was risen vp, he and the inhabiters of Hierusalem: and the wrath of the Lorde came not vpon them in the dayes of Hezekia.
And Hezekia had exceeding much riches and honour: And he gat him treasures of siluer and gold, pretious stones, and spices, shieldes, and of all maner pleasaunt iewels:
And made store houses for the fruites of corne, for wine and oyle, and stalles for all maner of beastes, and foldes for sheepe.
And he made him cities, & had of sheepe and oxen great aboundaunce: For God had geuen him substaunce exceeding much.
This same Hezekia stopped the vpper water springes of Gihon, and brought them downe to the west side of the citie of Dauid: And Hezekia prospered in all his workes.
And when the princes of Babylon sent vnto him ambassadours, to enquire of the wonder that chaunced in the lande, God left him, to trye him, and that all that was in his heart might be knowen.
The rest of the deedes of Hezekia, and his goodnes, beholde they are written in the vision of Esai the prophet the sonne of Amoz, in the booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel.
And Hezekia slept with his fathers, and they buried hym in the most worthy place of the sepulchres of the sonnes of Dauid, and all Iuda and the inhabiters of Hierusalem dyd him worship at his death: and Manasse his sonne raigned in his steade.
MAnasse was twelue yeres olde when he began to raigne, and he raigned fiftie and fiue yeres in Hierusalem:
But dyd euyll in the sight of the Lorde, like vnto the abhominations of the heathen whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.
For he went to, and buylt the high places whiche Hezekia his father had broken downe: And he reared vp aulters for Baalim, and made groues, and worshipped all the hoast of heauen, and serued them.
And he buylt aulters in the house of the Lorde, where as the Lord yet had sayd, In Hierusale{m} shal my name be for euer.
And he buylded aulters for all the hoast of heauen, in the two courtes of {th}e house of the Lorde.
And he burnt his children in fire in the valley of the sonne of Hinnon: He was a sorcerer, he regarded the crying of birdes, vsed inchauntmentes, and mayntayned workers with spirites and sears of fortunes, and wrought much euyll in the sight of the Lorde to anger hym withall.
And he put the carued image and an idol whiche he had made, in the house of God: Of which house, God had sayd to Dauid and to Solomon his sonne, In this house and in Hierusalem whiche I haue chosen afore all the tribes of Israel will I put my name for euer.
Neither will I make the foote of Israel to remoue any more out of the land whiche I haue ordeyned for your fathers, yf so be that they wil be diligent and do all that I haue commaunded them in all the law and statutes, and ordinaunces by the hande of Moyses.
And so Manasse made Iuda and the inhabiters of Hierusalem to erre, and to do worse then the heathen whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel.
And the Lord spake to Manasse and to his people: but they woulde not regarde.
Wherfore the Lord brought vpon them the captaynes of the hoast of the king of the Assyrians, whiche toke Manasse in holde, and bounde him with chaynes, and caried him to Babylon.
And when he was in tribulation, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled him selfe exceedingly before the God of his fathers,
And made intercession to him: and God was intreated of him, and hearde his prayer, and brought him againe to Hierusalem into his kingdome: and then Manasse knewe that the Lorde was God.
After this he buylt a wall without the citie of Dauid on the west side of Gion, in the valley, as they came to the fishe gate, and round about Ophel, & brought it vp of a very great heyght, and put captaynes of warre in all the strong cities of Iuda.
And he toke away straunge gods and images out of the house of God, and all the aulters that he had buylt in the mount of the house of God and Hierusalem, and cast them out of the citie.
And he prepared the aulter of the Lord, and sacrifised thereon peace offeringes and thanke offeringes, and charged Iuda to serue the Lorde God of Israel.
Neuerthelesse, the people dyd offer stil in the high places, howbeit vnto the Lorde their God only.
The rest of the actes of Manasse, and his prayer vnto his God, & the wordes of the sears that spake to him in the name of the Lorde God of Israel, behold they are [written] in the sayinges of the kinges of Israel.
And his prayer, and howe that he was hearde, and all his sinnes, and his trespasse, and the places where he made high places and set vp groues and images before he was meekened, beholde they are written among the sayinges of the sears.
And Manasse slept with his fathers, & they buried him in his owne house, and Amon his sonne raigned in his roome.
Amon was two and twentie yeres old when he began to raigne, and raigned two yeres in Hierusalem.
But he did euill in the sight of the Lord, like as dyd Manasse his father: for Amon sacrifised to all the carued images whiche Manasse his father had made, and serued them.
And submitted not him selfe before the Lorde, as Manasse his father had meekened him selfe: but Amon trespassed greatly.
And his owne seruauntes conspired against him, and slue him in his owne house.
But the people of the lande slue al them that had conspired against king Amon: and the same people of the lande made Iosia his sonne king in his roome.
IOsia was eyght yeres olde when he began to raigne, and he raigned in Hierusalem thirtie and one yeres.
And he dyd that whiche was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the wayes of Dauid his father, and bowed neither to the right hand nor to the left.
In the eyght yere of his raigne, when he was yet a childe, he began to seke after the God of Dauid his father: And in the twelfth yere he began to purge Iuda & Hierusalem from the high places, groues, carued images, and images of metall.
And they brake downe the aulters of Baalim euen in his presence: and other images that were in greater honour then they, he caused to be destroyed: And the groues, carued images, and images of metall he brake and made dust of them, and strowed it vpon the graues of them that had offered vnto them.
And he burnt the bones of the priestes vpon the aulters of them, and clensed Iuda and Hierusalem:
And euen so did he in the cities of Manasse, Ephraim, Simeon, vnto Nephthali, and in the wildernesse of them rounde about,
He plucked asunder the aulters & the groues, & did beate the images & stampe them to powder, and cut downe all the idoles throughout all the lande of Israel, and returned to Hierusalem againe.
In the eyghtenth yere of his raigne, when he had purged the lande and the temple, he sent Saphan the sonne of Azaliahu, and Maasiah the gouernour of the citie, and Ioah the sonne of Ioahaz the recorder, to repaire the house of the Lorde his God.
And when they came to Helkiah the hie priest, they deliuered the money that was brought into the house of God, whiche the Leuites that kept the entryes had gathered of the hand of Manasse and Ephraim, and of all that yet remayned in Israel, and of all Iuda and Beniamin, and they returned to Hierusalem.
And they put it in the handes of the workmen that had the ouersight of the house of the Lorde, & they gaue it to the labourers that wrought in the house of the Lorde, to repaire and mende the house.
Euen to masons and carpenters gaue they it, to get hewed stone, & timber for couples and for beames of the houses which {th}e kinges of Iuda had destroyed.
And the men did the worke faythfully: And the ouersears of them to courage them forward, were Iahath and Obadiahu Leuites of the children of Merari: and Secharia and Mesullam of the children of the Caathites, and other of the Leuites, whiche all could skill of instrumentes of musicke.
And ouer the bearers of burthens, and ouer all that wrought in whatsoeuer worckmanship it were, were there scribes, officers, & porters of the Leuites.
And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lorde, Helkia the priest founde the booke of the law of the Lorde [geuen] by Moyses.
And Helkia aunswered and sayd to Saphan the scribe: I haue found the booke of the law in the house of the Lord. And Helkia gaue the booke to Saphan.
And Saphan caried the booke to the king, and brought the king word againe, saying: All that was commited to thy seruauntes, that do they.
And they haue gathered together the money that was founde in the house of the Lord, and haue deliuered it into the handes of the ouersears of the worke, and to the handes of the worckmen.
And then Saphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Helkia the priest hath geuen me a booke: and Saphan read in it before the king.
And it fortuned, that when the king had heard the wordes of the lawe, he tare his clothes:
And the king commaunded Helkia and Ahikam the sonne of Saphan and Abdon the sonne of Micah, and Saphan the scribe, and Asaa a seruaunt of the kinges, saying:
Go and enquire of the Lord for me and for them that are left in Israel and Iuda, concerning the wordes of the booke that is founde: For great is the wrath of the Lord that is fallen vpon vs, because our fathers haue not kept the worde of the Lorde, to do after all that is written in this booke.
And Helkia and they that the king had [appoynted] went to Hulda a prophetisse, the wyfe of Sallum, the sonne of Thecuath, the sonne of Hasra, keper of the wardrope (for she dwelt in Hierusalem within the seconde wall:) & so they communed with her.
She aunswered them, Thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel: Tell ye the man that sent you to me,
Euen thus sayth the Lorde: Beholde, I will bring euyll vpon this place, and vpon the inhabiters thereof, euen al the curses that are written in the booke whiche they haue read before the king of Iuda:
Because they haue forsaken me, and haue offred vnto other gods, to anger me with all maner workes of their handes: therfore is my wrath set on fire against this place, and shall not be quenched.
And as for the king of Iuda which sent you to enquire of the Lord, so shal ye say vnto him: thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel, concerning the wordes whiche thou hast hearde.
Because thyne heart did melt, and thou diddest meeke thy selfe before God when thou heardest his wordes against this place, and against the inhabiters thereof, and humbledst thy selfe before me, and tarest thy clothes, and weepedst before me: that haue I heard also, sayth the Lorde.
Behold, I wil take thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be put in thy graue in peace, and thyne eyes shall not see all the mischiefe that I will bring vpon this place, and vpon the inhabiters of the same. And they brought the king worde againe.
Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Iuda and Hierusalem:
And the king went vp into the house of the Lorde, and all the men of Iuda, and the inhabiters of Hierusalem, and the priestes and Leuites, and all the people great and smal, and [the king] did reade in their eares all the wordes of the booke of the couenaunt that was founde in the house of the Lorde.
And the king stoode at his standing, and made a couenaunt before the Lorde, to folowe the Lorde, and to kepe his commaundementes, his witnesse, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with al his soule, and to fulfill the wordes of the appoyntment written in the sayd booke.
And he set in their roome all them that were founde in Hierusalem and Beniamin: and the inhabiters of Hierusalem did according to the couenaunt of the Lorde God of their fathers.
And Iosia put away all maner of abhominations out of all landes that parteyned to the children of Israel, and brought in all that were founde in Israel, to worship and to serue the Lorde their God: And they turned not aside from after the Lorde God of their fathers, as long as he liued.
AND Iosia helde the [feast of] passouer vnto the Lorde in Hierusalem, & they slue passouer in the fourteenth day of the first moneth.
And he set the priestes in their offices, and ayded them in the seruice of the house of the Lorde,
And sayd vnto the Leuites that taught all Israel, and were sanctified vnto the Lorde: Put the holy arke in the house whiche Solomon the sonne of Dauid king of Israel dyd buylde, it shalbe no more a burden vpon your shoulders: But now serue the Lord your God, and his people Israel:
And prepare your selues by your auncient housholdes, and companies, according to the writing of Dauid king of Israel, and the writing of Solomon his sonne:
And stand in the holy place, according to the deuision of the auncient housholdes of your brethren the children of the people, and after the deuision of the auncient housholdes of the Leuites:
Kill passouer, and sanctifie your selues, & prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the Lord by the hande of Moyses.
And Iosia gaue to the people flockes of sheepe and kiddes all for passouer, and for al that were present, thirtie thousande by tale, and three thousande oxen: and these were euen of the kinges substaunce.
And his lordes gaue willingly both vnto the people and to the priestes, and vnto the Leuites: Helkia also, Zacharia, and Iehiel, rulers of the house of God, gaue vnto the priestes for passouer offeringes two thousande and sixe hundred sheepe, and three hundred oxen.
Conania, and Semeiahu, & Nathanael his brethren, & Hasabiah, and Iehiel, and Iosabad, rulers of the Leuites, gaue vnto the Leuites passouer offeringes [euen] fiue thousande sheepe and fiue hundred oxen.
And so the seruice was prepared, and the priestes stoode in their places, & the Leuites in their distinct companies, at the kinges commaundement:
And they slue passouer, and the priestes sprinckled the blood with their hande, and the Leuites pulled of the skinnes of the beastes.
And they fet away the burnt offeringes, to geue them vnto the people that were deuided be auncient houses, and that they shoulde offer vnto the Lorde, like as is written in the booke of Moyses: And so dyd they with the oxen also.
And they dressed the passouer with fire, as the maner was: And the other dedicate beastes sodde they in pottes, caldrons, and pannes, and deuided them among all the people.
And afterward they made redy for them selues and for the priestes: for the priestes the children of Aaron were busied in offring of burnt offringes and the fat vntill night: therfore the Leuites prepared for them selues and for the priestes the sonnes of Aaron.
And the singers the children of Asaph stoode in their standing, according to the commaundement of Dauid, and Asaph, Heman, and Ieduthun the kinges fear: and the porters wayted at euery gate, and might not depart from their seruice: for their brethren the Leuites prepared for them.
And so all the seruice of the Lord was prepared the same day, to offer passouer, and to offer burnt offeringes vpon the aulter of the Lord, according to the commaundement of king Iosia,
And the children of Israel that were present, kept the passouer the same time, and the feast of sweet bread seuen dayes.
And there was no passouer like to that kept in Israel from the dayes of Samuel the prophete, neither did al the kinges of Israel holde such a passeouer feast as dyd Iosia, and the priestes and Leuites, and all Iuda and Israel that were present, and the inhabiters of Hierusalem.
This passouer was holden in the eyghteenth yere of the raigne of Iosia.
After all this when Iosia had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came vp to fight against Charcamis beside Euphrates: and Iosia went out against him.
Whiche sent messengers to hym, and said: What haue I to do with thee thou king of Iuda? Be not thou against thy selfe this day, for my warre is against another house, and God bad me make hast: Leaue of therfore & meddle not with God which is with me, lest he destroy thee.
Neuerthelesse Iosia would not turne his face from him, but rather toke aduise to fight with hym, and hearkened not vnto the wordes of Necho out of the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Mageddo.
And the shooters shot dartes at king Iosia: And the king sayde to his seruauntes, Carie me away, for I am sore wounded.
His seruauntes therefore had hym out of that charet, and put him in another charet that they had: And when they had brought him to Hierusalem, he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his fathers: And all Iuda and Hierusalem mourned for Iosia.
And Ieremia lamented Iosia, and all singing men and singing women mourned for Iosias in their lamentations to this day, and made the same lamentations an ordinaunce in Israel: and beholde they are written in the lamentations.
The rest of the actes of Iosia and his goodnes [whiche he did] folowing in the writing of the lawe of the Lorde,
And his sayinges first and last, behold they are written in the booke of the kinges of Israel and Iuda.
ANd the people of the lande toke Iehoahaz the sonne of Iosia, and made hym king in his fathers steade in Hierusalem.
And Iehoahaz was twentie & three yeres olde when he began to raigne, and he raigned three monethes in Hierusalem.
And the king of Egypt put him downe at Hierusalem, and merced the lande in an hundreth talentes of siluer, and a talent of golde.
And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king vpon Iuda and Hierusalem, and turned his name to Iehoiacim: and Necho toke Iehoahaz his brother, and caried him to Egypt.
Iehoiacim was twentie and fiue yeres old when he began to raigne, & he raigned aleuen yeres in Hierusalem, and he did euil in the sight of the Lord his God.
Against him came vp Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and bounde hym with two chaynes, to cary him to Babylon.
The king Nabuchodonosor also caried of the vessels of the house of the Lord to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.
The rest of the actes of Iehoiacim, and his abhominations which he did, and that which was found vpon him, behold they are written in the booke of the kinges of Israel and Iuda: and Iehoiacin his sonne raigned in his steade.
And Iehoiacin was eyght yeres olde when he began to raigne, and he raigned three monethes and ten dayes in Hierusalem, and dyd euyll in the sight of the Lorde.
And when the yere was out, king Nabuchodonosor sent and fet him to Babylon with the goodly vessels of the house of the Lorde, and made Zedekia his fathers brother king ouer Iuda and Hierusalem.
Zedekia was one and twentie yeres old when he began the raigne, and raigned aleuen yeres in Hierusalem.
And he dyd euyl in the sight of the Lord his God, and humbled not him selfe before Ieremia the prophete, at the mouth of the Lorde.
And he rebelled against king Nabuchodonosor, which had receaued an oth of him by God: but he was stifnecked, and to hard hearted to turne vnto the Lord God of Israel.
Moreouer, all the chiefe of the priestes and the people trespassed wonderfully after all maner of abominations of the heathen, and polluted the house of the Lorde which he had halowed in Hierusalem.
And the Lorde God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising vp betimes, and sending: for he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place.
But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his wordes, and misvsed his prophetes, vntill the wrath of the Lorde arose against his people, and till there was no remedie.
And so he brought vpon them the king of Chaldee, which slue their young men with the sword in their holy temple, and spared neither young man, mayden, old man, nor him that stowped for age: He gaue them all into his hande.
And all the vessels of the house of God, both great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lorde, and the treasures of the king, and of his lordes: all these caryed he to Babylon.
And they burnt the house of God, and brake downe the wal of Hierusalem, and burnt all the pallaices thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly iewels therof.
And the rest that had escaped the sword, caried he to Babylon: where they were bondmen to him & his children, vntill the time that Persia had the Empire:
To fulfill the worde of the Lord by the mouth of Ieremia, vntill the lande had her pleasure of her Sabbathes: for as long as she lay desolate, she kept Sabbath, vntil threescore and ten yeres were fulfilled.
And the first yere of Cyrus king of Persia (when the worde of the Lorde spoken by the mouth of Ieremia was finished) the Lorde stirred vp the spirite of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdome, and that by wryting, saying:
Thus sayth Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdomes of the earth hath the Lorde God of heauen geuen me, & hath charged me to buylde hym an house in Hierusalem, that is in Iuda: Wherfore whosoeuer is among you of all his people, the Lorde his God be with him, and let hym go vp.
IN the first yere of Cyrus king of Persia (that the worde of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Ieremia might be fulfilled) the Lorde stirred vp the spirite of Cyrus king of Persia, that he caused to be proclaymed throughout all his empyre, and to be written, saying,
Thus saith Cyrus the king of Persia: The Lorde God of heauen hath geuen me all the kingdomes of the earth, and hath commaunded me to build him an house at Hierusalem, which is in Iuda.
Whosoeuer nowe among you is of his people, the Lord his God be with him, and let him go vp to Hierusalem in Iuda, and builde the house of the Lorde God of Israel, he is the God that is at Hierusalem.
And whosoeuer remayneth yet in any maner of place where he is a straunger, let the men of that place helpe him with siluer and golde, with good and cattaile, beside that which they willingly offer for the house of God that is at Hierusalem.
Then gat vp the principall fathers of Iuda and Beniamin, and the priestes and Leuites, and all they whose spirite God had raysed to go vp and to builde the house of the Lorde which is at Hierusalem.
And all they that were about them, strengthed their hande with vessels of siluer & golde, with goodes, and cattaile, and iewels, besides all that was wyllingly offered.
And king Cyrus brought foorth the vessels of the house of the Lord: which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of Hierusalem, and had put in the house of his God.
Those did Cyrus the king of Persia bryng foorth by the hande of Mithridates the treasurer, & numbred them vnto Sesbazer the prince of Iuda.
And this is the number of them: thirtie chargers of golde, a thousand chargers of siluer, twentie and nine kniues:
Thirtie basons of golde, and of other siluer basons foure hundred & ten: and of other vessels a thousand.
Al the vessels of golde and siluer were fiue thousand and foure hundred: All these did Sesbazer cary away with them that came vp out of the captiuitie of Babylon, vnto Hierusalem.
THese are the children of the prouince, that went vp out of the captiuitie, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had caried away vnto Babylon: & came againe vnto Hierusalem and into Iuda euery one vnto his citie.
They that came with Zorobabel [are these:] Iesua, Nehemiah, Saraiah, Rehelaia, Mardochai, Bilsan, Mispar, Biguai, Behum, Baana. This is the number of the men of the people of Israel:
The children of Pharos, two thousand an hundred seuentie and two.
The children of Sephatia, three hundred seuentie and two.
The children of Arath, seuen hundred seuentie and fiue.
The children of the captaine of Moab, of the children of Iesua and Ioab, two thousand eyght hundred and twelue.
The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fiftie and foure.
The children of Zathu, nine hundred and fouretie and fiue.
The children of Zaccai, seuen hundred and threescore.
The children of Bani, sixe hundred fouretie and two.
The children of Bebai, sixe hundred twentie and three.
The children of Asgad, a thousand two hundred twentie and two.
The children of Adonicam, sixe hundred sixtie and sixe.
The childre{n} of Beguai, two thousand fiftie and sixe.
The children of Adin, foure hundred fiftie and foure.
The children of Ater of Hezekia, ninetie and eyght.
The children of Bezai, three hundred twentie and three.
The children of Iora, an hundred and twelue.
The children of Hasum, two hundred twentie and three.
The children of Gebbar, ninetie & fiue.
The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twentie and three.
The men of Netopha, fiftie and sixe.
The men of Anathoth, an hundred twentie and eyght.
The children of Asmaueth, fouretie and two.
The children of Kiriathiarim, euen the children of Cephira and Beeroth, seuen hundred fouretie and three.
The children of Harama and Geba, sixe hundred twentie and one.
The men of Michmas, an hundred twentie and two.
The men of Bethel and Hay, two hundred twentie and three.
The children of Nebo, fiftie and two.
The children of Magbis, an hundred fiftie and sixe.
The childre{n} of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fiftie and foure.
The children of Harim, three hundred and twentie.
The children of Lodhadid and Ono, seuen hundred twentie and fiue.
The childre{n} of Iericho, three hundred fouretie and fiue.
The children of Senaa, three thousand sixe hundred and thirtie.
The priestes: of the children of Iedaia of the house of Iesua, nine hundred seuentie and three.
The children of Immer, a thousand fiftie and two.
The children of Phashur, a thousand two hundred fouretie and seuen.
The children of Arim, a thousand and seuenteene.
The Leuites: the children of Iesua & Cadmiel, of the children of Hodauia, seuentie and foure.
The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twentie and eyght.
The children of the doore kepers, the children of Sallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Accub, the children of Hatita, the children of Sobai, altogether an hundred thirtie and nine.
The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Asupha, the children of Tabaoth,
The children of Ceros, the children of Siaa, the children of Padon,
The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Accub,
The children of Hagab, the children of Semlai, the children of Hanan,
The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaia,
The children of Razin, the children of Necoda, the children of Gasam,
The children of Vzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
The children of Asna, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim,
The children of Bacbuc, the children of Hacupa, the children of Harhur,
The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsa,
The children of Barcos, the children of Sisara, the children of Thamah,
The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
The children of Solomons seruau{n}tes, the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
The children of Iaala, the children of Darcon, the children of Giddel,
The children of Sephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazbaim, the children of Ami.
All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomons seruauntes, were altogether three hundred ninetie and two.
And these went vp from Thelmelah, and from Thelharsa, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they coulde not discerne their fathers house & their seede, whether they were of Israel.
The children of Delaia, the children of Tobia, the children of Necoda, sixe hundre fiftie and two.
And of the children of the priestes: the children of Habaia, the children of Accoz, the childre{n} of Berzillai, which toke one of the daughters of Berzillai the Gileadite to wyfe, and was called after their name.
These sought their euidence among them that had the regester of birth, and were not founde therein, therefore were they put from the priesthood.
And Hathirsatha said vnto them that they should not eate of the most holy, till there rose vp a priest [to weare] Vrim and Thummim.
The whole congregation together, was fouretie & two thousand, three hundred and threescore:
Beside their seruauntes and maydens, of whom there were seuen thousand three hundred thirtie and seuen: And there were among them two hundred singing men and women.
Their Horses were seuen hundred thirtie and sixe: their Mules two hundred fouretie and fiue,
And their Camels foure hundred thirtie and fiue: their Asses sixe thousand seuen hundred and twentie.
And certaine of the chiefe fathers, when they came to the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem, they offred them selues wylling for the house of God, to set it vp in his place:
And gaue golde after their habilitie, vnto the treasure of the worke, euen threescore and one thousand peeces, and fiue thousand pounde of siluer, and an hundred priestes garmentes.
So the priestes, and the Leuites and certaine of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
ANd when the seuenth moneth came, and the childre{n} of Israel were now in their cities, the people came together euen as one man to Hierusalem.
And there stoode vp Iesua the sonne of Iosedec, and his brethren the priestes, and Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and his brethren, and builded the aulter of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offeringes thereon, as it is written in the law of Moyses the man of God.
And the aulter set they vpon his sockets: for there was a fearefulnesse among them, because of the people of those countries, therefore they offered burnt offeringes theron vnto the lorde, euen burnt offeringes in the morning and at euening.
And they helde the feast of tabernacles as it is written, and offered burnt sacrifices dayly, according to the number and custome, day by day.
Afterwarde they offered dayly burnt offringes also, and in the new moones, and in al the feast dayes that were consecrated vnto the Lord, and for all them which did of their owne free wyll offer vnto the Lorde.
From the first day of the seuenth moneth, began they to offer burnt sacrifices vnto the Lord: euen when the foundation of the temple of the Lorde was not yet layde.
They gaue money also vnto the masons and carpenters, and meate and drincke, and oyle vnto them of Sidon and of Tyre, to bring the Cedar timber from Libanus by sea vnto Ioppa, according to the graunt that they had of Cyrus the king of Persia.
In the second yere of their comming vnto the house of God at Hierusalem in the second moneth, began Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iesua the sonne of Iosedec, and the remnaunt of their brethren, the priestes and Leuites, and all they that were come out of the captiuitie vnto Hierusalem: and appoynted the Leuites from twentie yeres olde and aboue, to see that the worke of the house of the Lorde went forwarde.
And Iesua stoode with his sonnes and brethren, and Cadmiel with his sonnes & the children of Iuda together, to set forwarde the workmen of the house of God, euen the childre{n} of Henadad, with their children, and their brethren the Leuites.
And when the builders layed the foundation of the temple of the Lorde, they appoynted the priestes in their araye with trumpettes, and the Leuites the children of Asaph with cymbales, to prayse the Lorde after the maner of Dauid king of Israel.
And they sang together when they gaue prayse and thankes vnto the lorde, Because he is gracious, and because his mercie endureth for euer vpon Israel: And all the people showted loude in praysing the Lorde, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was layd.
Many also of the priestes & Leuites and chiefe fathers, and auncient men which had seene the first house, when the foundation was layde before their eyes, wept with a loude voyce, and many showted aloude with ioy:
So that the people coulde not discerne the ioyfull sounde & gladnesse, from the noyse of the weeping among the people: for the people showted with a loude crye, and the noyse was heard farre of.
BVt the aduersaries of Iuda and Beniamin, heard that the children of the captiuitie builded the temple vnto the Lorde God of Israel:
And they came to Zorobabel and to the principall fathers, and saide vnto them: We wyll builde with you, for we seeke the Lorde your God, as ye do, and we haue done sacrifice vnto him since the time of Asor Hadon the king of Assur which brought vs vp hither.
And Zorobabel, and Iesua, and the other auncient fathers of Israel, sayde vnto them: It can not be, that you and we together shoulde builde the house vnto our God: for we our selues wyll builde alone vnto the Lorde our God of Israel, as Cyrus the king of Persia hath commaunded vs.
And it came to passe, that the folke of the lande discouraged the people of Iuda, & troubled them as they were building:
And hyred counsellers against them, to hinder their deuice as long as Cyrus the king of Persia liued, vntil the raigne of Darius king of Persia.
And in the raigne of Ahasuerus, euen at the beginning of his raigne, wrote they vnto him a complaynt against the inhabiters of Iuda and Hierusalem.
And in the dayes of Artaxerxes, wrote Mithridath, Tabel, and the other of his counsell, vnto Artaxerxes the king of Persia with faire wordes: And the writing of the letter was in the Syrians speache, and interpreted in the language of the Syrians:
Rehum the recorder, and Samsai the scribe wrote a letter from Hierusalem to Artaxerxes the king, as it foloweth.
Then Rehum the recorder, and Samsai the scribe, and other of their company, they of Dina, of Apharsath, of Tharpelai, of Persia, of Arache, of Babylon, of Susan, of Deha, of Elan,
And other of the people whom the great & noble Asnappar brought ouer, and set in the cities of Samaria, and other that are nowe beyond the water, and Cheeneth.
This is the copie of the letter that they sent vnto king Artaxerxes: Thy seruauntes, and the men that are nowe •eyond the water, and Cheeneth.
Be it knowen vnto the king that the Iewes which came vp from thee to vs, are come vnto Hierusalem, a citie seditious and froward, and builde the same, and set vp the walles thereof, and lay the foundations.
Be it knowen now vnto the king, that if this citie be builded, and the walles made vp againe, then shal not they geue toule, tribute, and custome, & the kinges profite shall incurre damage.
And now in the meane season we haue destroyed the temple, and woulde no longer see the kinges dishonour, therefore sent we out also and certified the king,
That it may be sought in the booke of the cronicles of thy progenitours, and so shalt thou finde in the booke of the cronicles, and perceaue that this citie is seditious and noysome vnto the kinges and landes, and that they cause other also among them to rebell of olde: and for the same cause was this citie destroyed.
Therfore do we certifie the king, that if this citie be builded againe, and the walles thereof made vp, thou shalt hereafter haue no portion beyond the water.
Then sent the king an aunswere vnto Rehum the recorder and Samsai the scribe, and to the other of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and vnto the other that were beyond the water in Selam and Cheeth.
The letter which ye sent vnto vs, hath ben openly read before me.
And I haue commaunded to make searche, and it is found that this citie of olde hath made insurrection against kinges, and that rebellion and sedition hath ben committed therein.
There haue ben mightie kinges also at Hierusalem, which haue raigned ouer all countreys beyond the water: and toule, tribute, and custome was geuen vnto them,
Geue ye nowe therefore commaundement, that the same men be forbidden, and that the citie be not builded againe, till I haue geuen another commaundement.
Take heede now that ye be not negligent to do this: for why should the king haue harme there through?
Nowe when the copie of king Artaxerxes letter was read before Rehum & Simsai the scribe, and their companyons, they went vp in all the haste to Hierusalem vnto the Iewes, and forbad them with violence and power.
Then ceassed the worke of the house of God at Hierusalem, and continued so vnto the second yere of Darius king of Persia.
THe prophetes Aggeus, and Zachari the sonne of Iddo, prophecied vnto the Iewes that were in Iuda and Hierusalem in the name of the God of Israel, eue{n} vnto them.
Then gat vp Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iesua the sonne of Iosedec, and began to builde the house of God at Hierusalem: and with them were the prophetes of God, which helped them.
At the same time came to them Thathanai which was captaine beyond the water, and Stharbuzanai, and their companions, and saide thus vnto them: Who hath commaunded you to builde this house, & to make vp these walles?
Then saide we vnto them after this maner: What are the names of the men that make this building?
But the eye of their God was vpon the elders of the Iewes, that they could not cause them to ceasse, till the matter was brought to Darius: and then they aunswered by letters therevnto.
This is the copie of the letter that Thathanai which was captayne beyond the water, & Stharbuzanai, & the counsailours of Apharsath which were beyond the water, sent vnto king Darius.
And the matter that they sent vnto him, was written thus within the letter: Vnto Darius the king, all peace.
Be it knowen vnto the king that we went into the prouince of Iurie to the house of the great God, which is builded with mightie great stones, and beames are layde in the walles, and the worke goeth fast foorth, and prospereth in their handes.
Then asked we the elders, and saide vnto them as it foloweth: Who commaunded you to builde this house, and to make vp the walles thereof?
We asked their names also, that we might certifie thee, and write the names of the men that were their rulers.
But they aunswered vs with these wordes, and saide: We are the seruauntes of him that is God of heauen and earth, and builde the house that was builded of olde and many yeres ago, which the great king of Israel builded, and set vp.
But after our fathers had prouoked the God of heauen vnto wrath, he gaue them ouer into the hande of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon & of the Chaldees, which brake downe this house, and caried the people away captiue vnto Babylon.
But in the first yere of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus gaue commaundement concerning this house of God, that it shoulde be built againe.
And the vessels of golde and siluer of the house of God which Nabuchodonosor toke out of the temple that was at Hierusalem, and brought them into the temple at Babylon: those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple at Babylon, and they were deliuered vnto one Sasbazar by name, whom he made captaine,
And saide vnto him: Take these vessels, and go thy way, and set them in the temple that is at Hierusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
Then came the same Sasbazar, and layed the foundation of the house of God which is at Hierusalem: Since that time also vntill nowe hath it ben in building, and yet is it not finished.
Now therefore if it please the king, let there be searche made in the kinges librarie which is there at Babylon, whether it haue ben king Cyrus commaundement that this temple of God at Hierusalem shoulde be builded: and let the king send his minde concerning the same matter.
THen co{m}maunded king Darius: & they made searche in the librarie, eue{n} in the place where they layed vp the treasure at Babylon:
And there was found in a coffer in the palace that is in the prouince of the Medes, a volume: and therein was it thus written as a memoriall.
In the first yere of king Cyrus, gaue the same king Cyrus commaundement concerning the house of God at Hierusalem, that the same house should be builded in the place where they offer the sacrifices, & to ioyne the walles together of threescore cubites heyght, and threescore cubites breadth.
Three rowes of rough stones, and one rowe of newe timber: and the expences shalbe geuen of the kinges house.
And let the golde and siluer vessels of the house of God, which Nabuchodonosor toke out of the temple at Hierusalem and brought vnto Babylon, be restored, and brought againe vnto the temple at Hierusalem to their place in the house of God.
Now therefore thou Thathanai captaine beyond the water, & Stharbuzanai, and your counsailers, and Aphersechei which are beyond the water, get ye away from them.
Let the worke of the house of this God alone, that the captaine of the Iewes and their elders may builde the house of God in his place.
I haue commaunded what ye shall do to the elders of Iuda for the building of the house of God, that of the kinges goodes, euen of the tribute beyond the water, foorthwith expences be geuen vnto the men, that they be not hindred.
And if they haue neede of calues, rammes, and lambes for the burnt offering of the God of heauen, wheate, salte, wine, and oyle, after the custome of the priestes at Hierusalem, let the same be geuen them dayly without any delay:
That they may haue to offer sweete sauours vnto the God of heauen, & pray for the kinges lyfe, and for his children.
And such a commaundement haue I geuen, that what man soeuer he be that altereth this word, there shall a beame be taken from his house, and set vp, and he shalbe hanged thereon, & his house shalbe made a dounghill for the same thing.
And the God that set his name there, destroy all kinges and people that put to their hande to aulter and to breake downe the house of God which is at Hierusalem. I Darius haue made a decree, that this be done with speede.
Then Thathanai the captaine [of the countrey] beyond the water, & Stharbuzanai, with their counsailours, according to that which king Darius had sent, so they did speedyly their diligence.
And the elders of the Iewes builded, and they prospered through the prophecying of Aggeus the prophete and Zachari the sonne of Iddo, and they builded, and they finished it according to the commaundement of the God of Israel, and after the commaundement of Cyrus and Darius & Artaxerxes, kinges of Persia.
And this house was finished the third day of the moneth Adar, euen in the sixt yere of the raigne of king Darius.
And the childre{n} of Israel, the priestes, the Leuites, and the other children of the captiuitie, helde the dedication of this house of God with ioy:
And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred oxen, two hu{n}dred rammes, foure hu{n}dred lambes: and for the reconciling of all Israel twelue hee goates, according to the number of the tribes of Israel:
And set the priestes in their sundry courses, and the Leuites in their diuers offices, to minister vnto God at Hierusalem, as it is written in the booke of Moyses.
And the children of the captiuitie held Passouer vpon the foureteenth day of the first moneth.
For the priestes and Leuites were purified all together, & killed Passouer for all the children of the captiuitie, and for their brethren the priestes, and for them selues.
And the children of Israel which were come againe out of captiuitie, and all such as had seperated them selues vnto them from the filthinesse of the heathen of the lande, to seeke the Lorde God of Israel, did eate,
And helde the feast of vnleauened bread seuen dayes with ioy: For the Lorde had made them glad, and turned the heart of the king of Assur vnto them, to strengthen their handes in the worke of the house of God, euen the God of Israel.
AFter these thinges, ther was in the raigne of Artaxerxes king of Persia, one Esdras the sonne of Saraia, the sonne of Asaria, the sonne of Helkia,
The sonne of Sallum, the sonne of Zadoc, the sonne of Ahitob,
The sonne of Amaria, the sonne of Asaria, the sonne of Meraioth,
The sonne of Zeraia, the sonne of Vzzi, the sonne of Bucci,
The sonne of Abisua, the sonne of Phinehes, the sonne of Eleasar, the sonne of Aaron the chiefe priest.
This Esdras also went vp from Babylon, and was a perfect scribe in the law of Moyses which the Lorde God of Israel did geue: And the king gaue him al that he required, according to the hand of the Lorde his God which was vpon him.
And there went vp certaine of the children of Israel, of the priestes, leuites, singers, porters, and of the Nethinims vnto Hierusalem, in the seuenth yere of king Artaxerxes.
And he came to Hierusalem in the fifth moneth, euen in the seuenth yere of the king.
For vpon the first day of the first moneth, began he to go vp from Babylon: and on the first day of the fifth moneth came he to Hierusalem, according to the good hand of his God that was vpon him.
For Esdras prepared his heart to seeke the law of the Lorde, and to do it, and to teache the preceptes and iudgementes in Israel.
And this is the copie of the letter that king Artaxerxes gaue vnto Esdras the priest, and scribe, which was a writer of the wordes and commaundementes of the Lorde, and of his statutes ouer Israel.
Artaxerxes a king of kinges, vnto Esdras the priest and scribe of the law of the God of heauen, peace and salutation.
I haue commaunded that all they of the people of Israel, and of the priestes and Leuites in my realme, which are minded of their owne good wyll to go vp to Hierusalem, go with thee:
And therfore art thou sent of the king and of his seuen counsailers, to visite Iuda and Hierusalem, according to the law of thy God, which is in thy hande:
And that thou shouldest take with thee siluer and golde which the king and his counsailers offer of their owne good wyll vnto the God of Israel, whose habitation is at Hierusalem:
And all the siluer and golde that thou canst finde in al the countrey of Babylon, with it that the people offer of their owne good wyll, and the priestes geue wyllingly for the house of their God which is at Hierusalem:
That thou mayst bye diligently with the same money, oxen, rammes, and lambes, with their meate offringes and drinke offringes, & thou shalt offer them vpon the aulter of the house of your God which is at Hierusalem.
And looke what lyketh thee and thy brethren to do with the remnaunt of the siluer and golde, that do after the wyll of your God.
And the vessels that are geuen thee for the ministration in the house of thy God, those deliuer thou before God at Hierusalem.
And whatsoeuer thing more shalbe nedefull for the house of thy God which is necessary for to spend, thou shalt receaue the charges out of the kinges treasure house.
I king Artaxerxes haue commaunded all the treasures beyond the water, that loke what soeuer Esdras the priest and scribe in the law of the God of heauen requireth of you, that ye fulfill the same speedylie,
Vntill an hundred talentes of siluer, and till an hundred quarters of wheate, and till an hundred battes of wine, and till an hundred battes of oyle, & salt without measure.
Whatsoeuer also is by the commaundement of the God of heauen, let the same be done without any delay for the house of the God of heauen, that he be not wroth against the realme, & against the king and his children.
And we certifie you, that ye haue no aucthoritie to require taxing and custome and yerely rentes, vpon any of the priestes, leuites, singers, porters, Nethinims, and ministers in the house of his God.
And thou Esdras, after the wysdome of thy God that is in thyne hande, set iudges and arbitrers [by my aucthoritie] to iudge all the people that is beyond the water, euen all such as know the law of thy God: and them that knowe it not, those see that ye teache.
And whosoeuer wyll not fulfill the lawe of thy God, and the kinges lawe, let him haue his iudgement without delay, whether it be vnto death, or to be rooted out, or to be condempned in goodes, or to be put in prison.
Blessed be the Lorde God of our fathers, which so had inspired the kinges heart, to garnishe the house of the Lord that is at Hierusalem:
And hath enclined mercie vnto me in the presence of the king and his counsailers, and before all the kinges high estates: And I was comforted euen as the hande of the Lord my God was vpon me, and so gathered I the heades of Israel together, that they might go vp with me.
THese are now the principall fathers of them, and this is the register of them that went vp with me from Babylon, what time as king Artaxerxes raigned.
Of the children of Phinehes, Gersom: of the children of Ithamar, Daniel: of the children of Dauid, Hattus:
Of the children of Zechania, among the children of Pharos, Zachari & with him were numbred an hundred and fiftie men.
Of the childre{n} of the captaine of Moab, Elioenai the sonne of Zerahia, & with him two hundred men.
Of the children of Zechania the sonne of Iahasiel, and with him three hundred men.
Of the children of Adin, Abed the sonne of Ionathan, and with hym fiftie men.
Of the children of Elam, Isai the sonne of Athalia, and with hym seuentie men.
Of the children of Saphatia, Zebadia the sonne of Michael, and with hym fourescore men.
Of the children of Ioab, Obadia the sonne of Iehiel, and with him two hundred and eyghteene men.
Of the children of Selomith, the sonne of Iosephia, and with hym an hundred and threescore men.
Of the children of Bebai, Zachari the sonne of Bebai, and with hym twentie and eyght men.
Of the children of Asgad, Iohanan the sonne of Hakatan, and with hym an hundred and ten men.
Of the children of Adonicam that were the last, whose names are these: Eliphelet, Iehiel, and Samaiah, & with them threescore men.
Of the children of Biguai, Vthai, and Zabud, & with them seuentie men.
And I gathered them together by the water that runneth towarde Ahaua, and there abode we three dayes: And I loked among the people and the priestes, and founde there none of the children of Leui.
Then sent I to Eliezer, to Ariel, Semeia, Elnachan, Iarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zacharia, and to Mesullam, the rulers, and to Ioiarib and Elnathan, which were men of vnderstanding.
And to those gaue I commaundement vnto Iddo the chiefest at Casphia, and I told them what they should say vnto Iddo & to his brethren the Nethinims at Casphia, that they shoulde cause the ministers of the house of our God to come vnto vs.
And through the good hande of our God vpon vs, they brought vs a very wyse man from among the children of Moholi the sonne of Leui the sonne of Israel, and Sarabia with his sonnes and his brethren, euen eyghteene.
And Hasabia and with him Isai of the children of Merari, with his brethren, and their sonnes, twentie.
And of the Nethinims whom Dauid and the princes gaue to minister vnto the Leuites, two hundred and twentie of Nethinims: which al were named by name.
And euen there at the water beside Ahaua I proclaymed a fast, that we might humble our selues before our God, and seke of hym a right way for vs, and for our children, and for all our substaunce.
For I was ashamed to require of the king souldiers and horsemen, to helpe vs against the enemie in the way: for we had spoken vnto the king, saying: The hande of our God is vpon all them that seke him in goodnesse, & his power and wrath is against all them that forsake hym.
So we fasted, and besought our God for this, and he was entreated of vs.
And I toke out twelue of the chiefe priestes, Sarabia, and Hasabia, and ten of their brethren with them,
And wayed them the siluer and golde, and vessels that were appoynted for the house of our God, whiche the king and his consaylers, and his lordes, and al Israel that were there at hand, had geuen together.
And I wayed vnto their hande sixe hundred and fiftie talentes of siluer, and in siluer vessels an hundred talentes, and in golde an hundred talentes:
Twentie basons of gold of a thousand drammes, and two costly vessels of good brasse, as cleare as golde.
And I sayde vnto them: Ye are consecrate vnto the Lord, like as the vessels are holy also: and the gold and siluer are geuen of a good wil vnto the Lord God of your fathers.
Watch ye, and kepe them: for ye shall way them downe before the chiefe priestes, and Leuites, and auncient fathers of Israel at Hierusalem, in the treasuries of the house of the Lorde.
Then toke the priestes and Leuites the wayed siluer and golde, and vessels, to bring it to Hierusalem vnto the house of our God.
And we brake vp from the water of Ahaua on the twelfth day of the first moneth, to go vnto Hierusalem: and the hande of our God was vpon vs, and deliuered vs from the hande of the enemies, and of such as layed wayte for vs by the way.
And we came to Hierusalem, and abode there three dayes.
But on the fourth day was the siluer and gold and vessels wayed in the house of our God by the hande of Meremoth the sonne of Vria the priest, and with him was Eleazar the sonne of Phinehes, and with them was Iosabad the sonne of Iesua, and Noadia the sonne of Bennoi the Leuites.
According to the number and weyght of euery one, was the wayght all written vp at the same time.
And the children of the captiuitie, which were come out of captiuitie, offred burnt offringes vnto the God of Israel, twelue bullockes for all Israel, ninetie and sixe rammes, seuentie and seuen lambes, twelue hee goates for sinne [offering] all to the burnt offering of the Lorde.
And they deliuered the kinges commission vnto the kinges officers, and to the captaynes that were beyonde the water: And they promoted the people, and the house of God.
WHen these thinges were done, the rulers came to me, and sayde: The people of Israel, and the priestes & Leuites are not separated from the people of the landes, as touching their abhominations: namely of the Chanaanites, Hethites, Pherezites, Iebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
For they haue taken the daughters of the same to them selues and to their sonnes, and the holy seede is mixed with the nations of the landes, & the hand of the princes and rulers hath ben principall in the trespasse.
And when I heard this saying, I rent my clothes and my garment, & pluckt of the heere of my head & of my beard, and sate mourning.
And there resorted vnto me all such as feared the wordes of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of the [people] of the captiuitie: And I sat mourning vntill the euening sacrifice.
And about the euening sacrifice I arose vp from my heauinesse, and rent my clothes and my rayment, and fell vpon my knees, and spread out my handes vnto the Lorde my God,
And sayde: My God, I am ashamed, and dare not lift vp myne eyes vnto thee my God: for our wickednesses are growen ouer our head, and our trespasse is waxed great vnto the heauen.
Since the time of our fathers haue we ben in great trespasse vnto this day, and because of our wickednesses haue we and our kinges and our priestes ben deliuered into the hande of the kinges of the nations, vnto the sworde, into captiuitie, into a spoyle, and into confusion of face, as it is to see this day.
And nowe for a litle space grace hath ben shewed from the Lorde our God, in causing a remnaunt to escape, and in geuing vs a nayle in his holy place, that our God may light our eyes, and geue vs a litle lyfe to take breath in our bondage:
For we were bondmen, and yet our God hath not forsaken vs in our bondage, but hath enclined mercie vnto vs in the sight of the king of Persia, to geue vs lyfe to set vp the house of our God, and to redresse the desolation therof, and to geue vs a wall in Iuda and Hierusalem.
And nowe O our God, what shall we say after this? for we haue forsaken thy commaundementes,
Whiche thou hast commaunded by thy seruauntes the prophetes, saying: The lande vnto which ye go to possesse, it is an vncleane lande, because of the filthinesse of the people of the landes, whiche with their abhominations haue made it full of vncleannesse on euery syde.
Therfore shal ye not geue your daughters vnto their sonnes, and their daughters shall ye not take vnto your sonnes, nor seke their peace and wealth for euer: that ye may be strong and enioy the goodnesse of the lande, and that ye and your children may haue the inheritaunce of it for euermore.
And after that all these thinges are come vpon vs because of our euyll deedes and great trespasses, seyng that thou our God hast stayed vs from beyng beneath for our iniquities, and hast geuen vs such deliuerance:
Shoulde we returne to breake thy commaundementes, and ioyne in affinitie with the people of these abhominations? wouldest not thou be angry to wardes vs till thou hadst consumed vs, so that there should be no remnaunt, nor any escaping?
O Lorde God of Israel, thou art righteous, for we remayne yet escaped, as it is to see this day: Beholde also, in thy presence are we in our trespasses, & because of it may we not stand before thee.
ANd when Esdras prayed after this maner, and knowledged, wept, and lay before the house of God, there resorted vnto hym out of Israel a very great congregation, of men, and women, and children: and the people wept very sore.
And Sechania the sonne of Ichiel, one of the children of Elam, aunswered, and sayde vnto Esdras: We haue trespassed against our God, & haue taken straunge wyues of the people of the lande: Yet nowe there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
For nowe we will make a couenaunt with our God, and put away all the wiues and such as are borne of them, according to the counsel of the Lorde: and we wil be in the feare of the commaundementes of our God, that we may do according to the lawe.
Get thee vp, for this matter belongeth vnto thee, we also will be with thee: be of good comfort therfore, and do it.
Then rose Esdras, and toke an oth of the chiefe priestes and Leuites, and of all Israel, that they should do according to this worde: And they sware.
And Esdras rose vp from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Iohanan the sonne of Eliasib: and when he came thyther, he dyd eate no bread, nor dronke water: for he mourned, because of the transgression of the people that had ben in captiuitie.
And they caused a proclamation to go throughout Iuda & Hierusalem vnto al them of the captiuitie, that they shoulde gather them selues together vnto Hierusalem:
And that whosoeuer came not within three dayes, according to the deuice of the rulers and elders, all his substaunce should be forfayted, and he should be put out from the congregation of them of the captiuitie.
Then all the men of Iuda and Beniamin gathered them selues together vn-Hierusalem within three dayes, euen the twentith day of the nynth moneth: & all the people sate in the streete of the house of God, and trembled, because of this matter, and for the rayne.
And Esdras the priest stoode vp, and sayd vnto them: Ye haue transgressed, & haue taken straunge wyues, to make the trespasse of Israel yet more.
Confesse now therfore vnto the Lord God of our fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate your selues from the people of the lande, and from the straunge wyues.
And all the congregation aunswered, and sayde with a loude voyce: It shalbe so, and we will do as thou hast sayde.
But the people are many, and it is a rayny weather, & the people are to faynt to tary without in the streete, neither is this a worke of one day or two: for we haue offended very sore in this thing.
Let our rulers stande therefore in all the congregation, and let al them which haue taken straunge wyues in our cities come at the time appoynted, and let the elders of euery citie and their iudges be with them, till the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from vs.
Then were appoynted Ionathan the sonne of Asahel, and Iahasia the sonne of Thecua ouer this matter: & Mesullam and Sabathai the Leuites helped them.
And the children of the captiuitie dyd euen so: And Esdras the priest, and the auncient heads through the house of their fathers, all men of great fame, separated them selues, & sate them downe in the first day of the tenth moneth to examine the matter.
And vntill the first day of the first moneth they were finishing the businesse, with al the men that had taken straunge wyues.
And among the children of the priestes there were men found that had taken straunge wiues, namely among the children of Iesua, the sonne of Iosedec, and of his brethren, Maasia, and Eliezer, Iarib, and Gedalia.
And they gaue their handes that they woulde put away their wiues: and they that had trespassed, gaue a ramme for their trespasse.
And among the children of Immer: Hanani, and Zebadia.
Among the children of Harim: Maasia, Elia, Semeia, Iehiel, and Vzziah.
Among the children of Pashur: Elioenai, Maasia, Ismael, Nethanel, Iosabad, and Elasah.
Among the Leuites: Iosabad, Semei, and Celaia (whiche same is Centah) Phathaiah, Iuda, and Eliezer.
Among the singers also, Eliasib: And among the porters, Sellum, and Telem, and Vri.
And of Israel: Among the children of Pharos, Remeia, Iesia, Melchia, Miamin, Eliezer, Melchia, & Banaiah.
Among the children of Elam: Mathania, Zacharia, Iehiel, Abdi, Ierimoth, and Elia.
Among the children of Zatthu: Elioenai, Eliasib, Mathania, Ierimoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
Among the children of Bebai: Iehohanan, Hanania, Zabbai, and Athalai.
Among the children of Bani: Mesullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Iasub, Saal, and Ieramoth.
Among the children of the captayne of Moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaia, Maasia, Mathania, Besalel, Bennui, & Manasse.
Among the children of Harim: Eliezer, Isuah, Melchiia, Semeia, and Simeon,
Beniamin, Malluch, and Semariah.
Among the children of Hasum: Matthenai, Mathatha, Zabad, Eliphelet, Ieremai, Manasse, and Semei.
Among the children of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Vel,
Banea, Badaia, Cheliau,
Vaniah, Maremoth, Eliasib,
Mathaniah, Mathanai, Iasi,
Bani, Bennui, and Semei,
Selemia, Nathan, Adaiah,
Machnadebai, Sasai, Sarai,
Asarel, Selemiahu, and Semariah,
Sallum, Amaria, and Ioseph.
Among the children of Nebo, Iehiel, Mathathia, Zabad, Zabina, Iadau, Ioel, and Banaia.
All these had taken straunge wyues, and among the same there were some that had children by the wyues.
THe wordes of Nehemia the sonne of Hachalia. In the moneth Chisleu, in the twentie yere, as I was in the castell at Susan,
Came Hanani, one of my brethren, he and the men of Iuda: and I asked them howe the Iewes dyd that were deliuered and escaped from the captiuitie, and howe it went at Hierusalem.
And they sayde vnto me: The remnaunt that are left of the captiuitie there in the lande, are in great affliction and rebuke: the wall of Hierusalem also is broken downe, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire.
And when I hearde these wordes, I sat downe and wept, and mourned certayne dayes, and fasted and prayed before the God of heauen,
And sayde: O Lorde God of heauen, thou great and terrible God, thou that kepest couenaunt and mercie for them that loue thee & obserue thy commaundementes:
Let thyne eares hearken I beseche thee, and let thyne eyes be open, that thou mayest heare the prayer of thy seruaunt, whiche I pray nowe before thee day and night for the children of Israel thy seruauntes, and knowledge the sinnes of the children of Israel which we haue sinned against thee: I and my fathers house haue sinned,
We haue greeuously sinned against thee, and haue not kept thy commaundementes, statutes, and iudgementes, whiche thou commaundedst thy seruaunt Moyses.
I beseche thee call to remembraunce the worde that thou commaundedst thy seruaunt Moyses, and saydest, Ye will transgresse, and I will scatter you abrode among the nations:
But if ye turne vnto me, and kepe my commaundementes, & do them: though ye were cast out vnto the vttermost part of heauen, yet wil I gather you from thence, and will bring you vnto the place that I haue chosen, to set my name there.
They are thy seruauntes and thy people, whom thou hast deliuered through thy great power, and in thy mightie hande.
O Lorde I besech thee, let thyne eare hearken to the prayer of thy seruaunt, and to the prayer of thy seruauntes, whose desire is to feare thy name: and let thy seruaunt prosper this day, and graunt him mercie in the sight of this man. For I was the kinges butler.
IT came to passe, that in the moneth Nisan in the twentith yere of king Arthaxerxes, the wine stoode before him: and I toke vp the wine, and gaue it vnto the king: And I had not ben before heauy in his presence.
And the king sayde vnto me: Why lokest thou so sadly, seyng thou art not sicke? It is nothing els, but that thou art heauy hearted. And I was sore afrayde,
And sayde vnto the king, God saue the king for euer: Howe shoulde I not loke sadly, when the citie and place of my fathers burials lye waste, and the gates therof are consumed with fire?
And the king sayde vnto me: What is then thy request? I made my prayer also to the God of heauen,
And sayd vnto the king: If it please the king, and if thy seruaunt haue founde fauour in thy sight, sende me vnto Iuda vnto the citie of my fathers burialles, that I may buylde it.
And the king sayd vnto me (the queene his wyfe sitting by him:) Howe long shal thy iourney continue, and when wilt thou come againe? And it pleased the king to sende me, and I set him a time,
And sayde vnto the king: If it please the king, let hym geue me letters to the captaynes whiche are beyonde the water, that they may conuay me ouer, till I come into Iuda:
And letters vnto Asaph the lorde of the kinges wood, that he may geue me timber to make beames for the gates of the palace which is harde by the house, and for the walles of the citie, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king gaue me according to the hande of my God which was good vpon me.
And when I came to the captaynes beyonde the water, I gaue them the kinges letters: And the king had sent captaynes of the armie and horsemen with me.
Sanaballat also the Horonite, and Tobia a seruaunt the Ammonite hearde of it, & it greeued them sore, that there was come a man which sought the wealth of the children of Israel.
And I came to Hierusalem, and was there three dayes.
And I gat me vp in the night season, and a fewe men with me, neither tolde I any man what God had geuen me in my heart to do at Hierusalem: and there was not one beast with me, saue it that I rode vpon.
And I departed in the night by the valley port, before the dragon well, and to the doung port, & considered the walles of Hierusalem howe they were broken downe, and the portes therof consumed with the fire.
And I went ouer vnto the well port, and to the kinges conduite, and there was no roome for the beast that was vnder me to passe.
Then went I on in the night by the brooke side, and considered the wall, and turned backe, and came home againe by the valley port.
And the rulers knewe not whyther I went or what I dyd: neither dyd I as yet tel it vnto the Iewes, to the priestes, to the noble men, to the rulers, and to the other that laboured in the worke.
Afterwarde sayde I vnto them: Ye see the miserie that we are in, howe Hierusalem lyeth waste, and howe the gates thereof are burnt with fire: come therefore, and let vs buylde vp the wall of Hierusalem, and that we be no more a rebuke.
Then I tolde them of the hand of my God that it was gratious ouer me, and the kinges wordes that he had spoken vnto me: And they sayde, Let vs get vp and buylde. And they strengthed their handes to good.
But when Sanaballat the Horonite, and Tobia the seruaunt an Ammonite, and Gesem the Arabian hearde it, they laughed vs to scorne, & despised vs, and sayde: What is this that ye do? Will ye fall away from the king?
Then aunswered I them, and sayde: The God of heauen, he it is that hath graunted vs prosperitie, and we his seruauntes will get vp and buylde: As for you, ye haue no portion, nor right, nor remembraunce in Hierusalem.
AND Eliasib the hye priest gat him vp with his brethre{n} the priestes, and they buylded the sheepe gate: they repaired it, and set vp the doores of it: euen vnto the towre Mea repaired they it, and vnto the towre of Hananeel.
Next vnto him also buylded the men of Iericho: And beside him buylded Sachur the sonne of Amri.
But the fishe port did the children of Asnaa buyld, which also layed the beames therof, and set on the doores, lockes, and barres of it.
And next vnto them buylded Meremoth the sonne of Vria, the sonne of Hakoz: and next vnto them buylded Mesullam the sonne of Berachia, the sonne of Mesesabel: and next vnto them buylded Zadoc the sonne of Baana.
And next vnto hym buylded they of Thekoa: But the great men that were among them put not their neckes to the worke of their Lorde.
The olde gate buylded Iehoiada the sonne of Paseah, & Mesullam the sonne of Besodia, they layed the beames therof, and set on the doores, lockes, & barres of it.
Next vnto them buylded Melatiah of Gibeon, and Iadon of Merona, men of Gibeon and of Mispah, vnto the throne of the duke [which was] beyond the riuer.
Next vnto him buylded Vzziel the sonn• of Harhaiah of the goldesmythes: Next vnto hym also buylded Hananiah the sonne of Harakahim, and they repaired Hierusalem vnto the brode wall.
Next vnto them buylded Raphaiah the sonne of Hur, the ruler of the halfe part of Hierusalem.
Next vnto him buylded Iedaia the sonne of Harumaph ouer against his house: and next vnto him buylded Hattus the sonne of Hasabnia.
But Melchia the sonne of Harim, and Hasub the sonne of the captayne of Moab buylded the other peece, and the towre beside the fornaces.
Next vnto hym buylded Sallum〈…〉 sonne of Hallohes, the ruler of the 〈◊〉 part of Hierusalem, he & his dau•••••
The valley gate buylded Hanun, and the citezins of Zanoa: They buylded it, and set on the doores, lockes, and barres thereof, and a thousande cubites on the wall, vnto the doung port.
But the doung port buylded Melchiah the sonne of Rechab, the ruler of the fourth part of Beth acharem: he repaired it, and set on the doores, lockes, and barres thereof.
But the wel gate repaired Sallum the sonne of Cholhosah, the ruler of the fourth part of Mispah: He buylded it, and couered it, and set on the doores, lockes and barres thereof: and the wall vnto the poole Siloah by the kinges garden, and vnto the steppes that go downe from the citie of Dauid.
After him buylded Nehemiah the sonne of Asook, the ruler of the halfe parte of Bethzur, vntill the other side ouer against the sepulchres of Dauid, and to the poole that was repaired, and vnto the house of the mightie.
After him buylded the Leuites, Rehum the sonne of Bani: and next vnto him buylded Hasabia the ruler of the halfe part of Keilah in his quarter.
After him buylded their brethren Bauai the sonne of Henadad the ruler of the halfe part of Keilah.
And after him buylded Ezer the sonne of Iesua the ruler of Mispah the other peece, harde ouer against the goyng vp to the house of ordinaunce [that was] in the corner.
Againe, after him brake foorth Baruch the sonne of Zachai of indignation, and repaired the other peece from the turning corner, vnto the doore of the house of Eliasib the hie priest.
After him also buylded Merimoth the sonne of Vria, the sonne of Haccos, the other peece, from the doore of the house of Eliasib, euen as long as the house of Eliasib extended.
After him buylded the priestes, the men of the playne.
After him buylded Beniamin and Hasub ouer against their house: and after him wrought Asaria the sonne of Maasia the sonne of Anania by his house.
After hym also buylded Bennui the sonne of Henadad the other peece, from the house of Azaria vnto the turning [of the wall] and vnto the corner.
After him buylded Pala the sonne of Vsai, ouer against the corner and the high towre whiche lyeth out ouer from the kinges house, that was beside the court of the prison: After him Phadaia the sonne of Pharos.
As for the Nethinims they dwelt in the strong hold vnto the water gate toward the east, and to the towre that lyeth out.
After him buylded they of Thekua the other peece ouer against the great towre that lyeth outwarde, vnto the wall of the strong holde.
But from aboue the horse gate foorth buylded the priestes, euery one ouer against his house.
And after them buylded Zadoc the sonne of Immer ouer against his house: After him buylded also Semeia {th}e sonne of Sechania the keper of the east gate.
After him buylded Hanania the sonne of Selemia, and Hanun the sonne of Zalaph the sixt, the other peece: And after him buylded Mesullam the sonne of Barachia ouer against his store house.
After him buylded Melchia the goldsmithes sonne vnto the house of the Nithinims and of the marchauntes, ouer against the gate Mephkad, and to the parlour in the corner.
And betweene the parlour of the corner vnto the sheepegate, buylded the goldesmithes, and the marchauntes,
BVt when Sanaballat hearde that we buylded the wall, he was wroth in him selfe, and toke great indignation, and mocked the Iewes:
And sayde before his brethren and the souldiers of Samaria: what do these impotent Iewes? will the [heathen] suffer them? shall they offer? shal they perfourme it in one day? shal they make the stones whole againe that are brought to dust and brent?
And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and sayde: Though they buyld, yet if a foxe go vp, he shall breake downe their stony wall.
Heare O thou our God, for we are despised, turne their shame vpon their owne head, & geue them ouer into despising in the lande of their captiuitie.
Couer not their wickednesse, and let not their sinne be put out in thy presence: for they haue prouoked the buylders.
And so buylded we the wall, and it was ioyned whole together vnto the halfe heyght thereof: And the people were minded to labour.
But when Sanaballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, Ammonites, and Asdodites, heard that the walles of Hierusalem were made vp, & that the breaches began to be stopped, they were very wroth,
And conspired all together to come and fight against Hierusalem, and to make an hinderaunce therin.
Neuerthelesse, we made our prayer vnto our God, and set watchmen by them day and night, because of them.
And Iuda sayde: The strength of the bearers is feeble, and there is yet much more morter, and we are not able to buylde on the wall.
And our aduersaries sayde: They shall not knowe, neither see, till we come in the middes among them, and slay them, and cause the worke to ceasse.
But when the Iewes which dwelt beside them, came, they told vs as good as ten times, that in all places where ye go vnto, they are appoynted to fal vpon vs.
Therefore set I the people after their kinredes, with their swordes, speares, and bowes, beneath in the lowe places behinde the wall vpon the toppes of the stones.
And I loked, and gat me vp, and sayde vnto the chiefe men, to the rulers, and to the other people, Be not ye afrayde of them: but thinke rather vpon the great Lorde whiche ought to be feared, and fight for your brethre{n}, your sonnes, your daughters, your wiues, & your houses.
Neuerthelesse, when our enemies heard that we had gotten worde of it, God brought their counsell to naught: and we turned all againe to the wall, euery one vnto his labour.
And from that time foorth, the halfe part of the young men dyd the labour, and the other halfe part of them helde the speares, shieldes, bowes, and brestplates: and the rulers stoode behinde all the house of Iuda.
They which buylded on the wall and they that bare burthens, and those that laded them, with one hande did euery one his worke, and with the other helde his weapon.
For euery one that buylded had his sword girded by his thingh, and so buylded they: And he that blewe the trumpet was beside me.
And I saide vnto the principall men, to the rulers, and to the other people: The worke is great and large, & we are seperated vpon the wall one farre from another.
Loke in what place therefore ye heare the noyse of the trumpet, resort ye thither vnto vs, and our God shall fight for vs:
And we wil be labouring in the worke. And the halfe part of them helde their speares from the morning spring, tyll the starres came foorth.
And at the same time saide I vnto the people: Let euery one with his seruau{n}t lodge within Hierusalem, that in the night season we may watch, and labour on the day time.
As for me and my brethren, my seruauntes, and the men of the watch which folowed me, we put neuer of our clothes, saue onely because of the wasshing.
ANd there arose a great complaynt of the people and their wyues against their brethre{n} the Iewes.
For there were some that saide, Our sonnes and daughters and we are very many: therefore wyll we take corne for them, that we may eate and liue.
Some also there were that saide: Let vs set our landes, vineyardes, and houses to pledge, and take vp corne in the dearth.
But some there were that saide: We haue borowed money for the kinges tribute, and that vpon our landes & vineyardes.
And now our fleshe is as the fleshe of our brethren, and our children as their children: and loe we bring into subiection our sonnes and our daughters as seruauntes, and some of our daughters are subdued vnto bondage alredie, and no strength is there in our handes to redeeme them, and other men haue our landes and vineyardes.
And when I heard their complaynt and such wordes, it displeased me sore.
And I aduised so in my minde, that I rebuked the counsellers and the rulers, and saide vnto them: Euery one of you layeth great burdens vpon his brother. And I brought a great congregation against them,
And saide vnto them: We after our habilitie haue redeemed our brethren the Iewes, which were solde vnto the heathen: And wyll you sell your brethre{n} againe, and shall they be solde vnto vs? Then held they their peace, and coulde finde nothing to aunswere.
And [Nehemia] saide, It is not good that ye do: Ought ye not to walke in the feare of our God, because of the rebuke of the heathen that are our enemies?
I and my brethren, and my seruauntes, do lende them money and corne: I pray you let vs leaue of this burden.
Therefore this same day I pray you see that ye restore them their landes againe, their vineyardes, olyue gardens, and their houses, and remit the hundred parte of the money, of the corne, wine, and oyle that ye haue exacted of them.
Then saide they: We wyll restore them againe, & wyll require nothing of them, and wyll do as thou hast spoken. And I called the priestes, and tooke an oth of them that they should do so.
And I shooke my lappe and saide: God shake out euery man after the same maner from his house & laboure that maintaineth not this worde, euen thus be he shaken out, and voyde. And all the congregation saide, Amen, and praysed the Lorde: And the people did according to this promise.
And from the time foorth that the king committed vnto me to be captayne of them that were in the lande of Iuda, euen from the twentie yere, vnto the thirtie & two yere of king Artaxerxes, that is twelue yeres, I with my brethre{n} liued not of such sustinaunce as was geuen to a captayne.
For the olde captaynes that were before me, had ben chargeable vnto the people, and had taken of them bread & wine, beside fouretie sicles of siluer, yea and their seruauntes had oppressed the people: But so did not I, and that because of the feare of God.
But I laboured also in the worke vpon the wall, and we bought no lande: and all my seruauntes came thither together vnto the worke.
Moreouer, there were at my table an hundred and fiftie of the Iewes and rulers, which came vnto me from among the heathen that are about vs.
And there was prepared for me dayly an oxe and sixe chosen sheepe, and birdes were prepared for me: and euer once in ten dayes wine for all in aboundance: Yet required not I the liuing of a captayne, for the bondage was greeuous vnto the people.
Thinke vpon me my God vnto the best, according to all that I haue done for this people.
AND when Sanaballat, Tobia, and Gesem the Arabian, and the other of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there were no mo gappes therein: (howebeit at the same time had I not hanged the doores vpon the gates,)
Sanaballat and Gesem sent vnto me, saying: Come, that we may meete & take counsel together in the villages that are in the playne of the citie Ono. Neuerthelesse, they thought to do me euill.
And I sent messengers vnto them, saying: I haue a great businesse to do, and I can not come downe: Why should the worke ceasse, whilest I leaue it and come downe to you?
Howbeit, they sent vnto me as good as foure times after the same maner: And I gaue them the same aunswere.
Then sent Sanaballat his seruaunt againe vnto me the fift time, with an open letter in his hande,
Wherein was written: It is tolde the heathen, and Gesem hath saide it, that thou and the Iewes thinke to rebel: for the which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayst be their king, according to these wordes:
And hast ordayned the prophetes to preache of thee at Hierusalem, and to say, He is king of Iuda. And now shall this come to the kinges eares: come now therefore, and let vs take our counsell together.
And I sent vnto him, saying: There is no such thing done as thou sayest, for thou fainest them out of thyne owne heart.
For they were all minded to make vs afrayde, saying, They shall withdrawe their handes from their worke, that it shall not be finished: Nowe therefore strengthen thou my hande.
And I came vnto the house of Semaia the sonne of Delaia, the sonne of Mehetabeel, & he had shut him selfe within, and saide: Let vs come together in the house of God, euen vnto the middest of the temple, & shut the doores of the temple, for they wyll come to slay thee, yea euen in the night wyll they come to put thee to death.
And I saide: should any such man as I flee? Who is, that being as I am, wyll go into the temple to saue his life? I wil not go in.
And loe, I perceaued that God hath not sent him, but that he pronounced this prophecie against me: For Tobia and Sanaballat had hired him for money.
Therfore was he hyred, that through feare I should so do, & sinne, that they might haue an euill report of me to lay to my charge.
My God, thinke thou vpon Tobia and Sanaballat according vnto these their workes, and on the prophetisse Noadia, and the other prophetes that would haue put me in feare.
And the wall was finished on the twentie and fifth day of the moneth Elul, in fiftie and two dayes.
And when all our enemies hearde thereof, all the heathen that was about vs were afrayd, and their courage fayled them: For they perceaued that this worke came of our God.
And at the same time were there many of the chiefe of Iuda whose letters wente vnto Tobia, and againe from Tobia vnto them.
For there were many in Iuda that were sworne vnto him: for he was the sonne in lawe of Sechania, the sonne of Arah, and his sonne Iehonathan had the daughter of Mesullam the sonne of Barachia,
And they spake good of him before me, and tolde him my wordes: and Tobia sent letters to put me in feare.
NOw when the wall was builded, I hanged on the doores also, and the porters, singers, and Leuites, were appoynted:
And I commaunded my brother Hanani, and Hanania the ruler of the castle at Hierusalem, (for he was a faithfull man, and feared God more then did many other)
And saide vnto them: Let not the gates of Hierusalem be opened vntil the sunne be whot: and while they stand by, let them shut the doores & barre them. And we appoynted certaine citezins of Hierusalem to be watchmen, euery one to keepe his watch, and euery one to be ouer against his house.
As for the citie, it was large of roome, and great, but the people were fewe therein, and the houses were not builded.
And God gaue me in myne heart that I gathered together the principal men, and the officers, & the people, to number them: and I founde a register of the number of them which came vp before, and founde written therein,
These are the sonnes of the lande that went vp from the captiuitie that was caried away, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had brought away, and came againe to Hierusalem and Iuda, euery one vnto his citie.
They which came with Zorobabel are these: Iesua, Nehemia, Asariah, Raamia, Nahamani, Mardochee, Belsan, Mesperath, Beguai, Nahum, and Baanah. This is the number of the men of the people of Israel:
The children of Pharaos, were two thousand an hundred seuentie and two.
The children of Saphatia, three hundred seuentie and two.
The children of Arah, sixe hundred fiftie and two.
The children of the captayne of Moab among the children of Iesua & Ioab, two thousand eyght hundred and eightteene.
The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fiftie and foure.
The children of Zathua, eyght hundred fouretie and fiue.
The children of Zachai, seuen hundred and threescore.
The children of Bannui, sixe hundred fouretie and eyght.
The children of Bebai, sixe hundred twentie and eyght.
The children of Asgad, two thousand three hundred twentie and two.
The children of Adonicam, sixe hundred threescore and seuen.
The children of Beguai, two thousand threescore and seuen.
The children of Adin, sixe hundred fiftie and fiue.
The children of Ater of Hezekia, ninetie and eyght.
The children of Hasem, three hundred twentie and eyght.
The children of Bezai, three hundred twentie and foure.
The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelue.
The children of Gibeon, ninetie and fiue.
The men of Bethlehem and Nethophah, an hundred fourescore and eyght.
The men of Anathoth, an hundred twentie and eyght.
The men of Bethasmaueth, fouretie and two.
The men of Kariathiarim, Cep• and Beeroth, seuen hundred four• and three.
The men of Ramah and Geba, sixe hundred twentie and one.
The men of Michmas, an hundred twentie and two.
The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twentie and three.
The men of the other Nebo, fiftie and two.
The childre{n} of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fiftie and foure.
The children of Harim, three hundred and twentie.
The children of Iericho, three hundred fourtie and fiue.
The children of Lodhadid and Ono, seuen hundred twentie and one.
The children of Senaa, three thousand nine hundred and thirtie.
The priestes: The children of Iedaia, of the house of Iesua, nine hundred seuentie and three.
The children of Immer, a thousand fiftie and two.
The children of Phashur, a thousand two hundred fourtie and seuen.
The children of Harim, a thousand and seuenteene.
The Leuites: The children of Iesua of Cadmiel and of the children of Hodiiah, seuentie and foure.
The singers: The children of Asaph, an hundred fourtie and eyght.
The porters: The childre{n} of Sallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Accub, the children of Hatita, the children of Sobai, [altogether] an hundred thirtie & eyght.
The Nethinims: The children of Siha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tebbaoth,
The children of Ceros, the children of Sia, the children of Phadon,
The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai,
The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gaher,
The children of Reaiah, the children of Resin, the children of Necodah,
The children of Gazzam, the children of Vzza, the children of Phasea,
The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephussim,
The children of Bacbuc, the children of Hacupha, the children of Harhur,
The children of Baslith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsa,
The children of Barcos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,
The children of Nesiah, the children of Hatipha,
The childre{n} of Solomons seruau{n}tes, the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Pharida,
The children of Iaala, the children of Darcon, the children of Giddel,
The children of Sephatiath, the childre{n} of Hattil, the children of Phochereth of Sabaim, the children of Amon.
All these Nethinims and the children of Solomons seruauntes, were three hundred ninetie and two.
And these went vp also from Thelmela: Thelharsa, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their fathers house, nor their seede, and that they were of Israel.
The children of Dalaiah, the children of Tobia, and the children of Necoda, sixe hundred fourtie and two.
And of the priestes: the children of Habaiah, the children of Haccos, the childre{n} of Barzillai, which toke one of {th}e daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wyfe, and was named after their name.
These sought their writing in the register of their generation, but they were not founde: therfore they were put from the priesthood.
And Athirsatha saide vnto them that they shoulde not eate of the most holy, tyll there came vp a priest which should were Vrim and Thummim.
And so the whole congregation together, was fourtie and two thousande three hundred and threescore,
Beside their seruauntes and maydens, of whom there were seuen thousand three hundred thirtie and seuen: And they had two hundred fourtie and fiue singing men and women.
Their horses seuen hundred thirtie and sixe: and their Mules two hundred fourtie and fiue:
The Camels foure hundred thirtie and fiue: sixe thousand seuen hundred and twentie Asses.
And certaine of the auncient fathers gaue vnto the worke: Athirsatha gaue to the treasure a thousand peeces of golde, fiftie basons, fiue hundred and thirtie priestes garmentes.
And some of the chiefe fathers gaue vnto the treasure of the worke, twentie thousand peeces of gold, & two thousand and two hundred pounde of siluer.
And the other people gaue twentie thousand peeces of golde, and two thousand pound of siluer, and threescore and seuen priestes garmentes.
And the priestes and Leuites, the porters, and the singers, and the other of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities: And whe{n} the seuenth moneth came, the children of Israel were in their cities.
ANd all the people gathered them selues together as one man, in the streete that was before the water gate, and they saide vnto Esdras the scribe, that he should fetch the booke of the law of Moyses, which the Lorde commaunded to Israel.
And Esdras the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men & women, and all that could vnderstand did hearken vnto it vpon the first day of the seuenth moneth.
And he read therein in the streete that was before the water gate, from the morning vntill the noone day, before men and women that did hearken to it: and the eares of all the people were inclined vnto the booke of the law.
And Esdras the scribe stoode vpon a pulpet of wood which they had made for the preaching, and beside him stoode Mathathia, Sema, & Anaiah, Vriah, Helkia, & Maaseiah, on his right hande: and on his left hand stoode Pedaia, Misael, & Melchia, & Hasum, Hasabadana, Zachari, and Mesullam.
And Esdras opened the booke before all the people, (for he stoode aboue al the people:) and when he opened it, all the people stoode vp.
And Esdras praysed the Lorde the great God: And all the people aunswered, Amen, Ame{n}, lifting vp their handes, and bowed them selues and worshipped the Lord falling downe vpon their faces to the grounde.
And Iesua, Bani, Serebiah, Iamin, Accub, Sebbethai, Hodaia, Maasia, Celita, Azariah, Iozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, & the Leuites caused the people to geue heede vnto the law: and the people stoode in their place.
And they read in the booke of the lawe of God distinctly, and gaue the sense, and caused them to vnderstand the reading.
And Nehemia which is Athirsatha, and Esdras the priest and scribe, and the Leuites that caused the people to take heede, said vnto al the people, This day is holy vnto the Lorde your God, be not ye sory, and weepe not: For all the people wept when they heard the wordes of the lawe.
And he saide vnto them: Go your way, and eate the fat, and drinke the sweete, and send part vnto them also that haue not prepared for them selues, for this day is holy vnto our Lorde: be not ye sory therefore, for the ioy of the Lorde is your strength.
And the Leuites stilled all the people, and saide: Holde your peace, for the day is holy, be not sad therefore.
And all the people went their way to eate, and to drinke, & to sende part vnto other, and to make great mirth, because they had vnderstand the wordes that were declared vnto them.
And on the next day were gathered together the chiefe fathers among all the people, and the priestes, and leuites, vnto Esdras the scribe, that they might vnderstand the wordes of the law.
And they founde written in the lawe which the Lorde had commaunded by Moyses, that the children of Israel should dwell in boothes in the feast of the seuenth moneth:
And that they should cause it to be declared and proclaymed in all their cities, and throughout Hierusalem, saying: Go foorth vnto the mount and fetch Olyue brau{n}ches, Pine braunches, Myrtel braunches, Palme braunches, & braunches of the thicke tree, to make boothes, as it is written.
And so the people went foorth, and fet them and made them boothes, euery one vpon the roofe of his house, and in their courtes, and in the courtes of the house of God, and in the streete by the water gate, and in the streete of the port of Ephraim.
And all the congregation of them that were come againe out of the captiuitie, made boothes, & sat vnder the boothes: for since the time of Iosua the sonne of Nun, vnto this day, had not the children of Israel done so: And there was very great gladnesse.
And euery day from the first day vnto the last, read Esdras in the booke of the lawe of God: And seuen dayes held they the feaste, and on the eyght day they gathered together, according vnto the maner.
IN the twentie and fourth day of this moneth, came the children of Israel together againe, with fasting, and sackeclothes, and earth vpon them,
And they that were of the seede of Israel, were separated from all the straunge children, and stoode & knowledged their sinnes, & the wickednes of their fathers:
And stoode vp in their place, & read in the booke of the law of the Lorde their God foure times on the day, and they knowledged and worshipped the Lord their God foure times on the day.
Then stoode vp vpon the stayres of the Leuites, Iesua, Bani, Cadmiel, Sabaniah, Bunni, Serebiah, Bani, and Chanani, and cryed loude vnto the Lorde their God:
And the Leuites, Iesua, and Cadmiel, Bani, and Hasabnia, Serebiah, and Hodia, Sebania, and Phathahia, sayde: Stand vp, and prayse the Lorde your God for euer, and let thankes be geue{n} vnto the name of thy glory, which excelleth all thankes geuing and prayse.
Thou art Lorde alone, thou hast made heauen and the heauen of all heauens with all their hoast, the earth and all thinges that are therein, the sea & all that is therin, & thou preseruest them al, & the hoast of heauen worshippeth thee.
Thou art, O Lorde, the God that hast chosen Abraham, and broughtest him out of Vr in Chaldea, and calledst him Abraham:
And foundest his heart faithfull before thee, & madest a couenaunt with him, to geue vnto his seede the lande of the Chanaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Pherezites, Iebusites, and Gergesites, and hast made good thy wordes: for thou art righteous,
And hast considered the miserie of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their complaynt by the red sea:
And shewed tokens and wonders vpon Pharao and all his seruauntes, and on all the people of his lande: For thou knowest that they were presumptuous and cruell against them: and so madest thou thee a name as it is this day.
And the [red] sea diddest thou deuide in sunder before them, so that they went through the middest of the sea drye shod: and their persecuters threwest thou into the deepe, as a stone in the mightie waters:
And leddest them on the day time in a cloudie piller, and on the night season in a piller of fyre, to shewe them light in the way that they went.
Thou camest downe also vpon mount Sinai, and spakest vnto them from heauen, and gauest them right iudgementes, true lawes, good commaundementes and statutes:
And declaredst vnto them thy holy Sabbath, and commaundedst them preceptes, ordinaunces, and lawes, by the hande of Moyses thy seruaunt:
And gauest them bread from heauen when they were hungry, and broughtest foorth water for them out of the rocke when they were thirstye, and promysedst them that they should go in and take possession of the lande ouer which thou haddest lyft vp thyne hand for to geue them.
But they and our fathers were proud and hardnecked, so that they folowed not thy commaundementes:
And woulde not obey, neither were mindeful of the wonders that thou diddest for the{m}: but hardened their neckes, and had in their heades to returne to their bondage by their rebellion: But thou O God of mercies, gracious, and full of compassion, of long suffering, and of great mercie, yet forsookest them not.
Moreouer, when they had made them a moulten calfe, and saide. This is thy God that brought thee out of the lande of Egypt, and did blasphemies:
Yet forsookest thou them not in the wildernesse, according to thy great mercies: And the cloudy piller departed not from them on the day time to leade the{m} the way, neither the piller of fire in the night season, to shewe them light in the way by which they should go.
And thou gauest them thy good spirite to enfourme them, and withheldest not thy Manna from their mouth, and gauest them water when they were thirstie.
Fourtie yeres long didst thou feede them in the wildernesse, so that they lacked nothing: their clothes waxed not olde, and their feete swelled not,
And thou gauest them kingdomes and nations, and scatteredst them into corners: so they possessed the lande of Schon and the lande of the king of Hesebon, and the lande of Og king of Basan.
And their children multipliedst thou as the starres of heauen, and broughtest them into the lande whereof thou haddest spoken to their fathers, that they should go into it, and haue it in possession.
And the children went in, and possessed the lande, and thou subduedst before them the inhabiters of the lande, euen the Chanaanites, and gauest them into their handes, with their kinges and the people of the lande, that they might do with them what they would.
And they wanne their strong cities, and a fat lande, and toke possession of houses that were full of all maner of goodes, welles digged out, vineyards, oliue gardens , & many fruiteful trees: and they did eate, and were filled, and became fat, and liued in pleasure through thy great goodnesse.
Neuerthelesse, they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behinde their backes, & slue their prophetes. which exhorted them earnestly that they might bring them againe vnto thee, and did great blasphemies.
Therefore thou gauest them ouer into the hand of their enemies that vexed them: And in the time of their trouble whe{n} they cryed vnto thee thou heardest them from heauen, and through thy great mercie thou gauest them sauiours which helped them out of the hande of their enemies.
But when they came to rest, they turned backe againe to do euill before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hande of their enemies, so that they had the dominion ouer them: And when they conuerted, & cryed vnto thee, thou heardest them from heauen, and many times hast thou deliuered them according to thy great mercie,
And testifiedst vnto them, that thou mightest bring them againe vnto thy lawe: Notwithstanding, they were proude, and hearkened not vnto thy commaundementes, but sinned in thy lawes, which if a man do, he shall lyue in them: and turned the shoulder away, and were stiffenecked, and would not heare.
Yet many yeres diddest thou forbeare them, and testifiedst vnto them through thy spirite, euen by the hand of thy prophetes, and yet would they not heare: therefore gauest thou them into the hand of the nations of the landes.
And for thy great mercies sake, thou hast not vtterly consumed them, neither forsaken them: for thou art a gratious and mercifull God.
Now therfore our God, thou great God mightie and terrible, thou that kepest couenaunt and mercie, regarde not a litle al the trauaile that hath come vnto vs, and our kinges, our princes, our priestes, our prophetes, and our fathers, and all the people since the time of the kinges of Assur▪ vnto this day.
And truely thou art iust in al that thou hast brought vpon vs, for thou hast done right: As for vs, we haue ben vngodly,
And our kinges, and our princes, our priestes, and our fathers, haue not done thy lawe, nor regarded thy commaundementes, and thy earnest exhortations, wherewith thou hast exhorted them,
And they haue not serued thee in their kingdome, and in thy great goodnesse that thou gauest them, and in the large and plenteous lande which thou gauest before them, and haue not conuerted from their wicked workes.
Beholde, we are in bondage this day, and so is the lande that thou gauest vnto our fathers to eate the fruites and goodnesse thereof, beholde there are we bondmen.
And great is the increase of it vnto the kinges whom thou hast set ouer vs because of our sinnes, and they haue dominion ouer our bodies and cattaile, euen as they wyll them selues: and we are in great trouble.
Now because of all this make we a sure couenaunt and write it, & our princes, leuites, and priestes, seale vnto it.
THe sealers were, Nehemiah [that is] Athirsatha the sonne of Hachaliah, and Sedecias,
Seraiah, Azariah, Irmeiah,
Pashur, Amariah, Malachiiah,
Hattus, Sebeniah, Malluch,
Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
Daniel, Ginethon, Baruch,
Mesullam, Abiiah, Miiamin,
Maaziah, Bilgai, Semaiah: these were priestes.
The Leuites were, Iesua the sonne of Azaniah, Bennui among the children of Henadad, and Cadmiel.
And their brethren, Sebaniah, Hodiiah, Celita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
Micha, Rehob, Hasabiah,
Zacchur, Serebiah, Sebaniah,
Hodiiah, Bani, Beninu.
The heads of the people were, Pharos the captayne of Moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
Bunni, Azgad, Bebai.
Adomiah, Biguai, Adin,
Ater, Hizciiah, Azur,
Hoditah, Hasum, Besai,
Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai.
Magpias, Mesullam, Hezir,
Mesesabel, Sadoc, Iaddua,
Phelatia, Hanan, Anaaia,
Hosea, Hanania, Hasub.
Halohes, Phaleha, Sobek,
Rehum, Hasebna, Maasia,
Ahia, Aanan, and Anan,
Malluch, Harim, and Baana:
And the other people, the priestes, Leuites, porters, singers, Nethinims, and all they that had separated them selues from the people of the landes vnto the law of God, with their wyues, their sonnes, and their daughters, & as many as could vnderstand,
And their lordes that had rule of the{m}, receaued it for their brethren: And they came to sweare, & to binde them selues with an oth to walke in gods lawe, which was geuen by Moyses the seruaunt of God, and that they would obserue and do according vnto all the commaundementes, iudgementes, and statutes of the Lorde our God:
And that we woulde not geue our daughters vnto the people of the lande, neither to take their daughters for our sonnes.
And if the people of the land brought ware on the Sabbath, and all maner vitailes to sell, that we would not take it of them on the Sabbath and on the holy dayes, and that we would let the seuenth yere be free, and the debtes of euery person.
And we decreed a statute vpon our selues, to geue yerely the third part of a sicle to the ministration in the house of our God,
To the shewe bread, to the dayly meate offering, to the dayly burnt offering, of the Sabbathes, of the new Moones, and feaste dayes, and to the thinges that were sanctified, & to the offringes of attonement, to reconsile Israel withal, and to all the busines in the house of our God.
And we cast the lot among the priestes, Leuites, and the people, for the offering of the wood, to be brought vnto the house of our God from yere to yere, after the houses of our fathers, that it might be brent at times appoynted vpon the aulter of the Lorde God, as it is written in the lawe:
And to bring the first fruites of our land, and the firstlinges of our fruites of all trees yere by yere vnto the house of the Lorde.
And the first borne of our sonnes, and of our cattel, (as it is written in the law) and the firstlinges of our oxen and of our sheepe, whiche we shoulde bring to the house of our God vnto the priestes that minister in the house of our God.
And that we shoulde bring the first fruites of our dough and our heaue offeringes, and the fruites of all maner of trees, of wine also and of oyle, vnto the priestes to the chestes of the house of our God, and the tythes of our lande vnto the Leuites, that the Leuites might haue the tythes in all the cities of our ministration.
And the priest the sonne of Aaron shalbe with the Leuites when the Leuites take tythes: so that the Leuites shall bring vp the tythes of their tythes vnto the house of our God, to the store houses and to the treasure houses.
For the children of Israel and the children of Leui shall bring vp the heaue offeringes of the corne, wine, and oyle, vnto the store houses, there as are the vessels of the sanctuarie and the priestes that minister, and the porters and singers, and we will not forsake the house of our God.
ANd the rulers of the people dwelt at Hierusalem: The other people also cast lottes, that among ten one part should go to Hierusalem into the holy citie to dwell, and nyne partes to be in the cities.
And the people thanked all the men that were willing to dwel at Hierusale{m}.
These are the heades of the prouince that dwelt in Hierusalem, and in the cities of Iuda, euery one in his possession, and in their cities: they of Israel, the priestes, Leuites, the Nethinims, & the children of Solomons seruauntes.
And at Hierusalem dwelt certayne of the children of Iuda, and of Beniamin: Of the children of Iuda, Athaiah, the sonne of Vzzia, the sonne of Zacharia, the sonne of Amaria, the sonne of Saphatia, the sonne of Mahalaleel, of the children of Phares.
And Maasia the sonne of Baruch, the sonne of Chol Hosa, the sonne of Hasaia, the sonne of Adaia, the sonne of Ioiarib, the sonne of Zacharia, the sonne of Siloni.
All these were the children of Phares that dwelt at Hierusalem, euen foure hundred three score and eyght valiaunt men.
These are the children of Beniamin: Salu the sonne of Mesullam, the sonne of Ioed, the sonne of Pedaia, the sonne of Colaia, the sonne of Masia, the sonne of Ithiel, the sonne of Isai.
And after hym Gabai, Sellai, nine hundred and twentie and eyght.
And Ioel the sonne of Zichri had the ouersight of them: and Iuda the sonne of Senua was the second ouer the citie.
Of the priestes: Iedaiah the sonne of Ioiarib, Iachin,
Saraiah the sonne of Helkia, the sonne of Mesullam, the sonne of Zadoc, the sonne of Meraioth, the sonne of Achitob, was chiefe in the house of God,
And their brethren that dyd the worke in the temple, eyght hundred and twentie and two: And Adaia the sonne of Ieroham, the sonne of Pelaliah, the sonne of Amzi, the sonne of Zachari, the sonne of Phashur, the sonne of Malchia,
And his brethren chiefe among the fathers, two hundred and fourtie & two: And Amasai the sonne of Azrael, the sonne of Ahasai, the sonne of Moselemoth, the sonne of Immer,
And their brethren valiaunt men, an hundred and twentie and eyght: And their ouersear was Zabdiel a sonne of one of the great men.
Of the Leuites: Semeia the sonne of Hasub, the sonne of Azarikam, the sonne of Hasabia, the sonne of Buni,
And Sabathai, and Iosabad of the chiefe of the Leuites, had the ouersight of the outwarde businesse of the house of God.
And Mathania, the sonne of Micha, the sonne of Zabdi, the sonne of Asaph, was the principall to begin the thankesgeuing and prayer: and Bacbucia the seconde among his brethren, and Abda the sonne of Sammua, the sonne of Galal, the sonne of Ieduthun.
All the Leuites in the holy citie, were two hundred foure score and foure.
And the porters Accub and Talmon, and their brethren that kept the portes, were an hundred and seuentie and two.
As for the residue of Israel, of the priestes and Leuites, they were in al the cities of Iuda, euery one in his inheritaunce.
And the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, and Ziha and Gispa were set ouer the Nethinims.
The ouersear of the Leuites at Hierusalem was Vzzi, the sonne of Bani, the sonne of Hasabia, the sonne of Matthania, the sonne of Micha: Of the children of Asaph, singers were ouer the busines in the house of God:
For it was the kinges commaundement concerning them, that the singers should deale faythfully euery day, as was according.
And Pathaia the sonne of Me••daze• of the children of Zerah the sonne of Iuda, was next the king in al matters concerning the people.
And in the villages in their landes, some of the children of Iuda that were without in the townes of their land dwelt at Kiriath arba, and in the villages therof: and in Dibon and in the villages therof, and at Iecabzeel and in the villages therof:
At Iesua, Moladath, Bethphale•:
In the towne of Sual, Beerseba, and in the villages therof:
At Siklag, and Moconah, and the villages therof:
And at En rimmon, Zarah, Ierimuth,
Zonoa, Odollam, & in their villages, at Lachis, and in the fieldes therof: at Aseka, and in the villages thereof, and they dwelt from Beerseba vnto the valley of Hinnom.
The children also of Beniamin from Geba, dwelt at Machmas, Aia, Bethel, and in their villages,
And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
Hazor, Ramah, Gethaim,
Hadid, Zeboim, Neballath,
Lod, and Ono, in the carpenters valley.
And the Leuites had possession both in Iuda and in Beniamin.
THese are the priestes and Leuites that went vp with Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel: and with Iesua, Saraia, Ieremia, and Esdras,
Amaria, Malluch, Hattus,
Sechania, Rehum, Merimoth,
Iddo, Genthon, Abia,
Miamin, Madaia, Belga,
Semaia, Ioiarib, Iedaia,
Salu, Amok, Helkia, and Iedaia: These were the heades among the priestes and their brethren in the dayes of Iesua.
The Leuites were these: Iesua, Bennui, Cadmiel, Sarebia, Iuda, and Mathania, whiche was ouer [the office] of thankesgeuing, he and his brethren.
Bacbucio, and Hanni, and their brethren, were about them in the watches.
Iesua begat Ioakim, Ioakim also begat Eliasib, and Eliasib begat Ioiada:
Ioiada begat Ionathan, and Ionathan begat Iaddua.
In the dayes of Ioakim were these the chiefe fathers among the priestes: vnder Saraia, Maraia: vnder Ieremi, Hanania:
Vnder Esdras, Mesullam: vnder Amaria, Iehoanan:
Vnder Milico, Ionathan: vnder Sebania, Ioseph:
Vnder Horim, Adna: vnder Maraioth, Helka:
Vnder Iddo, Zacharie: vnder Ge•thon, Mesullam:
Vnder Abia, Zichri: vnder Munamin, and Moadia, Piltai:
Vnder Belga, Sammua: vnder Semaia, Iehonathan:
Vnder Ioiarib, Mathena•: vnder Iadaia, Vzzi:
Vnder Selai, Kellai: vnder Amok, Eber:
Vnder Helchia, Hasabia: vnder Iadaia, Nathanael.
And in the time of Eliasib, Ioiada, Iohanan, and Iadua, were the chiefe fathers among the Leuites & the priestes written, in the raigne of Darius the Persian.
The children of Leui the principall fathers, were written in the cronicles, vntill the time of Ionathan the sonne of Eliasib.
And these were the chiefe among the Leuites: Hasabia, Serebia, and Iesua the sonne of Cadmiel, and their brethren in their presence, to geue prayse and thankes, according as Dauid the man of God had ordeyned it, one watch ouer against another.
Mathania, Bacbukia, Obadia, Mesullam, Talmon, and Accub, were porters in the watch at the thresholdes of the gates.
These were in the dayes of Ioiakim the sonne of Iesua, the sonne of Iosedec, and in the dayes of Nehemia the captayne, & of the priest Esdras the scribe.
And in the dedication of the wall at Hierusalem they sought the Leuites out of all their places, that they might be brought to Hierusalem, to kepe the dedication and gladnesse with thankesgeuinges, & singing, with cymbales, psalteries, and harpes.
And the children of the singers gathered them selues together from euery side, out of the playne countrey about Hierusalem, and from the villages of Nethophathi,
From the house of Gilgal, and out of the countreys of Geba, and Asmaueth: for the singers had buylded them villages round about Hierusalem.
And the priestes and Leuites were purified, & clensed the people, & the gates, and the wall.
And I brought the princes of Iuda vpon the wall, and appoynted two great quyers of men to geue thankes, whiche went on the right hande of the wall towarde the doung gate.
And after them went Hosaia, and halfe of the princes of Iuda,
And Asaria, Esdras, and Mesullam,
Iuda, Beniamin, Semeia, & Iereim,
And certayne of the priestes children, with trumpettes: namely Zacharie the sonne of Ionathan, the sonne of Semeia, the sonne of Mathania, the sonne of Michaia, the sonne of Zaccur, the sonne of Asaph,
And his brethren, Semeia, Asarael, Melalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nathanael, and Iuda, and Hanani, with the musicall instrumentes of Dauid the man of God: And Esdras the scribe went before them.
And beside the wel gate, they went vp ouer against them vpon the steppes of the citie of Dauid at the goyng vp of the wall, beyonde the house of Dauid, vnto the water gate eastwarde.
The other quyer of them that gaue thankes went ouer against them, and I after them, and the halfe part of the people vpon the wall beyond the fornace gate, vntill the brode wall,
And beyonde the port of Ephraim, and beyonde the old gate, beyonde the fishe gate, and the towre of Hanancel, & the towre of Mea, euen vnto the sheepe gate and they stoode still in the prison gate,
And so stoode the two quyers of them that gaue thankes in the house of God, and I, & the halfe of the rulers with me.
And the priestes, namely Eliakim, Maasia, Miniamin, Michaia, Elionai, Zachari, & Hanania, with trumpettes:
And Maasia, Semeia, Eleaser, Vzzi, Iehohanan, Melchiah, Elam, & Ezer: And the singers sange loude, hauing Iesrahiah for their ouersear.
And the same day they offered great sacrifices, and reioyced: for God had geuen them great gladnesse, so that both the wiues & children were ioyfull, & the mirth of Hierusale{m} was hearde farre of.
At the same time were the men appoynted ouer the treasure houses, wherin were the heaue offeringes, the firstlinges, and the tythes, that they shoulde gather them out of the fieldes about the cities, to distribute them vnto the priestes and Leuites according to the lawe: for Iuda was glad of the priestes and Leuites that serued.
And there stoode and wayted vpon the office of their God, whiche is a pure office, both the singers and porters, after the commaundement of Dauid, and of Solomon his sonne:
For in the time of Dauid and Asaph, of olde were the chiefe singers founded & the songes of prayse and thankesgeuing vnto God.
In the time of Zorobabel and Nehemia, did all they of Israel geue portions vnto the singers and porters euery day his portion: and they gaue tythes vnto the Leuites, & the Leuites gaue tythes againe vnto the children of Aaron.
ANd that day dyd they read in the booke of Moyses in the audience of the people, and therein was founde written, that the Ammonites, & Moabites shoulde neuer come into the congregation of God,
Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them that he should curse them: and our God turned the curse into a blessing.
Nowe when they had hearde the law, they separated from Israel euery one that had mixt him selfe therin.
And before this had the priest Eliasib the ouersight of the treasurie of the house of our God, and he was kynsman vnto Tobia,
And had made hym a great chamber, and there had they afore time layed the offringes, frankencence, vessels, and the tythes of corne, wine, and oyle according to the commaundementes geuen to the Leuites, singers and porters, and the heaue offringes of the priestes.
But in all this time was not I at Hierusalem: for in the two and thirtie yere of Artaxer•es king of Babylon, came I vnto the king, & after certayne dayes obtayned I licence of the king to come to Hierusalem.
And I gat knowledge of the euyll that Eliasib dyd for Tobia, in that he had made hym a chamber in the court of the house of God,
And it greeued me sore: therefore I cast foorth all the vessels of the house of Tobia out of the chamber:
And commaunded them to clense the chambers, and thyther brought I againe the vessels of the house of God, with the meate offring, and the incense.
And I perceaued that the portions of the Leuites had not ben geuen them, and that euery one was fled to his land, euen the Leuites and singers that executed the worke.
Then reproued I the rulers, and sayd; Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Then brought all Iuda the tythes of corne, and wine, and oyle, vnto the treasure.
And I made treasures ouer the treasure, euen Selemiah the priest, and Zadoc the scribe, and of the Leuites, Phada•a: and vnder their hand was Hanan the sonne of Zacur, the sonne of Mathania: for they were counted faythful, and their office was to distribute [the portions] vnto their brethren.
Thinke vpon me O my God herein, and wype not out my mercie that I haue shewed on the house of my God, and on the offices therof.
And the same time sawe I in Iuda some treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheues, and which laded asses also with wine, grapes, and figges, and all burthens, and brought them into Hierusalem vpon the Sabbath day: And I rebuked them earnestly the same day that they solde the vittayles.
There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish and all maner of ware, and solde on the Sabbath vnto the childre{n} of Iuda, euen in Hierusalem.
Then reproued I the rulers in Iuda, & sayd vnto them: What euyl thing is this that ye do, & breake the Sabbath day?
Dyd not your fathers euen thus, and our God brought all this plague vpon vs, and vpon this citie? And ye make the wrath more yet vpon Israel, in that ye breake the Sabbath?
And when the po•s of Hierusalem began to be darke in the euening before the Sabbath, I commaunded to shut the gates▪ and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and some of my seruauntes set I at the gates, that there shoulde no burthen be brought in on the Sabbath day.
Then remayned the chapmen and marchauntes once or twyse ouer night without Hierusalem with all maner of wares.
Then reproued I them sore, and sayde vnto them: Why tary ye all night about the wall? If ye do it once againe, I will lay handes vpon you: From that time foorth came they no more on the Sabbath.
And I said vnto the Leuites, that they should clense them selues, and that they shoulde come and kepe the gates, to halowe the Sabboth day: Thinke vpon me O my God concerning this also, and spare me, according to thy great mercie.
In those dayes also sawe I Iewes that maried wyues of Asdod, of Ammon, and of Moab,
And their children spake halfe in the speach of Asdod, and could not speake in the Iewes language, but according to the language of the one people and of the other people.
Then I reproued them, and cursed them, and smote certayne men of them, and made them bare: and toke an oth of them by God, Ye shall not geue your daughters vnto their sonnes, neither shall ye take their daughters vnto your sonnes, or for your selues.
Dyd not Solomon the king of Israel sinne by these thinges? and yet among many heathen was there no king like him, which was deare vnto his God, & God made hym king ouer all Israel: and yet neuerthelesse outlandishe women caused him to sinne.
Shall we then obey vnto you to do al this great euyll, and to transgresse against our God, and marie straunge wyues?
And one of the children of Iehoiada the sonne of Eliasib the hye priest, was the sonne in law of Sanaballat the Horonite: but I chased him from me.
O my God, thinke thou vpon them that defile the presthod, and the couenaunt of the presthod and of the Leuites.
Thus clensed I them from all such as were outlandishe, and appoynted the courses of the priestes and Leuites, euery one in his office:
And to offer the wood at times appoynted, and the first fruites: Thinke thou vpon me O my God for the best.
IT came to passe that in the dayes of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus whiche raigned from India vnto Ethiopia, ouer an hundred and twentie and seuen prouinces)
Euen in those dayes when the king Ahasuerus sate on his seate royall, which was in Susan the chiefe citie:
In the third yere of his raigne, he made a feast vnto all his princes & seruauntes: and the mightie men of Persia and Media, the captaynes also and rulers of his countreys were before hym.
And he shewed the richesse and glorie of his kingdome, and the glorious worship of his greatnesse many dayes long, [euen] an hundred and fourescore dayes.
And when these dayes were expired, the king made a feast vnto al the people that were in Susan the chiefe citie, both vnto great & small, seuen dayes long, in the court of the garden by the kinges palace.
Where there hanged white, greene, and yelowe clothes, fastened with cordes of fine silke and purple, in siluer ringes, vpon pillers of marble stones: The benches also were of golde and siluer made vpon a pauement of greene, white, yelowe, and blacke marble.
And they dranke in vessels of gold, and chaunged vessel after vessel, and royal wine in aboundaunce, according to the power of the king.
And the drinking was by an order, none might compell: for so the king had appoynted to all the officers of his house, that they shoulde do according to euery mans pleasure.
And the queene Vasthi made a feast also for the women in the palace of Ahasuerus.
And on the seuenth day when the king was mery after the wine, he commaunded Nehuma, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagthan, Zethar, and Charchas, the seuen chamberlayns that did seruice in the presence of king Ahasuerus,
To fetch the queene Vasthi with the crowne regall into the kinges presence, that he might shewe the people & princes her fairenesse: for she was beautifull.
But the queene Vasthi would not come at the kinges worde by his chamberlaynes: Then was the king very wroth, and his indignation kindled in hym.
And the king spake to the wyse men which knewe the times (for so was the kinges maner towardes all that knewe the lawe and the iudgementes:
And the next vnto hym were, Carsena, Sethar, Admata, Thersis, Mares, Marsena, and Memuchan, the seuen princes of Persia and Media, whiche sawe the kinges face, and sate the first in the kingdome.)
What, shall we do vnto the queene Vasthi according to the lawe, because she dyd not according to the worde of the king Ahasuerus whiche he commaunded by his chamberlaynes?
And Memuchan aunswered before the king & the princes: The queene Vasthi hath not onely done euyll against the king, but also against all the princes, and against all the people that are in all the prouinces of king Ahasuerus.
For this deede of the queene shall come abrode vnto all women, so that they shall despise their husbandes before their eyes, and shall say: The king Ahasuerus commaunded Vasthi the queene to be brought in before hym, but she woulde not come.
And so shal the princesses in Persia and Media say lykewise this day vnto al the kinges princes when they heare of this deede of the queene: thus shal there arise to much despite fulnesse and wrath.
If it please the king, let there go a commaundement from hym, and let it be written according to the lawes of the Persians and Medians, and not to be transgressed, that Vasthi come no more before king Ahasuerus, and let the king geue her royal estate vnto an other that is better then she.
And when this commaundement of the king which shalbe made, is published throughout all his empire whiche i• great, all women shall holde their husbandes in honour both among great and small.
This saying pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the worde of Memucan.
For he sent letters foorth into all the kinges prouinces, into euery lande according to the wryting therof, and to euery people after their language, that euery man shoulde be lorde in his owne house: and this to be published after the language of his people.
AFter these actes, when the displeasure of king Ahasuerus was nowe alayed, he thought vpon Vasthi, & what she had done, & what was decreed against her.
Then sayde the kinges seruauntes that ministred vnto hym: Let there be faire young virgins sought for the king,
And let the king appoynt officers in all the prouinces of his empire, that they should bring together al the faire young virgins vnto Susan the head citie to the womens buylding, vnder the hande of Hegai the kinges chamberlayne that kept the women, to geue them their apparell:
And that the mayden which pleased the king, should be queene in Vasthis steede. And this pleased the king, and he did so.
In the citie of Susan there was a certayne Iewe, whose name was Mardocheus, the sonne of Iair, the sonne of Semei, the sonne of Cis, a man of Iemini,
Which was caryed away from Hierusalem with the captiuitie, when Iekoma the king of Iuda was led away, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon caryed thence:
And he norished Hadassa (that is Esther) his vncles daughter: for he had neither father nor mother, and she was a faire and beautifull mayden, whom Mardocheus (when her father & mother were dead) receaued for his owne daughter.
So when the kinges commaundement and commission was published, and many maydens were brought together into the citie of Susan vnder the hand of Hegai, Esther was brought also vnto the kinges house vnder the hande of Hegai the keper of the women.
And the mayden pleased hym, and she founde fauour in his sight: and he caused ornamentes to be geuen her speedyly, and such thinges as belonged to her, and appoynted her seuen comely maydens out of the kinges house, & fauoured both her and her gentlewomen singularly in the house of the women.
But Esther shewed not her people and her kinred: for Mardocheus had charged her that she shoulde not tell it.
And Mardocheus walked euery day before the court of the womens house, that he might knowe howe Esther did, and what shoulde become of her.
And when the appoynted time of euery mayden came that she shoulde go in to the king Ahasuerus, after that she had ben twelue monethes according to the maner of the women (for so were the dayes of their purification accomplissed, sixe monethes with oyle of mirre, and sixe monethes with sweete odoures, and in the purifiyng of the women:
And thus went the maydens vnto the king) whatsoeuer she required, that must be geuen her to go with her out of the womens buylding vnto the kinges palace.
In the euening she went, and on the morowe she returned into the seconde house of the women abyding vnder the hande of Saasgaz the kinges chamberlayne, which kept the concubines: And she came in vnto the king no more, except it pleased the king to haue her, and that she were called by name.
Nowe when the course came of Esther the daughter of Abihail, the vncle of Mardocheus (which had receaued her as his owne daughter) that she shoulde come in vnto the king, she desired nothing but what Hegai the kinges chamberlayne the keper of the women saide: And Esther found fauour in the sight of all them that loked vpon her.
And Esther was taken vnto king Ahasuerus into his house royall, in the tenth moneth (which is the moneth Tebeth) in the seuenth yere of his raigne.
And the king loued Esther aboue all the women, and she found grace and fauour in his sight more then all the virgins, so that he set the crowne of the kingdome vpon her head, and made her queene in steede of Vasthi.
And the king made a great feast vnto all his princes and seruauntes, whiche feast was because of Esther, and caused the prouinces to be in quietnesse, & gaue giftes, as became the royaltie of a king.
And when the virgins were gathered together the seconde time, Mardocheus sate in the kinges gate.
And as yet had not Esther shewed her kinred & her people, according as Mardocheus had bidden her: for Esther dyd after the worde of Mardocheus, like as if she had ben yet vnder his gouernaunce.
At the same time (whyle Mardocheus sate in the kinges gate) two of {th}e kinges chamberlaynes, Bigthan and Theres, which kept the doore, were wroth, and sought to lay their handes on the king Ahasuerus:
Whereof also Mardocheus gat knowledge, and tolde it vnto queene Esther, and Esther certified the king therof in Mardocheus name.
And when inquisition was made, it was founde so, and they were both hanged on tree: and it was written in the Chronicles before the king.
AFter these actes, dyd king Ahasuerus promote Haman the sonne of Amadatha the Agagite, and set hym on hie, and set his seate aboue all the princes that he had with hym.
And al the kinges seruauntes that were in the kinges gate, bowed their knees, and reuerenced Haman, for the king had so commaunded concerning hym: But Mardocheus bowed not the knee, neither dyd hym reuerence.
Then the kinges seruauntes whiche were in the kinges gate, said vnto Mardocheus: Why transgressest thou the kinges commaundement?
And though they spake this dayly vnto hym, yet woulde he not heare them, therfore they tolde Haman, that they might see howe Mardocheus matters woulde stande, for he had tolde them that he was a Iewe.
And when Haman sawe that Mardocheus bowed not the knee vnto him, nor dyd reuerence vnto hym, he was full of indignation,
And thought it to litle to lay handes onely on Mardocheus, for th•y had shewed him the nation of Mardocheus: wherefore he sought to destroy all the Iewes that were throughout the whole empire of Ahasuerus, and that were of the nation of Mardocheus.
In the first moneth (that is, the moneth Nisan) in the twelfth yere of king Ahasuerus, they cast Phur, that is a lot, before Haman from day to day, and from moneth to moneth to the twelfth moneth, that is, the moneth Adar.
And Haman sayde vnto king Ahasuerus: There is here a people scattred abrode, and dispearsed among all people in all the prouinces of thyne empire, and their lawes are diuers from all people, and do not after the kinges lawes, therefore it is not the kinges profite to suffer them after this maner.
If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and so wyll I waye downe ten thousand talents of siluer by the handes of them that haue the charge of this busines, to bring it into the kinges treasurie.
And the king toke his ring from his hand, & gaue it vnto Haman the sonne of Amadatha the Agagite, the Iewes enemie.
And the king saide vnto Haman: Let the siluer be thyne, & do with that people as it pleaseth thee.
Then were the kinges scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first moneth, & there was written according as Haman commaunded vnto all the kinges officers, and to the captaynes that were ouer euery prouince, and to the rulers of euery people in the countryes on euery side according to the writing therof, and to euery nation after their language, in the name of king Ahasuerus was it wr•ten, and sealed with the kinges ring.
And the letters were sent by postes into all the kinges prouinces, to roote out, to kill, and to destroy all Iewes both young and olde, children and women in one day [namely] vpon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth (which is the moneth Adar) & to spoyle the{m} as a pray.
This was the summe of the writing, that there should be a commaundement geuen in al prouinces, and published vnto all people, that they should be redy against the same day.
And the postes went in all the haste according to the kinges commaundement, and in Susan the chiefe citie was the commaundement deuised: And the king and Haman sate and dranke, when in the meane time the citie of Susan was disquieted.
WHen Mardocheus perceaued all that was done, he rent his clothes, and put on sackecloth with asshes, and went out into the middest of the citie, and cryed loude and lamentably,
And came before the kinges gate: but he might not enter within the kinges gate, because he had sackcloth on.
And in all prouinces, countries, and places, as farre as the kinges worde & commaundement extented, there was great lamentatio{n} among the Iewes, fasting, weeping, and mourning, and many lay in sackeclothes and in asshes.
So Esthers maydens and her chamberlaynes, came and told it her: Then was the queene exceedingly astonied, and she sent rayment that Mardocheus shoulde put on, and lay the sackcloth from him: But Mardocheus would not take them.
Then called Esther Hathach one of the kinges chamberlaines which stoode before her, and gaue him a commaundement vnto Mardocheus, to know what it was wherefore he did so.
So Hathach went foorth to Mardocheus, vnto the streete of the citie which was before the kinges gate:
And Mardocheus tolde him of al that had come vnto him, & of {th}e summe of siluer that Haman had promised to waye downe into the kinges treasurie, because of the Iewes if he would destroy them.
And he gaue him the copie of the kinges commaundement that was deuised at Susan to destroy them, that he might shewe it vnto Esther, and to speake to her, and charge her that she should go in vnto the king, & make her prayer and supplication vnto him for her people.
And when Hathach came in, he tolde Esther the wordes of Mardocheus.
And againe Esther spake vnto Hathach and commau{n}ded him to say vnto Mardocheus:
All the kinges seruauntes, & the people in the prouinces of the king knowe, that whosoeuer commeth within the courte vnto the king, whether it be man or woman, which is not called, the co{m}maundement is, that the same shall dye, except the king holde out the golden septer vnto him, for then he shall lyue: As for me, I haue not ben called to come in vnto the king now this thirtie dayes.
And they certified Mardocheus of Esthers wordes.
And Mardocheus bad say againe vnto Esther: Thinke not with thy selfe that thou shalt escape in the kinges house more then all the Iewes.
For if thou holdest thy peace at this time, then shall the Iewes haue helpe and deliueraunce out of an other place, and thou and thy fathers house shalbe destroyed: And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdome for this causes sake?
Esther bad them geue Mardocheus this aunswere:
Go thou thy way, and gather together all the Iewes that are founde at Susan, and fast ye for me, that ye eate not and drinke not in three dayes neither day nor night, I and my maydens wyll fast likewyse: and so wyll I go into the king, which thing yet is contrary to the commaundement: and if I perishe, I perishe.
So Mardocheus went his way, and did according to al that Esther had commaunded him.
ANd on the third day it came to passe, that Esther put on her royall apparell, and stoode in the court of the kinges palace within, ouer against {th}e kinges house: and the king sat vpon his royall seate in the kinges palace ouer against the gate of the house.
And when the king sawe Esther the queene standing in the court, she founde grace in his sight: And the king held out the golden scepter that was in his hand: So Esther stept foorth and touched the top of the scepter.
Then saide the king vnto her: What wylt thou queene Esther? and what requirest thou? [aske] euen the halfe of the empire, and it shalbe geuen thee.
And Esther aunswered: If it please the king, let the king and Haman come this day vnto the banket that I haue prepared for him.
And the king saide: Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath saide. So the king and Haman came to the banket that Esther had prepared.
And the king saide vnto Esther at the banket of wine: What is thy petition, that it may be geuen thee? And what requirest thou? If it be euen the halfe of the empire, it shall be done.
Then aunswered Esther, and said: My petition and desire is,
If I haue founde grace in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to geue me my petition, and to fulfil my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banket that I shall prepare for the{m}: and so wyl I do to morowe, as the king hath saide.
Then went Haman foorth the same day ioyfull and mery in his minde: But when the same Haman sawe Mardocheus in the kinges gate, that he stoode not vp nor moued for him, he was ful of indignation at Mardocheus.
Neuerthelesse, Haman refrained him selfe, and when he came home he sent and called for his friendes and Zares his wyfe.
And Haman tolde them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the thinges wherein the king had promoted him so greatly, and how that he had set him aboue the princes and seruauntes of the king.
Haman saide moreouer: Yea, Esther the queene did let no man come in with the king vnto the bancket that she had prepared, except me: and to morowe am I bidden vnto her also with the king.
But in all this am I not satisfied, as long as I see Mardocheus the Iewe sitting at the kinges gate.
Then saide Zares his wyfe and all his friendes vnto him: Let them make a galous of fiftie cubites hie, and to morowe speake thou vnto the king that Mardocheus may be hanged thereon: then go thou in meryly with the king vnto the banket. And Haman was well content withall, and caused the galous to be made.
THe same night coulde not the king sleepe, and he commaunded to bring the chronicles and stories: and they were read before the king.
Then it was founde written howe Mardocheus had tolde that Bigthana & Theres the kinges two chamberlaynes which kept the thresholdes, sought to laye handes on king Ahasuerus.
And the king saide: What honour and dignitie hath ben geuen to Mardocheus therfore? Then saide the kinges seruau{n}tes that ministred vnto him: There is nothing at all done for him.
And the king saide: Who is in the court? (for Haman was come into the court without before the kinges house, that he might speake vnto the king to hang Mardocheus on the tree that he had prepared for him.)
And the kinges seruauntes saide vnto him: Beholde, Haman standeth in the court. And the king saide: let him come in.
And when Haman came in, the king saide vnto him: what shalbe done vnto the man whom the king would faine bring vnto worship? (Haman thought in his heart: Whom desireth the king to bring vnto worship more then me?)
And Haman aunswered the king: Let the man whom the king pleaseth to bring vnto worship, be brought hither,
That he may be arayed with the royall garmentes which the king vseth to weare, and the horse that the king rydeth vpon, and that the crowne royall may be set vpon his head:
And let this rayment and horse be deliuered vnder the hande of one of the kinges most noble princes, that they may aray the man withal whom the king is disposed to bring to honour, and cary him vpon the horse through the streete of the citie, and proclayme before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king pleaseth to bring to honour.
And the king saide to Haman: Make haste, and take as thou hast saide the rayment and the horse, and do euen so vnto Mardocheus the Iewe that sitteth before the kinges gate, and let nothing faile of all that thou hast spoken.
Then toke Haman the rayment and the horse, and arayed Mardocheus, and brought him on horsebacke through the streete of the citie, and proclaymed before him, Euen this shall it be done vnto the man whom the king is disposed to honour.
And Mardocheus came againe to the kinges gate: but Haman gat him home in all the haste mourning, and his head couered,
And tolde Zares his wyfe and all his friendes euery thing that had befallen him. Then saide his wise men and Zares his wyfe vnto him: If it be Mardocheus of the seede of the Iewes, before who{m} thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not preuaile against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
And whyle they were yet talking with him, came the kinges chamberlaynes, & caused Haman to make hast to come vnto the banket that Esther had prepared.
AND the king and Haman came to bancket with the queene Esther.
And the king saide againe vnto Esther on the seconde day at the bancket of wine: What is thy petition queene Esther, that it may be geuen thee? And what requirest thou? if it be euen to the halfe of the empire, it shalbe done.
And Esther the queene aunswered, and saide: If I haue found grace in thy sight O king, and if it please the king, then graunt me my lyfe at my desire, and my people for my petitions sake.
For we are solde I and my people to be destroyed, to be slaine, and to perishe: And would God that we were solde to be bondmen and bondwomen, then would I holde my tongue: although the enemie coulde not recompence the kinges losse.
The king Ahasuerus aunswered and saide vnto queene Esther: Who is he? And where is he, that dare presume in his minde to do after that maner?
And Esther saide: the enemie and aduersarie is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was exceedingly afrayde before the king and the queene.
And the king arose from the bancket and from the wine in his displeasure, and went into the palace garden: And Haman stoode vp, and besought queene Esther for his lyfe: for he saw that there was a mischiefe prepared for him of the king alreadie.
And when the king came againe out of the palace garde{n} into the place where they dranke wine: Haman had layde him vpon the bed that Esther sate vpon. Then saide the king: wil he force the queene also before me in the house? As soone as that worde went out of the kinges mouth, they couered Hamans face.
And Harbona one of the chamberlaynes that stoode before the king, said• Beholde, there standeth yet a galous in Hamans house, fiftie cubites hye, which he had made for Mardocheus, that spake good for the king. Then the king saide, Hang him thereon.
So they hanged Haman on the galous that he had made for Mardocheus: Then was the kinges wrath pacified.
THe same day did king Ahasuerus geue the house of Haman the Iewes enemie vnto queene Esther, and Mardocheus came before the king: for Esther tolde what he was vnto her.
And the king toke of his ring which he had taken from Haman, and gaue it vnto Mardocheus. And Esther sette Mardocheus ouer the house of Haman.
And Esther spake yet more before the king, and fel downe at his feete weping, and besought him that he would put away the wickednesse of Haman the Agagite, and his deuice that he had imagined against the Iewes.
And the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. Then rose Esther, and stode before the king,
And saide: if it please the king, and if I haue founde grace in his sight, and if it be acceptable before the king, and I please him, then let it be writte{n}, that the letters of the deuise of Haman the sonne of Hamadatha the Agagite may be called againe, which letters he wrote to destroy the Iewes which are in all the kinges prouinces.
For how can I suffer and see the euill that shall come vnto my people? or how can I beare and loke vpon the destruction of my kindred?
And the king Ahasuerus saide vnto queene Esther, and to Mardocheus the Iewe: Beholde, I haue geuen Esther the house of Haman, whom they haue hanged vpon a tree, because he layde hand vpon the Iewes.
Write ye also for the Iewes as it lyketh you, in the kinges name, and seale it with the kinges ring: For the writinges that were written in the kinges name, and sealed with the kinges ring, durst no man disanul.
Then were the kinges scribes called at the same time, euen in the thirde moneth (that is the moneth Swan) on the three and twentie day thereof, and it was written according to all as Mardocheus commau{n}ded vnto the Iewes, and to the princes, to the debuties and captaynes in the prouinces which are from India vnto Ethiopia, namely an hundred twentie and seuen prouinces, vnto euery prouince according to the writing thereof, and vnto euery people after their speach, and to the Iewes according to their writing and language.
And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus name, & sealed it with the kinges ring, and by postes that rode vpon horses, and swyft young Mules, sent he the writinges,
Wherin the king graunted the Iewes in what cities soeuer they were, to gather themselues together, and to stand for their lyfe, and for to roote out, to slay and to destroy all the power of the people and prouince that woulde trouble them, both children and women, and to spoyle their goodes:
Vpon one day in all the prouinces of king Ahasuerus, namely vpon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth, which is the moneth Adar.
The summe of the writing was, how there shoulde be a commaundement geuen in all and euery prouince, and published among all people, and that the Iewes should be redy against that day, to auenge them selues on their enemies.
And so the postes that rode vpon the swyft Horses and Mules, made haste with all speede to execute the kinges word: and the commaundement was deuised in Susan the chiefe citie.
And Mardocheus went out from the king in royall apparell, of yelowe and white, & with a great crowne of golde, being arayed with a garment of silke and purple: and the citie of Susan reioysed and was glad.
And vnto the Iewes there was come light and gladnesse, ioy and worship.
In all prouinces and cities into what places soeuer the kinges word and commaundement reached, there was ioy and mirth, a feaste and good dayes among the Iewes: insomuch, that many of the people in {th}e lande became Iewes, for the feare of the Iewes came vpon them.
IN the twelfth moneth (that is the moneth Adar) vpo{n} the thirteenth day of the same, when the kinges worde and commaundement drue neare to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Iewes hoped to haue power ouer the{m}, it turned contrary: for the Iewes had rule ouer them that hated them.
For then gathered the Iewes together in their cities within all the prouinces of king Ahasuerus, to lay hande on such as woulde do them euill, and no man could withstand them: for the feare of them was come ouer all people.
And all the rulers in the prouinces, and princes, and deputies, and officers of the king, promoted the Iewes: for the feare of Mardocheus came vpon them.
For Mardocheus was great in the kinges house, & the reporte of him was noysed in all the prouinces: for this man Mardocheus waxed greater and greater.
Thus the Iewes smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, & did what they would vnto their enemies.
And at Susan the chiefe citie slue the Iewes, & destroyed fiue hundred men.
And slue Pharsandatha, Dalphon, Asphatha,
Phoratha, Adalia, Aridatha,
Pharmastha, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha,
The ten sonnes of Haman the sonne of Hamadata the enemie of the Iewes: but on his goodes they layed no handes.
At the same time was the king certified of the number of those that were slaine in the citie of Susan.
And the king saide vnto queene Esther: The Iewes haue slaine and destroyed fiue hundred men in the citie of Susan, and the ten sonnes of Haman: What haue they done [thinkest thou] in other landes of the king? And what is thy petition, that it may be geuen thee? or what requirest thou more to be done?
Esther aunswered: If it please the king, let him suffer the Iewes which are in Susan, to morow also to do according vnto this dayes decree, that they may hang Hamans ten sonnes vpon the tree.
And the king charged to do so: and the decree was deuised at Susan, and they hanged Hamans ten sonnes.
For the Iewes that were in Susan gathered them selues together, vpon the fourteenth day of the moneth Adar, and slue three hundred men at Susan: but on their goodes they layed no handes.
As for the other Iewes that were in the kinges prouinces, they came together and stoode for their liues, & had rest from their enemies, & slue of their enemies seuentie and fiue thousand: howbeit they layed no handes on their goodes.
[This they did] on the thirteenth day of the moneth Adar, & on the fourteenth day of the same moneth rested they, which day they held with feasting and gladnesse.
But the Iewes that were at Susan came together both on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth: and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and held that day with feasting & gladnesse.
And therefore the Iewes that dwelt in the villages and vnwalled townes, held the fourteenth day of the moneth Adar with gladnesse and feasting, and kept holy day, and euery one sent preasentes vnto his neighbour.
And Mardocheus wrote these wordes, and sent letters vnto all the Iewes that were in all the prouinces of king Ahasuerus, both nie and farre:
That they should make a lawe among the{m} selues, & holde the fourteenth & fifteenth day of the moneth Adar, yerely.
As the dayes wherein the Iewes came to rest from their enemies, and as a moneth wherein their paine was turned to ioy, and their sorowe into a ioyful day: and that in those dayes they should make feastes and gladnesse, and one to send giftes vnto another, and to distribute vnto the poore.
And the Iewes promised to do as they had begunne, and as Mardocheus had written vnto them:
Because Haman the sonne of Hamadatha the Agagite all the Iewes enemie, had deuised against the Iewes how he might destroy them, and caused to cast Phur (that is a lot) for to consume them, & to bring them to naught.
But when Esther came before the king, he commaunded by letters that his wicked deuice which he imagined against the Iewes, should be turned vpon his owne head, and that he and his sonnes should be hanged on the tree.
For the which cause they called these dayes Phurim, because of the name of the lot, and because of all the wordes of this writing, and what they themselues had seene, & what had come vnto them:
And the Iewes ordayned, and toke it vpon them and their seede, and vpon all such as ioyned them selues vnto them, that they would not misse but obserue these two dayes yerely, according as they were written and appoynted in their season,
And that these dayes are to be remembred and to be kept of childers children among al kinredes in all landes and cities: In these dayes of Phurim which are not to be ouerslipt among {th}e Iewes, and the memoriall of them ought not to perishe from their seede.
And queene Esther the daughter of Abihail & Mardocheus the Iewe, wrote with all aucthoritie to confirme this second writing of Phurim.
And he sent the letters vnto all the Iewes, to the hundred twentie and seuen prouinces of the empire of Ahasuerus, with wordes of peace and trueth:
To confirme these dayes of Phurim in their time appoynted, according as Mardocheus the Iewe and Esther the queene had appo••ted them: and they bound their soule and their seede to fasting and prayer.
And the decree of Esther confirmed these wordes of Phurim, and was written in the booke.
And the king Ahasuerus layed tribute vpon the land, & vpon the iles of the sea.
And all the actes of his power and of his might, & the declaration of the dignitie of Mardocheus wherwith the king magnified him, be they not written in the bookes of {th}e chronicles of the kinges of Medes and Persia?
For Mardocheus the Iewe, was the second next vnto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Iewes, and accepted among the multitude of his brethren, as one that seeketh the wealth of his people, and speaketh peaceably for all his seede.
IN the lande of Hus there was a man whose name was Iob, & the same was a perfect and iust man, one that feared God and eschued euill.
And he had seuen sonnes and three daughters.
His substaunce also was seuen thousand sheepe, and three thousand camels, fiue hundred yoke of oxen, and fiue hundred shee asses, and a very great householde: so that he was one of the most principall men among all them of the east [countrey.]
And his sonnes went and banquetted in their houses euery one his day, and sent for their three sisters to eate and drinke with them.
And when the dayes of their banquetting were gone about, Iob sent and sanctified them, and gat vp early and offered for euery one a burnt offring: For Iob saide, It may be that my sonnes haue done some offence, & haue ben vnthankfull to God in their heartes. Thus did Iob euery day.
And vpon a day when the children of God came and stoode before the lord, Satan came also among them.
And the Lorde saide vnto Satan Whence comest thou? Satan aunswered the Lorde and saide: From compassing the earth to and fro, & from walking through it.
And the Lorde saide vnto Satan: Hast thou not considered my seruaunt Iob, how there is none lyke him in the earth? a perfect and a iust man, one that feareth God, and eschueth euill?
Satan aunswered, and saide vnto the Lorde: Doth Iob feare God for naught?
Hast thou not preserued him and his house, and al that he hath on euery side? Thou hast blessed the worke of his handes, and his possession is encreased in the lande.
But laye thyne hand now vpon him, and touche all that he hath, and he shall curse thee to thy face.
And the Lorde saide vnto Satan: Lo, all that he hath be in thy power, only vpon him selfe see that thou lay not thine hand. And Satan went foorth from the presence of the Lorde.
And vpon a certayne day, when his sonnes and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brothers house,
There came a messenger vnto Iob, and sayde: The oxen were plowing and the asses feeding beside them:
And the Sabees came violently, and toke them away, yea they haue slayne thy seruauntes with the edge of the sword: and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
While he was yet speaking, there came another, and sayde: The fire of God is fallen from heauen, and hath brent vp thy sheepe and seruauntes, and consumed them: and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
And whyle he was yet speaking there came another, and sayde: The Caldees made out their bandes, and fel vpon the camels, and haue caried them away, yea and slayne thy seruauntes with the sworde: and I only am gotten away alone to tell thee.
And whyle he was yet speaking there came an other, and sayde: Thy sonnes and thy daughters were eating and drincking wine in their eldest brothers house,
And behold there came a mightie great wind from beyond the wildernesse, and smote the foure corners of the house, whiche fell vpon thy children, and they are dead: and I am gotten away alone to tell thee.
Then Iob stoode vp, and rent his clothes, & shaued his head, fell downe vpon the ground, worshipped,
And sayde: Naked came I out of my mothers wombe, & naked shall I turne thyther againe: The Lorde gaue & the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lorde.
In all these thinges dyd Iob not offende, nor charged God foolishly.
AND on a day the children of God came and stoode before the Lorde, and Satan came also among the{m}, and stoode before the Lorde.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Satan: From whence commest thou? Satan aunswered the Lorde, and sayd: I haue gone about the lande, walked thorow it.
And the Lorde sayde vnto Satan: Hast thou not considered my seruaunt Iob? howe there is none like vnto hym in the earth, a perfect and a iust man? one that feareth God, and eschueth euil, & continueth still in his vprightnesse, although thou mouedst me against hym, to destroy him without cause.
And Satan aunswered the Lord, and sayd, Skinne for skinne, yea a man wil geue al that euer he hath for his life.
But lay thyne hande nowe vpon hym, and touch [once] his bone and his fleshe, and he shall curse thee to thy face.
And the Lord sayde vnto Satan: Lo, he is in thyne hand, but saue his lyfe.
So went Satan foorth from the presence of the Lorde, and smote Iob with sore byles, from the sole of his foote vnto his crowne.
And he toke a potsharde to scrape hym: and he sat downe among the asshes.
Then sayd his wyfe vnto him: Doest thou continue yet in thy perfectnesse? curse God, and dye.
But he sayde vnto her, Thou speakest like a foolish woman: shal we receaue good at the hande of God, and not receaue euyll? In all these thinges did not Iob sinne with his lippes.
Nowe when Iobs three friendes heard of all the trouble that came vpon him, they came euery one fro{m} his owne place [namely] Eliphas the Themanite, Bildad the Suhite, and Zophad the Naamathite: for they were agreed together to come to shewe their compassion vpon him, and to comfort hym.
So when they lift vp their eyes a farre of, they knew him not: then they cryed and wept, and euery one of them rent his clothes, and sprinckled dust vpon their heades in the ayre.
They sate them downe by him also vpon the grounde seuen dayes & seuen nightes, and none spake a worde vnto him: for they sawe that his greefe was very great.
AFter this opened Iob his mouth, and cursed his day,
And Iob aunswered, and sayde:
Let the day perishe wherin I was borne, and the night in the whiche it was sayd, There is a man childe conceaued.
The same day be [turned to] darknesse, and not regarded of God from aboue, neither let the light shyne vpon it:
But let it be stayned with darknesse and the shadowe of death, let the [dimme] cloude fall vpon it, whiche may make it terrible as a most bitter day.
Let the darke storme ouercome that night, and let it not be ioyned vnto the dayes of the yere, nor counted in the number of the monethes.
Desolate be that night, and without gladnesse.
Let them that curse the day, and that be redy to rayse vp mourning, geue it also their curse.
Let the starres of that night be dimme thorowe darkenesse of it, let it loke for light, but haue none, neither let it see the dawning of the day:
Because it shut not vp the doores of my mothers wombe, nor hyd sorowe from myne eyes.
[Alas] why died I not in the birth? why dyd not I perishe assoone as I came out of [my mothers] wombe?
Why set they me vpon their knees? why gaue they me sucke with their brestes?
Then should I nowe haue lyen stil, I shoulde haue slept, and ben at rest,
Lyke as the kinges and lordes of the earth, which haue buylded them selues speciall places,
Or as the princes that haue had golde, and their houses full of siluer:
Or [why] was not I hyd, as a thing borne out of time, [either] as young children which neuer sawe the light?
There must the wicked ceasse from their tyrannie, and there such as laboured valiauntly be at rest:
There the prisoners rest together, they heare no more the voyce of the oppressour:
There are small and great, and the seruaunt [is] free from his maister.
Wherefore is the light geuen to hym that is in miserie? & lyfe vnto them that haue heauy heartes?
Whiche long for death and finde it not, though they search more for it than for treasures:
Which reioyce exceedingly, and be glad when they can finde the graue,
From whom their endes are hyd, and consealed by God?
For my sighes come before I eate, and my roringes are powred out like the water:
For the thing that I feared is come vpon me, and the thing that I was afrayde of is happened vnto me,
Was I not happy? Had I not quietnesse? Was I not in rest? And nowe commeth such miserie vpon me.
ANd Eliphas the Themanite aunswered, & sayde:
If we assay to come with thee, wilt thou be discontent? But who can withhold him selfe from speaking?
Beholde, thou hast ben an instructer of many, & hast strenghtned the weery handes:
Thy wordes haue set vp him that was falling, thou hast refreshed the weake knees.
But nowe it is come vpon thee, and thou art greeued: it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
Was not thy feare according to thy hope? and the perfectnesse of thy wayes according to thy expectation?
Consider I pray thee who euer perished beyng an innocent? or when were the godly destroyed?
For as I haue proued by experience, they that plow iniquitie & sow wretchednesse, reape the same.
With the blast of God they perishe, with the breath of his nostrels are they consumed away.
The roring of the lion, and the voyce of the lion, and the teeth of the lions whelpes are pulled out.
The lion perisheth for lake of pray, & the lions whelpes are scattered abrode.
But wheras a thing was hyd from me, yet myne eare hath receaued a litle therof.
In the thoughtes and visions of the night when sleepe commeth on men,
Feare came vpon me & dread, which made all my bones to shake.
The winde passed by before my presence, and made the heeres of my fleshe to stande vp.
He stoode thereon and I knewe not his face, an image there was before myne eyes, and in the stilnesse hearde I a voyce.
Shall man be more iust then God? or shall a man be purer then his maker?
Beholde, he founde not trueth in his seruauntes, and in his angels there was folly:
Howe much more in them that dwel in houses of clay, and whose foundation is but dust, which shall be consumed as it were with a moth?
They shalbe smitten from the morning vnto the euening: yea they shall perishe for euer, when no man regardeth them.
Is not their royaltie gone away with them? they shall dye truely, and not in wysdome.
CRye I pray thee, if there be any that will aunswere thee, & loke thou vpon any of the holy.
As for the foolish ma{n}, wrathfulnesse killeth him, and enuie slayeth the ignorant.
I haue seene my selfe when the foolish was deepe rooted, and sodenly I cursed his habitation.
His children were without prosperitie, and they were slayne in the gate, and there was no man to deliuer them.
His haruest was eaten of the hungrie, & taken from among the thornes and the thurstie drunke vp their labour: It is not the earth that bringeth foorth iniquitie,
Neither commeth sorowe out of the ground:
But man is borne vnto labour, like as the sparkes flee vp [out of the hot coles.]
But I woulde aske counsell at the Lorde, and talke with God:
Whiche doth great thinges and vnsearcheable, [and] maruels without number.
He geueth rayne vpon the earth, and powreth water vpon the streetes,
To set vp them that be of lowe degree, and that those which are in heauenesse may be exalted to saluation.
He destroyeth the deuices of the subtyll, so that their handes are not able to perfourme that which they do enterprise.
He compasseth the wise in their owne craftinesse, & maketh foolishe the counsell of the wicked.
They runne into darknesse by fayre day, and grope at the noone day as in the night.
But he deliuereth the poore from the sworde, from their threatninges, and from the violence of the mightie.
He is the hope of the poore, & the mouth of the wicked shalbe stopped.
Behold, blessed is the man whom God correcteth, therefore refuse not thou the chastening of the almightie:
For he maketh a wounde and he healeth: he smiteth, and his hande maketh whole againe.
He shall deliuer thee in sixe troubles, & in the seuenth there shall no euil come to thee.
In hunger he shall saue thee from death, and when it is 〈…〉 power of the sworde.
Thou shalt be hyd from the •ge of the tongue, & when destruction commeth thou shalt not neede to feare.
In destruction and dearth thou shalt be mery, and shalt not be afrayde of the beastes of the earth.
For the stones of the land shalbe confederate with thee, and the beastes of the fielde shalbe at peace with thee.
And thou shalt knowe that thy dwelling place shalbe in rest, and thou shalt visite thy habitation, & shalt not sinne.
Thou shalt see also that thy seede shall be great, and thy posteritie as the grasse vpon the earth.
Thou shalt come also to thy graue in a full age, like a corne sheafe cut downe in due season.
Lo, this we our selues haue proued by experience, and euen thus it is: Hearken thou to it also, that thou mayest take heede to thy selfe.
BVT Iob aunswered, and sayde:
O that my complaynt were truely wayed, and my punishment layde in the balaunces together:
For nowe it woulde be heauier then the sande of the sea: and this is the cause, that my wordes fayle me.
For the arrowes of the almightie are vpon me, the poyson therof hath drinke vp my spirite, and the terrible feares of God are set against me.
Doth the wild asse rose when he hath grasse? or loweth the oxe when he hath fodder [inough]
That which is vnsauerie, shall it be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the whyte of an egge?
The thinges that sometime I might not away withal, are nowe my meate for very sorowe.
O that I might haue my desire, and that God woulde graunt me the thing that I long for:
O that God would begin and smite me▪ that he would let his hand go and take me cleaue away:
Then shoulde I haue some comfort, yea I woulde desire him in my payne that he would not spare, for I wil not be against the wordes of the holy one.
For what powre haue I to endure? And what is myne end, that my soule might be patient?
Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my fleshe of brasse?
Is it not so that there is in me no helpe? & that my substaunce is taken from me?
He that is in tribulation, ought to be comforted of his neyghbour: but the feare of the almightie is cleane away.
Myne owne brethren passe ouer by me as the water brooke, & as the ouerflowing of waters, whiche do hastly go away,
Whiche are blackish be reason of the ice, and wherin the snowe is hyd.
Which when they haue passed by do vanishe, and when the heate commeth they fayle out of their place.
They depart from the course of their wonted chanell to other places, they runne in vayne and perishe.
They that went to The man considered them, and they that went to Saba wayted for them.
But they were confounded in their hope, they came thyther and were ashamed.
Euen such truely are ye, nowe that ye see my miserie ye are afrayde.
Did I desire you to bring vnto me, or to geue me any of your substaunce?
To deliuer me from the enemies hand, or to saue me from the hande of the tyrauntes?
Teache me, and I will hold my tong: and wherin I haue erred, cause me to vnderstande.
How strong are the wordes of trueth? and which of you can rebuke or reproue them?
Do ye imagine to reproue wordes, that the talke of the afflicted shoulde be as the winde?
Ye fall vpon the fatherlesse, and digge a pit to ouerthrowe your owne frende.
And therfore be content, & loke now vpon me, and I will not lye before your face.
Turne I pray you, be indifferent iudges: turne agayne, and ye shall see myne vngiltinesse, whether there be any vnrighteousnes in my tongue, or vayne wordes in my mouth.
IS ther not an appoynted time to man vpon earth? Are not his dayes also like the dayes of an hired seruaunt?
For like as a bonde seruaunt desireth the shadowe, and as an hyreling woulde fayne haue the rewarde of his worke:
Euen so haue I laboured whole monethes long in vayne, and many a carefull night haue I tolde.
When I layde me downe to sleepe, I sayde, O when shall I arise? and measuring the euening, I am euen full with tossing to and fro vnto the dawning of the day.
My fleshe is clothed with wormes and dust of the earth: my skinne is withered and become horrible.
My dayes passe ouer more spedyly then a weauers shuttle, and are spent without hope.
O remember that my lyfe is but a winde, and that myne eye shall no more see pleasures:
Yea and the eye that hath seene me, shal see me no more: for yer thou fasten thyne eye vpon me, I come to naught.
The cloude is consumed and vanished away: so he that goeth downe to the graue shall come no more vp,
Nor turne againe into his house, neither shall his place knowe him any more.
Therfore I wil not spare my mouth, but I will speake in the trouble of my spirite, and muse in the bitternesse of my mynde.
Am I a sea or a whale fish, that thou kepest me [so] in prison?
When I say, My bed shal comfort me, I shall haue some refreshing by talking to my selfe vpon my couch:
Then fearest thou me with dreames, & makest me so afrayde through visions,
That my soule wisheth rather to perishe and die, then my bones to remayne.
I can see no remedy, I shall liue no more: O spare me then, for my dayes are but vanitie.
What is man that thou doest magnifie him? and that thou settest thy heart vpon him?
Thou visitest him early and euery day, euery moment doest thou trie him.
Why goest thou not fro me, nor lettest me alone, so long till I may swalowe downe my spyttle?
I haue offended, what shall I do vnto the, O thou preseruer of men? Why hast thou set me [as a marke] against thee, so that I am a burden to my selfe?
Why doest thou not pardon my trespasses, and take away myne iniquitie? Behold, nowe must I sleepe in the dust, and if thou sekest me to morowe in the morning, I shal not be.
THen aunswered Bildad the Suhite, & said:
Howe long wilt thou talke of such thinges? howe long shall the wordes of thy mouth be as a mightie wind?
Doth God paruert the thing that is lawfull? or doth the almightie destroy the thing that is right?
For seyng that thy sonnes sinned against him, did not he send them into the place of their iniquitie?
If thou wouldest nowe resorte vnto God be times, and make thy prayer to the almightie,
If thou wouldest liue a pure and godly life: shoulde he not awake vp vnto thee immediatly, and make the habitation of thy righteousnesse prosperous?
In so much that wherin so euer thou haddest litle afore, thou shouldest haue nowe great aboundaunce.
Enquire I pray thee of the former age, and search diligently among their fathers:
(For we are but of yesterday, and consider not that our dayes vpon earth are but a shadowe.)
Shall not they shew thee, and tel thee, yea and gladly confesse the same, and vtter the wordes of their heart?
May a rushe be greene without moystnesse? or may the grasse growe with out water?
No, but whilste it is nowe in his greennesse, though it be not cut downe, yet withereth it before any other hearbe:
So are the pathes of al that forget God, and the hypocrites hope shall come to naught.
His confidence shalbe destroyed, and his trust shalbe a spiders webbe.
He shal leaue vpon his house, but it shal not stande: he shall holde him fast by it, yet shall it not endure.
It is a greene [tree] before the sunne, & shooteth foorth the braunches ouer his garden.
The rootes thereof are wrapped about the fountayne, and are folden about the house of stones.
If any plucke it from his place, and it denie, saying, I haue not seene thee:
Behold it will reioyce by this meanes, if it may growe in another mould.
Beholde, God will not cast away a vertuous man, neither wil he helpe the vngodly.
Thy mouth shall he fill with laughing, and thy lippes with gladnesse.
They also that hate thee shalbe clothed with shame, & the dwelling of the vngodly shall come to naught.
IOb aunswered, and sayde,
I knowe it is so of a trueth: For how may a man [compared] vnto God be iustified?
If he wil argue with hym, he cannot aunswere hym one thing of a thousande.
He is wyse in heart and mightie in strength: who hath ben fearce against hym, and hath prospered?
He translateth the mountaynes, or euer they be aware it is he that ouerthroweth them in his wrath.
He remoueth the earth out of her place, that the pillers therof shake withall.
He commaundeth the sunne, and it ryseth not: he closeth vp the starres as vnder a signet.
He hym selfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and goeth vpon the waues of the sea.
He maketh the Waynes of heauen, the Orion, the seuen starres, and the secret places of the south.
He doth great thinges & vnsearcheable, yea and wonders without number.
Lo, when he goeth by me, I shal not see hym, and when he passeth I shall not perceaue hym.
If he be hastie to •ake away, who wil make him restore 〈◊〉 or who will say vnto hym, what doest thou?
God will not withdraw his anger, and the most mightie helpes do stowpe vnder hym:
Howe much lesse shall I aunswere him? or howe shoulde I finde out my wordes with him?
For though I were righteous, yet might I not geue him one word againe, but mekely submit my selfe to hym as my iudge.
If I had called vpon hym, and he had aunswered me, yet woulde I not beleue that he hearde my voyce:
He troubleth me so with the tempest, and woundeth me out of measure without a cause,
He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitternesse.
If [men will speake] of strength, lo he is strong: if [men will speake] of iudgement, who shall bring me in to pleade?
If I will iustifie my selfe, myne owne mouth shall condempne me: if I will [put foorth my selfe for] a perfect man, he shall proue me a wicked doer.
For though I be an innocent and my conscience cleare, yet am I weery of my lyfe.
This is one poynt, and therefore I sayd, He destroyeth both the perfect and vngodly.
And though he 〈◊〉 sodaynly with the scourge, yet will he laugh at the punishment of the innocent.
As for the worlde it is geuen ouer into the hande of the wicked, and he shall couer the faces of the iudges therof: if not, where is he, or who is he [that can shewe the contrarie?]
My dayes are more swyft then a runner, they are gone & haue seene no good thing.
They are passed away as the shippes that be good vndersayle, & as the eagle that fleeth to the pray.
If I say, I will forget my complayning, I will ceasse from my wrath, and comfort my selfe:
Then am I afrayde of all my sorowes, for I knowe that thou wilt not iudge me innocent.
If I be wicked, why then labour I in vayne?
If I washe my selfe with snowe water, and make myne handes neuer so cleane at the well:
Yet shalt thou dippe me in the myre, and mine owne clothes shal defile me.
For he that I must geue aunswere vnto, and with whom I go to the lawe, is not a man as I am:
Neither is there any dayesman to lay his hande betweene vs.
Let hym take his rodde away from me, yea let hym make me no more afrayde of him,
And then shall I aunswere hym without any feare: but because I am not so, I holde me still.
MY soule is cut of though I lyue, I wil powre out my compla{y}nte against my selfe, and will speake out of the very heauinesse of my soule.
I will say vnto God: O do not condempne me, but shewe me wherefore thou contendest so with me?
Thinkest thou it welldone to oppresse me? to cast me of beyng the workes of thy handes? and to mayntayne the counsell of the vngodly?
Hast thou fleshy eyes? or doest thou loke as a man loketh?
Or are thy dayes as the dayes of man? and thy yeres as mans yeres?
That thou makest such inquisition for my wickednes, and searchest out my sinne?
Whereas thou knowest whether I shall do wickedly or no, and that none can deliuer me out of thyne hande.
Thy handes haue made me, & fashioned me altogether rounde about, wilt thou then destroy me?
Remember I besech thee that thou madest me as the moulde of the earth, and shalt bring me into dust againe.
Hast thou not powred me as it were milke, & turned me to cruddes like cheese?
Thou hast couered me with skinne and fleshe, and ioyned me together with bones and sinnowes.
Thou hast graunted me life, and done me good: and thy visitation hath preserued my spirite.
Thou hast hyd these thinges in thyne heart [yet] I am sure that thou remembrest this thing.
If I dyd sinne, thou haddest an eye vnto me, and shalt not pronounce me innocent from myne offence.
If I haue done wickedly, wo is me therefore: If I haue done righteously, yet dare I not lift vp my head, so full am I of confusion, and see myne owne miserie.
And let it increase, hunte me as a lion, & returne and shew thy selfe maruaylous vpon me.
Thou bringest freshe witnesse against me, and thy wrath increasest thou vpon me: diuers and many are the plagues that I am in.
Wherfore hast thou brought me out of the wombe? O that I had perished, and that no eye had seene me,
And that I were as though I had not ben, but brought from the wombe to the graue.
Are not my dayes fewe? Let him then leaue of fro me, and let me a lone, that I may comfort my selfe a litle,
Afore I go [thyther from whence] I shall not turne againe, euen to the lande of darknesse and shadowe of death:
Yea a lande as darke as darknesse it selfe, and into the shadowe of death where is none order, but the light is there as darknesse.
THen aunswered Sophar the Naamathite, and sayde:
Shoulde not [he that maketh] many wordes be aunswered? Shoulde he that bableth much be commended therin?
Shoulde thy lies make men holde their peace, and when thou mockest [others] shall no man make thee ashamed?
For thou hast sayde, my doctrine is pure, and I am cleane in thyne eyes.
But O that God woulde speake, and open his lippes against thee:
That he might shewe thee the secretes of wysdome, howe thou hast deserued double according to right: Know therfore that God hath forgotten thee for thyne iniquitie.
Art thou able to finde out [the secretes of] God? Or wilt thou attayne to the perfectnesse of the almightie?
It is hier then heauen, what art thou able to do? deeper then the hel, how wilt thou then knowe it?
The measure of it is longer then the earth, and broder then the sea.
Though he turne all thinges vpsyde downe, close them in, gather them together, who will turne hym from his purpose?
For it is he that knoweth vayne men, he seeth their wickednesse also, shoulde he not then consider it?
Yet vayne man would be wyse, though man [newe] borne is lyke a wilde asses coulte.
If thou preparedst thyne heart, and liftedst vp thyne handes towarde hym:
If thou wouldest put away the wickednes whiche thou hast in hande, so that no vngodlinesse dwell in thy house:
Then mightest thou lift vp thy face without shame, & then shouldest thou be sure and haue no neede to feare.
Then shouldest thou forget thy miserie, and thinke no more vpon it, then vpon the waters that runne by.
Then should thy lyfe be as cleare as the noone day, thou shouldest shine forth, and be as the morning.
Then mightest thou be bolde because there is hope, and take thy rest quietly, as compassed with a trenche.
Then mightest thou lye downe and none to make thee afrayde, yea many one should make suite vnto thee.
As for the eyes of the vngodly they shall faile, and they shal not escape: and their hope shalbe sorowe of minde.
SO Iob aunswered, & saide:
Then no doubt ye are the men alone, and wysdome shall perishe with you.
But I haue vnderstanding aswell as ye, and am not inferior to you: Yea who knoweth not these thinges?
I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth vpon God, & he heareth him: The iust & the vpright is laughed to scorne.
Being as alight despised in the heartes of the riche, and as one redy to fall.
The houses of robbers are in wealth and prosperitie, and they that maliciouslie meddle against God dwell without care, in those thinges that God hath geuen richely with his hande.
Aske the cattaile, and they shall enfourme thee: the foules of the ayre, and they shall tell thee.
Or the encrease of the earth, and it shall shew thee: or the fishes of the sea, and they shall certifie thee.
What is he but he knoweth that the hande of the Lorde made all these?
In whose hande is the soule of euery liuing thing, and the breath of all mankinde.
Haue not the eares pleasure in hearing? and the mouth in tasting the thing that it eateth?
Among olde persons there is wysedome, and in age is vnderstanding.
Yea, with [God] is wysdome and strength, it is he that hath counsell and foreknowledge.
Beholde if he breake downe a thing, who can set it vp againe? yf he shut a thing, who wyll open it?
Beholde, if he withholde the waters, they drye vp: yf he let them go, they destroy the earth.
With him is strength and wysdome: both the deceauer and he that is deceaued are his.
He carieth away the wyse men as it were a spoyle, and bringeth the iudges out of their wittes.
He taketh away the subiection of the people from their kinges, and girdeth their loynes with a bonde.
He leadeth away the great men into captiuitie, and turneth the mightie vpside downe.
He stoppeth the mouth of them that speake trueth, & disapoynteth the aged of their reason.
He powreth contempt vpon princes, and maketh the strength of the mightie weake.
Loke what lyeth hid in darkenesse he declareth it openly, and the very shadowe of death bringeth he to light.
He [both] increaseth the people and destroyeth them, he maketh them to multiplie, and diminisheth them.
He taketh away the hearte of them that be heades of {th}e people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in the wildernesse out of the way.
They grope in the darke without light, and he maketh them to stacker like a drunken man.
LO, all [this] haue I seene with mine eye, heard with mine eare, and vnderstande it.
What ye knowe, that same do I know also, neither am I inferior vnto you.
Neuerthelesse, I talke with the almightie, and my desire is to commune with God.
As for you, ye are workmaisters of lyes, and vnprofitable phisitians altogether.
Woulde God ye kept your tongue, for then might ye be taken for wise men.
Now heare my reasoning, and ponder the argument of my lippes.
Wyll you speake wickedlie for gods [defence] and talke deceitfully for his [cause?]
Wyll ye accept the person of him? or wyll ye contende for God?
Shall that helpe you when he calleth you to reckening? For as one man mocketh an other, so do ye mocke him.
He shall punishe you, and reproue you, if ye do secretly accept any person.
Shall not his excellencie make you afrayde? Shall not his terrible feare fall vpon you?
Your remembraunce is lyke vnto a sparke, and your bodies lyke the claye.
Holde your tongues for my sake, that I also may speake, and my sorowe shalbe the lesse.
Wherefore do I beare my fleshe in my teeth, and put my soule in myne handes?
Lo, though he slay me, yet wyl I trust in him: but I wyll reproue myne owne wayes in his sight.
He shalbe my saluation: for there may no hypocrite come before him.
Heare diligently my wordes, and ponder my sayinges with your eares.
Beholde, now haue I prepared my iudgement, and knowe that I shalbe founde righteous.
What is he that wyll go to lawe with me? if I now holde my tongue I dye.
Neuerthelesse, graunt me two thinges, and then wyll I not hide my selfe from thee:
Withdrawe thyne hande from me, and let not the fearefull dreade of thee make me afrayde.
Then call, and I wyll aunswere: or let me speake, and geue me then an aunswere.
How many are my misdeedes and sinnes? let me knowe my transgressions and offences.
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thyne enemie?
Wylt thou breake a leafe driuen to and fro, and wilt thou pursue the drye stubble?
For thou layest sharply to my charge, and punishest me for the sinnes of my youth.
Thou puttest my feete also in the stockes, and lokest narowly vnto all my pathes, and makest the print thereof in the heeles of my feete:
And I as a rotten thing do consume away, as a garment that is motheaten.
MAn that is borne of woman, hath but a short time to lyue, and is full of miserie.
He commeth vp, and is cut downe like a floure: He fleeth as it were a shadow, and neuer continueth in one state.
Doest thou open thyne eyes vpon such one, and bringest me into thy iudgement?
Who can make it cleane that commeth of an vncleane thing? no bodye.
The dayes of man surely are •ece•••ned, the number of his monethes are knowen onely vnto thee, thou hast appoynted him his bondes which •e can not go beyonde.
Go from him, that he may rest vntill his day come which he loketh for, lyke as an hireling doth.
For if a tree be cut downe, there is some hope yet that it wyll sproute and shoote foorth the braunches againe.
Though the roote of it be waxen olde, and the stocke thereof be dead in the grounde:
Yet when it getteth the sent of water, it wyll budde and bring foorth bowes, lyke as a tree that is planted.
But as for man, when he is dead, perished, and consumed away, what becommeth of him?
As the waters passe from the sea, and as the flood decayeth and dryeth vp:
So man after he is asleepe ryseth not, he shall not wake tyll the heauens be no more, nor rise out of his sleepe.
O that thou wouldest hide me in the graue, & keepe me secret vntyl thy wrath were past, and to appoynt me a time wherein thou mightest remember me.
May a 〈◊〉 man lyue againe▪ All the dayes of my lyfe wyll I wayte still, till my chaunging shall come.
Thou shalt call [me] and I shall aunswere thee, despise not thou the worke of thyne owne handes.
For now thou numbrest all my goinges, and geuest no delay vnto my sinne.
Myne iniquitie is sealed vp as it were in a bagge, and thou addest [punishement] vnto my wickednesse.
The mountaines fal away at the last, the rockes are remoued out of their place.
The waters pearse through the very stones by litle & litle, the floodes washe away the grauell and earth: so shalt thou destroy the hope of man.
Thou preuaylest still against him, so that he passeth away: thou chaungest his estate and puttest him from thee.
And whether his children come to worship or no, he can not tell: And if they be men of lowe degree, he knoweth not.
But while his fleshe is vpon him it must haue sorowe: and his soule shall mourne within him.
THen aunswered Eliphaz the Themanite, and saide:
Shalla wyse mans aunswere be as the winde, and fill a mans belly as it were with the winde of the east?
Shall he reproue with a worde that is nothing worth, & speake the thinges which can do no good?
Surely thou hast cast of feare, and restrainest prayer before God.
For thy mouth setteth forth thyne owne iniquitie, seeing thou hast chosen the tongue of the craftie.
Thyne owne mouth condempneth thee, and not I: yea, thyne owne lippes shape an aunswere against thee.
Art thou the first man that euer was borne? or wast thou made before 〈…〉?
Hast thou heard the secret counsell of God? and doest thou restraine wysdome to thee?
What knowest thou, that we knowe not? And what vnderstandest thou, but we can the same?
With vs are both olde, and aged men, yea such as haue liued longer then thy father.
Thinkest thou it a small thing of the consolations of God? with thee is a lying worde.
Why doth thyne heart so bewitche thee? And wherefore winckest thou with thyne eyes,
That thy minde is so pufte vp against God, and lettest such wordes go out of thy mouth?
What is man, that he should be cleane? and he which is borne of a woman, whereby he might be righteous?
Beholde he doth not trust his 〈◊〉 yea, the very heauens are not cleane in his sight:
How much more then an abhominable and vyle man, which drincketh wickednesse like water.
I will tel thee, heare me, and I will shewe thee that I haue seene:
Which wyse men haue tolde, and haue not hid that which they receaued from theyr fathers:
Vnto whom alone the earth was geue{n}, and no straunger went among them.
The vngodly soroweth all the dayes of his lyfe as it were a woman with childe, and the number of a tirauntes yeres is vnknowen.
A feareful sounde is [euer] in his eares, and when he is in peace, the destroyer shall come vpon him.
He beleueth neuer to be deliuered out of darknesse: for the sworde is alwayes before his eyes.
He wandreth abrode for bread where it is, knowing that the day of darkenesse is redie at his hande.
Trouble and anguishe wil make him afrayde, and compasse him about, as is a king in the middest of an armie.
For he hath stretched out his hande against God, and armed him selfe against the almightie.
He runneth proudly vpon him, & with a stiffe necke fighteth he against him.
Where as he couereth his face with fatnesse, and maketh his body well lyking.
Therefore shall his dwelling be in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, but are become heapes of stones.
He shall not be riche, neither shall his substaunce continue, neither shal the prosperitie thereof be prolonged vpon earth.
He shall neuer depart out of darkenesse, the flame shal drye vp his branches, with the blast of {th}e mouth [of God] shall he be taken away.
He beleeueth not that he erreth in vanitie, and yet vanitie shalbe his recompence.
He shal perishe afore his time be worne out, and his braunche shall not be greene.
He shalbe plucked of as an vntimely grape from the vine, and shall let his floure fall as the oliue doth.
For the congregation of hypocrites shalbe desolate, and the fire shall consume the houses of such as are greedie to receaue giftes.
He conceaueth trauaile, and beareth vanitie, and their body bringeth foorth disceyte.
IOb aunswered, & saide:
I haue oft times heard such thinges: miserable geuers of comfort are ye all the sort of you.
Shall not vaine wordes come yet to an ende? Or what maketh thee bolde so to aunswere?
I coulde speake as ye do also: but would God that your soule were in my soules steade, then could I frame wordes for you, and shake my head at you:
I shoulde comfort you with my mouth, & releasse your paine with the talking of my lippes.
For all my wordes my sorowe wyll not ceasse: And though I holde my tongue, what am I eased?
But now that [God] hath sent me aduersitie, thou hast troubled al my congregation.
And that thou hast filled me with wrinckles my fleshe is recorde, and my leanenesse ryseth vp against me and beareth witnes thereof in my face.
His wrath hath torne [me] he hateth me, & gnasheth vpon me with his teeth: myne enemie loketh fiercely vpon me with his eyes.
They haue opened their mouthes wide vpon me, and smitten me vpon the cheeke dispitefully, they gather the{m} selues together against me.
God hath shut me vp with the vngodly, and deliuered me into the handes of the wicked.
I was in wealth, but he hath ••ught me to nought: he hath taken 〈◊〉 by the necke, he hath all to shaken me and set me as a marke for him selfe.
His archers compasse me rounde about, he woundeth my raines, and doth not spare, my bowels hath he powred vpon the grounde.
He hath geuen me one wounde vpon an other, and is fallen vpon me lyke a giaunt.
I haue sowed a sackecloth vpon my skinne, and wallowed my head in the dust.
My face is withered with weeping, & in myne eyes is the shadowe of death.
Howbeit there is no wickednesse in my handes, but my prayer is cleane.
O earth couer not thou my blood, and let my crying finde no roome.
For lo, my witnesse is in heauen, and he that knoweth me, is in the height.
My friendes geue me many wordes to scorne, and myne eye powreth out teares vnto God.
O that a body might pleate with God, as one man doth with an other:
Yet the number of my yeres is come, and the way that I must go is at hand, from whence I shall not turne againe.
MY breath is corrupt, my dayes are shortened, I am harde at deathes doore.
Froward men are with me, and myne eye must continue in the bitternesse of them.
O deliuer me, and loke out one to be my suretie in thy sight: what is he that knoweth who wyll promise for me?
For thou hast withholden their heartes from vnderstanding, therefore shalt thou not set [them] vp on hie.
He that speaketh flatterie to his friend, the eyes of his children shall fayle.
He hath made me a byworde of the people, where as afore I was their ioy.
Myne eye is dimme for very heauinesse, and all my strength is lyke a shadowe.
Vertuous men therefore shall well consider this, and the innocent shal take part against the hypocrite.
The righteous also wyll kepe his way, and he that hath cleane handes wyll euer be stronger and stronger.
As for al you, turne you and get you hence [I pray you] seeing I can not finde one wyse man among you.
My dayes are past, and my counsailes and thoughtes of my heart are vanished away,
Chaunging the night into day, and the light approching into darkenesse.
Though I tary neuer so much, yet the graue is my house, & I haue made my bed in the darke.
I saide to corruption, thou art my father, and to the wormes, you are my mother and my sister.
Where is then now my hope? or who hath considered the thing that I loke for? These shall go downe with me into the pit, and lye with me in the dust.
THen aunswered Bildad the Suhite, and saide:
When wyll ye make an ende of your wordes? Marke well, and then we wyll speake.
Wherfore are we counted as beastes, and reputed so vyle in your sight?
He destroyeth him selfe with his anger: Shall the earth be forsaken, or any stone remoued out of his place because of thee?
Yea, the light of the vngodly shalbe put out, and the sparke of his fire shall not shine.
The light shall be darke in his dwelling, and his candle shall be put out with him.
The steppes of his strength shalbe restrayned, and his owne counsaile shall cast him downe:
For his feete are taken as it were in the net, & he walketh vpon the snares.
The grinne shall take him by the heele, and it shall catche him that is thirstie of blood.
The snare is layde for him in the grounde, and a pitfall in the way.
Fearefulnesse shall make him afraide on euery side, and shall driue him to his feete.
Hunger shalbe his strength, and destruction shalbe redye at his side.
It shall eate the strength of his owne skinne, euen the first borne of death shall eate his strength.
His hope shalbe rooted out of his dwelling, and shall bring him to the king of feare.
Other men shall dwell in his house and it shalbe none of his, and brimstone shall be scattered vpon his habitation.
His rootes shalbe dryed vp beneath and aboue shall his braunche be 〈◊〉 downe.
His remembraunce shall perishe from the earth, and he shall haue no name in the streete.
They shall driue him from the light into darkenesse, and chaste him cleane out of the worlde.
He shall neither haue children nor kinsfolkes among his people, no nor any posteritie in his dwellinges.
They that come after him, shalbe astonyed at his day, and they that go before shalbe afrayde.
Such are now the dwellinges of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.
IOb aunswered, and saide:
How long wyll ye vexe my soule, and trouble me with wordes?
Lo, ten times haue ye reproched me, and are not ashamed, but haue laughed me to scorne.
Be it that I haue erred in deede, myne errour then remaineth with my selfe.
But if ye wyll aduaunce your selues against me, and rebuke me for the shame that is come vpon me:
Know this then, that it is God which hath ouerthrowe{n} me, and hath compassed me with his net.
If I complaine of the violence that is done vnto me, I cannot be heard: and if I crye, there is no sentence geuen with me.
He hath hedged vp my way that I can not passe, and he hath set darkenesse in my pathes.
He hath spoyled me of myne honour, and taken the crowne away from my head.
He hath destroyed me on euery side and I am gone: my hope hath he taken away as a tree pluckt vp by the roote.
His wrath is kindled against me, he taketh me as though I were his enemie.
His men of warre come together, which made their way ouer me, and besieged my dwelling rounde about.
He hath put my brethren farre away from me, and myne acquaintaunce are also become straungers vnto me.
Myne owne kinsefolkes haue forsaken me, and my best acquainted haue forgotten me.
The seruauntes and maydens of myne owne house toke me for a straunger, and I am become as an aliaunt in their sight.
I called my seruaunt, and he gaue me no aunswere: [no though] I prayed him with my mouth.
Myne owne wyfe might not abyde my breath, though I prayed her for the children sake of myne owne body.
Yea, the young men despised me, and when I rose they spake euill vpon me.
All my most familiers abhorred me: and they whom I loued best, are turned against me.
My bone cleaueth to my 〈◊〉 and to my fleshe, onely there is 〈◊〉 the skinne aboue my teeth.
Haue pitie vpon me, haue pitie vp• me, O ye my friendes, for the handed, God hath touched me.
Why do ye persecute me as God [do•] and are not satisfied with my fleshe?
O that my wordes were now written, O that they were put in a booke,
And grauen with an iron penne in leade, or in stone, to continue.
For I am sure that my redeemer 〈◊〉 and he sha• rayse vp at the 〈◊〉 day them that lye in the dust.
And though after my skinne the wormes destroy this body, yet shall I see God in my fleshe:
Whom I my selfe shall see, and myne eyes shall beholde, and none other for me, though my rames are consumed within me.
But ye saide, why is he persecuted? and there was a deepe matter in me.
But beware of the sworde: for the sword wylbe auenged of wickednesse, and be sure that there is a iudgement.
THen aunswered Sophar the Naamathite, and saide:
For the same cause do my thoughtes compell me to aunswere, and therefore, make haste.
I haue sufficiently heard the checking of my reproofe, therefore the spirite of myne vnderstanding causeth me to aunswere.
Knowest thou not this of olde, and since God plaged man vpon earth,
That the gladnesse of the vngodlie hath ben short, and that the ioy of hypocrites continued but the twinckling of an eye?
Though he be magnified vp to the heauen, so that his head reacheth vnto the cloudes:
Yet at a turne he perisheth for euer, insomuch that they which haue seene him, shall say, Where is he?
He shall vanishe as a dreame, so that he can no more be founde, and shal passe away as a vision in the night.
So that the eye which sawe him before, shal haue no more sight of him, and his place shall know him no more.
His children shalbe faine to agree with the poore, and his handes shall restore their goodes.
From his youth his bones are full of pleasures, but now shall it lye downe within him in the earth.
When wickednesse was sweete in his mouth, he hyd it vnder his tongue.
That he fauoured, that would he not forsake, but kept it close in his throte.
The bread that he did eate, is turned to the poyson of serpentes within his bodye.
The riches that he deuoured shall he parbreake againe: for God shall drawe them out of his belly.
He shall sucke the gall of serpentes, and the adders tongue shall slay him:
So that he shall no more see the ryuers and brookes of hony and butter.
The thing he hath laboured for, shall he restore, and shall not eate of it: great trauaile shall he make for riches, but he shall not enioy them.
And why? he hath oppressed the poore, and not helped them: houses hath he spoyled, and not builded them.
Because he could not perceaue when his belly was well, through his greedie desire he shall not escape.
There shall none of his meate be left, therefore shall no man loke for his goodes.
When he had plenteousnesse of euery thing, yet was he poore, though he was helped on euery side.
And it shall come to passe, that wherewith he purposed to fill his belly, God shall powre the furie of his wrath theron, and shall cause his indignation to raigne vpon him, and vpon his meate.
He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bowe of steele shall strike him through.
The [arowe] is taken foorth and gone out of the quiuer, and a glistering swo• through the gall of him: so feare shall come vpon him.
All darknesse shalbe hid in their secrete places, an vnkindled fire shal consume him: and loke what remaineth in his house, it shalbe destroyed.
The heauen shal declare his wickednesse, and the earth shall take part against him.
The substaunce that he hath in his house, shalbe taken away and perishe in the day of the Lordes wrath.
This is the portion that the wicked man shal haue of God, and the heritage that he may loke for of God, because of his wordes.
IOb aunswered, and saide:
O heare diligently my wordes, and that shalbe in steede of your consolations,
Suffer me that I may speake, and when I haue spoken mocke on.
Is it for mans sake that I make this disputation? Which if it were so, shoulde not my spirite then be in sore trouble?
Marke me [well] and be abashed, and lay your hande vpon your mouth.
For when I consider [my selfe] I am afrayde, and my fleshe is smitten with feare.
Wherefore do wicked men liue, come to their olde age, and increase in richesse?
Their children lyue in their sight, and their generation before their eyes.
Their houses are safe from all feare, and the rod of God is not vpon them.
Their bullocke gendreth and that not out of time, their cowe calueth and is not vnfruitfull.
They sende foorth their children by flockes, & their sonnes [leade the] daunce.
They beare with them tabrets and harpes, and reioyce in the sounde of the organs.
They spend their dayes in wealthines, but sodainely they go downe to the graue.
They say also vnto God: Go from vs, we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.
Who is the almightie that we should serue him? And what profite should we haue if we should pray vnto him?
Lo, there is vtterly no goodnesse in their hande therefore wyll I not haue to do with the counsaile of the vngodly.
How oft shall the candell of the wicked be put out, and their destruction come vpon them? O what sorowe shall God geue them for their part in his wrath?
Yea, they shalbe euen as hay before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme carieth away.
God wyll lay vp the sorowe of the father for his children: & when he rewardeth him, he shall know it.
Their owne miserie shal they see with their eyes, and drinke of the fearefull wrath of the almightie.
For what careth he for his house after his death, when the number of his monethes is cut short?
Seeing God hath the highest power of all, who can teache him any knowledge?
One dyeth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperitie,
His breastes are full of milke, and his bones runne full of marowe.
Another dyeth in the bitternes of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.
They shall sleepe both alyke in the earth, and the wormes shall couer them.
Beholde, I know what ye thinke, yea and the subtiltie that ye imagine against me.
For ye say where is the princes palace? and where is the dwelling of the vngodly?
Haue ye not asked them that go by the way? Doubtlesse ye cannot denie their tokens,
That the wicked is kept vnto the day of destruction, and the vngodly shalbe brought foorth to the day of wrath.
Who dare declare his way to his face? who wil rewarde him for that he doth?
Yet shall he be brought to his graue, and dwell among the heape [of the dead.]
Then shal the slymie valley be sweet vnto him, all men also must folowe him, as there are innumerable gone before him.
Howe vayne then is the comfort that ye geue me, seyng falshood remayneth in all your aunsweres?
SO Eliphas the Themanite gaue aunswere, and sayde:
May a man be profitable vnto God, as he that is wise may be profitable vnto him selfe?
Is it any aduauntage to the almightie that thou art righteous? or shall it profite him that thou makest thy wayes perfect?
Is he afrayde to reproue thee, and to step foorth with thee into iudgement?
Is not thy wickednesse great, and thy vngratious deedes innumerable?
For thou hast taken the pledge from thy brother for naught, and robbed the naked of their clothing.
To such as were weery, hast thou geuen no water to drinke, & hast withdrawen bread from the hungrie.
But the mightie man had the earth, and he that was in auctoritie dwelt in it.
Thou hast sent wydowes away emptie, and the armes of the fatherlesse were broken.
Therefore art thou compassed about with snares, & sodenly vexed with feare.
Shouldest thou then see no darknesse? shoulde not the water studde run ouer thee?
Is not God on high in the heauen? beholde the heyght of the starres how hie they are.
Wilt thou therfore say, Tushe, howe should God know? can he iudge through the darke cloude?
Tushe, the cloudes couer him that he may not see, and he walketh on the top of heauen.
Hast thou marked the way of the world, wherin wicked men haue walked?
Whiche were cut downe out of time, and whose foundation was as an ouerflowing ryuer.
Whiche sayd vnto God, Go from vs: and asked what the almightie coulde do for them?
He filled their houses with good things: but the counsell of the vngodly be farre from me.
The righteous sawe it and were glad, and the innocent laughed them to scorne.
Is our substaunce hewen downe? As for the remnaunt of them the fire hath consumed.
Therefore reconcile thee vnto God, and be at peace: so shall all thinges prospere with thee right well.
Receaue I pray thee the lawe at his mouth, and lay vp his wordes in thyne heart.
For if thou wilt turne to the almightie, thou shalt be buyld vp, and put all vnrighteousnes from thy dwelling.
Thou shalt lay vp golde [as plentyful] as the dust, and the golde of Ophir as the flyntes of the riuers.
Yea almightie God his owne selfe shalbe be thy defence, and thou shalt haue plentie of siluer.
Then shalt thou haue thy delite in the almightie, and lift vp thy face vnto God.
Then shalt thou make thy prayer vnto him, and he shall heare thee, and thou shalt kepe thy promises.
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and he shall establishe it vnto thee, and the light shall shine in thy wayes.
When [the wicked] be cast downe, thou shalt say, I am lifted vp: and God shall saue the humble person.
The innocent shal deliuer the Ilande: it shalbe preserued by the purenesse of thyne handes.
IOb aunswered, & said:
Though my talke be this day in bitternesse, and my plague greater then my groning.
O that I might know him, and finde him, and that I might come before his seate:
I woulde pleade my cause before hym, and fill my mouth with argumentes:
I woulde knowe what aunswere he woulde geue me, and vnderstande what he woulde say vnto me.
Will he pleade against me with his great power? No, but he will make me the stronger.
There the righteous might dispute with him, so shoulde I be deliuered for euer from my iudge.
Behold, though I go forwarde I find him not: If I go backwarde, I can get no knowledge of hym:
If I go on the left side where he doth his worke, I can not attayne vnto him: Againe, if I go on the right side, he hydeth him selfe that I can not see hym.
But as for my way, he knoweth it, and tryeth me, that as the gold I may come foorth.
My foote doth kepe his path, his hie way haue I holden, and will not go out of it.
I will not forsake the commaundement of his lippes, I haue esteemed the wordes of his mouth more then myne appoynted foode.
He is still at one poynt, and who can turne him? he doth as him listeth, and bringeth to passe what he will.
He perfourmeth the thing that is appoynted for me, and many such thinges doth he.
This is the cause that I shrinke at his presence, so that when I consider him, I am afrayde of hym.
For God maketh my heart softe, and the almightie putteth me in feare.
Because I am not cut of before the darkenesse, neither hath he couered the cloude fro my face.
COnsidering then that there is no time hyd from the almightie, how happeneth it that they which know him do not regarde his dayes?
For some men remoue the landemarkes, robbe men of their cattell, and feede of the same:
They driue away the asse of the fatherlesse, and take the wydowes oxe for a pledge:
They cause the poore to turne out of the way, so that the poore of the earth hyde them selues together.
Beholde, as wilde asses in the desert go they foorth to their worke, & ryse betimes to spoyle: Yea the very wildernesse ministreth foode for them & their children.
They reape the corne fielde that is not their owne, and let the vineyarde of the vngodly alone.
They cause the naked to lodge without garment, and without couering in the colde.
They are wet with the showres of the mountaynes, and embrace the rocke for want of a couering.
They plucke the fatherlesse from the brest, and take the pledge from the poore.
They let hym go naked without clothing, and haue taken away the sheafe of the hungrie.
The poore are fayne to labour in their oyle mylles, yea and to treade in their wyne presses, and yet to suffer thirst.
Men out of the citie crye vnto the Lord with sighing, the soules of the slayne also crye out, yet God regardeth not their complaynt.
Where as they are conuersaunt among them that abhorre the light, they know not his way, nor continue in his pathes.
The murtherer ryseth early and killeth the poore and needy, and in the night is as a thiefe?
The eye of the adulterer wayteth for the darkenesse, & sayth, There shall no eye see me: and disguiseth his face.
In the darke they digge through houses, whiche they marked for them selues in the day time: they knowe not the light.
The morning is to them euen as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrours of the shadowe of death,
[The vngodly] is swyft vpon the water: their portion shalbe cursed in the earth, and he shall not beholde the way of the vineyardes.
As the drye grounde and heate consume the snowye waters: so shall the graue the sinners.
The pitifull man shall forget hym, he shalbe sweete to the wormes, he shalbe no more remembred, & his wickednesse shalbe broken as a tree.
He hath oppressed the barren that can not beare, and vnto the wydow hath he done no good.
He drue the mightie after hym with his power, and when he was gotten vp no man was sure of lyfe.
And though they gaue him to be in safetie, yet his eyes are vpon their wayes.
They are exalted for a litle, but [shortly] are gone, brought to pouertie, and taken out of the way, yea and vtterly pluckt of, as the eares of corne.
Is it not so? Who will then reproue me as a lyer, and say that my wordes are nothing worth?
THen aunswered Bildad the Suhite, and sayde:
Is there power and feare with him aboue, that maketh peace sitting in his hyghnesse?
Is there any number of his armies, and vpon whom shal not his light arise?
But how may a man compared vnto God, be iustified? or how can he be cleane that is borne of a woman?
Beholde, the moone shyneth nothing in comparison to him, and the starres are vncleane in his sight.
Howe much more then man that is but corruption, and the sonne of man which is but a worme?
IOb aunswered, and sayde:
Who{m} hast thou helped? Him that is without strength? sauest thou the arme that hath no strength?
Where is the counsayle that thou shouldest geue him which hath no wisdome? Hast thou shewed the way of right lyuing?
To whom hast thou spoken these wordes? who made the breath to come out of thy mouth?
Are not dead thinges shapen vnder the waters, and thinges by the waters side?
He is naked before him, and the very destruction it selfe can not be hyd out of his sight.
He stretcheth out the noorth ouer the emptie place, and hangeth the earth vpon nothing.
He byndeth the water in his cloudes, & the cloude is not broken vnder them.
He holdeth backe the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloude before it.
He hath compassed the waters with certayne boundes, vntill the day and night come to an ende.
The very pillers of heauen tremble and quake at his reproofe.
He stilleth the sea with his power, and through his wysdome smyteth he the strength therof.
His spirite hath garnished the heauens, & his hand hath made the crooked serpent.
Lo, this is now a short summe of his wayes: but howe litle a portion heare we of hym? who can vnderstande the thunder of his power?
AND Iob proceeded and went foorth in his parable, saying,
As God lyueth whiche hath taken away my iudgement, and the almightie that hath vexed my minde:
Whyle my breath is in me, and the winde that God hath geuen me is in my nostrels,
My lippes shall talke of no vanitie, and my tongue shall speake no disceite.
God forbyd that I should graunt your cause to be right: As for me, vntill myne end come will I neuer go fro myne innocentie.
My righteous dealing kepe I fast, which I will not forsake: my heart shal not reproue me of my dayes.
Therfore myne enemie shalbe founde as the vngodly, and he that taketh part against me, as the vnrighteous.
For what hope hath the hypocrite though he haue great good, if God take away his soule?
Will God heare his crye, when trouble commeth vpon him?
Hath he such pleasure and delite in the almightie, that he dare alway call vpon God?
I wil teache you in the name of God, and the thing of the almightie will I not kepe from you.
Behold, all ye your selues haue seene it, why then do ye thus vanishe in vanitie?
Saying: This is the portion that the wicked haue of God, and the heritage that tyrauntes shall receaue of the almightie.
If he get many children, they shall perishe with the sworde, and his posteritie shall haue scarcenesse of bread.
His remnaunt shalbe buried in death, and his widowes shall not weepe.
Though he heape vp siluer as the dust, and prepare rayment as the clay:
He may well prepare it, but the godly shall put it on, and the innocent shall deale out the money.
He buyldeth his house as the moth, & as a booth that the watchman maketh.
When the riche man sleepeth, he shall not be gathered [to his fathers,] they opened their eyes, and he was gone.
Terrour taketh holde vpon hym as a water fludde, and the tempest stealeth him away in the night season.
A vehement east winde caryeth him hence, and he departeth: a storme hurleth him out of his place.
God shal cast vpon him, and not spare, though he woulde fayne flee out of his hande.
Then clap men their handes at hym, and hisse at him out of his place.
THere is a place wher siluer is brought out of, and where golde is tryed,
Where yron is digged out of the grounde, & stones resolued to me tall.
The darkenesse shall once come to an ende: he can seke out the grounde of all thinges, the stones, the darke, and the shadowe of death.
He causeth the fluddes to breake out against the inhabitant, and the waters forgotten of the foote, beyng hygher then man, are gone away.
Out of the same earth commeth bread, and vnder it as it were fire is turned vp.
The stones of it are a place of Saphires, and the dust of it is golde.
There is a way that the birdes knowe not, that no vultures eye hath seene:
Wherin the lions whelpes walke not, and where no lion commeth.
[There] putteth he his hande vpon the stonie rockes, and ouerthroweth the mountaynes by the rootes.
Riuers flowe out of the rockes, & loke what is pleasaunt, his eye seeth it.
He bindeth the fluddes that they do not ouerflow: and the thing that is hid bringeth he to light.
Where then is wysdome founde? and where is the place of vnderstanding?
Veryly no man can tell howe worthy a thing she is, neither is she found in the lande of them that lyue.
The deepe sayth, She is not in me: the sea sayth, She is not with me.
She can not be gotten for golde, neither may the price of her be bought with any siluer.
No wedges of gold of Ophir, no precious Onir stones, no Saphires may be valued with her.
No, neither golde nor christall shall be equall vnto it, nor her exchaunge shalbe for the plate of fine golde.
No mention shalbe made of Corall nor of the Gabis: for wisdome is more pretious then pearles.
The Topas of Ethiopia shall not be equall vnto it, neither shall it be valued with the wedge of pure golde.
Whence then commeth wysdome? and where is the place of vnderstanding?
She is hid from the eyes of all men liuing, yea & from the foules of the ayre.
Destruction and death say, We haue hearde the fame therof with our eares.
But God seeth her way, and knoweth her place.
For he beholdeth the endes of the worlde, and loketh vpon all that is vnder heauen.
When he wayed the windes and measured the waters:
When he made a decree for the rayne, and a way for the lightninges of the thunder:
Then dyd he see her, then declared he her, prepared her, and knewe her.
And vnto man he sayd: To feare the Lorde is wysdome, and to forsake euyll is vnderstanding.
SO Iob proceeded and went foorth in his parable, saying:
O that I were as I was in the monethes by past, and in the daies when God preserued me:
When his light shined vpon my head, when I went after the same light and shining, euen through the darknesse:
As it stoode with me when I was young, when God prospered my house:
When the almightie was yet with me, when my children stoode about me:
When my wayes ranne ouer with butter, and when the stonie rockes gaue me riuers of oyle:
When I went out to the gate, euen to the iudgement seate, and when I prepared my seate in the streete:
The young men saw me and hid them selues, and the aged arose, and stoode vp.
The princes left of their talking, and layed their hand to their mouth:
The mightie kept still their voyce, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.
When the eare heard me, it blessed me: & when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to me:
For I deliuered the poore when he cryed, and the fatherlesse, and hym that had none to helpe hym.
The blessing of him that was redy to perishe came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce.
And why? I put vpon me righteousnesse, which couered me as a garment, and equitie was my crowne.
I was an eye to the blinde, and a foote to the lame.
I was a father to the poore: and when I knewe not the cause, I sought it out diligently.
I brake the iawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the spoyle out of his teeth.
Then I sayde, I shall die in my ne•• and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sande.
For my roote was spread out by the water side: and the deawe lay vpon my corne.
Myne honour encreased more and more, & my bow was euer the stronger in my hande.
Vnto me men gaue eare, me they regarded, and with scilence they taried for my counsell.
After my woordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.
They wayted for me as for the raine: and gaped vpon me, as [the grounde doeth to receaue] the latter shoure.
When I laughed, they beleued it not, & the light of my countenaunce would they not put out.
When I agreed vnto their way, I was the chiefe, and sate as a king with his armie about him: and when they were in heauinesse, I was their comfortour.
BVt nowe they that are younger then I haue me in derision: yea euen they whose fathers I would haue thought scorne to haue set with the dogges of my cattell.
For wherto might the strength of their handes haue serued me? for the time was but lost among them.
For very miserie and hunger they fled into the wildernesse, a darke place, horrible and waste,
Plucking vp nettles among the busshes, and the iuniper rootes for their meate.
And when they were dryuen foorth, men cryed after them as it had ben af-after a thiefe.
Their dwelling was in the cleftes of brookes, yea in the caues and dennes of the earth.
Among the busshes went they about crying, and vnder the thornes they gathered them selues together.
They were the children of fooles and vyllaynes, which are more vile then the earth.
Now am I their song, & am become their yesting stocke.
They abhorre me and flee farre from me, and stayne my face with spittle.
Because God hath loosed my corde and humbled me, they haue loosed the bridle before me.
Vpon my right hande ryse the young men against me, they haue hurt my feete, treading vpon me as vpon the wayes of their destruction.
My pathes haue they cleane marred, it was so easye for them to do me harme, that they needed no man to help them.
They fell vpon me, as it had ben the breaking in of waters, and came in by heapes to destroy me.
Feare is turned vpon me, and they pursue my soule as the wind, and my health passeth away as a cloude.
Therfore is my soule now powred out vpon me, and the dayes of my trouble haue taken hold vpon me.
My bones are pearsed through in the night season, and my sinewes take no rest.
For the vehemencie of sorowe is my garment chaunged, whiche compasseth me about as the coller of my coote.
He hath cast me into the myre, and I am become like asshes and dust.
When I crie vnto thee, thou doest not heare me: and though I stande before thee, yet thou regardest me not.
Thou art become myne enemie, and with thy violent hande thou takest part against me.
[In times past] thou diddest set me vp on hye, to be caried as it were aboue the wynde, [but nowe] hast thou geuen mea very sore fall.
Sure I am that thou wilt bryng me vnto death, euen to the lodging that is due vnto all men liuing.
Notwithstanding, thou wilt not stretch out thyne hand against him that is in the graue: shal men crie out against him that is in destruction?
Dyd not I weepe with hym that was in trouble? Had not my soule compassion vpon the poore?
Yet neuerthelesse, where as I loked for good, euyll came vnto me: & where I wayted for light, there came darkenesse.
My bowels seethe in me without rest, for the dayes of my trouble are come vpon me.
I went mourning without heate, I stoode vp in the congregation, & communed with them.
But nowe I am a brother of dragons, and a felowe of Estriches.
My skinne vpon me is [turned] to blacke, and my bones are brent with heate.
My harpe is turned to mourning, and my organs into the voyce of them that weepe.
I Made a couenaunt with myne eyes: why then should I loke vpon a mayden?
For how great a portion shall I haue of God? and what inheritaunce from the almightie on hye?
Is not destruction to the wicked? and straunge punishement to the workers of iniquitie?
Doth not he see my wayes, and tell all my goynges?
If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my feete haue runne to disceaue:
Let me be wayed in an euen balaunce, that God may see myne innocencie.
If my steppe hath turned out of the way, & myne heart walked after myne eyes, and if any blot haue cleaued to my handes:
Then shall I sowe, and an other eate: yea my posteritie shalbe cleane rooted out.
If my heart haue ben deceaued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at my neyghbours doore:
Then let my wife grinde vnto an other man, and let other men lye with her.
For this is a wickednesse, and sinne that is worthy to be punished:
Yea a fire that vtterly should consume and roote out all my increase.
If I euer thought scorne to do right vnto my seruauntes & maydens, when they had any matter against me:
When God will sit in iudgement, what shall I do? & when he will visite me, what aunswere shal I geue him?
He that fashioned me in my mothers wombe, made he not him also? were we not both shapen a like in our mothers bodies?
If I demed the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the wydow to way•e in vayne:
I• I haue eaten my morsell alone, that {th}e fatherlesse hath not eaten therof:
For from my youth it hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue ben guyde to the (wydowe)
If I haue seene any perishe for want of clothing, or any poore for lake of rayment:
If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe:
If I haue lift vp mine hand against the fatherlesse, when I sawe that I might helpe him in the gate:
Then let myne arme fall fro my shoulder, and myne arme holes be broken from the bone.
For I haue euer feared the vengeaunce and punishment of God, and [knewe very well that] I was not able to beare his burthen.
Haue I put my trust in golde? or haue I sayde to the wedge of golde, thou art my confidence?
Haue I reioyced because my power was great, and because my hande gat so much?
Dyd I euer greatly regarde the rysing of the sunne? or had I the goyng downe of the moone in great reputation?
Hath my heart medled priuyly with any disceite? or did I euer kisse myne owne hande?
(That were a wickednesse worthy to be punished: for then shoulde I haue denyed the God that is aboue.)
Haue I euer reioyced at the hurt of myne enemie? or was I euer glad that any harme happened vnto him? [Oh, no]
I neuer suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse to his soule.
Dyd not the men of myne owne hous holde say, Who shall let vs to haue our belly full of his fleshe?
The straunger dyd not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him that went by the way.
Haue I kept secrete my sinne, and hyd myne iniquitie, as Adam dyd?
Though I coulde haue made afeard a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families dyd feare me: so I kept scilence, and went not out of the doore.
O that I had one which woulde heare me: beholde my signe in the whiche the almightie shal aunswere for me, though he that is my contrarie partie hath written a booke against me.
Yet will I take it vpon my shoulder, & as a garlande binde it about my head.
I will tell hym the number of my goinges, & go vnto him as to a prince.
But if case be that my lande crye against me, or that the forowes thereof make any complaynt:
If I haue eaten the fruites therof vnpayed for, yea if I haue greeued the soules of the maisters therof:
Then let thystles growe in steede of my wheate, and cockle for my barlye.
SO these three men ceassed to aunswere Iob, because he held him selfe a righteous man.
But Elihu the sonne of Barachel the Buzite, of the kinred of Ram, was very sore displeased at Iob, because he called hym selfe iust before God.
And with Iobs three friendes he was angry also, because they had founde no reasonable aunswere, and yet condempned Iob.
Nowe taried Elihu, till they had ended their co{m}munication with Iob: for why? they were elder them he.
So when Elihu sawe that these three men were not able to make Iob aunswere, he was miscontent.
Therfore Elihu the sonne of Barachel the Buzite aunswered, and sayde: [Considering that] I am young, and ye be men of age, I was afrayde, and durst not shewe foorth my mynde.
For I thought thus within my selfe: It becommeth old men to speake, and the aged to teache wysdome.
Euery man no doubt hath a mynde, but it is the inspiration of the almightie that geueth vnderstanding.
Great men are not alway wyse, neither doth euery aged man vnderstande the thing that is lawfull:
Therefore I say, heare me, and I wil shewe you also myne vnderstanding.
For when I had wayted till ye made an end of your talking, and hearde your wysdome, what arguments ye made in your communication,
Yea when I had diligently pondred what ye sayde, I found not one of you that made any good argument against Iob, that directly could make aunswere vnto his wordes,
Lest ye should say: We haue found out wisdome, God shall cast hym downe, and no man.
He hath not spoken vnto me, and I wil not aunswere hym as ye haue done.
For they were so abashed, that they coulde not make aunswere, nor speake one worde.
When I had wayted (for they spake not, but stoode still and aunswered no more:)
Then aunswered I in my turne, and I shewed myne opinion.
For I am full of matter, and the spirite within me compelleth me.
Beholde, my belly is as the wine, whiche hath no vent, lyke the newe bottels that bruste.
[Therfore] will I speake, that I may haue a vent: I will open my lippes, and make aunswere.
I will regarde no maner of person, no man will I spare.
For if I woulde go about to please men, I knowe not howe soone my maker would take me away.
WHerefore heare my wordes O Iob, and hearken vnto all that I will say:
Behold, I haue now opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my throte.
My heart doth order my wordes aright, and my lippes talke of pure wysedome.
The spirite of God hath made me, and the breath of the almightie hath geuen me my lyfe.
If thou canst then geue me aunswere, prepare thy selfe and stande before me face to face.
Beholde, before God I am euen as thou: for I am fashioned & made euen of the same molde.
Beholde, my terrour shall not feare thee, neither shall my hande be heauy vpon thee.
Now hast thou spoken in myne eares, & I haue heard the voyce of thy wordes:
I am cleane without any fault, I am innocent, & there is no wickednesse in me.
But lo, he hath piked a quarell against me, and taketh me for his enemie.
He hath put my foote in the stockes, and looketh narowlye vnto all my pathes.
Behold, in this hast thou not done right, I wil make aunswere vnto thee, that God is greater then man.
And why doest thou then striue against him? for he shall not geue the accomptes of all his wordes.
For God speaketh once or twise, and yet man vnderstandeth it not.
In dreames and visions of the night, when slumbring commeth vpon men that they fall asleepe in their beddes,
He roundeth them in the eares, and sealeth their correction:
That he may withdrawe man from euyll enterprises, and deliuer hym from pride,
And kepe his soule from the graue, and his life from the sworde.
He chasteneth hym with sickenesse vpon his bedde, he layeth sore punishement vpon his bones:
So that his lyfe may away with no bread, and his soule abhorreth to eate any dayntie meate:
In so much that his body is cleane consumed away, and his bones appeare which before were not seene.
His soule draweth vnto the graue, and his lyfe to death.
Now yf there be a messenger, one among a thousande, sent for to speake vnto man, and to shew him the right way:
Then the Lord is mercifull vnto him, and sayth, He shalbe deliuered, that he fall not downe to the graue: for I am sufficiently reconciled.
Then shal his fleshe be as freshe as a childes, and shal returne as in the dayes of his youth.
He shall pray vnto God, and he will be fauorable vnto him, and he shall see his face with ioy, for he will render vnto man his righteousnesse.
A respect hath he vnto men, let man then say, I haue offended, I did vnrighteously, & it hath done me no good:
Yea he hath deliuered my soule from destruction, and my lyfe shall see the light.
Lo all these worketh God alway with man:
That he bring backe his soule from the graue to the light, yea the light of the lyuing.
Marke wel O Iob, and heare me: hold thee still, and I will speake.
But if thou hast any thing to say, then aunswere me, and speake: for I desire to iustifie thee.
If thou hast nothing, then heare me, and hold thy tongue, and I shall teache thee wysdome.
ELihu proceeding in his aunswere, sayde:
Heare my wordes O ye wise men, hearken vnto me ye that haue vnderstanding:
For the eare discerneth wordes, and the mouth tasteth the meates.
As for iudgement, let vs seke it out among our selues, that we may knowe what is good.
[And why?] Iob hath sayd, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my iudgement.
In my right I shoulde be a lyer: my wounde is incurable without my fault.
Where is there such a one as Iob, that drinketh vp scornefulnesse like water?
Which goeth in the companie of wicked doers, and walketh with vngodly men?
For he hath sayde, It profiteth a man nothing that he shoulde walke with God.
Therfore hearken vnto me ye that haue vnderstanding: farre be it from God that he shoulde meddle with wickednesse, & farre be it from the almightie that he shoulde meddle with vnrighteous dealing.
For he shall rewarde man after his workes, and cause euery man to finde according to his wayes.
Sure it is that God wil not do wickedly, neither wyll the almightie paruert iudgement.
Who ruleth the earth but he? or who hath placed the whole world?
If he set his heart vpon [man] and gather vnto hym selfe his spirite and his breath,
All fleshe shall come to naught at once, and all men shall turne againe vnto dust.
If thou nowe haue vnderstanding, heare what I say, and hearken to the voyce of my wordes:
May he be a ruler that loueth not right? or may he that is a very innocent man do vngodly?
Is it reason that thou shouldest say to the king, Thou art wicked, or thou art vngodly, and that before the princes?
God hath no respect vnto the persons of the lordly, and regardeth not the riche more then the poore: for they be al the worke of his handes.
In the twinckling of an eye shall they dye, and at midnight when the people and the tirantes rage, then shall they perishe, & be taken away without handes.
For his eyes loke vpon the wayes of man, and he seeth all his goinges.
There is no darkenesse nor shadowe of death that can hide the wicked doers from him.
For God wil not lay vpon man more then he hath sinned, that he should enter into iudgement with him.
He shall destroy the mightie without seeking, and shall set other in their steede.
Therefore shall he declare their workes: he shall turne the night, and they shalbe destroyed.
The vngodly doth he punishe openly,
Because they tourned backe from him, and would not consider all his wayes:
Insomuch that they haue caused the voyce of the poore to come vnto him, and now he heareth the complaint of such as are in trouble.
When he geueth quietnesse, who can make trouble? and when he hydeth his face, who can beholde him? whether it be vpon nations, or vpo{n} one man onely▪
Because the hypocrite doth raigne, because the people are snared.
Surely of God onely it can be saide, I haue pardoned, I wyll not destroy.
If I haue gone amisse, enfourme thou me: If I haue done wrong, I wyll leaue of.
Wyll he perfourme the thing through thee? for thou hast reproued his iudgement, thou also hast thyne owne minde, and not I: But speake on what thou knowest.
Let men of vnderstanding tell me, and let a wyse man hearken vnto me.
Iob hath not spoken of knowledge, neither were his wordes according to wysdome.
O father, let Iob be well tryed, because he hath aunswered for wicked men:
Yea aboue his sinne he doth wickedly, triumpheth among vs, and multiplieth his wordes against God.
ELihu spake moreouer and saide:
Thinkest thou it right that thou sayest, I am more righteous then God?
For thou sayest: what aduauntage wyll it be vnto thee, and what profite shall I haue of my sinne?
Therefore wyll I geue aunswere vnto thee, and to thy companions with thee.
Loke vnto the heauen and beholde it, consider the cloudes which are hyer then thou.
If thou hast sinned, what hast thou done against him? If thyne offences be many, what hast thou done vnto him?
If thou be righteous, what geuest thou him? or what wyll he receaue of thyne hande?
Thy wickednesse [may hurt] a man as thou art, and thy righteousnesse [may profite] the sonne of man.
They which are oppressed crye out vpon the multitude, yea they crye out for the power of the mightie:
But none sayth, Where is God that made me? and that geueth vs occasion to praise him in the night?
Which teacheth vs more the{n} the beastes of the earth, and geueth vs more wysdome then the foules of heauen.
If any such complaine, no man geueth aunswere, and that because of the wickednesse of proude tirauntes.
For God wyll not heare vanitie, neither wyll the almightie regarde it.
Although thou sayest [to God] thou wylt not regarde it: yet iudgement is before him, trust thou in him.
But now because his anger hath not visited, neither called men to accompt with great extremitie:
Therefore doth Iob open his mouth but in vaine, & he maketh many wordes without knowledge.
ELihu also proceeded, and saide:
Holde thee still a litle, & I shall shew thee what I haue yet to speake on gods behalfe.
I wyll open vnto thee yet farre higher knowledge, and wil ascribe righteousnesse vnto my maker.
And truely my wordes shall not be vaine, seeing he is with thee that is perfect in knowledge.
Beholde, the great God casteth away no man, for he him selfe is mightie in power and wysdome.
As for the vngodly he shall not preserue him, but shall helpe the poore to their right.
He shal not turne his eyes away from the righteous, but as kinges shal they be in their throne, he shal stablish them for euer, and they shalbe exalted.
But if they be layde in chaynes, or bounde with the bondes of trouble,
Then wyll he shew them their worke, & their sinnes which haue ouercome them.
He with punishing and nurturing of them, roundeth them in the eares, warneth them to leaue of from their wickednesse, and to amende.
If they now wyll take heede & serue him, they shal weare out their dayes in prosperitie, and their yeres in pleasure.
But if they wil not hearken, they shal go through the sworde, and perishe or euer they be aware.
As for hypocrites in heart, they shall heape vp wrath [for them selues] for they call not vpon him, though they be his prisoners.
Thus shal their soule perishe in foolishnes, and their lyfe among the fornicatours.
The poore shall he deliuer out of his affliction, and rounde them in the eare when they be in trouble.
Euen so would he take thee out of the straite place, into a brode place in the which there is no straitnes: yea, & make thy table quiet replenished with fatnesse.
Neuerthelesse, thou hast commended the iudgement of the vngodly, and euen such a iudgement & sentence shalt thou suffer.
And seeing there is wrath with God, beware lest he take thee away in thy wealth, & all that thou hast to redeeme thee can not deliuer thee.
Thinkest thou that he wyll regarde thy riches? he shall not care for golde, nor for all them that excell in strength.
Spend not the night in carefull thoughtes, how he destroyeth some, and bringeth other in their place.
But beware that thou turne not aside to wickednesse and sinne, which hitherto thou hast chosen more then affliction.
Beholde, God is of a mightie hie power: Where is there such a guide and lawe geuer as he?
Who wyll reproue him of his way? Who wil say vnto him, Thou hast done wrong?
Remember that thou do magnifie his worke which men do praise,
All men see it, yea men do beholde it a farre of.
Beholde, so great is God that he passeth our knowledge, neither can the number of his yeres be searched out.
Sometime he restrayneth the rayne, and againe he sendeth rayne by his cloudes:
Which rayne the cloudes do droppe, and let fall aboundantly vpon men.
Who can consider the spreadinges out of his cloudes, the coueringes of his tabernacle?
Behold, he doth stretch his light vpon it, and couereth the bottome of the sea.
For by these gouerneth he his people, and geueth them aboundance of meate.
With the cloudes he hydeth the light, and at his commaundement it breaketh out:
Which dashing vpon the next cloudes, shew tokens of wrath.
AT this also my heart is astomed, and moued out of his place.
Heare then the sounde of his voyce, & the noyse that goeth out of his mouth.
He directeth it vnder the whole heauen, and his light vnto the endes of the worlde.
A roring voyce foloweth it: for his glorious maiestie geueth a thu{n}der clappe, & he will not stay whe{n} his voyce is heard.
God thundreth marueylously with his voyce, great thinges doth he which we can not comprehend.
He commaundeth the snow, and it falleth vpon earth: he geueth the rayne a charge, and the showres haue their strength and fall downe.
With the force of the rayne he shutteth men vp, that all men may knowe his workes.
The beastes creepe into their dennes, and remaine in their places.
Out of the south commeth the tempest, and colde out from the north winde.
At the breath of God the hoare frost is geuen, and the brode waters are frosen.
He maketh the cloudes to labour in geuing moystnesse, and againe with his light he dryueth away the cloude.
He turneth the heauens about by his gouernement, that they may do whatsoeuer he commaundeth them vpon the whole worlde.
Whether it be for punishment, or for his lande, or to do good to them that seeke him.
Hearken vnto this O Iob, stand still, and consider the wonderous workes of God.
Didst thou know when God disposed them? & caused the light of his cloudes to shine?
Hast thou knowen the varietie of the cloudes, and the wonderous workes of him which is perfect in knowledge?
And how thy clothes are warme, when the lande is stil through the south winde?
Hast thou helped him to spreade out the heauens which are strong and bright as a loking glasse?
Teache vs what we shall saye vnto him: for we are vnmeete to frame our talke because of darkenesse.
Shall it be tolde him what I saye? Shall man speake when he shalbe destroyed?
For men see not the light that shineth in the cloudes: but the winde passeth and cleanseth them.
The faire weather commeth out of the north, the prayse thereof is to God who is terrible.
It is the almightie, we can not finde him out: he is excellent in power and iudgement, and aboundaunt in iustice: he afflieteth not.
Let men therefore feare him for there shall no man see him that is wyse in his owne conceit.
THen aunswered the Lorde vnto Iob out of the whirle winde, and saide:
What is he that darkeneth his counsaile by wordes without knowledge?
G•rde vp thy loynes lyke a man: for I wyl question with thee, see thou geue me a direct aunswere.
Where wast thou when I layed the foundations of the earth? Tell playnely, if thou hast vnderstanding.
Who hath measured it, knowest thou? or who hath spread the lyne vpon 〈◊〉
Whereupon are the foundations 〈◊〉 or who layed the corner sto•e 〈…〉
Where wast thou when the morning starres praysed me together, and all the children of God reioyced triumphantly?
Who shut the sea with doores, when it brake foorth as out of the wombe?
When I made the cloudes [to be] a couering for it, and swadled it with the darke:
When I gaue it my commaundement, making doores and barres for it,
Saying, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shalt thou laye downe thy proude and hie waues.
Hast thou geue{n} the morning his charge since thy dayes, and shewed the day spring his place,
That it might take holde of the corners of the earth, and that the vngodly might be shaken out of it.
They are fashioned as is the clay with the seale, and all stand vp as a garment.
The vngodly shall be disapointed of their light, and the arme of the proude shalbe broken.
Camest thou euer into the grounde of the sea, or walkedst in the lowe corners of the deepe?
Haue the gates of death ben opened vnto thee? or hast thou seene the doores of the shadowe of death?
Hast thou also perceaued how brode the earth is? If thou hast knowledge of all this:
Then shewe me the way where light dwelleth, & where is the place of darkenesse?
That thou shouldest receaue it in the boundes thereof, and know the pathes to their houses.
Knewest thou afore thou wast borne how olde thou shouldest be?
Wentest thou euer into the treasures of the snow, or hast thou seene the secrete places of the hayle,
Which I haue prepared against the time of trouble, against the time of battaile and warre?
By what way is the light parted? and into what land breaketh the east winde?
Who deuideth the waters into diuers chanels? or who maketh a way for the lightening and thunder,
To cause it to rayne on the earth where no man is, and in the wildernesse where none inhabiteth?
To satisfie the desolate and waste grounde, and to cause the budde of the hearbe to spring foorth.
Who is the father of the rayne? or who hath begotten the droppes of the deawe?
Out of whose wombe came the yee? Who hath gendred the coldnesse of the ayre?
That the waters are hidde as [with] a stone, and lye congealed aboue the deepe.
Wylt thou hinder the sweete influences of the seuen starres? or loose the bandes of Orion?
Canst thou bring foorth Mazzaroth in their time? canst thou also guide Ar•turus with his sonnes?
Knowest thou the course of heauen, that thou mayest set vp the ordinaunce thereof vpon the earth?
Moreouer, canst thou lift vp thy voyce to the cloudes, that they may powre downe a great rayne vpon thee?
Canst thou send the lightninges also, that they may go their way, and be obedient vnto thee, saying, Lo here are we?
Who hath put wysdome in the reynes? or who hath geuen the heart vnderstanding?
Who numbreth the cloudes in wysdome? who stilleth the vehement waters of the heauen?
To cause the earth to grow into hardnesse, & the clots to clots to cleaue fast together?
Wylt thou hunt the pray for the lion? or fill the appetite of the lions whelpes,
When they couche in their places, and tarie in the couert to lye in wayte?
Who prouideth meate for the rauen, when his young ones crye vnto God, and flee about for lacke of meate?
KNowest thou the time whe{n} the wylde goates bring foorth their young among the stonye rockes? or layest thou wayte when the hindes vse to calue?
Canst thou number the monethes that they go with young? or knowest thou the time when they bring foorth?
They lye downe, they calue their young ones, and they are deliuered of their trauaile and paine:
Yet their young ones grow vp, and waxe fatte through good feeding with corne: They go foorth, and returne not againe vnto them.
Who letteth the wylde asse to go free? or who looseth the bondes of the wylde mule?
Euen I which haue geuen the wyldernesse to be their house, and the vntilled land to be their dwelling.
They force not for the multitude of people in the citie, neither regarde the crying of the driuer:
But seeke their pasture about the mountaines, and folowe the greene grasse.
Wyll the vnicorne do thee seruice, or abide still by thy cribbe?
Canst thou binde the yoke about the vnicorne in the forowe, to make him plowe after thee in the valleyes?
Mayst thou trust him because he is strong, or commit thy labour vnto him?
Mayst thou beleue him that he wyll bring home thy corne, or carry any thing vnto thy barne?
Gauest thou the faire winges vnto the pecockes, or winges and fethers vnto the Estriche?
For she leaueth her egges in the earth, and heateth them in the dust.
She remembreth not that they might be troden with feete, or broken with some w•lde beaste.
So harde is she vnto her young ones as though they were not hers, and laboureth in vaine without any feare.
And that because God hath taken wysdome from her, & hath not geuen her vnderstanding.
When her time is that she fleeth vp on hie, she careth neither for the horse nor the ryder.
Hast thou geue{n} the horse his strength, or learned him to ney coragiously?
Canst thou make him afrayde as a grashopper? where as the stoute neying that he maketh is fearefull.
He breaketh the grounde with the hooffes of his feete, he reioyceth cherefully in his strength, and runneth to meete the harnest men.
He layeth aside all feare, his stomacke is not abated, neither starteth he backe for any sworde.
Though the quiuers rattle vpon him, though the speare and shielde glister:
Yet rusheth he in fiercely beating the grounde, he thinketh it not the noyse of the trumpettes:
But when the trumpettes make most noyse, he saith, •ushe, for he smelleth the battaile a farre of, the noyse of the captaines and the shouting.
Commeth it through thy wysdome that the Goshauke slieth toward the south?
Doth the Egle mount vp, and make his nest on hye at thy co{m}maundement?
He abydeth in stony rockes, and dwelleth vpon the hye toppes of mou{n}taines:
From whence he seeketh his praye, and loketh farre about with his eyes.
His young ones also sucke vp blood: and where any dead body lyeth, there is he.
MOreouer the Lorde spake vnto Iob, and saide:
Shall he whom the almightie wyl chasten, contend with him? Should not he which disputeth with God, geue him an aunswere?
Then Iob aunswered the Lorde, saying:
Beholde, I am vyle, what shall I aunswere thee, [therefore] I wyll laye my hande vpon my mouth.
Once haue I spoken, but I wyll saye no more: yea twyse, but I wyl proceede no further.
Then aunswered the Lorde vnto Iob out of the whirle winde, and saide:
Girde vp thy loynes now lyke a man: I wyll demaunde of thee, and make thou aunswere.
Wylt thou disanul my iudgement? or wylt thou condempne me, that thou mayst be righteous?
Is thy power then lyke the power of God? maketh thy voyce a sounde as his doth?
Decke thy selfe now with excellencie and maiestie, and araye thy selfe with beautie and glory:
Cast abrode the indignation of thy wrath, and beholde euery one that is proude, and abase him:
Loke on euery one that is arrogant, and bring him lowe, & destroy the wicked in their place:
Hide them in the dust together, and couer their faces in secrete:
Then wyll I confesse vnto thee also, that thyne owne right hande shall saue thee.
Beholde the beaste Behemoth, who{m} I made with thee, which eateth haye as an ore:
Lo how his strength is in his loynes, and what power he hath in the nauil of his body.
When he wyll, he spreadeth out his tayle lyke a Cedar tree, all his sinowes are stiffe.
His bones are lyke pipes of brasse, yea his bones are lyke staues of iron.
He is the chiefe of the wayes of God, he that made him wyl make his sword to approche vnto him.
Surely the mountaines bring him foorth grasse, where all the beastes of the fielde take their pastime.
He resteth him in the shade, in the couerte of the reede and fennes.
The trees couer him with their shadowe, and the wyllowes of the brooke compasse him about.
Beholde, he drinketh vp whole ryuers and feareth not, he thinketh that he can drawe vp Iordane into his mouth.
He taketh it with his eyes, and yet the hunter putteth a bridle into his nose.
Canst thou drawe out Leuiathan with an hooke, or binde his tongue with a corde?
Canst thou put a hooke in the nose of him, or bore his iawe through with a naule?
Wyl he make many faire wordes with thee [thinkest thou] or flatter thee?
Wyll he make a couenaunt with thee? or wilt thou take him for a seruaunt for euer?
Wylt thou take thy pastime with him as with a birde, wilt thou binde him for thy maydens?
That thy companions may make a refection of him: or shall he be parted among the marchauntes?
Canst thou fil the basket with his skin? or the fishe panier with his head?
Laye thyne hande vpon him, remember the battaile, and do no more so.
Beholde his hope is in vaine: for shall not one perishe euen at the sight of him?
NO man is fo fierce that dare stirre him vp: Who is able to stande before me?
Or who hath geuen me any thyng aforehande, that I may rewarde him againe? All thinges vnder heauen are myne.
I wyll not keepe secrete his great strength, his power, nor his comely proportion.
Who can discouer the face of his garment? or who shall come to him with a double brydle?
Who shall open the doores of his face? for he hath horrible teeth round about.
His scales are as it were strong shieldes, so fastened together as if they were sealed:
One is so ioyned to another, that no ayre can come in:
Yea, one hangeth so vpon another, & sticketh so together, that they can not be sundred.
His neesinges make a glistering like fyre, and his eyes lyke the morning shine.
Out of his mouth go torches, and sparkes of fire leape out.
And out of his nostrels there goeth a smoke, lyke as out of an hotte seething pot, or caldron.
His breath maketh the coles burne, and the flambe goeth out of his mouth.
In his necke ther remaineth strength, and nothing is to labourous for him.
The members of his body are ioyned [so strait one to another,] and cleaue so fast together, that he cannot be moued.
His heart is as hard as a stone, and as fast as the stythie that the smyth smiteth vpon.
When he goeth the mightie are afraide, and feare troubleth them.
If any man drawe out a sword at him, it shall not hurt him: there may neither speare, iaueling, nor brestplate abide him.
He setteth asmuch by iron as by a strawe, and asmuch by brasse as by a rotten sticke.
He starteth not away from him that bendeth the bowe: & as for sling stones he careth asmuch for stouble as for the{m}.
He counteth the dartes no better then a strawe, he laugheth him to scorne that shaketh the speare.
Sharpe stones are vnder him lyke potsheardes, and he lyeth vpon sharpe thinges as vpon the soft myre.
He maketh the deepe to boyle lyke a pot, and stirreth the sea together lyke an oyntment.
He maketh the path to be seene after him, and he maketh the deepe to seeme all hoarie.
Vpon earth there is no power lyke vnto his: for he is so made that he feareth not.
He beholdeth all the hye thinges, he is a king ouer all the children of pride.
THen Iob aunswered the Lord, and saide:
I know that thou hast power ouer all thinges, and that there is no thought hid vnto thee.
For who can keepe his owne counsaile so secrete but it shalbe knowen? Therefore haue I spoken that I vnderstoode not, euen the thinges that are to wonderfull for me, and passe myne vnderstanding.
O hearken thou vnto me also, and let me speake: aunswere vnto the thing that I wyll aske thee.
I haue heard of thee by the hearing of the eare, but nowe myne eye seeth thee.
Wherefore I geue myne owne selfe the blame, and take repentaunce in the dust and asshes.
Now when the Lorde had spoken these wordes vnto Iob, it came to passe that the Lorde saide to Eliphas the Themanite: I am displeased with thee, and thy two friendes: for ye haue not spoken of me the thyng that is right, lyke as my seruaunt Iob hath done.
Therefore take you now seuen oxen, and seuen rammes, and go to my seruaunt Iob, and offer vp for your selues a burnt offring, and my seruaunt Iob shall pray for you: him wyll I accept, and not deale with you after your foolishnesse, in that ye haue not spoken of me the thing which is right, lyke as my seruaunt Iob hath done.
So Eliphas the Themanite, and Bildad the Suhite, and Sophar the Naamathite, went and did according as the Lorde commaunded them: the Lorde also accepted the person of Iob,
And the Lorde tourned the captiuitie of Iob when he prayed for his friendes: Yea the Lorde gaue Iob twyse as much as he had afore.
And then came there vnto him all his brethren, all his sisters, and all they that had ben of his acquaintaunce afore, and did eate bread with him in his house, and had compassion on him, and comforted him ouer all trouble that the Lorde had brought vpon him: euery man also gaue him a certaine summe of money, and a iewell of golde.
So the Lorde blessed the last dayes of Iob more then the first: for he had fourteene thousand sheepe, sixe thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses:
He had seuen sonnes also, and three daughters.
The first daughter called he Iemima, the second Kezia, and the third Kerenhapuch.
In al the land were no women found so faire as the daughters of Iob: and their father gaue them inheritaunce among their brethren.
After this liued Iob an hundred and fourtie yeres: so that he sawe his children, and his childrens children into the fourth generation.
And so Iob dyed, being olde, and of a perfect age.
BLessed is the man that walketh not in the counsell of the vngodly: nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seate of the scornefull.
But his delight [is] in the lawe of God: and in [God] his lawe exerciseth him selfe day and night.
And he shalbe lyke a tree planted by the waters syde, that bryngeth foorth her fruite in due season: and whose leafe wythereth not, for whatsoeuer he doth it shall prosper.
[As for] the vngodly [it is] not so [with them:] but they [are] like the chaffe which the winde scattereth abrode.
Therefore the vngodly shall not [be able to] stande in the iudgement: neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For God knoweth the way of the righteous: and the way of the vngodly shall perishe.
WHy do the Heathen so furiously rage together? and why do the people imagine a vayne thing?
The kynges of the earth stande vp: and the rulers take counsell together against god, and against his annointed.
Let vs breake [say they] their bondes a sunder: and cast away their cordes from vs.
He that dwelleth in heauen wyll laugh them to scorne: the Lorde wyll haue them in derision.
Then wyll he speake vnto them in his wrath: and he wyll astonie them with feare in his sore displeasure.
[Saying] euen I haue annointed [him] my kyng: vpon my holy hyll of Sion.
I wyll declare the decree, God sayde vnto me: thou art my sonne, this day I haue begotten thee.
Desire of me, and I wyll geue thee the heathen for thyne inheritaunce: and the vttermost partes of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron: and breake them in peeces like a potters vessell.
Wherfore be you nowe wel aduised O ye kinges: be you learned ye [that are] iudges of the earth.
Serue ye God in feare: and reioyce ye with a trembling.
Kisse ye the sonne lest that he be angrye, and [so] ye perishe [from] the way, if his wrath be neuer so litle kindled: blessed are all they that put their trust in hym.
O God howe are myne enemies increased? many do ryse vp against me.
Many say of my soule: there is no saluation for it in God. Selah.
But thou O God art a buckler for me: thou art my worship, and the lifter vp of my head.
I dyd call vpon God with my voyce, and he hearde me out of his holy hyll. Selah.
I layde me downe and slept: and I rose vp agayne, for God sustayned me.
I wyll not be afrayde of ten thousandes of the people: that haue set [them selues] against me rounde about.
Arise vp O God, saue thou me O my Lorde: for thou hast smitten all myne enemies vpon the cheeke bone, thou hast broken the teeth of the vngodly.
Saluation is of God: thy blessing is vpon thy people. Selah.
HEare me when I call O God of my righteousnesse: thou hast set me at libertie when I was in distresse.
O ye sonnes of men, how long [wyll ye go about to bryng] my glory to confusion? ye loue vanitie, ye seeke after lyes. Selah.
For ye must know that God hath chosen to him selfe a godly [man]: God wyl heare when I call vnto hym.
Be ye angry, but sinne not: commune with your owne heart in your chaumber, and be styll. Selah.
Offer the sacrifice of righteousnesse: and put your trust in God.
There be many that say, who wyll shewe vs [any] good? O God lift thou vp the light of thy countenaunce vpon vs.
Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart: since the time that their corne and wine increased.
I wyll lay me downe in peace and take my rest: for thou God only makest me to dwell in safetie.
GEue eare vnto my wordes O God: vnderstande thou my pensifnesse.
Hearken thou vnto the voyce of my crying my kyng and my Lorde: for vnto thee I wyll make my prayer.
Thou shalt heare my voyce betymes O God: I wyll early in the morning direct [a prayer] vnto thee, and I wyll looke [for helpe from thee.]
For thou art the Lorde that hath no pleasure in wickednesse: neither can any euyll dwell with thee.
Suche as be foolishe, can not stande in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquitie.
Thou wilt destroy them that make a lye: God wyll abhorre both the blood-thirstie and deceiptfull man.
As for me I wyll come into thyne house, trusting in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy feare I will humble my selfe in thyne holy temple.
Leade me O God in thy righteousnesse, because of myne enemies: make thy way playne before my face.
For no trueth is in their mouth, their inwarde partes are very wickednesse: their throte is an open sepulchre, they flatter with their tongue.
Destroy thou them O Lord, let them perishe through their owne counsailes: cast them out in the multitude of their vngodlinesse, for they haue rebelled against thee.
And all they that trust in thee wyll reioyce, they wyll triumph for euer, because thou defendest them: and they that loue thy name, wyll be ioyfull in thee.
For thou O God wylt blesse the righteous: and thou wylt compasse hym about with beneuolence, as with a shielde.
O God rebuke me not in thine indignation: neither chasten me in thy wrath.
Haue mercy on me O God, for I am weake: O God heale me, for my bones be very sore.
My soule also is greatly troubled: but O God howe long [shall I be in this case?]
Turne thee O God, and deliuer my soule: Oh saue me for thy mercies sake.
For in death no man remembreth thee: and in the graue who can acknowledge thee?
I am weerie of my groning: I washe my bed euery nyght, and I water my coutche with my teares.
Mine eye is almost put out through griefe: and worne out through all mine enemies.
Away from me all workers of iniquitie: for God hath hearde the voyce of my weeping.
God hath hearde my petition: God wyll receaue my prayer.
All myne enemies shalbe confounded and sore vexed: they shalbe turned backe, they shalbe put to shame sodainlye.
O God my Lord, in thee I haue put my trust: saue me from all them that do persecute me, and deliuer thou me.
Lest he like a Lion seasoneth on my soule: teareth it in peeces, hauyng no rescue.
O God my Lord, if I haue done any such thing: or if there be any wickednesse in my handes.
If I haue done euyll vnto hym that had peace with me: and [if] I haue [not] deliuered hym that is without a cause myne aduersarie?
[Then] let myne enemie persecute my soule and take me: yea, let hym put me to death, and lay myne honour in the dust. Selah.
Arise O God in thy wrath, and stand thou vp agaynst the rage of myne enemies: stirre thou for me [according] to the iudgement [whiche] thou hast geuen.
And so shall the congregation of the people come about thee: for their sakes therfore place thy selfe on high.
God wyll iudge the people: geue thou sentence with me O God according to my righteousnesse, and according to my perfection [that is] within me.
My desire is, that {th}e wickednesse of the vngodly may come to an ende: and that thou wouldest assist the iust, who art the tryer of heartes and of reynes, O most righteous Lorde.
My buckler is with God: who preserueth them that be vpright in heart.
The Lorde is a righteous iudge: and the Lorde is prouoked to anger euery day.
If the wicked wyll not turne, he wyll whet his sworde: bende his bowe, and haue it in a redinesse [to shoote]
He hath prepared hym instrumentes of death: he hath ordayned his arrowes agaynst them that be persecutors.
Beholde, he wyll be in trauayle of a mischiefe, for he hath conceaued a labour: but yet he shall be brought to bed of a falsehood.
He hath made a graue and digged it: but he hym selfe wyll fall into the pit whiche he hath made.
For his labour shall come vpon his owne head: and his wickednesse shall fall vpon his owne pate.
I wyll prayse God accordyng to his ryghteousnesse: & I wyll sing psalmes vnto the name of the most high God.
O God our Lorde, howe excellent is thy name in all the earth? for that thou hast set thy glory aboue the heauens.
Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklinges thou hast layde the foundation of thy strength for thyne aduersaries sake: that thou mightest styll the enemie and the auenger.
For I will consider thy heauens, euen the workes of thy fingers: the moone and the starres whiche thou hast ordayned.
What is man that thou art myndfull of him? and the sonne of man that thou visitest hym?
Thou hast made hym somthyng inferiour to angels: thou hast crowned him with glory and worship.
Thou makest hym to haue dominion of the workes of thy handes: and thou hast put all thinges [in subiection] vnder his feete,
All sheepe and oxen, & also the beastes of the fielde: the foules of the ayre, and the fishe of the sea, and whatsoeuer swymmeth in the seas.
O God our Lorde: howe excellent great is thy name in all the earth?
I Wyl prayse God with all myne heart: I wyl recite all thy marueylous workes.
I wyll be glad & reioyce in thee: I wyll sing psalmes vnto thy name, O thou most hyest.
For that myne enemies are returned backwarde: are fallen and perished at thy presence.
For that thou hast geuen iudgement in my ryght and cause: thou that iudgest right, hast sit in the throne of iudgement.
Thou hast rebuked the Heathen, and destroyed the vngodly: thou hast abolished their name for euer and euer.
O thou enemie thou thoughtest to bryng vs to a perpetuall desolation: and to destroy our cities, so that there shoulde remayne no memory of them.
But God wyll sit for euer: he hath prepared his throne for iudgement.
For he wyll iudge the world in iustice: and minister iudgement vnto the people in righteousnesse.
God also wyll be a refuge for the oppressed: euen a refuge in tyme of trouble.
And they that knowe thy name wyll put their trust in thee: for thou O God hast neuer fayled them that seeke thee.
Sing psalmes vnto God abiding at Sion: declare his notable actes among the people.
For he maketh inquisition of blood: he remembreth it, and forgetteth not the complaynt of the poore.
Haue mercy on me O God: consider the trouble whiche I suffer of them that hate me, lift me vp from the gates of death.
That I may shewe all thy prayses within the gates of the daughter of Sion: and reioyce in thy saluation.
The Heathen are sunke downe into the pit that they made: their owne foote is snared in the same net whiche they had layde priuily [for other.]
God is knowen by the iudgement that he hath executed: the vngodly is trapped in {th}e worke of his owne handes, this ought to be considered alwayes. Selah.
The wicked shalbe turned vnto hell: and all people that forget God.
But the poore shall not alway be forgotten: [neither] shall the hope of the humble afflicted, perishe for euer.
Aryse vp O God, let not man preuaile: let the Heathen in thy sight be iudged.
Put them in feare O God: that the Heathen may knowe them selues to be but men. Selah.
WHy standest thou so farre of O God? [why] hidest [thee] in the tyme of trouble?
The vngodly of a wylfulnesse persecuteth the poore: [but euery one] of them shalbe taken in the craftie wylines that they haue imagined.
For the vngodly prayseth according to his owne heartes desire: and blessing the couetous, he blasphemeth God.
The vngodly looketh so proudly as though he cared for none at all: neither is the Lorde in all his thoughtes.
His wayes are alwayes greeuous, but thy iudgementes are farre aboue out of his sight: [and therfore] he snuffeth at all his enemies.
He hath sayde in his heart, tushe, I can not be remoued: for I can not [be touched] at any tyme with harme.
His mouth is full of cursing, and of deceate, and of fraude: vnder his tongue is labour and mischiefe.
He sitteth lurkyng in theeuishe corners of the streates: and priuily in lurking dennes he doth murther the innocent, he eyeth diligently hym that is weake.
He lieth in wayte lurking as a Lion in his denne: he lyeth in wayte lurkyng, that he may violently carry away the afflicted, he doth carry away violentlye the afflicted, in halyng hym into his net.
He croucheth and humbleth him selfe: so that a number of the{m} that be weake, fall by his myght.
He sayeth in his heart, tushe, the Lord hath forgotten: he hydeth away his face, and he wyll neuer see it.
Aryse vp O Lorde God: lift vp thine hande, forget not the afflicted.
Wherefore shoulde the wicked blaspheme the Lorde: [whyle] he sayeth in his heart, that thou wylt not call to accompt?
Surely thou hast seene [this] for thou beholdest labour and spite: that thou mayest take the matter into thy hands, he that is weake leaueth it for thee, [for] thou art the helper of the fatherlesse.
Breake thou the power of the vngodly and malitious: searche thou out his vngodlynes, and thou shalt finde none afterwarde in him.
God is king for euer and euer: but the Heathen shall perishe out of the lande.
O God, thou hast hearde the desire of the afflicted: [and] thou wylt settle their heart.
Thou wylt be attentiue with thyne eare, to geue iudgement for the fatherlesse and oppressed: [so] no man in the earth shall once go about hereafter to do them violence.
IN God I put my trust: howe say ye then to my soule, that she shoulde flee as a byrde from your hyll.
For lo, the vngodly haue bende their bowe: and nocked their arrowes with the string, redy to shoote priuily at them whiche are vpright in heart.
For if the foundations shalbe caste downe: what must the righteous do?
But God is in his holy temple, Gods throne is in heauen: his eyes looke downe, his eye liddes tryeth the chyldren of men.
God wyll trye the righteous: but his soule abhorreth the vngodly, and hym that delighteth in wickednes.
Vpon {th}e vngodly he wyl rayne snares, fire and brimstone: and tempestious stormes shalbe their portion to drinke.
For God most righteous, loueth righteousnes: his countenaunce wyll beholde the iust.
SAue thou [me] O God, for there is not one godly man left: for the faythfull are diminished from among the chyldren of men.
Euery one vseth vayne talke with his neyghbour: and speaketh with a double heart out of flatteryng lippes.
God wyll cut away all flatteryng lippes: [and] the tongue that speaketh great thinges.
Whiche say, we wyll preuayle with our tongue: our lippes are our owne, who is Lorde ouer vs?
For the calamities of the oppressed, for the deepe sighyng of the poore, I wyll nowe vp sayeth God: and I wyll put in safetie, [hym] whom the [wicked] hath snared.
The wordes of God be wordes pure, as the siluer tryed in a furnace of earth: and purified seuen times.
[Wherfore] thou wylt kepe the godly, O God: thou wylt preserue euery one of them from this generation for euer.
The vngodly walke on euery side: when the worst sort be exalted amongst the thyldren of men.
HOwe long wylt thou forget me O God, for euer? howe long wilt thou hyde thy face from me?
Howe long shall I seke counsayle in my soule, and be so vexed in mine heart euery day? howe long shall myne enemie triumph ouer me?
Loke downe and heare me O God my Lorde: lighten myne eyes, lest that I sleepe in death.
Lest myne enemie say, I haue preuayled agaynst hym: lest they that trouble me reioyce yf I shoulde be remoued.
But I repose my trust in thy mercie, and my heart is ioyfull in thy saluation: I wyll syng to God, because he hath rewarded me.
THe foole hath sayde in his heart there is no God: they haue corrupted [them selues] and done an abhominable worke, there is not one that doth good.
God loked downe from heauen vpon the children of men: to see yf there were any that did vnderstande [and] seke after the Lorde.
But they are all gone out of the way, they are altogether become abhominable: there is none that doth good, no not one.
Do not all the workers of iniquitie know, deuouryng my people as though they deuoured bread: that they call not vpon God?
Hereafter they shalbe taken with a great feare: for the Lorde is in the generation of the righteous.
As for nowe ye make a mocke at the counsayle of the poore: because he reposeth his trust in God.
Who shall geue saluation vnto Israel: out of Sion?
When God will deliuer his people out of captiuitie: [then] wyll Iacob reioyce, and Israel be glad.
O God, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? who shall rest vppon thy holy hyll?
Euen he that leadeth an vncorrupt life: and doth the thyng that is iust, and speaketh the trueth from his heart.
He that backbyteth not with his tongue: nor doth any euil to his felowe, nor rayseth a slaunder vpon his neyghbour.
He that despiseth in his eyes the reprobate: and honoureth them that feare God.
He that hath sworne to his owne hurt: and yet wyll not go from his oth.
He that geueth not his money vpon vsurie: nor taketh rewarde agaynst the innocent.
He that doth these thynges: shall neuer at any tyme be remoued.
PReserue me O Lorde: for I haue reposed my trust in thee.
Thou hast sayde [O my soule] vnto God, thou art my Lorde: my weldoing [can do] thee no good.
But all my delyght is [to do good] vnto the saintes that are in the earth: and vnto such as excell in vertue.
As for them that runne [after] another [God] they shall haue great trouble: I wyll not offer their drynke offerynges of blood, neither wyll I make mention of their names within my lyppes.
O God, thou thy selfe art the portion of myne inheritaunce and of my cup: thou wylt mayntayne my lot.
My lot is fallen vnto me in a pleasau{n}t [grounde:] I [haue] a goodly heritage.
I wyll prayse God who gaue me counsayle: my reines also do instruct me in the nyght season.
I haue set God alwayes before me: for he is on my ryght hande, [therfore] I shall not be remoued.
Wherfore my heart is glad: my glory reioyceth, my fleshe also shall rest in a securitie.
For thou wylt not leaue my soule in hell: neither wylt thou suffer thyne holy one to see corruption.
Thou wylt cause me to knowe the path of lyfe: in thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy, and at thy right hand there be pleasures for euermore.
HEare thou O God of iustice, be attentiue vnto my complaynt: geue eare vnto my prayer, not [proceeding] out of fayned lyppes.
Let iudgement come foorth for me from thy face: and let thine eyes loke vpon equitie.
Thou hast proued myne heart, thou hast visited [it] in the nyght season: thou hast tryed me, and founde no [wickednesse, for] I purposed that nothyng shoulde scape my mouth.
As touchyng [other] mens workes: through the wordes of thy lyppes I haue kept me from the way of the violent.
O holde thou vp my goynges in thy pathes: that my footesteppes slyp not.
I call vpon thee O God, for thou wilt heare me: incline thine eare to me, hearken vnto my wordes.
Shewe thy marueylous louyng kindnesse: thou that art the sauiour of them that trust in thee, from such as ryse vp agaynst thy ryght hande.
Kepe me as the apple of an eye, hyde me vnder the shadowe of thy wynges: from the face of the vngodly that go about to destroy me, [from] myne enemies that compasse me rounde about to take away my soule.
They haue inclosed [them selues] in their owne fat: with their mouth they speake proude thynges.
They haue nowe compassed me on euery syde [where] our way [lyeth]: they toote with their eyes to ouerthrow [me] downe on the grounde.
His [doynges] be lyke a lions that is greedy to take a pray: and as a lions whelpe lurkyng in secrete places.
Aryse O God, preuent his commyng, make hym to bowe: delyuer thou my soule from the vngodly [which is] thy sworde.
•Deliuer thou] me O God from men •which be] thy hande: from men, from the worlde, whose portion [is] in this lyfe, whose bellyes thou fyllest with thy prime [treasure].
Whose children haue aboundaunce: & they leaue enough of that they haue remaynyng to their babes.
But as for me, I will beholde thy face in ryghteousnesse: I shalbe satisfied when I awake vp after thy lykenesse.
I Wyll entirely loue thee O God my strength, God is my stony rocke & my fortresse, and my delyuerer: my Lorde, my castell in whom I wyll trust, my buckler, the horne of my saluation, & my refuge.
I wyll call vpon God, who is most worthy to be praysed: so I shall be safe from myne enemies.
The panges of death haue compassed me about: and the outragiousnes of the wicked haue astonyed me with feare.
The panges of a graue haue compassed me about: the snares of death ouertoke me.
But in this my distresse I dyd call vppon God, and I made my complaynt vnto my Lorde: he hearde my voyce out of his temple, and my crye came before his face, euen vnto his eares.
The earth trembled and quaked: the very foundations of the hylles tottered and shooke, because he was wroth.
In his anger a smoke ascended vp: and a fire out of his mouth dyd co{n}sume, and euery cole therof dyd set a fire.
He bowed the heauens also, and he came downe: and it was darke vnder his feete.
He ridde vpon the Cherub, and he dyd flee: he came fleeyng vpon the wynges of the wynde.
For his secrete place he dyd put darkenesse: and for his pauilion rounde about hym, he dyd put darknesse of waters in cloudes of the ayre.
His cloudes, haylestones, and coles of fire: fell downe before hym after lyghtnyng.
God also thundred out of heauen: and the most hyghest made his voyce to sounde, haylestones, and coles of fire.
He shot out his arrowes, and scattered them: he cast foorth much lyghtnynges, and destroyed them.
And the bottomes of waters appeared, and the foundations of the rounde worlde were discouered at thy chidyng, O God: at the blast of the breath of thine anger.
He hath sent downe from aboue to fetch me: he hath taken me out of many waters.
He hath deliuered me from my strong enemie: and from them which hate me, for they were to stout for me.
They preuented me in the day of my trouble: but God was vnto me a sure stay.
He brought me also foorth into a place of libertie: he brought me foorth, because he had a fauour vnto me.
God rewarded me after my righteous dealyng: accordyng to the cleannesse of myne handes he recompensed me.
Because I had kept the wayes of God: and had not wickedly shronke from my God.
For all his lawes were before me: and I reiected none of his commaundementes from me.
And I was sounde & pure towardes hym: and I was weery lest I shoulde offende hym with my wickednesse.
Therfore hath God rewarded me after my righteous dealyng: and accordyng to my cleannesse of my handes in his syght.
With the holy thou wylt be holy: with a perfect man thou wylt be perfect.
With the cleane thou wylt be cleane: and with the frowarde thou wylt be frowarde.
For thou hast saued the people oppressed: and thou hast brought downe the hygh lokes of the proude.
Thou also hast lyghtened my candell: God my Lorde hath made my darknesse to be lyght.
For in thee I haue discomfited an hoast of men: and with the helpe of my Lorde I haue skipped ouer the wall.
The way of the Lorde is a perfect way, the worde of God is tryed in the fire: he is a shielde vnto all them that put their trust in hym.
For who is a Lorde besides God: or who hath any strength besides our Lorde?
It is God that hath gyrded me with valiauntnesse of warre: and he hath made my way playne.
He hath made my feete lyke Hartes feete: and he hath set me vp on hygh.
He hath taught my handes to fyght: and myne armes to breake a bowe of steele.
Thou hast geuen me the shielde of thy saluation: thy ryght hande also hath helde me vp, and through thy great gentlenesse I haue increased.
Thou hast made me roomth inough for to go on: so that my feete haue not slypt.
I haue pursued myne enemies and ouertaken them: neither dyd I returne backe vntyll I had destroyed them.
I smote them downe, and they are not able to aryse: they haue taken such a fall vnder my feete.
Thou hast gyrded me with strength vnto battayle: thou hast made them to bowe downe vnder me who haue rysen vp agaynst me.
Thou hast geuen me myne enemies neckes: and I haue destroyed them that hated me.
They cryed, but there was none to saue them: they cryed vnto God, but he dyd not heare them.
I dyd beat them to powder, like vnto dust in a wynde: I haue brought them as lowe as durt in the streates.
Thou hast deliuered me from sedition of the people, and thou hast made me head of the heathen: a people whom I haue not knowen serueth me, assoone as they hearde of me, they obeyed me.
Children of a straunger haue made a lie vnto me: the heartes of the children of a straunger hath fayled them, and they feared in their [strong] holdes.
God lyueth, and he [is] my strength most worthy of blisse: and the Lorde of my saluation ought to be magnified.
It is God that hath geuen me power to take auengeaunce: and he hath subdued the people vnder me.
It is he that is the aucthour of my deliuerie from myne enemies: and he hath set me vp aboue them that rose agaynst me, he hath ridde me from the wicked man.
For this cause I wyll acknowledge thee O God among the gentiles: and syng psalmes vnto thy name.
Who hath wonderfull oft deliuered his kyng: and he hath done mercifully vnto Dauid his annoynted, and vnto his seede for euermore.
THe heauens declare the glorie of God: and the firmament sheweth his handy worke.
A day occasioneth talke therof vnto a day: and a night teacheth knoweledge vnto a nyght.
No language, no wordes, no voyce of theirs is hearde: yet their sounde goeth into all landes, and their wordes into the endes of the worlde.
In them he hath set a tabernacle for the sunne: which commeth foorth as a bridegrome out of his chamber, and reioyceth as a giaunt to runne his course.
His settyng foorth is from the vtmost part of heauen, and his circuite vnto the vtmost part therof: and there is nothing hyd from his heat.
The lawe of God is perfect, conuerting the soule: the testimonie of God is sure, and geueth wisdome vnto the simple.
The statutes of God are right, and reioyce the heart: the commaundement of God is pure, and geueth light vnto the eyes.
The feare of God is sincere, & endureth for euer: the iudgementes of God are trueth, they be iust in all poyntes.
They are more to be desired then golde, yea then much fine golde: they are also sweeter then hony and the hony combe.
Moreouer, by them thy seruaunt is well aduertised: and in kepyng of them there is a great rewarde.
Who can knowe his owne errours? Oh cleanse thou me from those that I am not priuie of.
Kepe thy seruaunt also from presumptuous [sinnes] let them not raigne ouer me: so I shall be perfect & voyde from all haynous offence.
Let the wordes of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O God: my strength and my redeemer.
GOD heare thee in the day of trouble: the name of the Lorde of Iacob defende thee.
Let him sende thee helpe from the sanctuarie: and ayde thee out of Sion.
Let him remember all thy offeringes: and turne into asshes thy burnt sacrifices. Selah.
Let him graunt thee thy heartes desire: and accomplishe all thy deuice.
We wyll reioyce in thy saluation, and triumph in the name of our Lorde: for God wyll perfourme all thy petitions.
Nowe I knowe that God wyll saue his annoynted, he wyll heare him from his heauenly sanctuarie: there is saluation in the mightinesse of his right hande.
Some [put their trust] in chariotes, and some in horses: but we wyll remember the name of God our Lorde.
They shalbe made to bowe and fall: but we shall arise, and stande vpright.
Saue thou O God: that the king may heare vs in the day when we call.
THE kyng ought to reioyce in thy strength O God: and he ought to be exceedyng glad of thy saluation.
Thou hast geuen him his heartes desire: and hast not denied him the request of his lippes. Selah.
For thou hast preuented him with good blessinges: and hast set a crowne of pure golde vpon his head.
He asked life of thee, and thou gauest him long dayes: euen for euer and euer.
His honour is great through thy saluation: thou hast layde glorie and great worship vpon him.
For thou hast placed him to be blessinges for euer: and hast made him glad with the ioy of thy countenaunce.
Because the king trusteth in God, and in the mercie of the most highest: he shal not miscarie.
Thine hande wyll finde out all thine enemies: thy right hande wyll finde out them that hate thee.
Thou wilt make them like a burnyng furnace in tyme of thy furie: God wyll destroy them in his wrath, and fire shall consume them.
Thou wilt roote their fruite out of the earth: and their seede from among the children of men.
For they intended mischiefe agaynst thee, and imagined a craftie deuice: [but] they coulde not [bring it to passe.]
Therfore thou wilt put them to flight: [and] direct thine arrowes agaynsttheir faces.
Be thou exalted O God accordyng to thine owne might: so we wyll sing, and with psalmes we wyll prayse thy power.
MY God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why] art thou so farre from my health, and from the wordes of my complaynt?
O my God I crye all the day tyme, and in the night season, and I ceasse not: but thou hearest not.
And yet thou most holy: sittest to receaue the prayers of Israel.
Our fathers hoped in thee: they trusted in thee, & thou didst deliuer them.
They called vpon thee, and they were helped: they did put their trust in thee, and they were not confounded.
But as for me I am a worme and no man: a very scorne of men, and an outcast of the people.
All they that see me, laugh me to scorne: they do make a mowe, and nod their head [at me.]
[Saying] he referreth [all] to God, [loking that God] wyll deliuer him [and] rescue him: for he delighteth only in him.
But thou art he that tokest me out of my mothers wombe: thou causedst me to trust in thee, suckyng my mothers breastes.
I haue ben left vnto thee euer since I was borne: thou art my God euen from my mothers wombe.
O go not far fro{m} me, for trouble is harde at hande: and there is none to helpe me.
Many oxen are come about me: fat [bulles] of Bashan close me in on euery syde.
They gape vpon me with their mouthes: as it were a rampyng and a roryng lion.
I am as [it were] into water resolued, and all my bones are out of ioynt: my heart also is like waxe melted in the middest of my bowels.
My strength is dried vp like a potsheard, & my tongue cleaueth to my gummes: and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
For dogges are come about me, the assemble of the wicked lay siege agaynst me: they haue pearced my handes and my feete, I may tell all my bones.
They stande staring & gasing vpon me: they part my garmentes among them, and they cast lottes vpon my vesture.
But be not thou farre from me O God: thou art my strength, make haste to helpe me.
Delyuer my soule from the sworde: and my dearlyng from the dogges pawes.
Saue me from the Lions mouth: delyuer me from the hornes of the Vnicornes.
I wyll declare thy name vnto my brethren: I wyll prayse thee in the middest of the congregation.
[Saying] prayse ye God ye that feare hym: glorifie hym all ye of the seede of Iacob, and stande in awe of hym all ye of the seede of Israel.
For he hath not dispised nor abhorred the affliction of the poore: he hath not hyd his face from hym, but he hearde hym when he cryed vnto hym.
My prayse shalbe of thee in the great congregation: I wyll perfourme my vowes in the syght of them that feare hym.
The poore shall eate, and be satisfied: they that seeke after God shall prayse hym, your heart shall lyue for euer.
All the endes of the worlde shall remember them selues and be turned vnto God: and all the kinredes of the nations shall worshyp before thy face.
For the kingdome is Gods: and he is the gouernour ouer the nations.
All such as be fat vpon the earth shall eate and worshyp: all they that go downe [in] to the dust shall knele before hym, although he preserued not his owne lyfe.
The posteritie shall serue hym: they shalbe counted vnto the Lorde for a generation.
They wyll come and declare his righteousnesse vnto a people that shalbe borne: for he hath done it.
GOd is my sheephearde, therfore I can lacke nothyng: he wyll cause me to repose my selfe in pasture full of grasse, and he wyll leade me vnto calme waters.
He wyll conuert my soule: he wyll bring me foorth into the pathes of righteousnesse for his name sake.
Yea though I walke through the valley of the shadowe of death, I wyll feare no euyll: for thou art with me, thy rodde and thy staffe be the thynges that do comfort me.
Thou wylt prepare a table before me in the presence of myne aduersaries: thou hast annoynted my head with oyle, and my cup shalbe brymme full.
Truely felicitie and mercie shal folowe me all the dayes of my lyfe: and I wyll dwell in the house of God for a long tyme.
THe earth is Gods and all that therin is: the worlde, & they that dwell therin.
For he hath laide the foundation of it vpon the seas: and he hath set it sure vpon the fluddes.
Who shal ascende into the hyll of God? or who shall ryse vp in his holy place?
[Euen he that hath] cleane handes, and a pure heart: & that hath not taken his soule in vayne, nor sworne disceiptfully.
He shall receaue a blessyng from God: and ryghteousnesse from the Lorde of his saluation.
This is the generation of them that seke hym: euen of them that seke thy face [in] Iacob. Selah.
Lyft vp your heades O ye gates, and be ye lyft vp ye euerlastyng doores: and the kyng of glorie shall enter in.
Who is this kyng of glorie? it is God both strong & mightie, it is God mightie in battayle.
Lyft vp your heades (O ye gates) and be you lyft vp ye euerlastyng doores: and the kyng of glorie shall enter in.
Who is this kyng of glorie? euen the God of hostes, he is the kyng of glorie. Selah.
I Lyft vp my soule vnto thee O God, I put my trust in thee my Lorde: let me not be confounded, neither let myne enemies triumph ouer me.
Yea, let not all them that hope in thee be put to shame: let them be put to shame who without a cause do trayterously transgresse.
Make me to knowe thy wayes O God, and teache me thy pathes: leade me foorth in thy trueth and teache me, for thou art the Lorde of my saluation, I haue wayted for thee al the day long.
Call to remembraunce O God thy tender mercies & thy louyng kindnesse: for they haue ben for euer.
Oh remember not thou the sinnes and offences of my youth: but accordyng to thy mercie euen of thy goodnesse O God remember me.
Gratious and ryghteous is God: therfore he wyll teache sinners in the way.
He wyll guide the meke in iudgement: and teache the humble his way.
All the pathes of God are mercie and trueth: vnto such as kepe his couenaunt and his testimonies.
Pardon thou therfore for thy name sake O God my wickednesse: for it is very great.
What man is he that feareth God? [God] wyll teache hym in the way that he shall choose.
His soule shall rest all nyght at ease: and his seede shall inherite the lande.
The secrete of God is among them that feare hym: and he wyll make knowen vnto them his couenaunt.
Myne eyes be alwayes [turned] vnto God: for he wyll take my feete out of the net.
Turne thy face vnto me, and haue mercie vpon me: for I am desolate and in miserie.
The sorowes of myne heart are encreased:O bryng thou me out of my distresse.
Loke thou vpon myne aduersitie and vpon my labour: and forgeue me all my sinne.
Consider myne enemies, for they do multiplie: and they beare a tirannous hate against me.
O kepe my soule and deliuer me, lest I shalbe confounded: for I haue put my trust in thee.
Let integritie and vprighteous dealing kepe me safe: for I haue wayted after thee.
O God redeeme Israel: out of all his aduersities.
IVdge thou me O God, for I haue walked in my perfection: my trustalso hath ben in God [therfore] I shall not fall.
Examine me O God and proue me: trye out my reynes and my heart.
For thy louing kindnes is before mine eyes: and I wyll walke in thy trueth.
I haue not sit [in company] with vayne persons: neither haue I entred [once acquaintaunce] with dissemblers.
I haue hated the congregation of the malitious: and I wyll not sit amongst the vngodly.
I haue wasshed my handes in innocencie: and [so] I haue gone about thine aulter O God.
That in a publique confession I myght heare: and set foorth all thy wonderous workes.
O God, I haue loued the habitation of thine house: and the place wherethine honour dwelleth.
O gather not my soule with sinners:nor my life with bloodie men.
In whose handes is wickednes: and their right hande is full of gyftes.
But as for me I wyll walke in my perfection: O redeeme me, and be mercyfull vnto me.
My foote standeth vpon a playne [grounde: therfore] I wyll blesse God in the congregations.
GOD is my lyght and saluation, whom then shall I feare? God is the strength of my life, of whom then shall I be afraide?
When the malitious approched neare vnto me for to eate vp my fleshe: mine enemies and foes stumbled and fell.
Though an hoast of men were layde in campe against me, yet shall not mine heart be afraide: and though there rose vp warre against me, [yet] I wyll put my trust in this.
I haue desired one thyng of God, whiche once agayne I wyll earnestly require: euen that I may dwell in the house of God all the dayes of my life, to beholde the beautifulnes of God, and to seeke [it] in his temple.
For in the time of aduersitie he shall hide me in his tabernacle: yea in the secrete [place] of his pauilion he shall hide me, and set me vp vpon a rocke of stone.
And nowe he shall lift vp my head aboue mine enemies rounde about me: therfore I wyll offer in his tabernacle a sacrifice of great ioy, I wyll sing and prayse God with psalmes.
Hearken vnto my voyce O god, [when] I crye [vnto thee]: haue mercy vpon me and heare me.
My heart hath sayde vnto thee [accorcording to this thy commaundement] seeke ye my face: thy face O God wyll I seeke.
O hide not thou thy face from me, nor cast thy seruaunt away in a displeasure: thou hast ben my succour, leaue me not, neither forsake me O Lorde of my saluation.
For my father and mother forsoke me: and God did take me vp.
Teache me thy way O God: and leade me in a right path, because of mine enemies.
Deliuer me not into mine aduersaries handes: for there are false witnesses rysen vp against me, and such as speake wrong.
If I had not beleued [veryly] to see the goodnes of God in the lande of the liuing: [their spite had kylled me.]
Attende thou [therfore] vpon God, be of a good courage, and he will comfort thine heart: [I say] attende thou vpon God.
VNto thee I crye O God my strength, make not as though thou were deafe at me: lest if thou holdest thy peace, I become like them that go downe into the graue.
Heare the voyce of my humble petitions when I crye vnto thee: when I holde vp my handes towarde thy holy place where thy arke is.
Take me not away with the vngodlye, and with the workers of iniquitie: whiche speake of peace to their neighbours, but mischiefe is in their heartes.
Rewarde them accordyng to their deedes: and according to the wickednes of their owne inuentions.
Recompence them after the worke of their handes: pay them home that they haue deserued.
For they geue not their minde to vnderstande the doynges of God and the worke of his handes: [therefore] he wyll breake them downe, and not buylde them vp.
Blessed be God: for he hath hearde the voyce of mine humble petitions.
God is my strength and my shielde, my heart hath trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart skippeth for ioy, and in my song I wyll prayse hym.
God is their strength: and the strength that saueth his annoynted.
O saue thy people, and geue thy blessing vnto thine inheritaunce: feede them and exalt them for euermore.
ATtribute vnto God O ye sonnes of princes: attribute vnto God glory and strength.
Geue to God glory [due] vnto his name: worship God with holy honour.
The voyce of God is aboue waters: it is the Lorde of glory that thundreth, it is God that ruleth the sea.
The voyce of God is with power: the voyce of God is with honour.
The voyce of God breaketh the Cedar trees: yea God breaketh the Cedars of Libanus.
And he maketh them to skip like a calfe: Libanus also and Sirion like a young vnicorne.
The voyce of God casteth out flambes of fire: the voyce of God maketh the wyldernesse to tremble, God maketh the wyldernesse of Cades to tremble.
The voyce of God maketh Hindes to cast their calfe, and maketh woods to be bare: therefore euery man setteth foorth his glory in his temple.
God sitteth in the flud: and God wil sit king for euer.
God wyll geue strength vnto his people: God wyll blesse his people in peace.
I Wyll exalt thee O God, for thou hast exalted me: and hast not made my foes to triumph ouer me.
O God my Lord I cryed vnto thee: and thou hast healed me.
Thou God hast raysed vp my soule from the graue: thou hast preserued my life from them that go downe into {th}e pit.
Sing psalmes vnto god ye his saintes: and make your confession vnto the remembraunce of his holynes.
For a litle short time [passeth] in his anger, a life is [spente] in his good wyll: at euening weeping shall begin the night, but ioy commeth in the morning.
And in my prosperitie I saide, I shall neuer haue a fal: thou God of thy goodnes hadst made my hyll so strong.
[Neuerthelesse, when] thou dydst turne thy face, I was troubled: [then] I cryed vnto thee O God, then made I my humble prayers to thee my Lorde.
[Saying] what profite is there in my blood when I go downe to the pit? shal the dust geue thankes vnto thee? or shall it declare thy trueth?
Heare me O God, and haue mercy vppon me: O God be thou my helper.
[And foorth with] thou hast turned my mourning into dauncing: thou hast put of my sackcloth, and gyrded me with gladnes.
Therfore my glory shal sing psalmes vnto thee and not ceasse: O God my Lorde I wyll prayse thee for euer.
IN thee O God I haue put my trust, let me neuer be confounded: deliuer me in thy righteousnes.
Bowe downe thine eare to me, make hast to deliuer me: be vnto me a strong rocke and a house of defence, that thou mayest saue me.
For thou art my strong rocke and fortresse: euen for thy name sake conduct me, and direct me.
Take me out of the net that they haue layde priuily for me: for thou art my strength.
Into thy hande I commende my spirite: [for] thou hast redeemed me O God the Lorde of trueth.
I haue hated them that obserue superstitious vanities: and my trust hath ben in God.
I wyll be glad and reioyce in thy louing kindnes: for that thou hast considered my trouble, and hast knowen my soule in aduersities.
Thou hast not shut me vp into the hande of the enemie: [but] hast set my feete in a large roome.
Haue mercy vpon me O God, for I am in distresse: mine eye, my soule, and my belly be consumed for very heauinesse.
For my life is wasted with sorow, and mine eares with mourning: my strength fayleth me because of mine iniquitie, and my bones are putrified.
I became a reprofe among al mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours: and they of mine acquaintaunce were afraide of me, and they that dyd see me without, conueyed them selues quickly fro me.
I became cleane forgotten as a dead man out of minde: I became like a broken vessell.
For I haue hearde the villanie of the multitude, and feare was on euery side [me]: whyle they conspired together against me, [and] toke their counsell to take away my life.
But my hope hath ben in thee O God: I haue sayd thou art my Lorde.
My tune is in thy hande, deliuer me from the hande of mine enemies: and from them that persecute me.
Cause thy countenaunce to shine vppon thy seruaunt: saue me for thy mercies sake.
Let me not be confounded O God, for I haue called vpon thee: let the vngodlye be put to confusion, and be put to scilence in the graue.
Let the lying lippes be put to scilence: which speake against {th}e righteous greeuous thinges with disdaine & contempt.
Howe plentifull is thy goodnes which thou hast layde vp for them that feare thee? [and whiche] thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in thee before the sonnes of men.
Thou hydest them priuily in thyne owne presence from the raginges of [all] men: thou kepest them secretly [as] in a tabernacle from the strife of tongues.
Blessed be God: for he hath shewed me marueylous great kindnes in a strong citie.
And when I fled with al haste, I said I am cast out of the sight of thine eyes: neuerthelesse, thou heardest the voyce of my prayer when I cryed vnto thee.
Loue God all ye his saintes: [for] God preserueth them that are faythfull, and rewardeth most aboundauntly the proude doer.
All ye that put your trust in God be ye of a good courage: and he wyll comfort your heart.
BLessed is he whose wickednes is forgeuen: and whose sinne is couered.
Blessed is {th}e man vnto whom God imputeth no vnrighteousnes: & in whose spirit there is no guile.
For whyle I helde my tongue: my bones consumed away through my dayly roaring.
For thy hande is heauie vpon me day and night: and my moysture is like the drouth in sommer. Selah.
[Therfore] I haue made knowen my faultes vnto thee, and my righteousnes haue I not hid: I sayd I will confesse my wickednes vnto God, and thou forgauest the vnrighteousnes of my sinne. Selah.
For this shall euery one that is godly make his prayer vnto thee in the time when thou mayest be founde: so that in the great water fluddes they shal not come nye hym.
Thou art my refuge, thou wylt preserue me from trouble: thou wylt compasse me about with songes of deliueraunce. Selah.
I will geue thee wise instructions, and teach thee in the way wherin thou shalt go: & I wil guyde thee with mine eye.
Be ye not lyke a horse [or] lyke a mule whiche haue no vnderstanding: whose mouthes must be holden with bit and brydle, lest they fall vpon thee.
Great plagues remaine for the vngodly: but who so putteth his trust in God, mercy imbraceth him on euery side.
Be glad in God, & reioyce O ye righteous: be ioyfull also all ye that be vpright of heart.
REioyce in God O ye righteous: for prayse becommeth well the iust.
Confesse [it] to god with the harpe: sing psalmes vnto hym with the viall, and with the instrument of ten stringes.
Sing vnto him a new song: do it cunningly, make a sweete noyse with your musicall instrumentes alowde.
For the word of God is right: and euery worke of his done in fayth.
He loueth righteousnes & iudgement: the earth is ful of the goodnes of God.
By the worde of God are the heauens made: and all the hoastes of them by the breath of his mouth.
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as it were vpon an heape: and layeth vp the deepe as treasures.
Let all the earth feare God: let all they that dwell in the worlde stande in awe of him.
For he spake and it was: he commau{n}ded, and it was brought to passe.
God bringeth the counsell of the Heathen to naught: and maketh the deuises of the people to be of none effect.
The counsayle of God shall endure for euer: and the thoughtes of his heart from generation to generation.
Blessed is the nation that hath God to be their Lorde: that people hath he chosen to be an inheritaunce for him.
God looketh downe from heauen, and beholdeth all the chyldren of men from the place where he resteth: he eyeth diligently euery dweller on the earth.
He fashioneth their heartes together: he vnderstandeth al their workes.
A king is not saued by the multitude of an hoast: a man of great myght escapeth not by much strength.
A horse for to saue is vanitie: and he can deliuer none by his great strength.
Beholde, the eye of God is vpon them that feare hym: and vpon them that wayteth after his mercy.
To deliuer their soules from death: and to preserue their liues in dearth.
Our soule wayteth after God: he is our ayde and shielde.
For our heart shall reioyce in him: because we haue put our trust in his holy name.
Let thy louing kindnes O God be vppon vs: like as we haue put our trust in thee.
I Wyll alway blesse God: his prayse shall euer be in my mouth.
My soule shal glory in God: the humble shall heare therof and be glad.
Magnifie God with me: and let vs exalt his name [all] together.
Carefully I sought God, & he hearde me: yea he deliuered me out of all my feare.
Let them turne their eyes on him, and make speede to come vnto hym: and their faces shall not be ashamed.
[Lo] this same poore man hath cryed: and God hath hearde hym, and saued hym out of all his troubles.
The angell of God campeth rounde about them that feare hym: and deliuereth them.
O taste and see how gracious God is: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Feare God ye that be his saintes: for they that feare him lacke nothing.
Young Lions do lacke and suffer hunger: but they whiche seeke God, shall want no maner of thing that is good.
Come ye chyldren and hearken vnto me: I will teache you the feare of God.
What man is he that listeth to liue: [and] woulde fayne see good dayes.
Kepe thy tongue from euill: and thy lippes that they speake no guyle.
Eschewe euill & do good: seeke peace and ensue it.
The eyes of God [are] ouer the righteous: and his eares [are open] vnto their prayers.
The countenaunce of God is against them that do euill: to roote out the remembraunce of them from of the earth.
The righteous crye, and God heareth them: and deliuereth them out of all their troubles.
God is nye vnto them that are of a contrite heart: and saueth such as be of an humble spirite.
Great are the troubles of the righteous: but God deliuereth him out of all.
He kepeth all his bones: so that no one of them is broken.
Malice shal put the vngodly to death: and they that hate the righteous, shalbe brought to naught.
God redeemeth the soules of his seruauntes: and al they that put their trust in him, shall not be brought to naught.
PLeade thou my cause O God, with them that striue with me: and fight thou agaynst them that fight against me.
Lay hand vppon a shielde & buckler: and stande vp to helpe me.
Bryng foorth the speare, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say vnto my soule, I am thy saluation.
Let them be confounded and put to shame that seeke after my soule: let them be turned backe and brought to co{n}fusion, that imagine mischiefe for me.
Let them be as dust before the winde: and let the angell of God scatter [them.]
Let their way be darke and slipperie: & let the angell of God persecute them.
For without a cause they haue priuily layde for me a pit [full] of their nettes: without a cause they haue made a digyng vnto my soule.
Let a sodayne destruction come vpon hym vnawares: and his net that he hath layde priuily catch hym selfe, let him fall into it with [his owne] destruction.
[And] my soule shalbe ioyfull in God: it shall reioyce in his saluation.
All my bones shall say, God who is lyke vnto thee? whiche deliuerest the poore from hym that is to strong for him: yea the poore and him that is in miserie, from him that spoyleth him.
False witnesse did rise vp: they layde thinges to my charge that I know not.
They rewarded me euill for good: to the great discomfort of my soule.
Neuerthelesse, when they were sicke I did put on sackcloth: I afflicted my soule with fasting, and my prayer returned into myne owne bosome.
I kept them company whersoeuer they went, as though they had ben my frende or brother: I went heauyly, as one that mourned for his mother.
But in mine aduersitie they reioysed and gathered them together: yea, the very abiectes came together against me, yer I wyst they rented me a peeces and ceassed not.
With hypocrites, scoffers, and parasites: they gnashed vpon me with their teeth.
Lorde howe long wylt thou looke [vpon this]: O deliuer my soule from their raginges, and my dearling from Lions whelpes.
So I wyll confesse it vnto thee in a great congregation: I will prayse thee among muche people.
O let not my deceiptfull enemies triumph ouer me: let them not winke with an eye, that hate me without a cause.
For they speake not peace: but they imagine deceiptfull wordes agaynst them that [liue] quietly in the lande.
They gaped vpon me with their mouthes: and said this is well, this is wel, our eye hath seene.
Thou hast seene [this] O God, holde not thy tongue [then:] go not farre from me O Lorde.
Stirre thou and awake O my God and my Lorde: to iudge my cause and controuersie.
Iudge me according to thy righteousnesse O God my Lorde: and let them not triumph ouer me.
Let them not say in their heart, it is as we woulde haue it: neither let them say, we haue deuoured hym.
Let them be put to confusion & shame [all] together that reioyce at my trouble: let them be clothed with rebuke and dishonour that exalt them selues against me.
Let them triumph with gladnesse and reioyce that be delighted with my righteousnesse: let them say alwayes, blessed be God whiche hath pleasure in the prosperitie of his seruaunt.
And my tongue shalbe talking of thy righteousnesse: and of thy prayse all the day long.
THe wickednes of the vngodly speaketh in the middest of my heart: that there is no feare of the Lorde before his eyes.
For he flattereth him selfe in his owne sight: so that his iniquitie is found worthy of hatred.
The wordes of his mouth are vnrighteous and full of deceipt: he hath left of to behaue him selfe wisely & to do good.
He imagineth mischiefe vpon his bed, & setteth him selfe in no good way: neither doth he abhorre any thing {tha}t is euil.
Thy mercy O God reacheth vnto heauen: [and] thy faythfulnes vnto the cloudes.
Thy righteousnes is like the mountaynes of God: thy iudgementes are a great deapth, thou sauest both man and beast O God.
How excellent is thy mercy O Lord: therefore the chyldren of men shall put their trust vnder the shadowe of thy winges.
They shalbe satisfied with the plenteousnesse of thy house: and thou shalt geue them drinke out of the riuer of thy delicates.
For with thee is the fountaine of lyfe: and in thy light shall we see light.
O continue foorth thy louing kindnesse vnto them that knowe thee: and thy righteousnes vnto them that are of an vpright heart.
O let not the foote of pryde reache vnto me: and let not the hande of the vngodly make me to moue [out of my place]
There be the workers of iniquitie fallen: they are cast downe, and shall not be able to rise vp.
FRet not thy selfe because of the vngodly: neither be thou enuious against the euyll doers.
For they shall soone be cut downe like the grasse: and be withered euen as the greene hearbe.
Put thou thy trust in God, and be doing good: dwell in the land, and feede in trueth.
Delight thou also in God: and he shall geue thee thy heartes desire.
Commit thy way vnto God: and put thy trust in hym, and he shall bryng it to passe.
He shall make thy righteousnesse appeare as cleare as the light: and thy iust dealing as the noone tyde.
Holde thee still in God, and wayte paciently vpon him: fret not thy selfe at him whose way doth prosper, at the man that doth abhominations.
Leaue of from wrath, and let go displeasure: fret not thy selfe, lest thou be moued to do euill.
For the malitious doers shalbe rooted out: and they that paciently wayte after God, they shall inherite the lande.
[Looke] at them yet a litle whyle, and the vngodly shalbe cleane gone: thou shalt looke after his place, and he shall not be [there]
But the meeke spirited shall possesse the earth: and shalbe delighted in the aboundaunce of peace.
The vngodly busieth his head [all] against the iust: and gnasheth vpon him with his teeth.
The Lorde shall laugh him to scorne: for he seeth that his day is comming.
The vngodly haue drawen out the sworde, and haue bended their bowe: to cast downe the poore and needie, and to s•ay such as be of right conuersation.
But their sworde shal go thorow their owne heart: & their bow shalbe broken.
A small thing that the righteous hath: is better then great riches of {th}e vngodly.
For the armes of the vngodly shalbe broken: and God vpholdeth the righteous.
God knoweth the dayes of them that be perfect: and their inheritaunce shall endure for euer.
They shall not be confounded in the perilous tyme: and in the dayes of dearth they shall haue inough.
As for the vngodly they shall perishe, and the enemies of God shall consume as the fat of lambes: yea, euen with the smoke they shall vanishe away.
The vngodly boroweth and payeth not agayne: but the righteous geueth mercifully and liberally.
Suche as be blessed of God shall possesse the lande: and they that be cursed of hym, shalbe rooted out.
The pathes of man is directed by God: and his way pleaseth.
Though he fall, he shall not be vndone: for God vpholdeth him with his hande.
I haue ben a young chylde, and nowe I am olde: and yet sawe I neuer the righteous forsaken, nor his seede begyng bread.
The righteous is euer mercifull and lendeth: and his seede is blessed.
Flee from euill & do good: and dwell for euer.
For God loueth iudgement, he forsaketh not his saintes: they are preserued for euermore, but the seede of the vngodlye shalbe rooted vp.
The righteous shal inherite the land: and dwell therin for euer.
The mouth of the righteous is exercised in wysdome: and his tongue wyll be talking of iudgement.
The lawe of his God is in his heart: therfore his feete shall not slide.
The vngodly spyeth the righteous: and seeketh [occasion] to slay hym.
God wyll not leaue him in his hande: nor suffer hym to be condemned when he is iudged.
Wayte thou on God & kepe his way, and he wyll promote thee, that thou mayest possesse the lande: when the vngodly shalbe cut of, thou shalt see it.
I my selfe haue seene the vngodly in great power: and florishing lyke a greene bay tree.
And he vanished away, so that he could be no more seene: I sought hym, but he coulde no where be founde.
Marke hym that is perfect, and beholde him that is iust: for the ende of suche a man is peace.
As for wicked transgressours, they shalbe destroyed [all] together: and the ende of the vngodly shalbe rooted vp at the last.
But saluation of the righteous commeth of God: whiche is also their strength in time of trouble.
And God wyll ayde them and deliuer them, he wyl deliuer them from the vngodly: and he wyll saue them, because they put their trust in him.
REbuke me not O God in thyne anger: neither chasten me in thy heauie displeasure.
For thyne arrowes sticke fast in me: and thy hande presseth me sore.
There is no helath in my flesh through thy displeasure: neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sinne.
For my manyfolde wickednes is gone ouer my head: and like a sore burthen is to heauie for me to beare.
My woundes stinke and are corrupt: through my foolishnes.
I am become crooked, and am exceedingly pulled downe: I go a mourning all the day long.
For my loynes are filled with heate: and there is no whole part in my body.
I am feeble and sore smitten: I haue rored for the very disquietnesse of my heart.
Lorde thou knowest all my desire: and my gronyng is not hyd from thee.
My heart panteth, my strength hath fayled me: and the lyght of myne eyes is gone from me.
My louers and my neygbours dyd stande on the other syde lokyng vpon my plague: and my kinsmen stoode a farre of.
They also that sought after my lyfe layde snares [for me]: and they that went about to do me euyll, talked of wickednesse, and imagined deceipt all the day long.
As for me, as one deafe I woulde not heare: and [I was] as one that is dumbe [who] coulde not open his mouth.
I became euen as a man that heareth not: and who hath no replies in his mouth.
For on thee O God I haue wayted: thou shalt aunswere for me O Lorde my God.
For I sayde [heare me] lest that they shoulde triumph on me: who auaunce [them selues] greatly agaynst me when my foote doth slyp.
Because I am disposed to a haltyng: and my sorowe is euer in my syght.
Because I confesse my wickednesse: and am sory for my sinne.
But myne enemies lyuyng [without payne] are mightie: & they that hate me wrongfully are increased in number.
They also that rewarde euyl for good are agaynst me: because I folowe the thyng that is good.
Forsake me not O God: O my Lorde be not thou farre fro me.
Haste thee to helpe me: O Lorde my saluation.
I Sayde [to my selfe] I wyll take heede to my wayes, that I offende not in my tongue: I wyll kepe my mouth as it were with a brydell, whylest the vngodly is in my syght.
I became dumbe through scilence, I helde my peace from speakyng of good wordes: but the more was my sorowe increased.
My heart was hotte within me, and whyle I was thus musyng the fire kyndled: and [at the last] I spake with my tongue.
O God make me to knowe mine ende, and the number of my dayes: that I may be certified howe long I haue to lyue.
Behold thou hast made my dayes as it were an hand breadth long, & mine age is euen as nothing before thee: truely euery man is al [together] vanitie. Selah.
Truely man walketh in a vayne shadowe, truely he [and all his] do disquiet them selues in vayne: he heapeth vp riches, & can not tel who shal vse them.
And nowe Lord what wayte I after? truely my hope is euen in thee.
Delyuer me from all my offences: and make me not a rebuke vnto the foolishe.
I became dumbe, and opened not my mouth: for it was thy doyng.
Take thy plague away from me: I am euen consumed by the meanes of thy heauy hande.
Thou doest chasten man, rebukyng him for sinne: thou as a moth doest consume his excellencie, for in very deede euery man is but vanitie. Selah.
Heare my prayer O God, and geue eares to my crying, holde not thy peace at my teares: for I am a strau{n}ger with thee, and a soiourner as all my fathers were.
Oh spare me a litle, that I may recouer my strength: before I go hence, and be no more [seene.]
I Wayted paciently vpon God, and he enclined vnto me [his eare]: and heard my crying.
He brought me also out of an horrible pyt, out of the dirtie mire: and set my feete vpon a rocke, and directed my goynges.
And he hath put a newe song in my mouth: euen a thankesgeuyng vnto our Lorde.
Many shall see it, and feare: and shall put their trust in God.
Blessed is the man that hath set his hope in God: and turned not vnto the proude, and to such as decline to lyes.
O God my Lord, great are thy wonderous workes which thou hast done: & none can count in order thy benefites towarde vs, yf I woulde declare them and speake of them, they shoulde be mo then I am able to expresse.
Thou wouldest haue no sacrifice or offeryng, but thou hast opened myne eares: thou hast not required burnt offerynges and sacrifice for sinne.
Then sayde I, lo I am come: in the booke of thy lawe it is written of me that I shoulde fulfyll thy wyll O my God, I am content to do it, yea thy lawe is within the middest of my brest.
I haue declared thy righteousnes in a great congregatio{n}: lo I wil not refraine my lippes O God thou knowest [it.]
I haue not hyd thy ryghteousnesse within my heart: my talkyng hath ben of thy trueth and of thy saluation.
I haue not concealed thy louyng mercie and trueth: from the great congregation.
Withdrawe not thou thy mercie from me O God: let thy louyng kyndnesse and thy trueth alway preserue me.
For innumerable troubles are come about me, my sinnes haue taken such holde vpon me that I am not able to loke vp: yea they are mo in number then the heeres of my head, & my heart hath fayled me.
O God let it be thy pleasure to deliuer me: make haste O God to helpe me.
Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seke after my soule to destroy it: let them be dryuen backwarde & be put to rebuke that wyshe me euyll.
Let them be desolate in recompence of their shame: that say vnto me, fye vpon thee, fye vpon thee.
Let all those that seeke thee be glad and ioyfull in thee: and let such as loue thy saluation, say alway God be magnified.
As for me I am afflicted and needye, but God careth for me: thou art my ayde and delyuerer, O my God make no long tarying.
BLessed is he that considereth {th}e poore: God wyll delyuer hym in the tyme of trouble.
God wyll preserue hym & kepe him aliue: he shalbe blessed vpon the earth, and [thou O God] wylt not deliuer him into the wyll of his enemies.
God wyll comfort hym when he lyeth sicke vpon his bed: thou [O God] wylt turne vpside downe all his bed in his sicknesse.
I sayde, O God be mercifull vnto me: heale my soule, for I haue sinned agaynst thee.
Myne enemies speake euyl of me: whe{n} shall he dye, and his name perishe?
But yf [any of them] came to visite me, he spake vanitie: his heart conceaued vngodlynesse within hym selfe, & when he came foorth a doores he vttered it.
All they that hated me whispered together: they imagined euyl agaynst me.
[They sayde] some great mischiefe is lyghted vpon hym: and he that lyeth sicke on his bed, shall ryse vp no more.
Yea besides this, euen myne owne friende whom I trusted: which dyd also eate of my bread, hath kicked very much agaynst me.
But be thou mercifull vnto me O God: rayse me vp agayne, and I shall rewarde them.
By this I knowe thou fauouredst me: in that myne enemie doth not triumph agaynst me.
And when I am in my best case, thou vpholdest me: and thou wylt set me before thy face for euer.
Blessed be God the Lorde of Israel: worlde without ende, Amen, Amen.
LYke as the Hart brayeth for water brookes: so panteth my soule after thee O God.
My soule is a thirst for the Lorde, yea euen for the lyuyng Lorde: when shall I come to appeare before the face of the Lorde?
My teares haue ben my meate day and nyght: whyle they dayly say vnto me where is [nowe] thy God.
And I powred out of me my very heart, remembryng this howe that before tyme I haue passed with a great number, bringyng the{m} vnto the house of the Lorde: with a voyce of ioy & prayse, [& with] a company that kept holy day.
Why art thou so discouraged O my soule, & why art thou so vnquiet within me? attende thou vpon the Lorde, for I will yet acknowledge him only to be a present saluation.
My Lorde, my soule is discouraged within me: because I remember thee from the lande of Iordane, and from the litle hyll Hermonim.
One deepe calleth another at the noyse of thy water pypes: all thy waues and stormes are gone ouer me.
God wyll graunt his louing kindnesse on the day tyme: and in the nyght season I wyll syng of hym, and make my prayer vnto the Lorde of my lyfe.
I wyll say vnto the Lorde of my strength: why hast thou forgotten me, why go I thus heauyly through the oppression of myne enemie?
It was as a sworde in my bones, when myne enemies dyd cast me in the teeth: in saying dayly vnto me, where is nowe thy Lorde?
Why art thou so discouraged O my soule, & why art thou so vnquiet within me? attende thou vpon the Lorde, for I wil yet acknowledge him to be only my present saluation, and my Lorde.
IVdge me O Lorde, and debate my cause with an vnnaturall people: oh delyuer me from the deceiptfull and wicked man.
For thou art the Lord of my strength: why hast thou reiect me, and why go I thus heauyly through the oppression of myne enemie.
Sende foorth thy light and thy trueth: that they may leade me and direct me vnto thy holy hyll, & to thy tabernacles.
And I wyll go vnto the aulter of the Lorde, euen vnto the Lorde of my ioy & gladnesse: and vpon the harpe I will acknowledge thee O Lorde my Lord.
Why art thou so discouraged O my soule, & why art thou so vnquiet within me? attende thou vpon the Lorde, for I wyll yet acknowledge hym [to be] only my present saluation, & my Lorde.
WE haue hearde with our eares O Lorde: our fathers haue tolde vs what workes thou hast done in their daies in the olde tyme.
Howe thou hast driuen out the heathen with thy hande and planted them in: howe thou hast destroyed the nations & placed them.
For they gat not the lande in possession through their owne sworde: neither was it their owne arme that saued the{m}.
But thy ryght hande, and thine arme, & the lyght of thy countenaunce: because thou hadst a fauour vnto them.
Thou art my kyng O Lorde: commaunde that Iacob be saued.
Through thee we wyll ouerthrowe our enemies: and in thy name we wyll treade them vnder that ryse vp agaynst vs.
For I wyll not trust in my bowe: and it is not my sworde that can saue me.
But it is thou that sauest vs from our enemies: and thou puttest them to confusion that hate vs.
We make our boast of God all the day long: and we wyll confesse thy name for euer. Selah.
But nowe thou art farre of, and thou puttest vs to confusion: neither goest thou foorth with our armies.
Thou makest vs to turne away backwarde from the enemie: so that they which hate vs, do make vs a spoyle vnto them.
Thou hast delyuered vs as sheepe to be eaten: and thou hast scattered vs among the heathen.
Thou hast solde thy people for naught: and thou hast taken no money for them.
Thou hast made vs a rebuke to our neighbours: to be laughed to scorne and had in derision of them that are rounde about vs.
Thou hast made vs [to be] a fable among the heathen: [and to be such] that the people shake their head at vs.
My confusion is dayly before me, and the shame of my face couereth me: for [to heare] the voyce of the slaunderer & blasphemer, and for to see the enemie and the auenger.
[And though] all this become vpon vs: [yet] we do not forget thee, nor shewe our selues to be false in thy couenaunt.
Our heart is not turned backe, neither our steppes be declined out of thy pathes: no not when thou hast smitten vs in the place of dragons, and couered vs with the shadowe of death.
If we had forgotten the name of our Lorde, and holden vp our handes to any straunge god: woulde not God searche it out? for he knoweth the very secretes of the heart.
For thy sake also are we kylled all the day long: and are counted as sheepe appoynted to be slayne.
Stirre vp O Lorde, why slepest thou? awake & be not absent from vs for euer: wherfore hydest thou thy face, and forgettest our miserie and tribulation?
For our soule is brought lowe vnto the dust: our belly cleaueth vnto {th}e grounde.
Aryse vp thou our ayde, and redeeme vs: for thy louyng kindnesse sake.
MY heart is endityng of a good matter: I wyll dedicate my workes vnto the king, my tongue is as the penne of a redy writer.
Thou art fayrer then the children of men, full of grace are thy lippes: because the Lorde hath blessed thee for euer.
Girde thee with thy sworde vpon thy thygh O thou most mightie: [that is] with thy glorie and thy maiestie.
Prosper thou with thy maiestie, ryde on the worde of trueth and of affliction for ryghteousnesse sake: and thy ryght hande shall teache thee terrible thynges.
Thyne arrowes are sharpe: a people the kynges enemies shall submit in heart them selues vnto thee.
Thy throne O Lorde endureth for euer and euer: the scepter of ryghteousnesse is the scepter of thy kyngdome.
Thou hast loued iustice and hated vngodlynesse: wherfore the Lorde euen thy Lorde hath annoynted thee with the oyle of gladnesse more then thy felowes.
All thy garmentes smell of Myrre, Aloes, and Cassia, out of the iuorie palaces: wherby they haue made thee glad.
Kynges daughters are amongst thy honourable women: vpon thy ryght hande standeth the queene in a vesture of golde of Ophir.
Hearken O daughter and consider, encline thine eare: forget also thine owne people and thy fathers house.
So shall the kyng haue pleasure in thy beautie: for he is thy Lorde, and worship thou hym.
And the daughter of Tyre shall come with a present: the riche among the people shall make their earnest prayer before thee.
The kynges daughter is all glorious within: her clothyng is of wrought golde.
She shalbe brought vnto the kyng in rayment of needle worke: the virgins that folowe her and her company shalbe brought vnto thee.
With ioy and gladnesse shall they be brought: [and] shal enter into the kinges palace.
In steade of thy fathers, thou shalt haue children: whom thou mayst make princes in all landes.
I wyll remember thy name from one generation vnto another: therfore shall the people prayse thee worlde without ende.
THe Lorde is our refuge & strength: a helpe very easyly founde in troubles.
Therfore we wyll not feare though the earth be transposed: and though the hilles rushe into the middest of the sea.
Though the waters thereof rage and swell: and though the mountaynes shake at the surges of the same. Selah.
[Yet] the fludde by his ryuers shall make glad the citie of God: the holy place of the tabernacles of the most hyghest.
God is in the myddest of her: therfore she can not be remoued: the Lorde wyll helpe her, and that ryght early.
The heathen make much a do, and the kyngdomes are moued: but [God] shewed his voyce, and the earth melted away.
The God of hoastes is with vs: the Lorde of Iacob is our refuge. Selah.
O come hither and beholde the workes of God: what distructions he hath brought vpon the earth.
He maketh warres to ceasse in all the worlde: he breaketh the bowe, & knappeth the speare in sunder, and burneth the charettes in the fire.
Be styll then, and knowe that I am the Lorde: I wyll be exalted among the heathen, I wyll be exalted in the earth.
The God of hoastes is with vs: the Lorde of Iacob is our refuge. Selah.
CLap your handes all ye people: make a noise vnto the Lorde with a ioyfull voyce.
For God is hygh and terrible: he is the great king vpo{n} all the earth.
He wyll subdue the people vnder vs: and the nations vnder our feete.
He hath chosen for vs our inheritaunce: the glorie of Iacob who{m} he loued. Selah.
The Lorde ascendeth in a triumph: [and] God with the sounde of a trumpet.
Syng psalmes to the Lorde, syng psalmes: syng psalmes to our kyng, sing psalmes.
For the Lorde is kyng of all the earth: syng psalmes [all you that haue] skyll.
God raigneth ouer the heathen: God sitteth vpon his holy throne.
The princes of the people are assembled together [for to be] the people of the God of Abraham: for the shieldes of the earth be Gods, who is hyghly exalted.
GReat is God, and hyghly to be praysed: in the citie of our Lorde, his holy hyll.
The hyll of Sion is fayre in situation, and the ioy of the whole earth: vpon the north syde lyeth {th}e citie of the great king.
God is well knowen in her palaces: as a most sure refuge.
For lo kinges did assemble, and passe by together: they them selues sawe it, lykewyse they marueyled, they were astonyed with feare, and sodenly in haste they were gone away.
A feare came there vpon them and sorowe: as vpon a woman in her childe trauayle.
Thou didst breake the shippes of the sea: through the east wynde.
Lyke as we haue hearde, so haue we seene in the citie of God of hoastes: in the citie of our Lorde, God vpholdeth the same for euer. Selah.
O Lorde we haue wayted: for thy louyng kindnesse in the myddest of thy temple.
O Lorde, accordyng to thy name, so is thy prayse vnto the worldes ende: thy ryght hande is full of iustice.
Mount Sion shall reioyce, and the daughters of Iuda shalbe glad: because of thy iudgementes.
Compasse about Sion, and go rounde about her: and tell the towres therof.
Marke well her bulwarkes, beholde her hygh palaces: that ye may tell it to your posteritie.
For this God is our God for euer and euer: he wyll be our guide vnto death.
HEare this all ye people: geue eare all ye that dwell in the worlde.
As well lowe as high: riche and poore, one with another.
My mouth shall vtter wisdome: the cogitations of myne heart [wyll bryng foorth] knowledge.
I wyll encline myne eare to a parable: I wyll open my darke sentence vpon a harpe.
Wherfore shoulde I feare in euyll dayes? the wickednesse of my heeles [then] would compasse me round about.
There be some that put their trust in their goodes: and boast them selues in the multitude of their riches.
But no man at all can redeeme his brother: nor geue a raunsome vnto God for hym.
For the redemption of their soule is very costly, and must be let alone for euer: yea though he lyue long and see not the graue.
For he seeth that wyse men dye: and that the foole and ignoraunt perishe together, and leaue their riches for other.
And yet they thynke that their houses shall continue for euer, and that their dwellyng places shall endure from one generation to another: [therfore] they call landes after their owne names.
Neuerthelesse, man can not abyde in [such] honour: he is but lyke vnto bruite beastes that perishe.
This their way is their foolishnesse: yet their posteritie prayse their saying. Selah.
They shalbe put into a graue [dead] as a sheepe, death shall feede on them: but the ryghteous shall haue dominion of them in the mornyng, their beautie shall consume away, hell [shall receaue them] from their house.
But God wyll delyuer my soule from the place of hell: for he wyll receaue me. Selah.
Be not thou afrayde though one be made riche: or yf the glorie of his house be encreased.
For he shall cary nothyng away with hym when he dyeth: neither shall his pompe folowe after hym.
For whyle he lyued he counted him selfe an happy man: and so long as thou doest well vnto thy selfe, men wyll speake good of thee.
But he shal folowe the generations of his fathers: and shall neuer see lyght.
A man is in an honourable state, but he wyll not vnderstande it: he is lyke [herein] vnto bruite beastes that perishe.
THe most mightie Lorde God hath spoken: and called the earth from the rysyng vp of the sunne, vnto the goyng downe therof.
Out of Sion: hath the Lorde appeared in perfect beautie.
Our Lorde commeth, and he wyll not kepe scilence: there goeth before hym a consumyng fire, and a mightie tempest is sturred rounde about hym.
He calleth from aboue the heauen and the earth: that he may iudge his people.
Gather my saintes together vnto me: those that haue made a couenaunt with me with sacrifice.
And the heauens shall declare his ryghteousnesse: for God is iudge hym selfe. Selah.
Heare O my people, and I wil speake: I my selfe wyll testifie vnto thee O Israel, I am the Lorde, euen thy Lorde.
I wyll not reproue thee because of thy sacrifices, or for thy burnt offerynges: [for that they be not] alway before me.
I wyll take no bullocke out of thy house: nor goates out of thy foldes.
For all the beastes of the forest are myne: and so are the cattel vpon a thousande hylles.
I knowe all the foules vpon the mountaynes: and the wylde beastes of the fielde are at my commaundement.
If I be hungry, I wyll not tell thee: for the whole worlde is myne, and all that is therin.
Thinkest thou that I will eate bulles fleshe: and drynke the blood of goates?
Offer vnto God prayse: and pay thy vowes vnto the most hyghest.
And call vpon me in the tyme of trouble: I wyll heare thee, and thou shalt glorifie me.
But the Lorde sayd vnto the vngodly: why doest thou preache my lawes, and takest my couenaunt in thy mouth?
Seyng that thou hatest discipline: and hast cast my wordes behynde thee.
When thou sawest a thiefe, thou dydst consent vnto hym: and thou hast ben partaker with the adulterers.
Thou hast let thy mouth speake wickednesse: and with thy tongue thou hast set foorth deceipt.
Thou sattest and spakedst agaynst thy brother: yea and hast slaundered thine owne mothers sonne.
These thynges hast thou done and I helde my tongue, thou thoughtest that I am euen such a one as thou thy selfe art: but I wyll reproue thee, and I wyll set foorth in order before thine eyes [all that thou hast done.]
Consider this I pray you, ye that forget the Lorde: lest I plucke you away, and there be none to delyuer you.
Who so offereth vnto me thankes and prayse, he honoureth me: and to hym that ordereth his conuersation ryght, I wyll shewe the saluation of God.
HAue mercie on me O Lorde accordyng to thy louyng kindnesse: accordyng vnto the multitudes of thy mercies wype out my wickednesse.
Washe me throughly from myne iniquitie: and clense me from my sinne.
For I do acknowledge my wickednesse: and my sinne is euer before me.
Agaynst thee, only agaynst thee I haue sinned and done this euyll in thy sight: that thou mightest be iustified in thy saying, and founde pure when thou art iudged.
Beholde, I was ingendred in iniquitie: and in sinne my mother conceaued me.
Neuerthelesse, lo thou requirest trueth in the inwarde partes [of me]: & [therfore] thou wylt make me learne wisdome in the secrete [part of myne heart.]
Purge thou me with hyssop and I shalbe cleane: washe thou me, and I shalbe whyter then snowe.
Make thou me to heare [some] ioy and gladnesse: let the bones reioyce which thou hast broken.
Turne thy face from my sinnes: and wype out all my misdeedes.
Make thou vnto me a cleane heart O Lorde: and renue thou a ryght spirite within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence: and take not thy holy spirite from me.
Geue me agayne the comfort of thy saluation: and confirme me with a free wyllyng spirite.
Then wyll I teache thy wayes vnto the wicked: and sinners shalbe conuerted vnto thee.
Deliuer me from blood O Lorde, the Lorde of my saluation: and my tongue shall sing with a ioyfull noyse of thy iustice.
O Lorde open thou my lippes: and my mouth shall set foorth thy prayse.
For thou desirest no sacrifice, els I would geue it thee: thou delightest not in a burnt offering.
Sacrifices for God is a mortified spirite: O Lorde thou wylt not despise a mortified and an humble heart.
Be thou beneficiall vnto Sion, according to thy gracious good wyll: buylde thou the walles of Hierusalem.
Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousnes, with burnt offeringes and oblations: then wyll they offer young bullockes vpon thyne aulter.
WHy boastest thy self thou tiraunt of mischiefe? the goodnes of God dayly endureth.
Thy tongue imagineth wickednes: [and] deceaueth like a sharpe raser.
Thou hast loued vngratiousnes more then goodnes: and to talke of falshood more then of righteousnes. Selah.
Thou hast loued to speake all wordes that may do hurt: O thou deceiptfull tongue.
Therfore the Lord wyll destroy thee for euer: he wyll take thee and plucke thee out of thy dwelling, and roote thee out of the lande of the liuing. Selah.
The righteous also shall see this: and they wyll be afraide and laugh hym to scorne.
[Saying] lo this is the man that put not the Lorde [to be] his strength: but trusted vnto the multitude of his riches, and strengthed him selfe in his wickednesse.
As for me I am lyke a greene oliue tree in the house of the Lorde: my trust is in the tender mercy of the Lorde for euer and euer.
I will alway confesse it vnto thee, for that thou hast done it: and I wyll hope in thy name, for it is good in the sight of thy saintes.
THe foole hath sayde in his heart there is no God: they haue corrupted them selues, & haue made their wickednes abhominable, he is not that doeth good.
The Lorde looked downe from heauen vpon the chyldren of men: to see if there were any that did vnderstand and seeke after the Lorde.
But they dyd all go out of the way, they dyd altogether become abhomible: there was also none that would do good, no not one.
Wyll not the workers of iniquitie vnderstande, eating vp my people [as if] they eated bread: that they do not call vpon God?
They shalbe greatly there afraide [where] no cause of feare is: for the Lord wyll breake the bones of hym that besiegeth thee, thou wylt put [them] to shame, because the Lorde hath despised them.
Who is he that wyll geue saluation vnto Israel out of Sion? when the Lord wyll reduce his people out of captiuitie, Iacob wyll reioyce, and Israel wyll be glad.
SAue me O Lorde for thy name sake: iudge me accordyng to thy mightie power.
Heare my prayer O Lord: and hearken vnto the wordes of my mouth.
For straungers are rysen vp against me: and tirauntes whiche haue not the Lorde before their eyes, seeke after my soule. Selah.
Behold, God is an ayde vnto me: the Lorde is with them that vpholde my soule.
He wyll rewarde euyll vnto mine enemies: destroy thou them according to thy trueth.
I wyll sacrifice vnto thee with a true wyllyng heart: I wyll confesse thy name O God, because it is good.
For he hath deliuered me out of all my trouble: and mine eye hath seene [auengaunce] vpon mine enemies.
O Lorde geue eare vnto my prayer: and hide not thy selfe from my petition.
Take heede vnto me, and heare me: I can not choose but mourne in my prayer, and make a noyse.
[Deliuer me] from the voyce of the enemie, and from the present affliction of the wicked: for they are minded to do me mischiefe, and are set malitiously against me.
My heart trembleth within me: and the feare of death is fallen vpon me.
Fearefulnes and trembling are come vpon me: and an horrible dread hath ouerwhelmed me.
And I sayde, O that I had wynges like a doue: for then woulde I flee away, and be at rest.
Lo, then woulde I fleeing get me away farre of: and remayne in the wyldernesse. Selah.
Then woulde I make hast to escape: from the stormie wynde, [and] from the tempest.
Destroy their tongues O Lorde, and deuide [them]: for I haue seene oppression and strife in the citie.
They do compasse it day and night within the walles: mischiefe also and labour, are in the midst of it.
Malice is in the midst of it: disceipt and guyle go not out of her streates.
Truely he was not mine enemie that hath done me this dishonour, for then I coulde haue borne it: neither was he one that seemed to hate me that dyd magnifie hym selfe against me, for then I woulde haue hyd my selfe from him.
But it was euen thou whom I esteemed as my selfe: my guyde, and myne owne familier companion.
We delighted greatly to conferre our secretes together: we walked deuoutly in the house of God felowe lyke.
Let death sodainly come vpon them, let them go downe quicke into hell: for wickednes is in their dwellinges and among them.
As for me I wyll crye vnto the Lord: and God wyll saue me.
In the euening and morning, and at noone day wyll I pray, and that most instantly: and he wyll heare my voyce.
He hath redeemed my soule through peace fro{m} the battayle that was against me: for there were many with me.
The Lorde who sitteth [a ruler] from the beginning, wyll heare [me] and afflict them, Selah: forsomuche as there is no chaunge in them, and for that they do not feare God.
He layde his handes vpon such as be at peace with him: and he brake his couenaunt.
The [wordes] of his mouth were softer then butter, yet warre was in his heart: his wordes were smother then oyle, and yet be they very swordes.
O cast thy burthen vpon God, and he wyll vpholde thee: he wyll not suffer at any time the righteous to moue.
•And as for] them: thou O Lorde wylt hurle headlong into the pit of destruction.
The bloodthirstie and deceiptfull men shal not liue out halfe their dayes: neuerthelesse I wyll put my full trust in thee.
BE mercifull vnto me O Lorde: for man goeth about to deuour me, he dayly fyghtyng, oppresseth me.
Myne enemies are dayly in hande to swalowe me vp: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most highest.
[Neuerthelesse] at all times as I am afraide: I put my whole trust in thee.
In the Lord I wyll prayse his word: in the Lorde I haue put my trust, and I wyll not feare what flesh can do vnto me.
My wordes dayly put me to sorow: all that they do imagine, is to do me euill.
They flocke together, they kepe them selues close: they marke my steppes, that they may lye in wayte for my soule.
Shall they escape for their wickednes? O Lorde in thy displeasure cast downe headlong this people.
Thou hast numbred my flittinges, thou hast put my teares in thy bottell: [are] not these thinges [noted] in thy booke?
Whensoeuer I call vpon thee, then shall myne enemies be put to flight: this I know, for the Lorde is on my side.
In the Lord I wyll prayse the word: In God I wyll prayse the worde.
In the Lorde I put my trust: I wyll not be afraide what man can do vnto me.
O Lorde, thy vowes be vpon me: vnto thee wyll I geue thankes & praise.
For thou hast deliuered my soule from death, and my feete from falling: that I may walke before the Lorde in the light of the liuing.
BE mercifull vnto me O Lorde, be mercifull vnto me: for my soule trusteth in thee, and vnder the shadowe of thy wynges wyll I trust, vntyll this tiranny be ouerpast.
I wyll call vnto the most high Lorde: euen vnto the Lord that wil perfourme the cause which I haue in hande.
He wyll sende from heauen, and saue me fro{m} the reproofe of him that woulde deuour me vp, Selah: the Lorde wyll sende foorth his mercie and trueth.
My soule is among Lions, and I lye among those that are set on fire: among the children of men whose teeth are speares and arrowes, and their tongue a sharpe sword.
Exalt thy selfe O God aboue the heauen: thy glory is aboue all the earth.
They haue prepared a net for my feete, that some man might presse downe my soule: they haue digged a pit before me, and are fallen into the midst of it them selues. Selah.
My heart is redy O Lorde, my heart is redy: I wyll sing, and prayse thee in singing of psalmes.
Bestirre thee O my glory, bestirre thee O Lute and Harpe: I my selfe wil bestirre me right early in the morning.
I wyll prayse thee O Lorde among the people: and I wyll sing psalmes vnto thee among the nations.
For the greatnes of thy mercie reacheth vnto the heauens: and thy trueth vnto the cloudes.
Exalt thy selfe O Lord aboue the heauens: let thy glory be aboue al the earth.
O Ye that consult together, pronounce ye truely the thing that is iust? O ye sonnes of men iudge you according to equitie?
Nay, rather ye imagine mischiefe in your heart: your handes waygh as in a ballaunce wickednes vpon the earth.
The vngodly are straungers euen from their mothers wombe: assoone as they be borne, they go astray and speake a lye.
They haue poyson [within them] lyke to the poyson of a serpent: they be lyke the deafe adder that stoppeth her eares, and wyll not heare the voyce of charmers, though he be neuer so skilfull in charming.
Breake their teeth O Lorde in their mouthes: smite a sunder the chawe bones of Lions O God.
Let them be dissolued as into water, let them come to naught of them selues: and when they shoote their arrowes, let them be as broken.
Let them creepe away lyke a snayle that foorthwith consumeth to naught: or lyke the vntimely fruite of a woman, let them not see the sunne.
As a greene thorne [kindled with fyre, goeth out] before your pottes be made whot: euen so let a furious rage bring him to naught.
The righteous wyll reioyce when he seeth the vengeaunce: he wyll washe his foote steppes in the blood of the vngodly.
And euery man shall say, veryly there is a rewarde for the righteous: doubtlesse there is a God that iudgeth in the earth.
DEliuer me from myne enemies O Lorde: defende me fro{m} them that rise vp against me.
Deliuer me from the workers of iniquitie: and saue me from the blood thirstie men.
For lo, they lye in wayte for my soule: men of power are gathered together against me who haue committed no wickednes nor fault O God.
When no fault is done, they runne and set them selues in order: arise to meete me and beholde.
And thou O God Lorde of hoastes, Lorde of Israel: awake to visite all Heathen, and be not mercifull vnto all them that offend of malice. Selah.
They go to and fro at euening: they barke lyke a dogge, and runne about through the citie.
Behold they speake with their mouth, swordes are in their lippes: for [say they] who doth heare [vs?]
But thou O God wylt haue them in derision: thou wylt laugh all Heathen to scorne.
I wyl reserue his strength for thee: for thou O Lorde art my refuge.
My mercifull Lord wyll preuent me: the Lord will let me see [my desire] vpon mine enemies.
Slay them not, lest my people forget it: but in thy stoutnes scatter them like vagaboundes, and put them downe O God our defence.
The wordes of their lippes [be] the sinne of their mouth: O let them be taken in their pryde, for they speake nothing but curses and lies.
Consume them in thy wrath, consume them that nothing of them remayne: and let them knowe that it is the Lord that ruleth in Iacob, & vnto the endes of the worlde. Selah.
And let them gad vp and downe at euening: let them barke lyke a dogge, and go about the citie.
Let them runne here and there for meate: and go to bed if they be not satisfied.
As for me I wyll sing of thy power, and wyll prayse thy louing kindnes betime• 〈◊〉 the morning: for thou hast ben my •••ence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
Vnto thee O my strength will I sing psalmes: for thou O Lorde art my refuge, and my mercyfull Lorde.
O Lorde thou hast cast vs out, thou hast dispearsed vs, thou art displeased: O turne thee vnto vs agayne.
Thou hast made the land to tremble, thou hast cleft it asunder: heale the breaches therof, for it is redy to fall downe.
Thou hast made thy people see heauie thinges: thou hast geuen vs wyne to drinke, that maketh vs tremble.
But to suche as feare thee: thou hast geuen a banner to be lyfted vp on high for the trueth sake. Selah.
[Therfore] that thy beloued may be deliuered: helpe me with thy right hand, and heare me.
The Lorde hath spoken in his holynes (whereof I wyll reioyce) this: I wyll deuide Sichem, and measure the valley of Sucoth.
Gilead shalbe myne, and Manasses shalbe myne: Ephraim also shalbe the strength of my head, and Iuda my law geuer.
Moab shalbe my washpot: ouer Edom I wyll cast my shoe, Philistea be thou glad of me.
Who wyll leade me into the strong citie? who wyll bring me into Edom?
Hast not thou remoued vs from thence O Lorde? and wylt not thou O Lorde go out with our hoastes?
Geue vs ayde against trouble: for the sauing helpe of man is but vayne.
Thorowe the Lorde we wyll do valiaunt actes: for he him selfe wyll treade downe our enemies.
HEare my crying O Lorde: geue eare vnto my prayer.
From the endes of the earth I wyll call vnto thee when my heart is in heauines: oh set me vp on the rocke that is higher then I.
For thou hast ben my hope: [and] a strong towre [for me] against the face of the enemie.
I wyll dwell in thy tabernacle for euer: my trust shalbe vnder the couering of thy wynges. Selah.
For thou O Lorde hast hearde my vowes: and hast geuen an heritage vnto those that feare thy name.
Thou wilt adde dayes vnto the kings dayes: and his yeres shalbe a generation and a generation.
He shall dwell before the Lorde for euer: O appoynt thy louing mercy and faithfulnes, that thei may preserue him.
So wyll I sing psalmes vnto thy name: that I may day by day perfourme my vowes.
MY soule truly only stayeth vpon the Lorde: for of him commeth my saluation.
He onlye is my rocke and my sauing helpe: he is my refuge, so that I can not be remoued greatly.
Howe long wyll ye imagine mischiefe against euery man? ye shalbe slayne all the sort of you: [ye shalbe] as a tottering wall, [and like] a broken hedge.
They deuise only howe to thrust [him] from his promotion: they delight in a lye, they blesse with their mouth, and curse with their heart. Selah.
[Neuerthelesse] O my soule, stay thou only vpon the Lorde: for my confidence is in him.
He only is my rocke and my sauing helpe: he is my refuge, so that I can not be remoued.
In the Lorde is my health and my glory: my trust is in the Lorde the fortresse of my force.
O ye people, put your trust in hym alway: powre out your heartes before him, for the Lorde is our hope. Selah.
As for the chyldren of men, they be onlye but vanitie, the chyldren of lordes be but a lye: vpon the wayghtes they [be] altogether [lighter] then vanitie in selfe.
O trust not in wrong [dealing] and spoyling: geue not your selues vnto vanitie, if riches encrease, set not your heart [vpon them.]
The Lord spake it once, [but] I haue hearde it twise, that power and mercy belongeth to thee O Lorde God: for thou rewardest euery man according to his worke.
O Lorde thou art my Lorde: early in the morning I do seeke thee.
My soule thirsteth for thee: my fleshe also longeth after thee in a baren and drye lande [where] no water is.
[To see thee] euen so [as] I haue seene thee in the sanctuary: that I might beholde thy power and glory.
For thy louing kindnes is better then life [it selfe]: my lippes shall prayse thee.
As long as I liue I wyll blesse thee on this maner: and in thy name I wyll lyft vp my handes.
My soule is satisfied euen as it were with mary and fatnes: and my mouth prayseth thee with ioyfull lippes.
Haue I not remembred thee in my bed: and thought vpon thee when I was waking?
Because thou hast ben my helper: therfore vnder the shadowe of thy wynges do I reioyce.
My soule cleaueth fast vnto thee: thy right hande hath vpholden me.
And they [that] seeke my soule to oppresse [it]: shall go vnder the earth.
Euery one of them shalbe killed with the edge of a sworde: and they shalbe a portion for Foxes.
But the king shal reioyce in the Lord, al they shal glory that sweare by him: for the mouth of all them that speake a lye, shalbe stopped.
O Lorde heare my voyce in my prayer: preserue my life from feare of the enemie.
Hyde me from the secrete [counsayles] of the malitious: from the conspiracie of the workers of iniquitie.
Who haue whet their tongue lyke a sword: who haue drawne their arrow, euen a bitter worde.
That they may priuily shoote at hym which is perfect: they do sodenly shoote at hym and feare not.
They courage them selues in mischiefe: and co{m}mune among them selues how they may lay snares, and say, who shall see them?
They searche out howe to do wrong, they put in practise fully that they haue diligently searched out: yea euen the secretes and bottome of euery one of their heartes.
But the Lorde wyll sodenly shoote at them with a [swyft] arrowe: their plagues shalbe [apparaunt.]
Yea they shall cause their owne tongues to be a meanes for to destroy the{m} selues: insomuch that who so seeth them, shal desire to flee away •from them]
And all men that see it shall say, this hath God done: for they shall well perceaue that it is his worke.
The righteous wyll reioyce in God, and put his trust in hym: and all they that be vpright hearted wylbe glad.
O Lorde thou wylt be greatly praysed in Sion: and vnto thee shal vowes be perfourmed
Thou that hearest a prayer: vnto thee shall all fleshe come.
[My] misdeedes haue preuayled against me: oh be thou mercifull vnto our wicked transgressions.
Blessed is the man [whom] thou choosest and receauest vnto thee: he shall dwell in thy court, and we shalbe satisfied with the goodnes of thy house, euen of thy holy temple.
Thou wylt heare vs, doyng wonderfull thinges in righteousnes O Lorde of our saluation: thou [art] the hope of all endes of the earth, and of them that dwell farre of at the sea coast.
Thou art he who in his strength setleth fast the mountaines: and is gyrded about with power.
Who stilleth the raging of the sea, and the noyse of his waues: and the vprore of the people.
They also that dwel in the vtmost partes [of the earth] be afrayde at thy signes▪ thou makest them reioyce at the going foorth of the morning and euenyng.
Thou visitest the earth, and thou makest it ouerflowne, thou enrichest it greatly: the riuer of God is full of water, thou preparest their corne, for so thou ordaynest it.
Thou waterest her forowes, thou breakest downe her hillockes: thou makest it soft with the drops of rayne, and blessest the increase of it.
Thou crownest the yere with thy goodnes: and thy cloudes drop fatnes.
They drop vpon the dwellinges of the wyldernesse: and hilles be compassed with ioy.
The downes be couered with sheepe: the valleys stande thicke with corne [so that] they showte [for ioy] and also sing.
DEclare you ioyfull vnto the Lorde all [ye of] the earth: sing psalmes vnto the glory of his name, geue glory to his maiestie.
Say vnto the Lorde, oh howe wonderfull art thou in thy workes: thorow the greatnes of thy power thyne enemies shalbe founde liers vnto thee.
For all [they of] the worlde shall worship thee, and sing psalmes vnto thee: they shall sing psalmes vnto thy holy name. Selah.
Come hither and beholde the workes of the Lorde: howe wonderfull he is in his doing towarde the chyldren of men.
He turneth the sea into drye lande, so that they went thorowe the water on foote: there dyd we reioyce in him.
He ruleth with his power for euer, his eyes beholdeth the gentiles: such as be rebels shal not come to promotion. Selah.
O ye people blesse your Lorde: and make the voyce of his praise to be heard.
Who preserueth our soule in life: and suffereth not our feete to slip.
For thou O Lord hast proued vs: thou hast tryed vs, like as siluer is tryed.
Thou broughtest vs into the snare: and layde trouble vpon our loynes.
Thou sufferedst men to ride ouer our heades: we went through fire and water, and [yet] thou broughtest vs out into a pleasaunt [place.]
I wyll go into thy house with burnt offeringes: and I wyll pay thee my vowes whiche I promised with my lippes, and spake with my mouth when I was in trouble.
I wyll offer vnto thee fat burnt sacrifices, with the incense of rammes: I will offer bullockes and goates. Selah.
O come hither, & hearken: and I wil tell all you that feare the Lorde, what he hath done for my soule.
I called vnto hym with my mouth: and I exalted him with my tongue.
If I had inclined vnto wickednes in my heart, the Lorde woulde not haue hearde me: but the Lorde hath hearde me, & considered the voyce of my prayer.
Blessed be the Lorde which hath not reiected my prayer: nor turned his mercye from me.
THe Lord be mercyfull vnto vs and blesse vs: [and] cause the light of his cou{n}tenaunce to shine vpon vs. Selah.
That thy way may be knowen vpon the earth: thy saluation among all nations.
[Then] wyll the people prayse thee O Lorde: yea all the people wyll prayse thee.
The Gentiles will reioyce & triumph: for thou wylt iudge the people, and gouerne the gentiles vpon the earth, according to equitie. Selah.
The people will prayse thee O Lord: all the people wyll prayse thee.
[Then] shall the earth bryng foorth her increase: and the Lorde our Lord will geue vs his blessing.
The Lorde will blesse vs: and all the endes of the worlde shall feare him.
IN case the Lorde woulde aryse, his enemies woulde be scattered: and they that hate hym woulde flee from his face.
Lyke as the smoke vanisheth, [so] wylt thou cause [them] to vanishe away: and lyke as water melteth at the fire, [so] wyll the vngodly perishe at the presence of the Lorde.
But the ryghteous must be glad, and reioyce before the Lorde: they shall not stande styll for myrth.
Syng vnto the Lorde, syng psalmes vnto his name: magnifie hym that rideth vpon the heauens as it were vpon an horse in his name euerlastyng, and reioyce before his face.
He is a father of the fatherlesse, and the iudge of widdowes: [he is] the Lord in his holy habitation.
He is the Lord that maketh those that dwell alone to haue a familie: and bryngeth prisoners out of the stockes.
But rebelles did inhabite a dry [ground] O Lorde, when thou wentest foorth before the people: when thou wentest through the wyldernesse. Selah.
The earth shoke, and the heauens dropped at the presence of the Lorde: euen Sinai it selfe [shoke] at the presence of the Lorde, Lorde of Israel.
Thou O Lorde dydst cause rayne to fall at thy gratious pleasure: and when thine inheritaunce was weery, thou dydst hearten it.
Thy flocke dwelleth there: for thou O Lorde doest of thy goodnesse prepare for the poore.
The Lorde gaue the worde: great was the company of the preachers.
Kynges with their armies dyd flee: they dyd flee, and the ornament of an house deuided the spoyle.
Though ye haue lyen among the pottes: yet shall ye be as the wynges of a doue that is couered with siluer, and hath her fethers as yelowe as golde.
When the almightie scattered kynges in it: it was as whyte as snowe in Salmon.
As the hyll of Basan, so is Gods hill: euen an hygh hyll, as the hyll of Basan.
Why skyp you so ye high hylles? this is the Lordes hyll in the which it pleaseth hym to dwell, yea God wyll abyde in it for euer.
The charettes of {th}e Lorde are twentie thousande, euen thousandes of angels: and the Lorde is among them in holy Sinai.
Thou wenst vp on high, thou hastled captiuitie captiue, thou hast receaued gyftes for men: yea euen [for] those that be disobedient, that God the Lorde myght dwell [among them.]
Blessed be the Lorde who day by day powreth his [benefites] vpon vs: and is God of our saluation. Selah.
The Lorde is our Lorde for to saue vs: and all maner of wayes for death pertayneth to God the Lorde.
God wyll wounde the head of his enemies: and the heary scalpe of hym who goeth on styll in his wickednesse.
The Lorde hath sayde, I wyll bryng [my people] agayne out from Basan: I wyll bryng [them] agayne out from the deepe of the sea.
That thy footes [and] the tongue of thy dogges: may be made redde in the blood of the enemies by his meanes.
They do well see O Lorde thy goynges: thy goynges in the sanctuarie my Lorde and kyng.
The singers go before, the minstrelles folowe after: in the myddest are the damselles playing with the timbrelles.
In the congregations they do blesse the Lorde: the God of the fountayne of Israel.
There is litle Beniamin their ruler, & the princes of Iehuda their counsell: the princes of Zabulon [and] the princes of Nepthali.
Thy Lord hath ordeyned thy strength: establishe the thing O Lorde that thou hast wrought in vs.
For thy temple sake at Hierusalem: kynges wyll bryng presentes vnto thee.
Put to rebuke the companie of speare men, a multitude of bulles amongest the people lyke vnto calues: [vntyll] that they brought vnder foote [come] with peeces of siluer [for tribute,] scatter the people that delyght in warre.
Then shal princes come out of Egypt: Ethiopia in all haste shall stretch out her handes vnto the Lorde.
Sing vnto the Lord O ye kingdomes of the earth: O syng psalmes vnto the Lorde. Selah.
Who rydeth vpon the most hyghest eternall heauens: lo he sendeth out a mightie voyce in his voyce.
Acknowledge the Lorde to be mightie: his maiestie is ouer Israel, & might in the cloudes.
O Lorde thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel geueth myght and strength vnto his people, Blessed be the Lorde.
SAue me O Lorde: for waters haue entred in vnto my soule.
I am ouer the head in deepe myre where I feele no grounde: I plunge in deepe waters where the streame ouerwhelmeth me.
I am weery of crying, my throte is drye: my syght fayleth me through the long attendaunce that I haue geuen vpon my Lorde.
They that hate me without a cause are mo then the heeres of my head: they that are myne enemies and woulde destroy me giltlesse are mightie, I payde them the thynges that I neuer toke.
God thou knowest my folly: and my faultes are not hyd from thee.
Let not them that trust in thee O Lorde God of hoastes, be for my cause ashamed: let not those that seke thee, be through me confounded O Lorde of Israel.
For thy sake haue I suffered reprofe, shame hath couered my face: I am become a straunger vnto my brethre{n}, euen an aliaunt vnto my mothers children.
For the zeale of thine house hath euen eaten me: and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee, are fallen vpon me.
And I wept [chastenyng] my soule with fastyng: and that was turned to my reproofe.
Also I put on sackcloth for my garment: and they iested at me.
They that sit in the gate speake agaynst me: and they that drynke strong drynke [make] songes [vpon me.]
But [I make] my prayer vnto thee O God in an acceptable tyme: heare me O Lord in the multitude of thy mercie, according to the trueth of thy saluation.
Take me out of the myre, that I sincke not: oh let me be delyuered from them that hate me, & out of the deepe waters.
Let not the water fludde drowne me, neither let the deepe swalowe me vp: & let not the pyt shut her mouth vpon me.
Heare me O God, for thy louyng kindnesse is comfortable: turne thee vnto me accordyng vnto the multitude of thy mercies.
And hyde not thy face from thy seruaunt, for I am in trouble: O haste thee [and] heare me.
Draw nigh vnto my soule & redeeme it: for myne enemies sake oh redeeme me.
Thou hast knowen my reproofe, my shame, and my dishonour: myne aduersaries are all in thy syght.
Reproofe hath broke{n} my heart a peeces, I am full of heauinesse: I loked for some to haue pitie on me, but there was none, and for some that shoulde comfort me, but I coulde fynde none.
They gaue me for meate, gall to eate: and when I was thirstie, they gaue me vineger to drynke.
Let their table be as a snare before them: and in steade of aboundaunce of peace, let it be a meanes of destruction.
Let their eyes be blynded that they see not: and euer bowe downe their loynes.
Powre out thine indignation vpon them: and let thy wrathfull displeasure take holde of them.
Let their habitation be desolate: and let no man dwell in their tabernacles.
For they persecute hym whom thou hast smitten: and they talke of the griefe of them whom thou hast wounded.
Let them fall from one wickednesse to another: and let them not enter into thy ryghteousnesse.
Let them be wyped out of the booke of the lyuyng: and not to be written among the ryghteous.
As for me I am afflicted and in heauinesse: thy sauing helpe O Lorde shal defende me.
I wyll prayse the name of the Lorde with a song: and magnifie hym with a solemne confession.
And it wyll please God: better then a bullocke that hath hornes and hoofes.
The humble wyll consider this and be glad, such as seke after God: and your soule shall lyue.
For God heareth the poore: & dispiseth not his prisoners.
Let heauen and earth prayse hym: the sea and all that moueth therin.
For the Lorde wyll saue Sion, and builde the cities of Iehuda: that men may dwel there and haue it in possessio{n}.
The posteritie also of his seruauntes shall inherite it: and they that loue his name shall dwell therin.
HAste thee] O Lorde to delyuer me: make haste to helpe me O God.
Let them be ashamed and confounded that seke after my soule: let them be turned backwarde and be put to confusion that wishe me euyll.
Let them be returned backwarde: for a rewarde of their shamyng [other] which say, there, there.
But let all those that seke thee be ioyfull and glad in thee: and let all such as delight in thy saluation say alway, the Lorde be magnified.
As for me I am poore and in miserie, hasten thee vnto me O Lorde: thou art my ayde and my delyuerer, O God make no long tarying.
IN thee O God I haue put my trust, let me neuer be put to confusion: ridde me and deliuer me in thy ryghteousnesse, incline thine eare vnto me, and saue me.
Be thou my strong holde whervnto I may alway resort: thou hast geuen a charge to saue me, for thou art my house of defence, and my castell.
Delyuer me O my Lorde out of the hande of the vngodly: out of the hande of the vnryghteous and cruell man.
For thou O Lorde God art the thyng that I long for: thou art my hope euen from my youth.
Through thee haue I ben mayntayned euer since I was borne: thou art he that toke me out of my mothers wombe, my praise shalbe alway of thee.
I am become as it were a monster vnto many: but my sure trust is in thee.
Oh let my mouth be fylled: with thy prayse and glorie all the day long.
Cast me not away in the tyme of age: forsake me not when my strength fayleth me.
For myne enemies speake against me: and they that lay awayte for my soule take their counsayle together.
They say, the Lorde hath forsaken hym: do you persecute hym and take hym, for there is none to delyuer hym.
Go not farre from me O Lorde: haste thee O my Lorde to helpe me.
Let them be confounded, let them be brought to naught that are agaynst my soule: let them be couered with shame and dishonour that seke to do me euyll.
As for me I wyll patiently wayte alway: and I wyll prayse thee more and more.
My mouth shall dayly speake of thy ryghteousnesse and saluation: for I knowe no ende therof.
I wyll go foorth in the strength of the Lorde God: [and] I wyll only make mention of thy ryghteousnesse.
Thou O God hast taught me from my youth: and hytherto I can well declare thy wonderous workes.
Wherfore whylest I am olde and am gray headed: O Lorde forsake me not, vntyll I haue shewed thy arme vnto [this] generation, and thy power to all them that are yet for to come.
And vntyll I [haue] exceedyngly exalted O Lorde thy ryghteousnesse: for great thynges are they that thou hast done, O Lorde who is lyke vnto thee?
Which hast made me to feele many great troubles and aduersities: yet returnyng thou hast reuyued me, yea returnyng thou hast caused me to come out from the bottome of the earth.
Thou hast brought me to greater honour then I had before: & thou returnyng hast comforted me on euery syde.
Therfore I wyll confesse vnto thee thy trueth O Lorde, playing vpon an instrument of musicke: vnto thee I wyl syng psalmes vpon the harpe O thou most holy [God] of Israel.
My lyppes wyll be ioyfull when I syng vnto thee: and so wyll my soule which thou hast redeemed.
My tongue also shal talke of thy righteousnesse all the day long: for they are confounded and brought vnto shame that seke to do me euyll.
O God geue vnto the kyng thy iudgementes: and thy ryghteousnesse vnto the kynges sonne.
[Then] he wyll iudge thy people accordyng vnto iustice: and thy afflicted accordyng to equitie.
The mountaynes also and hylles: shall bryng peace to the people by the meanes of ryghteousnesse.
He wyll iudge the afflicted amongst the people: he wyll saue the children of the poore, and subdue the oppressour.
They wyll feare thee as long as the sunne and moone shyneth: from one generation to another.
He wyll come downe lyke the rayne into a fleece of wooll: euen as the droppes that water the earth.
In his dayes the ryghteous wyll florishe: and there shalbe aboundaunce of peace so long as the moone endureth.
His dominion also shalbe from the one sea to the other: and from the fludde vnto the ende of the earth.
They that dwell in the wildernesse shal kneele before him: his enemies shal licke the dust.
The kyng of Tharsis and of the Iles shall offer presentes: the kynges of Sheba & Seba shall bring giftes.
All kynges wyll worshyp hym: all nations wyll do hym seruice.
For he wyll delyuer the poore when he cryeth: and the afflicted and hym that hath no helper.
He wyll haue compassion vpon the poore and needy: and he wyll preserue the soules of the poore.
He wyll delyuer their soules from deceipt and oppression: and their blood shalbe in his syght.
He wyll lyue, and he wyll geue to the poore of the golde of Sheba: and he wyll pray alwayes for hym, and dayly he wyll blesse hym.
A handfull of corne shall [be sowed] in the earth vpon the toppe of hylles: and the fruite therof shall make a noyse lyke Libanus, and shall florishe in the citie lyke grasse vpon the earth.
His name shall endure for euer, his name shalbe spread abrode to the world so long as the sunne shall shyne: all nations shalbe blessed in hym, and shall call hym blessed.
Blessed be God the Lorde: the Lorde of Israel which only doth wonderous thynges.
And blessed be the name of his maiestie for euer: and all the earth shalbe fylled with his maiestie. Amen, Amen.
TRuely the Lorde is very good vnto Israel: vnto such as haue a cleane heart.
Neuerthelesse, my feete were almost gone from me: my steppes had almost slypt.
For I enuied at the case of the foolishe: I sawe the wicked [flowe] in all kynde of prosperitie.
For there be no bondes of death that can holde them: and the galaries of their houses be strong.
They come in no misfortune lyke other folke: neither are they plagued lyke other men.
And this is the cause that pride compasse them rounde about: and crueltie couereth them as a garment.
Their eyes stande out for fatnesse: and the cogitations of their heartes do passe from them.
They make other dissolute, they speake oppression with iniurie: they talke proudely and presumptuously.
For they stretch foorth their mouth vnto the heauen: and their tongue goeth through the worlde.
Therfore [God] his people turneth thither: and there is drawen vnto them waters in a full [cuppe.]
And they say, howe shoulde God perceaue it? is there knowledge in the most hyghest?
Lo these vngodly and fortunate in the worlde: do possesse riches.
Truely I haue cleansed my heart in vayne: and wasshed my handes in innocencie.
All the day long I haue ben scourged: and chastened euery mornyng.
If I shoulde say that I woulde iudge after this sort: lo then I shoulde condempne the generation of thy children.
Therfore I considered howe I might vnderstande this: but it was to paynefull in myne eyes.
Vntyll I went vnto the sanctuarie of God: and vnderstood the ende of them.
Truely thou doest set them in slippery places: and castest them downe headlong for to be destroyed.
Oh howe be they brought to a destruction euen vpon a sodayne: they faynt, they consume away for very dread.
They be as a dreame to a man after he is once waked: O Lorde thou wylt cause their image to be dispised in the citie.
Veryly thus was my heart inflamed: thus was my reynes pricked.
So foolishe was I and voyde of vnderstanding: I was euen a bruite beast before thee.
Neuerthelesse I am alway with thee: for thou hast holden me by my ryght hande.
Thou hast guyde me with thy counsayle: and after that thou receauedst me with glorie.
Whom haue I in heauen but thee? and there is none vpon earth that I desire besides thee.
My fleshe and my heart fayleth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for euer.
For lo, they that kepe them selues a loofe from thee shall perishe: thou destroyest euery one that committeth fornication agaynst thee.
But it is good for me to come neare vnto God: [wherfore] I put my trust in thee O Lorde God, that I may declare all thy workes.
O Lorde wherfore dost thou forsake vs altogether? wherfore breaketh foorth thy anger agaynst the sheepe of thy pasture.
Remember thy congregation, thou hast possest it nowe a long tyme: thou hast redeemed the rodde of thine inheritaunce, euen mount Sion wherein thou dwellest.
Lyft vp thy feete for to destroy vtterly euery enemie: which hath done euyll in thy sanctuarie.
Thyne aduersaries roare in the myddest of thy congregations: and set vp their banners for signes [of victorie.]
He that hewed tymber afore out of thicke woddes [for to builde the temple:] was esteemed as one offeryng a present [to God] aboue.
But nowe they breake downe into peeces all the carued worke therof: with axes and hammers.
They haue set fire on thy holy places: they haue defiled the dwellyng place of thy name [castyng it downe] to the grou{n}d.
Yea, they sayde in their heartes, let vs make hauocke of them altogether: thus haue they burnt vp all the houses of God in the lande.
We see not our ensignes, there is not one prophete more: no not one is there amongst vs that vnderstandeth our case.
O Lorde shall the aduersarie do this dishonour continually? shall the enemie blaspheme thy name for euer?
Why withdrawest thou thy hande, yea thy right hande? consume [them, drawing] it out of thy bosome.
Truely God is my kyng of olde: who worketh saluation in the myddest of the earth.
Thou didst deuide the sea through thy power: thou brakest the heades of the dragons in the waters.
Thou smotest the heades of Leuiathan in peeces: and gauest hym to be meate for the people in wildernesse.
Thou broughtest out fountaynes and waters out of the harde rockes: thou dyddest drye vp mightie waters.
The day is thine, & the nyght is thine: thou hast prepared the light & the sunne.
Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast ordeyned summer and wynter.
Remember this O God, the enemie hath dishonoured: and the foolishe people hath blasphemed thy name.
O deliuer not the soule of thy turtle doue vnto a wylde beast: forget not the congregation of the poore for euer.
Loke vpon the couenaunt: for darknesse of the earth hath replenisshed houses with iniquitie.
O let not the simple go away ashamed: but let the afflicted & needy geue prayse vnto thy name.
Arise O Lord, mayntayne thine owne cause: remember the dishonour that the foolishe man [doth] vnto thee dayly.
Forget not the voyce of thine enemies: the mutteryng of them that hate thee ascendeth vp continually.
WE do confesse it vnto thee O lord, we do confesse it: for thy wonderous workes do declare thy name to be at hande.
When I shall take tyme fyt for the purpose: I wyll iudge accordyng vnto ryght.
The earth wasteth and all the inhabitours therof: I haue vpholded the pyllours of it. Selah.
I sayd vnto fooles deale not so madly: & to the vngodly set not vp your horne.
Set not vp your horne an high: [and] speake [not] with a stiffe necke.
Because promotion commeth neither from the east nor from the west: nor yet from the south.
For God is the iudge: it is he that putteth downe one, and setteth vp another.
For in the hande of God there is a cup, and the wine is redde: it is full mixt, and he powreth out the same.
But the vngodly of the earth do wring out: and drynke the dregges therof.
As for me I wyll euer set foorth in wordes [the Lorde]: I wyll sing psalmes to the God of Iacob.
And I wyll breake all the hornes of the vngodly: but the hornes of the ryghteous shalbe exalted.
IN Iurie is God knowen: his name is great in Israel.
At Shalem is his tabernacle: and his dwellyng in Sion.
There he brake the arrowes of the bowe: the shielde, the sworde, and the battayle. Selah.
Thou art honourable: and of more puissaunce then the mountaynes of robbers.
The hygh couragious stomackes are spoyled, they haue slept their slepe: and the valiaunt souldiours coulde not finde their owne handes.
At thy rebuke O God of Iacob: both the charet and horse be brought to naught.
Thou, euen thou art dreadfull: and who may stande in thy syght when thou [begynnest] to be angry?
Thou causest thy iudgement to be hearde from heauen: then the earth trembleth, and is styll.
When God ariseth to iudgement: and to helpe all the afflicted vpon the earth. Selah.
The fearcenesse of man shall turne to thy prayse: [and] the remnaunt of the fearcenesse thou wylt restrayne.
Make vowes vnto God your Lorde, & perfourme them all ye that be rounde about hym: bryng presentes vnto hym that is dreadfull.
He abateth the spirite of princes: he is dreadfull to the kynges of the earth.
MY voyce was vnto the Lorde, and I cryed: my voyce was vnto the Lord, and he hearkened vnto me.
In the tyme of my trouble I sought the Lorde: my hande all the nyght catched & ceassed not, my soule refused comfort.
I called to remembraunce God, and I was disquieted: I conferred with my selfe, and my spirite was wrapped in pensiuenesse. Selah.
Thou dydst kepe the watche of mine eies: I was amased & coulde not speake.
I dyd thynke vpon the dayes past: and on the yeres of the olde worlde.
I called to remembraunce my psalme, song on the musicall instrument in the nyght tyme: I communed with myne owne heart, & searched out my spirites.
What, wyll the Lorde forsake me for euer? wyll he be no more intreated to be fauourable?
Is his mercie cleane gone for euer? and is his promise made from one generatio{n} to another, come vtterly to an ende.
Hath God forgotten to be gratious? and will he shut vp his louing kindnesse in displeasure? Selah.
And I sayde, this is my death: but the ryght hande of the most hyghest [may graunt] me yeres.
I dyd call to reme{m}braunce the workes of God almightie: for thy wonders done a great whyle a goe came into my mynde.
I also gaue my selfe to muse of all thy workes: and I talked of all thy actes.
Thy way O Lorde is in holynesse: who is so great a God as the Lorde?
Thou art {th}e God that doth wonders: thou hast made thy power knowen among the people.
Thou hast redeemed thy people with a [mightie] arme: the sonnes of Iacob and Ioseph. Selah.
The waters sawe thee O God, the waters sawe thee, they feared: yea the depthes of them moued out of their place.
Thicke cloudes powred downe rayne, thinne cloudes gaue a noyse: and thine arrowes went abrode into al corners.
The sounde of thy thunder was rounde about the [sky]: the lightnynges shone through the worlde, the earth quaked and trembled.
Thy way is in the sea, and thy pathes in the great waters: and thy footesteppes are not knowen.
Thou dydst leade thy people lyke sheepe: by the hande of Moyses and Aaron.
HEare my lawe O my people: enclyne your eares vnto the wordes of my mouth.
I wyll open my mouth in a parable: I wyll declare harde sentences of the olde tyme past.
Which we haue hearde and knowen: and such as our fathers haue tolde vs.
We wyll not hyde them from their children: nay we wyll set foorth in wordes to the generation to come, the prayses of God, and his myght and wonderfull workes that he hath done.
For he reuiued a statute in Iacob, and gaue Israel a lawe: in the whiche he commaunded our forefathers to teache their children.
To the intent the posteritie shoulde knowe it, [and] children whiche shalbe borne: that they shoulde ryse vp and declare it to their children.
That they shoulde put their trust in God, and not forget the workes of God: but kepe his commaundementes.
And that they be not as their forefathers [were] a rebellious and a mutable generation: a generation that directed not their heart aright, and whose spirite cleaued not stedfastly vnto God.
[Like as] the children of Ephraim, which beyng harnessed & carying bowes: turned their backes in the day of battayle.
They kept not the couenaunt of God: and they woulde not walke in his law.
But they forgat his workes: and his wonders which he had shewed them.
Marueylous thinges dyd he in the sight of their fathers: in the land of Egypt, in the fielde of Zoan.
He deuided the sea and let them go thorowe: he made the waters to stande as on an heape.
In the day time also he led them with a cloude: and all the night through with a light of fire.
He cloued the harde rockes in the wildernes: & gaue them drinke therof, as it had ben out of the great deepe waters.
He brought running streames out of a stonie rocke: and caused waters to gushe downe, like as out of riuers.
Yet for all this they sinned still against hym: so that they prouoked the most hyghest in the wildernesse.
And they temped god in their heartes: in requiring meate for their lust.
They spake against God: they said, can God prepare a table in the wildernesse?
Beholde, he hath smytten the stonie rocke, and waters haue gushed out, and streames haue flowed out aboundantly: but can he likewise geue bread, can he prouide fleshe for his people?
Wherefore God hearde [them,] he was wroth, a fire was kindled in Iacob: and there arose vp heauy displeasure against Israel.
Because they beleued not in the Lord: nor did put their trust in his saluation.
And yet he commaunded the cloudes aboue: and opened the doores of heauen.
He raigned downe Manna also vpon them, that they shoulde eate: and gaue them corne from heauen.
[So] man dyd eate the bread of angels: he sent them meate inough.
He remoued the east winde from vnder the heauen: and through his power he brought in the south winde.
He rained fleshe vpon them as thycke as dust: and fethered foules like as the sande of the sea.
He let it fall among their tentes: euen rounde about their pauilions.
So they dyd eate and were wel filled, for he gaue them their owne desire: neuerthelesse they were not alienated from their lust.
But whyle the meate was yet in their mouthes, the heauy wrath of God came vpon them, and slue the welthyest of them: and made the chosen men of Israel to stoupe.
For all this they sinned still: and beleued not his wonderous workes.
Therfore their dayes dyd he consume in vanitie: & their yeres in a short [troublous] time.
When he slue them, they sought hym: they repented them, and made God their morninges worke.
And they remembred that the Lorde was their rocke: & that the Lorde most hyghest was their redeemer.
Neuerthelesse they dyd but flatter him with their mouth: and they made hym a lye with their tongue.
For their heart was not vpright with him: neither continued they faythfull in his couenaunt.
Yet for all that he beyng most merciful: cleane pardoned all their misdeedes, and destroyed them not.
Yea many a tyme he dyd much for to represse his anger: and neuer woulde suffer his whole rage to breake out.
For he considered that they were but fleshe, and that they were euen a winde that passeth away & co{m}meth not againe.
How oft dyd they prouoke hym in the wildernes: & greeued hym in the desert?
They turned backe and tempted the Lorde: and prescribed boundes to the most holy [God] of Israel.
They thought not of his hande: in the day when he redeemed them from the enemie.
Howe he had wrought his miracles in Egypt: and his wonders in the fielde of Zoan.
For he turned into blood their riuers & fluddes: so that they might not drinke.
He sent amongst them all kind of flyes who dyd eate them: and frogges who destroyed them.
He gaue their fruites vnto the caterpiller: & their labour to the grashopper.
He destroyed their vines with hayle stones: and their wilde figge trees with the harde frost.
He smote their cattell also with haylestones: and their flockes with thunder boltes.
He cast vpon them the rage of his furie, anger, disdayne, and trouble: by sending foorth euill angels amongst them.
He made away to his indignatio{n}, & spared not their soule from death: he gaue their lyfe to be subiect to the pestilence.
And he smote all the first borne of Egypt: the first fruites of concupiscence in the pauilions of Cham.
But as for his owne people, he led them foorth like sheepe: and conducted them through the wildernesse like a flocke of cattell.
He brought them out safely that they shoulde not feare: and ouerwhelmed their enemies with the sea.
And brought them within the borders of his sanctuarie: euen to this mountayne which his right hand purchased.
He dyd cast out the heathen also before them: he caused their land to be deuided among the{m} for an heritage, & made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tentes.
Neuerthelesse, they tempted and displeased the most hyghest Lorde: & kept not his testimonies.
They turned backewarde, and they went astray like their forefathers: they started aside like a bowe that breaketh.
For they stirred hym to anger with their hygh places: and prouoked him to ielousie with their carued images.
When the Lorde hearde this, he was wroth: & toke sore displeasure at Israel.
So that he forsoke the tabernacle in Silo: the pauilion [wherin] he dwelt amongst men.
He deliuered his force into captiuitie: and his glorie into the enemies hande.
He gaue also his people ouer to {th}e sword: and was wroth with his inheritaunce.
Fire consumed his young men: and his maydens were not maryed.
His priestes were slayne with the sworde: and his wydowes made no lamentation.
But the Lorde awaked as though he had slept: like a giaunt making a triumphant noyse after wine.
He smote his enemies in the hynder parts: & put them to a perpetual shame.
He refused the tabernacle of Ioseph: and chose not the tribe of Ephraim.
But he chose the tribe of Iuda: euen the hill of Sion which he loued.
And there he buylded his temple on high: and layde the foundation of it like a grounde euer to continue.
He chose also Dauid his seruaunt: and toke hym away from the sheepefoldes.
As he was folowing the ewes great with young he toke hym: that he might feede Iacob his people, and Israel his inheritaunce.
So he fed them according to the simplicitie of his heart: and guided them by the discretion of his handes.
O Lord, the heathen are come into thyne inheritaunce: they haue defiled thy holy temple, they haue made Hierusale{m} an heape [of stones]
They haue geuen the dead bodies of thy seruauntes to be meate vnto the soules of the ayre: and the fleshe of thy saintes vnto the beastes of the lande.
They haue shed their blood like water on euery syde of Hierusalem: and there is none to burie them.
We are become an open shame vnto our neyghbours: a very scorne and derision vnto them that are rounde about vs.
O God, howe long wylt thou be angry? shall thy ielousie burne lyke fire for euer?
Powre out thine indignation vpon the Heathen that haue not knowen thee: and vpon the kingdomes that haue not called vpon thy name.
For they haue deuoured Iacob: and layde waste his dwelling place.
O remember not against vs sinnes that be past, with all speede let thy tender mercy preuent vs: for we are brought very lowe.
Helpe vs O Lord of our saluation for the glory of thy name: deliuer vs, and be mercyfull vnto our sinnes for thy names sake.
Wherefore do the Heathen say, where is nowe their God? let the vengeaunce of thy seruauntes blood that is shed, be [openly knowen] amongst the Heathen in our sight.
Let the sorowfull sighing of the prisoners come before thee, accordyng vnto the greatnes of thy power: preserue thou those that [are] appoynted to dye.
And rewarde thou our neighbours seuen folde into their bosome: their blasphemie wherewith they haue blasphemed thee O God.
So we who be thy people and sheepe of thy pasture wyll confesse thee for euer: and we wyll alway set foorth in wordes thy prayse, from generation to generation.
HEare O thou shephearde of Israel, thou that leadest Ioseph lyke a sheepe: and thou that sittest vpon the Cherubims, shew thy gratious presence.
Before Ephraim, Beniamin, and Manasses: stirre vp thy strength, and come for to saue vs.
Turne vs agayne O Lorde: shewe the light of thy countenaunce, and we shalbe saued.
O God, Lorde of hoastes: howe long wylt thou be angry at the prayer of thy people?
Thou feedest them with the bread of teares: and geuest them plenteously teares to drinke.
Thou hast made vs a strife vnto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh vs to scorne.
Turne vs agayne thou Lorde of hoastes: shewe the light of thy countenaunce, and we shalbe saued.
Thou dydst translate a vine out of Egypt: thou didst cast out the Heathen, and planted it.
Thou madst roome before it: thou causedst it to take roote, and it hath filled the lande.
The hilles were couered with her shadowe: and goodly high Cedar trees with her bowes.
She stretched out her braunches vnto the sea: and her bowes vnto the riuer.
Why hast thou then broken downe her hedge: that all they whiche go by plucke of her grapes?
The wylde bore out of the wood rooteth it vp: and the wylde beast of the fielde deuoureth it.
Turne thee agayne thou God of hoastes I pray thee: loke downe from heauen, beholde and visite this vine and vineyarde that thy ryght hande hath planted, and the young braunche which thou hast fortified for thy selfe.
It is brent with fire and cut downe: they shall perishe at the rebuke of thy countenaunce.
Let thy hande be vpon the man of thy right hande: and vpon the sonne of man whom thou hast fortified for thyne owne selfe.
And so we wyll not go backe from thee: thou shalt reuiue vs, and we wyll call vpon thy name.
Turne vs agayne O God, Lorde of hoastes: shewe the light of thy countenaunce, and we shalbe saued.
SIng we meryly vnto the Lorde our strength: make a chearefull noyse vnto the Lorde of Iacob.
Take the psalterie: bryng hyther the tabret, the merie harpe, with the lute.
Blowe vp the trumpet in the newe moone, euen in the time appointed: and vpon our solempne feast day.
For this was made a statute for Israel: and a lawe of the God of Iacob.
This he ordayned in Ioseph for a testimonie, when he came out of the lande of Egypt: [where] I hearde a tongue [whiche] I knewe not.
I eased his shoulder from the burthen: and his handes ceassed from making pottes.
Thou calledst vpon me in troubles, and I deliuered thee: I hearde thee out of the middest of a thunder, I proued thee also at the waters of strife. Selah.
[Then I sayd] heare O my people: and I wyll geue thee a charge O Israel in protesting vnto thee.
If thou wylt hearken vnto me, there shall be no straunge God in thee: neither shalt thou geue worship to any other Lorde beside me.
I am God thy Lorde which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wyde, and I wyll fill it.
But my people woulde not heare my voyce: and Israel would not [obey] me.
So I gaue them vp vnto the wicked cogitations of their owne heartes: and I did let them folowe their owne imaginations.
O that my people woulde haue hearkened vnto me: O that Israel had walked in my wayes.
I should soone haue tamed their enemies: and turned myne hande against their aduersaries.
The haters of God shoulde haue ben founde liers: and their time should haue endured for euer.
He woulde haue fed them also with the finest wheate flowre: and I would haue satisfied thee with honie out of the stonie rocke.
GOD standeth in the congregation of God: he iudgeth in the midst of God.
Howe long wyll ye geue wrong iudgement: and accept the persons of the vngodly? Selah.
Iudge ryght vnto the poore and fatherlesse: dispatch according to iustice suche as be afflicted and in neccessitie.
Deliuer the poore and outcast: saue them from the hande of the vngodly.
They knowe nothyng, they vnderstande nothing: they walke on styll in darknesse, [wherfore] all the foundations of the earth be out of course.
I haue sayde ye are gods: and ye all are chyldren of the most highest.
But ye shall dye lyke as a man [doth:] and princes them selues shall fall away lyke as other [do.]
Arise O God, and iudge thou the earth: for thou shalt take all Heathen to thine inheritaunce.
HOlde not thy tongue O Lorde: kepe not styll scilence, refraine not thy selfe O Lorde.
For beholde, thyne enemies make an vprore: and they that hate thee, haue lifted vp their head.
They haue deuised shrewde counsell against thy people: and they haue consulted against thyne, whom thou defendest.
They haue said, come, and let vs roote them out, that they be no more a people: and that the name of Israel may be no more in remembraunce.
For they haue conspired all in one minde: & are confederate against thee.
The pauilions of Edom and the Ismaelites: of Moab, and Hagerites,
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalec: the Philistines with the inhabitauntes of Tyre.
Assur also is ioyned vnto them: they were a great ayde to the chyldren of Lot. Selah.
But do thou vnto them, as vnto Midian: as vnto Sisera, as vnto Iabin at the brooke Kishon.
Whiche perished at Ein Dor: and became as the doung of the earth.
Make them, their princes, [and] al their captaynes: lyke Oreb, and lyke Zeeb, and lyke Salmunna.
Whiche sayd, let vs take to our selues: the houses of God in possession.
O my Lorde, make them lyke vnto a wheele: and as chaffe before the winde.
Lyke as a fire that burneth vp the wood: and as the flambe that consumeth the mountaynes.
Persecute them euen so with thy tempest: and make them afrayde with thy storme.
Make shame to appeare in their faces: that they may seeke thy name O God.
Let them be confounded and astonied with feare euer more & more: let them be put to shame, and perishe.
And let them knowe that thou in thy name God eternall art only: O thou the most highest ouer all the earth.
O How amiable are thy dwellinges: thou God of hoastes?
My soule hath a desire and a longing to enter into the courtes of God: my heart and my flesh leapeth with ioy for to go to the liuing Lorde.
Yea the sparowe hath founde her an house, and the swallowe a nest: where she may lay her young: euen thy aulters O God of hoastes, my king & my Lord.
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they wyll be alway praysyng thee. Selah.
Blessed is that man whose strength is in thee: [thy] wayes are in their heart.
They iourneying through the vale of teares: (yea when euery cesterne [at their name] is filled with water) do accept it for a [fayre pleasaunt] well.
They wyl set forward fro{m} a stoute courage to a stoute courage: that the God of Gods may be seene of them in Sion.
O God Lorde of hoastes heare my prayer: geue eare O God of Iacob. Selah.
Beholde O Lorde our shielde: and loke vpon the face of thyne annointed.
For one day in thy courtes, is better then a thousande [els where]: I had rather be a doore keper in the house of my God, then to dwell in [large] tabernacles of vngodlynes.
For God the Lorde is a sunne and a shielde: God geueth grace and worship, he withholdeth no good thyng from them that liue in any perfection.
O God of hoastes: blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee.
O God, thou art become gracious vnto thy land: thou hast brought Iacob agayne home out of captiuitie.
Thou hast forgeuen the wickednes of thy people: and couered all their sinnes. Selah.
Thou hast taken away al thy displeasure: and turned thy selfe from thy wrathfull indignation.
Turne vs O God of our saluation: and let thyne anger ceasse from vs.
Wilt thou be displeased at vs for euer? and wylt thou stretche out thy wrath from one generation to another,
Wylt thou not turne agayne and reuiue vs: that thy people may reioyce in thee?
Shew vs thy louing kindnes O God: and graunt vs thy saluation.
I wyll hearken what God the Lord saith: for he speaketh peace vnto his people & to his saintes, that they turne not agayne to folly.
For truely his saluation is nye them that feare him: insomuch that glory dwelleth in our earth.
Mercy and trueth are met together: righteousnes and peace haue kissed [eche other.]
Trueth shall bud out of the earth: and ryghteousnes shall looke downe from heauen.
Yea, God shall geue all that is good: and our earth shall geue her encrease.
[Euery man] shall cause righteousnes to go before him: and he shall direct his steppes in the way.
BOw downe thine eare O God, and heare me: for I am poore and in miserie.
Preserue thou my soule, for I am holy: my God saue thy seruaunt that putteth his trust in thee.
Be mercifull vnto me O God: for I do call dayly vpon thee.
Comfort the soule of thy seruaunt: for vnto thee O Lord do I lift vp my soule.
For thou Lorde art good and gracious: and of great mercy vnto all them that call vpon thee.
Geue eare O God vnto my prayer: and be attentiue vnto the voyce of my humble petitions.
I call vpon thee in the day of my trouble: for thou hearest me.
Among the gods there is none like vnto thee O Lorde: there is not one that can do as thou doest.
All nations whom thou hast made, shall come and worship thee O Lorde: and shall glorifie thy name.
For thou art great and doest wonderous thinges: thou art God alone.
Teache me thy way O God, and I wyll walke in thy trueth: make my heart all one with thyne, that it may feare thy name.
I wyll acknowledge thee O Lorde my God with all my heart: and I wyl glorifie thy name for euer.
For great is thy mercy towarde me: and thou hast deliuered my soule from the lowest [part of] hell.
O God, the proude are rysen against me: a companie of outragious naughtipackes haue sought after my soule, and haue not set thee before their eyes.
But thou O Lorde art a God full of compassion and mercy: long yer thou be angry, plenteous in goodnes and trueth.
Turne thy face vnto me, and haue mercy vpon me: geue thy strength vnto thy seruaunt, and helpe the sonne of thine handmayde.
Shewe some good token of thy fauour towardes me, that they whiche hate me may see it and be ashamed: because thou God hast helped me, and comforted me.
GOD loueth the gates of Sion more then all the dwellynges of Iacob: [for] her foundations are vpon the holy hilles.
Very excellent thinges are spoken of thee: O thou citie of God. Selah.
I wyll make mention amongst those that knowe me, of Egypt and Babylon: behold also of Palestina and Tyre, with Ethiopia, [and it shalbe sayde] suche a man is borne there.
But of Sion it shalbe reported, that very many be borne in her: and the most highest him selfe shall establishe her.
God wyll number in the register of the people: euery one that is borne there. Selah.
And the singers aswell as the players of instrumentes: yea al my fountaines are in thee.
O God the Lorde of my saluation, I crye day and night before thee: let my prayer enter into thy presence, encline thyne eare vnto my crying.
For my soule is full of miserie: and my life toucheth the graue.
I am counted as one of them that go downe vnto the pit: and I am nowe become a man that hath no strength.
I am free among the dead: like such as beyng kylled lye in a graue, whom thou remembrest no more, and are cut away from thy hande.
Thou hast layde me in the lowest pit: in darknes and in deepenes.
Thyne indignation sore presseth me: and thou hast vexed me with all thy stormes. Selah.
Thou hast put away myne acquaintaunce farre fro me, and made me to be abhorred of them: I am shut vp, I can not get foorth.
My sight fayleth through my affliction O God: I haue called dayly vpon thee, I haue stretched out mine handes vnto thee.
Wylt thou worke a miracle amongst the dead? or shal the dead rise vp againe [and] acknowledge thee? Selah.
Shall thy louing kindnes be talked of in the graue? or thy faythfulnes in destruction?
Shall thy wonderous workes be knowen in the darke? and thy righteousnes in the lande of forgetfulnes?
But vnto thee do I crye O God: and my prayer commeth early in the morning before thee.
O God, why abhorrest thou my soule: and [why] hidest thou thy face from me?
I am in miserie, I labour euen from my youth with the panges of death: I haue suffered thy terrours, [and] I am styll in doubt.
Thyne indignation hath gone ouer me: and thy terrours haue vndone me.
They came rounde about me dayly lyke water: and compassed me altogether on euery syde.
Thou hast put a way farre from me my frende and neighbour: [thou hast hid] mine acquaintaunce out of sight.
I Wyll sing alwayes of the mercy of God: with my mouth I wyll make knowen thy trueth from one generatio{n} to another.
For I sayde, mercy shall for euer endure: thou hast established thy trueth in the heauens.
I haue made a couenaunt with my chosen: I haue sworne vnto Dauid my seruaunt.
I wyll establishe thy seede for euer: and buylde vp thy throne from generation to generation. Selah.
O God, the very heauens shall confesse thy wonderous workes: and thy trueth in the congregation of saintes.
For who is he in the cloudes that shal matche God: [and who] is like vnto God amongst the children gods?
God is very terrible in the assemblie of saintes: and to be feared aboue al them that are about him.
O God, Lorde of hoastes, who is like vnto thee a most mightie Lorde: and thy trueth is on euery side thee.
Thou rulest the ragyng of the sea: when her waues aryse, thou delayest them.
Thou hast brought Egypt in so bad a case as if it were wounded: thou hast scattered thyne enemies abrode with thy mightie arme.
The heauens are thine, the earth also is thine: thou hast layde the foundation of the rounde worlde, and of all the plentie that is therin.
Thou hast made the north and the south: Tabor and Hermon do reioyce in thy name.
Thou hast a mightie arme: thy hand is strong, and thy right hand is exalted.
Iustice and iudgement is the foundation of thy throne: mercy and trueth shall go before thy face.
Blessed is the people that knoweth a triumphant noyse: O God, they shal walke in the light of thy countenaunce.
They shall make them selues merie dayly in thy name: and in thy righteousnes they shall exalt them selues.
For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy louing kindnes thou wylt lift vp our hornes.
For our shielde is of God: and our king is of the most holy of Israel.
Thou hast spoken somtimes in visions vnto thy saintes: and hast sayde, I haue added ayde vpon the mightie, I haue exalted one chose{n} out of the people.
I haue founde Dauid my seruaunt: I haue annoynted him with myne holye oyle.
Therfore my hande shalbe assured vnto him: and mine arme shall strengthen hym.
The enemie shal not be able to do him violence: the sonne of wickednesse shall not afflict hym.
I wyll breake into peeces his foes before his face: and ouerthrowe them that hate hym.
My trueth also and my mercy shalbe with hym: and in my name shall his horne be exalted.
I wyll set also his dominion in the sea: and his right hande in the fluddes.
He shall make inuocation vnto me: [saying] thou art my father O my God, and my fortresse of saluation.
And I will make him my first borne: in higher state then kinges of the earth.
My mercy wyll I kepe for hym euermore: and my couenaunt shal stand fast with hym.
His seede also wyll I make to endure for euer: and his throne as the dayes of heauen.
But if his chyldren forsake my lawe, and walke not in my iudgement: if they breake my statutes, and kepe not my commaundementes,
I will then visite their transgressions with a rodde: and their wickednesse with stripes.
Neuerthelesse, my louyng kyndnesse I wyll not take vtterly from hym: I wyl not breake my promise with hym.
I wyll not violate my couenaunt: nor alter the thyng that is gone out of my lyppes.
I haue sworne once by my holynesse: that I wyll not speake an vntrueth vnto Dauid.
His seede shall endure for euer: and his throne shalbe as the sunne before me.
[And] as the moone which shall continue for euermore: and shalbe a faithful witnesse in heauen. Selah.
But thou hast abhorred & forsake{n} thine annoynted: & art sore displeased at him.
Thou hast broken the couenaunt of thy seruaunt: thou hast disgraced his crowne, [castyng it] on the grounde.
Thou hast ouerthrowe{n} all his walles: and broken downe his strong holdes.
All they that go by the way spoyle hym: he is become a rebuke vnto his neyghbours.
Thou hast exalted the ryght hande of his enemies: and made all his aduersaries to reioyce.
Thou hast turned the harde edge of his sworde: and thou hast not lifted him vp in the battayle.
Thou hast brought his noble estate to an ende: and hast cast his throne downe to the grounde.
Thou hast shortened the dayes of his youth: and thou hast couered him with shame. Selah.
O God howe long wylt thou hyde thy selfe? for euer? shall thy wrath burne lyke fire?
Remember what I am, howe short my tyme is of lyfe: wherfore hast thou created in vayne all the sonnes of men?
What man is he that lyueth and shall not see death? can he delyuer his owne soule from the hande of hell? Selah.
Lorde where are become thy former olde louyng kyndnesses: [which] thou dydst sweare vnto Dauid by thy fayth [that thou wouldest perfourme.]
Remember O Lorde the dishonour of thy seruauntes: I beare in my bosome [the dishonour of] all people that be mightie.
Who beyng thine enemies O God do dishonour: who do dishonour the footsteppes of thine annoynted.
Blessed be God for euermore: so be it, and so be it.
LOrde thou hast ben our habitation: from one generation to another generation.
Before the mou{n}taynes were brought foorth, or euer the earth & the worlde were made: thou art God both from euerlastyng, and also vntyll euerlastyng.
Thou turnest man most miserable euen vnto dust: thou sayest also, O ye children of men returne you into dust.
For a thousande yeres in thy syght are but as yestarday that is past: and as a watch in the nyght.
Thou makest them to flowe away, they are a sleepe: they be in the morning as an hearbe that groweth.
In the mornyng it florisheth and groweth vp: in the euenyng it is cut downe and wythered.
For we be consumed through thy displeasure: and we are astonyed through thy wrathfull indignation.
Thou hast set our misdeedes before thee: and our sinnes wherof we be not priuie, in the lyght of thy countenaunce.
For all our dayes do passe in thine anger: we spende our yeres as [in speaking] a worde.
The dayes of our yeres be in all threescore yeres and tenne, and yf through strength [of nature] men come to foure score yeres: yet is their iolitie but labour and care, yea moreouer it passeth in haste from vs, and we flee from it.
Who regardeth the force of thy wrath? for euen there after as a man feareth thee, so [feeleth he] thy displeasure.
Make vs to knowe so our dayes, that we number them: and we wyll frame a heart [vnto] wisdome.
Turne agayne O God (what, for euer [wylt thou be angry?) and be gratious vnto thy seruauntes.
Replenishe vs early in the mornyng with thy mercie: and we wyll crye out for ioy, and be glad all the dayes of our lyfe.
Make vs mery accordyng to the dayes that thou hast afflicted vs: and accordyng to the yeres wherin we haue suffred aduersitie.
Let thy worke appeare in thy seruauntes: and thy glory in their children.
And let the glorious maiestie of the Lorde our God be vpon vs: and prosper thou the worke of our handes vpon vs, O prosper thou our handy worke.
WHosoeuer sitteth vnder the couer of the most highest: he shal abide vnder the shadowe of the almightie.
I wyll say vnto God, thou art my hope and my fortresse: my Lorde, in whom I wyll trust.
For he wyll delyuer thee from the snare of the hunter: and from the noysome pestilence.
He wyll couer thee vnder his wynges, & thou shalt be safe vnder his fethers: his faythfulnesse shalbe thy shielde and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afrayde of any terrour of the nyght: nor of any arrowe that fleeth by day,
Nor of any pestilence that walketh in the darknesse: nor of any deadly fyt that destroyeth at hygh noone.
A thousande shall fall beside thee, and ten thousande at thy ryght hande: but it shall not come nygh thee.
Thou only with thine eyes shalt beholde: & see the rewarde of the vngodly.
For thou O God art my hope: thou hast set thine habitation very hygh.
There shall no euyll lyght on thee: neither shall any plague come nye thy dwellyng.
For he wyll geue his angels charge ouer thee: to kepe thee in all thy wayes.
They wyll beare thee in [their] handes: that thou hurt not thy foote agaynst a stone.
Thou shalt set thy foote vppon the Lion and Adder: the young Lion and the Dragon thou shalt treade vnder thy feete.
Because he hath set greatly his loue vpon me, therfore wyll I deliuer hym: I wyll set hym vp out of all daunger, because he hath knowen my name.
He shall call vpon me, and I wyll heare hym: yea I am with hym in trouble, I wyll deliuer hym, and bryng hym to honour.
I wyll satisfie hym with a long lyfe: and I wyll cause hym to see my saluation.
IT is a good thyng to confesse vnto God: and to syng psalmes vnto thy name O thou most hyghest.
To set foorth in wordes thy louyng kyndnesse early in the mornyng: and thy trueth in the nyght season.
Vpon an instrument of ten strynges, and vpon the Lute: vpon the Harpe with a solemne sounde.
For thou God hast made me glad thorowe thy workes: I do reioyce in the workes of thy handes.
O God howe glorious are thy workes? thy thoughtes are very depe.
An vnwise man doth not consider this: and a foole doth not vnderstande it.
Wheras the vngodly do bud vp greene as the grasse, and wheras all workers of iniquitie do florishe: that they [notwithstandyng] shalbe destroyed for euer and euer.
But thou O God: art the most highest for euermore.
For lo, thine enemies O God, lo thine enemies shall perishe: & all the workers of wickednesse shalbe destroyed.
But my horne shalbe exalted lyke the horne of an vnicorne: for I am annoynted with excellent oyle.
And myne eye shall see those that lye in wayte for me: myne eare shall heare the malitious persons that rise vp agaynst me.
The ryghteous shall florishe lyke a paulme tree: and shall spread abroade like a Cedar in Libanus.
Such as be planted in the house of God: shall florishe in the courtes of our Lorde.
They shall styll bryng foorth fruite in their age: they shalbe fat and florishyng.
For to set foorth in wordes that God is vpright: he is my rocke, and no iniquitie is in hym.
GOd raigneth, he is clothed with a glorious maiestie, God is clothed with strength: he hath girded hym selfe, he hath made the worlde so sure that it can not be moued.
Euer since the [worlde] began, thy throne hath ben set sure: thou art from euerlastyng.
The fluddes are risen O God, the fluddes haue lyft vp their noyse: the fluddes haue lyft vp their waues.
God which is on high, is more puissau{n}t then the noyse of many waters: then the mightie waues of the sea.
Thy testimonies are most certayne: holynesse is an ornament to thine house O God in all tymes.
O God the Lord of [all] auengeaunce: the Lorde of [all] auengeaunce shewe thy [glorious maiestie.]
Be exalted O thou iudge of the world: and rewarde the proude after their deseruyng.
O God howe long shall the vngodly: howe long shall the vngodly triumph?
All such as be workers of iniquitie: they babble, they prate stoutly, they make boastes of them selues.
They oppresse thy people O God: and they afflict thine heritage.
They murther the wyddowe and the straunger: & put the fatherlesse to death.
And they say, tushe the Lorde seeth it not: neither doth the God of Iacob vnderstande it.
Vnderstande ye vnwyse among the people: O ye fooles, when wyll ye be well aduised?
He that hath planted the eare, shall he not heare? yf he shapeth the eye, shall he not see?
He that chasteneth the heathen, shall not he punishe? it is he that teacheth man knowledge.
God knoweth the thoughtes of man: that they are but vanitie.
Blessed is the man O Lorde, whom thou wylt chasten: and whom thou wylt instruct in thy lawe.
That thou mayest geue hym patience in tyme of aduersitie: vntyll the pyt be digged vp for the vngodly.
For God wyll not reiect his people: neither wil he forsake his inheritaunce.
For iudgement shalbe reduced vnto iustice: and after it shall all such as be vpryght of heart [be iudged.]
Who will ryse vp with me agaynst the malicious? or who wyll take my part agaynst workers of wickednesse?
If God had not ben an ayde vnto me: it had not fayled much but my soule had dwelled in silence.
But when I sayde my foote hath slypped: thy mercy O God helde me vp.
In the multitude of my cogitations from the bottome of my heart: thy comfortes dyd recreate my soule.
Shall the seate of wickednesse haue any thyng to do with thee: which [seate] maketh wrong to be enacted for a law?
They flocke together agaynst the soule of the ryghteous: and condemne the innocent blood.
But God is to me a refuge: and my Lorde is the rocke of my confidence.
And he wyll recompence them their wickednesse, and destroy them in their owne malice: God our Lorde wyll destroy them.
COme let vs syng vnto God: let vs make an heartie reioysyng with a loude voyce vnto the rocke of our saluation.
Let vs make speede to come before his face with a confession: let vs expresse vnto hym outwardly a heartie gladnesse with syngyng of psalmes.
For God is a great Lorde: and a great kyng aboue all gods.
In his hande are all the deepe corners of the earth: and the hygh toppes of hylles be his also.
The sea is his, and he made it: and his handes fashioned the drye lande.
Come, let vs worshyp and fall downe: let vs kneele before the face of God our maker.
For he is our Lorde: and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheepe of his hande.
To day yf ye wyll heare his voyce harden not your heartes as in the tyme of contention: as in the day of temptation in the wildernesse.
Whe{n} your fathers tempted me, proued me: [yea after] they had seene my worke.
Fourtie yeres long was I greeued with that generation: and I sayde this people erreth in heart, and they haue not knowen my wayes.
Vnto whom I sware in my wrath: that they shoulde not enter at all into my rest.
SYng you vnto God a newe song: sing ye vnto God all [that be in] the earth.
Syng ye vnto God and blesse his name: set foorth in wordes from day to day his saluation.
Declare his glory amongst the heathe{n}: and his wonderous actes amongst all the people.
For God is great and worthy of all prayse: he is more to be feared then all gods.
As for all the gods of the heathen they be but idoles: and it is God that made the heauens.
Honour and maiestie be before hym: power and excellentnesse be in his sanctuarie.
Geue vnto God O ye families of the people: geue vnto God glorie & power.
Geue vnto God glorie [due] vnto his name: bryng an offeryng, and come into his courtes.
Worshyp you God in the maiestie of holynesse: be you in dread of his face all [that be in] the earth.
Set it foorth in wordes among the heathen that God raigneth: and that the worlde is set of a sure foundation, it shall not be remoued, he wyll iudge the people accordyng to equitie.
The heauens shall reioyce, and the earth be glad: the sea shall make a noyse and all that is therin.
The fielde shalbe ioyfull and all that is in it: then shall all the trees of the wood reioyce before the face of God.
For he commeth, for he commeth to iudge the earth: he will iudge the world accordyng to iustice, and the people accordyng to his trueth.
GOD raigneth, the earth shalbe glad: the multitude of the Iles shalbe glad [therof.]
Cloudes and thicke darknesse are rounde about hym: iustice and iudgement are the habitation of his throne.
There goeth a fire before his face: and burneth his enemies on euery syde.
His lightninges gaue a lyght vnto the worlde: the earth sawe it and trembled.
The hylles melted lyke waxe at the presence of God: at the presence of the Lorde of the whole earth.
The heauens haue declared his iustice: and all the people haue seene his glorie.
Confounded be all they that do seruice vnto carued images: and that do glorie in idols, but O gods, you all shall worshyp hym.
Sion hearde of it, and reioyced: and the daughters of Iuda be glad, because of thy iudgementes O God.
For thou art a God hygher then all [that are in] the earth: thou art exalted farre aboue all gods.
You that loue God, hate the thyng which is euyll: he preserueth the soules of his saintes, he wyll delyuer them from the hande of the vngodly.
There is sowen a lyght for the ryghteous: and gladnesse for such as be vpryght of heart.
Reioyce in God O ye ryghteous: and prayse [hym] at the remembraunce of his holynesse.
SYng vnto God a newe song: for he hath done marueylous thynges.
With his owne right hande and with his holy arme: he hath gotten to hym selfe the victorie.
God hath declared his saluation: he hath openly shewed his iustice in the syght of the heathen.
He hath remembred his mercie and trueth towarde the house of Israel: and all the endes of the worlde haue seene the saluation of our Lorde.
Shewe your selues ioyfull vnto God all ye [in] the earth: make a ioly noyse, reioyce you chearfully, & syng psalmes.
Syng psalmes vnto God [playing] vpon an harpe: vpon an harpe, and with the sounde of a psalterie.
Shewe your selues ioyfull before the kyng eternall: with trumpettes and sounde of shawmes.
Let the sea make a noyse, and that is within it: the rounde worlde, and they that dwell therin.
Let the fluddes clappe their handes: and let the hylles be ioyfull altogether before the face of God.
For he commeth to iudge the earth: he wyll iudge the worlde accordyng to iustice, & the people accordyng to equitie.
GOD raigneth, the people be in a rage: he sitteth [betweene] the Cherubims, the earth quaketh.
God is great in Sion: and high aboue all people.
They shall prayse thy name great & dreadfull: [for] it is holy, and a kynges power [that] loueth iudgement.
Thou hast ordeyned [all thynges] accordyng to equitie: thou hast caused iudgement and iustice to be in Iacob.
Magnifie God our Lorde: and kneele downe before his footstoole, for it is holy.
Moyses & Aaron among his priestes, and Samuel among such as call vpon his name: [these] called vpon God, and he hearde them.
He spake vnto them out of the cloudy pyller: for they kept his testimonies, and the lawe [that] he gaue them.
O God our Lord thou heardest them, O Lorde thou didst forbeare them: and thou tokest auengement for their owne inuentions.
Magnifie God our Lorde, and kneele downe before his holy hyll: for God our Lorde is holy.
BE ye ioyfull in God all that be in the earth: serue God with gladnesse, and come before his face with a ioyfull noyse.
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.
Go your way into his gates with thankesgeuyng, and into his courtes with prayse: be thankfull vnto hym [and] blesse his name.
For God is gratious, his mercie is euerlastyng: and his trueth [endureth] from generation to generation.
I Will sing of mercie and iudgement: I wyll syng vnto thee O God psalmes.
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.
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.
A frowarde heart shall depart from me: I wyll not once knowe [any] euyll.
I will destroy him who priuily slaundereth his neighbour: I wyll not suffer hym who hath a proude loke and a great stomacke.
Myne eyes shalbe vpo{n} 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.
There shall no deceiptfull person haue any seate in my house: he that telleth lyes shall not tary long in my syght.
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.
HEare my prayer O God: and let my crying come in vnto thee.
Hyde not thy face from me in {th}e day of my distresse: encline thine eare vnto me, heare me spedyly in the day that I call.
For my dayes are consumed away like smoke: and my bones are burnt vp as though they were a firebrande.
My heart is smitten downe and wythered lyke grasse: because I did forget to eate my bread.
Through the noyse of my gronyng: my bones wyll scase cleaue to my fleshe.
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.
Myne enemies reuile me all the day long: and they that are in a rage against me, make their oth by me.
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.
My dayes fade away lyke a shadowe: and I am wythered lyke grasse.
But thou O God endurest for euer: and thy remembraunce throughout all generations.
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.
For thy seruauntes be well affected towarde her stones: and it pitieth them to see her in the dust.
And the heathen wyll feare thy name O God: and all the kynges of the earth thy glorious maiestie.
For God wyll buylde vp Sion: to be seene in his glorious maiestie.
He wyll regarde the prayer of the humble destitute of all helpe: and he wyll not dispise their prayer.
This shalbe written for those that come after: and the people which shalbe borne, shall prayse the Lorde.
For he hath loked downe from his high sanctuarie: out of heauen did God beholde the earth.
That he might heare the mourninges of such as be in captiuitie: and delyuer the children of death.
That they may declare {th}e name of God in Sion: and his prayse at Hierusalem.
When people were gathered together, & kyngdomes to serue God: he afflicted my strength in the way, he shortened my dayes.
But I say, O my God take me not away in the middest of myne age: as for thy yeres, they endure throughout all generations.
Thou hast before tyme layde the foundation of the earth: and the heauens are the worke of thy handes.
They shall perishe, but thou wylt remayne styll: they all shall waxe olde as doth a garment, and as a vesture thou wylt chaunge them, and they shalbe chaunged.
But thou art, and thy yeres can not fayle: the children of thy seruauntes shal dwell, and their seede shalbe maynteyned in thy syght.
BLesse God O my soule: and all that is within me [prayse] his holy name.
Blesse God O my soule: and forget not all his benefites.
Who forgeueth all thy wickednesse: and healeth all thine infirmities.
Who redeemeth thy lyfe from destruction: [and] crowneth thee with mercie and louyng kyndnesse.
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good thynges: causyng thy youth lyke an Egles to be renued.
God executeth iustice and iudgement: for all them that are oppressed with wrong.
He made his wayes knowen vnto Moyses: his workes vnto the children of Israel.
God is full of compassion and pitie: loth to be angry, and exceedyng great in mercie.
He vseth not to continue in chydyng: neither reserueth he [his anger] for euer.
He dealeth not with vs accordyng to our sinnes: nor rewardeth vs according to our wickednesse.
For accordyng to the hyghnesse of heauen aboue the earth: his mercie preuayleth to them that feare hym.
[Loke] howe farre distaunt the east is from the west: so farre a sunder setteth he our sinnes from vs.
Yea lyke as a father pitieth [his owne] children: euen so is God mercifull vnto them that feare hym.
For he knoweth wherof we be made: he remembreth that we are but dust.
The dayes of man are as [the dayes] of an hearbe: he florisheth as a flowre in the fielde.
For the winde passeth ouer it, and it is no more [seene]: and the place therof knoweth it no more.
But the mercifull goodnesse of God endureth for euer and euer, vpon them that feare hym: and his righteousnesse vpon childers children.
Euen vpon such as kepe his couenaunt: and thinke vpon his commaundementes to do them.
God hath prepared his seate in heauen: and his kyngdome ruleth ouer all.
Blesse God O ye his angels mightie in operation: who fulfyll his worde in hearkening vnto the voyce of his word.
Blesse God all ye his hoastes: you his ministers that do his pleasure.
Blesse God all you his workes in all places of his dominion: O my soule blesse thou God.
MY soule blesse thou God: O God my Lord thou art become exceeding great, thou hast put on glory and maiestie.
Who is decked with light as it were with a garment: spreadyng out the heauens like a curtayne.
Who seeleth his vpper chaumbers with waters: and maketh the cloudes his charriot, and walketh vpon the wynges of the wynde.
He maketh his angels spirites: and his ministers a flaming fire.
He hath layde the earth sure vpon her foundations: that it can neuer moue at any tyme.
Thou coueredst it with the deepe, lyke as with a garment: the waters stande vpon the hilles.
At thy rebuke they flee: at the noyse of thy thunder they bluster downe apace.
The hilles mount aloft: and the valleys settle downe beneath vnto the place where thou hast layde a foundation for them.
Thou hast set them their boundes which they shall not passe: neither shall they returne agayne to couer the earth.
Who also causeth the springes which runne betweene the hilles: to flowe into the riuers.
All beastes of the fielde drinke therof: and the wylde asses quench their thirst.
The foules of the ayre haue their habitation nigh vnto them: singing out of the midst of the bowes [of trees.]
He watereth the hilles from aboue: the earth is replenished with the fruite of thy workes.
He causeth grasse to growe for cattell: and hearbes for the vse of man.
That he may bryng foorth foode out of the earth: both wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oyle to make hym haue a chearefull countenaunce, & also bread to strengthen mans heart.
The trees of God be satisfied: euen the Cedars of Libanus which he hath planted.
Wherin the birdes make their nestes: in the fyrre trees the storke buyldeth.
The high hilles are a refuge for goates: and so are the stonie rockes for comes.
He hath made the moone for certayne seasons: and the sunne knoweth his goyng downe.
Thou makest darknes and it is night: wherein all the beastes of the forrest do go abrode.
The Lions do roare after a pray: and in seeking their meate of God.
When the sunne ariseth, they recoyle backe: and lay them downe to rest in their dennes.
Man goeth foorth to his worke: and to do his seruice vntyll the euening.
O God howe manyfolde are thy workes? thou hast made them al in wisdome, the earth is ful of thy ryches.
So is the sea it selfe large and wyde in compasse: wherein are thinges creeping innumerable, both small and great beastes.
There go the shippes, and there is that Leuiathan: whom thou hast made to take his pastime therin.
These wayte all vpon thee: that thou mayest geue them meate in due season.
When thou geuest it them, they gather it: and when thou openest thyne hand, they are filled with that which is good.
When thou hydest thy face, they are troubled: when thou takest away their spirite, they dye, and are turned agayne to their dust.
When thou sendest out thy spirite, they be recreated: and thou reuiuest the face of the earth.
The glorious maiestie of God shal endure for euer: God wyll reioyce in his workes.
He beholdeth the earth, & it trembleth: he toucheth the hilles, and they smoke.
I wyll syng vnto God as long as I liue: I will sing psalmes vnto my Lord so long as I shall be.
My meditations of hym shalbe very pleasaunt: for all my ioy shalbe in God.
As for sinners they shalbe consumed out of the earth: and the vngodly shall come to an ende, blesse thou God O my soule, [and] prayse you the Lorde.
COnfesse you [it] vnto God, call vppon his name: cause the people to vnderstande his deuises.
Sing vnto hym, sing psalmes vnto him: talke you of all his wonderous workes.
Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them reioyce that do seeke God.
Seeke God and his strength: seeke his face euermore.
Remember the meruaylous workes that he hath done: his wonders, and the iudgementes of his mouth.
O ye seede of Abraham his seruaunt, ye his chosen chyldren of Iacob: he is God our Lord, his iudgementes are in all the earth.
He hath ben mindfull alwayes of his couenaunt (for he promised a worde to a thousande generations:) euen of his couenaunt that he made with Abraham, and of his othe vnto Isaac.
And he appointed the same vnto Iacob for a law: and to Israel for an euerlasting couenaunt.
Saying, vnto thee I wyll geue the lande of Chanaan: the lot of your inheritaunce.
When they were a fewe men in number, and had ben straungers but a litle whyle in it: and when they went from one nation to another, from one kingdome to another people.
He suffred no man to do them wrong: yea he reproued euen kynges for their sakes.
Touche not mine annoynted: and triumph not ouer my prophetes.
Moreouer he called for a famine vpon the lande: and he made all maner of foode to fayle.
But he had sent a man before them: euen Ioseph, who was solde to be a bonde seruaunt.
Whose feete they dyd hurt in the stockes: the iron entred into his soule.
Vntill the tyme came that his cause [was knowen:] the worde of the Lorde tryed hym.
The king sent and caused hym to be let go: yea the prince of the people opened a way foorth for hym.
He made him Lorde of his house: and ruler of all his substaunce.
That he might enfourme his princes according to his minde: and teache his senatours wysdome.
Israel also came into Egypt: & Iacob was a straunger in the lande of Cham.
And he encreased his people exceedinglye: and made them stronger then their enemies.
Whose heart so turned that they hated his people: and dealt subtilly with his seruauntes.
[Then] he sent Moyses his seruaunt, and Aaron whom he had chosen: they did their message, workyng his signes among them, and wonders in the lande of Cham.
He sent darknes, & it was darke: and they went not from his wordes.
He turned their waters into blood: and slue their fishe.
Their lande brought foorth frogges: yea euen in their kinges chaumbers.
He spake the worde, and there came a swarme of all maner of flyes: [and] of lyce in all their quarters.
He gaue them haylestones for rayne: [and] flambes of fire in their lande.
He smote their vines also & figge trees: and he destroyed the trees that were in their coastes.
He spake the worde, and the grashoppers came: & caterpillers innumerable.
And they did eate vp all the grasse in their lande: and deuoured the fruite of their grounde.
He smote al the first borne in their land: euen the first fruites of all their concupiscence.
He also brought them foorth with siluer and golde: there was not one feeble person in their tribes.
Egypt was glad at their departing: for they were smytten with dread of them.
He spred out a cloude to be a couering: and fire to geue light in the night season.
The [people] required and he brought quayles: and he filled them with the bread of heauen.
He opened the rocke of stone and the waters flowed out: so that streames ranne in drye places.
For he remembred his holy worde: [spoken• vnto Abraham his seruaunt.
And he brought foorth his people with gladnes: [and] his chosen with a ioyfull noyse.
And he gaue them the landes of the Heathen, and they toke to inheritaunce the labours of the people.
To the intent that they shoulde kepe his statutes: and obserue his lawes. Prayse ye the Lorde.
COnfesse you [it] vnto god, for he is gratious: and his mercy endureth foreuer.
Who can expresse the valiaunt actes of God: who can publishe abrode all his prayse?
Blessed are they that kepe iudgement: and do iustice at all times.
Remember me O God according to the fauour that thou bearest vnto thy people: O visite me with thy saluation.
That I may see the felicitie of thy chosen, that I may reioyce at the gladnes of thy people: [and] that I may glorie with thyne inheritaunce.
We haue sinned with our fathers: we haue done amisse and dealt wickedly.
Our fathers did not well consider thy wonders in Egypt, neither did they remember thy manifolde great goodnes: but they rebelled at the sea, euen at the red sea.
Neuerthelesse, he saued them for his names sake: that he myght make his power to be knowen.
And he rebuked the red sea, and it was dryed vp: so he led them through the deepe, as through a wyldernesse.
And he saued them from the hande of suche as hated them: & redeemed them from the hande of the enemie.
As for their aduersaries the waters ouerwhelmed them: there was not one of them left remayning.
Then beleued they his wordes: and song prayse vnto him.
But within a very short whyle they forgat his workes: they woulde not wayte for his counsell.
And they were taken with a great lust in the wyldernesse: and they tempted God in the desert.
And he gaue them their desire: and sent leannes withal into their soule.
They enuied also at Moyses in the tentes: [and] at Aaron the saint of God.
So the earth opened and swalowed vp Dathan: and couered the company of Abiram.
And the fire was kindled in their company: the flambe brent vp the vngodly.
They made a calfe in Horeb: and worshipped the moulten image.
Thus they turned their glory: into the similitude of a calfe that eateth hay.
They forgat God their sauiour, who had done so great thynges in Egypt: wonderous workes in {th}e land of Cham, [and] terrible thinges at the red sea.
Wherfore he appointed to destroy them had not Moyses his chosen stand in the breache before hym: to turne away his wrathful indignation, lest he should destroy them.
Yea they thought scorne of the lande most to be desired: they gaue no credite vnto his worde.
But they murmured in their tentes: they would not hearken vnto the voyce of God.
Then lift he vp his hand against them, to geue them an ouerthrowe in the wildernesse: to geue their seede an ouerthrowe amongst the nations, and to scatter them in sundry landes.
They ioyned them selues vnto Baal Peor: they also did eate of the sacrifices of the dead.
And they prouoked the [Lorde] vnto anger with their owne inuentions: and a plague fell mightily amongst them.
Then stoode vp Phinehes, he executed iustice: and so the plague ceassed.
And that was imputed vnto hym for righteousnesse: in generation and generation for euermore.
They also prouoked [God] at the waters of strife: and all was not well with Moyses for their sakes.
For they had caused an alteration to be of his spirite: so that he spake vnaduisedly with his lippes.
Moreouer, they destroyed not the Heathen: as God commaunded them.
But they were mingled amongst the Heathen: and learned their workes.
Insomuch that they dyd seruice vnto their idols: whiche were to the{m} a snare.
Yea they sacrifised their sonnes: and their daughters vnto deuils.
And they shed innocent blood, euen the blood of their sonnes and of their daughters: whom they sacrifised vnto the idols of Chanaan, and the lande was defiled with blood.
Thus were they stayned with their owne workes: and went a whoryng with their owne inuentions.
Therfore was the wrath of God kindeled against his people: insomuch that he abhorred his owne inheritaunce.
And he gaue them ouer into the hand of the Heathen: and they that dyd hate them, were lordes ouer them.
Their enemies oppressed them: and brought them into subiection vnder their hande.
Many a time dyd [God] deliuer them, but they rebelled [against hym] with their owne inuentions: and were brought downe for their wickednes.
Neuerthelesse, he did beholde them in their aduersitie: in geuing eare to their complaint.
And he remembred his couenaunt: and repented, according to the multitude of his mercies.
Yea he made all those that led them away captiue: to pitie them.
Saue vs O God our Lorde, and gather vs from among the Heathen: that we may geue thankes to thy holy name, and glory of thy prayse.
Blessed be God the Lord of Israel fro{m} world to world without end: and let all people say, so be it. Prayse ye the Lord.
COnfesse you [it] vnto God: for he is gratious, and his mercy endureth for euer.
Let such as God did redeme speake: whom he hath redeemed from the hande of the enemie.
And whom he gathered out of the landes: from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
They went astray out of the way in solitarines •and• in wildernes, and found no citie to dwell in: they were hungry and thirstie, their soule fainted in them.
And they cry vnto god in their trouble: who deliuereth them fro{m} their distresse.
And he leadeth them foorth by the right way: that they might go to the citie inhabited.
O that men would confesse vnto God his louyng kindnesse: and his marueylous actes [done] to the chyldren of men.
For he satisfieth the greedie soule: and filleth the hungry soule with goodnes.
Suche as fit in darknesse and in the shadowe of death: beyng fast bounde in miserie and iron.
Because they went from the wordes of the Lorde: and lightly regarded the counsayle of the most highest.
Therfore he humbled their heart thorowe heauines: they fall downe, and there is none to helpe them.
And they cry vnto god in their trouble: who deliuereth the{m} out of their distresse.
For he bringeth them out of darknesse and out of the shadowe of death: and breaketh their bondes in sunder.
O that men would confesse vnto God: his louing kindnes and his marueylous actes [done] to the chyldren of men.
For he breaketh the gates of brasse: & smyteth the barres of iron in sunder.
Foolish men are plagued for their mischeuous wayes: & for their wickednes.
Their soule abhorreth all maner of meate: and they be euen harde at deathes doore.
And they crye vnto God in their trouble: who deliuereth them out of their distresse.
He sendeth his worde & healeth them: and he maketh them to scape safe from their corruptnes.
O that men would confesse vnto God: his louing kindnes and his marueylous actes [done] to the chyldren of men.
And that they would offer [vnto him] sacrifices of thankes geuing: and set foorth in wordes his workes with a ioyfull noyse.
Such as go downe to the sea in ships and folowe their busines in great waters: they see the workes of God, and his wonders in the deepe.
For he commaundeth and causeth a stormie winde to arise: and he lifteth vp on high his waues.
[Then] they ascende vp to heauen, and come downe agayne to the deepe: so that their soule melteth away through trouble.
They reele to and fro, and they do stacker like a drunken man: and their wysdome fayleth them.
And they cry vnto god in their trouble: who deliuereth the{m} out of their distresse.
For he maketh the storme to ceasse: so that the waues therof are still.
Then be they glad because they are at rest: and he bringeth them to the hauen where they woulde be.
O that men would confesse vnto god: his louyng kyndnes and meruaylous actes done to the chyldren of men.
And that they would exalt him in the congregation of the people: and prayse him in the consistorie of the aged.
He turneth fluddes into a wildernes: and waterspringes into a drye grounde.
He [maketh] a fruitfull grounde barren: for the wickednes of them that dwell therein.
[Contrary] he reduceth a wyldernes into a standing water: and a drye ground into water springes.
And he setteth there the hungry: and they buylde them a citie to dwell in.
And they sowe their lande and plant vineyardes: and they yelde [vnto them] aboundant store of fruites.
He blesseth them, so that they multiplie exceedingly: and he suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
But [when they do fall from God,] they are diminished & brought low: through oppression, calamitie, & griefe of minde.
He bringeth princes into contempt: & he maketh them to wander in a wildernesse where there is no way at all.
Yet he exalteth the poore out of miserie: and geueth him housholdes equall to flockes of cattell.
The righteous will marke [this] and reioyce: and the mouth of all wickednesse shalbe stopped.
Whosoeuer is wyse, he wyll both obserue these thinges: and also well consider the louing kindnesse of God.
MY heart is redye O Lorde: I wyll sing & prayse thee in singing of psalmes, yea my glory also is [redie.]
Bestirre thee O lute and harpe: I my selfe wil bestirre me right early in {th}e morning.
I wyll prayse thee O God among the people: I wyll sing psalmes vnto thee among the nations.
For the greatnes of thy mercy reacheth vnto the heauens: and thy trueth vnto the cloudes.
Exalt thy selfe O Lord aboue the heauens: and let thy glory [be] aboue all the earth.
That thy beloued may be deliuered: saue [me] with thy right hande, and heare thou me.
The Lorde hath spoken this in his holynes (whereof I wyll reioyce:) I wyll deuide Sichem, and measure the valley of Sucoth.
Gilead shalbe myne, and Manasses shalbe mine: Ephraim also shalbe the strength of my head, and Iuda my law geuer.
Moab shalbe my washpot: ouer Edome I wyll cast my shoe, vpon Philistea I wyll triumph.
Who wyll leade me into the strong citie? who wyll bring me into Edom?
Hast not thou remoued vs from thence? and wylt not thou O Lorde go out with our hoastes?
Geue vs ayde against trouble: for the sauing helpe of man is but vayne.
Through the Lorde wyll we do valiaunt actes: for he him selfe will treade downe our enemies.
HOlde not thy tongue: O thou the Lorde of my prayse.
For the mouth of the vngodly and the mouth of the deceiptfull is opened vpon me: they haue spoken against me with a false tongue.
And they haue compassed me about with hatefull wordes: and fought against me without a cause.
For the loue that I bare vnto them, they are become mine aduersaries: but I geue my selfe vnto prayer.
Thus haue they rewarded me euyll for good: and hatred for my good wyll.
Set thou an vngodly man to be ruler ouer him: and let Satan stande at his right hande.
When sentence is geuen vpon hym, let him be condemned: and let his prayer be turned into sinne.
Let his dayes be fewe: and let another take his office.
Let his chyldren be fatherlesse: and his wyfe a wydowe.
Let his children be vagaboundes and go a begging: and let them seeke [foode] out of their barren groundes.
Let the extortioner bryng into his snare all that he hath: and let straungers spoyle his labour.
Let there be no man to shewe hym any gentlenes: nor to haue compassion vpon his fatherlesse children.
Let his posteritie come to destruction: and in the next generation let his name be cleane put out.
Let the wyckednes of his fathers be had in remembraunce in the sight of God: and let not the sinne of his mother be wyped away.
Let them be alway before God: that he may roote out the memorial of them from the earth.
Because that he remembred not to do good: but he persecuted the afflicted and poore man, and hym whose heart was broken with sorow, that he might take his life from hym.
His delight was in cursing, and it shal happen vnto him: he loued not blessing, therfore it hath ben farre fro{m} him.
He clothed hym selfe with cursing, as with his garment: and it hath entred into his bowels like water, and like oyle into his bones.
Let it be vnto hym as the garment that he is wrapt in: and as the gyrdle that he is alway gyrded withall.
Let this rewarde be from God vnto myne aduersaries: and vnto those that speake euill against my soule.
But thou O God my Lorde, do vnto me according vnto thy name: for sweete is thy mercy.
Deliuer me, for truely I am afflicted: and I am poore, and my heart is wounded within me.
I passe away like a vading shadowe: and I am dryuen from place to place lyke the grashopper.
My knees are weake through fasting: my fleshe is dryed vp for want of fatnesse.
I am become also a reproche vnto them: they gase vpon me [and] they shake their head.
Helpe me O my Lorde: oh saue me according to thy mercy.
And let the{m} know how that this is thy hande: & that thou O God hast done it.
They will curse, but thou wylt blesse: they wyl rise vp •against me• but let them be confounded, and thy seruaunt wyll reioyce.
Let mine aduersaries be clothed with shame: & let them couer the{m}selues with their owne co{n}fusion, as with a garment.
As for me I will greatly prayse God with my mouth: and I wyll prayse hym among the multitude.
For he wyll stande at the right hande of the poore: to saue him from the iudges of his soule.
GOD sayd vnto my Lorde: sit thou on my right hande, vntyll I make thyne enemies thy footestoole.
God wyll sende the scepter of his power out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thyne enemies.
Thy people wyll be very wyllyng in the time [of shewing] thy most mightie power with a beautifull holynes: the deawe of thy byrth is to thee from the wombe [as] from the morning.
God sware and he wyll not repent: thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedec.
The Lorde at thy right hande: wyll wounde euen kinges in the day of his wrath.
He wyll iudge the Heathen: he wyll fill euery place with dead bodyes, he wyll smyte the head of a great countrey.
He wyll drinke of the swyft running brooke in the way: therfore he wyll lift vp his head.
I Wyll prayse God with my whole heart: in the congregation and assemblie of righteous men.
Great are the workes of God: sought out of all them that haue pleasure therin.
His worke is glory and maiestie: and his righteousnes endureth for euer.
The merciful and gratious God: hath so left a remembraunce of his meruaylous workes.
He hath geuen meate vnto them that feare him: he wyll euer be myndfull of his couenaunt.
He hath declared vnto his people the force of his workes: in geuing them the inheritaunce of the Heathen.
The workes of his handes are veritie and iudgement: all his commaundementes are true.
They be set sure for euer and euer: they are done in trueth and equitie.
He did sende redemption vnto his people: he hath commaunded his couenaunt [to be] for euer, holy and terrible is his name.
The beginning of wysdome is the feare of God: all they haue a good vnderstanding that do his commaundements, the praise of it endureth for euer.
BLessed is the man that feareth God: he hath great delight in his commaundementes.
His seede shalbe mightie vpon the earth: the generation of them that dwell vprightly, shalbe blessed.
Riches and plenteousnes shalbe in his house: and his righteousnes endureth for euer.
There ariseth vp light in the darknes: vnto them that deale vprightly he is merciful, and louing, and righteous.
A good man is mercyfull and lendeth: he wyll guyde his wordes with discretion.
For he shalbe neuer moued: and the righteous shall be had in an euerlasting remembraunce.
He wyll not be afraide of any euyll tidinges: his heart is setled, he beleueth in God.
His heart is strengthened, he will not feare: vntyll he seeth [a mischiefe to fall] vpon his enemies.
He hath distributed abrode, he hath geuen to the poore: his righteousnes remayneth for euer, his horne shalbe exalted with glory.
The vngodly shall see it, and it wyll greeue hym, he wyll gnashe with his teethe and consume away: the desire of the vngodly shall perishe.
PRayse God ye seruauntes: prayse ye the name of God.
Blessed be the name of God: from this time foorth for euermore.
The name of God is to be praysed: from the rising vp of the sinne, vnto the goyng downe of the same.
God is high aboue all Heathen: and his glory aboue the heauens.
Who is like vnto God our Lord that dwelleth on hygh aboue all: and yet humbleth him selfe to beholde the thinges that are in heauen and in earth?
He rayseth vp the simple out of the dust: and lyfteth vp the poore from the dounghyll.
For to make him sit with the princes: euen with the princes of his people.
He maketh the barren woman to kepe house: and to be a ioyful mother of children. Prayse ye the Lorde.
WHen Israel came out of Egypt: & the house of Iacob from among the barbarous people.
Iuda was his holynesse: and Israel his dominion.
The sea sawe that and fled: Iordane was driuen backe.
The mountaynes skypped lyke rammes: and the litle hilles like young lambes.
What ayleth thee O thou sea that thou fleddest? and thou Iordane that thou wast driuen backe?
Ye mountaines what [ayled] you that ye skipped lyke rammes: and ye litle hilles like young lambes?
Tremble thou earth at the presence of the Lorde: at the presence of the Lorde of Iacob.
Whiche turned the harde rocke into a standing water: and the flint stone into a springing well of waters.
GEue praise not vnto vs O God, not vnto vs, but vnto thy name: for thy louing mercy, and for thy truethes sake.
Wherfore shal the Heathen say: where is nowe their God?
Truely our Lorde is in heauen: he hath done whatsoeuer pleased him.
Their idols are siluer and gold: euen the workes of mens handes.
They haue a mouth and speake not: they haue eyes and see not.
They haue eares and heare not: they haue noses and smell not.
They haue handes and handle not, they haue feete and walke not: and they vtter no sounde out of their throtes.
They that make them are lyke vnto them: euery one that putteth his trust in them.
But Israel trust thou in God: he is their ayde and their shielde.
Ye house of Aaron trust you in God: he is their ayde and their shielde.
Ye that feare God, trust ye in God: he is their ayde and their shielde.
God hath ben myndfull of vs, he wyll blesse vs: he wyll blesse the house of Israel, he wyll blesse the house of Aaron.
He wyll blesse those that feare God: the small with the great.
God wyll encrease you more and more: both you and also your children.
Ye are the blessed of God: which made heauen and earth.
The heauen, the heauen [I say] is Gods: and he hath geuen the earth vnto the children of men.
The dead prayse not thee O Lorde: neither all they that go downe into the [place] of scilence.
But we wyll prayse the Lord: from this tyme foorth for euermore. Prayse ye the Lorde.
I Haue loued: because God hath hearde my voyce [and] my prayers.
Because he hath enclined his eare vnto me: therfore I wyll call vpon hym as long as I lyue.
The snares of death compassed me rounde about: and the paynes of hell toke holde on me.
I founde anguishe and heauinesse, but I called vpon the name of God: [saying] O God, I beseche thee deliuer my soule
Gratious is God and ryghteous: our Lorde is mercifull.
God gardeth the simple: I was brought to the extremitie, and he preserued me.
Returne O my soule vnto thy rest: for God hath rewarded thee.
For [thou O Lorde] hast deliuered my soule from death: myne eyes from teares, and my feete from fallyng.
I wyll walke before the face of God: in the lande of the lyuyng.
I beleued, therfore I wyll speake: I was sore afflicted, insomuch that I said in my rashnesse euery man is a lyer.
What rewarde shal I geue vnto God: for all the benefites that he hath done vnto me?
I wyll take the cuppe of saluation: and I wyll call vpon the name of God.
I wyll pay my vowes nowe vnto God: in the presence of all his people.
The death of his saintes: is precious in the eyes of God.
It is euen so O God, for I am thy seruaunt and the sonne of thy handemayde: thou hast loosed my bondes in sunder.
I wyll offer vnto thee the sacrifice of thankesgeuyng: and I wyll call vpon the name of God.
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.
O Prayse God all ye heathen: prayse hym all ye nations.
For his mercifull kyndnesse is euer more and more towarde vs: and the trueth of God endureth for euer. Prayse ye the Lorde.
O Confesse you [it] vnto God, for he is gratious: and his mercie endureth for euer.
Let Israel nowe confesse: that his mercie endureth for euer.
Let the house of Aaron nowe confesse: that his mercie endureth for euer.
Let them nowe that feare God: confesse that his mercie endureth for euer.
I called vpon the Lorde beyng in distresse: and the Lorde hath hearde me at large.
God is with me: I wyll not feare what man can do vnto me.
God is with me amongst them that ayde me: [therfore] I shall see [my desire] vpon them that hate me.
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.
All nations compassed me rounde about: [but I trusted] in the name of God that I shoulde destroy them.
They kept me in on euery syde, they kept me in I say on euery syde: [but I trusted] in {th}e name of God that I shoulde destroy them.
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 the{m}.
Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall: but God dyd ayde me
The Lorde is my strength and my song: and he is become my saluation.
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.
The ryght hande of God is on hygh: the right hande of God bryngeth mightie thynges to passe.
I shall not [as yet] dye, but I shal liue: and I wyll declare the workes of the Lorde.
The Lorde hath greatly chastened me: but he hath not geuen me ouer vnto death.
Open me the gates of ryghteousnesse, I wyll enter in by them: that I may geue thankes vnto the Lorde.
This is the gate of God: the ryghteous shall enter in by it.
I wyll thanke thee for that thou hast heard me: and art become my saluation.
The same stone which the buylders refused: is become the head stone of the corner.
This was the doyng of God: and it is marueylous in our eyes.
This is the day whiche God hath made: we wyll reioyce and be glad in it.
O God I pray thee nowe saue [vs]: O God I pray thee nowe geue [vs] prosperous successe.
Blessed be he that commeth in the name of God: we do blesse you out of the house of God.
It is the Lord God who hath geuen vs lyght: bynde a sacrifice with cordes vnto the hornes of the aulter.
Thou art my Lorde, and I wyll confesse it vnto thee: thou art my Lorde and I wyll magnifie thee.
O confesse you [it] vnto God, for he is gratious: and his mercie endureth for euer.
BLessed are those that be perfect in the way: walkyng in the lawe of God.
Blessed are they that kepe his testimonies: they seke hym with their whole heart.
Truely they walke in his wayes: who do no wickednesse.
Thou hast geuen charge: that we shoulde diligently kepe thy commaundementes.
I wishe that my wayes were directed: for to kepe thy statutes.
I shall take then no shame: when I haue regarde vnto all thy commaundementes.
I wyll confesse [it] vnto thee with an vpryght heart: when I shall haue learned the iudgementes of thy ryghteousnesse.
I wyll kepe thy statutes: [wherfore] forsake me not for any long tyme.
WHerby shall a young man refourme his way: euen in guiding it accordyng to thy worde.
I haue sought thee with my whole heart: suffer me not to swarue from thy commaundementes.
I haue hyd thy wordes within my heart: for this ende, that I shoulde not sinne agaynst thee.
Blessed art thou O God: teache me thy statutes.
I haue declared with my lyppes: all the iudgementes of thy mouth.
I am delighted in the way of thy testimonies: as in all maner of riches.
I wyll study thy commaundementes: and I wyll consider thy wayes.
My delyght shalbe in thy statutes: and I wyll not forget thy worde.
REwarde thy seruaunt, let me lyue: and I wyll kepe thy worde.
Open thou myne eyes: and I will beholde the wonderous thynges of thy lawe.
I am a straunger vpon earth: hyde not thy commaundementes from me.
My soule faynteth: for the very feruent desire that it hath alwaye vnto thy iudgementes.
Thou hast rebuked those that be proude and cursed: who do erre from thy commaundementes.
Withdrawe from me reproche and contempt: for that I haue kept thy testimonies.
Yea princes dyd syt and speake agaynst me: but thy seruaunt did geue hym selfe to the meditation of thy statutes.
Yea thy testimonies are my delyght: and my counsaylers.
MY soule cleaueth to the dust: reuiue thou me accordyng to thy worde.
I haue made a declaration to thee of my wayes, and thou heardest me: O teache me thy statutes.
Make me to vnderstande the way of thy commaundementes: and I wyll geue my selfe to the meditation of thy wonderous workes.
My soule melteth away for very heauinesse: comfort thou me accordyng to thy worde.
Take from me the way of falshood: & witsafe me worthy to haue thy lawe.
I haue chosen the way of trueth: & I haue layde thy iudgementes before me.
I haue stuck fast vnto thy testimonies: O God confounde me not.
I wyll runne the way of thy commaundementes: when thou shalt set my heart at libertie.
TEache me O God the way of thy statutes: and I wyll kepe it vnto the ende.
Geue me vnderstanding, & I wil kepe thy law: yea I wyll kepe it with my whole heart.
Leade me in the path of thy co{m}maundementes: for therin is my delyght.
Encline myne heart vnto thy testimonies: and not to couetousnesse.
Turne away myne eyes, lest they beholde vanitie: cause me to lyue in thy way.
Make thy worde more euident vnto thy seruaunt: who is [geuen] to thy feare.
Take away the reproche that I am afraide of: for thy iudgeme{n}tes are good.
Behold I haue coueted after thy commaundementes: cause me to lyue in thy ryghteousnesse.
LEt thy louing mercie also come vnto me O God: euen thy saluation, accordyng to thy worde.
And I shall aunswere to hym that layeth thy worde to me for a reproche: for in thy worde I haue put my trust.
Take not the worde of trueth vtterly out of my mouth: for my hope is in thy iudgementes.
And I wyll alway kepe thy lawe: yea for euer and euer.
And I wyll walke in a large scope: for I seke thy commaundementes.
I wyll also speake of thy testimonies before kinges: & I will not be ashamed.
And my delyght shalbe in thy commaundementes: which I haue loued.
And I wyll lyft vp my handes vnto thy commaundementes which I haue loued: & my study shalbe in thy statutes.
BE myndfull of thy promise made vnto thy seruaunt: wherin thou hast caused me to put my trust.
That same is my comfort in my affliction: for thy worde maketh me to lyue.
The proude haue had me exceedingly in derision: yet I haue not shrinked from thy lawe.
[For] I called to remembraunce thy iudgementes from the begynnyng of the worlde O God: and so I comforted my selfe.
An extreme vnnaturall heat hath assayled me, because of the vngodly: who transgresse thy lawe.
Thy statutes haue ben [my] songes: in the house of my pilgrimages.
I haue thought vpon thy name O God in the nyght season: and I haue kept thy lawe.
This came to passe for me: because I kept thy commaundementes.
THou art my portion O God: I haue purposed to kepe thy lawe.
I made myne humble petition to thy face with my whole heart: be mercifull vnto me according vnto thy word.
I haue considered mine owne wayes: and I haue turned my feete vnto thy testimonies.
I made haste and I made no delay: for to kepe thy commaundementes.
The vngodly haue tangled me in their snares: but I haue not forgotten thy lawe.
I wyll ryse at midnight to confesse me vnto thee: because of thy ryghteous iudgementes.
I am a companion of all them that feare thee: and kepe thy commaundementes.
The earth O God is replenished with thy louyng kyndnesse: O teache me thy statutes.
O God thou hast dealt gratiouslye with thy seruaunt: according vnto thy worde.
Learne me the good taste & cunning: for I haue beleued thy commaundementes.
Before I felt affliction I swarued out of the way: but nowe I kepe thy word.
Thou art good and beneficiall: teache me thy statutes.
The proude haue forged a false tale agaynst me: but I wyll kepe thy commaundementes with my whole heart.
Their heart is as fat as brawne: but my delyght hath ben in thy lawe.
It is good for me that I am brought into miserie: by that meanes I shall learne thy statutes.
The lawe of thy mouth is dearer vnto me: then thousandes of golde & siluer.
THy handes haue made me and fashioned me: geue me vnderstanding, and I will learne thy co{m}maundementes.
They that feare thee, shall see me, & reioyce: because I haue geuen earnest attendaunce vnto thy worde.
I know O God that thy iudgementes are iustice: and that thou hast caused me ryghtfully to be afflicted.
I beseche thee let thy louing kindnesse be a meanes to comfort me: accordyng to thy worde spoken vnto thy seruaunt.
Let thy pitifull mercies come vnto me, that I may lyue: for thy lawe is my delyght.
Let the proude be confounded, for they haue falsly reported me: but I wyll study thy commaundementes.
Let such as feare thee and knowe thy testimonies: returne vnto me.
Let myne heart be perfectly [set] in thy statutes: that I be not ashamed.
MY soule hath faynted after thy saluation: I geue earnest attēdaunce vnto thy worde.
Myne eyes haue faynted after thy worde: whylest I say, when wilt thou comfort me.
For I am become like a bottel [hanged] in the smoke: yet I do not forget thy statutes.
Howe many are the dayes of thy seruaunt? when wilt thou geue iudgement agaynst them that persecute me?
The proude haue digged pittes for me: which is [a thing] not [done] accordyng to thy lawe.
All thy commaundementes are the trueth it selfe: they wrongfully persecute me, O be thou my ayde.
They had almost made an ende of me vpon the earth: but I forsoke not thy commaundementes.
Make me to lyue accordyng to thy pietie: and I wyll kepe the testimonies of thy mouth.
O God: thy worde endureth for euer in heauen.
Thy trueth [appeareth] to euery generation: thou hast layde the foundation of the earth, and it shall continue.
[All thynges] continue this day accordyng to thine ordinaunce: for all thinges be thy seruauntes.
If my delight had not ben in thy lawe: I shoulde haue perished in myne affliction.
I wyll neuer forget thy commaundementes: for through them thou hast reuiued me.
I am thine, saue me: for I haue diligently studied thy commaundementes ouer.
When the vngodly layde wayte for me to destroy me: I endeuoured my selfe to vnderstande thy testimonies.
I see an ende of euery thing be it neuer so perfect: but thy commaundement is exceedyng large.
HOwe greatly do I loue thy lawe? my study is all the day long in it.
Thou hast made me wyser then myne enemies through thy commaundementes: for they are euer with me.
I am able to geue better instruction then all they that were my teachers: for thy testimonies are my study.
I am made to vnderstande more then the aged can: because I kept thy commaundementes.
I haue restrayned my feete from euery euyll way: that I may kepe thy worde.
I haue not shrinked from thy iudgementes: for thou didst teache me.
Howe sweete are thy wordes vnto my throte: truely [they be sweeter] then hony is to my mouth.
Through thy commaundementes I get vnderstandyng: therfore I hate all wayes of falshood.
THy worde is a candell vnto my feete: and a lyght vnto my pathes.
I haue made an oth (which I wil ratifie) for to kepe thy iuste iudgementes.
I am troubled aboue measure: quicken me O God accordyng vnto thy worde.
Let the freewyll offerynges of my mouth please thee O God: and teache me thy iudgementes.
My soule is alway in my hande: yet I do not forget thy lawe.
The vngodly haue layde a snare for me: but yet I swarued not from thy commaundementes.
I haue claymed thy testimonies as myne heritage for euer: for they are the very ioy of myne heart.
I haue applyed myne heart for to fulfyll thy statutes: euen to the worldes ende.
I Hate hygh subtile deuices: and I do loue thy lawe.
Thou art my refuge and my shield: I geue earnest attendaunce vnto thy worde.
Auoyde from me ye malicious [persons:] and I wyll kepe the commaundementes of my Lorde.
Strengthen me in thy worde and I shall lyue: and make me not ashamed of my hope.
Holde thou me vp and I shalbe safe: and I will loke gladly vpo{n} thy statutes alwayes.
Thou hast troden vnder foote all them that go astray from thy statutes: for their crafty deuice is but falshood.
Thou hast dispatched out of the way all the vngodly of the earth lyke drosse: therfore I loue thy testimonies.
My fleshe trembleth for feare of thee: and I am afrayde of thy iudgementes.
I Haue executed iudgement and iustice: [wherfore] leaue me not to such as do offer me wrong.
For thy owne goodnesse sake take thy seruaunt vnto thy protection: let not the proude oppresse me with wrong.
Myne eyes haue faynted with lokyng for thy saluation: and for the worde of thy [ryghteousnesse.]
Deale with thy seruaunt accordyng vnto thy owne louyng kyndnesse: and teache me thy statutes.
I am thy seruaunt, graunt me vnderstandyng: that I may knowe thy testimonies.
It is tyme for [me] to do for Gods cause: for they haue brought thy lawe almost to nothyng.
Therfore I loue thy commaundementes: aboue golde and precious stone.
Therfore I take all thy commaundementes euery one of them to be ryght: & I vtterly hate all wayes of falshood.
THy testimonies [contayne] wonderfull thinges: therfore doth my soule kepe them.
The first entering of thy wordes will illuminate: geuyng vnderstanding euen vnto the simple.
I opened my mouth and panted: for I bare a great affection to thy commaundementes.
Loke thou vpon me and be mercifull vnto me: as thou vsest to do vnto those that loue thy name.
Direct my steppes in thy worde: and so shall no wickednesse haue dominion ouer me.
Redeeme me from the fraudulent dealyng of men: and I wyll kepe thy commaundementes.
Make the lyght of thy countenaunce shyne vpon thy seruaunt: and teache me thy statutes.
Ryuers of waters gushe out of myne eyes: because men kepe not thy lawe.
O God: thou art iust and vpryght in thy iudgementes.
Thou hast commaunded the iustice and the veritie of thy testimonies: [to be obserued] very strayghtly.
My zeale hath consumed me: because myne aduersaries haue forgotten thy wordes.
Thy worde is purified to the vttermost: and thy seruaunt loueth it.
I am small and of no reputation: [yet] I do not forget thy co{m}maundementes.
Thy ryghteousnesse is an euerlastyng righteousnesse: & thy lawe is the trueth.
Trouble and griefe haue taken holde vpon me: yet thy commaundementes be my delyght.
The righteousnesse of thy testimonies is euerlastyng: make me to vnderstande [them] and I shall lyue.
I Haue called with my whole heart, heare me O God: I wyll kepe thy statutes.
I haue called vpon thee, saue me: and I wyll kepe thy testimonies.
I haue preuented [other] in the dawnyng of the day, and I cryed vnto thee: for I geue earnest attendaunce vnto thy wordes.
Myne eyes haue preuented the nyght watches: that my study might be wholy in thy wordes.
Heare my voyce accordyng to thy louing kindnesse: make me to lyue O God after thy iudgementes.
They that mynde to do an act of mischiefenesse, do drawe nye vnto me: they are farre from thy lawe.
But thou art nye at hande O God: and all thy co{m}maundementes be trueth.
As concernyng thy testimonies: I haue knowen long since that thou hast made them to last for euer.
BEholde myne affliction & deliuer me: for I haue not forgotten thy lawe.
Defende thou my cause & redeeme me: make me to lyue accordyng vnto thy worde.
Saluation is farre from the vngodly: for they study not thy statutes.
Thy mercies be manifolde O God: make me to liue accordyng to thy iudgementes.
There be many that do persecute me and be myne aduersaries: yet I do not swarue from thy testimonies.
I sawe transgressours, and I was greeued at the heart: because they kept not thy lawe.
Beholde howe I loue thy commaundementes: quicken me O God accordyng to thy louyng kindnesse.
The beginning of thy word is trueth: and all the iudgementes of thy ryghteousnesse endure for euermore.
PRinces haue persecuted me without a cause: but my heart hath stoode in awe of thy wordes.
I am as glad of thy worde: as he that fyndeth a great bootie.
That which is false I hate and abhorre: but thy lawe I do loue.
I do prayse thee seuen tymes euery day: for loue of the iudgementes of thy iustice.
They that loue thy lawe shall haue great prosperitie: and nothyng shall offende them.
Lorde, I haue wayted after thy saluation: and I haue done thy commaundementes.
My soule hath kept thy testimonies: and I haue loued them exceedyngly.
I haue kept thy commaundementes and testimonies: for all my wayes are before thee.
LEt my crye O God approche neare vnto thy face: make me to vnderstande [euery thyng] accordyng vnto thy worde.
Let my supplication come before thee: deliuer me accordyng to thy worde.
My lippes shall powre out [thy] prayse: when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
My tongue shall syng of thy worde: for all thy commaundementes are ryghteousnesse.
Let thyne hande be redie for to ayde me: for I haue chosen thy commaundementes.
I haue longed for thy saluation O God: and thy lawe is my whole delight
Let my soule lyue, and it shall prayse thee: and thy iudgementes shalbe an ayde vnto me.
I haue gone astray lyke a lost sheepe: oh seke out thy seruaunt, for I haue not forgotten thy commaundementes.
WHen I was in trouble I called vpon God: and he hearde me.
Deliuer my soule O God from false lyppes: & from a deceiptful tongue.
What doth a deceiptfull tongue vnto thee? what good bryngeth it thee?
[So much] as sharpe arrowes of a strong man [in thy sydes:] with Iuniper coales [powred on thy head.]
Wo be vnto me that am constrayned to be conuersaunt in Mesech: and to dwell among the tentes of Cedar.
My soule hath dwelt long: with hym that hateth peace.
I [am a man] of peace: but because I do speake therof, they [prepare] them selues to battayle.
I Will lift vp myne eyes vnto the hilles: from whence my helpe shall come.
My helpe commeth from God: who hath made heauen and earth.
He wyll not suffer thy foote to moue: he wyll not sleepe that kepeth thee.
Beholde, he that kepeth Israel: wyll neither slumber nor sleepe.
God hym selfe is thy keper: God is thy defence vpon thy ryght hande.
The sunne shal not hurt thee by day: neither the moone by nyght.
God wyll preserue thee from all euill: he wyll preserue thy soule.
God wyll preserue thy goyng out and thy commyng in: from this tyme foorth for euermore.
I Was glad when they sayde vnto me: we wyll go into the house of God.
Our feete shall stande in thy gates: O Hierusalem.
Hierusalem is builded: as a citie that is well vnited together in it selfe.
For the tribes do go vp thyther, euen the tribes of the Lorde: [which is] a testimonie vnto Israel for to prayse the name of God.
For there is ordeyned the seate for iudgement: euen the seate of the house of Dauid.
Pray for the peace of Hierusalem: they shall prosper that loue thee.
Peace be within thy walles: and plenteousnesse within thy palaces.
For my brethren and companions sakes: I wyll wyshe peace [to be] within thee.
Yea because of the house of God our Lord: I wyll procure to do thee good.
I Lyft vp myne eyes vnto thee: who dwellest in heauen.
Beholde, as the eyes of seruauntes loke vnto the hande of their maisters, and as the eyes of a mayden vnto the hande of her maistresse: euen so our eyes [wayte] vpon God our Lorde vntyll he haue mercie vpon vs.
Haue m•y vpon vs O God, haue mercy v••n vs: for we haue suffered enough of dispite.
Our soule is filled with the scornefull reprofe of the wealthy: and with the dispitefulnes of the proude.
IF God him selfe had not ben of our side Israel may now say: if God him self had not ben of our side when men rose vp against vs,
Then they had swalowed vs vp quicke: when their wrath was so inflamed against vs.
Then the waters had drowned vs: the running streame had flowed ouer our soule.
Then the waters of the proude: had flowed ouer our soule.
But blessed be God, whiche hath not geuen vs ouer for a pray vnto their teeth.
Our soule is escaped, euen as a byrde out of the snare of the fouler: the snare is broken, and we be escaped.
Our helpe is in the name of God: who hath made heauen and earth.
THey that put their trust in God [be] as the mount Sion: [whiche] may not be remoued [but] must stande fast for euer.
As for Hierusalem, hilles be rounde about it: and God is rounde about his people from this tyme foorth for euermore.
For the scepter of the vngodly shall not rest vpon the lot of the righteous: lest the righteous put their handes vnto wickednes.
Be beneficiall O God: vnto those that be good and vpright in their heart.
And such as do wander in their owne peruersnes, those God will cause to walke with the workers of wickednes: [so] peace [shalbe] vpon Israel.
WHen God shall cause them of Sion that were led into captiuitie for to returne: we shalbe as men that dreamed.
Then shall our mouth be filled with a laughter: and our tongue with a ioyfull noyse.
Then shall suche as be amongst the Heathen say: God hath brought great thinges to passe, that he myght do for them.
God hath brought great thinges to passe for vs: we be made merie.
Make vs O God that be led into captiuitie: for to returne as riuers into the south.
They that sowe in teares: shall reape in ioy.
He that goeth foorth on his way, and wepyng beareth pretious seede: shall doubtlesse returning, come againe with a ioyfull noyse, bryngyng his sheaues with hym.
IF GOD wyll not buylde the house, they labour in vayne that buylde it: if God kepe not the citie, the watchman waketh in vayne.
[As] it is a vayne thing for you that ye make haste to ryse vp early, that ye make delayes to take rest, eatyng the bread of sorowes: euen so he geueth sleepe to his welbeloued.
Beholde, chyldren be the inheritage of God: and the fruite of the wombe is a rewarde.
Like as arrowes be in the hande of the strong: euen so are the chyldren of youth.
Happy is the man that hath filled his quiuer with them: they shall not be ashamed when they speake with their enemies in the gate.
HE is blessed whatsoeuer he be that feareth God: walking in his waies.
For thou shalt eate the labours of thine handes: thou shalt be happy, and [all] shall go well with thee.
Thy wyfe shalbe as a fruitfull vine: vpon the sides of thyne house.
Thy chyldren [shalbe] like oliue braunches: rounde about thy table.
Beholde, for thus shall the man be blessed: that feareth God.
God wyll blesse thee out of Sion: and thou shalt see Hierusalem in prosperitie all the dayes of thy lyfe.
Yea thou shalt see thy chylders chyldren: and peace vpon Israel.
ISrael may now say: they haue troubled me often from my youth vp.
They haue troubled me often from my youth vp: but they haue not preuayled against me.
The plowemen plowed vpon my backe: they made long forrowes.
But God who is iust: hath cut a peeces the snares of the vngodly.
All they that beare an euyll wyll to Sion: shalbe confounded, and be made to turne backe from it.
They shall be as the grasse growing vpon the house toppes: whiche withereth afore that it be shot foorth [to his growth.]
Whereof the mower fylleth not his hande: neither he that byndeth vp the sheaues his armes full.
And they which go by, say not so much as the blessing of God be vpon you: we blesse you in the name of God.
OVt of the deepe I haue called vnto thee O God: O Lorde heare my voyce.
Let thine eares be attentiue: vnto the voyce of my petition for grace.
If thou O God wylt marke what is done amisse: O Lorde who can abide it?
For there is pardon of sinne with thee: that thou mayest be feared.
I haue wayted for God, my soule haue wayted [for hym:] and I haue reposed my trust in his worde.
My soule [listeth] more after God, then watchmen do after the morning: I say more then watchmen do after the mornyng.
Israel ought to trust in God, for there is mercy with God: and there is plenteousnes of redemption with him.
And he wyll redeeme Israel: from all his sinnes.
O God I am not hygh mynded, I haue no proude lokes: I haue not vsed to walke in greater & waightier matters then I ought to do.
Nay I haue restrayned my soule, and kept it lowe like a chylde that is weaned from his mother: yea my soule is within me as a weaned chylde.
O Israel repose thou thy trust in God: from this time foorth for euermore.
O God be mindfull of Dauid: with all his affliction.
Who swore vnto God: who made a vowe vnto the most mightie [Lorde] of Iacob.
[Saying] I wyll not enter into the tabernacle of my house: nor get vp into my bed.
I wyll not suffer myne eyes to slepe: nor myne eye liddes to slumber.
Vntill I finde out a place for the temple of God: an habitation for the most mightie Lorde of Iacob.
Beholde, we hearde it to be at Ephratha: we founde it in the fieldes of the forest.
We wyll go into his tabernacle: and fall downe on our knees before his footestoole.
Aryse O God [for to come] into thy resting place: thou and the arke of thy strength.
Let thy priestes be clothed with righteousnes: and let thy saintes make a ioyfull noyse.
For thy seruaunt Dauids sake: turne not away [from] the face of thyne annoynted.
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.
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.
For God hath chosen [to be in] Sion: he had a desire that it might be an habitation for hym.
This [is sayeth he] my rest for euer: heare I wyll dwell, for I haue a desire to it.
I wyll aboundauntly powre my blessinges vpon her victuals: and I wyll satisfie her poore with bread.
I wyll clothe her priestes with saluation: and her saintes shall make an exceeding ioyfull noyse.
I will make there the horne of Dauid to bud vp: I wyll ordayne a light for mine annoynted.
I wyll clothe his enemies with shame: but his crowne shall florishe vppon hym selfe.
BEholde howe good and howe pleasaunt a thing it is: that brethren dwel together in vnitie.
[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.
[It is also] like vnto the deawe of Hermon: whiche falleth downe vpon the hyll of Sion.
For God hath commaunded his blessing: [and] life euerlasting [to be] where is [suche concorde.]
BEholde, blesse God all ye the seruauntes of God: who in the nyght tyme remayne in the house of God.
Lyft vp your holy handes: and blesse God.
God who made heauen and earth: blesse thee out of Sion.
PRayse ye the Lorde, prayse ye the name of God: prayse it ye seruauntes of God.
Ye that stande in the house of God: in the courtes of the house of our Lord,
Prayse ye the Lorde, for God is gratious: sing psalmes vnto his name, for it is pleasaunt.
For the Lorde hath chosen Iacob vnto hym selfe: and Israel for his owne possession.
For I knowe that God is great: and that our Lorde is aboue all gods.
God doth whatsoeuer pleaseth hym in heauen and in earth: in the sea, and in all deepe places.
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.
He smote the first borne of Egypt: aswell of beast as of man.
He sent tokens and wonders into the mydst of thee O Egypt: against Pharao and all his seruauntes.
He smote many nations: and slue mightie kinges.
Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og the king of Bashan: and all the kingdomes of Chanaan.
And he gaue their lande for an inheritaunce: euen for an heritaunce to Israel his people.
Thy name O God endureth for euer: there wil be a remembraunce of thee O God, from one generation to another.
For God wyll iudge his people: and he will be pacified [beyng displeased] with his seruauntes.
As for the idols of the Heathen they are but siluer and golde: the worke of mens handes.
They haue a mouth and speake not: they haue eyes but they see not.
They haue eares and they heare not: yea there is no breath in their mouth.
They that make them are lyke vnto them: [and] euery one that putteth his trust in them.
Blesse God ye the house of Israel: blesse God ye the house of Aaron.
Blesse God ye the house of Leui: ye that feare God, blesse God.
Blessed be God out of Sion: who dwelleth at Hierusalem. Prayse ye the Lorde.
COnfesse you [it] vnto the Lord, for he is gratious: and his mercie [endureth] for euer.
Confesse you [it] vnto the God of Gods: for his mercy endureth for euer.
Confesse you [it] vnto the Lorde of Lordes: for his mercy endureth for euer.
Who onlye doth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for euer.
Who by his excellent wysdome made the heauens: for his mercy endureth for euer.
Who layde out the earth aboue the waters: for his mercy endureth for euer.
Who hath made great lightes: for his mercy endureth for euery.
The sunne to rule in the day: for his mercy endureth for euer.
The moone & the starres to gouerne in the night: for his mercy endureth for euer.
Who smote Egypt with their first borne: for his mercy endureth for euer.
And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for euer.
With a mightie hande and a stretched out arme: for his mercy endureth for euer.
Who deuided the red sea in partes: for his mercy endureth for euer.
And made Israel to passe through the mydst of it: for his mercy endureth for euer.
He ouerthrewe Pharao and his hoast in the red sea: for his mercy endureth for euer.
Who led his people through the wyldernesse: for his mercy endureth for euer.
Who smote great kinges: for his mercy endureth for euer.
And he slue mightie kynges: for his mercy endureth for euer.
Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for euer.
And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for euer.
And he gaue away their lande for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for euer.
For an heritage vnto Israel his seruaunt: for his mercy endureth for euer.
Who remembred vs when we were brought lowe: for his mercy endureth for euer.
And he deliuered vs from our aduersaries: for his mercy endureth for euer.
Who geueth foode vnto al creatures: for his mercy endureth for euer.
Confesse you [it] vnto the Lord of heauen: for his mercy endureth for euer.
BY the waters of Babylon we set downe there: also we wept when we remembred Sion.
We hanged vp our harpes on the Salou trees: in the mydst of it.
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.
[We aunswered] howe can we sing one of the songes of God: in another lande besides our owne?
If I forget thee O Hierusalem: let my right hande forget [her cunning.]
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.
Remember the chyldren of Edom in the day of Hierusalem: they sayde downe with it, downe with it, euen to the grounde.
O daughter of Babylon who must lye wasted: happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast serued vs.
Blessed shall he be: that taketh & throweth thy litle children against the stone.
I Wyll geue thankes vnto thee O God with my whole heart: I wyll sing psalmes vnto thee before the gods.
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.
For thou hast magnified thy name: and thy worde aboue all thinges.
In the day [of myne aduersitie] I called vpon thee, and thou heardest me: thou enduedst my soule more and more with strength.
All the kinges of the earth will prayse thee O God: for they haue hearde the wordes of thy mouth.
Yea they wyll sing of the wayes of God: for great is the glory of God.
For though God be on high: yet he will haue respect vnto the lowly, and he wyll knowe the proude a farre of.
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.
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.
O GOD thou hast searched me to the quicke: and thou hast knowen me.
Thou knowest my downe sitting & mine vprising: thou vnderstandest my thoughtes long before they be.
Thou compassest about my path, and my iourney into all coastes: and thou vsest all my wayes.
For there is not a word in my tongue: but beholde thou O Lorde knowest it altogether.
Thou hast fashioned me behinde and before: and layde thyne hande vpon me.
The knowledge that [thou hast] of me is marueylous: it is so high that I can not [attayne] vnto it.
Whyther can I go from thy spirite: or whyther can I flee away from thy face?
If I ascende vp into heauen, thou art there: if I lay me downe in hell, thou art there also.
If I take the wynges of the morning: and [go to] dwell in the vttermost part of the sea,
Euen there also thy hande shall leade me: and thy ryght hande shal holde me.
And yf I say peraduenture the darknesse shall couer me: and the night shal be day for me,
Truely the darknesse shall not darken any thing from thee, and the night shalbe as lightsome as the day: darknesse and lyght [to thee] are both alike.
For thou hast my reynes in thy possession: thou didst couer me in my mothers wombe.
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.
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.
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.
Howe precious be thy cogitations towardes me O God? howe greatly be the summe of them increased?
I go about to count them, I fynde that they are mo in number then the sande: and yet whyle I am wakyng I am styll with thee.
For truely thou wylt slay O Lord the wicked man: and the blood thirstie men [to whom I euer say] depart ye from me.
Who do speake vnto thee in guylefull maner: [thou art O God] exalted in vayne to thyne enemies.
Do not I hate them O God that hate thee? and am not I greeued with those that ryse vp agaynst thee?
Yea I hate them from the bottome of myne heart: euen as though they were myne enemies.
Searche me to the quicke O Lorde, and knowe thou myne heart: proue me and knowe thou my thoughtes.
And loke well yf there be any way of peruersenesse in me: and [then] leade me in the way of the worlde.
DElyuer me O God from the euyll man: and preserue me from the outragious man.
Who in heart imagine mischiefes: and set forwarde to warre euery day.
They haue sharpened their tongue lyke a serpent: Adders poyson is vnder their lyppes. Selah.
Kepe me O God from the handes of the vngodly: preserue me from the outragious man, who haue deuised to thrust my feete [from me.]
The proude haue layde a snare for me, and spread a net abroade with cordes in the hygh wayes: they haue set trappes for m• Selah.
I haue sayde vnto God, thou art my Lorde: heare the voyce of my prayers O God.
O Lorde God the strength of my saluation: thou hast couered my head in the day of battayle.
Graunt not vnto the vngodly [his] desires O God: bryng not to passe his mischeuous imagination [lest] they shoulde be made to proude. Selah.
Let the labour of his owne lippe couer him: [who is] head of them that compasse me about.
Let hotte coales be burnyng vpon them: he wyll cast them downe into the fire into deepe pittes, that they may neuer ryse vp agayne.
A man full of tongue can not prosper vpon the earth: euyll shall hunt the outragious person to ouerthrowe hym.
I am sure that God will dispatche the cause of the afflicted: and he wyll geue iudgement for the needy.
Truely the ryghteous wyll confesse it vnto thy name: they that deale vprightly shall dwell before thy face.
O God I call vpon thee, haste thee vnto me: geue eare vnto my voyce whylest I crye vnto thee.
Let my prayer be directed before thy face [as] an incense: let the liftyng vp of myne handes [be] an euenyng sacrifice.
Set a watch O God before my mouth: and kepe the doore of my lyppes.
Incline not myne heart to any euyll thyng, wherby I myght commit any vngodly act with men that be workers of iniquitie: and let me not eate of their delicates.
I wyshe that the ryghteous woulde smite me and reproue me: for it is louing kyndnesse.
But let not pretious baulmes breake myne head: for as yet euen my prayer is agaynst their wickednesse.
Let their iudges be thrust downe headlong from a rocke: then they wyll heare my wordes, for they be sweete.
Our bones lye scattered vpon the graues mouth: lyke as when one breaketh and heweth [wood] vpon the earth.
For myne eyes loke vnto thee O God the Lorde: in thee is my trust, cast not my soule out [of me.]
Kepe me from the snare which they haue layde foorth for me: and from the trappes of them that be workers of iniquitie.
Let the vngodly fall together into their owne nettes: but let me in the meane season alwayes escape [them.]
I Cryed vnto God with my voyce: euen vnto God I dyd make my supplication.
I powred out before his face my cogitations: and I made a declaration of my trouble before his face.
When my spirite was ouerwhelmed within me, thou knewest my path: in the way wherin I walked they haue priuily layde a snare for me.
When I loked vpon my ryght hande and sawe [rounde about me] there was no man that woulde knowe me: I had no place to flee vnto, and no man cared for my soule.
I cryed vnto thee O God, and sayde: thou art my hope and my portion in the lande of the lyuyng.
Consider my complaynt, for I am brought very lowe: deliuer me from my persecutours, for they are to strong for me.
Bryng my soule out of prison, that I may prayse thy name: the ryghteous shal compasse me rounde about, because thou hast [thus] rewarded me.
HEare my prayer O God, geue eare vnto my desire: hearken vnto me for thy trueth sake, for thy ryghteousnesse sake.
And enter not into iudgement with thy seruaunt: for in thy syght no man lyuyng can be iustified.
For the enemie hath persecuted my soule, he hath smitten my lyfe downe to the grounde: he hath layde me in darknesse as men that haue ben long dead.
And my spirite is ouerwhelmed within me: and my heart is desolate in the midst of me.
I call to remembraunce the tyme long past: I muse vpon euery act of thine, I exercise my study on the worke of thy handes.
I stretche foorth myne handes vnto thee: my soule as a thirstie lande [gaspeth] vnto thee. Selah.
Make speede, hearken vnto me O God, my spirite waxeth faynt: hyde not thy face from me, for I am lyke vnto them that go downe into the pyt.
Cause me to heare of thy louyng kindnesse betymes in the mornyng: for in thee is my trust.
Make me to knowe the way that I shoulde walke in: for I lyft vp my soule vnto thee.
Delyuer me O God from myne enemies: I hyde my selfe with thee.
Teache me to do the thyng that pleaseth thee, for thou art my Lorde: let thy good spirite leade me foorth vnto the lande of ryghteousnesse.
For thy names sake O God thou wilt cause me to lyue: and for thy righteousnesse sake thou wilt bryng my soule out of trouble.
And of thy goodnesse thou wylt restrayne myne enemies: and destroy all them that be aduersaries to my soule, for I am thy seruaunt.
BLessed be God my rocke: who teacheth my handes to warre, and my fingers to fyght.
My holynesse and my fortresse, my refuge, and my only deliuerer: my buckler, in hym I haue put my trust, who subdueth my people vnder me.
O God, what is man that thou doest knowe hym? what is the sonne of man that thou doest thynke of hym?
Man is lyke a thyng of naught: his dayes be lyke a shadowe that passeth away.
Bowe thy heauens O God and come downe: touche the mountaynes and they shall smoke.
Cast out terrible lightninges and feare them: shoote out thyne arrowes and consume them.
Sende downe thine hand from aboue: deliuer me and take me out of the great waters, from the hande of the children of an other deuotion then I am.
Whose mouth vttereth vanitie: and their ryght hande is a ryght hande of falshood.
O Lorde I wyll syng a newe song vnto thee: and I wyll syng psalmes vnto thee vpon a Lute, [and vpon] an instrument of ten strynges.
Who geueth victorie vnto kynges: who redeemeth Dauid his seruaunt from peryll of the sworde.
Redeeme me and deliuer me from the hande of the children of an other deuotion then I am: whose mouth vttereth vanitie, and their ryght hande is a ryght hande of falshood.
That our sonnes may growe vp in their youth as young plantes: that our daughters may be as corners [stones] grauen after the fashion as a palace is.
That the corners of our houses may be fylled, yeeldyng foorth all maner of stoore: that our cattell may bring foorth thousandes, [yea] ten thousandes in our streates.
That our oxen may be strong [to labour] that there be no decay: no leadyng into captiuitie, and no complaynyng in our streates.
Happy are the people that be in such a case: blessed is the people who haue God for their Lorde.
I Will magnifie thee O Lord my king: and I wyll blesse thy name for euer and euer.
I wyll blesse thee euery day: and I wyll prayse thy name for euer and euer.
Great is God and most worthy to be praysed: and his greatnesse can not be searched out.
One generation shal praise thy workes vnto another: and they shall declare thy mightie power.
I wyll set foorth in wordes the glorious maiestie of thy excellentnesse: and thy wonderous workes.
I wyll also declare thy greatnesse: so that men shall speake of the force of thy terrible actes.
They shall vtter out of their mouth a memoriall of thyne aboundaunt kyndnesse: and they shall syng of thy ryghteousnesse.
God is gratious and mercifull: loth to be angry, and great in louing kindnesse.
God is good vnto euery man: and his mercie is ouer all his workes.
All thy workes shall confesse it vnto thee O God: and thy saintes shall blesse thee.
They shal shewe the glorie of thy kingdome: and talke of thy power.
That they may make knowen to the children of men his manifolde power: & the glorious maiestie of his kingdome.
Thy kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome: and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages.
God vpholdeth all such as fall: and lyfteth vp all those that be bowyng downewarde.
The eyes of all wayte vpon thee: and thou geuest them their meate in due season.
Thou openest thyne hande: and thou satisfiest the desire of euery thing liuing.
God is righteous in all his wayes: and holy in all his workes.
God is nye vnto all them that call vpon hym: vnto all such as call vpon hym in trueth.
He wyll fulfyll the desire of them that feare hym: he will also heare their crye, and he wyll saue them.
God preserueth all those that loue him: but he wyll bring to nothyng such as be vngodly.
My mouth shall speake the prayse of God: and all fleshe shall blesse his holy name for euer and euer.
PRayse ye the Lord, prayse thou God O my soule, whylest I lyue I wyll prayse God: I wyll syng psalmes vnto my Lorde so long as I shalbe.
Put not your trust in princes [nor] in the sonne of man: in whom there is no saluation.
His spirite shall depart out of hym, he shall turne agayne to his earth: at that day all his thoughtes shall perishe.
Blessed is he vnto whom the God of Iacob is an ayde: his trust is in God his Lorde.
Who made heauen and earth, the sea and all that therin is: who mainteyneth the trueth for euer.
Who executeth iudgement for those that are oppressed with wrong: who geueth foode to the hungry.
God looseth those that be bounde: God geueth syght to the blynde.
God rayseth them vp that are falling: God loueth the ryghteous.
God taketh strangers into his custodie, he releeueth the fatherlesse and the widdowe: as for the way of the vngodlye he turneth it vpsyde downe.
God thy Lorde shall raigne O Sion, to the worldes ende: throughout all generations. Prayse ye the Lorde.
PRayse ye the Lorde, for it is a good thyng: sing psalmes vnto our Lorde, for it is a pleasaunt thing, [his] praise is to be desired.
God buildeth vp Hierusalem: he wyll gather together the Israelites that were banished.
He healeth those that are broken in heart: he wrappeth vp their sorowes.
He counteth the number of the starres: he geueth vnto them all names.
Great is our Lorde, and great is his power: his vnderstandyng is infinite.
God setteth vp the meeke: he bringeth the vngodly downe to the grounde.
Syng ye vnto God with a confession: syng psalmes vpon the Harpe vnto our Lorde.
Who couereth the heaue{n} with cloudes: who prepareth rayne for the earth, who maketh grasse to growe vppon the mountaynes.
He geueth vnto cattell their foode: [euen] vnto Rauens which call for it.
He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse: he delighteth not in the legges of a man.
God delyghteth in them that feare him: [and] in them that put their trust in his mercie.
Prayse God O Hierusalem: prayse thy Lorde O Sion.
For he maketh fast the barres of thy gates: he blesseth thy children within thee.
He maketh peace in thy borders: he fylleth thee with good corne.
He sendeth foorth his commaundement vpon the earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
He geueth snowe [so whyte] as wooll: he scattereth the hoare frost like asshes.
He casteth foorth his yse lyke fragmentes: who is able to abide his frost?
He sendeth foorth his worde and melteth them: he bloweth with his winde, and the waters flowe.
He declareth his worde vnto Iacob: his statutes & ordinaunces vnto Israel.
He hath not dealt so with euery nation: neither haue they the knowledge of his iudgementes. Prayse ye the Lorde.
PRayse ye the Lorde, prayse ye God out of heauen: prayse ye hym on hygh aboue.
Prayse hym all ye his angels: prayse hym all ye his hoast.
Prayse ye hym sunne and moone: praise hym all ye starres [that geue] lyght.
Prayse ye hym all ye heauens: and ye waters that be aboue the heauens.
Euen they shoulde prayse the name of God: for he commaunded, and they were created.
He hath set them sure for euer and euer: he hath geuen them a lawe which shall not be broken.
Prayse ye God from the earth: ye dragons and all deepes.
Fire and hayle, snowe and vapours: stormie wynde fulfyllyng his worde.
Mountaynes and all hylles: fruitfull trees and all Cedars.
Beastes and all cattell: wormes and fethered foules.
Kynges of the earth and all people: princes and all iudges of the earth.
Young men and maydens, olde men with children, shoulde prayse the name of God: for his name only is most excellent, and his maiestie aboue earth and heauen.
He hath exalted the horne of his people: the prayse of all his saintes, euen of the children of Israel, a people that is most nye vnto him. Prayse ye the Lord.
PRayse ye the Lorde, syng vnto God a newe song: he ought to be praysed in the congregation of saintes.
Israel shoulde reioyce in his maker: the children of Sion shoulde be ioyfull in their kyng.
They shoulde prayse his name in a daunce: they shoulde sing psalmes vnto hym vpon a tabret and a harpe.
For God hath a pleasure in his people: he wyll beautifie the afflicted with saluation.
The saintes shalbe ioyful with glory: they shal expresse a ioyfull noyse in their beddes.
The hygh promotions of the Lorde shalbe in their mouth: and a two edged sworde in their handes.
That they may take auengement of the heathen: and correction of the nations.
That they may bynde their kynges in chaynes: and their nobles with iron fetters.
That they may execute the iudgement prescribed: this honour shalbe to all his saintes. Prayse ye the Lorde.
PRayse ye the Lorde, prayse ye the Lord in his sanctuarie: praise ye him in the firmament of his power.
Prayse ye hym in his strength: prayse ye hym in his excellent greatnesse.
Prayse ye hym in the sounde of a trumpet: prayse ye hym vpon a Lute and an Harpe.
Prayse ye hym with a tabret and a daunce: prayse ye him vpon the stringes and vpon the Organes.
Prayse ye hym vpon the well tuned Cimbales: prayse ye hym vpon the loude Cimbales.
Euery thyng that draweth breath: ought to prayse the Lorde. Prayse ye the Lorde.
THe prouerbes of Solomon the sonne of Dauid, king of Israel:
To learne wisdome and instruction, & to perceaue the wordes of vnderstanding,
To receaue the instruction of wysdome, iustice, iudgement, and equitie:
To geue wyt vnto the simple, & that the young men might haue knowledge and vnderstanding.
The wyse man wyll geue eare, and wyll come by more wysdome, and he that is endued with vnderstanding, shall attayne vnto [wyse] counselles.
To vnderstande a parable, and the interpretation thereof, the wordes of the wyse, and their darke speaches.
The feare of the Lorde is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles dispise wysdome and instruction.
My sonne, heare thy fathers doctrine, & forsake not the lawe of thy mother:
For they shalbe an encrease of grace vnto thy head, and [as] a chayne about thy necke.
My sonne, if sinners entice thee, consent not vnto them.
If they say, come with vs, let vs lay wayte for blood, and lurke priuily for the innocent without a cause,
Let vs swallowe them vp lyke the graue quicke and whole, as those that go downe into the pit:
So shall we finde all maner of costly riches, and fill our houses with spoyles:
Cast in thy lot among vs, and let vs all haue one purse.
My sonne, walke not thou with them, refrayne thy foote from their wayes.
For their feete runne to euill, and are hastie to shed blood.
But [as] in vayne, the nette is layde foorth before the byrdes eyes:
So these lay wayte for the blood of them, and lye priuily for their liues.
Suche [are] the wayes of euery one that is greedie of gayne, who taketh away the lyfe of the owner therof.
Wysdome cryeth without, and putteth foorth her voyce in the streates:
She calleth before the congregation in the open gates, and sheweth her wordes thorowe the citie, saying:
O ye chyldren, howe long will ye loue chyldishnes? howe long wyll the scorners delite in scorning, and the vnwyse hate knowledge?
O turne you at my correction: lo I wyll expresse my minde vnto you, and make you vnderstande my wordes.
Because I haue called, and ye refused, I haue stretched out my hand, and no man regarded:
But all my counsels haue ye dispised, and set my correction at naught:
Therefore wyll I also laugh at your destruction and mocke you, when the thing that ye feare commeth vpon you,
Euen when the thing that ye be afraide of, falleth in sodenly like a storme, and your miserie lyke a tempest, yea when trouble and heauines commeth vpon you.
Then shall they call vpon me, but I wyll not aunswere: they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde me:
And that because they hated knowledge, and did not chose the feare of the Lorde,
They woulde none of my counsayle, but dispised all my correction.
Therfore shall they eate of the fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne inuentions.
For the turning away of the vnwyse shall slay them, and the prosperitie of fooles shall destroy them.
But whoso hearkeneth vnto me, shal dwell safely, and be sure from any feare of euyll.
MY sonne, if thou wylt receaue my wordes, and laye vp my commaundementes within thee,
That thou wylt encline thyne eares vnto wysdome, applye thyne heart then to vnderstanding.
For if thou cryest after wysdome, and cryest for knowledge:
If thou seekest for her as for siluer, and searchest for her as for treasures:
Then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lorde, and finde the knowledge of God.
For the Lorde geueth wysdome, out of his mouth commeth knowledge and vnderstanding.
He stirreth vp health for the righteous: and defendeth them that walke vprightly,
That they may kepe the right path: and he preserueth the way of suche as do serue hym with godlynesse.
Then shalt thou vnderstande righteousnesse, and iudgement, and equitie, yea and euery good path.
When wysdome entreth into thyne heart, and thy soule deliteth in knowledge:
Then shall counsell preserue thee, and vnderstanding shall kepe thee,
That thou mayest be deliuered from the euyll way, and from the man that speaketh frowarde thinges:
From such as leaue the wayes of righteousnesse, to walke in the wayes of darknesse:
Whiche reioyce in doyng naught, and delite in the wickednesse of the euill:
Whose wayes are crooked, and they frowarde in their pathes.
That thou mayest be deliuered also from the straunge woman, and from her that is not thyne owne, whiche geueth sweete wordes,
Forsaketh the husbande of her youth, & forgetteth the couenaunt of her God.
For her house is enclined vnto death, and her pathes vnto hell.
All they that go in vnto her, come not agayne, neither take they holde of the way of life.
Therefore walke thou in the way of suche as be vertuous, & kepe the pathes of the righteous.
For the iust shall dwell in the lande, & they that be perfect, shall remaine in it.
But the vngodly shall be cut of from the earth: and the wicked doers shalbe rooted out of it.
MY sonne, forget not thou my lawe, but see that thyne heart kepe my commaundementes:
For they shal prolong the dayes and yeres of thy life, and bryng thee peace.
Let mercy and faythfulnes neuer go from thee: binde them about thy necke, and wryte them in the tables of thyne heart:
So shalt thou finde fauour and good vnderstanding in the sight of God and men.
Put thy trust in God with all thyne heart: & leane not vnto thyne owne wit.
In all thy wayes acknowledge hym, and he shall order thy goynges.
Be not wyse in thyne owne conceipt: but feare the Lorde, and depart from euyll:
So shall thy nauell be whole, and thy bones strong.
Honour the Lorde with thy substaunce, and with the firstlinges of all thyne encrease:
So shall thy barnes be filled with plenteousnes, and thy presses shall flow ouer with sweete wine.
My sonne refuse not the chastening of the Lorde, neither faynt when thou art corrected of hym:
For whom the Lorde loueth, him he chasteneth, and yet deliteth in him, euen as a father in his owne sonne.
Well is hym that findeth wysdome, and getteth vnderstandyng:
For the marchaundise of it, is better then the marchaundise of siluer, and the gayne therof [is better] then golde.
She is more worth then pretious stones: and all the thinges that thou canst desire, are not to be compared vnto her.
In her right hande is long life, and in her left hande riches and honour.
Her wayes are pleasaunt wayes, and all her pathes are peaceable.
She is a tree of lyfe to them that lay holde vpon her: and blessed is he that kepeth her fast.
With wysdome hath the Lorde layde the foundation of the earth, and thorow vnderstanding hath he stablished the heauens.
Thorow his knowledge the deapthes are broken vp, and the cloudes droppe downe the deawe.
My sonne, let not these thinges depart from thyne eyes, but kepe wysdome and vnderstanding:
So they shall be lyfe vnto thy soule, and grace vnto thy mouth.
Then shalt thou walke safely in thy way, and thy foote shall not stumble.
If thou sleepest, thou shalt not be afraide: but shalt take thy rest, and sleepe sweetely.
Thou shalt not be afraide of any sodayne feare, neither for the violent rushing in of the vngodly when it commeth.
For the Lorde shall stande by thy side, & kepe thy foote that thou be not taken.
Withdraw no good thyng from them that haue nede, so long as thyne hande is able to do it.
Say not vnto thy neyghbour, go thy way and come agayne, and to morowe wyll I geue thee: where as thou hast nowe to geue hym.
Intende no hurt against thy neyghbour, seing he hopeth to dwell in rest by thee.
Striue not with any man without a cause, where as he hath done thee no harme.
Folowe not a wicked man, and chose none of his wayes:
For the Lord abhorreth the froward: but his counsayle is among the righteous.
The curse of the Lord is in the house of the vngodly: but he blesseth the dwellinges of the righteous.
As for the scornfull, doth he not laugh them to scorne? but he geueth grace vnto the lowly.
The wyse shall haue honour in possession: but shame is the promotion that fooles shall haue.
HEare O ye chyldren a fatherly instruction, & take good heede, that ye may learne vnderstanding.
For I haue geuen you a good doctrine, forsake not ye my lawe.
For when I my selfe was my fathers deare sonne, and tenderly beloued of my mother:
He taught me also and sayde vnto me, let thyne heart receaue my wordes, kepe my commaundementes and thou shalt liue.
Get thee wysdome, and get thee vnderstanding: forget not the wordes of my mouth, and shrinke not from them.
Forsake her not, and she shall preserue thee, loue her, and she shall kepe thee.
The chiefe poynt of wysdome, is to possesse wysdome: and before all thy goodes to get thee vnderstanding.
Make much of her, and she shall promote thee, yea if thou embrace her, she shall bryng thee vnto honour:
She shal beautifie thy head with manyfolde graces, and garnishe thee with a crowne of glory.
Heare my sonne, and receaue my wordes, and the yeres of thy life shalbe many.
I haue shewed thee the way of wysdome, & led thee into the right pathes.
So that if thou goest in them, there shall no straitnesse hinder thee: & when thou runnest, thou shalt not fall.
Take fast holde of doctrine, and let her not go: kepe her, for she is thy life.
Come not in the pathe of the vngodlye, and walke not in the way of the wicked:
Abhorre it and go not therein, depart aside, and passe ouer by it.
For they sleepe not except they haue done mischiefe: and sleepe is taken from them, vntyll they haue done harme.
For they eate the bread of wickednes, and drinke the wine of robberie.
The path of the righteous shineth, as the light that is euer bryghter and bryghter vnto the perfect day.
But the way of the vngodly is as the darkenesse, they knowe not where they fall.
My sonne marke my wordes, and encline thyne eare vnto my sayinges:
Let them not depart from thine eyes, but kepe them euen in the middest of thyne heart:
For they are life vnto those that finde them, and health vnto all their bodyes.
Kepe thyne heart with all diligence, for out of it issueth lyfe.
Put away from thee a frowarde mouth, and let the lippes of slaunder be farre from thee.
Let thyne eyes beholde that thyng that is right, and let thyne eye liddes loke straight before thee.
Ponder the path of thy feete, and let all thy wayes be ordred aright.
Turne not aside, neither to the right hande nor to the left: but wihholde thy foote from euyll.
MY sonne geue heede vnto my wisdome, and bowe thyne eare vnto my prudence:
That thou mayest regarde good counsell, and that thy lippes may kepe knowledge.
For the lippes of a straunge woman are a dropping hony combe, and her throte is more glistering then oyle:
But at the laste she is as bitter as wormewood, and as sharpe as a two edged sworde.
Her feete go downe vnto death, and her steppes pearce thorowe vnto hell.
Perchaunce thou wylt ponder the path of her lyfe: so vnstedfast are her wayes that thou canst not know them.
Heare me nowe therefore O ye chyldren, and depart not from the wordes of my mouth.
Kepe thy way farre from her, & come not nigh the doores of her house.
That thou geue not thy honour vnto other, and thy yeres to the cruell:
That other men be not filled with thy vertues, and that thy labours come not in a straunge house.
Yea, that thou mourne not at the last, when thou hast spent thy bodye and lustie youth, and then say:
Alas, why hated I nurture? why did my heart dispise correction?
Wherefore was not I obedient vnto the voyce of my teachers, and hearkened not vnto them that enfourmed me?
I was come almost into all misfortune, in the middest of the multitude and congregation.
Drinke of the water of thyne owne well, and of the riuers that runne out of thyne owne spring.
Let thy welles flowe out abrode, that there may be riuers of waters in the streates:
But let them be onlye thyne owne, and not straungers with thee.
Let thy well be blessed, and be glad with the wyfe of thy youth.
Let her be as the louyng Hinde and pleasaunt Roe: let her breastes alway satisfie thee, and holde thee euer content with her loue.
Why wylt thou my sonne haue pleasure in a straunge woman, and embrace the bosome of a straunger?
For euery mans wayes are open in the sight of the Lord, and he pondereth all their goynges.
The wickednes of the vngodly shall catche him selfe, and with the snares of his owne sinne shall he be trapped.
He shall dye without amendement, and for his great foolishnes he shall go astray.
MY sonne if thou be suretie for thy neyghbour, and hast fastened thyne hande for another man:
Thou art bounde with thine owne wordes, and taken with thine owne speach.
Therfore my sonne do this, and thou shalt be discharged: When thou art come into thy neyghbours daunger, go thy wayes then soone, humble thy selfe, and with thy frendes intreate [thy creditour.]
Let not thyne eyes sleepe, nor thyne eye liddes slumber.
Saue thy self as a Doe from the hand of the [hunter] and as a byrde from the hande of the fouler.
Go to the emmet thou sluggarde, consider her wayes, and learne to be wyse:
She hath no guyde, nor ouerseer, nor ruler,
Yet in the sommer she prouideth her meate, and gathereth her foode together in the haruest.
Howe long wylt thou sleepe thou sluggishe man? When wylt thou aryse out of thy sleepe?
Yea, sleepe on still a litle, slumber a litle, folde thyne handes together yet a litle that thou mayest sleepe:
So shall pouertie come vnto thee as one that trauayleth by the way, and necessitie like a weaponed man.
An vngodly person, a wicked man, goeth with a frowarde mouth.
He winketh with his eyes, he tokeneth with his feete, he teacheth with his fingers.
He is euer imagining mischiefe and frowardnes in his heart, and causeth discorde.
Therefore shall his destruction come hastyly vpon hym, sodainly shall he be all to broken, and not be healed.
These sixe thinges doth the Lorde hate, and the seuenth he vtterly abhorreth:
A proude loke, a lying tongue, handes that shed innocent blood,
An heart that goeth about wicked imaginations, feete that be swyft in running to mischiefe,
A false witnesse that bringeth vp lyes, and hym that soweth discorde among brethren.
My sonne, kepe thy fathers commaundement, and forsake not the lawe of thy mother:
Tye them continually in thyne heart, and bynde them about thy necke.
That shall leade thee when thou goest, preserue thee when thou art asleepe, and when thou awakest talke with thee.
For the commaundement is a lanterne, and the lawe a light: yea chastening and nurture is the way of life:
That they may kepe thee from the euyll woman, and from the flattering tongue of the straunge woman.
Lust not after her beautie in thyne heart, lest thou be taken with her fayre lokes.
By an harlot [a man is brought] to beg his bread, and a woman wyll hunte for the pretious life of man.
May a man take fire in his bosome, and his clothes not be brent?
Or can one go vpon hotte coales, and his feete not be brent?
Euen so, whosoeuer goeth in to his neyghbours wife and toucheth her, can not be vngiltie.
Men do not vtterly despise a thiefe that stealeth to satisfie his soule, when he is hungrie:
But if he may be gotten, he restoreth agayne seuen tymes as muche, or els he maketh recompence with all the good of his house.
But whoso committeth adultrie with a woman, lacketh vnderstanding: and he that doth it, destroyeth his owne soule.
He getteth him selfe a plague and dishonour, and his reproche shall neuer be put out:
For the ielousie and wrath of the man wyll not be entreated,
No though thou wouldest offer hym great gyftes to make amendes, he wyll not receaue them.
MY sonne kepe my words, and lay vp my commaundements by thee.
Kepe my commaundementes & my lawe, euen as the apple of thyne eye, and thou shalt liue.
Binde them vpon thy fingers, and wryte them in the table of thyne heart.
Say vnto wysdome, thou art my sister: and call vnderstanding thy kinsewoman:
That they may kepe thee from the straunge woman, and from the forraine woman which geueth sweete wordes.
For at the windowe of my house I loked through the windowe,
And behelde among the simple people and among the chyldren a young man voyde of wyt,
Goyng ouer the streate by the corner in the way towarde her house
In the twylight of the euening, when it began nowe to be night and darke:
And behold there met hym a woman with open tokens of an harlot, onlye her heart was hid:
She was full of loude wordes and redye to dallie, whose feete coulde not abide in the house:
Nowe is she without, nowe in the streates, and lyeth in wayte at euery corner.
She caught hym and kissed him, and was not ashamed, saying:
I had a vowe of peace offeringes to pay, and this day I perfourme it:
Therefore came I foorth to meete thee, that I might seeke thy face, and so haue I founde thee.
I haue deckt my bed with coueringes of tapessarie, and clothes of Egypt.
My bed haue I made to smell of Myrre, Aloes, and Cinamon.
Come let vs take our fill of loue vntyll the morning, and let vs solace our selues with the pleasures of loue.
For the good man is not at home, he is gone farre of.
He hath taken the bagge of money with hym, and wyll returne at the appointed solempne feast.
Thus with many sweete wordes she ouercame him, and with her flattering lippes she entised hym.
Sodainly he folowed her, as it were an oxe led to the slaughter, and lyke as it were a foole [that laugheth] when he goeth to the stockes to be punished,
So long tyll she had wounded his lyuer with her dart: lyke as if a byrde hasted to the snare, not knowing that the perill of his life lieth thervpon.
Heare me now therfore O my chylde, and marke the wordes of my mouth:
Let not thyne heart wander in her wayes, and be not thou deceaued in her pathes.
For many one hath she wounded and cast downe, yea many a strong man hath ben slaine by the meanes of her.
Her house is the way vnto hell, and bryng men downe into the chaumbers of death.
DOth not wysdome crye? doth not vnderstanding put foorth her voyce?
She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the place of the pathes:
She cryeth at the gates of the citie, at the entrye of the doores:
It is you O ye men [saith she] whom I call, vnto the chyldren of men do I lyft vp my voyce.
Take heede vnto knowledge O ye ignoraunt, be ye wise in heart O ye fooles.
Geue eare, for I wyll speake of great matters, and open my lippes to tell thinges that be right:
For my mouth shall be talking of the trueth, and my lippes abhorre vngodlynesse.
All the wordes of my mouth are righteous, there is no frowardnes nor falsehood in them.
They are all playne to suche as wyll vnderstande, and right to them that finde knowledge.
Receaue my doctrine and not siluer, and knowledge rather then fine golde:
For wysdome is more worth then pretious stones, yea all thinges that thou canst desire, may not be compared vnto it.
I wysdome dwell with counsell, and finde out knowledge and vnderstanding.
The feare of the Lorde abhorreth wickednes, pryde, disdayne, and the euil way, and a mouth that speaketh wicked thinges I vtterly abhorre.
Counsell is mine, and direction, I am vnderstanding, and I haue strength.
Through me kinges raigne, and princes make iust lawes.
By me princes beare rule, and noble men do iudge the earth.
I am louing vnto those that loue me: and they that seeke me early, shall finde me.
Riches and honour are with me, yea durable riches and righteousnes.
My fruite is better then golde and pretious stones, and mine encrease more worth then fine siluer.
I wyll guyde thee in the way of righteousnes, and in the midst of the pathes of iudgement:
That I maye stablishe the inhetaunce of them that loue me, and encrease their treasure.
The Lorde him selfe had me in possession in the beginning of his wayes, or euer he began his workes aforetime.
I haue ben ordayned from euerlasting, and from the beginning or euer the earth was made.
When I was borne there were neither depthes nor springes of water.
Before the foundations of the mountaines were layde: yea before all hilles, was I borne:
The earth, and all that is vpon the earth was not yet made, no not the dust it selfe.
For when he made the heauens, I was present, when he compassed the deapthes about:
When he hanged the cloudes aboue, when he fastened the springes of the deepe:
When he shut the sea within certaine boundes, that the waters should not go ouer their markes that he commaunded: when he layde the foundations of the earth,
I was with him ordring all thinges, deliting dayly and reioysyng alway before hym.
As for the rounde compasse of this worlde I make it ioyfull: for my delite is to be among the chyldren of men.
Therefore hearken vnto me: O ye chyldren, blessed are they that kepe my wayes.
O geue eare vnto nurture, be wyse, and refuse it not: Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching dayly at my gates, and geuing attendaunce at the postes of my doores.
For whoso findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtaine fauour of the Lorde.
But whoso offendeth against me, hurteth his owne soule: and they that hate me, are the louers of death.
WYsdome hath buylded her house, and hewen out seuen pillers:
She hath kylled her victuals, powred out her wine, and prepared her table:
She hath sent foorth her maydens to crye vpon the highest place of the citie,
Who so is without knowledge, let him come hither: And to the vnwise she said,
O come on your way, eate my bread, and drinke my wine [whiche] I haue powred out for you.
Forsake foolishnes, and ye shall lyue: and see that ye go in the way of vnderstandyng.
Whoso reproueth a scornefull person, getteth him selfe dishonour: and he that rebuketh the vngodly, stayneth hym selfe.
Reproue not a scorner, lest he owe thee euyll will: but rebuke a wyse man, and he wyll loue thee.
Geue a discrete man but an occasion, and he wyll be the wyser: teache a righteous man, and he wyll encrease in knowledge.
The feare of the Lorde is the beginning of wisdome: and the knowledge of holy thinges, is vnderstanding.
For thorowe me thy dayes shalbe prolonged, and the yeres of thy life shall be many.
If thou be wise, thy wysdome shal do thy selfe good: but if thou thinkest scorne therof, it shalbe thine owne harme.
A foolishe retchlesse woman full of wordes, and suche a one as hath no knowledge,
Sitteth at the doore of her house, and in the hye places of the citie,
To call such as go by, and that walke straight in their wayes.
Who so is ignoraunt [sayeth she] let hym come hyther: and to the vnwyse she saith,
Stolen waters are sweete, & the bread that is priuily eaten, hath a good taste.
And he doth not consider that they are but dead whiche be there, and that her ghestes are in the deepe of hell.
A Wyse sonne maketh a glad father: but an vndiscrete sonne is an heauinesse vnto his mother.
Treasures that are wickedly gotten, profite nothing: but righteousnesse deliuereth from death.
The Lorde wyll not let the soule of the righteous suffer hunger: but he taketh away the richesse of the vngodly.
An idle hande maketh poore: but a quicke labouring hande maketh riche.
Who so gathereth in sommer is wyse: but he that is sluggishe in haruest, bringeth hym selfe to confusion.
Blessinges are vpon the head of the righteous: and the mouth of the vngodly kepeth mischiefe in secrete.
The memoriall of the iust shall haue a good report: but the name of the vngodly shall stincke.
A wyse man wyll receaue warning: but a prating foole shalbe punished.
He that walketh vprightly, walketh surely: but whoso goeth a wrong way, shalbe knowen.
He that winketh with his eye, wyll cause sorowe: but he that hath a foolishe mouth, shalbe beaten.
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but the mouth of the vngodly kepeth mischiefe in secrete.
Hatred stirreth vp strifes: but loue couereth the multitude of sinnes.
In the lippes of him that hath vnderstanding, a man shall finde wysdome: but the rod belongeth to the backe of the foolishe.
Wyse men lay vp knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is nye destruction.
The riche mans goodes are his strong holde: but their owne pouertie feareth the poore.
The labour of the righteous [tendeth] to lyfe: but the fruites of the vngodly, to sinne.
Nurture kepeth the way of lyfe: but he that refuseth to be nurtured, deceaueth hym selfe.
He that hydeth hatred with lying lippes, and he that speaketh slaunder, is a foole.
Where much babblyng is, there must needes be offence: and he that refrayneth his lippes, is wyse.
The tongue of the iust man is as tried siluer: but the heart of the vngodly is a thyng of naught.
The lippes of the ryghteous feede a whole multitude: but fooles shall dye in their owne follie.
The blessyng of the Lorde maketh riche: and bryngeth no sorowe of heart with it.
A foole doth wickedly, and maketh but a sport of it: but wisdome ruleth the man that hath vnderstandyng.
The thing that the vngodly is afraide of, shall come vpon hym: but the ryghteous shall haue their desire.
As the tempest, so passeth away the vngodly and is not: but the ryghteous remayneth sure for euer.
As vineger is to the teeth, & as smoke is vnto the eyes: euen so is a sluggishe person to them that sendeth him foorth.
The feare of the Lorde maketh a long lyfe: but the yeres of the vngodly shalbe shortened.
The patient abydyng of the righteous shalbe turned to gladnesse: but the hope of the vngodly shall perishe.
The way of the Lord geueth courage vnto the godly: but it is a feare for wicked doers.
The ryghteous shall neuer be ouerthrowen: but the vngodly shall not remayne in the lande.
The mouth of the iust wyll be talking of wisdome: but the tongue of the frowarde shall be cut out.
The lippes of the ryghteous vtter that which is acceptable: but the mouth of the vngodly [speaketh] frowarde thynges.
A False ballaunce is an abomination vnto the Lorde: but a true wayght pleaseth him.
Where pryde is, there is shame also and confusion: but wheras is lowlinesse, there is wisdome.
The innocent dealyng of the iust shall leade them: but the wickednesse of the offendours shalbe their owne destruction.
Riches helpe not in the day of vengeaunce: but ryghteousnesse deliuereth from death.
The ryghteousnesse of the innocent ordereth his way: but the vngodly shall fall in his owne wickednesse.
The righteousnesse of the iust shall delyuer them: but the wicked shalbe taken in their owne vngodlynesse.
When an vngodly man dyeth, his hope is gone: the confidence of riches shall perishe.
The ryghteous shalbe delyuered out of trouble: and the vngodly shall come in his steade.
The dissembler with his mouth hurteth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the iust be deliuered.
When it goeth well with the ryghteous the citie is mercy: and when the vngodly perishe there is gladnesse.
In the blessyng of the ryghteous the citie is exalted: but it is ouerthrowen by the mouth of the wicked.
A foole slaundereth his neyghbour: but a wise man holdeth his peace.
A dissemblyng person wyll discouer priuie thynges: but he that is of a faythfull heart wyll kepe counsayle.
Where no counsayle is, there the people decay: but wheras many are that can geue counsayle, there is wealth.
He that is suretie for a straunger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretishyp is sure.
A gratious woman getteth honour: but the strong men attayne riches.
He that is mercifull, doth hym selfe a benefite: but who so hurteth his neyghbour, is a tiraunt.
The vngodly worketh deceiptfull workes: but he that soweth righteousnesse shall receaue a sure rewarde.
Lyke as ryghteousnesse bringeth lyfe: euen so to cleaue vnto euyll, bryngeth death.
The Lorde abhorreth them that be of a corrupt heart: but he hath pleasure in them that are of an vndefiled conuersation.
Though hand be ioyned in hande, yet the wicked shall not escape: but the seede of the ryghteous shalbe preserued.
A faire woman without discrete maners, is lyke a ryng of golde in a swines snoute.
The desire of the ryghteous is acceptable: but the hope of the vngodly is indignation.
Some man geueth out his goodes and is the richer: but the niggarde hauyng inough, wyll depart from nothyng, and yet is euer in pouertie.
He that is liberall in geuyng, shall haue plentie: and he that watereth, shalbe watered also hym selfe.
Who so hoordeth vp his corne, shalbe cursed among the people: but blessyng shall lyght vpon his head that geueth foode.
He that searcheth for good thynges fyndeth fauour: but who so seketh after mischiefe, it shall happen vnto hym.
He that trusteth in his riches shall haue a fall: but the ryghteous shall florishe as the greene leafe.
Who so maketh disquietnesse in his owne house, he shal haue winde for his heritage: and the foole shalbe seruaunt to the wise.
The fruite of the ryghteous is a tree of life: and he that winneth mens soules is wise.
If the ryghteous be recompensed vpon earth: howe much more then the vngodly and the sinner?
WHo so loueth correction loueth knowledge: but he that hateth to be reproued is a foole.
A good man is acceptable vnto the Lorde: but the wicked imaginer wyll he condempne.
A man can not endure in vngodlinesse: but the roote of the ryghteous shall not be moued.
A huswifely woman is a crowne vnto her husbande: but she that behaueth her selfe vnhonestly, is as corruption in his bones.
The thoughtes of the ryghteous are ryght: but the imaginations of the vngodly are deceptfull.
The talkyng of the vngodly is howe they may lay wayte for blood: but the mouth of the righteous will deliuer the{m}.
God ouerturneth the [estate of the] wicked, and they stande not: but the house of the ryghteous shall stande.
A man shalbe commended for his wisdome: but a foole shalbe dispised.
He that is dispised and is yet his owne man, is better then the glorious that lacketh bread.
A ryghteous man regardeth the lyfe of his cattell: but the vngodly haue cruell heartes.
He that tylleth his lande, shall haue plenteousnesse of bread: but he that foloweth idlenesse is a very foole.
The desire of the vngodly is a net of euyls: but the roote of the ryghteous bryngeth foorth fruite.
The wicked falleth into the snare thorowe the malice of his owne mouth: but the iust shall escape out of all perill.
Man shalbe satisfied with good thinges: by the fruite of his mouth, and after the workes of his handes shall he be rewarded.
The way of a foole is strayght in his owne eyes: but he that hearkeneth vnto counsayle is wise.
A foole vttereth his wrath in all the haste: but a discrete man couereth his owne shame.
A iust man wyll tell the trueth and shewe the thyng that is ryght: but a false witnesse deceaueth.
A slaunderous person pricketh lyke a sworde: but a wise mans tongue is wholsome.
The lippe of trueth shalbe stable for euer: but a dissemblyng tongue is soone chaunged.
Deceipt is in the heart of them that imagine euyll: but to the counsaylers of peace shalbe ioy.
There shall no aduersitie happen vnto the iust: but the vngodly shalbe fylled with miserie.
The Lorde abhorreth lying lippes: but they that deale truely please hym.
A discrete man doth hyde knowledge: but the heart of fooles blabbeth out foolishnesse.
A diligent hande shall beare rule: but the idle shalbe vnder tribute.
Heauinesse discourageth the heart of man: but a good worde maketh it glad agayne.
The ryghteous excelleth his neyghbour: but the way of the vngodly wyll deceaue them selues.
The deciptfull man shall not roste that he toke in huntyng: but the riches of the iust man is of great value.
In the way of ryghteousnesse there is life: & in the same way there is no death.
A Wise sonne [wil hearken] to his fathers warnyng: but he that is scorneful wil not heare when he is reproued.
Of the fruite of a wise mans mouth shall eche man eate good thynges: but the wicked shall eate of the fruite of the transgressours.
He that kepeth his mouth, kepeth his lyfe: but who so rashlye openeth his lippes, destroyeth hym selfe.
The sluggarde woulde fayne haue and can not get [his desire:] but the soule of the diligent shall haue plentie.
A ryghteous man abhorreth lyes: but the vngodly shameth hym selfe, and is put to scilence.
Ryghteousnesse kepeth the innocent in the way: but vngodlinesse doth ouerthrowe the sinner.
Some men make them selues riche though they haue nothyng: agayne, some make them selues poore hauyng great riches.
With goodes a man redeemeth his life: and the poore wyll not be reproued.
The lyght of the ryghteous maketh ioyfull: but the candell of the vngodly shalbe put out.
Among the proude there is euer strife: but with the well aduised is wisdome.
Vaynly gotten goodes are soone spent: but they that be gathered together with the hande, shall encrease.
Hope deferred greeueth the heart: but whe{n} the desire co{m}meth, it is a tree of life.
Who so dispiseth the worde, shall perishe for the same: but he that feareth the commaundement, shall haue the rewarde.
The lawe of the wise is a well of life, to auoyde from the snares of death.
Good vnderstandyng geueth fauour: but harde is the way of the dispisers.
A wise man doth all thynges with discretion: but a foole wyll declare his follie.
An vngodly messenger falleth into mischiefe: but a faythfull embassadour is as health.
He that thinketh scorne to be refourmed, commeth to pouertie and shame: but who so regardeth correction, shall come to honour.
When a desire is brought to passe, it deliteth the soule: but fooles count it abhomination to depart from euyll.
He that goeth in the companie of wise men, shalbe wise: but who so is a companion of fooles, shalbe afflicted.
Mischiefe foloweth vpon sinners: but the righteous shal haue a good reward.
He that is vertuous leaueth an heritaunce vnto his childers children, & the riches of {th}e sinner is layde vp for the iust.
There is plenteousnesse of foode in the fieldes of the poore: but the fielde not well ordered, is without fruite.
He that spareth the rodde, hateth his sonne: but who so loueth hym, chasteneth hym betymes.
The righteous eateth and is satisfied: but the belly of the vngodly hath neuer enough.
WYse women vpholde their house: but a foolishe wyfe plucketh it downe.
He that walketh vpryghtlye, feareth the Lorde: but he that turneth hym selfe from his wayes, dispiseth hym.
In the mouth of the foolishe is the rodde of pryde: but the lippes of the wyse wyll preserue them.
Where no oxen are, there the cribbe is emptie: but much encrease commeth by the toyle of the o••.
A faithfull witnesse will not dissemble: but a false recorde wyll make a lye.
A scornfull body seketh wisdome, and fyndeth •t not: but knowledge is easie vnto hym that wyll vnderstande.
Get thee from a foolishe man, when thou perceauest not in hym the lippes of knowledge.
The wisdome of the circumspect man, is to vnderstande his way: but the foolishnesse of the vnwise, deceaueth.
Fooles make but a sport of sinne: but there is a fauourable loue among the ryghteous.
The heart knoweth his owne soules bitternesse: and the straunger shall not be partaker of his ioy.
The house of the vngodly shalbe ouerthrowen: but the tabernacle of the righteous shall florishe.
There is a way which seemeth right vnto a man: but the ende therof are the wayes of death.
The heart is sorowfull euen in laughter, and the ende of myrth is heauinesse.
A backe slydyng heart shalbe fylled with his owne wayes: but a good man shall depart from hym.
An ignoraunt body beleueth euery worde: but who so hath vnderstanding, loketh well to his goynges.
A wyse man feareth, and departeth from euyll: but the foole is angry, and counteth hym selfe sure.
An vnpatient man dealeth foolishly: but he that is well aduised, is hated [of the foole.]
The ignoraunt haue foolishnesse in possession: but the wyse are crowned with knowledge.
The euyll shall bowe them selues before the good: and the vngodly shall wayte at the gates of the ryghteous.
The poore is hated euen of his owne neyghbours: but the riche hath many f•endes.
Who so dispiseth his neighbour, sinneth: but blessed is he that hath pitie of the poore.
Without doubt they erre that worke wickednesse: but they that muse vpon good thynges, vnto such shall happen mercie and trueth.
In euery labour there is some profite▪ but vayne wordes bryng foorth onely penurie.
Riches are as a crowne vnto the wise▪ but the ignoraunce of fooles is very foolishnesse.
A faythfull witnesse deliuereth soules: but a deceiptfull witnesse bryngeth foorth lyes.
In the feare of the Lord is an assured strength: and his children are vnder a sure defence.
The feare of the Lorde is a well of lyfe, to auoyde the snares of death.
In the multitude of people is the kynges honour: but the decay of the people is the confusion of the prince.
He that is patient hath much vnderstanding: but he that is soone displeased, exalteth foolishnesse.
A mery heart is the lyfe of the body: but enuie consumeth away the bones.
He that doth a poore man wrong, blasphemeth his maker: but who so honoureth him, hath pitie on the poore.
The vngodly is cast away for his iniquitie: but the ryghteous hath a good hope, euen in death.
Wisdome resteth in the heart of hym that hath vnderstandyng, and it shalbe knowen among them that are vnlearned.
Righteousnesse setteth vp the people: but the sacrifice of the heathen is sinnefull.
A discrete seruaunt is a pleasure vnto the kyng: but his wrath is agaynst hym that doth dishonour hym.
A Soft aunswere appeaseth wrath: but rough wordes stirre vp anger.
The tongue of such as be wise vseth knoweledge aryght: as for a foolishe mouth it babbleth out nothyng but foolishnesse.
The eyes of the Lorde in euery place▪ beholdeth both the good and the bad.
A wholsome tongue is a tree of lyfe but the frowardnesse therof doth make sad the spirite.
A foole dispiseth his fathers correction▪ but he that taketh heede when he is reproued, shall haue the more vnderstandyng.
The house of the ryghteous is full of riches: but in the fruites of the vngodly there is trouble.
The lippes of the wise do sowe knowledge: but the heart of the foolishe do not so.
The Lorde abhorreth the sacrifice of the vngodly: but the prayer of the righteous is acceptable vnto hym.
The way of the vngodly is an abhomination vnto the Lorde: but who so foloweth righteousnesse, him he loueth.
Correction is greeuous vnto hym that forsaketh the way: and who so hateth correction shall dye.
Hell and destruction are before the Lorde: howe much more then the heartes of the children of men?
A scornefull body loueth not one that rebuketh hym: neither wyll he come vnto the wyse.
A mery heart maketh a chearfull countenaunce: but by the sorowe of the heart the mynde is heauy.
The heart of hym that hath vnderstandyng doth seke knowledge: but the mouth of fooles is fed with foolishnesse.
All the dayes of the poore are miserable: but a quiet heart is a continuall feast.
Better is a litle with the feare of the Lorde: then great treasure, and trouble therwith.
Better is a dynner of hearbes with loue, then a fat oxe with euyll wyll.
An angry man stirreth vp strife: but he that is patient stylleth discorde.
The way of a slouthfull man is as an hedge of thornes: but the way of the ryghteous is playne.
A wyse sonne maketh a glad father: but a foolishe man dispiseth his mother.
Foolishnesse is ioy to him that is destitute of knowledge: but a man of vnderstandyng walketh vprightly.
Thoughtes without counsayle shall come to naught: but wheras men are that can geue good counsayle, there is stedfastnesse.
A ioyfull thing it is to a man whe{n} his counsayle is folowed: and howe good is a worde spoken in season.
The way of lyfe is on hygh to the wise, that a man shoulde beware of hell beneath.
The Lorde wyll breake downe the house of the proude: but he shall make fast the borders of the wydowe.
The Lorde abhorreth the imaginations of the wicked: but the wordes of the pure are pleasaunt.
The greedy couetous man rooteth vp his owne house: but who so hateth rewardes shall lyue.
The heart of the ryghteous studyeth his aunswere afore: but the wicked mans mouth spueth out mischiefe.
The Lorde is farre from the vngodly: but he heareth the prayer of the ryghteous.
The clearnes of the eye reioyseth the heart, & a good name feedeth the bones.
The eare that hearkeneth to the refourmation of lyfe, shall dwell among the wyse.
He that refuseth to be refourmed, dispiseth his owne soule: but he that submitteth him selfe to correction, is wyse.
The feare of the Lorde is the ryght science of wisdome, and lowlynesse goeth before honour.
A Man may wel purpose a thyng in his heart: but the aunswere of the tongue commeth of the Lorde.
A man thynketh all his wayes to be cleane: but it is the Lorde that iudgeth the myndes.
Commit thy workes vnto the Lorde: and what thou deuisest it shall prosper.
The Lorde hath made all thynges for his owne sake: yea, the vngodly for the day of wrath.
The Lorde abhorreth all such as be of a proude heart: and though hande be ioyned in hande, yet they shall not be vnpunished.
With mercie and faythfulnesse sinnes be forgeuen: and by the feare of the Lorde euyll is eschewed.
When a mans wayes please the Lord, he maketh his very enemies to be his frendes.
Better it is to haue a litle with ryghteousnesse, then great rentes wrongfully gotten.
A man deuiseth a way in his heart: but it is the Lorde that ordereth his goynges.
When the prophecie is in the lippes of the kyng, his mouth shall not go wrong in iudgement.
A true wayght and ballaunce are the Lordes iudgement: all the wayghtes of the bagge are his worke.
Wicked doers are an abhomination to the kyng, for a kynges seate shoulde be holden vp with ryghteousnesse.
Ryghteous lippes are pleasaunt vnto kynges, and them that speaketh the trueth shall he loue.
The kinges displeasure is a messenger of death: but a wise man wyll pacifie hym.
The chearfull countenaunce of the kyng is life: and his louyng fauour is as a cloude of the latter rayne.
To haue wisdome in possession, is better then to haue golde: and to get vnderstandyng, is rather to be chosen then to haue siluer.
The path of the ryghteous is to eschewe euyll, and who so loketh well to his wayes, kepeth his owne soule.
Pryde goeth before destruction, and an hygh mynde before the fall.
Better it is to be of humble mynde with the lowly, the{n} to deuide the spoyles with the proude.
He that handleth a matter wisely obteyneth good: and blessed is he that putteth his trust in the Lorde.
Who so is wyse in heart, shalbe called prudent: and the sweetnesse of his lippes encreaseth learnyng.
Vnderstandyng is a well of lyfe vnto hym that hath it: as for the chastenyng of fooles it is but foolishnesse.
A wyse heart ordereth his mouth wisely, and ministreth learnyng vnto his lippes.
Fayre wordes are an hony combe, a refresshyng of the mynde, and health of the bones.
There is a way that men thynke to be ryght: but the ende therof leadeth vnto death.
A troublous soule disquieteth her selfe, for her owne mouth hath brought her therto.
An vngodly person stirreth vp euyll, and in his lippes he is as an hotte burnyng fyre.
A frowarde body causeth strife: and he that is a blabbe of his tongue maketh deuision among princes.
A wicked man beguyleth his neyghbour, and leadeth hym into the way that is not good:
He shutteth his eyes to deuise mischiefe: and moueth his lippes to bryng euyll to passe.
Age is a crowne of worshyp, yf it be founde in the way of ryghteousnesse.
A patient man is better the{n} one strong: and he that can rule hym selfe, is more worth then he that wynneth a citie.
The lottes are cast into the lappe: but the orderyng therof standeth all in the Lorde.
BEtter is a drye morsell with quietnesse, then a house full of fat offeryng with strife.
A discrete seruaunt shall haue rule ouer a lewde sonne, and shal haue heritage with the brethren.
As siluer is tryed in the fire, and golde in the furnace: so doth the Lorde proue the heartes.
A wicked body geueth heede to false lippes, and a lyer geueth eare to a deceiptfull tongue.
Who so scorneth the poore, blasphemeth his maker: and he that is glad at [another mans] hurt, shall not be vnpunished.
Childers children are a crowne of the aged, and the fathers are the honour of the children.
Speache of aucthoritie becommeth not a foole, much lesse a lying mouth then beseemeth a prince.
A gyft is as a precious stone vnto hym that hath it: but vnto whom soeuer it turneth, it maketh hym vnwise.
Who so couereth a fault, procureth loue: but he that discloseth it, deuideth very frendes.
One reproofe more feareth a wise man, then an hundred stripes doth a foole.
A seditious person seketh mischiefe, and a cruell messenger shalbe sent agaynst hym.
It were better to meete a shee beare robbed of her whelpes, then a foole [trustyng] in his foolishnesse.
Who so rewardeth euill for good, euill shall not depart from his house.
The begynnyng of strife is, as when a man maketh an issue for water: therfore leaue of before the contention be medled with.
The Lorde hateth as well hym that iustifieth the vngodly: as hym that condempneth the innocent?
Wherto hath a foole treasure in his hande to bye wisdome, seyng he hath no mynde therto?
He is a frende that alway loueth, and in aduersitie a man shall knowe who is his brother.
Who so promiseth by the hande and is suretie for his neighbour, he is a foole.
He that delighteth in sinne, loueth strife: and who so setteth his doore to hye, seeketh destruction.
Who so hath a frowarde heart, obteyneth no good: and he that hath a double tongue, shall fall into mischiefe.
He that begetteth a foole, begetteth his sorowe: and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.
A mery heart make a lustie age▪ but a sorowfull mynde dryeth vp the bones.
The vngodly taketh gyftes out of the bosome, to wrest the wayes of iudgement.
Wisdome [shyneth] in the face of hym that hath vnderstandyng: but the eyes of fooles wander throughout al landes.
An vndiscrete sonne is a griefe vnto his father: and an heauinesse vnto his mother.
Certaynly to condempne the iust is not good: nor to strike the gouernours which iudge ryghtly.
A wyse man vseth fewe wordes, and a man of vnderstandyng is of a patient spirite.
Yea, a very foole when he holdeth his tongue is counted wyse: and he that stoppeth his lippes is esteemed prudent.
WHo so hath an earnest desire [to wisdome] he will sequester him selfe to seke it, and occupie him selfe in all stedfastnesse & sounde doctrine
A foole hath no delyght in vnderstandyng: but only to vtter the fansies of his owne heart.
When the vngodly commeth, then commeth also disdayne: and with the dishonest person commeth shame and dishonour.
The wordes of a [wise] mans mouth are lyke deepe waters: and the well of wisdome is lyke a full streame.
It is not good to regarde the person of the vngodly, to ouerthrowe the righteous in iudgement.
A fooles lippes come with brawlyng, and his mouth prouoketh vnto stripes.
A fooles mouth is his owne destruction, and his lippes are the snare for his owne soule.
The wordes of a slaunderer are very woundes, and go through vnto the innermost partes of the body.
Who so is slouthfull in his labour, is the brother of hym that is a waster.
The name of the Lorde is a strong castell, the ryghteous runneth vnto it, and is in safegarde.
The riche mans goodes are his strong citie, and as an hygh wall in his owne conceipt.
Before destruction the heart of a man is proude: and before honour goeth humilitie.
He that geueth sentence in a matter before he heare it, the same to hym is follie and shame.
A good stomacke beareth out sicknesse: but the mynde beyng sicke, who shall heale it?
A wyse heart possesseth knowledge, & a prudent eare seeketh vnderstanding.
A mans gyft maketh an open way, to bryng hym before great men.
The ryghteous declareth his owne cause first hym selfe, and his neyghbour commeth, and tryeth hym.
The lot causeth variaunce to ceasse: and parteth the mightie a sunder.
Brethren beyng at variaunce are harder to be wonne then a strong citie, and their contentions are like the barre of a castell.
A mans belly shalbe satisfied with the fruite of his owne mouth, and with the encrease of his lippes shall he be fylled.
Death and lyfe are in the instrument of the tongue, and they that loue it, shall eate the fruite therof.
who so fyndeth a wyfe, fyndeth a good thyng: and receaueth fauour of the Lorde.
The poore prayeth meekely: but the r•che geueth a rough aunswere.
A man that wyll haue frendes, must shewe hym selfe frendly: and there is a frende which is nearer then a brother.
BEtter is the poore that liueth godly, then he that abuseth his lippes, and is a foole.
The desire without discretion is not good: but [as] a man which hasteth with his feete offendeth.
The foolishnesse of man paruerteth his way: and his heart fretteth agaynst the Lorde.
Riches maketh many frendes: but the poore is separated from his neighbour.
A false witnesse shall not be vnpunished: and he that speaketh lyes shall not escape.
The multitude hangeth vpon great men: and euery man fauoureth hym that geueth rewardes.
All the brethren of the poore do hate hym, yea his owne frendes withdrawe them selues from hym: and he that geueth credence to wordes, getteth nothyng.
He that is wise loueth his owne soule, and kepeth vnderstanding, that he may prosper.
A false witnesse shall not be vnpunished: and he that speaketh lyes shall perishe.
Pleasure is not seemely for a foole: much lesse for a bondman to haue rule of princes.
A wise man can put of displeasure, and it is his honour to let some faultes passe.
The kynges displeasure is lyke the roaryng of a Lion: but his fauour is lyke the deawe vpon the grasse.
An vndiscrete sonne is the heauinesse of his father, and a brawlyng wyfe is lyke the top of an house wherthrough it is euer droppyng.
House and riches may a man haue by the heritage of his elders: but a discrete woman is the gyft of the Lorde.
Slouthfulnesse bryngeth sleepe, and a soule accustomed with craft, shall suffer hunger.
Who so kepeth the commaundement, kepeth his owne soule: but he that regardeth not his wayes, shall dye.
He that hath pitie vpon the poore, lendeth vnto the Lorde: and loke what he layeth out, it shalbe payde hym agayne.
Chasten thy sonne while there is hope: and let not thy soule spare for his crying.
A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: and though thou [once] delyuer hym, thou must do it agayne.
O geue eare vnto good counsayle, and be content to be refourmed, that thou mayest be wyse in the latter dayes.
There are many deuises in a mans heart: neuerthelesse, the counsayle of the Lorde shall stande.
It is a mans worshyp to do good: and a poore man is better then a lyer.
The feare of the Lord [bringeth a man] to lyfe: and he shall rest the whole night in plenteousnesse without visitation of any plague.
A slouthfull man shutteth his hande into his bosome, and wyll not take payne to put it to his mouth.
If thou smytest a scornefull person, the ignoraunt shall take better heede: and yf thou reprouest one that hath vnderstandyng, he wyll be the wyser.
He that hurteth his father or shutteth out his mother, is a shamefull and an vnworthy sonne.
My sonne heare no more the doctrine that leadeth thee vnto errours from the wordes of vnderstandyng.
A wicked witnesse mocketh iudgement: and the mouth of the vngodly deuoureth wickednesse.
Iudgementes are ordeyned for the scornefull, and stripes for fooles backes.
WIne maketh a man to be scornefull, & strong drinke causeth a man to be vnquiet: who so delighteth therin shall not be wyse.
The feare of the king is as the roaring of a Lion, who so prouoketh hym vnto anger, offendeth against his owne soule.
It is a mans honour to kepe him selfe from strife: but euery foole wyll be medling.
A slouthfull body wyll not go to plow for colde of the winter: therefore shall he begge in sommer, and haue nothing.
Counsayle in the heart of man is lyke deepe water: but a man of vnderstanding wyll drawe it out.
Many there be that woulde be called good doers: but where shall one finde a faythfull man?
The chyldren of the iust man which walketh vprightly, shalbe blessed after hym.
A kyng that sitteth in the throne of iudgement, chaseth away all euyll with his looke.
Who can say, I haue made my heart cleane, I am pure from [my] sinne?
Two maner of wayghtes or two maner of measures, both these are abhomination vnto the Lorde.
A chylde is knowen by his conuersation, whether his workes be pure and right.
The eare to heare, the eye to see: the Lorde hath made them both.
Loue not sleepe, lest thou come vnto pouertie: but open thyne eyes, that thou mayest haue bread inough.
It is naught, it is naught (saith he that byeth): but when he commeth to his owne house, then he boasteth [of his peny worth.]
There is golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lippes of knowledge are a precious iewell.
Take his garment that is suretie for a straunger: and take a pledge of hym for the vnknowen sake.
A man liketh the bread that is gotten with deceipt: but at the last his mouth shalbe filled with grauell.
Thorowe counsayle, the thinges that men deuise are made strong: and with good aduise take warre in hande.
The craftie deceiptfull be wrayeth secrete counsayle: therefore meddle not with hym that flattereth with his lips.
Who so curseth his father and mother, his light shalbe put out in the depth of darknesse.
The heritage that commeth hastylye at the first, shall not be blessed at the ende.
Say not thou, I wyll recompence euyll: but put thy trust in the Lorde, and he shall deliuer thee.
Diuers waightes are an abhomination vnto the Lord, and a false balaunce is not good.
The Lorde ordereth euery mans goinges: how can a man then vnderstand his owne way?
It is a snare for a man to deuour that whiche is holy, and after the vowe to make inquirie.
A wyse kyng disperseth the vngodly, and bringeth the wheele ouer them.
The lanterne of the Lorde is the breath of man, searching all the inwarde partes of the body.
Mercy and trueth preserueth the king, and with louing kindnes his seate is holden vp.
The strength of young men is their worship, and a gray head is an honour vnto the aged.
Blewe woundes driue away euyll, and stripes in the inwarde partes of the body.
THe kynges heart is in the hand of the Lord, lyke as are the riuers of water, he maye turne it whyther soeuer he wyll.
Euery mans way seemeth right in his owne eyes: but the Lorde pondereth the heart.
To do righteousnes and iudgement, is more acceptable to the Lorde then sacrifice.
An high looke, a proude heart, and the plowing of the vngodly is sinne.
The deuises of one that is diligent, bring plenteousnesse: but he that is vnaduised, commeth vnto pouertie.
To hoorde vp riches with a deceiptfull tongue, is vanitie tossed to and fro of them that seeke death.
The robberies of the vngodly shalbe their owne destruction: for they wyll not do the thing that is right.
The way of the vngodly is frowarde and straunge: but of the pure man his worke is right.
It is better to dwell in a corner on the house toppe, then with a brawling woman in a wide house.
The soule of the vngodly wisheth euyll, and his neighbour findeth no fauour in his eyes.
When the scornefull is punished, the ignoraunt take the better heede: and when the wise is instructed, he wyll receaue vnderstanding.
The righteous man wysely considereth the house of the wicked, and for their wickednesse [God] ouerthroweth the vngodly.
Who so stoppeth his eares at the crying of the poore, he shall crye hym selfe and not be hearde.
A priuie rewarde pacifieth displeasure: and a gyft in the bosome [stilleth] furiousnesse.
The iust delighteth in doing the thing that is right: but destruction shalbe to the workers of wickednesse.
The man that wandereth out of the way of wysdome, shall remaine in the congregation of the dead.
He that hath pleasure in bankettes shalbe a poore man: and whoso delighteth in wine and delicates, shall not be riche.
The vngodly shalbe a raunsome for the righteous: and the wicked for the iust.
It is better to dwell in the wyldernesse, then with a chydyng and an angrye woman.
In a wise mans house there is a great treasure and oyle: but a foolishe body spendeth vp all.
Who so foloweth righteousnesse and mercy, findeth both life, righteousnesse, and honour.
A wyse man skaleth the citie of the mightie, & ouerthroweth the strength wherein they trusted.
Who so kepeth his mouth and his tongue, the same kepeth his soule from troubles.
He that is proude and arrogant, is called a scorner, whiche in his wrath worketh presumptuously.
The desire of the slouthfull kylleth him: for his handes wyll not labour.
He coueteth greedyly all day long: but the righteous geueth and spareth not.
The sacrifice of the vngodly is abhomination: howe muche more when they offer the thing that is gotten with wickednesse?
A false witnesse shall perishe: but [a good] man speaketh constantly what he hath hearde.
An vngoly man hardeneth his face: but the iust refourmeth his owne way.
There is no wysdome, there is no vnderstanding, there is no counsayle against the Lorde.
The horse is prepared against the day of battayle: but the Lorde geueth victorie.
A Good name is more to be desired then great riches: and louing fauour [is better] then siluer and golde.
The riche and poore meete together: the Lorde is the maker of them all.
A wyse man seeth the plague, and hydeth hym selfe: but the foolishe go on still, and are punished.
By humilitie and the feare of the Lorde, [commeth] riches, honour, and life.
Thornes and snares are in the way of the frowarde: but he that doth kepe his soule, wyll flee farre from them.
Teache a chylde what way he should go: for he shall not leaue it when he is olde.
The ryche ruleth the poore, and the borower is seruaunt to the lender.
He that soweth wickednes, shal reape wickednes: and the rodde of his anger shall fayle.
He that hath a bountifull eye, shalbe blessed: for he geueth of his bread to the poore.
Cast out the scorneful man, and so shal strife go out with hym: yea variaunce and sclaunder shall ceasse.
Who so loueth cleannes of heart, for the grace of his lippes the kyng shalbe his frende.
The eyes of the Lord preserue knowledge: and he ouerthroweth the wordes of the transgressours.
The slouthfull body saith there is a Lion without: I might be slaine in the streate.
The mouth of straunge women is a deepe pit: wherein he falleth that the Lorde is angrye withall.
Foolishnes is bounde in the heart of the chylde: and the rodde of correction shall driue it away.
Who so doth a poore man wrong, to increase his owne [riches] and geueth vnto the ryche, at the last commeth to pouertie hym selfe.
Bowe downe thyne eare, and heare the wordes of the wise: applie thy mind vnto my doctrine:
For it is a pleasaunt thing if thou kepe them in thyne heart, and order them in thy lippes:
That thou mayest put thy trust in the Lorde, I haue shewed thee this day the thing that thou knowest.
Haue not I warned thee very oft with counsayle and learning,
That I might make thee knowe the trueth, that thou with the veritie mightest aunswere them that sende vnto thee?
Rob not the poore, because he is poore: and oppresse not the simple in iudgement:
For the Lorde him selfe wyll defende their cause, and do violence vnto them that haue vsed violence.
Make no frendship with an angrye wylfull man, and walke not with the furious:
Lest thou learne his wayes, and receaue hurt to thy soule.
Be not thou one of them that binde their hande vpon promise, and are suretie for waightie causes:
For if thou hast nothing to pay, they shall take away thy bed from vnder thee.
Thou shalt not remoue the auncient lande marke, whiche thy fore elders haue set.
Seest thou not that they which be diligent in their businesse stande before kinges, & not among the simple people?
WHen thou sittest to eate with a noble man, consider diligently what is set before thee.
Measure thyne appetite if it be gredyly set.
Be not desirous of his daintie meates, for meate begyleth and deceaueth.
Take not ouer great trauayle to be riche, beware of suche a purpose.
Wylt thou set thyne eye vpon the thing which sodenly vanisheth away? For riches make them selues wynges, and take their flight lyke an Egle into the ayre.
Eate thou not the bread of hym that hath an euyll eye: neither desire thou his daintie meate.
For as though he thought it in his heart, he saith, eate and drinke: where as his heart is not with thee.
The morsels that thou hast eaten shalt thou parbreake, and loose those sweete wordes.
Tell nothing into the eares of a foole: for he wyll despise the wysdome of thy wordes.
Remoue not the olde lande marke, and come not within the fielde of the fatherlesse:
For their redeemer is mightie, euen he shall defend their cause against thee.
Applye thyne heart vnto correction, and thyne eare to the wordes of knowledge.
Withholde not correction from the chylde: for if thou beatest hym with the rodde, he shall not dye thereof:
If thou smyte hym with the rodde, thou shalt deliuer his soule from hell.
My sonne if thy heart receaue wysdome, my heart also shall reioyce:
Yea my raynes shalbe very glad, if thy lippes speake the thing that is right.
Let not thyne heart be ielous to folowe sinners, but kepe thee styll in the feare of the Lorde all the day long:
For veryly there is an ende, and thy pacient abiding shall not be cut of.
My sonne geue eare and be wyse, and set straight thyne heart in the way [of the Lorde.]
Kepe not company with wine bibbers, and riotous eaters of fleshe:
For suche as be drunkardes and riotours shall come to pouertie: and he that is geuen to muche sleepe, shall go with a ragged coate.
Geue eare vnto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is olde.
Purchase trueth, wysdome, nurture, and vnderstanding, and sell them not.
The father of the righteous shall greatly reioyce: and he that begetteth a wyse chylde, shall haue ioy of hym.
[Do so that] thy father and mother may be glad of thee, and that she that bare thee may reioyce.
My sonne geue me thyne heart, and let thyne eyes haue pleasure in my wayes:
For an whore is a deepe graue, and a straunge woman is a narowe pit.
She lyeth in wayte as for a pray, and increaseth the transgressours amongst men.
Who hath wo? who hath sorowe? who hath strife? who hath brawling? and who hath woundes without a cause?
Or who hath red eyes? euen they that be euer at the wine, & seeke excesse.
Looke not thou vpon the wine howe red it is, and what a colour it geueth in the glasse:
It goeth downe sweetely, but at the last it byteth like a serpent, and stingeth lyke an adder.
Thyne eyes shall beholde straunge women, and thyne heart shall vtter lewde thinges:
Yea thou shalt be as though thou layest in the middest of the sea, or slepest vppon the top of the maste of a ship.
They haue beaten me [shalt thou say] and I was not sicke, they haue stricken me, and I felt it not: When I am well wakened, I wil go to the drinke again.
BE not thou enuious to folow wicked men, and desire not to be among them:
For their heart imagineth to do hurt, and their lippes talke mischiefe.
Thorowe wysdome is an house buylded, & with vnderstanding is it set vp.
Thorowe discretion shall the chaumbers be filled with all costly and pleasaunt riches.
A wise man is [euer] strong: yea a man of vnderstanding increaseth strength.
For with discretion must warres be taken in hand: and where as are many that can geue counsaile, there is health.
Wysdome is to hye a thyng for a foole: for he dare not open his mouth in the gate.
He that imagineth mischiefe, maye well be called an vngratious person.
The wicked thought of the foolishe is sinne: and the scornefull is an abhomination vnto men.
If thou be faynt in the day of aduersitie, thy strength is small.
Deliuer them that are drawen vnto death, and ceasse not to preserue them that are led to be slayne:
If thou wylt say, beholde I knewe not of it: doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? And he that kepeth thy soule, knoweth he it not? Shall not he also recompence euery man according to his workes?
My sonne, eate thou hony because it is good, and the hony combe, for it is sweete vnto thy mouth:
So [sweete] shal the knowledge of wysdome be vnto thy soule when thou hast found it: and there shalbe hope, and thy hope shall not be cut of.
Laye no priuie wayte (O wicked man) against the house of the righteous, and spoyle not his resting place.
For a iust man falleth seuen tymes, and ryseth vp agayne: but the vngodly fall into mischiefe.
Reioyce not thou at the fall of thyne enemie, and let not thyne heart be glad when he stumbleth:
Lest the Lorde when he seeth it be angry, and turne his wrath from hym [vnto thee.]
Fret not thy selfe because of the malitious, neither be enuious at the wicked:
For the wicked shall haue no posteritie, and the candle of the vngodly shalbe put out.
My sonne, feare thou the Lorde and the kyng, and kepe no company with them that slide backe [from his feare:]
For their destruction shall rise sodainlye: and who knoweth the aduersitie that may come from them both?
It is not good to haue respect of any person in iudgement.
He that saith to the vngodly thou art righteous, hym shall the people curse, yea the comminaltie shall abhorre him:
But they that rebuke [the vngodly] in them doth God delight, and a rych blessing shall come vpon them.
Euery man shall kisse his lippes that geueth a good aunswere.
Make redie thy worke that is without, and looke well vnto that whiche thou hast in the fielde: and then buylde thyne house.
Be not a false witnesse against thy neighbour, and speake no falsehood with thy lippes.
Say not, I wyll handle hym euen as he hath dealt with me: and wyll rewarde euery man according to his deedes.
I went by the fielde of the slouthfull, and by the vineyarde of the foolishe man:
And lo, it was all couered with nettles, and stoode full of thornes, and the stone wall was broken downe.
This I sawe, and considered it well: I looked vpon it, and toke it for a warning.
Yea sleepe on styll [I say] a litle, slumber a litle, folde thy handes together yet a litle:
So shall pouertie come vnto thee as one that trauayleth by the way, and necessitie lyke a weaponed man.
IT is the glory of God to kepe a thing secrete: but the kynges honour is to searche out a thing.
The heauen is hye, the earth is deepe: and the kinges heart is vnsearcheable.
Take the drosse from the siluer, and there shalbe a vessell for the finer.
Take away the vngodly from the kyng: and his seate shalbe stablished with righteousnesse.
Put not foorth thy selfe in the presence of the king, and preasse not into the place of great men:
For better is it, that it be sayde vnto thee, come vp hyther: then thou to be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thou seest with thyne eyes.
Be not hastie to go to lawe: lest haplye thou knowest not what to do when thy neighbour hath confounded thee.
Handle thy matter with thy neighbour himselfe, and discouer not thy secrete to another:
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamie do not ceasse.
A worde spoken in due season, is lyke apples of golde in a graued worke of siluer.
Who so reproueth a wyse man that hath an obedient eare, is as a golden earring, and an ornament of fine golde.
As the colde of snowe in the tyme of haruest: so is a faythfull messenger to them that sende hym, for he refresheth his maisters mynde.
Whoso maketh great boastes and geueth nothing, is lyke cloudes and winde without rayne.
With pacience is a prince pacified, and with a softe tongue is rigorousnesse broken.
If thou findest honie, eate so muche as is sufficient for thee: lest thou be ouer full, and parbreake it out agayne.
Withdrawe thy foote from thy neighbours house: lest he be werie of thee, and so hate thee.
Whoso beareth false witnesse against his neighbour, he is a very club, a sworde, and a sharpe arrowe.
The confidence that is put in an vnfaythfull man in tyme of trouble, is like a broken tooth, and a sliding foote.
Who so taketh away a mans garment in the colde weather, is like vineger vpon lime, or lyke hym that singeth songues to an heauie heart.
If thyne enemie hunger, feede hym, if he thirst, geue him drinke:
For so shalt thou heape coles of fire vpon his head, and the Lorde shall rewarde thee.
The northwinde dryueth away the rayne: euen so doth an angry countenaunce a backbiters tongue.
It is better to sit in a corner vpon the house toppe, then with a brawling woman in a wide house.
Good newes from a straunge countrey, are as colde water to a thirstie soule.
A righteous man fallyng downe before the vngodly, is like a troubled wel, and a spring that is corrupted.
As it is not good to eate to muche honye, so curiously to searche the glory of heauenly thinges, is not commendable.
He that can not rule him selfe, is like a citie whiche is broken downe and hath no walles.
LYke as snowe is [not meete] in sommer and rayne in haruest: euen so is worship vnseemely for a foole.
As the byrde and the swalowe take their flight and flee here and there: so the curse that is geuen in vayne, shall not light vpon a man.
Vnto the horse belongeth a whip, to the asse a brydle: and a rod to the fooles backe.
Geue not the foole an aunswere after his foolishnes, lest thou become like vnto him.
But make the foole an aunswere to his foolishnesse, lest he be wyse in his owne conceipt.
[As he that] cutteth of [his messengers] feete endamageth himselfe: so doth he that committeth a message to a foole.
Like as in a lame man his legges are not equall: euen so is a parable in a fooles mouth.
He that setteth a foole in hye dignitie, that is euen as if a man would bynde a stone in a sling.
As is a thorne in the hande of a drunkarde: so is a parable in a fooles mouth.
The mightie that fourmed al thinges, rewardeth the fooles & transgressours.
Like as the dogge turneth agayne to his owne vomite: euen so a foole beginneth his foolishnes agayne afreshe.
If thou seest a man that is wise in his owne conceipt: there is more hope in a foole, then in hym.
The slouthfull saith, there is a lion in the way, and a lion in the middest of the streates.
Like as the doore turneth about vpon the hynges: euen so doth the slouthfull walter him selfe in his bed.
The slouthfull body thrusteth his hande into his bosome, and it greeueth hym to put it agayne to his mouth.
The sluggarde thinketh him selfe wiser then seuen men that sit and teache.
Who so goeth by and medleth with other mens strife: he is like one that taketh a dogge by the eares.
As he that fayneth him selfe mad, casteth firebrandes, deadly arrowes and dartes:
So doth a dissembler with his neighbour, and saith, am not I in sport?
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: euen so where the talebearer is taken away, there the strife ceasseth.
As coles kindle heate, and wood the fire: euen so doth a brawling felowe stirre vp variaunce.
A talebearers wordes are lyke men that strike with hammers, and they pearse the inwarde partes of the body.
Burning lippes and a wicked heart, are like a potsharde couered with siluer drosse.
An enemie wyll dissemble with his lippes, and layeth vp deceipt in his heart.
But when he speaketh fayre, beleue hym not: for there are seuen abhominations in his heart.
Hatred maye be couered by deceipt: but the malice therof shalbe shewed before the whole congregation.
Who so diggeth vp a pit, shal fall therin: and he that rolleth vp a stone, it wyl returne vpon hym.
A lying tongue hateth the afflicted: and a flattering mouth worketh mischiefe.
MAke not thy boast of to morowe: for thou knowest not what a day may bring foorth.
Let another man prayse thee, and not thyne owne mouth, yea other folkes, and not thyne owne lippes.
The stone is heauie, and the sande wayghtie: but a fooles wrath is heauier then them both.
Wrath is a cruell thing, and furiousnesse is a very tempest: but who is able to abide enuie?
Open rebuke, is better then secrete loue.
Faythfull are the woundes of a louer: but the kysses of an enemie are cruell.
He that is full, abhorreth an honye combe: but vnto hym that is hungrye, euery sowre thing is sweete.
He that oft times flitteth, is like a byrd that forsaketh her nest.
Baulme and sweete incense make the heart merie: so sweete is that frende that geueth counsell from the heart.
Thyne owne frende and thy fathers frende see thou forsake not, and go not into thy brothers house in tyme of thy trouble: for better is a frende at hand, then a brother farre of.
My sonne be wyse, and make me a glad heart, that I may make aunswere vnto my rebukers.
A wyse man seing the plague, wyll hide hym selfe: as for fooles they go on styll and suffer harme.
Take his garment that is suretie for a straunger, and take a pledge of hym for the vnknowen sake.
He that is to hastie to praise his neighbour aboue measure, shalbe taken as one that geueth hym an euyll report.
A brawling woman and the roofe of the house dropping in a raynie day, may well be compared together.
He that stilleth her, stilleth the winde, and stoppeth the smell of the oyntment in his hande.
Like as one iron whetteth another, so doth one man comfort another.
Whoso kepeth his figge tree, shall eate the fruites thereof: so he that wayteth vpon his maister, shall come to honour.
Like as in one water there appeare diuers faces: euen so diuers men haue diuers heartes.
Hell and destruction are neuer full: euen so the eyes of men can neuer be satisfied.
As is the fining pot for the siluer, and the furnace for golde: so is a man tryed by the mouth of him that prayseth him.
Though thou shouldest bray a foole with a pestel in a morter like furmentie corne: yet wyll not his foolishnes go from hym.
Be thou diligent to knowe the state of thy cattell thy selfe, and loke well to thy flockes.
For riches abideth not alway, and the crowne endureth not for euer.
The hay groweth, the grasse commeth vp, and hearbes are gathered in the mountaynes.
The lambes shall clothe thee, and for the goates thou shalt haue money to thy husbandry.
Thou shalt haue goates milke inough to feede thee, to vpholde thy housholde, and to sustayne thy maydens.
THE vngodly fleeth when no man pursueth him: but the righteous are bolde as a Lion.
For the wickednes of the lande, the prince is oft chaunged: but thorowe a man of vnderstanding and wysdome, a realme endureth long.
One poore man oppressing another by violence, is like a raging rayne that destroyeth the fruite.
They that forsake the lawe, prayse the vngodly: but such as kepe the lawe are greeued at them.
Wicked men vnderstande not iudgement: but they that seeke the Lord, vnderstande all thinges.
Better is he that walketh in his vprightnes: then he that peruerteth his wayes, and is riche.
Who so kepeth the lawe, is a chylde of vnderstanding: but he that is a companion of riotous men, shameth his father.
He that by vsurie and vniust gaynes gathereth riches: he shall lay them in store for a man that will pitie the poore.
He that turneth away his eare from hearing the lawe, his prayer shalbe abhominable.
Who so causeth the righteous to go astray by an euill way, shall fall into his owne pit: but the iust shall haue the good in possession.
The riche man thinketh hym selfe to be wise: but the poore that hath vnderstandyng can perceaue hym well inough.
When righteous men do reioyce, there is great glory: but when the wicked come vp, the man is tryed.
He that hydeth his sinnes, shall not prosper: but whoso knowledgeth them and forsaketh them, shall haue mercy.
Well is hym that standeth alway in awe: as for hym that hardeneth his heart, he shall fall into mischiefe.
As a roaring Lion and an hungrye Beare, so is an vngodly prince ouer the poore people.
Where the prince is without vnderstanding, there is great oppression and wrong: but if he hateth couetousnes, he shall long raigne.
He that by violence shedeth any mans blood, shalbe a runnagate vnto his graue, and no man shalbe able to succour hym.
Whoso leadeth an innocent life, shalbe saued: but he that goeth frowarde wayes, shall once haue a fall.
He that tylleth his lande shall haue plenteousnes of bread: but he that foloweth idle persons, shall haue pouertie inough.
A faythfull man shalbe fylled with blessinges, and he that maketh haste to be riche, shall not be vngyltie.
To haue respect of persons [in iudgement] is not good, for that man wyll do wrong, yea euen for a peece of bread.
He that wyll be riche all to soone, hath an euyll eye: and considereth not that pouertie shall come vpon hym.
He that folowyng my preceptes rebuketh a man, shall fynde more fauour at the last then he that flattereth hym.
Who so robbeth his father and mother, and sayth it is no sinne: the same is the companion of a destroyer.
He that is of a proude stomacke stirreth vp strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lorde shalbe well fed.
He that trusteth in his owne heart is a foole: but he that dealeth wisely shalbe safe.
He that geueth vnto the poore shall not lacke: but he that hydeth his eyes from them, shall haue many a curse.
When the vngodly are come vp, men are fayne to hide them selues: but when they perishe, the ryghteous encrease.
HE that is stifnecked and wyll not be refourmed, shall sodaynly be destroyed without any helpe.
When the ryghteous are in aucthoritie the people do reioyce: but when the wicked beare rule, the people mourne.
Who so loueth wisdome, maketh his father a glad man: but he that kepeth companie with harlottes, spendeth away that he hath.
With [true] iudgement the kyng stablissheth the lande: but yf he be a man that oppresse the people with gatherynges, he turneth it vpside downe.
Who so flattereth his neighbour, layeth a net for his feete.
The sinne of the wicked is his owne snare: but the ryghteous doth syng and reioyce.
The righteous considereth the cause of the poore: but the vngodly regardeth no vnderstandyng.
Scornefull men bryng a citie into a snare: but wise men turne away wrath.
If a wise man contendeth with a foole: whether he be angry or laugh, there is no rest.
The bloodthirstie hate the righteous: but the iust seeke his soule.
A foole vttereth all his mynde at once: but a wyse man kepeth it in tyll afterwarde.
If a prince delight in lyes, all his seruauntes are vngodly.
The poore and the lender meete together, and the Lorde lyghteneth both their eyes.
The seate of the kyng that faithfully iudgeth the poore, shall continue sure for euermore.
The rodde and correction geueth wisdome: but a childe left to his owne will, bryngeth his mother to shame.
When the vngodly are multiplied, wickednesse encreaseth: but the ryghteous shall see their fall.
Nurture thy sonne with correction, and thou shalt be at rest: yea, he shall do thee good at thine heart.
When the worde of God is not preached, the people perishe: but well is hym that kepeth the lawe.
A [stubbourne] seruaunt wyll not be the better for wordes: for though he vnderstande, yet will he not regarde them.
Seest thou a man that is hastie to speake vnaduisedly? there is more hope in a foole then in hym.
He that delicately bryngeth vp his seruaunt from a chylde, shall make hym his maister at length.
An angry man stirreth vp strife, and he that beareth euyll will in his mynde doth much euyll.
After pryde commeth a fall: but a lowly spirite bryngeth great worshyp.
Who so is partner with a thiefe, hateth his owne soule: he heareth blasphemie and telleth it not foorth.
He that feareth men shall haue a fall: but who so putteth his trust in the Lorde, is without daunger.
Many there be that seke the princes fauour: but euery mans iudgement commeth from the Lorde.
The righteous abhorreth the vngodlye: and the wicked hateth hym that is in the ryght way.
And the prophecie that the same man spake vnto Ithiel, euen vnto Ithiel and Vchal.
SVrely I am more foolishe then any man, and haue no mans vnderstandyng.
I neuer learned wisdome, nor had knowledge of holy thynges.
Who hath clymed vp into heauen, and come downe from thence? who hath holden the wynde fast in his hande? who hath gathered together the waters in a garment? who hath establisshed all the endes of the worlde: what is his name, and what is his sonnes name, yf thou canst tell?
Euery worde of God is pure: he is a shielde vnto all them that put their trust in hym.
Put thou nothyng vnto his wordes, lest he reproue thee, and thou be founde a lyar.
Two thinges haue I required of thee, denie me them not before I dye:
Remoue farre fro me vanitie and lyes, geue me neither pouertie nor riches, only graunt me a necessary lyuyng:
Lest peraduenture I beyng full, shoulde denie thee, and say, who is the Lorde? or beyng oppressed with pouertie fall to stealyng, and forswere the name of my God.
Accuse not a seruaunt vnto his maister, lest he speake euyll of thee, and thou be hurt.
There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not blesse their mother.
There is a generation that thynke them selues cleane, and yet is not cleansed from their filthinesse.
There is a generation that hath a proude loke, and doth cast vp their eye lyddes.
There is a generation whose teeth are as swordes, and their chawes as knyues, to deuour the poore from of the earth, & the needy from among men.
The horse leache hath two daughters crying: bryng hyther, bryng hyther. There be three thynges that are neuer satisfied, yea foure thynges sayth neuer hoe:
The graue, the barren wombe, and the earth that hath neuer water enough: as for fire it sayth neuer hoe.
Who so laugheth his father to scorne, and setteth his mothers commaundement at naught, the rauens of the valley picke out his eyes, and deuoured be he of the young Egles.
There be three thynges whiche are wonderfull to me, yea foure whiche passe my vnderstandyng:
The way of an Egle in the ayre, the way of a serpent vpon a stone, the way of a ship in the middest of the sea, and the way of a man with a young woman:
Such is the way also of a wyfe that breaketh wedlocke, which wypeth her mouth [lyke as] when she hath eaten, and sayth, as for me I haue done no wickednesse.
For three thynges the earth is disquieted, and the fourth may it not abyde.
A seruaunt that beareth rule, a foole that is full fedde,
A spiteful woman when she is maried, and an handmayde that is heire to her maistresse.
These be foure thynges in the earth the which are very litle, but in wisdome they exceede the wyse:
The emmets are [but] a weake people, which yet gather their meate in the sommer:
The conies are but a feeble folke, yet make their boroughes among the rockes:
The grashoppers haue not a guide, yet go they foorth together by heapes:
The spyder laboureth with her handes, and is in kynges palaces.
There be three thynges that go well, yea foure are comely in goyng.
A lion whiche is strongest among beastes, and shunneth not at the syght of any:
A grayhounde strong in the hynder partes, a ramme also, and a king against whom no man aryseth vp.
If thou hast done foolishly when thou wast in hye estate, or yf thou hast taken euyll counsayle, then lay thine hande vpon thy mouth.
Who so chirneth mylke bringeth foorth butter, and he that rubbeth his nose, maketh it bleede: Euen so he that forceth wrath, bringeth foorth strife.
THE wordes of king Lamuel, and the lesson that his mother taught him.
WHat my sonne? what the sonne of my body? and what O my deare beloued sonne?
Geue not ouer thy strength & wayes vnto women, which are the destruction euen of kynges.
O Lamuel, it is not for kynges, it is not [I say] for kynges to drynke wine, nor princes strong drynke.
Lest they by drnkyng forget the lawe, and peruert the iudgement of all poore mens children.
Geue strong drynke vnto such as are redy to perishe, and wine vnto those that mourne:
That they may drynke it, and forget their miserie and aduersitie.
Be thou an aduocate for the dumbe, [to speake] in the cause of all such as be succourlesse in this transitorie worlde.
Open thy mouth, defende the thyng that is lawfull and ryght, and the cause of the poore and helpelesse.
Who so fyndeth an honest faythfull woman, she is much more worth then pearles.
The heart of her husbande may safely trust in her, so that he shall fall into no pouertie.
She wyll do hym good, and not euill, all the dayes of her lyfe.
She occupieth wooll and flaxe, and laboureth gladly with her handes.
She is like a marchauntes ship, that bryngeth her vittayles from a farre.
She is vp in the nyght season, to prouide meate for her housholde, and foode for her maydens.
She considereth lande, and byeth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.
She girdeth her loynes with strength, and fortifieth her armes.
And yf she perceaue that her huswiferie doth good, her candell goeth not out by nyght.
She layeth her fingers to the spindle, & her hande taketh holde of the distaffe.
She openeth her hande to the poore, yea she stretcheth foorth her handes to such as haue neede.
She feareth not that the colde of wynter shall hurt her housholde, for all her housholde folkes are clothed with scarlet.
She maketh her selfe faire orname{n}tes, her clothyng is white silke and purple.
Her husbande is much set by in the gates, when he sitteth among the rulers of the lande.
She maketh cloth of silke, and selleth it: and deliuereth girdles vnto the marchaunt.
Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.
She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and in her tongue is the lawe of grace.
She loketh well to the wayes of her housholde: and eateth not her bread with idlenesse.
Her children arise vp & call her blessed: and her husbande shall make much of her.
Many daughters [there be that] gather riches together: but thou goest aboue them all.
As for fauour it is deceiptfull, & beautie is a vayne thyng: but a woman that feareth the Lorde, shalbe praysed.
Geue her of the fruite of her handes: and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.
THe wordes of the preacher {th}e sonne of Dauid kyng of Hierusalem.
All is but most vayne vanitie saith the preacher, & all is most vayne [I say] and but playne vanitie.
For what els hath a man of all the labour that he taketh vnder the sunne?
One generation passeth away, another commeth: but the earth abideth styll.
The sunne aryseth, the sunne goeth downe, and returneth to his place, that he may there ryse vp agayne.
The wynde goeth towarde the south and turneth vnto the north, fetcheth his compasse, whirleth about, and goeth foorth, and returneth agayne to his circuites from whence he dyd come.
All fluddes runne into the sea, and yet is the sea it selfe not fylled: For loke vnto what place the waters runne, thence they come to flowe agayne.
All thinges are so harde to be knowen, that no man can expresse them: The eye is not satisfied with sight, the eare is not fylled with hearyng.
The thyng that hath ben, commeth to passe agayne, and the thyng that hath ben done, shalbe done agayne: There is no newe thyng vnder the sunne.
Is there any thyng wherof it may be sayde, lo this is newe? for it was long ago in the tymes that haue ben before vs.
The thyng that is past is out of remembraunce: euen so the thynges that are for to come, shal no more be thought vpon among them that come after.
I my selfe the preacher was kyng of Israel at Hierusalem,
And dyd applie my mynde to seke out & searche for knowledge of all thynges that are done vnder heauen: Such trauayle and labour hath God geuen vnto the children of men, to exercise them selues therin.
Thus haue I considered all these thynges that come to passe vnder the sunne: and lo, they are all but vanitie and vexation of mynde.
The croked can not be made straight, nor the imperfection of thynges can be numbred.
I communed with myne owne heart, saying: lo I am come to great estate, and haue gotten more wisdome then all they that haue ben before me in Hierusalem.
Yea, my heart had great experience of wisdome & knowledge: for thervnto I applied my mynde, that I myght knowe what were wisdome and vnderstandyng, what were errour and foolishnesse: and I perceaued that this was also but a vexation of mynde.
For where much wisdome is, there is also great trauayle and disquietnesse: and the more knowledge a man hath, the more is his care.
THen sayde I thus in my heart: Nowe go to, I will take myne ease, and haue good dayes: But lo, that is vanitie also.
Insomuch that I saide vnto the man geuen to laughter, thou art mad: and to mirth, what doest thou?
So I thought in my heart to geue my fleshe vnto wine, and agayne to apply my mynde vnto wisdome, and to comprehende foolishnesse: vntyll the tyme that among all the thynges which are vnder the sunne, I myght see what were best for men to do so long as they liue vnder heauen.
I made gorgious faire workes: I builded my houses, and planted vineyardes.
I made me orchardes and gardens of pleasure, and planted trees in them of all maner of fruites.
I made pooles of water, to water the greene and fruitfull trees withall.
I bought seruauntes and maydens, and had a great housholde: As for cattel and sheepe, I had more substaunce of them then all they that were before me in Hierusalem.
I gathered together siluer and golde, and the chiefe treasures of kynges and landes: I haue prouided me men singgers and women singers, and the delites of the sonnes of men, as a woman taken captiue, and women taken captiues.
And I was greater and in more worship then all my predecessours in Hierusalem: For wisdome remayned with me.
And loke whatsoeuer myne eyes desired, I let them haue it: and wherin soeuer my heart delited or had any pleasure, I withhelde it not from it: Thus my heart reioyced in all that I did, and this was my portion of all my trauayle.
But when I considered all the workes that my handes had wrought, and all the labour that I had taken therin: lo all was but vanitie and vexation of mynde, and nothing of any value vnder the sunne.
Then turned I me to consider wisdome, errour, and foolishnesse (for what is he among men that myght be compared to me the kyng in such workes?)
And I sawe that wisdome excelleth foolishnesse, as farre as light doth darknesse.
For a wise man hath his eyes in his head, but the foole goeth in darknesse: I perceaued also that they both had one ende.
Then thought I in my mynde, yf it happen vnto the foole as it doth vnto me, what needeth me then to labour any more for wisdome? So I confessed within my heart that this also was but vanitie.
For the wise are euer as litle in remembraunce as the foolishe: for the dayes shall come when all shalbe forgotten: yea the wise man dyeth as well as the foole.
Thus began I to be weery of my life, insomuch that I coulde away with nothyng that is done vnder the sunne: for all was but vanitie and vexation of mynde.
Yea I was weery of my labour which I had taken vnder the sunne, because I shoulde be fayne to leaue them vnto another man that commeth after me:
And who knoweth whether he shalbe a wise man or a foole? And yet shall he be lorde of all my laboures which I with such wisdome haue taken vnder the sunne: This is also a vayne thyng.
So I turned me to refrayne my mynde from all such trauayle as I toke vnder the sunne,
Forsomuch as a man shoulde weery hym selfe with wisdome, with vnderstandyng and oportunitie, and yet be fayne to leaue his labours vnto another that neuer sweat for them: This is also a vayne thyng, and great miserie.
For what getteth a man of all the labour and trauayle of his mynde that he taketh vnder the sunne?
But heauinesse, sorowe, and disquietnesse all the dayes of his life? Insomuch that his heart can not rest in the nyght: This is also a vayne thyng.
Is it not better then for a man to eate and drynke, and his soule to be mery in his labour? yea I sawe that this also was a gift of God.
For who wyll eate or go more lustyly to his worke then I?
And why? God geueth to the man that is good before hym, wisdome, vnderstandyng, and gladnesse: but vnto the sinner he geueth weerinesse, that he may gather and heape together the thyng that afterwarde shalbe geuen vnto hym whom it pleaseth God: This is nowe a vayne thyng, yea a very disquietnesse and vexation of mynde.
EVery thyng hath a tyme, yea all that is vnder the heaue{n} hath his conuenient season.
There is a tyme to be borne, and a tyme to dye: there is a tyme to plant, and a tyme to plucke vp the thyng that is planted.
A tyme to slay, and a tyme to make whole: a tyme to breake downe, and a tyme to builde vp.
A tyme to weepe, and a tyme to laugh: a tyme to mourne, & a tyme to daunce.
A tyme to cast away stones, and a tyme to gather stones together: A tyme to imbrace, and a tyme to refrayne from imbracyng.
A tyme to wynne, and a tyme to lose: A tyme to spare, and a tyme to spende.
A tyme to cut in peeces, and a tyme to sowe together: A tyme to kepe scilence, and a tyme to speake.
A tyme to loue, and a tyme to hate: A tyme of warre, and a tyme of peace.
What hath a man els that doth any thyng, but weerinesse and labour?
For as touchyng the trauayle and carefulnesse which God hath geuen vnto men, I see that he hath geuen it them to be exercised in it.
All this hath he ordeyned marueilous goodly, to euery thyng his due tyme: He hath planted ignoraunce also in the heartes of men, that they shoulde not comprehende the ground of his workes which he doth from the begynnyng to the ende.
So I perceaued that in those thinges there is nothyng better for a man then to be mery, and to do well as long as he lyueth.
For all that a man eateth & drynketh, yea whatsoeuer a man enioyeth of all his labour: that same is a gyft of God.
I considered also that whatsoeuer God doth, it continueth for euer: And that nothyng can be put vnto it, nor taken from it, & that God doth it to the intent that men shoulde feare hym.
The thyng that hath ben, is nowe: and the thyng that is for to come, hath ben afore time: for God restoreth againe the thyng that was past.
Moreouer, I sawe vnder the sunne vngodlynes in the steade of iudgement, & iniquitie in steade of righteousnesse.
Then thought I in my mynde, God shall separate the ryghteous from the vngodly: and then shalbe the tyme and iudgement of all counsayles & workes.
I communed with myne owne heart also concernyng the children of men, howe God hath chosen them, and yet letteth them appeare as though they were beastes.
For it happeneth vnto men as it doth vnto beastes, euen one condition vnto them both: as the one dyeth so dyeth the other, yea they haue both one maner of breath: so that in this a man hath no preeminence aboue a beast, but are all subdued vnto vanitie.
They go all vnto one place: for as they be all of dust, so shall they all turne vnto dust agayne.
Who knoweth the spirite of man that goeth vpwarde, & the breath of the beast that goeth downe to the earth?
Wherfore I perceaue that there is nothyng better for a man then to be ioyfull in his labour, for that is his portion: But who wyll bryng hym to see the thyng that shall come after hym?
SO I turned me, and considered all the violent wrong that is done vnder the sunne: and behold the teares of such as were oppressed, and there was no man to comfort them, or that woulde deliuer and defende them from the violence of their oppressours.
Wherfore I iudged those that are dead, to be more happy then those that be alyue:
Yea hym that is yet vnborne, to be better at ease then they both: because he seeth not the miserable workes that are done vnder the sunne.
Agayne, I sawe that all trauayle and diligence of labour that euery man taketh in hande, was done of enuie agaynst his neyghbour: This is also a vayne thing, and a vexation of mynde.
The foole foldeth his handes together, and eateth vp his owne fleshe.
One handfull [sayth he] is better with rest, then both the handes full with labour and trauayle of mynde.
Moreouer I turned me, and beholde yet another vanitie vnder the sunne:
There is one man, no mo but hym selfe alone, hauyng neither childe nor brother, yet is there no ende of his careful trauayle, his eyes can not be satisfied with riches: [yet sayth he not] for whom do I take such trauayle? For whose pleasure do I thus consume away my life? This is also a vayne and miserable thyng.
Therfore two are better then one, for they may well enioy the profite of their labour: For yf one of them fall, his companion helpeth hym vp agayne.
But wo is hym that is alone: for yf he fal, he hath not another to helpe him vp.
Agayne when two sleepe together they are warme: but howe can a body be warme alone?
One may be ouercome, but two may make resistaunce: A three folde gable is not lightly broken.
A poore childe beyng wise, is better then an olde king that doteth, and can not beware in tyme to come.
Some one commeth out of prison, and is made a kyng: and another which is borne in the kyngdome, commeth vnto pouertie.
And I perceaued that all men lyuyng vnder the sunne go with the seconde childe that shall stande vp in the steade of the other.
As for the people that haue ben before hym, and that come after hym, they are innumerable, and they that come after hym shall not reioyce of hym: This is also a vayne thyng, and vexation of mynde.
When thou commest into the house of God, kepe thy foote and drawe nye, that God which is at hande may heare that thou geue not the offerynges of fooles: for they knowe naught but to do euyll.
BE not hasty with thy mouth, and let not thine heart speake any thyng rashly before God: For God is in heauen, and thou vpon earth, therfore let thy wordes be fewe.
For where much carefulnesse is, there are many dreames: and where many wordes are, there men may heare fooles.
If thou make a vowe vnto God, be not slacke to perfourme it: As for foolish vowes he hath no pleasure in them: yf thou promise any thyng, pay it.
For better is it that thou make no vowe, then that thou shouldest promise and not pay.
Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy fleshe for to sinne, neither say thou before the angell that it is thy ignoraunce: for then God wyll be angry at thy voyce, and destroy all the worke of thyne handes.
And why? wheras are many dreames and many wordes, there are also diuers vanities: but loke that thou feare God.
If thou seest the poore to be oppressed, and wrongfully dealt withall, so that equitie and right of the lawe is wrested in the lande, marueyle not thou at such a thyng: for he that is hygher then the hyghest regardeth, and there be hygher then they.
The increase of the earth vpholdeth all thyng: yea the kyng hym selfe is maynteyned by husbandry.
He that loueth money, wyll neuer be satisfied with money: and he that loueth riches, shalbe without the fruite therof: This is also a vayne thyng.
Wheras much riches is, there are many also that spende them away: And what pleasure more hath he that possesseth them, sauyng that he may loke vpon them with his eyes?
A labouryng man sleepeth sweetly whether it be litle or much that he eateth: but the aboundaunce of the riche wyll not suffer hym to sleepe.
Yet is there a sore plague which I haue seene vnder the sunne [namely] riches kept to the hurt of him that hath them in possession:
For oft tymes they perishe with his great miserie and trouble: and yf he haue a childe, it getteth nothyng.
Lyke as he came naked out of his mothers wombe, so goeth he thyther agayne, and caryeth nothyng away with hym of all his labour.
This is a miserable plague, that he shall go euen as he came away: What helpeth it hym then that he hath laboured in the wynde?
All the dayes of his lyfe also he dyd eate in the darke, with great carefulnesse, sicknesse, and sorowe.
Therfore me thynke it a better and a fairer thyng, a man to eate and drynke, and to be refresshed of all his labour that he taketh vnder the sunne, all the dayes of his lyfe which God geueth hym: for this is his portion.
For vnto whom soeuer God geueth riches, goodes, and power, he geueth it hym to enioy it, to take it for his portion, and to be refresshed of his labour: this is the gyft of God.
For he thinketh not much howe long he shall lyue, forasmuch as God fylleth his heart with gladnesse.
THere is yet a plague vnder the sunne, and it is a generall thyng among men: when God geueth a man riches, goodes, and honour, so that he wanteth nothyng of all that his heart can desire, and yet God geueth hym not leaue to enioy the same, but another man spendeth them: This is a vayne thyng and a miserable plague.
If a man beget a hundred children, and lyue many yeres, so that his dayes are many in number, and yet can not enioy his good, neither be buryed: as for hym I say, that vntymely birth is better then he.
For he commeth to naught, & spendeth his tyme in darknesse, and his name is forgotten.
Moreouer he seeth not the sunne, and knoweth not of it: and yet hath he more rest then the other.
Yea, though he lyued two thousande yeres, yet hath he no good lyfe: Come not all to one place?
All the labour that a man taketh is for him selfe, and yet his desire is neuer fylled after his mynde.
For what hath the wise more then the foole? What helpeth it the poore that he knoweth to walke with fooles before the lyuyng?
The cleare syght of the eye is better then that the soule shoulde walke after desires of the lust: Howbeit, this is also a vayne thyng, and a disquietnesse of mynde.
The thyng that hath ben, is named alredy, and knowen that it is euen man him selfe: neither may he go to lawe with him that is mightier then he.
Many thinges there be that encrease vanitie, and what hath a man els?
For who knoweth what is good for man liuing in the dayes of his vayne life, whiche is but a shadowe? Or who wyl tell a man what shall happen after hym vnder the sunne?
A Good name is more worth then precious oyntment: & the day of death, is better the{n} the day of byrth.
It is better to go into an house of mourning, then into a banketting house: For there is the ende of all men, and he that is liuing taketh it to heart.
Grauitie is better then to laugh: for when the countenaunce is heauie, the heart is refourmed.
The heart of the wise is in the mourning house: but the heart of the foolishe is in the house of myrth.
It is better to geue eare to the chastening of a wyse man, then to heare the songue of fooles:
For the laughyng of fooles is like the cracking of thornes vnder a pot: and that is but a vayne thing.
The wyse man hateth wrong dealing, and abhorreth the heart that coueteth rewardes.
Better is it to consider the ende of a thing then the beginning: The pacient of spirite, is better then the hye minded.
Be not hastyly angrie in thy minde: for wrath resteth in the bosome of fooles.
Say not thou, What is the cause that the dayes of the old time were better then they that be nowe? for that were no wyse question.
Wysdome with inheritaunce is good, yet better is it with them that without care may beholde the sunne:
For wysdome defendeth aswell as money, and the excellent knowledge & wysdome geueth lyfe vnto hym that hath it in possession.
Consider the worke of God, how that no man can make the thing straight, whiche he maketh crooked.
Vse well the tyme of prosperitie, and remember the tyme of misfortune: for God doth so temper the one and the other, that a man can finde nothing els.
All thinges haue I considered in the time of my vanitie: that the iust man perisheth for his righteousnesse sake, & the vngodly liueth in his wickednesse.
Therfore be thou neither to righteous nor ouer wyse, that thou perishe not.
Be neither to vnrighteous also nor to foolishe, lest thou die before thy time.
It is good for thee to take holde of this, and not to let that go out of thy hande: For he that feareth God, commeth foorth with them all.
Wysdome geueth more courage vnto the wyse, then ten mightie men of the citie.
For there is not one iust vpon earth that doth good, and sinneth not.
Take no heede vnto euery word that is spoken, lest thou heare thy seruaunt curse thee: for thyne owne heart knoweth that thou thy self also hast ofttimes spoken euyll by other men.
All these thinges haue I proued in wysdome, for I thought to be wyse, but she went farther fro me then she was before: yea and so deepe, that I might not reache vnto her.
I applied my minde also vnto knowledge, and to seeke and searche out science, wysdome, and vnderstanding, to knowe the foolishnesse of the vngodly, and the errour of doting fooles.
And I founde that a woman is bitterer then death, the whiche hath cast abrode her heart as a net that men fishe with, and her handes are chaynes: Who so pleaseth God shall escape from her, but the sinner wyll be taken with her.
Beholde (saith the preacher) this haue I diligently searched out and proued: One thing must be considered with another, that a man may come by knowledge, which as yet I seeke, and finde it not.
Among a thousande men I haue founde one: but not one woman among all.
Lo this onlye haue I founde, that God made man iust and right: but they sought many inuentions.
WHo is wise? who hath knowledge to make an aunswere? A mans wysdome maketh his face to shine: but vnshamefastnes putteth it out of fauour.
Kepe the kynges commaundement, namely for the oth that thou hast made vnto God for the same.
Be not hastie to go out of his sight, and see thou continue in no euyll thing: for whatsoeuer it pleaseth hym, that doth he.
Like as when a king geueth a charge, his commaundement is mightie: Euen so, who may say vnto him, what doest thou?
Who so kepeth the commaundement, shall feele no harme: but a wyse mans heart discerneth the tyme and iudgement.
For euery thing wyll haue oportunitie and iudgement: and this is the thing that maketh men full of carefulnesse and sorowe.
And why? a man knoweth not what is for to come: for who can tell hym when it shalbe?
Neither is there any man that hath power ouer the spirite to kepe styll the spirite, nor to haue any power in the tyme of death, nor that can make an ende of the battayle, neither may vngodlynesse deliuer them that meddle withall.
All these thinges haue I considered, and applied my mynde vnto euery worke that is vnder the sunne, howe one man hath lordship vpon another to his owne harme.
For I haue seene often the vngodly brought to their graues, and yet they haue returned into the citie agayne: and came from the place of holy men, whiche in the citie were growen out of memorie, as were those also that liued well: This is also a vayne thing.
Because nowe that euyll workes are not hastyly punished, the heart of man geueth hym selfe ouer vnto wickednesse.
Because an euyll person offendeth an hundred tymes, and God deferreth, geuing hym long life, therefore am I sure that it shall go well with them that feare God, whiche haue hym before their eyes.
Againe, as for the vngodly it shall not be well with him, neither shall he prolong his dayes: but euen as a shadowe, so shall he be that feareth not God.
Yet is there a vanitie vpon earth: There be iust men vnto whom it happeneth as though they had the workes of the vngodly: Againe, there be vngodly, with whom it goeth as though they had the workes of the righteous: This haue I called also a vayne thing.
Therfore I commende gladnesse, because a man hath no better thing vnder the sunne, then to eate and drinke, and to be merie: for that shall he haue of his labour, al the dayes of his life which God geueth hym vnder the sunne.
And so I applied my minde to learne wysdome, and to knowe the trauayle that is in the worlde, and that of suche a fashion, that I suffred not mine eyes to sleepe neither day nor night.
I vnderstoode of all the workes of God, but it is not possible for a man to attayne vnto the workes that are done vnder the sunne: and though he bestowe his labour to seeke them out, yet can he not reach vnto them: yea though a wyse man would vndertake to know them, yet shall he not finde them.
FOr all these thinges purposed I in my mynde to seeke out: The righteous & wise, yea & their seruauntes also are in the hand of God, and there is no man that knoweth eyther loue or hate, but all thinges are before them.
It happeneth vnto one as vnto another, it goeth with the righteous as with the vngodly, with the good and cleane, as with the vncleane, with hym that offereth, as with him that offereth not: like as it goeth with the vertuous, so goeth it also with the sinner: as it happeneth vnto the pariured, so happeneth it also to hym that is afrayde to be forsworne.
Among all thinges that come to passe vnder the sunne, this is a miserie, that it happeneth vnto all alike: This is the cause also that the heartes of men are full of wickednesse, and madde foolishnesse is in their heartes as long as they liue, vntyll they dye.
And why? as long as a man liueth, he hath an hope: for a quicke dogge [say they] is better then a dead lion.
For they that be liuing knowe that they shall dye: but they that be dead knowe nothing, neither deserue they any more, for their memoriall is forgotten.
Also their loue, and their hatred, and their enuie is nowe perished, neither haue they any more part in the worlde in all that is done vnder the sunne.
Go thou thy way then, eate thy bread with ioy, & drinke thy wine with a glad heart, for thy workes please god: Let thy garmentes be alwayes white, and let thy head lacke no oyntment.
Vse thy selfe to liue ioyfully with thy wife whom thou louest all the dayes of thy life whiche is but vayne, that God geueth thee vnder the sunne all the dayes of thy vanitie: for that is thy portion in this life of al thy labour and trauayle that thou takest vnder the sunne.
Whatsoeuer thou takest in hande to do, that do with al thy power: for in the graue that thou goest vnto, there is neither worke, counsayle, knowledge, nor wysdome.
So I turned me vnto other thinges vnder the sunne, & I sawe that in running it helpeth not to be swift, in battell it helpeth not to be strong, to feeding it helpeth not to be wyse, to riches it helpeth not to be a man of muche vnderstanding, to be had in fauour it helpeth not to be cunning: but that all lieth in tyme and fortune.
For a man knoweth not his tyme: but like as the fishes are taken with the angle, and as the byrdes are caught with the snare: euen so are men taken in the perillous time, when it commeth sodaynly vpon them.
This wysdome haue I seene also vnder the sunne, and me thought it a great thing:
There was a litle citie and a few men within it: so there came a great kyng and besieged it, and made great bulwarkes against it.
And in the citie there was founde a poore man, but he was wyse, whiche with his wysdome deliuered the citie, yet was there no body that had any respect to such a simple man.
Then sayd I, wysdome is better then strength: Neuerthelesse, a simple mans wysdome is despised, and his wordes are not hearde.
A wyse mans counsayle that is folowed in scilence, is farre aboue the crying of a captaine among fooles.
For wysdome is better then harnesse: but one sinner alone destroyeth muche goodnesse.
A Dead flye doth corrupt sweete oyntment, and maketh it to stinke: Euen so oft tymes he that hath ben had in estimation for wysdome and honour, is abhorred because of a litle foolishnesse.
A wyse mans heart is vpon his right hande, but a fooles heart vpon his left.
A foole wyll shewe him selfe when he goeth by the way, yet thinketh he that euery man doth as foolishly as him self.
If a principall spirite be geuen thee to beare rule, be not negligent then in thine office: for he that can take cure of him selfe, auoydeth great offences.
Another plague is there whiche I haue seene vnder the sunne, namely, the ignoraunce that is commonly among princes: in that a foole sitteth in great dignitie, and the riche are set downe beneath.
I haue seene seruauntes ride vpon horses, and princes goyng vpon their feete as it were seruauntes.
But he that diggeth vp a pitte, shall fall therin hym selfe: and who so breaketh downe the hedge, a serpent shall byte hym.
Who so remoueth stones, shall haue trauayle withall: and he that heweth wood, shalbe hurt therwith.
When an iron is blunt and the poynt not sharpened, it must be whet agayne, and that with might: Euen so doth wisdome folowe diligence.
A backbiter is no better then a serpent that stingeth without hissing.
The wordes out of a wyse mans mouth are gratious: but the lippes of a foole wyll destroy him selfe.
The beginning of his talking is foolishnesse: & the last worde of his mouth is starke madnesse.
A foole is full of wordes, and a man can not tell what shall come to passe: who wyll then warne hym of it that shall folowe after hym?
The labour of the foolishe is greeuous vnto them, whyle they know not howe to go into the citie.
Wo be vnto thee O thou lande, whose kyng is but a chylde, and whose princes are early at their bankettes.
But well is thee O thou lande, whose kyng is come of nobles, and whose princes eate in due season for necessitie, and not for lust.
Thorowe slouthfulnesse the balkes fall downe, and thorowe idle handes it rayneth in at the house.
Meate maketh men to laugh, and wine maketh them merie: but vnto money are all thinges obedient.
Wishe the king no euil in thy thought, and speake no hurt of the riche in thy priuie chaumber: for a byrde of the ayre shall betray thy voyce, and with her fethers shall she bewray thy wordes.
LAy thy bread vpon wette faces, and so shalt thou finde it after many dayes.
Geue part seue{n} days, & also vpon the eyght: for thou knowest not what miserie shall come vpon earth.
When the cloudes are full, they powre out raine vpon the earth. And when the tree falleth, whether it be towarde the south or north, in what place soeuer it fall, there it lieth.
He that regardeth the winde, shall not sowe: and he that hath respect vnto the cloudes, shall not reape.
Nowe like as thou knowest not the way of the spirite, nor howe the bones do growe in the wombe of her that is with chylde: Euen so thou knowest not the workes of God, which is the workmaster of all.
Ceasse not thou therefore with thy handes to sowe thy seede, whether it be in the morning or in the euening: for thou knowest not whether this or that shall prosper, and if they both take, it is the better.
The light is sweete, and a pleasaunt thing is it for the eyes to looke vpon the sunne.
If a man lyue many yeres, and be glad in them all, let hym remember the dayes of darknesse whiche shalbe manye, and that foloweth: Al thinges shalbe but vanitie.
Be glad then (O thou young man) in thy youth, and let thy heart be merie in thy young dayes, folowe the wayes of thyne owne heart, and the lust of thyne eyes, but be thou sure that God shall bryng thee into iudgement for all these thinges.
PVt away displeasure out of thine heart, and remoue euill from thy body: for chyldhood and youth is but vanitie.
Remember thy maker the sooner in thy youth, or euer the dayes of aduersitie come, and or the yeres drawe nye when thou shalt say, I haue not pleasure in them:
Before the sunne, the light, the moone, and starres be darkened, and or the cloudes turne agayne after the rayne:
When the kepers of the house shall tremble, and when the strong men shall bowe them selues, when the milners stand styll because they be so fewe, and when the sight of the windowes shall waxe dimme:
When the doores in the streetes shalbe shut, and when the voyce of the milner shalbe layde downe, when men shall ryse vp at the voyce of the byrde, and when all the daughters of musicke shalbe brought lowe:
When men shall feare in hye places, and be afraide in the streetes, when the Almonde tree shall florishe and be laden with the grashopper, and when all lust shal passe: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streetes.
Or euer the siluer lace be taken away, and or the golden well be broken: Or the pot be broken at the well, and the wheele broken vpon the cesterne.
Then shall the dust be turned agayne vnto earth from whence it came, and the spirite shall returne vnto God who gaue it.
All is but vanitie (saith the preacher) all is but playne vanitie.
The preacher was yet more wyse, and taught the people knowledge, he gaue good heede, sought out the ground, and set foorth many parables: His diligence was to finde out acceptable wordes, right scripture, & the wordes of trueth.
For the wordes of the wyse are like prickes and nayles that go thorowe, of the auctoures of gatheringes [which] are geuen of one shephearde.
Therefore beware my sonne of that doctrine that is beside this: for to make many bookes, it is an endlesse worke, and to muche studie weerieth the body.
Let vs heare the conclusion of all thinges, Feare God, and kepe his commaundementes: for that toucheth all men. For God shall iudge all workes and secrete thinges, whether they be good or euyll.
O That he would kisse me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy loue is more pleasaunt then wine, and that because of the good and pleasaunt sauour of thy most precious baulmes.
Thy name is a sweet smelling oyntment when it is shed foorth, therfore do the maydens loue thee.
Drawe thou me [vnto thee] we wyll runne after thee. The kyng hath brought me into his priuie chaumbers: We wylbe glad and reioyce in thee, we thinke more of thy loue then of wine: they that be righteous loue thee.
I am blacke (O ye daughters of Hierusalem) but yet fayre and well fauoured, like as the tentes of the Cedarenes, and as the hanginges of Solomon.
Marueyle not at me that I am so blacke, for why? the sunne hath shined vpon me: my mothers chyldren haue euyll wyll at me, they made me the keper of the vineyardes, but mine owne vineyarde haue I not kept.
Tell me O thou whom my soule loueth, where thou feedest the sheepe, where thou makest them rest at the noone day: for why shall I be like hym that goeth wrong about the flockes of thy companions?
If thou knowe not thy selfe (O thou fayrest among women) then go thy way foorth after the footesteppes of the sheepe, and feede thy goates besyde the shepheardes tentes.
Vnto the hoast of Pharaos charets haue I compared thee, O my loue.
Thy cheekes and thy necke is beautifull as the turtles, and hanged with spanges and goodly iewels, a neckband of golde wyll we make thee, with siluer buttons.
When the king sitteth at the table, he shall smell my Nardus: a bundell of myrre is my loue vnto me, he wyll lye betwixt my brestes: a cluster of Camphire in the vineyardes of Engaddi is my loue vnto me.
Oh howe fayre art thou my loue, Oh howe fayre art thou? thou hast doues eyes. O howe fayre art thou my beloued, howe well fauoured art thou?
Our bed is dect with flowres, the seelinges of our house are of Cedar tree, and our crosse ioyntes of Cipresse.
I Am the rose of the fielde, and lillie of the valleys,
As the lillie among the thornes: so is my loue among the daughters.
Like as the apple tree among the trees of the wood: so is my beloued among the sonnes.
My delight is to sit vnder his shadowe, for his fruite is sweete vnto my throte.
He bringeth me into his wine seller, his banner spread ouer me, whiche is his loue.
Set about me cuppes of wine, comfort me with apples, for I am sicke of loue.
His left hande lyeth vnder my head, and his right hande shall imbrace me.
I charge you O ye daughters of Hierusalem by the roes and hindes of the fiede, that ye wake not vp my loue, nor touche her, tyll she be content her selfe.
Me thinke I heare the voyce of my beloued: lo, there commeth he hopping vpon the mountaines, and leaping ouer the litle hilles.
My beloued is lyke a roe or a young hart: beholde he standeth behinde our wall, he looketh in at the windowe, and peepeth thorowe the grate.
My beloued aunswered and sayd vnto me: O stande vp my loue, my beautifull, and go to thyne owne: for lo the winter is nowe past, the rayne is away and gone.
The flowres are come vp in the field, the tyme of the byrdes singing is come, and the voyce of the turtle doue is hearde in our lande.
The figge tree bryngeth foorth her figges, and the vines beare blossomes and haue a good smell.
O stande vp then and come my loue my beautifull, [and come I say] O my doue, out of the caues of the rockes, out of the holes of the wall, O let me see thy countenaunce and heare thy voyce: for sweete is thy voyce, and fayre is thy face.
Get vs the foxes, yea the litle foxes that hurt the vines: for our vines beare blossomes.
My loue is mine, & I am his, whiche feedeth among the lillies vntill the day breake, and till the shadowes be gone:
Come agayne O my beloued, and be lyke as a roe or a young hart vpon the wyde mountaines.
BY night in my bed I sought hym whom my soule loueth: yea diligently sought I him, but I found him not.
I will get vp [thought I] & go about the citie, in the wayes in all the streates wyll I seeke hym whom my soule loueth: but when I sought him I founde him not.
The watchmen also that go about the citie, founde me [to whom I sayde] Sawe ye not hym whom my soule loueth?
So when I was a litle past them, I founde him whom my soule loueth: I haue gotten holde vpon hym, and wyll not let him go, vntyll I bryng him into my mothers house, and into her chaumber that bare me.
I charge you O ye daughters of Hierusalem by the roes and hyndes of the fielde, that ye wake not vp my loue, nor touch her, till she be content her self.
Who is this that commeth vp out of the wyldernesse like vapours of smoke, as it were a smell of myrre, frankensence, and all maner spices of the Apothecarie?
Beholde, about Solomons bedsteede there stande threescore valiaunt, of the most mightie in Israel: They holde swordes euery one, and are expert in warre.
Euery man also hath his sworde vppon his thigh, because of feare in the night.
Kyng Solomon had made him selfe a pallace of the wood of Libanus, the pillers are of siluer, the couering of golde, the seate of purple, the grounde is pleasauntly paued with loue for the daughters of Hierusalem.
Go foorth (O ye daughters of Sion) and beholde king Solomon in the crowne wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his mariage, and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart.
O Howe fayre art thou my loue, howe fayre art thou? thou hast doues eyes, beside that which lyeth hid within: Thy heerie lockes are lyke the wooll of a flocke of goates that be shorne vpon mount Gilead.
Thy teeth are like a flocke [of sheepe] of the same bignesse whiche went vp from the washing place, where euery one beareth two twinnes, and not one vnfruitfull among them.
Thy lippes are lyke a rose coloured ribande, thy wordes are louely, thy cheekes are like a peece of a pomegranate within thyne heeres.
Thy necke is like the towre of Dauid buylded with costly stones, lying out on the sides wherevpon there hange a thousande shieldes: yea all the weapons of the giauntes.
Thy two breastes are lyke two twinnes of young Roes, whiche feede among roses.
O that I might go to the mountaine of myrre, and to the hil of frankencense, til the day breake, and til the shadowes be past away.
Thou art all fayre (O my loue) and no spot is there in thee.
Come to me from Libanus (O my spouse) come to me from Libanus: looke from the top of Amana, from the top of Sanir and Hermon, from the lions dennes, and from the mountaines of the leopardes.
Thou hast [with loue] bewitched my heart O my sister my spouse, thou hast bewitched my heart with one of thyne eyes, and with one chayne of thy necke.
O howe fayre are thy breastes, my sister, my spouse? Thy breastes are more pleasaunt then wine, and the smell of thyne oyntmentes passeth all spices.
Thy lippes, O my spouse, drop as the hony combe, yea mylke and hony is vnder thy tongue, and the smell of thy garmentes is like the smell of Libanus.
A garden well locked is my sister, my spouse: a garden well locked, and a sealed well.
The fruites that are planted in thee, are lyke a very paradise of pomegranates with sweete fruites, as Camphire, Nardus, & Saffron, Calamus, Sinamom, with all sweete smellyng trees, Myrre, Aloes, and all the best spyces, a well of gardens, a well of liuing waters which runne downe from Libanus.
Vp thou north winde, come thou south winde and blowe vpon my garden, that the smell therof may be caryed on euery side: yea that my beloued may come into his garden, and eate of the sweete fruites [that growe therein.]
I Am come into my garden, O my sister, my spouse, I haue gathered my Myrre with my spice: I haue eate{n} hony with my hony combe, I haue drunke my wine with my milke: Eate O ye frendes, drinke and be merie O ye beloued.
I am a sleepe, but my heart is waking: I heare the voyce of my beloued when he knocketh, saying, Open to me O my sister, my loue, my doue, my dearling: for my head is full of deawe, and the lockes of my heere are full of the nyght doppes.
I haue put of my coate, howe can I do it on agayne? I haue washed my feete, howe shall I fyle them agayne?
My loue put in his hande at the hole, and my heart was moued within me.
I stoode vp to open vnto my beloued, and my handes dropped with Myrre, & the Myrre ranne downe my fingers vpon the locke.
I opened vnto my beloued, but he was departed and gone his way: Now whe{n} he spake, my heart was gone: I sought him, but I coulde not finde him: I cryed vpon hym, neuerthelesse he gaue me no aunswere.
So the watchmen that went about the citie, founde me, smote me, and wounded me: yea they that kept the walles toke away my kerchaffe from me.
I charge you therfore O ye daughters of Hierusalem, yf ye fynde my beloued, that ye tell hym howe that I am sicke for loue.
What maner of man is thy loue aboue other louers, O thou fairest among women? Or what can thy loue do more then other louers, that thou chargest vs so straytly?
As for my loue, he is whyte and red coloured, a goodly person among tenne thousande.
His head is as the most fine golde, the lockes of his heere are busshed, & blacke as a crowe.
His eyes are as the eyes of doues by the water brookes as though they were wasshed with mylke, and are set lyke pearles in golde.
His cheekes are lyke a garden bed, wherin the Apothecaries plant all maner of sweete thynges.
His lippes are lyke lilies that droppe sweete smellyng Myrre: His handes are lyke golde rynges, hauyng inclosed the precious stone of Tharsis.
His body is as the pure iuorie, dect ouer with Saphires: His legges are as the pillers of Marble set vpon sockettes of golde.
His face is as Libanus: and as the beautie of the Cedar trees.
The wordes of his mouth are sweete: yea he is altogether louely: Such a one is my loue O ye daughters of Hierusalem, such a one is my loue.
WHyther is thy loue gone then O thou fairest among women? whyther is thy loue departed, and we wyll seke hym with thee?
My loue is gone downe into his garden vnto the sweete smellyng beddes, that he may refreshe hym selfe in the garden, & gather lilies.
My loue is myne, and I am his, which feedeth among the lilies.
Thou are beautifull O my loue as is [the place] Thirza, thou art faire as Hierusalem, fearefull as an armie of men with their banners.
Turne away thine eyes from me, for they haue set me on fire: Thy heery lockes are lyke a flocke of goates shorne vpon the mount of Gilead.
Thy teeth are lyke a flocke of shorne sheepe which go out of the wasshyng place, where euery one beareth twinnes, and not one vnfruitfull among them.
Thy cheekes are like a peece of a pomegranate within thy lockes of heere.
There are threescore queenes, fourescore wiues, and damselles without number.
One is my doue, one is my dearlyng: She is the only beloued of her mother, and deare vnto her that bare her: When the daughters sawe her, they sayde she was blessed, yea the queenes & wiues praysed her.
What is she this that loketh foorth as the mornyng, faire as the moone, cleare as the sunne, and fearfull as an armie of men with their banners?
I went downe into the nut garden to see what grewe by the brookes, and to loke yf the vineyarde florished, or yf the pomegranates were not foorth.
I knewe not that my soule had made me the charyot of the people that be vnder tribute.
Turne agayne turne agayne O thou perfect one, turne agayne turne agayne and we wyll loke vpon thee: What will ye see in the Sulamite? She is lyke men of warre singing in a companie.
O Howe pleasaunt are thy treadynges with thy shoes, thou princes daughter? the ioyntes of thy thighes are like a faire iewell, which is wrought by a cunnyng workemaister.
Thy nauell is lyke a rounde goblet, which is neuer without drynke.
Thy wombe is like a heape of wheate that is set about with lilies.
Thy two breastes are lyke two twinnes of young roes.
Thy necke is as it were a towre of iuorie: thine eyes also are lyke the water pooles that are in Hesebon, beside the port of Bathrabbim, thy nose is lyke the towre of Libanus, which loketh towarde Damascus.
That head that standeth vpon thee is lyke Carmel: and the heere of thy head is like purple, and like a kyng dwellyng among many water conduites.
O Howe faire and louely art thou my dearlyng in pleasures?
Thy stature is lyke a paulme tree, and thy breastes lyke the grapes.
I sayde, I wyll climbe vp into the paulme tree, and take holde of his hye braunches.
Thy breastes also shalbe as the wine clusters, the smell of thy nosethrilles like as the smell of apples.
And thy rooffe of thy mouth lyke the best wine, which is meete for my best beloued, pleasaunt for his lippes, and for his teeth to chawe.
I am my beloueds, and he shall turne hym vnto me.
O come on my loue, we wyll go foorth into the fielde, and take our lodgyng in the villages.
In the mornyng wyll we go see the vineyarde, we wyll see yf the vine be sprong foorth, yf the grapes be growen, and yf the pomegranates be shot out.
There will I geue thee my brestes: the Mandragoras geue their sweete smell, and besyde our doores are all maner of pleasaunt fruites both newe and olde, which I haue kept for thee O my beloued.
O That I might finde thee without and kisse thee, whom I loue as my brother whiche suckt my mothers brestes, and that thou shalt not be dispised,
I wyll leade thee and bryng thee into my mothers house, that thou myghtest teache me, and that I myght geue thee drynke of the spiced wine, and of the sweete sappe of my pomegranates.
His left hande shalbe vnder my head, and his ryght hande shall imbrace me.
I charge you O ye daughters of Hierusalem that ye wake not vp my loue, nor touche her, tyll she be content her selfe.
(What is she this that cometh vp from the wildernesse, and leaneth vpon her loue?) I wake thee vp among the apple trees where thy mother conceaued thee, where thy mother [I say] brought thee into the worlde.
O set me as a seale vpon thine heart, and as a seale vpon thine arme: for loue is myghtie as the death, and gelousie as the hell.
Her coales are coales of fire, and a very vehement flambe [of the Lorde]: so that many waters are not able to quenche loue, neither may the streames drowne it: Yea yf a man woulde geue all the good of his house for loue, he shoulde count it nothyng.
Our sister is but young and hath no brestes: what shall we do for our sister when she shalbe spoken for?
If she be a wall, we shall builde a siluer bulwarke thervpon: yf she be a doore, we shall fasten her with boordes of Cedar tree.
I am a wall, and my brestes lyke towres, then was I as one that hath founde fauour in his syght.
Solomon hath a vineyarde at Baal-Hamon: and this vineyarde deliuered he vnto the kepers, that euery one for the fruite therof shoulde geue hym a thousande peeces of siluer.
My vineyarde which is myne, is in my syght: thou (O Solomon) must haue a thousande, and the kepers two hundred, which kepe the fruite.
Thou that dwellest in the gardens, O let me heare thy voyce, that my companions may hearken to the same.
O get thee away my loue, and be as a roe or a young hart vpon the sweete smellyng mountaynes.
THe vision of Esai {th}e sonne of Amos, which he sawe vpon Iuda and Hierusalem, in the dayes of Vzia & Ioathan, Ahaz and Iehezekiah, kinges of Iuda.
Heare O heauens, and hearken O earth: for the Lorde hath spoken, I haue norished and brought vp children, and they haue done vnfaithfully against me.
The oxe hath knowen his owner, and the asse his maisters cribbe: [but] Israel hath not knowen, my people hath geuen no heede.
Ah sinnefull nation, a people laden with iniquitie, a seede of the wicked, corrupt children: they haue forsaken the Lorde, they haue prouoked the holy one of Israel vnto anger, they are gone backwarde.
Why shoulde ye be stricken any more? [for] ye are euer fallyng away: euery head is diseased, and euery heart heauy:
From the sole of the foote vnto the head there is nothyng sounde in it: [but] woundes, blaynes, and putrifiyng sore: they haue not ben salued, neither wrapped vp, neither molified with the oyntment.
Your lande is wasted, your cities are burnt vp, straungers deuour your lande before your face, and it is made desolate, as it were the destruction of enemies [in the tyme of warre.]
And the daughter of Sion shalbe left as a cotage in a vineyarde, lyke a lodge in a garden of Cucumbers, lyke a besieged citie.
Except the Lorde of hoastes had left vs a small remnaunt, we shoulde haue ben as Sodoma, & lyke vnto Gomorra.
Heare the worde of the Lord ye lordes of Sodoma, and hearken vnto the lawe of our God thou people of Gomorra.
Why offer ye so many sacrifices to me, wyll the Lorde say? I am full of the burnt offeringes of weathers, & of the fatnesse of fed beastes, I haue no pleasure in the blood of bullockes, lambes, and goates.
When ye come to appeare before me treadyng in my courtes, who hath required this at your handes?
Offer me no mo oblations, for it is but lost labour: incense is an abhominable thyng vnto me, I may not away with your newe moones, your sabbathes & solempne meetynges, your solempne assemblies are wicked.
I hate your newe moones and appoynted feastes euen from my very heart, they make me weery, I can not abyde them.
When you holde out your handes, I wyll turne myne eyes from you: and though ye make many prayers, yet I wyll heare nothyng at all, seyng your handes are full of blood.
Washe you, make you cleane, put away your euyll thoughtes out of my syght: ceasse from doyng of euyll,
Learne to do well, applie your selues to equitie, deliuer the oppressed, helpe the fatherlesse to his ryght, let the widdowes complaynt come before you:
And then go to, saith the Lorde, let vs talke together: though your sinnes be as red as scarlet, they shalbe as whyte as snowe: and though they were lyke purple, they shalbe as whyte as wooll.
If ye be wyllyng and obedient, ye shal eate the good of the lande:
But yf ye be obstinate and rebellious, ye shalbe deuoured with the sworde: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken [it.]
Howe happeneth it then that the righteous citie which was full of equitie, is become vnfaythfull as a whore? Righteousnesse dwelt in it, but nowe murtherers.
Thy siluer is turned to drosse, and thy wine mixt with water.
Thy princes are wicked, and companions of theeues: they loue gyftes altogether, and gape for rewardes: As for the fatherlesse they helpe hym not to his ryght, neither wyll they let the widdowes causes come before them.
Therfore saith the Lorde God of hoastes, the mightie one of Israel: Ah I must ease me of mine enemies, and auenge me of mine aduersaries:
And I shall lay my hande vpon thee, and purely purge away thy drosse, and take away all thy tinne:
And set thy iudges agayne as they were sometyme, and thy senatours as they were from the begynnyng: and then thou shalt be called the ryghteous citie, the faythfull citie.
Sion shalbe redeemed with equitie, and her conuertes with righteousnesse.
But the transgressours, and the vngodly, and such as forsake the Lorde, shall altogether be vtterly destroyed.
For ye shalbe confounded for the trees which ye haue desired: and ye shalbe ashamed of the gardens that ye haue chosen.
For ye shalbe as a tree whose leaues are fallen away, and as a garden that hath no moystnesse.
And the very strong one [of your idols] shalbe as towe, and the maker of it as a sparke [of fire] and they shal both burne together, and no man quenche them.
THe selfe same worde that Esai the sonne of Amos sawe vpon Iuda and Hierusalem.
And [this] shall come to passe in the latter dayes: the hyll of the Lordes house shalbe prepared in the heyght of the mountaynes, and shalbe hygher then the hylles, and all nations shall preasse vnto hym.
And a multitude of people shall go, speakyng [thus one to another] come, let vs ascende to the hyll of the Lorde, to the house of the God of Iacob, and he wyll instruct vs of his wayes, and we wyll walke in his pathes: for out of Sion shall come a lawe, and the worde of the Lorde from Hierusalem:
And shall geue sentence among the heathen, and shall refourme the multitude of people: they shall breake their swordes also into mattockes, and their speares to make sithes: And one people shall not lyft vp a weapon agaynst another, neither shall they learne to fyght from thencefoorth.
Come ye O house of Iacob, and let vs walke in the lyght of the Lorde:
For thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Iacob, because they be replenished [with euils] from the east, and with sorcerers lyke the Philistines, and in straunge children they thynke them selues to haue enough.
Their lande is full of siluer and golde, neither is there any ende of their treasure: their lande is also full of horses, and no ende is there of their charrettes.
Their lande also is full of vayne gods, and before the worke of their owne handes they haue bowed them selues, yea euen before the thyng that their owne fingers haue made.
There kneeleth the man, there falleth the man downe [before them:] therfore forgeue them not.
Get thee into the rocke, and hyde thee in the grounde for feare of the Lorde, and for the glorie of his maiestie.
The high lookes of man shalbe brought lowe, and the hautinesse of men shalbe bowed downe: and the Lorde alone shalbe exalted in that day.
For the day of the Lorde of hoastes [shalbe] vpon all the proude, loftie, and vpon all that is exalted, and he shalbe brought lowe:
And vpon all high and stout Cedar trees of Libanus, and vpon all the okes of Basan,
And vpon all the high mountaynes, and vpon all the high hilles,
And vpon euery high towre, and vpon euery fenced wall,
And vpon all the shippes of Tharsis, and vpon all pictures of pleasure.
And the pride of man shalbe brought downe, and the loftinesse of men shalbe made lowe, and the Lorde alone shalbe exalted in that day:
As for the idols he shall vtterly abolishe:
And they shall creepe into holes of stone, and into caues of the earth for feare of the Lorde, and for the glorie of his maiestie, when he ariseth to destroy [the wicked ones of] the earth.
In the selfe same day shall man cast away his gods of siluer, and his gods of golde, into the holes of Mowles and Backes, which he neuerthelesse had made to hym selfe to honour them.
And they shall creepe into the cliftes of the rockes, and into the toppes of the harde stones for feare of the Lorde, and for the glorie of his maiestie, when he ariseth to destroy [the wicked ones of] the earth.
Ceasse therfore from man in whose nosethrilles there is breath: for wherin is he to be accompted of?
FOr lo, the Lorde God of hoastes doth take away from Hierusalem and Iuda all maner of stay, all stay of meate and drynke,
The captayne and the souldiour, the iudge and the prophete, the prudent and the aged man,
The captayne of fiftie & the honorable, the senatour, the cunnyng artificer, and the eloquent oratour.
And I shall geue children to be their princes, and babes shall rule ouer them.
And the people shall eche one of them violently oppresse another, and euery one agaynst his neyghbour: The boy shall presume agaynst the elder, and the person of lowe degree agaynst the honorable.
Yea one shall take a friende of his owne kinrede by the bosome, and say: thou hast clothyng, thou shalt be our head, and stay this ruine with thy hande.
Then shall he sweare and say, I can not helpe you: there is neither meate nor clothyng in my house, make me no ruler of the people.
For Hierusalem and Iuda must decay: because that both their wordes and counsayles are agaynst the Lorde to prouoke the presence of his maiestie to anger.
Their very countenaunce bewrayeth the{m}, yea they declare their owne sinnes [themselues] as Sodome, they hide it not: Wo be to their owne soules, for they haue rewarded euyll vnto them selues.
Say to the ryghteous that it shall go well with them: for they shall eate the fruite of their owne studies.
[But] wo be vnto the wicked, for it shalbe euyll with hym: for he shalbe rewarded after his owne workes.
Children are extortioners of my people, and women rule ouer them: O my people, thy leaders deceaue thee, and corrupt the way of thy footsteppes.
The Lorde is here to commune of the matter, & standeth to iudge the people.
The Lorde shall enter into iudgement with the elders and princes of his people, [and shall say to them:] It is ye that haue burnt vp my vineyarde, the spoyle of the poore is in your houses.
What meane ye that ye bray [as in a morter] my people, and grinde the faces of the poore? saith the Lorde God of hoastes.
Moreouer the Lord hath said, seing the daughters of Sion are waxen proude, & walke with stretched foorth neckes, and wanton lokes, goyng and trippyng nicely, and tinckelyng with their feete:
Therfore shall the Lorde shaue the heades of the daughters of Sion, and shall discouer their filthinesse.
In that day shall the Lord take away the gorgiousnesse of the attire about their feete, & the caules, and the rounde tires [after the fashion of the moone.]
The sweete perfumes, and the bracelettes, and the mufflers,
The bonnettes, and the sloppes, and the head bandes, and the tablettes, and the earynges,
And rynges, and nose iewels:
The costly apparell, and the vayles, and the wimples, & the crispyng pinnes,
And the glasses, and the fine linnen, and the hoodes, and the lawnes.
And in steade of good smell there shalbe stincke, and in steade of their girdle a rent, and for well set heere there shalbe baldnesse, in steade of a stomacher a sacke cloth, & [sunne] burnyng for beautie.
Thy men shal perishe with the sword, and thy valiaunt souldiours in the battayle [O Hierusalem.]
And her gates shall mourne and bewayle: and she beyng desolate, shall syt vpon the grounde.
IN that day, seuen women shall take holde of one man, saying: we wyll finde our selues meate and apparell: only let vs be called by thy name, to take our shamefull reproofe [from vs.]
In that day shall the budde of the Lorde be beautifull and glorious, and the fruite of the earth shalbe excellent and pleasaunt, for them that are escaped of Israel.
Then shall the remnaunt in Sion and the remnaunt at Hierusalem be called holy: [namely] all such as are written among the lyuyng in Hierusalem,
After that the Lorde hath washt away the filthinesse of the daughters of Sion, and hath purged the blood out from Hierusalem in the spirite of iudgement and in the spirite of fire.
And vpon all the dwellynges of the hylles of Sion, and vpon her congregations, the Lord shall create a cloude and smoke by day, and the shynyng of a flamyng fire by night: for all the glorie shalbe preserued.
And there shalbe a tabernacle for a shadowe in the day time from the heat, & a safe place and refuge from weather and rayne.
NOwe wyll I syng my beloued friende, a song of my friende touching his vineyard: My beloued friende hath a vineyarde in a very fruiteful plenteous grounde.
This he hedged, and gathered out the stones from it, and planted it with the choysest vine: In the middest of it builded he a towre, also made a wine presse therin: and he loked that it shoulde bring him grapes, and it brought foorth wylde grapes.
Nowe O citezen of Hierusalem, and man of Iuda, iudge I pray thee betwixt me and my vineyarde:
What more coulde haue ben done for it, that I haue not done? Wherfore then hath it geuen wylde grapes, where I loked to haue had grapes of it?
Well, nowe I shall tell you howe I will do with my vineyarde: I will take the hedge from it, that it may perishe, and breake downe the wall therof, that it may be troden vnder foote.
I wyll lay it waste, it shall neither be digged nor cut, but beare thornes and briers: I wyll also forbyd the cloudes that they shall not rayne vpon it.
As for the vineyarde of the Lorde of hoastes, it is the house of Israel: and the man of Iuda, the plant of his pleasure: Of these he loked for equitie, but see there is oppression for ryghteousnesse, and lo it is a crying.
Wo vnto them that ioyne one house to another, and bring one lande so nigh vnto another, that there is no more place: Wyll ye be placed alone in the myddest of the earth?
These thynges are in the eares of the Lorde of hoastes: of a trueth great and faire houses shalbe without any dweller in them.
And tenne acres of vines shall geue but a quart, and thirtie busshels of seede shall geue but an Epha.
Wo be vnto them that rise vp early to folowe drunkennesse, continuyng vntyll nyght, tyll they be set on fire with wine.
In their feastes are harpes and lutes, tabrettes and pipes, and wine: but they regarde not the worke of the Lord, and consider not the operatio{n} of his handes.
Therfore commeth my folke into captiuitie, because they haue no vnderstandyng: Their glorie is famished with hunger, and their multitude dryed vp with thirst.
Therfore gapeth hell and openeth her mouth marueilous wyde, that their glorie, multitude, and wealth, with such as reioyce in her, may descende into it.
Thus hath man a fall and is brought lowe, and the hygh loke of the proude shalbe layde downe.
But the Lorde of hoastes shalbe exalted in iudgement, and God that is holy is sanctified in ryghteousnesse.
Then shall the sheepe eate as they were wont, and the riche mens landes that were layde waste shall straungers deuour.
Wo be vnto them that drawe wickednesse with cordes of vanitie, and sinne as it were with a cart rope.
Which vse to speake on this maner, Let hym make speede and hasten his worke, that we may see it: let the counsayle of the holy one of Israel come and drawe nye, that we may knowe it.
Wo be vnto them that call euyll good, and good euyll, which make darknesse lyght, and lyght darknesse, that make sowre sweete, and sweete sowre.
Wo be vnto them that are wise in their owne syght, and thynke them selues to haue vnderstandyng.
Wo be vnto them that are strong to suppe out wine, and expert men to set vp drunkennesse.
Wo be vnto them that geue sentence with the vngodly for rewardes, but condempne the iust cause of the ryghteous.
Therfore, lyke as fire licketh vp the strawe, and as the flambe consumeth the stubble: euen so their roote shalbe as corruption, and their blossome shall vanishe away lyke dust: for they haue cast away the lawe of the Lorde of hoastes, and despised the worde of the holy one of Israel.
Therfore is the wrath of the Lorde kindeled against his people, and hath stretched foorth his hande vpon them, yea he hath smitten them: and the hilles dyd tremble, and their carkases dyd lye torne in the open streetes: and in al this the wrath of God hath not ceassed, but his hande stretched out styll.
And he shall geue a token to a people of a farre countrey, and shall hisse vnto them from the ende of the earth: and beholde, they shall come hastyly with speede.
There shall not be one faynt nor feeble among them, no not a sluggishe nor sleepie person: there shall not one of them put of his gyrdle from his loynes, nor loose the latchet of his shoe.
His arrowes are sharpe, and all his bowes bent: his horse hoofes are as flint, and his cart wheeles like a whyrle winde.
His crye is as it were of a Lion, and he roreth lyke Lions whelpes: they shall roare and hantche vpon the pray, and no man shall recouer it, nor get it from them.
In that day he shalbe so fierce vpon him as the raging of the sea: then one shall beholde the lande, and lo darkenesse and sorow, and the light is darkened in the heauens therof.
IN the yere that kyng Oziah dyed, I sawe also the Lorde sitting vpon an high and glorious seate, and his trayne filled the temple.
And about hym stoode Seraphims, whereof one had sixe winges, with twayne eche couered his face, with twayne his feete, and with twayne did he flee.
They cryed also eche one to another on this maner, Holy, holy, holy is the Lorde of hoastes: the whole earth is full of his glory.
And the lintels of the doore cheekes moued at his crying, and the house was full of smoke.
Then sayd I, Wo is me, for I am lost, in as much as I am a man of vncleane lippes, and dwell among people that hath vncleane lippes also: for mine eyes haue seene the kyng the Lorde of hoastes.
Then flewe one of the Seraphims vnto me, hauing a hote cole in his hand, whiche he had taken from the aulter with the tongues,
And layde it vpon my mouth, and sayde: Lo, [this] hath touched thy lippes, and thine vnrighteousnesse shalbe taken away, and thy sinne forgeuen.
Also I hearde the voyce of the Lorde on this maner: whom shall I sende, and who wyll be our messenger? Then I sayde, Here am I, sende me.
And he sayd, Go and tell this people: Heare in deede, yet vnderstande not, ye shall playnely see, and yet perceaue not.
Harden the heart of this people, stop their eares, and shut their eyes: lest they see with their eyes, heare with their eares, and vnderstande with their heartes, and conuert and be healed.
Then spake I, Lord, howe long? He aunswered, vntill the cities be vtterly wasted without inhabiters, and the houses without men, and tyll the lande be also vtterly desolate.
For the Lorde shall put the men farre away, and [there shalbe] great waste in the middest of the lande.
Yet in it shall succeede ten kinges, and it shall returne and be afterwarde wasted: [But] as the Teyle tree and the Oke in the fall of their leaues haue yet the sappe remayning in them, [euen so] the holy seede shalbe the stay therof.
IT happened in the tyme of Ahaz {th}e sonne of Iotham, whiche was the sonne of Vziah king of Iuda, that Razin the kyng of Syria, and Pechah the sonne of Romeliah kyng of Israel, went vp towarde Hierusalem to besiege it: but Razin was not able to winne it.
Nowe when the house of Dauid hearde worde thereof, that Syria and Ephraim was co{n}federate together, his heart quaked, yea and the heartes also of his people, lyke as when the trees of the wood are moued with the winde.
Then sayd God vnto Esai: Go meete Ahaz thou and thy sonne Sear Iasub, at the head of the ouer poole in the footepath by the fullers grounde,
And say vnto him: Take heede to thy selfe and be styll, feare not, neither be faynt hearted, for these two tayles, that is, for these two smoking firebrandes, the wrath and furiousnesse of Razin the Syrian, and Romelies sonne:
Because that the Syrian, Ephraim, and Romelies sonne haue wickedly conspired against thee,
Saying, we wyll go vp against Iuda, vexe them, and bryng them vnder vs, and set a kyng there, euen the sonne of Tabel:
Thus saith the Lorde God thereto, It shal not so go foorth, neither so come to passe.
For the head citie of the Syrians is Damascus, but the head of Damascus is Razin: And after threscore and fiue yeres shall Ephraim be no more a people.
And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, but the head of Samaria is Romelies sonne: if ye beleue not, surely ye shall not be established.
Moreouer, God spake agayne vnto Ahaz, saying:
Require to thy selfe a token of the Lorde thy God, whether it be towarde the depth beneath, or toward the height aboue.
Then said Ahaz, I will require none, neither wyll I tempt the Lorde.
The prophete aunswered, Then heare ye of the house of Dauid: Is it not inough for you that ye be greeuous vnto me{n}, but ye must greeue my God also?
Therefore the Lorde hym selfe shall geue you a token: Beholde, a virgin shall conceaue and beare a sonne, and shall call his name Emmanuel.
Butter and honye shall he eate, vntill he knowe to refuse the euyll and choose the good.
For or euer the chylde come to knowledge to eschewe the euil and choose the good, the lande that thou so abhorrest shalbe desolate of both her kynges.
The Lord also shall sende a tyme vppon thee, vpon thy people, and vpon thy fathers house, such as neuer came since the tyme that Ephraim departed from Iuda, namely thorowe the kyng of the Assyrians.
For at the same tyme shall the Lorde hisse for the flyes that are about the water of Egypt, and for the bees in the Assyrians lande:
These shall come and shall light all in the desolate valleys, in the holes of stones, and vpon all thornie and bushie places.
At the same time shal the Lord shaue the heere of the head, and the feete, and the bearde cleane of, with the raser that he shall hyre beyonde the waters: namely with the king of the Assyrians.
At the same time shal a man nurrishe a young cowe, and two sheepe.
Then because of the aboundaunce of mylke that they geue he shall eate butter: so that euery one which remayneth in the lande shall eate butter and hony.
At the same time al vineyardes wherin there shalbe a thousand vines worth a thousande siluerlinges, shalbe turned to bryers and thornes.
They shall come into the lande with arrowes and bowes, because all the lande shall become bryers and thornes.
As for all hilles that shalbe digged with the mattocke, there shall not come vpon them any feare of bryers and thornes: but the cattell shalbe driuen thyther, and the sheepe shal feede there.
MOreouer the Lorde sayde vnto me, Take thee a great roule, and wryte in it as men do with a pen: make hastie speede to rob, and haste to the spoyle.
And I called vnto me faythfull witnesses to recorde, Vriah the priest, and Zachariah the sonne of Barachiah.
After that went I vnto the prophetisse, and she conceaued & bare a sonne: Then sayde the Lord to me, Geue him his name, a speedie robber, an hastie spoyler.
For why, or euer the chylde shall haue knowledge to crye my father and mother, shall the riches of Damascus and the spoyle of Samaria be taken away before the kyng of the Assyrians.
The Lorde spake also vnto me agayne, saying:
Forsomuche as this people refuseth the styll running water of Silo, and put their delight in Razin and Romelies sonne:
Beholde, the Lord shall bryng mightie and great fluddes of water vpon them, namely the king of the Assyrians with all his power, whiche shall climbe vp vpon all his fluddes, and runne ouer all his bankes,
And shall breake in vpon Iuda, he shall flowe and passe thorowe, tyll he come vp to the necke thereof: he shall fill also the widenesse of thy lande with his wynges O Emmanuel.
Breake downe O ye people, and ye shalbe broken downe, hearken to all ye of farre countreys: muster you, and you shalbe broken downe, prepare you, and you shalbe torne in peeces.
Take your counsell together, yet shall your counsell come to naught: determine the matter, yet shall it not prosper: for God is with vs.
For the Lorde spake thus to me in a mightie prophesie, and warned me that I should not walke in the way of this people, saying:
Ye shall not speake [wordes] of conspiracie in all thinges, when this people shall say conspiracie: feare them not, neither be afraide of them.
But sanctifie the Lorde of hoastes, let him be your feare and dread.
For he shalbe the holy place to flee to, and stone to stumble at, the rocke to fall vpon a snare and net to both the houses of Israel, and the inhabitours of Hierusalem:
And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, yea they shalbe snared and taken.
Binde vp the testimonie, seale the law in my disciples.
And I wyll wayte vpon the Lorde that hideth his face from the house of Iacob, and I wyll loke for him.
But lo, as for me and the chyldren whiche the Lorde hath geuen me, we are to be a token and a wonder in Israel from the Lorde of hoastes, whiche dwelleth vpon the hill of Sion.
And if they say vnto you, Aske counsayle at the Soothsayers, Witches, Charmers, and Coniurers: [then make them this aunswere,] Is there a people any where that asketh not counsayle at his God? shoulde men runne vnto the dead for the liuing?
Get thee to the lawe, and the testimonie: and if they speake not after this worde, there is no light in them.
And they shall wander thorowe this lande hardly besteade and hungry, and when they suffer hunger, they wyll be out of pacience, and curse their king and their God, and shall loke vpwarde and downewarde to the earth,
And beholde there is trouble and darknesse, dymnesse is rounde about him, & he shalbe driuen into darknesse.
Neuerthelesse, the darknesse shall not be suche as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the lande Zabulon, and the lande of Nephthali, and afterwarde dyd more greeuously afflict her by the way of the sea beyond Iordane in Galilee of the heathen.
THE people that walked in darknesse, haue seene a great light: As for them that dwell in the lande of the shadowe of death, vpon them hath the light shined.
Thou hast multiplied the people, and not increased their ioy: they reioyce before thee, euen as men make merie in haruest, and they be ioyfull as men that do deuide the spoyle [after the victorie.]
For thou hast broken the yoke of his burthen, the staffe of his shoulder, and the rod of his oppressour, as in the day of Madian.
And truely euery battayle that the warrier maketh, is done with confused noyse: and defiling their garmentes with blood [but this battayle] shalbe with burning and consuming of fire.
For vnto vs a chylde is borne, and vnto vs a sonne is geuen, vpo{n} his shoulder doth the rule lye, and he is called with his owne name wonderfull, the geuer of counsell, the mightie God, the euerlasting father, the prince of peace.
He shall make no ende to encrease the rule & peace, and shall sit vpon the seate of Dauid, and in his kingdome, to order the same, and to stablishe it with equitie and righteousnesse from hence foorth for euermore: This shall the zeale of the Lorde of hoastes bring to passe.
The Lorde sent a worde into Iacob, the same is come into Israel.
And all the people of Ephraim shall knowe, and they that dwell in Samaria that say with pryde and high stomackes [on this maner,]
The tyle worke is fallen downe, but we wyll buylde it with squared stones: the Mulberie timber is broken, but we shall set it vp agayne with Cedar.
But the Lorde shall strengthen the enemies of Razin, and ioyne his aduersaries together against him.
The Syrians before, and the Philistines behinde, and shall deuour Israel with open mouth: After all this is not the wrath of the Lorde ceassed, but yet his hande stretched out styll.
For the people turneth not vnto hym that chastiseth them, neither do they seeke the Lorde of hoastes.
Therefore hath the Lorde rooted out of Israel both head and tayle, bough and reede in one day.
By the head, is vnderstande the senatour and honourable man, and by the tayle, the prophete that preached lyes.
For the guides of this people are deceauers, and those that be gouerned are vtterly lost.
Therefore shall the Lorde haue no pleasure in their young men, neither haue pitie of their fatherlesse and wydowes: for they are altogether hypocrites and wicked, and al their mouthes speake folly: After all this is not the Lordes wrath ceassed, but yet his hand is stretched out styll.
For vngodlynesse burneth as a fire, and shall deuour bryers and thornes, and it shall burne as in the thicket of a wood, and [the wicked] aduaunce them selues, as the smoke is caryed vp.
Thorowe the wrath of the Lorde of hoastes is the lande full of darknesse, and the people be consumed as it were with fire: no man doth spare his brother.
But he robbeth on the right hande, and doth famishe, he eateth on the left hande, and he shall not haue inough: euery man shall eate the fleshe of his owne arme.
Manasses [shall eate] Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasses, and they both together shall eate Iuda: After all this is not the Lordes wrath ceassed, but yet his hande stretched out styll.
WO be vnto them that make vnrighteous lawes, and that causeth their actuaries to wryte greeuousnesse.
Where thorowe the poore are put from their right, and my seelie people robbed of iudgement, that wydowes may be their pray, and that they may rob the fatherlesse.
What wyll ye do in the tyme of visitation, and when destruction shall come from farre? to whom wyll ye runne for helpe? and where wyll you leaue your glory?
That when I withdrawe my hand, ye come not among the prysoners, nor lye among the dead? After all this doth not the wrath of the Lorde ceasse, but yet is his hande stretched out styll.
O Assur whiche art the staffe of my wrath, in whose hand is the rod of mine indignation.
I wyll sende hym among those hypocritishe people: among the people that haue deserued my disfauour wyll I sende hym, that he vtterly rob them, spoyle them, and treade them downe lyke the myre in the streete.
Howbeit, his meaning is not so, neither thinketh his heart on this fashion: But he imagineth howe he may roote out and destroy muche people.
For he saith, Are not my princes all kynges?
Is not Chalno as easie to winne, as Charchamis? Is it harder to conquer Hamath, then Arphad? or is it lighter to ouercome Damascus, then Samaria?
[As who say] I were able to winne the kyngdomes of the idolaters and their gods, but not Hierusalem and Samaria.
Shall I not do vnto Hierusalem and her images, as I dyd vnto Samaria and her idols?
Wherefore it shall come to passe, that assoone as the Lorde hath perfourmed his whole worke vpon the hill of Sion and Hierusalem, then wyll I visite the fruite of the stoute heart of the kyng of Assyria with his proude lookes.
For he standeth thus in his owne conceipt, This do I thorowe the power of myne owne hande, & thorowe my wysdome: for I am wyse, I am he that remoue the landes of the people, I rob their treasure, and haue pulled downe the inhabitauntes like a valiaunt man.
My hand hath found out the strength of the people as it were a nest: and like as egges that were layde here and there, are gathered together, so do I gather all countreys, and there was none [so bolde] as to moue the winge, that dare open his mouth, or once whisper.
Shall the axe boast it selfe against him that heweth therwith? or shal the sawe make any bragging against hym that ruleth it? That were euen lyke as if the rod did exalt it selfe against him that beareth it, or as though the staffe should magnifie it selfe [as who say] it were no wood.
Therefore shall the Lorde the God of hoastes sende among his fatlinges leanenesse, and burne vp his glory as it were with a fire.
And the light of Israel shalbe that fire, and his holy one shalbe the flambe: and it shall kindle and burne vp his thornes and bryers in one day.
Yea all the glory of his wooddes and fieldes shalbe consumed with body and soule, and they shalbe as an hoast of men, whose standard bearer fayleth.
The trees also of his wood whiche remayne shalbe of such a number that a chylde may tell them.
After that day shall the remnaunt of Israel, and suche as are escaped out of the house of Iacob, seeke no more comfort at him that smote them: but vnfaynedly shall they trust vnto the Lorde, the holy one of Israel.
The remnaunt, euen the posteritie of Iacob, shall conuert vnto God the mightie one.
For though thy people O Israel be as the sande of the sea, yet shal the remnaunt of them conuert vnto him: The decreed consumption ouerfloweth with righteousnesse.
And therefore the Lorde of hoastes shall perfectly fulfill the thing that he hath determined in the middest of the whole worlde.
Therefore thus saith the Lorde God of hoastes: Thou my people that dwellest in Sion, be not afraide for the king of the Assirians: he shall smyte thee with a rod, and shall lyft vp his staffe against thee, as the Egyptians dyd sometime.
But very soone after shall my wrath and indignation be fulfilled in the destruction of them:
Moreouer, the Lorde of hoastes shall stirre vp a scourge for him, like as was the slaughter of Madian vpo{n} the rocke Oreb, and as the destruction of the Egyptians when he lyfted vp his rod vpon the sea.
Then shal his burthen be taken from thy shoulders, and his yoke from thy necke, yea the same yoke shalbe destroyed because of the vnction.
He shal come to Aiath, and go thorow towarde Migron, at Michmas shall he lay vp his harnesse.
They shall go ouer the foorde, Geba shalbe their resting place, Rhama shalbe afraide, Gibea Saul shall flee away.
Lift vp thy voyce O daughter Gallim, geue eare to Laisa thou poore Anathoth.
Madmena shall tremble for feare, but the citizens of Gabim are manly.
Yet shall he remaine at Nob that day: after that shall he lyft vp his hande against the mount of the daughter Sion the hyll of Hierusalem.
But see, the Lord God of hoastes shall breake downe the bough with feare, he shall hewe downe the proude, and fell the high minded.
The thickets also of the wood shall he roote out with iron, and Libanus shall haue a fall thorowe the mightie.
AND there shall come a sprig foorth of the stemne of Esai, and a young shoote shall growe out of his roote.
The spirite of the Lorde shall rest vpon him, the spirite of wysdome and vnderstanding, the spirite of counsaile and strength, the spirite of knowledge and of the feare of the Lorde,
And shall make hym of deepe iudgement in the feare of God: For he shall not geue sentence after the thing that shalbe brought before his eyes, neither reproue after the hearing of his eares:
But with righteousnesse shal he iudge the poore, and with equitie shall he refourme the simple of the worlde, and he shall smyte the worlde with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his mouth shall he slay the vngodly.
Righteousnesse shalbe the gyrdle of his loynes, and faythfulnesse the gyrding vp of his raynes.
The Woolfe shall dwell with the Lambe, and the Leoparde shall lye downe by the Goate: Bullockes, Lions, and cattell, shall kepe company together, so that a litle chylde shall leade them.
The Cowe and the Beare shall feede together, and their young ones shall lye together: the Lion shall eate strawe, lyke the Oxe or the Cowe.
The chylde whyle he sucketh shall haue a desire to the serpentes nest, and when he is weaned, he shall put his hande into the Cockatrice denne.
No man shall do euill vnto another, no man shall destroy another in all the hyll of my holynes: for the earth shalbe full of the knowledge of the Lorde: euen as the sea floweth ouer with water.
And in that day shall the gentiles enquire after the roote of Iesse, whiche shalbe set vp for a token vnto the people, and his rest shalbe glorious.
At the same time shall the Lord take in hande agayne to recouer the remnaunt of his people, whiche shalbe left aliue from the Assirians, Egyptians, Arabians, Morians, Elamites, Chaldees, Antiochians, & from the Ilandes of the sea,
And he shall set vp a token among the gentiles, and gather together the dispearsed of Israel, yea and the outcastes of Iuda from the foure corners of the worlde.
The hatred of Ephraim also and enemies of Iuda shalbe cleane rooted out: Ephraim shall beare none euyll wyll to Iuda, & Iuda shall not vexe Ephraim.
But they both together shall flee vppon the shoulders of the Philistines towarde the west, and spoyle them together that dwell towarde the east: The Idumites and the Moabites shal come vnder their handes, and the Amonites shalbe obedient vnto them.
The Lord also shal cleaue the tongues of the Egyptians sea, and with his mightie winde shall he lyft vp his hand ouer Nilus, and shall smyte his seuen streames, and make men go ouer drye shod.
And thus shall there be a way for his people that remayneth from the Assirians, lyke as it happened to the Israelites what tyme they departed out of the lande of Egypt.
AND in that day thou shalt say, O Lorde I wyll prayse thee, for thou wast displeased at me: but refrayne thou from thy wrath, and comfort me.
Beholde, God is my saluation, in who{m} I wyll trust and not be afrayde: for the Lorde God is my strength and [my] song, he also is become my saluation.
Therfore with ioy shall ye drawe water out of the welles of saluation:
And then shall ye say: Geue thankes vnto the Lorde, call vpon his name, declare his workes among the people, kepe them in remembraunce, for his name is excellent.
O sing prayses vnto the Lorde, for he hath done great thinges, as it is knowen in all the worlde.
Crye out, and sing thou that dwellest in Sion: for great is the holy one of Israel in the middest of thee.
THis is the burthen of Babylon, whiche Esai the sonne of Amos did see.
Lift vp the banner vppon the high hyll, call vnto the{m}, wagge your hande, that they may go into the gates of the princes.
I haue commaunded my sanctified, I haue also called my valiaunt ones, ioying in my honour to execute my wrath.
There is a noyse of a multitude in the mountaynes, lyke as of a great people, a rushing as though the kingdomes of the nations came together: the Lorde of hoastes mustreth his armye to battayle.
They come out of a farre countrey from the ende of the heauen, euen the Lorde hym selfe with the ministers of his wrath, to destroy the whole lande.
Mourne ye, for the day of the Lord is at hande, and shall come as a destroyer from the almightie.
Therefore shall all handes be letten downe, and all mens heartes shall melt away.
They shall stande in feare, carefulnes and sorowe shall come vpon them, and they shal haue payne, as a woman that trauayleth with chylde: One shalbe abashed of another, and their faces shall burne like the flame of fire.
Beholde, the day of the Lorde shall come terribly and full of indignation, furie & wrath, to make the lande waste, and to roote out the sinners therof.
For the starres and planettes of heauen shall not geue their light, the sunne shalbe darkened in the rising, and the moone shall not shine with her light.
And I wyll visite the wickednesse of the worlde, and the sinnes of the vngodlye. The high stomakes of the proude wyll I take away, and will lay downe the boasting of the tiraunt.
I wyll make a man dearer then fine gold, and a man to be more worth then a golden wedge of Ophir.
Therfore I wyll shake the heauens, and the earth shall remoue out of her place in the wrath of the Lorde of hoastes, and in the day of his fearefull indignation.
And [Babylon] shalbe as an hunted or chased Doe, and as a sheepe that no man taketh vp: Euery man shall turne to his owne people, and flee eche one in to his owne lande.
Whoso is founde shalbe shot thorowe: and whoso taketh their part, shalbe destroyed with the sworde.
Their chyldren shalbe s•ayne before their eyes: their house spoyled, and their wiues rauished.
For lo, I shall bring vp the Medes against them, whiche shall not regarde siluer, nor be desirous of golde:
With bowes shall they destroy the young men, and haue no pitie on women with chylde, and their faces shall not spare the chyldren.
And Babylon that glory of kingdomes, and beautie of the Chaldees honour shalbe destroyed, euen as God destroyed Sodome and Gomor.
It shall not endure for euer, neither shall there be any more dwelling there from generation to generation: The Arabians shall pitche no tentes there, neither shall the sheepheardes make their foldes there any more.
But fearefull wylde beastes shall lye there, and the houses shalbe ful of great Owles, Estriches shall dwell there, and Apes shall daunce there.
Wylde cattes shall crye in the palaces, and dragons shalbe in the pleasaunt houses: And as for Babylons tyme it is at hande, and her dayes shall not be prolonged.
BVt the Lorde wylbe mercyfull vnto Iacob, and will yet chose Israel againe, and set them in their owne land, straungers shall cleaue and get them to the house of Iacob.
The people shall take them and carry them home to their owne land: and the house of Israel shall possesse them in the lande of the Lord, that they may be seruaunts and handmaydes: and they shall take those prysoners whose captiues they had ben before, and rule those that had oppressed them.
When the Lorde nowe shall bryng thee to rest from thy trauayle, feare, and harde bondage that thou wast laden withall:
Then shalt thou vse this mockage vpon the kyng of Babylon, and say: Howe happeneth it that the oppressour leaueth of? Is the golden tribute come to an ende?
The Lorde hath broken the scepter of the vngodly, and the rod of the lordelye,
Which when he is wroth, smiteth the people with continuall strokes, and in wrath raigneth ouer the heathen, who{m} he persecuteth without compassion.
And therfore the whole worlde is nowe at rest and quietnesse, and men sing for ioy.
Yea euen the Firre trees and Cedars of Libanus reioyce at thy fall, saying: Nowe that thou art layde downe, there come no mo vp to hewe downe vs.
Hell also beneath trembleth to meete thee at thy commyng, and for thy sake hath raysed his dead, all mightie men and princes of the earth, all kynges of the earth stande vp from their seates,
That they may all aunswere and speake vnto thee, Art thou become weake also as we? Art thou become lyke vnto vs?
Thy pompe and thy pride is layde downe into the pit, and so is the melodie of thy instrumentes. Wormes be layde vnder thee, & wormes be thy coueryng.
Howe art thou fallen from heauen O Lucifer, thou faire mornyng chylde? Howe hast thou gotten a fall euen to the grounde, which didst weaken the nations?
For thou saydest in thine heart, I wyll clymbe vp into heauen, and exalt my throne aboue beside the starres of God, I wyll sit also vpon the mount of the congregation towarde the North.
I wyll clymbe vp aboue the cloudes, and wyll be lyke the hyghest of all.
Yet thou shalt be brought downe to the deepe of hell, to the sides of the lake.
They that see thee shall narowly loke vpon thee, and thinke in them selues, [saying:] Is this the man that brought all landes in feare, and made the kyngdomes afrayde?
[Is this he] that made the worlde in a maner waste, and layde the cities to the grounde, which let not his prisoners go out?
The kynges of the nations lye euery one in his owne house with worship.
And thou art cast out of thy graue like a fylthy abhominable braunche, like as dead mens rayment that are shot thorowe with the sworde, and go downe to the stones of the deepe, as a dead coarse that is troden vnder feete.
Thou art not buried with them: euen because that thou hast wasted thy lande & destroyed thy people: The generation of the wicked shalbe out of memorie for euer.
Let there a way be sought to destroy their children that be in their fathers wickednesse, that they come not vp agayne to possesse the lande, and fyll the worlde full of enemies.
I wyll stande vp agaynst them saith the Lorde of hoastes, and roote out the name and remnaunt, sonne and sonnes sonne of Babylon saith the Lorde.
I wyll geue it to the Otters, and wyll make water puddels of it, and I wyll sweepe them out with the besome of destruction saith the Lorde of hoastes.
The Lorde of hoastes hath sworne an othe, saying: It shall come to passe as I haue determined, and shalbe fulfylled as I haue deuised,
So that Assyria shall I destroy in my lande, and vpon my mountaynes wil I treade hym vnder foote, wherthrough his yoke shall come from them, and his burthen shalbe taken from their shoulder.
This deuise hath God taken through the whole worlde, and this is his hande stretched out ouer all people.
For yf the Lord of hoastes determine a thyng, who is able to disanull it? And if he stretch foorth his hande, who may returne it agayne?
The same yere that kyng Ahaz dyed, was this burthen:
Reioyce not thou whole Palestina, because the rod of him that beateth thee is broken: for out of the serpentes roote there shall come an Adder, and his fruite shalbe a fierie fleeyng worme.
But the first borne of the poore shalbe fed, and the simple shall dwell in safetie: Thy roote also wyll I destroy with hunger, and it shall slay the remnaunt.
Mourne thou porte, weepe thou citie, for, O whole lande of Palestina, thou art layd waste: for there shal come from the north a smoke, that not one alone may abide at home in his times.
What shall one then aunswere the messengers of the Gentiles? For the Lorde hath stablished Sion, and the poore of his people that be therein shall put their trust in it.
THis is the burthen vpon Moab: Ar of Moab was destroyed & ouerthrowen in the nyght season, Kir also in Moab was destroyed and perished in the nyght.
Moab went vp to the idols house, euen to Dibon to the hygh places to weepe: for Neba and Moab shall mourne for Medba, All their heades were balde, and all their beardes shauen.
In her streetes are they girded about with sackcloth: In all the toppes of her houses and streetes shalbe nothyng but mournyng and weepyng.
Hesbon and Eleale shall crye, that their voyce shalbe hearde vnto Iahaz: and therfore the armed souldiours also of Moab shall bleate out and crye for very sorowe of their myndes.
Wo shall my heart be for Moabs sake, they shall flee vnto the citie of Zoar, which is lyke a faire young bullocke of three yere olde, for they shall all go vp to Luith weepyng: euen so by the way towarde Horonaim they shall make lamentation for their vtter destruction.
For the waters of Nimrim shalbe dryed vp, by reason wherof the grasse is withered, the hearbes destroyed, and the greene thynges gone.
Therfore the goodes that remayneth in Moab, and the riches therof, they shall cary to the brooke of wyllowes.
For the crye went ouer the whole lande of Moab, vnto Eglaim and vnto Beer Elim was there nothyng but mournyng.
Because the waters of Dimon were full of blood, I wyll adde more vpon Dimon: and lions vpon the remnaunt of the lande, and on them that are escaped from Moab.
SEnde the lorde of the worlde a lambe from the rocke that lyeth towarde the desert, vnto the hyl of the daughter Sion.
For as for the daughters of Moab they shalbe as a trembling birde that is put out of her neste: for they shall cary them vnto Arnon.
Gather your counsell, come together in iudgement, couer vs with your shadowe in the midday as the nyght doth hyde the chased, and bewray not them that are fled.
Let my persecuted people dwell among you, Moab be thou their refuge against the destroyer: for the aduersarie is brought to naught, the robber is vndone, the tiraunt is wasted out of the lande.
And in mercie shall the seate be prepared, and he shall sit vpon it in the trueth in the tabernacle of Dauid, iudging and sekyng iudgement, and makyng haste vnto ryghteousnesse.
We haue hearde of the pride of Moab, he is very proude, presumptuous, arrogant, and full of indignation, and vayne are his lyes.
Therfore shall Moab make lamentation because of the Moabites [that shalbe slayne] yea they shall wayle altogether: because of the foundations of the citie that is made of bricke shall ye complayne, euen ye lame people that are left only behynde.
For the vines of Hesbon are cut downe: as for the vine of Sibma, the lordes of the heathen haue broken downe her principall braunches, they are come euen vnto Iazer, they went on wandering vnto the wildernesse, her goodly braunches were throwen downe as they went ouer the sea.
Therfore wyll I mourne for Iazer, and for the vine of Sibma, I wyl poure my teares vpon thee O Hesbon and Eleale: for the crye of thyne enemies is fallen vpon thy sommer fruites, and vpon thy haruest.
The mirth and cheare is taken away out of the plentifull fielde, and in the vineyardes there shalbe no ioy nor gladnesse: The treader shall treade out no wine in their presses, the song of their mery cheare haue I layde downe.
Wherfore my bowels shall rumble like an Harpe for Moabs sake, & mine inwarde partes for the cities sake that is made of bricke.
And it shall come to passe, that when it is seene that Moab shalbe made weery of his hyll chappelles, he shall come to his temple to pray, but he shall not be able.
So then this is the saying that the Lorde hath spoken concernyng Moab since that tyme.
But nowe the Lorde hath spoken, saying: In three yeres, which shalbe as the yeres of an hired seruaunt, shall the glorie of Moab be turned into contempt throughout all his multitude, which is very great: and that which remayneth shalbe very small and feeble.
THis is the burthen vpon Damascus: Beholde Damascus is taken away to be no more a citie, but shalbe an heape of broken stones.
The waste cities of Aroer shalbe foldes for cattell which shall lye there, and there shalbe none to fray them away.
Ephraim also shall no more be strong, and Damascus shall no longer be a kyngdome, and the remnaunt of Syria shalbe as the glorie of the children of Israel, saith the Lorde of hoastes.
And in that day it shall come to passe, that the glorie of Iacob shalbe made very thinne, and the fatnesse of his fleshe shall waxe leane.
And he shalbe as one that gathereth vp corne in haruest, euen lyke hym whose arme reapeth the eares of corne: He shalbe also lyke hym that gathereth eares of corne in the valley of Rephaim.
Some gatheryng in deede shall there be left in it, euen as in the shakyng of an Oliue tree there remayne two or three berries in the toppe of the vppermost bowe, and foure or fyue in the brode fruitfull braunches thereof, saith the Lorde God of Israel.
Then shall man turne agayne to his maker, and his eyes shall haue respect to the holy one of Israel.
As for the aulters which are his owne handy worke he shal not regarde them, and the thynges that his fingers hath made, as groues and images, those shal he not cast his eye vnto.
In that day shall their strong cities be as the forsaken shrubbes & braunches, which they left because of the childre{n} of Israel, and the lande shalbe desolate.
Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy saluation, and hast not ben myndfull of thy strong rocke: therfore shalt thou set pleasaunt plantes, and shalt graffe the braunche of another mans vine.
In that day shalt thou make thy plant to growe, and early in the mornyng shalt thou make thy seede to florishe: The haruest shalbe gone in the day of inheritaunce, and there shalbe sorowe without hope of comfort.
Wo shalbe to the multitude of much people, which shall make a sounde lyke to the noyse of the sea, and the violence of the nations which shall rage lyke the russhyng in of many waters.
Euen lyke many waters shal the people rage, God shall rebuke hym, and he shal flee farre of, he shalbe chased away lyke as drye strawe vpon the mountaynes before the wynde, and lyke a thyng that turneth before the storme.
At euen beholde there is trouble, and or euer it be mornyng lo it is gone: This is the portion of them that oppresse vs, and the lot of them that robbe vs.
O That lande that trusteth vnder the shadow of wynges, [that lande] which is beyonde the waters of Ethiopia,
Sendyng messengers by the sea, euen in vessels of reedes ouer the water, Get you hence ye speedy messengers to a nation that is scattered abrode, and robbed of that they had, a fearefull people from their begynnyng hytherto, a nation troden downe by litle and litle, whose lande the fluddes haue spoyled.
All the inhabitours of the worlde, and indwellers of the earth, loke vp whe{n} he setteth vp a token in the mountaynes, and hearken when he bloweth with the trumpe.
For so the Lorde sayde vnto me [as for me] I wyll take my rest, and loke vpon the matter in my habitation, lyke a faire heate after the rayne, and lyke a cloude of deawe in the heate of haruest.
For afore the haruest whe{n} the braunch is growen, there shall come ripe fruite of the floure: and he shal cut downe the increase with sithes, and the braunches shall he take away with hookes.
Thus shall they be left together vnto the foules of the mountaines, and to the beastes of the earth: for in sommer the birdes shall remayne vpon it, and euery beast of the lande shalbe vpon it in wynter.
In that tyme shall there a present be brought vnto the Lord of hoastes, euen a people that is scattered abrode and robbed of that they had, that same people which haue ben fearfull from their begynnyng hytherto, a nation troden downe by litle and litle, whose lande the fluddes haue spoyled, to the place of the name of the Lorde of hoastes, euen to the mount Sion.
THe burthen of Egypt. Beholde, the Lorde rideth vpon a swift cloude, and shall come into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall tremble at the presence of hym, and the heart of Egypt shall quake in the middest of her.
And I wyll set the Egyptians one agaynst another, so that one brother shall fyght agaynst another, and one neighbour against another, citie against citie, and realme against realme.
The mynde also of Egypt shalbe cleane without counsayle within it selfe, and the deuice that they take wil I destroy: and they shall seke counsayle at idols and at sorcerers, at workers with spirites, and at soothsayers.
And the Egyptians wyll I geue ouer into the hande of a maruaylous cruell lorde, and a mightie kyng shall haue dominion ouer them, saith the Lorde God of hoastes.
The waters of the sea shall fayle, and the riuer shall decrease and be dryed vp.
The waters shalbe drawen out, the riuers of Egypt shalbe emptied & dryed vp, the reedes and flagges shalbe cut downe.
The grasse in the riuer and by the riuers bancke, and all that groweth by the riuer, shall wither away, and be brought to naught.
The fisshers also shall mourne, and all they that cast angle into the water shall make lamentation: and they that lay foorth their net beside the waters shalbe rooted out.
Moreouer, they that worke in flaxe and make fine workes shalbe confounded, and so shall they that weaue open workes.
For their open workes shal euen be destroyed, and all they that make pondes and slues for fishe shall come to naught.
But you foolishe princes of Zoan, ye wise counsaylers of Pharao, whose wit is turned to foolishnesse, howe say ye vnto Pharao, I am come of wise men and of auncient kinges?
Where are thy wise men? Let them tell thee yf they can, what the Lorde of hoastes hath deuised vpon Egypt.
The princes of Zoan are become fooles, the princes of Noph are deceaued, they haue deceaued Egypt, euen they that were taken for the chiefe stay therof.
In the middest of it hath the Lorde powred the spirite of wickednesse: and they haue deceaued Egypt in euery worke therof, even as a drunken man staggereth in his vomite.
Neither shall the head or tayle, the braunche or reede, be able to do any worke in Egypt.
In that day shall Egypt be lyke vnto women: It shalbe afrayde and stande in feare at the motion of the hande of the Lorde of hoastes which he shaketh ouer it.
And Egypt shalbe afraide of the lande of Iuda: so that euery one that maketh mention of it shalbe afraide therat, because of the counsayle of the Lorde of hoastes which he deuised for it.
In that day shall fiue cities in the lande of Egypt speake the language of Chanaan, and sweare by the Lorde of hoastes: the citie of desolation shalbe called one of them.
In that day shall the aulter of the Lorde be in the middest of the lande of Egypt, and this title beside it vnto the Lorde.
And it shalbe a token and a witnesse vnto the Lorde of hostes in the lande of Egypt: For they shal crie vnto the Lord because of such as trouble them, and he shall sende them a sauiour and a great man to delyuer them.
And the Lorde shalbe knowen in Egypt, and the Egyptians shall knowe the Lorde in that day, and do sacrifice and oblation: yea they shall vowe a vowe vnto the Lord, and perfourme it.
The Lorde also shall smite Egypt sore, and heale them agayne: and they shalbe conuerted vnto the Lorde, and he shalbe intreated of them, and shall heale them.
In that day shall there be a common way out of Egypt into Assyria, and Assyria shall come into Egypt, & Egypt into Assyria: so that the Egyptians and the Assyrians shall serue the Lorde together.
In that day shal the nation of Israel be the thirde with Egypt and Assyria: and they shalbe blessed in the middest of the lande,
Which lande the Lorde of hoastes hath blessed, saying: blessed is my people of Egypt, Assur also is the worke of my handes, and Israel is mine inheritaunce.
IN the yere that Tharthan came vnto Asdod when Sargon the kyng of Assyria had sent hym, and had fo• agaynst Asdod, and taken it:
At the same tyme spake the Lorde by the hande of Esai the sonne of Amos, say•ng: Go and take of the sackcloth from thy loynes, and put of thy shoe from thy foote. And he dyd so, walkyng naked and barefoote.
And the Lorde sayde, Lyke as my seruaunt Esai hath walked naked and barefoote for a signe and wonder three yeres vpon Egypt and Ethiopia:
Euen so shall the kyng of Assyria take away out of Egypt and Ethiopia, children and olde men naked and barefoote, with their loynes vncouered, to the great shame of Egypt.
They shalbe brought in feare also, and be ashamed of Ethiopia their hope, & of Egypt wherin they are wont to glorie.
And they that dwell in the same Isle shall say in that day, Beholde such is our hope, whyther shall we flee for helpe, that we may be delyuered from the kyng of Assyria? And howe shall we escape?
THe burthen of the waste sea. Euen as the stormie weather passeth through at the noone day from the wildernesse, so shall it come from the terrible lande.
A greeuous vision was shewed vnto me: let one deceiptfull offendour come agaynst another, and one destroyer agaynst another: Vp Elam, lay siege thou of Media, all their gronyng haue I layde downe.
Therfore are my loynes fylled with sorowe, heauinesse hath taken holde vpon me as the panges of a woman that is trauaylyng: it made me stoupe when I heard it, and it vexed me when I sawe it.
My heart panted, fearefulnesse came vpon me: the nyght of my voluptuousnesse hath he turned agaynst me into feare.
Whyle they garnished the table, the watchman loked: and whyle I was eatyng and drynkyng, it was sayde, vp ye captaynes, take you to your shielde.
For thus hath the Lorde sayde vnto me: God and set a watchman to tel what he seeth.
And he sawe a charret which two horsemen sat vpon, with the cariage of an Asse, and the cariage of a Camel: So he loked, and toke diligent heede.
And he cryed, a lion, my Lorde I stande continually vpon the watche towre in the day tyme, and am appoynted to kepe my watch euery nyght.
And beholde here commeth a charret of men, with two horsemen, and he aunswered and sayd, Babylon is fallen, it is fallen, and all the images of her gods hath he smitten downe vnto the grounde.
Thou art he whom I must threshe, and thou belongest to my corne floure: This that I hearde of the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel, haue I shewed vnto you.
The burthen of Duma. He calleth to me out of Seir: watchman what hast thou espied by nyght? watchman what hast thou espied by nyght?
The watchman sayde, The mornyng commeth, and so doth the nyght: If ye wyll aske me any question, then aske it: returne and come agayne.
The burthen concernyng Arabia. In the wooddes of Arabia shall ye tary all nyght, euen in the streetes of Dedanim.
The inhabitours of the lande of Thema brought foorth water to hym that was thirstie, they preuented hym that was fled away with their bread.
For because of swordes they are become fugitiue, Euen for the drawen sworde, and for the bent bowe, and because of the greeuousnesse of warre.
For thus hath the Lorde sayde vnto me: There is yet a yere, accordyng to the yeres of an hired seruaunt, and all the glorie of Cedar shall fayle.
And the number of them that shall escape from the bowes, shalbe minished by the mightie children of Cedar: for the Lorde God of Israel hath spoken it.
THe burthen of the valley of vision. What hast thou to do here, that thou clymbest to the house toppes?
Thou that art full of tumultuousnes, thou troublesome and proude citie: Thy slayne men are neither put to death with the sworde, nor dead in battayle.
All thy captaynes are fugitiue together, the archers haue taken them prisoners: All they I say that are founde in thee are in captiuitie together, and they also that fled farre of.
Therfore sayde I, Let me alone, and I wyll make lamentation: Ye shall not be able to comfort me because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.
For this is a day of trouble, of ruine, and of destruction, that the Lorde the God of hoastes wyll bryng to passe in the valley of vision, breakyng downe the citie, and crying vnto mountaynes.
Elam bare the quiuer with a charret of footmen and horsemen, and the citie of Kir shewed the shielde open.
Thy chiefe valley also was full of charrettes, and the horsemen set their faces directly towarde the gate.
And in that day dyd the enemie take away the couer of Iuda, and then didst thou loke towarde the armour of the house of the forest.
Ye haue seene also the broken places of the citie of Dauid, howe that they are many, and ye gathered together the waters of the lower poole.
As for the houses of Hierusalem ye haue numbred them, and the houses haue ye broken downe, to make the wall strong.
A pit also haue ye made betweene the two walles for the waters of the olde poole, & haue not regarded the maker therof, neither had respect vnto hym that fashioned it long ago.
And in that day dyd the Lorde God of hoastes call men vnto weepyng and mournyng, to baldnesse and girdyng about with sackcloth.
And beholde they haue ioy and gladnesse, slaying oxen, and kyllyng sheepe, eatyng fleshe, and drynkyng wine: Let vs eate and drynke, for to morowe we shall dye.
And it came to the eares of the Lorde of hoastes, This iniquitie shall not be purged from you tyll ye dye, saith the Lorde God of hoastes.
Thus saith the Lord God of hoastes: Get ye vnto yonder treasurer, euen vnto Sebna, which is the ruler of the house.
What hast thou to do here? and whom hast thou here? that thou shouldest here hewe thee out a sepulchree, as it were one that heweth hym out a sepulchree on hye, or that graueth an habitation for hym selfe on an harde rocke?
Beholde O thou man, the Lorde shal cary thee away into captiuitie, and shall surely couer thee with confusion.
The Lorde shal turne thee ouer like a ball with his handes [and shall sende thee] into a farre countrey: there shalt thou dye, and there in steade of the charrets of thy pompe, shall the house of thy Lorde haue confusion.
I wyll driue thee from thy place, and out of thy dwellyng shal he ouerthrowe thee.
And in that day shall I call my seruaunt Eliakim the sonne of Helkia:
And with thy garmentes wyll I clothe hym, and with thy girdle wyll I strength hym: thy power also wyll I commit into his hande, and he shalbe a father of such as dwell in Hierusalem, and in the house of Iuda.
And the key of the house of Dauid wyll I lay vpon his shoulder: so that he shall open and no man shut, he shall shut and no man open.
And I wyll fasten hym as a nayle in a sure place, and he shalbe the glorious seate of his fathers house.
Moreouer, all generations and posterities shall hang vpon him all the glorie of their fathers house, all vessels both great and small, and all instrumentes of measure and musicke.
In that day saith the Lord of hoastes, shall the nayle that is fastened in the sure place, depart and be broken, and fall: and the burthen that was vpon it shalbe pluckt away, for so the Lorde hath spoken.
THe burthen of Tyre. Mourne ye shippes of Tharsis, for there commeth such destruction, that ye shall not haue an house to enter into: and that there shalbe no traffike out of the lande of Cittim, they haue knowledge of this plague.
Be styll ye that dwell in the Isle, the marchauntes of Zidon, & such as passe ouer the sea haue made thee plenteous.
The corne that groweth by the great waters of Nilus, and the fruites of the riuer were her vittayles, so that it became a common mart of the nations.
Be ashamed thou Zidon: for the sea, euen the strength of the sea hath spoken saying, I haue not trauayled nor brought foorth children, nor norished vp young men, or brought vp virgins.
When tidinges commeth to the Egyptians, they shalbe sory for the rumour of Tyre.
Get you to Tharsis, mourne you that dwell in the Isle.
Is not this that glorious citie of yours which hath ben of olde antiquitie? her owne feete shall cary her foorth to be a soiurner into a farre countrey.
Who hath deuised this agaynst Tyre that crowneth her selfe? whose marchauntes are princes, & whose factours are honorable in the worlde.
Euen the Lorde of hoastes hath deuised this, to put downe the pride of all such as be glorious, and to minishe all them that be proude vpon the earth.
Get thee out of thy lande like a fludde vnto the daughter of Tharsis, for thou hast no more strength.
He that smote the kyngdomes together, holdeth out his hande ouer the sea: euen the Lord him selfe hath geuen a commaundement agaynst the same common place of marchaundise, that they shall vtterly destroy the myght therof.
And he sayde: Make no more thy boast O virgin thou daughter Zidon, thou shalt be brought downe: Vp, get thee ouer vnto Cittim, where neuerthelesse thou shalt haue no rest.
Beholde, this people came not of the Chaldees, but Assur made them strong with great shippes: They set vp the strong holdes therof, and destroyed his palaces: and he brought it in decay.
Mourne ye shippes of Tharsis, for your strength is brought downe.
And in that day shal Tyre be forgotten seuentie yeres, accordyng to the yeres of one king: & after the ende of the seuentie yeres shall Tyre sing as doth an harlot.
Take an harpe and go about the citie thou harlot that hast ben forgotten, make sweete melodie, sing mo songes, that thou mayest be had in remembraunce.
And after the ende of the seuentie yeres shall the Lorde visite Tyre, and she shall conuert vnto her rewarde, and shall commit fornication with all the kyngdomes of the earth that are in the worlde.
Their occupying also & their rewarde shalbe holy vnto the Lorde: their gaynes shall not be layde vp nor kept in store, but it shalbe theirs that dwell before the Lorde, that they may eate inough, and haue clothyng sufficent.
BEholde, the Lord maketh the earth waste and emptie, he turneth it vpside downe, and scattereth abrode the inhabitours therof.
And the priest shalbe as the people, and the maister as the seruaunt, the mistresse lyke the mayde, the seller lyke the byer, he that lendeth vpon vsurie, like him that boroweth vpon vsurie, the creditour as the dettour.
The lande shalbe cleane wasted and vtterly spoyled: for so the Lorde hath spoken.
The earth is sory and consumeth away, the worlde is feeble & perisheth, the proude people of the earth are come to naught.
The earth also is become vnprofitable vnder the inhabitours therof, which haue transgressed the lawes, chaunged the ordinaunce, broken the euerlastyng couenaunt.
Therfore hath the curse consumed the earth, and they that dwell therin are fallen into trespasse: Wherfore the inhabitours of the earth are perished with drought, and fewe men are left behinde.
The wine fayleth, the vine hath no myght, all they that haue ben mery of heart are come to mournyng.
The myrth of tabrettes is layde downe, the noyse of such as haue made mery is ceassed, the ioy at the harpe is at an ende.
They shall drynke no more wine with mirth, strong drynke shalbe bytter to them that drinke it.
The citie of vanitie is broken downe, euery house is shut vp, that no man may come in.
In the streetes is there a crying because of wine, all cheare is vanished away, the myrth of the lande is gone.
In the citie is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.
For in the middes of the lande, euen among the people, it shall come to passe as at the shaking of oliues, and as the grapes are when the wine haruest is done.
They shall lift vp their voyce, and make a merie noyse: and in magnifiyng of the Lorde shall they crye out of the west.
Wherefore prayse ye the Lorde in the valleys, euen the name of the Lorde God of Israel in the Iles of the sea.
From the vttermost part of the earth haue we hearde prayses and myrth, because of the righteous: And I sayde, I knowe a thing in secrete, I knowe a thing in secrete, wo is me: the transgressours haue offended, the transgressours haue greeuously offended.
Fearefulnesse, the pit, and the snare are vpon thee, O thou that dwellest on the earth.
It wyll come to passe, that whoso euer escapeth the fearefull noyse, shall fall into the pit, and he that commeth vp out of the pit, shalbe taken with the snare: for the windowes from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth are moued.
The earth is vtterly broken downe, the earth hath a sore ruine, the earth quaketh exceedingly:
The earth shall reele to and fro like a drunkarde, and shalbe remoued lyke a tent, and the iniquitie thereof shalbe heauie vpon it, it shall fall, and not rise vp agayne.
And in that day shall the Lorde visite the hoast aboue that is on hye, and the kynges of the worlde that are vpon the earth.
And they shalbe gathered together as they that be in pryson, and they shalbe shut vp in warde, and after many dayes shall they be visited.
The moone shalbe abashed, and the sunne ashamed, when the Lorde of hoastes shal raigne in mount Sion and in Hierusalem with worship, and in the sight of suche as shalbe of his counsell.
THou art my Lorde my God, I wyll magnifie thee, I will geue thankes vnto thy name, for thou hast brought wonderfull thinges to passe, according to thine olde counsels truely & faythfully.
Thou hast made a citie a heape of stones, and brought a strong towne into decay: the habitation of straungers hast thou made to be no citie, neither shall it be buylded any more.
Therefore shall the mightie people geue glory vnto thee, the citie of the valiaunt heathen shall feare thee.
For thou hast ben a strength vnto the poore, and a succour for the needie in his trouble, a refuge against euill weather, a shadow against the heate: for the blast of raging men is like a storme that casteth downe a wall.
Like as the heate in a drye place wasteth all thinges: so shalt thou suppresse the noyse of aliantes, the heate [is abated] with the shadowe of the cloude, [euen so shall God] asswage the noyse of the cruel tirauntes.
And in this mountaine shal the Lord of hoastes make vnto all people a feast of plenteous and delicate thinges, euen of most pleasaunt and daintie disshes.
And in this mountaine shall the Lord destroy the couering that all people are wrapped in, and the hanging that is spread vpon all nations.
As for death he hath destroyed it for euer, and the Lorde God shall wype away teares from all faces, and the rebuke of his people shall he take away out of all the earth, for so the Lorde hath sayde.
And in that day it shalbe sayde, lo this is our God, we haue wayted for hym, and he shall saue vs, this is the Lorde in whom we haue hoped, we wyll be merie and reioyce in the saluation [that commeth] of hym.
For in this mountaine shall the hande of the Lorde ceasse, and Moab shalbe threshed vnder hym, euen as strawe is troden to doung on the dounghill.
And he shall stretche out his hande in the middes of them, as he that swimmeth casteth out his hands to swimme: and with the strength of his handes shall he bring downe their pryde.
The strong holde also and defence of thy walles hath he ouerthrowne and cast downe, and brought them to the grounde, euen vnto dust.
IN that day shall this song be song in the land of Iuda, we haue a strong citie, saluation shal God appoint in steede of walles and bulwarkes.
Open ye the gates, that the righteous people whiche kepeth the trueth may enter in.
By an assured purpose wylt thou preserue perfect peace, because they put their trust in thee.
Put ye your trust alway in the Lord: for in the Lorde God there is strength for euermore.
For he hath brought downe the high minded citizens: as for the proude citie he hath brought it lowe, euen to the ground shall he cast it downe, and bring it vnto dust.
The foote, euen the foote of the poore, and the steppes of suche as be in necessitie shall treade it downe.
The path of equitie wylt thou graunt vnto the iust [O thou most righteous] thou shalt order the path of hym that is righteous.
Yea in the way of thy iudgementes, O Lord, haue we put our trust in thee: thy name also and the remembraunce of thee, is the thing that our soule longeth for.
My soule hath longed for thee all the night, and with my spirite whiche is within me wyll I seeke thee early in the morning: For when thy iudgementes are in the earth, the inhabiters of the worlde shall learne righteousnesse.
Shall the vngodly man be fauoured, which hath not learned righteousnesse, but doth wickedly in the earth, where nothing ought to be done but that which is righteous? he shall not see the glory of the Lorde.
Lorde, when thy hande is lyft vp to strike, they see it not: but they shall see it, and be confounded with the zeale of the people, and the fire that consumeth thyne enemies shall deuour them.
Lorde vnto vs thou shalt prouide peace: for thou also hast wrought all our workes in vs.
O Lord our God, other lordes beside thee hath subdued vs: but we wyll be mindfull only of thee and of thy name.
The dead wyll not liue, they that be out of life will not ryse agayne, therfore hast thou visited and rooted them out, and destroyed all the memorie of them.
Thou hast increased the people, O Lorde, thou hast increased the people, thou art glorious, thou hast sent them farre of vnto all the coastes of the earth.
Lorde, in trouble haue they visited thee, they powred out their prayer whe{n} thy chastening was vpon them.
Like as a woman with chylde that draweth nye towardes her trauayle is sorie and cryeth in her paynes: euen so haue we ben in thy sight O Lorde.
We haue ben with chylde and suffred paine, as though we had brought forth winde: for there is no saluation in the earth, neither do the inhabiters of the worlde submit them selues.
Thy dead men shall liue, euen as my body shall they rise againe: Awake and sing ye that dwell in dust, for thy deawe is euen as the deawe of hearbes, and the earth shall cast out them that be vnder her.
Come my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doores about thee, hide thy selfe for a litle whyle, vntill the indignation be ouerpast.
For beholde, the Lorde is comming out of his place, to visite the wickednesse of suche as dwell vpon earth: the earth also shall disclose her bloods, and shall no more hide them that are slayne in her.
IN that day the Lord with his sore, great, and mightie sworde, shall visite Leuiathan the fugitiue serpent, euen Leuiathan that crooked serpent, and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.
In that day see that ye sing of the congregation which is the vineyarde that bringeth foorth the best wine:
Euen I the Lorde do kepe it, in due seasons shall I water it: and lest the enemie do it any harme, I wyll both night and day preserue it.
There is no displeasure in me, els when the vineyarde bringeth me foorth bryers and thornes I woulde go thorowe it by warre, and burne it vp together.
Let it take holde of my strength, and it shalbe at one with me, euen at one shall it be with me.
The dayes are comming that Iacob shall take roote, Israel shalbe greene and florishe, and the world shalbe filled with fruite.
Hath he smitten hym as sore as he did the other that smote hym? Or is he slayne with so sore a slaughter as they that slue hym?
Thou wylt punishe it in the braunches, yet not beyonde measure: for in the day that the east winde bloweth sore, it taketh away the fruites.
By this meanes therfore shall the iniquitie of Iacob be purged, and this is all the fruite, [namely] the taking away of his sinne, if he make all the stones of the aulter of idols as chalke stones that are beaten in sunder, that their groues and images ryse not vp agayne.
Els shall the strong citie be desolate, and the habitation forsaken and left like a wildernesse: there shall the Calfe feede, and there shall he lye, and eate vp the graffes therof.
When the braunches of it are drye, they are broken of, & the women come and set them on fire: for it is a people of no vnderstanding, and therfore he that made them shall not fauour them, and he that created them shall geue them no grace.
And in that day shall the Lorde make a threshing, from the middest of the riuer Euphrates, vnto the riuer of Egypt, and ye chyldren of Israel shalbe gathered together one to another.
In that day shall the great trumpe be blowne, so that they which were lost in the lande of Assyria, and they that were banished in the lande of Egypt, shall come and worship the Lorde in the holye mount of Hierusalem.
WO be vnto the crowne of pryde, euen to the drunken people of Ephraim, whose great pompe is as a floure that fadeth away vpon the head of the valley of suche as be in wealth, and are ouerladen with wine.
Behold, there commeth a vehement and sore day from the Lord, like an vnmeasurable hayle and perillous tempest, euen like the force of mightie and horrible waters that violently beareth downe all thinges.
The crowne of the pryde of the drunken Ephraemites shalbe troden vnder foote:
So that the floure of his fayrenesse and beautie whiche is in the head of the valley of fatnesse, shall fade away as doth an vntimely ripe figge before haruest: whiche when a man espieth, he loketh vpon it, and whyle it is yet in his hande he eateth it vp.
In that day shal the Lord of hoastes be the crowne of glory and diamonde of beautie vnto the residue of his people.
He wylbe also a spirite of perfect knowledge to him that sitteth in iudgement, and strength vnto them that turne away the battayle to the gate [of the enemies.]
But they are out of the way by reason of wine, yea farre out of the way are they thorowe strong drinke: The priest also and the prophete are gone astray by the meanes of strong drinke, they are drunken with wine, they go amisse thorowe strong drinke, they fayle in propheciyng, and stumble in iudgement.
For all tables are full of vomit and filthynesse, that no place is cleane.
Whom then shall suche one teache knowledge? and whom shall he make to vnderstande the thing that he heareth? for they are as ignoraunt as young chyldren that are taken from the milke, and are weaned.
For they that be suche, must take after one lesson, another lesson, after one commaundement, another commaundement, for one rule, another rule, after one instruction, another instruction, there a litle, and there a litle.
For he that speaketh vnto this people, is euen as one that vseth rudenesse of speache, and a straunge language.
If any man say vnto them, lo, this is the rest wherewith ye may ease hym that is weerie, this is the refreshing: they wyll not hearken.
Therfore shall the word of the Lord be vnto them, lesson vpon lesson, commaundement vpon commaundement, rule vpon rule, instruction vpon instruction, there a litle, and there a litle: that they may go on and fall backwarde, be brused, tangled, and snared.
Wherfore heare the word of the Lord ye mockers, ye that haue rule of this people whiche is at Hierusalem.
Because ye haue sayd, We haue made a couenaunt with death, and with hell are we at agreement: and though there go foorth a sore plague, it shall not come vnto vs, for we haue made falsehood our refuge, and vnder vanitie are we hid.
Therfore thus saith the Lorde God, Beholde, I lay in Sion for a foundation a stone, euen a tryed stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: who so beleueth, let hym not be to hastie.
Iudgement also wyll I laye to the rule, and righteousnesse to the balaunce, so that the hayle shall sweepe away as a broome your vayne confidence, and the priuie place of your refuge shall the waters runne ouer.
And thus the couenaunt that ye made with death, shalbe disanulled, and your agreement that ye made with hell shall not stand, yea when the sore plague goeth foorth, ye shalbe troden downe vnder it.
From the tyme that it goeth foorth it shall take you away: for early in the morning euery day, yea both day and night shall it go thorowe, and when the noyse thereof is perceaued, it shall gender vexation.
For the bed is narrowe and not large, and the couering so small that a man can not winde him selfe [vnder it.]
For the Lord shall stand as in mount Perazim, and shalbe wroth like as in the valley Gibeon, that he may do his worke, his straunge worke, and bryng to passe his acte, his straunge acte.
Nowe therefore see that ye be no mockers, lest your punishment increase: For I hearde of the Lorde of hoastes, that there shall come a short ende vpon the whole earth.
Heare ye then, and hearken vnto my voyce, consider and ponder my speache.
Doth not the husbandman plowe all the day, and openeth and breaketh the clottes of his grounde, that he may sowe?
When he hath made it playne, wyll he not spreade abrode the fitches, and sowe comin, and cast in wheate by measure, and the appointed barlye and rye in their place?
God wyll instruct hym to haue discretion, euen his God wyll teache hym.
For fitches shall not be threshed with an harrowe, neither shall a cart wheele be brought thorowe the comin: but the fitches are beaten out with a staffe, and comin with a rodde.
But the seede that bread is made of, is threshed, though it be not alway a threshing, and the cart wheele must be brought ouer it, lest he grinde it with his teeth.
This also commeth of the Lorde of hoastes, which worketh with wonderfull wysdome, and bringeth excellent workes to passe.
WO vnto thee O Ariel Ariel, thou citie that Dauid dwelt in: Go on from yere to yere, and let the lambes be slayne.
I wyll lay siege vnto Ariel, so that there shalbe heauinesse and sorowe in it: and it shalbe vnto me euen an aulter of slaughter.
A will besiege thee rounde about, and fight against thee thorowe a bulwarke, and wyll reare vp diches against thee.
Thou shalt be brought downe, and shalt speake out of the ground, and thy speache shall go lowe out of the dust:
Thy voyce also shall come out of the grounde lyke the voyce of a witche, and thy talkyng shall whisper out of the dust:
Moreouer, the noyse of the straunge enemies shalbe like thinne dust, and the multitude of tirauntes shalbe as drye strawe that can not tary: euen sodenly and in haste shall their blast go.
Thou shalt be visited of the Lorde of hoastes with thunder, earthquake, and with a great noyse, with storme and tempest, and with the flambe of a consuming fire.
And the multitude of all nations that fight against Ariel, shalbe as a dreame seene by night: euen so shall they be that make warre against it, and strong holdes to ouercome it, and that lay any siege vnto it.
In conclusion, it shalbe euen as when a hungry man dreameth that he is eating, and when he awaketh, his soule is emptie, or as when a thirstie man dreameth that he is drinking, and when he awaketh, he is yet fainte, and his soule hath appetite: euen so shall the multitude of all nations that fighteth against mount Sion.
Ponder these thinges once in your mindes, and wonder: Blinded are they them selues, and the blinde guides of other: They are drunken, but not with wine: they are vnstable, but not thorow strong drinke.
For the Lorde hath couered you with a slumbring spirite, and hath closed your eyes: your prophetes also and rulers that shoulde see, them hath he couered.
And the vision of all the prophetes is become vnto you as the wordes of a booke that is sealed vp, whiche men deliuer to one that is learned, saying, Reade thou in it: and he saith, I can not, for it is sealed.
And the booke is geuen to him that is not learned, saying, Reade thou in it: and he saith, I am not learned.
Therfore thus hath the Lorde sayd: Forsomuche as this people when they be in trouble, do honour me with their mouth and with their lippes, but their heart is farre fro me, and the feare whiche they haue vnto me proceedeth of a commaundement that is taught of men:
Therefore wyll I do marueyles among this people, euen marueylous thinges [I say] and a wonder: For the wysdome of their wyse men shall perishe, and the vnderstanding of their wittie men shall hyde it selfe.
Wo vnto them that kepe secrete their thoughtes, to hide their counsell from the Lorde, and to do their workes in darknesse, saying: Who seeth vs? and who knoweth vs?
Doubtlesse your destruction is in reputation as the potters clay: And doth the worke say of hym that made it, he made not me? And doth an earthen vessell say of hym that fashioned it, he had no vnderstanding?
Is it not harde at hande that Libanus shalbe turned into a low fielde, and that the lowe fielde shalbe taken as the wood?
And in that day shall deafe men heare the wordes of the booke, and the eyes of the blynde shall see, euen out of the cloude, and out of darknesse.
The meeke spirited also shall be merie in the Lorde, and the poore among them that be lowly shall reioyce in the holy one of Israel:
For he that dyd violence is brought to naught, and the scornefull man is consumed, and they rooted out that made haste early to vnrighteousnesse,
Making a man to sinne in the worde, and that toke him in a snare, whiche reproued them in the open place, and they that haue turned the cause of the righteous to naught.
Therefore thus saith the Lorde to the house of Iacob, euen thus saith he that redeemed Abraham: Iacob shall not nowe be confounded, nor his face pale.
But when he seeth his chyldren the worke of my handes in the middes of hym, they shall sanctifie my name, and prayse the holy one of Iacob, and feare the God of Israel.
They also that haue ben of an erronious spirite shall come to vnderstanding, and they that haue ben scornefull shall learne doctrine.
ALas for those disobedient chyldren saith the Lorde, that they will take counsell and not of me, that they wyll take a secrete aduice and not out of my spirite, and therefore adde they sinne vnto sinne.
Euen they that walke to go downe into Egypt, and haue asked no question at my mouth, but seeke strength in the might of Pharao, and trust in the shadowe of Egypt.
Therefore shall the strength of Pharao be your confusion, and the trust in the shadowe of Egypt your shame.
For his captaynes were at Zoan, and his embassadours came vnto Hanes.
They were ashamed of the people that coulde do them no good, and that might not helpe them nor shewe them any profit, but were their confusion and rebuke.
The burthen of the beastes of the south. In a land of trouble & anguishe, from whence shall come the young and olde lion, the viper and firie serpent that fleeth against them that vpon coltes beare their riches, and vpon camels their treasures, to a people that can do them no good.
For vayne and nothing worth shall the helpe of the Egyptians be: Therefore haue I cryed vnto Hierusalem, they shall haue strength inough if they wyll settle their mindes in quietnesse.
Nowe therefore go thy way, and write this before them in a table, and note it in a booke: that it may finally remaine and be kept styll for euer.
For this is an obstinate people, and dissembling chyldren, chyldren that refuse to heare the lawe of the Lorde.
For they say vnto the seers, see not, and to them that be cleare of iudgement, loke not out right thinges for vs: but speake fayre wordes vnto vs, loke out errours.
Get you out of this way, depart out of this path, and turne the holy one of Israel from vs.
Wherefore thus saith the holy one of Israel: Because your heartes ryse against this word, and because you trust in wrong dealing and peruerse iudgement, and put your confidence therin:
Therfore shall ye haue this mischiefe for your destruction and fall, like as an hye wall that falleth because of some rift or blast, whose breakyng commeth sodainly.
And the hurt thereof is lyke an earthen vessell whiche breaketh without helpe, so that in the bursting of it, there is not founde one sheuer to fetch fire in, or to take water withall out of the pit.
For thus saith the Lorde God, euen the holy one of Israel: In repentaunce and in rest shall ye be safe, in quietnesse and sure confidence shalbe your strength, but ye haue had no list thereto.
For ye haue sayde, No, but we wyll escape thorowe horses, therefore shall ye flee: And we wyll get vs vp vpon swift beastes, and therefore shall your persecutours be swifter.
A thousande shall flee at the rebuke of one, and at the rebuke of fiue shall ye all flee, till ye be left as a ship mast vpon the top of a mountaine, and as a beaken vpon an hill.
Therefore doth the Lorde cause you to wayte, that he may haue mercy vpon you, to the entent that he may haue the preeminence when he is gratious vnto you: For the Lord is the God of iudgement, Blessed are all they that hope in hym.
If the people remaine in Sion and at Hierusalem, thou shalt not be in heauinesse: but at the voyce of thy complaint shall he haue mercy vpon thee, and when he heareth it, he shall geue thee an aunswere.
And though the Lorde geue you the bread of trouble, and the water of aduersitie, thy rayne shalbe no more so scant, but thyne eyes shall see thy rayne.
Yea and thyne eare shall heare the talking of him that doth speake behinde thee: This is the way, walke ye in it, turne not aside neither to the right hande, nor to the left.
Ye shall destroy also the couering of your siluer images, and the decking of your golden idols, euen as filthynesse shalt thou put them away: And thou shalt say vnto it, Get thee hence.
Then shall God geue rayne vnto thy seede, that thou shalt sowe the grounde withall, and bread of the increase of the earth, whiche shalbe fat and very plenteous: in that day also shall thy cattell be fed in large pastures.
The oxen lykewyse and the young asses that eare the grounde shall eate cleane prouender, whiche is purged with the winde and the fanne.
Finally, vpon euery hye mountayne and hyll shall there be riuers, and streames of waters in the day of the great slaughter when the towres fall.
Moreouer, the light of the moone shalbe as the light of the sunne, and the sunne light shalbe seuen folde, and haue as much shine as in seuen dayes beside, when the Lorde bindeth vp the sore of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wounde.
Beholde, the fame of the Lorde commeth from farre, and his presence is so hotte, that no man is able to abyde: his lippes are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a consuming fire.
His breath is a vehement flud of water, that reacheth vp to the necke: that he may sift away the heathen in the siue of vanitie, and his breath is a brydle of errour in the lawes of the people.
And ye shall sing lyke as in the night when the holy solempnitie beginneth, and ye shall haue gladnesse of heart, like as when one commeth with a pipe vnto the hill of the Lorde, and to the most mightie one of Israel.
And the Lorde shall cause his glorious voyce to be hearde, and shall declare his stretched out arme with a terrible countenaunce, & with the flambe of a consuming fire, with noysome lightening, with a showre, and with hayle stones.
For thorowe the voyce of the Lorde shall Assur be destroyed, which smote other men with the rodde.
And it shall come to passe, that whyther soeuer he goeth the rodde shall cleaue vnto him which the Lorde shall laye vpon hym, with tabrettes and harpes: and with great warre shall he fight against his hoast.
For the fire of hell is ordayned from the beginning, yea euen for the kyng is it prepared: This hath the Lorde set in the deepe, and made it wide, the burning whereof is fire and muche wood: The breath of the Lorde whiche is like a riuer of brimstone doth kindle it.
WO be vnto them that go downe into Egypt for helpe, and trust in horses, and put their confidence in charrets because they be many, and in horsemen because they be lustie and strong: but they regarde not the holy one of Israel, and they aske no question at the Lorde.
And he neuerthelesse is wise, and will plague the wicked, and goeth not from his worde, he wyll aryse against the housholde of the frowarde, and against the helpe of euyll doers.
Nowe the Egyptians are men and not God, and their horses fleshe, and not spirite: And assoone as the Lord stretcheth out his hande, then shall the helper fall and he that shoulde haue ben helped, and they shall altogether be destroyed.
For thus hath the Lorde spoken vnto me: Lyke as the lion and lions whelpe roareth vpon the pray that he hath gotten, and is not afraide though the multitude of shepheardes crye out vpon him, neither be abashed for all the heape of them: so shall the Lorde of hoastes come downe to fight for mount Sion, and defende his hyll.
Like as the byrdes flutter about their nestes, so shall the Lorde of hoastes, kepe, saue, defende, and deliuer Hierusalem.
Therefore O ye chyldren of Israel, turne againe vnto him whom you haue ofttimes forsaken.
For in that day euery man shall cast out his idols of siluer, and his idols of golde, whiche ye haue made with your owne handes vnto your sinne.
Assur also shalbe slayne with the sworde, not with a mans sworde, neither shal the sworde of any man deuour hym, and he shall flee from the slaughter, and his choise young men shalbe discomfited.
He shall go for feare to his strong holdes, and his princes shall flee from his standerd saith the Lord, whose fire is in Sion, and his fornace in Hierusalem.
BEholde, a kyng shall gouerne after the rule of righteousnesse, and the princes shall rule according to the ballaunce of equitie.
And that man shalbe vnto men as a defence for the winde, and as a refuge for the tempest, lyke as a ryuer of water in a thirstie place, and the shadowe of a great rocke in a drye lande.
The eyes of the seeing shall not be dim, and the eares of them that heare shall take diligent heede.
The heart of the vnwyse shall attayne to knowledge, and the vnperfect tongue shall speake playnely and distinctly.
Then shall the foolishe nigarde be no more called gentle, nor the churle liberall.
But the nigarde wyll speake nigardlye, and his heart wyll worke euyll, and play the hypocrite, and imagine abhominations against God, to make the hungry leane, and to withholde drinke from the thirstie.
The weapons of the churlishe are euyll, he deuiseth noysome deuises, that he may beguyle the poore with deceiptfull wordes, yea euen there as he should geue sentence with the poore.
But the liberall person imagineth honest thynges, and commeth vp for liberalitie vnto promotion.
Vp ye riche and idle women, hearken vnto my voyce, ye carelesse daughters marke my wordes.
Many yeres and dayes shall ye be brought in feare O ye carelesse women: for the vintage shall fayle, and the haruest shall not come.
Be abashed you that lyue in aboundaunce, tremble you that lyue carelesse, cast of your rayment, make your selues bare, and put sackcloth about you.
For as the infantes weepe when their mothers teates are dryed vp: so shall you weepe for your faire fieldes and fruitfull vineyardes.
My peoples fielde shall bryng thornes and thistles: and so shall it be in euery house of voluptuousnesse, and in euery citie that reioyceth.
The palaces also shalbe broke{n}, and the greatly occupied cities desolate: The towres and bulwarkes shall become dennes for euermore, where wylde asses take their pleasure, and sheepe their pasture.
Vnto the tyme that the spirite be powred vpon vs from aboue, and that the wildernesse be a fruitfull fielde, and the plenteous fielde be reckened for a wood.
Then shall equitie dwell in the desert, and righteousnesse in a fruitfull lande.
And the worke of righteousnesse shalbe peace, and her fruite rest and quietnesse for euer.
And my people shall dwell in the innes of peace, and in sure dwellynges, in safe places of comfort.
And when the hayle falleth, it shall fall in the wood, and the citie shalbe set lowe in the valley.
O howe happy shall ye be when ye shall safely sowe your seede beside all waters, and dryue thyther the feete of your oxen and asses.
WO to thee that destroyest when thou wast not destroyed, thou breakest {th}e league where as none hath broken it with thee: for when thou shalt leaue destroying, thou thy selfe shalt be destroyed: and when thou ceassest from breakyng the league, then shall they breake it to thee.
O Lorde haue mercie vpon vs, we haue put our whole trust in thee: be an arme to such early, and our health in the tyme of trouble.
At that confuse noyse the people fled, and at thine exaltyng the heathen were scattered.
And the spoyles shalbe gathered, which shalbe yours, as are the gathetheryng of Bruchus, and the multitude goyng to it shalbe as Locustes, running to and fro.
The Lorde is exalted, for it is he that dwelleth on hye, he hath fylled Sion with iudgement and rygteousnesse.
And a sure stablishyng of thy tymes, shalbe strength, health, wisdome, and knowledge: and the very feare of the Lorde shalbe the treasure of it.
Beholde the messengers shall crye without: and the embassadours of peace shall weepe bitterly.
Their streetes are waste, there walketh no man therin: God hath broken the appoyntment, the cities are cast away, and men are nothyng regarded.
The desolate earth is in heauinesse, Libanus is shamed and hewen downe, Saron is like a wildernesse, Basan and Charmel are spoyled of their fruites.
And therfore saith the Lorde, I wyll vp nowe, nowe wyll I be aduaunces, nowe wyll I be exalted.
Ye shall conceaue stubble, and beare strawe: and your spirite shalbe the fire, that it may consume you.
And the people shalbe burnt like lime, and as thornes burnt that are hewen of and cast in the fire.
Nowe hearken to ye that are farre of howe I haue done, and consider my power ye that are at hande.
The sinners at Sion are afrayde, a sodayne fearefulnesse is come vpon the hypocrites: What is he among vs say they that shall dwell by the consumyng fire? Which of vs may abyde the euerlasting heate?
He that leadeth a godly life, and speaketh the trueth, he that abhorreth gaynes by violence and deceipt, he that kepeth his hande that he touche no rewarde, which stoppeth his eares that he heare no counsayle agaynst the innocent blood, which holdeth downe his eyes that he see no euyll:
He it is that shall dwell on hye, whose safegarde shalbe in a bulwarke of rockes: to hym shalbe geuen meate, and his waters shall not fayle.
Thine eyes shall see the kyng in his glorie, euen the kyng of the farre countreys shall they see.
Thine heart studied for feare thinking thus: What shall then become of the scribe? of the receauer of our money? what of hym that taxed our fairest houses?
There shalt thou not see a cruel people of a straunge tongue, to haue so diffused a language that it may not be vnderstanded, neither so straunge a speache but it shalbe perceaued.
Loke vpon Sion the head citie of our solempne feastes: thyne eyes shall see Hierusalem that glorious habitation, the tabernacle that neuer shall remoue, whose nayles shal neuer be taken out worlde without ende, whose cordes euery one shall neuer corrupt.
For the glorious maiestie of the Lorde shall there be present among vs as a place where faire brode riuers and streames are, through the which shall neither galley rowe nor great ship sayle.
For the Lorde is our iudge, the Lord is our lawe geuer, the Lord is our king, and he hym selfe shalbe our sauiour.
Thy tacklyng is loosed, therfore it can not make fast the mast, nor spread the sayle: then there is dealed great spoyle, yea lame men runne after the pray.
There lyeth no man that saith, I am sicke: but all euyll is taken away from the people that dwell there.
COme ye heathen and heare, take heede you people: hearken thou earth and all that is therin, thou rounde compasse and all that dwelleth thervpon.
For the Lorde is angry with all people, & his displeasure is kindled agaynst all the multitude of them, he hath destroyed them, and delyuered them to the slaughter.
So that their slayne shalbe cast out and their bodyes stincke, that euen the very hylles shalbe wet with the blood of them.
All the starres of heauen shall waste, and the heauens shall folde together lyke a roll, and all the starres therof shall fall, lyke as the leaues fall from the vines and figge trees.
For my sworde shalbe bathed in heauen, and shall immediatly come downe to iudgement vpon Idumea, and vpon the people which I haue cursed.
And the Lordes sworde shalbe full of blood, and be rusty with the fatnesse and blood of lambes and goates, with the fatnesse of the kidneys of weathers: For the Lord shall kyll a great offering in Bozra, and a great slaughter in the lande of Idumea.
There shall the vnicornes fall with them, and the bulles with the giauntes, and their lande shalbe throughly soked with blood, and their grounde corrupt with fatnesse.
For it is the day of Gods vengeaunce, and the yere of recompence for the reuenge of Sion.
And his fluddes shalbe turned to pitch, and his earth to brimstone, and therewith shall the lande be kindled.
So that it shall not be quenched day nor nyght, but smoke euermore, and so foorth lye waste: and no man shall go through it for euer.
But Pellicanes, Storkes, great Owles, and Rauens shall haue it in possession and dwell therin: for God shall spreade out the line of desolation vpon it, and the stones of emptinesse.
Her nobles shall call, and there is no kyngdome: and all her princes shalbe nothyng.
Thornes shall growe in their palaces, nettles & thistles in their strong holdes, that the dragons may haue their pleasure therin, and that they may be a court for Estriches.
There shall straunge visures & monsterous beastes meete one another, and the wylde kepe company together: there shall the Lamia lye and haue her lodgyng.
There shall the Owle make her nest, builde, be there at home, & bryng foorth her young ones: there shall the Kytes come together, eche one to his lyke.
Seke through the booke of the Lorde and reade it: there shall none of these thynges be left out, there shall not one nor such lyke fayle: for his mouth commaundeth, and that same doth his spirite gather together, or fulfyll.
He hath cast the lot for them, and to those beastes hath his hande deuided it by the line: therfore those shall possesse it for euer, from generation to generation shall they dwell therin.
BVt the desert & wildernesse shall reioyce, the waste ground shall be glad and florishe as the Lilie.
She shall florishe pleasauntly and be ioyfull, and euer be geuing thankes more and more: For the glorie of Libanus, the beautie of Charmel and Saron shalbe geuen her: These shall knowe the honour of the Lorde, & the maiestie of our God.
And therfore strength the weake handes, and comfort the feeble knees.
Say vnto them that are of a fearfull heart, be of good cheare and feare not, beholde your God commeth to take vengeaunce, and you shall see the rewarde that God geueth: God commeth his owne selfe, and wyll delyuer you.
Then shall the eyes of the blynde be lyghtened, and the eares of the deaffe opened.
Then shall the lame men leape as an Hart, & the dumbe mans tongue shall geue thankes: for in the wildernesse there shall welles spryng, and fluddes of water in the desert.
The drye grounde shal turne to riuers, and the thirstie to sprynges of water: wheras dragons dwelt afore, there shal growe sweete flowres & greene russhes.
There shalbe foote pathes & common streetes, this shalbe called the holy way: no vncleane person shall go through it, for the Lorde hym selfe shall go with them that way, and the wayfayrer nor ignoraunt shall not erre.
There shalbe no lion, & no rauishyng beastes shall come therin nor be there, but men redeemed shall go there free and safe.
And the redeemed of the Lorde I say shall conuert and come to Sion with thankesgeuyng: euerlastyng ioy shall they haue, pleasure and gladnesse shalbe among them, and as for all sorowe and heauinesse it shall vanishe.
IN the foureteenth yere of king Hezekias came Sennacherib kyng of the Assyrians downe, to lay siege vnto all the strong cities of Iuda, to conquer them.
And the kyng of the Assyrians sent Rabsakeh from Lachis towarde Hierusalem, agaynst Hezekias with an exceedyng hoast, which set hym by the conduite of the ouer poole in the way that goeth through the fullers lande.
And so there came foorth vnto hym Eliakim Helkias sonne, the chiefe ouer the householde, Sob•a the scribe, and Ioah Asaphs sonne the secretarie:
And Rabsakeh sayde vnto them, Tell Hezekia that the great kyng saith thus vnto hym: What presumption is this that thou trustest vnto?
I sayde surely that thou trustest in vayne wordes, when counsayle and strength are necessarie to battayle: but nowe wherto trustest thou, that thou rebellest agaynst me?
Lo, thou puttest thy trust in a broken staffe of reede [I meane] Egypt, which he that leaneth vpon, it goeth into his hande and shooteth it through: euen so is Pharao the kyng of Egypt vnto all them that trust in hym.
But if thou wouldest say vnto me, We trust in the Lorde our God: Is not he that God whose hygh places & aulters Hezekia toke downe, and commaunded Iuda and Hierusalem to worship only before this aulter?
Nowe therfore deliuer hostages that thou rebell no more agaynst my Lorde the kyng of the Assyrians, and I wyll geue thee two thousande horses yf thou be able to set men vpon them.
Howe darest thou resist the power of the smallest prince that my Lorde hath? howe darest thou trust in the charrets and horsemen of Egypt?
Moreouer, thinkest thou that I am come vp hyther to destroy this lande without the Lordes wyll? The Lorde sayd vnto me, Go vp agaynst this lande and destroy it.
Then sayd Eliakim, Sobna, & Ioah, vnto Rabsakeh: Speake to vs thy seruauntes we pray thee in the Syrians language, for we vnderstande it well, and speake not to vs in the Iewes tongue, lest the folke heare which lyeth vpon the wall.
Then aunswered Rabsakeh: Hath my maister sent me to speake this only to thy maister and thee? hath he not sent me to them also that lye vpon the wall? that they may be compelled to eate their owne dunge, and drinke their owne stale with you?
And Rabsakeh stoode stiffe, and cryed with a loude voyce in the Iewes tongue, and sayde: Nowe take heede howe the great kyng of the Assyrians geueth you warnyng.
Thus saith the kyng: Let not Hezekia deceaue you, for he shall not be able to deliuer you.
Moreouer, let not Hezekia comfort you in the Lorde when he saith, The Lorde without doubt shall defende vs, and shall not geue ouer this citie into the handes of the king of the Assyrians.
Hearken not to Hezekia, for thus saith the kyng of Assyria: Obtayne my fauour, encline to me, so may euery man enioy his vineyardes and figge trees, and drynke the water of his cesterne:
Vnto the tyme that I come my selfe, and bryng you into a lande that is lyke your owne, wherin is wheate & wine, which is both sowen with seede and planted with vineyardes.
Let not Hezekia deceaue you, when he saith vnto you, the Lorde shall deliuer vs: Myght the gods of the gentiles kepe euery mans lande from the power of the kyng of the Assyrians?
Where is the god of Hemath and Arphad? where is the god of Sepharuaim? and who is able to defende Samaria out of my hande?
Or which of all the gods of these landes hath deliuered their countrey out of my power? Is the Lord in deede able to deliuer Hierusalem from my hande?
Vnto this Hezekias messengers helde their tongues, and aunswered not one worde: for the kyng had charged them that they should geue him no aunswere.
So came Eliakim Helkias sonne the chiefe ouer the householde, Sobna the scribe, and Ioah Asaphes sonne the secratarie vnto Hezekia with rent clothes, and tolde hym the wordes of Rabsakeh.
WHEN Hezekia hearde that, he rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth, and went into the temple of the Lorde.
But he sent Eliakim the chiefe ouer the householde, Sobna the scribe, with the eldest priestes clothed in sacke, vnto the prophete Esai the sonne of Amos,
And they sayde vnto hym, Thus saith Hezekia: This is the day of trouble, of plague, and of blasphemie: for the children are come to the place of birth, but there is no power to bryng them foorth.
The Lorde thy God [no doubt] hath well considered the wordes of Rabsakeh, whom his lorde king of the Assyrians hath sent to defie and blaspheme the lyuyng God, with such wordes as the Lorde thy God hath hearde ryght well: and therfore lyft vp thy prayer for the remnaunt that yet are left.
So the seruauntes of the kyng Hezekia came to Esai,
And Esai gaue them this aunswere: Say thus vnto your lorde, Thus saith the Lord: Be not afraide of the wordes that thou hast hearde, wherwith the kyng of the Assyrians seruauntes haue blasphemed me.
Beholde, I wyll rayse vp a wynde agaynst him, & he shall heare a rumour, and he shall go agayne into his countrey, there wyll I destroy hym with the sworde in his owne lande.
Nowe when Rabsakeh returned, he founde the kyng of Assyria laying siege to Libnas: for he had vnderstandyng that he was departed from Lachis.
And there came a rumour that Tharakas kyng of Ethiopia was come foorth to warre agaynst hym: and when the king of Assyria hearde that, he sent other messengers to kyng Hezekia with this commaundement.
Say thus to Hezekia kyng of Iuda: Let not thy God deceaue thee, in whom thou hopest, and sayest, Hierusalem shall not be geuen into the handes of the kyng of Assyria.
For lo, thou knowest well howe the kynges of Assyria haue handled all the landes that they haue subuerted: and hopest thou to escape?
Were the people of the gentiles whom my progenitours conquered, deliuered at any tyme through their gods? [As namely] Gosan, Haran, Rezeph, and the children of Eden, which were at Thalassar?
Where is the king of Hemath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the citie Sepharuaim, Ena, and Aua?
Nowe when Hezekia had receaued the letter of the messengers, and read it, he went vp into the house of the Lorde, and opened the letter before the Lorde,
And Hezekia prayed vnto the Lorde [on this maner.]
O Lorde of hoastes, thou God of Israel, which dwellest vpon Cherubim, thou art the God that only is God of all the kingdomes of the world, for thou only hast created heauen and earth.
Encline thine eare Lorde and consider, open thine eyes Lorde and see, and ponder all the wordes of Sennacherib, which hath sent his embassage to blaspheme the lyuyng God.
It is true O Lorde that the kynges of Assyria haue conquered all kyngdomes and landes,
And cast their gods in the fire: for those were no gods, but the workes of mens handes, of wood or stone, therfore haue they destroyed them.
Nowe therfore deliuer vs O Lord our God from the handes of Sennacherib, that all the kyngdomes of the earth may knowe that thou only art the Lorde.
Then Esai the sonne of Amos sent vnto Hezekia, saying, Thus saith the Lorde God of Israel: Wheras thou hast made thy prayer vnto me as touching Sennacherib the king of Assyria,
This is the aunswere that the Lorde hath geuen concernyng hym: Dispised art thou and mocked O daughter Sion, he hath shaken his head at thee O daughter of Hierusalem.
But thou Sennacherib, whom hast thou defied and blasphemed? Agaynst whom hast thou lifted vp thy voyce, and exalted thy proude lokes? euen agaynst the holy one of Israel.
Thou with thy seruauntes hast blasphemed the Lorde, and thus holdest thou of thy selfe: I wyll couer the hye mountaynes and sydes of Libanus with my horsemen, and there wyll I cut downe the hye Cedar trees, and the fayrest Firre trees: I wyll vp in the heyght of it, and into the chiefest of his tymber woods.
If there be no water, I wyll graue and drynke: and as for waters of defence, I wyll drye them vp with the feete of myne hoast.
Yea, hast thou not hearde what I haue taken in hande and brought to passe of olde tyme? That same wyll I do nowe also, and waste, destroy, and bryng strong cities vnto heapes of stones.
For their inhabitours shalbe like lame men brought in feare and confounded: they shalbe lyke grasse and greene hearbes in the fielde, lyke the hay vpon house toppes, that wythereth before it be growen vp.
I knowe thy wayes, thy going foorth, and thy commyng home, yea and thy madnesse agaynst me.
Therfore thy furiousnesse agaynst me, and thy pride is come before me, I wyll put my ryng in thy nose, and my bridle bit in the iawes of thee, and turne thee about euen the same way thou camest.
I wyll geue thee also this token [O Hezekia] this yere shalt thou eate such as groweth of it selfe, and the seconde yere that which spryngeth agayne of the same, & in the thirde yere ye shall sowe and reape, yea ye shall plant vineyardes, and enioy the fruites therof.
And such of the house of Iuda as are escaped shall come together, and the remnaunt shall take roote beneath, and bryng foorth fruite aboue.
For the escaped shall go out of Hierusalem, and the remnaunt from the mount Sion: and this shall the zeale of the Lorde of hoastes bryng to passe.
Therfore thus saith the Lorde concernyng the kyng of the Assyrians: He shall not come into this citie, and shall shoote no arrowe into it, there shall no shielde hurt it, neither shall they cast ditches about it.
The same way he came he shall returne, and not come at this citie, saith the Lorde.
And I wyll kepe and saue this citie [saith he] for myne owne and for my seruaunt Dauids sake.
Thus the angell of the Lorde went foorth, and slue of the Assyrians hoaste an hundred fourescore and fiue thousande: and when men arose vp early in the mornyng, beholde they were slayne, and all lay full of dead bodyes.
So Sennacherib the kyng of the Assyrians brake vp & dwelt at Niniue.
Afterwarde it chaunced as he prayed in the temple of Nesroch his God, that Adramalech and Sarazer his owne sonnes slue hym with the sworde, and fled into the lande of Armenia: and Asarhaddon his sonne raigned in his steede.
ABout this tyme was Hezekia sicke vnto death, and the prophete Esai the sonne of Amos came vnto hym, and sayde, Thus commaundeth the Lorde: Set thyne house in order, for thou must dye, and shalt not escape.
Then Hezekia turned his face toward the wall, and prayed vnto the Lorde,
And sayde: Remember O Lorde I beseche thee, that I haue walked before thee in trueth and a stedfast heart, & haue done the thyng that is pleasaunt to thee. And Hezekia wept sore.
Then sayde God vnto Esai,
Go and speake vnto Ezekia: The Lord God of Dauid thy father sendeth thee this worde, I haue hearde thy prayer, and considered thy teares: beholde I wyll put fifteene yeres mo vnto thy lyfe,
And deliuer thee and the citie also from the hande of the kyng of Assyria: for I wyll defende the citie.
And take thee this token of the Lord, that he wyll do it as he hath spoken.
Beholde, I wyll returne the shadowe of Ahaz diall that nowe is layde out with the sunne, and bring it ten degrees backwarde: So the sunne turned ten degrees backwarde, the which he was descended afore.
A thankesgeuyng which Hezekia kyng of Iuda wrote, when he had ben sicke and was recouered.
I thought I shoulde haue gone to the gates of hell when myne age was shortened, and haue wanted the residue of my yeres.
I spake within my selfe, I wyll neuer visite the Lorde [the Lorde I say] in this lyfe: I wyll neuer see man among the dwellers of the worlde.
Myne age is folden together & taken away from me lyke a sheepheardes cotage, I haue hewen of my lyfe by my sinnes, lyke as a weauer cutteth of his webbe: He wyll with pinyng sicknesse make an ende of me, yea he wyll make an ende of me in one day.
I thought I woulde haue lyued vntyll the morowe, but he brused my bones lyke a lion: and in one day thou wylt make an ende of me.
Then chattered I lyke a swallowe, and lyke a crane, and mourned lyke a doue, I lift vp mine eyes into the heyght: O Lorde [sayde I] my sicknesse kepeth me downe, ease thou me.
What shall I say? The Lorde hath made a promise to me, yea and he hym selfe hath perfourmed it: I shall therefore so long as I lyue remember this bitternesse of my lyfe.
O Lorde, to all those that shall lyue hereafter, yea to all men shall it be knowen, that euen in those yeres I haue a ioyfull lyfe, and that it was thou that causedst me to sleepe agayne, thou hast geuen lyfe to me.
Beholde, bitter as gall was my pensiuenesse, so sore longed I for health, and it was thy pleasure to deliuer my lyfe from the filthy pit: for thou it is [O Lorde] that hast cast all my sinnes behynde thy backe.
For hell prayseth not thee, death doth not magnifie thee: they that go downe into the graue prayse not thy trueth:
But the lyuyng, yea the lyuyng knowledge thee, as I do this day: the father telleth his children of thy faythfulnesse.
To heale me it is the Lordes worke, and we will sing my songes in the house of the Lorde all the dayes of our lyfe.
And Esai sayde: Take a plaster of figges, and lay it vpon the sore, so shall it be whole.
Then sayd Hezekia: O what a miracle is this, that I shall go vp into the house of the Lorde.
AT the same tyme Merodach Baladan, Baladans sonne kyng of Babylon, sent letters and presentes to Hezekia: for he vnderstoode that he had ben sicke, and was recouered agayne.
And Hezekia was glad therof, and shewed them the house of his treasures of siluer and golde, of spices, and rootes, of precious oyles, & all that was in his •ubbordes and treasure houses: there was not one thyng in Hezekias house, and so throughout all his kyngdome, but he let them see it.
Then came Esai the prophete to king Hezekia, and sayde vnto hym: What haue the men sayde, and from whence came they vnto thee? Hezekia aunswered, They came out of a farre countrey vnto me, out of Babylon.
Esai sayde, What haue they loked vpon in thy house? Hezekia aunswered, All that is in my house haue they seene, and there is nothyng in my treasure but I shewed it them.
Then sayde Esai vnto Hezekia: Vnderstande the worde of the Lorde of hoastes:
Beholde, the tyme wyll come that euery thyng which is in thyne house, and all that thy progenitours haue layde vp in store vntyll this day, shalbe caryed to Babylon, and nothing left behynde, thus saith the Lorde.
Yea and part of thy sonnes that shall come of thee, & whom thou shalt beget, shalbe caryed hence, and become gelded chamberlaynes in the kyng of Babylons court.
Then sayde Hezekia to Esai, Good is the worde of God which thou hast tolde me. He sayd moreouer, For there shalbe peace and faythfulnesse in my tyme.
COmfort my people [O ye prophetes] comfort my people, saith your God,
Comfort Hierusalem at the heart, and tell her, that her trauayle is at an ende, that her offence is pardoned, that she hath receaued at the Lordes hande sufficient correction for all her sinnes.
A voyce crieth in wildernesse: Prepare the way of the Lorde, make strayght the path of our God in the desert.
All valleys shalbe exalted, and euery mountayne and hyll layde lowe: what so is croked shalbe made strayght, and the rough shalbe made playne.
For the glorie of the Lorde shall appeare, for all fleshe shall at once see that the mouth of the Lorde hath spoken it.
The same voyce spake: Nowe crye. And the prophete aunswered, What shall I crye? That all fleshe is grasse, and that all the goodlinesse therof is as the floure of the fielde.
The grasse is withered, the floure falleth away, for the breath of the Lord bloweth vpon them: of a trueth the people are grasse.
The grasse withereth, and the floure fadeth away: yet the worde of our God endureth for euer.
Go vp vnto the hye hyll O Sion thou that bryngest good tidinges, lyft vp thy voyce with power O thou preacher Hierusalem, lyft vp without feare, & say vnto the cities of Iuda: Beholde your God,
Beholde {th}e Lorde God shal come with power, and shall of him selfe beare rule with his arme: beholde his rewarde with hym, and his workes before hym.
He shall feede his flocke like an heardman, he shall gather the lambes together with his arme, and cary them in his bosome, and shall kyndly intreate those that beare young.
Who hath measured the waters in his fist? who hath measured heauen with his spanne, and hath comprehended all the earth of the worlde in three measures? who hath wayed the mountaynes and hylles in a ballaunce?
Who hath directed the spirite of the Lorde? or who gaue hym counsayle, and shewed hym?
Who is of his counsayle, and geueth hym vnderstandyng, and hath taught hym the path of iudgement? who taught hym cunnyng, and opened to hym the way of vnderstandyng?
Beholde, all people are in comparison of hym as a droppe of a bucket full, and are counted as the least thyng that the ballaunce wayeth: yea and the Isles he taketh vp as a very litle thyng.
Libanus is not sufficient to minister fire to his offeryng, and all the beastes therof are not inough for one sacrifice.
All people in comparison of hym are reckened as nothyng: yf they be compared with hym, lesse then nothyng, and as it that is not.
To whom then wyll ye lyken God? or what similitude will ye set vp to him?
Shall the caruer make hym a carued image? and shall the goldesmith couer hym with golde, or cast hym into a fourme of siluer plates?
Moreouer, shal the image maker that the poore man which is disposed may haue some thyng to set vp also, seeke out and choose a tree that is not rotten, and carue thereout an image that moueth not?
Knowe ye nothyng? hearde ye neuer of it? hath it not ben preached vnto you since the beginning? haue ye not ben enfourmed of this by the foundation of the earth?
It is he that sitteth vpon the circle of the world, whose inhabiters are [in comparison of him] but as grashoppers: he spreadeth out the heauens as a couering, he stretcheth them out as a tent to dwell in.
He bringeth princes to nothing, and the iudges of the earth as though they were not.
So that of them it may be sayde, they be not planted nor sowne agayne, neither their stocke rooted agayne in the earth: for assoone as he bloweth vpon them, they wither and fade away lyke the strawe in a whirle winde.
To whom nowe will ye liken me, and whom shall I be lyke, saith the holy one?
Lift vp your eyes on high, and consider who hath made those thinges which come out by so great heapes, and he calleth them al by their names: there is nothing hid from the greatnesse of his power, strength, and might.
Howe may then Iacob thinke, or may Israel say, My wayes are hid from the Lord, and my God knoweth not of my iudgementes?
Knowest thou not, or hast thou not hearde that the euerlasting God, the Lorde whiche made all the corners of the earth, is neither weerie nor fainte? and that his wysdome can not be comprehended?
It is he that geueth strength vnto the weerie, and power vnto the faint.
Children are weerie and faint, and the strongest men fall:
But vnto them that haue their trust in the Lorde, shall strength be increased: Egles winges shall growe vpon them, when they runne they shall not fall, and when they go they shall not be weerie.
BE styll you Ilandes and hearken vnto me: let the people lay their strength together, let them come hither, and then shew their cause: we will go to the lawe together.
Who raysed vp the iust man from the east, and called hym to go foorth? who cast downe the people, and subdued the kynges before him? that he may throw them al to the ground with his sworde, and scatter them lyke stubble with his bowe.
He foloweth vpon them, and goeth safely him selfe, & that in a way where before his foote had not troden.
Who hath made and created these thinges? euen he that called the generations from the beginning, euen I the Lorde whiche am the first, and with the last.
The Isles sawe and did feare, and the endes of the earth were abashed, drewe nye, and came hither.
Euery man helped his neighbour, and sayd to his brother, be strong.
The carpenter comforted the goldsmith, and the goldsmith the hammerman, saying, sowder wyll do very well in it: and they fastened it with nayles, that it shoulde not be moued.
But thou Israel art my seruaunt, thou Iacob whom I haue chose{n}, thou art the seede of Abraham my beloued.
Thou art he whom I led from the endes of the earth: for I called thee euen from among the glorious men of it, and sayd vnto thee, Thou art my seruaunt, I haue chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
Be not afraide, for I am with thee: Melt not away as waxe, for I am thy God to strength thee, helpe thee, and kepe thee with the right hande of my righteousnesse.
Beholde, all they that resist thee shall come to confusion and shame, and thine aduersaries shalbe destroyed & brought to naught.
So that who so seeketh after them, shall not finde them, thy destroyers shall perishe: and so shall they that vndertake to make battayle against thee be as that is not, & as a thing of naught.
For I the Lorde thy God wyll strengthen thy right hande, euen I that say vnto thee, Feare not, I wyll helpe thee.
Be not afraide thou litle worme Iacob, and thou despised Israel: for I wil helpe thee saith the Lorde, and the holy one of Israel thy redeemer.
Beholde, I will make thee a treading cart and a newe flaile, that thou mayest threshe and grinde the mountaines, and bring the hilles to powder.
Thou shalt fanne them, and the winde shall carrie them away, and the whirle winde shall scatter them: but thou shalt reioyce in the Lorde, and shalt delight in the holy one of Israel.
When the thirstie and poore seeke water and finde none, and when their tongue is drye of thirst, I geue it them saith the Lorde, I the God of Israel forsake them not.
I bryng foorth fluddes in the hilles, and welles in the playne fieldes: I turne the wildernesse to riuers, and the drye lande to conduites of water.
I plant in the waste grounde trees of Cedar, Boxe, Myrre, and Oliues, and in the drie I set Firre trees, Elmes, and Hawthornes together.
All this do I, that they altogether may see and marke, perceaue with their heartes and consider that the hande of the Lorde maketh these thinges, and that the holy one of Israel bringeth them to passe.
Stande at your cause saith the Lord, & bryng foorth your strongest grounde, saith the kyng of Iacob.
Let them bring foorth their gods, and let their gods tel vs what shall chaunce hereafter, yea let them shewe vs the thinges that are past what they be, let them declare them vnto vs, that we may take them to heart, and knowe them hereafter.
Either shewe vs thinges for to come, and tell vs what shall be done hereafter, so shall we know that ye are gods: do something either good or bad, so wyl we both knowledge the same, and tell it out.
Beholde ye are gods of naught, and your making is of naught: yea abhomible is the man that hath chosen you.
Neuerthelesse, I haue waked vp one from the north, and he shall come from the east, he shal call vpon my name, and shall treade vpon princes as vpon clay, and as the potter treadeth downe the mire.
Who declared this from the beginning, and we will knowe hym: or from the olde times, and we wil confesse and say that he is righteous? but there is none that sheweth or declareth any thing, there is none also that heareth your wordes.
The first is he that shall say to Sion, beholde, beholde, they are present: and to Hierusalem it selfe wyll I geue an euangelist.
But when I consider, there is not a man among them, nor any that can geue counsayle, nor that when I examine them that can aunswere one worde.
Lo wicked are they, and vayne, with the thinges also that they take in hand, yea their images are but winde and vayne thinges.
BEhold this is my seruaunt vpon whom I leane, my elect in who{m} my soule is pacified: I haue geuen my spirite vpon him, that he may shewe foorth iudgement among the gentiles.
He shall not be an outcryer, nor lift vp his voyce, his voyce shall not be hearde in the streetes.
And a broosed reede shall he not breake, and the smoking flaxe shall he not quench: but faythfully and truely shall he geue iudgement.
He shall not be pensiue nor carefull, that he may restore righteousnesse vnto the earth: and the gentiles also shall loke for his lawes.
For thus saith God the Lorde vnto hym, euen he that made the heauens and spread them abroade, and set foorth the earth with her increase, whiche geueth breath vnto the people that is in it, and spirite to them that dwell therein,
I the Lorde haue called thee in righteousnesse, and wyll holde thee by the hande, and wyll also defende thee, and geue thee for a couenaunt of the people, to be the light of the gentiles.
That thou mayest open the eyes of the blinde, let out the prisoners from their bondes, and them that sit in darknesse out of the dungeon house.
Euen I am the Lord, and this is my name: and my glory wyll I geue to none other, neither mine honour to grauen images.
Beholde olde thinges are come to passe, and newe thinges do I declare, and or euer they come I tell you of them.
Sing vnto the Lorde a newe song of thankesgeuing, blowe out his prayse from the ende of the worlde: they that be vpon the sea, and all that is therein prayse hym, the Isles and they that dwell in them.
Let the wildernesse with the cities lift vp her voyce, the townes also that they of Cedar dwell in: let them be glad that sit vpon rockes of stone, and let them crye downe from the high mountaines,
Ascribing glory vnto the Lorde, and magnifiyng hym among the gentiles.
The Lorde shall come foorth lyke a giaunt, and take a stomacke to him like a freshe man of warre: he shall roare and crye, and ouercome his enemies.
I haue long holden my peace [saith the Lorde] I haue ben styll and refrained my selfe, but now I wyll crie like a trauayling woman, and at once wyll I destroy and deuour.
I wyll make waste both mountaine and hill, and drye vp euery greene thing that groweth theron: I wyll drye vp the fluddes to become Ilandes, and drinke vp the riuers.
I wyll bryng the blinde into a streete that they know not, and leade them into a foote path that they are ignoraunt in: I shall make darknesse light before them, and the thing that is crooked to be straight: These things haue I done vnto them, and not forsaken them.
They are fallen backe, yea and let them be ashamed earnestly that hope in idols, and say to the moulten images, ye are our gods.
Heare O ye deafe men, and sharpen your eyes to see O ye blinde.
Who is blinde but my seruaunt? or so deafe as my messenger whom I sent vnto them? for who is so blinde as the perfect man, and so blinde as the Lords seruaunt?
Thou hast seene much, and kepest nothing: the eares are open, and no man heareth.
The Lorde is mercyfull vnto them for his righteousnesse sake, that his word might be magnified and praysed:
But the people them selues is robbed and troden vnder the foote, chayned in dungeons, and they all I say, are shut into prison houses: they be caryed away captiue, and no man doth loose them: they be troden vnder foote, and no man doth labour to bryng them agayne.
But who is he among you that pondereth this, that considereth it, and taketh it for a warning in tyme to come?
Who gaue Iacob to be troden vnder foote, and Israel to be spoyled? Did not the Lorde? Because we haue sinned against hym, and haue had no delight to walke in his wayes, neither ben obedient vnto his lawe:
Therfore he hath powred vpon hym his wrathfull displeasure and strong battayle, and hath fired hym on euery side, yet wyll he not vnderstand: he burneth hym vp, yet sinketh it not into his heart.
BVt nowe the Lorde that made thee O Iacob, and he that fashioned thee O Israel saith thus: feare not, for I haue redeemed thee, I haue called thee by thy name, thou art mine owne.
If thou goest thorow {th}e water, I wyl be with thee, the strong fluddes shal not ouerwhelme thee: and if thou walkest thorowe the fire, it shall not burne thee, & the flambe shal not kindle vpon thee:
For I am the Lord thy God, the holye one of Israel thy sauiour: I gaue Egypt for thy deliueraunce, the Ethiopians and the Sabees for thee:
Because thou wast deare in my sight, and because I set by thee and loued thee: I wyl geue ouer all men for thee, and deliuer vp all people for thy sake.
Feare not, for I am with thee, I will bryng thy seede from the east, and gather thee together from the west.
I wyll say to the north, let go, and to the south kepe not backe: but bring me my sonnes from farre, and my daughters from the endes of the worlde.
[Namely] all those that be called after my name: For them haue I created, fashioned, and made for mine honour.
Bring foorth that people whiche is blinde and yet hath eyes, whiche are deafe although they haue eares.
If all nations come in one and be gathered together, whiche among them shall declare suche thinges, and tell vs the things that are past? let them bring their witnesse, so that they be iust: els let them heare, and say, it is trueth.
You are my witnesses saith the Lord, and my seruaunt whom I haue chosen: therefore be certified, and geue me faythfull credence, and consider that I am he before whom there was neuer any god, neither shalbe any after me.
I am, euen I am the only Lord, and beside me there is no sauiour.
I gaue warning, I made whole, I taught you when there was no straunge god among you: and this recorde must ye beare me your selues, saith the Lorde, that I am God.
And euen he am I who was from the beginning, and there is none that can take any thing out of my hande: I do the worke, and who shalbe able to let it?
Thus saith the Lorde the holy one of Israel your redeemer: for your sake I haue sent to Babylo{n}, & brought it down: al they are fugitiue with the Chaldees, whose sorowfull crie is in their shippes.
I am the Lord your holy one, which haue made Israel, and am your kyng.
Thus saith the Lorde, euen he that maketh away in the sea, and a foote path in the mightie waters.
It is he whiche bringeth foorth the charrets and horses, the hoast and power of warre, that they may fall together and neuer rise, and be extinct, lyke as towe are they quenched.
Remember not thinges of olde, and regarde nothing that is past.
Beholde, I shall make a newe thing, and shortly shall it appeare, and shall you not knowe it? I wyll make a way in the desert, and riuers of water in the wyldernesse.
The wilde beastes shall worship me, the dragons and the young Es•riches: for I shall geue water in the wyldernesse, and streames in the desert, that they may geue drinke to my people whom I chose.
This people haue I made for my self, and they shall shewe foorth my prayse.
For thou Iacob wouldest not call vppon me, but thou haddest an vnlust towarde me O Israel.
Thou gauest me not thy beastes for burnt offerings, neither diddest honour me with sacrifices: I haue not ben chargeable vnto thee in offeringes, neither greeuous in incense.
Thou boughtest me no deare spice with thy money, neither powredst the fat of thy sacrifices vpon me: but thou hast laden me with thy sinnes, and weeried me with thy vngodlynesse.
Where as I yet, euen I am he onlye that for my owne selues sake do away thine offences, and forget thy sinnes, so that I wyll neuer thinke vpon them.
Put me now in remembraunce: for we wyl reason together, & shew what thou hast for thee to make thee righteous.
Thy first father offended sore, and thy rulers haue sinned against me:
Therefore I profaned [or slue] the princes of the sanctuarie, I dyd curse Iacob, and gaue Israel into reproofe.
SO heare nowe O Iacob my seruaunt, and Israel whom I haue chosen.
For thus saith the Lorde that made thee, fassioned thee, and helped thee euen from thy mothers wombe: Be not afraide O Iacob my seruaunt, thou righteous whom I haue chosen:
For I shall powre water vpon the drye grounde, and riuers vpon the thirstie: I shall powre my spirite vpon thy seede, and my blessing vpon thy stocke:
They shall growe together lyke as the grasse, and as the willowes by the waters side.
One shal say, I am the Lordes: another shall call hym selfe after the name of Iacob: the thirde shall subscribe with his hande vnto the Lorde, and geue hym selfe vnder the name of Israel.
Thus hath the Lorde spoken, euen the kyng of Israel, and his redeemer the Lorde of hoastes: I am the first and the last, and besides me there is no God.
If any be like me, let hym call foorth the thing past, and openly shewe it, and lay it playne before me, what hath chaunced since I appointed the people of the worlde, and what shalbe shortly, or what shal come to passe [in tyme long to come] let them shewe these thinges?
Be not abashed nor afraide: for haue not I euer tolde you hitherto and warned you? ye can beare me recorde your selues: is there any God except me, or any maker, that I should not know hym?
All caruers of images are but vayne, and the carued images that they loue can do no good: they must beare recorde them selues, that seeing they can neither see nor vnderstande, they shalbe confounded.
Who dare then make a god, or fashion an image that is profitable for nothing?
Beholde, all the felowship of them must be brought to confusion, & truely all the workemasters of them are men: they shal all be gathered together, they shall stand, tremble, and be confounded one with another.
The smith maketh an axe, and tempereth it with hotte coales, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with all the strength of his armes, yea sometime he is fainte for very hunger, and so thirstie that he hath no more power.
The carpenter or image caruer taketh measure of the timber, and spreadeth foorth his line, he marketh it with some colour, he playneth it, he ruleth it, and squareth it, and maketh it after the image of a man, and according to the beautie of a man, that it may stande in the house.
Moreouer, he goeth out to hewe Cedar trees, he bringeth home Elmes and Okes, and taking a bolde courage, he seeketh out the best timber of the wood: he him selfe hath planted a Pine tree, whiche the rayne hath swelled,
Which wood serueth for men to burne: Of this he taketh and warmeth hym selfe withall, he maketh a fire of it to bake bread, and maketh also a god therof to honour it, and a grauen image to kneele before it.
One peece he burneth in the fire, with another he rosteth fleshe, that he may eate roste his belly full: with the thirde he warmeth him selfe, and saith, Aha, I am well warmed, I haue ben at the fire.
And of the residue he maketh hym a god, and grauen image for him selfe: he kneeleth before it, he worshippeth it, he prayeth vnto it, and saith, Deliuer me, for thou art my god.
Yet men neither consider nor vnderstande, because their eyes be stopped that they can not see, and their heartes that they can not perceaue.
They ponder not in their mindes, for they haue neither knowledge nor vnderstanding to thinke thus: I haue brent one peece in the fire, I haue baked bread with the coales thereof, I haue rosted fleshe withall, and eaten it: and I wyll nowe of the residue make an abhominable idoll, and fall downe before a rotten peece of wood.
Thus doth he but lose his labour, and his heart whiche is deceaued doth turne hym aside, so that none of them can haue a free conscience to thinke, Do not I erre?
Consider this O Iacob and Israel, for thou art my seruaunt: I made thee that thou mightest serue me, O Israel forget me not.
As for thyne offences I haue driuen them away lyke the cloudes, and thy sinnes as the mist: Turne thee agayne vnto me, for I haue redeemed thee.
Be glad ye heauens, for the Lorde hath dealt graciously with his people, let all that is here beneath vpon the earth be ioyfull: reioyce ye mountaines and woods, with all the trees thereof, for the Lorde hath redeemed Iacob, and wyll shewe his glory vpon Israel.
Thus saith the Lorde thy redeemer, euen he that fassioned thee from thy mothers wombe: I the Lorde do all thinges my selfe alone, I only spreade out the heauens, and I only haue laide abrode the earth by my owne selfe.
I destroy the tokens of witches, and make the soothsayers fooles: As for the wise I turne them backwarde, and make their cunning foolishnesse.
He doth set vp the purpose of his seruaunt, and fulfilleth the counsaile of his messengers concerning Hierusalem, he saith it shalbe inhabited, and of the cities of Iuda they shalbe buylded againe, and I will repayre their decayed places.
He saith to the deapth, be drye, and I wyll drye vp water fluddes.
He saith of Cyrus, he is my heardman, so that he shall fulfill all thinges after my wyll: He saith also of Herusalem, it shalbe buylded, and of the temple, it shalbe fast grounded.
THus saith the Lorde vnto Cyrus his annointed, who{m} I haue taken by the right hande, to subdue nations before hym: I wyl loose the loynes of kinges, and I wyl open the gates before his face, and the gates shall not be shut.
I wyll go before thee, and make the crooked straigth: I shall breake the brasen doores, and burst the iron barres.
I shall geue thee hid treasures and the thing whiche is secretly kept: that thou mayest know that I am the Lord God of Israel, whiche haue called thee by thy name.
For Iacob my seruauntes sake, and for Israel my chosen, I called thee by thy name, and ordayned thee or euer thou knewest me.
I am the Lord, and there is none other, for without me there is no God: I haue prepared thee or euer thou knewest me.
Therfore they shall knowe from the rising of the sunne, vnto the goyng downe of the same, that all is nothing without me: for I am the Lorde, and there is els none.
It is I that created light and darknesse, I make peace and trouble: yea euen I the Lorde do all these thinges.
Ye heauens from aboue drop downe, and let the cloudes rayne righteousnesse: the earth open it selfe, let saluation and righteousnesse growe foorth, let it bryng them foorth together: I the Lorde haue created him.
Wo be vnto hym that striueth with his maker, let the potsherde striue with the potsherdes of the earth: Saieth the clay to the potter, What makest thou? or, thy worke is not perfectly done.
Wo be vnto hym that saieth to his father, what begettest thou? and to his mother, what bearest thou?
Thus saith the Lorde, euen the holy one and maker of Israel: Aske me of thinges for to come concerning my sonnes, and put me in remembraunce as touching the workes of my handes.
I haue made the earth, and created man vpon it: With my handes haue I spread foorth heauen, and geuen a commaundement for all the hoast thereof.
I shall wake hym vp with righteousnesse, and order all his wayes: He shall buylde my citie, and let out my prisoners, and that neither for gyftes nor rewardes saith the Lorde of hoastes.
Thus saith the Lorde, The occupiers of Egypt, the marchauntes of the Ethiopians and Sabees, shall come vnto thee with tribute, they shalbe thyne, they shall folowe thee, and go with chaines vpon their feete, they shall fall downe before thee, and make supplication vnto thee: for God without whom there is none other God, shalbe with thee.
O howe profounde art thou O God, thou God and sauiour of Israel?
Confounded are they all and put to dishonour, thei are gone hence together with shame, euen the makers of images.
But Israel shalbe saued in the Lord with an euerlasting saluation: ye shall not come to shame nor confusion world without ende.
For thus saith the Lorde, Euen he that created heauen, the God that made the earth & fassioned it, and set it foorth, he dyd not make it for naught, but to be inhabited, euen I the Lorde, without whom there is none other.
I haue not spoken secretly, neither in darke places of the earth: I sayde not in vayne to the seede of Iacob, seeke me: I am the Lorde, whiche when I speake, do declare the thing that is righteous and true.
Gather you and come together, drawe nigh hither you that escaped of the people: they haue no vnderstanding that set vp the stockes of their idols, and pray vnto a god that can not helpe them.
Drawe nye, come hyther, and let them aske counsaile one at another, and shew foorth what is he that •old this before? or who spake of it euer since the beginning? haue not I the Lorde done it? without whom there is none other God, the true God and sauiour, and there is els none but I.
And therfore turne you vnto me, all ye endes of the earth, that ye may be saued: for I am God, and there is els none.
I sweare by my self, out of my mouth commeth the worde of righteousnesse, and that may no man turne: but all knees shall bowe vnto me, and all tongues shall sweare [by my name,]
Saying: veryly in the Lorde is my righteousnesse and strength, to hym shall men come: but all they that thinke scorne of him shalbe confounded.
And the whole seede of Israel shalbe iustified, and glory in the Lorde.
BEl is fallen, Nabo is broken downe, whose images were a burthen for the beastes and cattell, to ouerlade them, and to make them weerie.
They are sunke downe and fallen together, for they may not ease them of their burthen, therfore must they go into captiuitie.
Hearken vnto me O house Iacob, and all ye that remaine yet of the house of Israel, whom I haue borne from your mothers wombe, and brought you vp from your byrth.
It is euen I whiche shall beare you vnto your last age: I haue made you, I wyll also norishe you, beare you, and saue you.
whom wyll ye make me lyke, or to whom wyll ye make me equall or compare me, that I shoulde be like him?
Take out siluer and gold out of your purses, and way it, and hyre a goldesmith to make a god of it, that men may kneele downe and worship it:
Yet must he be taken on mens shoulders and borne, and set in his place, that he may stande, and not moue out of his place: And if one crye vnto hym, he geueth no aunswere, and deliuereth not the man that calleth vpon hym from his trouble.
Consider this well, and be ashamed: go into your owne selues.
Remember the thinges that are past since the beginning of the worlde, that I am God, and that there is els no God, yea and that there is nothing like vnto me.
In the beginning of a thing I shewe the ende therof, & I tell before thinges that are not yet come to passe: My deuise standeth stedfastly stablished, and I fulfill all my pleasure.
I call a byrde out of the east, and the man by whom my counsayle shalbe fulfilled out of straunge countreys, as I haue spoken, so wyll I bryng to passe, assoone as I thinke to deuise a thing, I do it.
Heare me O ye that are of an hye stomacke, but farre from righteousnesse:
I shall bryng foorth my righteousnesse, it is not farre, and my health shall not tary long away: I wyll lay health in Sion, and in Israel my glory.
BVT as for thee O daughter, thou virgin Babylon, sit thou downe in the dust, sit vpo{n} the ground, there is no throne O thou daughter of Caldea, for thou shalt no more be called tender and pleasaunt.
Bryng foorth the querne and grinde meale, vntrusse thy broydred heere, put of thy shoes, make bare thy knees, and wade thorowe the water riuers.
Thy filthynesse shalbe discouered, and thy priuities shalbe seene: for I wil auenge me of thee, and wyll shewe no mercy to thee, as I do to other men.
Our redeemer is called the Lorde of hoastes, the holy one of Israel.
Sit still, holde thy tongue, get thee into some darke corner O daughter Caldea: for thou shalt no more be called lady of kyngdomes.
I was so wroth with my people, that I punished myne inheritaunce, and gaue them into thy power, neuerthelesse thou shewedst them no mercy, but euen the very aged of them diddest thou oppresse right sore with the yoke.
And thou thoughtest thus: I shalbe lady for euer, and beside all that, thou hast not regarded these thinges, neither remembred what was the ende of that citie Hierusalem.
Heare nowe therefore thou delicate one that sittest so carelesse, and speakest thus in thyne heart, I am alone, and without me is there none, I shal neuer be widowe nor desolate agayne.
And yet both these thinges shal come to thee vpon one day, in the twinckeling of an eye, namely, widowhood and desolation: they mightyly fall vpon thee, for the multitude of thy witches, and for the great heape of thy coniurers.
For thou hast trusted in thy wickednesse, and hast said, No man seeth me: thine owne wisdome and cunning hath deceaued thee, in that thou hast sayd in thyne heart, I am alone, and without me there is none.
Therefore shall trouble come vpon thee, and thou shalt not knowe from whence it shall arise: Mischiefe shall fal vpon thee, which thou shalt not be able to put of, a sodayne vtter destruction shall come vpon thee or euer thou be ware.
Nowe go to thy coniurers, and to the multitude of thy witches with whom thou hast weeryed thy selfe from thy youth, if thei may helpe thee or strength thee.
Thou hast hitherto had many counsayles of them: So let the heauen gasers, and the beholders of starres, and moone prophetes, come on now and deliuer thee, yea and let them shew when these new thinges shal come vpon thee.
Beholde, they shalbe lyke strawe, whiche if it be kindeled with fire, no man may rid it for the vehemencie of the flambe, and yet it geueth no sinders to warme a man by, nor cleare fire to sit by.
Thus are they with whom thou hast weeried thy self, and thus are thy marchauntes that haue ben with thee from thy youth: euery one hath taken his owne way, and none of them shall defende thee.
HEare this O thou house of Iacob, ye that are called by the name of Israel, & are come out of one stocke with Iuda: whiche sweare by the name of the Lorde, and beare witnesse by the God of Israel, but not with trueth and ryght.
For they are named of the holy citie, and are grounded vpon the God of Israel, whose name is the Lorde of hoastes.
The thynges that I haue shewed you euer since the begynnyng, haue I not brought them to passe immediatly as they came out of my mouth, and declared them, and they are come?
Howbeit I knowe that thou art obstinate, and that thy necke hath an iron sinowe, and that thy browe is of brasse.
Neuerthelesse, I haue euer since the begynnyng shewed thee of thynges for to come, and declared them vnto thee or euer they came to passe: that thou shouldest not say, myne idoll hath done it, my carued or molten image hath shewed it.
Thou heardest it before, and beholde it is come to passe: And shall not ye your selues shewe foorth or confesse the same? But as for me, I tolde thee before at the begynnyng newe and secrete thynges which thou knewest not of,
And some done of olde tyme, wherof thou neuer heardest before they were brought to passe, that thou canst not say, beholde I knewe of them.
Moreouer, there be some wherof thou hast neither heard nor knowen, neither haue ben opened vnto thyne eares afore tyme: For I knewe that thou wouldest malitiously offende, therfore haue I called thee a transgressour, euen from thy mothers wombe.
Neuerthelesse, for my names sake I wyll withdrawe my wrath, and for my honours sake I will patiently forbeare thee, that I do not roote thee out.
Beholde I haue purged thee, yet not as siluer, I haue chosen thee in the fire of affliction.
And that only for myne owne sake, yea euen for myne owne sake wyll I do this: or els what dishonour woulde they do to my name? surely I wyll not geue my glorie vnto another.
Hearken vnto me O Iacob, and Israel whom I haue called: I am euen he that is, I am the first and the last.
My hande hath layde the foundation of the earth, and my ryght hande hath spanned ouer the heauens: assoone as I call them, they stande together.
Gather you altogether and hearken: Which of yonder gods hath declared this? The Lorde hath a loue vnto him, and he shal perfourme his wyll against Babel, and declare his power against the Chaldees.
I my selfe alone, euen I haue tolde you this, I dyd call him and bryng him foorth, and he shall make his iourney prosperous.
Come to me and heare this: Haue I spoken any thyng darkly since the begynnyng? From the tyme that this thyng begynneth I am there: Wherefore the Lorde God and his spirite hath sent me.
And thus saith the Lorde God thy redeemer, the holy one of Israel: I am the Lorde thy God which teache thee profitable thynges, and leade thee the way that thou shouldest go.
O that thou hadst regarded my commaundementes, then had thy wealthynesse ben as the water streame, and thy ryghteousnesse as the waues flowyng in the sea:
Thy seede also had ben lyke as the sande in the sea, and the fruite of thy body lyke the grauell stones therof: His name shoulde not be rooted out, nor destroyed before me.
Go away from Babylon, flee from the Chaldees, with a mery voyce speake of this, declare it abrode, and go foorth into the ende of the worlde, say: The Lorde hath redeemed his seruaunt Iacob.
They suffred no thirst, he led them through the wildernesse, and caused the waters to flowe out vnto them from out of the rocke: he claue the rocke a sunder, and the water gusshed out.
As for the vngodly, they haue no peace, saith the Lorde.
YE Isles hearken vnto me, and take heede ye people from farre: The Lord hath called me from my birth, and made mention of my name from my mothers wombe:
He hath made my mouth lyke a sharpe sworde, vnder the shadowe of his hande hath he defended me, and hid me in his quiuer as a good arrowe,
And sayde vnto me: Thou art my seruaunt Israel, I wyll be honoured in thee.
Then I aunswered: I haue lost my labour, I haue spent my strength in vayne: Neuerthelesse, I wyll commit my cause and my worke vnto the Lorde my God.
And nowe saith the Lorde, euen he that fashioned me from my mothers wombe to be his seruaunt, that I may bryng Iacob agayne vnto hym, albeit Israel wyll not be gathered vnto hym agayne, yet in Gods sight shall I be glorious, my God shalbe my strength.
And he sayde: It is but a small thyng that thou art my seruaunt to set vp the kinredes of Iacob, and to restore the destruction of Israel: For I haue made thee the lyght of the gentiles, that thou mayest be my health vnto the ende of the worlde.
Moreouer, thus saith the Lorde the redeemer and holy one of Israel, concernyng the abhorred & dispised among the gentiles, the seruaunt of them that beare rule, kynges and princes shall see and arise, and worship because of the Lorde that is faythfull, and because of the holy one of Israel that hath chosen thee.
And thus saith the Lorde: In the tyme accepted haue I hearde thee, and in the day of saluation haue I helped thee: I wyll preserue thee, and make thee to be the attonement of the people, that thou mayest helpe vp the earth againe, and possesse againe the desolate heritages.
That thou mayest say vnto the prisoners, go foorth, and to them that are in darknesse, come into the lyght: they shall feede thee in the hye wayes, and get their pasture in all hye places.
They shall neither hunger nor thirst, heate nor sunne shall not hurt them: for he that fauoureth them shall leade them, and geue them drynke of the well sprynges.
I wyll make wayes vpon all my mountaynes, and my footpathes shalbe exalted.
And beholde, these shall come from farre, lo, some from the north and west, some from the lande of Sinis [which is in the south.]
Reioyce ye heauens, and sing prayses thou earth, talke of ioy ye hylles: for God hath comforted his people, & wyll haue mercie vpon his that be in trouble.
But Sion sayde: God hath forsaken me, and my Lorde hath forgotten me.
Will a woman forget her owne infant, and not pitie the sonne of her owne wombe? And though they do forget, yet wyll I not forget thee.
Beholde, I haue written thee vp vpon my handes, thy walles are euer in my syght.
They make haste who buildeth thee vp againe: as for those that ouerthrowe thee and make thee waste, they shall depart from thee.
Lift vp thine eyes and loke about thee, all these gather them together and come to thee: As truely as I lyue saith the Lorde, thou shalt put them all vpon thee as an apparell, and girde them to thee as a bride doth her iewels.
As for thy lande that lyeth desolate, wasted, and destroyed, it shalbe to narowe for them that shall dwell in it: and they that woulde deuoure thee, they shalbe farre away.
Then thy children whom the barren shall bring foorth, shall say in thine care: This place is to narowe, geue place that I may haue roome.
Then shalt thou thinke by thy selfe, who hath begotten me these, seeyng I am barren and alone, a captiue and an outcast? and who hath norished them vp for me? I am desolate and alone, but from whence come these?
And therfore thus saith the Lorde God: Beholde, I wyll stretch out my hande vnto the gentiles, and set vp my token to the people, they shall bryng thee thy sonnes in their lappes, and cary thy daughters vnto thee vpon their shoulders.
For kynges shalbe thy nursyng fathers, and queenes shalbe thy nursyng mothers: They shall fall before thee with their faces flat vpon the earth, & lick vp the dust of thy feete: that thou mayest knowe howe that I am the Lorde, and that who so putteth their trust in me shall not be confounded.
Shall the spoyle be taken from the mightie? or the lawfull prisoner from the taker?
But thus saith the Lorde: The prisoners shalbe taken from the mightie, & the spoyle shalde recouered from the violent: for I wyll maynteyne thy cause agaynst thine aduersaries, and I wyll saue thy sonnes.
And I wyll feede thine enemies with their owne fleshe, & make them drunken with their owne blood, as with sweete wine: And all fleshe shall knowe O Iacob that I am the Lorde thy sauiour, thy noble redeemer.
THus saith the Lorde: Where is the byll of your mothers deuorcement whom I sent away? or who is the vsurer to whom I solde you? Beholde, for your offences are ye solde, and because of your transgression is your mother forsaken.
For why woulde no man receaue me when I came? and when I called, no man gaue me aunswere? Is my hande shortened that it myght not helpe? or haue I not power to deliuer? lo, at a worde I drynke vp the sea, & of water fluddes I make drye lande: so that for want of water the fishe corrupt and dye for thirste.
As for heauen I clothe it with darknesse, and put as it were a sacke vpon it.
The Lorde God hath geuen me a well learned tongue, so that I can comfort them that are troubled, yea & that in due season: he wakeneth mine eare vp betymes in the mornyng, betymes in the mornyng I say he wyll waken mine eare, that I might hearke{n} as to the schoolemaisters.
The Lorde God hath opened myne eare, and I haue not gaynesayde nor withdrawen my selfe.
But I offred my backe vnto the smiters, and my cheekes to the nippers: I turned not my face from shame and spittinges.
And the Lorde God shall helpe me, therfore shall I not be confounded: I haue therfore hardened my face lyke a flint stone, for I am sure that I shall not come to confusion.
He is at hande that iustifieth me, who wyll then go with me to lawe? Let vs stande together, yf there be any that will reason with me? let hym come here foorth to me.
Beholde the Lorde God wyll helpe me, what is he the{n} that can condempne me? lo, they all shall waxe olde lyke a cloth, the moth shall eate them vp.
Therfore who so feareth the Lorde among you, let hym heare the voyce of his seruaunt: Who so walketh in darknesse and no lyght shyneth vpon hym, let hym put his trust in the name of the Lorde, and holde hym by his God.
But take heede, ye all kindle a fire, and stirre vp the coales: walke on in the glisteryng of your owne fire, and in the coales that ye haue kindled: This commeth vnto you from my hande [namely] that ye shall sleepe in sorowe.
HEarken vnto me ye that holde of ryghteousnesse, and ye that seeke the Lorde: take heede to {th}e stone wherout ye are hewen, and to the graue wherout ye are digged.
Consider Abraham your father, and Sara that bare you, how that I called hym alone, and blessed hym, and encreased hym.
Therfore shall the Lorde comfort Sion, and repayre all her decay, makyng her desert as a paradise, and her wildernesse as the garden of the Lorde: Mirth and ioy shalbe founde there, thankesgeuyng and the voyce of prayse.
Haue respect vnto me then O my people both high & lowe, and lay thine eare vnto me: for a lawe and an ordinaunce shall go foorth fro me, to lyghten the gentiles.
It is harde by that my health and my ryghteousnesse shall go foorth, and the people shalbe ordered with mine arme: the ilandes [that is the gentiles] shall hope in me, and put their trust in myne arme.
Lyft vp your eyes towarde heauen, and loke vpon the earth beneath: for the heauens shall vanishe away lyke smoke, and the earth shal waxe olde like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall perishe in lyke maner: But my saluation shall endure for euer, and my ryghteousnesse shall not ceasse.
Hearken vnto me ye that haue knowledge in ryghteousnesse, thou people that bearest my lawe in thyne heart: feare not the reuilynges of men, be not afrayde of their blasphemies.
For wormes and mothes shall eate them vp lyke cloth and wooll: but my ryghteousnesse shall endure for euer, and my sauyng health from generation to generation.
Wake vp, wake vp, and be strong O thou arme of the Lorde, wake vp, lyke as in tyme past, euer, and since the world began.
Art not thou the same arme that hast wounded the proude, and hewen the dragon in peeces? Art not thou euen the same which hast dryed vp the deepe of the sea, which hast made playne the sea grounde, that the deliuered myght go through?
Therfore the redeemed of the Lorde shall turne agayne, & come with ioy vnto Sion, continuall ioy shalbe on their head, and mirth and gladnesse shalbe with them, and sorowe and wo shall flee from them.
Yea I, [euen] I am he that in all thynges geueth you consolation: What art thou then that fearest a mortall man & the childe of man, which goeth away as doth the floure?
And forgettest the Lorde that made thee, that spread out the heauens, and layde the foundation of the earth: but thou art euer afrayde for the syght of thyne oppressour, which is redy to do harme: where is the wrath of the oppressour?
The exile maketh haste to be loosed, that he dye not in prison, and that his bread fayle hym not.
I am the Lord thy God that deuide the sea, & his waues shall rage, whose name is the Lorde of hoastes.
I haue put my wordes in thy mouth, and haue defended thee in the shadowe of my hande, that I may plant the heauens, & lay the foundation of the earth, and say vnto Sion: thou art my people.
Awake, awake, and stande vp O Hierusalem, thou that from the hande of the Lorde hast drunken out the cup of his wrath, thou that hast supped of and sucked out the slumbryng cuppe to the bottome.
For among all the sonnes whom he hath begotten, there is not one that may holde it vp, and not one to leade it by the hande of all the sonnes that he hath norished.
Both these thinges are happened vnto thee, but who is sory for it? yea destruction, wastyng, hunger, and sworde, but who wyll comfort thee?
Thy sonnes lye comfortlesse at the head of euery streete like a take{n} venison, and are full of the terrible wrath of the Lorde, and punishment of thy God.
And therfore thou miserable and drunken (howbeit not with wine) heare this:
Thus saith the Lorde, thy Lorde and God, the defendour of his people: Beholde, I wyll take the slumbryng cup out of his hande, euen the cup with the dregges of my wrath, that from hencefoorth thou shalt neuer drinke it more:
But I wil put it into their hande that trouble thee, which haue spoken to thy soule, Stoupe downe, that we may go ouer thee, make thy body euen with the grounde, and as the streete to go vpon.
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.
Shake thee from the dust, arise and stande vp O Hierusalem: Plucke out thy necke from the bonde, O thou captiue daughter Sion.
For thus saith the Lorde: ye are solde for naught, therfore shal ye be redeemed also without any money.
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.
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.
But that my people may knowe my name, I my selfe wyll speake in that day, Beholde here am I.
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.
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.
Be glad O thou desolate Hierusalem, and reioyce together: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath deliuered Hierusalem.
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.
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.
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.
Beholde my seruaunt shal deale prosperously, therfore shal he be magnified, exalted, and greatly honoured.
Lyke as the multitude shall wonder vpon hym, because his face shalbe so defourmed and not as mans face, his beautie like no man:
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.
BVt who hath geuen credence vnto our preaching? or to whom is the arme of the Lorde knowen?
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 shalbe no fairenesse, we shall haue no lust vnto hym.
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.
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.
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.
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.
He suffered violence, and was euyll intreated, and dyd not open his mouth: He shalbe led as a sheepe to be slayne, yet shall he be as styll as a lambe before the shearer, and not open his mouth.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
BE glad nowe thou baren that bearest not, reioyce, syng, and be mery thou that art not with childe: for the desolate hath mo childre{n} then the maryed wyfe saith the Lorde.
Make thy tent wyder, and spreade out the hanginges of thine habitation: spare not, lay foorth thy wardes, and make fast thy stakes:
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.
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.
For he that made thee shalbe thy Lorde and husbande (whose name is the Lord of hoastes) and thy redeemer shalbe euen the holy one of Israel, the Lorde of the whole worlde.
For the Lorde hath called thee beyng as a desolate sorowfull woman, and as a young wyfe that was forsaken saith thy God.
A litle while haue I forsaken thee: but with great mercifulnesse shall I take thee vp vnto me.
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.
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.
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 mercifull louer.
Beholde, thou poore, vexed, & dispised, I wyll make thy walles of precious stones, & thy foundation of Saphires,
Thy windowes of Christal, thy gates of fine cleare stone, and all thy borders of pleasaunt stones.
Thy children shalbe all taught of God, and I wyll geue thee plenteousnesse of peace.
In ryghteousnesse shalt thou be grounded, & be farre from oppression: for the which thou needest not be afrayde, neither for hinderaunce, for it shall not come nye thee.
Lo, who so gathereth together [agaynst thee, doth it] without me, and who so within thee doth ioyne together against thee, shall surely fall.
Beholde, I make the smith that bloweth the coales in the fire, & he maketh a weapon after his handy worke: I make also the waster to destroy.
But all the weapons that are made against thee shall not prosper: and as for all tongues that shal resist thee in iudgement, thou shalt ouercome them, and condempne them: This is the heritage of the Lordes seruauntes, and their righteousnesse commeth of me, saith the Lorde.
COme to the waters all ye that be thirstie, and ye that haue no money, come, bye, that ye may haue to eate: Come, bye wine and mylke without any money or money worth.
Wherfore do ye lay out any money for the thyng that feedeth not, and spende your labour about the thyng that satisfieth you not? But hearken rather vnto me, and ye shal eate of the best, and your soule shall haue her pleasure in plenteousnesse.
Encline your eares and come vnto me, take heede [I say] and your soule shall lyue: For I wyll make an euerlastyng couenaunt with you, euen the sure mercies of Dauid.
Beholde, I gaue hym for a witnesse among the folke, for a prince & a teacher vnto the people.
Lo, thou shalt call an vnknowen people: and a people that had no knowledge of thee shall runne vnto thee, because of the Lorde thy God and the holy one of Israel which glorifieth thee.
Seke the Lorde whyle he may be founde, and call vpon hym whyle he is nye.
Let the vngodly man forsake his owne wayes, and the vnrighteous his owne imaginations, and turne agayne vnto the Lorde, so shall he be mercifull vnto hym: and to our God, for he is very redy to forgeue.
For thus saith {th}e Lord: My thoughtes are not your thoughtes, & your wayes are not my wayes.
But as farre as the heauens are hyer then the earth: so farre do my wayes exceede yours, & my thoughtes yours.
And lyke as the rayne and snowe commeth downe from heauen, and returneth not thyther agayne, but watereth the earth, maketh it fruitfull and greene, that it may geue corne vnto the sower, and bread to hym that eateth:
So the worde also that commeth out of my mouth shall not turne agayne voyde vnto me, but shall accomplishe my wyll, and prosper in the thing wherto I sende it.
And so shall ye go foorth with ioy, and be led with peace: The mountaynes and hylles shall syng with you for ioy, and all the trees of the fielde shal clappe their handes.
For thornes, there shall growe Firre trees, and the Myrre tree in the steede of bryers: And this shalbe done to the prayse of the Lorde, and for an euerlastyng token that shall not be taken away.
THus saith the Lorde, Kepe equitie, and do right: for my sauyng health shal come shortlye, and my righteousnesse shalbe opened.
Blessed is the man that doth this, and the mans childe which keepeth the same: He that taketh heede that he vnhalowe not the Sabbath [that is] he that keepeth him selfe that he do no euill.
Then shall not the straunger whiche cleaueth to the Lorde, say, Alas the Lorde hath shut me cleane out from his people: Neither shall the gelded man say, Lo I am a drye tree.
For thus saith the Lorde vnto the gelded that kepeth my Sabbath, [namelye] that holdeth greatly of the thyng that pleaseth me, and kepeth my couenaunt:
Vnto them wyll I geue in my householde and within my walles, a better heritage and name then yf they had ben called sonnes and daughters: I wyll geue them an euerlastyng name that shall not perishe.
Agayne, the straungers that sticke to the Lorde to serue hym, and to loue his name, and to be his seruauntes, and all they which kepe them selues that they vnhalowe not the Sabbath, namely that they fulfyll my couenaunt:
Them will I bring to my holy mountayne, & make them ioyfull in my house of prayer: their burnt offerynges and sacrifices shalbe accepted vpon myne aulter: for my house shalbe called an house of prayer for all people.
Thus saith the Lorde God which gathereth together the scattered of Israel: I wyll bryng yet an other congregation to hym.
Come all ye beastes of the fielde, that ye may deuoure all the beastes of the wood.
For his watchmen are all blynde, they haue altogether no vnderstanding, they are all dumbe dogges not beyng able to barke, they are sleepy, sluggishe are they and lye snortyng.
They are shamelesse dogges that be neuer satisfied: The sheepheardes also in like maner haue no vnderstandyng, but euery man turneth his owne way, euery one after his owne couetousnesse with all his power.
Come [say they] I wyll fetche wine, so shall we fyll our selues, that we may be drunken: and do to morowe lyke as to day, yea and much more.
THe ryghteous perisheth, and no man regardeth it in his heart: good godly people are taken away, & no man considereth it, namely, that the righteous is conueyed away from the wicked.
He commeth into peace, and godly men rest in their chaumbers, and before the godly man goeth peace.
Come hyther therfore ye charmers children, ye sonnes of the adulterer and the whore.
Wherin take ye your pleasure? vpon whom gape ye with your mouth, and bleare out your tongue? Are ye not children of transgression, and a seede of dissimulation?
Ye make your fire vnder the okes, and vnder all greene trees, and ye offer children in the valleys and dennes of stone.
Thy part shalbe with the stony rockes by the riuer, yea euen these shalbe thy part: For there thou hast powred meate & drynke offeryng vnto them: Shoulde I delyght in that?
Thou hast made thy bed vpon hye mountaynes, thou wentest vp thyther, and there thou hast slayne sacrifices.
Behynde the doores and postes hast thou set vp thy remembraunce, when thou hadst discouered thy selfe to another then me, when thou wentest vp and made thy bed wider, and with those idols hast thou made a couenaunt, and louedst their couches where thou sawest them.
Thou wentest straight to kinges with oyle and diuers oyntmentes [that is] thou hast sent thy messengers farre of, and yet art thou fallen into the pit.
Thou art weerie for the multitude of thyne owne wayes, yet saydest thou neuer, there is no hope: Thou hast had the life that thy handes wrought, and therefore thou art carelesse.
For whom wylt thou be abashed or feare, seing thou hast broken thy promise, and remembrest not me, neither hast me in thyne heart? Thinkest thou that I also wyll holde my peace as aforetime, that thou fearest me not?
Yea veryly I wyll declare thy goodnesse and thy workes, but they shall not profite thee.
When thou cryest, let thy chosen heape deliuer thee: but the winde shall blowe them foorth, and vanitie shal take them all away: Neuerthelesse they that put their trust in me, shall inherite the land, and haue my holy hill in possession.
And therefore thus he saith: make playne, make playne, and clense the streete, take vp the stumbling blockes out of the way of my people.
For thus saith the hye and excellent, euen he that dwelleth in euerlastingnesse, whose name is the holy one: I dwell hye aboue and in the sanctuarie, and with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirite do I dwell, that I may heale a troubled minde, and a contrite heart.
For I chyde not euer, and am not wroth without ende: but the blasting goeth from me, and is included in the body, and I made the breath.
I am wroth with hym for his couetousnesse, I smite hym, I hide me and am angrie, and he turneth himselfe, and foloweth thee by the way of his owne heart.
I haue seene his wayes, and I heale hym, I leade him, and restore to hym comfort, and to those that were sorie for hym.
I make the fruites of thankesgeuing, that he may say, peace, peace, vnto the{m} that are farre of, and to them that are nye saith the Lorde, I make hym whole.
But the wicked are lyke the raging sea that can not rest, whose water fometh with the mire and grauell.
Euen so the wicked haue no peace, saith God.
CRye nowe as loude as thou canst, leaue not of, lift vp thy voyce like a trumpet, & shew my people their offences, and the house of Iacob their sinnes.
For they seeke me dayly, and wyll knowe my wayes, euen as it were a people that dyd right, and had not forsaken the statutes of their God: they aske of me concerning right iudgement, and wyll be nye vnto God.
Wherefore fast we [say they] and thou seest it not? we put our liues to straitnesse, and thou regardest it not?
Beholde, when ye fast, your lust remayneth still, for ye do no lesse violence to your detters: lo, ye fast to strife and debate, and to smite with your fist without mercy: Nowe ye shall not fast thus, that your voyce might be hearde aboue.
Thinke ye this fast pleaseth me, that a man shoulde chasten hym selfe for a daye and to hang downe his head like a bu•ushe, and to lye vpon the earth in an heerie cloth? Should that be called fasting, or a day that pleaseth the Lord?
Doth not this fasting rather please me, That thou lose the wicked bands, that thou take of the ouer heauie burthens, that thou let the oppressed go free, and breake all maner of yoke?
To deale thy bread to the hungrie, and to bring the poore wandering home into thy house? when thou seest the naked that thou couer hym, and hide not thy selfe from thy neighbour, and despise not thyne owne fleshe?
Then shall thy light breake foorth as the morning, and thy health florishe right shortly: righteousnesse shall go before thee, and the glory of the Lorde shall embrace thee.
Then if thou callest, the Lorde shall aunswere thee, if thou cryest, he shall say, here I am: yea if thou layest away from thee thy burthens, and holdest thy fingers, and ceassest from vngracious talking:
If thou hast compassion vpon the hungrie, and refreshest the troubled soule: then shall thy light spring out in the darknesse, and thy darknesse shalbe as the noone day.
The Lorde shall euer be thy guyde, and satisfie the desire of thyne heart in the tyme of drought, and fill thy bones with mary: Thou shalt be like a freshe watred garden, and like the fountaine of water that neuer leaueth running.
Then the places that haue euer ben waste, shalbe builded of thee, there shalt thou lay a foundation for many kinredes: Thou shalt be called the maker vp of the breache, and the buylder agayne of the way to dwell in.
Yea if thou turne thy feete from the sabbath, so that thou do not the thing whiche pleaseth thy selfe in my holy day, and thou call the pleasaunt, holy, and glorious sabbath of the Lorde, and that thou geue hym the honour, so that thou do not after thyne owne imagination, neither seeke thyne owne wyll, nor speake thyne owne wordes:
Then shalt thou haue thy pleasure in the Lorde, and I wyll cary thee hye aboue the earth, and feede thee with the heritage of Iacob thy father: for the Lordes owne mouth hath so promised.
BEholde, the Lordes hande is not so shortened that it can not helpe, neither is his eare so stopped that it may not heare:
But your misdeedes haue seperated you from your God, and your sinnes hyde his face from you, that he heareth you not.
For your handes are defiled with blood, and your fingers with vnrighteousnesse: your lippes speake leasinges, and your tongue setteth out wickednesse.
No man regardeth righteousnesse, and no man iudgeth truely: euery man hopeth in vayne things, and imagineth deceipt, conceaueth weerinesse, and bringeth foorth euill.
They breede cockatrice egges, and weaue the spiders webbe, who so eateth of their egges, dyeth: but if one treade vpon them, there commeth vp a serpent.
Their webbe maketh no cloth, and they may not couer them with their labours: their deedes are the deedes of wickednesse, and the worke of robberie is in their handes.
Their feete runne to euyll, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their counsels are wicked counsels, harme and destruction are in their wayes.
But the way of peace they know not, in their goinges is no equitie: their wayes are so crooked, that whosoeuer goeth therein knoweth of no peace.
And this is the cause that equitie is so farre from vs, and that righteousnesse commeth not nie vs: We loke for light, lo it is darknesse: for the morning shine, see, we walke in the darke.
We grope lyke the blinde vpon the wall, we grope euen as one that hath none eyes, we stumble at the noone day as though it were towarde night, in the falling places, lyke men that are halfe dead.
We roare all like beares, and mourne still like doues: we looke for equitie, but there is none: for health, but it is farre from vs.
For our offences are many before thee, and our sinnes testifie against vs: yea we must confesse that we offende, and knowledge that we do amisse,
[Namely] transgresse and dissemble against the Lorde, and fall away from our God, vsing presumpteous and trayterous imaginations, and casting false matters in our heartes.
And therefore is equitie gone aside, and righteousnesse standeth farre of, trueth is fallen downe in the streete, and the thing that is playne and open, may not be shewed.
Yea the trueth is taken away, and he that refraineth hym selfe from euyll, must be spoyled: When the Lorde sawe this, it displeased hym sore that there was no equitie.
He sawe also that there was no man righteous, and he wondred that there was no man to helpe hym: wherefore he helde hym by his owne power, and he sustayned hym by his owne righteousnesse.
He put righteousnesse vpon hym for a brest plate, he set the helmet of health vpon his head: He put on wrath in the steade of clothing, and toke ielousie about him for a cloke.
Euen as when a man goeth foorth wrathfully to recompence his enemies, and to be auenged of his aduersaries, he wyll recompence and rewarde the Ilandes.
They shall feare the name of the Lorde from the rising of the sunne, and his maiestie vnto the going downe of the same, for he shall come as a violent water streame which the winde of the Lorde hath moued.
But vnto Sion there shall come a redeemer, and vnto them in Iacob that turne from wickednesse, saith the Lord.
I wyll make this couenaunt with them (saith the Lord:) My spirite that is vpon thee, and the wordes whiche I haue put in thy mouth, shall neuer go out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy childers chyldren, from this time foorth for euermore, worlde without ende, saith the Lorde.
GEt thee vp betymes, and be bright [O Hierusalem] for thy light commeth, and the glorie of the Lord is risen vp vpon thee.
For lo, whyle the darknesse & cloude couereth the earth and the people, the Lorde shall shewe thee light, and his glory shalbe seene in thee.
The gentiles shall come to thy light, & kinges to the brightnesse that springeth foorth vpon thee.
Lift vp thyne eyes, and loke rounde about thee: all these gather them selues and come to thee, thy sonnes shall come vnto thee from farre, and thy daughters shall gather them selues to thee on euery side.
Then thou shalt see this and be glorious, thou shalt maruayle exceedingly, and thyne heart shalbe opened: when the aboundaunce of the sea shalbe conuerted vnto thee [that is] when the riches of the gentiles shall come vnto thee.
The multitude of camels shall couer thee, the dromedaries of Madian and Epha: all they of Saba shall come, bringing gold and incense, and shewing the prayse of the Lorde.
All the cattell of Cedar shalbe gathered vnto thee, the rammes of Nabaioth shall serue thee to be offred acceptablie vpon mine aulter, and the house of my glory wyll I garnishe.
But what are these that flee here like the cloudes, and as the doues fleing to their windowes?
The Isles also shall wayte for me, and specially the shippes of Tharsis, that they may bryng thy sonnes from farre, and their siluer and their golde with them, vnto the name of the Lorde thy God, vnto the holy one of Israel that hath glorified thee.
Straungers shall buylde vp thy walles, and their kynges shall do thee seruice: for whe{n} I was angrie, I smote thee, and of my mercy I pardoned thee.
Thy gates shall stande open still both day and night, and neuer be shut, that the hoast of the gentiles may come, and that their kynges may be brought vnto thee.
For euery people and kingdome that serueth not thee, shall perishe, and be destroyed with vtter destruction.
The glory of Libanus shall come vnto thee, the Firre trees, Boxes, and Cedars together, to garnishe the place of my sanctuarie: for I wyll glorifie the place of my feete.
Moreouer, those shall come kneeling vnto thee that haue vexed thee, and all they that despised thee shall fall downe at thy foote: Thou shalt be called the citie of the Lorde, Sion [the citie] of the holy one of Israel.
Because thou hast ben forsaken and hated, so that no man went thorowe thee: I wyl make thee glorious for euer and euer, and ioyfull throughout all posterities.
Thou shalt sucke the milke of the gentiles, and kinges breastes shall feede thee: and thou shalt knowe that I the Lorde am thy sauiour and redeemer, the mightie one of Iacob.
For brasse, wyll I geue thee golde, and for iron, siluer: for wood, brasse, and for stones iron: I wyll turne thyne oppression into peace, and thyne exactions into righteousnesse.
Violence and robberie shall neuer be hearde of in thy lande, neither harme and destruction within thy borders: thy walles shalbe called health, and thy gates the prayse of God.
The sunne shall neuer be thy day light, and the light of the moone shall neuer shine vnto thee: but the Lorde him selfe shalbe thyne euerlasting light, and thy God shalbe thy glory.
Thy sunne shall neuer go downe, and thy moone shall not be hid: for the Lorde hym selfe shalbe thyne euerlasting light, and thy sorowfull dayes shalbe ended.
Thy people shalbe all righteous and possesse the lande euer, the floure of my planting, the worke of my hands wherof I wyll reioyce.
The youngest and least shall growe into a thousande, and the simplest into a strong people: I the Lorde shall shortlye bryng this thing to passe in his tyme.
THe spirite of the Lord is vpon me: for the Lord hath annoynted me, and sent me to preache good tidinges vnto the poore, that I might binde vp the wounded heartes, that I might preache deliueraunce to the captiue, and open the prison to the{m} that are bounde:
That I might declare the acceptable yere of the Lorde, and the day of the vengeaunce of our God: that I might comfort all them that are in heauinesse:
That I might geue vnto them that mourne in Sion, that I might geue [I say] beautie in steede of asshes, ioyfull oyntment for sighing, pleasaunt rayment for an heauie minde, that they might be called trees of righteousnesse, a planting of the Lorde for hym to reioyce in.
They shall buylde the long rough wildernesse, and set vp the olde desert: they shall repayre the waste places, and suche as haue ben voyde throughout many generations.
Straungers shall stande and feede your cattell, and the aliauntes shalbe your plowmen and dressers of your vines.
But ye shalbe named the priestes of the Lorde, and men shall call you the seruauntes of our God: ye shall enioy the goodes of the gentiles, and triumph in their substaunce.
For your great reproofe you shal haue double ioy, and for shame shall they haue ioy of their portion: for they shall haue double possession in their lande, and euerlasting ioy shalbe with them.
For I the Lorde whiche loue right and hate robberie (though it were offered me) shall make their workes full of faythfulnesse, and make an euerlasting couenaunt with them.
Their seede also and their generation shalbe knowen among the gentiles, and among the people: all they that see them, shall knowe that they are the hye blessed seede of the Lorde.
And therefore I am ioyfull in the Lorde, and my soule reioyceth in God: For he hath put vpon me the garment of saluation, and couered me with the mantle of righteousnesse: He shal decke me lyke a bridegrome, and as a bride that hath her apparell vpon her.
For like as the ground bringeth foorth her fruite, and as the garden shooteth foorth seede: so shall the Lorde God cause righteousnesse and prayse to floorishe foorth before all the heathen.
FOr Sions sake wyll I not holde my tongue, and for Hierusalems sake I wyll not ceasse, vntill their righteousnesse breake foorth as the shining light, and their saluation as a burning lampe.
Then shall the gentiles see thy righteousnesse, and all kynges thy glory: Thou shalt be named with a newe name, whiche the mouth of the Lorde shall shewe.
Thou shalt be a crowne in the hande of the Lorde, and a glorious garlande in the hande of thy God.
From this tyme foorth thou shalt neuer be called the forsaken, and thy lande shall no more be called the wildernesse: but thou shalt be called, My pleasure is in her, and thy lande shalbe called, The maried woman: for the Lorde loueth thee, and thy land shalbe ioyned in mariage.
And lyke as a young man taketh a virgin to mariage, so shal thy sonnes be maried vnto thee: and as a bridegrome is glad of his bride, so shall thy God reioyce ouer thee.
I haue set watchmen vpon thy walles O Hierusalem, which shall neither ceasse day nor night to preache the Lorde: and ye also that remember the Lorde, ye shall not kepe him close,
Nor leaue to speake of him, vntill Hierusalem be set vp, and made the prayse of the worlde.
The Lorde hath sworne by his right hand and by his strong arme, that from hencefoorth he wyll not geue thy corne to be meate for thyne enemies, nor thy vine wherein thou hast laboured, to be drinke for the straungers.
But they that haue gathered in the corne, shall eate it, and geue thankes to the Lorde: and they that haue borne in the vine, shall drinke it in the court of my sanctuarie.
Go you, go you thorowe the gates, make cleane the way for the people, make playne, make playne the foote path, and take away the stones out of it, and set out a token for the people.
Beholde, the Lorde proclaymeth vnto the endes of the worlde, tell the daughter Sion, See thy sauiour commeth, beholde he bringeth his recompence with hym, and his worke go before hym.
For they whom the Lorde deliuereth, shalbe called the holy people: and as for thee, thou shalt be named the greatlye occupied, and not the forsaken citie.
WHat is he this that commeth fro{m} Edom, with red coloured clothes from Bosra? He is honourablye arrayed, and commeth in mightyly with his power: I am he that teacheth righteousnesse, and am of power to helpe.
Wherefore then is thy clothing red, and thy rayment like his that treadeth in the wine presse?
I haue troden the presse my selfe alone, and of all people there is not one with me: Thus wyll I treade them downe in my wrath, and set my feete vpon them in myne indignation, and their blood shal be sprong vpon my clothes, and so wyll I stayne all my rayment.
For the day of vengeaunce is assigned in my heart, and the yere when my people shalbe deliuered is come.
I loked about me, and there was no man to shewe me any helpe, I marueyled that no man helde me vp: Then I helde me by myne owne arme, and my feruentnesse sustayned me.
And thus wyll I treade downe the people in my wrath, and bathe them in my displeasure, and vpon the earth will I lay their strength.
I wyll declare the goodnesse of the Lorde, yea and the prayse of the Lorde for all that he hath geuen vs, for the great good that he hath done for Israel, whiche he hath geuen them of his owne fauour, and according to the multitude of his louing kindnesses.
For he sayde, These no doubt are my people, and no shrinking chyldren: and so was he their sauiour.
In their troubles, he was also troubled with them, and the angell that went foorth from his presence deliuered them: of very loue and kindnesse that he had vnto them, he redeemed them, he hath borne them and caried them vp euer since the worlde began.
But after they prouoked hym to wrath and vexed his holy spirite, he was their enemie, and fought against them hym selfe.
Yet remembred Israel the olde time, of Moyses and his people, saying: where is he that brought them from the water of the sea, with them that feede his sheepe? Where is he that hath geuen his holy spirite among them?
He led them by the right hande of Moyses with his glorious arme, deuiding the water before them, wherby he gat him selfe an euerlasting name.
He led them in the deepe as an horse is led in the playne, that they shoulde not stumble.
As a tame beast goeth in the fielde, and the spirite of God geueth hym rest: thus (O God) hast thou led thy people, to make thy selfe a glorious name withall.
Loke downe then from heauen, and beholde from the dwelling place of thy sanctuarie and thy glorie: Howe is it that thy gelousie, thy strength, the multitude of thy mercies, and thy louing kindnesse wyll not be intreated of vs?
Yet art thou our father: for Abraham knoweth vs not, neither is Israel acquainted with vs: but thou Lorde art our father and redeemer, and thy name is euerlasting.
O Lorde, wherefore hast thou led vs out of the way? wherefore hast thou hardened our heartes that we feare thee not? Be at one with vs agayne for thy seruauntes sake, and for the generation of thyne heritage.
Thy holy people haue had but a litle whyle thy sanctuarie in possession, for our enemies haue troden downe thy holy place.
And we were thyne from the beginning, when thou wast not their Lorde, for they haue not called vpon thy name.
O That thou wouldest cleaue the heauens in sunder & come downe, that the mountaines might melt away at thy presence:
Like as at an hotte fire, and [that the malitious might boyle away] as the water doth vpon the fire: whereby thy name might be knowen among thyne enemies, and that the gentiles might tremble before thee.
When thou wroughtest wonderous straunge workes, we looked not for them: thou camest downe, and the hilles melted at thy presence.
For since the beginning of the worlde it hath not ben hearde or perceaued, neither hath any eye seene another God beside thee, whiche doest so muche for them that put their trust in thee.
Thou helpest hym that doth right with chearefulnesse, and them that thinke vpon thee in thy wayes: but lo, thou hast ben angrie, for we offended, and haue ben euer in sinne, though the worlde hath cleaued to them, yet shall we be saued.
We are all as an vncleane thing, and all our righteousnesse are as filthy ragges: we fal euerychone as the leafe, for our sinnes cary vs away lyke the winde.
There is no man that calleth vpon thy name, that standeth vp to take hold by thee: therefore hidest thou thy face from vs, and consumest vs, because of our sinnes.
But nowe, O Lorde, thou father of ours, we are thy clay, and thou art our potter, and we all are the worke of thy handes.
Be not to sore displeased O Lord, and kepe not our offences to long in thy remembraunce: but consider that we all are thy people.
The cities of thy sanctuarie lye waste, Sion is a wildernesse, and Hierusalem a desert.
Our holy house whiche is our beautie where our fathers praysed thee, is brent vp: yea, all our commodities and pleasures are wasted away.
Wylt thou not be intreated O Lorde, for all this wylt thou holde thy peace, and scourge vs so sore?
THey seeke me, that hitherto haue not asked for me, they finde me, that hitherto haue not sought me: I haue saide, I am here, I am here, I am founde of a people that neuer called vpon my name.
For thus long haue I euer holden out mine handes to an vnfaythfull people that go not the right way, but after their owne imagination:
To a people that is euer defiyng me to my face, they make their oblations in gardens, and their smoke vpon aulters of bricke.
They lurke among the groues, and lye in the dennes all night: they eate swines fleshe, and vncleane broth is in their vessels.
If thou commest nye them, they say, touche me not, for I am holyer then thou: All these men when I am angry, shalbe turned to smoke and fire that shall burne for euer.
Beholde, it is written before my face, and shall not be forgotten, but recompenced: I shall rewarde it them into their bosome.
[I meane] your misdeedes, and the misdeedes of your fathers together saith the Lord, which haue made their smokes vpon the mountaines, and blasphemed me vpon the hilles: therefore wyll I measure their olde deedes into their bosome agayne.
Moreouer, thus saith the Lord: Like as when newe wine is founde in the cluster, and one saith, Lose it not, for there is blessing therein: euen so wyll I do also for my seruauntes sakes, that I wyll not destroy them all.
But I will take a seede out of Iacob, and out of Iuda one, to take possession of my hill: My chosen shall possesse it, and my seruauntes shall dwell there.
Saron shalbe a sheepefolde, and the valley of Achor shall geue the stalling for the cattell of my people that seeke after me.
But as for you, ye are they that haue forsaken the Lorde, and forgotten my holy hyll: ye haue set vp an aulter vnto Iupiter, and geuen riche drinke offeringes vnto the planets:
Therfore wyll I number you to the sworde, that ye shalbe destroyed altogether: for that when I called, no man gaue me aunswere, when I spake, ye hearkened not vnto me, but dyd wickednesse before mine eyes, and chose the thinges that pleased me not.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Beholde, my seruauntes shall eate, but ye shall haue hunger: beholde, my seruauntes shall drinke, but ye shall suffer thirst: beholde, my seruauntes shalbe merie, but ye shalbe confounded:
Beholde, my seruauntes shall reioyce for very quietnesse of heart: but ye shal crye for sorowe of heart, and complaine for vexation of minde.
Your name shall ye leaue accursed among my chosen: for God the Lorde shall slay you, and call his seruauntes by another name.
Who so reioyceth vpon earth, shall reioyce in the true God, and who so sweareth vpon earth, shall sweare in the true God: for the olde afflictions shalbe forgotten, and taken away out of my sight.
For lo, I shall make a newe heauen and a newe earth: and as for the olde, they shall neuer be thought vpon, nor kept in minde:
[But the Lorde saith] Be glad and euermore reioyce for the things that I shall do: For why? beholde, I shall make a ioyfull Hierusalem, and his people ioyfull.
Yea, I my selfe will reioyce with Hierusalem, and be glad with my people: and the voyce of weeping and wayling shall not be hearde in her from thencefoorth.
There shall neither be chylde nor olde man that haue not their full dayes: but when the chylde commeth to an hundred yeres olde it shal dye, and if he that is an hundred yeres of age do wrong, he shalbe cursed.
They shall buylde houses and dwell in them, they shall plant vineyardes and eate the fruite of them.
They shall not buylde and another possesse, they shall not plant and another eate: but the life of my people shalbe like a tree, and mine elect shall enioy styll the worke of their handes.
They shall not labour in vayne, nor beget with trouble: for they are the hye blessed seede of the Lorde, and their fruites with them.
And it shalbe, that or euer they call, I shall aunswere them, whyle they are yet but thinking howe to speake, I shal heare them.
The woolfe and the lambe shal feede together, and the lion shall eate hay like the bullocke, but earth shalbe the serpentes meate: There shal no man hurt nor slay another in al my holy hill, saith the Lorde.
THus saith the Lorde: Heauen is my seate, and the earth is my footstoole: Where shall nowe the house stande that ye wyll builde vnto me? And where shalbe the place that I wyll dwell in?
As for these thynges, my hande hath made them all, and they are all created saith the Lorde: which of them shall I then regarde? Euen hym that is poore and of a lowly troubled spirite, and standeth in awe of my wordes.
For who so slayeth an oxe [for me, doth me so great dishonour] as he that killeth a man: He that killeth a sheepe for me knetcheth a dogge: He that bryngeth me meate offerynges, offereth swynes blood, who so maketh me a memorial of incense, prayseth the thyng that is vnryght: Yet take they such wayes in hande, and their soule delyghteth in these abhominations.
Therfore wyll I also haue pleasure in laughyng them to scorne, & the thyng that they feare will I bring vpon them: For when I called, no man gaue aunswere, when I spake, they woulde not heare: but did wickednesse before mine eyes, and chose the thynges that displeased me.
Heare the worde of God all ye that feare the thyng which he speaketh: Your brethren that hate you and cast you out for my name sake, say, The Lorde is heynous agaynst vs: but you shall see hym in ioy, when they shalbe confounded.
Then shalbe hearde a great noyse from the citie and the temple, the voyce of the Lorde, that wyll rewarde and recompence his enemies:
Lyke as when a wife bringeth foorth a man childe, or euer she suffer the payne of the birth & anguishe of the trauayle.
Who euer heard or sawe such thinges? doth the grounde beare in one day? or are the people borne all at once, as Sion trauayled in childe birth and bare her sonnes?
For thus saith the Lorde: Am I he that maketh other to beare, and beare not my selfe? Am not I he that beareth and maketh barren, saith thy God?
Reioyce with Hierusalem, and be glad with her all ye that loue her, be ioyfull with her all ye that mourne for her.
For ye shall sucke comfort out of her breastes, and be satisfied: Ye shall taste, and haue delyte in the bryghtnesse of her glorie.
For thus saith the Lorde: Beholde, I wyll let peace into her lyke a water fludde, and the glory of the heathen like a flowing streame: Then shall ye sucke, ye shalbe borne vpon her sydes, and be ioyfull vpon her knees.
For lyke as a chylde is comforted of his mother: so shall I comfort you, and ye shalbe comforted in Hierusalem.
And when ye see this, your heart shall reioyce, and your bones shall florishe lyke an hearbe: Thus shall the hande of the Lorde be knowen among his seruauntes, and his indignation among his enemies.
For beholde the Lorde shall come with fire, and his charret shalbe lyke a whirle wynde: that he may recompence his vengeaunce in his wrath, and his indignation with the flambe of fire.
For the Lorde shall iudge all fleshe with the fire and with his sworde, and there shalbe a great number slayne of the Lorde.
Such as haue made themselues holy and cleane in the gardens, and those that haue eaten swines fleshe, mice, and other abhominations, shalbe taken away together saith the Lorde.
For I do knowe their workes and thoughtes, and I wyll come to gather all people and tongues: then they shall come and see my glorie.
Vnto them shall I geue a token, and sende certayne of the{m} that be deliuered among the gentiles, into Cilicia, Affrica, and Lydia, where men can handle bowes, into Italie, and also Greeke lande: The Isles farre of that haue not hearde speake of me, and haue not seene my glorie, shall preache my prayse among the gentiles.
And shall bryng all your brethren for an offeryng vnto the Lorde out of all the people, vpon horses, charettes, and horslitters, vpon mules and cartes, to Hierusalem my holy hil saith the Lord: lyke as the children of Israel bryng the offeryng in cleane vessels to the house of the Lorde.
And I shal take out certayne of them for to be priestes and Leuites, saith the Lorde.
For lyke as the newe heauen and the newe earth which I wyll make, shalbe fast stablished by me, saith the Lorde: so shall your seede & your name continue.
And it shall come to passe, that from moone to his moone, from Sabbath to his Sabbath, all fleshe shall come to worship before me, saith the Lorde.
And they shall go foorth and loke vpon the carions of them that haue transgressed agaynst me: for their wormes shall not dye, neither shall their fire be quenched, and all fleshe shall abhorre them.
THese are the sermons of Ieremie the sonne of Helkiah the priest, one of them that dwelt at Anathoth in the lande of Beniamin,
When the Lorde had first spoken with hym in the tyme of Iosiah the sonne of Amon kyng of Iuda, in the .xiij. yere of his raigne:
And so duryng vnto the tyme of I•hoakim the sonne of Iosiah king of Iuda, and vntyll the .xi. yere of Zedekiah the sonne of Iosiah kyng of Iuda were ended, when Hierusalem was taken, euen in the fifth moneth.
The worde of the Lorde spake thus vnto me.
Before I fashioned thee in thy mothers wombe, I dyd knowe thee: and or euer thou wast borne, I sanctified thee, and ordeyned thee to be a prophete vnto the people.
Then sayde I: O Lorde God, I can not speake, for I am yet but young.
And the Lorde aunswered me thus: Say not so, I am to young: for thou shalt go to all that I shall sende thee vnto, and whatsoeuer I commaunde thee, that shalt thou speake.
Be not afrayde of their faces: for I am with thee to deliuer thee, saith the Lorde.
And with that the Lorde stretched out his hande and touched my mouth: and the same Lorde sayde vnto me, Beholde, I put my wordes in thy mouth.
And beholde, this day do I set thee ouer the people and kyngdomes, that thou mayest roote out, breake of, destroy, and make waste, and that thou mayest builde vp and plant.
After this the Lorde spake vnto me, saying: Ieremie, what seest thou? And I sayd, I see a rod of an Almond tree.
Then sayde the Lorde vnto me: thou hast seene ryght, for I wyll make haste speedyly vpon my worde to performe it.
It happened afterwarde that the Lorde spake to me agayne, and sayde: what seest thou? and I sayde: I do see a seethyng pot, lokyng from out of the north.
Then sayde the Lorde vnto me: Out of the north shall come a plague vpon all the dwellers of the lande.
For lo, I wyll call all the kinredes of the kingdomes of the north, saith the Lorde: and they shall come, and euery one shall set his seate in the gates of Hierusalem, and in all their walles rounde about, and in all cities of Iuda.
And through them shall I declare my iudgement, vpo{n} all the wickednesse of those men that haue forsaken me, that haue burnt incense vnto straunge gods, and worshipped the workes of their owne handes.
And therfore girde vp thy loynes, arise, and tell them all that I geue thee in commaundement: Feare them not, lest I destroy thee before them.
For beholde, this day do I make thee a strong •ensed towne, an iron pyller, and a brasen wall, agaynst the whole lande, agaynst the kinges and mightie men of Iuda, agaynst the priestes and people of the lande.
They shall fight agaynst thee, but they shall not be able to ouercome thee: for I am with thee to deliuer thee, saith the Lorde.
MOreouer, the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Go thy way, crye in the eares of Hierusalem, and say, Thus saith the Lorde: I remember thee, the kindnesse of thy youth, and the loue of thy despousyng, in that thou folowedst me through the wildernesse in an vntylled lande.
Israel was an halowed thyng vnto the Lorde, and was his first fruites: All they that deuour Israel shall offende, misfortune shall fall vpon them, saith the Lorde.
Heare therfore the worde of the Lord O thou house of Iacob, and all the generations of the house of Israel.
Thus saith the Lorde, What vnfaithfulnesse founde your fathers in me, that they went so farre away fro me, fallyng to lightnesse, and beyng so vayne?
They thought not in their heartes, where is the Lord that brought vs out of the lande of Egypt, that led vs thorowe the wildernesse, through a desert & rough lande, through a drye and deadly lande, yea a lande that no man had gone through, and wherin no man had dwelt?
And when I had brought you into a pleasaunt fertile lande, that ye myght enioy the fruites & all the commodities of the same: ye went foorth and defiled my lande, and brought mine heritage to abhomination.
The priestes them selues sayde not, Where is the Lord? They that had the lawe in their handes knewe me not, the sheepheardes offended agaynst me, the prophetes did prophecie in Baal, and folowed such thinges as shal bryng them no profite.
Wherfore I am constrayned, saith the Lorde, yet agayne to contende in iudgement with you, and with your childers children.
Go into the Isles of Cethim, and loke well: sende vnto Cedar, take diligent heede, and see whether such thynges be done there,
Whether the gentiles them selues haue chaunged their gods which yet are no gods in deede? but my people hath chaunged their honour for a thyng that may not helpe them.
Be astonished O ye heauens, be afraide and abashed at such a thyng, saith the Lorde.
For my people hath done two euils: they haue forsaken me the well of the water of lyfe, and digged them pittes, yea vile and broken pittes that can holde no water.
Is Israel a bonde seruaunt, or one of the housholde? why is he the{n} so spoyled?
They rore and crye vpon him as lions, they haue made his lande waste: his cities are so burnt vp, that there is no man dwellyng in them:
Yea the children of Noph & Taphnes shall cracke their crowne.
Commeth not this vnto thee because thou hast forsaken the Lorde thy God, euen when he led thee by the way?
And what hast thou nowe to do in the streete of Egypt, to drynke water out of Nilus? Either what makest thou in the way to Assyria, to drynke water of the fludde?
Thine owne wickednesse shall reproue thee, and thy turnyng away shall condempne thee: that thou mayest knowe and vnderstand howe euyll and hurtfull a thyng it is, that thou hast forsaken the Lorde thy God, and hast not feared me, saith the Lorde God of hoastes.
I haue euer broken thy yoke of olde, and burst thy bondes, yet sayest thou: I wyll no more transgresse: but like an harlot thou runnest about vpon all hye hylles, and among all greene trees.
Wheras I planted thee a noble vine, and wholly a right seede: howe art thou turned then into a bitter vnfruitfull and straunge grape?
[Yea and that so sore] that though thou washe thee with Nitrus, and make thy selfe to sauour with that sweete smellyng hearbe of Borith: yet in my sight thou art stayned with thy wickednesse, saith the Lorde thy God.
Howe sayest thou nowe, I am not vncleane, and I haue not folowed Baalim? Loke vpon thine owne wayes in the valleys what thou hast done? Thou art like a swift dromedarie that goeth easyly her way.
And thy wantonnesse is lyke a wylde Asse that vseth the wildernesse, and that snuffeth and bloweth at her wyll: who can tame her? All they that seeke her, shall not fayle but fynde her in her moneth.
Kepe thy foote from nakednesse, and thy throte from thirst, and thou thinkest in thy selfe: tushe, I wil take no sorowe, for I haue loued the straungers, and them wyll I folowe.
Lyke as a theefe that is taken with the deede, commeth to shame: euen so is the house of Israel come to confusion, the common people, their kynges and rulers, their priestes and prophetes.
For they say to a stocke, Thou art my father, & to a stone, Thou hast begotten me: yea they haue turned their backe vpon me, and not their face: but in the tyme of their trouble, when they say, stande vp and helpe vs:
[I shall aunswere them] Where are nowe thy gods that thou hast made thee? bid them stande vp, and helpe thee in the time of thy neede: For loke howe many cities thou hast O Iuda, so many gods hast thou also.
Wherfore then wyll ye go to lawe with me? seeyng ye all are sinners agaynst me, saith the Lorde.
It is but lost labour that I smite your children, for they receaue not my correction: your owne sworde destroyeth your prophetes, lyke a deuouryng lion.
Oh generation, hearken vnto the worde of the Lorde: Am I become a wildernesse vnto the people of Israel? or a lande that hath no lyght? wherfore saith my people then, We are lordes, we wyll come no more vnto thee?
Doth a mayde forget her rayment, or a bride her stomacher? but my people hath forgotten me a very long whyle.
Why beautifiest thou thy wayes so hyely, to obteyne fauour therthrough? therfore also hast thou taught wickednesse through thy wayes.
Vpon thy wynges is found the blood of poore and innocent people, whom thou didst not fynde in corners & holes: but thou sluest the prophetes for reprouyng all these thynges.
Yet darest thou say, I am [without sinne and] giltlesse, Tushe, his wrath can not come vpon me: Beholde, I wyll reason with thee, because thou darest say, I haue not offended.
Why gaddest thou so much hither and thither, to chaunge thy wayes? for thou shalt be confounded aswell of Egypt as thou wast of the Assyrians.
Yea thou shalt go thy way from them, and smite thine handes together vpon thy head, because the Lorde shall bring that confidence and hope of thine to naught, & thou shalt not prosper withal.
COmmonly when a man putteth away his wyfe, and she goeth from hym & maryeth with another, then the question is: shoulde he resort vnto her any more after that? (Is not that lande then defiled and vncleane?) But as for thee thou hast played the harlot with many louers, yet turne agayne to me, saith the Lorde.
Lift vp thine eyes to the hygh places, and loke where thou hast not ben defiled: Thou hast wayted for them in the streetes, and as a murtherer in the wildernesse, through thy whoredome and shamefull blasphemies is the lande defiled.
This is the cause that the rayne and euenyng deawe hath ceassed: Thou hast gotten thee an whores forehead, and wylt not be ashamed.
Wylt thou not herafter say vnto me, O my father, thou art he that hast brought me vp, and led me from my youth?
Wyll God continue his wrath for euer? wyll he kepe our faultes in memorie to the ende? Neuerthelesse, thou speakest such wordes, but thou art euer doyng worse and worse to the vtmost of thy power.
The Lorde sayde also vnto me in the tyme of Iosiah the kyng, Hast thou seene what that rebellion Israel hath done? howe she hath runne vp vpon all the hylles, and among all thicke trees, and there played the harlot?
Hast thou seene also when she had done all this, howe I sayde vnto her, that she shoulde turne agayne vnto me, and yet she is not returned? Iuda that vnfaithfull sister of hers also sawe this:
Namely, that after I had well seene the adulterie of the shrinckyng harlot Israel, I put her away, and gaue her a byll of deuorcement: For all this, her vnfaithfull sister Iuda was not ashamed, but went backe and played the whore.
Yea and the wantonnesse of her whoredome hath defyled the whole lande: For she hath co{m}mitted fornication with stones and stockes.
Neuerthelsse, her vnfaithfull sister Iuda is not turned vnto me agayne with her whole heart, but faignedlye saith the Lorde.
And the Lorde sayde vnto me, The backslyder Israel, is more righteous then the vnfaithfull Iuda.
And therfore go preach these wordes towarde the north, and say, Thou disobedient Israel, turne agayne saith the Lorde, and I wyll not bring my wrath vpon you: for I am mercifull saith the Lorde, and I wyll not alway beare displeasure agaynst thee:
But on this condition, that thou know thy great blasphemie, namely that thou hast vnfaithfully forsaken the Lord thy God, and hast made thy selfe partaker of straunge gods vnder all greene trees, and hast had no wyll to heare my voyce, saith the Lorde.
O ye disobedient childre{n}, turne againe saith the Lorde, and I wyll be maryed with you: for I wyll take one out of the citie, and two out of one generation from among you, and bryng you into Sion,
And wyll geue you heardmen after myne owne mynde, which shall feede you with learnyng and wisdome.
Moreouer, when ye be encreased and multiplied in the lande, then saith the Lorde, there shall no more boast be made of the arke of the Lordes testament: No man shall thinke vpon it, neither shall any man make mention of it: for from thencefoorth it shall neither be visited, neither shall such thyng be done any more.
Then shall Hierusalem be called the Lordes seate, and all heathen shalbe gathered vnto it for the name of the Lordes sake which shalbe set vp at Hierusalem: And from that tyme foorth they shall folowe no more the imagination of their owne frowarde heart.
Then those that be of the house of Iuda, shal go vnto the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the north, into the same lande that I haue geuen your fathers.
I haue thought thus: howe shall I take thee to be my children, and geue a pleasaunt lande for thine heritage, yea and a goodly hoast of the heathen? And I sayd, Call me father, and shrincke not from me.
Truely, lyke as a woman fayleth her husbande, so are ye vnfaithfull vnto me O ye house of Israel, saith the Lorde.
The voyce of the children of Israel was hearde on hye, weepyng and waylyng: for that they haue defiled their way, and forgotten God their Lorde.
O ye disobedient children, turne againe, & so shall I heale your backturnynges. Lo we come vnto thee, for thou art the Lorde our God.
Truely, in vayne is health hoped for from the hylles, be they neuer so many: but the health of Israel standeth only vpon God our Lorde.
Confusion hath deuoured our fathers labour from our youth vp, yea their sheepe and bullockes, their sonnes and daughters.
So do we also sleepe in our confusion, and shame couereth vs: for we & our fathers from our youth vp vnto this day haue sinned agaynst the Lord our God, and haue not obeyed the voyce of the Lorde our God.
O Israel, yf thou wylt turne thee, then turne vnto me, saith {th}e Lord: and yf thou wylt put away thine abhominations out of my sight, thou shalt not be moued.
And shalt sweare, The Lord lyueth, in trueth, in equitie, and righteousnesse, and all people shalbe fortunable and ioyfull in hym.
For thus saith the Lorde to all Iuda and Hierusalem: Plowe your lande, and sowe not among the thornes.
Be circumcised in the Lorde, and cut away the foreskynne of your heartes all ye of Iuda, and all the indwellers of Hierusalem: that myne indignation breake not out lyke fire, and kindle, so that no man may quenche it, because of the wickednesse of your imaginations.
Preach in Iuda and Hierusalem, crye out and speake, blowe the trumpettes in the lande, crye that euery man may heare, and say, Gather you together, and we wyll go into strong cities.
Set vp the token in Sion, speede you and make no tarying: for I wyll bring a great plague and a great destruction from the north.
For the spoyler of the gentiles is broken vp from his place as a lion out of his denne: that he may make thy lande waste, and destroy the cities, so that no man may dwell therin.
Wherfore girde your selues about with sackcloth, mourne and weepe: for the fearefull wrath of the Lorde is not withdrawen from vs.
At the same tyme saith the Lord, the heart of the kyng & of the princes shalbe gone, the priestes shalbe astonished, and the prophetes shalbe sore afrayde.
Then sayde I: Oh Lorde God, hast thou then deceaued this people and Hierusalem, saying, Ye shall haue peace: and nowe the sworde goeth through their lyues?
Then shall it be sayde to the people and Hierusalem, A strong winde in the hye places of the wildernesse commeth through the way of my people, but neither to fanne nor to cleanse.
After that, shall there come vnto me a strong wynde from those places, & then wyll I also geue sentence vpon them.
For lo, he ariseth like a cloude, and his charrets are like a stormie wynde, his horses are swifter then the Egle: Wo vnto vs, for we are destroyed.
O Hierusalem, washe thine heart from wickednesse, that thou mayest be helped: Howe long shall thy vayne thoughtes remayne with thee?
For a voyce from Dan and from the hill of Ephraim speaketh out, and telleth of a destruction.
Remember the heathen, and geue Hierusalem warning, and preache vnto her, that watchers ouer her are commyng from farre countries, they haue cryed out against the cities of Iuda.
And they haue beset her about in euery place, lyke as the watchmen in the fielde: For they haue prouoked me to wrath, saith the Lorde.
Thy wayes and thy thoughtes haue brought thee vnto this, such is thine owne wickednesse and disobedience: and because it is a bitter thyng, it hath stricken thee to the heart.
Ah my belly, ah my belly shalt thou crie, howe is my heart so sore? my heart panteth within me, I can not be styll, for I haue hearde the crying of the trumpettes, and peales of warre.
They crye murther vpon murther, the whole lande shall perishe: Immediatly my tentes were destroyed, and my hanginges in the twincklyng of an eye.
Howe long shall I see the tokens of warre, and heare the noyse of the trumpettes?
[Neuerthelesse, this shall come vpon them,] because my people is become foolishe, and hath not knowen me: they are the children of foolishnesse, and without any discretion: To do euyll, they haue wit inough: but to do well, they haue no wisdome.
I haue loked vpon the earth, and see it was waste and voyde: I loked towarde heauen, and it had no shine.
I behelde the mountaynes, and lo, they trembled, and all the hylles were in a feare.
I loked about me, and there was no body: and all the birdes of the ayre were away.
I marked well, and the plowed fielde was become waste, yea all their cities were broken downe at the presence of the Lord and indignation of his wrath.
For thus hath the Lorde saide: The whole lande shalbe desolate, yet wyll I not then haue done.
And therfore shall the earth mourne, and the heauen be sorie aboue: for the thyng that I haue spoken to the prophetes, purposed, and taken vpon me to do, shall not repent me, and I wyll not go from it.
The whole lande shall flee for the noyse of horsemen and bowmen, they shall runne into dennes, into wooddes, and climbe vp the stonye rockes: all the cities shalbe voyde, and no man dwellyng therin.
What wylt thou nowe do, thou being destroyed? For though thou clothest thy selfe with scarlet, and deckest thee with golde, though thou payntest thy face with colours nowe, yet shalt thou trimme thy selfe in vayne: For those that hitherto haue ben thy louers, shall abhorre thee, and go about to slay thee.
For I heare a noyse lyke as it were of a woman trauaylyng, & one labouryng of her first childe, Euen the voyce of the daughter Sion, that casteth out her armes, and sowneth, saying: Ah, wo is me, howe sore vexed and faynt is my heart for feare of the murtherers?
LOke through Hierusalem, beholde and see, seeke through her streetes also within, yf ye can fynde one man that doth equall and ryght, or seketh for the trueth, and I shall spare that citie, saith the Lorde.
For though they can say, the Lorde lyueth: yet they sweare to deceaue.
Wheras thou (O Lorde) lokest only vpon faith and trueth: Thou hast scourged them, but they toke no repentaunce, thou hast corrected them for amendement, but they refused thy correction, they made their faces harder then a stone, and woulde not amende.
Therfore I thought in my selfe: peraduenture they are so simple & foolishe that they vnderstande nothyng of the Lordes way, and iudgementes of their God.
Therfore will I go vnto their heades and rulers, and talke with them, if they knowe the way of the Lord, and iudgementes of their God: But these [in lyke maner] haue broken the yoke, and burst the bondes in sunder.
Wherfore a lion out of the wood hath hurt them, and a woolfe in the euenyng shall destroy them, the Leoparde doth lye lurkyng by their cities, to teare in peeces all them that come therout: for their offences are multiplied, and their departyng away is encreased.
Shoulde I then for all this haue mercie vpon thee? Thy children haue forsaken me, and sworne by them that are no gods: and albeit that I fed them to the full, yet they fall to adulterie, and haunt harlottes houses.
In the desire of vncleanly lust they are become lyke the stoned horse, euery man neyeth at his neighbours wife.
Shoulde I not correct this, saith the Lorde? shoulde I not be auenged of euery people that is lyke vnto this?
Climbe vp vpon their walles, beate them downe, and destroy them not vtterly: take away their battlementes, because they are not the lordes.
For vnfaithfully hath the house of Israel and Iuda forsaken me, saith the Lorde.
They haue denied the Lorde and sayde, It is not he [that loketh vpon vs] tushe, there shall no misfortune come vpon vs, we shall see neither sworde nor hunger.
As for the warning of the prophetes, it is but wynde, yea there is not the worde of God in them: such thynges shall happen vnto them selues.
Wherfore thus saith the Lorde God of hoastes, Because ye speake such wordes, beholde, the wordes that are in thy mouth wyll I turne to fire, and make the people to be wood, that the fire may consume them.
Lo, I wyll bryng a people vpon you from farre, O house of Israel, saith the Lorde, a mightie people, an olde people, a people whose speache thou knowest not, neither vnderstandest what they say.
Their arrowes are sodayne death, yea they them selues be very giauntes.
This people shall eate vp thy fruite and thy meate, yea they shall deuour thy sonnes & thy daughters, thy sheepe and thy bullockes, they shall eate vp thy grapes and figges: As for thy strong and well defensed cities wherin thou didst trust, they shall bryng to pouertie, and that through the sworde.
Neuerthelesse, I wyll not then haue done with you, saith the Lorde.
But if they say, wherfore doth the Lorde our God all this vnto vs? Then aunswere them: because that lyke as ye haue forsaken me, & serued straunge gods in your lande, euen so shal ye serue straungers out of your lande.
Preach this vnto the house of Iacob, and crye it out in Iuda, and say thus:
Heare this thou foolishe and vndiscreete people, ye haue eyes but ye see not, eares haue ye but ye heare not.
Feare ye not me, saith the Lorde? will ye not tremble at my presence? which bynde the sea with the sande by a continuall decree, so that it can not passe his boundes: for though it rage, yet can it do nothing, and though the waues therof do swell, yet may they not go ouer.
But this people hath a false and obstinate heart, they are departed and gone away fro me.
They thinke not in their heartes, O let vs feare the Lord our God, who geueth vs raine early and late when nede is, whiche kepeth euer still the haruest for vs yerely.
Neuerthesse, your misdeedes haue turned these from you, and your sinnes haue robbed you of good thinges.
For among my people are found wicked persons, that priuily lay snares and wayte for men, to take them and destroy them.
And like as a nette is full of byrdes, so are their houses full of that which they haue gotten with falshood and deceipt: Hereof commeth their great substaunce and riches,
Hereof are they fat and welthy, and are more mischieuous then any other: they minister not the lawe, they make no ende of the fatherlesse cause, yea and they prosper: yet they iudge not the poore according to equitie.
Should I not punishe these thinges saith the Lorde? should not I be auenged of all suche people as these be?
Horrible and greeuous thinges are done in the lande.
The prophetes teache falsely, and the preachers receaue giftes, and my people hath pleasure therein: what wyll come thereof at the last.
COme out of Hierusalem, ye strong chyldre{n} of Beniamin, blowe vp the trumpettes ye Thecuites, set vp a token vnto Bethcaran: for a plague & a great miserie appeareth out from the north.
I wyll liken the daughter Sion to a faire and tender woman, and to her shall come the shepheardes with their flockes.
Their tentes shall they pitche rounde about her, and euery one shall feede in his place.
Make battayle against her [shall they say] aryse, let vs go vp whyle it is yet day: Alas the day goeth away, and the night shadowes fall downe.
Arise, let vs go vp by night, and destroy her strong holdes.
For thus hath the Lorde of hoastes commaunded, Hewe downe her trees, and set vp bulwarkes against Hierusalem: for the tyme is come that this citie must be punished, for in her is all maliciousnesse.
Like as a conduite spouteth out waters, so she spouteth out her wickednesse: Robberie and vnrighteousnesse is hearde in her, sorowe and woundes are euer there in my sight.
Amende thee (O Hierusalem) lest I withdrawe my heart from thee, and make thee desolate, and thy lande also, that no man dwell in it.
For thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: The residue of Israel shalbe gathered as the remnaunt of grapes: and therefore turne thyne hande agayne into the basket, like the grape gatherer.
But vnto whom shall I speake? whom shall I warne that he may take heede? Their eares are so vncircumcised, that they may not heare: beholde, they take the worde of God but for a scorne, and haue no lust therto.
And therefore I am so full of thyne indignation O Lorde, that I may suffer no lenger, but shed it out vpon the chyldren that are without, and vpon all young men: yea the man must be taken prisoner with the wife, and the aged with the creeple.
Their houses with their landes and wiues shalbe turned into straungers: for I wyll stretche out mine hand vpon the inhabitours of this lande, saith the Lorde.
For from the least to the most they hang all vpon couetousnesse: and from the prophete vnto the priest, they go about falshood and lyes.
And beside that, they heale the hurt of my people with sweete wordes, saying, Peace, peace: when there is no peace at all.
Were they ashamed when they had committed abhomination? Truly nay, they be past shame, and therefore they shall fall among the slayne: and in the houre when I shall visite them, they shalbe brought downe saith the Lorde.
Thus saith the Lorde, Go into the streetes, consider and make inquisition for the olde way, and if it be the good and right way, then go therein, that ye may finde rest for your soules: but they say, we wyll not walke therin.
Moreouer, I wyl set watchmen ouer you, and therefore take heede vnto the voyce of the trumpet: but they say, we wyll not take heede.
Heare therefore ye gentiles, and thou congregation shalt know what I haue deuised for them.
Heare thou earth also: behold, I wyll cause a plague to come vpon this people, euen the fruite of their owne imaginations, for that they haue not ben obedient vnto my wordes and to my lawe, but abhorred them.
Wherefore bryng ye me incense from Saba, and sweete smelling calamus from farre countreys? your burnt offeringes displease me, and I reioyce not in your sacrifices.
And therefore thus saith the Lorde: Beholde, I wyll lay stumbling blockes among this people, and there shall fall at them the father with the chyldren, one neighbour shall perishe with another.
Thus saith the Lorde: Beholde, there shall come a people from the north, and a great people shal arise from the endes of the earth.
With bowes and with dartes shall they be weaponed, it is a rough and fearce people, & an vnmercifull people: their voyce roareth like the sea, thei ride vpon horses well appointed to the battaile against thee O daughter Sion.
The fame of them haue we hearde, our armes are feeble, heauinesse and sorowe is come vpon vs, as vpon a woman trauayling with chylde.
Let no man go foorth into the fielde, let no man come vpon the hye streete: for the sworde and feare of the enemie is on euery side.
Wherfore gyrde a sackcloth about thee O thou daughter of my people, sprinkle thy selfe with ashes: mourne and weepe bitterly as vpon thyne onlye beloued sonne, for the destroyer shall sodainly fall vpon vs.
Thee haue I set for a strong towre [O thou prophete] and a well fensed wall among my people, to seeke out and to trye their wayes.
For they are all stubborne apostates and fallen away, walking deceiptfully, they are cleane brasse and iron, for they hurt and destroy euery man.
The bellowes are brent in the fire, the leade is not moulten, the melter melteth in vayne, for the euill is not taken away from them.
Therefore do they call them naughtie siluer, because the Lorde hath cast them out.
THese are the wordes that God spake vnto Ieremie, saying:
Stande vnder the gate of the Lordes house, & crye out these wordes there with a loude voyce, and say, Heare the word of the Lorde all ye of Iuda, that go in at this doore to worship the Lorde:
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes, the God of Israel: Amende your wayes and your counsels, and I wyll let you dwell in this place.
Trust not in false lying words, saying: Here is the temple of the Lord, here is the temple of the Lord, here is the temple of the Lorde:
But rather in deede amende your wayes and counsels, and iudge right betwixt a man and his neighbour,
Oppresse not the straunger, the fatherlesse, and the widowe, shed not innocent blood in this place, cleane not to straunge gods to your owne destruction:
Then wyll I let you dwell in this place, yea in the land that I gaue afore tyme to your fathers for euer.
But take heede, ye trust in lying tales, that beguile you and do you no good.
For when ye haue stollen, murthered, committed adultrie and periurie, when ye haue offered vnto Baal, folowing straunge and vnknowen gods: shall ye be vnpunished?
Yet then come ye and stande before me in this house (whiche hath my name geuen vnto it) and say, tushe, we are absolued quite, though we haue done all these abhominations.
What, thinke you this house that beareth my name, is a denne of thieues? And yet I see what you thinke, saith the Lorde.
Go to my place in Silo, wherevnto I gaue my name aforetyme, and looke well what I did to the same place for the wickednesse of my people of Israel.
And now seing ye haue done all these deedes saith the Lorde, and I my selfe rose vp euer betimes to warne you and to commune with you, yet would ye not heare me, I called, ye would not aunswere:
Therefore, euen as I haue done vnto Silo, so wyll I do to this house that my name is geuen vnto, and that you put your trust in, yea vnto the place that I haue geuen to you and your fathers:
And I shal thrust you out of my sight, as I haue cast out all your brethren the whole seede of Ephraim.
Therfore thou shalt not pray for this people, thou shalt neither geue thankes nor bid prayer for them: make thou no intercession for them, for in no wise will I heare thee.
Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Iuda, and in the streetes of Hierusalem?
The chyldren gather stickes, the fathers kindle the fire, the wome{n} kneade the dough to bake cakes for the queene of heauen: they powre out drinke offeringes vnto straunge gods, to prouoke me vnto wrath.
Howbeit they hurt not me saith the Lord, but rather confounde and shame them selues.
And therefore thus saith the Lorde God: Beholde, my wrath and indignation shalbe powred out vpon this place, vpon men and cattell, vpon trees in the fielde, and fruite of the lande: and it shall burne, so that no man may quench it.
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: Heape vp your burnt offeringes with your sacrifices, and eate the fleshe.
For when I brought your fathers out of Egypt, I spake no worde vnto them of burnt offeringes and sacrifices:
But this I commaunded them, saying, Hearken and obay my voyce, and I shalbe your God, and ye shalbe my people, so that ye walke in al the wayes whiche I haue commaunded you, that ye may prosper.
But they were not obedient, they inclined not their eares therevnto: but went after their owne imaginations, and after the motions of their owne wicked heart, and so turned them selues away, and conuerted not vnto me.
And this haue they done from the tyme that your fathers came out of Egypt, vnto this day: Neuerthelesse, I sent vnto you all my seruauntes the prophetes, I rose vp early, and sent you worde.
Yet woulde they not hearken nor offer me their eares, but were obstinate, and worse then their fathers.
And thou shalt nowe speake all these wordes vnto them, but they shall not heare thee: thou shalt crye vpon them, but they shall not aunswere thee.
Therefore shalt thou say vnto them, This is the people that neither heareth the voyce of the Lorde their God, nor receaueth his correction: faythfulnesse and trueth is cleane rooted out of their mouth.
Wherefore cut of thine heere, O Hierusalem, and cast it away, take vp a complaint on hye: for the Lorde hath cast away and forsaken the people that he is displeased withall.
For the chyldren of Iuda haue done euyll in my sight, saith the Lorde: they haue set vp their abhominations in the house that hath my name, and haue defiled it:
They haue also buylded an aulter at Topheth, whiche is in the valley of the chyldren of Hennom, that they might burne their sonnes and daughters in fire: whiche I neuer commaunded them, neither came it euer in my thought.
And therfore beholde the dayes shall come (saith the Lorde) that it shall no more be called Topheth, or the valley of the chyldren of Hennom, but the valley of slaughter: for in Topheth they shall be buried, because they shall els haue no roome.
Yea the dead bodyes of this people shalbe eaten vp of the foules of the ayre, and wylde beastes of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.
And as for the voyce of mirth and gladnesse of the cities of Iuda and Hierusalem, the voyce of the bridegrome and of the bride, I wyll make them ceasse: for the lande shalbe desolate.
AT the same tyme saith the Lorde, the bones of the kinges of Iuda, the bones of his princes, the bones of the preachers and prophetes, yea and the bones of the citizens of Hierusalem, shalbe brought out of their graues,
And layde against the sunne the moone, & all the heauenly hoast, whom they loued, whom they serued, whom they ranne after, whom they sought and worshipped: they shall neither be gathered together nor buried, but shall lye as dunge vpon the earth.
And all they that remaine of this wicked generation, shal desire rather to die then to line, whersoeuer they remaine, and where as I scatter them, saith the Lorde of hoastes.
Thus shalt thou say vnto them also: Thus saith the Lorde, Do men fall so, that they arise not vp againe? or if Israel repent, wyll not God turne againe to them?
Wherefore then is this people of Hierusalem gone so farre backe, that they turne not againe? They are euer the longer the more obstinate, and wyll not be conuerted.
For I haue loked and considered, but there is no man that speaketh a good worde, there is no man that taketh repentaunce for his sinne, that wyll so muche say, what haue I done? but euerie man turneth to his owne course, like a fierce horse headlong to the battaile.
The Storke in the ayre knoweth his appointed tyme, the Turtle doue, the Swallowe and the Crane consider the tyme of their trauayle: but my people wyll not knowe the tyme of the punishment of the Lorde.
Howe dare ye say then, we are wyse, we haue the lawe of the Lorde among vs? Truely in vayne hath he prepared his penne, and vainely haue the writers written it.
Therefore shall the wyse be confounded, they shalbe afraide and taken: for lo, they haue cast out the worde of the Lorde, what wisdome can then be among them?
Wherfore I wyl geue their wiues vnto aliauntes, and their fields to destroyers: For from the lowest vnto the hyest they folowe filthy lucre, and from the prophete vnto the priest they deale all with lies.
Neuerthelesse, they heale the hurt of my people very slenderly, saying, peace, peace: where there is no peace at all.
Fye for shame, howe abhominable thinges do they? and yet they be not ashamed, yea they knowe of no shame: Wherefore in the tyme of their visitation they shal fal among the dead bodies, and be ouerthrowne, saith the Lorde.
Moreouer, I wyll consume them in deede (saith the Lorde) so that there shall not be one grape vpon the vine, neither one figge vpon the figge tree, and the leaues shalbe pluckt of: and the thing that I haue geuen them, shalbe taken from them.
Why prolong we the time? Let vs gather our selues together, and go into the strong citie, there shall we be in rest: for the Lorde our God hath put vs to scilence, and geuen vs water mixt with gall to drinke, because we haue sinned against hym.
We loked for peace, and we fare not the better, we wayted for the tyme of health, and lo, •re is nothing but trouble.
The noyse of his horses is heard from Dan, the whole lande is afraide at the neighing of his strong horses: for they are come in, and haue deuoured the lande, withall that is in it, the cities, and those that dwell therin.
Moreouer, I wyll sende cockatrices and serpentes among you (whiche wyl not be charmed) and they shall bite you, saith the Lorde.
I woulde haue had comfort against sorowe: but sorowe is come vpon me, and heauinesse vexeth my heart.
For lo, the voyce of the crying of my people is hearde, [for feare of them that come] from a farre countrey: Is not the Lord in Sion? Is not her king in her? Wherefore then haue they greeued me [shall the Lorde say] with their images, and foolishe straunge fashions of a forraine god?
The haruest is gone, the sommer hath an ende, and we are not helped.
I am sore vexed, because of the hurt of my people, I am heauie and abashed:
Is there not triacle at Gilead? Is there no phisitio{n} there? why then is not the health of my people recouered?
O Who wyll geue my head water inough, and a wel of teares for mine eyes, that I may weepe night and day for the slaughter of my people?
Woulde God that I had a cottage somewhere farre from folke, that I might leaue my people and go from them, for they be all adulterers and a shrinking sort.
They bend their tongues like bowes to shoote out lyes, they waxe strong vppon earth: As for the trueth, they may nothing away withall in the worlde, for they go from one wickednes to another, and wyll not knowe me, saith the Lorde.
Yea, one must kepe hym selfe from another, no man may safely trust his owne brother: for one brother vndermindeth another, one neighbour beguileth another.
Yea, one dissembleth with another, and they deale with no trueth: They haue practised their tongues to lye, and taken great paynes to do mischiefe.
Thou sittest in the middes of a deceiptfull people, which for very dissembling falshood wyll not knowe me, saith the Lorde.
Therefore thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: Beholde, I wyll melt them and trye them: for what shoulde I els do to my people?
Their tongues are like sharpe arrowes to speake deceipt: with their mouth they speake peaceablie to their neighbour, but priuilie they lay wayte for hym.
Should I not punishe them for these thinges, saith the Lorde? or shoulde I not be auenged of any suche people as this?
Vpon the mountaines wyl I take vp a lamentation and a sorowfull crye, and a mourning vpon the faire places of the wildernesse: Namely, howe they are so brent vp, that no man goeth there any more, yea a man shall not heare one beast crye there: byrdes and cattell are all gone from thence.
I wyl make Hierusalem also an heape of stones, & a den of venemous wormes: and I wyll make the cities of Iuda so waste, that no man shall dwel therin.
What man is so wise as to vnderstand this? or to whom hath the Lorde spoken by mouth, that he may shewe this, and say: O thou lande, why perishest thou so? wherfore art thou so brent vp, and like a wildernesse that no man goeth thorowe?
Yea the Lorde hym selfe tolde the same vnto them that forsoke his lawe, and kept not the thing that he gaue them in commaundement, neither liued thereafter:
But folowed the wickednesse of their owne heartes, & serued straunge gods as their forefathers taught them.
Therefore thus saith the Lorde of hoastes, the God of Israel: Beholde, I wyll feede this people with wormewood, and geue them gall to drinke.
I wyll scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers haue knowen: and I wyll send a sworde among them to persecute them, vntyll I bring them to naught.
Moreouer, thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: Beware of the vengeaunce that hangeth ouer you, and call for mourning wiues, and sende for wyse women, that they come shortly,
And sing a mourning song of vs, that the teares may fall out of our eyes, and that our eye liddes may gushe out of water.
For there is a lamentable noyse heard of Sion: O howe are we so sore destroyed? O howe are we so pitiously confounded? We must forsake our owne naturall countrey, and we are shut out of our owne lodginges.
Yet heare the worde of the Lorde (O ye women) and let your eares regarde the wordes of his mouth: that ye may learne your daughters to mourne, and that euery one may teache her neighbour to make lamentation
[Namely thus] Death is climing vp in at our windowes, he is come into our houses, to destroy the chylde before the doore, and the young man in the streete.
But tell thou playnely, thus saith the Lord: The dead bodyes of men shall lye vpon the ground as the dunge vpon the fielde, and as the handfull after the mower, and there shalbe no man to take them vp.
Thus saith the Lorde: Let not the wise man reioyce in his wisdome, nor the strong man in his strength, neither the riche man in his riches:
But who so wyll reioyce, let hym reioyce in this, that he vnderstandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lorde whiche do mercy, equitie, and righteousnesse vpon the earth: therfore haue I pleasure in suche thinges, saith the Lorde.
Beholde the time commeth (saith the Lord) that I will visite all them whose foreskinne is vncircumcised, and the circumcised,
The Egyptians, the Iewes, the Edomites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, and the shauen Madianites that dwel in the wildernesse: for all the gentiles are all vncircumcised in the fleshe, but all the house of Israel are vncircumcised in the heart.
HEare the worde of the Lord that he speaketh vnto thee, O thou house of Israel.
Thus saith the Lord: ye shal not learne after the maner of the heathen, and ye shall not be afraide for the tokens of heauen: for the heathen are afraide of suche.
Yea all the customes and lawes of the gentiles are nothing but vanitie: They hewe downe a tree in the wood with the handes of the workeman, and fashion it with the are.
They couer it ouer with golde or siluer, they fasten it with nailes and hammers, that it moue not.
It standeth as stiffe as the Palme tree, it can neither speake nor go one foote, but must be borne: Be not ye afraide of suche, for they can do neither good nor euill.
But there is none lyke vnto thee O Lorde, and great is the name of thy power.
Who would not feare thee, O king of the gentiles? for thyne is the dominion: for among all the wise men of the gentiles, and in all their kingdomes, there is none that may be likened vnto thee.
They are altogether brutishe and vnwise in this one thing: wood is the teaching of vanitie.
Siluer is brought out of Tharsis, and beaten to plates, and gold from Ophir, a worke that is made with the hande of the craftesman, and they are clothed with yelowe silke and scarlet: all these are the worke of cunning men.
But the Lorde is a true God, a liuing God, and an euerlasting kyng: if he be wroth, the earth shaketh, all the gentiles may not abide his indignation.
[As for their gods] thus shall you say to them, they are no gods that made neither heauen nor earth, therfore shall they perishe from the earth, and from all thinges vnder heauen.
But [as for our God] he made the earth with his power, and with his wisdome doth he order the whole compasse of the worlde, with his discretion hath he spread out the heauens.
At his voyce the waters gathered together in the ayre, he draweth vp the cloudes from the vttermost partes of the earth, he turneth lightning to raine, and bringeth foorth the windes out of their treasures.
His wisdome maketh all men fooles, and confounded be casters of images: for that they cast, is but a vayne thing, and hath no life.
The vayne craftesmen with their workes that they in their vanitie haue made, shall perishe one with another in time of visitation.
Neuerthelesse, Iacobs portion is none such: but it is he that hath made all thinges, and Israel is the rod of his inheritaunce: the Lorde of hoastes is his name.
Gather vp thy wares out of the land, thou that art in the strong place.
For thus saith the Lorde: beholde, I wyll now throwe as with a stone sling, the inhabiters of this land at this once, and I wyll bring trouble vpon them, that they shall proue true the wordes that I haue spoken by the prophetes.
Alas howe am I hurt? alas howe paynefull are my scourges vnto me? for I consider this sorowe by my selfe, and I must suffer it.
My tabernacle is destroyed, and all my cordes are broken, my chyldren are gone fro me, & can no where be founde: Nowe haue I none to spreade out my tent, nor to set vp my hanginges.
For the heardmen are become foolishe, and they haue not sought the Lorde: therefore haue they dealt vnwisely with their cattell, and all are scattered abrode.
Beholde, the noyse is harde at hande, and great sedition out of the north, to make the cities of Iuda a wildernesse, and a dwelling place for dragons.
Nowe I knowe (O Lord) that it is not in mans power to order his owne wayes, or to rule his owne steppes and goinges.
Therefore chasten thou me O Lord, but with fauour, and not in thy wrath, lest thou bring me vtterly to naught.
Powre out thyne indignation vpon the gentiles that knowe thee not, and vpon the people that call not vpon thy name, and that because they haue consumed, deuoured, and destroyed Iacob, and haue made his habitation waste.
THis is a sermo{n} which the Lorde commaunded Ieremie for to preache, saying:
Heare the wordes of this couenaunt and speake vnto the men of Iuda, and to all them that dwell at Hierusalem,
And say vnto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Cursed be euery one that is not obedient vnto the words of this couenaunt,
Whiche I commaunded vnto your fathers, what time as I brought them out of Egypt from the iron furnace, saying: Be obedient vnto my voyce, and do according to all that I commaunde you, so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:
And wyll kepe my promise that I haue sworne vnto your fathers, [namelye] that I woulde geue them a lande whiche floweth with milke and honie, as ye see it is come to passe vnto this day. Then aunswered I and sayde, Amen: let it be euen so Lorde as thou sayest.
Then the Lord sayd vnto me againe: Preache this in the cities of Iuda, and rounde about Hierusalem, & say: Heare the wordes of this couenaunt, and kepe them.
For I haue diligently exhorted your fathers, euer since the tyme that I brought them out of the lande of Egypt vnto this day, I gaue them warning be times, saying: hearken vnto my voyce.
Neuerthelesse, they would not obey me, nor encline their eares vnto me: but folowed the wicked imaginations of their owne heartes, and therefore I haue brought vpon them al the wordes of this couenaunt that I gaue them to kepe, which they [notwithstanding] haue not kept.
And the Lorde sayde vnto me: it is founde out that whole Israel and all these cities of Hierusalem are gone backe.
They haue turned them selues to the blasphemies of their forefathers, which had no lust to heare my wordes: Euen lykewyse haue these also folowed straunge gods, and worshipped them: The house of Israel and Iuda haue broken my couenaunt whiche I made with their fathers.
Therefore, thus saith the Lorde: beholde, I will send a plague vpon them, whiche they shall not be able to escape: and they shall crye vnto me, and I wyl not heare them.
Then shall the townes of Iuda, and the citizens of Hierusalem go and call vpon their gods vnto whom they made their oblations: but they shall not be able to helpe them in tyme of their trouble.
For as many cities as thou hast, O Iuda, so many gods hast thou had also: and loke howe many streetes there be in thee (O Hierusalem) so many shameful aulters haue ye set vp, aulters [I say] to offer vpon them vnto Baal.
Therfore pray not thou for this people, byd neither prayse nor prayer for them: for though they crye vnto me in their trouble, yet wil I not heare them.
What part hath my beloued in my house, seing he hath worked abhomination, seruing many gods? The holy fleshe offeringes in the temple are gone from thee [O Iuda] and thou when thou hast done euyll, makest thy boast of it.
The Lord called thee a greene oliue tree, a faire one, a fruitefull one, a goodlye one: but with great clamour hath the enemie set fire vpon it, & the braunches of it are destroyed.
For the Lorde of hoastes that planted thee, hath deuised a plague for thee (O thou house of Israel and Iuda) for the euyll that ye haue done to prouoke hym to wrath, in that ye dyd seruice to Baal.
This (O Lorde) haue I learned of thee, and vnderstande it: for thou hast shewed me their imaginations.
But I am as a meeke lambe, an oxe that is caryed away to be slayne, not knowing that they had deuised suche a counsell against me [saying,] We wyll destroy his meate with wood, and driue him out of the lande of the liuing, that his name shall neuer be thought vpon.
Therfore I wyll beseche thee nowe (O Lorde of hoastes) thou righteous iudge, thou that tryest the raynes and the heartes, let me see thee auenged of them: for vnto thee haue I committed my cause.
The Lorde therfore spake thus of the citizens of Anathoth that sought to slay me, saying: Preache not vnto vs in the name of the Lorde, or els thou shalt dye of our handes:
Thus [I say] spake the Lorde of hoastes: Beholde, I will visit you, your young me{n} shal perishe with the sworde, your sonnes and your daughters shall vtterly dye of hunger,
So that none shall remaine: for vpon the citizens of Anathoth wyll I bring a plague euen the yere of their visitation.
O Lorde thou art more righteous, then that I shoulde dispute with thee: neuerthelesse, let me talke with thee in thynges reasonable. Howe happeneth it that the way of the vngodly is so prosperous? and that it goeth so well with them which without any shame offend and liue in wickednesse,
Thou plantest them, they take roote, they growe, and bryng foorth fruite: they boast much of thee, yet art thou farre from their raynes.
But thou Lorde to whom I am well knowen, thou that hast sene and proued my heart, take them away, like as a flocke is caryed to the slaughter house, & appoynt them for the day of slaughter.
Howe long shall the lande mourne, and all the hearbes of the fielde perishe for the wickednesse of them that dwell therin? The cattell and the birdes are gone, yet say they, tushe, God wyll not destroy vs vtterly.
Seyng thou art weery in runnyng with the footmen, howe wilt thou then runne with horses? In a peaceable sure lande thou mayest be safe: but howe wylt thou do in the furious pride of Iordane?
For thy brethren and thy kinrede haue altogether dispised thee, and cryed out vpon thee altogether: Beleue them not, though they speake faire wordes to thee.
As for me [I say] I haue forsaken mine owne dwellyng place, and left mine heritage: my lyfe also that I loue so well, haue I geuen into the handes of myne enemies.
Myne heritage is become vnto me as a lion in the wood: it cryed out vpon me, therfore haue I forsaken it.
Is not mine heritage vnto me as a speckled birde? are not the birdes round about agaynst her? Come and gather ye together all the beastes of the fielde, come, that ye may eate it vp.
Diuers heardmen haue broke{n} downe my vineyarde, and troden vpon my portion: of my pleasaunt portion they haue made a wildernesse and desert.
They haue layde it waste, and nowe that it is waste it sigheth vnto me: yea the whole lande lyeth waste, and no man regardeth it.
The destroyers come ouer the borders in the desert euery way: for the sworde of the Lorde doth consume from the one ende of the lande to the other, and no fleshe hath rest.
They haue sowen wheate, and reaped thornes, they haue taken heritage in possession, but it doth them no good: and they were ashamed of your fruites, because of the great wrath of the Lord.
Thus saith the Lord vpon all my euyl neighbours that lay hande on mine heritage which I haue possessed, euen my people of Israel: Beholde, I wyll plucke them [namely Israel] out of their lande, and put out the house of Iuda from among them.
And when I haue rooted them out, I will be at one with them agayne, and I wyll haue mercie vpon them, and bryng them agayne euery man to his owne heritage, and into his lande.
And yf they [namely that trouble my people] wyll learne the wayes of them to sweare by my name, the Lorde lyueth, lyke as they learned my people to sweare by Baal, then shall they be built among my people:
But yf they wyll not obey, then wyll I roote out the same folke, and destroy them, saith the Lorde.
THus saith the Lorde vnto me: Go thy way and get thee a lynnen girdle, and girde it about thy loynes, let it not be wet.
Then I got me a girdle accordyng to the commaundement of the Lorde, and put it about my loynes.
After this, the seconde tyme the Lorde spake vnto me agayne.
Take the girdle that thou hast prepared and put about thee, and get thee vp, and go vnto Euphrates, and hyde it there in a hole of the rocke.
So went I, and hyd it at Euphrates, as the Lorde commaunded me.
And it happened long after this, that the Lorde spake vnto me: Vp, and get thee to Euphrates, & fetche the girdle from thence, which I commaunded thee to hyde there.
Then went I to Euphrates, & digged vp, and toke the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and beholde, the girdle was corrupt, so that it was profitable for nothyng.
Then sayde the Lorde vnto me,
Thus saith the Lorde, Euen so wyll I corrupt the pride of Iuda, and the hye mynde of Hierusalem.
This people is a wicked people, they wyll not heare my worde, they folowe the wicked imaginations of their owne heart, and hang vpon straunge gods, them they serue and worship, and therfore they shalbe as this breeche that serueth for nothyng.
For as straytly as a girdle lyeth vpon a mans loynes, so straytly dyd I bynde the whole house of Israel, and the whole house of Iuda vnto me, saith the Lorde: that they myght be my people, that they might haue a glorious name, that they might be in honour: but they woulde not obey me.
Therfore lay this riddle before them, and say, Thus saith the Lorde God of Israel: Euery pot shalbe fylled with wine. And they shall say vnto thee. Thinkest thou we knowe not that euery pot shalbe fylled with wine?
Then shalt thou say vnto them, thus saith the Lorde: Beholde, I shall fyll all the inhabitours of this lande with drunkennesse, the kynges that syt vpon Dauids stoole, the priestes & prophetes, with all that dwell at Hierusalem.
And I wyll set them one agaynst another, yea the fathers against the sonnes, saith the Lorde: I wyll not pardon them, I wyll not spare them, nor haue pitie vpon them: but destroy them.
Heare, geue eare, take not disdayne at it: for it is the Lorde hym selfe that speaketh.
Honour the Lorde your God or he take his light from you, and or euer your feete stumble in darcknesse at the hyll: lest when you loke for the lyght, he turne it into the shadowe and darcknesse of death.
But if ye wyll not heare me that geue you secrete warnyng, I wyll mourne from my whole heart for your stubburnnesse: Piteously wyll I weepe, and the teares shall gushe out of mine eyes, for the Lordes flocke shalbe caried away captiue.
Tell the kyng and the queene, humble your selues, sit you downe lowe, for your dignitie shalbe throwen downe, and the crowne of your glorie shall fall from your head.
The cities towarde the south shalbe shut vp, and no man shall open them: all Iuda shalbe caryed away captiue, so that none shall remayne.
Lyft vp your eyes, and beholde them that come from the north, where is the flocke [O thou lande] that was geuen thee? and where are thy fat and riche sheepe?
To whom wilt thou make thy mone when the enemie shall come vpon thee? for thou hast taught them thy selfe, and made them maisters ouer thee: Shall not sorowe come vpon thee as on a woman trauaylyng with childe?
And if thou wouldest then say in thine heart, Wherfore come these thinges vpon me? Euen for the multitude of thy blasphemies shall thy hynder partes and thy feete be discouered.
May a man of Inde chaunge his skinne, and the cat of the mountayne her spottes? so, may ye that be exercised in euyll, do good?
Therfore wyll I scatter them like as the stubble that is taken away with the south wynde.
This shalbe your portion, and the portion of your measure wherwith ye shalbe rewarded of me saith the Lorde, because ye haue forgotten me, and put your trust in deceiptfull thinges.
Therfore shall I turne thy clothes ouer thy head, and discouer thy shame.
Thy adulteries, thy neyghinges, thy shamefull whoredome on the hylles in the fieldes, and thy abhominations haue I seene: Wo be vnto thee (O Hierusalem) wylt thou neuer be clensed any more? Or when shall that be?
THe worde of the Lorde shewed vnto Ieremie concernyng the dearth of the fruites.
Iuda hath mourned, his gates are desolate, they are brought to heauinesse, euen vnto the grounde, and the crye of Hierusalem goeth vp.
The Lordes sent their seruauntes to fetche water, and when they came to the welles, they did finde no water, but caried their vessels home emptie: they be ashamed and confounded, and couer their heades.
For the grounde is dryed, because there commeth no rayne vpon it: the plowmen also be ashamed and couer their heades.
The hynde also forsoke the young fawne that he brought foorth in the fielde, because there was no grasse.
The wylde asses did stande in the hye places, and drewe in their winde lyke the dragons, their eyes did fayle for want of grasse.
Doubtlesse our owne wickednesse doth rewarde vs: but Lorde do thou accordyng to thy name, though our transgression and sinnes be many, and agaynst thee haue we sinned.
For thou art the comfort and helpe of Israel in the tyme of trouble: Why wilt thou be as a straunger in the lande, and as one that goeth his iourney, and co{m}meth in only to remayne for a night?
Why wylt thou make thy selfe a cowarde, and as it were a giaunt that yet may not helpe? But thou O Lorde art in the middest of vs, and thy name is called vpon of vs, forsake vs not.
Thus hath the Lorde sayde vnto his people, seyng they haue had such a lust to wander abrode, and haue not refrayned their feete: therfore the Lorde hath no pleasure in them, but he wyll nowe bring againe to remembraunce all their misdeedes, and punishe all their sinnes.
Yea euen thus sayde the Lorde vnto me: Thou shalt not pray to do this people good.
For though they fast, I wyll not heare their prayers, and though they offer burnt offeringes and sacrifices, yet wyll not I accept them: for I wyll destroy them with the sworde, hunger, and pestilence.
Then aunswered I: O Lorde God, the prophetes say vnto them, Tushe, ye shall neede to feare no sworde, and no hunger shall come vpon you: but the Lorde shall geue you sure rest in this place.
And the Lorde sayde vnto me, The prophetes preach lyes in my name, wheras I haue not sent them, neither gaue I them any charge, neither did I speake vnto them: yet they preache vnto you false visions, charming, vanitie, and deceiptfulnesse of their owne heart.
Therfore thus saith the Lorde: As for those prophetes that preache in my name, whom I neuerthelesse haue not sent, and that say, Tushe, there shall no sworde nor hunger be in this lande: with sworde and with hunger shall those prophetes perishe.
And the people to whom they preache shalbe cast out of Hierusalem, dye of hunger, and be slayne with the sworde, and there shalbe no man to bury them, both they, and their wiues, their sonnes, and their daughters: for thus wyll I poure their wickednesse vpon them.
This shalt thou say also vnto them, Mine eyes shall weepe without ceassyng day and nyght: for my people shalbe destroyed with great harme, and shall perishe with a great plague.
For yf I go into the fielde, lo, it lyeth all full of slayne men: If I come into the citie, lo, they be all famished of hunger: yea their prophetes also and priestes shalbe led into an vnknowen lande.
Hast thou then vtterly forsaken Iuda? Doest thou so abhorre Sion? Wherfore hast thou so plagued vs, that we can be healed no more? We loked for peace, and there commeth no good, for the tyme of health, and lo here is nothyng but trouble.
We knowledge (O Lorde) all our misdeedes, and the sinnes of our fathers: for we haue offended thee.
Cast vs not of (O Lord) for thy names sake, forget not thy louyng kindnesse, ouerthrowe not the throne of thine honour, breake not the couenaunt that thou hast made with vs.
Are there any among the gods of the gentiles that sende rayne, or geue the showres from heauen? Art not thou thy selfe our Lorde God? we wyll trust in thee, for thou doest all these thynges.
THus spake the Lorde vnto me, Though Moyses and Samuel stoode before me, yet haue I no heart to this people: driue them away, that they may go out of my sight.
And yf they say vnto thee, whyther shall we go? then tell them, The Lorde geueth you this aunswere: Some vnto death, some to the sworde, some to hunger, some into captiuitie.
For I wyll bryng foure plagues vpon them, saith the Lorde: The sworde shal slay them, the dogges shall teare them in peeces, the soules of the ayre and beastes of the earth shall eate them vp, and destroy them.
I wyll scatter them about also in all kingdomes and landes to be plagued, because of Manasses the sonne of Hezekia kyng of Iuda, for the thynges that he did in Hierusalem.
Who shall then haue pitie vpon thee O Hierusalem? who shalbe sorie for thee? Or who shall make intercession to obtayne peace for thee?
Seing thou goest from me, and turnest backwarde, saith the Lorde: therfore I dyd stretche out myne hande against thee to destroy thee, and I haue ben sorie for thee so long that I am weerie.
I haue scattred them abrode with the fanne of euery side of the land, I haue wasted my people and destroyed them, yet they haue had no lust to turne from their owne wayes.
I haue made their widowes mo in number then the sandes of the sea, vpon the mothers of their children dyd I bryng a destroyer in the noone day: sodaynly and vnawares did I sende a feare vpon their cities.
She that hath borne seuen children, hath none, her heart is full of sorowe: the sunne doth fayle her in the cleare day, she is confounded and faintie for very heauinesse: As for those that remayne, I wyll deliuer them vnto the sworde before their enemies, saith the Lorde.
O mother, alas that thou euer didst beare me, a brawler and rebuker of the whole lande: though I neuer lent nor receaued vpon vsurie, yet all men speake euyll vpon me.
And the Lord aunswered me, Veryly thy remnaunt shall haue wealth: Come not I to thee when thou art in trouble, & helpe thee when thine enemie oppresseth thee?
Doth one iron hurt another? or one metall that commeth from the north another?
As for thy riches and treasure, I will geue them out into a pray: not for money, but because of all thy sinnes that thou hast done in all thy coastes.
And I wyll bryng thee with thine enemies into a lande that thou knowest not: for the fire that is kindled in myne indignation shall burne you vp.
O Lorde thou knowest, therfore remember me, and visite me, reuenge me of my persecutours: take me not from this life in the tyme of thine anger, thou knowest that for thy sake I suffer rebuke.
When I had founde thy wordes I did eate them vp greedyly, they haue made my heart ioyfull and glad: for thy name was called vpon me O Lorde God of hoastes.
I dwell not among the scorners, neither is my delight therin: but I dwell alone because of thy hande, for thou hast fylled me with bitternesse.
Shall my heauinesse endure for euer? Are my plagues then so great that they may neuer be healed? Wylt thou be as one that is false, and as a water that falleth, and can not continue?
Vpon these wordes, thus sayde the Lorde vnto me, If thou wylt turne agayne, I shall set thee in my seruice, and yf thou wylt take out the thynges that is precious from the vile, thou shalt be euen as myne owne mouth: they shall conuert vnto thee, but turne not thou vnto them.
And so shall I make thee a strong brasen wall agaynst this people, they shall fyght agaynst thee, but they shall not preuayle: for I my selfe wyll be with thee, to helpe thee and deliuer thee, saith the Lorde:
And I will rid thee out of the handes of the wicked, and deliuer thee out of the handes of tirauntes.
THus sayde the Lorde vnto me:
Thou shalt take thee no wife, nor beget children in this place.
For of the children that are borne in this place, of their mothers that haue borne them, and of their fathers that haue begotten them in this lande, thus saith the Lorde.
They shall dye an horrible death, no man shall weepe for them, nor bury them, but they shall lye as dunge vpon the earth: they shall perishe through the sworde & hunger, and their bodyes shalbe meate for the fowles of the ayre, and beastes of the earth.
For thus saith the Lorde, Go not thou into the house of mournyng, nor come to mourne and weepe for them: for I haue taken my peace from this people saith the Lorde, yea my fauour and my mercies.
And in this lande shall they dye olde and young, and shall not be buryed: no man shall be weepe them, no man shall clippe or shaue hym selfe for them.
They shall not wryng their handes in mournyng wise on their dead one to comfort another: one shall not offer another the cup of consolation, to forget their heauinesse for their father and mother.
Thou shalt not go into their feast house, to sit downe to eate or drynke with them:
For thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: Beholde, I shall take away out of this place the voyce of mirth and gladnesse, the voyce of the bridegrome and of the bride, yea and that in your dayes, that ye may see it.
Nowe when thou shewest this people all these wordes, and they say vnto thee, Wherfore hath the Lord deuised all this great plague for vs? or what is the offence and sinne that we haue done agaynst the Lorde our God?
Then make thou them this aunswere: Because your fathers haue forsaken me, saith the Lorde, and haue walked after straunge gods, whom they honoured and worshipped: but me haue they forsaken, and haue not kept my lawe.
And ye with your shamefull blasphemies haue exceeded the wickednesse of your fathers: for euery one of you hath folowed the frowarde and euyll imaginations of his owne heart, and is not obedient vnto me.
Therfore wyll I cast you out of this lande, into a lande that ye and your fathers knowe not: and there shall ye serue straunge gods day and nyght, there wyll I shewe you no fauour.
Beholde therfore saith the Lorde, the dayes are come that it shall no more be sayd: The Lorde liueth which brought the children of Israel out of the lande of Egypt:
But it shalbe sayde, The Lorde liueth that brought the children of Israel from the north, and from all landes where he had scattered them: for I wyll bryng them agayne into the lande that I gaue their fathers.
Beholde, saith the Lorde, I wyll sende out many fisshers to take them, and after that wyll I sende out many hunters, to hunt them out from all mountaynes and hylles, and out of the caues of stone.
For mine eyes behold all their wayes, and they can not be hyd fro my face: neither can their wicked deedes be kept close out of my sight.
But first wyll I sufficiently rewarde their shameful blasphemies and sinnes, because they haue defiled my lande with their stinckyng carions and their abhominations, wherwith they haue filled mine heritage.
O Lorde my strength, my power and refuge in tyme of trouble: the gentiles shall come vnto thee from the endes of the worlde, and say, Veryly our fathers haue cleaued vnto lyes, their idols are but vayne and vnprofitable.
Howe can a man make those his gods, which are not able to be gods?
And therfore I wyll once teach them, saith the Lorde, I wyll shewe them my hande and my power, and they shall knowe that my name is the Lorde.
YOur sinne [O ye of the tribe of Iuda] is written in the table of your heartes, and grauen so vpon the edges of your aulters with a penne of iron, and with an Adamant clawe:
That as the fathers thinke vpon their children, so thinke you also vpon your aulters, wooddes, thicke trees, hye hylles, mountaynes, and fieldes.
Wherfore, I wyll make my mount that standeth in the fielde, all your substaunce and treasure to be spoyled, for the great sinne that ye haue done vpon your hye places throughout all the coastes of your lande.
Ye shalbe cast out also from the heritage that I gaue you: and I wyll subdue you vnder the heauie bondage of your enemies, in a lande that ye knowe not: for ye haue ministred fire to mine indignation, which shall burne euermore.
Thus saith the Lorde, Cursed be the man that putteth his trust in man, and that taketh fleshe for his arme, and he whose heart departeth from the Lord.
He shalbe like the heath that groweth in wildernesse: As for the good thyng that is for to come, he shall not see it, but dwell in a drye place of the wildernesse, in a salt and vnoccupied lande.
O blessed is the man that putteth his trust in the Lorde, and whose hope is in the Lorde hym selfe.
For he shalbe as a tree that is planted by the water side, which spreadeth out the roote vnto moystnesse, whom the heate can not harme when it commeth, but his leafe shalbe greene: And though there growe but litle fruite because of drouth, yet is he not carefull, but he neuer leaueth of to bryng foorth fruite.
Among all thynges, man hath the most deceiptfull and stubburne heart: Who shall then knowe it?
Euen I the Lorde searche out the grounde of the heart, & trye the raynes, and rewarde euery man accordyng to his wayes, and accordyng to the fruite of his workes.
The partrich maketh a nest of egges, which she layed not: he commeth by riches, but not righteously, in the middest of his life must he leaue them behynde hym, & at the last be founde a very foole.
But thou (O Lorde) whose throne is most glorious, excellent, and of most antiquitie, which dwellest in the place of our holy rest:
Thou art the comfort of Israel, all they that forsake thee shalbe confounded, all they that do depart from thee shalbe written in earth: for they haue forsaken the Lorde the very conduite of the waters of lyfe.
Heale me O Lorde, and I shalbe whole: saue thou me, & I shalbe saued: for thou art my prayse.
Beholde, these men say vnto me, where is the worde of the Lorde? let it come nowe.
Wheras I neuerthelesse obediently folowed thee as a sheephearde, & haue not vncalled taken this office vpon me▪ this knowest thou well: my wordes also were ryght before thee.
Be not thou terrible vnto me O Lord: for thou art he in whom I hope when I am in perill.
Let my persecutours be confounded, but not me: let them be afrayde, and not me: Thou shalt bryng vpon them the tyme of plague, and shalt destroy them right sore.
Thus hath the Lorde sayde vnto me, Go and stande vnder the gate wherethrough the people and the kynges of Iuda go out and in, yea vnder all the gates of Hierusalem,
And say vnto them, Heare the worde of the Lorde ye kynges of Iuda, and all thou people of Iuda, and all the citezins of Hierusalem, that go through this gate.
Thus the Lorde co{m}maundeth, Take heede for your lyues that ye cary no burthen vpon you in the Sabbath, to bryng it through the gates of Hierusalem.
Ye shall beare no burthen also out of your houses in the Sabbath, you shall do no labour therin: but halowe the Sabbath, as I commaunded your fathers.
Howbeit they obeyed me not, neither hearkened they vnto me: but were obstinate & stubburne, and neither obeyed me, nor receaued my correction.
Neuerthelesse, yf ye wyll heare me saith the Lorde, and beare no burthen into the citie through this gate vpon the Sabbath, yf ye wyll halowe the Sabbath, so that ye do no worke therin:
Then shall there go through the gates of this citie kynges and princes that shal sit vpon the throne of Dauid, they shalbe caryed vpon charrettes, and ride vpon horses, both they & their princes: yea whole Iuda and all the citezins of Hierusalem shall go here through, and this citie shall euer be inhabited.
There shall come men also from the cities of Iuda, from about Hierusalem, and from the lande of Beniamin, from the plaine fieldes, from the mou{n}taynes, and from the wildernesse, which shall bryng burnt offerynges, sacrifices, oblations, and incense, and offer vp thankesgeuyng in the house of the Lorde.
But yf ye wyll not be obedient vnto me to halowe the Sabbath, so that ye wyll beare your burthens through the gates of Hierusalem vpon the Sabbath: then shall I set fire vpon the gates of Hierusalem, and it shall burne vp the houses of Hierusalem, and no man shalbe able to quenche it.
THis is another communication that God had with Ieremie, saying:
Arise, and go downe into the potters house, & there shal I tell thee more of my mynde,
Nowe when I came to the potters house, I founde hym makyng his worke vpon a wheele.
The vessell that the potter made of clay, brake among his handes: So he began a newe, and made another vessell accordyng to his mynde.
Then sayde the Lorde thus vnto me:
May not I do with you as this potter doth O ye house of Israel saith the Lorde? Beholde ye house of Israel, ye are in my hande, euen as the clay is in the potters hande.
When I take in hande to roote out, to destroy, or to waste away any people or kyngdome:
If that people agaynst whom I haue thus deuised, conuert from their wickednesse, I repent of the plague that I deuised to bryng vpon them.
Agayne, when I take in hande to builde or to plant a people or a kyngdome:
If the same people do euyll before me and heare not my voyce, I repent of the good that I haue deuised for them.
Speake nowe therfore vnto whole Iuda, and to them that dwell at Hierusalem, thus saith the Lorde, Beholde I am deuisyng a plague for you, and am takyng a thyng in hande agaynst you: therfore let euery man turne from his euyll way, and take vpon you the thyng that is good and ryght.
But they sayde, No more of this, we wyll folowe our owne imaginations, and do euery man accordyng to the wilfulnesse of his owne mynde.
Therfore thus saith the Lorde, Aske among the heathen yf any man haue hearde such horrible thynges, as the mayden Israel hath done?
Wyll a man forsake the snowe of Libanus, which commeth from the rocke of the fielde? Or shall the colde flowyng waters that commeth from another place be forsaken?
But my people hath forgotten me, they haue made sacrifice in vayne, and their prophetes make them fall in their wayes from the auncient pathes, and to go into a way not vsed to be troden •of iust men.]
Wherethrough they haue brought their lande into an euerlastyng wildernesse and scorne: so that whosoeuer trauayleth therby, shalbe abashed, and wagge their heades.
With an east wynde wyll I scatter them before their enemies: and when their destruction commeth, I wil turne my backe vpon them, but not my face.
Then sayd they, Come, let vs imagine somethyng agaynst this Ieremie: for the priestes shall not be destitute of the lawe, neither shall the wise men be destitute of counsayle, nor the prophetes destitute of the worde of God: Come, and let vs smite hym with the tongue, and let vs not marke all his wordes.
Consider me O Lorde, and heare the voyce of mine enemies.
Shall they recompence euyll for good? for they haue digged a pit for my soule: Remember howe that I stoode before thee to speake good for them, and to turne away thy wrath from them.
Therfore, let their children dye of hunger, and let them be oppressed with the sworde: Let their wiues be robbed of their children, and become widowes, let their husbandes be slayne, let their young men be kylled with the sworde in the fielde.
Let the noyse be hearde out of their houses when thou bryngest the murtherer sodaynly vpon them: for they haue digged a pit to take me, and layde snares for my feete.
Yet Lorde thou knowest all their counsayle, that they haue deuised to slay me, forgeue not their wickednesse, and let not their sinnes be put out of thy sight, but let them be iudged before thee as giltie: this do thou vnto them in the tyme of thine indignation.
THus sayde the Lorde: Go thy way and buye thee an earthen pitcher, and bryng foorth the senatours & chiefe priestes,
Vnto the valley of the children of Hennom, which lyeth without the east gate, and shewe them there the wordes that I shall tell thee.
And say thus vnto them, Heare the worde of the Lorde ye kinges of Iuda, and ye citezins of Hierusalem, thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: Beholde, I wyll bryng suche a plague vpon this place, that the eares of all that heare it shall glowe:
And that because they haue forsaken me, and vnhalowed this place, and haue offered in it vnto straunge gods, whom neither they, their fathers, nor the kynges of Iuda haue knowen: they haue filled this place also with the blood of innocentes.
And they haue set vp an aulter vnto Baal, to burne their children for a burnt offring vnto Baal, whiche I neither commaunded nor charged them, neither thought once thervpon.
Beholde therfore the time commeth (saith the Lorde) that this place shall no more be called Thopheth, nor the valley of the chyldren of Hennom, but the valley of slaughter.
For in this place wyll I bryng to naught the counsayle of Iuda and Hierusalem, and kyll them downe with the sworde before their enemies: and I wyll deliuer them into the handes of them that seeke their liues, and their dead carkasses will I geue to be meate for the foules of the ayre, & the beastes of the fielde.
And I will make this citie so desolate and despised, that whosoeuer goeth thereby shalbe abashed, and iest vpon her, because of all her plagues.
I will feede them also with the flesh of their sonnes and their daughters, yea euery one shall eate vp another in the besieging & straytnesse wherewith their enemies [that seeke their liues] shall kepe them in.
And the pitcher shalt thou breake in the sight of the men that goeth with thee,
And say vnto them, Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: Euen so wyll I destroy this people and citie, as a man breaketh an earthen vessell that can not be made whole agayne: in Thopheth shall they be buried, for they shall haue none other place.
Thus wyll I do vnto this place also saith the Lorde, and to them that dwel therin, yea I wyll make this citie as Thopheth.
For the houses of Hierusalem, and the houses of the kynges of Iuda shalbe defiled like as Thopheth, and so shal al the houses in whose roofes they did sacrifice vnto all the hoast of heauen, and powred drinke offerings vnto straunge gods.
And so Ieremie came from Thopheth where the Lorde had sent hym to prophesie, and stoode in the court of the house of the Lorde, and spake to all the people,
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: Beholde, I will bryng vpon this citie, and vpon euery towne about it, all the plagues that I haue deuised against them, because they haue ben obstinate, and would not obay my warninges.
WHen Phashur the priest the sonne of Emmer, chiefe in the house of the Lorde, hearde Ieremie preache these wordes [so stedfastly]
He smote Ieremie, and put hym in the prison that is in the hye gate of Beniamin towardes the house of the Lorde.
The next day folowing Phashur brought Ieremie out of the prison agayne: Then saide Ieremie vnto him, The Lorde shall call thee no more Phashur [that is excellent and increasing] but Magor [that is fearefull and afraide] euery where.
For thus saith the Lorde: Beholde, I wil make thee afraide, euen thy selfe, and all that fauour thee, which shall perishe with the sworde of their enemies, euen before thy face, and I wyll geue whole Iuda into the hands of the king of Babylon, whiche shall cary some vnto Babylon prisoners, and slay some with the sworde.
Moreouer, all the substaunce of this citie, whatsoeuer they haue gotten with their trauaile, all their precious thinges, & all the treasure of the kinges of Iuda, wyll I geue into the handes of their enemies, whiche shall spoyle them, and cary them vnto Babylon.
But as for thee (O Phashur) thou shalt go into captiuitie with all thyne housholde, and to Babylon shalt thou come, where thou shalt dye and be buried, thou and all thy fauourers to whom thou hast preached lies.
O Lord, if I am deceaued, then hast thou deceaued me, thou enforcedst me, and hast preuayled: dayly am I despised and laughed to scorne of euery man.
For since I began to preache, I cryed out against violencie, and exclamed against oppression: for the whiche cause they cast the worde of the Lorde in my teeth, to my reproche continually.
Wherefore I thought from hencefoorth not to speake of hym, nor to preache any more in his name: but the worde of the Lorde was a very burning fire in my heart and in my bones, whiche when I woulde haue stopped, I might not.
Veryly I hearde the euyll reportes of many, terrour was on euery side of me: complayne vpon hym say they, and we wyll tell his tale: Yea all myne owne companions, and suche as were conuersaunt with me, lay in wayte for my halting, saying: peraduenture he wylbe deceaued, and so shall we preuayle against hym, and be auenged of hym.
But the Lorde stoode by me lyke a mightie giaunt, therefore my persecutours fell and coulde do nothing: they shalbe sore confounded, for they haue done vnwisely, they shall haue an euerlasting shame, which shall neuer be forgotten.
And nowe O Lorde of hoastes that triest the righteous, which knowest the raynes and the very heartes, let me see them punished: for vnto thee I haue declared my cause.
Sing vnto the Lord and prayse hym, for he hath deliuered the soule of the oppressed from the hande of the violent.
Cursed be the day wherein I was borne, vnhappy be the day wherein my mother brought me foorth.
Cursed be the man that brought my father the tidinges to make hym gald, saying, Thou hast begotten a sonne:
Let it happen vnto that man, as to the cities whiche the Lorde turned vpsidedowne and repented not: Let hym heare crying in the morning, and at noone day lamentable howling.
Why sluest thou not me assoone as I came out of my mothers wombe? or that my mother had ben my graue her selfe, that the byrth might not haue come out, but remayned still in her?
Wherefore came I foorth of my mothers wombe? to haue experience of labour and sorowe, and to leade my lyfe with shame?
THese are the wordes that the lord spake vnto Ieremie, what time as kyng Zedekias sent vnto him Phashur the sonne of Melchias, & Sophonias the sonne of Maasias priest, saying:
Aske counsayle at the Lorde [we pray thee] on our behalfe, for Nabuchodonozor the king of Babylon besiegeth vs: if the Lorde (peraduenture) wyll deale with vs according to his maruaylous power, and take hym from vs.
Then spake Ieremie: Geue Zedechias this aunswere.
Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Beholde, I wyll turne backe the weapons that ye haue in your hands, wherwith ye fight against the king of Babylon and the Chaldees, whiche besiege you rounde about the walles, and I wyll bryng them together into the middest of this citie.
And I my selfe will fight against you with an outstretched hande, and with a mightie arme, in great displeasure and terrible wrath:
And wyll smite them that dwell in this citie, yea both men and cattell shall dye of a great pestilence.
But after this (saith the Lorde) I shall deliuer Zedekias kyng of Iuda, and his seruauntes, his people, and such as are escaped in the citie from the pestilence, sworde, and hunger, into the power of Nabuchodonozor kyng of Babylon, yea into the handes of their enemies, into the handes of those that folowe vpon their liues, whiche shall smite them with the sworde, they shall not pitie them, they shal not spare them, they shall haue no mercy vpon them.
And vnto this people thou shalt say, thus saith the Lorde: Beholde, I lay before you the way of life and death.
Whoso abideth in the citie, shall perishe, either with the sworde, with hunger, or pestilence: but whoso goeth out to holde on the Chaldees part that besiege it, he shall saue his lyfe, and shall winne his soule for a pray.
For I haue set my face against this citie (saith the Lorde) to plague it, and to do it no good: it must be geuen into the hande of the kyng of Babylon, and be brent with fire.
And vnto the house of the king of Iuda say thus: Heare the worde of the Lorde:
O thou house of Dauid, thus saith the Lorde: Minister righteousnesse and that soone, deliuer the oppressed from violent power, or euer my terrible wrath breake out lyke a fire and burne, so that no man may quenche it because of the wickednesse of your imaginations.
Behold, saith the Lord, I wyll come vpon thee that dwellest in the valleys, rockes, and fieldes, and say, tushe, who will make vs afraide? or who wil come into our houses?
For I wyll visite you saith the Lord, because of the wickednesse of your inuentions, and wyll kindle suche a fire in your wood, as shall consume all that is about you.
THus saith the Lord: Go downe into the house of the kyng of Iuda, and speake there these wordes,
And say: Heare the worde of the Lorde thou king of Iuda that sittest in the kyngly seate of Dauid, thou and thy seruauntes, and thy people that goeth in and out at these gates.
Thus the Lord co{m}maundeth: Kepe equitie and righteousnesse, deliuer the oppressed from the power of the violent, do not greeue nor oppresse the straunger, the fatherlesse, nor the widowe, and shed no innocent blood in this place.
And if ye kepe these thinges faythfullye, then shall there come in at the doore of this house, kinges to sit vpon Dauids seate, they shalbe caried in charrets, and ride vpon horses, both they and their seruauntes, and their people.
But if ye wyll not be obedient vnto these commaundementes, I sweare by mine owne selfe, saith the Lord, this house shalbe waste.
For thus hath the Lorde spoken vppon the kynges of Iuda: Thou Gilead art vnto me the head of Libanus: Shall I not make thee so waste as the cities that no man dwell in?
I wyll prepare a destroyer with his weapons for thee, to hewe downe thy especiall Cedar trees, and to cast them in the fire.
And all the people that go by this citie, shall speake one to another: Wherfore hath the Lorde done thus vnto this noble citie?
Then shall it be aunswered: Because they haue broken the couenaunt of the Lorde their God, and haue worshipped and serued straunge Gods.
Mourne not ouer the dead, and be not wo for them: but be sorie for hym that departeth away, for he commeth not agayne, and seeth his natiue countrey no more.
For thus saith the Lorde as touching Sellum the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda, whiche raigned after his father: When he is caried out of this place, he shall neuer come hyther agayne.
For he shall dye in the place wherevnto he is led captiue, and shall see this lande no more.
Wo worth hym that buyldeth his house with vnrighteousnesse, and his parlours with the good that he hath gotten by violence, which neuer recompenceth his neighbours labour, nor payeth hym his hyre:
Who thinketh in hym selfe, I wyll buylde me a wyde house and gorgious parlours, who causeth windowes to be hewen therin, and the seelinges and ioystes maketh he of Cedar, and painteth them with Sinoper.
Thinkest thou to raigne nowe that thou hast inclosed thy selfe with Cedar? Did not thy father eate and drinke and prosper well, as long as he dealt with equitie and righteousnesse?
Yea, when he helped the oppressed and poore to their right, then prospered he well: From whence came this, but onlye because he knewe me, saith the Lorde?
Neuerthelesse, as for thyne eyes and thyne heart they loke vpon couetousnesse, to shed innocent blood, to do wrong and violence.
And therefore thus saith the Lorde against Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda: They shall not mourne for hym [as they vse to do] Alas brother, alas sister: neither shall they say vnto him, Alas sir, alas for that noble prince.
But as an asse shall he be buried, corrupt, and be cast without the gates of Hierusalem.
Climbe vp the hyll of Libanus [O thou daughter Sion] lyft vp thy voyce vppon Basan, crye from all partes: for all thy louers are destroyed.
I gaue thee warning whyle thou wast yet in prosperitie: but thou saidest, I wyll not heare: And this maner hast thou vsed from thy youth, that thou wouldest neuer heare my voyce.
All thy heardmen shalbe driuen with the winde, and thy darlinges shalbe caryed away into captiuitie: then shalt thou be brought to shame and confusion, because of all thy wickednes.
Thou that dwellest vpon Libanus, and makest thy nest in the Cedar trees, O howe litle shalt thou be regarded when thy sorowe and panges come vppon thee, as vpon a woman trauayling with chylde?
As truely as I liue saith the Lorde, though Conanias the sonne of Iehoakim kyng of Iuda were the signet of my right hande, yet wyll I plucke him of.
And I wyll geue thee into the hande of them that seeke thy life, and into the power of them that thou fearest, euen into the power of Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon, and into the power of the Chaldees.
Moreouer, I wyll sende thee and thy mother that bare thee into a straunge lande where ye were not borne, and there shall ye dye.
But as for the lande that ye wyll desire to returne vnto, ye shall neuer come at it agayne.
This man Conanias shalbe lyke an image robbed and torne in peeces, and like a vessell wherein there is no pleasure: Wherefore both he and his seede shalbe sent away, and cast into a lande that they knowe not.
O thou earth, earth, earth, heare the worde of the Lorde,
Thus saith the Lorde, Write this man destitute of chyldren: for no prosperitie shall this man haue all his dayes, neyther shall any of his seede be so happie as to sit vpon the seate of Dauid, and to beare rule any more in Iuda.
WO vnto the shepheardes that destroy and scatter my flocke, saith the Lorde.
Wherefore this is the saying of the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepheardes that feede my people, Ye scatter and thrust out my flocke, and loke not vpon them: therefore nowe wyll I visite the wickednesse of your imaginations, saith the Lorde.
And I wyll gather together the remnaunt of my flocke from all landes that I had driuen them vnto, and will bring them agayne to their foldes, that they may growe and increase.
I wyll set shepheardes also ouer them, whiche shall feede them: they shall no more feare and dread, and there shall none of them be loste, saith the Lorde.
Beholde, the tyme commeth saith the Lorde, that I wyll rayse vp the righteous braunche of Dauid, whiche kyng shall beare rule, and he shall prosper with wisdome, and shal set vp equitie and righteousnesse agayne in the earth.
In his tyme shall Iuda be saued, and Israel shall dwell without feare: and this is the name that they shall call hym, euen the Lorde our righteousnesse.
And therefore beholde the time commeth saith the Lorde, that it shalbe no more sayde, the Lorde liueth whiche brought the chyldren of Israel out of the lande of Egypt:
But the Lorde liueth which brought foorth and led the seede of the house of Israel out of the north lande, and from all countreys where I had scattred them: and they shal dwel in their owne lande agayne.
My heart breaketh in my body, because of the false prophetes all my bones shake, I am become like a drunken man that by the reason of wine can take no rest, for very feare of the Lorde and his holy wordes.
Because the lande is full of adulterers, and thorowe swearing it mourneth, and the pleasaunt pastures of the desert are dryed vp: yea the way that men take is wicked, and their power is nothing right.
For the prophetes and the priestes them selues are polluted hypocrites, and their wickednesse haue I founde in my house, saith the Lorde.
Wherefore their way shalbe slipperie in the darknesse, wherein they may stacker and fall: for I wyll bryng a plague vpon them, euen the yere of their visitation, saith the Lorde.
I haue scene folly among the prophetes of Samaria, that preached for Baal, and deceaued my people of Israel.
I haue seene also among the prophetes of Hierusalem foule adultrie, and presumptuous lyes: they take the most shamefull men by the hande, flattering them, so that they can not returne from their wickednes: all these with their citizens are vnto me as Sodom, and as the inhabitours of Gomorre.
Therefore thus saith the Lorde of hoastes concerning these prophetes: Beholde, I wyll feede them with wormewood, and make them drinke the water of gall: For from the prophetes of Hierusalem is hypocrisie come into all the lande.
And therfore the Lorde of hoastes geueth you this warning: Heare not the wordes of the prophetes that preache vnto you and deceaue you, truely they teache you vanitie: for they speake the meaning of their owne heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lorde.
They say vnto them that despise me, The Lorde hath spoken it, tushe, ye shall prosper right well: and vnto all them that walke after the lust of their owne heart, they say, tushe, there shall no misfortune happen you.
For who hath sitten in the counsayle of the Lorde, that he hath hearde and vnderstande what he is about to do? who hath marked his deuice, and hearde it?
Beholde, the stormie weather of the Lorde [that is] his indignation, shall go foorth, and a violent whirlewinde shall fall downe vpon the head of the vngodly.
And the wrath of the Lorde shall not turne agayne, vntill he perfourme and fulfill the thought of his heart: and in the latter dayes ye shall knowe his meaning.
I haue not sent these prophetes [saith the Lorde] and yet they ranne, I haue not spoken to them, and yet they preached.
But if they had continued in my counsayle, they had opened to my people my wordes, and they had turned my people from their euyll wayes, and wicked imaginations.
Am I then God that seeth but the thing whiche is nye at hande, and not that is farre of, saith the Lorde?
May any man hide him selfe so, that I shall not see hym saith the Lorde? do not I fulfill heauen and earth saith the Lorde?
I haue hearde well inough what the prophetes say that preache lyes in my name, saying, I haue dreamed, I haue dreamed.
Howe long wyll this continue in the prophetes heart to tell lies, and preache the craftie subtiltie of their owne heart?
Whose purpose is with the dreames that euery one tell, to make my people forget my name, as their fathers dyd when Baal came vp.
The prophete that hath a dreame, let hym tell it, and he that vnderstandeth my worde, let hym shewe it faythfully: for what hath chaffe and wheate to do together saith the Lorde?
Is not my worde like a fire saith the Lorde? and like an hammer that breaketh the harde stone?
Therefore thus saith the Lodre: beholde, I wyll vpon the prophetes that steale my worde priuilie from euery man.
Beholde, here am I saith the Lorde, against the prophetes that make tongues tender to speake, and to say, The Lorde hath saide it.
Beholde, here am I saith the Lorde, against those prophetes that dare prophecie lying dreames, and deceaue my people with their vanities and inconstant deuices, yet I neuer sent nor commaunded them: They shall do this people no good at all, saith the Lorde.
If this people, eyther any prophete or priest aske thee, and say: What is the burthen of the Lord? Thou shalt say vnto them: what burthen? I wyll forsake you saith the Lorde.
And the prophete, priest, or people that vseth this tearme, The burthen of the Lorde: him wyll I visite, and his house also.
But thus shall ye say euery one to another, and euery man to his brother: what aunswere hath the Lorde geuen? or what is the Lordes commaundement?
And as for the burthen of the Lorde, ye shall speake no more of it, for euery mans owne worde is his burthen: because ye haue altred the wordes of the liuing God, the Lorde of hoastes, our God.
Thus shall euery man say to the prophetes: what aunswere hath the Lorde geuen thee? or what saith the Lorde?
And not once to name the burthen of the Lorde. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Forasmuch as ye haue vsed this terme (the burthen of the Lorde) where as I notwithstanding sent vnto you and forbad you to speake of the Lordes burthen:
Beholde therefore, I wyll take you vp as a burthen, and wyl cast you farre of from my presence, yea and the citie also that I gaue you and your fathers:
And wyll bryng you to an euerlasting confusion, and into a shame that shall neuer be forgotten.
THe Lorde shewed me a vision: Beholde, there stode two maundes of figges before the temple of the Lorde, after that Nabuchodonozar kyng of Babylon had led away captiue Iechonias the sonne of Iehoakim kyng of Iuda, the mightie men also of Iuda, with the workemasters and cunning men of Hierusalem vnto Babylon.
In the one maunde were very good figges, euen like those that be first ripe: in the other maunde were very naughtie figges, whiche might not be eaten they were so euyll.
Then sayd the Lord vnto me: What seest thou Ieremie? I sayde, figges, whereof some be very good, and some so euyll that no man may eate them.
Then came the worde of the Lorde vnto me, after this maner:
Thus saith the Lorde the God of Israel, Like as thou knowest the good figges: so shall I knowe the men led away, whom I haue sent out of this place into the lande of the Chaldees for their profite:
And I wyll set mine eyes vpon them for the best, for I wyll bryng them agayne into this lande, I wyll buylde them vp, and not breake them downe, I wyll plant them, and not roote them out.
And I wyll geue them an heart to knowe howe that I am the Lorde: They shalbe my people, and I wyll be their God: for they shall returne vnto me with their whole heart.
And like as thou knowest the naughtie figges whiche may not be eaten they are so euyll: euen so wyll I, saith the Lorde, cause Zedechias the kyng of Iuda, yea and all his princes, and the residue of Hierusalem that remaine ouer in this lande, and them also that dwel in Egypt, to be vexed and plagued in all kyngdomes and landes.
And I wyll make them to be a reprofe, a common by worde, a laughing stocke and shame in al the places where I shall scatter them.
I wyll sende the sworde, hunger, and pestilence among them, vntyll I haue cleane consumed them out of the lande that I gaue vnto them and their fathers.
A Sermon that was geuen vnto Ieremie vppon all the people of Iuda, in the fourth yere of Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda (that was in the first yere of Nabuchodonozor kyng of Babylon.)
Which sermon Ieremie the prophete made vnto all the people of Iuda, and to all the inhabitours of Hierusalem, on this maner.
From the thirteenth yere of Iosias the sonne of Amon kyng of Iuda vnto this present day (that is euen twentie and three yeres) the worde of the Lord hath ben committed vnto me, and so I haue spoken vnto you, I haue risen vp early, I haue geuen you warning in season: but ye woulde not heare me.
Though the Lord hath sent his seruauntes all the prophetes vnto you in season, yet would ye not obay, ye would not encline your eares to heare.
He sayde: Turne againe euery man from his euill way, and from your wicked imaginations, and so shall ye dwell for euer in the lande that the Lord promised you and your forefathers.
And go not after straunge gods, serue them not, worship them not, and anger me not with the workes of your owne handes, then wyll I not punishe you.
Neuerthelesse, ye woulde not heare me saith the Lorde, but haue prouoked me to anger with the workes of your handes, to your great harme.
Wherefore thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: Because ye haue not hearkened vnto my worde,
Lo, I wyll sende out and call for all the people that dwell in the north saith the Lorde, and wyll prepare Nabuchodonozar the kyng of Babylon my seruaunt, and wyll bryng them vppon this lande, and vpon all that dwell therin, and vpon all the people that are about them, and wyll vtterly roote them out: I wyll make them amased, a mockage, and a continuall desert.
Moreouer, I wyll take from them the voyce of gladnesse and solace, the voyce of the bridegrome and the bride, the noyse of the milstones, and the light of the cressets.
And this whole lande shall become a wildernesse and astonished: and these nations shal serue the king of Babylon threscore yeres and ten.
When the threscore and ten yeres are expired, I wil visite all the wickednesse of the kyng of Babylon and his people saith the Lorde, yea and the lande of the Chaldees, and wyll make it a perpetuall wildernesse,
And wyll fulfill all my wordes vpon that lande whiche I haue deuised against it: yea all that is written in this booke, whiche Ieremie hath prophecied of all people.
So that they also shalbe subdued vnto diuers nations and great kynges, for I will recompence them according to their deedes and workes of their owne handes.
For thus hath the Lorde God of Israel spoken vnto me: take this wine cup of indignation fro my hande, that thou mayest cause all people to whom I sende thee, for to drinke of it.
That when they haue drunken therof, they may be madde and out of their wittes, when the sworde commeth that I wyll sende among them.
Then toke I the cuppe from the Lordes hande, and made all people to drinke thereof vnto whom the Lorde had sent me:
But first the citie of Hierusalem, and all the cities of Iuda, their kinges and princes, to make them desolate, amased, despised, and hissed at, and cursed, according as it is come to passe this day:
Yea and Pharao the kyng of Egypt, his seruauntes, his princes, and his people altogether one with another:
And all kinges of the lande of Hus, all kinges of the Philistines lande, Ascalon, Azah, Accaron, and the remnaunt of Asood,
The Edomites, the Moabites, and the Ammonites,
All the kinges of Tyrus and Sidon, the kinges of the Isles that are beyonde the sea,
Dedan, Thema, Buz, and all them that dwell in the vttermost partes of the worlde,
All the kinges of Arabia, and [generally] all the kinges that dwell in the desert,
All the kinges of Zimri, al the kinges of Elam, all the kinges of the Medes,
All the kinges towarde the north, whether they be farre or nye, euery one against his neighbour, yea and all the kyngdomes that are vpon the whole earth: and the kyng of Sesach shall drinke also after them.
Therfore say thou vnto them, This is the commaundement of the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: Drinke and be drunken, spewe and fall, that ye neuer arise, and that thorowe the sworde whiche I wyll sende among you.
But yf they wyll not receaue they cup of thy hande, and drynke it, then tell them, thus doth the Lorde of hoastes threaten you, Drynke it you shall, and that shortly?
For lo, I begyn to plague the citie that my name is geuen vnto, thinke ye then that I will leaue you vnpunished? ye shall not go quite: for why? I call for asworde vpon all the inhabitours of the earth, saith the Lorde of hoastes.
Therfore tell them all these wordes, and say vnto them: The Lorde shall crye from aboue, and his voyce shalbe hearde from his holy habitation, with a great noyse shal he crie from his court regall: he shall geue a great voyce like the grape gatherers, and the sounde therof shalbe hearde vnto the endes of the worlde.
For the Lorde hath a iudgement to geue vpon all people, and wyll holde his court of iustice with all fleshe, and wyll deliuer the vngodly to the sworde, saith the Lorde.
For thus saith the Lorde of hoastes, Beholde, a miserable plague shall go from one people to another, and a great stormie water shall arise from all the endes of the earth.
And the same day shall the Lord him selfe slay them from one ende of the earth to another: there shal no mone be made for any of them, none gathered vp, none buryed: but shall lye as dunge vpon the grounde.
Mourne O ye sheepheardes, and crye, sprinckle your selues with asshes O ye rammes of the flocke: for the tyme of your slaughter and breache is fulfylled, and ye shall fall lyke vessels that were much set by.
The sheepheardes shall haue no way to flee, and the rammes of the flocke shall not escape.
Then shall the sheepheardes crye horribly, and the rammes of the flocke shall mourne: for the Lorde hath consumed their pasture,
And their best fieldes lye dead, because of the horrible wrath of the Lorde.
They haue forsaken their foldes like as a lion: for their lande is waste because of the spoylers furious crueltie, and of his fearefull indignation.
IN the begynnyng of the raigne of Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda, came this worde from the Lorde, saying:
Thus saith the Lord: Stande in the court of the Lordes house, & speake vnto al them which (out of the citie of Iuda) come to do worship in the Lordes house, all the wordes that I commaunde thee to say: loke that thou kepe not one worde backe.
(If peraduenture they wyll hearken and turne euery man from his wicked way, that I may also repent of the plague which I haue determined to bryng vpon them, because of their wicked inuentions.)
And after this maner shalt thou speake vnto them, Thus saith the Lord: If ye wyll not obey me, to walke in my lawes which I haue geuen you,
And to heare the wordes of my seruauntes the prophetes whom I sent vnto you, risyng vp tymely, and styll sendyng, yet you haue not hearkened:
Then wyll I do to this house as I did vnto Silo, and wyll make this citie to be abhorred of all the people of the earth.
And the priestes, the prophetes, and all the people hearde Ieremie preache these wordes in the house of the Lorde.
Nowe when he had spoken out all the wordes that the Lorde commaunded hym to preache vnto the people, then the priestes, the prophetes, and all the people toke holde vpon hym, and sayde, Thou shalt dye:
Howe darest thou be so bolde as to say in the name of the Lord, it shall happen to this house as it did vnto Silo, and this citie shalbe so waste that no man may dwell therin?
And when all the people were gathered about Ieremie in the house of the Lorde, the princes of Iuda hearde of this rumour, and they came soone out of the kynges palace into the house of the Lorde, and sate them downe before the newe doore of the Lorde.
Then spake the priestes and the prophetes vnto the rulers, and to all the people these wordes, This man is worthy to dye: for he hath preached agaynst this citie, as ye your selues haue hearde with your eares.
Then sayde Ieremie vnto the rulers and to all the people, The Lorde hath sent me to preache agaynst this house, and agaynst this citie, all the wordes that ye haue hearde.
Therfore amende your wayes, and your aduisementes, and be obedient vnto the voyce of the Lorde your God, so shall the Lorde repent of the plague that he hath deuised agaynst you.
Nowe as for me I am in your handes, do with me as you thinke expedient and good:
But this shall ye knowe yf ye put me to death, ye shall make your selues, this citie, and all the inhabitours therof giltie of innocent blood: For this is of a trueth, that the Lorde hath sent me vnto you, to speake all these wordes in your eares.
Then sayde the rulers and the people vnto the priestes and prophetes: This man may not be condempned to death, for he hath preached vnto vs in the name of the Lorde our God.
The elders also of the lande stoode vp, and sayde thus vnto all the people.
Micheas the Morasthite, which was a prophete vnder Ezekias kyng of Iuda, spake to all the people of Iuda, thus saith the Lorde of hoastes, Sion shalbe plowed like a fielde, Hierusalem shalbe an heape of stones, and the hyll of the Lordes house shalbe turned to an hye wood.
Did Ezekias the kyng of Iuda and all the people of Iuda put hym to death for this? No veryly: but rather feared the Lord, and made their prayer vnto hym, for the which cause also the Lorde repented of the plague that he had deuised agaynst them: Shoulde we then do such a shamefull deede agaynst our soules?
There was a prophete also that preached stifly in the name of the Lorde, called Vrias the sonne of Semaiah of Kiriathiarim: this man also preached agaynst this citie and agaynst this lande, according to all as Ieremie saith.
Nowe when Iehoakim the king with all the estates and princes had hearde his wordes, the kyng went about to slay him: When Vrias perceaued that, he was afrayde and fled, and departed into Egypt.
Then Iehoakim the kyng sent seruauntes into the lande of Egypt [namelye] Elnathan the sonne of Achbor, and certayne men with hym into Egypt:
Which fetched Vrias out of Egypt, and brought him vnto king Iehoakim, that slue hym with the sworde, and cast his dead body into the common peoples graue.
But Ahikam the sonne of Saphan helped Hieremie, that he came not into the handes of the people to be slayne.
IN the begynnyng of the raigne of Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda, came this worde vnto Ieremie from the Lorde, which spake thus vnto me:
Make thee bondes and chaynes, and put them about thy necke,
And sende them to the kyng of Edom, to the kyng of Moab, to the kyng of Ammon, to the kyng of Tyrus, and to the kyng of Sidon, and that by the messengers which shall come to Hierusalem, vnto Zedekiah the kyng of Iuda:
And bid them say vnto their maisters, Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes, the God of Israel, speake thus vnto your maisters:
I am he that made the earth, the men, and the cattell that are vpon the grounde with my great power & stretched out arme, and haue geuen it vnto whom it pleased me.
And nowe wyll I deliuer all these landes into the power of Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon my seruaunt: the beastes also of the fielde shall I geue hym, to do hym seruice.
And all the people shal serue him, and his sonne, and his childers children, vntyll the tyme of the same lande be come, and his tyme also: yea many people and great kynges shall serue hym.
Moreouer, that people and kyngdome which wyl not serue Nabuchodonozor, & that wyll not put their neckes vnder the yoke of the kyng of Babylon: the same people wyll I visite with the sworde, with hunger and pestilence, vntyll I haue consumed them in his handes, saith the Lorde.
And therfore folowe not your prophetes, soothsayers, expounders of dreames, charmers, & witches, which say vnto you, Ye shal not serue the kyng of Babylon.
For they preache you lyes, to bring you farre from your lande, & that I myght cast you out, and destroy you.
But the people that put their neckes vnder the yoke of the kyng of Babylon and serue hym, those wyll I let remayne styll in their owne lande, saith the Lorde, and they shall occupie it and dwell therin.
All these thynges tolde I Zedekiah the kyng of Iuda, and sayde: Put your neckes vnder the yoke of the kyng of Babylon, and serue him and his people, that ye may liue.
Why wylt thou and thy people perishe with the sworde, with hunger, with pestilence, like as the Lord hath deuised for all people that wyll not serue the kyng of Babylon?
Therfore geue no eare vnto those prophetes that tell you, Ye shall not serue the kyng of Babylon: for they preache you lyes.
Neither haue I sent them saith the Lorde: howbeit they are bolde falsly to prophecie in my name, that I myght the sooner driue you out, and that ye myght perishe, with your preachers.
I speake to the priestes also, and to all this people: Thus saith the Lorde, Heare not the wordes of your prophetes that preache vnto you, and say, Beholde, the vessels of the Lordes house shall shortly be brought hyther agayne from Babylon: for they prophecie lyes vnto you.
Heare them not, but serue the kyng of Babylon, that ye may lyue: Wherfore wyll ye make this citie to be destroyed?
But yf they be true prophetes in very deede, and yf the worde of the Lorde be committed vnto them, then let them pray the Lord of hoastes, that the remnaunt of the ornamentes which are in the house of the Lorde & in the house of the kyng of Iuda, and at Hierusalem, be not caryed to Babylon also.
For thus hath the Lorde of hoastes spoken concerning the pillers, the lauer, the seate, and the residue of the ornamentes that yet remayne in this citie,
Which Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon toke not when he caryed away Iechonias the sonne of Iehoakim kyng of Iuda, with all the power of Iuda & Hierusalem, vnto Babylon captiue.
Yea thus hath the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel spoken, as touchyng the residue of the ornamentes of the Lordes house, of the kyng of Iuda his house, and of Hierusalem:
They shalbe caryed vnto Babylon, and there shall they remayne vntyll I visite them, saith the Lorde: then wyll I bryng them hyther agayne.
AND it came to passe the same yere, euen in the begynnyng of the raigne of Zedekiah kyng of Iuda, in the fourth yere, the fift moneth, that Hananias the sonne of Assur the prophete of Gibeon spake to me in the house of the Lorde, in the presence of the priestes, and of all the people, and sayde:
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: I haue broken the yoke of the kyng of Babylon,
And after two yeres wyll I bryng agayne into this place all the ornamentes of the Lordes house, that Nabuchodonozor kyng of Babylon caryed away from this place vnto Babylon,
Yea I wyll bryng agayne Iechonias the sonne of Iehoakim the kyng of Iuda hym selfe, with all the prisoners of Iuda that are caried vnto Babylon, euen into this place, saith the Lorde: for I wyll breake the yoke of the kyng of Babylon.
Then the prophete Ieremie gaue aunswere vnto the prophete Hananias before all the priestes, and before all the people that were present in the house of the Lorde.
And the prophete Ieremie sayde, Amen, the Lorde do that, and graunt the thyng which thou hast prophecied, that he may bryng agayne all the ornamentes of the Lordes house, and restore all the prisoners from Babylon into this place.
Neuerthelesse, hearken thou also what I wyll say, that thou and all the people may heare.
The prophetes that were before vs in tyme past, which prophecied of warre, or trouble, or pestilence,
Either of peace vpon many nations and great kyngdomes, were proued by this (yf God hath sent them in very deede) when the thyng came to passe which the prophete tolde before.
And Hananias the prophete toke the chayne from the prophete Ieremies necke, and brake it:
And with that sayde Hananias that all the people might heare, thus hath the Lorde spoken, Euen so wyll I breake the yoke of Nabuchodonozor kyng of Babylon from the necke of all nations, yea and that within this two yere. And so the prophete Ieremie went his way.
Nowe after that Hananias the prophete had taken the chayne from the prophete Ieremies necke and broken it, the worde of the Lorde came vnto the prophete Ieremie, saying:
Go and tell Hananias these wordes, Thus saith the Lord: thou hast broken the chayne of wood, but in steade of wood thou shalt make chaynes of iron.
For thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: I wyll put a yoke of iron vpon the necke of all this people, that they may serue Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon, yea and so shall they do: and I wyll geue hym the beastes of the fielde.
Then sayde the prophete Ieremie vnto the prophete Hananias: Heare me Hananias, The Lorde hath not sent thee, but thou bryngest this people into a false beliefe.
And therfore thus saith the Lorde: Beholde, I wyll sende thee out of the lande, and within a yere thou shalt dye, because thou hast falsely spoken agaynst the Lorde.
So Hananias dyed the same yere in the seuenth moneth.
THese are the wordes of the booke that Ieremie the prophete sent from Hierusalem vnto the prisoners, the senatours, priestes, prophetes, and all the people, whom Nabuchodonozor had led from Hierusalem vnto Babylon▪
After that tyme that kyng Iechonias and his queene, his chamberlaynes, the princes of Iuda and Hierusalem, the workmaisters of Hierusalem, were departed thyther.
Which booke Elasah the sonne of Saphan, & Gamariah the sonne of Helkia did beare, whom Zedekias the kyng of Iuda sent vnto Babylon to Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon: These were the wordes of Hieremies booke.
Thus hath the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel spoken, vnto all the prisoners that were fled from Hierusalem to Babylon:
Builde you houses to dwell therin, plant you gardens, that you may enioy the fruites therof.
Take you wiues to beare you sonnes and daughters, prouide wiues for your sonnes, and husbandes for your daughters, that they may get sonnes & daughters: and that ye may multiplie there, and decrease not.
Seke after the peace and prosperitie of the citie wherin ye be prisoners, and pray vnto the Lorde for it: for in the peace therof shall your peace be.
For thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel, Let not these prophetes and soothsayers that be among you deceaue you, and beleue not your owne dreames:
For why? they preache you lyes in my name, and I haue not sent them, saith the Lorde.
But thus saith the Lorde, When ye haue fulfylled seuentie yeres at Babylon, I will bring you home, and of mine owne goodnesse I wyll cary you hither agayne into this place.
For I knowe what I haue deuised for you, saith the Lorde: My thoughtes are to geue you peace, and not trouble, and to geue you an ende as you wishe and hope to haue.
Ye shall crye vnto me, ye shall go and call vpon me, and I wyll heare you.
Ye shall seke me and fynde me, yea yf so be that you seke me with your whole heart.
I wyll be founde of you, saith the Lord, and will deliuer you out of prison, and gather you together agayne out of all places wherin I haue scattered you saith the Lorde, and wyll bryng you agayne to the same place from whence I caused you to be caried away captiue.
But where as ye say that God hath raysed you vp prophetes at Babylon,
Thus hath the Lorde spoken to the king that sitteth in the throne of Dauid, and to all the people that dwell in this citie, your brethren that are gone with you into captiuitie:
Thus [I say] speaketh the Lorde of hoastes, Beholde I wyll sende a sworde, hunger, and pestilence vpon them, and wyll make them lyke vntymely figges that may not be eaten for bitternesse:
And I wyll persecute them with the sworde, with hunger, and pestilence, I wyll deliuer them vp to be vexed of all kyngdomes, to be cursed, abhorred, laughed to scorne, and put to confusion of all the people among whom I haue scattered them:
And that because they haue not ben obedient vnto my commaundementes saith the Lord, which I sent vnto them by my seruauntes the prophetes: I stoode vp early and sent vnto them, but they woulde not heare, saith the Lorde.
Heare therfore the worde of the Lord all ye prisoners whom I sent from Hierusalem to Babylon.
Thus hath the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel spoken of Ahab the sonne of Colaiah, and of Zedekiah the sonne of Maasiah, which prophecie lyes vnto you in my name: Beholde, I wyll deliuer them into the hande of Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon, that he may slay them before your eyes.
And all the prisoners of Iuda that are in Babylon, shall take this tearme of cursyng, and say; Nowe God do vnto thee as he did vnto Zedekiah & Ahab, whom the kyng of Babylon rosted in the fire:
Because they sinned shamefully in Israel, for they haue not only defiled their neighbours wiues, but also preached lying wordes in my name, which I haue not commaunded them: This I testifie and assure, saith the Lorde.
But as for Semeiah the Nehelamite, thou shalt speake vnto hym:
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel, Because thou hast sent letters in thine owne name vnto all the people that is at Hierusalem, and to Sophoniah the sonne of Maasiah the priest, yea & sent them to all the priestes, wherin thou writest thus vnto hym:
The Lorde hath ordeyned thee to be priest in the steade of Iehoiada the priest, that thou shouldest be chiefe in the house of the Lorde aboue all prophetes and preachers, and that thou mightest set them vpon the pyllory, or in the stockes:
Howe happeneth it then that thou hast not reproued Hieremie of Anathoth, which neuer leaueth of his propheciyng.
And beside all this, he hath sent vs worde vnto Babylon, and tolde vs playnely that our captiuitie shall long endure, that we should builde vs houses to dwel therin, and to plant vs gardens, that we may enioy the fruites therof.
Which letter Sophonias the priest read, and let Ieremie the prophete heare it.
Then came the worde of the Lorde vnto Ieremie, saying:
Sende worde to all them that be in captiuitie, on this maner, Thus hath the Lorde spoken concerning Semeiah the Nehelamite: Because that Semeiah hath prophecied vnto you without my commission, and brought you into a false hope:
Therfore thus the Lorde doth certifie you, Beholde, I wyll visite Semeiah the Nehelamite and his seede, so that none of his shall remayne among this people, and none of them shall see the good that I wyll do for my people, saith the Lorde: for he hath preached falsely of the Lorde.
THese are the wordes that the Lord sheweth vnto Ieremie, saying:
Thus saith the Lorde God of Israel: Write vp diligently all the wordes that I haue spoken vnto thee in a booke.
For lo, the tyme commeth saith the Lorde, that I wyll bryng agayne the prisoners of my people of Israel and Iuda saith the Lorde: for I wyll restore them vnto the lande that I gaue to their fathers, and they shall haue it in possession.
Agayne, these wordes spake the Lord concernyng Israel and Iuda,
Thus saith the Lorde, We haue heard a terrible crye, feare and disquietnesse.
For what els doth this signifie that I see? [Namely] that all strong men smite euery man his hande vpon his loynes, as a woman in the payne of her trauayle: Who euer sawe a man trauayle with childe? Enquire therafter and see, yea all their faces are marueylous pale.
Alas for this day, which is so dreadfull that none may be likened vnto it, and alas for the tyme of Iacobs trouble, from the which he shal yet be deliuered.
For in that day saith the Lorde of hoastes, I wyll take his yoke from of thy necke, and breake thy bondes, and straungers shall no more haue dominion ouer them:
But they shall do seruice vnto God their Lorde, and to Dauid their kyng whom I wyll rayse vp vnto them.
And as for thee O my seruaunt Iacob, feare not saith the Lorde, and be not afrayde O Israel: For lo, I wyll helpe thee also from farre, and thy seede from the lande of their captiuitie: And Iacob shall turne agayne, he shalbe in rest, and haue a prosperous lyfe, and no man shall make hym afrayde:
For I am with thee to helpe thee, saith the Lorde: And though I shall destroy all the people among whom I haue scattered thee, yet wyll I not destroy thee, but correct thee, and that with descretion: for I wyll not vtterly destroy thee.
Therfore thus saith the Lorde▪ Thy brosinges are perilous, & thy woundes redy to cast thee into sicknesse.
There is no man to meddle with thy cause, or to lay plaster vpon thee, or to bynde vp thy woundes to heale thee.
All thy louers haue forgotten thee, and care nothyng for thee: for I haue geuen thee a cruell stroke, and chastened thee roughly, and that for the multitude of thy misdeedes: for thy sinnes haue had the ouer hande.
Why makest thou mone for thy harme? In deede thou art sore wounded and in ieopardie: but for the multitude of thy misdeedes and sinnes I haue done this vnto thee.
And therfore all they that deuour thee, shalbe deuoured, and all thine enemies shalbe led into captiuitie: all they that make thee waste, shalbe wasted them selues, and all those that rob thee, wyll I make also to be robbed.
For I wyll geue thee thy health agayne, and make thy woundes whole saith the Lorde, because they reuiled thee, as one cast away and dispised: Sion [sayde they] is she whom no man regardeth.
For thus saith the Lorde, Beholde I wyll bryng agayne the captiuitie of Iacobs tentes, and defende his dwellyng place: the citie shalbe builded in her olde estate, and the houses shall haue their ryght foundation.
And out of them shal go thankesgeuing and the voyce of ioy: I wyll multiplie them, and they shal not be fewe, I shall endue them with honour, and no man shall subdue them.
Their children shalbe as aforetyme, and their congregation shall continue in my syght: and all those that vexe them wyll I visite.
A captayne also shall come of them, and a prince shall spryng out from the middest of them, hym wyll I chalenge to my selfe, and he shall come vnto me: For what is he that geueth ouer his heart to come vnto me, saith the Lorde?
Ye shalbe my people also, and I wyll be your God.
Beholde, on the other syde shall the wrath of the Lorde breake out as a stormie water, as a myghtie whirle wynde, and shall fall vpon the heades of the vngodly.
The terrible displeasure of the Lorde shall not leaue of, vntyll he haue done and perfourmed the intent of his heart, which in the latter dayes ye shall vnderstande.
AT the same tyme, saith the Lord, shal I be the God of all the generations of Israel, & they shalbe my people.
Thus saith the Lord: The people of Israel which escaped in the wildernesse from the sworde, founde grace to come into their rest.
Euen so shall the Lorde nowe also appeare vnto me from farre [and say] I loue thee with an euerlasting loue, therfore by my mercie I haue drawen thee vnto me.
I wyll repayre thee agayne O thou daughter of Israel, that thou mayest be fast and sure: thou shalt take thy tabrettes agayne, and go foorth with them that leade the daunce:
Thou shalt plant vines agayne vpon the hylles of Samaria, and the grape gatherers shall plant, and commonly eate of it.
For the dayes shall come when the watchmen vpon the mount of Ephraim shall crye, Arise, let vs go vp vnto Sion to our Lorde God.
For thus saith the Lorde, Reioyce with gladnesse because of Iacob, crye vnto the head of the gentiles, speake out, syng and say, O Lorde saue thy people the remnaunt of Israel.
Beholde, I wyll bryng them agayne from out of the north lande, and gather them from the endes of the worlde, with the blynde & lame that are among them, with the women that be great with chylde, & such as be also deliuered: and the companie of them that come agayne shalbe great.
They shall come weepyng, and with mercifull pitie will I bring them hither agayne: I will leade them to the riuers of water in a strayght way where they shall not stumble: For I am Israels father, and Ephraim is my first borne.
Heare the worde of the Lorde O ye gentiles, preache in the Isles that lye farre of, and say: He that hath scattered Israel, shall gather hym together agayne, and shall kepe hym as a sheephearde doth his flocke.
For the Lorde hath redeemed Iacob, and ridde hym from the hande of the violent.
And they shall come and reioyce vpon the hyll of Sion, and shall haue plenteousnesse of goodes, which the Lorde shall geue them, [Namely] wheate, wine, oyle, young sheepe, and calues: and their soule shalbe as a well watered garden, for they shall no more be hungry.
Then shall the mayde reioyce in the daunce, yea both young and olde folkes: for I wyll turne their sorowe into gladnesse, and wyll comfort them from their sorowes, and make them ioyfull.
I wyll powre plenteousnesse vpon the heartes of the priestes, and my people shalbe satisfied with my goodnesse, saith the Lorde.
Thus saith the Lorde, The voyce of heauinesse, weepyng, and lamentation was hearde on hye, euen of Rachel mournyng for her children, and woulde not be comforted because they were not.
But nowe saith the Lorde, leaue of from weepyng and crying, withholde thine eyes from teares: for thy labour shalbe rewarded saith the Lorde, and they shall come agayne out of the lande of their enemies.
Yea euen thy posteritie shall haue consolation in this saith the Lorde, that thy children shal come agayne into their owne lande.
Moreouer, I hearde Ephraim that was led away captiue complayne on this maner: O Lorde thou hast correct me, & thy chastenyng haue I receaued as an vntamed calfe, conuert thou me and I shalbe conuerted: for thou art my Lorde God.
Yea assoone as thou turnest me, I shall refourme my selfe, and when I vnderstande, I shall smite vpon my thygh: For veryly I haue committed shamefull thynges: for I haue borne the reproofe and confusion of my youth.
Vpon this complaynt I thought thus by my selfe: Is not Ephraim my deare sonne? Is he not the childe with whom I haue had all my mirth and pastime? For since the tyme that I first co{m}muned with hym, I haue hym euer in remembraunce: therfore my heart driueth me vnto hym, gladly and louyngly wyll I haue mercie vpon him, saith the Lorde.
Make thy selfe markes, set vp heapes of stone, set thine heart vpon the way that thou didst walke, and turne againe O thou daughter of Israel, turne agayne to these cities of thine.
Howe long wilt thou go astray O thou shrinkyng daughter? for the Lorde wyll worke a newe thyng vpon earth: A woman shall compasse a man.
For thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: It wyl come therto, that when I haue brought Iuda out of captiuitie, these wordes shalbe hearde in the lande and in his cities, The Lord blesse thee O thou dwellyng place of ryghteousnesse, O thou holy hyll.
And there shall dwell Iuda and all her cities, the sheepheardes and husbandmen:
For I shall feede the hungry soule, and refreshe all faynt heartes.
When I hearde this, I came agayne to my selfe, I sawe like as I had ben waked out of a sweete sleepe.
Beholde saith the Lorde, the dayes come that I wyll sowe the house of Israel and the house of Iuda with men and with cattell.
Yea it shall come therto, that like as I haue gone about in tymes past to roote them out, to scatter them, to breake them downe, to destroy them, & chasten them: euen so wyll I also go diligently about to builde them vp agayne, and to plant them, saith the Lorde.
Then shall it no more be sayde, The fathers haue eaten a sowre grape, and the childrens teeth are set on edge:
For euery one shall dye for his owne misdeedes: so that who so eateth a sowre grape, his teeth shalbe set on edge.
Beholde the dayes wyll come saith the Lorde, that I wyll make a newe couenaunt with the house of Israel, and the house of Iuda:
Not after the couenaunt that I made with their fathers, when I toke them by the hande and led them out of the lande of Egypt, which couenaunt they brake, yea euen when I as an husbande had rule ouer them saith the Lorde.
But this shalbe the couenaunt that I wyll make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lorde: I wyll plant my lawe in the inwarde partes of them, and write it in their heartes, and wyll be their God, and they shalbe my people.
And from thencefoorth shall no man teache his neighbour or his brother, and say, Knowe the Lorde: but they shal all knowe me from the lowest vnto the hyest, saith the Lorde: for I wyll forgeue their misdeedes, and wyll neuer remember their sinnes any more.
Thus saith the Lorde, which gaue the sunne to be a lyght for the day, and the moone and the starres to shine in the night, whiche moueth the sea, so that the fluddes thereof waxe fierce, his name is the Lorde of hoastes.
Like as this ordinaunce shall neuer be taken out of my sight, saith the Lord: so shall the seede of Israel neuer ceasse, but alway be a people before me.
Moreouer, thus saith the Lord, Like as the heauen aboue can not be measured, and as the foundations of the earth beneath may not be sought out: so will I also not cast out the whole seede of Israel for that they haue committed saith the Lorde.
Beholde, the dayes come saith the Lorde, that the citie of the Lorde shalbe enlarged, from the towre of Hananeel, vnto the gate of the corner wall.
From thence shall the right measure be taken before her vnto the hyll toppe of Gareb, and shall come about Gaath.
And the whole valley of the dead carkasses, and of the asshes, and all the fieldes, vnto the brooke of Cedron, and vnto the corner of the horse gate towarde the east, it shalbe holy vnto the Lorde, and shall neuer be broken nor cast downe any more.
THese wordes spake the Lorde vnto Ieremie in the tenth yere of Zedekias king of Iuda, whiche was the eyghteenth yere of Nabuchodonozor,
What tyme as the kyng of Babylons hoast layde siege vnto Hierusalem: but Ieremie the prophete lay bounde in the court of the pryson, whiche was in the kyng of Iudaes house,
Where Zedekias the kyng of Iuda caused hym to be layde, because he had prophecied on this maner: Thus saith the Lorde, Beholde, I wyll deliuer this citie into the handes of the kyng of Babylon, whiche shall take it.
As for Zedekias the kyng of Iuda, he shall not be able to escape the Chaldees: but surely he shall come into the handes of the king of Babylon, whiche shall speake with him mouth to mouth, and one of them shall looke another in the face.
And Zedekias shalbe caryed vnto Babylon, and there shall he be vntyll the tyme that I visite hym saith the Lorde: but if thou takest in hande to fight against the Chaldees, thou shalt not prosper.
And Ieremie saide, Thus hath the Lorde spoken vnto me:
Beholde, Hananeel the sonne of Sellum thine vncles sonne, shall come vnto thee, and require thee to redeeme the lande that lyeth in Anathoth vnto thy selfe: for by reason of kinred it is thy right to redeeme it and bye it out.
And Hananeel myne vncles sonne came to me in the court of the pryson, according to the word of the Lord, and sayde vnto me: Bye my lande I pray thee, that lieth in Anathoth in the countrey of Beniamin, for by heritage thou hast right to loose it out for thy selfe, therfore redeeme it. Then I perceaued that this was the co{m}maundement the Lorde:
And so I bought the lande from Hanaeel of Anathoth myne vncles sonne, and wayed hym there the money, euen seuen sicles, and ten syluer pence:
And I writ it in a booke, and sealed it, and toke witnesses, and wayed hym there the money vpon the waightes.
So I toke the euidence with the copie, when it was orderly sealed, and read it ouer:
And I gaue the euidence to Baruch the sonne of Neriah, the sonne of Maasiah, in the sight of Hananeel my cosin, and in the presence of the witnesses that be named in the euidence, and before all the Iewes that were thereby in the court of the pryson.
I charged Baruch also before them, saying:
The Lord of hoastes, the God of Israel commaundeth [thee] to take this sealed euidence with the copie, and to lay it in the earthen vessell, that it may long continue.
For the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel hath determined, that houses, fieldes, and vineyardes shalbe possessed agayne in this lande.
Nowe when I had deliuered the euidence vnto Baruch the sonne of Neriah, I besought the Lorde, saying:
O Lorde God, it is thou that hast made heauen and earth with thy great power and hye arme, and there is nothing hid from thee.
Thou shewest mercy vpon thousandes, thou recompensest the wickednesse of the fathers into the bosome of the chyldren that come after them.
Thou art the great and mightie God, whose name is the Lorde of hoastes, great in counsel, and excellent in worke, thyne eyes looke vpon all the wayes of mens chyldren, to rewarde euery one after his way, and according to the fruites of his inuentions.
Thou hast done great tokens and wonders in the lande of Egypt, as we see this day, vpon the people of Israel, and vpon those men, to make thy name great, as it is come to passe this day.
Thou hast brought thy people of Israel out of the lande of Egypt, with tokens, with wonders, with a mightie hande, with a stretched out arme, and with great terriblenesse:
And hast geuen them this lande, like as thou haddest promised vnto their fathers [namely] that thou wouldest geue them a lande that floweth with mylke and honye.
Nowe when they came therein and possessed it, they folowed not thy voyce, and walked not in thy lawe: but all that thou commaundedst them to do, that haue they not done, and therefore come all these plagues vpon them.
Beholde, there are bulwarkes made nowe against this citie to take it, and it shalbe wonne of the Chaldees that besiege it with sworde, with hunger, and death: and looke what thou hast spoken, that same shall come vpon them, for lo all thinges are present vnto thee.
Yet sayest thou vnto me O Lorde God, and commaundest me that I shall bye a peece of land vnto my selfe for money, and take witnesses thereto: and yet in the meane season the citie is deliuered into the power of the Chaldees.
Then came the worde of the Lorde vnto Ieremie, saying:
Beholde, I am the Lorde God of all fleshe: is there any thing then to harde for me?
Therefore thus saith the Lorde: beholde, I shall deliuer this citie into the power of the Chaldees, and into the power of Nabuchodonozor the king of Babylon, they shall take it:
For the Chaldees shall come and winne this citie, and set fire vpon it, and burne it, with the gorgious houses, in whose parlours they haue made sacrifice vnto Baal, and powred drinke offeringes vnto straunge gods, to prouoke me vnto wrath:
For the chyldren of Israel and the chyldren of Iuda haue only ben doyng wickednesse before me from their youth vp, they haue ben only prouoking me to wrath with the workes of their owne handes, saith the Lorde.
For what hath this citie ben els, but a prouoking of my wrath euer since the day that thei builded it, vnto this houre wherein I cast it out of my sight?
Because of the great blasphemies of the children of Israel and Iuda, which they haue done to prouoke me, yea they, their kynges, their princes, their priestes, their prophetes, the men of Iuda, and the citizens of Hierusalem:
When I stoode vp early and taught them, and instructed them, they turned their backes to me, and not their faces,
They woulde not heare to be refourmed and correct: but set their idols in the house that is halowed to my name, to defile it.
They haue buylded hye places for Baal in the valley of the chyldren of Hennom, to cause their sonnes & daughters to passe thorow [fire] in the honour of Moloch, whiche I neuer commaunded them: neither came it euer in my thought to make Iuda sinne with such abhomination.
And nowe therefore thus hath the Lorde God of Israel spoken concerning this citie, whiche as ye your selues confesse, shalbe deliuered into the hande of the kyng of Babylon, [when it is wonne] with the sworde, with hunger, and with pestilence.
Beholde, I wyll gather them together from all landes, wherein I haue scattred them in my wrath in fearefull and great displeasure, and wyll bryng them agayne vnto this place, where they shall dwell safely:
And they shalbe my people, and I wyll be their God.
And I wyll geue them one heart and one way, that they may feare me al the dayes of their lyfe: that they and their chyldren after them may prosper.
And I wyll set vp an euerlasting couenaunt with them [namely] that I wyll neuer ceasse to do them good, and that I wyll put my feare in their heartes, so that they shall not runne away from me.
Yea I wyll haue a lust and pleasure to do them good, and faithfully to plant them in this land with my whole heart and with my whole soule.
For thus saith the Lorde, Like as I haue brought all this great plague vppon this people: euen so wyll I also bryng vpon them all the good that I haue promised them.
And men shall haue their possessions in this lande, wherof ye say nowe, that it shall neither be inhabited of the people, nor of cattell, but be deliuered into the handes of the Chaldees:
Yea lande shalbe bought for money, and euidences made thervpon, and sealed before witnesses in the countrey of Beniamin, and rounde about Hierusalem, in the cities of Iuda, in the cities that are vpon the mountaynes, and them that lye beneath, yea and in the cities that are in the south: for I wyll bryng their prysoners hyther agayne, saith the Lorde.
MOreouer, the worde of the Lorde came vnto Ieremie againe whe{n} he was yet bounde in the court of the prison.
Thus saith the Lord who made Hierusale{m}, who fashioned the same to establishe it, whose name is the Lorde:
Crye vnto me, and I wyll aunswere, and shewe thee great and hye thinges whiche were vnknowen vnto thee.
Thus [I say] speaketh the Lorde god of Israel, concerning the houses of this citie, and the houses of the kynges of Iuda that are broken thorowe the ordinaunce and the sworde.
The inhabitours of this citie haue come to fight against the Chaldees, and they are filled with the dead carkasses of men, whom I haue slayne in my wrath and displeasure, when I turned my face from this citie, because of al her wickednesse.
Beholde saith the Lorde, I wyll repaire and heale their woundes, and make them whole: I wyll open them the large treasure of peace and trueth,
And wyll returne the captiuitie of Iuda and Israel, and wyll set them vp agayne as they were before:
From all misdeedes wherein they offended against me, I wyll clense them: and all their blasphemies which they haue done against me when they regarded me not, I wyll forgeue them.
And this shall get me a name, a prayse and honour among all the people of the earth, whiche shall heare all the good that I wyll shewe vnto them, yea they shalbe afraide and astonied at all the good deedes and benefites that I wyll do for them.
Moreouer, thus saith the Lorde: In this place (wherof ye say that it shalbe a wildernesse, wherein neither people nor cattle shall dwell) in lyke maner in the cities of Iuda and in the streetes of Hierusalem (which also shalbe so voyde that neither people nor cattle shall dwel there,)
Shall the voyce of gladnesse be heard agayne, the voyce of the bridegrome and of the bride, the voyce of them that shall sing, Prayse the Lord of hoastes, for he is louing, and his mercy endureth for euer, and the voyce of them that offer vp gyftes in the house of the Lorde: for I wyll restore the captiuitie of this lande as it was afore, saith the Lorde.
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes, It shall come yet therto, that in this lande whiche is voyde from men and cattle, and in all the cities of the lande, there shalbe set vp shepheardes cottages to rest their flockes.
In the cities vpon the mountaynes, and in the cities that lye vpon the plaine, and in the cities of the south, in the lande of Beniamin, and rounde about Hierusalem, and in the cities of Iuda shall the sheepe passe agayne vnder the hande of him that telleth them, saith the Lorde.
Beholde, the tyme commeth saith the Lorde, that I will perfourme that good thing whiche I haue promised vnto the house of Israel, and vnto the house of Iuda.
In those dayes, and at the same tyme, I wyll bryng foorth vnto Dauid the braunche of righteousnesse, and he shall do equitie and righteousnesse in the lande.
In those dayes shall Iuda be saued, and Hierusalem shall dwell safe: and this shalbe her name, God our righteousnesse.
For thus the Lorde promiseth, Dauid shall neuer want one to sit vpon the throne of the house of Israel:
Neither shall the priestes and leuites want one to offer alway before me burnt offeringes, to kindle the meate offeringes, and to prepare the sacrifices.
And the worde of the Lord came vnto Ieremie, after this maner.
Thus saith the Lorde: May the couenaunt whiche I haue made with day and night be broken, that there shoulde not be day and night in due season?
Then may my couenaunt also be broken whiche I made with Dauid my seruaunt, and so he not to haue a sonne to raigne in his throne: so shall also the Priestes and Leuites neuer fayle, but serue me.
For like as the starres of heauen may not be numbred, neither the sande of the sea measured: so wyll I multiplie the seede of Dauid my seruaunt, and the Leuites my ministers.
Moreouer, the worde of the Lorde came to Ieremie, saying:
Considerest thou not what this people speaketh? Two kinredes [say they] had the Lorde chosen, and those same two hath he cast away: for so they haue despised my people, and they reputed them as though they were no people.
Therefore thus saith the Lord, If I haue made no couenaunt with day and night, and geuen no statute vnto heauen and earth:
Then will I also cast away the seede of Iacob and Dauid my seruaunt, so that I wyll take no prince out of his seede to rule the posteritie of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob: but yet I will turne agayne their captiuitie, and be mercyfull vnto them.
THese are the wordes whiche the Lord spake vnto Ieremie, what tyme as Nabuchodonozor the king of Babylon, and all his hoast, and all the kyngdomes that were vnder his power, and all his people fought against Hierusalem and all the cities therof.
Thus saith the Lorde God of Israel, Go and speake to Zedekias the king of Iuda, and tell hym, the Lorde sendeth thee this worde: beholde, I wyll deliuer this citie into the hande of the kyng of Babylon, he shall burne it with fire,
And thou shalt not escape his handes, but shalbe taken prisoner, and deliuered into his power: Thou shalt looke the kyng of Babylon in the face, and he shall speake to thee mouth to mouth, and then shalt thou go to Babylon.
Yet heare the worde of the Lorde, O Zedekias thou kyng of Iuda, thus saith the Lorde vnto thee, Thou shalt not be slayne with the sworde,
But shalt dye in peace: And as thy forefathers the kynges, thy progenitours were brent, so shalt thou be brent also, and in thy mourning they shal say, O Lorde: for thus haue I determined, saith the Lorde.
Then saide Ieremie the prophete all these wordes vnto Zedekias kyng of Iuda in Hierusalem,
What tyme as the kyng of Babylons hoast besieged Hierusalem, and the remnaunt of the cities [namely] Lachis and Azecah, whiche yet remayned of the strong defensed cities of Iuda.
These are the wordes that the Lorde spake vnto Ieremie the prophete, when Zedekias was agreed with all the people at Hierusalem, that there shoulde be proclaymed a libertie:
So that euery man should let his seruaunt and handmayde go free, Hebrue and Hebruesse, and no Iewe holde his brother as a bondman.
Nowe as they had consented, all the princes and all the people whiche had gathered vnto this agreement, that euery man shoulde set at libertie his bondseruaunt and bondwoman, and no longer to holde them bounde: euen so they were obedient, and let them go free.
But afterwarde they repented, and toke agayne the seruauntes and handmaydens whom they had let go free, and so made them bonde agayne.
For whiche cause, the worde of the Lorde came vnto Ieremie from the Lorde hym selfe, saying:
Thus saith the Lorde God of Israel: I made a couenaunt with your fathers when I brought them out of the lande of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying:
When seuen yeres are out, euery man shall let his bought seruaunt an Hebrue go free, if he haue serued hym sixe yeres: but your fathers obayed me not, and hearkened not vnto me.
As for you ye were nowe turned, and dyd right before me, in that ye proclaymed euery man to let his neighbour go free, and in that ye made a couenaunt before me in the temple that beareth my name.
But yet ye turned your selues againe, and blasphemed my name, in this, that euery man hath required his seruaunt and handemayde agayne whom ye had let go quite and free, and compelled them to serue you agayne, and to be bondmen and bondwomen.
And therfore thus saith the Lord: Ye haue not obayed me, euery man to proclaime freedome vnto his brother and neighbour: wherefore I wyll call you vnto freedome, saith the Lorde, euen vnto the sworde, to the pestilence, and to hunger, and will make you to be plagued in all kyngdomes of the earth.
Yea those men that haue broken my couenaunt, and not kept the wordes of the appointment whiche they made before me, when they hewed the calfe in two, and when they went thorowe the two halfes therof,
The princes of Iuda, the princes of Hierusalem, the gelded me{n}, the priestes, and all the people of the lande, whiche went thorowe the two sydes of the calfe:
Those men will I geue into the power of their enemies, and into the handes of them that folowe vpon their liues: and their dead bodies shalbe meate for the foules of the ayre and beastes of the fielde.
As for Zedekias the king of Iuda and his princes, I wyll deliuer them into the power of their enemies, & of them that desire to slay them, and into the hande of the kyng of Babylons hoast, whiche nowe is departed from you.
But thorowe my commaundement (saith the Lord) they shall come againe before this citie, they shall fight against it, winne it, and burne it: Moreouer, I wyll lay the cities of Iuda so waste, that no man shall dwell therin.
THE wordes which the Lorde spake vnto Ieremie, in the raigne of Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda, are these:
Go vnto the house of the Rechabites, and call them out, and bryng them to the house of the Lorde, into some commodious place, and geue them wine to drinke.
Then toke I Iazaniah the sonne of Ieremie, the sonne of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sonnes, and the whole housholde of the Rechabites,
And brought them into the house of the Lord, into the closet of the chyldren of Hanan the sonne of Iegedaliah the man of God, whiche was by the closet of the princes, that is aboue the closet of Maasiah the sonne of Sellum, whiche is the treasurer.
And before the sonnes of the kinred of the Rechabites I set pottes full of wine, and cuppes, and sayde vnto them, Drinke wine:
But they sayde, We wyll drinke no wine: for Ionadab the sonne of Rechab our father commaunded vs, saying: Ye and your sonnes shall neuer drinke wine, buylde houses, sowe no seede, plant no vines,
Yea ye shall haue no vineyardes: but for al your tyme ye shall dwel in tentes, that ye may liue long in the land wherin ye be straungers.
Thus haue we obayed the commaundement of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab our father in al that he hath charged vs, and so we drinke no wine al our life long, we nor our wiues, our sonnes and our daughters,
Neither buylde we any house to dwel therein: we haue also among vs neither vineyardes, nor corne lande to sowe:
But we dwell in tentes, we obay, and do according vnto all that Ionadab our father commaunded vs.
But nowe that Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon came vp into the lande, we sayde, Come, let vs go to Hierusalem, that we may escape the hoast of the Chaldees and the Assyrians: and so we dwell nowe at Hierusalem.
Then came the worde of the Lorde vnto Ieremie, saying:
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes, the God of Israel: Go and tell the men of Iuda, and the inhabitours of Hierusalem: wyll ye not be refourmed to obay my wordes, saith the Lorde?
The wordes whiche Ionadab the sonne of Rechab commaunded his sonnes, that they shoulde drinke no wine, are fast surely kept, for vnto this day they drinke no wine, but obay their fathers commaundement: but as for me I haue stande vp early, I haue spoken vnto you, and geuen you earnest warning, and yet haue ye not ben obedient vnto me.
Yea I haue sent my seruauntes al the prophetes vnto you, I rose vp early, and sent you worde, saying: O turne you nowe euery man from his wicked way, amende your liues, and go not after straunge gods to worship them, that ye may continue in the lande whiche I haue geuen vnto you and your fathers: but ye woulde neither heare me nor folowe me.
The chyldren of Ionabab Rechabs sonne, haue stedfastly kept their fathers commaundement that he gaue them: but this people is not obedient vnto me,
And therfore thus saith the Lorde of hoastes, the God of Israel: Beholde, I wyll bryng vpon Iuda, and vpon euery one that dwelleth in Hierusalem, all the trouble that I haue deuised against them: For I haue spoken vnto them, but they woulde not folowe, I haue called vnto them, neuerthelesse they woulde geue me no aunswere.
Ieremie also spake vnto the householde of the Rechabites, Thus saith the Lord of hoastes the God of Israel: forasmuche as ye haue obayed the commaundement of Ionadab your father, and kept all his preceptes, and done according to all that he hath bidden:
Therefore thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God Israel: Ionadab the sonne of Rechab shal not faile, but haue one out of his flocke to stande alway before me.
IN the fourth yere of Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias the kyng of Iuda, came the worde of the Lorde vnto Ieremie, saying:
Take a booke, and write therein all the wordes that I haue spoken to thee against Israel, against Iuda, and against all the people, from the tyme that I began to speake vnto thee in the raigne of Iosias, vnto this day:
That when the house of Iuda heareth of the plague whiche I haue deuised for them, they may peraduenture turne euery man from his wicked way, that I may forgeue their offences and sinnes.
Then dyd Ieremie call Baruch the sonne of Neriah, and Baruch wrote in the booke at the mouth of Ieremie, all the wordes of the Lorde whiche he had spoken vnto hym.
And Ieremie commaunded Baruch, saying: I am in prison, so that I may not come into the house of the Lorde:
Therefore go thou thither, and reade the booke that thou hast written at my mouth [namely] the wordes of the Lord, and reade them in the Lordes house vpon the fasting day, that the people, whole Iuda, and al they that come out of the cities may heare.
Peraduenture they wyll pray meekelye before the face of the Lorde, and turne euery one from his wicked way: for great is the wrath and displeasure that the Lorde hath taken against this people.
So Baruch the sonne of Neriah, dyd according to all that Ieremie the prophete commaunded hym, reading the wordes of the Lorde out of the booke in the Lordes house.
And this was done in the fifth yere of Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda, in the ninth moneth, when it was commaunded that all the people of Hierusalem shoulde fast before the Lorde, and they also that were come fro{m} the cities of Iuda vnto Hierusalem:
Then read Baruch the wordes of Ieremie out of the booke within the house of the Lorde, out of the treasurie of Gamariah the sonne of Saphan the scribe, which is beside the hyer loft of the new doore of the Lordes house, that all the people might heare.
Now when Micheas the sonne of Gamariah, the sonne of Saphan, heard all the wordes of the lord out of the booke,
He went downe to the kynges palace into the scribes chaumbers, for there all the princes were set, Elisama the scribe, Dalaiah the sonne of Semei, Elnathan the sonne of Achbor, Gamariah the sonne of Saphan, Zedekias the sonne of Hananias, with all the princes.
And Micheas tolde them all the wordes that he hearde Baruch reade out of the booke before the people.
Then all the princes sent Iehudi the sonne of Nathaniah the sonne of Selemiah, the sonne of Chusi, vnto Baruch, saying: Take in thine hande the booke whereout thou hast read before all the people, & come. So Baruch the sonne of Neriah toke the booke in his hande, and came vnto them.
And they sayd vnto him: Sit downe and reade the booke, that we may heare also: So Baruch read that they might heare.
Nowe when they had hearde all the wordes, they were abashed one vpon another, and sayde vnto Baruch: We will certifie the king of al these wordes.
And they examined Baruch, saying: Tell vs, howe diddest thou write all these wordes out of his mouth?
Then Baruch aunswered them: He spake all these wordes vnto me with his mouth, and I wrote them in the booke.
Then sayd the princes vnto Baruch: Go thy way, hide thee with Ieremie, so that no man knowe where ye be.
And they went in to the kyng to the court (but they kept the booke in the chaumber of Elizama the scribe) and tolde the kyng all the wordes, that he might heare.
So the kyng sent Iehudi to fet hym the booke: which he brought out of Elizama the scribes chaumber, and Iehudi read in it, that the king and all the princes whiche were about hym might heare.
Nowe the kyng sate in the winter house (for it was in the ninth moneth) and there was a fire before hym.
And when Iehudi had read three or foure leaues therof, he cut the booke in peeces with a penknife, and cast it into the fire vpon the harth, vntill the booke was al brent in the fire vpon the harth.
Yet no man was abashed therof, nor rent his clothes, neither the kyng hym selfe nor his seruauntes, though they hearde all these wordes.
Neuerthelesse, Elnathan, Dalaiah, and Gamariah besought the kyng that he woulde not burne the booke: notwithstanding, the kyng woulde not heare them:
But commaunded Ierahmel the sonne of Amelech, Saraiah the sonne of Ezriel, and Selemiah the sonne of Abdeel, to lay handes vpon Baruch the scribe, and vpon Ieremie the prophete: but the Lorde kept them out of sight.
Nowe after that the kyng had brent the booke, and the sermons which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Ieremie, the worde of the Lorde came vnto Ieremie, saying:
Take another booke, and write in it all the foresayde sermons that were written in the first booke whiche Iehoakim the kyng of Iuda hath brent.
And tell Iehoakim the kyng of Iuda, thus saith the Lorde: Thou hast brent the booke, and thoughtest within thy selfe, Why hast thou written therin, that the kyng of Babylon shall come and make this lande waste, so that he shall make both people and cattell to be out of it?
Therefore thus the Lorde saith of Iehoakim the kyng of Iuda: There shall none of his generation sit vpon the throne of Dauid, his dead coarse shalbe cast out, that the heate of the day and the frost of the night may come vppon hym.
And I wyll visite the wickednesse of hym, of his seede, and of his seruauntes: Moreouer, all the euyll that I haue promised them, though they hearde me not, wyll I bryng vpon them, vpon the inhabitours of Hierusalem, and vpon all Iuda.
Then toke Ieremie another booke and gaue it Baruch the scribe the sonne of Neriah, which wrote therin out of the mouth of Hieremie, all the sermons that were in the first booke which Iehoakim the kyng of Iuda did burne: and there were added vnto them many mo sermons, lyke vnto the former.
ZEdekia the sonne of Iosiah which was made kyng through Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon, raigned in the lande of Iuda, in the stead of Cononiah the sonne of Iehoakim.
But neither he, nor his seruauntes, nor the people in his lande, woulde obey the wordes of the Lorde which he spake by the prophete Ieremie.
Neuerthelesse, Zedekia the king sent Iehucall the sonne of Selemiah, and Sophoniah the sonne of Maasiah the priest, to the prophete Ieremie, saying: O pray thou vnto the Lorde our God for vs.
Nowe Ieremie walked free among the people at that tyme, and was not put in prison as yet.
Pharaos hoast also was come out of Egypt: which when the Chaldees which besieged Hierusalem perceaued, they departed from thence.
Then came the worde of the Lorde vnto the prophete Ieremie, saying:
Thus saith the Lorde God of Israel, This aunswere shal ye geue to the king of Iuda that sent you vnto me for counsayle: Beholde, Pharaos hoast which is come foorth to helpe you, shal returne into Egypt into his owne lande.
But the Chaldees shall come agayne, and fight agaynst this citie, winne it, and set fire vpon it.
For thus saith the Lorde, Deceaue not your owne myndes, thynkyng on this maner, Tushe, the Chaldees go nowe their way from vs: No, they shall not go their way.
For though ye had slayne the whole hoast of the Chaldees that besiege you, and that none remayned of them but wounded men, yet shoulde they stande vp and set fire vpon this citie.
Nowe when the hoast of the Chaldees was broken vp from Hierusalem for feare of the Egyptians armie,
Ieremie went out of Hierusalem towarde the lande of Beniamin, to get hym from among the people.
And when he came vnder Beniamins port, there was a porter called Ieriah, the sonne of Selemiah, the sonne of Hananiah, which fell vpon hym, and toke hym, saying: Thy mynde is to runne to the Chaldees.
Then sayde Ieremie, It is not so, I go not to the Chaldees: Neuerthelesse, Ieriah woulde not beleue hym, but brought Ieremie bounde before the princes.
Wherfore the princes were angry with Ieremie, & smote hym, and layde hym in prison in the house of Ionathan the scribe: for they had made that house the prison.
Thus was Hieremie put into a dungeon and prison, and so lay there a long tyme.
Then Zedekia the kyng sent for him, and called hym, and asked hym quietly in his owne house, saying: Thinkest thou this businesse [that nowe is in hande] commeth of the Lorde? Ieremie aunswered, Yea that it doth: and thou (sayde he) shalt be deliuered into the kyng of Babylons power.
Moreouer, Ieremie sayde vnto king Zedekia, What haue I offended agaynst thee, agaynst thy seruauntes, or agaynst this people, that ye haue put me in prison?
Where are your prophetes which haue prophecied vnto you, and sayde, That the king of Babylon shoulde not come agaynst you and this lande?
And therfore heare nowe O my Lorde the kyng, let my prayer be accepted before thee, and sende me no more into the house of Ionathan the scribe, that I dye not there.
Then Zedekia commaunded to put Ieremie in the fore entrie of the prison, and dayly to be geuen hym a cake of bread of the bakers streete, vntyll all the bread in the citie was eaten vp: Thus Ieremie remayned in the fore entrie of the prison.
SAphatiah the sonne of Mathan, Gedaliah the sonne of Pashur, Iucal the sonne of Selemiah, & Pashur the sonne of Melchia, perceaued the wordes that Ieremie had spoken vnto all the people, namely, on this maner.
Thus saith the Lorde, Who so remayneth in this citie, shall perishe either with the sworde, with hunger, or with pestilence: but who so falleth vnto the Chaldees shal escape, winning his soule for a pray, and shall lyue.
For thus saith the Lorde, This citie no doubt must be deliuered into the power of the kyng of Babylon, and he also shall winne it.
Then saide the princes vnto the kyng, Sir, we beseche you let this man be put to death: for thus he discourageth the handes of the souldiours that be in this citie, and the handes of all the people, when he speaketh such wordes vnto them: This man laboureth not for peace of the people, but mischiefe.
Zedekia the kyng aunswered, and sayde, Lo, he is in your handes: for the kyng may denie you nothyng.
Then toke they Ieremie and cast him into the dungeon of Melchiah the sonne of Amelech, that dwelt in the fore entrie of the prison, and they let downe Ieremie with coardes into a dungeon, where there was no water, but mire: So Ieremie stack fast in the mire.
Nowe when Abedmelech the Morian beyng a chaumberlayne in the kynges court, vnderstoode that they had cast Ieremie into the dungeon,
He went out of the kynges house, and spake to the king, which then sate vnder the port of Beniamin, these wordes.
My Lorde the kyng, where as these men meddle with Ieremie the prophete, they do hym wrong [Namely] in that they haue put hym in prison, there to dye for hunger: for there is no more bread in the citie.
Then the kyng commaunded Abedmelech the Morian, and sayde, Take from hence thirtie men whom thou wylt, and drawe vp Ieremie the prophete out of the dungeon before he dye.
So Abedmelech toke the men with hym, and went to the house of the king, and there vnder the treasurie he gat olde ragges and worne cloutes, and let them downe by a corde into the dungeon to Ieremie.
And Abedmelech the Morian sayde vnto the prophete Ieremie: O put these ragges and cloutes vnder thine arme holes betwixt them and the cordes: And Ieremie did so.
So they drewe vp Ieremie with cordes, & toke hym out of the dungeon: and he remayned in the fore entrie of the prison.
Then Zedekia the kyng sent, & caused Ieremie the prophete to be called vnto hym, into the thirde entrie that is in the house of the Lorde, and the kyng sayde vnto Ieremie: I wyll aske thee somewhat, but hyde nothyng fro me.
Then Ieremie aunswered Zedekia, If I be playne vnto thee, thou wylt cause me to suffer death: yf I geue thee counsayle, thou wylt not folowe me.
So the kyng swore an oth secretely to Ieremie, saying: As the Lorde liueth that made vs these soules, I wyll not slay thee, nor geue thee into the handes of them that seke after thy lyfe.
Then sayde Ieremie vnto Zedekia, Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: If case be that thou wylt go foorth vnto the kyng of Babylons princes, thou shalt saue thy lyfe, and this citie shall not be brent, yea both thou and thy housholde shall escape with your lyues:
But yf thou wylt not go foorth to the kyng of Babylons princes, then shall this citie be deliuered into the handes of the Chaldees, which shall set fire vpon it, and thou shalt not be able to escape them.
And Zedekia said vnto Ieremie: I am afrayde for the Iewes that are fled vnto the Chaldees, lest I come into their handes, & so they to haue me in derision.
But Ieremie aunswered, No, they shall not betray thee: O hearken vnto the voyce of the Lorde I beseche thee, which I speake vnto thee, so shalt thou be well, and saue thy lyfe:
But yf thou wylt not go foorth, the Lorde hath tolde me this playnely,
Beholde, all the women that are left in the kyng of Iudas house, shalbe led foorth vnto the kyng of Babylons princes: and they shall say, thou art deceaued, and the men in whom thou didst put thy trust, haue gotten thee vnder, & set thy feete fast in the mire, and gone their way from thee.
Therfore all thy wyues with thy children shall they leade foorth vnto the Chaldees, and thou shalt not escape their handes: but shalt be the kyng of Babylons prisoner, and this citie shalt thou cause to be burnt.
Then sayde Zedekia vnto Ieremie: Loke that no body knowe of these wordes, and thou shalt not dye.
But yf the princes perceaue that I haue talked with thee, and come vnto thee, saying: O speake, what sayde the kyng to thee, hyde it not from vs, and we wyll not put thee to death: tell vs (we pray thee) what sayde the kyng to thee?
See thou geue them this aunswere: I haue humbly besought the kyng that he wyll let me lye no more in Iehonathans house, that I dye not there.
Then came all the princes vnto Ieremie, and asked hym: and he tolde them after the maner as the kyng bad hym. Then they helde their peace, and let hym alone: for they perceaued nothyng.
So Ieremie abode styll in the fore entrie of the prison, vntyll the day that Hierusalem was wonne.
NOwe when the citie of Hierusalem was taken (for in the ninth yere of Zedekia kyng of Iuda, the tenth moneth, came Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon and all his hoast, and besieged Hierusalem, and fought agaynst it,
And in the eleuenth yere of Zedekia, in the fourth moneth, the ninth day of the moneth, he brake into the citie)
Then all the princes of the kyng of Babylon came in and sate them downe vnder the port: Neregel, Sarezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsachim, Rabsaris, Neregel, Sarezer, Rabmag, with all the other princes of the king of Babylo{n}.
And when Zedekia the kyng of Iuda with his souldiers sawe them, then they fled and departed out of the citie by nyght through the kynges garden, and through the port that is betweene the two walles, and so the kyng went towarde the wildernesse:
But the Chaldees hoast folowed fast after them, and toke Zedekia in the fielde of Hiericho, and brought hym prisoner to Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon, vnto Reblath, that lyeth in the lande of Hemath, where he gaue iudgement vpon hym.
So the kyng of Babylon caused the children of Zedekia and all the nobles of Iuda to be slayne before his face at Reblath,
And made Zedekias eyes to be put out, and bounde him with two chaines, and sent hym to Babylon.
Moreouer, the Chaldees burnt vp the kynges palace, with the other houses of the people, and brake downe the walles of Hierusalem.
As for the remnaunt of the people that were in the citie, and such as were come to hym, and whatsoeuer was left of the common sort, Nabuzaradan the chiefe captayne caryed them to Babylon.
But Nabuzaradan the chiefe captaine let the rascall people and those that had nothyng, dwell styll in the lande of Iuda, and gaue them vineyardes and corne fieldes at the same tyme.
Nabuchodonozor also the kyng of Babylon, gaue Nabuzaradan the chiefe captayne a charge concerning Ieremie, saying:
Take and cherishe hym, and make much of him, see thou do him no harme, but entreate hym after his owne desire.
So Nabuzaradan the chiefe captayne, Nabuzarban, Rabsares, Neregal, Sarezer, Rabmag, and all the kyng of Babylons lordes, sent for Ieremie,
And caused hym to be fet out of the fore entrie of the prison, and committed hym vnto Gedaliah the sonne of Ahikam, the sonne of Saphan, that he shoulde cary hym home: and so he dwelt among the people.
Nowe when Ieremie lay yet bounde in the fore entrie of the prison, the worde of the Lorde came vnto hym, saying:
Go and tell Abedmelech the Morian, thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: Beholde, the cruell and sharpe plague that I haue deuised for this citie wyll I bring vpon them, that thou shalt see it:
But I wyll deliuer thee in that day saith the Lorde, & thou shalt not come in the handes of those men whom thou fearest:
For doubtlesse I wyll saue thee, so that thou shalt not perishe with the sworde: but thy lyfe shalbe saued, and that because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lorde.
THis is the worde that the Lorde spake vnto Ieremie, when Nabuzaradan the chiefe captayne had let hym go free from Ramath, whyther he had led hym bounde among all the prisoners that were caryed from Hierusalem and Iuda vnto Babylon.
The chiefe captaine called for Ieremie, and sayde vnto hym, The Lorde thy God spake mightily before of the misery vpon this place.
Nowe the Lorde hath sent it and perfourmed it as he hath promised: for ye haue sinned agaynst the Lord, and haue not ben obedient vnto his voyce, therfore commeth this plague vpon you.
Beholde, I loose the bandes from thy handes this day: yf thou wilt nowe go with me vnto Babylon, vp then, for I wyll see to thee, and prouide for thee: but yf thou wylt not go with me to Babylon, then remayne here: Beholde all the lande is at thy wyll, loke where thou thinkest conuenient and good for thee to abyde, there dwell.
For as yet he was not gone backe agayne to Gedaliah: therfore he sayde to him, Go backe to Gedaliah the sonne of Ahicam, the sonne of Saphan, whom the kyng of Babylon hath made gouernour ouer the cities of Iuda, and dwell with hym among the people, or remayne where soeuer it please thee. So the chiefe captayne gaue him his expences with a rewarde, and let hym go.
Then went Ieremie vnto Gedaliah the sonne of Ahicam to Mispa, & dwelt there with hym among the people that were left in the lande.
Nowe whe{n} the captaynes of the hoast of Iuda, which with their felowes were scattered abrode on euery syde in the lande, vnderstoode that the kyng of Babylon had made Gedaliah the sonne of Ahicam gouernour in the lande, and that man, wyfe, and chylde, yea and the poore men in the lande that were not led captiue to Babylon, should be vnder his iurisdiction:
They came to Gedaliah vnto Mispa, [Namely] Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah, Iohanan and Ionathan the sonnes of Careah, Sareah the sonne of Thanehumeth, the sonnes of Ephai the Netophatite, Iezaniah the sonne of Maachati, with their companions.
And Gedaliah the sonne of Ahicam, the sonne of Saphan, sware vnto them and their felowes in this maner: Be not afrayde to serue the Chaldees, dwel in the lande, and do the king of Babylon seruice, so shall ye prosper.
Beholde I dwell at Mispa, to be an officer in the Chaldees behalfe, and to satisfie such as come to vs: therfore gather wine, corne, and oyle, & kepe them in your ware houses, and dwell in your cities that ye haue in kepyng.
Yea all the Iewes also that dwelt in Moab, vnder the Ammonites, Idumea, and in all the countreys, when they hearde that the kyng of Babylon had made Gedaliah the sonne of Ahicam the sonne of Saphan, gouernour vpon all them that were left in Iuda:
All the Iewes [I say] returned out of all places where they were fled vnto, and came into the lande of Iuda to Gedaliah vnto Mispa, and gathered wine and other fruites, and that very much.
Moreouer, Iohanan the sonne of Careah, and all the captaynes of the hoast that were scattered on euery syde in the lande, came to Gedaliah to Mispa, and sayde vnto hym:
Knowest thou not that Baalis the kyng of the Ammonites hath sent Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the sonne of Ahicam beleued them not.
Then sayde Iohanan the sonne of Careah vnto Gedaliah in Mispa these wordes secretely, Let me go I pray thee, and I wyll slay Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah, so that no body shall knowe it: Wherfore wyll he kyll thee, that all the Iewes which resort vnto thee myght be scattered, and the remnaunt in Iuda perishe.
And Gedaliah the sonne of Ahicam sayde to Iohanan the sonne of Careah, Thou shalt not do it: for they are but lyes that thou sayest of Ismael.
BVt in the seuenth moneth, it happened that Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah, the sonne of Elisama, one of the kynges blood came, and the greatest about the kyng, & ten men with him, vnto Gedaliah the sonne of Ahicam to Mispa, and they did eate together in Mispa.
And Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah, with those ten men that were with him, start vp, and smote Gedaliah the sonne of Ahicam the sonne of Saphan with the sworde, and slue hym whom the king of Babylon had made a gouernour of the lande.
Ismael also slue all the Iewes that were with Gedaliah at Mispa, and all the Chaldees that he founde there waytyng vpon hym, and those that were able to fyght he slue with hym.
The next day after that he had slayne Gedaliah, the matter was yet vnknowen:
And there came certayne men from Sichem, from Silo, and Samaria, to the number of fourescore, which had shauen their beardes, rent their clothes, and were all heauie, bryngyng meate offerynges and incense in their handes, to offer it in the house of the Lorde.
And Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah went foorth of Mispa weepyng, to meete them: Nowe when he met them, he sayde, Go your way to Gedaliah the sonne of Ahicam.
And when they came in the middest of the citie, Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah, with them that were with hym, slue them euen at the middest of the pit.
Among these fourescore men there were ten that sayde vnto Ismael: Oh slay vs not, for we haue yet a great treasure in the fielde, of wheate, barly, oyle, and hony: So he spared them, and slue them not with their brethren.
Nowe the pit wherin Ismael did cast the dead bodyes of the men whom he slue because of Gedaliah, had kyng Asa caused to be made for feare of Baasa the kyng of Israel, and the same pit did Ismael fyll with slayne men.
As for the remnaunt of the people, the kynges daughters, and all the people that were left at Mispa, vpon whom Nabuzaradan the chiefe captayne had made Gedaliah the sonne of Ahicam gouernour, Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah caryed them away prisoners towarde the Ammonites.
But when Iohanan the sonne of Careah, and all they which had ben captaynes ouer the kinges hoast with him, hearde of all the wickednesse that Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah had done:
They toke their companions, & went out for to fyght with Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah, and founde hym by the great waters that are at Gibeon.
Nowe when all the people whom Ismael led captiue, sawe Iohanan the sonne of Careah, and all the other captaynes of the hoast, they were glad.
So all the people that Ismael had caried away from Mispa, were brought agayne: and when they returned, they came to Iohanan the sonne of Careah.
But Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah fled from Iohanan with eyght companions, and went to the Ammonites.
Then Iohanan the sonne of Careah, and all the captaynes of the hoast that were with hym, toke all the remnaunt of the people, whom Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah had led away when he had slayne Gedaliah the sonne of Ahicam, whom they also had reserued from hym, fightyng men, women, and children, and gelded men, whom they brought agayne from Gibeon.
And went from thence, and sate them downe at Geruth Chamaam, which lyeth beside Bethlehem, that they might go into Egypt for feare of the Chaldees:
Of whom they were afrayde, because that Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah had slayne Gedaliah Ahicams sonne, whom the kyng of Babylon had made gouernour in the lande.
SO all the captaynes of Iohanan the sonne of Careah, Iezaniah the sonne of Osiah, came, with all the people fro{m} the least vnto the most,
And sayde vnto Ieremie the prophete: O heare our petition, that thou mayest pray for vs vnto the Lorde thy God, [Namely] for all the remnaunt, wherof there be fewe of vs left of many, as thou seest vs:
That the Lorde thy God may shewe vs a way to go in, and tell vs what we shoulde do.
Then Ieremie the prophete sayde vnto them: I haue hearde you, beholde, I wyll pray vnto God your Lorde as ye haue required me: and loke what aunswere the Lorde geueth, I shall certifie you therof, and kepe nothyng backe from you.
And they sayde vnto Ieremie, The Lorde be a true and faithfull witnesse betwixt vs, that we wyll do all that the Lorde thy God commaundeth vs.
Whether it be good or euyll, we wyll hearken vnto the voyce of the Lorde God, to whom we sende thee, that we may prosper when we haue folowed the voyce of the Lorde our God.
And after ten dayes came the worde of the Lorde vnto Ieremie.
Then called he Iohanan the sonne of Careah, and all the captaynes of the people that were with hym, yea and all the people from the least to the most,
And sayde vnto them: Thus saith the Lorde God of Israel, vnto whom ye sent me to lay foorth your prayers before hym:
If ye wyll dwell in this lande, I shall builde you vp, & not breake you downe, I shal plant you, and not roote you out: for I repent as concerning the trouble that I haue done to you.
Feare not the kyng of Babylon of whom ye stande in awe, O be not afraide of him, saith the Lord: for I wyll be with you to helpe you, and deliuer you from his hande.
I wyll pardon you, I wyll haue mercie vpon you, and cause hym to pitie you, and bryng you agayne into your owne lande.
Neuerthelesse, yf ye purpose not to dwell in this lande, nor to folowe the voyce of the Lorde your God:
But wyll say thus, We wyll not dwell heare, but go into Egypt, where we shall neither see warre, heare the noyse of the trumpe, nor suffer hunger, there wyll we dwell:
Wherfore heare nowe the worde of the Lorde O ye remnaunt of Iuda, Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: If ye be wholly purposed to go into Egypt, and to dwell there as straungers,
The sworde that ye feared, shall ouertake you in Egypt: and the hunger wherof ye be here afrayde, shall hang vpon you, and folowe you into Egypt, and there shall ye dye.
And all they that of set purpose vndertake to go into Egypt to soiourne there, shall perishe with the sworde, with hunger, and pestilence, not one of them shall remayne, there shall none escape the plague that I wyll bryng vpon them.
For thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel, Lyke as my wrath and indignation is moued agaynst the inhabitours of Hierusalem: so shall my displeasure be kindled agaynst you also yf ye go into Egypt, and there ye shalbe reuiled, abhorred, brought to shame and confusion, and as for this place ye shall neuer see it more.
The Lorde forbiddeth you (O ye remnaunt of Iuda) that ye shall not go into Egypt: and forget not that I haue warned you earnestly this day.
For ye haue dissembled with me: for ye sent me vnto the Lorde your God, and sayde, O pray thou the Lorde our God for vs, and loke what aunswere the Lorde our God geueth thee, that bryng vs agayne, and we shall do therafter:
Nowe haue I shewed and declared vnto you, but ye haue not obeyed the voyce of the Lorde your God, for the which cause he hath sent me to you.
Nowe therfore be sure that ye shall perishe with the sworde, with hunger and pestilence, euen in the same place where your lust is to go and dwell.
NOwe when Ieremie had ended all {th}e wordes of the Lorde his God vnto the people, which to declare the Lorde heir God had sent him to them, euen all these wordes [I say]
Azariah the sonne of Osaiah, and Iohanan the sonne of Careah, with all the stubburne persons, sayd vnto Ieremie, Thou lyest, the Lorde our God hath not sent thee to speake vnto vs, that we shoulde not go into Egypt, and dwell there:
But Baruch the sonne of Neriah prouoketh thee agaynst vs, that he myght bryng vs into the captiuitie of the Chaldees, that they myght slay vs, and cary vs away prisoners vnto Babylon.
So Iohanan the sonne of Careah, and all the captaynes of the hoast, and all the people, folowed not the commaundement of the Lorde, [namely] to dwell in the lande of Iuda:
But Iohanan the sonne of Cariah, and all the captaines of the hoast, caried away all the remnaunt of Iuda, that were come together agayne from all the heathen, among whom they had ben scattered, to dwell in the lande of Iuda,
Men, women, children, the kynges daughters, all those that Nabuzaradan the chiefe captayne had left with Gedaliah the sonne of Ahikam, the sonne of Saphan: they caryed away also the prophete Ieremie, Baruch the sonne of Neriah,
And so came into Egypt: for they were not obedient vnto the commaundement of God. Thus came they to Thaphnis:
And in Thaphnis the worde of the Lorde happened vnto Ieremie, saying:
Take great stones in thine hande, and hyde them in the bricke wall vnder the doore of Pharaos house in Thaphnis, that all the men of Iuda may see,
And say vnto them, Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: Beholde, I will sende and call for Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon my seruaunt, and wyll set his seate vpon these stones that I haue hyd, and he shall spreade his tent ouer them.
And when he commeth, he shall smite the land of Egypt, some with slaughter, some with banishment, and some with the sworde.
He shall set fire vpon the temple of the Egyptians gods, and burne them vp, and take them selues prisoners: Moreouer, he shall aray hym selfe with the lande of Egypt, lyke as a sheephearde putteth on his coate, and shall depart his way from thence in peace.
The pyllers also of the temple of the sunne that is in Egypt shall he breake in peeces, and burne the temples of the Egyptians gods.
THis is the worde that was shewed to Ieremie concernyng all the Iewes which dwelt in Egypt, at Migdol, at Thaphnis, at Noph, and in the lande of Pathures.
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel, Ye haue seene all the miserie that I haue brought vpon Hierusalem, & vpon all the cities of Iuda: so that this day they are desolate and no man dwellyng therin,
And that because of the great blasphemies, which they commited to prouoke me vnto anger, in that they went backe to do sacrifice and worship vnto straunge gods, whom neither they, nor ye, nor your fathers haue knowen.
Howbeit I sent vnto them my seruauntes all the prophetes, I rose vp early, I sent vnto them and gaue them warning, O do no suche abhominable thinges, and thinges that I hate.
But they would not folowe nor hearken to turne from their wickednesse, & to do no more sacrifice vnto straunge gods.
Wherefore, myne indignation and wrath was kindled, and it brent vp the cities of Iuda, with the streetes of Hierusalem, so that they were made waste and desolate, as it is come to passe this day.
Nowe therfore thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: Howe happeneth it that ye do so great euyll vnto your owne soules, thus to destroy the men and woman, chyldren and babes of Iuda, so that none of you is left?
Because ye prouoke me to wrath with the workes of your owne hands, when ye offer vnto straunge gods in the lande of Egypt where as ye be gone to dwell, that ye might vtterly perishe, and that ye might be reuiled and shamefully intreated of all nations?
Or haue ye nowe forgotten the wickednesse of your forefathers, the wickednesse of the kynges of Iuda and their wiues, the wickednesse that ye your selues and your wiues haue done in the lande of Iuda, and in the streetes of Hierusalem?
Yet are ye not sorie this day, ye feare not, neither walke ye in my lawe, and in my commaundementes that I haue geuen vnto you and your forefathers.
Therefore thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: I am stedfally aduised and determined to punish you, and to roote out all Iuda.
As for the remnaunt of Iuda that purposely went into Egypt there to dwell, I wyll take them, and they shall all be destroyed, in the lande of Egypt shall they perishe, beyng consumed with the sworde and with hunger: for from the least vnto the most they shall perishe with the sworde and with hunger: Moreouer, they shalbe reuiled, adhorred, shamed, and confounded.
For I wyll visite them that dwell in Egypt, as I haue visited Hierusalem, with the sworde, with hunger, and with pestilence.
So that none of the remnaunt of Iuda whiche are gone to dwell in Egypt, shalbe left to come againe into the land of Iuda, although they thinke to come thyther agayne and to dwell there: for none shall come agayne but suche as are fled away.
Then all the men whiche knewe that their wiues had offred vnto straunge gods, and a great sort of wiues that stoode there, yea and all the people that dwelt there in Egypt in the citie of Phatures, aunswered Ieremie and saide:
As for the wordes that thou hast spoken vnto vs in the name of the Lorde, we wyll in no wise heare them:
But whatsoeuer goeth out of our owne mouth, that wyll we do, we wyll do sacrifice, and offer oblations vnto the Queene of heauen, like as we and our forefathers, our kinges and our heades haue done in the cities of Iuda, and in the streetes of Hierusalem: for then had we plenteousnesse of vitailes, then were we in prosperitie, and no misfortune came vpon vs:
But since we left to offer and to do sacrifice vnto the Queene of heauen, we haue had scarsenesse of all thinges, and perishe with the sworde and hunger.
[Last of all] when we [women] dyd sacrifice and offred vnto the Queene of heauen: dyd we make her cakes and powre vnto her drinke offeringes to do her seruice, without our husbandes wylles?
Then saide Ieremie vnto all the people, to the men, to the women, and to all the folke whiche had geuen hym that aunswere:
Dyd not the Lorde remember the sacrifices that ye, your forefathers, your kynges and rulers, with all the people, haue offred in the cities of Iuda, in the streetes of Hierusalem? and hath he not considered this in his minde?
Insomuche that the Lorde might no longer suffer the wickednesse of your inuentions, and the abhominable thinges whiche ye dyd: Is not your lande desolate and voyde, yea and abhorred, so that no man dwelleth therein any more, as it is come to passe this day?
Did not all this happen vnto you, because ye made suche sacrifice, and sinned against the Lord: Ye haue not folowed his voyce, to walke in his law, in his ordinaunces and statutes: yea this is the cause that all misfortune happened vnto you, as it is come to passe this day.
Moreouer, Ieremie spake vnto al the people, and to al the women: Heare the worde of the Lorde all Iuda that be in the lande of Egypt.
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the god of Israel, Ye and your wiues haue spoken with your owne mouth the thing that ye haue fulfilled in deede, yea thus haue ye sayde: We wyll not fayle, but perfourme the bowes that we haue vowed, we wyll do sacrifice, and powre out drinke offeringes to the Queene of heauen: Purposely wyll ye set vp your owne meaninges, and perfourme your vowes.
And therefore heare the worde of the Lorde all Iuda, that dwell in the lande of Egypt: Beholde, I haue sworne by my great name, saith the Lorde, that my name shall not be rehearsed thorowe any mans mouth of Iuda in all the lande of Egypt, to say, the Lorde God liueth.
For I wyl watch to plague them, and not for their wealth: And all the men of Iuda that be in the lande of Egypt shall perishe with the sworde, and with hunger, vntil they be vtterly destroyed.
Neuerthelesse, those that fled away for the sworde, shall come againe out of Egypt into the land of Iuda, but there shalbe very fewe of them: and all the remnaunt of Iuda that are gone into Egypt there to dwell, shall knowe whose words shalbe found true, theirs, or myne.
Take this for a token, that I wyll visite you in this place saith the Lorde, and that ye may knowe howe that I without doubt wyl perfourme my purpose vpon you, to punishe you.
Beholde saith the Lorde, I wyll deliuer Pharao Hophrea kyng of Egypt, into the handes of his enemies that seeke after his lyfe: euen as I gaue Zedekias the kyng of Iuda into the handes of Nabuchodonozor kyng of Babylon his enemie, whiche sought after his life.
THese are the wordes that Ieremie the prophete spake vnto Baruch the sonne of Neriah, after that he had written these sermons in a booke at the mouth of Ieremie, in the fourth yere of Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda, saying:
Thus saith the Lorde God of Israel vnto thee, O Baruch:
Insomuch as thou thoughtest thus [when thou wast wrytyng] wo is me, the Lorde hath geuen me payne for my trauayle, I haue weeried my selfe with sighing, and haue founde no rest:
Therefore tell hym O Ieremie, that the Lord saith thus: Beholde, the thing that I haue buylded, wyll I breake downe agayne, and roote out the thing that I haue planted, yea this whole lande:
And seekest thou yet promotion [looke not for it, and] desire it not, for I wyll bryng a miserable plague vpon all flesh saith the Lorde: but thy lyfe wyll I geue thee for a pray in all places whythersoeuer thou goest.
HEare folowe the wordes of the Lorde to the prophete Ieremie, which he spake against [all] the gentiles.
These wordes folowing preached he to the Egyptians, concerning the hoast of Pharao Necho kyng of Egypt, when he was in Charchamis beside the water of Euphrates, what tyme as Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon slue hym, in the fourth yere of Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda.
Make redy buckler and shielde, and go foorth to fight.
Harnesse your horses, and set your selues vpon them, set your sallets fast on, bryng foorth speares, scoure your swordes, and put on your brestplates.
But alas, howe happeneth it that I see you so afraide? why shrinke ye backe? Their worthyes are slayne, yea they runne so fast away that none of them looketh behinde hym: fearefulnesse is fallen vpon euery one of them saith the Lorde.
The lightest of foote shall not flee away, and the worthyes shal not escape: towarde the north by the water of Euphrates they dyd stumble and fall.
But what is he this that swelleth vp as it were a fludde, roaring and raging lyke the streames of water?
It is Egypt that ryseth vp lyke the fludde, and casteth out the waters with so great noyse: And he saide, I wyll go vp and wyll couer the earth, I wyll destroy the citie with them that are therin.
Get you vp ye horses, roule foorth ye charets, come foorth worthyes, ye Ethiopians, ye Libyans with your bucklers, ye Lydians with your bowes.
But this day of the Lorde God of hoastes, is a day of vengeaunce, that he may auenge him of his enemies: The sworde shall deuour, it shalbe satisfied and bathed in their blood, for the Lord God of hoastes shall haue a slayne offering towarde the north, by the water of Euphrates.
Go vp vnto Gilead, and bryng triacle O virgin thou daughter of Egypt: but in vayne shalt thou go to surgerie, for thy wounde shall not be stopped.
The heathen haue hearde of thy shame, and the lande is full of thy confusion, for one strong man did stumble vpon another, and they are fallen both together.
These are the wordes that the Lord spake to the prophete Ieremie, concerning the comming of Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon, whiche was sent to destroy the lande of Egypt:
Preache out thorowe the lande of Egypt, and cause it to be proclaymed at Migdol, Noph, and Thaphnis, and say: stande styll, make thee redye, for the sworde shall consume thee rounde about.
Howe happeneth it that thy mightie worthyes are fallen? why stoode they not fast? euen because the Lorde thrust them downe.
The slaughter was great, for one fell euer still vpon another: and they sayde, Vp, let vs go agayne to our owne people, and to our owne naturall countrey, from the cruel sworde.
They dyd crye euen there, Pharao the kyng of Egypt is a kyng of troublesomnesse: he hath ouerpast the appointed tyme.
As I liue (saith the kyng whose name is the Lorde of hoastes) so surely as Thabor standeth among the mountaynes, and Charmel in the sea: euen so assuredly shall this mischiefe come [vppon Egypt.]
O thou daughter of Egypt, make redye thy geare to flit: for Noph shalbe voyde and desolate, so that no man shal dwell therein.
The lande of Egypt is lyke a goodly faire calfe: but destruction shall come out of the north [I say] it commeth.
Her waged souldiers that be with her are lyke fat calues, they also shall flee away together and not abyde: for the day of their slaughter, and the tyme of their visitation shall come vpon them.
The crye of them shall make a noyse as the hissing of serpentes: for they shall enter in with their hoastes, and come against her with axes, as it were hewers downe of wood.
And they shall cut downe her wood saith the Lorde, they shalbe innumerable: for they shalbe mo in number then the grashoppers, so that no man shalbe able to tell them.
The daughter of Egypt is confounded, and deliuered into the handes of the people of the north.
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel: Beholde, I wyll visite that restlesse people of Alexandria, Pharao, & Egypt, yea both their gods and their kinges, euen Pharoa and all them that put their trust in hym:
Yea I wyl deliuer them into the handes of those that seeke after their liues, [namely] into the power of Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon, and into the power of his seruauntes: and after all these thinges, it shalbe inhabited as aforetyme, saith the Lorde.
Be not thou afraide O my seruaunt Iacob, feare not thou O Israel: for lo, I wyll helpe thee from farre, and thy seede from the lande of their captiuitie: Iacob also shall come againe and be in rest, he shall prosper, and no man shall do hym harme.
Feare thou not (O Iacob my seruaunt) saith the Lorde, for I am with thee, and wyll destroy all nations among whom I haue scattered thee: neuerthelesse I wyll not consume thee, but chasten thee and correct thee, yea and that with discretion, neither wyll I vtterly destroy thee.
THese are the wordes that the Lorde spake vnto Ieremie the prophete against the Philistines, before that Pharao smote [the citie of] Azah.
Thus saith the Lorde: Beholde, there shal waters arise out of the north, and shall growe to a great fludde, running ouer & couering the lande and all that is therin, the cities and them that dwel therin: and the men shal crye, & all they that dwel in the land shal mourne
At the noyse and stamping of their strong barbed horses, at the shaking of their charrets, and at the rumbling of the wheeles: the fathers shall not looke to their chyldren, so feeble and weerie shall their handes be,
At the same tyme when he shalbe there to destroy the whole lande of the Philistines, he shall make waste both Tyrus, Sidon, and the residue of their ayde: for the Lorde wyll destroy the Philistines, the remnaunt of the Ile of Caphtor.
Baldnesse is come vpon Azah, Ascalon is put to scilence, with the rest of their valleys: Howe long wylt thou teare thy selfe?
O thou sworde of the Lorde, howe long wylt thou not ceasse? Turne againe into thy sheath, rest, and leaue of.
But how can it ceasse, when the Lord him selfe hath geuen it a charge against Ascalon, and raysed it vp against the cities of the sea coast?
THus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel against Moab: Wo be to the citie of Nebo, for it is layde waste, brought to confusion, and Kiriathaim is taken: Misgab is brought to shame and afraide.
Moab can boast no more of Hesbon, for they haue deuised a mischiefe against it: Come [shall they say] let vs roote them out, that they may be no more a nation, thou also shalt be destroyed O Madmena, and the sworde shall persecute thee.
A voyce shall crye from Horonaim: Great wasting and destruction shall come vpon them,
Moab is made desolate, her litle ones haue cryed out.
For at the going vp vnto Luith he arose with lamentation and mourning, and downe towarde Horonaim they hearde a cruel and deadly crye:
Get you away, saue your liues, and be lyke vnto the heath in the wyldernesse.
For because thou hast trusted in thine owne workes and treasure, thou shalt be taken: Chamos with his priestes and princes shall go away into captiuitie.
The destroyer shall come vpon all cities, none shall escape: The valleys shalbe destroyed, and the fieldes shalbe layde waste, lyke as the Lorde hath spoken.
Geue winges vnto Moab, that she get her away speedyly: for her cities shalbe made so desolate, that no man shall dwell therein.
Cursed be he that doth the worke of the Lorde fraudulently, and cursed be he that kepeth backe his sworde from sheddyng of blood.
Moab hath euer ben riche and carelesse from her youth vp, she hath ben still setled vpon lies, she was neuer yet put out of one vessell into another [that is] she neuer went away into captiuitie, therefore her taste remayneth, and her sauour is not yet chaunged.
But lo, the tyme commeth saith the Lorde, that I shall sende her trussers to trusse her vp, whiche shall remoue her from her dwelling, and emptie her vessels, and breake her wine pottes.
And Moab shalbe ashamed of Chamos, lyke as Israel was ashamed of Bethel, wherein she put her trust.
Wherefore do ye thinke thus: we are mightie and strong men of warre?
Moab is destroyed, and her cities brent vp, her chosen young men be slayne, saith the kyng whose name is the Lorde of hoastes.
The destruction of Moab commeth on a pace, and her fall is at hande.
All ye neighbours mourne for her, and all ye that knowe her name, say, O howe happeneth it that the strong staffe and the goodly rodde is thus broken?
And thou daughter Dibon, come downe from thy glory, and sit in thyrst: for he that destroyeth Moab, shall come vp to thee also, and breake downe thy strong holdes.
And thou that dwellest in Aroer, get thee to the streete, and looke about thee, aske them that are fled and escaped, and say, What thing is happened?
Oh Moab is confounded and ouercome: mourne and crye, tell it out at Arnon, that Moab is destroyed.
For iudgement shall come vpon the playne lande [namely] vpon Holon, and Iahzah, and vpon Mephaath.
And vpon Dibon, vpon Nabo, and Beth Deblathaim,
Vpon Kiriathaim, and vpon Beth Gamul, vpon Beth Maon,
And vpon Carioth, vpon Bozra, and all the cities in the lande of Moab, whether they lye farre or neare.
The horne of Moab is smitten downe, and her arme broken saith the Lorde.
Make her drunken, for she magnified her selfe aboue the Lorde, that men may clap their handes at her vomite, and that she also may be laughed to scorne.
Diddest not thou laugh Israel to scorne, as though he had ben taken [with theft] among thieues? for so often as thou makest mention of hym, thou skippest for ioy.
Ye Moabites, leaue the cities, and dwel in rockes of stone, and become like doues that make their nestes in holes.
As for Moabs pride we haue hearde of it, she is very hye minded, I knowe her stoutenesse, her boasting, her arrogancie, and the pride of her stomacke, [saith the Lorde.]
I knowe (saith the Lorde) her indignation, she doth not right, her wordes are lyes, and they haue not dealt truely.
Therefore will I mourne for Moab, for whole Moabs sake: my heart shall lament the men of Kirchares.
O thou vineyarde of Sabamah, I wyll weepe for thee as for Iazer: thy vine braunches shall come ouer the sea vnto the sea of Iazer, the destroyer shal breake into thy haruest and grape gathering.
Myrth and cheare shalbe taken away from the fertile fielde, and from the lande of Moab: there shalbe no sweete wine in the presse, the treader shal haue no stomacke to crye, yea there shalbe none to crye vnto him,
Whiche aforetyme were hearde from Hesbon to Eleale, and Iahaz, whiche lyfted vp their voyce from Zoar vnto Horonaim, that bullocke of three yere olde: the waters also of Nemrim shalbe dryed vp.
Moreouer, I will make Moab ceasse saith the Lorde, from the offeringes and censing that she hath made vnto her gods in hye places.
Wherefore my heart mourneth for Moab like a crowde playing an heauie song, and for the mens sake of Kirchares my heart mourneth also, euen as a pipe that pipeth a dolefull song: for their riches which they haue gathered, shalbe destroyed.
All heades shalbe shauen, and all beardes clipped of, all handes bounde, and all loynes gyrded about with sackcloth.
Vpon all the house toppes and streetes of Moab there shalbe lamenble mourning: for I wyl breake Moab lyke an vnprofitable vessell, saith the Lorde.
O howe is she destroyed? O howe mourneth she? O howe doth Moab hang downe her head and is ashamed? Thus shal Moab be a laughing stocke, and had in derision of all them that be rounde about her.
For thus saith the Lorde: Beholde, the enemie shall come fleeing as an Egle, and spreade his winges vpon Moab.
They shall take the cities, and winne the strong holdes: then the mightie mens heartes in Moab, shalbe lyke the heart of a woman trauayling with chylde.
And Moab shalbe made so desolate, that she shall no more be a people, because she hath set vp her selfe against the Lorde.
Feare, pit, and snare, shall come vpon thee O Moab, saith the Lorde.
Whoso escapeth the feare, shall fall into the pit, and whoso getteth out of the pit, shalbe taken in the snare: for I will bryng a yere of visitation vpon Moab, saith the Lorde.
They that are able to flee, shall stande vnder the shadowe of Hesbon, for there shall go a fire out of Hesbon, and a flambe from Sion, and shall burne vp that proude people of Moab, and the toppe of those seditious chyldren.
Wo be vnto thee O Moab, thou people of Chamos shalt perishe: yea thy sonnes and daughters shalbe led away captiue.
Yet at the last wyll I bryng Moab out of captiuitie agayne saith the Lord: Thus farre is of the plague of Moab.
AS concerning the Ammonites, thus the Lorde saith: Hath Israel no chyldren? or is he without any ayre? Why hath your kyng then taken Gad in? Wherefore doth his people dwell in his cities.
Beholde therefore, the tyme commeth saith the Lord, that I wyll bring a noyse of warre into Rabath of the Ammonites, and it shalbe layde on a desolate heape, and her cities brent vp, and the Israelites shalbe lordes ouer those that had them in possession afore saith the Lorde.
Hesbon shall mourne, for Ai shalbe rooted out of the grounde, [saith the Lorde]: the citie of Rabbah shall crye out, and gyrde them selues with sackcloth, they shall mourne and runne about the walles, for their kyng shalbe led away prisoner, yea his priestes and princes with hym.
Wherfore gloriest thou in the valley? thy valley hath stowed away O thou rebellious daughter, and thinkest thou that thou art so s•fe by reason of thy treasure, that no man shall come to thee?
Beholde, I wyll bryng a feare vpon thee saith the Lorde God of hoastes, from all those that be about thee, so that ye shalbe scattred euery man from another, and no man shall gather them together agayne that be fled.
But after that, I will bryng the Ammonites also out of captiuitie agayne, saith the Lorde.
Vpon the Edomites hath the Lord of hoastes spoken on this maner: Is there no more wysdome in Theman? Is there no more good counsayle among his people? Is their wysdome then turned cleane to naught?
Get you hence, turne your backes, creepe downe into the deepe O ye citizens of Dedan: for I wyll bryng destruction vpon Esau, yea and the day of his visitation.
If the grape gatherers come vpon thee, shoulde they not leaue some grapes? If the night robbers come vppon thee, shoulde they not take so much as they thought were inough?
But I wyll make Esau bare, and discouer his secretes, so that he shall not be able to byde them: His seede shalbe wasted away, yea his brethren and his neighbours, and he hym selfe shall not be left behynde.
Thou shalt leaue thy fatherlesse chyldren behynde thee, and I wyll kepe them, and thy wydowes shal take their comfort in me.
For thus hath the Lord spoken: Beholde, they that men thought were vnmeete to drinke of the cuppe, haue drunken with the first, and thinkest thou then to be free? No no, thou shalt neither be quit nor free: but thou must drinke also.
For why? I haue sworne by my selfe saith the Lorde, that Bozrah shall become a wyldernesse, an open shame, a laughing stocke, and cursing, and all her cities shalbe a continuall desert.
For I am perfectly infourmed of the Lorde, that he hath sent a message alredy vnto the heathen: Gather you together, and go foorth agaynst her, make you redy to battayle.
For lo, I wyll make thee but small among the heathen, and litle regarded among men.
Thy hye stomacke, and the pryde of thy heart hath deceaued thee, because thou doest dwell in the holes of stonye rockes, and ha• the hye mountaynes in possession: Neuerthelesse, though thy nest were as hye as the Egles, yet I wyll cast thee downe saith the Lorde.
Moreouer, Idumea shalbe a wyldernesse, whoso goeth by it, shalbe abashed, and wonder at all her miserable plagues.
Like as Sodom, Gomor, and the cities that lay there about, were turned vpside downe, saith the Lorde: so shall no body dwell in Idumea, and no man shall haue his habitation there.
Beholde, lyke as the lion, so shall a destroyer come vp from the pleasaunt medowes of Iordane, vnto the strong dwelling place, & when I haue made hym quiet, I wyll make hym to flee from her, and all chosen men wyll I set in aray against her: Who is lyke vnto me? what is he that wyll striue with me? what sheephearde may stande in my handes?
Therefore heare the counsell of the Lorde that he hath taken vpon Idumea, and his purpose that he hath deuised vpon the citizens of Theman: The least of the flocke shall trayle them, and looke what fayre habitation they haue, they shall make it waste, and them selues also.
At the noyse of their fall the earth shall quake, the crye of their voyce shalbe hearde vnto the red sea.
Beholde, the enemie shall come and flee vp hyther lyke as it were an Egle, and spreade his winges vpon Bozrah: then shall the heartes of the worthyes in Edom, be as the heart of a woman trauayling of chylde.
Vpon Damascus, Hemath, and Arphad, shall come confusion: for they shal heare euyll tidinges, they shalbe tossed to and fro like the sea that can not stand styll.
Damascus shalbe sore afraide, and shal flee: trembling commeth vpon her, sorowe and payne shall ouertake her, as a woman trauayling of chylde.
But howe happeneth it that the famous citie, the citie of my ioy, is not spared?
Her young men shal fal in the streetes, and all her men of warre shalbe taken away in that tyme, saith the Lorde of hoastes.
I wyll kindle a fire in the walles of Damascus, whiche shall consume the palace of Benhadad.
As for Cedar and the kyngdome of Hazor, whom Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon smote, the Lord hath spoken thus vpon them: Aryse, and get you vp vnto Cedar, and destroy the people towarde the east.
Their tentes and their flockes shall they take away, yea their hanginges and their vessels, their camels also shall they cary away with them: they shall crye to them, feare is on euery syde.
Flee, get you farre away, creepe into caues, that ye may dwell there O ye inhabiters of Hazor saith the Lorde: for Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon hath holden a counsell concerning you, and concluded his deuice against you.
Aryse and get you vp against yonder ryche and carelesse people saith the Lorde, whiche haue neither gates nor doore barres, but dwell alone.
Their camels shalbe a pray, and the droues of their cattell driuen awaye: Moreouer, those wil I scatter towarde all the wyndes, and to the farthest partes of the worlde, yea from all the sides therof will I bryng their destruction, saith the Lorde.
Hazor also shalbe a dwelling for dragons, and an euerlasting wyldernesse, so that no body shall dwell there, and no man shall haue there his habitation.
These are the wordes that the Lord spake to the prophete Ieremie concerning Elam, in the beginning of the raigne of Zedekias kyng of Iuda.
Thus saith the Lord of hoastes, Beholde, I wyl breake the bowe of Elam, their principall strength.
And vpon Elam I wyll bryng the foure windes from the foure quarters of heauen, and wyll scatter them against the same foure wyndes: and there shalbe no people, but some of Elam shall flee vnto them.
For I wyll cause Elam to be afraide of their enemies, and of them that seeke their liues, and wyll bryng vpon them a mischiefe, euen my wrath saith the Lorde: And I wyll persecute them with the sworde so long tyll I haue brought them to naught.
I wyll set my throne in Elam, I wyll destroy both the kyng and princes from thence saith the Lorde: But in processe of tyme I wyll bryng Elam out of captiuitie agayne, saith the Lorde.
THE wordes that the Lorde spake vnto the prophete Ieremie, co{n}cerning Babylon and the lande of the Chaldees:
Preache among the gentiles, let your voyce be hearde, make a token, crye out, kepe no scilence, but say, Babylon is wonne, Bel is confounded, and Merodach is ouercome, yea their gods be brought to shame, and their images burst in peeces:
For out of the north there doth come a people against her, which shall make her lande so waste that no body shall dwell therin, neither man nor beast, for they shall flee and depart from thence.
In those dayes, and at that tyme saith the Lorde, the chyldren of Israel shall come, they and the children of Iuda, weeping and making haste, and shal seeke the Lorde their God.
They shall aske the way to Sion, thither shall they turne their faces, saying: Come, and we wyll cleaue to the Lorde in a couenaunt that neuer shalbe broken.
My people haue ben a lost flocke, my sheepheardes haue deceaued them, and haue made them go astray vpon the hylles, they haue gone from the mountayne to the litle hyl, and forgotten their folde.
All they that came vpon them haue deuoured them, and their enemies said, We haue made no fault agaynst them, for they haue displeased the Lorde, [yea euen the Lorde which is] the habitation of their righteousnesse, and the hope of their fathers.
Flee from Babylon, and depart out of the lande of the Chaldees, and be ye as the rammes that go before the flocke.
For lo, I wyll wake vp an hoast of people from the northren lande, & bryng them vpon Babylon, these shal lay siege to it, and winne it: their arrowes shall not misse, like as a cunnyng archer shooteth not wrong.
And the Chaldees shalbe spoyled, and all they that spoyle them, shalbe satisfied saith the Lorde:
Although ye were so chearfull & glad, to treade downe myne heritage, and fulfylled your pleasures as the calues in the grasse, and triumphed ouer them like bulles [when ye had gotten the victorie]
Your mothers shalbe sore confounded, and they that bare you shall come to shame, she shalbe the least set by among the nations, voyde, wasted, & dryed vp.
No man shalbe able to dwell there for the feare of the Lorde, but she shalbe whole desolate: all they that go by Babylon, shall stande styll & be abashed, and shall wonder at all her plagues.
Go foorth in your aray agaynst Babylon rounde about all ye that can handle bowes, shoote at her, spare no arrowes: for she hath sinned agaynst the Lorde.
Crye out agaynst her rounde about, she shall yelde her selfe, her foundations shall fall, and her walles shall come downe, for it shalbe the vengeaunce of the Lorde, yea vengeaunce shalbe taken of her: and as she hath done, so deale ye with her.
Roote out the sower from Babylon, & hym that handleth the sicle in haruest: for feare of the sworde of the enemie euery man shall get hym to his owne people, and euery man shall flee to his owne lande.
Israel is a scattered flocke, the lions haue dispearsed them: First the kyng of the Assyrians deuoured them,last of all this Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon hath brused all their bones.
Therfore thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel, Beholde, I wyll visite the kyng of Babylon and his kyngdome, as I haue visited the kyng of the Assyrians,
And wyll bryng Israel agayne to his pleasaunt pasture, that he may feede vpon Charmel and Basan, and be satisfied vpon the mount of Ephraim and Galaad.
In those dayes and at the same tyme saith the Lorde, yf the offence of Israel be sought for, there shal none be founde, yf men enquire for the sinne of Iuda, there shalbe none: for I wyll be mercifull vnto them whom I suffer to remayne.
Go downe [O thou auenger] into the enemies lande, and visite them that dwell therin: downe with them, & smite them vpon the backes saith the Lorde, do accordyng to all that I haue commaunded thee.
There is gone about the lande a crye of a slaughter and great murther [namelye on this maner]
Howe happeneth it that the hammer of the whole worlde is thus broken and brused in sunder? Howe chaunceth it that Babylon is become a wildernesse among the heathen [on this maner?]
I my selfe haue layde a snare for thee, and thou art taken vnawares, thou art trapped and snared: for why? thou hast contended agaynst the Lorde.
The Lorde hath opened his house of ordinaunce, and brought foorth the weapons of his wrath: for the thyng that is done in the land of the Chaldees, it is the Lorde of hoastes worke.
Come agaynst her, for this is her ende, breake vp her chestes, threshe her as ye threshe corne, destroy her that nothyng shalbe left.
Slay all their mightie souldiers, and put them to death: Wo be vnto them, for the day and tyme of their visitation is at hande.
[Me thynke] I heare [alredy] a crye of them that be fled and escaped out of the lande of Babylon, which shewe in Sion the vengeaunce of the Lorde our God, the vengeaunce of his temple, [yea a voyce of them that crye agaynst Babylon]
Call vp all the archers agaynst Babylon, pitch your tentes rounde about her, that none escape, recompence her as she hath deserued, and accordyng as she hath done, so deale with her agayne: for she hath set vp her selfe agaynst the Lorde, agaynst the holy one of Israel.
Therfore shall her young men fall downe in the streetes, and all her men of warre shalbe rooted out in that day saith the Lorde.
Beholde, I speake vnto thee O thou proude saith the Lorde God of hoastes, for thy day shall come, euen the tyme of thy visitation.
And the proude shall stumble and fall, and no man shall helpe hym vp, I wyll burne vp his cities with fire, and it shall consume all that is rounde about hym.
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes, The children of Israel and Iuda suffer violence together, all they that haue them in captiuitie kepe them fast, and wyll not let them go.
But their auenger and redeemer is mightie, whose name is the Lorde of hoastes, he shall maynteyne their cause, he shal make the lande shake, and iudge them that dwell therin, [one with another]
The sworde shal come vpon the Chaldees saith the Lorde, vpon them that dwell in Babylon, vpon their princes, and vpon their wise men.
The sworde vpon their soothsayers, as for those they shall become fooles: the sworde vpon their worthies, so that they shall stande in feare.
The sworde vpon their horsemen and charrettes, and vpon all the co{m}mon people that dwell among them, so that they shall all become lyke women: The sworde vpon their treasure, so that it shalbe stollen away.
A drought vpon their waters, so that they shalbe dryed vp: for the lande worshippeth images, and delighteth wonderfully in idols.
Therfore shall wylde beastes, Lamia, and Cat of mountaynes, and Estreches dwell therin: for there shall neuer man dwell there, neither shall any man haue his habitation there for euermore.
Like as God destroyed Sodome and Gomorre, with the cities that lay there about saith the Lorde: so shall no man dwell there also, neither shall any man haue there his habitation.
Beholde, there shall come a people from the north with a great bonde of men, and many kynges shall stande vp from the endes of the earth.
They beare bowes and bucklers, cruell are they and vnmercifull: their voyce roreth like the ragyng sea, they ryde vpon horses, and come weaponed to fight agaynst thee O Babylon.
Assoone as the king of Babylon heare tell of them, his handes shall waxe feeble, sorowe and heauinesse shall come vpon him as a woman trauayling with chylde.
Beholde, like as the lion commeth vp from the swellyng of Iordane vnto the dennes of Ethan, so wyll I dryue them foorth, and make them runne agaynst her: But whom shall I choose out and ordayne to such a thyng? for who is like me? or who wil striue with me? or what sheephearde may stande agaynst me?
Therfore here the counsayle that the Lorde hath geuen vpon Babylon, and the deuice that he hath taken vpon the lande of the Chaldees, The least among the people shall drawe them out, and loke what pleasaunt houses they haue, they shall lay them waste.
The noyse at the wynnyng of Babylon shall moue the earth, and the crye shalbe hearde among the gentiles.
THus hath the Lorde sayde: Behold, I wyll rayse vp a perilous wynde agaynst Babylon, & her citizens that beare euyl wyll against me.
I wyll sende also into Babylon fanners to fanne her out, and to destroy her lande: for in the day of her trouble they shalbe about her on euery syde.
Moreouer [the Lorde wyll say] vnto the bowmen, and to them that aduaunce them selues in their armoure: Ye shall not spare her young men, kyll downe all her hoast.
Thus the slayne shall fall downe in the lande of the Chaldees, and the wounded in the streetes.
As for Israel and Iuda they shall not be forsaken of their God of the Lord of hoastes, yea for the holy one of Israels sake haue the Chaldees fylled their lande full of sinne.
Flee away from Babylon, euery man saue his lyfe, that ye be not rooted out with her wickednesse: for the tyme of the Lordes vengeaunce is come, yea he shall rewarde her agayne.
Babylon hath ben in the Lordes hande a golden cuppe, that maketh all landes drunken: of her wine haue all people drunken, therfore are they out of their wittes.
But sodaynly is Babylon fallen and destroyed: mourne for her, bryng plasters for her woundes, yf she may peraduenture be healed agayne.
We woulde haue made Babylon whole say they, but she is not recouered, therfore wyll we let her alone, and go euery man into his owne countrey: for her iudgement is come into heauen, and is gone vp to the cloudes.
The Lorde hath brought foorth our righteousnesse: and therfore come on, we wyll shewe in Sion the worke of the Lorde our God.
Make sharpe the arrowes, and multiplie your shieldes: for the Lorde shall rayse vp the spirite of the kyng of the Medes, which hath alredy a desire to destroy Babylon: this shalbe the vengeaunce of the Lorde, & the vengeaunce of his temple.
Set vp tokens vpon the walles of Babylon, make your watch strong, set your watchmen in araye, yea holde priuie watches, and yet for all that shall the Lorde go foorth with his deuice which he hath taken vpon them that dwell in Babylon.
O thou that dwellest by the great waters, O thou that hast so great treasure and riches, thine ende is come, and the reckenyng of thy wynnynges.
The Lorde of hoastes hath sworne by hym selfe, that he wyll ouerwhelme thee with men lyke grashoppers in number, whiche with a courage shall crye alarum alarum agaynst thee:
Yea euen the Lorde of hoastes that with his power made the earth, with his wisdome prepared the round world, and with his discretion spread out the heauens.
Assoone as he letteth his voyce be hearde, the waters in the ayre waxe fierce: he draweth vp the cloudes from the endes of the earth, he turneth the lightnynges to rayne, he bryngeth the wyndes out of their secrete places.
[If they be esteemed] by their wisdome, all men are become fooles: confounded be all the casters of images, for the thing that they make, is but deceipt, and hath no breath.
Vayne is it and an erronious worke, and in the tyme of visitation it shall perishe.
The portion of Iacob is none such: but he that made all thinges whose name is the Lorde of hoastes, he is the rodde of his enheritaunce.
Thou hast ben mine hammer and weapons for warre: for with thee haue I broken the people in peeces, and with thee haue I destroyed kyngdomes.
Through thee I haue beaten to powder horse and horsemen, yea the charrettes and such as sate vpon them.
Through thee I haue broken man and woman, olde and young, bacheler and mayden.
Through thee I haue destroyed the sheepheard and his flocke, the husbandman and his cattell, the princes and the rulers.
Therfore wyll I rewarde the citie of Babylon, and all the inhabitauntes of Chaldea, with all the euyll which they haue done vnto Sion, yea that ye your selues shall see it, saith the Lorde.
Beholde I come vpon thee thou noysome hyll saith the Lorde, thou that destroyest all landes, I wyll stretch out my hand ouer thee, and cast thee downe from the stony rockes, and wyll make thee a burnt hyll,
So that neither corner stones shalbe taken any more out of thee: but waste and desolate shalt thou lye for euermore saith the Lorde.
Set vp a token in the lande, blowe the trumpets among the heathen, prouoke the nations agaynst her, call the kyngdomes of Ararat, Menni, and Ascanez, agaynst her, set the prince agaynst her, bryng as great a sort of terrible horses agaynst her as yf they were grashoppers.
Prepare against them the people of the Medes, with their kynges, princes, and all their chiefe rulers: yea and the whole lande that is vnder hym.
The lande also shall shake and be afrayde when the deuice of the Lorde shall come foorth agaynst Babylon, to make the lande of Babylon so waste that no man shal dwel any more therin.
The worthyes of Babylon shall leaue the battayle and kepe them selues in strong holdes, their strength hath failed them, they shalbe lyke women, their dwellyng places shalbe burnt vp, their barres shalbe broken.
One purseuaunt shall meete another, yea one poste shall come by another, to bryng the kyng of Babylon tidinges that his citie is taken on euery syde,
The foordes occupied, the fennes burnt vp, and the souldiers sore afrayde.
For thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel, The daughter of Babylon hath ben in her tyme lyke as a threshyng floore, but shortly shall her haruest come.
Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon hath deuoured and destroyed me, he hath made me an emptie vessell, he swalowed me vp lyke a dragon, and fylled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out.
My substaunce wherof he hath spoyled me, and the thyng that was left me which he hath caryed away, crye out against Babylon saith the daughter that dwelleth in Sion, yea and my blood also agaynst the Chaldees, saith Hierusalem.
Therfore thus saith the Lorde, Beholde I wyll defende thy cause, and auenge thee, I wyll drynke vp her sea, and drye vp her water sprynges.
Babylon shall become an heape of stones, a dwellyng place for dragons, a fearefulnesse and wonderyng, and no man shall dwell there.
They shall rore together lyke lions, and as the young lions when they be angry, so shall they bende them selues.
In their heate I shall geue them a dinner, and they shalbe drunken for ioy: then shall they sleepe an euerlastyng sleepe, and neuer wake, saith the Lorde.
I shall cary them downe to be slayne lyke sheepe, lyke weathers and goates:
O howe was Sesach wonne? O howe was the glorie of the whole lande taken? howe happeneth it that Babylon is so wondred at among the heathen?
The sea is risen ouer Babylon, & hath couered her with her great waues.
Her cities are layde waste, the lande lyeth vnbuilded and voyde, it is a lande where no man dwelleth, and where no man trauayleth through.
Moreouer, I wyll visite Bell at Babylon, & the thyng that he hath swalowed vp, that same shall I plucke out of his mouth: the gentiles also shall runne no more vnto hym, yea and the walles of Babylon shall fall.
O my people, come out of Babylon, that euery man may saue his life from the fearfull wrath of the Lorde.
Be not faynt hearted, and feare not at euery rumoure that shalbe hearde in the lande: for euery yere bryngeth newe tidinges, and in the yere folowing newe tidinges, and robbyng in the lande, and lorde vpon lorde.
And lo the tyme commeth that I will visite the images of Babylon, and the whole lande shalbe confounded, yea and her slayne shall lye in the middest of her.
Heauen and earth with all that is therin shal reioyce ouer Babylon, when the destroyers shal come vpon her from the north, saith the Lorde.
Like as Babylon hath beaten downe and slayne many out of Israel, so shall there fall many, and be slayne in all her kingdome.
Ye that haue escaped the sworde, haste you, stande not styl, remember the Lord a farre of, and thynke vpon Hierusalem.
For we are ashamed to heare the blasphemies, our faces were couered with shame, because the straunge aliauntes came into the sanctuarie of the Lorde.
Wherfore, beholde saith the Lorde, the tyme commeth that I wyll visite the images of Babylon, and through the whole lande they shall mourne and fall.
Though Babylon clymed vp into heauen, and kept her power on hye, yet shall I sende her destroyers saith the Lorde.
A piteous crye [shalbe hearde] from Babylon, and a great miserie from the lande of the Chaldees:
When the Lorde destroyeth Babylon, & whe{n} he driueth out the high stomacke and proude boastyng, wherwith they haue ben as furious as the waues of the great water fluds, and made great crakes with their wordes:
For the destroyers shall come vpon her, euen vpon Babylon, which shall take their worthies, and breake their bowes: for the God of recompence, euen the Lorde shall sufficiently recompence them.
Yea [saith the Lorde] I wyll make their princes, their wisemen, their chiefe rulers, their nobles, and their worthies drunken, so that they shall sleepe an euerlastyng sleepe and neuer wake: thus saith the kyng whose name is the Lorde of hoastes.
Moreouer, thus saith the Lorde of hoastes, The thicke wall of Babylon shalbe broken, and her hye gates shalbe burnt vp, & the thyng that the Gentiles & the people haue wrought with great trauayle & labour, shall come to naught, and be consumed in the fire.
This is the charge that Ieremie the prophete gaue vnto Saraiah the sonne of Neriah, the sonne of Maasiah, when he went towarde Babylon with Zedekiah the kyng of Iuda, in the fourth yere of his raigne: nowe this Saraiah was a peaceable prince.
Ieremie wrote in a booke al the miserie that shoulde come vpon Babylon, yea and all these sermons that be written agaynst Babylon.
And gaue Saraiah this charge: When thou commest vnto Babylon, see that thou reade these wordes,
And say, O Lord thou art determined to roote out this place, so that neither people nor cattell shall dwell there any more, but to lye waste for euer.
And when thou hast read out the booke, bynde a stone to it, and cast it in the middest of Euphrates,
And say, Euen thus shall Babylon sincke, & be thrust downe with the burthen of trouble that I wyll bryng vpon her: so that she shall neuer come vp agayne. Thus farre are the preachynges of Ieremie.
ZEdekiah was one and twentie yeres olde whe{n} he was made king, and raigned eleuen yeres in Hierusale{m}: his mothers name was Hamutal, Ieremies daughter of Libna.
He liued wickedly before the Lorde, euen as Iehoakim did:
For the Lorde was angry at Hierusalem and Iuda, so long tyll he had cast them out of his presence: and Zedekiah fell from the kyng of Babylon.
But in the ninth yere of his raigne, in the tenth moneth, the tenth day of the moneth, it happened that Nabuchodonozor the king of Babylon, with all his hoast, came before Hierusalem, and besieged it, and made bulwarkes rounde about it.
And this besiegyng of the citie endured vnto the eleuenth yere of kyng Zedekiah.
And in the fourth moneth, the ninth day of the moneth, there was a great hunger in the citie, that there were no more victuals for the people of the lande.
So all the souldiers brake away, and fled out of the citie by night through the way of the port, betweene the two walles by the kynges garden: (Nowe the Chaldees had compassed the citie rounde about) yet went these men their way through the wild•rnesse.
And so the Chaldees folowed vpon them, and toke Zedekiah the kyng in the fielde of Iericho, when his hoast was runne from hym.
So they caryed the kyng away prisoner to Reblath, vnto the kyng of Babylon in the lande of Hemath, where he gaue iudgement vpon hym.
The kyng of Babylon also caused Zedekias sonnes to be slayne before his face, yea and put all the princes of Iuda to death at Reblath.
Moreouer, he put out the eyes of Zedekiah, & caused hym to be bounde with two chaynes, to be caryed vnto Babylon, and let him lye in prison tyl he dyed.
Nowe the tenth day of the fifth moneth, in the nineteenth yere of Nabuchodonozor kyng of Babylon, Nabuzaradan the chiefe captayne, and the kyng of Babylons seruauntes came vnto Hierusalem,
And burnt vp the house of the Lorde: he burnt vp also the kynges palace, all the houses, and all the gorgeous buildinges in Hierusalem.
And the whole hoast of the Chaldees that were with the chiefe captayne, brake downe all the walles of Hierusalem rounde about.
As for the poore people, and such folke as was yet left in the citie, which also were fallen to the kyng of Babylon, yea and what people as yet remayned, Nabuzaradan the chiefe captayne caryed them away prisoners.
But the poore people of the countrey did Nabuzaradan the chiefe captayne leaue in the lande, to occupie the vineyardes and fieldes.
The Chaldees also brake the brasen pyllers that were in the house of the Lord, yea the seate and the brasen lauer that was in the house of the Lorde, and caryed all the mettall of them vnto Babylon.
They toke away also the chalderns, shouels, fleshhokes, sprinklers, spoones, and all the brasen vessels that was occupied in the seruice.
With the basons, cole pannes, sprinklers, pottes, candlestickes, spoones, and cuppes, wherof some were of golde, and some of siluer.
The chiefe captayne toke also the two pillers, the lauer, the twelue brasen bullockes that stoode vnder the seat which king Solomon made in the house of the Lorde: and all the vessels conteyned so much mettal that it might not be waied.
For euery piller was eyghteene cubites hye, and the rope that went about it was twelue cubites and foure fingers thicke, and rounde.
Nowe vpon the rope were brasen knoppes, and euery knoppe was fiue cubites hye, and vpon the knoppes were hoopes, and pomgranates round about of cleane brasse.
After this maner were both the pillers fashioned with {th}e pomgranates, wherof there were an hundred ninetie and sixe, which hanged vpon the hoopes rounde about.
The chiefe captayne also toke Saraiah the hye priest, and Sophoniah that was chiefe next hym, & the three kepers of the doore:
He toke out of the citie a chaumberlaine which was captaine of the souldiers, and seuen men that were the kinges seruauntes, which were founde in the citie: and Sopher a captaine that vsed to muster the men of warre, with threescore men of the countrey that were taken in the citie:
These Nabuzaradan the chiefe captaine toke, and caryed them to the king of Babylon vnto Reblath:
And the kyng of Babylon caused them to be put to death at Reblath in the lande of Hemath: And thus Iuda was ledde away captiue out of his owne lande.
This is the summe of the people whom Nabuchodonozor led away captiue: in the seuenth yere of his raigne he caryed away of the Iewes three thousande twentie and three,
In the eyghteenth yere Nabuchodonozor caryed away from Hierusalem eyght hundred thirtie and two persons,
In the three and twentie yere of Nabuchodonozor, Nabuzaradan the chiefe captayne toke away seuen hundred fourtie and fiue Iewes, prisoners. The whole summe of the prisoners is foure thousande and sixe hundred.
In the thirtie and seuenth yere after that Iehoakim the kyng of Iuda was caryed away, in the fiue and twentith day of the twelft moneth, Euilmerodach kyng of Babylon (the same yere that he raigned) gaue Iehoakim the kyng of Iuda his pardon, and let hym out of prison,
And spake louyngly to hym, and set his throne aboue the thrones of the other kynges that were with hym in Babylon.
He chaunged also the clothes of his prison, yea and did eate with hym all his life long.
And he had a continuall lyuyng geuen hym of the kyng of Babylon, euery day a certayne thyng alowed hym, all the dayes of his life, vntyll he dyed.
ALas] howe sitteth the citie so desolate, that sometime was full of people? Howe is she become lyke a widow which was great among nations? Howe is she brought vnder tribute that ruled landes?
She weepeth sore in the nyght, so that the teares runne downe her cheekes▪ for among all her louers there is none that geueth her any comfort, yea her next friendes transgresse agaynst her, and are become her enemies.
Iuda went away by reason of the affliction and great bondage: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest, all they that persecuted her, toke her in strayte places [where she coulde not escape.]
The streetes of Sion mourne, because no man co{m}meth no more to the solempne feastes: all her gates are desolate, her priestes make lamentatio{n}, her maydens are carefull, and she her selfe is in great heauinesse.
Her enemies haue ben rulers ouer her, and her enemies haue prospered, because the Lorde hath chastened her for her great wickednesse: her children are led away captiue before their enemies.
All the beautie of the daughter of Sion is away, her princes are become lyke hartes that fynde no pasture, they are driuen away before their enemie, so that they haue no more power.
Nowe Hierusalem remembred in the tyme of her miserie and bare estate all her ioy & pleasure that she hath had in tymes past, seyng her people is brought downe vnder the power of their enemies, and there is no man for to helpe her: her enemies stande lokyng at her, and laugh her Sabbath daies to scorne.
Hierusalem hath sinned greeuouslye, therfore is she come in decay: all they that had her in honour dispise her, for they haue seene her filthinesse, yea she sigheth and is ashamed of her selfe.
Her skirtes are defiled, she remembred not her last ende, therfore is her fall so wonderfull, and there is no man to comfort her: O Lorde consider my trouble, for myne enemie hath the vpper hande.
The enemie hath put his hande to all the precious thinges that she had, yea euen before her eyes came the heathen in and out of the sanctuarie, whom thou [neuerthelesse] hast forbidden to come within thy congregation.
All her people seeke their bread with heauinesse, and loke what precious thyng euery man hath, that geueth he for meate to saue his lyfe: Consider O Lorde, and see howe vile I am become.
Haue ye no regarde all ye that go foreby, beholde & see yf there be any sorowe lyke vnto mine, wherwith the Lorde hath troubled me in the day of his fearefull wrath.
From aboue hath he sent downe a fire into my bones, and it burneth them cruelly: he hath layde a net for my feete, and throwen me wyde open, he hath made me desolate, so that I must euer be mournyng.
The yoke of my transgressions is bounde fast to his hande, they are wrapped [or writhen] and come vp about my necke: he hath caused my strength to fayle, the Lorde hath deliuered me into those handes whero•t I can not quyte my selfe.
The Lorde hath destroyed all the mightie men that were in me, he hath proclaymed an appoynted tyme to slaughter all my best men: the Lorde hath troden downe the daughter of Iuda, lyke as it were in a winepresse.
Therfore do I weepe, and mine eyes gushe out of water: for the comfort that shoulde quicken me, is farre fro me, my children are driuen away: for why? the enemie hath gotten the vpper hande.
Sion casteth out her handes, and there is no man to comfort her, the Lorde hath layde the enemies rounde about Iacob, and Hierusalem is become abhomination in the middest of them.
The Lorde is righteous, for I haue prouoked his countenaunce vnto anger, O take heede all ye people and consider my heauinesse, my maydens and my young men are led away into captiuitie.
I called for my louers, but they beguiled me, for my priestes and counsaylers, but they perished, euen whyle they sought for meate to saue their lyues.
Consider (O Lorde) howe I am troubled, my wombe is disquieted, my heart turneth about in me, and I am full of heauinesse, because I rebelled stubburnly: the sworde hurteth me without, and within I am lyke vnto death.
They heare my mournyng, but there is none that wyll comfort me: All myne enemies haue hearde of my trouble, and are glad therof because thou hast done it: and thou hast brought foorth the time which thou calledst, when they also shal be lyke vnto me.
Let all their wickednesse come before thee, and do thou to them as thou hast done vnto me for all my trespasses: for my sorowe is very great, and my heart is heauy.
ALas] howe hath the Lorde darckened the daughter of Sion in his wrath? As for the honour of Israel he hath cast it downe fro{m} heauen vnto the earth, and he remembred not his owne footestole when he was angry?
The Lorde hath cast out all the habitations of Iacob without any fauour, all the strong places of the daughter of Iuda hath he broken in his wrath, and throwen them downe to the grounde, her kingdome and her princes hath he prophaned.
In the wrath of his indignation he hath broken all the horne of Israel, he hath withdrawen his right hande from the enemie, yea a flambe of fire is kindled in Iacob, and hath consumed vp all rounde about.
He hath bent his bowe like an enemie, he hath fastened his ryght hande as an aduersarie, and euery thyng that was pleasaunt to see, he hath slayne: he hath powred out his wrath like a fire, into the tabernacle of the daughter of Sion.
The Lorde is become like as it were an enemie, he hath deuoured Israel and all his palaces, yea all his strong holdes hath he destroyed, and fylled the daughter of Iuda with much sorowe and heauinesse.
His tabernacle as a garden hath he destroyed, his solempne meetinges hath he put downe: the Lord hath brought it so to passe that the hye solempne feastes and Sabbathes in Sion are cleane forgotten: in his heauy displeasure hath he dispised the kyng and priestes.
The Lorde hath forsaken his owne aulter, and hath abhorred his owne sanctuarie, and hath geuen the walles of their towres into the handes of the enemie: their enemies made a noyse in the house of the Lorde, as it had ben in a solempne feast day.
The Lorde thought to breake downe the walles of the daughter of Sion, he spread out his line, and drewe not in his hande tyll he had destroyed them: therfore mourne the turrettes, & the broken walles fall downe together.
Her gates are suncke downe to the grounde, her barres are broken and smitten in sunder, the kyng and princes are caryed away to the gentiles: they haue neither lawe nor prophetes, nor yet any vision from the Lorde.
The senatours of the daughter Sion sit vpon the grounde in scilence, they haue strawed asshes vpon their heads, and gyrded them selues with sackcloth: the maydens of Hierusalem hang downe their heades to the grounde.
Mine eyes begin to fayle me through weeping, my body is disquieted, my liuer is powred vpon the earth for the great hurt of the daughter of my people, seeing the chyldren and babes dyd swowne in the streetes of the citie.
Euen when they spake to their mothers, Where is meate and drinke? for whyle they so sayde, they fell downe in the streetes of the citie, like as they had ben wounded, and some dyed in their mothers bosome.
What shall I say vnto thee, O thou daughter Hierusalem? to whom shal I liken thee? To whom shall I compare thee O thou daughter Sion, to comfort thee withall? thy heart is lyke a mayne sea, who may heale thee?
Thy prophetes haue looke dout vayne and foolish thinges for thee, they haue not shewed thee of thy wickednesse, to kepe thee from captiuitie: but they haue seene out for thee burthens of vanitie and banishment.
All they that go by thee, clappe their handes at thee, hissing and wagging their heades vpon the daughter Hierusalem [and say] Is this the citie that men call so faire, wherein the whole lande reioyceth?
All thyne enemies gape vpon thee, whispering and grinding their teeth, saying: let vs deuour, for the tyme that we looked for is come, we haue founde and seene it.
The Lorde hath fulfilled the thing that he was purposed to do, and perfourmed that he had deuised long ago: he hath destroyed and not spared, he hath caused thyne aduersarie to triumph ouer thee, and set vp the horne of thyne enemie.
Their heart cryed vnto the Lorde, O thou citie of the daughter Sion: let thy teares runne downe like a riuer day and night, rest not, and let not the apple of thyne eye leaue of.
Stand vp, and make thy prayer in the first watche of the night, powre out thine heart like water before the Lord: lift vp thyne handes for the liues of thy young chyldren that dye of hunger in the streetes.
Beholde O Lorde, and consider to whom thou hast done thus: Shall the women then eate their owne fruite, euen chyldren of a spanne long? shall the priestes and prophetes be slayne in the sanctuarie of the Lorde?
Young and olde lye thorowe the streetes vpon the grounde, my maydens and young men are slayne with the sworde, whom thou in the day of thy wrathfull indignation hast put to death, yea euen thou hast put them to death, and not spared them.
My neighbours that are rounde about me hast thou called as it were to a feast day, so that in the day of the lordes wrath none escaped, neither was any left behinde: those that I haue brought vp and nourished, hath myne enemie destroyed.
I Am the man that thorowe the rodde of his wrath haue experience of miserie.
He droue me foorth and led me, yea into darknesse, but not into light.
Against me is he turned, he turneth his hande dayly against me.
My flesh and my skinne hath he made olde, and my bones hath he bruised.
He hath buylded rounde about me, and closed me in with gall and trauaile.
He hath set me in darknesse, as they that be dead for euer.
He hath so hedged me in, that I can not get out, and hath layde heauie linkes vpon me.
Though I crye and call pitiously, yet heareth he not my prayer.
He hath stopped vp my wayes with foure squared stones, and made my pathes crooked.
He layeth wayte for me lyke a beare, and as a lion in a hole.
He hath marred my wayes, and broken me in peeces, he hath layde me waste altogether.
He hath bent his bowe, and made me as it were a marke to shoote at.
The arrowes of his quiuer hath he shot, euen into my reynes.
I am laughed to scorne of all my people, they make songues vpon me all the day long.
He hath filled me with bitternesse, and geuen me wormewood to drinke.
He hath smitten my teeth in peeces with stones, and roulled me in the dust.
He hath put my soule out of rest, I forget all good thinges.
I thought in my selfe, I am vndone, there is no hope for me in the Lorde.
O remember yet my miserie and my trouble, the wormewood and the gall.
Yea thou shalt remember them, for my soule melteth away in me.
Whyle I consider these thinges in my heart, I get a hope agayne.
[Namely] it is of the Lordes mercies that we are not vtterly consumed, for truely his pitifull compassion hath not ceassed.
Newe mercyes shall the Lord shewe vpon thee early in the day springing, (O Lorde) great is thy faythfulnesse.
The Lorde is my portion saith my soule therefore wyll I hope in hym.
O howe good is the Lord vnto them that put their trust in hym, and to the soule that seeketh after hym.
The good man with stilnesse and pacience, taryeth for the health of the Lorde.
O howe good is it for a man to take the yoke vpon him from his youth vp?
He sitteth alone, he holdeth hym styll, because he hath taken [the Lordes yoke] vpon hym.
He layeth his face vpon the earth, if there happen to be any hope.
He offreth his cheeke to the smyter, he wyll be content with reproffes:
For the Lord wil not forsake for euer.
But though he punishe, yet according to the multitude of his mercies he receaueth to grace agayne.
For he doth not plague willingly, and afflict the chyldren of men,
To treade all the prysoners of the earth vnder his feete,
To moue the iudgement of man before the most highest,
To condemne a man in his cause: the Lord hath not pleasure in such thinges.
What is he then that saith, there should some thing be done without the Lordes commaundement?
Out of the mouth of the most highest goeth not euyll and good?
Wherefore then murmureth the liuing man? let hym murmure at his owne sinne.
Let vs looke well vpon our wayes, and remember our selues, and turne agayne to the Lorde.
Let vs lift our heartes with our handes vnto the Lorde that is in heauen.
We haue ben dissemblers and haue offended, wylt thou therefore not be intreated?
Thou hast couered vs in thy wrath, and persecuted vs: thou hast slayne vs without any fauour.
Thou hast hid thy selfe in a cloude, that our prayer should not go through.
Thou hast made vs outcastes, and to be despised among the people.
All our enemies gape vpon vs.
Feare and pit is come vpon vs, yea deceipt and destruction.
Whole riuers of water gushe out of mine eyes for the hurt of my people:
Myne eyes runne and cannot ceasse, for there is no rest:
O Lorde, when wylt thou looke downe from heauen and consider?
Mine eyes breaketh my heart, because of all the daughters of my citie.
Mine enemies hunted me out sharply like a byrde, yea & that without a cause.
They haue put downe my life into a pit, and they haue cast stones vpon me.
They haue powred water vpon my head: then thought I, nowe am I vndone.
I called vpon thy name O Lorde out of the deepe pit.
Thou hast heard my voyce, and hast not turned away thyne eares from my sighing and crying.
Thou hast inclyned thy selfe vnto me when I called vpon thee: and hast said, feare not.
Thou (O Lorde) hast mayntayned the cause of my soule, and hast redeemed my lyfe.
O Lorde, thou hast seene my wrong, take thou my cause vpon thee.
Thou hast well considered howe they go about to do me harme, and that all their counsels are against me.
Thou hast hearde their despitefull wordes O Lorde, yea and all the imaginations against me:
The lippes of mine enemies, and their deuises that they take against me al the day long.
Thou seest also their sitting downe and their rising vp, they make their songes of nothing but of me.
Rewarde them, O Lorde, according to the workes of their handes.
Geue them an obstinate heart, euen thy curse.
Persecute them O Lorde with thyne indignation, and roote them out from vnder the heauen.
O Howe is the golde become so dimme? howe is the most fine golde so sore chaunged? and the stones of the sanctuarie thus scattered in the corner of euery streete?
The chyldren of Sion that were alway in honour, and clothed with the most precious golde: howe are they nowe become lyke the earthen vessels, whiche be made with the potters hande?
The dragons geue their young ones sucke with bare brestes: but the daughter of my people is cruel, like the Estriches in the wildernesse.
The tongues of the sucking chyldren cleaue to the roofe of their mouthes for very thyrst: the young chyldren aske bread, but there is no man that geueth it them.
They that were wont to fare delicatelye perishe in the streetes: they that afore were brought vp in purple, make nowe muche of doung.
The sinne of the daughter of my people, is become greater then the wickednesse of Sodome, that sodaynely was destroyed, and not taken with handes.
Her abstayners were whyter then the snowe or milke, their colour was freshe, red as corall, their beautie like the Saphire.
But nowe their faces be very blacke, insomuche that thou shouldest not knowe them in the streetes: their skinne cleaueth to their bones, it is withered and become like a drye stocke.
They that be slayne with the sworde, are happier then such as dye of hunger, and perishe away famishing for the fruites of the fielde.
The women (whiche of nature are pitifull) haue sodden their owne chyldren with their hands, that they might be their meate in the miserable destruction of the daughter of my people.
The Lorde hath perfourmed his heauie wrath, he hath powred out the furiousnesse of his displeasure: he hath kindeled a fire in Sion, which hath consumed the foundations therof.
Neither the kynges of the earth, nor all the inhabitours of the world, would haue beleued that the enemie and aduersarie shoulde haue come in at the gates of the citie of Hierusalem.
Whiche neuerthelesse is come to passe for the sinne of her prophetes, and for the wickednesse of her priestes, that haue shed innocents blood within her.
As blinde men went, they stumbling in the streetes, and stayned them selues with blood, insomuch that the heathen woulde in no wyse touche their garmentes.
But they cryed vnto them, flee ye polluted, away, get you hence, touche not: for they are vncleane and be remoued, yea they haue said among the heathen, they shall no more dwell in this citie.
The countenaunce of the Lorde hath banished them, and shall neuer looke more vpon them: for they them selues neither regarded the priestes, nor pitied their elders.
Wherefore yet our eyes fayled vs, whyles we looked for our vayne helpe, seeing we euer wayted vpon a people that coulde do vs no good.
They lay so sharpe wayte for vs, that we can not go safe vpon the streetes, for our ende is come, our dayes are fulfilled, our ende is here.
Our persecutours are swifter then the Egles of the ayre: they folowed vppon vs ouer the mountaynes, and layde wayte for vs in the wyldernesse.
The very breath of our mouth, euen the annointed of the Lorde hym selfe, was taken in their net, of whom we say, Vnder his shadowe we shalbe preserued among the heathen.
And thou O daughter Edom that dwellest in the land of Huz, be glad and reioyce, for the cup shall come vnto thee also, thou shalt be dronken, and discouer thy nakednesse.
Thy sinnes are wel punished O thou daughter Sion, he shall not suffer thee to be caried away: but thy wickednesse O daughter Edom shall he visite, and wyll discouer thy sinnes.
CAll to remembraunce (O Lorde) what we haue suffred, consider and see our confusion.
Our inheritaunce is turned to the straungers, and our houses to the aliaunts.
We are become carefull and fatherlesse, and our mothers are as the wydowes.
We are fayne to drinke our owne water for money, and our owne wood must we buy for money.
Our neckes are vnder persecution, we are weery and haue no rest.
[Aforetime] we yeelded our selues to the Egyptians, [and nowe] to the Assyrians, onlye that we might haue bread inough.
Our fathers (which nowe are gone) haue sinned, and we must beare their wickednesse.
Seruauntes haue the rule of vs, and no man deliuereth vs out of their handes.
We must get our liuing with the perill of our liues, because of the drouth of the wildernesse.
Our skinne is as it had ben made blacke in an ouen, for very sore hunger.
The wiues are rauished in Sion, and the maydens in the cities of Iuda.
The princes are hanged vp with the hand of the enemies, they haue not spared the olde sage men.
They haue taken young men to grinde, and the boyes fainted vnder the burthens of wood.
The elders sit no more vnder the gates, and the young men vse no more playing of musicke.
The ioy of our heart is gone, our melodious meeting is turned into mourning.
The garlande of our head is fallen: alas that euer we sinned so sore.
Therefore our heart is full of heauinesse, and our eyes dimme.
Because of the hill of Sion that is destroyed: insomuch that the foxes runne vpon it.
But thou O Lorde, that remaynest for euer, and thy seate worlde without ende:
Wherefore wylt thou styll forget vs, and forsake vs so long?
O Lord turne thou vs vnto thee, and so shall we be turned, renue our dayes as in olde tymes:
But thou hast banished vs vtterly, and hast ben displeased at vs.
IT came to passe in the thirtith yere in the fourth [moneth] in the fifth day of the moneth, that (I beyng in the middes of the captiuitie, by the riuer Chebar) the heauens were opened, and I sawe visions of God:
In the fifth [day] of the moneth, which was the fifth yere of kyng Ioakins captiuitie,
The worde of the Lorde came to Ezechiel the priest the sonne of Buzi, in the lande of the Chaldeans by the riuer Chebar, where the hand of the Lord was vpon hym.
And I looked, and beholde a stormie wind came out of the north, a great cloude, and a fire folding it selfe [in the cloude] and a brightnes rounde about it, and foorth of the middes therof as the colour of amber out of the middes of the fire.
And out of the middes therof, the likenesse of foure beastes [appeared] and this was their fourme, they had the likenesse of a man.
And euery one had foure faces, and euery one of them had foure wynges.
Their feete were straight feete, and the sole of their feete lyke the sole of calues feete, and they glistered as the appearaunce of brasse burnished.
From vnder their wynges vpon all the foure corners they had mens handes: and they foure had their faces and their wynges.
Their wynges were ioyned one to another: when they went they looked not backe, but eche one went straight forwarde.
But [touching] the similitude of their faces, they foure had the face of a man and the face of a lion on the right side, and they foure had the face of an oxe on the left side, the foure also had the face of an Egle.
Thus were their faces, and their winges were spread out aboue, so that two wynges of euery one were ioyned one to another, and two wynges couered euery one of their bodyes.
Euery one went straight forward: whyther as the spirite led them, thither thei went, & returned not in their going.
And the fashion of the beastes, their appearaunce was lyke coales of fire, burning like the appearaunce of cressets, it ran among the beastes, and the fire gaue a glister, and out of the fire there went lightening.
And the beastes ranne, and returned like lightening.
When I had considered the beastes, beholde a wheele vpon the earth nye to the beastes, to euery of the foure before his face.
The fashion & worke of the wheeles was lyke the colour of Tharsis, and they foure had one fashion, and their fashion & their worke [was] as though it were a wheele in {th}e middle of a wheele.
When they went, they went vpon their foure sides: they returned not backe when they went.
They had ringes, and heyght, and were feareful to beholde: & their ringes were full of eyes rounde about them foure.
When the beastes went, the wheeles went also by them: and when the beastes were lift vp from the earth, the wheeles were lyft vp.
Whyther soeuer the spirite [was] to go, they went, and thyther [was] the spirite to go, and the wheeles were lyft vp before them: for the spirite of the beastes were in the wheeles.
When the beastes went, they went, & when thei stoode, they stoode, and when they were lifted vp from the earth, the wheeles were lifted vp before the{m}, for {th}e spirite of {th}e beastes was in the wheeles.
And the similitude of the firmament vpon the heades of the beastes, was like the colour of christall wonderfull, spread ouer their heades aboue.
And vnder the firmament their winges were stretcht foorth one towardes another, euery one had two couering them, and euery one had two couering them, [euen] their bodyes.
And when they went, I hearde the noyse of their wynges, lyke the noyse of great waters, as it had ben the voyce of the almightie, the voyce of speache, as the noyse of an hoast: when they stoode, they let downe their winges.
And there was a noyse from aboue the firmament that was ouer their heades: when they stoode, they let downe their wynges.
And aboue the firmament that was ouer their heades, there was the fashion of a throne lyke a Saphir stone: and vpon the similitude of the throne by appearaunce, as the similitude of a man aboue vpon it.
And I sawe as the appearaunce of amber [and] as the similitude of fire rounde about within, from the appearaunce of his loynes vpward: and from the appearaunce of his loynes downewarde I sawe as the lykenesse of fire, and brightnesse rounde about it.
As the likenesse of a bowe that is in a cloude in a raynie day, so was the appearaunce of the brightnesse rounde about: this was the appearaunce of the similitude of the glory of God, & when I sawe it, I fell vpon my face and hearkened vnto the voyce of one that spake.
AND then said he vnto me, Stande vp vpon thy fete (O thou sonne of man) and I wyll talke with thee.
And the spirite entred into me when he had spoken vnto me, & set me vpon my feete, so that I heard him that spake vnto me.
And he sayde vnto me, Thou sonne of man, I sende thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people which haue rebelled against me, both they and their forefathers haue wickedly behaued them selues against me, euen vnto this very day.
For they are children of a harde face and stiffe heart, I do sende thee vnto them, and thou shalt say vnto them, Thus saith the Lorde God.
And whether they wyll heare or refuse (for they are a rebellious house) yet they may knowe that there hath ben a prophete among them.
And thou sonne of man feare them not, neither be afraide of their wordes, for bryers and thornes are with thee, and thou doest dwell among scorpions: feare not their wordes, nor be abashed at their lookes, for they are a rebellious house.
And thou shalt speake my wordes vnto them, whether they wyll heare or refuse, for they are rebellious.
Therefore thou sonne of man, obay thou all thinges that I say vnto thee, and be not thou rebellious lyke the rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eate that I geue thee.
And when I looked, beholde a hand was sent vnto me, and lo, in it was a roule of a booke.
And he opened it before me, and it was written within and without, and there was written therein, lamentations, and mourning, and wo.
AFter this said he vnto me: Thou sonne of man, eate whatsoeuer thou findest, eate this roule, and go thy way and speake vnto the house of Israel.
So I opened my mouth, and he fed me with this roule.
And he saide vnto me, Thou sonne of man, thy belly shall eate, and thy bowels shalt thou fill with this roule that I geue thee: Then dyd I eate, and it was in my mouth sweeter then honie.
And he saide vnto me, Thou sonne of man, go, get thee vnto the house of Israel, and declare my wordes vnto them.
For not to a people of profounde lippes and harde language art thou sent, but vnto the house of Israel:
Not to many nations whiche haue profounde lippes and harde languages, whose wordes thou vnderstandest not: otherwise if I had sent thee vnto them, they would haue hearkened vnto thee.
But the house of Israel will not hearken vnto thee, for they will not hearken vnto me: for al the house of Israel haue stiffe foreheades, & stubburne heartes.
Beholde therefore, I haue made thy face strong against their faces, & thy forehead strong against their foreheades.
As an Adamant, harder then the flint stone haue I made thy forehead: thou shalt not feare them, nor be abashed at their lookes: for they are a rebellious house.
He sayde moreouer vnto me, Thou sonne of man, all my wordes that I shall speake vnto thee, receaue in thyne heart, and hearken with thyne eares.
And go, get thee to the captiuitie, to the chyldren of thy people, and thou shalt speake vnto them, and shalt say vnto them, Thus saith the Lord God, whether they will heare, or leaue.
With that the spirite tooke me vp, and I hearde behinde me a voyce of a great rushing [to wit] Blessed be the glory of Iehouah from his place.
[I hearde] also the noyse of the winges of the beastes ioyning one with another, and the ratling of the wheeles that were before them, euen a noyse of great rushing.
Nowe when the spirite lift me vp and tooke me away, I went in bitternesse and furie of my spirite: but the hande of the Lorde vpon me was strong.
Then I came to the captiues in Thelabib that dwelt by the riuer Chebar, and I sate where they sate, and I remayned there seuen dayes, astonished among them.
And when the seuen dayes were expired, the Lorde saide vnto me,
Thou sonne of man, I haue made thee a watchman vnto the house of Israel: therefore thou shalt heare the worde at my mouth, and geue them warning from me.
When I shall say vnto the wicked, Thou shalt surely dye, and thou geuest not him warning, nor speakest to admonishe the wicked of his euill way, and so to liue: then shal the same vngodly man dye in his owne vnrighteousnesse, but his blood wyl I require of thyne hand.
Neuerthelesse, if thou geue warning vnto the wicked, and he yet turne not from his vngodlynesse and from his wicked way: he shall dye in his owne wickednesse, but thou hast deliuered thy soule.
Nowe if a righteous man go from his righteousnesse and do the thing that is euyll I wyll lay a stumbling blocke before him: and he shall dye, because thou hast not geuen him warning, dye shall he in his owne sinne, so that his righteousnesse whiche he hath done, shall not be thought vpon: but his blood will I require at thyne hande.
Neuerthelesse, if thou exhortest that righteous that he sinne not, and so the righteous do not sinne: then shall he liue, because he hath receaued thy warning, and thou hast deliuered thy soule.
And there came the hand of the Lord vpon me, and he sayd vnto me: Stande vp, and go into the fielde, that I may there talke with thee.
So when I had risen vp, and gone foorth into the fielde: beholde, the glorie of the Lord stoode there, like the glorie which I sawe by the riuer Chebar: then fell I downe vpon my face.
And the spirite came into me, whiche set me vp vpon my feete, and spake vnto me, and said vnto me: Go thy way, and shut thy selfe in thyne house.
Beholde O thou sonne of man, they haue prepared bandes against thee, and they wyll binde thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them.
And I will make thy tongue cleaue to the roofe of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumbe, and not be as a reprouer vnto them: for they are a rebellious house.
But when I speake vnto thee, I wyl open my mouth, and thou shalt say vnto them, Thus saith the Lorde God: Whoso heareth, let hym heare, whoso leaueth of, let him leaue: for they are a rebellious house.
THou sonne of man, take thee a tyle stone and lay it before thee, and purtray vpon it the citie Hierusalem,
And lay siege against it, and builde a fort against it, and cast a mount against it: set the campe also against it, and lay engins of warre against it rounde about.
Moreouer, take an iron panne, and set it betwixt thee and the citie in steede of an iron wall, then set thy face towarde it to besiege it, and make an assault against it: this shalbe a token vnto the house of Israel.
But thou shalt sleepe vpon thy left side, and lay the sinne of the house of Israel vpon it [according] to the number of the dayes that thou shalt sleepe vpon it, thou shalt beare their iniquitie.
For I haue layde vpon thee the yeres of their iniquitie according to the number of the dayes [euen] three hundred and ninetie dayes, so shalt thou beare the iniquitie of the house of Israel.
When thou hast fulfilled these dayes, lye downe agayne and sleepe vpon thy right side, and beare the sinnes of the house of Iuda: fourtie dayes haue I appointed thee, a day for a yere [euen] a day for a yere.
Therfore set nowe thy face towarde the siege of Hierusalem, and discouer thine arme, that thou mayest prophecie against it.
Behold, I will lay chaines vpon thee, that thou shalt not turne thee from one side to another, till thou hast ended the dayes of thy besieging.
Wherfore take vnto thee wheate, barlye, beanes, lintils, millot, and fetches, and put these together in a vessell, and make thee loaues of bread thereof, according to the number of the dayes that thou must lye vpon thy side, that thou mayest haue bread to eate for three hundred and ninetie dayes.
And thy meate that thou eatest shall haue a certaine wayght appointed, [namely] twentie sicles euery day: & from time to time shalt thou eate therof.
Thou shalt drinke also a certaine measure of water [namely] the sixt [part] of an Hin from tyme to tyme shalt thou drinke.
Barly cakes shalt thou eate, and them shalt thou bake in mans doung before their eyes.
And with that sayde the Lord, Euen thus shall the chyldren of Israel eate their defiled bread among the gentiles whyther I wyll cast them.
Then sayde I, Oh Lorde God: beholde, my soule was yet neuer stayned, for fro my youth vp vnto this houre, I did neuer eate of a dead carkase, or of that whiche was slayne of wylde beastes, neither came there euer any vncleane fleshe in my mouth.
Whervnto he aunswered me: Lo, I wyll graunt thee cowcasins in steede of mans doung, and thou shalt make thy bread with them.
And he saide vnto me, Beholde thou sonne of man, I wyll breake the staffe of bread in Hierusalem, and they shall eate their bread with waight and with care, and their water in measure and astonishment shall they drinke,
That they may cause a lacke of bread and water, and be astonied one at another, and be consumed in their iniquitie.
O Thou sonne of man, take thee then a sharpe knife [namely] a barbers rasour, take that to thee, and cause it to passe vpon thy head and vpon thy beard: then take thee waight scales and deuide [the heere.]
Thou shalt burne with fire the thirde part in the middest of the citie when the dayes of the siege are fulfylled, and thou shalt take the other thirde part and smite about it with a knife, and the last thirde part thou shalt scatter in the wynde, and I wyll drawe out a sworde after them.
Thou shalt also take therof a fewe in number, and bynde them in thy lappe.
Of them yet shalt thou take, and cast them into the middest of the fire, & burne them in the fire: therof shall a fire come foorth into all the house of Israel.
Moreouer, thus saith the Lorde God: This same is Hierusalem, which I set in the middest of nations, and countreis rounde about her.
But she hath chaunged my iudgementes into wickednesse more then the nations, and my statutes more then the countreis that are rounde about her: for they haue refused my iudgementes and my statutes, and not walked in them.
Therfore thus saith the Lorde God: For your multiplying more then the gentiles that dwell rounde about you, and because ye haue not walked in my lawes, neither haue ye kept my ordinaunces, no ye haue not done accordyng to the iudgementes of the nations that are rounde about you:
Therfore thus saith the Lorde God, Beholde I will also come agaynst thee, I my selfe I say: for in the middest of thee wyll I execute iudgement in the sight of the heathen.
And I wyll handle thee of such a fashion as I neuer did before, & as I will neuer do from that tyme foorth, and that because of all thine abhominations.
For in thee the fathers shalbe fayne to eate their owne sonnes, and the sonnes their owne fathers, I wyll execute iudgement in thee, and the whole remnaunt of thee wyll I scatter into all the wyndes.
Wherfore, as truely as I lyue saith the Lorde God, seyng thou hast defiled my sanctuarie with all maner of abhominations, and with all shamefull offences:
For this cause will I also destroy thee, mine eye shall not spare thee, neither wyll I haue any pitie.
One thirde part within thee shall dye of the pestilence and be consumed of hunger, another thirde part shalbe slayne downe rounde about thee with the sworde, the other thirde part that remayneth, wyll I scatter abrode towarde all the wyndes, and drawe out a sworde after them.
Thus wyll I perfourme mine indignation, & make my wrath to settle vpon them, and I will be comforted: so that when I haue fulfylled myne anger agaynst them, they shall knowe that I am the Lorde, which with a feruent gelousie haue spoken it.
Moreouer, I wyll make thee waste and reuiled among all the heathen that dwell about thee, in the sight of all them that go by thee.
So thou shalt be a reproche and shame, a chastisement and a wondryng vnto the nations that are rounde about thee, when I shall execute iudgementes in thee, in anger & in wrath, and in sharpe rebukes, I the Lorde haue spoken it:
When I shoote among them the perilous dartes of hunger, which shalbe for their destruction, yea therfore shall I shoote them because I wyll destroy you, I wyll encrease hunger vpon you, and wyll breake your staffe of bread.
Plagues wyll I sende vpon you, yea and wicked beastes also to spoyle thee, pestilence and bloodsheddyng shal come vpon thee, and the sworde wyll I bring ouer thee: I the Lorde haue spoken it.
AND the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man set thy face to the mountaynes of Israel, that thou mayest prophecie agaynst them,
And say, Heare the worde of the Lord God: O ye mountaynes of Israel Thus hath the Lord God spoken to the mountaynes, hylles, riuers, & dales, Beholde I [euen I] will bryng a sworde vpon you, and destroy your hye places.
Your aulters shalbe destroyed, & your images of the sunne broken downe, your slayne men wyll I cast downe before your idols.
And the dead carkases of the children of Israel wyll I cast before their idols, your bones will I scatter rounde about your aulters.
In all your dwellyng places your cities shalbe desolate, and the hye places laide waste, so that your aulters shalbe made waste and desolate, your idols shalbe broken and abolished, and your images of the sunne shalbe cut downe, and your workes quite taken away.
Your slayne men shall fall among you: and ye shal knowe that I am the Lord.
Yet wyll I leaue a remnaunt, that you may haue [some] that shall escape the sworde among the nations, when as ye shalbe scattered through the countreis.
And they that escape of you shal thinke vpon me among the heathen where they shalbe in captiuitie, because I haue ben broken with their whorishe heart which hath departed from me, & with their eyes that haue gone a whoryng after their idols: and they shalbe abhorred before their owne eyes for the euils which they haue commited in all their abhominations.
And they shall knowe that I am the Lorde, and that I haue not sayde in vayne, that I woulde do this euill vnto them.
Thus saith the Lorde God, Smite thine handes together, and stampe with thy feete, and say, Wo worth all the abhominations and wickednesses of the house of Israel: for they shall fall with the sworde, with hunger, and with pestilence.
Who so is farre of shall dye of the pestilence, he that is nye at hande shall perishe with the sworde, and the other that are besieged shall dye of hunger: Thus wyll I satisfie my wrathfull displeasure vpon them.
And so shall ye knowe that I am the Lorde, when their slayne men shalbe among their idols rounde about their aulters, vpon euery hye hyll, and toppes of mountaynes, and vnder euery greene tree, and vnder euery thicke oke, [euen] in the places where they dyd offer sweete sauour to all their idols.
I wyll stretche mine hande out vpon them, and wyll make the lande waste, and desolate from the wildernesse vnto Deblathah through all their habitations: and they shall knowe that I am the Lorde.
THe worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
And thou sonne of man, thus saith the Lorde God, an ende is come vnto the lande of Israel: yea veryly the ende commeth vpon the foure corners of the lande.
Nowe shall the ende come vpon thee: for I wyll sende my wrath vpon thee, and wyll punishe thee accordyng to thy wayes, and rewarde thee after all thine abhominations.
Mine eye shall not spare thee, neither wyll I haue pitie, but rewarde thee accordyng to thy wayes, & declare thine abhominations: then shall ye knowe that I am the Lorde.
Thus saith the Lorde God, Beholde, one euyll shall come after another:
The ende is here, the ende [I say] is come, it watched for thee: beholde it is come alredy.
The mornyng is come vnto thee that dwellest in the lande, the tyme is at hande, the day of trouble is harde by, and not the soundyng agayne of the mountaynes.
Nowe I wyll shortly poure out my sore displeasure ouer thee, and fulfyll my wrath vpon thee: I wyll iudge thee after thy wayes, and recompence thee all thine abhominations.
Mine eye shall not spare, neither wyll I haue pitie, but rewarde thee after thy wayes, & thine abhominations shalbe in the middest of thee: and ye shal knowe that I am the Lorde that smiteth.
Beholde the day, beholde it is come, the mornyng is gone foorth, the rodde florisheth, pride hath budded.
Crueltie is waxen to a rodde of wickednesse, none of them shall remayne, none of their riches, not one of their seede, & no lamentation shalbe made for them.
The tyme commeth, the day draweth nye: who so byeth let hym not reioyce, he that selleth let hym not be sory: for why? wrath is vpon all the multitude therof.
So that the seller shal not come againe to the thyng that he solde, although their life be yet with the lyuyng: for when the prophecie was preached vnto all the people, none returned, no man shal strengthen hym selfe in the iniquitie of his life.
They haue blowen the trumpet, and made all redy, but none goeth to the battayle: for my wrath is vpon the whole multitude.
The sworde shalbe without, pestilence and hunger within: so that who so is in the fielde shalbe slayne with the sworde, and he that is in the citie shalbe deuoured with hunger and pestilence.
But they that flee away from them shall escape, and shalbe in the mountaynes lyke the doues of the valleys, all they shall mourne, euery one for his iniquitie.
All handes shalbe let downe, and all knees shalbe weake as the water.
They shall girde them selues with sackcloth, feare shall couer them, shame shalbe vpon all faces, and baldnesse vpon their heades.
Their siluer shall they cast foorth in the streetes, and their golde shalbe dispised: yea their siluer and golde shall not be able to deliuer them in the day of the wrath of the Lorde, they shall not satisfie their soules, neither fyll their bellyes therwith, because it was a stumblyng blocke of their iniquitie.
He had also set the beautie of his ornament in maiestie: but they made images of their abhominations and fylthinesses in it, therfore haue I set it farre from them.
Moreouer, I wyll geue it into the handes of straungers to be spoyled, & to the wicked of the earth for to be robbed, and they shall pollute it.
My face wyll I turne from them, my secrete place shalbe defiled: for burglers shall go into it and pollute it.
Make a chayne: for the lande is full of the iudgement of blood, and the citie is full of extortion.
Wherfore I wyll bryng the most wicked of the heathen to take their houses in possession, I wyll make the pompe of the mightie to ceasse, and their sanctuaries shalbe defyled.
When destruction is come, they shall seeke peace, but they shall haue none.
One mischiefe shall folowe another, and one rumour shall come after another: then shall they seeke a vision in vayne at their prophete, the lawe shall perishe from the priest, and counsayle from the auncientes.
The kyng shall mourne, the prince shalbe clothed with desolation, and the handes of the people in the lande shalbe troubled: I wyll do vnto them after their owne wayes, accordyng to their owne iudgementes wyll I iudge them: and they shall knowe that I am the Lorde.
AND it was in the sixt yere, in the sixt [moneth] in the fift [day] of the moneth, I sate in my house, and the elders of Iuda sate before me, and the hande of the Lorde God fell there vpon me.
Then I behelde, and lo, there was a likenesse as the appearaunce of fire: from the appearaunce of his loynes downewarde, fire: and from his loynes vpwarde as the appearaunce of brightnesse, lyke the colour of amber.
And he stretched out the likenesse of an hande, and toke me by an heery locke of my head, and the spirite lift me vp betwixt earth and heauen, and brought me in a diuine vision to Hierusalem, into the entry of the inner gate that lyeth towarde the north, where remayned the image of emulation [and] of gayne.
And beholde, the glorie of the Lorde God of Israel was in the same place, [euen] as I had seene it afore in the fielde.
And he sayde vnto me, Thou sonne of man, lift vp thine eyes nowe towarde the north: then lift I vp mine eyes towarde the north, and beholde northwarde, at the gate of the aulter this image of emulation [was] in the entry.
And he sayde furthermore vnto me, Thou sonne of man, seest thou what these do? seest thou the great abhominations that the house of Israel commit in this place, to driue me from my sanctuarie? but turne thee about, and thou shalt see yet greater abhominations.
And with that brought he me to the court gate, and when I loked, beholde there was a hole in the wall.
Then sayde he vnto me, Thou sonne of man, digge nowe in the wall: and when I digged in the wall, beholde there was a doore.
And he sayde vnto me, Go thy way in, and loke what wicked abhominations they do here.
So I went in and sawe, and beholde there were al maner of creeping beastes, and abhominable beastes, and all the idols of the house of Israel paynted vpon the wall rounde about.
There stoode also before the images threescore and ten men of the auncientes of the house of Israel, and in the middest of the{m} stoode Iaazaniah the sonne of Shaphan, with euery man his censor in his hande, and the smoke of the insence ascended as a cloude.
Then sayde he vnto me, Thou sonne of man, hast thou seene what the auncientes of the house of Israel do secretly, euery one in the chaumber of his imagerie? for they say, The Lorde seeth vs not, the Lorde hath forsaken the earth.
And he sayde vnto me, Turne thee yet agayne, and thou shalt see greater abhominations that they do.
And with that he brought me to the doore of the gate of the Lordes house towarde the north, and beholde there sate wome{n} mourning for Thammuz.
Then sayd he vnto me, Hast thou seene this thou sonne of man? turne thee yet about, and thou shalt see greater abhominations then these are.
And so he brought me into the inward court of the Lordes house, and beholde at the doore of the Lordes house, betwixt the porche and the aulter, there were about twentie and fiue men that turned their backes vpon the temple of the Lorde, and their faces towarde the east, and these worshipped the sunne eastwarde.
And he sayde vnto me, Hast thou seene this thou sonne of man? Thinketh the house of Iuda that it is but a trifle to do these abhominations which they do here? for they haue fylled the lande full of wickednesse, and haue returned to prouoke me to anger, and lo they are puttyng the braunches to their noses.
Therfore wyll I also do somethyng in my wrathful displeasure, so that mine eye shall not spare them, neither wyll I haue pitie: yea and though they crye in mine eares with a loude voyce, yet wyll I not heare them.
HE cryed also with a loude voyce in mine eares, saying: Drawe neare ye visitations of the citie, euery man with a destroying weapon in his hande.
And beholde, then came there sixe men out of the streete of the vpper gate towarde the north, and euery man a slaughter weapon in his hande: There was one amongest them that had on hym lynnen rayment, and a writers inckhorne by his syde: these went in and stoode besyde the brasen aulter.
And the glorie of the Lorde of Israel was gone from the Cherub whervpon it was, to the doore of the house: and he called to the man that had the lynnen rayment vpon hym, and the writers inckhorne by his syde,
And the Lorde sayde vnto hym, Go through the citie, euen through Hierusalem, & set a marke vpon the foreheades of them that mourne, and are sory for all the abhominations that be done therin.
And to the other he sayd, that I might here, Go ye after hym through the citie, and smite, let your eye spare none, neither haue ye any pitie:
Kyll and destroy both olde men and young, maydens, children, and women: but as for all those that haue the marke vpon them, see that ye touche them not, and begyn at my sanctuarie. Then they began at the auncient men which were before the house.
And he sayde vnto them, Defyle ye the temple, fyll the courtes with the slayne, then go your way foorth. So they went out, and slue downe through the citie.
Nowe when they had done the slaughter, and I yet escaped, I fell downe vpon my face, and cryed, saying: Ah Lorde God, wylt thou then destroy all the residue of Israel, in powryng out thy wrath vpon Hierusalem?
Then sayde he vnto me, The wickednesse of the house of Israel and Iuda is exceedyng great: so that the lande is full of blood, & the citie full of reuoltyng [from God] for they say, The Lorde hath forsaken the earth, and the Lorde seeth it not.
As touchyng me also, mine eye shall not spare them, neither wyll I haue pitie: but wyll recompence their wayes vpon their heades.
And beholde, the man that had the lynnen rayment vpon hym and the writers inckhorne by his syde, reported the matter, and sayde: As thou hast commaunded me, so haue I done.
AND as I loked, beholde in the firmament that was aboue the head of the Cherubims, as it were a Saphir stone [made] lyke the similitude of a throne, was seene ouer them.
Then spake he to hym that had the lynnen rayment vpon hym, and sayde: Crepe in betwene the wheeles that are vnder the Cherub, and take thine hand full of hotte coales out from betwene the Cherubims, and scatter them ouer the citie. And he crept in, that I myght see.
(Nowe the Cherubims stoode vpon the ryght syde of the house when the man went in, and the cloude fylled the inner court.
And the glorie of the Lorde remoued from the Cherubims, and came vpon the doore of the house: so that the temple was full of cloudes, and the court was full of the shine of the Lordes glorie.
Yea and the sounde of the Cherubims winges was hearde into the fore court, lyke as it had ben the voyce of the almightie God when he speaketh.)
Nowe when he had bidden the man that was clothed in lynnen, saying, Take fire from the middest of the wheeles which were vnder the Cherubims: he went, and stoode besyde the wheeles.
Then one Cherub reached foorth his hande from betwene the Cherubims vnto the fire that was betwene the Cherubims, and toke therof, and gaue it into the handes of hym that had on the lynnen rayment: which toke it, and went out.
And vnder the wynges of the Cherubims there appeared the likenesse of a mans hande.
I loked also, and behold foure wheeles beside the Cherubims, one wheele by one Cherub, and another by another Cherub, and the wheeles were to loke vpon after the fashion of the precious stone Tharsis.
As touchyng their appearaunce (they were all foure of one fashion) as yf one wheele had ben in another.
When they went foorth, they went vpon their foure sides, not turnyng backe in their goyng: for which way the [head of the] first loked, after it they went, so that they turned not backe in their goyng.
And their whole bodyes, their backes, their handes, and wynges, yea and the wheeles also were full of eyes rounde about the foure wheeles.
And to the wheeles, he cryed to them in my hearyng, O wheele,
Euery one of them had foure faces, so that the face of the first was the face of a Cherub, and the face of the seconde the face of a man, and of the thirde the face of a lion, and of the fourth the face of an egle.
And the Cherubims were lyfted vp: This is the beast that I sawe at the water of Chebar.
Nowe when the Cherubims went, the wheeles went by them: and when the Cherubims lyft vp their wynges to mount vp from the earth, the same wheeles also turned not from besides them.
Shortly when they stoode, these stoode also, and when they were lifted vp, the wheeles lift vp them selues also with them: for the spirite of the beast was in the wheeles.
Then the glorie of the Lorde departed from aboue the doore of the temple, and remayned vpon the Cherubims.
And the Cherubims flackered with their wynges, and lyft them selues vp from the earth, so that I sawe when they went, & the wheeles besides them, and they stoode at the doore of the east gate of the house of the Lorde, so the glorie of the God of Israel was vpon them on hye.
This is the beast that I sawe vnder the God of Israel by the riuer of Chebar, and I perceaued that it was the Cherubims.
Euery one had foure faces, and euery one foure wynges, and vnder their wynges the likenesse of mens handes.
Touchyng the similitude of their countenaunces, they were the very same countenaunces which I sawe at the riuer Chebar, and the selfe same appearaunces: euery one in his goyng went strayght forwarde.
MOreouer, the spirite lift me vp, and brought me vnto the east gate of the Lordes house, which lyeth eastwarde: and beholde, at the entry of the gate were fiue and twentie men, among whom I sawe Iaazaniah the sonne of Azur, and Pheltiah the sonne of Banaiahu, the rulers of the people.
Then sayde he vnto me, Thou sonne of man, these men imagine mischiefe, & a wicked counsayle take they in this citie,
Saying, It is not neare, let vs builde houses: this [Hierusalem] is the cauldron, and we be the fleshe.
Therfore shalt thou prophecie against them: yea prophecie O sonne of man.
And with that fell the spirite of the Lorde vpon me, and sayde vnto me, Speake, thus saith the Lorde: On this maner haue ye spoken (O ye house of Israel) and I knowe the imaginations of your heartes.
Many one haue ye murthered in this citie, and fylled the streetes full of the slayne:
Therfore thus saith the Lorde God, The slayne men that ye haue layde on the grounde in the citie are the fleshe, and this citie is the cauldron: but I wyll bryng you out of it, ye haue feared the sworde, and I wyll bring a sworde ouer you, saith the Lorde God.
And I wyll bryng you out of the middest therof, and deliuer you into the handes of straungers, and wyll execute iudgementes among you.
Ye shall fall by the sworde, in the borders of Israel wyll I iudge you, and ye shall knowe that I am the Lorde.
This citie shall not be your cauldron, neither shall ye be the fleshe therin: but in the borders of Israel wyll I punishe you,
That ye may knowe that I am the Lorde, in whose commaundementes ye haue not walked, nor kept my lawes: but haue done after the customes of the heathen that lye rounde about you.
Nowe when I prophecied, Pheltiah the sonne of Banaiahu dyed: then fell I downe vpon my face, and cryed with a loude voyce, saying, Ah Lorde God, wylt thou then vtterly destroy all the remnaunt in Israel?
And so the worde of the Lorde came vnto me on this maner.
Thou sonne of man, thy brethren [euen] thy brethren, the men of thy kinrede, and all the house of Israel, wholly [are they] vnto whom the inhabitauntes of Hierusalem haue sayd: withdrawe ye farre from the Lorde, for the lande is geuen vs in possession.
Therfore tell them, thus saith the God: Although I sende them farre of among the gentiles, and scatter them among the nations, yet wyll I be to them as a litle sanctuarie in the landes where they shall come.
Tell them also, thus saith the Lorde God, I wyll gather you agayne out of the nations, and bryng you from the countreis where ye be scattered, and I wyll geue you the lande of Israel agayne.
And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all their idols, and all their abhominations from thence.
And I wyll geue them one heart, and I wyll put a newe spirite within their bowels: that stony heart wyll I take out of their body, and geue them a fleshlye heart,
That they may walke in my commaundementes, and kepe mine ordinaunces and do them, that they may be my people, and I their God.
But to the heart of their idols and their abhominations their heart goeth, their wayes wyll I bryng vpon their owne heades, saith the Lorde God.
After this did the Cherubims lift vp their wynges and the wheeles besides them, and the glorie of the God of Israel was vpon them on hye.
So the glorie of the Lorde went vp from the middest of the citie, and stoode vpon the mount of the citie towarde the east.
And the spirite toke me vp, & brought me agayne to Chaldea to the captiuitie, in a vision by the spirite of God: then the vision that I had seene went vp from me.
So I spake vnto the captiues all the wordes of the Lorde which he had shewed me.
THe worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, thou dwellest in the middest of a rebellious house, which haue eyes to see and yet see not, eares haue they to heare, and yet heare they not: for they are a rebellious house.
Therfore (O thou sonne of man) prepare thee instrumentes to flit with, & remoue on the day time that they may see, yea [euen] in their sight shalt thou go from thy place to another place, yf peraduenture they wyll consider that they be a rebellious house.
Thou shalt bryng foorth thine instrumentes as stuffe to flit with by the day tyme in their sight, and thou thy selfe shalt go foorth also at euenyng before their eyes, as they that go foorth to flit.
Digge through the wall in their sight, and cary out therby.
In their sight shalt thou beare vpon thy shouldiers, and cary it foorth in the darke: hide thy face, that thou see not the earth, for I haue made thee a shewe token vnto the house of Israel.
And I did so as I was commaunded, I brought foorth my stuffe by day as the stuffe of one that goeth into captiuitie: and in the euening I digged through the wall with my handes, and brought it foorth in the darke, and bare it vpon my shoulder in their sight.
And in the mornyng came the worde of the Lorde vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, sayd vnto thee, What doest thou?
Then tell them, thus saith the Lorde God, This burden toucheth the prince at Hierusalem, and all the house of Israel that dwell among them.
Tell them, I am your shewe token, lyke as I haue done, so shall it be done vnto them, they shall go into bondage and captiuitie.
The prince that is among them shall loade his shoulders in the darke and get hym away, they shall breake downe the wall to cary through by it: he shall couer his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.
My net will I spreade out vpon him, and he shalbe caught in my net, and I wyll bryng hym to Babylon in the lande of the Chaldees, which he shall not see, and yet shall he dye there.
As for all his helpers & all his bandes that be about hym, I wyll scatter them towarde all the wyndes, and drawe out a sworde after them.
So when I haue scattered them among the heathen and strowed them in the landes, they shall knowe that I am the Lorde.
But I will leaue a litle number of the{m} from the sworde, hunger, and pestilence, to tell all their abhominations among the heathen where they come, that they may knowe howe that I am the Lord.
Moreouer, the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, with a fearfull tremblyng shalt thou eate thy bread, with vnquietnesse & sorowe shalt thou drynke thy water.
And vnto the people of the lande speake thou: Thus saith the Lord God to them that dwell in Hierusalem, and to the lande of Israel: they shall eate their bread with sorowe, and drynke their water with desolation: yea the lande with the fulnesse therof shalbe layde waste for the wickednesse of all them that dwell therin.
And the cities that nowe be well inhabited, shalbe voyde, & the lande desolate, that ye may knowe that I am the Lorde.
Yet came the worde of the Lorde vnto me agayne, saying:
Thou sonne of man, what maner of prouerbe is that which ye vse in the lande of Israel, saying: The dayes are slacke in co{m}myng, & all visions fayle?
Tell them therfore, thus saith the Lord God, I wyll make that prouerbe to ceasse, and they shall no more vse it as a prouerbe in Israel: but say vnto them, the dayes are at hande, and the effect of euery vision.
There shall no vision be any more in vayne, neither any flattering diuination within the house of Israel:
For I the Lorde speake it, and whatsoeuer I shall speake, it shalbe perfourmed, and not be slacke in commyng any more, yea euen in your dayes O rebellious house, wyll I speake the thyng & bryng it to passe, saith the Lorde God.
And the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Beholde thou sonne of man, the house of Israel saith [on this maner] The vision that he seeth, it wyll be many a day or it come to passe: it is farre of yet the tyme that he prophecieth of.
Therfore say thus vnto them, thus saith the Lorde God, All my wordes shall no more be delayed, loke what I speake, that same shall come to passe, saith the Lorde God.
THe worde of the Lord came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, prophecie against those prophetes of Israel whiche prophecie, and say vnto them that prophecie out of their owne heartes, Heare the worde of the Lorde,
Thus saith the Lord God, Wo be vnto those foolishe prophetes that folowe their owne spirit, & haue seene nothing.
O Israel, thy prophetes are lyke the foxes in desert places.
For ye haue not stand vp in the gappes, nor made a hedge for the house of Israel, to stande in the battayle in the day of the Lorde.
They haue seene vanitie and lying diuination, saying: the Lorde saith it, and the Lorde hath not sent them, and they haue made me hope that they woulde confirme the worde.
Haue ye not seene vayne visions, and spoken false prophecies, when ye say, the Lorde hath spoken it, whereas I neuer sayde it.
Therfore thus saith the Lorde God, Because ye haue spoken vanitie, and haue seene lies: therfore beholde I am against you, saith the Lorde God:
Mine handes shal come vpon the prophetes that see vanities, and deuine lies: they shall not be in the counsell of my people, nor written in the booke of the house of Israel, neither shal they come in the lande of Israel, that ye may know howe that I am the Lord God:
And that for because they haue deceaued my people, and told them of peace where no peace was: one setteth vp a wall, and they daube it with vntempered clay.
Therfore tell them which daube with vntempred morter, that it shall fall: for there shal come a great showre of raine, I will sende haylestones to cause it to fall, and a great storme of winde shall breake it.
And lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not then be sayd vnto you, Where is nowe your morter that ye daubed it withall?
Therfore thus saith the Lorde God: I wyll cause a stormie winde to breake out in my wrathfull displeasure, so that in mine anger there shall come a mightie showre of raine, and haylestones in my wrath to destroy it.
As for the wall that ye haue daubed with vntempered morter, I wil breake it downe, and make it euen with the grounde, so that the foundation therof shalbe discouered, and it shall fall: yea and ye your selues shall perishe in the middes therof, and ye shall knowe that I am the Lorde.
Thus wyll I perfourme my wrath vpon this wall, and vpon them that haue daubed it with vntempred morter, and then wyl I say vnto you, The wall is gone, and the daubers of it.
[To wit] the prophetes of Israel, whiche prophecie vnto Hierusalem, and looke out visions of peace for it, wheras no peace is, saith the Lorde God.
Wherefore O thou sonne of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, whiche prophecie out of their owne heartes, and prophecie against them:
And say, thus saith the Lorde God: Wo be vnto them that sowe pillowes vnder all arme holes, and put kirchifes vpon the heades of euery stature to hunt soules. Wyll ye hunt the soules of my people, and geue life to the soules that [come] vnto you?
And wyll ye pollute me to my people for handfuls of barly, and for peeces of bread, to kyll the soules of them that dye not, and promise life to them that liue not, in lying to my people that heareth your lyes?
Wherfore thus saith the Lorde God: Beholde, I wyll vpon your pillowes wherwith ye hunt the soules, to make them flee, and I will teare them from your armes, and wyll let the soules go, [euen] the soules that ye hunt to make them to flee.
Your kirchifes also wyll I teare in peeces, and deliuer my people out of your handes, so that they shall come no more in your handes to be hunted: and ye shall knowe that I am the Lorde.
Seeing that with your lyes you discomfort the heart of the righteous, who{m} I haue not discomforted: Againe, forsomuche as ye encourage the hande of the wicked, so that he may not turne from his wicked way in promising hym life:
Therfore shall ye see no more vanitie, neither shall ye deuine diuinations, for I wyll deliuer my people out of your hande, that ye may knowe howe that I am the Lorde.
THere resorted vnto me certayne of the elders of Israel, and sate downe by me.
Then came the word of the Lorde vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, these men haue set vp their idols in their heartes, and put the stumbling blocke of iniquitie before their face: shoulde I then aunswere them at their request?
Therefore speake vnto them, and say vnto them, thus saith the Lorde God: Euery man of the house of Israel that setteth vp his idols in his heart, & putteth the stumbling blocke of his iniquitie before his face, and commeth to the prophete: vnto that man wyll I the Lord my selfe geue aunswere when he commeth, according to the multitude of his idols.
That the house of Israel may be snared in their owne heartes, because they be cleane gone from me all of them thorowe their idols.
Wherefore tell the house of Israel, thus saith the Lorde God: Returne and cause to returne from your idols, and turne your faces from all your abhominations.
For euery man, whether he be of the house of Israel, or a straunger that soiourneth in Israel, whiche departeth from me, and setteth vp his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling blocke of his wickednesse before his face, and commeth to a prophete for to aske counsell at me through hym: vnto that man wyll I the Lorde geue aunswere by mine owne selfe.
I wyll set my face against that man, and wyll make hym to be an example for other, yea and a common byworde, and wyll roote hym out of my people, that ye may knowe howe that I am the Lorde.
And if that prophete be deceaued when he telleth a thing, then I the Lorde my selfe haue deceaued that prophete, and wyll stretche out my hande vpon him, to destroy him out of my people of Israel:
And they shalbe punished for their wickednesse, according to the sinne of hym that asketh, shall the sinne of the prophete be:
That the house of Israel be led no more from me through errour, and be no more defiled in all their transgressions: but that they may be my people, and I their God, saith the Lorde God.
And the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, when the lande sinneth against me by committing a trespasse, I wyll stretche out my hande vpon it, and breake their staffe of bread, and sende dearth vpon them, to destroy man and beast foorth of it.
And though Noe, Daniel, and Iob, these three men were among them: yet shal they in their righteousnesse deliuer but their owne soules, saith the Lorde God.
If I bryng noysome beastes into the lande, and they spoyle it, and it be so desolate that no man may passe through it for beastes,
If these three men were also in the land: as truely as I liue saith the Lord God, they shall saue neither sonnes nor daughters, but be onlye deliuered them selues: & as for the land, it shalbe waste.
Or if I bryng a sworde vpon this lande, and say, sworde go through the lande, so that I slay downe man and beast in it,
And if these three men were therein: as truely as I liue saith the Lord God, they shall deliuer neither sonnes nor daughters, but only be saued the{m}selues.
If I sende a pestilence into this lande, and powre out my sore indignation vppon it in blood, so that I roote out of it both man and beast,
And if Noe, Daniel, and Iob were therein, as truely as I liue saith the Lorde God, they shall deliuer neither sonne nor daughter, but saue their owne soules in their righteousnesse.
Moreouer thus saith the Lorde God, Howe muche more when I sende my foure troublous plagues vpon Hierusalem, the sworde, hunger, perillous beastes, and pestilence, to destroy man and beast out of it?
Beholde, there shalbe a remnaunt saued therein, whiche shall bryng foorth their sonnes and daughters, beholde, they shall come foorth vnto you, and ye shall see their way and their enterprise, and ye shalbe comforted concerning the euyll that I haue brought vpon Hierusalem [euen] concerning all that I haue brought vpon it.
They shall comfort you when ye shal see their way and workes: and ye shall knowe howe that it is not without a cause that I haue done all against Hierusalem as I dyd, saith the Lorde God.
THe worde of the Lord came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, what commeth of the vine tree, more then of euery other tree, & of the wylde vine stocke among other trees of the forest?
Do men take wood of it to make any worke withall? or wyll men take a pin of it to hang any vessell theron?
Behold, it is cast in the fire to be brent, the fire consumeth both the endes of it, the middes of it is brent: is it meete then for any worke?
Seeing then that it was meete for no worke beyng whole, muche lesse may there any thing be made of it when the fire hath consumed and brent it.
And therefore thus saith the Lorde god, As the vine tree [that is] among the trees of the forest, which I haue geuen to the fire to be consumed: so wyll I geue the inhabitauntes of Hierusalem.
And I wyll set my face against them, they shall go out from the fire, and yet the fire shall consume them: then shall ye knowe that I am the Lorde, when I set my face against them,
And when I make the lande waste, because they haue so sore offended, saith the Lorde God.
AGayne the word of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, shewe Hierusale{m} their abhominations,
And say, Thus saith the Lorde God vnto Hierusalem: thy habitation and kinred is of the lande of Chanaan, thy father was an Amorite, thy mother an Hittite.
In the day of thy byrth when thou wast borne, the string of thy nauell was not cut of, thou wast not bathed in water to make thee cleane, thou wast not salted with salt, nor swadled in cloutes.
No eye pitied thee to do any of these thinges for thee, for to haue compassion vpon thee: but thou wast vtterly cast out vpon the fielde in contempt of thy person in the day of thy byrth.
Then came I by thee, and sawe thee defiled in thyne owne blood, and I said vnto thee when thou wast in thy blood, liue: [euen] when thou wast in thy blood, I sayde vnto thee, liue.
I caused thee to multiplie as the bud of the fielde, thou art growen vp, and waxen great, thou hast gotten a marueylous pleasaunt beautie, thy brestes are fashioned, thy heere is goodly growen, where as thou wast naked & bare.
Nowe when I went by thee and looked vpon thee, beholde, thy tyme was come, yea [euen] the time to woo thee: then spread I my clothes ouer thee to couer thy dishonestie, yea I made an othe vnto thee, and contracted my selfe with thee (saith the Lorde God) and so thou becamest myne owne.
Then washed I thee with water, and purged thy blood from thee, and I annointed thee with oyle.
I clothed thee with broidred worke, and shod thee with badgers skin, and I gyrded thee about with fine linnen, and couered thee with silke.
I decked thee with costly apparell, I put braselets vpon thy hands, a chayne about thy necke.
And I put a frontlet vpon thy face, and eareringes vpon thyne eares, and a beautifull crowne vpon thyne head.
Thus wast thou deckt with golde and siluer, and thy rayment was of fine linnen, and of silke, and of broidred worke: thou didst eate fine floure, honye and oyle, marueylous beautifull wast thou, and thou dydst luckyly prosper into a kingdome.
And thy name was spread among the heathen for thy beautie: for it was perfite through thy beautie whiche I put vpon thee, saith the Lorde God.
But thou hast put thy confidence in thyne owne beautie, and played the harlot because of thy renowne, and hast powred out thy fornications with euery one that went by, thou wast his.
Thou didst take thy garmentes, and deckt thy hye places with diuers colours, and played the harlot thervpon, they come not, and it shall not be.
The goodly iewels whiche I gaue thee of mine owne golde and siluer, hast thou taken and made thee mens images therof, and committed whordome with them.
Thy broidred garmentes hast thou taken, and deckt them therewith: myne oyle and incense hast thou set before them.
My meate whiche I gaue thee, as fine floure, oyle and hony to feede the withall, that hast thou set before them for a sweete sauour: and thus it was saith the Lorde God.
Thou hast taken thyne owne sonnes and daughters whom thou hast begotten vnto me, and these hast thou offred vp vnto them to be deuoured: is this but a small whordome of thyne?
And thou hast slayne my chyldren, and deliuered them, to cause them to passe [through the fire] for them.
And yet in all thyne abhominations and whordomes, thou hast not remembred the dayes of thy youth, howe naked and bare thou wast at that tyme, and wast defiled in thyne owne blood.
After all these thy wickednesses, (wo wo vnto thee, saith the Lorde God.)
Thou hast buylt vnto thee an hye place, and hast made thee an hye place in euery streete.
Thou hast buylt thyne hye place at euery head of the way, thou hast made thy beautie to be abhorred, thou hast opened thy feete to euery one that came by, and multiplied thy whoredome.
Thou hast committed fornication with the Egyptians, thy neighbours whiche were great in fleshe, and thus hast thou increased thyne whordome to anger me.
Beholde, I did stretche out my hand ouer thee, and dyd minishe thy store of foode, and deliuered thee ouer into the wylles of them that hate thee, [euen] the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thyne abhominable wayes.
Thou hast plaied the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast insatiable: yea thou hast [I say] with them played the harlot, and yet hadst thou not inough.
Thus hast thou furthermore multiplied thy fornication from the lande of Chanaan vnto the Chaldees, and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith.
Howe weake is thyne heart saith the Lorde God, seeing thou doest all these workes of a presumptuous whorishe woman?
Buylding thy hye places at the head of euery way, and makest thy hye places in euery streete: thou hast not ben as another whore that holdeth scorne of a rewarde.
But as a wyfe that breaketh wedlocke, and taketh other in steede of her husbande.
Giftes are geuen to all other whores: but thou geuest rewardes vnto all thy louers, & rewardest them to come vnto thee on euery side for thy fornication.
It is come to passe with thee in thy whoredomes contrary to the vse of other women, yea there hath no suche fornication ben committed after thee: seeing that thou geuest gyftes vnto other, and no rewarde is geuen thee, therfore thou art contrary.
Therefore heare the worde of the Lorde, O thou harlot.
Thus saith the Lorde God, Because thou hast powred out thy brasse, and discouered thy filthynes thorowe thy fornications with thy louers, and with all the idols of thyne abhominations, and in the blood of thy chyldren whom thou hast geuen them:
Beholde therefore, I wyll gather together all thy louers with whom thou hast taken pleasure, yea and all them whom thou hast loued, and euery one that thou hatest: I wyll [I say] gather them together rounde about against thee, and wil discouer thy shame before them, that they may see all thy filthynesse.
Moreouer, I wyll iudge thee as a breaker of wedlocke and a murtherer, and recompence thee thyne owne blood in wrath and gelousie.
I wyll geue thee ouer into their handes, and they shal destroy thy hie place, and breake downe thy hye places, they shall strip thee also out of thy clothes: thy faire iewels shall they take from thee, and so leaue thee naked and bare.
Yea they shall bryng a company vpon thee, whiche shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swordes,
They shall burne vp thy houses with fire, and punishe thee in the sight of many women: thus wyll I make thee ceasse from playing the harlot, so that thou shalt geue out no more rewardes.
So wyll I make my wrath towarde thee to rest, and my ielousie shall depart from thee, and I will ceasse, and be angry no more.
Seing thou remembrest not the dayes of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these thinges: beholde therfore, I wyll bryng thyne owne wayes vpon thy head saith the Lord God, so that thou shalt not commit [any more] mischiefe vpon all thyne abhominations.
Beholde, all they that vse common prouerbes, shall vse this prouerbe also against thee, saying: Such a mother, such a daughter.
Thou art euen thy mothers owne daughter, that hath cast of her husband and her chyldren: yea thou art the sister of thy sisters, which forsoke their husbandes & their chyldren: your mother is an Hittite, & your father an Amorite.
Thyne eldest sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell vpon thy left hande: but thy younger sister that dwelleth on thy right hande is Sodoma and her daughters.
Yet hast thou not walked after their wayes, nor done after their abhominations, as a litle and a litle: but in all thy wayes thou hast ben more corrupt then they.
As truely as I liue, saith the Lorde God, Sodoma thy sister with her daughters, haue not done as thou hast done and thy daughters.
Behold, the sinnes of thy sister Sodoma were these: Pryde, fulnesse of meate, and aboundaunce of idlenesse, these thinges had she and her daughters: besides that, they strengthed not the hande of the poore and needie.
But they were hautit, and committed abhomination before me, therefore I toke them away as I sawe good.
Neither hath Samaria done halfe of thy sinnes, yea thou hast exceeded them in thyne abhominations, and hast iustified thy sisters in all thyne abhominations whiche thou hast done.
Therfore thou which didst condemne thy sister, beare thyne owne shame: for thyne owne offences that thou hast co{m}mitted more abhominable then they dyd, which in deede are more righteous then thou art, be thou [I say] ashamed, and beare the shamefull rebuke, seeing that thou hast iustified thy sisters.
Therfore I wyll bryng agayne their captiuitie, the captiuitie of Sodom and her daughters, & the captiuitie of Samaria and her daughters, and the captiuitie of thy captiuities among them,
That thou mayest take thyne owne confusion vpon thee, and be ashamed of all that thou hast done, in that thou hast comforted them.
And thy sister Sodom and her daughters shall returne to their former state, Samaria also and her daughters shall returne to their former state, when thou and thy daughters shall returne to your former state.
For thy sister Sodom was not heard of by thy report in the day of thy pryde,
Before thy wickednesse was discouered, according to the tyme of the reproche of the daughters of Aram, and of all the daughters of the Philistines rounde about her, whiche despise thee on all sides.
Thou hast borne thy wickednesse and thyne abhomination, saith the Lorde.
For thus saith the Lorde God, I might by right deale with thee as thou hast done, which hast depised the othe in breaking the couenaunt:
Neuerthelesse, I wyll remember my couenaunt with thee in the daies of thy youth, and I wyll establishe vnto thee an euerlasting couenaunt.
Then shalt thou remember thy wayes, and be ashamed when thou shalt receaue thy sisters, [both] thy elder and thy younger: and I wyll geue them vnto thee for daughters, but not by thy couenaunt.
And I wyll establishe my couenaunt with thee, that thou mayest know that I am the Lorde.
That thou mayest thinke vpon it, and be ashamed, and neuer open thy mouth any more for shame of thy selfe, when I am pacified towarde thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lorde God.
THe worde of the Lord came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, put foorth a parable, & speake a prouerbe vnto the house of Israel,
And say, Thus saith the Lorde God: There came a great Egle, with great winges, yea with a mightie long body, and ful of fethers of diuers colours, vppon the mount of Libanus, and toke the hyest braunche of a Cedar tree.
And brake of the top of his twigges, and caryed it into the lande of marchauntes, and set it in a citie of marchauntes.
He toke also of the seede of the land, and planted it in a fruiteful grounde, he brought it vnto great waters, and set it in an open trenche.
Then did it grow, and was a spreading vine, but lowe of stature, whose braunches turned towarde it, and the rootes of it were vnder it: thus there came of it a vine, and it brought foorth braunches, and shot foorth buddes.
But there was another Egle, a great one, whiche had great wynges and many fethers: and beholde, the rootes of this vine turned towardes it, and spread out her braunches towards it, that she might water it by the trenches of her plantation.
It was planted vpon a good soyle beside great waters, so that it should haue brought out braunches, & borne fruite, and haue ben a goodly vine.
Speake thou therfore, thus saith the Lorde God: Shall this vine prosper? shall he not pull vp the rootes therof, and destroy the fruite thereof, and cause them to dry? all the leaues of her bud shall wither without great power, or many people, to plucke it vp by the rootes thereof.
Behold, it was planted: Shall it prosper therfore? Shall it not be dryed vp and withered? when the east winde shall touche it, it shall wither in the trenches where it grewe.
Moreouer, the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Speake now to the rebellious house, Knowe ye not what these thinges [do signifie]? Tell them, beholde, the kyng of Babylon is come to Hierusalem, and hath taken the kyng thereof, and the princes therof, and hath led them with him to Babylon.
He toke of the kynges seede, and made a couenaunt with him, and toke an othe of hym, the princes of the lande toke he with him also.
That the kyngdome might be holden in subiection, and not lift vp it selfe, but kepe the couenaunt, and stande to it.
But he rebelled against hym, and sent his embassadours into Egypt, that he might haue horses and muche people: Should he prosper? shall he escape that doth suche thinges? or shall he breake the couenaunt and escape free?
As truely as I liue saith the Lorde God, he shall dye at Babylon in the place where the kyng dwelleth that made hym kyng, whose othe he hath despised, and whose couenaunt he hath broken.
Neither shall Pharao with his great hoast and multitude of people, maintayne hym in the warre, when they haue cast vp mountes, and buylt a fort to destroy many persons.
For seeing he hath despised the othe and broken the couenaunt, (wheras he yet gaue his hande therevpon) and done all these thinges, he shall not escape.
Therfore thus saith the Lorde God, As truely as I liue I wyll bryng mine othe that he hath despised, and my couenaunt that he hath broken, vpon his owne head.
I wyll spreade my net vpon hym, and he shall be caught in my net: and I wyll bryng hym to Babylon, and enter into iudgement with him there, for the trespasse whiche he hath committed against me.
As for those that flee from hym, with all his hoast, they shalbe slayne with the sworde, and the residue shalbe scattred towardes all the windes: and ye shall knowe that I the Lord haue spoken it.
Thus saith the Lorde God, I wyll also take of the top of this hye Cedar, and wyll set it, and cut of the top of the tender plant thereof, and wyll plant it vpon an hye hyll and a great.
[Namely] vpon the hye hyll of Israel will I plant it, that it may bryng foorth bowes, and geue fruite, and be an excellent Cedar: and vnder it shall remayne all byrdes, and euery foule shall remaine vnder the shadowe of the braunches thereof.
And all the trees of the fielde shall knowe that I the Lorde haue brought downe the hye tree, and exalted the lowe tree, that I haue dryed vp the greene tree, and made the drye tree to florishe, [euen] I the Lorde that spake it, haue also brought it to passe.
THE word of the Lord came vnto me, saying:
What meane ye by this co{m}mon prouerbe that ye vse in the lande of Israel, saying: The fathers haue eaten sowre grapes, and the chyldrens teeth are set on edge?
As truely as I liue saith the Lorde God, ye shall vse this by worde no more in Israel.
Beholde, all soules are mine, lyke as the soule of the father is mine, so is the soule of the sonne myne also: the soule that sinneth shall dye it selfe.
But if a man be iust, and do that which is lawfull and right:
He hath not eaten vpon the hilles, he hath not lift his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbours wyfe, neither hath come neare a woman remoued:
Neither hath oppressed any man, but hath restored to the detter his pledge: he that hath not spoyled any by violence, hath geuen his bread to the hungry, and hath clothed the naked:
And hath not geuen foorth vpon vsurie, neither taken any encrease, he hath withdrawne his hande from iniquitie, and hath executed true iudgement betweene man and man:
And hath walked in my statutes, and kept my iudgementes to deale truely: this is a righteous man, he shall surely liue, saith the Lorde God.
If he nowe get a sonne that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and do any one of these thinges:
Though he do not all these thinges, but either hath eaten vpon the hilles, or defiled his neighbours wyfe:
Or hath oppressed the poore and needie, or spoyled by violence, or hath not restored the pledge, or hath lyft vp his eyes vnto the idols, or hath committed abomination:
Or hath geuen foorth vpon vsurie, or hath taken encrease: Shall this man liue? he shall not liue: Seeing he hath done al these abhominations he shal die the death, his blood shalbe vpon hym.
Nowe if this man get a sonne also, that seeth all his fathers sinnes whiche he hath done, and feareth, neither doth suche like:
[Namely] he hath not eaten vpon the hilles, he hath not lift vp his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, nor defiled his neighbours wyfe:
Neither hath oppressed any, nor hath withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence: [but] hath geuen his bread to the hungry, and hath couered the naked with a garment:
Neither hath withdrawen his hande from the afflicted, nor receaued vsurie nor encrease, [but] hath executed my iudgementes, and walked in my statutes: this man shall not dye in his fathers sinne, but shall liue without fayle.
As for his father, because he hath cruelly oppressed and spoyled his brother by violence, and hath not done good among his people, lo he dyeth in his owne sinne.
And yet say ye, wherfore then should not this sonne beare his fathers sinne? Because the sonne hath done iudgment and righteousnesse, he hath kept all my statutes and done them: therefore shall he liue in deede.
The same soule that sinneth shall dye, the sonne shall not beare the fathers iniquitie, neither shall the father beare the sonnes iniquitie: the righteousnesse of the righteous shalbe vpon hym, and the wickednesse of the wicked shalbe vpon him selfe also.
But if the vngodly wyll turne away from all his sinnes that he hath done, and kepe all my statutes, and do the thing that is iugdement and right, doubtlesse he shall liue and not dye.
As for all his sinnes that he dyd before they shall not be mentioned vnto hym: but in his righteousnesse that he hath done, he shall liue.
For haue I any pleasure in the death of a sinner saith the Lorde God? shall he not liue if he returne from his wayes?
Agayne, if the righteous turne from his righteousnesse, and do iniquitie, and shall do according to all the abominations that the wicked man doth: shall he liue? All the righteousnesse that he hath done shall not be remembred, but in his transgression that he hath committed, in his sinne that he hath sinned, in them he shall dye.
And yet ye say, the way of the Lorde is not indifferent. Heare therefore ye house of Israel, is not my way equall? or are not your wayes rather vnequall?
When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousnesse, and committeth iniquitie, and dieth in the same: in his iniquitie whiche he hath committed shall he dye.
Agayne, when the wicked turneth away from his wickednesse that he hath done, and doth iudgement and right, he shall saue his soule aliue.
Because he seeth, and turneth away from all his iniquitie that he hath committed, he shall surely liue, and not dye.
And yet saith the house of Israel, the way of the Lorde is not equall. Are my wayes vnequall O ye house of Israel? are not your wayes rather vnequall?
Therefore I wyll iudge you, euery man according to his wayes, O ye house of Israel saith the Lorde: returne and bryng your selues agayne from all your wickednesse, so iniquitie shall not be your destruction.
Cast away from you all your transgressions wherby ye haue transgressed, and make you a newe heart and a newe spirite: for why wyll ye dye O ye house of Israel?
Seing I haue no pleasure in the death of hym that dyeth, saith the Lord God: bryng agayne your selues then, and ye shall lyue.
THou also take vp a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
And say: wherfore lay thy mother that lionesse among the lions? she norished her young ones among the lions whelpes.
One of her whelpes she brought vp, and it became a lion, it learned to catche the pray and to deuour folke.
The heathen hearde of hym, and caught hym in their snare, and brought hym in hookes vnto the lande of Egypt.
Nowe when she sawe that she had wayted and her hope was lost, she toke another of her whelpes and made a lion of hym.
Which went among the lions, and became a fearce lion, learned to catche the pray, and to deuour folke,
He destroyed their palaces and made their cities waste, insomuch that the whole lande and euery thyng therin were vtterly desolate through the voyce of his roaryng.
Then set the heathen together on euery side of the countreis agaynst him, layde their nettes for him, and toke him in their pit.
So they put him in prison in chaynes, and brought him to the kyng of Babylon: they put him in holdes, that his voyce shoulde no more be hearde vpon the mountaynes of Israel.
As for thy mother, she is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she brought foorth fruite and braunches by the aboundaunt waters.
And she had strong roddes for the scepters of them that beare rule, and her stature was exalted on hye among the braunches, & she appeared in her height with the multitude of her braunches.
But she was pluckt vp in wrath, cast out vpon the grounde, the east wynde dryed vp her fruite [her braunches] were broken of & withered, as for the roddes of her strength, the fire consumed them.
And nowe she is planted in the wildernesse, in a dry and thirstie grounde.
And there is a fire gone out of the rodde of her brau{n}ches, it hath deuoured her fruite, so that she hath no strong rodde for a scepter to rule: This is a lamentation, and shalbe for a lamentation.
IN the seuenth yere the tenth day of the fift moneth, certayne of the elders of Israel came for to aske counsayle at the Lorde, and sate downe before me.
Then came the worde of the Lorde vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, speake vnto the elders of Israel, and say vnto them, thus saith the Lorde God, Are ye come to enquire of me? As truely as I liue I wyll not be sought of you, saith the Lorde God.
Wylt thou not iudge them sonne of man, wylt thou not iudge [them?] cause them to vnderstande the abhominations of their fathers.
And tell them, thus saith the Lorde God, In the day when I chose Israel, and lift vp mine hande vpon the seede of the house of Iacob, and was knowen vnto them in the lande of Egypt, yea when I lift vp mine hande ouer them, and sayde, I am the Lorde your God:
Euen in the day that I lift vp mine hande vnto them, to bryng them out of the lande of Egypt into a lande that I had prouided for them, which floweth with mylke and hony, and is pleasaunt among all other landes:
The{n} said I vnto them, Cast away euery man the abhominations of his eyes, & defile not your selues with the idols of Egypt: for I am the Lorde your God.
But they rebelled against me, and woulde not hearken vnto me, they dyd not cast away euery man the abhominations of his eyes, neither dyd they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said I woulde powre out mine indignation ouer them, and accomplishe my wrath vpon them, yea euen in the middest of the lande of Egypt.
And I wrought for my names sake that it shoulde not be polluted before the heathen among whom they were, to whom I was manifestly knowen, in bryngyng them foorth of the lande of Egypt.
Nowe when I had caused them to go out of the lande of Egypt, and brought them into the wildernesse:
I gaue them my statutes, and shewed them my iudgementes: which whoso doeth, shall lyue in them.
I gaue them also my Sabbath dayes to be a token betwixt me and them, and therby to knowe that I am the Lorde which halowe them.
And yet the house of Israel rebelled agaynst me in the wildernesse, they woulde not walke in my statutes, they haue cast away my iudgementes, which whoso doth shall lyue in them, and my Sabbath dayes haue they greatly polluted: then I sayde, I woulde powre out mine indignation vpon them, and consume them in the wildernesse.
And I wrought for my names sake, lest it shoulde be defiled before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
Yet neuerthelesse I lift vp my hande vnto them in the wildernesse, that I woulde not bring them into the lande which I gaue them, that floweth with mylke and hony, and is a pleasure of all landes:
And that because they cast away my iudgementes and walked not in my statutes: but haue defiled my Sabbathes: for their heart was gone after their idols.
Neuerthelesse mine eye spared them, so that I woulde not destroy them, nor consume them in the wildernesse.
Moreouer, I sayde vnto their sonnes in the wildernesse, Walke not in the statutes of your fathers, kepe not their iudgementes, and defile not your selues with their idols.
I am the Lord your God, walke in my statutes, kepe my iudgementes, & do the{m}.
Halowe my Sabbathes, for they are a token betwixt me and you: that ye may knowe howe that I am the Lord your God.
Notwithstandyng, their sonnes rebelled agaynst me also, they walked not in my statutes, they kept not my iudgementes to fulfyll them, which he that doth shall liue in them, they prophaned my Sabbath dayes: and I sayde, I woulde powre out mine indignation ouer them, and accomplishe my wrath vpon them in the wildernesse.
Neuerthelesse, I withdrewe my hand and wrought for my names sake, lest it shoulde be defiled in the sight of the heathen, before whom I had brought them foorth.
I lift vp my hande to them also in the wildernesse, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and strawe them among the nations:
Because they had not kept my iudgementes, but cast aside my statutes and broken my Sabbathes, and their eyes were after their fathers idols.
Wherfore I gaue them also statutes that were not good, and iudgementes wherin they shoulde not lyue.
And I defiled them in their owne giftes, in that they caused all that openeth the wombe to passe, that I might destroy them, that they might knowe howe that I am the Lorde.
Therfore speake vnto the house of Israel thou sonne of man, and thou shalt say vnto them, Thus saith the Lord God: yet in this also your fathers haue blasphemed me, and greeuously transgressed agaynst me:
For after I had brought them into the lande, for the which I lifted vp my hande to geue it vnto them, when they sawe euery hie hil, & all thicke trees, they offered there their sacrifices, & there they presented their offering of anger, there also they made their sweete sauours, and powred out their wine offerynges.
And I sayde vnto them, What is that hye place whervnto ye resort? and the name of it is called Bamah vnto this day.
Wherfore speake vnto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lorde God, Are ye not defiled in the waies of your fathers, and commit ye not whoredome after their abhominations?
For when ye offer your giftes, & make your sonnes to passe through the fire, you are polluted with all your idols vnto this day: shall I aunswere you when I am asked, O house of Israel? As I liue saith the Lorde God, I wyll not be sought of you.
And [that which] commeth into your mynde shall not be at all, which you say, We wyll be as the gentiles, as the kinredes of countreis, to serue wood and stone.
As truely as I lyue saith the Lorde God, I my selfe wyll rule you with a mightie hande, with a stretched out arme, and with indignation powred out ouer you.
And I wyll bryng you from the people, and gather you out of the countreis wherin ye are scattered, with a mightie hande, with a stretched out arme, and with indignation powred out.
And I wyll bryng you into the wildernesse of the people, & there I wyll be iudged with you face to face.
Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wildernesse of Egypt: so wyll I pleade with you also, saith the Lorde God.
I wyll cause you to passe vnder the rodde, and I wyll bryng you into the bonde of the couenaunt.
And I wyll purge out of you the rebelles, & them that transgresse against me, and bryng them out of the lande of their habitation: as for the lande of Israel they shall not come in it, that you may knowe howe that I am the Lord.
As for you O house of Israel, thus saith the Lorde God, Go you and serue euery man his idols, seyng that ye obey not me: and pollute no more my holy name with your giftes and your idols.
For vpon my holy hyll, euen vpon the hye hyll of Israel saith the Lord God, shall all the house of Israel, and all that is in the lande worship me: and in the same place wyll I fauour them, & there wyll I require your heaue offerynges, and the firstlinges of your oblations, with all your holy thinges.
I wyll accept your sweete sauour, when I bryng you from the nations, & gather you together out of the landes wherin ye haue ben scattered, that I may be halowed in you before the heathen.
And ye shall knowe that I am the Lorde, when I shall bring you into the lande of Israel, into the lande for the which I lift vp my hande to geue it vnto your fathers.
There shall ye call to rembraunce your owne wayes, and all your workes wherin ye haue ben defiled, and ye shalbe cut of in your owne sight for all your wickednesse that ye haue done.
And ye shall knowe that I am the Lorde, when I deale with you for my names sake, and not after your wicked wayes, nor accordyng to your corrupt workes O ye house of Israel, saith the Lorde God.
Moreouer, the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, set thy face towarde the way of Themanah, and drop [thy worde] towarde the south, and prophecie towarde the forest of the south fielde.
And say to the forest of the south, Heare the worde of the Lord, thus saith the Lorde God, Beholde I wyll kindle a fire in thee, that shall consume all the greene trees, with all the dry: the continuall flambe shall not be quenched, and euery face from the south to the north shalbe burnt therin.
And all fleshe shall see that I the Lorde haue kindled it, and it shall not be quenched.
Then sayde I, Ah Lorde God, they say of me, Doth not he speake parables?
THe worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, set thy face towarde Hierusalem, and drop [thy worde] towarde the holy places, and prophecie agaynst the lande of Israel.
Say to the lande of Israel, thus saith the Lorde, Beholde I am against thee, and wyll drawe my sworde out of the sheath, and cut of from thee both the righteous and the wicked.
Seyng then that I wyll cut of from thee both the righteous and the wicked: therfore shall my sworde go out of his sheath agaynst all fleshe from the south to the north,
That all fleshe may knowe howe that I the Lorde haue drawne my sworde out of the sheath, and it shall not be put in agayne.
Mourne therfore O thou sonne of man, yea [euen] with the breakyng of thy loynes, mourne bitterly in their presence.
And if they say vnto thee, wherfore mournest thou? Then tell them, for the tidinges that commeth: All heartes shall melt, all handes shalbe letten downe, all stomackes shal faynt, and all knees shall go as water: beholde it commeth, and shalbe brought to passe, saith the Lorde God.
Agayne, the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, prophecie and speake, thus saith the Lorde God, Speake, the sworde the sworde is sharpened and well furbished.
Sharpened is it to make a great slaughter, and furbished that it may glitter: Shall we then make mirth? It contemneth the rodde of my sonne [as] all other trees.
He hath geuen it to be furbished, to holde it in the hande: this sworde is sharpened, and furbished, to geue it into the hande of the slayer.
Crye and houle sonne of man, for it commeth vpon my people [it commeth] vpon all the princes of Israel: the terrours of the sworde shalbe vpon my people, smite therfore thou vpon thy thygh.
Because it is a triall: and what if it contemne the rodde? It shalbe no more saith the Lorde.
Prophecie thou sonne of man, & smite thy handes together, & let the sworde be doubled thrise, [euen] the sworde of the great slaughter, entryng into their priuie chaumbers,
To make them faynt at the heartes, and to multiplie their falles, in all their gates, haue I geuen the terrour of the sworde: Ah it is made bright, and dressed for the slaughter.
Get thee one way or other, either vpon the right hande or vpon the left, whyther soeuer thy face turneth.
I will smite my handes together also, and make my wrathfull indignation to rest: euen I the Lorde haue sayde it.
The worde of the Lorde came yet vnto me agayne, saying:
Thou sonne of man, appoynt thee two wayes, that the sworde of the king of Babylon may come: Both these wayes shal go out of one lande, and choose thee a place, at the head of the citie wayes choose it.
Appoynt a way that the sworde may come towarde Rabbath of the Ammonites, and towarde Iuda in the defenced Hierusalem.
For the kyng of Babylon stoode at the partyng of the wayes, at the head of the two wayes, consultyng by diuination, he made his arrowes bright, consulted with images, & lookt in the liuer.
At his right hande was the soothsaying for Hierusalem, to appoynt captaynes, to open [their] mouth to the slaughter, and to lift vp their voice with the alarum, to set battle rammes agaynst the gates, to cast a bulwarke, [and] to builde a fort.
And it shalbe vnto them as a false diuination in their sight, for the othes made vnto them: but he wyll call to remembraunce their iniquitie, to the intent they may be taken.
Therfore thus saith the Lorde God, Because ye haue made your iniquitie to be reme{m}bred in discoueryng your transgressions, so that in all your workes your sinnes might appeare, because ye are come to remembraunce, ye shalbe taken by hande.
O thou shamefull wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, euen when wickednesse shall haue an ende,
Thus saith the Lorde God, I wyll take away the Diademe, and put of the crowne: this shalbe no more the same, I wyll exalt the humble, and abase him that is hye.
Ouerthrowen, ouerthrowen, ouerthrowen wyll I put it, and it shall not be, vntyll he come to whom the iudgement belongeth, and to whom I haue geuen it.
And thou O sonne of man, prophecie and speake, Thus saith the Lorde God to the children of Ammon, and to their blasphemie, speake thou: The sworde, the sworde is drawen foorth alredy to slaughter, and furbished to consume because of the glitteryng:
Whiles they see vnto thee vanitie, and deuine a lye vnto thee, to put thee with the neckes of the wicked that be slayne, whose day is come when their iniquitie shall haue an ende.
Shoulde I cause it to returne into his sheath? In the place where thou wast created, in the lande of thine habitation wyll I iudge thee:
And I wyll powre mine indignation vpon thee, and wyll blowe vpon thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliuer thee into the handes of desperate people, which are skilfull to destroy.
Thou shalt feede the fire, and thy blood shalbe shed in the lande: thou shalt be put out of remembraunce, for I the Lorde haue spoken it.
MOreouer the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, and sayde,
Thou sonne of man, wylt thou not iudge, wylt thou not iudge this blooddy citie? wylt thou not shewe her all her abhominations?
And tell them, thus saith the Lorde God, The citie sheddeth blood in the middest of it, that her tyme may come, and maketh idols agaynst her selfe, to defile her selfe.
Thou hast made thy selfe giltie in the blood that thou hast shed, and defyled thee in the idols which thou hast made: thou hast caused thy dayes to drawe nye, and made the tyme of thy yeres to come: therfore wyll I make thee a reproche among the heathen, and to be a mockyng in all landes.
Whether they be nye or farre from thee, they shall laugh thee to scorne, thou that hast gotten thee so foule a name, and art full of trouble.
Beholde the rulers of Israel, euery one in thee [was redy] to his power to shed blood.
In thee haue they dispised father and mother, in thee haue they oppressed the straunger, in thee haue they vexed the widowe and the fatherlesse.
Thou hast dispised my holy thynges, and defiled my Sabbathes.
Tale tellers are there in thee to shed blood, in thee are such as eate vpon the hylles, and in thee they commit abhomination.
In thee they discouered their fathers shame, in thee they haue humbled her that was set apart for pollution.
Euery man hath dealt shamefully with his neighbours wife, and abhominably defiled his daughter in lawe, in thee hath euery man forced his owne sister, euen his fathers daughter.
Yea giftes haue ben receaued in thee to shed blood, thou hast taken vsurie and encrease, thou hast oppressed thy neighbours by extortion, and forgotten me, saith the Lorde God.
Beholde, I haue smitten my handes vpon thy couetousnesse that thou hast vsed, and vpon the blood which hath ben shed in thee.
Is thy heart able to endure? or may thy handes be strenghthened in the dayes that I shal haue to do with thee? Euen I the Lorde that speake it, wyll bryng it also to passe.
I wyll scatter thee among the heathen, & strawe thee about in the landes, and wyll cause thy filthinesse to ceasse out of thee.
Yea and thou shalt be thine owne inheritaunce in the sight of the heathen, that thou mayest knowe that I am the Lorde.
And the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, the house of Israel is vnto me as drosse: all they are brasse, tinne, iron, and lead in the middest of the furnace, euen drosse of siluer are they.
Therfore thus saith the Lorde God, Forasmuch as ye all are turned into drosse, therfore beholde I wyll bryng you together vnto Hierusalem.
Lyke as they gather siluer, brasse, iron, tinne, and lead, into the middest of the furnace, and the fire is blowne there vnder to melt them: euen so wyll I gather you in mine anger & in my wrath, and let you remayne [there] and cause you to melt.
I wyll bryng you together, and blowe the fire of my wrath vpon you, and ye shalbe molten in the middest therof.
Lyke as the siluer is molten in the furnace, so shall ye also be molten therin, that ye may knowe howe that I the Lord haue powred my wrath vpon you.
And the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, tell her, Thou art an vncleane lande, which is not rayned vpon in the day of wrath.
There is a conspiracie of her prophetes in the middest therof: as a roring lion rauenyng his pray, they deuour soules, they haue taken the riche and pretious thynges, they haue made her many widowes in the middest therof.
Her priestes haue broken my lawe, and defiled my holy thynges, they put no difference betweene the holy & vnholy, neither discerne they betweene the cleane & vncleane: they turne their eyes from my Sabbathes, and I am defiled among them.
Thy rulers in thee are lyke woolues rauenyng the pray, to shed blood, and destroy soules, for their owne couetous lucre.
As for her prophetes, they daube with vntempered morter, they see vanities, and diuine lyes vnto them, saying, The Lorde saith so: wheras the Lorde hath not spoken.
The people in the lande vsed wicked extortion and robbery, they vexe the poore and needy, and oppresse the straunger agaynst right.
And I sought among them for a man that woulde make vp the hedge, and set hym selfe in the gap before me in the landes behalfe, that I shoulde not destroy it: but I coulde fynde none.
Therfore haue I powred out my cruel displeasure vpon them, and consumed them in the fire of my wrath: their owne wayes wyll I recompence vpon their heades, saith the Lorde God.
THe worde of the Lord came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, there were two women the daughters of one mother.
And they committed fornication in Egypt, they played the harlottes in their youth: there were their breastes pressed, and there they bruised the tea•es of their virginitie.
The names of them [were] Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister, and they were mine, and they bare sonnes and daughters: thus [were] their names, Samaria is Aholah, and Hierusalem Aholibah.
Aholah played {th}e harlot when she was mine, and she was set on fire with her louers the Assyrians her neighbours:
Which were clothed with blewe silke, [both] captaynes and princes, they were all pleasaunt young men, and horsemen rydyng vpon horses.
Thus she committed her whordome with them [beyng] all chosen men of Asshur, & with all on whom she doted, and defiled her selfe with all their idols.
Neither left she the fornication that she vsed with the Egyptians: for in her youth they lay with her, they bruised the brestes of her maydenhead, and powred their whordome vpon her.
Wherfore I deliuered her into the handes of her louers [euen] into {th}e handes of the Assyrians vpon whom she doted.
These discouered her shame, toke her sonnes & daughters, and slue her with the sworde, an euyll name had she among women: for they had executed iudgement vpon her.
Her sister Aholibah sawe this, and destroyed her selfe with inordinate loue more then she, & with her fornications, more the{n} her sister with her fornications.
She doted vpo{n} the Assyrians captaines & princes her neighbours, clothed with all maner of gorgious apparel, horsmen riding vpon horses, beyng all pleasaunt young men.
Then I sawe that she was defiled, and they toke both one way.
But she encreased styll in whordome: for when she sawe men paynted vpon the wall, the images of the Chaldees paynted with vermilon,
And girded with girdles vpon their loynes, and with dyed attire vpon their heades, lokyng all like princes, after the maner of the Babylonians in Chaldea, the lande where they were borne.
Assoone as she sawe them, she burnt in loue vpon them, & sent messengers vnto them into the lande of the Chaldees.
Nowe when the Babylonians came vnto her in the bed of loue, they defiled her with their whordome: and so was she polluted with them, and her lust was abated from them.
And she discouered her whordome, and disclosed her shame: then my heart forsoke her, like as my heart was gone from her sister also.
Neuerthelesse, she encreased her whordome more, and remembred the dayes of her youth wherin she had played the harlot in the lande of Egypt.
She burnt in lust vpon their concubines, whose fleshe was like the fleshe of asses, and their issue like the issue of horses.
Thus thou hast called to reme{m}braunce the filthinesse of thy youth, when thy teates were bruised by the Egyptians, for the pappes of thy youth.
Therfore O Aholibah, thus saith the Lorde God, I wyll raise vp thy louers agaynst thee from whom thy heart is departed, and gather them together agaynst thee on euery syde,
[Namely] the Babylonians and all the Chaldees, rulers, wealthy and mightie men, with all the Assyrians, all pleasau{n}t young men, captaynes and princes, all valiaunt and renowmed, riding vpon horses.
These shall come vpon thee with charrettes, wagons, and wheeles, and great multitude of people, with buckler, shielde, and helmet they shall beset thee on euery side: I wyll geue iudgement before them, yea they them selues shall iudge thee accordyng to their owne iudgement.
I wyll lay mine indignation vpon thee, so that they shal deale cruelly with thee: they shall cut of thy nose and thine eares, and thy remnaunt shall fall by the sworde, they shall cary away thy sonnes and daughters, and the residue shalbe deuoured by the fire.
They shal strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy faire iewels.
Thus wyll I make thy wickednesse to ceasse from thee, and thy fornication out of the lande of Egypt: so that thou shalt turne thine eyes no more after them, and cast thy mynde no more vpon Egypt.
For thus saith the Lord God, Beholde I wyll deliuer thee into the handes of them whom thou hatest, yea euen into the handes of them from whom thine heart is departed.
And they shall deale hatefully with thee, and take away all thy labour, & leaue thee naked & bare, and the shame of thy fornications shalbe discouered, both thy wickednesse & thy whordome.
I wyll do these thynges vnto thee, because thou hast gone a whoryng after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols.
Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister, therfore wyll I geue her cuppe in thine hande.
Thus saith the Lorde God, Thou shalt drynke of thy sisters cuppe, deepe & large, thou shalt be laughed to scorne, and had in derision, because it conteineth much.
Thou shalt be filled with drunkennesse and sorowe [euen] with the cup of destruction and desolation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria.
Thou shalt drynke it and sucke it out, and thou shalt breake the sheardes therof, and teare thine owne brestes: for I haue spoken it, saith the Lorde God.
Therfore thus saith the Lorde God, Forasmuch as thou hast forgotten me, and cast me aside behynde thy backe, so beare nowe thine owne wickednesse and whordome.
The Lorde sayde moreouer vnto me, Thou sonne of man, wilt thou not iudge Aholah and Aholibah? shewe them their abhominations.
[Namely] that they haue broken their wedlocke, and blood is in their handes: and with their idols haue they co{m}mitted adulterie, and haue also caused their sonnes whom they bare vnto me, to passe [by the fire] to be their meate.
Yea and this haue they done vnto me also, they haue defiled my sanctuarie in the same day, and haue prophaned my Sabbathes.
For when they had slayne their children for their idols, they came the same day into my sanctuarie to defile it: and lo thus haue they done in my house.
And howe much more [is it] that they sent for men to come from farre, vnto whom a messenger was sent, and lo they came? for whom thou didst washe thy selfe, and paynted thine eyes, and deckedst thee with ornamentes.
Thou sattest vpon a stately bed, and a table spread before it, whervpon thou hast set mine insence and mine oyle.
And a noyse of a mery company at it, and with the men, beside the multitude of the people, were brought men of Saba out of the desert, which gaue them bracelettes vpon their handes, and beautifull crownes vpon their heades.
And I sayd vnto her that was worne in her adulteries, Nowe shall her fornications come to an ende, and she also.
And they went in to her as they go vnto a common harlot: euen so went they [I say] to Aholah and Aholibah, those wicked women.
And the righteous men, they shall iudge the{m} after the maner of harlottes, and after the maner of murtherers: for they are harlottes, and blood is in their handes.
Wherfore thus saith the Lorde God, I wyll bryng a great multitude of people vpon them, and geue them to be scattered and spoyled:
And the multitude shall stone them with stones, and cut them downe with their swordes, they shall slay their sonnes and daughters, and burne vp their houses with fire.
Thus wyll I cause wickednesse to ceasse out of the lande, that all women may be taught, not to do after your wickednesse.
And so they shal lay your wickednesse vpon your owne selues, and the sinnes of your idols shall ye beare: and ye shall knowe that I am the Lorde God.
IN the ninth yere, in the tenth moneth, the tenth day of the moneth, came the worde of the Lorde vnto me, saying:
O thou sonne of man, write the name of this day, yea euen of this present day: for the kyng of Babylon set hym selfe agaynst Hierusalem this selfe same day.
Shewe the rebellious house a parable, and speake vnto them, thus saith the Lorde God: Prepare a pot, set it on, and powre water into it.
Gather the peeces therof into it, euery good peece, the thygh and the shoulder, & fyll it with the chiefe bones.
Take one of the best sheepe, & a heape of bones vnder it: let it boyle well, and let the bones therof seeth well therin.
With that sayde the Lorde God on this maner, Wo vnto the blooddy citie, to the pot whose scumme is therin, & whose scumme is not gone out of it: bryng it out peece by peece, let no lot fall vpon it.
For her blood is yet in it, vpon a hygh drye stone hath she powred it: and not vpon the grounde, that it myght be couered with dust.
That it might cause wrath to arise, and take vengeaunce: I haue set her blood vpon a high drye rocke, that it shoulde not be couered.
Wherefore thus sayth the Lorde God: O wo be vnto the bloodthirstie citie, for whom euen I my selfe wil make a great fire,
And set much wood, and kindle the fire, and seeth the fleshe, & spice the pot, so that the very bones shalbe brent.
Moreouer, I will set the pot emptie vpo{n} the coales, so that the brasse thereof may be hot and burnt, and the filthynesse of it may be molten in it, and the scum of it shalbe consumed.
She hath weeried her selfe with labour, yet her great scum is not gone of her, in the fire her scum [must be consumed.]
In thy filthynesse is wickednesse: because I would haue purged thee, and thou wast not purged, from thy filthynesse thou shalt not be purged any more, till I haue caused myne indignation to rest in thee.
Euen I the Lorde haue spoken it: yea it is come therto all redy that I will do it, I will not go backe, I will not spare, I will not repent: but according to thy wayes and imaginations shall they iudge thee, sayth the Lorde God.
And the worde of the Lord came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, behold I wil take away from thee the pleasure of thyne eyes with a plague, yet shalt thou neither mourne nor weepe, neither shal thy teares run downe.
Mourne in scilens, make no mourning of the dead, bynde the tyre of thy head vpon thee, and put on thy shoes vpon thy feete, couer not thy lippes, and eate no mans bread.
So I spake vnto the people betymes in the morning, & at euen my wife dyed: then vpon the next morowe I dyd as I was commaunded.
And the people sayd vnto me: Wilt thou not tell vs what this signifieth towarde vs, that thou doest so?
I aunswered them, The word of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Tell the house of Israel, thus sayth the Lorde God: Beholde, I will pollute my sanctuarie, euen the glorie of your power, the pleasure of your eyes, and your heartes delite: & your sonnes and daughters whom ye haue left, shall fall through the sworde.
Like as I haue done, so shall ye do also: ye shall not couer your lippes, ye shall eate no mans bread.
And your tire [shalbe] vpon your heades, and your shoes vpon your feete: ye shall neither mourne nor weepe, but ye shall pyne away in your iniquities, & mourne one towardes another.
Thus Ezechiel is your shewtoken, according to all that he hath done, ye shall do: when it commeth, then ye shal know that I am the Lorde God.
Also thou sonne of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from the{m} their power, the ioy of their honour, the pleasure of their eyes, and the lifting vp of their soules, their sonnes & their daughters,
In that day shall come one that is escaped, vnto thee, [and bring it] to the hearing of [thyne] eares?
In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, that thou mayst speake & be no more dumbe: yea thou shalt be their shewtoken, that they may knowe how that I am the Lorde.
THe worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, set thy face toward the Ammonites, and prophecie vpon them.
And say vnto the Ammonites: heare the worde of the Lorde God, thus sayth the Lorde God: Forsomuch as thou saydest Haha ouer my sanctuarie because it was polluted, and ouer the land of Israel because it was desolate, and ouer the house of Iuda because they went into captiuitie:
Beholde therfore, I wil deliuer thee to the people of the east, that they may haue thee in possession: these shall settle their palaces in thee, and make their dwellinges in thee, they shall eate thy fruite, and drinke vp thy milke.
As for Rabbath, I will make of it a stable for camels, and of the Ammonites a sheepfolde: and ye shall knowe that I am the Lorde.
For thus sayth the Lorde God: Insomuch much as thou hast clapped with thyne handes, and stamped with thy feete, yea and reioyced ouer the lande of Israel with all thy despite in heart:
Behold therfore I wil stretche out my hande ouer thee, and deliuer thee to be spoyled of the heathen, & roote thee out from among the people, and cause thee to perishe out of the landes: yea I will make thee to be destroyed, that thou mayest know that I am the Lorde.
Thus sayth the Lord God: Forsomuch as Moab and Seir do say, Beholde the house of Iuda is like as all gentiles be:
Therfore behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities [I say] of his frontiers, the pleasures of the countrey [as namely] Bethiesimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim:
Vnto the children of the east against the Ammonites, and will geue it into possession, so that the Ammonites shall no more be had in remembraunce among the heathen.
And I will execute iudgementes vpon Moab, and they shall knowe that I am the Lorde.
Thus sayth the Lorde God: For that Edom hath done in auenging reuengement vpon the house of Iuda, & hath done great offence and auenged hym selfe vpon them:
Therfore thus sayth the Lord God, I wil reache out myne hand vpon Edom, and destroy man and beast out of it, I will make it desolate from Theman, & Dedanah shall fall by the sworde.
And I will execute my reuengement vpon Edom by the hande of my people Israel, they shall do in Edom according to my wrath and indignation, so that they shall knowe my vengeaunce, sayth the Lord God.
Thus sayth the Lorde God: For that the Philistines dyd in vengeaunce, [namely] in auenging reuengement, with a dispyteful heart to destroy it for the old enmitie:
Therfore thus saith the Lord God, Behold I will stretche out my hande ouer the Philistines, and destroy the Cerethites, and cause all the remnaunt of the sea coast to perishe:
A great vengeaunce will I take vpon them, with punishements of my wrath, that they may knowe that I am the Lord, when I shal lay my vengeaunce vpon them.
ANd it came to passe in the eleuenth yere, the first day of the moneth, the word of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, because that Tyre hath spoken vpon Hierusalem, Haha, the gates of the people is broken, it is turned vnto me, for now that she is destroyed, I shalbe filled:
Therfore thus sayth the Lord God, Behold O Tyre, I will vpon thee, I wil raise vp many nations against thee, like as whe{n} the sea ariseth with his waues.
They shal breake the walles of Tyre, & cast downe her towres, I will scrape her dust fro{m} her, & make her a drie rocke.
She shalbe for a spreading of nettes in the sea, for I haue spoken it, sayth the Lord God, and she shalbe for a spoyle to the nations.
Her daughters that are in the fielde shalbe slayne with the sworde, that they may knowe how that I am the Lorde.
For thus sayth the Lord God: Behold, I will bring vpon Tyrus, Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon from the north, a king of kinges, with horses, charets, horsemen, with a multitude, and much people.
Thy daughters that are in the field shal he slay with the sword: but against thee he shal make bulwarkes, & cast a mount against thee, and lift vp his speare against thee.
He shall set engins of warre before hym against thy walles, & with his weapons breake downe thy towres.
The dust of his horses shall couer thee they shalbe so many: thy walles shall shake at the noyse of the horsemen, wheeles & chariots, when he shal enter into thy gates, as into the entry of a citie broken downe.
With the hoofes of his horses shall he treade downe al thy streetes, he shall slay the people with the sworde, dna the pillers of thy strength shall fall downe to the grounde.
They shall rob thy riches, and spoyle thy marchaundise, thy walles shall they breake downe, and destroy thy houses of pleasure, thy stones, thy timber, and dust shall they cast into the mids of the water.
Thus will I cause the sounde of thy songues to ceasse, and the noyse of thy harpes shall no more be hearde.
I wil bring thee into a drie rocke, thou shalt be for a spreading of nettes, thou shalt neuer be buylt againe: for euen I the Lord haue spoken it, saith the Lord God.
Thus hath the Lord God spoken concerning Tyre: Shall not the iles tremble at the noyse of thy fall, and at the crie of the wounded, when they shalbe slaine & murthered in the mids of thee?
All princes of the sea shal come downe from their thrones, they shall lay away their robes, & put of their broidred garmentes, yea with trembling shall they be clothed, they shal sit vpon the ground, they shalbe astonished at euery moment, and be amased at thee.
They shall mourne for thee, and say vnto thee: How art thou destroyed that wast inhabited of the seas, the renowmed citie, whiche was strong in the sea, she and her inhabitauntes, whiche caused their feare to be on all that haunted therin?
Now shall the inhabitours of the{m} iles be astonished in the day of thy fall: yea the iles that are in the sea shalbe troubled at thy departure.
For thus sayth the Lord God: when I make thee a desolate citie, as other cities be that no man dwell in, and when I bring vp the deepe vpon thee, that great waters may couer thee:
Then wil I cast thee downe vnto them that descend into the pit, vnto a people of olde time, and set thee in a lande that is beneath, like the olde ruynes, with them which go downe to the graue, so that no man shall dwell more in thee: but I wil reserue honour for the land of the liuing:
I will make thee terrors, and thou shalt be no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou not be founde for euermore, sayth the Lorde God.
THe worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
O thou sonne of man, take vp a lamentable complaint vpon Tyre,
And say vnto Tyre that is situate at the entry of the sea, whiche is the mart of the people for many iles, thus sayth the Lorde God O Tyre, thou hast sayde, I am of perfite beautie.
Thy borders are in the mids of the seas, thy buylders haue made perfite thy beautie.
They haue made all thy [ship] bordes of firre trees of Shenir, from Libanus haue they taken Cedar trees to make thee mastes:
And the Okes of Basan to make thee ores, they haue made thy benches of iuory, gotten in Assyria, brought out of the iles of Chittim.
Fine linnen with broidred worke out of Egypt was spread ouer thee to be thy sayle: blewe silke and purple out of the iles of Elishah was thy couering.
The inhabitours of Sidon and Aruad were thy mariners: and thy wise men O Tyre, that were in thee, were thy shipmaisters.
The auncient and wyse men of Gebal were in thee, thy stoppers of •hinkes: all shippes of the sea with their shipmen were in thee, to occupie thy marchaundise.
The Perses, Lydians, and Phutens were in thy armies, thy men of warre: these ha{n}ged vp their shieldes & helmets in thee, these set foorth thyne honour.
They of Aruad were with thyne hoast round about thy walles, and the Phygmenians were thy watchmen vpon thy towres: these hanged vp their quiuers round about thy walles, they made thy beautie perfite.
They of Tharsis [were] thy marchauntes for the multitude of all riches, in siluer, iron, tin, and lead, whiche they brought to thy faires.
Iauan, Tubal, and Mesech were thy marchauntes concerning the lyues of men, and they brought vessels of brasse for thy marchaundise.
They of the house of Thagarma brought vnto thee at the time of thy marte, horses, cour•rs and 〈◊〉.
They of Dedan were thy marchaunts, and many iles the marchaundise of thy handes, & brought thee hornes, teeth, and Hebenus, for presentes.
They of Aram [were] thy marchauntes for the multitude of thy workes, and occupied in thy fayres with emeraudes, purple, broidred worke, fine linnen, coral, and pearle.
Iuda and the land of Israel occupied with thee, & brought vnto thy markets wheat of Minnith & Pannag, hony, oyle, and triacle.
Damascus also vsed marchaundise with thee, in the wine of Helbon, and whyte wooll: because thyne occupying was so great, and thy wares so many.
Dan, Iauan, & Meuzal haue brought vnto thy markets wrougth iron, Cassia, and Calamus were among thy marchaundise.
They of Dedan were thy marchauntes in precious clothes for chariots.
Arabia and all the princes of Cedar haue occupied with thee, in weathers, rammes, and goates: in these were they thy marchauntes.
The marchauntes of Seba and Rema haue occupied also with thee, in al chiefe spices, in all precious stones and golde, which they brought vnto thy markets.
Haran, Chenne, and Eden, the marchauntes of Seba, Assyria, and Chelmad were doers with thee:
These were thy marchauntes in all sortes [of thinges,] in rayment of blewe silke, and of broidred worke, and in coffers for the riche apparell, whiche were trussed with coardes, and Cedar boorde among thy marchaundise.
The ships of Tharsis were the chiefe of thyne occupying: thus thou wast replenished and in great worship, euen in the mids of the sea.
Thy rowers haue brought thee into great waters, the east wind hath broken thee in the mids of the sea.
Thy riches, and thy fayres, thy marchaundise, thy mariners, & shipmasters, thy calkars, and the occupiers of thy marchaundise, and al thy men of warre that are in thee, and all thy multitude that is in the mids of thee, shall fal in the mids of the sea, in the day of thy fall.
The suburbes shal shake at the loude crie of thy shipmen.
All that handle the ore, mariners, and all shipmaisters of the sea, shall come downe from their ships, and stand vpon the lande.
And they shall cause their voyce to be heard against thee, and shall crye bitterly, and shall cast dust vpon their heades, and wallowe in the asshes.
They shal make them selues bauld for thee, and girde them with sackcloth, & they shal weepe for thee, with sorowefull heart, and bitter mourning.
And they shall take vp a lamentation for thee in their mourning, and lament ouer thee, [what citie] is like Tyrus so destroyed in the mids of the sea?
When thy wares went foorth of the seas, thou filledst many people: the kinges of the earth hast thou made riche, thorowe the multitude of thy riches and marchaundise.
When thou shalt be broken by the seas in the deapthes of the waters, thy marchaundise & all thy multitude that was in the mids of thee, shall fall.
All the inhabitauntes of the iles shalbe astonied at thee, and all their kinges shalbe sore afrayde, and troubled in their countenaunce.
The marchauntes of the nations shall hisse at thee: thou shalt be a terrour, and shalt neuer be any more.
I He worde of the Lord came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, tel the prince of Tyre, thus sayth the Lorde God: Because thou hast a proude heart, and hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seate of God, in the mids of the sea: wher as thou art but a man, and not God, though thou set thyne heart as the heart of God.
Beholde, thou thinkest thy selfe wyser then Daniel, that there is no secretes hyd from thee.
With thy wisdome and thine vnderstanding thou hast gotten thee great welthines, & gathered treasure of siluer & gold.
With thy great wysedome and occupying hast thou encreased thy power, and because of thy great riches thy heart is proude.
Therfore thus sayth the Lorde God, Forsomuch as thou hast set thyne heart as the heart of God:
Behold, I will bring straungers vpon thee, euen the terrible nations, these shal drawe out their swordes vpon the beautie of thy wysdome, and shall defile thy glorie.
They shall cast thee downe to the pit, so that thou shalt dye the death of them that be slayne in the mids of the sea.
Wilt thou say then before them that slay thee, I am a God? where as thou art but a man, and not God, in the handes of them that slay thee.
Die shalt thou the death of the vncircumcized in the handes of the straungers: for I haue spoken it, sayth the Lorde God.
Moreouer, the worde of the Lord came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, take vp a lamentation vpon the king of Tyre, & tel him, thus sayth the Lord God: Thou sealest vp the summe, full of wysdome, & perfite beautie.
Thou hast ben in the pleasaunt garden of God, thou art deckt with all maner of precious stones, with ruby, topas, diamond, thurkis, onyx, iasper, saphir, emeralde, carbuncle, and golde: the workemanship of thy timbrels and of thy pipes [that be] in thee, was prepared in the day that thou wast created.
Thou art an annoynted Cherub, that couereth, and I haue set thee [in this dignitie,] thou wast vpon the holy mount of God, thou hast walked in the mids of the stones of fire.
From the time of thy creation thou haste ben perfite in the wayes, till wickednesse was founde in thee.
By the multitude of thy marchaundise they haue filled the mids of thee with crueltie, & thou haste sinned: I will cast thee as prophane out of the mount of God, & I will destroy thee O couering Cherub, from the mids of the stones of fire.
Thy heart was proude in thy beautie, and thorowe thy brightnesse thou hast destroyed thy wisdome: I will cast thee downe to the grounde, I will lay thee before kinges, that they may beholde thee.
Thou hast defiled thy sanctification with the great wickednesse of thyne vnrighteous occupying: I will bring a fire from the middest of thee to consume thee, and will make thee to asshes vpon the earth, in the sight of all them that loke vpon thee.
Al they that haue ben acquainted with thee among the heathen shalbe abashed at thee: thou hast ben a terrour, and neuer shalt thou be any more.
And the word of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, set thy face against Sidon, and prophecie vpon it,
And speake, thus sayth the Lord God: Beholde O Sidon, I will vpon thee, and I wilbe glorified in thee: that it may be knowen howe that I am the Lord when I shal haue executed iudgementes in her, & shalbe sanctified in her.
For I will sende pestilence and bloodsheding into her streetes, and the slayne shall fall in the mids of her, by the sword [comming] vpon her on euery side: & they shall knowe that I am the Lorde.
They shalbe no more a pricking thorne vnto the house of Israel, nor a greeuous thorne of al that are round about them and despised them: and they shal knowe that I am the Lorde God.
Thus sayth the Lorde God: When I gather the houshold of Israel together againe from the nations among whom they be scattered, then shall I be sanctified in them in the sight of the gentiles, and they shall dwell in the lande that I gaue to my seruaunt Iacob.
They shal dwell with confidence therin, buyld houses and plant vineyardes: yea with confidence shall they dwell therin, when I haue executed iudgementes vpon all those that despise them rounde about: and then shal they know that I am the Lorde their God.
IN the tenth yere, vpon the twelft day of the tenth moneth, the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, set thy face against Pharao the king of Egypt, prophecie against him, and against the whole lande of Egypt.
Speake & tell him, thus sayth the Lord God: Beholde O Pharao thou king of Egypt, I will vpon thee thou great dragon that lyeth in the mids of his riuers, thou that sayst, The riuer is mine, I haue made it for my selfe.
I wil put hookes in thy chawes, and hang the fishe in thy riuers vpon thy skales: after that I will drawe thee out of thy riuers, yea and all the fishe of thy riuers shall hang vpon thy skales.
I will leaue thee in the wildernesse, [both] thee and all the fishe of thy riuers: thou shalt fall vpon the open fielde, thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I haue geuen thee for meate to the beastes of the fielde, & to the foules of the ayre,
That all they which dwell in Egypt may know that I am the Lord, because they haue ben a staffe of reede to the house of Israel.
When they toke hold of thee with their hand, thou brakest & rent all their shoulder▪ & when they leaned vpon thee, thou brakest and madest all their loynes to stande vpright.
Therefore thus sayth the Lorde God: Behold, I wil bring a sword vpon thee, & destroy out of thee both man and beast.
Yea the lande of Egypt shal be desolate and waste, and they shall knowe that I am the Lorde, because he sayde, The riuer is myne, I my selfe haue made it.
Beholde therefore I will vpon thee and vpon thy riuers, I will make the land of Egypt vtterly waste and desolate from the towre of Seueneh vnto the borders of Ethiopia.
No foote of man shall passe by it, nor foote of beast shall passe by it, neither shall it be inhabited fourtie yeres.
I wil make the land of Egypt to be desolate among other waste countreys, and her cities destroyed fourtie yeres among other destroyed cities: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and strawe them thorow the countreys.
Againe, thus sayth the Lorde God: when the fourtie yeres are expired, I will gather the Egyptians together againe out of the nations among whom they were scattered.
And I will bring the captiuitie of Egypt againe, and cause them to returne into the lande of Pathros, the lande of their habitation, and they shalbe there a small kingdome.
Yea it shalbe the smallest among other kingdomes, neither shall it exalt it selfe any more aboue the nations: for I wil so minishe them, that they shall no more rule the nations.
And they shalbe no more vnto the house of Israel a trust whiche bringeth their iniquitie to remembraunce, when they shall loke after them: & they shal knowe that I am the Lorde God.
In the twentie and seuenth yere, the first day of the first moneth, came the word of the Lorde vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, Nabuchodonozor the king of Babylon caused his armie to serue a great seruice against Tyrus: euery head was made balde, & euery shoulder bare, yet had neither he nor his armie any wages for Tyrus for the seruice which he serued against it.
Therefore thus sayth the Lorde God: Behold, I will geue the lande of Egypt vnto Nabuchodonozor the king of Babylon, that he may take away her multitude, and spoyle her spoyles, & take her pray to pay his hoast their wages withall.
For the worke whiche he wrought about it, I haue geuen him the lande of Egypt, because they wrought for me, sayth the Lorde God.
In that day I will cause the horne of the house of Israel to bud foorth, and I will geue thee the opening of thy mouth in the mids of them: & they shall knowe that I am the Lorde.
THe word of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man prophecie, and speake, thus sayth the Lorde God, howle, wo worth this day:
For the day is neare, the day of the Lorde is at hande, the darke day, the time of the nations shalbe,
And the sworde shall come vpon Egypt, and feare shalbe in Ethiopia when the slayne shall fall in Egypt: and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shalbe broken downe.
Yea Ethiopia, Lybia, & Lydia, all their common people, and Chub, and all that be confederate vnto them, shal fall with them thorowe the sworde.
Thus sayth the Lorde: The maynteiners of the lande of Egypt shall fall, the pryde of her powre shall come downe: euen from the towre of Seueneh shal they fall downe in it with the sworde, sayth the Lorde God.
Among other desolate countreys they shalbe made desolate, among other waste cities they shalbe wasted.
And they shall knowe that I am the Lord when I haue set a fire in Egypt, & when al her helpers shalbe destroyed.
In that day shall messengers go foorth from me in ships to make the carelesse Morians afrayde, and feare shall come vpon them, according to the day of Egypt: for lo it commeth.
Thus sayth the Lord God, I wil cause the multitude of Egypt to ceasse by the hande of Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon.
He, and his people with him, the terrible nations shalbe brought to destroy the land: they shal drawe out their swordes vpon Egypt, & fill the land full of slayne men.
I wil make their riuers drie, and sel the lande into the handes of wicked people: the land and all that is therin I will destroy thorow the hand of straungers: euen I the Lorde haue sayde it.
Thus sayth the Lorde God, I will destroy the idoles, and bring the images of Noph to an end: there shal no more be a prince of Egypt, and a fearfulnesse wil I send into the Egyptians lande.
As for Pathros, I wil make it desolate, and kindle a fire in Zoan, and I will execute iudgementes in No.
And I will powre my wrathful indignation vpon Sin the strength of Egypt, & I will destroy the multitude of No.
And I will kindle a fire in Egypt, Sin shalbe in great heauinesse, No shalbe rooted out, and Noph shall haue dayly sorowe.
The young men of Auen, and of Phibeseth shall fall by the sworde, and these [cities] shall go into captiuitie.
At Tehaphnehes the day shalbe darke, when I breake there the barres of Egypt, and when the pompe of her power shall ceasse in her: a cloude shall couer her, and her daughters shall go into captiuitie.
Thus will I execute my iudgementes in Egypt, and they shall knowe howe that I am the Lorde.
And in the eleuenth yere, vpon the seuenth day of the first moneth, the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, I haue broken the arme of Pharao king of Egypt: and lo, it shall not be bounde vp to be healed, to put a roller to bynde it, to make it strong to hold the sworde.
Therfore thus sayth the Lorde God: Beholde, I will vpon Pharao king of Egypt, and breake his arme that was strong, but is broken: and I will cause the sworde to fall out of his hande.
As for the Egyptians, I will scatter them among the nations, and strawe them in the landes about.
Againe, I will strengthen the arme of the king of Babylon, and geue hym my sword in his hande: but I will breake Pharaos armes, and he shall grone the grodinges of a deadly wounded man before hym:
Yea I will strengthen the king of Babylons arme, and the armes of Pharao shall fall downe: and they shall knowe that I am the Lorde, when I shall geue my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, that he may stretch it out vpon the lande of Egypt.
And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, & strowe them in the landes about: and they shal knowe that I am the Lorde.
MOreouer, in the eleuenth yere, the first day of {th}e third moneth, the worde of the Lord came vnto me, saying,
Thou sonne of man, speake vnto Pharao king of Egypt, and to all his people: whom art thou lyke in thy greatnesse?
Behold, Assur is a Cedar in Libanon, with faire braunches, and with thycke shadowing bowes, of a hygh stature, & his top was among the thicke bowes.
The waters made him great, and the deepe set him vp on hye, with her riuers running rounde about his plantes, and sent out her litle riuers vnto all the trees of the fielde.
Therefore was he higher then all the trees of the fielde, and his bowes were multiplied, & his braunches were long, because of the multitude of the waters, which the deepe sent out.
Al foules of the aire made their nestes in his braunches, vnder his bowes did all the beastes of the fielde bring foorth their young, and vnder his shadowe dwelt all mightie nations.
Beautiful was he in his greatnesse, and in the length of his braunches: for his roote stoode beside great waters.
No Cedar tree might hyde hym in the garden of God, there was no fyrre trees like his braunches, the chestnut trees were not like the bowes of him: all the trees in the garden of God, might not be compared vnto him in his beautie.
I made him faire with the multitude of his braunches: insomuch that all the trees in the pleasaunt garden of God had enuie at hym.
Therefore thus sayth the Lorde God: forsomuch as he hath lift vp him selfe so hye, and hath shot vp his top among the thycke bowes, and his heart is lift vp in his heyght:
I haue therfore deliuered hym into the handes of the mightiest among the heathen: he shall handle hym, [for] in his wickednesse haue I cast hym away.
And straungers haue destroyed hym, euen the terrible nations, and haue left hym: vpon the mountaynes and vpon al valleys haue his bowes fallen, and his bowes are broken by all the riuers of the land: and all the people of the earth are departed from his shadowe, & haue forsaken hym.
Vpon his ruine shall all the foules of the ayre remayne, and all the beastes of the fielde shalbe vpon his braunches.
So that none of all the trees by the waters shalbe exalted in their heyght, nor shoot vp their toppes among the thycke bowes, neither shall their trees stande in their heyght, as many of them as drinke water: for they are all deliuered vnto death in the neather partes of the earth, in the mids of the children of men among them that go downe to the pit.
Thus sayth the Lord God: In the day when he went downe to the graue, I caused a lamentation to be made, I couered the deepe for hym, I restrayned the fluddes thereof, and the great waters were stayed, I caused Libanus to mourne for him, and all the trees of the fielde fainted.
I made the heathen shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast hym downe to hell with them that descend into the pit: all the excellent trees of Eden, & the best of Libanus, all that drinke waters, shalbe comforted in the neather partes of the earth.
They also went downe to hell with him vnto them that be slayne with the sword, which were his arme [and] dwelt vnder his shadowe in the middest of the nations.
To whom art thou thus like in glorie and in greatnesse among the trees of Eden? yet thou shalt be cast downe with the trees of Eden vnto the neather partes of the earth: in the middest of the vncircumcised shalt thou sleepe with them that are slayne with the sworde: This is Pharao and all his multitude, sayth the Lorde God.
IN the twelfth yere, the first day of {th}e twelfth moneth, the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, take vp a lamentation vpon Pharao the king of Egypt, and say vnto him, thou art lyke a lion of the heathen, and as a whale fishe in the sea: thou drawest out thy riuers, thou troublest the waters with thy feete, and stampest in their riuers.
Thus saith the Lorde God, I wyll spreade my nette ouer thee with a great multitude of people, these shal make thee come vp into my net.
For I wyll leaue thee vpon the lande, and cast thee vpon the open fielde, and I wyll cause all the foules of the ayre to remaine vpon thee, & fill all the beastes of the fielde with thee.
Thy flesh wyll I lay vpon the hils, and fill the valleyes with thy highnesse.
I wyll water thyne ouerflowing lande with thy blood euen to the mountaynes, and the riuers shalbe ful of thee.
When thou art put out, I wyll couer the heauen, and make his starres dim: I wyll spreade a cloude ouer the sunne, and the moone shall not geue her light.
All the lightes of heauen wyll I make darke for thee: and bring darkenesse vpon thy lande, saith the Lorde God.
I wyll stirre vp to anger the heartes of many people, when I bring thy destruction among the heathen, and vpon the countries which thou knowest not.
Yea, I wyll make many people amased at thee, and their kinges shalbe astonished with feare for thee, when I shall make my sworde to glitter against their faces: and they shalbe afraide at euery moment euery man for his owne lyfe, in the day of thy fall.
For thus saith the Lorde God, The king of Babylons sworde shal come vpon thee:
With the swordes of the mightie wyll I smyte downe thy multitude: they all shalbe terrible nations, & they shal destroy the pompe of Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shalbe consumed.
I wyll destroy also al the beastes therof from the great waters sides, neither shall the foote of man trouble them any more, nor the hooues of beastes trouble them.
Then wyll I make their waters deepe, and cause their riuers to ruune lyke oyle, saith the Lorde God,
When I make the lande of Egypt desolate, and when the countrey with all that is therein shalbe layde waste, and when I smyte all them which dwell in it, then shall they knowe that I am the Lorde.
This is the mourning when they shal lament her, the daughters of the nations shall lament her, they shall make the lamentation ouer Egypt, and ouer all the people thereof, saith the Lorde God.
In the twelfth yere, the fifteenth day of the moneth, came the worde of the Lorde vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, lament for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them downe, euen them and the daughters of the famous nations vnto the neather partes of the earth, with them that go downe into the pit.
Whom doest thou passe in beautie? go downe and sleepe with the vncircumcized.
Among those that be slaine with the sworde shall they lye: to the sworde is she alredie delyuered, drawe her downe and all her multitude.
The mightie worthies shall speake to her out of the hell, and to her helpers: they are gone downe and lye vncircumcized with them that be slaine with the sworde:
Assur is there also with all his company, and their graues rounde about him, which were slaine and fell all with the sworde.
Whose graues are made in the side of the pit, and his multitude are rounde about his graue, [to wit] all the slaine and fallen by the sworde, which cause a feare to be in the lande of the liuing.
There is Elam also, with all his people rounde about his graue: which all being slaine & fallen with the sworde, are gone downe vncircumcized vnder the earth, which neuerthelesse sometime brought feare into the lande of the lyuing: they beare their owne shame, with the other that be gone downe to the graue.
They haue made his bed in the midst of the slaine, with al his multitude, their graues are rounde about him: all these vncircumcized, slaine by the sworde, although they caused their feare in the lande of the lyuing, yet haue they borne their shame with them that go downe to the pit, they are layde in the midst of them that are slaine.
There is Mesech also and Tubal, and their people, & their graues rounde about him: these al vncircumcized were slaine with the sworde, because aforetime they made the lande of the lyuing afraide.
They shall not lye with the valiaunt [which are] fallen of the vncircumcized, which are gone downe to the graue with their weapons of warre, and haue layde their swordes vnder their heades: but their iniquitie shalbe vpon their bones, because the terrour of their mightie [was] in the lande of the lyuing.
Yea, among the vncircumcized shalt thou be destroyed, and sleepe with them that perished through the sworde.
There is Edom with her kinges and princes also, which with their strength are layde by them that were slaine with the sworde: yea among the vncircumcized shal they sleepe, & with them which are gone downe into the pit.
Moreouer, there be al the princes of the north with al the Sidonians, which are gone downe with the slaine: with their feare and strength they are come to confusion, and lye there vncircumcized among those that be slaine with the sworde, and beare their owne shame with them that be gone downe to the pit.
Pharao shall see them, and be comforted ouer all his multitude: Pharao and al his armie [shalbe] slaine with the sworde, saith the Lorde God.
For I haue geuen my feare in the lande of the lyuing: but Pharao and al his people shalbe layde among the vncircumcized, and among them that be slaine with the sworde, saith the Lorde God.
AGaine, the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, speake to the children of thy people, and tell them: When I sende a sworde vpon a lande, if the people of the lande take a man of their coastes, and set him to be their watchman:
If when he seeth the sworde come vpon the lande, he shall blow the trumpet and warne the people:
Then he that heareth the noyse of the trumpet and wyll not be warned, and the sworde come and take him away, his blood shalbe vpon his owne head.
For he heard the sounde of the trumpet, and would not be warned, therefore his blood be vpon him: but he that receaueth warning, he shall saue his lyfe.
Againe, if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, so that the people is not warned, if the sworde come then, and take any man from among them: the same shalbe taken away in his owne sinne, but his blood wyl I require at the watchmans hand.
And thou O sonne at man, I haue made thee a watchman vnto the house of Israel: therefore thou shalt here the worde at my mouth, and thou shalt warne them from me.
If I say vnto the wicked, thou wicked, thou shalt surely dye: & thou speakest not to admonish the wicked of his way: that wicked man shall dye in his owne sinne, but his blood wyl I require at thy hande.
Neuerthelesse, if thou warne the wicked of his way to tourne from it, and he yet wyll not be turned from his way: then shal he dye in his iniquitie, but thou hast deliuered thy soule.
Therfore O thou sonne of man, speake vnto the house of Israel, yea say thus: If our offences and sinnes lye vpon vs, and we be consumed in them, howe should we then liue?
Tell them, as truely as I liue saith the Lorde God, I haue no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but much rather that the wicked tourne from his way, and lyue: Turne you, turne you from your wicked wayes, for why wil ye dye O ye of the house of Israel?
Therefore thou sonne of man, tell the children of thy people, the righteousnes of the righteous shall not saue him in the day of his iniquitie: againe, the wickednes of the wicked shall not ouerthrow him for it in the day that he returneth from his wickednes: neither shall the righteous lyue for it in the day that he sinneth.
If I say vnto the righteous, he shall surely lyue, and so he trust to his owne righteousnes, and do sinne: then shall his righteousnes be no more thought vpon, but in his wickednes that he hath done, in it he shall dye.
Againe, if I say vnto the wicked, thou shalt surely dye: and so he turne from his sinnes, and do the thing that is lawfull and right,
Insomuch that the same wicked man geueth the pledge againe, restoreth that he had take{n} away by robbery, walketh in the commaundementes of lyfe, and doth none iniquitie: then shall he surely lyue and not dye.
None of the sinnes that he hath committed shalbe mentioned vnto him: for insomuch as he doth now the thing that is lawfull and right, he shall lyue,
And yet the children of thy people say, the way of the Lorde is not equall: but their owne way is rather vnequall.
When the righteous turneth from his righteousnes, and doth the thing that is wicked, he shall dye therein.
But if the wicked turne from his wickednes, doing the thing that is lawfull and right, he shall lyue therefore.
Yet ye say, the way of the Lorde is not equall: O ye house of Israel, I wyll iudge euery one of you after his wayes.
In the twelfth yere, the fift day of the tenth moneth of our captiuitie, one which was escaped out of Hierusalem, came vnto me and said, The citie is smitten.
Nowe the hande of the Lorde had ben vpon me the euening afore this man which was escaped came vnto me, and had opened my mouth vntill the morning that he came to me: yea, my mouth was opened, so that I was no more dumbe.
Then came the worde of the Lorde vnto me, and saide:
Thou sonne of man, these that dwell in the wasted lande of Israel talke and say: Abraham was but one man, and he had the lande in possession: nowe are we many, and the lande is geuen vs to possesse also.
And therefore tel them, thus saith the Lorde God, In the blood haue ye eaten, your eyes haue ye lift vp to idols, and haue shed blood: shall ye then haue the lande in possession?
Ye leane vpon your swordes, ye worke abhominations, euery one defileth his neighbours wyfe: and shall ye then possesse the lande?
Say thou thus vnto them, thus saith the lorde God: As truely as I liue, they that are in the desolate places shall fall by the sworde, and him that is vpon the fielde wyll I geue vnto the beastes to be deuoured: and they that be in the strong holdes and dennes shall dye of the pestilence.
For I wyll make the lande so desolate and waste, that the pompe of her strength shall ceasse: the mountaynes of Israel shalbe so waste, that no man shall trauaile thereby.
Then shall they knowe that I am the Lorde, when I make the land desolate and waste, because of all their abhominations that they haue wrought.
And thou sonne of man, the children of thy people that talke of thee by the waters and in the doores of their houses, and speake one to another, euery one to his brother, saying, Come I praye you, let vs heare what worde is gone foorth from the Lorde:
They come vnto thee as the people vseth to come, and my people syt before thee, and heare thy wordes, but they do not therafter: for in their mouthes they make a iest of them, and their heart goeth after their couetousnes.
And lo, thou art vnto them as a iesting song of one that hath a pleasaunt voyce, and can sing well: for they heare thy wordes, but do them not.
When this commeth to passe (lo it commeth:) then shall they knowe that there hath ben a prophete among them.
ANd the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, prophecie against the shepheardes of Israel, prophecie and speake vnto them: thus saith the Lorde God vnto the shepheardes, Wo be vnto the shepheardes of Israel that feede them selues: should not the shepheards feede the flockes?
Ye eate vp the fat, ye clothe you with the wooll, the best fed do ye slay: but the flocke do ye not feede.
The weake haue ye not strengthened, the sicke haue ye not healed, the broken haue ye not bounde together, the dryuen away haue ye not brought againe, the lost haue ye not sought: but with force and crueltie haue ye ruled them.
They are scattered without a shephearde, yea all the beastes of the fielde deuour them, and they go astray.
My sheepe go wandring vpon al mountaines, and vpon euery hie hill, yea my flocke is scattered through all the face of the earth, and there is no man that seeketh or searcheth [after them.]
Therefore O ye shepheardes, heare the worde of the Lorde.
As truely as I lyue saith the Lorde God, forsomuch as my sheepe are robbed, & deuoured of all the wylde beastes of the fielde, hauing no shepheard, and seeing that my shepheardes seke not my sheepe, but the shepheardes feede them selues, and feede not my sheepe:
Therefore heare the worde of the Lorde O ye shepheardes,
Thus saith the Lorde God: beholde, I wyll vpon the shepheardes, and require my sheepe from their handes, and make them ceasse from feeding of the sheepe, yea the shepheardes shall feede them selues no more: for I wyll deliuer my sheepe out of their mouthes, so that they shall not deuour them after this.
For thus saith the Lorde God: behold, I [euen] I wyll loke to my sheepe my selfe, and seeke them out.
Lyke as a shephearde when he hath ben among the flocke, seeketh after the sheepe that are scattered abroade: euen so wyll I seeke after my sheepe, and deliuer them out of all places where they haue ben scattered, in the cloudie and darke day.
I wyll bring them out from the people, and gather them together out of the landes, I wyl bring them into their owne lande, and feede them vpon the mountaines of Israel, by the riuers and in all the places of the countrey.
I wyll feede them in right good pastures, and vpon the hie mountaines of Israel shall their foldes be: there shall they lye in a good folde, and in a fat pasture shall they feede, euen vpon the mountaines of Israel.
I wyll feede my sheepe and bring them to their rest, saith the Lorde God.
Such as be lost, wyll I seeke: such as are driuen away, wyll I bring againe: such as be broken, wyl I binde vp: such as be weake, wyll I make strong: such as be fat and strong, those wyll I roote out, and feede them with iudgement.
And as for you O my sheepe, saith the Lorde God, I wyll iudge betweene cattaile & cattaile, betweene the rammes and the goates.
Seemeth it a smal thing to you to haue eaten vp the good pasture, and to treade downe the residue of your pasture with your feete also? to drinke the deepe waters, and to trouble the rest also with your feete?
Thus my sheepe must be faine to eate the thing that ye haue troden downe with your feete, and to drinke it that ye with your feete haue defiled.
Therefore thus saith the Lorde God vnto them: Beholde I [euen] I wyll iudge betweene the fat cattaile and the leane cattaile,
Forsomuch as with side and shoulder ye haue shoued, and with your hornes haue pushed all the weake, till ye haue scattered them abroade.
I wyll saue my sheepe, so that they shal no more be spoyled, yea I wil iudge betweene cattaile and cattaile.
I wyll set vp ouer them a shepheard, and he shall feede them, euen my seruaunt Dauid, he shall feede them, & he shalbe their shepheard.
And I the Lorde wyll be their God, and my seruaunt Dauid shalbe their prince: euen I the Lorde haue spoken it.
Moreouer I wyll make a couenaunt of peace with them, & cause euil beastes to ceasse out of the lande: so that they may dwell safely in the wildernesse, and sleepe in the woods.
And I wyll set them [as] a blessing euen rounde about my hill, and I wyll cause raine to come downe in due season, [and] there shalbe raine of blessing.
And the tree of the fielde shal yeelde her fruite, and the earth shall geue her encrease: they shalbe safe in their lande, and shall knowe that I am the Lorde, when I haue broke{n} the bondes of their yoke, and deliuered them out of the handes of those that serued them selues of them.
They shall no more be spoyled of the heathen, nor deuoured with the beastes of the lande: but safely shall they dwel, and no man shall fray them.
And I wil raise vp for them a plant of renowme, and they shalbe no more clungd with hunger in the lande, neither beare the reproche of the heathen any more.
Thus shall they vnderstand that I the Lorde their God am with them, and that they, euen the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lorde God:
And ye my sheepe, the sheepe of my pasture, are men: and I am your God, saith the Lorde God.
MOreouer, the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, set thy face toward the mount Seir, prophecie against it.
And say vnto it, thus saith the Lorde God: Beholde O thou mount Seir, I wyll vpon thee, I wyll reache out my hande ouer thee, yea waste and desolate wyll I make thee,
Thy cities wyll I laye waste, & thou shalt lye voyde, that thou mayst knowe howe that I am the Lorde,
Forsomuch as thou bearest an olde enmitie, and hast put the children of Israel to flight by the force of the sworde, in the time of their calamitie, [when their] iniquitie had an ende.
Therefore as truely as I lyue, saith the Lorde God, I wyll prepare thee vnto blood, yea blood shall folowe vpon thee, except thou hate blood, euen blood shall persecute thee.
Thus wyll I make the mount Seir desolate and waste, and cut out from it him that passeth out, and him that returneth:
His mountaines wyll I fill with his slaine men, thy hils, valleys, and al thy riuers, the slaine with the sworde shall fall in them.
I wyll make thee a perpetuall wildernes, so that thy cities shal not returne: that ye may knowe that I am the Lorde.
And because thou hast saide, both these nations, and both these landes must be myne, and we wyll haue them in possession, whereas the Lorde wa• there:
Therefore as truely as I lyue sa• the Lorde God, I wyll euen do acc•ding to thy wrath, and according to thyne enuiyng which thou hast vsed in thyne hatred against them: and I wyll make my selfe knowen amongst them when I haue iudged thee.
Yea and thou shalt knowe that I the Lorde haue heard all thy blasphemies, whiche thou hast spoken against the mountaines of Israel, saying, They are made waste, & geuen vs to deuour.
Thus with your mouthes ye haue made your boastes against me, yea and multiplied your wordes against me, which I haue heard.
Thus saith the Lord God: To the ioy of all the worlde wyll I make thee waste.
And lyke as thou wast glad because the heritage of the house of Israel was destroyed, euen so wyll I do vnto thee: thou shalt be destroyed O mount Seir, and all Idumea wholly, and they shall knowe that I am the Lorde.
THou sonne of man prophecie vnto the mountaines of Israel, and speake, heare the worde of the lord O ye mountaines of Israel,
Thus saith the Lord God: Because your enemie hath saide vpon you aha, the hie places of the worlde are now become ours in possession:
Prophecie therefore and speake, thus saith the Lorde God: For because that they haue made you desolate, and swalowed you vp on euery side, that ye might be a possession vnto the residue of the gentiles, and ye are taken vp in the lippes and tongues of men, and to the reproche of the people:
Therefore heare the worde of the Lorde God, O ye mountaines of Israel, thus saith the Lorde God to the mountaines and hils, to the riuers and valleys, to the waste and desolate places, and to the cities that are forsaken, which are spoyled and had in derision on euery side, among the residue of the heathen:
Therefore thus saith the Lorde God: Surely in the fire of my gelousie haue I spoken against the residue of the gentiles, and against all Edom, which haue appoynted my lande for their possession, which also reioyced from their whole heart with a dispitefull stomake, to cast it out for a pray.
Prophecie therefore vpon the lande of Israel, and speake vnto the mountaines and hils, to the riuers and dales, thus saith the Lorde God: Behold, this haue I spoken in my gelousie and terrible wrath, because ye haue borne the shame of the heathen:
Therefore thus saith the Lorde God, I haue lyft vp my hande, surely the heathen that are about you, shall beare their shame.
But you, O mountaynes of Israel, ye shall shoote out your braunches, and bring foorth your fruite to my people of Israel: for they are at hande to come.
Beholde I come vnto you, and vnto you wyll I turne my face, that ye may be tilled and sowen.
I wyll multiplie men vpon you, [euen] al the house of Israel wholly, the cities shalbe inhabited, and the decayed places shalbe repaired againe.
And I wyll multiplie vpon you man and beast, which shal encrease and bring fruite: and I wyll cause you to dwell after your olde estate, & be better vnto you then at the beginning: and ye shall knowe that I am the Lorde.
Yea I wyll cause men to walke vpon you, [euen] my people Israel, & they shall possesse thee, and thou shalt be their inheritaunce, & thou shalt no more hencefoorth depriue them of [men]
Thus saith the lorde God, Forsomuch as they say vnto you, thou art an eater vp of men, and a waster of thy people:
Therefore thou shalt eate no more men, neither destroy thy people any more, saith the Lorde God:
Neither wyll I cause men to heare in thee the shame of the heathe{n} any more: neither shalt thou beare the reproche of the people any more, nor cause thy folke to fall any more, saith the Lorde God.
Moreouer, the word of the Lord came vnto me, saying:
O thou sonne of man, when the house of Israel dwelt vpon their owne grounde, they defiled them selues with their owne wayes and imaginations: so that in my sight, their way was lyke the vncleannes of a remoued woman.
Wherfore I powred my wrathful displeasure vpon them, because of the blood that they had shed in the lande, and because of their idols where with they had defiled it:
I scattered them also among the heathen, so that they were strawed about in the landes: according to their wayes, & after their owne inuentions, so did I iudge them.
And when they entred vnto the heathen whyther they went, they polluted my holy name, when they saide of them, These are the people of God, & are gone out of his lande.
Then spared I my holy name, which the house of Israel had dishonoured among the gentiles where they came.
Therfore tel the house of Israel, thus saith the Lorde God: I do not this for your sakes O house of Israel, but for my holy names sake which ye dishonoured among the heathen where ye came.
Therefore I wyll halowe my great name againe, which among the gentiles is polluted, for ye your selues haue dishonoured it among them: & the gentiles shall know that I am the Lorde saith the Lorde God, when I shalbe sanctifified in you before your eyes.
As for you, I wyll take you from among the heathen, and gather you together out of all countreys, and bring you againe into your owne lande.
Then wyll I sprinckle cleane water vpon you, and ye shalbe cleane: yea from all your vncleannes and from all your idols shall I cleanse you.
A newe heart also wyll I geue you, and a newe spirite wyll I put into you: as for that stony heart I wyll take it out of your fleshe, and geue you a fleshy heart.
I wyll geue my spirite among you, and cause you to walke in my co{m}maundementes, and ye shall kepe my iudgementes and do them.
And so ye shall dwell in the lande that I gaue to your fathers: & ye shalbe my people, and I wil be your God.
I wyll deliuer you from all your vncleannes, I wyl call for the corne, and wyll encrease it, and lay no famine vpon you.
I wil multiplie the fruites of the trees and the encrease of the fielde: so that ye shal receaue no more reproche of hunger among the heathen.
Then shall ye remember your owne wicked wayes, and your imaginations which were not good: so that ye shalbe irksum in your owne eyes for your sinnes and abhominations.
But I wyl not do this for your sakes, saith the Lorde God, be ye sure of it: therefore O ye house of Israel, be ashamed and confounded of your owne wayes.
Moreouer, thus saith the Lorde God, what time as I shal cleanse you from al your iniquities, then wil I make the cities to be inhabited againe, and the places that be decayed shalbe repaired.
The desolate lande shalbe tilled againe, which afore time lay waste in the sight of al them that went by.
And they shal say, this waste lande was like the garden of Eden: and these waste and desolate and ruinous cities [were] strong [and] inhabited.
Then the residue of the heathen that lye rounde about you, shall knowe that I the Lord repaire that was broken downe, and plant againe that that was made waste: euen I the Lord haue spoken it, and wyl do it in deede.
Thus saith the Lorde God: I wyll yet for this be sought of the house of Israel, to do it for them, I wyll multiplie them as a flocke of men,
Like as the holy flocke, and the flocke of Hierusalem are in the hie solempne feastes, so shall also the wasted cities be filled with flockes of men: and they shal knowe that I am the Lorde.
THe hande of the Lorde was vpon me, and caried me out in the spirite of the Lorde, and set me downe in the midst of a plaine fielde that was full of bones.
And he led me rounde about by them, and beholde, there were very many in the open fielde, and lo [they were] very drye.
Then saide he vnto me: Thou sonne of man, thinkest thou these bones may liue againe? I aunswered, O Lorde God, thou knowest.
And he saide vnto me, Prophecie thou vpon these bones, & speake vnto them: Ye drye bones, heare the worde of the Lorde,
Thus saith the Lorde God vnto these bones: Beholde, I wyll cause breath to enter into you, that ye may lyue.
I wyll geue you sinowes, and make fleshe growe vpon you, and couer you ouer with skinne, & so geue you breath, that ye may liue, and knowe that I am the Lorde.
So I prophecied as I was co{m}maunded: and as I was propheciyng, there was a noyse, and lo a great motion, so that the bones came neare together, bone to his bone.
Now when I had loked, behold they had sinowes, & flesh grewe vpon them, and aboue they were couered with skin: but there was no breath in them.
Then saide he vnto me: Thou sonne of man, prophecie thou towarde the winde, prophecie thou towarde the winde, prophecie & speake to the winde, thus saith the Lorde God: Come, O thou ayre from the foure windes, and blowe vpon these slaine, that they may lyue.
So I prophecied as he had commaunded me: then came the breath into them, and they receaued lyfe, and stoode vp vpon their feete, a marueilous great armie.
Moreouer he said vnto me: Thou sonne of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: Behold, they say, Our bones are dryed vp, our hope is gone, and we are cleane cut of.
Therefore prophecie thou, and speake vnto them, thus saith the Lorde God: Beholde, I wyll open your graues O my people, and cause you to come vp out your sepulchres, and bring you into the lande of Israel againe.
So shal ye know that I am the Lord, when I open your graues O my people, & bring you out of your sepulchres.
My spirite also wil I put in you, and ye shal liue, I wil set you againe in your owne lande: and ye shall knowe that I the Lorde haue sayde it, and fulfilled it in deede, sayth the Lorde.
The word of the Lord came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, take one sticke, and write vpon it, Vnto Iuda and to the children of Israel his companio{n}s. Then take another sticke and write vpon it, Vnto Ioseph the stocke of Ephraim, & to all the housholde of Israel his companions.
And ioyne thee them one to another into one sticke: and they shalbe as one in thy hande.
Now if the children of thy people speake vnto thee, saying: Wilt thou not shew vs what thou meanest by these?
Then geue them this aunswere, thus sayth the Lorde God: Beholde, I will take the stocke of Ioseph, whiche is in the hand of Ephraim, and of the tribes of Israel his felowes, and wil put them with him, [euen] with the stocke of Iuda, and make them one stocke, and they shalbe one in my hande.
And the stickes where vpon thou wrytest, shalt thou haue in thy hand, that they may see.
And thou shalt say vnto them, thus sayth the Lorde God: Beholde, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen vnto whom they be gone, and will gather them together on euery side, and bring them againe into their owne lande.
Yea I wil make one people of them in the land vpon the mountaynes of Israel, and one king shalbe king to them al: they shall no more be two peoples, neither be deuided from hencefoorth into two kingdomes.
They shall also defile them selues no more with their idoles and abhominations, and al their wicked doynges: I wil saue them out of all their dwelling places wherin they haue sinned, and will so cleanse them, that they shalbe my people, and I wilbe their God.
Dauid my seruaunt shalbe their king, and they all shall haue one sheepheard only: they shall walke in my iudgementes, and my commaundementes shall they kepe, and fulfill them.
They shall dwell in the lande that I gaue vnto Iacob my seruaunt, wheras your fathers also haue dwelt, yea [euen] in the same land shal they, their children, & their childers children dwell for euermore: and my seruaunt Dauid shalbe their prince for euer.
Moreouer, I will make a bonde of peace with them, whiche shalbe vnto them an euerlasting couenaunt: I will settle them also and multiplie them, my sanctuarie will I set among them for euermore.
My tabernacle shalbe with them: yea I wilbe their God, and they shalbe my people.
Thus the heathen also shal know that I the Lorde do sanctifie Israel, when my sanctuarie shalbe among them for euermore.
AND the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Thou sonne of man, set thy face towarde Gog, the land of Magog, which is the chiefe prince at Mesech and Tubal: prophecie against him,
And say, thus sayth the Lorde God: O Gog, thou chiefe prince of Mesech and Tubal, beholde, I will vpon thee:
And I will turne thee backe, and put hookes in thy chawes, I will bring thee foorth and all thyne hoast, both horse and horsemen, all armed with all sortes of armour, a great multitude with speares and shieldes, all handling swordes.
They of Paras, of Cush, & Phut, with them [euen] all [hauing] shieldes and helmets.
Gomer and all his hoastes, the house of Togarma out of the north quarters and all his hoastes, yea and much people with thee.
Therfore prepare thee, set thy selfe in aray with all thy people that are come vnto thee by heapes, & be thou their defence.
After many dayes thou shalt be visited, and in the latter yeres thou shalt come into the lande that hath ben turned [and tost] with the sworde, and gathered together againe out of many people vpon the mountaynes of Israel, which haue ben alwayes [subiect] to waste: but it is brought out of the people, and they dwell all safe.
Thou shalt ascend and come vp like a storme, as a cloude to couer the lande shalt thou be: thou with al thine hoastes, & a great multitude of people with thee.
Moreouer, thus sayth the Lorde God: At the same time shall thinges come into thy minde, so that thou shalt thinke euyll thoughtes.
And say, I will vp to the lande of vnwalled villages, I will go to them that be at rest, whiche dwell safely, all dwelling without walles, they haue neither barres nor gates:
To spoyle the pray, and to take a bootie, to turne thy hande vpon the desolate places that are [nowe] inhabited, & vpon that people that is gathered together from among the heathen, whiche haue gotten cattell and goodes, and dwell in the mids of the lande.
Then shall Saba and Dedan, and the marchauntes of Tharsis with all their lions, say vnto thee: Art thou come to spoyle a pray? hast thou gathered thy people together to take a bootie, to take away siluer and golde, to cary away cattel and good, and to haue a great pray?
Therfore, O thou sonne of man, thou shalt prophecie and say vnto Gog, thus sayth the Lord God: In that day when my people Israel dwelleth safe, shalt thou not knowe it?
And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north partes, thou and much people with thee, which ride al vpon horses, [euen] a great multitude and a mightie armie.
Yea thou shalt come vpon my people of Israel, as a cloude to couer the lande: this shall come to passe in the latter dayes, and I will bring thee vp into my land, that the heathen may knowe me, when I shalbe sanctified in thee O Gog, before their eyes.
Thus sayth the Lorde God: Art not thou he of whom I haue spoken in olde time by the handes of my seruauntes the prophetes of Israel, which prophecied in those dayes and yeres, that I should bring thee vpon them?
At the same time when Gog commeth vp into the lande of Israel, sayth the Lorde God, shall myne indignation rise in my wrath:
For in my ielousie and fire of my wrath haue I spoken it, surely at that time ther shalbe a great shaking in the lande of Israel.
The very fishes in the sea, the foules in the ayre, the beastes of the fielde, and all that moue and crepe vpon the earth, and all the men that are vpon the earth, shall tremble at my presence: the hilles also shalbe turned vpside downe, the staires shall fall, and all walles shall fall downe to the grounde.
I will call for a sworde vpon hym in all my mountaynes, sayth the Lorde God: so that euery mans sworde shalbe vpon another.
With pestilence and blood wil I pleade against him: stormie rayne and haylestones, fire and brimstone wil I cause to rayne vpon him and all his hoastes, yea and vpon all that great people that is with him.
Thus will I be magnified, sanctified, and knowen in the eyes of many nations: and they shall knowe that I am the Lorde.
THerfore O thou sonne of man, prophecie against Gog, & speake, thus sayth the Lorde God: Behold O Gog, thou chiefe prince at Mesech and Tubal, I will vpon thee.
And I wil turne thee about, and I wil prouoke thee forward, and cause thee to come vp from the north partes, and bring thee vp to the mountaynes of Israel.
As for thy bow, I wil smite it out of thy left hande, and cause thyne arrowes to fall out of thy right hande.
Thou with all thyne hoast, and all the people that is with thee, shall fall vpon the mountaynes of Israel: then will I geue thee vnto the flockes of birdes [euen] to all fethered foules and beastes of the fielde, to be deuoured.
Thou shalt fal vpon the open fielde: for I haue spoken it, sayth the Lorde God.
Into Magog, and among those that sit so carelesse in the Iles will I sende a fire, and they shal know that I am the Lorde.
I will make also the name of my holinesse to be knowen among my people of Israel, and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: but the very heathen also shall knowe that I am the Lord, the holy one of Israel.
Behold it is come, and it is done, sayth the Lorde God: this is the day wherof I haue spoken.
They that dwell in the cities of Israel, shall go foorth and set fire vpon the weapons, and burne them, shieldes and speares, bowes & arowes, hand staues and swordes, and they shal burne them with fire seuen yeres.
So that they shall els bring no wood from the fielde, neither hew downe any out of the wood: for with weapons shal they make their fire, they shall rob those that robbed them, and spoyle those that spoyled them, sayth the Lorde God.
At the same time wil I geue vnto Gog a place to be buried in Israel, euen the valley wherethrough men go towarde the east sea: those that trauayle thereby, shall stop their noses, there shall Gog and all his multitute be buried, & it shalbe called the valley of the multitude of Gog.
Seuen monethes long shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the lande.
Yea all the people of the land shal burie them, and they shall haue a name when I shalbe glorified, sayth the Lord God.
They shall chose out men to go continually thorowe the lande, to burie as they passe through those that remayne vpon the ground, to cleanse it: after the end of seuen monethes, shall they make their searche.
And the trauaylers that passe thorowe the land, where they see a mans bone, they shal set vp a token by it, til the dead buriers haue buried it also in the valley of the multitude of Gog.
And the name of the citie shalbe called Hamonah: thus shall they make the lande cleane.
And thou sonne of man, thus sayth the Lord God: Speake vnto the birdes and all fethered foules, yea and to all the beastes of the fielde, Assemble you together, and come, gather you round about to my sacrifice that I sacrifice for you, [euen] a great sacrifice vpon the mountaynes of Israel, that ye may eate fleshe, and drinke blood.
Ye shall eate the fleshe of the valiaunt, and drinke the blood of the princes of the land, of the rammes, of the weathers, of the goates, and of the bullockes, that be all fed at Basan.
Ye shall eate the fat your belly full, and drinke blood till ye be drunken of my sacrifice, which I haue sacrificed for you.
Ye shall fil you at my table with horses & horsemen, with the valiaunt and men of warre, sayth the Lorde God.
I wil set my glorie also among the gentiles, that all the heathen may see my iudgement that I haue executed, & my hand whiche I haue layde vpon them.
And the house of Israel shall knowe that I am the Lorde their God, from that day, and so forwarde.
And the heathen shal know, that wheras the house of Israel was led into captiuitie, it was for their wickednesse sake, because they offended me: for the which cause I hyd my face from them, & deliuered them into the handes of their enemies, that they might all be slayne with the sworde.
According to their vncleanesse, & according to their transgressions haue I done vnto them, & hid my face fro{m} them.
Therefore thus sayth the Lorde God: Nowe will I bring againe the captiues of Iacob, and haue mercie vpon the whole house of Israel, and be ielous for my holy names sake,
After that they haue borne their shame, and all their transgression, wherby they haue transgressed against me when they dwelt safely in their lande, and no man to feare them:
And when I haue brought them againe from among the people, when I haue gathered them together out of their enemies landes, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations:
Then shall they knowe that I am the Lorde their God, which caused them to be led into captiuitie among the heathen, but haue gathered them againe into their owne land, and not left one of them any more there.
After that wil I hyde my face no more from them, but will powre out my spirite vpon the house of Israel, sayth the Lorde God.
IN the fyue and twentie yere of our captiuitie, in the beginning of the yere, the tenth day of the moneth, that is the fourtenth yere after the citie was smitten, the selfe same day came the hand of the Lorde vpon me, & brought me thyther:
Euen into the land of Israel brought he me in the visions of god, & set me downe vpon a marueylous hye mountayne, wherevpon there was as it had ben the buylding of a citie towarde the south.
Thyther he caried me, and behold there was a man, whose similitude was like brasse, whiche had a twisted line of flax in his hand, and a cane to measure with: and he stoode in the doore.
And that man sayde vnto me: Thou sonne of man, marke well with thyne eyes, hearken to with thyne eares, and fasten it in thy heart, whatsoeuer I shal shewe thee: for to the intent that they might be shewed thee, therfore art thou brought hyther, and whatsoeuer thou seest, thou shalt certifie the house of Israel therof.
Behold, there was a wall on the outside of the house, rounde about: the cane to measure with that he had in his hande, was sixe cubites long by the cubite & a hande breadth: So he measured the breadth of the building with one cane, and the heyght with one cane.
Then came he to the gate which loketh toward the east, and went vp the staires therof, and measured the post of the gate one cane broade, and the other post of the gate one cane broade.
And [euery] chamber was one cane long and one cane broade, and betweene the chambers were fiue cubites: and the post of the gate by the porche of the gate within, was one cane.
He measured also the porche of the gate within one cane.
Then measured he the porche of the gate eyght cubites: & the pentises therof two cubites, and the porche of the gate [was] inwarde.
And the chambers of the gate eastward, were three on this side, & three on that side: they three were of one measure, & the pentises had one measure on this side, and one measure on that side.
After this, he measured the breadth of the entrie of the gate ten cubites, and the heyght of the gate thirteene cubites.
The space also before the chambers was one cubite [on this side] and the space one cubite on that side: & the chambers sixe cubites on this side, and sixe cubites on that side.
He measured the gate from the roofe of a chamber to his owne roofe the breadth of fiue and twentie cubites: doore against doore.
He made frontes also of threescore cubites, [euen] vnto the front of the court rounde about the gate.
And from the forefront of the entrie of the gate, vnto the forefront of the gate within [were] fiftie cubites.
And there were narowe windowes in the chambers, and in the frontes within the gate rounde about: & so in the arches: and the windowes [went] rounde about within, and vpon the frontes were paulme trees.
Then brought he me into the outward court, where as were chambers, and a pauement made for the court rounde about: thirtie chambers were vpon the pauement.
And the pauement [was] by the side of the gates, ouer against the length of the gates: and the pauement [was] beneath.
Then he measured the breadth fro{m} the forefront of the lower gate without, vnto the forefront of the court within, a hundreth cubites eastwarde and northwarde.
And the gate in the outward court that loked toward the north, measured he after the length and breadth therof.
And the chambers therof [were] three on this side, and three on that side: and the frontes therof, and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fiftie cubites, and the breadth fiue and twentie cubites.
And their windowes and their arches with their paulme trees [were] after the measure of the gate that loketh toward the east: and the goyng vp vnto it [had] seuen steppes, and the arches thereof [were] before them.
And the gate of the inner court [stoode] ouer against the gate towarde the north and toward the east, and he measured from gate to gate a hundreth cubites.
After that he brought me towarde the south, where there stoode a gate towarde the south, and he measured the frontes therof and the arches therof according to those measures.
And [there were] windowes in it, and in the arches therof round about like these windowes: the length [was] fiftie cubites, & the breadth fiue and twentie cubites.
And [there were] seuen steppes at the goyng vp to it, and the arches therof before them: & it had paulme trees, one on this side, and an other on that side, vpon the front therof.
And [there was] a gate in the inner court towarde the south, and he measured from gate to gate toward the south, a hundred cubites.
So he brought me into the inner court thorowe the south gate, and he measured the south gate according to those measures.
And the chambers thereof, the frontes therof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures, and wyndowes in it: and in the arches thereof round about, fiftie cubites long, and fiue and twentie cubites broade.
And the arches round about [were] fiue and twentie cubites long, and fiue cubites broade.
And the arches therof [were] toward the vtter court, and paulme trees vpon the frontes therof, & the goyng vp to it [had] eyght steppes.
He brought me also into the inmost court toward the east, and measured the gate according to those measures.
And the chambers thereof, and frontes therof, and the arches therof [were] according to these measures, & there were windowes therin, and in the arches therof round about: it [was] fiftie cubites long, & fiue and twentie cubites broade.
And the arches therof [were] towarde the vtter court, and pauline trees vpon the frontes thereof on this side and on that side, & the goyng vp to it had eyght steppes.
And he brought me to the north gate, & measured it according to those measures.
The chambers thereof, the frontes therof, and the arches therof, and [there were] windowes therin rounde about: and the length [was] fiftie cubites, & the breadth fiue and twentie cubites.
And the frontes therof [were] towarde the vtter court, and paulme trees [were] vpon the frontes therof on this side, and on that side, and the goyng vp to it had eyght steppes.
And a chamber and the entrie thereof [was] vnder the fro{n}tes of the gates: there they washed the burnt offeringes.
And in the porche of the gate stoode two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, vpon the whiche they slue the burnt offering, and the sinne offering, and the trespasse offering.
And at the side without the steppes at the entrie of the north gate [stoode] two tables, and on the other side which was at the porche of the gate [were] two tables.
Foure tables were on this side, and foure on that side by the side of the gate, [euen] eyght tables, wherevpon they slue [their sacrifices.]
And the foure tables were of hewen stone for the burnt offring, of a cubite & a halfe long, and a cubite and a halfe broade, and one cubite hye, wherevpon were layde the instrumentes wherwith they slue the burnt offring, and the sacrifice.
And within there were hookes one hand breadth [long] fastened rounde about, and vpon the tables was the offering fleshe.
And without the inner gate [were] the chambers of the singers in the inwarde court, whiche was at the side of the north gate, and their prospect was towarde the south: and one was at the side of the east gate, hauing the prospect towarde the north.
And he sayde vnto me: This chamber, whose prospect is towarde the south, [is] for the priestes that haue charge to kepe the house.
And the chamber whose prospect is towarde the north [is] for the priestes that haue charge to kepe the aulter: these are the sonnes of Sadoc, which of the sonnes of Leui come neare to the Lorde, to minister vnto him.
So he measured the court, which had in length a hundred cubites, and a hundred in breadth, [euen] fouresquare: and the aulter stoode before the house.
And he brought me to the porche of the house, and measured the porche fiue cubites on this side, and fiue cubites on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubites on this side, and three cubites on that side.
The length of the porche was twentie cubites, the breadth eleuen cubites, and by steps went men vp to it: by the frontes also were pillers, one on this side, and another on that side.
AFter this he brought me to the temple, and measured the frontes sixe cubites broade on the one side, and sixe cubites broade on the other side, [which was] the breadth of the tabernacle.
The breadth of the doore was ten cubites, and the sides of the doore [were] fiue cubites on the one side and fiue cubites on the other syde, and he measured the length therof fourtie cubites, and the breadth twentie cubites.
Then went he in & measured the front of the doore two cubites: but the doore it selfe was sixe cubites, and the breadth on the other side of the doore was seuen cubites.
He measured the length therof twentie cubites, and the breadth twentie cubites before the temple. And he said vnto me, This is the most holy [place.]
He measured also the wall of the house sixe cubites, and the breadth of a chamber foure cubites round about the house on euery side.
And the chambers were chamber vpon chamber, three and thirtie in order: and they entred the wall whiche was of the house for the chambers rounde about, that they might be fastened, and not be fastened in the wall of the house.
Ther was an enlarging, and a winding about, mounting still vpwarde to the cha{m}bers: for the staire of the house was mounting still vpward round about the house, therfore the house was larger vpwarde: so they went vp from the lowest [chamber] to the highest by the midst.
And I saw the house hye round about: the foundatio{n}s of the chambers [were] a ful cane of sixe cubites vp to the armeholes.
The thickenesse of the wall which was for the chamber without [was] fiue cubites, and that whiche remayned was the place of the chambers that were within.
And betweene the chambers was the wydenesse of twentie cubites rounde about the house on euery side.
And the doores of the chambers were toward the place that remayned, one doore toward the north, and another toward the south: & the breadth of the place that remayned was fiue cubites rounde about.
Now the buylding that was before the separate place at the end towarde the west [was• seuentie cubites broade: and the wall of the buylding was fyue cubites thicke round about, and the length ninetie cubites.
So he measured the house, which was a hundred cubites long, and the separate place and the buylding with the walles were a hundred cubites long also.
The breadth also of the forefront of the house and of the separate place towarde the east, was a hundred cubites.
And he measured the length of the buylding ouer against the separate place which was behynde it, and the chambers on the one side & on the other side a hundreth cubites, with the temple within, and the porches of the court.
The doore postes, and the narow windowes, & the chambers round about, on three sides ouer against the doore, seeled with wood round about, and from the ground vp to the windowes: and the windowes them selues were seeled.
And from aboue the doore vnto the house within and without, and vpon euery wall rounde about within and without, [toke he] measure.
And it was made with Cherubims and paulme trees, so that a paulme tree was betweene a Cherub and a Cherub, and euery Cherub had two faces.
So that the face of a man was toward the paulme tree on the one side, and the face of a lion towarde the paulme tree on the other side: [thus] was it made through all the house rounde about.
From the ground vnto aboue the doore were Cherubims & paulme trees made: and [thus was] the wall of the temple.
The postes of the temple were foure squared, and the fashion of the sanctuarie was appearaunce lyke appearaunce.
The aulter of wood was three cubites hye, and two cubites long: the corners, the length, and the walles thereof were of wood. And he sayd vnto me, This is the table that shalbe before the Lorde.
The temple and the holiest of all had either of them two doores.
And the doores had two doores [a peece, euen] two folding doores, two for the one doore, and two doores for the other.
And vpon the doores of the temple, there were made Cherubims & paulme trees, lyke as was made vpon the walles: & thicke beames vpon the forefront of the porche without.
And [there were] narow windowes and paulme trees on the one side and on the other side, by the sides of the porche and vpon the sides of the house, and thicke beames.
THen led he me into the vtter court by the way toward the north, and he brought me into the chamber that [was] ouer against the separate place, whiche [was] before the buylding towarde the north.
Before the length of a hundred cubites [was] the north doore: and the breadth [was] fiftie cubites.
Ouer against the twentie cubites, which were for the inner court, and ouer against the pauement, which was for the vtter court, [was] chamber against chamber, three [orders.]
And before the chambers, ther was a walking place of ten cubites wyde inwarde, the way of one cubite: and their doores towarde the north.
Thus the vpper chambers were alway narower: for those chambers [seemed] to eate vp these, [to wit] the lower and the middlemer of the buylding.
For they were in three orders, but had no pillers as the pillers of the courtes: therfore were they smaller then the nethermost and the middlemost [to recken] from the grounde.
And the wall that was without ouer against the chambers, towarde the vtter court on the forefront of the chambers, the length therof was fiftie cubits.
For the length of the chambers that were in the vtter court was fyftie cubites: and lo, before the temple was a hundred cubites.
And vnder these chambers [was] the entrie from the east, as one goeth vnto them from the vtter court.
In the thicknesse of the wall of the court towarde the east before the separate place, and before the building of the chambers.
And the way before them after the appearaunce of the chambers which were toward the north, as their length, so was their breadth: and all their entries [were] according to their fashion, and according to their doores.
And according to the doores of the chambers that were toward the south, [was] a doore in the head of the way, [euen] the way directly before the wall towarde the east, as one entreth.
Then sayd he vnto me: The chambers toward the north, and the chambers towarde the south, whiche are before the separate place, those be holy chambers, wherin the priestes that approche vnto the Lorde must eate the most holy thinges, & there must they lay the most holy thinges, and the meate offring, and sinne offering, and trespasse offering: for it is a holy place.
When the priestes come therein, they shall not go out of the holy place into the vtter court, but there they shall lay vp their garmentes wherin they minister, for they are holy: & shall put on other garmentes, and so shall approche to those which are for the people.
Now when he had finished the measuring of the house within, he led me foorth toward the gate whose prospect is towarde the east, and he measured it rounde about.
He measured the east side with the measuring cane fiue hundred canes, [euen] with the measuring cane round about.
And he measured the north side fyue hundred canes, [euen] with the measuring cane round about.
The south side also measured he fiue hundred canes, by the measuring cane.
He turned about [also] to the west side, and measured fiue hundred canes, by the measuring cane.
So he measured it by the foure sides: it had a wall round about fyue hundred canes long, and fiue hundred broade, to make a separation betweene the sanctuarie, and the prophane place.
SO he brought me to the gate [euen] the gate that turneth towarde the east:
And beholde, then came the glorie of the God of Israel from out of the east, whose voyce was lyke a great noyse of waters, and the earth was lightened with his glorie.
And according to the appearaunce of the vision which I saw, [euen] according to the vision which I sawe when I came to destroy the citie: and the visions were like the visions whiche I sawe by the riuer Chebar, & I fell vpon my face.
And the glorie of the Lorde came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is towarde the east.
So a winde toke me vp, and brought me into the innermer court: and behold, the house was full of the glorie of the Lorde.
And I heard one speaking vnto me out of the house, & there stoode a man by me,
And he sayd vnto me: O thou sonne of man, this roome is my seate, & the place of my foote steppes, wheras I wil dwel among the children of Israel for euermore: so that the house of Israel shal no more defile my holy name, neither they nor their kinges thorowe their whordome, and thorowe the dead bodies of their kinges [in] their hye places.
Albeit they haue set their thresholdes by my thresholdes, and their postes by my postes, and a wal betwixt me and them, yet haue they defiled my holy name with their abominations that they haue committed: wherfore I haue consumed them in my wrath.
But nowe let them put away their whordome, and the dead bodies of their kinges out of my sight, and I will dwel among them for euermore.
Therfore O thou sonne of man, shewe thou the house of Israel this house, that they may be ashamed of their wickednesse, & measure them selues an example therat.
And if they be ashamed of all their workes, then shew them the fourme of the house and patterne thereof, the going out, the comming in, all the maner therof, yea all the ordinaunces thereof, the figures, and all the lawes thereof, and write it in their sight, that they may kepe the whole fashion thereof, and all the ordinaunces thereof, and do them.
This is the lawe of the house: Vpon the top of the mount, shall all the limits thereof be, rounde about the most holy place: lo, this is the lawe of the house.
And these are the measures of the aulter in cubites: the cubite is a cubite and a hande breadth, the botome [shalbe] a cubite, and the breadth a cubite, & the border therof by the edge thereof rounde about was one span, and this [shalbe] the height of the aulter.
And from the bottome vpon the grou{n}d vnto the lower peece [shalbe] two cubites, and the breadth one cubite: and from the litle peece to the great peece [shalbe] foure cubites, & the breadth one cubite.
The aulter was foure cubites hie, and from the aulter vpwarde stoode foure hornes.
And the aulter was twelue cubites long, and twelue cubites broade, square in the foure corners thereof.
The frame of the aulter [shalbe] fourteene cubites long, and fourteene broade in the foure square corners thereof, and the border about it shalbe halfe a cubite, and the bottome thereof [shalbe] a cubite about, and the steps thereof [shalbe] turned toward the east.
And he saide vnto me, Thou sonne of man, thus saith the Lorde God: These are the ordinaunces of the aulter, in the day when it is made, to offer burnt offeringes thereupon, & to sprinckle blood thereupon.
And thou shalt geue to the priestes, to the Leuites that be of the seede of Sadoc, and approche vnto me saith the Lord God to minister vnto me, a young bullocke for a sinne offering.
And thou shalt take of the blood therof, & put it on the foure hornes of it, and on the foure corners of the frame, and vpon the border rounde about: thus shalt thou cleanse it, and purge it.
Thou shalt take the bullocke also of the sinne offering, and burne him in the appoynted place without the sanctuary.
The seconde day, take a goate bucke without blemishe for a sinne offering, to cleanse the aulter withal, like as it was cleansed with the bullocke.
Now when thou hast made an ende of cleansing it, then offer a young bullocke without blemishe, and a ramme out of the flocke without blemishe also.
Offer them before the Lorde, and let the priestes cast salt therupon, and geue them so vnto the Lorde for a burnt offering.
Seuen dayes shalt thou prepare euery day a goate bucke for sinne, a young bullocke and a ramme of the flocke, both without blemishe shall they prepare.
Seuen dayes shall they reconcile and cleanse the aulter, and fill the place thereof.
When these dayes are expired, then vpon the eight day & so foorth, the priestes shall make your burnt offringes, and peace offringes vpon the aulter: so I wyll accept you, saith the Lorde God.
AFter this, he brought me againe to the outward gate of the sanctuarie on the east side, and that was shut.
Then saide the lorde vnto me: This gate shalbe still shut and not opened, neither shall any man go through it: for the Lorde God of Israel hath entred by it, and it shalbe shut.
It is for the prince, the prince him selfe shal sit in it to eate bread before the lord: he shal enter by the way of the porche of that gate, and shal go out by the way of the same.
Then brought he me toward the north gate before the house: and as I loked, beholde the glory of the Lorde filled the house of the Lorde, and I fell vpon my face.
So the Lorde spake vnto me: O thou sonne of man, set thyne heart, and beholde with thyne eyes, and heare with thyne eares al that I say vnto thee concerning all the ordinaunces of the house of the Lorde, and all the lawes thereof, and marke well the entring in of the house, with euery going foorth of the sanctuarie.
And thou shalt say to the rebellious [euen] to the house of Israel, thus saith the Lorde God: O house of Israel, ye haue inough of al your abhominations.
Seeing ye haue brought into my sanctuary straungers hauing vncircumcized heartes and vncircumcized fleshe, to be in my sanctuarie to pollute my house, when ye offer my bread, fat, and blood, and they haue broken my couenaunt because of all your abhominations:
And ye haue not kept the ordinaunces of my holy thinges, and ye haue set kepers to kepe my sanctuarie for you.
Therefore thus saith the Lorde God: Of al the straungers that dwell among the children of Israel, no straunger vncircumcized in heart, nor vncircumcized in fleshe, shall enter into my sanctuarie.
But the Leuites that went backe from me when Israel went astraye, which strayed from me after their idols, shal beare their iniquitie:
And they shalbe ministers in my sanctuary, and kepe the gates of the house, and minister in the house: they shall slay the burnt offeringes, and the sacrifice for the people, and they shal stand before them to serue them.
Because they serued before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquitie: therefore haue I lift vp my hande against them, saith the Lorde God, and they shal beare their iniquitie.
And they shall not come neare vnto me to do the office of a prieste vnto me, neither shall they come neare vnto any of myne holy thinges in the most holy place: but they shall beare their owne shame and abhominations which they haue done.
And I wyll make them kepers of the watch of the house for all the seruice thereof, & for al that shalbe done therin.
But the priestes, the Leuites, the sonnes of Sadoc that kept the charge of my sanctuarie when the children of Israel straied from me, shal come to me to do me seruice, to stand before me, and to offer me the fat and the blood, saith the Lorde God.
They shall go into my sanctuarie, and apropche vnto my table to do me seruice, and they shall kepe my charge.
Now when they go in at the gates of the innermer court, they shal put on linnen clothes, so that no woollen come vpon them while they do seruice vnder the gates of the innermer court, and with in.
They shall haue linnen bonnets vpon their heades, and linnen breeches vpon their loynes: they shal not gird them selues in the sweate.
And when they go foorth into the vtter court [euen] to the vtter court of the people, they shall put of the clothes wherein they haue ministred, and laye them in the chamber of the sanctuarie, and put on other apparel, and they shal not sanctifie the people with their clothes.
They shall not shaue their heades, nor suffer their here to growe long, but poule their heades onely.
21 Al the priestes that go into the inmost court shal drinke no wine.
They shall mary no widowe, neither one that is put from her husband: but a maide of the seede of the house of Israel, or a widowe that hath had a priest before.
They shall shewe my people the difference betweene the holy and vnholy, and cause them to discerne betwixt the cleane and vncleane.
And in controuersie they shall stand to iudge, and geue sentence after my iudgementes: and my lawes and my statutes shal they kepe in al my solempne feastes, and halowe my Sabbathes.
They shall come at no dead person to defile them selues: but with father or mother, sonne or daughter, brother or sister, that hath had yet no husband, may they be defiled.
And when he is cleansed, there shalbe reckened vnto him seuen dayes.
And when he goeth into the sanctuarie vnto the inner court to minister in the sanctuarie, he shal bring his sinne offring saith the Lorde.
There shalbe to them an inheritau{n}ce, [euen] I their inheritaunce: but possession shall ye geue them none in Israel, for I am their possession.
The meate offering, sinne offring, and trespasse offring shal they eate: & euery dedicate thing in Israel shalbe theirs.
And all the first of all the first borne, and euery oblation, [euen] all of euery sort of your oblations shalbe the priestes: ye shall also geue vnto the priestes the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thyne house.
But the priestes shal eate nothing that is dead [by it selfe] or torne of foule or of beaste.
WHen ye deuide the land by the lot for inheritaunce, ye shall offer an oblation to the Lorde, a holy portion of the lande, twentie and fiue thousand canes long, and ten thousand broade: this shalbe holy in all the borders thereof rounde about.
Of this part there shall belong vnto the sanctuarie fiue hundred cubites [in length] with fiue hundred [in breadth] square rounde about: and fiftie cubites rounde about for the suburbes.
And of this measure shalt thou measure, [namely] of the length of twentie & fiue thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand: and in it shalbe the sanctuarie and the most holy place.
That holy portion of the lande shall parteyne vnto the priestes which do seruice in the sanctuarie, which come neare to serue the Lorde: and it shalbe vnto them a place for their houses, and a holy place for the sanctuarie.
And in the twentie and fiue thousand length, and ten thousand breadth, shall the Leuites that minister in the house haue their possession for twentie chambers.
Ye shal geue also vnto the citie a possession of fiue thousand canes broade, and twentie and fiue thousand long, ouer against the oblation of the holy portion, that shalbe for the whole house of Israel.
And [a portion shalbe] for the prince on this side and on that side of the oblation of the holy portion, and of the possession of the citie, [euen] before the oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the citie, from the west corner westwarde, & from the east corner eastwarde: and the length shalbe by one of the portions, from the west border vnto the east border.
In this lande shalbe his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppresse my people, and [the rest] of the lande shall they geue to the house of Israel according to their tribes.
Thus saith the Lorde God, Let it suffise you O ye princes of Israel: leaue of crueltie and oppression, and execute iudgement and iustice: take away your exactions from my people, saith the lord God.
Ye shall haue a true Ballaunce, a true Ephah, and a true Bath.
The Ephah and the Bath shalbe alyke: one Bath shall containe the tenth parte of an Homer, and an Ephah the tenth part of an Homer: the equalitie thereof shalbe after the Homer.
The Sicle maketh twentie Gerrahs: & twentie Sicles, and twentie & fiue, and fifteene Sicles make a Maneh.
This is the oblation that ye shall offer: the sixt part of an Ephah out of an Homer of wheate, and the sixt part of an Ephah out of an Homer of barlye.
Concerning the ordinaunces of the oyle, [euen] of the Bath of oyle, [ye shall offer] the tenth part of a Bath out of the Cor: ten Bathes [shalbe] a Homer, because ten Bathes [fill] a Homer.
And one lambe from two hundred sheepe out of the fat pastures of Israel, for a meate offring, burnt offring, and peace offring, to reconcile them, saith the Lorde God.
All the people of the lande shall geue this oblation for the prince in Israel.
Againe, it shalbe the princes part to offer burnt offringes, meate offringes, and wine offringes, in the holy dayes, newe moones, Sabbathes, & in all the hie feastes of the house of Israel: he shal prepare the sinne offring, meate offring, burnt offring, and peace offring, to reconcile the house of Israel.
Thus saith the Lorde God: The first day of the first moneth, thou shalt take a young bullocke without blemishe, and cleanse the sanctuarie.
So the priest shall take of the blood of the sinne offring, and put it vpon the postes of the house, & vpon the foure corners of the frame of the aulter, & vpon the postes of the gate of the inner court.
And thus shalt thou do also the seuenth day of the moneth for such as haue sinned of ignoraunce, or being deceaued, to reconcile the house withall.
Vpon the fourteenth day of the first moneth, ye shall haue the passouer, a feast of seuen dayes, and ye shall eate vnleauened bread.
Vpon the same day shal the prince prepare for him selfe and all the people of the lande a bullocke for a sinne offring.
And in the seuen dayes of the feast, he shall make a burnt offring to the Lord, [euen] of seuen bullockes & seue{n} rammes without blemishe dayly, for seuen dayes, and a hee goate dayly for a sinne offring.
And he shall prepare a meate offering of an Ephah for a bullocke, & an Ephah for a ramme, and a Hin of oyle for an Ephah.
In the seuenth [moneth] in the fifteenth day of the moneth on the feast, he shall do according vnto these for seuen dayes: according to the sinne offering, according to the burnt offring, and according to the meate offring, and according to the oyle.
THus saith the Lorde God: The gate of the inner court towarde the east shalbe shut the sixe working dayes: but in the Sabbath & in the day of the new moone it shalbe opened.
And the prince shall enter by the way of the porche of the gate without, and shall stande by the poste of the gate: and the priestes shal make his burnt offring, and his peace offringes, and he shall worship at the thresholde of the gate, & go foorth: and the gate shall not be shut till the euening.
On the same maner shall the people of the lande also do their worship before the Lorde, at the doore of this gate vpon the Sabbathes, and new moones.
The burnt offring that the prince shal bring vnto the lorde vpon the Sabbath, shalbe sixe lambes without blemish, and a ramme without blemishe.
And the meate offring shalbe an Ephah for a ramme, and the meate offring for the lambes a gift of his hande, and a Hin of oyle to an Ephah.
In the day of the new moneth, [it shalbe] a young bullocke without blemishe, and sixelambes, and a ramme also without blemishe.
With the bullocke he shall geue an Ephah, & with the ramme an Ephah also for a meate offring: but to the lambes according as his hande shal take, and a Hin of oyle to an Ephah.
And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porche of that gate: he shall go foorth by the way thereof.
But when the people of the lande come before the Lorde in the hie solempne feast, as many as come in by the north gate to do worship, shal go out againe at the south gate: and they that come in at the south gate, shall go foorth againe at the north gate: there shall none returne by the gate where he came in, but shall go right foorth ouer on the other side.
And the prince he shall go in the midst of them when they go in, and so come foorth when they come foorth.
Vpon the solempne & hie feast dayes this shalbe the meate offring: an Ephah to a bullocke, & an Ephah to a ramme, and to the lambes the gift of his hande, and a Hin of oyle to an Ephah.
Nowe when the prince shall make a free burnt offring, or peace offringes freely vnto the Lord: one then shal open him the gate that turneth toward the east, and he shal make his burnt offeringes, and his peace offeringes, as he did on the Sabbath day: after he shall go foorth, and when he is gone foorth, one shall shut the gate.
Thou shalt dayly make a burnt offering vnto the Lorde of a lambe of one yere without blemishe, thou shalt do it euery morning.
Thou shalt prepare a meate offering for it euery morning, the sixt part of an Ephah, and the third part of a Hin of oyle to mingle with the fine floure: this meate offering shalbe continually by a perpetuall ordinaunce vnto the Lorde.
Thus shal they prepare the lambe, the meate offering, & oyle, euery morning, for a continuall burnt offering.
Moreouer, thus saith the Lorde God: If the prince geue a gift vnto any of his sonnes, the inheritaunce thereof shalbe his sonnes: their possession shalbe by inheritaunce.
But if he geue a gift of his inheritaunce to one of his seruauntes, then it shalbe his to the yere of libertie, and then returne to the prince: but the inheritaunce thereof is his sonnes and shalbe theirs.
The prince also shall take none of the peoples inheritaunce, nor put them from their possession: but to his sonnes shall he geue his owne possession, that my people be not scattered abrode euery man from his possession.
And he brought me through the entraunce at the side of the gate, to the holy chambers of the priestes which stoode toward the north, & beholde, there was a place vpon the west side of them.
Then saide he vnto me: This is the place where the priestes shall seethe the trespasse and sinne offringes, and bake the meate offringes: that they neede not beare them into the outward court, and to sanctifie the people.
So he brought me into the vtter court, & caused me to go by the foure corners of the court: and beholde, in euery corner of the court, there was a court.
In the foure corners of the court there were courtes ioyned, of fourtie cubites long, and thirtie broade: these foure corners were of one measure.
And there went a wall rounde about them, [euen] about those foure: and vnder the walles there were kitchins made rounde about.
Then saide he vnto me: These are the cookes houses, where the ministers of the house shall boyle the sacrifice of the people.
AFterwarde he brought me againe vnto the doore of the house, and beholde there gushed out waters from vnder the thresholde of the house eastwarde: for the forefront of the house stoode toward the east: & the waters ran downe from vnder the right side of the house, which lyeth to the aulter southwarde.
Then led he me out to the north gate, and led me about by the way without vnto the vtter gate, by the way that turneth eastward: and behold, there issued foorth waters from the right side.
Now when the man that had the line in his hande went foorth eastward, he measured a thousand cubites, and then he brought me through the waters, the waters were to the ancles.
So he measured yet a thousande, and brought me through {th}e waters, the waters were to the knees: yet measured he a thousand, and brought me through, the waters [were] to the loynes.
After this he measured a thousand againe, then was it such a riuer that I might not wade through it, the waters was risen, & the waters did flowe as a riuer that might not be waded ouer.
And he saide vnto me: Hast thou seene this O thou sonne of man? and with that he brought me and caused me to returne to the riuer banke againe.
Now when I returned, beholde at the bancke of the riuer were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
Then saide he vnto me: These waters flowe out toward the east countrey, and runne downe into the plaine, & come into the sea: which when it commeth into the sea, the waters shalbe holsome.
Yea, all that liue and moue, whereunto this riuer commeth, shall liue: and there shalbe a very great multitude of fishe, because these waters shal come thither, for they shalbe holsome: and euery thing shall liue whyther the riuer commeth.
By this riuer shall the fishers stand, from En gaddi vnto En Eglaim, and ther spreade out their nets: for their fishe shalbe according to their kindes as the fishe of the maine sea, exceeding many.
But the marishes thereof, and the pits thereof, shal not be made holsome, they shalbe made salt pits.
By this riuer vpon the bankes therof on this side and on that side shall grow all trees for meate, whose leaues shall not fade, neither shall the fruite thereof fall, but shall bring foorth newe fruite according to his monethes, for the waters thereof run out of the sanctuarie: and the fruite thereof shalbe for meate, and the leaues thereof for medicine.
Thus saith the Lorde God: Let this be the border whereby ye shall inherite the lande according to the twelue tribes of Israel, Ioseph shall haue two portions.
And ye shall inherite it one aswell as an other, concerning the which I lift vp my hande to geue it vnto your fathers: and this lande shall fall vnto you for inheritaunce.
This is the border of the lande vpon the north side, from the maine sea toward Hethlon, as men go to Zedada.
[Namely] Hamah, Berotha, Sabarim, which are betweene the borders of Damascus, and betweene the borders of Hamah, Hazar Hatichon, that lyeth vpon the coastes of Hauran.
Thus the borders from the sea foorth shalbe Hazar Enan, the border of Damascus, and the north northwarde, and the borders of Hamah: this is the north part.
The east side shall ye measure from Hauran and Damascus, from Galead and the land of Israel by Iordane, and from the border vnto the east sea: & this is the east part.
The south side shalbe toward Teman, from Thamar to the waters of strife in Cades, and the riuer to the maine sea: and that is the south part towarde Teman.
The west part also shalbe the great sea, from the borders till a man come ouer against Hamah: this is the west part.
This lande shall ye part among you according to the tribes of Israel,
And deuide it by lot to be an heritage for you, & for the straungers that dwell among you and beget children among you: for ye shall take them among the children of Israel lyke as though they were of your owne countrey, and they shall haue heritage with you among the children of Israel.
And in what tribe the straunger dwelleth, in the same tribe shall ye geue him his heritage, saith the Lorde God.
THese are {th}e names of the tribes: from the north side to the coast towarde Hethlon, till thou co{m}mest vnto Hamah and Hazar, Enan, the borders of Damascus northward, the coast of Hamah, Dan shall haue his portion from the east quarter vnto the west.
Vpon the borders of Dan, from the east side vnto the west, shall Aser haue his portion.
Vpon the borders of Aser, from the east part vnto the west, shall Nephthali haue his portion.
Vpon the borders of Nephthali, from the east quarter vnto the west, shal Manasses haue his portion.
Vpon the borders of Manasses, from the east side vnto the west, shall Ephraim haue his portion.
Vpon the borders of Ephraim, from the east part vnto the west, shall Ruben haue his portion.
Vpon the borders of Ruben, from the east quarter vnto the west, shall Iuda haue his portion.
Vpon the borders of Iuda, from the east part vnto the west part, shalbe the offering which they shall offer of fiue and twentie thousand [canes] brode, and of length as one of the partes, from the east side vnto the west side: and the sanctuarie shalbe in the midst of it.
The oblation that ye shall offer vnto the Lord, shalbe fiue and twentie thousand long, and ten thousand brode.
And for these [euen] for the priestes shalbe this holy oblation: toward the north fiue & twentie thousand [long] & toward the west ten thousand brode, towarde the east ten thousand brode also, and toward the south fiue and twentie thousand long, & the sanctuarie of the Lorde shalbe in the midst thereof.
This sanctified portion shalbe the priestes that are of the children of Sadoc, which haue kept my charge, which went not astray in the errour of the children of Israel like as the Leuites went astray.
Therefore this oblation of the lande that is offered, shalbe theirs as a thing most holy, hard vpon the borders of the Leuites.
And ouer against the border of the priestes, shall the Leuites haue fiue and twentie thousand long, & ten thousand brode: all the length shalbe fiue & twentie thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.
Of this portion they shall sell nothing, nor make any permutation thereof, nor alienate the first fruites of the lande: for it is holy vnto the Lorde.
And the fiue thousande that are left in the breadth ouer against the fiue and twentie thousand, shalbe a prophane place for the citie, for housing, & for suburbes: and the citie shalbe in the midst thereof.
And these shalbe the measures therof: the north part fiue hundred and foure thousand, and the south part fiue hundred and foure thousand, and the east part fiue hundred and foure thousand, and the west part fiue hundred & foure thousand.
The suburbes of the citie shall haue toward the north two hundred and fiftie, toward the south two hundred and fiftie, toward the east two hundred and fiftie, toward the west also two hundred and fiftie.
And the residue in length ouer against the oblation of the holy portion, shalbe ten thousand toward the east, and ten thousand toward the west: and it shalbe ouer against the oblation of the holy portion: and the encrease thereof shalbe for their meate that serue the citie.
And they that serue the citie, they shal serue it out of all the tribes of Israel.
All the oblation shalbe fiue and twentie thousand with fiue and twentie thousand: ye shall offer this oblation foure square, for the sanctuarie, and for the possession of the citie.
And the residue shalbe for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the citie ouer against the fiue and twentie thousand of the oblation toward the east border: and westward ouer against the fiue and twentie thousand towarde the west border, ouer against shalbe the portion for the prince: this shalbe the holy oblation, and the house of the sanctuarie shalbe in the midst thereof.
Moreouer, from the possession of the Leuites, and the cities possession, that which is in the midst shalbe the princes, betwixt the border of Iuda and the border of Beniamin shalbe the princes.
Nowe of the other tribes: from the east part vnto the west, shall Beniamin haue his portion.
Vpon the borders of Beniamin, from the east side vnto the west, shall Simeon haue his portion.
Vpon the borders of Simeon, from the east side vnto the west, shal Isachar haue his portion.
Vpon the borders of Isachar, from the east side vnto the west, shall Zabulon haue his portion.
Vpon the borders of Zabulon, from the east part vnto the west, shall Gad haue his portion.
Vpon the borders of Gad at the south side toward Temanah, the border shalbe from Thamar, vnto the waters of strife to Cades, and to the riuer [that runneth] into the maine sea.
This is the lande which ye shal deuide by lot for an inheritau{n}ce vnto the tribes of Israel, and these be their portions saith the Lorde God.
These be the bondes of the citie, vpon the north part fiue hundred and foure thousand measures.
The gates of the citie shal haue the names of the tribes of Israel, three gates of the north side: one gate of Ruben, another of Iuda, the third of Leui.
Vpon the east side fiue hundred and foure thousand measures, with three gates: the one of Ioseph, another of Beniamin, the third of Dan.
Vpon the south side fiue hundred and foure thousand measures, with the three gates: the one of Simeon, another of Isachar, the third of Zabulon.
And vpon the west side, fiue hundred and fiue thousand measures, with their three gates also: the one of Gad, another of Aser, the third of Nephthali.
Thus shal it haue eighteene thousand measures rounde about: and the name of the citie from that time foorth, shalbe, The Lorde is there.
IN the third yere of the raigne of Iehoachim king of Iuda, came Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon vnto Hierusalem, & besieged it.
And the Lord deliuered Iehoachim the king of Iuda into his hande, with part of the vessels of the house of God, which he caried away into the lande of Sennar to the house of his God, and he brought the vessels into his gods treasurie.
And the king spake vnto Asphenaz the chiefe chamberlaine, that he should bring him certaine of the children of Israel, of the kinges seede, and of the princes,
Springaldes without any blemishe, but well fauoured, studious in al wisdome, skilfull for knowledge, able to vtter knowledge, & such as haue liuelinesse in the{m} that they may stand in the kinges palace: & whom they might teache the learning & the toung of the Chaldeans.
Vnto these the king appoynted a dayly prouision euery day, of a portion of the kinges meate, and of the wine which he dranke, so to norishe them three yeres, that afterwarde they might stande before the king.
Among these nowe were certayne of the children of Iuda: [namely] Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias.
Vnto these the chiefe chamberlayne gaue other names, and called Daniel, Baltassar: Ananias, Sidrach: Misael, Misach: and Azarias, Abednego.
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he woulde not defile hym selfe with the portion of the kinges meate, nor with the wyne which he dranke: therefore he required the chiefe chamberlayne that he might not defile him selfe.
(And God brought Daniel into fauour and tender loue with the chiefe chamberlayne.)
And the chiefe chamberlayne sayde vnto Daniel, I am afrayde of my lord the king whiche hath appoynted you your meate and your drinke: wherfore should he see your faces worse liking then the springalds of your age, & so ye shal make me indaunger my head vnto the king.
Then Daniel sayde vnto Melassar, whom the chiefe chamberlayne had set ouer Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias:
O proue but ten dayes with thy seruauntes, and let vs haue pulse to eate, and water to drinke.
Then let our countenaunces be loked vpon before thee, and the countenaunces of the children that eate of the portion of the kinges meate: and as thou seest, deale with thy seruauntes.
So he consented to them in this matter, and proued them ten dayes.
And at the end of ten dayes, their countenaunces appeared fairer and fatter in fleshe then all the childrens which did eate the portion of the kinges meate.
Thus Melassar toke away the portion of their meate, and the wyne that they shoulde drinke, and gaue them pulse.
As for these foure children, God gaue them knowledge and vnderstanding in all learning & wysdome: also he gaue Daniel vnderstanding of all visions and dreames.
Nowe when the time was expired, that the king had appoynted to bring them in, the chiefe chamberlayne brought them before Nabuchodonozor.
And the king communed with them: but among them all were founde none such as Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: therfore stoode they before the king.
In all matters of wysdome and vnderstanding that the king enquired of them, he founde them ten times better then all the wyse men and soothsayers that were in all his realme.
And Daniel abode still vnto the first yere of king Cyrus.
IN the second yere of the raigne of Nabuchodonozor, had Nabuchodonozor a dreame, wherthorowe his spirite was troubled & his sleepe brake from him.
Then the king commaunded to cal the wise men, and soothsayers, & sorcerers, and the Chaldees, for to shew the king his dreame: So they came, & stoode before the king.
And the king sayde vnto them: I haue dreamed a dreame, and my spirite was troubled to knowe the dreame.
Vpon this the Chaldees aunswered the king in the Syrians speache, O king, God saue thy life for euer: Shewe thy seruauntes the dreame, and we shal shewe the interpretation.
The king aunswered and sayde to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone fro me: If ye will not make me vnderstand the dreame with the interpretation therof, ye shall be drawne in peeces, & your houses made a iakes.
But if ye tell me the dreame and the interpretation therof, ye shall receaue of me giftes, rewardes, and great honour, therefore shewe me the dreame and the interpretation therof.
They aunswered againe, and said: The king must shewe his seruauntes the dreame, and so shal we declare the interpretation therof.
Then the king aunswered, saying: I perceaue of a trueth that ye would redeeme the time, for so much as ye see the thing is gone fro me.
Therfore if ye wil not tel me the dreame, this is your only purpose, ye haue prepared liyng & corrupt wordes to speake before me, til the time be chaunged: therfore tell me the dreame, that I may knowe that ye can declare me the interpretation therof.
Vpon this the Chaldees gaue aunswere before the king, and sayde: There is no man vpon earth that can tell the thing which the king speaketh of, yea there is neither king, prince, nor lorde, that euer asked such thinges at a wyse man, soothsayer, or Chaldean.
For it is a rare matter that the king requireth, neither is there any that can certifie the king therof, except the gods whose dwelling is not with fleshe.
For the which cause the king was wroth with great indignation, & commaunded to destroy al the wise men at Babylon.
So the decree went foorth, and the wise men were slayne: they sought also to slay Daniel, with his companions.
Then Daniel stayed the counsell and decree with Arioch the captayne of the kinges garde, who was gone foorth to put to death the wise men of Babylon.
He aunswered and sayde vnto Arioch the kinges captayne: why is the sentence so hastie from the king? Then Arioch tolde Daniel the matter.
Vpon this went Daniel, and desired the king that he woulde geue him leysure, and that he would shewe the king the interpretation.
Then Daniel went to his house, and shewed the thing to Ananias, Misael, and Azarias, his companions:
That they shoulde beseche the God of heauen for grace in this secrete, that Daniel and his felowes, with other such as were wyse in Babylon, perished not.
Then was the secrete reuealed vnto Daniel in a vision by night: then Daniel praysed the God of heauen.
Daniel also aunswered, and said: The name of God be praysed for euer & euer: for wysdome and strength are his.
He chaungeth the times and seasons, he taketh away kinges, he setteth vp kinges: he geueth wysdome vnto the wyse, and vnderstanding to those that vnderstande.
He reuealeth the deepe & secrete thinges, he knoweth the thing that lieth in darknesse, for the light dwelleth with him.
I thanke thee and prayse thee O thou God of my fathers, that thou hast geuen me wisdome and strength, and hast shewed me now the thing that we desired of thee: for thou hast declared the kinges matter vnto vs.
Vpon this went Daniel in vnto Arioch, whom the king had ordeined to destroy the wise men at Babylon: he went and sayde thus vnto him, Destroy not the wyse men of Babylon, but bring me before the king, and I shall shewe the king the interpretation.
Then Arioch brought Daniel before the king in all the haste, and sayde thus vnto him: I haue founde a man among the children of Iuda that were brought captiues, that will declare vnto the king the interpretation.
Then aunswered the king and sayd vnto Daniel, whose name was Baltassar: Art thou able to shewe me the dreame which I haue seene, and the interpretation therof?
Daniel aunswered in the presence of the king, and sayd: As for this secrete for the whiche the king maketh inquisition, there can neither the men of vnderstanding, nor soothsayers, nor the wyse men, nor readers of destinies declare it vnto the king:
But there is a God in heauen that reuealeth secretes, & sheweth the king Nabuchodonozor what is for to come in the latter dayes. Thy dreame and that whiche thou hast seene in thyne head vpon thy bed, is this.
O king, when thou wast in thy bed, thoughtes came into thy mynde what should come hereafter: so he that is the opener of misteries, telleth thee what is for to come.
As for me, this secrete is not shewed me for any wysdome that I haue more then any other liuing: but onely that I might shew the king the interpretation, and that thou mightest knowe the thoughtes of thyne owne heart.
Thou king sawest, and beholde, there [was] a great image: this great image whose brightnesse was excellent, stoode before thee, and the fourme therof was terrible.
This images head was of fine gold, his brest and armes of siluer, his belly and his thighes of brasse.
His legges were of iron, his feete were part of iron and part of clay.
Thou beheldest it till a stone was cut without handes, which smote the image vpon his feete that were of iron & clay, and brake them to peeces.
Then was the iron, the clay, the brasse, the siluer and gold broken al together, & became like {th}e chaffe of sommer floores, and the winde caryed them away, that no place was found for them: & the stone that smote the image became a great mountayne, and filled the whole earth.
This is the dreame: and now will we shew before the king what it meaneth.
O king, thou art a king of kinges: for the God of heaue{n} hath geuen vnto thee a kingdome, power, strength, & glorie.
And in all places whersoeuer the children of men dwell, the beastes of the fielde, and the foules of the aire hath he geuen into thy hande, and hath made thee ruler in them all: thou art this head of golde.
After thee shall arise another kingdome inferior to thee, & another third kingdome shalbe of brasse, whiche shall beare rule ouer all the earth.
The fourth kingdome shalbe strong as iron: for as iron breaketh in peeces and subdueth all thinges, and as iron bruiseth all these thinges, [so] shall it breake in peeces and bruise [all].
Where as thou sawest the feete & toes, parte of potters clay & part of iron, the kingdome shalbe deuided, but there shalbe in it of the strength of the iron, for so much as thou sawest the iron mixt with the clay and earth.
And [as] the toes of the feete [were] part of iron and part of clay: [so] shal the kingdome be part strong and part broken.
And wheras thou sawest iron mixt with clay and earth, they shall mingle themselues with the seede of men, and yet not ioyne one with another, as iron will not be mixt with clay.
And in the dayes of these kinges, shall the God of heauen set vp a kingdome, which shall neuer be destroyed, and this kingdome shall not be geuen ouer to another people: but it shall breake and destroy al these kingdomes, and it shal stand for euer.
Like as thou sawest that without any handes there was cut out of the mount a stone, whiche brake the iron, the brasse, the clay, the siluer and gold in peeces: so the great God hath shewed the king what shall come to passe after this: This is a true dreame, & the interpretation of it is sure.
Then the king Nabuchodonozor fell downe vpon his face, and bowed hym selfe vnto Daniel, and commaunded to ordeine rewardes and sweete odours for hym.
The king aunswered Daniel, & sayde: Of a truth your God is a God of gods, and the Lorde of kinges, and a reuealer of secretes, seing thou couldest reueale this secrete.
So the king made Daniel a great man, and gaue him many & great giftes: he made hym ruler of all the countreys of Babylon, and the chiefe of the rulers aboue all the wyse men of Babylon.
Then Daniel made request to the king, and he set Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego ouer the charge of the prouince of Babylon: but Daniel [sate] in the kinges gate.
NAbuchodonozor {th}e king made an image of gold, whiche was threescore cubites hie, and sixe cubites thicke: he set it vp in the plaine of Dura, in the prouince of Babylon.
Then Nabuchodonozor the king sent foorth to gather together the dukes, lordes, and nobles, the iudges and officers, the deputies, and sherifes, with all the rulers of the prouinces, that they might come to the dedication of the image whiche Nabuchodonozor the king had set vp.
So the dukes, lordes, and nobles, the iudges, & officers, deputies, & sherifes, with all the rulers of the prouince, gathered them together vnto the dedicating of the image that Nabuchodonozor the king had set vp, & they stoode before the image whiche Nabuchodonozor had set vp.
Then an herald cryed a loude: To you it is commaunded O people, nations, and languages,
That whe{n} ye heare the noyse of the cornet, trumpet, harpe, shawme, psaltries, dulcimer, and al maner of instrumentes of musicke, ye fall downe and worship that golden image that Nabuchodonozor the king hath set vp.
Whoso then falleth not downe & worshippeth, shall euen the same houre be cast into the mids of a hot firie fornace.
Therfore when all the folke heard the noyse of the cornet, trumpet, harpe, shawme, psaltries, and al instrumentes of musicke, then all the people, nations, and languages fell downe and worshipped the golden image that Nabuchodonozor the king had set vp.
Nowe were there certayne men of the Chaldees, that went euen then, and cried out an accusation of the Iewes.
They spake, and sayde vnto the king Nabuchodonozor: O king, liue for euer.
Thou O king, hast made a decree, that euery man that shall heare the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harpe, shawme, psaltries, dulcimer, & all instrumentes of musicke, shall fall downe and worship the golden image:
And who so then fel not downe, & worshipped not, that he shoulde be cast into the mids of an hot firie fornace.
Now are there certayne Iewes, whom thou hast set ouer the charge of the prouince of Babylon: [namely] Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego: these men, O king, regarded not thy commaundement: yea they will not serue thy gods, nor worship the golden image that thou hast set vp.
Then Nabuchodonozor in his anger and wrath commaunded that Sidrach, Misach, & Abednego should be brought vnto hym: so these men were brought before the king.
Then Nabuchodonozor spake vnto them, and sayde: Is it true, O Sidrach, Misach, & Abednego, will not you serue my gods, nor worship the golden image that I haue set vp?
Nowe therfore be redy when ye heare the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harpe, shawme, psaltries, dulcimers, and al instrumentes of musicke, to fal downe and worship the image whiche I haue made: for if ye worship it not, ye shalbe cast immediatly into the mids of a hot firie fornace: for who is that God that can deliuer you out of my handes?
Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego aunswered the king, and sayd: O Nabuchodonozor, we are not carefull to aunswere thee in this matter:
Beholde, our God whom we serue, is able to deliuer vs from the hot firie fornace: and he wil deliuer vs out of thy hande O king.
And though he will not, yet shalt thou knowe O king, that we will not serue thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set vp.
Then was Nabuchodonozor full of indignation, so that the countenaunce of his face chaunged vpon Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego: therefore he charged and commaunded that they should heate the fornace, one seuen tunes more then it was wont to be heat.
And he charged the most valiaunt men of warre that were in his armie, to bind Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the hot firie fornace.
So these men were bounde in their coates, hosen, head attire, with their other garmentes, and cast into the mids of the hot firie fornace.
Therefore, because the kinges commaundement was straite, & the fornace was exceeding hot, the men that put in Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego, the flamble of the fire destroyed them.
And these three men Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego, fel downe in the mids of the hot firie fornace bounde.
Then Nabuchodonozor the king was astonied, & rose vp in all haste: he spake vnto his counsel, and sayd, Dyd not we cast three men bounde into the mids of the fire? They aunswered and sayde vnto the king: It is true, O king.
He aunswered & sayde: Lo, I see foure men loose, walking in the mids of {th}e fire, and they haue no hurt: and the fourme of the fourth is like the sonne of God.
Vpon this went Nabuchodonozor vnto the mouth of the hot firie fornace, he spake also, and sayd: O Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego, ye seruauntes of the hye God, go foorth, and come hyther, And so Sidrach, Misach, & Abednego came foorth of the mids of the fire.
Then the dukes, lordes, and nobles, and the kinges counsel, came together to see these men, vpon whom the fire had no maner of power in their bodies: in so much that the very heere of their head was not burnt, and their clothes vnchaunged, yea there was no smell of fire felt vpon them.
Then spake Nabuchodonozor, and sayde: Blessed be the God of Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego, which hast sent his angel, and deliuered his seruauntes that put their trust in him, and haue altered the kinges commaundement, and ieoparded their bodies, rather then they would serue or worship any God, except their owne God onely.
Therfore I make a decree, that euery people, nation, & language, which speake any blasphemie against the God of Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego, shalbe drawen in peeces, and their houses shalbe made a iakes: because there is no God that can deliuer after this sort.
So the king promoted Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego, in the prouince of Babylon.
NAbuchodonozor king, vnto all people, natio{n}s, and languages that dwel vpon the whole earth, peace be multiplied among you.
I thought it good to shewe the signes & marueylous workes that the hie God hath wrought vpo{n} me.
O how great are his signes, and howe mightie are his wonders? his kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome, & his dominion is fro{m} generation to generation.
I Nabuchodonozor beyng at rest in my house, and florishing in my palace,
Sawe a dreame, whiche made me afrayde, and the thoughtes vpon my bed, with the visio{n}s of my head, troubled me.
Therfore made I a decree, that they shoulde bring all the wyse men of Babylon before me, that they might declare vnto me the interpretatio{n} of the dreame.
So came the wyse men, the soothsayers, the Chaldeans, and wisardes: to whom I tolde the dreame, but they coulde not shewe me the interpretation therof.
Till at the last Daniel came before me (whose name was Baltassar, according to the name of my God) which hath the spirite of the holy gods in hym, & before him I tolde the dreame, saying:
O Baltassar, thou prince of wyse men, forsomuch as I knowe that thou hast the spirite of the holy gods, & no secrete troubleth thee: tell me therefore the visions of my dreame that I haue seene, and the interpretation therof.
Thus were the visions of my head vpon my bed: And behold, I saw a tree in the mids of the earth, and the heyght therof was great,
A great tree and strong, and the heyght therof reached vnto the heauen, and the sight thereof to the endes of all the earth.
The leaues therof were fayre, and the fruite therof much, and in it was meate for all: the beastes of the fielde had shadowes vnder it, and the foules of the aire dwelt in the bowes therof: al fleshe fed of it.
I sawe in the visions of my head vpon my bed, and beholde a watcher and a holy one came downe from heauen,
And cryed mightily, saying thus: Hew downe the tree, breake of his braunches, shake of his leaues, & scatter his fruite abroade: that the beastes may get them away from vnder hym, and the foules from his braunches.
Neuerthelesse, leaue the stumpe of his rootes still in the earth, and with a band of iron and brasse [binde it] among the grasse of the fielde, & let it be wet with the deawe of heauen, and let his portion be with the beastes among the grasse of the fielde.
Let his heart be chaunged from mans [nature] and let a beastes heart be geued vnto hym, and let seuen times be passed ouer hym.
This sentence [is] according to the decree of the watchers, and the request according to the word of the holy ones: because liuing men should knowe that the hyghest hath power ouer the kingdome of men, and geueth it to whom it liketh hym, and setteth vp ouer it the basest among men.
This is the dreame that I king Nabuchodonozor haue seene: therfore thou, O Baltassar, declare the interpretation therof, forsomuch as al the wyse men of my kingdome are not able to shewe me what it meaneth: but thou caust do it, for the spirite of the holy gods is in thee.
Then Daniel, whose name was Baltassar, held his peace by the space of one houre, and his thoughtes troubled him. So the king spake, and sayde, O Baltassar, let neither the dreame nor the interpretation thereof trouble thee. Baltassar aunswered, saying: O my Lord, this dreame be to them that hate thee, & the interpretation therof to thyne aduersaries.
As for the tree that thou sawest, which was great and mightie, whose heyght reached vnto the heauen, and the sight therof through all the world,
Whose leaues were fayre, and the fruite therof much, and in it was meate for all: vnder the which the beastes of the fielde had their habitation, and vpon whose braunches the foules of the aire did sit:
It is thou, O king, whiche art great and mightie, for thy greatnesse increaseth, & reacheth vnto the heauen, so doth thy dominion to the endes of the earth.
But wheras the king saw a watcher, and a holy one that came downe from heauen, and sayd, Hewe downe the tree, & destroy it, yet leaue the stumpe of the rootes therof in the earth, and with a band of iron & brasse binde it among the grasse of the fielde, & let it be wet with the dewe of the heauen, and let his portion be with the beastes of the fielde, till seuen times passe ouer him:
This O king is the interpretation, yea it is {th}e very decree of hym that is hyghest of al, and it toucheth my lord the king.
Thou shalt be cast out from men, and thy dwelling shalbe with the beastes of the fielde: with grasse shalt thou be fed like oxen, thou must be wet with the deawe of the heauen, yea seue{n} times shall passe ouer thee, till thou knowe that the hyghest hath power ouer the kingdome of men, & geueth it to whom he list.
Moreouer, where as it was sayd, that the stumpe of the roote of the tree should be left still: it betokeneth, that thy kingdome shall remayne whole vnto thee, after thou hast learned to knowe that the power commeth from heauen.
Wherfore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable vnto thee, and breake of thy sinnes by righteousnesse, and thyne iniquities by mercie towarde the poore: lo, let there be a healing of thyne errour.
All these thinges touche the king Nabuchodonozor.
So after twelue monethes, the king walked in the palace of the kingdome of Babylon.
And the king spake, & sayd: Is not this great Babylon that I haue buylt for the house of the kingdome by the might of my power, and for the honour of my maiestie?
Whyle these wordes were yet in the kinges mouth, there fell a voyce from heauen, saying: O king Nabuchodonozor, to thee be it spoken, Thy kingdome is departed from thee,
And thou shalt be cast out of mens companie, thy dwelling shalbe with the beastes of the fielde: so that thou shalt eate grasse like oxen, and seuen times shal passe ouer thee, vntil thou knowest that the hyghest hath power vpon the kingdome of men, and geueth it vnto whom it pleaseth hym.
The very same houre was this matter fulfilled vpon Nabuchodonozor, so that he was cast out of mens companie, & did eate grasse like oxen, and his body was wet with the deawe of heauen, till his heeres were growen as Egles [fethers] and his nayles like byrdes clawes.
When this time was past, I Nabuchodonozor lift vp myne eyes vnto heauen, and mine vnderstanding was restored vnto me: then gaue I thankes vnto the highest, I magnified & praysed hym that liueth for euermore, whose power is an euerlasting power, and his kingdome is from one generatio{n} to another.
And all they that dwel vpon the earth, are to be reputed as nothing, and according to his will he worketh in the armie of heauen, among the inhabitours of the earth: and there is none that may resist his hand, or say vnto him, what doest thou?
At the same time was myne vnderstanding geuen me againe, and I was [restored] to the honour of my kingdome, my glorie and my beautie was restored vnto me, & my counsellers and princes sought vnto me, and I was established in my kingdome, & my glorie was augmented towarde me.
Now therfore I Nabuchodonozor prayse, and extol, & magnifie the king of heauen, whose workes are all trueth, & his wayes iudgement, and those that walke in pryde he is able to abase.
KIng Balthasar made a great feast to a thousand of his princes, and dranke wine before the thousande.
And Balthasar when he had tasted the wine, commaunded to bring hym the golden and siluer vessels, whiche his father Nabuchodonozor had brought from the temple in Hierusalem, that the king and his princes, and his wyues, and his concubines, might drinke therin.
So were brought the golde{n} vessels that they had taken out of the temple of the Lordes house at Hierusalem: and the king, and his princes, his wyues, and his concubines drunke in them.
They drunke wine, & praysed the gods of golde, siluer, brasse, iron, wood, and stone.
In the very same houre there appeared fingers of a mans hande wryting right ouer against the candlesticke vpon the plaster of the wall of the kinges palace, and the king sawe the knockles of the hande that wrote.
Then chaunged the king his countenaunce, & his thoughtes troubled hym, so that the ioyntes of his loynes were loosed, and his knees smote one against the other.
Wherfore the king cryed mightyly, that they should bring the soothsayers, Chaldees, & wysardes: the king spake also to the wise men of Babylon, & said, Who so can reade this wryting, & shewe me the interpretation thereof, shalbe clothed with purple, and haue a cheyne of golde about his necke, and shalbe the third ruler in the kingdome.
Vpon this came al the kinges wise men, but they coulde neither reade the wryting, nor shewe the king the interpretation.
Then was king Balthasar greatly troubled, and his countenaunce was chaunged in him, and his princes were astonied.
Nowe the queene by reason of the talke of the king & his princes, came into the banket house: and the queene spake, and sayde, O king, lyue for euer: let not thy thoughtes trouble thee, and let not thy countenaunce be chaunged.
There is a man in thy kingdome that hath the spirite of the holy Gods within him: & in the dayes of thy father, light, and vnderstanding, & wysdome, like the wysedome of the gods, was founde in hym, whom the king Nabuchodonozor thy father, the king [I say] thy father made chiefe of the wyse men, soothsayers, Chaldeans, and wysardes.
Because that such an aboundaunt spirite, knowledge, and vnderstanding, to expound dreames, to open secretes, & to declare harde doubtes, was founde in him, yea euen in Daniel, whom the king named Baltassar: let Daniel be called, and he shal declare the interpretation.
Then was Daniel brought before the king: so the king spake vnto Daniel, and sayde, Art thou that Daniel, whiche art of the children of the captiuitie of Iuda, whom my father the king brought out of Iurie?
I haue hearde of thee, that thou hast the spirite of the holy gods, & that light and vnderstanding, and excellent wysdome is founde in thee.
Now haue there ben brought before me wyse men and soothsayers to reade this wryting, and to shewe me the interpretation therof: but they could not declare the interpretation of the thing.
Then hearde I of thee that thou couldest shewe interpretations, and dissolue doubtes: nowe if thou canst reade his writing, & shew me the meaning therof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and haue a cheyne of gold about thy necke, & be the thirde ruler in the kingdome.
Then Daniel aunswered, and sayd before the king, As for thy rewardes, kepe them to thy selfe, and geue thy giftes to another: yet I wil reade the writing vnto the king, and shewe him the interpretation.
O thou king, the most high god gaue vnto Nabuchodonozor thy father a kingdome, and maiestie, and honour, & glorie.
And for the maiestie that he gaue him, al people, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: he slue whom he would, he smote whom it pleased him: againe, whom he would he set vp, and whom he list he put downe.
But because his heart was loftie, and his minde strengthened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they toke his glory from him.
He was driuen out from the sonnes of men, his heart was made lyke the beastes, and his dwelling was with the wilde Asses, they fed him with grasse lyke Oxen, and his body was wet with the deawe of the heauen, till he knewe that the most hie God bare rule ouer the kingdome of men, and that he appoynteth ouer it whom so euer he pleaseth.
And thou his sonne, O Balthasar, hast not submitted thyne heart, though thou knewest all these thinges:
But hast lift vp thy selfe against the Lorde of heauen, so that the vessels of his house were brought before thee, that thou and thy princes, with thy wyues and concubines, might drinke wine thereout: and thou hast praysed the gods of siluer and golde, of brasse and iron, of wood and stone, which neither see, heare, nor vnderstand: As for the God in whose hande consisteth thy breath and all thy wayes, thou hast not glorified him.
Then was the knockles of the hand sent from him, and hath written this writing.
And this the writing that he hath writte{n}: MENE MENE, THECEL, VPHARSIN.
Now the interpretation of the thing is this: MENE, God hath numbred thy kingdome, and brought it to an ende.
THECEL, thou art wayed in the balau{n}ce, and art founde wanting.
PHERES, thy kingdome is deuided, and geuen to the Medes, and Perses.
Then commaunded Balthasar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and a chayne of golde about is necke, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdome.
The very same night was Balthasar the king of the Chaldees slaine.
And Darius of the Medes toke the kingdome, being threescore & two yeres of age.
IT pleased Darius to set ouer his kingdome a hundred and twentie gouernours, which should be ouer the whole kingdome.
Aboue these he set three princes, of whom Daniel was one, that the gouernours might geue accomptes vnto them, and the king shoulde haue no damage.
Nowe this Daniel was preferred aboue the princes and gouerners, for the spirite of God was plenteous in him: so that the king was minded to set him ouer the whole realme.
Wherfore the rulers and gouernours sought an occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdome, but they coulde finde none occasion nor fault: for he was so faithfull, that there was no blame nor fault founde in him.
Then saide these men, We shall finde none occasion against this Daniel, except we finde it against him concerning the lawe of his God.
Vpon this went the princes and lordes together vnto the king, and saide this vnto him: King Darius, liue for euer.
All the rulers of thy kingdome, the officers and gouernours, the counsellers and dukes, haue consulted together to make a decree for the king, & to establish a statute, That who so desireth any petition either of any god or man within these thirtie dayes, except of thee O king, he shalbe cast into the lions denne.
Now O king confirme the decree, and seale the writing, that it be not chaunged according to the lawe of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
Wherefore king Darius sealed the writing and decree.
Now when Daniel vnderstoode that he had sealed the writing, he went into his house, and the windowes of his chamber towarde Hierusalem stoode open, there kneeled he downe vpon his knees three times a day, he made his petition, and praysed his God, as he dyd afore time.
Then these men assembled and found Daniel making his petition, and praying vnto his God.
So they came to the king, & spake before him concerning his co{m}maundement, saying: O king, hast thou not sealed the decree, that within thirtie dayes whoso requireth his petition of any God or man, but onely of thy selfe O king, he shalbe cast into the denne of lions? The king aunswered and said, Yea it is true, according to the lawe of the Medes and Perses that altereth not.
Then aunswered they, and saide vnto the king: This Daniel which is of the children of the captiuitie of Iuda, O king, regardeth neither thee, nor thy decree that thou hast sealed: but maketh his petition three times a day.
When the king heard these wordes, he was sore displeased with him selfe, and set his heart on Daniel to deliuer him, and he laboured till the sonne went downe, to deliuer him.
Then these men assembled vnto the king, and said vnto him: Knowe this O king, that the lawe of the Medes & Perses [is] that the commaundement & statute which the king maketh, may not be altered.
Then the king commaunded, and they brought Daniel, and they cast him into the lions denne. Nowe the king spake vnto Daniel, & saide: Thy God whom thou alway seruest, euen he wyll deliuer thee.
And there was brought a stone, & laide vpon {th}e mouth of the denne, this the king sealed with his owne ring and with the signet of his princes, that the purpose concerning Daniel should not be chaunged.
So the king went into his palace, and remayned fasting, neither was there any instrumentes of musicke brought in before him, & his sleepe went from him.
But betimes in the morning at the breake of the day, the king arose, & went in all haste vnto the denne of the lions.
Now as he came nye vnto the denne, he cryed with a pitious voyce vnto Daniel, yea the king speake and saide vnto Daniel: O Daniel, thou seruau{n}t of the liuing God, is not thy God whom thou seruest alway, able to deliuer thee from {th}e lions?
Then Daniel saide vnto the king: O king, liue for euer.
My God hath sent his angel, which hath shut the lions mouthes, so that they might not hurt me, for myne vngiltinesse is founde out before him: and as for thee O king, I neuer offended thee.
Then was the king exceeding glad for him, & commaunded to take Daniel out of {th}e denne: So Daniel was brought out of {th}e denne, & no maner of hurt was founde vpon him, for he put his trust in his God.
And as for those men which had accused Daniel, the king commaunded to bring them, & to cast them into the lions denne, them, their children, & their wyues: so the lions had the maisterie of them, and brake all their bones asunder or euer they came at the grounde of the denne.
After this, wrote king Darius vnto al people, nations, & tongues that dwelt in all landes: Peace be multiplied vnto you.
My commaundement is in all my dominion and kingdome, that men feare and stand in awe of Daniels God: for he is the liuing God which abideth euer, his kindgome shall not fayle, and his power is euerlasting.
It is he that deliuereth and saueth, he doth wonders and marueylous workes in heauen and in earth, he hath preserued Daniel from the power of the lions.
So this Daniel prospered in the raigne of Darius, and in the raigne of Cyrus of Persia.
IN the first yere of Balthasar king of Babylon, sawe Daniel a dreame, & there were visions in his head vpon his head: which dreame he wrote, & declared the summe of the matter,
Daniel spake and saide: I sawe in my vision by night, and beholde, the foure windes of heauen stroue vpon the great sea,
And foure great beastes came vp from the sea, one diuers from another.
The first was as a lion, and had Egles winges: I beheld till his winges were pluckt from him, and he lifted vp from the earth, & set vpon his feete like a man, & there was geuen him a mans heart.
Behold an other beast, [which was] the second, was lyke a beare, and stoode vpon the one side: betwixt his teeth in his mouth he had three ribbes, and it was saide vnto him thus: Arise, eate vp much fleshe.
Then I loked, and beholde, there was another lyke vnto a leopard, this had winges as a foule, euen foure vpon the backe: this beast had foure heads, and there was power geuen him.
After this I saw in a vision by night, & beholde, the fourth beast was grimme and horrible, and marueylous strong▪ it had great iron teeth, it deuoured & destroyed, & stamped the residue vnder his feete, it was vnlike {th}e other beastes that were before it, for it had ten hornes.
As I considered the hornes, beholde, there came vp among them another little horne, before whom there were three of the first hornes pluckt away: and behold, this horne had eyes lyke the eyes of a man, & a mouth speaking presumptuous thinges.
I behelde till the thrones were set vp, & the auncient of dayes did sit: whose garment was white as snowe, and the heeres of his head lyke the pure wooll: his throne was like the firie flambe, and his wheeles as burning fire.
There issued foorth a firie streame, and went out from before him: a thousand thousandes ministred vnto him, and ten thousand thousandes stoode before him: the iudgement was set, & the bookes opened.
Then toke I heede therunto, because of the voyce of the proude words which the horne spake: I behelde till the beast was slaine, and his body destroyed, and geuen to be brent in the fire.
As concerning the other beastes, they had their dominion taken away, but their liues were prolonged for a certaine time and season.
I saw in visions by night, and behold there came one in the cloudes of heauen, lyke the sonne of man: which went vnto the au{n}cient of dayes, before whom they brought him.
And he gaue him dominion & honour, and a kingdome, that al people, nations, and languages should serue him: his dominion is an euerlasting dominion which shall neuer be taken away, and his kingdome shall neuer be destroyed.
I Daniel was troubled in my spirite in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head made me afrayde.
I gate me vnto one of them that stoode by, and asked him the trueth concerning all these thinges: so he tolde me, and made me vnderstand the interpretation of these thinges.
These great beastes which are foure, are foure kinges which shall arise out of the earth:
But the high saintes shall receaue a kingdome, and possesse a kingdome for euer, euen for euer and euer.
After this, I required to knowe the trueth concerning {th}e fourth beast, which was so vnlyke the other beastes, and so horrible, whose teeth were of iron, and his nayles of brasse, which deuoured and destroyed, and stamped the residue vnder his feete:
[I desired] also [to knowe the trueth] as touching the ten hornes that he had vpon his head, and this other which came vp afterwarde, before whose face there fell downe three, which horne had eyes and a mouth that spake presumptuous thinges, and loked with a grimmer visage then his felowes.
I behelde, and the same horne made battaile against the sainctes, yea & preuayled against them.
Vntil the auncient of dayes came that the iudgement was geuen to the high sainctes, and till the time came that the sainctes had the kingdome in possession.
He gaue me this aunswer: That fourth beast, shalbe the fourth kingdome vpon earth, it shalbe vnlike to all the kingdomes: it shall deuour, treade downe, and destroy all other landes.
The ten hornes, are ten kinges that shall arise out of that kingdome: after whom there shall stande vp another, which shalbe vnlike to the first, and he shall subdue three kinges:
And he shall speake wordes against the highest of all, he shall destroy the high sainctes, and thinke that he may chaunge times and lawes: they shalbe geuen into his hande vntill a time, and times, and the deuiding of a time.
But the iudgement shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it vnto the ende.
And the kingdome and dominion, & the greatnes of the kingdome vnder the whole heaue{n}, shalbe geuen to the people of high sainctes, whose kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome, and all powers shal serue and obey it.
Hitherto the ende of the wordes: I Daniel had many cogitations [which] troubled me, & my cou{n}tenau{n}ce chaunged in me: but the wordes I kept still in my heart.
IN the third yere of the raigne of king Balthasar, there appeared a vision vnto me [euen] vnto me Daniel, after that which I had seene in the beginning.
I saw in a vision (and when I saw it, I was in the palace of Susis, which is in the prouince of Elam) and in the vision me thought I was by the riuer of Vlai.
Then I loked vp and saw, & beholde, there stoode before the riuer a ramme which had two hornes: and these two hornes were hye, but one was hyer then the other, & the hyest came vp last.
I saw that this ramme pushed with his hornes against the west, against the north, and against the south: so that no beastes might stand before him, nor defend them from his power, but he did as him lifted, and became great.
And as I considered, beholde there came a hee goate from the west, ouer the whole earth, and touched not the grounde: and this goate had a horne appeared betwixt his eyes.
And he came vnto the ramme that had the two hornes (whom I had seene standing by the riuer) and ranne fiercely vpon him with his might.
And I sawe him drawe nye vnto the ramme, being very fierce vpon him, yea he smote the ramme and brake his two hornes, neither had the ramme so much strength as to stande before him: but he cast him downe to the grounde, trode him vnder his feete, & there was none able to deliuer the ramme out of his power.
Therefore the goate waxed exceeding great, & when he was at the strongest, his great horne was broken: Then grew there other foure notable ones in the steade of it, towarde the foure windes of the heauen.
And out of one of them came foorth a litle horne, which waxed very great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the pleasaunt lande.
It grewe vp vnto the hoast of heauen, whereof it did cast some downe to the grounde, and of the starres also, and trode them vnder foote.
Yea, it grewe vp against the prince of the hoast, from whom the dayly [sacrifice] was taken away, and the places of his sanctuarie caste downe.
And power was geuen vnto it ouer the dayly [sacrifice] for the iniquitie, and it shall cast downe the trueth to the grounde: and thus shall it do, and prosper.
Vpon this, I heard one of the sainctes speaking, and one of the sainctes spake vnto Palmoni, saying: how long shal the vision of the dayly [sacrifice] and of the iniquitie of desolation [endure,] to geue both the sanctuarie and the power to be troden vnder foote?
And he aunswered me: Vnto the euening and the morning, two thousand and three hundred: then shal the sanctuarie be cleansed.
Now when I Daniel had seene this vision, and sought for the vnderstanding of it: beholde, there stoode before me like the similitude of a man.
And I heard a mans voyce betweene Vlai, which cryed, and saide: O Gabriel make this man vnderstande the vision.
So he came and stoode by me: but I was afraide at his comming, and fell downe vpo{n} my face: Then said he vnto me, Vnderstand O thou sonne of man: for at the time of the ende this vision [shalbe.]
Now as he was speaking vnto me, I fell in a slumber vpon my face to the grounde: but he touched me, and set me vp in my place.
And he saide, Beholde, I wyll shewe thee what shalbe in the last wrath: for in the time appoynted it shalbe fulfilled.
The ramme which thou sawest hauing two hornes, is the king of the Medes and Perses,
And the goate, is the king of Grecia: and the great horne that is betwixt his eyes, that is the first king.
But where as it brake, & foure other rose vp in the steade: [it signifieth,] that out of this people shall stande vp foure kingdomes, but not so mightie as it.
And in the ende of their kingdome, when the wicked are come to the full, a king of a fierce countenaunce, and vnderstanding harde sentences, shall stand vp.
His power shalbe mightie, but not in his strength, & he shall destroy wonderfully, he shall prosper & practise, and destroy the mightie and the holy people.
And through his policie also he shall cause craft to prosper in his handes, he shall extoll him selfe in his heart, and in prosperitie he shall destroy many, & many one shalbe put to death in his wealthinesse: he shall stande vp against the prince of princes, but he shalbe destroyed without hande.
And the vision of the euening and the morning, which is declared, is true: therfore seale thou vp the vision, for it shalbe after many dayes.
Vpon this was I Daniel feeble, so that I lay sicke [certaine] dayes: but when I rose vp, I went about {th}e kinges busines, and was astonied at the vision, neuerthelesse, no man vnderstoode it.
IN the first yere of Darius the sonne of Ahasuerus, which was of the seede of the Medes, & was made king ouer the realme of the Chaldees,
Euen in the first yere of his raigne, I Daniel vnderstoode by bookes the number of the yeres, wherof the Lorde spake vnto Ieremie the prophete, that he woulde accomplishe seuentie yeres in the desolation of Hierusalem.
And I turned my face vnto the Lord God, and sought by prayer and supplication, with fasting, sackcloth, and asshes.
I prayed vnto the Lorde my God, & made my confession, saying: O Lorde God, great and fearefull, which kepeth couenaunt and mercie with them that loue him and kepe his commaundementes:
We haue sinned and haue committed iniquitie, and haue done wickedly, yea we haue rebelled, & haue departed from thy preceptes, & from thy iudgementes.
We woulde not obey thy seruauntes the prophetes, that spake in thy name to our kinges and princes, to our forefathers, and to all the people of the lande.
O Lorde, righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee, vnto vs open shame, as is come to passe this day vnto euery man of Iuda, and to them that dwel at Hierusalem, yea vnto all Israel, whether they be farre or nye throughout all the landes whither thou hast driuen them, because of their offences that they haue done against thee.
Yea O Lorde, vnto vs, to our kinges & princes, to our forefathers that haue offended thee, belongeth open shame.
Vnto the Lorde our God pertayneth compassion and forgeuenesse, though we haue rebelled against him.
And we haue not obeyed the voyce of the Lorde our God, to walke in his lawes which he layde before vs, by the hande of his seruauntes the prophetes.
Yea all Israel haue transgressed and gone backe from thy lawe, so that they haue not hearkened vnto thy voyce: wherefore the curse and oth that is written in the lawe of Moyses the seruaunt of God, against whom we haue offended, is poured vpon vs.
And he hath confirmed his wordes, which he spake against vs and against our iudges that iudged vs, to bring vpon vs such a great plague as neuer was vnder heauen, lyke as it is now come to passe in Hierusalem.
Yea, all this plague as it is written in the lawe of Moyses, is come vpon vs: yet made we not our prayers before the Lorde our God, that we might turne againe from our wickednes, and vnderstand thy trueth.
Therfore hath the Lord watched vpon the plague, and brought it vpon vs: for the Lorde our God is righteous in all his workes which he doth: for we would not hearken vnto his voyce.
And now O Lord our God, thou that with a mightie hande hast brought thy people out of the lande of Egypt to get thy selfe a name, which remayneth this day, we haue sinned, we haue done wickedly.
O Lorde, according to all thy righteousnes, I beseche thee let thyne anger and thy wrath be turned away from thy citie of Hierusalem, thy holy hill: for because of our sinnes, and for the wickednesse of our fathers, Hierusalem and thy people are a reproche to all them that are about vs.
Now therefore O our God heare the prayer of thy seruaunt, and his intercession: O let thy face shine ouer thy sanctuarie that lyeth waste, for the Lordes sake.
O my God, encline thyne eare & hearken, open thyne eyes, beholde howe we be desolated, yea and the citie also which is called after thy name: for we do not present our prayers before thee in our owne righteousnes, but in thy great mercies.
O Lorde heare, O forgeue Lorde, O Lorde consider and do it, defer not, for thyne owne sake O my God: because thy name is called vpon thy citie, & vpon thy people.
As I was yet a speaking at my prayers, knowledging myne owne sinnes & the sinnes of my people Israel, presenting so myne intercession before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God:
Yea, while I was yet speaking in my prayer, the man Gabriel (whom I had seene afore in the vision) came fleeing, & touched me about the time of the euening oblation:
And he enfourmed me, & talked with me, and saide: O Daniel, I am nowe come foorth to geue thee knowledge & vnderstanding.
At the beginning of thy supplications, the commaundement came foorth, and I am come to shewe thee, for thou art greatly beloued: therefore vnderstande the matter and consider the vision.
Seue{n}tie weekes are determined ouer thy people, & ouer thy holy citie, to finish the wickednes, and to seale vp {th}e sinnes, and to reconcile the iniquitie, & to bring in euerlasting righteousnes, to seale vp the vision and prophecie, & to annoynt the most holy.
Knowe therfore and vnderstand, that from the going foorth of the commau{n}dement, to bring againe the [people] and to builde Hierusalem, vnto Messiah the prince, there shalbe seuen weekes and threescore and two weekes: and the streete shalbe built againe, and the wall, [euen] in the straitnes of time.
After these threescore & two weekes shall Messiah be slaine, & not for him selfe: and the people of the prince that shal come, shall destroy the citie and the sanctuarie, and the ende thereof shalbe with a fludde, and vnto the ende of the battel it shalbe destroyed by desolatio{n}s.
He shall confirme the couenaunt with many for one weeke, and in the midst of the weeke he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to ceasse, and for the ouerspreading of the abhominations, he shal make it desolate, [euen] vntil the consummation determined shalbe powred vpon the desolate.
IN the third yere of Cyrus king of Persia, there was shewed vnto Daniel, otherwyse called Baltassar, a matter, yea a true matter, but it is yet a long time vnto it: he vnderstoode the matter, and perceaued what the vision was.
At the same time, I Daniel mourned for the space of three weekes of dayes.
I ate no pleasaunt bread, as for flesh and wine there came none within my mouth: no, I did not once annoynt my selfe till the whole three weekes of dayes were fulfilled.
Vpon the foure & twentith day of the first moneth, I was by the side of that great riuer, [euen] Hiddekel.
I lift vp myne eyes, and loked: and beholde a man clothed in linnen, whose loynes were girded vp with fine golde of Vphaz.
His body was lyke the thurkis stone, his face to loke vpon was lyke lightening, his eyes as lampes of fire, his armes and feete were lyke in colour to pullished brasse, and the voyce of his wordes was lyke the voyce of a multitude.
And I Daniel alone sawe this vision, for the men that were with me saw not the vision: but a great fearefulnes fell vpon them, so that they fled away and hid them selues.
Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remayned no strength in me: for my colour was turned in me into corruption, and I reteyned no strength.
Yet heard I the voyce of his wordes: and when I heard the voyce of his words, I fell astonied vpon my face and my face toward the earth.
And beholde a hande touched me, which set me vp vpon my knees, and vpon the paulmes of my handes.
And he saide vnto me: O Daniel, thou welbeloued man, take good heede to the wordes that I say vnto thee, and stand in thy place: for vnto thee am I nowe sent. And when he had said these words vnto me, I stoode vp trembling.
Then saide he vnto me, Feare not Daniel: for since the first day that thou didst set thyne heart to vnderstand, and to chasten thy selfe before thy God, thy wordes were hearde, and I am come for thy wordes.
But the prince of the kingdome of Persia withstoode me one and twentie dayes: but lo, Michael one of the chiefe princes came to helpe me, & I remained there by the kinges of Persia.
And I am come to shew thee what shall come vnto thy people in the latter dayes: for it wyll be long yet or the vision be fulfilled.
Now whe{n} he had spoken these words vnto me, I cast downe my head to the grounde, and held my tongue.
And beholde, there touched my lippes one very lyke vnto a man: then opened I my mouth and spake, and saide vnto him that stoode before me, O my lorde, by the vision my ioyntes are turned out of [their] place, and I haue reteyned no strength.
For howe can the seruaunt of this my Lorde, talke with my Lorde [being] such a one? And as for me, straight way there remayned no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
Then there came againe and touched me one lyke the appearaunce of a man, and he strengthened me:
And saide, O man greatly beloued feare not, peace be vnto thee, be strong and of good courage. So when he had spoken vnto me, I was strengthened and saide, Speake on my Lorde: for thou hast strengthened me.
Thus saide he: Knowest thou wherefore I am come vnto thee? now wyll I returne to fight with the prince of the Perses: assoone as I go foorth, lo, the prince of Greke lande shall come.
Neuerthelesse, I wyll shew thee that that is noted in the scripture of trueth: and there is none that helpeth me in these thinges, but Michael your prince.
ANd in the first yere of Darius of Media I stoode to comfort him and to strength him.
And nowe wyll I shewe thee the trueth: Behold, there shall stand vp yet three kinges in Persia, but the fourth shalbe farre richer then they all: and by his strength & by his richesse he shall stirre vp all against the realme of Greke lande.
Then shall there arise yet a mightie king, that shal rule with great dominion, and do what him list.
And when he shal stand vp, his kingdome shalbe broken, & shalbe deuided toward the foure windes of the heauen, and not toward his posteritie, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdome shalbe pluckt vp, euen for others besides these.
And the king of the south shalbe mightie, and [one] of his princes, and he shall preuayle against him, and beare rule: his dominion shalbe a great dominion.
And in the ende of yeres, they shalbe ioyned together, & the kinges daughter of the south shall come to the kyng of the north for to make an agreement, but she shall not retayne the power of the arme, neither shall he continue nor his arme: but she shalbe deliuered [to death] and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that comforted her in these tunes.
But out of the bud of her rootes, shal one stande vp in his steede, whiche shall come with an armie, and shall enter into the fortresse of the kyng of the north, and do with them [as he list] and shall preuayle.
And shall also cary captiues into Egypt their gods, with their molten images, with their pretious vessels of siluer and of gold, and he shall continue more yeres then the kyng of the north.
So the kyng of the south shall come into his kyngdome, and shall returne into his owne lande.
Wherfore his sonnes shalbe styrred vp, and shall gather together a mightie great hoast of people, & one shal come and ouerflowe and passe through: then shall he turne agayne and be stirred vp at his fortresse.
Then {th}e king of the south shalbe angry, and shal come foorth to fight with him [euen] with the king of the north, for he shall set foorth a great multitude, & the multitude shalbe geuen into his hande.
Then the multitude shalbe proude, and their heartes shalbe lifted vp, for he shall cast downe thousandes: but he shall not still preuayle.
For the kyng of the north shall returne, and shal set foorth a greater multitude then afore, and shall come foorth (after certayne yeres) with a mightie armie and great riches.
And at the same time there shal manye stande vp against the kyng of the south▪ so that the seditious chyldren of thy people also shall exalt them selues to establishe the vision, but they shal fal.
So the kyng of the north shal come & cast vp amount, & take the strong cities: and the armes of the south shall not resist, neither his chosen people, neither shal there be any strength to withstand.
And when he commeth, he shall handle him as he list, and no man shal stand against him: he shall stande in the pleasaunt lande, whiche by his hande shal be consumed.
Agayne, he shall set his face to enter with the power of his whole kyngdome, and his confederates with hym, thus shall he do: and he shall geue hym the daughter of women to destroy her, but she shall not stande [on his side] neither before hym.
After this shall he turne his face vnto the iles, and shall take many: but a prince shall cause his shame to light vpon him, beside that, he shall cause his owne shame to turne vpon him selfe.
For he shal turne his face toward the fortes of his owne lande: but he shalbe ouerthrowen and fall, and be no more founde.
Then shall stande vp in his place a rayser of taxes [in] the glory of the kingdome, & after a fewe dayes he shalbe destroyed, neither in wrath nor in battel.
In his steede there shal stande vp a vyle person, to whom they shal not geue the honour of the kingdome: but he shall come in peaceably and obtaine the kingdome with flatteries.
And the armes shalbe ouerflowed with a flud before hym, and shalbe broken, & also the prince of the couenaunt.
And after the leage made with him, he shall worke deceiptfully: for he shall come vp, and ouercome with a small people.
He shal enter into the quiet and plentifull prouince, and he shal do that which his fathers haue not done, nor his fathers fathers: he shall deuide among them the pray, and the spoyle, and the substaunce, yea and he shall forecast his deuices against the strong holdes [euen] for a tyme.
Also his power & heart shall he stirre vp with a great armie against the kyng of the south, the kyng of the south shalbe moued vnto battayle with a great and a mightie hoast also: neuerthelesse he shal not stande, for they shall forecast deuices against him.
Yea they that feede of the portion of his meate, shal destroy him, and his armie shall ouerflowe, and many shall fall and be slaine.
These two kinges hartes shalbe to do mischiefe, & they shall talke of deceipt at one table, but it shal not prosper, for yet the ende shalbe at {th}e time appointed.
Then shall he go home agayne into his lande with great substaunce, and set his heart against the holy couenaunt, so shall he do, and returne to his owne lande.
At the tyme appointed he shall come agayne, and go towarde the south: but the last shall not be as the first.
For the ships of Chithim shall come against him, therfore he shalbe sorie, and returne, and fret against the holy couenaunt: so shall he do, he shall [euen] returne and haue intelligence with them that forsake the holy couenaunt.
And armes shall stande on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuarie of strength, and shall take away the dayly [sacrifice] and they shall set vp the abhominable desolation.
And such as wickedly breake the couenaunt, shall he cause to sinne by flatterie: but the people that knowe their God, shall preuayle and prosper.
Those also that haue vnderstanding among the people, shall enfourme the multitude, and for a long season thei shall fall with sworde, with fire, with captiuitie, and with the taking away of their goodes.
Nowe when they shall fall, they shalbe holpen with a litle helpe, but many shall cleaue vnto them faynedly.
Yea some of those that haue vnderstanding shall fall, that they may be tryed, purified, and made whyte, tyll the tyme be out: for there is a tyme appointed.
And a kyng shall do what hym list, he shall exalt and magnifie hym selfe against al that is God, yea he shal speake marueylous thinges against the God of Gods, and he shall prosper tyll the wrath be fulfilled: for the determination is made.
He shall not regarde the God of his fathers, nor the desires of women, yea he shall not care for any God: for he shall magnifie him selfe aboue all.
But in his place shall he honour the God Mauzzim, and the God whom his fathers knewe not, shall he honour with golde and siluer, with pretious stones and pleasaunt thinges.
Thus shall he do in the holdes of Mauzzim with a straunge God whom he shall acknowledge, he shall encrease his glory, & shal cause them to rule ouer many, & shall deuide the land for gayne.
And at the ende of tyme shall the king of the south pushe at hym, & the king of the north shall come against him lyke a whirlewind, with charets, horsemen, and with many shippes: he shall enter into the countreys, and shall ouerflowe and passe through.
He shall enter also into the pleasaunt land, and many countreys shalbe ouerthrowen: but these shall escape out of his hande [euen] Edom and Moab, and the chiefe of the chyldren of Ammon.
He shall stretche foorth his hande also vpon the countreys, and the lande of Egypt shall not escape.
But he shall haue power ouer the treasures of golde and of siluer, & ouer all the pretious thinges of Egypt, and of the Libyans and Ethiopians in his passing [by them.]
Neuerthelesse, the tidinges out of the east and the north shall trouble him, therfore he shal go foorth with great wrath, to destroy and roote out many.
And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace betweene the seas, in the glorious and holy mountaine: yet he shall come to his ende, & none shal helpe him.
AND at that tyme shal Michael stande vp, the great prince, which standeth for the chyldren of thy people: for there shalbe a tyme of trouble, suche as neuer was since there began to be a nation, vnto that same tyme: and at that tyme thy people shalbe deliuered euery one that shalbe found written in the booke.
And many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth, shal awake, some to euerlasting life, & some to shame & perpetuall contempt.
They that be wyse, shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament: and they that turne many to righteousnesse, as the starres for euer and euer.
But thou O Daniel shut vp the wordes, and seale the booke till the time of the ende: many shall go about here and there, and knowledge shalbe encreased.
Then I Daniel looked, and beholde there stoode other two, the one on this side of the banke of the riuer, and the other on that side of the banke of the riuer.
And [one] sayde vnto the man clothed in linnen, whiche was ouer the waters of the riuer, When shal the ende of these wonders be?
And I hearde the man clothed in linnen, which was ouer the waters of the riuer, when he held vp his right hand and his left hande vnto heauen, and sware by hym that liueth for euer, that [it shall tary] for a tyme, tymes, and a halfe: and when he shall haue accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these thinges shalbe finished.
Then I hearde it, but I vnderstoode it not: then sayde I, O my Lord, what shall be the ende of these thinges?
And he saide, Go thy way Daniel, for the wordes are closed vp and sealed tyll the tyme of the ende.
Many shalbe purified, made white, and tryed: but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shal haue vnderstanding, but the wyse shall vnderstande.
And from the tyme that the dayly [sacrifice] shalbe taken away, and the abhominable desolation set vp, there shalbe a thousande two hundred, and ninetie dayes.
Blessed is he that wayteth and commeth to the thousande, three hundred, and fiue and thirtie dayes.
But go thou thy way tyll the ende be, for thou shalt rest, and stande vp in thy lot at the ende of the dayes.
THE worde of the Lorde came vnto Osea the sonne of Beeri, in the dayes of Ozea, Ioathan, Ahas, and Hezekias, kynges of Iuda, and in the tyme of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas kyng of Israel.
When the Lord spake first vnto Osea, he sayd vnto hym: Go, take vnto thee a wife of fornications, and chyldren of fornications: for the lande hath committed great fornication [departing] from the Lorde.
So he went and toke Gomer the daughter of Deblaim: whiche conceaued and bare him a sonne.
And the Lorde sayde vnto hym, Call his name Iezrahel: for I wyll shortlye auenge the blood of Iezrahel vpon the house of Iehu, and wyll bryng the kyngdome of the house of Israel to an ende.
And in that day wyll I also breake the bowe of Israel, in the valley of Iezrahel.
And she conceaued agayne, and bare a daughter: and [the Lorde] sayde vnto hym, Call her name Loruhamah [that is, not obtayning mercy] for I wyll no more haue pitie vpon the house of Israel, but I wyll vtterly take them away.
Yet I wyll haue mercy vpon the house of Iuda, and wil saue them, euen thorowe the Lorde their God: and wil not saue them by bowe, sworde, battell, horses, or horsemen.
Nowe when she had wayned Loruhamah, she conceaued againe, and bare a sonne.
Then sayd he, Call his name Loammi [that is, not my people]: for ye are not my people, therefore I wyll not be your [God.]
Yet the number of the chyldren of Israel shalbe as the sand of the sea, which can neither be measured nor tolde: and in the place where it was sayde vnto them, Ye are not my people: it shall be saide vnto them, Ye are the chyldren of the liuing God.
Then shall the children of Iuda and the chyldren of Israel be gathered together, and appoynt them selues one head, and they shall come vp out of the lande: for great shalbe the day of Iezrahel.
TEll your brethren that they are my people, and your sisterne, that they haue obtayned mercy.
As for your mother, ye shall chyde with her and reproue her, for she is not my wyfe, neither am I her husbande: let her therefore put away her whordome from her face, and her adulterie from her brestes:
Lest I strip her naked, and set her euen as she came into the worlde, and make her as a wyldernesse, and as a drye lande, and slay her for thyrste.
And I wyll haue no pitie vpon her chyldren: for they be the children of fornication.
Their mother hath played the harlot, and she that bare them is come to confusion: for she sayde, I wyll go after my louers, that geue me my bread and my water, my wooll and flaxe, my oyle and my drinke.
Therefore beholde, I wyll stop thy way with thornes, and make a hedge, that she shall not finde her pathes.
And though she runne after her louers, yet shall she not ouertake them: she shall seeke them, but not finde them. Then shall she say, I wyll go and returne to my first husbande: for at that tyme it was better with me then nowe.
And she dyd not knowe that I gaue her corne, and wine, and oyle, and multiplied her siluer and golde, which they bestowed on Baal.
Therefore wyll I returne and take away my corne in the tyme thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and fet agayne my wooll and my flaxe [whiche I gaue her] to couer her shame.
And nowe wyll I discouer her shame [euen] in the sight of her louers, and no man shall deliuer her out of my handes.
Moreouer, I wyll take away all her myrth, her holy dayes, her newe moones, her Sabbathes, and all her solempne feastes.
I wyll destroy her vineyardes and figtrees, whereof she sayde: These are my rewardes that my louers haue geuen me, I wyll make them as a wood, and wylde beastes shall eate them vp.
I wyll visite vpon her the dayes of Baal wherein she burned incense to hym, and decked her selfe with eareringes and iewels, she folowed her louers, and forgate me saith the Lorde.
Wherefore beholde, I wyll allure her and bryng her into the wildernesse, and speake frendly vnto her.
From thence wyll I geue her her vineyardes agayne, yea and the valley of Achor for an entry of hope: and she shall sing there as in the dayes of her youth, and as in the day when she came vp out of the lande of Egypt.
And at that day (saith the Lord) thou shalt call me, O my husbande, and shalt call me no more Baal.
For I wyll take away those names of Baal from her mouth, yea she shall neuer remember their names any more.
Then wyll I make a couenaunt for them, with the beastes of the fielde, with the foules of the ayre, and with euery thing that creepeth vpon the earth: As for bowe, sworde, and battayle, I wyll destroy out of the lande, and wyll make them to sleepe safely.
And I wyll marry thee vnto myne owne selfe for euer, yea euen to my selfe wyll I marry thee in righteousnes, in iudgement, in louing kindnesse and mercy.
In faythfulnesse also wyll I marry thee vnto my selfe, and thou shalt know the Lorde.
At the same tyme wyll I shewe my selfe gratious vnto the heauens saith the Lorde, and the heauens shall helpe the earth:
And the earth shall helpe the corne, wine, and oyle: and they shall helpe Iezrahel.
And I wyll sowe her for my selfe in the earth, and wyll haue mercy vpon her that had not obtayned mercy: And to them whiche were not my people, I wyll say, Thou art my people: and they shall say, Thou art my God.
THen sayd the Lorde to me: Go yet and loue a woman beloued of her husbande, and yet an adultresse, according to the loue of the Lorde towarde the chyldren of Israel: and yet they haue respect to straunge gods, and loue the wine pottes.
So I gat her for fifteene siluerlinges, and for an homer and an halfe of barley.
And sayde vnto her: Thou shalt bide with me a long season, thou shalt not play the harlot, thou shalt be to no oother man, and I wyll be so vnto thee.
For the chyldren of Israel shall sit a great whyle without kyng, without prince, without sacrifice, without image, without Ephod, and without Theraphim.
But afterward the chyldren of Israel shalbe conuerted and seeke the Lord their God, and Dauid their kyng, and in the latter dayes they shall worship the Lorde, and his louing kindnesse.
HEare the worde of the Lorde O ye chyldren of Israel, for the Lord hath a controuersie with the inhabitauntes of the lande: for there is no trueth, there is no mercy, there is no knowledge of God in the lande.
But swearing, lying, manslaughter, theft, and adulterie, hath gotten the ouer hande, and one bloodgiltinesse foloweth another.
Therfore shall the lande mourne, and all they that dwell therein shalbe rooted out, the beastes of the fielde, the foules of the ayre, and the fisshes in the sea, shalbe consumed.
Yet let no man rebuke or reproue another, for thy people [are] as they that are at controuersie with the priest.
Therefore shalt thou fall in the day tyme, and the prophete with thee in the night, and I wyll bryng thy mother to destruction.
My people perishe for lacke of knowledge: because thou hast refused knowledge, therfore wyll I refuse thee also, so that thou shalt no more be my priest: and forsomuche as thou hast forgotten the lawe of thy God, I wyll also forget thy chyldren.
The more they increased in multitude, the more they sinned against me, [therfore] wyll I chaunge their honour into shame.
They eate vp the sinnes of my people, and encourage them in their wickednesse.
Thus the priest is become lyke the people: Wherfore I wyll punishe them for their wicked wayes, and rewarde them according to their owne imaginations.
They shal eate and not haue inough, they haue vsed whordome, but shall not prosper, they haue forsaken the Lorde, and not regarded him.
Whordome, wine, and newe wine, take the heart away.
My people aske counsell at their stockes, and their staffe teacheth them: for the spirite of fornication hath caused [them] to go astray, and they haue committed fornication against their God.
They make sacrifices vpon the tops of the mountaines, and burne their incense vpon the hilles, yea vnder the okes, poplars, and elmes, for there are good shadowes: therfore your daughters are become harlots, and your spouses haue broken their wedlocke.
I wyll not punishe your daughters for beyng defiled, and your spouses that became whoores: seeing the fathers themselues haue medled with harlots, and sacrificed with whoores: but the people that wyll not vnderstande, must be punished.
Though thou Israel play the harlot, yet let not Iuda sinne, come not ye vnto Gilgal, neither go ye to Bethauen, neither sweare ye, The Lorde liueth.
For Israel is rebellious like an vnrulye heyffer: nowe the Lorde wyll feede them as a lambe in a large place.
Ephraim [is become] partaker of idols, let hym alone.
Their drunkennesse stinketh, they haue committed whordome: their rulers loue [to say] with shame, Bryng ye.
The winde hath bounde them vp in her winges, and they shall be ashamed of their sacrifices.
O Ye priestes heare this, take heede O thou housholde of Israel, geue eare O thou house of the king, for iudgement [is] against you, because you are become as a snare on Mizphah, and a spread net vpon the mount of Thabor.
They kyll sacrifices by heapes, and turne farre from the Lord, and I haue ben a rebuker of them all.
I knowe Ephraim well inough, and Israel is not hid fro me: for nowe O Ephraim thou art become an harlot, and Israel is defiled.
They wyll not geue their myndes to turne vnto their God: for the spirite of fornication [is] in the middest of them, and they haue not knowen the Lorde.
And the pryde of Israel doth testifie to his face: therefore both Israel and Ephraim shal fal for their wickednesse, and Iuda with them also.
They shall come with their sheepe and bullockes to seeke the Lorde, but they shall not finde hym: for he is gone from them.
They haue transgressed against the Lorde, and brought vp bastarde chyldren: a moneth therefore shall deuour them, with their portions.
Blowe with the shawmes at Gibea, and with the trumpet in Ramah, crye out at Bethauen, after thee O Beniamin.
In the tyme of the plague shall Ephraim be layde waste: in the tribes of Israel haue I shewed the trueth.
The princes of Iuda haue ben lyke them that remoue the lande markes: therefore wyll I powre out my wrath vpon them like water.
Ephraim is oppressed and broken in iudgement, because he wyllyngly folowed the commaundement.
Therefore wyll I be vnto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Iuda as a caterpiller.
When Ephraim sawe his sicknesse, and Iuda his disease, Ephraim went vnto Assur, and sent vnto kyng Iareb, yet coulde not he helpe you, nor ease you of your payne.
I wyll be vnto Ephraim as a lion, and as a lions whelpe to the house of Iuda: I [euen] I wyll spoyle, and go my away: I wyll take away, and no man shall rescue.
I wyll go and returne to my place, tyll they knowledge that they haue sinned and seeke me. In their aduersitie they shall early seeke me.
COme, let vs turne agayne to the Lorde: for he hath smitten vs, and he shall heale vs, he hath wounded vs, and he shall binde vs vp agayne.
After two dayes shall he quicken vs, in the thirde day he shall rayse vs vp, so that we shall liue in his sight.
Then shall we haue vnderstanding, and endeuour our selues to knowe the Lord: he shal go foorth as the spring of the day, & come vnto vs as the rayne, and as the latter rayne vnto the earth.
O Ephraim, what shall I do vnto thee? O Iuda, howe shall I intreate thee? for your goodnesse is lyke a morning cloude, & like a deawe that goeth early away.
Therfore haue I cut downe the prophetes, and let them be slayne for my wordes sake, so that thy punishment shall come to light.
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice: and the knowledge of God more then burnt offeringes.
But euen like as Adam did, so haue they broken my couenaunt, and set me at naught.
Gilead is a citie of wicked doers, and [is] polluted with blood.
And as theeues [armed] wayte for him that passeth by the way: suche is the counsell of the priestes, which with one agreed counsell murther cruelly suche as kepe the way, yea they dare do all vnspeakable mischiefe.
Horrible thinges haue I seene in the house of Israel: there is the fornication of Ephraim, and Israel is defiled.
Yea, and thou Iuda kepest an haruest for thy selfe, when I returne the captiuitie of my people.
WHen I vndertoke to make Israel whole, then the vngraciousnesse of Ephraim, and the wickednes of Samaria came to light, for thei go about with lyes, therfore the theefe robbeth within, and the spoyler destroyeth without.
They consider not in their heartes that I remember al their wickednesse: Nowe their owne inuentions haue beset them, whiche I see well inough.
They make the kyng glad with their wickednesse, and the princes with their lyes.
All these burne in adulterie, as it were an ouen that the baker heateth when he hath left kneading, tyll the dowe be leauened.
[This is] the day of our kyng, the princes haue made hym sicke with bottels of wine, he hath stretched out his hande to scorners.
For whyles they lye in wayte, they haue made redye their heart lyke an ouen, their baker sleepeth all night, in the morning it burneth as a flambe of fire.
They are altogether as hotte as an ouen, and haue deuoured their owne iudges, all their kinges are fallen, yet is there none of them that calleth vpon me.
Ephraim hath mixt him selfe among [heathen] people, Ephraim is become like a cake that no man turneth.
Straungers haue deuoured his strength, and he regardeth it not: he waxeth full of gray heeres, yet wyll he not knowe it.
And the pryde of Israel testifieth to his face, yet wyll they not turne to the Lorde their God, nor seeke hym for all this.
Ephraim is like a doue that is begyled and hath no heart: nowe call they vpon the Egyptians, now go they to the Assyrians.
But whyle they be goyng here and there I shal spreade my net ouer them, and drawe them downe as the foules of the ayre: and according as they haue ben warned, so wyll I punishe them.
Wo be vnto them, for they haue forsaken me, they must be destroyed, for they haue set me at naught: I am he that hath redeemed them, yet haue they spoken lyes agaynst me.
They call not vpon me with their heartes, but lye howlyng vpon their beddes: they wyll assemble them selues for corne and wine, but rebel against me.
I haue bounde [vp] and strengthened their arme: yet do they imagine mischiefe agaynst me.
They turne them selues, but not to the most hyest, and are become as a broken bowe, their princes shalbe slayne with the sworde for the malice of their tongues: this shalbe their derision in the lande of Egypt.
SEt the trumpet to thy mouth, [swiftly] as an Egle [shall the enemie come] agaynst the house of the Lorde: for they haue broken my couenaunt, and transgressed my lawe.
Israel shoulde haue sayde vnto me: Thou art my God, we knowe thee.
But he hath refused the thyng that is good, therfore shall the enemie pursue him.
They haue ordeyned kinges, but not through me, they haue made princes, and I knewe it not: of their siluer and golde haue they made them idols, therfore shall they be destroyed.
Thy Calfe O Samaria hath cast thee of, for my wrathfull indignation is gone foorth agaynst them: howe long wyll they be without innocencie?
For [the calfe] came from Israel, the workman made it, therfore can it be no God: but euen in peeces shall the calfe of Samaria be broken.
They haue sowen winde, therfore shall they reape a whirlewinde: it hath no stalke, the bud shall bryng foorth no meale: and if haplie it do, straungers shall deuour it vp.
Israel is deuoured, nowe shall they be among the gentiles as a vessell of no reputation.
For they haue gone vp to Assyria [and are as] a wilde asse solitarie by him selfe: Ephraim hath hired louers.
And though they haue hired them among the heathen, yet nowe wyll I gather them, and they shall begyn to be weery with the burthen of the king and the prince.
Ephraim hath made many aulters to do wickednesse, his aulters [I say] he had to his sinne.
I haue written to them the great thinges of my lawe, [but] they are counted as a straunge thing.
They sacrifice fleshe for the sacrifice of mine offeringes, & eate it, [but] the Lord hath no pleasure in it: nowe wyll he remember their iniquitie, and visite their sinnes, they shall returne into Egypt.
For Israel hath forgotten him that made him, & hath builded faire palaces, and Iuda hath encreased strong cities: but I wyll sende a fire into their cities, and it shall consume their palaces.
DO not thou triumph O Israel, make no boastyng ouer ioyous thinges as do the heathen: for thou hast committed adulterie agaynst thy God, whorishe rewardes hast thou loued more then all the corne floores.
The corne floore and the wine presse shall not feede them: and the newe wine shall fayle them.
They shall not dwell in the Lordes lande, but Ephraim shall turne agayne into Egypt, and eate vncleane thinges among the Assyrians.
They powre out no wine for a drynke offeryng vnto the Lorde, neither shall their slayne offeringes be pleasaunt vnto him, they shalbe vnto them as the bread of mourners, all they that eate shalbe defiled: for their bread for their soules shall not come into the house of the Lorde.
What wyll ye do then in the solempne day, and in the feast day of the Lorde?
For beholde they are gone away for destruction, [but] Egypt shall gather them, and Memphis shall bury them: the nettles shall possesse the pleasaunt [places] of their siluer, thornes shalbe in their tabernacles.
The dayes of visitation are come, the dayes of recompence are come: and then shall Israel knowe that they were deceaued by a foolishe, mad, & franticke prophete: for the multitude of thine iniquitie [God] shall multiplie enemies agaynst thee.
The watchman of Ephraim [was] with my God [but] the prophete [is] the snare of a fouler in all his wayes, and an abhomination in the house of his God.
They haue gone to the bottome, they are corrupt as in the dayes of Gibea: [therfore] he wyll remember their iniquitie, and visite their sinnes.
I founde Israel like grapes in the wildernesse, & sawe their fathers as the first ripe in {th}e figge tree at her first season: but they went to Baal Peor, & seperated them selues to that shame, and became as abhominable as their louers.
Ephraim their glorie shall flee away like a birde: for birth, for wombe, and conception.
And though they bryng vp children, yet I wyll destroy them before they be men: Yea wo shall come to them when I depart from them.
Ephraim (as me thinke) is planted in a pleasaunt place, like as is Tyrus: but nowe must she bryng her owne children foorth to the manslayer.
O Lorde geue them: what shalt thou geue them? Geue them an vnfruitfull wombe, and drye breastes.
All their wickednesse is done at Gilgall, there do I abhorre them: for the vngratiousnesse of their owne inuentions I wyll driue them out of my house, I wyll loue them no more, for all their princes are vnfaithfull.
Ephraim is hewen downe, their roote is dried vp, so that they shall bryng no more fruite: yea and though they bryng foorth any, yet wyll I slay euen the best beloued of their body.
My God shall cast them away, for they haue not ben obedient vnto him, therfore shall they wander among the heathen.
ISrael [is] an emptie vine, [yet] hath it brought foorth fruite to it selfe, accordyng to the multitude of the fruite therof he hath encreased alwayes: accordyng to the goodnesse of their lande they haue made them faire images.
Their heart is deuided, [therfore] shall they nowe be destroyed, [the Lorde] shall breake downe their images, he shall destroy their aulters.
For nowe shall they say, We haue no king, because we haue not feared the Lorde: and what shoulde then a king do to vs?
They haue spoken wordes, swearyng falslye in makyng a couenaunt: thus iudgement groweth as wormewood in the furrowes of the fielde.
They that dwell in Samaria shall feare because of the Calfe of Bethauen, for the people therof shall mourne ouer it, yea and the priestes also reioyced on it for the glorie therof, because it is departed from it.
It shalbe brought to the Assyrian for a present to the king Iareb: Ephraim shall receaue shame, and Israel shalbe confounded for his owne imaginations.
Samaria with his king shall vanishe away, as the fome vpon the water.
The hye places of Auen where Israel doth sinne shalbe destroyed, thistles and thornes shal growe vpon their aulters: then shall they say to the mountaynes, Couer vs, & to the hylles, Fall vpon vs.
O Israel, thou hast sinned from the dayes of Gabaa: there they stoode, the battayle in Gabaa agaynst the children of iniquitie did not touche them.
It is my desire that I shoulde chastise them: and the people shalbe gathered agaynst them, when they shall ioyne them selues together in their two furrowes.
And Ephraim [is as] an heyffer vsed to delyte in treadyng out the corne: but I wyll passe by her faire necke, I wyll make Ephraim to ride: Iuda shall plowe, [and] Iacob shall breake his cloddes.
Sowe to your selues in righteousnesse, and reape the fruites of well doyng, plowe vp your freshe lande: for it is tyme to seeke the Lorde tyll he come and rayne righteousnesse vpon you.
For you haue plowed vngodlinesse, ye haue reaped iniquitie, you haue eaten the fruite of lyes, because thou puttest thy confidence in thine owne wayes, and leanest to the multitude of thy strong men.
There shall growe a sedition among thy people, all thy strong cities shalbe layde waste, euen as Salma destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battayle, where the mother with the children were dasshed in peeces.
Euen so shall Bethel do vnto you because of your malitious wickednesse: in a mornyng shall the king of Israel be destroyed.
WHEN Israel was young, I loued him, and called my sonne out of the lande of Egypt.
They called them [but] they went thus from them: they sacrificed vnto Baal, and burned incense to images.
I gaue to Ephraim one to leade him, who shoulde beare him in his armes: but they knew not that I healed them.
I led them with cordes of a man [euen] with bandes of loue: and I was to them as he that taketh of the yoke from their iawes, and I layde meate to them.
He shall no more returne into Egypt, but Asshur shalbe his king, because he refused to conuert.
Therfore shall the sworde fall on his cities, & shall consume his braunches, and deuour them, because of their owne counsayles.
And my people shall stande in a doubt whither to turne them: for when the [prophetes] called them to the most hyest, not one yet woulde geue him his glorie.
Howe shall I geue thee vp Ephraim? [howe] shal I deliuer thee Israel? howe shall I make thee as Adama? [howe] shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentinges are kindled within me.
I wyll not execute the fiercenesse of my wrath, I wyl not returne to destroy Ephraim: for I am God and not man, the holy one in the middest of thee, and I wyll not enter into the citie.
They shall walke after the Lorde, he shall rore like a lion: when he shall rore, then the children of the west shall feare.
They shall feare a as sparowe out of Egypt, and as a doue out of the lande of Asshur, and I wyll place them in their houses, saith the Lorde.
Ephraim compasseth me about with lyes, & the house of Israel with deceipt: but Iuda yet ruleth with God, and is faithfull with the saintes.
EPhraim is fed with the wynde, & foloweth after the east winde, he dayly encreaseth lyes & destruction, they be confederate with the Assyrians, their oyle is caryed into Egypt.
The Lorde hath a controuersie with Iuda, and wyll visite Iacob accordyng to his wayes, accordyng to their owne inuentions wyll he recompence them.
He toke his brother by the heele when he was yet in his mothers wombe, and in his strength he wrestled with God:
He stroue with the angel and gat the victorie, he wept and prayed to him: he founde him at Bethel, and there he spake with vs.
Yea the Lorde God of hoastes, euen the Lorde himselfe remembred him.
Therfore turne to thy God, kepe mercie and iudgement, and hope styll in thy God.
[He is] Chanaan, the ballaunces of deceipt are in his hande, he loueth to oppresse.
And Ephraim hath sayde, Tushe I am riche, I haue good enough: in all my workes shall not one iniquitie be founde wherin I haue offended.
Yet am I the Lorde thy God from the lande of Egypt, I wyll yet make thee dwell in the tabernacles as in the hye feast dayes.
I haue spoken through the prophetes, and haue multiplied visions, & shewed similitudes by the ministerie of the prophetes.
In Galaad is iniquitie, they are fallen to vanitie: at Gilgal they haue sacrificed oxen, & their aulters are as heapes in the furrowes of the fielde.
Iacob fled into the lande of Syria, and Israel serued for a wife, and for a wife he kept [sheepe.]
By a prophete the Lorde brought them out of Egypt, and by a prophete was he preserued.
But Ephraim hath prouoked him to displeasure through his abhominations, therfore shall his blood be powred vpon him selfe, and the Lorde his God shall rewarde him his blasphemies.
WHen Ephraim spake, there was tremblyng, he was exalted among the Israelites: but he hath sinned in Baal, and is dead.
And nowe they sinne more and more, and of their siluer they haue made them molten images after the imaginatio{n}s of their owne braynes, [that is] very idols, and yet all is nothing but the worke of the craftesman: they say one to another, Whiles they sacrifice a man let them kisse the calues.
Therfore they shalbe as the mornyng cloude, and as the deawe that early passeth away, and like as dust that the whirlewinde taketh away from the floore, and as smoke that goeth out of the chimney.
Yet I am the Lorde thy God [which brought thee] out of the lande of Egypt, & thou shalt knowe no God but me only, neither is there any sauiour besides me.
I did knowe thee in the wildernesse, in the lande of drought.
But when they were well fed, and had enough, they waxed proude, & forgat me.
Therfore wyll I be vnto them as a lion, and as a leoparde in the wayes to the Assyrians.
I wyll meete them as a she beare that is robbed of her whelpes, and I wyll breake that stubburne heart of theirs, there wyll I deuour them like a lion, yea the wylde beastes shall teare them.
O Israel [thine iniquitie] hath destroyed thee: but in me [only is] thy helpe.
I am: where is thy king nowe that shoulde helpe thee in all thy cities? Yea and thy iudges of whom thou saydest, Geue me a king and princes.
I gaue thee a king in my wrath, and in my displeasure I toke him from thee agayne.
The wickednesse of Ephraim is bound together, and his sinne lyeth hyd.
Therfore shall sorowes come vpon him as vpon a woman that trauayleth: an vndiscrete sonne is he, els woulde he not stande styll at the tyme of birth of children.
I wyll redeeme them from the power of the graue, and deliuer them from death: O death, I wyll be thy death: O hell, I wyll be thy styng: yet can I see no comfort.
Though he grewe among his brethren, the east wynde [euen] the wynde of the Lorde shall come vp from the wildernesse, and drye vp his veyne, and his fountaynes shalbe dryed vp: he shall spoyle the treasure of all pleasaunt vessels.
Samaria shalbe made waste, for she is disobedient vnto her God: they shall perishe with the sworde, their children shalbe dasshed in peeces, and their women great with childe shalbe ript vp.
O Israel, returne vnto the Lorde thy God, for thou hast fallen through thine owne wickednesse.
Take these wordes with you, whe{n} ye turne to the Lorde, and say vnto him, O forgeue vs all our sinnes, receaue vs graciously, and then wyll we offer the Calues of our lippes vnto thee.
Asshur shalbe no more our helper, neither will we ride vpon horses any more, neither wyll we say any more to the worke of our handes, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherlesse findeth mercie.
I wyll heale their rebellion, I wyll loue them freely: for mine anger is turned away from hym.
I wyll be vnto Israel as the deawe, and he shall growe as the lilie, and his roote shall breake out as the [trees] of Libanus.
His braunches shal spreade out abrode, and be as faire as the oliue tree, & smell as Libanus.
They that dwell vnder his shadowe, shall returne & growe vp as the corne, and florishe as the vine: he shall haue as good a name as the wine of Libanus.
Ephraim [shall say] what haue I to do with idols any more? I haue hearde him, and loked vpon him, I am like a greene firre tree, vpon me is thy fruite founde.
Who so is wise, shall vnderstande these thinges, and he that is right instruct wyll regarde them: for the wayes of the Lorde are righteous, such as be godly wyll walke in them: as for the wicked, they shall stumble therin.
THe worde of the Lorde that came to Ioel the sonne of Pethuel.
Heare ye this you elders, & hearken with your eares all you that dwel in this lande: was there euer such a thyng in your dayes, or in the dayes of your fathers?
Of this thyng tell your children, and let your children [shewe it] to their children, and their children to [their] posteritie afterwarde.
That which the caterpiller hath left the grashopper hath eaten, and what the grashopper left hath the canker worme eaten, and what the canker worme left the locust hath deuoured.
Awake ye drunkardes, & weepe, howle all ye wine bibbers for lacke of newe wine: for it is cleane taken away from your mouth.
For a nation is come vp vpon my lande, mightie and without number: his teeth are as the teeth of a lion, and he hath the iawes of a great lion.
He hath destroyed my vine, & barked my figge tree, he hath pilled it and cast it from him, and hath left bowes therof whyte.
Lament as a virgin girded with sackcloth, for the husbande of her youth.
The meate offeryng and drinke offeryng is cut of from the house of the Lorde, the priestes [I meane] the Lordes ministers mourne.
The fielde is wasted, the lande mourneth: for corne is destroyed, the newe wine is dryed vp, the oyle is vtterly taken away.
Be ye ashamed O ye husbandemen, howle O ye wine dressers for {th}e wheate and for the barly: for the haruest of the fielde is perished.
The wine is dryed vp, and the figge tree is decayed, the pomgranate tree, and the paulme, & the apple tree, [euen] all the trees of the fielde are withered vp: for ioy is withered away from the sonnes of men.
Girde your selues and lament O ye priestes, howle ye out ye ministers of the aulter, come and lye all night in sackcloth ye seruauntes of my God: for the meate and drynke offerynges are taken away from the house of your God.
Proclayme a fast, call a congregation, gather the elders together, [with] all the inhabitauntes of the lande vnto the house of the Lorde your God, and crye vnto the Lorde,
Alas for this day, for the day of the Lorde is at hande, euen as a destruction from the almightie shall it come.
Is not the meate cut of before our eyes, [yea] mirth and ioy from the house of our God?
The seede is rotte{n} vnder their cloddes, the garners are destroyed, the barnes are ouerthrowen: for the corne is withered.
O howe cattell mourne? the heardes of beastes are in wofull case for lacke of pasture, and the flockes of sheepe are destroyed?
Vnto thee O Lorde wyll I crye, for feare hath destroyed the fruitfull places of the desert, and the flambe hath burnt vp all the trees of the fielde.
The beastes also of the fielde crye out vnto thee: for the riuers of waters are dryed vp, and fire hath deuoured vp the fruitfull places of the desert.
BLowe vp a trumpet in Sion, and showte in my holy hyll, let all the inhabitauntes of the earth tremble: for the day of the Lorde is come, for it is nye at hande.
A darke and glomie day, a cloudie and blacke day: as the mornyng is spread ouer the mountaynes [so is this] populus & strong people, like it there was none from the beginning, nor shalbe herafter for euermore.
Before him is a deuouryng fire, and behynde him a burnyng flambe: the lande is as a pleasaunt garden before him, and behinde him a waste desert, yea and nothyng shall escape him.
The shewe of him is as the shewe of horses, and like horsemen, so shall they runne.
Lyke the noyse of charrettes vpon the toppes of the mountaynes they shall skip, like the noyse of a flamyng fire deuouryng the stubble, [and] as a strong people prepared to battayle.
Before his face shall the people tremble, the countenaunce of all folkes shall waxe [blacke] as a pot.
They shall runne like strong men, and climbe the walles like men of warre: & euery one shall march on in his way, and they shal not linger in their pathes.
No man shall thrust another, but euery one shall walke in his path: and if they shall fall on the sworde, they shall not be wounded.
They shall runne to and fro in the citie, they shall runne vp & downe vpon the wall, they shall climbe into the houses, they shall enter in at the windowes like a theefe.
The earth shall quake before him, the heauens shall tremble, the sunne and the moone shalbe darke, and the starres shall withdrawe their shinyng.
And the Lorde shall geue his voyce before his hoast, for his campe is exceeding great, for he is mightie that executeth his commaundement: for the day of the Lorde is great and very terrible, and who can abide it?
But nowe saith {th}e Lord, turne you vnto me with all your heartes, with fasting, with weepyng, and with mournyng.
And rent your heartes and not your garmentes, & turne you vnto the Lorde your God, for he is gratious & mercifull, slowe to anger, and of great goodnesse, and he wyll repent him of the euyll.
Who knoweth whether the Lorde wyll returne and take compassion, and wyll leaue behinde him a blessing, [euen] meate offeryng and drynke offeryng vnto the Lorde your God?
Blowe vp a trumpet in Sion, proclayme a fast, call an assemblye, sanctifie the congregation.
Gather the people, gather the elders, assemble the children & suckyng babes: let the bridegrome come foorth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
Let the priestes the Lordes ministers weepe betwixt the porche & the aulter, and let them say, Spare thy people O Lord, and geue not ouer thine heritage to reproche, that the heathen shoulde rule ouer them: Wherfore shoulde they say amongst the heathen, Where is their God?
And [then] the Lorde wyll be ielous ouer his lande, & wyll spare his people.
Yea the Lorde wyll aunswere, and say to his people, Beholde I wyll sende you corne, and wine, and oyle, and wyll satisfie you therwith, and wyll not geue you ouer any more to be a reproche among the heathen.
And I wyll remoue farre of from you the northen [armie] and I wyll driue him into a lande barren and desolate, with his face towardes the east sea, and his hinder partes towardes the vttermost sea: and his stinch shall arise, and his corruption shall ascende, because he hath exalted him selfe to do this.
Feare not O thou lande, be glad and reioyce: for the Lorde wyll do great thinges.
Be not afrayde ye beastes of the fielde, for the fruitfull places of the desert are greene: for the tree beares her fruite, the figge tree and the vine yeelde their strength.
Be glad then ye children of Sion, and reioyce in the Lorde your God: for he hath geuen you moderate rayne, & he wyll sende downe for you the rayne, [euen] the first rayne & the latter rayne, in the first [moneth.]
And the barnes shalbe fylled with corne, and the presses shall ouerflowe with wine and oyle.
And I wyll restore to you the yeres which the grashopper, the canker worme, the locust, and the caterpiller haue deuoured, my great armie which I sent amongst you.
And you shall eate in plentie and be satisfied, and shall prayse the name of the Lorde your God which hath dealt wonderously with you, and my people shall not be ashamed any more.
And you shall knowe that I am in the middle of Israel, and [that] I am the Lorde your God, and none but I: and my people shall neuer be ashamed.
And it shall come to passe after this: I wyll powre out my spirite vpon all fleshe, and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophecie, your olde men shall dreame dreames, your young men shall see visions.
Also in those dayes vpon the seruauntes and vpon the handmaydens wyll I powre out my spirite.
And I will shewe wonders in heauen and in earth, blood, and fire, and pillers of smoke.
The sunne shalbe turned into darknesse, and the moone into blood, before that great and terrible day of the Lord come.
But whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lord, shalbe saued: for there shalbe deliueraunce in mount Sion and in Hierusalem, as the Lord hath promised, and [also] in the remnaunt whom the Lorde shall call.
FOr beholde, in those dayes and in that time when I shall bryng agayne the captiuitie of Iuda & Hierusalem,
I wyll also gather all the gentiles, and cause them to come into the valley of Iehosaphat, and I will pleade with them there for my people and heritage Israel, which they haue scattered amongst the nations, and haue parted my lande.
And thei haue cast lottes for my people, and chaunged the boy for an harlot, and solde the gyrle for wine, that they might drynke.
And what haue you to do with me O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coastes of Palestine? wyll ye render me recompence? and if you recompence me, I shal swiftly [and] speedyly returne your recompence vpon your owne heades.
For ye haue taken my siluer and my golde, my pleasaunt & pretious thinges, & haue caryed them into your temples.
You haue solde also the children of Iuda and the children of Hierusalem to the Gretians, that you might send them farre from their owne countrey.
Beholde, I will rayse them out of that place whither you haue solde them, and wyll returne your recompence vpon your owne heades.
And I wyll sell your sonnes and your daughters into the handes of the children of Iuda, and they shall sell them vnto the Sabeans, to a nation that dwelleth farre of: for the Lorde hath spoken it.
Publishe this thyng among the gentiles, proclayme warre, wake vp the mightie men, let all the men of warre drawe neare and come vp.
Breake your plowe shares into swordes, and your sithes into speares, let the weake say, I am strong.
Assemble your selues and come all you heathen, and gather your selues together rounde about, there shall the Lord cast downe thy mightie men.
Let the heathen arise and come vp to the valley of Iehosaphat: for there will I sit to iudge all nations rounde about.
Put in your sithes, for {th}e haruest is ripe: come ye [and] descende, for the wine presse is full, [yea] the presses ouerflowe: for their wickednesse is multiplied.
O people, people [come] into the valley of finall iudgement: for the day of the Lorde is at hande in the valley of finall iudgement.
The sunne and the moone shalbe darkned, and the starres shall withdrawe their light.
The Lord also shall rore out of Sion, and out of Hierusalem shall he geue his voyce, the heauens and the earth shall shake: but the Lorde wyll be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
So shall you knowe that I am the Lorde your God dwellyng in Sion my holy mountayne: then shall Hierusalem be holy, and there shall no straungers passe through here any more.
And in that day shall the mountaynes drop downe sweete wine, and the hylles shall flowe with mylke, & all the riuers of Iuda shall runne with water, and a fountayne shall come out of the house of the Lorde, and shall water the valley of Sittim.
Egypt shalbe waste, and Edom shalbe a desolate wildernesse: for the iniuries [done] to the children of Iuda: because they haue shed innocent blood in their lande.
But Iuda shal dwel for euermore, and Hierusalem from generation to generation.
I wil also clense the blood of them [that] I haue not clensed, and the Lord dwelleth in Sion.
THe wordes of Amos, who was among the sheepheardes at Thecua, whiche he sawe vpon Israel in the dayes of Ozia king of Iuda, and in the dayes of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas king of Israel, two yere before the earth quake.
And he sayde, The Lord shal roare out of Sion, and vtter his voyce from Hierusalem: and the dwelling places of the sheepheardes shall mourne, & the top of Charmel shall wyther.
Thus sayth the Lord, For three wickednesses of Damascus, and for foure I will not spare her: because they haue threshed Gilead with iron flales.
But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, and it shall deuoure the palaces of Benhadad.
I will breake also the barres of Damascus, and roote out the inhabitoures from the playne of Auen, and him that holdeth the scepter out of the house of Eden, and the people of Syria shall go into captiuitie vnto Kir, sayth the Lord.
Thus sayth the Lorde, For three wickednesses of Azza, and for foure I will not spare her: because they caried away prisoners into captiuitie to shut them vp in Edom.
Therfore will I sende a fire vpon the walles of Azza, whiche shall deuoure her palaces.
And I will cut of the inhabiter from Asdod, and him that holdeth the scepter from Ascalon, & turne my hande to Ecron, & the remnaunt of the Philistines shall perishe, sayth the Lorde God.
Thus sayth the Lorde, For three wickednesses of Tyre, and for foure I will not spare her: because they shut the whole captiuitie in Edom, and haue not remembred the brotherly couenaunt.
Therfore will I send a fire vpon the wall of Tyre, and it shall consume the palaces therof.
Thus sayth the Lord, For three wickednesses of Edom, and for foure I wil not spare him: because he pursued his brother with the sworde, and did cast of al pitie, and in his anger spoyled him continually, and his indignation he kept alwayes.
Therfore will I send a fire into Theman, which shal deuoure the palaces of Bozra.
Thus saith the Lord, For three wickednesses of the children of Ammon, and for foure I will not spare them: because they haue ript vp the women with childe of Gilead, that they might enlarge their borders.
Therefore will I kindle a fire in the walles of Rabbah that shall consume her palaces with a great crye in the day of battell, and with a tempest in the day of the whirlewinde.
And their king shall go into captiuitie, he and his princes together, sayth the Lorde.
THus sayth the Lorde, For three wickednesses of Moab, & for foure I will not spare him: because he burnt the bones of the king of Edom into lime.
Therfore will I send a fire into Moab, which shal consume the palaces of Carioth, and Moab shall die with tumult, with showting, and with the sounde of the trumpet.
And I will cut of the iudge out of the mids therof, and wil slay all the princes therof with him, sayth the Lorde.
Thus sayth the Lorde, For three wickednesses of Iuda, and for foure I will not spare hym: because they haue cast away the lawe of the Lord, and haue not kept his ordinaunces, and their lies caused them to erre, after the which their fathers walked.
Therfore will I send a fire into Iuda, which shall consume the palaces of Hierusalem:
Thus sayth the Lorde, For three wickednesses of Israel, and for foure I wil not spare hym: because they solde the righteous for siluer, and the poore for a paire of shoes.
They gape for breath ouer the head of the poore in the dust of the earth, & peruert the way of the meke: A man and his father will go in to one mayde, to dishonour my holy name.
And they lye vpon clothes layde to pledge by euery aulter: and in the house of their god, they drinke the wine of the condempned.
Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose heyght was like the height of the Cedar trees, and he was strong as the okes: notwithstanding I destroyed his fruite from aboue, and his roote from beneath.
Also I brought you vp from the lande of Egypt, & led you fourtie yeres thorow the wildernesse, to possesse the lande of the Amorites.
And I raysed vp of your sonnes for prophetes, and of your young men for Nazarites: Is it not euen thus, O ye children of Israel, fayth the Lorde?
But ye gaue the Nazarites wine to drinke, and commaunded the prophetes, saying, Prophecie not.
Beholde, I am pressed vnder you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaues.
Therfore the flight shall perishe from the swift, and the strong shal not strengthen his force, neither shall the mightie saue his life.
Nor he that handleth the bowe shall stande, nor he that is swift of foote shall escape, neither shall he that rydeth the horse, saue his life.
And he that is of mightie courage among the strong men, shal flee away naked in that day, sayth the Lorde.
HEare this worde that the Lord pronounceth against you O children of Israel [euen] against the whole familie whiche I brought vp from the lande of Egypt, saying:
You only haue I knowen of al the families of the earth, therfore I will visite you for all your iniquities.
Can two walke together, except they be agreed?
Wyll a lion roare in the forest when he hath no pray? or wil a lions whelpe crye out of his denne, if he haue taken nothing?
Can a birde fal in a snare vpon the earth where no fouler is? or wil he take vp the snare from the earth, and haue taken nothing at all?
Or shall a trumpet be blowen in the citie, & the people be not afrayde? or shall there be euyll in a citie, and the Lorde hath not done it?
Surely the Lord God wil do nothing, but he reuealeth his secrete vnto his seruauntes the prophetes.
The lion hath roared, who wil not be afrayde? The Lorde God hath spoken, who can but prophecie?
Proclame in the palaces at Asood, and in the palaces in the lande of Egypt, and say: Assemble your selues vpon the mountaynes of Samaria, and beholde the great tumultes in the mids thereof, and the oppressed in the mids therof:
For they know not to do right, sayth the Lorde, they store vp violence and robberie in their palaces.
Therfore thus sayth the Lord God, An aduersarie [shall come] euen round about the countrey, and shall bring downe thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shalbe spoyled.
Thus sayth the Lorde, As the sheephearde taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legges or a peece of an eare: so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria, in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus [as in] a couche.
Heare and testifie in the house of Iacob, saith the Lord God, the God of hoastes:
That in the day that I shall visite the transgressions of Israel vpon hym, I wil also visite the aulters of Bethel, and the hornes of the aulter shalbe broken of, and fall to the grounde.
And I will smite the winter house with the sommer house, and the houses of yuorie shall perishe, and the great houses shalbe consumed, saith the Lord.
HEare this worde ye kyne of Basan, that are in the mountaine of Samaria, which oppresse the poore, & destroy the needy, which say to their maisters, Bring and let vs drinke.
The Lord God hath sworne by his holinesse, that lo, the dayes shal come vpon you, that he will take you away with thornes, and your posteritie with fishe hookes.
And ye shall go out at the breaches, euery [kowe] forward: and ye shal cast your selues out of the palace, sayth the Lorde.
Come to Bethel, and transgresse: to Gilgal, and multiplie transgression: and bring your sacrifices in the morning, and your tythes after three yeres.
And offer a thankes geuing of leauen, publishe & proclayme the free offringes: for this liketh you O ye children of Israel, sayth the Lorde God.
Therfore haue I geue{n} you cleannesse of teeth in all your cities, & scarsenesse of bread in all your places: yet haue ye not returned vnto me, sayth the Lorde.
And also I haue withholden the rayne from you when there were yet three monethes to the haruest, and I caused it to rayne vpon one citie, and haue not caused it to rayne vpon an other citie: one peece was raigned vpon, & the peece whervpon it rayned not, withered.
So two [or] three cities wandred vnto one citie to drinke water, but they were not satisfied: yet haue ye not returned vnto me, sayth the Lorde.
I haue smitten you with blasting and mildeaw, your great gardens, and your vineyardes, and your figge trees, & your oliue trees, dyd the palmer worme deuoure: yet haue ye not returned vnto me sayth the Lorde.
Pestilence haue I sent among you after the maner of Egypt: your young men haue I slayne with the sworde, & haue taken away your horses, and I haue made the stinke of your tentes to come euen vp into your nostrels: yet haue ye not returned vnto me, sayth the Lorde.
I haue ouerthrowen you, as God ouerthrewe Sodoma and Gomorra: and ye were as a fire brande pluckt out of the burning: yet haue ye not returned vnto me, sayth the Lorde.
Therfore thus will I do vnto thee O Israel, [and] because I will do this vnto thee, prepare to meete thy God O Israel.
For lo, he that fourmeth the mountaynes, and createth the winde, and declareth vnto man what is his thought, whiche maketh the morning darkenesse, and walketh vpon the hie places of the earth, the Lorde God of hoastes is his name.
HEare ye this worde whiche I lift vp vpon you, [euen] a lamentation of the house of Israel.
The virgin Israel is fallen, & shall no more rise: she is left vpon her lande, and there is none to rayse her vp.
For thus sayth the Lorde God, The citie which went out by a thousand, shall leaue an hundreth, & that whiche went foorth by an hundreth, shall leaue ten, to the house of Israel.
For thus sayth the Lord vnto the house of Israel, Seke ye me, and ye shall liue.
But seke not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and go not to Beerseba: for Gilgal shall go into captiuitie, and Bethel shall come to naught.
Seke the Lord, and ye shall liue: lest he breake out like fire in the house of Ioseph, and deuoure it, and there be noone to quenche it in Bethel.
They turne iudgement to wormewood, and forsake righteousnesse in the earth.
He maketh the seuen starres and Orion, and he turneth the shadowe of death into the morning, and he maketh the day darke as night: he calleth the waters of the sea, and powreth them out vpon the open earth, the Lorde is his name.
He strengthneth the destroyer against the mightie, & the destroyer shall come against the fortresse.
They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhorre him that speaketh vprightly.
Forasmuch then as your treading is vpon the poore, and ye take from hym burdens of wheate: ye haue buylt houses of hewen stone, but ye shall not dwell in them: ye haue planted pleasaunt vineyardes, but ye shall not drinke wine of them.
For I knowe your manyfolde transgressions, and your mightie sinnes: they afflict the iust, they take rewardes, and they oppresse the poore in the gate.
Therfore the wise shall kepe scilence in that time: for it is an euyll time.
Seke good and not euill, that ye may liue: & so the Lord God of hoastes shalbe with you, as you haue spoken.
Hate the euill and loue the good, and establishe iudgement in the gate: it may be, that the Lord God of hoastes wilbe mercifull vnto the remnaunt of Ioseph.
Therfore the Lorde God of hoastes the Lord sayth thus, Mourning shalbe in all streetes, and they shall say in al the hye wayes, Alas, alas: and they shall cal the husbandman to lamentation, and such as can mourne, to mourning.
And in all the vines shalbe lamentation: for I will passe through thee, sayth the Lorde.
Wo vnto you that desire the day of the Lorde, what haue ye to do with it? the day of the Lorde is darkenes, and not light.
As if a man dyd flee from a lion, and a beare meete him, & went into the house, and leaned his hand vnto the wal, and a serpent bite hym.
Shall not the day of the Lorde be darkenesse, and not light? euen darkenesse and no light in it.
I hate, I abhorre your feast dayes, and I will not smell in your solemne assemblies.
Though ye offer me burnt offeringes, and meate offeringes, I will not accept them, neither will I regarde the peace offering of your fat beastes.
Take thou away from me the multitude of thy songues, for I will not heare the melodie of thy violes.
And let iudgement run downe as water, and righteousnesse as a mightie riuer.
Haue ye offered vnto me sacrifices and offringes in the wildernesse fourtie yeres, O house of Israel?
But ye haue borne Siccuth your king, and Chiun your images, and the starre of your gods, which ye made to your selues.
Therfore will I cause you to go into captiuitie beyonde Damascus, sayth the Lorde, whose name is the God of hoastes.
WO to them that are at ease in Sion, and trust in the mountayne of Samaria, which were famous at the beginning of the nations, & the house of Israel came to them.
Go you vnto Calneh, and see, and from thence go you to Hemath the great, then go downe to Gath of the Philistines: be they better then these kingdomes? or the border of their lande greater then your border?
Ye that put farre away the euyll day, and approche to the seate of iniquitie.
They lye vpon beddes of yuorie, and stretche them selues vpon their couches, and eate the lambes out of the flocke, and the calues out of the stall.
They sing to the sounde of the viole, they inuent to them selues instrumentes of musicke, like Dauid.
They drinke wine in bowles, and annoynt them selues with chiefe ointmentes: but no man is sorie for the affliction of Ioseph.
Therfore nowe shall they go captiue with the first that go captiue, and the sorowe of them that stretched them selues is at hande.
The Lorde God hath sworne by hym selfe, sayth the Lorde God of hoastes: I abhorre the excellencie of Iacob, and hate his palaces, therfore will I deliuer vp the citie, with all that is therin.
And if there remayne ten men in one house, they shall dye.
And his vncle shall take him vp, and burne him, to cary out the bones out of the house, & shall say vnto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? And he shal say, None. Then shal he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not remember the name of the Lorde.
For behold the Lord commaundeth, and he will smyte the great house with breaches, & the litle houses with cleftes.
Shal horses run vpo{n} the rocke? or wil one plowe there with oxen? for ye haue turned iudgement into gall, & the fruite of righteousnesse into wormewood.
Ye reioyce in a thing of naught, ye say: Haue not we gotten vs hornes by our owne strength?
But behold, I wil rayse vp against you a nation O house of Israel, sayth the Lorde God of hoastes, and they shall afflict you from the entring of Hemath, vnto the riuer of the wildernesse.
THus hath the Lorde God shewed vnto me, & beholde, he fourmed grashoppers in the beginning of the shooting vp of {th}e latter growth, and lo it was in the latter growth, after the kinges mowing.
And when they hath made an end of eating the grasse of the lande, then I sayde, O Lorde God, spare I beseche thee: who shall rayse vp Iacob? for he is smal.
So the Lorde repented for this: it shall not be, sayth the Lorde.
Thus also hath the Lord God shewed vnto me, and behold, the Lord God called to iudgement, by fire, & it deuoured the great deepe, and did eate vp a part.
Then sayde I, O Lorde God, ceasse I beseche thee: who shall rayse vp Iacob? for he is smal.
So the Lord repented for this: this also shall not be, sayth the Lorde God.
Thus againe he shewed me, & beholde the Lorde stoode vpon a wall [made] by line, with a line in his hande.
And the Lorde sayde vnto me, Amos what seest thou? And I sayde, A line. Then sayd the Lorde, Beholde I will set a line in the mids of my people Israel, and wyll passe by them no more.
And the hie places of Isaac shalbe desolate, and the temples of Israel shalbe destroyed, and I will rise against the house of Ieroboam with the sworde.
Then Amazia the priest of Bethel sent to Ieroboam king of Israel, saying: Amos hath conspired against thee in the mids of the house of Israel: the lande is not able to beare all his wordes.
For thus Amos sayth: Ieroboam shal die by the sworde, and Israel shalbe led away captiue out of their owne lande.
Also Amazia sayde to Amos, O thou the sear, Go, flee thou away into the lande of Iuda, and there eate thy bread, and prophecie there.
But prophecie no more at Bethel: for it is the kinges chappell, & it is the kinges court.
Then aunswered Amos, and sayde to Amazia, I was no prophete, neither was I a prophetes sonne: but I was an heardeman, and a gatherer of wilde figges.
And the Lorde toke me as I folowed the flocke, and the Lord sayde vnto me, Go, prophecie vnto my people Israel.
Now therfore heare thou the word of the Lorde: Thou sayest, Prophecie not against Israel, and speake nothing against the house of Isaac.
Therfore thus sayth the Lorde, Thy wyfe shalbe an harlot in the citie, and thy sonnes and thy daughters shall fall by the sworde, and thy land shalbe deuided by line, and thou shalt die in a polluted land, and Israel shall surely go into captiuitie foorth of his lande.
THus hath the Lorde God shewed vnto me: and beholde, a basket of sommer fruite.
And he sayde: Amos, what seest thou? And I sayde: A basket of sommer fruite. Then sayd the Lord vnto me, The end is come vpon my people of Israel, I wil passe by them no more.
And the songues of the temple shalbe howlinges in that day sayth the Lorde God: many dead bodies shalbe in euery place, they shal cast them foorth with scilence.
Heare this, O ye that swallow vp the poore, that ye may make the needy of the lande to fayle.
Saying, When will the new moneth be gone, that we may sell corne? & the Sabbath, that we may set foorth wheate, and make the Epha small, & the sicle great, & falsifie the wayghtes by deceite?
That we may bie the poore for siluer, and the needy for shoes, yea and sell the refuse of the wheate?
The Lorde hath sworne by the excellencie of Iacob, surely I will neuer forget any of their workes.
Shall not the lande tremble for this, and euerie one mourne that dwelleth therin? And it shall rise vp wholly as a flood, and it shalbe cast out, and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.
And in that day, sayth the Lord God, I will euen cause the sunne to go downe at noone, and I wil darken the earth in the cleare day.
And I will turne your feastes into mourning, and all your songues into lamentation: and I will bring sackecloth vpon all loynes, and baldnesse vpon euery head, & I will make it as the mourning of an only sonne, and the end therof as a bitter day.
Behold the dayes come sayth the Lord God, that I will sende a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor thirst for water, but of hearing the worde of the Lorde.
And they shall wander from sea to sea, & from the north euen vnto the east shal they run to and fro to seke the worde of the Lord, and shall not finde it.
In that day shall the fayre virgins, and the young men perishe for thirst.
They that swere by the sinne of Samaria, & that say, Thy God O Dan liueth, & the maner of Beerseba liueth, euen they shall fall, and neuer rise vp againe.
I Saw the Lorde standing vpon the aulter, and he sayd: Smite the lintel of the doore, that the postes may shake, & cut them in peeces, euen the heades of them all, and I wil slay the last of them with the sworde: he that fleeth of them, shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them, shall not be deliuered.
Though they dig into hell, thence shall my hande take them, though they clime vp to heauen, thence will I bring them downe.
And though they hyde them selues in the top of Charmel, I will searche, and take them out thence: and though they be hyd from my sight in the bottome of the sea, thence will I commaunde the serpent, and he shall bite them.
And though they go into captiuitie before their enemies, thence wil I commaunde the sworde & it shall slay them: and I will set myne eyes vpon them for euill, and not for good.
And the Lorde God of hoastes shall touche the land, and it shall melt away: and all that dwell therin shall mourne, and it shal rise vp whole like a flood, and shalbe drowned as by the flood of Egypt.
He buyldeth his spheres in the heauen, & hath layde the foundation of his globe of elementes on the earth: he calleth the waters of the sea, and poureth them out vpon the open earth, the Lorde is his name.
Are ye not as the Ethiopians vnto me O children of Israel, sayth the Lorde? haue not I brought vp Israel out of the lande of Egypt? & the Philistines from Cappadocia, and the Syrians from Cyrene?
Behold, the eyes of the Lorde God are vpon the sinful kingdome, and I wil destroy it cleane out of the earth: neuerthelesse, I wil not vtterly destroy the house of Iacob, sayth the Lorde.
For lo, I will commaunde, and I will sifte the house of Israel among all nations, like as corne is sifted in a •iue: yet shall not the least stone fall vpon the earth.
But all the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The euyll shall not come, nor hasten for vs.
In that day will I rayse vp the tabernacle of Dauid that is fallen downe, and close vp the breaches thereof, and I will rayse vp his ruines, & I will buyld it, as in the dayes of olde:
That they may possesse the remnaunt of Edom, & of all the heathen, because my name is called vpon them, sayth the Lorde that doeth this.
Behold the dayes come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall touche the mower, and the treader of grapes hym that soweth seede, and the mountaynes shal drop sweete wine, & all the hilles shall melt.
And I wil bring againe the captiuitie of my people of Israel, and they shall buyld the wast cities, and inhabite them: and they shall plante vineyardes, and drinke the wine therof, they shall also make gardens, and eate the fruites of them.
And I will plant them vpon their land, and they shal no more be pulled vp againe out of their lande which I haue geuen them, sayth the Lorde thy God.
THe vision of Abdi, thus sayth the lord God against Edom: We haue hearde a rumor from the Lorde, & an ambassadour is sent among the heathen: arise, and let vs ryse vp against her to battayle.
Behold, I haue made thee smal among the heathen, thou art vtterly despised.
The pride of thyne heart hath deceaued thee, thou that dwellest in the cleftes of the rockes, whose habitation [is] hie, that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me downe to the grounde?
Yea though thou exalt thy selfe as the egle, and make they nest among the starres, thence wil I bring thee downe, sayth the Lorde.
Came theeues to thee, or robbers by night? how wast thou brought to silence? woulde they not haue stollen till they had inough? If the grape gatherers came to thee, woulde they not leaue [some] grapes?
Howe are the thinges of Esau sought vp, [and] his treasures searched?
All the men of thy confederacie haue driuen thee to the borders, the men that were at peace with thee haue deceaued thee, and preuailed against thee, [they that eate] thy bread haue layd a wounde vnder thee, there is none vnderstanding in him.
Shal not I in that day, saide the lord, euen destroy the wise men out of Edom, and vnderstanding from the mount of Esau?
And thy strong men O Theman shalbe afraid: because euery one of the mou{n}t of Esau shalbe cut of by slaughter.
For thy crueltie against thy brother Iacob shame shall couer thee, and thou shalt be cut of for euer.
When thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the straungers caried away his substaunce, and straungers entred into his gates, and cast lottes vpon Hierusalem, euen thou wast as one of them.
But thou shouldest not haue beholden the day of thy brother in the day that he was made a straunger, neither shouldest thou haue reioyced ouer the childre{n} of Iuda in the day of their destruction, thou shouldest not haue spoken proudly in the day of affliction:
Thou shouldest not haue entred into the gate of my people in the day of their destruction, neither shouldest thou haue once loked on their affliction in the day of their destructio{n}, nor haue layd handes on their substaunce in the day of their destruction:
Neither shouldest thou haue stand in the crosse wayes to cut of them that shoulde escape, neither shouldest thou haue shutte vp the remnaunt thereof in the day of affliction.
For the day of the Lorde is neare vpon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shalbe done to thee, thy rewarde shall returne vpon thyne head.
For as ye haue drunke vpon myne holy mountaine, so shall all the heathen drinke continually: yea, they shal drinke and swalowe vp, and they shalbe as though they had not ben.
But vpon mount Sion shalbe deliueraunce, and it shalbe holy, and the house of Iacob shal possesse their possessions.
And the house of Iacob shalbe a fire, and the house of Ioseph a flambe, and the house of Esau as stubble, and they shall kindle in them and deuoure them, and there shalbe no remnaunt of the house of Esau: for the Lorde hath spoken it.
And they shall possesse the south side of the mount of Esau, and the plaine of the Philistines, and they shall possesse the fieldes of Ephraim, and the fieldes of Samaria, and Beniamin [shall haue] Gilead.
And the captiuitie of his hoast of the children of Israel, which were among the Chanaanites [shall possesse• vnto Zarephath, and the captiuitie of Hierusalem which is in Sepharad, shall possesse the cities of the south.
And they that shall saue, shall come vp to mount Sion to iudge the mount of Esau, and the kingdome shalbe the Lordes.
THe worde of the Lorde came vnto Ionas the sonne of Amittai, saying:
Aryse, & go to Niniue that great citie, and crye against it: for their wickednesse is come vp before me.
And Ionas rose vp to flee into Tharsis from the presence of the Lorde, and went downe to Ioppa, and founde a ship going to Tharsis: so he payed his fare, and went downe into it, that he might go with them vnto Tharsis from the presence of the Lorde.
But the Lorde sent out a great winde into the sea, and there was a mightie tempest in the sea, so that the shippe was in daunger of splitting in sunder.
Then the maryners were afrayde, and cryed euery man vnto his God, and cast the wares that were in the shippe into the sea, to lighten it of them: but Ionas was gone downe into the sides of the shippe, & he laye downe sleeping.
And the shippe maister came to him, and saide: What meanest thou sleeper? Vp, and call vpon thy God, if so be that God wyl shine vnto vs, that we perishe not.
And they saide euery one to his felow, Come, let vs cast lottes: that we may know for whose cause this euil is on vs. And they cast lottes: and the lotte fel on Ionas.
Then saide they vnto him: Tell vs for whose cause is this euill come vpon vs? what is thyne occupation? whence camest thou? what countrey man art thou, and of what nation?
And he aunswered them: I am an Hebrue, and I feare the Lorde God of heauen, which hath made the sea, and the drye lande.
Then were the men exceedingly afraide, & saide vnto him: Why hast thou done this? (for the men knewe we that he fled from the presence of the Lorde, because he had tolde them.)
And they saide vnto him: What shal we do vnto thee, that the sea may be calme vnto vs? For the sea wrought and was troublous.
And he saide vnto them, Take me, and cast me into the sea, and the sea shalbe calme vnto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is vpon you.
Neuerthelesse, the men assayed with rowing to bring the shippe to lande, but they could not, because the sea wrought, and was troublous against them.
Wherfore they cryed vnto the Lorde, and saide: We beseche thee O Lord, We beseche thee, let not vs perishe for this mans lyfe, and lay not to our charge innocent blood: for thou O Lorde hast done as it pleased thee.
So they toke vp Ionas, and cast him into the sea, and the sea left raging.
And the men feared the Lorde exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice vnto the Lorde, and made vowes.
And the Lorde prepared a great fishe to swalowe vp Ionas: & Ionas was in the belly of the fishe three dayes and three nightes.
AND Ionas prayed vnto the Lorde his God out of the fisshes belly.
And saide: In affliction I cryed vnto the Lorde, and he heard me: out of the belly of hell cryed I, and thou heardest my voyce.
Thou haddest cast me downe into the deepe, into the middest of the sea, and the floods compassed me about: all thy billowes and waues passed ouer me.
And I saide: I am cast away out of thy sight, yet wyll I loke againe toward thyne holy temple.
The waters compassed me euen vnto the soule, the deapth closed me on euery side, and the weedes were wrapt about my head.
I went downe to the bottome of the mountaines, the earth with her barres was about me for euer: yet hast thou brought vp my lyfe from corruption, O Lorde my God.
When my soule fainted within me, I remembred the Lorde, and my prayer came in vnto thee into thy holy temple.
They that holde vpon lying vanitie, forsake his mercie.
But I wyll sacrifice vnto thee with the voyce of thankesgeuing, and wyll pay that that I haue vowed: for saluation is of the Lorde.
And the Lorde spake vnto the fisshe, and it cast out Ionas vpon the drye lande.
AND the worde of the Lorde came vnto Ionas the second time, saying:
Aryse, and go to Niniue that great citie, and preache against it the preaching which I speake vnto thee.
So Ionas arose, and went to Niniue according to the word of the Lord (Niniue was a great citie and excellent, of three dayes iourney.)
And Ionas began to enter into the citie a dayes iourney, and he cryed & saide: Yet fourtie dayes, & Niniue shalbe destroyed.
And the men of Niniue beleued God, and proclaymed a fast, and put on sackecloth from the greatest of them to the leaste of them.
And worde came vnto the king of Niniue: which arose from his throne, and put of his robe, and couered him selfe with sackcloth, & sate downe in asshes.
And he caused a cryer to crye, and say through the citie by the counsell of the king & his nobles, Let neither man nor beast, bullocke nor sheepe, taste ought at all, neither feede, nor drinke water.
And let both man & beast put on sackcloth, and crye mightyly vnto God: yea let euery man turne from his euill way, and from the wickednesse that is in his handes.
Who can tel whether God wyl turne and be moued with repentaunce, and turne from his fierce wrath, that we perishe not?
And God sawe their workes, that they turned from their euil wayes, and he repented of the euill that he saide he woulde do vnto them, and did it not.
AND this displeased Ionas greatly, and he was angrye [within him selfe.]
And he prayed vnto the Lorde, and saide: I pray thee O Lorde, was not this my saying when I was yet in my countrey? therfore I hasted to flee into Tharsis: For I knewe that thou art a gratious God, and mercifull, long suffering, and of great kindnesse, and repentest thee of euill.
And nowe O Lorde, take I beseche thee my lyfe from me: for it is better for me to dye, then to lyue.
Then saide the Lord, Doest thou wel to be angry?
And Ionas went out of the citie, and sate him downe on the east side thereof, and there made him a boothe, and sate vnder it in the shadowe, till he might see what should be done in the citie.
And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it spring vp ouer Ionas, that it might be a shadowe ouer his head, to deliuer him from his griefe: So Ionas was exceeding glad of the gourde.
But God prepared a worme, when the morning rose the next day, which smote the gourde, that it withered.
And when the sunne rose, God prepared a feruent east winde, and the sunne beat vpon the head of Ionas that he fainted: and wished vnto his soule, that he might dye, and saide, It is better for me to dye, then to lyue.
And the Lord saide vnto Ionas: Doest thou well to be so angry within thy selfe for the gourde? And he saide: I do well to be angry euen vnto death.
Then saide the Lorde, Thou hast had compassion on the gourde about the which thou bestowedst no labour, neither madest it growe: which came vp in a night, and perished in a night:
And shall not I spare Niniue that great citie, in the which are more then sixscore thousand persons that knowe not their right hand and their left, and also much cattaile?
THE worde of the Lorde came vnto Micheas the Morasthite, in the dayes of Iotham, Ahas, & Hezekiah, kinges of Iuda, which he sawe concerning Samaria and Hierusalem.
Heare all ye people, marke this well O earth and all that therein is: yea let the Lorde God him selfe be witnesse against you, [euen] the Lorde from his holy temple.
For beholde, the Lorde shall come out of his holy place, and come downe and treade vpon the hie thinges of {th}e earth.
The mountaines shal melt vnder him, and the valleyes shall cleaue a sunder, lyke as wax [melteth] before the fire, and as the waters runne downeward.
And all this shalbe for the wickednes of Iacob, and the sinnes of the house of Israel: but what is the wickednesse of Iacob? is not Samaria? which are the hie places of Iuda? is not Hierusalem?
Therefore I wyll make Samaria an heape of the fielde [meete] for the planting of a vineyarde: her stones wyll I tumble downe into the valley, and discouer her foundations.
All her images shalbe broken downe, and all her garmentes shalbe brent in the fire, yea: al her idols wyl I destroy: for they are gathered out of the hyre of an harlot, and into an harlots hyre shall they be turned againe.
Wherefore I wyll mourne and make lamentation, bare and naked wyl I go: I wyll mourne lyke the Dragons, and take sorowe as the Ostriches.
For their wounde is past remedie, it is come into Iuda, and hath touched the gate of my people at Hierusalem alredie.
Declare it not at Gath, neither weepe ye: for the house of Aphra roule thy selfe in the dust.
Thou that dwellest at Saphir gette thee hence naked with shame: she that dwelleth at Zaanan, shall not come foorth in the mourning of Bethezel: [the enemie] shal receaue of you for his standing.
For the inhabitau{n}tes of Maroth wayled for good, but the plague shall come from the Lorde, euen vnto the gates of Hierusalem.
O thou inhabitaunt of Lachis, binde the charette to the swiftest beast, she is the beginning of the sinne of the daughter of Sion: for the transgressions of Israel were founde in thee.
Therfore shalt thou bring presentes to Moresheth Gath: {th}e houses of Achzib [shalbe] as a lye to the kinges of Israel.
And as for thee O thou that dwellest at Maresa, I shall bring a possessioner vpon thee, he shal come to Adullam, the glory of Israel.
Make thee baulde, and shaue thee because of thy tender children: make thee cleane baulde as an Egle, for they shalbe caried away captiue from thee.
WO vnto them that imagine iniquitie, and worke wickednesse vpon their beddes: when the morning is light they practise it, because their hande hath power.
And they couet fieldes, and take them by violence, and houses, and take them away: so they oppresse a man and his house, [euen] man and his heritage.
Therefore thus saith the Lorde: Beholde, against this housholde haue I deuised a plague, whereout ye shall not plucke your neckes: ye shall no more go so proudly, for it wyl be a perilous time.
In that day shal this parable be vsed, and a mourning shalbe made ouer you on this maner: We be vtterly desolate, the portion of my people is translated: how wyll he parte vnto vs the lande that he hath taken from vs?
Therefore there shalbe no man to deuide thee thy portion in the congregation of the Lorde.
Ye shal not prophecie [say they] to them that prophecie: they shal not prophecie to them, neither shall they take shame.
O thou that art named the house of Iacob, is the spirite of the Lorde shortened? are these his workes? are not my words good vnto him that walketh vprightly?
But he that was yesterday my people, is rysen vp on the other side [as] against an enemie: they spoyle the beawtifull garment from them that passe by peaceably, as though they returned from the warre.
The women of my people haue ye shut out from their pleasaunt houses, and taken away myne excellent giftes from their children.
Vp, get you hence, for here shall ye haue no rest: because [the lande] is defiled, it shall destroy [you] which vtter destruction.
If a man walke in the spirite, and would lye falsely [saying] I wyl prop•cie to thee of wine and strong drinke: that were a prophete for this people.
I wyll surely gather thee wholly O Iacob, I wyll surely gather the remnaunt of Israel, I wyll put them together as the sheepe of Bozra, as the flocke in the middest of their folde, they shall make great noyse by reason of the [multitude] of men.
The breaker shall come vp before them, they shall breake out, and passe by the gate, and go out by it: and their king shall go before them, and the Lorde shalbe vpon their heades.
ANd I saide, heare I pray you O heads of Iacob, & ye princes of the house of Israel, shoulde not ye know iudgement?
[But] they hate the good, and loue the euill, they plucke of their skinnes from them, and their fleshe from their bones.
And they eate also the fleshe of my people, & slay of their skinne from them: and they breake their bones, and chop them in peeces as for the pot, and as fleshe within the cauldron.
Then shall they crye vnto the Lorde, but he wyll not heare them: he wyll euen hide his face from them at that time, because they haue done wickedly in their workes.
Thus saith the Lorde concerning the prophetes that deceaue my people and bite them with their teeth, and crye peace: but if a man put not into their mouthes, they prepare warre against him.
Therfore night [shalbe] vnto you for a vision, and darkenesse [shalbe] vnto you for a diuination: and the sunne shall go downe ouer the prophetes, and the day shalbe darke ouer them.
Then shall the sears be ashamed, and the soothsayers confounded: yea, they shal al couer their lippes, for they haue none aunswere of God.
Yet notwithstanding, I am full of power by the spirite of the Lorde, and of iudgement, and of strength, to declare vnto Iacob his transgression, and to Israel his sinne.
Heare this I pray you ye heades of the house of Iacob, and princes of the house of Israel: they abhorre iudgement, and peruert all equitie.
They builde vp Sion with blood, and Hierusalem with iniquitie.
(The heades therof iudge for rewards, and the priestes thereof teache for hyre, and the prophetes thereof prophecie for money: yet wyll they leane vpon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among vs? no euill can come vpon vs.)
Therefore shall Sion for your sake be plowed [as] a fielde, & Hierusalem shalbe an heape, and the mountaine of the house as the hie places of the forest.
BVt in the latter dayes it wyll come to passe that the hill of the Lordes house shalbe prepared in the toppe of the mountaines, and shalbe set vp hygher then any mountaynes or hilles, and people shall prease vnto it.
Yea, the multitude of the Gentiles shall haste them thither, saying: Come, let vs go vp the to hill of the Lorde, and to the house of the God of Iacob, and he shall teache vs his wayes, and we wyll walke in his pathes: for the lawe shall come out of Sion, and the word of God from Hierusalem.
And he shall iudge many people, and rebuke mightie nations of farre countreys: so that of their swordes they shal make plough shares, and sythes of their speares: one people shall not lift vp a sworde against another, yea they shall no more learne to fight.
But euery man shall sit vnder his vineyarde, and vnder his figtree, and no man shall make them afraide: for the mouth of the Lorde of hoastes hath spoken it.
Therfore all people wyll walke euery man in the name of his God: and we wyll walke in the name of our lord God for euer and euer.
At the same time saith the Lorde, wyl I gather vp the lame and the outcast, and such as I haue chastened,
And wyll geue a remnaunt vnto the lame, and make of the outcast a mightie people: and the Lorde him selfe shalbe their king vpon the mount Sion, from this time foorth for euermore.
And vnto thee O thou towre of the flocke, thou strong holde of the daughter Sion, vnto thee shall it come, euen the lordeship and kingdome to the daughter Hierusalem.
Why then doest thou crye and lament? is there no king in thee? are thy counsellers perished, that thou art so payned as a woman in her trauaile?
And now O thou daughter Sion, sorowe and lament as a woman in her trauaile: for nowe must thou get thee out of the citie, & dwelt vpon the plaine fielde: yea vnto Babylon shalt thou go, [but] there shalt thou be deliuered, and there the Lord shall redeeme thee from the hande of thyne enemies.
Now also are there many people gathered together against thee, saying: Sion shalbe condempned, and our eye shall loke vpon Sion.
But they know not the thoughtes of the Lord, they vnderstand not his counsel: for he shall gather them together as the sheaues in the barne.
Therefore get thee vp, O thou daughter Sion, and thresshe out the corne: for I wyll make thy horne iron, and thy hooues brasse, that thou mayst breake in peeces many people: their goodes shalt thou consecrate vnto the Lorde, and their substaunce vnto the ruler of the whole worlde.
NOW shalt thou be robbed thy selfe O thou robbers daughter: they shall laye siege against vs, & smyte the iudge of Israel with a rodde vpon the cheeke.
And thou Bethlehem Ephrata art little among the thousandes of Iuda, out of thee shal he come foorth vnto me which shalbe the gouernour in Israel, whose out going hath ben from the beginning, and from euerlasting.
Therefore wyll he geue them vp for a season, vntill the time that she which shall beare haue borne: then shall the remnaunt of his brethren be conuerted vnto the children of Israel.
He shall stande faste, and geue foode in the strength of the Lorde, and in the maiestie of the name of the Lorde his God: and when they be conuerted, he shalbe magnified vnto the farthest partes of the worlde.
And he shall be our peace: when the Assirians shall come into our lande, when he shal treade in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seuen sheepheardes, and eyght principall men.
These shall subdue the lande of Assur with the sworde, and the lande of Nimrod with their naked weapons: Thus shall he deliuer vs from the Assirian when he commeth within our lande, and setteth his foote within our borders.
And the remnaunt of Iacob shalbe among the multitude of people as the deawe of the Lord, and as the droppes vpon the grasse, that taryeth for no man and wayteth on no body.
Yea the residue of Iacob shalbe among the gentiles and the multitude of people, as the lion among the beastes of the wood, and as the lions whelpe among the flockes of sheepe: which whe{n} he goeth through, treadeth downe, teareth in peeces, and there is no man that can deliuer.
Thyne hand shalbe lyft vp vpon thyne enemies, and all thyne aduersaries shall perishe.
And it shall come to passe in that day saith the Lorde, that I wyll take thyne horses from thee, and destroy thy charrettes.
I wyll breake downe the cities of thy lande, and ouerthrowe all thy strong holdes.
All witchcraftes wyll I roote out of thyne hande, there shall no mo soothsayinges be within thee.
Thyne idols and thyne images wyll I destroy out of thee, so that thou shalt no more bowe thy selfe vnto the workes of thyne owne handes.
Thy groues wyll I plucke vp by the rootes, and breake downe thy cities.
And I wyll execute a vengeaunce in my wrath & indignation vpon the heathen, such as they haue not heard.
HEarken ye nowe what the Lorde sayth: Arise thou, and contend with the mountaynes, and let the hilles heare thy voyce.
Heare O ye mountaines the Lordes quarel, and ye mightie foundations of the earth: for the Lorde hath a quarell against his people, and wyll pleade with Israel.
O my people what haue I done vnto thee? or wherein haue I greeued thee? geue me aunswere.
For I brought thee out of the lande of Egypt, & deliuered thee out of the house of bondage, and I made Moyses, Aaron, and Miriam to leade thee.
Remember O my people, what Bala•h the king of Moab had deuised against thee, and what aunswere that Balaam the sonne of Beor gaue him, from Sethin vnto Galgal, that ye may knowe the righteousnesse of the Lorde.
Wherewith shall I come before the Lorde, and bowe my selfe to the hye God? Shall I come before him with burnt offeringes, and with calues of a yere olde?
Hath the Lorde a pleasure in many thousandes of Rammes, or innumerable streames of oyle? shall I geue my first borne for myne offences, and the fruite of my body for the sinne of my soule?
He hath shewed thee O man what is good, and what the Lorde requireth of thee: [namely] to do iustly, to loue mercie, and to humble thy selfe to walke with thy God.
The Lordes voyce cryeth vnto the citie, and the man that shalbe saued considereth thy name: hearken what is your rodde, & heare him that warneth you.
Are not yet the treasures of wickednesse in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure which is abhominable?
Should I iustifie the false balaunces, and the bagge of deceitfull weightes?
For the riche men thereof are full of crueltie, and the inhabitantes thereof haue spoken lyes, and haue deceitfull tongues in their mouthes.
Therefore I wyll take in hande to punishe thee, and to make thee desolate, because of thy sinnes.
Thou shalt eate, and not haue inough: yea, thou shalt bring thy selfe downe in the middes of thee, thou shalt flee, but not escape, and those that thou wouldest saue, wyll I deliuer to the sworde.
Thou shalt sowe, but not reape, thou shalt presse out Oliues, but oyle shalt thou not haue to annoynt thy selfe withall: thou shalt tread out sweete must, but shalt drincke no wine.
Ye kepe the ordinaunces of Amri, and all the customes of the house of Ahab, ye walke in their counsels: therfore wyl I make thee waste, and cause thy inhabiters to be hissed at, and ye shall beare the reproche of my people.
WO is me, I am become as one that goeth a gleanyng in the haruest: there are no mo grapes to eate, yet would I faine with al my hearte haue of the best fruite.
There is not a godly vpon earth, there is not one righteous among men: they al lye in wayte for blood, and euery man hunteth his brother to death.
Yet they say they do wel, when they do euyll: the prince asketh, and the iudge [iudgeth] for a rewarde, therfore the great man speaketh out of the corruption of his soule, and so they wrappe it vp.
The best of them is as bryer, and the most righteous of them is [sharper] then a thorne hedge: the day of thy watchmen, [and] of thy visitation commeth: then shalbe their confusion.
Let no man beleeue his friende, nor put his confidence in his brother: kepe the doore of thy mouth from her that lyeth in thy bosome.
For the sonne dishonoreth his father, the daughter riseth against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in lawe: and a mans foes are euen they of his owne housholde.
Neuerthelesse, I wil looke vp vnto the Lorde, I will patiently abyde God my sauiour: my God shall heare me.
O thou enemie of myne reioyce not at my fall, for I shall rise againe: & though I sit in darkenesse, yet the Lorde is my light.
I will beare the wrath of the Lord, for I haue offended hym till he sit in iudgement vpon my cause, and see that I haue right: then will he bring me foorth to the light, and I shall see his righousnesse.
She that is myne enemie, shall loke vpon it and be confounded, which nowe sayth, Where is the Lorde thy God? myne eyes shall beholde her when she shalbe troden downe as the myre in the streetes.
This is the day that thy walles shalbe buylt, this day shall dryue farre away the decree.
And at that time shall they come vnto thee from Assur, from the strong cities, and from the strong holdes, euen vnto the riuer: from the one sea to the other, and from mountayne to mountayne.
Notwithstanding, the land must be wasted, because of them that dwell therin, and for the fruites of their owne imaginations.
Therfore feede thy people with thy rod, the flocke of thyne heritage whiche dwel desolate in the wood, that they may be fed vpon the mount of Carmel, Basan, and Gilead, as aforetime.
Maruelous thinges wil I shewe thee, like as when thou camest out of the lande of Egypt.
This shall the heathen see, and be ashamed for all their power: so that they shall lay their hande vpon their mouth, and stoppe their eares.
They shal licke the dust like a serpente, and as the wormes of the earth that tremble in their holes: they shalbe afrayde of the Lorde our God, and they shall feare thee.
Who is such a God as thou, that pardonest wickednesse, and forgeuest the offences of the remnaunt of thyne heritage? He kepeth not his wrath for euer: for his delite is to haue compassion.
He shall turne againe, and be merciful to vs, he shall put downe our wickednesses, and cast all our sinnes into the bottome of the sea.
Thou wilt perfourme to Iacob thy trueth, and thy mercie to Abraham, like as thou hast sworne vnto our fathers in olde time.
THe burden of Niniue: The boke of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
God is ielous, & the Lorde auengeth, the Lorde auengeth and hath wrath in store: the Lord auengeth vpon them that trouble hym, and he remembreth his enemies.
The Lorde is slowe to anger, and [also] of great power, and in no case will not acquite [the wicked,] the Lordes dealing is with blustring tempest and whirle winde, and the cloudes are the dust of his feete.
He rebuketh the sea and dryeth it vp, all the riuers also he maketh drye: Basan and Carmel are destroyed, the spring also of Libanon is destroyed.
The mountaynes quake at his power and the hilles are resolued: the earth also bu•neth at his countenaunce, the worlde, and all that dwelleth therin.
Who can stande before his wrath? or who can rise vp before the anger of his countenaunce, his fiercenesse is powred out like fire, yea the rockes cleaue in peeces at his might.
The Lord is gratious, a strong holde in the day of trouble, and knoweth them that trust in hym.
But with an ouerrunning flood he wil destroy her place, and will pursue his enemies with darkenesse.
What imagine ye against the Lorde? he makes an vtter destruction: ye shall not be troubled twyse.
For whyles the thornes cleaue together, and whyles they banquet out their feastes, they are deuoured vp as very drie stubble.
There came out of thee such as thought euyll against the Lorde, such as gaue wicked counsell.
Thus sayth the Lorde: Though ye be in concorde, and also many, yet so shall ye be cut downe, and passe: & [though] I haue afflicted thee [O Hierusalem] yet will I trouble thee no more.
And nowe I will breake of his yoke from •vpon• thee, and I will breake thy bondes in sunder.
The Lorde also hath geuen a commaundement touching thee that, there shalbe no more ofspring of thy name: from the house of thy God, I will cut of carued and molten image, I will make •it] thy graue, for thou art vile.
Behold vpon the mountaynes the feete of him that bringeth good tidinges, that preacheth peace: kepe thy festiual dayes O Iuda, paye thy vowes: for the wicked •tiraunt] shal hereafter passe no more through thee, he is vtterly cut of.
THe destroyer is come vp before thy face, kepe thy forte, see to the way, strenghten [thy] loynes, increase [thy] strength mightyly:
For the Lord restores againe the glorious estate of Iacob, as [also] the glorious estate of Israel: for spoylers hath spoyled them, and hath wasted their braunches.
The shielde of his valiaunt souldiours [is• died red, his captaynes of warre are clad with scarlet: the charret is [compassed] with flammig torches in the day of his expedition, and the firre staues are drenched in poyson.
The charrets shal rage in the streetes, they shall make a terrible noyse in the broade wayes, to loke to like [flaming] cressets, shooting as lightning.
He shall remember his notable souldiours, they shal stumble in goyng, they shall hasten to the wall, the couering fence is prepared.
The riuer gates are opened, and the palace dissolued.
Huzab is brought foorth captiue, made to ascend [into the charets] her handmaydens also leading [one another] as in the voyce of doues, knocking vpon their brestes.
Yea many a day Niniue was as a ponde full of water, yet [now] they flee, Stand ye, stande ye, and no man loketh backe.
Take your spoyle of siluer, take your spoyle of golde, for there is no ende of riches: treasure, pashing all treasure.
Sacking, resacking, rasing, a dissolued heart and collision of knees, sorow in all loynes also, and the faces of them all as blacke as a pot.
Where is the abiding place of lions, and the feding plot of lions whelpes [become,] whyther the young and olde lion had their resort? there dwelt the lion, & there was no man to put him in feare.
The lion made his praye aboundauntly for his whelpes, and strangled for his she lions, and hath filled his dennes with pray, and his abyding places with spoyle.
Behold me against thee sayth the Lord of hoastes, & I will burne in smoke her charets, and the sworde shall deuoure thy lions, I will roote out also from the earth thy spoyling, and the voyce of thy messengers shalbe hearde no more.
O Bloody citie, stuffed throughout with falsehood, with extreme dealing, nor wilbe brought from spoyling.
The noyse of the whippe, the noyse of ratling of wheales, the praunsing of horses, and the iumping of charets:
The horseman lifting vp both the glistering blade of the sword & also the shining speare, many wounded, many corpses, and no end of carcasses, they shall stumble at dead bodies.
Because of the manyfolde fornication of the beautifull harlot, ful of charmes, that selles nations by the meanes of her whordome, and the people through her charminges.
Lo I against thee sayth the Lorde of ho•stes, and will turne vp thy skirtes ouer thy face, and wil shewe the gentiles thy fylth, and kingdomes thy shame:
And will cast vpon thee abominable filth, and wil bring thee downe, and wil make thee as vile as doung.
And it shall come to passe that all that shall be hold thee, shall flee from thee, and shall say, Niniue is destroyed, and who is greeued therwith? from whence shall I seke out comforters for thee?
Wilt thou count thy selfe better then Alexandria the great, that was scituate amonges the riuers, compassed round about with water, whose fortresse was the sea [and had] her wall from the sea?
Ethiopia and Egypt [were thy] strength, and there was none end [of ayde,] Phut and Lubim were thy helpers.
Notwithstanding she passed away, she went into captiuitie, her children also were dashed in peeces in the top of all the streetes: for her horrible men they cast lottes, and all her great states they chayned in fetters.
And thou [also] shalt be drunke{n} [with trouble] thou shalt be hyd: thou also shalt seke after strength against thine enemie.
All thy strong aydes [are as] figge trees with the first ripe figges: if they be stirred, they fal into the mouth of the 〈◊〉.
Behold thy men •are as baren• women in the middest of thee, the gates of thy lande shalbe set wyde open to thine enemies, fire hath deuoured thy barres.
Drawe thee water for the siege, strengthen thy fortes, go into the clay, treade the morter, make strong the brickyll.
There the fire shall deuoure thee, the sword shall cut thee of, shall deuoure as the locust, though [thou] be multiplied as the locust, though thou be as many as the grashopper.
Thou hast increased thy marchauntes as the starres of heauen, the locust spoyleth, and fleeth away.
Thy princes are as grashoppers, and thy rulers as great locustes, they swarme in hedges in cold weather, the sunne ariseth and they flee, and the place where they were is not knowen.
Thy sheepheardes O king of Assur slumber, thy noble men shall dwell [in death] thy people is scattered vpon the mountaynes, & there is none to gather them together.
Thy wound [shall] not be healed, thy plague is great, all that heare of thee, clap their handes: For to whom hath not thy euil dealing pearsed continually?
THe burde{n} which Habacuc the prophete dyd see.
O Lorde, howe long shall I crye, and thou wilt not heare? [euen] crye out vnto thee for violence, and thou wilt not helpe?
Why doest thou shew me iniquitie, and cause me to beholde sorowe? for spoyling and violence are before me, & there are that rayse vp stryfe and contention.
Therfore the law is dissolued, & iudgement doth neuer go foorth: for the wicked doth compasse about the righteous, therfore wrong iudgement proceedeth.
Behold among the heathen, and regarde, and wonder, and marueyll: for I will worke a worke in your dayes, ye will not beleue it though it be tolde you.
For lo, I rayse vp the Chaldeans, that bitter and furious nation, whiche shall go vpon the breadth of the land, to possesse the dwelling places that are not theirs.
They are terrible and fearfull: their iudgement and their dignitie shall procede of them selues.
Their horses also are swifter then the leopardes, and are more fierce then the wolues in the euening, and their horsemen shall come from farre: they shall flee as the Egle hasting to meate.
They come all to spoyle: before their faces shalbe an eastwinde, and they shall gather the captiuitie as the sande.
And they shall mocke the kinges, and the princes shalbe a scorne vnto them: they shall deride euery strong hold, for they shall gather dust, and take it.
Then shall they take a courage, and transgresse, and do wickedly, [imputing] this their power vnto their god.
Art not thou of olde, O Lord my God, my holy one? we shall not dye, O Lord thou hast ordeined them for iudgement, and O God thou hast established them for correction.
Thou art of pure eyes, and canst not see euyl, thou canst not behold wickednesse: wherfore [then] doest thou loke vpo{n} the transgressours, and holdest thy tongue, when the wicked deuoureth the man that is more righteous then he?
And makest men as the fishe of the sea, and as the creeping thinges that haue no ruler ouer them.
They take vp all with the angle, they catche it in their net, and gather it in their yarne: wherof they reioyce and are glad.
Therfore they sacrifice vnto their net, and burne incense vnto their yarne: because by them their portion is fat, and their meate plenteous.
Shall they therfore stretche out their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
I Will stande vpon my watche, and set me vpon the towre, & will loke, and see what he will say vnto me, and what I shall aunswere to him that rebuketh me.
And the Lord aunswered me, and said: write the vision, and make it plaine vpon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
For the vision is yet for an appoynted time, but at the last it shall speake, and not lye: though it tary, wayte: for it shall surely come, and shall not stay.
Behold, he that lifteth vp him selfe, his minde is not vpright in him: but the iust shall liue by his fayth.
Yea in deede the proude man [is as] he that transgresseth by wine, therfore shall he not endure, because he hath enlarged his desire as the hell, & is as death, and can not be satisfied, but gathereth vnto him all nations, and heapeth vnto him all people.
Shall not all these take vp a parable against him? and a taunting prouerbe against him, and say: Wo he that increaseth that which is not his? how long? and he that ladeth him selfe with thicke clay?
Shall they not rise vp sodenly that shall byte thee? and awake that shall stirre thee, & thou shalt be their pray?
Because thou hast spoyled many nations, all the remnaunt of the people shall spoyle thee, because of mens blood, and for the wrong [done] in the lande, in the citie, and vnto all that dwell therin.
Wo he that coueteth an euyll couetousnesse to his house, that he may set his nest on hie, to escape from the power of euyll.
Thou hast consulted shame to thyne owne house, by destroying many people, & hast sinned against thyne owne soule.
For the stone shall crye out of the wal, and the beame out of the timber shall aunswere it.
Wo vnto him that buyldeth a towne with blood, and erecteth a citie by iniquitie.
Behold, is it not of the Lord of hoastes that the people shall labour in the very fire? the people shall euen weery them selues for very vanitie.
For the earth shalbe filled with the knowledge of the glorie of the Lorde, as the waters couer the sea.
Wo vnto him that geueth his neyghbour drinke, thou ioynest thy heate, and makest [him] drunken also, that thou mayest see their priuities.
Thou art filled with shame for glorie, drinke thou also and be made naked: the cup of the Lordes right hand shalbe turned vnto thee, and shamefull spuyng shalbe for thy glorie.
For the crueltie of Libanus shall couer thee: so shal the spoyle of the beastes which he made afrayde, because of mens blood, and for the wrong done in the land, in the citie, and vnto all that dwell therin.
What profiteth the image? for the maker therof hath made it an image and a teacher of lyes, though he that made it trust therin when he maketh dumbe idoles.
Wo vnto hym that sayth to the wood, Awake: and to the dumbe stone, Rise vp, it shall teache [thee:] beholde it is layde ouer with gold and siluer, & there is no breath in it.
But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth kepe scilence before hym.
A Prayer of Habacuc the prophete for the ignoraunces.
O lord I haue heard thy voyce, and was afrayde: O Lorde reuiue thy worke in the middes of the yeres, in the middes of the yeres make it knowen, in wrath remember mercie.
God commeth from Theman, and the holy one from mount Paran, Selah. his glorie couereth the heauens, and the earth is full of his prayse.
And [his] brightnesse was as the light: he had hornes [comming] out of his handes, and there was the hyding of his power.
Before him went the pestilence, and burning coales went foorth before his feete.
He stoode, and measured the earth, he behelde, and dissolued the nations, and the euerlasting mountaynes were broken, and the auncient hilles did bowe, his wayes are euerlasting.
For iniquitie I saw the tentes of Chusan, [and] the curtaynes of the lande of Madian dyd tremble.
Was the Lorde angry against the riuers? or was thyne anger against the •oodes? or was thy wrath against the sea, that thou diddest ryde vpon thy horses? thy charets [brought] saluation.
Thy bow was manyfestly reuealed, and the othes of the tribes [were] a sure word. Selah. thou diddest cleaue the earth with riuers.
The mountaynes sawe thee and they trembled, the streame of the water passed by, the deepe made a noyse, and lift vp his handes on hye.
The sonne [and] moone stoode still in [their] habitation, at the light of thyne arrowes they went, [and] at the bright shining of thy speares.
Thou trodest downe the land in anger: [and] dyddest threshe the heathen in displeasure.
Thou wentest foorth for the saluation of thy people, [euen] for saluation with thyne annoynted: thou hast wounded the head of the house of the wicked, and discoueredst the foundations vnto the necke. Selah.
Thou diddest strike thorow with his owne staues the heades of his villages, they came out as a whirlewinde to scatter me: their reioycyng was as to deuour the poore secretly.
Thou diddest walke in the sea with thyne horses, vpon the heape of great waters.
When I hearde, my belly trembled, my lippes shoke at the voice, rottennesse entred into my bones, & I trembled in my selfe, that I might rest in the day of trouble: for when he commeth vp vnto the people, he shall destroy them.
For the figgetree shall not floorish, neither shall fruite be in the vines: the labour of the oliue shall fayle, & the fieldes shall yelde no meate: the sheepe shalbe cut of from the folde, and there shalbe no bullocke in the stalles.
But I will reioyce in the Lord, I will ioy in the God of my saluation.
The Lord God is my strength, he wil make my feete like hindes [feete] & he wil make me to walke vpon my hye places, To the chiefe singer on Neginothai, [or vpon the instrumentes of musicke.]
THe worde of the Lord which came vnto Sophoni the sonne of Chusi, the sonne of Gedaliah, the sonne of Amariah, the sonne of Hezekiah in the time of Iosia the sonne of Amon king of Iuda.
I will surely destroy all thinges in the land, sayth the Lorde.
I will destroy man and beast, I will destroy the foules in the ayre, and the fishe in the sea, and great ruine shall fall on the wicked, and I wil vtterly destroy the men out of the land, sayth the Lorde.
I wil stretch out myne hand vpon Iuda and vpon all such as dwell at Hierusalem: thus will I roote out the remnaunt of Baal from this place, and the names of the Kemurins and priestes:
Yea & such as vpon their house toppes worship and bowe them selues vnto the hoast of heauen, whiche sweare by the Lorde, and by their Malchom also▪
Which start backe from the Lorde, and neither seke after the Lorde nor regard hym.
Be still at the presence of the Lorde God, for the day of the Lord is at hand: yea the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, and called his ghestes therto.
And thus shall it happen, in the day of the Lordes sacrifice I will visite the princes and the kinges children, and al such as weare straunge clothing.
In the same day also will I visite all those that leape ouer the thresholde so proudly, whiche fill their lordes house with robberie and falshood.
At the same time sayth the Lord, [there shalbe hearde] a great crye from the fishe porte, and an howling from the seconde porte, and a great destruction from the hylles.
Howle ye that dwel in the lowe places, for al the marchaunt people are destroyed, and all they that were laden with siluer, are rooted out.
At the same time will I searche Hierusalem with lanternes, and visite them that continue in their dregges, and say in their heartes, Tush, the Lorde will do neither good nor euyll.
Therfore their goodes shalbe spoyled, & their houses layed waste: they shall buylde houses, and not dwell in them, they shall plante vineyardes, but not drinke the wine therof.
For the great day of the Lorde is at hande, it is harde by, and commeth on a pace, euen the bitter voyce of the Lordes day, then shall the strong man crye out.
That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and heauinesse, a day of vtter destruction and miserie, a darke & glowming day, a cloudy and stormie day.
A day of the trumpet and alarum against the strong cities, and hie towres.
I will bring the people into such vexation, that they shall go about like blinde men, because they haue sinned against the Lorde, their blood shalbe powred out as dust, & their bodies as the myre.
Neither their siluer nor their gold shalbe able to deliuer them in that wrothful day of the Lorde, but the who•e lande shalbe consumed thorowe the fire of his ielousie: for he shall soone make cleane riddaunce of all them that dwell in the lande.
GAther your selues, eue{n} gather you, O nation not worthy to be loued,
Before the decree go foorth that God hath concluded [and ye be] as chaffe that passeth in a day, & before the fearfull wrath of the Lorde come vpon you, & before the day of the Lordes sore displeasure come vpon you.
Seke the Lorde all ye meeke hearted vpon earth, ye that worke after his iudgement: seke righteousnesse, seke lowlinesse, that ye may be defended in the wrothfull day of the Lorde:
For Gaza shalbe destroyed, and Ascalon shalbe layde waste, they shall cast out Asdod at the noone day, and Accaron shalbe rooted vp.
Wo vnto you that dwell vpon the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethims: the worde of the Lord shal come vpon you O Chanaan thou lande of the Philistines, I will destroy thee, so that there shall no man dwell in thee any more.
And as for the sea coast, it shalbe heardmens cotages, and sheepefoldes.
Yea it shalbe a portion for such as remayne of the house of Iuda, to feede therevpon, in the houses of Ascalon shal they rest towarde night: for the Lorde their God shall visite them, and turne away their captiuitie.
I haue heard the despite of Moab, and the blasphemies of the children of Ammon, how they haue shamefully intreated my people, & magnified them selues within the borders of their lande.
Therefore as I liue, sayth the Lord of hoastes the God of Israel, Moab shalbe as Sodoma, & Ammon as Gomorra, euen the breeding of nettles, and salt pittes, & a perpetuall wildernesse: The residue of my folke shal spoyle them, the remnaunt of my people shall haue them in possession.
This shall happen vnto them for their pryde, because they haue dealt so shamefully with the Lorde of hoastes people, and magnified them selues aboue them.
The Lord shalbe terrible vnto them, and destroy all the gods in the lande: and all the Iles of the Heathen shall worship hym, euery man in his place.
Ye Morians also shall perishe with my sworde.
Yea he shall stretch out his hande ouer the north, and destroy Assur: As for Niniue he shall make it desolate, drye, and waste.
The flockes and all the beastes of the people shall lye in the middest of it, pellicanes and owles shal abide in the vpper postes of it, foules shall sing in the wyndowes, and desolation shalbe vpon the postes, for the Cedars are vncouered.
This is the proude and carelesse citie that sayd in her heart, I am, and there is els none besides me: O howe is she made so wast that the beastes lie in her? Who so goeth by, mocketh her, & poynteth at her with his finger.
WO to that abhominable, filthy, and cruel citie.
She hearde not the voyce, she receaued not correction, she trusted not in the Lorde, she drewe not neare to her God.
Her rulers within her are as roaring lions, her iudges are as wolues in the euening, whiche leaue nothing behinde them till the morowe.
Her prophetes are light persons & vnfaythful men, her priestes haue polluted the sanctuarie, & haue wrested the law.
But the iust Lord that doth no vnright, was in the middes therof, euery morning shewing them his lawe clearly, and ceassed not: but the vngodly will not learne to be ashamed.
I haue destroyed the nations, their towres are desolate, I haue made their streetes wast, that none shall passe by: their cities are destroyed, without man, and without inhabitaunt.
I sayde vnto them, O feare me, and be content to be refourmed, so their dwelling shoulde not be destroyed howe soeuer I visited them: But neuerthelesse, they rose vp early, and corrupted all their workes.
Therfore wayte ye vpon me, sayth the Lorde, vntill the time that I ryse vp to the pray: for I am determined to gather the people, & to bring the kingdomes together, that I may poure out myne anger, yea all my wrathfull displeasure vpon them: For all the earth shalbe consumed with the fire of my ielousie.
And then will I clense the lippes of the people, that they may euery one call vpon the name of the Lorde, and serue him with one consent.
From beyonde the riuers of Ethiopia, the daughter of my dispearsed prayng vnto me, shall bring me an offering.
In that time shalt thou no more be confounded, because of all the imaginations wherethorowe thou haddest offended me: for I will take away the proude boasters of thyne honour from thee, so that thou shalt no more triumph because of my holy hill.
In thee also will I leaue a smal poore simple people, whiche shall trust in the name of the Lorde.
The remnaunt of Israel shall do no wickednesse, nor speake lyes, neither shall there any deceytfull tongue be found in their mouthes: For they shalbe fed, and take their rest, and no man shall make them afrayde.
Reioyce O daughter Sion, be ioyfull O Israel: reioyce and be glad from thy whole heart O daughter Hierusalem,
For the Lorde hath taken away thy punishment, & hath cast out thyne enemies: The king of Israel, euen the Lord him selfe is with thee, so that thou nedest no more to feare any misfortune.
In that time it shalbe sayde to Hierusalem, Feare not: and to Sion, Let not thyne handes be flacke:
For the Lorde thy God in the mids of thee is mightie, he will saue [thee] he wil reioyce ouer thee with ioy, he wil quiet him selfe in his loue, he will reioyce ouer thee with gladnesse.
After a certayne time will I gather the afflicted that were of thee, and them that bare the reproche for it.
And behold, in that time will I destroy all those that vexe thee, I will helpe the lame, and gather vp the castaway: yea I will get them prayse and honour in al landes, where they haue ben put to shame.
At the same time will I bring you againe, & at the same time will I gather you: I will get you a name and a good report among all people of the earth, when I turne backe your captiuitie before your eyes, sayth the Lorde.
IN the second yere of king Darius, in the sixth moneth, the first day of the moneth, came the word of the Lord by the ministerie of {th}e prophete Aggeus vnto Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel a prince of Iuda, and to Iosua the sonne of Iosedech the hye priest, saying:
Thus speaketh the Lorde of hoastes, saying: This people sayth, The time is not yet come for the Lordes house to be buylded.
Then came the worde of the Lorde by the ministerie of the prophete Aggeus, saying:
Is it time for you your selues to dwel in seeled houses, and this house lie wast?
Nowe thus sayth the Lord of hoastes, Consider your owne wayes in your heartes.
Ye haue sowen much, but ye bryng litle in: ye eate, but ye haue not inough: ye drinke, but ye are not filled: ye cloth you, but ye be not warme: and he that earneth wages, putteth the wages into a broken bagge.
Thus sayth the Lorde of hoastes, Consider your owne wayes in your heartes.
Get you vp to the mountayne, and fetche wood, and buyld this house, & I wil take pleasure in it, and I wilbe glorified, sayth the Lorde.
Ye loked for much, and lo it came to litle, and when ye brought it home, I dyd blowe vpon it: and why, sayth the Lord of hoastes? because of my house that is waste, and you run euery man into his his owne house.
Therfore vpon you the heauen is stayed from deawe, & the earth is stayed from yeelding her increase.
And I haue called for a drought vpon the land, and vpon the mountaynes, and vpon the corne, & vpon the wine, and vpon the oyle, and vpon al that the ground bringeth foorth, vpon men, & vpon cattel, and vpon all the labour of the handes.
When Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iosua the sonne of Iosedech the hye priest, with all the remnaunt of the people, hearde the voyce of the Lorde their God, and the wordes of the prophete Haggeus, as the Lorde their God had sent him, then the people dyd feare before the Lorde.
Then Haggeus the Lordes messenger sayd in the Lordes message vnto the people, saying: I am with you saith the Lorde.
And the Lorde stirred vp the spirite of Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel a prince of Iuda, and the spirite of Iosua the sonne of Iosedech the hie priest, and the spirite of all the people: & they came and dyd the worke in the house of the Lorde of hoastes their God.
IN the twentie and fourth day of the sixt moneth, in the seconde yere of king Darius,
In the seuenth moneth in the twentie and one day of the moneth, came the worde of the Lord by the ministerie of the prophete Haggeus, saying:
Say nowe to Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel prince of Iuda, and to Iosua the sonne of Iosedech the hie priest, and to rest of the people, saying:
Who is among you left, whiche sawe this house in her first glorie, and howe do you see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it, as nothing?
Yet nowe be of good cheare O Zorobabel, sayth the Lord, and be of good comfort O Iosua thou hye priest sonne of Iosedech, and be strong all ye people of the lande, sayth the Lorde, and worke: for I am with you sayth the Lorde of hoastes,
According to the worde that I couenaunted with you, when ye came out of Egypt: and my spirite shall remayne with you, feare ye not.
For thus sayth the Lorde of hoastes Yet a litle whyle, and I will shake the heauens, and the earth, and the sea, and the drie lande:
And I will moue all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glorie, sayth the Lorde of hoastes.
The siluer is myne, and the golde is myne, sayth the Lorde of hoastes.
The glorie of the seconde house, shalbe greater then the glorie of the first, sayth the Lorde of hoastes: and in this place will I geue peace, sayth the Lorde of hoastes.
In the twentie and fourth day of the nynth moneth in the second yere of king Darius, came the word of the Lord vnto the prophete Haggeus, saying:
Thus sayth the Lord God of hoastes, Aske nowe ye priestes [concernyng] the lawe, saying:
If one beare holy fleshe in the skirt of his coate, & with his skirt do touche the bread, potage, wine, oyle, or any other meate, shall it be holy? And the priestes aunswered and sayde, No.
And Haggeus sayd: If a polluted person touche any of these, shall he not be polluted? And the priestes aunswered, and saide, He shalbe polluted.
Then Haggeus aunswered, and sayde: So is this people, and so is this nation before me sayth the Lord, and so is al the worke of their handes: & that which they offer there is vncleane.
And nowe consider I pray you in your mindes from this day, and vpward, before there was layed one stone vpon an other in the house of the Lorde,
Before these thinges [were done] when one came to a heape of twentie [measures] there were but ten: so who came to the wyne presse for to drawe out fiftie [vessels of wyne] out of the presse, there were but twentie.
I smote you with blasting, and with mildeawe, and with hayle, in all the worke of your handes, and you turned not vnto me, sayth the Lorde.
Consider nowe in your mindes from this day, and afore, from the foure and twentie day of the nynth [moneth,] vnto the day that the foundation of the lordes temple was layde, consider it in your mindes:
Is the seede yet in the barne? as yet the vines, and the figge tree, and the pomegranate, & the oliue tree hath not brought foorth: from this day will I blesse [you.]
And againe the worde of the Lorde came vnto Haggei in the foure & twentie [day] of the moneth, saying:
Speake to Zorobabel the prince of Iuda, and say, I will shake the heauens and the earth:
And I will ouerthrow the throne of kingdomes, & I wil destroy the strength of the kingdomes of the heathen, and I will ouerthrowe the charettes and the sitters thereon, and the horse and the riders shall fall downe euery one by the sworde of his brother.
In that day, saith the Lord of hoastes, will I take thee Zorobabel my seruaunt sonne of Salathiel, sayth the Lord, & will make thee as a signet: for I haue chosen thee, sayth the Lorde of hoastes.
IN the eyght moneth of the seconde yere of king Darius, came the worde of the Lord vnto Zacharias the sonne of Barachias the sonne of Addo the prophete, saying:
The Lorde hath ben sore displeased with your forefathers.
And say thou vnto them, thus sayth the Lorde of hoastes: Turne you vnto me saith the Lord of hoastes, & I wil turne vnto you, sayth the Lord of hoastes.
Be ye not like your forefathers, vnto whom prophetes cryed, saying, thus sayth the Lorde of hoastes,
Turne you from your euyl wayes, and from your wicked imaginations: But they woulde not heare nor regarde me, sayth the Lorde.
What is nowe become of your forefathers? & do the prophetes liue for euer?
But did not my wordes and statutes whiche I commaunded by my seruauntes the prophetes take hold of your forefathers? and they returned, & sayde: Like as the Lorde of hoastes determined to do vnto vs according to our owne wayes and imaginations, euen so hath he dealt with vs.
Vpon the twentie and fourth day of the eleuenth moneth, (whiche is the moneth Sebah) in the seconde yere of Darius, came the word of the Lord vnto Zacharias the sonne of Barachias the sonne of Addo the prophete, saying:
I sawe by night, and behold, there sate one vpon a red horse, and stoode still among the myrre trees that were in a botome: and behinde hym were there red, speckled, and whyte horses.
Then sayde I, O my Lorde, what are these? And the angel that talked with me, sayde vnto me: I will shewe thee what these be.
And the man that stoode among the myrre trees aunswered, and said: These are they whom the Lorde hath sent to go thorowe the world.
And they aunswered the angel of the Lorde that stoode among the myrre trees, and sayd: We haue gone thorowe the world, and beholde all the world sitteth still, and is carelesse.
Then the lordes angel gaue aunswere, and saide: O lorde of hoastes, how long wylt thou be vnmerciful to Hierusalem, and to the cities of Iuda, with whom thou hast ben displeased now these three score and ten yeres?
So the Lorde gaue a louing and a comfortable aunswere vnto the angel that talked with me.
And the angel that communed with me, saide vnto me: Crye thou, & speake, Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: I am exceeding ielous ouer Hierusalem and Sion,
And sore displeased at the carelesse heathen: for where as I was but a litle angry, they helped forward the affliction.
Therfore thus saith the Lorde: I wyl returne vnto Hierusalem in tender mercie, so that my house shalbe builded in it, saith the Lorde of hoastes: yea, and the lyne shalbe stretched vpon Hierusale{m}.
Crye also and speake, thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: My cities shalbe in good prosperitie againe, the Lorde shall yet comforte Sion, & choose Hierusalem.
Then lyft I vp myne eyes and sawe, and beholde, foure hornes.
And I saide vnto the angel that talked with me, what be these? He aunswered me, These are the hornes which haue scattered Iuda, Israel, and Hierusalem.
And the Lorde shewed me foure carpenters.
Then saide I: what wyll these do? He aunswered & said: These are the hornes which haue scattered Iuda, so that no man durst lyft vp his head: but these are come to fray them away, and to cast out the hornes of the Gentiles which lyft vp their horne ouer the lande of Iuda to scatter it abroade.
I Lyft vp myne eyes agayne and loked: and beholde a man, with a measure lyne in his hande.
Then saide I: whyther goest thou? And he said vnto me: To measure Hierusalem, that I may see how long and how broade it is.
And behold, the angel that talked with me, went his way foorth: Then went there out another angel to meete him▪
And saide vnto him, Runne, speake to this young man, and say: Hierusalem shalbe inhabited without any wall for the very multitude of people and cattaile that shalbe therein.
For I my selfe, saith the Lorde, wyl be vnto her a wall of fire rounde about, & wyl be the glory in the middest of her.
O get you foorth, O flee from the land of the north, saith the Lorde: for I haue scattred you into the foure windes of the heauen, saith the Lorde.
Saue thy selfe O Sion, thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon:
For thus saith the Lorde of hoastes, After this glory hath he sent me out to the heathen which spoyled you: for who so toucheth you, shal touche the apple of his owne eye.
Beholde, I wyll lyft vp myne hande ouer them, so that they shall be spoyled of those which afore serued them: and ye shall knowe that the Lorde of hoastes hath sent me.
Be glad and reioyce O daughter Sion: for lo, I am come to dwell in the middest of thee, saith the Lorde.
At the same time there shal many heathen cleaue to the lord, & shalbe my people: Thus wyll I dwell in the middest of thee, and thou shalt knowe that the lorde of hoastes hath sent me vnto thee.
The Lorde shall haue Iuda in possession for his part in the holy lande, and shall choose Hierusalem yet againe.
Let all fleshe be still before the Lorde: for he is raysed vp out of his holy place.
ANd he shewed me Iosua the hie priest standing before the angell of the Lord, and Satan stoode at his right hande to resist him.
And the Lorde saide vnto Satan: The Lorde reproue thee thou Satan, yea the Lorde that hath chosen Hierusalem reproue thee: Is not this a brand taken out of the fire?
Now Iosua was clothed in vncleane rayment, and stoode before the angel.
And he aunswered & saide vnto those that stoode before him, Take away the foule clothes fro{m} him. And vnto him he saide: Beholde, I haue taken away thy sinne from thee, and I wyll clothe thee with chaunge of rayment.
And I saide, Let them set a fayre miter vpon his head: So they set a fayre miter vpon his head, & put on clothes vpon him, and the angell of the Lorde stoode there.
Then the angell of the Lorde testified vnto Iosua, and spake,
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: If thou wylt walke in my wayes, & keepe my watch, thou shalt iudge my house, & kepe my courtes, and I wyll geue thee place among these that stande here.
Heare O Iosua thou hie priest, thou & thy felowes that sit before thee, for they are monstruous persons: behold, I wyl bring foorth the braunche my seruaunt.
For lo, the stone that I haue layde before Iosua, vpon one stone shalbe seuen eyes: beholde, I wyll cut out the grauing therof, saith the Lorde of hoastes, and I wyll take away the sinne of the lande in one day.
In that day shall euery man call his neighbour vnder the vine, and vnder the figtree, saith the Lorde of hoastes.
ANd the angell that talked with me, came againe, and waked me, as a man that is raysed out of his sleepe,
And saide vnto me: what seest thou? And I saide: I haue loked, and beholde, a candelsticke all of golde, with a boule vpon it, and his seuen lampes therein, & vpon euery lampe seuen pypes.
And two olyue trees thereby: one vpon the right side of the boule, & the other vpon the left side.
So I aunswered, and spake to the angell that talked with me, saying, O my Lorde, what are these?
The angell that talked with me aunswered and saide vnto me: Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No my Lorde.
He aunswered and saide vnto me: This is the worde of the Lorde vnto Zorobabel, saying, Neither through an hoast of men, nor through strength: but through my spirite, saith the Lorde of hoastes.
What art thou great mountaine before Zorobabel? thou must be made euen, and he shall bring foorth the head stone therof, with showtinges, crying, Grace grace vnto it.
Moreouer, the word of the Lord came vnto me, saying:
The handes of Zorobabel haue layde the foundation of this house, his hands shal also finishe it: and thou shalt knowe that the Lorde of hoastes hath sent me vnto you.
For who hath despised the day of small thinges? they shall reioyce, and shall see the stone of tynne in the hande of Zorobabel: these seuen are the eyes of the lord, which go through {th}e whole worlde.
Then aunswered I, & saide vnto him: What are these two olyue trees vpon the right & left side of the candelsticke?
I spake moreouer, and saide vnto him: What be these two olyue braunches which through the two golden pypes emptie them selues into the golde?
He aunswered me & said: Knowest thou not what these be? & I said, no my lord.
Then said he: These are the two oliue braunches, that stand with the ruler of the whole earth.
SO I turned me, lifting vp myne eyes, & loked, and beholde, a fleeing booke.
And he saide vnto me: what seest thou? I aunswered: I see a fleeing booke of twentie cubites long, and ten cubites broade.
Then saide he vnto me, This is the curse that goeth foorth ouer the whole earth: for al theeues shalbe iudged after this booke, & al pariured persons shalbe iudged according to the same.
And I wil bring it foorth saith the lord of hoastes, so that it shall enter into the house of the theefe, and into the house of him that falsely sweareth by my name: and shall remayne in his house, and consume it, with the timber & stones therof.
Then the angel that talked with me, went foorth, and saide vnto me: Lyft vp thyne eyes, and see what is this that goeth foorth.
And I said, what is it? He aunswered: This is a measure going out. He saide moreouer: Eue{n} thus are they that dwel vpon the whole earth to loke vpon.
And behold, there was lyft vp a talent of lead: and lo, a woman sate in the middest of the measure.
And he said, This is vngodlinesse: So he cast her into the middest of the measure, and threwe the lumpe of lead into the mouth of the measure.
Then lyft I vp myne eyes, and loked, & beholde, there came out two women, and the winde was in their winges: for they had winges lyke the winges of a storke, and they lyft vp the measure betwixt the earth and the heauen.
Then spake I to the angel that talked with me: Whyther wyll these beare the measure?
And he saide vnto me: Into the land of Sinnaar to builde it an house, & it shal be established, & set there vpon her owne place.
MOreouer, I turned me, lyfting vp myne eyes, and loked, and behold there came foure charrets out from betwixt two hylles, which hylles were of brasse.
In the first charret were red horses, in {th}e seconde charret were blacke horses,
In the third charret were white horses, in the fourth charret were horses of diuers colours, and strong.
Then spake I, and saide vnto the angel that talked with me: O Lord, what are these?
The angel aunswerd & saide vnto me: These are the foure spirites of the heauen, which be come foorth to stand before the ruler of all the earth.
That with the blacke horse went foorth into the lande of the north, & the white folowed them, and the speckled horses went foorth toward the south:
And the strong horses went out, & required to go and take their iourney ouer the whole earth: And he saide, Get you hence, & go through the worlde: So they went throughout the worlde.
Then cryed he vpon me, & spake vnto me, saying: Beholde, these that go toward the north, shal stil my wrath in the north countrey.
And the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying:
Take of the prisoners that are come from Babylon, namely, Heldai, Tobiah, & Idaia: and come thou the same day, and go vnto the house of Iosiah the sonne of Zophonia.
Then take golde and siluer, & make crownes therof, and set them vpon the head of Iosua the sonne of Iosedech the hie priest,
And speake vnto him, thus saith the lord of hoastes: Behold the man whose name is the braunche, & he shall growe vp out of his place, and he shal build vp the temple of the Lorde.
Yea, euen he shal builde vp the temple of the lord, & he shal beare the prayse: he shal sit vpon the lordes throne, and haue the domination: A priest shal he be also vpon his throne, & a peaceable counsell shalbe betwixt them both.
And the crowne shalbe to Helem, & to Tobiah, & to Idaia, & to Hen the sonne of Zophoni, for a memoriall in the temple of the Lorde.
And such as be farre of shall come, and build in {th}e temple of the lord, that ye may know how that the lord of hoastes hath sent me vnto you: And this shal come to passe, if ye wyll hearken diligently vnto the voyce of the Lorde your God.
AND in the fourth yere of king Darius, the word of the lorde came vnto Zacharia in the fourth [day] of the ninth moneth, which is called Cas•eu,
What time as Sarasar & Rogommelech, and the men that were with them, sent vnto the house of God for to pray before the Lorde:
And that they shoulde speake vnto the priestes which were in the house of the Lorde of hoastes, and to the prophetes, saying: should I wepe in the fifth moneth, & abstayne as I haue done nowe certaine yeres?
Then came the worde of the Lorde of hoastes vnto me, saying:
Speake vnto al the people of the land, and to the priestes, & say: When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth & seuenth moneth now this threescore & ten yeres, did ye fast vnto me?
When ye did eate also & drincke, did ye not eate & drincke for your owne selues?
Are not these the wordes which the Lord spake by his prophetes aforetime, when Hierusalem was yet inhabited & wealthy, she and the cities round about her, whe{n} there dwelt men both toward the south and in the playne countreys?
And the worde of the Lorde came vnto Zachari, saying:
Thus saith the Lord of hoastes: Execute true iudgement, shew mercie & louing kindnes euery man to his brother.
Do the wydow, the fatherlesse, the straungers and poore no wrong, and le• no man imagine euil against his brother in his heart.
Neuerthelesse, they would not take heede, but turned their backes, & stopped their eares that they should not heare:
Yea, they made their heartes as an Adamant stone, lest they should heare the law and wordes which the Lorde of hoastes sent in his holy spirite by the prophetes aforetime: Wherfore the lord of hoastes was very wroth at them.
And thus is it come to passe, that like as he cryed, and they would not heare: euen so they cryed, & I would not heare saith the Lord God of hoastes:
But scattred them among al the nations whom they knew not: Thus the land was made so desolate after them, that there trauayled no man in it neither to nor fro: for that plesaunt lande was vtterly layd waste.
SO the word of the lord of hoastes came vnto me, saying:
Thus saith the lorde of hoastes: I was in great ielousie for Sion, yea I haue ben very ielous for her with great wrath.
Thus saith the Lord: I wyl returne vnto Sion, & wyll dwell in the middest of Hierusalem: so that Hierusalem shalbe called, A faithful and true citie, the hil of the Lorde of hoastes, an holy hill.
Thus saith the lord of hoastes: There shal yet olde men & olde women dwel againe in the streetes of Hierusalem: yea, & such as go with staues in their handes for very age.
The streetes of the citie also shalbe ful of young boyes and damsels playing in the streetes thereof.
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: If the residue of this people thinke it to be vnpossible in •their• eyes in these dayes: shoulde it therfore be vnpossible in my sight, saith the Lorde of hoastes?
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: Beholde, I wyll deliuer my people from the countryes of the east and west,
And wyl bring them againe, that they may dwel in the middest of Hierusalem: they shalbe my people, and I wyl be their God in trueth and righteousnesse.
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: Let your hands be strong ye that now heare these wordes by the mouth of the prophetes which are in these dayes, that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hoastes is layde, that the temple may be builded.
For before these dayes neither men nor cattaile could winne any thing, neither might any man come in and out in reste for trouble: but I let euery man go against his neighbour.
Neuerthelesse, I wyl now intreate the residue of this people no more as afore time, saith the Lorde of Hoastes.
For the seede shal prosper, the vine shal geue her fruite, the grounde shall geue her encrease, and the heauens shal geue their deawe, and I shall cause the remnaunt of this people to haue all these in possession.
And it shal come to passe, that like as ye were a curse among the heathen O ye house of Iuda and ye house of Israel, euen so wyll I deliuer you, that ye shal be a blessing: feare not, but let your handes be strong:
For thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: Like as I thought to punishe you, what time as your fathers prouoked me vnto wrath, saith the Lorde of hoastes, and spared not:
Euen so am I determined now in these dayes for to do well vnto the house of Iuda & Hierusale{m}: [therfore] feare ye not.
Now the thinges that ye shall do, are these: Speake euery man the trueth vnto his neighbour, execute iudgement truely & peaceably within your portes:
And let none of you imagine euil in his heart against his neighbour, and loue no false othes: for all these are {th}e thinges that I hate, saith the Lorde.
And the word of the Lorde of hoastes came vnto me, saying:
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: The fast of the fourth [moneth] the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seuenth, and the fast of the tenth, shalbe ioy & gladnesse and prosperous hie feastes vnto the house of Iuda: onely loue the trueth & peace.
Thus saith the lord of hoastes: There shal yet come people, and the inhabiters of many cities:
And they that dwell in one citie shall go to another saying, Vp, let vs go and pray before the Lorde, let vs seeke the Lorde of hoastes: I wyll go with you.
Yea much people and mightie nations shal come to seeke the lorde of hoastes at Hierusalem, & to pray before the Lorde.
Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: In that time shall ten men (out of al maner of language of the Gentiles) take one Iewe by the hemme of his garment, and say, We wyll go with you: for we haue heard that God is among you.
THe burden of the word of the lord in the lande of Hadrach: & Damascus shalbe his rest, when the eyes of man, euen of all the tribes of Israel shalbe towards the Lorde.
The borders of Hemath shalbe harde therby, Tyrus also and Sidon, for they are very wyse.
Tyrus shall make her selfe strong, heape vp siluer as the sand, and golde as the clay of the streetes.
Beholde, the Lorde shall spoyle her, he shall smite downe her power in the sea, and she shalbe consumed with fire.
This shall Ascalon see, and be afraide: Gaza shalbe very sory, so shal Accaron also, because her hope is come to confusion: For the king of Gaza shall perishe, and at Ascalon shall no man dwell.
Straungers shall dwel at Asdod, and as for the pride of the Philistines I shal roote it out.
Their blood wyl I take away from their mouth, & their abhominatio{n}s from betweene their teeth: Thus they that shalbe left shalbe for our God, he shalbe as a prince in Iuda, and Accaron like as a Iebusite.
And I wyll pitche a campe about myne house against the armie, against him that passeth by, & against him that returneth, and no oppressour shall come vpon them any more: For now I haue seene with myne eyes.
Reioyce thou greatly O daughter Sion, be glad O daughter Hierusalem: For lo, the king commeth vnto thee, euen the righteous and sauiour, lowly & simple is he, he rydeth vpon an Asse and vpon the foale of an Asse.
I wyl roote out the charrets from Ephraim, and the horse from Hierusalem, the battaile bowes shalbe destroyed, he shal geue the doctrine of peace vnto the heathen: and his dominion shalbe from the one sea to the other, & from the ryuer to the ende of the worlde.
Thou also [shalt be saued] through the blood of thy couenaunt: I haue loosed thy prisoners out of the pit wherin is no water.
Turne you now to the strong holde ye that be in prison & long sore to be deliuered: euen this day I bring thee word that I wyl reward thee double againe.
For Iuda haue I bent as a bowe for me, Ephraim [his hande] haue I filled, & thy sonnes O Sion wyl I rayse vp against the Grekes, and make thee as a Giauntes sworde.
The Lorde God shalbe seene aboue them, and his dartes shall go foorth as the lightning: the Lorde God shall blowe the trumpet, & shall come foorth as a storme out of the south.
The lord of hoastes shal defend them, they shal consume & deuour, and subdue them with sling stones, they shall drincke & rage as it were through wine, they shalbe filled lyke the basons, and as the hornes of the aulter.
The Lorde their God shall deliuer them in that day, as the flocke of his people: For as precious stones of a D•ademe they shalbe set vp ouer his lande.
O how prosperous and goodly a thing shall that be? For the corne shall make the young men cheareful, and the newe wine the maydens.
PRay the Lorde then betimes to geue the latter rayne, so shall the Lorde make bright cloudes, and geue you rayne inough, and to euery one grasse in the fielde.
For vaine is the aunswere of idols, the soothsayers see lyes, & the dreamers tell but vaine thinges, the comfort that they geue is nothing worth: therefore they went away lyke a flocke of sheepe, and were troubled, because they had no shephearde.
My wrothfull displeasure was moued against the shepheardes, and I wyll visite the goates: for the Lorde of hoastes wyl visite his flocke the house of Iuda, and wyll make them as a goodly fayre horse in the battaile.
Out of Iuda shall come the corner, the nayle, the battel bowe, and the appoynter of tribute also.
They shalbe as giauntes, which in the battaile treade downe their enemies in the myre of the streetes: they shal fight, for the Lorde shalbe with them, and the horsemen shalbe confounded.
I wyll comfort the house of Iuda, & preserue the house of Ioseph, I wyll bring them againe, for I pitie them, and they shalbe like as they were when I had not cast them of: for I the lord am their God, and wyll heare them.
Ephraim shalbe as a giaunt, and their heart shalbe cheareful as through wine: yea their children shal see it, and be glad, and their heart shal reioyce in the Lord.
I wyll hisse for them, & gather them together, for I wyl redeeme them: they shal encrease, as they encreased afore.
I wyll sowe them among the people, that they may thincke vpon me in farre countryes, they shal liue with their children, and turne againe.
I wyll bring them againe also from the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria: I wyll cary them into the lande of Gilead & to Libanus, and place shall not be founde for them.
He shal go vpon the sea of trouble, and smyte the sea waues, so that all the depe floodes shalbe dryed vp: the proude boasting of Assur shalbe cast downe, & the scepter of Egypt shalbe taken away.
I wil comfort them in {th}e lord, that they may walke in his name, saith the Lord.
OPen thy doores O Libanus, that {th}e fire may consume thy Cedar trees.
Howle ye firre trees, for the Cedar is fallen, yea all the proude are wasted away: Howle O ye Oke trees of Basan, for the mightie strong wood is cut downe.
Men may heare the shepheardes mourne, for their glory is destroyed: men may heare the lions whelpes roare, for the pride of Iordane is wasted away.
Thus saith the Lorde my God: Feede the sheepe of the slaughter,
Which haue ben slaine of those that possessed them, yet they [toke it] for no sinne, but they that solde them said, The Lorde be thanked, for I am riche: yea their owne shepheardes spare the{m} not.
Therefore wyl I no more spare those that dwell in the lande saith the Lorde: but lo, I wyll deliuer the people, euery man into his neighbours hande, and into the hande of his king, that they may smite the lande, and out of their handes I wyll not deliuer them.
I my selfe fed the slaughter sheepe, a poore flocke veryly, and toke vnto me two staues: the one called Beautie, the other called Bandes: and so fedde the sheepe.
Three shepheardes I put out of office in one moneth, for I might not away with them: neither had they any delight in me.
Then saide I, I wyll feede you no more: the thing that dyeth, let it dye: and that that wyll perishe, let it perishe: and let the remnaunt eate euery one the fleshe of his neighbour.
I toke also my staffe [euen] Beautie, and brake it, that I might disanull the couenaunt which I made with all people.
And so it was broken in that day: Then the poore simple sheepe that had a respect vnto me, knewe therby that it was the worde of the Lorde.
And I saide vnto them, If ye thinke it good, bring hither my wages: if no, then leaue. So they wayed downe thirtie siluer pence, the value that I was prysed at.
And the Lorde saide vnto me, Cast it vnto the potter, a goodly pryce for me to be valued at of them. And I toke the thirtie siluer pence, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lorde.
Then broke I my other staffe also [namely• Bandes, that I might loose the brotherhood betwixt Iuda and Israel.
And the Lorde saide vnto me: Take thee also the staffe of a foolishe shephearde.
For lo, I wyll rayse vp a shepheard in the lande, which shal not seeke after the thinges that be lost, nor seeke the tender lambes, he shal not heale the wounded, he shal not nourish the thinges that are whole: but he shal eate the fleshe of such as be fat, and teare their clawes in peeces.
O idol shepheard that leaueth the flocke, the sworde shall come vpon his arme, and vpon his right eye: his arme shalbe cleane dryed vp, and his right eye shalbe sore blynded.
THE heauy burthen which the Lorde hath deuised for Israel. Thus saith the Lorde which spread the heauens abrode, layde the foundatio{n} of the earth, and gaue man the breath of lyfe,
Beholde, I wyll make Hierusalem a cuppe of surfet vnto all the people that are rounde about her: yea Iuda him selfe also shalbe in the siege against Hierusalem.
At the same time wyll I make Hierusalem an heauy stone for all people, so that al such as lyft it vp shalbe torne and rent, and all the people of the earth shal be gathered together against it.
In that day saith the Lorde, I wyll make al horses astonyed, and those that ryde vpon the{m} to be out of their wittes: I wyll open myne eyes vpon the house of Iuda, and smite all the horses of the people with blindnesse.
And the princes of Iuda shall say in their heartes, The inhabiters of Hierusalem shall geue me consolation in the Lorde of hoastes their God.
In that time wyll I make the princes of Iuda lyke an hot burning ouen with wood, and like a fire brand among the strawe, so that they shall consume al the people rounde about them both vpon the right hande and the left: Hierusalem also shalbe inhabited againe, [namely] in the same place where Hierusalem standeth.
The Lorde shall preserue the tentes of Iuda as afore time, so that the glorye of the house of Dauid and the glory of the citezins of Hierusalem shal not be exalted against Iuda.
In that day shall the Lorde defende the citezins of Hierusalem, so that the weakest then among them shalbe as Dauid: and the house of Dauid shalbe as gods house, and as the angel of the Lorde before them.
At the same tyme wyll I go about to destroy all such people as come against Hierusalem.
Moreouer, vpon the house of Dauid & vpon the citezins of Hierusalem wyll I poure out the spirite of grace & compassion, so that they shall loke vpon me whom they haue pearsed, and they shal lame{n}t for him as men mourne for their onely begotten sonne: yea, and be sory for him, as men are sory for their first childe.
Then shal there be a great mourning at Hierusalem, like as the lamentation at Adadremmon in the fielde of Mageddon.
And the lande shal bewaile, euery kindred by them selues alone: the kindred of the house of Dauid by them selues, and their wyues by them selues: the kindred of the house of Nathan them selues, and their wyues by them selues:
The kindred of the house of Leui them selues alone, and their wyues by them selues: the kindred of the house of Semei them selues alone, and their wyues by them selues.
In lyke maner, all the other generations euery one by them selues alone, and their wyues by them selues.
IN that time shall the house of Dauid and the citezins of Hierusalem haue an open wel to washe of sinne and vncleannesse.
And then saith the Lorde of hoastes, I wyll destroy the names of the idols out of the lande: so that they shal no more be put in remembraunce: As for the false prophetes also, and the vncleane spirites, I wyl take them out of the lande.
So that if any of them prophecie any more, his owne father and mother that begat him, shal say vnto him, Thou shalt dye, for thou speakest lyes vnder the name of the Lord: yea his owne father and mother that begat him shall wounde him, when he prophecieth.
And then shal those prophetes be confounded euery one of his vision when he prophecieth: neither shal they weare heere cloth any more to deceaue men withall.
But he shalbe fayne to say, I am no prophete, I am an husbandman: for so am I taught by man from my youth vp.
And if it be saide vnto him, How came these woundes then in thyne handes? He shal aunswere: Thus was I wounded in the house of myne owne friendes.
Aryse O thou sworde vpon my shephearde, and vpon the man that is my felow, saith the lord of hoastes: smite the shepheard, & the sheepe shalbe scattred abroade: and so wyll I turne my hande to the litle ones.
And it shall come to passe saith the Lorde, that in all the lande two partes shalbe rooted out, but the third part shall remayne therein.
And the same third part wyl I bring through the fire, & wyl cleanse them as the siluer is cleansed, yea and trye them lyke as golde is tryed: then shal they call vpon my name and I wyll heare them, I wyll say it is my people, and they shall say, Lorde my God.
BEholde, the day of the Lorde commeth, and thy spoyle shalbe deuided in the middest of thee.
For I wyll gather together all the heathen to fight against Hierusalem, so that the citie shalbe wonne, the houses spoyled, and the women defiled: the halfe of the citie shall go away into captiuitie, and the residue of the people shal not be caryed out of the citie.
After that, shall the Lorde go foorth to fight against those heathen, as men vse to fight in the day of battaile.
Then shall his feete stand vpon the mount Oliuet that lyeth vpon the east side of Hierusalem, and the mount Oliuet shall cleaue in two eastwarde and westwarde, so that there shalbe a great valley: and the halfe mount shal remoue toward the north, & the other towarde the south.
And ye shall flee vnto the valley of my hylles, for the valley of the hylles shall reache vnto Asal: yea, flee shall ye lyke as ye fled for the earthquake in the dayes of Oziah king of Iuda: and the Lorde my God shall come, and all the sainctes with him.
In that day shall there be no cleare light, but darke.
This shalbe that speciall day which is knowen vnto the Lorde, neither day nor night: but about the euening time it shalbe light.
In that time shall there waters of lyfe runne out from Hierusalem: the halfe part of them towarde the east sea, and the other halfe towarde the vttermost sea, and shall continue both sommer and winter.
And the Lorde him selfe shal be king ouer all the earth: At that time shall there be one Lorde onely, and his name shall be but one.
All the lande shalbe turned as a plaine from Gibea to Remmon, towardes the south of Hierusalem: She shalbe set vp, and inhabited in her place, from Beniamins port vnto the place of the first port, and vnto the corner port, and from the towre of Hananeel vnto the kinges wine presses.
There shal men dwell, and there shal be no more destruction, but Hierusalem shalbe safely inhabited.
This shalbe the plague wherewith the Lorde wyll smyte all people that haue fought against Hierusalem, Their fleshe shall consume away, though they stand vpon their feete, their eyes shalbe corrupt in their holes, and their tongue shall consume in their mouth.
In that day shall the Lorde make a great sedition among them: so that one man shall take another by the hande, and laye his handes vpon the handes of his neighbour.
Iuda shall fight against Hierusalem, and the armies of al the heathen shalbe gathered together rounde about, with golde and siluer, and a very great multitude of apparell.
And this plague shall go ouer horses, mules, cammels, asses, & all the beastes that shalbe in the hoast, like as yonder plague was.
Euery one that remayneth then of all the people which came against Hierusalem, shall go vp early to worship the king [euen• the Lorde of hoastes, and to kepe the feast of tabernacles.
And loke what generation vpon the earth goeth not to Hierusalem for to worshippe the king the Lorde of hoastes, vpon the same shall come no rayne.
If the kindred of Egypt go not vp, and come not, it shall not [rayne] vpon them: This shalbe the plague wherewith the Lorde wyll smyte all the heathen that come not vp to kepe the feast of tabernacles,
Yea this shalbe the plague of Egypt, and the plague of all people that go not vp to kepe the feast of tabernacles.
At that time shall the ryding geare of the horses be holy vnto the Lorde: the kettels in the lordes house shalbe lyke the basons before the aulter.
Yea, all the kettels in Hierusalem and Iuda shalbe holy vnto the Lorde of hoastes: and al they that slay offringes, shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: And at that time there shalbe no mo Chanaanites in the house of the Lorde of hoastes.
THe burthen of the word of the Lorde to Israel, by the ministerie of Malachi.
I haue loued you saith the Lord: yet ye say, wherein hast thou loued vs? Was not Esau Iacobs brother, saith the Lorde, yet loued I Iacob?
And I hated Esau, & made his mountaynes waste, and his heritage a wildernesse for Dragons.
Though Edom say, We are impouerished, but we wil returne and builde the desolate places: yet saith the Lorde of hoastes, They shal builde, but I wil destroy: & they shal cal them, The border of wickednes, & the people with whom the Lorde is angry for euer.
And your eyes shall see: and you shal say, The Lorde wylbe magnified vpon the borders of Israel.
A sonne honoureth his father, and a seruaunt his maister: If then I be a father, where is myne honour? if I be a maister, where is my feare? Saith the Lorde God of hoastes to you O ye pristes that despise my name, and ye say, Wherein haue we despised thy name?
Ye offer vpon myne aulter vncleane bread, and say, Wherein haue we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lorde is not to be regarded.
When ye bring the blinde for sacrifice, [you say] it is not euil: and when ye bring the lame and sicke, [you say] it is not euil: offer it nowe to thy prince, wyll he be content with thee, or accept thy person, saith the Lorde of hoastes?
And now I pray you, pray before God, that he may haue mercie vpon vs: (this [euill] hath ben done by your meanes) wyll he regarde your persons, saith the Lorde of hoastes?
Who is there euen among you that would shutte the doores, and kindle not fire on myne aulter in vaine? I haue no pleasure in you, saith the Lorde of hoastes, neither wyll I accept an offering at your hande.
From the rysing of the sunne vnto the going downe of the same my name is great among the gentiles, and in euery place incense shalbe offred to my name, & a pure offering: for my name is great among the very heathen, saith the Lord of hoastes.
But ye haue polluted it, in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted, & the fruite thereof, [euen] his meate is not to be regarded.
And ye saide, beholde [it is] a weerynesse, and you haue snuffed at it saith the Lorde of hoastes, and ye haue offered the stolne, and the lame, and the sicke, ye haue offered an offering: shoulde I accept this of your handes, saith the lorde?
Cursed be the deceitfull which hath in his flocke a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth a corrupt thing to the Lorde: because I am a great king, saith the lord of hoastes, and my name is fearefull among the heathen.
ANd now O ye priestes this co{m}maundement is for you.
If ye wyl not heare it nor regard it, to geue the glory to my name, saith the Lorde of hoastes, I wyll sende a curse vpon you, and wyll curse your blessinges, yea I haue cursed them alredie, because ye do not consider it in your heart.
Beholde, I wyll corrupt your seede, and cast doung on your faces, [euen] the doung of your solempne feastes, & you shalbe like vnto it.
And you shall know that I haue sent this co{m}maundement vnto you, that my couenaunt which I haue made with Leui might stand, saith the Lorde of hoastes.
My couenaunt was with him, of lyfe and peace, and I gaue them him [for] the feare wherwith he feared me and was afrayde before my name.
The lawe of trueth was in his mouth, and there was no iniquitie found in his lippes, he walked with me in peace and in equitie, and he turned many from their iniquitie.
For the priestes lippes shall kepe knowledge, and they shall seeke the lawe at his mouth: because he is the messenger of the Lorde of hoastes.
But ye haue gone out of the way, ye haue caused many to fall by the lawe: ye haue corrupted the couenaunt of Leui, saith the Lorde of hoastes.
Therefore haue I also made you despised and vyle before all the people, because you kept not my wayes, but haue ben parciall in the lawe.
Haue we not all one father? hath not God made vs al? why then is euery one deceaued of his brother, to violate the couenaunt of our fathers?
Iuda hath offended, & abhomination is committed in Israel and in Hierusalem? for Iuda hath defiled the holynesse of the Lorde which he loued, and hath maried the daughter of a straunge God.
The Lorde wyll destroy the man that doth this, both the rayser vp and the aunswerer out of the tabernacle of Iacob, and him that offereth an offering vnto the Lorde of hoastes.
And this againe haue ye done, in couering the aulter of the Lorde with teares, with weeping and mourning, and therfore there is no more respect to the offring, neither acceptable receauing of it at your handes.
Yet ye say, wherin? Because the Lord hath ben witnesse betweene thee and thy wyfe of thy youth, against whom thou hast transgressed, yet is she thyne owne companion, and the wyfe of thy couenaunt.
And did not he make one? yet had he aboundaunce of spiritie: And wherfore one? Because he sought a godly seede: therefore kepe your selues in your spirite, and let none transgresse against the wyfe of his youth.
If thou hatest her, put her away, saith the lorde God of Israel: yet he couereth the iniurie vnder his garment, saith the Lorde of hoastes, and be ye kept in your spirite, and transgresse not.
Ye haue weeryed the Lord with your wordes, and you haue sayde, Wherein haue we weeried him? Whylest you say, Euery one that doth euil, is good in the sight of the Lorde, and he is pleased in them: or where is the God of iudgement?
BEholde, I wyll sende my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me, and the lord whom ye seeke, shal speedyly come to his temple, and the messenger of the couenaunt whom ye desire, beholde he commeth, saith the Lorde of hoastes.
But who may abyde the day of his comming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is lyke a purging fire, and lyke fullers sope.
And he shall sit downe to trye and fine the siluer, and he shal purge the children of Leui, and purifie them as golde and siluer: and they shal bring vnto the lorde offeringes in righteousnesse.
Then shall the offeringes of Iuda and Hierusalem be acceptable vnto the Lorde, as in olde tyme, and as in the yeres afore.
And I wyl come neare to you in iudgement, and I wyll be a swyft witnesse against the soothsayers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that wrongfully keepe backe the hirelynges wages, and vexe the widowe and the fatherlesse, and oppresse the straunger, and feare not me, saith the Lorde of hoastes.
For I am the Lorde, I chaunge not: and you sonnes of Iacob are not consumed.
From the dayes of your fathers ye are gone away from myne ordinaunces, and haue not kept [them:] turne you to me, and I wyll turne to you, saith the Lorde of hoastes. And ye saide, Wherein shall we returne?
Wyll a man spoyle his Gods? yet ye haue spoyled me: and ye say, Wherein haue we spoyled thee? In tythes and offeringes?
Ye are cursed with a curse, & me haue ye spoyled, euen this whole nation.
Bryng euery tythe into the store house, that there may be meate in myne house, and prooue me withal, saith the Lorde of hoastes: if I wyl not open the windowes of heauen vnto you, and poure you out a blessing without measure.
And I wyl reprooue the deuourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruite of the grounde, neither shall your vine be barren in the fielde, saith the Lorde of hoastes.
And al nations shal call you blessed: because you shalbe a pleasaunt lande, saith the Lorde of hoastes.
Your wordes haue ben stout against me saith the lorde: and you saide, Wherin haue we spoken against thee?
Ye haue saide: [it is but] vayne to serue God, and what profite [is it] that we haue kept his commaundement, & that we haue walked humbly before the face of the Lorde of hoastes?
And nowe we call the proude happie: yea the workers of wickednesse are set vp, and also they that tempt God, yea they are deliuered.
Then they that feared God, saide euery one to his neighbour: and the Lorde considered and hearde, and there was written a booke of reme{m}braunce before him for them that feared the Lorde, and for them that thinke vpon his name.
And they shalbe to me, saith the Lorde of hoastes, in that day wherein I shall do [iudgement,] a flocke: and I wyl spare them as a man spareth his owne sonne which serueth him.
Then shall ye returne, and discerne betweene the iust and the wicked, betweene him that serueth God, and him that serueth him not.
FOR marke, the day commeth burning like an ouen: and all the proude, and all that worke wickednesse shalbe stubble, and the day that is for to come shall burne them, saith the Lorde of hoastes, and shall leaue them neither roote, nor braunche.
But to you that feare my name shall that sunne of righteousnesse aryse, and health shalbe vnder his winges: and ye shall go foorth and skippe lyke fatte calues.
And ye shall treade downe the vngodly, for they shalbe dust vnder the soles of your feete in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lorde of hoastes.
Remember the lawe of Moyses my seruaunt, which I commaunded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the ordinaunces and iudgementes.
Beholde, I wyll send you Elias the prophete, before the comming of the great and fearefull day of the Lorde.
He shal turne the heart of the fathers to their children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with cursing.
ANd Iosias held the feast of Easter in Hierusalem vnto his Lord, and offered the passouer the foureteenth day of the first moneth.
He set the priestes also in order according to their dayly courses, beyng arayed in long garmentes, in the temple of the Lorde.
And he spake vnto the Leuites the holy ministers of Israel, that they shoulde halowe them selues vnto the Lorde, to set the holy arke of the Lord in the house that kyng Solomon the sonne of Dauid had buylded.
And sayd: Ye shall no more beare the arke vpon your shoulders: and nowe serue the Lorde your God, and take the charge of his people Israel, and prepare you after your villages and tribes,
According as king Dauid the king of Israel hath left in writing, and according as Solomon his sonne hath honourably prepared: And standing eche of you in that degree of aucthoritie whiche in the distribution was appointed vnto your fathers the Leuites in the presence of your brethren the chyldren of Israel:
Offer the passouer in order, and make redye the sacrifices for your brethren, and kepe the passouer, according to the commaundement of the Lorde whiche was geuen vnto Moyses.
And vnto the people that was founde there, Iosias gaue thirtie thousande lambes and kiddes, and three thousand calues. These things were geuen of the kings owne possessions, according as he promised, to the people, to the Priestes, and to the Leuites.
And Helkias, and Zacharias, and Syel the gouernours of the temple, gaue to the priestes for the passouer two thousande and sixe hundred sheepe, and three hundred calues.
Moreouer Iechonias, and Samaias, and Nathanael his brother, and Sabias, and Ochiel, and Ioram, captaynes ouer thousandes, gaue to the Leuites for the passouer, fiue thousande sheepe, and seuen hundred calues.
And when these things were brought to passe, the Priestes & Leuites stoode goodly in their order, and had the vnleauened bread throughout the tribes.
And after the degrees of preheminence appoynted to their fathers, to offer to the Lord in the sight of the people, according as it is written in the booke of Moyses: and thus dyd they in the mornyng.
And they rosted the Easter lambe with fire, as according was: As for the offeringes, they dight them in kettels and pottes with good sauours,
And set them before all them of the people, and afterwarde they prepared for them selues and the priestes their brethren the sonnes of Aaron.
For the priestes offred the fat, vntyll the tyme was expired, and the Leuites prepared for them selues, and for the priestes their brethren the chyldren of Aaron.
The holy singers also the chyldren of Asaph, stoode in their orders, according as Dauid deuised, to wit, Asaph, Zacharias, and Iduthun, which was appointed by the kyng.
Moreouer, the [porters and] doore kepers stoode by the doores [and that diligently,] so that none went out of his standing and seruices, for their brethren the Leuites prepared for them.
Thus were all thinges perfourmed that belonged to the offering of the Lorde in that day, that they myght holde the passouer,
And offer sacrifices vpon the aulter of the Lorde, according to the commaundement of king Iosias.
So the children of Israel which were then present, helde a [honourable] passouer, and the feast of sweete bread, seuen dayes long:
Yea suche a passouer was not kept in Israel, from the tyme of the prophete Samuel.
And all the kinges of Israel helde not such an Easter as this which king Iosias held, and the Priestes, the Leuites, the Iewes, and all Israel, of all them that were at Hierusalem.
In the eyghteenth yere of the raigne of Iosias, was this passouer kept.
And with an heart full of godlynes dyd kyng Iosias rightly order all his workes before the Lorde.
And the thinges that came to passe in his tyme, they were wrytten of olde before those dayes, concerning those that sinned and were vngodly against the Lord aboue all people and kingdomes, and howe they greeued hym in seruing sensible thinges, so that the wordes of the Lorde rose vp against Israel.
Nowe after all these actes of Iosias, it came to passe that Pharao the king of Egypt came to Carchamis vpon Euphrates to moue warre: and Iosias went out against hym.
But the kyng of Egypt sent to hym, saying: what haue I to do with thee, O king of Iudea?
I am not sent of the Lorde God against thee, for my warre is vpon Euphrates, and nowe the Lorde is with me, yea the Lorde maketh diligent speede with me: depart from me, and be not against the Lorde.
Howbeit Iosias woulde not turne backe his chariot from hym, but vndertoke to fight with him, and hearkened not to the wordes of the prophete Ieremie, spoken by the mouth of the Lorde:
But pitched a battayle against him in the fielde of Mageddo: And the princes preassed to king Iosias.
Then sayd the king vnto his seruauntes: Cary me away out of the battayle, for I am very weake. And immediatly his seruauntes toke hym away out of the frunt of the battayle.
Then gate he vp vpon the second charet, came to Hierusalem, dyed, and was buried in his fathers sepulchre.
And in all Iurie they mourned for Iosias, yea Ieremie the prophete lamented for Iosias, and the rulers also with their wyues made lamentation for hym vnto this day, and it became a custome to be done continually in all the kinred of Israel.
These things are written in the booke of the stories of the kinges of Iuda: and all the actes of Iosias, & his glory, and vnderstanding in the lawe of the Lord, and the thinges which he had done before, and that was nowe [recited] are written in the booke of the kynges of Israel and Iuda.
And the people toke Iechonias the sonne of Iosias, and made him king in steede of Iosias his father, when he was twentie and three yeres olde.
And he raigned in Iuda and in Hierusalem three monethes, and then the kyng of Egypt put hym downe from raigning in Hierusalem:
And raysed vp a taxe of the people, namely an hundred talentes of syluer, and one talent of golde.
The kyng of Egypt also made Ioachim his brother king of Iuda and Hierusalem.
And [thus] he bounde Ioachim and his gouernours: but Zaracen his brother he apprehended & led away with him into Egypt.
Fiue and twentie yeres olde was Ioachim when he was made kyng in the lande of Iuda and Hierusalem, and he dyd euyll before the Lorde.
Wherfore against hym Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came vp, and bounde hym with bandes of iron, and caryed hym vnto Babylon.
Nabuchodonosor also toke of the holy vessels of the lord, caryed them away, & set the{m} in his owne temple at Babylon.
But all his actes, and his prophanation and reproche, are written in the chronicles of the kinges.
And Ioachim his sonne raigned in his steede: He was made king beyng eyghteene yeres olde,
And raigned but three monethes and ten dayes in Hierusalem, and dyd euyll before the Lorde.
So after a yere Nabuchodonosor sent and caused him to be brought vnto Babylon with the holy vessels of the Lord.
And made Zedechias king of Iuda and Hierusalem when he was twentie and one yeres olde, and he raigned a leuen yeres.
And he did euill also in the sight of the Lord, and cared not for the wordes that were spoken vnto him by the prophete Ieremie from the mouth of the Lord.
And where he had made an oth vnto king Nabuchodonosor, he forswore him selfe by the name of the Lorde, and hardened his necke and heart, and transgressed the lawes of the Lorde God of Israel.
The gouernours also of the people & priestes, dyd many thinges against the lawes, and passed all the pollutions of all nations, and defiled the temple of the Lorde whiche was sanctified in Hierusalem.
Wherefore the God of their fathers sent his messenger to call them backe, because he spared them and his tabernacle also.
But they had his messengers in derision: and loke when the Lorde spake vnto them, they made a sport of his prophetes.
This drewe on so long tyll the Lorde was wroth with his people for their great vngodlynes, so that he caused the kinges of the Chaldees to come vp against them:
Which slue their young men with the sworde, yea euen in the compasse of their holy temple, and spared no body, neither young man nor mayden, olde man nor chylde among them:
But they were all deliuered into their handes, and all the holy vessels of the Lorde both great and small, with the vessels of the arke of god: and they toke and caryed away the kinges treasure into Babylon.
As for the house of the Lorde, they went vp into it, & brent it, brake downe the walles of Hierusalem, set fire vpon her towres,
Destroyed all her noble buyldinges, and brought them to naught, and the people that were not slayne with the sworde, he caryed vnto Babylon:
Which became seruauntes to him and his chyldren, tyll the Persians raigned, to fulfill the worde of the Lord [spoken] by the mouth of Ieremias:
Tyll the lande had fully taken her ease from them, whiche toke that ease all the time she lacked her inhabitauntes, to the end & terme of seuentie yeres.
NOwe when king Cyrus raigned ouer the Persians in his first yere, when the Lorde would perfourme the worde that he had promysed by the mouth of [the prophete] Ieremie:
The Lorde raysed vp the spirite of Cyrus the king of Persians, so that he caused this wrytyng to be proclaymed throughout his whole realme,
Saying, thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians: The Lorde of Israel, that hye Lorde, hath made me king of the whole worlde:
And commaunded me to buylde hym an house at Hierusalem in Iurie.
If there be any nowe of you that are of his people, let the Lorde euen his Lorde be with hym, and let him go vp to Hierusalem that is in Iudea, and buylde the house of the Lorde of Israel, that is, the Lorde that dwelleth in Hierusalem.
And all they that dwell rounde about that place shall helpe him, all that dwel in his place I say, whether it be with golde, with siluer,
With gyftes, with horses and necessarye cattell, and all other thinges that are brought with a free wyll to the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem.
Then the principall men out of the tribes and villages of Iuda & Beniamin stode vp: so did the Priestes also and the Leuites, & al they whose minde the Lorde had moued to go vp, & to buylde the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem.
And they that dwelt about them helped them in all thinges, with siluer and golde, horses & cattell, and with many free giftes of many men whose mindes were stirred vp thereto.
King Cyrus also brought foorth the vessels and ornamentes that were halowed vnto the Lorde, whiche Nabuchodonosor had caried away from Hierusalem, and consecrated them to his idol [and image.]
And hauing brought them foorth, he deliuered them to Mithridates his treasourer.
And by hym they were deliuered to Abassar the deputie in Iurie.
And this was the number of them: a thousande golden cuppes, and a thousande of siluer, basens of siluer twentie and nine for the sacrifices, vials of gold thirtie, and of siluer two thousande foure hundred and ten, and a thousande other vessels.
So all the vessels of golde and siluer whiche they caryed away, were fiue thousand, foure hu{n}dred, threscore & nine.
These were brought by Salmanasar, with them of the captiuitie from Babylon to Hierusalem.
But in the tyme of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, Belemus, and Mithridates, and Tabelius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Semellius the secretarie, with other that were ioyned to them dwelling in Samaria & other places, wrote vnto hym against them that dwelt in Iudea and Hierusalem, these letters folowing:
To the king Artaxerxes our lorde.
Thy seruauntes, Rathumus the storye wryter, and Semellius the secretarie, and the rest of their counsell, and the iudges that are in Coelosyria & Phenice:
Be it nowe knowen to our lorde the king, that the Iewes whiche are come vp from you vnto vs into the rebellious & wicked citie, begin to buylde the market places, and to make vp the walles about it, and to set vp the temple a newe.
Now if this citie and the walles therof be set vp agayne, they shall not onlye refuse to geue tributes [and taxes] but also rebell vtterly against kinges.
And forsomuche as they take this in hand now about {th}e temple, we thought it reason to thinke no scorne of it:
But to shewe it vnto the lorde the king, to the intent that if it please the king, he may cause it to be sought in the bookes of olde,
And thou shalt finde in recordes here of wrytten, and shalt vnderstande that this citie hath alway ben rebellious and disobedient, that it hath troubled kinges and cities,
And that the Iewes were rebellious, and raysed alwayes warres therin: for the whiche cause this citie is wasted.
Wherfore nowe we certifie our Lord the king, that if this citie be buylded [and occupied] agayne, and the walles therof set vp a newe, thou canst haue no passage into Coelosyria and Phenice.
Then wrote the king to Rathumus the storie wryter, to Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and to the other officers and dwellers in Samaria, and Syria, and Phenice, after this maner.
I haue read the epistle which ye sent vnto me: therefore I commaunded to make diligent searche, and haue founde that this citie hath euer resisted kinges,
That the same people are disobedient and haue caused much warre, and that mightie kinges haue raigned in Hierusalem, which also haue raysen vp taxes of Coelosyria and Phenice.
Wherefore I haue commaunded to forbyd those men that they shall not buylde vp the citte, and heede to be taken that there be no more done in it:
And that they proceede no further in those wicked workes, forsomuche as it myght be occasion of trouble vnto princes.
Nowe when Rathumus and Semellius the scribe had read the wrytyng of king Artaxerxes, they gat them together, and came in all the haste to Hierusalem, with an hoast of horsemen, and with muche people on foote,
And forbad them to buylde: And so they left of from buyldyng of the temple, vnto the seconde yere of king Darius, king of the Persians.
KYng Darius made a great feast vnto his seruauntes, vnto all his court, and to al the officers of Medea and Persia,
Yea to all the gouernours, & captaynes, and liefetenauntes, that were vnder him, from India vnto Ethiopia, an hundreth and twentie and seuen countreys.
So when they had eaten and drunken, being satisfied, & were gone home agayne, Darius the king went into his chaumber, layde hym downe to sleepe, and after that awaked.
Then the three young men that kept the kinges person, and watched his bodye, [communed among them selues, and] spake one to another.
Let euery one of vs speake a sentence, and looke who shal ouercome, & whose sentence may seeme wyser then the others, vnto him shal king Darius geue great giftes, and great thinges, in token of victorie:
As to weare purple, to drinke in gold, and to slepe in gold, and a chariot with brydles of golde, and an head tyre of fine linnen, and a chayne about his necke:
Yea he shal sit next to Darius because of his wysdome, and shalbe called Darius cosin.
So euery one wrote his meanyng, sealed it, and layde it vnder king Darius pelowe,
And sayd, when the king aryseth they woulde geue hym the wrytynges, and looke whose worde the king & the three princes of Persia shall iudge to be the most wisely spoken, the same shall haue the victorie as it was appoynted.
One wrote: wine is a strong thyng.
The seconde wrote: the king is strong.
The thirde wrote: women haue very muche strength, but aboue all thinges the trueth beareth away the victory.
Nowe when the king was rysen vp, they toke their wrytynges and deliuered them vnto him, & so he read them.
Then sent he foorth to cal al his chiefe lordes of Persia, and of Media, and the rulers, and the captaynes, and liefetenauntes and consuls:
And when he had set hym downe in the counsell, the wrytynges were read before them.
And he commaunded to call for the young men, that they myght declare their meaninges the{m} selues by mouth. So they were sent for, and came in.
And then he sayde vnto them: shewe vs and make vs to vnderstande what the thinges are that ye haue written. Then began the first whiche had spoken of the strength of wine,
And said thus: O ye men, how strong is wine, that deceaueth all men whiche drinke it?
It maketh the kinges minde and the fathers to be both one, the bondmans and the free, the poore mans and the riche.
It turneth also euery thought into ioy and gladnes, so that a man remembreth neither heauines not debt.
And it maketh euery heart [thinke it selfe] riche, so that a man remembreth neither king nor gouernour, and it maketh to speake all thinges by talentes.
Moreouer when men haue dronke, they forget all frendship and brotherly faythfulnes, and a litle after they draw out swordes:
And afterwards when they are from the wine, they remember nothing what was done.
O ye men, is not wine the strongest, that thus enforceth [men] to do? And when he had spoken this, he helde his peace.
THen the seconde that had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say:
O ye men, are not men the strongest of all, that conquer both by land and sea, and all the thinges that are in them?
Nowe is the king stronger, as lorde of all these thinges, and that hath the dominion ouer them: and loke what he commaundeth them, it is all done.
If he byd them the one against the other to make warre, they do it: if he send them out against the enemies, they go and breake downe mountaynes, walles, and towres.
They slay and are slayne, and ouerpasse not the kinges commaundement: if they get the victorie, they bryng all to the king, so well the spoyle as other thinges.
Likewise the other that medle not with warres and fighting, but tyll the grounde: when they haue sowen and reaped, they bring to the king, and compell one another to pay his tribute vnto the king.
And if the king, though he be but one man, commaunde to kill, they kill, if he commaunde to forgeue, they forgeue:
If he commaund to smite, they smite, if he byd driue away, they driue away, if he commaund to buylde, they buylde:
If he commaunde to breake downe, they breake downe, if he commaunde to plant, they plant.
So the common people and the rulers are obedient vnto hym, and the king in the meane season sitteth hym downe, eateth and drinketh, and taketh his rest.
And these kepe him rounde about, and not one of them dare get hym out of the way to do his owne busines, but must be obedient vnto the king at a worde.
Iudge ye now O ye men, how should not the king go farre aboue, when in such sort he is obayed? And [when he had spoken thus] he helde his tongue.
The thirde (whose name was Zorobabel) which had spoken of women, and of trueth, began to say [after this maner.]
O ye men, it is not the great king, it is not the multitude of men, neither is it wine that excelleth. Who is it then that ruleth them, or hath the lordship ouer them? is it not women?
Women haue borne the king, and all the people, which beare rule by sea and by lande.
And euen of them were they borne, and they brought those vp that planted the vines, wherof the wine commeth.
They make garmentes for men, they get honour vnto men, and without women can not men continue.
Yea, if they haue gathered together golde and siluer, or any other pretious thing, do they not loue a woman for her comely shape and beautie?
And letting all those thinges go, do they not gape & euen with open mouth fixe their eyes fast on her? and haue not all men more desire vnto her, then vnto siluer and golde, or any maner of pretious thing?
A man leaueth his owne father that brought hym vp, leaueth his owne naturall countrey, and eleaueth vnto his wyfe.
Yea he ieopardeth his lyfe with his wyfe, and remembreth neither father nor mother, nor countrey.
By this also ye must needes knowe, that women haue dominion ouer you: Do ye not labour & trauayle, and geue and bryng all to the woman?
A man taketh his sworde, and goeth his way to steale, [to kyll,] to murther, to sayle vpon the sea, and vpon riuers,
And seeth a lion, & goeth in the darkenes: & when he hath stollen, deceaued, and robbed, he bringeth it vnto his loue.
Wherefore, a man loueth his wife better then father and mother.
Yea many there be that runne out of their wittes, and became bondmen for their wyues sakes.
Many one also haue perished, haue erred, and sinned also for women.
And nowe do ye not beleue me? is not the king great in his power? do not all regions feare to touche hym?
Yet dyd I see hym, and Apame the daughter of the great king Bartacus the kinges concubine, sate besyde the king vpon the right hande,
And toke of his crowne from his head, and set it vpon her owne head, and stroke the king with her left hand.
And there whyle stedyly the king loked vpon her with open mouth: if she laughed vpon him, he laughed also: but if she toke any displeasure with hym, the king was fayne to flatter her [and to geue her good wordes] tyll he had gotten her fauour agayne.
O ye men, are not women then stronger that do these thinges?
Then the king and the princes loked one vpon another: So he began to speake of the trueth:
O ye men, are not women stronger? Great is the earth, hye is the heauen, swift is the course of the sunne, he compasseth the heauen rounde about, and fetcheth his course agayne to his owne place in one day.
Is he not excellent that maketh these thinges? Therfore great is the trueth, and stronger then all thinges.
All the earth calleth vpon trueth, the heauen prayseth it, all workes shake and tremble at it, and with it is no vnrighteous thing.
Wine is wicked, the kyng is wicked, women are wicked, all the children of men are wicked, yea & such are all their wicked workes, and there is no trueth in them, in their vnrighteousnesse also shall they [be destroyed and] perishe:
As for the trueth it endureth and is alway strong, it lyueth and conquereth for euermore worlde without ende.
With her there is no exception or difference of persons, but she doth that iust is, and refrayneth from all vniust and wicked thynges, and all men do well lyke of her workes.
In the iudgement of it there is no vnryghteous thyng, & she is the strength, kyngdome, power, and maiestie of all ages. Blessed be the God of trueth.
And with that he helde his peace: and all the people cryed, and then sayde: Great is trueth, and aboue all.
Then sayde the kyng vnto hym: Aske what thou wilt more then is appoynted in the writyng, and we shall geue it thee, for thou art founde wyser [then thy companions] thou shalt sit next me, and shalt be called my kinsman.
Then sayde he vnto the kyng: Remember thy [promise and] vowe which thou hast vowed [and promised] in the day when thou camest to the kingdome, to builde vp Hierusalem:
And to sende agayne all the vessels [and iewels] that were taken away out of Hierusalem, which Cyrus set apart when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and to sende them agayne thyther.
And thy mynde was also to builde vp the temple, which the Edomites burnt when Iudea was destroyed by the Chaldees.
And nowe this onely [O kyng] is the thing that I require and desire of thee, this is the princely liberalitie that I aske of thee, I desire therfore that thou perfourme the vowe which thou with thine owne mouth hast made vnto the kyng of heauen.
Then Darius the kyng stoode vp and kyssed hym, wrote hym lettters vnto all the deputies and lieftenauntes, to all the lordes and nobles, that they shoulde conuey hym foorth and all them that went vp with hym, to build Hierusalem.
He wrote letters also vnto all the liefetenauntes that were in Coelosyria and Phenices, and vnto them in Libanus, that they shoulde bryng Cedar trees from Libanus vnto Hierusalem, and builde the citie with hym.
Moreouer, he wrote for all the Iewes that were gone out of his realme into Iurie concernyng their freedome, that no officer, no ruler, nor lieftenaunt, nor stewarde, should enter into their doores:
And that all their lande whiche they kept, shoulde be free and not tributarie: and that the Edomites shoulde geue ouer the [cites and] villages of the Iewes which they had taken in:
Yea and that there shoulde be yerely geuen twentie talentes to the buildyng of the temple, vntyll the tyme that it were finished:
And to maynteyne the burnt offerynges vpon the aulter euery day, (as they had a commaundement to offer seuenteene) other ten talentes euery yere.
And that all they which come from Babylon to builde the citie, should haue free libertie, they and their children, and all the priestes that went away.
He wrote also concerning the charges, and the priestes garment wherin they minister,
And likewise for the charges of the Leuites to be geuen them, vntyll the day that the house were finished, and Hierusalem builded vp.
And he commaunded that all they that watched the citie, shoulde haue their pensions and wages.
He sent away also all the vessels that Cyrus had separated from Babylon: and all that Cyrus had geuen in commaundement, the same charged he also that it shoulde be done, and sent vnto Hierusalem.
Nowe when this young man was gone foorth, he lyfted vp his face to heauen towarde Hierusalem, and praysed the kyng of heauen,
And sayde: Of thee commeth victorie, of thee commeth wisdome, and thine is the glorie, and I am thy seruaunt.
Blessed art thou which hast geuen me wisdome, for to thee I acknowledge it O Lorde [thou God] of our fathers.
And so he toke the letters, and went out, and came vnto Babylon, and tolde it all his brethren.
And they praysed the God of their fathers, that he had geuen them freedome and libertie,
To go vp, and to builde Hierusalem and the temple, wherin the name of the Lorde is called vpon: and they reioyced with instrumentes of musicke and gladnesse seuen dayes long.
AFter this, were the principall men of the houses of their fathers, chosen in the tribes and kinredes, that they shoulde go with their wiues, and sonnes and daughters, with their seruauntes and maydens, with all their cattell and substaunce.
And Darius [the kyng] sent with them a thousande horsemen, to conuey them safely vnto Hierusalem, and with musical instrumentes, with tabers & flutes.
And all their brethren played, and he made them go vp together with them.
And these are the names of the men which went vp out of the villages, according to the tribes, and after the order of their dignitie.
The priestes, the sonnes of Phinehes the sonne of Aaron, Iesus the sonne of Iosedec, the sonne of Sariab, and Ioachim the sonne of Zorobabel, the sonne of Salathiel, of the kinrede of Dauid, out of the kinrede of Phares of the tribe of Iuda,
Which spake wonderfull wordes before Darius the kyng of Persia, in the seconde yere of his raigne in the first moneth [called] Nisan.
And these are they of Iurie that came vp from the captiuitie of the transmigration, whom Nabuchodonosor the kyng of Babylon had brought away vnto Babylon,
And returned vnto Hierusalem to the rest of Iurie, euery man to his owne citie, which came with Zorobabel, with Iesus, Nehemias, & Zacharias, Reesaias, Enemus, Mardocheus, Beelsarus, Aspharasus, Reelius, Roimus, and Baana their guides.
The number of them of the nation and their gouernours: the sonnes of Phares, two thousande an hundred seuentie and two, the sonnes of Saphat foure hundred seuentie and two.
The sonnes of Areh, seuen hundred fiftie and sixe.
The sonnes of Phaath moab, two thousande eyght hundred and twelue.
The sonnes of Eilam, a thousande two hundred fiftie and foure, the sonnes of Zathui, nine hundred fourtie and fiue, the sonnes of Corbe, seuen hundred and fiue, the sonnes of Bani, sixe hundreth fourtie and eyght.
The sonnes of Bibai, sixe hundred twentie and three, the sonnes of Azgad, three thousande two hundred twentie and two.
The sonnes of Adonikam, sixe hundred sixtie and seuen, the sonnes of Bagoi, two thousande sixtie and sixe, the sonnes of Adim, foure hundred fiftie and foure.
The sonnes of Aterhezetia, nintie and two, the sonnes of Ceilam and Azota, threescore and seuen, the sonnes of Azuram, foure hundred thirtie & two.
The sonnes of Ananias, an hundred and one, the sonnes of Arom, and the sonnes of Bassa, three hundred twentie and three, the sonnes of Arsiphurith, an hundred and two.
The sonnes of Meterus, three thousande & fiue, the sonnes of Bethlehem, an hundred twentie and three.
They of Netrophah, fiftie and fiue, they of Anathoth, an hundred fiftie and eyght, they of Bethsamos, fourtie and two.
They of Kariathiarim, twentie and fiue, they of Caphiras and Beroth, seuen hundred fourtie and three, they of Pirah, seuen hundred.
They of Chadias and Ammidioi, fiue hundred twentie & two, they of Cirama and Gabdes, sixe hundred twentie and one.
They of Macamos, an hundred twentie and two, they of Bethel, fiftie & two, the sonnes of Nebus, an hundred fiftie and sixe.
The sonnes of Calamolaus & Onus, seuen hundred twentie & fiue, the sonnes of Ierechus, three hundred fourtie and fiue.
The sonnes of Sanaah, three thousande three hundred and thirtie.
The priestes, the sonnes of Ieddu the sonne of Iesus, which are counted among the sonnes of Sanassib, nine hundred seuentie and two, the sonnes of Meruth, a thousande fiftie and two.
The sonnes of Phashur, a thousande fourtie and seuen, the sonnes of Charim, a thousande and seuenteene.
The Leuites, the sonnes of Iessue, Cadmiel, Banua, and Suia, seuentie and foure.
The sonnes [which were] holy singers, the sonnes of Asaph, an hundred fourtie and eyght.
The porters, the sonnes of Salum, the sonnes of Iatal the sonnes of Talmon, the sonnes of Dacobi, the sonnes of Teta, the sonnes of Sami, all [were] an hundred thirtie and nine.
The ministers of the temple, the sonnes of Esau, the sonnes of Asipha, the sonnes of Tabaoth, the sonnes of Ceras, the sonnes of Sud, the sonnes of Phaleu, the sonnes of Labana, the sonnes of Hagaba,
The sonnes of Acub, the sonnes of Vta, the sonnes of Cetab, the sonnes of Agab, the sonnes of Sibe, the sonnes of Anan, the sonnes of Cathua, the sonnes of Geddur,
The sonnes Kaia, the sonnes of Daisan, the sonnes of Neroda, the sonnes of Chaseba, the sonnes of Gazema, the sonnes of Azias, the sonnes of Phinees, the sonnes of Asara, the sonnes of Baste, the sonnes of Asana, the sonnes of Meunim, the sonnes of Naphison, the sonnes of Bacubub, the sonnes of Acupha, the sonnes of Assur, the sonnes of Pharacim, the sonnes of Baraloth,
The sonnes of Mehida, the sonnes of Coutha, the sonnes of Charescha, the sonnes of Bareus, the sonnes of Aserar, the sonnes of Thomoth, the sonnes of Nasib, the sonnes of Atipha,
The sonnes of the seruauntes of Solomon, the sonnes of Hazophereth, the sonnes of Pharuda, the sonnes of Geelah, the sonnes of Lozon, the sonnes of Isdael, the sonnes of Staphelia,
The sonnes of Agia, the sonnes of Pharareth, the sonnes of Sabin, the sonnes of Spartia, the sonnes of Masias, the sonnes of Gar, the sonnes of Addu, the sonnes of Subah, the sonnes of Apherra, the sonnes of Barodis, the sonnes of Sabat, the sonnes of Allon:
All the ministers of the temple, & the sonnes of the seruauntes of Solomon, were three hundred seuentie and two.
These came vp from Thelmelah and Thelharsa, Carathalat, and Alar, leadyng them:
Neither coulde they shewe their families nor their stocke howe they were of Israel. The sonnes of Dalaias, the sonnes of Thubia, the sonnes of Necodan, sixe hundred fiftie and two.
Of the priestes that executed the office of the priesthood, and were not founde, the sonnes of Hobia, the sonnes of Hacoz, the sonnes of Addus, which maryed Augia, one of the daughters of Barzeleus,
And was named after hym: The writing of the same kinrede was sought in the register of their generation, but it was not founde, and therfore were they forbidden to execute the office of the priesthood.
For vnto them sayde Nehemias and Atharias, that they shoulde haue no portion in the sanctuarie, tyll there rose vp an hie priest that were well instruct in the playne clearnesse and trueth.
So of Israel from them of twelue yeres olde, and children, they were all in number fourtie and two thousand three hundred and threescore, besides men seruauntes and women seruauntes.
Their seruauntes and handmaydens were seuen thousande three hundred fourtie & seuen. The singyng men and singyng women, two hundred fourtie and fiue.
Foure hundred thirtie & fiue camels, seuen thousande thirtie and sixe horses, two hundred fourtie & fiue mules, fiue thousand fiue hundred twentie and fiue beastes vsed to the yoke.
And of their rulers also after their families, when they came to the temple of God that is in Hierusalem, there were that vowed to set vp the house agayne in his owne place, accordyng to their abilitie:
And to geue into the holy treasure of the workes, a thousande poundes of golde, fiue thousande of siluer, and an hundred pretious garmentes.
And so dwelt the priestes and the Leuites and the people in Hierusalem, and in the countrey [there about,] the singers also and the porters, and all Israel in their villages.
But when the seuenth moneth came, and when the children of Israel were euery man in his owne, they came altogether with one consent into the open place of the gate which is towardes the east.
And there Iesus the sonne of Iosedec and his brethren the priestes, and Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and his brethren, rising vp, made redy the aulter of the God of Israel,
To offer burnt sacrifices vpon it, so as it is written in the lawe of Moyses the man of God.
And thither were gathered agaynst them, diuers of other nations of the lande: but they dressed the aulter in his owne place, although all the nations in the lande were enemies to them and vexed them: and they offered sacrifices to the Lorde both mornyng & euenyng.
And also they helde the feast of tabernacles as it is commaunded in the lawe, and sacrifices dayly as it was appertaynyng.
And after that also the continuall oblations, and the offerynges of the Sabbathes, and of the newe monethes, and of all holy feastes.
And all they which had made any vowe to God, began to offer sacrifice to God from the first day of the seuenth moneth, although the temple of the Lorde was not yet built vp.
And they gaue vnto the masons and carpenters, money, meate and drynke, with chearfulnesse.
Vnto them of Sidon also and Tyre they gaue carres, that they should bring Cedar trees from Libanus, whiche should be brought by flote to the hauen Ioppe, according as it was co{m}maunded them by Cyrus kyng of the Persians.
And in the seconde yere and seconde moneth came into the temple of God at Hierusalem, Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iesus the sonne of Iosedec and their brethren, and the priestes and Leuites, and all they that were come vnto Hierusalem out of the captiuitie of Babylon.
And they layde the foundation of the house of God in the newe moone of the seconde moneth, in the seconde yere that they were come to Iurie and Hierusalem.
And they appoynted the Leuites that were aboue twentie yeres olde ouer the workes of the Lord: So Iesus and his sonne, & brethren, assisted, and Cadmiel also his brother, and the sonnes of Madiabon, with the sonnes of Ioda, the sonne of Eliadon, and his sonnes & brethren, euen all the Leuites with one accorde, folowed on earnestly to aduaunce the workes in the house of God: so the workmen built vp the temple of the Lorde.
And the priestes stoode and had their garmentes with musicall instrumentes and trumpettes, and the Leuites the sonnes of Asaph had Cymbales,
Geuyng thankes and prayses vnto the Lorde, accordyng as Dauid the kyng of Israel had ordeyned.
And they song with loude voyces songes to the prayse of the Lorde, because his mercie and glorie is for euer in Israel.
And all the people blewe out with trumpets, and cryed with loude voyce, praysyng the Lorde together for the rearyng vp of the house of the Lorde.
There came also from among the priestes and Leuites, and of the chiefest accordyng to the tribes and kinredes, to wit, the elders which had seene the former house,
To the buildyng of this, with great crye and great mournyng, many also with trumpettes and [great] ioy cryed with loude voyce:
Insomuch that the trumpets myght not well be hearde for the weepyng and mournyng of the people: yet there was a great multitude that blewe trumpets marueylouslye, so that it was hearde farre of.
Wherfore when the enemies of the tribes of Iuda and Beniamin hearde it, they came to knowe what that noyse of trumpettes shoulde meane.
And they perceaued that they which were come againe out of captiuitie, built the temple vp a newe vnto the Lorde God of Israel.
So they went to Zorobabel & Iesus, and to the rulers of the villages, and sayd vnto them: Shall we builde with you also?
For we lykewyse as you, do obey your Lorde, and do sacrifice vnto hym from the dayes of Asbazareth the kyng of Assyria, which brought vs hyther.
Then Zorobabel and Iesus and the rulers of the villages of Israel sayde vnto them: It doth not agree that ye shoulde builde the temple of our God with vs.
We our selues alone wyll builde vnto the Lorde of Israel as is meete, and like as Cyrus the kyng of the Persians hath commaunded vs.
But the heathen in the lande made them sluggishe that were in Iurie, and sundred them, & letted their buildinges.
And by their embushmentes, seditions, and conspiracies, stopped, that the buildyng coulde not be finished all the tyme that kyng Cyrus lyued: so that they put of the buildyng for the space of two yeres, vntyll the raigne of king Darius.
NOtwithstandyng, in the seconde yere of the raigne of Darius, Aggeus & Zacharias the sonne of Addo the prophetes, prophecied vnto the Iewes, and to them in Iurie and Hierusalem, euen in the name of the Lord God of Israel.
Then Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iesus the sonne of Iosedec stoode vp and began to builde the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem, when the prophetes of the Lord were with them and helped them.
At the same tyme came Sisinnes the gouernour of Syria and Phenice, with Sathrabuzanes and his companions, and sayde vnto them:
Who hath bydden [and commaunded] you to builde this house, to make this roofe and all other thinges againe? And who are the workmen that builde the{m}?
Neuerthelesse, the elders of the Iewes had [such] grace of the Lorde, after he had visited the captiuitie,
That they were not letted from buildyng, vntill the tyme that kyng Darius was certified therof, and an aunswere receaued [from hym.]
The copie of the letters which he wrote and sent vnto Darius. Sisinnes gouernour of Syria and Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes with their companions, which are head rulers in Syria & Phenice, sende their salutation vnto Darius the kyng.
We certifie our Lord the kyng, that we came into the lande of Iurie, and went to Hierusalem, where we founde the auncientes of the Iewes that were of the captiuitie in the citie of Hierusalem,
Buildyng an house vnto the Lorde, great and newe, of hewen and costlye stones, and the timber alredy layde vpon the walles:
Yea they make great haste with the worke, and it goeth foorth prosperously in their handes, and with great diligence and worshyp is it made.
Then asked we the elders, saying: By whose commaundement builde you vp this house, and lay the foundations of these workes?
Which we demaunded of them, to the intent that we myght geue knowledge vnto thee, & write vnto thee of those that gouerned it: and we required of them their names in writyng that were their chiefe leaders to it.
So they gaue vs this aunswere: We are the seruauntes of the Lorde which made heauen and earth:
And as for this house, it was builded many yeres agone by a kyng of Israel great and strong, and was finished.
But when our fathers prouoked God vnto wrath, and sinned agaynst the Lorde of Israel which is in heauen, he gaue them ouer into the power of Nabuchodonosor kyng of Babylon, of the Chaldees:
Which brake downe the house and burnt it, and caryed away the people prisoners vnto Babylon.
Neuerthelesse, in the first yere that king Cyrus raigned ouer the countreys of Babylon, Cyrus the kyng wrote, [and commaunded] to builde vp this house [agayne:]
And the holy vessels of golde and of siluer that Nabuchodonosor had caryed away out of the house at Hierusalem, and had dedicated them in his owne temple: those brought Cyrus foorth agayne out of the temple at Babylon, and deliuered them to Zorobabel and to Sanabassarus the ruler:
Commaundyng hym that he shoulde cary away those same vessels, and put them in the temple at Hierusalem, and that the temple of the Lorde shoulde be built in his [owne] place.
Then the same Sanabassarus beyng come hyther, layde the foundations of the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem, and from that to this, beyng styll a buildyng, it is not yet fully ended.
Nowe therfore O king, if thou thinkest it good, let it be sought in the libraries [and rolles] of kyng Cyrus:
And yf it be founde then that the buildyng of the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem hath ben done with the [counsell and] consent of kyng Cyrus, and yf our Lorde the kyng be so mynded, let hym geue aunswere vnto vs therof.
Then commaunded kyng Darius to seke in the kynges libraries at Babylon: and so at Ecbatane a towre in the region of Medea, there was founde a place where these thinges was layde vp for memorie.
In the first yere of the raigne of Cyrus, [the same] kyng Cyrus co{m}maunded that the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem shoulde be builded agayne, where they do sacrifice with the continuall fire.
Whose heyght shalbe sixtie cubites, and the breadth sixtie cubites, with three rowes of hewen stones, and one rowe of wood, newe, and of that countrey, and the expenses therof to be geuen out of the house of kyng Cyrus:
And the holy vessels of the house of the Lorde, both of golde and of siluer, that Nabuchodonosor toke out of the house of Hierusalem and brought to Babylon, shoulde be restored to the house at Hierusalem, and be set in the place where it was [before.]
And also he commaunded that Sisinnes the gouernour of Syria & Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes, with their companions, and others constituted rulers in Syria and Phenice, shoulde take heede not to meddle with that place, but to suffer Zorobabel the seruaunt of the Lorde and gouernour of Iudea, and the elders of the Iewes, to builde that house of the Lorde in that place.
I haue commaunded also to haue it built vp whole agayne, and that they be diligent to helpe those that be of the captiuitie of the Iewes, tyll the house of the Lorde be finished:
And out of the tribute of Coelosyria and Phenice, a portion diligently to be geuen those men vnto the offeringes of the Lord, & the same to be deliuered vnto Zorobabel the officer, that he therwithall may ordeyne oxen, rammes, lambes,
And also corne, salt, wine, and oyle, and that continually euery yere, after the expences which the priestes that be at Hierusalem shall testifie to be made dayly [this shalbe geuen vnto them] without delay,
That they may offer sacrifices dayly to the hyest God for the kyng and for his children, and to pray for their lines.
And he commaunded also that whosoeuer shoulde breake any poynt of the foresayde and foredecreed thynges, or make it voyde, of his owne goodes shoulde a tree be taken, and he theron be hanged, and all his goodes seasoned vnto the kyng.
The Lorde therfore whose name is there called vpon, roote out and destroy euery kyng & nation that stretcheth out his hande to hinder, or [hurt and] endomage that house of the Lorde in Hierusalem.
I Darius the kyng haue ordeyned, that accordyng to these thynges it be done with diligence.
THen Sisinnes the gouernour in Coelosyria & Phenice, and Sathrabuzanes with their companions obeyed the thynges that kyng Darius had ordeyned,
And were diligent assisters in the holy workes, workyng with the auncientes and gouernours of the sanctuarie:
And so the holy workes went foorth and prospered when Aggeus and Zacharias the prophetes prophecied.
And they perfourmed all thinges through the commaundement of the Lorde God of Israel, and with consent of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes kynges of Persia.
And thus was the holy house finished in the twentie and three day of the moneth Adar, in the sixt yere of Darius kyng of the Persians.
And the children of Israel, the priestes and the Leuites, and other that were of the captiuitie, that had any charge, dyd accordyng to the thynges written in the booke of Moyses.
And to the dedication of the temple of the Lorde, they offered an hundred oxen, two hundred rammes, foure hundred lambes,
And twelue goates, for the sinnes of all [the people of] Israel, after the number of the chiefe of the tribes of Israel.
The priestes also and the Leuites stoode arayed in their long robes after their kinredes in all the workes of the Lorde God of Israel, accordyng to the booke of Moyses, and the porters at euery doore.
And the children of Israel, with those that were come out of captiuitie, helde the Passouer the fourteenth day of the first moneth, after that {th}e priestes and the Leuites were sanctified.
They that were of the captiuitie were not all sanctified together: but the Leuites were all sanctified together.
And so they offered the Passouer for all them of the captiuitie, and for their brethren the priestes, & for them selues.
And the children of Israel that came out of captiuitie dyd eate, all they that had separated them selues from the abhominations of the people of the lande, and sought the Lorde,
And they kept the feast of the vnleauened bread seuen dayes long, makyng mery before the Lorde,
That the Lorde had turned the counsayle of the kyng of Assyria towardes them, to strengthen their handes vnto the workes of the Lord God of Israel.
ANd after these, when Artaxerxes the kyng of the Persians raigned, there went vnto hym Esdras the sonne of Saraias, the sonne of Ezerias, the sonne of Helchiach, the sonne of Salum,
The sonne of Sadoch, the sonne of Achitob, the sonne of Amarias, the sonne of Ezias, the sonne of Menuerath the sonne of Saraias, the sonne of Sauias, the sonne of Boccas, the sonne of Abisun, the sonne of Phinees, the sonne of Eleazar, the sonne of Aaron the first priest:
This Esdras went vp from Babylon beyng a scribe of good vnderstandyng in the lawe of Moyses that was geuen by the Lorde God of Israel.
And the kyng fauoured hym, and dyd hym great [worshyp and] honour after all his desires.
There went vp with hym also certayne of the children of Israel, of the priestes, of the Leuites, of the singers, porters and ministers of the temple, vnto Hierusalem.
In the seuenth yere of the raigne of kyng Artaxerxes in the fifth moneth, which was the seuenth yere (for they went from Babylon in the first day of the first moneth,
And came to Hierusalem, accordyng as God gaue the{m} speede in their iourney,)
For Esdras had gotten great knowledge to omit nothyng of that was in the lawe and the commaundementes of the Lorde, and to teache all Israel all the ordinaunces and iudgementes.
The copie of the commission whiche Artaxerxes the kyng wrote, and that was geuen to Esdras the priest and reader of the lawe of the Lorde, this is it that foloweth.
Kyng Artaxerxes sendeth his greeting vnto Esdras the priest and reader of the lawe of the Lorde.
I hauyng wayed thynges with pitie, haue [ordeyned and] charged, yf there be any of the Iewes, of the priestes & Leuites in my realme, which desireth and is content to go with thee vnto Israel, that he may do it.
Therfore, so many as long therafter, let them depart together, and go with thee like as I am content and my seuen friendes my counsaylers,
To see what they do at Hierusalem and in Iurie, conueniently, accordyng as thou hast in the lawe of the Lorde:
And to bryng the gyftes vnto [God] the Lorde of Israel, that I & my friendes haue promised to Hierusalem, and all the siluer and golde that in the countrey of Babylon may be founde [parteynyng] to the Lorde in Hierusalem,
With the thyng that is geuen of the people to the Lorde their Gods temple at Hierusalem: that the same siluer and golde maye be gathered, for oxen, rammes, sheepe, and goates, and other that belong to these thynges,
That they may offer sacrifices vnto the Lorde, vpon the aulter of the Lorde their God which is at Hierusalem.
And whatsoeuer thou and thy brethren wyll do with the siluer and golde, that do accordyng to the wyll of thy God:
And the holy vessels of the Lorde, which are geuen thee for the seruice of the temple of thy God which is in Hierusalem, thou shalt set [them] before thy God in Hierusalem.
And whatsoeuer thyng els thou shalt remember for the vse of the temple of thy God, thou shalt geue it out of the kynges treasure.
And I king Artaxerxes haue also commaunded the kepers of the treasures in Syria and Phenice, that whatsoeuer Esdras the priest and the reader of the lawe of the hyghest God shall sende for, they shoulde geue it hym with speede:
Euen to the summe of an hundred talentes of siluer: of corne also an hundred measures, and till an hundred vessels of wine, & other thinges aboundauntly.
Let all thinges be done after the lawe of God diligently, vnto the highest God, that wrath come not vpon the kyngdome of the kyng and of his sonnes.
I commaunde you also, that ye require no taxe nor tribute of the priestes, Leuites, holy singers, porters, and ministers of the temple, nor of any that haue doynges in this temple, and that no man haue aucthoritie to put any inpost vpon them.
As for thee O Esdras, set thou iudges and arbitrers to iudge in the whole lande of Syria and Phenice after the wisdome of God, all skilfull in the lawe of God, & teache such as are ignoraunt.
And let all them which shall offende agaynst the lawe of God and the kyng, be diligently punished, whether it be by death or other payne, by punishment in money, or els by banishment.
Then sayd Esdras the scribe: Blessed be the only Lorde God of my fathers that hath geuen so good a mynde & will into the heart of the kyng, to magnifie his house that is at Hierusalem,
And hath made me to be accepted in the syght of the kyng, of his counsayle, of his friendes, and of his nobles.
And so I was stedfast in my mynde accordyng as the Lorde my God helped me, and I gathered vp men of Israel to go vp with me.
And these are the guides after their families and orders of dignities, that went vp with me from Babylon, in the raigne of kyng Artaxerxes.
Of the sonnes of Phinees, Gersom: of the sonnes of Ithamar, Gamaliel: of the sonnes of Dauid, Hattus the sonne of Cechemah:
Of the sonnes of Phares, Zacharias, and with hym there returned agayne an hundred and fiftie men.
Of the sonnes of Pahath, Moab Elioam, the sonne of Zacharias, and with him two hundred men.
Of the sonnes of Zathoe, Shechenias the sonne of Iezolus, & with hym three hundred men: & of the sonnes of Adin, Obed the sonne of Ionathan, and with him two hundred and fiftie men.
Of the sonnes of Elam, Iesias, sonne of Gotholias, & with him seuentie men.
Of the sonnes of Saphatias, Zarias, sonne of Machael, & with him .lxx. men.
Of the sonnes of Ioab, Badias, sonne of Iezelus, and with hym two hundred and twelue men.
Of the sonnes of Banid, Assalimoth, sonne of Iosaphias, and with hym an hundred and threscore men.
Of the sonnes of Babi, Zacharias, sonne of Bebai, & with him .xxviii. men.
Of the sonnes of Astath, Iohannes, sonne of Acatan, and with hym an cx.
Of the sonnes of Adonicam the last: and these are the names of them, Eliphalet, Ieouel, and Maias, and with them seuentie men.
Of the sonnes of Bagouthi, sonne of Iscacourus, and with hym. lxx. men.
All these called I together by the water Thia, where we pitched our tentes three dayes, & there I mustered them.
As for the sonnes of the priestes and leuites, I founde none there.]
Then sent I vnto Eleazar, & beholde there came Maasman, and Maloban,
And Alnathan, and Samaian, and Ioribon, and Nathan, Ennatan, Zacharian, and Mosollamon the chiefe and best learned.
And I bad them that they should go vnto Daddens the captayne, whiche was in the place of the treasurie:
And commaunded them that they shoulde speake vnto Daddeus, and to his brethren, and to those that were the treasurers, to sende vs suche men as might execute the priestes office in the house of our Lorde.
And with the mightie hande of our lord [God] they brought vnto vs men of good experience, from among {th}e sonnes of Moli, the sonne of Leui, the sonne of Israel, Seredia and his sonnes and his brethren whiche were eyghteene.
And Asebia and Amon, and Osaian his brethre{n} of the sonnes of Canaineus, their sonnes were twentie men.
And of them that serued in the temple whom Dauid had ordayned, and the principall men to the worke of the Leuites that were ministers in the temple, two hundred & twentie, whose names are all signed vp in writing.
And then commaunded I a fasting vnto the young men before the Lorde, that I might desire of him a prosperous iourney [and a good way] both for vs and them that were with vs, for our chyldren, and for the cattell.
For I feared to desire of the king men of horse and of foote, to conuey vs safely against our enemies.
For we had sayde vnto the kyng, that the power of the Lord our God should be with them that seeke hym, to direct them in all thinges.
And therfore we besought our Lorde agayne as touching these thinges, and founde him fauourable vnto vs.
Then I separated from among the chiefe of the tribes and from the priestes xij. men [to wit] Esebrias, and Assanias, & ten men of their brethren with them.
And I wayed them the golde and the siluer, and the holy vessels of the house of our Lorde, whiche the kyng and his counsell, and his princes, and whole Israel had geuen.
And when I had wayed it, I deliuered it vnto them sixe hundred and fiftie talentes of siluer, and an hundred talentes in siluer vessels, and an hundred talentes of golde,
And twentie golden basens, & twelue vessels of brasse, euen fine brasse, like shining golde.
And I sayde vnto them: Ye are holy vnto the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the golde and the siluer is promised vnto the Lord [God] of our fathers.
Be diligent nowe and kepe it, vntyll the tyme that ye deliuer it to the chiefe of the priestes and leuites, and to the principall men of the families of Israel in Hierusalem, in the chaumbers of the house of our God.
So the priestes and the leuites which receaued of me the golde, the siluer, and the vessels, brought it vnto Hierusalem vnto the temple.
And from the riuer Thia we brake vp the twelfth day of the first moneth, according to the mightie hande of our Lorde whiche was with vs, and from the beginning of our iourney the Lord deliuered vs from euery enemie: so that we came vnto Hierusalem.
And when the thirde day was past there, the wayed golde and siluer was deliuered in the house of the Lorde on the fourth day vnto Marimoth the priest and sonne of Iori.
And with him was Eleazar the sonne of Phinees, and with them were Iosabdus the sonne of Iesu, and Moeth the sonne of Sabbanus, Leuites: all was deliuered them by number and wayght.
And all the wayght of them was written vp the same houre.
After that, they that were come out of captiuitie, offred sacrifice vnto the Lord God of Israel, euen twelue oxen for all Israel, fourescore & sixteene rammes,
Threescore and twelue sheepe, twelue goates for saluation, all in sacrifice to the Lorde.
And the kinges commission deliuered they vnto the kinges stewardes, and to the gouernours of Coclosyria and Phenice, who honoured the people and the temple of God.
Now when these thinges were done, the rulers came vnto me, and sayde:
The nation of Israel, the princes, the priestes, and leuites, haue not put away from them the straunge people of the lande, nor the vncleannes of the Gentiles, to wit, of the Chanaanites, Hethites, Pheresites, Iebusites, and the Moabites, Egyptians, and Edomites.
For both they and theyr sonnes haue mingled them selues with the daughters of them, and the holy seede is mixt with the straunge people of the lande: and since the beginning of the affaires, the rulers and head men haue ben partakers of this wickednesse.
And assoone as I had hearde these things, immediatly I rent my clothes, and the holy garment, and pulled out the heere of my head & my bearde, and sat me downe forowfull and heauie.
So all they that were moued thorow the worde of the Lorde God of Israel, came vnto me whyles I wept for the iniquitie: but I sate styll full of heauinesse vntyll the euening sacrifice.
Then stoode I vp from fasting, hauing rent clothes & the holy garment, and kneeled downe vpon my knees, & helde out my handes vnto the Lorde,
And sayde: O Lorde, I am confounded and ashamed before thy face.
For our sinnes are become many, euen aboue our heades, and our ignoraunces are lifted vp euen vnto heauen:
For since the tyme of our fathers, we are in great sinne vnto this day.
And for the sinnes of vs and our fathers, we with our brethren, and with our kinges, and with our priestes, haue ben geuen vp vnto the kynges of the earth, into the sworde, and into captiuitie, and became a spoyle with confusion [and shame] vnto this day.
And nowe O Lord God, howe great is the mercy that we haue gotten of thee? in that thou hast lefte vs a roote and a name in the place of thy sanctuarie,
And that thou hast discouered to vs a light in the house of the Lord our God, and hast geuen vs meate in the tyme of our seruitude.
And when we were in captiuitie, we were not forsaken of the Lord our god: but he made the kynges of Persia gratious and fauourable vnto vs, so that they gaue vs victuals [and meate,]
Yea, and honoured the temple of our Lorde, and repayred the wasted places of Sion, and gaue vs assuraunce in Iurie and Hierusalem.
And nowe O Lorde, what shall we say hauing all these things [in possession?] For we haue broken thy commaundementes, whiche thou gauest vnto vs by the handes of thy seruauntes the prophetes, saying:
Because the lande whiche ye go to possesse as an heritage, is a lande defiled with the vncleannes [and filthynes] of the straungers of the land, and with their abhomination they haue polluted it altogether:
Therfore now shall ye not ioyne their daughters vnto your sonnes, neither marry your daughters to their sonnes.
Moreouer, ye shall neuer seeke to make peace with them, that ye may increase and eate the best in the lande, and that ye may leaue the inheritaunce of the lande vnto your chyldren for euermore.
As for the thinges that are come to passe, they come all for our wicked workes and great sinnes: for thou O Lorde hast made our sinnes light.
And geuen vs suche a roote: but we haue turned backe agayne, so that we haue broken thy lawe, and mingled our selues with the vncleannes of the out landishe heathen.
Mightest not thou be angry with vs, to destroy vs? so that thou shouldest leaue vs neither roote, seede, nor name?
O Lord God of Israel, thou art true: for our roote endureth yet vnto this present day.
And beholde, nowe are we before thee in our sinnes, neither can we stande before thee for them.
And when Esdras with this prayer had knowledged the sinne, weping and lying flat vpon the grounde before the temple, there gathered vnto him from Hierusalem a great multitude of men and women, of young men and maydens: for there was a very great [weping and] mourning among the multitude.
Then Iechomas the sonne of Ieheh, one of the chyldren of Israel, cryed out and sayde: O Esdras, we haue sinned against the Lord God, [because] we haue maryed straunge women of the nations of the lande.
And now al Israel hangeth in doubt: We wyll sweare an oth therefore vnto the Lorde, that we shall put away all our wyues which we haue taken of the heathen with their chyldren:
Like as it may seeme good to thee, and to all those that obay the lawe of the Lorde,
Stande vp and put it in execution: for to thee both this matter appertayne, and we are with thee to adde thee strength.
So Esdras arose, and toke an oth of the chiefe of the Priestes and Leuites of all Israel, to do after these thinges: and they sware.
THen Esdras rising fro{m} the court of the temple, went to the chamber of Ioannan, the sonne of Eliasib,
And remayned there and did eate no meate, nor dronke drinke, weepyng for the great wickednesse of the people.
And there was made a proclamation in all Iury, and at Hierusalem, for all them that were of the captiuitie, that they shoulde gather together at Hierusalem,
And that whosoeuer met not there within two or three dayes, according as the elders that bare rule appoynted, their cattell shoulde be seased to the vse of the temple, and he be excluded from them that were of the captiuitie.
And in three dayes were all they of the tribe of Iuda and Beniamin gathered together at Hierusalem, the twentith day of the ninth moneth.
And the whole multitude sat tremblyng in the court of the temple, for it was wynter.
So Esdras arose vp, and sayde vnto them: Ye haue done vnrighteously, in that ye haue taken outlandishe wiues to mariage, and so to encrease the sinnes of Israel.
And nowe knowledge the same, and geue prayse vnto the Lorde God of our fathers:
And perfourme his wyll, departing from the heathen of the land, and from the outlandishe wiues.
Then cryed the whole multitude, and sayd with a loude voyce: Lyke as thou hast spoken, so wyll we do.
But forsomuche as the people are many, and wynter season, so that we may not stande without the house: and because this worke is not a thing that can be finished in a day or two, seing we be many that haue sinned in these thinges:
Ordayne therefore that the rulers of the multitude, and they of our families that haue straunge wyues, tarry.
And let the priestes and iudges come out of euery place in their time appoynted, tyll they swage the wrath of the Lorde in this businesse.
Then Ionathas the sonne of Azaiel, and Ezechias the sonne of Thecan, receaued the charge of this matter, and Mosollam, and Leuis, and Sabatheus helped them therto.
And they that were of the captiuitie, dyd according to all these thinges.
And Esdras the priest chose vnto him the principall men from among the fathers, and them all by name: and in the first day of the tenth moneth they sat together, to examine this matter.
And so the matter was a determining concerning the men that had maryed straunge wyues vntyll the new moone of the first moneth:
[And of the priestes that had mixt them selues with outlandishe wyues, there were founde,
Of the sonnes of Iesu the sonne of Iosedec and his brethren, Mathelas, Eleazar, Ioribus, and Ioadanus:
Whiche offered them selues to put away their wiues, and to offer a ramme vnto reconcilement for their purgation.
And of the sonnes of Emmer, Ananias, and Zabdeus, and Canes, and Samaius, and Hiereel, and Azarias.
And of the sonnes of Phaisu, Ellionas, Massias, Esmaelus, and Nathanael, and Ocidelus, and Talsas.
And of the Leuites, Iorabadus, and Semis, & Colius, who was called Calitas, and Patheus, and Oudas, and Ionas.
Of the holy singers, Eliazurus, Bacchurus.
Of the porters, Sallumus, and Tolbants.
Of them of Israel, of the sonnes of Phorus, Hiermas, and Eddias, & Melchias, and Maelus, and Eleasar, and Asibias, and Banaias.
Of the sonnes of Ela, Matthanias, Zacharias, and Hierielas, and Hieremoth, and Aedias.
And of the sonnes of Zamoth, Eliadas, Elisimus, Othonias, Iarimoth, and Sabatus, and Sardeus.
Of the sonnes of Bebai, Ioannes, & Ananias, and Iosabad, & Ematheas.
Of the sonnes of Mani, Olamus, Mamuchus, Iedaias, Iasubus, Iasael, and Ieremoth.
And of the sonnes of Addi, Naathus, Moosias, Laccunus, and Naidus, and Matthanias, and Seschel, and Balnuus, and Manasseas.
And of the sonnes of Annas, Elionas, and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sabbeus, and Simon a Chosamite.
And of the sonnes of Asom, Altaneus, and Matthias, and Banaias, Eliphalet, and Manasses, and Semi.
And of the sonnes of Maani, Ieremias, Momdis, Omairus, Inel, Mamai, and Paclias, and Amos, Carabasion and Euasibus, & Mamnimata Naius, Elisiasis, Vamus, Eliali, Sanus, Selemias, Nathanias: & of the sonnes of Ozoras, Sesis, Esril, Ezailus, Samatas, Sambis, Iosiphus.
And of the sonnes of Ethna, Mazitias, Zabadias, Ethes, Inel, Banatas.
All these had taken outlandishe women to mariage, and they put them away with their chyldren.]
And the priestes and Leuites, and [all] they that were of Israel, dwelt at Hierusalem, and throughout all the lande, in the newe moone of the seuenth moneth: and the chyldren of Israel were in their dwellinges.
And the whole multitude came together with one accorde into the wyde place before the east gate of the temple.
And they spake vnto Esdras the hye priest and reader, that he woulde bryng the lawe of Moyses which had ben geuen of the Lorde God of Israel.
So Esdras the hye priest brought the law vnto the whole multitude, to man, and woman, and to al priestes, that they myght heare the lawe, in the newe moone of the seuen moneth.
And he read in the first wyde place that is before the port of the temple, from the morning early vnto midday before men and women: And they applyed their minde all vnto the lawe.
And Esdras the priest and reader of the lawe stoode vp vpon a pulpit of wood whiche was made therfore:
And vpon his right hand there stoode by hym Mathathias, Samus, Anamas, Azarias, Vrias, Ezechias, and Balasan:
Vpon his left hande stoode Faldeus, Sael, Melchias, Aothasuphus, and Nabarias.
Then toke Esdras the booke of the lawe before the whole multitude (for he was the principall, and had in most honour of them all.)
And when he expounded the lawe, they stoode all straight vpon their feete. So Esdras praysed the Lord the most hye God, the almightie God of hoastes.
And al the people aunswered, Amen.
And Iesus, Anus, Sarabias, Adimus, Iacobus, Battaias, Autamas, Ma•anias, Calitas, Azarias, Iohasabdus, Anatnas, and Biatas, the Leuites, lyft vp their handes, and fell downe on the grounde, and worshipped the Lord,
And taught the lawe of the Lord, and were earnestly occupied together in the reading thereof.
Then spake Atharates vnto Esdras the hye priest and reader, and to the Leuites that taught the multitude, saying:
This day is holy vnto the Lord: and all when they hearde the lawe, wept.
[So Esdras sayde:] Depart your way therfore, and eate the fat meates, and drinke the sweete drinkes, and sende gyftes vnto them that haue nothing.
For this day is holy vnto the Lorde, and be not ye sory: for the Lorde wyll bryng you to honour.
So the Leuites published all these thinges to the people, saying: This day is holy to the Lorde, be not sory:
Then went they their way euery one to eate and drinke, and were mery, and sent presents to them that had nothing, and made very good cheare:
For they were as yet filled with the wordes that had ben taught them, and for the whiche they had ben assembled.
THE second booke of the prophete Esdras, the sonne of Saraias, the sonne of Azarias, the sonne of Helchia, the sonne of Sadanias, the sonne of Sadoc, the sonne of Achitob,
The sonne of Achia, the sonne of Phinees, the sonne of Heli, the sonne of Amerias, the sonne of Aziei, the sonne of Marimoth, the sonne of Arna, the sonne of Ozias, the sonne of Borith, the sonne of Abisei, the sonne of Phinees, the sonne of Eleazar,
The sonne of Aaron of the tribe of Leui, whiche [Esdras] was prisoner in the lande of Medes, in the raigne of Artaxerxes kyng of Persia.
And the worde of the Lord came vnto me, saying:
Go thy way, and shewe my people their sinnefull deedes, and their chyldren their wickednesses whiche they haue done against me, that they may tell their chylders chyldren the same:
For the sinnes of their fathers are increased in them: And why? they haue forgotten me, and haue offered vnto straunge gods.
Am not I euen he that brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage? But they haue prouoked me vnto wrath, & despised my counsels.
Pull thou out than the heere of thy head, and cast all euyll vpon them, for they haue not ben obedient vnto my lawe: But it is a people without [learning and] nurture.
Howe long shall I forbeare them, vnto whom I haue done so muche good?
Many kynges haue I destroyed for their sakes: Pharao with his seruauntes and all his power haue I smitten downe [and slayne.]
All the nations haue I destroyed [and rooted out] before them, and in the cast haue I brought two landes and people to naught, euen Tyre and Sidon, and haue slayne all their enemies.
Speake thou therfore vnto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord:
I led you thorowe the sea, and haue geuen you sure streetes since the beginning: I gaue you Moyses to be your captayne, and Aaron to be the priest:
I gaue you light in a piller of fire, and great wonders haue I done among you: yet haue ye forgotten me, saith the Lorde.
Thus saith the almightie Lord: The quayles were as a token for you, I gaue you tentes for your succour, neuerthelesse in them ye murmured:
And ascribed not the victory of your enemies vnto my name, but euer to this day do ye yet murmure.
Where are the benefites that I haue done for you? When ye were hungry in the wyldernesse, dyd ye not crye vnto me,
Saying: why hast thou brought vs into this wyldernesse to kill vs? It had ben better for vs to haue serued the Egyptians, then to die in this wyldernes.
Then had I pitie vpon your mourninges, and gaue you Manna to eate: so ye dyd eate angels foode.
When ye were thirstie, dyd not I cleaue the rocke, & waters flowed out to satisfie you withall? For the heate, I couered you with the leaues of the trees.
A good pleasaunt fat lande gaue I you: I cast out the Chanaanites, the Pherezites and Philistines before you: What shall I do more for you, saith the Lorde?
Thus saith the almightie Lorde: When ye were in the wyldernesse, in the water of the Amorites, beyng athirst, and blaspheming my name,
I gaue you not fire for your blasphemies, but cast a tree into the water, and made the riuer sweete.
What shal I do vnto thee O Iacob? Thou Iuda wouldest not obay me: I will turne me to other nations, and vnto those wyll I geue my name, that they may kepe my statutes.
Seyng ye haue forsaken me, I wyll forsake you also. When ye desire me to be gratious vnto you, I shall haue no mercy vpon you.
When ye call vpon me, I wyll not heare you: For ye haue defiled your handes with blood, and your feete are swyft to commit manslaughter.
Ye haue not as it were forsaken me, but your owne selues, saith the Lorde.
Thus saith the almightie Lorde: Haue I not prayed you, as a father his sonnes, as a mother her daughters, and as a nurse her young babes,
That ye woulde be my people, and I shoulde be your God, that ye would be my chyldren, & I should be your father?
I gathered you together, as an hen gathereth her chickens vnder her winges: But nowe what shall I do vnto you? I wyll cast you out from my face.
When you offer vnto me, I wyl turne my face from you: for your solempne feast dayes, your newe moones, & your circumcisions haue I forsaken.
I sent vnto you my seruauntes the prophetes, whom ye haue taken and slayne, and torne their bodies in peeces, whose blood I wyll require of your handes, saith the Lorde.
Thus saith the almightie lord, Your house shalbe desolate, I wyll cast you out as the winde doth stubble:
Your chyldren shall not be fruitefull, for they haue despised my commaundement, and done the thing that is euyll before me.
Your houses wyll I geue to a people that shall come, whiche not hauyng hearde of me, yet shall beleue me: to whom I haue shewed no signes, yet they shall do that I haue commaunded them.
They haue seene no prophetes, yet shall they call their sinnes to remembraunce and knowledge them.
I wyll declare the grace that I wyll do for the people that is to come, whose children reioyce in gladnes: and though they haue not seene me with bodyly eyes, yet in spirite they beleue the thing that I say.
And now brother, behold what great worship: and see the people that commeth from the east.
Vnto whom I wyll geue for leaders Abraham, Isahac, & Iacob, Oseas, Amos, and Micheas, Ioel, Abdias, and Ionas,
Naum, and Abacuc, Sophonias, Aggeus, Zacharie, and Malachie, whiche is called also an angell [or messenger] of the Lorde.
THus saith the Lorde: I brought this people out of bondage, I gaue them my commaundements by my seruauntes the prophetes, whom they would not heare, but despised my counsayles.
The mother that bare them, saith vnto them: Go your way ye chyldren, for I am a wydowe and forsaken.
I brought you vp with gladnesse, but with sorowe and heauinesse haue I lost you: for ye haue sinned before the Lord your God, and done that thing that is euill before hym.
But what shall I nowe do vnto you? I am a wydowe and forsaken: go your way O my chyldren, and aske mercy of the Lorde.
As for me, O father, I call vpon thee for a wytnesse ouer the mother of these chyldren, whiche woulde not kepe my couenaunt:
That thou bryng them to confusion, and their mother to a spoyle, that she beare no more.
Let their names be scattered abrode among the Heathen, let them be put out of the earth: for they haue thought scorne of my couenaunt.
Wo be vnto thee Assur, thou that hydest the vnrighteous in thee: thou wicked people, remember what I did vnto Sodome and Gomorre,
Whose lande is turned into cloddes of pitche and heapes of asshes: Euen so also wyll I do vnto all them that heare me not, saith the almightie Lorde.
Thus saith the Lorde vnto Esdras: Tell my people that I wyll geue them the kingdome of Hierusalem, whiche I woulde haue geuen vnto Israel.
Their glory also will I take vnto me, and geue them the euerlasting tabernacles whiche I had prepared for those.
They shal haue the tree of life at wyl, as in the sweete sauour of oyntment, they shal neither labour nor be weerie.
Go ye your way, and ye shall receaue it: Pray that there may be but fewe dayes, and the long time may be shortened for thee: The kingdome is alredy prepared for you, therefore watche.
Take heauen and earth to witnesse, for I haue broken the euyll in peeces, and created the good: for I liue, saith the Lorde.
Mother embrace thy chyldren, and bryng them vp with gladnesse, make their feete as fast as a piller: for I haue chosen thee, saith the Lorde.
And those that be dead, wyll I rayse vp agayne from their places, and bryng them out of the graues: for I haue knowen my name in Israel.
Feare not thou mother of the chyldren: for I haue chosen thee, saith the Lorde.
And for thy helpe I shall sende thee my seruauntes Esai and Ieremie, after whose counsaile I haue sanctified and prepared for thee twelue trees, laden with diuers fruites,
And as many fountaynes flowyng with mylke and hony, and seuen mightie mountaynes, whervpon there grow roses and lyllyes, whereby I wyll fill thy chyldren with ioy.
Execute iustice for the wydowe, iudge for the fatherlesse, geue to the poore, defende the fatherlesse, clothe the naked,
Heale the wounded and sicke, laugh not a lame man to scorne, defende the creple, and let the blynde come into the light of my clearenes.
Kepe the olde and young that are within thy walles:
Wheresoeuer thou findest the dead, take them and bury them, and I shall geue thee the first place in my resurrection.
Abyde styll O my people, and take thy rest, for thy quietnes shall come.
Feede thy children O thou good nurse, stablishe their feete.
As for the seruauntes whom I haue geuen thee, there shall not one of them perishe: for I wyll seeke them from among thy number.
Be not weery: for when the day of trouble and heauinesse commeth, other shall weepe and be sorowfull, but thou shalt be mery and plenteous.
The Heathen shalbe ielous [at it] but they shalbe able to do nothing against thee, saith the Lorde.
My handes shall couer thee, so that thy chyldre{n} shal not see the fire euerlasting.
Be ioyfull O thou mother with thy chyldren, for I wyll deliuer thee, saith the Lorde.
Remember thy chyldren that sleepe, for I shall bryng them out of the sides of the earth, & shewe mercy vnto them: for I am mercyfull, saith the Lorde almightie.
Embrace thy chyldren vntyll I come, and shewe mercy vnto them: for my welles runne ouer, and my grace shall not fayle.
I Esdras receaued a charge of the Lorde vpon the mount Oreb, that I shoulde go vnto Israel: But when I came vnto them, they set me at naught, and despised the commaundementes of the Lorde.
And therefore I say vnto you O ye Heathen that heare and vnderstande, Looke for your shephearde, he shall geue you euerlasting rest: for he is nye at hande that shall come in the ende of the worlde.
Be redye to the rewarde of the kingdome, for the euerlasting light shal shine vpon you for euermore.
Flee the shadowe of this worlde, receaue the ioyfulnes of your glory: I testifie my sauiour openly.
O receaue the gyft that is geuen you, and be glad, geuing thankes vnto hym that hath called you to the heauenly kingdome.
Aryse vp and stande fast: beholde the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lorde.
Whiche are departed from the shadowe of the worlde, and haue receaued glorious garmentes of the Lorde.
Take thy number O Sion, and shut vp thy purified, whiche haue fulfilled the lawe of the Lorde.
The number of thy chyldren whom thou longedst for, is fulfilled: besech the power of the Lorde, that thy people whiche haue ben called from the beginning, may be halowed.
I Esdras sawe vpon the mount Sion a great people, whom I coulde not number: and they all praysed the Lord with songes [of thankesgeuing.]
And in the middest of them there was a young man of an hye stature, more excellent then al they, and vpon euery one of their heads he set crownes, and was euer higher and higher, which I marueyled at greatly.
So I asked the angell, and said: Sir, what are these?
He aunswered & sayd vnto me: These be they that haue put of the mortall clothing, and put on the immortall, and haue testified and knowledged the name of God: Now are they crowned, and receaue the rewarde.
Then sayde I vnto the angell: what young person is it that crowneth them, and geueth them the palmes in their handes?
So he aunswered and sayd vnto me: It is the sonne of God, whom they haue knowledged in the world: Then began I greatly to commende them, that stoode so stiffely for the name of the Lorde.
Then the angell sayde vnto me: Go thy way and tell my people what maner of thinges & howe great wonders of the Lorde thy God thou hast seene.
IN the thirtith yere after the fall of the citie, I was at Babylon, and lay troubled vppon my bed, and my thoughtes came vp ouer my heart:
For I sawe the desolation of Sion, and the plenteous wealth of them that dwelt at Babylon.
And my spirite was sore moued, so that I began to speake feareful wordes to the most hyest, and sayde:
O Lorde Lorde, thou spakest at the beginning, when thou plantedst the earth (and that thy selfe alone) and gauest commaundement vnto the people,
And a body vnto Adam without soule, whiche was a creature of thy handes, and hast breathed in hym the breath of lyfe, and so he liued before thee:
And thou leddest hym into Paradise, which thy ryght hande had planted, or euer the earth brought fruites.
And vnto him thou gauest commaundement to loue thy way, which he transgressed, and immediatly thou appoyntedst death in hym, and in his generations: Of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kinredes, out of number.
And euery people walked after their owne wyll, and did wonderfull thinges before thee: and as for thy commaundementes they dispised them.
But in processe of tyme thou broughtest the water fludde vpon those that dwelt in the worlde, & destroyedst them.
So that by the fludde, that was wrought in eche of them, that was by death in Adam.
Neuerthelesse, one of them thou leftest, namely, Noe with his householde, of whom came all ryghteous men.
And it happened that when they that dwelt vpon the earth, began to multiplie, and had gotten them many children, and were a great people, they began to be more vngodly then the first.
Nowe when they liued so wickedly before thee, thou didst choose thee a man from among them, whose name was Abraham.
Hym thou louedst, and vnto hym only thou shewedst thy wyll,
And madest an euerlasting couenaunt with hym, promisyng hym that thou wouldest neuer forsake his seede.
And vnto hym thou gauest Isahac: vnto Isahac also thou gauest Iacob and Esau. As for Iacob thou dydst choose him to thee, and put backe Esau: And so Iacob became a great multitude.
And it came to passe, that when thou leddest his seede out of Egypt, thou broughtest them vp to the mount Sina,
Bowing downe the heauens, setting fast the earth, mouyng the grounde, makyng the deapthes to shake, and troublyng the worlde:
And thy glorie went through foure portes, of fire and earthquakes, and windes, and colde: that thou myghtest geue the lawe vnto the seede of Iacob, and diligence vnto the generation of Israel.
And yet tokest thou not away from them that wicked heart, that thy lawe myght bryng foorth fruite in them.
For the first Adam bearyng a wicked heart, transgressed and was ouercome: and so be all they that are borne of him.
Thus remayned weaknesse still, and the lawe in the heartes of the people, with the wickednesse of the roote: so that the good departed away, and the euyll abode styll.
So the tymes passed away, and the yeres were brought to an ende: Then dyddest thou rayse thee vp a seruaunt called Dauid,
Whom thou commaundedst to builde a citie vnto thy name, and to offer vp incense and sacrifice vnto thee therin.
When this was done nowe many yeres, then the inhabiters of the citie forsoke them,
And in all thynges, dyd euen as Adam and all his generations had done: for they also had a wicked heart.
And so thou gauest the citie ouer into the handes of thine enemies.
But do they of Babylon then any thyng better, that they shoulde therfore haue the dominion in Sion?
For when I came thyther, and sawe there so great wickednesse that it coulde not be numbred: then my soule sawe many euyl doers in this thirteth yere, so that my heart fayled me:
For I saw howe thou sufferedst them in such vngodlinesse, and sparedst the wicked doers: but thine owne people hast thou rooted out, and preserued thine enemies, and this hast thou not shewed me.
I can not perceaue howe this happeneth. Do they of Babylon then better then they of Sion?
Or is there any other people that knoweth thee, sauyng the people of Israel? or what generation hath so beleued thy couenauntes, as Iacob?
And yet their rewarde appeareth not, and their labour hath no fruite: For I haue gone here and there through the heathen, and I see that they be riche and wealthy, and thynke not vpon thy commaundementes.
Waygh thou therfore our wickednesse nowe in the ballaunce, and theirs also that dwell in the worlde: and so shall thy name be no where founde but in Israel.
Or when was it that they which dwel vpon earth, haue not sinned in thy sight? or what people hath so kept thy commaundementes?
Thou shalt finde that Israel by name hath kept thy preceptes: but not the •other people and• heathen.
AND the angel that was sent vnto me, whose name was Vriel gaue me an answere,
And sayd: Thy heart hath taken to much vpon it in this worlde, and thou thinkest to comprehende the way of the hyghest.
Then sayde I: Yea my Lorde. And he aunswered me, and sayde: I am sent to shewe thee three wayes, and to set foorth three similitudes before thee:
Wherof yf thou canst declare me one, I wyll shewe thee also the way that thou desirest to see: and I shall shewe thee from whence the wicked heart commeth.
And I sayde: Tell on my Lord. Then sayde he vnto me: Go thy way, waygh me the wayght of the fire, or measure me the blast of the winde, or call me agayne the day that is past.
Then aunswered I, and sayde: What man borne is able to do that, that thou shouldest aske such thynges of me?
And he sayde vnto me: If I shoulde aske thee howe deepe dwellynges are in the middest of the sea, or howe great water springes are in the begynnyng of the deepe, or howe great water springes are vpon the stretchyng out of the heauens, or which are the outgoinges of Paradise?
Peraduenture thou wouldest say vnto me: I neuer went downe yet into the deepe nor hel, neither did I euer climbe vp into heauen.
Neuerthelesse, nowe haue I asked thee but only of fire, and winde, and of the day, wherthrough thou hast trauayled, and from the which thou canst not be separated: and yet canst thou geue me no aunswere of them.
He sayde moreouer vnto me: Thyne owne thynges, and such as are growen vp with thee, canst thou not knowe:
Howe shoulde thy vessell then be able to comprehende the way of the highest, and nowe outwardly in the corrupt worlde to vnderstande the corruption that is euident in my syght?
Then sayde I vnto hym: It were better that we were not at all, then that we shoulde lyue in wickednesse, and to suffer, and not to knowe wherfore.
He aunswered me, and sayde: I came to a forrest in a playne, and the trees toke such a deuice,
And sayde: Come, let vs go, and fyght against the sea, that it may depart away before vs, and that we may make yet more woods.
The fluddes of the sea also in lyke maner toke counsayle, and sayd: Come, let vs go vp, and fyght against the trees of the wood, that there we may make vs another countrey.
The thought [and deuise] of the wood was but vayne [and nothyng worth:] for the fire came and consumed it.
The thought of the fluddes of the sea came lykewyse to naught also: for the sande stoode vp and stopped them.
If thou were iudge nowe betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou iustifie, or whom wouldest thou condempne?
I aunswered and sayde: Veryly it is a foolishe thought that they both haue deuised: For the grounde is geuen vnto the wood, and the sea also hath his place to beare his fluddes.
Then aunswered he me, and sayde, Thou hast geuen a ryght iudgement: but why iudgest thou not thy selfe also?
For lyke as the grounde is geuen vnto the wood, and the sea to his fluddes: euen so they that dwell vpon earth, may vnderstande nothyng but that which is vpon earth: and he that dwelleth aboue the heauens, may only vnderstande the thynges that are aboue the heauens.
Then aunswered I, and sayde: I beseche thee O Lorde, let me haue vnderstandyng.
For it was not my mynde to be curious of thy hye thynges, but of such as we dayly meddle withall, namely, as wherfore Israel is geuen vp as a reproche to the heathen, and for what cause the people whom thou hast loued is geuen ouer vnto vngodly nations, and why the lawe of our forefathers is brought to naught, and the written couenauntes come to none effect:
And we passe away out of the worlde as the grasshoppers, and our lyfe is a very feare, and we are not worthy to obteyne mercie.
What wyll he do then vnto his name which is called vpon ouer vs? Of these thynges haue I asked question.
Then aunswered he me, and sayde: The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt maruayle: for the worlde hasteth fast to passe away,
And can not comprehende the thinges that are promised to the ryghteous in tyme to come: for this worlde is full of vnryghteousnesse and weakenesse.
But as concernyng the thinges wherof thou askest me, I wyll tell thee: The euyll is sowen, but the destruction therof is not yet come.
If the euyll nowe that is sowen be not turned vpsyde downe, and yf the place where the euyll is sowen passe not away: then can not the thing come that is sowen with good.
For the corne of euyll seede hath ben sowen in the heart of Adam from the begynnyng: and howe much vngodlynesse hath he brought vp vnto this tyme? and howe much shall he yet bring foorth, vntyll he come into the barne?
Ponder nowe by thy selfe howe great fruite of wickednesse the corne of euyll seede bryngeth foorth?
And when the stalkes shalbe cut downe, which are without number, howe great a barne shall it fyll?
Then I aunswered and sayde: Howe and when shall these thinges come to passe? Wherefore are our yeres fewe and euyll?
And he aunswered me, saying: Haste not thou to much aboue the most highest: for thy hastinesse to be aboue hym is but vayne, though thou do all that thou canst for it.
Dyd not the soules also of the ryghteous aske question of these thynges in their chambers, saying: Howe long shall I hope on this fashion? when commeth the fruite of my barne, and our rewarde?
And vpon this Ieremiel tharchangel gaue them aunswere, and sayde: Euen when the number of the seedes is fylled in you, for he hath wayghed the worlde in the ballaunce,
In measure and number hath he measured the tymes, and moueth it not, nor shaketh it, vntyll the sayde measure be fulfylled.
Then aunswered I, & sayd: O Lorde, Lorde, nowe are we all full of sinne:
And for our sake peraduenture it is that the barne of the ryghteous are not fulfylled, because of the sinnes of them that dwell vpon the earth.
So he aunswered me, and sayde: Go thy way to a woman with childe, and aske of her when she hath fulfylled her nine monethes, if her wombe may kepe the birth any longer within her?
Then sayde I: No Lorde, that can she not. And he sayde vnto me: In the graue the secrete places of soules are like the wombe of a woman.
For like as a woman that trauayleth, maketh haste to escape the necessitie of the trauayle: euen so do these places haste to delyuer those thynges that are committed vnto them.
Loke what thou desirest to see, it shalbe shewed thee from the begynnyng.
Then aunswered I, and sayde: If I haue founde fauour in thy syght, and yf it be possible, and if I be meete therfore,
Shewe me then whether there be more to come then is past, or more past then is for to come.
What is past, I knowe: but what is for to come, I knowe not.
And he sayde vnto me: Stande vp vpon the ryght syde, and I shall expounde the similitude vnto thee.
So I stoode, and beholde an hotte burnyng ouen passed by before me: and it happened that when the flambe was gone by, I loked, and behold the smoke had the vpper hande.
After this there passed by before me a watery cloude, and sent downe much rayne with a storme: and when the stormie rayne was past, the droppes remayned styll.
Then sayd he vnto me, Consider with thy selfe: lyke as the rayne is more then the droppes, and as the fire exceedeth the smoke: euen so the measure of the thynges that are past, hath the vpperhande, and the droppes and smoke worke much in quantitie.
Then I prayed, and sayde: May I lyue thynkest thou vntyll that tyme? or what shall happen in those dayes?
He aunswered me, and sayde: As for the tokens wherof thou askest me, I may tell thee of them in part: but as touchyng thy lyfe, I am not sent to shewe thee: for I do not knowe it.
NEuerthelesse, as concernyng the tokens [marke this:] Behold the dayes shall come that they which dwell vpon earth shalbe taken in a great number, and the way of the trueth shalbe hyd, and the lande shalbe barren from faith:
But iniquitie shalbe increased aboue that which nowe thou seest, or that thou hast hearde long ago.
And the lande that thou seest nowe to haue rule, shalt thou shortly see waste.
But yf God graunt thee to lyue, thou shalt see after the thirde trumpet, that the sunne shall sodaynly shyne agayne in the night, and the moone three tymes in the day:
And blood shall droppe out of wood, and the stone shall geue his voyce, and the people shalbe vnquieted:
And euen he shall rule, whom they hope not that dwell vpon earth, and the foules shall flitte:
And the Sodomitishe sea shall cast out the fishe, and make a noyse in the nyght, which many haue not knowen: but they shal all heare the voyce therof.
There shalbe a confusion also in many places, and the fire shalbe oft sent out agayne: and the wylde beastes shall chaunge their places, and menstruous women shall beare monsters,
And salt waters shalbe founde in the sweete, and all friendes shall fyght one agaynst another: then shall all wyt and vnderstandyng be hyd and put asyde into their secrete places:
And shalbe sought of many, and yet not be founde: then shall vnryghteousnesse and voluptuousnesse haue the vpper hande vpon earth.
One lande also shall aske another, and say: Is ryghteousnesse that maketh a man righteous gone through thee? And it shall say, no,
At the same tyme shall men hope, but nothyng obteyne: they shall labour, but their wayes shall not prosper.
To shewe thee such tokens I haue leaue: and if thou wylt pray agayne, and weepe as nowe, and fast seuen dayes, thou shalt heare yet greater thynges.
Then I awaked, and a fearfulnesse went through all my body, & my mynde was feeble, so that I almost sowned withall:
So the angel that was come to talke with me, helde me, comforted me, and set me vp vpon my feete.
And in the seconde nyght it came to passe, that Salathiel the captayne of the people came vnto me, saying: Where hast thou ben? and why is thy countenaunce so heauy?
Knowest thou not that Israel is committed vnto thee in the lande of their captiuitie?
Vp then and eate, and forsake vs not, as the sheephearde that leaueth his flocke in the handes of wicked wolues.
Then sayde I vnto hym: Go thy wayes fro me, and come not nye me. And he hearde it, and as I sayde, so went he his way from me.
And so I fasted seuen dayes mournyng and weepyng, lyke as Vriel the angell commaunded me.
And after seuen dayes so it was, that the thoughtes of my heart were very greeuous vnto me agayne:
And my soule receaued the spirite of vnderstandyng, and I began to talke with the most hyghest agayne,
And sayde: O Lorde Lorde, of euery wood of the earth, and of all the trees thereof thou hast chosen thee one only vineyarde:
And of all landes of the whole worlde thou hast chosen one pyt, and of all floures of the grounde thou hast chosen thee one lilie:
And of all the deapthes of the sea thou hast fylled thee one ryuer: and of all builded cities, thou hast halowed Sion vnto thy selfe:
And of all the foules that are created, thou hast named thee one doue: and of all the cattell that are made, thou hast prouided thee one sheepe:
And among all the multitudes of peoples, thou hast gotten thee one people: & vnto this people whom thou louedst, thou gauest a lawe that is proued of all.
And nowe O Lorde, why hast thou geuen this one people ouer vnto many? and vpon the one roote thou hast prepared others, and why hast thou scattered thy one only people among many?
Which treade them downe, yea which haue euer withstande thy promises, and neuer beleued thy couenauntes.
If thou didst so much hate thy people, yet shouldest thou punishe them with thine owne handes.
Nowe when I had spoken these wordes, the angell that came to me the nyght afore, was sent vnto me,
And sayde vnto me, Heare me, and I wyll instruct thee: hearken to the thyng that I say, and I shall tell thee more.
And I sayde: Speake on my Lorde. Then sayde he vnto me: Thou art sore troubled in mynde for Israels sake: Louest thou that people better then he that made them?
And I sayde, No Lorde, but of very griefe [and compassion] haue I spoken: for my reynes payne me euery houre, because I woulde haue experience of the way of the most hyest, and seke out part of his iudgement.
And he sayde vnto me: That thou mayest not. And I sayde: Wherfore Lorde? wherunto was I borne then? or why was not my mothers wombe then my graue, that I myght not haue seene the miserie [and trouble] of Iacob, and the wearyng out of the stocke of Israel?
And he sayde vnto me: Number me the thynges that are not yet come, gather me together the droppes that are scattered abroade, make me the floures greene agayne that are withered,
Open me the places that are closed, and bring me foorth the wyndes that in them are shut vp, shewe me the image of a voyce: and then I wyll declare to thee the thyng that thou labourest to knowe.
And I sayde: O Lorde Lorde, who may knowe these thynges, but he that hath not his dwellyng with men?
As for me, I am vnwise: howe may I then speake of these thynges wherof thou askest me?
Then sayd he vnto me, Lyke as thou canst do none of these thynges that I haue spoken of: euen so canst thou not fynde out my iudgement, or in the ende the loue that I haue promised vnto my people.
And I sayde: Beholde O Lorde, yet art thou nye vnto them that be reserued tyll the ende: and what shal they do that haue ben before me, or we that be nowe, or they that shall come after vs?
A• sayde vnto me, I wyll lyken my iud•ment vnto a ryng: Lyke as there is no slacknesse of the last, euen so there is no swiftnesse of the first.
So I aunswered and sayde: Couldest thou not make those that haue ben made, and be nowe, and that are for to come, at once, that thou mightest shewe thy iudgement the sooner?
Then aunswered he me, and sayde: The creature may not haste aboue the maker, neither may the worlde holde them at once that shalbe created therin.
And he sayde: As thou hast sayd vnto thy seruaunt, that thou which quickenest all thynges hast geuen lyfe at once to the creature [or worke] that thou hast created, and the creature beare it: euen so myght it nowe also beare them that nowe be present at once.
And he sayd vnto me: Aske the wombe of a woman, and say vnto her, If thou bringest foorth children, why doest thou it not together, but one after another? Pray her therfore to bryng foorth ten children at once.
And I sayde, She can not: but must do it by distaunce of tyme.
Then sayde he vnto me: Euen so haue I deuided by distaunce of tyme the childbed of the earth for those that be sowen vpon her.
For lyke as a young childe may not bryng foorth the thynges that belong to the aged: euen so haue I ordeyned the worlde which I created.
And I asked and sayde: Seyng thou hast nowe geuen me the way, I wyll proceede to speake before thee: for our mother of whom thou hast tolde me that she is young, draweth she nowe nye vnto age?
He aunswered me, and sayde: Aske a woman that beareth children, and she shall tell thee.
Say vnto her: Wherfore are not they whom thou hast nowe brought foorth, lyke those that were before thee, but lesse of stature?
And she shal aunswere thee: They that be borne in the youth of strength, are of one fashion: and they that are borne in the tyme of age (when the wombe fayleth) are otherwyse.
Consider nowe thy selfe, howe that ye are lesse of stature then those that were before you:
And so are they that come after you lesse then ye, as the creatures which nowe begyn to be olde, and haue passed ouer the strength of youth.
Then sayde I: Lorde I beseche thee yf I haue founde fauour in thy syght, shewe thy seruaunt by whom thou visitest thy creature?
ANd he sayde vnto me: In {th}e begynnyng when the grou{n}de was made, before the borders of the worlde stoode, or euer the windes blewe,
Before it thundred and lyghtened, or euer the foundations of Paradise were layde,
Before the faire floures were seene, or euer the moueable powers were stablisshed, before the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered together,
Or euer the hyghnesses of the ayre were lyfted vp, afore the measures of the firmament were named, or euer the chimneys in Sion were hotte,
And or the present yeres were sought out, and or euer the inuentions of them that nowe sinne, were put aside, before they were sealed that haue gathered fayth for a treasure:
Then dyd I consider and ponder all these thynges, and they all were made through me alone, and through none other: by me also they shalbe ended, and by none other.
Then aunswered I, and sayde: What shalbe the partyng asunder of the tymes? or when shalbe the ende of the first, and the begynnyng of it that foloweth?
And he sayd vnto me: From Abraham vnto Isahac, when Iacob and Esau were borne of him, Iacobs hande helde first the heele of Esau:
For Esau is the ende of this worlde, and Iacob is the begynnyng of it that foloweth.
The hande of man betwixt the heele and the hande: Other question Esdras aske thou not.
I aunswered then, and sayd: O Lord Lorde, yf I haue founde fauour in thy syght,
I beseche thee shewe thy seruaunt the ende of thy tokens, wherof thou shewedst me part the last nyght.
So he aunswered, and sayde vnto me: Stande vp vpon thy feete, and heare a perfect voyce and sounde.
There shall come a great motion: but the place where thou standest shall not be moued.
And therfore when thou hearest the wordes, be not afraide: for of the ende shall the worde be, and of the foundation of the earth shall it be vnderstande:
And why? the worde therof trembleth and quaketh: for it knoweth that it must be chaunged at the ende.
And it happened, that when I had hearde it, I stoode vp vpon my feete and hearkened: and beholde there was a voyce that spake, and the sounde of it was lyke the sounde of many waters.
And it sayde: Beholde the dayes come that I wyll begyn to drawe nye, and to visite them that dwell vpon earth:
And wyll begyn to make inquisition of them, what they be that haue hurt vniustly with their vnryghteousnesse, and when the lowe estate of Sion shal be fulfylled.
And when the worlde that shall vanishe away shalbe ouersealed, then w•ll I do these tokens: The bookes shalbe opened before the firmamen•, and they shall see altogether:
And the children of a yere olde shall speake with their voyces, the women with childe shall bring foorth vntymely children of three or foure monethes olde, and they shal liue, and be raised vp.
And sodaynely shall the sowen places appeare as the vnsowen, the full store houses shall sodaynly be founde emptie:
And the trumpet shall geue a sounde, which when euery man heareth, they shalbe hastely afraide.
At that tyme shall friendes fyght one agaynst another lyke enemies, and the earth shall stande in feare with them: The springes of the welles shall stande styll, and in three houres they shall not runne.
Whosoeuer remayneth from all these thynges that I haue tolde thee, shall escape, and see my saluation, and the ende of your worlde.
And the men that are receaued shall see it, they that haue not tasted death from their birth: and the heart of the indwellers shalbe chaunged & turned into another meanyng.
For euyll shalbe put out, and deceipt shalbe quenched.
As for faith it shall florishe, corruption shalbe ouercome, and the trueth which hath ben so long without fruite, shalbe declared.
And when he talked with me, beholde I loked a litle and a litle vpon hym before whom I stoode,
And these wordes sayde he vnto me: I am come to shewe thee the tyme of the nyght for to come.
If thou wylt pray yet more, and fast seuen dayes agayne, I shall tell thee more thynges and greater then before, which I haue hearde by the day.
For thy voyce is hearde before the hyest: for why? the mightie hath seene thy ryghteous dealyng, he hath seene also thy chastitie which thou hast had euer since thy youth:
And therfore hath he sent me to shewe thee all these thynges, and to say vnto thee, Be of good comfort, and feare not:
And haste not with the tymes that are past to thynke vayne thynges, that thou mayest not hasten from the latter tymes.
And it came to passe after this, that I wept agayne, and fasted seuen dayes in lyke maner, that I myght fulfyll the three weekes which he tolde me.
And in the eyght nyght was my heart vexed within me agayne, and I began to speake before the hyest.
For my spirite was greatly set on fire, and my soule was in distresse,
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.
And 〈…〉 there the spirite, and the darkne• 〈◊〉 •ere yet on euery syde, and scilence: 〈◊〉 was no mans voyce as yet from thee.
Then commaundedst thou a fayre lyght to come foorth out of thy treasures, that thy worke myght appeare and be seene.
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.
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.
Assoone as thy worde went foorth, the worke was made.
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.
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:
And gauest them a charge to do seruice euen vnto man that was for to be made.
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.
For the dumbe water and without soule, brought foorth lyuyng thynges at the commaundement of God, that all people myght prayse thy wonderous workes.
Then dydst thou ordeyne two soules: the one thou calledst Enoch, and the other Leuiathan,
And dydst separate the one from the other: for the seuenth part (namely, where the water was gathered together) myght not holde them both.
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.
But vnto Leuiathan thou gauest the seuenth part, namely the moyst, & hast kept hym to deuour what thou wylt, and when.
Vpon the sixt day thou gauest commaundement vnto the earth that before thee it shoulde bryng foorth beastes, cattell, and all that creepe:
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.
All this haue I sayd nowe and spoken before thee [that I myght shewe howe] that the worlde is made for our sakes.
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.
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:
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.
If the worlde nowe be made for our sakes, why haue we not the inheritau{n}ce of the worlde in possession? Howe long shall this endure?
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,
And he sayde vnto me: Vp Esdras, and heare the wordes that I am come to tell thee.
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.
But put case the entraunce is narowe and small lyke a ryuer.
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?
Item another. A citie is builded and set vpon a broade fielde, and is full of all good thynges:
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,
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.
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?
And I sayde: It is so Lorde. Then sayd he: Euen so also is Israels portion.
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.
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.
For the entraunces of the fore worlde were wyde and sure, and brought immortall fruite.
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.
Why disquietest thou thy selfe then, seyng thou art but a corruptible man? And why art thou moued, whereas thou art but mortall?
And why hast thou not receaued into thyne heart the thinges that are to come, rather the{n} them that are present?
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:
Neuerthelesse, the righteous shall suffer straite thinges, & hope for wyde: for they that haue liued vngodly & suffred strayte thinges, shall not see the wyde.
And he sayde vnto me: There is no iudge aboue God, and none that hath vnderstanding aboue the hyest.
For there be many that perishe in this life, because they despise the law of God that is set before them:
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.
Neuerthelesse, they were not obedient vnto him, but spake against hym, and imagined vayne thinges:
And deceaued them selues by wicked deedes, and denied the power of the most high, & regarded not his wayes,
But his lawe haue they despised, and denied his promises, in his statutes and ordinaunces haue they not ben faythful and stedfast, and haue not perfourmed his workes.
And therefore Esdras, for the emptie are the emptie thinges, and for the full are the full thinges.
Beholde, the tyme shall come that these tokens whiche I haue tolde thee, shall come to passe, and the bryde shall appeare, and she comming foorth shalbe seene that nowe is vnder the earth:
And whosoeuer is deliuered from the foresayde euils, shall see my wonders.
For my sonne Iesus shalbe openly declared with those that be with him: and they that remayne, shalbe merie within foure hundred yeres.
After these same yeres shall my sonne Christe dye, and all men that haue life:
And the world shalbe turned into the olde scilence seuen dayes, like as in the foreiudgementes, so that no man shall remayne.
And after seuen dayes, the world that yet awaketh not, shalbe raysed vp, and that shall dye that is corrupt.
And the earth shall restore those that haue slept in her, and so shall the dust those that dwell therein in scilence, and the secrete places shall deliuer those the soules that were committed vnto them.
And the most highest shalbe openly declared vpon the seate of iudgement, & all miserie shall vanishe away, and long suffering shalbe gathered together.
But the iudgement shall continue, the trueth shall remayne, and fayth shall waxe strong,
The worke shall folowe, and the rewarde shalbe shewed, the righteousnesse shall watch, and the vnrighteousnesse shall beare no rule.
Then sayd I: Abraham prayed first for the Sodomites, and Moyses for the fathers that sinned in the wyldernesse,
And they that came after him, for Israel, in the time of Achas and Samuel,
And Dauid for the destruction, and Solomon for them that came into the sanctuarie,
And Helias for those that receaued rayne, & for the dead, that he might liue,
And Ezechias for the people in the time of Sennacherib, and diuers other in like maner whiche haue prayed for many.
Euen so now, seing the corrupt is growen vp, and wickednesse increased, and the righteous haue prayed for {th}e vngodly: wherfore shall it not be so nowe also?
He aunswered me, and sayde: This present life is not the ende, oft times honour is retayned in it: therefore haue they prayed for the weake.
But the day of doome shalbe the ende of this tyme, and the beginning of the immortalitie for to come, wherein all corruption shalbe vanished:
Intemperauncie shalbe loosed, infidelitie be cut of, righteousnesse growe, and the veritie spring vp.
Then shall no man be able to saue hym that is destroyed, nor to oppresse hym that hath gotten the victorie.
I aunswered then, and sayd: This is my first and last saying, that it had ben better not to haue geuen the earth vnto Adam: or els when it was geuen hym, to haue kept hym that he shoulde not haue sinned.
For what profite is it for men nowe in this present time to liue in heauines, and after death to looke for punishment?
O thou Adam what hast thou done? For though it was thou that sinned, thou art not fallen alone, but we all that come of thee.
For what profite is it vnto vs, if there be promised vs an immortall tyme, where as we do the workes that bryng death:
And that there is promised vs an euerlasting hope, where as our selues are euyll and vayne:
And that there are layde vp for vs dwellinges of health and safetie, where as we haue liued wickedly:
And that the glory of the highest is kept to defende them which haue led a pacient life, where as we haue walked in the most wicked wayes of all?
And that there shalbe shewed a paradise, whose fruite endureth for euer, wherein is freedome and medicine, whereas we shall not go in?
For we haue walked in vnpleasaunt places.
And that the faces of them whiche haue abstayned, shall shine aboue the starres: whereas our faces shalbe blacker then darknesse?
For whyle we liued and dyd vnrighteously, we considered not that we shoulde suffer therfore after death?
Then aunswered he me, and sayde: This is the maner of the battayle which man that is borne vpon the earth shall fight.
That if he be ouercome, he shall suffer as thou hast sayd: But if he get the victorie, he shal receaue {th}e thing that I say.
For this is the life whereof Moyses spake vnto the people whyle he liued saying: Choose thee lyfe, that thou mayest liue.
Neuerthelesse, they beleued hym not, neither the prophetes after hym, no nor me whiche haue sayde vnto them,
That heauinesse should not so be vnto their destruction, like as ioy is for to come ouer those that haue suffred the{m} selues to be enfourmed in saluation.
I aunswered then and sayd: I know Lorde, that the highest is called mercyfull, in that he hath mercy vpon them whiche are not yet come vnto that worlde,
And vpon those also that walke in his lawe.
And that he is pacient: for he long suffreth those that haue sinned, as his creatures.
And that he is liberall to geue where as it requireth.
And that he is of great mercie: for he passeth in mercy much, both those that are present, and that are paste, and also them whiche are for to come.
For if he multiplied not his mercies, the worlde coulde not continue his beyng with those that haue inheritaunces therein.
He geueth also: for if he gaue not of his goodnesse, that they whiche haue done euyll myght be eased from their wickednesse, the ten thousandth part of men should not remayne liuing.
And if he beyng iudge, forgaue not those that be healed with his worde, and toke not away the multitude of contentions,
There should be very fewe left peraduenture in an innumerable multitude.
ANd he aunswered me, saying: The most hyest made this world for many, but the worlde to come for fewe.
I wyll tell thee a similitude, Esdras. As when thou askest the earth, it shall say vnto thee that it geueth much moulde wherof earthen vessels are made, but litle of it that golde commeth of: Euen so is it with the worke of this worlde.
There be many created, but fewe shalbe saued.
Then aunswered I, and sayd: Then swalowe vp the wit (O my soule) and deuour the vnderstanding.
For thou art agreed to hearken and to geue care, and wyllyng to prophecie: for thou hast no longer space but this life geuen thee.
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?
For thou art alone, and we all one workemanship of thy handes, like as thou hast sayde.
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:
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.
For thou hast commaunded the partes of the body, euen the breastes, to geue milke vnto the fruite of the breastes:
That the thing whiche is created and fashioned, may be nourished for a time, till thou disposest and ordrest it with thy mercy.
And then thou bringest it vp with thy righteousnesse, nurturest it in thy lawe, and refourmest it with thy vnderstanding,
Mortifiest it as thy creature, and makest it liuing as thy worke.
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.
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,
And thyne inheritaunce, for whose cause I mourne, and Israel, for whom I am wofull, and Iacob, for whose sake I am greeued:
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.
But I haue hearde the swiftnesse of the iudge whiche is to come.
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.
O Lord, thou that dwellest in euerlastingnesse, which beholdest from aboue thinges in the heauen and in the ayre:
Whose throne is inestimable, whose glory •and maiestie• may not be comprehended, before whom the hoastes of angels stande with tremblyng,
Whose keping is turned in winde and fire, whose worde is true, whose sayinges are stedfast, whose commaundement is strong, whose ordinaunce is fearefull,
Whose looke dryeth vp the deapthes, whose wrath maketh the mountaynes to melt away, and whose trueth beareth witnesse:
O heare the prayer of thy seruaunt, and marke with thyne eares the petition of thy creature.
For whyle I liue I wyll speake, and so long as I haue vnderstanding I wyll aunswere.
O looke not vpon the sinnes of thy people, rather then on them whiche serue thee in trueth.
Haue no respect vnto the wicked stusti•s of the heathen: but to the desire of those that kepe thy testimonies with afflictions.
Thinke not vpon those that haue walked faynedly before thee: but remember them which according to thy wyll haue knowen thy feare.
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.
Take thou no indignation at them whiche are worse then beastes: but loue them that alway put their trust in thy righteousnesse and glory.
For we and our fathers haue all the same sicknes [and disease:] but because of vs sinners thou shalt be called merciful.
For if thou hast mercy vpon vs, thou shalt be called mercifull to vs that haue no workes of righteousnesse.
For the righteous whiche haue layde vp many good workes together, shall out of their deedes receaue rewarde.
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 h•m?
For of a trueth there is no ma{n} among them that be borne but he hath dealt wickedly, & among the fay•hfull there is none which hath not done amisse.
For in this O Lorde thy righteousnesse and thy goodnesse shalbe praysed [and declared] if thou be mercifull vnto them whiche are not riche in good workes.
Then aunswered he me, and sayde, Some things hast thou spoken aright: & according vnto thy wordes it shalbe.
For I wyll not veryly consider the workes of them whiche haue sinned before death, before iudgement, before destruction:
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.
Like as I haue spoken nowe, so shall it come to passe.
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.
I aunswered then and sayde: If I haue founde grace, then let me speake.
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:
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.
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.
Then aunswered he me, and sayde: Thinges present are for the present, and thinges to come, for such as be to come.
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.
In this also thou art marueylous before the highest,
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.
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.
But vnderstande thou for thy selfe, and seeke out the glory for suche as be like thee.
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.
The roote of euyll is marked from you, the weakenesse and moth is hid from you, and into hell fleeth corruption in forgetfulnesse.
Sorowes are vanished away, and in the ende is shewed the treasure of immortalitie.
And therfore aske thou no more questions concerning the multitude of them that perishe.
For when they had taken libertie, they despised the highest, thought scorne of his lawe, and forsoke his wayes.
Moreouer, they haue troden downe his righteous,
And sayde in their heart that there is no God, yea and that wittingly, for they dye.
For like as the thing that I haue spoken of, is made redy for you, euen so is thirst and payne prepared for them: For it was not his wyll that man shoulde come to naught.
But they whiche be created, haue defiled the name of hym that made them, and are vnthankefull vnto him whiche prepared lyfe for them.
And therefore is my iudgement nowe at hande.
These thinges haue I not shewed vnto all men, but vnto fewe, namely vnto thee, and to suche as be like thee. Then aunswered I and sayde:
Beholde O Lorde, nowe hast thou shewed me the multitude of the wonders whiche thou wylt begin to do in the last tymes: but at what tyme [and when] thou hast not shewed me.
HE aunswered me then and sayde, Measure thou the time diligentlye in it self: and when thou seest that one part of the tokens come to passe whiche I haue tolde thee before,
Then shalt thou vnderstande that it is the very same tyme wherin the highest wyll begin to visite the world which he made.
Therefore when there shalbe seene an earthquake and vprore of the people in the worlde,
Then shalt thou well vnderstande that the moste highest spake of those thinges from the dayes that were before thee, euen from the beginning.
For lyke as all that is made in the worlde, hath a beginning and ende, and the ende is manifest:
Euen so the tymes also of the highest haue playne beginninges in wonders and signes, and ende in working and in tokens.
And euery one that shalbe saued, and shalbe able to escape by his workes and by fayth wherein ye haue beleued,
Shalbe preserued from the sayde perils, and shall see my sauiour in my lande, and within my borders: for I haue halowed me from the worlde.
Then shall they pitie them selues, whiche nowe haue abused my wayes: and they that haue cast them out dispitefully, shall dwell in paynes.
For suche as in their life haue receaued benefites, and haue not knowen me:
And they that haue abhorred my lawe whyle they had yet freedome, and when they had yet open leysure of amendement and conuertion, vnderstoode not, but despised it:
The same must knowe it after death in payne.
And therefore be thou no more carefull howe the vngodly shalbe punished: but inquire howe the righteous shalbe saued, and whose the worlde is, and for whom the worlde is, and when [it is.]
Then aunswered I, and sayde:
I haue sayde before, and nowe I speake, and wyl speake it also hereafter: that there be many mo of them whiche perishe, then of them whiche shalbe saued:
Like as the flud is greater then a drop.
And he aunswered me, saying: Like as the fielde is, so is also the seede: as the floures be, so are the colours also: suche as the workeman is, suche is also the worke: and as the husbandman is hym selfe, so is his husbandry also: for it was the tyme of the worlde.
And when I prepared for them that are nowe, or euer the world was made wherein they shoulde dwell: then was there no man that spake against me.
For then euery one [obayed] but nowe the maners of them which are created in this worlde that is made, are corrupted by a perpetuall seede, and by a lawe whereout they can not rid them selues.
So I considered the worlde, and beholde there was perill because of the thoughtes that were come into it.
And I saw, and spared them greatly, and haue kept me a wineberie of grapes, and a plant of a great people.
Let the multitude perishe then which are growen vp in vayne, and let my grape [and wineberie] be kept and my plant: for with great labour haue I made it vp.
Neuerthelesse, if thou wylt ceasse yet seuen dayes mo, but thou shalt not fast in them:
Go thy way the{n} into a fielde of floures, where no house is buylded, & eate only of the floures of the fielde, taste no flesh, drinke no wine, but eate floures only.
And pray vnto the highest continually, so wyll I come and talke with thee.
So I went my way, and came into the fielde whiche is called Ardath, like as he commaunded me, and there I sate among the floures, and did eate of the hearbes of the fielde, and the meate of the same satisfied me.
After seuen dayes, I sate vpon the grasse, and my heart was vexed within me like as before.
And I opened my mouth, and began to talke with the most highest, and said:
O Lorde, thou that shewest thy selfe vnto vs, thou hast declared and opened thy selfe vnto our fathers in the wyldernesse, in a place where no man dwelleth, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt:
And thou spakest saying, Heare me O Israel, and marke my wordes thou seede of Iacob.
For beholde I sowe my lawe in you, and it shall bryng fruite in you, and ye shalbe honoured in it for euer.
But our fathers whiche receaued the lawe, kept it not, and obserued not thy ordinaunces and statutes, and the fruite of thy lawe dyd not appeare, neither coulde it: for why? it was thyne.
For they that receaued it, perished, because they kept not the thing that was sowen in them.
And lo, it is a custome when the grounde receaueth seede, or the sea a ship, or a vessell meate and drinke: that when it perisheth or is broken wherein a thing is sowen, or wherein any thing is put,
The thinges also perishe and are broken which are sowen or put therin and receaued, and the thinges that are receaued remayne not then with vs: but in vs it hath not happened so.
For we that haue receaued the lawe, perishe in sinne, and our heart whiche also receaued the lawe:
Notwithstanding the law perisheth not, but remayneth in his force.
And when I spake these thinges in my heart [after this maner] I looked about me with mine eyes, and vpon the right side I sawe a woman whiche mourned sore, made great lamentation, and wept with loude voyce, and was greeued in heart, and rent her clothes, and she had asshes vpon her head.
Then let I my thoughtes go that I was in, and turned me vnto her,
And sayde: Wherefore weepest thou? why art thou so sory in minde?
And she sayd vnto me: Sir, let me alone, that I may bewayle my selfe, and take yet more sorow: for I am sore vexed in my minde, and brought very low.
And I sayde vnto her: what ayleth thee? [Or who hath done any thing to thee?] tell me.
She sayde vnto me: I thy seruaunt haue ben vnfruitfull and baren, and haue had no chylde though I haue had an husbande thirtie yeres.
And these thirtie yeres I do nothing els day and night, and all houres, but make my prayer to the highest.
After thirtie yeres God hearde me thy handmayden, looked vpon my miserie, considered my trouble, and gaue me a sonne: and I was glad of hym, so was my husband also, and al my neighbours, and we gaue great honour vnto the almightie.
And I nourished him with great trauayle.
So when he grewe vp, and came to the tyme that he shoulde haue a wyfe, I made a feast.
ANd it so came to passe, that when my sonne went into his chaumber, he fell downe and dyed:
Then ouerthrewe we all the lightes, and all my neyghbours rose vp to comfort me, then toke I my rest vnto the seconde day at nyght.
And when they had all left of to comfort me, that I shoulde be quiet: then I rose vp by nyght and fled, and am come hyther into this fielde as thou seest:
And am purposed not to returne into the citie, but to remayne here, and neither to eate nor drinke, but continually to mourne, and to fast, vntyll I dye.
Then let I my meditation and thoughtes fal that I was in, and spake to her in displeasure, saying:
Thou foolish woman aboue al other, seest thou not our heauines and mourning, and what happeneth vnto vs?
Howe Sion our mother is all wofull & sory, and howe she is cleane brought downe and mourneth extremely?
Seyng we be all nowe in heauines, & make our mone, for we all be sorowfull: art thou so heauie for one sonne?
Demaunde the earth, and she shall tell thee that it is she whiche ought [by reason] to mourne for the fall of so manye that growe vpon her.
For from the beginning all men are borne of her, and other shall come: and beholde, they walke almost all into destruction, and the multitude of them shalbe rooted out.
Who shoulde then [by reason] make more mourning, then she that hath lost so great a multitude, and not thou whiche art sory, but for one?
But if thou wouldest say vnto me, My mourning is not like the mourning of the earth, for I haue lost the fruite of my body, whiche I brought foorth with heauines, and bare with sorowes:
But the earth is according to the maner of the earth, and the present multitude goeth agayne into her as it is come to passe:
Then say I vnto thee, Like as thou hast borne with trauayle and sorowe, euen so the earth also from the beginning geueth her fruite vnto man, euen to him that laboured her.
And therefore withholde thy sorowe and heauines by thy self, & looke what happeneth vnto thee, beare it strongly.
For if thou iudgest the marke and ende of God to be righteous and good, and receauest his counsell in time, thou shalt be commended therin.
Go thy way then into the citie to thy husbande.
And she sayde vnto me, That wyll I not do: I wyll not go into the citie, but here wyll I dye.
So I communed more with her, and sayde:
Do not so, but be counselled, and folow me: for howe many fauls hath Sion? Be of good comfort because of the sorowe of Hierusalem.
For thou seest that our sanctuarie is layde waste, our aulter broken, our temple destroyed,
Our playing of instrumentes is layde downe, and songues art put to scilence, our myrth is vanished away, the light of our candelsticke is quenched, the arke of our couenaunt is taken from vs, all our holy thinges are defiled, and the name that is called vpon ouer vs is almost dishonoured: our chyldren are put to shame, our priestes are brent, our Leuites are caryed away into captiuitie, our virgins are defiled, and our wyues rauished, our righteous men spoyled, and our chyldren destroyed, our young men are brought in bondage, and our strong worthyes are become weake:
And Sion our seale, which is the greatest of al, is loosed vp from her worship: for she is deliuered into the handes of them that hate vs.
And therfore shake of thy great heauinesse, and put away the multitude of sorowes, that the mightie may be mercyfull vnto thee, and that the highest may geue thee rest and ease from thy labour and trauayle.
And when I was talkyng with her, her face and beautie shined sodainely, and her countenaunce glistered, so that I was afraide of her, and mused what it might be.
And immediatly she caste out a great voyce, very fearefull, so that the earth shoke at the noyse of the woman.
And I looked, and beholde the woman appeared vnto me no more: but there was a citie buylded, & a place was shewed from the ground & foundation: Then was I afraide, and cryed with a loude voyce, and sayde.
Where is Vriel the angell, whiche came to me at the first? For he hath caused me to come in many considerations and hye thoughtes, and myne ende is turned to corruption, and my prayer to rebuke.
And as I was speaking these wordes, he came vnto me, and looked vpon me:
And lo, I lay as one that had ben dead, and myne vnderstanding was altred: and he toke me by the right hande and comforted me, and set me vpon my feete, and sayde vnto me,
What ayleth thee? and why is thyne vnderstanding vexed, and the vnderstanding of thy heart? and wherefore art thou sory?
And I sayde: Because thou hast forsaken me, and I haue done according vnto thy wordes, I went into the field, and there haue I seene thinges, and see that I am not able to expresse.
He sayde vnto me: Stande vp and be manly, & I shall geue thee exhortation.
Then sayde I: Speake on to me my Lorde, forsake me not, lest I dye thorowe my rashnesse:
For I haue seene that I knewe not, and heare that I do not knowe.
Or is my vnderstanding deceaued, or doth my soule dreame?
Nowe therefore I beseche thee, that thou wylt shewe thy seruaunt of this wonder.
He aunswered me then and sayde: Heare me, and I shall enfourme thee and tell thee wherfore thou art afraide: for the hyest hath opened many secrete thinges vnto thee.
He hath seene that thy way is right, for that thou takest sorowe continually for thy people, and makest great lamentation for Sion.
And therefore vnderstande the vision which thou sawest a litle whyle ago, after this maner.
Thou sawest a woman mourning, and thou begannest to comfort her.
Neuerthelesse, nowe seest thou the likenes of the woma{n} no more, but there appeared vnto thee a citie buylded:
And where she tolde thee of the fall of her sonne, so is this the solution of it.
This woman whom thou sawest, is Sion: and where as she tolde thee, euen she whom thou seest nowe as a citie buylded.
And as touching that she sayde vnto thee, that she hath ben thirtie yeres vnfruitefull and baren, those are the thirtie yeres wherein there was no offering made in her.
But after thirtie yeres Solomon builded the citie, and offred offeringes: and then bare the baren a sonne.
And where as she tolde thee that she nourished hym with labour, that was the dwelling in Hierusalem.
But where as she tolde thee that her sonne dyed, as his chaunce was, when she came into her chaumber, that is the fall that is come to Hierusalem.
And beholde, when thou sawest her like one that mourned for her sonne, and begannest to comfort her: of these things whiche haue chaunced, these are to be opened vnto thee.
For nowe the most hyghest seeth that thou art sory in thy minde, and suffrest from thy whole heart for her, and so hath he shewed thee her clearenesse, and the fayrenesse of her beautie.
And therefore I bad thee remayne in the fielde, where no house was builded.
For I knewe that the highest would shewe this vnto thee:
Therfore I commaunded thee to go into the fielde, where no foundation nor buylding is.
For in the place where the highest beginneth to shewe his citie, there can no mans buylding be able to stande.
And therefore feare not, and let not thyne heart be afraide: but go thy way in, and see the beautie and greatnes of the buylding, as much as thyne eyes be able to see:
And then shalt thou heare as muche as thyne eares may comprehende.
For thou art blessed aboue many other, and art called with the highest, as the fewe.
But to morowe at night thou shalt remayne here:
And so shall the highest shewe thee visions of the hye thinges, which he wyll do vnto them that dwell vpon earth in the last dayes. So I slept {th}e same night & another, like as he commaunded me.
THen saw I a dreame, and beholde, there came vp from the sea an Egle, whiche had xii. fethered winges and three heades:
And I sawe, and beholde she spread her wynges ouer all the earth, and al the wyndes of the ayre blew on her, & gathered them together.
And I behelde, and out of her fethers there grew other contrary fethers, and they became litle fethers and small.
But her heades remayned styll, the head in the middest was greater then the other, yet rested it with the residue.
Moreouer I saw that the Egle flewe with her wynges, and raigned vpon earth, and ouer all them that dwelt vppon the earth.
And I sawe that all thinges vnder heauen were subiect vnto her, and no man spake against her, no not one creature vpon earth.
I sawe also that the Egle stoode vp vpon her clawes, and gaue a sounde with her fethers, and a voyce saying after this maner.
Watche not altogether, sleepe euery man in his owne place, and watche by course.
But let the heades be preserued for the last.
Neuerthelesse, I sawe that the voyce went not out of her heades, but from the myddest of her body.
And I numbred her contrary fethers, and beholde there were eyght of them.
And I loked, and beholde vpon the ryght syde there arose one fether, and raigned ouer all the earth.
And so it was, that when it raigned, the ende of it came, and the place therof appeared no more: So the next folowyng stoode vp and raigned, and had a great tyme.
And it happened that when it raigned, the ende of it came also lyke as the first, so that it appeared no more.
Then came there a voyce vnto it, and sayde:
Heare thou that hast kept the earth so long, this I say vnto thee before thou begynnest to appeare no more.
There shall none after thee attayne vnto thy tyme, neither vnto the halfe therof.
Then arose the thirde, and raigned as the other afore: and appeared no more also.
So went it with all the residue one after another, so that euery one raigned, and then appeared no more.
Then I loked, and beholde in processe of tyme the fethers that folowed stoode vp on the ryght syde, that they myght rule also, and some of them ruled: but within a whyle they appeared no more.
For some of them were set vp, but ruled not.
After this I loked, and beholde the twelue fethers appeared no more, nor the two wynges:
And there was no more vpon the Egles body, but two heades that rested, and sixe wynges.
Then sawe I also that two wynges deuided them selues from the sixe, and remayned vnder the head that was vpon the right side: for the foure continued in their place.
So I loked, and beholde the fethers that were vnder the wyng, thought to set vp them selues and to haue the rule.
Then was there one set vp, but shortly it appeared no more.
And the seconde was sooner away then the first.
And I behelde, and lo the two that remayned, thought also in them selues to raigne:
And when they so thought, beholde there awaked one of the heades that were at rest, namely it that was in the myddest: for that was greater then the two other heades.
And then I sawe that the two heades were ioyned with hym:
And the head was turned with them that were with hym, and dyd eate vp the two vnder wynges that woulde haue raigned.
But this head put the whole earth in feare, and bare rule in it ouer all those that dwelt vpon the earth with much labour: and he had the gouernaunce of the worlde ouer all the wynges that had ben.
After this I loked, and beholde the head that was in the myddest sodaynly appeared no more, lyke as the wynges.
But there remayned the two heades which ruled vpon earth, and ouer those that dwelt therin.
And I behelde, and lo the head vpon the ryght syde deuoured it that was vpon the left syde.
Then I hearde a voyce which sayde vnto me: loke before thee, and consider the thyng that thou seest.
Then I sawe, and beholde as it were a lion that roareth runnyng hastyly out of the wood: and I sawe that he sent out a mans voyce vnto the Egle, and sayde:
Heare thou, I wyll talke with thee, and the hyest shall say vnto thee:
Is it not thou that hast the victorie of the foure beastes whom I made to raigne [vpon earth and] in my worlde, that the ende of their tymes myght come through them?
And the fourth came, and ouerranne all the beastes that were past, and had power ouer the worlde with great fearfulnesse, and ouer the whole compasse of the earth with most wicked oppression, and so long tyme dwelt he vpon the earth with deceipt.
For the earth hast thou not iudged with trueth.
For thou hast troubled the meeke, thou hast hurt the peaceable [and quiet,] thou hast loued lyers, and destroyed the dwellinges of them that brought foorth fruite, and hast cast downe the walles of such as dyd thee no harme.
Therfore is thy wrongfull dealyng [and blasphemie] come vp vnto the hyest, and thy pryde vnto the mightie.
The hyest also hath loked vpon the proude tymes, and beholde they are ended, and their abhominations are fulfylled.
And therfore appeare no more thou Egle, and thy horrible wynges, and thy wicked fethers, and thy vngratious heades, and thy sinnefull clawes, and all thy vayne body:
That the earth may be refresshed, [and come agayne to her selfe] when she is deliuered from thy violence, and that she may hope for the iudgement and mercie of hym that made her.
ANd it happened when the Lion spake these wordes vnto the Egle, I sawe:
And beholde, the head that afore had the vpper hande, appeared no more: neither dyd the foure wynges appeare any more that came to hym and were set vp to raigne, and their kingdome was small and full of vprore.
And I sawe, and beholde they appeared no more, and the whole body of the Egle was burnt, so that the earth was in great feare: Then awaked I out of the trouble and traunce of my mynde, and from great feare, and sayde vnto my spirite:
Lo, this hast thou geuen me, in that thou searchest out the wayes of the hyest.
Lo, yet am I weery in my mynde, and very weake in my spirite: and litle strength is there in me, for the great feare that I receaued this nyght.
Therfore wyll I nowe beseche the hyest, that he wyll comfort me vnto the ende.
And I sayde: Lorde, Lorde, if I haue founde grace before thy syght, and yf I am iustified with thee before many other, and yf my prayer in deede be come vp before thy face:
Comfort me then, and shewe me thy seruaunt the interpretation and playne difference of this horrible syght, that thou mayest perfectly comfort my soule:
For thou hast iudged me worthy to shewe me the last of tymes.
And he sayde vnto me, This is the interpretation of this syght:
The Egle whom thou sawest come vp from the sea, is the kingdome which was seene in the vision of thy brother Daniel:
But it was not expounded vnto hym, therfore nowe I declare it vnto thee.
Beholde the dayes wyll come, that there shall ryse vp a kyngdome vpon earth, and it shalbe feared aboue all the kyngdomes that were before it.
In the same kyngdome shall twelue kynges raigne, one after another.
Wherof the seconde shall begynne to raigne, and shall haue more tyme then the other twelue.
And this do the twelue wynges signifie which thou sawest.
As for the voyce that thou heardest speake, and that thou sawest not to go out fro{m} the heades, but from the middes of the body therof, it betokeneth,
That after the tyme of that kingdome, there shall aryse great striuinges, and it shall stande in perill of fallyng: neuerthelesse it shall not then fall, but shalbe restored agayne into his begynnyng.
And the eyght fethers vnder the wynges which thou sawest hang vnto her wynges, betoken,
That in hym there shall aryse eyght kynges, whose tyme shalbe but small, and their yeres swift, and two of them shall perishe.
But when the middest tyme commeth, there shalbe foure kept for a tyme, whyles his tyme begynneth to come that it may be ended: but two shalbe kept vnto the ende.
And wheras thou sawest three heades restyng, this is the interpretation:
In his last dayes shall the most hygh rayse vp three kyngdomes, and call many thinges agayne in to them, & they shall haue the dominion of the earth,
And of those that dwell therin, with much labour aboue all those that were before them: Therfore are they called the heades of the Egle.
For it is they that shall bryng foorth his wickednesse agayne, and that shall perfourme and finishe his last.
And wheras thou sawest that the great head appeared no more, it signifieth, that one of them shall dye vpon his bed, and yet with payne.
For the two that remayne, shalbe slayne with the sworde.
For the sworde of the one shall deuour the other: but at the last shall he fall through the sworde hym selfe.
And wheras thou sawest two fethers vnder the wynges passyng toward the head that is on the ryght syde,
It signifieth, that it is they whom the hyest hath kept vnto their ende: this is the small kyngdome, and full of trouble as thou sawest.
And the Lion whom thou sawest rysyng vp out of the wood, and roaryng, and speakyng vnto the Egle, and rebukyng her for her vnrighteousnesse, with all the wordes which thou hast hearde,
Is the wynde which the hyest hath kept for them, and for their wickednesse vnto the ende: he shall reproue them, & cast before them their owne spoylinges.
For he shall set them alyue in iudgement, and shal rebuke them, and correct them.
For the residue of my people shall he delyuer by trouble those that be preserued vpon my borders, and he shall make them ioyfull vntyll the commyng of the day of iudgement, wherof I haue spoken vnto thee from the begynnyng.
This is the dreame that thou sawest, and these are the interpretations.
Thou only hast ben meete to knowe this secrete of the hyest.
Therfore write all these thynges that thou hast seene in a booke, & hyde them,
And teache them to the wise of the people, whose heartes thou knowest may comprehende & kepe these secretes.
But wayte thou here thy selfe yet seuen dayes mo, that it may be shewed thee whatsoeuer it pleaseth the hyest to declare vnto thee. And with that he went his way.
And when all the people perceaued that the seuen dayes were past, and I not come agayne into the citie, they gathered them altogether from the least vnto the most, and came vnto me, and sayde:
What haue we offended thee? & what euyll haue we done agaynst thee, that thou forsakest vs and sittest here in this place?
For of all the people thou only art left vs, as a grape of the vine, & as a candell in a darke place, and as an hauen or ship preserued from the tempest.
Haue we not els aduersitie inough?
If thou shalt forsake vs, were it not better for vs that we had ben burnt with Sion?
For we are not better then they that dyed there. And they wept with loude voyce. Then aunswered I them, & said:
Be of good comfort O Israel, and be not heauy thou house of Iacob.
For the hyest hath you in remembraunce, and the mightie hath not forgotten you in temptation.
As for me I haue not forsaken you, neither am I departed from you: but am come into this place to pray because of the miserie of Israel, that I myght seeke mercie for the lowe estate of your sanctuarie.
And nowe go your way home euery man, and after these dayes will I come vnto you.
So the people went their way into the citie, lyke as I commaunded them:
But I remayned styll in the fielde seuen dayes, as the angell bad me, and dyd eate only of the floures of the fielde, and had my meate of the hearbes in those dayes.
AND after the seuen dayes I dreamed a dreame by nyght:
And beholde there arose a wynde from the sea, that it moued all the waues therof.
And I loked, and beholde there was a strong man with the thousandes of heauen: and when he turned his countenaunce to loke, all the thynges trembled that were seene vnder hym:
And when the voyce went out of his mouth, all they burnt that hearde his voyce, lyke as the earth fayleth when it feeleth the fire.
After these I sawe, and beholde there was gathered together a multitude of men out of number from the foure wyndes of the heauen, to fyght agaynst the man that came out of the sea.
And I loked, and beholde he graued hym selfe a great mountayne, and flewe vp vpon it.
But I woulde haue seene the region or place wherout the hyll was grauen, and I coulde not.
I sawe after these, that all they which came to fyght agaynst hym, were sore afraide: and yet durst they fyght.
Neuerthelesse, when he sawe the fiercenesse and violence of the people that came, he neither lyft vp his hande, nor helde sworde, nor any weapon:
But only as I sawe, he sent out of his mouth as it had ben a blast of fire, and out of his lippes the wynde of the flambe, and out of his tongue he cast out sparkes and stormes.
And they were all mixt together: the blast of fire, the wynde of the flambes, and the great storme: and fell with a rushe vpon the people which was prepared to fight, and burnt them vp euery one, so that of the innumerable multitude there was nothing seene but only dust and smell of smoke: When I sawe this, I was afraide.
Afterwarde sawe I the same man come downe from the mountayne, and callyng vnto hym another peaceable people.
And there came much people vnto hym, some were glad, some were sorye, some of them were bounde, and other some brought of them that were offered: Then was I sicke through great feare, and I awaked, and sayde:
Thou hast shewed thy seruaunt these wonders from the begynnyng, and hast counted me worthy that thou myghtest receaue my prayer:
Shewe me nowe yet the interpretation of this dreame.
For thus I consider in my vnderstandyng: wo vnto them that shalbe left in those dayes, and much more wo vnto them that are not left behynde:
For they that were not left, were in heauinesse.
Nowe vnderstande I the thynges that are layde vp in the latter dayes, which shall happen vnto them, and to those that are left behynde.
Therfore are they come into great perilles and many necessities, like as these dreames declare.
Yet is it easyer that he which is in daunger, fall [into these] and nowe to see that which shall chaunce hereafter, then to passe out of this worlde as a cloude. Then aunswered he me, and sayde:
The interpretation of the syght shall I shewe thee, and I wyll open vnto thee the thyng that thou hast required.
Wheras thou hast spoken of them that are left behynde, this is the interpretation.
He that beareth the peril in that tyme, hath kept him selfe: They that be fallen into daunger, are such as haue workes and fayth vnto the most mightie.
Knowe this therfore, that they which be left behynde, are more blessed then they that be dead.
This is the meanyng of the vision: Wheras thou sawest a man commyng vp from the deepe of the sea,
The same is he whom God the hyest hath kept a great season, which by his owne selfe shall deliuer his creature, and he shall order them that are left behynde.
And wheras thou sawest that out of his mouth there came as a blast of wynde, fire, and storme:
And howe that he lift vp neither sword nor weapon, but that the russhyng in of hym destroyed the whole multitude that came to fight agaynst hym: it signifieth,
That the dayes come, when the most hyest wyll begyn to deliuer them that are vpon earth,
And in a traunce of mynde shall he come vpon them that dwel in the earth.
And one shall vndertake to fyght agaynst another: one citie agaynst another, one place agaynst another, one people agaynst another, and one realme agaynst another.
When this commeth to passe, then shall the tokens come that I shewed thee before, and then shall my sonne be declared whom thou sawest clymbe vp as a man.
And when all the people heare his voyce, euery man shall in their owne lande leaue the battayle that they haue one agaynst another:
And an innumerable multitude shalbe gathered together, as they that be wyllyng to come, and to ouercome hym by fyghtyng.
But he shall stande vpon the toppe of the mount Sion.
And Sion shall come, & shalbe shewed to all men, beyng prepared and builded, lyke as thou sawest the hyll grauen foorth without any handes.
And this my sonne shall rebuke those nations which are fallen into the tempest, for their wickednesse and euyll imaginations,
And into tormentes lyke to flambe, wherwith they shalbe punished: and without any labour shall he destroy them, euen by the lawe, which is compared vnto the fire.
And wheras thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable people vnto hym:
Those are the ten tribes which were caryed away prisoners out of their owne lande in the tyme of Oseas the kyng, whom Salmanasar the kyng of Assyria toke prisoner: and caryed them ouer the water, and so came they into another lande.
But they toke this counsayle among them selues, that they woulde leaue the multitude of the heathen, and to go foorth into a farther countrey, where neuer mankynde dwelt:
That they myght there kepe their statutes, which they neuer kept in their owne lande.
And so they entred in at the narowe passages of the ryuer of Euphrates.
For the most hyghest then shewed tokens for them, and helde styll the fludde tyll they were passed ouer.
For through the countrey there was a great way, namely of a yere & a halfe iourney: and the same region is called Arsareth.
Then dwelt they there vntyll the latter tyme: and when they come foorth agayne,
The hyest shall holde stil the springes of the streame agayne, that they may go through: therfore sawest thou the multitude with peace.
But they that be left behynde of thy people, are those that are founde within my borders.
Nowe when he destroyeth the multitude of the nations that are gathered together, he shall defende his people that remayne:
And then shall he shewe them great wonders.
Then said I: O Lorde, Lorde, shewe me this, wherfore haue I seene the man commyng vp from the deepe of the sea.
And he sayde vnto me: Lyke as thou canst neither seeke out nor knowe these thynges that are in the deepe of the sea: euen so can no man vpon earth see my sonne, or those that be with hym, but in the tyme of the day.
This is the interpretation of the dreame which thou sawest, & wherby thou only art here lyghtned:
For thou hast forsaken thine owne lawe, and applied thy diligence vnto myne, and sought it.
Thy lyfe hast thou ordered in wisdome, and hast called vnderstandyng thy mother:
And therfore haue I shewed thee the treasures of the hyest. After other three dayes I wyll shewe thee more, & talke with thee more at large, yea heauy and wonderous thynges wyll I declare vnto thee.
Then went I foorth into the fielde, geuyng prayse & thankes greatly vnto God, because of his wonders which he dyd in tyme,
And because he gouerneth the same, and such thinges as fall in their seasons, and there I sate three dayes.
VPon the thirde day I sate vnder an oke tree, then came there a voyce vnto me out of the bushe, and sayde: Esdras, Esdras.
And I sayde, Here am I Lorde: and stoode vp vpon my feete.
Then saide he vnto me: In the bushe did I appeare vnto Moyses, and talked with hym when my people serued in Egypt,
And I sent hym, and led my people out of Egypt, and brought hym vp to the mount Sina, where I helde hym by me a long season:
And tolde hym many wonderous workes, and shewed hym the secretes of the tymes and the ende, and commaunded hym, saying:
These wordes shalt thou declare, and these shalt thou hyde.
And nowe I say vnto thee,
That thou lay vp in thine heart the signes that I haue shewed, and the dreames that thou hast seene, and the interpretations which thou hast heard.
For thou shalt be taken away from among all, and hencefoorth thou shalt remayne with my counsayle and with such as be like thee, vntyll the tymes be ended.
For the worlde hath lost his youth, and the tymes begynne to waxe olde.
For the worlde is deuided into twelue partes, and tenne partes of it are gone alredy, and halfe of a tenth part:
And there remayneth there that which is after the halfe of the tenth part.
Therfore set thine house in order, and refourme thy people, comfort such of them as be in trouble, and nowe renounce corruption,
Let go from thee mortall thoughtes, cast away the burthens of men, put of the weake nature.
And set aside the thoughtes that are most heauy vnto thee, and haste thee to flee from these tymes:
For as for such euyll [and wickednesse] as thou hast nowe seene happen, they shall do yet much worse.
For the weaker that the worlde is by reason of age, the more shall euils increase vpon them that dwell therin.
For the trueth is fled farre away, and leasyng is hearde at hande: For nowe hasteth the vision to come that thou hast seene.
Then aunswered I before thee, and sayde:
Beholde Lorde, I wyll go as thou hast commaunded me, and refourme the people which are present: but they that shalbe borne afterwarde, who will admonishe them? Thus the worlde is set in darknesse, and they that dwell therin are without lyght.
For thy lawe is burnt, therfore no man knoweth the thynges that are done of thee, or the workes that shalbe done.
But yf I haue founde grace before thee, sende the holy ghost into me, and I shall write all that hath ben done in the worlde since the begynnyng, which was written in thy lawe, that men may finde the path, and that they which will lyue in the latter dayes, may lyue.
And he aunswered me, saying: Go thy way, gather the people together, and say vnto them that they seke thee not for fourtie dayes.
But loke thou gather thee many bore trees, and take with thee Sarca, Dabria, Selemia, Ecanus, and Asiel, these fyue, which are redy to write swiftly:
And come hyther, and I shall lyght a candel of vnderstandyng in thine heart, which shall not be put out till {th}e thinges be perfourmed which thou shalt begyn to write.
And then shalt thou declare some thynges openly vnto the perfect, and some thynges shalt thou shewe secretly vnto the wise: To morowe this houre shalt thou begyn to write.
Then went I foorth as he commaunded me, and gathered all the people together, and sayde,
Heare these wordes O Israel:
Our fathers at the begynnyng were staungers in Egypt, from whence they were deliuered,
And receaued the lawe of lyfe, which they kept not, which ye also haue transgressed after them.
Then was the lande, euen the lande of Sion parted among you by lot [to possesse]: But your fathers, and ye your selues also haue done vnrighteousnesse, and haue not kept the wayes which the hyest commaunded you:
And for so much as he is a righteous iudge, he toke from you in tyme the thyng that he had geuen you.
And nowe are ye here, and your brethren among you.
Therfore, yf so be that ye wyll subdue your owne vnderstandyng, & refourme your heart, ye shalbe kept alyue, and after death shall ye obteyne mercie.
For after death shall the iudgement come when we shall liue agayne: & then shall the names of the righteous be manifest, and the workes of the vngodly shalbe declared.
Let no man therfore come nowe vnto me, nor seke after me these fourtie dayes.
So I toke the fyue men as he commaunded me, and we went into the fielde, and remayned there.
The next day a voyce called me, saying Esdras, open thy mouth, and drynke that I geue thee to drynke.
Then opened I my mouth, and beholde he reached me a full cuppe, which was full as it were with water, but the colour of it was lyke fire.
And I toke it and dranke: And when I had drunken it, my heart had vnderdandyng, and wisdome grewe in my brest: for my spirite was strenthened in remembraunce,
And my mouth was opened, and shut no more.
The hyest gaue vnderstandyng vnto the fyue men, that they wrote the hye thynges of the nyght which they vnderstoode not.
But in the nyght they dyd eate bread: as for me I spake in the day, and helde not my tongue by nyght.
In fourtie dayes, they wrote two hundred and foure bookes.
And it came to passe when the fourtie dayes were fulfylled, that the hyest spake, saying: The first that thou hast written, publishe openly, that the worthy and vnworthy may reade it:
But kepe the seuentie last, that thou mayest deliuer them only to such as be wise among thy people.
For in them is the spring of vnderstandyng, the fountayne of wisdome, and the streame of knowledge.
And I dyd so.
BEholde, speake thou in the eares of my people the wordes of prophecie which I wyll put in thy mouth, sayth the Lorde,
And cause them to be written in a letter: for it is the trueth.
Feare not the imaginations agaynst thee, Let not the vnfaythfulnesse of them trouble thee that speake agaynst thee:
For all the vnfaythfull, shall dye in their vnfaythfulnesse.
Beholde (saith the Lorde) I will bring plagues vpon the worlde, the sworde, hunger, death, and destruction:
For wickednesse hath the vpper hande in all the earth, and their shamefull workes are fulfylled:
Therfore sayth the Lorde,
I wyll holde my tongue no more of their wickednesse which they do so vngodly, neither wyll I suffer them in the thynges that they deale withall so wickedly: Beholde, the innocent and ryghteous blood cryeth vnto me, and the soules of the iust complaine continually:
And therfore sayth the Lorde, I wyll surely auenge, and receaue vnto me all the innocent blood from among them.
Beholde my people is led as a flocke of sheepe to be slayne, I wyll not suffer them nowe to dwell in the lande of Egypt:
But wyll bryng them out with a mightie hande and a stretched out arme, and smite it with plagues as afore, and wyll destroy all the lande of it.
Egypt shall mourne, and the foundations of it shalbe smitten, with the plague and punishment that God shall bryng vpon it.
They that tyll the grounde shall mourne, for their seedes shalbe destroyed through the blastyng and hayle, and by an horrible starre.
Wo worth the worlde, and them that dwell therin:
For the sworde and their destruction draweth nye, and one people shal stande vp to fyght agaynst another, & swordes in their handes.
For men shalbe vnstedfast, and some shall do violence vnto other, they shall not regarde their kyng, and the princes shall measure the way of their doinges by their power.
A man shall desire to go into a citie, and shall not be able.
For because of their pride the cities shalbe troubled, the houses shall tremble, and men shalbe afrayde.
A man shall haue no pitie vpon his neyghbour, but shall destroy their houses with the sword, and spoyle their goodes because of the hunger of bread, and because of the great trouble.
Beholde, sayth God, I call together all the kynges of the earth to reuerence me, which are from the vprisyng, from the south, from the east, and Libanus, to turne vpon them, and restore the thynges that they haue done to them:
Lyke as they do yet this day vnto my chosen, so wyll I do also, and recompence them in their bosome: Thus saith the Lorde God.
My ryght hande shall not spare the sinners, and my sworde shall not ceasse ouer them that shed the innocent blood vpon earth.
The fire is gone out from his wrath, & hath consumed the foundations of the earth, and the sinners lyke the strawe that is kyndled.
Wo worth them that sinne, and kepe not my commaundementes, sayth the Lorde.
I wyll not spare them: Go your way ye children from the power, defile not my sanctuarie:
For the Lorde knoweth all them that sinne agaynst him, & therfore deliuereth he them vnto death and destruction.
For nowe are the plagues come vpon the worlde, and ye shall remayne in them: For God shall not deliuer you, because ye haue sinned agaynst hym.
Beholde an horrible vision commeth from the east,
Where generations of dragons of Arabia shal come out with many charettes, & the multitude of them shalbe caryed as the wynde vpon earth, that all they which heare them may feare & tremble,
Euen the Carmanies raging in wrath shall go foorth as the wylde boores of the forrest, and with great power shall they come and stande fyghtyng with them, and shall waste a portion of the lande of the Assyrians.
And then shall the dragons haue the vpper hande, and remembring their nature, shall turne about, conspiryng together in great power to persecute the{m}.
Then these shalbe troubled, and kepe scilence in their power, and shall flee:
And from the lande of the Assyrians shall the enemie besiege them, and consume some of them, and in their hoast shalbe feare and dread, and strife among their kynges.
Beholde cloudes from the east, and from the north vnto the south, and they are very horrible to loke vpon, full of wrath and storme:
They shall smite one vpon another, and they shal smite downe a great multitude of starres vpon the earth, euen their owne starre: and the blood shalbe from the sworde vnto the belly,
And the doung of man vnto the Camels litter,
And there shalbe great fearfulnesse and tremblyng vpon earth: and they that see the wrath shalbe afraide, and a tremblyng shall come vpon them:
And then shal there come great raynes from the south, and from the north, and part from the west:
And strong wyndes shall aryse from the east, and shall open it, and the cloude which he raysed vp in wrath, and the starre stirred to cause feare towarde the east and west wind shalbe destroyed:
The great cloudes shalbe lift vp, and the mightie cloudes full of wrath, and the starre, that they may make all the earth afrayde and them that dwell therin, and that they may powre out ouer euery high place an horrible starre,
Fire, and hayle, and fleing swordes, and many waters: that all fieldes may be full, and all riuers with the aboundaunce of great waters.
And they shal breake downe the cities, and walles, mountaynes, and hilles, trees of the wood, and the grasse of the medowes, and all their corne.
And they shall go stedfast vnto Babylon, and make her afrayde.
They shall come to her and besiege her, the starre and all wrath shall they powre out vpon her, then shall the dust and smoke go vp vnto the heauen, and all they that be about her shall bewayle her:
And they that remayne vnder her, shal do seruice vnto them that haue put her in feare.
And thou Asia that comfortest thy selfe also vpon the hope of Babylon, and art the glorie of her person:
Wo be vnto thee thou wretch, because thou hast made thy selfe like vnto her, and hast deckte thy daughters in whordome, that they might triumphe and please thy louers which haue alway desired to commit whordome with thee.
Thou hast folowed the abominable citie in all her workes and inuentions: therfore sayth God,
I will sende plagues vpon thee, widdowhood, pouertie, hunger, warres, & pestilence, to waste thy houses with destruction and death,
And the glorie of thy power shalbe dried vp as a floure, whe{n} the heate riseth that is sent ouer thee:
Thou shalt be sicke as a poore wife that is plagued and beaten of women: so that the mightie and louers shall not be able to receaue thee.
Would I so hate thee, sayth the Lord,
If thou haddest not alway slayne my chosen, exalting the stroke of thy handes, and sayde ouer their death when thou wast drunken,
Set foorth the beautie of thy countenaunce?
The rewarde of thy whordome shalbe recompenced thee in thy bosome, therefore shalt thou receaue rewarde.
Like as thou hast done vnto my chosen, sayth the Lord: euen so shal God do vnto thee, and shall deliuer thee into the plague.
Thy children shall dye of hunger, and thou shalt fall through the sworde: Thy cities shalbe broken downe, and al thyne shal perishe with the sword in the fielde.
They that be in the mountaynes shall dye of hunger, and eate their owne flesh, and drinke their owne blood for very hunger of bread and thirst of water.
Thou as vnhappie shalt come through the sea, and receaue plagues againe.
In the passage they shall cast downe the slayne citie, and shall roote out one part of thy lande, and consume the portion of thy glorie, and shal returne to her that was destroyed.
They shal treade thee downe like stubble, and they shalbe thy fire,
And shall consume thee, thy cities, and thy lande, and thy mountaynes, all thy woodes and thy fruitefull trees shall they burne vp with the fire.
Thy children shall they cary away captiue: and loke what thou hast, they shall spoyle it, and marre the beautie of thy face.
WO be vnto thee Babylon and Asia, wo be vnto thee Egypt & Syria:
Girde your selues with clothes of sacke and heare, & mourne your children, be sory: for your destruction is at hande.
A sword is sent vpon you, and who will turne it backe?
A fire is sent among you, and who will quench it?
Plagues are sent vnto you, and what is he that will dryue them away?
May any man dryue away an hungry lion in the wood? Or may any man quench the fire in stubble when it hath begunne to burne?
May one turne againe the arrowe that is shot of a strong archer?
The mightie Lord sendeth the plagues, & what is he that wil dryue them away?
The fire is kindled and gone foorth in his wrath, and what is he that may quench it?
He shal cast lighteninges, and who shal not feare? He shall thunder, and who shall not be afrayde?
The Lord shall threaten, and who shal not vtterly be beaten to powder at his presence?
The earth quaketh and the foundations therof, the sea ariseth vp with waues from the deepe, and the waues of it are vnquiete, and the fishes therof also before the Lorde, and before the glorie of his power:
For strong is his right hande that bendeth the bowe, his arrowes that he shoteth are sharpe, and shall not misse when they begin to be shot into the endes of the worlde.
Behold the plagues are sent, & shall not turne againe till they come vpon earth.
The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out till it consume the foundations of the earth.
Like as an arrowe whiche is shot of a mightie archer returneth not backward: euen so the plagues that shall be sent vpon the earth, shall not turne againe.
Wo is me, wo is me, who will deliuer me in those dayes?
The beginning of sorowes and great mourning, the beginning of dearth and great death, the beginning of warres, and the powers shall stande in feare, the beginning of euyls, and they shall tremble euery one.
What shal I do in these thinges, when the plagues come?
Beholde, hunger and plague, trouble and anguishe, are sent as scourges for amendement:
But for all these thinges they shall not turne from their wickednesse, nor be alway mindefull of the scourges.
Behold, vittayles shalbe so good cheape vpon earth, that they shall thinke them selues to be in good case: and euen then shall mischiefe growe vpon earth, warres, dearth, and great disquietnes.
For many of them that dwell vpon earth shall perishe of hunger, and the other that escape the hunger, shall the sword destroy:
And the dead shalbe cast out as doung, and there shalbe no man to comfort them: For the earth shalbe wasted, and the cities shalbe cast downe.
There shalbe no man left to till the earth, and to sowe it.
The trees shall geue fruite, and who shall plucke them of and gather them?
The grapes shalbe ripe, and who shall treade them? For all places shalbe desolate of men:
So that one man shall desire to see another, or to heare his voyce.
For of one whole citie there shall be ten left, and two of the fielde whiche shall hyde them selues in the thycke busshes, and in the cliftes of stones.
Like as when there remayne three or foure oliues in the place were oliues growe, or among other trees,
Or as when a vineyarde is gathered there are left some grapes of them that diligently sought through the vineyard:
Euen so in those dayes there shalbe three of foure left by them that search their houses with the sworde.
And the earth shalbe left waste, and the fieldes thereof shall waxe olde, and her wayes and all her pathes shall growe full of thornes, because no man shall trauayle there through.
The virgins shall mourne hauing no bridegromes, the women shall make lamentation hauing no husbandes, their daughters shal mourne hauing no helpers.
In the warres shall their bridegromes be destroyed, & their husbandes shall perish of hunger.
But ye seruauntes of the Lord, heare these thinges, and marke them.
Behold the worde of the Lorde, O receaue it: beleue not the gods of whom the Lorde spake,
Behold the plagues drawe nie, and are not slacke in tarying.
Like as a trauayling woman whiche in the nynth moneth bringeth foorth a sonne, when the houre of the byrth is come, an houre two or three afore that, the paynes come vpon her body, & when the childe commeth to the byrth they tary not the twinckling of an eye:
Euen so shall not the plagues be slacke to come vpon the earth, and the worlde shall mourne, and sorowes shall come vpon it on euery side.
O my people, heare my worde, make you redy to the battayl, and in al euill be euen as pilgrimes vpon earth.
He that selleth, let him be as he that fleeth his way: and he that bi•th, as one that will leese.
Who so occupieth marchaundise, as he that winneth not: and he that buyldeth, as he that shall not dwell therin,
He that soweth, as one that shall not reape, he that cutteth the vineyarde, as he that shall not gather the grapes:
They that mary, as they that shall get no children: and they that mary not, as the widdowes.
And therfore they that labour, labour in vayne.
For straungers shall reape their fruites, and spoyle their goodes, ouerthrough their houses, and take their children captiue: for in captiuitie and hunger shall they get children.
And they that occupie their marchaundise with robberie, the more they decke their cities, their houses, their possessions, and their owne persons,
The more will I punishe them for their sinnes, sayth the Lorde.
Like as an whore enuieth an honest and vertuous woman:
So shal righteousnesse hate iniquitie when she decketh her selfe, and shall accuse her to her face when he commeth that shall bridle the auctour of all sinne vpon earth.
And therfore be not ye like therevnto, nor to the workes therof:
For or euer it be long iniquite shalbe taken away out of the earth, and righteousnesse shall raigne among you.
Let not the sinner say, that he hath not sinned: for coles of fire shall burne vpon his head which sayth, Before the Lord God and his glorie I haue not sinned.
Beholde, the Lorde knoweth all the workes of men, their imaginations, their thoughtes, and their heartes.
For he spake but the worde, Let the earth be made, and it was made, Let the heauen be made, and it was created.
In his worde were the starres made, and he knoweth the number of them.
He searcheth the grounde of the deepe and the treasures therof, he hath measured the sea, and what it conteyneth.
He hath shut the sea in the middest of the waters, and with his worde hath he hanged the earth vpon the waters.
He spreadeth out the heauen like a vaut, vpon the waters hath he founded it:
In the desert and drye wildernesse hath he made springes of water, and pooles vpon the top of the mountaynes, that the fluddes might poure downe from the stony rockes, to water the earth.
He made man, and put his heart in the middes of the body, & gaue him breath, life, and vnderstanding.
Yea and the spirite of the almightie God which made all thinges, and hath searched the ground of al the secretes of the earth.
He knoweth your imaginations and inuentions, and what ye thincke when ye sinne and woulde hyde your sinnes.
Therfore hath the Lorde searched and sought out all your workes, and he shall bewray you all:
And when your sinnes are brought foorth, ye shalbe ashamed before men, and your owne sinne shalbe your accusers in that day.
What will ye do? Or how will ye hyde your sinnes before God and his angels?
Behold, God him selfe is {th}e iudge, feare him: leaue of from your sinnes, and forget your vnrighteousnesses, and meddle no more with them: so shall God leade you foorth, and deliuer you from al trouble.
For beholde, the heate of a great multitude is kindled ouer you, and they shal take away certayne of you, and shal slay for meate to the idols:
And they that consent vnto them, shalbe had in derision, laughed to scorne, and troden vnder foote.
For there shalbe in euery place, and in the next cities a great insurrection vpon those that feare the Lorde.
They shall be like mad men, they shal spare no man, they shall spoyle and wast such as yet feare the Lorde:
For their goods shall they take from them, and shut them out of their houses.
Then shall it be knowen who are my chosen, and they shalbe tryed as the golde in the fire.
Heare O ye my beloued, sayth the Lorde: behold, the dayes of trouble are at hande, but I will deliuer you from the same.
Be not ye afrayde, dispaire not: for God is your captayne.
Who so kepeth my commaundementes and preceptes sayth the Lorde God, let not your sinnes waygh you downe, and let not your vnrighteousnesse be lift vp.
Wo be vnto them that are bound with their sinnes, and couered with their wickednesse, lyke as a fielde is hedged in with bushes, and the path therof couered with thornes that no man may trauayle through: it is shut vp, and is cast into the fire for euer to be consumed therewith.
TObias was of the tribe & citie of Nepthali, which lyeth in the hye countreys of Galilee aboue Naasson, beside {th}e way that leadeth to the west, hauyng the citie of Sephet vpon the left side.
Though he was taken prisoner in the dayes of Salmanasar king of the Assyrians, neuerthelesse beyng in captiuitie, he forsoke not the way of trueth:
In so much that whatsoeuer he might get, he parted it dayly with his felowe prisoners and brethren that were of his kinred.
And though he were younger then al in the tribe of Nephthali, yet did not he behaue him selfe childyshly in his workes.
And when all the other went to the golden calues whiche Ieroboam the king of Israel had made, he alone fled al their companies,
And gat him to Hierusalem vnto the temple of the Lorde, and there worshipped the Lord God of Israel, faythfully offering of al his first fruites and tithes:
So that in the thirde yere, he ministred all the tithes vnto the straungers and conuertes.
These and such like thinges dyd he obserue according to the law of God when he was yet but young.
But when he was a man, he toke out of his owne tribe a wyfe called Anna: and of her he begat a sonne, whom he called after his owne name,
And taught him from his youth vp to feare God, and to refrayne from al sinne,
Now when he with his wife, his sonne, and with all his kinred, was come in captiuitie vnto the citie of Niniue,
What time as they all dyd eate of the meates of the heathen: he kept his soule, and was neuer defiled in their meates.
And for so much as he was mindeful of the Lorde in all his heart, God gaue him fauour in the sight of Salmanasar the king,
Which gaue him power to go where he woulde, and so had he libertie to do whatsoeuer he woulde.
So went Tobias vnto all them that were in captiuitie [and comforted them] and gaue them wholsome exhortations.
And when he came to Rages a citie of the Medes, hauing ten talentes of siluer (of the thinges wherewith the king had honoured him)
And sawe among a great companie of people of his kinred, one Gabelus which was of his owne tribe, beyng in necessite, he gaue him the sayde wayght of siluer vnder an hande writyng.
After a long season, when Salmanasar the kyng was dead, and Sennacherib his sonne raigned in his steade, which hated the children of Israel:
Tobias went dayly throughout all his kinrede, and comforted them, and gaue of his goods to euery one of them as much as he might.
He fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and buried the dead and slayne, and that diligently.
And when Sennacherib the king came agayne and fled out of Iurie (what time as god punished him for his blasphemie) & in his wrath slue many of the children of Israel: Tobias buried their bodies.
But when it was told the king, he commaunded to slay him, and toke away all his goodes.
Neuerthelesse, Tobias with his sonne and with his wyfe, fled his way naked, and was hyd: for there were many that loued hym.
But after fourtie and fiue dayes the king was slayne of his owne sonnes:
Then came Tobias againe to his house, and all his goodes were restored vnto him.
AFter those thinges, vppon a solempne day of the Lorde, Tobias made a good feast in his house,
And sayde vnto his sonne: Go thy way, & bring hyther some of our tribe, suche as feare God, that they may make mery with vs.
And when he was gone, he came againe, and told his father that one of the children of Israel lay slayne vpon the streete.
And immediatly he leapt from his table, left the feast, came fasting to the dead coarse, toke him and bare him priuyly into his house, that when the sunne was downe he might safely burie him.
And when he had hyd the coarse, he did eate his meate with mourning and feare,
Remembring the wordes that the Lord sayde by the prophete Amos: Your hye feastes shalbe turned to sorowe and heauinesse.
But when the sunne was downe, he went his way and buried him.
Then al his neyghbours reproued him, saying: It is not long sence it was commaunded to slay thee because of this matter, and hast scarce escaped the daunger of death: and buriest thou the dead againe?
Neuerthelesse, Tobias fearing God more then the king, toke the bodies of the slayne, and hyd them in his house, and buried them at midnights.
It happened vpon a day that he had buried the dead and was weery, came home and layed him downe by the wal, and slept.
And whyle he was asleepe, there fell downe vpon his eyes warme doung out of the swalloes nest, so that he was blinde.
This temptation dyd God suffer to happen vnto him, that they which came after, might haue an example of his pacience, like as of holy Iob.
For in so much as he euer feared God from his youth vp, and kept his commaundementes, he grudged not against God that the plague of blindnesse chaunced vnto hym:
But remayned stedfast in the feare of God, and thanked God all the dayes of his lyfe.
For like as blessed Iob was had in de•sion of kinges: euen so was he laughed to scorne of his elders and kinsfolkes, which sayde vnto him:
Where is thy hope, for the whiche thou hast done almes and buried the dead?
But Tobias rebuked them, and spake: Say not so,
For we are the children of holy men, and loke for the lyfe whiche God shall geue vnto them that neuer turne their beliefe from him.
And Anna his wyfe went dayly to the weauing worke:
And loke what liuing she coulde get with the labour of her handes, she brought it. And it happened that she toke a byd, and brought it home:
And when her husband hearde it crye, he sayde, Loke that it be not stollen: restore it againe to the owners, for it is not lawfull for vs to eate or to touch any thing of theft.
Then was his wyfe angry, and sayde: Nowe is thy hope become vayne openly, and thy almes deedes are manifest.
With these and such like wordes did she cast him in the teeth.
THen Tobias toke it heauyly, & with teares began to make his prayer,
Saying: O Lord thou art righteous, and all thy iudgementes are true: yea al thy wayes are mercie, faythfulnesse, and iudgement.
And now O Lorde be myndefull of me, and take no vengeaunce of my sinnes, neither remember my misdeedes, neither the misdeedes of my forefathers.
For we haue not ben obedient vnto thy commaundementes: therefore are we spoyled, brought into captiuite, into death, into derision and shame vnto all nations, among whom thou hast scattered vs.
And nowe O Lorde, thy iudgementes are great: for we haue not done according to thy commaundementes, neither haue we walked innocently before thee.
And nowe O Lord, deale with me according to thy will, and commaunde my spirite to be receaued in peace: for more expedient were it for me to die, then to liue.
At the same time it happened that Sara the daughter of Raguel at Rages a citie of the Medes, was also reproched by one of her fathers handmaydes,
That she had had seuen husbandes, which assoone as they were gone in vnto her, were slayne of the deuyll, called Asmodeus.
Therfore when she reproued the mayden for her •aut, she aunswered her, saying: God let vs neuer see sonne nor daughter of thee more vpon earth, thou killer of thy husbandes.
Wilt thou slay me also, as thou hast slayne seuen men? At this voyce went Sara into an hye chamber of her house, and three dayes and three nightes she neither eate nor dranke.
But continued in prayer, and besought God with teares, that he would deliuer her from this rebuke.
Vpon the thirde day it came to passe, that when she had made an end of prayer, she praysed the Lorde,
Saying: Blessed be thy name O God of our fathers, whiche when thou art wroth shewest mercie, and in time of trouble thou forgeuest the sinnes of them that call vpon thee.
Vnto thee O Lorde turne I my face, vnto thee lift I vp myne eyes.
I beseche thee O Lord, loose me out of the bondes of this rebuke, or els take me vtterly away from of the earth.
Thou knowest Lorde that I neuer had desire vnto man, and that I haue kept my soule cleane from all vncleanly lust:
I haue not kept companie with those that passe their time in sport, neither haue I made my selfe partaker with them that walke in light behauour.
An husband haue I consented to take, not for my pleasure, but in thy feare.
Nowe peraduenture eyther I haue ben vnworthy of them, or els were they vnmeete for me: for thou happyly hast kept me to another hushande.
For why? thy counsell is not in the power of man.
But euery one that serueth thee is sure of this, that if his life be in triyng, it shalbe crowned: and if he be in trouble, that God [no doubt] shal deliuer him: and if his life be in chastening, that he shall haue leaue to come vnto thy mercie.
For thou hast no pleasure in our dampnation: And why? after a storme thou makest the wether faire and still, after weeping & heauinesse thou geuest great ioy.
Thy name O God of Israel, be praysed for euer.
At the same time were both their prayers hearde in the sight of the maiestie of the hiest God.
And Raphael the holy angell of the Lorde, was sent to helpe them both, whose prayers came at one time together before God.
SO when Tobias thought his prayer to be heard, that he might dye, he called vnto him his sonne Tobias,
And sayde vnto him: My sonne heare the wordes of my mouth, and lay them in thyne heart as a foundation.
When God taketh away my soule, burie thou my body: and holde thy mother in honour all the dayes of her life.
For thou oughtest to remember what and howe great peryls she suffred for thee in her wombe.
And when she also hath fulfilled the time of her life, burie her beside me.
Haue God in thy thought all the dayes of thy life, and beware lest at any time thou consent vnto sinne, and lest thou let slippe the commaundementes of the Lorde our God.
Geue almes of thy goods, and turne neuer thy face from the poore: and so shall it come to passe, that the face of the Lord shall not be turned away from thee.
Be mercifull after thy power.
If thou haue much, geue plenteously: if thou hast litle, do thy diligence gladly to geue of that litle:
For so gatherest thou thy selfe a good rewarde in the day of necessitie.
For mercie deliuereth from al sinne and from death, and suffreth not the soule to come into darkenesse.
A great comfort is mercie before the hie God, vnto all them that shewe it.
My sonne, kepe thee wel from al whordome: and beside thy wife, suffer not thy selfe to knowe of sinne.
Let neuer pride haue rule in thy minde nor in thy worde: for in pryde began all destruction.
Whosoeuer worketh any thing for thee, immediatly geue him his hire, and loke that thy hired seruauntes wages remayne not at all with thee.
Loke that thou neuer do vnto another man, the thing that thou wouldest not another man shoulde do vnto thee.
Eate thy bread with the hungry and poore, and couer the naked with thy clothes.
Set thy bread and wine vpon the buriall of the righteous, and do not thou eate and drinke therof with the sinners.
Aske euer counsell at the wyse.
Be alway praysing of God, & beseche him that he will order thy wayes, and that whatsoeuer thou deuisest or takest in hand, it may remayne in him.
I certifie thee also my sonne, that when thou wast yet but a babe, I deliuered ten talentes of siluer vnto Gabelus at Rages a citie of the Medes, and his hande wryting haue I by me.
And therfore seke some meanes howe thou mayest come by him, and receaue of him the sayd wayght of siluer, & geue him his hande wryting againe.
My sonne, be not afrayde: trueth it is we leade here a poore life, but great good shall we haue if we feare God, and depart from all sinne, and do well.
THen aunswered Tobias his father, and said: Father, all that thou hast commaunded me wyl I doe, and that diligently.
But how I shall require this money I can not tell, neither doth he knowe me, nor I him: What token shall I geue him? And as for the way thyther, I neuer knew it.
Then his father aunswered him, and saide, I haue his hand writing by me: which when thou shewest him, immediatly he shall pay thee.
But go thy way nowe and get thee some faithful man to go with thee for an hyre, that thou mayst receaue the money while I am yet liuing.
Then went Tobias out, and vpon the streate he founde a fayre young man standing, girded vp, and as it were one redie to take his iourney.
And he knewe not that it was an angell of God, but saluted him, and sayde: From whence art thou, thou good young man?
He aunswered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias said vnto him: Knowest thou the way that leadeth vnto the countrey of the Medes?
He aunswered: I knowe it well, & all those streates haue I gone oft times, and haue lodged with our brother Gabelus that dwelleth in Rages a citie of the Medes, which lyeth vpon the mou{n}t Ecbatanis.
Tobias saide vnto him: I pray thee tary for me, till I haue tolde my father these thinges.
Then went Tobias in, and tolde his father all: At the which his father marueyled, and prayed that he woulde come in vnto him.
Now when he came in, he saluted him, and saide: Ioy be with thee for euermore.
And olde Tobias saide: what ioy can I haue that sit here in darkenesse, and see not the light of heauen?
The young man saide vnto him: Be of good cheare, God shall helpe thee shortly.
And Tobias saide vnto him: Canst thou bring my sonne to Gabelus, vnto the citie of Rages in Medea: and when thou commest againe, I shall pay thee thy hyre?
And the angell saide vnto him: I shall leade thy sonne, and bring him to thee againe.
Then Tobias aunswered him: Tell me I pray thee, of what house or of what tribe art thou?
The angel Raphael saide vnto him: Seekest thou after the kinred of an hireling, or an hired man him selfe for thy sonne to go with him?
But that I make thee not carefull, I am Azarias the sonne of great Hanamas.
And Tobias aunswered, Thou art come of a great kinred: but I pray thee be not displeased that I desire to know thy kindred.
The angell said vnto him: Thy sonne shall I leade foorth safely, and bryng him whole sounde to thee againe.
Then aunswered Tobias, and saide: well, go on your way, and God be in your iourney, and his angell beare you company.
So when they had prepared all thinges that they woulde take with them in their iourney, Tobias bade his father and his mother farewell: and they went on their way both together.
Nowe when they were gone, his mother began to weepe, & saide: The staffe of our age hast thou taken away, and sent him from vs.
Woulde God that money had neuer ben, for the which thou hast sent him away.
For our pouertie was sufficient for vs, why we shoulde haue counted it rychesse, that we saw our sonne here.
Then saide Tobias vnto her: Weepe not, our sonne shall go safely and come to vs againe sounde, and thyne eyes shall see him.
For I trust that the good angell of God shall beare him company, and order well all the thinges that he doth, so that he shall come to vs againe with ioy.
At these wordes his mother left of from weeping, and held her peace.
SO Tobias went on his way, and a dogge folowed him: and the first night they abode by the water of Tigris.
Then went he out to washe his feete, and beholde there came foorth an horrible fishe to deuour him.
Of whom Tobias was afrayde, and cryed with a loude voyce, saying: Lord, he commeth vpon me.
And the angell saide vnto him: Take him by the gyll, and drawe him to thee. And he did so, and drew him vpon the lande: and the fishe began to leape at his feete.
Then saide the angell vnto him, Take out the bowels of this fishe: & as for the heart, the gal, and the lyuer, keepe them by thee: for these thinges are necessary and good for medicines.
Tobias did so, and rosted the flesh, and they tooke it with them in their iourney: the residue they salted, as much as was sufficient for them, tyll they came to Rages a citie of the Medes.
Then Tobias asked the angell, and saide vnto him: I pray thee brother Azaria, tell me whereto are these thinges good of the fishe that thou hast bidden me keepe.
The angell aunswered him, and said: If thou layest a peece of the heart vpon the coales, the smoke thereof dryueth away all maner of euill spirites, whether it be from man or from woman, so that from thencefoorth the same shall come no more vnto them.
The gal is good to annoynt or to strike the eyes withall, where as there is any blemishe in them, so that they shalbe whole.
And Tobias saide vnto him: Where wilt thou that we remaine? The angell aunswered,
And saide: Here is a nye kinsman of thyne and of thy tribe, one Raguel by name, which hath a daughter called Sara, & hath neither sonne nor daughter but her.
All his good belongeth vnto thee, and thou must mary her.
And therefore desire her of her father, and he shall geue her thee to wyfe.
Then aunswered Tobias and saide: As I vnderstand she hath ben maryed vnto seuen husbandes, and they all are dead: and I haue heard say, that the deuill slue them.
I am afrayd therfore lest such thinges happen vnto me also: which if it came to passe, seeing I am the onely sonne of my father and my mother, I should bryng them in their age with sorowe to their graues.
Then saide the angell Raphael vnto him: Heare me, & I wyll tell thee what they be, of whom the deuil hath power.
Namely, they that receaue mariage after such a fashion that they shut God out from them and from their heart, and geue them selues to their owne lust, euen as it were an Horse & Mule which haue no vnderstanding: vpon such hath the deuill power.
But when thou takest her, and art come in to the chamber, withhold thy selfe from her three dayes, and geue thy diligence vnto nothing but vnto prayer with her.
And in the first night, rost the lyuer of the fishe, and the deuill shalbe driuen away.
The second night shalt thou be receaued into the company of the holy patriarches.
The third night shalt thou obtayne the blessing of God, so that whole children shall be borne of you.
After the third night take the mayden in the feare of God, and more for the desire of children, then for any fleshely lust, that in the seede of Abraham thou mayest obtayne the blessing in children.
THen went they in to Raguel, which receaued them ioyfully.
And when Raguel loked vpon Tobias, he saide vnto Anna his wyfe: How lyke is this young man vnto my sisters sonne?
And when he had spoken this, he said: Whence be ye ye young men and our brethren? They saide: Of the tribe of Nephthali, out of the captiuitie of Niniue.
Then said Raguel vnto them: Know ye my brother Tobias? They saide: yea we know him well.
And when he had spoken much good of him, the angell saide vnto Raguel: Tobias of whom thou askest, is this young mans father.
Then Raguel bowed him selfe downe and wept, and toke him about the necke and kissed him,
And saide: Gods blessing haue thou my sonne, for thou art the sonne of a good vertuous man.
And Anna his wyfe and Sara his daughter wept also.
Now when they had talked together, Raguel bade kill a wether, & to make a feaste: And when he had exhorted them to sit downe to dinner,
Tobias saide: I wyll neither eate nor drinke here this day, except thou first graunt me my petition, and promise me to geue me thy daughter Sara.
When Raguel heard this, he was astonied, for he knewe what had happened vnto the other seuen men that went in vnto her: and he began to feare that it shoulde chaunce vnto him also in lyke maner. And while he stoode so in doubt, and gaue the young man no aunswere,
The angell saide vnto him: Feare not to geue him thy daughter, for vnto this man that feareth God, belongeth thy daughter to wyfe: therefore might none other haue her.
Then saide Raguel: I doubt not but God hath accepted my prayers & teares in his sight:
And I beleue he caused you to come vnto me for the same intent, that this daughter of myne might be maryed in her owne kindred according to the law of Moyses: And nowe doubt thou not but I wyll geue her vnto thee.
So he toke the right hande of his daughter, and gaue her into the right hande of Tobias, and saide: The God of Abraham, the God of Isahac, & the God of Iacob be with you, ioyne you together, and fulfill his blessing in you.
And they toke a letter, & made a writing of the mariage.
And then made they mery, and praysed God.
And Raguel called Anna his wyfe vnto him, and bade her prepare another chamber.
And thither he brought Sara his daughter, and she wept.
Then saide he vnto her, Be of good cheare my daughter: the Lorde of heauen geue thee ioy for the heauinesse that thou hast suffered.
NOW after that they had supped, they brought the young man in to her.
Then thought Tobias vpon the wordes of the angel, and toke out of his bagge a peece of the lyuer of the fishe, and layed it vpon the hotte coales.
So the angell Raphael tooke holde of the deuil, and sent him away, & bound him in the wildernesse of the hygher Egypt.
Then spake Tobias vnto the virgin, and saide: Vp Sara, let vs make our prayer vnto God to day, to morow, and ouermorow: For these three nightes wyl we reconcile our selues with God, and when the third holy night is past, we shall ioyne together in the duetie of mariage.
For we are the children of holy men, and we may not come together as the heathen that know not God.
Then stoode they vp both together, and besought God earnestly that he would preserue them.
And Tobias saide: O Lorde God of our fathers, praysed be thou of heauen and earth, of the sea, welles, & fluddes, and of al thy creatures that be therein.
Thou madest Adam of the moulde of the earth, and gauest him Eua for an helper.
And now Lorde thou knowest that it is not because of voluptuousnes that I take this sister of myne to wyfe, but onely for the loue of children, in whom thy name may be blessed for euer.
And Sara saide: Haue mercie vpon vs O Lorde, haue mercy vpon vs, and let vs both come whole and sounde together to a good age.
And about the cocke crowing, it came to passe, that Raguel called his seruau{n}tes:
And they went with him to make a graue.
For he saide: It is chaunced nowe vnto him peraduenture as it did vnto the other seuen men that went in vnto her.
Now when they had made the graue, Raguel came againe to his wyfe, and saide vnto her: Send one of thy maydens to loke if he be dead, that I may bury him afore it be light day.
So she sent a mayden to see: which when she came into the chamber, found them whole and founde, sleeping together.
And so she came againe, and brought good tidinges: Then Raguel and Anna his wyfe praysed the Lorde,
And saide: Praysed be thou O Lorde God of Israel, that it is not happened vnto vs as we thought.
For thou hast dealt mercifully with vs, and put away from vs the enemie that persecuted vs,
And hast shewed mercy vnto yonder two the onely borne children of their parentes: O Lorde, cause them to magnifie thee more perfectly, and to offer the sacrifice of thy prayse & of their health: that all people may knowe that thou onely art God in all the earth.
And immediatly Raguel commaunded his seruauntes to fyll the graue that they had made, with earth, afore it was light,
And bade his wyfe prepare a feaste, & to make redie all thinges that were necessary for meate, to such as went by the way.
He caused two fat kine also and foure weathers to be slaine, and meates to be prepared for all his neighbours and freindes.
And Raguel charged Tobias to remayne with him two weekes.
As for all the good that he had, he gaue Tobias the halfe of it, and made this writing, that the halfe which remayned, should fall vnto Tobias after their death.
THen Tobias called vnto him the angell, who{m} he thought to haue ben a man, and saide vnto him: Brother Azarias, I pray thee hearken vnto my wordes,
If I shoulde geue my selfe to be thy seruaunt, I shall not deserue thy prouidence.
Neuerthelesse, I beseche thee that thou wilt take the beastes and the seruauntes, & go vnto Gabelus in Rages the citie of the Medes, and delyuer him his hand writing, and receaue the money of him, and pray him to come to my mariage.
For thou knowest thy selfe that my father doth number the dayes: and if I tary one day to long, he wyll be sory in his minde.
Now seest thou how earnestly Raguel hath required me, so that I can not say him nay.
Then toke Raphael foure of Raguels seruauntes and two Camels, and went vnto Rages the citie of the Medes: And when he had founde Gabelus, he gaue him his hand writing, and receaued all the money.
He tolde him also of Tobias the sonne of Tobi, how al thinges had happened: and caused him to come with him to the mariage.
Now when he came into the house of Raguel, he founde Tobias sittyng at the table: and he leaped vp, & they kissed one another, and Gabelus wept, and praysed God,
And saide: The blessing of the God of Israel haue thou, for thou art the sonne of a right vertuous and iust man, and of one that feareth God, & geueth great almes:
And blessing haue thy wyfe, and your elders,
That ye may see your children, and your childrens children vnto the third & fourth generation: and your seede be blessed of the God of Israel, which raigneth worlde without end.
And when they all had sayde Amen, they went to the feast: but with the feare of the Lorde held they the feast of the mariage.
NOw whyle young Tobias made long tarying, by reason of the mariage, his father was full of care & heauinesse, saying: Canst thou thinke what shoulde be the cause that my sonne tarieth so long? or why he should be kept so long there?
Thinkest thou Gabelus is dead, and no man wyll geue him the money?
Thus began he to be very sorowfull, he and Anna his wyfe with him: and began to weepe both together, because their sonne was not come againe vnto them at the day appoynted.
As for his mother, she wept with discomfortable teares, and saide: Wo is me my sonne, Oh what ayled vs to send thee away into a strau{n}ge countrey, thou light of our eyes, thou staffe of our age, thou comfort of our life, thou hope of our generation?
Seing all the thinges that we haue are onely in thee, we shoulde not haue sent thee away from vs.
Then Tobias [comforted her▪ and] saide: Holde thy peace, & be not discomforted, our sonne is whole and sounde: the man that we sent him withall, is faithfull inough.
Neuerthelesse, she might in no wyse be comforted: but dayly went out, loked about, and went about all the streates whereby she thought he should come againe: that if it were possible she might see him comming a farre of.
But Raguel saide vnto his sonne in lawe: O tary here, and I shall send a messenger vnto thy father Tobias, to tell him that thou art in good health.
Tobias saide vnto him: I am sure that my father and my mother count euery day, and that their heartes are sorye.
So when Raguel had prayed Tobias with many wordes, and he woulde in no wyse heare him, he deliuered Sara vnto hym, & the halfe part of all his good, in seruauntes, and handmaydens, in sheepe, in camels, and in kyne, & much money: and so sent him away from him with health and ioy,
And said: The holy angel of the Lord be with you in your iourney, and bring you foorth safe and sounde, that ye may finde all thinges in good case with your elders, & that myne eyes may see your children afore I dye.
So the elders embraced their daughter, kissed her, and let her go:
Exhorting her to honour her father & mother in law, to loue her husband, to rule well her housholde, to keepe her house in good order, and to shewe her selfe faultlesse.
AS they nowe were going homeward againe, vpon the eleuenth day they came to Charran, which lyeth in the halfe way towarde Niniue.
And the angell saide: Brother Tobias, thou knowest how thou hast left thy father:
Therfore if it please thee, we two wyl go before, and let the housholde with thy wyfe & the cattaile come faire and softly after vs.
And when Tobias was content that they should go before, Raphael said vnto him: Take of the gal of the fishe with thee, for it shall be necessary. So Tobias toke of the gall, and they went their way.
But Anna the mother of Tobias sate dayly by the way side vpon the toppe of an hill, from whence she might see farre about her.
And whyle she was wayting there for his comming, she loked a farre of, and anone she perceaued her sonne comming, and ranne and tolde her husband, saying: beholde thy sonne commeth.
And Raphael saide vnto Tobias: Assoone as thou commest into the house, immediatly worship the lorde thy God, and geue thankes vnto him: then go to thy father, and kisse hym,
And straight wayes strike his eyes ouer with the gall of the fishe that thou hast brought with thee: For be sure that his eyes shall straight way be opened, and thy father shall see the light of heauen, and shal reioyce at the sight of thee.
Then the dogge that had ben with them in their iourney, ranne before, and came as a messenger, and wagged his tayle for gladnesse.
So the blynde father arose, and began to runne, and stumbled with his feete: and gaue a seruaunt his hand, & ranne to meete his sonne,
Receaued him, and kissed him, he and his wyfe, and they both began to weepe for ioy.
Now when they had worshipped and thanked God, they sat downe.
Then tooke Tobias of the fishes gall, and annoynted his fathers eyes:
And taryed halfe an houre, and then began the blemishe to go out of his eyes, lyke as it had ben the white skinne of an egge:
Which Tobias tooke, and drew from his eyes, and immediatly he receaued his sight.
Then they praysed God, he and his wyfe, and all they that knew him.
And Tobias saide: O Lorde God of Israel I geue thee prayse & thankes, for thou hast chastened me, & made me whole: And lo, nowe do I see my sonne Tobias.
After seuen dayes, came Sara his sonnes wyfe also whole and sound, with all the housholde and cattaile, with camels, & much money of his wyues, and with the money that he had receaued of Gabelus.
And he tolde his father and his mother all the benefites which God had done for him by the man that led him.
Achior also and Nabath Tobias sister sonnes came, and were glad, and reioyced with him, by reason of all the good thinges that God had shewed vnto him: And so for the space of seuen dayes they made mery, and were right ioyfull euery one.
THen Tobias called his sonne vnto him, & sayd: What may we geue this holy man, that went with thee?
Tobias aunswered his father, and sayde: Father, what rewarde shall we geue him? or what thing can deserue his benefites?
He hath ben my guyde, and brought me safe againe: He receaued the money from Gabelus, he caused me to get my wyfe, he droue the euill spirite from her, he hath ben an occasion of gladnesse to her father and mother, he delyuered me that I was not deuoured of the fishe, he hath made thee to see the light of heauen: yea, we all haue receaued great good of him.
Howe shoulde we worthyly deserue these thinges vnto him? But I pray thee my father that thou wilt desire him, if happyly he wil vouchsafe to take with him the halfe of all that we haue brought.
So the father & the sonne called him, toke him asyde, and began to pray him that he woulde be content to take in good worth the halfe part of all that they had brought.
Then saide he secretly vnto them: Prayse ye the God of heauen, and geue thankes vnto him before al men lyuing: for he hath shewed his mercy vnto you.
It is good to hide the kinges secrete: but to shewe and to prayse the workes of God it is an honorable thing.
Prayer is good with fasting, and mercie is better then to hoorde vp treasures of golde.
For mercie delyuereth from death, clenseth sinne, & causeth to finde mercie and lyfe euerlasting.
But they that do sinne and vnrighteousnesse, are the enemies of their owne soule.
Wherefore I tell you the trueth, and wyll hide no secret saying from you.
When thou prayedst with teares, and buriedst the dead, and leftest thy dynner and hyddest the dead in thyne house vpon the day time that thou mightest bury them in the night, I offred thy prayer before the Lorde.
And because thou wast accept and beloued of God, it was necessary that temptation should trye thee.
And nowe hath the Lorde sent me to heale thee, and to delyuer Sara thy sonnes wyfe from the euill spirite.
For I am Raphael an angell, one of the seuen that stande before the Lorde.
When they heard this, they were sore afrayde, and trembled, and fell downe vpon their faces vnto the grounde.
Then saide the angell: Peace be with you, feare not.
For where as I haue ben with you, it is the wil of God: geue prayse & thankes vnto him.
You thought that I did eate & drinke with you, but I vse meate that is inuisible, and drinke that can not be seene of men.
Now therfore is the time that I must turne againe vnto him that sent me: but be ye thankefull vnto God, and tell out all his wonderous workes.
And when he had spoke{n} those wordes, he was taken away out of their sight, so that they could see him no more.
Then fell they downe flat vpon their faces by the space of three houres, and praysed God: and when they rose vp, they tolde all his wonderous workes.
THen olde Tobias opened his mouth & praysed the Lorde, & sayde: Great art thou O lord for euermore, and thy kingdome world with out end.
For thou scourgest and healest, thou leadest vnto hell & bringest out againe: and there is none that may escape thyne hande.
O geue thankes vnto the Lorde ye children of Israel, and prayse him in the sight of the heathen:
For among the heathen which knowe him not hath he scattered you, to the intent that ye should shew forth his marueilous workes, and cause them for to knowe that there is none other God almightie but he.
He hath chastened vs for our misdeedes, & for his owne mercie sake shall he saue vs.
Consider then how he hath dealt with you, and prayse him with feare & dread: and magnifie the euerlasting king in your workes.
I wyll prayse him euen in the lande of my captiuitie: for he hath shewed his maiestie vnto a sinfull people.
Turne you therfore O ye sinners, and do righteousnesse before God, and be ye sure that he wyll shew his mercy vpon you.
As for me and my soule, we wyll reioyce in God.
O prayse the Lorde all ye his chosen: hold the dayes of gladnesse, & be thankefull vnto him.
O Hierusalem thou citie of God, the lorde hath punished thee for the workes of thyne owne handes.
O prayse the Lord in thy good thinges, & geue thankes to the euerlasting God, that he may build vp his tabernacle againe in thee, that he may call againe vnto thee all such as be in captiuitie, and that thou mayest haue ioy for euermore.
With a faire light shalt thou shyne, and all the endes of the worlde shall honour thee.
The people shall come vnto thee from farre, they shall bring giftes, and worship the Lorde in thee, and thy land shal they haue for a sanctuary: for they shall call vpon the great name in thee.
Cursed shall they be that despise thee, and all that blaspheme thee shal be condempned: But blessed shall they be that builde thee vp.
As for thee thou shalt reioyce in thy children: for they all shalbe blessed, and gathered together vnto the Lorde.
Blessed are all they that loue thee, and that be glad of thy peace.
Prayse thou the Lorde, O my soule: for the Lorde our God hath deliuered his citie Hierusalem from all her troubles.
I wyll count my selfe happy, if my seede remayne to see the clearenes of Hierusalem.
The gates of Hierusalem shalbe builded with Saphir and Smaragde, and all the compasse of her walles with precious stones.
All her streates shalbe paued with white and fayre stone, and in all streates shall Halleluia be song.
Praysed be the Lorde which hath exalted her, that his kingdome may be vpon her for euermore, Amen.
ANd so Tobias made an end of speaking: And after that Tobias had gotten his sight againe, he lyued fouretie & two yeres, & sawe his childers children.
Nowe when he was an hundred and two yeres olde [he dyed, and] was buried honorably in Niniue.
For when he was sixe and fiftie yeres of age, he lost the sight of his eyes: and when he was three score yeres olde, he gate his sight againe.
The residue of his lyfe led he in ioy, and increased well in the feare of God, and departed in peace.
But in the houre of his death he called vnto him his sonne Tobias, and seuen young springaldes his sonnes children, and saide vnto them:
The destruction of Niniue is at hand, (for the word of the Lord can not fayle) and our brethren that are scattered out of the lande of Israel, shall come thyther agayne.
And the whole lande of it that hath ben waste, shall be filled, and the house of God that was brent in it, shal be builded againe: and all such as feare God, shall returne thyther,
The heathen then also shall forsake their idols, and come to Hierusalem, and dwell there:
And all the kinges of the earth shalbe glad in her, and worship the Lord God of Israel.
And therefore my children, heare your father, serue the Lorde in the trueth, seeke after his wyll to do the thing that pleaseth him:
Commaunde your children that they do right, geue almes, be mindefull of God, and euer to be thankefull vnto him in trueth and with all their power.
Heare me now therefore my children, and abyde not here: but in what day so euer ye haue buryed your mother by me in one sepulchre, get you from hence:
For I see that the wickednesse of it shall bring it to [destruction and] end.
After the death of his mother, Tobias departed away from Niniue, with his wife, and children, and with his childers children, and came againe to his father and mother in lawe,
And founde them whole and in a good age, and toke the care of them: and he closed their eyes, and was heyre vnto all Raguels goodes, and sawe the fyft generation, and his childers children.
And ninetie and nine yeres beyng ended in the feare of God, they buried him with ioye.
And al his kindred and posteritie continued in a good life and holy conuersation: so that they were loued and accepted both of God and men, and of all the people of the lande.
ARphaxad the king of the Medes subdued many people vnto his dominion, and buylded a noble strong citie, whiche he called Ecbatanis.
The walles of it made he of free stone foure square, seuentie cubites hie, and thirtie cubites brode: He made towres therevpon an hundreth cubites hye.
But along the foure corners euery side was twentie foote brode: He made the portes in the height, like as the towres.
[This king] trusted in his mightie hoast, and in his glorious charets.
So in the twelfth yere of his raigne, it happened that Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians whiche raigned in the great citie of Niniue, fought against Arphaxad:
And ouercame him in the great fielde called Ragau beside Euphrates, and Tigris, and Iadason in the fielde of Erioth the king of the Elikes.
Then was the kingdome of Nabuchodonosor exalted, and his heart was lift vp: and he sent vnto all them that dwelt in Cilicia, in Damascus, and Libanus:
And vnto the heathen that dwelt in Carmel, and Cedar, and to such as dwelt in Galilee in the great field of Esdrelon:
To all them that dwelt in Samaria, and beyonde the water of Iordane vnto Hierusalem, and the whole lande of Iesse, vnto the borders of Ethiopia:
Vnto all these dyd Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians send messengers.
But they all with one consent woulde not agree vnto him, and sent the messengers againe emptie, and put them away without honour.
Then Nabuchodonosor the king toke indignation at all those landes, & sware by his trone and by his kingdome that he woulde be auenged of all those countreys.
IN the thirtenth yere of king Nabuchodonosor, vpon the twentie & two day of the firste moneth, it was deuised in the court of Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians that he woulde reuenge him selfe.
So he called vnto him all the elders, all his captaynes and men of warre, and shewed them his secret counsell,
And told them that his purpose was to bring the whole earth vnder his dominion.
Now when they were all content with this saying, Nabuchodonosor the king called Holophernes the chiefe captayne of his warres,
And sayde vnto him: Go thy way foorth against all the kingdomes of the west, and specially against those that haue despised my commaundement.
Thou shalt spare no realme, all strong cities shalt thou bring in subiection vnto me.
Then Holophernes called together all the captaynes & rulers of all the power in Assyria, and mustred the souldiers vnto the hoast like as the king commaunded him [namely] an hundred and twentie thousande fighting men vpon foote, and twelue thousande archers vpon horsebacke.
All his ordinaunce sent he before with an innumerable multitude of camels, so that the hoast was well prouided for with oxen and small cattell, & that without number.
He appoynted to prepare corne out of all Syria in his passage.
Much gold an siluer also toke he out of the kinges house.
So he toke his iourney and all his hoast, with charets, horsemen, and archers: of whom there were so many that they couered the ground of the land like the grashoppers.
And when he was gone past the borders of the Assyrians, he came towarde the great mountaynes of Ange, whiche lye vpon the left side of Cilicia: and so he went vp into all their castels, and wunne euery strong holde.
As for the welthie citie of Melothus, he brake it downe, & spoyled all the children of Tharsis and the Ismaelites, whiche lay towarde the wildernesse and vpon the south side of the lande of Chellon.
He went ouer Euphrates also, & came into Mesopotamia, and brake downe all the hie cities that were there, from the brooke of Mambre till a man come to the sea:
And he toke the borders in from Cilicia vnto the coastes of Iaphet towarde the south.
He caryed away all the Madianites, and spoyled al their goods, and whosoeuer withstoode him he slue them with the sworde.
After this, he went downe into the fielde of Damascus in the time of haruest, and burnt vp all the corne, and all the trees and vines he caused to be cut downe:
And the feare of him fel vpon all them that dwelt on the earth.
SO the kinges & princes of al the cities & landes sent their embassadours, namely they of Syria and Mesopotamia, Syria Sobal, and Libya, and Cilicia, which came to Holophernes, and sayde:
Let thy wrath ceasse towarde vs: It is better for vs to serue the great king Nabuchodonosor with our liues, and to be subiect vnto thee, then that we should dye, and with our slaughter suffer the euyls of our bondage.
All our cities and possessions, al mountaynes and hilles, all fieldes, great and smal cattel, sheepe, goates, horses, and camels, all our goodes and housholdes be in thy power.
Vnder thy subiection be al that we haue.
We our selues and also our children wilbe thy seruauntes.
Come vnto vs peaceable lorde, and vse our seruice at thy pleasure.
Then came Holophernes downe from the mountaynes with horsemen & great power, and conquered all strong fensed cities, and all that dwelt in the lande.
And out of all cities he toke strong men and such as were meete for the warre [to helpe hym.]
And there came such a feare vpon those countreys, that the indwellers of al the cities, the princes and rulers, and the people together, went foorth to meete hym as he came:
And receaued him [honorably] with garlandes and torches, with daunces, taprettes, and pipes.
Neuerthelesse though they dyd this, yet might they not swage his rigorous stomacke.
But he destroyed their cities, and hewed downe their wooddes.
For Nabuchodonosor the king had commaunded him that he should roote out all the gods of the lande, to the intent that he only might be called [and taken] for god of the nations, which Holophernes with his power might bring vnder him.
So went he through Syria Sobal, and through all Appamea, and all Mesopotamia, and came to the Idumeans in the lande of Gabaa,
And toke their cities, and remayned there thirtie dayes, in whiche space he caused all the whole multitude of his hoast to be gathered together.
WHen the children of Israel that dwelt in Iurie heard this, they were sore afrayde of him.
There came such trembling also & feare vpon them, lest he shoulde do vnto the citie of Hierusalem and the temple of the Lord, as he had done to other cities and their temples.
So they sent into all Samaria rounde about vnto Iericho, [toke in] and occupied all the toppes of the mountaynes:
And made fast the townes with walles, and prepared corne for them against the battayle.
Eliacim also the priest wrote vnto all them that dwelt towarde Esdrelon, which lieth ouer against the great fielde by Dothain, & vnto all those by whom men might haue passage vnto them,
That they shoulde take in the wayes of the mountaynes, whereby there might be any way and passage to Hierusalem, and that they shoulde holde diligent watch where any strayte was betwixte the mountaynes.
And the children of Israel dyd as Eliacim the priest of the Lorde had commaunded them.
And all the people cryed vnto the Lord earnestly, and humbled their soules with fasting and prayers, they & their wiues:
The priestes put on heery clothes, and layed the young babes before the temple of the Lord, and couered the aulter of the Lorde with an heery cloth:
And with one accorde they cryed vnto the Lorde God of Israel, that their children should not be geuen into a pray, and their wiues into a spoyle, that their cities should not be layed waste, and that their sanctuarie shoulde not be vnhalowed, and so they to be a shame and rebuke vnto the heathen.
Then Eliacim the hye priest of the Lord, went rounde about al Israel, and spake vnto them,
Saying: Be ye sure that the Lord will heare your petitions, if ye continue stedfast in fastinges and prayers in the sight of the Lorde.
Remember Moyses the seruaunt of the Lorde, which ouerthrewe the Amalechites that trusted in their might and power, in their hoast, in their shieldes, in their charets and horsemen, not with weapons, but with holy prayers.
Euen so shall all the enemies of Israel be, if ye continue in this worke that ye haue begun.
So vpon this exhortation they continued in prayer before the Lorde.
In so much that they whiche offered burnt sacrifices vnto the Lord, offred the offringes vnto the Lorde, beyng arayed in heery clothes, and had asshes vpon their heades.
And they all besought God from their whole heart, that he woulde visite his people of Israel.
AND worde came to Holophernes {th}e prince of the warre of the Assyrians, that the children of Israel prepared them selues to make resistaunce, and howe they had stopped the wayes betwixte the mountaynes.
Then was he exceeding wroth, and called all the princes of Moab, and the captaynes of Ammon,
And sayde vnto them: Tell me what people is this that kepeth in the mountaynes? Or what maner and how great cities theirs are? What is their power? Or what maner of hoast haue they? who is their captayne?
And why do they despise vs more then all those that dwell in the east, and come not foorth to meete vs, that they might receaue vs with peace?
Then Achior the captayne of al the Ammonites aunswered, and sayde: Syr, if it please thee to heare, I will tell the trueth before thee concerning this people that dwel in the mountaynes, and there shall no vntrueth go out of my mouth.
This people is of the generation of the Chaldees:
They dwelt first in Mesopotamia, for they woulde not folowe the gods of their fathers that were in the lande of the Chaldees,
And so forsoke they the custome of their forefathers which had many gods, and worshipped one God that made heauen and earth: whiche also commaunded them that they shoulde go from thence and dwell at Charan.
Nowe when there came a dearth into the whole lande, they went downe to Egypt, and there they dwelt foure hundreth yeres, in the whiche they multiplied greatly, that their hoast might not be numbred.
And when the king of Egypt oppressed them, and yoked them in buylding of his cities with making of clay and brycke, they cryed vnto God their Lord which punished the whole lande of Egypt with diuers plagues.
And when the Egyptians had cast them out & the plague ceassed from them, and they folowing after them to take them & to bring them againe into their bondage:
Whyle they were flying away the God of heauen opened the sea, so that the waters stoode fast vpon both the sides as a wall, and these went through the botome of the sea drye shod.
In the whiche place when an innumerable people of the Egyptians folowed vpon them, they were so ouerwhelmed with the waters, that there remayned not one to tell them that came after how it happened.
So when this people was passed through the red sea, they came into the wildernesse of mount Sina, where neuer man might dwell afore, and where the sonne of man had neuer rested.
There were the bitter waters made sweete for them that they might drinke, and fourtie yeres had they meate from heauen.
Whersouer they went, without bow and arrow, without buckler or sworde, their God fought for them, and caused them to haue the victorie.
Yea, no man was able to hurt this people, except it were when they departed vnfaythfully from the worshipping of the Lorde their God.
But as ofte as they worshipped any other beside their God, he gaue them ouer to be spoyled, to be slayne, and to be put to confusion.
Neuerthelesse, as ofte as they were sory for their departing from the worshippe of their God: the same God of heauen gaue them power & strength to withstande [their enemies.]
Moreouer, they slue the king of the Chanaanites, Iebusites, Pherezites, Hethites, Heuites, and Amorites, and al the mightie in Hesebon, and toke their landes and cities in possession:
And so long as they sinned not in the sight of their God, it went well with them: For their God hateth vnrighteousnesse.
For in times past when they went out of the way which God had geuen them that they shoulde walke in it, they were destroyed in diuers battaylles of many nations, and many of them were caried away prisoners vnto a strange countrey.
But now lately they haue turned them selues agayne vnto the Lord their God, and are come together agayne out of the countreys where they were scattred abrode: and thus haue they conquered these mountaynes, and dwel therin: and as for Hierusalem where their sanctuarie is, they haue it againe in possession.
And therfore my Lord, make diligent inquisition, if this people haue done wickednesse in the sight of their God, then let vs go vp against them: for doubtlesse their God shall deliuer them into thy handes, and subdue them vnto thy power.
But if this people haue not displeased their God, we shall not be able to withstande them: for their God shall defende them, and so shall we be a shame to all the worlde.
Nowe when Achior had spoken out these wordes, all the great men of Holophernes were wroth, and thought to slay him, and sayde one to another:
What is he this whiche dare say that the children of Israel are able to withstande Nabuchodonosor the king and his hoastes? where as they are an vnweaponed people, without strength or vnderstanding of the feates of warre?
That Achior therfore may know that he hath deceaued vs, we will go vp into the mountaynes: and when the mightie men of them are taken, he with them shall be stickte with the sworde:
That all the people may knowe that Nabuchodonosor is the God of the earth, and that there is none other beside him.
SO when they had left of speaking, Holophernes toke sore indignation, and sayde vnto Achior:
For so much as thou hast prophesied vnto vs, saying, That the people of Israel shalbe defended of their God: I will shew thee that there is no God but Nabuchodonosor,
Yea, when we slay them al as one man, thou also shalt perishe with them through the sword of the Assyrians, and all Israel shalbe destroyed with thee:
And then shalt thou feele that Nabuchodonosor is the lorde of the whole earth: then shal the sword of my knighthood go through thy sides, & thou shalt fall downe stickte among the wounded of Israel, and shalt not come to thy selfe agayne, but be vtterly destroyed with them.
Furthermore, if thou thinkest thy prophesie to be true, why doest thou then chaunge thy colour? why art thou afrayde? Thinkest thou that my wordes are not able to be perfourmed?
But that thou mayest knowe that thou shalt feele these thinges with them, beholde from this houre foorth will I send thee vnto yonder people, that when the punishement of my sworde (whiche they haue worthyly deserued) falleth vpon them, thou mayest be punished with them.
So Holophernes commaunded his seruauntes to take Achior, & to cary him vnto Bethulia, and to deliuer him into the handes of the children of Israel.
Then Holophernes seruauntes toke him, and went through the playne field: But when they drewe nye vnto the mountaynes, the slyng casters came out against them.
Neuerthelesse they gat them away by the side of the mountayne, and bounde Achior hande and foote to a tree, and so left him bounde with withes, and turned againe vnto their lorde.
After that, the children of Israel went downe from Bethulia, came vnto hym, loosed him, brought him into Bethulia, set him in the middest of the people, and asked him what the matter was that the Assyrians had left him bounde?
Osias the sonne of Micha of the tribe of Simeon, and Charmi which is also called Gothoniel, were the principal rulers at the same time.
Nowe when Achior stoode in the middest of the senatours, and before them al, he tolde them what aunswere he gaue Holophernes to the thing that he asked him, & how Holophernes people would haue slayne him for so saying:
And howe Holophernes him selfe was wroth, and commaunded him for the same cause to be deliuered vnto the Israelites: that when he ouercame the children of Israel, he might commaunde Achior also to be put to death with diuers tormentes, because he sayde, The God of heauen is their defender.
And when Achior had playnly told out al these thinges, all the people fel downe vpon their faces, praysing the Lord, and powred out their prayers together vnto the Lorde, with a generall complaynt and weeping,
And sayde: O Lord God of heauen and of earth, beholde their pryde, and loke vpon our lowlinesse, and consider howe it standeth with thy sayntes, and make it to be knowen that thou forsakest not those which holde them fast by thee: and howe that thou bringest them low that presume of themselues, and make their boast in their owne strength.
So when the weeping and prayer of the people (whiche they had made the whole day long) was ended, they comforted Achior,
Saying: The God of our fathers, whose power and strength thou hast praysed, shall so rewarde thee, that thou shalt rather see their destruction.
When the Lorde our God then shall geue his seruauntes this libertie, God be also with thee among vs: so that as it shall please thee, so thou with all thyne mayst dwell with vs.
Now when Osias had ended the counsel, he toke him into his house, and made a great supper,
Called the elders to it: and so they refreshed them selues after the fasting.
And afterward was al the people called together, whiche made their prayers all the night long in the congregation, and besought the God of Israel for helpe.
THe next day Holophernes commaunded his hoast to go vp against Bethulia.
There were an hundred and twentie thousande fighting men on foote, and two and twentie thousande horsemen, beside the preparing of them that were wunne, and came to them on euery side out of the countreys and cities which he had taken.
All these prepared them selues vnto the battayl against the Israelites, and came on by the hil side, vnto the top that loketh ouer against Dothain, from the place which is called Belma, vnto Chelmon that lyeth towarde Esdrelon.
Nowe when the children of Israel sawe so great multitude of the Assyrians, they fell downe flat vpon the grounde, strawed asshes vpon their heades, and prayed with one accorde that the God of Israel woulde shewe his mercie vpon his people.
And so they toke their weapons, and sat betwixte the mountaynes in the narow place, and kept the way day and night.
But whyle Holophernes was goyng rounde about, he founde the water spring, whiche from the south side was conueyed into the citie be a conduite, and he commaunded their conduite to be cut in sunder.
There were welles also not farre from the walles, whiche they vsed secretely, more for pleasure then for necessitie.
Then went the Ammonites and the Moabites vnto Holophernes, and sayd: The children of Israel trust neither in speare nor arrow, but haue taken in and kepe the mountaynes, and steepe hilles defende them.
That thou mayest ouercome them therfore without the striking of any battayl, set men to kepe the welles that they drawe no water out of them, so shalt thou destroy them without sworde, or at the least they shall be so feeble that they must be fayne to geue ouer the citie, which they thinke not able to be wunne for so much as it lyeth in the mountaynes.
These wordes pleased Holophernes wel and all his men of warre, and he set an hundreth at euery well round about.
And when this watch had endured twentie dayes, the cesternes and all that had water fayled them that dwelt in the citie of Bethulia, so that in the whole citie they had not drincke inough for one day, for the people had water geuen them dayly in a measure.
Then came the men and women, young persons and children, al vnto Osias, and sayd al with one voyce:
God be iudge betwixt vs and thee, for thou hast dealt euyll with vs: thou wouldest not speake peaceably with the king of the Assyrians, therefore hath God solde vs into their handes.
And there is no man to helpe vs, wheras we are brought downe before their eyes in thirst and great destruction.
Therefore gather now together all the people that be in the citie, that we may all yeelde our selues wyllyngly vnto the people of Holophernes.
For better it is that we be captiue and prayse the Lorde with our liues, then to be slayne & perishe, and to be laughed to scorne and shamed of euery man when we see our wiues and children die before our eyes.
We take heauen and earth this day to record, & the God of our fathers, whiche punisheth vs according to [the deseruing of] our sinnes [and geue you warning,] that ye geue vp the citie nowe into the power of Holophernes hoast, that our end may be short with the sworde, which els shal endure long for want of water and for thirst.
When they had spoken out these wordes, there was a great weeping and howling in the whole congregation [and that of euery man,] and they cryed a whole houre long vnto God with one voyce,
Saying: We haue sinned with our fathers, we haue done a misse, we haue dealt wickedly.
Thou that art gratious haue mercie vpon vs, or punishe our vnrighteousnes with thyne owne scourge, and geue not those ouer that knowledge thee, vnto a people which knowe thee not:
That they may not say among the heathen, Where is their God?
And when they were so weery with this crying and weeping that they helde their peace,
Osias stoode vp with watry eyes, and sayde: O take good heartes vnto you deare brethren [and be of good cheare,] and let vs wayte yet these fiue dayes for mercie of the Lorde:
Peraduenture he shal put away his indignation, & geue glorie vnto his name.
But if he helpe vs not when the fiue dayes are past, we shall do as ye haue sayde.
ANd it happened, when these wordes came to the eares of Iudith a widdowe, which was the daughter of Merari, the sonne of Idox, the sonne of Ioseph, the sonne of Osia, the sonne of Elai, the sonne of Iamnor, the sonne of Gedeon, the sonne of Raphaim, the sonne of Achitob, the sonne of Melchia, the sonne of Enan, the sonne of Nathania, the sonne of Salathiel, the sonne of Simeon, the sonne of Ruben:
And her husband was called Manasses, whiche dyed in the dayes of the barlye haruest.
For whyle he was binding the sheaues together in the fielde, the heate came vpon his head, and he died at Bethulia his citie, and there was he buried beside his fathers.
Nowe was Iudith his desolate wyddowe three yeres, and sixe monethes.
And in the higher partes of her house she made her selfe a priuie chamber, where she dwelt, beyng closed in with her maydens.
She ware a smocke of heere, and fasted al the dayes of her life, except the Sabbathes, and newe moones, and the solempne dayes that the people of Israel kept.
She was a very faire and beautiful person, her husbande also had left her great riches, a plenteous houshold, great vnmoueable possessions, & many cattell.
This Iudith was a woman of a very good report with euery one, for she feared the Lord greatly: and there was no body that spake an euyll worde of her.
When this Iudith hearde how Osias had promised the people that after the fift day he woulde geue vp the citie vnto the Assyrians, she sent for the elders, Chabri and Charmi.
And when they came to her, she sayde: What thing is this wherin Osias hath consented, that if God helpe not within fiue dayes he will geue ouer the citie to the Assyrians?
What are ye, that ye tempt the Lorde?
This deuice obtayneth no mercie of God: but prouoketh hym vnto wrath and displeasure.
Will ye set the mercie of the Lorde a time, and appoynt him a day after your will?
Neuerthelesse, for so much as the Lord is pacient, let vs rather repent in this, powring out teares, and beseching hym of grace.
For God threatneth not as a man, neither will he be prouoked vnto wrath as the children of men.
And therfore let vs heartyly fal downe before him, and serue hym with a meeke spirite,
And with weeping eyes say vnto the Lorde, that he deale with vs according to his owne wil speedyly in mercie: that like as our heart is nowe vexed and brought low through the pride of them, it may so be comforted through his grace:
In so much as we folowe not the sinnes of our fathers, which forsoke their God and worshipped other gods:
For the which sinne they perished with the sword, were spoyled, and brought to shame of al their enemies: As for vs, we knowe none other God but only hym.
For whose comfort let vs tary with meekenesse, and he shall require & make inquisition for our blood from the vexations of our enemies: he shall bring downe all the heathen that rise vp against vs, and put them to dishonour, euen the Lord our God.
Therefore deare brethren, seyng ye are the [honorable and] elders in the people of God, and their lyfe hangeth all vpon you, lift vp their heartes with your exhortation, that they may call to remembraunce howe our fathers also in times past were tempted, that they might be proued if they worshipped their God a right.
They ought to remember, howe our father Abraham beyng tempted, & tryed through many tribulations, was found a louer and friende of God.
So was Isahac, so was Iacob, so was Moyses: and all they that pleased God, passed stedfast in faith through many folde troubles.
Againe, they that receaued not their temptations with the feare of God, but put them selues foorth with vnpatiencie and murmuring against God,
Perished of the destroyer, and were slaine of serpentes.
And therefore shoulde not we vndertake to be auenged for the thinges that are done vnto vs:
But to consider that all these punishmentes are farre lesse then our sinnes and misdeedes, and beleeuing that this correction commeth vnto vs as to the seruauntes of God, for amendement, and not for our destruction.
Then saide Osias and the elders vnto Iudith: All that thou speakest is true, and no man can reproue thy wordes.
Pray thou for vs now therefore [vnto God,] for thou art an holy woman, and fearest God.
And Iudith saide vnto them: Seing ye know that my wordes are of God,
Then proue my counsell and deuice if it be of God: and beseche God that he wyll bryng my counsell to good ende.
[Thus haue I deuised] Ye shall stande this night before the porte, and I wyll go foorth with Abra my mayden: and pray ye therefore vnto God, that he wyll graciously remember his people of Israel within fiue dayes, as ye haue saide.
As for the thing that I go in hande withall, aske ye no questions of it: and tyll I bring you word againe of it, do ye nothing els but pray vnto the Lorde our God for me.
Then Osias the prince of the people of Iuda, saide vnto her: Go thy way in peace, the Lorde be with thee, that we may be auenged of our enemies. And so they went from her againe.
NOw when they were gone their way, Iudith went into her closet, put on a heery smocke, strawed ashes vpon her head, fell downe before the Lorde, and cryed vnto him, saying:
O Lorde God of my father Simeon, which gauest him a sword for a defence against the enemies that vsed violence in their vncleannesse, and that rauished the virgin, [and] put her to shame and confusion:
Thou that gauest their wyues into a pray, and their daughters into captiuitie, and all their pray for a spoyle vnto thy seruauntes which bare a zeale vnto thee: helpe me wydowe, O Lorde my God I beseche thee.
For thou hast made the first thinges: and after that, looke what thou hast taken in hande and deuised, it came euer to passe.
For all thy wayes are prepared, and thy iudgementes are put in thy euerlasting foreknowledge.
O looke now vpon the armies of the Assyrians, lyke as it was thy pleasure sometime to looke vpon the hoast of the Egyptians, when they being weaponed persecuted thy seruauntes, and put their trust in their charettes, horsemen, and in the multitude of their men of warre.
But thou lookedst vpon their hoast, casting a thicke darkenesse before them.
And when they came into the deepe, the waters ouerwhelmed them.
Euen so Lord, let it go with these that trust in the power & multitude of their men of warre, in their charets, arrowes, and speares:
And know not that thou onely art our God which destroyest warres from the beginning, and that thou art the Lord.
O lyft vp thyne arme [now] lyke as euer from the beginning, and in thy power bryng their power to naught: cause their might to fall in thy wrath, which make their boast that they wyll vnhallowe and defile thy sanctuarie, and to waste the tabernacle of thy name, and to cast downe the horne of thyne aulter with their sword.
Bryng to passe O Lord, that the pryde of the enemie may be cut downe with his owne sword.
That he may be taken with the snare of his eyes in me, and that thou mayest smyte him with the lyppes of my loue.
O geue me a stedfast mynde, that I may despyse him and his strength, and that I may destroy him.
This shall bryng thy name an euerlasting remembraunce, if the hande of a woman ouerthrowe him.
For thy power O Lord standeth not in the multitude [of men] neither hast thou any pleasure in the strength of horses, neither was there from the beginning any proude persons that pleased thee: but in the prayer of the humble & meeke hath thy pleasure ben euermore.
O thou God of the heauens, thou maker of the waters, and Lorde of all creatures, heare me poore woman calling vpon thee and putting my trust in thy mercy.
Remember thy couenaunt O Lorde, and minister wordes in my mouth, and stablishe this deuice in my heart, that thy house may continue still in holynes:
And that all the heathen may knowe that thou art God, & that there is none other but thou.
AND when she had left of crying vnto the lord, she rose vp from the place where she had lyen flat before the Lord,
And called her mayden Abra, went downe into her house, layed the heery cloth from her, put of the garmentes of her wydowhood,
Washed her body, annoynted her selfe with precious thinges of sweete sauour, broyded and platted her heere, set a coyffe vpon her head, and put on such apparell as belongeth vnto gladnesse, slippers vpon her feete, bracelettes, spanges, earynges, fynger rynges, and decked her selfe with all her best aray.
The Lorde gaue her also a speciall beautie and fairenesse: for all this decking of her selfe was not done for any voluptuousnesse, but of a ryght discretion and vertue, therefore did the Lorde encrease her beautie, so that she was exceeding amiable and welfauoured in all mens eyes.
She gaue her mayden Abra also a bottell of wine, a pot with oyle, pottage, cake bread and cheese; & went her way.
Nowe when they came to the porte of the citie, they founde Osias and the elders of the citie wayting there:
Which when they sawe her, they were astonied, and marueyled greatly at her beautie.
Neuerthelesse, they asked no question at her, but let her go, saying: The God of our fathers geue thee grace, and with his power perfourme all the deuice of thy heart, that Hierusalem may reioyce ouer thee, and that thy name may be in the number of the holy & righteous.
And all they that were there, saide with one voyce, So be it, so be it.
Iudith made her prayer vnto the Lorde, and went out at the porte, she and her mayde Abra.
And as she was going downe the mountayne, it happened that about the spryng of the day the spyes of the Assyrians met with her, and tooke her, saying: whence commest thou? or whyther goest thou?
She aunswered: I am a daughter of the Hebrues, and am fled from them: for I knowe that they shalbe geuen vnto you to be spoyled, because they thought scorne to yeelde them selues vnto you that they myght finde mercie in your sight.
Therefore haue I deuised by my selfe after this maner: I wyll go before the prince Holophernes and tell him all their secretes, and wyll shewe him how he may come by them, and winne them: so that not one man of his hoast shall perishe.
And when these men had heard her wordes, and considered her faire face, they were astonied (for they wondred at her excellent beautie)
And saide vnto her; Thou hast saued thy lyf• by findinge out this deuice, that thou wouldest come downe to our lorde.
And be thou sure that when thou commest vnto him, he shall entreate thee well, and thou shalt please him at the heart. So they brought her in to Holophernes pauilion, and tolde him of her.
Nowe when she came in before him, immediately he was ouercome and taken with her beautie.
Then said his seruauntes: who would despise the people of the Iewes that haue so faire women? should we not by reason fight against them for these?
So when Iudith sawe Holophernes sitting in a canapie that was wrought of purple silke, golde, smaragde, and precious stones,
She looked fast vpon him, bowed her selfe, and fel downe vpon the earth: And Holophernes seruauntes tooke her vp agayne at their lordes commaundement.
THen said Holophernes vnto her, Be of good cheare, and feare not in thyne heart: for I neuer hurt man that would serue Nabuchodonosor the king.
As for thy people, if they had not despysed me, I should not haue lyft vp my speare against them.
But tell me nowe what is the cause that thou art departed from them, and wherefore art thou come vnto vs?
And Iudith saide vnto him, Syr, vnderstand the wordes of thy handemayden: for if thou wylt do after the wordes of thy handmayden, the Lorde shall bryng thy matter to a prosperous effect.
As Nabuchodonosor the king of the earth lyueth, and as his power liueth which is in thee to the punishment of all men that go wrong, al men shal not onely be subdued vnto him through thee, but al the beastes also of the fielde.
For all people speake of thy prudent actiuitie, and it hath euer ben reported how thou onely art good and mightie in all his kingdome, and thy discretion is commended in all landes.
The thing is manifest also that Achior spake, & it is well knowen what thou commaundest to do vnto him.
For this is playne and of a suretie, that our God is so wroth with vs by the reason of our sinnes, that he hath shewed by his prophetes vnto the people, howe that for their sinnes he wyll delyuer them ouer [vnto the enemie.]
And for so much as the children of Israel knowe that they haue so displeased their God, they are sore afrayde of thee.
They suffer great hunger also, and for want of water they are dead now in a maner.
Moreouer, they are appoynted to slay all their cattaile, that they may drinke the blood of them:
And are purposed to spend the holy thinges of their God which he hath forbydden them to touch, [as] of corne, wine, and oyle, & they wil consume those thinges which they ought not to touch with their handes: Seing nowe that they do these thinges, it is a playne case that they must needes be destroyed.
Which when I thy handmayden perceaued, I fled from them: and the Lord hath sent me to shewe thee these thinges.
For I thy handmayden worship God euen here now besyde thee, and thy handmayden shal go foorth, and I wyl make my prayer vnto God:
And he shall tell me when he wyll rewarde them their sinne, then shall I come and shewe thee, and bring thee through the middest of Hierusalem, so that thou shalt haue al the people of Israel as sheepe without a shephearde, & there shall not so much as one dogge barke against thee.
For these thinges are shewed me by the prouidence of God.
And for so much as God is displeased with them, he hath sent me to tell thee the same.
These wordes pleased Holophernes, and all his seruauntes: which marueyled at the wysedome of her, and said one to another:
There is not such a woman vpo{n} earth, in fauour, in beautie, and discretion of wordes.
And Holophernes said vnto her: God hath done well that he hath sent thee hither before thy people, that thou mayest geue them into our handes.
And for so much as thy promise is good, if thy God perfourme it vnto me, he shalbe my God also, and thou shalt be excellent and great in the court of Nabuchodonosor, and thy name shalbe spoken of in all the lande.
THen commaunded he her to go in where his treasure lay, and charged that she shoulde haue her dwellyng there, and appoynted what shoulde be geuen her from his table.
Iudith aunswered him, and saide: As for the meate that thou hast commaunded to geue me, I may not eate of it as now, lest I displease my God: but wyll eate of such as I haue brought with me.
Then saide Holophernes vnto her: If these thinges that thou hast brought with thee fayle, what shall we do vnto thee?
And Iudith saide: As thy soule lyueth my Lorde, thy handmayden shall not spend all this, tyl God hath brought to passe in my hande the thinges that I haue deuised. So his seruauntes brought her into the tent whereas he had appoynted.
And as she was going in, she desired that she might haue leaue to go foorth by night and before day to her prayer, and to make intercession vnto the Lord.
Then commaunded Holophernes his chamberlaynes, that she should go out and in at her pleasure, to pray vnto God those three dayes.
And so in the night season she went foorth into the valley of Bethulia, and washed her selfe in the well water.
And comming vp, she besought the Lorde God of Israel that he woulde prosper her way for the deliueraunce of his people.
And so she went in, & remayned cleane in her tent, tyll she toke her meate in the euening.
Vpon the fourth day it came to passe that Holophernes made a supper vnto his seruauntes, and saide vnto Vagao his chamberlayne: Go thy way, & counsell this Hebruesse, that she may be wylling to consent to kepe company with me:
For it were a shame vnto all the Assyrians, that a woman shoulde so laugh a man to scorne, that she were come from him vnmedled withall.
Then went Vagao vnto Iudith, and saide: Let not the good daughter be afrayde 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.
Vnto whom Iudith aunswered: Who am I, that I shoulde say my lorde nay?
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.
So she stoode vp, and deckt her selfe with her apparell, and went in & stoode before him.
And Holophernes heart was whole moued: for he brent in desire towarde her.
And Holophernes saide vnto her: Drinke nowe and sit downe & be mery, for thou hast founde fauour before me.
Then saide Iudith: Syr, I wyll drinke, for my minde is meryer to day then euer it was in all my lyfe.
And she toke, and did eate, and dranke before him, the thinges that her mayden had prepared for her.
And Holophernes was mery with her, and dranke more wine then euer he did afore in his lyfe.
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:
For they were al ouerladen with wine.
So was Iudith alone in the chamber.
As for Holophernes he lay vpon the bed [all drunken] and of very drunckennesse fell asleepe.
Then commaunded Iudith her mayden to stande without before the doore and to wayte.
And Iudith stoode before the bed, making her prayer with teares, & moued her lyppes secretly,
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.
And when she had spoke{n} this, she went to the piller that was at Holophernes beddes head, and loosed his sword that hanged vpon it, and drewe it out:
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.
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.
Immediatly she gat her foorth, and deliuered the head of Holophernes vnto her mayden, and bad her put it in her wallet.
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.
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.
And when they heard her voyce, they called the elders of the citie [together.]
And they came all to meete her, litle & great, young & olde: for they thought not that she should haue come so soone.
So they lighted candels, and gathered about her euery one: but she went vp into an high place, and caused scilence to be proclaymed.
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:
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.
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.
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.
O geue thankes vnto him euery one, for he is gratious, and his mercy endureth for euer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And all the people said, Amen, Amen.
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.
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.
When Achior saw Holophernes head, he fell downe vpon his face to the grounde for very anguishe and feare, so that he sowned withall.
But after that he was come againe to him selfe, he fell downe before her, and praysed her, saying:
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.
IVdith saide vnto al the people, Brethren heare me: Sticke vp this head vpon our walles,
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.
When the spies see this, they shall of necessitie be compelled to flee backward, and to rayse vp their captayne to the battaile.
So when their captaynes come into Holophernes pauilion, and finde the dead body wrapped in the blood, feare fulnesse shall fall vpon them:
And when ye perceaue that they flee, folowe them without all care, for God shall delyuer them vnto you to be destroyed.
Then Achior seing the power of God which he had shewed vnto the people of Israel, fell of from his heathenishe beliefe, and put his trust in God, and let him selfe be circumcized, and so was he numbred among the people of Israel, he and all his posteritie vnto this day.
Now assoone as it was day, they stickt vp Holophernes head vpon the walles, and euery man tooke his weapon, and so they went out with an horrible crye.
When the spies saw that, they ranne vnto Holophernes tent.
And they that were within the tent, came before his chamber and made a great russhing by art, that Holophernes might awake, not by stirring him vp, but by their noyse.
For there durst not one of the Assyrians knocke, go in, or open.
But when the captaynes and princes and all the chiefe in the king of the Assyrians hoast came together, they said vnto the chamberlaynes:
Go your way in, and wake him vp: for the myce are crept out of their holes, and dare prouoke vs vnto battayle.
Then went Vagao into his chamber, stoode before the bed, and clapped with his handes: for he thought he had ben sleeping with Iudith.
But when he hearkened perfectly with his eares, and coulde perceaue no stirring, he went nyer to the bed and lift it vp, and when he sawe the dead body of Holophernes lying there without a head weltred in his blood vpon the earth, he cryed with a loude voyce, and with weeping rent his clothes,
And went into Iudiths tent, and founde her not.
And so he lept out vnto the people, and saide: One woman of the Iewes, hath brought al Nabuchodonosors people to shame: For lo, Holophernes lyeth vpon the grounde and hath no head.
When the chiefe of the Assyrians hoast heard that, they rent their clothes, and there fell an intollerable feare and tremblyng vpon them: so that their mindes were sore afrayd.
And there was an exceeding great crye in the whole hoast.
NOw when al the hoast heard that Holophernes was beheaded, their minde & counsell fel from them: and being amased with feare onely and trembling, they saued them selues by fleeing away,
One spake not to another, but hanged downe their heades, left all behinde the{m}, and made haste to escape from the Hebrues: for they heard that they were hasting to come after with their weapons, and so they fled by the wayes of the fieldes, and through all the foote pathes of the dales.
And when the children of Israel saw that they fled, they folowed vpon them: and went downe with trumpettes, blowyng and making a great crye after them.
As for the Assyrians they had no order, and kept not them selues together, but fled their way: Neuerthelesse, the children of Israel fell vpon them with one company and order, and discomfited as many as they might get.
And Osias sent messengers vnto all the cities and countries of Israel.
So all the regions and euery citie sent out their best men after them in harnesse, and smote them with the sworde, till they came to the vttermost parte of their borders.
And the other that were in Bethulia came into the tentes of the Assyrians, and tooke all that they which were fled had left behinde them, & so they founde great good.
And they that came againe to Bethulia from the battaile, tooke with them such thinges as had ben theirs: there was no number of the cattaile and of all costly iewels, so that from the lowest vnto the hiest, they were all made rich of the spoyles of them.
And Ioachim the hie priest came from Hierusalem to Bethulia with al the elders, that they might see Iudith.
Now when she came out vnto them, they began all to prayse her with one voyce, saying: Thou worship of the citie of Hierusalem, thou ioy of Israel, thou honour of our people.
Because thou hast done manly, and thy heart is comforted, & for that thou hast loued clenlinesse and chastitie, and hast knowen no man but thyne owne husband: therefore hath the hand of the Lorde comforted thee, and blessed shalt thou be for euer.
And all the people saide: So be it, So be it.
In thirtie dayes coulde the people of Israel scarse gather vp the spoyles of the Assyrians.
But all that belonged vnto Holophernes, and had ben his specially (whether it were of golde, of siluer, precious stone, clothing, and all ornamentes) they gaue it vnto Iudith, and it was deliuered vnto her of the people.
And all the people reioyced, both women, maydens, and young people, with pipes, and harpes.
THen sang Iudith this song vnto the Lorde, saying:
Beginne vnto the Lorde vpon the tabrettes, sing vnto the Lorde vpon the cymbales, O sing vnto him a newe song of thankes geuing, be ioyfull and call vppon his name.
It is the Lord that destroyeth warres, euen the Lorde is his name.
Which hath pitched his tentes in the middest of his people, that he might deliuer vs from the hand of al our enemies.
Assur came out of the mountaines of the north in the multitude of his strength: his people stopped the water brookes, and their horses couered the valleyes.
He purposed to haue brent vp my land, and to slay my young men with the sword.
He woulde haue caried away my children and virgins into captiuitie, but the almightie Lorde hindred him, and deliuered him into the handes of a woman, which brought him to confusion.
For their mightie was not destroyed of the young men, it it was not the sonnes of Titan that slue him, neither haue the great giauntes set them selues against him: but Iudith the daughter of Merari with her faire beautie hath discomfited him, [and brought him to naught.]
For she layed away her wydowes garment, and put on the apparell of gladnesse to the reioycing of the children of Israel.
She annoynted her face with oyntment & bounde vp her heere in a coyffe, and tooke a newe stole to beguile him.
Her slippers rauished his eyes, her beautie captiuated his minde, with the sword smote she of his necke.
The Persians were astonied at her stedfastnesse, & the Medes at her boldenesse.
Then howled the armies of the Assyrians, when my simples appeared, drye of thirst.
The sonnes of the daughters haue pearsed them through, and slaine them as fugitiue children: they perished in the battaile, for the very feare of the Lord my God.
Let vs sing a song of thankesgeuing vnto the Lorde, a newe song of prayse wyll we sing vnto our God.
Lorde, Lorde thou art a great God, mightie in power, whom no man may ouercome.
All thy creatures must serue thee: For thou spakest but the worde, and they were made, thou sentest thy spirite, and they were created, and no man can withstand thy voyce.
The mountaynes shall mooue from the foundations with the waters, the stony rockes shall melt before thee like waxe.
But they that feare thee, shalbe great with thee in all thinges.
Wo vnto the people that rise vp against my generation: for the almightie Lorde wyll auenge him selfe of them, and in the day of iudgement wyll he visite the{m}.
For he shall geue fire and wormes in their fleshe, that they may burne and feele it for euermore.
After this it happened, that after the victorie all the people came to Hierusalem, to geue prayse and thankes vnto the Lorde: And when they were purified, they offred all their burnt sacrifices and their vowes, and their promised offeringes.
And Iudith offered all Holophernes weapons [and all the iewels] that the people had geuen her, and the canapie that she toke from his bed, and hanged them vp vnto the Lorde.
The people were ioyfull as the vse is: and this ioy with Iudith, by reason of the victorie, endured three monethes.
So after these dayes euery man went home againe, and Iudith was in great reputation at Bethulia, and right honourably taken in al the land of Israel.
Vnto her vertue also was chastitie ioyned, so that after her husbande Manasses dyed, she neuer knewe man all the dayes of her life.
Vpon the hye solempne dayes she went out with great worship.
She dwelt in her husbandes house an hundred and fiue yeres, and left her handmayden Abra free,
And dyed, and was buried beside her husbande in Bethulia: And all the people mourned for her seuen dayes.
So long as she liued, there was none that troubled Israel, and many yeres also after her death.
The day wherein this victorie was gotten, was solemply holden, & reckened of the Iewes in the number of the holy dayes, and it is yet greatly holden of the Iewes euer since, vnto this day.
MArdocheus the sonne of Iari, the sonne of Semei, the sonne of Cis of the tribe of Beniamin,
A Iewe, which had his dwelling in the citie of Susis, a man of great reputation, and excellent among all them that were in the kynges court.
Neuerthelesse, he was one of the prisoners whom Nabuchodonosor the kyng of Babylon had caryed away from Hierusalem vnto Babylon, with Iechonias the kyng of Iuda.
In the seconde yere of the raigne of great Artaxerxes, in the first day of the moneth Nisan, had this Mardocheus suche a dreame.
He thought he heard a great tempest, horrible thunderclappes, earthquakes, and great vprore in the lande,
And that he sawe two great dragons redie to fight one against another.
Their crye was great: At the whiche roaring & crye, all the heathen were vp to fight against the righteous people.
And the same day was full of darkenesse and very vncleare, full of trouble and anguishe, yea a great fearefulnesse was there in the lande.
The righteous were amased, for they feared the plague and euyll that was deuised ouer them, and were at a poynt with them selues to dye: So they cryed vnto God.
And whyle they were crying, the litle well grewe into a great riuer, and into many waters.
And with that it was day, and the sunne rose vp agayne: And the lowly were exalted, and deuoured the glorious and proude.
Nowe when Mardocheus had seene this dreame, he awoke, & mused stedfastly in his heart what God would do, and so he desired to know al the matter, and his mind was thervpon vntil night.
AT the same tyme dwelt Mardocheus with Bagatha and Thara in the kynges court, the kynges chamberlaynes and porters of the palace.
But when he hearde their deuice, and had diligently considered their imaginations, he perceaued that they went about to lay their [cruell] handes vpon the kyng Artaxerxes, and so he certified the kyng thereof.
Then caused the kyng to examine the two gelded with tormentes: And when they had graunted it, they were put to death.
This the kyng caused to be put in the Chronicles for an euerlasting remembraunce, and Mardocheus wrote vp the same matter.
So the king commaunded that Mardocheus shoulde remayne in the court, and for this faythfulnes of his he gaue hym a rewarde.
But Aman the sonne of Amadathu the Agagite, whiche was holden in great honour and reputation in the kynges court, vndertoke to hurt Mardocheus and his people, because of the two chamberlaynes that were put to death.
THe great kyng Artaxerxes, whiche raigneth from India vnto Ethiopia ouer an hundred and twentie and seuen landes, sendeth his frendly salutation vnto all the princes and deputies of the countrey, whiche be subiect vnto his dominion.
When I was made lorde ouer many people, and had subdued the whole earth vnto my dominion, my minde was not with crueltie and wrong to exalt my selfe by the reason of my power: but purposed with equitie alway and gentlenes to gouerne those that be vnder my iurisdiction, and wholly to set them in a peaceable lyfe, and thereby to bryng my kyngdome vnto tranquilitie, that men might safely go thorowe on euery side, and to renue peace agayne, whiche all men desire.
Nowe when I asked my counsellours howe these thinges myght be brought to a good ende, there was one by vs excellent in wisdome, whose good wyll, trueth, and faythfulnesse hath oft ben shewed and proued (whiche was also the principall and next vnto the kyng) Aman by name,
Whiche certified vs, howe that in all landes there was scattered abrode a rebellious folke, that made statutes and lawes against all other people, & haue alway despised the proclaymed commaundementes of kynges, and howe that for this cause it were not to be suffred, that suche rule should continue by you, and not to be put downe.
Seeing nowe we perceaue the same, that this people alone are contrary vnto euery man, vsing straunge and other maner of lawes, and withstande our statutes and doynges, and go about to stablyshe shrewde matters, that our kyngdome shoulde neuer come to good estate [and stedfastnesse:]
Therefore haue we commaunded, that all they that are appointed in wrytyng and shewed vnto you by Aman, whiche is ordayned and set ouer all our landes, and the most principall next vnto the kyng, and in maner as a father: shall with their wiues and chyldren be destroyed & rooted out with the sworde of their enemies and aduersaries, and that there shalbe no mercy shewed, and no man spared: And this shalbe done the fourteenth day of the moneth called Adad of this yere.
That they whiche of olde and nowe also, haue euer ben rebellious, may in one day with violence be thrust downe into the hell, to the intent that after this maner our empire may haue peace and tranquilitie.
But Mardocheus thought vpon all the workes & noble actes of the Lorde, and made his prayer vnto him,
Saying: O Lorde, Lorde, thou valiaunt and almightie king, for all thinges are in thy power: and if thou wilt helpe and deliuer Israel, there is no man that can withstande nor let thee.
For thou hast made heauen and earth, and what wonderous thing soeuer is vnder the heauen.
Thou art Lorde of all thinges, and there is no man that can resist thy maiestie O Lorde.
Thou knowest all thinges, thou wotest Lorde that it was neither of malice nor presumption, nor for any desire of glory, that I would not bow downe my selfe nor worship yonder proude presumptious Aman:
For I woulde haue ben content, and that with good wyll, if it might haue done Israel any good, to haue kist euen his footesteppes.
But that I did it because I woulde not set the honour of a man in the steede of the glory of God, & because I would worship none but only thee my Lorde: and this haue I done in no pryde nor presumption.
And therfore O Lord, thou God and kyng, haue mercy vpon thy people, for they imagine howe they may bring vs to naught, yea their minde and desire is to destroy and to ouerthrowe thy people that hath euer ben thyne inheritaunce of olde.
O despise not thy portion which thou hast deliuered & brought out of Egypt for thyne owne selfe.
Heare my prayer, and be mercifull vnto thy people whom thou hast chosen for an heritage vnto thy selfe: Turne our complaynt and sorow into ioy, that we may liue O Lorde and prayse thy name: O Lord suffer not the mouthes of them that praise thee, to be destroyed.
All the people of Israel in like maner cryed as earnestly as they coulde vnto the Lorde, for their death and destruction stoode before their eyes.
QVeene Hester also beyng in the battayle of death, resorted vnto the Lorde,
Layde away her glorious apparell, and put on the garmentes that serued for sighing and mourning: In the steede of precious oyntment, she scattered ashes and dounge vpon her head: and as for her body, she humbled it with fasting, and brought it very low: All the places where she was wont to haue ioy afore, those filled she with her owne heere that she pluckt of.
She prayed also vnto the Lorde God of Israel with these wordes: O my Lorde, thou only art our kyng, helpe me desolate woman, whiche haue no helper but thee.
For my miserie and destruction is harde at my hande.
Fro my youth vp I haue hearde out of the kinred of my father, that thou tokest Israel from among all people, and so haue our fathers of their fore elders, that they shoulde be thy perpetuall inheritaunce, and looke what thou didst promise them, thou hast made it good vnto them.
Nowe Lorde we haue sinned before thee, therefore hast thou geuen vs into the handes of our enemies,
Because we worshipped their gods: Lorde thou art righteous.
Neuerthelesse it satisfieth them not that we are in bitter and heauie captiuitie and oppressed among them, but thou hast layde their handes vpon the handes of their gods.
So that they begin to take away the thing that thou with thy mouth hast ordayned and appoynted, to destroy thine inheritaunce, to shut and to stop the mouthes of them that prayse thee, to quench the glory and worship of thy house and thyne aulter:
And to open the mouthes of the heathen, that they may prayse the power and vertue of the gods, and to magnifie the fleshly kyng for euer.
O Lorde geue not thy scepter vnto them that be nothing, lest they laugh vs to scorne in our miserie and fall: but turne their deuice vpon them selues, and punishe hym that hath begun the same ouer vs, and set hym to an example.
Thinke vpon vs O Lord, and shewe thy selfe vnto vs in the tyme of our distresse and of our trouble: strength me O thou kyng of Gods, thou Lorde of all power,
Geue me an eloquent and pleasaunt speache in my mouth before the lion: Turne his heart into the hate of our enemies, to destroy him, and all such as consent vnto him.
But deliuer vs with thy hande, and helpe me thy handmayde, which haue no defence nor helper but onlye the Lorde.
Thou knowest all thinges, thou wotest that I loue not the glory and worship of the vnrighteous, and that I hate and abhorre the bed of the vncircumcised, and of all heathen.
Thou knowest my necessitie, that I hate the token of my preeminence and worship, which I beare vpon my head what tyme as I must shewe my selfe and be seene, and that I abhorre it as an vncleane cloth, and that I weare it not when I am quiet and alone by my selfe.
Thou knowest also that I thy handmayden haue not eaten at Amans table, and that I haue had no pleasure nor delight in the kinges feast, that I haue not drunke the wine of the drinke offeringes.
And that I thy handmayden haue no ioy since the day that I was brought hyther vnto this day, but only in thee O Lorde, O thou God of Abraham,
O thou mightie God aboue all, heare the voyce of them that haue no other hope, and deliuer vs out of the hande of the wicked, and deliuer me out of my feare.
MArdocheus also bade Hester go in vnto the kyng, and pray for her people, and for her countrey.
Remember (saith he) the dayes of thy lowe estate, how thou wast nourished vnder my hande: For Aman whiche is next vnto the kyng, hath geuen sentence of death against vs:
Call thou therefore vpon the Lorde, and speake for vs vnto the king, and deliuer vs from death.
And vpon the thirde day it happened that Hester layde away the mourning garmentes, and put on her glorious apparell,
And deckt her selfe goodly (after that she had called vpon God, whiche is the beholder and sauiour of all thinges) [and] toke two maydens with her:
Vpon the one she leaned her selfe, as one that was tender:
The other folowed her, and bare the trayne of her vesture.
The shine of her beautie made her face rose coloured, the similitude of her face was chearefull and amiable: but her heart was sorowfull for great feare.
She went in thorowe all the doores, and stoode before the kyng: The kyng sate vpon the trone of his kyngdome, and was clothed in his goodly aray, all shining with golde, and set with precious stones, and he was very terrible.
He lyft vp his face that shone in the clearnesse, and looked grimly vpon her: Then fel the Queene downe, was pale and faynte, leaned her selfe vpon the head of the mayde that went with her.
Neuerthelesse, God turned the kinges minde that he was gentle, that he leaped out of his seate for feare, and gate her in his armes, and helde her vp tyll she came to her self againe, he gaue her louing wordes also, and said vnto her:
Hester, what is the matter? I am thy brother, be of good cheare:
Thou shalt not die, for our commaundement toucheth the commons, and not thee: Come nye.
And with that he helde vp his golden rodde, and layde it vpon her necke.
And imbraced her frendly, and sayd: Talke with me.
Then sayde she: I sawe thee (O Lorde) as an angell of God, and my heart was troubled for feare of thy maiestie and clearnesse.
For excellent and wonderfull art thou O Lorde, and thy face is full of amitie.
But as she was thus speaking vnto hym, she fell downe agayne for fayntnesse:
For the whiche cause the kyng was afraide, and all his seruauntes comforted her.
THe great kyng Artaxerxes, whiche raigneth from India vnto Ethiopia ouer an hundreth and twentie and seuen landes, sendeth vnto the princes and rulers of the same landes, suche as loue him, his frendly salutation.
There be many that for the sundry frendshippes and benefites whiche are diuersly done vnto them for their worship, be euer the more proude and hye minded:
And vndertake not only to hurt our subiectes (for plenteous benefites may they not suffer, and begin to imagine some thing against those that do them good,
And take not only all vnthankfulnes away from men) but in pride and presumption, as they that be vnmindfull and vnthankfull for the good deedes, they go about to escape the iudgement of God that seeth all thinges, whiche iudgement hateth and punisheth all wickednesse.
It happeneth oft also, that they which be set in office by the higher power, and vnto whom the businesse and causes of the subiectes are committed to be handled, waxe proude, and defile them selues with shedding of innocent blood, which bringeth them to intollerable hurt.
Whiche also with false and deceiptfull wordes and with lying tales, deceaue and betray the innocent goodnesse of princes.
Nowe is it profitable and good that we take heede, make searche therafter, and consider not onlye what hath happened vnto vs of olde, but the shamefull, vnhonest, and noysome thinges, that the deputies haue nowe taken in hande before our eyes:
And thereby to beware in tyme to come, that we make the kyngdome quiet and peaceable for all men, and that we might sometime drawe it to a chaunge.
And as for the thing that nowe is present before our eyes, to withstande it, and to put it downe after the most frendly maner.
What tyme nowe as Aman the sonne of Amadathu the Macedonian, a strau{n}ger veryly of the Persians blood, and farre from our goodnes, was come in among vs as an aliaunt,
And had obtayned the frendship that we beare towarde all people, so that he was called our father, and had in hye honour of euery man, as the next and principall vnto the kyng:
He coulde not forbeare him selfe from his pryde, hath vndertaken not only to rob vs of the kyngdome, but of our life:
With manyfolde deceipt also hath he desired to destroy Mardocheus our helper and preseruer, whiche hath done vs good in all thinges, and innocent Hester the like partaker of our kyngdome, with all her people.
For his minde was (when he had taken them out of the way, and robbed vs of them) by this meanes to translate the kyngdome of the Persians vnto them of Macedonia.
But we finde that the Iewes (which were accused of the wicked that they might be destroyed) are no euyll doers, but vse reasonable and right lawes:
And that they be the chyldren of the most high liuing God, by whom the kyngdome of vs and of our progenitours hath ben well ordered hytherto.
Wherefore, as for the letters and commaundementes that were put foorth by Aman the sonne of Amadathu, ye shall do well if ye holde them of none effect:
For he that set them vp and inuented them, hangeth at Susis before the port, with all his kinred: and God whiche hath all thinges in his power, hath rewarded hym after his deseruing.
And vpon this ye shall publishe and set vp the copie of this letter in all places, that the Iewes may freely and without hinderaunce holde them selues after their owne statutes:
And that they may be helped, and that vpon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth Adar, they may be auenged of them whiche in the tyme of their anguishe and trouble would haue oppressed them.
For the God that gouerneth all thinges, hath turned to ioy the day wherein the chosen people shoulde haue perished.
Moreouer, among the hye solempne dayes that ye haue, ye shall holde this day also with all gladnesse:
That nowe and in tyme to come this day may be a remembraunce of good for all such as loue the prosperitie of the Persians: but a remembraunce of destruction to those that be seditious vnto vs.
All cities and landes that do not this, shall horribly perishe and be destroyed with the sworde and fire, and shall not only be no more inhabited of men, but be abhorred also of the wylde beastes and foules.
LOue righteousnesse ye that be iudges of {th}e earth, consider deepely of the Lorde in goodnesse, and seeke hym in singlenesse of heart:
For he wyll be founde of them that tempt hym not, and appeareth vnto such as put no distrust in him.
For wicked thoughtes seperate from God, and [his] power when it is tryed, reproueth the vnwise.
For why? wysdome shall not enter into a wicked soule, nor dwell in the body that is subiect vnto sinne.
For the holy spirite of discipline fleeth from deceipt, and withdraweth hym selfe from thoughtes that are without vnderstanding, and is declared when wickednesse commeth.
For the spirite of wysdome is louing, and will not absolue hym that blasphemeth with his lippes, for God is witnesse of his raynes, and a true beholder of his heart, & an hearer of his tongue.
For the spirite of the Lorde filleth the rounde compasse of the worlde, and the same that vpholdeth all thinges hath knowledge also of the voyce.
Therfore he that speaketh vnrighteous thinges can not be hid, neither shall the iudgement of reprofe let him escape.
And why? inquisition shalbe made for the thoughtes of the vngodly, and the sounde of his wordes shall come vnto God, so that his wickednesse shalbe punished.
For the eare of ielousie heareth all thinges, & the noyse of the grudginges shall not be hid.
Therefore beware of murmuring whiche is nothing worth, and refraine your tongue from sclaunder: For there is no worde so secrete that it shall go for naught, and the mouth that speaketh lyes, slayeth the soule.
O seeke not your owne death in the errour of your lyfe, destroy not your selues thorowe the workes of your owne handes:
For God hath not made death, neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the liuing:
For he created all thinges that they might haue their being, and the generations of the worlde were healthfull, and there is no poyson of destruction in them, nor the kyngdome of hell vpon the earth.
For righteousnesse is [euerlasting and] immortall: but vnrighteousnesse bringeth death.
Neuerthelesse, the vngodly call it vnto them both with workes and wordes, and whyle they thinke to haue it their friende, they come to naught, & they haue made an agreement with it, for they are worthy to be of her part.
FOr the vngodly say reasoning with them selues but not a right, our life is short and tedious, and in the death of a man there is no remedie, neither is there any man knowen to haue returned from the graue.
For we are borne at all aduenture, and we shalbe here by more fortune after, as though we had neuer ben: for our breath is as a smoke in our nosetrilles, and wordes as a sparke raysed out of our heartes:
Whiche being extinquished, our body shalbe turned into ashes, and our spirite shall vanishe as the soft ayre.
Our life shall passe away as the trace of a cloude, and come to naught as the miste that is driuen away with the beames of the sunne, and put downe with the heate thereof: Our name also shalbe forgotten by litle and litle, and no man shall haue our workes in remembraunce.
For our tyme is a very shadowe that passeth away, and after our ende there is no returning: for it is fast sealed, so that no man commeth agayne.
Come on therefore, let vs enioy the pleasures that are present, and let vs chearefully vse the creatures, like as in youth:
Let vs fill our selues with good wine and oyntment, and let there no flowre of the tyme escape vs:
Let vs crowne our selues with rose buddes, afore they be withered:
Let there be no fayre medowe, but our lust go thorowe it. Let euery one of vs be partakers of our volupteousnes, let vs leaue some token of our pleasure in euery place: for that is our portion, and this [only] our lot.
Let vs oppresse the poore righteous, let vs not spare the wydowe nor olde man, let vs not regarde the heades that are gray for age.
Let the lawe of vnrighteousnesse be our strength: for the thing that is feeble is nothing worth.
Therefore let vs defraude the righteous, and why? he is not for our profite, yea he is cleane contrary to our doinges, he checketh vs for offending against the lawe, and slaundereth the faultes of our maner of liuing.
He maketh his boast to haue the knowledge of God, yea he calleth hym selfe Gods sonne.
He is made vnto vs for reproffe of our thoughtes.
It greeueth vs also to looke vpon him, for his life is not like other mens, his wayes are of another fashion.
He counteth vs but vayne persons, he withdraweth hym selfe from our wayes as from filthynes, he commendeth greatly the latter ende of the iust, and maketh his boast that God is his father.
Let vs see then if his wordes be true, let vs proue what shall happen in the ende of hym.
For if the iust man be the sonne of god, he wyll receaue hym, and deliuer hym from the handes of his enemies.
Let vs examine him with despitefull rebuke and tormenting, that we may know his meekenesse, and proue his pacience.
Let vs condempne him with the most shamefull death: for as him selfe saith, he shalbe rewarded [of God.]
Suche thinges do they imagine, and go astray, for their owne wickednesse hath blinded them.
As for the mysteries of God, they vnderstande them not, they neither hope for the rewarde of righteousnesse, nor regarde the worship that holy soules shall haue.
For God created man to be vndestroyed, yea after the image of his owne lykenes made he hym.
Neuerthelesse, thorowe enuie of the deuyll came death into the worlde, and they that helde of his side do finde it.
BVt the soules of the ryghteous are in the hande of God, & there shal no torment touche them.
In the syght of the vnwise they appeared to die, & their ende is taken for miserie,
And their departyng from vs to be vtter destruction: but they are in rest.
For though they suffer payne before men, yet is their hope full of immortalitie.
They are punished but in few thinges, neuerthelesse in many thinges shal they be well rewarded: for God proueth the{m}, and findeth them meete for hym selfe.
As golde in the furnace doth he trye them, and receaueth them as a burnt offeryng: and when the tyme commeth they shalbe loked vpon.
They shall shyne and runne through as the sparkcles among the stubble.
They shal iudge the nations and haue dominion ouer the people: and their Lorde shall raigne for euer.
They that put their trust in him shall vnderstande the trueth, and such as be faythfull shall perseuer with hym in loue: for his saintes haue grace & mercie, and he hath care for his elected.
But the vngodly shalbe punished accordyng to their owne imaginations, for they haue dispised the righteous, and forsaken the Lorde.
For who so dispiseth wisdome and nurture he is vnhappy, and as for the hope of such it is but vayne, their labours vnfruitfull, and their workes vnprofitable.
Their wyues are vndiscrete, and their children most vngodly.
Their ofspryng [or progenie] is cursed: Wherfore blessed is the barren that is vndefiled, which hath not knowen the sinnefull bed, she shall haue fruite in the visitation of soules,
And the gelded which with his handes hath wrought no vnrighteousnesse, nor imagined wicked thinges agaynst God: for vnto hym shalbe geuen the speciall gyft of fayth, and the most acceptable portion in the temple of God.
For glorious is the fruite of good labour, and the roote of wisdome shall neuer fade away.
As for the children of adulterers they shall not come to a perfect ende, and the seede of an vnryghteous bedde shalbe rooted out.
And though they lyue long, yet shall they be nothyng regarded, and their last age shalbe without honour.
If they dye quickly they haue no hope, neither comfort in the day of inquirie.
For horrible is the ende of the vnryghteous generation.
O Howe faire is a chaste generation with vertue? the memoriall therof is immortall: for it is knowen with God and with men.
When it is present, men take example at it, & if it go away, yet they desire it: it is crowned and euer triumpheth, when it hath wunne the rewarde of the vndefiled battayles.
But the multitude of the vngodly aboundyng in children, shall profite nothyng, nor geue deepe roote by the seede of adulterie, nor lay any fast foundatio{n}.
For though they budde foorth in the braunches for a tyme, yet shall they be shaken with the wynde, for they stande not fast: and through the vehemencie of the wynde they shalbe rooted out.
The vnperfect braunches shalbe broken, their fruite shalbe vnprofitable, & sowre to eate, yea meete for nothyng.
And why? all the children that are borne of the wicked bed, must beare recorde of the wickednesse agaynst their fathers and mothers when they be asked:
But though the ryghteous be ouertaken with death, yet shall he be in rest.
For honorable age is not that which standeth in length of tyme, nor that that is measured by number of yeres:
But a mans wisdome is the gray heere, and an vndefiled lyfe is the olde age.
He pleased God and was beloued of hym, so that wheras he lyued among sinners, he translated hym.
Yea spedyly was he taken away, to the intent that wickednesse shoulde not alter his vnderstandyng, and that deceipt shoulde not beguile his soule.
For wickednesse with bewitchyng doth darken the honest thynges: and the lyghtnesse of voluptuous desire turneth asyde the single mynde.
Though he was soone dead, yet fulfylled he much tyme:
For his soule pleased God, therfore hasted he to take hym away from among the wicked.
This the people see, and vnderstande it not, they lay not vp such thynges in their heartes, howe that the louyng •auour and mercie [of God• •s vpon his saintes, and that he hath respect vnto his chosen.
Thus the ryghteous that is dead, condemneth the vngodly which are liuing: and the youth that is soone brought to an ende, the long life of the vnrighteous.
For they see the ende of the wyse: but they vnderstande not what God hath deuised for him, and wherfore the Lord hath taken him away to be in safetie.
And why? they see hym and dispise hym, therfore shall God also laugh them to scorne.
So that they them selues shall dye hereafter without honour, yea in shame among the dead for euermore: For without any voyce shall he burst those that be puft vp, and shake them from the foundations, so that they shalbe layde as vtterly wasted: they shalbe in sorowe, and their memoriall perishe.
So they shall come afrayde in remembraunce of their sinnes, and their owne iniquities before their face shal conuince them.
THen shal the righteous stande in great boldenesse before the face of such as haue dealt extremely with them, and taken away their labours.
When they see it, they shalbe vexed with horrible feare, and shal wonder at his health so farre beyonde all that they loked for.
And chaungyng their opinion with gronyng for the redresse of mynde, they shall say: This is he whom we sometyme had in derision, annd iested vpon.
We fooles thought his lyfe very madnesse, & his ende to be without honour:
But lo howe he is counted among the children of God, and his portion is among the saintes.
Therfore haue we erred from the way of trueth, the lyght of ryghteousnesse hath not shined vnto vs, and the sunne of vnderstandyng rose not vp vpon vs.
We haue weeryed our selus in the way of wickednesse and destruction, yea we haue gone through tedious desertes: but as for the way of the Lorde, we haue not knowen it.
What good hath pride done vnto vs? or what profite hath the pompe of riches brought vs?
All those thynges are passed away like a shadowe, and as a poste that hasteth by:
As a ship that passeth ouer the waues of the water, which when it is gone by the trace therof can not be founde, neither the path of it in the fluddes:
Or as a birde that fleeth through in the ayre, and no man can see any token where she is flowen, but only heareth the noyse of her wynges beatyng the lyght wynde, partyng the ayre through the vehemencie of her goyng, and fleeth on shakyng her wynges, wheras afterwarde no token of her way can be founde:
Or lyke as when an arrowe is shot at a marke, it parteth the ayre which immediatly commeth together agayne, so that a man can not knowe where it went through:
Euen so we in lyke maner assoone as we were borne, began immediatly to drawe to our ende, and haue shewed no token of vertue, but are consumed in our owne wickednesse.
Such wordes they that haue sinned speake in the hell:
For the hope of the vngodly is lyke a drye thistle floure that is blowe{n} away with the wynde, like a thinne scumme that is scattered abrode with the storme, lyke as the smoke which is dispersed here and there with the wynde, and as the remembraunce of a straunger that taryeth but a day and then departeth.
But the ryghteous shall lyue for euermore, their rewarde also is with the Lorde, and the care for them is with the hyghest.
Therfore shall they receaue a glorious kyngdome, and a beautifull crowne of the Lordes hande: for with his ryght hande shall he couer them, and with his arme shall he defende them.
His ielosie also shall take on harnesse, and he shall arme the creature to be reuenged of his enemies.
He shall put on ryghteousnesse for a brestplate, and take vnfaigned iudgement in steade of an helmet.
The inuincible shielde of equitie shall he take.
His fierse wrath shall he sharpen for a sworde, and the whole compasse of the worlde shall fyght with hym agaynst the vnwise.
Then shall the thunder boltes go ryght out of the lyghtnynges, and come as out of the well bent bowe of the cloudes to the place appoynted,
And as from an angry caster of stones, there shall fall thicke hayles, and the water of the sea shalbe wroth agaynst them, & the fluddes shall runne roughly together.
Yea a mightie wynde shall stande vp agaynst them, and a storme shall scatter them abrode: Thus vnrighteous dealyng shall bryng all the lande to a wildernesse, and wickednesse shall ouerthrowe the royal seates of the mightie.
WIsdome is beter then strength, and a man of vnderstandyng is more worth then one strong.
Heare therfore (O ye kynges) and vnderstande, O learne ye that be iudges of the endes of the earth.
Geue eare ye that rule the multitudes, and glorie in the number of peoples.
For the power is geuen you of the Lorde, and the strength from the hyest, which shall trye your workes, & searche out your imaginations:
Howe that ye beyng officers of his kyngdome, haue not geuen true iudgement, haue not kept the lawe of ryghteousnesse, nor walked after the wyll of God.
Horribly and that ryght soone shall he appeare vnto you: for an harde iudgement shall they haue that beare rule.
Mercie is graunted vnto the lowest: but they that be in aucthoritie shalbe sore punished.
For he which is Lorde ouer all shall except no mans person, neither shall he stande in awe of any mans greatnesse: for he hath made the small and great, and careth for all a lyke.
But the mightie shall haue the sorer triall.
Vnto you therfore (O ye kynges) do I speake, that ye may learne wisdome, and not go amisse.
For they that kepe holinesse holyly, shalbe iudged holy: and they that haue learned such thinges, shal finde defence.
Wherfore set your delyght vpon my wordes and desire them, so shall ye come by nurture.
Wisdome is a noble thyng, and neuer fadeth away: yea she is easyly seene of them that loue her, and founde of such as seke her.
She preuenteth them that desire her, that she may shewe her selfe vnto them.
Who so awaketh vnto her betymes, shall haue no great trauayle: for he shal fynde her sittyng redy at his doores.
To thynke therfore vpon her, is perfect vnderstandyng: and who so watcheth for her, shall quickly be dispatched of care.
For she goeth about sekyng such as are meete for her, sheweth her selfe chearefully vnto the{m} in their goynges, and meeteth them with all diligence.
For the vnfaigned desire of reformation is her begynnyng: to care for nurture is loue,
And loue is the kepyng of her lawes, and the kepyng of her lawes is the assuraunce of immortalitie:
And immortalitie maketh a man familier with God.
And so the desire of wisdome leadeth to the kyngdome [euerlastyng.]
If your delyght be then in royall seates and scepters (O ye kynges of the people) set your lust vpon wisdome, that ye may raigne for euermore.
O loue the lyght of wisdome all ye that be rulers of the people.
As for wisdome, what she is & howe she came vp, I wyll tell you, and wyll not hyde the mysteries of [God] from you: but wyll seke her out from the begynnyng of her natiuitie, and bryng the knowledge of her into lyght, and wyll not kepe backe the trueth,
Neither wyll I haue to do with consumyng enuie: for such a man shall not be partaker of wisdome.
But the multitude of the wise, is the welfare of the worlde: and a wise kyng is the vpholdyng of the people.
O receaue nurture then through my wordes, and it shall do you good.
I My selfe also am a mortall man, lyke as all other, & am come of the earthy generation of hym that was first made,
And in my mothers wombe was fashoned to be fleshe in the tyme of tenne monethes, beyng brought together in blood, through the seede of man, and the pleasure that came with sleepe.
And when I was borne I receaued lyke ayre as other men, and fell vpon the earth which is of like nature, crying and weeping at the first as all other do.
I was wrapped in swadlyng clothes, and brought vp with cares.
For there is no kyng that hath had any other begynnyng of birth.
All men then haue one entraunce vnto lyfe, and one goyng out in lyke maner.
Wherfore I desired, and vnderstandyng was geuen me: I called, and the spirite of wisdome came into me.
I set more by her then by kingdomes and royal seates, and counted riches nothyng in comparison of her.
As for pretious stone, I compared it not vnto her: for all golde is but a litle grauell vnto her, and siluer shalbe counted but clay before her syght.
I loued her aboue welfare & beautie, and purposed to take her for my lyght: for her lyght can not be quenched.
All good thynges together came to me with her, and innumerable riches through her handes.
And I was glad in all thynges, because wisdome went before them: and I knewe not that she was the mother of them.
And I my selfe learned vnfaignedly, and make other men partakers of her without enuie, and hyde her riches from no man.
For she is an infinite treasure vnto men: which who so vse, become partakers of the loue [and friendshyp] of God, and are accepted vnto him for the giftes of wisdome.
God hath graunted me to speake what my mynde conceaueth, and to thynke as is meete for the thynges that are geuen me: For it is he that leadeth vnto wisdome, and teacheth to vse wisdome a ryght.
For in his hande are both we and our wordes, yea all our wisdome and knowledge of [his] workes.
For he hath geuen me the true science of the thinges that are, so that I know howe the worlde was made, and the powers of the elementes:
The begynnyng, endyng, and myddest of the tymes, howe the tymes alter, howe one goeth after another, & howe they are fulfylled,
The course of the yere, the ordinaunces of the starres,
The natures of lyuyng thynges, the furiousnesse of beastes, the power of the wyndes, the imaginations of men, the diuersities of young plants, the vertues of rootes:
And all such thynges as are either secrete or manifest, them haue I learned.
For wisdome which is the worker of all thynges hath taught me: for in her is the spirite of vnderstandyng, which is holy, one only, manifolde, subtile, quicke mouyng, cleare, vndefiled, plaine, sweete, louyng the thyng that is good, sharpe, which can not be letted, doyng good,
Kynde to man, stedfast, sure, free from care, hauyng all vertues, circumspect in all thynges, and passyng through all vnderstanding, cleane, & subtile spirites.
For wisdome is nimbler then all nimble thynges, she goeth through and attayneth to all thynges, because of her cleannesse.
For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glorie of the almightie [God:] therfore can no defiled thyng come vnto her.
For she is the bryghtnesse of the euerlastyng lyght, the vndefiled mirrour of the maiestie of God, and the image of his goodnesse.
And beyng [but] one, she can do all thinges: and remaynyng in her selfe she renueth all, and in all ages of tymes entryng into holy soules, she maketh Gods friendes, and prophetes:
For God loueth none, if he dwell not with wisdome.
For she is more beautifull then the sunne, and geueth more lyght then the starres, and the day is not to be compared vnto her.
For vpon the day commeth nyght: but wickednesse can not ouercome wisdome.
WIsdome reacheth from one ende to another mightily, and louyngly doth she order all thynges.
I haue loued her, and laboured for her, euen from my youth vp: I dyd my diligence to mary my selfe with her, such loue had I vnto her beautie.
That she hath the companie of God, it commendeth her nobilitie: yea the Lorde of all thynges hym selfe loueth her.
For she is the scoolemaistresse of the nurture of God, and the choser out of his workes.
If a man woulde desire riches in this lyfe, what is richer then wisdome that worketh all thynges?
For yf prudencie worke: what is it among all thynges that worketh better?
And yf a man loue ryghteousnesse, her labours are but vertues: For why? she teacheth sobernesse and prudence, righteousnesse and strength, which are such thinges as men can haue nothyng more profitable in their lyfe.
If a man desire much knowledge, she can tell the thynges that are past, and discerne thynges for to come: she knoweth the subtilties of wordes, and can expounde darke sentences: she forseeth signes and wonders or euer they come to passe, and the endes of all tymes and ages.
Therfore I purposed after this maner: I wyll take her into my companie, that she may liue with me, knowyng for certaintie she shall geue me good counsayle, and speake comfortably vnto me in my carefulnesse and griefe.
For her sake shall I be well [& honestly] taken among the commons, and with honour among the elders though I be young.
I shalbe founde to be of sharpe iudgement, so that I shalbe marueylous in the sight of great men: and the faces of princes shall wonder at me.
When I holde my tongue, they shall byde my leasure, and when I speake, they shall geue good eare vnto me, and if I talke much, they shall lay their handes vpon their mouth.
Moreouer, by the meanes of her I shall obtayne immortalitie, and leaue behynde me an euerlastyng memoriall among them that come after me.
I shall set the people in order, and the nations shalbe subdued vnto me.
Horrible tirauntes shalbe afraide when they do but heare of me, among the multitude I shalbe counted good, and mightie in battayle.
When I come home I shall fynde rest with her: for her companie hath no bitternesse, and her felowshyp hath no tediousnesse, but mirth and ioy.
Nowe whe{n} I considered these thinges by my selfe, and pondered them in my heart, howe that to be ioyned vnto wisdome is immortalitie,
And great pleasure to haue her friendshyp, and that in the workes of her handes are infinite riches, and that who so kepeth companie with her shalbe wise, and that he which talketh with her, shall come to honour: I went about sekyng howe to get her vnto me.
For I was a lad of ripe witte, and had a good vnderstandyng.
But when I grewe to more vnderstandyng, I came to an vndefiled body.
Neuerthelesse when I perceaued that I coulde not enioy it except God gaue it [me] and that was a poynt of wisdome also to knowe whose gyft it was, I stepped vnto the Lorde and besought hym, and with my whole heart I sayde after this maner:
O God of [my] fathers, and Lorde of mercie, thou hast made all thynges with thy worde,
And ordeyned man through thy wisdome, that he shoulde haue dominion ouer the creatures which thou hast made,
That he shoulde order the worlde accordyng to equitie and righteousnesse, and execute iudgement with a true heart:
Geue me wisdome which is euer sittyng about thy seate, and put me not out from among thy children:
For I thy seruaunt and sonne of thy handmayden, am a feeble person, and of a short tyme, and to young to the vnderstandyng of iudgement and lawes.
And though a man be neuer so perfect among the children of men, yet yf thy wisdome be not with hym, he shalbe nothyng regarded.
Thou hast chosen me to be a kyng vnto thy people, and the iudge of thy sonnes and daughters.
Thou hast commaunded me to builde a temple vpon thy holy mount, and an aulter in the citie wherin thou dwellest, a likenesse of thy holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning.
And thy wisdome with thee, which knoweth thy workes, which also was with thee whe{n} thou madest the worlde, and knewe what was acceptable in thy syght, and ryght in thy commaundementes.
O sende her out of thy holy heauens, & from the throne of thy maiestie, that she may be with me and labour [with me] that I may knowe what is acceptable in thy syght.
For she knoweth and vnderstandeth all thynges, and she shall leade me soberly in my workes, and preserue me in her power.
So shall my workes be acceptable, and then shall I gouerne thy people ryghteously, and be worthy to sit in my fathers seate.
For what man is he that can knowe the counsayle of God? or who can thinke what the wyll of God is?
For the thoughtes of mortall men are miserable, and our forecastes are but vncertaine.
For why? a corruptible body is heauy vnto the soule, and the earthy mansion kepeth downe that vnderstandyng that museth vpon many thynges.
Very hardly can we discerne the thynges that are vpon earth, and great labour haue we or we can fynde the thynges which are before our eyes: & who hath then sought out the ground of the thynges that are done in heauen?
[Oh Lorde] who can haue knowledge of thy [vnderstandyng and] meanyng, except thou geue wisdome, and sende thy holy ghost from aboue?
For so the wayes of them which liued on the earth were refourmed, and men haue learned the thynges that are pleasaunt vnto thee, and were preserued through wisdome.
SHe preferred the first fourmed father of the worlde that was created alone, and brought hym out of his fall:
And gaue him power to rule all thynges.
But when the vnrighteous went away in his wrath from her, he perished by the furious desire to murther his brother.
For whom when the water destroyed the whole worlde, wisdome agayne preserued it, her selfe gouernyng the iust man by no costly worke of wood.
Moreouer, when the nations were confounded [or ioyned together] in their malicious confederacie, she founde out the righteous, and preserued hym faultlesse vnto God, and kept hym strong agaynst the loue of his sonne.
She preserued the ryghteous when he fled from the vngodly that perished, what tyme as the fire fell downe vpon the fiue cities.
Like as yet this day the [vnfruitfull] waste [and] smokyng lande geueth testimonie of their wickednesse: yea the vnripe & vntymely fruites that growe vpon the trees, and for a token of a remembraunce of the vnfaythfull soule, there standyng a pyller of salt.
For all such as regarded not wisdome, gat not only this hurt, that they knewe not the thynges which were good: but also left behynde them vnto men a memoriall of their foolishnesse, so that in the thynges wherin they sinned, they coulde not be hyd.
But as for such as toke heede vnto wisdome, she hath deliuered them from sorowe.
When the ryghteous fled because of his brothers wrath, wisdome led hym the ryght way, shewed hym the kyngdome of God, gaue hym knowledge of holy thynges, made hym riche in his labours, & brought to passe the thynges that he went about.
In the disceiptfulnesse of such as defrauded hym, she stoode by hym and made hym riche.
She saued hym from the enemies, and defended him from the deceauers: In a strong battayle she gaue hym the victorie, that he myght knowe howe that the feare of God is stronger then all thynges.
When the ryghteous was solde, she forsoke hym not, but delyuered hym from sinne: She went downe with hym into the dungeon,
And fayled hym not in the bandes, till she had brought hym the scepter of the realme, and power agaynst those that oppressed hym: As for them that had accused hym, she declared them to be lyers, and brought hym to perpetuall worshyp.
She deliuered the ryghteous people and faultlesse seede, from the nations that oppressed them.
She entred into the soule of the seruaunt of the Lorde, and stoode by hym in wonders and tokens agaynst the dreadfull kynges.
She gaue the ryghteous the reward of their labours, and led them foorth a marueylous way: on the day tyme she was a shadowe vnto them, and a lyght of starres in the nyght season.
She brought them through the red sea, and caryed them through the great water.
But she drowned their enemies [in the sea] but brought them out of the bottome of the deepe.
So the ryghteous toke the spoyles of the vngodly, & praysed thy holy name O Lorde, and magnified thy victorious hande with one accorde.
For wisdome openeth the mouth of the dumbe, and maketh the tongues of babes to be eloquent.
SHe ordered their workes in the handes of the holy prophete:
[So that] they went through the wildernesse that was not inhabited, and pitched their tentes in the waste desert.
They stoode agaynst their enemies, and were auenged of their aduersaries.
When they were thirstie they called vpon thee, and water was geuen them out of the [most] hye rocke, & their thirst was quenched out of the harde stone.
For by the thynges wherthrough their enemies were punished, were the children of Israel helped in their neede.
For in steede of a fountaine of the perpetuall runnyng flud all troubled with gorie blood,
In reproche of the commaundement published to murther the infantes, thou gauest vnto them aboundaunce of water, and that not loked for neither:
Declaryng by that thirst then, howe thou hadst punished thine aduersaries.
For when they were tryed, and nurtured with [fatherly] mercie, they knewe howe the vngodly were iudged and punished in the wrath [of God.]
For these hast thou exhorted as a father, and proued them: but vnto the other thou hast ben a boystuous kyng, layed harde to their charge, and condempned them.
Whether they were absent or present, their punishment was a lyke.
For their griefe was double, and mournyng for the remembraunce of thynges past:
For when they perceaued that their punishmentes dyd them good, they thought vpon the Lorde.
For whom in his castyng out before, as an abiect they had denied with derision, him in the ende when they sawe what happened, they wondered at: for they were of another thirst then was the iust.
But for the foolishe deuises of their wickednesse, wherwith being deceaued they worshipped serpentes that had not the vse of reason, and vile beastes, thou sentest a multitude of vnreasonable beastes vpon them for reuengeaunce:
That they myght knowe, that loke wherewithall a man sinneth, by the same also shall he be punished.
For vnto thy almightie hande that made the worlde of naught, it was not vnpossible to sende among them an heape of beares, or wood lions,
Or cruell beastes of a straunge kynde such as are vnknowen, or spout fire, or cast out a smokyng breath, or shoote horrible sparkes out of their eyes:
Which myght not only destroy them with hurtyng, but also kyll them with their horrible syght.
Yea without these [beastes] might they haue ben slayne with one wynde, being persecuted by the reuengeaunce, and scattered abroade through the breath of thy power: Neuerthelesse, thou hast ordered all thinges in measure, number, and wayght.
For thou hast euer had great strength and myght, and who may withstande the power of thyne arme?
For why? lyke as the small thyng that the ballaunce wayeth, so is the worlde before thee: yea as a drop of the mornyng deawe that falleth downe vpon the earth.
But thou hast mercie vpon all, for thou hast power of all thynges, and makest thee as though thou sawest not the sinnes of men, because they shoulde amende.
For thou louest all the thynges that are, and hatest none of them whom thou hast made: for thou wouldest not haue made any thyng yf thou hadst hated it.
Yea howe myght any thyng endure yf it were not thy wyll? or howe coulde any thyng be preserued, except it were called of thee?
But thou sparest all: for they are thine (O Lorde) thou louer of soules.
FOr thy vncorruptible spirite, O Lorde, is in all thinges?
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.
As for those olde inhabiters of thy holy lande, thou mightest not away with them.
For they committed abhominable workes [against thee] as witchcraft, sorcerie, and wicked sacrifices.
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:
And the fathers were the chiefe murderers of the soules destitute of helpe, [these doers] thou wouldest destroy by the handes of our fathers:
That the lande whiche thou louest aboue all other, might be a meete dwelling for the chyldren of God.
Neuerthelesse, thou sparedst them also as men, and sendedst the forerunners of thyne hoast, euen hornettes, to destroy them out by litle and litle.
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:
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.
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.
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?
For there is none other God but thou, that carest for all thinges: that thou mayest declare howe that thy iudgement is not vnright.
There dare neither king nor tiraunt in thy sight, require accomptes of them whom thou hast destroyed.
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.
For thy power is the beginning of righteousnesse, and because thou art Lorde of all thinges, it maketh thee to be gracious vnto all.
For when men thinke thee not to be of a full strength, thou declarest thy power, and reprouest the boldnesse of the wyse.
But thou mastring thy power doest iudge with equitie, and ordrest vs with great fauour: for thou mayest vse power when thou wylt.
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.
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:
With howe great circumspection then punishest thou thyne owne chyldren, vnto whose fathers thou hast sworne, & made couenauntes of good promises?
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.
Wherefore, where as men haue liued dissolutely and vnrighteously, thou hast punished them sore with their owne abhominations.
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.
Therefore hast thou sent them thy iudgement in scorne, as to chyldren voyde of reason.
As for such as wyll not be refourmed by those scornes [and rebukes] they shall feele the worthy punishment of God.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
For by the greatnesse of the beautie and of the creatures, the maker therof compared with them, may playnely be knowen.
Notwithstanding, they are the lesse to be blamed that seeke God, and woulde finde him, & yet peraduenture misse.
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.
Howebeit, yet neither are they to be excused.
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?
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.
Or as whe{n} 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:
And with that whiche is cut of from his worke, doth dresse his meate to fyll his belly:
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 cunning, he geueth it some proportion, fashioneth it after the similitude of a man,
Or maketh it lyke some vyle beast, straketh it ouer with red, and paynteth it, and looke what foule spot is in it, he casteth some colour vpon it.
Then maketh he a conuenient tabernacle for it, setteth it in the wall, and maketh it fast with iron:
Prouiding so for it, lest it happen to fall, for it is well knowen that it can not helpe it selfe: For why, it is but an image, and must of necessitie be helped.
Then making prayer for his goodes, for his mariage, and for chyldren, he is not ashamed to speake to that whiche hath no soule.
For health, he maketh his petition vnto him that is sicke: for life, he humblie prayeth vnto hym that is dead: he calleth vpon hym for helpe, that hath no experience at all: and to sende hym a good iourney, he prayeth him that may not go.
And for gayne, for worke, and for successe of his affayres, he asketh power of hym whiche is without all maner of power.
AGayne, another man purposing to sayle, and beginning to take his iourney thorowe the raging sea, calleth for helpe vnto a stocke that is farre weaker then the vessell that beareth hym.
For as for it, couetousnesse of money hath founde it out, and the craftes man made it with his cunning.
But thy prouidence O father gouerneth it: For thou hast made a way euen in the sea, and a sure path in the middest of the waues,
Declaring therby that thou hast power to helpe in all thinges, yea though a man went to the sea without ship.
Neuerthelesse thou wouldest not that the workes of thy wysdome shoulde be in vayne: and therefore do men commit their liues to a small peece of wood, passing ouer the stormie sea in a ship, and are saued.
For in the olde tyme also when the proude giauntes perished, he in whom the hope was left to increase the world, went into the ship whiche was gouerned thorowe thy hand, and so left seede behynde hym vnto the worlde.
For happy is the tree, wherthrough righteousnesse commeth:
But cursed is [the idoll] that is made with handes, yea both it and he that made it: He, because he made it: and it, because it was called God, whereas it is but a frayle thing.
For the vngodly and his vngodlynesse, are both like abhominable vnto God.
[Euen so] the worke and he that made it also, shalbe punished together.
Therefore shall there a plague come vpon the idols of the heathen: for out of the creature of God they are become an abhomination, a temptation vnto the soules of men, and a snare for the feete of the vnwyse.
For why, the seeking out of idols, is the beginning of whordome, and the bringing vp of them, is the destruction of lyfe.
For they were not from the beginning, neither shall they continue for euer.
The vayneglory of men hath founde them out vpon earth, therfore shal they come shortly to an ende.
For when a father mourned heauyly for his sonne sodainely taken away from hym, he made hym an image: and hym whiche then was but a dead man, he now began to worship as a god, and ordayned for his seruauntes ceremonies and sacrifices.
Thus by processe of time this vngracious custome being waxen strong was kept as a lawe, and images were worshipped by commaundement of tirauntes.
As for those that were so farre of that men might not worship them present, their visage beyng drawne out from farre of, was made as the cleare image of an honourable king, that they might with affection flatter aswell the absent as the present.
Agayne, the singuler ambition of the craftes man gaue the ignoraunt also a great occasion to increase the superstition.
For he willing to please one peraduenture that bare rule, laboured with all his cunning to make the image of the best fashion.
And so thorowe the beautie of the worke, the common people being therto allured, toke hym nowe for a god, whiche a litle before was but honoured as a man.
And this was to the deceauing of mans life, when men either with calamitie or tirannie oppressed, ascribed vnto stones and stockes that name [of God] whiche ought not to be geuen vnto any thing [els.]
Moreouer, this was not inough for them, that they erred in the knowledge of God: but where as they liued in the great warre of ignoraunce, those so [many and] great plagues called they peace.
For either they slue their owne chyldren and offred them in sacrifice, or vsed secrete ceremonies, or folowed madde drunken dissolutenesse of rites in sacrifice:
So that they kept neither life nor mariage cleane: but either one slue another traytorously, or greeued hym by adulterie.
So that there raigned in al men without exception, blood, manslaughter, theft, dissimulation, corruption, vnfaythfulnesse, sedition, periurie,
Disquieting of good men, vnthankefulnesse, defiling of soules, chaunging of byrth, disordering of mariages, adulterie, and vncleanenesse.
For why, the honouring of abhomible images, is the beginning, the cause and ende of all euill.
For [they that worship idols] eyther they are madde when they be merie, or prophesie lies, or liue vngodly, or els lightly forsweare them selues.
For insomuche as their trust is in the idols whiche haue no soule, though they sweare falsely, yet they thinke it shall not hurt them.
Therefore commeth a great plague vpon them, and that worthyly for both causes: for they haue an euyll opinion of God that geue heede vnto idols, and they sweare vniustly in deceipt, despising holynes.
For it is not the power of them by whom they sweare: but it is the iust vengeaunce of sinners that punisheth alwayes the offence of the vngodly doers.
BVt thou O our God art gratious, true, and long suffring, and in mercy ordrest thou all thinges.
Though we sinne, yet are we thyne, for we knowe thy strength: but we wyll not sinne, because we knowe we are counted thyne.
For to knowe thee, is perfect righteousnes: yea to knowe thy power, is the roote of immortalitie.
As for the thing that men haue found out through their euyll science it hath not deceaued vs, nor the paynters vnprofitable labour [to wit] an image spotted with diuers colours,
Whose sight entiseth the ignoraunt to lust after it, and he desireth the picture of a dead image that hath no breath.
Both they that make them, they that desire them, and they that worship them, loue euyls, and are worthy to haue suche thinges to trust vpon.
For the potter tempereth soft earth, laboureth it, and geueth it the fashion, of whatsoeuer vessell serueth for our vse: and of the selfe same clay he maketh both the vessels that serue for cleane vses, and also such as serue to the contrary: wherevnto euery vessell serueth, the potter hym selfe beyng the iudge.
So by his wicked labour he maketh a vayne god of the same clay, this doth euen he whiche a litle before was made of earth hym selfe, and within a litle whyle after returneth to the same out of whiche he was taken, when the lone of his lyfe shalbe demaunded from him agayne.
Nothwithstanding, he careth not the more for this that he must labour, nor that his life is short: but striueth to excell goldsmythes and siluersmythes, and endeuoureth to do like the coppersmythes, and taketh it for an honour to make deceauable thinges.
His heart is but ashes, his hope is more vayne then earth, and his lyfe of lesse honour then clay.
Forsomuche as he knoweth not his owne maker that gaue him his soule of power to worke, and breathed in hym the breath of life.
But they counted our lyfe but a pastime, and [our] conuersation to be but a market for gayne, and that men should euery way be getting, yea though it were by euyll meanes.
Nowe he that of earth maketh frayle vessels and images, knoweth hym selfe to offende aboue all other.
Al the enemies of thy people that hold them in subiection, are most vnwyse, & are more miserable then very fooles.
For they iudge all the idols of the heathen to be gods, whiche neither haue eyesight to see, nor noses to smell, nor eares to heare, nor fingers or hands to grope, and as for their feete, they are [to] slowe to go.
For man made them, and he that borowed his owne spirit fashioned them: but no man can make a god lyke vnto hym selfe.
For seyng he is but mortall, it is but mortall that he maketh with vnrighteous handes: He him selfe is better then they whom he worshippeth, for he liued as they dyd neuer.
Yea they worshipped [such] beastes also as are most hatefull: for if they were compared for madnesse, they are worse then others.
Neither haue they any beautie why to be desired in respect of other beastes: but are all voyde of the prayse of God, and his blessing.
THerfore by such things are they worthyly punished, & thorowe the multitude of beastes are they rooted out.
In steede of the whiche punishmentes thou hast graciously ordred thine owne people, preparing for the desire of their appetite a straunge taste, euen quayles to be their meate:
To the intent that by the thinges whiche were shewed & sent vnto them, they that were so greedie of meate, might begin to lothe euen their necessarie appetite, and they which had suffred penurie for a short space, might be partakers of the newe taste.
For it was requisite that without any excuse pouertie should come vpon those whiche vsed tirannie, and to shewe onlye vnto the other howe their enemies were destroyed.
For when the cruell woodnesse of the beastes came vpon them, and they perished thorowe the stinges of the cruell serpentes, [Notwithstanding] thy wrath endured not perpetually.
But they were put in feare for a litle season, that they might be refourmed, hauing a token of saluation to remember the commaundement of thy lawe.
For he that looked backe [to it] was not healed by the thing that he sawe, but by thee O sauiour of all.
So in this thou shewedst our enemies, that it is thou whiche deliuerest from all euyll.
For then when they were bitten with grashoppers and flyes, they dyed, neither was there any remedie founde for their life, for they were worthy to be punished by suche.
But not the very teeth of venemous dragons dyd ouercome thy chyldren: for thy mercy was euer by them, and healed them.
For they were pricked because they should remember thy wordes, but speedyly were they healed agayne, lest they shoulde fall into so deepe forgetfulnesse, that they might not be called backe by thy benefite.
For it was neither hearbe nor plaster that restored them to health: but thy word O Lord, which healeth al things.
It is thou O Lord that hast the power of life and death, thou leadest vnto deathes doore, and bringest vp againe.
A man in deede thorowe his wickednesse may slay •another• but when his spirite is gone foorth, it turneth not agayne, neither may he call agayne the soule that is taken away.
But it is not possible to escape thy hande.
For the vngodly that woulde not knowe thee, were punished by the strength of thyne arme: with straunge raynes, hayles, and showres were they persecuted that they coulde not auoyde, and thorowe fire were they consumed.
For it was a wonderous thing that fire might do more then water whiche quencheth all thinges: but the worlde is the auenger of the righteous.
For sometimes was the fyre so tame, that the beastes whiche were sent to punish the vngodly, brent not, and that because they should see and knowe that they were persecuted with the punishment of God.
And sometyme brent the fire in the middest of the water, that it might destroy the fruites of the vniust lande.
In steede wherof, thou hast fed thine owne people with angels foode, and sent them bread redye from heauen without their labour, being very pleasaunt and of good taste.
For this thy substaunce vnto thy chyldren declared thy sweetenes, and seruing to his appetite that toke it, tempered it selfe according to his desire.
But the snowe and yse abode the violence of the fire and melted not, that they might know that the fire burning in the hayle, & sparkeling in the rayne, destroyed the fruite of the enemies.
The fire also forgat his owne strength agayne, that the righteous might be nourished.
For the creature that serueth thee whiche art the maker, is fierce in punishing the vnrighteous, but is easie [and gentle] to do good, vnto such as put their trust in thee.
Therefore dyd it alter at the same tyme into all fashions, and was obedient vnto thy grace, whiche is the nurse of all thinges, according to the desire of them that had neede thereof:
That thy chyldren O Lorde whom thou louest, might knowe that it is not the growing of fruites that feedeth men, but that it is thy word which preserueth them that put their trust in thee.
For looke what myght not be destroyed at all with the fire, assoone as it was warmed with a litle sunne beame, it melted:
That all men might knowe, that thankes ought to be geuen vnto thee before the sunne ryse, and that thou oughtest to be worshipped before the day spring.
For the hope of the vnthankfull shall melt away as the winter yse, and flowe away as vnprofitable water.
FOr great are thy iudgmentes [O Lorde] and can not be expressed: therefore men do erre that wyll not be refourmed [by thy wysdome.]
For when the vnrighteous thought to haue thy holy people in subiection, they were bounde with the bandes of darknesse and long night, shut vp vnder roofes, and lay there to escape the eternall prouidence.
And whyle they thought to be hyd in the darknesse of their sinnes, they were scattered abrode in the very middest of the darke couering of forgetfulnesse, put to horrible feare, and wonderouslye vexed.
For the corner where they lay hyd, might not kepe them from feare, because the soundes came rounde about them and vexed them, yea many terrible and straunge visions appeared vnto them.
No power of the fire might geue them light, neither might the cleare flambes of the starres lighte{n} the horrible night:
But there appeared vnto them a sodayne fire only, very dreadfull: At the which sight, wherin they sawe nothing throughly, they were so afrayde, that they thought the thing whiche they sawe to be the more fearefull.
As for the illusions of the magicall art, they came to naught: and it was a most shamefull reproche of the pryde that they had of their owne wysdome.
For they that promised to driue away the feares and troubles from the sicke soule, were sicke them selues with feare worthy to be laughed at.
For though no terrible thing did feare them, yet were they afrayde at the beastes whiche passed by them, and at the hissing of the serpentes.
Insomuch that with trembling they sowned, and sayde they sawe not the ayre, whiche no man yet may escape.
For malice is a dreadfull thing, that is condempned by his owne witnesse: and beyng pressed with conscience, it euer suspecteth cruel thinges.
For feare is nothing els but a betraying of the succours whiche reason offereth.
And looke howe muche the lesse his hope is within, the greater doth he recount his ignoraunce of that cause that bryngeth the torment.
But they [that dyd indure] the night that in deede was intollerable, and that came from the dungeons of intollerable hell, sleping the same sleepe,
Were somtimes chased with monsterous apparitions, and sometymes they sowned, as their owne soules had betrayed them: for an hastie feare, & that was not looked for, came vpon them.
And thus, whosoeuer was there fallen, he was in pryson, but without chaines:
For whether a man had occupied husbandrie, or had ben an heardman or labourer in the woods, if he were taken, he suffred intollerable necessitie.
For they were all bounde with one chayne of darknesse: whether it were a blasing winde, or a sweete song of the byrdes among the thicke braunches of the trees, or the vehemencie of hastie running water,
Or great noyse of the falling downe of stones, or the runnyng of playing beastes whiche they sawe not, or the mightie noyse of roaring wilde beastes, or the sounde that aunswered agayne in the holonesse of mountaynes: these terrible thinges made them sowne [for very feare.]
For all the earth shined with cleare light, and no man was hindered in his labour.
Onlye vpon them there fell a heauie night, an image of darknesse that was to come vpon them: Yea they were vnto them selues more heauie then darknesse.
NEuerthelesse, thy saintes had a very great light, whose voyce they hearing, and not seeing their figure, for that they suffred not the same thinges, they thought them blessed.
And for that they dyd not hurt them nowe of whom they had ben wronged before, they thanked them, & besought them pardon of that they had ben enemies.
Therfore thou gauest them a burning piller of fire to leade them in the vnknowen way, and the sunne not to hurt them in their honourable iourney.
But reason it was that they shoulde leese the light and be put in the pryson of darknesse, whiche had kept thy chyldren shut vp, by whom the vncorrupt light of the lawe was to be geuen vnto the worlde.
After when they thought to slay the babes of the saintes, one chylde beyng cast out, and preserued to reproue them, thou tokest away the whole multitude of their chyldren, and destroyedst them altogether in a mightie water.
Of that night were our fathers certified afore, that they knowing vnto what othes they had geuen credence, might be of good cheare.
Thus thy people receaued the health of the righteous, but the vngodly were destroyed.
For like as thou hast reuenged our enemies, so hast thou promoted vs whom thou hast called.
For the righteous chyldren of the good men offred secretely, and made a godly lawe with one consent, that the saintes should in like maner receaue together both good and euil, and that the fathers nowe should first sing prayses.
But there was hearde a disagreing voyce of the enemies, and there was a miserable lamentation for children that were bewayled.
The maister and the seruaunt were punished after one maner: and lyke as the king, so suffred the common people:
So they had innumerable that dyed with one kinde of death altogether: neither were the liuing sufficient to bury the dead, for in the twinckling of an eye the noblest ofspring of them was destroyed.
For whereas they woulde discredite all thinges by reason of the inchauntmentes, in the destruction of the first borne they acknowledged that this people was the chyldren of God.
For whyle all thinges were styl in scilence, and when the night was in the middest of her course, thy almightie worde O Lorde lept downe from heauen out of thy royall trone,
As a rough man of warre in the middest of the land that was destroyed,
And brought thyne vnfayned commaundement as a sharpe sworde, and standing vp, filled all thinges with death, yea it stoode vpon the earth and reached vnto the heauen.
Then the sightes of the euyl dreames vexed them sodainly, and fearefulnesse came vpon them vnawares.
Then lay there one here, another there halfe dead [halfe quicke] and shewed the cause of his death.
For the visions that vexed them, shewed them these thinges afore, that they might not be ignoraunt wherefore they perished.
Yea the temptation of death touched the righteous also, and among the multitude in the wildernesse there was insurrection: but thy wrath endured not long.
For the blamelesse man went in all the haste, and toke the battayle vpon hym, brought foorth the weapon of his ministration, euen prayer and the reconciliation of incense, set hym selfe against the wrath, and so brought the miserie to an ende, declaring [therby] that he was thy seruaunt.
For he ouercame not the multitude with bodyly power or force of weapons: but with the word he subdued him that vexed, alleaging the oth and couenaunt made vnto the fathers.
For when the dead were fallen downe by heapes one vpon another, he stoode in the middest, pacified the wrath, and parted the way that it might not come to the liuing.
And why? in his long garment was all the beautie, and in the foure rowes of the stones was the glory of the fathers grauen, and thy maiestie was wrytten in the crowne of his head.
Vnto these the destroyer gaue place, and was afrayde of them: for it was inough that they onlye tasted of the wrath.
AS for the vngodly, the wrath came vpo{n} them without mercy vnto the ende: for he knewe before what shoulde happen vnto them:
How that when they had consented to let them go, and had sent them out with great diligence, they would repent and folowe vpon them.
For whyles they were yet mourning and making lamentation by the graues of the dead, they deuised another foolishnesse, so that they persecuted them in their fleeing, whom they had cast out afore with prayer.
For the necessitie whiche they had deserued brought them vnto this ende, and made them forget the thinges that had already happened, that they might by tormentes fulfill their punishment whiche remayned:
And that thy people might trye a marueylous passage: and these might fynde a straunge death.
For euery creature in his kynde was fashioned agayne of newe, seruyng the peculiar offices as was commaunded them, that thy children myght be kept without hurt:
For the cloude ouershadowed their tentes, and the drye earth appeared where afore was water: so that in the red sea there was a way without impediment, and the great deepe became a greene fielde:
Wherthrough all the people went that were defended with thy hande, seyng thy marueylous straunge wonders.
For as the horses, ryght so they neyed, and leaped lyke lambes, praysyng thee (O Lord) which hadst deliuered them.
And why? they were yet myndefull of the thynges that were done whyle they dwelt in the straunge lande, howe the grounde brought foorth flies in steade of cattell, and howe the riuer scrawled with the multitude of frogges in steade of fisshes.
But at the last they sawe a newe generation of birdes, what tyme as they were stirred with lust, and desired delicate meates.
For why? the quayles came vp to them from the sea for their comfort: but punishmentes came vpon the sinners, not without the signes which came before to passe by vehemencie of the thicke lyghtnynges: For they suffered worthyly accordyng to their wickednesse, because they dealt so churlishly & with an hate of straungers.
For some would not receaue men that came vnto them and were vnknowen: and some brought the straungers into bondage that dyd them good.
Nor only so, but yf they had ben any where regarded, they coulde not suffer it: for they entreated straungers very dispitefully.
Others that had receaued them with great solempnitie, when they were admitted vnto their societie, they afflicted them with greeuous labours.
Therfore were they stricken with blindnesse, like as when they that were couered with sodayne darknesse at the doores of the ryghteous, sought euery one of them the entraunce of his doores.
Thus the elementes beyng chaunged, agreed among them selues, lyke as when tunes are chaunged vpon an instrument of musicke, and yet kepe styll a melodie: which may easyly be perceaued by the syght of the thynges that are come to passe.
For the earthy thynges were turned into waterie: and the thyng that before swamme in the water, nowe went vpon the grounde.
The fire had power in the water, forgetting his owne vertue: and the water forgat his owne kynde to quenche [the fire.]
Agayne, the flambes hurted not the fleshe of the corruptible liuing thynges though they walked therin, neither melted they that isie kynde of immortall meate that was of nature apt to melt.
For in all thynges hast thou promoted thy people (O Lord) and brought them to honour, thou hast not dispised them, but alway and in all places hast thou stande by them.
ALl wisdome [commeth] of god the Lord, & hath ben euer with him, and is before all tyme.
Who hath numbred the sande of the sea, the droppes of the rayne, and the dayes of time? Who hath measured the heyght of heauen, the breadth of the earth, and the deepenesse of the sea?
Who hath sought out the grounde of Gods wisdome, which hath ben before all thynges?
Wisdome hath ben created before all thinges, and the vnderstandyng of prudence from euerlastyng.
(Gods worde in the heyght is the well of wisdome, and the euerlastyng commaundementes are the entraunce of her.)
Vnto who{m} hath the roote of wisdome ben declared? or who hath knowen her wit?
Vnto whom hath the doctrine of wisdome ben discouered and shewed? and who hath vnderstande the manifolde entraunce of her?
There is one, euen the hyest, the maker of all thynges, the almightie, the kyng of power, of whom men ought to stand greatly in awe, which sitteth vpon his throne, beyng a God of dominion.
He hath created her through the holy ghost, he hath seene her, numbred her, and measured her.
He hath powred her out vpon all his workes, and vpon all fleshe, accordyng to his gyft, he geueth her richely vnto them that loue hym.
The feare of the Lorde is worshyp and triumph, gladnesse, and a ioyfull crowne.
The feare of the Lorde maketh a mery heart, geueth gladnesse, ioy, and long lyfe.
Who so feareth the Lorde, it shall go well with him at the last, and in the day of his death he shalbe blessed.
The loue of God is honorable wisdome: loke vnto whom it appeareth, they loue it, for they see what wonderous thinges it doth.
The feare of the Lorde is the begynnyng of wisdome, and was made with the faythfull in the mothers wombe, it shall go with the chosen women, and shalbe knowen of the ryghteous and faythfull.
The feare of the Lorde is the ryght Gods seruice,
That preserueth & iustifieth the heart, and geueth mirth and gladnesse.
Who so feareth the Lorde shalbe happy, and when he hath neede of comfort he shalbe blessed.
She hath buylt her euerlastyng foundations with men, and is geuen to be with their seede.
To feare God is the wisdome that maketh riche, and bryngeth all good with her.
She fylleth the whole house with her giftes, & the garners with her treasure.
The feare of the Lorde is the crowne of wisdome, and geueth plenteous peace and health: He hath seene her and numbred her: Both these are the gyftes of God.
Knowledge and vnderstandyng of wisdome hath he powred out as rayne, and them that helde her fast hath he brought vnto honour.
The feare of the Lorde is the roote of wisdome, & her braunches are long lyfe.
In the treasures of wisdome is vnderstandyng & deuotion of knowledge, but wisdome is abhorred of sinners.
The feare of the Lorde driueth out sinne, and whe{n} she is present, she driueth away anger.
For he that is without feare can not be made ryghteous, and his wylfull boldenesse is his owne destruction.
A patient man wyll suffer vnto the tyme, and then shall he haue the rewarde of ioy.
A good vnderstandyng wyll hyde his wordes for a tyme, and many mens lippes shall speake of his wisdome.
In the treasures of wisdome is the declaration of doctrine: but the sinner abhorreth the worshyp of God.
My sonne yf thou desire wisdome, kepe the commaundement, and God shall geue her vnto thee:
For the feare of the Lorde is wisdome and nurture: he hath pleasure in fayth and louyng mekenesse, and he shall fyll the treasures therof.
Be not obstinate and vnfaythfull to the feare of the Lorde, and come not vnto hym with a double heart.
Be not an hypocrite in the syght of men, and take good heede what thou speakest.
Exalt not thy selfe, lest thou happen to fall and bryng thy soule to dishonour, and so discouer thy secretes, and cast thee downe in the myddest of the congregation: because thou wouldest not receaue the feare of God, & because thy heart is full of faynednesse and deceipt.
MY sonne yf thou wylt come into the seruice of God, stande fast in righteousnesse & feare, and arme thy soule to temptation.
Settle thyne heart and be patient, bowe downe thine eare, receaue the wordes of vnderstandyng, and shrynke not away when thou art assaulted.
Holde thee fast vpon God, ioyne thy selfe vnto hym, and suffer that thy lyfe may encrease at the last.
Whatsoeuer happeneth vnto thee, receaue it: suffer in heauinesse, & be patient in thy trouble.
For lyke as golde and siluer are tryed in the fire, euen so are acceptable men in the furnace of aduersitie.
Beleue in God and he shall helpe thee: order thy way a right, and put thy trust in hym: Holde fast his feare and growe therin,
O ye that feare the Lorde, take sure holde of his mercie, shrynke not away from hym, that ye fall not.
O ye that feare the Lorde, beleue him, and your rewarde shall not be emptie.
O ye that feare the Lorde, trust in good thynges, and mercie shall come vnto you for pleasure.
O ye that feare the Lorde, set your loue vpon him, and your heartes shalbe lyghtened.
Consider the olde generations of men (O ye children) and marke them well: was there euer any one confounded that put his trust in the Lorde? Who euer continued in his feare, and was forsaken? Or whom dyd he euer dispise that called faythfully vpon hym?
For God is gratious and mercifull, he forgeueth sinnes in the tyme of trouble, and is a defendour for al them that seke hym in the trueth.
Wo be vnto them that haue a fearefull heart, wicked lippes, and euyll occupied handes, and to the sinner that goeth two maner of wayes.
Wo be vnto them that are faint harted, which put not their trust in God, and therfore shall they not be defended of hym.
Wo be vnto you that haue lost patience, forsaken the ryght wayes, and are turned backe into frowarde wayes: What wyll you do when the Lord shall begin to visite you?
They that feare the Lorde, wyll not disobey his worde: and they that loue him, wyll kepe his commaundementes.
They that feare the Lorde wyll seke out the thinges that are pleasaunt vnto him: and they that loue him, be fulfylled with his lawe.
They that feare the Lorde wyll prepare their heartes, and humble their soules in his syght.
They that feare the Lorde kepe his co{m}maundementes, and wyll be patient tyll they see hym selfe,
Saying: If we do not repent, we shall fall into the handes of the Lorde, and not into the handes of men.
For his mercie is as great as him selfe.
THe children of wisdome are a congregation of the ryghteous, and their ofspryng is obedience and loue.
Heare your fathers iudgement (O my deare children) and do therafter, that ye may be safe.
For the Lorde wyll haue the father honored of the children: and loke what a mother commaundeth her children to do, he wyll haue it kept.
Who so honoureth his father, his sinnes shalbe forgeuen hym: and he shall abstayne from them, and shall haue his dayly desires.
And he that honoureth his mother, is like one that gathereth treasure together.
Who so honoureth his father, shall haue ioy of his owne children: & when he maketh his prayer, he shalbe heard.
He that honoureth his father, shall haue a long lyfe: and he that is obedient vnto the Lorde, shall comfort his mother.
He that feareth the Lorde, honoureth his father and mother, and doth them seruice as it were vnto lordes.
Honour thy father and mother, in deede, in worde, and in all patience, that thou mayest haue Gods blessyng: and his blessyng shall abide with thee at the last.
The blessyng of the father stablisheth the houses of the children: but the mothers curse rooteth out the foundations.
Reioyce not when thy father is reproued: for it is not honour vnto thee, but a shame.
For the worshyp of a mans father, is his owne worshyp: & the reproche of the mother, is the dishonestie of the sonne.
My sonne, make much of thy father in his age, and greeue hym not as long as he lyueth.
And yf his vnderstandyng fayle, haue patience with hym, and dispise hym not in thy strength.
For the good deede that thou shewest vnto thy father, shall not be forgotten: and when thou thy selfe wantest, it shalbe rewarded thee: and for thy mothers offence thou shalt be recompensed with good, yea it shalbe founded for thee in ryghteousnesse.
And in the day of trouble thou shalt be remembred: thy sinnes also shall melt away, lyke as the yse in the fayre warme weather.
He that forsaketh his father, shal come to shame: and he that defieth his mother, is cursed of God.
My sonne, perfourme thy workes with louyng meekenesse, so shalt thou be loued aboue other men.
The greater thou art, the more humble thy selfe in all thynges, and thou shalt fynde fauour in the sight of God.
Many are excellent and of renowme: but the secretes are reuealed vnto the meeke.
For great power belongeth only vnto God, and he is honoured of the lowly.
Seke not out the thynges that are aboue thy capacitie, and searche not the grounde of such thynges as are to mightie for thee:
But loke what God hath commaunded thee, thynke vpon that alway, & be not curious in many of his workes: For it is not needefull for thee to see with thyne eyes the thynges that are secrete.
Make not to much searche in superfluous thynges, and be not curious in many of his workes: for many thynges are shewed vnto thee alredy which be aboue the capacitie of men.
The medlyng with such, hath beguiled many a man, and tangled their wittes in vanitie.
Thou canst not see without eyes, therfore professe not the thyng that thou hast not.
An harde heart shall feare euyll at the last: and he that loueth daunger, shall perishe therin.
An heart that goeth two wayes shall not prosper: and he that is frowarde of heart, wyll euer be worse and worse.
An obstinate heart shalbe laden with sorowes, and the vngodly sinner wyll heape one sinne vpon another.
The counsayle of the proude hath no health, & his footsteppes shalbe plucked vp: for the plant of sinne hath taken roote in hym.
The heart of hym that hath vnderstandyng, shall perceaue hye thynges: and a good care wyll gladly hearken vnto wisdome.
An heart that is wise and hath vnderstandyng, wyll abstayne from sinnes, and increase in the workes of ryghteousnesse.
Water quencheth burnyng fire, and mercie reconcileth sinnes.
God hath respect vnto hym that is thankfull: he thinketh vpon him against the tyme to come, so that whe{n} he falleth he shall fynde a strong holde.
MY sonne, defraude not the poore of his almes, and turne not away thyne eyes from hym that hath neede.
Dispise not an hungry soule, and defie not the poore in his necessitie.
Greeue not the heart of hym that is helplesse, and withdrawe not the gyft from the needefull.
Refuse not the prayer of one that is in trouble, turne not away thy face from the needy.
Cast not thyne eyes asyde from the poore for any euyll wyll, that thou geue him not occasion to speake euyll of thee.
For yf he complayne of thee in the bitternesse of his soule, his prayer shalbe hearde: euen he that made hym shall heare hym.
Be curteous vnto the company of the poore, humble thy soule vnto thy elder, and bowe downe thy head to a man of worshyp.
Let it not greeue thee to bowe downe thine eare vnto the poore, but pay thy debt, and geue him a friendly aunswere, and that with meekenesse.
Deliuer him that suffereth wrong, from the hande of the oppressour: and be not faynt hearted when thou sittest in iudgement.
Be mercifull vnto the fatherlesse as a father, and be in steade of an husbande vnto their mother: so shalt thou be as an obedient sonne of the hyest, and he shall loue thee more then thy mother doth.
Wisdome exalteth her children, receaueth them that seke her, & wyl go before them in the way of ryghteousnesse.
He that loueth her, loueth lyfe: and they that seke her diligently, shall haue great ioy.
They that kepe her, shall inherite glorie: for where she entreth in, there is the blessyng of God.
They that honour her, shalbe the seruauntes of the holy one: and they that loue her, are beloued of God.
Who so geueth eare vnto her, shall iudge the heathen: and he that hath respect vnto her, shall dwell safely.
He that beleueth her, shall haue her in possession, and his generation shall endure.
For when he falleth, she doth go with hym, and choseth hym among the best: Feare, dreade, and temptation shall she bryng vpon hym, and trye hym in her doctrine, tyll she haue so proued hym in his thoughtes, that he commit his soule vnto her.
Then shall she stablishe hym, bryng the ryght way vnto hym, make hym a glad man, shewe hym her secretes, and heape vpon him the treasures of knowledge, & vnderstandyng of righteousnes.
But yf he go wrong, she shall forsake hym, & geue hym ouer into the handes of destruction and ruine.
My sonne, make much of the tyme, eschewe the thyng that is euyll:
And for thy lyfe shame not to say the trueth: For there is a shame that bryngeth sinne, and there is a shame that bryngeth worshyp and fauour.
Accept no person after thyne owne wyll, that thou be not confounded to thyne owne decay: Be not ashamed of thy neyghbour in his aduersitie.
And kepe not backe thy counsayle when it may do good, neither hyde thy wisdome in her beautie.
For in the tongue is wisdome knowe{n}, so is vnderstandyng, knowledge, and learnyng in the talkyng of the wise, and stedfastnesse in the workes of ryghteousnesse.
In no wise speake agaynst the worde of trueth: but be ashamed of the lyes of thyne owne ignoraunce.
Shame not to confesse thyne errour, and resist not the course of the riuer.
And submit not thy selfe vnto a foolishe man, neither accept the person of the mightie.
And striue thou not agaynst the streame: But for ryghteousnesse take paynes with all thy soule, and for the trueth striue thou vnto death, and God shall fyght for thee agaynst thyne enemies.
Be not hasty in thy tongue, neither slacke and negligent in thy workes.
Be not as a lion in thyne owne house, destroying thy housholde folkes, and oppressyng them that are vnder thee.
Let not thyne hande be stretched out to receaue, and shut when thou shouldest geue.
TRust not vnto thy riches, & say not, tushe I haue inough for my lyfe, for it shall not helpe in the tyme of vengeaunce and temptation.
Folowe not the lust of thyne owne heart in thy strength,
And say not, tushe howe haue I had strength? or who wyll bryng me vnder because of my workes? For doubtlesse God shall auenge it.
And say not, I haue sinned, and what euyll hath happened me? For the almightie is a patient rewarder.
Because thy sinne is forgeuen thee, be not therfore without feare, neither heape one sinne vpon another.
And say not, tushe, the mercie of the Lorde is great, he shall forgeue me my sinnes be they neuer so many: For lyke as he is mercifull, so goeth wrath from hym also, and his indignation commeth downe vpon sinners.
Make no tarying to turne vnto the Lorde, and put not of from day to day: for sodenly shall his wrath come, and in the tyme of vengeaunce he shall destroy thee.
Trust not in wicked riches, for they shall not helpe thee in the day of punishment and wrath.
Be not caried about with euery winde, and go not into euery way: for so doth the sinner that hath a double tongue.
Stande fast in the way of the Lorde, be stedfast in thy vnderstandyng, abyde by the worde, and folowe the worde of peace and righteousnesse.
Be gentle to heare the worde of God, that thou mayest vnderstande it: and make a true aunswere with wisdome.
Be swyft to heare, but slowe and pacient in geuing aunswere.
If thou hast vnderstanding, shape thy neighbour an aunswere: yf no, laye thy hande vpon thy mouth, lest thou be trapped in an vndiscreete word, and so confounded.
Honour and shame is in the talke, but the tongue of the vndiscrete is his owne destruction.
Be not a priuy accuser as long as thou lyuest, and vse no slaunder with thy tongue: For shame & sorowe goeth ouer the thiefe, and an euyll name ouer him that is double tongued: but he that is a priuy accuser of other men, shalbe hated, enuied, and confounded.
Do not rashly neither in great nor small.
BE not of a friende an enemie, for such a man getteth an euyll name, shame, and rebuke: and whosoeuer beareth enuie & a double tongue, offendeth.
Be not proude in the deuice of thine owne vnderstanding, lest thy soule rent thee as a bull,
And lest thy leaues wyther, and thy fruite be destroyed, and so thou be left as a drye tree in the wildernesse.
For a wicked soule destroyeth hym that hath it, maketh him to be laughed to scorne of his enemies, and bryngeth him to the portion of the vngodly.
A sweete worde multiplieth friendes, & pacifieth them that be at variaunce: and a thankfull tongue wyll be plenteous in a good man.
Holde friendship with many, neuerthelesse haue but one counsellour of a thousande.
If thou gettest a friende, proue him first, and be not hastye to geue him credence.
For some man is a friende but for his owne turne, and wyll not abyde in the day of trouble.
And there is some friend that turneth to enimitie, and taketh part agaynst thee: and if he knowe any hurt by thee, he telleth it out.
Agayne, some friende is but a companion at the table, and in the day of neede he continueth not.
But in thy prosperitie he wyll be as thou thy selfe, and deale playnly with thy housholde folke.
If thou be brought lowe he wyll be agaynst thee, and wyll be hidden from thy face.
Depart from thyne enemies, yea and beware of thy friendes.
A faythfull friende is a strong defence, who so findeth such one, fyndeth a treasure.
A faythfull friende hath no peare, the wayght of golde and siluer is not to be compared to the goodnesse of his fayth.
A faythfull friende is a medicine of lyfe and immortalitie, and they that feare the Lorde shall fynde hym.
Who so feareth the Lorde, shall prosper with friendes: and as he is hym selfe, so shall his friende be also.
My sonne receaue doctrine from thy youth vp, so shalt thou fynde wisdome tyll thou be olde.
Go to her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wayte patiently for her good fruites: For thou shalt haue but litle labour in her worke, but thou shalt eate of her fruites ryght soone.
O howe exceeding sharpe is wisdome to vnlearned men? an vnstedfast body wyll not remayne in her.
Vnto such she is as it were a touchestone, and he casteth her from him in all the haste.
For wisdome is with him but in name, there be but fewe that haue knowledge of her.
But with them that knowe her, she abideth euen vnto the appearyng of God.
Geue eare my sonne, receaue my doctrine, and refuse not my counsayle.
Put thy foote into her lynckes, and take her yoke vpon thy necke.
Bowe downe thy shoulder vnder her, beare her patiently, and be not weery of her bandes.
Come vnto her with thy whole heart, and kepe her wayes with al thy power.
Seke after her, and she shalbe shewed thee: and when thou hast her, forsake her not.
For at the last thou shalt fynde rest in her, and that shalbe turned to thy great ioy.
Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her yoke a glorious rayment.
For there is a golden ornament in her, & her bandes are laces of purple colour.
Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crowne of ioy.
My sonne, yf thou wylt take heede, thou shalt haue vnderstandyng, and yf thou wylt apply thy mynde, thou shalt be wyse.
If thou wylt bowe downe thine eare, thou shalt receaue doctrine: and yf thou delyte in hearyng, thou shalt be wyse.
Stande with the multitude of such elders as haue vnderstandyng, and consent vnto their wisdome with thyne heart.
That thou mayest heare all godly sermons, and that the worthy sentences escape thee not.
And yf thou seest a man of discrete vnderstandyng, get thee soone vnto hym, & let thy foote treade vpon the steppes of his doores.
Let thy mynde be vpon the commaundementes of God, and be earnestlye occupied in his lawes: so shall he stablishe thy heart, and geue thee wisdome at thyne owne desire.
DO no euyl, so shal there no harme happen vnto thee.
Depart away from the thyng that is wicked, and no misfortune shall meddle with thee.
My sonne, sowe no euyll thynges in the •orowes of vnryghteousnes, so shalt thou not reape them seuen folde.
Labour not to the Lorde for preheminence, neither vnto the kyng for the seate of honour.
Iustifie not thy selfe before God, for he knoweth the heart: and desire not to be reputed wise in the presence of the kyng.
Make no labour to be made a iudge, except it so were that thou couldest mightily put downe wickednesse: for yf thou shouldest stande in awe of the presence of the mightie, thou shouldest fayle in geuyng sentence.
Offende not in the multitude of the citie, and put not thy selfe among the people.
Bynde not two sinnes together: for in one sinne shalt thou not be vnpunished.
Say not, tushe, God wyll loke vpon the multitude of my oblations, & when I offer to the hyest God he wyll accept it.
Be not faynt hearted when thou makest thy prayer, neither slacke in geuyng of almes.
Laugh no man to scorne in the heauinesse of his soule, for God (which seeth all thinges) is he that can bring downe, and set vp agayne.
Accept no leasyng agaynst thy brother, neither do the same agaynst thy friend.
Vse not to make any maner of lye: for the custome therof is not good.
Make not many wordes when thou art among the elders: and when thou prayest, make not much babblyng.
Let no labourous workes be tedious vnto thee, neither the husbandry which the almightie hath created.
Make not thy boaste in the multitude of thy wickednesse: but humble thy selfe euen from thyne heart,
And remember that the wrath shal not be long in tarying, and that the vengeaunce of the fleshe of the vngodly is a very fire and worme.
Geue not ouer thy friend for any good, nor thy faythful brother for the best gold.
Depart not from a discrete & good woman that is fallen vnto thee for thy portion in the feare of the Lorde: for the gift of her honesty is aboue golde.
Where as thy seruaunt worketh truely, intreate hym not euyll, nor the hyreling that is faythfull vnto thee.
Loue a discrete seruaunt as thyne owne soule, defraude him not of his libertie, neither leaue him a poore man.
If thou haue cattell, loke wel to them: and if they be for thy profite, kepe them.
If thou haue sonnes bring them vp in nurture and learning, and hold them in awe from their youth vp.
If thou haue daughters kepe their body, and shewe not thy face chereful towarde them.
Mary thy daughter, and so shalt thou perfourme a wayghtie matter: but geue her to a man of vnderstanding.
If thou haue a wife after thyne owne mynde, forsake her not: but commit not thy selfe to the hatefull.
Honour thy father from thy whole heart: and forget not the sorowfull trauayle that thy mother had with thee.
Remember that thou wast borne thorow them, and howe canst thou recompence them the thinges that they haue done for thee?
Feare the Lord with al thy soule, and honour his ministers.
Loue thy maker with all thy strength, and forsake not his seruauntes.
Feare the Lord with all thy soule, & honour his priestes: geue them their portion of the first fruites and increase of the earth, like as it is commaunded thee: & reconcile thy selfe of thy negligence with the litle flocke, geue them the shoulders, and their appoynted offeringes & firstlinges.
Reache thyne hande vnto the poore, that God may blesse thee with plenteousnes.
Be liberall vnto all men liuyng: yet let not, but do good euen to them that are dead.
Let not them that weepe be without comfort, but mourne with such as mourne.
Let it not greeue thee to visite the sicke, for that shall make thee to be beloued.
Whatsoeuer thou takest in hande, remember the end, and thou shalt neuer do amisse.
STryue not with a mightie man, lest thou chaunce to fall into his handes.
Make no variaunce with a riche man, lest he happen to bring vp an harde quarell against thee: For golde and siluer hath vndone many a man, yea euen the heartes of kinges hath it made to fall.
Stryue not with a man that is full of wordes, and lay no stickes vpon his fire.
Kepe no companie with the vnlearned, lest he geue thy kinred an euyll report.
Despise not a man that turneth hym selfe away from sinne, and cast him not in the teeth withall: but remember that we are frayle euerichone.
Thinke scorne of no man in his olde age, for we waxe olde also.
Be not glad of the death of thyne enemie: but remember that we must dye all the sort of vs, and fayne would we come into ioy.
Despise not the sermons of such elders as haue vnderstandyng, but acquaynt thy selfe with the wyse sentences of them: for of them thou shalt learne wisdome, & the doctrine of vnderstandyng, and howe to serue great men without complaynt.
Go not from the doctrine of the elders, for they haue learned it of their fathers: for of them thou shalt learne vnderstanding, so that thou mayest make aunswere in the time of neede.
Kindle not the coales of sinners when thou rebukest them, lest thou be brent in the fyrie flambes of their sinnes.
Resist not the face of the blasphemer, that they lay not wayte for thy mouth.
Lende not vnto hym that is mightier then thy selfe: yf thou lendest hym, count it but lost.
Be not suertie aboue thy power: if thou be, then thinke surely to paye it.
Go not to lawe with the iudge: for he will iudge according to his owne honour.
Trauayle not by the way with hym that his braynlesse, lest he do the euyll: for he foloweth his owne wilfulnesse, and so shalt thou perishe thorowe his follie.
Striue not with him that is angry and cruel, & go not with him into the wildernesse: for blood is nothing in his sight, and where there is no helpe he shall murther thee.
Take no counsel at fooles: for they can not kepe a thing close.
Do no secrete thing before a straunger, for thou canst not tell what will come of it.
Open not thine heart vnto euery man, lest he be vnthankefull to thee, and put thee to reprofe.
BE not ielous ouer the wife of thy bosome, that she shew not some shrewd poynt, lest thou teache her an euil lesson against thy selfe.
Geue not the power of thy lyfe vnto a woman, lest she come in thy strength, and so thou be confounded.
Loke not vpon a woman that is desyrous of many men, lest thou fall into her snares.
Vse not the companie of a woman that is a player & a dauncer, & heare her not, lest thou perishe thorow her entising.
Behold not a mayden, that thou be not hurt in her beautie.
Cast not thy minde vpon harlots in any maner of thing, lest thou destroy both thy selfe and thyne heritage.
Go not about gasing in euery lane of the citie, neither wander thou abrode in the streetes therof.
Turne away thy face from a beautifull woman, and loke not vpon the fayrnesse of other: Many a man hath ben deceaued thorowe the beautie of women, for thorow it the desire is kindled as it were a fire.
An adulterous woman shalbe troden vnder foote as myre, of euery one that goeth by the way.
Many a man wondering at the beautie of a straunge woman, hath ben cast out: for her wordes kyndle as a fyre.
Sit not with an other mans wife by any meanes, lye not with her vpon the bed, make no wordes with her at the wine: lest thyne heart consent vnto her, and so thou with thy blood fall into destruction.
Forsake not an olde friende, for the new shall not be lyke him: A newe friende is newe wine, let hym be olde and thou shalt drinke hym with pleasure.
Desire not the honour and riches of a sinner: for thou knowest not what destruction is for to come vpon hym.
Delyte not thou in the thing that the vngodly haue pleasure in, beyng sure that the vngodly shall not be accepted vntill their graue.
Kepe thee from the man that hath power to slay, so needest thou not to be afrayde of death: And yf thou commest vnto hym, make no fault, lest he happen to take away thy lyfe: Remember that thou goest in the middest of snares, and vpon the bulworkes of thy citie.
Beware of thy neyghbour as nye as thou canst, and meddle with such as be wyse and haue vnderstanding.
Let iust men be thy gestes, let thy mirth be in the feare of God.
Let the remembraunce of God be in thy mynde, and let all thy talking be in the commaundementes of the hyghest.
In the handes of craftes men shall the workes be commaunded: so shall the princes of the people in the wysdome of their talking.
A man full of wordes is perilous in his citie: and he that is rashe in his talking, shalbe abhorred.
TWyse iudge will order his people with discretion: and where a man of vnderstanding beareth rule, there goeth it well.
As the iudge of the people is him selfe, euen so are his officers: and loke what maner of man the ruler of the citie is, such are they that dwell therin also.
An vnwyse king destroyeth his people: but where they that be in auctoritie are men of vnderstanding, there the citie prospereth.
The power of the earth is in the hande of God, and all iniquitie of the people is to be abhorred: and when his time is, he shall set a profitable ruler vpon it.
In the hande of God is the prosperitie of man, and vpon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.
Be not angry for any wrong of thy neyghbour, and meddle thou with no vnrighteous workes.
Pryde is hatefull before God and man, and all wickednesse of the heathen is to be abhorred.
Because of vnrighteous dealing, wrong, blasphemies, and diuers disceytes, a realme shalbe translated from one people to another.
There is nothing worse then a couetous man: Why art thou proude O thou earth and asshes? There is not a more wicked thing then to loue money: and why? such one hath his soule to sel, yet is he but filthy doung while he lyueth.
All tyrannie is of smal enduraunce, and the disease that is harde to heale greeueth the phisition.
And though the phisition shew his helpe neuer so long, yet in conclusion it goeth after this maner, To day a king, to morowe dead.
For when a man dieth, he is the heyre of serpentes, beastes and wormes.
The beginning of mans pryde, is to fall away from God: and why? his heart is gone from his maker.
For pryde is the originall of all sinne: Who so taketh hold therof, shalbe filled with cursinges, and at the last it shall ouerthrowe hym: Therefore hath the Lorde brought the congregations of the wicked to dishonour, and destroyed them to the end.
God hath destroyed the seates of proude princes, and set vp the meeke in their steade.
God hath wythered the rootes of the proude heathen, and planted the lowely for them.
God hath ouerthrowen the landes of the heathen, & destroyed them vnto the grounde: He hath caused them to wither away, he hath brought them to naught, & made the memoriall of them to ceasse from out of the earth.
God hath destroyed the name of the proude, and left the name of the humble of mynde.
Pryde was not made for man, neither wrothfulnesse for mens children.
The seede of men that feareth God shalbe brought to honour: but the seede whiche transgresseth the commaundementes of the Lorde shalbe shamed.
He that is the ruler among brethren, is holden in honour among them: and he that regardeth such as feare the Lorde, is acceptable in his sight.
The feare of the Lord causeth that the kingdome faileth not: but the kingdome is lost by crueltie and pryde.
The glorie of the riche, of the honorable, and of the poore, is the feare of God.
Despyse not thou the iust poore man that hath vnderstanding, and magnifie not the riche vngodly.
Great is the iudge and mightie in honour, yet is there none greater then he that feareth God.
Vnto the seruaunt that is discrete, shal the free do seruice: He that is wyse and well nurtured will not grudge when he is refourmed, and an ignoraunt body shall not come to honour.
Be not proude to do thy worke, and dispayre not in the time of aduersitie.
Better is he that laboureth and hath plenteousnes of al thinges, then he that is gorgious, and wanteth bread.
My sonne, get thy soule honour by mekenesse, & geue her her due honour.
Who shall iustifie him that sinneth against him selfe? Who will honour hym that dishonoureth his owne soule?
The poore is honoured for his faythfulnesse and trueth: but the riche is had in reputation because of his goodes.
He that ordereth hym selfe honestly in pouertie, howe much more shal he behaue hym selfe honestly in riches? And who so ordreth hym selfe vnhonestly in riches, how much more shall he behaue him selfe vnhonestly in pouertie?
THe wysdome of hym that is brought lowe shall lift vp his head, and shall make hym to sit among great men.
Commende not thou a man in his beautie, neither despise a man in his vtter appeeraunce.
The Bee is but a smal beast among the foules, yet is her fruite exceeding sweet.
Be not proude of thy rayment, & exalt not thy selfe in the day of thy honour: for the workes of the hiest onely are wonderfull: yea glorious, secrete, and vnknowen are his workes.
Many tyrauntes haue ben fayne to sit downe vpon the earth, and the vnlikely hath worne the crowne.
Many mightie men haue ben brought low, & the honorable haue ben deliuered into other mens handes.
Condemne no man before thou haue tryed out the matter: and when thou hast made inquisition, then refourme righteously.
Geue no sentence before thou hast hearde the cause: but first let men tel out their tales.
Stryue not for a matter that toucheth not thy selfe, and stande not in the iudgement of sinners.
My sonne, meddle not with many matters: and if thou gaine much thou shalt not be blamelesse, & if thou folow after it thou shalt not attayne it: and though thou runnest thy way afore, yet shalt thou not escape.
There is some man that laboureth and taketh payne, and the more he weerieth him selfe, the lesse he hath.
Againe, some man is slouthfull, hath neede of helpe, wanteth strength, and hath great pouertie:
And gods eye loketh vpon him to good, setteth him vp from his lowe state, and lifteth vp his head: so that many men maruel at hym, and geue honour vnto God.
Prosperitie and aduersitie, lyfe and death, pouertie and richesse, come all of the Lorde.
Wysedome, nurture, and knowledge of the lawe are with God, loue and the wayes of good are with him.
Errour and darkenesse are made for sinners, and they that exalt them selues in euyll, waxe olde in euyll.
The gift of God remayneth for the righteous: and his good will shall geue prosperitie for euer.
Some man is riche by his care and •gardship, and that is the portion of his rewarde:
In that he sayth, Now haue I gotten rest, and nowe will I eate and drinke of my goodes my selfe alone: and yet he considereth not that the time draweth nye, and death approcheth, that he must leaue all these thinges vnto other men, and dye him selfe.
Stand thou fast in thy couenaunt, and exercise thy selfe therin, and remayne in the worke vnto thy age.
Maruell not at the workes of sinners, but put thy trust in God and byde in thy labour: for it is but an easie thing in the sight of God to make a poore man riche, and that sodenly.
The blessing of God hasteth to the rewarde of the righteous, and maketh his fruites soone to florishe and prosper.
Say not, what helpeth it me? and what good thing shall I haue hereafter?
Againe, say not, I haue enough, how can I want?
When thou art in welfare, forget not aduersitie: and when it goeth not well with thee, haue a good hope that it shalbe better:
For it is but a small thing vnto God in the day of death to rewarde euery man according to his wayes.
The aduersitie of an houre maketh one to forget al pleasure: & when a man dieth, his workes are discouered.
Iudge no man blessed before his death: for a man shalbe knowen in his children.
Bring not euery man into thyne house: for the disceytfull layeth wayte diuersly, & are like stomackes that belche filthyly.
Like as a partrych in a maunde, so is the heart of the proude: and like as a spie that loketh vpon the fall of his neyghbour.
For he turneth good vnto euyll, and slaundreth the chosen.
Of one sparke is made a great fire, and of one disceytfull man is blood increased: and an vngodly man layeth wayte for blood.
Beware of the disceytfull, for he imagineth wicked thinges, to bring thee into a perpetuall shame.
If thou takest an aliaunt vnto thee, he shall destroy thee in vnquietnesse, and dryue thee from thyne owne wayes,
WHen thou wilt do good, knowe to whom thou doest it, and so shalt thou be greatly thanked for thy benefites.
Do good vnto the righteous, and thou shalt finde great reward, though not of him, yet [no doubt] the Lorde him selfe shall rewarde thee.
He standeth not in a good case that is alway occupied in euil, & geueth no almes: for the hyghest hateth the sinners, and hath mercie vpon them that shewe the workes of repentaunce.
Geue thou vnto such as feare God, and receaue not a sinner.
As for the vngodly and sinners, he shall recompence vengeaunce vnto them, and kepe them to the day of wrath.
Geue thou vnto the good, and receaue not the sinner, do well vnto hym that is lowly, but geue not to the vngodly: Let not the bread be geuen him, that he be not mightier then thy selfe therin: for so shalt thou receaue twyse as much euyll in all that good that thou doest vnto him.
And why? the highest hateth sinners, and shall reward vengeaunce to the vngodly.
In prosperitie a friende shalbe knowen, & in aduersitie an enemie shal not be hid.
For when a man is in wealth, it greeueth his enemies: but in heauinesse and trouble a mans very friend will depart from him.
Trust neuer thyne enemie: for like as an yron rusteth, so doth his wickednesse.
And though he make much crouching and kneeling, yet kepe well thy mind, & beware of him: and thou shalt be to him as he that wypeth a glasse, & thou shalt knowe that al his rust hath not ben wel wyped away.
Set him not by thee, neither let him sit at thy right hand: lest he turne him, get into thy place, take thy roome, and seke thy seate, and so thou at the last remember my wordes, and be pricked at my sayinges.
Binde not two sinnes together: for there shall not one be vnpunished.
Who wil haue pitie of the charmer that is stinged of the serpent, or of all such as come nye the beastes?
Euen so is it with him that kepeth companie with a wicked man, and lappeth him selfe in his sinnes.
For a season wil he bide with thee: but if thou stumble, he tarieth not.
An enemie is sweet in his lippes, he can make many wordes, and speake many good thinges: Yea he can wepe with his eyes, but in his heart he imagineth howe to throwe thee into the pit: and if he may fynde oportunitie, he will not be satisfied with blood.
If aduersitie come vpon thee, thou shalt find him there first, and though he pretende to do thee helpe, yet shal he vndermine thee.
He shall shake his head, and clap his handes ouer thee for very gladnesse▪ and whyle he maketh many wordes, he shall disguyse his countenaunce.
WHo so toucheth pytch, shalbe defiled withall: and he that is familier with the proude, shall cloth him selfe with pryde.
He taketh a burthen vpon him that accompanieth a more honorable man then him selfe, therfore kepe no familiaritie with one that is richer then thy selfe: Howe agree the kettel and the pot together? for if the one be smitten against the other, it shalbe broken.
The riche dealeth vnrighteously, and threatneth withal: but the poore beyng oppressed and wrongfully dealt withall, suffereth scarcenesse, and geueth fayre wordes. If the riche haue done wrong, yet must he be entreated: but if the poore haue done it, he shall straight wayes be threatned.
If thou be for his profite, he vseth thee: but if thou haue nothing, he shal forsake thee.
As long as thou hast any thing of thyne owne, he shalbe a good felow with thee: yea he shall make thee a bare man, and not be sory for thee.
If he haue neede of thee, he shall defraude thee, and with a priuie mocke shall he put thee in an hope, & geue thee all good wordes, and say: What wantest thou?
Thus shal he shame thee in his meate, vntill he haue supt thee cleane vp twyse or thryse, & at the last shall he laugh thee to scorne: Afterwarde, when he seeth that thou hast nothing, he shall forsake thee, and shake his head at thee.
Submit thy selfe vnto God, and wayte vpon his hande.
Beware that thou be not disceaued and brought downe in thy simplenesse: Be not to humble in thy wysedome, lest when thou art brought lowe thou be disceaued through foolishnesse.
If thou be called of a mightie man, absent thy selfe, so shall he call thee to him the more oft.
Preasse not thou vnto him, that thou be not shut out: but go not thou farre of, lest he forget thee.
Withdraw not thy selfe from his speach, but beleue not his many wordes: For with much communication shall he tempt thee, and with a priuie mocke shal he question with thee of thy secretes.
The vnmercifull mynde of his shall marke thy wordes, he shall not spare to do thee hurt, and to put thee in prison.
Beware and take good heede to thy selfe, for thou walkest in peryll of thy ouerthrowing: Now when thou hearest his wordes, make thee as though thou wast in a dreame, and wake vp.
Loue God all thy lyfe long, and call vpon him in thy neede.
Euery beast loueth his like: euen so let euery man loue his neyghbour.
All fleshe will resort to their like, and euery man wil kepe companie with such as he is him selfe.
But as the woolfe agreeth with the lambe: so doth the vngodly with the righteous.
What peace is there betweene Hyena and a dogge? Howe can the riche and the poore agree together?
The wilde asse is the lions pray in the wildernesse: euen so are poore men the meate of the riche.
Like as the proude may not away with lowlinesse: euen so doth the riche abhorre the poore.
If a riche man fal, his friendes set him vp againe: but when the poore falleth, his acquayntaunce forsake him.
If a riche man fall into an errour, he hath many helpers, he speaketh proude wordes, and yet men iustifie him: but if a poore man go wrong, he is punished, yea though he speake wysely, yet can it haue no place.
When the riche man speaketh, euery body holdeth his tongue, and loke what he sayth, they prayse it vnto the cloudes: But if the poore man speake, they say, What felow in this? and if he do amisse, they shall destroy hym.
Riches are good vnto hym that hath no sinne in his conscience: and pouertie is a wicked thing in the mouth of the vngodly.
The heart of man chaungeth his countenaunce, whether it be in good or euyll.
A chearfull countenaunce is a token of a good heart: for els it is an harde thing to knowe the thought.
BLessed is the man that hath not fallen with the worde of his mouth, & is not pricked with the conscience of sinne.
Happy is he that hath no heauinesse in his minde, and is not fallen from his hope in the Lorde.
It becommeth not a couetous man and a nygarde to be riche: and what should an enuious man do with money?
He that with all his carefulnesse heapeth together vnrighteously, gathereth for other folkes, and another man shall make good cheare with his goodes.
He that is wicked vnto him selfe, howe should he be good vnto other men? how can such one haue any pleasure of his goodes.
There is nothing worse then when one disfauoureth him selfe: and this is a rewarde of his wickednesse.
If he do any good, he doth it not knowing therof and against his will, and at the last he declareth his vngraciousnesse.
A nygarde hath a wicked eye, he turneth away his face, and despiseth men.
A couetous mans eye hath neuer enough in the portion of wickednesse, vntill the time that he wyther away, and haue lost his owne soule.
A wicked eye enuieth bread, and there is scarcenesse vpon his table.
My sonne, do good to thy selfe of that thou hast, and geue the Lorde his due offeringes.
Remember that death tarieth not, and how that the graue is not shewed vnto thee: for the couenaunt of this world shall dye the death.
Do good vnto thy friende before thou dye, and according to thy abilitie reache out thyne hande & geue vnto the poore.
Be not disapoynted of the good day, and let not the portion of the good desire ouerpasse thee.
Shalt thou not leaue thy trauayles and labours vnto other men? In the deuiding of the heritage geue and take, and sanctifie thy soule.
Worke thou righteousnes before thy death: for in the hell there is no meate to finde.
All fleshe shall fade away lyke a garment, and lyke a florishing leafe in a greene tree.
Some growe, some are cast downe, euen so is the generation of fleshe and blood: one commeth to an ende, another is borne, and this is the condition of all times, thou shalt dye the death.
All transitorie thinges shal fayle at the last, & the worker therof shal go withal.
Euery chosen worke shalbe iustified, and he that medled withall shall haue honour therin.
Blessed is the man that kepeth hym in wysdome, and exerciseth him selfe in vnderstanding, and with discretion shall thinke vpon the foreknowledge of God,
Whiche considereth the wayes of wysdome in his heart, hath vnderstanding in her secretes,
Goeth after her as one that seketh her out, and continueth in her ways,
He loketh in at her windowes, & hearkeneth at her doores,
He taketh his rest beside her house, and fasteneth his stake in her walles: he shal pitche his tent nye vnto her hand, and in his tent shall good thinges rest for euermore.
He shal set his children vnder her couering, & shall dwell vnder her braunches.
Vnder her couering shall he be defended from her heate, and in the glorie shal he rest.
HE that feareth God, wil do good: & who so kepeth the lawe, shall obtayne wysdome.
As an honorable mother shall she meete hym, and she as his wife maried of a virgin shal receaue him.
With the bread of lyfe and vnderstanding shal she feede him, & geue him the water of wholsome wisdome to drinke.
If he be constant in her, he shall not be moued, and if he holde him fast by her, he shall not come to confusion.
She shall bring him to honour among his neyghbours, and in the middest of the congregation shall she open his mouth: With the spirite of wysdome and vnderstanding shall she fyll him, and cloth him with the garment of glorie.
She shall heape the treasure of myrth and ioye vpon him, and geue him an euerlasting name to heritage.
Foolishe men will not take holde vpon her, but such as haue vnderstanding, will meete her: Foolishe men shall not see her, for she is farre from pryde and disceyte.
Men that go about with lyes, will not remember her: but men of trueth shalbe founde in her, and shall prosper euen vnto the beholding of God.
Prayse is not seemely in the mouth of the vngodly, for he is not sent of the Lorde.
But if prayse come of wysdome and be plenteous in a faythfull mouth, then the Lorde will prosper it.
Say not thou, it is the Lordes fault that I am gone by: for thou shalt not do the thing that God hateth.
Say not thou, he hath caused me to do wrong: for he hath no neede of the vngodly.
God hateth al abhomination of errour, and they that feare God will loue none such.
God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hande of his counsell: He gaue his commaundementes and preceptes.
If thou wilt obserue the commaundementes and kepe acceptable faythfulnesse for euer, they shall preserue thee.
He hath set water and fyre before thee, reache out thine hande vnto which thou wilt.
Before man is lyfe and death, good and euyll: loke what him lyketh, shalbe geuen him.
For the wysdome of God is great and mightie in power, and beholdeth all thinges continually:
The eyes of the Lorde are vpon them that feare him, and he knoweth all the workes of man.
He hath commaunded no man to do vngodly, neither hath he geuen any man licence to sinne: for he desireth not a multitude of infidels and vnprofitable children.
DElite not thou in the multitude of vngodly children, and haue no pleasure in them if they feare not God.
Trust not thou to their lyfe, and regarde not their labours.
For one sonne that feareth God, is better then a thousand vngodly: And better it is for a man to dye without children, then to leaue beynde hym such children as are vngodly.
For by one that hath vnderstanding, may a whole citie be vpholden: but though the vngodly be many, yet shal it be wasted through them.
Many such thinges hath mine eye seene, and greater thinges then these haue I heard with myne eares.
In the congregation of the vngodly shal a fire burne, and among vnfaythful people shall the wrath be kindled.
The olde giauntes optayned no grace for their sinnes, whiche were destroyed trusting to their owne strength:
Neither spared he them among who{m} Lot was a straunger: but smote them, and abhorred them because of the pride of their wordes.
He had no pitie vpon them: but destroyed all the people that were so stout in sinne.
And forsomuch as he ouersawe the sixe hundred thousand that gathered them selues together in the hardnesse of their heart, in afflicting them, in pitiing them, in smiting them, and healing them with mercie and chastisement: it were maruell if one being hardnecked should be free:
For mercy & wrath is with him, he is both mightie to forgeue, and to powre out displeasure.
Lyke as his mercy is great, euen so is his punishement also: he iudgeth a man according to his workes.
The vngodly shall not escape in his spoyle, & the long patience of him that sheweth mercie, shall not byde behinde.
He wyll make a place for euery mercifull deede, and euery man shall finde according to his workes.
The Lorde hardened Pharao that he should not know him, and that his workes might be knowen vpon the earth vnder the heauen.
His mercie is knowen to all creatures, he hath seperated his light from the darkenesse with an adamant.
Say not thou, I wyll hide my selfe from God: for who wyll thinke vpon me from aboue? I shall not be knowen in so great an heape of people: for what is my soule among so many creatures?
Beholde, the heauen, yea the heauen of heauens of God, the deepe, the earth, and all that therein is, shalbe moued at his presence.
The mountaynes, the hilles, and the foundations of the earth shall shake for feare, when God visiteth them.
These thinges doth no heart vnderstand worthyly: but he vnderstandeth euery heart.
And who vnderstandeth his wayes? No man seeth his stormes, and the most part of his workes are secrete.
Who wyll declare the workes of his righteousnesse? or who shalbe able to abide them? For the couenaunt is farre from some, and trying out of men is in the ende.
He that is humble of heart, thinketh vpon such thinges: but an vnwyse and erronious man casteth his minde vnto foolishe thinges.
My sonne, hearken thou vnto me, and learne vnderstanding, and marke my wordes with thyne heart: I wyll geue thee a sure doctrine, and plainely shall I instruct thee.
Marke my wordes then in thyne heart: for in righteousnesse of the spirite do I speake of the wonders that God hath shewed among his workes from the beginning, & in the trueth do I shew the knowledge of him.
God hath set his workes in good order from the beginning, & part of them hath he sundred from the other.
He hath garnished his workes from euerlasting, and their beginninges according to their generations: they are not hungrie nor weeried in their labours, nor ceasse from their offices.
None of them hindred another, neitheir was any of them disobedient vnto his wordes.
After this God loked vpon the earth, and filled it with his goodnesse.
With all maner of liuing beastes hath he couered the grounde, and they all shalbe turned vnto earth againe.
GOd shaped man of the earth, & made him after his owne image, and turned him vnto earth againe, and cloathed him with his owne strength.
He gaue him the number of dayes and certaine time, yea and gaue him power of the thinges that are vpon earth.
He made all fleshe to stand in awe of him, so that he had the dominion of all beastes and foules.
He made out of him an helper lyke vnto to him selfe, & gaue them discretion and tongue, eyes, and eares, and a heart to vnderstande:
He gaue them a spirite and a speache to declare his workes, & filled them with instruction and vnderstanding.
He created for them also the knowledge of the spirite, filled their heartes with vnderstanding, and shewed them good and euill.
He set his eye vpon their heartes, declaring vnto them his great and noble workes:
That they should prayse his holy name together, reioyce of his wonders, and be telling of his noble actes.
Beside this, he gaue them instruction, and the lawe of life for an heritage, that they might now know that they were mortall.
He made an euerlasting couenaunt with them, and shewed them his righteousnesse and iudgementes.
They sawe the maiestie of his glorie with their eyes, and their eares heard the maiestie of his voyce, and he saide vnto them: beware of all vnrighteous thinges.
He gaue euery man also a co{m}maundement concerning his neighbour.
Their wayes are euer before him, and are not hid from his eyes.
Euery man from his youth is geuen to euill, and their stony heartes can not become fleshe.
He hath set a ruler vpon euery people, but Israel is the Lordes portion:
Whom he nourisheth with discipline as his first borne, and geueth him most louing light, and doth not forsake him.
All their workes are as the sunne, in the sight of God, & his eyes are alway looking vpon their wayes.
All their vnrighteousnesses are manifest vnto him, and al their wickednesses are open in his sight.
And as he is mercifull and knoweth his worke, he doth not leaue them nor forsake them, but spareth them.
The mercie that a man sheweth is as a seale with him, and the grace that is geuen to man preserueth him as the apple of an eye, and geueth repentaunce to their sonnes and daughters.
At the last shall he awake, and reward euery man vpon his head, & shall turne them together into the neathermost partes of the earth.
But vnto them that wyll repent he hath geuen the way of righteousnesse: As for such as be weake, he comforteth them, suffereth them, and sendeth them the portion of the veritie.
O turne then vnto the Lorde, forsake thy sinnes, make thy prayer before the Lorde, do the lesse offence.
Turne againe vnto the Lorde, for he wyll bring thee from darkenesse vnto holsome light, forsake thyne vnrighteousnesse, be an vtter enemie to abhomination,
Learne to know the righteousnesse and iudgementes of God, stand in the portion that is set foorth for thee, and in the prayer of the most hye God.
Go in the portion of the holy worlde with such as be lyuing, & geue thankes vnto God.
Who wil prayse the Lorde in the hel? abide not thou in {th}e errour of the vngodlie, but geue him thankes before death.
As for the dead, thankfulnes perisheth from him as nothing: Geue thou thankes in thy lyfe, yea whyle thou art lyuing and whole shalt thou geue thankes, and prayse God, and reioyce in his mercie.
O how great is the louing kindnesse of the Lorde, and his mercifull goodnes vnto such as turne vnto him?
For all thinges may not be in man, and why? the sonne of man is not immortal, and he hath pleasure in the vanitie of wickednesse.
What is more cleare then the sonne: yet shall it fayle.
Or what is more wicked then the thyng that fleshe and blood hath imagined? and that same shalbe reproued.
The Lorde seeth the power of the hye heauen, and al are but earth and asshes.
HE that lyueth for euermore, made al thinges together: God onely is righteous, and there is none other but he, and remaineth a victorious king for euer.
He ordereth the worlde with the power of his hande, and all thinges obey his wyl: for he gouerneth all thinges by his power, and deuideth the holy thinges from the prophane.
Who shalbe able to expresse the workes of him? who wyll seeke out the grounde of his noble actes?
Who shall declare the power of his greatnesse? or who wyll take vpon him to tell out his mercie?
As for the wonderous workes of the Lord, there may nothing be taken from them, nothing may be put vnto them, neither may the grounde of them be founde out.
But when a man hath done his best, he must beginne againe: and when he thinketh to be come to an ende, he must go againe to his labour.
What is man? whereto is he worth? what good or euill can he do?
If the number of a mans dayes be almost an hundred yeres, it is much: and no man hath certaine knowledge of his death.
Lyke as the droppers of rayne are vnto the sea, and as a grauell stone is in comparison of the sande: so are these fewe yeres to the dayes of euerlasting.
Therefore is the Lorde pacient with them, and powreth out his mercie vpon them.
He sawe and perceaued the thoughtes and imaginations of their heart that they were euill, therefore heaped he vp his mercifull goodnesse vpon them, and shewed them the way of righteousnes.
The mercie that a man hath reacheth to his neighbour, but the mercie of god is vpon all fleshe: He chasteneth, he teacheth and nurtureth: yea euen as a sheephearde turneth againe his flocke, so doth he all them that receaue chastening, nurture, and doctrin•.
Mercyfull is he vnto them that diligently seeke after his iudgementes.
My sonne, when thou doest good, make no grudging at it: and whatsoeuer thou geuest, speake no discomfortable wordes.
Shall not the deawe coole the heate? euen so is a worde better then a gift.
Is not a friendly worde a good honest gifte? but a gratious man geueth them both.
A foole shall cast a man in the teeth and that roughly: and a gift of the nigarde putteth out the eyes.
Get thee righteousnes before thou come to iudgement, learne before thou speake, and go to phisicke or euer thou be sicke.
Examine and iudge thy selfe before the iudgement come, and so shalt thou finde grace in the sight of God.
Humble thy selfe afore thou be sicke: and whilest thou mayst sinne, shew thy conuersation.
Be not let to pay thy vowe in good time, and tary not to be iustified vnto thy death: for the rewarde of God endureth for euer.
Before thou prayest, prepare thy soule, and be not as one that tempteth God.
Thinke vpon the wrathfull indignation that shalbe at the ende, and the houre of vengeau{n}ce when he shall turne away his face.
When thou hast inough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou art rich, thinke vpon the time of pouertie and scarsenesse.
From the morning vntyl the euening the time is chaunged, & all such thinges are soone done in the sight of God.
A wyfe man feareth God in al thinges, and in the dayes of transgression he kepeth him selfe from sinne: but the foole doth not obserue the time.
A discreete man hath pleasure in wysdome, and he that findeth her, maketh much of her.
They that haue had vnderstanding haue dealt wysely in wordes, haue vnderstand the trueth and righteousnesse, and haue sought out w•fe sentences and iudgementes.
The chiefe aucthoritie of speaking, is of the Lorde alone: for a mortall man hath but a dead heart.
Folowe not thy lustes, but turne shee from thyne owne wyll.
For if thou geuest thy soule her desires, it shall make thyne enemies to laugh thee to scorne.
Take not thy pleasure in great voluptuousnesse, and meddle not to much withall.
Make not to great cheare of the thing that thou hast wonne by aduauntage, lest thou fall into pouertie and haue nothing in thy purse, els thou shouldest sclaunderously lye in wayte for thyne owne lyfe.
A Labouring man that is geuen vnto drunckennes, shall not be rich: and he that maketh not much of small thinges, shall fall by litle and litle.
Wine and women make wyse men runagates, and put men of vnderstanding to reproofe:
And he that companieth adulterers, shal become an impudent man: mothes and wormes shal haue him to heritage, yea he shal be set vp to a great example, and his soule shalbe rooted out of the number.
He that is hastie to geue credence, is light minded, & doth against him selfe.
Who so reioyceth in wickednesse, shalbe punished: but he that resisteth pleasures, crowneth his owne soule: he that refraineth his tongue, may lyue with a troublesome man: he that hateth to be refourmed, his lyfe shalbe shortened: & he that abhorreth babling of wordes, quencheth wickednesse.
He that offendeth against his owne soule, shall repent it: and he that reioyceth in wickednes, shalbe punished.
Rehearse not a wicked and churlishe worde twyse, and thou shalt not be hindered.
Shewe thy secretes neither to friende nor foe: and if thou hast offended, tell it not out.
For he shall hearken vnto thee, and marke thee: and when he findeth oportunitie, he shall hate thee, and so shall he be alway about thee.
If thou hast heard a worde against thy neighbour, let it be dead within thee: and be sure thou shalt haue no harme thereby.
A foole trauayleth with a worde, lyke as a woman that is payned with bearing of a childe.
Lyke as an arrowe shotte in a thigh of flesshe, so is a worde in a fooles heart.
Tell thy friende his fault, lest he be ignoraunt, and say, I haue not done it: or if he haue spoken, that he do it no more.
Reproue thy neighbour, that he keepe his tongue: and if he haue spoken, that he say it no more.
Tell thy neighbour his fault, for oft times an offence is made: and geue not credence to euery worde.
A man falleth sometime with his tongue, but not with his wil: for what is he that hath not offended in his tongue?
Geue thy neighbour warning before thou threaten him: and geue place vnto the lawe of the Lorde.
The feare of the Lorde is the first degree to be receaued of him: & wysdome obtayneth his loue.
The knowledge of the commaundementes of the Lorde, is the doctrine of lyfe: and they that obey him, shall receaue the fruite of immortalitie.
The feare of God is all wysdome: and he that is a righteous man keepeth the lawe.
If a seruaunt say vnto his maister, I wyll not do as it pleaseth thee: though afterwarde he do it, he shall displease him that nourisheth him.
As for the doctrine of wickednes, it is no wysdome, & the prudence of sinners is no good vnderstanding: it is but wickednes, and abhomination, and a blaspheming of wysdome.
A simple man of small vnderstanding that feareth God, is better the{n} one that hath much wysdome, and transgresseth the lawe of the highest.
A craftie suttle man can be wyse, but he is vnrighteous, and with giftes he wrasteth the open and manifest lawe: againe, there is that is wise and iudgeth righteously.
A wicked man can behaue him selfe humbly, and can ducke with his head, and yet is he but a deceauer within: He hydeth his face, and disguiseth it, and because he shoulde not be knowen, he preuenteth thee.
And though he be so weake that he can do thee no harme, yet when he may finde oportunitie, he shall do some euill.
A man may be knowen by his face, and one that hath vnderstanding may be perceaued by the looke of his countenaunce.
A mans garment, laughter, and going declare what he is.
SOme man reproueth his neighbour oft times, but not in due season: Againe, some man holdeth his tongue, and he is wyse and discreete.
It is much better to geue warning and to reproue, then to beare euil wyll: for he that knowledgeth him selfe openly, shalbe preserued from hurt and destruction.
Lyke as when a gelded man through desire and lust defileth a mayden: euen so is it with him that vseth violence and vnrighteousnesse in the lawe.
O how good a thing is it, a man that is reproued to shewe openly his repentaunce: for so shalt thou escape wylfull sinne.
Some man keepeth scilence and is founde wyse: but he that is not ashamed what he saith, is hatefull.
Some man holdeth his tongue, because he hath not vnderstanding of the language: and some man keepeth scilence, wayting a conuenient time.
A wyse man wyll holde his tongue tyll he see oportunitie: but a wanton and vndiscreete body shall regarde no time.
He that vseth many wordes, shal hurt his owne soule: and he that taketh aucthoritie vpon him vnrighteously, shalbe hated.
Some man hath oft times prosperitie in wicked thinges: Againe, some man getteth much, and hath harme & losse.
There is some gift that is nothing worth: Againe, there is some gift whose rewarde is double.
There is an humilitie for glories sake, and some commeth to worship from lowe estate.
Some man byeth much for a litle price, and must pay for it seuen folde.
A wyse man with his wordes maketh him selfe to be beloued: but the merie tales of fooles shalbe powred out.
The gift of the vnwyse shall do thee no good, nor yet of the enuious, for his importunitie is seuen folde: for he loketh to receaue many thinges for one.
He shall geue litle, & say he gaue much: he openeth his mouth and cryeth out, as it were one that cryed out wide.
To day he lendeth, to morowe asketh he againe: and such a man is to be hated of God and man.
The foole saith, I haue no freend, I haue no thanke for all my good deedes: yea euen they that eate my bread speake no good of me: O how oft and of how many shal he be laughed to scorne?
He taketh a more perilous fall by such wordes, then if he fel vpon the grounde: euen so shal the fall of wicked men come hastyly.
In the mouth of him that is vntaught, are many vnconuenient and vnmeete wordes.
A wyse sentence shall not be alowed at the mouth of the foole: for he speaketh it not in due season.
Some man sinneth not, because he hath not wherewithall, and in his rest he shalbe stinged.
Some man there is that destroyeth his owne soule with shame, and for an vnwyse bodyes sake destroyeth he it, and with accepting of persons shall he vndoe him selfe.
Some man promyseth his friende a gift for very shame: and getteth an enemie of him for nought.
A lye is a wicked shame in a man: yet shall it be euer in the mouth of the vnwyse.
A theefe is better then a man that is accustomed to lye: but they both shall haue destruction to heritage.
The conditions of lyers are vnhonest: and their shame is euer with them.
A wyse man shall bring him selfe to honour with his wordes: and he that hath vnderstanding shalbe set by among great men.
He that tylleth his lande, shall euer ease his heape of corne: he that worketh righteousnesse shalbe exalted, and he that pleaseth great men, shall escape much euill.
Rewardes and giftes blinde the eyes of the wyse, and make him dumbe that he can not tell men their faultes.
Wysdome that is hid, and treasure that is hoorded vp, what profite is in them both?
Better is he that kepeth his ignorau{n}ce secrete, then a man that hideth his wysdome.
The necessarie patience of him that foloweth the Lorde, is better then he that gouerneth his lyfe without the Lorde.
MY sonne, if thou hast sinned, do it no more: but pray for thy foresinnes that they may be forgeuen thee.
Flee from sinne, euen as from a serpent: for if thou comest to nye her, she wyll bite thee: the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, to slay the soules of men.
The wickednesse of man is as a sharpe two edged sword, which maketh such woundes that they cannot be healed.
Strife and wrongfull dealing, shall waste away a mans goodes, & through pride a riche house shalbe brought to naught: so the riches of the proude shalbe rooted out.
The prayer of the poore goeth out of the mouth, & commeth vnto the eares, and his vengeaunce [or defence] shall come hastyly.
Who so hateth to be refourmed, it is a toke{n} of an vngodly person: but he that feareth God, wyll remember him selfe.
A mightie man is knowen a farre of by his tongue: but he that hath vnderstanding, perceaueth that he shall haue a fall.
Who so buildeth his house with other mens cost, is lyke one that gathereth stones to make his graue.
The congregation of the vngodly, is lyke stubble gathered together, their ende is a flambe of fire.
The way of the vngodly is set with stones: but in their ende is hell, darkenesse, and paines.
He that kepeth the lawe, wyll holde fast the vnderstanding thereof: and the ende of the feare of God is wysdome and vnderstanding.
He that is not wyse, wyl not be taught in good, but the vnwyse man aboundeth in wickednesse: and where bitternesse is, there is no vnderstanding.
The knowledge of the wyse shal flowe lyke water that runneth ouer, and his counsaile is lyke a pure fountaine of life.
The heart of a foole is lyke a broken vessel, he can keepe no wysdome.
When a man of vnderstanding heareth a wyse worde, he shall commend it and make much of it: but if a voluptuous man heare it, he shall haue no pleasure therein, but cast it behinde his backe.
The talking of a foole is lyke an heauy burthen by the way: but to heare a wise man speake, it is pleasure.
Where a doubt is in the congregation, it is asked at the mouth of the wyse, and they shall ponder his wordes in their heartes.
Lyke as is a house that is destroyed, euen so is wysdome vnto a foole: as for the knowledge of the vnwyse, it is but darke wordes.
Doctrine is vnto him that hath no vnderstanding, euen as fetters about his feete, and lyke manicles vpon his right hande.
A foole lifteth vp his voyce with laughter: but a wyse man shall s•ase laugh secretly.
Learning is vnto a wyse man a iewell of golde, and lyke an armlet vpon his right arme.
A foolishe mans foote is soone in his neighbours house: but one that hath experience shalbe ashamed at the person of the mightie.
A foole wyll peepe in at the windowe into the house: but he that is wel nurtured wyll stande without.
A foolishe man standeth hearkening at the doore: but he that is wyse wyll be ashamed.
The lippes of the vnwyse wyl be telling foolishe thinges: but the wordes of such as haue vnderstanding shalbe wayed in the balaunce.
The heart of fooles is in their mouth: but the mouth of the wyse is in their heart.
When the vngodly curseth the blasmer, he curseth his owne soule.
A priuie accuser of other men shall defile his owne soule, and be hated of euery man: but he that keepeth his tongue and is discreete, shal come to honour.
A Slouthfull bodye is moulded of a stone of claye, and euery man wyll speake to his disprayse.
A slouthfull body is made of the doung of oxen, and euery one that toucheth him must wasshe his handes againe.
A misnurtured sonne is the dishonour of the father: a foolishe daughter shalbe litle regarded.
A wyse daughter is an heritage vnto her husband: but she that co{m}meth to dishonestie, bringeth her father in heauinesse.
A daughter that is past shame, dishonoureth both her father and her husband: the vngodly shall regarde her, but they both shall despise her.
A tale out of time, is as musicke in mourning: but wysdome knoweth the seasons of correction and doctrine.
If children lyue honestly and haue wherewithall, they shall put away the shame of their parentes:
But if children be proude with hautines and foolishnes, they blot out the nobilitie of their kinred.
Who so teacheth a foole, is euen as one that gleweth a potsharde together, as one that telleth a tale to him that heareth him not, and as one that rayseth a man out of an heauy sleepe.
Who so telleth a foole of wysdome, is euen as a man which speaketh to one that is a sleepe: when he hath tolde his tale, he saith, What is the matter?
When one dyeth, lamentation is made for him, because the light fayleth him: euen so, let men mourne ouer a foole, for he wanteth vnderstanding. Make but litle weeping because of the dead, for he is come to rest: but the lyfe of the foole is worse then the death.
Seuen dayes do men mourne for him that is dead: but the lamentation ouer the vnwyse and vngodly should endure all the dayes of their lyfe.
Talke not much with a foole, and go not with him that hath no vnderstanding: beware of him, lest it turne thee to trauaile, and thou shalt not be defiled with his sinne. Depart from him, and thou shalt finde rest, and shalt not be drawen backe into his foolishnes.
What is heauier then leade? and what shoulde a foole be called els but leade?
Sande, salte, and a lumpe of iron is easier to beare, then an vnwyse, foolishe, and vngodly man.
Lyke as the bande of wood bounde together in the foundation of the house can not be loosed: euen so is it with the heart that is stablished in the thought of counsell. The thought of the wyse shall neuer feare, nor be offended at any time.
Lyke as a faire plastered wall in a winter house and a hye building may not abide the winde and storme: euen so is a fooles heart afraide in his imagination, he feareth at euery thing, and can not endure.
A wauering heart in the imagination of a foole wyll not euer stande in awe: but he that abideth in the commaundementes of God, wyll alway feare.
He that nippeth a mans eye, bringeth foorth teares: and he that pricketh the heart, bringeth foorth the meaning and thought.
Who so casteth a stone at the birdes, frayeth them away: and he that blasphemeth his freend, breaketh frendship.
Though thou drewest a sworde at thy freend, yet dispaire not: for thou mayst come againe to thy freend.
If he speake sourely, feare not: for ye may be agreed together againe, except it be that thou blaspheme him, disdayne him, open his secretes, and wounde him trayterouslie: for all such thinges shall dryue away a freend.
Be faithfull vnto thy neighbour in his pouertie, that thou mayst reioyce with him also in his prosperitie: abyde stedfast vnto him in the time of his trouble, that thou maist be heyre with him in his heritage: for pouertie is not alwayes to be contempned, nor the riche that is foolish to be had in estimation.
Lyke as the vapour and smoke goeth out at the ouen before the fire: euen so euill wordes, rebukes, and threatninges go before bloodshedding.
Be not ashamed to defende thy freend, as for me I wyll not hide my face from him though he should do me harme: whosoeuer heareth it, shall beware of him.
Who shal set a watch before my mouth, and a sure seale vpon my lippes, that I fall not with them, and that my tongue destroy me not?
O Lorde, father and gouernour of my lyfe, leaue me not in their imagination and counsell: Oh let me not fall in such reproofe.
Who wyll keepe my thought with the scourge, and the doctrine of wysdome in myne heart? that he spare not myne ignoraunce, that I fall not with them:
Lest myne ignoraunces increase, that myne offences be not many in number, and that my sinnes exceede not: lest I fall before myne enemies, and so my aduersarie reioyce, whose hope is farre fro{m} thy mercie.
O Lorde thou father and God of my lyfe, leaue me not in their imagination: O let me not haue a proude looke, but turne away all voluptuousnesse fro me.
Take from me the lustes of the body, let not the desires of vnclennesse take holde vpon me,
And geue me not ouer into an vnshamefast and obstinate minde.
Heare me O ye children, I wyll geue you a doctrine how ye shall order your mouth: who so kepeth it shal not perishe through his lippes, nor be hurt through wicked workes.
As for the sinner, he shalbe taken in his owne vanitie: he that is proude and cursed, shall fall therein.
Let not thy mouth be accustomed with swearing, for in it there are many fals: let not the naming of God be continually in thy mouth, and meddle not with the names of sainctes, for thou shalt not be excused of them.
For lyke as a seruaunt which is oft punished, can not be without some sore: euen so whatsoeuer he be that sweareth and nameth God, shall not be cleane purged from sinne.
A man that vseth much swearing shal be filled with wickednesse, & the plague shall neuer go from his house: if he beguile his brother, his fault shalbe vpon him, if he knowledge not his sinne, he maketh a double offence, & if he sweare in vaine, he shall not be founde righteous: for his house shalbe full of plagues.
The wordes of the swearer bringeth death, God graunt that it be not founde in the house of Iacob: but they that feare God eschue all such, and lye not weltering in sinne.
Vse not thy mouth to vnhonest & filthy talking, for in it is the word of sinne.
Remember thy father and thy mother when thou art set among great men: lest God forget thee in their sight, and lest thou doting in thy custome, suffer rebuke, and wishe not to haue ben borne, and so curse the day of thy natiuitie.
The man that is accustomed with the wordes of blasphemie, will neuer be refourmed all the dayes of his lyfe.
To sinne twise is to much, but the third bringeth wrath and destruction: An hot stomacke can not be quenched (euen like a burning fire) til it haue swalowed vp some thing: euen so an vnchaste man hath no rest in his fleshe, till he haue kindled a fire.
All bread is sweete to an whoremonger, he will not leaue of till he dye.
A man that breaketh wedlocke, and regardeth not his soule, but sayth, Tushe who seeth me? I am compassed about with darkenesse, the walles couer me, no body seeth me, whom neede I to feare? the hyghest will not remember my sinnes:
He vnderstandeth not that his eyes see all thinges, for all such feare of men dryueth away the feare of God from hym: for he feareth onely the eyes of men, and considereth not that the eyes of the Lord are clearer then the sunne, beholding all the wayes of men, & the ground of the deepe, and loking euen to mens heartes in secrete places.
The Lorde God knewe all thinges or euer they were made, and after they be brought to passe also he loketh vpon them all.
The same man shalbe openly punished in the streetes of the citie, & shalbe chased abrode lyke a young horse foale: and when he thinketh least vpon it, he shalbe taken.
Thus shall he be put to shame of euery man, because he woulde not vnderstand the feare of the Lorde: And thus shal it go also with euery wyfe that leaueth her husbande, and getteth inheritaunce by a straunge mariage.
First, she hath ben vnfaythful vnto the lawe of the hyghest: secondly, she hath forsaken her owne husbande: thyrdly, she hath played the whore in adultrie, & gotten her children by an other man.
She shalbe brought out of the congregation, and her children shalke loked vpon.
Her children shal not take roote: and as for fruite her braunches shall bring foorth none.
A shamefull report shall she leaue behinde her, and her dishonour shall not be put out.
And they that remayne, shall knowe that there is nothing better then the feare of God, and that there is nothing sweeter then to take heed vnto the commaundementes of the Lorde.
A great worship is it to folow the Lord: for long lyfe shalbe receaued of hym.
WYsdome shall prayse her selfe, and be honoured in God, & reioyce in the middest of the people:
In the congregations of the hyghest shall she open her mouth, and triumph in the beholding of his power.
In the middest of her people shall she be exalted, and wondred at in the holy fulnesse.
In the multitude of the chosen she shalbe commended, and among such as be blessed she shalbe praysed, and shal say,
I am come out of the mouth of the hyghest, first borne before all creatures.
I caused the light that fayleth not to aryse in the heauen, and couered all the earth as a cloude.
My dwelling is aboue in the heygth, and my seate is in the pyller of the cloude.
I my selfe alone haue gone round about the compasse of heauen, and pearled the grounde of the deepe.
I haue walked in the fluddes of the sea, and haue stande in all landes, my dominion is in euery people and in euery nation, and with my power haue I troden downe the heartes of all, both hye and lowe.
In all these thinges also I sought rest, and a dwelling in some inheritaunce.
So the creator of all thinges gaue me a commaundement, and he that made me, appoynted me a tabernacle, and sayd vnto me: Let thy dwelling be in Iacob, and thine inheritaunce in Israel, & roote thy selfe among my chosen.
I was created from the beginning and before the world, and shall not leaue of vnto the world to come: In the holy habitation haue I serued before hym, and so was I stablished in Sion.
In the holy citie rested I in like maner, and in Hierusalem was my power.
I toke roote in an honorable people, euen in the portion of the Lorde and in his heritage, and kept me in the fulnesse of the sainctes.
I am set vp an hye like a Cedar vpon Libanus, and as a Cipers tree vpon the mount Hermon.
I am exalted lyke a palme tree in Cades, and as a rose plant in Iericho, as a fayre Oliue tree in the fielde, and am exalted like as a plantaine tree by the water side.
I haue geuen a smell in the streetes as the Cinamon and Balme that hath so good a sauour, yea a sweet odour haue I geuen as it were myrre of the best: I haue made my dwellinges to smell as it were of Rosin, Galbanum, of Cloues, Insence, and as Libanus when it is not hewen downe, and myne odour is as the pure balme.
As the Terebint haue I stretched out my braunches, and my braunches are the braunches of honour and louing fauour.
As the vine haue I brought foorth fruite of a sweete sauour, & my floures are the fruite of honour and riches.
I am the mother of beautie, of loue, of feare, of knowledge, and of holy hope: I geue eternall thinges to all my children to whom God hath commaunded.
In me is all grace of lyfe and trueth, in me is all hope of lyfe and vertue.
O come vnto me al ye that be desirous of me, & fill your selues with my fruites.
For my spirite is sweeter then hony, and so is myne inheritaunce more then the hony combe: the remembraunce of me endureth for euer more.
They that eate me, shall haue the more hunger: and they that drinke me, shall thirst the more.
Who so hearkeneth vnto me, shall not come to confusion, and they that worke in me shall not offende: they that take me to be knowen, shall haue euerlasting lyfe.
All these thinges are the booke of lyfe, the couenaunt of the highest, and the knowledge of the trueth: Moyses commaunded the lawe in the preceptes of righteousnesse for an heritage vnto the house of Iacob, and committed the promise vnto Israel.
Be not weery to behaue yourselues valiauntly with the Lord, that he may also confirme you: Cleaue vnto him, for the Lord almightie is but one God, and besides hym there is none other sauiour.
(Out of Dauid his seruaunt he ordeyned to rayse vp a most mightie king, sitting in the seate of honour for euermore.)
This filleth with wysdome, lyke as the fludde of Phison, and as the fludde of Tigris when the newe fruites are a growing.
This bringeth a plenteous vnderstanding like Euphrates, and filleth it vp as Iordane in the time of haruest.
This maketh nurture to breake foorth as the light, and as the water Gehon in the haruest.
The first hath not knowen her perfectly: no more shall the last seke out the grounde of her.
For her thought is fuller then the sea, and her counsell is profounder then the great deepe.
I wysdome haue cast out fluddes, I am as a great water brooke out of the riuer, I am as the riuer Dorir, and as a water conduite am I come out of the garden of pleasure.
I sayde, I will water the garden of my young plantes, and fil the fruite of my byrth: So my water brooke became exceeding great, and my riuer approched vnto the sea.
For I make doctrine to be vnto al men as light as the faire morning, and I shal make it to be euer the clearer.
I will pearse thorowe all the lower parties of the earth, I will loke vpon al such as be a sleepe, and lighten all them that put their trust in the Lorde.
I shall yet powre out doctrine lyke as prophecie, and leaue it vnto such as seke after wysdome, and their generations shall I neuer fayle vnto the holy euerlasting worlde.
Beholde howe that I haue not laboured for my selfe onely: but for all them that seke after the trueth.
THree thinges there are that my spirite fauoureth, which be also alowed before God and men: The vnitie of brethren, the loue of neyghbours, a man and wyfe that agree well together.
Three thinges there be which my soule hateth, and I vtterly abhorre the life of them: A poore man that is proude, a riche man that is a lyar, and an old body that doteth and is vnchaste.
If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, what wilt thou find then in thine age?
O howe pleasaunt a thing is it when gray headed men are discrete, and when the elders can geue good counsell?
O howe comely a thing is wisdome vnto aged men? yea, vnderstanding & counsel to men of honour is a glorious thing.
The crowne of olde men, is to haue much experience: and the feare of God, is their worship.
There be nyne thinges which I haue iudged in my heart to be happy, and the tenth will I tell foorth vnto men with my tongue: A man that whyle he liueth hath ioy of his children, and seeth the fal of his enemies.
Well is hym that dwelleth with an houswyfe of vnderstanding, and that hath not fallen with his tongue, and that hath not ben fayne to serue such as are vnmeete for him.
Well is hym that findeth a faythfull friend: and well is him which talketh of wysdome to an eare that heareth hym.
O howe great is he that findeth wysdome and knowledge? Yet is he not aboue him that feareth the Lorde.
The feare of God hath set it selfe aboue all thinges.
Blessed is the man vnto whom it is graunted to haue the feare of God: vnto whom shall he be likened that kepeth it fast?
The feare of God is the beginning of his loue: and the beginning of fayth, is to cleaue fast vnto it.
The heauinesse of the heart is all the punishement, and the wickednesse of a woman goeth aboue all.
All punishement and plague is nothing in comparison of the plague of the heart: euen so, al wickednesse is nothing to the wickednesse of a woman.
What so euer happeneth vnto a man, is nothing in comparison of it that his euil willers do vnto him: and al vengeaunce is nothing to the vengeaunce of the enemie.
There is not a more wicked head then the head of the serpent: and there is no wrath aboue the wrath of a woman.
I wyll rather dwel with a lion and dragon, then to kepe house with a wicked wyfe.
The wickednesse of a woman chaungeth her face, she shal moffle her countetaunce as it were a beare, and as a sacke shal she shew it among the neyghbours.
Her husbande is brought to shame among his neyghbours because of her: & when he heareth it, it maketh him to sigh.
All wickednesse is but litle to the wickednesse of a woman: the portion of the vngodly shall fall vpon her.
Lyke as the clymyng vp a sandy way is to the feete of the aged: euen so is a wife full of wordes to a still quiete man.
Loke not to narowly vpon the beautie of a woman, lest thou be prouoked in desire towarde her.
The wrath of a woman is dishonour and great confusion: If a woman get the mastrie, then is she contrarie to her husbande.
A wicked wyfe maketh a sory heart, an heauy countenaunce, and a dead wound: Weake handes & feeble knees is a woman that her husband is not the better for.
Of the woman came the beginning of sinne, & thorowe her we all are dead.
Geue thy water no passage, no not a litle, neither geue a wicked woman her will.
If she walke not after thy hande, she shall confounde thee in the sight of th•e enemies: Cut her of then from thy fleshe, that she do not alway abuse thee▪
HAppy is the man that hath a vertuous wyfe: for the nu{m}ber of his yeres shalbe double.
An honest woman maketh her husbande a ioyfull man, and she shall fill the yeres of his lyfe in peace.
A vertuous woman is a noble gift, whiche shalbe geuen for a good portion vnto such as feare God:
Whether a man be riche or poore, he may haue euer a mery heart, & a cheareful countenaunce.
There be three thinges that my heart feareth, and my face is afrayde of the fourth: treason in a citie, a seditious people, and noysome tongues: all these are heauyer then the death.
When one woman is ielous ouer an other, it bringeth payne and sorowe vnto the heart: and a woman that telleth out all thinges, is a scourge of the tongue.
When one hath an euyll wyfe, it is euen as when an vnlyke payre of oxen must drawe together: he that getteth her, getteth a scorpion.
A drunken woman is a great plague: for she can not couer her owne shame.
The whordome of a woman may be knowen in the pryde of her eyes and eye liddes.
If thy daughter be not shamefast, hold her straytly, lest she abuse her selfe thorowe ouer much libertie.
Beware of all the dishonestie of her eyes, & maruel not if she do against thee.
As a way faring man that is thirstie, when he hath founde a well drinketh of euery water: so will she sit downe by euery hedge, and make her selfe common to euery man that passeth by.
A louing wyfe reioyceth her husbande, & feedeth his bones with her wysdome.
A woman of fewe wordes is a gift of God: to all nurtured myndes may nothing be compared.
An honest and manerly woman is a gift aboue other giftes: and there is no wayght to be compared vnto a minde that can rule it selfe.
Like as the sunne when it ariseth, is an ornament in the hie heauen of the Lord: so is a vertuous wyfe the beautie of all her house.
Like as the cleare light is vpon the holy candelsticke: so is the beautie of the face vpon an honest body.
Like as the golden pillers are vpon the sockettes of siluer: so are the fayre feete vpon a woman that hath a constant mynde.
Perpetual are the foundations that be layed vpon a whole stony rocke: so are the commaundementes of God vpon the heart of an holy woman.
There be two thinges that greeue my heart, & in the thirde is displeasure come vpo{n} me: When an experte man of warre suffreth scarsenesse and pouertie, when men of vnderstanding and wisdome are not set by, and when one departeth from righteousnesse vnto sinne: Who so doth such, the Lorde hath prepared him vnto the sworde.
There be two maner of thinges which me thinke to be harde and perilous: A marchaunt can not lightly kepe hym from wrong, neither a tauerner hym selfe from sinne.
BEcause of pouertie haue many one offended: and he that seketh to be riche, turneth his eyes asyde.
Lyke as a nayle in the wal sticketh fast betwixt two stones: euen so doth sinne sticke betwixt the bier and the seller.
If he holde him not diligently in the feare of the Lorde, his house shall soone be ouerthrowen.
Lyke as when one sifteth, the filthynesse remayneth in the syue: So remayneth there some vncleane thing in the thought of man.
The ouen proueth the potters vessel: so doth temptation of trouble trye righteous men.
The tree of the fielde is knowen by his fruite: so is the thought of mans heart knowen by his wordes.
Prayse no man except thou haue heard him: for a man is knowen by his wordes.
If thou folowest righteousnes, thou shalt get her, and put her vpon thee as a fayre garment: and thou shalt dwell with her, and she shall defende thee for euer, and in the day of knowledge thou shalt finde stedfastnesse.
The byrdes resorte vnto their lyke: so doth the trueth turne vnto them that be occupied withall.
The lion wayteth the pray: so doth sinne vpon them that worke vnrighteousnesse.
The talking of him that feareth God, is nothing but wysdome: as for a foole he chaungeth as the moone.
If thou be among the vndiscrete, kepe thy wordes to a conuenient time: but among such as be wise, speake on hardyly.
The talking of fooles is abhomination, and their sport is volupteousnesse and misnurture.
Much swearing maketh the heere to stande vp: and to stryue with such, stoppeth the •ares.
The stryfe of the proude is bloodshedding, and their blaspheming is heauy to heare.
Who so discouereth secretes, leeseth his credence, and fyndeth no friende after his will.
Loue thy friende, and binde thy selfe in faythfulnesse with him: but if thou bewrayest his secretes, thou shalt not get him againe.
For like as the man is that destroyeth his enemie: so is he also that dealeth falsly in the friendship of his neyghbour.
Like as one that letteth a byrde go out of his hande, can not take her againe: Euen so thou, if thou geue ouer thy friende, thou canst not get him againe.
Yea thou canst not come by him, for he is to farre of: He is vnto thee as a Roe escaped out of the snare, for his soule is wounded.
As for woundes, they may be bounde vp againe, and an euyll worde may be reconciled: but who so bewrayeth the secretes of a friende, there is no more hope to be had vnto him.
He that winketh with the eyes, imagineth some euyll: and he that knoweth him, will let him alone.
When thou art present, he shall hyghlie commende and prayse thy wordes: but at the last he shall turne his tayle, and sclaunder thy saying.
Many thinges haue I hated, but nothing so euyll: for the Lorde him selfe also abhorreth such a one.
Who so casteth a stone an hye, it shal fal vpon his owne head: and he that smyteth with guyle, woundeth him selfe.
Who so diggeth a pit shall fall therein, and he that layeth a stone in his neyghbours way, shall stumble theron, and he that layeth a snare for another, shall be taken in it him selfe.
Who so geueth a wicked noisome counsell, it shall come vpon hymselfe, and he shall not knowe from whence.
The proude blaspheme and are scorneful: but vengeaunce lurketh for them as a lion.
They that reioyce at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare: anguishe of heart shall consume them before they dye.
Anger and rigorousnesse are two abhominable thinges, and the vngodly hath them both vpon hym.
HE that seketh vengeaunce, shal find vengeaunce of the Lorde, which shal surely kepe hym his sinnes.
Forgeue thy neyghbour the hurt that he hath done thee, and so shal thy sinnes be forgeuen thee also when thou prayest.
A man that beareth hatred against another, how dare he desire forgeuenesse of God?
He that sheweth no mercie to a man which is like him selfe, how dare he aske forgeuenesse of his sinnes?
If he that is but fleshe, beareth hatred and kepeth it, who will intreate for his sinnes?
Remember the ende, and let enmitie passe whiche seketh death and destruction, and abyde thou in the commaundementes.
Remember the commaundementes, so shalt thou not be rigorous ouer thy neyghbour: Thinke vpon the couenaunt of the hyghest, and forgeue thy neyghbours ignoraunce.
Beware of stryfe, and thou shalt make thy sinnes fewer.
For an angry man kindleth variaunce: and the vngodly disquieteth friendes, and putteth discorde among them that be at peace.
The more wood there is, the more vehement is the fire, and the mightier that men be, the greater is the wrath: according to his riches his anger increaseth, and the longer the stryfe endureth, the more it burneth.
And hastie brawling kindleth a fyre, and an hastie stryfe sheddeth blood: A tongue also that beareth false witnesse, bringeth death.
If thou blow the sparke it shall burne, yf thou spyt vpon it, it shall go foorth, and both these come out of the mouth.
The sclaunderer and doubble tongued is cursed: for many one that be friendes, setteth he at variaunce.
The thirde tongue hath disquieted many one, and dryuen them from one lande to another: Strong cities of the riche hath it broken downe, and ouerthrowen the houses of great men: The strength of the people hath it brought downe, and ben the decay of mightie nations.
The thirde tongue hath cast out many an honest woman, and robbed them of their labours.
Who so hearkeneth vnto such, shal neuer finde rest, and neuer dwell safely.
The stroke of the rod maketh printes in the skinne: but the stroke of the tongue smyteth the bones in sunder.
There be many that haue perished with the sworde: but many mo thorow the tongue.
Well is him that is kept from an euyll tongue, and commeth not in the anger thereof, which draweth not the yoke of such, and is not bounde in the bandes of it.
For the yoke therof is of yron, and the bande of it of steele.
The death therof is a very euyl death: hell were better for one, then such a tongue.
But the fire of it may not oppresse them that feare God, and the flambe thereof may not burne them.
Such as forsake the Lorde, shall fall therin, and it shall burne them, and no man shall be able to quenche it: It shall fall vpon them as a lion, and deuour them as a leoparde.
Thou hedgest thy goodes with thornes: why doest thou not rather make doores and barres for thy mouth?
Thou wayest thy gold and siluer: why doest thou not waye thy wordes also vpon thy balaunce, and make a doore, and a barre, and a sure brydell for thy mouth?
Beware that thou slide not thy tongue, and so fal before thyne enemies that lay wayte for thee, and thy fal be incurable, euen vnto death.
WHo so will shewe mercie, let hym lende vnto his neyghbour: and he that is able, let him kepe the commaundementes.
Lend vnto thy neyghbour in time of his neede, and paye thou thy neyghbour againe in due season.
Kepe thy worde, and deale faythfully with him: and thou shalt alway finde the thing that is necessarie for thee.
There haue ben many, that when a thing was lent them, reckened it to be founde, and made them trauayle and labour that had helped them.
Whyle they receaue any thing, they kisse the handes of such as geue them, and for their neyghbours good they humble their voyce: but when they should paye againe, they kepe it backe, and geue euyl wordes, and make many excuses by reason of the time.
And though he be able, yet geueth he scarse the halfe againe, and reckeneth the other to be founde: And if he withholde not his money, yet hath he an enemie of him, and that vndeserued: He payeth him with cursing and rebuke, and geueth him euyll wordes for his good deede.
There be many one which are not glad for to lende, not because of euyl: but they feare to lose the thing that they lende.
Yet haue thou patience with the simple, and withholde not mercie from him.
Helpe the poore for the commaundementes sake, and let hym not go emptie from thee, because of his necessitie.
Lose thy money for thy brother and neyghbours sake, and burie it not vnder a stone where it rusteth and corrupteth.
Gather thy treasure after the commaundement of the hyghest, and so shal it bring thee more profite then golde.
Lay vp thyne almes in the hande of the poore, and it shall kepe thee from all euyll.
A mans almes is as a purse with him, & shal kepe a mans fauour as the apple of an eye: and afterwarde shall it arise and paye euery man his rewarde vpon his head.
It shall fight for thee against thyne enemies, better then the shielde of a gyaunt or speare of the mightie.
A good honest man is a suertie for his neyghbour, but a wicked person: letteth him come to shame.
Forget not the friendship of thy suertie: for he hath geuen his soule for thee.
The vngodly despiseth the good deede of his suertie.
The wicked will not become suertie, and the vnthankeful and ignoraunt leaueth his suertie in daunger.
Some man promiseth for his neyghbour: & when he hath lost his honestie, he shall forsake him.
Suertishippe hath destroyed many a riche man, and remoued them as the waues in the sea: Mightie people hath it dryuen away, and caused them to wander in straunge countreys.
An vngodly man transgressing the commaundement of the Lorde, shall fal into an euyll suertiship: and though he force him selfe to get out, yet shall he fall into iudgement.
Helpe thy neyghbour out after thy power, and beware that thou thy selfe fall not in such debte.
The chiefe thing that kepeth in thy life, is water, & bread, clothing, and lodging, to couer the shame.
Better is it to haue a poore lyuing in a mans owne house, then delicate fare among the straunge.
Be it litle or much that thou hast, hold thee content withall: and thou shalt not be blamed as a vagabounde.
For a miserable lyfe is it to go from house to house, and where a man is seemde, he dare not open his mouth.
Though one be lodged, & haue meate and drinke, yet shall he be taken as vnworthy, and heare many bytter rough wordes, [namely thus:]
Go thy way thou straunger, and prepare a table for thy selfe, and feede me also of that thou hast.
Geue place thou straunger to an honorable man, my brother commeth into my house, and so telleth him the necessitie of his house.
These thinges are heauy to a man that hath vnderstanding: [namely] the forbidding of the house, and that the lender casteth him in the teeth.
WHo so loueth his child, holdeth hym still vnder correction, that he may haue ioy of him afterwarde, and that he grope not after his neyghbours doores.
He that teacheth his sonne shall haue ioy in hym, and neede not to be ashamed of him among his aquayntaunce.
Who so enfourmeth and teacheth his sonne, greeueth the enemie: and before his friendes he may haue ioy of him.
Though his father dye, yet is he as though he were not dead: for he hath left one behinde him that is like hym.
In his lyfe he sawe him and had ioy in him, and was not sory in his death, neither was he ashamed before the enemies.
For he left behynde hym an auenger against his enemies, and a good doer vnto the friendes.
For the lyfe of children, he shall bynde the woundes together, and his heart is greeued at euery crye.
An vntamed horse will be harde, and a wanton childe will be wilfull.
If thou bring vp thy sonne delicately, he shal make thee afrayde: and if thou play with hym, he shall bring thee to heauinesse.
Laugh not with hym, lest thou wepe with hym also, & lest thou gnashe with thy teeth at the last.
Geue him no libertie in his youth, and excuse not his follie.
Bowe downe his necke whyle he is young, hyt him vpon the sides whyle he is yet but a childe, lest he waxe stubburne, & geue no more force of thee, & so shalt thou haue heauinesse of soule.
Teach thy childe, and be diligent therein, lest it be to thy shame.
Better is the poore beyng whole and strong, then a man to be riche, and not to haue his health:
Health and welfare is aboue all golde, and a whole body aboue all treasure.
There is no riches aboue a sounde body, and no ioy aboue the ioy of the heart.
Death is better then a bitter lyfe, and eternall rest better then continuall sickenesse.
The good thinges that are put in a close mouth, are lyke as when meate is layde vpon the graue.
What good doth the offering vnto an idoll? for he can neither eate, tast, nor smell: Euen so is he that is chased of the Lorde, and beareth the rewardes of iniquitie.
He seeth with his eyes, and groneth like a gelded man, that lyeth with a virgin, and sygheth.
Geue not ouer thy mynde into heauinesse, and vexe not thy selfe in thyne owne counsell.
The ioy & chearefulnesse of the heart is the lyfe of man, and a mans gladnesse is the prolonging of his dayes.
Loue thyne owne soule, and comfort thyne heart: as for sorowe & heauinesse, dryue it farre from thee, for heauinesse hath slayne many a man, and bringeth no profite.
Zeale and anger shorten the dayes of the lyfe: carefulnesse and sorowe bring age before the time.
Vnto a mery heart euery thing hath a good tast that he eateth.
TRauaile and carefulnesse for riches taketh away the sleepe, and maketh the fleshe to consume.
When one lyeth and taketh care, he waketh euer vp, lyke as a great sicknesse breaketh the sleepe.
The rich hath great labour in gathering his riches together, and then with the pleasure of his riches he taketh his rest and is refreshed.
But who so laboureth and prospereth not, he is poore: and though he leaue of, yet is he a begger.
He that loueth riches, shal not be iustified: and who so foloweth corruption, shall haue inough thereof.
Many one are come in great misfortune by the reason of golde, and haue founde their destruction before them.
It is a tree of falling vnto them that offer it vp, and all such as be foolishe fal therein.
Blessed is the rich which is founde without blemishe, & hath not gone after golde, nor hoped in money & treasures.
Where is there such a one, and we shal commend him and call him blessed? for wonderfull thinges doth he among his people.
Who so is tryed and founde perfect in such thinges, shalbe commended and praysed: who might offende, and hath not offended? who coulde do euill, and hath not done it?
Therfore shall his good be stablished, and the whole congregation shall declare his almes.
If thou sit at a great mans table, open not thy mouth wide vpon it, and say not there is much meate on it.
Remember that an euil eye is a shrewe: What thing created is worse then a wicked eye? therefore weepeth it before euery mans face?
Laye not thyne hande vpon euery thing that thyne eye seeth: and striue not with him in the dishe.
Ponder by thy selfe what thy neighbour would faine haue, and be discreete in euery poynt.
Eate the thing that is set before thee manerlie as it becommeth a man, and eate not to much, lest thou be abhorred.
Leaue thou of first of al, because of nurture, lest thou be he whom no man may satisfie, which may turne to thy decay.
When thou sittest among many men, reache not thyne hand out first of al, neither call thou first for drinke.
O how well content is a wyse man with a litle wine? so that in sleepe thou shalt not be sicke thereof, nor feele any payne.
A sweete holsome sleepe shall such a one haue, and feele no inwarde greese, he ryseth vp betimes in the morning, and is wel at ease in him selfe: but an vnsatiable eater sleepeth vnquietly, and hath ache and payne of the body.
If thou feelest that thou hast eaten to much, arise, go thy way, cast it of thy stomacke, and take thy rest: and it shall ease thee, so that thou shalt bring no sicknesse vnto thy body.
My sonne heare me, and despise me not, and at the last thou shalt finde as I haue tolde thee: In all thy workes be diligent and quicke, so shall there no sicknesse happen vnto thee.
Who so is liberall in dealing out his meate, many men shall blesse him, and prayse him with their lippes: and the same is a sure token of his loue & faithfulnesse.
But he that is vnfaithfull in meate, the whole citie shall complaine of him: and that is a sure experience of his infidelitie and wickednesse.
Shewe not thy valiantnes in wine, for wine hath destroyed many a man.
The fire prooueth the hard iron: euen so doth wine prooue the heartes of the proude, when they be druncken.
Wine soberly druncken, quickeneth the lyfe of man: If thou drinkest it measurably, thou shalt be temperate: What is the lyfe of him that is ouercome 〈◊〉 wine? what taketh away the lyfe? euen death.
Wine was made from the beginning to make men glad, and not for drunkennesse: wine measurably drunken is a reioycing of the soule and body: A measurable drinking is health to soule and body.
But if it be druncken with excesse, it maketh bitternesse and sorowe vnto the minde.
Drunkennesse filleth the minde of the foolishe with shame & ruine, minisheth the strength, and maketh woundes.
Rebuke not thy neighbour at the wine, and despise him not in his mirth: Geue him no dispitefull wordes, and preasse not vpon him with contrary sayinges.
IF thou be made a ruler, pride not thy selfe therein, but be thou as one of the people: take diligent care for them, and loke well thereto.
And when thou hast done all thy dueie, sit thee downe, that thou mayst be mery with them, and receaue a crowne of honour.
Speake thou that art the elder, for it becommeth thee, but with sure knowledge: hinder not musicke.
Speake not where there is no audience: and poure not foorth wysdome out of time at an importunitie.
Lyke as the carbuncle stone shineth that is set in golde: so doth a song garnishe the wine feaste.
And as the Smaradge that is set in golde: so is the sweetenes of musicke by the mirth of wine.
Geue eare and be still, and for thy good behauour thou shalt be loued.
Thou young man speake that becommeth thee, and that is profitable, and yet scarse when thou art twyse asked.
Comprehe{n}de much with fewe wordes, in many thinges be as one that is ignoraunt: geue eare and holde thy tongue withall.
If thou be among men of high aucthoritie, desire not to compare thy selfe vnto the{m}: and when an elder speaketh, make not thou many wordes therein.
Before the thunder, goeth lightening: and before nurture and shamefastnesse, goeth loue and fauour.
Stand vp betimes, and be not the last: but get thee home soone,
And there take thy pastime, and do what thou wilt: so that thou do no euil, and defie no man.
But for all thinges geue thankes vnto him that hath made thee, and replenished thee with his goodes.
Who so feareth the Lord, wyl receaue his doctrine: and they that get them to him betimes, shall finde grace.
He that seeketh the law, shall be filled withal: as for him that is but fayned, he wyll be offended thereat.
They that feare the Lorde shall finde the iudgement, and their righteousnesse shalbe kindled as a light.
An vngodly man wyll not be refourmed, but can helpe him selfe with the example of other in his purpose.
A man of vnderstanding despiseth no good counsaile: but a wylde and proude body hath no feare, yea euen when he hath dealt rashly with another man: but his owne doinges shalbe his rebuke.
My sonne, do nothing without aduisement: so shall it not repent thee after the deede.
Go not in the way where thou mayst fall, nor where thou mayst stumble against the stone: againe, neither trust thou to the way that is playne.
And beware of thyne owne children, and take heede of them that be of thyne owne householde.
In all thy workes put thy trust in God from thy whole heart: for that is the keeping of the commaundementes.
Who so beleueth gods worde, taketh heede to the commaundementes: and he that putteth his trust in the Lorde, shall want nothing.
THere shall no euil happen vnto him that feareth God: but when he is in temptation, the Lorde shall deliuer him, & keepe him from euill.
A wyse man hateth not the lawe: but an hypocrite is as a ship in raging water.
A man of vnderstanding geueth credence vnto the lawe of God, and the law is faithfull vnto him.
Be sure of the matter, then talke therof: be first wel instructe, then mayst thou geue aunswere.
The heart of the foolishe, is lyke a cart wheele, and his thoughtes runne about lyke the axeltree.
Lyke as a wylde horse that neyeth vnder euery one that sitteth vpon him, so it is with a scornefull friende.
Why doth one day excell an other, seeing all the dayes of the yere come of the sunne?
The wysdome of the Lorde hath so parted them a sunder, and so hath he ordayned the times and solempne feastes.
Some of them hath he chosen and halowed before other dayes.
And all men are made of the grounde, and out of the earth of Adam: In the multitude of science hath the Lorde sundred them, and made their wayes of diuers fashions.
Some of them hath he blessed, made much of them, halowed them, and claymed them to him selfe: but some of them hath he cursed, brought them low, and put them out of their estate.
Lyke as the claye is in the potters hande, and all the ordering therof at his pleasure: so are men also in the hande of him that made them, so that he may geue them as lyketh him best.
Against euil is good, and against death is lyfe: so is the vngodlie against such as feare God.
Beholde, these are the workes of the hiest, and there are euen two against two, and one set against another.
I am awaked vp last of al, as one that gathereth after in haruest: in the giftes of God and in his blessing I am increased, and haue filled my wine presse, lyke a grape gatherer.
Beholde how I haue not laboured onely for my selfe, but for all such as loue nurture and wysdome.
Heare me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your eares ye rulers of the congregation.
Geue not thy sonne, and wyfe, thy brother, and friend, power ouer thee whyle thou liuest: and geue not away thy substaunce & good to another, lest it repent thee, and thou be faine to aske of them againe.
As long as thou lyuest and hast breath let no man chaunge thee.
For better it is thy children to pray thee, then that thou shouldest be faine to loke in their handes.
In all thy workes be excellent, that thy honour be neuer stayned.
At the time when thou shalt ende thy dayes and finishe thy lyfe, distribute thyne inheritaunces.
The fodder, the whippe, and the burthen belongeth vnto the asse: meate, correction, and worke vnto the seruaunt.
If thou set thy seruaunt to labour, thou shalt finde rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seeke libertie.
The yoke and the whippe bowe downe the hard necke: but tame thou thy euill seruaunt with bondes and correction.
Sende him to labour, that he go not idle: for idlenesse bringeth much euill.
Set him to worke, for that belongeth vnto him, and becommeth him wel.
If he be not obedient, binde his feete: but do not to much vnto him in any wyse, and without discretion do nothing.
If thou haue a [faithfull] seruaunt, let him be vnto thee as thyne owne soule: entreate him as a brother, for in blood hast thou gotten him: if thou haue a seruaunt holde him as thy selfe, for thou hast neede of him as of thy selfe:
If thou intreatest him euil, and kepest him hard, and makest him to be proude, and to runne away from thee, thou canst not tell what way thou shalt seeke him.
VNwyse people beguile them selues with vaine and deceitfull hope, and fooles trust in dreames.
Who so regardeth dreames, is lyke him that wyll take holde of a shadowe, and folowe after the winde.
Euen so is it with the appearinges of dreames: before the face is the lykenesse of a face.
Who can be cleansed of the vncleane? or what trueth can be spoken of a lyer?
Soothsaying, witchcrafte, sorcerie, and dreaming is but vaine: lyke as when a woman trauayleth with childe, & hath many fantasies in her heart.
Where as such visions come not of God, set not thyne heart vpon them:
For dreames haue deceaued many a man, and they failed that put their trust therein.
The lawe shalbe fulfilled without lyes, & wysdome is sufficient to a faithfull mouth: what knowledge hath he that is not tryed?
A wyse man that is well instruct, vnderstandeth much: and he that hath good experience, can talke of wysdome.
He that hath no experience, knoweth litle, and he that erreth, causeth much wickednesse: he that is not tryed, what thinges knoweth he? he that hath ben deceaued, is full of subtiltie.
When I was yet in errour, I learned much also: yea, I was so learned, that I could not expresse it all,
And came oft in perill of death therefore, tyll I was delyuered from it through the grace of God.
Now I see that they which feare God, haue the right spirit, for their hope standeth in him that can helpe them: and the eyes of the Lorde are on them that loue him.
Who so feareth the Lorde, standeth in awe of no man, and is not afraide: for the Lorde is his hope and comforte.
Blessed is the soule of him that feareth the lord: in whom putteth he his trust? who is his strength?
For the eyes of the Lord haue respect vnto them that loue him, he is their mightie protection and strong grounde: A defence for the heate, a refuge for the hot noone day, a succour for stumbling, and an helpe for falling.
He setteth vp the soule, and lighteneth the eyes: he geueth lyfe and blessing.
He that geueth an offering of vnrighteous good, his offering is refused: and the scornefull dealinges of the vnrighteous please not God.
The Lorde is theirs onely that patiently abide him in the way of the trueth and of righteousnesse.
The highest doth not alowe the giftes of the wicked: and God hath no delight in the offeringes of the vngodly, neither may sinne be reconciled in the multitude of oblations.
Who so bringeth an offering out of the goodes of the poore, doth euen as one that killeth the sonne before the fathers eyes.
The bread of the nedefull, is the lyfe of the poore: he that defraudeth him thereof, is a man of blood.
Who so robbeth his neighbour of his lyuing, doth as great sinne as though he slue him to death: he that defraudeth the labourer of his hyre, is a blood shedder.
When one buildeth and an other breaketh downe: what profite haue they then but labour?
When one prayeth and another curseth, whose voyce wyl the Lorde heare?
He that washeth him selfe because of a dead body, and then toucheth the dead againe, what doth his washing?
So is it with a man that fasteth for his sinnes, and doth them againe: who wyll heare his prayer? or what doth his fasting helpe him?
WHo so kepeth the lawe, bringeth offeringes inough: he that holdeth fast the co{m}maundement, offereth the right health offering.
He that is thankefull and recompenceth, offereth fine floure: who so is merciful and geueth almes, that is the right thanke offering.
God hath pleasure when one departeth from sinne: and to forsake vnrighteousnesse, reconcileth vs with him.
Thou shalt not appeare emptie before the Lorde:
For al such is done because of the commaundement of God.
The offering of the righteous maketh the aulter fat, and a sweete smell is it before the highest.
The offering of the righteous is acceptable vnto God, and shall neuer be forgotten.
Geue God his honour with a chearefull heart: and keepe not backe the firstlinges of thyne handes.
In all thy giftes shewe a chearefull countenaunce, and halowe thy tythes vnto God with gladnesse.
Geue vnto God according as he hath enriched and prospered thee: and loke what thyne hande is able, geue with a chearefull eye.
For the Lorde recompenceth, and geueth thee seuen times as much againe.
Geue no vnrighteous giftes, for such wyll he not receaue: Beware of wrong offeringes, for the Lorde is a righteous iudge, and regardeth no mans person.
He accepteth not the person of the poore: but he heareth the prayer of the oppressed.
He despiseth not the desire of the fatherlesse, nor the wydowe when she powreth out her prayer before him.
Doth not God see the teares that runne downe the cheekes of the wydowe? or heareth he not the complaint ouer such as make her to weepe? For from her cheekes do the teares go vp vnto heauen, and the Lord which heareth them doth accept them.
Who so serueth God after his pleasure, shalbe accepted: and his prayer reacheth vnto the cloudes.
The prayer of him that humbleth him selfe, goeth through the cloudes: tell she come nye she wyll not be comforted, nor go her way tyll the highest God haue respect vnto her, geue true sente{n}ce, and perfourme the iudgement.
And the Lorde wyll not be slacke in comming, nor tary long, tyll he haue smitten in sunder the backes of the vnmercifull, and auenged him selfe of the heathen, tyll he haue taken away the multitude of the cruell, and broken the scepter of the vnrighteous, tyll he geue euery man after his workes, and rewarde them after their doinges, tyll he haue delyuered his people, maintayned their cause, and reioyced them in his mercie.
O how faire a thing is mercie in the time of anguishe and trouble? it is lyke a cloude of rayne that commeth in the time of drouth.
HAue mercie vpon vs, O Lorde, thou God of all thinges, haue respect vnto vs: shewe vs the light of thy mercies,
And sende thy feare among the heathen and straungers which seeke not after thee, that they may knowe that there is no God but thou, and that they may shew thy wonderous workes.
Lyft vp thyne hande ouer the outlandishe heathen, that they may learne to knowe thy might and power.
Lyke as thou art halowed in vs before them: so bring to passe that thou mayst be magnified also in them before vs.
That they may know thee, lyke as we know thee: for there is none other God but onely thou O Lorde.
Renue the tokens, and chaunge the wonderous workes: shew thyne hand and thy right arme gloriouslie.
Rayse vp thyne indignation, and poure out thy wrath: take away the aduersarie, and smite the enemie.
Make the time shorte, remember thy couenaunt, that thy wo{n}derous workes may be praysed.
Let the wrath of the fyre consume them that lyue so carelesse: and let them perishe that do thy people hurt.
Smyte in sunder the head of the princes that be our enemies, and say, there is none other but we.
Gather all the tribes of Iacob together againe, that they may knowe how that there is none other God but onely thou, that they may shewe thy wonderous workes: and be thou thy peoples heritage, lyke as from the beginning.
O Lorde haue mercie vpon the people that hath thy name, and vpon Israel whom thou hast lykened to a first borne sonne.
O be mercifull vnto Hierusalem the citie of thy sanctuarie, the citie of thy rest.
Fill Sion with thyne vnspeakable vertues, and thy people with thy glorie.
Geue witnesse vnto thy creature who{m} thou madest from the beginning, and rayse vp the prophesies that haue ben shewed in thy name.
Rewarde them that wayte for thee, that thy prophetes may be founde faithfull.
O Lorde heare the prayer of thy seruauntes according to the blessing of Aaron ouer thy people, and guide thou vs in the way of righteousnes: that al they which dwell vpon the earth may know that thou art the Lorde the eternall God, which is from euerlasting.
The belly deuoureth all meates: yet is one meate better then another.
Lyke as the tongue tasteth venison: so doth an heart of vnderstandyng marke false wordes.
A froward heart geueth heauines: but a man of experience lyfteth him vp againe.
The woman receaueth euery man: yet is one daughter better then another.
A faire wyfe reioyceth her husband: and a man loueth nothing better.
If there be in her tongue gentlenes, meekenes, and holsome talke: then is not her husband lyke other men.
He that hath gotten a vertuous woman, hath a goodlie possession: she is vnto him a helpe, and piller wherevpon he resteth.
Where no hedge is, there the goodes are spoyled: and where no huswyfe is, there the frendles mourneth.
Lyke as there is no credence geuen to a robber that goeth from one citie to another: so is not the man beleued that hath no nest, and must turne in where he may abide in the night.
EVery friende sayth, I wyll be friendly vnto him also: but there is some friend, which is onely a frende in name.
Remaineth not there heauines vnto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemie?
O most wicked presumption: from whence art thou sprong vp to couer the earth with falshood and disceite?
There is some companion which in prosperitie reioyceth with his friend: but in the time of trouble, he taketh part against him.
There is some companion that mourneth with his friend for the bellies sake: but when trouble commeth, he taketh holde of the shielde.
Forget not thy friend in thy minde, & thinke vpon him in thy riches.
Seeke no counsell at thy kinsmen, and hide thy counsel from such as beare thee no good wyll.
Euery counseller prayseth his counsell: neuerthelesse, there is some that counselleth but for his owne profite.
Beware of the counseller, and be aduised afore whereto thou wylt vse him for he wyll counsaile for him selfe) fest he cast the lot vpon thee,
And say vnto thee, Thy way and purpose is good: and afterwarde he stande against thee, and loke what shal become of thee.
Aske no counsaile at him that suspecteth thee for an enemie, & hide thy counsaile from such as hate thee: aske no counsell for religion of him that is without religion, nor for iustice of him that hath no iustice: aske no counsel at a woman, touching her of who{m} she is ielous, nor at a fearefull and faint harted body in matters of warre: or at a marchaunt how deare he wyl cheape thy wares toward his: or at a byer, of selling: or at an enuious man, of thankesgeuing: or at the vnmerciful, of louing kindnesse: or at an vnhonest man, of honestie: or at the slothfull, of working: or at an hyreling which hath no house, of profit or wealth: or at an idle body of much labour: take no such folkes to counsell.
But be diligent to seeke counsaile at a vertuous man that feareth God, such a one as thou knowest to be a keper of the commaundementes, which hath a minde after thyne owne minde, and is sory for thee when thou stumblest.
And holde thy counsell fast in thyne heart: for there is no man more faithfull to kepe it, then thou thy selfe.
For a mans minde is sometime disposed to tell out more, then seuen watchmen that sit aboue in an hie place loking about them.
And aboue all this, pray the highest that he wyll leade thy way in faithfulnes and trueth.
Before all thy workes aske counsell 〈◊〉: and or euer thou decit any thing, be we•• aduised.
There be foure thinges that declare a chaunged heart, whereout there springeth euill and good, death and lyfe, and a maisterfull tongue that bableth much.
Some man is apt and well instructed in many thinges, and yet very vnprofitable vnto him selfe.
Some man there is that can geue wyse and prudent counsel, and yet is he hated and continueth a begger,
For that grace is not geuen him of God to be accepted.
Another is robbed of al wysdome: yet is he wyse vnto him selfe, and the fruite of vnderstanding is comme{n}dable in his mouth.
A wyse man maketh his people wyse, & the fruites of his wysdome fayle not.
A wyse man shalbe plenteously blessed of God: and all they that see him, shall speake good of him.
The lyfe of man standeth in the number of the dayes: but the dayes of Israel are innumerable.
A wyse man shall obtayne faithfulnes and credence among his people, and his name shalbe perpetuall.
My sonne, prooue thy soule in thy selfe, and if thou see any euill thing, geue it not vnto her:
For all thinges are not profitable for all men, neither hath euery soule pleasure in euery thing.
Be not greedy in euery eating, and be not to hastie vpon all meates.
For excesse of meates bringeth sickenesse, and gluttonie commeth at the last to an vnmeasurable heate.
Through surfet haue many one perished: but he that dieteth him selfe temperatelie, prolongeth his lyfe.
HOnour the phisition, honour him with that honour that is due vnto him, because of necessitie: for God hath created him.
For of the highest commeth medicine, and he shall receaue giftes of the king.
The wysdome of the phisition bringeth him to great worship, and in the sight of the great men of this worlde he shalbe honourably taken.
The Lorde hath created medicine of the earth: and he that is wyse, wyll not abhorre it.
Was not the bitter water made sweete with a tree, that men might learne to knowe the vertue thereof.
The Lord hath geuen men wysdome and vnderstanding, that he might be honoured in his wonderous workes.
With such doth he heale men, and taketh away their paynes:
Of such doth the pothecarie make a confection, yet can no man perfourme al his workes: for of the Lorde commeth prosperous wealth ouer all the earth.
My sonne, despise not this in thy sickenes: but pray vnto the Lorde, and he shall make thee whole.
Leaue of from sinne, and order thy handes a right, clense thyne heart from all wickednesse.
Geue a sweete sauoured offering, and the fine floure for a token of remembraunce: make the offering fat, as one that geueth the first fruites,
And geue roome to the phisition, for the Lorde hath created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast neede of him.
The houre may come, that the sicke may be helped through them,
When they pray vnto the Lorde, that he may recouer and get health to lyue longer.
He that sinneth before his maker, shall fall into the handes of the phisition.
My sonne, bring foorth thy teares ouer the dead, and beginne to mourne as if thou haddest suffered great harme thy selfe: and then couer his body after a conuenient maner, and despise not his buriall.
Enforce thy selfe to weepe, & prouoke thy selfe to mourne, and make lamentation expediently, and be earnest in mourning, and vse lamentation as he is worthie, and that a day or two, lest thou be euill spoken of: and then comfort thy selfe, because of the heauines.
For of heauines commeth death, the heauines of the heart breaketh stre{n}gth.
Heauines and pouertie, greeueth the heart in temptation and offence.
Take no heauines to heart, driue it away, and remember the last thinges.
Forget it not, for there is no turning againe, thou shalt do him no good, but hurt thy selfe.
Remember his iudgement, thyne also shalbe lykewyse: vnto me yesterday, vnto thee to day.
Let the remembraunce of the dead ceasse in his rest, & comfort thee againe ouer him, seing his spirite is departed from him.
The wysoome of the scribe is at conuenient time of rest: and he that ceasseth from exercises and labour, shalbe wyse.
How can he get wysdome that holdeth the plough, and he that hath pleasure in the goade and in driuing the oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and his talke is but of the breeding of bullockes?
He setteth his heart to make sorowes, and is diligent to geue the kine fodder.
So is euery carpenter also and workmaister, that laboureth still night and •ay: he carueth, graueth, cutteth out, & his desire is insundry cunning thinges, his heart imagineth how he may cunningly cast an image, his diligence also and watching perfourmeth the worke.
The iron smith in lyke maner bydeth by his stithie, and doth his diligence to labour the iron: the vapour of the fyre brenneth his fleshe, and he must fight with the heate of the fornace: the noyse of the hammer euer soundeth in his eares, and his eyes loke still vpon the thing that he maketh: he hath set his minde thereupon that he wyll make out his worke, & therefore he watcheth how he may set it out, and bring it to an ende.
So doth the potter set by his worke: he turneth the wheele about with his feete, he is diligent and carefull in all doinges, and maketh his worke in number.
He fashioneth the clay with his arme, and with his feete he tempereth it: his heart imagineth howe he may make it pleasaunt, and his diligence is to clense the ouen.
All these hope in their handes, & euery one thinketh to be cunning in his worke.
Without these may not the cities be mayntayned, inhabited, nor occupied:
Yet come they not hye in the congregation, neither sit they vpon the iudgement seates: they vnderstand not the couenaunt of the lawe, they can not declare equitie and iudgement, they can not finde out the darke sentences.
But through them shall the creature of the worlde be maintayned, their desire concerneth onely the worke and labour of cunning.
HE that applieth his mynde to vnderstande the lawe of God, doth diligently seke out the wysdome of them of the olde time, and exerciseth hym selfe in the prophetes.
He kepeth the sayinges of famous men, and preasseth to the vnderstanding of darke sentences of wysdome.
He seketh out the misterie of secrete sayinges, and exerciseth himselfe therin continually.
He doth seruice among great men, and appeareth before the prince: he goeth into a straunge countrey, and trauayleth thorowe it: loke what good or euyll is among men, he proueth and seketh it out.
He purposeth in his heart to resort early vnto the Lord that made him, and to pray before the highest God: he openeth his mouth in prayer, and prayeth for his sinnes.
When the great Lorde will, he shalbe filled with the spirite of vnderstanding, that he may then powre out wyse sentences, and geue thankes vnto the Lord in his prayer.
He shall order his deuice, and leade his knowledge a right, and geue him vnderstanding of secrete thinges.
He shall shewe foorth the science of his learning, and reioyce in the couenaunt of the lawe of the Lorde:
The whole congregation shall commende his wysdome, and it shall neuer be put out: the remembraunce of hym shall neuer be forgotten, and his name shal continue from one generation to an other.
His wysdome shalbe spoken of among the people, and the whole congregation shall openly declare his prayse.
While he liueth, he hath a greater name then a thousand beside: and after death, the same name remayneth vnto hym.
Yet will I speake of mo men of vnderstanding, for I am ful as the moone.
Hearken vnto me ye holy vertuous children, bring foorth fruite as the rose that is planted by the brookes of the fielde,
And geue ye a sweete smell as incense, florishe as the rose garden, sing a song of prayse, O geue thankes vnto God ouer all his workes:
Geue magnificence vnto his name, and set hym foorth in his prayse with your lippes, & with musicke and harmonie: Yea euen with the song of your lippes, with harpes and playing, and in geuing thankes vnto him, say after this maner:
All the workes of the Lord are exceeding good, & all his commaundementes are meete and conuenient in due season.
A man neede not to say, what is that? what is that? for at a time conuenient they shall all be sought: At his commaundement the water was as a wall, and at the worde of his mouth the water stoode still.
In his commaundement is euery thing acceptable and reconciled, and his health can not be minished.
The workes of all fleshe are before him, and there is nothing hyd from his eyes.
He seeth from euerlasting to euerlasting, and there is nothing to wonderful or hye vnto hym.
A man neede not to say then, what is this, or that? For he hath made al thinges to do good vnto man.
His blessing shall run ouer as the streame, and moysture the earth lyke a fludde of water.
Like as he maketh the drouth: so shall his wrath fall vpon the heathen.
His wayes are playne and right vnto the iust: but the vngodly stumble at them.
For the good, are good thinges created from the beginning, & euyll thinges for the vngodly.
All thinges necessarie for the lyfe of man are created from the beginning: water, fire, iron, and salt, meale, wheate, and hony, milke, and wine, oyle and clothing:
All these thinges are created for the best to the faythfull: but to the vngodly shall all these thinges be turned to hurt and harme.
There be spirites that are created for vengeaunce, and in their rigorousnesse haue they fastened their tormentes: In the tune of the ende they shall poure out their strength, and pacifie the wrath of him that made them.
Fire, hayle, hunger, and death: al these thinges are created for vengeaunce.
The teeth of wilde noysome beastes, the scorpions, serpentes, and the sworde, are created also for vengeaunce, to the destruction of the vngodly.
They shalbe glad to do his commaundementes, and when neede is, they shalbe redy vpon earth: and when their houre is come, they shall not ouerpasse the commaundement of the Lorde.
Therfore haue I taken a good courage vnto me from the beginning, and haue thought to put these thinges in writing, and to leaue them behinde me:
All the workes of the Lorde are good, and he geueth euery one in due season, and when neede is.
So that no man neede not to say: This is worse then that: for in due season they are all pleasaunt and good.
And therefore prayse the Lorde with whole heart and mouth, & geue thankes vnto his name.
A Great trauaile is created for all men, and an heauy yoke vpon all the sonnes of Adam, from the day that they go out of their mothers wombe, till they be buried in [the earth] the mother of all thinges.
[Namely] their thoughtes and imaginations, feare of the heart, counsel, meditations, longing & desire, the day of death:
From the hyghest that sitteth vpon the glorious seate, vnto the lowest and most simple vpon the earth:
From him that is gloriously arayde and weareth a crowne, vnto him that is but homely and simplie clothed.
There is nothing but wrath, zeale, fearefulnesse, vnquietnesse, and feare of death, rigorousnes, anger, & stryfe: And in the might when one shoulde rest and sleepe vpon his bed, the sleepe chaungeth his vnderstanding and knowledge.
A litle or nothing is his rest in the sleepe, aswel as in the day of labour: He feareth & is disquieted in the vision of his heart, as one that runneth out of a battayll.
And in the time of health he awaketh, and maruayleth that the feare was nothing.
Such thinges happen vnto all fleshe, both man and beast: but seuen folde to the vngodly.
Moreouer, death, bloodshedding, strife, and sworde, oppression, hunger, destruction, and punishement:
These thinges are all created against the vngodly, and for their sakes came the fludde also.
All that is of the earth, shall turne to earth againe, and al waters ebbe againe into the sea.
All bribes and vnrighteousnesse shalbe put away: but faythfulnesse and trueth shall endure for euer.
The substaunce and goodes of the vngodly shalbe dryed vp, and sinke away as a water fludde, & they shal make a sound like a great thunder in the rayne.
Like as the righteous reioyceth when he openeth his hande: so shall the transgressours be faynt when their goodes vanishe and consume away.
The children of the vngodly shal not obtayne many braunches:
And the vncleane rootes vpon the hye rockes, shalbe rooted out before the grasse by the water side, & vpon the riuer bankes.
Frendlinesse and liberalitie in the increase & blessing of God, is like a paradise and garden of pleasure: such mercie also and kindnesse endureth for euer.
To labour and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweete pleasaunt life: and that is, to finde a treasure of al treasures.
To beget children and to repayre the citie, maketh a perpetuall name: but an honest woman is more worth then they both.
Wine and minstrelsie reioyceth the heart: but the loue of wysdome is aboue them both.
Pyping and harping make a sweete noyse: but a friendly tongue goeth beyonde them both.
Thyne eye desireth fauour and beautie: but a greene seede time, rather then they both.
A friende and companion come together at oportunitie: but aboue them both is a wyfe that agreeth with her husbande.
Brethren and helpes are profitable in time of trouble: but almes shal deliuer more then they both.
Golde and siluer fasten the feete: but a good counsell is more pleasaunt then they both.
Temporal substaunce and strength lift vp the minde: but the feare of the Lord, more then they both: The feare of the Lorde wanteth nothing, and needeth no helpe.
The feare of the Lorde is a pleasaunt garden of blessing, and nothing so beautifull as it is.
My sonne leade not a beggers lyfe: for better it were to die then to begge.
The life of hym that loketh vpon an other mans table, is not to be counted for a life, for he vexeth his soule in other mens meate: but a wyse and well nurtured man will beware therof.
Begging is sweete in the mouth of the vnshamefast: but in his belly there burneth a fire.
O Death how bitter is the remembraunce of thee to a man that seketh rest and comfort in his substaunce & riches, vnto the man that hath nothing to vexe him, & that hath prosperitie in all thinges, yea vnto him that yet is able to receaue meate?
O death, howe acceptable and good is thy iudgement vnto the needefull, and vnto him whose strength fayleth, and that is nowe in his last age, and that in all thinges is full of care and fearfulnesse, vnto him also that is in dispayre, and hath no hope nor patience?
Be not thou afraide of death, remember them that haue ben before thee, and that come after thee: this is the iudgement of the Lord ouer all fleshe.
And why wouldest thou be against this pleasure of the hyghest? Whether it be ten, an hundreth, or a thousand yeres, death asketh not howe long one hath lyued.
The children of the vngodly are abhominable children, and so are they that kepe company with the vngodly.
The inheritaunce of vngodly children shall come to naught, & their posteritie shal haue perpetuall shame & confusion.
The children complayne of an vngodly father: and why? for his sake they are rebuked and dispised.
Wo be vnto you, O ye vngodly, whiche haue forsaken the lawe of the hyghest God: for though ye do encrease, yet shal you perishe.
If ye do liue, ye shalbe accursed: if ye die, the curse shall be your portion.
All that is of the earth, shall turne to earth againe: so go the vngodly also out of the curse into destruction.
Though men mourne for their body: yet the name of the vngodly shall be put out, for it is nothing worth.
Labour to get thee a good name: for that shall continue surer by thee, then a thousande great treasures of golde.
A good life hath a number of dayes: but a good name endureth euer.
My children, kepe wisdome in peace: for wisdome that is hid and a treasure that is not seene, what profite is in them both?
A man that hydeth his foolishenes, is better then a man that hydeth his wysdome.
Therefore be ye turned at my wordes: for it is not good in all thinges and alway to be ashamed: True fayth must proue and measure it.
Be ashamed of whordome before father and mother: be ashamed to leasing before the prince and men of auctoritie:
Of sinne, before the iudge and ruler: of offence, before the congregation & people: of vnrighteousnes, before a companoin and friende:
Of theft, before thy neyghbours: As for the trueth of God and his couenaunt, be not ashamed thereof: be ashamed to lye with thyne elbowes vpon the bread, or to be reproued for geuing or taking,
And of silence vnto them that salute thee: be ashamed to loke vpon harlottes:
Be ashamed to turne away thy face from thy kinsman, be ashamed to take and not to geue,
Be ashamed also to loke vpon an other mans wyfe, and to make many trifling wordes with her mayden, or to stand by her bed side.
Be ashamed to vnbrayde thy friende: when thou geuest any thing, cast hym not in the teeth withall,
Or to report the matter that thou hast heard, or to disclose the secrete wordes: so shalt thou well be shamefast, and shalt find fauour with all men.
OF these thinges be not ashamed, and accept no person to offend. [Namely of these thinges be not ashamed:]
Of the lawe of God, of the couenaunt, of iudgement to bring the vngodly from his vngodlinesse vnto righteousnesse, & to make him a good man,
To deale faithfully with thy neyghbour and companion, to distribute the heritage vnto the friendes:
To be diligent to kepe true measure & wayght: to be content whether thou gettest much or litle:
To deale truely with temporall goodes in bying and selling, to bring vp children with diligence, to correct an euyll seruaunt:
To kepe that thyne is from an euyll wyfe, to set a locke where many handes are:
What thou deliuerest and geuest out to be kept, to tell it, and to wey it: to write vp all thy outgeuing and receauing:
To enforme the vnlearned and vnwise, of the aged that are iudged of the young: If thou be diligent in these thinges, truely thou shalt be learned and wyse, and accepted of all men.
The daughter maketh the father to watch secretly, and the carefulnesse that he hath for her, taketh away his sleepe, yea in her youth, lest she shoulde ouergrowe him, and when she hath an husbande lest she shoulde be hated:
Lest she shoulde be defiled or rauished in her virginitie, or gotten with childe in her fathers house: or when she commeth to the man, lest she behaue her selfe not right, or continue vnfruitefull.
If thy daughter be wanton, kepe her straytly, lest she cause thyne enemies to laugh thee to scorne, and the whole citie to geue thee an euyll report: and so thou be fayne to heare thy shame of euery man, and be confounded before all the people.
Behold not euery bodies beautie, and haue not much dwelling among wome{n}.
For like as the worme and moth commeth out of clothing: so doth wickednesse come of women.
It is better to be with an euyll man, then with a friendly wyfe that putteth one to shame and rebuke.
I will remember the wordes of the Lord, and declare the thing that I haue seene: In the wordes of the Lorde are his workes.
The sunne ouerloketh all thinges with his shine, and all his workes are full of the clearenes therof.
Hath not the Lord brought to passe, that his sainctes shoulde tell out all his wonderous workes which the almightie Lord hath stablished? Al thinges endure in his glorie.
He seketh out the grounde of the deepe, and the heart of men, and he knoweth all their imaginations and wisdome: for the Lord knoweth all science, and he loketh into the token of the time.
He declareth the thinges that are past and for to come, and discloseth thinges that are secrete.
No thought may escape hym, neither may any worde be hyd from him.
He hath garnished the hye excellent workes of his wysdome, and he is from euerlasting to euerlasting: Vnto him may nothing be added, neither can he be minished, he hath no neede also of any mans counsel.
O howe amiable are all his workes, and as a sparke to loke vpon?
They liue all, and endure for euer: and when so euer neede is, they are all obedient vnto him.
They are all double, one against another: he hath made nothing that hath fault or blemishe.
He hath stablished the goodes of euery one: and who may be satisfied with his glorie when he seeth it?
THe glorie of the height is the faire and cleare firmament, the beautie of the heauen is his glorious clearnesse.
The sunne when it appeareth, declareth the day in the goyng out of it, a maruelous worke of the hyghest:
At noone it burneth the earth, and who may abyde for the heate thereof?
Who so kepeth an ouen when it is hot, three times more doth the sunne burne vpon the mountaynes: when it breatheth out the fire beames & shineth, with the brightnesse of it it blindeth the eyes.
Great is the Lorde that made it, and in his commaundement he causeth it to runne hastyly.
The moone also in al thinges according to her season is a declaration of the time, and a signe for the world.
The token of the solempne feast is taken of the moone, a light that minisheth and increaseth againe.
The moneth is called after the moone, it groweth wonderously in her changing.
The armie of heauen also is in {th}e heyght: in the firmament of heauen it geueth a cleare and a glorious shyne: This is the clearnesse of the starres, the beautifull apparell of heauen, the apparel that the Lorde lighteneth in the heyght.
In his holy worke they continue in their order, and not one of them fayleth in his watch.
Loke vpon the raynebow, and prayse hym that made it: very beautifull is it in his shine.
He compasseth the heauen about with a glorious circle, the handes of the highest haue bended it.
Through his commaundement he maketh the snow to fall, and the thunder of his iudgement to smyte hastyly.
Thorowe his commaundement the treasures are opened, and the cloudes flee as the foules.
In his power hath he strengthened the cloudes, and broken the hayle stones.
The mountaynes leape at the sight of hym, the winde bloweth according to his will.
The sounde of his thunder beateth the earth, & so doth the storme of the north: the whirle wind also lighteth downe as a fethered foule, casteth out & spreadeth the snowe abrode, and as the grashoppers that destroy al, so falleth it downe.
The eye maruayleth at the beautie of the whytenesse therof, and the heart is afrayde at the rayne of it.
He powreth out the frost vpon earth like salt, and when it is frosen, it is as sharpe as the pricke of a thistle.
When the colde north winde bloweth, harde christall commeth of the water: He lighteth downe vpon all the gatheringes together of water, and putteth on the water as a brestplate.
He deuoureth the mountaynes, & burneth the wildernesses: and loke what is greene, he putteth it out lyke fire.
The medicine of all these is, when a cloude commeth hastyly, and when a deaw commeth vpon the heate, it shalbe refreshed againe.
In his worde he stilleth the winde, in his counsell he appeaseth the deepe, and hath planted Ilandes in it.
They that sayle ouer the sea, tel of the peryls and harmes therof, and when we heare it with our eares, we maruell therat.
For there be straunge wonderous workes, diuers maners of nyce beastes, and whale fishes.
Thorow him are al thinges set in good order and perfourmed, and in his word all thinges endure.
I speake much, but I can not sufficiently attayne vnto it: for he hym selfe onely is the perfection of all wordes.
We shoulde prayse the Lorde after all our power, for he is great in all his workes.
The Lorde is to be feared, yea very great is he, & maruelous is his power.
Prayse the Lord, and magnifie him as much as ye may, yet doth he far exceede all prayse: O magnifie him with al your power, and labour earnestly, yet are ye in no wise able sufficiently to prayse him.
Who hath seene hym, that he might tell vs? Who can magnifie hym so greatly as he is?
For there are hyd yet greater thinges then these be: as for vs, we haue seene but fewe of his workes.
For the Lorde hath made all thinges, & geuen wisdome to such as feare God.
LEt vs commende the noble famous men, & the generation of our fore elders and fathers.
Many more glorious actes haue the Lorde done in them, and shewed his great power euer sence the beginning.
The noble famous men raigned in their kingdomes, and bare excellent rule, in their wysdome and vnderstanding, they folowed the counsel shewed in the prophecies.
They led the folke thorow the counsell and wysdome of the scribes of the people, wyse sentences are founde in their instruction:
They sought the sweetnesse and melodie of musicke, and brought foorth the pleasaunt songues in scripture:
They were riche also, and coulde comfort and pacifie those that dwelt with them.
All these were very noble and honorarable men in their generations, & were well reported of in their times.
These haue left a name behynde them, so that their prayse shall alway be spoken of.
Afterward, there were some whose remembraunce is gone, they came to naught & perished as though they had neuer ben, and became as though they had neuer ben borne, yea and their children also with them.
Neuerthelesse these are louyng men, whose righteousnesse shall neuer be forgotten, but continue by their posteritie.
Their children are an holy good heritage: their seede endured fast in the couenaunt.
For their sakes shall their children and seede continue for euer, and their prayse shal neuer be put downe.
Their bodies are buried in peace, but their name lyueth for euermore.
The people can speake of their wysdome, and the congregation can talke of their prayse.
Enoch walked right and acceptably before the Lorde, therfore was he translated for an example of amendement to the generations.
No• was a stedfast and righteous man, and in the time of wrath he became a reconciling: therfore was he left a remnaunt vnto the earth when the fludde came.
An euerlasting couenaunt was made with him, that all fleshe should perishe no more with the water.
Abraham was a great father of many people, in glorie was there none like vnto hym.
He kept the law of the hyghest, & came into a couenaunt with him.
He set the couenaunt in his fleshe, and when he was proued, he was founde faythfull.
Therfore swore God vnto him with an oth, that he woulde blesse all people in his seede, that he woulde multiplie and increase him as the dust of the earth, and to exalt his seede as the starres: yea and that his seede shoulde haue the possession, an inheritaunce of the lande, 〈◊〉 sea to sea, and from the riuer vnto the borders of the worlde.
With Isaac dyd he stablishe the same couenaunt for Abraham his fathers sake: Yea that gratious blessing & health of all men, and couenaunt dyd he stablishe with Isaac, and made it rest vpon the head of Iacob.
He knewe him, in that he prospered him so wel and richely, and gaue him an heritage, and sundered his portion by it selfe, and parted among the twelue tribes.
Mercifull men brought he out of hym, whiche founde fauour in the sight of all fleshe.
MOyses beloued of God & men, whose remembraunce is in hi• prayse:
Hym that the Lorde made like in the glorie of the sainctes, & magnified him, so that the enemies stoode nawe of him.
Through his wordes he did great wonders: he made hym glorious in the sight of kinges, gaue him commaundement before his people, and shewed him glorious power.
He stablished hym with faythfulnesse and mekenesse, and chose him out of all men.
For he hearde his voyce, and he led hym in the darke cloude, and there he gaue him the commaundementes, yea the law of life and wysoome: that he might teach Iacob the couenaunt and Israel his lawes.
He chose Aaron his brother also out of the tribe of Leui, exalted him, and made hym such like.
An euerlasting couenaunt made he with him, and gaue hym the priesthod in the people: He made him glorious in beautifull aray, and clothed him with the garment of honour.
He put perfect ioy vpon him, and girded hym with strength, he deckt hym with side clothes and a tunicle, with an ouerbody coate also, and a girdle.
Round about made he hym belles of golde, and that many: that when he went int, he sounde might be heare, that they might make a noyse in the sanctuarie, and geue the people warning.
The holy garment was wrought and bordered with golde, yelow silke, and purple: and in the brestlappe there was a goodly worke, wherin was fastened light and perfectnesse.
Vpon the same also there was a worke fastened and set with costly precious stones all bound with golde, and this he brought in his ministration: The stones were fastened for a remembraunce, after the number of the twelue tribes of Israel.
Vpon his miter there was a plate of pure gold, a grauen image of holinesse, a famous and noble worke, garnished, and pleasaunt to loke vpon.
Before hym were there seene no such faire ornamentes, & these it behoued him alway to vse: There might none other put them on, but onely his children, and his childers children perpetually.
Dayly perfourmed he his burnt offeringes two times.
Moyses filled his handes, & annoynted him with holy oyle: This was now confirmed him with an euerlasting couenaunt, and to his seede as the dayes of heauen: namely, that his children should alway minister before him, & perfourme the office of the priesthood, and wyshe the people good in his name.
Before al men lyuing •••se he him, that he shoulde offer incense before the Lord, and make odours for a sweete sauour and remembraunce, that he should reconcile the people of the Lord with hym agayne.
He gaue him auctoritie also in his commaundementes and in the couenaunt, that he should teach Iacob the statutes and testimonies, and to enfourme Israel in the lawe.
Therfore there stoode vp certayne against him, and had enuie at him in the wildernesse: namely they that were of Dathan and Abirons side, and the furious congregation of Core.
This the Lorde saw, and it displeased hym, and in his wrathfull indignation were they consumed: A great wonder did he vpon them, and consumed them with the fire.
Besides this, he made Aaron yet more honorable and glorious, he gaue hym an heritage, & parted the first fruites vnto him: Vnto him specially he appoynted the bread of sustenaunce,
For the priestes dyd eate of the offeringes of the Lorde: this gaue he vnto him and his seede.
Els had he no heritage nor portion in the land & with the people: for the Lord him selfe is his portion & inheritaunce.
The thirde noble and excellent man, is Phinches the sonne of Eleazer, which pleased the God of Israel, because he had the zeale and feare of the Lord: For when the people were turned backe, he put him selfe foorth right soone, and that with a good will, to pacifie the wrath of the Lord towarde Israel.
Therfore was there a couenaunt of peace made with him, that he should be the principall among the righteous in the people, that he and his posteritie shoulde haue the office of the priesthood for euer.
Like as there was made a couenaunt with Dauid of the tribe of Iuda, that from among his sonnes only there shoulde be a king: and that Aaron also and his seede should be an heritage, to geue vs wysdome in our heart, to iudge his people in righteousnesse, that his goodes shoulde not come into forgetfulnesse, and that their honour might endure for euer.
MAnly & strong in battel was Iesus the sonne of Naue, and was the successour of Moyses in prophesies, & was geuen to be captaine of the people, which according vnto his name was a great sauiour vnto the elect of God, to punishe the enemies that rose vp against Israel, that Israel might optayne their inheritaunce.
O how great, noble, and excellent was he, when he lift vp his hande and drewe out his sworde against the cities?
Who stoode so manly before him? for the Lord him selfe brought in the enemies?
Stoode not the sunne still at his commaundement, and one day was as long as two?
He called vpon the hyghest and most mightie when the enemies preassed vpon him on euery side, and the mightie Lord heard him with the hayle stones.
They smote the Heathenishe people mightyly, and in falling downe they slue all the aduersaries: so that the heathen knew his hoast, and all his defence, that the Lord him selfe fought against them: for he folowed vpon the mightie men of them.
In the time of Moyses also, he and Caleb the sonne of Iephune dyed a good worke, whiche stoode against the enemies, with held the people from sinne, and stilled the wicked murmuring.
And of sixe hundreth thousande people of foote, they two were preserued to bring them into the heritage, namely, a lande that floweth with mylke & hony.
The Lord gaue strength also vnto Caleb, which remayned with him vnto his age: so that he went vp into the hie places of the land, and his seede conquered the same for an heritage:
That al the children of Israel might see howe good a thing it is to be obedient vnto the Lorde.
And the iudges or rulers euery one after his name, whose heart went no• a whoring nor departed from the Lorde, and that forsooke not the Lord vnfaithfully, whose remembraunce hath a good report.
Yea their bones florishe out of their place, and their names shall neuer be chaunged: but honour remayneth still with the children of those holy men:
Samuel the prophete, beloued of the Lorde his God, ordayned a king, and annoynted the princes ouer the people.
In the lawe of the Lord ruled he, and iudged the congregation, and the Lorde had respect vnto Iacob.
The prophete was founde diligent in his faithfulnes: yea & he is knowen faithful in his workes, because he sawe the God of light.
〈◊〉 called vpon the Lorde almightie, when the enemies preassed vpon him on euery side, what time as he offered the sucking lambe.
And the Lorde thundered from heauen, & made his voyce to be heard with a great noyse.
He discomfited the princes of Tyre, and all the rulers of the Philistines.
Before his last ende, he made protestation in the sight of the Lorde and his annoynted, that he toke neither substaunce nor good of any man, no not so much as a shoe: and no man might accuse him.
After this he tolde that his ende was at hand, and shewed the king also his ende and death: and from the earth lyft he vp his voyce in the prophecie, that the vngodlie people should perishe.
AFterward in the time of king Dauid, there rose vp a prophet called Nathan.
For lyke as the fat is taken away from the offering: so was Dauid chosen out of the children of Israel.
He played with the lions as with kiddes, and with beares lyke as with lambes of sheepe.
Slewe he not a giaunt when he was yet but young, & toke away the rebuke fro{m} his people, what time as he toke the stone in his hande, and smote downe proude Goliath with the sling?
For he called vpon the highest Lorde, which gaue him strength in his right hande, so that he ouerthrewe the mightie giaunt in the battaile, that he might set vp the horne of his people againe.
So he glorified him in ten thousand, and made him to haue a good report in the prayse of the Lorde, that he should weare a crowne of glorie.
For he destroyed the enemies on euery side, rooted out the Philistines his aduersaries, and brake their horne in sunder, lyke as it is broken yet this day.
In all his workes he praysed the hyest and holiest, and ascribed the honour vnto him: with his whole heart did he prayse the Lorde, and loued God that made him.
He set singers also before the aulter, & in their tune he made sweete songes, that they might geue prayses euery day to God with songes.
He ordayned to kepe the holy dayes worshipfully, & that the solempe feastes through the whole yere should be honorably holden, with praysing the name of the Lorde, and with singing betimes in the morning in the sanctuary.
The Lorde toke away his sinnes, and exalted his horne for euer: he gaue him the couenaunt of the kingdome, and the throne of worship in Israel.
After him there rose vp the wyse sonne [called Solomon.] Who by him dwelt in a large possession, and for his sake he droue the enemies away far of.
This Solomon raigned with peace in his time, and he obtayned glory: For God gaue him rest from his enemies on euery side, that he might builde him an house in his name, and prepare the sanctuarie for euer.
How wyse wast thou in thy youth, and filled with wysdome and vnderstanding, as it were with a water flood?
Thou coueredst and filledst the whole lande with similitudes, & wyse prudent sentences.
Thy name went abrode in the Iles, because of thy peace thou wast beloued.
All landes maruailed at thy songes, prouerbes, similitudes, and at thy interpretations.
And in the name of the Lorde God, which is called the God of Israel, thou gatheredst golde as tinne, & thou hadst as much siluer as leade.
Thou wast moued in inordinate loue toward women, and wast ouercome in affection.
Thou staynedst thy honour & worship, yea thy posteritie defiledst thou also, in bringing the wrath of the Lorde vpon thy children, and hast felt sorowe for thy folly.
So that thy kingdome was deuided, and Ephraim became an vnfaithfull and a rebellious kingdome.
Neuerthelesse, God forsooke not his mercie, neither was he vtterly destroyed because of his workes, that he should leaue him no posteritie: as for the seede that came vpon him, which he loued, he brought it not vtterly to naught, but gaue yet a remmaunt vnto Iacob, and a roote vnto Dauid out of him.
Thus rested Solomon with his fathers, and out of his seede he left behinde him a verie foolishnes of the people, and such one as had no vnderstanding: euen Roboam, which turned away the people through his counsell, and Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, which caused Israel to sinne, and shewed Ephraim the way of vngodlines:
Insomuch that their sinnes and misdeedes had the vpper hande so sore, that at the last they were driuen out of the lande for the same:
Yea, he sought out and brought vp all wickednes, tyll the vengeaunce came vpon them.
THen stoode vp Elias the prophete as a fyre, and his worde brent lyke a cresset.
He brought an hunger vpon them, and in his zeale he made the{m} fewe in number: for they might not away with the commaundementes of the Lorde.
Through the worde of the Lorde he shut the heauen, & three times brought he the fire downe.
O Elias, howe honorable art thou in thy wonderous deedes? who may make his hoast to be lyke thee?
One that was dead thou raysedst vp from death, and in the worde of the hyest thou broughtest him out of the graue againe.
Thou hast cast downe kinges and destroyed them, and the honorable from their seate.
Vpon the mount S•na thou heardest the iudgement, & vpon horeb the iudgement of the vengeaunce.
Which diddest annoynt kinges to recompence, and ordaynedst prophetes after thee.
Thou wast taken vp in the storme of fire, in a charet of fixie horses.
Thou wast ordayned in the reproouinges in time, to pacifie the wrath of the Lorde before it raged, to turne the heartes of the fathers vnto the children, & to set vp the tribes of Iacob againe.
Blessed were they that sawe thee, and were garnished in loue, for we lyue in lyfe: but after death we shall haue no such name.
Elias was couered in the storme, but Elizeus was filled with his spirite: while he lyued he was afrayde of no prince, and no man might ouercome him.
There coulde no worde deceaue him, and after his death his body prophecied.
He did wonders in his lyfe, & in death were his workes maruaylous.
For all this the people amended not, neither departed they from their sinnes, tyll they were caryed away prisoners out of the lande, and were scattered abrode in all countries, so that of them there remayned but a very litle people, and a prince vnto the house of Dauid.
Howbeit some of them did right, and some heaped vp vngodlynes.
Ezechias made his citie strong, conueyed water into it, digged through the stony rocke with iron, and made vp a wall by the water side.
In his time came Sennacherib vp, and sent Rabsakes, lyft vp his hande against Sion, & defied them with great pride.
Then trembled their heartes and handes, so that they sorowed lyke a woman trauayling with childe.
So they called vpon the Lord which is mercifull, and lyft vp their handes before him, immediately the Lorde heard them out of heauen.
He thought no more vpon their sinnes, nor gaue them ouer to their enemies: but deliuered them by the hande of Esaias.
He smote the hoast of the Assyrians, and his angel destroyed them.
For Ezechias had done the thing that pleased the Lorde, and remayned stedfastly in the way of Dauid his father, as Esaias the great & faithfull prophete in the sight of God had commaunded him.
In his time the sunne went backward, and he lengthened the kinges lyfe.
With a right spirite prophecied he what shoulde come to passe at the last: and to such as were sorowfull in Sion, he gaue consolation, wherewith they might comfort them selues for euermore.
He shewed thinges that were for to come and secrete, or euer they come to passe.
THe remembraunce of Iosias, is lyke as whe{n} the apothecarie maketh many precious sweete smelling thinges together: his remembraunce shalbe sweete as hony in all mouthes, and as the playing of musicke at a banket of wine.
He was appoynted to turne the people againe, and to take away all abhominations of the vngodlie.
He directed his heart vnto the Lorde, and in the time of the vngodlie he set vp the worship of God againe.
All kinges except Dauid, Ezechias, and Iosias, committed wickednes: for euen the kinges of Iuda also forsoke the lawe of God.
For they gaue their horne vnto other, their honour & worship also to a strau{n}ge people.
Therefore was the elect citie of the sanctuarie brent with fire, and the streetes therof layd desolate and waste in the hande of Ieremie.
For they entreated him euill, which neuerthelesse was a prophete, ordayned from his mothers wombe, that he might roote out, breake of, and destroy: and that he might builde vp, and plant againe.
Ezechiel sawe the glorie of the Lorde in a vision, which was shewed him vpon the charet of the Cherubims.
For he thought vpon the enemies in the rayne, to do good vnto such as had ordered their wayes aright.
And the bones of the twelue prophetes florished from out of their place: for they gaue comfort and consolation vnto Iacob, and deliuered them faithfully.
How shal we prayse Zorobabel, which was as a ring on the right hande?
So was Iesus also the sonne of Iosedec: these men in their times builded the house, & set vp the sanctuarie of the Lorde againe, which was prepared for an euerlasting worship.
And among the elect was Nehemias, whose renowme was great, which set vp for vs the walles that were broken downe, made the portes and barres againe, and builded our houses a new.
But vpon the earth is there no man created lyke Enoch: for he was taken vp from the earth.
Neither was there a lyke man vnto Ioseph, which was lord of his brethren, and the vpholder of his people: his bones were couered and kept.
Seth and Sem were in great honour among the people, and so was Adam aboue all the beastes when he was created.
SImon the sonne of Onias the hye priest, which in his lyfe set vp the house againe, and in his dayes made fast the temple.
The height of the temple also was founded of him, the double building, and the hye walles of the temple.
In his dayes the welles of water flowed out, and were exceeding full as the sea.
He toke care for his people, and deliuered them from destruction: he kept his citie & made it strong, that it shoulde not be besieged.
How honorable was his conuersation among the people, and when he came out of the house couered with the vaile?
He gaue lyght as the morning starre in the middest of the cloudes, and as the moone when it is full:
He shined as the sunne in the temple of God, he is as bright as the raynebowe in the faire cloudes,
And florisheth as the floures and roses in the spring of the yere, and as lylies by the riuers of water, like as the brau{n}ches vpon the mount Libanus in the time of summer:
As a fire and incense that is kindled, lyke as an whole ornament of pure gold set with all maner of precious stones,
And as an Oliue tree that is fruiteful, and as a Cypres tree which groweth vp an hye.
When he put on the garment of honour, and was clothed with al beawtie, when he went to the holy aulter, he made the garment of holynes honorable.
When he toke the portions out of the priestes hande, he him selfe stoode by the hearth of the aulter, and his brethren rounde about in order: as the braunches of Cedar tree vpo{n} the mount Libanus, so stoode they rounde about him:
And as the braunches of the Oliue tree, so stoode all the sonnes of Aaron in their glory, and the oblations of the Lorde in their handes before al the congregation of Israel.
And that he might sufficiently perfourme his seruice vpon the aulter, and garnishe the offering of the highest god,
He stretched out his hande, and toke of the drinke offering, and powred in of the wine: so he poured vpon the bottome of the aulter a good smell vnto the highest prince.
Then began the sonnes of Aaron to sing, and to blow with trumpettes, and to make a great noyse, for a remembraunce and prayse vnto the Lorde.
Then al the people together were hasted, and fell downe to the earth vpon their faces to worship the Lorde their God, & to geue thankes to the almightie God.
They song goodly also with their voyces, so that there was a pleasaunt noyse in the great house of the Lorde.
And the people in their prayer besought the Lorde the highest that he would be mercifull, tyll the honour of the Lorde were perfourmed, and they had ended their ministration and seruice.
Then went he downe and stretched out his handes ouer the whole multitude of the people of Israel, that they shoulde geue prayse and thankes out of their lippes vnto the Lorde, and to reioyce in his name.
He began yet once also to pray, that he might openly shewe the thankesgeuing before the highest,
[Namely thus] O geue prayse and thankes all ye vnto the Lord our God, which hath euer done noble and great thinges, which hath increased our dayes from our mothers wombe, and dealt with vs according to his mercie,
That he wyll geue vs the ioyfulnes of heart, and peace for our time in Israel:
Which faithfully kepeth his mercie for vs euermore, and alway deliuereth vs in due season.
There be two maner of people that I abhorre from my heart, as for the third whom I hate, it is no people:
They that sit vpon the mountaine of Samaria, the Philistines, and the foolishe people that dwelt in Sichimis.
I Iesus, the sonne of Sirach Eleazarus, of Hierusalem, haue tokened vp these informations and documentes of wysdome and vnderstanding in this booke, and poured out the wysdome of my heart.
Blessed is he that exerciseth him selfe therein: & who so taketh such to heart, shalbe wyse for euer.
If he do these thinges, he shalbe strong in all: for the lyght of the Lorde leadeth him, which geueth wysdome to the godlie: The Lorde be praysed for euermore, so be it, so be it.
I Wyll thanke thee O Lorde and king, and prayse thee O God my sauiour: I wyll yeelde prayse vnto thy name.
For thou art my defender and helper, and hast preserued my body from destruction, from the snares of trayterous tongues, and from the lippes that are occupied with lyes.
Thou hast ben my helper from such as stoode vp against me, and hast deliuered me after the multitude of thy mercie, and for thy holy names sake, from the roring of them that prepared them selues to deuour me, out of the handes of such as sought after my lyfe, from the multitude of them that troubled me,
And from them that went about to set fyre vpon me on euery side, so that I am not brent in the middest of the fyre:
From the deepe of hell, from an vncleane tongue, from lying wordes, from false accusation to the king, and from an vnrighteous tongue.
My soule shall prayse the Lorde vnto death: for my lyfe drewe nye vnto hell downewarde.
They compassed me round about on euery syde, and there was no man to helpe me: I loked about me if there were any man that would succour me: but there was none.
Then thought I vpon thy mercie O Lorde, and vpon thy actes that thou hast done euer of olde: [namely] that thou deliuerest such as put their trust in thee, and riddest them out of the handes of the heathen.
Thus lyft I vp my prayer from the earth, and prayed for deliueraunce from death.
I called vpon the Lorde the father of my Lorde, that he would not leaue me without helpe in the day of my trouble, and in the time of the proude.
I wyll prayse thy name continually, yeelding honour and thankes vnto it: and so my prayer was heard.
Thou sauedst me from destruction, and deliueredst me from the vnrighteous time: therefore wyll I acknoweledge and prayse thee, and magnifie the name of the Lorde.
When I was yet but young, or euer I went astray, I desired wysdome openly in my prayer.
I came therfore before the temple and sought her vnto the last: then florished she vnto me, as a grape that is soone rype.
My heart reioyced in her, then went my foote the right way: yea from my youth vp sought I after her.
I bowed downe myne eare and receaued her: I founde me much wysdome, and prospered greatly in her.
Therfore wyll I ascribe the glory vnto him that geueth me wysdome.
For I am aduised to do thereafter, I wyll be gelous to cleaue vnto the thing that is good, so shall I not be confounded.
My soule hath wrestled with her, and I haue ben diligent to be occupied in her: I lift vp myne handes on hye, then was my soule lightened through wysdome that I knowledged my foolishnes.
I ordered my soule after her, she and I were one heart from the beginning, and I found her in cleannesse, and therfore shall I not be forsaken.
My heart longed after her, and I gat a good treasure.
Through her the Lorde hath geuen me a new tongue, wherewith I wyll prayse him.
O come vnto me ye vnlearned, and dwell in the house of wysdome:
Withdrawe not your selues from her, but talke & commune of these thinges: for your soules are very thirstie.
I opened my mouth, and spake: O come and bye wysdome without money.
Bowe downe your necke vnder her yoke, and your soule shall receaue wysdome: she is harde at hande, and is content to be founde.
Beholde with your eyes, howe that I haue had but litle labour, & yet haue founde much rest.
O receaue wysdome, and ye shal haue plenteousnes of siluer and golde in possession.
Let your minde reioyce in his mercie, and be not ashamed of his prayse.
Worke his worke betimes, and he shal geue you your rewarde in due season.
AND these are the wordes of the booke, which were writte{n} by Baruch the sonne of Nerias, the sonne of Maasias, {th}e sonne of Sedechias, the sonne of Helchias, at Babylon,
In the fifth yere, and in the seuenth day of the moneth, what time as the Chaldees toke Hierusalem, and brent it vp with fyre.
And Baruch did reade the wordes of this booke, that Iechonias the sonne of Ioachin king of Iuda might heare, and in the presence of all the people that were come to heare the booke,
And before all the nobles, the kinges sonnes, and before the elders, and before the whole people, from the lowest vnto the highest: before all them that dwelt at Babylon, by the water of Sody,
Which when they heard it, wept, fasted, and prayed before the Lorde.
They made a collection also of money, according to euery mans power:
And sent it to Hierusalem vnto Ioachin the sonne of Helchia, the sonne of Salom priest, with the other priestes, and to all the people which were with him at Hierusalem,
(What time as they had gotten the vessels of the temple of the Lord that were taken away out of the temple, that they might bring them againe into the lande of Iuda the tenth day of the moneth Siuan [namely] siluer vessels which Sedechias the sonne of Iosias king of Iuda had made,)
After that Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon had taken Iechonias, with al his princes, lordes, and all the people, and led them captiue from Hierusalem vnto Babylon:
And they saide, Beholde, we haue sent you money to bye you burnt offringes and incense withall, prepare a meate offering, and offer for sinne vpon the aulter of the Lorde our God:
And pray for the prosperitie of Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon, and for the welfare of Balthasar his sonne, that their dayes may be vpon earth as the dayes of heauen:
That God also may geue vs strength, and lighten our eyes, that we may lyue vnder the defence of Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon, and vnder the protection of Balthasar his sonne, that we may long do them seruice, and finde fauour in their sight.
Pray for vs also vnto the Lorde our God: for we haue sinned against the lord our God, and vnto this day is not his wrath turned yet away from vs.
And see that ye reade this booke, which we haue sent vnto you to be rehearsed in the temple of the Lorde vpon the hye dayes, and at time conuenient.
Thus shall ye say: The Lorde our God is righteous, but we are worthy of confusion and shame, lyke as it is come to passe this day vnto all Iuda, and to euery one that dwelleth at Hierusalem,
To our kinges, princes, priestes, prophetes, and to our fathers.
We haue sinned before the Lorde our God, we haue not put our trust in him, nor geuen him credence,
We haue not obeyed him, we haue not hearkened vnto the voyce of the Lorde our God, to walke in the commaundementes that he gaue vs openly.
Since the day that he brought our forefathers out of the lande of Egypt, vnto this present day, we haue ben euer a misbeleuing and an vnfaithfull people vnto the Lorde our God, destroying our selues vtterly, and shrincking backe, that we should not heare his voyce.
Wherefore there are come vpon vs great plagues and diuers curses, lyke as the Lord deuised by Moyses his seruaunt, which brought our fathers out of the lande of Egypt, to geue vs a lande that floweth with milke & hony, lyke as it is to see this day.
Neuerthelesse, we haue not hearkened vnto the voyce of the Lorde our God, according to all the wordes of the prophetes, whom he sent vnto vs [and to our rulers:]
But euery man folowed his owne minde and wicked imagination, to offer vnto straunge goddes, and to do euil in the sight of the Lorde our God.
FOr the which cause the Lorde our God hath perfourmed his deuice, whereof he certified vs, & our heades that ruled in Hierusalem, yea & our kinges, our princes, with all Israel and Iuda:
And such plagues hath the Lorde brought vpon vs, as neuer came to passe vnder the heauen, lyke as it is fulfilled in Hierusalem, according as it is written in the lawe of Moyses,
That a man shoulde eate the flesh of his owne sonne, & the flesh of his owne daughter.
Moreouer, he hath deliuered them into the handes of all the kinges that are rounde about vs, to be confounded and desolate, and scattered them abrode in al landes and nations.
Thus are we brought beneath and not aboue, because we haue sinned against the Lorde our God, and haue not ben obedient vnto his voyce.
Therefore the Lorde our God is righteous, and we with our fathers [as reason is] are brought to open shame, as it is to see this day.
And as for these plagues that are come vpon vs alredy, the Lorde had deuised them for vs:
Yet would we not pray vnto the Lord our God, that we might euery man turne from his vngodlie wayes.
So the Lord hath caused such plagues to come vpon vs: for he is righteous • all his workes which he hath  vs:
Which we also haue not do• •kened vnto his voyce 〈…〉 commaundeme• 〈…〉 he hath geuen vnto vs.
And nowe O Lorde God of Israel, thou that hast brought thy people out of the lande of Egypt with a mightie hande, with tokens and wonders, with thy great power & outstretched arme, and hast gotten thy selfe a name, as it is come to passe this day:
O Lord our God, we haue sinned, we haue done wickedly, we haue behaued our selues vngodly in all thy righteousnesses.
Turne thy wrath from vs [we beseche thee,] for we are but a fewe left among the heathe{n} where thou hast scatered vs.
Heare our prayers O Lorde, and our petitions, bring vs out of captiuitie for thyne owne sake, get vs fauour in the sight of them which haue led vs away:
That all landes may know that thou art the Lorde our God, and that Israel and his generation calleth vpon thy name.
O Lorde loke downe from thy holy house vpon vs, encline thyne eare and heare vs.
Open thyne eyes, and beholde: for the dead that be gone downe to their graues, & whose soules are out of their bodies, ascribe vnto the Lorde neither prayse nor righteousnes:
But the soule that is vexed for the multitude [of her sinnes,] which goeth on heauyly and weakly, whose eyes begin to faile, yea such a soule ascribeth prayse and righteousnes vnto the Lorde.
For we poure out our prayers before thee, and require mercie in thy sight O Lorde our God, not for any godlynes of our fathers:
But because thou hast sent out thy wrath and indignation vpon vs, according as thou diddest threaten vs by thy seruauntes the prophetes, saying:
Thus saith the Lorde, Bowe downe your shoulders and neckes, and serue the king of Babylon: so shall ye remaine still in the lande that I gaue vnto your fathers.
But if ye wyll not heare the voyce of the Lorde your God, to serue the king of Babylon,
I wyll destroy you in the cities of Iuda within Hierusalem and without: I wyll also take from you the voyce of mirth and the voyce of ioy, the voyce of the bridegrome and the voyce of the bride, and there shal no man dwel more in the lande.
But they would not hearken vnto thy voyce, to do the king of Babylon seruice: and therefore hast thou perfourmed the wordes that thou spakest by thy seruauntes the prophetes: [namely] that the bones of our kinges and the bones of our fathers should be translated out of their places:
And lo, nowe are they layde out in the heate of the sunne, and in the colde of the night, and dead in great miserie, with hunger, with sword, [with pestilence] and are cleane cast foorth.
As for the temple wherein thy name was called vpo{n}, thou hast layd it waste, as it is to see this day, and that for the wickednesse of the house of Israel and the house of Iuda.
O Lorde our God, thou hast intreated vs after all thy goodnes, and according to all that great louing mercie of thyne,
Lyke as thou spakest by thy seruaunt Moyses, in the day when thou diddest commaunde him to write thy lawe before the children of Israel, saying:
If ye wyl not hearke{n} vnto my voyce, then shall this great multitude be turned into a very small people among the nations, for I wyll scatter them abrode.
Notwithstanding, I am sure that this folke wyl not heare me, for it is an hard necked people: but in the lande of their captiuitie they shall remember them selues,
And learne to know that I am the Lorde their God, when I geue them an heart to vnderstande, and eares to heare.
Then shal they prayse me in the lande of their captiuitie, and thinke vpon my name.
Then shal they turne them from their harde backes, and from their vngodlines: then shall they remember the thinges that happened vnto their fathers which sinned against me.
So wyll I bring them againe into the lande which I promysed with an oth vnto their fathers Abraham, Isahac, and Iacob, and they shalbe lordes of it, yea I wyll encrease them, and not minishe them.
And I wyll make an other couenaunt with them, such one as shall endure for euer: [namely] that I will be their God, and they shalbe my people: and I will no more dryue my people the children of Israel out of the lande that I haue geuen them.
ANd nowe, O Lorde almightie, thou God of Israel: our soule that is in trouble, and our spirite that is vexed cryeth vnto thee:
Heare vs O Lord, and haue pitie vpon vs, for thou art a mercifull God: be gracious vnto vs, for we haue sinned before thee.
Thou endurest for euer: shoulde we then vtterly perishe?
O Lorde almightie, thou God of Israel, heare nowe the prayer of the dead Israelites and of their children, whiche haue sinned before thee, and not hearkened vnto the voyce of the Lorde their God, for the whiche cause these plagues hang nowe vpon vs.
O Lord remember not the wickednesse of our forefathers, but thinke vpon thy power and name nowe at this time:
For thou art the Lorde our God, and thee O Lorde will we prayse.
For thou hast put thy feare in our heartes, to the intent that we should call vpon thy name and prayse thee in our captiuitie, & that we might turne from the wickednesse of our forefathers that sinned before thee.
Behold, we are yet this day in our captiuitie, where as thou hast scattered vs to be an abhomination, curse, and subiect to exactions: like as it hath happened vnto our fathers also, because of al their wickednesse and departing from thee.
O Israel heare the commaundementes of lyfe, ponder them well with thyne cares, that thou maiest learne wisdome.
But howe happeneth it Israel that thou art in thyne enemies lande? thou art waxen olde in a straunge countrey, and defiled with the dead.
Why art thou become lyke them that go downe to their graues?
Euen because thou hast forsaken the well of wysdome.
For if thou hadst walked in the way of God truely, thou shouldest haue remayned still safe in thyne owne lande.
O learne then where is wysdome, where vertue is, where vnderstanding is: that thou mayest knowe also from whence commeth long continuaunce and lyfe, the light of the eyes, and quietnesse.
Who euer founde out her place? or who came euer into her treasures?
Where are the princes of the heathen become, and such as ruled the beastes vpon the earth,
They that had their pastime with the foules of the ayre, they that hoorded vp siluer & gold wherin men trust so much, and made no end of their gathering?
What is become of them that coyned siluer, and were so carefull, and coulde not bring their workes to passe?
They be rooted out and gone downe to hell, and other men are come vp in their steades.
Young men haue seene light, and dwelt vpon earth: but the way of reformation haue they not knowen,
Nor vnderstande the pathes thereof: neither haue their children receaued it, yea right farre is it from them.
It hath not ben heared of in the land of Chanaan, neither hath it ben seene at Theman.
The Agarenes sought after wisdome, but that whiche is earthly, like as the marchauntes of the lande do: they of Theman are cunning also, they labour for wysdome & vnderstanding: but the way of true wysedome they knowe not, neither do they thinke vpon the pathes therof.
O Israel howe great is the house of God? and howe large is the place of his possession?
Great is he, and hath none ende: yea hye and vnmeasurable.
What is become of those famous giauntes, that were so great of bodies, and so worthy men of warre?
Those hath not the Lorde chosen, neither haue they founde the way of reformation:
Therfore were they destroyed, and for so much as they had no wysdome, they perished because of their foolishenesse.
Who hath gone vp into heauen, to take wisdome there, and brought her downe from the cloudes?
Who hath gone ouer the sea to fynde her, and hath chosen her aboue golde, and so brought her hyther?
No man knoweth the wayes of wysedome, neither is there any that can seke out her pathes.
But he hath woteth all thinges, knoweth her, and hath founde her out with his foreknowledge: this same is he whiche prepared the earth at the beginning, and filled it with all maner of foules and beastes.
When he sendeth out the light, it goeth: and when he calleth it againe, it obeyeth him with feare.
The starres kepe their watch and geue their light, yea and that gladly: When he calleth them they say, Here we be: and so with chearfulnesse they shewe light vnto him that made them.
This is our God, and there shal none other be compared vnto him.
It is he that hath founde out all wysedome, and hath geuen her vnto Iacob his seruaunt, and to Israel his beloued.
Afterwarde did he shewe hym selfe vpon earth, and dwelt among men.
THis is the booke of the commaundementes of God, and the law that endureth for euer: all they that kepe it shall come to lyfe, but such as forsake it shall come to death.
Turne thee O Iacob, and take holde of it, walke by this way thorowe his brightnesse and shyne.
Geue not thyne honour to another, and thy worship to a straunge people.
O Israel, howe happy are we, seyng that God hath shewed vs such thinges as are pleasaunt vnto hym?
Be of good cheare thou people of God, O thou auncient Israel.
Now are ye solde among the heathen, howbeit not for your vtter destruction: but because ye prouoked God the Lorde to wrath and displeasure, therfore were ye deliuered vnto your enemies.
For ye displeased the euerlasting God that made you, offering vnto deuils, and not to God.
Ye haue forgotten hym that brought you vp, and ye haue greeued Hierusalem that nursed you.
When she sawe that the wrath of God was comming vpon you, she said: Hearken O ye that dwell about Sion, for God hath brought me into great heauinesse.
And why? I see the captiuitie of my people, of my sonnes and daughters, which the euerlasting God will bring vpon them.
With ioy dyd I norishe them: but nowe must I leaue them with weeping and sorowe.
Let no man reioyce ouer me wyddowe and forsaken, which for the sinnes of my children am defolate of euery man: For why? they departed from the lawe of God.
They woulde not know his righteousnesse, nor walke in the way of his commaundementes: and as for the pathes of trueth and godlinesse, they had no lust to go in them.
O ye dwellers about Sion, come and let vs call to remembraunce the captiuitie that the euerlasting God hath brought vpon my sonnes & my daughters.
He hath brought a people vpon them from farre, an vncurteous people, and of a straunge language: whiche neither regarde the olde, nor pitie the young.
These haue caried away the deare beloued of my widdowes, leauing me alone both desolate and childlesse.
But alas, what can I helpe you?
Nowe he that brought these plagues vpon you, deliuer you also from the handes of your enemies.
Go your way O my children, go your way: for I am desolate and forsaken.
I haue put of the clothing of peace, & put vpon me the sacke cloth of prayer, and for my time I will call vpon the most hyghest.
Be of good cheare O my children, crye vnto the Lorde, and he shall deliuer you from the power of the princes your enemies.
For veryly I haue euer a good hope of your prosperous health, yea a very gladnesse is come vpon me from the holy one, because of the mercie that ye shal haue of our euerlasting sauiour.
With mourning and weeping dyd I let you go fro me: but with ioy and perpetuall gladnesse shall the Lorde bring you againe vnto me.
Like as the neyghbours of Sion saw your captiuitie from God: euen so shall they also see shortly your health in God, which shall come on you with great honour and euerlasting worship.
O my children, suffer patiently the wrath that shal come vpon you: for the enemie hath persecuted thee, but shortly thou shalt see his destruction, and shalt treade vpon his necke.
My dearlinges haue gone rough hard wayes, for they are led away as a flocke that is scattered abrode with the enemies.
But be of good comfort O my children, and crye vnto the Lorde: for he that led you away, hath you yet in remembraunce.
And like as ye haue ben mynded to swarue from your God: so shall ye now endeuour your selues ten times more to turne againe, and to seke him.
For he that hath brought these plagues vpon you, shall bring you euerlasting ioy againe with your health.
Take a good heart vnto thee O Hierusalem: for he whiche gaue thee that name, exhorteth thee so to do.
The wicked doers that now put thee to trouble, shall perishe: & such as haue reioyced at thy fall, shalbe punished.
The cities whom thy children serue, and that haue caryed away thy sonnes, shalbe corrected.
For like as they be nowe glad of thy decay, and reioyce at thy fal: so shal they mourne in their owne destruction.
The ioy of their multitude shalbe taken away, and their cheare shalbe turned to sorowe.
For a fire shall fall vpon them from the euerlasting God long to endure, & it shal be inhabited of deuyls for a great season.
O Hierusalem, loke about thee toward the east, and beholde the ioy that commeth vnto thee from God.
For lo, thy sonnes whom thou hast forsaken, and that were scattered abrode, come gathered together from the east and west, reioycing in the worde of the holy one, vnto the honour of God.
PVT of thy mourning clothes O Hierusalem and thy sorow, & decke thee with the worship & honour that commeth vnto thee from God with euerlasting glorie.
God shal put the garment of righteousnesse vpon thee, & set a crowne of euerlasting worship vpon thyne head:
For vpon thee will God declare his brightnesse, that is vnder the heauen.
Yea an euerlasting name shall be geuen thee of God, with peace of righteousnesse, and the honour of gods feare.
Arise O Hierusalem, stande vp on hye, loke about thee towarde the east, and beholde thy children gathered from the cast vnto the west, whiche reioyce in the holy worde, hauing God in remembraunce.
They departed from thee on foote, and were led away of their enemies: but now shall the Lorde bring them caryed with honour, as chyldren of the kingdome.
For God is purposed to bring downe al stout mountaynes, yea & all hie rockes, to fill the valleys, and so to make them euen with the ground, that Israel may be diligent to liue vnto the honour of God.
The woods & all pleasaunt trees, shall ouershadowe Israel at the commaundement of God.
For hyther shal God bring Israel with ioyfull mirth, and in the light of his maiestie, with the mercie and righteousnesse that commeth of him selfe.
BEcause of the sinnes that ye haue done against God, ye shalbe led away captiue vnto Babylon, euen of Nabuchodonozor the king of Babylon.
So when ye be come into Babylon, ye shall remayne there many yeres, and for a long season, [namely] seuen generations: and after that will I bring you away peaceably from thence.
Nowe shall ye see in Babylon gods of golde, of siluer, of wood, and of stone, borne vpon mens shoulders, to cast out a fearfulnesse before the heathen.
But loke that ye do not as the other: be not ye afraide, & let not the feare of them ouercome you.
Therfore when ye see the multitude of people worshipping them behynde and before, say ye in your heartes: O Lorde, it is thou that oughtest only to be worshipped.
Myne angell also shalbe with you, and I my selfe will care for your soules.
As for the timber of those gods, the carpenter hath pullished them: yea gilted be they and layed ouer with siluer, yet are they but vayne thinges, and can not speake.
Like as a wench that loueth paramours is trimly dect: euen so are these made and hanged with golde.
Crownes of golde veryly haue their gods vpon their heades: so the priestes them selues take golde and siluer from them, and put it to their owne vses:
Yea they geue of the same vnto harlottes, & trimme their whores withall: againe, they take it from the whores, and decke their gods therwith:
Yet can not these gods deliuer them selues from rust and mothes.
When they haue couered them with clothing of purple, they wype their faces for the dust of the temple, whereof there is much among them.
One hath a scepter in his hande as though he were iudge of the countrey, yet can he not slay such as offende hym.
An other hath a sworde or an axe in his hand: for al that, he is neither able to defende hym selfe from battayle, nor from murtherers.
By this ye may vnderstande, that they be no gods: therefore see that ye neither worship them, nor feare them.
For like as a vessell that a man vseth, is nothing worth when it is broken, euen so is it with their gods: When they be set vp in the temple, their eyes be ful of dust thorowe the feete of those that come in.
And like as the doores are shut in round about vpon hym that hath offended the king, or as it were a dead body kept beside the graue: Euen so, the priestes kepe the doores with barres & lockes, lest their gods be spoyled with robbers.
They set vp candels before them, yea veryly and that many, whereof they can not see one: but euen as blockes, so stande they in the temple.
It is sayd, that the serpentes & wormes whiche come of the earth gnawe out their hartes, eating them & their clothes also, and yet they feele it not.
Their faces are blacke, thorowe the smoke that is in the temple.
The owles, swalowes, and byrdes flee vpon them, yea and the cattes run ouer their heades.
By this ye may be sure that they are not gods, therfore feare them not.
The golde that they haue is to make them beautifull: for all that, except some body dight of their rust they wil geue no shine, and when they were cast into a fourme, they felt it not.
They are bought for money, and haue no breath of lyfe within them.
They must be borne vpon mens shoulders as those that haue no feete, wherby they declare vnto men that they be nothing worth: confounded be they then that worship them.
For if they fall to the ground, they can not rise vp againe of them selues: Yea though one helpe them vp and set them right, yet are they not able to stande alone, but must haue proppes set vnder them like dead men.
As for the thing that is offred vnto them, their priestes sell it, & abuse it, yea the priestes wyues take thereof: but vnto the sicke & poore they geue nothing of it.
The women with childe and the menstruous lay handes of their offringes: By this ye may be sure that they are no gods, therefore be not ye afrayde of them.
From whence commmeth it then that they be called gods? the women sit before the gods of siluer, golde, and wood,
And the priestes sit in their temples, hauing open clothes, whose heades and beardes are shauen, and haue nothing vpon their heades,
Roaring and crying vpon their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.
The priestes also take away the garmentes of the images, and decke their wyues and children withall.
Whether it be good or euyll that any man do vnto them, they are not able to recompence it: they can neither set vp a king, nor put him downe.
In like maner, they may neither geue riches, nor rewarde euyll: though a man make a vow vnto them and kepe it not, they will not require it.
They can saue no man from death, neither deliuer the weake from the mightie.
They can not restore a blind man to his sight, nor helpe any man at his neede.
They can shewe no mercie to the widdowe, nor do good to the fatherlesse.
Their gods of wood, stone, golde, and siluer, are but euen as other stones that be hewen of the mountayne: they that worship them, shalbe confounded.
Howe shoulde they then be taken for gods? yea howe dare men call them gods?
And though the Chaldees worshipped them not, hearing that they were but dombe and coulde not speake:
Yet they them selues offer vnto Bel, and woulde fayne haue hym to speake: as who say they coulde feele, that may not moue.
But when these men come to vnderstanding, they shall forsake them, for their gods haue no feeling.
A great sort of women girde with coardes, sit in the streetes, & burne oliue beries: Now if one of them be conueyed away, and lye with such as come by, she casteth her neyghbours in the teeth, because she was not worthyly reputed, nor her coarde broken.
What so euer is done for them, it is but in vayne and lost: Howe may it then be thought or sayde, that they are gods?
Carpenters and goldesmithes make them: neither be they any other thing, but euen what the workemen wil make of them.
Yea the goldsmithes them selues that make them are of no long continuaunce: howe shoulde then the thinges that are made of them, be gods?
Vayne therfore are the thinges, yea very shame is it that they leaue behinde them for their posteritie.
For assoone as there commeth any warre or plague vpon them, then the priestes imagine where they may hyde themselues with them.
Howe can men thinke then that they be gods, whiche neither may defende them selues from warre, nor deliuer them from misfortune?
For seyng they be but of wood, of stone, of siluer, and of golde, all people and kinges shall knowe hereafter that they be but vayne thinges: yea it shalbe openly declared that they be no gods, but euen the very workes of mens handes, and that God hath nothing to do with them.
It is manifest then that they are no gods, but the workes of mens handes, and no worke of God in them.
They can set no king in the lande, nor geue rayne vnto men.
They can geue no sentence of a matter, neither defende the lande from wrong: for they are not able to do so much as a crowe that fleeth betwixt heauen and earth.
When there happeneth a fire into the house of those gods of wood, and siluer, and of golde, the priestes will escape and saue them selues, but the gods burne as the balkes therin.
They can not withstande any king or battell: howe may it then be thought or graunted that they be gods?
Moreouer, these gods of wood, of stone, of gold and siluer, may neither defend them selues from theeues nor robbers:
Yea the very wicked are stronger then they: these stryp them out of their apparell that they be clothed withall, these take their golde and siluer from them, & so get them away, yet can they not helpe them selues.
Therfore it is much better for a man to be a king, and so to shewe his power, or els a profitable vessell in a house, wherein he that oweth it might haue pleasure, yea or to be a doore in a house, to kepe such thinges safe as be therein: then to be such a vayne god.
The sunne, the moone, & al the starres, seing they geue their shine and light, are obedient, and do men good.
When the lightning glistreth, all is cleare.
The winde bloweth in euery countrey: & when God commaundeth the cloudes to go rounde about the whole worlde, they do as they are bidden.
When the fire is sent downe from aboue and commaunded, it burneth vp hilles & woodes: but as for those gods, they are not like one of these thinges, neither in beautie, neither in strength.
Wherfore, men shoulde not thinke nor say that they be gods, seing they can neither geue sentence in iudgement, nor do men good.
Forsomuch nowe as ye are sure that they be no gods, then feare them not:
For they can neither speake euyll nor good of kinges.
They can shew no tokens in heauens for the heathen, neither shyne as the sunne, nor geue light as the moone:
Yea the vnreasonable beastes are better then they: for they can get them vnder the roofe, and do them selues good.
So can ye be certified by no maner of meanes that they be gods, therefore feare them not.
For like as a scartrowe in a garden of hearbes kepeth nothing: euen so are their gods of wood, of siluer, and golde.
And like as a White thorne in an orcharde that euery byrd sitteth vpon, yea lyke as a dead body that is cast in the darke: euen so is it with those gods of wood, siluer, and golde.
By the purple & scarlet which they haue vpon them and soone faydeth away, ye may vnderstande that they be no gods: yea they them selues shall be consumed at the last, whiche shalbe a great confusion of the lande.
Blessed is the godly man that hath no images and worshippeth none: for he shalbe farre from reproofe.
AND they walked in the middest of the flambe, praysing God & magnifiyng the Lorde.
Then Azarias stoode vp, & prayed on this maner: euen in the middest of the fire opened he his mouth, and sayde:
Blessed be thou O Lorde God of our fathers, right worthy to be praysed and honoured is that name of thine for euermore:
For thou art righteous in al the thinges that thou hast done to vs, Yea faythfull are al thy workes, thy wayes are right, and all thy iudgementes true.
In all {th}e thinges that thou hast brought vpon vs, and vpon the holy citie of our fathers, euen Hierusalem, thou hast executed true iudgement: yea according to right and equitie hast thou brought all these thinges vpon vs, because of our sinnes.
For why? we haue offended and done wickedly, departing from thee.
In all thinges haue we trespassed, & not obeyed thy commaundementes, nor kept them, neither done as thou hast bidden vs, that we may prosper.
Wherefore all that thou hast brought vpon vs, and euery thing that thou hast done to vs, thou hast done them in true iudgement:
As in deliuering vs into the handes of our enemies, among vngodly and wicked abhominations, and to an vnrighteous king, yea the most frowarde vpon earth.
And nowe we may not open our mouthes, we are become a shame and reproofe vnto thy seruauntes, & to them that worship thee.
Yet for thy names sake [we beseche thee] geue vs not vp for euer, breake not thy couenaunt,
And take not away thy mercie from vs for thy beloued Abrahams sake, for thy seruaunt Isaacs sake, and for thy holy Israels sake:
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.
For we O Lord, are become lesse then any people, and be kept vnder this day in all the worlde, because of our sinnes.
So that nowe we haue neither prince, duke, prophet, burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, incense, nor sanctuarie before thee.
Neuerthelesse, in a contrite heart and an humble spirite let vs be receaued, that we may obtayne thy mercie.
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 the{m} that put their trust in thee.
And now we folowe thee with al our heart, we feare thee, and seke thy face.
Put vs not to shame: but deale with vs after thy louing kindnesse, and according to the multitude of thy mercies.
Deliuer vs by thy miracles O Lorde, and get thy name an honour: that all they which do thy seruauntes euyl, may be confounded:
Let them be ashamed thorow thy almightie power, and let their strength be broken:
That they may knowe, how that thou only art the Lorde God, and honour worthy throughout all the worlde.
And the kinges seruauntes that put them in, ceassed not to make the ouen hot with wild fire, drie straw, pitche, towe, and fagottes:
So that the flambe went out of the ouen vpon a fourtie and nyne cubites:
Yea it toke away and brent vp those Chaldees that it gat holde vpon beside the ouen.
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,
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.
Then these three as out of one mouth, praysed, honoured, and blessed God in the fornace, saying:
Blessed be thou O Lorde God of our fathers: for thou art prayse and honour worthy, yea & to be magnified for euermore.
Blessed be the holy name of thy glorie, for it is worthy to be praysed & magnified in all worldes.
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.
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.
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.
Blessed be thou in the firmament of heauen: for thou art prayse and honour worthy for euer.
O all ye workes of the Lorde, speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
O ye angels of the Lorde speake good of the Lord: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer.
O ye heauens speake good of the Lord: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer.
O all ye waters that be aboue the firmament speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer.
O all ye powers of the Lorde speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
O ye sunne and moone speake good of the Lord: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer.
O ye starres of heauen, speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
O ye showres and deaw speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
O all ye windes of God, speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer.
O ye fire and heate speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer.
O ye winter and sommer speake good of the Lord: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer.
O ye deawes and frostes speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
O ye frost and colde speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer.
O ye yee and snowe speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer.
O ye nightes and dayes speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
O ye light and darkenesse speake good of the Lord: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer.
O ye lightninges and cloudes speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer.
O let the earth speake good of the Lorde: yea let it prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
O ye mountaynes and hilles speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym, and set hym vp for euer.
O all ye greene thinges vpon the earth speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer.
O ye welles speake good of the Lord: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer.
O ye seas and fluddes speake good of the Lord: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer.
O ye whales and all that moue in the waters speake good of the Lord: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
O all ye foules of the ayre speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
O all ye beastes and cattel speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
O ye children of men speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer.
O let Israel speake good of the Lord: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
O ye priestes of the Lord speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
O ye seruauntes of the Lord speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
O ye spirites and soules of the righteous speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
O ye holy and humble men of heart, speake ye good of the Lord: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.
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.
O geue thankes therefore vnto the Lorde for he is kinde hearted, and his mercie endureth for euer.
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.
THere dwelt a man in Babylon, called Ioacim,
That toke a wyfe whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helcia, a very faire woman, and such one as feared God.
Her father and her mother also were good people, and taught their daughter according to the lawe of Moyses.
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.
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.
These came oft to Ioacims house: and all such as had any thing to do in the lawe, came thyther vnto them.
Now when the people departed away at noone, Susanna went into her husbandes orchard to walke.
The two elders seeing this, that she went in dayly and walked, they burned for lust to her,
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.
For they were both wounded with the loue of her, neither durst one shewe another his griefe:
And for shame they durst not tell her their inordinate lust, that they woulde faine haue had to do with her:
Yet they layed wayte for her earnestly from day to day, that they might [at the leaste] haue a sight of her.
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.
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.
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.
And there was not one person there, except the two elders that had hid them selues to beholde her.
So she saide to her maydens: Go fet me oyle and sope, and shut the orchard doore, that I may washe me.
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.
Now when the maydens were gone foorth, the two elders gat them vp, and ranne vpon her, saying:
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:
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.
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.
Wel, it is better for me to fall into your hande without the deede doing, then to sinne in the sight of the Lorde.
And with that she cryed out with a loude voyce: the elders also cryed out against her.
Then ranne there one to the orchard doore, and smote it open.
Now whe{n} the seruauntes of the house heard the crye in the orchard, they russhed in at the backe doore to see what the matter was.
So when the elders tolde them, the seruauntes were greatly ashamed: for why? there was neuer such a report made of Susanna.
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,
And spake thus before the people: Send for Susanna the daughter of Helchias, Ioacims Wyfe. And immediatly they sent for her.
So she came with her father and mother, her children and all her kindred.
Now Susanna was a tender person, and marueylous faire of face.
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.
Then her friendes, yea and all they that knew her, began to weepe.
These two elders stoode vp in the middest of the people, & layed their handes vpon the head of Susanna,
Which wept, and loked vp toward heauen: for her heart had a sure trust in the Lorde.
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:
With that a young felowe which there was hid, came vnto her, and lay with her.
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.
But we could not holde him, for he was stronger then we. Thus he opened the doore and gat him away.
Now whe{n} 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.
The common sorte beleeued them, as those that were the elders and iudges of the people, & so they condemned her to death.
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:
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.
And the Lorde heard her voyce.
For when she was led foorth to death, the lord raysed vp the spirite of a young childe, whose name was Daniel,
Which cryed with a loude voyce, I am cleane from this blood.
Then all the people turned towarde him, & saide: What meane these wordes that thou hast spoken?
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?
Go sit in iudgement againe: for they haue spoken false witnesse against her.
Wherefore the people turned againe in all the haste: and the elders [that is the principall heades] saide vnto him: Come sit downe here among vs, and shewe vs this matter, seeing God hath geue{n} thee as great honour as an elder.
And Daniel saide vnto them: put these two asyde one from an other, and then shall I examine them.
When they were put asunder one from an other, he called one of them and saide vnto him: O thou olde cankarde carle that hast vsed thy wickednes so long, thyne vngratious deedes which thou hast done afore are now come to light.
For thou hast geuen false iudgementes, thou hast oppressed the innocent, and letten the giltie go free: where as yet the Lorde saith, The innocent and righteous see thou slay not.
Well then, if thou hast seene her, tel me vnder what tree sawest thou them companying together? He aunswered: vnder a Mulbery tree.
And Daniel saide: Very well, nowe thou lyest euen vpon thyne head: lo, the messenger of the Lorde hath receaued the sentence of him, to cut thee in two.
Then put he him aside, and called for the other, and saide vnto him: O thou seede of Chanaan, but not of Iuda, fairenes hath deceaued thee, and lust hath subuerted thyne heart.
Thus dealt ye afore with the daughters of Israel, and they for feare consented vnto you: but the daughter of Iuda would not abide your wickednes.
Now tel me then vnder what tree diddest thou take them companying together? He aunswered: vnder a Pomegranate tree.
Then saide Daniel vnto him: Very well, nowe thou lyest also euen vpon thyne head: the messenger of the Lord standeth wayting with the sword to cut thee in two, and slay you both.
With that all the whole multitude gaue a great shoute, and praysed God which alway deliuered them that put their trust in him.
And they came vpon the two elders, whom Daniel had conuict with their owne mouth, that they had geuen false witnesse,
And dealt with them euen lykewyse as they woulde haue done with their neighbours, yea they did according to the law of Moyses, and put them to death: Thus the innocent blood was saued the same day.
Then Helcias and his wyfe praysed God for their daughter Susanna, with Ioacim her husband, and al the kinred: that there was no dishonestie founde in her.
From that day foorth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people.
And king Astyages was layde with his fathers, and Cyrus of Persia raigned in his steede.
DAniel did eate at the kinges table, and was had in reuerence aboue all his friendes.
There was at Babylo{n} an image called Bel, and there were spent vpon him euery day twelue cakes, fourtie sheepe, and sixe great pottes of wine.
Him did the king worship him selfe, and went dayly to honour him, but Daniel worshipped his owne God: And the king saide vnto him, why doest not thou worship Bel?
He aunswered and saide: Because I may not worship thinges that be made with handes, but the liuing God which made heauen and earth, and hath power vpon all fleshe.
The king said vnto him: Thinkest thou not that Bel is a lyuing God? or seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh euery day?
Daniel smyled and saide, O king deceaue not thy selfe: for this is but made of clay within, and of brasse without, neither eateth he euer any thing.
Then the king was wroth, and called for his priestes, and saide vnto them: If ye tell me not who is this that eateth vp these expences, ye shall dye:
But if ye can certifie me that Bel eateth them, then Daniel shall dye: for he hath spoken blasphemie against Bel. And Daniel said vnto the king: Let it so be, according as thou hast saide.
The priestes of Bel were threescore and ten, besides their wyues and children: And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel.
So Bels priestes saide, Lo, we wyl go out: & set thou the meate there O king, and poure in the wine, then shut the doore fast, and seale it with thyne owne signet:
And to morowe when thou commest in, if thou findest not that Bel hath eaten vp all, we wyll suffer death: or els Daniel, that hath lyed vpon vs.
The priestes thought them selues sure inough: for vnder the aulter they had made a priuy entraunce, and there went they in euer, and did eate vp what there was.
So when they were gone foorth, the king set meates before Bel: Now Daniel had commaunded his seruauntes to bring asshes, & these he sifted throughout all the temple, that the king might see: then went they out and sparred the doore, scaling it with the kinges signet, and so departed.
In the night came the priestes, with their wyues and children, as they were wont to do, and did eate and drinke vp all.
In the morning betimes at the breake of the day the king arose, and Daniel with him.
And the king said: Daniel, are the scales whole yet? He aunswered: yea O king, they be whole.
Now assoone as he had opened the doore, the king loked vnto the aulter, & cryed with a loude voyce: Great art thou O Bel, and with thee is no deceite.
Then laughed Daniel, and held the king that he should not go in, and saide: Beholde the pauement, marke well whose footesteps are these?
The king saide: I see the footesteps of men, women, and children.
Therefore the king was angry, and toke the priestes, with their wyues and children: and they shewed him the priuie doores where they came in, and dyd eate vp such thinges as were vpon the aulter:
For the which cause the king slue the{m}, and deliuered Bel into Daniels power, which destroyed him and his temple.
And in that same place there was a great Dragon, which they of Babylon worshipped.
And the king said vnto Daniel, Sayest thou that this is but a god of brasse also? Lo, he lyueth, he eateth & drinketh, so that thou canst not say that he is no lyuing God: therfore worship him.
Daniel saide vnto the king: I wyll worship the Lorde my God, he is the true lyuing God: as for this, he is not the God of lyfe.
But geue me leaue O king, and I shal destroy this Dragon without sworde or staffe. The king said: I geue thee leaue.
Then Daniel toke pitch, fat, and heary wooll, and did seeth them together, and made lumpes thereof: this he put in the Dragons mouth, and so the Dragon burst in sunder. And Daniel saide: Lo, there is he whom ye worshipped,
When they of Babylon heard that, they toke great indignation, and gathered them together against the king, saying: The king is become a Iewe, and he hath destroyed Bel, he hath slaine the Dragon, & put the priestes to death.
So they came to the king, and saide: Let vs haue Daniel, or els we wyll destroy thee and thyne house.
Nowe when the king sawe that they rushed in so sore vpon him, and that necessitie constrained him, he deliuered Daniel vnto them:
Which cast him into the lions denne, where he was sixe dayes.
In the denne there were seuen lions, & they had geuen them euery day two bodies & two sheepe: which then were not geuen them, to the intent that they might deuoure Daniel.
There was in Iurie a prophete called Habacuc, which had made potage, & broken bread in a boule, & was going into the fielde for to bring it to the reapers.
But the angel of the Lorde saide vnto Habacuc: Go cary the meate that thou hast, into Babylon vnto Daniel, which is in the lions denne.
And Habacuc saide: Lorde, I neuer sawe Babylon, and as for the denne I know it not.
Then the angell of the Lorde toke him by the toppe, and bare him by the heere of the head, and through a mightie winde set him in Babylon vpon the denne.
And Habacuc cryed, saying: O Daniel thou seruaunt of God, haue, take the breakfast that God hath sent thee.
And Daniel saide: O God, hast thou thought vpon me? wel, thou neuer faylest them that loue thee.
So Daniel arose & did eate. And the angell of the Lorde set Habacuc in his owne place againe immediatly.
Vpon the seuenth day, the king went to be weepe Daniel: and when he came to the denne, he loked in, and beholde, Daniel sate [in the middest of the lions.]
The{n} cryed the king with a loude voyet, saying: Great art thou O Lorde God of Daniel, and there is none other besides thee.
And he drew him out of the lions den, & cast those that were the cause of his destruction into the denne, and they were deuoured in a moment before his face.
After this, wrote the king vnto al people, kinredes and tongues, that dwelt in all countries,
Saying, Peace be multiplied with you: My co{m}maundement is in al the dominion of my realme, that men feare and stand in awe of Daniels God, for he is the lyuing God, which endureth euer:
His kingdome abideth vncorrupt, and his power is euerlasting:
It is he that can deliuer and saue, he doth wonders and meruailous workes in heauen and in earth: for he hath saued Daniel from the power of the lions.
O Lorde almightie, God of our fathers, Abraham, Isahac, and Iacob, and of the righteous seede of them: which hast made heauen and earth, with al the ornament therof, which hast ordained the sea by the worde of thy commaundement, which hast shut vp the deepe, and hast sealed it for thy fearefull and laudable name, which all men feare, and tremble before the face of thy power, and not for the anger of thy threatning, the which is importable to sinners, but the mercie of thy promise is great and vnsearchable: for thou art the Lorde God most high aboue all the earth, long suffering, and exceeding mercifull, and repentaunt vpon the malice of men: Thou Lord after thy goodnes hast promysed repentaunce of the remission of sinnes, and thou that art the god of the righteous, hast not put repentaunce to the righteous Abraham, Isahac, and Iacob, vnto them that haue not sinned against thee: but because I haue sinned aboue the number of the sandes of the sea, and that myne iniquities are multiplied, I am humbled with many bandes of iron, and there is in me no breathing, I haue prouoked thyne anger, and haue done euil before thee, in committing abhominations, and multiplying offences: And now I bowe the knees of my heart, requiring goodnes of thee O Lord. I haue sinned Lord, I haue sinned, and know myne iniquitie, I desire thee by prayer O Lord forgeue me, forgeue me, & destroy me not with myne iniquities, neither do thou alwayes remember myne euils to punishe them: but saue me (which am vnworthy) after thy great mercie, and I wyll prayse thee euerlastingly all the dayes of my lyfe: for all the powre of heauen prayseth thee, and vnto thee belongeth glory, worlde without ende, Amen.
AFter that Alexander king of Macedonia sonne of Phillip went forth of the lande of Cethim, and slew Darius king of the Persians and Medes, and raigned for him as he had done before in Grecia:
It happened that he toke great warres in hand, wanne very many strong cities, and slue many kinges of the earth,
Going through to the endes of the worlde, and getting many spoyles of the people, insomuch that the whole worlde stoode in awe of him, and therfore was he proude in his heart.
Now when he had gathered a mightie strong hoast,
And subdued the landes and people with their princes, so that they became tributaries vnto him,
Then he fell sicke, and when he perceaued that he must needes dye,
He called for his noble estates, which had ben brought vp with him of childre{n}, and parted his kingdome among them while he was yet aliue.
So Alexander raigned twelue yeres, and then dyed.
After his death fell the kingdome vnto his princes, and they obtayned it euery one in his roome,
And caused them selues to be crowned as kinges: and so did their children after them many yeres, and much wickednes increased in the worlde.
Out of these came the vngratious roote noble Antiochus, the sonne of Antiochus the king, which had ben a pledge at Rome: and he raigned in the hundred thirtie and seuen yere of the empire of the Grekes.
In those dayes went there out of Israel wicked men, which moued much people with their counsel, saying, Let vs go and make a couenaunt with the heathen that are rounde about vs: for since we departed from them, we haue had much sorowe.
So this deuice pleased them well,
And certaine of the people toke vpon them for to go vnto the king, which gaue them licence to do after the ordinaunce of the heathen.
Then set they vp an open schoole at Hierusalem of the lawes of the Heathen:
And made themselues vncircumsized, but forsooke the holy testament, and ioyned them selues to the heathen, and were cleane soulde to do mischiefe.
So when Antiochus began to be mightie in his kingdome, he went about to obtayne the lande of Egypt also, that he might haue the dominion of two realmes.
Vpon this entred he into Egypt with a strong hoast, with charets, Elephants, horsemen, and a great number of ships,
And began to warre against Ptolome the king of Egypt: But Ptolome was afrayde of him, and fled, and many of his people were wounded to death.
Thus Antiochus wanne many strong cities, and toke away great good out of the lande of Egypt.
And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he turned againe in the hundred fourtie and three yere, and went toward Israel,
And came vp to Hierusalem with a mightie people,
And entred proudely into the sanctuarie, and toke away the golden alter, the candelsticke, and al the ornaments therof, the table of the shewbread, the pouring vessels, the chargers, the golden spoones, the vayle, the crownes, & golden apparell of the temple, and brake downe all in peeces.
He toke also the siluer and golde, the precious iewels, and the secret treasures that he founde.
And when he had taken away altogether, caused a great murther of men, and spoken very proudly, the departed ino his owne lande.
Therefore there was great lamentation throughout all Israel.
The princes and the elders of the people mourned, the young men and the maydens were defiled, and the faire beautie of women was chaunged:
The bridegrome and the bryde toke them to mourning,
The lande and those that dwelt therein was moued: for all the house of Iacob was brought to confusion.
After two yeres the king sent his chiefe treasurer vnto the cities of Iuda, which came to Hierusalem with a great multitude of people,
Speaking peaceable wordes vnto the{m}, but all was deceite: for when they had geuen him credence,
He fell sodenly vpon the citie, & smote it sore, & destroyed much people of Israel:
And when he had spoyled the citie, he set fire on it, casting downe houses and walles on euery side.
The women and their children toke they captiue, and led away their cattell.
Then builded they the citie of Dauid with a great and thicke wall, and with mightie towres, and made it a strong holde for them.
Beside all this, they set wicked people and vngodlie men to kepe it,
Stored it with weapons and vitailes, gathered the goodes of Hierusalem, and layed them vp there: Thus became it a theeuishe castel.
Thus they became a heauy burthen, laying wayte for the people that went into the sanctuary, and for the cruell destruction of Israel.
Thus they shed innocent blood on euery side of the sanctuary, and defiled it:
Insomuch that the citezins were faine to depart, and the citie became an habitation of straungers, being desolate of her owne seede: for her owne natiues were faine to leaue her.
Her sanctuary was cleane wasted, her holy dayes were turned into mourning, her Sabbathes were had in derision, & her honour brought to naught.
Loke how great her glory was before, so great was her confusion, and her ioye turned into sorowe.
Antiochus also the king sent out a commission vnto all his kingdome, that all the people should be one.
Then they left euery man his lawe, and al the heathen agreed to the commaundement of king Antiochus:
Yea, many of the Israelites consented therevnto, offering vnto idols, and defiling the Sabbath.
So the king Antiochus sent his messe{n}gers with his commission vnto Hierusalem, and to all the cities of Iuda, that they should folow the lawes of the heathen:
And forbad either burnt offering, meate offering, or peace offering to be made in the temple of God, & that there should no Sabbath nor hie feast day be kept:
But commaunded that the sanctuary and the holy people of Israel should be defiled:
He commaunded also, that there should be set vp other aulters, temples, & idols, to offer vp swines flesh, and other vncleane beastes,
That men should leaue their children vncircumcized, to defile their soules with all maner of vncleannesse and abhominations:
That they might so forget the lawe, and chaunge all the holy ordinaunces of God,
And that whosoeuer would not do according to the commaundement of king Antiochus, should suffer death.
In lyke maner co{m}maunded he throughout all his realme, and set rulers ouer the people, for to compell them to do these thinges:
Commaunding al the cities of Iuda to do sacrifice vnto idols.
Then went the people vnto the heathen by heapes, forsooke the law of the Lorde, and committed much euil in the lande:
And the droue the Israelites into secrete places, euen where so euer they coulde flee for succour.
The fifteenth day of the moneth Casleu, in the hundred threescore and fifth yere, set king Antiochus an abhominable idoll of desolation vpon the aulter of God, and they builded aulters throughout all the cities of Iuda on euery side,
Before the doores of the houses, and in the streates, where they brent incense and did sacrifice.
And as for the bookes of the lawe of God, they brent them in the fire, and rent them in peeces.
Whatsoeuer he was that had a booke of the testament of the Lorde founde by him, yea whosoeuer endeuoured him selfe to kepe the lawe of the Lorde, the kinges co{m}maundement was, that they should put him to death.
And through his aucthoritie they executed these thinges euery moneth, vpon the people of Israel that were founde in the cities.
The twentie and fifth day of the moneth, what time as they did sacrifice vpon the aulter, which stoode in the steade of the aulter of the Lorde:
According to the commaundement of king Antiochus they put certaine women to death, which had caused their children to be circumcized:
Not onely that, but they hanged vp the childre{n} by the neckes throughout al their houses, and slue the circumcizers of the{m}.
Yet were there many of the people of Israel, which determined in the{m}selues that they woulde not eate vncleane thinges: but chose rather to suffer death, then to be defiled with vncleane meates:
So because they would not breake the blessed lawe of God, they were cruelly slaine.
And this great tiranny encreased very sore vpon the people of Israel.
IN those dayes there did stand vp one Mathathias the sonne of Iohn, the sonne of Simeon the priest, out of the kinred of Ioarib, from Hierusalem, and dwelt vpon the mount of Modin,
And had fiue sonnes: Iohn, called Gaddis,
Simon called Thasi,
Iudas, otherwyse called Machabeus,
Eleazer, otherwyse called Abaron, and Ionathā whose sirname was Apphus.
These sawe the euill that was done among the people of Iuda and Hierusalem.
And Mathathias sayd: wo is me, alas that euer I was borne, to see this miserie of my people, & the piteous destruction of the holy citie, and thus to sit so still, it beyng deliuered into the handes of the enemies.
Her sanctuarie is come into the power of straungers, her temple is as it were a man that hath lost his good name:
Her pretious ornamentes are caried away captiue, her olde men are slayne in the streetes, and her young men are fallen thorowe the sworde of the enemies.
What people is it that hath not some possession in her kingdome: or who hath not gotten some of her spoyles?
All her glorie is taken away, she was a free woman, and nowe she is become an handemayde.
Behold our sanctuarie, our beautie and honour is wasted away and defiled by the gentiles.
What helpeth it vs then to liue?
And Mathathias rent his clothes, he and his sonnes, and put sackecloth vpon them, and mourned very sore.
Then came the men thyther whiche were sent of king Antiochus, to compell such as were fled into the citie of Modin, for to do sacrifice, & to burne incense vnto idoles, and to forsake the lawe of God.
So many of the people of Israel consented and enclined vnto them: but Mathathias and his sonnes remayned stedfast.
Then spake the commissioners of king Antiochus, and sayd vnto Mathathias: Thou art a noble man, of hye reputation, and great in this citie, hauing many fayre children and brethren:
Come thou therfore first and fulfill the kinges commaundement, like as all the heathen haue done, yea and the men of Iuda, and such as remayne at Hierusalem: so shalt thou and thy children be in the kinges fauour, and enriched with golde, siluer, and great rewardes.
Mathathias aunswered, & spake with a loude voyce: Though all nations obey the king Antiochus, and fall away euery man from keping the law of their fathers, though they consent to his commaundementes:
Yet will I and my sonnes and my brethren not fall from the lawes of our fathers.
God forbid we shoulde: that were not good for vs that we shoulde forsake the lawe and ordinaunces of God, and to agree vnto the commaundement of king Antiochus.
Therfore we will do no such sacrifice, neither breake the statutes of our lawe, to go another way.
And when he had spoken these wordes, there came one of the Iewes, whiche openly in the sight of all, did sacrifice vnto the idoles vpon the aulter in the citie of Modin according to the kinges commaundement.
When Mathathias sawe this, it greeued hym at the heart, so that his reynes shoke withall, and his wrath kindled for very zeale of the law: With that he start vp, and killed the Iewe beside the aulter:
Yea and slue the kinges commissioner that compelled hym to do sacrifice, & destroyed the aulter at the same time:
Such a zeale had he vnto the lawe of God, like as Phinehes dyd vnto Zambrithe sonne of Salomi.
And Mathathias cryed with a loude voyce thorow the citie, saying: Who so is feruent in the law, and will kepe the couenaunt, let him folowe me.
So he and his sonnes fled into the mountaynes, and left all that euer they had in the citie.
Many other godly men also which lyued iustly and vprightly departed into the wildernesse, with their children, their wiues, and their cattell, and remayned there: for the tiranny increased sore vpon them.
Now when the kinges seruauntes, and the hoast whiche was at Hierusalem in the citie of Dauid, hearde that certayne men had broken the kinges commaundement, and were gone their way to the wildernesse into secrete places:
Then many pursued after them, and after they had ouertaken them, they camped them selues, and set the battel in aray against them in the Sabbath day,
And sayd vnto them: Will ye yet rebell? Get you hence, and do the commaundement of king Antiochus, and ye shall lyue.
They aunswered: We will not go [for thee,] neither will we do the kinges commaundeme{n}t, to defile the Sabbath day.
Then began they to fight against them:
But the other gaue them none other aunswere, neither cast they one stone at them, nor made fast their priuie places:
But sayde, We will dye all in our innocentie, heauen & earth shall testifie with vs that ye put vs to death wrongfully.
Thus they fought against them vpon the Sabbath, and slue both men & cattayle, their wyues and their children, to the number of a thousande people.
When Mathathias and his friendes heard this, they mourned for them right sore,
And sayde one to another: If so be that we al do as our brethren haue done, and fight not for our lyues and for our lawes against the heathen, then shall they the sooner roote vs out of the earth.
So they concluded among them selues at the same time, saying:
Whatsoeuer he be that commeth to make battayle with vs vpon the Sabbath day, we will fight against him, and not dye all as our brethren that were murthered in the wildernesse.
Vpon this came the assemblie of the Assideans vnto them, whiche were of the strongest men in Israel, and all such as were feruent in the lawe:
And al they that were fled for persecution, came to helpe them, and to stand by them:
Insomuch that they gathered an hoast of men, and slue the wicked doers in their gelousie, and the vngodly men in their wrath: but the rest fled vnto the heathen, and escaped.
Then Mathathias and his friendes went about, and destroyed the aulters,
And circumcised the children that had not yet receaued circumcision, as many as they found within the coastes of Israel:
And folowed mightily vpon the proud men: and this acte prospered in their handes,
Insomuch that they kept the lawe against the power of the gentiles and the kinges, and gaue not ouer their domimon vnto wicked doers.
After this, when the time drewe on fast that Mathathias shoulde dye, he sayde vnto his sonne: Now is pryde and persecution increased, nowe is the time of destruction & wrathfull displeasure:
Wherefore O my sonnes, be ye feruent in the lawe, and ieoparde your liues for the testament of the fathers.
Call to remembraunce what actes our fathers dyd in their time, so shall ye receaue great honour and an euerlasting name.
Remember Abraham: was not he founde faythful in temptation, & it was reckened vnto him for righteousnesse?
Ioseph in time of his trouble kept the commaundement, & was made a Lorde of Egypt.
Phinehes our father was so feruent for the honour of God, that he obtayned the couenaunt of an euerlasting priesthood.
Iosuah for fufilling the word of God, was made the captayne of Israel.
Caleb bare recorde before the congregation, and receaued an heritage.
Dauid also in his mercifull kindnesse, obtayned the throne of an euerlasting kingdome.
Elias being ielous and feruent in the law, was taken vp into heauen.
Ananias, Azarias, and Misael remayned stedfast in faith, and were deliuered out of the fire.
In like maner Daniel beyng vngiltie, was saued from the mouth of the lions.
And thus ye may consider throughout all ages sence the worlde began, that whosouer put their trust in God, were not ouercome.
Feare not ye then the wordes of an vngodly man, for his glorie is but doung and wormes:
To day is he set vp, and to mo rowe is he gone: for he is turned into earth, and his memoriall is come to naught.
Wherefore O my sonnes, take good heartes vnto you, and quyte your selues like men in the lawe: for if ye do the thinges that are commaunded you in the lawe of the Lorde your God, ye shall obtayne great honour therin.
And beholde, I knowe that your brother Simon is a man of wysdome: see that ye geue eare vnto him alway, he shalbe a father vnto you.
As for Iudas Machabeus, he hath euer ben mightie and strong from his youth vp: let him be your captayne, and order the battayle of the people.
Thus shall ye bring vnto you all those that fauour the lawe, and see that ye auenge the wrong of your people,
And recompence the heathen againe, & applie your selues wholly to the commaundement of the lawe.
So he gaue them his blessing, and was layed by his fathers:
And died in the hundred fourtie and sixe yere at Modin, where his sonnes buried him in his fathers sepulchre, and all Israel made great lamentation for him.
THen stoode vp Iudas Machabeus in his fathers steade,
And all his brethren helped hym, and so dyd all they that helde with his father, and fought with cherefulnesse for Israel.
So Iudas gate his people great honour: He put on a brest plate as a giaunt, and arayed him selfe with his harnesse, and defended the hoast with his sword.
In his actes he was like a lion, and as a lions whelpe roring at his pray.
He was an enemie to the wicked, and hunted them out, and brent vp those that vexed his people:
So that his enemies fled for feare of hym, and all the workers of vngodlinesse were put to trouble: such lucke and prosperitie was in his hande.
This greeued diuers kinges: but Iacob was greatly reioyced thorow his actes, and he gate hym selfe a great name for euer.
He went thorow the cities of Iuda, destroying the vngodly out of them, turning away the wrath from Israel,
And receauing such as were oppressed: and the fame of him went vnto the vttermost part of the earth.
Then Apollonius [a prince of Syria] gathered a mightie great hoast of the heathen, & out of Samaria, to fight against Israel:
Whiche when Iudas perceaued, he went foorth to meete him, fought with him, slue him, & a great multitude with hym: the remnaunt fled, and he toke their substaunce.
Iudas also toke Apollonius owne sworde, and fought with it all his lyfe long.
Nowe when Seron a prince of the armie of Syria, heard say that Iudas had gathered vnto hym the congregation and church of the faythfull,
He sayde: I will get me a name and a prayse thorowout the realme: for I wil go fight with Iudas and them that are with hym, as many as haue despised the kinges commaundement.
So he made him redy, and there went with hym a great mightie hoast of the vngodly, to stand by him, and to be auenged of the children of Israel.
And when they came nye vnto Bethoron, Iudas went foorth against them with a small companie.
And when his people sawe such a great hoast before them, they sayde vnto Iudas: Howe are we able, beyng so few, to fight against so great a multitude and so strong, seyng we be so weery, and haue fasted all this day?
But Iudas sayde, It is a small matter for many to be ouercome with fewe: yea there is no difference to the God of heauen, to deliuer by a great multitude, or by a small companie:
For the victorie of the battell standeth not in the multitude of the hoast, but the strength commeth from heauen.
Beholde, they come against vs with a cruell and proude multitude, to destroy vs, our wyues, and our children, and to robbe vs:
But we will fight for our lyues, and for our lawes,
And the Lorde hym selfe shall destroy them before our face: therefore be not ye afrayde of them.
Assoone as he had spoken these wordes, he leapt sodenly vpon them: Thus was Seron smitten, & his hoast put to flight,
And Iudas folowed vpon them beyonde Bethoron, vnto the playne fielde, where there were slaine eyght hundreth men of them, and the residue fledde into the lande of the Philistines.
Then all the heathen on euery side were afrayde of Iudas & his brethren:
So that the rumour of him came vnto the kinges eares, for all the gentiles coulde tell of the warres of Iudas.
So when king Antiochus heard these tidinges, he was angry in his mynde: wherfore he sent foorth, and gathered an hoast of his whole realme, very strong armies:
And opened his treasurie, and gaue his hoast a yeres wages in hande, commaunding them to be redy at all times.
Neuerthelesse, when he saw that there was not money enough in his treasuries, and that thorow the discorde and persecution which he made in the lande to put downe the lawes that had ben of olde times, his customes and tributes of the lande were minished:
He feared that he was not able for to beare the coastes and charges any lenger, nor to haue such giftes to geue so liberally as he dyd afore, more then the kinges that were before him.
Wherfore he was heauy in his minde, and thought to go into Persides for to take tributes of the lande, and so to gather much money.
So he left Lysias a noble man of the kinges blood to ouersee the kinges businesse, from the water Euphrates vnto the borders of Egypt:
And to kepe well his sonne Antiochus, till he came againe.
Moreouer, he gaue hym halfe of his hoast, and Elephantes, and committed vnto him euery thing, and gaue him the charge of all thinges that he woulde haue done, concerning those whiche dwelt in Iuda and Hierusalem:
That he shoulde sende out an armie against them, to destroy and to roote out the power of Israel and the remnaunt of Hierusalem, to put out their memoriall from that place,
To set straungers for to inhabite all their quarters, and to part their land among them.
Thus the king toke the other part of the hoast, and departed from Antioche a citie of his realme, ouer the water Euphrates, in the hundreth & fourtie and seuen yere, and went thorowe the hye countreys.
And Lysias chose vnto hym Ptolomi the sonne of Doryminius, Nicanor and Gorgias, mightie men, and the kinges friendes.
These he sent with fourtie thousande footemen, and seuen thousande horsemen, for to go into the land of Iuda, and to destroy it, as the king commaunded.
So they went foorth with all their power, and came to Emmaus into the playne fielde.
When the marchauntes of the countrey hearde the rumour of them, they & their seruauntes toke very much siluer & gold for to bye the children of Israel to be their bondemen: There came vnto them also yet mo men of warre on euery syde, out of Syria, and from the Palestines.
Now when Iudas and his brethren saw that trouble increased, and that the hoast drew nye vnto their borders, considering the kinges wordes whiche he commaunded vnto the people [namely] that they shoulde vtterly waste and destroy them:
They sayde one to another, Let vs redresse the decay of our people, let vs fight for our folke & for our sanctuarie.
Then the congregation were soone redy gathered to fight, to pray and to make supplication vnto God for mercie and grace.
As for Hierusalem, it lay voyde, & was as it had ben a wildernesse: there went no man in nor out at it, and the sanctuarie was troden downe, the aliauntes kept the castle, there was the habitation of the heathen, the mirth of Iacob was taken away, the pype and the harpe was gone from among them.
The Israelites gathered them together, & came to Maspha before Hierusalem: for in Maspha was the place where they prayed aforetime in Israel.
So they fasted that day, and put sacke-clothes vpon them, cast asshes vpon their heades, rent their clothes,
And layde foorth the bookes of the lawe, wherout the heathen sought to paynt the lykenesse of their images:
And brought the priestes ornamentes, the firstlinges, and the tithes: they set there also the Nazarites, which had accomplished their vowes before God:
And cryed with a loude voyce toward heauen, saying: What shall we do with these? and whyther shall we cary them away?
For thy sanctuarie is troden downe and defiled, the priestes are come to heauinesse and dishonour,
And beholde, the heathen are come together for to destroy vs: Thou knowest what thinges they imagine against vs.
Howe may we stande before them, except thou (O God) be our helpe?
Then they blewe out the trumpet also with a loude voyce.
Then Iudas ordeyned captaynes ouer the people, ouer thousandes, ouer hundredes, ouer fiftie, and ouer ten.
But as for such as builded them houses, maried wyues, planted them vineyardes, and those that were fearfull, he commaunded them euery man to go home againe, according to the lawe.
So the hoast remoued, and pitched vpon the south side of Emmaus.
And Iudas sayd: Arme your selues, be strong O my children, make you redy against to morowe in the morning, that ye may fight with these people, whiche are agreed together to destroy vs and our sanctuarie.
Better is it for vs to dye in battayle, then to see our people and our sanctuarie in such a miserable case.
Neuerthelesse, as thy will is O God in heauen, so be it.
THen toke Gorgias fiue thousand me{n} of foote, and a thousand of the best horsmen, and remoued out of the campe by night,
To come nye where the Iewes hoast lay, & so to slay them sodenly: (Nowe the men that kept the castle, were the conueyers of them.)
Nowe when Iudas heard this, he remoued, and al the strong men that were with hym, to smyte the chiefe and principall of the kinges hoast at Emmaus:
For the army was not yet come together.
In the meane season came Gorgias by night into Iudas tentes, and when he founde no man there, he sought them in the mountaynes, and thought they had ben fled away because of him.
But when it was day, Iudas shewed hym selfe in the fielde with three thousande men only, which had neither harnesse, nor swordes to their mindes.
But on the other side, they saw that the heathen were mightie and well harnessed, and their horsemen about them, and all these well expert in feates of warre.
Then sayde Iudas to the men that were with him: Feare not ye the multitude of them, be not afrayde of their violent running.
Remember howe our fathers were deliuered in the red sea, when Pharao folowed vpon them with a great hoast.
Euen so let vs also crye nowe towarde heauen, and the Lord shall haue mercie vpon vs, and remember the couenaunt of our fathers, yea & destroy this hoast before our face this day:
And all the heathen shall knowe, that it is God him selfe which deliuereth and saueth Israel.
Then the heathen lift vp their eyes, and when they sawe that they were comming against them,
They went out of their tentes into the battayle, and they that were with Iudas blewe vp the trumpettes.
So they buckled together, and the heathen were discomfited, and fled ouer the playne fielde:
But the hinmost of them were slayne with the sword: For they folowed them vnto Assaremoth, and into the fieldes of Idumea toward Azot and Iamnia: so that there were slayne of them vpon a three thousande men.
So Iudas turned againe with his hoast,
And sayd vnto the people, Be not greedy of the spoyles, we haue yet a battayle to fight:
For Gorgias and his hoast are here by vs in the mountaynes, but stand ye fast against our enemies, & ouercome them, then may ye safely take the spoyles.
As Iudas was speaking these wordes, behold, there appeared one part of them vpon the mount.
But when Gorgias sawe that they of his partie were fled, and the tentes brent vp (for by the smoke they might vnderstande what was done) they perceauing this, were very sore afrayde:
And when they sawe also that Iudas and his hoast were in the fielde redy to stryke battayle,
They fled euery one into the lande of the heathen.
So Iudas turned againe to spoyle the tentes, where they gat much golde and siluer, precious stones, purple, and great riches.
Thus they went home, and song a Psalme of thankesgeuing, and praysed God in heauen, For he is gracious, and his mercie endureth for euer.
And so Israel had a great victorie in that day.
Now all the heathen that escaped, came and tolde Lysias euery thing that had happened:
Wherfore Lysias was sore afrayde and greeued in his minde, because Israel had not gotten such misfortune as he woulde they should, neither as the king commaunded.
The next yere folowing, gathered Lysias three score thousande chosen men of foote, and fyue thousande horsemen, to fight against Hierusalem.
So they came into Iurie, and pitched their tentes at Bethoron: where Iudas came against them with ten thousande men.
And when he sawe so great and mightie an hoast, he made his prayer, & sayde: Blessed be thou O sauiour of Israel, which diddest destroy {th}e violent power of the graunt in the hande of thy seruaunt Dauid, & gauest the hoast of the heathen into the hand of Ionathan the sonne of Saul, & of his harnesse bearer:
Put this boast now into the hand of thy people of Israel, & let them be confounded in their multitude and horsemen.
Make them afrayde, and dis• the boldnesse of their strength, that they may be moued thorowe their destin•tion.
Cast them downe thorowe the sworde of thy louers, then shall all they that knowe thy name, prayse thee with thankesgeuing.
So they stroke the battell, and there were slayne of Lysias hoast fiue thousande men.
Then Lysias seyng the discomfyting of his men, and the manlinesse of the Iewes, howe they were redy either to lyue or to dye lyke men: he went vnto Antioch, and chose out men of warre, that when they were gathered together, they might come againe into Iurie.
Then sayde Iudas and his brethren: Behold, our enemies are discomfited, let vs nowe go vp to clense and to repayre the sanctuarie.
Vpon this, al the hoast gathered them together, and went vp into mount Sion.
Nowe when they sawe the sanctuarie layed wast, the aulter defiled, the doores brent vp, the shrubbes growing in the courtes, like as in a wood or vpon mountaynes, yea and that the priestes chambers were broken downe:
They rent their clothes, & made great lamentation, cast asshes vpon their heades,
Fell downe flat to the grounde vpon their faces, made a great noyse with the trumpettes, and cryed toward heauen.
Then Iudas appoynted certayne men to fight against those which were in the castle, till they had clensed the sanctuarie.
So he chose priestes that were vndefiled, such as had pleasure in the lawe of God:
And they clensed the sanctuarie, and bare out the defiled stones into an vncleane place.
And forsomuch as the aulter of burnt offeringes was vnhalowed, he toke aduisement what he might do withall:
So he thought it was best to destroy it, lest it shoulde happen to do them any shame, for the heathen had defiled it: and therfore they brake it downe.
As for the stones, they layed them vp vpon the mountayne by the house in a conuenient place, till there came a prophete to shewe what shoulde be done with them.
So they toke whole stones, according to the lawe, and buylded a newe aulter, such one as was before,
And made vp the sanctuarie within and without, & halowed the house and the courtes:
They made newe holy ornamentes, & brought the candlesticke, the aulter of incense, and the table into the temple.
The incense layed they vpon the aulter, & lighted the lampes whiche were vpon the candelsticke, that they might burne in the temple:
They set the shew bread vpon the table, and hanged vp the vayle, and finished all the workes which they had begun to make,
And vpon the twentie and fifth day of the nynth moneth (whiche is called the moneth of Casleu) in the hundred fourtie and eyght yere:
They rose vp betimes in the morning, for to do sacrifice according to the lawe vpon the newe burnt offring aulter that they had made.
After the time and season that the heathen had defiled it, the same day was it set vp againe, with songues, pypes, harpes, and cymbales,
And all the people fel vpon their faces, worshipping and thanking the God of heauen, whiche had geuen them the victorie.
So they kept the dedication of the aulter eyght dayes, offring burnt sacrifices and thanke offeringes with gladnesse:
They deckt the forefrunt of the temple also with crownes and shieldes of gold, and halowed the portes and celles, and hanged doores vpon them.
Thus there was very great gladnesse among the people, because the blasphemie of the heathen was put away.
So Iudas and his brethren, with the whole congregation of Israel, ordeyned that the time of the dedication of the aulter shoulde be kept in his season from yere to yere, by the space of eyght dayes, from the twentie and fifth day of the moneth Casleu with myrth and gladnesse.
And at the same time buylded they vp the mount Sion, with hye walles and strong towres round about, lest the gentiles shoulde come and treade it downe, as they did afore.
Therfore Iudas set men of warre in it to kepe it, and made it strong for to defend Bethsura, that the people might haue a refuge against the Edomites.
IT happened also, that when the heathen rounde about hearde howe that the aulter & the sanctuarie were set vp in their old estate, it displeased them very sore,
Wherfore they thought to destroy the generation of Iacob that was among them: in so much that they began to slay and to persecute certayne of the people.
Then Iudas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea at Arabathane: for they dwelt rounde about the Israelites, where he slue and spoyled a great multitude of them.
He thought also vpon the malice and vnfaythfulnesse of the children of Bean, how they were a snare and stoppe vnto the people, and howe they layed wayte for them in the hye way:
Wherfore he shut them vp into towres, and came vnto them, besieged them, and destroyed them vtterly, & brent vp their towres, with all that were in them.
Afterward went he against the children of Ammon, whereof he founde a mightie power and a great multitude of people, with Timothi their captayne.
So he stroke many battayles with them, which were destroyed before hym.
And when he had slayne them, he wan Gazer the citie, with the townes belonging therto, and so turned againe into Iurie.
The heathen also in Galaad, gathered them together against the Israelites that were in their quarters, to slay them: but they fled to the castle of Dathemam,
And sent letters vnto Iudas and his brethren, saying: The heathen that are about vs are gathered against vs on euery side, to destroy vs.
And nowe they make them redy for to come and lay siege to the castel whervnto we are fled, and Timothi is captayne of their hoast:
Come therefore and deliuer vs out of their handes, for there is a great multitude of vs slayne alredy.
Yea and our brethren that were at Tubin, are slayne and destroyed wellnye a thousande men and their wyues, their children and their goodes haue the enemies led away captiue.
Whyle these letters were yet a reading, beholde there came other messengers from Galilee with rent clothes, whiche tolde euen the same tidinges,
And sayde, that they of Ptolomais, of Tyrus, and of Sidon were gathered against them, and that all Galilee was filled with enemies to destroy Israel.
When Iudas and the people hearde this, they came together a great congregation, to deuise what they might do for their brethren that were in trouble and besieged of their enemies.
And Iudas sayd vnto Simon his brother: Choose thee out certayne men, & go deliuer thy brethren in Galilee: As for me & my brother Ionathas, we will go into Galaaditim.
So he left Iosephus the sonne of Zachari, and Azarias, to be captaynes of the people, to kepe the remnaunt of the hoast in Iewry,
And commaunded them, saying: Take the ouersight of this people, and see that ye make no warre against the heathen, vntill the time that we come againe.
And vnto Simon he gaue three thousand men for to go into Galilee: but Iudas himselfe had eyght thousand in Galaaditim.
Then went Simon into Galilee, and stroke diuers battayles with the heathen, whom he discomfited,
And folowed vpon them into the port of Ptolomais: and there were slayne of the heathen almost three thousande men.
So he toke the spoyles of them, and caried away the Israelites that were in Galilee and Arbatis, with their wyues, their children, and all that they had, and brought them into Iewry with great gladnesse.
Iudas Machabeus also and his brother Ionathas went ouer Iordane, and trauayled three dayes iourney in the wildernesse:
Where the Nabathees met them, and receaued them louingly, and tolde them euery thing that had happened vnto their brethren in Galaaditim:
And howe that many of them were besieged in Barasa, Bosor, Alimis, Casbon, Mageth, and Carnaim (all these are strong walled and mightie great cities,)
And that they were kept in other cities of Galaaditim also, and to morowe they are appoynted to bring their hoast vnto these cities, to take them, and to destroy them in one day.
So Iudas and his hoast turned in all the haste in the wildernesse toward Bosor, and wan the citie, slue all the males with the sworde, toke all their goodes, and set fire vpon the citie:
And in the night they toke their iourney from thence, and came to the castell,
And betimes in the morning when they loked vp, beholde there was an innumerable people bearing ladders and other instrumentes of warre, to take the castell, and to ouercome them.
When Iudas sawe that the battayl began, and that the noyse therof went vp and rang into the heauen, and that there was so a great crye in the citie,
He sayd vnto his hoast, Fight this day for your brethren:
And so came behinde their enemies in three companies, and blewe vp the trumpettes, and cryed in their prayer to God:
But so soone as Timotheus hoast perceaued that Machabeus was there, they fled from hym: and he slue them downe right sore, so that there were killed of them the same day almost eyght thousande men.
Then departed Iudas vnto Maspha, layed siege vnto it, and wan it, slue al the males in it, spoyled it, and set fire vpon it.
From thence went he and toke Casbon, Mageth, Bosor, and the other cities in Galaaditim.
After this, gathered Timothi another hoast, which pitched their tentes before Raphon beyond the water.
Iudas also sent to spye the hoast, and they brought him worde againe, saying: All the heathen that be rounde about vs, are gathered vnto him, and the hoast is very great:
Yea, they haue hired the Arabians to helpe them, & haue pitched their tentes beyond the water, and are redie to come and fight against thee. So Iudas went on to meete them.
And Timothi saide vnto the captaines of his hoast: whe{n} Iudas and his hoast come nye the ryuer, if he go ouer first, we shall not be able to withstand him: for why? he wyll be to strong for vs.
But if he dare not come ouer, so that he pitch his tent beyond the water: then wyll we go ouer, for we shalbe strong inough against him.
Now assoone as Iudas came to the riuer, he appoynted certaine scribes of the people by the riuer, and co{m}maunded them, saying: See that ye leaue none behinde vpon this side of the riuer, but let euery man come to the battaile.
So he went first ouer vnto them, & all his people after him, and al the heathen were discomfited before him, & let their weapons fall, and ranne into the temple that was at Carnaim,
Which citie Iudas wanne, and brent the temple, with all that were in it: So was Carnaim subdued, and might not withstand Iudas.
Then Iudas gathered all the Israelites that were in Galaaditim, from the least vnto the most, with their wiues and their children, a very great hoast, for to come into the lande of Israel.
So they came vnto Ephron, which was a mightie great and strong citie, and laye in their way: for they coulde not go by it, neither on the right hande nor on the left, but must go through it.
Neuerthelesse, they that were in the citie, woulde not let them go through, but walled vp the portes with stones: And Iudas sent vnto them with peaceable wordes saying:
Let vs passe through your lande, that we may go into our owne countrey, there shall no body do you harme, we wyl but onely go through on foote. But they would not let them in.
Wherfore Iudas commaunded a proclamation to be made throughout the hoast, that euery man should assault the citie in his order.
And so they did their best, lyke valiaunt men: and Iudas besieged the citie all that day, and all that night, and so wanne it,
Where they slue as many as were males, and destroyed the citie, and sp•yled it, and went through al the citie ouer them that were slaine.
Then went they ouer Iordane into the playne fielde before Bethsam.
And Iudas helped those forward that came behinde, and gaue the people good exhortation al the way through, til they were come into the lande of Iuda.
Thus they went vp vnto the mount Sion, where they offered burnt offeringes with mirth and thankesgeuing, because there were none of them slaine, but came home againe peaceably.
Now what time as Iudas and Ionathas were in the land of Galaad and Simon their brother in Galilee before Ptolomais:
Then Iosephus the sonne of Zachari and Azarias the captaynes, hearing of the actes that were done, and of the battailes that were striken, saide:
Let vs get vs a name also, and go fight against the heathen that are rounde about vs.
So they gaue their hoast a commaundement, and went toward Iamma.
Then came Gorgias and his men out of the citie, to fight against them:
Iosephus also and Azarias were chased vnto the borders of Iewry, and ther were slaine that day of the people of Israel two thousand men: so that there was a great miserie among the people of Israel,
And all because they were not obedient vnto Iudas and his brethren, but thought they shoulde quite themselues manfully.
Neuerthelesse, they came not of the seede of these men by whom Israel was helped.
But the men that were with Iudas were greatly commended in the sight of all Israel, and all the Heathen, wheresoeuer their name was heard vpon.
And the people came vnto them, bidding them welcome.
After this, went Iudas foorth with his brethren, and fought against the children of Esau in the lande that lyeth toward the south, where he wan the citie of Hebron and the townes that lye beside it: and as for the walles and towers rounde about it, he brent them vp.
Then remoued he to go into the lande of the Philistines, and went through Samaria.
At the same time were there [many] priestes slaine in the battaile, which wilfully and without aduisement went out for to fight to get them honour.
And when Iudas came to Azot in the Philistines lande, he brake downe their aulters, brent the images of their idols, spoyled the cities, and came againe into the lande of Iuda.
NOw when king Antiochus trauailed thorough {th}e hie countries, he heard that Elymas in Persia was a noble and plenteous citie in siluer and golde,
And that there was in it a very rich temple, where as were clothes, coate armours, and shieldes of golde, which Alexander the sonne of Philip king of Macedonia that raigned first in Grecia had left behinde him.
Wherefore he went about to take the citie & to spoyle it, but he was not able: for the citezins were warned of it, and fought with him:
And so he fled, and departed with great heauinesse, and came againe into Babylon.
Moreouer, there came one which brought him tidinges in Persia, that his hoastes which were in the lande of Iuda were driuen away,
And how that Lysias went foorth first with a great power, and was dryuen away of the Iewes, how that they had wonne the victory, and gotten great goodes out of the hoastes that perished,
How they had broken downe the abhomination which he set vp vpon the aulter at Hierusalem, & fenced the sanctuary with hie walles, lyke as it was afore, yea and Bethsura his citie also.
So it chaunced, that when the king heard these wordes, he was afrayde, & greeued very sore: Wherefore he layde him downe vpon his bed, and fell sicke for very sorowe, and all because it had not happened as he had deuised.
And there continued he long: for his griefe was euer more and more, so that he sawe he must needes dye.
Therfore he sent for all his friendes, & saide vnto them: The sleepe is gone fro myne eyes for the very sorowe and vexation of heart that I haue.
For when I consider in my minde the great aduersitie that I am come vnto, and the fluddes of heauines which I am come in, where as afore time I was so merie, and so greatlie set by by reason of my power:
Againe, considering the euill that I haue done at Hierusalem, from whence I toke all the riches of golde and siluer that were in it, and sent to destroye the inhabitours of Iurie without any reason why:
I know that these troubles are come vpon me for the same cause: and behold, I must dye with great sorowe in a straunge lande.
Then called he for one Phillip, a frend of his, whom he made ruler of all his realme,
And gaue him the crowne, his robe, and his ring, that he shoulde take his sonne Antiochus vnto him, & bring him vp, till he might raigne him selfe.
So the king Antiochus died there, in the hundred fourtie and nine yere.
When Lysias knew that the king was dead, he ordained Antiochus his sonne, whom he had brought vp, to raigne in his fathers steede, and called him Eupator.
Nowe they that were in the castle [at Hierusalem] kept in the Iewes rounde about the sanctuary, and sought euer still to do them harme, for the strengthening of the Heathen.
Wherefore Iudas thought to destroy them, and called all the people together, that they might lay siege vnto them.
So they came together in the hundred and fiftie yere, and besieged them, laying foorth their ordinaunce & instrumentes of warre.
Then certaine of them that were besieged, went foorth: vnto whom some vngodly men of Israel ioyned them selues also,
And went vnto the king, saying: how long wyll it be or thou punishe, and auenge our brethren?
We haue euer ben minded to do thy father seruice, to walke in his statutes, and to obey his commaundementes,
Therfore our people fell from vs: and wheresoeuer they founde any of vs, they slue them, and spoyled our enheritaunce.
And they haue not onely medled with vs, but with all our countries.
And beholde, this day are they besieging the castle at Hierusalem to take it, and haue made vp the strong holde in Bethsura:
And if thou doest not preuent them right soone, they wil do more then these, and thou shalt not be able to ouercome them.
When the king heard this, he was very angry, and called all his friendes, the captaines of his armie, and [all his footemen and] horsemen:
He hired men of warre also, of other realmes pertayning to the kinges that were confederate with him, and of the Iles of the sea, which came vnto him.
And the number of his hoast was an hundred thousand footemen, and twentie thousand horsemen, and thirtie & two Elephantes well exercised to battaile.
These came through Idumea vnto Bethsura, and besieged it a long season, & made diuers instrumentes of warre against it: but the Iewes came out and brent them with fire, & fought like men.
Then departed Iudas from the castle [at Hierusalem] and remoued the hoast toward Bethzacaran, ouer against the kinges armie.
So the king arose before the day, and brought the power of his hoast into the way to Bethzacara{n}: where the hoastes made them redie to the battaile, blowing the trumpettes.
And to prouoke the Elephantes for to fight, they shewed them the sappe of red grapes, and mulberies,
And deuided the Elephantes among the hoast: so that by euery Elephant there stoode a thousand men well harnessed, & helmettes of steele vpon their heades: yea, vnto euery one of the Elephantes also were ordained fiue hundred horsemen of the best,
Which wayted on the Elephant, going wheresoeuer he went, and departed not from him.
Euery Elephant was couered with a strong towre of wood, fastened thereon with instrumentes, whereupon were thirtie, and two valiaunt men with weapons to fight, and within was a man of Inde, to rule the beaste.
As for the remnaunt of the horsemen, he set them vpon both the sides in two partes with trumpettes, to prouoke the hoast, & to stirre vp such as were slowe in the armie.
And when the sunne shone vpon their shieldes of golde and steele, the mountaines glistered againe at them, & were as bright as the cressets of fire.
The kinges hoast also was deuided, one parte vpon the hie mountaines, the other low beneath: so they went on, taking good heede, and keping their order.
And all they that dwelt in the lande, were afrayd at the noyse of their hoast when the multitude went foorth, and when the weapons smote together: for the hoast was both great and mightie.
Iudas also and his hoast entred into the battaile, and slue sixe hundred men of the kinges armie.
Now when Eleazar the sonne of Saura did see one of the Elephantes deckt with the kinges badge, and was a more goodly beast then the other, he thought the king should be vpon him:
And ieoparded him selfe to deliuer his people, & to get him a perpetual name.
Wherfore he ranne with a courage vnto the Elephant in the middest of the hoast, smiting them downe on both the sides, and slue many about him.
So went he to the Elephantes feete, and gat him vnder him, and slue him: then fel the Elephant downe vpon him, and there he dyed.
Iudas also and his men, seeing the power of the king and the mightie violence of his hoast, departed from them.
And the kinges armie went vp against them toward Hierusalem, and pitched their tentes in Iurie beside mount Sion.
Moreouer, the king toke truice with them that were in Bethsura: but whe{n} they came out of the citie (because they had no vitayles, but were shut vp within, and the lande lay vntilled)
The king toke Bethsura, and set men to keepe it, and turned his hoast to the place of the sanctuary,
And layed siege to it a great while, where he made all maner ordinaunce, handbowes, firie dartes, racketts to cast stones, scorpions to shoote arrowes, and slinges.
The Iewes also made ordinaunce against theirs, and fought a long season.
But in the citie there were no vittailes, for it was the seuenth yere of {th}e warres: and those heathen that remayned in Iurie, had eaten vp all their store.
And in the sanctuary were fewe men left: for the hunger came so vpon them, that they were scattred abrode euery man to his owne place.
So when Lysias heard that Philip (whom Antiochus the king while he was yet liuing, had ordained to bring vp Antiochus his sonne, that he might be king)
Was come againe out of Persia & Medea with the kinges hoast, and thought to obtaine the kingdome with the gouernaunce of all thinges:
He gate him to the king in al the haste, and to the captaynes of the hoast, and saide, We decrease dayly, and our vittailes are but small: Againe, the place that we laye siege vnto is very strong, & it were our part to see for the realme:
Let vs agree with these men, and take truice with them, and with al their people,
And graunt them to lyue after their lawe, as they did afore: for they be greeued, and do all these thinges against vs, because we haue despised their lawe.
So the king and the princes were content, and sent vnto them to make peace: and they receaued it.
Now when the king and the princes had made an oth vnto them, they came out of the castle,
And the king went vp to mount Sion: but when he saw that the place was well fenced, he brake the oth that he had made, and commaunded to destroy the wall rounde about.
Then departed he in all the haste, and returned vnto Antioch, where he found Philip hauing dominion of the citie: So he fought against him, and toke the citie againe into his handes.
IN the hundred fiftie and one yere, came Demetrius the sonne of Seleucus from the citie of Rome with a smal company of men, vnto a citie of the sea coast, and there he bare rule.
And when he came to Antioch the citie of his progenitours, his hoast toke Antiochus and Lysias, to bring them vnto him.
But when it was tolde him, he saide: let me not see their faces.
So the hoast put them to death. Now whe{n} demetrius was set vpon the throne of his kingdome,
There came vnto him wicked and vngodlie men of Israel, whose captayne was Alcimus, that woulde haue ben made hie priest:
These men accused the people of Israel vnto the king, saying: Iudas and his brethren haue slaine thy frendes, and driuen vs out of our owne lande.
Wherfore, send now some man, to who{m} thou geuest credence, that he may go and see al the destruction which he hath done vnto vs and to the kinges lande, and let him be punished, with all his friendes and fauourers.
Then the king chose Bacchides a friend of his, which was a man of great power in the realme beyond the water, and faithful vnto the king, and sent him [to see the destruction that Iudas had done.]
And as for that wicked Alcimus, he made him hie priest, and commaunded him to be auenged of the children of Israel.
So they departed [from the king] and came with a great hoast into the lande of Iuda, sending messengers to Iudas and his brethren, & speaking vnto them with peaceable wordes, but vnder disceite.
Therefore Iudas and his people beleued not their saying: for they saw that they were come with a great hoast.
After this, came the scribes together vnto Alcimus & Bacchides, to entreate of reasonable couenauntes:
And the Assideans were the first among the children of Israel that required peace of them,
Saying: Alcimus the priest is come of the seede of Aaron, how can he deceaue vs though he come with an armie?
So he gaue them louing wordes, and swore vnto them, & saide: We wyl do you no harme, neither your friendes.
And they beleued him: but the very same day toke he threescore men of them, and slue them, according to the wordes that are written,
They haue cast the fleshe of thy sainctes and shed their blood rounde about Hierusalem, & there was no man that would burie them.
So there came a great feare and dreade among al {th}e people, saying: There is neither trueth nor righteousnesse in them: for they haue broken the appoyntment and oth that they made.
And Bacchides remoued his hoast fro{m} Hierusalem, & pitched his tent at Bethzecha, where he sent foorth, & toke many of them that had forsaken him: He slue many of the people also, and cast them into a great pit.
Then committed he the lande vnto Alcimus, and left men of warre with him to helpe him: and Bacchides him selfe went vnto the king.
And thus Alcimus defended his hye priesthood.
And all such as vexed Israel, resorted vnto him: insomuch that they obtayned the lande of Iuda, and did much euill vnto the Israelites.
Nowe when Iudas sawe all the mischiefe that Alcunus and his company had done (yea more then the heathen them selues) vnto the Israelites:
He went foorth rounde about all the borders of Iurie, and punished those vnfaithfull runnagates, so that they came no more out into the countrie.
So when Alcimus sawe that Iudas & his people had gotten the vpper hand, and that he was not able to abide them: he went againe to the king, and saide all the worst of them that he coulde.
Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his chiefe princes, which bare euil wil vnto Israel, and commaunded him that he should vtterly destroy the people.
So Nicanor came to Hierusalem with a great hoast, and sent vnto Iudas and his brethren with friendly wordes: but vnder disceyte, saying:
There shall be no warre betwixt me and you, I wyll come with a fewe men to see how ye do with frendship.
Vpon this he came vnto Iudas, and they saluted one another peaceably: but the enemies were appoynted to take Iudas by violence.
Neuerthelesse, it was tolde Iudas that he came vnto him but vnder disceyte: wherfore he gate him away from him, and would see his face no more.
When Nicanor perceaued that his counsel was bewrayed, he went out to fight against Iudas, beside Capharsalama:
Where there were slaine of Nicanors hoast fiue thousand men, and the residue fled vnto the castle of Dauid.
After this came Nicanor vp vnto mount Sion, and the priestes with the elders of the people went foorth to salute him peaceably, & to shewe him the burnt sacrifices that were offered for the king.
But he laughed them and the people to scorne, mocked them, defiled their offeringes, and spake disdainefully:
Yea, and swore in his wrath, saying: If Iudas and his hoast be not deliuered nowe into my handes, assoone as euer I come againe and fare well, I shall burne vp this house. With that went he out in a great anger.
Then the priestes came in, and stoode before the aulter of the temple, weeping, and saying:
Forsomuch as thou O Lorde hast chosen this house, that thy name might be called vpon therin, and that it should be an house of prayer and petition for thy people:
Be auenged of this man and his hoast, and let them be slaine with the sword: remember the blasphemies of them, and suffer not them to continue any longer.
When Nicanor was gone from Hierusalem, he pitched his tent at Bethoron, and there an hoast met him out of Syria.
And Iudas came to Adarsa with three thousand men, and made his prayer vnto God, saying:
O Lorde, because the messengers of king Sennacherib blasphemed thee, the angell went foorth and slue an hundred fourscore and fiue thousand of them:
Euen so, destroy thou this hoast before vs to day, that other people may knowe howe that he hath blasphemed thy santuary, and punishe him according to his maliciousnes.
And so the hoastes stroke the fielde the thirteenth day of the moneth Adar: and Nicanors hoast was discomfited, and he him selfe was first slaine in the battaile.
When Nicanors men of warre sawe that he was killed, they cast away their weapons and fled:
But the Iewes folowed vpon them a whole dayes iourney, from Adazer vnto Gazara, blowing with the trumpettes, and making tokens after them.
So the Iewes came foorth of all the townes rounde about, & blew out their hornes vpon them, and turned against them: Thus were they all slaine, and not one of them left.
Then they toke their substaunce for a pray, and smote of Nicanors head, and his right hande which he helde vp so proudely, and brought it with them, and hanged it vp afore Hierusalem.
Wherefore the people were exceedingly reioyced, and passed ouer that day in great gladnes.
And Iudas ordayned that the same day [namely] the thirteenth day of the moneth Adar, shoulde be kept in mirth euery yere.
Thus the lande of Iuda was in rest a litle while.
IVdas heard also the fame of the Romaines, that they were mightie and valiaunt men, and agreeable to all thinges that are required of them, and make peace with all men which come vnto them,
And how they were doughtie men of strength: besides that, it was tolde him of their battailes and noble actes which they did in Galatia, how they had conquered them, and brought them vnder tribute,
And what great thinges they had done in Spayne: how that with their wysdome and sober behauour they had wonne the mines of siluer and gold that are there,
And obtayned al the land, with other places farre from them: how they had discomfited & slaine downe the kinges that came vpon them from the vttermost parte of the earth, and how other people gaue them tribute euery yere:
How they had slaine and ouercome Philip and Perses kinges of Cethim, and other mo in battaile, which had brought their ordinaunce against them:
How they discomfited great Antiochus king of Asia, that woulde needes fight with them, hauing an hundred and twentie Elephantes, with horsemen, charets, and a very great hoast:
How they toke him selfe aliue, and ordained him, with such as shoulde raigne after him, to pay them a great tribute, yea and to finde them good sureties and pledge besides all this:
How they had taken from him India, Media, and Lydia, his best landes, and geuen them to king Eumenus:
Againe, how they perceauing that the Grekes were comming to vexe them,
Sent against them a captayne of an hoast, which gaue them battaile, slue many of them, led away their wynes and children captiue, spoyled them, toke possession of their lande, and destroyed their strong holdes, and subdued them to be their bondmen, vnto this day.
Moreouer, how that as for other kingdomes and Iles which sometime with stoode them, they destroyed them, and brought them vnder their dominion:
But kept amitie with their owne frendes, and those that were confederate with them, and conquered kingdomes both farre and nye: & that whosoeuer heard of their renowme, was afrayde of the{m}.
For whom they woulde helpe to their kingdomes, those raigned: and whom it lyked not them to raigne, they put them downe: And howe they were come to great preheminence,
Hauing no king among them, neither any man clothed in purple to be magnified therethrough:
But had ordained them selues a parliament, wherin there fat three hundred and twentie senatours dayly vpon the counsell, to dispatch euer the busines of the people, and to kepe good order:
And howe that euery yere they chose a Maire to haue the gouernaunce of al their lande; to whom euery man was obedient, and there was neither euill wyll nor discention among them.
Then Iudas chose Eupolemus, the sonne of Iohn the sonne of Iacob, and Iason the sonne of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome for to make frendship and a bonde of loue with them,
That they might take from them the bondage of the Grekes: for the Iewes saw that the Grekes would subdue the kingdome of Israel.
So they went vnto Rome, a very great iourney, & came vnto the parliament, and saide:
Iudas Machabeus, with his brethren, and the people of the Iewes, hath sent vs vnto you, to make a bond of frendship and peace with you, and ye to note vs as your louers and friendes.
And that matter pleased the Romanes right well:
Wherefore it was written vp: of the which the Romanes made a writing in tables of brasse, and sent it to Hierusalem, that they might haue by them a memoriall of the same peace and bonde of frendship, after this maner:
God saue the Romanes and the people of the Iewes both by sea & by lande, and kepe the sworde and enemie from them for euermore:
If there come first any warre vpon the Romanes or any of their friendes throughout all their dominion,
The people of the Iewes shall helpe them, as the time requireth, and that with all their heartes.
Also they shall neither geue nor send vnto their enemies vitailes, weapons, money, nor shippes: but fulfil their couenauntes at the Romanes pleasure, taking nothing of them therefore.
Againe, if the people of the Iewes happen first to haue warre, the Romanes shal stand by them with a good wyl, according as the time wyll suffer:
Neither shall they geue vnto the Iewes enemies vitailes, weapons, money, or shippes: Thus are the Romanes content to do, and shall fulfill their charge without any disceite.
According to these articles, the Romanes made {th}e bond with the Iewes.
Now after these articles [saide they] if any of the parties wyll put to them, or take any thing from them, they shall do it with the consent of both: and whatsoeuer they adde vnto them, or take from them, it shall stande fast.
And as touching the euill that Demetrius hath done vnto the Iewes, we haue writte{n} vnto him, saying: Wherfore layest thou thy heauie yoke vpon the Iewes our friendes and louers?
If they make any complaint of thee againe vnto vs, we shall defende them, and fight with thee by sea and by lande, according to iustice.
IIn the meane season, whe{n} Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his hoast was slaine in the fielde, he proceeded further to send Bacchides and Alcimus againe into Iurie, & the chiefe strength of his hoast with them.
So they went foorth by the way that leadeth vnto Galgala, and pitched their tentes before Masalothw (hich is in Arbellis) and wan the citie and slue much people.
In the first moneth of the hundred fiftie and two yere, they brought their hoast and layde their siege against Hierusalem:
But raysing their campe, they came to Berea with twentie thousand footemen, and two thousand horsemen.
Nowe Iudas had pitched his tent at Laisa, with three thousand chosen men,
And when they sawe the multitude of the other armie that it was so great, they were sore afrayde, and many conueyed them selues out of the hoast, insomuch that there abode no mo of them but eyght hundred men.
When Iudas sawe that his hoast failed him, and that he must needes fight, it brake his heart, that he had no time to gather them together: wherefore the man was in extreme trouble.
Neuerthelesse, he saide vnto them that remayned with him: Vp, let vs go against our enemies, peraduenture we shall be able to fight with them.
But they woulde haue stopped him, saying, We shall not be able: therefore now let vs saue our lyues, and turne againe to our brethren: for shoulde we fight against them, being so fewe?
And Iudas saide, God forbyd that we should flee from them: wherefore if our time be come, let vs dye manfully for our brethren, and let vs not stayne our honour.
Then the hoast remoued out of the tentes, and stoode against them, and the horseme{n} were deuided in two partes: the sling casters and archers went before the hoast, and all the mightie men were formost in the fielde.
Bacchides him selfe was in the right wing of the battaile, and the hoast drew nye in two partes, and blewe the trumpettes.
They of Iudas side blewe the trumpettes also, and the earth shooke at the noyse of the hoastes: and they strake a fielde from the morowe till night.
And when Iudas sawe that Bacchides hoast was strongest of the right side, he toke with him all the hardie men,
And brake the right wing of their order, & folowed vpon them vnto mount Azot.
Now when they which were the left wing, sawe that the right side was discomfited, they persecuted Iudas and them that were with him hard at the heeles.
Then was there a sore battaile: for many were slaine & wounded on both the partes.
Iudas also him selfe was killed, and the remnaunt fled.
So Ionathas and Simon toke Iudas their brother, and buried him in his fathers sepuchre in the citie of Modin.
And al the people of Israel made great lamentatio{n} for him, and mourned long, saying:
Alas that this worthy should be slaine, which deliuered the people of Israel.
As for other thinges pertayning to the battailes of Iudas, the noble actes that he did, and of his worthynes, they are not written, for they were very many.
Now after the death of Iudas, wicked men came vp in al the coastes of Israel, & there arose all such as did worke vngodlinesse.
In those dayes was there a great dearth in the lande, and all the countrie gaue ouer them selues and theirs vnto Bacchides.
So Bacchides chose wicked men, and made them lordes in the lande.
These sought out and made search for Iudas friendes, and brought them vnto Bacchides, whiche auenged him selfe vpon them with great dispite.
And there came so great trouble in Israel, as was not since the time that no prophete was seene there.
Then came all Iudas friendes together, and sayde vnto Ionathas:
Forsomuch as thy brother Iudas is dead, there is none like him to go foorth against our enemies, against Bacchides and such as are aduersaries of our owne people:
Wherefore this day we choose thee for him, to be our prince and captayne, to order our battayle.
And Ionathas toke the gouernaunce vpon him at the same time, and ruled in steade of his brother Iudas.
When Bacchides gat knowledge therof, he sought for to slay hym.
But Ionathas & Simon his brother perceauing that, fled into the wildernesse of Thecua with al their campanie, and pitched their tentes by the water poole of Asphar.
Which when Bacchides vnderstoode, he came ouer Iordane with al his hoast vpon the Sabbath day.
Nowe had Ionathas sent his brother [Ihon] a captayne of the people, to pray his friendes the Nabuthites, that they would lende them their ordinaunce, for they had much.
So the children of Iambri came out of Madaba, and toke Ihon and all that he had, and went their way withall when they had taken it.
Then came worde vnto Ionathas and Simon his brother, that the children of Iambri made a great mariage, & brought the bride from Madaba with great pompe: for she was daughter to one of the noblest princes of Chanaan.
Wherefore they remembred the blood of Ihon their brother, and went vp, and hyd them selues vnder the shadowe of the mountayne.
So they lift vp their eyes, and loked, & beholde there was much a do & great preparation: for the brydegrome came foorth, and his friendes and his brethren mette them with tympanies, instrumentes of musicke, and many weapons.
Then Ionathas and they that were with hym, rose out of their lurking places against them, and slue many of them: and the remnaunt fled into the mountaynes, and they toke all their substaunce.
Thus the mariage was turned to mourning, and the noyse of their melody into lamentation.
And so when they had auenged the blood of their brother, they turned againe vnto Iordane.
Bacchides hearing this, came vnto the very border of Iordane with a great power, vpon the Sabbath day.
And Ionathas sayd to his companie, Let vs get vp, & fight against our enemies: for it standeth not with vs to day, as in time past.
Behold, our enemies are in our way, the water of Iordane vpon the one side of vs, with banckes, fennes, and woods on the other side, so that there is no place for vs to depart vnto.
Wherefore crye nowe vnto heauen, that ye may be deliuered from the power of your enemies: So they stroke the battayle.
And Ionathas stretched out his hande to smyte Bacchides, but he fled backwarde.
Then Ionathas and they that were with him, leapt into Iordane, & swimmed ouer Iordane vnto the further banke: but the other woulde not passe ouer Iordane after him.
And there were slayne of Bacchides side that day a thousande men.
Therefore Bacchides with his hoast turned againe to Hierusalem, and buy it vp the castles and strong holdes that were in Iurie, Iericho, Emans, Bethoron, Bethel, Thamnata, Phara, and Thopo, with hye walles, with portes, and with lockes:
And set men to kepe them, that they might vse their malice vpon Israel.
He walled vp the citie Bethsura, Gazara, and the castle, and prouided them with men and vittayles.
He toke also the chiefest mens sonnes in the countrey for pledges, & put them in the castle at Hierusalem to be kept.
Afterwarde in the hundred fyftie and three yere, in the seconde moneth, Alcimus commaunded that they should destroy the walles of the inwarde court of the sanctuarie, and he pulled downe and began to destroy the monumentes of the prophetes,
But at the same time Alcimus was plagued and smitten with a paulsie, and his enterprises were hindered, & his mouth was stopped [by God] so that he could no more speake nor commaunde any of his house concerning his businesse.
Thus died Alcimus in great miserie at the same time.
And when Bacchides sawe that Alcimus was dead, he turned againe to the king: & so the land was in rest two yeres.
Then all the vngodly men held a counsell, saying: Behold, Ionathas and his company are at ease, and dwel without care, wherefore let vs bring Bacchides hyther, and he shall take them all in one night.
So they went and gaue Bacchides this counsell.
Which arose to come with a great hoast, & sent letters priuily to his adherentes which were in Iurie, to take Ionathas and those that were with hym: but they might not; for the other had gotten knowledge of their deuice.
And Ionathas toke fyftie men of the countrey, whiche were the ringleaders of them, and slue them.
Then Ionathas & Simon with their companie departed vnto the citie Bethbasin, whiche lyeth in the wildernesse, and repaired the decay therof, and made it strong.
When Bacchides knewe this, he gathered all his hoast, and sent word to them that were in Iurie.
Then came he & layed siege to Bethbasin, and fought against it a long season, and made instrumentes of warre.
Nowe Ionathas left his brother S•mon in the citie, and went foorth hym selfe into the countrey, and came with a certayne number,
And slue Odomeras and his brethren, and the children of Phaseron in the• tentes, so that he began to be strong and to increase in power.
As for Simon and his companie, they went out of the citie, and brent vp the instrumentes of warre,
And fought against Bacchides, and discomfited him: and Bacchides was sore vexed, because his counsell and trauayle was in vayne.
Wherefore he was wroth at the wicked men that gaue him counsel to come into their land, & slue many of them: Then purposed he with his companie to go away into his owne countrey.
Wherof when Ionathas had knowledge, he sent ambassadours vnto hym for to make peace with hym, and that he shoulde deliuer him his prisoners againe.
To the whiche Bacchides consented gladly, and dyd according to his desire: yea & made an oth that he should neuer do him harme all the dayes of his lyfe.
So he restored vnto him all the prisoners that he had taken out of the lande of Iuda, and then turned and went his way into his owne land, neither proceeded he any further to come vnto the borders of Iuda.
Thus Israel had no more warre, and Ionathas dwelt at Machmas, and began there to gouerne the people, and destroyed the vngodly men out of Israel.
IN the hundred and threescore yere, came Alexander the sonne of noble Antiochus, and toke Ptolomais, whose citizines receaued him, and there he raygned.
When Demetrius heard therof, he gathered an exceeding great hoast, and went foorth against him to fight.
Wherfore Demetrius sent letters vnto Ionathas with louing wordes, and praysed him greatly.
For he sayde: We will first make peace with him, before he bynde him selfe with Alexander against vs:
Els he shall remember the euyl that we haue done against him, his brother, and his people.
And so he gaue Ionathas leaue to gatheran hoast, to make weapons, & to be confederat with him, and commaunded the pledges that were in the castle to be deliuered vnto him.
Then came Ionathas to Hierusalem, and read the letters in the audience of al the people, and of them that were in the castle.
And therefore were they sore afrayde, because they hearde that the king had geuen him licence to gather an hoast.
Thus were the pledges deliuered vnto Ionathas, which restored them to their parentes.
Ionathas also dwelt at Hierusalem, and began to buylde vp and to repayre the citie:
Commaunding the workmen to wall it and the mount Sion rounde about with free stone, to be a strong hold: and so they did.
As for the heathen that were in the castles whiche Bacchides had made vp, they fled:
So that euery man left the place, and went into his owne countrey.
Only at Bethsura remayned certayne of the Iewes, whiche had forsaken the lawe and commaundementes of God, for Bethsura was their refuge.
Nowe when king Alexander heard of the promises that Demetrius had made vnto Ionathas, and when it was tolde him of the battayles and noble actes which he and his brethren had done, and of the great trauayles that they had taken,
He sayde: Where shall we finde such a man? well, we wil make him our friend, and be confederat with hym.
Vpon this he wrote a letter vnto him, with these wordes:
King Alexander saluteth his brother Ionathas.
We haue hearde of thee that thou art a valiaunt man, and meete to be our friende:
Wherfore this day we ordayne thee to be the hye priest of thy people, and to be called the kinges friende (Vpon this he sent hym a purple clothing, & a crowne of gold) that thou mayest consider what is for our profite, and kepe friendship towarde vs.
So in the seuenth moneth of the hundred and threescore yere, vpon the solempne feast day of the tabernacles, Ionathas put the holy rayment vpon him: then gathered he an hoast, and prepared many weapons.
Whiche when Demetrius hearde, he was marueylous sory,
And sayde: Alas what haue we done, that Alexander hath preuented vs, in getting the friendship of the Iewes for his owne defence?
Yet will I wryte louingly vnto them also, yea and promise them dignities and rewardes, that they may be of my syde.
Wherevpon he wrote vnto them these wordes: King Demetrius sendeth greeting vnto the people of the Iewes:
Whereas ye haue kept your couenaunt toward vs, and continued in our friendship, not inclining to our enemies, we were glad when we hearde therof.
Wherfore remayne still and be faythfull to vs, and we shall well recompence you for the thinges that ye haue done on our partie:
We shal releasse you of many charges, and geue you rewardes.
And now I discharge you and all the Iewes from tributes, I forgeue you the customes of salt, and releasse you of the crowne taxes, of the thirde part of seede,
And halfe the fruite of trees, whiche is myne owne duetie, I do releasse them from this day foorth, so that they shall not be taken of the lande of Iuda, nor of the three cities which are added therunto out of Samaria and Galilee, from this day foorth, for euermore.
Hierusalem also, with all thinges belonging therto shalbe holy and free, yea the tythes and tributes shall pertayne vnto it.
As for the power of the castle whiche is at Hierusalem, I remit and geue it vnto the hygh priest, that he may set in it such men as he shall choose to kepe it.
I freely deliuer all the Iewes that are prisoners throughout all my realme, so that euery one of them shalbe free from paying any tribute, yea euen of their cattell.
All the solempne feastes, Sabbathes, newe moones, the dayes appoynted, the three dayes before and after the feast, shalbe free for all the Iewes in my realme.
So that in them no man shall haue power to do any thing, or to vexe any of them in any maner of cause.
There shall thirtie thousand also of the Iewes be written vp in the kinges hoast, and haue their wages payed as all other men of warre of the kinges should haue: and of them shalbe ordeyned certayne to kepe the kinges strong holdes,
Yea and some of them shalbe set ouer the kinges secret affaires: and their gouernours and princes shalbe of them selues, and lyue after their owne lawes, as the king hath commaunded in the lande of Iuda.
And the three cities that are fallen vnto Iurie from the countrey of Samaria, shalbe taken as Iurie, and be vnder one, neither be subiect to any straunge lord, but to the hie priest.
As for Ptolomais and the land pertayning therto, I geue it vnto the sanctuarie at Hierusalem, for the necessarie expences of the holy thinges.
Moreouer, I will geue euery yere fyfteene thousande sicles of siluer of the kinges reuenues, out of the places appertayning vnto me.
And all the ouerplus which they haue not payed for thinges due, as they dyd in the former yeres, from hence foorth they shall geue it towarde the workes of the temple.
And besides this, the fyue thousande sicles of siluer which they receaued yerely of the account appoynted for the interteynement of the sanctuarie these yeres passed, euen these thinges shalbe releassed, because they appertaine to the priestes that minister.
Item, whosoeuer they be that flee vnto the temple at Hierusalem, or within the liberties therof, where as they are fallen into the kinges daunger for any maner of businesse, they shalbe pardoned, and al the goodes that they haue in my realme shalbe free.
For the buylding also and repayring of the worke of the sanctuarie, expences shalbe geuen out of the kinges reuenues:
Yea and for the making of the walles rounde about Hierusalem, for the breaking downe of the olde, and for the setting vp of the strong holdes in Iurie, shall the costes and charges be geuen out of the kinges reuenues.
But when Ionathas and the people hearde these wordes, they gaue no credence vnto them, neither receaued them: for they remembred the great wickednesse that he had done vnto Israel, and howe sore he had vexed them.
Wherfore they agreed vnto Alexanander, for he was a prince that had dealt friendly with them, and so they stoode by him alway.
Then gathered king Alexander a great hoast, and brought his armie against Demetrius:
So the two kinges stroke battayle together, but Demetrius hoast fled, and Alexander folowed after, and fell vpon them.
A mightie sore fielde was it, continuing till the sunne went downe: and Demetrius was slayne the same day.
And Alexander sent ambassadours vnto Ptolomi the king of Egypt, with these wordes, saying:
Forsomuch as I am come againe to my realme, and am set in the throne of my progenitours, and haue gotten the dominion, ouercommed Demetrius,
Conquered the lande, & striken a fielde with hym, so that we haue discomfited both hym and his hoast, and sit in the throne of his kingdome:
Let vs nowe make friendship together, geue me thy daughter to wyfe, so shal I be thy sonne in lawe, and both geue thee rewardes, and her accordyng to thy dignitie.
Ptolomi the king gaue aunswere, saying: Happy be the day wherein thou art come againe to the lande of thy progenitours, and set in the throne of their kingdome.
And nowe will I fulfill thy wryting: but meete me at Ptolomais, that we may see one another, and that I may marry my daughter vnto thee according to thy desire.
So Ptolomi went out of Egypt with his daughter Cleopatra, and came vnto Ptolomais in the hundred threescore and two yere,
Where king Alexander mette hym: and he gaue Alexander his daughter Cleopatra, and maried them at Ptolomais with great worship, like as the maner of kinges is to be.
Then wrote king Alexander vnto Ionathas, that he shoulde come and meete him.
So he went honorably vnto Ptolomais, & there he mette the two kinges, and gaue them and their friendes great presentes of golde and siluer, and founde fauour in their sight.
And there came together against Ionathas certayne wicked men and vngratious persons of Israel, making complayntes of him: but the king regarded them not.
As for Ionathas, the king commaunded to take of his garmentes, & to cloth him in purple: and so they did. Then the king appoynted him to sit by him,
And sayde vnto his princes: Go with him into the middest of the citie, & make a proclamation, that no man complayne against him of any matter, and that no man trouble hym for any maner of cause.
So it happened, that when his accusers sawe the worship whiche was proclaymed of hym, & that he was clothed in purple, they fled euery one.
And the king made much of him, wrote hym among his chiefe friendes, made hym a duke, and partaker of his dominion.
Thus Ionathas went againe to Hierusalem with peace and gladnesse.
In the hundred threescore & fyft yere, came Demetrius, the sonne of Demetrius, from Creta, into his fathers lande:
Wherof when Alexander heard tell, he was right sory, and returned vnto Antioch.
And Demetrius chose Apollonius, whiche had the gouernaunce of Celosiria, to be his captayne: So he gathered a great hoast, and came vnto Iamnia, & sent worde vnto Ionathas the hygh priest, saying:
Darest thou withstande vs thy selfe alone? As for me, I am but laughed to scorne, and shamed, because thou diddest vaunte thy strength against vs in the mountaynes.
Now therfore, if thou trustest in thyne owne strength, come downe to vs into the playne fielde, & there let vs trye the matter together, for thou shalt knowe that I haue the strength of many cities,
And shalt knowe who I am, and the other that stand by me, which say, That your foote is not able to stande before our face, for thy fathers haue ben twyse chased in their owne lande.
And nowe howe wilt thou be able to abyde so great an hoast of horsemen and footemen in the fielde, where as is neither rocke, stone, nor place to flee vnto?
When Ionathas hearde the wordes of Apollonius, he was moued in his mynde, wherfore he chose ten thousand men, and went out of Hierusalem: and Simon his brother mette hym for to helpe hym.
And they pitched their tentes at Ioppa: but the citie kept hym foorth, for Apollonius garrison was in Ioppa.
Then Ionathas layed siege to it, and they that were in the citie for very feare let him in: and so Ionathas wan Ioppa.
Apollonius hearing of this, toke three thousand horsemen, with a great hoast on foote, and went to Azotus as though he woulde go further, and came immediatly into the playne fielde, because he had so many horsemen, and put his trust in them.
So Ionathas folowed vpon hym to Azotus, and the army skirmished with his rereward, and there they stroke the battayle.
Nowe had Apollonius left a thousande horsemen behynde them priuily in the tentes.
And when Ionathas knewe that such wayte was layed behynde them, they went rounde about the enemies hoast, and shot dartes at the people from the morning to the euening.
As for Ionathas people, they kept their order as he had commaunded them, and the enemies horses were weery.
Then brought Simon foorth his hoast, and set them against the footemen (for the horsemen were weery alredy:) So he discomfited them, and they fled.
And they that were scattered in the fielde, gat them to Azotus, and came into the temple of Dagon their idoll, that they might there saue their liues.
But Ionathas set fire vpon Azotus and all the cities rounde about it, and toke their goodes, and brent vp the temple of Dagon, with all them that were fled into it.
Thus were slayne and brent welnye eyght thousande men.
So Ionathas remoued the hoast from thence, and brought them to Ascalon, where the men of the citie came foorth, and mette him with great worship.
After this, went Ionathas and his hoast againe to Hierusalem, with great substaunce of good.
And when king Alexander heard these thinges, he thought to do Ionathas more worship:
And sent him a coller of gold, as the vse is to be geuen vnto such as are of the kinges next blood: He gaue him also the citie of Accaron, with the landes belonging therto, in possession.
ANd the king of Egypt gathered an hoast like the sande that lyeth vpon the sea shore, and many shippes, & went about thorow disceyte to obtayne the kingdome of Alexander, and to ioyne it vnto his owne realme.
Vpon this he toke his iourney into Syria, vsing gentle wordes, so that he was letten into the cities, & men came foorth to meete hym: for king Alexander had commaunded them so to do, because he was his father in lawe.
Nowe when Ptolomi entred into any citie, he left men of warre to kepe it: and this he did thorowout all the cities.
And when he came to Azotus, they shewed hym the temple of Dagon, and Azotus that was brent vp, with the other thinges which were destroyed, the dead bodies cast abrode, and the graues that they had made by the way side for such as were slayne in the fielde,
And tolde the king that Ionathas had done all these thinges, to the intent they might get him euyll will: But the king sayde not one worde therto.
And Ionathas mette the king with great honour at Ioppa, where they saluted one an other, and toke their rest.
So when Ionathas had gone with the king vnto the water that was called Eleutherus, he turned againe to Hierusalem.
Nowe Ptolomi had gotten the dominion of the cities vnto Seleucia vpon the sea coast, imagining wicked counsels against Alexander,
And sent ambassadours vnto Demetrius, saying: Come, let vs make a bonde betwixt vs, so shall I geue thee my daughter that Alexander hath, and thou shalt raigne in thy fathers kingdome.
I repent that I gaue Alexander my daughter, for he goeth about to slay me.
And thus he slaundered Alexander, because he woude haue had his realme.
Thus he toke his daughter from him, gaue her vnto Demetrius, and forsoke Alexander: so that his malice was openly knowen.
And Ptolomi came to Antioch, where he set two crownes vpon his owne head, the crowne of Egypt, and of Asia.
In the meane season was king Alexander in Cilicia: for they that dwelt in those places had rebelled against hym.
But when Alexander hearde of this, he came to warre against hym: So king Ptolomi brought foorth his hoast, and mette him with a mightie power, and chased him away.
Then fled Alexander into Arabia, there to be defended: and king Ptolomeus honour increased.
And Zabdiel the Arabian smote of Alexanders head, & sent it vnto Ptolomi.
But the thirde day after died king Ptolomi hym selfe, and they whom he had set in the strong holdes, were slayne one of another.
And Demetrius raigned in the hundred threscore and seuenth yere.
At the same time gathered Ionathas them that were in Iurie, to lay siege vnto the castle which was at Hierusalem, & so they made many instrumentes of warre against it.
Then went there certayne vngodly persons, whiche hated their owne people, vnto king Demetrius, and told hym that Ionathas besieged the castle.
So when he hearde it, he was angry, and immediatly came vnto Ptolomais, & wrote vnto Ionathas, that he should not lay siege to the castle, but come and speake with hym at Ptolomais in all haste.
Neuerthelesse, when Ionathas heard this, he commaunded to besiege it: He chose also certayne of the elders and priestes of Israel, and put him selfe in peryll,
And toke with him golde, siluer, clothing, and diuers presentes, and went to Ptolomais vnto the king, and found• him gracious.
And though certayne vngodly men of his owne people made complayntes vpon him,
Yet the king intreated him, like as his predecessours had done before, and promoted hym in the sight of all his friendes,
Confirmed hym in the hye priesthood with all the worship that he had afore, and made him his chiefe friend.
Ionathas also desired the king that he woulde make Iurie free, with the three head cities of Samaria, and the landes perteyning therto: vpon this did Ionathas promise hym three hundred talentes.
Wherunto the king consented, and gaue Ionathas wryting of the same, conteyning these wordes:
King Demetrius sendeth greeting vnto his brother Ionathas, and to the people of the Iewes.
We sende you here a copie of the letter which we did write vnto our cosen Lasthenus concerning you, that ye shoulde knowe it.
King Demetrius sendeth greeting vnto Lasthenus his father.
For the faythfulnesse that our friendes the people of the Iewes kepe vnto vs, and for the louing kindnesse which they beare towarde vs, we are determined to do them good.
Wherfore we assigne vnto the coastes of Iudea the three gouernementes, Afferema, Lydda, and Ramatha, whiche are added vnto Iurie from Samaria and all the landes pertayning therevnto, to be freely separated for such as do sacrifice in Hierusalem, both concerning the paymentes whiche the king toke yerely aforetime, & the fruite also of the earth and trees:
As for other tithes and tributes that belonged vnto vs, we discharge them therof from this time foorth.
In like maner we graunt vnto them all the customes of salt, & crowne taxes, which were brought vnto vs: and this freedome shal they haue firme and stedfast from this time foorth for euermore.
Therefore, see that ye make a copie of these our letters, and deliuer it vnto Ionathas, that it may be set vpon the holy mount in a conuenient place.
After this, when Demetrius the king sawe that his land was in rest, and that no resistaunce was made against him, he sent away all his hoast, euery man to his owne place, except certayne bandes of straungers, whom he brought from the Iles of the heathen: wherefore all his fathers hoast hated him.
Now was ther one Tryphon that had ben of Alexanders part afore, whiche when he saw that all the hoast murmured against Demetrius, he went to Samalcue the Arabian, that brought vp Antiochus the sonne of Alexander,
And lay sore vpon him to deliuer hym this young Antiochus, that he might raine in his fathers steade: He tolde him also what great euyll Demetrius had done, & how his men of warre loued him not: & so remayned there a long season.
And Ionathas sent vnto king Demetrius, to driue them out which were in the castle at Hierusalem, and those that were in the fortresses, for they dyd Israel great harme.
So Demetrius sent word vnto Ionathas, saying, I will not only do these thinges for thee and thy people: but at time conuenient I wil do both thee and thy people great worship.
But now thou shalt do me a pleasure if thou wilt sende me men to helpe me: for all myne armie is gone fro me.
So Ionathas sent hym three thousande strong men vnto Antioch, & they came vnto the king, wherefore the king was very glad at their comming.
But they that were of the citie, euen an hundred and twentie thousand men, gathered them together in the middest of the citie, & would haue slaine the king:
Whiche fled into his court, and the citezins kept the streetes of the citie, and began to fight.
Then the king called for the Iewes helpe, which came vnto him altogether, and went abrode thorowe the citie,
And slue the same day an hundred thousand men, set fire vpon the citie, and gat many spoyles in that day, and deliuered the king.
So when the citezins sawe that the Iewes had gotten their will of the citie, and they them selues disapointed of their purpose, they made their supplication vnto the king, saying:
Graunt vs peace, and let the Iewes ceasse from troubling vs and the citie,
And vpon this they cast away their weapons. Thus they made peace, and the Iewes gat great worship in the sight of the king and in the sight of all that were in his realme, and were spoken of throughout the kingdome: and so they came againe to Hierusalem with great goodes.
So the king Demetrius sate in the throne of his kingdome, and had peace in his lande.
Neuerthelesse, he dissembled in all that euer he spake, and withdrewe hym selfe from Ionathas, neither rewarded him according to the benefites which he had done for hym, but troubled hym very sore.
After this came Tryphon againe with young Antiochus, which raigned & was crowned king.
Then there gathered vnto him all the men of warre whom Demetrius had put away, these fought against Demetrius: whith fled and turned his backe.
So Tryphon toke the Elephantes, and wan Antioche.
And young Antiochus wrote vnto Ionathas, saying: I confirme thee in thy pristhood, and make thee ruler of foure countreys, that thou mayst be a friende of the kinges.
Vpon this he sent hym golden vessels to be serued in, and gaue hym leaue to drinke in golde, to be clothed in purple, and to weare a coller of golde.
He made his brother Simon also captayne, from the coastes of Tyrus vnto the borders of Egypt.
Then Ionathas toke his iourney, and went thorowe the cities beyonde the water of Iordane, and all the men of warre of Syria gathered them vnto hym for to helpe hym: So he came vnto Ascalon, & they of the citie receaued hym honorably.
And from thence went he to Gaza, but they woulde not let hym in: wherefore he layed siege vnto it, burning vp and spoyling the places that were about the citie.
And the citezins of Gaza submitted them selues vnto Ionathas, whiche made peace with them: but toke of their sonnes to pledge, sent them to Hierusalem, and went thorow the countrey vnto Damascus.
Now when Ionathas heard that Demetrius princes were come into Cades which is in Galilee, with a great hoast, purposing to dryue him out of the countrey:
He came against them, and left Simon his brother in the lande.
And Simon came to Bethsura, and layed siege to it a long season, and discomfited them.
So they desired to haue peace with hym: whiche he graunted them, & afterwarde put them out from thence, toke the citie, and set men to kepe it.
And Ionathas with his hoast came to the water of Genesar, and betimes in the morning gat them to the playne fielde of Azor:
And behold, the hoastes of the heathen mette them in the fielde, & layed watch for them in the mountaynes:
So that when Ionathas came against them, the other whiche were layed to watch rose out of their places and fought,
And they that were of Ionathas side fled euery man, & there was not one of them left, except Mathathias the sonne of Absalomus, and Iudas the sonne of Calphi the captayne of the hoast.
Then Ionathas rent his clothes, layde earth vpon his head, made his prayer,
And turned againe to them in the fielde, where they fought together, and he put them to flight.
Now when his owne men that were fled, sawe this, they turned againe vnto him, and helped him to folowe vpon all their enemies vnto their tentes at Cades, and there they camped.
So there were slaine of the heathen the same day three thousand men, and Ionathas turned againe to Hierusalem.
IOnathas seeing that the time was meete for him, chose certaine men, and sent them vnto Rome for to stablish and to renue the frendship with them:
He sent letters also vnto Sparta, and to other places in lyke maner.
So they went vnto Rome, and entred into the counsel, and saide: Ionathas the hie priest & the people of the Iewes, sent vs vnto you for to renue the olde frendship and bonde of loue.
Vpon this the Romanes gaue them free pasportes, that men shoulde leade them home into the land of Iuda peaceably.
And this is the copie of the letters that Ionathas wrote vnto the Spartians.
Ionathas the hie priest, with the elders, priestes, and the other people of the Iewes, sende greeting vnto the Spartians their brethren.
There were letters sent long ago vnto Onias the hie pries•, from Arius which then raigned among you, that ye are our brethren, as the copie here vnder written doth specifie.
And Onias entreated the Ambassadour that was sent honorably, and receaued the letters, wherein there was mention made of the bonde of loue and frendship.
But as for vs, we neede no such wrytinges, for why? we haue {th}e holy bookes of scripture in our handes to our comfort.
Neuerthelesse, we had rather sende vnto you, for the renuing of the brotherhood and frendship, lest we shoulde be straunge vnto you: for it is long since the time that ye sent worde vnto vs.
Wherfore, in the sacrifices that we offer, and other ceremonies vpon the hie solempe dayes, and other, we alway remember you without ceassing, lyke as reason is, and as it becommeth vs to thinke vpon our brethren,
Yea, and are right glad of your prosperous honour.
And though we haue had great troubles and warres, so that the kinges about vs haue fought against vs:
Yet woulde we not be greeuous vnto you, nor to other of our louers & frendes in these warres.
For we haue had helpe from heauen that hath succoured vs, so that we are deliuered, and our enemies subdued.
Wherefore we chose Numenius the sonne of Antiochus, and Antipater the sonne of Iason, and sent them vnto the Romanes, for to renue the olde bonde of frendship and loue with them.
We commaunded them also to come vnto you, to salute you, and to deliuer you our letters concerning the renouation of our brotherhood.
And now ye shal do right wel to geue vs an aunswere thereunto.
And this is the copie of the writing which Arius the king of Sparta sent vnto Onias.
Arius the king of the Spartians, sendeth greeting vnto Onias the hie priest:
It is founde in writing, that the Spartians and Iewes are brethren, & come out of the generation of Abraham:
And now forsomuch as this is come to our knowledge, ye shall do wel to write vnto vs of your prosperitie.
As for vs, we haue written our minde vnto you, our cattaile and goodes are yours, and yours ours: these thinges haue we co{m}maunded to be shewed vnto you.
When Ionathas heard that Demetrius princes were come foorth to fight against him with a greater hoast then afore,
He went from Hierusalem, and met them in the land of Hemath: for he gaue them not space to come into his owne countrey.
And he sent spies vnto their tentes, which came againe and tolde him that they were appoynted to come vpon him in the night season.
Wherefore when the sunne was gone downe, Ionathas co{m}maunded his men to watch all the night, and to be redie with weapons for to fight, and set watchmen rounde about the hoast.
But when the aduersaries heard that Ionathas was redie with his men to the battaile, they feared, & were afraid in their heartes, and kindled fires in their tentes, brake vp, and gat them away.
Neuerthelesse, Ionathas and his company knewe it not till the morning, for they sawe the fires burning.
Then Ionathas folowed vpon them, but he might not ouertake the{m}, for they were gone ouer the water Eleutherus.
So Ionathas departed vnto the Arabians, which were called Zabadei, slue them, and toke their goodes.
He proceeded further also, and came vnto Damascus, and went through all the countrey.
But Simon his brother toke his iourney, and came to Ascalon, and to the next strong holdes, departing vnto Ioppa, and wan it,
(For he heard that they would deliuer the holde to them that toke Demetrius parte) wherfore he set men of warre in the citie to kepe it.
After this came Ionathas home againe, and called the elders of the people together, and deuised with them for to build vp the strong holdes in Iurie,
And to make the walles of Hierusalem higher, to set vp an hie wall betwixt the castle and the citie, for to separate it from the citie, that it might be alone, and that men should neither bye nor sell in it.
Vpon this, they came together for to builde vp the citie, and forsomuch as the wall vpon the brooke of the east side, called Caphetetah was fallen downe, repaired it.
And Simon set vp Adiada in Sephela, and made it strong, setting portes and lockes vpon it.
Now when Tryphon purposed to raigne in Asia, to be crowned, and to slay the king Antiochus:
He was afraide that Ionathas would not suffer him, but fight against him: wherefore he went about to take Ionathas and to kill him: So he departed, and came vnto Bethsan.
Then went Ionathas foorth against him to the battaile with fourtie thousand chosen men, and came vnto Bethsan also:
But when Tryphon sawe that Ionathas came with so great an hoast to destroy him, he was afraide:
And therefore he receaued him honorably, commended him vnto all his friendes, and gaue him rewardes, and commaunded his men of warre to be as obedient vnto him, as to him selfe:
And saide vnto Ionathas, Why hast thou caused this people to take such trauaile, seeing there is no warre betwixt vs?
Therefore sende them home againe, and choose certaine men to wayte vpon thee, and come thou with me to Ptolomais: for I wyll geue it thee, with the other strong holdes, men of warre, and their officers: as for me, I must depart, this is onely the cause of my comming.
Ionathas beleued him, and did as he saide, putting away his hoast, which went into the lande of Iuda.
He kept but three thousand by him, whereof he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him selfe.
Now assoone as Ionathas entred into Ptolomais, the citezins sparred the gates of the citie, and toke him, and slue all them with the sworde that came in with him.
Then sent Tryphon an hoast of footemen and horsmen into Galilee, and into the great plaine field, to destroy all Ionathas company:
But when they knewe that Ionathas was taken, and all they slaine that waited vpon him, they toke counsel together, and encouraged one another, and came foorth against them redie to fight.
So when they which folowed vpon them, sawe that it was a matter of lyfe, they turned backe againe.
As for the other, they went into the lande of Iuda peaceably, and bewayled Ionathas and them that were with him right sore: and Israel made great lamentation.
Then al the heathen that were round about them, sought to destroy them:
For they said, Now haue they no captaine, nor any man to helpe them, therfore let vs ouercome them, and roote out their name from among men.
NOwe when Simon heard that Tryphon gathered a great hoast to come into the lande of Iuda, and to destroy it,
And saw that the people was in great fearefulnes and care: he came vp to Hierusalem, and gathered the people together,
And gaue them exhortation, saying: Ye know what great battailes I and my brethren and my fathers house haue fought for the lawe and the sanctuarie, and what maner of troubles we haue seene.
Through occasion whereof, all my brethren are slaine for Israels sake, and I am left alone.
And now let not me spare myne owne lyfe in any maner of trouble, for I am no better then my brethren:
But wyll auenge my people and the sanctuarie, our children and our wyues: for all the heathen are gathered together to destroy vs, of very malice.
At these wordes the heartes of the people were kindled together,
So that they cried with a loude voyce, saying: Thou shalt be our captaine, in steade of Iudas and Ionathas thy brethren:
Order thou our battaile, and whatsoeuer thou commaundest vs, we shall do it.
So he gathered all the men of warre, making haste to finishe all the walles of Hierusalem, which he made strong rounde about.
Then sent he Ionathas the sonne of Absalomus with a freshe hoast vnto Ioppa, which droue them out that were in the castle, and remained there him selfe.
Tryphon also remoued from Ptolomais with a great armie, to come into the lande of Iuda, and Ionathas with him, in warde.
And Simon pitched his tentes at Addus before the plaine fielde.
But when Tryphon knewe that Simon stoode vp in steade of his brother Ionathas, and that he would warre against him, he sent messengers vnto him, saying:
Where as we haue kept Ionathas thy brother, it is for money that he is owing in the kinges accompt, concerning the busines that he had in hande.
Wherefore, sende nowe a hundred talentes of siluer and his two sonnes for suretie (that when he is letten foorth, he shal not forsake vs) and we shall sende him againe.
Neuerthelesse, Simon knew that he discembled in his wordes: yet co{m}maunded he the money and children to be deliuered vnto him, lest the Israelites might haue hated him,
And saide, Because he sent him not the money and the children, therefore is Ionathas dead.
So Simon sent him the children and an hundred talentes: but he dissembled, and would not let Ionathas go.
Afterwarde came Tryphon into the lande to destroy it, and went rounde about by the way that leadeth vnto Ador: But wheresoeuer they went, thyther went Simon and his hoast also.
Now they that were in the castle, sent messengers vnto Tryphon, that he should make haste to come by the wildernesse, and to sende them vitailes.
And Tryphon made redie al his horsmen to come the same night: neuerthelesse, it was a very great snowe, so that he came not because of the snowe, but he remoued and went into the countrey of Galaad.
And when he drue nye Baschama, he slue Ionathas and his sonnes there,
And then turned for to go home into his owne lande.
Then sent Simon for to fetch his brothers dead coarse, and buried it in Modin his fathers citie.
So al Israel bewayled him with great lamentation, and mourned for him very longe.
And Simon made vpon the sepulchre of his father and his brethren, a building, hie to loke vnto, of free stone, behinde and before,
And set vp seuen pillers vpon it one against another, for his father, his mother, and foure brethren,
And set great pillers rounde about them, with armes vpon them for a perpetuall memorie, and carued shippes beside the armes, that they might be seene of men sayling in the sea.
This sepulchre which he made at Modin, standeth yet vnto this day.
Nowe as Tryphon went foorth to walke with the young king Antiochus, he slue him trayterously,
And raigned in his steade, crowned him selfe king of Asia, and did much euil in the lande.
Simon also built vp the castles in Iurie, making them strong with hie towers, great walles, portes and lockes, and layde vp vitailes in the stronge holdes.
And Simon chose certaine men, & sent them to king Demetrius, to desire him that he would discharge the lande from all bondage, for Tryphon had spoyled it very sore.
Whereupon Demetrius the king aunswered him, and wrote vnto him, after this maner:
Demetrius the king sendeth greeting vnto Simon the hie priest his friend, with the elders & people of the Iewes:
The golden crowne and precious stone that ye sent vnto vs, haue we receaued, and are redie to make a stedfast peace with you, yea and to write vnto our officers for to release you, concerning the thinges wherein we made you free.
And the appoyntment that we make with you, shalbe firme and stable: the strong holdes which ye haue builded, shalbe your owne.
As for any ouersight or fault committed vnto this day, we forgeue it, and the crowne taxe that ye ought vs also: And where as was any other tribute in Hierusalem, it shall now be no tribute:
And loke who are meete among you to be in our court, let them be written vp, that there may be peace betwixt vs.
Thus the yoke of the heathen was taken from Israel, in the hundred and seuentith yere.
And the people of the Iewes began to write in their letters and actes on this maner: In the first yere of Simon the hie priest, a gouernour and prince of the Iewes.
In those dayes went Simon vnto Gaza, & besieged it rounde about, where he set vp ordinaunce of warre, and wan a towre, which he toke.
So they that gat into the towre, lept into the citie, which was in a great feare:
Insomuch that the people of the citie rent their clothes, and clymed vp vpon the walles, with their wiues and children, beseching Simon to be at one with them, saying:
O rewarde vs not after our wickednesse, but be gratious vnto vs, [and we shall do thee seruice.]
Then Simon for very pitie woulde fight no more against them, but put the{m} out of the citie, and caused the houses wherein the images were, to be clensed, and so entred the citie with psalmes of prayse, geuing thankes vnto the Lorde.
So when he had cast all abhominations out of the citie, he set such men in it as kept the lawe of God, and made the citie strong, and builded a dwelling place for him selfe.
Now when they in the castle at Hierusalem were kept so straightly that they coulde not come foorth nor go into the countrey, & might neither bye nor sel, they were very hungry, and many of them famished to death:
Insomuch that they besought Simon to be at one with them, which he graunted them: So he put them out from thence, and clensed the castle from filthinesse.
And vpon the twentie and three day of the second moneth, in the hundred threescore and eleuenth yere, they entred into it with thankesgeuing, and braunches of paulme trees, with harpes, croudes, cymbales, and lutes, singing psalmes and songes of praise vnto God, for that the great enemie of Israel was ouercome.
And Simon ordained that the same day shoulde be kept euery yere with gladnesse,
And made strong the hill of the temple that was beside the castle, where he dwelt him selfe with his company.
Simon also perceauing that Ihon his sonne was a mightie man of armes, made him captaine of all the hoastes, and caused him to dwell at Gaza.
IN the hundred threescore and twelfth yere, gathered king Demetrius his hoast, and departed vnto Media, to get him helpe for to fight against Tryphon.
Now when Arsaces the king of Persia and Media, heard that Demetrius was entred within his borders, he sent one of his princes to take him aliue, [and to bring him vnto him.]
So he went and slue Demetrius hoast, toke him selfe, brought him to Arsaces, which kept him in warde.
And all the lande of Iuda was in rest so long as Simon liued, for he sought the wealth of his people, therfore were they glad to haue him for their ruler, and to do him worship alway.
Simon wan the citie of Ioppa also for an hauen towne, and made it an entraunce into the Iles of the sea:
He enlarged the borders of his people, and conquered them more lande:
He gathered vp many of their people that were prisoners, he had the dominion of Gaza, Bethsura, and the castle which he cleansed from filthynes, and there was no man that resisted him.
So that euery man tilled his grounde in peace, the lande of Iuda and the trees gaue their fruite and encrease.
The elders sate all in iudgement, and toke their deuice for the wealth of the lande, the young men put on worshippe and harnesse vpon them.
He prouided vitailes for the cities, and made goodly strong holdes of them, so that the fame of his worship was spoken of vnto the ende of the worlde.
For he made peace throughout the lande, and Israel was full of mirth and ioy.
Euery man sate vnder his vine & figge trees, and there was no man to fraye them away.
There was none in the lande to fight against them, for then the kinges were ouercome.
He helped those that were in aduersitie among his people, he was diligent to see the lawe kept: as for such as were vngodly and wicked, he toke them away.
He set vp the sanctuary, and encreased the holy vessels of the temple.
When the Romanes and Spartians had gotten worde that Ionathas was dead, they were right sory:
But when they heard that Simon his brother was made hie priest in his steade, and how he had wonne the land againe with the cities in it:
They wrote vnto him in tables of brasse, to renue the frendship and bonde of loue which they had made afore with Iudas and Ionathas his brethren.
Which writinges were read before the congregation at Hierusalem. And this is the copie of the letters that the Spartians sent:
The Senatours and citezins of Sparta send greeting vnto Simon the great priest, with the elders, priestes, and the other people of the Iewes their brethren:
When your Ambassadours that were sent vnto our people, certified vs of your worship, honour, & prosperous wealth: we were glad of their comming,
And haue written the ambassage in the publike recordes in this maner: [namely] that Numenius the sonne of Antiochus, and Antipater the sonne of Iason the Iewes ambassadours, are come vnto vs, for to renue the olde frendship with vs.
Vpon this the people concented, that the men should be honorably intreated, and that the copie of their ambassage should be written in the speciall bookes of the people for a perpetuall memorie vnto the Spartians, yea and that we should send a copie of the same vnto Simon the great priest.
After this, did Simon send Numenius vnto Rome, with a golden shielde of a thousand pound waight, to confirme the frendship with them.
Which when the Romanes vnderstoode, they saide: what thankes shall we recompence againe vnto Simon and his children?
For he and his brethren and the house of his father, hath stablished Israel, and ouercommed their enemies, wherefore they graunted him to be free, and confirmed the libertie thereof: therefore they wrote this in tables of brasse, and set it vpon pillers in mount Sion.
The copie of the writing is this: The eighteenth day of the moneth Elul, in the hundred threescore and twelfth yere, in the third yere of Simon the hie priest,
In the great congregation of the priestes, rulers of the people, and elders of the countrey at Saramel, were these wordes openly declared:
Forsomuch as there was much warre in our lande, therfore Simon the sonne of Mathathias come of the children of Iarib, & his brethren put them selues in perill, and resisted the enemies of their people, that their sanctuary and lawe might be maintayned, and did their people great worship.
Ionathas in lyke maner, after that he had gouerned his people and ben their hie priest, dyed, and lyeth buried beside his elders.
After that would their enemies haue troden their holy thinges vnder foote, destroyed their lande, and vtterlie wasted their sanctuary.
Then Simon withstoode them, and fought for his people, spent much of his owne money, weaponed the valiaunt men of his people, gaue them wages,
Made strong the cities of Iuda, with Bethsura that lyeth vpon the borders of Iurie, where the ordinaunce of their enemies laye sometime, and set Iewes there for to kepe it.
He made fast Ioppa also which lyeth vpon the sea, and Gaza that bordereth vpon Azotus, where the enemies dwelt afore, and there he set Iewes to kepe it: and whatsoeuer was meete for the subduing of the aduersaries, that layed he therein.
Now when the people sawe the noble actes of Simon, and what worship he purposed to do for them, his godly behauour and faithfulnes which he kept vnto them, and how he sought by alwayes the wealth of his people: because he did all this, therefore they chose him to be their prince and hie priest.
And in his time they prospered wel by him, so that the heathen were taken out of their lande, and they also which were in the citie of Dauid at Hierusalem in the castle, where they went out and defiled all thinges that were about the sanctuary, and did great harme vnto cleanlinesse:
And Simon put men of the Iewes in it for the defence of the land and citie, and set vp the walles of Hierusalem.
And king Demetrius confirmed him in his high priesthood
For these causes: made him his friend, and did him great worship:
For he heard that the Romanes called the Iewes their friendes, louers, and brethren: howe honorably they receaued Simons Ambassadours:
Howe the Iewes and priestes concented that he should be their prince and hie priest perpetually, till God raysed vp the true prophete:
And that he shoulde be their captaine, to care for the sanctuarie, and to set officers vpon the workes thereof, ouer the lande, ouer the weapons, ouer the houses of defence, to make prouision for the holy thinges,
And to be obeyed of euery man, and all the writinges of the lande to be made in his name, that he should be clothed in purple and golde:
And that it should be lawfull for none of the people nor priestes to breake any of these thinges, to withstand his words, nor to call any congregation in the lande without him: that he should be clothed in purple, and weare a coller of golde.
And if there were any which disobeyed or brake this ordinaunce, that he should be punished.
So al the people consented to alow Simon, & to do according to these wordes:
Simon also him selfe toke it vpon him, and was content to be the hie priest, the captaine and prince of the Iewes and priestes, and to gouerne them all.
And they commaunded to make this writing in tables of brasse, and fasten it vnto the wall that compasseth the sanctuary, in an open place:
And to lay vp a copie of the same in the treasurie, that Simon and his posteritie might haue it.
MOreouer, king Antiochus the sonne of Demetrius, sent letters from the Iles of the sea, vnto Simon the hie priest and prince of the Iewes, and to all the people,
Concerning these wordes: Antiochus the king sendeth greeting vnto Simon the hie priest, and to the people of the Iewes.
Forsomuch as certaine wicked men haue gotten the kingdome of our progenitours, I haue purposed to chalenge the realme againe, and to restore it to the olde estate: Wherefore I haue gathered a great hoast, and made shippes of warre:
That I may go through the countrey, and be auenged of them which haue destroyed our lande, and wasted many cities in my realme.
And therefore nowe I make thee free also from all the tributes whereof all kinges my progenitours haue discharged thee, & from other customes wherefrom they haue releassed thee, whatsoeuer they be:
Yea, I geue thee leaue to smite money of thyne owne within thy lande.
As for Hierusalem, I wyll that it be holy and free, and all the weapons and houses of defence which thou hast builded and kepest in thyne handes shable thyne.
Whereas any thing is or shalbe owing vnto the king, I forgeue it thee, from this time foorth for euermore.
And when we haue obtayned our kingdome, we shall do thee, thy people, and the temple, great worship: so that your honour shalbe knowen throughout the whole worlde.
In the hundred threescore & fourteenth yere went Antiochus into his fathers land, and all the men of warre came together vnto him, so that fewe were left with Tryphon.
So the king Antiochus folowed vpon him: but he fled vnto Dora, which lyeth by the sea side:
For he sawe that there was mischiefe comming vnto him, and that his hoast had forsaken him.
Then came Antiochus vnto Dora with an hundred and twentie thousand men of armes on foote, and eyght thousand horsmen: so he compassed the citie rounde about, and the shippes came by the sea.
Thus they vexed the citie by land and by water, insomuch that they suffered no man to go in nor out.
In the meane season came Numenius, & they that had ben with him, from the citie of Rome, hauing letters written vnto the kinges & prouinces, wherein were contayned these wordes:
Lucius the consull of Rome, sendeth greeting vnto Ptolomi the king.
The Ambassadours of the Iewes our friendes, being sent from Simon the hie priest, and from the people of the Iewes, came vnto vs for to renue the olde friendship and bonde of loue,
Brought a shielde of golde weying a thousand pounde,
Wherefore, we thought it good to write vnto the kinges and prouinces, to do them no harme, nor to take part against them, their cities, nor countries, neither to maintaine their enemies against them.
And we were content to receaue of them the shielde.
If there be any wicked persons therefore fled from their countrey vnto you, deliuer them vnto Simon the hie priest, that he may punishe them according to their owne lawe.
The same wordes wrote the Romanes also vnto Demetrius the king, to Attalus, Araba, Arsaces,
And to all regions: as Samsanes, to them of Spartia, Delo, Mydo, Sidon, Caria, Samos, Pamphilia, Lycia, Alicarnassem, and to the Rhodes, to Faselidis, Coo, Sida, Arado, Cortyna, Gnidum, to Cypres, and Cyren.
And of euery letter they sent a copie to Simon the hie priest.
So Antiochus the king brought his hoast vnto Dora the second time to take it, where he made diuers ordinaunce of warre, and kept Tryphon in that he should not go eyther in or out.
Then sent Simon vnto Antiochus two thousand chosen men to helpe him, with golde, siluer, & other plenteous thinges.
Neuerthelesse, he woulde not receaue them, but brake all the couenau{n}t which he made with Simon afore, and withdrewe him selfe from him.
He sent Athenobius also a frend of his vnto Simon for to reason with him, saying: Ye withholde fro me Ioppa and Gaza, with the castle that is at Hierusalem, which are cities of my realme,
Whose borders ye haue destroyed, and done great euill in the lande, hauing the dominion in many other places of my kingdome.
Wherfore deliuer now the cities which ye haue taken, with the tributes of the places that ye haue rule vpon without the borders of Iurie:
Or els geue me fiue hundred talentes of siluer: yea & for the harme that ye haue done in the cities & for the tributes of the same, other fiue hundred talentes: yf no, we shall come and fight against you.
So Athenobius the kinges friend came to Hierusalem, and when he sawe the great worship & honour of Simon in golde, siluer, & so great plentie of ornamentes, he maruailed: & tolde Simon as the king commaunded him.
Then aunswered Simon, and saide vnto him: As for vs, we haue neither taken other mens landes, nor withholden the{m}: but onely our fathers heritage, which our enemies had vnrighteously in possession a certaine time.
This heritage of our farhers haue we chalenged in processe of time.
And whereas thou complaynest concerning Ioppa & Gaza, they did great harme to our people and in our lande, yet wyll we geue an hundred talentes for them. Neuerthelesse, Athenobius aunswered him not one worde:
But turned againe wrothfully vnto the king, & tolde him al these words, and the great dignitie of Simon, with al that he had seene: & the king was very angry.
And in the meane time fled Tryphon by ship vnto Orthosias.
Then the king made Cendebeus captaine of the sea coast, and gaue him an hoast of footemen and horsemen,
Commaunding him to remoue the hoast toward Iurie, & to builde vp the citie of Cedron, to make vp the portes, and to warre against the people of the Iewes: As for the king him selfe, he folowed vpon Tryphon.
So Cendebeus came vnto Iamnia, and began to vexe the people, to treade downe Iurie, to take the people prisoners, to slay them,
And to builde vp Cedron, where he set horsmen and other men of warre, that they might come foorth, and go through the streetes of Iurie, lyke as the king had commaunded him.
THen came Iohn vp from Gaza, and tolde Simon his father what Cendebeus had done [among their people.]
Vpon this called Simon two of his eldest sonnes, Iudas and Iohn, and saide vnto them: I and my brethren and my fathers house haue euer from our youth vp vnto this day foughten against the enemies of Israel: and God gaue vs good fortune to deliuer Israel ofttimes.
And now forsomuch as I am olde, and ye by gods goodnesse are of a sufficient age, be ye in steade of me and my brother, to go foorth and fight for our people: and the helpe of God be with you.
So he chose twentie thousand fighting men of the countrey, with horsemen also, whiche went foorth against Cendebeus, and rested at Modin.
In the morning they arose and went into the playne fielde, and beholde a mightie great hoast came against them, both of footemen and horsemen: Nowe was there a water broke betwixt them,
And Iohn remoued the hoast towarde them: and when he saw that the people was afrayde to go ouer the water broke, he went ouer first him selfe: and the men seyng this, folowed him.
Then Iohn set his horsemen and footemen in order, the one by the other: for their enemies horseme{n} were very many.
But when they blewe vp the priestes trumpettes, Cendebeus fled with his hoast: whereof many were slayne, and the remnaunt gat them to their strong holdes.
Iudas also Iohns brother was wounded at the same time, and Iohn folowed still vpon the enemies, till he came to Cedron, which Cendebeus had builded.
The [enemies] fled also vnto the towres that were in the fieldes of Azotus, and those dyd Iohn burne vp with fyre: Thus there were slayne two thousand men of them, and Iohn turned againe peaceably into Iurie.
And in the fielde of Iericho was Ptolomi the sonne of Abobus made captayne: which, because he had aboundaunce of siluer and golde
(For he had maried the daughter of Simon the hye priest)
Waxed proude in his minde, & thought to conquer the land, imagining falshood against Simon and his sonnes, to destroy them.
Nowe as Simon was goyng about thorow the cities that were in the countrey of Iurie, and caring for them, he came downe to Iericho with Mathathias & Iudas his sonnes, in the hundred threescore & seuenteenth yere, in the eleuenth moneth, called Sabat.
Then [Ptolomi] the sonne of Abobus receaued them, but with disceyte, into a strong house of his, called Dochus, whiche he had buylded, where he made them a banket, and had hyd men there.
So when Simon and his sonnes were mery, and had drunken well, Ptolomi stoode vp with his men [whom he had hid there] and toke their weapons, entred into the banket house, and slue Simon with his two sonnes, and certayne of his seruauntes.
Such great vnfaythfulnesse dyd Ptolomi in Israel, and recompenced euyll for good.
Then wrote Ptolomi these thinges, & sent vnto king [Antiochus] requiring him that he shoulde sende hym an hoast to helpe him: and so should he deliuer him the lande, with the cities and tributes of the same.
He sent other men also vnto Gaza for to take Iohn, and wrote vnto the captaynes to come to him, and he shoulde geue them siluer, gold, and rewardes.
And to Hierusalem he sent other to take it, and the sanctuarie.
Then ran there one before, and tolde Iohn in Gaza, that his father and his brethren were slayne, & howe that Ptolomi had sent to slay him also.
When Iohn hearde this, he was sore abashed, and layed handes of them that were come to destroy hym, and slue them: for he knewe that they went about to kill hym
As for other thinges concerning Iohn, of his warres, of his noble actes wherin he behaued hym selfe manfully, of the buylding of walles which he made, and other of his deedes,
They are written in the cronicles of his priesthood, from the time foorth that he was made hye priest after his father.
THe brethren of the Iewes which be at Hierusalem, & in the lande of Iurie, wishe vnto these brethre{n} of the Iewes that are thorowout Egypt health and peace.
God be gracious vnto you, and thinke vpon his couenaunt that he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, his faythfull seruauntes:
And geue you all such an heart that ye may loue and serue hym, yea and perfourme his will with an whole heart and a willing mynde:
He open your heartes vnto his law, and in his commaundementes, & sende you peace,
Heare your prayers, be at one with you, and neuer forsake you in time of trouble,
Forsomuch as now we here be praying for you.
What time as Demetrius raigned, in the hundred threescore & nyne yere, we Iewes wrote vnto you in the trouble & violence that came vnto vs: In those yeres, after that Iason departed out of the holy lande and kingdome,
They brent vp the portes, and shed innocent blood: then made we our prayer vnto the Lorde, and were hearde, we offered vp sacrifices and fine floure, setting foorth cakes and bread:
And nowe come ye vnto the feast of tabernacles in the moneth Casleu.
In the hundred fourescore and eyghtteene yere, the people that was at Hierusalem and in Iurie, the counsel, and Iudas him selfe, sent this wholsome salutation vnto Aristobulus king Ptolomies maister, whiche came of the generation of the annoynted priestes, and to the Iewes that were in Egypt:
Insomuch as God hath deliuered vs from great peryls, we thanke hym hyly, no lesse at all then if we had vanquished the king in battell.
For when he with those that had fought against the holy citie, dyd set vpon Persia:
For as he was in Persis [namely] the captayne with the great hoast, he perished in the temple of Naneas, beyng disceaued thorowe the deuice of Naneas priestes.
For when Antiochus, as he that should marry with her, came, and his friendes with him, into the place to receaue by name of dowrie the money whiche the priestes of Naneas had set foorth:
He entred with a small companie into the compasse of the temple, and so they shut the temple.
Nowe when Antiochus entred by opening the priuy entraunce of the temple, the priestes stoned the captayne to death, hewed them in peeces that were with him, smote of their heades, and threwe them out.
In all thinges God be praysed, which hath deliuered the wicked into our handes [to be punished]
Where as we are now purposed to kepe the purification of the temple vpon the twentie & fiue day of the moneth Casleu, we thought necessarie to certifie you therof: that ye also might kepe the tabernacles feast day, and the day of the fire, whiche was geuen vs when Nehemias offered, after that he had set vp the temple and the aulter.
For what time as our fathers were led away vnto Persis, the priestes whiche then sought the honour of God, toke the fire priuily from the aulter, and hyd it in a valley, where as was a deepe drye pit: and therin they kept it, so that the place was vnknowen to euery man.
Nowe after many yeres, when it pleased God that Nehemias shoulde be sent from the king of Persia, he sent the childers children of those priestes which had hyd the fyre, to seke it: and as they told vs, they found no fire, but thicke water.
Then commaunded he them to drawe it vp, and to bring it him, and the offeringes withall. Nowe when the sacrifices were layed on and ordred, Nehemias commaunded the priestes to sprinckle them and the wood with water.
When this was done, & the time come that the sunne shone whiche afore was hyd in the cloude, there was a great fire kindled, in so much that euery man marueyled.
Now all the priestes prayed whyle the sacrifice was a making: Ionathas prayed first, and the other gaue aunswere.
And Nehemias prayer was after this maner: O Lorde God, maker of all thinges, thou fearfull and strong, thou righteous and mercifull, thou that art onely a gratious king,
Only liberall, only iust, almightie and euerlasting, thou that deliuerest Israel from all trouble, thou that hast chosen the fathers & halowed them fauorably:
Receaue the offering for thy whole people of Israel, preserue thyne owne portion, and halowe it,
Gather those together that are scattred abrode from vs, deliuer them that are vnder the heathens bondage, loke vpon them whiche are despised and abhorred: that the heathen may know and see howe that thou only art God, which art our God.
Punishe them that oppresse & proudly put vs to dishonour.
Set thy people againe in thy holy place, like as Moyses hath spoken.
And the priestes song Psalmes of thankesgeuing, so long as the sacrifice endured.
Nowe when the sacrifice was brent, Nehemias commaunded the great stones to be sprinkled with the residue of the water.
Which when it was done, there was kindled a flambe of them also: but it was consumed thorowe the light that shyned from the aulter.
So when this matter was knowen, it was tolde the king of Persia, that in the place where the priestes which were led away had hyd fyre, there appeared water, and that Nehemias and his companie had purified the sacrifices withall.
Then the king considering and pondering the matter diligently, inclosed the place, and consecrated a temple, to proue the thing that was done:
And when he founde it so in deede, he gaue the priestes many giftes & diuers rewardes, yea he toke them with his owne hand, and gaue them.
And Nehemias called the same place Nephthar, whiche is as much to say as a clensing: but many men call it Nephi.
IT is founde also in the writinges of Ieremi the prophete, that he commaunded them whiche were caried away, to take fyre, as it is sayde afore.
He commaunded them also that they should not forget the lawe & commaundementes of the Lorde, and that they shoulde not erre in their mindes, when they see images of siluer and gold, with their ornamentes.
These and such other thinges commaunded he them, and exhorted them that they shoulde not let the law of God go out of their heartes.
It is written also, how the prophete at the commaundement of God charged them to take the tabernacle & the arke with them: and he went foorth vnto the mountayne where Moyses clymed vp, and sawe the heritage of God.
And when Ieremi came there, he found an open caue, wherin he layed the tabernacle, the arke, and the aulter of incense, and so stopped the doore.
There came certayne men together also, folowing him to marke the place, but they coulde not finde it.
Whiche when Ieremie perceaued, he reproued them, saying: As for that place it shalbe vnknowen, vntill the time that God gather his people together againe, and receaue them vnto mercie.
Then shall God shewe them these thinges, and the maiestie of the Lorde shal appeare & the cloude also, like as it was shewed vnto Moyses: and like as when Solomon desired that the place might be honorablie sanctified, and it was shewed hym.
For he beyng a wyse man, handled honorably and wysely, offering vnto God in the halowing of the temple when it was finished.
And like as when Moyses prayed vnto the Lorde, the fire came downe from heauen, and consumed the burnt offering: Euen so prayed Solomon also, and the fire came downe from heauen, and consumed the burnt offering.
And Moyses sayde: Because the sinne offering was not eaten, therefore it is consumed.
In like maner Solomon kept the dedication [or halowing] eyght dayes.
In the annotations and writinges of Ieremi were these thinges put also: and howe he made a librarie, and howe he gathered out of all countreys the bookes of the kinges, & of the prophetes, and of Dauid, and the epistles of the kinges concerning the holy giftes.
Euen so Iudas also, loke what he learned by experience of warre, and such thinges as hath happened vnto vs, he gathered them altogether, and so we haue them by vs.
If ye now desire to haue the same, send some body to fetch them vnto you.
Where as we then are about to celebrate the purification, we haue written vnto you: therefore ye shall do well, if ye kepe the same dayes.
We hope also, that the God which deliuered his people, and gaue them al the heritage, kingdome, priesthood, and sanctuarie,
That he promised them in the law, shal shortly haue mercie vpon vs, and gather vs together from vnder the heauen into his holie place: for he hath saued vs from great peryls, and hath clensed the place.
As concerning Iudas Machabeus and his brethren, the purification of the great temple, the dedication of the aulter:
Yea and of the warres that concerne noble Antiochus & Eupator his sonne:
And the miracles shewed from heauen by the valiaunt actes of those which defended the Iewes religion, so that a fewe ran through the whole countrey, and draue away the barbarous armies:
Repaired againe the temple that was spoken of throughout all the world, deliuered the citie, doyng their best that the law of the Lord which was put downe, might with all tranquilitie be restored againe vnto the Lord, that was so mercifull vnto them.
As touching Iason also of Cyren, we haue vndertaken compendiously to bring into one booke the thinges that were comprehended of him in fyue.
For we, considering the multitude of the bookes, and howe hard it shoulde be for them that woulde meddle with stories and actes, and that because of so diuers matters:
Haue vndertaken so to comprehend the stories, that such as are disposed to reade, might haue pleasure and pastime therin: and that they which are diligent in such thinges, might the better thinke vpon them: yea and that whosoeuer reade them, might haue profite therby.
Neuerthelesse, we our selues that haue medled with this matter for the shortening of it, haue taken no small labour, but great diligence, watchinges, and trauayle.
Like as they that make a feast, would fayne do other men pleasure: euen so we also for many mens sakes, are very well content to take the labour,
Where as we may shortly comprehend the thinges that other men haue truely written.
For he that buyldeth an house anewe, must prouide for many thinges to the whole buylding: but he that paynteth it afterward, seketh but only that is comely, meete and conuenient to garnishe it withall.
Euen so do we also in like maner: And why? He that beginneth fyrst to wryte a storie, must with his vnderstanding gather the matter together, set his wordes in order, and diligently seke out euery part.
But he that afterwarde will shorten it, vseth fewe wordes, and toucheth not the matter at the largest: Let this be sufficient for a prologue.
Now will we begin to shew the matter: for it is but a foolishe thing to make a long prologue, and to be short in the storie it selfe.
WHat time as the holy citie was inhabited in all peace and wealth, and when the lawes were yet very well kept: for so was it ordeyned thorowe the godlinesse of Onias the hye prieste, and other godly men that were enemies to wickednesse,
It came therto, that euen the kinges and princes them selues dyd the place great worship, and garnished the temple with great giftes:
Insomuch that Seleucus king of Asia of his owne rentes bare all the coastes belonging to the seruice of the offringes.
Then Simon, of the tribe of Beniamin, ruler of the temple, vpon a variaunce risen betweene him & the hygh priest for wickednesse that was done in the citie,
For that he could not ouercome Onias, he gat him to Apollonius the sonne of Thrasia, which then was chiefe Lorde in Celosyria and Phemces,
And tolde hym, that the treasurie in Hierusalem was full of innumerable money, & how that the common goodes whiche belongeth not vnto the offeringes, were exceeding great also: yea and howe it were possible that all these might come vnder the kinges power.
Now when Apollonius had shewed the king of the money, as it was tolde him: the king called for Heliodorus his treasurer, and sent him with a commaundement to bring him the same money.
Immediatly Heliodorus toke his iourney, but vnder a colour as though he woulde go thorowe Celosyria and Phenices to visite the cities, but his purpose was to fulfill the kinges pleasure.
So when he came to Hierusalem, and was louingly receaued of the hye priest into the citie, he tolde what was determined concerning the money, and shewed the cause of his comming: he asked also if it were so in deede.
Then the hye priest tolde hym, that there was such money layed vp for the vpholding of wydowes and fatherlesse children,
And how that a certayne of it belonged vnto Hyrcanus the sonne of Tobias a noble man, & that of all the money (and not as that wicked Simon had reported) there were foure hundreth talentes of siluer, and two hundred of golde:
Yea & that it were vnpossible for those mens meaning to be disceaued that had put assured confidence in the holinesse of the place, & in the maiestie & vndoubted safetie of the temple, whiche is had in worship thorowe the whole worlde, for the mayntenaunce and honour of the same.
Whervnto Heliodorus aunswered, that the king had commaunded hym in any wyse to bring hym the money.
So at the day appoynted, Heliodorus entred into the temple to order this matter: wherefore there was no small feare throughout the whole citie.
The priestes fell downe before the aulter in their vestmentes, and called vnto heauen vpon hym whiche had made a lawe concerning stuffe geuen to kepe that they shoulde be safely preserued for such as commited them vnto keping.
Then who so had loked the hye priest in the face, it woulde haue greeued his heart: for his countenaunce and the chaunging of his colour, declared the inwarde sorowe of his mynde.
The man was all in heauinesse, and his body in feare: whereby they that loked vpon him, might perceaue the griefe of his heart.
The other people also came out of their houses by heapes vnto the common prayer, because the place was like to come into confusion.
The women came together thorowe the streetes with heary clothes about their brestes: the virgins also that were kept in, ran to Onias, some of them ran to the gates, some vp vpon the walles, other some loked out at the windowes.
Yea they all helde vp their handes towarde heauen, and prayed:
A miserable thing was it to loke vpon the common people, and the hie priest beyng in such trouble.
But they besought almightie God that the goodes which were committed vnto them, might be kept whole for those that had deliuered them vnto their keping.
Neuerthelesse, the thing that Heliodorus was determined to do, that perfourmed he in the same place, he hym selfe personally beyng about the treasurie with his men of warre.
But the spirite of almightie God shewed him selfe openly, so that al they which presumed to obey Heliodorus, fel thorow the power of God into a great fearefulnesse and dread.
For there appeared vnto them an horse, with a terrible man sitting vpon him, deckte in goodly aray, and the horse smote at Heliodorus with his forefeete: Nowe he that sate vpon the horse, had harnesse of golde vpon him.
Moreouer, there appeared two fayre and beautifull young men of notable strength in goodly aray, whiche stoode by him, scourged him of both the sides, and gaue hym many strypes without ceassing.
With that fell Hiliodorus sodenly vnto the grounde, so they toke him vp beyng compassed about with great darkenesse, & bare him out vpon a beere.
Thus he that came with so many runners and men of warre into the sayde treasurie, was borne out, where as no man might helpe hym, beyng destitute of harnesse and weapons: and so the power of God was manifest & knowen.
He lay still dumbe also by the power of God, destitute of all hope and life.
And they praysed the Lord, that he had shewed his power vpon his place and temple, which a litle afore was full of feare and trouble, and that through the reuelation of the almightie Lord it was filled with ioy and gladnesse,
Then certayne of Heliodorus friendes prayed Onias that in al haste he would call vpon God, to graunt hym his lyfe, which was geuing vp the ghost.
So the hye priest fearing lest the king should suspect that the Iewes had done Heliodorus some euyll, he offered an offering for his health.
Nowe when the hye priest had obtaytayned his petition, the same young men in the same clothing appeared, & stoode beside Heliodorus, saying, Thanke Onias the hye priest: for for his sake hath the Lorde graunted thee thy lyfe.
Therfore seyng that God hath scourged thee, geue hym prayse and thankes, and shewe euery man his might and power. And when they had spoken these wordes, they appeared no more.
So Heliodorus offered vnto God, made great vowes vnto hym whiche had graunted him his lyfe, thanked Onias, toke his hoast, and went againe to the king.
Then testified he vnto euery man, of the great workes of God that he had seene with his eyes.
And when the king asked Heliodorus who were meete to be sent yet once againe to Hierusalem, he sayde:
If thou hast any enemie or aduersarie vnto thy realme, sende him thyther, and thou shalt haue hym punished, if he escape with his lyfe: for in that place [no doubt] there is a special power and working of God.
For he that dwelleth in heauen, visiteth and defendeth that place, and all that come to do it harme he punisheth and plagueth them.
This is nowe the matter concerning Heliodorus, and the keping of the treasurie [at Hierusalem.]
THis Simon nowe (of whom we spake afore) being a bewrayer of the money and of his owne natural cou{n}trey, reported {th}e worst of Onias, as though he had moued Heliodorus vnto this, & as though he had ben a bringer vp of euil.
Thus was he not ashamed to call hym an enemie of the realme, that was so faythful an ouerseer and defender of the citie and of his people, yea and so feruent in the lawe of God.
But when the malice of Simon increased so farre, that thorowe his friendes there were certayne manslaughters committed:
Onias considered the peryll that might come thorowe this stryfe, and howe that Apollonius the chiefe Lorde in Celosiria and Phenices, was al set vpon tirannie, and Simons malice increased the same:
He gat him to the king, not as an accuser of the citezins, but as one that by him selfe intended the common wealth of the whole multitude.
For he sawe it was not possible to liue in peace, neither Simon to leaue of from his foolishnesse, except the king did loke therto.
But after the death of Seleueus, when Antiochus, whiche is called the noble, toke the kingdome, Iason the brother of Onias laboured to be hye priest:
For he came vnto the king, and promised him three hundred and threescore talentes of siluer, and of the other rentes fourescore talentes.
Besides this, he promised hym yet an hundred and fiftie more, if he might haue licence to set vp a scoole and an exercise of weapons, and that he might call them of Hierusalem Antiochians.
Which when the king had graunted, and he had gotten the superioritie, he began immediatly to draw his kinsmen to the custome of the heathen,
Put downe the thinges that the Iewes had set vp of loue by Ihon the father of Eupolonius, whiche was sent ambassadour vnto Rome for to make the bonde of friendship and loue, he put downe all the lawes and liberties of the Iewes, and set vp the wicked statutes.
For when he had made a scoole of fence vnder the castle, he drewe all the chiefest yong men on his side, and trayned them to were hattes.
And there was such a feruent desire to come to the maners of the heathen, and to take vp newe straunge fashions brought in thorowe the vngratious and vnhearde wickednesse of Iason, which shoulde not be called a priest, but an vngodly person:
Insomuch that the priestes were now no more occupied about the seruice of the aulter: but despised the temple, regarded not the offeringes, yea gaue their diligence to learne to fight, to wrastle, to leape, to daunce, and to cast the stone:
Not setting by the honour of the fathers, but liked the glorie of the Grekes best of all:
For the which they stroue perylously, & were greedy to folow their statutes, yea their lust was in all thinges to be like them, whiche afore were their enemies and destroyers.
Howebeit to do wickedly against the law of God, shal not escape vnpunished, but of this we shall speake hereafter.
What time as the Olimpians sportes were played at Tyrus, the king hym selfe beyng present,
This vngratious Iason sent wicked men, bearing from them of Hierusalem (which nowe were called Antiochians) three hundred drachines of siluer for an offering to Hercules: these had they that caryed them desired vnder such a fashion as though they should not haue ben offered, but bestowed to other vses.
Neuerthelesse, he that sent them, sent them to the inte{n}t that they should be offered vnto Hercules: but because of those that were present, they were geuen as to the making of shippes.
And Apollonius the sonne of Menestheus was sent into Egypt, because of the noble men of king Ptolomi Philometor. Nowe when Antiochius perceaued that he was put out from medling in the realme, he sought his owne profite, departed from thence, came to Ioppa, and then to Hierusalem,
Where he was honorably receaued of Iason, and of the citie, and was brought in with torche light and with great prayse: and so he turned his hoast vnto Phenices.
After three yeres Iason sent Menelaus (the foresayd Simons brother) to beare the money vnto the king, & to bring him aunswere of other necessarie matters.
But he when he was commended to the king for magnifiyng of his power, turned the priesthood vnto him selfe, laying vp three hundred talentes of siluer for Iason.
So when he had gotten commaundementes from the king, he came, hauing nothing that becommeth a priest, but bearing the stomacke of a cruel tyraunt, and the wrath of a wilde bruite beast.
Then Iason which had disceaued his owne brother, seyng that he hym selfe was begiled also, was fayne to flee into the lande of the Ammonites,
And Menelaus gat the dominion: but as for the money that he had promised vnto the king, he dyd nothing therin, albeit Sostratus the ruler of the castle required it of him.
For Sostratus was the man that gathered the customes: wherefore they were both called before the king.
Thus was Menelaus put out of the priesthood, & Lysimachus his brother came in his steade, and Sostratus left Crates ouerseer of the Cyprians.
It happened in the meane season, that the Tharsians and Mallotians made insurrection, because they were geuen for a present vnto Antiochus the kinges concubine.
Then came the king in all haste to still them againe, and to pacifie the matter, leauing Andronicus there to be his deputie as one meete therfore.
Now Menelaus supposing that he had gotten a right conuenient time, stole certayne vessels of golde out of the temple, and gaue them to Andronicus for a present: and some he solde at Tyrus, and in the cities therby.
Whiche when Onias knewe of a suretie, he reproued him: but he kept him in a sanctuarie beside Daphnis, that lyeth by Antioche.
Wherefore Menelaus gat hym to Andronicus, and prayed him that he would slay Onias. So when he came to Oui as, he counseled hym craftyly to come out of the sanctuarie, geuing hym his hande with an oth, (how be it he suspect hym) and then he slue Onias without any regarde of righteousnesse.
For the whiche cause not onely the Iewes, but other nations also, toke indignation, and were displeased for the vnrighteous death of so godly a man.
And when the king was come againe from Cilicia, the Iewes and certayne of the Grekes went vnto hym, complayning for the vnrighteous death of Onias.
Yea Antiochus hym selfe was sory in his mynde for Onias, so that it pitied him: and he wept, remembring his sobernesse and manerly behauour.
Wherefore he was so kindled in his minde, that he commaunded Andronicus to be stripped out of his purple clothing, and so to be led throughout the citie, yea and the vngratious man to be slayne in the same place where he committed his wickednesse vpon Onias: Thus the Lorde rewarded him his punishement, as he had deserued.
Now when Lysimachus had done many wicked deedes in the temple thorow the counsell of Menelaus, and the voyce came abrode: the multitude gathered them together against Lysimachus, for he had caryed out now much golde.
So when the people arose, and were full of displeasure, Lysimachus armed three thousande vnthriftes to defende him, a certayne tyraunt being their captayne, which was growen both in age and woodnesse.
They therefore seyng the interprise of Lysimachus, caught vp, some stones, some blockes endes, & some handfulles of dust that was next at hand, & threwe them vpon the rebelles of Lysimachus bande that had set vpon them.
Thus there were many of them wounded, some beyng slayne, and all the other chased away: But as for the wicked church robber hym selfe, they killed him beside the treasurie.
Of these matters therefore, there was kept a court against Menelaus.
Now when the king came to Tyrus, three men that were sent from the senate pleaded him giltie before the king.
But Menelaus being nowe conuict, went & promised Ptolomi the sonne of Dorymenes to geue him much money, if he woulde pacifie the king towarde him.
So Ptolomi went to the king into a court, where as he was set to coole him, and brought him out of that minde:
Insomuch that he discharged Menelaus from the accusations, that notwithstanding was cause of all mischiefe: and those poore men which if they had tolde their cause, yea before the Scythians, they shoulde haue ben iudged innocent, them he condepmned to death.
Thus were they soone punished, which folowed vpon the matter for the citie, for the people, and for the holy vessels.
Wherefore they also of Tyrus, moued with hatred of that wicked deede, caused them to be very honorably buried.
And so through the couetousnesse of them that were in power, Menelaus remayned still in aucthoritie, encreasing in malice, to the hurt of the citezins.
ABout the same time Antiochus vndertoke his second viage into Egypt.
And then were there seene throughout all the citie of [Hierusalem] fourtie dayes longe, horsmen running in the ayre, with robes of golde, and as bandes of speare men,
And as troupes of horsmen set in aray, incountering and coursing one against another, with shaking of shieldes and multitude of dartes, and drawing of swordes, and shooting of arrowes, and the glittering of the golden armour seene, and harnesse of all sortes.
Wherefore euery man prayed that those tokens might turne to good.
Now when there was gone foorth a false rumour, as though Antiochus had ben dead, Iason toke a thousand men, and came sodenly vpon the citie: the citezins ranne vnto the walles, at the last was the citie taken, and Menelaus fled into the castle.
As for Iason, he spared not his owne citezins in the slaughter, neither considered he what great euill it were to destroy the prosperitie of his owne kinsemen: but did as one that had gotten the victory of his enemies, and not of his friendes.
For all this gat he not the superioritie, but at the last receaued confusion for his malice, and fled againe lyke a vacabound into the land of the Ammonites.
Finally, for a rewarde of his wickednesse, he was accused before Aretha the king of the Arabians, insomuch that he was faine to flee from citie to citie, being despised of euery man as a forsaker of the lawes, and an abhominable person: and at the last as an open enemie of his owne naturall countrey and of the citezins, he was driuen into Egypt.
Thus he that afore put many out of their owne natiue lande, perished from home him selfe: he went to Lacedemon, thinking there to haue gotten succour by reason of kinred.
And he that afore had caste many one out vnburied, was throwen out him selfe, no man mourning for him, nor putting him in his graue: so that he neither enioyed the buriall of a straunger, neither was he partaker of his fathers sepulchre.
Now when this was done, the king suspected that the Iewes woulde haue fallen from him, wherefore he came in a great displeasure out of Egypt, & toke the citie by violence.
He commaunded his men of warre also, that they should kill and not spare: but slay downe such as withstoode them, or clymed vp vpon the houses.
Thus was there a great slaughter of young men, olde men, women, children, and virgins.
In three dayes were there slaine fourscore thousand, fourtie thousand put in prison: and there were as many solde as were slaine.
Yet was he not content with this, but durst go into the most holy temple of al the worlde, Menelaus that traytour to the lawes and to his owne naturall countrey being his guide.
And with his wicked handes toke the holy vessels, which other kinges and cities had geuen thyther for the garnishing & honour of the place, them toke he in his handes vnworthyly, and defiled them.
So mad was Antiochus, that he considered not how that God was not a litle wroth for the sinnes of them that dwelt in the citie, for the which such confusion came vpon that place.
And why? if it had not happened them to haue ben lapped in many sinnes, this Antiochus assoone as he had come, had sodenly ben punished and shut out of his presumption, like as Heliodorus was, whom Seleueus the king sent to robbe the treasurie.
Neuerthelesse, God hath not chosen the people for the places sake: but the place for the peoples sake.
And therefore is the place become partaker of the peoples trouble, but afterward shall it enioy the wealth of them: And lyke as it was now forsaken in the wrath of almightie God, so when the great God is reconsiled, it shalbe set vp in hie worship againe.
So when Antiochus had taken a thousand and eyght hundred talentes out of the temple, he gat him to Antioch in al the haste, thinking in his pride that he might make men saile vpon the drye lande, and to go vpon the sea, such an hie minde had he.
He left deputies there to vexe the people: at Hierusalem left he Philip a Phrygian, in maners more cruell then him selfe that set him there:
At Garizim he left Andronicus and Menelaus, which were more greeuous to the citezins then other.
Nowe as he was thus set in malice against the Iewes, he sent Apollonius, a cruell prince, with an armie of twentie and two thousand, commaunding him to slay those that were of perfect age, and to sell the women, maydens, and children.
When he came now to Hierusalem, he faigned peace, & kept him still vntill the Sabbath day: and then he commaunded his men to take them to their weapons, for the Iewes kept holy day:
And so he slue all them that were gone foorth to the open play, running [here and there] through the citie with his men weaponed, and murthered a great number.
But Iudas Machabeus, which was the tenth, fled into the wildernesse, led his lyfe there with his company among wylde beastes and vpon the mountaynes, dwelling there, and eating hearbes, lest they shoulde be partakers of the filthynesse.
NOt longe after this, sent the king an olde man of Antioch, for to compell the Iewes to transgresse the ordinaunces of the fathers, & of the lawe of God,
To defile the temple that was at Hierusalem, and to call it the temple of Iupiter Olimpius: and that they shoulde be in Garizim, as those which dwel at the place of Iupiter the harberous.
This wicked sedition of the vngodlie, was heauy vpon all the people:
For the temple was full of voluptuousnes, bibbing and bolling of the heathen, of rybaudes and harlots together: the women went into the holy place, and bare in that was not lawfull.
The aulter also was full of vnlawfull thinges, which the law forbiddeth to lay vpon it,
The Sabbathes were not kept, the other solempne feastes of the land were not regarded: to be plaine, there durst no man be knowe{n} that he was a Iewe.
In the day of the kinges birth they were compelled parforce to offer, and when the feaste of Bacchus was kept, they were constrayned to weare gar-, landes of iuie, and so to go about to the honour of Bacchus.
Moreouer, through the counsell of Ptolomeus, there went out a co{m}maundement vnto the next cities of the heathen against the Iewes, that the lyke custome & banketting should be kept.
And who so would not conforme them selues to the maners of the Gentiles, should be put to death: then might a man haue seene the present miserie.
For there were two women accused to haue circumcized their sonnes: whom when they had led rounde about the citie the babes hanging at their brestes, they cast them downe headlonges ouer the walles.
Some that were crept in dennes, and had kept the Sabbath, were accused vnto Philip, and brent in the fire, because that for the feare of God they kept the commaundement so stiffely, and would not defende them selues.
Now I beseche all those which reade this booke, that they refuse it not for these fals of aduersitie, and iudge the thinges that are happened for no destruction, but for a chastening of our people.
And why? When God suffereth not sinners long to folow their owne minde, but shortly punisheth them, it is a token of his great louing kindnesse.
For this grace haue we of God more then other people, That he suffreth not vs long to sinne vnpunished, lyke as other nations,
That when the day of iudgement commeth, he may punishe them in the fulnes of their sinnes.
If we sinne, he correcteth vs, but he neuer withdraweth his mercie from vs: and though he punishe with aduersitie, yet doth he neuer forsake his people.
But let this that we haue spoken now with fewe wordes, be for a warning and exhortation of the heathen: Now wyll we come to the declaring of the matter.
Eleazar one of the principall scribes, an aged man, and of a well fauoured countenaunce, was constrained to gape with open mouth, and to eate swynes fleshe.
But he desiring rather to dye gloriously then to lyue with shame, offered him selfe willingly to the martirdome.
Now when he saw that he must nedes go to it, he toke it patiently: for he was at a poynt with himselfe, that he would not consent to any vnlawful thing for any pleasure of lyfe.
They that stoode, by being moued with pitie (but not a right) for the olde frendship of the man, toke him aside priuilie, and prayed him that he would let such fleshe be brought him as were lawfull to eate, and then to make a countenaunce as though he had eaten of the flesh of the sacrifice, like as the king commaunded,
For so he might be deliuered from death: and so for the olde frendship of the man, they shewed him this kindnes.
But he began to consider discreetely, and as became his age and the excellencie of his auncient yeres, and the honour of his gray heares whereunto he was come, and his most honest conuersation from his childhood, but chiefely the holy law made and geuen by God, therefore he aunswered consequently, and willed them straightwayes to send him to the graue:
For it becommeth not mine age, saide he, in any wyse to dissemble, whereby many young persons might thinke that Eleazar being fourscore yeres olde and ten, were nowe gone to a straunge religion:
And so through myne hypocrisie for a litle time of a transitorie lyfe, they might be deceaued: by this meanes also should I defile myne age, and make it abhominable.
For though I were nowe deliuered from the tormentes of men, yet shoulde I not escape the hand of almightie God neither aliue nor dead.
Wherefore I wyll dye manfully, and do as it becommeth myne age:
Whereby I may peraduenture leaue an example of stedfastnes for such as be young, if I with a redie minde & manfully dye an honest death for the most worthy and holy lawes. When he had saide these words, immediatly he was drawen to the torment.
Now they that led him, and were milde a litle afore, began to take displeasure because of the wordes that he saide: for they thought he had spoken them of an hie minde.
But when he was in his martirdome, he mourned, and saide: Thou O Lorde which hast the holy knowledge, knowest openly, that where as I might be deliuered from death, I suffer these sore paynes of my body: but in my minde I am well content to suffer them, because I feare thee.
Thus this man dyed, leauing the memoriall of his death for an example, not onely vnto young men, but vnto all the people, to be stedfast and manly.
IT happened also that there were seuen brethren with their mother, taken, and compelled by the king against the lawe to eate swines fleshe, [namely] with scourges and leatherne whippes.
And one of them, which was the chiefe, saide: What seekest thou, and what requirest thou of vs? As for vs, we are redie rather to suffer death, then to offende the lawes of God and the fathers.
Then was the king angry, and bad heate cauldrons & brasen pottes: which when they were made hot,
Immediately he commaunded the tongue of him that spake first to be cut out, to pull the skin ouer his head, to pare the edges of his handes and feete: yea and that in the sight of his mother and the other of his brethren.
Now when he was cleane mangled, he co{m}maunded a fire to be made, and so (while there was any breathin him) to be fried in the cauldron: In the which when he had ben long pained, the other brethren, with their mother, exhorted him to dye manfully, saying:
The Lorde God shall regarde the trueth, and comfort vs, lyke as Moyses testifieth and declareth in his song [saying:] And he wyll haue compassion on his seruauntes.
So when the first was dead after this maner, they brought the second to haue him in derision, pulled the skinne with the heere ouer his head, and asked him if he would eate swines flesh or he were payned in the other members also throughout his body.
But he aunswered in his owne language, and said, I wyll not do it: And so he was tormented lyke as the first.
And when he was euen at the geuing vp of the ghost, he sayd, Thou most vngratious person puttest vs now to death: but the king of the worlde shal rayse vs vp which dye for his lawes, in the resurrection of euerlasting lyfe.
After him was the third had in derision, and when he was required he put out his tongue, and that right soone, holding foorth his handes manfully,
And spake with a stedfast faith: These haue I of heaue{n}, but now for the lawes of God I despise them: for my trust is, that I shal receaue them of him againe.
Insomuch that the king & they which were with him, marueyled at the young mans boldnes, that he nothing regarded the paynes.
Now when he was dead also, they vexed the fourth with tormentes in like maner.
So when he was now at his death, he saide: It is better that we being put to death of men haue our hope & trust in God, for he shall rayse vs vp againe: as for thee, thou shalt haue no resurrection to lyfe.
And when they had spoken to the fifth, they tormented him.
Then loked he vnto the king, and said, Thou hast power among men, for thou art a mortall man also thy selfe to do what thou wylt: but thinke not that God hath forsaken our generation.
Abide thee, tary still awhile, and thou shalt see the great power of God, howe he wyll punishe thee and thy seede.
After him they brought the sixt, which being at the poynt of death, saide, Be not deceaued O king: for this we suffer for our owne sakes, because we haue offended our God, and therefore marueylous thinges are shewed vpon vs.
But thinke not thou which takest in hande to striue against God, that thou shalt escape vnpunished.
This excellent mother worthy to be wel reported of & had in remembrau{n}ce, saw her seuen sonnes dye in one day, and suffered it paciently, because of the hope that she had in God:
Yea, she exhorted euery one of them in her countrey language, and that boldly and stedfastly with perfect wysdome, waking vp her wiuishe thought with a manly stomake, and saide vnto them,
I can not tell howe ye sprang in my wombe: for I neither gaue you breath, nor soule, nor lyfe, it is not I that ioyned the members of your bodies together,
But the maker of the worlde which fashioned the byrth of man, and began all thinges: Euen he also of his owne mercie shall geue you breath and lyfe againe, lyke as ye now regard not your owne selues for his lawes sake.
Now thought Antiochus that she had despised him, therfore he let her go with her reproffes, and began to exhort the youngest sonne which yet was left, not onely with wordes, but swore vnto him with an oth, that he shoulde make him a rich and wealthy man, if he would forsake the lawes of his fathers: yea, and that he shoulde geue him whatsoeuer were necessarie for him.
But when the young man would not be moued for all these thinges, he called his mother and counselled her to saue her sonnes lyfe.
And when he had exhorted her with many wordes, she promysed him that she would speake to her sonne.
So she turned her vnto him, laughing the cruell tyraunt to scorne, and spake in her countrey language: O my sonne, haue pitie vpon me, that bare thee nine monethes in my wombe, that gaue thee sucke, nourished thee: and brought thee vp vnto this age,
I beseche thee my sonne, loke vpon heauen and earth, and all that is therein, and consider that God made them and mans generation of naught:
So shalt thou not feare this hangman, but suffer death stedfastly, lyke as thy brethren haue done: that I may receaue thee againe in the same mercie with thy brethren.
While she was yet speaking these wordes, the young man saide: whom loke ye for? [wherefore do ye tary?• I wyl not obey the kinges commaundement, but the law that God gaue vs by Moyses.
As for thou that imaginest al mischiefe against the Iewes, thou shalt not escape the hande of God.
For we suffer these thinges because of our sinnes.
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.
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:
For thou hast not yet escaped the iudgementes of God, which is almightie, & seeth all thinges.
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.
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.
In me nowe and in my brethren, the wrath of almightie God is at an ende, which righteously is fallen vpon all our people.
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.
So this young man dyed vndefiled, and put his trust still in the Lorde.
Last of all, after the sonnes was the mother put to death also.
Let this now be inough spoken concerning the offeringes and extreme cruelnesse.
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.
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,
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:
To remember the most vnrighteous deathes of young innocent children, the blasphemies also done vnto his name, and to punishe them.
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,
He fell vpon the townes and cities vnwares, brent them, toke the most commodious places, and slue many of the enemies.
But specially he made such chases by night, insomuch that his manlines was spoken of euery where.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When Iudas knewe of this, he tolde the Iewes that were with him, of Nicanors comming.
Now were there some of them fearefull, not trusting vnto the righteousnes of God, and fled their way, and abode not in that place:
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:
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.
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,
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.
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.
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:
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.
Through these wordes the men toke good heartes vnto them, redie to dye for the lawe and the countrey.
So he set vpon euery company a captaine, one of his owne brethren, Simon, Ioseph, and Ionathas, geuing ech one fifteene hundred men.
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.
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.
Thus they toke the money from those that came to bye them, and folowed vpon them on euery side.
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.
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.
After the Sabbath, they distributed the spoyles to the sicke, to the fatherlesse, and to wydowes, & the residue had they them selues, with theirs.
When this was done, and they all had made a generall prayer, they besought the mercifull Lorde to be at one with his seruauntes.
Of those also that were with Timotheus and Bacchides, which fought against them, they slue twentie thousand, wanne high and strong holdes, and deuided mo spoyles, euer geuing an equal portion vnto the sicke, to the fatherlesse, to wydowes, and to aged persons.
And when they had diligently gathered their weapons together, they layde them all in conuenient places, and the remnaunt of the spoyles brought they to Hierusalem:
They slue also Philarches that wicked person, which was with Timotheus, and had vexed many Iewes.
And when they helde the thankesgeuing at Hierusalem for the victory, they brent those that had set fire on the portes of the temple, [namely] Calisthenes, which was fled into an house, and so they gat a worthy rewarde for their wickednesse.
As for that most vngratious Nicanor, which had brought a thousand marchauntes to bye the Iewes,
He was through the helpe of the Lord brought downe euen of them whom he regarded not: insomuch that he put of his glorious rayment, fled by sea, and came alone to Antioch, with great shame and dishonour, which he gat through the destruction of his hoast.
Thus he that promysed the Romanes to pay them their tribute when he toke Hierusalem, began nowe to say plainely, that God was the defender of the Iewes, and therefore not possible to wounde them, because they folowed the lawes which God had made.
AT the same time came Antiochus againe with dishonour out of Persia.
For when he came to Persepolis, and vndertoke to robbe the temple, and to subdue the citie, the people ranne together and defended them selues, insomuch that he and his were faine to flee with shame: and so after that flight it happened that Antiochus came againe with dishonour.
But when he came to Egbatana, he gat knowledge what was happened vnto Nicanor and Timotheus.
Now as he was auauncing him selfe in his wrath, he thought he was able to auenge the iniurie that was done to them vpon the Iewes: & therfore commaunded to make redy his charret, hasting on his iourney without ceassing, the iudgement of God prouoking him, because he had spoken so proudly, that he would come to Hierusalem, & make it a graue of the Iewes.
But the Lorde God of Israel, that seeth all thinges, smote him with an vncurable and an inuisible plague [which no man could heale.] For assoone as he had spoken these wordes, there came vpon him an horryble paine of his bowels, & a sore griefe of the inner partes,
And that was but right: for he had martyred other mens bowels with diuers and straunge tormentes.
Howbeit he woulde in no wyse ceasse from his malice: yea he was yet the prouder and more malicious against the Iewes: but whyle he was commaunding to make haste in the matter, it happened that he fell downe violently from the charret that ranne swiftly, so that it bruised his body, and did him great payne.
And so he that thought a litle before he might commaund the fluddes of the sea (so proude was he beyond the condition of man) and to waye the hye mountaynes in a payre of balaunce, was now brought downe to the grounde, and carried vpon a horslitter, knowledging the manifest power of God vpon him:
So that the wormes came out of the bodie of this wicked man in abou{n}dance: and whiles he was aliue, his flesh fell of for paine and torment, and all his armie was greeued at his smell.
Thus he that a litle afore thought he might reache to the starres of heauen: him might no man now abide nor beare, for the vehemencie of stincke.
Therefore he being brought from his great pride, began for to come to the knowledge of him selfe: for the punishment of God warned him, & his payne encreased euer more and more.
And when he him selfe might not abide his owne stincke, he saide these wordes: It is reason to be obedient vnto God, and that a man which is mortall, thinke not through pride, him selfe to be equall vnto God.
This wicked person prayed also vnto the Lorde, who nowe woulde haue no mercie vpon him:
And as for the citie that he came vnto so hastyly, to bring it downe to the ground, and to make it a graue for dead men, now he desireth to deliuer it free:
And as touching the Iewes, whom he had iudged not worthy to be buried, but woulde haue cast them out with their children, for to be deuoured of the foules and wilde beastes, [saying that he woulde haue destroyed both olde and young:] now he promysed to make them like the citezins of Athens:
And where as he had spoyled the holy temple afore, nowe he maketh promyse to garnishe it with great giftes, to encrease the holy ornamentes, and of his owne rentes to beare the costes & charges belonging to the offringes:
Yea and that he would also become a Iewe hym selfe, to go through euery place of the worlde that was inhabyted, and to preache the power of God.
But when his paynes would not ceasse, (for the ryghteous iudgement of God was come vpon hym) out of a very dispayre he wrote vnto the Iewes a letter of intercession, conteyning these words:
The king and prince Antiochus, wisheth vnto the vertuous citezins of the Iewes much health and good prosperitie.
If ye and your children fare well, and if all thinges go after your minde, we geue great thankes.
In my sicknesse also do I remember you louyngly: for as I came out of Persia, & was taken with sore disease, I thought it necessary to care for the common wealth:
Neither dispaire I in my selfe, but haue a good hope to escape this sickenesse.
But considering that my father led an hoast somtime in the higher places, and shewed who should raigne after him,
That if there happened any controuersie, or any hard thing were declared, they in the lande might knowe their chiefe Lorde, that there should be no insurrection.
Againe, when I ponder with my selfe, how that al the mightie men and neighbours rounde about are laying wayse, & loke but for oportunitie to do harme: I haue ordeined that my sonne Antiochus shall raigne after me, whom I oft commended to many of you, when I was in the higher kingdomes, & haue written vnto him as it foloweth hereafter.
Therfore I pray you and require you to remember the benefites that I haue done vnto you generally and in especiall, and that euery man wil be faythfull to me and my sonne.
For I hope that he shalbe of sober and louing behauour, and if he folowe my deuice, he shalbe indifferent vnto you.
Thus that murtherer and blasphemer of God was sore smitten: and like as he had intreated other men, so he died a miserable death in a straunge countrey vpon a mountayne.
And his body dyd Philip that went with him cary away, which fearing the sonne of Antiochus, went into Egypt to Ptolomi Philometor.
MAchabeus nowe and his company thorowe the helpe of the Lorde wan the temple and the citie againe,
Destroyed the aulters and chappels that the heathen had buylded through the streetes,
Clensed the temple, made another aulter of bricke stone, and after two yeres they offered sacrifices, set foorth the incense, the lightes, and shewe bread.
When that was done, they fell downe flat vpon the grounde, and besought the Lord that they might come no more into such trouble: but if they sinned any more against him, he him selfe to chasten them with mercie, and not to come in the handes of those aliauntes and blasphemous men.
Nowe vpon the same day that the straungers polluted the temple, it happened that on the very same day it was clensed againe: [namely] the twentie and fyfth day of the moneth called Casleu.
They kept eyght dayes in gladnesse, like as in the feast of the tabernacles, remembring that not long afore they held the feast of the tabernacles vpon the mountaynes and in dennes, like beastes.
And to the same token they bare greene bowes, braunches, & palmes, and song Psalmes before hym that had geuen them good successe to clense his place.
They agreed also together, and made a statute that euery yere those dayes shoulde be solemply kept of all the people of the Iewes.
How Antiochus then, that was called the noble, died, it is sufficiently tolde.
Nowe will we speake of Eupator the sonne of that wicked Antiochus howe it happened with hym, and so with fewe wordes to comprehende the aduersitie that chaunced in the warres.
When he had taken in the kingdome, he made one Lysias whiche had ben captayne of the hoast in Phenices and Syria, ruler ouer the matters of the realme.
For Ptolomi, that was called Macron, beyng a ruler for the Iewes, and specially to sit in iudgement for such wrong as was done vnto them, vndertoke to deale peaceably with them.
For the whiche cause he was accused of his friendes before Eupator: and when he was suspect to be a traytour, because he had left Cypres that Philometor had committed vnto him, and because he departed from noble Antiochus that he was come vnto, he poysoned hym selfe, and died.
Now when Gorgias was gouernour of the same places, he toke straungers, and vndertoke oft times to warre with the Iewes.
Moreouer, the Idumeans that helde the strong holdes, receaued those that were dryuen from Hierusalem, and toke in hande to warre also.
But they that were with Machabeus besought & prayed vnto the Lorde that he woulde be their helper, and so they fell vpon the strong holdes of the Idumeans,
And wan many places by strength: such as came against them they slue, and killed no lesse of all together then twentie thousande.
Neuerthelesse some, no lesse then nyne thousande, were fled into two strong towres, hauing all maner of ordinaunce to withstande them.
Then Machabeus leauing Simon, Iosephus, Zacheus, and those that were with them, whiche were very many, went to besiege them, & to fight where most neede was.
Nowe they that were with Simon, beyng led with couetousnesse, were intreated for money thorowe certayne of those that lay in the castles, toke threescore and ten thousande dragmas: and let some of them escape.
But when it was tolde Machabeus what had happened, he called the captaynes of the people together, accusing those persons, that they had sold the brethren for money, & let their enemies go.
So he slue those traytours, & immediatly went in hande with the two castles.
And when they had ordred them selues manly with their weapons & handes, they slue in the two castles mo then twentie thousande.
Now Timotheus, whom the Iewes had ouercome afore, gathered a multitude of strange people, brought an hoast also of horsemen of the Asians to winne Iurie by strength.
But when he drewe nye, Machabeus and they that were with him, fell to their prayer, sprinkled asshes vpon their heades, beyng gyrded with heery cloth about their loynes,
Fell downe before the aulter, and besought the Lord that he would be mercifull to them, but an enemie vnto their enemies, and to take part against their aduersaries, according as it is promised in the lawe.
So after the prayer, they toke their weapons & went on further from the citie: & when they came nye the enemies, they prepared them selues against them.
And betimes in the morning at the breake of the day, both the hoastes buckled together: The one part had the Lorde for their refuge, which is the geuer of prosperitie, strength, and victorie: the other had a manly stomacke, which is a captayne of warre.
The battayle nowe beyng great, there appeared vnto the enemies from heauen fiue goodly men vpon horsebackes, with bridels of gold, leading the Iewes:
And two of them hauing Machabeus betwixt them, that kept him safe on euery side with their weapons, but shot dartes and lightninges vpon the enemies, where thorow they were confounded with blindnesse, and so sore afrayde that they fell downe.
There were slayne of footemen twentie thousand and fyue hundreth, and sixe hundreth horsemen.
As for Timotheus him selfe, he fled vnto Gazara, a very strong hold, wherin Chereas was captayne.
But Machabeus and his companie layed siege to it chearfully foure dayes.
Now they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, cursed and banned exceedingly, and made great craking with wicked wordes.
Neuerthelesse, vpon the fyft day in the morning, twentie yong men of Machabeus company, beyng set on fire in their mindes because of the blasphemie, came manfully vnto the wall, and with bolde stomakes smote downe those that they mette.
Others also clymed vp vpo{n} the towres, vndertaking to set fire vpon the portes, & to burne those blasphemous persons quicke with the fiers that they had made, others brake open the gates, and receaued the rest of the armie, and toke the citie.
Two dayes were they destroying the castle, which when they founde Timotheus that was crept in a corner, they killed him, and slue Chereas his brother in like maner, with Apollophanes.
When this was done, they song Psalmes with prayses and thankesgeuing vnto the Lorde, which had done so great thinges for Israel, and geuen them the victorie.
NOT long after this, Lysias the kinges stewarde and a kinsman of his, which had the gouernaunce of his matters, toke sore displeasure for the thinges that had happened,
And when he had gathered fourescore thousand men of foote, with al the hoast of the horsemen, he came against the Iewes, thinking to winne the citie, to make it an habitation for the heathen:
And the temple woulde he haue to be an house of lucre, like as the other gods houses of the heathen are, and to sell the priestes office euery yere,
Not considering the power of God, but was wilde in his mynde, trusting in the multitude of footemen, in thousandes of horsemen, & in his fourescore Elephantes.
So he came into Iurie, and then to Bethsura, a castle of defence, lying in a narow place fiue furlonges from Hierusalem, & layed sore siege vnto it.
Nowe when Machabeus and his company knew that the strong holdes were besieged, they fell to their prayers with weeping and teares before the Lorde: and all the people in lyke maner besought him that he woulde send a good angel to deliuer Israel.
Machabeus him selfe was the first that made him redy to the battayle, exhorting the other that were with hym to ieoperde them selues, and to helpe their brethren.
And when they were goyng foorth of Hierusalem together with a redy and willing mynde, there appeared before them vpon horsbacke a man in whyte clothing, with harnesse of gold, shaking his speare.
Then they praysed the Lorde all together whiche had shewed them mercie, and were comforted in their mindes, insomuch that they were redy not onely to fight with men, but with the most cruel beastes, yea & run thorowe walles of iron.
Thus they went on willingly, hauing an helper from heauen, and the Lorde mercifull vnto them.
They fell mightyly vpon their enemies like lions, slue eleuen thousande footemen, sixeteene hundred horsemen, and put all the other to flight,
Many of them beyng wounded, and some gat away naked: Yea Lysias him selfe was fayne to flee shamefully, and so to escape.
Neuerthelesse, that man was not without vnderstanding, but considered by him selfe that his power was minished, and pondred howe the Iewes beyng defended by the helpe of almightie God, were not able to be ouercome: wherfore he sent them worde,
And promised, that he would consent to all thinges whiche were reasonable, and to make the king their friende.
To the which praier of Lysias, Machabeus agreed, seking in all thinges the commonwealth: & whatsoeuer Machabeus wrote vnto Lysias concerning the Iewes, the king graunted it.
For there were letters written vnto the Iewes from Lysias, conteyning these wordes: Lysias sendeth greeting to the people of the Iewes.
Iohn and Absolon which were sent from you, deliuered me wrytinges, and required me to fulfill the thinges concerning their errande.
Therefore loke what might be graunted, I certified the king therof: & whatsoeuer was conuenie{n}t, he agreed therto.
If ye now wil be faythful in these matters, I shall endeuour my selfe hereafter also to do you good.
As concerning these thinges by euery article thereof, I haue committed them to your messengers and to those whom I sent vnto you, to commune with you of the same particulerly.
Fare ye well. In the hundred fourtie and eyght yere, the twentie & fourth day of the moneth Dioscorinthius.
Now the kinges letter conteyned these wordes: King Antiochus sendeth greeting vnto his brother Lysias.
Forsomuch as our father is now translated vnto the gods, our will is, that they which are in our realme, liue without any insurrection, and euery man to be diligent in his owne matters:
We vnderstande also, that the Iewes would not consent to our father, for to be brought vnto the custome of the gentiles, but stifly to kepe their owne statutes, for the which cause they require of vs also, to let them remayne still after their owne lawes.
Wherfore our minde is, that this people shalbe in rest: we haue concluded and determined also to restore them their temple againe, that they may lyue according to the vse and custome of their forefathers.
Thou shalt do vs a pleasure therefore, if thou send vnto them, and graunt them peace: that when they are certified of our mynde, they may be of good cheare, and loke to their owne wealth.
And this was the letter that the king wrote vnto the Iewes: King Antiochus sendeth greeting vnto the counsell, and the other people of the Iewes.
If ye fare well, we haue our desire: as for vs, we are in good health.
Menelaus came & tolde vs, howe that your desire was to returne home, and peaceably to enioy your owne possessio{n}s.
Wherfore, those that wil come, 〈…〉 them free libertie, vnto the thirtie day•• the moneth of Aprill,
That they may vse the meates of the Iewes and their owne lawes like as afore: and none of them by any man•r of wayes to haue harme for thinges done in ignoraunce.
I haue sent also Menelaus, that he may comfort you.
Fare ye well. In the hundred fourtie and eyght yere, the fyfteenth day of the moneth of Aprill.
The Romaynes also sent a letter, conteyning these wordes: Quintus M••mius, & Litus Manilius ambassadours of the Romaynes, sende greeting vnto the people of the Iewes.
Loke what Lysias the kinges kinsman hath graunted you, we graunt you the same also.
But as concerning the thinges which he referred vnto the king, send hither some with speede, and ponder the matter diligently among your selues, that we may cast the best to your profite, for we must depart nowe vnto Antioche.
And therefore write shortly againe, that we may knowe your mynde.
Fare well. In the hundreth fourtie and eyght yere, the fyfteenth day of the moneth of Aprill.
WHen these couenauntes were made, Lysias went vnto the king: and the Iewes tilled their grounde.
But Timotheus, & Apolomus the sonne of Gennei, Ierome, and Demophon [the proude] Nicanor the captayne of Cypers, and they that lay in those places, would not let them lyue in rest & peace.
They of Ioppa also dyd euen such a shameful deede: they prayed the Iewes that dwelt among them, to go with their wyues & children into the shippes which they had prepared, and dyd with them as though they had ought them no euyll will.
Forsomuch then as there was gone foorth a generall proclamation thorowe the citie because of peace, they consented therto, & suspect nothing: but when they were gone foorth into the deepe, they drowned no lesse then two hundred of them.
Whe{n} Iudas knew of this crueltie shewed vnto his people, he co{m}maunded those that were with him to make them redy,
Exhorting them to call vpon God the righteous iudge, went foorth against those murtherers of his brethren, set fire in the hauen by night, brent vp the shippes: and those that escaped from the fire, he slue [with the sworde.]
And when he had done this, he departed, as though he woulde come againe and roote out all them of Ioppa.
But when he had gotten word that the Iamnites were mynded to do in lyke maner vnto the Iewes which dwelt among them,
He came vpon the Iamnites by night, & set fire on the hauen with the shippes: so that the light of the fire was seene at Hierusalem vpon a two hundred and fourtie furlonges.
Nowe when they were gone from thence nyne furlonges in there iourney towarde Timotheus, fiue thousande men of foote, and fyue hundreth horsemen of the Arabians, fought with hym.
So when the battell was earnest, and prospered with Iudas thorowe the helpe of God: the residue of the Arabians beyng ouercome, besought Iudas to be at one with them, and promised to geue him certayne pastures, and to do him good in other thinges.
Iudas thinking that they shoulde in deede be profitable concerning many thinges, promised them peace: wherevpon they shoke handes, and so they departed to their tentes.
Iudas went also vnto a citie, whiche was very fast kept with brydges, fensed round about with walles, and diuers kindes of people dwelling therin, called Caspin.
They that were within it, put such trust in the strength of the walles, and in their store of vittayles, that they were the slacker in their doynges, cursing and reuiling Iudas with blasphemies, and speaking such wordes as it becommeth not.
But Machabeus calling vpon the great prince of the (world, which without any battayle rammes or ordinaunce of warre, did cast downe the walles of Iericho, in time of Iosuah) fel manfully vpon the walles,
Toke the citie, & thorow the helpe of the Lorde made an exceeding great slaughter: insomuch that a lake of two furlonges brode whiche lay therby seemed to flowe with the blood of the slayne.
Then departed they from thence seuen hundred and fiftie furlonges, and came to Taraca vnto the Iewes that are called Tubianci.
But as for Timotheus they could not get him there: for (not one matter dispatched) he was departed from thence, and had left certayne men in a very strong holde.
But Dositheus & Sosipater, whiche were captaynes with Machabeus, slue those that Timotheus had left in the house of defence, more then ten thousand men.
And Machabeus prepared him with the sixe thousand men that were about him, set them in order by companies, & went foorth against Timotheus, which had with him an hundred and twentie thousande men of foote, two thousande and fyue hundred horsemen.
When Timotheus had knowledge of Iudas comming, he sent the women, children, and the other baggage vnto a castle called Carnion: For it could not be wonne, and was hard to come vnto, the wayes of the same places were so narowe.
And when Iudas his first bande came in sight, the enemies were smitten with feare, thorowe the presence of God which seeth all thinges: Insomuch that they fleyng one here, another there, were rather discomfited of their owne people, & wounded with the strokes of their owne swordes.
Iudas also was very earnest in folowing vpon them, punishing those vngodly, & slue thirtie thousande men of them.
Timotheus also hym selfe fel into the handes of Dositheus and Sosipater, whom he besought with much craft to let him go with his lyfe, because he had many of the Iewes fathers & brethren in prison, which if they put him to death shoulde be despised.
So when he had promised faythfully to deliuer them againe according to the condition made, they let him go without harme, for the health of the brethren.
Then Machabeus marched foorth to Carnion and Atargation, and there slue twentie and fiue thousande men.
Nowe after that he had chased away and slayne his enemies, he remoued the hoast towarde Ephron a strong citie, wherin was Lysias and a great multitude of diuers nations: and the strong young men kept the walles, defending them mightyly, in this citie was much ordinaunce and prouision of dartes.
But when Iudas and his companie had called vpon almightie God, which with his power breaketh the strength of the enemies, they wan the citie, and slue twentie and fiue thousand of them that were within.
From thence went they to the citie of the Scythians, which lyeth sixe hundred furlonges from Hierusalem.
But when the Iewes whiche were in the citie, testified that the citezins dealt louingly with them, yea & intreated the{m} kindly in the time of their aduersitie,
Iudas and his companie gaue them thankes, desiring them to be friendly stil vnto them: and so they came to Hierusalem, the hye feast of the weekes beyng at hande.
And after the feast of Pentecost, they went foorth against Gorgias the gouernour of Idumca,
Who came out with three thousande men of foote, & foure hundred horsemen.
Whiche when they mette together, it chaunced a fewe of the Iewes to be slayne.
And Dositheus one of the Bacenors, a mightie horsman, toke holde of Gorgias, and woulde haue taken him quicke: but an horseman of Thracia fell vpon him, and smote of his arme, so that Gorgias escaped and fled into Moresa.
When they nowe that were of Gorgias side, had foughten long and were weery, Iudas called vpon the Lorde, that he would be their helper, and captayne of the fielde:
And with that he began in his owne language, & song Psalmes with a loude voyce: insomuch that he made the enemies afrayde, & Gorgias men of warre toke their flight.
So Iudas gathered his hoast, and came into the citie of Odolla: and when the seuenth day came vpon them, they clensed them selues as the custome was, & kept the Sabbath in the same place.
And vpon the day folowing, as necessitie required, Iudas and his company came to take vp the bodyes of them that were slayne, and to burie them in the fathers graues.
Nowe vnder the coates of certayne Iewes which were slayne, they founde iewels that they had taken [out of the temple and] from the idoles of the Iamnites, whiche thing is forbidden the Iewes by the lawe: then euery man sawe that this was the cause wherfore they were slayne.
And so euery man gaue thankes vnto the Lorde for his righteous iudgement, whiche had opened the thing that was hyd.
They fel downe also vnto their prayers, and besought God that the fault whiche was made might be put out of remembraunce: Besides that, Iudas exhorted the people earnestly to kepe them selues from such sinne, forsomuch as they sawe before their eyes that these men were slayne for the same offence.
So he gathered of euery one a certayne, and sent two thousande drachmes of siluer vnto Hierusalem, that there might a sacrifice be offered for the misdeede: In the which place he did wel and right, for he had some consideration and pondring of the lyfe that is after this time.
For if he had not thought that they whiche were slayne shoulde ryse againe, it had ben superfluous and vayne to make any vowe or sacrifice for them that were dead.
But forsomuch as he sawe that they which die in the fauour & beleefe of god, are in good rest and ioy, he thought it to be good & honorable for a reconsiling, to do the same for those which were slaine, that the offence might be forgeuen.
IN the hundred fourtie and nine yere, gat Iudas knowledge that Antiochus Eupator was comming with a great power into iurie,
And Lysias the stewarde and ruler of his matters with him, hauing an hundred & ten thousand men of foote of the Grecians, fyue thousande horsemen, twentie and two Elephantes, and three hundred charettes set with hookes.
Menelaus also ioyned hym selfe with them, but with great disceyte spake faire to the king, not for any good of the countrey, but because he thought to haue ben made some great man of aucthoritie.
But the king of kinges moued Antiochus minde against this vngodly person, and Lysias enformed the king that this Menelaus was the cause of all mischiefe: so that the king commaunded to bring him vnto Berea, and as the maner of them is, to put him vnto death in the same place.
There was also in the same place a towre of fiftie cubites hie, heaped with asshes: and it had an instrument that turned rounde, & on euery side it rouled downe into the asshes, and there whosoeuer was condempned of sacriledge, or of any other greeuous crime, was cast of all men vnto the death.
Whereinto the king co{m}maunded that shamefull person to be cast among the asshes, as one that was cause of all vngraciousnesse.
And reason it was that the vnthrift should dye such a death, and not to be buried,
For he had done much mischiefe vnto the aulter of God, whose fire and asshes were holy: therefore was it right that he him selfe also should be destroyed with asshes.
But the king was wood in his minde, and came to shew him selfe more cruell vnto the Iewes, then his father was.
Which when Iudas perceaued, he commaunded the people to call vpon the Lord nyght and day, that he would nowe helpe them also lyke as he had done alway: for they were afraide to be put from their lawe, from their natural countrey, and from the holy temple:
And not to suffer the people which a litle while afore began to recouer, to be subdued againe of the blasphemous nations.
So when they had done this together, and besought the Lorde for mercie, with weeping and fasting three dayes long flat vpon the grounde, Iudas exhorted them to make them selues redie.
But he and the eldest together deuised to go foorth [first with the people] afore the king brought his hoast into Iurie, and afore he besieged the citie, and so to commit the matter vnto God.
Wherefore he committed the charge of all thinges vnto God the maker of all the worlde, exhorting his people to fight manfully, yea euen vnto death, for the lawes, the temple, the citie, their owne natiue countrey, and to defend the citezins: and he set his hoast before Modin.
He gaue them also that were with him a token of the victory of God, choosing out the manliest young men, went by night into the kinges pauilion slue of the hoast fourteene thousand men, and the greatest of the Elephantes, with those that sate vpon him.
Thus when they had brought a great feare and rumour among the tentes of their enemies, and al thinges went prosperously with them,
They departed in the breake of the day, God being their helper and defender.
Nowe when the king perceaued the manlinesse of the Iewes, he went about to take the strong places by craft,
And remoued his hoast vnto Bethsura, which was a wel kept house of defence of the Iewes: but they were chased away, hurt, and discomfited.
And Iudas sent vnto them that were in it, such thinges as were necessarie.
In the Iewes hoast also there was one Rhodochus, which tolde the enemies their secretes: but they sought him out, and when they had gotten him, they put him in prison.
After this did the king commune with them that were in Bethsura, toke truice with them, departed, and stroke a battaile with Iudas, which ouercame him.
But when he vnderstoode that Philip, whom he had left to be ouerseer of this busines at Antioch, began to rebell against him, he was astonied in his mind, so that he yeelded him selfe to {th}e Iewes, and made them an oth to do whatsoeuer they thought right.
Now when he was reconciled with them, he offered, made much of the temple, gaue great giftes vnto it,
Embraced Machabeus, making him captaine and gouernour from Ptolomais vnto the Gerrhenes.
Neuerthelesse when he came to Ptolomais, the people of the citie were not content with the bond of frendship: for they were afraide that he would breake the couenaunt.
Then went Lysias vp into the iudgement seate, and excused the fact as well as he coulde, and enformed the people, shewed them the cause why, & pacified them: so he came againe to Antioch. This is now the matter concerning the kinges iourney, and his returne.
AFter three yeres, was Iudas infourmed how that Demetrius the sonne of Seleucus was come vp with a great power and shippes, through the hauen of Tripolis,
To take certaine commodious places and countreys, against Antiochus and his captaine Lysias.
Nowe Alcimus whiche had ben hie priest, and wylfully defiled him selfe in the time of the mixting, seeing that by no meanes he could be helped, nor haue any more entraunce to the aulter,
He came to king Demetrius in the hundred fiftie and one yere, presenting vnto him a crowne of golde, a paulme, and an oliue tree, which as men thought belonged to the temple: and that day held his tongue.
But when he had gotten oportunitie for his madnesse, Demetrius called him to counsel, and asked him what thinges or counsels the Iewes leaned vnto?
He aunswered: The Iewes that be called Assidei (whose captaine is Iudas Machabeus) maintayne warres, make insurections, and wyl not let the realme be in peace.
For I being depriued of my fathers honour (I meane the hie priesthood) am come hyther:
Partly because I was faithfull vnto the king, and partly because I sought the profite of myne owne citezins: And why? all our people, through the wickednesse of them, are not a litle troubled.
Wherefore I beseche thee O king, consider all these thinges diligently, and then make some prouision for the lande and the people, according to the kindnes that thou hast offered vnto them.
For as long as Iudas liueth, it is not possible that men can lyue in peace.
When he had spoken these wordes, other friendes also hauing euill wyll at Iudas, set the king Demetrius on fire [against him.]
Which immediatly sent Nicanor ruler of the Elephantes, a captaine, into Iurie,
Commaunding him to slay Iudas, & to scatter them that were with him, and to make Alcimus hie priest of the great temple.
Then the heathen, which fled out of Iurie from Iudas, came to Nicanor by flockes, thinking the harme and decay of the Iewes to be their welfare.
Now when the Iewes heard of Nicanors comming, and the gathering together of the heathen, they sprinckled them selues with earth, and besought him which made them his people, and euer defended his owne portion with euident to kens, that he woulde preserue them still.
So at the co{m}maundeme{n}t of the captaine they remoued straight wayes from thence, & came to a towne called Dessau.
And Simon, Iudas brother, fell in hand with Nicanor: but through the sodaine comming of the enemies he was afraide.
Neuerthelesse, Nicanor hearing the manlinesse of them that were with Iudas, and the bolde stomakes that they had to fight for their natural countrey, durst not prooue the matter with bloodshedding.
Wherfore he sent Possidonius, Theodorus, and Mathathias before, to geue and to take peace.
So when they had taken long aduisement thereupon, and the captaine shewed it vnto the multitude, they were agreed in one minde to haue peace.
And they appoynted a day to sit vpon these matters quietly among them selues, and for euery one stooles also were brought and set foorth.
Neuerthelesse, Iudas commaunded certaine men of armes to wayt in conuenient places, lest there should sodenly aryse any euill through the enemies: and so they communed reasonably together.
Nicanor while he abode at Hierusalem, ordered him selfe not vnreasonably, but sent away the people that were gathered together.
He loued Iudas euer with his heart, and fauoured him.
He prayed him also to take a wyfe, and to bring foorth children. So he maryed, liued in rest, and they led a common life.
But Alcimus perceauing the loue that was betwixt them, and how they were agreed together, came to Demetrius, and tolde him that Nicanor had taken straunge matters in hande, and ordayned Iudas, an enemie of the realme, to be the kinges successour.
Then the king was sore displeased, and through the wicked accusations which Alcimus made of Nicanor, he was so prouoked, that he wrote vnto Nicanor, saying: that he was very angry for the frendship and agreement which he had made with Machabeus, Neuerthelesse, he co{m}maunded him in al the haste that he should take Machabeus prisoner, and sent him to Antioch.
Which [letters] when Nicanor had sene, he was at his wittes ende and sore greeued, that he shoulde breake the thinges wherein they had agreed, specially seeing Machabeus was that man that neuer did him harme.
But because he might not withstand the king, he sought oportunitie to fulfill his commaundement.
Notwithstanding when Machabeus saw that Nicanor began to be churlishe vnto him, & that he entreated him more roughly then he was wont, he perceaued that such vnkindnesse came not of good, and therefore he gathered a fewe of his men, and withdrewe him selfe from Nicanor.
Which when he knew that Machabeus had manfully preue{n}ted him, he came into the great and most holy temple, and commaunded the priestes which were doing their vsuall offeringes, to deliuer him the man.
And when they sware that they could not tell where the man was whom he sought,
He stretched out his right hande toward the temple, and made an oth, saying: If ye wyll not deliuer me Iudas captiue, I shall remoue this temple of God into the pla• 〈◊〉, I shal breake downe the aulter, and consecra•e this temple vnto Bacchus.
After these wordes he departed. Then the priestes lyft vp their handes toward heauen, and besought him that was euer the defender of their people saying▪
Thou O Lord of all, which hast nede of nothing, wouldest that the temple of thy habitation should be among vs:
Therefore nowe O most holy Lorde, kepe this house euer vndefiled, which lately was cleansed, and stop all the mouthes of the vnrighteous.
Now was there accused vnto Nicanor one Razis an alderman of Hierusalem, a louer of the whole citie, & a man of good reporte, which for the kinde heart that he bare vnto the people, was called a father of the Iewes.
This man oft times when the Iewes were minded to kepe them selues vndefiled, defended and deliuered them, being content stedfastly to spend his body and his lyfe for his people.
So Nicanor wylling to declare the hate that he bare to the Iewes, sent fiue hundred men of warre to take him:
For he thought if he •at him he should bring the Iewes in great decay.
Now when the pe•ple began to rushe in at his house, to breake the doores, and to set fire on it, he being now taken, fel vpon his sword,
Choosing rather to dye manfully, then to yeelde him selfe to those wicked doers: & because of his noble stocke, he had rather haue ben put to extreme crueltie.
Notwithstanding, what time as he missed of his stroke for haste, and the multitude rushed in violently betwixt the doores, he ranne boldly to the wall, and cast himselfe downe manfully among the heape of them:
Which gaue soone place to his fall, so that he fell vpon his belly.
Neuerthelesse, while there was yet breath within him, he was kindled in his minde, & while his blood gushed out exceedingly (for he was very sore wounded) he ranne through the middest of the people, and gat him to the top of a 〈◊〉.
So when his blood was n•we 〈◊〉, he toke out his owne bowels 〈…〉 his handes, & threw them vpon the •ple, calling vpon the Lorde 〈…〉 to rewarde him this againe 〈…〉 he dyed.
NOwe when Nicanor knew that Iudas and his company were in the countrey of Samaria, he thought with al his power to strike a fielde with him vpon a Sabbath day.
Neuerthelesse the Iewes that were compelled to go with him, saide: O do not so cruelly and vnkindly, but halowe the Sabbath day, and worshippe him that seeth all thinges:
[For all this,] yet saide the vngratious person, Is there a mightie one in heauen that commaunded the Sabbath day to be kept?
And when they saide: yea the lyuing God, the mightie Lord in heauen commaunded the seuenth day to be kept,
He saide: And I am mightie vpon earth, to commaunde them for to arme them selues, & to perfourme the kinges busynesse. Notwithstanding, he might not haue his purpose.
Nicanor had deuised with great pride to ouercome Iudas, and to bring away the victory:
But Machabeus had euer a fast confidence and a perfect hope in God, that he would helpe him:
And exhorted his people not to be afrayde at the comming of the heathen: but alway to remember the helpe that had ben shewed vnto them from heauen, yea and to be sure now also that almightie God would geue them the victorie.
He spake vnto them out of the lawe and prophetes, putting them in remembraunce of the battailes that they had striken afore, and made them to be of good courage.
So when their heartes were pluckt vp, he shewed them also the deceitefulnesse of the heathen, and how they woulde kepe no couenaunt nor oth.
Thus he weaponed them not with the armour of shielde and speare, but with wholsome wordes and exhortations: he shewed them a dreame also, wherethrough he made them all glad,
Which was this: He thought that he saw Onias, which had ben hie priest, a vertuous and louing man, sad and of honest conuersation, well spoken, and one that had ben exercised in godlines from a childe, holding vp his handes toward heauen, and praying for his people.
After this, there appeared vnto him another man, which was aged, honorable, and glorious.
And Onias saide: This is a louer of the brethren, and of the people of Israel: this is he that prayeth much for the people and for all the holy citie, Ieremie the prophete of God.
He thought also that Ieremie helde out his right hande, and gaue vnto Iudas a sword of golde, saying:
Take this holy sworde, a gift from God, wherwith thou shalt smite downe the enemies of the people of Israel.
And so they were well comforted through the wordes of Iudas, whiche were very sweete and able to stirre vp their courage: and toke courage vnto them, so that the young men were determined in their mindes to fight, and to abide stifly at it: insomuch that in the thinges which they toke in hande their boldnesse shewed the same, because the holy citie, the sanctuary, and the temple were in perill,
For the which they toke more care, then for their wyues, children, brethren, and kinsfolkes.
Againe, they that were in the citie, were most carefull for those which were to fight.
Now, when they were all in a hope that the iudgement of the matter was at hande, and the enemies drue nye, the hoast being set in aray, the Elephantes and horsemen euery one standing in his place:
Machabeus considering the co{m}ming of the multitude, the ordinaunce of d•uers weapons, the cruelnes of 〈◊〉 beastes, helde vp his handes tow• heauen, calling vpon the Lorde that doth wonders, which geueth not the victory after the multitude of weapons and power of the hoaste, but to them that please him, according to his owne wyll.
Therefore in his prayer he saide these wordes, O Lorde, thou that diddest send thyne angell in the time of Ezekiah king of Iuda, and in the hoast of Sennacherib sluest an hundred fourscore and fiue thousand:
Send now also thy good angel before vs O Lorde of heauens, in the fearefulnesse and dreade of thy mightie arme,
That they which come against thy holy people to blaspheme them, may be afrayd. And so he made an ende of his wordes.
Then Nicanor & they that were with him, drue nye with trumpettes & showtinges for ioy:
But Iudas and his company, with prayer and calling vpon God, encountred with the enemies.
With their handes they smote, but with their heartes they prayed vnto the Lorde, and slue no lesse then thirtie and fiue thousand men: For through the present helpe of God, they were gloriously comforted.
Now when they left of, and were turning againe with ioy, they vnderstoode that Nicanor him selfe was slaine with the other, for all his armour.
Then they gaue a great shout and a crye, praysing the almightie Lorde in their owne language.
And Iudas which was euer redie to spend his body and lyfe for his citezins, co{m}maunded to smite of Nicanors head, with his arme and hande, and to be brought to Hierusalem.
When he came there, he called all the people & the priestes to the aulter, with those that were in the castle,
And shewed them Nicanors head, and his wicked hande which he had presumptuously holden vp against the temple of God.
He caused the tongue also of that vngodly Nicanor to be cut in litle peeces, and to be cast to the foules, and that cruel mans hande to be hanged vp before the temple.
So euery man gaue thankes vnto the Lorde, saying: Blessed be he that hath kept his place vndefiled.
As for Nicanors head he hanged it vp vpon the hie castle for an euident and playne token of the helpe of God.
And so they agreed al together to kepe that day holy, [namely] the thirteenth day of the moneth Adar,
Which in the Syrians language is called the next day before Mardocheus day.
Thus was Nicanor slaine, and from that time foorth the Iewes had the citie in possession: and here wyll I nowe make an ende.
If I haue done well and as the storie required, it is the thing that I desired: but if I haue spoken sclenderly & barely, I haue done that I coulde.
For as it is hurtfull to drinke wine alone, and then againe water, & as wine tempred with water is pleasaunt & deliteth the taste: so the setting out of the matter delighteth the eare of them that reade the story: And here shalbe the ende.
THis is the booke of the generation of Iesus Christ, the sonne of Dauid, the sonne of Abraham.
Abraham begat Isaac, Isaac begat Iacob, Iacob begat Iudas, and his brethren.
Iudas begat Phares, and Zara of Thamar, Phares begat Esrom, Esrom begat Aram.
Aram begat Aminadab, Aminadab begat Naasson, Naasson begat Salmon.
Salmon begat Boos, of Rachab, Boos begat Obed of Ruth, Obed begat Iesse.
Iesse begat Dauid the kyng, Dauid the kyng begat Solomon, of her that was the wyfe of Vrie.
Solomon begat Roboam, Roboam begat Abia, Abia begat Asa.
Asa begat Iosaphat, Iosaphat begat Ioram, Ioram begat Ozias.
Ozias begat Ioatham, Ioatham begat Achas, Achas begat Ezekias.
Ezekias begat Manasses, Manasses begat Amon, Amon begat Iosias.
Iosias begat Iacim, Iacim begat Iechonias and his brethren, about the tyme they were caryed away to Babylon.
And, after they were brought to Babylon, Iechonias begat Salathiel, Salathiel begat Zorobabel.
Zorobabel begat Abiud, Abiud begat Eliakim, Eliakim begat Azor.
Azor begat Sadoc, Sadoc begat Achen, Achen begat Eliud.
Eliud begat Eleazar, Eleazar begat Matthan, Matthan begat Iacob.
Iacob begat Ioseph, the husband of Marie, of who{m} was borne Iesus, that is called Christe.
And so, all the generations from Abraham to Dauid, are fourteene generations: and from Dauid vntyll the carying away into Babylo{n}, are fourteene generations: and fro{m} the carying away into Babylon vnto Christe, are fourteene generations.
The birth of Iesus Christe was on this wise. When as his mother Marie was betrouthed to Ioseph (before they came together) she was founde with chylde of the holy ghost.
Then Ioseph her husbande, beyng a ryghteous man, and not wyllyng to make her a publique example, was mynded priuily to put her away.
But whyle he thought these thinges, beholde, the Angell of the Lord appeared vnto hym in a dreame, saying: Ioseph, thou sonne of Dauid, feare not to take [vnto thee] Marie thy wife, for that which is conceaued in her, is of the holy ghost.
She shall bryng foorth a sonne, and thou shalt call his name Iesus: for he shall saue his people from their sinnes.
(All this was done, that it myght be fulfilled, which was spoken of the lorde by the prophete, saying:
Behold, a virgin shalbe with childe, and shall bryng foorth a sonne, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, whiche is by interpretation, God with vs.)
Then Ioseph, being raysed fro{m} slepe, dyd as the Angel of the Lorde had bidden hym, and he toke his wyfe:
And knewe her not, tyll she hadde brought foorth her first borne sonne, & called his name Iesus.
WHen Iesus was borne in Bethlehem, a citie of Iurie, in the dayes of Herode the kyng: beholde, there came wise men from the east to Hierusalem,
Saying: Where is he that is borne kyng of Iewes? For we haue seene his starre in the east, and are come to worship hym.
When Herode the kyng had hearde these thynges, he was troubled, and all [the citie of] Hierusalem with hym.
And when he hadde gathered all the chiefe Priestes and Scribes of the people together, he demaunded of them where Christe shoulde be borne.
And they saide vnto him: At Bethlehem in Iurie. For thus it is written by the prophete.
And thou Bethlehem [in] the lande of Iuda, art not the least among the princes of Iuda. For out of thee shall there come a capitain, that shal gouerne my people Israel.
Then Herode, when he had priuilye called the wyse men, inquired of the{m} diligently, what tyme the starre appeared.
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and sayde: Go, and search diligently for the young childe, and when ye haue founde hym, bryng me worde agayne, that I may come, and worship hym also.
When they had hearde the kyng, they departed, and loe, the starre which they sawe in the east, went before them, tyl it came & stoode ouer [the place] wherin the young chylde was.
When they sawe the starre, they reioyced excedyngly with great ioy.
And went into the house, and founde the young chylde with Marie his mother, and fell downe, and worshypped hym, and opened their treasures, and presented vnto hym gyftes, golde, and frankensence, and mirre.
And after they were warned of God in a dreame, that they shoulde not go agayne to Herode, they returned into their owne countrey another way.
When they were departed, beholde, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Ioseph in a dreame, saying: Aryse, & take the young chylde and his mother, and flee into Egipte, and be thou there, tyll I bryng thee worde. For it wyll come to passe, that Herode shall seke {th}e young chylde, to destroy hym.
When he arose, he toke the young chylde and his mother, by nyght, and departed into Egipt.
And was there, vnto the death of Herode, that it myght be fulfylled whiche was spoken of the Lorde, by the prophete, saying: Out of Egipte haue I called my sonne.
Then Herode, when he sawe that he was mocked of the wyse men, was excedyng wroth, and sent foorth, and slew all the chyldren that were in Bethlehe{m}, and in all the coastes, as many as were two yere olde, or vnder, according to the tyme, which he had diligently searched out, of the wyse men.
Then was fulfylled that, which was spoken by Ieremie the prophete, saying.
In Rama was there a voyce hearde, lamentation, wepyng, & great mournyng, Rachel weping [for] her children, and woulde not be comforted, because they were not.
But when Herode was dead, beholde, an Angel of the Lorde appeared to Ioseph in a dreame, in Egipt, saying.
Aryse, and take the young chylde and his mother, and go into the lande of Israel. For they are dead, whiche sought the young chyldes lyfe.
And he arose, & toke the young chylde and his mother, & came into the lande of Israel.
But when he hearde, that Archelaus dyd reigne in Iurie in the rowme of his father Herode, he was afrayde to go thyther. Notwithstandyng, after he was warned of God in a dreame, he turned aside, into the parties of Galilee,
And [went and] dwelt in a citie, which is called Nazareth, that it myght be fulfylled, which was spoken by the prophetes: He shalbe called a Nazarite▪
IN those dayes, came Iohn the Baptist, preachyng in the wyldernesse of Iurie, and saying.
Repent, for the kingdome of heauen is at hande.
For this is he, of whom it is spoken by the prophete Esayas, saying. The voyce of one crying in the wyldernesse: prepare ye the way of the Lorde, make his pathes strayght.
This Iohn had his rayment of Camels heere, and a girdle of a skynne about his loynes, his meate was locustes, and wylde hony.
Then went out to hym Hierusalem, and all Iurie, and all the region rounde about Iordane,
And were baptized of hym in Iordane, confessying their sinnes.
But when he sawe many of the Pharisees, and Saducees come to his baptisme, he sayde vnto them. O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the anger to come?
Bryng foorth therefore fruites meete for repentaunce.
And be not of suche mynde, that ye woulde say within your selues, we haue Abraham to [our] father. For I say vnto you, that God is able, of these stones to rayse vp chyldren vnto Abraham.
Euen now is the axe also put vnto the roote of the trees: therefore, euery tree which bryngeth not foorth good fruite, is hewen downe, and cast into the fire.
I baptize you in water vnto repentaunce: But he that shall come after me, is mightier then I, whose shoes I am not worthy to beare, he shall baptize you with the holy ghost, and with fire.
Whose fanne is in his hande, and he wyll purge his floore, and gather his wheate into [his] garner: but wyl burne vp the chaffe with vnquencheable fire.
Then commeth Iesus from Galilee to Iordane, vnto Iohn, to be baptized of hym.
But Iohn forbad hym, saying. I haue nede to be baptized of thee, and commest thou to me?
Iesus aunsweryng, sayde vnto hym: Suffer it to be so nowe. For thus it becommeth vs, to fulfyll all righteousnes. Then he suffred hym.
And Iesus, when he was baptized, came strayghtwaye out of the water, and loe the heauens was open vnto hym, and (Iohn) sawe the spirite of God descendyng lyke a doue, and lyghtyng vpon hym.
And loe, there (came) a voyce from the heauens, saying: This is my beloued sonne, in whom I am well pleased.
THen was Iesus ledde away of the spirite into wyldernesse, to be tempted of the deuyll.
And when he had fasted fourtie dayes, and fourtie nightes, he was afterwarde an hungred.
And when the tempter came to hym, he sayde: If thou be the sonne of God, commaunde that these stones be made breade.
But he aunswered, and sayde, it is written: Man shall not lyue by breade only, but by euery worde that proceadeth out of the mouth of God.
Then the deuyll taketh hym vp into the holy citie, and setteth hym on a pinacle of the temple,
And saith vnto hym: If thou be the sonne of God, cast thy selfe downe. For it is written: He shall geue his Angels charge ouer thee, & with their handes they shall lyft thee vp, lest at any tyme thou dashe thy foote agaynst a stone.
And Iesus sayde to hym. It is written agayne: Thou shalt not tempt the Lorde thy God.
Agayne, the deuyll taketh hym vp, into an exceadyng hye mountayne, and sheweth hym all the kyngdomes of the worlde, and the glorie of them,
And sayth vnto hym: All these wyll I geue thee, yf thou wylt fall downe, and worshyp me.
The{n} sayth Iesus vnto hym: Auoyde Sathan. For it is written: Thou shalt worshyp the Lorde thy God, and hym only shalt thou serue.
Then the deuyll leaueth him, and beholde, the Angels came, and ministred vnto hym.
When Iesus had hearde that Iohn was delyuered vp, he departed into Galilee,
And left Nazareth, and went & dwelt in Capernaum, whiche is (a citie) vpon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim.
That it myght be fulfylled, whiche was spoken by Esayas the prophete, saying:
The lande of Zabulon, & Nephthalim, (by) the way of the sea beyonde Iordane, Galilee of the Gentiles.
The people, which sate in darknesse, sawe great lyght: And to them whiche sate in the region and shadowe of death, lyght is sprong vp.
From that tyme, Iesus began to preache, and to saye: Repent, for the kyngdome of heauen is at hande.
And Iesus, walkyng by the sea of Galilee, sawe two brethren, Simon (which was) called Peter, and Andrewe his brother, castyng a nette into the sea, (for they were fysshers.)
And he saith vnto them: Folowe me, and I wyl make you fysshers of men.
And they strayghtwaye lefte their nettes, and folowed hym.
And when he was gone foorth from thence, he sawe other two brethren, Iames, the sonne of Zebedee, & Iohn his brother, in the shippe with Zebedee their father, mendyng their nettes, and he called them.
And they immediatly, left the shippe and their father, and folowed hym.
And Iesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preachyng the Gospell of the kingdome, and healyng all maner of sicknesse, and all maner of disease among the people.
And his fame spread abrode, throughout all Syria: and they brought vnto hym all sicke people, that were taken with diuers diseases, and grypynges, and them that were possessed with deuyls, and those which were lunaticke, and those that had the paulsie, and he healed them.
And there folowed him great multitudes of people, from Galilee, and from the ten cities, and from Hierusalem, and from Iurie, and from the regions (that lye) beyonde Iordane.
WHen he saw the multitude, he went vp into a mountayne: & when he was set, his disciples came to hym.
And he opened his mouth, & taught them, saying.
Blessed (are) the poore in spirite: for theirs is the kyngdome of heauen.
Blessed (are) they that mourne: for they shalbe comforted.
Blessed (are) the meke: for they shall inherite the earth.
Blessed (are) they, which do hunger and thirste (after) righteousnes: for they shalbe satisfied.
Blessed (are) the mercyfull: for they shall obteyne mercy.
Blessed (are) the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed (are) the peace makers: for they shalbe called the chyldren of God.
Blessed (are) they which suffer persecution for righteousnes sake: for theirs is the kyngdome of heauen.
Blessed are ye, whe{n} (men) reuy•e you, and persecute (you) and, lying, shall say all maner of euyll saying agaynst you, for my sake.
Reioyce, and be glad: for great is your rewarde in heauen. For so persecuted they the prophetes, whiche were before you.
Ye are the salt of the earth. But yf the salt become vnsauery, where in shall it be salted? It is thencefoorth good for nothing, but to be caste out, and to be troden vnder foote of men.
Ye are the lyght of the worlde. A citie that is set on an hyll, can not be hyd.
Neyther do men lyght a candell, and put it vnder a busshell: but on a candelsticke, and it geueth lyght vnto all that are in the house.
Let your lyght so shyne before men, that they may see your good workes, and glorifie your father, whiche is in heauen.
Thynke not that I am come to destroy the lawe, or the prophetes. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfyll.
For truely I say vnto you, tyll heauen and earth passe, one iotte, or one title of the lawe shall not scape, tyll all be fulfylled.
Whosoeuer therfore breaketh one of these least commaundementes, and teacheth men so, he shalbe called the leaste in the kyngdome of heauen. But who so euer doeth, and teacheth (so) the same shalbe called great in the kyngdome of heauen.
For I say vnto you: except your righteousnes, excede the righteousnes of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall not enter into the kyngdome of heauen.
Ye haue hearde, that it was sayde to them of the olde tyme, thou shalt not kyll: who so euer kylleth, shalbe in daunger of iudgement.
But I say vnto you, that who so euer is angry with his brother, vnaduisedly, shalbe in daunger of iudgement. And who so euer shall say vnto his brother, racha, shalbe in daunger of a councell: But, whosoeuer shall saye (thou) foole, shalbe in daunger of hell fire.
Therfore, if thou bring thy gyft to the aulter, and there remembrest, that thy brother hath ought agaynst thee:
Leaue there thy gyft, before the aulter, and go thy way, first and be reconciled to thy brother: and then, come and offer thy gyft.
Agree with thyne aduersarie quicklye, whyles thou art in the waye with him: lest at any tyme the aduersarie deliuer thee to the iudge, and the iudge deliuer thee to the minister, and then thou be cast into pryson.
Veryly I say vnto thee, thou shalt not come out thence, tyll thou hast payde the vtmost farthyng.
Ye haue hearde, that it was sayde vnto them of olde tyme: Thou shalt not commit adultry.
But I say vnto you, that whosoeuer loketh on a woman, to luste after her, hath committed adultry with her alredy, in his heart.
If thy ryght eye offende thee, plucke it out, and cast it from thee. For better it is vnto thee, that one of thy members perishe, the{n} that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
And yf thy ryght hande offende thee, cut it of, and cast it from thee. For better it is vnto thee, that one of thy members perishe, then that all thy body shoulde be cast into hell.
It is saide: whosoeuer putteth away his wyfe, let hym geue her a wrytyng of diuorcement.
But I say vnto you, that whosoeuer doeth put awaye his wyfe, except it be for fornication, causeth her to commit adultry. And whosoeuer maryeth her that is diuorced, committeth adultry.
Agayne, ye haue hearde that it was sayde vnto them of olde tyme: Thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe, but shalt perfourme vnto the Lorde thine othes.
But, I say vnto you: Sweare not at all, neither by heauen, for it is gods seate,
Nor by the earth, for it is his footestoole, neither by Hierusalem, for it is the citie of the great kyng.
Neither shalt thou sweare by thy head, because thou canst not make one heere whyte or blacke.
But let your communication be yea, yea, nay nay. For whatsoeuer is more then these, commeth of euyll.
Ye haue hearde, that it is sayde, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
But, I say vnto you, that ye resist not euyll. But, whosoeuer geueth thee a blowe on thy right cheeke, turne to him the other also.
And yf any man wyll sue thee at the lawe, and take away thy coate, let him haue thy cloke also.
And whosoeuer wyll compell thee to go a myle, go with hym twayne.
Geue to hym that asketh thee: & from hym that woulde borowe of thee, turne not thou away.
Ye haue heard, that it is saide: Thou shalt loue thy neyghbour, & hate thyne enemie.
But I saye vnto you, loue your enemies, blesse them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for the{m} which hurt you, and persecute you:
That ye may be the chyldren of your father, which is in heauen. For he maketh his sonne to aryse on the euyll, and on the good, and sendeth rayne on the iust, and on the vniust.
For yf ye loue them which loue you, what rewarde haue ye? Do not the publicans also euen the same?
And yf ye salute or greete your brethre{n} only, what singuler thyng do ye? Do not also the publicans lykewyse?
Ye shall therfore be perfecte, euen as your father, which is in heauen, is perfecte.
TAKE heede to your almes, that ye geue it not in the sight of men, to the intente that ye woulde be sene of the{m}, or els ye haue no rewarde of your father, which is in heauen.
Therefore, when thou geuest thyne almes, thou shalt not make a trumpet to be blowen before thee, as hypocrites do, in the synagogues, & in the streates, {tha}t they might be esteemed of me{n}. Verily I say vnto you, they haue their reward.
But when thou doest [thyne] almes, let not thy left hande knowe, what thy ryght hande doeth,
That thyne almes may be in secrete: And thy father, which seeth in secrete, shall rewarde thee openly.
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are. For they loue to stande, praying in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streates, that they may be sene of men. Veryly I say vnto you, they haue theyr rewarde.
But when thou prayest, enter into thy chaumber, and when thou hast shut thy dore, pray to thy father, which is in secrete, and thy father which seeth in secrete, shall rewarde thee openly.
But when ye pray, babble not much, as the heathen do. For they thynke [it wyl come to passe, that they shalbe heard, for theyr much bablinges sake.
Be not ye therfore lyke vnto them. For your father knoweth, what thynges ye haue nede of, before ye aske of hym.
After this maner therfore pray ye. O our father, which art in heauen, halowed be thy name.
Let thy kyngdome come. Thy wyll be done, as well in earth, as it is in heauen.
Geue vs this day our dayly breade.
And forgeue vs our dettes, as we forgeue our detters.
And leade vs not into temptation, but delyuer vs from euyll. For thyne is the kyngdome, and the power, and the glory, for euer. Amen.
For, yf ye forgeue men theyr trespasses, your heauenly father shall also forgeue you.
But, yf ye forgeue not men theyr trespasses: no more shall your father, forgeue [you] your trespasses.
Moreouer, when ye fast, be not of an heauy countenaunce, as hypocrites are. For they disfigure theyr faces, that they myght appeare vnto men, to fast. Veryly I say vnto you, they haue theyr rewarde.
But thou, when thou fastest, annoynt thyne head, and washe thy face:
That thou appeare not vnto men, to fast: but vnto thy father, which is in secrete, and thy father, which seeth in secrete, shall rewarde thee openly.
Hoorde not vp for your selues, treasures vpon earth, where the moth and rust doth corrupt, and where theeues breake through, and steale.
But laye vp for you, treasures in heauen, where neyther moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where theeues do not breake through, nor steale.
For, where your treasure is, there wyll your heart be also.
The lyght of the body, is the eye. Wherfore, yf thyne eye be single, all thy body shalbe full of lyght.
But and yf thyne eye be wicked, all thy body shalbe ful of darknesse. Wherfore, yf the lyght that is in thee, be darknesse, howe great is that darknesse?
No man can serue two maisters. For either he shall hate the one, & loue the other: or els leane to the one, and dispise the other. Ye can not serue God, and mammon.
Therfore I say vnto you, be not carefull for your lyfe, what ye shall eate, or drynke: nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the lyfe more worth then meate? & the body then rayment?
Beholde the fowles of the ayre: For they sowe not, neither do they reape, nor cary into the barnes: yet your heauenly father feedeth them. Are ye not much better then they?
Which of you, by takyng of carefull thought, can adde one cubite vnto his stature?
And why care ye for rayment? Learne of the Lylies of the fielde, howe they growe. They weery not [them selues] with labour, neither [do they] spinne:
And yet I say vnto you, that euen Solomon in all his royaltie, was not arayed lyke one of these.
Wherfore, yf God so clothe the grasse of the fielde, which though it stande to day, is to morowe cast into the ouen: shall he not much more [do] the same for you, O ye of litle fayth?
Therefore take no thought, saying: What shall we eate? or, what shall we drynke? or, wherewith shall we be clothed?
(For after all these thynges, do the Gentiles seke:) for your heauenly father knoweth, that ye haue nede of all these thynges.
But rather, seke ye first the kyngdome of God, and his ryghteousnesse, and all these thynges shalbe ministred vnto you.
Care not then for the morowe: for the morowe shall care for it selfe. Sufficient vnto the day, is the euyll therof.
IVdge not, that ye be not iudged.
For with what iudgement ye iudge, ye shalbe iudged: And with what measure ye meate, it shalbe measured to you agayne.
Why seest thou a mote in thy brothers eye, but perceiuest not the beame that is in thyne owne eye?
Or, howe sayest thou to thy brother: suffer me, I wyll plucke out a mote out of thyne eye: and beholde, a beame is in thyne owne eye?
Thou hypocrite, first caste out the beame out of thine owne eye: and then shalt thou see clearely, to plucke out the mote out of thy brothers eye.
Geue not that which is holy, vnto dogges, neyther caste ye your pearles before swyne, lest they treade them vnder their feete, and turning agayne, all to rent you.
Aske, and it shalbe geuen you: seke, and ye shall fynde: knocke, and it shalbe opened vnto you.
For he that asketh, receaueth: and he that seketh, fyndeth: and to hym that knocketh, it shalbe opened.
Is there any among you, which, yf his sonne aske hym bread, wyll geue hym a stone?
Or yf he aske fyshe, wyll he geue hym a serpent?
If ye then, beyng euyll, knowe to geue your chyldren good gyftes: howe much more shall your father, which is in heauen, geue good thynges, to them that aske hym?
Therfore all thynges, whatsoeuer ye woulde that men shoulde do to you, do ye euen so to them: For this is the lawe, and the prophetes.
Enter in at the strayte gate. For wyde is the gate, and brode is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in therat.
Because, strayte is the gate, and narowe is the way, which leadeth vnto lyfe, and fewe there be that fynde it.
Beware of false prophetes, which come to you in sheepes clothyng: but inwardly they are rauenyng woolfes.
Ye shall knowe them by theyr fruites, Do men gather grapes of thornes? or fygges of thystles?
Euen so, euery good tree, bryngeth foorth good fruite: But a corrupt tree, bryngeth foorth euyll fruite.
A good tree, can not bryng foorth bad fruite: neither can a bad tree, bryng foorth good fruite.
Euery tree that bryngeth not foorth good fruite, is hewen downe, and cast into the fyre.
Wherfore, by theyr fruites, ye shall knowe them.
Not euery one, that sayeth vnto me Lorde, Lorde, shall enter into the kyngdome of heauen: but he that doeth the wyll of my father, which is in heauen.
Many wyll say to me in that day, Lorde Lorde, haue we not prophesied thorowe thy name? and thorowe thy name haue cast out deuyls? & done many great workes thorowe thy name?
And then wyll I confesse vnto them, I neuer knewe you: Depart from me, ye that worke iniquitie.
Therfore, whosoeuer heareth of me these sayinges, and doeth the same, I wyll lyken hym vnto a wyse man, which buylt his house vpon a rocke:
And the rayne descended, and the fluddes came, and the wyndes blewe, and beat vpon that house, and it fell not, because it was grounded on a rocke.
And euery one that heareth of me these sayinges, and doeth them not, shalbe lykened vnto a foolyshe man, which buylt his house vpon the sande:
And the rayne descended, and the fluddes came, and the wyndes blewe, and beat vpon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.
And it came to passe, that when Iesus had ended these sayinges, the people were astonied at his doctrine.
For he taught them, as one hauyng power, and not as the Scribes.
WHEN he was come downe fro{m} the mountayne, great multitudes folowed hym.
And beholde, there came a leper, and worshipped hym, saying: Lorde, yf thou wylt, thou canst make me cleane.
And Iesus put foorth his hande, and touched hym, saying: I wyll, be thou cleane. And immediatlye his leprosie was clensed.
And Iesus sayth vnto hym: See thou tell no man, but go, [and] shewe thy selfe to the priest, and offer the gift that Moyses commaunded, for a witnes vnto them.
And when Iesus was entred into Capernaum, there came vnto hym a Centurion, besechyng hym.
And saying: Lorde, my seruaunt lyeth at home sicke of the paulsie, greeuously payned.
And Iesus sayth. When I come, I wyll heale hym.
The Centurion aunswered, & sayde: Lorde, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe: but speake the worde only, & my seruaunt shalbe healed.
For I also my selfe am vnder aucthoritie, and haue souldiers vnder me: and I say to this man go, and he goeth: and to another, come, and he commeth: and to my seruaunt, do this, and he doth it.
When Iesus hearde [him], he marueyled, & sayde to them that folowed [him]: Veryly I say vnto you, I haue not founde so great fayth in Israel.
I say vnto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall rest with Abraham, and Isaac, & Iacob, in the kyngdome of heauen.
But the chyldren of the kyngdome shalbe caste out, into vtter darcknesse: there shalbe wepyng, and gnashyng of teeth.
And Iesus sayde vnto the Centurion: Go thy way, and as thou hast beleued, so be it vnto thee. And his seruaunt was healed, in the selfe same houre.
And when Iesus was come into Peters house, he sawe his wyues mother layed, and sicke of a feuer.
And he touched her hande, and the feuer left her, and she arose, and ministred vnto them.
When the euen was come, they brought vnto hym many, that were possessed with deuyls, and he cast out the spirites with a worde, and healed all that were sicke.
That it myght be fulfylled, which was spoken by Esayas the prophete, saying: He toke on hym our infirmities, and bare [our] sicknesses.
When Iesus sawe great multitudes about hym, he commaunded that they shoulde go ouer the water.
And a certayne Scribe came, & sayde vnto hym: Maister, I wyll folowe thee, whyther soeuer thou goest.
And Iesus sayth vnto hym. The foxes haue holes, and the birdes of the ayre haue nestes: but the sonne of man, hath not where to rest his head.
And another, of the number of his disciples, sayde vnto hym: Lorde, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
But Iesus sayde vnto hym: Folowe me, and let the dead bury theyr dead.
And when he entred into a shippe, his disciples folowed hym:
And beholde, there arose a great tempest in the sea, [in so much] that the shippe was couered with waues: but he was a slepe.
And his disciples came to hym, and awoke hym, saying: Lorde saue vs, we peryshe.
And he sayth vnto them: Why are yet fearefull, O ye of litle fayth? Then he arose, and rebuked the windes, and the sea: and there folowed a great calme.
But the men marueyled, saying: What maner of man is this, that both wyndes and sea obey hym?
And when he was come to the other syde, into the countrey of the Gergesenes, there met hym two, possessed with deuyls, which came out of the graues, and were very fierce, so that no man myght go by that way.
And beholde, they cryed out, saying: O Iesu, thou sonne of God, what haue we to do with thee? Art thou come hyther, to torment vs before the tyme?
And there was, a good way of from them, a hearde of many swyne, feedyng.
So, the deuyls besought hym, saying: Yf thou cast vs out, suffer vs to go away into the hearde of swyne.
And he sayde vnto them, go. Then went they out, and departed into the hearde of swyne: And beholde, {th}e whole hearde of swyne russhed headlong into the sea, and peryshed in the waters.
Then they that kept them, fledde, and went theyr wayes into the citie, and tolde euery thyng, and what was done of the possessed with the deuyls.
And beholde, the whole citie came out to meete Iesus: and when they sawe hym, they besought hym, that he woulde depart out of theyr coastes.
AND he entred into a shippe, & passed ouer, & came into his owne citie.
And beholde, they brought to him a man, sicke of the paulsie, lying in a bedde. And when Iesus sawe the fayth of them, he sayde vnto the sicke of the paulsie: Sonne, be of good cheare, thy sinnes be forgeuen thee.
And beholde, certayne of the Scribes sayde, within them selues: This man blasphemeth.
And whe{n} Iesus saw their thoughtes, he sayde: Wherefore thynke ye euyll in your heartes?
Whether is easyer to say, thy sinnes be forgeuen thee? Or to say, aryse and walke?
But that ye may knowe, that the sonne of man hath power to forgeue sinnes in earth (then sayde he to the sicke of the paulsie) Aryse, take vp thy bedde, and go vnto thyne house.
And he arose, and departed to his house.
But when the multitudes sawe it, they marueyled, & glorified God, which had geuen such power vnto men.
And as Iesus passed foorth from thence, he sawe a man, named Matthewe, syttyng at the receipte of custome: & he sayth vnto hym, folowe me. And he arose, and folowed hym.
And it came to passe, as Iesus sate at meate in his house, beholde, many publicans also and sinners came, and sate downe with Iesus and his disciples.
And when the Pharisees sawe it, they sayde vnto his disciples: Why eateth your maister with publicans and sinners?
But when Iesus hearde that, he sayde vnto them: They that be whole, nede not the phisition, but they that are sicke.
Go ye, and learne what that meaneth, I wyll [haue] mercie, and not sacrifice: for I am not come, to call the righteous, but sinners to repentaunce.
Then came the disciples of Iohn vnto hym, saying: Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
And Iesus sayde vnto them: Can the chyldren of the bryde chaumber mourne, as long as the brydegrome is with them? But the dayes wyll come, when the brydegrome shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
No man putteth a peece of newe cloth in an olde garment: for then, the peece taketh away [somethyng] from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
Neither do men put newe wine into olde vessels: els, the vessels breake, and the wyne runneth out, and the vessels peryshe: But they put newe wyne, into newe vessels, and both are preserued together.
Whyle he spake these thynges vnto them, beholde, there came a certayne ruler, and worshypped hym, saying: My daughter is euen nowe dead, but come and lay thy hande vpon her, and she shall lyue.
And Iesus arose, and folowed hym, and [so dyd] his disciples.
(And beholde, a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelue yeres, came behynde hym, and touched the hemme of his vesture.
For she sayde within her selfe: If I may touche but euen his vesture only, I shalbe safe.
But Iesus turned hym about, and when he sawe her, he saide: Daughter be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee safe. And the woman was made whole from that same houre.)
And, when Iesus came into the rulers house, and sawe the minstrels, and the people, makyng a noyse,
He sayde vnto them: Geue place, for the maide is not dead, but slepeth. And they laughed hym to scorne.
But when the people were put foorth, he went in, and toke her by the hande, and the mayde arose.
And the fame [of this] went abrode into all that lande.
And when Iesus departed thence, two blynde men folowed hym, crying, and saying: O thou sonne of Dauid, haue mercy on vs.
And whe{n} he was come into the house, the blynde came to hym. And Iesus sayth vnto them: Beleue ye that I am able to do this? They sayde vnto hym, yea Lorde.
Then touched he their eyes, saying: Accordyng to your fayth, be it vnto you.
And their eyes were opened. And Iesus straytly charged them, saying: see that no man knowe [of it.]
But they, when they were departed, spread abrode his name in all that lande.
As they went out, beholde, they brought to him a dumbe man, possessed with a deuyll.
And when the deuyll was cast out, the dumbe spake, and the multitudes marueyled, saying, that it was neuer so seene in Israel.
But the Pharisees sayde: He casteth out deuils, through the prince of deuils.
And Iesus went about all cities and townes, teachyng in their synagogues, and preachyng the Gospell of the kyngdome, and healyng euery sicknesse, and euery disease among the people.
But when he sawe the multitudes, he was moued with compassion on them, because they were destitute, and scattered abrode, euen as sheepe, hauing no shephearde.
Then sayth he vnto his disciples: the haruest truely is plenteous, but the labourers are fewe.
Pray [ye] therfore the lorde of the haruest, that he wyl thrust foorth labourers into the haruest.
ANd when he had called his twelue disciples [vnto hym] he gaue them power agaynst vncleane spirites, to cast them out, and to heale all maner of sicknesse, and all maner of disease.
The names of the twelue Apostles are these. The first, Simon, whiche is called Peter, and Andrewe his brother, Iames, the [sonne] of Zebedee, & Iohn his brother,
Philip, & Bartholomewe, Thomas and Matthewe, which [had ben] a Publicane, Iames, {th}e [sonne] of Alphee, & Lebbeus, whose surname was Taddeus,
Simon [the] Cananite, & Iudas Iscariot, which also betrayed hym.
Iesus sent foorth these twelue, who{m} he co{m}maunded, saying. Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the citie of the Samaritanes enter ye not.
But go rather to the lost sheepe of the house of Israel.
As ye go, preache, saying: The kyngdome of heauen is at hande.
Heale the sicke, cleanse {th}e lepers, rayse the dead, cast out deuyls. Freely ye haue receaued, freely geue.
Possesse not golde, nor syluer, nor brasse in your purses,
Nor yet scrippe, towardes your iourney, neither two coates, neither shoes, nor yet a staffe. For the workman is worthy of his meate.
But to whatsoeuer citie or towne ye shall come, inquire who is worthy in it, and there abyde, tyll ye go thence.
And when ye come into an house, salute the same.
And if the house be worthy, let your peace come vpon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace returne to you again.
And whosoeuer shal not receaue you, nor wyll heare your preachyng: when ye depart out of that house, or that citie, shake of the dust of your feete.
Veryly I say vnto you, it shalbe easier for the lande of the Sodomites and Gomorreans, in the day of iudgement, then for that citie.
Beholde, I sende you foorth, as sheepe in the middest of woolfes. Be ye therfore wyse as serpentes, and harmelesse as doues.
But beware of men. For they shall delyuer you vp to the councels, and shal scourge you in their synagogues.
And ye shalbe brought to the head rulers, and kynges, for my sake, in witnesse to them, and to the Gentiles.
But whe{n} they delyuer you vp, take ye no thought how or what ye shal speake. For it shalbe geuen you, euen in that same houre, what ye shall speake.
For it is not ye that speake, but {th}e spirite of your father, which speaketh in you.
The brother shall delyuer vp the brother to death, and the father the sonne, & the chyldren shall ryse agaynst their fathers, and mothers, and shall but them to death.
And ye shalbe hated of all men, for my names sake: but he that endureth to the ende, shalbe saued.
But, when they persecute you in this citie, flee ye into another. For verily I say vnto you, ye shall not ende all the cities of Israel, tyll the sonne of man be come.
The disciple is not aboue the maister, nor the seruaunt aboue his lorde.
It is enough for the disciple, that he be as his maister is: and that the seruaunt, be as his lorde is. If they haue called the lorde of the house Beelzebub: howe much more shall they call them of his householde so?
Feare them not therfore. For there is nothing close, that shal not be opened: & nothing hyd, that shall not be knowen.
What I tell you in darknesse, that speake ye in lyght: And what ye heare in the eare, that preach ye on the houses.
And feare ye not them, which kyll the body, but are not able to kyll the soule. But rather feare hym, which is able to destroy both soule and body in hell.
Are not two litle sparowes solde for a farthyng? And one of the{m} shall not light on the grounde, without your father.
Yea, euen all the heeres of your head are numbred.
Feare ye not therefore, ye are of more value then many sparowes.
Euery one therfore, that shall confesse me before men, hym wyll I confesse also, before my father, which is in heaue{n}s.
But whosoeuer shall denye me before men, hym wyll I also denye, before my father, which is in heauens.
Thinke not that I am come to sende peace into the earth. I came not to sende peace, but a sworde.
For I am come to set a man at varyaunce agaynst his father, & the daughter agaynst her mother, and the daughter in lawe agaynst her mother in lawe.
And a mans foes [shalbe] they of his owne householde.
He that loueth father or mother, more then me, is not worthy of me. And he that loueth sonne or daughter, more the{n} me, is not worthy of me.
And he that taketh not his crosse, & foloweth me, is not worthy of me.
He that findeth his life, shall lose it: and he that loseth his lyfe, for my sake, shall fynde it.
He that receaueth you, receaueth me: & he that receaueth me, receaueth hym that sent me.
He that receaueth a prophete, in the name of a prophete, shall receaue a prophetes rewarde. And he that receaueth a ryghteous man, in the name of a ryghteous man, shall receaue a ryghteous mans rewarde.
And whosoeuer shall geue vnto one of these litle ones, to drynke, a cuppe of colde water only, in the name of a disciple, veryly I say vnto you, he shall not lose his rewarde.
AND it came to passe, that when Iesus had made an ende of commaundyng his twelue disciples, he departed thence to teache and to preache in their cities.
When Iohn being in prison heard the workes of Christe, he sent two of his disciples, and sayde vnto him:
Art thou he that shoulde come? or do we loke for another?
Iesus aunswered and sayd vnto them: Go and shewe Iohn agayne what ye haue hearde and seene.
The blinde receaue their sight, the halt do walke, the lepers are cleansed, and the deafe heare, the dead are raised vp, and the poore receaue the Gospell.
And happy is he that is not offended in me.
And as they departed, Iesus began to say vnto the multitude co{n}cerning Iohn: What went ye out into the wildernesse to see? A reede shaken with the winde?
Or what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft rayment? Beholde, they that weare soft [clothyng] are in kinges houses.
But what went ye out for to see? A prophete? yea I say vnto you, and more then a prophete.
For this is he of whom it is written: Beholde I sende my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Veryly I say vnto you, among them that are borne of women, arose not a greater then Iohn the Baptist: Notwithstandyng, he that is lesse in the kingdome of heauen, is greater then he.
From the dayes of Iohn the Baptist vntyll nowe, the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence, & the violent plucke it [vnto them.]
For all the prophetes and the lawe it selfe prophecied vnto Iohn.
And if ye wyll receaue it, this is Elias which was for to come.
He that hath eares to heare, let him heare.
But whervnto shall I liken this generation? It is like vnto litle children, which sit in the markettes, and call vnto their felowes,
And say: We haue pyped vnto you, and ye haue not daunsed: we haue mourned vnto you, and ye haue not sorowed.
For Iohn came neither eatyng nor drinking, and they say, he hath the deuil.
The sonne of man came eatyng and drinking, and they say, beholde a glutton and an [vnmeasurable] drinker of wine, and a friende vnto publicans & sinners: And wisdome is iustified of her children.
Then began he to vpbrayd the cities which most of his mightie workes were done in, because they repented not.
Wo vnto thee Chorazin, wo vnto thee Bethsaida: for if the mightie workes which were shewed in you had ben done in Tyre or Sidon, they had repented long ago in sackcloth and asshes.
Neuerthelesse I say vnto you, it shalbe easier for Tyre and Sidon at the day of iudgement, then for you.
And thou Capernaum, which art lift vp vnto heauen, shalt be brought downe to hell: For if the mightie workes which haue ben done in thee had ben done among them of Sodome, they had remayned vntyll this day.
Neuerthelesse, I say vnto you, that it shalbe easier for the lande of Sodome in the day of iudgement, then for thee.
At that tyme Iesus aunswered and sayde: I thanke thee O father, Lorde of heauen and earth, because thou hast hid these thinges from the wise and prudent, and hast shewed them vnto babes.
Euen so [it is] O father, for so was it thy good pleasure.
All thinges are geuen vnto me of my father: And no man knoweth the sonne but the father, neither knoweth any man the father saue the sonne, and he to whomsoeuer the sonne wyll open him.
Come vnto me all ye that labour sore, and are laden, and I wyll ease you.
Take my yoke vpon you and learne of me, for I am meeke & lowly in heart: and ye shall finde rest vnto your soules.
For my yoke is easie, and my burthen is lyght.
AT that tyme Iesus went on the Sabbath dayes through the corne, and his disciples were an hungred, and began to plucke the eares of corne, & to eate.
But when the Pharisees sawe it, they sayde vnto hym: Beholde, thy disciples do that which is not lawfull to do vpon the Sabbath day.
But he sayde vnto them: Haue ye not read what Dauid did when he was an hungred, and they that were with him:
Howe he entred into the house of God, and did eate the shew bread, which was not lawfull for hym to eate, neither for them which were with hym, but only for the priestes?
Or haue ye not read in the lawe, howe that on the Sabbath dayes the priestes in the temple prophane the Sabbath, and are blamelesse?
But I say vnto you, that in this place is one greater then the temple.
Wherfore if ye wist what this meaneth, I will mercie & not sacrifice: ye woulde not haue condempned the giltlesse.
For the sonne of man also is Lorde euen of the Sabbath day.
And he departed thence, and went into their synagogue,
And beholde there was a man which had his hande dryed vp, and they asked him, saying: Is it lawfull to heale vpon the Sabbath dayes? that they might accuse him.
And he sayde vnto them: What man of you wyll there be that shall haue a sheepe, & if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, wyll he not take holde of it, and lift it out?
Howe much more then is a man better then a sheepe? Wherfore it is lawfull to do a good deede on the Sabbath dayes.
Then saith he to the man, Stretch foorth thy hande. And he stretched it foorth: and it was made whole like as the other.
Then the Pharisees went out, and helde a counsayle agaynst him, howe they might destroy hym.
But when Iesus knewe it, he departed thence: and great multitudes folowed him, and he healed them all,
And charged them that they shoulde not make him knowen:
That it might be fulfylled which was spoken by Esaias the prophete, saying:
Beholde my childe whom I haue chosen, my beloued in whom my soule well delighteth: I wyll put my spirite vpon him, and he shall shewe iudgement to the gentiles.
He shall not striue nor crye, neither shal any man heare his voyce in the streetes.
A bruised reede shall he not breake, and smokyng flaxe shall he not quenche, tyll he sende foorth iudgement vnto victorie:
And in his name shall the gentiles trust.
Then was brought to him one possessed with a deuyll, blinde, and dumbe: and he healed him, insomuch that the blinde and dumbe both spake and sawe.
And all the people were amased and sayde: Is not this that sonne of Dauid?
But when the Pharisees hearde it, they sayde: This [felowe] driueth the deuils no otherwise out, but by Beelzebub the prince of the deuils.
But whe{n} Iesus knew their thoughtes, he sayde vnto them, Euery kingdome deuided agaynst it selfe shalbe brought to naught: and euery citie or house deuided agaynst it selfe shall not stande.
And if Satan cast out Satan, then is he deuided agaynst him selfe: howe shall then his kingdome endure?
Also if I by Beelzebub cast out deuils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therfore they shalbe your iudges.
But if I cast out the deuils by the spirite of God: then is the kingdome of God come vpon you.
Or els howe can one enter into a strong mans house, & spoyle his goodes, except he first binde the strong man, and then spoyle his house?
He that is not with me, is agaynst me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abrode.
Wherfore, I say vnto you, all maner of sinne and blasphemy shalbe forgeuen vnto men, but the blasphemy agaynst the spirite, shall not be forgeuen vnto men.
And whosoeuer speaketh a worde agaynst the sonne of man, it shalbe forgeuen hym: But whosoeuer speaketh agaynst the holy ghost, it shall not be forgeuen hym, neither in this worlde, neither in the worlde to come.
Either make the tree good, and his fruite good: or els make the tree euyll, and his fruite euyll. For the tree, is knowen by his fruite.
O generation of vipers, howe can ye speake good thynges, when ye your selues are euyll? For out of the aboundau{n}ce of the heart, the mouth speaketh.
A good man, out of the good treasure of the heart, bryngeth foorth good thynges: And an euyll man, out of euyll treasure, bryngeth foorth euyll thynges.
But I say vnto you, of euery idell worde that men shall speake, they shall geue accompt therof, in the day of iudgment.
For of thy wordes, thou shalt be iustified: and of thy wordes, thou shalt be condemned.
Then certayne of the Scribes, and of the Pharisees, aunswered hym, saying. Maister, we wyl see a signe of thee.
But he aunswered and sayde to them. The euyll and adulterous generation seketh a signe, and there shall no signe be geuen to it, but the signe of the prophete Ionas.
For as Ionas was three dayes, and three nyghtes, in the Whales belly: so shall the sonne of man be three dayes, and three nyghtes, in the heart of the earth.
The men of Niniue shall ryse in the iudgement, with this nanon, and condemne it, because they repented at the preachyng of Ionas: and beholde, here [is] one greater then Ionas.
The Queene of the south shall ryse in the iudgement, with this generation, and shall condemne it: for she came from the vtmost partes of the earth, to heare the wisdome of Solomon. And beholde, in this place [is] one greater then Solomon.
When the vncleane spirite is gone out of a man, he walketh throughout drye places, sekyng rest, and fyndeth none.
Then he sayeth: I wyll returne into my house, from whence I came out. And when he is come, he fyndeth it emptie, swept, and garnyshed.
Then goeth he, and taketh vnto hym seuen other spirites, worse then hym selfe, and they enter in, and dwell there: And the ende of that man, is worse then the begynnyng. Euen so shall it be also, vnto this frowarde generation.
Whyle he yet talked to the people, beholde, his mother, and his brethren stoode without, desyryng to speake with hym.
Then one sayde vnto hym: beholde, thy mother, and thy brethren, stande without, desyryng to speake with thee.
But he aunswered, and sayde vnto hym that had tolde hym: Who is my mother? or who are my brethren?
And he stretched foorth his hande towarde his disciples, & sayde, beholde my mother, and my brethren.
For whosoeuer shall do the wyll of my father which is in heauen, the same is my brother, sister, and mother.
THE same day, went Iesus out of the house, & sate by the sea syde.
And great multitudes were gathered together vnto hym, so greatly that he went and sate in a shippe, and the whole multitude stoode on the shore.
And he spake many thynges to them in parables, saying: Beholde, the sower went foorth to sowe.
And when he sowed, some seedes fell by the wayes side, and the fowles came, and deuoured them vp.
Some fell vpon stony places, where they had not much earth, and anone they sprong vp, because they had no depenesse of earth.
And when the sonne was vp, they caught heate, and because they had not roote, they wythered away.
Agayne, some fell among thornes, and the thornes sprong vp and choked them.
But some fell into good grounde, and brought foorth fruite, some an hundred folde, some sixtie folde, some thirtie folde.
Who hath eares to heare, let hym heare.
And the disciples came, and sayde vnto hym: Why speakest thou to them by parables?
He aunswered and sayde vnto them: because it is geuen vnto you, to knowe the secretes of the kyngdome of heauen, but to them, it is not geuen.
For whosoeuer hath, to hym shalbe geuen, and he shall haue more aboundaunce: But whosoeuer hath not, from hym shalbe taken away, euen that he hath.
Therfore speake I to them in parables: because they seeyng, see not: and hearyng, they heare not: neither do they vnderstande.
And in them is fulfylled the prophesie of Esaias, saying: by hearyng ye shall heare, and shall not vnderstande, and seeyng, ye shall see, & shall not perceaue.
For this peoples heart is waxed grosse, and their eares are dull of hearyng, and their eyes haue they closed: lest at any tyme they shoulde see with their eyes, and heare with their eares, and shoulde vnderstande with their heart, & shoulde conuert, that I myght heale them.
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your eares, for they heare.
Veryly I say vnto you, that many prophetes and ryghteous men haue desired to see those thynges which ye see, and haue not seene: and to heare those thynges which ye heare, and haue not hearde.
Heare ye therfore the similitude of the sower.
When one heareth the worde of the kyngdome, and vnderstandeth it not, then commeth that euyll, and catcheth away that which was sowen in his heart: this is he, which receaued seede by the way syde.
But he that receaued the seede into stony places, the same is he that heareth the worde, and anone with ioy, receaueth it:
Yet hath he not roote in hym selfe, but dureth for a season: for when tribulation or persecution aryseth because of the worde, by and by he is offended.
He also that receaued seede into the thornes, is he that heareth the worde: and the care of this worlde, and the disceiptfulnes of ryches, choke vp the worde, and so is he made vnfruitfull.
But he that receaued seede into the good grounde, is he that heareth the worde, and vnderstandeth it, which also beareth fruite: and bryngeth foorth, some an hundred folde, some sixtie folde, some thirtie folde.
Another parable put he foorth vnto them, saying: The kyngdome of heauen is likened vnto a man, which sowed good seede in his fielde.
But whyle men slept, his enemye came & sowed tares among the wheate, and went his way.
But when the blade was sprong vp, and had brought foorth fruite, then appeared the tares also.
So, the seruauntes of the housholder came, and sayde vnto hym. Sir, diddest not thou sowe good seede in thy fielde? from whence then hath it tares?
He sayde vnto them: the malicious man hath done this. The seruauntes sayde vnto hym: wylt thou then that we go, and gather them vp?
But he sayde, nay: lest whyle ye gather vp the tares, ye rote vp also the wheate with them.
Let both growe together vntyll the haruest: & in tyme of haruest, I wyl say to the reapers, gather ye together first the tares, and bynde them in bundels to burne them: but carrie the wheate into my barne.
Another parable put he foorth vnto them, saying. The kyngdome of heauen is like to a grayne of mustard seede, which a man toke & sowed in his fielde.
Which in dede is the least of all seedes: But when it is growen, it is the greatest among hearbes: and is a tree, so that the byrdes of the ayre come & make their nestes in the braunches therof.
Another parable spake he vnto them: The kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto leuen, which a woman taketh & hydeth in three peckes of meale, tyll all be leuened.
All these thynges spake Iesus vnto the people in parables: and without a parable spake he not vnto them.
That it myght be fulfylled, which was spoken by the prophete, that sayth: I wyll open my mouth in parables, I wyll speake foorth thynges which haue ben kept secrete from the foundation of the worlde.
Then Iesus sent the people away, & went into the house: And his disciples came vnto hym, saying: Declare vnto vs the parable of the tares of the fielde.
He aunswered and sayde vnto them: He that soweth the good seede, is the sonne of man.
The fielde, is the worlde: & the good seede, they are the childre{n} of {th}e kingdom: the tares, are the chyldren of {th}e wicked.
The enemie that foweth them, is the deuyll: the haruest, is the ende of the worlde: the reapers, be the Angels.
Euen as the tares therfore, are gathered and brent in the fyre: so shall it be in the ende of this worlde.
The sonne of man shall sende foorth his Angels, and [they] shall gather out of his kyngdome, all thynges that offende, and them which do iniquitie:
And shall cast them into a furnesse of fyre: There shalbe waylyng and gnasshyng of teeth.
Then shall the ryghteous shine as the Sunne, in the kingdome of their father. Who hath eares to heare, let hym heare.
Agayne, the kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto treasure hyd in the fielde: the which a man hath founde, and hyd, and for ioy therof, goeth and selleth all that he hath, and byeth the fielde.
Agayne, the kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto a marchaunt man, seekyng goodly pearles.
Which, when he founde one precious pearle, went and solde all that he had, and bought it.
Agayne, the kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of all kynde:
Which when it was full, men drewe to lande, and sat downe, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
So shall it be at the ende of the world: The Angels shall come foorth, and seuer the bad from among the iuste:
And shall cast them into a furnesse of fyre: there shalbe waylyng and gnasshyng of teeth.
Iesus sayth vnto them: haue ye vnderstande all these thynges? They say vnto hym: yea Lorde.
Then sayde he vnto them: Therfore, euery Scribe which is taught vnto the kyngdome of heauen, is lyke vnto a man that is an householder, whiche bryngeth foorth out of his treasure, thynges newe and olde.
And it came to passe, that when Iesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
And when he came into his owne countrey, he taught them in their synagogues, in so much, that they were astonyed, and sayde: whence commeth this wysdome and powers vnto hym?
Is not this the carpenters sonne? Is not his mother called Marie? and his brethren, Iames, and Ioses, and Simon, and Iudas?
And are not all his sisters with vs? whence hath he then all these thynges?
And they were offended in hym. Iesus sayde vnto them: A prophete is not without honour, saue in his owne countrey, and in his owne house.
And he did not many mightie workes there, because of their vnbeliefe.
AT that tyme Herode the Tetrarch, hearde of the fame of Iesu.
And sayde vnto his seruauntes: this is Iohn the Baptist, he is risen from the dead, and therfore great workes do shewe foorth them selues in hym.
For Herode had taken Iohn, and bounde hym, and put hym in prison, for Herodias sake, his brother Philips wyfe.
For Iohn sayde vnto hym: it is not lawfull for thee to haue her.
And when he woulde haue put hym to death, he feared the people: because they counted hym as a prophete.
But when Herodes birth day was kept, the daughter of Herodias daunsed before them, and pleased Herode.
Wherefore he promised with an othe, that he woulde geue her whatsoeuer she woulde aske.
And she, beyng instruct of her mother before, sayde: geue me here Iohn Baptistes head in a platter.
And the kyng was sory: Neuerthelesse, for the othes sake, and them which sate also at the table, he commaunded it to be geuen her:
And sent, and beheaded Iohn in the pryson.
And his head was brought in a platter, and geuen to the damsell: and [she] brought it to her mother.
And his disciples came, and toke vp his body, and buryed it: and went, and tolde Iesus.
When Iesus hearde of it, he departed thence in a shyp, vnto a desert place, out of the way: And when the people had hearde therof, they folowed hym on foote out of the cities.
And Iesus went foorth, and sawe much people: and was moued with mercye towarde them, and he healed their sicke.
And when the euen drewe on, his disciples came to hym, saying: this is a desert place, and the hour is nowe past, let the people depart, that they may go into the townes, and bye them vittels.
But Iesus sayde vnto them: They haue no nede to go away, geue ye them to eate.
They saye vnto hym: we haue here but fyue loaues, and two fisshes.
He sayde: bryng them hyther to me.
And he commaunded the people to sit downe on the grasse, and he toke the fyue loaues, and the two fisshes, and lift vp his eyes towarde heauen, & blessed: And when he had broken [them], he gaue the loaues to his disciples, and his disciples to the people.
And they dyd all eate, and were suffised. And they gathered vp (of the fragmentes that remayned) twelue baskets full.
And they that had eaten, were about fyue thousande men, besyde women and chyldren.
And strayghtway Iesus constrayned his disciples to get vp into a shippe, and to go before hym vnto the other syde, whyle he sent the people away.
And when the people were sent away, he went vp into a mountayne alone to pray: And when nyght was come, he was there hym selfe alone.
But the shippe was nowe in the middes of the sea, & was tost with waues: for it was a contrary wynde.
And in the fourth watch of the nyght, Iesus went vnto them, walkyng on the sea.
And when the disciples sawe hym walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirite: and they cryed out for feare.
But strayght way, Iesus spake vnto them, saying: be of good cheare, it is I, be not afrayde.
Peter aunswered hym, and sayde: Lorde, yf it be thou, byd me come vnto thee, on the water.
And he sayde: come. And when Peter was come downe out of the shippe, he walked on the water, to go to Iesus.
But when he sawe a myghty wynde, he was afrayde: And when he began to sincke, he cryed, saying, Lorde saue me.
And immediatly Iesus stretched foorth his hande, and caught hym, and sayde vnto hym: O thou of litle fayth, wherefore diddest thou doubt?
And when they were come into the shippe, the wynde ceassed
Then they that were in the shippe, came and worshypped hym, saying: of a trueth thou art the sonne of God.
And when they were gone ouer, they came into the lande of Gennezaret.
And when the men of that place, had knowledge of hym, they sent out into all that countrey rounde about: and brought vnto hym all that were sicke.
And besought hym, that they myght touche the hemme of his garment only: And as many as touched [it] were made whole.
THen came to Iesus Scribes and Pharisees, which were come from Hierusalem, saying:
Why do thy disciples transgresse the traditions of the elders? for they washe not their handes when they eate bread.
But he aunswered and sayde vnto them: why do ye also transgresse the commaundement of God, by your tradition?
For God co{m}maunded, saying: honour father and mother, and he that curseth father or mother, let hym dye the death.
But ye say, whosoeuer shall say to father or mother: by the gyft that [is offered] of me, thou shalt be helped:
And so shall he not honour his father or his mother. And thus haue ye made the commaundement of God, of none effect, by your tradition.
Hypocrites, full well dyd Esayas prophecie of you, saying:
This people draweth nye vnto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lippes: howbeit, their hearts are farre from me.
But in vayne do they worshippe me, teachyng doctrine, preceptes of men.
And he called the people to hym, and sayde vnto them: heare, & vnderstande.
That which goeth into the mouth, defyleth not the man: but that which commeth out of the mouth, defyleth the man.
Then came his disciples, and sayde vnto hym: knowest thou not, that the Pharisees were offended after they hearde this saying?
But he aunswered and sayde: Euery plantyng which my heauenly father hath not planted, shalbe rooted vp.
Let them alone, they be the blynde leaders of the blynde. If the blynde leade the blynde, both shall fall into the dytche.
Then aunswered Peter, and sayde vnto hym: Declare vnto vs this parable.
Iesus sayde: Are ye also without vnderstandyng?
Do not ye yet vnderstande, that whatsoeuer entreth in at the mouth, goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
But those thynges which proceade out of the mouth, come foorth from the heart, and they defyle the man.
For out of the heart, proceade euyll thoughtes, murders, adulteries, whordomes, theftes, false witnesse, blasphemyes.
These are the thynges, which defyle a man: But to eate with vnwasshen handes, defyleth not a man.
And Iesus went thence, and departed into the coastes of Tyre and Sidon.
And beholde, a woman of the Chananites, which came out of the same coastes, cryed vnto hym, saying: Haue mercie on me O Lorde, thou sonne of Dauid: My daughter is greeuously vexed with a deuyll.
But he aunswered her not a worde: and his disciples came, and besought hym, saying: sende her away, for she cryeth after vs.
But he aunswered, and sayde: I am not sent but vnto the lost sheepe of the house of Israel.
Then came she, and worshipped him, saying: Lorde, helpe me.
He aunswered, and sayde: it is not meete to take the chyldrens bread, and to cast it to litle dogges.
She aunswered and sayde, trueth Lorde: and yet litle dogges eate of the crummes, which fall fro{m} their maisters table.
Then Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto her: O woman, great is thy fayth, be it vnto thee, euen as thou wylt. And her daughter was made whole, euen from that same tyme.
And Iesus went from thence, and came nye vnto the sea of Galilee, and went vp into a mountayne, and sate downe there.
And great multitudes came vnto him, hauyng with them those that were lame, blynde, dumbe, maymed, & other many, and cast them downe at Iesus feete: And he healed them.
In so much that the people wondred, when they sawe the dumbe speake, the maymed to be whole, the lame to walke, and the blynde to see: And they glorified the God of Israel.
Then Iesus called his disciples vnto hym, and sayde: I haue compassion on the people, because they continue with me nowe three dayes, and haue nothing to eate: and I wyll not let them depart fastyng, lest they faynt in the way.
And his disciples say vnto hym: whence [shoulde we get] so much bread in the wyldernesse, as to suffise so great a multitude?
And Iesus sayeth vnto them: howe many loaues haue ye? And they say, seuen, and a fewe litle fisshes.
And he commaunded the people to sit downe on the grounde:
And toke the seuen loaues, and the fisshes: and after that he had geuen thankes, he brake them, and gaue to his disciples, and the disciples gaue them to the people.
And they dyd all eate, and were suffised: And they toke vp, of the broken meate that was left, seuen baskets full.
And yet, they that did eate, were foure thousande men, besyde women and chyldren.
And he sent away the people, and toke shippe, and came into the parties of Magdala.
THE Pharisees also, with the Saducees, came, and temptyng, desired hym that he woulde shewe them a signe from heauen.
He aunswered & sayde vnto them: when it is euenyng, ye say, [it wyll be] fayre weather: for the sky is redde.
And in the mornyng, It wyll be foule weather to day: for the sky is lowryng redde. O ye hypocrites, ye can discerne the outwarde appearaunce of the sky: but can ye not discerue the signes of the tymes?
The froward and adulterous nation requireth a signe: and there shall no signe be geuen vnto it, but the signe of the prophete Ionas. And he left them, and departed.
And when his disciples were come to the other syde of the water, they had forgotten to take bread [with them].
Then Iesus sayde vnto them: Take heede and beware of the leuen of the Pharisees, and of the Saducees.
And they thought in them selues, saying: for we haue taken no bread [with vs].
Which when Iesus vnderstoode, he sayde vnto them: O ye of little fayth, why thynke you within your selues, because ye haue brought no bread?
Do ye not yet perceaue, neither remember those fyue loaues, when there were fyue thousande [men], and howe many baskets toke ye vp?
Neither the seuen loaues, when there were foure thousande [men], and howe many baskets toke ye vp?
Howe is it that ye do not vnderstande, that I spake it not vnto you concernyng bread, [warnyng you] that ye shoulde beware of the leuen of the Pharisees, and of the Saducees?
Then vnderstoode they, howe that he bad not them beware of the leuen of bread: but of the doctrine of the Pharisees, and of the Saducees.
When Iesus came into the coastes of Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that I the sonne of man am?
They sayde: some say [that thou art] Iohn Baptist, some Helias, some Ieremias, or one of the prophetes.
He sayth vnto them: but whom say ye that I am?
Simon Peter aunswered and sayde: Thou art Christe, the sonne of the lyuyng God.
And Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: happy art thou Simon Bar Iona, for flesh & blood hath not opened that vnto thee, but my father which is in heauen.
And I say also vnto thee, that thou art Peter, and vpon this rocke I wyll buylde my congregation: And the gates of hell shall not preuayle agaynst it.
And I wyll geue vnto thee, the keyes of the kingdome of heauen: And whatsoeuer thou byndest in earth, shalbe bounde in heauen: and whatsoeuer thou loosest in earth, shalbe loosed in heauen.
Then charged he his disciples, that they shoulde tell no man, that he was Iesus Christe.
From that tyme foorth, began Iesus to shewe vnto his disciples, howe that he must go vnto Hierusalem, and suffer many thynges of the elders, and hye priestes, & scribes, and [must] be kylled, and be raysed agayne the thyrde day.
And when Peter had taken him aside, he began to rebuke hym, saying: Lorde, fauour thy selfe, this shall not be vnto thee.
But he turned hym about, and sayde vnto Peter: go after me Satan, thou art an offence vnto me: for thou sauerest not the thynges that be of God, but those that be of men.
Then sayde Iesus vnto his disciples: If any man wyll folowe me, let hym forsake him selfe, and take vp his crosse, and folowe me.
For, who so wyll saue his lyfe, shall lose it: Agayne, who so doth lose his lyfe for my sake, shall fynde it.
For what doth it profite a man, yf he wynne all the whole worlde, and lose his owne soule? Or what shall a man geue for a raunsome of his soule?
For the sonne of man shall come in the glory of his father, with his Angels: and then shall he rewarde euery man accordyng to his workes.
Veryly I say vnto you, there be some standyng here, which shall not taste of death, tyll they see the sonne of man come in his kyngdome.
AND after sixe dayes, Iesus taketh Peter, Iames, and Iohn his brother, and bryngeth them vp into an hye mountayne, out of the way,
And was transfigured before them, and his face did shyne as the sunne, and his clothes were as whyte as the lyght.
And beholde, there appeared vnto them, Moyses, and Elias talkyng with hym.
Then aunswered Peter, and sayde vnto Iesus: Lorde, it is good for vs to be here. If thou wylt, let vs make here three tabernacles: one for thee, and one for Moyses, and one for Elias.
Whyle he yet spake, beholde, a bryght cloude shadowed them: And beholde, [there came] a voyce out of the cloude, which sayde, this is my beloued sonne in whom I am well pleased, heare hym.
And when the disciples hearde [these thynges] they fell on their face, and were sore afrayde.
And Iesus came, and touched them, and sayde: aryse, and be not afrayde.
And when they had lyft vp their eyes, they sawe no man, saue Iesus only.
And when they came downe from the mountayne, Iesus charged them, saying: shewe the vision to no man, vntyll the sonne of man be rysen agayne from the dead.
And his disciples asked hym, saying: Why then say the scribes, that Elias must first come?
Iesus aunswered, & sayde vnto them: Elias truely shall first come, and restore all thynges:
But I say vnto you, that Elias is come alredy, and they knewe hym not, but haue done vnto hym, whatsoeuer they lusted.
Lykewyse, shall also the sonne of man suffer of them. Then the disciples vnderstode, that he spake vnto them of Iohn Baptist.
And when they were come to the people, there came to hym a certayne man, knelyng downe to hym, and saying:
Lorde, haue mercy on my sonne, for he is lunaticke, and sore vexed: for oft tymes he falleth into the fyre, and oft into the water.
And I brought hym to thy disciples, and they coulde not heale hym.
Iesus aunswered and sayde: O faythlesse and croked nation, howe long shall I be with you? howe long shal I suffer you? bryng hym hyther to me.
And Iesus rebuked the deuyll, and he departed out of hym: And the chylde was healed euen that same tyme.
Then came the disciples to Iesus secretely, and sayde: why coulde not we cast hym out?
Iesus sayde vnto them: because of your vnbeliefe. For veryly I say vnto you: If ye haue fayth as a grayne of mustarde seede, ye shall say vnto this mountayne: remoue hence to yonder place, and it shall remoue, neither shall any thyng be vnpossible vnto you.
Howebeit, this kynde goeth not out, but by prayer and fastyng.
Whyle they were occupyed in Galilee, Iesus sayde vnto them: it wyll come to passe, that the sonne of man shalbe betrayed into the handes of men:
And they shall kyll hym, & the thyrde day shall he ryse agayne: And they were exceadyng sory.
And when they were come to Capernaum, they that receaued tribute money, came to Peter, and sayde: Doth not your maister pay tribute?
He sayth: yes. And when he was come into the house, Iesus preuented hym, saying: What thynkest thou Simon? of whom do the kynges of the earth take tribute or toule? of the chyldren, or of straungers?
Peter sayth vnto hym: of straungers. Iesus sayth vnto hym: Then are the chyldren free.
Notwithstandyng, lest we shoulde offende them, go thou to the sea, and cast an angle, and take the fisshe that first commeth vp: and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt fynde a peece of twenty pence: that take, and geue it vnto them for me, and thee.
AT the same time, came the disciples vnto Iesus, saying: Who is the greatest in {th}e kyngdome of heauen?
Iesus called a litle chylde vnto hym, and set hym in the myddest [of them],
And sayde. Veryly I say vnto you: except ye turne, and become as litle chyldren, ye shall not enter into the kyngdome of heauen.
Whosoeuer therfore shall humble hym selfe as this litle chylde, the same is {th}e greatest in the kingdome of heauen.
And who so shall receaue such a litle chylde in my name, receaueth me.
But who so shall offende one of these litle ones, which beleue in me, it were better for hym, that a myll stone were hanged about his necke, & that he were drowned in the deapth of the sea.
Wo vnto the worlde, because of offences. It must nedes be, that offences come: But wo to that man, by whom the offence commeth.
If then thy hande or thy foote offende thee, cut them of, and cast [them] from thee. It is better for thee to enter into lyfe, halt or maymed, [rather] then thou shouldest, hauyng two handes, or two feete, be cast into euerlastyng fyre.
And yf thyne eye offende thee, plucke it out, and cast [it] from thee: It is better for thee to enter into lyfe with one eye, [rather] then, hauyng two eyes, to be cast into hell fyre.
Take heede that ye despise not one of these litle ones: For I say vnto you, that in heaue{n} their Angels do alwayes beholde the face of my father, which is in heauen.
For the sonne of man, is come to saue that which was lost.
Howe thynke ye? If a man haue an hundred sheepe, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leaue ninetie & nine, and goeth into the mountaynes, and seketh that which went astray?
And yf it so be that he fynde it, veryly I say vnto you, he reioyceth more of that sheepe, then of the ninetie and nine, which went not astray.
Euen so, it is not the wyll of your father in heauen, that one of these litle ones shoulde peryshe.
Moreouer, yf thy brother trespas agaynst thee, go and tell hym his faulte betwene thee and hym alone: If he heare thee, thou hast wonne thy brother.
But yf he heare thee not, then take yet with thee one or two: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, euery worde may be stablyshed.
If he heare not them, tell it vnto the Churche: If he heare not the Churche, let hym be vnto thee as an Heathen man, and a publicane.
Veryly I say vnto you: Whatsoeuer ye bynde on earth, shalbe bounde in heauen: And whatsoeuer ye loose on earth, shalbe loosed in heauen.
Agayne, truely I say vnto you, that if two of you agree in earth, as touching any thyng that they shall aske, it shalbe done for them, of my father, which is in heauen.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the myddes of them.
Then came Peter to hym, and sayde: Lorde howe oft shall my brother sinne agaynst me, and I forgeue hym? tyll seuen tymes?
Iesus sayth vnto hym, I say not vnto thee vntyll seuen tymes: but, vntyll seuentie tymes seuen.
Therfore is the kyngdome of heauen, lykened vnto a certayne man, that was a kyng, which woulde take accomptes of his seruauntes.
And when he had begunne to recken, one was brought vnto hym, which ought hym ten thousande talentes.
But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his Lorde commaunded hym to be solde, and his wyfe, and chyldren, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
The seruaunt fell downe, & besought hym, saying: Lorde, haue pacience with me, and I wyll pay thee all.
Then the Lorde of that seruaunt, moued with pitie, loosed hym, and forgaue hym the debt.
But the same seruaunt went out, and founde one of his felowes, which ought hym an hundred pence: and he layde handes on hym, and toke hym by the throte, saying: pay me that thou owest.
And his felowe fel downe at his feete, and besought him, saying: haue pacience with me, and I wyll pay thee all.
And he woulde not: but went, and cast hym into prison, tyll he shoulde pay the debt.
So, when his felowes sawe what was done, they were very sory: & came, and tolde vnto their Lorde all that was done.
Then his Lorde called hym, and sayd vnto him: O thou vngracious seruaunt, I forgaue thee all that debt, when thou desiredst me:
Shouldest not thou also, haue had compassion on thy felowe, euen as I had pitie on thee?
And his Lorde was wroth, and delyuered hym to the tormentours, tyll he shoulde pay all that was due vnto him.
So lykewyse, shall my heauenly father do also vnto you, yf ye from your heartes, forgeue not, euery one his brother, their trespasses.
ANd it came to passe, that when Iesus had finished these sayinges, he gat hym from Galilee, and came into the coastes of Iurie, beyonde Iordane:
And great multitudes folowed hym: and he healed them there.
The pharisees also came vnto hym, temptyng hym, and saying vnto hym: Is it lawfull for a man to put away his wyfe, for euery cause?
He aunswered and sayde vnto them: Haue ye not read, that he which created at the begynnyng, made them male and female,
And sayde: For this cause, shall a man leaue father and mother, and shall be knit to his wyfe: and they twayne shall be one fleshe.
Wherfore, they are no more twayne, but one fleshe. Let not man therefore put a sunder, that which God hath coupled together.
They say vnto hym: why did Moyses then commaunde to geue a writyng of diuorcement, and to put her away?
He sayde vnto them: Moyses, because of the hardnes of your heartes, suffred you to put away your wyues: But from the begynnyng it was not so.
I say vnto you: whosoeuer putteth away his wyfe, except it be for fornication, and maryeth another, committeth adulterie: And who so maryeth her which is diuorced, doth co{m}mit adulterie.
His disciples say vnto hym: If the matter be so betwene man and wyfe, [then] is it not good to mary.
He sayde vnto them: all men can not receaue this saying, saue they to whom it is geuen.
For there are some chaste, which are so borne, out of their mothers wombe: And there are some chaste, which be made chaste of me{n}: And there be chaste, which haue made themselues chaste, for the kyngdome of heauens sake. He that is able to receaue [it], let him receaue [it].
Then were there brought vnto hym young chyldren, that he shoulde put his handes on them, and pray: And the disciples rebuked them.
But Iesus sayde vnto them: suffer the young chyldren, and forbyd them not to come vnto me: for of such, is the kyngdome of heauen.
And when he had put his handes on them, he departed thence.
And beholde, one came, and sayde vnto hym: good maister, what good thyng shall I do, that I may haue eternall lyfe?
He sayde vnto hym: why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, [and that is] God. But yf thou wylt enter into lyfe, kepe the commaundementes.
He sayth vnto hym: Which? Iesus sayde: Thou shalt do no murther, Thou shalt not commit adulterie, Thou shalt not steale, Thou shalt not beare false witnesse,
Honour father and mother: and thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe.
The young man sayth vnto hym: All these [thynges] haue I kept, from my youth vp: what lacke I yet?
Iesus sayde vnto hym: yf thou wylt be perfect, go & sell that thou hast, and geue to the poore, & thou shalt haue treasure in heauen: and come & folowe me.
But when the young man hearde that saying, he went away sory: For he had great possessions.
Then Iesus sayde vnto his disciples: Veryly I say vnto you, that a riche [man] shall hardly enter into the kyngdome of heauen.
And agayne I say vnto you: it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a nedle, then for the riche, to enter into the kyngdome of God.
When the disciples hearde this, they were exceadyngly amazed, saying: who then can be saued?
But Iesus behelde them, and sayde vnto them: with men this is vnpossible, but with God all thynges are possible.
Then aunswered Peter, and sayde vnto hym: Beholde, we haue forsaken all, and folowed thee, what shall we haue therfore?
Iesus sayde vnto them: veryly I say vnto you, that when the sonne of man shall syt in the throne of his maiestie, ye that haue folowed me in the regeneration, shall syt also vpon twelue seates, and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel.
And euery one that forsaketh house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wyfe, or chyldren, or landes, for my names sake, shall receaue an hundred folde, and shall inherite euerlastyng lyfe.
But many that are first, shalbe last, and the last, shalbe first.
FOR the kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto a man, that is an householder, whiche went out earlye in the mornyng to hire labourers into his vineyarde.
And he agreed with the labourers for a peny a day, & sent them into his vineyarde.
And he went out about the thirde houre, and sawe other standyng idle in the market place,
And saide vnto them: Go ye also into {th}e vineyard, & whatsoeuer is right, I wyl geue you. And they went their way.
Agayne, he went out about the sixth and nynth houre, and dyd lykewyse.
And about the eleuenth houre, he we{n}t out, and founde other standyng idle, and saide vnto them: why stande ye here all the day idle?
They saye vnto him: because no man hath hyred vs. He sayth vnto them: go ye also into the vineyarde, and whatsoeuer is ryght, that shall ye receaue.
So, when euen was come, the lorde of the vineyard sayth vnto his steward: Call the labourers, and geue them their hire, beginning at {th}e last, vntyll the first.
And when they came, that [were hired] about the eleuenth houre, they receaued euery man a peny.
But when the firste came also, they supposed that they shoulde haue receaued more: and they lykewyse receaued euery man a peny.
And when they had receaued it, they murmured against the good man of the house,
Saying: These laste haue wrought but one houre, & thou hast made them equall vnto vs, whiche haue borne the burthen and heate of the day.
But he aunswered to one of the{m}, & said: Frende, I do thee no wrong: dyddest thou not agree with me for a peny?
Take that thyne is, and go thy way: I wyll geue vnto this last, euen as vnto thee.
Is it not lawfull for me, to do that I wyll with myne owne? Is thyne eye euyll, because I am good?
So the last, shalbe the first, & the first [shalbe] last: For many be called, but fewe [be] chosen.
And Iesus, goyng vp to Hierusale{m}, toke the twelue disciples asyde in the way, and sayde vnto them:
Beholde, we go vp to Hierusalem, and the sonne of man shalbe betrayed vnto the chiefe priestes, and vnto the scribes, and they shall condempne hym to death:
And shall deliuer him to the Gentiles to be mocked, and to be scourged, and to be crucified: and the thirde day, he shall ryse agayne.
Then came to hym the mother of Zebedees chyldren, with her sonnes, worshyppyng hym, and desiryng a certayne thyng of hym.
And he sayth vnto her: what wylt thou? She saith vnto him: graunt, that these my two sonnes may syt, the one on thy ryght hande, and the other on the left, in thy kyngdome.
But Iesus aunswered, and saide: Ye wote not what ye aske. Are ye able to drynke of the cuppe that I shall drynke of? and to be baptized with the baptisme that I am baptized with? They say vnto hym: we are able.
He sayth vnto them: Ye shall drynke in deede of my cuppe, and be baptized with the baptisme that I am baptized with: But to syt on my ryght hande, & on my lefte, is not myne to geue, but to them for whom it is prepared for of my father.
And when the ten hearde [this], they disdayned at the two brethren.
But Iesus called them vnto him, and sayde: Ye know that the princes of the gentiles haue dominion ouer them: and they that are great, exercise aucthoritie vpon them.
It shall not be so among you: But whosoeuer wyll be great among you, let hym be your minister:
And who so wyl be chiefe among you, let hym be your seruaunt.
Euen as the sonne of man came, not to be ministred vnto, but to minister, and to geue his lyfe a raunsome for many.
And as they departed from Hierico, much people folowed hym.
And behold, two blind men syttyng by the waye syde, when they hearde that Iesus passed by, they cryed, saying: O Lorde, thou sonne of Dauid, haue mercie on vs.
And the people rebuked them, because they should holde their peace. But they cryed the more, saying: haue mercy on vs, O Lorde, thou sonne of Dauid.
And Iesus stode styll, & called them, and sayde: what wyll ye that I shall do vnto you?
They saye vnto hym? Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
So Iesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediatly theyr eyes receaued syght. And they folowed hym.
ANd when they drewe nye vnto Hierusalem, & were come to Bethphage, vnto the mou{n}t of Oliues, the{n} sent Iesus two disciples,
Saying vnto the{m}: Go into the towne that lyeth ouer agaynste you, and anone ye shall fynde an Asse tyed, & a colt with her: loose [them and] bryng [them] vnto me.
And yf any man saye ought vnto you, saye ye, the Lorde hath nede of them: and strayghtway he wyll let them go.
All this was done, that it myght be fulfylled which was spoken by the prophete, saying:
Tell ye the daughter of Sion: behold, thy kyng commeth vnto thee meke, and syttyng vpon an Asse, & a colt, the foale of [the Asse] vsed to the yoke.
The disciples went, and did as Iesus commaunded them,
And brought the Asse, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and set hym theron.
And many of the people spread their garme{n}tes in the way. Other cut downe braunches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
Moreouer, the multitudes that went before, & that came after, cryed, saying: Hosanna to the sonne of Dauid. Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lorde, Hosanna in the hyest.
And when he was come into Hierusale{m}, all the citie was moued, saying: who is this?
And the multitude saide: This is Iesus that prophete of Nazareth in Galilee.
And Iesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and ouerthrewe the tables of the money chaungers, and the seates of them that solde doues,
And sayde vnto them, it is written: My house shalbe called the house of prayer, but ye haue made it a denne of thieues.
And the blynde and the halt came to hym in the temple, and he healed them.
When the chiefe priestes and scribes sawe the wonders that he dyd, and the chyldren crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the sonne of Dauid, they disdayned,
And sayde vnto hym: Hearest thou what these saye? But Iesus sayth vnto them, yea, haue ye neuer read: Out of the mouth of babes & suckelynges thou hast ordeyned prayse?
And he left them, and went out of the citie, vnto Bethanie: and he lodged there.
In the mornyng, as he returned into the citie, he hungred.
And when he sawe one fygge tree in the waye, he came to it, and founde nothyng theron but leaues only, & said vnto it: neuer fruite growe on thee henceforwarde. And anone the figge tree withered away.
And when his disciples sawe it, they marueyled, saying: Howe soone is the figge tree wythered away?
Iesus aunswered, and saide vnto the{m}: Veryly I saye vnto you, yf ye haue fayth, and doubt not, ye shall not onlye do this [which is done] to the figge tree: but also, yf ye shall say vnto this mountayne, be thou remoued, and, be thou cast into the sea, it shalbe done.
And all thynges, whatsoeuer ye aske in prayer, beleuyng, ye shall receaue them.
And when he was come into the temple, the chiefe priestes, & the elders of the people, came vnto hym teaching, and saye: By what aucthoritie doest thou these thynges? and who gaue thee this power?
Iesus aunswered, & saide vnto them: I also wyll aske you one questio{n}, which yf ye tell me, I in likewise wyll tell you by what aucthoritie I do these thinges:
The baptisme of Iohn, whence was it, from heauen, or of men? And they reasoned with them selues saying: if we shall say from heauen, he wyll say vnto vs, why dyd ye not then beleue hym?
But yf we shall say of men, then feare we the people: for all [men] holde Iohn as a prophete.
And they aunswered vnto Iesus, and sayde: we can not tell. And he saide vnto them: neither tell I you, by what aucthoritie I do these thynges.
But what thynke you? A man had two sonnes, and came to the firste, and saide: sonne, go and worke to day in my vineyarde.
He aunswered and saide, I wyll not: but afterwarde he repented, and went.
Then came he to the seconde, & sayde lykewyse. And he aunswered & saide, I wyll sir, and went not.
Whether of them twayne did the wyl of the father? And they saide vnto him, the first. Iesus sayth vnto them: Veryly I saye vnto you, that publicanes & harlottes go into the kingdome of God, before you.
For Iohn came vnto you by the way of righteousnes, & ye beleued hym not: but publicanes & harlottes beleued him. And ye, when ye had sene [it] were not moued afterwarde with repentaunce, that ye myght haue beleued hym.
Hearken another similitude. There was a certayne man, an householder, which made a vineyarde, & hedged it rounde about, and made a wynepresse in it, and buylt a towre, and let it out to husbande men: and went into a strange countrey.
And when the time of the fruite drewe neare, he sent his seruauntes to the husbande men, that they might receaue the fruites of it.
And the husbande men caught his seruauntes, and beatte one, killed another, and stoned another.
Agayne, he sent other seruauntes, mo then the first: and they dyd vnto them lykewyse.
But laste of all, he sent vnto them his owne sonne, saying: they wyll stande in awe of my sonne.
But when the husband men sawe the sonne, they sayde among them selues: this is the heire, come, let vs kyll hym, and let vs enioy his inheritaunce.
And they caught hym, and thrust him out of the vineyarde, and slewe [hym].
When the Lorde therfore of the vineyarde commeth, what wyll he do vnto those husbande men?
They sayde vnto hym: He wyll miserably destroy those wicked [men] & wyll let out his vineyard vnto other husband men, which shall delyuer him the fruite in due seasons.
Iesus sayth vnto them. Did ye neuer reade in the Scriptures: The stone which the buylders refused, the same is become the head of the corner. This is the Lordes doing, and it is marueylous in our eyes.
Therefore saye I vnto you, the kyngdome of God shalbe taken from you, & geuen to a nation bryngyng foorth the fruites therof.
And whosoeuer falleth on this stone, shalbe broken in peeces: but on whomsoeuer it falleth, it shal all to grynd him.
And when the chiefe priestes and pharisees had heard his parables, they perceaued that he spake of them.
And they went about to laye handes on hym, but they feared the multitudes, because they toke him as a prophet.
AND Iesus aunswered, and spake vnto them againe by parables, and sayde:
The kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto a man that was a kyng, which made a mariage for his sonne.
And sent foorth his seruauntes, to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they woulde not come.
Agayne, he sent foorth other seruauntes, saying: Tell them which are bidden, beholde, I haue prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fatlynges are kylled, and all thynges are redy: come vnto the mariage.
But they made lyght of it, and went their wayes, one to his farme, another to his marchaundize:
And the remnaunt toke his seruauntes, and entreated them spitefully, and slewe them.
But when the kyng hearde [therof], he was wroth, and sent foorth his men of warre, and destroyed those murtherers and brent vp their citie.
Then sayde he to his seruauntes, the mariage in dede is prepared: But they which were bidden, were not worthy.
Go ye therfore out into the hye wayes: and as many as ye fynde, bid [them] to the mariage.
And the seruauntes went out into the hye wayes, and gathered together all, as many as they coulde fynde, both good and bad: and the weddyng was furnished with ghestes.
Then the kyng came in, to see the ghestes: and whe{n} he spyed there a man, which had not on a weddyng garme{n}t,
He sayde vnto hym: frende, howe camest thou in hyther, not hauyng a weddyng garment? And he was euen speachlesse.
Then sayde the kyng to the ministers: bynde hym hande and foote, and cast hym into vtter darknesse: there shalbe wepyng and gnasshyng of teeth.
For many be called, but fewe are chosen.
Then went the Pharisees, and toke councell how they myght intangle hym in his talke.
And they sent out vnto hym their disciples, with the Herodians seruauntes, saying: Maister, we knowe that thou art true, and teachest the way of God truely, neither carest thou for any man: for thou doest not respect mens persons.
Tell vs therfore, howe thynkest thou? Is it lawfull that tribute be geuen vnto Caesar, or not?
But Iesus perceauyng their wickednesse, sayde: Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Shewe me the tribute money. And they brought vnto hym a peny.
And he sayde to them: whose is this image and superscription?
They say vnto hym, Caesars. Then sayde he vnto them: Geue therfore vnto Caesar, the [thynges] which are Caesars: and vnto God, those [thynges] that are gods.
When they had hearde [these wordes] they marueyled, and left hym, and went their way.
The same day came to hym the Saducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked hym,
Saying: Maister, Moyses sayde, that if a man dye, hauing no childre{n}, his brother shoulde mary his wyfe, and rayse vp seede vnto his brother.
Ther were with vs seuen brethren, and the first maryed a wyfe, and deceassed without issue, and left his wyfe vnto his brother.
Likewyse, the seconde, and the thirde, vnto the seuenth.
Last of all, the woman dyed also.
Therfore, in the resurrection, whose wyfe shall she be of the seuen? For they all had her.
Iesus aunswered & sayde vnto them: ye do erre, not knowyng the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
For in the resurrection, they neither mary, nor are geuen in maryage: but are as the Angels of God in heauen.
But as touchyng the resurrection of the dead: haue ye not read that which is spoken vnto you of God, which sayth.
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the lyuyng.
And when the multitudes hearde this, they were astonyed at his doctrine.
But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Saducees to silence, they came together.
And one of them, which was a lawyer, asked hym a question, temptyng hym, and saying:
Maister, which is the great commaundent in the lawe?
Iesus sayde vnto hym: Thou shalt loue the Lorde thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soule, and with all thy mynde.
This is the first and great commaundement.
And the seconde is lyke vnto this. Thou shalt loue thy neyghbour as thy selfe.
In these two commaundementes, hang all the lawe and the prophetes.
Whyle the Pharisees were gathered together, Iesus asked them,
Saying: what thynke ye of Christe? whose sonne is he? They sayde vnto hym [the sonne] of Dauid.
He sayde vnto them: howe then doth Dauid in spirite call him Lorde, saying:
The Lorde sayd vnto my Lorde: sit thou on my ryght hande, tyll I make thyne enemyes thy footestoole?
If Dauid then call him Lorde, howe is he then his sonne?
And no man was able to aunswere hym a worde: neither durst any man (from that day foorth) aske hym any mo questions.
THen spake Iesus to the multitudes, and to his disciples,
Saying: The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moyses seate.
All therfore, whatsoeuer they bid you obserue, that obserue and do: but do not ye after their workes, for they say, and do not.
Yea, they bynde together heauy burthens, and greeuous to be borne, and lay them on mens shoulders: but they them selues wyll not moue them with [one] of their fingers.
All their workes they do, for to be sene of men: They make broade their philacteries, and enlarge the hemmes of their garmentes.
And loue the vppermost seates at feastes, and to syt in the chiefe place in councels,
And greetynges in the markettes, and to be called of men, Rabbi.
But be not ye called Rabbi: For one is your maister, [euen] Christe, and all ye are brethren.
And call [no man] your father, vpon the earth: for one is your father, which is in heauen.
Neither be ye called maisters: for one is your maister [euen] Christe.
He that is greatest among you, shalbe your seruaunt.
But whosoeuer exalteth hym selfe, shalbe brought lowe: And he that humbleth hym selfe, shalbe exalted.
Wo vnto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: for ye shut vp the kingdome of heauen before men: ye neither go in your selues, neither suffer ye them that come, to enter in.
Wo vnto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: for ye deuoure widdowes houses, and that vnder a pretence of long prayer: therfore ye shall receaue the greater dampnation.
Wo vnto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: for ye compasse sea and lande, to make one proselyte: & when he is become one, ye make hym two folde more the chylde of hell, then ye your selues [are].
Wo be vnto you ye blynde guides: for ye say, whosoeuer doth sweare by the temple, it is nothyng: but whosoeuer sweareth by the golde of the temple, he is a detter.
Ye fooles and blynde. For whether is greater, the golde, or the temple that sanctifieth the golde?
And whosoeuer sweareth by the aulter, it is nothyng: but whosoeuer sweareth by the gyft that is vpon it, he is a detter.
Ye fooles and blynde, for whether is greater, the gyft: or the aulter that sanctifieth the gyft?
Who so therfore sweareth by the aulter, sweareth by it, and by all thynges theron.
And who so sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it, and by hym that dwelleth therin.
And he that sweareth by heauen, sweareth by the seate of God, and by hym that sitteth theron.
Wo vnto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye tythe mynt, and annise, and cummyn: and haue left the wayghtier matters of the lawe, iudgement, mercy, and fayth. These ought ye to haue done, and not to leaue the other vndone.
Ye blynde guides, which strayne out a gnat, and swalowe a Camel.
Wo vnto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites: for ye make cleane the vtter syde of the cup, & of the platter: but within they are full of brybery & excesse.
Thou blynde Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outsyde of them may be cleane also.
Wo vnto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites: for ye are lyke vnto paynted sepulchres, which in dede appeare beautifull outwarde, but are within full of dead [mens] bones, and of all fylthynes.
Euen so, ye also, outwardly appeare ryghteous vnto men: But within, ye are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie.
Wo vnto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites: ye builde the tombes of the Prophetes, and garnishe the sepulchres of the ryghteous:
And say, yf we had ben in the dayes of our fathers, we woulde not haue ben parteners with them in the blood of the prophetes.
And so ye be witnesses vnto your selues, that ye are the chyldren of them which kylled the prophetes.
Fulfyll ye lykewyse, the measure of your fathers.
Ye serpentes, ye generation of vipers, howe wyll ye escape the dampnation of hell?
Wherfore, beholde I sende vnto you prophetes, and wyse men, and Scribes, and [some] of them ye shall kyll and crucifie: and [some] of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from citie to citie.
That vpon you may come all the ryghteous blood, which hath ben shed vpon the earth, from the blood of ryghteous Abel, vnto the blood of Zacharias, sonne of Barachias, whom ye slewe betwene the temple & the aulter.
Veryly I say vnto you: all these thynges shal come vpon this generatio{n}.
O Hierusalem, Hierusalem, thou that kyllest the prophetes, and stonest them which are sent vnto thee: Howe often woulde I haue gathered thy chyldren together, euen as the henne gathereth her chickens vnder her wynges, and ye woulde not?
Beholde, your house is left vnto you desolate.
For I say vnto you: ye shall not see me hencefoorth, tyll that ye say, blessed [is he] that commeth in the name of the Lorde.
AND Iesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to hym, for to shewe hym the buildynges of the temple.
Iesus sayde vnto them: See ye not all these thynges? Veryly I say vnto you there shall not be here left [one] stone vpon another, that shall not be destroyed.
And as he sat vpon a mount of Oliues, his disciples came vnto hym secretly, saying: Tell vs, when shall these thynges be? & what shall be the token of thy commyng, & of the ende of the worlde?
And Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto them: take heede, that no man deceaue you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christe: and shall deceaue many.
Ye shal heare of warres, & rumours of warres: See that you be not troubled. For all [these thynges] must come to passe, but the ende is not yet.
Nation shall ryse agaynst nation, and realme agaynst realme: and there shalbe pestilence, and famine, and earthquakes, in [certayne] places.
All these are the begynnynges of sorowes.
Then shall they put you to trouble, and shall kyll you, and ye shalbe hated of all nations for my names sake.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
And many false prophetes shall aryse, and shall deceaue many.
And because iniquitie shall abounde, the loue of many shall waxe colde.
But he that endureth to the ende, the same shalbe saued.
And this Gospell of the kyngdome, shalbe preached in all the worlde, for a witnesse vnto all nations: and then shall the ende come.
When ye therefore, shall see the abhomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophete, stande in the holy place, (who so readeth, let hym vnderstande.)
Then let them which be in Iurie, flee into the mountaynes:
And let hym which is on the house toppe, not come downe to fet any thyng out of his house:
Neither let hym which is in the fielde, returne backe to fetche his clothes.
Wo shalbe in those dayes, to them that are with chylde, and to them that geue sucke.
But pray [ye] that your flyght be not in the Winter, neither on the Sabboth day:
For then shalbe great tribulation, such as was not since the begynnyng of the worlde, to this tyme, nor shalbe.
Yea, and except those dayes shoulde be shortened, there shoulde no fleshe be saued: but for the chosens sake, those dayes shalbe shortened.
Then yf any man saye vnto you: lo, here is Christe, or there: beleue it not.
For there shall aryse false Christes, and false prophetes, and shall shewe great signes, and wonders: In so much, that yf it were possible, the very elect, shoulde be deceaued.
Beholde, I haue tolde you before.
Wherfore, yf they say vnto you, beholde, he is in the desert: go not foorth. Beholde, he is in the secrete places: beleue it not.
For as the lyghtnyng commeth out of the east, and shineth into the west: so shall the commyng of the sonne of man be.
For whersoeuer a dead carkas is, euen there wyll the Egles also be gathered together.
Immediatly after the tribulation of those dayes, shal the sunne be darkened, and the moone shall not geue her lyght, and the starres shall fall from heauen, and the powers of heauen shalbe shaken.
And then shall appeare the signe of the sonne of man, in heauen: And then shall all the kynredes of the earth mourne, and they shall see the sonne of man comming in the cloudes of heauen, with power and great glory.
And he shall sende his Angels, with the great sounde of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his chosen, from the foure wyndes, euen from one ende of heauen, to the other.
Learne a parable of the fygge tree: when his braunche is yet tender, and the leaues sprong, ye knowe that so{m}mer is nye:
So lykewyse ye, when ye see all these thynges, be ye sure that it is neare, euen at the doores.
Veryly I say vnto you: this generation shall not passe, tyll all these thynges be fulfylled.
Heauen and earth shall passe away, but my wordes shall not passe away.
But of that day and houre knoweth no man, no not the Angels of heauen, but my father only.
But as the dayes of Not were, so shall also the commyng of the sonne of man be.
For as in the dayes [that went] before the fludde, they dyd eate, and drynke, marry, and geue in maryage, euen vntyll the day that Noe entred into the Arke:
And knewe not, tyll the fludde came, and toke them all away: So shall also the commyng of the sonne of man be.
Then shall two be in the fielde, the one receaued, and the other refused.
Two [women] shalbe gryndyng at the myll, the one receaued, and the other refused.
Watch therfore, for ye knowe not what houre your Lorde doth come.
Of this yet be sure, that yf the good man of the house, knewe what watche the thiefe woulde come, he woulde surely watche, and not suffer his house to be broken vp.
Therfore, be ye also redy: for in such an houre as ye thynke not, the sonne of man commeth.
Who is a faythfull and wise seruaunt, whom his Lorde hath made ruler ouer his householde, to geue them meate in season.
Blessed is that seruaunt, whom his Lorde when he commeth, shall fynde so doyng.
Veryly I say vnto you, that he shall make hym ruler ouer all his goodes.
But and yf that euyll seruaunt say in his heart, my Lorde wyll be long a commyng:
And so begyn to smyte his felowes, yea, and to eate and drynke with the dronken:
The same seruauntes Lorde shall come in a day, when he loketh not for hym, and in an houre that he is not ware of:
And shall hewe hym in peeces, & geue hym his portion with hypocrites: there shalbe wepyng and gnasshyng of teeth.
THen shall the kyngdome of heauen be lykened vnto ten virgins, which toke their lampes, and went to meete the brydegrome.
But fyue of them were foolyshe, and fyue were wyse.
They that were foolyshe, toke their lampes, but toke none oyle with them:
But the wise, toke oyle in their vessels, with their lampes also.
Whyle the brydegrome taryed, they all slumbred and slept.
And euen at mydnyght, there was a crye made: beholde, the brydegrome commeth, go out to meete hym.
Then all those virgins arose, and prepared their lampes.
So the foolyshe sayde vnto the wyse: geue vs of your oyle, for our lampes are gone out.
But the wyse aunswered, saying: [not so] lest there be not mough for vs & you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and bye for your selues.
And whyle they went to bye, the brydegome came: and they that were redy, went in with hym, to {th}e maryage, and the gate was shut vp.
Afterwarde came also the other virgins, saying: Lorde, Lorde, open to vs.
But he aunswered and sayde: veryly I say vnto you, I knowe you not.
Watch therfore, for ye knowe neither the day, nor yet the houre, wherin the sonne of man shall come.
Lykewyse, as a [certayne] man, redy to take his iourney into a straunge countrey, called his owne seruauntes, and delyuered vnto them his goodes.
And vnto one, he gaue fyue talentes, to another two, and to another one: to euery man after his habilitie, & strayght way departed.
Then he that had receaued the fyue talentes, went, and occupyed with the same, & made [them] other fyue talentes.
And lykewyse, he [that receaued] two: he also gayned other two.
But he that receaued that one, went and digged in the earth, and hyd his Lordes money.
After a long season, the Lorde of those seruauntes commeth, and reckeneth with them.
And so, he that had receaued fyue talentes, came, and brought other fyue talentes, saying: Lorde, thou delyueredst vnto me fyue talentes, beholde, I haue gayned with them fyue talentes mo.
His Lorde saide vnto him: Well done, thou good and faythfull seruau{n}t. Thou hast ben faythfull ouer fewe thynges, I wyll make thee ruler ouer manye thynges: enter thou into the ioy of thy Lorde.
He also that had receaued two talentes, came, and sayde: Lorde thou delyueredst vnto me two talentes, beholde, I haue wonne two other tale{n}tes with them.
His Lorde saide vnto him? Well done, good and faithfull seruaunt. Thou hast ben faythfull ouer fewe thinges, I wyl make thee ruler ouer many thynges: enter thou into the ioy of thy Lorde.
Then he which had receaued the one talent, came, and saide: Lorde I knew thee, that thou art an harde man, reapyng where thou hast not sowen, & gatheryng where thou hast not strowed.
And [therfore] was I afrayde, & went and hid thy talent in the earth: loe, there thou hast that thyne is.
His Lorde aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: Thou euyll and slouthfull seruau{n}t, thou knewest that I reape where I sowed not, and gather where I haue not strowed,
Thou oughtest therfore to haue delyuered my money to the exchaungers, and then at my commyng shoulde I haue receaued myne owne with vauntage.
Take therfore the talent from hym, and geue it vnto hym whiche hath ten talentes.
For vnto euery one that hath, shalbe geuen, and he shall haue aboundaunce: But he that hath not, from hym shalbe taken away, euen that which he hath.
And cast the vnprofitable seruaunt into vtter darknesse, there shalbe wepyng, and gnasshyng of teeth.
When the sonne of man shall come in his glorie, and all the holy Angels with hym, then shall he sitte vpon the throne of his glorie.
And before hym shalbe gathered all nations: and he shall seperate them one from another, as a shephearde deuideth his sheepe from the goates.
And he shall set the sheepe on his right hande, but the goates on the lefte.
Then shall the king say vnto them on his right hande: Come ye blessed of my father, inherite the kyngdome, prepared for you from the foundation of the worlde.
For I was an hungred, and ye gaue me meate: I was thirstie, and ye gaue me drynke: I was harbourlesse, and ye toke me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: Sicke, and ye visited me: I was in pryson, and ye came vnto me.
Then shall the ryghteous aunswere hym, saying: Lorde, when sawe we thee an hungred, & fedde thee? or thirstie and gaue thee drynke?
When sawe we thee harbourlesse, and toke thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when sawe we thee sicke, or in prison, and came vnto thee?
And the kyng shall aunswere, and say vnto them: Veryly I say vnto you, in as much as ye haue done it vnto one of the least of these my brethren, ye haue done [it] vnto me.
Then shall he saye vnto them on the left hande: Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire, which is prepared for the deuyll and his angels.
For I was an hungred, and ye gaue me no meate: I was thirstie, and ye gaue me no drynke.
I was harbourlesse, and ye toke me not in: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sicke, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Then shall they also aunswere hym, saying: Lorde, when sawe we thee an hungred, or a thirste, or harbourlesse, or naked, or sicke, or in pryson, and did not minister vnto thee?
Then shall he aunswere them, saying: Veryly I say vnto you, in as much as ye dyd it not to one of the least of these, ye dyd it not to me.
And these shall go into euerlastyng payne: the ryghteous into lyfe eternall.
AND it came to passe, when Iesus had finisshed all these sayinges, he sayde vnto his disciples:
Ye knowe, {tha}t after two dayes is {th}e feast of Passouer, and the sonne of man is betrayed, to be crucified.
Then assembled together the chiefe priestes, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, vnto the palace of the hye prieste, which was called Caiaphas:
And helde a councell, that they might take Iesus by subtiltie, and kyll hym.
But they sayde: Not on the feast [day] lest there be an vprore among {th}e people.
When Iesus was in Bethanie, in the house of Simon the leper,
There came vnto him a woman, hauing an Alabaster boxe of precious oyntment, and powred it on his head, as he sate [at the boorde.]
But when his disciples sawe it, they had indignation, saying: to what purpose [is] this waste?
This oyntment might haue ben well solde, and geuen to the poore.
When Iesus vnderstode that, he saide vnto them: Why trouble ye the woma{n}? for she hath wrought a good worke vppon me.
For ye haue the poore alwayes with you: but me shall ye not haue alwayes.
For in that she hath cast this oyntment on my body, she dyd it to bury me.
Veryly I say vnto you, wheresoeuer this Gospell shalbe preached in the world, there shall also this that she hath done, be tolde for a memoriall of her.
Then one of the twelue, called Iudas Iscariot, we{n}t vnto {th}e chiefe priestes,
And sayde [vnto them:] What wyll ye geue me, and I wyll delyuer hym vnto you? And they appoynted vnto hym thirtie peeces of syluer.
And from that tyme foorth, he sought oportunitie to betray hym.
The first day of sweete bread, the disciples came to Iesus, saying vnto him: Where wylt thou that we prepare for thee, to eate the Passouer?
And he saide: Go into the citie, to such a man, and say vnto hym, the maister sayth, my tyme is at hand, I wyll kepe the Passouer at thy house, with my disciples.
And the disciples dyd as Iesus had appoynted them: and they made redye the Passouer.
When the euen was come, he sate downe with the twelue.
And as they dyd eate, he sayde: Veryly I say vnto you, that one of you shall betray me.
And they were exceadyng sorowfull, and began euery one of them to say vnhym, Lorde is it I?
He aunswered, and saide: He that dippeth his hand with me in the disshe, the same shall betray me.
The sonne of man truely goeth, as it is writte{n} of him: but wo vnto that man by whom the sonne of man is betrayed: It had ben good for that man, yf he had not ben borne.
Then Iudas, which betrayed [hym] aunswered and sayde: Maister, is it I? He sayde vnto hym, thou hast sayde.
When they were eatyng, Iesus toke bread, and when he had geuen thankes, he brake [it,] and gaue [it] to the disciples, and saide: Take, eate, this is my body.
And he toke the cuppe, and after he had geuen thankes, gaue it them, saying: Drinke ye all of this,
For this is my blood, whiche [is] of the newe testament, that is shedde for many, for the remission of sinnes.
But I say vnto you, I wyll not drinke henceforth of this fruite of the vine tree, vntyll that day when I shall drynke it newe with you, in my fathers kyngdome.
And when they hadde praysed [God] they we{n}t out vnto the mount of Oliues.
Then sayth Iesus vnto them: All ye shalbe offe{n}ded because of me this night. For it is written: I wyll smyte the shephearde, and the sheepe of the flocke shalbe scattered abrode.
But after I am rysen againe, I wyll go before you into Galilee.
Peter aunswered, and said vnto him: though all men be offended, because of thee, yet wyll I neuer be offended.
Iesus sayde vnto hym: Veryly I say vnto thee, that in this same nyght, before the Cocke crowe, thou shalt denie me thryse.
Peter sayde vnto hym: Though I shoulde dye with thee, yet wyll I not denie thee. Lykewyse also sayde all the disciples.
Then came Iesus with them vnto a place, which is called Gethsemane, and sayde vnto the disciples: Sit ye here, whyle I go and pray yonder.
And he toke with him Peter, and the two sonnes of Zebedee, and began to waxe sorowfull and heauy.
Then sayde Iesus vnto them: My soule is heauy, euen vnto the death, tary ye here, and watche with me.
And he went a litle farther, and fell s•at on his face, and prayed, saying: O my father, if it be possible, let this cuppe passe from me: Neuerthelesse, not as I wyll, but as thou wylt.
And he came vnto the disciples, and founde them aslepe, and sayth vnto Peter: What, coulde ye not watche with me one houre?
Watche, and praye, that ye enter not into temptation: The spirite in deede is wyllyng, but the fleshe is weake.
He went away once againe, & prayed, saying: O my father, if this cuppe may not passe away fro{m} me, except I drinke it, thy wyll be fulfylled.
And he came, and founde them a slepe agayne: for, their eyes were heauy.
And he left them, and went agayne, and prayed the thirde tyme, saying the same wordes.
Then commeth he to his disciples, and sayth vnto them: Slepe hencefoorth, & take your rest, beholde, the houre is at hande, and the sonne of man is betrayed into the handes of synners.
Ryse, let vs be goyng: beholde, he is at hande that doth betray me.
Whyle he yet spake, loe Iudas, one of the twelue, came, and with hym a great multitude, with swordes & staues, from the chiefe priestes and elders of the people.
But he that betrayed him, gaue them a token, saying: Whomsoeuer I kysse, that same is he, holde hym fast.
And foorthwith, he came to Iesus, and sayde, hayle maister: and kyssed hym.
And Iesus sayde vnto hym: Frende, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and layed handes on Iesus, and toke hym.
And beholde, one of them which were with Iesus, stretched out his hande, and drewe his sworde, and stroke a seruaunt of the hye priestes, and smote of his eare.
Then saide Iesus vnto hym: Put vp thy sworde into his sheathe. For all they that take the sworde, shall peryshe with the sworde.
Thynkest thou that I can not nowe pray to my father, and he shall geue me more then twelue legions of Angels?
But howe then shall the scriptures be fulfylled? For thus must it be.
In that same houre, sayde Iesus to the multitudes: Ye be come out, as it were vnto a thiefe, with swordes and staues, for to take me. I sate dayly with you, teachyng in the temple, and ye toke me not.
But all this is done, that the scriptures of the prophetes myght be fulfylled. Then all the disciples forsoke him, and fledde.
And they toke Iesus, and ledde hym to Caiaphas the hye prieste, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
But Peter folowed hym a farre of, vnto the hye priestes palace, and went in, and sate with the seruauntes to see the ende.
The chiefe priestes, and elders, and all the councell, sought false witnesse agaynst Iesus, for to put hym to death,
But founde none: yea, when many false witnesses came, yet founde they none. At the last, came two false witnesses,
And sayde: This [felowe] sayde: I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to buylde it agayne in three dayes.
And the chiefe priest arose, and sayde vnto hym: Aunswerest thou nothyng? Why do these beare witnesse agaynst thee?
But Iesus helde his peace. And the chiefe priest aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: I charge thee by the liuing God, that thou tel vs, whether thou be Christ the sonne of God?
Iesus saith vnto him: thou hast said. Neuerthelesse, I saye vnto you, hereafter shall ye see the sonne of man sitting on the ryght hande of power, and commyng in the cloudes of the skye.
Then the hye priest rent his clothes, saying: He hath spoken blasphemie, what nede we of any mo witnesses? Beholde, now ye haue hearde his blasphemie,
What thynke ye? They aunswered and sayde: he is worthy to dye.
Then dyd they spyt in his face, and buffeted hym with fistes. And other smote hym on his face with the paulme of their handes,
Saying: prophecie vnto vs, O Christ, who is he that smote thee?
Peter sate without in the palace: And a damsell came to hym, saying, Thou also wast with Iesus of Galilee.
But he denied before them all, saying: I wote not what thou sayest.
When he was gone out into the porch, another wenche sawe hym, and sayde vnto them that were there: This felowe was also with Iesus of Nazareth.
And agayne he denyed with an oth: I do not knowe the man.
And after a whyle, came vnto hym they that stode by, and sayde vnto Peter: Surely thou art euen one of them, for thy speache bewrayeth thee.
Then began he to curse, & to sweare, that he knewe not the man. And immediatly the Cocke crewe.
And Peter remembred the worde of Iesu, which sayde vnto hym, before the Cocke crowe, thou shalt denie me thrise: and he went out, and wept bytterly.
WHen the mornyng was come, all the chiefe priestes, and the elders of the people, helde a councell agaynst Iesus to put hym to death.
And brought hym bounde, and deliuered hym to Pontius Pilate the deputie.
Then Iudas, whiche had betrayed hym, seyng that he was condempned, repented hym selfe, and brought agayne the thirtie peeces of syluer, to the chiefe priestes and elders,
Saying: I haue synned, betraying the innocent blood. And they said: what is that to vs? see thou to that.
And he cast downe the peeces of siluer in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged hym selfe.
And the chiefe priestes toke the peeces of syluer, and sayde: It is not lawfull for to put the{m} into the treasurie, because it is the price of blood.
And they toke councell, and bought with them a potters fielde, to burye straungers in.
Wherfore that fielde is called the fielde of blood, vntyll this day.
(Then was fulfylled that, which was spoken by Ieremie the prophet, saying: And they toke thirtie siluer peeces, the price of hym that was valued, whom they bought of the children of Israel:
And gaue them for the potters fielde, as the Lorde appoynted me.)
Iesus stode before the deputie, and the deputie asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the Iewes? Iesus saith vnto hym: thou sayest.
And when he was accused of the chiefe priestes and elders, he aunswered nothyng.
Then sayth Pilate vnto him: hearest thou not how many witnesses they lay agaynst thee?
And he aunswered hym to neuer a worde: insomuch, that the deputie marueyled greatly.
At that feast, the deputie was wont to delyuer vnto the people a prysoner, whom they woulde desire.
He had then a notable prysoner, called Barabbas.
Therfore, when they were gathered together, Pilate saide vnto them: whether wyll ye that I geue loose vnto you Barabbas, or Iesus, whiche is called Christe?
For he knewe, that for enuy they had delyuered hym.
When he was set downe to geue iudgment, his wyfe sent vnto hym, saying: haue thou nothing to do with that iuste man: For I haue suffred many thynges this day in a dreame because of him.
But the chiefe priestes & elders perswaded the people, that they shoulde aske Barabbas, and destroy Iesus.
The deputie aunswered, and saide vnto them: Whether of the twayne wyll ye that I let loose vnto you? They saide, Barabbas.
Pilate sayde vnto them: What shall I do then with Iesus, whiche is called Christe? They all sayde vnto hym: let hym be crucified.
The deputie sayde: What euyll hath he done? But they cryed the more, saying: let hym be crucified.
When Pilate sawe that he coulde preuayle nothyng, but that more busynesse was made, he toke water, and washed his handes before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this iust person, see ye to it.
Then aunswered all the people, and sayde: His blood be on vs, and on our chyldren.
Then let he Barabbas loose vnto them, and scourged Iesus, and deliuered hym to be crucified.
Then the souldiours of the deputie toke Iesus in the common hall, and gathered vnto hym all the bande [of souldiours.]
And they stripped hym, and put on hym a skarlet robe:
And platted a crowne of thornes, and put vppon his head, and a reede in his right hande, and bowed the knee before hym, and mocked hym, saying: Hayle kyng of the Iewes.
And when they had spyt vpon hym, they toke the reede, and smote hym on the head.
And after that they had mocked him, they toke the robe of hym agayne, and put his owne rayment on hym, and led hym away, to crucifie hym.
And as they came out, they founde a man of Cyrene, named Simon: hym they compelled to beare his crosse.
And they came vnto the place, which is called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of [dead mens] skulles.
And gaue him vineger to drinke, mingled with gall: And when he had tasted therof, he woulde not drynke.
When they had crucified hym, they parted his garmentes, & did cast lottes, that it myght be fulfylled whiche was spoken by the prophete: They departed my garmentes among them, & vpon my vesture dyd they cast lottes.
And they sate, & watched him there.
And set vp ouer his head, the cause [of his death] written: This is Iesus, the king of the Iewes.
Then were there two thieues crucified with hym: one on the ryght hande, and another on the left.
They that passed by, reuyled hym, waggyng their heades,
And saying: Thou that destroyedst the temple, & buyldest it in three dayes, saue thy selfe. If thou be the sonne of God, come downe from the crosse.
Lykewyse also the hye priestes, mockyng hym, with the scribes, and elders, [and pharisees] sayde:
He saued other, hym selfe can he not saue. If he be the kyng of Israel, let him nowe come downe from the crosse, and we wyll beleue hym.
He trusted in God, let hym delyuer hym nowe, yf he wyll haue hym: for he sayde, I am the sonne of God.
The thieues also which were crucified with hym, cast the same in his teeth.
Fro{m} the sixth houre, was there darknesse ouer all the lande, vnto the nynth houre.
And about the nynth houre, Iesus cried with a loude voyce, saying: Eli, Eli, lama sabachtani, that is to say: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Some of them that stode there, when they hearde that, saide: This man calleth for Elias.
And straightway one of them ranne, and toke a sponge, and when he had filled it full of vineger, he put it on a reede, and gaue hym to drynke.
Other sayde, let be, let vs see whether Elias wyll come and saue hym.
Iesus, when he had cryed agayne with a loude voyce, yeelded vp {th}e ghost.
And beholde, the vayle of the temple dyd rent into two partes, fro{m} the toppe to the bottome, and the earth did quake and the stones rent.
And graues dyd open, and many bodyes of saintes which slept, arose:
And went out of the graues, after his resurrection, and came into the holy citie, and appeared vnto many.
When the Centurion, and they that were with hym watchyng Iesus, sawe the earthquake, and those thynges that were done, they feared greatly, saying: truely, this was the sonne of God.
And many wome{n} were there (beholdyng hym a farre of) whiche folowed Iesus fro{m} Galilee, ministring vnto him.
Among which, was Marie Magdalene, and Marie the mother of Iames and Ioses, & the mother of Zebedees chyldren.
When the euen was come, there came a ryche man of Aramathia, named Ioseph, which also hym selfe was Iesus disciple.
He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Iesus. Then Pilate co{m}maunded the body to be delyuered.
And when Ioseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a cleane lynnen cloth:
And layde it in his newe tombe, which he had hewen out, euen in the rocke, and rolled a great stone to the dore of the sepulchre, and departed.
And there was Marie Magdalene, & the other Marie, syttyng ouer against the sepulchre.
The next day that folowed the day of preparyng, the hye priestes and pharisees came together vnto Pilate,
Saying. Sir, we remember that this deceauer sayde whyle he was yet aliue: After three dayes I wil arise agayne.
Commaunde therfore, that the sepulchre be made sure, vntyll the thirde day: lest his disciples come by nyght & steale hym away, and say vnto the people, he is rysen from the dead: & the last error shalbe worse then the first.
Pilate sayde vnto them: Ye haue the watche, go your way, make it as sure as ye knowe.
So they went, and made the sepulchre sure with the watch, and sealed the stone.
IN the later ende of the Sabboth day, whiche dawneth the first daye of the weke, came Marie Magdalen, and the other Marie, to see the sepulchre.
And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the Angell of the Lorde descended from heauen, and came & roulled backe the stone from the doore, and sate vpon it.
His countenaunce was lyke lyghtnyng, and his rayment white as snowe.
And for feare of him, the kepers were astonyed, and became as dead men.
The Angell aunswered, and sayde vnto the women, feare ye not: For I knowe that ye seke Iesus whiche was crucified.
He is not here, he is rysen, as he saide. Come, se the place where that the Lord was layde.
And go quickly, & tell his disciples that he is rysen agayne from the dead. And beholde, he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall ye see hym. Loe, I haue tolde you.
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre, with feare, and great ioy, and dyd runne, to bryng his disciples worde.
And as they went to tell his disciples, beholde, Iesus met them, saying: All hayle. And they came and helde him by the feete, and worshypped hym.
Then sayde Iesus vnto them: be not afrayde. Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, & there shal they see me.
When they were gone, beholde, some of the watche came into the citie, and shewed vnto the hye priestes all the thynges that were done.
And they gathered the{m} together, with the elders, and toke councell, and gaue large money vnto the souldiers,
Saying. Saye ye, that his disciples came by nyght, & stole hym away while ye slept.
And yf this come to the deputies [eares] we wyll perswade hym, and saue you harmelesse.
So they toke the money, & dyd as they were taught. And this saying is noysed among the Iewes, vntyl this day.
Then the eleuen disciples went awaye into Galilee, into a mountayne, where Iesus had appoynted them.
And when they sawe hym, they worshypped hym: But some doubted.
And Iesus came, and spake vnto the{m}, saying: All power is geuen vnto me in heauen and in earth.
Go ye therfore, & teache all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the sonne, and of the holye ghost:
Teachyng the{m} to obserue all thynges, whatsoeuer I haue commaunded you. And loe, I am with you alway, euen vnto the ende of the worlde.
THE begynnyng of the Gospel of Iesu Christ, the sonne of God.
As it hath ben written in the prophetes: Beholde, I sende my messenger before thy face, whiche shall prepare thy waye before thee.
A voyce of hym that crieth in the wyldernesse: Prepare ye the waye of the Lorde, and make his pathes strayght.
Iohn did baptize in the wyldernesse, and preached the baptisme of repentaunce, for the remission of sinnes.
And all the land of Iurie, and they of Hierusal•, went out vnto hym, and were all ••ptized of hym in the ryuer of Iordan• •onfessyng their synnes.
Iohn •s clothed with Camelles heere, a•• with a girdle of a skynne about his loynes: and he did eate locustes and wylde hony.
And preached, saying: He that is stronger then I, commeth after me, whose shoe latchet I am not worthy to stowpe downe, and vnloose.
I haue baptized you with water: but he shal baptize you with the holy ghost.
And it came to passe in those dayes, that Iesus came fro{m} Nazareth, of Galilee, & was baptized of Iohn in Iordane.
And assone as he was come vp out of the water, he sawe heauen open, & the spirite descending vpon him like a doue.
And there came a voyce from heauen: Thou art my deare sonne, in whom I am well pleased.
And immediatly the spirite driueth hym into wyldernesse.
And he was there in the wyldernesse fourtie dayes, and was tempted of Satan, & was with wylde beastes. And the Angels ministred vnto hym.
After that Iohn was deliuered [to prison] Iesus came into Galilee, preachyng the Gospell of the kyngdome of God,
And saying: The tyme is come, and the kyngdome of God is at hande: repent, and beleue the Gospell.
As he walked by the sea of Galilee, he sawe Simon, and Andrewe his brother, castyng nettes into the sea (for they were fysshers.)
And Iesus saide vnto them: Folowe me, and I wyll make you to become fysshers of men.
And strayghtway they forsoke their nettes, and folowed hym.
And when he had gone a litle further thence, he saw Iames the sonne of Zebedee, and Iohn his brother, which also were in the shippe, mendyng their nettes.
And anone he called them: And they lefte their father Zebedee in the shippe with the hired seruauntes, and folowed hym.
And they came into Capernaum, & strayghtway, on the Sabboth dayes, he entred into the synagogue, & taught.
And they were astonyed at his learnyng: For he taught them, as one that had aucthoritie, & not as the Scribes.
And there was in their synagogue, a man vexed with an vncleane spirite, & he cried,
Saying: Alas, what haue we [to do] with thee, thou Iesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy vs? I knowe thee what thou art, euen that holy one of God.
And Iesus rebuked hym, saying: holde thy peace, and come out of hym.
And when the vncleane spirite hadde torne hym, & cryed with a loude voyce, he came out of hym.
And they were all amased, insomuch that they demaunded one of another among them selues, saying: What thing is this? What newe doctrine is this? For with aucthoritie commaunded he the fowle spirites, and they obeyed him.
And immediatly his fame spread abrode throughout all the region borderyng on Galilee.
And foorthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entred into the house of Simon, and Andrewe, with Iames, and Iohn.
But Simons wyues mother lay sicke of a feuer: & anone they tell hym of her.
And he came, & toke her by the hande, and lyft her vp: and immediatly the feuer forsoke her, and [she] ministred vnto them.
And at euen, when the sonne was downe, they brought vnto hym all that were diseased, and them that were vexed with deuyls:
And all the citie was gathered together at the dore.
And he healed many, that were sicke of diuers diseases, and caste out many deuyls: and suffred not the deuyls to speake, because they knewe hym.
And in the mornyng, before day, Iesus, when he was rysen vp, departed, and went out into a solitarie place, and there prayed.
And Simon, & they that were with hym, folowed after hym:
And when they had founde hym, they sayde vnto hym: all men seke for thee.
And he saide vnto them: let vs go into the nexte townes, that I may preache there also: for, therfore am I come.
And he preached in their synagogues, in all Galilee, and cast the deuyls out.
And there came a leper to hym, besechyng him, and knelyng downe to him, and saying vnto hym: If thou wylt, thou canst make me cleane.
And Iesus had compassion on hym, and put foorth his hande, touched hym, and sayth vnto hym: I wyll, be thou cleane.
And assoone as he had spoken, immediatly the leprosie departed from hym, and he was made cleane.
And after he had geuen hym a strayte commaundement, he sent hym away foorthwith,
And sayth vnto hym: See thou saye nothing to any man, but get thee hence, shew thy selfe to the priest, and offer for thy clensyng those thinges which Moyses commaunded, for a witnesse vnto them.
But he, assoone as he was departed, began to tell many thynges, and to publishe the saying: insomuch, that Iesus could no more openly enter into the citie, but was without in desert places: And they came to him from euery quarter.
AFter [a fewe] dayes also, he entred into Capernaum agayne, and it was noysed {tha}t he was in the house.
And anone many were gathered together, in somuch that nowe there was no rowme to receaue them, no, not so muche as about the dore: and he preached the word vnto them.
And they came vnto hym, bryngyng one sicke of the paulsie, whiche was borne of foure men.
And when they coulde not come nye vnto hym for prease, they vncouered the roofe [of the house] that he was in: And whe{n} they had broken vp the roofe, they dyd [with cordes] let downe the bedde, wherin the sicke of the paulsie lay.
When Iesus sawe their fayth, he saide vnto the sicke of the paulsie: Sonne, thy synnes be forgeuen thee.
But there were certayne of the scribes syttyng there, and reasonyng in theyr heartes:
Why doeth he thus speake blasphemies? Who can forgeue sinnes, but God only?
And immediatly, when Iesus perceaued in his spirite, that they so reasoned within them selues, he saith vnto them: why reason ye suche thynges in your heartes?
Whether is it easyer to say to the sicke of the paulsie, thy synnes be forgeuen thee: or to say, aryse, take vp thy bedde, and walke?
But that ye may know, that the sonne of man hath power in earth to forgeue synnes (He spake vnto the sicke of the paulsie)
I saye vnto thee, aryse, and take vp thy bedde, and get thee hence vnto thine house.
And immediatly he arose, toke vp the bedde, and went foorth before them all: insomuch that they were all amazed, & glorified God, saying: we neuer sawe it on this fashion.
And he went againe vnto the sea: and all the people resorted vnto him, and he taught them.
And as Iesus passed bye, he sawe Leui [the sonne] of Alphee, sittyng at the receipt of custome, and sayde vnto hym: folowe me. And he arose, and folowed hym.
And it came to passe, that when Iesus sate at meate in his house, many publicanes and sinners sate also together at meate with Iesus and his disciples: for there were many that folowed him.
And when the scribes and pharisees sawe hym eate with publicanes and sinners, they saide vnto his disciples: howe is it that he eateth and drynketh with publicanes and synners?
When Iesus hearde that, he saide vnto them: They that be whole, haue no nede of the phisition, but they that are sicke: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentaunce.
And the disciples of Iohn, & the Pharisees dyd fast. And they come, and say vnto him: Why do {th}e disciples of Iohn, and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
And Iesus sayde vnto them: Can the chyldren of the brydechaumber fast, whyle the brydegrome is with them? As long as they haue the brydegrome with them, they can not fast.
But the dayes wyll come, when the brydegrome shalbe taken awaye from them, and then shall they fast in those dayes.
No man also soweth a peece of newe cloth, vnto an olde garment: otherwayes, his newe peece taketh awaye from the olde, and so the rent is made worse.
And no man powreth newe wine into olde vessels: els the newe wine doth burst the vessels, and the wine runneth out, and the vessels are marred: But newe wine, must be put into newe vessels.
And it came to passe, that he went thorowe the corne fieldes on the Sabboth dayes, and his disciples began by {th}e way to plucke the eares of corne.
And the pharisees sayde vnto hym: Beholde, why do they on the Sabboth dayes, that which is not lawfull?
And he sayde vnto them: Haue ye neuer read what Dauid did, when he had nede, and was an hungred, both he, and they that were with hym?
Howe he went into the house of God [in the dayes] of Abiathar the hye prieste, and dyd eate the shewe bread, which is not lawfull to eate, but for the priestes, and gaue also to them which were with hym?
And he sayde vnto them: The Sabboth was made for man, and not man for the Sabboth.
Therfore is the sonne of man, Lorde also of the Sabboth.
AND he entred agayne into the synagogue, & a man was there whiche had a wythered hande:
And they watched hym, whether he woulde heale hym on the Sabboth daye, that they myght accuse hym.
And he saide vnto the man which had the wythered hande: Aryse, [and stande] in the myddes.
And he saide vnto them: Is it lawful to do good on the Sabboth dayes, or to do euyl? to saue lyfe, or to kyll? But they helde their peace.
And when he had loked rounde about on them with anger, mournyng for the hardnesse of their heartes, he sayth to the man: stretch foorth thyne hande. And he stretched it out: And his hande was restored, euen as whole as the other.
And the pharisees departed, and strayghtway gathered a councell, with the Herodians, agaynst hym, that they myght destroy hym.
But Iesus auoyded, with his disciples, to the sea: And a great multitude folowed hym from Galilee, and from Iurie,
And from Hierusalem, & from Idumea, and from beyonde Iordane, and they that dwelled about Tyre & Sidon, a great multitude [of men:] Which, whe{n} they had hearde what thynges he dyd, came vnto hym.
And Iesus co{m}maunded his disciples, that a shippe shoulde wayte on hym, because of the people, leste they shoulde thronge hym.
For he had healed many: insomuche, that they preassed vpon him for to touch hym, as many as had plagues.
And when the vncleane spirites sawe hym, they fell downe before hym, and cryed, saying: Thou art the sonne of God.
And he straytely charged them, that they shoulde not make hym knowen.
And he went vp into a mountayne, & called vnto him whom he woulde: and they came vnto hym.
And he ordeyned twelue, that they shoulde be with him, and that he might sende them foorth to preache,
And that they myght haue power to heale sicknesses, and to cast out deuyls.
And he gaue vnto Simon to name, Peter.
And he called Iames [the sonne] of Zebedee, and Iohn, Iames brother (and gaue them to name Boanarges, which is to say, the sonnes of thunder.)
And Andrewe, and Philip, and Bartholomewe, and Matthewe, and Thomas, and Iames the sonne of Alphee, and Thaddeus, and Simon Cananite,
And Iudas Iscariot, which also betrayed hym. And they came into the house:
And the people assembled together agayne, so that they had no leysure so much as to eate bread.
And when they that belonged vnto hym, hearde of it, they went out to laye handes vpon hym: For they sayde, he is madde.
And the scribes whiche came downe from Hierusalem, sayde: He hath Beelzebub, and by the chiefe deuyll, casteth he out deuyls.
And he called them vnto hym, & sayde vnto them in parables: Howe can Satan driue out Satan?
And yf a realme be deuided agaynst it selfe, that realme can not endure.
And yf a house be deuided agaynst it selfe, that house can not continue.
And yf Satan make insurrection agaynst him selfe & be deuided, he can not continue, but hath an ende.
No man can enter into a strong mans house, and take away his goodes, except he first bynde the strong man, and then spoyle his house.
Veryly I say vnto you, al sinnes shalbe forgeuen vnto the chyldren of men, & blasphemies wherewith so euer they haue blasphemed:
But he that speaketh blasphemie agaynst the holy ghoste, hath neuer forgeuenesse, but is in daunger of eternall dampnation.
For they sayde: he hath an vncleane spirite.
There came also his mother, and his brethren, and stoode without, and sent vnto hym, to call hym out.
And the people sate about him, & saide vnto hym: Beholde, thy mother and thy brethren seke for thee without.
And he aunswered them, saying: who is my mother, and my brethren?
And when he had loked rounde about on his disciples, which sate in compasse about hym, he sayde: Beholde my mother, and my brethren.
For whosoeuer doeth the wyl of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
AND he began agayne to teache by the sea syde: And ther gathered vnto hym much people, so greatly, that he entred into a shippe, and sate in the sea: and all the people was by the sea syde on the shore:
And he taught them many thinges by parables, and sayde vnto them in his doctrine.
Hearken: Beholde, there went out a sower to sowe:
And it fortuned as he sowed, that some fell by the way syde, and the fowles of the ayre came, and deuoured it vp.
Some fell on stonie grounde, where it had not muche earth: and immediatly sprange vp, because it had not deapth of earth.
But assoone as the sonne was vp, it caught heate: and because it hadde not roote, it wythered away.
And some fell among thornes: and the thornes grewe vp, and choked it, and it gaue no fruite.
And some fell vpon good grounde, and dyd yelde fruite, that sprang vp, and grewe, and brought foorth, some thirtie folde, and some sixtie folde, and some an hundred folde.
And he saide vnto them: He that hath eares to heare, let hym heare.
And when he was alone, they that were about hym, with the twelue, asked of hym the parable.
And he sayde vnto them: To you it is geuen to knowe the misterie of the kingdome of God: But vnto them that are without, all thynges are done by parables,
That when they see, they may see and not discerne: and whe{n} they heare, they may heare and not vnderstande, lest at any tyme, they shoulde turne, and their sinnes shoulde be forgeuen them.
And he sayde vnto them: Knowe ye not this parable? And howe then wyll ye knowe all other parables?
The sower, soweth the worde.
And they [that receaued seede] by the way side, are those where the worde is sowe{n}: but when they haue hearde, Satan co{m}meth immediatly, and taketh away the word that was sowen in their heartes.
And lykewyse they that receaue seede into the stonie grounde, are they, which when they haue hearde the worde, at once receaue it with gladnesse.
Yet haue no roote in them selues, and so endure but a tyme: and anone when trouble and persecution aryseth for the wordes sake, immediatlye they are offended.
And those be they that receaue seede among thornes: and those [I saye] are such as heare the worde,
And the cares of this worlde, and the deceytfulnesse of ryches, and the lustes of other thynges enter in, and choke the worde, and it is made vnfruitefull.
And they whiche receaue seede into good grounde, are suche as heare the worde, and receaue it, so that one corne doth bryng foorth thirtie, some sixtie, some an hundred.
And he saide vnto them: Is the candle lyghted to be put vnder a busshell, or vnder the table? And not to be put on a candelsticke?
For there is nothing so priuie that shal not be opened: neither hath it ben so secrete, but that it shall come abrode.
If any man haue eares to heare, let hym heare.
And he sayde vnto them, take heede what ye heare: With what measure ye meate, with the same shall it be measured to you agayne. And vnto you that heare, shall more be geuen.
For vnto hym that hath, shall it be geuen: and from hym that hath not, shalbe taken away, euen that which he hath.
And he sayde, so is the kyngdome of God: euen as yf a man shoulde sowe seede in the grounde,
And shoulde slepe, and ryse vp nyght and day, and the seede shoulde spryng & growe vp, he knoweth not howe.
For the earth bringeth foorth fruite of her selfe, first the blade, then the eare, after that, the full corne in the eare.
But when the fruite is brought foorth, anone he thrusteth in the sickle, because the haruest is come.
And he sayde: Wherevnto shall we lyken the kyngdome of God? Or with what comparyson shall we compare it?
It is like a grayne of mustarde seede, whiche when it is sowen in the earth, is lesse then all seedes that be in the earth.
When it is sowen, it groweth vp, and is greater then all hearbes, and beareth great braunches, so that the fowles of the ayre may make their nestes vnder the shadowe of it.
And with many such parables preached he the worde vnto them, as they were able to heare it.
But without parable spake he nothing vnto them. But when they were alone, he expounded all thynges to his disciples.
And the same day, when euen was come, he saide vnto them: Let vs passe ouer vnto the other syde.
And they left the people, and toke him, euen as he was in the shippe. And there were also with him, other litle shippes.
And there arose a great storme of wynde, and the waues dasshed into the shippe, so that it was nowe full.
And he was in the sterne a slepe on a pelowe. And they awaked hym, and sayde vnto hym: Maister, carest thou not that we peryshe?
And he arose, and rebuked the wynde, and saide vnto the sea, peace and be styll. And the wynde ceassed, & there folowed a great calme.
And he sayde vnto them: why are ye so fearefull? Howe is it, that ye haue no fayth?
And they feared exceadyngly, and sayde one to another: Who is this? For both wynde and sea obey hym.
AND they came ouer to the other syde of the sea, into the countrey of the Gadarenites.
And when he was come out of the shippe, immediatly there met hym from among the tombes, a man [possessed] of an vncleane spirite:
Which had his abidyng among the tombes: And no man coulde bynde him, no not with cheynes,
Because, that when he was often bounde with fetters and cheynes, he plucked the cheynes a sunder, and brake the fetters in peeces: Neither coulde any man tame hym.
And alwayes, nyght and day, he was in the mountaynes, and in the tombes, crying, and beatyng hym selfe with stones.
But when he had spied Iesus a farre of, he ranne, and worshypped hym,
And cried with a loude voyce, & sayde: what haue I to do with thee Iesus thou sonne of the most hyest God? I require thee in the name of God, that thou torment me not.
(For he sayde vnto hym: come out of the man thou foule spirite.)
And he asked hym, what is thy name? And he aunswered and sayd vnto hym: my name is legion, for we are many.
And he prayed hym instantly, that he woulde not sende them away, out of the countrey.
But there was there, nye vnto the mountaynes, a great hearde of swyne feedyng.
And all the deuyls besought hym, saying: sende vs into the swyne, that we may enter into them.
And anone Iesus gaue them leaue. And the vncleane spirites went out, and entred into the swyne: And the hearde ran headlong into the sea, (they were about two thousande,) & were drowned in the sea.
And the swyneheardes fled, and tolde it in the citie, and in the countrey. And they went out for to see what was done:
And came to Iesus, and sawe hym that was vexed with the fiende, and had the legion, syt, both clothed, and in his right mynde: & they were afraide.
And they that sawe it, tolde them, howe it came to passe to hym that was possessed with the deuyll: and also of the swyne.
And they beganne to pray hym, that he woulde depart out of their coastes.
And when he was come into the shippe, he that had [ben possessed] with the deuyll, prayed hym, that he myght be with hym.
Howebeit, Iesus woulde not suffer hym, but sayde vnto hym: go home to thy frendes, and shewe them howe great thynges the Lorde hath done for thee, and howe he had compassion on thee.
And he departed, and beganne to publyshe in the ten cities, howe great thynges Iesus had done for hym: and all men dyd maruayle.
And when Iesus was come ouer agayne by shippe, vnto the other syde, much people gathered vnto hym, and he was nye vnto the sea.
And beholde, there came one of the rulers of the synagogue, whose name was Iairus: and when he sawe hym, he fell downe at his feete,
And besought hym greatly, saying: my young daughter lieth at poynt of death, [I pray thee] come and lay thy hande on her, that she may be safe, and lyue.
And he went with hym, and much people folowed him, and thronged him.
And there was a certayne woman, which had ben diseased of an issue of blood twelue yeres,
And had suffred many thynges, of many phisitions, and had spent all that she had, and felt none amendemet at all, but rather the worse.
When she had hearde of Iesus, she came in the prease behynde hym, and touched his garment.
For she sayde: yf I may but touche his clothes, I shalbe whole.
And strayghtway the fountayne of her blood was dryed vp: & she felt in her body, that she was healed of {th}e plague.
And Iesus immediatly, knowyng in hym selfe, that vertue proceaded from hym, turned hym about in the prease, and sayde: who touched my clothes?
And his disciples sayde vnto hym: thou seest the people thrust thee, & askest thou, who dyd touche me?
And he loked rounde about, for to see her that had done this thyng.
But the woman, fearyng & tremblyng, knowyng what was done within her, came, and fell downe before hym, and tolde hym all the trueth.
And he sayde vnto her: Daughter thy fayth hath saued thee, go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Whyle he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogues [house], certayne, which sayde: thy daughter is dead, why diseasest thou the maister any further?
Assoone as Iesus hearde the worde that was spoken, he sayde vnto the ruler of the synagogue, be not afrayde, only beleue.
And he suffred no man to folowe him, saue Peter, and Iames, and Iohn the brother of Iames.
And he came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and sawe the tumult, and them that wept & wayled greatly.
And went in, and sayde vnto them: why make ye this a doe, and wepe? the damsell is not dead, but slepeth.
And they laught hym to scorne: But he put them all out, and taketh the father and the mother of the damsell, and them that were with hym, and entreth in where the damsell laye,
And taketh the damsell by the hande, and sayth vnto her. Talitha cumi, which is, yf one do interprete it, damsell (I say vnto thee) aryse.
And strayghtway the damsell arose, and walked: For she was of the age of twelue yeres. And they were astonyed out of measure.
And he charged them straytly, that no man shoulde knowe of it: and commaunded to geue her meate.
ANd he departed thence, & came into his owne countrey, and his disciples folowed him.
And when the sabboth day was come, he beganne to teache in the synagogue: And many that hearde hym, were astonyed, and sayde: from whence hath he these thynges? And what wisdome is this that is geuen vnto hym? and such myghtie workes that are wrought by his handes?
Is not this the carpenter Maries sonne, the brother of Iames & Ioses, and of Iuda and Simon? and are not his sisters here with vs? And they were offended at hym.
Iesus sayde vnto them, that a prophete is not without honour, but in his owne countrey, and among his owne kynne, and in his owne house.
And he coulde there shewe no mightie worke: but layde his handes vpon a fewe sicke folke, and healed them.
And he marueyled, because of their vnbeliefe. And he went about by the townes that lay on euery syde, teachyng.
And he called the twelue, and beganne to sende them foorth, two and two, and gaue the{m} power ouer vncleane spirites.
And commaunded them, that they shoulde take nothyng in their iourney, saue a staffe only: no scrippe, no bread, no money in their purse.
But shoulde be shoed with sandales: And that they shoulde not put on two coates.
And he sayde vnto them: Whersoeuer ye enter into an house, there abyde tyll ye depart thence.
And whosoeuer shall not receaue you nor heare you, when ye depart thence, shake of the dust that is vnder your feet, for a witnesse vnto them: I say veryly vnto you, it shalbe easyer for the Sodomites and the Gomorrheans in the day of iudgement, then for that citie.
And they went out, & preached, that men should repent.
And they cast out many deuyls, and annoynted many that were sicke, with oyle, and healed them.
And king Herode hearde [of hym] for his name was spread abrode: And he sayde, Iohn Baptist is rysen agayne from the dead, and therefore myghtie workes do shewe foorth them selues in hym.
Other saide, it is Elias. Some saide, it is a prophete, or as one of the prophetes.
But when Herode hearde of hym, he saide: It is Iohn, whom I beheaded, he is rysen from death agayne.
For Herode himselfe had sent foorth, and layde handes vpon Iohn, & bounde hym in pryson, for Herodias sake, his brother Philippes wyfe, because he had maryed her.
For Iohn sayde vnto Herode: It is not lawful for thee to haue thy brothers wyfe.
Therefore Herodias layde wayte for hym, and woulde haue kylled hym: but she coulde not.
For Herode feared Iohn, knowyng that he was a iuste man and an holye, and gaue hym reuerence: and when he hearde hym, he dyd many thynges, and hearde hym gladly.
And whe{n} a conuenient day was come, that Herode on his birth daye made a supper to the lordes, hye captaynes, and chiefe estates of Galilee.
And when the daughter of the same Herodias came in, and daunced, and pleased Herode, and them that sate at boorde also, the kyng said vnto the damsell: Aske of me what thou wylt, and I wyll geue it thee.
And he sware vnto her: Whatsoeuer thou shalt aske of me, I wyll geue it thee, euen vnto the one halfe of my kingdome.
And she went foorth, & sayde vnto her mother: What shall I aske? She saide, Iohn Baptistes head.
And she came in strayghtwaye, with haste, vnto the kyng, and asked, saying: I wyll, that thou geue me by and by in a charger, the head of Iohn Baptist.
And the kyng was sory, howebeit, for his othes sake, & for their sakes whiche sate at supper also, he woulde not caste her of.
And immediatlye the kyng sent the hangman, and commaunded his head to be brought in: And he went, and beheaded hym in the pryson,
And brought his head in a charger, & gaue it to the damsell, and the damsell gaue it to her mother.
And when his disciples hearde of it, they came, and toke vp his body, and layed it in a tombe.
And the Apostles gathered themselues together vnto Iesus, and tolde hym all thynges, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
And he sayde vnto them: Come ye alone out of the way, into {th}e wyldernesse, and rest awhyle: For there were many commers and goers, and they had no leysure, so much as to eate.
And he we{n}t by shippe out of the way, into a desert place.
And the people spyed them, when they departed, and many knewe hym, and ranne a foote thyther, out of all cities, & came thyther before them, and came together vnto hym.
And Iesus went out, and sawe much people, and had compassion on them, because they were lyke sheepe, not hauyng a sheepheard: And he began to teache them many thynges.
And when the day was nowe farre spent, his disciples came vnto hym, saying: This is a desert place, & nowe the tyme is farre passed:
Let them departe, that they may go into the countrey rounde about, and into the townes, and bye them bread: for they haue nothyng to eate.
He aunswered and sayde vnto them: geue ye them to eate. And they saide vnto him: Shall we go and bye two hundred penyworth of bread, & geue them to eate?
He sayde vnto them: Howe many loaues haue ye, go loke? And when they had searched, they sayde, fyue, and two fisshes.
And he commaunded them, to make them all sit downe by companies vpon the greene grasse.
And they sate downe, here a rowe, and there a rowe, by hundredes, & by fifties.
And when he had take{n} the fiue loaues and the two fisshes, and loked vp to heauen, he blessed, and brake the loaues, & gaue them to his disciples to set before them: and the two fisshes deuided he among them all.
And they all did eate, & were satisfied.
And they toke vp twelue baskets full, of the fragmentes, & of the fisshes.
And they that dyd eate, were about fyue thousande men.
And straightway, he constrayned his disciples to go into the shippe, and to go ouer the sea before, vnto Bethsaida, whyle he sent away the people.
And assoone as he had sent them away, he departed into a mountayne to pray.
And when euen was come, the ship was in the myddes of the sea, and he alone on the lande.
And he sawe them troubled in rowyng (for the wynde was contrary vnto them:) And about the fourth watche of the nyght, he came vnto them, walking vppon the sea, and woulde haue passed by them.
But when they sawe hym walkyng vpon the sea, they supposed it had ben a spirite, and cryed out.
For they all sawe him, & were afraide. And anone he talked with them, & saide vnto them: Be of good cheare, it is I, be not afrayde.
And he went vp vnto them into the shippe, and the wynde ceassed, and they were sore amased in themselues beyond measure, and marueyled.
For they vnderstoode not [the miracle] of the loaues, because their heart was hardened.
And when they had passed ouer, they came into the lande of Genezareth, and drewe vp into the hauen.
And assoone as they were come out of the shippe, straightway they knew him,
And ranne foorth throughout all the region rounde about, & began to carry about in beddes those that were sicke, thither, where they heard that he was.
And whethersoeuer he entred, into townes, cities, or villages, they layde the sicke folkes in the streates, & prayed him that they myght touche and it were but the hemme of his garment: And as many as touched it, were made whole.
AND the pharisees came together vnto hym, & certayne of the scribes which came from Hierusalem.
And whe{n} they sawe some of his disciples eate bread with common [that is to say, with vnwasshen] hands, they founde fault.
For the pharisees and all the Iewes, except they wasshe their handes oft, eate not, obseruing the traditions of {th}e elders.
And [when they come] from the market, except they wasshe, they eate not. And many other things there be, which they haue taken vpon them to obserue [as] the wasshyng of cuppes and pottes, and brasen vessels, and of tables.
Then asked hym the pharisees and scribes: Why walke not thy disciples accordyng to the traditio{n} of the elders, but eate bread with vnwasshen handes?
He aunswered, and sayde vnto them, that Esaias hath prophesied well of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honoreth me with their lippes, but their heart is farre from me.
Howebeit, in vayne do they worship me, teachyng doctrines, the commaundementes of men.
For ye laye the commaundement of God apart, and obserue the tradition of me{n}: as the wasshing of pottes & cuppes. And many other such like thinges ye do.
And he sayde vnto them: Well, ye cast asyde the commaundement of God, to mayntayne your owne tradition.
For Moyses sayde, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, who so curseth father or mother, let him dye the death.
But ye say, yf a man shall say to father or mother Corban (that is, by the gyft) that [is offred] of me, thou shalt be helped.
And so ye suffer hym no more to do ought for his father or his mother.
And make the worde of God of none effect, through your tradition, which ye haue ordeyned. And many such thinges do ye.
And when he had called all the people vnto hym, he saide vnto them: Hearken vnto me, euery one of you, and vnderstande.
There is nothyng without a man, that can defyle hym, when it entreth into hym: But the thynges whiche proceade out of a man, those are they that defyle the man.
If any man haue eares to heare, let hym heare.
And when he came into the house, away from the people, his disciples asked hym of the similitude.
And he sayde vnto them: Are ye also so without vnderstandyng? Do ye not yet perceaue, that whatsoeuer thing fro{m} without, entreth into a man, it can not defyle hym,
Because it entreth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purgyng all meates?
And he sayde: That which commeth out of a man, defyleth the man.
For from within, euen out of the heart of men, proceade euyll thoughtes, adulterie, fornication, murther,
Theft, couetousnes, wickednes, deceit, wantonnes, a wicked eye, blasphemies, pride, foolyshnes.
All these euyll thynges come fro{m} within, and defyle a man.
And from thence he rose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, & entred into an house, and woulde that no man shoulde haue knowen: but he coulde not be hyd.
For a certayne woman, whose young daughter hadde an vncleane spirite, assoone as she hearde of hym, came, & fell at his feete.
The woman was a Greke, out of the nation of Syrophenissa: & she besought hym, that he woulde cast out the deuyll from her daughter.
But Iesus saide vnto her, let the children first be fedde: For it is not meete to take the chyldrens bread, and to caste it vnto litle dogges.
She aunswered, and saide vnto hym, euen so Lorde: neuerthelesse, the litle dogges also eate vnder the table, of the chyldrens crumbes.
And he sayde vnto her: For this saying, go thy way, the deuyll is gone out of thy daughter.
And when she was come home to her house, she founde that the deuyll was departed, and her daughter lying on the bedde.
And he departed agayne from the coastes of Tyre and Sidon, & came vnto the sea of Galilee, through the middes of the coastes of the ten cities.
And they brought vnto hym one that was deafe, and had an impediment in his speache: and they prayed him to put his hande vpon hym.
And when he had taken hym asyde from the people, he put his fyngers into his eares, and dyd spyt, and touched his tongue,
And loked vp to heauen, and syghed, and sayde vnto him Ephphatha, that is to say, be opened.
And straightway his eares were opened, and the stryng of his tongue was loosed, and he spake playne.
And he commaunded them, that they shoulde tell no man: But the more he forbad them, so much the more a great deale they published it.
And were beyonde measure astonyed, saying: He hath done all thynges well, he hath made both the deafe to heare, and the dumbe to speake.
IN those dayes, when there was a very great company, and had nothyng to eate, Iesus called his disciples to him, & saide vnto them:
I haue compassio{n} on the people, because they haue nowe ben with me three dayes, and haue nothyng to eate:
And yf I sende them away fastyng to their owne houses, they shall faynt by the way: for diuers of them came fro{m} farre.
And his disciples aunswered hym: From whence can a man satisfie these men with bread here in the wildernesse?
And he asked the{m}: Howe many loaues haue ye? They sayde, seuen.
And he commaunded the people to sit downe on the grounde: And he toke the seuen loaues, and when he had geuen thankes, he brake, and gaue to his disciples, to set before them: And they dyd set them before the people.
And they hadde a fewe small fysshes: And when he had blessed, he commaunded them also to be set before them.
So they dyd eate, and were suffised: And they toke vp of the broken meate that was left, seuen baskettes full.
And they that had eaten, were about foure thousand: And he sent the{m} away.
And anone he entred into a shippe, with his disciples, and came into the parties of Dalmanutha.
And the Pharisees came foorth, and began to dispute with hym, sekyng of him a signe from heauen, tempting him.
And when he had sighed depely in his spirite, he sayth: Why doth this generatio{n} seke a signe? Veryly I say vnto you, there shall no signe be geue{n} vnto this generation.
And he lefte them, and went into the ship agayne, & departed ouer the water.
And they had forgotten to take bread [with them] neither had they in the ship with them more then one loafe.
And he charged the{m}, saying: Take heede, beware of the leuen of the pharisees, and of the leuen of Herode.
And they reasoned among them selues, saying: We haue no bread.
And Iesus knewe it, and sayth vnto them: Why reason ye, because ye haue no bread? Perceaue ye not yet, neither vnderstande? Haue ye your heart yet hardened?
Haue ye eyes, and see not? and haue ye eares & heare not? Do ye not remember?
When I brake fyue loaues among fyue thousande men, howe many baskettes full of broken meate toke ye vp? They say vnto hym, twelue.
When I brake seuen among foure thousande, howe many baskettes of the leauynges of the broken meate toke ye vp? They sayde, seuen.
And he sayde vnto them: Howe happeneth it, that ye do not vnderstande?
And he came to Bethsaida, & they brought a blynde man vnto hym, and desired hym to touche hym.
And he caught the blinde by the hand, and led him out of the towne: and whe{n} he had spyt in his eyes, & put his handes vpon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
And he loked vp, & saide, I see men: for I perceiue the{m} walke as [they were] trees.
After that, he put his handes agayne vpon his eyes, & made hym see: And he was restored, & saw euery man clearely.
And he sent hym home to his house, saying: neither go into the towne, nor tell it to any in the towne.
And Iesus went out, & his disciples, into the townes that long to Cesarea Philippi: And by the way he asked his disciples, saying vnto them: Whom do men say that I am?
And they aunswered: [Some saye that thou art] Iohn Baptist, and some saye, Elias: Agayne, some saye that thou art one of the prophetes.
And he sayde vnto them: But whom say ye that I am? Peter aunswereth, & saith vnto him: Thou art very Christe.
And he charged them, that they should tell no man of hym.
And he began to teache them, howe that the sonne of man must suffer many thynges, & be reproued of the elders, and of the hie priestes, & scribes, and be killed, and after three dayes, aryse agayne.
And he spake that saying openly: And Peter toke hym asyde, and began to rebuke hym.
But he turned about, and loked on his disciples, and rebuked Peter, saying, go after me Sata{n}: for thou sauerest not the thinges that be of God, but the thinges that be of men.
And when he had called the people vnto hym, with his disciples also, he said vnto them: Whosoeuer wyll folow me, let hym forsake hym selfe, and take vp his crosse, and folowe me.
For whosoeuer wyll saue his life, shall lose it: But whosoeuer shall lose his life, for my sake & the Gospels, the same shall saue it.
For what shall it profite a man, yf he wynne all the worlde, and lose his owne soule?
Or what shall a man geue, for a raunsome of his soule?
Whosoeuer therfore shalbe ashamed of me, and of my wordes, in this adulterous and synnefull generation: of hym also shall the sonne of man be ashamed, when he commeth in the glorie of his father, with the holy Angels.
AND he saide vnto them: Veryly I say vnto you, ther be some of them that stande here, whiche shall not taste of death, tyll they haue seene {th}e kyngdome of God come, with power.
And after sixe dayes, Iesus taketh Peter, and Iames, and Iohn, and leadeth them vp into an hye mountayne, out of the way, alone: and he was transfigured before them.
And his rayment dyd shyne, & became very whyte, euen as snowe: so whyte, as no fuller can make vpon the earth.
And there appeared vnto them Elias, with Moyses: And they talked with Iesu.
And Peter aunswered, and sayth to Iesu: Maister, here is good beyng for vs, let vs make also three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moyses, and one for Elias.
For he wist not what he saide, for they were afrayde.
And there was a cloude that shadowed them: and a voyce came out of the cloude, saying, This is my beloued sonne, heare hym.
And sodenly, when they had loked rounde about, they sawe no man, more then Iesus only, with them.
And as they came downe from the hyll, he charged them, that they should tell no man those thynges that they had seene, tyll the sonne of man were rysen from the dead agayne.
And they kept that saying with them, and demaunded one of another, what the rysing from the dead againe, should meane?
And they asked hym, saying: Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
He aunswered, and sayde vnto them: Elias veryly when he commeth firste, restoreth all thynges: And the sonne of man, as it is written of hym, shall suffer many thynges, & be set at naught.
But I saye vnto you, that Elias is come, & they haue done vnto him whatsoeuer they would, as it is writte{n} of him.
And when he came to his disciples, he sawe much people about them, and the scribes disputyng with them.
And strayghtway all the people, whe{n} they behelde hym, were amased, & ran to hym, and saluted hym.
And he asked the scribes, what dispute ye with them?
And one of the companie aunswered, & sayde: Maister, I haue brought vnto thee my sonne, whiche hath a dumbe spirite:
And whensoeuer he taketh hym, he teareth hym, & he someth, and gnasheth with his teeth, & pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples, that they should cast hym out, and they coulde not.
He aunswereth hym, and sayth: O faythlesse nation, howe long shall I be wi•h you? how long shall I suffer you? Bryng hym vnto me.
And they brought him vnto him: And when he sawe hym, strayghtway the spirite tare hym: And he fell downe on the grounde, wallowyng and fomyng.
And he asketh his father, howe longe it is a go sence this came vnto hym? And he sayde, of a chylde.
And oft tymes it hath cast hym into the fire, and into the water, to destroye hym: But yf thou canst do any thyng, haue mercy on vs, and helpe vs.
Iesus sayde vnto hym: this thyng yf thou canst beleue, all thynges are possible to hym that beleueth.
And strayghtwaye the father of the childe cryed with teares, saying: Lorde I beleue, helpe thou mine vnbeliefe.
When Iesus sawe that the people came runnyng together, he rebuked the foule spirite, saying vnto hym: Thou dumbe and deafe spirite, I charge thee come out of hym, and enter no more into hym.
And the spirite, when he had cryed and rent him sore, came out of hym: and he was as one that had ben dead, insomuch that many sayde, he is dead.
But Iesus caught hym by the hande, and lyft hym vp: and he rose.
And whe{n} he was come into the house, his disciples asked hym secretely: Why coulde not we cast hym out?
And he saide vnto them: This kynde can come foorth by nothing, but by prayer and fastyng.
And they departed thence, and toke their iorney thorowe Galilee: and he would not {tha}t any man should knowe it.
For he taught his disciples, and sayde vnto them: The sonne of man, shalbe deliuered into the handes of men, & they shall kyll him: and, after that he is kylled, he shall ryse agayne the thirde day.
But they vnderstoode not that saying, and were afrayde to aske hym.
And he came to Capernaum: And when he was come into the house, he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among your selues by the way?
And they helde their peace: For by the way, they had reasoned among them selues, who shoulde be the chiefest.
And when he was set downe, he called the twelue to hym, and sayde vnto them: If any man desire to be first, the same shalbe last of al, & seruau{n}t vnto al.
And he toke a young childe, & set him in the myddes of them: and when he had taken hym in his armes, he sayde vnto them.
Whosoeuer receaueth any such a young chylde in my name, receaueth me: And whosoeuer receaueth me, receaueth not me, but hym that sent me.
Iohn aunswered him, saying: Maister, we sawe one caste out deuylles in thy name, & he foloweth not vs: and we forbad him, because he foloweth vs not.
But Iesus sayde, forbyd hym not: For there is no man, whiche, yf he do a miracle in my name, can lyghtly speake euyll of me.
For he that is not against vs, is on our part.
Whosoeuer shall in my name geue you a cup of colde water to drynke, because ye belong to Christe: veryly I say vnto you, he shall not lose his rewarde.
And whosoeuer shall offende one of these litle ones, that beleue in me, it were better for him, if a mylstone were hanged about his necke, and he were cast into the sea.
And yf thy hande offende thee, cut it of: It is better for thee to enter into lyfe maymed, then hauyng two handes, to go into hell, into fire that neuer shalbe quenched:
Where their worme dyeth not, & the fire goeth not out.
And yf thy foote offende thee, cut it of: It is better for thee to go halt into lyfe, then hauyng two feete, to be cast into hell, into fire that neuer shalbe que{n}ched:
Where their worme dyeth not, and the fire goeth not out.
And if thine eye offend thee, plucke it out: It is better for thee to go into the kyngdome of God with one eye, then hauing two eyes, to be cast into hell fire:
Where their worme dyeth not, and the fire goeth not out.
Euery man shalbe salted with fire: and euery sacrifice shalbe seasoned with salt.
Salt is good: But if the salt be vnsauerie, with what thyng shall you season it? Haue salt in your selues, and haue peace among your selues, one with an other.
AND when he rose from thence, he went into the coastes of Iurie, through the region [that is] beyonde Iordane: And the people resorted vnto hym a freshe, and as he was wont, he taught them agayne.
And the pharisees came, and asked hym: Is it lawfull for a man to put away his wyfe? temptyng hym.
And he aunswered, and sayde vnto them: What did Moyses commaunde you to do?
And they sayde: Moyses suffred to write a booke of diuorcement, and to put her away.
And Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto the{m}: For the hardnesse of your heart, he wrote this precept vnto you.
But from the begynnyng of the creation, God made them male & female.
[And sayde] for this cause shall a man leaue his father and mother, and byde by his wyfe:
And they twayne shalbe one fleshe. So then are they no more twayne, but one fleshe.
Therfore, what God hath coupled together, let not man seperate.
And in the house, his disciples asked hym agayne, of the same matter.
And he sayth vnto them: Whosoeuer putteth away his wyfe, & maryeth another, committeth adulterie agaynst her.
And yf a woman put away her husbande, and be maryed to another, she committeth adulterie.
And they brought young chyldren to hym, that he shoulde touche them: And his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
But when Iesus sawe it, he was sore displeased, and sayde vnto them: Suffer the young children to come vnto me, forbyd them not: For of such, is the kyngdome of God.
Veryly I say vnto you, whosoeuer doth not receaue {th}e kingdome of God as a young childe, he shall not enter therin.
And when he had taken them vp in his armes, he put his handes vpon the{m}, and blessed them.
And when he was gone foorth into the way, there came one runnyng, and kneeled to hym, and asked hym: good Maister, what shall I do, that I may inherite eternall lyfe?
Iesus sayde vnto hym: Why callest thou me good? There is no man good but one, which is God.
Thou knowest the commaundementes: Thou shalt not commit adulterie, Thou shalt not kyll, Thou shalt not steale, Thou shalt not beare false witnesse, Thou shalt defraude no man, Honour thy father and mother.
He aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: Maister, all these haue I obserued from my youth.
Iesus behelde hym, and loued hym, and sayde vnto hym, one thyng thou lackest: Go thy way, sell whatsoeuer thou hast, and geue to the poore, & thou shalt haue treasure in heauen, and come folowe me, and take vp the crosse.
But he was discomforted because of that saying, and went away mournyng: for he had great possessions.
And when Iesus had loked rounde about, he sayde vnto his disciples: Howe hardly shall they that haue riches, enter into the kyngdome of God?
And the disciples were astonyed at his wordes. But Iesus aunswereth agayne, and sayth vnto them: Children, howe harde is it for the{m} that trust in ryches, to enter into {th}e kyngdome of God.
It is easier for a camel to go thorowe the eye of a needle, then for the riche to enter into the kyngdome of God.
And they were astonyed out of measure, saying betwene them selues: who then can be saued?
Iesus loked vpon them, & sayde: with men it is vnpossible, but not with God: for with God all thynges are possible.
And Peter began to say vnto him: Lo, we haue forsaken all, & haue folowed thee.
Iesus aunswered, & sayde: Veryly I say vnto you, there is no man that hath forsaken house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wyfe, or chyldren, or landes, for my sake and the Gospels,
But he shall receaue an hundreth folde nowe at this present, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and chyldren, and landes, with persecutions, and in the worlde to come, eternall lyfe.
But many that are first, shalbe last: and the last, first.
And they were in the way, goyng vp to Hierusalem: And Iesus went before them, and they were amazed, and folowed, and were afrayde. And Iesus toke the twelue agayne, and beganne to tell them what thynges shoulde happen vnto hym.
Beholde, we go vp to Hierusalem, and the sonne of man shalbe delyuered vnto the hye priestes, & vnto the scribes: and they shall condemne hym to death, and shall delyuer hym to the Gentiles.
And they shall mocke hym, & scourge hym, spit vpon hym, and kyll hym: And the thirde day he shall ryse agayne.
And Iames and Iohn, the sonnes of Zebedee, came vnto hym, saying: Maister, we would that thou shouldest do for vs, whatsoeuer we desyre.
He sayde vnto them: What woulde ye, that I shoulde do for you?
They sayde vnto hym: graunt vnto vs, that we may sit, one on thy ryght hande, and the other on thy left hande, in thy glory.
But Iesus sayde vnto them, Ye wote not what ye aske: Can ye drynke of the cuppe that I drynke of? and be baptized with the baptisme that I am baptized with?
And they sayde vnto hym: that we can. Iesus sayde vnto them: ye shall in deede drynke of the cup that I drynke of, and with the baptisme that I am baptized withall, shall ye be baptized:
But to syt on my ryght hande, and on my left hande, is not myne to geue, but vnto them, for whom it is prepared.
And when the ten hearde it, they began to disdaine at Iames and Iohn.
But Iesus, when he had called them to hym, sayde vnto them: ye knowe, that they which seeme to beare rule among the Gentiles, raigne as Lordes ouer them: And they that be great among them, exercise aucthoritie vpon them.
Neuerthelesse, so shall it not be among you: but whosoeuer of you, wyll be great among you, shalbe your minister:
And whosoeuer of you wyll be the chiefest, shalbe seruaunt of all.
For the sonne of man also came not to be ministred vnto: but to minister, & to geue his lyfe, a raunsome for many.
And they came to Hierico: And as he went out of {th}e citie of Hierico with his disciples, and a great number of people, blynde Bartimeus the sonne of Timeus, sate by the hye wayes syde beggyng.
And when he hearde that it was Iesus of Nazareth, he beganne to cry, and say: Iesus, thou sonne of Dauid, haue mercy on me.
And many rebuked hym, that he shoulde holde his peace: But he cryed the more a great deale, thou sonne of Dauid haue mercy on me.
And Iesus stoode styll, and commaunded hym to be called. And they called the blynde, saying vnto hym: Be of good comfort, ryse, he calleth the.
And he threwe away his cloke, & rose, and came to Iesus.
And Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: what wylt thou that I do vnto thee? The blynde sayde vnto hym: Maister, that I myght see.
Iesus sayde vnto hym: Go thy way, thy fayth hath saued thee. And immediatly he receaued his sight, & folowed Iesus in the way.
AND when they came nye to Hierusalem, vnto Bethphage & Bethanie, at the mount of Oliues, he sendeth foorth two of his disciples,
And sayth vnto them. Go your way into the towne, that is ouer against you: And assoone as ye be entred into it, ye shall fynde a colte bounde, wheron neuer man sate: loose hym, and bryng hym hyther.
And yf any man say vnto you, why do ye so? Say ye, that the Lorde hath neede of hym: and strayghtway he wyll sende hym hyther.
And they went their way, and founde the colt tyed by the doore without, in a place where two wayes met: and they loosed hym.
And diuers of them that stoode there, sayde vnto them: What do ye loosyng the colte?
And they sayde vnto them, euen as Iesus had commaunded: And they let them go.
And they brought the colt to Iesus, and cast their garmentes on hym, and he sate vpon hym.
And many spred their garmentes in the way: Other cut downe braunches of the trees, & strawed the{m} in the way.
And they that went before, and they that folowed, cryed, saying, Hosanna, blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lorde.
Blessed be the kyngdome, that commeth in the name of hym that is Lorde of our father Dauid: Hosanna in the hiest.
And the Lorde entred into Hierusalem, and into the temple: And when he had loked rounde about, vpon all thynges, and nowe the euen tyde was come, he went out vnto Bethanie with the twelue.
And on the morowe, when they were come out from Bethanie, he hungred.
And when he had spyed a fygge tree a farre of, hauyng leaues, he came to see if he myght fynde any thyng theron: And when he came to it, he founde nothyng but leaues: for the tyme of figges was not yet.
And Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto the fygge tree: neuer man eate fruite of thee hereafter, whyle the worlde standeth. And his disciples hearde it.
And they came to Hierusalem: And Iesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that solde and bought in the temple, & ouerthrewe the tables of the money chaungers, and the seates of them that solde doues:
And woulde not suffer, that any man shoulde cary a vessell through {th}e temple.
And he taught, saying vnto them: Is it not written, My house shalbe called the house of prayer vnto all nations? But ye haue made it a denne of thieues.
And the scribes & hye priestes hearde it, and sought howe to destroy hym: For they feared hym, because all the people was astonyed at his doctrine.
And when euen was come, Iesus went out of the citie.
And in the mornyng, as they passed by, they sawe the fygge tree dryed vp by the rootes.
And Peter remembred, and sayde vnto hym: Maister, beholde, the fygge tree which thou cursedst, is withered away.
And Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto them: haue fayth in God.
For, veryly I say vnto you, that whosoeuer shall say vnto this mountayne: Be thou remoued, and be thou cast into the sea, & shall not doubt in his heart, but shall beleue {tha}t those thynges which he sayth shall come to passe, whatsoeuer he sayth, shalbe vnto hym.
Therfore I say vnto you, what thynges so euer ye desyre when ye pray, beleue that ye receaue [them,] & ye shall haue [them].
And when ye stande & pray, forgeue, yf ye haue ought agaynst any man: that your father also which is in heauen, may forgeue you your trespasses.
But yf you do not forgeue: neither wyll your father, which is in heauen, forgeue you your trespasses.
And they came agayne to Hierusalem: And as he walked in the temple, there came to hym the hye priestes, and the scribes, and the elders.
And say vnto him: By what auctoritie doest thou these thynges? & who gaue thee this auctoritie, to do these thynges?
Iesus aunswered, & sayde vnto them: I wyll also aske of you one question: and aunswere me, and I wyll tell you by what auctoritie I do these thynges.
The baptisme of Iohn, whether was it from heauen, or of men? Aunswere me.
And they reasoned with them selues, saying, yf we shall say from heauen: he wyll say, why then dyd ye not beleue hym?
But yf we shal say, of men, we feare the people. For all men counted Iohn, that he was a very prophete.
And they aunswered, and sayde vnto Iesus: we can not tell. And Iesus aunswered and sayde vnto them: neither wyll I tell you by what auctoritie I do these thynges.
AND he beganne to speake vnto them by parables. A [certayne] man planted a vineyarde, and compassed it about with an hedge, and ordeyned a wynepresse, and built a towre, and let it out vnto husbande men: and went into a straunge countrey.
And when the tyme was come, he sent to the husbande men a seruaunt, that he myght receaue of the husbandmen, of the fruite of the vineyarde.
And they caught hym, and beat hym, and sent hym away emptie.
And moreouer, he sent vnto them another seruaunt: and at hym they cast stones, and brake his head, and sent him away agayne, all to reuiled.
And agayne, he sent another, and hym they kylled: and many other, beatyng some, and kyllyng some.
And so, when he had yet but one beloued sonne, he sent hym also at the last vnto them, saying: they wyll stande in awe of my sonne.
But the husbandmen saide amongest them selues: this is the heyre, come, let vs kyll him, and the inheritaunce shalbe ours.
And they toke hym, and kylled hym, and cast hym out of the vineyarde.
What shall therfore, the Lorde of the vineyarde do? He shal come, and destroy the husbandmen, and wyll geue the vineyarde vnto other.
Haue ye not read this Scripture? The stone which the builders dyd refuse, is become the chiefe stone of the corner:
This is the Lordes doyng, and it is marueylous in our eyes.
They went about also to take hym, and feared the people: For they knewe, that he had spoken the parable agaynst them. And they left hym, and went their way.
And they sent vnto hym, certayne of the pharisees, and of the Herodians to take hym in his wordes.
And assoone as they were come, they sayde vnto hym: Maister, we knowe that thou art true, & carest for no man, for thou considerest not the persons of men, but teachest the way of god truely: Is it lawfull to pay tribute to Caesar, or not?
Ought we to geue, or ought we not to geue? But he seeyng their hypocrisie, sayde vnto them: Why tempt ye me? Bryng me a penie, that I may see it.
And they brought it: And he sayth vnto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they sayde vnto hym: Caesars.
And Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto them: Geue to Caesar [the thynges] that belong to Caesar: and to God, [the thynges] which pertayne to God. And they marueyled at hym.
There came also vnto hym, the Saducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and they asked hym, saying:
Maister, Moyses wrote vnto vs, yf any mans brother dye, and leaue his wyfe behynde hym, & leaue no chyldren: that his brother shoulde take his wyfe, and rayse vp seede vnto his brother.
There were seuen brethren: and the first toke a wyfe, and when he dyed, left no seede behynde hym.
And the seconde toke her, and dyed, neither left any seede: And the thirde lykewyse.
And seuen had her, and left no seede behynde them: Last of all, the wyfe dyed also.
In the resurrection therfore, when they shall rise agayne, whose wyfe shall she be of them? for seuen had her to wife.
And Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto the{m}: Do ye not therfore erre, because ye vnderstande not the Scriptures, neither the power of God?
For when they shall ryse agayne from the dead, they neither marry, nor are geuen in maryage: but are as the Angels which are in heauen.
As touchyng the dead, that they ryse agayne: haue ye not read in the booke of Moyses, howe in the bushe, God spake vnto him, saying: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob?
He is not the God of the dead, but God of the lyuyng. Ye therefore do greatly erre.
And when there came one of the scribes, & had heard them disputyng together, and perceaued that he had aunswered them well, he asked him, which is the first of all the co{m}maundementes.
Iesus aunswered hym, the first of all the commaundementes is: Heare O Israel, The Lorde our God, is one Lorde:
And thou shalt loue the Lorde thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soule, and with all thy mynde, and with all thy strength. This is the first commaundement.
And the seconde is lyke vnto this: Thou shalt loue thy neyghbour as thy selfe. There is none other commaundement greater then these.
And the scribe sayde vnto hym: well maister, thou hast sayde the trueth, for there is one God, & there is none but he.
And to loue hym with all the heart, and with all the vnderstandyng, & with all the soule, and with all the strength, and to loue a [mans] neyghbour as hym selfe, is greater then all the burnt offerynges and sacrifices.
And when Iesus sawe that he aunswered discretely, he sayde vnto hym: Thou art not farre from the kingdome of God. And no man after that, durst aske hym any question.
And Iesus aunswered and sayde, teachyng in the temple: howe say the scribes that Christe is {th}e sonne of Dauid?
For Dauid hym selfe, inspired with the holy ghost, sayde: The Lorde saide to my Lorde, sit on my right hande, tyll I make thyne enemies thy footestoole.
Dauid hym selfe calleth hym Lorde: and howe is he then his sonne? And much people hearde hym gladly.
And he sayde vnto them in his doctrine: beware of the scribes, whiche desire to go in long clothyng, and salutations in the market places,
And the chiefe seates in the congregations, and the vppermost rowmes at feastes,
Which deuoure widdowes houses, & vnder a pretence, make long prayers: These shal receaue greater dampnatio{n}.
And when Iesus sate ouer agaynst the treasurie, he behelde howe the people put money into the treasurie: And many that were rich, cast in much.
And there came a certayne poore widdowe, & she threwe in two mites, which make a farthyng.
And he called vnto hym his disciples, and sayth vnto them: Veryly I say vnto you, that this poore widdowe hath cast more in, then all they which haue cast into the treasurie.
For they all, dyd cast in of their superfluitie: but she, of her pouertie, dyd cast in all that she had, euen all her lyuyng.
AND as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples sayde vnto hym: Maister, see what stones, & what buildynges [are here.]
And Iesus aunswered, & sayde vnto hym: Seest thou these great buildynges? There shall not be left one stone vpon another, that shall not be throwen downe.
And as he sate vpon the mount of Oliues, ouer agaynst the temple, Peter, and Iames, and Iohn, and Andrewe, asked hym, secretely:
Tell vs, when shall these thynges be? And what shalbe the signe when all these thynges shalbe fulfylled?
And Iesus aunswered them, and began to say: take heede, lest any man deceaue you.
For many shall come in my name, saying I am [Christe:] and shall deceaue many.
When ye shall heare of warres, and tidynges of warres, be ye not troubled: For such thynges must nedes be, but the ende is not yet.
For there shall nation aryse agaynst nation, and kyngdome agaynst kyngdome: And there shalbe earthquakes in diuers places, and famine shall there be, and troubles. These are the begynnyng of sorowes.
But take ye heede to your selues: For they shall deliuer you vp to councels, and to synagogues, and ye shalbe beaten, yea, and shalbe brought before rulers & kynges for my sake, for a testimoniall vnto them.
And the Gospel must first be published among all nations.
But when they leade you, and present you, be not carefull aforehande, neither take thought what ye shall speake: but whatsoeuer is geuen you in the same houre, that speake ye. For it is not ye that speake, but the holy ghost.
The brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the sonne: and the chyldren shall ryse agaynst their fathers and mothers, and shall put them to death.
And ye shalbe hated of all men for my names sake: But who so endureth vnto the ende, the same shalbe safe.
Moreouer, when ye see the abhomination of desolation, wherof is spoken by Daniel the prophete, stande where it ought not (let hym that readeth vnderstande) then let them that be in Iurie, flee to the mountaynes:
And let hym that is on {th}e house toppe, not go downe into the house, neither enter therin, to fetch any thyng out of his house.
And let hym that is in the fielde, not turne backe agayne vnto the thynges which he left behynde hym, for to take his garmente with hym.
Wo [shalbe] then to them that are with chylde, and to them that geue sucke in those dayes.
But pray ye that your flyght be not in the Wynter:
For there shalbe in those dayes such tribulation, as was not from the begynnyng of creatures, which God created, vnto this tyme, neither shalbe.
And except that the Lorde shoulde shorten [those] dayes, no fleshe shoulde be saued: But for the electes sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened [those] dayes.
And then, yf any man say to you, lo here is Christe, lo he is there, beleue not.
For false Christes, and false prophetes shall ryse, and shall shewe signes and wonders, to deceaue, yf it were possible, euen the elect.
But take ye heede: Beholde, I haue shewed you all thynges before.
Moreouer, in those dayes, after that tribulation, the sunne shall waxe darke, and the moone shall not geue her light.
And the starres of heauen, shall fall: and the powers which are in heauen, shalbe shaken.
And then shall they see the sonne of man commyng in the cloudes, with great power and glory.
And then shall he sende his Angels, and shall gather together his elect, from the foure wyndes, from the ende of the earth, to the vtmost part of heauen.
Learne a parable of the fygge tree. When his braunche is yet tender, and hath brought foorth leaues, ye knowe that sommer is neare:
So ye in lyke maner, when ye see these thynges come to passe, vnderstand, that [he] is nye, euen at the doores.
Veryly I say vnto you, that this generation shall not passe, tyll all these thynges be done.
Heauen and earth shall passe away, but my wordes shall not passe away.
But of that day and tyme knoweth no man: no not the Angels which are in heauen, neither the sonne him selfe, saue the father only.
Take heede, watche and pray: for ye knowe not when the tyme is.
As a man which is gone into a straunge countrey, and hath left his house, and geuen auctoritie to his seruauntes, and to euery man his worke, and commaunded the porter to watche:
Watche ye therfore, (for ye knowe not whe{n} the maister of the house wyl come, at euen, or at mydnyght, whether at the cocke crowyng, or in the dawnyng.)
Lest yf he come sodenly, he fynde you slepyng.
And that I say vnto you, I say vnto all, watche.
AFter two dayes was [the feaste] of the Passouer, & of vnleuened bread. And the hye priestes and the scribes, sought howe they myght take him by craft, and put hym to death.
But they sayde: not in the feast day, lest any busines arise among the people.
And when he was at Bethanie, in the house of Simon the leper, euen as he sate at meate, there came a woman hauyng an alabaster boxe of very precious oyntment, [called] Narde pistike, and she brake the boxe, and powred it on his head.
And there were some, that had indignation within them selues, and sayde: what neded this waste of oyntment?
For it myght haue ben solde for more then three hundred pence, and haue ben geuen to the poore. And they grudged agaynst her.
And Iesus sayde: let her alone, why trouble ye her? She hath done a good worke on me.
For ye haue poore with you alwayes, and whensoeuer ye wyll, ye may do the{m} good: but me haue ye not alwayes.
She hath done that she coulde: she came aforehande, to annoynt my body to the burying.
Veryly I say vnto you, whersoeuer this Gospel shalbe preached, throughout the whole worlde, this also that she hath done, shalbe rehearsed, in remembraunce of her.
And Iudas Iscariot, one of the twelue, went away vnto {th}e hye priestes, to betray hym vnto them.
When they hearde that, they were glad, and promised that they woulde geue hym money. And he sought howe he myght conueniently betray hym.
And the first day of vnleuened bread, when they dyd sacrifice the Passouer, his disciples sayde vnto hym: Where wylt thou that we go and prepare, that thou mayest eate the Passouer?
And he sendeth foorth two of his disciples, and sayth vnto them: Go ye into the citie, & there shall meete you a man bearing a pitcher of water, folowe him.
And whyther soeuer he goeth in, say ye to the good man of the house, the maister sayth: Where is the ghest chaumber, where I shall eate the Pasouer with my disciples?
And he wyll shewe you a large vpper chaumber, paued and prepared: there make redy for vs.
And his disciples went foorth, & came into the citie, & founde as he had sayd vnto them: & they made redy the Passouer.
And when it was nowe euen tyde, he came with the twelue.
And as they sate at boord & dyd eate, Iesus sayde: Veryly I say vnto you, one of you, that eateth with me, shall betray me.
And they began to be sory, and to say to hym one by one, is it I? And another sayde, is it I?
He aunswered and sayde vnto them: It is one of the twelue, euen he that dyppeth with me in the platter.
The sonne of man truely goeth as it is written of hym: but wo to that man by whom the sonne of man is betrayed. Good were it for that man, yf he had neuer ben borne.
And as they dyd eate, Iesus toke bread: and whe{n} he had blessed, he brake [it] and gaue to them, and sayde: Take, eate, this is my body.
And he toke the cup, and when he had geuen thankes, he toke it to them: and they all dranke of it.
And he sayde vnto them: This is my blood, of the newe Testament, which is shed for many.
Veryly I say vnto you, I wyll drinke no more of the fruite of the vine, vntyll that day, that I drinke it newe in the kyngdome of God.
And when they had praysed [God,] they went out into {th}e mount of Oliues.
And Iesus sayth vnto them: All ye shalbe offended because of me this nyght. For it is written: I wyll smyte the sheepehearde, and the sheepe shalbe scattered.
But after that I am risen agayne, I wyll go into Galilee before you.
Peter sayde vnto hym: Although all men be offended, yet [wyll] not I.
And Iesus sayth vnto hym: Veryly I say vnto thee, that this day, euen, in this night, before the cocke crowe twise, thou shalt deny me three tymes.
But he spake more vehemently: no, yf I shoulde dye with thee, I wyll not deny thee. Likewise also sayde they all.
And they came into a place which was named Gethsemani, and he sayth to his disciples: Sit ye heare, whyle I shall pray.
And he taketh with hym, Peter, and Iames, and Iohn, and began to waxe abasshed, and to be in an agonie.
And sayth vnto them: My soule is heauie, euen vnto the death, tarry ye here and watche.
And he went foorth a litle, and fell flat on the grounde, and prayed: that yf it were possible, the houre myght passe from hym.
And he sayde: Abba father, all thynges are possible vnto thee, take away this cup from me. Neuerthelesse, not that I wyll: but that thou [wylt, be done.]
And he came & founde them slepyng, and sayth vnto Peter: Simon, slepest thou? Couldest not thou watche one houre?
Watche ye, and pray, lest ye enter into temptation: the spirite truely is redy, but the fleshe is weake.
And agayne he went asyde, & prayed, and spake the same wordes.
And he returned, and founde them a slepe agayne. For their eyes were heauie: neither wist they what to aunswere hym.
And he came the thirde tyme, & sayde vnto them: slepe hencefoorth, and take your ease, it is inough: The houre is come, beholde, the sonne of man is betrayed into the handes of sinners.
Ryse vp, let vs go: Lo, he that betrayeth me, is at hande.
And immediatly whyle he yet spake, commeth Iudas, which was one of the twelue, and with hym a great number of people, with swordes & staues, from the hye priestes, and scribes, and elders.
And he that betrayed hym, had geuen them a general token, saying: Who soeuer I do kysse, that same is he, take hym, and leade hym away warely.
And assoone as he was come, he goeth strayghtway to hym, and sayth vnto hym: Maister, Maister, and kissed hym.
And they layde their handes on hym, and toke hym.
And one of them that stoode by, drewe out a sworde, & smote a seruaunt of the hye priest, and cut of his eare.
And Iesus aunswered, and saide vnto them: Ye be come out as vnto a thiefe with swordes and with staues, for to take me.
I was dayly with you in the temple, teachyng, and ye toke me not, [but these thynges come to passe,] that the Scriptures shoulde be fulfylled.
And they all forsooke hym, & ranne away.
And there folowed hym, a certayne young man, clothed in lynnen vpon the bare: and the young men caught hym.
And he left his lynnen garment, and fled from them naked.
And they ledde Iesus away to the hyest priest, and with hym came all the hye priestes, and the elders, and the scribes.
And Peter folowed hym a great way of, euen tyl he was come into the palace of the hye priest, and he sate with the seruauntes, and warmed hym selfe at the fyre.
And the hye priestes, and all the councell sought for witnesse agaynst Iesus, to put hym to death, and founde none.
For many bare false witnesse agaynst hym, but their witnesse agreed not together.
And there arose certayne, and brought false witnesse agaynst hym, saying.
We hearde hym say: I wyll destroy this temple that is made with handes, and within three dayes I wyll buylde another, made without handes.
But yet their witnesse agreed not together.
And the hye priest stoode vp amongest them, and asked Iesus, saying: Aunswerest thou nothyng? Howe is it that these beare witnesse agaynst thee?
But he helde his peace, & aunswered nothyng. Agayne, the hyest priest asked hym, and sayde vnto hym: Art thou Christe, the sonne of the blessed?
And Iesus sayde, I am: And ye shall see the sonne of man sittyng on the ryght hande of power, and commyng in the cloudes of heauen.
Then the hye priest rent his clothes, and sayde: What neede we any further witnesses?
Ye haue hearde blasphemie: what thinke ye? And they all condemned him to be worthy of death.
And some began to spyt at hym, and to couer his face, and to beate hym with fistes, and to say vnto hym, prophecie. And the seruauntes dyd beate hym with roddes.
And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there came one of the wenches of the hyest priest:
And when she sawe Peter warmyng hym selfe, she loketh on hym, and sayth: And thou also wast with Iesus of Nazareth.
And he denyed, saying: I knowe hym not, neither wote I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porche, and the cocke crewe.
And a damsell, when she sawe hym agayne, began to say to the{m} that stoode by, this is one of them.
And he denyed it agayne. And anone after, they that stoode by, sayde agayne to Peter: Surely, thou art one of the{m}, for thou art of Galilee, and thy speache agreeth therto.
But he began to curse, and to sweare, [saying]: I knowe not this man of whom ye speake.
And the seconde tyme the cocke crewe, & Peter remembred the worde that Iesus sayde vnto hym, before the cocke crowe twise, thou shalt deny me three tymes: And he began to weepe.
AND anone in the dawnyng, the hye priestes held a councel, with the elders, and the scribes, and the whole congregation, and bound Iesus, and ledde hym away, and deliuered hym to Pilate.
And Pilate asked hym: Art thou the kyng of the Iewes? And he aunswered and sayde vnto hym: thou sayest it?
And the hye priestes accused hym of many thynges.
So Pilate asked hym agayne, saying: Aunswerest thou nothyng? Beholde, howe many thynges they witnesse agaynst thee.
Iesus yet aunswered nothyng, so that Pilate marueyled.
At that feast, Pilate dyd delyuer vnto them a prisoner, whomsoeuer they woulde desire.
And there was one, that was named Barabbas, which lay bounde, with them that made insurrection: Which [men] had committed murther also in the insurrection.
And the people crying aloude, began to desire [hym] that he woulde do, according as he had euer done vnto them.
Pilate aunswered them, saying: Wyll ye that I let loose vnto you the kyng of the Iewes?
For he knewe, that the hye priestes had delyuered hym of enuie.
But the hye priestes moued the people, that he shoulde rather delyuer Barabbas vnto them.
Pilate aunswered agayne, and sayde vnto them: What wyll ye then that I do vnto hym, whom ye call the kyng of the Iewes?
And they cryed agayne, crucifie hym.
Pilate sayde vnto them: What euyll hath he done? And they cryed the more feruently, crucifie hym.
And so Pilate, wyllyng to content the people, let loose Barabbas vnto them, and deliuered vp Iesus, when he had scourged hym, for to be crucified▪
And the souldiers led hym away, into the hall, called Praetorium, and called together the whole bande [of souldiers:]
And they clothed hym with purple, and they platted a crowne of thornes, and crowned hym withall,
And began to salute hym: Hayle kyng of the Iewes.
And they smote hym on the head with a reede, & did spit vpon him, and bowed their knees, and worshipped hym.
And when they had mocked hym, they toke the purple of hym, and put his owne clothes on hym, and led hym out to crucifie hym.
And they compelled one that passed by, called Simon of Cyrene (commyng out of the fielde, the father of Alexander and Rufus) to beare his crosse.
And they brought hym to a place named Golgotha, which is, if a man interprete it, the place of [dead mens] sculles.
And they gaue hym to drynke, wyne myngled with myrre: but he receaued it not.
And when they had crucified hym, they parted his garmentes, castyng lottes vpon them, what euery man shoulde take.
And it was the thyrde houre, and they crucified hym.
And the title of his cause was written: THE KYNG OF THE IEVVES.
And they crucified with hym two thieues: the one on the ryght hande, and the other on his left.
And the Scripture was fulfylled which sayth: He was counted among the wycked.
And they that went by, rayled on him, wagging their heades, and saying: A wretche, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three dayes,
Saue thy selfe, and come downe from the crosse.
Lykewyse also mocked hym the hye priestes among them selues, with the scribes, and sayde: He saued other men, hym selfe he can not saue.
Let Christe the kyng of Israel descende nowe from the crosse, that we may see, and beleue. And they that were crucified with hym, checked hym also.
And when the sixth houre was come, darknesse arose ouer all the earth, vntill the nynth houre.
And at the nynth houre, Iesus cryed with a loude voyce, saying: Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, yf one interprete it, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
And some of them that stoode by, whe{n} they hearde that, sayde: Beholde, he calleth for Elias.
And one ran, and fylled a spunge full of vineger, and put it on a reede, & gaue hym to drynke, saying: let hym alone, let vs see whether Elias wyll come and take hym downe.
But Iesus cryed with a loude voyce, and gaue vp the ghost.
And the vayle of the temple dyd rent in two peeces, from the toppe to the bottome.
And when the Centurion, which stoode before hym, sawe, that he so cryed, and gaue vp the ghost, he sayde: Truely this man was the sonne of God.
There were also women a good way of, beholdyng hym: among whom was Marie Magdalene, and Marie the mother of Iames the litle, and of Ioses, and Salome.
Which also when he was in Galilee, had folowed hym, and ministred vnto hym: and many other women, which came vp with hym vnto Hierusalem.
And nowe when the euen was come, (because it was the day of preparyng, that goeth before the Sabboth)
Ioseph [of the citie] of Aramathia, a noble councellour, which also loked for the kyngdome of God, came, and went in boldely vnto Pilate, and begged of hym the body of Iesu.
And Pilate marueyled that he was alredy dead: and called vnto hym the Centurion, and asked of hym, whether he had ben any whyle dead.
And when he knewe the trueth of the Centurion, he gaue the body to Ioseph.
And he bought a lynnen cloth, & toke hym downe, and wrapped hym in the lynnen cloth, & layde him in a sepulchre, that was hewe{n} out of the rocke, & roulled a stone vnto the doore of {th}e sepulchre.
And Marie Magdalene, and Marie Ioses, behelde where he was layde.
ANd whe{n} the Sabboth day was past, Marie Magdalen and Marie [the mother] of Iames, & Salome, bought sweete smellynge oyntmentes, that they myght come and annoynt hym.
And early in the mornyng, the first day of the Sabbothes, they came vnto the sepulchre, when the sunne was rysen:
And they sayde among them selues, who shall roule vs away the stone from the doore of the sepulchre?
And when they loked, they sawe how that the stone was rouled awaye, for it was a very great one.
And they went into the sepulchre, and sawe a young man syttyng on the ryght syde, clothed in a long whyte garment, and they were amased.
And he sayth vnto them, be not amased: ye seke Iesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen, he is not here, beholde the place where they had put hym.
But go your way, & tell his disciples, and Peter, that he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall ye see hym, as he saide vnto you.
And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre, for they trembled & were amased: neither sayde they any thing to any man, for they were afraide.
When [Iesus] was rysen early, the first [day] after the Sabboth, he appeared firste to Marie Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seuen deuils.
And she went & tolde them that were with hym, as they mourned & wept.
And they, when they hearde that he was alyue, and had ben seene of her, beleued it not.
After that, appeared he vnto two of them in another fourme, as they walked and went into the countrey.
And they went and tolde it vnto the residue: and [they] beleued not these also.
Afterwarde, he appeared vnto the eleuen, as they sate at meate, and cast in their teeth their vnbeliefe and hardnes of heart, because they beleued not them whiche had seene that he was rysen agayne from the dead.
And he sayde vnto them: Go ye into all the worlde, and preache the Gospell to all creatures.
He that beleueth, and is baptized, shalbe saued: But he that beleueth not, shalbe dampned.
And these tokens shall folowe them that beleue. In my name they shal cast out deuils, they shall speake with newe tongues,
They shall driue away serpentes: and yf they drinke any deadly thyng, it shall not hurte them: They shall lay their handes on the sicke, & they shal recouer.
So then, when the Lorde had spoken vnto them, he was receaued into heauen, and sate hym downe on the ryght hande of God.
And they went foorth, and preached euerywhere, the Lorde workyng with them, and confirmyng the worde with signes folowyng.
FOrasmuche as manye haue taken in hande, to set foorth in order, {th}e declaration of those thynges whiche are moste surelye to be beleued among vs,
Euen as they deliuered them vnto vs, which from the begynnyng sawe them them selues with their eyes, and were ministers of the worde:
I determined also, assoone as I had searched out diligently all thinges from the begynnyng, that then I woulde write vnto thee, moste excellent Theophilus.
That thou myghtest knowe the certentie of those thinges wherof thou hast ben infourmed.
THere was in the dayes of Herode the kyng of Iurie, a certaine priest, named Zacharias, of the course of Abia, & his wyfe was of the daughters of Aaron, & her name was Elizabeth.
They were both ryghteous before God, and walked in all the lawes and ordinaunces of the Lorde, that no man coulde fynde fault with them.
And they had no chylde, because that Elizabeth was barren: and they both were nowe well stricken in age.
And it came to passe, that when Zacharie executed the priestes office before God, as his course came,
Accordyng to {th}e custome of the priestes office, his lot was to burne incence, whe{n} he went into the temple of the Lorde.
And the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer, whyle the incence was burnyng.
And there appeared vnto hym an Angel of the Lorde, standyng on the ryght syde of the aulter of incence.
And when Zacharias sawe him, he was troubled, and feare came vpo{n} him.
But the Angel sayde vnto him: Feare not Zacharie, for thy prayer is hearde: and thy wyfe Elizabeth shall beare thee a sonne, & thou shalt cal his name Iohn.
And thou shalt haue ioy and gladnesse, and many shall reioyce at his birth.
For he shalbe great in the syght of the Lorde, and shall neither drynke wine nor strong drynke: and he shalbe fylled with the holy ghost, euen from his mothers wombe.
And many of the chyldren of Israel, shall he turne to their Lorde God.
And he shall go before hym, with the spirite and power of Elias, to turne the heartes of the fathers to the chyldren, and the disobedient to the wisedome of the iust men, to make redy a perfect people for the Lorde.
And Zacharias saide vnto the Angel: By what token shall I know this? For I am olde, and my wyfe well stricken in yeres.
And the Angel aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: I am Gabriel that stande in the presence of God, and am sent to speake vnto thee, and to shewe thee these glad tydynges.
And beholde, thou shalt be dumbe, & not be able to speake, vntyll the day that these thynges be perfourmed, because thou beleuedst not my wordes, whiche shalbe fulfylled in their season.
And the people waited for Zacharias, and marueyled that he taried so long in the temple.
And when he came out, he coulde not speake vnto them. And they perceaued that he had seene a vision in the temple: For he beckened vnto them, and remayned speachlesse.
And it came to passe, that assoone as the dayes of his office were out, he departed into his owne house.
And after those dayes, his wyfe Elizabeth conceaued, and hyd her selfe fiue monethes, saying:
Thus hath the Lorde dealt with me, in the dayes wherein he loked on me, to take fro{m} me my rebuke among men.
And in the sixth moneth, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God, vnto a citie of Galilee, named Nazareth,
To a virgin, spoused to a man whose name was Ioseph, of the house of Dauid, and the virgins name was Marie.
And the Angel went in vnto her, and sayde: Hayle [thou that art] freelie beloued, the Lorde is with thee, blessed art thou among women.
And when she sawe hym, she was troubled at his saying, and caste in her mynde what maner of salutation that shoulde be.
And the Angel saide vnto her: Feare not Marie, for thou hast founde grace with God.
For beholde, thou shalt conceaue in thy wombe, and beare a sonne, & shalt call his name Iesus.
He shalbe great, & shalbe called {th}e sonne of the hyest: & the Lord God shall geue vnto him the seate of his father Dauid:
And he shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer, and of his kyngdome there shalbe none ende.
Then said Marie vnto {th}e Angel: How shall this be, seing I knowe not a man?
And the Angel aunswered, & saide vnto her: The holy ghost shall come vpon thee, & the power of the hyest shall ouershadowe thee. Therefore also that holy thyng whiche shalbe borne, shalbe called the sonne of God.
And beholde, thy cosin Elizabeth, she hath also conceaued a sonne in her olde age: & this is her sixth moneth, whiche was called barren.
For with God, shall nothyng be vnpossible.
And Marie saide: Beholde the handmayden of the Lorde, be it vnto me accordyng to thy worde. And the Angel departed from her.
And Marie arose in those dayes, & went into the hyll countrey with haste, into a citie of Iuda,
And entred into the house of Zacharie, and saluted Elizabeth.
And it came to passe, that when Elizabeth hearde the salutation of Marie, the babe sprang in her wombe, and Elizabeth was fylled with the holy ghost.
And she cryed with a loude voyce, and saide: Blessed art thou among women, because {th}e fruite of thy wombe is blessed.
And whence commeth this to me, that {th}e mother of my lord should come to me?
For loe, assoone as the voyce of thy salutation sounded in mine eares, the babe sprang in my wombe for ioy.
And blessed is she that beleued: For those thinges shalbe perfourmed, which were tolde her from the Lorde.
And Marie saide: My soule magnifieth the Lorde.
And my spirite reioyceth in God my sauiour.
For he hath loked on the lowe degree of his handmayden: For loe, now from hencefoorth shal all generations call me blessed.
Because, he that is mightie, hath done to me great thinges, & holy is his name,
And his mercy is on them that feare him, from generation to generation.
He hath shewed stre{n}gth with his arme, he hath scattered them that are proude, in the imagination of their heartes.
He hath put downe the myghtie fro{m} their seates, and exalted them of lowe degree.
He hath fylled the hungry with good thynges, & sent away the riche emptie.
He hath helped his seruaunt Israel, in remembraunce of his mercy,
(Euen as he promised to our fathers, Abraham, and to his seede) for euer.
And Marie abode with her about three monethes, and returned agayne to her owne house.
Elizabethes tyme came, that she shoulde be deliuered, and she brought foorth a sonne.
And her neyghbours, and her cosins hearde howe the Lorde hadde shewed great mercy vpo{n} her, and they reioyced with her.
And it came to passe, that on the eyght day they came to circumcise the chylde, and called his name Zacharias, after the name of his father.
And his mother aunswered, and said: not so, but he shalbe called Iohn.
And they sayde vnto her: There is none in thy kinrede that is named with this name.
And they made signes to his father, howe he woulde haue hym called.
And he asked for wrytyng tables, and wrote, saying, his name is Iohn. And they marueyled all.
And his mouth was opened immediatly, and his tounge [loosed] & he spake, and praysed God.
And feare came on all them that dwelt nye vnto them: And all these sayinges were noysed abrode throughout all the hyll countrey of Iurie.
And all they that hearde them, layde them vp in their heartes, saying: What maner of chylde shall this be? And the hande of the Lorde was with hym.
And his father Zacharias was filled with {th}e holy ghost, & prophesied, saying.
Praysed be {th}e Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited & redeemed his people.
And hath raysed vp an horne of saluation vnto vs, in the house of his seruaunt Dauid.
Euen as he promised by the mouth of his holy prophetes, whiche were sence the worlde began.
That he would saue vs from our enemies, and from the hande of all that hate vs.
That he would deale mercyfully with our fathers, and remember his holy couenaunt.
And that he woulde perfourme the oth, which he sware to our father Abraham, for to geue vs.
That we, beyng deliuered out of the handes of our enemies, might serue him without feare,
All the dayes of our life, in [such] holynesse and righteousnes [as are accepted] before hym.
And thou childe shalt be called the prophete of the hyghest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lorde, to prepare his wayes.
To geue knowledge of saluation vnto his people, by the remission of their sinnes.
Through {th}e tender mercy of our God, wherby the day spryng from an hygh hath visited vs.
To geue lyght to them that sitte in darknesse, and in the shadowe of death, to guide our feete into the way of peace.
And the chylde grewe, and waxed strong in spirite, and was in wildernesse till the day came when he should shewe hym selfe vnto the Israelites.
AND it came to passe in those dayes, {tha}t there went out a commaundement fro{m} Augustus Cesar▪ that all the world should be taxed.
(And this first taxing was made, when Syrenius was liefetenaunt in Syria.)
And euery man went vnto his owne citie, to be taxed.
And Ioseph also went vp from Galilee, out of the citie Nazareth, into Iurie, vnto the citie of Dauid, whiche is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and •mage of Dauid,
To be tared with Marie his spoused wyfe, which was with chylde.
And so it was, that whyle they were there, the dayes were accomplysshed, that she shoulde be deliuered.
And she brought foorth her first begotten sonne, and wrapped him in swadlyng clothes, & layde hym in a manger, because there was no rowme for them in the Inne.
There were in {th}e same countrey sheepheardes, abydyng in the fielde, & watchyng their flocke by nyght.
And loe, the Angel of the Lorde stoode harde by them, and the glorie of the Lorde shoue rounde about them, & they were sore afrayde.
And the Angel sayde vnto them, be not afrayde: For beholde, I bryng you tydynges of great ioy, that shall come to all people.
For vnto you is borne this daye, in the citie of Dauid, a sauiour, which is Christ the Lorde.
And take this for a signe: Ye shal finde the childe wrapped in swadling clothes, and layde in a manger.
And straightway, there was with the Angel, a multitude of heauenly souldiers, praysyng God, and saying.
Glorie to God on hye, and peace on the earth, and vnto men a good wyll.
Audit came to passe, assoone as the Angels were gone away from them into heauen, the sheepheardes said one to another: Let vs go nowe euen vnto Bethlehem, and see this thyng that is come to passe, whiche the Lorde hath shewed vnto vs.
And they came with haste, and founde Marie and Ioseph, and the babe layde in a manger.
And when they had seene it, they publisshed abrode the saying whiche was tolde them, of that childe.
And all they that hearde it, wondred at those thinges which were tolde them of the sheepheardes.
But Marie kept al those sayinges, and pondered them in her heart.
And the sheepheardes returned, praysyng & laudyng God, for all the thinges that they had hearde and seene, euen as it was tolde vnto them.
And when the eygth day was come, that the chylde shoulde be circumcised, his name was called Iesus, whiche was so named of the Angel, before he was conceaued in the wombe.
And when the dayes of her purification, after the lawe of Moyses, were accomplished, they brought hym to Hierusalem, to present him to the Lord.
(As it is written in the lawe of {th}e Lord: Euery man chylde that firste openeth the wombe, shalbe called holy to {th}e lord)
And to offer, as it is sayde in the lawe of the Lorde, a payre of turtle doues, or two young pigions.
And beholde, there was a man in Hierusalem, whose name was Simeon: and the same man was iust and godlye, and loked for the consolation of Israel, and the holy ghost was vpon hym.
And a reuelation was geuen hym of the holy ghost, not to see death, before he had seene the Lordes Christe.
And he came by inspiration into the temple: And when the father & mother brought in the chylde Iesus, to do for hym after the custome of the lawe,
Then toke he hym vp in his armes, & praysed God, and sayde:
Lord nowe lettest thou thy seruau{n}t depart in peace, accordyng to thy promise.
For mine eyes haue seene thy saluatio{n},
Whiche thou hast prepared before the face of all people:
A light to be reuealed to the gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
And Ioseph and his mother marueyled at those thinges which were spoken of hym.
And Simeon blessed them, & saide vnto Marie his mother: beholde, this chylde is set to be the fall & vprysyng agayne of many in Israel, & for a signe which is spoken agaynst.
And moreouer, the sworde shall pearce thy soule, that the thoughtes of many heartes may be opened.
And ther was a prophetisse, one Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser, which was of a great age, and had lyued with an husbande seuen yeres from her virginitie.
And she had ben a wydowe about fourescore and foure yeres, whiche departed not from the temple, but serued God with fastynges and prayers nyght and day.
And she, commyng at the same instant vpon them, confessed lykewise the Lorde, and spake of hym, to all them that loked for redemptio{n} in Hierusalem.
And when they had perfourmed all thynges, accordyng to the lawe of the Lorde, they returned into Galilee, to their owne citie Nazareth.
And the chylde grewe, and waxed strong in spirite, and was fylled with wisdome: & the grace of God was vpon hym.
Nowe, his parentes went to Hierusale{m} euery yere, at the feast of {th}e Passouer.
And when he was twelue yere old, they ascended vp to Hierusalem, after the custome of the feast day:
And whe{n} they had fulfilled the dayes, as they returned home, the chylde Iesus abode styll in Hierusalem: & Ioseph and his mother knewe not of it.
But they, supposyng hym to haue ben in the company, came a dayes iourney, and sought hym among their kinsfolke and acquayntaunce.
And when they founde hym not, they turned backe againe to Hierusalem, and sought hym.
And it came to passe, that after three dayes, they founde hym in the temple, sittyng in the myddes of the doctours, hearyng them, and posyng them.
And all that hearde hym, were astonied at his vnderstanding & aunsweres.
And when they sawe hym, they were amased. And his mother said vnto him: Sonne, why hast thou thus dealt with vs? Beholde, thy father and I haue sought thee, sorowyng.
And he sayde vnto them: Howe is it that ye sought me? Wyste ye not, that I must go about my fathers businesse?
And they vnderstoode not that saying which he spake vnto them.
And he went downe with them, and came to Nazareth, & was obedient vnto them: But his mother kepte all these sayinges in her heart.
And Iesus increased in wisedome and stature, and in fauour with God & men.
NOwe, in the fifteenth yere of {th}e raigne of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius Pilate being lieftenau{n}t of Iurie, and Herode being tetrarch of Galilee, & his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea, and of the region of {th}e Trachonites, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abiline,
When Annas and Caiaphas were the hye priestes, the worde of the Lorde came vnto Iohn, the sonne of Zacharias, in the wyldernesse.
And he came into all the coastes about Iordane, preachyng the baptisme of repentaunce, for the remission of sinnes:
As it is writte{n} in {th}e booke of the wordes of Esaias the prophete, saying: The voyce of a cryer in wyldernesse, prepare ye the way of {th}e Lorde, make his pathes strayght.
Euery valley shalbe fylled, and euery mountayne & hyll shalbe brought lowe: And thynges that be croked, shalbe made strayght, and the rough wayes shalbe made playne.
And all flesshe, shall see the saluation of God.
Then saide he to the people that were come foorth to be baptized of hym: O generations of vipers, who hath forewarned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bryng foorth therefore due fruites of repentaunce, and begyn not to say within your selues, we haue Abraham to our father: For I saye vnto you, that God is able of these stones, to rayse vp childre{n} vnto Abraham.
Nowe also is the axe layed vnto the roote of the trees: Euery tree therfore which bryngeth not foorth good fruite, is hewen downe, and cast into the fire.
And the people asked hym, saying: What shall we do then?
He aunswereth, and sayth vnto them: He that hath two coates, let him part with hym that hath none: and he that hath meate, let hym do lykewyse.
Then came publicanes also to be baptized, and saide vnto him: Maister, what shall we do?
And he sayde vnto them: Require no more then that which is appoynted vnto you.
The souldiours lykewyse demaunded of hym, saying: And what shall we do? And he saide vnto them: Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages.
As the people wayted, & all men mused in their heartes of Iohn, whether he were very Christe:
Iohn aunswered, and said vnto them all, In deede I baptize you with water: but one stronger then I commeth, whose shoes latched I am not worthy to vnlose, he shall baptize you with the holy ghost, and with fire.
Which hath his fanne in his hande, & wyll purge his floore, & wyll gather the wheate into his barne: but {th}e chaffe wyl burne vp, with fire that neuer shalbe quenched.
And many other thinges, in his exhortation, preached he vnto the people.
Then Herode the tetrarch, when he was rebuked of hym for Herodias, his brother Philippes wyfe, and for all the euyls which Herode dyd,
Added this aboue all, & shut vp Iohn in pryson.
Nowe it came to passe, as all the people were baptized, and when Iesus was baptized, and dyd praye, that the heauen was opened,
And the holy ghost came downe, in a bodyly shape lyke a Doue, vpon hym: and a voyce came from heauen, which sayde, Thou art my beloued sonne, in thee I am well pleased.
And Iesus him selfe began to be about thirtie yeres of age, beyng (as he was supposed) the sonne of Ioseph: whiche was [the sonne] of Heli,
Whiche was the sonne of Matthat, whiche was the sonne of Leui, whiche was the sonne of Melchi, whiche was the sonne of Ianna, whiche was the sonne of Ioseph:
Whiche was {th}e sonne of Matthathias, whiche was the sonne of Amos, whiche was the sonne of Naum, whiche was the sonne of Hesly, which was the sonne of Nagge:
Whiche was the sonne of Maath, which was the sonne of Matthathias, which was the sonne of Semei, whiche was the sonne of Ioseph, whiche was the sonne of Iuda:
Whiche was the sonne of Ioanna, which was the sonne of Rhesa, whiche was the sonne of Zorobabel, whiche was the sonne of Salathiel, which was the sonne of Neri:
Whiche was the sonne of Melchi, whiche was the sonne of Addi, whiche was the sonne of Cosam, whiche was the sonne of Elmodam, whiche was the sonne of Er:
Whiche was the sonne of Iose, which was the sonne of Eliezer, whiche was sonne of Iorim, whiche was {th}e sonne of Matthat, which was {th}e sonne of Leui:
Whiche was the sonne of Simeon, whiche was the sonne of Iuda, whiche was the sonne of Ioseph, whiche was the sonne of Ionan, whiche was the sonne of Eliacim:
Whiche was the sonne of Melea, whiche was {th}e sonne of Menam, whiche was {th}e sonne of Matthatha, which was the sonne of Nathan, whiche was the sonne of Dauid:
Whiche was {th}e sonne of Iesse, whiche was the sonne of Obed, which was the sonne of Booz, whiche was the sonne of Salmo{n}, which was {th}e sonne of Naasso{n}:
Whiche was the sonne of Aminadab, whiche was the sonne of Aram, whiche was the sonne of Esron, whiche was the sonne of Phares, whiche was the sonne of Iuda:
Whiche was {th}e sonne of Iacob, whiche was the sonne of Asaac, which was the sonne of Abraham, whiche was {th}e sonne of Thara, which was the sonne of Nachor:
Which was {th}e sonne of Saruch, which was the sonne of Ragau, whiche was the sonne of Phaleg, which was {th}e sonne of Heber, which was the sonne of Sala:
whiche was the sonne of Arphaxad, whiche was the sonne of Sem, whiche was the sonne of Noe, whiche was the sonne of Lamech:
Whiche was the sonne of Mathusala, whiche was the sonne of Enoch, which was the sonne of Jared, whiche was the sonne of Maleleel, whiche was the sonne of Cainan:
Which was the sonne of Henos, which was {th}e sonne of Seth, which was {th}e sonne of Adam, which was the sonne of God.
IEsus, being full of the holy ghost, returned from Iordane, & was ledde by the spirite into wyldernesse,
And was fourtie dayes tempted of the deuyll, and in those dayes dyd he eate nothyng: And when they were ended, he afterwarde hungred.
And the deuyll sayde vnto hym: If thou be the sonne of God, commaunde this stone that it be made bread.
And Iesus aunswered hym, saying: It is written, that man shall not lyue by bread only, but by euery word of god.
And the deuyll toke hym into an hye mountayne, & shewed hym all the kingdomes of {th}e worlde in a moment of time.
And the deuyl saide vnto hym: all this power wyll I geue thee euerywhyt, & the glory of them, for that is deliuered vnto me, and to whomsoeuer I wyll, I geue it.
If thou therfore wilt fall downe before me, & worship me, they shalbe all thine.
Iesus aunswered, & sayde vnto hym, Hence from me Satan: For it is writte{n}, Thou shalt worship the Lorde thy God, and hym only shalt thou serue.
And he caryed hym to Hierusalem, & set hym on a pinacle of the temple, and sayde vnto him: If thou be the sonne of God, cast thy selfe downe from hence.
For it is written, that he shall geue his Angels charge ouer thee, to kepe thee.
And in their handes they shall beare thee vp, that thou dasshe not thy foote at any tyme agaynst a stone.
And Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: It is sayde, Thou shalt not tempt the Lorde thy God.
And assoone as all the temptatio{n} was ended, the deuyll departed from hym for a season.
And Iesus returned, by the power of the spirite, into Galilee: & there went a fame of hym, throughout all the region rounde about.
And he taught in their synagogues, & was commended of all men.
And he came to Nazareth, where he was nursed: and, as his custome was, he we{n}t into the synagogue on the Sabboth day, and stoode vp for to reade.
And there was deliuered vnto hym the booke of the prophete Esaias: And whe{n} he had opened the booke, he founde the place where it was written,
The spirite of the Lord vpon me, because he hath annoynted me, to preache the Gospel to the poore he hath sent me, to heale the broken hearted, to preache deliueraunce to the captiue, & recouering of syght to the blynde, freely to set at libertie them that are bruised:
And to preache the acceptable yere of the Lorde.
And he closed the booke, and gaue it agayne to the minister, and sate downe: And the eyes of all them that were in {th}e synagogue, were fastened on hym.
And he began to say vnto the{m}: this day is this scripture fulfilled in your eares.
And all bare him witnesse, & wondred at {th}e gratious wordes whiche proceaded out of his mouth. And they sayde, is not this Iosephes sonne?
And he saide vnto them: Ye wyll vtterly say vnto me this prouerbe, phisition heale thy selfe: Whatsoeuer we haue heard done in Capernau{m}, do {th}e same here lykewyse in thine owne countrey.
And he saide: Veryly I say vnto you, no prophete is accepted in his owne countrey.
But I tell you of a trueth, many wydowes were in Israel, in the dayes of Elias, when heauen was shutte three yeres & sixe monethes, when great famishment was throughout all {th}e lande:
And vnto none of the{m} was Elias sent, saue vnto Sarepta, a citie of Sidon, vnto a woman that was a wydowe.
And many lepers were in Israel, in the tyme of Elizeus the prophete: and none of them was clensed, sauyng Naaman the Syrian.
And all they in the synagogue, when they hearde these thynges, were fylled with wrath:
And rose vp, and thrust hym out of the citie, and led hym euen vnto the edge of the hyll (wheron their citie was built,) {th}e they might cast him downe headlong.
But he, passyng through the myddes of them, went his way:
And came downe to Capernaum, a citie of Galilee, and there taught them on the Sabboth dayes.
And they were astonyed at his doctrine: For his preachyng was with power.
And in the synagogue, there was a man, which had an vncleane spirite of a deuyll, and cryed with a loude voyce,
Saying: Oh what haue we to do with thee, thou Iesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy vs? I knowe who thou art, euen the holy one of God.
And Iesus rebuked hym, saying: Holde thy peace, and come out of hym. And when the deuyll had throwen him in the middes, he came out of hym, and hurt hym not.
And feare came on them all, and they spake among them selues, saying: What maner a thyng is this? For with auctoritie and power he commaundeth the foule spirites, and they come out.
And the fame of hym spread abrode, throughout euery place of the countrey rounde about.
And when he was risen vp, and come out of the synagogue, he entred into Simons house: And Simons wiues mother was taken with a great feuer, & they made intercession to hym for her.
And he stoode ouer her, and rebuked the feuer, and the feuer left her: And immediatly she arose, and ministred vnto them.
When the Sunne was downe, all they that had sicke, taken with diuers diseases, brought them vnto hym: And he layde his handes on euery one of them, and healed them.
And deuyls also came out of many crying & saying: Thou art that Christe, the sonne of God. And he rebuked the{m}, and suffred them not to speake: For they knewe that he was Christe.
As soone as it was day, he departed, and went into a desert place: And the people sought hym, and came to hym, and kept hym, that he shoulde not depart from them.
And he sayde vnto them, I must preache the kyngdome of God to other cities also: For therfore am I sent.
And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.
IT came to passe, that when {th}e people preassed vpon hym, to heare the worde of God, he stoode by the lake of Genezareth,
And sawe two shippes stande by the lakes syde: But the fisshermen were gone out of them, and were wasshyng their nettes.
And he entred into one of the shippes, which pertayned to Simon, and prayed hym that he woulde thrust out, a litle from the lande: And he sate downe, and taught the people out of the shippe.
When he had left speakyng, he sayde vnto Simon: Launche out into the deepe, and let slip your nettes, to make a draught.
And Simon aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: Maister, we haue laboured all nyght, and haue taken nothyng: Neuerthelesse, at thy commaundement I wyll loose foorth the nette.
And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fisshes: But their nette brake.
And they beckened vnto their felowes, which were in the other shippe, that they shoulde come, and helpe them. And they came, and fylled both the shippes, that they suncke agayne.
When Simon Peter sawe this, he fell downe at Iesus knees, saying: Lorde, go from me, for I am a sinfull man.
For he was vtterly astonyed, and all that were with hym, at the draught of fisshes, which they had taken.
And so was also Iames and Iohn the sonnes of Zebedee, whiche were parteners with Simon. And Iesus sayde vnto Simon: Feare not, from hencefoorth thou shalt catch men.
And when they had brought vp their boates to the shore, they forsoke all, and folowed hym.
And it came to passe, that whe{n} he was in a certayne citie: Beholde, [there was] a man full of leprosie, and when he had spyed Iesus, he fell flat on his face, and besought hym, saying: Lorde, yf thou wylt, thou canst make me cleane.
And he stretched foorth his hande, and touched hym, saying: I wyll, be thou cleane. And immediatly the leprosie departed from hym. And he charged hym, that he shoulde tell no man:
But go [sayth he] and shewe thy selfe to the priest, and offer for thy clensyng, accordyng as Moyses commaunded, for a witnesse vnto them.
But so much the more went there a fame abrode of hym, and much people came together to heare, and to be healed of hym, from their infirmities.
And he kept hym selfe a part in the wildernesse, and prayed.
And it came to passe, on a certayne day, as he was teachyng, that there were pharisees & doctours of the lawe, sittyng by, which were come out of all the townes of Galilee and Iurie, and Hierusalem: And the power of the Lorde was present, to heale them.
And beholde, men brought in a bed, a man which was taken with a paulsie, and they sought meanes to bryng hym in, and to lay hym before hym.
And when they coulde not fynde on what syde they myght bryng hym in, because of the prease, they went vpon the toppe of the house, and let hym downe through the tylyng, bed and all, euen in the myddes before Iesus.
Whe{n} he sawe their faith, he saide vnto him: Man, thy sinnes are forgeuen thee.
And the scribes and the pharisees, began to thynke, saying: What felowe is this, which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgeue sinnes but God only?
But when Iesus perceaued their thoughtes, he aunswered, & sayde vnto them: What thynke ye in your heartes?
Whether is easier to say, thy sinnes be forgeuen thee: or to say, ryse vp & walke?
But that ye may knowe that the sonne of man hath power to forgeue sinnes on earth (he sayde vnto the sicke of the paulsie) I say vnto thee, aryse, take vp thy bed, and go vnto thy house.
And immediatly he rose vp before them, and toke vp his bed, wheron he lay, and departed to his owne house, praysyng God.
And they were all amazed, and they gaue the glory vnto God, and were fylled with feare, saying: Doutlesse we haue seene straunge thynges to day.
After these thynges, he went foorth, & sawe a publicane named Leui, sittyng at the receipt of custome: and he sayde vnto hym, folowe me.
And he left all, rose vp, & folowed him.
And Leui made hym a great feast in his owne house. And there was a great companie of publicanes, and of other that sate [at meate] with them.
But they that were scribes and pharisees among them, murmured agaynst his disciples saying: Why do ye eate and drynke with publicanes and sinners?
And Iesus aunswered, and saide vnto them, They that are whole, neede not the phisition: But they that are sicke.
I came not to call the ryghteous: but sinners to repentaunce.
And they sayde vnto hym: Why do the disciples of Iohn fast often, & pray, and the disciples of the pharisees also: but thyne eate and drynke?
He sayde vnto them. Can ye make the chyldren of the weddyng chaumber fast, whyle the brydegrome in with the{m}?
But the dayes wyll come, when the brydegrome also shalbe taken away fro{m} them: then shall they fast in those dayes.
He spake also vnto them a similitude. No man putteth a peece of a newe garment, into an olde vesture: For then the newe renteth [the olde,] and the peece that was [taken] out of the newe, agreeth not with the olde.
And no man powreth newe wyne into olde vessels: For yf he do, the newe wyne wyll burst the vessels, and runne out it selfe, and the vessels shall perishe.
But newe wine must be put into newe vessels, and both are preserued.
No man also that drinketh olde wyne, strayghtway can awaye with newe: For he sayth, the olde is better.
AND it came to passe, on the seconde Sabboth, after the first, that he went through the corne fieldes: and his disciples plucked the eares of corne, and dyd eate, and rubbed them in their handes.
And certayne of the pharisees sayde vnto them: Why do ye that, which is not lawfull to do on {th}e Sabboth dayes?
And Iesus aunswered them, & sayde: Haue ye not read what Dauid dyd, when he hym selfe was an hungred, and they which were with hym:
Howe he went into the house of God, and dyd take and eate the shewe bread, and gaue also to them that were with hym, which was not lawfull to eate, but for the priestes only?
And he sayde vnto them: The sonne of man is Lord also of {th}e Sabboth day.
And it came to passe also in another Sabboth, that he entred into the synagogue, and taught: And there was a man, whose right hand was dried vp.
And the scribes & pharisees watched hym, whether he woulde heale on the Sabboth day: that they myght fynde howe to accuse hym.
But he knewe their thoughtes, and said to the man which had the withered hande: Ryse vp, and stande foorth in the myddes. And he arose, and stoode foorth.
Then sayde Iesus vnto them, I wyll aske you a question: Whether is it lawfull on the Sabboth dayes to do good, or to do euyll? to saue ones lyfe, or to destroy it?
And he behelde them all in compasse, & sayde vnto the man: Stretche foorth thy hande. And he dyd so: & his hande was restored agayne as whole as the other.
And they were fylled with madnesse, and communed together among them selues, what they myght do to Iesus.
And it came to passe in those dayes, {tha}t he we{n}t out into a mountayne to pray, & continued all nyght in prayer to God.
And assoone as it was day, he called his disciples: And of them he chose twelue, whom he called Apostles:
(Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrewe his brother: Iames and Iohn, Philip and Barthelmewe,
Matthewe and Thomas, Iames the sonne of Alpheus, & Simon, which is called Zelotes:
And Iudas, Iames [brother] and Iudas Iscariot, which also was the traytour.)
And he came downe with them, and stoode in the playne fielde, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people, out of all Iurie & Hierusalem, and fro{m} the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to heare hym, and to be healed of their diseases,
And they that were vexed with foule spirites: and they were healed.
And all the people preassed to touche hym: for there went vertue out of hym, and healed them all.
And he lyft vp his eyes vpon his disciples, and sayde: Blessed be ye poore, for yours is the kyngdome of God.
Blessed are ye that hunger nowe, for ye shalbe satisfied. Blessed are ye that weepe nowe, for ye shall laugh.
Blessed shall ye be when men hate you, & seperate you [from their companie] and raile on you, & put out your names as an euyll thyng, for the sonne of mans sake.
Reioyce ye in that day, and be glad: For beholde, your rewarde is great in heauen: For thus dyd their fathers vnto the prophetes.
But wo vnto you that are riche: for ye haue your consolation.
Wo vnto you that are full: for ye shall hunger. Wo vnto you that nowe laugh: for ye shall wayle and weepe.
Wo vnto you when all men prayse you: for so dyd their fathers to the false prophetes.
But I say vnto you which heare: Loue your enemies, Do good to them which hate you.
Blesse them that curse you: And pray for the{m} which wrongfully trouble you.
And vnto hym that smyteth thee on the one cheeke, offer also the other. And hym that taketh away thy cloke, forbyd not to take thy coate also.
Geue to euery man that asketh of thee: And of hym that taketh away thy goodes, aske them not agayne.
And as ye woulde that men shoulde do to you, do ye also to them lykewyse.
For yf ye loue them which loue you, what thanke haue ye? For sinners also loue their louers.
And yf ye do good for them which do good for you, what thanke haue ye? For sinners also do euen the same.
And yf ye lende to them, of whom ye hope to receaue, what thanke haue ye? For synners also lende to sinners, to receaue such lyke agayne.
But loue ye your enemies, & do good, and lende, lokyng for nothyng agayne: and your rewarde shalbe great, and ye shalbe the chyldren of the hyest: for he is kynde vnto the vnkynde, & to the euyll.
Be ye therfore mercifull, as your father also is mercifull.
Iudge not, & ye shall not be iudged: Condemne not, and ye shall not be condemned: Forgeue, & ye shalbe forgeuen.
Geue, and it shalbe geuen vnto you: good measure, pressed downe, & shaken together, and runnyng ouer, shall men geue into your bosomes. For with the same measure that ye meate withall, shall other men meate to you agayne.
And he put foorth a similitude vnto them: Can the blynde leade the blynde? Do they not both fall into the ditche?
The disciple is not aboue his maister: But whosoeuer wylbe a perfect disciple, shalbe as his maister is.
And why seest thou a moate in thy brothers eye: but considerest not the beame that is in thyne owne eye?
Either, howe canst thou say to thy brother: Brother, let me pull out the moate that is in thyne eye, when thou seest not the beame that is in thyne owne eye? Thou hypocrite, caste out the beame out of thyne owne eye first, & then shalt thou see perfectly, to pul out the moate that is in thy brothers eye.
For it is not a good tree, that bryngeth foorth euyll fruite: Neither is that an euyll tree, that bryngeth foorth good fruite.
For euery tree is knowen by his fruite: for of thornes do not me{n} gather fygges, nor of busshes, gather they grapes.
A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth foorth that which is good: And an euyll man, out of the euyll treasure of his heart, bryngeth foorth that which is euyll. For of the aboundaunce of the heart, his mouth speaketh.
Why call ye me Lorde, Lorde, and do not as I byd you?
Whosoeuer commeth to me, & heareth my sayinges, and doth the same, I wyll shewe you to whom he is lyke.
He is lyke a man which built an house, and digged deepe, and layde the foundation on a rocke. And when the waters arose, the fludde beat vpon that house, and coulde not moue it: For it was grounded vpon a rocke.
But he that heareth and doeth not, is lyke a man, that without foundation, built an house vpon the earth, agaynst which the fludde dyd beate, and it fell immediatly: And the fall of that house was great.
WHen he had ended all his sayinges, in the audience of the people, he entred into Capernaum.
And a certayne Centurions seruaunt, which was deare vnto hym, lay sicke, and was in peryll of death.
And when he hearde of Iesus, he sent vnto hym the elders of the Iewes, besechyng hym that he woulde come, and heale his seruaunt.
And when they came to Iesus, they besought hym instantly, saying he is worthy that thou shouldest do this for hym.
For he loueth our nation, and hath built vs a synagogue.
Then Iesus went with them. And when he was nowe not farre from the house, the Centurion sent friendes to hym, saying vnto hym: Lorde, trouble not thy selfe, for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter vnder my roofe.
Wherefore I thought not my selfe worthy to come vnto thee: but say thou the worde, & my seruaunt shalbe whole.
For I also am a man, set vnder power, and haue vnder me souldiers: and I say vnto one go, and he goeth: and to another, come, and he commeth: and to my seruaunt, do this, and he doth it.
When Iesus hearde these thynges, he marueyled at hym, and turned hym about, and sayde to the people that folowed hym: I say vnto you, I haue not founde so great fayth, no, not in Israel.
And they that were sent, turned backe home agayne, and founde the seruaunt whole, that had ben sicke.
And it came to passe the [day] after, that he went into a citie, which is called Naim: and many of his disciples went with hym, and much people.
When he came nye to the gate of the citie, beholde, there was a dead man caryed out, [which was] the only sonne of his mother, and she was a widdowe: And much people of the citie was with her.
And when the Lorde sawe her, he had compassion on her, and sayde vnto her: Weepe not.
And he came nye, & touched the beere, (and they that bare hym stoode styll) And he sayde: Young man, I say vnto thee, aryse.
And he that was dead, sate vp, and began to speake: And he delyuered hym to his mother.
And there came a feare on them all, & they gaue the glory vnto God, saying: Agreat prophete is risen vp among vs, and veryly God hath visited his people.
And this rumour of hym went foorth throughout all Iurie, & throughout all the regions which lye rounde about.
And the disciples of Iohn, shewed hym of all these thynges.
And Iohn called vnto hym two of his disciples, and sent them to Iesus, saying: Art thou he that shoulde come, or shall we loke for another?
When the men were come vnto hym, they sayde, Iohn Baptiste sent vs vnto thee, saying: Art thou he that shoulde come, or shall we loke for another?
And in that same houre, he cured manye of their infirmities & plagues, and of euyll spirites, and vnto many that were blynde, he gaue sight.
Then Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto them: Go your way, and bryng worde agayne to Iohn, what thynges ye haue seene and hearde, howe that the blynde see, the halt go, the lepers are clensed, the deafe heare, the dead ryse agayne, to the poore is the Gospell preached,
And happy is he, that is not offended at me.
And when the messengers of Iohn were departed, he began to speake vnto the people concernyng Iohn: What went ye out into the wildernesse for to see? a reede shaken with the wynde?
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft rayment? Beholde, they which are gorgeously appareled, & lyue delicately, are in kynges courtes.
But what went ye foorth to see? A prophete? Yea, I say to you, and more then a prophete.
This is he, of whom it is written: Beholde, I sende my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
For I say vnto you, among womens chyldren, is there not a greater prophete then Iohn Baptist. Neuerthesse, he that is lesse in the kyngdome of God, is greater then he.
And all the people, and the publicanes that hearde hym, iustified God, and were baptized with the baptisme of Iohn.
But the pharisees and lawyers despised the councel of God, agaynst them selues, and were not baptized of hym.
And the Lorde sayde: Whervnto shall I lyken the men of this generation? and what [thyng] are they lyke?
They are lyke vnto chyldren, sittyng in the market place, and crying one to another, and saying: We haue pyped vnto you, and ye haue not daunsed: We haue mourned to you, and ye haue not wept.
For Iohn Baptist came, neither eatyng bread nor drynkyng wyne, and ye say he hath the deuyll.
The sonne of man is come, and eateth and drynketh, and ye saye, beholde a gluttonous man, and an [vnmeasurable] drynker of wyne, a frende of publicanes and sinners.
And wisdome is iustified of all her chyldren.
And one of the pharisees desired hym, that he woulde eate with hym. And he went into the pharisees house, and sate downe to meate.
And beholde, a woman in that citie, which was a sinner, assoone as she knewe that Iesus sate at meate in the pharisees house, she brought an alabaster boxe of oyntment:
And stoode at his feete behynde hym, weepyng, and began to washe his feete with teares, & dyd wype them with the heeres of her head, and kyssed his feete, and anoynted them with the oyntment.
When the pharisee which had bydden hym, sawe, he spake within hym selfe, saying: If this man were a prophete, he woulde surely knowe who, & what maner of woman this is, that touched hym, for she is a sinner.
And Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: Simon, I haue somewhat to say vnto thee. And he sayde: Maister, say on.
There was a certayne lender, which had two detters: The one ought fyue hundred pence, and the other fyftie.
When they had nothyng to pay, he forgaue them both. Tell me therefore, which of them wyll loue hym most?
Simon aunswered and sayde: I suppose, that he to whom he forgaue most. And he sayde vnto hym: Thou haste truely iudged.
And he turned to the woman, & sayde vnto Simon: Seest thou this woman? I entred into thyne house, thou gauest me no water for my feete, but she hath wasshed my feete with teares, & wyped them with the heeres of her head.
Thou gauest me no kysse: but she, sence the tyme I came in, hath not ceassed to kysse my feete.
Myne head with oyle thou dyddest not anoynt: but she hath anoynted my feete with oyntment.
Wherfore I say vnto thee, many sinnes are forgeuen her: for she loued much. To whom lesse is forgeuen, the same doth lesse loue.
And he sayde vnto her: thy sinnes are forgeuen thee.
And they that sate at meate with hym, began to say within them selues, Who is this that forgeueth sinnes also?
And he sayde to the woman: Thy fayth hath saued thee, go in peace.
AND it came to passe afterwarde, that he him selfe we{n}t throughout euery citie & towne preachyng, & shewyng the kingdome of god, & the twelue with hym.
And also certayne women, which were healed of euyll spirites, and infirmities, Marie which is called Magdalene, out of whom went seuen deuyls.
And Ioanna the wyfe of Chusa Herodes stewarde, and Susanna, & many other which ministred vnto hym of their substaunce.
When much people were gathered together, & were come to hym out of all cities, he spake by a similitude.
The sower we{n}t out to sowe his seede: and as he sowed, some fell by the way syde, and it was troden downe, and the foules of the ayre deuoured it vp.
And some fell on stones, and assoone as it was sprong vp, it withered away, because it lacked moystnes.
And some fell among thornes, and the thornes sprang vp with it, and choked it.
And some fell on good grounde, and sprang vp, and bare fruite, an hundred folde. And as he sayde these thynges, he cryed: He that hath eares to heare, let hym heare.
And his disciples asked hym, saying what maner of similitude is this?
And he sayde, Vnto you it is geuen to knowe the secretes of the kyngdome of God: but to other by parables, that when they see, they shoulde not see, and when they heare, they shoulde not vnderstande.
The parable is this. The seede, is the worde of God.
Those that are besyde the way, are they that heare: then commeth the deuyll, and taketh away the worde out of their heartes, lest they shoulde beleue, and be saued.
They on the stones, [are they] which when they heare, receaue the worde with ioy: & these haue no rootes, which for a whyle beleue, and in tyme of temptation go away.
And that which fell among thornes, are they, which whe{n} they haue hearde, go foorth, and are choked with cares & ryches, and voluptuous lyuyng, & bring foorth no fruite.
But that [which fell] on {th}e good grou{n}de, are they, which with a pure and good hearte heare the worde, and kepe it, and bryng foorth fruite through pacience.
No man when he lyghteth a candel, couereth it with a vessell, or putteth it vnder a table, but setteth it on a candlesticke, that they which enter in, may see the lyght.
For nothyng is secrete, that shall not come abrode: Neither any thyng hyd, that shall not be knowen, and come to lyght.
Take heede therfore, howe ye heare. For whosoeuer hath, to hym shalbe geuen: And whosoeuer hath not, from hym shalbe take{n}, euen that same which he supposeth that he hath.
Then came to hym his mother and his brethren, and coulde not come at hym for prease.
And it was tolde hym [by certayne] which sayde: Thy mother and thy brethren stande without, & woulde see thee.
He aunswered, and sayde vnto them: My mother & my brethren are these, which heare the worde of God, & do it.
And it came to passe on a certayne day, that he went into a shippe, and his disciples also: and he sayde vnto them, Let vs go ouer vnto the other syde of the lake.
And they lau{n}ched foorth: But as they sayled he fell a slepe, and there came downe a storme on the lake, and they were fylled [with water], and were in ieoperdie.
And they came to hym, and awoke hym, saying: Maister, Maister, we are lost. Then he arose, and rebuked the wynde, & the tempest of water, and they ceassed, and it waxed calme.
And he sayde vnto them: Where is your fayth? And they feared, and wondred among them selues, saying: Who is this? For he commaundeth both the wyndes & water, and they obey hym.
And they sayled vnto the region of the Gadarenites, which is ouer agaynst Galilee.
And when he went out to lande, there met hym out of the citie a certayne man, which had deuyls long tyme, and ware no clothes, neither abode in [any] house: but in graues.
When he sawe Iesus, and had cryed, he fell downe before hym, and with a loude voyce sayde: What haue I to do with thee Iesus, thou sonne of God most hyest? I beseche thee torment me not.
(For he commaunded the foule spirite to come out of the man: For oftentymes he had caught him, and he was bounde with chaynes, and kept with fetters: & he brake the bandes, and was caryed of the fiende into wildernesse.)
And Iesus asked hym, saying: What is thy name? And he sayde, Legion: because many deuyls were entred into hym.
And they besought hym, that he woulde not commaunde them, to go out into the deepe.
And there was there, an hearde of many swyne, feedyng on an hyll: and they besought hym, that he woulde suffer them to enter into them: and he suffered them.
Then went the deuyls out of the man, and entred into the swyne: And the heard ran headlong with violence into the lake, and were choked.
When the heardmen sawe what was done, they fled: and when they were departed, they tolde it in the citie, & in the villages.
Therfore they came out to see what was done, and came to Iesus, & founde the man out of whom the deuyls were departed, sittyng at the feete of Iesus, clothed, & in his ryght mynde, and they were afrayde.
They also which sawe it, tolde them by what meanes he that was possessed of the deuyls, was healed.
Then the whole multitude of the countrey about the Gadarenites, besought hym that he woulde departe from them, for they were taken with great feare. And he gat hym vp into the shippe, and returned backe agayne.
Then the man out of whom the deuyls were departed, besought hym that he myght be with hym. But Iesus sent hym away, saying:
Go home agayne to thine owne house, and shewe what thynges so euer God hath done for thee. And he went his way, and preached throughout all the citie, what thynges so euer Iesus had done vnto hym.
And it came to passe, {tha}t when Iesus was come agayne, the people receaued hym: For they all wayted for hym.
And behold, ther came a man named Iairus, & he was a ruler of {th}e synagoge, & he fell downe at Iesus feete, praying him that he would come into his house:
For he had but one daughter only, vpon a twelue yeres of age, and she lay a dying. (But as he went, the people thronged hym.
And a woman, hauyng an issue of blood twelue yeres, which had spent all her substaunce vpon phisitions, neither coulde be holpen of any,
Came behynde hym, and touched the hemme of his rayment: and immediatly her issue of blood staunched.
And Iesus sayde: Who is it that touched me? Whe{n} euery man denyed, Peter and they that were with hym, sayde: Maister, the people thrust thee, and vexe thee, and sayest thou, who touched me?
And Iesus sayde, Some body hath touched me: For I perceaue that vertue is gone out of me.
When the woman sawe that she was not hyd, she came trembling, and fell [at his feete] and tolde him before al the people, for what cause she had touched him, and howe she was healed immediatly.
And he sayde vnto her: Daughter, be of good comfort, thy fayth hath saued thee, go in peace.)
Whyle he yet spake, there came one from the ruler of the synagogues house, which sayde to hym: Thy daughter is dead, disease not the Maister.
But when Iesus hearde that worde, he aunswered him, saying: Feare not, beleue only, & she shalbe made whole.
And when he came to the house, he suffered no man to go in with hym, saue Peter, and Iames, and Iohn, and the father and the mother of the mayden.
Euery body wept, & sorowed for her. And he sayde: Weepe not, the damsell is not dead, but slepeth.
And they laughed hym to scorne, knowyng that she was dead.
And he thrust them all out, and toke her by the hande, and cryed, saying: Mayde, aryse.
And her spirite came agayne, and she rose straightway: And he commaunded to geue her meate.
And the father and the mother of her, were astonyed: But he warned the{m} that they should tel no man what was done.
IEsus called the twelue together, and gaue the{m} power and aucthoritie ouer al deuils, and that they might heale diseases.
And he sent them to preache the kyngdome of God, and to heale the sicke.
And he saide vnto the{m}: Take nothing to your iourney, neither staues, nor scrippe, neither bread, neither money, neither haue two coates.
And whatsoeuer house ye enter into, there abyde, and thence depart.
And whosoeuer wyll not receaue you, when ye go out of that citie, shake of the very dust from your feete, for a testimonie agaynst them.
And they departed, and went through the townes, preachyng the Gospell, and healyng euerywhere.
And Herode the tetrarche heard of all that was done by hym, and doubted, because that it was sayde of some, that Iohn was rysen agayne from death:
And of some, that Elias had appeared, and of some, that one of the olde prophetes was rysen agayne.
And Herode sayde, Iohn haue I beheaded, but who is this of who{m} I heare such thinges? And he desired to see him.
And the apostles returned, & tolde him all that they had done. And he toke the{m} and went aside into a solitarie place, nye vnto the citie that is called Bethsaida.
Which whe{n} the people knew, they folowed him: And he receaued them, and spake vnto the{m} of the kingdome of God, & healed the{m} that had nede to be healed.
And when the day began to weare away, then came the twelue and sayde vnto hym: Sende the people awaye, that they may go into the townes and vyllages rounde about, and lodge, and get meate: for we are here in a place of wyldernesse.
But he said vnto them: Geue ye the{m} to eate. And they said: We haue no mo but fyue loaues and two fisshes, excepte we should go & bye meate for al this people.
And they were about fyue thousande men. And he said to his disciples: Cause the{n} to sit downe by fifties in a companie.
And they dyd so, and made them all to sit downe.
And he toke the fyue loaues and the two fisshes, and loked vp to heauen, and blessed them, and brake, and gaue to the disciples to set before the people.
And they dyd all eate, and were satisfied. And there was taken vp of that remayned to them, twelue baskettes full of broken meate.
And it came to passe, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with hym, and he asked them, saying: Who say the people that I am?
They aunswered and sayde, Iohn Baptist: some say, Elias: and some say that one of the olde prophetes is rysen.
He sayde vnto them: But whom say ye that I am? [Simon] Peter aunswered, & saide: [Thou art] Christe, of God.
And he warned & commaunded them, that they should tell no man that thing,
Saying: The sonne of man must suffer many thynges, and be reproued of the elders, and of the hye priestes and scribes, and be slayne, and ryse agayne the thirde day.
And he said to the{m} all: If any man wyl come after me, let him denie him selfe, & take vp his crosse dayly, & folowe me.
For whosoeuer wyl saue his lyfe, shal lose it: But whosoeuer shall lose his lyfe for my sake, the same shall saue it.
For what auauntageth it a man yf he wynne the whole worlde, and lose hym selfe, or runne in daunger of hym selfe?
For Whosoeuer shalbe ashamed of me, and of my wordes, of hym shall the sonne of man be ashamed, whe{n} he commeth in his maiestie, and in the maiestie of his father, and of the holy angels.
I tell you of a trueth, there be some standyng here, whiche shall not taste of death, tyl they see the kingdome of God.
And it came to passe, about an eyght dayes after these sayinges, he toke Peter, and Iohn, and Iames, and went vp into a mountayne to pray.
And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenaunce was chaunged, & his garment was whyte, and shone.
And beholde, there talked with hym two men, which were Moyses & Elias:
That appeared in the maiestie, & spake of his departyng, which he shoulde end at Hierusalem.
But Peter, and they that were with him, were heauie with sleepe: and whe{n} they awoke, they sawe his maiestie, and two men standyng with hym.
And it came to passe, as they departed fro{m} him, Peter said vnto Iesus: Maister it is good beyng here for vs, let vs make three tabernacles, one for thee, & one for Moyses, and one for Elias: and wyst not what he sayde.
Whyle he thus spake, there came a cloude, and ouershadowed them, & they feared whe{n} they wer come into {th}e cloude
And there came a voyce out of the cloude, saying: this is my deare sonne, heare him.
And assoone as the voyce was paste, Iesus was founde alone: and they kept it close, and tolde no man in those dayes any of those thynges which they hadde seene.
And it came to passe, that on the next day, as they came downe from the hyll, much people met hym.
And beholde, a man of the companie cried out, saying: Maister, I besech thee behold my sonne, for he is all {tha}t I haue:
And see, a spirite taketh hym, and sodenly he cryeth, and teareth hym, that he fometh agayne, & with much payne departeth from him, when he hath rent hym.
And I besought thy disciples to cast hym out, and they coulde not.
Iesus aunswered, and saide: O faithlesse and croked nation, howe long shall I be with you, and shall suffer you? Bryng thy sonne hyther.
As he was yet a commyng, the fiende rent hym, and tare hym: And Iesus rebuked the vncleane spirite, and healed the chylde, and deliuered hym to his father.
And they were all amased at the mightie power of God: But whyle they wondred euery one at all thinges which he dyd, he sayde vnto his disciples,
Let these sayinges sincke downe into your eares: For it wyll come to passe, that the sonne of man shalbe deliuered into the handes of men.
But they wyst not what that worde meant, and it was hydde from them that they vnderstoode it not: And they feared to aske hym of that saying.
Then there arose a disputatio{n} among them, which of them should be the greatest.
When Iesus perceaued the thought of their heartes, he toke a chylde, and set hym harde by hym,
And sayde vnto them: Whosoeuer receaueth this chylde in my name, receaueth me: And whosoeuer receaueth me, receaueth him that sent me. For he that is least among you all, the same shalbe great.
And Iohn aunswered, and sayde: Maister, we sawe one castyng out deuyls in thy name, and we forbad hym, because he foloweth not with vs.
And Iesus sayde vnto hym, Forbyd ye •hym• not: For he that is not against vs, is with vs.
And it came to passe, when the tyme was come that he shoulde be receaued vp, he set his face to go to Hierusalem.
And sent messengers before him: And they went, & entred into a towne of the Samaritanes, to make redy for hym.
And they woulde not receaue him, because his face was as though he woulde go to Hierusalem.
When his disciples, Iames & Iohn, sawe this, they sayde: Lord, wylt thou that we co{m}maunde fire to come downe from heauen and consume them, euen as Elias dyd?
Iesus turned about, & rebuked them, saying: Ye wote not what maner spirite ye are of.
For the sonne of man is not come to destroye mens lyues, but to saue them. And they went to another towne.
And it came to passe, that as they went walkyng in the way, a certayne man sayde vnto hym: I wyll folowe thee Lorde whyther so euer thou go.
And Iesus sayde vnto hym: Foxes haue holes, and byrdes of the ayre haue nestes: but the sonne of man, hath not where to lay his head.
And he sayde vnto another, folowe me. And the same sayde: Lorde, suffer me first to go and burie my father.
Iesus sayde vnto hym, Let the dead burie their dead: but go thou & preache the kyngdome of God.
And another sayde: Lorde I wyll folowe thee, but let me first go byd them farewell, which are at home at my house.
Iesus sayde vnto hym: No man that putteth his hande to the plowe, and loketh backe, is apt to the kyngdome of God.
AFter these thynges, the Lorde appoynted other seuentie also, and sent them two and two before hym, into euery citie and place, whyther he hym selfe woulde come.
Therefore sayde he vnto them: The haruest is great, but the labourers are fewe. Pray ye therfore the Lorde of the haruest, to sende foorth labourers into his haruest.
Go your wayes: beholde, I sende you foorth as lambes among wolfes.
Beare no wallet, neither scrippe, nor shoes, & salute no man by the way.
Into whatsoeuer house ye enter, first say, peace be to this house.
And yf the sonne of peace be there, your peace shall rest vpon hym: yf not, it shall turne to you agayne.
And in the same house tary styll, eatyng and drinking such thynges as they [shall set before you.] For the labourer is worthy of his rewarde. Go not from house to house.
And into whatsoeuer citie ye enter, and they receaue you, eate such thynges as are set before you:
And heale the sicke that are therin, and say vnto them, the kyngdome of God is come nye vpon you.
But into whatsoeuer citie ye enter, & they receaue you not, go your ways out into the streates of the same, and saye:
Euen the very dust of our citie, which cleaueth on vs, we do wype of agaynst you: Notwithstandyng, be ye sure of this, that the kyngdome of God was come nye vpon you.
I say vnto you, that it shalbe easyer in that day for Sodome, then for that citie.
Wo vnto thee Chorazin, wo vnto thee Bethsaida: For if the miracles had ben done in Tyre and Sidon, whiche haue ben done in you, they had a great whyle ago repented [of their sinnes] syttyng in sackecloth and asshes.
Therfore it shalbe easyer for Tyre and Sidon at the iudgement, then for you.
And thou Capernaum, which art exalted to heauen, shalt be thrust downe to hell.
He that heareth you, heareth me, and he that despiseth you, despiseth me: and he that despiseth me, despiseth hym that sent me.
And the seuentie turned agayne with ioy, saying: Lord, euen the [very] deuils are subdued to vs through thy name.
And he said vnto them: I sawe Satan as it had ben lyghtnyng, fallyng downe from heauen.
Beholde, I geue vnto you power to treade on serpentes, and scorpions, and ouer all maner power of the enemie, & nothyng shall hurt you.
Neuerthelesse, in this reioyce not, that the spirites are subdued vnto you: but rather reioyce, because your names are written in heauen.
That same houre reioyced Iesus in the spirite, and sayde: I confesse vnto thee father, Lorde of heauen & earth, that thou hast hyd these thynges from the wise and prudent, and hast opened them vnto babes: Euen so father, for so it pleased thee.
All thynges are geuen me of my father. No man knoweth who the sonne is, but the father, and who the father is, but the sonne, and he to whom the sonne wyll shewe hym.
And he turned to his disciples, & sayde secretely: Happy are the eyes which see the thynges that ye see.
For I tell you, that many prophetes and kynges haue desired to see those thynges whiche ye see, & haue not seene them, and to heare those thinges which ye heare, and haue not hearde them.
And beholde, a certaine lawyer stoode vp, and tempted him, saying: Maister, what shall I do to inherite eternal lyfe? He sayde vnto hym:
What is written in the lawe, howe readest thou?
And he aunswered, and saide: Thou shalt loue the Lorde thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soule, & with all thy strength, and with al thy mynd•, and thy neyghbour as thy selfe.
And he sayde vnto hym, Thou 〈◊〉 aunswered ryght: this do, and thou shalt lyue.
But he, wyllyng to iustifie hym selfe, said vnto Iesus: and who is my neighbour?
And Iesus aunswered, and sayde. A certaine man descended from Hierusalem to Hierico, and fell among thieues, which robbed hym of his rayment, and wounded hym, and departed, leauyng hym halfe dead.
And it befell, that there came downe a certayne priest that same way, and whe{n} he sawe hym, he passed by on the other syde.
And likewise a Leuite, when he went nye to the place, came and loked on him, and passed by the other syde.
But a certayne Samaritane, as he iourneyed, came vnto hym, and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.
And went to hym, and bounde vp his woundes, and powred in oyle and wine, and set hym on his owne beast, and brought hym to a [common] Inne, and made prouision for hym.
And on the morowe when he departed, he toke out two pence, and gaue them to the hoste, and sayde vnto hym, take cure of hym, and whatsoeuer thou spendest more, when I come agayne, I wyll recompence thee.
Which nowe of these three, thinkest thou, was neyghbour vnto hym that fell among the thieues?
And he sayde: He that shewed mercy on hym. Then sayde Iesus vnto hym: Go, and do thou lykewyse.
Nowe it came to passe, that as they went, he entred into a certayne towne: And a certayne woma{n}, named Martha, receaued hym into her house.
And this woman had a sister called Marie, whiche also sate at Iesus feete, and hearde his worde.
But Martha was cumbred about much seruing, and came to hym, & saide: Lorde, doest thou not care that my sister hath lefte me to serue alone? Byd her therfore that she helpe me.
And Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto her: Martha, Martha, thou art carefull, and troubled about many thynges:
Veryly one is needefull. Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
AND so it was, that as he was praying in a certaine place, when he ceassed, one of his disciples sayde vnto hym: Lord teache vs to pray, as Iohn also taught his disciples.
And he said vnto them, When ye pray, say: O our father which art in heauen, halowed be thy name, thy kyngdome come, thy wyll be fulfylled, euen in earth also, as it is in heauen.
Our dayly breade geue vs this day.
And forgeue vs our synnes: For euen we forgeue euery man that trespasseth vs. And leade vs not into temptation, but delyuer vs from euyll.
And he sayde vnto them: Whiche of you shall haue a friende, and shall go vnto hym at mydnyght, and saye vnto hym, friende lende me three loaues,
For a friende of mine is come out of the way to me, and I haue nothyng to set before hym:
And he within aunswere, & say, trouble me not, the doore is nowe shut, and my children are with me in bedde, I can not ryse and geue thee.
I saye vnto you, though he wyll not ryse and geue hym, because he is his friende: yet because of his importunitie he wyll ryse, and geue hym as many as he needeth.
And I say vnto you, aske, and it shalbe geuen you, seke, and ye shall fynde, knocke, and it shalbe opened vnto you.
For euery one that asketh, receaueth, and he that seketh, fyndeth, and vnto hym that knocketh, shall it be opened.
If the sonne shall aske breade, of any of you that is a father, wyll he geue him a stone? Or yf he aske fisshe, wyll he for fisshe geue hym a serpent?
Or yf he aske an egge, wyll he offer hym a scorpion?
If ye then, being euyll, can geue good gyftes vnto your chyldren, howe muche more shall your father of heauen geue the holy spirite, to them that desire [it] of hym.
And he was castyng out a deuyll, and the same was dumbe. And it came to passe, when the deuyll was gone out, the dumbe spake, & the people wondred.
But some of the{m} sayde, he casteth out deuils through Beelzebub, the chiefe of the deuils.
And other tempted him, and required of hym a signe from heauen.
But he knowyng their thoughtes, sayde vnto them: Euery kyngdome deuided agaynst it selfe, is desolate: and a housed [deuided] agaynst a house, falleth.
If Satan also be deuided against him selfe, howe shall his kyngdome endure? Because ye saye that I cast out deuils through Beelzebub.
If I by the helpe of Beelzebub cast out deuils, by whose helpe do your chyldren cast them out? Therfore shall they be your iudges.
But yf I with the fynger of God cast our deuyls, no doubt the kyngdome of God is come vpon you.
When a strong man armed, kepeth his palace, {th}e thynges that he possesseth are in peace.
But whe{n} a stronger then he commeth vpon hym, and ouercommeth hym, he taketh from him all his harnesse, wherin he trusted, and deuideth his goodes.
He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth [abrode.]
When the vncleane spirite is gone out of a man, he walketh through drye places, sekyng rest: and when he fyndeth none, he sayth, I wyll returne vnto my house, whence I came out.
And when he commeth, he fyndeth it swept and garnisshed.
Then goeth he, and taketh to hym seuen other spirites, worse then him selfe, and they enter in, and dwell there: and the ende of that man, is worse then the begynnyng.
And it came to passe, that as he spake these thynges, a certayne woman of the company lyft vp her voyce, & saide vnto hym: Happy is the wombe that bare thee, and the pappes whiche gaue thee sucke.
But he sayde: Yea rather happy are they that heare the worde of God, and kepe it.
When the people were gathered thicke together, he began to saye: This is an euyll natio{n}, they seke a signe, and there shall no signe be geuen them, but the signe of Ionas the prophete.
For as Ionas was a signe to the Niniuites, so shall also the sonne of man be to this nation.
The Queene of the south shall ryse in iudgement with the men of this nation, and condempne them: for she came from the vtmost partes of the earth, to heare the wisedome of Solomon: And beholde, a greater then Solomon is here.
The men of Niuiue shall rise in iudgement with this nation, and shall condempne them, for they repented at the preachyng of Ionas: and beholde, a greater then Ionas is here.
No man lyghteth a candle, & putteth it in a priuie place, neither vnder a busshell: but on a candlesticke, that they which come in may see the lyght,
The lyght of the body, is the eye: Therefore when thyne eye is single, all thy body also shalbe full of lyght. But if thyne eye be euyll, thy body also shalbe full of darknesse.
Take heede therefore, that the lyght which is in thee, be not darknes.
If all thy body therfore be cleare, hauyng no part darke, then shall it all be full of lyght, euen as when a candle doth lyght thee with bryghtnes.
And as he spake, a certaine pharisee besought hym to dyne with hym: and Iesus went in, & sate downe to meate.
When the pharisee sawe it, he marueyled that he had not first wasshed before dynner.
And the Lorde said vnto him: Now do ye pharisees make cleane the outsyde of the cuppe, and the platter, but the inward part is full of your rauenyng and wickednesse.
Ye fooles, dyd not he that made that whiche is without, make that which is within also?
But rather geue almes of those thynges which are within, and beholde all thynges are cleane vnto you.
But wo vnto you pharisees: for ye tithe mint & rue, and al maner hearbes, and passe ouer iudgement, and the loue of God: These ought ye to haue done, and yet not to leaue the other vndone.
Wo vnto you pharisees: for ye loue the vppermost seates in {th}e synagogues, and greetynges in the markettes.
Wo vnto you scribes and pharisees, ye hypocrites: for ye are as graues which appeare not, and the men that walke ouer them, are not ware of them.
Then aunswered one of the lawyers, and sayde vnto him: Maister, thus saying, thou puttest vs to rebuke also.
And he sayde, Wo vnto you also ye lawyers: for ye lade me{n} with burthens greeuous to be borne, and ye your selues touche not {th}e burthens with one of your fyngers.
Wo vnto you, ye buylde the sepulchres of the prophetes, and your fathers kylled them.
Truely, ye beare witnesse that ye alowe the deedes of your fathers: for they kylled them, and ye buylde their sepulchres.
Therfore saide the wisedome of God, I wyl sende them prophetes and apostles, and some of them they shall slaye and persecute:
That the blood of all the prophetes, which is shedde, from the foundation of the worlde, may be required of this generation,
From the blood of Abel, vnto {th}e blood of Zacharie, whiche perished betwene the aulter & the temple: Veryly I saye vnto you, it shalbe required of this nation.
Wo vnto you lawyers: for ye haue taken away the keye of knowledge, ye entred not in your selues, and them that came in, ye forbad.
When he thus spake vnto them, the lawyers & the pharisees began to vrge hym vehemently, and to prouoke hym to speake many thynges.
Laying wayte for hym, and sekyng to catche somethyng out of his mouth, wherby they myght accuse hym.
IN {th}e meane tyme,  were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people [insomuch] that they trode one another, he began to saye vnto his disciples. First of all, beware of the leuen of the pharisees, which is hypocrisie.
For there is nothyng couered, that shall not be vncouered, neither hyd, that shall not be knowen.
Therfore, whatsoeuer you haue spoken in darkenesse, shalbe hearde in the light: and that which ye haue spoken in the eare, euen in secrete places, shalbe preached on the toppe of the houses.
And I say vnto you my friendes, be not afrayde of them that kyll the body, and after that, haue no more that they can do.
But I wyll forewarne you who{m} you shall feare: Feare hym, which after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell, yea I say vnto you, feare hym.
Are not fyue sparrowes bought for two farthynges? and not one of them is forgotten before God.
Also, eue{n} the very heeres of your head are all numbred. Feare not therfore, ye are more of value the{n} many sparrowes.
Also I say vnto you, whosoeuer confesseth me before men, hym shall the sonne of man knowledge also, before the angels of God.
But he that denyeth me before men, shalbe denyed before the angels of God.
And whosoeuer speaketh a worde agaynst the sonne of man, it shalbe forgeuen hym: But vnto hym that blasphemeth the holy ghost, it shall not be forgeuen.
And when they bryng you vnto the synagogues, and vnto the rulers and officers, take ye no thought, how or what thyng ye shall aunswere, or what ye shall speake.
For the holy ghost shall teache you in the same houre what ye ought to say.
One of the companie sayde vnto hym: Maister, speake to my brother, that he deuide the inheritau{n}ce with me.
And he sayde vnto hym: Man, who made me a iudge or a deuider ouer you?
And he sayde vnto them, Take heede & beware of couetousnes: For no mans lyfe standeth in the aboundaunce of the thynges which he possesseth.
And he put foorth a similitude vnto the{m}, saying: The grounde of a certaine ryche man brought foorth plentifull fruites.
And he thought within him selfe, saying, What shall I do, because I haue no rowme where to bestow my fruites?
And he sayde, this wyll I do, I wyll destroy my barnes, and buylde greater, and therin wyll I gather all my fruites and my goodes.
And I wyll saye to my soule: Soule, thou hast much goods layed vp [in store] for many yeres, take thyne ease, eate, drynke, and be mery.
But God sayde vnto hym: Thou foole, this nyght wyll they fetch awaye thy soule againe fro{m} thee: Then whose shall those thynges be, which thou hast prouided?
So is he that gathereth riches to him selfe, and is not ryche towardes God.
And he spake vnto his disciples: Therfore I say vnto you, take no thought for your lyfe, what ye shall eate, neither for the body what ye shall put on.
The lyfe is more then meate, and the body is more then rayment.
Consider the Rauens, for they neither sowe nor reape, whiche neither haue storehouse nor barne, and God feedeth them: Howe much more are ye better then [fethered] fowles?
Which of you, with takyng thought, can adde to his stature one cubite?
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least: why take ye thought for the remnaunt?
Consider the Lylies how they growe, they labour not, they spinne not: and yet I say vnto you, that Solomon in al his royaltie was not clothed lyke one of these.
If God so clothe the grasse, whiche is to daye in the fielde, and to morowe is cast into the furnasse, howe much more wyll he clothe you, O ye of litle fayth?
And aske not ye what ye shall eate, or what ye shall drynke, neither be ye of doubtfull mynde:
For all suche thynges do the [Heathen] people of the worlde seke for: and your father knoweth that ye haue neede of these thynges.
But rather seke ye after {th}e kyngdome of God, and all these thinges shalbe ministred vnto you.
Feare not litle flocke, for it is your fathers pleasure to geue you a kyngdome.
Sell that ye haue, and geue almes: and prepare you bagges whiche waxe not olde, euen a treasure that fayleth not in heauen, where no thiefe co{m}meth, neither moth corrupteth.
For where your treasure is, there wyl your hearte be also.
Let your loynes be girde about, and your lyghtes brennyng,
And ye your selues like vnto men, that wayte for their Lorde, when he wyll returne from the weddyng, that when he commeth, and knocketh, they maye open vnto hym immediatly.
Happy are those seruauntes, who{m} the Lorde, when he commeth, shall fynde wakyng. Veryly I say vnto you, that he shall girde him selfe, and make them to syt downe to meate, and wyll come foorth, and minister vnto them.
And yf he come in the seconde watche, yea if he come in the thirde watche, and fynde them so, happye are those seruauntes.
This vnderstande, that yf the good man of the house knew what houre the thiefe woulde come, he woulde surely watche, and not suffer his house to be dygged through.
Be ye therfore redy also, for {th}e sonne of man wyll come at an houre when ye thynke not.
Then Peter saide vnto him: Maister, tellest thou this similitude vnto vs, or to all [men?]
And the Lorde saide: Who is a faythfull and wyse stewarde, whom his lorde shall make ruler ouer his housholde, to geue them their portion of meate in due season?
Happye is that seruaunt, whom his lorde when he commeth, shall fynde so doyng.
Of a trueth I saye vnto you, that he wyll make hym ruler ouer all that he hath.
But & yf that seruau{n}t say in his heart, my lorde wyll deferre his commyng, and shall begyn to smyte the seruauntes and maydens, and to eate and drynke, and to be dronken,
The Lord of that seruaunt wyll come in a day when he thynketh not, and at an houre when he is not ware, and wyll hewe hym in peeces, and geue hym his portion with the vnbeleuers.
And the seruaunt that knewe his maisters wyll, and prepared not hym selfe, neither dyd accordyng to his wyll, shalbe beaten with many strypes.
But he that knewe not, and did co{m}mit thynges worthy of strypes, shalbe beaten with fewe strypes. For vnto who{m}soeuer much is geuen, of him shalbe much required: and to whom men haue committed much, of hym wyl they aske the more.
I am come to sende fire on {th}e earth, and what is my desire, but that it be alredye kindled?
Notwithstandyng, I must be baptized with a baptisme, and howe am I payned tyll it be ended?
Suppose ye that I am come to sende peace on earth? I tell you naye, but rather deuision.
For fro{m} hencefoorth there shalbe fyue in one house deuided, three against two, and two against three.
The father shalbe deuided against the sonne, and the sonne against the father: The mother agaynst the daughter, and the daughter agaynst the mother: The mother in lawe against her daughter in lawe, and the daughter in lawe against her mother in lawe.
He sayde also to the people: When ye see a cloude rise out of the west, straightway ye say there co{m}meth a showre, and so it is.
And whe{n} ye see the south wynd blow, ye say it wyll be hotte, and it commeth to passe.
Ye hypocrites, ye can discerne the outwarde appearaunce of the skye, and of the earth: but howe is it that ye cannot discerne this tyme?
Yea, and why iudge ye not of your selues what is ryght?
When thou goest with thine aduersarie to the ruler, as thou art in the waye, geue diligence that thou mayest be deliuered from hym, lest he bryng thee to the iudge, and the iudge deliuer thee to the iayler, and the iayler caste thee into prison.
I tel thee, thou shalt not depart thence, tyll thou haue made good the vtmost mite.
THere were present at the same seaso{n}, certaine men, that shewed him of {th}e Galileans, whose blood Pilate hadde myngled with their owne sacri•e.
And Iesus aunswered, an• •yde vnto them: Suppose ye that these Galileans, were greater sinners then all the others Galileans, because they suffred such punishment?
I tell you naye: but except ye repent, ye shall all lykewyse peryshe.
Or those eyghteene vpon whiche the towre in Siloe fell, and slewe them, thynke ye that they were sinners aboue all men that dwelt in Hierusalem?
I tell you naye: but except ye repent, ye shall all lykewyse peryshe.
He tolde also this similitude. A certaine man had a figge tree planted in his vineyarde, and he came, and sought fruite theron, and founde none.
Then sayde he to the dresser of his vineyarde: Beholde, this three yere I haue come & sought fruite in this figge tree, and finde none: cut it downe, why cumbreth it the grounde?
And he aunswered, & sayde vnto him: Lorde, let it alone this yere also, tyll I dygge rounde about it, & dongue it.
And yf it beare fruite [thou mayest] let it alone: and yf it beare not then, after that shalt thou cut it downe.
And he taught in one of their synagogues on the Sabboth dayes.
And beholde, there was a woman, which had a spirite of infirmitie eyghteene yeres, and was bowed together, and coulde in no wyse lyft vp her head.
When Iesus sawe her, he called her to hym, and sayde vnto her: Woman, thou art loosed from thy disease.
And he layde his handes on her, and immediatly, she was made strayght, and glorified God.
And the ruler of the synagogue aunswered with indignation, because that Iesus had healed on the Sabboth day, & sayde vnto the people: There are sixe dayes, in which men ought to worke, in them therfore come, that ye may be healed, and not on the Sabboth day.
But the Lorde aunswered hym, and sayde: Thou hypocrite, doth not eche one of you on the Sabboth day, loose his oxe or his asse from the staule, and leade hym to the water?
And ought not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bounde, lo eyghteene yeres, be loosed from this bonde on the Sabboth day?
And when he sayde these thynges, all his aduersaries were ashamed, and all the people reioyced on all the excellent deedes that were done by hym.
Then sayde he: What is the kyngdome of God lyke? or whereto shall I compare it?
It is like a grayne of mustarde seede, whiche a man toke & sowed in his garden: and it grewe, and waxed a great tree, and the foules of the ayre made nestes in the braunches of it.
And agayne he sayde: Whervnto shall I lyken the kyngdome of God?
It is lyke leuen, which a woman toke, and hyd in three peckes of meale, tyll all was leuened.
And he went through all cities and townes, teachyng, and iourneying towardes Hierusalem.
Then sayde one vnto hym: Lorde, are there fewe that be saued? And he sayde vnto them:
Stryue to enter in at the strayte gate: for many I say vnto you, wyll seke to enter in, and shall not be able.
When the good man of the house is risen vp, and hath shut to the doore, and ye begyn to stande without, & to knocke at the doore, saying, Lorde, Lorde, open vnto vs: and he shall aunswere, and say vnto you, I knowe you not whence ye are.
Then shall ye begyn to say: We haue eaten and dronken in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streates.
And he shall say, I tell you, I knowe you not, whence ye are: depart from me all ye that worke iniquitie.
There shalbe weepyng & gnasshyng of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Iacob, and all the prophetes, in the kyngdome of God, and ye your selues thrust out.
And they shall come from the east and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall syt downe in the kyngdome of God.
And beholde, there are last, which shalbe first: And there are first, which shalbe last.
The same day, came there certaine of the pharisees, and sayde vnto hym: Get thee out, and depart hence, for Herode wyll kyll thee.
And he sayde vnto them: Go ye, and tell that foxe, beholde, I cast out deuyls, & heale the people to day & to morowe, and the thirde day I shalbe perfected.
Neuerthelesse, I must walke to day and to morowe, and the day folowyng: For it can not be, that a prophete perishe any other where, saue at Hierusalem.
O Hierusalem, Hierusalem, which kyllest prophetes, and stonest them that are sent vnto thee, howe often woulde I haue gathered thy children together, as a henne doth gather her young vnder her wynges, and ye woulde not?
Beholde, your house is left vnto you desolate. Veryly I say to you, ye shall not see me, vntyll the tyme come that ye shall say, Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lorde.
AND it came to passe, that he went into the house of one of {th}e chiefe pharisees, to eate bread on the Sabboth day, & they watched hym.
And beholde, there was a certayne man before hym, which had the dropsie.
And Iesus aunswered, and spake vnto the lawyers & pharisees, saying: Is it lawful to heale on the Sabboth day?
And they helde their peace. And he toke hym, & healed him, and let him go,
And aunswered them, saying: Which of you shal haue an asse or an oxe fallen into a pyt, and wyll not strayghtway pull hym out, on the Sabboth day?
And they coulde not aunswere hym agayne to these thynges.
He put foorth also a similitude to the ghestes, when he marked howe they chose out the chiefe rowmes, and sayde vnto them:
When thou art bydden of any man to a weddyng, syt not downe in the hyest rowme: lest a more honourable man then thou, be bydden of hym,
And he, that bad hym and thee, come, and say to thee, geue this man rowme: & thou then begyn with shame, to take the lowest rowme.
But when thou art bydden, go and syt in the lowest rowme, that when he that bad thee co{m}meth, he may say vnto thee, friende syt vp hyer: Then shalt thou haue worshyppe in the presence of them that syt at meate with thee.
For whosoeuer exalteth hym selfe, shalbe brought lowe: And he that humbleth hym selfe, shalbe exalted.
Then sayde he also to hym that bad hym [to meate:] When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friendes, nor thy brethren, neither thy kynsemen, nor thy ryche neyghbours, lest they also byd thee agayne, and a recompence be made thee.
But when thou makest a feast, call the poore, the feeble, the lame, & the blynde,
And thou shalt be happy, for they can not recompence thee: For thou shalt be recompenced at the resurrection of the iust [men.]
When one of them, that sate at meate also, hearde these thynges, he sayde vnto hym: Happy is he that eateth bread in the kyngdome of God.
Then sayde he vnto hym. A certayne man ordayned a great supper, and bad many,
And sent his seruaunt at supper tyme, to say to them that were bydden, come, for all thynges are nowe redy.
And they all at once began to make excuse. The first sayde vnto hym: I haue bought a farme, & I must needes go & see it, I pray thee haue me excused.
And another sayde: I haue bought fiue yoke of oxen, and I go to proue them, I pray thee haue me excused.
And another sayde: I haue maryed a wyfe, and therfore I can not come.
And the seruaunt returned, & shewed his maister these thynges. Then was the good man of the house displeased, & sayde to his seruaunt: Go out quickly into the brode streates and lanes of the citie, and bryng in hyther the poore, and the feeble, and the halt, and the blynde.
And the seruaunt sayde: Lorde, it is done as thou hast commaunded, and yet there is rowme.
And the Lorde sayde to the seruaunt: Go out into the hye wayes & hedges, and compell them to come in, that my house may be fylled.
For I say vnto you, that none of those men which were bydden, shall taste of my supper.
There went a great companie with hym: and he returned, and sayde vnto them,
If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wyfe, and chyldren, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his owne lyfe also, he can not be my disciple.
And whosoeuer doth not beare his crosse, and come after me, can not be my disciple.
For which of you, disposed to buylde a towre, sitteth not downe before, and counteth the cost, whether he haue sufficient to perfourme it?
Lest after he hath layde the foundation, and is not able to perfourme it, all that beholde it, begyn to mocke hym,
Saying: this man began to buylde, and was not able to make an ende?
Or what kyng, goyng to make battell against another kyng, sitteth not downe first, and casteth in his mynde, whether he be able with ten thousande, to meete hym, that commeth agaynst hym with twentie thousande?
Or els, whyle the other is yet a great way of, he sendeth an imbassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
So lykewyse, whosoeuer he be of you, that forsaketh not all that he hath, he can not be my disciple.
Salt is good, but if {th}e salt haue lost the saltnes, what shalbe seasoned therwith?
It is neither good for the lande, nor yet for the doung hyll: but men cast it out [at the doores.] He that hath eares to heare, let hym heare.
THen resorted vnto hym all the publicanes and sinners, for to heare hym.
And the pharisees & scribes murmured, saying: he receaueth sinners, and eateth with them.
But he put foorth this parable vnto them, saying:
What man of you, hauyng an hundred sheepe, if he loose one of them, doth not leaue ninetie and nine in the wildernesse, and go after that which is lost, vntyll he fynde it?
And when he hath founde it, he layeth it on his shoulders with ioy:
And assoone as he commeth home, he calleth together his louers and neyghbours, saying vnto them: Reioyce with me, for I haue founde my sheepe which was lost.
I say vnto you, that lykewyse ioy shalbe in heauen ouer one sinner that repenteth, more then ouer ninetie and nine iust persons, which neede no repentaunce.
Either what woman, hauyng tenne peeces of siluer, yf she loose one, doth not lyght a candle, and swepe the house, and seke diligently tyll she fynde it?
And when she hath founde it, she calleth her louers & her neyghbours together, saying: Reioyce with me, for I haue founde the peece which I had lost.
Lykewyse I say vnto you, shall there be ioy in the presence of the Angels of God, ouer one sinner that repenteth.
And he sayde. A certayne man had two sonnes:
And the younger of them sayde to his father: father, geue me the portion of the goodes, that to me belongeth. And he deuided vnto them his substaunce.
And not long after, when the younger sonne had gathered all that he had together, he toke his iourney into a farre countrey, and there wasted his goodes with riotous lyuyng.
And when he had spent all, there arose a great dearth in all that lande, and he began to lacke.
And he ioyned hym selfe to a citizen of that countrey: and he sent hym to his farme, to feede swyne.
And he woulde fayne haue fylled his belly with the coddes that the swyne dyd eate: and no man gaue vnto hym.
Then he came to hym selfe, and sayde: Howe many hyred seruauntes at my fathers house haue bread inough, and I perishe with hunger?
I wyll aryse, and go to my father, and wyll say vnto hym: Father, I haue sinned agaynst heauen, and before thee,
And am no more worthy to be called thy sonne, make me as one of thy hyred seruauntes.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way of, his father sawe him, & had compassion, and ranne, and fell on his necke, and kissed hym.
And the sonne sayde vnto him: Father, I haue sinned agaynst heauen, and in thy syght, and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne.
But the father saide to his seruauntes: bryng foorth the best garment, and put it on hym, and put a ryng on his hande, and shoes on his feete:
And bryng hyther that fat calfe, and kyll it, and let vs eate and be mery:
For this my sonne was dead, and is aliue agayne, he was lost, and is founde. And they began to be mery.
The elder brother was in the fielde: and when he came and drewe nye to the house, he hearde minstrelsie & daunsing,
And called one of his seruauntes, and asked, what those thynges meant.
And he sayde vnto hym: thy brother is come, and thy father hath kylled the fat calfe, because he hath receaued hym safe and sounde.
And he was angry, and woulde not go in: Therfore came his father out, and entreated hym.
He aunswered and sayde to his father: Lo, these many yeres haue I done thee seruice, neither brake I at any tyme thy commaundement, and yet thou neuer gauest me a kidde to make mery with my friendes:
But assoone as this thy sonne was come, which hath deuoured thy goodes with harlottes, thou hast for his pleasure kylled that fat calfe.
And he sayde vnto hym: Sonne, thou art euer with me, and all that I haue, is thyne,
It was meete that we shoulde make mery and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alyue agayne: and was lost, and is founde.
AND he sayde also vnto his disciples. There was a certayne riche man, which had a stewarde, and the same was accused vnto hym that he had wasted his goodes.
And he called hym, and sayde vnto hym: Howe is it, that I heare this of thee? Geue accomptes of thy stewardeshyppe, for thou mayest be no longer stewarde.
The stewarde sayde within hymselfe: What shall I do, for my maister taketh away from me the stewardshyppe? I can not digge, & to begge I am ashamed.
I wote what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardshippe, they may receaue me into their houses.
So, whe{n} he had called all his maisters detters together, he sayde vnto the first: Howe muche owest thou vnto my maister?
And he sayde, an hundreth measures of oyle. And he sayde vnto hym: Take thy byll, and syt downe quickely, and write fiftie.
Then sayde he to another: Howe much owest thou? And he sayde, an hundreth measures of wheate. He sayde vnto hym: Take thy byll, and write fourescore.
And the Lord commended the vniuste stewarde, because he had done wisely. For the chyldren of this worlde are in their nation, wiser then the chyldren of lyght.
And I saye vnto you, make you friends of the vnrighteous Mammo{n}, that when ye shall haue neede, they may receaue you into euerlastyng habitations.
He that is faythfull in that which is least, is faythfull also in much. And he that is vnrighteous in the least, is vnrighteous also in much.
So then, yf ye haue not ben faythfull in the vnryghteous Mammon, who shall trust you in the true treasure?
And yf ye haue not ben faythfull in another mans businesse, who shall geue you that which is your owne?
No man can serue two maisters: For either he shall hate the one, and loue the other: or els, he shall leane to the one, and despise the other. Ye can not serue God, and Mammon.
All these thynges heard the pharisees also, which were couetous, and they mocked hym.
And he sayde vnto them, Ye are they which iustifie your selues before men: but God knoweth your heartes. For that which is hyghly esteemed among men, is abhominable in the syght of God.
The lawe & the prophetes [raigned] vntyll Iohn, and sence that tyme, the kyngdome of God is preached, & euery man stryueth to go in.
Easyer is it for heauen and earth to perishe, the{n} one title of the lawe to faile.
Whosoeuer forsaketh his wyfe, and marieth another, committeth adulterie. And he that maryeth her that is deuorced from her husbande, committeth adulterie [also.]
Ther was a certaine riche man, whiche was clothed in purple & fine whyte, and fared very deliciously euery day.
And there was a certayne begger, named Lazarus, which was layde at his gate full of sores:
And desiring to be refreshed with the crumbes which fell from {th}e riche mans boorde [And no man gaue vnto hym]: but the dogges came and licked his sores.
And it came to passe, that the begger dyed, and was caryed by the Angels into Abrahams bosome. The riche man also dyed, and was buryed.
And beyng in hell in tormentes, he lyft vp his eyes, and sawe Abraham a farre of, and Lazarus in his bosome,
And he cryed and sayde: father Abraham, haue mercie on me, and sende Lazarus that he may dippe the tippe of his fynger in water, and coole my tongue: for I am tormented in this flambe.
But Abraham sayde: Sonne, remember that thou in thy lyfe tyme, receauedst thy pleasure, and lykewyse Lazarus paynes: But nowe is he comforted, and thou art tormented.
Beyonde all this, betweene vs & you there is a great gulfe set, so that they which woulde go from hence to you, can not, neither may come from thence to vs.
Then he sayde: I pray thee therfore father, sende hym to my fathers house.
For I haue fyue brethren, that he may witnesse vnto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Abraham sayde vnto hym: they haue Moyses and the prophetes, let them heare them.
And he sayde, nay father Abraham: but yf one come vnto them from the dead, they wyll repent.
He sayde vnto hym: If they heare not Moyses & the prophetes, neither wyll they beleue, though one rose from death agayne.
HE sayde vnto the disciples, it can not be but offences wyll come, neuerthelesse, wo vnto hym, through whom they come.
It were better for hym, that a mylstone were hanged about his necke, & he cast into the sea, then that he shoulde offende one of these litle ones.
Take heede to your selues: If thy brother trespasse agaynst thee, rebuke hym: and yf he repent, forgeue hym.
And though he sinne agaynst thee seuen tymes in a day, and seuen tymes in a day turne agayne to thee, saying, it repenteth me: thou shalt forgeue hym.
And the Apostles sayde vnto the Lorde: increase our fayth.
And the Lorde sayde: If ye had fayth [as much] as a grayne of mustarde seede, & should say vnto this Sycamine tree, plucke vp thy selfe by the rootes, and plant thy selfe in the sea, it shoulde obey you.
But which of you, hauyng a seruaunt plowyng, or feedyng cattell, woulde say vnto hym by & by when he were come from the fielde, go and syt downe at the table:
And woulde not rather say vnto hym, dresse, wherwith I may suppe, & gyrde vp thy selfe, and serue me, tyll I haue eaten and dronken, and afterward eate thou, and drynke thou?
Doth he thanke that seruaunt, because he dyd the thynges that were commaunded vnto hym? I trowe not.
So lykewyse ye, when ye haue done all those thynges which are commaunded you, say, We are vnprofitable seruauntes, We haue done that which was our duetie to do.
And so it was, as he went to Hierusalem, that he passed through the myddest of Samaria and Galilee.
And as he entred into a certayne towne, there met hym ten men that were lepers, which stoode a farre of,
And put foorth their voyces, & sayde: Iesu maister, haue mercie on vs.
When he sawe them, he sayde vnto them: Go shewe your selues vnto the priestes. And it came to passe, that as they went, they were clensed.
And one of them, when he sawe that he was healed, turned backe [agayne] and with a loude voyce praysed God:
And fell downe on his face at his feete, and gaue hym thankes: And the same was a Samaritane.
And Iesus aunswered, and sayde: Are there not ten clensed? But where are those nine?
There are not founde that returned agayne, to geue God prayse, saue [only] this straunger.
And he sayde vnto hym: aryse, go thy way, thy fayth hath made thee whole.
When he was demaunded of the pharisees, when the kyngdome of God shoulde come: he aunswered them, and sayde, The kyngdome of God shall not come with obseruation.
Neither shall they say, lo here, or lo there: For beholde, the kyngdome of God is within you.
And he sayde vnto the disciples: the dayes wyll come, when ye shall desyre to see one day of the sonne of man, and ye shall not see it.
And they shall say to you, See here, see there: Go not after them, nor folowe them.
For as the lyghtnyng, that lyghtneth out of the one part that is vnder heauen, and shyneth vnto the other part which is vnder heauen: so shall the sonne of man be in his daye.
But first must he suffer many thynges, and be refused of this nation.
And as it was in the dayes of Noe: so shall it be also in the dayes of the sonne of man.
They dyd eate, and drynke, they maryed wiues, and were maryed, euen vnto the same day that Noe went into the Arke: and the fludde came, & destroyed them all.
Lykewyse also as it was in the dayes of Lot: they dyd eate, they d• 〈…〉 bought, they solde, they planted, they buylded:
But euen the same day that Lot went out of Sodome, it rayned fire and brimstone from heauen, and destroyed them all.
Euen thus shall it be, in the day when the sonne of man shalbe reuealed.
At that day, he which is on the house [top,] and his stuffe in the house, let him not come downe to take it out: And let not him that is in the fielde, turne backe agayne lykewyse, to the thynges that he left behynde.
Remember lottes wyfe.
Whosoeuer wyll go about to saue his lyfe, shall loose it: and whosoeuer shall loose his lyfe, shall quicken it.
I tell you, in that nyght there shalbe two in one bed, the one shalbe receaued, the other shalbe forsaken.
Two [women] shalbe gryndyng together: the one shalbe receaued, and the other forsaken.
Two [men] shalbe in the fielde: the one shalbe receaued, & the other forsake{n}.
And they aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: Where Lorde? He sayde vnto the{m}: Whersoeuer the body shalbe, thyther wyll also the Eagles be gathered together.
ANd he put foorth a parable vnto them, to this ende that me{n} ought alwayes to pray, & not to be weery,
Saying: There was in a certayne citie, a iudge, whiche feared not God, neither regarded man.
And there was a certayne widdowe in the same citie, and she came vnto him, saying: Auenge me of mine aduersarie.
And he woulde not for a whyle. But afterwarde he sayde within hym selfe: Though I feare not God, nor care for man,
Yet because this widdowe [much] troubleth me, I wyll auenge her: leste she come at the last, & make me weery.
And the Lorde sayde: heare what the vnryghteous iudge sayeth.
And shall not God auenge his elect, which crye day and nyght vnto hym? yea, though he deferre them,
I tell you he wyll auenge them, and that quickly. Neuerthelesse, when the sonne of man commeth, shall he fynde fayth on the earth?
And he tolde this parable vnto certayne which trusted in them selues, that they were perfect, and despised other.
Two men went vp into the temple to pray: the one a pharisee, and the other a publicane.
The pharisee stoode and prayed thus with hym selfe: God, I thanke thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, vniust, adulterers, or as this publicane.
I fast twise in the weeke, I geue tithe of all that I possesse.
And the publicane standyng a farre of, woulde not lyft vp his eyes to heauen, but smote vpon his brest, saying: God be mercifull to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man departed [home] to his house iustified, rather then the other. For euery one that exalteth hym selfe, shalbe brought lowe: And he that humbleth hym selfe, shalbe exalted.
They brought vnto him also infantes that he should touch them: Which, whe{n} his disciples sawe it, they rebuked the{m}.
But Iesus, when he had called them vnto hym, saide, Suffer chyldre{n} to come vnto me, and forbyd them not: For of such is the kyngdome of God.
Veryly I say vnto you: Whosoeuer receaueth not the kyngdome of God, as a chylde, shall not enter therin.
And a certayne ruler asked hym, saying: Good maister, what ought I to do, to possesse eternall lyfe?
Iesus sayde vnto hym: Why callest thou me good? None is good, saue God onely.
Thou knowest the commaundementes: Thou shalt not commit adultrie, thou shalt not kyll, thou shalt not steale, thou shalt not beare false witnesse, honour thy father and thy mother.
And he sayde: all these haue I kept from my youth vp.
When Iesus hearde that, he sayde vnto hym: Yet lackest thou one thyng. Sell all that thou hast, and distribute vnto the poore, & thou shalt haue treasure in heauen, and come, folowe me.
When he hearde this, he was very sory, for he was very riche.
When Iesus sawe that he was sory, he sayde: With what difficultie shall they that haue money, enter into the kyngdome of God?
For it is easier for a camel to go through a nedles eye, then for a riche man to enter into the kyngdome of God.
And they that hearde it, sayde: And who can then be saued?
And he sayde: The thynges which are vnpossible with men, are possible with God.
Then Peter sayde: Lo, we haue forsaken all, and folowed thee.
He sayde vnto them. Veryly I say vnto you: there is no man that hath forsaken house, either father, or mother, either brethren, or wyfe, or chyldren, for the kyngdome of Gods sake.
Which shall not receaue much more in this worlde, and in the worlde to come, lyfe euerlastyng.
Iesus toke vnto hym the twelue, and sayde vnto them: Beholde, we go vp to Hierusalem, and all thynges shal •e fulfylled to the sonne of man, that are written by the prophetes.
For he shalbe deliuered vnto the gentiles, and shalbe mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
And when they haue scourged hym, they wyll put hym to death. And the thyrde day he shall aryse agayne.
And they vnderstoode none of all these thynges. And this saying was hyd from them, so that they perceaued not the thynges which were spoken.
And it came to passe, that as he was come nie vnto Hierico, a certayne blynde man sate by the wayes syde, beggyng.
And when he hearde the people passe by, he asked what it meant.
And they sayde vnto hym, that Iesus of Nazareth passed by.
And he cryed, saying: Iesu thou sonne of Dauid, haue mercie on me.
And they which went before, rebuked hym, that he shoulde holde his peace: But he cryed so much the more, thou sonne of Dauid, haue mercie on me.
And Iesus stoode styll, & commaunded hym to be brought vnto hym. And whe{n} he was come neare, he asked him,
Saying: What wylt thou that I do vnto thee? And he saide: Lorde, that I may receaue my syght.
And Iesus sayde vnto hym: receaue thy syght, thy fayth hath saued thee?
And immediatly he receaued his sight, and folowed hym, praysyng God: And all the people, when they sawe [it,] gaue prayse vnto God.
AND he entred in, and went through Hierico.
And beholde, there was a man named Zacheus, which was the chiefe among the publicanes, and was riche [also]:
And he sought [meanes] to see Iesus, what he shoulde be, & coulde not for the preasse, because he was litle of stature.
And he ran before, and clymed vp into a wylde fygge tree, to see hym: for he was to come that way.
And when Iesus came to the place, he loked vp and sawe hym, and sayde vnto hym: Zache, come downe at once, for to day I must abyde at thy house.
And he came downe hastyly, and receaued hym ioyfully.
And when they al saw it, they murmured, saying that he was gone into tary with a man that is a synner.
And Zache stoode foorth, and sayde vnto the Lorde: Beholde Lorde, the halfe of my goodes I geue to the poore, and yf I haue taken from any man by forged cauillation, I restore him foure folde.
Iesus sayde vnto hym: This daye is saluation come to this house, because that he also is become the childe of Abraham.
For the sonne of man is come to seke, and to saue that which was lost.
And as they hearde these thynges, he added & spake a parable, because he was nye to Hierusale{m}, & because they thought that the kingdome of God should shortly appeare.
He sayde therfore: A certayne noble man went into a farre countrey, to receaue for hym selfe a kyngdome, and to come agayne.
And he called his ten seruauntes, & deliuered the{m} ten peeces of money, saying vnto them, Occupie tyl I come.
But his citezins hated hym, and sent a message after hym, saying: We wyll not haue this man to raigne ouer vs.
And it came to passe, that whe{n} he had receaued his kyngdome and returned, he commaunded these seruauntes to be called vnto him, to whom he had geuen the money, to wyt howe muche euery man had done in occupying.
Then came the first, saying: Lorde thy peece hath gayned ten peeces.
And he sayde vnto hym: Well thou good seruaunt, because thou hast ben faythfull in a very litle thing, haue thou aucthoritie ouer ten cities.
And the seconde came, saying: Thy peece hath encreased fiue peeces.
And to the same he sayde, be thou also ruler ouer fyue cities.
And another came, saying: Lorde beholde here is thy peece, whiche I haue layed vp in a napkin.
For I feared thee, because thou art a strayte man: Thou takest vp that thou laydest not downe, & reapest that thou dyddest not sowe.
He sayth vnto hym: Of thyne owne mouth wyll I iudge thee, thou euyll seruaunt. Knewest thou that I am a straite man, taking vp that I layed not downe, & reapyng that I dyd not sowe:
And wherfore gauest no• thou my money into the banke, and at my commyng I myght haue required myne owne with vauntage?
And he sayde vnto them that stoode by: Take from hym that peece, and geue it to hym that hath ten peeces.
And they sayde vnto hym: Lorde he hath ten peeces.
For I say vnto you, that vnto euery one which hath, shalbe geuen: and fro{m} hym that hath not, shalbe taken away euen that he hath.
Moreouer, those mine enemies, which woulde not that I shoulde raigne ouer the{m}, bring hyther, & slea them before me.
And when he hadde thus spoken, he went foorth before, ascending vp to Hierusalem.
And it came to passe, when he was come nye to Bethphage & Bethanie, besides the mount which is called Oliuet, he sent two of his disciples,
Saying: Go ye into the towne which is ouer agaynst you, into the whiche, assoone as ye are come, ye shall fynde a coult tyed, wheron yet neuer man sate: loose hym, and bryng hym hyther.
And yf any man aske you, why do ye loose hym, thus shall ye say vnto hym: because the Lorde hath neede of hym.
They that were sent, went their way, & founde euen as he had said vnto them.
And as they were a loosyng the coult, the owners therof said vnto them, why loose ye the coult?
And they sayde: For the Lorde hath neede of hym.
And they brought hym to Iesus, and cast their rayment on the coult, and set Iesus theron.
And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
And when he was nowe come nye to the going downe of the mount Oliuete, the whole multitude of the disciples began to reioyce, and to prayse God with a loude voyce, for all the miracles that they had seene.
Saying: Blessed be the kyng that co{m}meth in the name of the Lorde, peace in heauen, and glory in the hyest.
And some of the Pharisees of the companie sayde vnto hym: Maister, rebuke thy disciples.
He saide vnto them: I tell you, that if these holde their peace, then shall the stones crye.
And when he was come neare, he behelde the citie, and wept on it.
Saying: If thou haddest knowen those thynges whiche belong vnto thy peace, euen in this thy day: But nowe are they hyd from thyne eyes.
For the dayes shall come vpon thee, that thyne enemies also shall caste a banke about thee, and compasse thee rounde, and kepe thee in on euery syde:
And make thee euen with {th}e grounde, and thy chyldren which are in thee: and they shall not leaue in thee one stone vpo{n} another, because thou knowest not the tyme of thy visitation.
And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that solde therin, & them that bought,
Saying vnto them, it is written: My house is the house of prayer, but ye haue made it a denne of thieues.
And he taught dayly in the temple. But the hye priestes and the scribes, & the chiefe of the people, went about to destroy hym,
And coulde not fynde what to do: For all the people stacke by hym, when they hearde hym.
AND it came to passe, that on one of those dayes, as he taught {th}e people in the temple, & preached the Gospell, the hie priestes and the scribes came vpo{n} hym, with the elders.
And spake vnto him, saying: Tell vs by what aucthoritie doest thou these thynges? Eyther who is he that gaue thee this aucthoritie?
Iesus aunswered, & sayde vnto them: I also wyll aske you one thyng, & aunswere me.
The baptisme of Iohn, was it from heauen, or of men?
And they reasoned within the{m} selues, saying, Yf we say from heauen, he wyll say, why then beleued ye hym not?
But and yf we say of men, all the people wyll stone vs: For they be perswaded that Iohn is a prophete.
And they aunswered, that they coulde not tell whence it was.
And Iesus saide vnto them: Neither tell I you by what aucthoritie I do these thynges.
Then began he to put foorth to the people this parable. A certayne man planted a vineyarde, and let it foorth to husbande men, and went hym selfe into a straunge countrey for a great season.
And when the time was come, he sent a seruaunt to the husbande men, that they shoulde geue hym of the fruite of the vineyarde. And they beat hym, and sent hym away emptie.
And agayne, he sent yet another seruaunt: and hym they did beate, and entreated hym shamefully, and sent hym away emptie.
Agayne, he sent the thirde also: and hym they wounded, and cast hym out.
Then said the Lord of the vineyarde: What shal I do? I wyl send my deare sonne, it may be they wyll reuerence hym, when they see hym.
But when the husbande men sawe him, they reasoned within them selues, saying: This is the heyre, come, let vs kyll hym, that the inheritaunce may be ours.
And they cast him out of the vineyard, and kylled hym. What shall the Lorde of the vineyarde therfore do vnto them?
He shall come and destroye these husbande men, & shall let out his vineyarde to other. When they hearde this, they sayde, God forbyd.
And he behelde them, & sayde: What is this then that is written, The stone that the buylders refused, the same is become the head of the corner.
Whosoeuer doth stumble vppon that stone, shalbe broken: but on who{m}soeuer it falleth, it wyll grinde hym to powder.
And the hye priestes & the scribes, the ••me houre went about to laye handes o• hym: and they feared the people. For they perceaued that he had spoken this similitude agaynst them.
And they watched hym, & sent foorth spyes, which shoulde fayne them selues ryghteous men, to take hym in his wordes, and to delyuer hym vnto the power and aucthoritie of the deputie.
And they asked him, saying: Maister, we knowe that thou sayest and teachest ryght, neither considerest thou the outwarde appearaunce of any man, but •achest the way of God truely:
Is is lawfull for vs to geue tribute vnto Caesar, or no?
He perceaued their craftynesse, & saide vnto them: why tempt ye me?
Shewe me a penie, whose image and superscription hath it? They aunswered and sayde, Caesars.
And he sayde vnto them: Geue then vnto Caesar, the thynges which belong vnto Caesar, and to God the thynges that perteyne vnto God.
And they coulde not reproue his saying before the people: and they marueyled at his aunswere, & helde their peace.
Then came to hym certayne of the saducees, which denie that there is any resurrection, and they asked hym,
Saying: Maister, Moyses wrote vnto vs, yf any mans brother dye, hauyng a wyfe, and he dye without chyldren: that then his brother shoulde take his wyfe, & rayse vp seede vnto his brother.
There were therfore seuen brethren, and the first toke a wyfe, & dyed without chyldren.
And the seconde toke her, and he dyed chyldlesse.
And the thirde toke her, & in lykewise the residue of the seuen, and left no chyldren behynde them, and dyed.
Last of all, the woman dyed also.
Nowe in the resurrection, whose wife of them shall she be? For 〈◊〉 her to wyfe.
Iesus aunswered and saide vnto the{m}: The chyldren of this worlde marrye wyues, and are marryed:
But they which shalbe counted worthy to enioy that worlde, and the resurrection from the dead, do not marrye wyues, neither are marryed,
Nor yet can dye any more: For they are equall vnto the angels, and are the sonnes of God, inasmuche as they are chyldren of the resurrection.
And that the dead shall ryse agayne, Moyses also sheweth besides the bushe, when he calleth the Lorde the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, & the God of Iacob.
For he is not a God of dead, but of lyuyng: For all lyue vnto hym.
Then certayne of the pharisees aunswered, and sayde? Maister, thou hast well sayde.
And after that, durst they not aske him any question at all.
And he sayde vnto them: Howe saye they that Christe is Dauids sonne:
And Dauid hym selfe sayeth in the booke of the psalmes: The Lord saide to my Lord, syt thou on my right hand,
Tyll I make thine enemies thy foote-stoole?
Dauid therfore calleth hym Lorde, & howe is he then his sonne?
Then in the audience of all the people, he saide vnto his disciples.
Beware of the scribes, whiche wyll go in long robes, and loue greetinges in the markets, and the hyest seates in the synagogues, and the chiefe rowmes at feastes:
Which deuour widowes howses vnder colour of longe prayers: The same shall receaue greater dampnation.
AS he beheld, he sawe the ryche men whiche caste their gyftes into the treasurie.
He saw also a certaine poore wydowe, which caste in thyther two mites.
And he sayde, Of a trueth I say vnto you, that this poore wydowe hath put in more then they all.
For they all haue of their superfluitie added vnto the offerynges of God: but she of her penurie hath cast in al the substaunce that she had.
And vnto some, that spake of the temple, howe it was garnisshed with goodlie stones and gyftes, he sayde.
Are these the thynges whiche ye loke vpo{n}? The dayes wyll come, in {th}e which there shall not be left one stone vpo{n} another, that shall not be throwen downe.
And they asked him, saying: Maister when shall these thynges be? and what signe wyll there be, when these thynges shall come to passe?
And he sayde: Take heede, that ye be not deceaued. For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christe, and the tyme draweth neare. Folowe ye them not therfore.
But when ye heare of warres, and seditio{n}s, be not afraide: For these thinges must first come to passe, but the ende foloweth not by and by.
Then sayde he vnto them: Nation shall ryse agaynst nation, & kyngdome agaynst kyngdome.
And great earthquakes shalbe in diuers places, and hunger, and pestilence, and fearefull thynges, and great signes shall there be from heauen.
But before all these, they shall laye their handes on you, and persecute you, deliueryng you vp to the synagogues, & into prisons, and shall bryng you vnto kynges and rulers for my names sake.
And it shall turne to you for a testimoniall.
Be at a sure poynt therefore in your heartes, not to studie before what ye shall aunswere:
For I wyll geue you a mouth, and wysedome, where agaynst, all your aduersaries shall not be able to speake nor resist.
Yea ye shalbe betrayed also of your parentes, and brethren, and kynsfolke, and friendes, and [some] of you shal they put to death.
And hated shal ye be of all men for my names sake.
And there shall not one heere of your head peryshe.
Possesse ye your soule by patience.
And whe{n} ye see Hierusalem besieged with an hoast, then be sure that the desolation of the same is nye.
Then let them which are in Iurie, flee to the mountaynes, and let them which are in the myddes of it, depart out: and let not them that are in other countreys enter therm.
For these be the dayes of vengeaunce that all thinges which are written, may be fulfylled.
But wo vnto the{m} that are with childe, & to them that geue sucke in those days: For there shalbe great distresse in the lande, and wrath ouer this people.
And they shall fall through the edge of the sworde, and shalbe led away captiue into all nations: And Hierusalem shalbe troden downe of the gentiles, vntyll the tyme of the gentiles be fulfylled.
And there shalbe signes in the sunne and in the moone, & in the starres: and vpon the earth trouble among the nations, with perplexitie. The sea and the water shall rore.
And mens heartes shal fayle them for feare, and for loking after those thinges which shall come on the world: For the powers of heauen shalbe shaken.
And then shall they see the sonne of man come in a cloude, with power and great glorie.
And when these thynges begyn to come to passe, then loke vp, and lyft vp your heades, for your redemptio{n} draweth nye.
And he shewed them a similitude: Behold the figge tree, & all the trees.
When they shoote foorth [their buddes] ye see and knowe of your owne selues that summer is then nye at hande.
So likewise ye, when ye see these thinges come to passe, be ye sure that the kyngdome of God is nye.
Veryly I say vnto you, this generation shall not passe, tyll all be fulfylled.
Heauen and earth shall passe, but my wordes shall not passe.
Take heede to your selues, lest at any tyme your heartes be ouercome with surfettyng and dronkennesse, and cares of this lyfe, and so the daye come vpon you vnwares.
For as a snare shall it come on al them that dwell on the face of {th}e whole earth.
Watche ye therfore, and pray continually, that ye may be accompted worthy to escape all these thinges {tha}t shall come, & that ye may stand before {th}e sonne of man.
In the day time he taught in the temple: and at nyght he went out, & abode in the mount that is called Oliuete.
And all the people came in {th}e mornyng to hym in the temple, for to heare hym.
THe feast of sweete breade drewe nye, which is called the Passouer.
And {th}e hie priestes and scribes sought howe they myght kyll hym, for they feared the people.
Then entred Satan into Iudas, whose sirname was Iscariot, whiche was of the number of the twelue.
And he went his waye, and communed with the hye priestes and officers, howe he myght betray him vnto them.
And they were glad, and promised to geue him money.
And he consented, and sought oportunitie to betray him vnto them, when the people were away.
Then came the day of sweete breade, when [of necessitie] the Passouer must be offered.
And he sent Peter and Iohn, saying: Go and prepare vs the Passouer, that we may eate.
They sayde vnto hym: Where wytt thou that we prepare?
And he sayde vnto them: Beholde, when ye enter into the citie, there shall a man meete you, bearyng a pitcher of water, hym folowe into the same house that he entreth in.
And ye shall say vnto the good man of the house, the maister saith vnto thee, where is the ghest chamber, where I shall eate {th}e Passouer with my disciples?
And he shall shew you an vpper chamber prepared, there make redye.
And they went, and founde as he had sayde vnto them: and they made redye the Passouer.
And when the houre was come, he sate downe, & the twelue apostles with hym.
And he sayde vnto them: I haue earnestly desired to eate this Passouer with you, before that I suffer.
For I saye vnto you, hencefoorth I wyll not eate of it any more, vntyll it be fulfylled in the kyngdome of God.
And he toke the cuppe, & gaue thankes, and sayde, Take this, and deuide it aamong you:
For I say vnto you, I wyll not drinke of the fruite of the vine, vntyll the kyngdome of God come.
And he toke bread, and when he had geue{n} thankes, he brake •it] and gaue vnto the{m}, saying, This is my body, which is geuen for you: This do in the remembraunce of me.
Lykewise also, when he had supped, he toke the cuppe, saying: This cuppe is the new testame{n}t in my blood, which is shed for you.
Yet beholde, the hande of hym that betrayeth me, is with me on the table.
And truely the sonne of man goeth as it is appoynted: but wo vnto that man by whom he is betrayed.
And they began to enquire among them selues, which of them it was that shoulde do it.
And there was a stryfe among the{m}, which of them shoulde seeme to be the greatest.
And he saide vnto them: The kinges of nations raigne ouer them, and they that haue aucthoritie vpo{n} them, are called gracious Lordes.
But ye shall not be so. But he that is greatest among you, shalbe as the younger, and he that is chiefe, shalbe as he that doth minister.
For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meate, or he that serueth? Is not he that sitteth at meate? But I am among you, as he that ministreth.
Ye are they, which haue bydden with me in my temptations.
And I appoynt vnto you a kingdome, as my father hath appoynted vnto me.
That ye may eate and drinke at my •able in my kyngdome, & sit on seates iudgyng the twelue tribes of Israel.
And the Lord saide: Simon, Simon, beholde Satan hath desired to sift you, as it were wheate:
But I haue prayed for thee, that thy fayth fayle not: And when thou art co{n}uerted, strength thy brethren.
And he sayde vnto him: Lord I am redy to go with thee into pryson, and to death.
And he sayde: I tell thee Peter, the Cocke shal not crowe this day, tyll thou hast thryse denyed that thou knewest me.
And he said vnto them: When I sent you without wallet, and scrippe, and shoes, lacked ye any thyng? And they sayde, no.
Then saide he vnto them: But nowe he that hath a wallet, let him take it vp▪ and lykewyse his scrippe: and he that hath none, let him sell his coate, and bye a sworde.
For I say vnto you, that yet the same whiche is written, must be perfourmed in me: Euen among the wicked was he reputed. For those thynges whiche are written of me, haue an ende.
And they sayde: Lorde, beholde here are two swordes. And he sayde vnto them, it is enough.
And he came out, and went as he was wont, to mount Oliuete: and the disciples folowed hym.
And when he came to the place, he sayde vnto them: pray, lest ye fall into temptation.
And he gate hym selfe from them about a stones caste, and kneeled downe, and prayed,
Saying: Father, yf thou wylt, remoue this cuppe from me. Neuerthelesse, not my wyl, but thine be fulfilled.
And there appeared an angell vnto hym from heauen, comfortyng hym.
And he was in an agonie, and he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was lyk• droppes of blood, tricklyng downe to the grounde.
And when he rose vp from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he founde the{m} slepyng for heauynesse,
And sayde vnto them, why slepe ye? Rise, & pray lest ye fall into temptation.
Whyle he yet spake, behold •there came] a company, and he that was called Iudas▪ one of the twelue, went before the & preassed nye vnto Iesus to kisse hym.
But Iesus sayde vnto hym: Iudas betrayest thou the sonne of man with a kisse?
When they whiche were about hym sawe what woulde folowe, they sayde vnto hym: Lorde, shall we smyte with sworde?
And one of them smote a seruaunt of the hye priest, & stroke of his right eare
Iesus aunswered and saide, Suffer ye thus farre foorth. And whe{n} he touched his eare, he healed hym.
Then Iesus said vnto the hye priestes and rulers of the temple, and the elders which were come to hym: Be ye come out as vnto a thiefe, with swordes and staues?
When I was dayly with you in the temple, ye stretched foorth no handes agaynst me: But this is euen your very houre, and the power of darknesse.
Then toke they hym, and ledde hym, & brought him to the hye priestes house: and Peter folowed a farre of.
And when they had kyndeled a fire in the myddes of the hall, and were set downe together, Peter also sate downe among them.
But when a certayne wenche behelde hym, as he sate by the fire [and earnestlye loked vpon hym] she sayde: This same felowe was also with hym.
And he denyed hym, saying, woman I knowe hym not.
And after a litle whyle, another sawe hym, and saide: Thou art also of them. And Peter sayd, man I am not.
And about the space of an houre after, an other affirmed saying: Veryly this felowe was with hym also, for he is of Galilee.
And Peter sayde: Man I wote not what thou sayest. And immediatlye whyle he yet spake, the Cocke crewe.
And the Lorde turned backe, & loked vpon Peter: And Peter remembred the worde of the Lorde, howe he hadde sayde vnto hym, before the Cocke crowe thou shalt deme me thrise.
And Peter went out, & wept bitterlye.
And the men that helde Iesus, mocked hym, and smote hym.
And when they had blindfolded him, they stroke hym on the face, and asked hym, saying. Are•e, 〈…〉 smote thee.
And many other things blasphemously spake they against hym.
And assoone as it was day, the elders of the people, and the hye priestes, and scribes, came together, and led him into their councell, saying:
Art thou •very• Christe, tell vs? And he saide vnto them: Yf I tell you, you wyl not beleue:
And yf I aske you you wyll not aunswere me, nor let me go.
Hereafter shall the sonne of man syt on the right hand of the power of God.
Then saide they all: art thou then the sonne of God? He sayde: Ye say {tha}t I am.
And they sayde: What neede we any further witnesse? For we our selues haue hearde of his owne mouth.
AND the whole multitude of them arose, & ledde him vnto Pilate.
And they began to accuse him, saying: We founde this felow peruerting the people, and forbyddyng to paye tribute to Caesar, saying that he is Christe, a kyng.
And Pilate apposed hym, saying: Art thou the kyng of the Iewes? He aunswered hym, and saide: Thou sayest it.
Then sayde Pilate to the hye priestes, and to the people: I fynde no fault in this man.
And they were the more fierce, saying: He moueth {th}e people, teachyng throughout al Iurie, and began at Galilee, euen to this place.
When Pilate hearde [mention] of Galilee, he asked whether the man were of Galilee.
And assoone as he knewe that he belonged vnto Herodes iurisdiction, he sent hym to Herode, whiche was also at Hierusalem at that tyme.
And whe{n} Herode sawe Iesus, he was exceeding glad: For he was desirous to see hym of a long season, because he had hearde many thynges of hym, and he trusted to haue seene some miracle done by hym.
Then he questioned with hym many wordes: But he aunswered hym nothyng.
The hye priestes and scribes stoode foorth, and accused hym straytely.
And Herode, with his men of warre, despised him▪ and when he had mocked hym, he arayed him in whyte clothyng, and sent hym agayne to Pilate.
And the same day Pilate and Herode were made friendes together: For before they were at variaunce.
And Pilate called together the hye priestes, and the rulers, and the people,
And sayde vnto the{m}: Ye haue brought this man vnto me, as one {tha}t peruerteth the people: and behold, I examine him before you, & fynde no fault in this man of those thinges wherof ye accuse hym:
No, nor yet Herode: For I sent you to hym, and loe nothyng worthy of death is done to hym.
I wyll therfore chasten hym, and let hym loose.
For of necessitie he must haue let one loose vnto them at the feast.
And all the people cryed at once, saying: Away with him, and deliuer to vs Barabbas.
Which for a certaine insurrection made in the citie, and for murther, was cast in pryson.
Pilate spake agayne to them, wyllyng to let Iesus loose.
But they cryed, saying: Crucifie hym, crucifie hym.
He sayde vnto them the thirde tyme: What euyll hath he done? I fynde no cause of death in hym, I wyll therefore chasten hym, and let hym go.
And they were instant with loude voyces, requiryng that he might be crucified. And the voyces of them, and of the hye priestes preuayled.
And Pilate gaue sente{n}ce, that it should be as they required.
And he let loose vnto them, him that for insurrection and murther was caste into prison, whom they had desired, & he deliuered [vnto them] Iesus, to do with hym what they woulde.
And as they ledde hym awaye, they caught one Simo{n} of Cyrene, comming out of the fielde, and on hym layde they the crosse, that he myght beare it after Iesus.
And there folowed hym a great companie of people, and of women, which bewayled and lamented hym.
But Iesus turned backe vnto them, and sayde: [Ye] daughters of Hierusalem, wepe not for me, but wepe for your selues, and for your chyldren:
For beholde, the dayes wyll come, in the which they shall say, happy are the barren, & the wombes that neuer bare, & the pappes which neuer gaue sucke.
Then shall they begyn to saye to the mountaynes, fall on vs, & to the hylles, couer vs.
For if they do these thinges in a greene tree, what shalbe done in the drye?
And there were two euyll doers, ledde with hym to be slayne.
And after that they were come to the place whiche is called Caluarie, there they crucified hym, and the euyll doers, one on the right hande, and the other on the lefte.
Then saide Iesus, father forgeue the{m}, for they wote not what they do. And they parted his rayment, & cast lottes.
And the people stoode, and behelde: and the rulers mocked hym with them, saying: He saued other [men] let hym saue hym selfe, yf he be very Christe the chosen of God.
The souldiours also mocked him, and came and offred hym vineger,
And sayde: If thou be the kyng of the Iewes, saue thy selfe.
And a superscriptio{n} was written ouer hym, with letters of greke, and latine, & hebrue, This is the kyng of the Iewes.
And one of the euyll doers, whiche were hanged, rayled on hym, saying: yf thou be Christe, saue thy selfe & vs.
But the other aunswered, and rebuked him, saying: Fearest thou not God, seing thou art in the same dampnation?
We are righteously [punyshed] for we receaue accordyng to our deedes: But this man hath done nothyng amisse.
And he sayde vnto Iesus: Lorde, remember me, when thou commest into thy kyngdome.
And Iesus sayde vnto hym: Verylye I saye vnto thee, to daye shalt thou be with me in paradise.
And it was about the sixte houre: and there was a darknesse ouer al the earth vntyll the ninth houre.
And the sunne was darkned, and the vayle of the temple dyd rent, euen thorowe the myddes.
And when Iesus had cryed with a loude voyce, he sayde: Father into thy handes I commende my spirite. And when he thus had saide, he gaue vp the ghost.
When the Centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying: Veryly this was a ryghteous man.
And all the people that came together to that syght, & sawe the thinges which were done, smote their brestes, and returned.
And all his acquaintaunce, and the women that folowed him from Galilee stode a farre of, beholding these thinges.
And beholde, there was a man, named Ioseph, a councellour, and he was a good man and a iuste:
The same hadde not consented to the councell and deede of them, which was of Aramathia, a citie of the Iewes, which same also wayted for the kyngdome of God.
He went vnto Pilate, and begged the body of Iesus.
And toke it downe, and wrapped it in a linnen cloth, and layde it in a sepulchre that was hewen in stone, wherin neuer man before was layde.
And that day was the preparyng of the Sabboth, & the Sabboth drew on.
The wome{n} that folowed after, which had come with hym from Galilee, behelde the sepulchre, and howe his body was layde.
And they returned, & prepared sweete odours and oyntmentes: but rested the Sabboth daye, accordyng to the commaundement.
BVt vpon the first day of the Sabbothes, [very] early in the mornyng, they came vnto the sepulchre, & brought {th}e sweete odours which they had prepared, and other women with them.
And they founde the stone rolled away from the sepulchre,
And they went in: but founde not the body of the Lorde Iesu.
And it came to passe, as they were amased therat: Beholde, two men stoode by them in shinyng garmentes.
And as they were afrayde, & bowed downe their faces to the earth, they said vnto them: Why seeke ye the lyuyng among the dead?
He is not here: but is risen. Remember howe he spake vnto you, when he was yet in Galilee,
Saying: that the sonne of man must be deliuered into the handes of sinfull men, and be crucified, and the thirde day ryse agayne.
And they remembred his wordes,
And returned from the sepulchre, and tolde all these thinges vnto those eleuen, and to all the remnaunt.
It was Marie Magdalene, and Ioanna, and Marie Iacobi, and other that were with them, which tolde these thynges vnto the Apostles.
And their wordes seemed vnto them fayned thynges, neither beleued they them.
Then arose Peter and ran vnto the sepulchre, and loked in, and sawe the linnen clothes layde by them selues, and departed, wonderyng in hym selfe at that which was come to passe.
And beholde, two of them went that same day to a towne called Emaus, which was from Hierusalem about threescore furlonges.
And they talked together of all these thynges that were done.
And it came to passe, that whyle they communed together & reasoned, Iesus hym selfe drewe neare, and went with them.
But their eyes were holden, that they shoulde not knowe hym.
And he sayde vnto them: What maner of communications are these that ye haue one to another, as ye walke, and are sad?
And the one of them, whose name was Cleophas, aunswered, and saide to hym: Art thou only a straunger in Hierusalem, & hast not knowen the thinges which are come to passe there, in these dayes?
He sayde vnto them: what thynges? And they sayde vnto hym: of Iesus of Nazareth, which was a prophete, myghtie in deede & worde, before God and all the people:
And howe the hye priestes, and our rulers delyuered hym to be condemned to death, and haue crucified hym.
But we trusted that it had ben he which shoulde haue redeemed Israel: And as touchyng all these thynges, to day is euen the thirde day, that they were done.
Yea, and certayne women also of our company made vs astonyed, which came early vnto the sepulchre,
And founde not his body, and came, saying that they had seene a vision of Angels, which sayde that he was aliue.
And certayne of them which were with vs, went to the sepulchre, & founde it euen so as the women had sayde: but hym they sawe not.
And he sayde vnto them: O fooles and slowe of heart, to beleue all that the prophetes haue spoken:
Ought not Christe to haue suffered these thynges, & to enter into his glory?
And he began at Moyses, and all the prophetes, and interpreted vnto them in all Scriptures, which were written of hym.
And they drewe nye vnto the towne, which they went vnto: And he made, as though he woulde haue gone further.
And they constrayned hym, saying: abyde with vs for it drawe in towarde nyght, and the day is farie passed. And he went in to tary with them.
And it came to passe, as he sate at meate with them, he toke bread, and blessed it, and brake, & gaue to them.
And their eyes were opened, and they knewe him: and he vanished out of their syght.
And they sayde betwene them selues: Dyd not our heartes burne within vs, whyle he talked with vs by the way, and opened to vs the scriptures?
And they rose vp the same houre, and returned [agayne] to Hierusalem, and founde the eleuen gathered together, and them that were with them,
Saying: the Lorde is risen in deede, and hath appeared to Simon.
And they tolde what thynges were done in the way, and howe they knewe hym in breakyng of bread.
And as they thus spake, Iesus hym selfe stoode in the middes of them, and sayth vnto them: peace be vnto you.
But they were abasshed and afraide, & supposed that they had seene a spirite.
And he sayde vnto them: Why are ye troubled, and why do thoughtes aryse in your heartes?
Beholde my handes and my feete, that it is euen I my selfe: Handle me and see, for a spirite hath not fleshe and bones, as ye see me haue.
And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his handes and his feete.
And whyle they yet beleued not for ioy, and wondred he sayde vnto them▪ Haue ye here any meate?
And they offered hym a peece of a broyled fisshe, and of an hony combe.
And he toke it, and dyd eate before them.
And he sayde vnto them: These are the wordes which I spake vnto you, whyle I was yet with you, that all must [needes] be fulfylled, which were written of me in the lawe of Moyses, & in the prophetes, and in the psalmes.
Then opened he their wittes, that they might vnderstand the scriptures.
And sayde vnto them: Thus is it written, and thus it behoued Christe to suffer, and to ryse agayne from death the thirde day:
And that repentaunce and remission of sinnes, shoulde be preached in his name among all nations, and must begyn at Hierusalem.
And ye are witnesses of these thinges.
And beholde, I wyll sende the promise of my father vpon you: But tary ye in the citie of Hierusalem, vntyll ye be endued with power from an hye.
And he led them out into Bethanie, and lyft vp his handes, & blessed them.
And it came to passe, as he blessed them, he departed from them, and was caryed vp into heauen.
And they worshypped hym, and returned to Hierusalem with great ioy,
And were continually in the temple, praysyng and laudyng God. Amen.
IN the begynnyng was the worde, & the worde was with God: and that worde was God.
The same was in the begynnyng with God.
All thynges were made by it: and without it, was made nothyng that was made.
In it was lyfe, and the lyfe was the lyght of men,
And the lyght shyneth in darkenesse: and the darknesse comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was Iohn:
The same came for a witnesse, to beare witnesse of the lyght, that all men through hym myght beleue.
He was not that lyght: but was sent to beare witnesse of the lyght.
That [lyght] was the true lyght, which lyghteth euery man that commeth into the worlde.
He was in the worlde, and the worlde was made by hym, and the worlde knewe hym not.
He came among his owne, and his owne receaued hym not.
But as many as receaued hym, to them gaue he power to be the sonnes of God, euen them that beleued on his name.
Which were borne, not of blood, nor of the wyll of the fleshe, nor yet of the wyll of man, but of God.
And the same word became fleshe, and dwelt among vs ( and we sawe the glory of it, as the glory of the only begotten sonne of the father) full of grace and trueth.
Iohn beareth witnesse of hym, and cryeth, saying: This was he of whom I spake, he that commeth after me, is preferred before me, for he was before me.
And of his fulnesse haue all we receaued, and grace for grace.
For the lawe was geuen by Moyses: but grace and trueth came by Iesus Christe.
No man hath seene God at any tyme: The onely begotten sonne which is in the bosome of the father, he hath declared hym.
And this is the recorde of Iohn: When the Iewes sent priestes and leuites from Hierusalem, to aske hym: What art thou?
And he confessed and denyed not, and sayde playnely, I am not that Christe.
And they asked hym: What then? art thou Elias? And he sayth, I am not. Art thou that prophete? And he aunswered, no.
Then sayde they vnto hym: What art thou? that we may geue an aunswere to them that sent vs: What sayest thou of thy selfe?
He sayde: I am the voyce of a cryer in the wildernesse, make strayght the way of the Lorde, as sayde the prophete Esaias.
And they which were sent, were of the pharisees.
And they asked hym, and sayde vnto hym: Why baptizest thou then, yf thou be not Christe, nor Elias, neither that prophete?
Iohn aunswered them, saying: I baptize with water, but there standeth one among you, whom ye knowe not,
He it is, which though he came after me, was before me, whose shoes latchet I am not worthy to vnloose.
These thynges were done in Bethabara beyonde Iordane, where Iohn dyd baptize.
The next day, Iohn seeth Iesus comming vnto hym, and saith, beholde the lambe of God, which taketh away the sinne of the worlde.
This is he of whom I sayde, After me commeth a man, which is preferred before me, for he was before me.
And I knewe hym not: but that he shoulde be declared to Israel, therfore am I come, baptizing with water.
And Iohn bare recorde, saying: I sawe the spirite descende from heauen, lyke vnto a doue, and abode vpon hym,
And knewe hym not. But he that sent me to baptize with water, the same saide vnto me: vpon whom thou shalt see the spirite descende, and tary styll on hym, the same is he which baptizeth with the holy ghost.
And I sawe, and bare recorde, that he is the sonne of God.
The next day after, Iohn stoode agayne, and two of his disciples.
And he behelde Iesus as he walked by, & sayth: beholde the lambe of God.
And the two disciples hearde hym speake, and they folowed Iesus.
And Iesus turned about, and sawe them folowe hym, & sayth vnto them: What seeke ye? They sayde vnto hym: Rabbi (which is to say yf one interprete it, Maister) where dwellest thou?
He sayeth vnto them: come and see. They came, and sawe where he dwelt, and abode with hym that day: For it was about the tenth houre.
One of the two which hearde Iohn speake, & folowed hym, was Andrewe, Simon Peters brother.
The same founde his brother Simon first, and sayth vnto hym: We haue founde Messias, which is by interpretation, the annoynted.
And brought hym to Iesus. And Iesus behelde hym, and sayde: Thou art Simon the sonne of Iona, thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a stone.
The day folowyng, Iesus woulde go into Galilee, & founde Philip, and sayth vnto hym, folowe me.
Philip was of Bethsaida, the citie of Andrewe and Peter.
Philip founde Nathanael, and sayth vnto hym: We haue founde hym, of whom Moyses in the lawe, and the prophetes, dyd write: Iesus of Nazareth, the sonne of Ioseph.
And Nathanael sayde vnto hym: Can there any good thyng come out of Nazareth? Philip sayth vnto him: come and see.
Iesus sawe Nathanael commyng to hym, & sayeth of hym: Beholde a ryght Israelite, in whom is no guile.
Nathanael sayth vnto hym: Whence knewest thou me? Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast vnder the fygge tree, I sawe thee.
Nathanael aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: Rabbi, thou art euen the (very) sonne of God, thou art {th}e kyng of Israel.
Iesus aunswered, & sayde vnto hym: Because I sayde vnto thee, I saw thee vnder the fygge tree, thou beleuest: Thou shalt see greater thynges then these.
And he sayth vnto hym: Veryly, veryly I say vnto you, hereafter shall ye see heauen open, and the Angels of God ascendyng & descendyng vpon the sonne of man.
AND the thirde day, was there a mariage in Cana [a citie] of Galilee, and the mother of Iesus was there.
And Iesus was called, and his disciples vnto the mariage.
And whe{n} the wyne fayled, the mother of Iesus sayth vnto hym: they haue no wyne.
Iesus saith vnto her: Woman, what haue I to do with thee, myne houre is not yet come.
His mother sayth vnto the ministers: Whatsoeuer he sayth vnto you, do it.
And there were set there, sixe water pottes of stone, after the maner of the purifiyng of the Iewes, conteynyng two or three firkins a peece.
Iesus sayth vnto them: fyll the water pottes with water. And they fylled them vp to the brym.
And he sayth vnto them: drawe out nowe, and beare vnto the gouernour of feast. And they bare it.
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wyne, and knewe not whence it was (but the ministers which drewe the water knewe) the gouernour of the feast calleth the brydegrome:
And sayth vnto hym, Euery man at the begynnyng doth set foorth good wine, and when men haue well dronke, then that which is worse: But thou hast kept the good wyne vntyll nowe.
This begynnyng of miracles dyd Iesus in Cana of Galilee, and shewed his glory, & his disciples beleued on hym.
After this, he went downe to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples, and there continued not many dayes.
And the Iewes Passouer was at hande, & Iesus went vp to Hierusalem,
And founde sittyng in the temple, those that solde oxen, and sheepe, and doues, and chaungers of money.
And when he had made [as it were] a scourge of small cordes, he droue them all out of the temple, with the sheepe, & oxen, and powred out the chaungers money, and ouerthrewe the tables,
And saide vnto them that solde doues: Haue these thinges hence, and make not my fathers house an house of marchaundize.
And his disciples remembred that it was written: The zeale of thine house hath euen eaten me.
Then aunswered the Iewes, & sayde vnto hym: What token shewest thou vnto vs, seeyng that thou doest these thynges?
Iesus aunswered, & sayde vnto them: Destroy this temple, & in three dayes I wyll reare it vp.
Then sayde the Iewes, fourtie and sixe yeres was this temple a buildyng, and wilt thou reare it vp in three dayes?
But he spake of the temple of his body.
Assoone therfore, as he was rysen from death [agayne,] his disciples remembred that he thus had sayde: And they beleued the scripture, & the wordes which Iesus had sayde.
When he was in Hierusalem at the Passouer, in the feast day, many beleued on his name, when they sawe his miracles which he dyd.
But Iesus dyd not commit hym selfe vnto them, because he knewe all men,
And neded not, that any shoulde testifie of man: For he knewe what was in man.
THere was a man of the pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Iewes.
The same came to Iesus by night, & said vnto him: Rabbi, we knowe that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man coulde do these miracles that thou doest, except God were with him.
Iesus aunswered, & sayde vnto hym: Veryly, veryly, I say vnto thee, except a man be borne agayne, he can not see the kyngdome of God.
Nicodemus sayth vnto hym: Howe can a man be borne when he is olde? can he enter into his mothers wombe, and be borne agayne?
Iesus aunswered: Veryly, veryly, I say vnto thee, except a man be borne of water and of the spirite, he can not enter into the kyngdome of God.
That which is borne of the fleshe, is fleshe: and that which is borne of the spirite, is spirite.
Maruayle not thou that I sayde to thee, ye must be borne agayne.
The wynde bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sounde therof: but canst not tell whence it commeth, and whither it goeth. So is euery one that is borne of the spirite.
Nicodemus aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: howe can these thynges be?
Iesus aunswered, & sayde vnto hym: Art thou a maister in Israel, and knowest not these thynges?
Veryly, veryly, I say vnto thee, we speake that we do knowe, & testifie that we haue seene: and ye receaue not our witnesse.
If I haue tolde you earthly thynges, and ye beleue not: howe shall ye beleue, yf I tell you of heauenly thynges?
And no man ascendeth vp to heauen, but he that came downe from heauen, euen the sonne of man which is in heauen.
And as Moyses lyft vp the serpent in the wyldernesse: euen so must the sonne of man be lyft vp:
That whosoeuer beleueth in hym, perishe not, but haue eternall lyfe.
For God so loued the worlde, that he gaue his only begotten sonne, that whosoeuer beleueth in hym, shoulde not perishe, but haue euerlastyng lyfe.
For God sent not his sonne into the worlde, to condempne the worlde: but that the worlde through hym myght be saued. He that beleueth on hym, is not condempned:
But he that beleueth not, is condempned alredy, because he hath not beleued in the name of the only begotte{n} sonne of God.
And this is the condempnation: that lyght is come into the worlde, and men loued darknesse rather then lyght, because their deedes were euyll.
For euery one that euyll doeth, hateth the lyght: neither commeth to the light, lest his deedes shoulde be reproued.
But he that doeth trueth, co{m}meth to the lyght, {tha}t his deedes may be knowen, howe that they are wrought in God.
After these thynges, came Iesus and his disciples into the lande of Iurie, and there he taryed with the{m}, & baptized.
And Iohn also baptized in Enon, besides Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
For Iohn was not yet cast into prison.
And there arose a question betwene Iohns disciples and the Iewes, about purifiyng.
And they came vnto Iohn, and sayde vnto hym: Rabbi, he that was with thee beyonde Iordane, to whom thou barest witnesse, beholde the same baptizeth, and all men come to hym.
Iohn aunswered, and sayde: A man can receaue nothyng, except it be geuen hym from heauen.
Ye your selues are witnesses, howe that I sayde I am not Christe, but am sent before hym.
He that hath {th}e bride, is the bridegrome. But the friende of the brydegrome, which standeth & heareth him, reioyceth greatly because of {th}e brydegromes voyce. This my ioy therfore is fulfylled.
He must increace, but I must decreace.
He that commeth from an hye, is aboue all: He that is of the earth, is earthlye, and speaketh of the earth. He that commeth from heauen, is aboue all:
And what he hath seene and hearde, that he testifieth: and no man receaueth his testimonie.
He that hath receaued his testimonie, hath set to his seale, that God is true.
For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the wordes of God: For God geueth not the spirite by measure vnto hym.
The father loueth the sonne, and hath geuen all thynges into his hande.
He that beleueth on the sonne, hath euerlastyng lyfe: He that beleueth not the sonne, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abydeth on hym.
ASsoone as the Lord knew, how the pharisees had heard that Iesus made and baptized mo disciples then Iohn,
(Though that Iesus hym selfe baptized not, but his disciples:)
He left Iurie, and departed agayne into Galilee.
For [it was so that] he must needes go through Samaria.
Then came he to a citie of Samaria, which is called Sichar, besydes the possession that Iacob gaue to his sonne Ioseph.
And there was Iacobs well. Iesus then beyng wery of his iourney, sate thus on the well. And it was about the sixt houre:
And there came a woman of Samaria to drawe water: Iesus sayth vnto her, geue me drynke.
For his disciples were gone away, vnto the towne to bye meate.
Then sayth the woman of Samaria vnto hym: Howe is it, that thou beyng a Iewe, askest drynke of me, which am a Samaritane? For the Iewes meddle not with the Samaritanes.
Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto her: yf thou knewest the gyft of God, & who it is that sayeth to thee geue me drynke, thou wouldest haue asked of hym, and he woulde haue geuen thee water of lyfe.
The woman sayth vnto hym: Syr, thou hast nothyng to drawe with, and the well is deepe: from whence then hast thou that water of lyfe?
Art thou greater then our father Iacob, which gaue vs the well, and he hym selfe dranke therof, and his chyldren, and his cattell?
Iesus aunswered, and sayde vnto her: Whosoeuer drynketh of this water, shal thyrst agayne:
But whosoeuer drynketh of the water that I shall geue hym, shall neuer be more a thyrst: but the water that I shall geue him, shalbe in him a well of water, spryngyng vp into euerlastyng lyfe.
The woman sayth vnto hym: Syr, geue me of that water, that I thyrst not, neither come hyther to drawe.
Iesus sayth vnto her: Go, call thy husbande, and come hyther.
The woman aunswered, and sayde [vnto hym]: I haue no husbande. Iesus sayde vnto her: Thou hast well sayde, I haue no husbande.
For thou hast had fyue husbandes, and he whom thou now hast, is not thy husbande. In that saydest thou truely.
The woman sayth vnto hym: Syr, I perceaue that thou art a prophete.
Our fathers worshipped in this mountayne, and ye say that in Hierusalem is the place, where men ought to worshippe.
Iesus sayth vnto her: woman beleue me, the houre commeth, when ye shall neither in this mountayne, nor yet at Hierusalem, worshippe the father.
Ye worshippe ye wote not what. We knowe what we worshippe: For saluation commeth of the Iewes.
But the houre commeth, and nowe is, when the true worshippers, shall worshippe the father in spirite, and in the trueth: For such the father also requireth to worshippe hym.
God is a spirite, and they that worshippe hym▪ must worshippe hym in spirite, and in the trueth.
The woman sayth vnto hym, I wote that Messias shal come, which is called Christe: When he is come, he wyll tell vs all thynges.
Iesus sayth vnto her: I that speake vnto thee, am he.
And immediatly came his disciples, and marueyled that he talked with the woman: Yet no man saide, what seekest thou, or why talkest thou with her?
The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the citie, & sayth to the men:
Come, see a man which tolde me all thynges that euer I dyd: Is not he Christe?
Then they went out of the citie, and came vnto hym.
In the meane whyle his disciples prayed hym, saying: Maister, eate.
He sayde vnto them: I haue meate to eate that ye wote not of.
Therfore sayde the disciples among them selues: Hath any man brought hym ought to eate?
Iesus sayth vnto them: my meate is to do the wyll of hym that sent me, and to finishe his worke.
Say not ye, there are yet foure monethes, and then commeth haruest? Beholde, I say vnto you, lyft vp your eyes, and loke on the regions: for they are whyte alredy vnto haruest.
And he that reapeth, receaueth wages, and gathereth fruite vnto lyfe eternall: that both he that soweth, & he that reapeth, myght reioyce together.
And herein is the saying true, that one soweth, and another reapeth.
I sent you to reape that, wheron ye bestowed no labour. Other men laboured, and ye are entred into their labours.
Many of the Samaritanes of that citie beleued on hym, for the saying of the woman, which testified that he tolde her all that euer she dyd.
So, when the Samaritanes were come vnto hym, they besought hym that he would tary with them: And he abode there two dayes.
And many mo beleued, because of his owne worde,
And sayde vnto the woman: Nowe we beleue, not because of thy saying: for we haue heard him our selues, & know that this is euen Christe, the sauiour of the worlde.
After two dayes he departed thence, and went [away] into Galilee.
For Iesus hym selfe testified, that a prophete hath none honour in his owne countrey.
Then, assoone as he was come into Galilee, the Galileans receaued hym, when they had seene all the thynges that he dyd at Hierusalem, at the day of the feast. For they went also vnto the feast day.
So Iesus came agayne into Cana of Galilee, where he turned the water into wyne. And there was a certayne ruler, whose sonne was sicke at Capernaum.
Assoone as the same hearde that Iesus was come out of Iurie into Galilee, he went vnto hym, and besought hym that he woulde come downe, and heale his sonne: For he was euen at the poynt of death.
Then sayde Iesus vnto hym: except ye see signes and wonders, ye wyll not beleue.
The ruler sayth vnto hym: Syr, come downe or euer that my sonne dye.
Iesus sayth vnto hym: Go thy way, thy sonne lyueth. The man beleued the worde that Iesus had spoken vnto hym, and he went his way.
And as he was nowe goyng downe, the seruauntes met hym, and tolde him, saying, thy sonne lyueth.
Then enquired he of them the houre, when he began to amende. And they sayde vnto hym: Yesterday at the seuenth houre, the feuer left hym.
So the father knewe, that it was the same houre, in the which Iesus sayde vnto hym thy sonne lyueth: And he beleued, and all his householde.
This is agayne the seconde miracle, that Iesus dyd, when he was come out of Iurie into Galilee.
AFter this, was there a feast day of the Iewes, and Iesus went vp to Hierusalem.
And there is at Hierusalem by the sheepe market, a poole, which is called in the Hebrue tonge Bethesda, hauyng fyue porches.
In which lay a great multitude of sicke folke, of blynde, halt, & wythered, waytyng for the mouyng of the water.
For an Angel went downe at a certayne season into the poole, and stirred the water: Whosoeuer then firste after the stirring of the water stepped in, was made whole of whatsoeuer disease he hadde.
And a certaine man was there, which had ben diseased thirtie & eyght yeres.
When Iesus sawe hym lye, & knewe that he nowe long tyme had ben diseased, he sayth vnto hym: Wylt thou be made whole?
The sicke man aunswered him: Sir, I haue no man whe{n} the water is troubled to put me into the poole: But in the meane time, while I am about to come, another steppeth downe before me.
Iesus saith vnto him: Ryse, take vp thy bedde, and walke.
And immediatly the man was made whole, and toke vp his bedde, & walked. And the same day was the Sabboth.
The Iewes therfore sayde vnto hym that was made whole: It is the Sabboth day, it is not lawfull for thee to carie thy bedde.
He aunswered them: He that made me whole, saide vnto me, take vp thy bedde and walke.
Then asked they hym: What man is that which sayde vnto thee, take vp thy bedde, and walke?
And he that was healed, wyste not who it was. For Iesus had gotten him selfe awaye, because that there was prease of people in that place.
Afterwarde, Iesus founde hym in the temple, and saide vnto him: behold, thou art made whole, sinne no more, lest a worse thyng come vnto you.
The man departed, & tolde the Iewes that it was Iesus which had made him whole.
And therefore the Iewes dyd persecute Iesus, and sought [the meanes] to slea hym, because he hadde done these thynges on the Sabboth day.
And Iesus aunswered them: My father worketh hitherto, and I worke.
Therfore the Iewes sought the more to kyll him, not only because he had broken the Sabboth, but sayde also, that God was his father, and made himselfe equall with God.
Then aunswered Iesus, & sayde vnto them: Veryly veryly I say vnto you, the sonne can do nothyng of hym selfe, but that he seeth {th}e father do: For whatsoeuer he doeth, that doeth the sonne also.
For the father loueth the sonne, and sheweth hym all thynges that he hym selfe doeth: And he wyll shewe hym greater workes then these, because ye shoulde marueyle.
For lykewyse as the father rayseth vp the dead, and quickeneth them: euen so, the sonne quickeneth whom he wyll.
Neither iudgeth the father any man: but hath committed all iudgement vnto the sonne,
Because that all men shoulde honour the sonne, euen as they honour the father. He that honoureth not the sonne, the same honoureth not {th}e father which hath sent hym.
Veryly veryly I say vnto you, he that heareth my worde, and beleueth on him that sent me, hath euerlastyng lyfe, and shall not come into dampnation, but is escaped from death vnto lyfe.
Veryly veryly I saye vnto you, the houre shall come, and nowe is, when the dead shall heare the voyce of the sonne of God: And they that heare, shall lyue.
For as the father hath lyfe in hym selfe: so lykewyse hath he geuen to the sonne, to haue lyfe in hym selfe:
And hath geuen hym power also to iudge, because he is the sonne of man.
Marueyle not at this: For the houre shall come, in the whiche all that are in the graues shall heare his voyce.
And shall come foorth, they that haue done good, vnto the resurrection of lyfe, and they that haue done euyll, vnto the resurrection of dampnation.
I can of mine owne selfe do nothing: As I heare I iudge, and my iudgeme{n}t is iuste, because I seke not myne owne wyll, but the wyll of the father whiche hath sent me.
Yf I shoulde beare witnesse of my selfe, my witnesse were not true.
There is another that beareth witnesse of me, and I am sure that the witnesse which he beareth of me is true.
Ye sent vnto Iohn, and he bare witnesse vnto the trueth.
But I receaue not the recorde of man: Neuerthelesse, these thinges I say, that ye myght be safe.
He was a burnyng & a shynyng lyght, and ye would for a season haue reioyced in his lyght.
But I haue greater witnesse, then the witnesse of Iohn: For the workes whiche the father hath geuen me to finishe, the same workes that I do, beare witnesse of me, that the father hath sent me.
And the father hymselfe which hath sent me, hath borne witnesse of me. Ye haue not hearde his voyce at any tyme, nor seene his shape,
His worde haue ye not abydyng in you: For who{m} he hath se{n}t, him ye beleue not.
Searche the scriptures, for in them ye thynke ye haue eternall lyfe: and they are they which testifie of me.
And yet wyll ye not come to me, that ye myght haue lyfe.
I receaue not prayse of men.
But I knowe you, that ye haue not the loue of God in you.
I am come in my fathers name, and ye receaue me not. Yf another come in his owne name, hym wyll ye receaue.
Howe can ye beleue, whiche receaue honour one of another, and seke not the honour that commeth of God only?
Do not thinke that I wyll accuse you to my father: There is one that accuseth you, euen Moyses, in who{m} ye trust.
For had ye beleued Moyses, ye would haue beleued me: for he wrote of me.
But yf ye beleue not his wrytynges, howe shall ye beleue my wordes?
AFter these thynges, Iesus went his waye ouer the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
And a great multitude folowed hym, because they sawe his miracles whiche he dyd on them that were diseased.
And Iesus went vp into a mountayne, & there he sate with his disciples.
And the Passouer, a feast of {th}e Iewes, was nye.
When Iesus then lyft vp his eyes, and sawe a great company come vnto him, he saith vnto Philip: Whence shal we bye bread, that these may eate?
(This he sayde to proue hym: for he hym selfe knewe what he woulde do.)
Philip aunswered hym: Two hundred penie worth of bread are not sufficient for them, that euery man may take a litle.
One of his disciples, Andrewe, Simo{n} Peters brother, sayth vnto hym:
There is a litle ladde here, whiche hath fyue barly loaues and two fisshes, but what are they among so many?
And Iesus sayde: Make the people syt downe. There was much grasse in the place. So the men sate downe, in number about fyue thousande.
And Iesus toke the bread, and when he had geue{n} thankes, he gaue to the disciples, and the disciples to them {tha}t were set downe, and lykewyse of the fisshes, as much as they woulde.
When they had eaten enough, he saide vnto his disciples: Gather vp the broke{n} meate that remayneth, that nothyng be lost.
And they gathered it together, & fylled twelue baskettes with the broken meate of the fyue barly loaues, whiche [broken meate] remayned vnto them that had eaten.
Then those men, when they had seene the miracle that Iesus did, saide: This is of a trueth the same prophete that shoulde come into the worlde.
When Iesus therfore perceaued, that they would come and take him, to make hym kyng, he departed agayne into amountayne hym selfe alone.
And when euen was nowe come, his disciples went downe vnto the sea.
And gat vp into a shippe, and went ouer the sea, towardes Capernau{m}: And it was nowe darke, and Iesus was not come to them.
And the sea arose, with a great wynde that blewe.
So, when they had rowed about xxv. or xxx. furlonges, they sawe Iesus walkyng on the sea, and drawyng nye vnto the shippe, and they were afrayde.
But he sayth vnto them: It is I, be not afrayde.
And they wyllyngly receaued hym into the shippe, and immediatly the shippe was at the lande whyther they went.
The day folowyng, when the people, whiche stoode on the other syde of the sea, sawe that there was none other shippe there, saue that one whereinto his disciples were entred, and that Iesus went not in with his disciples into the shippe, but that his disciples were gone [awaye] alone:
Howebeit there came other shippes fro{m} Tiberias, nye vnto the place, where they dyd eate bread, after that the Lord had geuen thankes.
When the people therefore sawe that Iesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also toke shippyng, and came to Capernaum, sekyng for Iesus.
And whe{n} they had founde hym on the other side of the sea, they said vnto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hyther? Iesus aunswered them, and sayde:
Veryly veryly I say vnto you, ye seke me, not because ye sawe the miracles, but because ye dyd eate of the loaues, & were fylled.
Labour not for the mea•e whiche perisheth, but for that whiche endureth vnto euerlastyng lyfe, which •meate• the sonne of man shall geue vnto you: For hym hath God the father sealed.
Then saide they vnto him: What shall we do, that we myght worke {th}e workes of God?
Iesus aunswered, & sayde vnto them: This is the worke of God, that ye beleue on hym whom he hath sent.
They said therfore vnto hym: What signe shewest thou then, {tha}t we may see, & beleue thee? What doest thou worke?
Our fathers dyd eate Manna in the desert, as it is written: He gaue them bread from heauen to eate.
Then Iesus sayde vnto them: Veryly veryly I say vnto you, Moyses gaue you not {th}e bread fro{m} heauen, but my father geueth you {th}e true bread fro{m} heaue{n}.
For the bread of God, is he which co{m}meth downe from heauen, and geueth lyfe vnto the worlde.
Then sayde they vnto hym: Lorde, euermore geue vs this bread.
And Iesus sayde vnto them, I am the bread of lyfe: He that co{m}meth to me, shall not hunger: and he that beleueth on me, shall neuer thirst.
But I say vnto you, that ye also haue seene me, and yet ye beleue not.
All that the father geueth me, shall come to me: and hym that commeth to me, I cast not away.
For I came downe from heauen, not to do that I wyll: but that he wyll, which hath sent me.
And this is the fathers wyll whiche hath sent me: that of all which he hath geuen me, I shal lose nothing, but rayse it vp agayne at the last day.
And this is the wyll of him {tha}t sent me: that euery one which seeth the sonne, & beleueth on him, hath euerlastyng lyfe: And I wyll rayse him vp at {th}e last day.
The Iewes then murmured at him, because he sayde, I am the bread [of life] which came downe from heauen.
And they saide: Is not this Iesus, {th}e sonne of Ioseph, whose father and mother we knowe? Howe is it then that he sayth, I came downe from heauen?
Iesus aunswered, & sayde vnto them: Murmure not among your selues.
No man can come to me, except the father, whiche hath sent me, drawe hym: And I wyll rayse hym vp at the last day.
It is written in the prophetes: And they shalbe all taught of God. Euery man therfore that hath heard, and hath learned of the father, co{m}meth vnto me.
Not that any man hath seene the father, saue he which is of God, the same hath seene the father.
Veryly veryly I say vnto you, he that putteth his trust in me, hath euerlasting lyfe.
I am that bread of lyfe.
Your fathers dyd eate Manna in the wyldernesse, and are dead.
This is that bread, which commeth downe from heauen, that yf any man eate therof, [he] shoulde not dye.
I am that lyuyng bread, which came downe from heauen. Yf any man eate of this bread, he shall lyue for euer. And the bread that I wyl geue, is my fleshe, whiche I wyll geue for the lyfe of the worlde.
The Iewes therefore stroue among them selues, saying: Howe can this felowe geue vs that fleshe of his to eate?
Then Iesus saide vnto them: Veryly veryly I saye vnto you, excepte ye eate the fleshe of the sonne of man, and drynke his blood, ye haue no lyfe in you.
Who so eateth my fleshe, and drinketh my blood, hath eternall lyfe, and I wyl rayse hym vp at the last day.
For my fleshe is meate in deede, and my blood is drynke in deede.
He that eateth my fleshe, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, & I in hym.
As the lyuing father hath sent me, and I lyue by the father: Euen so, he that eateth me, shal liue by [the meanes of] me.
This is that bread, which came downe from heauen: Nor as your fathers dyd eate Manna, and are dead. He that eateth of this bread, shall lyue euer.
These thynges sayde he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
Many therfore of his disciples, when they had hearde this, saide: This is an harde saying, who can abyde the hearyng of it?
Iesus knewe in hym selfe, that his disciples murmured at it, and he sayde vnto them, doth this offende you?
What and yf ye shall see the sonne of man ascende vp thyther where he was before?
It is the spirite that quickeneth, the fleshe profiteth nothyng. The wordes that I speake vnto you, are spirite and lyfe.
But there are some of you that beleue not. For Iesus knewe from the begynning, which they were that beleued not, and who shoulde betray hym.
And he sayde: Therfore saide I vnto you, that no man can come vnto me, except it were geue{n} vnto him of my father.
From that time, many of his disciples we{n}t backe, & walked no more with him.
Then sayde Iesus vnto the twelue: Wyll ye also go away?
Then Simon Peter aunswered him: Lorde, to who{m} shall we go? Thou hast the wordes of eternall lyfe:
And we beleue and are sure that thou art Christe, the sonne of {th}e lyuyng God.
Iesus aunswereth them: Haue not I chosen you twelue, and one of you is a deuyll?
He spake of Iudas Iscariot [the sonne] of Simon: For he it was, that shoulde betray hym, beyng one of the twelue.
AFter these thynges, Iesus went about in Galilee: For he would no• go about in Iurie, because that the Iewes sought to kyll hym.
The Iewes feaste of tabernacles was at hande.
His brethren therfore sayde vnto him: Get thee hence, and go into Iurie, that thy disciples also may see thy workes that thou doest.
For there is no man that doeth any thyng in secrete, and he hym selfe seketh to be knowen openly. Yf thou do suche thynges, shewe thy selfe to the worlde.
For his brethren beleued not in hym.
Then Iesus sayde vnto them, My tyme is not yet come: but your tyme is alway redy.
The worlde can not hate you, but me it hateth, because I testifie of it, that the workes therof are euyll.
Go ye vp vnto this feast: I wyll not go vp yet vnto this feast, for my tyme is not yet full come.
When he had saide these wordes vnto them, he abode styll in Galilee.
But assoone as his brethre{n} were gone vp, then went he also vp vnto the feaste, not openly, but as it were priuilie.
Then sought hym the Iewes at the feaste, and sayde, where is he?
And much murmuryng of hym was there among the people: For some said, he is good: other sayde, nay, but he deceaueth the people.
Howebeit, no man spake openlye of hym, for feare of the Iewes.
Nowe when halfe of the feast was done, Iesus went vp into the temple, and taught.
And the Iewes marueyled, saying: howe knoweth he the scriptures, seyng that he neuer learned?
Iesus aunswered them, & sayde: My doctrine is not myne, but his {tha}t sent me.
Yf any man wyll do his wyll, he shall knowe of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speake of my selfe.
He that speaketh of hym selfe, seketh his owne praise: But he that seketh his praise that sent hym, the same is true, & no vnryghteousnes is in hym.
Dyd not Moyses geue you a lawe, & [yet] none of you kepeth the lawe? Why go ye about to kyll me?
The people aunswered and sayde: Thou hast the deuyll, who goeth about to kyll thee?
Iesus aunswered, & said vnto the{m}: I haue done one worke, & ye al marueyle.
Moyses therefore gaue vnto you the circumcisio{n} (not because it is of Moyses, but of the fathers) And yet ye on the Sabboth day, circumcise a man.
Yf a man on the Sabboth day receaue circumcision, without breakyng of the lawe of Moyses: disdayne ye at me, because I haue made a man euerywhyt whole on the Sabboth day?
Iudge not after the [vtter] appearaunce, but iudge with a ryghteous iudgement.
The{n} sayde some of them of Hierusale{m}: Is not this he, whom they go about to kyll?
But loe, he speaketh boldly, & they saye nothyng to hym. Do the rulers knowe in deede that this is very Christ?
Howbeit, we know this man whence he is: but when Christe co{m}meth, no man knoweth whence he is.
Then cryed Iesus in the temple, as he taught, saying: Ye both knowe me, and whence I am, ye knowe. And I am not come of my selfe: but he that se{n}t me is true, whom ye knowe not.
But I knowe him, for I am of him, and he hath sent me.
Then they sought to take hym: but no man layde handes on hym, because his houre was not yet come.
Many of the people beleued on hym, and saide: When Christe commeth, wyl he do mo miracles [then these] that this man hath done?
The pharisees hearde, that the people murmured such thinges concerning hym: And the pharisees and the hye priestes sent seruauntes to take hym.
Then sayde Iesus vnto them: yet am I a litle whyle with you, and then go I vnto hym that sent me.
Ye shall seke me, & shall not fynde me: & where I am thither can ye not come.
Then sayde the Iewes among them selues: Whyther wyll he go, that we shall not fynde hym? Wyll he go vnto the dispearsed among the Gretians, & teache the gentiles?
What [maner of] saying is this that he sayde, ye shall seke me, and shall not fynde me: and where I am, thyther can ye not come?
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Iesus stoode and cryed, saying: Yf any man thirste, let him come vnto me and drynke:
He that beleueth on me, as saith the scripture, out of his belly shall flowe ryuers of water of lyfe.
(But this spake he of the spirite, which they {tha}t beleue o• hym, should receaue. 〈◊〉 For the holy ghost was not yet there, because Iesus was not yet glorified.)
Many of the people therfore, when they hearde this saying, sayde: Of a trueth this is the prophete.
But other sayde, this is Christe: But some saide, shall Christe come out of Galilee?
Sayth not the scripture, that Christe shall come of the seede of Dauid, and out of the towne of Bethlehem, where Dauid was?
So was there discention among the people, because of hym.
And some of them woulde haue taken hym, but no man layde handes on him.
Then came the seruauntes to the hye priestes & pharisees: and they sayde vnto them, why haue ye not brought him?
The seruauntes aunswered: Neuer man spake as this man doeth.
Then aunswered them the pharisees: Are ye also deceaued?
Doth any of the rulers or of the pharisees beleue on hym?
But this [common] people which know not the lawe, are cursed.
Nicodemus sayth vnto the{m}, he that came to Iesus by nyght, and was one of them:
Doth our lawe iudge any man, before it heare hym, and knowe what he hath done?
They aunswered, and saide vnto him: Art thou also of Galilee? Search & loke: For out of Galilee aryseth no prophete.
And euery man went vnto his owne house.
IEsus went vnto mou{n}t Oliuete.
And early in the mornyng he came agayne into the temple, and all the people came vnto hym, & he sate downe and taught them.
And the scribes and pharisees brought vnto hym a woman taken in adulterie, & when they had set her in the middes,
They sayde vnto hym: Maister, this woman was taken in adulterie, euen as the deede was a doyng.
Moyses in the lawe commaunded vs that suche shoulde be stoned: But what sayest thou?
This they sayde to tempte hym, that they myght accuse hym. But Iesus stowped downe, and with his fynger wrote on the grounde.
So, when they continued asking him, he lyft vp hym selfe, & sayde vnto them: Let hym that is among you without sinne, caste the first stone at her.
And agayne he stowped downe, and wrote on the grounde.
And when they hearde this, beyng accused of their owne consciences, they went out one by one, begynnyng at the eldest, euen vnto the last: and Iesus was left alone, & the woman standyng in the myddes.
When Iesus had lyft vp hym selfe, & sawe no man but the woman, he sayde vnto her: Woma{n} where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condempned thee?
She sayde, No man Lorde. And Iesus sayde, Neither do I condempne thee: Go, and sinne no more.
Then spake Iesus agayne vnto them, saying, I am the light of {th}e world: He that foloweth me, doth not walke in darknesse, but shal haue the light of life.
The pharisees therfore said vnto him: Thou bearest recorde of thy selfe, thy recorde is not true.
Iesus aunswered, & saide vnto them: Though I beare recorde of my selfe, yet my recorde is true. For I knowe whence I came, & whyther I go: But ye can not tel whence I come, and whyther I go.
Ye iudge after the fleshe, I iudge no man.
And if I iudge, my iudgement is true: For I am not alone, but I and the father that sent me.
It is also written in your lawe, that the testimonie of two men is true.
I am one that beareth witnesse of my selfe, & the father that sent 〈…〉 witnesse of me.
Then sayde they vnto hym: Whereis thy father? Iesus aunswered, Ye neither knowe me, nor yet my father: Yf ye had knowen me, ye should haue knowen my father also.
These wordes spake Iesus in {th}e treasurie, as he taught in the temple, and no man layde handes on hym, for his houre was not yet come.
Then sayde Iesus againe vnto them: I go my way, and ye shall seeke me, and shall dye in your synnes: Whyther I go, thyther can ye not come.
Then sayde the Iewes: Wyll he kyll hym selfe, because he saith, whyther I go, thyther can ye not come?
And he sayde vnto them: ye are from beneathe, I am from aboue: ye are of this worlde, I am not of this worlde.
I sayde therefore vnto you, that you shall dye in your sinnes. For yf ye beleue not that I am he, ye shall dye in your sinnes.
Then sayde they vnto hym: Who art thou? And Iesus saith vnto them: Euen the very same thyng that I sayde vnto you from the begynnyng.
I haue many thynges to saye, and to iudge of you. Yea, & he that sent me, is true: And I speake to the world, those thynges which I haue hearde of hym.
Howebeit, they vnderstoode not that he spake to them of his father.
Then saide Iesus vnto them: When ye haue lift vp [an hye] the sonne of man, then shall ye knowe that I am he, and that I do nothyng of my selfe: but as my father hath taught me, euen so I speake these thynges.
And he that sent me, is with me. The father hath not left me alone: For I do alwayes those thynges that please him.
As he spake those wordes, many beleued on hym.
Then sayde Iesus to those Iewes which beleued on him: Yf ye continue in my word, then are ye my very disciples.
And ye shall knowe the trueth, and the trueth shall make you free.
They aunswered hym: We be Abrahams seede, and were neuer bonde to any man: howe sayest thou then, ye shalbe made free?
Iesus aunswered them: Veryly, veryly I say vnto you, that whosoeuer  〈…〉.
And the ser• 〈…〉 for euer: but the 〈…〉.
Yf the sonne ther•fore shall 〈◊〉 you free, then are ye free in deede.
I know that ye are Abrahams seede, but ye seke [meanes] to kyll me, because my worde hath no place in you.
I speake that whiche I haue seene with my father: and ye do that whiche ye haue seene with your father.
They aunswered, and saide vnto him: Abraham is our father. Iesus saith vnto them: Yf ye were Abrahams childre{n}, ye woulde do the workes of Abraham.
But now ye go about to kyll me, a ma{n} that hath tolde you the trueth, which I haue heard of god: this did not Abraha{m}.
Ye do the deedes of your father. Then said they to him: We be not borne of fornication, we haue one father, euen God.
Iesus saide vnto them: Yf God were your father, truely ye woulde loue me: For I proceaded foorth, and came from God: neither came I of my selfe, but he sent me.
Why do ye not knowe my speache? euen because ye cannot heare my word.
Ye are of your father the deuyll, and the lustes of your father wyll ye do. He was a murtherer from the begynnyng, and abode not in the trueth: because there is no trueth in hym. When he speaketh a lye, he speaketh of his owne: For he is a lyer, and the father of the same thyng.
And because I tel you the trueth, therfore ye beleue me not.
Which of you rebuketh me of sinne? Yf I say the trueth, why do not ye beleue me?
He that is of god, heareth gods wordes. Ye therfore heare the{m} not, because ye are not of God.
Then aunswered the Iewes, & saide vnto hym: Say we not well that thou art a Samaritane, and hast the deuyl?
Iesus aunswered, I haue not the deuyll: but I honour my father, and ye haue dishonoured me.
I seke not myne owne praise, there is one that seketh, and iudgeth.
Veryly veryly I saye vnto you, yf a man kepe my saying, he shall neuer see death.
Then sayde the Iewes vnto hym: Now know we that thou hast {th}e deuyll. Abraham is dead, & the prophetes: and thou sayest, yf a man kepe my saying, he shall neuer taste of death.
Art thou greater the{n} our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophetes are dead: whom makest thou thy selfe?
Iesus aunswered: Yf I honour my selfe, mine honour is nothing. It is my father that honoureth me, which ye say is your God:
And yet ye haue not knowen him, but I knowe hym: And if I say I knowe hym not, I shalbe a lyer lyke vnto you. But I knowe hym, & kepe his saying.
Your father Abraham was glad to see my day: and he saw it, and reioyced.
Then sayde the Iewes vnto hym: Thou art not yet fiftie yeres olde, & hast thou seene Abraham.
Iesus sayde vnto them: Veryly, veryly I saye vnto you, before Abraham was, I am.
Then toke they vp stones to caste at hym: but Iesus hyd hym selfe, and went out of the temple.
AND as Iesus passed by, he saw a man whiche was blynde fro{m} his birth:
And his disciples asked hym, saying: Maister, who did sinne, this man, or his father and mother, that he was borne blynde?
Iesus aunswered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor yet his father & mother: but that the workes of God shoulde be shewed in hym.
I must worke the workes of him that sent me, whyle it is daye. The nyght commeth when no man can worke.
As long as I am in the world, I am the lyght of the worlde.
Assoone as he had thus spoke{n}, he spat on the grounde, and made claye of the spittle, and he annoynted with the claye the eyes of the blynde,
And sayde vnto hym: Go, washe thee in the poole of Siloe, whiche by interpretation, is [as much to say, as] sent. He went his way therefore, & washed, and came agayne, seyng.
So, the neyghbours, and they that hadde seene hym before when he was blynde, sayde: Is not this he that sate and begged?
Some sayde, this is he: Other sayde, he is lyke hym. He hym selfe sayde, I am [euen] he.
Therfore sayde they vnto him: Howe are thyne eyes opened?
He aunswered and sayde: The man that is called Iesus made claye, and annoynted myne eyes, and sayde vnto me, go to the poole Siloe and washe: And when I went and washed, I receaued [my] syght.
Then sayde they vnto hym, where is he? He sayde, I can not tell.
They brought to the pharisees, hym that a litle before was blynde.
And it was the Sabboth day when Iesus made {th}e claye, & opened his eyes.
Then againe the pharisees also asked hym, howe he had receaued his syght. He sayde vnto them: He put claye vpon myne eyes, and I washed, and do see.
Therfore sayde some of the pharisees, this man is not of God, because he kepeth not the Sabboth day. Other said: How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a stryfe among them.
They spake vnto the blynde man againe: What sayest thou of him, because he hath opened thyne eyes? He sayde, he is a prophete.
But the Iewes dyd not beleue the man, howe that he had ben blynde, and receaued his syght, vntyll they called the father and mother of hym that had receaued his syght:
And they asked them, saying: Is this your sonne, whom ye saye was borne blynde? Howe doeth he nowe see then?
His father & mother aunswered them, and sayde: We knowe that this is our sonne, and that he was come blynde:
But by what meanes he now seeth, we can not tell: Or who hath opened his eyes, can not we tell. He is olde inough, aske him, let him aunswere for himselfe.
Such wordes spake his father & mother, because they feared the Iewes: For the Iewes had decreed alredy, that yf any man dyd confesse that he was Christe, he shoulde be excommunicate out of the synagogue.
Therfore sayde his father & mother: he is olde inough, aske hym.
Then agayne called they the man that was blynde, and sayde vnto hym: Geue God the prayse, we knowe that this man is a sinner.
He aunswered, and sayde: Whether he be a sinner or no, I can not tell: One thyng I am sure of, that whereas I was blynde, nowe I see.
Then sayde they to hym agayne: What dyd he to thee? Howe opened he thyne eyes?
He aunswered them: I tolde you yer whyle, and ye dyd not heare. Wherfore woulde ye heare it agayne? Wyll ye also be his disciples?
Then rayted they hym, and sayde, Be thou his disciple: We are Moyses disciples.
We are sure, that God spake vnto Moyses: As for this felowe, we knowe not from whence he is.
The man aunswered, and sayde vnto them: this is a marueylous thyng, that ye wote not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened myne eyes.
For we be sure, that God heareth not sinners: But yf any man be a worshipper of God, and obedient vnto his wyll, hym heareth he.
Sence the worlde began, was it not hearde, that any man opened the eyes of one that was borne blynde.
If this man were not of God, he coulde haue done nothyng.
They aunswered, & sayde vnto hym: Thou art altogether borne in sinne, and doest thou teache vs? And they cast hym out.
Iesus hearde that they had excommunicate hym, & when he had founde hym, he sayde vnto hym: Doest thou beleue on the sonne of God?
He aunswered and sayde: Who is he Lorde, that I myght beleue on hym?
And Iesus sayde vnto hym: Thou hast both seene hym, and it is he that talketh with thee.
And he sayde, Lorde, I beleue: And he worshipped hym.
And Iesus sayde vnto hym: I am come vnto iudgement into this worlde, that they which see not, myght see: and that they which see, myght be made blynde.
And some of the pharisees which were with hym, hearde these wordes, & sayde vnto hym: Are we blynde also?
Iesus sayde vnto them, Yf ye were blynde, ye shoulde haue no sinne: But nowe ye say, we see, therfore your sinne remayneth.
VEryly, veryly, I say vnto you: He that entreth not in by {th}e doore into the sheepfolde, but clymeth vp some other way, the same is a thiefe, and a robber.
But he that entreth in by the doore, is the sheephearde of the sheepe.
To hym the porter openeth, and the sheepe heare his voyce, and he calleth his owne sheepe by name, and leadeth them out.
And when he hath sent foorth his owne sheepe, he goeth before them, and the sheepe folowe hym: for they knowe his voyce.
A straunger wyll they not folowe, but wyll flee from hym: for they knowe not the voyce of straungers.
This prouerbe spake Iesus vnto them: But they vnderstoode not what 〈…〉 were, which he spake vnto them.
Then sayde Iesus vnto them againe. Veryly, veryly, I say vnto you: I am the doore of the sheepe.
All, euen as many as came before me, are thieues and robbers: but the sheepe dyd not heare them.
I am the doore: by me yf any man enter in, he shalbe safe, and shall go in and out, and fynde pasture.
A thiefe commeth not, but for to steale, kyll, & to destroy: I am come, that they myght haue lyfe, and that they myght haue it more aboundauntly.
I am the good sheephearde. A good sheephearde, geueth his lyfe for the sheepe.
An hyrelyng, and he which is not the sheephearde, neither the sheepe are his owne, seeth the wolfe commyng, and leaueth the sheepe, and fleeth, and the wolfe catcheth, & scattereth the sheepe.
The hyrelyng fleeth, because he is an hyrelyng, and careth not for the sheepe.
I am the good sheepheard, & knowe my sheepe, and am knowen of myne.
As the father knoweth me, euen so, knowe I also the father: And I geue my lyfe for the sheepe.
And other sheepe I haue, which are not of this folde: them also must I bryng, & they shall heare my voyce, and there shalbe one folde, and one sheepehearde.
Therfore doth my father loue me, because I put my lyfe [from me,] that I myght take it agayne.
No man taketh it from me: but I put it away of my selfe. I haue power to put it from me, and I haue power to take it agayne. This commaundement haue I receaued of my father.
There was a discention therefore agayne among the Iewes, for these sayinges.
And many of them sayde: He hath the deuyll, & is mad, why heare ye him?
Other sayd: These are not {th}e wordes of hym that hath the deuyll. Can the deuyll open the eyes of the blynde?
And it was at Hierusalem, the feast of the dedication, and it was wynter.
And Iesus walked in the temple, euen in Solomons porche.
Then came the Ie•s rounde about hym, and sayde vnto him: Howe long doest thou make vs doubt? Yf thou be Christe, tell vs playnely.
Iesus aunswered them: I tolde you, and ye beleue not. The workes that I do in my fathers name, they beare witnesse of me.
But ye beleue not, because ye are not of my sheepe, as I sayde vnto you.
My sheepe heare my voyce, and I knowe them, and they folowe me:
And I geue vnto them eternall lyfe, and they shal neuer perishe, neither shal any man plucke them out of my hande.
My father which gaue them me, is greater then all: and no man is able to take them out of my fathers hande.
I and my father are one.
Then the Iewes agayne toke vp stones, to stone hym [withall.]
Iesus aunswered them, Many good workes haue I shewed you from my father: for which of the{m} do ye stone me?
The Iewes aunswered hym, saying: For thy good workes [sake] we stone thee not, but for thy blasphemie, and because that thou beyng a man, makest thy selfe God.
Iesus aunswered them: Is it not written in your lawe, I sayde, ye are Gods?
If he called them Gods, vnto whom the worde of God was spoken, and the scripture can not be broken:
Say ye of hym whom the father hath sanctified and sent into the worlde, thou blasphemest, because I saide I am the sonne of God?
Yf I do not the workes of my father, beleue me not:
But yf I do, and yf ye beleue not me, beleue the workes: that ye may knowe and beleue, that the father is in me, and I in hym.
Agayne they went about to take hym: and he escaped out of their hande,
And went away againe beyonde Iordane, into the place where Iohn before had baptized, and there he abode.
And many resorted vnto hym, and sayde: Iohn dyd no miracle, but all thynges that Iohn spake of this man were true.
And many beleued on hym there.
A Certayne man was sicke, named Lazarus of Bethanie, the towne of Marie and her sister Martha.
(It was that Marie which anoynted {th}e Lorde with oyntment, and wyped his feete with her heere, whose brother Lazarus was sicke.)
Therfore, his sisters sent vnto hym, saying: Lorde, beholde, he whom thou louest is sicke.
When Iesus hearde that, he sayde, this infirmitie is not vnto death: but for the glory of God, that the sonne of God, myght be glorified therby.
Iesus loued Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
When he had hearde therfore that he was sicke, he abode two dayes styll in the same place where he was.
Then after that, sayde he to his disciples: Let vs go into Iurie agayne.
His disciples sayde vnto hym: Maister, the Iewes lately sought to stone thee, and wylt thou go thither agayne?
Iesus aunswered: Are there not twelue houres of the day? If any man walke in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the lyght of this worlde.
But yf a man walke in the nyght, he stumbleth, because there is no lyght in hym.
These thynges sayde he, and after that, he sayde vnto them: Our friende Lazarus slepeth, but I go to wake hym out of slepe.
Then sayde his disciples: Lorde, yf he slepe, he shall do well inough.
Howbeit, Iesus spake of his death, but they thought that he had spoken of the naturall slepe.
Then sayde Iesus vnto the{m} playnely, Lazarus is dead:
And I am glad for your sakes, that I was not there, because ye may beleue. Neuerthelesse, let vs go vnto hym.
Then sayde Thomas, which is called Didimus, vnto his felowe disciples: let vs also go, that we may dye with hym.
Then went Iesus, and founde that he had lyen in his graue, foure dayes alredy.
(Bethanie was nye vnto Hierusalem, about fifteene furlonges of.)
And many of the Iewes came to Martha and Marie to comfort them ouer their brother.
Martha assoone as she hearde that Iesus was commyng, went and met hym: but Marie sate styll in the house.
Then sayde Martha vnto Iesus: Lorde, yf thou haddest ben here, my brother had not dyed:
Neuerthelesse, nowe I knowe that whatsoeuer thou askest of God, God wyll geue it thee.
Iesus sayth vnto her: Thy brother shall ryse agayne.
Martha sayth vnto hym: I knowe that he shall ryse agayne in the resurrection at the last day.
Iesus sayth vnto her, I am the resurrection, and the lyfe: He that beleueth on me, yea, though he were dead, yet shall he lyue.
And whosoeuer lyueth, and beleueth on me, shall neuer dye. Beleuest thou this?
She sayde vnto hym: Yea Lorde, I beleue that thou art Christe the sonne of God, which shoulde come into the worlde.
And assoone as she had so sayde, she went her way, and called Marie her sister secretely, saying: The Maister is come, and calleth for thee.
Assoone as she hearde that, she arose quickly, and came vnto hym.
Iesus was not yet come into the towne: but was in that place where Martha met hym.
The Iewes then which were with her in the house & comforted her, when they sawe Marie that she rose vp hastelye, and went out, folowed her, saying: She goeth vnto the graue, to weepe there.
Then when Marie was come where Iesus, was, and sawe hym, she fell downe at his feete, and sayth vnto him: Lorde, yf thou haddest ben here, my brother had not ben dead.
Whe{n} Iesus therfore sawe her weepe, and the Iewes also weepyng which came with her, he groned in the spirite, and was troubled in hym selfe.
And sayde: Where haue ye layde him? They sayde vnto hym: Lorde, come, and see.
And Iesus wept.
Then sayde the Iewes: Beholde howe he loued hym.
And some of them sayde: Coulde not he which opened the eyes of the blinde, haue made also, that this man shoulde not haue dyed?
Iesus therfore agayne groned in him selfe, and came to the graue. It was a caue, and a stone layde on it.
Iesus sayde: Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of hym that was dead, sayde vnto hym, Lorde, by this tyme he stinketh: For he hath ben dead foure dayes.
Iesus sayde vnto her: Sayde I not vnto thee, that yf thou dyddest beleue, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Then they toke away the stone from the place where the dead was layde. And Iesus lyft vp his eyes, and sayde: Father, I thanke thee that thou hast hearde me.
Howbeit, I knowe, that thou hearest me alwayes: but because of the people which stande by, I sayde it, that they maye beleue that thou hast sent me.
And when he thus had spoken, he cryed with a loude voyce: Lazarus, come foorth.
And he that was dead, came foorth, bounde hande and foote, with graue clothes, and his face was bounde with a napkyn. Iesus sayde vnto them: loose hym, and let hym go.
Then many of the Iewes which came to Marie, and had seene {th}e thynges which Iesus dyd, beleued on hym.
But some of them went their wayes to the pharisees, and tolde them what Iesus had done.
Then gathered the hye priestes and the pharisees a councell, and sayde: What do we? For this man doth many miracles.
If we let hym scape thus, all men wyll beleue on him, and the Romaynes shall come, and take away both our rowme and the people.
And one of them named Caiaphas, beyng the hye priest that same yere, sayde vnto them: Ye perceaue nothyng at all,
Nor consider, that it is expedient for vs, that one man dye for the people, and not that all the people perishe.
This spake he, not of hym selfe, but beyng hye priest that same yere, he prophesied that Iesus shoulde dye for the people,
And not for the people only: but that he shoulde gather together in one, the chyldren of God, that were scattered abrode.
Then from that day foorth, they toke councell together, for to put hym to death.
Iesus therfore walked no more openlye among the Iewes: but went his way thence, vnto a countrey nye to a wildernesse, into a citie which is called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
And the Iewes Easter was nye at hande, and many went out of the countrey vp to Hierusale{m} before the Easter, to purifie them selues.
Then sought they for Iesus, & spake among them selues, as they stoode in the temple: What thynke ye, seeyng he commeth not to the feast day?
The hye priestes and pharisees had geuen a commaundement, that yf any man knewe where he were, he shoulde shewe it, that they myght take hym.
THen Iesus, sixe dayes before the Passouer, came to Bethanie, where Lazarus had ben dead, whom he raysed from death.
There they made hym a supper, and Martha serued: but Lazarus was one of them that sate at the table with hym.
Then toke Marie a pounde of oyntment of Spike narde, very costly, and annoynted Iesus feete, and wyped his feete with her heere: and the house was fylled with the odoure of the oyntment.
Then sayde one of his disciples, euen Iudas Iscariot Simons sonne, which shoulde betraye hym.
Why was not this oyntment solde for three hundred pence, and geuen to the poore?
This he sayde, not that he cared for the poore: but because he was a thiefe, and had the bagge, and bare that which was geuen.
Then sayde Iesus: Let her alone, agaynst the day of my burying hath she kept this.
For the poore alwayes shall ye haue with you: but me haue ye not alwayes.
Much people of the Iewes therfore had knowledge that he was there. And they came not for Iesus sake only: but that they might se Lazarus also, who{m} he raysed from death.
But the hye priestes helde a councell, that they myght put Lazarus to death also,
Because that for his sake, many of the Iewes went away, and beleued on Iesus.
On the next day, much people that were come to {th}e feast, when they hearde that Iesus should come to Hierusalem,
Toke braunches of paulme trees, and went foorth to meete hym, and cryed: Hosanna, blessed is he that in the name of the Lorde commeth, kyng of Israel.
And Iesus got a young Asse, and sate theron, as it is written:
Feare not daughter of Sion, beholde, thy kyng commeth, sittyng on an Asses colte.
These thynges vnderstoode not his disciples at the first: but when Iesus was glorified, the{n} remembred they that such thinges were written of him, & that such thynges they had done vnto hym.
The people that was with him, when he called Lazarus out of his graue, and raysed hym from death, bare recorde.
Therfore met hym the people also, because they hearde that he had done such a miracle.
The pharisees therfore sayde among them selues: perceaue ye, howe ye preuayle nothyng? Beholde, [all the whole] worlde goeth after hym.
There were certaine Grekes among them, that came to worship at the feast:
The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida, [a citie] of Galilee, and desired hym, saying: Syr, we woulde [fayne] see Iesus.
Philip came and tolde Andrewe: And agayne, Andrewe & Philip tolde Iesus.
And Iesus aunswered them, saying: The houre is come, that the sonne of man must be glorified.
Veryly, veryly, I say vnto you, except the wheate corne fall into the grounde, and dye, it abideth alone: If it dye, it bryngeth foorth much fruite.
He that loueth his lyfe, shall destroy it: and he that hateth his lyfe in this worlde, shall kepe it vnto lyfe eternall.
If any man minister vnto me, let hym folowe me: And where I am, there shall also my minister be. If any man minister vnto me, hym wyll my father honour.
Nowe is my soule troubled, and what shall I say? Father, saue me from this houre: but therfore came I into this houre.
Father, glorifie thy name. Then came there a voyce from heauen •saying] I haue both glorified it, and wyll glorifie it agayne.
The people therfore that s•oode by and hearde it, sayde that it thundred: Other sayde, an Angel spake to hym.
Iesus aunswered and sayde: This voyce came, not because of me, but for your sakes.
Nowe is the iudgement of this worlde: Nowe shall the prince of this worlde be cast out.
And I, yf I were lyft vp from the earth, wyll drawe all men vnto me.
(This he sayde, signifiyng what death he shoulde dye.)
The people aunswered him: We haue hearde out of the lawe, that Christe bydeth euer: and howe sayest thou, the sonne of man must be lyft vp? Who is that sonne of man?
Then Iesus sayde vnto them: Yet a litle while is the light with you. Walke while ye haue light, lest the darknesse come on you: For he that walketh in the darke, wotteth not whither he goeth.
Whyle ye haue lyght, beleue on the lyght, that ye may be the chyldren of the lyght. These thynges spake Iesus, and departed, & hyd hym selfe from the{m}.
But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet beleued not they on hym,
That the saying of Esaias the prophete myght be fulfylled, which he spake: Lorde, who shall beleue our saying? And to whom is the arme of the Lorde declared?
Therfore coulde they not beleue, because that Esaias sayth agayne:
He hath blynded their eyes, and hardened their heart, that they shoulde not see with their eyes, & lest they should vnderstande with their hearte, & should be conuerted, and I should heale them.
Such thynges sayde Esaias, when he sawe his glory, and spake of hym.
Neuerthelesse, among {th}e chiefe rulers also, many beleued on hym: But because of the pharisees, they dyd not confesse hym, lest they should be exco{m}municate.
For they loued the prayse of men, more then the prayse of God.
Iesus cryed, and sayde: He that beleueth on me, beleueth not on me, but on hym that sent me.
And he that seeth me, seeth hym that sent me.
I am come a lyght into {th}e worlde, that whosoeuer beleueth on me, should not byde in darknesse.
And yf any man heare my wordes, and beleue not, I iudge hym not: For I came not to iudge the worlde, but to saue the worlde.
He that refuseth me, & receaueth not my wordes, hath one that iudgeth him: The worde that I haue spoken, the same shall iudge hym in the last day.
For I haue not spoken of my selfe: but the father which sent me, he gaue me a commaundement what I should say, and what I shoulde speake.
And I knowe that his commaundement is lyfe euerlastyng. Whatsoeuer I speake therfore, euen as the father bad me, so I speake.
BEfore the feast of the Passouer, when Iesus knewe that his houre was come, {tha}t he shoulde departe out of this world vnto the father: When he loued his which were in the world, vnto the ende he loued them.
And when supper was ended (after that the deuyll had put in the heart of Iudas Iscariot Simons sonne, to betray hym)
Iesus knowyng that the father had geuen all thynges into his handes, and that he was come from God, and went to God:
He rose from supper, and layde asyde his vpper garmentes: And when he had taken a towel, he gyrded hym selfe.
After that, he powred water into a bason, and began to washe the disciples feete, and to wype them with the towel wherwith he was gyrded.
Then came he to Simon Peter. And Peter sayde vnto hym: Lorde, doest thou wasshe my feete?
Iesus aunswered, & sayde vnto hym: What I do, thou wotest not nowe, but thou shalt knowe hereafter.
Peter sayth vnto hym: Thou shalt neuer wasshe my feete. Iesus aunswered hym: If I wasshe thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Simon Peter sayth vnto him: Lorde, not my feete only, but also the handes, and the head.
Iesus sayth to hym: He that is wasshed, nedeth not saue to washe his feete, but is cleane euery whit. And ye are cleane, but not all.
For he knewe who it was that should betray hym. Therfore sayde he: ye are not all cleane.
So, after he had wasshed their feete, and receaued his clothes, and was set downe agayne, he sayde vnto them: Wote ye what I haue done to you?
Ye call me Maister, and Lorde, and ye say well, for so am I.
If I then your Lorde and Maister, haue wasshed your feete, ye also ought to wasshe one anothers feete.
For I haue geuen you an ensample, that ye shoulde do as I haue done to you.
Veryly, veryly, I say vnto you: The seruaunt is not greater the{n} his maister, neither the messenger greater then he that sent hym.
Yf ye knowe these thynges, happy are ye, yf ye do them.
I speake not of you all. I knowe whom I haue chosen. But that the scripture may be fulfylled: He that eateth bread with me, hath lyft vp his heele agaynst me.
Nowe tell I you before it come: that when it is come to passe, ye myght beleue that I am he.
Veryly, veryly, I say vnto you, he that receaueth whomsoeuer I sende, receaueth me: And he that receaueth me, receaueth hym that sent me.
When Iesus had thus sayde, he was troubled in spirite, and testified, & saide: Veryly, veryly, I say vnto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Then the disciples loked one on another, doubtyng of whom he spake.
There was one of Iesus disciples, leanyng on Iesus bosome, [euen he] whom Iesus loued.
To hym beckened Simon Peter therfore, that he shoulde aske who it was of whom he spake.
He then, when he leaned on Iesus brest, sayde vnto hym: Lorde, who is it?
Iesus aunswered: He it is to whom I geue a sop when I haue dipped it. And he wet the sop, and gaue it to Iudas Iscariot, Simons sonne.
And after the sop, Satan entred into hym. Then sayde Iesus vnto hym: That thou doest, do quickly.
That wiste no man at the table, for what intent he spake vnto hym.
Some of the{m} thought, because Iudas had the bagge, that Iesus had sayde vnto hym, bye those thynges that we haue neede of agaynst the feast: or, that he shoulde geue somethyng to {th}e poore.
Assoone then, as he had receaued the sop, he went immediatly out: and it was nyght.
Therfore, when he was gone out, Iesus sayd, Nowe is the sonne of man glorified: And God is glorified in hym.
Yf God be glorified in hym, God shall also glorifie hym in hym selfe, and shall strayghtway glorifie hym.
Litle children, yet a litle whyle am I with you. Ye shall seeke me: and as I sayde vnto the Iewes, whither I go, thither can ye not come. Also to you say I nowe:
A newe commaundement geue I vnto you, that ye loue together, as I haue loued you, that euen so ye loue one another.
By this shall all men knowe that ye are my disciples, yf ye haue loue one to another.
Simon Peter saide vnto him: Lorde, whither goest thou? Iesus aunswered hym: Whither I go, thou canst not folowe me nowe, but thou shalt folowe me afterwardes.
Peter sayde vnto hym: Lorde, why can not I folowe thee nowe? I wyll ieoparde my lyfe for thy sake.
Iesus aunswered hym: Wylt thou ieoparde thy lyfe for my sake? Veryly, veryly, I saye vnto thee, the Cocke shall not crowe, tyll thou haue denyed me thryse.
ANd he sayde vnto his disciples,] Let not your hearte be troubled: Ye beleue in god, beleue also in me.
In my fathers house, are many dwellyng places: If it were not so, I woulde haue tolde you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And yf I go to prepare a place for you, I wyll come agayne, and receaue you, [euen] vnto my selfe: that where I am, there may ye be also.
And whither I go, ye knowe, and the way ye knowe.
Thomas sayth vnto hym: Lorde, we knowe not whither thou goest: And howe is it possible for vs to knowe the waye?
Iesus sayth vnto hym: I am the way, and the trueth, and the lyfe. No man co{m}meth vnto the father, but by me.
If ye had knowen me, ye had knowen my father also. And nowe ye knowe hym, and haue seene hym.
Philip sayth vnto hym: Lorde, shewe vs the father, and it suffiseth vs.
Iesus sayth vnto hym: Haue I ben so long tyme with you, & yet hast thou not knowen me? Philip, he that hath seene me, hath seene the father. And howe sayest thou then, shewe vs the father?
Beleuest thou not, that I am in the father, & the father in me? The wordes that I speake vnto you, I speake not of my selfe: but the father that dwelleth in me, is he that doth the workes.
Beleue me, that I am in the father, and the father in me: Or els beleue me for the workes sake.
Veryly, veryly I say vnto you, he that beleueth on me, the workes that I do, the same shal he do also, and greater workes then these shall he do, because I go vnto the father.
And whatsoeuer ye aske in my name, that wyll I do, that the father may be glorified in the sonne.
If ye shall aske any thing in my name, I wyll do it.
If ye loue me, kepe my commaundementes,
And I wyll pray the father, and he shall geue you another comforter, that he may byde with you for euer:
Euen the spirite of trueth, whom the worlde can not receaue, because the worlde seeth hym not, neither knoweth hym. But ye knowe hym: For he dwelleth with you, and shalbe in you.
I wyll not leaue you comfortlesse, but wyll come to you.
Yet a litle whyle, and the worlde shall see me no more: but ye shall see me, because I lyue, and ye shall lyue [also.]
That day shall ye knowe, that I am in my father, and you in me, & I in you.
He that hath my commaundementes, and kepeth them, the same is he that loueth me: And he that loueth me, shalbe loued of my father, and I wyll loue him, and wyll shew myne owne selfe to hym.
Iudas sayth vnto hym, not [Iudas] Iscariot: Lorde, what is done, that thou wylt shewe thy selfe vnto vs, and not vnto the worlde?
Iesus aunswered, & sayde vnto hym: If a man loue me, he wyll kepe my sayinges: and my father wyll loue hym, and we wyll come vnto hym, and dwell with hym.
He that loueth me not, kepeth not my sayinges: And the word which ye heare, is not myne, but the fathers which sent me.
These thynges haue I spoken vnto you, beyng yet present with you.
But the comforter, [which is] the holy ghost, whom the father wyll sende in my name, he shal teach you all thinges, & bryng all thynges to your reme{m}braunce whatsoeuer I haue sayde vnto you.
Peace I leaue with you, my peace I geue vnto you: Not as the worlde geueth, geue I vnto you. Let not your heartes be greeued, neither feare.
Ye haue hearde howe I sayde vnto you, I go away, and come agayne vnto you. Yf ye loued me, ye woulde veryly reioyce, because I sayde, I go vnto the father: for the father is greater then I.
And nowe haue I shewed you before it come, that when it is come to passe, ye myght beleue.
Hereafter wyll I not talke many wordes vnto you: For the prince of this worlde co{m}meth, and hath nought in me.
But that the worlde may knowe that I loue the father: And as the father gaue me commaundement, euen so do I. Ryse, let vs go hence.
I Am the true vine, and my father is the husbandman.
Euery braunche that beareth not fruite in me, he will take away: And euery braunche that beareth fruite wyll he pourge, that it may bryng foorth more fruite.
Nowe are ye cleane through the worde which I haue spoken vnto you.
Byde in me, and I in you. As the braunche can not beare fruite of it selfe, except it byde in the vine: no more can ye, except ye abyde in me.
I am the vine, ye are the braunches. He that abydeth in me, and I in hym, the same bryngeth foorth much fruite: For without me can ye do nothyng.
Yf a man byde not in me, he is cast foorth as a braunch, and withereth, and men gather them, and cast them into the fyre, and they burne.
Yf ye byde in me, and my wordes abyde in you, aske what ye wyll, and it shalbe done for you.
Herein is my father glorified: that ye beare much fruite, and become my disciples.
As the father hath loued me, euen so haue I loued you: Continue ye in my loue.
Yf ye kepe my commaundementes, ye shall abyde in my loue, euen as I haue kept my fathers commaundementes, and abyde in his loue.
These thynges haue I spoken vnto you, that my ioy might remayne in you, and that your ioy myght be full.
This is my commaundement, that ye loue together, as I haue loued you.
Greater loue hath no man, then this: {tha}t a man bestowe his life for his frendes.
Ye are my frendes, yf ye do whatsoeuer I commaunde you.
Hencefoorth call I you not seruau{n}tes: for the seruaunt knoweth not what his Lorde doeth. But you haue I called frendes, for all thynges that I haue hearde of my father, haue I made knowen to you.
Ye haue not chosen me, but I haue chosen you, and ordayned you, to go, and bryng foorth fruite, and that your fruite shoulde remayne, that whatsoeuer ye aske of the father in my name, he may geue it you.
This commaunde I you, that ye loue together.
Yf the worlde hate you, ye knowe that it hated me before it hated you.
If ye were of the worlde, the worlde would loue his owne: Howbeit, because ye are not of the worlde, but I haue chosen you out of the worlde: therfore the worlde hateth you.
Remember the worde that I sayde vnto you: the seruaunt is not greater then the Lorde. If they haue persecuted me, they wyll also persecute you. If they haue kept my saying, they wyll kepe yours also.
But all these thynges wyll they do vnto you for my names sake, because they haue not knowe{n} hym that sent me.
Yf I had not come and spoken vnto them, they shoulde haue had no sinne: but nowe haue they nothyng to cloke their sinne withall.
He that hateth me, hateth my father also.
Yf I had not done among them, the workes which none other man dyd, they shoulde haue had no sinne. But nowe haue they both seene, and hated not only me, but also my father,
But [this commeth to passe,] that the worde myght be fulfylled, that is written in their lawe: They hated me without a cause.
But when the comforter is come, whom I wyl sende vnto you from the father, euen the spirite of trueth, which proceadeth of the father, he shall testifie of me.
And ye shall beare witnesse also, because ye haue ben with me from the begynnyng.
THese thynges haue I sayde vnto you, because ye shoulde not be offended.
They shall exco{m}munitate you: yea the time shall come, that who so euer kylleth you, wyll thynke that he doth God seruice.
And such thynges wyll they do vnto you, because they haue not knowen the father, neither yet me.
But these thynges haue I tolde you, that when the tyme is come, ye may reme{m}ber then that I tolde you. These thynges sayde I not vnto you at the begynnyng, because I was present with you.
But nowe I go my waye, to hym that sent me, & none of you asketh me, whyther goest thou.
But because I haue saide such thinges vnto you, your heartes are ful of sorow.
Neuerthelesse, I tell you the trueth, it is expedient for you that I go away. For yf I go not away, that comforter wyll not come vnto you: But yf I depart, I wyll sende hym vnto you.
And whe{n} he is come, he wyll rebuke the world of sinne, and of righteousnes, and of iudgement.
Of sinne, because they beleue not on me.
Of righteousnes, because I go to my father, and ye shall see me no more.
Of iudgement, because the prince of this worlde is iudged [alredy.]
I haue yet many thynges to say vnto you, but ye can not beare them away nowe.
Howebeit, when he is come, whiche is the spirite of trueth, he wyl leade you into all trueth. He shall not speake of himselfe: but whatsoeuer he shal heare, that shall he speake, and he wyll shewe you thynges to come.
He shall glorifie me: For he shall receaue of mine, and shal shewe vnto you.
All thynges that the father hath, are mine: Therfore sayde I [vnto you] that he shall take of mine, & shew vnto you.
After a whyle, and ye shall not see me, and agayne after a whyle ye shall see me: for I go to the father.
Then sayde some of his disciples betwene them selues: What is this that he saith vnto vs, after a whyle, & ye sh•l not see me, and againe, after a whyle ye shal see me: and, that I go to the father?
They sayde therefore: What is this that he saith, after a whyle? we can not tell what he saith.
Iesus perceaued that they would aske hym, and sayde vnto them: Do ye enquire among your selues of that I said after a whyle, and, ye shall not see me, & againe, after a while & ye shall see me?
Veryly veryly I say vnto you, ye shall wepe and lament, the worlde shall reioyce: ye shall sorowe, but your sorowe shalbe turned to ioy.
A woman, when she trauayleth, hath sorowe, because her houre is come: but assoone as she is deliuered of the childe, she remembreth no more the anguishe, for ioy that a man is borne into {th}e world.
And ye nowe therefore haue sorowe: but I wyll see you agayne, and your heartes shall reioyce, and your ioy shall no man take from you.
And in that day shall ye aske me no question. Veryly veryly I say vnto you,whatsoeuer ye shal aske the father in my name, he wyll geue it you.
Hytherto haue ye asked nothyng in my name: Aske, & ye shall receaue, that your ioy may be full.
These thynges haue I spoken vnto you by prouerbes. The tyme wyl come, when I shall no more speake vnto you by prouerbes: but I shall shewe you playnely of my father.
At that day shall ye aske in my name: And I say not vnto you, that I wyll pray vnto my father for you.
For the father hym selfe loueth you, because ye haue loued me, and haue beleued that I came out from God.
I went out from the father, and came into the worlde: Agayne, I leaue the worlde, and go to the father.
His disciples sayde vnto hym: Lo, nowe talkest thou plainely, and speakest no prouerbe.
Nowe are we sure that thou knowest all thynges, & nedest not, that any man shoulde aske thee [any question:] Therfore beleue we, that thou camest from God.
Iesus aunswered them: Do ye nowe beleue?
Beholde, the houre draweth nye, and is alredy come, that ye shalbe scattered euery man to his owne, and shall leaue me alone. And yet am I not alone: For the father is with me.
These wordes haue I spoken vnto you, that in me ye myght haue peace. For in the worlde shall ye haue tribulation: but be of good cheare, I haue ouercome the worlde.
THese wordes spake Iesus, and lift vp his eyes to heauen, and sayde: Father, the houre is come, glorifie thy sonne that thy sonne also may glorifie thee:
As thou hast geuen hym power ouer all fleshe, that he shoulde geue eternall life, to as many as thou hast geuen him.
This is lyfe eternall, that they myght knowe thee, the only true God, & Iesus Christe whom thou hast sent.
I haue glorified thee on the earth: I haue finished {th}e worke, which thou gauest me to do.
And nowe glorifie thou me, O father, with thine owne selfe, with the glory which I had with thee yer the worlde was.
I haue declared thy name vnto {th}e men, which thou gauest me out of {th}e world. Thyne they were, and thou gauest the{m} me, and they haue kepte thy worde.
Nowe they haue knowen {tha}t al thinges whatsoeuer {tho}u hast geuen me are of thee.
For I haue geuen vnto them {th}e wordes which thou gauest me, and they haue receaued them, and haue knowe{n} surely that I came out from thee, & they haue beleued, that thou dyddest sende me.
I pray for them: I pray not for the worlde, but for them which thou hast geuen me, for they are thyne.
And all myne are thyne, and thyne are myne, and I am glorified in them.
And nowe am I not in the worlde, and they are in the worlde, and I come to thee. Holy father, kepe through thine owne name, the{m} which thou hast geuen me, that they may also be one, as we are.
Whyle I was with them in {th}e worlde, I kept them in thy name. Those that thou gauest me, haue I kept, and none of them is lost, but that lost chylde, that the scripture myght be fulfylled.
Nowe come I to thee, and these wordes speake I in the worlde, that they myght haue my ioy fulfylled in themseues.
I haue geuen them thy worde, and the worlde hath hated them, because they are not of the worlde, euen as I also am not of the worlde.
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the worlde: but that thou kepe them from euyll.
They are not of the worlde, as I also am not of the worlde.
Sanctifie them through thy trueth. Thy worde is the trueth.
As thou diddest sende me into {th}e world, eue{n} so haue I also sent the{m} into {th}e world.
And for their sakes sanctifie I my selfe, that they also myght be sanctified through the trueth.
[Neuerthelesse,] I pray not for them alone: but for the{m} also, which shall beleue on me through their preachyng:
That they all may be one, as thou father art in me, and I in thee, and that they also may be one in vs: that {th}e world may beleue, that thou hast sent me.
And the glorie which thou gauest me, I haue geuen them, that they may be one, as we also are one.
I in them, and thou in me: that they may be made perfecte in one, and that the worlde may knowe that thou hast sent me, and hast loued them, as thou hast loued me.
Father, I wyll that they which thou hast geuen me, be with me where I am, that they may see my glorie which thou hast geuen me. For thou louedst me, before the foundation of the world.
O ryghteous father, the worlde [also] hath not knowen thee: But I haue knowen thee, and these haue knowen that thou hast sent me.
And I haue declared vnto them thy name, and wyll declare it, that the loue wherewith thou hast loued me, may be in them, and I in them.
WHen Iesus had spoken these wordes, he went forth with his disciples ouer the brooke Cedron, where was a garden, into the whiche he entred, & his disciples.
Iudas also whiche betrayed hym, knewe the place? For Iesus oft tymes resorted thyther, with his disciples.
Iudas then, after he had receaued a bande of men, and officers of the hye priestes & pharisees, came thyther with lanternes, and torches, and weapons.
And Iesus, knowing all thinges that shoulde come on hym, went foorth, and sayde vnto them, whom seke ye?
They aunswered him: Iesus of Nazareth. Iesus sayth vnto them, I am he. Iudas also whiche betrayed hym, stoode with them.
Assoone then as he sayde vnto them I am he, they went backewarde, & fell to the grounde.
Then as•ed he them agayne, whom seke ye? They said: Iesus of Nazareth.
Iesus aunswered, I haue tolde you that I am he: Yf ye seke me therefore, let these go their way.
That the saying myght be fulfylled which he spake: Of them which thou gauest me, haue I not lost one.
Then Simon Peter, hauing a sword, drewe it, and smote the hye priestes seruaunt, and cut of his ryght eare. The seruauntes name was Malchus.
Therefore sayth Iesus vnto Peter, Put vp thy sworde into the sheathe: shall I not drynke of the cuppe whiche my father hath geuen me?
Then the companie, and the capitaine, and officers of the Iewes, toke Iesus, and bounde hym,
And led hym away to Annas first, (for he was father in lawe vnto Caiaphas,) which was {th}e hye priest that same yere: [And Annas sent Christe bounde vnto Caiaphas the hye priest.]
Caiaphas was he which gaue councell to the Iewes, that it was expedie{n}t that one man should dye for the people.
And Simon Peter folowed Iesus, and so did another disciple. That disciple was knowen vnto the hye priest, & went in with Iesus into the palace of the hye priest.
But Peter stoode at the doore without. Then went out that other disciple which was knowen vnto the hye priest, and spake vnto the damosell that kept the doore, and brought in Peter.
Then saide the damosell, that kept the doore, vnto Peter: Art not thou also one of this mans disciples? He sayde, I am not.
The seruauntes and officers stoode there, which had made a fire of coales, (for it was colde) and they warmed the{m} selues. Peter also stoode among them, and warmed hym.
The hye priest then asked Iesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
Iesus aunswered him: I spake openly to the worlde, I euer taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whyther all the Iewes resort, & in secrete haue I sayde nothyng.
Why askest thou me? Aske the{m} which hearde me, what I haue sayd vnto the{m}: Beholde, they can tell what I sayde.
When he had thus spoken, one of the officers whiche stoode by, smote Iesus [with a rod] saying: Aunswerest thou the hye priest so?
Iesus aunswered hym, Yf I haue euyl spoken, beare witnesse of the euyl: But yf I haue well spoken, why smytest thou me?
Nowe Annas had sent hym bounde vnto Caiaphas the hye priest.
Simon Peter stoode & warmed hym selfe. Then sayde they vnto hym: Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denyed it, and sayde, I am not.
One of the seruau{n}tes of {th}e hye priestes, (his cosin whose eare Peter smote of) sayde vnto hym: Dyd not I see thee in the garden with hym?
Peter therefore denyed againe: And immediatly the Cocke crewe.
Then led they Iesus fro{m} Caiaphas into the hall of iudgement. It was in the mornyng: And they them selues went not into the iudgement hall, leste they shoulde be defyled: but that they myght eate the Passouer.
Pilate then went out vnto them, and said: What accusatio{n} bryng you against this man?
They aunswered, and said vnto him: Yf he were not an euyll doer, we would not haue deliuered hym vnto thee.
Then sayde Pilate vnto them: Take ye him, and iudge him after your owne lawe. The Iewes therfore sayde vnto hym: It is not lawfull for vs to put any man to death.
That the wordes of Iesus myght be fulfylled, whiche he spake, signif•yng what death he shoulde dye.
Then Pilate entred into the iudgement hall againe, and called Iesus, and sayde vnto hym: Art thou the kyng of the Iewes?
Iesus aunswered: Sayest thou that of thy selfe, or did other tell it thee of me?
Pilate aunswered: am I a Iewe? Thyne owne nation & hye priestes haue deliuered thee vnto me, what hast thou done?
Iesus aunswered: My kyngdome is not of this worlde. Yf my kyngdome were of this worlde, then woulde my seruauntes surely fyght, that I shoulde not be deliuered to the Iewes: but now is my kyngdome not from hence.
Pilate therfore sayde vnto hym: Art thou a kyng then? Iesus aunswered: Thou sayest that I am a king. For this cause am I borne, & for this cause came I into the worlde, that I should beare witnesse vnto the trueth: And all that are of the trueth, heare my voyce.
Pilate sayde vnto him: What [thyng] is trueth? And when he had sayde this, he went out agayne vnto the Iewes, & sayth vnto them, I fynde in hym no cause at all.
Ye haue a custome, that I shoulde deliuer you one loose at {th}e Passouer: Wyll ye that I loose vnto you the kyng of the Iewes?
Then cryed they all agayne, saying: Not hym, but Barabbas. This Barabbas was a robber.
THen Pilate toke Iesus therfore, and scourged hym.
And the souldiers wounde a crowne of thornes, and put it on his head: And they did on hym a purple garment,
And sayde, Hayle king of the Iewes: And they stroke hym with roddes.
Pilate went foorth agayne, and sayde vnto them: Beholde, I bryng hym foorth to you, that ye may knowe that I fynde no fault in hym.
Then came Iesus foorth, wearyng a crowne of thorne, and a robe of purple: And he sayth vnto them, beholde the man.
When the hye priestes therefore and officers sawe hym, they cryed, saying: crucifie hym, crucifie hym. Pilate sayth vnto them, Take ye hym, and crucifie hym: for I fynde no cause in hym.
The Iewes aunswered hym: We haue a lawe, and by our lawe he ought to dye, because he made hym selfe the sonne of God.
When Pilate hearde that saying, he was the more afrayde.
And went agayne into the iudgement hall, and sayth vnto Iesus, whence art thou? But Iesus gaue hym none aunswere.
Then sayde Pilate vnto hym: Speakest thou not vnto me? Knowest thou not that I haue power to crucifie thee, and haue power to loose thee?
Iesus aunswered: Thou couldest haue no power at all agaynst me, except it were geuen thee from aboue: Therfore he that deliuered me vnto thee, hath the more sinne.
And from thencefoorth sought Pilate [meanes] to loose hym. But the Iewes cryed, saying: Yf thou let hym go, thou art not Caesers friend. For whosoeuer maketh hym selfe a kyng, speaketh agaynst Caesar.
When Pilate hearde that saying, he brought Iesus foorth, & he sate downe in the iudgement seate, in a place that is called the pauement, but in the Hebrue tounge, Gabbatha.
It was the preparyng of {th}e Passouer, and about the sixt houre: And he sayth vnto the Iewes, beholde your kyng.
They cryed, away with hym, away with hym, crucifie hym. Pilate sayth vnto them: Shall I crucifie your king? The hye priestes aunswered: We haue no king but Caesar.
Then deliuered he hym vnto them, to be crucified. And they toke Iesus, & ledde hym away.
And he bare his crosse, & we{n}t forth into a place, which is called {th}e place of dead mens skulles, but in Hebrue Golgotha:
Where they crucified hym, and two other with him, on eyther syde one, and Iesus in the myddes.
And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the crosse. The wrytyng was: Iesus of Nazareth, kyng of the Iewes.
This title read many of the Iewes: For the place where Iesus was crucified, was nye to {th}e citie. And it was written in Hebrue, and Greke, and Latine.
Then sayde the hye priestes of the Iewes to Pilate, Write not kyng of the Iewes: but, that he sayde, I am kyng of the Iewes.
Pilate aunswered: What I haue written, that haue I written.
Then the souldiers, when they had crucified Iesus, toke his garmentes, (& made foure partes, to euery souldier a part) and also his coate. The coate was without seame, wouen from the toppe throughout.
They sayde therefore among them selues: Let vs not deuide it, but caste lottes for it, who shal haue it. That the scripture myght be fulfylled, saying: They parted my rayment among the{m}, & for my coate dyd they cast lottes. And the souldiers dyd such thynges in deede.
There stoode by the crosse of Iesus his mother, and his mothers sister, Marie the wyfe of Cleophas, and Marie Magdalene.
Whe{n} Iesus therfore sawe his mother and the disciple standyng by, whom he loued, he saith vnto his mother: Woman, beholde thy sonne.
Then sayde he to the disciple, beholde thy mother. And from that houre, the disciple toke her vnto his owne.
After these thynges, Iesus knowyng that all thynges were nowe perfourmed, that the scripture might be fulfylled, he sayth, I thirste.
So there stoode a vessell by, full of vineger: Therefore they fylled a sponge with vineger, and put it vpon Isope, & put it to his mouth.
Assoone as Iesus then receaued of the vineger, he saide, it is finished: and bowed his head, and gaue vp the ghost.
The Iewes therefore, because it was the preparyng [of the Sabboth] that the bodyes should not remaine vpo{n} {th}e crosse on the Sabboth day (for that Sabboth day, was an hye day) besought Pilate that their legges myght be broken, and that they myght be taken downe.
Then came the souldiers, and brake the legges of the first, and of the other which was crucified with hym:
But when they came to Iesus, & sawe that he was dead alredye, they brake not his legges.
But one of the souldyers with a speare thruste hym into the syde, & foorthwith came there out blood and water.
And he that sawe it, bare recorde, and his recorde is true: & he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might beleue [also.]
For these thynges were done, that the scripture shoulde be fulfylled: Ye shall not breake aboue of hym.
And agayne another scripture saith: They shall loke on hym whom they pearsed.
After this, Ioseph of Aramathia, (which was a disciple of Iesus, but secretely, for feare of {th}e Iewes) besought Pilate that he myght take downe the body of Iesus. And Pilate gaue hym licence. He came therefore, and toke the dye of Iesus.
And there came also Nicodemus (whiche at the begynnyng came to Iesus by nyght) and brought of mirre and aloes myngled together, about an hundred pounde [wayght.]
Then toke they the body of Iesus, & wounde it in linnen clothes, with the odours, as the maner of the Iewes is to burie.
And in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a newe sepulchre, wherein was neuer man yet layde.
There layde they Iesus therfore, because of the preparyng [of the Sabboth] of the Iewes: for the sepulchre was me [at hande.]
THe first day of {th}e Sabbothes, came Marie Magdalene early, whe{n} it was yet darke, vnto the sepulchre, and sawe the stone taken awaye from the graue.
Then she ranne, & came to Simo{n} Peter, & to the other disciple who{m} Iesus loued, & saith vnto the{m}: They haue take{n} away the Lorde out of the graue, & we can not tell where they haue layde him.
Peter therfore went foorth, and that other disciple, & came to the sepulchre.
They ran both together, & the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre:
And when he had stowped downe, he sawe the linnen clothes lying, yet went he not in.
Then came Simon Peter folowyng hym, and went into the sepulchre, and sawe the lynnen clothes lye,
And the napkin {tha}t was about his head not lying with the linnen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by it selfe.
Then went in also that other disciple, whiche came first to the sepulchre, and he sawe, and beleued.
For as yet they knew not {th}e scripture, that he should rise agayne from death.
Then the disciples we{n}t away agayne vnto their owne house.
Marie stoode without at the sepulchre weepyng: So, as she wepte, she bowed her selfe into the sepulchre,
And seeth two angels clothed in white, sittyng, the one at the head, & the other at the feete, where the body of Iesus was layde.
They saye vnto her: Woman, why weepest thou? She saith vnto the{m}: For they haue taken away my Lorde, & I wote not where they haue layde him.
When she had thus sayde, she turned her selfe backe, and sawe Iesus standyng, and knewe not that it was Iesus.
Iesus saith vnto her: Woman, why weepest thou? Whom sekest thou? She supposing that he had ben the gardener, saith vnto him: Sir, if thou haue borne him hence, tel me where thou hast layde hym, and I wyll fet hym.
Iesus sayth vnto her, Marie. She turned her selfe, and sayde vnto hym: Rabboni, which is to say, Maister.
Iesus saith vnto her: Touche me not, for I am not yet ascended to my father: But go to my brethren, and saye vnto them, I ascende vnto my father and your father, and to my God & your God.
Marie Magdalene came and tolde the disciples that she had seene {th}e Lorde, and that he had spoken suche thynges vnto her.
The same day at nyght, whiche was the first day of the Sabbothes, when the doores were shut, where the disciples were assembled together for feare of the Iewes, came Iesus and stoode in the myddes, and sayth vnto them, peace be vnto you.
And when he had so sayde, he shewed vnto them his handes & his syde. Then were the disciples glad, when they sawe the Lorde.
Then sayde Iesus to them agayne, peace be vnto you: As my father sent me, euen so sende I you also.
And when he had saide those wordes, he breathed on them, & saith vnto them: Receaue ye the holy ghost.
Whosoeuers sinnes ye remit, they are remitted vnto them: And whosoeuers sinnes ye retayne, they are retayned.
But Thomas, one of the twelue, [which is] called Didymus, was not with them when Iesus came.
The other disciples therfore sayde vnto hym, we haue seene the Lorde. But he sayde vnto them: Except I see in his handes the print of the nayles, and put my fynger into the prynt of the nayles, and thruste my hande into his syde, I wyll not beleue.
And after eyght dayes, againe his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: Then came Iesus, when the doores were shutte, and stoode in the myddes, and sayde, peace be vnto you.
After that said he to Thomas: Bring thy fynger hyther, and see my handes, & reache hyther thy hande, and thrust it into my syde, and be not faythlesse, but beleuyng.
Thomas aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: My Lorde, and my God.
Iesus sayth vnto hym: Thomas, because thou hast seene me, thou hast beleued: Blessed are they that haue not seene, and yet haue beleued.
And many other signes truely dyd Iesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this booke.
These are written, that ye myght beleue that Iesus is Christe the sonne of God, and that in beleuyng, ye myght haue lyfe through his name.
AFterward dyd Iesus shew him selfe againe to his disciples, at the sea of Tiberias. And on this wyse shewed he hym selfe.
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas [which is] called Didymus, and Nathanael, of Cana in Galilee, and the sonnes of Zebedee, & two other of his disciples.
Simon Peter saith vnto them, I [wyl] go a fisshyng. They say vnto hym: We also wyll go with thee. They we{n}t their way, and entred into a shippe immediatly, & that nyght caught they nothyng.
But when the mornyng was nowe come, Iesus stoode on the shore: Neuerthelesse, the disciples knewe not that it was Iesus.
Iesus sayth vnto them: Children, haue ye any meate? They aunswered hym, no.
And he saith vnto them: Cast out the net on the ryght syde of the shippe, and ye shall fynde. They cast out therefore, and anone they were not able to drawe it for the multitude of fisshes.
Then sayde the disciple, whom Iesus loued, vnto Peter: It is the Lord. Whe{n} Simon Peter hearde that it was the Lorde, he gyrde his coate vnto him (for he was naked) and sprang into the sea.
The other disciples came by shippe, (for they were not farre from lande, but as it were two hundred cubites) And they drewe the net with fisshes.
Assoone then as they were come to lande, they sawe whot coales, and fisshe layde theron, and bread.
Iesus saith vnto them: Bryng of the fisshe which ye haue nowe caught.
Simon Peter went vp, and drewe the net to the lande, full of great fisshes, an hundred and fiftie and three: And for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
Iesus sayth vnto them, come and dyne. And none of the disciples durst aske hym, who art thou? For they knewe that it was the Lorde.
Iesus then came, and toke bread, and gaue them, and fisshe lykewyse.
This is nowe the thirde tyme that Iesus appeared to his disciples, after that he was risen agayne from death.
So when they had dyned, Iesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon Ioanna, louest thou me more then these? He sayd vnto hym: Yea Lorde, thou knowest that I loue thee. He sayth vnto hym: feede my lambes.
He sayth to hym agayne the seconde tyme: Simon Ioanna, louest thou me? He sayth vnto hym: Yea Lorde, thou knowest that I loue thee. He sayde vnto hym: feede my sheepe.
He sayde vnto hym the thirde tyme: Simon Ioanna, louest thou me? Peter was sory, because he sayde vnto hym the thirde tyme, louest thou me: And he sayde vnto hym, Lorde thou knowest all thynges, thou knowest that I loue thee. Iesus sayth vnto hym: feede my sheepe.
Veryly veryly I say vnto thee, when thou wast young, thou gyrdedst thy selfe, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be olde, thou shalt stretch foorth thy handes, and another shall gyrde thee, and leade thee whither thou wouldest not.
That spake he, signifiyng by what death he should glorifie God. And whe{n} he had spoken this, he sayth vnto hym, folowe me.
Peter turned about, and sawe the disciple, whom Iesus loued, folowyng, which also leaned on his brest at supper, and sayde, Lorde which is he that betrayeth thee?
When Peter therfore sawe hym, he sayth to Iesus: Lorde, what shal he do?
Iesus sayth vnto hym: If I wyll haue hym to tary tyll I come, what is that to thee? folowe thou me.
Then went this saying abrode among the brethren, that that disciple shoulde not dye: Yet Iesus sayde not to hym, he shall not dye: but, yf I wyll that he tary tyll I come, what is that to thee?
The same disciple is he, which testifieth of these thynges, and wrote these thynges: And we knowe that his testimonie is true.
There are also many other thynges, whiche Iesus dyd, the which, yf they shoulde be written euery one, I suppose the world could not conteine the bookes that shoulde be written.
IN {th}e former treatise O Theophilus, we haue spoke{n} of all that Iesus began to do and teache,
Vntyll the day in which he was take{n} vp, after that he through the holy ghost, had geuen commaundementes vnto the Apostles, whom he had chosen,
To whom also he shewed hym selfe alyue after his passion, and that by manye tokens, appearyng vnto them fourtie dayes, and speaking of the kingdome of God,
And gatheryng them together, commaunded them that they shoulde not depart from Hierusalem, but wayte for the promise of the father, wherof [saith he] ye haue hearde of me.
For Iohn truely baptized with water, but ye shalbe baptized with the holy ghost, after these fewe dayes.
When they therfore were come together, they asked of hym, saying: Lorde, wylt thou at this tyme restore agayne the kyngdome to Israel?
And he sayde vnto them: It is not for you to knowe the tymes, or the seasons, which the father hath put in his owne power.
But ye shall receaue power, after that the holy ghost is come vpon you: And ye shalbe witnesses vnto me, both in Hierusalem, and in al Iurie, & in Samarie, and euen vnto the worldes ende.
And when he had spoken these thynges, whyle they behelde, he was taken vp an hye, and a cloude receaued hym vp out of their syght.
And while they loked stedfastly vp towarde heaue{n}, as he went, beholde, two men stoode by them in whyte apparell,
Which also sayde: Ye men of Galilee, why stande ye gasyng vp into heauen? This same Iesus, which is taken vp from you into heauen, shall so come, euen as ye haue seene hym go into heauen.
Then returned they vnto Hierusalem, from the mount that is called Oliuete, which is from Hierusalem a Sabboth dayes iourney.
And when they were come in, they went vp into a parlour, where abode both Peter, and Iames, and Iohn, and Andrewe, Philip and Thomas, Barthelmewe and Matthewe, Iames the sonne of Alpheus, & Simo{n} Zelotes, and Iudas the brother of Iames.
These all continued with one accorde in prayer and supplication with the women, and Marie the mother of Iesus, and with his brethren.
And in those dayes, Peter stoode vp in the middes of the disciples, and said (The number of names together, were about an hundred and twentie)
Ye men and brethren, this scripture must needes haue ben fulfylled, which the holy ghost by the mouth of Dauid spake before of Iudas, which was guide to them that toke Iesus:
For he was numbred with vs, & had obteyned felowship in this ministerie.
And the same hath nowe purchased a fielde, with the rewarde of iniquitie: And when he was hanged, he burst a sunder in the middes, & all his bowels gusshed out.
And it is knowen vnto all the dwellers at Hierusalem, in so much that the same fielde is called in their mother tongue, Aceldema, that is to saye, the blood fielde.
For it is written in {th}e booke of psalmes: Let his habitation be desert, and no man be dwellyng therein: And his bishopricke let another take.
Wherfore, of these men which haue companyed with vs, all the tyme that the Lorde Iesus went in and out among vs,
Begynnyng from the baptisme of Iohn, vnto that same day that he was take{n} vp from vs, must one be ordeyned, to be a witnesse with vs of his resurrection.
And they appoynted two, Ioseph which is called Barsabas, whose sirname was Iustus, and Matthias.
And they prayed, saying: Thou Lord which knowest the heartes of all men, shewe whether of these two thou haste chosen,
That he may take the rowme of this ministerie and Apostleship, from which Iudas by transgression fell, that he myght go to his owne place.
And they gaue foorth their lottes, & the lot fell vpon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleuen Apostles.
AND when the day of Pentecost was, they were all with one accorde in one place:
And sodenly there came a sounde fro{m} heauen, as it had ben the commyng of a mightie wynde, and it fylled all the house where they sate.
And there appeared vnto them clouen tongues, lyke as they had ben of fyre, and it sate vpon eche one of them.
And they were all fylled with the holy ghost, and began to speake with other tongues, as the spirite gaue them vtteraunce.
There were dwellyng at Hierusalem, Iewes, deuout men, out of euery nation [of them] that are vnder heauen.
When this was noysed about, the multitude came together and were astonnyed, because that euery man hearde them speake with his owne language.
They wondred all, and marueyled, saying among themselues: Beholde, are not all these which speake, of Galilee?
And howe heare we euery man his owne tongue, wherin we were borne?
Parthians, and Medes, & Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Iurie, and in Capadocia, in Pontus and Asia,
Phrygia, & Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parties of Lybia, which is besyde Cyrene, & straungers of Rome, Iewes and Proselytes.
Cretes and Arabians: we haue hearde them speake in our tongues, the wonderfull workes of God.
They were all amased, and wondred, saying one to another: What meaneth this?
Other mocked, saying: These men are full of newe wyne.
But Peter standyng foorth with the eleuen, lyft vp his voyce, and sayde vnto them: Ye men of Iurie, and all ye that dwell at Hierusalem, be this knowen vnto you, and with your eares heare my wordes.
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeyng it is but the thirde houre of the day.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophete Ioel:
And it shalbe in the last dayes (sayth God) of my spirite I wyll powre out vpon all fleshe: And your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie, and your young men shall see visions, and your olde men shall dreame dreames.
And on my seruauntes, and on my handemaydens, I wyll powre out of my spirite in those dayes, and they shall prophesie.
And I wyll shewe wonders in heauen aboue, and tokens in the earth beneath, blood, and fyre, and the vapour of smoke.
The Sunne shalbe turned into darknesse, and the Moone into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come.
And it shall come to passe, that whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lorde, shalbe saued.
Ye men of Israel, heare these wordes: Iesus of Nazareth, a man approued of God among you, with miracles, wonders, and signes, which God dyd by hym in the middes of you, as ye your selues also knowe.
Hym haue ye taken, by the handes of vnryghteous persons, after he was deliuered by the determinate councell and foreknowledge of God, and haue crucified and slayne hym.
Whom God hath raised vp, and loosed the sorowes of death, because it was vnpossible, that he shoulde be holden of it.
For Dauid speaketh of hym, I sawe the Lorde alwayes set foorth before my face: for he is on my ryght hande, that I shoulde not be moued.
Therfore dyd my heart reioyce, and my tongue was glad. Moreouer also my fleshe shall reste in hope,
Because thou wylt not leaue my soule in hell, neither wylt thou suffer thyne holy one to see corruption.
Thou hast shewed me the wayes of lyfe, thou shalt make me full of ioy with thy countenaunce.
Ye men and brethren, let me freely speake vnto you of the patriarke Dauid: For he is both dead and buryed, and his sepulchre remayneth with vs vnto this day.
Therfore, seeyng he was a prophete, and knewe that God had sworne with an oth to hym, that Christe, as concernyng the fleshe, should come of the fruite of his loynes, & should syt on his seate:
He knowyng this before, spake of the resurrection of Christe, that his soule shoulde not be left in hell, neither his fleshe shoulde see corruption.
This Iesus hath God raysed vp, wherof we all are witnesses.
Then sence that he by the ryght hande of God was exalted, and hath receaued of the father the promise of the holy ghost, he hath shed foorth this, which ye nowe see, and heare.
For Dauid is not ascended into heaue{n}, but he sayeth: The Lorde sayde to my Lorde, syt thou on my ryght,
Vntill I make thy foes thy footstoole.
Therfore, let all the house of Israel know for a suretie, that God hath made that same Iesus, whom ye haue crucified, Lorde and Christe.
Nowe when they hearde this, they were pricked in their heartes, and sayde vnto Peter, & vnto the other Apostles: Ye men & brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter sayde vnto them: Repent, and be baptized euery one of you in the name of Iesus Christe, for the remission of sinnes, and ye shall receaue the gyft of the holy ghost.
For the promise was made vnto you, and to your chyldren, and to all that are a farre of, euen as many as the Lorde our God shall call.
And with many other wordes bare he witnesse, and exhorted them, saying: Saue your selues from this vntowarde generation.
Then they that gladly receaued his worde, were baptized: And the same day there were added [vnto them,] about three thousand• soules.
And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and felowship, and in breakyng of bread, and in prayers.
And feare came vpon euery soule. And many wonders and signes were done by the Apostles.
And all that beleued, kept them selues together, and had all thynges common,
And solde their possessions & goodes, and parted them to all men, as euery man had neede.
And they continued dayly with one accorde in the temple, and brake bread from house to house, and dyd eate their meate together, with gladnesse and singlenesse of heart,
Praysyng God, & had fauour with all the people. And the Lorde added to the Churche dayly, such as should be saued.
NOwe Peter and Iohn went vp together into the temple at the nynth houre of prayer.
And a certayne man, that was lame from his mothers wombe, was brought, whom they layde dayly at the gate of the temple which is called beawtifull, to aske almes of them that entred into the temple.
When he sawe Peter and Iohn that they woulde go into the temple, he desired to receaue an almes.
And Peter fastenyng his eyes vpon hym with Iohn, sayde: Loke on vs.
And he gaue heede vnto the{m}, trustyng to receaue somethyng of them.
Then sayde Peter: Syluer and golde haue I none, but such as I haue, geue I thee: In the name of Iesus Christe of Nazareth, ryse vp, and walke.
And he toke hym by the ryght hande, and lyft hym vp. And immediatly his feete and ancle bones receaued strength.
And he sprang, stoode, and walked, and entred with them into the temple, walkyng, and leaping, & praysyng God.
And all the people sawe hym walke, and prayse God.
And they knewe hym, that it was he, which sate and begged at the beawtifull gate of the temple. And they wondred, and were sore astonyed at that which had happened vnto hym.
And as the lame which was healed, helde Peter and Iohn, all the people ran amased vnto them, in the porche that is called Solomons.
And when Peter sawe that, he aunswered vnto the people: Ye men of Israel, why maruayle ye at this, or why loke ye so on vs, as though by our owne power or godlynesse, we had made this man to go?
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Iacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified his sonne Iesus, whom ye betrayed and denyed in the presence of Pilate, when he had iudged hym to be loosed.
But ye denyed the holy and iust, and desired a murtherer to be geuen you,
And kylled the Lorde of lyfe, whom God hath raysed from the dead: of the which we are witnesses.
And his name, through the fayth in his name, hath made this man sounde, whom ye see and knowe: And the fayth which is by hym, hath geuen to this man health, in the presence of you all.
And nowe brethren, I wote that through ignoraunce ye dyd it, as dyd also your rulers.
But those thynges which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophetes, that Christe shoulde suffer, he hath so fulfylled.
Repent ye therfore and conuert, that your sinnes may be done away, when the tyme of refreshyng shall come, in the presence of the Lorde.
And he shall sende Iesus Christ, which before was preached vnto you.
Whom the heauen must receaue, vntill the tyme that all thynges be restored, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophetes since the world began.
Moyses truely sayde vnto the fathers: A prophete shall the Lorde your God rayse vp vnto you, of your brethren, lyke vnto me: hym shall ye heare in all thynges, whatsoeuer he shall say vnto you.
For the tyme wyll come, that euery soule which wyll not heare that same prophete, shalbe destroyed from among the people.
All the prophetes also fro{m} Samuel & thencefoorth, as many as haue spoken, haue lykewise tolde you of these dayes.
Ye are the chyldren of the prophetes, and of the couenaunt which God made vnto our fathers, saying to Abraham: Euen in thy seede shall all the kinredes of the earth be blessed.
Vnto you first, God hath raysed vp his sonne Iesus, and hath sent hym to blesse you, in turnyng euery one of you from his iniquities.
AND as they spake vnto {th}e people, the priestes & the ruler of the temple, and the saducees, came vpon them,
Takyng it greuously that they taught the people, and preached in Iesus the resurrection from the dead.
And they layde handes on them, and put them in holde, vntyll the next day: for it was nowe euentyde.
Howbeit, many of them which hearde the worde, beleued: and the number of the men was about fyue thousande.
And it came to passe on the morowe, that their rulers, and elders, & scribes,
And Annas the chiefe priest, and Caiaphas, and Iohn, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kynrede of the hye priestes, were gathered together at Hierusalem.
And when they had set them before them, they asked: by what power, or in what name haue ye done this?
Then Peter, full of the holy ghost, sayde vnto them: Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
If we this day be examined of the good deede done to the sicke man, by what meanes he is made whole:
Be it knowen vnto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Iesus Christe of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raysed agayne from the dead: euen by hym doth this man stande here before you whole.
This is the stone which was cast asyde of you buylders, which is the head of the corner:
Neither is there saluation in any other. For among men vnder heauen, there is geuen none other name, wherin we must be saued.
Nowe when they sawe the boldnesse of Peter and Iohn, and vnderstoode that they were vnlearned and lay men, they marueyled, and they knewe them that they had ben with Iesu:
And beholdyng also the man which was healed, standyng with them, they coulde not say agaynst it,
But commaundyng them to go asyde out of the counsel, and counseled among them selues,
Saying: What shall we do to these men? For a manifest signe is done by them, and is openly knowen to all them that dwell in Hierusalem, and we can not denie it.
But that it be noysed no farther among the people, let vs threaten and charge them that they speake hencefoorth to no man in this name.
And they called them, and commaunded them, that in no wyse they shoulde speake, nor teache in the name of Iesu.
But Peter and Iohn aunswered, and sayde vnto them: Whether it be ryght in the syght of God, to hearken vnto you more then to God, iudge ye.
For we cannot but speake that, which we haue seene and hearde.
So threatned they them, and let them go, and founde nothyng how to punishe them, because of the people: For all men praysed God, because of that which was done.
For the man was about fourtie yere olde, on whom this miracle of healyng was shewed.
Then assoone as they were let go, they came to their felowes, and shewed all that the hye priestes and elders had sayde vnto them.
And when they hearde that, they lyft vp their voyces to God with one accorde, and sayde: Lorde, thou art God, which hast made heauen and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,
Which by the mouth of thy seruaunt Dauid, hast sayde: Why dyd the Heathen rage, & the people imagine vayne thynges?
The kynges of the earth stoode vp, and the rulers came together, agaynst the Lorde, and agaynst his Christe.
And of a trueth, agaynst thy holye chylde Iesus, who{m} thou hast anoynted, both Herode and also Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, gathered them selues together,
For to do whatsoeuer thy hande & thy counsel determined before to be done.
And nowe Lorde, beholde their threatnynges, & graunt vnto thy seruauntes, that with all boldensse they may speake thy worde.
So that thou stretch foorth thyne hande, that healyng, and signes, and wonders, be done by the name of thy holy chylde Iesus.
And assoone as they had prayed, the place moued where they were assembled together, and they were all fylled with the holy ghost, and they spake the worde of God boldely.
And the multitude of them that beleued, were of one heart, and of one soule: Neither sayde any of them, that ought of {th}e thynges which he possessed, was his owne: but they had all thinges common.
And with great power gaue the Apostles witnesse of the resurrection of the Lorde Iesu: And great grace was with them all.
Neither was there any among them, that lacked: For as many as were possessers of landes, or houses, solde them, & brought the price of the thynges that were solde,
And layed it downe at the Apostles feete: And distribution was made vnto euery man, accordyng as he had neede.
And Ioses, which was also called of the Apostles Barnabas (that is to say) the sonne of consolation, being a Leuite, and of the countrey of Cypers,
When he had lande, solde it, and layde the money downe at the Apostles feete.
BVt a certayne man, named Ananias, with Saphyra his wyfe, solde a possession,
And kept away part of the price, his wyfe also beyng of counsell, and brought a certayne part, and layde it downe at the Apostles feete.
But Peter sayde: Ananias, howe is it, that Satan hath fylled thyne heart, that thou shouldest lye vnto the holy ghost, and kepe away part of the price of the lande?
Whyles it remayned, was it not thyne owne? And after it was solde, was it not in thyne owne power? Why haste thou conceaued this thyng in thyne heart? Thou hast not lyed vnto men, but vnto God.
When Ananias hearde these wordes, he fell downe, and gaue vp the ghost. And great feare came on all them that hearde these thynges.
And the young men rose vp, and put hym a part, and caryed hym out, and buryed hym.
And it came to passe, that as it were about the space of three houres after, his wyfe came in, ignoraunt of that which was done.
And Peter sayde vnto her: Tell me, Solde ye not the lande for so much? And she sayde: Yea, for so much.
Then Peter sayde vnto her: Why haue ye agreed together, to tempt the spirite of the Lorde? Beholde, the feete of the{m} which haue buried thy husbande, are at the doore, and shall cary thee out.
Then fell she downe strayghtway at his feete, and yelded vp the ghost. And the young men came in, and founde her dead, and caryed her out, and buryed her by her husbande.
And great feare came vpon all the Churche, and vpon as many as hearde these thynges.
And by the handes of the Apostles, were many signes & wonders shewed among the people. (And they were all together with one accord in Solomons porche.
And of other durst no man ioyne hym selfe to them, neuerthelesse, the people magnified them.
The number of them that beleued in the Lorde, both of men and women, grewe more and more.)
In so much that they brought the sicke into the streates, & layde the{m} on beddes and couches, that at the least way, the shadowe of Peter when he came by, myght shadowe some of them.
There came also a multitude of the cities rounde about, vnto Hierusalem, bryngyng sicke folkes, and them which were vexed with vncleane spirites: And they were healed euery one.
Then the chiefe priest rose vp, and all they that were with hym, which is the sect of the Saducees, and were full of indignation:
And layed handes on the Apostles, and put them in the common prison.
But the Angel of the Lorde by nyght opened the prison doores, and brought them foorth, and sayde:
Go, and stande & speake in the temple to the people, all the wordes of this lyfe.
And when they hearde that, they entred into the temple early in {th}e mornyng, and taught: But the chiefe priest came, and they that were with hym, & called a counsayle together, and all the elders of the chyldren of Israel, and sent to the pryson to fet them.
But when the officers came, & founde them not in the pryson, they returned, and tolde,
Saying: The pryson truely founde we shut with all diligence, & the kepers standyng without, before the doores: But when we had opened, we founde no man within.
Then when the chiefe priest and the ruler of the temple, and the hye priestes hearde these thynges, they doubted of them, whervnto this woulde growe.
Then came one and shewed them, saying: Beholde, the men that ye put in pryson, stande in the temple, and teache the people.
Then went the ruler of the temple, with the officers, and brought them without violence: (For they feared the people, lest they should haue ben stoned)
And when they had brought them, they set them before the counsell. And the chiefe priest asked them,
Saying: dyd not we strayghtly commaunde you, that ye shoulde not teache in this name? And beholde, ye haue fylled Hierusalem with your doctrine, and intende to bryng this mans blood vpon vs.
Then Peter and the other Apostles aunswered, and sayde: We ought more to obey God then men.
The God of our fathers raysed vp Iesus, whom ye slewe, & hanged on tree.
Hym hath God lyft vp with his ryght hande, to be a prince and a sauiour, for to geue repentaunce to Israel, and forgeuenesse of sinnes.
And we are recordes of these thynges which we say, & so is also the holy ghost, whom God hath geuen to them that obey hym.
When they hearde that, they claue a sunder, and sought meanes to slea the{m}.
Then stoode there vp one in the counsell, a pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctour of lawe, had in reputation among all the people, and commaunded the Apostles to go asyde a litle space,
And sayde vnto them: Ye men of Israel, take heede to your selues, what ye entende to do, as touchyng these men.
For before these dayes rose vp one Theudas, boastyng him selfe, to whom resorted a number of men, about a foure hundred, which was slayne: and they all which beleued hym, were scattered abrode, and brought to naught.
After this man, arose vp one Iudas of Galilee, in the dayes of tribute, and drewe away much people after hym: He also perished, and all, euen as many as hearkened to hym, were scattered abrode.
And nowe I saye vnto you, refrayne your selues fro{m} these men, and let them alone: For yf this counsell or this worke be of men, it wyll come to naught.
But and yf it be of God, ye can not destroy it, lest haply ye be founde to stryue agaynst God.
And to hym agreed the other: And when they had called the Apostles, they beat them, and commaunded that they shoulde not speake in the name of Iesu, and let them go.
And they departed from the counsell, reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his name.
And dayly in the temple, and in euery house, they ceassed not to teach & preach Iesus Christe.
AND in those dayes, when the number of {th}e disciples grewe, there arose a grudge among the Grekes agaynst {th}e Hebrues, because their wydowes were despysed in the dayly ministerie.
Then the twelue called the multitude of the disciples together, and sayde: It is not good that we shoulde leaue the worde of God, and serue tables.
Wherfore brethren, loke ye out among you seuen men of honest report, & full of the holy ghost, and wysedome, to who{m} we may commit this busynesse.
But we wyll geue our selues continually to prayer, and to the ministerie of the worde.
And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Steuen, a man full of fayth, and of the holy ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, & Timon, and Permenas, and Nicolas a conuert of Antioche.
These they set before the apostles: and whe{n} they had prayed, they layde their handes on them.
And the worde of God encreased, & the number of {th}e disciples multiplied in Hierusalem greatly, and a great companie of the priestes were obedient to {th}e fayth.
And Steuen full of fayth & power, dyd great wonders & miracles among the people.
Then there arose certaine of the synagogue, which is called [the synagogue] of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and of Alexandria, and of Cilicia, & of Asia, disputyng with Steuen.
And they coulde not resiste the wisedome and the spirite by the whiche he spake.
Then they priuilie prepared men, whiche sayde, we haue heard him speake blasphemous wordes agaynst Moyses, and agaynst God.
And they moued the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came vppon hym, and caught him, and brought him to the counsell.
And brought foorth false witnesses, which sayde: This man ceasseth not to speake blasphemous wordes agaynste this holy place and the lawe.
For we hearde hym say, that this Iesus of Nazareth shal destroy this place, & shall chaunge the ordinaunces which Moyses gaue vs:
And all that sate in the counsell, loking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had ben the face of an angell.
THen said {th}e chiefe priest: Are these thynges so?
And he said: Ye men, brethren, and fathers, hearken. The God of glorie appeared vnto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
And sayde vnto him: Get thee out of thy countrey, & fro{m} thy kinrede, & come into the lande which I shall shew thee.
Then came he out of the lande of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, whe{n} his father was dead, he brought hym into this lande wherin ye nowe dwell.
And he gaue hym none wheritaunce in it, no not the breadth of a foote: and promised that he woulde geue it to hym to possesse, and to his seede after hym, when as yet he had no chylde.
God veryly spake on this wyse, that his seede shoulde soiourne in a straunge lande, and that they shoulde kepe it in bondage, and entreate them euyl foure hundreth yeres.
And the nation to whom they shalbe in bondage, wyll I iudge, sayde God: And after that, shall they come foorth, & serue me in this place.
And he gaue hym the couenaunt of circumcision: And he begate Isaac, and circumcised hym the eyght day, and Isaac [begate] Iacob, and Iacob [begate] the twelue patriarkes.
And the patriarkes moued with enuie, solde Ioseph into Egypt: and God was with hym,
And deliuered hym out of all his aduersities, and gaue hym fauour & wisedome in the syght of Pharao kyng of Egypt: and he made hym gouernour ouer Egypt, & ouer all his housholde.
But there came a dearth ouer all the land of Egypt and Chanaan: and great affliction, that our fathers founde no sustenaunce.
But when Iacob hearde that there was corne in Egypt, he sent our fathers first.
And at the second time, Ioseph was knowen of his brethren, and Iosephes kinrede was made knowen vnto Pharao.
Then sent Ioseph, and caused his father to be brought, and all his kynne, three score and fyfteene soules.
And Iacob descended into Egypt, and dyed, both he and our fathers,
And were caryed ouer into Sichem, and layde in the sepulchre, that Abraha{m} bought for money of the sonnes of Emor, the sonne of Sichem.
But when the tyme of the promyse drewe nye, whiche God had sworne to Abraham, the people grewe and multiplied in Egypt:
Tyll another king arose, which knew not of Ioseph.
The same dealt subtilly with our kinrede, and euyll intreated our fathers, & made them caste out their young chyldren, that they shoulde not remayne alyue.
The same tyme was Moyses borne, and was acceptable vnto God, and norished vp in his fathers house three monethes.
And when he was cast out, Pharaos daughter toke hym vp, & norished hym for her owne sonne.
And Moyses was learned in all maner of wisedome of the Egyptians, and was myghtie in deedes and in wordes.
And when he was full fourtie yeres olde, it came into his heart to visite his brethren the chyldren of Israel.
And when he sawe one of them suffer wrong, he defended hym, and auenged his quarrell that had the harme done to hym, and smote the Egyptian.
For he supposed his brethren woulde haue vnderstande, howe that God by his hande shoulde delyuer them: But they vnderstoode not.
And the next day he shewed hym selfe vnto them as they stroue, and woulde haue set them at one agayne, saying: Sirs, ye are brethren, why do ye wrong one to another?
But he that did his neighbour wrong, thrust hym awaye, saying: Who made thee a ruler and a iudge ouer vs?
Wylt thou kyll me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
Then fledde Moyses at that saying, and was a straunger in the lande of Madian, where he begate two sonnes.
And whe{n} fourtie yeres were expired, there appeared to hym in the wyldernesse of mount Sina, an Angel of the Lorde in a flambe of fire in a busshe.
When Moyses sawe it, he wondred at {th}e sight: And as he drue neare to behold, the voyce of the Lord came vnto hym.
I am the God of thy fathers, {th}e God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and {th}e God of Iacob. Then Moyses trembled, & durst not beholde.
Then sayde the Lorde to hym: Put of thy shoes from thy feete, for the place where thou standest, is holy grounde.
I haue seene, I haue seene the afflictio{n} of my people which is in Egypt, and I haue hearde their gronyng, and am come downe to deliuer them: And now come, & I wyll sende thee into Egypt.
This Moyses, whom they forsoke saying, who made thee a ruler and a iudge? the same dyd God sende, to be a ruler, and a deliuerer, by the handes of the angell, whiche appeared to hym in the busshe.
He brought them out, shewyng wonders and signes in Egypt, & in the read sea, & in the wyldernesse fourtie yeres.
This is that Moyses which saide vnto the chyldren of Israel: A prophete shall the Lorde your God raise vp vnto you of your brethren, lyke vnto me, him shall ye heare.
This is he that was in the Churche in {th}e wyldernesse with the angel, which spake to hym in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: This man receaued the worde of lyfe to geue vnto vs.
To whom our fathers woulde not obey, but thrust it from them, and in their hearts turned backe againe into Egypt,
Saying vnto Aaron, Make vs gods to go before vs. For as for this Moyses that brought vs out of the lande of Egypt, we wote not what is become of hym.
And they made a Calfe in those dayes, and offred sacrifice vnto the idoll, and reioyced ouer the workes of their owne handes.
Then God turned hym selfe away, & gaue them vp to worship the hoast of heauen, as it is written in {th}e booke of the prophetes: O ye house of Israel, haue ye offered to me slayne beastes, and sacrifices, by the space of fourtie yeres in the wyldernesse?
And ye toke vnto you the tabernacle of Moloch, and the starre of your god Remphan, figures whiche ye made to worship them: And I wyll carry you away beyonde Babylon.
Our fathers had {th}e tabernacle of witnesse in the wyldernesse, as he had appoynted, speakyng vnto Moyses, that he shoulde make it accordyng to the fasshion that he had scene.
Whiche also our fathers that came after, brought in with Iesus into the possession of the gentiles, who{m} God draue out before the face of our fathers, vnto the dayes of Dauid.
Which sounde fauour before God, and woulde fayne haue founde a tabernacle for the God of Iacob.
But Solomon buylt hym an house.
Howebeit, he that is hyest of al, dwelleth not in te{m}ples made with handes, as sayth the prophete:
Heauen is my seate, and earth is my footstoole. What house wyll ye buylde for me, saith the Lord? Or which is the place of my rest?
Hath not my hande made all these thynges?
Ye styfuecked and of vncircumcised heartes and eares, ye haue alwayes resisted the holy ghost: as your fathers dyd, so do ye.
Which of the prophetes haue not your fathers persecuted? And they haue slayne them which shewed before of the commyng of that iuste, of whom ye are nowe the betrayers and murtherers:
Whiche also haue receaued the lawe, by the disposition of angels, and haue not kept it.
When they hearde these thynges, their heartes claue a sunder, and they gnasshed on hym with their teeth.
But he being full of the holy ghost, loked vp stedfastly into heauen, and sawe the glory of God, and Iesus standyng on the ryght hande of God,
And sayde: Beholde, I see the heauens open, & the sonne of man standyng on the ryght hande of God.
Then they gaue a shoute with a loude voyce, and stopped their eares, and ran vpon hym all at once,
And cast hym out of the citie, and stoned him. And {th}e witnesses layde downe their clothes at a young mans feete, whose name was Saul.
And they stoned Steuen, callyng on, and saying: Lorde Iesu receaue my spirite.
And he kneeled downe, and cryed with a loude voyce: Lorde lay not this sinne to their charge. And when he had thus spoken, he fell a sleepe.
AND Saul consented vnto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against {th}e Churche which was at Hierusalem, and they were all scattered abrode thorowout the regions of Iurie, and Samaria, except the apostles.
And deuout men were carefull together touchyng Steuen, and made great lamentation ouer hym.
As for Saul, he made hauocke of the Churche, and entred into euery house, & drewe out both men and women, and put them into pryson.
Therfore, they that were scattered abrode, went euery where preachyng the worde of God.
Then came Philip into the citie of Samaria, & preached Christe vnto the{m}.
And the people gaue heede vnto those thynges whiche Philip spake with one accorde, hearyng and seing the miracles which he dyd.
For vncleane spirites, crying with loude voyce, came out of manye that were possessed with them. And many taken with paulsies, & many that haulted, were healed.
And there was great ioy in that citie.
But there was a certayne man called Simon, which beforetyme in the same citie vsed witchcraft, and bewitched the people of Samaria, saying that he was a man that coulde do great thynges:
Whom they regarded from the least to the greatest, saying: This man is the great power of God.
And hym they sette much by, because that of long tyme he had bewitched the{m} with sorseries.
But assoone as they gaue credence to Philips preachyng of the kyngdome of God, and of the name of Iesus Christe, they were baptized, both men & wome{n}.
Then Simon him selfe beleued also: And whe{n} he was baptized, he continued with Philip, & wondred, beholding the miracles & signes which were shewed.
When the apostles whiche were at Hierusalem, hearde say that Samaria hadde receaued the worde of God, they sent vnto them Peter and Iohn.
Which when they were come downe, prayed for the{m} that they myght receaue the holy ghost.
(For as yet he was come downe vpon none of them, but they were baptized only in the name of Christ Iesu.)
Then layde they their handes on the{m}, and they receaued the holy ghost.
And when Simon sawe, that thorow laying on of the apostles handes, {th}e holy ghost was geuen, he offred the{m} money,
Saying: Geue me also this power, that on whomsoeuer I put the hands, he may receaue the holy ghost.
But Peter sayde vnto him: Thy money perishe with thee, because thou hast thought that the gyfte of God may be obteyned with money.
Thou hast neither part nor felowship in this busynesse: For thy hearte is not ryght in the syght of God.
Repent therefore of this thy wickednesse, & praye God, if perhaps {th}e thought of thyne heart may be forgeuen thee.
For I perceaue {tha}t thou art in the gall of bitternesse, & wrapped in iniquitie.
The{n} aunswered Simon & said: Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these thinges which ye haue spoke{n} fall on me.
And they, when they had testified and preached the worde of the Lorde, returned towarde Hierusalem, and preached the Gospell in many townes of the Samaritanes.
And the Angell of the Lorde spake vnto Philip, saying: Aryse, and go towarde the South, vnto the waye that goeth downe from Hierusalem vnto Gaza, which is desert.
And he arose, & went on: and behold a man of Ethiopia, and Eunuch, & of great auctoritie with Candace, Queene of the Ethiopia{n}s, & had the rule of all her treasure, came to Hierusale{m} for to worship.
And as he returned home agayne, sittyng in his charet, he read Esaias the prophete.
Then the spirite said vnto Philip: Go neare, & ioyne thy selfe to yonder charet.
And Philip ran thither to him, & heard hym reade the prophete Esaias, & saide: vnderstandest thou what thou readest?
And he said: how can I, except I had a guyde? And he desired Philip that he woulde come vp, and sit with hym.
The tenour of the scripture which he read, was this: He was ledde as a sheepe to the slaughter, & lyke a lambe dumbe before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.
In his humilitie, his iudgement is exalted: But who shall declare his generation? For his lyfe is taken from the earth.
And the Eunuche aunswered Philip, and sayde: I pray thee of whom speaketh the prophete this? Of hym selfe, or of some other man?
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached vnto hym Iesus.
And as they went on their way, they came vnto a certayne water, and the Eunuche sayde: See, here is water, what doth let me to be baptized?
Philip sayde [vnto hym] If thou beleuest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he aunswered, and saide: I beleue that Iesus Christe is the sonne of God.
And he commaunded the charet to stande styll: and they went downe both into the water, both Philip and also the Eunuche: and he baptized hym.
And assoone as they were come out of the water, the spirite of {th}e Lorde caught away Philip, that the Eunuche sawe hym no more. And he went on his way reioycyng.
But Philip was founde at Azotus. And he walked throughout the countrey, preachyng in all the cities, tyll he came to Cesarea.
AND Saul yet breathyng out threatnings and slaughter agaynst the disciples of {th}e Lord, went vnto {th}e hie priest,
And desired of him letlers to carrye to Damascus, to the synagogues: that yf he founde any of this waye, whether they were men or women, he myght bryng them bounde vnto Hierusalem.
And when he iourneyed, it came to passe, that as he was come nye to Damascus, sodenly there shyned rounde about hym a lyght from heauen:
And he fell to the earth, and hearde a voyce saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
And he sayde: Who art thou Lorde? And the Lorde said: I am Iesus who{m} thou persecutest, It is harde for thee to kicke agaynst the prickes.
And he both tremblyng and astonyed, sayde: Lord, what wylt thou haue me to do? And the Lorde sayde vnto hym: Aryse, and go into the citie, and it shalbe tolde thee what thou must do.
The men also which iourneyed with him, stoode amased, hearing a voyce, but seyng no man.
And Saul arose from the earth, and when he opened his eyes, he sawe no man: But they ledde him by the hande, and brought hym into Damascus.
And he was three dayes without syght, and neither dyd eate nor drynke.
And there was a certayne disciple at Damascus, named Ananias: & to him sayde the Lorde in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold [I am here] Lorde.
And the Lorde sayde vnto hym: aryse, and go into the streate, whiche is called strayght, and seeke in the house of Iudas, after one called Saul, of Tarsus: for beholde he prayeth,
And hath seene in a vision a man named Ananias commyng in to hym, and puttyng his handes on hym, that he myght receaue his syght.
Then Ananias aunswered: Lorde, I haue heard by many, of this man, how much euyll he hath done to thy saintes, at Hierusalem.
And here he hath aucthoritie of {th}e hye priestes, to bynde all {th}e call on thy name.
The Lord sayde vnto hym: Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessell vnto me, to beare my name before the gentiles, & kynges, and the chyldren of Israel.
For I wyl shew hym how great thinges he must suffer for my names sake.
And Ananias went his way, and entred into the house, and put his handes on hym, and sayde: Brother Saul, the Lorde (euen Iesus that appeared vnto thee in the waye as thou camest) hath sent me, that thou myghtest receaue thy syght, & be fylled with the holy ghost.
And immediatly there fell from his eyes as it had ben scales, & he receaued syght foorthwith, and arose, and was baptized,
And receaued meate, and was comforted. Then was Saul certaine dayes with the disciples whiche were at Damasco.
And strayghtway he preached Christe in the synagogues, that he was {th}e sonne of God.
But all that hearde hym, were amased, and sayde: Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Hierusalem, and came hyther for that intent, that he myght bryng the{m} bounde vnto the hye priestes?
But Saule increased the more in strength, and confounded the Iewes whiche dwelt at Damasco, affirmyng that this was very Christe.
And after that many dayes were fulfilled, the Iewes toke counsell together to kyll hym.
But their laying awayte was knowen of Saule. And they watched {th}e gates day and nyght to kyll hym.
Then the disciples toke him by night, and put hym through the wall, and let hym downe in a basket.
And when Saule was come to Hierusalem, he assayde to couple hym selfe to the disciples: but they were all afrayde of hym, & beleued not that he was a disciple.
But Barnabas toke hym, & brought hym to the Apostles, and declared to them howe he had seene the Lorde in the way, & that he had spoken to hym, and howe he had done boldely at Damasco in the name of Iesu.
And he had his conuersation with the{m} at Hierusalem,
Speakyng boldly in the name of the Lorde Iesu. And he spake and disputed agaynst the Grekes: but they went about to slea hym.
Which whe{n} the brethren knewe, they brought hym to Cesarea, and sent hym foorth to Tarsus.
Then had the Churches rest throughout all Iurie, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, and walked in the feare of the Lorde, & multiplied by the comfort of the holy ghost.
And it came to passe, as Peter walked throughout all quarters, he came also to the Saintes which dwelt at Lydda.
And there he founde a certayne man, named Eneas, which had kept his bed eyght yeres, & was sicke of the paulsie.
And Peter sayde vnto hym, Eneas, Iesus Christe make thee whole: aryse, and make thy bedde. And he arose immediatly.
And all that dwelt at Lydda, and Saron sawe hym, and turned to the Lorde.
There was also at Ioppa a certayne woman, a disciple, named Tabitha, which by interpretatio{n} is called Dorcas: the same was full of good workes and almes deedes, which she dyd.
And it came to passe in those dayes that she was sicke, and dyed: Whom when they had wasshed, they layde her in an vpper chamber:
And forasmuch as Lydda was nye to Ioppa, and the disciples hadde hearde that Peter was there, they sent vnto hym two men, desyryng hym that he woulde not be greeued to come vnto them.
Then Peter arose, & came with them, and when he was come, they brought hym into the vpper chamber: And all the wydowes stoode rounde about him weepyng, and shewyng the coates and garmentes which Dorcas made whyle she was with them.
And Peter put them all foorth, and kneled downe, and prayed, and turned hym to the body, and sayde: Tabitha aryse. And she opened her eyes, and when she sawe Peter, she sate vp.
And he gaue her the hande, and lyfte her vp: and when he hadde called the saintes and wydowes, he deliuered her alyue.
And it was knowen throughout all Ioppa, & many beleued in the Lorde.
And it came to passe, that he taryed many dayes in Ioppa, with one Simo{n} a tanner.
THere was a certayne man in Cesarea, called Cornelius, a captayne of the bande called the Italian bande,
A deuoute man, & one {tha}t feared God, with all his housholde, which gaue much almes to the people, and prayed God alway.
The same sawe by a vision euidently, about the ninth houre of the daye, an Angel of God commyng in to hym, and saying vnto hym, Cornelius.
And when he loked on hym, he was afrayde, and sayde: What is it Lorde? And he sayde vnto hym: Thy prayers and thyne almes, are come vp into remembraunce before God.
And nowe sende men to Ioppa, & call for one Simo{n}, whose sirname is Peter.
He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea syde: He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
And when the Angell whiche spake vnto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household seruauntes, and a deuout souldier of them that wayted on hym,
And tolde them all the matter, & sent them to Ioppa.
On the morowe as they went on their iourney, and drewe nye vnto the citie, Peter went vp vnto the highest part of the house to pray, about the sixth houre.
And whe{n} he waxed hungry, he would haue eaten: But whyle they made redie, he fell into a traunce.
And saw heauen opened, and a certaine vessell come downe vnto him, as it had ben a great sheete, knyt at the foure corners, & was let downe to the earth.
Wherin were all maner of fourefooted beastes of the earth, & wilde beastes, and wormes, and foules of the ayre.
And there came a voyce to hym: ryse Peter, kyll and eate.
But Peter sayde, Not so Lorde: For I haue neuer eaten any thyng that is common or vncleane.
And the voyce spake vnto hym againe the seconde tyme: What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
This was done thryse, and the vessell was receaued vp agayne into heauen.
Nowe whyle Peter doubted in hym selfe, what this vision whiche he hadde seene meant: beholde, the men whiche were sent from Cornelius, had made inquiraunce for Simons house, & stoode before the doore,
And called, and asked whether Simo{n} which was sirnamed Peter, were lodged there.
Whyle Peter thought on the vision, the spirite said vnto hym: beholde, three men seke thee.
Arise therfore, and get the downe, and go with them, & doubt not, for I haue sent them.
Then Peter went downe to the men which were se{n}t vnto him fro{m} Cornelius, & said: Behold, I am he who{m} ye seeke, what is the cause wherfore ye are come?
And they sayde: Cornelius the capitayne, a iust man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the people of the Iewes, was warned by an holy Angel to sende for thee into his house, and to heare wordes of thee.
Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morowe, Peter went away with them, and certaine brethren from Ioppa accompanied hym.
And the thirde day after, entred they into Cesarea: And Cornelius wayted for them, and hadde called together his kinsemen and speciall friendes.
And it came to passe, as Peter came in, Cornelius met hym, & fell downe at his feete, and worshipped [hym.]
But Peter toke him vp, saying: stande vp, I my selfe also am a man.
And as he talked with him, he came in, & found many that were come together.
And he said vnto the{m}: Ye knowe how that it is an vnlawful thyng for a man that is a Iew, to companie or come vnto one of another natio{n}: But God hath shewed me, that I shoulde not call any man common or vncleane.
Therefore came I vnto you without delay, assoone as I was sent for: I aske therfore, for what intent ye haue sent for me?
And Cornelius sayde: This day nowe foure dayes, about this houre, I sate fasting, and at the ninth houre, I prayed in my house: And beholde, a man stoode before me in bryght clothyng,
And sayde: Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thyne almes deedes are had in remembraunce in the syght of God.
Sende therfore to Ioppa, and call for Simon, whose sirname is Peter: He is lodged in the house of one Simo{n}, a tanner, by the sea syde, who when he commeth, shall speake vnto thee.
Then sent I for thee immediatly, and thou hast well done that thou art come. Nowe therfore are we all here present before God, to heare all thynges that are commaunded vnto thee of God.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said: Of a trueth I perceaue that God hath no regarde of persons:
But in euery nation, he that feareth hym, and worketh ryghteousnes, is accepted with hym.
Touchyng the worde which God se{n}t vnto the chyldren of Israel, preachyng peace by Iesus Christe (he is Lord ouer all.)
Ye knowe howe the worde was publisshed through all Iurie, begynnyng in Galilee, after the baptisme whiche Iohn preached:
Howe God annoynted Iesus of Nazareth, with the holy ghoste, and with power: Who went about doyng good, and healyng all that were oppressed of the deuyll, for God was with hym.
And we are witnesses of all thynges which he dyd in the land of the Iewes, and at Hierusalem, whom they slewe, and hanged on tree.
Hym God raysed vp the thirde daye, and shewed hym openly,
Not to al the people, but vnto vs witnesses, chosen before of God, euen to vs whiche dyd eate and drynke with hym after he arose from the dead.
And he commaunded vs to preache vnto the people, and to testifie that it is he whiche was ordeyned of God to be the iudge of quicke and dead.
To hym geue all the prophetes witnesse, that through his name whosoeuer beleueth in hym, shall receaue remission of sinnes.
Whyle Peter yet spake these wordes, the holy ghost fell on all them whiche hearde the worde.
And they of the circumcision which beleued, were astonied, as many as came with Peter, because that on the gentiles also was shedde out the gyft of the holy ghost.
For they hearde them speake with tounges, & magnifie God. Then aunswered Peter:
Can any man forbid water, that these shoulde not be baptized, which haue receaued the holy ghost aswell as we?
And he commaunded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tary certaine dayes.
ANd the apostles & brethre{n} that were in Iurie, hearde that {th}e heathe{n} had also receaued the worde of God.
And when Peter was come vp to Hierusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended agaynst hym,
Saying: Thou wentest in to men vncircu{m}cised, & diddest eate with them.
But Peter rehearsed the matter from the begynnyng, and expounded it by order vnto them, saying:
I was in the citie of Ioppa praying, and in a traunce I sawe a vision, a certayne vessell descende, as it had ben a great sheete, let downe from heauen by the foure corners, and it came to me.
Vpon the which whe{n} I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, & sawe fourefooted beastes of the earth, and wylde beastes, and wormes, and foules of the ayre.
And I hearde a voyce, saying vnto me: aryse Peter, slay, and eate.
But I sayde, Not so Lorde: For nothyng common or vncleane hath at any tyme entred into my mouth.
But the voyce aunswered me agayne from heaue{n}: Make them not co{m}mon which God hath cleansed.
And this was done three tymes: And all were taken vp agayne into heauen.
And beholde, immediatly there were three men, alredy come vnto the house where I was, sent from Cesarea vnto me.
And the spirite sayde vnto me, that I shoulde go with the{m}, without doubting. Moreouer, these sixe brethren accompanyed me, & we entred into the mans house:
And he shewed vs, howe he had seene an Angel in his house, which stoode and sayde vnto hym: Sende men to Ioppa, and call for Simon, whose sirname is Peter:
He shal tell thee wordes, wherby both thou and all thyne house shalbe saued.
And as I began to speake, the holy ghost fell on them, as he dyd on vs at the begynnyng.
Then came it to my remembraunce, howe that the Lorde sayde: Iohn baptized with water, but ye shalbe baptized with the holy ghost.
For as much then, as God gaue them the lyke gyft as he dyd vnto vs, when we beleued on the Lorde Iesus Christ: what was I, that I shoulde haue withstande God?
When they hearde these thynges, they helde their peace, and glorified God, saying: Then hath God also to {th}e Gentiles, graunted repentaunce vnto lyfe.
They also which were scattered abrode through the affliction that arose about Steuen, walked throughout vnto Phenices, and Cypers, and Antioche, preachyng the worde to no man, but vnto the Iewes only.
And some of the{m} were men of Cypers, and Cyrenes, which when they were come to Antioche, spake vnto {th}e Grekes, and preached the Lorde Iesus.
And the hande of the Lorde was with them, and a great number beleued and turned vnto the Lorde.
Then tydynges of these thinges came vnto the eares of the Churche, which was in Hierusale{m}: And they sent foorth Barnabas, that he shoulde go vnto Antioche.
Which when he came, and had seene the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they woulde cleaue vnto the Lorde.
For he was a good man, and full of the holy ghost, and of fayth: And much people was added vnto the Lorde.
Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seeke Saul.
And when he had founde hym, he brought hym vnto Antioche. And it came to passe, that a whole yere they had their co{n}uersation with the Church there, & taught much people: in so much, that the disciples of Antioche, were the first that were called Christians.
And in those dayes, came prophetes from Hierusalem vnto Antioche.
And there stoode vp one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirite, that there shoulde be great dearth throughout all the worlde: which came to passe in the dayes of Claudius Cesar.
Then the disciples, euery man accordyng to his abilitie, purposed to sende succour vnto the brethren which dwelt in Iurie.
Which thyng they also dyd, and sent it to the elders by the handes of Barnabas and Saul.
AT the same tyme Herode the king stretched foorth his handes to vexe certayne of the Churche.
And he killed Iames the brother of Iohn with the sworde.
And because he sawe it pleased the Iewes, he proceaded further, and toke Peter also. (Then were the dayes of sweete bread.)
And when he had caught hym, he put hym in pryson also, and delyuered hym to foure quaternions of souldiers to be kept, intendyng after Easter to bryng hym foorth to the people.
And Peter was kept in pryson: But prayer was made without ceassyng of the Churche, vnto God for hym.
And when Herode woulde haue brought hym foorth vnto the people, the same nyght slept Peter betweene two souldiers, bounde with two chaynes, and the kepers before the doore kept the pryson.
And beholde, the Angel of {th}e Lorde was there present, and a lyght shyned in the habitation: And he smote Peter on the syde, and stirred hym vp, saying: Aryse vp quickly. And his chaynes fell of from his handes.
And the Angel sayde vnto hym: gyrde thy selfe, & bynde on thy sandales. And so he dyd. And he sayeth vnto hym: cast thy garment about thee, and folow me.
And he came out and folowed hym, and wyst not that it was trueth which was done by the Angel, but thought he had seene a vision.
When they were past the first and the seconde watch, they came vnto the yron gate, that leadeth vnto the citie, which opened to them by the owne accorde: And they went out, and passed through one streate, and foorthwith the Angel departed from hym.
And when Peter was come to hym selfe, he sayde: Nowe I knowe of a suertie, that the Lorde hath sent his Angel, and hath deliuered me out of the hande of Herode, and from all the waytyng for, of the people of the Iewes.
And as he considered the thyng, he came to the house of Marie the mother of Iohn, whose sirname was Marke, where many were gathered together in prayer.
As Peter knocked at the entrie doore, a damsell came foorth to hearken, named Rhoda.
And when she knewe Peters voyce, she opened not the doore for gladnesse, but ran in, and tolde howe Peter stoode before the doore.
And they sayde vnto her: thou art mad. But she affirmed that it was euen so. Then sayde they: it is his Angel.
But Peter continued knockyng: And when they had opened the doore, and sawe hym, they were astonyed.
And when he had beckened vnto the{m} with the hande, that they myght holde their peace, he tolde them by what meanes the Lorde had brought hym out of the pryson. And he sayde: Go shewe these thynges vnto Iames and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
Nowe assoone as it was day, there was no litle adoe among the souldiers, what was become of Peter.
And when Herode had sought for hym, and founde hym not, he examined the kepers, and commaunded them to be caryed away. And he descended from Iurie to Cesarea, and there abode.
And Herode was displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: But they came all with one accorde to hym, and made intercession vnto Blastus the kynges chaumberlayne, and desired peace, because their countrey was norisshed by the kyng.
And vpon a day appoynted, Herode arayed hym in royall apparell, and set hym in his seate, and made an oration vnto them.
And the people gaue a shout [saying] It is the voyce of God, & not of a man.
And immediatly the Angel of {th}e Lorde smote hym, because he gaue not God {th}e honour, & he was eaten of wormes, and gaue vp the ghost.
And the worde of God grewe and multiplied.
And Barnabas and Saul returned to Hierusalem, when they had fulfylled their office, and toke with them Iohn, whose sirname was Marke.
THere was also in the Churche that was at Antioche, certayne prophetes, and teachers: as Barnabas and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manahen, which had ben norisshed vp with Herode the tetrarch, and Saul.
As they ministred to the Lorde and fasted, the holy ghost sayde: Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the worke wherunto I haue called them.
And when they had fasted & prayed, & layde their ha{n}des on the{m}, they let the{m} go.
And they, after they were sent foorth of the holy ghost, departed vnto Seleucia, & from thence they sealed to Cyprus.
And when they were at Salamine, they preached the worde of God in the synagogues of the Iewes: And they had also Iohn to their minister.
And when they had gone through the Ile vnto Paphos, they founde a certayne sorcerer, a false prophete, a Iewe, whose name was Bariesu:
Which was with the deputie of the countrey, one Sergius Paulus, a prudent man: The same called vnto hym Barnabas and Saul, and desired to heare the worde of God.
But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstoode them, and sought to turne the deputie away from the fayth.
Then Saul (which also is called Paul) beyng full of the holy ghost, set his eyes on hym,
And sayde: O full of all subtiltie and all mischiefe, thou chylde of the deuyll, thou enemie of all righteousnesse, wylt thou not cease to peruert the wayes of the Lorde?
And nowe beholde, the hande of the Lorde is vpon thee, and thou shalt be blynde, and not see the sunne for a season. And immediatly, there fell on hym a myste, and a darcknesse, and he went about, seekyng [them] that shoulde leade hym by the hande.
Then the deputie, when he sawe what was done, beleued, and wondred at the doctrine of the Lorde.
Nowe when they that were with Paul, were departed fro{m} Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: And Iohn departed from them, and returned to Hierusalem.
But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioche in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on {th}e Sabboth day, and sate downe.
And after the lecture of the lawe and the prophetes, the rulers of the synagogue sent vnto them, saying: Ye men and brethren, yf ye haue any worde to exhort the people, say on.
Then Paul stoode vp, and beckened with the hande, and sayde: Men of Israel, & ye that feare God, geue audience.
The God of this people of Israel, chose our fathers, & exalted the people, when they dwelt as straungers in the lande of Egypt, and with an hye arme brought he them out of it.
And about the tyme of fourtie yeres, suffred he their maners in the wyldernesse.
And he destroyed seuen nations in the lande of Chanaan, and deuyded their lande to them by lot.
And afterwarde, he gaue vnto them iudges, about the space of foure hundred and fyftie yeres, vnto the tyme of Samuel the prophete.
And afterwarde, they desired a kyng, and God gaue vnto them Saul, the sonne of Cis, a man of the tribe of Beniamin, by the space of fourtie yeres.
And when he was put downe, he set vp Dauid to be their kyng, of whom he reported, saying: I haue founde Dauid the sonne of Iesse, a man after mine owne heart, which shall fulfyll all my wyll.
Of this mans seede, hath God accordyng to his promise brought foorth to Israel, the sauiour Iesus.
When Iohn had first preached before his commyng, the baptisme of repentaunce to all the people of Israel.
And when Iohn had fulfylled his course, he sayde: Whom ye thynke that I am, the same am I not. But behold, there commeth one after me, whose shoes of his feete I am not worthy to loose.
Ye men and brethren, chyldren of the generation of Abraham, and whosoeuer among you feareth God, to you is the worde of this saluation sent.
For they that dwell at Hierusalem, and their rulers, because they knewe hym not, nor yet the voyces of the prophetes which are read euery Sabboth day, they haue fulfylled them in condempnyng hym:
And though they founde no cause of death in hym, yet desired they Pilate to kyll hym.
And when they had fulfylled all that were written of hym, they toke hym downe from the tree, and put hym in a sepulchre.
But God raysed hym agayne from the dead:
And he was seene many dayes of them which came vp with hym from Galilee to Hierusalem, which are his witnesses vnto the people.
And we declare vnto you, howe that the promise which was made vnto the fathers,
God hath fulfylled the same vnto vs their chyldren, in that he raysed vp Iesus agayne. As it is written in the seconde psalme: Thou art my sonne, this day haue I begotten thee.
And as concernyng that he raysed him vp from the dead, nowe no more to returne to corruption, he sayde on this wyfe: I wyll geue you {th}e holy thynges of Dauid, which are faythfull.
Wherfore, he sayeth also in another place. Thou shalt not suffer thyne holy one to see corruption.
For Dauid, after he had serued his tyme, by the wyll of God fell on slepe, and was layde vnto his fathers, and sawe corruption:
But he whom God raysed agayne, sawe no corruption.
Be it knowen vnto you therfore, ye men & brethren, that through this man is preached vnto you the forgeuenesse of sinnes,
And that by hym, all that beleue, are iustified from all thynges, from which ye coulde not be iustified by the lawe of Moyses.
Beware therfore, lest that fall on you, which is spoken of in the prophetes:
Beholde ye despisers, and wonder, and perishe ye: for I do a worke in your dayes, a worke which ye shal not beleue though a man declare it you.
And when they were gone out of the synagogue of the Iewes, the Gentiles besought that they woulde preache these wordes to them {th}e next Sabboth.
Nowe when the congregation was broken vp, many of the Iewes and vertuous proselytes folowed Paul & Barnabas, which spake to them, and exhorted them to continue in the grace of God.
And the next Sabboth day came almost the whole citie together, to heare the worde of God.
But when the Iewes sawe the people, they were full of indignation, and spake agaynst those thynges which were spoken of Paul, speakyng against, and raylyng.
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bolde, and sayde: It was meete that the worde of God shoulde first haue ben spoken to you: but seeyng ye put it from you, and thynke your selues vnworthy of euerlastyng lyfe, loe, we turne to the Gentiles,
For so hath the Lorde commaunded vs. I haue made thee a lyght of the Gentiles, that thou be the saluation vnto the ende of the worlde.
And when the Gentiles hearde this, they were glad, and glorified the worde of the Lorde, and as many as were ordayned to eternall lyfe, beleued.
And the worde of the Lorde was publisshed throughout all the region.
But the Iewes moued the deuout and honest women, and the chiefe men of the citie, and raysed persecution agaynst Paule and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coastes:
But they shoke of the dust of their feete against them, and came vnto Iconium.
And the disciples were fylled with ioy, and with the holy ghost.
AND it came to passe in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Iewes, & so spake, that a great multitude both of the Iewes, & also of the Grekes beleued.
But the vnbeleuyng Iewes, stirred vp, and corrupted the myndes of the Gentiles agaynst the brethren.
Long tyme therfore abode they there, and quyt them selues boldely, with the helpe of the Lorde, which gaue testimonie vnto the worde of his grace, and graunted signes & wonders to be done by their handes.
But the multitude of the citie was deuided: and part 〈◊〉 with the Iewes, and part with the Apostles.
And when there was an assault made both of the gentiles, and also of the Iewes, with their rulers, to do them violence, and to stone them,
They were ware of it, and fled vnto Lystra & Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and vnto the regio{n} that lieth rounde about:
And there preached the Gospell.
And there sate a certayne man at Lystra, weake in his feete, beyng a creple from his mothers wombe, and neuer had walked.
The same hearde Paul speake: which beholdyng hym, and perceauyng that he had fayth to be whole,
Sayde with a loude voyce: stande vpryght on thy feete. And he start vp, and walked.
And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lyft vp their voyces, saying in the speache of Lycaoma: Gods are come downe to vs in the lykenesse of men.
And they called Barnabas Iupiter, and Paul Mercurius, because he was the chiefe speaker.
Then Iupiters priest, which was before their citie, brought oxen and garlandes vnto the doore, and woulde haue done sacrifice with the people.
Which when the Apostles, Barnabas & Paul heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying,
And saying: Sirs, why do ye these thynges? We are mortall men lyke vnto you, and preach vnto you, that ye shoulde turne from these vanities, vnto the lyuyng God, which made heauen and earth, and the sea, and all thynges that are therin.
The which in tymes past suffred all nations to walke in their owne wayes.
Neuerthelesse, he left not hym selfe without witnesse, in that he shewed his benefites from heauen, in geuyng vs rayne and fruitefull seasons, fillyng our heartes with foode and gladnesse.
And with these sayinges, scarce refrayned they the people, that they had not done sacrifice vnto them.
Then thyther came certayne Iewes from Antioche and Iconium: which, whe{n} they had perswaded the people, and had stoned Paule, drewe hym out of the citie, supposyng he had ben dead.
Howbeit, as the disciples stoode round about hym, he arose vp, and came into the citie: And the next day, he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
And when they had preached to that citie, and had taught many, they returned agayne to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioche,
And strengthed the disciples soules agayne, and exhorted them to continue in the fayth, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kyngdome of God.
And when they had ordeyned them elders by election in euery Churche, and had prayed, with fastyng, they commended them to the Lorde, on whom they beleued.
And when they had gone throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia,
And when they had spoken the worde in Perga, they descended into Attalia,
And thence departed by shippe to Antioche, from whence they were committed vnto the grace of God, to the worke which they fulfylled.
And when they were come, and had gathered the Churche together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, & howe he had opened the doore of fayth vnto the gentiles.
And there they abode long tyme with the disciples.
AND certayne men whiche came downe fro{m} Iurie, taught the brethren, except ye be circumcised after the maner of Moyses, ye can not be saued.
So, when there was rysen discention and disputyng, not a litle vnto Paul and Barnabas, agaynst them: they determyned that Paul and Barnabas, and certayne other of them, shoulde go vp to Hierusalem, vnto the Apostles and elders, about this question.
And after they were brought on their way by {th}e Churche, they passed through Phenices and Samaria, declaryng the conuersation of the gentiles, and they brought great ioy vnto all the brethen.
And when they were come to Hierusalem, they were receaued of {th}e Church, and of the Apostles and elders: And they declared all thynges that God had done with them.
Then rose vp certayne of the sect of the pharisees, which dyd beleue, saying that it was needefull to circumcise the{m}, and to commaunde to kepe the lawe of Moyses.
And the Apostles and elders came together, for to consider of this matter.
And when there had ben much disputyng, Peter rose vp, and sayde vnto the{m}: Ye men & brethren, ye knowe how that a good while ago, God did chose among vs, that the gentiles by my mouth, shoulde heare the worde of the Gospel, and beleue.
And God whiche knoweth the heartes, bare them witnesse, and gaue vnto them the holy ghost, euen as he dyd vnto vs:
And put no difference betwene vs and them, purifiyng their heartes by fayth.
Nowe therfore, why tempt ye God, to put on the disciples neckes, the yoke which neither our fathers nor we were able to beare?
But we beleue, that through the grace of the Lorde Iesu Christe, we shalbe saued, euen as they.
Then all the multitude was scilent, and gaue audience to Barnabas and Paul, which tolde what signes and wonders, God had shewed among the gentiles by them.
And when they helde their peace, Iames aunswered, saying: Men and brethren, hearken vnto me.
Simeon tolde, howe God at the begynnyng dyd visite, to receaue of the gentiles, a people in his name.
And to this agree the wordes of the prophetes, as it is written:
After this I wyll returne, and wyll buylde agayne the tabernacle of Dauid, which is fallen downe: and that which is fallen in decay of it, wyll I buylde agayne, and I wyll set it vp:
That the residue of men myght seke after the Lorde, and all the gentiles vpon whom my name is called, sayth the Lorde, which doth all these thynges.
Knowen vnto God are all his workes from the begynnyng of the worlde.
Wherfore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the gentiles, are turned to God:
But that we write vnto them, that they absteyne themselues from fylthyneste of idols, and fro{m} fornication, and from strangled, and from blood.
For Moyses of olde tyme, hath in euery citie, them that preache hym in the synagogues, when he is read euery Sabboth day.
Then pleased it the Apostles & elders, with the whole Church, to sende chosen me{n} of their owne companie to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas: [That is] Iudas, whose sirname was Barsabas, and Silas, which were chiefe men among the brethren,
And wrote letters by them, after this maner.
The Apostles, and elders, & brethren, sende greetinges vnto {th}e brethren, which are of the gentiles in Antiochia, Syria, & Cilicia. Forasmuch as we haue heard, that certayne which departed from vs, haue troubled you with wordes, & cumbred your myndes, saying ye must be circumcised and kepe the lawe, to who{m} we gaue no such commaundent:
It seemed therfore to vs a good thing, when we were come together with one accorde, to sende chosen men vnto you, with our beloued Barnabas and Paul,
Men that haue ieoparded their lyues, for {th}e name of our Lorde Iesus Christe.
We haue sent therefore Iudas and Silas, which shall also tell you {th}e same thynges by mouth.
For it seemed good to the holy ghost, and to vs, to charge you with no more then these necessarie thynges [That is to say]
That ye abstayne from thynges offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication: From which yf ye kepe your selues, ye shall do well. So fare ye well.
Nowe therfore, when they were departed, they came to Antioche, and gathered the multitude together, and delyuered the epistle.
Which when they had read, they reioyced of the consolation.
And Iudas, and Silas, beyng prophetes, exhorted {th}e brethren with many wordes, and strengthed them.
And after they had taryed there a space, they were let go in peace of the brethren, vnto the Apostles.
Notwithstandyng, it pleased Silas to abyde there styll.
Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioche, teachyng and preachyng the worde of the Lorde, with other many.
But after a certayne space, Paul sayde vnto Barnabas: Let vs go agayne, and visite our brethren, in euery citie where we haue shewed {th}e worde of the Lorde, [and see] howe they do.
And Barnabas gaue counsell to take with them Iohn, whose sirname was Marke.
But Paul woulde not take hym vnto their companie, which departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the worke.
And the contention was so sharpe betwene the{m}, that they departed a sunder, one from the other, and so Barnabas toke Marke, & sayled vnto Cypers.
And Paul chose Silas, and departed, beyng committed of the brethren vnto the grace of God.
And he went through Cyria & Cilicia, stablisshyng the Churches.
THen came he to Derbe and to Lystra: And beholde, a certayne disciple was there, named Timotheus, a womans sonne which was a Iewesse, and beleued: but his father was a Greke.
Of whom the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium, reported well.
Paul woulde that he should go foorth with hym, and toke & circumcised hym, because of the Iewes, which were in those quarters: for they knewe all, that his father was a Greke.
And as they went through the cities, they delyuered them the decrees for to kepe, that were ordayned of {th}e Apostles and elders, which were at Hierusalem.
And so were the Churches stablisshed in the fayth, and encreased in number dayly.
Nowe when they had gone throughout Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the holy ghost to preache the worde in Asia,
They commyng to Mysia, sought to go into Bithynia: but the spirite suffred them not.
And they passyng through Mysia, came downe to Troada.
And a vision appeared to Paul in the nyght: There stoode a man of Macedonia, and prayed hym, saying: Come into Macedonia, and helpe vs.
And after he had seene {th}e visio{n}, immediatly we prepared to go into Macedonia, beyng certified that {th}e Lorde had called vs, for to preache the Gospel vnto them.
When we loosed foorth then from Troada, we came with a strayght course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis:
And from thence, to Philippos, which is the chiefe citie in the partes of Macedonia, and a free citie: And we were in that citie abydyng certayne dayes.
And on the day of the Sabbothes, we went out of the citie, besydes a ryuer, where prayer was wont to be made: And we sate downe, and spake vnto the women which resorted thyther.
And a certayne woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the citie of the Thyatirians, which worshipped God, gaue vs audience: Whose hearte the Lorde opened, that she attended vnto the thynges which Paul spake.
And when she was baptized, and her householde, she besought vs, saying: Yf ye haue iudged me to be faythfull to the Lorde, come into my house, and abyde there. And she constrayned vs.
And it came to passe, as we went to prayer, a certayne damsell, possessed with a spirite of southsaying met vs: which brought her maisters much vantage with southsaying.
The same folowed Paul and vs, and cryed, saying: These men are the seruauntes of the most hye God, which shewe vnto vs the way of saluation.
And this dyd she many dayes. But Paul not content, turned about, & sayde to the spirite, I commaunde thee in the name of Iesu Christe, that thou come out of her. And he came out the same houre.
And when her maisters sawe that the hope of their gaynes was gone, they caught Paul & Silas, and drewe them into the market place, vnto the rulers,
And brought them to the officers, saying: These men trouble our citie, being Iewes:
And preache ordinaunces, which are not lawfull for vs to receaue, neither to obserue, seeyng we are Romanes.
And the people ran agaynst them, and the officers rent their clothes, and commaunded them to be beaten with roddes.
And when they had beaten them sore, they cast them into pryson, commaundyng the iayler of the pryson to kepe them diligently.
Which when he had receaued such commaundement, thrust them into the inner pryson, and made their feete fast in the stockes.
And at mydnyght Paul and Silas prayed, and lauded God. And the prysoners hearde them.
And sodenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of the pryson was shaken, and immediatly all the doores opened, and euery mans bandes were loosed.
When the keper of the pryson waked out of his sleepe, and sawe the pryson doores open, he drewe out his sworde and woulde haue kylled hym selfe, supposyng that the prysoners had ben fled.
But Paul cryed with a loude voyce, saying: Do thy selfe no harme, for we are all here.
Then he called for a lyght, and sprang in, and came tremblyng, and fell downe before Paul and Silas,
And brought them out, & sayde: Syrs, what must I do to be saued?
And they sayde: beleue on the Lorde Iesus Christe, and thou shalt be saued, and thy householde.
And they spake vnto hym the worde of the Lorde, and to all that were in his house.
And he toke them the same houre of the nyght, and wasshed their woundes, and was baptized hym selfe, & all they of his householde strayghtway.
And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and ioyed that he with all his householde beleued on God.
And when it was day, the officers sent the sergeauntes, saying: Let these men go.
And the keper of the pryson tolde this saying to Paul, the officers haue sent worde to loose you. Nowe therfore, get you hence, and go in peace.
Then sayde Paul vnto them: They haue beaten vs openly vncondempned, beyng Romanes, and haue cast vs into pryson: and nowe woulde they thrust vs out priuily? Nay veryly, but let them come them selues, and fet vs out.
And the sergeaunts tolde these wordes vnto the officers, and they feared when they hearde that they were Romanes.
And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired the{m} to depart out of the citie.
And they went out of the pryson, and entred into the [house] of Lydia, & when they had seene the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
AS they made their iourney thorowe Amphipolis, and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Iewes.
And Paul, as his maner was, went in vnto them, and three Sabboth dayes disputed with the{m} out of the scriptures,
Openyng and alleagyng, that Christ must needes haue suffred, and rysen agayne from the dead, and that this is Christe Iesus, which I preache to you.
And some of them beleued, and ioyned with Paul and Silas, and of the deuout Grekes a great multitude, and of the chiefe women not a fewe.
But the Iewes whiche beleued not, moued with enuie, toke vnto them certaine vagaboundes and euyll men, and gathered a companie, and set all the citie on a rore, and made assault vnto the house of Iason, & sought to bryng them out to the people.
And when they founde them not, they drewe Iason and certaine brethren vnto the heades of the citie, crying: these that trouble the world, are come hyther also,
Whom Iason hath receaued [priuily.] And these al do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another kyng [one] Iesus.
And they troubled the people, and the officers of the citie, when they hearde these thynges.
And when they were sufficiently aunswered of Iason, and of the other, they let them go.
And the brethren immediatlye sent away Paul & Silas by nyght, vnto Berea: Which when they were come thyther, they entred into the synagogue of the Iewes.
These were the noblest of birth among them of Thessalonica, which receaued the worde with all redynesse of mynde, and searched the scriptures dayly, whether those thynges were so.
Therfore many of them beleued. Also of honest women which were Grekes, and of men not a fewe.
But when the Iewes of Thessalonica had knowledge that {th}e worde of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thyther and moued the people.
And then immediatly the brethren sent away Paul, to go as it were to the sea: but Silas & Timotheus abode there styll.
And they that guyded Paul, brought hym vnto Athens, and receaued a commaundement vnto Silas & Timotheus for to come to hym with speede, & went their way.
Whyle Paul wayted for them at Athens, his spirite was moued in hym, when he sawe the citie geue{n} to worshippyng of idoles.
Therfore disputed he in the synagogue with the Iewes, and with the deuout persons, and in the market dayly with them that came vnto hym by chaunce.
Then certaine philosophers of the Epicures, and of the Stoickes disputed with hym. And some saide: What wyll this babler say? Other some, he seemeth to be a setter foorth of newe gods: because he preached vnto them Iesus, and the resurrection.
And they toke hym, and brought him into Marce streate, saying: Maye we not knowe what this newe doctrine wherof thou speakest is?
For thou bryngest certaine straunge thinges to our eares: We would knowe therfore what these thynges meane.
For all the Athenians and straungers which were there, gaue them selues to nothing els, but either to tell or to heare some newe thyng.
Then Paul stoode in the myddes of Marce streate, and sayde: ye men of Athens, I perceaue that in all thynges ye are to superstitious.
For as I passed by, and behelde the maner howe ye worship your gods, I founde an aulter, wherin was written, vnto the vnknowe{n} god. Whom ye then ignorauntly worship, him shewe I vnto you.
God that made the worlde, & all that are in it, seing that he is Lorde of heaue{n} and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with handes:
Neither is worshipped with mens handes, as though he needed of any thing, seing he him selfe geueth life and breath to all, euery where.
And hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all {th}e face of the earth, & hath determined the tymes before appoynted, and also the boundes of their habitation:
That they shoulde seke the Lorde, yf perhappes they myght haue felt and founde hym, though he be not farre fro{m} euery one of vs.
For in hym we liue, and moue, & haue our beyng, as certaine of your owne poetes sayde: for we are also his ofspryng.
Forasmuch then as we are the ofspring of God, we ought not to thynke that the Godhead is lyke vnto golde, siluer, or stone, grauen by art, and mans deuice.
And the tyme of this ignoraunce God wyncked at: but nowe byddeth all men euery where to repent:
Because he hath appoynted a day in the which he wyll iudge the worlde in ryghteousnesse, by that man by whom he hath appoynted, and hath offered fayth to all men, in that he hath raysed hym from the dead.
And when they hearde of the resurrection from the dead, some mocked, and other sayde, we wyll heare thee agayne of this matter.
So Paul departed from among them.
Howe be it, certaine men claue vnto hym, and beleued: among the whiche was Denys Areopagita, and a woman named Damaris, & other with them.
AFter these thynges, Paul departed fro{m} Athens, & came to Corinth,
And found a certaine Iewe, named Aquila, borne in Ponthus, lately come fro{m} Italie with his wyfe Priscilla (because that Claudius had commaunded all Iewes to depart from Rome) and he came vnto them.
And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought (for their craft was to make tentes)
And he disputed in the synagogue euery Sabboth, and exhorted the Iewes and the Grekes.
And when Silas and Timotheus were come fro{m} Macedonia, Paul was constrayned by the spirite to testifie to the Iewes that Iesus was Christe.
And when they sayde contrary, and blasphemed, he shoke his rayment, & said vnto them: Your blood be vpon your owne heades. From hencefoorth wyll I go blamelesse vnto the gentiles.
And he departed thence, and entred into a certaine mans house, named Iustus, a worshipper of God, whose house ioyned harde to the synagogue.
And one Crispus the chiefe ruler of the synagogue beleued on the Lorde, with all his housholde: and many of the Corinthians hearyng, beleued, and were baptized.
Then spake the Lorde to Paul in the nyght by a vision: Be not afrayde, but speake, and holde not thy peace:
For I am with thee, and no man shal inuade thee to hurt thee. For I haue much people in this citie.
And he continued there a yere and sixe monethes, and taught the word of God among them.
And when Gallio was the deputie of Achaia, the Iewes made insurrection with one accord against Paul, & brought hym to the iudgement seate,
Saying: This felow counselleth men to worship God contrary to the lawe.
And when Paul nowe was about to open his mouth, Gallio sayde vnto the Iewes: Yf it were a matter of wrong, or an euyll deede, O ye Iewes, reason woulde that I shoulde beare with you:
But yf it be a question of wordes and names, or of your lawe, loke ye to it your selues: for I wyll be no iudge of such matters.
And he braue them fro{m} the iudgement seate.
Then all the Grekes toke Sostenes the chiefe ruler of {th}e synagogue, & smote hym before the iudgement seate: And Gallio cared for none of those thinges.
And Paul after this, taried there yet a good whyle, and then toke his leaue of the brethren, & sayled thence into Syria, (Aquila & Priscilla accompanying him) And he shore his head in Cenchrea, for he had a vowe.
And he came to Ephesus, and left the{m} there, but he hym selfe entred into the synagogue, & reasoned with {th}e Iewes.
When they desired him to tary longer tyme with them, he consented not:
But bade them farewell, saying, I must needes at this feast that commeth be in Hierusalem: but I wyll returne agayne vnto you yf God wyll. And he sayled from Ephesus.
And whe{n} he was come vnto Cesarea, and ascended vp & saluted the Churche, he went to Antioche.
And whe{n} he had taried there a while, he departed, and went ouer al the countrey of Galatia and Phrygia by order, strengthyng all the disciples.
And a certaine Iewe, named Apollos, borne at Alexandria, came to Ephesus, an eloquent man, and myghtie in the scriptures.
The same was infourmed in the way of the Lorde, and spake feruently in the spirite, & taught diligently the thynges of the Lorde, and knewe but the baptisme of Iohn only.
And the same began to speake boldly in the synagogue. Whom when Aquila and Priscilla had hearde, they toke him vnto them, and expounded vnto him the way of God more perfectly.
And when he was disposed to go into Achaia, the brethre{n} wrote, exhorting the disciples to receaue hym: Which when he was come, helped them much which had beleued through grace.
For he ouercame the Iewes myghtilye, and that openly, shewyng by the scriptures, that Iesus was Christe.
AND it came to passe, {tha}t whyle Apollo was at Corinth, Paul passed through the vpper coastes, and came to Ephesus, and founde certaine disciples,
And sayde vnto them: Haue ye receaued the holy ghost sence ye beleued? And they saide vnto hym: We haue not hearde whether there be any holy ghost or no.
And he sayde vnto them: Vnto what then were ye baptized? And they sayde: vnto Iohns baptisme.
Then sayde Paul: Iohn veryly baptized with the baptisme of repentaunce, saying vnto the people, that they should beleue on hym which shoulde come after hym, that is, on Christe Iesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lorde Iesu.
And whe{n} Paul had layde his handes vpon them, the holy ghost came on the{m}, and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
And all the men were about twelue.
And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldlye for the space of three monethes, disputyng & perswadyng those thynges that appertayne to the kyngdome of God.
But when diuers waxed harde hearted, and beleued not, but spake euyll of the way [of the Lorde) and that before the multitude, he departed from them, & seperated {th}e disciples. And he disputed dayly in the scoole of one called Tyrannus.
And this continued by the space of two yeres, so that all they whiche dwelt in Asia, hearde the worde of the Lord Iesu, both Iewes and Grekes.
And God wrought speciall miracles by the handes of Paul.
So that from his body, were brought vnto the sicke, napkins, and partlettes, and the diseases departed from them, & the euyll spirites went out of them.
Then certaine of the vagabounde Iewes, exorcistes, toke vpon them to call ouer them which had euyll spirites, the name of the Lorde Iesus, saying: We adiure you by Iesus, whom Paul preacheth.
And there were seuen sonnes of one Sceua a Iewe, and chiefe of {th}e priestes, which dyd so.
And the euyll spirite aunswered, and sayde, Iesus I knowe, and Paul I knowe: but who are ye?
And the man in whom the euyll spirite was, ran on them, & ouercame the{m}, & preuayled agaynst them, so that they fled out of that house naked & wou{n}ded.
And this was knowen to all {th}e Iewes & Grekes also which dwelt at Ephesus, and feare came on them all, & the name of the Lorde Iesus was magnified.
And many that beleued, came & confessed, and shewed their workes.
Many also of the{m} whiche vsed curious craftes, brought their bookes, & burned them before all men, and they counted the price of them, & founde it fiftie thousande peeces of syluer.
So myghtyly grew the word of God, and preuayled.
After these thinges were ended, Paul purposed in the spirite, when he had passed ouer Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Hierusalem, saying: After I haue ben there, I must also see Rome.
So sent he into Macedonia two of them that ministred vnto hym, Timotheus and Erastus, but he hym selfe remayned in Asia for a season.
And the same time there arose no litle a do about that way.
For a certaine man, named Demetrius, a syluer smyth, which made shrines for Diana, was not a litle beneficiall vnto the craftes men.
Whom he called together, with the workemen of like occupation, and sayde: Sirs, ye knowe that by this craft we haue aduauntage.
Moreouer, ye see and heare, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath perswaded and turned away much people, saying that they be not gods which are made with handes.
So that not only this our craft commeth into peryll to be set at naught, but also that the temple of {th}e great goddesse Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the worlde worshippeth.
And when they hearde these sayinges, they were full of wrath, and cryed out, saying: great is Diana of {th}e Ephesians.
And all the citie was on a rore, & they russhed into the common hall with one assent, and caught Gaius & Aristarcus, men of Macedonia, Paules companious.
When Paule woulde haue entred in vnto {th}e people, the disciples suffred hym not.
But certaine of {th}e chiefe of Asia, which were his friendes, sent vnto hym, desiryng hym that he would not preasse into the common hall.
Some therfore cryed one thyng, and some another, and the assemblie was all out of quiet, and the more part knew not wherfore they were come together.
And they drewe Alexander out of the multitude, the Iewes thrustyng hym forwardes. And Alexander beckened with the hande, and would haue geuen the people an aunswere.
But when they knewe that he was a Iewe, there arose a shoute almost for the space of two houres, of all men, crying: great is Diana of the Ephesians.
And when the towne clarke had pacified the people, he sayde: Ye men of Ephesus, what man is it that knoweth not how that the citie of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddesse Diana, and of the [image] whiche came downe from Iupiter?
Seing then that these thinges can not be spoken against, ye ought to be conte{n}t, and to do nothyng rasshely.
For ye haue brought hyther these men, which are neither robbers of Churches nor yet despisers of your goddesse.
Wherfore, yf Demetrius & the craftes men which are with hym, haue a matter agaynst any man, the lawe is open, and there are deputies, let them accuse one another.
But yf ye inquire any thyng concernyng other matters, it shalbe determined in a lawfull assemblie.
For we are in ieopardie to be accused of this dayes vprore, forasmuch as there is no cause, wherby we may geue a reckenyng of this concourse of people.
And when he had thus spoken, he let the assemblie depart.
AND after the vprore was ceassed, Paul called the disciples, & toke his leaue of them, and departed, for to go into Macedonia.
And whe{n} he had gone ouer those parties, and had geuen them a long exhortation, he came into Grece.
And [there] abode three monethes. And when the Iewes layde wayte for hym as he was about to sayle into Syria, he purposed to returne through Macedonia.
And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berrea, and of the Thessalonians Aristarcus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe and Timotheus, and out of Asia Tychicus and Trophimus.
These going before, taried vs at Troas.
And we sayled away fro{m} Philippos, after the dayes of sweete bread, & came vnto the{m} to Troas in fiue dayes, where we abode seuen dayes.
And vpon one of the Sabboth dayes, when the disciples came together for to breake bread, Paul reasoned with the{m}, redy to depart on the morowe, and continued the worde vnto mydnyght.
And there were many lyghtes in an vpper chamber, where they were gathered together.
And there sate in a window a certaine young man, named Eutychus, being fallen into a deepe sleepe: And as Paul was long reasonyng, he was the more ouercome with sleepe, and fell downe from the thirde loft, and was taken vp dead.
But whe{n} Paul went downe, he fell on hym, and imbraced hym, & saide: make nothyng a do, for his lyfe is in hym.
And so when he was come vp againe, and had broken bread and eaten, & talked a long while, euen tyll the morning, and so he departed.
And they brought the young man alyue, and were not a litle comforted.
And we went afore to shippe, & loosed vnto Asson, there to receaue Paul: For so had he appoynted, and woulde hym selfe go a foote.
And when he was come to vs to Asso{n}, we toke hym in, and came to Mytilene.
And we sayled thence, and came the next day ouer agaynst Chios: and the next daye we arryued at Samos, and taryed at . The next day we came to Miletum:
For Paul had determined to sayle ouer by Ephesus, because he would not spend the tyme in Asia. For he hasted, yf it were possible for hym, to kepe at Hierusalem the day of Pentecost.
And from Miletum, he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the Church.
Which when they were come to hym, he saide vnto them: Ye knowe from the first daye that I came into Asia, after what maner I haue ben with you at all seasons.
Seruyng the Lorde with all humblenesse of mynde, and with many teares, and temptations whiche came vnto me by the layinges awayte of the Iewes:
And howe I kept backe nothing that was profitable vnto you, but haue shewed you, and haue taught you openly, and throughout euery house.
Witnessyng both to the Iewes & also to the Grekes, the repentaunce that is towarde God, and the fayth whiche is towarde our Lorde Iesus.
And nowe beholde I go bounde in the spirite vnto Hierusale{m}, not knowyng the thynges that shall come vnto me:
But that the holy ghost witnesseth in euery citie, saying that bondes & trouble abyde me.
But none of these thynges moue me, neither is my lyfe deare vnto my selfe, so that I myght fulfyll my course with ioy, and the ministerie whiche I haue receaued of the Lorde Iesu, to testifie the Gospell of the grace of God.
And nowe beholde, I am sure that hencefoorth ye al, through who{m} I haue gone preachyng the kyngdome of God, shall see my face no more.
Wherefore, I take you to recorde this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
For I haue kept nothyng backe, but haue shewed you all {th}e counsell of God.
Take heede therfore vnto your selues, and to all the flocke, ouer the which the holy ghost hath made you ouerseers, to rule the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his owne blood.
For I knowe this, that after my departyng, shall greeuous wolfes enter in among you, not sparyng the flocke.
Also of your owne selues shall men aryse, speakyng peruerse thynges, to drawe disciples after them.
Therfore watch, and remember that by the space of three yeres I ceassed not to warne euery one night and day with teares.
And nowe brethren I commende you to God, and to the worde of his grace, which is able to buylde further, and to geue you an inheritaunce among all the{m} which are sanctified.
I haue desired no mans syluer, golde, or vesture.
Yea, ye your selues knowe, that these handes haue ministred vnto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
I haue shewed you all thinges, howe that so labouryng ye ought to receaue the weake, and to remember {th}e wordes of the Lorde Iesu, howe that he said, it is more blessed to geue, then to receaue.
And when he hadde thus spoken, he kneled downe, & prayed with them all.
And they all wepte sore, and fell on Paules necke, and kyssed hym,
Sorowyng most of all for the wordes whiche he spake, that they shoulde see his face no more. And they accompanied hym vnto the shippe.
ANd when it came to passe that we had lau{n}ched forth, and were departed from them, we came with a straight course vnto Choos, and the day folowyng vnto the Rhodes, and from thence vnto Patara.
And when we had gotten a shippe that woulde sayle vnto Phenice, we went aboorde, and set foorth.
Nowe when Cyprus began to appeare vnto vs, we left it on the left hande, and sayled into Syria, and came vnto Tyre: For there the shippe vnladed the burthen.
And when we had founde disciples, we taryed there seuen dayes: who said to Paule through the spirite, that he shoulde not go vp to Hierusalem.
And when the dayes were ended, we departed, and went our way, and they all brought vs on our way, with wyues and chyldren, tyll we were come out of the citie. And we kneeled downe in the shore, and prayed.
And whe{n} we had taken our leaue one of another, we toke shippe, and they returned home agayne.
When we had full ended the course from Tyre, we went downe to Ptolomaida, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
And the next daye, they that were of Paules companie departed, and came vnto Cesarea: And we entred into the house of Philip the Euangelist (which was one of the seuen) and abode with hym.
And the same man had foure daughters, virgins, which dyd prophesie.
And as we taryed there a good many of dayes, there came a certaine prophete from Iurie, named Agabus.
And when he was come vnto vs, he toke Paules girdle, & bounde his owne handes and feete, & sayde: Thus sayth the holy ghost, so shall the Iewes at Hierusalem bynde the man that oweth this girdle, and shall delyuer hym into the handes of the gentiles.
And when we hearde these thynges, both we and other whiche were of the same place, besought him that he would not go vp to Hierusalem.
Then Paule aunswered: What do ye weepyng and vexyng myne heart? For I am redy, not to be bounde only, but also to dye at Hierusalem for the name of the Lorde Iesu.
And when we coulde not turne his mynde, we ceassed, saying: the wyll of the Lorde be fulfylled.
And after those dayes, we toke vp our burthens, and went vp to Hierusalem.
There went with vs also [certayne] of the disciples of Cesarea, & brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an olde disciple, with whom we shoulde lodge.
And when we were come to Hierusalem, the brethren receaued vs gladly.
And on the morowe, Paule went in with vs vnto Iames, and all the elders came together.
And when he had saluted them, he tolde by order all thinges that God had wrought among the gentiles by his ministerie.
And when they hearde it, they glorified the Lorde, & sayde vnto hym: Thou seest brother, howe many thousande Iewes there are which beleue, & they are all earnest folowers of the lawe.
And they are infourmed of thee, that thou teachest all the Iewes whiche are among the Gentiles to forsake Moyses, and sayest that they ought not to circu{m}cise their chyldren, neither to walke after the customes.
What is it therefore? The multitude must needes come together: For they shall heare that thou art come.
Do therfore this that we saye to thee. We haue foure men, which haue a vow on them:
Them take, & purifie thy selfe with them, and do coste on them, that they may shaue their heades: And all shall knowe, that those thynges whiche they haue hearde concernyng thee, are nothyng, but that thou thy selfe also walkest and kepest the lawe.
As touchyng the Gentiles which beleue, we haue written and concluded, that they obserue no suche thyng, saue only that they kepe them selues from thynges offered to idoles, & from blood, and from strangled, & from fornication.
Then Paul toke the men, and the next day purifiyng hym selfe with them, entred into the temple, declaryng the accomplishement of the dayes of the purification, vntyll that an offeryng should be offered for euery one of them.
And when the seuen dayes were almost ended, the Iewes which were of Asia, when they sawe hym in the temple, moued al the people, & layde handes on hym,
Crying: Men of Israel helpe. This is the man that teacheth all men euery where against the people, and the lawe, and this place: He hath also brought Grekes into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
For they had seene before with hym in the citie Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.
And all the citie was moued, and the people swarmed together: And they toke Paul & drewe hym out of the temple, & foorthwith the doores were shut.
And as they went about to kyll hym, tydynges came vnto the hye captaine of the souldiers, that all Hierusalem was in an vprore.
Which immediatly toke souldiers, and vnder captaines, and ran downe vnto them: And when they sawe the vpper captaine and the souldiers, they left smytyng of Paul.
Then the chiefe captaine came neare, & toke hym, and co{m}maunded hym to be bounde with two chaynes, & demaunded who he was, & what he had done.
And some cryed one thyng, some another, among the people. And when he coulde not knowe the certaintie for the rage, he commaunded him to be caryed into the castle.
And when he came vpon the stayres, it was so that he was borne of the souldyers for the violence of the people.
For the multitude of the people folowed after, crying, away with hym.
And when Paul began to be caryed into the castle, he saide vnto the hye captaine: May I speake vnto thee? Who sayde: Canst thou speake Greke?
Art not thou that Egyptian which before these dayes madest an vprore, and leddest out into the wyldernesse foure thousande men that were murtherers?
But Paul saide: I am a man which am a Iewe, of Tarsus, a citie in Cilicia, a citezin of no vyle citie, and I beseche the suffer me to speake vnto the people.
And when he had geuen hym licence, Paul stoode on the stayres, & beckened with {th}e hande vnto the people: And whe{n} there was made a great scile{n}ce, he spake vnto them in the Hebrue tongue, saying:
MEn, brethren, & fathers, heare ye mine aunswer whiche I make vnto you.
(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrue tongue to the{m}, they kept {th}e more scilence. And he saith:)
I am verily a man which am a Iewe, borne in Tarsus in Cilicia, and yet brought vp in this citie at {th}e feete of Gamaliel, and infourmed accordyng to the perfect maner of the lawe of {th}e fathers, and was zelous towarde God, as ye all are this same day.
And I persecuted this way vnto the death, byndyng & delyueryng into prison both men and women,
As also the chiefe priest doth beare me witnesse, and all the estate of the elders: of whom also I receaued letters vnto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bryng them whiche were there, bounde vnto Hierusalem for to be punisshed.
And it came to passe, that as I made my iourney, & was come nye vnto Damascus, about noone, sodeinly there shone from heauen a great light rounde about me.
And I fell vnto the earth, and hearde a voyce saying vnto me: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me:
And I aunswered: Who art thou Lorde? And he sayde vnto me: I am Iesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest.
And they that were with me, sawe veryly a lyght, and were afrayde: but they hearde not the voyce of hym that spake with me.
And I saide: What shall I do Lord? And the Lorde sayde vnto me: Aryse, and go into Damascus, & there it shalbe tolde thee of all thynges whiche are appoynted for thee to do.
And when I sawe nothyng for the bryghtnesse of the lyght, I was ledde by the hande of the{m} that were with me, and came into Damascus.
And one Ananias, a deuout man as perteynyng to the lawe, hauyng a good report of all the Iewes whiche there dwelt,
Came vnto me, and stoode, and sayde vnto me: Brother Saul, receaue thy syght. And the same houre I [receaued my syght, and] sawe hym.
And he said: The God of our fathers hath ordeyned thee before, that thou shouldest knowe his wyll, and see that iuste one, and shouldest heare the voyce of his mouth.
For thou shalt be his witnesse vnto all men, of those thynges which thou hast seene and hearde:
And nowe why taryest thou? aryse, & be baptized, & wasshe away thy sinnes, in callyng on the name of the Lorde.
And it came to passe, that whe{n} I was come agayne to Hierusalem, and prayed in the temple, I was in a traunce,
And sawe him, saying vnto me: Make haste and get thee quickly out of Hierusalem: for they wyl not receaue thy witnesse concernyng me.
And I sayde: Lord, they knowe that I prisoned and beat in euery synagogue them that beleued on thee.
And when the blood of thy wytnesse Steuen was shedde, I also stoode by, and consented vnto his death, and kept the rayment of them that slue hym.
And he sayde vnto me: depart, for I wyll sende thee farre hence vnto the gentiles.
And they gaue him audience vnto this worde, and then lift vp their voyces and sayde: away with suche a felowe from the earth, for it is no reason {tha}t he shoulde lyue.
And as they cryed, and caste of their clothes, and threwe dust into the ayre,
The chiefe captaine co{m}maunded hym to be brought into the castle, & bade that he shoulde be scourged, and examined, that he myght knowe wherefore they cryed so on hym.
And as they bou{n}de him with thonges, Paul saide vnto {th}e Centurion that stoode by: Is it lawfull for you to scourge a man that is a Romane, and vncondempned?
When the Centurion hearde that, he went and tolde the vpper captaine, saying: Take heede what thou doest, for this man is a Romane.
Then the vpper captaine came, & saide vnto him: Tel me, art thou a Romane? He sayde, yea.
And the chiefe captaine aunswered: With a great summe obteyned I this freedome. And Paul saide: I was free borne.
Then strayghtway departed fro{m} him they which should haue examined him. And the hie captaine also was afrayde, after he knew that he was a Romane, and because he had bounde hym.
On the morowe, because he woulde haue knowen the certaintie wherefore he was accused of the Iewes, he loosed hym from his bandes, and commaunded the hye priestes & all the counsell to come together, & brought Paul foorth, and set hym before them.
AND Paul earnestlie beholdyng the counsell, saide: Men & brethren, I haue lyued in al good conscience before God vntyll this day.
And {th}e hye priest Ananias, commaunded the{m} that stoode by, to smyte hym on the mouth.
Then sayde Paul vnto him: God shall smite thee thou paynted wall: For, sittest thou & iudgest me after the lawe, & co{m}maundest me to be smitten contrary to the lawe?
And they that stoode by, sayde: Reuilest thou Gods hye priest?
Then sayde Paul: I wyst not brethren, that he was the hye priest. For it is written: Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people.
But when Paul perceaued that the one part were saducees, and the other pharisees, he cryed out in the counsell: Men and brethren, I am a pharisee, the sonne of a pharisee: Of the hope & resurrection of the dead, I am iudged.
And when he had so sayde, there arose a debate betwene the pharisees and the saducees, & the multitude was deuided.
For the saducees say, that there is no resurrection, neither Angel, nor spirite: But the pharisees confesse both.
And there arose a great crye: and whe{n} the scribes which were of the pharisees part arose, they stroue, saying, We fynde none euyll in this man: But yf a spirite or an Angel hath spoken to hym, let vs not striue agaynst God.
And when there arose a great debate, the chiefe captayne, fearyng lest Paul shoulde haue ben pluckt asunder of the{m}, co{m}maunded the souldiers to go downe, and to take him from among them, and to bryng hym into the castle.
And the nyght folowyng, the Lorde stoode by hym, and sayde: Be of good cheare Paul, for as thou hast testified of me in Hierusalem, so must thou beare witnesse also at Rome.
And when it was day, certayne of the Iewes gathered them selues together, and made a vowe, saying that they woulde neither eate nor drynke, tyl they had kylled Paul.
And they were mo then fourtie men, which had made this conspiracie.
And they came to the chiefe priestes and elders, and sayde: We haue bounde our selues with a vowe, that we wyll eate nothyng vntyll we haue slayne Paul.
Nowe therfore geue ye knowledge to the vpper captayne, and to the counsell, that he bryng hym foorth vnto you to morrowe, as though ye woulde knowe somethyng more perfectly of hym: And we, or euer he come neare, are redy to kyll hym.
And when Paules sisters sonne heard of their laying awaite, he went & entred into the castle, and tolde Paul.
And Paul called one of the vnder captaynes vnto hym, and sayde: Bryng this young man vnto the hye captayne, for he hath a certayne thyng to shewe hym.
And he toke hym, and brought hym to the hye captayne, and sayde: Paul the prisoner called me vnto him, and prayed me to bryng this young man vnto thee, which hath a certayne matter to shewe thee.
Then the hye captayne toke hym by the hande, and went with hym out of the way, and asked hym: What is it that thou hast to tell me?
And he sayde: The Iewes are determined to desire thee, that thou wouldest bryng foorth Paul to morowe into the counsell, as though they would enquire somewhat of hym more perfectly.
But folowe not thou their myndes: For there lye in wayte for him, of them, mo the{n} fourtie men, which haue bounde them selues with a vowe, that they will neither eate nor drynke, tyll they haue kylled hym. And nowe are they redy, and loke that thou shouldest promise.
The vpper captayne then let {th}e young man depart, and charged hym, see thou tell it out to no man, that thou hast shewed these thynges to me.
And he called vnto hym two vnder captaynes, saying: Make redy two hundred souldyers, to go to Cesarea, and horsmen threescore and ten, and spearemen two hundred, at the thirde houre of the nyght:
And delyuer them beastes, that they may set Paul on, and bryng hym safe vnto Felix the hye deputie.
And he wrote a letter, after this maner.
Claudius Lysias, vnto the most mightie ruler Felix, sendeth greetinges.
This man was taken of the Iewes, and shoulde haue ben kylled of them: Then came I with souldeirs, & rescued hym, and perceaued that he was a Romane.
And whe{n} I would haue knowen the cause, wherfore they accused hym, I brought hym foorth into their counsell.
Whom I perceaued to be accused of questions of their lawe, but was not gyltie of any thyng worthy of death, or of bondes.
And when it was shewed me howe that the Iewes layde wayte for the man, I sent [hym] strayghtway to thee, and gaue commaundement to his accusers, that the thynges which they haue agaynst hym, they shoulde tell before thee. Fare well.
Then the souldyers, as it was commaunded them, toke Paul, and brought hym by nyght to Antipatris.
On the morowe, they left the horsmen to go with hym, and returned vnto the castle.
Which when they came to Cesarea, and delyuered the epistle to the deputie, presented Paul also before hym.
And when the deputie had read [the letter] he asked of what cou{n}trey he was. And when he vnderstoode that he was of Celicia,
I wyll heare thee, sayde he, when thyne accusars are come also. And he co{m}maunded hym to be kept in Herodes iudgement hall.
AND after fyue dayes, Ananias the hie priest descended, with the elders, and with a certayne oratour, named Tartullus, which appeared before the deputie agaynst Paul.
And when Paul was called foorth, Tartullus began to accuse hym, saying: Seyng that we obtayned great quietnesse by the meanes of thee, and that many good thynges are done vnto this nation through thy prouidence,
That alowe we euer, & in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankes.
Notwithstandyng, that I be not tedious vnto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest heare vs of thy curtesie a fewe wordes.
For we haue founde this man a pestilent felowe, and a mouer of debate vnto all the Iewes in the whole worlde, and a maynteyner of the sect of the Nazarites.
And hath gone about to pollute the temple: Whom we toke, and woulde haue iudged accordyng to our lawe.
But the hye captayne Lysias, came vpon vs, and with great violence toke hym away out of our handes,
Commaundyng his accusers to come vnto thee: Of whom thou mayest, yf thou wilt enquire, knowe the certayntie of all these thynges, wherof we accuse hym.
And the Iewes lykewyse affirmed, saying that these thynges were so.
The{n} Paul, after that the deputie hym selfe had beckened vnto hym that he shoulde speake, aunswered: With a more quiet mynde do I aunswere for my selfe, forasmuch as I vnderstande, that thou haste ben of many yeres a iudge vnto this nation:
Because that thou mayest knowe, that there are yet but twelue dayes, sence I went vp to Hierusalem for to worshyp.
And they neither founde me in the temple disputyng with any man, either raysyng vp the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the citie.
Neither can they proue the thynges wherof they accuse me.
But this I confesse vnto thee, that after the way which they call heresie, so worship I the God of my fathers, beleuyng all thynges which are written in the lawe and the prophetes,
And haue hope towardes God, that the resurrection of the dead which they them selues loke for also, shalbe both of the iust and vniust.
And herein studie I, to haue alway a cleare conscience toward God, and toward men.
Nowe after many yeres, I came and brought almes to my nation, and offerynges:
In the which they founde me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor yet with vnquietnesse:
Howbeit, there were certayne Iewes out of Asia,
Which ought to be here present before thee, & accuse me, yf they had ought agaynst me:
Or els let these same here say, yf they haue founde any euyll doyng in me, whyle I stande here in the counsell:
Except it be for this one voyce, that I cryed standyng among them, of the resurrection from the dead, am I iudged of you this day.
And whe{n} Felix hearde these thynges, he deferred them, for he knewe very well of that way, and sayde: When Lysias the captayne is come downe, I will knowe the vtmost of your matter.
And he commaunded an vnder captayne to kepe Paul, and to let hym haue rest, and that he shoulde forbyd none of his acquayntaunce to minister vnto hym, or to come vnto hym.
And after certayne dayes, when Felix came, with his wyfe Drusilla, which was a Iewesse, he called foorth Paul, and hearde hym of the fayth which is towarde Christe.
And as he reasoned of ryghteousnesse, temperaunce, and iudgement to come, Felix trembled, and aunswered: Go thy way for this tyme, when I haue a conuenient season, I will sende for thee.
He hoped also, that money shoulde haue ben geuen hym of Paul, that he myght loose hym: wherfore, he sent for hym the oftener, and communed with hym.
But after two yere, Porcius Festus came into Felix rowme: And Felix wyllyng to shewe the Iewes a pleasure, left Paul bounde.
THen when Festus was come into the prouince, after three dayes, he ascended from Cesarea vnto Hierusalem.
Then enfourmed him the hye priest, and the chiefe of the Iewes, of Paul: And they besought hym,
And desired fauour agaynst hym, that he woulde sende for hym to Hierusalem: & they layde awayte in the way, to kyll hym.
But Festus aunswered, that Paul shoulde be kept at Cesarea, and that he him selfe woulde shortly depart thither.
Let them therfore, sayde he, which among you are able, come downe with vs, and accuse hym, yf there be any fault in this man.
And when he had taryed among them more then ten dayes, he went downe vnto Cesarea, & the next day sate downe in the iudgement seate, and commaunded Paul to be brought.
Who beyng come, the Iewes which were come from Hierusalem, stoode about [hym] and layde many & greeuous complayntes agaynst Paul, which they coulde not proue,
Whyles he aunswered [for hym selfe] that he had agaynst the lawe of the Iewes, neither agaynst the temple, nor yet agaynst Caesar offended any thyng at all.
But Festus wyllyng to do {th}e Iewes a pleasure, aunswered Paul, and sayde: Wylt thou go vp to Hierusalem, & there be iudged of these thynges before me?
Then said Paul: I stande at Caesars iudgement seate, where I ought to be iudged: To the Iewes haue I no harme done, as thou very wel knowest.
For yf I had done any hurt, or committed any thyng worthy of death, I refuse not to dye: But yf there be none of these thinges, wherof they accuse me, no man may delyuer me to them. I appeale vnto Caesar.
Then spake Festus, with the counsell, and aunswered: Hast thou appealed vnto Caesar? vnto Caesar shalt thou go.
And after certayne dayes, king Agrippa and Bernice came vnto Cesarea, to salute Festus.
And when they had ben there a good season, Festus rehearsed Paules cause vnto the kyng, saying: There is a certayne man left in bondes of Felix,
About whom, when I came to Hierusalem, the hye priestes and elders of the Iewes enfourmed me, and desired to haue iudgement agaynst hym.
To whom I aunswered: It is not the maner of the Romanes, for fauour to delyuer any man that he shoulde perishe, before that he which is accused, haue the accusers before hym, and haue licence to aunswere for hymselfe, concernyng the cryme layde agaynst hym.
Therfore, when they were come hyther, without any delay, on the morowe I sate to geue iudgement, and commaunded the man to be brought foorth.
Agaynst whom, when the accusers stoode vp, they brought none accusation of such thynges as I supposed:
But had certayne questions agaynst hym of their owne superstition, and of one Iesus which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alyue.
And because I doubted of such maner of questions, I asked hym whether he woulde go to Hierusalem, and there be iudged of these matters.
But when Paul had appealed to be kept vnto the knowledge of Augustus, I commaunded hym to be kept, tyll I myght sende hym to Caesar.
Then Agrippa sayde vnto Festus: I woulde also heare the man my selfe. To morowe sayd he, thou shalt heare hym.
And on the morowe, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pompe, and were entred into the counsell house, with the chiefe captaynes, and chiefe men of the citie, at Festus commaundement was Paul brought foorth.
And Festus sayde: Kyng Agrippa, and al men which are here present with vs, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Iewes haue intreated me, both at Hierusalem, and also here, crying, that he ought not to lyue any longer.
Yet founde I nothyng worthy of death, that he had committed: Neuerthelesse, seeyng that he hath appealed to Augustus, I haue determined to sende hym:
Of whom I haue no certayne thyng to write vnto my Lorde. Wherfore, I haue brought hym foorth vnto you, and specially vnto thee, O kyng Agrippa, that after examination had, I myght haue somewhat to write.
For me thynketh it vnreasonable, for to sende a prysoner, and not to shewe the causes which are laide agaynst him.
THen Agrippa sayde vnto Paul, thou art permitted to speake for •hy selfe. Then Paul stretched foorth the hande, and aunswered [for hym selfe]
I thynke my selfe happy, king Agrippa, because I shall aunswere this day before thee, of all the thynges whereof I am accused of the Iewes:
Namely, because thou art expert in all customes and questions, whiche are among the Iewes: Wherefore I beseche thee to heare me patiently.
My lyfe, that I haue led of a chylde, which was at the first among myne owne nation at Hierusalem, knowe all the Iewes,
Which knewe me from the beginning, (yf they woulde testifie) that after the most straytest sect of our religion, I lyued a pharisee.
And nowe I stande and am iudged, for the hope of the promise made of God vnto our fathers:
Vnto which promise, our twelue tribes instantly seruyng God day & nyght, hope to come. For which hopes sake, kyng Agrippa, I am accused of the Iewes.
Why shoulde it be thought a thyng incredible vnto you, that God shoulde rayse agayne the dead?
I also veryly thought in my selfe that I ought to do many contrary thynges, cleane agaynst the name of Iesus of Nazareth:
Which thyng I also dyd in Hierusalem. And many of the Saintes dyd I shut vp in pryson, hauyng receaued aucthoritie of the hye priestes: And when they were put to death, I gaue the sentence.
And I punished them oft in euery synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme: and was yet more mad vpon them, and persecuted them, euen vnto straunge cities.
About which thynges, as I went to Damascus, with aucthoritie and commission of the hye priestes:
Euen at mydday, O kyng, I sawe in the way, a lyght from heauen, aboue the bryghtnesse of the Sunne, shyne rounde about me and them which iourneyed with me.
And when we were all fallen to the earth, I hearde a voyce speakyng vnto me, and saying in the Hebrewe tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is harde for thee to kicke agaynste the prickes.
And I sayde: Who art thou Lorde? And he sayde: I am Iesus whom thou persecutest.
But ryse and stande vpon thy feete. For I haue appeared vnto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witnesse, both of those thynges which thou hast seene, and of those thynges in the which I wyll appeare vnto thee,
Delyueryng thee from the people, and from the gentiles, vnto whom nowe I sende thee,
To open their eyes, that they may be turned from darknesse to lyght, & from the power of Satan vnto God, that they may receaue forgeuenes of sinnes, & inheritaunce among them which are sanctified by fayth that is towarde me.
Wherfore, O kyng Agrippa, I was not disobedient vnto the heauenly visio{n}:
But shewed first vnto them of Damascus, & at Hierusalem, and throughout all the coastes of Iurie, and then to the gentiles, that they shoulde repent, and turne to God, and do such workes as become them that repent.
For this cause the Iewes caught me in the temple, & went about to kyll me.
Seyng therefore, that I haue obtayned helpe of God, I continue vnto this day, witnessyng both to small and to great, saying none other thynges, then those which the prophetes and Moyses dyd say shoulde come:
That Christe shoulde suffer, and that he shoulde be the first that shoulde ryse from the dead, and shoulde shewe lyght vnto the people, and to the gentiles.
And as he thus spake for hym selfe, Festus sayde with a loude voyce: Paul, thou art besyde thy selfe, much learnyng doth make thee mad.
But he sayde: I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speake foorth the wordes of trueth and sobernesse.
For the kyng knoweth of these thynges, before whom also I speake freely, neither thynke I, that any of these thynges are hydden from him: For this thyng was not done in a corner.
Kyng Agrippa, beleuest thou the prophetes? I wote wel that thou beleuest.
Then Agrippa sayde vnto Paul: Somewhat thou perswadest me to be a christian.
And Paul sayde: I woulde to God, that not only thou, but also all that heare me to day, were both somewhat, and also in a great deale, such as I am, except these bondes.
And when he had thus spoken, the king rose vp, and the deputie, & Bernice, and they that sate with them.
And when they were gone apart, they talked betwene the{m}selues, saying: This man doth nothyng worthy of death, or of bondes.
Then sayde Agrippa vnto Festus: This man myght haue ben let loose, yf he had not appealed vnto Caesar.
ANd when it was co{n}cluded, that we shoulde sayle into Italie, they delyuered both Paul, & certayne other prysoners, vnto one named Iulius, an vnder captayne of Augustus bande.
And we entred into a shippe of Adramyttium, & loosed from lande, appoynted to sayle by the coastes of Asia, one Aristarchus out of Macedonia, of the countrey of Thessalonia, tarying styll with vs.
And the next day we came to Sidon: And Iulius curteouslye entreated Paul, and gaue hym libertie to go vnto his friendes, and to refreshe hym selfe.
And when we had launched from thence, we sayled harde by Cypers, because the wyndes were contrarye.
And when we had sayled ouer the sea of Cilicia, and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, which is in Lycia.
And there the vnder captayne founde a shippe of Alexandria redy, that sayled into Italie, and he put vs therin.
And whe{n} we had sayled slowly many dayes, & scarce were come ouer agaynst Gnydum, because {th}e wynde withstoode vs, we sayled harde by Candie, ouer agaynst Salmo,
And with much worke sayled beyonde it, and came vnto a place wich is called the Fayre hauens, nye whervnto was the citie of Lasea.
When much tyme was spent, & when saylyng was nowe ieopardus, because also that they had ouerlong fasted, Paul put them in remembraunce,
And sayde vnto them: Syrs, I perceaue that this vyage will be with hurt and much damage, not of the ladyng and shippe only, but also of our lyues.
Neuerthelesse, the vnder captayne beleued the gouernour and the maister of the shippe, more then those thynges which were spoken of Paul.
And because the hauen was not commodious to wynter in, many toke counsell to depart thence, yf by any meanes they myght attayne to Phenice, & there to winter, which is an hauen of Candie, and lyeth towarde the southwest and northwest wynde.
And when the south wynde blewe softly, they supposyng to obtayne their purpose, loosed vnto Asson, and sayled past Candie.
But not long after, there arose against their purpose, a flawe of wynde out of the northeast.
And when the shippe was caught, and coulde not resist the wynde, we let her go, and were dryuen with the weather.
But we were caryed into an Ile which is named Clauda, and had much worke to come by a boate,
Which they toke vp, and vsed helpe, and made fast the shippe, fearyng least they shoulde fall into the Syrtes: And so they let downe a vessel, & were caried.
The next day, when we were tossed with an exceading tempest, they lighted the shippe,
And the thirde day, we cast out with our owne handes, the tacklyng of the shippe.
And when neither {th}e sunne nor starres in many dayes appeared, and no small tempest lay vpon vs, all hope that we should be saued, was then taken away.
But after long abstinence, Paul stoode foorth in the middes of them, and sayde: Syrs, ye shoulde haue harkened to me, & not to haue loosed fro{m} Candie, neither to haue brought vnto vs this harme and losse.
And nowe I exhort you to be of good chere: For there shalbe no losse of any mans lyfe among you, but of the shippe.
For there stoode by me this nyght, the Angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serue,
Saying: Feare not Paul, thou must be brought before Caesar. And lo, God hath geuen thee all them that sayle with thee.
Wherfore syrs be of good cheare: for I beleue God, that it shalbe euen as it was tolde me.
Howbeit, we must be cast into a certayne Ilande.
But when the fourtenth nyght was come, as we were saylyng in Adria, about mydnyght the shypmen deemed that there appeared some countrey vnto them:
And sounded, and founde it twentie faddomes. And when they had gone a litle further, they sounded agayne, and founde it fyfteene faddomes.
Then fearyng lest they shoulde haue fallen on some rocke, they caste foure anckers out of the sterne, and wisshed for the day.
And as the shypmen were about to flee out of the shippe, when they had let downe the boate into the sea, vnder a colour, as though they woulde haue cast anckers out of the foreshippe,
Paul sayde vnto the vnder captayne, and to the souldiers: Except these abide in the shippe, ye can not be safe.
Then the souldyers cut of the rope of the boate, and let it fall away.
And when the day began to appeare, Paul besought them all to take meate, saying: This is the foureteenth day, that ye haue taryed & continued fasting, receauyng nothyng at all.
Wherfore, I pray you to take meate, for this no doubt is for your health: for there shall not an heere fall from the head of any of you.
And when he had thus spoken, he toke bread, and gaue thankes to God in presence of them all: And when he had broken it, he began to eate.
Then were they all of good cheare, and they also toke meate.
And we were altogether in the shippe, two hu{n}dred threescore & sixteene soules.
And when they had eaten enough, they lyghted the shippe, and cast out the wheate into the sea.
And when it was day, they knewe not the lande: but they spyed a certayne hauen with a banke, into the which they were mynded, yf it were possible, to thrust in the shippe.
And when they had taken vp the anckers, they committed [them selues] vnto the sea, and loosed the rudder bondes, and hoyssed vp the mayne sayle to the wynde, and drewe to lande.
And when they fell into a place which had the sea on both sydes, they thrust in the shippe: And the forepart stucke fast & moued not, but the hynder part brake with the violence of the waues.
And the souldiers counsel was to kyll the prysoners, lest any of them, when he had swomme out, should runne away.
But the vnder captayne wyllyng to saue Paul, kept the{m} from their purpose, & commaunded that they which coulde swymme, shoulde cast them selues first into the sea, and scape to lande:
And the other, some on boordes, and some on broke{n} peeces of the shippe. And so it came to passe, that they escaped all safe to lande.
AND when they were scaped, then they knewe that the Ile was called Melite.
And {th}e straungers shewed vs no litle kyndnesse: for they kyndled a fyre, and receaued vs euery one, because of the present rayne, and because of the colde.
And when Paul had gathered a bondell of stickes, and layde them on the fyre, there came a Viper out of the heat, and caught hym by the hande.
And when the straungers sawe the beast hang on his hande, they sayde among them selues, No doubt this man is a murtherer: Whom though he haue escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffreth not to lyue.
And he shoke of the Viper into the fyre, and felt no harme.
Howbeit, they wayted whe{n} he shoulde haue swolne, or fallen downe dead sodenlie: But after they had loked a great while, and sawe no harme come to him, they chaunge• their myndes, and sayde that he was a God.
In the same quarters were possessio{n}s of {th}e chiefe man of the Ile, whose name was Publius, which receaued vs, and lodged vs three dayes curteouslye.
And it came to passe, that the father of Publius lay sicke of a feuer, and of a bloody •lire: to whom Paul entred in, & prayed, and layde his handes on hym, and healed hym.
So when this was done, other also which had diseases in the Ile, came and were healed:
Which also dyd vs great honour, and when we departed, they laded vs with such thynges as were necessary.
And after three monethes we departed in a shippe of Alexandria, which had wyntred in the Ile, whose badge was Castor and Pollux.
And when we came to Syracusa, we taryed there three dayes.
And from thence we •et a compasse, and came to Rhegium, & after one day the south wynde blewe, and we came the next day to Puteolus:
Where we founde brethren, and were desired to tary with them seuen dayes, and so we came towarde Rome.
And from thence, when the brethren hearde of vs, they came to meete vs at Appii forum, and at the three tauernes. When Paul sawe the{m}, he thanked God, and waxed bolde.
And when we came to Rome, {th}e vnder captayne delyuered the prysoners to the chiefe captayne of the hoast: But Paul was suffred to dwell by him selfe, with a souldyer that kept hym.
And it came to passe, that after three dayes Paul called {th}e chiefe of the Iewes together. And whe{n} they were come, he sayde vnto them: Men and brethren, though I haue committed nothyng agaynst the people, or lawes of the fathers, yet was I delyuered prysoner from Hierusalem, into the handes of the Romanes.
Which when they had examined me, woulde haue let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
But when the Iewes spake contrary, I was constrayned to appeale vnto Caesar: not that I had ought to accuse my people of.
For this cause then haue I called for you, euen to see [you] and to speake with you: because that for the hope of Israel, I am bounde with this •hayne.
And they said vnto him: We neither receaued letters out of Iurie concernyng thee, neither any of the brethren that came, shewed or spake any harme of thee.
But we wyll heare of thee, what thou thynkest: For as concernyng this sect, we knowe that euery where it is spoke{n} agaynst.
And when they had appoynted hym a day, there came many to hym into his lodgyng, to whom he expounded and testified the kyngdome of God, perswadyng them concernyng Iesus, both out of the lawe of Moyses, and out of the prophetes, euen from morning to night.
And some were perswaded in the thynges which were spoken, and some beleued not.
And when they agreed not among them selues, they departed after that Paul had spoken one worde, [that is to say] well spake the holy ghost by Esaias the prophete, vnto our fathers,
Saying: Go vnto this people, and say, with your eares shall ye heare, and shall not vnderstande: and with your eyes shall ye see, and not perceaue.
For the heart of this people is waxed grosse, & their eares are dull of hearing, and their eyes haue they closed: lest they shoulde see with their eyes, and heare with their eares, and vnderstande with their heartes, and shoulde be conuerted, and I shoulde heale them.
Be it knowen therfore vnto you, that this saluation of God is sent to the gentiles, and they shall heare it.
And when he had sayde these wordes, the Iewes departed, and had great reasonyng among them selues.
And Paul dwelt two yeres full in his owne hired house, and receaued all that came in vnto hym,
Preachyng the kyngdome of God, and teachyng those thynges which concerne the Lorde Iesus Christe, with all confidence, no man forbyddyng hym.
PAul the seruaunt of Iesus Christe, called [to be] an Apostle, seuered into the Gospel of God.
Which he had promised afore by his prophetes in {th}e holy scriptures
Of his sonne, which was made of the seede of Dauid after the fleshe:
And hath ben declared to be the sonne of God, with power after the spirite that sanctifieth, by the resurrectio{n} from the dead, of Iesus Christe our Lorde.
By whom we haue receaued grace and apostleship, that obedience myght be geuen vnto the fayth in his name, among all heathen.
Among whom, ye are also the called of Iesus Christe:
To all that be in Rome, beloued of God, saintes by callyng, grace to you, and peace, from God our father, and the Lorde Iesus Christe.
First verily I thanke my God through Iesus Christe for you all, that your fayth is publisshed throughout all the worlde.
For God is my witnesse, whom I serue with my spirite in the Gospell of his sonne, that without ceassyng I make mention of you,
Praying alwayes in my prayers, that by some meane at the last, one tyme or other, I myght take a prosperous iourney by the wyll of God, to come vnto you.
For I long to see you, that I myght bestowe among you some spirituall gift, that ye myght be stablisshed.
That is, that I might haue consolation together with you, eche with others fayth, yours and mine.
I woulde that ye should knowe brethren, howe that I haue oftentymes purposed to come vnto you (and haue ben let hytherto,) that I myght haue some fruite also among you, as among other of the gentiles.
I am debter both to the grekes, and to the barbarous, both to the wyse, and to the vnwise.
So that as much as in me is, I am redy to preache the Gospell to you that are at Rome also.
For I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ, because it is the power of God vnto saluation to all that beleue, to the Iewe first, and also to the Greke.
For by it is the ryghteousnes of God opened fro{m} fayth to fayth. As it is written: the iuste shall lyue by fayth.
For the wrath of God appeareth from heauen, against all vngodlynesse & vnrighteousnes of men, which withholde the trueth in vnrighteousnes.
For that that may be knowen of God, is manifest among them, because God hath shewed it vnto them.
For his inuisible thinges, being vnderstanded by his workes, through the creation of the worlde, are seene, that is, both his eternall power and godhead: So that they are without excuse.
Because that when they knewe God, they glorified hym not as God, neither were thankefull, but waxed full of vanities in their imaginations, and their foolishe heart was blynded.
When they counted them selues wyse, they became fooles:
And turned the glorie of the immortall God, vnto an image, made not only after the similitude of a mortal man, but also of birdes, and foure footed beastes, and of crepyng beastes.
Wherefore God gaue them vp to vncleanenesse, through the lustes of their owne heartes, to defyle their owne bodies among them selues.
Whiche chaunged his trueth for a lye, and worshipped and serued the creature, more then the creator, which is to be praysed for euer. Amen.
Wherefore God gaue them vp vnto shamefull lustes: For euen their women dyd chaunge the naturall vse, into that which is agaynst nature.
And likewise also, the men left the naturall vse of the woman, and brent in their lustes one with another, and men with men wrought fylthynesse, and receaued to them selues the rewarde of their errour (as it was accordyng)
And as they regarded not to knowe God: euen so God deliuered them vp vnto a leude mynde, that they should do those thinges which were not comely:
Beyng full of all vnrighteousnes, fornication, craftynesse, couetousnes, maliciousnes, full of enuie, murther, debate, deceite, euyll conditioned, whysperers,
Backbyters, haters of God, dispiteful, proude, boasters, bryngers vp of euyll thinges, disobedient to father & mother:
Without vnderstandyng, couenaunt breakers, without naturall affection, truice breakers, vnmercyfull.
The whiche knowyng the righteousnes of God, howe that they which commit such thynges are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also haue pleasure in them that do them.
THerefore art thou inexcusable, O ma{n}, whosoeuer thou be that iudgest. For in that same wherin thou iudgest another, thou condempnest thy self. For thou that iudgest, doest euen {th}e selfe same thynges.
But we are sure that the iudgement of god is according to the trueth, against them which commit such thynges.
Thinkest thou this, O thou man that iudgest them whiche do such thynges, and doest the same [thy selfe] that thou shalt escape the iudgement of God?
Eyther despisest thou the rychesse of his goodnes, & pacience, and long sufferaunce, not knowyng that the kyndnesse of god leadeth thee to repentau{n}ce?
But thou after thy stubbernnesse and heart that can not repent, heapest vnto thy selfe wrath, agaynst the daye of wrath and declaration of the righteous iudgement of God:
Which wyl rewarde euery man accordyng to his deedes:
To them, whiche by continuyng in well doyng seke for glorie, and honour, and immortalitie, eternall lyfe.
But vnto them that are contentious, & that do not obey the trueth, but obey vnrighteousnes [shall come] indignation, and wrath.
Tribulation, and anguishe, vpon euery soule of man that doeth euyll, of the Iewe first, and also of the Greke:
But glorie, and honour, and peace to euery man that doeth good, to {th}e Iewe first, and also to the Greke.
For there is no respect of perso{n}s with God.
For whosoeuer hath sinned without lawe, shall also perishe without lawe: And as many as haue sinned in {th}e lawe, shalbe iudged by the lawe.
(For in the sight of God, they are not righteous whiche heare the lawe: but the doers of the lawe shalbe iustified.
For when the Gentiles, which haue not the lawe, do of nature the thynges conteyned in the lawe: they hauing not the lawe, are a lawe vnto them selues.
Which shewe the workes of the lawe written in their heartes, their conscience bearing them witnesse, & their thoughtes, accusyng one another, or excusyng,)
At the day when God shall iudge the secretes of men by Iesus Christe, accordyng to my Gospell.
Behold, thou art called a Iewe, and restest in the lawe, and makest thy boast of God,
And knowest his wyll, and alowest the thinges that be excellent, infourmed by the lawe:
And beleuest that thou thy selfe art a guyde of the blynde, a lyght of them which are in darknesse,
An infourmer of them whiche lacke discretion, a teacher of the vnlearned: which hast the fourme of knowledge, & of the trueth in the lawe.
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest not thy selfe? Thou preachest a man shoulde not steale, yet thou stealest.
Thou that sayest a man shoulde not commit adulterie, breakest wedlocke. Thou abhorrest idoles, and yet robbest God of his honour.
Thou that makest thy boast of {th}e lawe, through breakyng the lawe dishonorest God.
For the name of God is euyll spoken of among the Gentiles, through you: As it is written.
For circumcision veryly auayleth, yf thou kepe the lawe: But yf thou be a breaker of the lawe, thy circumcision is made vncircumcision.
Therefore if the vncircumcisio{n} kepe the ordinaunces of the law, shall not his vncircumcisio{n} be counted for circumcisio{n}?
And shall not vncircumcision which is by nature, if it kepe the law, iudge thee, which beyng vnder the letter & circumcision, doest transgresse the lawe?
For he is not a Iewe, whiche is a Iewe outwarde. Neither is that circu{m}cision which is outwarde in the fleshe:
But he is a Iewe whiche is one inwardly, and the circumcisio{n} of {th}e heart, which consisteth in the spirite, and not in the letter [is circumcision] whose prayse is not of men, but of God.
WHAT preferment then hath {th}e Iew? or what auauntageth circumcision?
Much euery way. First, for because {tha}t vnto them were committed {th}e wordes of God.
What then though some of them dyd not beleue? Shal their vnbeliefe make the fayth of God without effect?
God forbyd. Yea let God be true, and euery man a lyer, as it is writte{n}: That thou myghtest be iustified in thy sayinges, and ouercome when thou art iudged.
But yf our vnrighteousnes setteth foorth the righteousnes of God, what shall we saye? Is God vnryghteous which taketh vengeaunce? I speake after the maner of men,
God forbyd. For howe then shall God iudge the worlde?
For yf the trueth of God hath more abounded through my lye, vnto his glory, why am I as yet iudged as a sinner?
And not rather (as men speake euyll of vs, and as some affirme that we say) let vs do euyll, that good may come therof? Whose dampnation is iuste.
What then? Are we better [then they?] No, in no wise. For we haue alredy proued, howe that both Iewes and Gentiles are all vnder sinne.
As it is written: There is none righteous, no not one.
There is none that vnderstandeth, there is none that seketh after God.
They are all gone out of the waye, they are all vnprofitable, there is none that doth good, no not one.
Their throte is an open sepulchre, with their tongues they haue deceaued, the poyso{n} of aspes is vnder their lippes.
Whose mouth is full of cursyng and bytternesse.
Their feete are swyft to shed blood.
Heartes griefe & miserie are in their wayes.
And the• way of peace haue they not knowen.
There is no feare of God before their eyes.
Nowe we knowe that what thynges so euer the lawe saith, it saith it to them which are vnder the lawe: That all mouthes maye be stopped, and that al {th}e world may be indaungered to God.
Because that by the deedes of the lawe, there shall no flesshe be iustified in his syght. For by the lawe, commeth the knowledge of sinne.
But nowe is the righteousnes of God declared without the lawe, beyng witnessed by the testimonie of the lawe and of the prophetes.
The ryghteousnes of God [commeth] by the fayth of Iesus Christe, vnto all and vpon all them that beleue. There is no difference:
For all haue synned, and are destitute of the glorie of God,
Iustified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christe Iesu:
Whom God hath set foorth to be a propitatio{n}, through fayth in his blood, to declare his ryghteousnes, in that he forgeueth the sinnes that are past,
Which God dyd suffer, to shew at this tyme his righteousnes, that he might be iuste, & the iustifier of hym which beleueth on Iesus.
Where is then thy boastyng? It is excluded. By what lawe? Of workes? Nay, but by the lawe of fayth.
Therfore, we holde that a man is iustified by fayth, without the deedes of the lawe.
Is he the God of the Iewes only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, euen of the Gentiles also.
For it is one God whiche shall iustifie the circumcision by fayth, and vncircumcision through fayth.
Do we then destroy the lawe through fayth? God forbyd: But we rather mayntayne the lawe.
WHat shall we saye then that Abraham our father, as parteynyng to the flesshe, dyd fynde?
For if Abraham were iustified by workes, the{n} hath he wherein to boaste, but not before God.
For what sayth the scripture? Abraham beleued God, and it was counted vnto hym for ryghteousnes.
To hym that worketh, is the reward not reckened of grace, but of duetie.
To hym that worketh not, but beleueth on hym that iustifieth the vngodly, his fayth is counted for ryghteousnes.
Euen as Dauid describeth the blessednesse of the man vnto whom God imputeth righteousnesse without workes:
Blessed are they whose vnrighteousnesse are forgeuen, & whose sinnes are couered.
Blessed is that man to who{m} the Lorde wyll not impute sinne.
Came [this] blessednes then vpon the circumcision, or vpon the vncircumcision also? For we say, that fayth was reckened to Abraham for ryghteousnes.
Howe was it then reckened? when he was in the circumcision? or whe{n} he was in the vncircumcision? Not in the circumcision: but in vncircumcision.
And he receaued the signe of circumcision, as the seale of the ryghteousnesse of fayth, whiche he had yet beyng vncircumcised, that he shoulde be the father of al them that beleue, though they be not circumcised, that ryghteousnes myght be imputed vnto them also.
And that he myght be father of circumcision, not vnto them only whiche came of the circumcised: but vnto them also that walke in the steppes of the fayth that was in our father Abraham, before the time of circumcision.
For the promise that he shoulde be the heyre of the worlde, [was] not to Abraham or to his seede through the lawe, but through the ryghteousnes of fayth.
For yf they which are of the lawe be heyres, then is fayth but vayne, and the promise of none effect:
Because the lawe causeth wrath. For where no lawe is, there is no transgression.
Therefore by fayth [is the inheritaunce geuen] that it might [come] by grace, that the promise myght be sure to all {th}e seede, not to that only which is of the lawe, but to that also which is of the fayth of Abraham, which is the father of vs al.
(As it is written, that I haue made thee a father of many nations) before God, whom he beleued, which restoreth the dead vnto life, and calleth those thynges whiche be not, as though they were.
Who contrary to hope, beleued in hope, that he shoulde be the father of many nations, accordyng to that which was spoken: so shall thy seede be.
And he faynted not in the fayth, nor considered his owne body nowe dead, when he was almost an hundred yeres old, neither yet the deadnesse o Saraes wombe.
He stackered not at the promise of God through vnbeliefe: but was strong in fayth, geuyng glorie to God:
And beyng full certified, that what he had promised, he was able also to perfourme.
And therfore was it reckened to hym for righteousnes.
Neuerthelesse, it is not written for hym only, that it was reckened to him:
But also for vs, to whom it shalbe reckened, so that we beleue on hym that raysed vp Iesus our Lorde from the dead.
Which was deliuered for our sinnes, and was raysed agayne for our iustification.
THerefore being iustified by fayth, we are at peace with GOD, thorowe our Lorde Iesus Christe:
By whom also we haue had an entrau{n}ce by fayth, vnto this grace wherin we stande, and reioyce in hope of the glorie of God.
Not that only: but also we reioyce in tribulations, knowyng that tribulation worketh pacience:
Pacience profe, profe hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed, because the loue of God is shedde abrode in our heartes by the holy ghost, which is geuen vnto vs.
For when we were yet weake, accordyng to the tyme, Christe dyed for the vngodly.
Nowe scace wyll any man dye for the righteous: Yet peraduenture for the good some men durst dye.
But God setteth out his loue towarde vs, seyng that whyle we were yet sinners, Christe dyed for vs.
Muche more then nowe, we that are iustified by his blood, shalbe saued from wrath through hym.
For, yf when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his sonne: much more, seyng we are reconciled, we shalbe saued by his lyfe.
Not only so, but we also ioye in God, through our Lorde Iesus Christe, by who{m} we haue nowe receaued the atonement.
Wherfore, as by one man sinne entred into the worlde, & death by sinne: euen so, death entred into all men, insomuch as all haue sinned.
For vnto the lawe, was sinne in the worlde: but sinne is not imputed when there is no lawe.
Neuerthelesse, death raigned from Adam to Moyses, ouer them also that had not sinned with lyke transgression as dyd Adam, whiche is the figure of hym that was to come.
But not as the sinne, so is the gyft. For yf through the sinne of one many be dead: much more the grace of God, and the gyft by grace, which is by one man Iesus Christe, hath abounded vnto many.
And not as by one that sinned [euen so] the gyft. For the iudgement was of one into condemnation: but the gyfte, of many sinnes into iustification.
For yf by the sinne of one, death raigned by the meanes of one: much more they, whiche receaue aboundaunce of grace, and of the gyfte of ryghteousnes, shall raigne in life by the meanes of one, Iesus Christe.
Lykewyse then, as by the sinne of one [sinne came] on all men to condempnation: euen so, by the ryghteousnes of one [good came] vpon all men to the ryghteousnes of lyfe.
For as by one mans disobedience many became sinners: so by the obedience of one, shall many be made ryghteous.
But the lawe in the meane tyme entred in, that sinne shoulde encrease. But where sinne was plenteous, grace was more plenteous.
That as sinne hath raigned vnto death: euen so myght grace raigne thorowe ryghteousnes vnto eternall lyfe, by Iesus Christe our Lorde.
WHat shall we saye then? Shall we continue in sinne, that grace maye abound? God forbyd.
Howe shall we that are dead to sinne, lyue any longer therin?
Knowe ye not, that all we whiche haue ben baptized into Iesus Christe, haue ben baptized into his death?
We are buryed then with him by baptisme into his death, that lykewyse as Christe was raysed vp from the dead by the glorie of the father: euen so, we also shoulde walke in newnesse of lyfe.
For if we be graft together by the likenesse of his death: euen so shall we be [partakers] of the resurrection:
Knowyng this, that our olde man is crucified with hym also, that the body of sinne might vtterly be destroyed, that hencefoorth we shoulde not serue sinne.
For he that is dead, is iustified from sinne.
And yf we be dead with Christe, we beleue that we shall also lyue with him:
Knowyng that Christe beyng raysed from the dead, dyeth no more, death hath no more power ouer hym.
For as touchyng that he dyed, he dyed concerning sinne once: And as touching that he lyueth, he lyueth vnto God.
Lykewyse, recken your selues to be dead to sinne, but alyue vnto God, thorowe Iesus Christe our Lorde.
Let not sinne raigne therefore in your mortall bodie, that ye shoulde thervnto obey by the lustes of it.
Neither geue ye your members as instrumentes of vnryghteousnesse vnto sinne: but geue your selues vnto God, as they that are alyue from the dead, and your members as instrumentes of ryghteousnesse vnto God.
For sinne shall not haue power ouer you, because ye are not vnder {th}e lawe, but vnder grace.
What then? Shall we sinne, because we are not vnder the lawe, but vnder grace? God forbyd.
Knowe ye not, how that to whom soeuer ye commit your selues as seruauntes to obey, his seruauntes ye are to whom ye obey: whether it be of sinne vnto death, or of obedience vnto ryghteousnesse?
But God be thanked, that ye were the seruau{n}tes of sinne: but ye haue obeyed with heart the fourme of doctrine, into the which ye were brought vnto.
Being then made free fro{m} sinne, ye are become {th}e seruauntes of ryghteousnesse.
I speake after the maner of men, because of the infirmitie of your fleshe. As ye haue geuen your members seruauntes to vncleannesse and iniquitie, vnto iniquitie: euen so nowe geue your members seruauntes to righteousnesse, vnto holynesse.
For when ye were the seruauntes of sinne, ye were free from ryghteousnesse.
What fruite had ye then in those thynges, wherof ye are nowe ashamed? For the ende of those thynges, is death.
But nowe ye beyng made free from sinne, and made the seruauntes of God, haue your fruite vnto holynesse, and the ende euerlastyng lyfe.
For the rewarde of sinne is death: but the gyft of God is eternall lyfe, thorowe Iesus Christe our Lorde.
KNowe ye not brethre{n} (for I speake to the{m} that knowe the lawe) how that the law hath power ouer a ma{n}, as long as he lyueth?
Forthe woman which is in subiectio{n} to a man, is bounde by the lawe to the man, as long as he lyueth: But yf the man be dead, she is loosed from the{m} lawe of the man.
So thenyf whyle the man lyueth, she couple her selfe with another man, she shalbe counted a wedlocke breaker: But yf the man be dead, she is free from the law, so that she is no wedlocke breaker, though she couple her selfe with another man.
Euen so, ye also my brethren, are dead concernyng the lawe by the body of Christe, that ye shoulde be coupled to another, who is raysed from the dead, that we shoulde bryng foorth fruite vnto God.
For when we were in the fleshe, the lustes of sinne whiche were by the lawe wrought in our members, to bring forth fruite vnto death.
But nowe are we delyuered from the lawe, and dead vnto it whervnto we were in bondage, that we shoulde serue in newenesse of spirite, and not in the oldnesse of the letter.
What shall we say then? Is the lawe sinne? God forbyd. Neuerthelesse, I knewe not sinne, but by the lawe: For I had not knowen lust, except the lawe had sayde, thou shalt not lust.
But sinne, takyng occasion by the commaundement, wrought in me all maner of concupiscence. For without the lawe, sinne [was] dead.
I once lyued without lawe: But when the commaundement came, sinne reuyued,
And I was dead. And the very same commaundeme{n}t, which was ordeyned vnto lyfe, was founde to be vnto me an occasion of death.
For sinne, takyng occasion by the commaundement, hath deceaued me, and by the same slewe [me.]
Wherfore the lawe is holy, and the commaundement holy, & iust, and good.
Was that then which was good, made death vnto me? God forbyd. But sinne, that sinne myght appeare, by that which was good to worke death in me: that sinne by {th}e commaundement, myght be out of measure sinfull.
For we knowe, that the lawe is spirituall: but I am carnall, solde vnder sinne.
For that which I do, I alowe not. For what I woulde, that do I not: but what I hate, that do I.
If I do nowe that which I woulde not, I consent vnto the lawe, that it is good.
Nowe then, it is not I that do it: but sinne that dwelleth in me.
For I knowe, that in me, that is to say in my fleshe, dwelleth no good thyng. For to wyll, is present with me: but I fynde no meanes to perfourme that which is good.
For the good that I woulde, do I not: But the euyll which I woulde not, that do I.
And yf I do that I woulde not, then is it not I that doth it, but sinne that dwelleth in me.
I fynde then by the lawe, that when I woulde do good, euyll is present with me.
For I delite in the lawe of God, after the inwarde man:
But I see another lawe in my members, rebellyng agaynst the lawe of my mynde, and subduyng me vnto the lawe of sinne, which is in my members.
O wretched man that I am: Who shall deliuer me from the body of this death?
I thanke God through Iesus Christe our Lorde. So then, with the mynde I my selfe serue the lawe of God: but with the fleshe, the lawe of sinne.
THere is then no dampnation to them which are in Christe Iesu, which walke not after the fleshe, but after the spirite.
For the lawe of the spirite of lyfe, through Iesus Christe, hath made me free from the lawe of sinne and death.
For what the lawe coulde not do, in as much as it was weake through the fleshe, God sendyng his owne sonne, in the similitude of sinfull fleshe, euen by sinne, condempned sinne in the fleshe:
That the ryghteousnesse of the lawe, myght be fulfylled in vs, which walke not after the fleshe, but after the spirite.
For they that are carnall, are carnally mynded: But they that are spirituall, are spiritually mynded.
To be carnally mynded, is death: But to be spiritually mynded, is lyfe & peace:
Because that the fleshly mynde is enmitie agaynst God: For it is not obedient to the lawe of God, neither can be.
So then, they that are in the fleshe, can not please God.
But ye are not in the fleshe, but in the spirite, yf so be that the spirite of God dwell in you. If any man haue not the spirite of Christe, the same is none of his.
And yf Christe be in you, the body is dead because of sinne: but the spirite is lyfe for ryghteousnesse sake.
But, yf {th}e spirite of hym that raysed vp Iesus from the dead, dwell in you: euen he that raised vp Christe from the dead, shall also quicken your mortall bodyes, because that his spirite dwelleth in you.
Therfore brethren, we are detters, not to the fleshe, to lyue after the fleshe.
For if ye liue after {th}e fleshe, ye shall dye: But if ye through the spirite, do mortifie the deedes of the body, ye shall lyue.
For as many as are le{n}d by the spirite of God, they are the sonnes of God.
For ye haue not receaued the spirite of bondage agayne to feare: but ye haue receaued the spirite of adoption, wherby we cry, Abba, father.
The same spirite, beareth witnesse to our spirite, that we are {th}e sonnes of God.
If we be sonnes, then are we also heyres, the heyres of God, and ioyntheyres with Christe: So that we suffer together, that we may be also glorified together.
For I am certaynely perswaded that the afflictions of this tyme, are not worthy of the glory which shalbe shewed vpon vs.
For the feruent desire of the creature, abydeth lokyng whe{n} the sonnes of God shall appeare:
Because the creature is subiect to vanitie, not wyllyng, but for hym which hath subdued the same in hope.
For the same creature shalbe made free from the bondage of corruptio{n}, into the glorious libertie of {th}e sonnes of God.
For we knowe, that euery creature groneth with vs also, and trauayleth in payne, euen vnto this tyme.
Not only [they], but we also which haue the first fruites of the spirite, and we our selues mourne in our selues, and wayte for the adoption, euen the deliueraunce of our body.
For we are saued by hope: But hope that is seene, is no hope. For howe can a man hope for that which he seeth?
But and yf we hope for that we see not, the{n} do we with pacience abide for it.
Lykewyse, the spirite also helpeth our infirmities. For we knowe not what to desire as we ought: but {th}e spirite maketh great intercession for vs, with gronynges, which can not be expressed.
And he that searcheth the heartes, knoweth what is the meanyng of the spirite: for he maketh intercession for the saintes accordyng to the pleasure of God.
For we knowe {tha}t all thinges worke for the best, vnto them that loue God, to them which also are called of purpose.
For those which he knewe before, he also dyd predestinate, that they shoulde be lyke fashioned vnto the shape of his sonne, that he myght be {th}e first begotten among many brethren.
Moreouer, whom he dyd predestinate, the{n} also he called. And whom he called, them also he iustified: And whom he iustified, them he also glorified.
What shall we then say to these thynges? If God be on our syde, who can be agaynst vs?
Which spared not his owne sonne, but gaue hym for vs all: Howe shall he not with hym also geue vs all thynges?
Who shall lay any thyng to the charge of Gods chosen? It is God that iustifieth:
Who is he that can condempne? It is Christe which dyed, yea rather which is raysed agayne, which is also on the ryght hande of God, and maketh intercession for vs.
Who shall seperate vs from the loue of God? Shall tribulation or anguishe, or persecution, either hunger, either nakednesse, either peryll, either sworde?
As it is written: For thy sake are we kylled all daye long, and are counted as sheepe for the slaughter.
Neuerthelesse, in all these thinges we ouercome, through hym that loued vs.
For I am sure, that neither death, neither lyfe, neither angels, nor rule, neither power, neither thynges present, neither thynges to come,
Neither heygth nor deapth, neither any other creature, shalbe able to seperate vs from the loue of God, which is in Christe Iesu our Lorde.
I Say {th}e trueth in Christ, I lye not, my conscience also bearyng me witnesse by the holy ghost,
That I haue great heauinesse, & continuall sorowe in my heart.
For I haue wisshed my selfe to be cursed from Christe, for my brethren, my kynsmen as pertaynyng to {th}e fleshe,
Which are the Israelites: To whom pertayneth the adoption, and the glory, & the couenauntes, and the lawe that was geuen, and the seruice of God, and the promises.
Of whom are the fathers, of whom as concernyng the fleshe, Christe [came,] which is God, in all thynges to be praysed for euer. Amen.
And it can not be, that the worde of God shoulde take none effect. For they are not all Israelites, which are of Israel:
Neither are they all chyldren that are the seede of Abraham: But in Isaac shall thy seede be called.
That is to say: They which are the chyldren of the fleshe, are not the chyldren of God: But they which be the childre{n} of promise, are counted the seede.
For this is a worde of promise: About this tyme wyll I come, and Sara shall haue a sonne.
Not only this, but also Rebecca was with chylde by one [euen] by our father Isaac.
For yer the [chyldren] were borne, when they had neither done good neither bad, (that the purpose of God by election might stande: not by the reason of workes, but by the caller)
It was sayde vnto her: The elder shall serue the younger.
As it is written: Iacob haue I loued, but Esau haue I hated.
What shall we say then? Is there any vnrighteousnes with God? God forbid.
For he sayth to Moyses: I wyll shewe mercy to whom I shewe mercy: And wyll haue compassion, on whom I haue compassion.
So then it is not of the wyller, nor of the runner: but of the mercy of God.
For the scripture sayth vnto Pharao: Euen for this same purpose haue I stirred thee vp, to shewe my power in thee, & that my name myght be declared throughout all the worlde.
So hath he mercy on whom he wyll, and whom he wyll, he hardeneth.
Thou wylt say then vnto me: Why then blameth he [vs] yet? For who hath ben able to resist his wyll?
But O man, what art thou which disputest with God? Shall the worke say to the workeman, why hast thou made me on this fashion?
Hath not the potter power ouer the clay, euen of the same lumpe to make one vessel vnto honour, and another vnto dishonour?
If then, God wyllyng to shewe his wrath, and to make his power knowe{n}, suffred with long patience, the vessels of wrath, ordayned to destruction,
To declare the riches of his glory, on the vessels of mercy, which he had prepared vnto glory:
Whom also he called, not of {th}e Iewes only, but also of the Gentiles.
As he sayth also in Osee: I wyll call them my people, which were not my people: and her beloued, which was not beloued.
And it shall come to passe, that in the place where it was sayde vnto them: Ye are not my people, there shall they be called {th}e chyldren of the lyuyng God.
And Esaias cryeth concerning Israel: Though the number of the children of Israel, be as the sande of the sea, yet [but] a remnaunt shalbe saued.
For he finisheth the worde, and maketh it short in ryghteousnesse: For a short worde wyll the Lorde make on earth.
And as Esaias sayde before: Except the Lorde of Sabboth had lefte vs seede, we had ben made as Sodoma, and had ben lykened to Gomorrha.
What shall we say then? that the gentiles which folowed not ryghteousnes, haue obtayned righteousnesse: euen the ryghteousnesse which co{m}meth of fayth.
But Israel, which folowed the lawe of ryghteousnesse, hath not attayned to the lawe of ryghteousnesse.
Wherfore? Because [they sought it] not by fayth: but [as it were] by the workes of the lawe. For they haue stumbled at the stumblyng stone,
As it is written: Beholde, I put in Sion a stumblyng stone, and a rocke of offence: And whosoeuer beleueth on hym, shall not be confounded.
BRethren, my heartes desire & prayer to God for Israel, is, that they myght be saued.
For I beare them recorde, that they haue a zeale of God: but not accordyng to knowledge.
For they beyng ignoraunt of Gods ryghteousnesse, and goyng about to stablyshe their owne righteousnesse, haue not ben obedient vnto the ryghteousnes of God.
For Christe is the ende of the lawe, for ryghteousnesse to all that beleue.
For Moyses writeth, of the ryghteousnesse which [is] of the lawe, howe that the man which doth those thinges, shall lyue by them.
But the ryghteousnesse which is of fayth, speaketh on this wise: Say not thou in thyne heart, who shall ascende into heauen? That is, to fetch Christe downe from aboue.
Either who shall descende into the deepe? That is, to fetch vp Christe agayne from the dead.
But what sayth he? The worde is nye thee, euen in thy mouth, and in thy heart. This same is the worde of faith, which we preache
For if thou shalt knowledge with thy mouth, the Lorde Iesus, and shalt beleue in thyne heart that God raysed hym from the dead, thou shalt be saued.
For with the heart man beleueth vnto ryghteousnesse, and with {th}e mouth man confesseth to saluation.
For the scripture sayth: Whosoeuer beleueth on him, shall not be co{n}founded.
There is no difference betwene the Iewe & the Greke: for the same Lorde ouer al, is riche vnto al {tha}t call vpon him.
For whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lorde, shalbe saued.
Howe then shall they call on hym, on whom they haue not beleued? Howe shall they beleue on hym of whom they haue not hearde? Howe shal they heare, without a preacher?
And howe shall they preache, except they be sent? As it is written: Howe beautifull are the feete of them whiche bryng good tydynges of peace, & bryng good tydynges of good thynges.
But they haue not all obeyed {th}e Gospel. For Esaias sayth: Lorde, who hath beleued our sayinges?
So then fayth commeth by hearyng, and hearyng commeth by the worde of God.
But I aske: Haue they not hearde? No doubt, their sounde went out into all landes, and their wordes into the endes of the worlde.
But I demaunde whether Israel did knowe or not? First Moyses sayth: I wyll prouoke you to enuie, by them that are no people: and by a foolyshe nation I wyll anger you.
And Esaias is bolde, and sayeth: I am founde of them that sought me not: I am manifest vnto them that asked not after me.
But agaynst Israel he sayeth: All day long haue I stretched foorth my handes vnto a people that beleueth not, but speaketh agaynst me.
I Say then, hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seede of Abraham, of the tribe of Beniamin,
God hath not cast away way his people which he knewe before. Wote ye not what the scripture sayth of Elias? howe he maketh intercession to God, agaynst Israel,
Saying: Lord, they haue kylled thy prophetes, and dygged downe thyne aulters: and I am left alone, and they seke my lyfe.
But what sayth the aunswere of God vnto hym? I haue reserued vnto my selfe seuen thousande men, which haue not bowed the knee to [{th}e image of] Baal.
Euen so at this tyme, there is a remnaunt, according to the election of grace.
If it be of grace, then is it not nowe of workes: For the{m} grace is no more grace. But yf it be of workes, then is it nowe no grace: For then worke is no more worke.
What then? Israel hath not obtayned that which he sought: but the election hath obtayned it, the remnaunt hath ben blynded,
Accordyng as it is written: God hath geuen them the spirite of remorse, eyes that they shoulde not see, and eares that they shoulde not heare, euen vnto this day.
And Dauid sayth: Let their table be made a snare, and a trappe, and a stumbling stocke, and a recompence vnto the{m}.
Let their eyes be blinded {tha}t they see not, & bowe thou downe their backe alway.
I say then, haue they therfore stumbled, that they shoulde fall? God forbyd: but through their fall, saluation [is come] vnto the gentiles, for to prouoke them withall.
Nowe, yf the fall of them be {th}e ryches of the worlde, and the minishyng of the{m}, the ryches of the gentiles: Howe much more their fulnesse?
For I speake to you gentiles, in as much as I am the Apostle of the gentiles, I magnifie myne office.
If by any meane I may prouoke the{m} which are my fleshe, and myght saue some of them.
For yf the castyng away of them, be the reconcilyng of the worlde: what shall the receauyng [of them] be, but lyfe from the dead?
For yf the first fruites be holy, {th}e whole lumpe also [is holy.] And yf the roote be holy, the braunches also.
And yf some of the brau{n}ches be broken of, and thou beyng a wylde Oliue tree, wast graft in among them, & made partaker of the roote and fatnesse of the Oliue tree:
Boast not thy selfe agaynst the braunches. For yf thou boast thy selfe, thou bearest not the roote, but the roote thee.
Thou wylt say then, the braunches are broken of, that I might be graft in.
Well: because of vnbeliefe, they were broken of, and thou stodest stedfast in fayth. Be not hye mynded, but feare.
For seyng that God spared not the naturall braunches [take heede] lest it come to passe, that he spare not thee.
Beholde therfore, the kyndnesse and rigorousnesse of God: on them which fell, rigorousnesse: but towardes thee, kyndnesse, if thou continue in kindnesse, or els thou shalt be hewen of:
And they, yf they byde not styll in vnbeliefe, shalbe graffed in: For God is of power to graffe them in agayne.
For yf thou were cut out of a naturall wylde Oliue tree, and were graffed contrary to nature, in a true Oliue tree: Howe much more shall the naturall braunches, be graffed in their owne Oliue tree?
For I woulde not brethren, that ye shoulde be ignoraunt of this misterie, (lest ye shoulde be wyse in your owne conceiptes,) that partly blyndnesse is happened in Israel, vntyll the fulnesse of the gentiles be come in:
And so all Israel shalbe saued, as it is written: There shall come out of Sion he that doth delyuer, and shall turne away vngodlynesse from Iacob.
And this is my couenaunt vnto them, when I shall take away their sinnes.
As concernyng the Gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are loued for the fathers [sakes].
For the gyftes and callyng of God, are without repentaunce.
For, as ye in tyme past haue not beleued God, yet haue nowe obtayned mercie, through their vnbeliefe:
Euen so nowe haue they not beleued the mercie [shewed] vnto you, that they also may obtayne mercie.
For God hath wrapped all [nations] in vnbeliefe, {tha}t he myght haue mercie on al.
O the deepenesse of the ryches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God, howe vnsearcheable are his iudgementes, and his wayes past fyndyng out?
For who hath knowen the mynde of the Lorde? Or who hath ben his councellour?
Either who hath geuen vnto hym first, & he shalbe recompensed agayne.
For of hym, and through hym, and for hym, are all thynges: To whom be glory for euer. Amen.
I Beseche you therfore brethren, by the mercifulnesse of God, that ye geue vp your bodyes a quicke sacrifice, holy, acceptable vnto God, [whiche is] your reasonable seruice:
And fasshion not your selues lyke vnto this worlde, but be ye chaunged in your shape, by {th}e renuing of your minde, that ye may proue what is the wyll of God, good, and acceptable, and perfect.
For I say, through the grace geuen vnto me, to euery man among you, that no man esteeme of hym selfe more then he ought to esteeme: but so esteeme [hym selfe] that he behaue hymselfe discretelye, accordyng as God hath dealt to euerye man the measure of fayth.
For as we haue many members in one body, and all members haue not one office:
So, we beyng many, are one body in Christe, and euery one members one of another.
Seyng that we haue dyuers giftes, accordyng to the grace that is geuen vnto vs, yf any man haue the gyft, either prophesie after the measure of fayth,
Either office in administration, or he that teacheth in teachyng:
Or he that exhorteth, in exhortyng, he that geueth in singlenesse, he that ruleth in diligence, he that is mercifull in chearefulnesse.
Loue without dissimulation, hatyng euyll, cleauyng to good.
Affectioned one to another with brotherly loue, in geuyng honour, go one before another.
Not lither in businesse, feruent in spirite, seruyng the Lorde,
Reioycyng in hope, pacient in trouble, instant in prayer,
Distributyng to {th}e necessitie of saintes, geuen to hospitalitie.
Blesse them which persecute you, blesse, and curse not.
Reioyce with them that do reioyce, and wepe with them that wepe.
Beyng of lyke affection one towardes another, beyng not hye mynded: but makyng your selues equall to them of the lower sort. Be not wise in your owne opinions,
Recompensyng to no man euyll for euyll. Prouydyng afore hande thynges honest, [not only before God, but also] in the syght of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lyeth in you, lyue peaceably with all men.
Dearely beloued, auenge not your selues, but rather geue place vnto wrath. For it is written: Vengeaunce is myne, I wyll repay sayth the Lorde.
Therfore, yf thyne enemie hunger, feede hym: yf he thyrst, geue him drinke. For in so doyng, thou shalt heape coales of fyre on his head.
Be not ouercome of euyll, but ouercome euyll with good.
LEt euery soule be subiect vnto the hyer powers: For there is no power but of god. The powers that be, are ordeyned of God.
Whosoeuer therfore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinaunce of God: And they that resist, shall receaue to the{m} selues dampnation.
For rulers are not fearefull to good workes, but to the euyll. Wylt thou not feare the power? Do well, and thou shalt haue prayse of the same.
For he is the minister of God for thy wealth. But yf thou do euyll, feare: For he beareth not the sworde in vayne, for he is the minister of God, reuenger of wrath on hym that doth euyll.
Wherfore, ye must needes be subiect, not only for feare of punishment: but also because of conscience.
And for this cause pay ye tribute. For they are Gods ministers, seruyng for the same purpose.
Geue to euery man therfore his dutie, tribute to whom tribute, custome to whom custome, feare to whom feare, honour to whom honour [belongeth.]
Owe nothyng to no man, but to loue one another: (For he that loueth another, hath fulfylled the lawe.
For this: Thou shalt not commit ad••••e, thou shalt not kyll, thou shalt not steale, thou shalt not beare false witnesse, thou shalt not lust: and yf there be any other commaundement, it is comprehended in this saying: Namelye, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe.
Charitie worketh no yll to his neyghbour, therfore the fulfyllyng of the lawe is charitie.)
And chiefely consideryng the season, howe that it is tyme that we shoulde nowe awake out of slepe: For nowe is our saluation nearer, then when we beleued.
The nyght is passed, the day is come nye. Let vs therfore caste away the deedes of darknesse, & let vs put on the armour of lyght.
Let vs walke honestly as in the day, not in riotyng & dronkennesse, neither in chaumberyng & wantonnesse, neither in strife and enuying.
But put ye on {th}e Lorde Iesus Christe. And make not prouision for the fleshe, to the lustes [therof.]
HYm that is weake in the fayth, receaue: not to iudgementes of disputyng.
One beleueth {tha}t he may eate euery thyng: Another which is weake, cateth hearbes.
Let not hym that eateth, dispise hym that eateth not: And let not hym which eateth not, iudge hym that eateth. For God hath receaued hym.
What art thou that iudgest another mans seruaunt? To his owne maister he standeth or falleth: Yea, he shalbe holden vp. For god is able to make him stande.
This man putteth difference betwene day and day. Another man counteth all dayes alyke. Let euery man be fully perswaded in his owne mynde.
He that esteemeth the day, esteemeth it vnto {th}e Lorde: And he that esteemeth not the day to the Lorde, he doeth not esteeme it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lorde, for he geueth God thankes: And he that eateth not, eateth not to the Lorde, and geueth God thankes.
For none of vs lyueth to hym selfe, and no man dyeth to hym selfe.
For yf we lyue, we lyue vnto {th}e Lorde: And if we dye, we dye vnto the Lorde. Whether we lyue therfore, or dye, we are the Lordes.
For to this ende Christe both dyed and rose agayne and reuyued, that he myght be Lorde both of dead & quicke.
But why doest thou then iudge thy brother? Either, why doest thou despise thy brother? We shalbe all brought before the iudgement seate of Christe.
For it is written, I lyue, sayth the Lorde: and all knees shall bowe to me, & all tongues shall geue prayse to God.
So shal euery one of vs geue accompt of hym selfe to God.
Let vs not therfore iudge one another any more: But iudge this rather, that no man put a stumblyng blocke, or an occasion to fall, in his brothers way.
For I knowe, and am perswaded by the Lorde Iesus, that there is nothyng common of it selfe: but vnto hym that iudgeth it to be common, to hym is it common.
But yf thy brother be greeued with thy meat, nowe walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not hym with thy meat, for whom Christe dyed.
Let not your good be euyll spoken of.
For the kyngdome of God, is not meat and drinke: but righteousnesse, & peace, and ioy in the holy ghost.
For he that in these thynges serueth Christe, pleaseth God, and is co{m}mended of men.
Let vs therfore folowe those thynges which make for peace, & thynges wherwith one may edifie another.
Destroy not the worke of God for meates sake. All thinges are pure: but it is euyll for that man, which eateth with offence.
It is good neither to eate fleshe, neither to drinke wine, neither any thyng wherby thy brother stumbleth, either falleth, or is made weake.
Hast thou fayth? Haue it with thy selfe before God. Happy is he that condempneth not hym selfe in the thyng which he aloweth.
For he that maketh conscience, is damned yf he eate, because [he eateth] not of fayth: For whatsoeuer is not of fayth, is sinne.
WE whiche are stronge, ought to beare {th}e fraylnes of the weake, & not to stande in our owne conceiptes.
Let euery man please his neygbour, in that that is good to edifiyng.
For Christe pleased not him selfe. But as it is written: The rebukes of them which rebuked thee, fell on me.
For whatsoeuer thynges haue ben written afore time, were written for our learnyng, that we through pacience and comfort of {th}e scriptures might haue hope.
The God of pacience and consolation, graunt you to be lyke mynded one towardes another, after the ensample of Christe Iesu:
That ye all agreeyng together, may with one mouth prayse God, and the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe.
Wherfore, receaue ye one another, as Christe receaued vs, to {th}e prayse of God.
And I say, that Iesus Christe was a minister of the circumcisio{n} for the trueth of God, to confirme the promise [made] vnto the fathers:
And that the gentiles myght prayse God for his mercie, as it is written: For this cause I wyll praise thee among the gentiles, and syng vnto thy name.
And againe he saith: Reioyce ye gentiles with his people.
And againe: praise the Lord al ye gentiles, & laude him al ye people together.
And againe Esaias saith: There shalbe the roote of Iesse, and he that shall rise to raigne ouer the gentiles, in hym shall the gentiles trust.
The God of hope, fyll you with al ioy and peace in beleuyng, that ye may be riche in hope, through the power of the holy ghost.
I my selfe am perswaded of you my brethre{n}, that ye also are full of goodnes, and fylled with all knowledge, able also to exhort one another.
Neuerthelesse brethren, I haue somewhat more boldly written vnto you, to put you in remembraunce, through the grace that is geuen me of God,
That I should be the minister of Iesus Christe, to the gentiles, and shoulde minister the Gospell of God, that the offeryng of the gentiles might be acceptable, and sanctified by the holy ghost.
I haue therefore whereof I may reioyce through Christe Iesus, in those thynges which parteyne to God.
For I dare not speake of any of those thinges which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the gentiles obedient with worde and deede,
In myghtie signes and wonders, by the power of the spirite of God: so that from Hierusalem, & the coastes rounde about, vnto Illyricum, I haue fullye preached the Gospell of Christe.
So haue I enforced my selfe to preach the Gospell, not where Christe was named, lest I shoulde haue buylt vpon an other mans foundation.
But as it is written: To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that hearde not, shall vnderstande.
For this cause I haue ben oft let, that I coulde not come vnto you.
But nowe, seyng I haue no more to do in these countreys, and also haue ben desirous many yeres to come vnto you:
Whensoeuer I take my iourney into Spayne, I wyll come to you: For I trust to see you in my iourney, and to be brought on my waye thytherwarde by you, after that I be somewhat fylled with you.
But nowe go I vnto Hierusalem, to minister vnto the saintes.
For it hath pleased them of Macedonia & Achaia to make a certaine comon gatheryng for the poore saintes whiche are at Hierusalem.
It hath pleased them veryly, & their detters are they. For yf the gentiles be made partakers of their spirituall thynges, their duetie is to minister vnto the{m} in carnall thynges.
When I haue perfourmed this, and haue sealed to the{m} this fruite, I wyll come by you into Spayne.
And I am sure, that when I come vnto you, I shall come with aboundaunce of the blessyng of the Gospell of Christe.
I beseche you brethren for {th}e Lorde Iesus Christes sake, and for the loue of the spirite, that ye helpe me in my busynesse with your prayers to God for me:
That I may be delyuered from them which beleue not in Iurie, & that this my seruice which I haue at Hierusalem may be accepted of the saintes:
That I may come vnto you with ioy, by the wyll of God, and may with you be refresshed.
The God of peace be with you al. Ame{n}.
I Commende vnto you Phebe our sister, whiche is a minister of the Church of Cenchrea,
That ye receaue her in the Lorde, as it becommeth saintes, and that ye assist her in whatsoeuer busynesse she hath nede of you: For she hath suckoured many, and my selfe also.
Greete Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christe Iesu:
(Which haue for my lyfe layde downe their owne neckes: Vnto whom, not onlye I geue thankes, but also all the Churches of the gentiles)
Lykewyse [greete] the Churche that is in their house. Salute my welbeloued Epenetus, which is the first fruite of Achaia in Christe.
Greete Marie, which bestowed much labour on vs.
Salute Andronicus and Iunia my cosins, and prisoners with me also, which are wel taken among the Apostles, and were in Christe before me.
Greete Amplias my beloued in the Lorde.
Salute Vrban our helper in Christe, and Stachys my beloued.
Salute Appelles approued in Christe, salute them whiche are of Aristobulus housholde.
Salute Herodion my kinsman, greete them that be of the housholde of Narcissus, which are in the Lorde.
Salute Tryphena, & Tryphosa, which labour in the Lorde. Salute the beloued Persis, which laboured much in the Lorde.
Salute Rufus chosen in the Lorde, and his mother and myne.
Greete Asyneritus, Phlegon, Herman, Patrobas, Mercurius, and the brethren which are with them.
Salute Philologus and Iulia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saintes which are with them.
Salute one an other with an holy kysse. The Churches of Christ salute you.
Nowe I beseche you brethren, marke them whiche cause deuision, & geue occasions of euyll, contrarie to the doctrine whiche ye haue learned, and auoyde them.
For they that are suche, serue not the Lorde Iesus Christe, but their owne belly, and with sweete and flatteryng wordes deceaue the heartes of the innocentes.
For your obedience is gone abrode vnto al men. I am glad therfore no doubt, of you: But yet I would haue you wise vnto that whiche is good, & simple concernyng euyll.
The God of peace shall treade Satan vnder your feete shortly. The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe be with you.
Timotheus my workfelowe, and Lucius, and Iason, & Sosipater my kinsemen, salute you.
I Tertius, whiche wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lorde.
Gaius myne hoast, and of the whole Churche, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlaine of the citie saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
To hym that is of power to stablisshe you, according to my Gospell, and preachyng of Iesus Christe, by reuealyng of the misterie whiche was kept secrete sence the worlde began,
But nowe is opened, and by the scriptures of the prophetes, at the co{m}maundement of the euerlastyng God, to the obedience of fayth, among all nations publisshed:
To [the same] God, wyse only, be glorie, through Iesus Christe, for euer. Amen.
PAule called [to be] an Apostle of Iesu Christ, through the wyll of God, and brother Sostenes:
Vnto the Church of God whiche is at Corinthus: To the{m} that are sanctified in Christe Iesus, saintes by callyng, with all that call on the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe in euery place, both of theirs and ours:
Grace be vnto you, and peace from God our father, and from the Lorde Iesus Christe.
I thanke my God alwayes on your behalfe, for the grace of God whiche is geuen you in Iesus Christe:
That in all thynges ye are made riche in hym, in all vtteraunce, & in all knowledge:
As the testimonie of Iesus Christ was confirmed in you.
So that ye are destitute of no gyft, wayting for the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christe,
Whiche shall also strength you vnto the ende, that ye may be blamelesse in the day of our Lord Iesus Christ.
God is faythfull, by whom ye are called vnto the felowship of his sonne Iesus Christe our Lorde.
Nowe I beseche you brethren by the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe, that ye all speake one thyng, and that there be no discentions among you, but be ye knit together, in one mynde, and in one meanyng.
For it is shewed vnto me my brethren, of you, by them whiche are of the house of Cloe, that there are contentions among you.
Nowe this I saye, that euery one of you saith, I am of Paul, and I am of Apollo, and I am of Cephas, and I am of Christe.
Is Christe deuided? was Paul crucified for you? eyther were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
I thanke God that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Gaius:
Lest any shoulde say, that I had baptized in myne owne name.
I baptized also the housholde of Stephana: Furthermore knowe I not whether I baptized any other.
For Christe sent me not to baptize, but to preache the Gospell: not with wisedome of wordes, lest {th}e crosse of Christ shoulde be made of none effect.
For the preachyng of the crosse, is to them that perishe foolishnesse: but vnto vs which are saued, it is the power of God.
For it is written, I wyll destroye the wisedome of the wyse, and wyll cast away the vnderstandyng of the prudent.
Where is the wise? where is {th}e scribe? where is the disputer of this worlde? Hath not God made the wisedome of this worlde foolyshenesse?
For after that the world through wisedome knewe not God, in the wisedome of God: it pleased God through foolishnesse of preachyng to saue them that beleue.
For the Iewes require a signe, & the Grekes seke after wisedome:
But we preache Christe crucified, vnto the Iewes a stumblyng blocke, and vnto the Grekes foolyshnesse:
But vnto them which are called both of the Iewes and Grekes [we preache] Christe the power of God, and the wisedome of God.
For the foolishnesse of God, is wiser then men, and the weakenesse of God, is stronger then men.
Brethren, ye see your callyng, howe that not many wise men after the fleshe, not many myghtie, not many noble [are called.]
But God hath chosen the foolyshe thynges of the worlde, to confounde the wise: And God hath chosen the weake thynges of the worlde, to confounde thynges which are myghtie:
And vnnoble thynges of the worlde, & thinges which are despysed, hath God chosen, [yea] and thinges which are not, to bryng to naught thynges that are:
That no fleshe shoulde reioyce in his presence.
And of hym are ye in Christe Iesu, whiche of God is made vnto vs wisedome, and righteousnesse, and sanctification, and redemption:
That accordyng as it is written: he that reioyceth, let hym reioyce in the Lorde.
AND I brethren, when I came to you, came not in gloriousnesse of wordes, or of wisedome, shewing vnto you the testimonie of God.
For I esteemed not to knowe any thyng among you saue Iesus Christe, and hym crucified.
And I was among you in weaknesse, and in feare, and in much tremblyng.
And my wordes and my preachyng was not with entysing wordes of mans wisedome, but in shewyng of the spirite, and of power:
That your fayth should not stande in the wisedome of men, but in the power of God.
And we speake wisedome among the{m} that are perfite: not the wisedome of this world, neither of the princes of this world, which come to naught.
But we speake the wisedome of God in a misterie [euen] the hyd [wisedome] which God ordeyned before the worlde, vnto our glorie.
Which none of {th}e princes of this world knewe: For had they knowen it, they woulde not haue crucified the Lorde of glorie.
But as it is written: The eye hath not seene, & the eare hath not heard, neither haue entred into the heart of man, the thynges which God hath prepared for them that loue hym.
But God hath reuealed the{m} vnto vs by his spirite: For the spirite searcheth all thinges, yea the deepe thinges of God.
For what man knoweth the thynges of a man, saue {th}e spirite of man which is in hym? Euen so, the thinges of God, knoweth no man, but {th}e spirite of God.
And we haue receaued, not the spirite of the worlde, but the spirite which is of God, that we myght know the thinges that are geuen to vs of God.
Which thynges also we speake, not in the wordes which mans wisedome teacheth, but which {th}e holy ghost teacheth, comparyng spirituall thynges with spirituall thynges.
But the naturall man perceaueth not the thynges of {th}e spirite of God, for they are foolyshenesse vnto hym: Neither can he knowe [them] because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spirituall, discerneth all thynges, yet he hym selfe is iudged of no man.
For who hath knowen the mynde of the Lorde, that he myght instruct hym? But we haue the mynde of Christe.
AND I coulde not speake vnto you brethren, as vnto spirituall, but as vnto carnall [eue{n}] as vnto babes in Christe.
I gaue you mylke to drynke, and not meate: For ye then were not stronge, neither are ye as yet.
For ye are carnal. Seing then, there is among you enuying, & stryfe, and sectes, are ye not carnall, and walke as men?
For whyle one sayth, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollo, are ye not carnall?
What is Paul? what is Apollo? Only ministers are they by whom ye beleued, euen as the Lorde gaue to euery man.
I haue planted, Apollo watered: but God gaue the encrease.
So then, neither is he that planteth any thyng, neither he that watreth: but God that geueth the encrease.
He that planteth, & he that watreth, are one, and euery man shal receaue his rewarde accordyng to his labour.
For we together are Gods labourers, ye are Gods husbandrie [ye are] Gods buyldyng.
Accordyng to the grace of God geuen vnto me, as a wise maister builder haue I layde the foundation, and another buyldeth theron. But let euery man take heede howe he buyldeth vpon.
For other foundation can no man lay, then that that is layde, which is Iesus Christe.
If any man buylde on this foundation, golde, syluer, precious stones, tymber, haye [or] stubble:
Euery mans worke shal appeare. The day shall declare it, because it shalbe reuealed by the fire: And the fire shall trie euery mans worke what it is.
If any mans worke that he hath built vpon abyde, he shall receaue a reward.
If any mans worke burne, he shall suffer losse, but he shalbe safe hym selfe: neuertheles, yet as it were through fire.
Knowe ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirite of God dwelleth in you?
If any man defyle the temple of God, hym shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.
Let no man deceaue him selfe. Yf any man among you seeme to be wise in this worlde, let hym be a foole, that he may be wyse.
For the wisedome of this worlde, is foolishnesse with God. For it is writte{n}: He compasseth the wise in their own craftynesse.
And agayne: The Lorde knoweth the thoughtes of the wyse, that they be vayne.
Therfore, let no man reioyce in men: For all thynges are y•urs:
Whether it be Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, either the worlde, either lyfe, or death, whether they be present thinges, or thynges to come, all are yours:
And ye are Christes, and Christe (is) Gods.
LEt a man so esteeme of vs, as the ministers of Christe, and disposers of the secretes of God.
Furthermore, it is required of the disposers that a man be founde faythfull.
With me it is but a very small thyng that I shoulde be iudged of you, either of mans iudgement: No, I iudge not mine owne selfe.
For I knowe nothing by my selfe, yet am I not thereby iustified: but he that iudgeth me is the Lorde.
Therefore iudge nothyng before the tyme, vntyll the Lorde come, who wyl lyghten thynges that are hyd in darkenesse, & open the counsels of the heartes, and then shall euery man haue prayse of God.
And these thynges brethren, I haue figuratiuely applied vnto my selfe, and to Apollos, for your sakes, that ye might learne by vs, that no man conceaue in mynde aboue that whiche is written, that one swell not agaynst another for any mans cause.
For who seperateth thee? And what hast thou, that thou hast not receaued? If thou haue receaued it, why reioycest thou, as though thou haddest not receaued it?
Nowe ye are full, nowe ye are made ryche, ye raigne as kynges without vs, and I woulde to God ye dyd raigne, that we also myght raigne with you.
For me thynketh, that God hath set foorth vs, whiche are the last apostles, as it were men appoynted to death. For we are made a gasyng stocke vnto the worlde, and to the angels, and to men.
We [are] fooles for Christes sake, but ye [are] wyse in Christe. We [are] weake, but ye [are] stronge. Ye [are] honorable, but we [are] despised.
Euen vnto this time we both hunger and thirste, and are naked, and are buffeted, and haue no certaine dwellyng place,
And labour, working with our owne handes. We are reuyled, and we blesse. We are persecuted, and suffer it.
We are euyll spoken of, and we praye: we are made as the fylthynesse of the worlde, the ofscowryng of all thynges vnto this day.
I write not these thynges to shame you, but as my beloued sonnes I warne you.
For though ye haue ten thousande instructours in Christ, yet [haue ye] not many fathers: For in Christe Iesu I haue begotten you through the Gospell.
Wherfore, I desire you, be ye folowers of me.
For this cause haue I sent vnto you Timotheus, whiche is my beloued sonne, & faythfull in the Lorde, which shall put you in remembraunce of my wayes which be in Christe, as I teache euery where in all Churches.
Some swel as though I would come no more at you:
But I wyll come to you shortly, if the Lorde wyll, & wyll knowe, not the wordes of the{m} which swell, but the power.
For the kyngdome of God is not in worde, but in power.
What wyl ye? Shal I come vnto you with a rodde, or in loue and in the spirite of mekenesse?
THere goeth a common saying that there is fornication among you, & suche fornication as is not named among the gentiles: that one shoulde haue his fathers wyfe.
And ye swell, and haue not rather sorowed, that he that hath so done this deede, myght be put from among you.
For I veryly, as absent in body, but present in spirite, haue determined alredie, as though I were present, concernyng hym that hath done this deede.
In the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe, when ye are gathered together and my spirite, with the power of the Lorde Iesus Christe,
To delyuer suche a one vnto Satan for the destruction of the flesshe, that the spirite may be saued in the daye of the Lorde Iesus.
Your reioycing is not good. Knowe ye not, that a litle leauen leaueneth the whole lumpe?
Purge out therfore the olde leauen, that ye maye be newe dowe, as ye are vnleauened bread: For Christe our Pasouer is offred vp for vs.
Therefore let vs kepe holy day, not with old leauen, neither with the leauen of maliciousnes and wickednesse, but with the vnleauened bread of purenesse and trueth.
I wrote vnto you in an epistle, that ye should not companie with fornicatours:
[And I meant] not at all with the fornicatours of this worlde, or with the couetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters: for then must ye needes haue gone out of the world.
But nowe I haue written vnto you, that ye companie not together, if any that is called a brother be a fornicatour, or couetous, or a worshipper of idols, or a rayler, or a drunkarde, or an extortioner: with him that is such [see that ye] eate not.
For what haue I to do to iudge them that are without? Do ye not iudge them that are within? Them that are without God iudgeth. Put away from among you that wicked person.
DAre any of you, hauing businesse with another, be iudged vnder the vniust, and not rather vnder {th}e saintes?
Do ye not knowe that the saintes shall iudge the worlde? If the worlde shalbe iudged by you, are ye vnworthy to iudge the smallest matters?
Know ye not howe that we shal iudge the angels? Howe much more thinges that parteyne to this lyfe?
If then ye haue iudgement of thinges parteynyng to this lyfe, set vp them to iudge whiche are least esteemed in the Churche.
I speake it to your shame: Is it so that there is not a wyse man among you? no not one that can iudge betwene brother and brother?
But one brother goeth to law with another, and that vnder the vnbeleuers?
Nowe therefore there is vtterly a fault among you, because ye go to lawe one with another: Why rather suffer ye not wrong? why rather suffer ye not harme?
Nay, ye your selues do wrong, and do harme, and that to your brethren.
Knowe ye not that the vnrighteous shall not inherite the kingdome of God? Be not deceaued: neither fornicatours, nor idolatours, nor adulterers, nor weaklinges, nor abusers of them selues with mankinde,
Nor theeues, nor couetous, nor drunckardes, nor cursed speakers, nor pyllers, shall inherite the kingdome of God.
And such were some of you: but ye are wasshed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are iustified in the name of the Lord Iesus, and by the spirite of our God.
All thinges are lawfull vnto me, but al thinges are not profitable: Al things are lawfull vnto me, but I will not be brought vnder the power of any.
Meates [are ordeyned] for the belly, and the belly for meates: but God shall destroy both it, and them. Nowe the body [is] not for fornication: but for the Lorde, and the Lorde for the body.
And God both hath raysed vp the Lorde, and also shall rayse vs vp by his power.
Knowe ye not that your bodies are the members of Christe? Shall I then take the members of Christe, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbyd.
Know ye not, that he whiche coupleth him selfe with an harlot, is one body? For two (sayth he) shalbe one fleshe.
But he that is ioyned vnto the Lord is one spirite.
Flee fornication. Euery synne that a man doeth, is without the body: but he that committeth fornication, sinneth against his owne body.
Knowe ye not that your body is the temple of the holy ghost [whiche is] in you, whom ye haue of God, and ye are not your owne?
For ye are dearely bought: therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirite, which are Gods.
NOwe as concernyng the thinges wherof ye wrote vnto me, it is good for a man not to touche a woman.
Neuerthelesse, to auoyde fornication, let euery man haue his owne wyfe, and let euery woman haue her owne husband.
Let the husbande geue vnto the wyfe due beneuolence: Lykewyse also the wyfe vnto the husbande.
The wyfe hath not the power of her owne body, but the husbande: And likewyse also the husbande hath not the power of his owne body, but the wife.
Defraude you not the one the other, except [it be] with both your consentes for a time, that ye may geue your selues to fasting and prayer: and afterward come together againe, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinencie.
This I say of fauour, & not of commaundement.
For I woulde that all men were as I my selfe [am:] but euery man hath his proper gift of God, one after this maner, another after that.
I say therefore vnto them that be vnmaryed and wyddowes, it is good for them if they abyde euen as I.
But if they can not abstayne, let them marrie: For it is better to marrie then to burne.
Vnto the maryed commaunde, not I, but the Lord, Let not the wyfe depart from the husbande:
But and if she depart, let her remayne vnmarried, or be reconciled vnto her husbande [againe:] And let not the husbande put away his wyfe.
But to the remnaunt speake I, not the Lorde: If any brother haue a wife that beleueth not, if she be content to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
And the woman which hath to her husbande an infidell, and he consent to dwel with her, let her not put him away.
For the vnbeleuing husbande is sanctified by the wyfe, and the vnbeleuyng wyfe is sanctified by the husbande: els were your children vncleane, but nowe are they holy.
But if the vnbeleuing depart, let hym depart: A brother or a sister is not in subiection in such thinges: But God hath called vs in peace.
For howe knowest thou O woman, whether thou shalt saue thy husbande? or how knowest thou O man, whether thou shalt saue thy wyfe?
But as God hath distributed to euery man, as the Lorde hath called euery one, so let hym walke, and so ordeyne I in all Churches.
Is any man called beyng circumcised? let him not adde vncircumcision: Is any called vncircumcised? let him not be circumcised.
Circumcision is nothing, and vncircumcision is nothing, but the keping of the commaundementes of God.
Let euery man abyde in the same calling, wherin he was called.
Art thou called a seruaunt? care not for it: Neuerthelesse, if thou mayest be free, vse it rather.
For he that is called in the Lord [being] a seruaunt, is the Lordes free man: Lykewyse also he that is called [beyng] free, is Christes seruaunt.
Ye are dearely bought, be not ye the seruauntes of men.
Brethren, let euery man wherin he is called, therin abyde with God.
Nowe concerning virgins I haue no commaundement of the Lord: yet geue I counsell, as one that hath obtayned mercy in the Lorde to be faythfull.
I suppose therfore that it is good for the present necessitie: for [I say] it is good for a man so to be.
Art thou bounde vnto a wife? seke not to be loosed: Art thou loosed from a wyfe? seke not a wyfe.
But and if thou marrie a wyfe, thou sinnest not, and if a virgin marrie, she hath not sinned: Neuerthelesse, such shall haue trouble in their fleshe, but I beare with you.
But this say I brethren, the tyme is short: It remayneth, that they which haue wyues, be as though they had none:
And they that wepe, as though they wept not: & they that reioyce, as though they reioyced not: and they that bye, as though they possessed not:
And they that vse this worlde, as though they vsed it not: For the fashion of this worlde goeth away.
I woulde haue you without care: He that is vnmaryed, careth for the thinges that belong to the Lorde, how he may please the Lorde:
But he that hath maryed a wyfe, careth for the thinges that are of the worlde, how he may please his wyfe.
There is difference betweene a virgin and a wyfe: The vnmaryed woman careth for the thinges that are of the Lorde, that she may be holy both in body and in spirite: [Againe] she that is maryed careth for the thinges that pertayne to the world, how she may please her husbande.
This speake I for your profite, not to tangle you in a snare: but that [ye may folowe] that which is honest and comely, and that ye may cleaue fast vnto the Lorde without separation.
But if any man thinke that it is vncomely for his virgin if she passe the time of mariage, and neede so require, let him do what he wyll, he sinneth not: let them be maryed.
Neuerthelesse, he that purposeth surely in his heart hauing no neede, but hath power ouer his owne wyll, and hath so decreed in his heart that he wyl kepe his virgin, doth well.
So then he that ioyneth his virgin in maryage, doth well: but he that ioyneth not [his virgin] in mariage, doth better.
The wyfe is bounde to the lawe as long as her husbande lyueth: but if her husband be dead, she is at libertie to marry with whom she wil, onely in the Lorde.
But she is happier if she so abide, after my iudgement: And I thinke veryly that I haue the spirite of God.
AS touching thinges offred vnto idols, we are sure {tha}t we all haue knowledge. Knowledge maketh a man swell: but loue edifieth.
If any man thynke that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
But if any man loue God, the same is knowen of him.
As concerning the eating of those thinges that are offered vnto idols, we are sure that an idoll is nothing in the worlde, and that there is none other God but one.
And though there be that are called gods, whether in heauen or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lordes many:)
Yet vnto vs is there but one God, [which is] the father, of whom are all thinges, and we in him, and one Lorde Iesus Christe, by whom are al thinges, and we by him.
But euery man hath not knowledge: For some hauing conscience of the idol vntill this houre, eate as a thing offred vnto idols, and so their conscience being weake, is defiled.
But meate maketh vs not acceptable to God: For neither if we eate, haue we the more, neither if we eate not, haue we the lesse.
But take heede lest by any meanes this libertie of yours be an occasion of falling, to them that are weake.
For if any man see thee which hast knowledge, sit at meate in the idols temple: shal not the conscience of him which is weake, be boldened to eate those thinges which are offred to idols,
And through thy knowledge shal the weake brother perishe, for whom Christe dyed?
When ye sinne so against the brethren, and wounde their weake conscience, ye sinne against Christe.
Wherefore, if meate offend my brother, I wyll eate no fleshe whyle the worlde standeth, lest I shoulde offende my brother.
AM I not an Apostle? am I not free? haue I not seene Iesus Christe our Lord: Are ye not my worke in the Lorde?
If I be not an Apostle vnto other, yet doubtlesse am I vnto you: For the seale of myne Apostleship are ye in the Lorde.
Myne aunswere to them that aske me, is this,
Haue we not power to eate and to drinke?
Haue we not power to leade about a sister a woman as well as other Apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
Either only I and Barnabas haue not power this to do?
Who goeth a warfare any time at his owne cost? Who planteth a vineyarde, and eateth not of the fruite therof? Or who feedeth a flocke, and eateth not of the milke of the flocke?
Say I these thinges after the maner of men? or saith not the law the same also?
For it is written in the law of Moyses: Thou shalt not moosell the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne. Doth God take care for Oxen?
Either sayth he it not altogether for our sakes? For our sakes no doubt this is written, that he which eareth, should eare in hope: & that he which tressheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope.
If we haue sowen vnto you spirituall thinges, is it a great thing if we reape your carnall thinges?
If others be partakers of [this] power [wherfore are] not we rather? Neuerthelesse, we haue not vsed this power: but suffer all thinges, lest we shoulde hinder the Gospel of Christ.
Do ye not knowe that they which minister about holy thynges, eate of the thinges of the temple? And they whiche wayte at the aulter, are partakers with the aulter?
Euen so hath the Lord ordayned, that they which preache the Gospell, shoulde lyue of the Gospell.
But I haue vsed none of these thinges. Neuerthelesse, I wrote not these thinges, that it shoulde be so done vnto me: For it were better for me to die, then that any man should make my reioycing vayne.
For if I preache the Gospell, I haue nothyng to reioyce of: for necessitie is layde vpon me. But wo is vnto me if I preache not the Gospell.
For if I do it with a good wil, I haue a reward: but if [I do it] against my wil, the dispensatio{n} is committed vnto me.
What is my reward then? Verily that when I preache the Gospell, I make the Gospell of Christ free, that I misuse not myne aucthoritie in the Gospell.
For though I be free from all men, yet haue I made my selfe seruaunt vnto all men, that I might win the mo.
Vnto the Iewes, I become as a Iewe, that I might win the Iewes: To them that are vnder the lawe, [I become] as [though I were] vnder the lawe, that I might win them that are vnder the lawe:
To them that are without lawe, [become I] as [though I were] without lawe, (when I was not without law as parteyning to the lawe of God, but in the lawe of Christe) to winne them that are without lawe.
To the weake became I as weake, that I might winne the weake. I am made all thinges to all men, that I might at the least way saue some.
And this I do for the Gospels sake, that I might haue my part therof.
Perceaue ye not [howe] that they which run in a race, run all, but one receaueth the rewarde? So run that ye may obtayne.
Euery man that proueth maisteries, abstayneth from all thynges, and they [do it] to obtayne a crowne that shall perishe: but we to obtayne an euerlasting crowne.
I therfore so run, not as at an vncertayne thing: So fight I, not as one that beateth the ayre.
But I tame my body, and bryng it into subiection, lest by any meanes, that when I haue preached to other, I my selfe shoulde be a castaway.
BRethre{n}, I woulde not that ye shoulde be ignoraunt, howe that all our fathers were vnder the cloude, and all passed through the sea,
And were all baptized vnto Moyses in the cloude, & in the sea:
And dyd all eate of one spirituall meate,
And dyd all drynke of one maner of spirituall drynke. (And they dranke of that spirituall rocke that folowed them, which rocke was Christe.)
But in many of them had God no delite: For they were ouerthrowen in the wildernesse.
These veryly are ensamples to vs, to thintent that we shoulde not lust after euyll thynges, as they also lusted.
Neither be ye idolatours, as [were] some of them, as it is written: The people sate downe to eate and drynke, and rose vp to play.
Neither let vs commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and fell in one daye three and thirtie thousande.
Neither let vs tempt Christe, as some of them tempted, and were destroyed of serpentes.
Neither murmure ye, as some of the{m} also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
All these thinges happened vnto them for ensamples: but they are written to put vs in remembraunce, whom the endes of the worlde are come vpon.
Wherfore, let hym that thynketh he standeth, take heede lest he fall.
There hath no temptation taken you, but such as foloweth the nature of man: But God is faythfull, which shall not suffer you to be tempted aboue your strength: but shall with the temptation make away that ye maye be able to beare it.
Wherfore my deare beloued, flee from idolatrie.
I speake as vnto them which haue discretion, iudge ye what I say.
The cuppe of blessyng which we blesse, is it not {th}e partakyng of the blood of Christe? The bread which we breake, is it not the partakyng of the body of Christe?
For we that are many, are one bread and one body, in as much as we all are partakers of one bread.
Beholde Israel after the fleshe. Are not they which eate of the sacrifices, partakers of the aulter?
What say I then? that the idol is any thyng? Or that it which is offered to idols is any thyng?
[Nay] but [this I saye] that the thinges which the gentiles offer, they offer to deuyls, & not to God. And I woulde not that ye shoulde haue felowshippe with the deuils.
Ye can not drynke {th}e cup of the Lorde, and the cup of deuils. Ye can not be partakers of the Lordes table, and of the table of deuyls.
Either do we prouoke the Lorde to anger? Are we stronger then he?
All thynges are lawfull for me, but all thynges are not expedient: All thynges are lawfull for me, but all thynges edifie not.
Let no man seeke his owne: but euery man anothers wealth.
Whatsoeuer is solde in the market, that eate, and aske no question for conscience sake.
For the earth is the Lordes, and all that therin is.
If any of them which beleue not, byd you [to a feast] and ye be disposed to go, whatsoeuer is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
But yf any man say vnto you, this is offred vnto idols, eate not [of it] for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake. The earth is the Lordes and all that therin is.
Conscience I say, not thyne, but of the other. For why is my libertie, iudged of another mans conscience?
For, if I take my part with thankes, why am I euyll spoken of, for that wherfore I geue thankes?
Whether therfore ye eate or drynke, or whatsoeuer ye do, do all to the prayse of God.
See that ye geue none offence, neither to the Iewes, nor yet to the Grecians, neither to the Churche of God.
Euen as I please all men in all thynges, not seking myne owne profite, but [the profite] of many, that they might be saued.
BE ye the folowers of me, euen as I am of Christe.
I commende you brethren, that ye remember me in all thinges, and kepe the ordinaunces, as I deliuered them to you.
But I wyl that ye knowe, that Christ is the head of euery man. And the man is the womans head: And God is Christes head.
Euery man praying or prophesiyng, hauyng any thing on his head, shameth his head.
But euery woman that prayeth or prophesieth bare headed, dishonesteth her head: For that is euen all one as yf she were shauen.
Yf the woman be not couered, let her also be shorne. Yf it be a shame for a woman to be shorne or shauen, let her couer her head.
A man ought not to couer his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glorie of God: But the woman is the glorie of the man:
For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man:
Neither was the man created for the womans sake: but the woman for the mans sake.
For this cause ought the woman to haue power on her head, for the Angels sakes.
Neuerthelesse, neither is the man without the woman, neither {th}e woman without the man, in the Lorde.
For as the woman is of the man, euen so is the man by the woman, but all of God.
Iudge in your selues, whether it be comely that a woman pray vnto God bare headed?
Doth not nature it selfe teache you, that it is a shame for a man, yf he haue long heere?
But yf a woman haue long heere, it is a prayse for her: For her heere is geuen her to couer her withall.
If any man lust to striue, we haue no such custome, neither the Churches of God.
This I warne you of, and commende not, that ye come together, not after a better maner, but after a worse.
For first of all, when ye come together in the Churche, I heare that there is dissention among you, and I partly beleue it.
For there must be sectes among you, that they which are approued among you, myght be knowen.
When ye come together therfore into one place, you can not eate the Lordes supper:
For euery one preuenteth other, in eatyng his owne supper. And one is hungry, and another is drunken.
Haue ye not houses to eate & to drynke in? Despise ye the Churche of God, and shame them that haue not? What shall I say vnto you, shall I prayse you in this, I prayse you not.
That which I deliuered vnto you, I receaued of the Lorde. For the Lord Iesus, the same nyght in the which he was betrayed, toke bread:
And when he had geuen thankes, he brake it, and sayde: Take ye [and] eate, this is my body which is broke{n} for you: This do ye in the remembraunce of me.
After the same maner also [he toke] the cup, when he had supped, saying: This cup is the newe testament in my blood: This do as oft as ye drynke it, in remembraunce of me.
For as often as ye shal eate this bread, and drynke this cup, ye shall shewe the Lordes death tyll he come.
Wherfore, whosoeuer shall eate this bread, and drynke this cup of the Lorde vnworthyly, shalbe gyltie of the body and blood of the Lorde.
But let a man examine hym selfe, and so let hym eate of this bread, and drinke of this cuppe:
For he that eateth and drynketh vnworthyly, eateth and drynketh his owne dampnation, [because] he maketh no difference of the Lordes body.
For this cause many are weake and sicke among you, and many slepe.
For yf we woulde iudge our selues, we shoulde not be iudged.
But when we are iudged, we are chastened of the Lorde, that we shoulde not be dampned with the worlde.
Wherfore my brethren, when ye come together to eate, tary one for another.
If any man hunger, let hym eate at home, that ye come not together vnto condempnation. Other thynges wyll I set in order when I come.
COncernyng spirituall gyftes, brethren, I woulde not haue you ignoraunt.
Ye knowe {tha}t ye were gentiles, and caryed away vnto dumbe idols, as ye were led.
Wherfore I declare vnto you, that no man speakyng by the spirite of God, defieth Iesus. Also no man can say that Iesus is {th}e Lord, but by the holy ghost.
There are diuersities of gyftes, but the spirite [is] one.
And there are differences of administrations, but the Lorde [is] one.
And there are diuers maners of operations, but God is one, which worketh all in all.
The manifestation of the spirite, is geuen to euery man, to profite withall.
For to one is geuen by the spirite, the worde of wisdome, to another the word of knowledge, by the same spirite:
To another [is geuen] fayth, by the same spirite: to another the giftes of healyng by the same spirite:
To another, power to do miracles, to another, prophesie, to another [iudgement] to discerne spirites, to another, diuers kyndes of tongues, to another, the interpretation of tongues.
But these all worketh euen one and the selfe same spirite, deuidyng to euery man a seuerall gyft, as he wyll.
For as the body is one, & hath many members, and all the members of one body, though they be many, [yet] are [but] one body: euen so is Christe.
For by one spirite, are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Iewes or gentiles, whether [we be] bonde or free: and haue all drunke of one spirite.
For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foote woulde say, because I am not the hande, I am not of the body: is it therfore not of the body?
And yf the eare woulde say, because I am not the eye, I am not of the body: is it therfore not of the body?
If all the body [were] an eye, where were then the hearyng? If all [were] hearyng, where were the smellyng?
But nowe hath God set {th}e members, euery one seuerally in the body, as it hath pleased hym.
For yf they were all one member, where were the body?
Nowe are there many members, yet but one body.
And the eye can not say vnto {th}e hande, I haue no neede of thee: Nor, the head agayne to the feete, I haue no neede of you.
Yea, rather a great deale, those members of the body which seeme to be more feeble, are necessary:
And vpon those members of the body which we thynke least honest, put we more honestie on. And our vncomely partes, haue more comelynesse on.
For our comely members neede it not: But God hath tempered the body together, and hath geuen the more honour to that [part] which lacked:
Lest there shoulde be any stryfe in the body: but that the members shoulde haue the same care one for another.
And yf one member suffer, all suffer with it. If one member be had in honour, all the members reioyce with it.
Ye are the body of Christe, and members one of another.
And God hath ordayned some in the Churche, first Apostles, secondarely, prophetes, thirdely teachers, then them that do miracles: after that, the giftes of healyng, helpers, gouernours, diuersitie of tongues.
Are all, Apostles? are all, prophetes? are all, teachers?
Are all, doers of miracles? Haue all the giftes of healyng? Do all speake with tongues? Do all interprete?
Couet after the best giftes: And yet shew I vnto you a more excellent way.
THough I speake with the tongues of men and of Angels, and haue not loue, I am [as] soundyng brasse, or [as] a tincklyng Cimball:
And though I coulde prophesie, and vnderstoode all secretes, and all knowledge: Yea, if I had all fayth, so that I coulde moue mountaynes out of their places, and haue not loue, I were nothyng.
And though I bestowe all my goodes to feede the poore, and though I geue my body that I burned, and haue not loue, it profiteth me nothyng.
Loue suffreth long, and is curteous: Loue enuieth not, loue doth not frowardely, swelleth not,
Dealeth not dishonestlie, seeketh not her owne, is not prouoked to anger, thynketh none euyll,
Reioyceth not in iniquitie: but reioyceth in the trueth:
Suffreth all thynges, beleueth all thynges, hopeth all thynges, endureth all thynges.
Though {th}e prophesiynges fayle, other tongues ceasse, or knowledge vanishe away, [yet] loue falleth neuer away.
For our knowledge is vnperfect, and our prophesiyng is vnperfect:
But when that which is perfect, is come, then that which is vnperfect shalbe done away.
When I was a chylde, I spake as a childe, I vnderstode as a childe, I imagined as a chylde: But assoone as I was a man, I put away chyldishnesse.
Nowe we see in a glasse, euen in a darke speakyng: but then [shall we see] face to face. Nowe I knowe vnperfectly: but then shall I knowe euen as I am knowen.
Nowe abydeth fayth, hope, and loue, these three, but the chiefe of these is loue.
FOlowe after loue, and couet spirituall [giftes] but most chiefelie that ye may prophesie.
For he that speaketh with the tongue, speaketh not vnto men, but vnto God: For no man heareth [hym]. Howbeit, in the spirite he speaketh misteries.
But he that prophesieth, speaketh vnto men to their edifiyng, to their exhortation, and to their comfort.
He that speaketh with the tongue, edifieth hym selfe: he that prophesieth, edifieth the Churche.
I woulde {tha}t ye al spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: For greater is he that prophesieth, then he that speaketh with tongues, except he expounde it, that the Churche may haue edifiyng.
Nowe brethren, yf I come vnto you speakyng with tongues, what shall I profite you, except I speake to you eyther by reuelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesiyng, or by doctrine?
Moreouer, thynges without lyfe geuing sound, whether [it be] a pipe or an harpe, except they make a distinction in the soundes, howe shall it be knowen what is piped or harped?
And also yf the trumpe geue an vncertayne sounde, who shall prepare him selfe to the warre?
Euen so lykewyse, when ye speake with tongues, except ye speake wordes that haue signification, howe shall it be vnderstande what is spoken? For ye shall speake into the ayer.
There are so many kyndes of voyces, [as it commeth to passe] in the worlde, and none of them are without signification.
If I knowe not what the voyce meaneth, I shalbe lyke vnto hym that speaketh, an aliaunt: and he that speaketh, shalbe an aliaunt vnto me.
Euen so, forasmuch as ye couet spirituall [giftes] seke that ye may excell, vnto the edifiyng of the Churche.
Wherfore, let him that speaketh with tongue, pray that he may interprete.
For yf I pray with tongue, my spirite prayeth, but my vnderstanding is without fruite.
What is it then? I wyll pray with the spirite, and wyll pray with the vnderstandyng also. I wyll syng with the spirite, and wyll syng with the vnderstandyng also.
Els, when thou blessest with the spirite, howe shall he that occupieth the rowme of the vnlearned, say Amen at thy geuyng of thankes, seyng he vnderstandeth not what thou sayest?
Thou veryly geuest thankes well: but the other is not edified.
I thanke my God, I speake with tongues more the ye all.
Yet had I rather, in the Churche to speake fiue wordes with my vnderstandyng, to the information of other, then ten thousande wordes with the tongue.
Brethren, be not chyldren in wytte: Howbeit, as concerning maliciousnesse, be chyldren: but in wytte, be perfect.
In the lawe it is written: With sundry tongues, and with sundry lyppes, wyll I speake vnto this people, and yet for all that will they not heare me, sayth the Lorde.
Wherfore, tongues are for a signe, not to them that beleue, but to them that beleue not: But prophesiyng [serueth] not for them that beleue not, but for them which beleue.
If therfore, when all the Churche is come together in one, & all speake with tongues, there come in they that are vnlearned, or they which beleue not: wyll they not say {tha}t ye are out of your wittes?
But yf all prophesie, and there come in one {tha}t beleueth not, or one vnlearned: he is rebuked of all men, and is iudged of euery man:
And so are the secretes of his heart made manifest, and so falleth he downe on his face, and worshippeth God, and sayth that God is in you of a trueth.
Howe is it then brethren? When ye come together, euery one of you hath a psalme, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a reuelation, hath interpretation. Let all thynges be done vnto edifiyng.
Yf any man speake with tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course, and let one interprete.
But yf there be no interpreter, let him kepe scilence in the Churche, and let him speake to hym selfe, and to God.
Let the prophetes speake two or three, and let the other iudge.
If any reuelation be made to another that sitteth by, let {th}e first holde his peace.
For ye may all prophesie one by one, that all may learne, and all may haue comfort.
And the spirites of the prophetes, are subiect to the prophetes.
For God is not [the aucthour] of confusion, but of peace, as in all Churches of the saintes.
Let your women kepe scilence in the Churches: For it is not permitted vnto them to speake, but to be vnder obedience, as sayth the lawe.
If they wyll learne any thyng, let the{n} aske their husbandes at home: For it is a shame for women to speake in the Churche.
Sproung the worde of God from you? Either came it vnto you only?
If any man thynke hym selfe to be a prophete, either spiritual, let him knowe that the thinges that I write vnto you, are {th}e commaundementes of the Lorde.
But yf any man be ignoraunt, let hym be ignoraunt.
Wherfore brethren, couet to prophesie, and forbyd not to speake with tongues.
Let all thynges be done honestlie and in order.
MOreouer brethren I declare vnto you, the Gospell which I preached vnto you, which also ye haue receaued, and wherin ye co{n}tinue,
By the which also ye are saued, yf ye kepe in memorie after what maner I preached vnto you, except ye haue beleued in vayne.
For first of all I deliuered vnto you, that which I receaued: howe that Christe dyed for our sinnes, agreeyng to the scriptures:
And that he was buryed, and that he arose agayne the thirde day, accordyng to the scriptures:
And that he was seene of Cephas, then of the twelue:
After that, he was seene of mo then fiue hundred brethren at once: of which, many remayne vnto this day, & some are fallen a slepe.
After that, he was seene of Iames, then of all the Apostles.
And last of all he was seene of me, as of one borne out of due tyme.
For I am the least of the Apostles, which am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Churche of God.
But by the grace of God, I am that I am: And his grace which is in me, was not in vayne: But I laboured more aboundauntly then they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which is with me.
Therfore, whether it were I or they, so we preache, and so haue ye beleued.
If Christe be preached howe that he rose from the dead: howe say some among you, that there is no resurrection of the dead?
If there be no rysyng agayne of the dead, then is Christe not rysen agayne.
If Christe be not rysen agayne, then is our preachyng vayne, and your fayth is also vayne.
Yea, and we are founde false witnesses of God: For we haue testified of God, howe that he raysed vp Christe, whom he raysed not vp, yf it be so that the dead ryse not agayne.
For yf the dead ryse not agayne, then is not Christe rysen agayne.
If it be so, that Christ rose not againe, then is your fayth vayne, and ye are yet in your sinnes.
Therfore, they which are fallen in a slepe in Christe, are perisshed.
If in this lyfe only we haue hope on Christe, then are we of all men moste miserable.
But nowe is Christe rysen from the dead, the first fruites of them that slept.
For since by man [came] death, euen so by man [came] the resurrection of {th}e dead.
For, as by Adam all dye: euen so by Christe shall all be made alyue,
But euery man in his owne order. The first fruites [is] Christe, afterward, they that are Christes at his commyng.
Then [commeth] the ende, when he hath deliuered vp the kingdome to God the father, when he hath put downe all rule, and all auctoritie, and power.
For he must raigne tyll he haue put all his enemies vnder his feete.
The last enemie that shalbe destroyed, [is] death.
For he hath put downe all thynges vnder his feete: But when he saith, all thynges are vnder hym, it is manifest that he is excepted which dyd put all thynges vnder hym.
When all thynges are subdued vnto hym, then shall the sonne also hym selfe be subiect vnto him that put all thinges vnder hym, that God may be all in all.
Els what shall they do, which are baptized for the dead, yf the dead ryse not at all?
Why are they then baptized for them? And why stande we in ieopardie euery houre?
By our reioycyng which I haue in Christe Iesu our Lorde, I dye dayly.
If I haue fought with beastes at Ephesus after the maner of men, what auauntageth it me, yf the dead ryse not agayne? Let vs eate & drynke, for to morowe we shall dye.
Be not deceaued. Euyll wordes, corrupt good maners.
Awake truely out of slepe, and sinne not: For some haue not the knowledge of God. I speake this to your shame.
But some man wyll say, howe are the dead raysed vp? With what bodie shall they come?
Thou foole, that which thou sowest, is not quickened except it dye.
And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shalbe, but bare corne, as of wheate, or of some other:
But God geueth it a body at his pleasure, to euery seede his owne body.
All flesshe, is not the same flesshe: But there is one [maner of] flesshe of me{n}, another flesshe of beastes, another of fisshes, and another of byrdes.
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: But the glorie of the celestial is one, and [the glorie] of the terrestrial another.
There is another glorie of the sunne, and another glorie of the moone, and another glorie of the starres: For [one] starre differeth from [another] starre in glorie.
So is the resurrection of the dead. It is sowen in corruption, it ryseth in incorruption.
It is sowen in dishonour, it riseth in honour. It is sowen in weakenesse, it ryseth in power.
It is sowen a naturall bodie, it ryseth a spirituall bodie. There is a naturall bodie, and there is a spirituall bodie.
As it is also written: The first man Adam was made a lyuyng soule, and the last Adam was made a quickenyng spirite.
Howebeit, that is not first whiche is spirituall, but that [whiche is] naturall, and then that [whiche is] spirituall.
The first man [is] of the earth, earthy: the seconde man [is] the Lorde from heauen.
As is the earthy, suche [are] they that are earthy: And as is the heauenly, such [are] they also that are heauenly.
And as we haue borne the image of the earthy, so shall we beare the image of the heauenly.
This saye I brethren, that fleshe and blood can not inherite the kyngdome of God: Neither doth corruption, inherite incorruption.
Beholde, I shewe you a misterie. We shall not all slepe: but we shall all be chaunged.
In a moment, in the twynklyng of an eye, at the last trumpe. For the trumpe shall blowe, and the dead shall ryse incorruptible, and we shalbe chaunged.
For this corruptible, must put on incorruption, and this mortall [must] put on immortalitie.
When this corruptible, hath put on incorruption, and this mortal, hath put on immortalitie, then shalbe brought to passe the saying that is written, Death is swalowed vp into victorie.
O death where is thy stynge? O hell where is thy victorie?
The stynge of death [is] sinne, and the strength of sinne [is] the lawe.
But thankes be vnto God, whiche hath geue{n} vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christe.
Therfore my beloued brethren, be ye stedfast, vnmouable, alwayes riche in the worke of the Lorde, forasmuch as ye knowe that your labour is not in vayne in the Lorde.
COncerning the gatheryng for the saintes, as I haue ordeined in the Churches of Galacia, euen so do ye.
Vpon some Sabboth daye, let euery one of you put asyde by hym selfe, and laye vp as God hath prospered hym, that then there be no gatherynges when I come.
When I am come, whomsoeuer ye shall alowe by [your] letters, them wyll I sende, to bryng your liberalitie vnto Hierusalem.
And yf it be meete that I go also, they shall go with me.
I wyll come vnto you, after I haue gone ouer Macedonia (For I wyl passe through Macedonia)
And it may be, that I wyll abyde, yea or wynter with you, that ye may bryng me on my way whyther soeuer I go.
For I wyll not see you nowe in my passage, but I trust to abyde a whyle with you, yf the Lorde shall suffer me.
I wyll tarie at Ephesus vntyll whytsontyde:
For a great doore and effectuall is opened vnto me, and there are many aduersaries.
Yf Timotheus come, see that he be without feare with you: For he worketh the worke of the Lorde, as I do.
Let no man therfore despise hym, but conuay him foorth in peace, that he may come vnto me: for I loke for hym with the brethren.
As touchyng our brother Apollo, I greatly desired hym to come vnto you with the brethren, but his mynde was not at all to come at this tyme: Howebeit, he wyll come when he shall haue conuenient tyme.
Watche ye, stande fast in the fayth, quyte you lyke men, be strong.
Let al your thinges be done with loue.
I beseche you brethren (ye knowe the house of Stephanas, that it is {th}e first fruites of Achaia, and that they haue appoynted them selues to minister vnto the saintes)
That ye be obedient euen vnto suche, and to all that helpe with vs, & labour.
I am glad of the commyng of Stephanas, and Fortunatus, & Achaicus▪ for that whiche was lackyng [vnto me] on your part, they haue supplied.
For they haue comforted my spirite, and yours: Loke therfore that ye know them that are such.
The Churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you muche in the Lord, and so doth the Churche that is in their house.
All the brethren greete you: Greete ye one another with an holy kysse.
The salutatio{n} of [me] Paul, with mine owne hande.
Yf any man loue not the Lorde Iesus Christe, the same be Anathema maranatha.
The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ be with you.
My loue be with you all in Christe Iesus. Amen.
PAul an Apostle of Iesu Christe, by the wyll of God, & brother Timotheus, Vnto {th}e Church of God which is at Corinthus, with all the saintes which are in all Achaia:
Grace [be] with you, and peace from God our father and from the Lorde Iesus Christe.
Blessed be God, the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe, whiche is the father of mercies, & the God of al comfort:
Which comforted vs in all our tribulation, insomuch that we are able to comfort them which are in any maner trouble, with the comfort wherwith we our selues are comforted of God.
For as the afflictions of Christ are plenteous in vs: euen so is our consolation plenteous by Christe.
Whether we be troubled [it is] for your consolation and saluation, which saluation sheweth her power, in that ye suffer the same afflictions whiche we also suffer: or whether we be comforted [it is] for your consolation & saluation:
And our hope is stedfast, insomuch as we knowe howe that as ye are partakers of {th}e afflictions, so ye be partakers also of the consolation.
For we woulde not brethren haue you ignoraunt of our trouble, whiche came vnto vs in Asia: For we were greeued out of measure, passyng strength, so greatly, that we dispayred euen of lyfe.
Yea, we receaued the sentence of death in our selues, that we should not put our trust in our selues, but in God, whiche rayseth the dead:
Who delyuered vs from so great a death, and doth deliuer: On whom we trust that yet hereafter he wyll deliuer,
By the helpe of your prayer for vs, that by {th}e meanes of many persons, thankes may geuen of many on our behalfe, for the grace geuen vnto vs.
For our reioycyng is this, the testimonie of our conscience, that in simplicitie & godly purenesse, and not in fleshely wisdome, but by the grace of God, we haue had our conuersatio{n} in the worlde, and most of all to you wardes.
We write none other thinges vnto you then that ye read, or also {tha}t ye acknowledge, and I trust ye shall acknowledge vs vnto the ende.
Euen as ye haue acknowledged vs partly: For we are your reioycing, euen as ye are ours in the daye of our Lorde Iesus.
And in this confidence was I minded first to haue come vnto you, {tha}t ye myght haue had one pleasure more:
And to passe by you into Macedonia, and to haue come agayne out of Macedonia vnto you, and to be led foorth of you to Iurie.
When I therfore was thus mynded, did I vse lightnesse? or mynde I carnally those thynges whiche I mynde, that with me shoulde be yea yea, & nay nay?
God is faythfull: For our preaching to you, was not yea and nay.
For Gods sonne Iesus Christe which was preached among you by vs, euen by me, and Siluanus, and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in hym it was yea.
For all the promises of God in him are yea, and are in him Amen, vnto the glorie of God, through vs.
And God it is whiche stablysheth vs with you in Christe, and hath annoynted vs.
Which hath also sealed vs, and hath geuen the earnest of the spirite in our heartes.
I call God for a recorde vnto my soule, that to spare you I came not as yet vnto Corinthus.
Not that we be Lordes ouer your fayth, but are helpers of your ioy. For by fayth ye stande.
BVt I determined this in my selfe, {tha}t I would not come againe to you in heauynesse.
For if I make you sorie, who is he {tha}t shoulde make me glad, but the same which is made sorie by me?
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.
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.
But yf any man hath caused sorowe, the same hath not made me sorie, but partly, lest I shoulde greeue you all.
It is sufficient vnto the same man that he was rebuked of many.
So that nowe contrarywise, ye ought rather to forgeue hym, and comforte hym, lest that same person shoulde be swallowed vp with ouermuche heauynesse.
Wherfore I pray you, that you would confirme your loue towardes hym.
For this cause veryly did I write, that I myght knowe the profe of you, whether ye be obedient in all thynges.
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.
Lest Satan shoulde circumuent vs: For his thoughtes are not vnknowen vnto vs.
Furthermore, when I came to Troada, to [preache] Christes Gospell, and a doore was opened vnto me of the lorde,
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.
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.
For we are vnto God the sweete sauour of Christe in them that are saued, and in them which perisshe.
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?
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.
DO we begyn to prayse our selues agayne? Or neede we [as some other] of epistles of reco{m}mendation vnto you? or [letters] of recommendation from you?
Ye are our epistle written in our heartes, whiche is vnderstande and read of all men:
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.
Such trust haue we through Christe to Godwarde.
Not that we are sufficie{n}t of our selues to thynke any thyng as of our selues: but our ablenesse is of God,
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.
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:
Howe shall not the ministration of the spirite be much more in glorie?
For yf the ministration of condempnation be glorie: much more doth the ministration of ryghteousnes exceede in glorie.
For euen that which was glorified, is not glorified in respect of this exceedyng glorie.
For yf that whiche is destroyed was glorious, much more that which remayneth is glorious.
Seyng then that we haue such truste, we vse great boldnesse:
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.
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.
But euen vnto this day when Moyses is read, the vayle is layde vppon their heart.
Neuerthelesse, when it shall turne to the Lorde, the vayle shalbe taken away.
The Lorde is a spirite: And where the spirite of the Lorde [is] there [is] libertie.
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.
THerfore, seyng that we haue such a ministerie, as we haue receaued mercie, we faynt not:
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.
Yf our Gospell be yet hyd, it is hyd in them that are lost:
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.
For we preache not our selues, but Christe Iesus the Lord, and our selues your seruauntes for Iesus sake.
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.
But we haue this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellencie of the power be Gods, and not ours.
We are troubled on euery syde, yet are we not without shyft. We are in pouertie, but not vtterly without somewhat.
We suffer persecution, but are not forsaken therin. We are cast downe, but we perisshe not.
We alwayes beare about in the body the dying of the Lorde Iesus, that the lyfe of Iesus myght also appeare in our bodie.
For we which lyue, are alwayes deliuered vnto death for Iesus sake, that the lyfe also of Iesu myght appeare in our mortall flesshe.
So then, death worketh in vs, but life in you.
Seing then that we haue the same spirite of fayth (accordyng as it is written, I beleued, and therefore haue I spoken) We also beleue, and therefore speake.
For we knowe, that he which raysed vp the Lorde Iesus, shall rayse vp vs also by the meanes of Iesus, and shall set vs with you.
For all thynges [do I] for your [sakes,] that the plenteous grace, by thankes geuyng of many, may redounde to the prayse of God.
Wherefore we are not weryed: But though our outwarde man perishe, yet the inwarde man is renued day by day.
For our exceedyng tribulation which is momentanie & lyght, prepareth an exceedyng and an eternall wayght of glorie vnto vs.
Whyle we loke not on the thynges whiche are seene, but on the thynges which are not seene. For the thynges which are seene, are temporall: but the things which are not seene, are eternal.
FOr we knowe, that yf our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were destroyed, we haue a building of God, an habitation not made with handes, but eternall in heauen.
For therfore sygh we, desiryng to be clothed with our house whiche is from heauen:
So yet, yf that we be founde clothed, and not naked.
For we that are in this tabernacle sigh, & being burdened because we would not be vnclothed, but would be clothed vpo{n}, that mortalitie might be swalowed vp of lyfe.
He that hath ordeyned vs for this thyng [is] God, which hath also geuen vnto vs the earnest of the spirite.
Therfore we are alway of good cheare, and knowe, that as long as we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lorde.
(For we walke by fayth, not after outwarde appearaunce.)
Neuerthelesse, we are of good comfort, and had rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lorde.
Wherfore, whether we be at home, or from home, we endeuour our selues to be accepted vnto hym.
For we must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christe, that euery man may receaue the workes of his bodie according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Seing then that we knowe the feare of the Lorde, we fare fayre with men: For we are knowen well enough vnto God. I trust also that we are knowen in your consciences.
For we prayse not our selues agayne vnto you, but geue you an occasion to reioyce of vs, that ye may haue somwhat agaynst them which reioyce in the face, and not in the heart.
For yf we be to feruent, to God are we to feruent: Or yf we kepe measure, for your cause kepe we measure.
For the loue of Christe constrayneth vs, because we thus iudge, that yf one dyed for all, then were all dead.
And he dyed for all, that they which lyue, shoulde not hencefoorth lyue vnto them selues, but vnto hym which dyed for them, and rose agayne.
Wherefore hencefoorth knowe we no man after the flesshe: Insomuche, though we haue knowen Christe after the flesshe, nowe yet hencefoorth knowe we hym so no more.
Therfore yf any man be in Christe, he is a newe creature. Olde thynges are passed awaye, beholde all thynges are become newe.
And all thynges are of God, whiche hath reconciled vs vnto hym selfe by Iesus Christe, and hath geuen to vs the ministerie of reconciliation.
For God was in Christe, reconciling the worlde to hym selfe, not imputyng their sinnes vnto them, and hath committed to vs the preachyng of the atonement.
Nowe then are we messengers in the rowme of Christe, euen as though God dyd beseche you through vs. So praye we you in Christes steade, that ye be reconciled vnto God.
For he hath made him to be sinne for vs, whiche knewe no sinne, that we shoulde be made the ryghteousnesse of God in hym.
WE also as helpers exhorte you, that ye receaue not the grace of God in vayne.
For he saith: I haue heard thee in a tyme accepted, and in the day of saluation haue I suckoured thee. Beholde, nowe is that accepted tyme, beholde nowe is that day of saluation:
Let vs geue none occasion of euyll in any thyng, that the ministerie be not blamed:
But in all thynges let vs behaue our selues as {th}e ministers of God, in much pacience, in afflictions, in necessities, in anguisshes,
In stripes, in prisonmentes, in strifes, in labours,
In watchynges, in fastinges, in purenesse, in knowledge, in long suffryng, in kyndnesse, in the holy ghost, in loue vnfaigned:
In the worde of trueth, in the power of God, by the armour of righteousnes, of the ryght hande and on the lefte,
By honour and dishonour, by euyll report and good report, as deceauers and yet true,
As vnknowen, and yet knowen, as dying, and beholde we lyue, as chastened, and not kylled,
As sorowyng, and yet alway merie: as poore, and yet make many riche: as hauyng nothyng, and yet possessyng all thynges.
O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open vnto you, our heart is made large:
Ye are in no strayte in vs, but are in a straite in your owne bowels.
I promise you lyke rewarde as vnto children: Set your selues at large,
And beare not ye a straunge yoke with the vnbeleuers. For what felowship hath righteousnesse with vnrighteousnesse? Or what communion hath lyght with darkenesse?
Or what concorde hath Christe with belyall? Eyther what part hath he that beleueth, with an infidell?
Or howe agreeth the temple of God with images? For ye are the temple of the lyuing God, as saide God, I wyll dwell in them, & walke in [them] & wyll be their God, & they shalbe my people.
Wherfore come out fro{m} among them, and seperate your selues from them (saith the Lorde) and touche none vncleane thyng, and I wyll receaue you,
And wyll be a father vnto you, and ye shalbe my sonnes and daughters, saith the Lorde almightie.
SEyng that we haue these promises (dearely beloued) let vs clense our selues from all fylthynesse of the flesshe & spirite, and growe vp to full holynesse in the feare of God.
Vnderstande vs, we haue wronged no man, we haue corrupt no man, we haue defrauded no man.
I speake not this to condempne you: for I haue shewed you before, that ye are in our heartes to dye and lyue with you.
I am very bolde ouer you, I reioyce greatly in you. I am fylled with comfort, and am exceedyng ioyous in all our tribulation.
For when we were come into Macedonia, our flesshe had no rest, but we were troubled on euery syde: Outward was fyghtyng, inward was feare.
Neuerthelesse, God that comforteth the humble, comforted vs by the commyng of Titus.
And not by his comming only, but also by the consolatio{n} whiche we receaued of you, when he tolde vs your desire, your wepyng, your feruent mynde towarde me, so that I reioyced the more.
For though I made you sorie with a letter, I repent not, though I dyd repent. For I perceaue, that the same epistle made you sorie, though it were but for a season.
I nowe reioyce, not that ye were sorie, but that ye so sorowed to repent: for ye sorowed godly, so that in nothyng ye were hurt by vs.
For godly sorowe, causeth repentaunce vnto saluatio{n}, not to be repented of: but the sorowe of the world causeth death.
For beholde this thing, what carefulnesse this godly sorow that ye toke, hath wrought in you: yea [what] clearing of your selues, yea [what] indignation, yea [what] feare, yea [what] veheme{n}t desire, yea [what] zeale, yea [what] punishment. For in all thynges ye haue shewed your selues that ye were cleare in {tha}t matter.
Wherefore, though I wrote vnto you, I dyd it not for his cause that had done the hurt, neither for his cause that was hurt: but that your good minde to vswarde myght appeare among you in the syght of God.
Therfore we are comforted, because ye are comforted: yea and exceedyngly the more ioyed we, for the ioy that Titus had, because his spirite was refreshed by you all.
I am therefore not nowe ashamed, though I boasted my selfe to hym of you. For as all thinges which we spake vnto you are true: euen so our boastyng that I made vnto Titus is made true.
And his inwarde affection is more aboundaunt towarde you, when he remembred the obedience of you all, howe with feare and tremblyng ye receaued hym.
I reioyce that I may be bolde in you in all thynges.
MOreouer, we do you to wite brethren, of the grace of God, which was geuen in the Churches of Macedonia.
Howe that {th}e aboundance of their reioycing is, that they are tryed with muche tribulation. And though they were exceedyng poore, yet haue they geuen exceedyng rychlye, and that in singlenesse.
For to their powers (I beare them recorde) yea & beyonde their powers, they were wyllyng.
And prayed vs with great instaunce that we woulde receaue this grace and societie of the ministerie to {th}e saintes.
[And this they dyd] not as we loked for: but gaue their owne selues first to the Lorde, and [after] vnto vs by the wyll of God.
So that we coulde not but desire Titus to accomplyshe {th}e same grace among you also, euen as he had begun.
Nowe therefore as ye are riche in all thinges, in fayth, in worde, in knowledge, in all feruentnesse, and in loue, which ye haue to vs: euen so, see that ye be plenteous in this grace also.
This say I not by commaundement, but because of {th}e feruentnesse of other, & alowing the vnfaynednes of your loue.
For ye knowe the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poore, that ye through his pouertie might be made rich.
And I geue councell hereto: For this is expedient for you, which haue begun not to do only, but also to wil a yere ago.
Nowe therfore perfourme the thyng which ye began to do: that as ther was in you a redines to wyll, euen so ye may performe {th}e dede of that which ye haue.
For if there be first a wyllyng mynde, it is accepted accordyng to that a man hath, and not accordyng to that he hath not.
Truly, not that other be set at ease, & ye brought into combraunce:
But that there be equalnesse nowe at this tyme, and that your aboundaunce may succour their lacke, and that their aboundaunce maye supplie your lacke, that there may be equalitie.
As it written: He that had much, had not the more aboundaunce, and he that had litle, had not the lesse.
Thankes be vnto God, which put the same good mynde for you in the heart of Titus,
Because he accepted the exhortation, yea rather he was so well wylling, that of his owne accorde he came vnto you.
We haue sent with hym that brother whose praise is in the Gospel through out all the Churches.
(And not that only, but is also chosen of the Churches to be a felowe with vs in our iourney, concernyng this grace that is ministred by vs vnto the glorie of the same Lorde, and to stirre vp your redie mynde)
For this we eschewe, that any man shoulde rebuke vs in this plenteous distribution that is ministred by vs:
And make prouisio{n} for honest thinges, not only in the syght of the Lorde, but also in the syght of men.
We haue sent with them a brother of ours, whom we haue oftentymes proued diligent in many thinges, but nowe much more diligent, for the great confidence [whiche I haue] in you:
Partly for Titus sake, which is my felowe & helper concernyng you: partly because of other which are our brethren and the messengers of the Churches, [and] the glorie of Christe.
Wherfore shewe ye vnto them {th}e profe of your loue, & of our reioycyng of you in the syght of the Churches.
OF the ministryng to the saintes, it is but superfluous for me to write vnto you:
For I knowe the redinesse of your mynde, whereof I boast my selfe of you, vnto them of Macedonia, that Achaia was prepared a yere a go: and your zeale hath prouoked many.
Yet haue I sent the brethren, lest our boastyng which I make of you, should be in vayne in this behalfe, that ye (as I haue sayde) may prepare yourselues.
Lest yf they of Macedonia come with me, and fynde you vnprepared, we (I wyll not say you) shoulde be ashamed in this matter of boastyng.
Therfore, I thought it necessarie to exhort the brethren, to come beforehand vnto you, and to prepare your good blessyng promised afore, that it myght be redy, so that it be as a blessyng, and not a defraudyng.
This yet [I say] he which soweth litle, shall reape litle: and he that soweth in geuyng largely and freely, shall reape plenteouslie.
Let euery man do, accordyng as he hath purposed in his heart, not grudgyngly, or of necessitie: For God loueth a chearefull geuer.
God is able to make you riche in all grace, that ye in all thynges hauyng sufficient vnto the vtmost, may be riche vnto all maner of good workes,
As it is written: He hath sparsed abrode, and hath geuen to the poore, his ryghteousnesse remayneth for euer.
He that ministreth seede vnto {th}e sower, ministreth bread also for foode, and multiplieth your seede, and encreaseth the fruites of your ryghteousnesse:
That in all thynges ye may be made riche into all singlenesse, which causeth through vs, that thankes are geuen vnto God.
For the administration of this seruice, not only supplieth {th}e neede of the saintes: but also is aboundaunt by the thankes geuyng of many vnto God,
Which by the experiment of this ministration, prayse God for the obedience of your consentyng to the Gospell of Christe, and for your singlenesse in distributyng to them, and to all men:
And by their prayers for you, which long after you, for the aboundaunt grace of God in you.
Thankes be vnto God, for his vnspeakeable gyft.
I Paul my selfe beseche you by the mekenesse & gentlenesse of Christ, whiche when I am present among you, am lowlye: but am bolde towarde you beyng absent.
I beseche you, that I neede not to be bolde when I am present, with that same boldenesse, wherwith I am supposed to haue ben bolde, agaynst some, which repute vs as though we walked accordyng to the fleshe.
For though we walke in the fleshe, yet we do not warre according to {th}e flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnall, but myghtie through God, to cast downe strong holdes,
Wherwith we ouerthrowe counsels, and euery hye thyng, that is exalted agaynst the knowledge of God, & bryng into captiuitie all imagination, to the obedience of Christe,
And are readie to take vengeaunce on all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfylled.
Loke ye on thynges after the vtter appearaunce? If any man trust in hym selfe that he is Christes, let hym consider this agayne of hym selfe, that as he [is] of Christe, euen so [are] we of Christe.
For though I shoulde boast my selfe somwhat more of our auctoritie, which the Lorde hath geuen to vs for edification, and not for your destruction, it shal not be to my shame:
Lest I should seeme as though I we{n}t about to make you afrayde by letters.
For the letters sayth he, are sore and strong: but his bodyly presence is weake, and his speache rude.
Let hym that is such, thynke on this wise: that as we are in worde by letters, when we are absent, such are we in deede when we are present.
For we dare not make our selues of the number of them, or to compare our selues to them which praise themselues. Neuerthelesse, whyle they measure them selues, with them selues, and compare them selues with them selues, they vnderstande not.
But we wyll not reioyce aboue measure: but accordyng to the measure of the rule, which God hath distributed vnto vs, a measure to reache euen vnto you.
For we stretch not out our selues beyonde measure, as though we reached not vnto you: For euen to you also haue we come with the Gospell of Christe:
And we boast not our selues out of measure in other mens labours: Yea, and we hope, when your fayth is increased among you, to be magnified accordyng to our measure aboundauntly,
And that I shall preache the Gospell, in those [regions] which [are] beyonde you: and not to glorie of those thynges, which by another mans measure are prepared alredy.
But let hym that glorieth, glorie in the Lorde.
For he that prayseth hymselfe, is not alowed, but whom the Lorde prayseth.
WOuld to God ye coulde haue suffred me a litle in my foolishnesse: and in dede ye do forbeare me.
For I am gelous ouer you, with Godly gelousie: For I haue coupled you to one man, to present [you] a chaste virgin vnto Christe.
But I feare lest by any meanes, that as the serpent begyled Eue through his subtiltie, euen so your myndes shoulde be corrupted fro{m} the singlenesse that is towarde Christe.
For yf he that commeth, preacheth another Iesus, whom we haue not preached: or yf ye receaue another spirite whom ye haue not receaued: either another Gospell which ye haue not receaued, you woulde well haue suffered [hym].
Veryly I suppose that I was not behynde the chiefe Apostles.
But though [I be] rude in speakyng, yet not in knowledge, but in all thynges among you, we haue ben well knowen to the vtmost.
Dyd I sinne because I submitted my selfe, that ye myght be exalted, & because I preached to you the Gospell of God freely?
I robbed other Churches, takyng wages of them, to do you seruice.
And when I was present with you, and had nede, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lackyng vnto me, the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied, and in all thynges I haue kept my selfe so that I shoulde not be chargeable to any man, and [so] wyll I kepe my selfe.
The trueth of Christe is in me, that this reioycyng shall not be shut vp agaynst me in the regions of Achaia.
Wherfore? Because I loue you not? God knoweth.
But what I do, that wyll I do, to cut away occasion from them which desire occasion, that they myght be founde lyke vnto vs, in {tha}t wherin they gloried.
For such false Apostles [are] disceiptfull workers, transfourmed into {th}e Apostles of Christe.
And no maruayle, for Satan himselfe is transfourmed into an angel of lyght.
Therfore it is no great thyng though his ministers be transfourmed as the ministers of righteousnesse, whose ende shalbe accordyng to their workes.
I say agayne, let no man thynke that I am foolyshe: or els euen nowe take ye me as a foole, that I also may boast my selfe a litle.
That I speake, I speake it not after the Lorde: but as it were foolishly, in this maner of boastyng.
Seyng that many glorie after {th}e fleshe, I wyll glorie also.
For ye suffer fooles gladly, seyng ye your selues are wyse.
For ye suffer, yf a man bryng you into bondage, yf a man deuoure, yf a man take, yf a man exalt hym selfe, yf a man smite you on the face.
I speake concernyng reproche, as though we had ben weake: Howbeit, wherin soeuer any man is bolde, (I speake foolishly) I am bolde also.
They are Ebrues, euen so am I. They are Israelites, euen so am I. They are the seede of Abraham, euen so am I.
They are the ministers of Christe, (I speake as a foole) I am more: in labours more aboundant, in stripes aboue measure, in pryson more plenteouslie, in death oft.
Of the Iewes fyue tymes receaued I fourtie [stripes] saue one.
Thryse was I beaten with roddes, once stoned, thrise I suffred shipwracke, nyght and day haue I ben in {th}e depth:
In iourneying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of myne owne nation, in perils among the heathen, in perils in the citie, in perils in the wildernesse, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren,
In labour & trauayle, in watchinges often, in hunger and thirst, in fastinges often, in colde and nakednesse,
Besides the thynges which outwardlye come vnto me: my dayly encombraunce [is] the care of all the Churches.
Who is weake, and I am not weake? who is offended, and I burne not?
If I must needes glory, I wyll glory of the thynges that concerne myne infirmities.
The God and father of our Lorde Iesus Christe, which is blessed for euermore, knoweth that I lye not.
In [the citie of] Damascus, Aretas the kynges gouernour of the people, layde watche in the citie of the Damascens, and woulde haue caught me:
And at a wyndowe was I let downe in a basket through the wall, and scaped his handes.
IT is not expedient doubtles, for me to glorie, I wyl come to visions & reuelations of the Lorde.
For I knew a ma{n} in Christe, aboue xiiij. yeres ago, (whether [he were] in the body I can not tell, or whether [he were] out of the body, I can not tell, God knoweth) that he was taken vp into the thirde heauen:
And I knewe the same man (whether in the body or out of the body, I can not tell, God knoweth)
Howe that he was take{n} vp into paradise, & hearde vnspeakeable wordes, which is not lawfull for man to vtter.
Of such a man wyll I glorie, yet of my selfe wyll I not glorie, but in myne infirmities.
For though I woulde desire to glorie, I shall not be a foole, for I wyll say the trueth: but I nowe refrayne, lest any man shoulde thynke of me, aboue that which he seeth me to be, or {tha}t he heareth of me.
And lest I shoulde be exalted out of measure through the aboundaunce of the reuelations, there was geuen vnto me a pricke to the fleshe, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, because I should not be exalted out of measure.
For this thyng besought I the Lorde thryse, that it myght depart from me.
And he sayde vnto me: My grace is sufficient for thee. For my strength is made perfect in weakenesse. Most gladly therfore, I wyll rather glorie in my infirmities, that the power of Christ myght dwell in me.
Therfore haue I delectation in infirmities, in rebukes, in necessities, in persecutions, in anguishes for Christes sake: For when I am weake, then am I strong.
I am become a foole [in] gloriyng. Ye haue compelled me: for I ought to haue ben commended of you. For nothyng was I inferiour vnto the chiefe Apostles, though I be nothyng,
Truely the signes of an Apostle were wrought among you, in all patience, and signes, and wonders, and myghtie deedes.
For what is it, wherin ye were inferiour vnto other Churches, except [it be] that I was not chargeable vnto you? Forgeue me this wrong.
Beholde, nowe the thirde tyme I am redy to come vnto you, and yet wyll I not be chargeable vnto you: For I seke not yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay vp for the fathers and mothers: but the fathers and mothers for the chyldren.
I wyll very gladly bestowe, & wylbe bestowed for your sakes, though the more aboundauntly I loue you, the lesse I am loued agayne.
But be it, [that] I was not chargeable vnto you: Neuerthelesse, when I was craftie, I caught you with guile.
Dyd I pyll you by any of them who{m} I sent vnto you?
I desired Titus, and with hym I sent a brother: Dyd Titus defraude you of any thyng? Haue we not walked in the same spirite? not in the same steppes?
Agayne, thynke you that we excuse our selues vnto you? We speake in Christ in the syght of God: but [we do] all thinges dearely beloued, for your edifiyng.
For I feare lest when I come, I shall not fynde you such as I woulde: and that I shalbe founde vnto you, such as ye woulde not: lest there be debates, enuyinges, wrathes, strifes, backbitinges, whisperinges, swellinges, & seditions:
And that when I come agayne, my God bryng me lowe among you, and I shall bewayle many of the{m} which haue sinned alredy, and haue not repented of the vncleannesse, and fornication, and wantonnes, which they haue co{m}mitted.
NOwe come I the third time vnto you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall euery worde be stablisshed.
I tolde you before, and tell you before, as though I had ben present with you the seconde tyme, so write I nowe beyng absent, to them which in time past haue sinned, and to all other, that yf I come agayne, I wyll not spare,
Seyng {tha}t ye seeke experience of Christe which speaketh in me, which to you ward is not weake, but is mighty in you.
For though he was crucified of weakenesse, yet liueth he of the power of God. And we no doubt, are weake in hym: but we shall lyue with hym, by {th}e might of God towarde you.
Examine your selues, whether ye are in the fayth: Proue your owne selues. Knowe ye not your owne selues, howe that Iesus Christe is in you? except ye be reprobates.
I trust ye shal knowe that we are not reprobates.
Truely I pray to God that ye do none euyll, not that we shoulde seeme approued: but {tha}t ye shoulde do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
For we can do nothyng agaynst the trueth: but for the trueth.
For we are glad when we are weake, and ye are strong. Truely this also we wishe, euen your perfection.
Therfore write I these thynges beyng absent, lest when I am present, I should vse sharpenesse, accordyng to the power which the Lorde hath geuen me to edification, and not to destruction.
Finally brethren, fare well, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mynde, lyue in peace, and the God of loue and peace shalbe with you.
Greete one another in an holy kisse. All the saintes salute you.
The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and the loue of God, and the co{m}munion of the holy ghost, be with you all. Ame{n}.
PAul an Apostle, not of men, neither by man: but by Iesus Christe, and by God the father, which raysed hym vp from death:
And all the brethren which are with me. Vnto {th}e Churches of Galacia:
Grace [be] with you, and peace from God the father, and from our Lorde Iesus Christe:
Which gaue hym selfe for our sinnes, to deliuer vs from this present euyll worlde, accordyng to the wyll of God, and our father:
To whom be glory for euer and euer. Amen.
I maruayle, that ye are so soone turned from him that had called you in the grace of Christe, vnto another Gospell:
Which is not another [Gospel] but that there be some which trouble you, and intende to peruert the Gospel of Christ.
Neuerthelesse, though we, or an Angel from heauen, preache any other Gospel vnto you, then that which we haue preached vnto you, let hym be accursed.
As we sayde before, so say I nowe agayne, yf any man preache any other Gospell vnto you, then that ye haue receaued, let hym be accursed.
Do I nowe perswade men, or God? Other do I seke to please men? For yf I shoulde yet please men, I were not the seruaunt of Christe.
I certifie you brethren, that the Gospell which was preached of me, was not after man.
For I neither receaued it of man, neither was I taught [it] but by the reuelation of Iesus Christe.
For ye haue hearde of my conuersation in tyme past in the Iewes religion, howe that beyonde measure I persecuted the Churche of God, & spoyled it:
And profited in the Iewes religion, aboue many of my companions in mine owne nation, beyng a very feruent maynteyner of the traditions of my fathers.
But when it pleased God, which seperated me from my mothers wombe, & called [me] by his grace,
To reueale his sonne by me, that I shoulde by the Gospell preache hym among the Heathen: immediatly I communed not with fleshe and blood:
Neither returned to Hierusalem, to them which were Apostles before me: but went my wayes into Arabia, and came agayne vnto Damascus.
Then after three yeres, I returned to Hierusale{m} to see Peter, and abode with hym fyfteene dayes.
But other of the Apostles sawe I none, saue Iames the Lordes brother.
The thynges therfore which I write vnto you, beholde, before God I lie not.
Afterwarde, I came into the coastes of Syria & Cilicia, and was vnknowen in face vnto the Churches of Iurie, which were in Christe.
But they had hearde only, that he which persecuted vs in tyme past, nowe preacheth the fayth, which before he destroyed.
And they glorified God in me.
THen fourteene yeres after, I went vp agayne to Hierusalem with Barnabas, and toke Titus with me.
I went vp also by reuelation, & I declared vnto them the Gospel which I preache among the gentiles: but priuately, with them which were the chiefe, lest by any meanes, I shoulde runne or had runne in vayne.
But neither Titus which was with me, beyng a Greke, was compelled to be circumcised,
And that because of incommers, being false brethren, which came in priuily, to spye out our libertie which we haue in Christe Iesu, that they myght bryng vs into bondage.
To whom, no not for an houre, we gaue place by subiection, that the trueth of the Gospel might continue with you.
Of them which seemed to be somewhat (what they were in time passed, it maketh no matter to me, God accepteth no mans person) for they which seemed chiefe, added nothyng [to me.]
But contrary wyse, when they sawe that the Gospell of the vncircumcision was committed vnto me, as the Gospel of the circumcision was committed vnto Peter.
(For he that was myghtie in Peter, to the Apostleshyp of the circumcision, the same was myghtie in me towarde the gentiles)
When they perceaued the grace that was geuen vnto me, then Iames, Cephas, and Iohn, which seemed to be pyllers, gaue to me and Barnabas the ryght handes of felowshyppe, that we [shoulde be Apostles] vnto the Heathen, and they vnto the circumcision.
Onely that we shoulde remember the poore: Wherin also I was diligent to do the same.
But whe{n} Peter was come to Antioche, I withstoode him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
For yer {tha}t certaine came from Iames, he dyd eate with the gentiles: But whe{n} they were come, he withdrue, and seperated himselfe, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
And the other Iewes dissembled lykewyse with hym: insomuch that Barnabas also was brought into their simulation.
But when I sawe that they went not the ryght way to the trueth of the Gospel, I saide vnto Peter before them all: If thou beyng a Iewe, lyuest after the maner of the gentiles, and not as do the Iewes: Why causest thou the gentiles to lyue as do the Iewes?
We [which are] Iewes by nature, and not sinners of the gentiles.
Knowe that a man is not iustified by the deedes of the lawe, but by the fayth of Iesus Christe: And we haue beleued on Iesus Christ, that we might be iustified by the fayth of Christe, and not by the deedes of the lawe, because by the deedes of the lawe no fleshe shalbe iustified.
If then, whyle we seke to be made ryghteous by Christe, we our selues are founde sinners: is therfore Christe the minister of sinne? God forbyd.
For yf I builde agayne the thynges which I destroyed, then make I my selfe a trespasser.
For I, through the lawe, am dead to the lawe, that I myght lyue vnto God: I am crucified with Christe.
Neuerthelesse, I lyue: yet nowe not I, but Christe lyueth in me. And {th}e lyfe which I nowe liue in the fleshe, I lyue by the faith of the sonne of God, which loued me, and gaue hym selfe for me.
I reiect not the grace of God▪ For yf ryghteousnesse come of the lawe, then Christe is dead in vayne.
O Foolishe Galathians, who hath bewitched you, that ye shoulde not obey {th}e trueth? To whom Iesus Christe was described before the eyes, & among you crucified.
This only woulde I learne of you, whether ye receaued the spirite by the deedes of the lawe, or by the hearyng of the fayth?
Are ye such fooles, that after ye haue begun in the spirite, ye woulde nowe ende in the fleshe?
Haue ye suffered so great thynges in vayne? Yf it be yet in vayne.
He therfore that ministreth to you the spirite, and worketh miracles among you, doth he it through the deedes of the lawe, or by hearyng of the fayth?
Euen as Abraham beleued God, & it was ascribed to hym for righteousnesse.
Knowe ye therfore, that they which are of fayth, the same are the chyldren of Abraham.
For the scripture seyng aforehande that God woulde iustifie the Heathen through fayth, shewed beforehand glad tydynges vnto Abraham, [saying]: In thee shall all nations be blessed.
So then, they which be of fayth, are blessed with the faythfull Abraham.
For as many as are of the deedes of the lawe, are vnder the curse. For it is writte{n}: Cursed is euery one that continueth not in all thinges which are written in the booke of the lawe, to do them.
But that no man is iustified by {th}e lawe in the sight of God, it is euident. For the iust shall lyue by fayth.
And the lawe is not of fayth: but the man that doth them, shall lyue in them.
Christe hath redeemed vs from the curse of the lawe, beyng made a curse for vs. For it is written: Cursed is euery one that hangeth on tree:
That the blessyng of Abraham might come on the gentiles through Iesus Christe, that we myght receaue the promise of the spirite through fayth.
Brethren, I speake after {th}e maner of men: Though it be but a mans testame{n}t, yet if it be alowed, no man reiecteth it, or addeth therto.
To Abraham and his seede were the promises made. He sayth not to the seedes, as of many: but to thy seede, as of one, which is Christe.
This I say, that the lawe which began afterwarde, beyonde foure hundred and thirtie yeres, doth not disanull the testament that was confirmed afore of God, vnto Christewarde, to make the promise of none effect.
For yf the inheritau{n}ce be of the lawe, then not nowe of promise: But God gaue it vnto Abraham by promise.
Wherfore then [serueth] the lawe? It was added because of transgressions, tyl the seede came to whom the promise was made: and it was ordayned by Angels in the hande of a mediatour.
A mediatour is not [a mediatour] of one, but God is one.
Is the lawe then against the promise of God? God forbyd. For yf there had ben a lawe geuen which coulde haue geuen life: then no doubt righteousnesse shoulde haue ben by the lawe.
But the scripture hath concluded all vnder sinne, that the promise by {th}e fayth of Iesus Christe shoulde be geuen vnto them that beleue.
But before fayth came, we were kept vnder the lawe, and were shut vp vnto the fayth which shoulde afterwarde be reuealed.
Wherfore, the lawe was our scholemaister vnto Christe, that we shoulde be iustified by fayth.
But after that fayth is come, we are no longer vnder a scholemaister.
For ye are all the chyldren of God by fayth in Christe Iesu.
For all ye that are baptized, haue put on Christe.
There is no Iewe, neither Greke, there is neither bonde nor free, there is neither male, nor female: For ye are all one in Christe Iesu.
If [ye be] Christes, then are ye Abrahams seede, and heyres accordyng to the promise.
AND I say, that the heyre, as long as he is a chylde, differeth nothyng from a seruau{n}t, though he be Lorde of all,
But is vnder tuters and gouernours, vntyll the tyme appoynted of the father.
Euen so we, when we were chyldren, were in bondage vnder {th}e rudimentes of the worlde:
But when the fulnesse of the tyme was come, God sent his sonne, made of a woman, and made vnder the lawe,
To redeeme them that were vnder the lawe, that we myght receaue the adoption of chyldren.
Because ye are sonnes, God hath sent the spirite of his sonne into your heartes, crying, Abba, father.
Wherfore thou art no more a seruaunt, but a sonne: If thou be a sonne, thou art also an heire of God, through Christ.
Notwithstandyng, when ye knewe not God, ye dyd seruice vnto the{m} which by nature are no Gods.
But nowe after that ye haue knowen God, yea, rather are knowen of God, howe turne ye agayne vnto the weake and beggarly rudimentes, whervnto againe ye desire a freshe to be in bondage?
Ye obserue dayes, and monethes, and tymes, and yeres.
I am in feare of you, lest I haue bestowed on you labour in vayne.
Brethren, I besech you be as I [am] for I am as ye are. Ye haue not iniured me at all.
Ye knowe howe through infirmitie of the fleshe, I preached the Gospell vnto you at the first:
And my temptation which was in my fleshe, ye dispised not, neither abhorred: but receaued me as an Angel of God, euen as Christe Iesus.
What is then your felicitie? For I beare you recorde, that yf it had ben possible, ye woulde haue plucked out your owne eyes, and haue geuen them to me.
Am I therfore become your enemie, because I tell you the trueth?
They are gelouse ouer you amisse: Yea, they intende to exclude you, that ye shoulde be feruent to them warde.
It is good alwayes to be zelous in a good thyng, and not only when I am present with you
My litle chyldren, of whom I trauayle in birth agayne, vntyll Christe be fashioned in you.
But I desire to be present with you nowe, and to chaunge my voyce: for I stande in doubt of you.
Tell me, ye that desire to be vnder the lawe, do ye not heare the lawe?
For it is written, that Abraham had two sonnes, the one by a bonde mayde, the other by a free woman:
But he which was of the bonde woman, was borne after the fleshe: but he which was of the free woman, [was borne] by promise.
Which thynges are spoken by an allegorie. For these are two testamentes: the one from the mount Sina, which gendreth vnto bondage, which is Agar.
For Agar is the mount Sina in Arabia, and bordreth vpon the citie, which is nowe [called] Hierusalem, and is in bondage with her chyldren.
But Hierusalem which is aboue, is free: which is the mother of vs all.
For it is written: Reioyce thou baren, that bearest no chyldren, breake foorth and crye, thou that trauaylest not: For the desolate hath many mo chyldren, then she which hath an husbande.
But brethren, we are after Isaac the chyldren of promise.
But as then he that was borne after the flesshe, persecuted hym that was borne after the spirite: euen so is it now.
Neuerthelesse, what saith the scripture? put away the bondwoman and her sonne: For the sonne of the bondwoman, shall not be heire with the sonne of the free woman.
So then brethren, we are not chyldren of the bonde woman, but of the free.
STande fast therfore in the libertie wherwith Christe hath made vs free, and be not intangled agayne with {th}e yoke of bondage.
Beholde I Paul saye vnto you, that yf ye be circumcised, Christe shall profite you nothyng.
For I testifie agayne to euery man which is circumcised, that he is a detter to do the whole lawe.
Christe is become but vayne to you, as many of you as are iustified by the lawe, are fallen from grace.
For we through the spirite, wayte for the hope of ryghteousnes by fayth.
For in Iesus Christe, neither is circumcision any thing woorth, neither yet vncircumcision: but fayth, which worketh by loue.
Ye dyd runne well, who was a let vnto you, that ye should not obey {th}e trueth?
Not the perfection of hym that called you.
A litle leauen, doth leauen the whole lumpe of dowe.
I haue truste towarde you in the Lorde, that ye wyll be none otherwyse mynded: But he that troubleth you, shall beare iudgement, whatsoeuer he be.
And brethren, if I yet preache circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the slaunder of the crosse ceassed.
I woulde to God they were cut of which trouble you.
For brethren, ye haue ben called into libertie: Only let not libertie be an occasio{n} to the flesshe, but by loue serue one another.
For all the lawe is fulfylled in one worde, which is this: Thou shalt loue thy neyghbour as thy selfe.
Yf ye byte and deuoure one another, take heede lest ye be consumed one of another.
Then I say, walke in the spirite, and ye shall not fulfyll the lust of the flesshe.
For the flesshe lusteth contrary to the spirite, and the spirite contrary to the flesshe. These are contrary one to the other, so that ye can not do what ye woulde.
But and yf ye be ledde of the spirite, then are ye not vnder the lawe.
The deedes of the flesshe are manifest, which are these, adulterie, fornication, vncleannesse, wantonnesse,
Worshippyng of images, witchcrafte, hatred, variaunce, zeale, wrath, strife, seditions, sectes,
Enuyinges, murthers, drunkennesse, gluttonies, and such lyke: of the whiche I tell you before, as I haue tolde you in tyme past, that they which do suche thinges, shall not inherite the kingdome of God.
But the fruite of the spirite is, loue, ioye, peace, long sufferyng, gentlenesse, goodnesse, fayth,
Mekenesse, temperauncie: agaynst such there is no lawe.
They truely that are Christes, haue crucified the flesshe, with the affections and lustes.
Yf we lyue in {th}e spirite, let vs walke in the spirite.
Let vs not be desirous of vayne glorie, prouoking one another, enuying one another.
BRethren, yf a man be taken in any fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirite of mekenes, consideryng thy selfe, lest thou also be tempted.
Beare ye one anothers burthen, and so fulfyll the lawe of Christe.
For if any man seeme to him selfe that he is somewhat, when he is nothyng, the same deceaueth hymselfe in his owne fansie.
But let euery man proue his owne worke, & then shall he haue reioyceyng only in his owne selfe, and not in another.
For euery man shall beare his owne burthen.
Let hym that is taught in the word, minister vnto hym that teacheth hym, in all good thynges.
Be not deceaued, God is not mocked: For whatsoeuer a man soweth, that shall he also reape.
For he that soweth into his flesshe, shal of the flesshe reape corruption: But he that soweth into the spirite, shall of the spirite reape lyfe euerlastyng.
Let vs not be weery in well doyng: for in due season we shall reape, yf we faynt not.
Whyle we haue therefore tyme, let vs do good vnto all men, specially vnto the{m} which are of the housholde of fayth.
Ye see how large a letter I haue written vnto you with myne owne hande.
As many as desire with outwarde appearaunce to please carnally, the same constrayne you to be circumcised, onlye lest they shoulde suffer persecution for the crosse of Christe.
For they the{m}selues which are circumcised, kepe not the lawe: but desire to haue you circumcised, that they myght reioyce in your flesshe.
God forbyd that I shoulde reioyce, but in the crosse of our Lorde Iesus Christe, wherby the world is crucified vnto me, and I vnto the worlde.
For in Christe Iesu, neither circumcision auayleth any thing, nor vncircumcision, but a newe creature.
And as many as walke accordyng to this rule, peace be on them, and mercie, and vpon the Israel [that is] of God.
From hencefoorth, let no man put me to busynesse: For I beare in my body the markes of the Lorde Iesus.
Brethren, the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe be with your spirite. Amen.
PAul an apostle of Iesus Christe by the wyll of God: To the saintes which are at Ephesus, and to the faythfull in Christe Iesus:
Grace be with you, and peace, from God our father, & from the Lorde Iesus Christe.
Blessed be God, the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe, whiche hath blessed vs in all spirituall blessyng, in heauenly thynges by Christe:
According as he had chosen vs in hym before the foundation of the world, that we shoulde be holy, and without blame before hym, through loue.
Who hath predestinate vs into the adoption of childre{n}, by Iesus Christ vnto hym selfe, according to the good pleasure of his wyll:
To the prayse of the glorie of his grace, wherein he hath made vs accepted in the beloued.
In whom we haue redemption through his blood, the forgeuenesse of sinnes, accordyng to the rychesse of his grace,
Wherein he hath abounded towarde vs in all wysedome and prudence.
And hath opened vnto vs the misterie of his wyll, accordyng to his good pleasure which he had purposed in himselfe.
That in the dispensation of the fulnesse of the tymes, he myght gather together in one all thinges in Christe, both which are in heauen, and which are in earth, in hym.
In whom also we are chosen, beyng predestinate accordyng to the purpose of hym who worketh all thynges after the councell of his owne wyll:
That we shoulde be vnto the prayse of his glorie, whiche before beleued in Christe.
In whom also ye, after that ye heard the worde of trueth, the Gospell of your saluation, wherin also after that ye beleued, were sealed with the holy spirite of promyse,
Whiche is the earnest of our inheritaunce, vnto {th}e redemption of the purchased possession, vnto the prayse of his glorie.
Wherfore I also after that I hearde of the fayth which ye haue in the Lorde Iesus, and loue vnto all the saintes,
Ceasse not to geue thankes for you, makyng mention of you in my prayers:
That the God of our Lorde Iesus Christe, the father of glorie, may geue vnto you the spirite of wisdome and reuelation, in the knowledge of hym:
The eyes of your myndes beyng lightened, that ye maye knowe what the hope is of his callyng, and what the richesse of the glorie of his inheritaunce [is] in the saintes:
And what is the exceedyng greatnesse of his power to vswarde, which beleue, accordyng to the workyng of his myghtie power,
Which he wrought in Christe when he raysed hym from the dead, and set him on his ryght hande in heauenly [places]
Farre aboue all rule, and power, and myght, and dominion, and euery name that is named, not in this worlde only, but also in the worlde to come.
And hath put all thynges vnder his feete, and gaue him [to be] the head ouer all thynges to the Churche,
Which is his body, the fulnesse of him that fylleth all in all.
AND you that were dead in trespasses and sinnes,
In the which in time passed ye walked, according to the course of this worlde, after the gouernour that ruleth in the ayre, the spirite that nowe worketh in the chyldren of disobedience.
Among whom we all had our conuersation also in tyme past in the lustes of our flesshe, fulfyllyng the wyll of the flesshe, and of the mynde, & were by nature the chyldren of wrath, euen as other:
But God which is ryche in mercie, for his great loue wherwith he loued vs,
Euen when we were dead by sinnes, hath quickned vs together with Christ, by grace are ye saued:
And hath raysed [vs] vp together, and made [vs] syt together in the heauenly in Christe Iesus.
That in ages to come, he might shew the exceedyng ryches of his grace, in kyndnesse to vswarde through Christe Iesus.
For by grace are ye made safe through fayth, and that not of your selues, it is the gyft of God:
Not of workes, lest any man shoulde boast hym selfe.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christe Iesus vnto good workes, whiche God hath ordeyned that we shoulde walke in them.
Wherfore, remember that ye being in tyme passed gentiles in the flesshe, called vncircumcision of that which is called circumcision in the flesshe, made by handes:
That at that tyme ye were without Christe, beyng aliauntes from the common wealth of Israel, and straungers fro{m} the testamentes of promise, hauyng no hope, & without God in this worlde.
But nowe in Christe Iesus, ye which sometyme were farre of, are made nye by the blood of Christe.
For he is our peace, which hath made both one: and hath broken downe the wall that was a stoppe betwene vs,
Taking away in his flesshe the hatred, [euen] the lawe of commaundementes, [conteyned] in ordinaunces, for to make of twayne one newe man in hym selfe, so makyng peace,
And that he myght reconcile both vnto God in one body through [his] crosse, and slewe hatred thereby.
And came and preached peace to you which were a farre of, and to them that were nye.
For through hym, we both haue an entraunce in one spirite vnto the father.
Nowe therefore, ye are no more straungers and foreyners: but citezins with the saintes, and of the housholde of God,
And are built vpon the foundation of the apostles and prophetes, Iesus Christe hym selfe beyng the head corner stone,
In whom all the buyldyng coupled together, groweth vnto an holy temple in the Lorde.
In whom ye also are buylded together for an habitation of God through the spirite.
FOr this cause I Paul [am] a prisoner of Iesus Christe, for you heathen:
Yf ye haue hearde of the dispensatio{n} of the grace of God, which is geuen me to you warde:
For by reuelation shewed he the misterie vnto me (as I wrote afore in fewe wordes:
Whereby, when ye reade, ye may vnderstande my knowledge in the misterie of Christe)
Which [misterie] in other ages was not opened vnto the sonnes of men, as it is nowe reuealed vnto his holy apostles and prophetes by the spirite,
That the gentiles shoulde be inheritours also, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christe, by the Gospell:
Wherof I am made a minister, accordyng to the gyfte of the grace of God, which is geuen vnto me after the workyng of his power.
Vnto me the least of all saintes is this grace geuen, that I shoulde preache among the gentiles the vnsearchable ryches of Christe,
And to bring to lyght to all men what the felowship of the misterie is whiche from the begynnyng of the world hath ben hid in god, which made all thinges through Iesus Christe:
To thintent that nowe vnto the rulers and power in heauenly [thynges] myght be knowen by {th}e Church, the very manyfolde wysedome of God:
According to {th}e eternall purpose which he wrought in Christe Iesus our Lord:
By who{m} we haue boldnesse & entraunce in {th}e confidence which is by faith of him.
Wherfore I desire that ye faynt not in my tribulations for you, whiche is your glorie.
For this cause I bowe my knees vnto the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe,
Of who{m} all the famyly in heauen and earth is named:
That he would graunt you, according to the rychesse of his glorie, to be strengthed with myght by his spirite in the inner man.
That Christe may dwell in your heartes by fayth: that ye beyng rooted and grounded in loue,
Myght be able to comprehende with al saintes, what is the breadth, & length, and deapth, and heygth:
And to knowe the loue of Christe, whiche excelleth knowledge, that ye might be fylled with all fulnesse of God.
Vnto him that is able to do exceeding aboundauntly aboue all that we aske or thynke, accordyng to the power that worketh in vs,
Be prayse in the Churche by Christe Iesus, throughout all ages, worlde without ende. Amen.
I Therfore, a prisoner in the Lorde, exhorte you, that ye walke worthy of the vocatio{n} wherewith ye are called,
With all lowlynesse & mekenesse, with long sufferyng, forbearyng one another in loue.
Endeuoryng to kepe the vnitie of the spirite in the bonde of peace:
One body and one spirite, euen as ye are called in one hope of your calling.
One Lorde, one fayth, one baptisme.
One God, and father of all, whiche is aboue all, and through all, and in you all.
But vnto euery one of vs, is geuen grace, accordyng to the measure of the gyft of Christe.
Wherfore he saith: When he went vp an hye, he ledde captiuitie captiue, and gaue gyftes vnto men.
(But that he ascended, what is it? but that he also descended first into the lower partes of the earth?
He that descended, is euen the same also that ascended vp farre aboue all heauens, to fulfyll all thynges.)
And he gaue some apostles, and some prophetes, and some euangelistes, and some shepheardes and teachers,
To the gatheryng together of the saintes, into the worke of ministration, into the edifiyng of the body of Christe:
Tyll we all meete together into the vnitie of fayth, and knowledge of the sonne of God, vnto a perfect man, vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christe:
That we hencefoorth be no more children, wauering and caryed about with euery wynde of doctrine, in the wylynesse of men, in craftynesse, to the laying wayte of deceyte.
But folowyng trueth in loue, let vs growe vp into him in all thynges whiche is the head, Christ:
In whom all the body beyng coupled and knit together by euery ioynt of subministration, accordyng to the effectuall power in {th}e measure of euery part, maketh increase of the body, vnto the edifiyng of it selfe in loue.
This I say therfore, and testifie in the Lorde, that ye hencefoorth walke not as other gentiles walke, in vanitie of their mynde:
Darkened in cogitation, being alienated from the lyfe of God by the ignoraunce that is in them, by the blindnesse of their heartes.
Whiche beyng past feelyng, haue geuen the{m} selues ouer vnto wantonnesse, to worke al vncleanenesse with greedynesse.
But ye haue not so learned Christe.
Yf so be that ye haue hearde hym, and haue ben taught in hym, as the trueth is in Iesus,
To •ay downe, accordyng to the former conuersation, {th}e olde man, which is corrupt, accordyng to the lustes of error:
To be renued in the spirite of your mynde,
And to put on that newe man, which after God is shapen, in righteousnesse & holynesse of trueth.
Wherfore, puttyng away lying, speake euery man trueth vnto his neyghbour, forasmuch as we are members one of another.
Be ye angry, and sinne not, let not the sunne go downe vpon your wrath,
Neither geue place to the deuyll.
Let hym that stole, steale no more: but let hym rather labour, workyng with his handes the thyng whiche is good, that he may geue vnto hym that needeth.
Let no fylthy communication procede out of your mouth, but that whiche is good to edifie withal, as oft as neede is, that it may minister grace vnto the hearers.
And greeue not the holy spirite of God, by whom ye are sealed vnto the day of redemption.
Let all bytternesse, and fiercenesse, & wrath, and crying, and euyll speakyng, be put away from you, with all maliciousnesse.
Be ye curteous one to another, merciful, forgeuing one another, euen as God for Christes sake hath forgeuen you.
BE ye therefore folowers of God, as deare chyldren:
And walke ye in loue, euen as Christe hath loued vs, and hath geuen hym selfe for vs an offering and a sacrifice of a sweete smellyng sauour to God.
But fornication, and all vncleannesse, or couetousnesse, let it not be once named among you, as it becommeth saintes:
Neither fylthynesse, neither foolyshe talkyng, neither iestyng, which are not comely: but rather, geuyng of thankes.
For this ye knowe, that no whoremonger, neither vncleane person, nor couetous person, which is a worshipper of images, hath any inheritaunce in the kyngdome of Christe, and of God.
Let no man deceaue you with vayne wordes: For, because of such thynges commeth the wrath of God vppon the chyldren of disobedience.
Be not ye therefore companions of them.
For ye were sometimes darknesse: but nowe are ye lyght in the Lorde. Walke as chyldren of lyght.
For the fruite of the spirite (is) in all goodnesse, and righteousnesse, & trueth,
Approuyng what is acceptable vnto the Lorde.
And haue no felowship with the vnfruitefull workes of darknesse, but rather euen rebuke them.
For it is shame euen to name those thynges whiche are done of them in secrete.
But all thynges, when they are rebuked of the lyght, are manifest: For all that which do make manifest, is lyght.
Wherefore he sayth: Awake thou that sleepest, and stande vp from the dead, and Christe shall geue thee lyght.
Take heede therfore howe ye walke circumspectlye: not as vnwyse, but as wyse,
Redeemyng the time, because {th}e dayes are euyll.
Wherfore be ye not vnwise, but vnderstandyng what the wyll of the Lord is.
And be not drunke with wine, wherin is excesse: but be fylled with the spirite,
Speaking vnto your selues in psalmes and hymnes, and spirituall songues, syngyng and makyng melodie to the Lorde in your heartes:
Geuing thankes alwayes for all thinges vnto God and the father, in {th}e name of our Lorde Iesus Christe,
Submittyng your selues one to another in the feare of God.
Wyues, submit your selues vnto your owne husbandes, as vnto the Lorde:
For the husbande is the head of the wyfe, euen as Christe is the head of the Church: & he is the sauiour of the bodie.
But as the Church is subiect to Christ, lykewyse the wyues to their owne husbandes in all thynges.
Ye husbandes loue your wyues, euen as Christe also loued the Churche, and gaue hym selfe for it,
To sanctifie it, clensyng [it] in the fountayne of water in the worde,
To make it vnto hym selfe a glorious Churche, not hauyng spot or wrinckle, or any such thyng: but that it should be holy, and without blame.
So ought men to loue their wyues, as their owne bodies. He that loueth his wyfe, loueth hym selfe.
For no man euer yet hated his owne flesshe: but norissheth & cherissheth it, euen as the Lorde the Churche.
For we are members of his body, of his flesshe, and of his bones.
For this cause shall a man leaue father and mother, and shalbe ioyned vnto his wyfe, and two shalbe made one flesshe.
This is a great secrete: but I speake of Christe and of the Churche.
Therfore euery one of you [do ye so] Let euery one of you loue his wyfe euen as hym selfe, and [let] the wyfe reuerence her husbande.
CHyldren, obey your fathers and mothers in the Lorde: for this is ryght.
Honour thy father and mother (whiche is the first commaundement in promise)
That thou mayest prosper, and lyue long on earth.
Fathers prouoke not your children to wrath: but bring them vp in instruction and information of the Lorde.
Seruauntes obey them that are your bodyly maisters, with feare and tremblyng, in singlenesse of your heart, as vnto Christe.
Not with seruice vnto the eye, as men pleasers: but as the seruau{n}tes of Christ.
Doyng the wyll of God fro{m} the heart, with good wyll seruyng the Lorde, and not men:
Knowyng, that whatsoeuer good thyng any man doeth, that shall he receaue agayne of the Lorde, whether [he be] bonde or free.
And ye maisters do the same thynges vnto them, puttyng away threatnyng: knowyng that your maister also is in heauen, neither is respecte of person with hym.
Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lorde, & in the power of his might.
Put on all the armour of God, that ye may stande agaynst the assaultes of the deuyll.
For we wrastle not agaynst blood & flesshe: but agaynst rule, agaynst power, agaynst worldly gouernours of the darknesse of this worlde, agaynst spirituall craftynesse in heauenly [places.]
Wherfore take vnto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to resist in the euyll day, and hauing finished all thynges, to stande fast.
Stande therfore, hauyng loynes girt about with the trueth, and puttyng on the brest plate of righteousnesse,
And hauyng your feete shodde, in the preparation of the Gospell of peace.
Aboue all, takyng the shielde of fayth, wherwith ye may quenche all the fierie dartes of the wicked:
And take the helmet of saluation, and the sworde of the spirite, whiche is the worde of God.
Praying alwayes in all prayer and supplication in the spirite, and watche thervnto with all instaunce and supplication, for all saintes,
And for me, that vtteraunce may be geue{n} vnto me, {tha}t I may open my mouth freely, to vtter {th}e secretes of the Gospell.
Whereof I am messenger in bondes, that therein I may speake freely, as I ought to speake.
But {tha}t ye may also knowe my affaires, and what I do, Tichicus a deare brother and faythfull minister in the Lord, shall shewe you all thynges:
Whom I haue sent vnto you for the same purpose, that ye myght knowe of our affaires, and that he myght comfort your heartes.
Peace [be] vnto the brethren, and loue, with fayth, from God the father, and from the Lorde Iesus Christe.
Grace be with all them whiche loue our Lorde Iesus Christe in sinceritie. Amen.
PAul & Timotheus the seruauntes of Iesus Christ: To all the saintes in Christ Iesus, whiche are at Philippos, with the bisshops & deacons:
Grace [be] vnto you, and peace fro{m} God our father, and [from] the Lorde Iesus Christ.
I thanke my God, with all remembraunce of you,
(Alwayes in all my prayer for all you, makyng prayer with gladnesse,)
For your felowship in the Gospell, fro{m} the first day vntyll nowe.
And beyng perswaded of this same thyng, that he which hath begun good worke in you, wyll perfourme it vntyll the day of Iesus Christe,
As it becommeth me to iudge this of you al, because I haue you in my heart, and in my bondes, in the defence and confirmation of the Gospell, you all beyng partakers of my grace.
For God is my recorde howe greatly I long after you all, in the bowels of Iesus Christe.
And this I pray, that your loue may abounde yet more and more in knowledge, and in all vnderstandyng:
That ye maye discerne thynges that differ, that ye maye be pure, and without offence, tyll the day of Christe.
Beyng fylled with the fruites of righteousnesse, which [are] by Iesus Christ, vnto the glorie and prayse of God.
But I woulde ye should vnderstande brethren, that the thinges which [came] vnto me, hath come rather vnto the furtheraunce of the Gospell:
So that my bondes in Christe, are manifest, throughout all the iudgement hall, and in all other [places.]
And many of the brethren of the Lord, beyng incouraged through my bondes, dare more plentifully speake the word, without feare.
Some preache Christe of enuie & strife, and some of good wyll.
The one preache Christe of strife, not sincerely, supposyng to adde more affliction to my bondes:
But the others of loue, knowing that I am set to the defence of the Gospell.
What then? So that Christe be preached any maner of way, whether it be by pretence, or by trueth, I ioy therein, and wyll ioy.
For I knowe that this shall turne to my saluation, through your prayer, and ministryng of the spirite of Iesus Christe,
Accordyng to my expectation, and my hope, {tha}t in nothyng I shalbe ashamed: but {tha}t with all boldnesse, as alwayes, so now also, Christ shalbe magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
For Christe [is] to me lyfe, and death [is] to me aduantage.
But if I lyue in the fleshe, this (is) the fruite of my labour, and what I shall chose, I wote not.
For I am in a strayte betwixt two, hauyng a desire to be loosed, and to be with Christ, which is much farre better.
Neuerthelesse, to abyde in {th}e fleshe, [is] more needefull for you.
And this am I sure of, that I shall abyde & continue with you all, for your furtheraunce and ioy of fayth,
That your reioysyng may be {th}e more aboundaunt in Iesus Christe for me, by my commyng to you agayne.
Only let your conuersation be, as it becommeth the Gospell of Christe: that whether I come and see you, or els be absent, I may yet heare of your matters, that ye continue in one spirite, in one soule, fyghtyng together for {th}e fayth of the Gospell.
And in nothyng fearyng your aduersaries, which is to them a token of perdition: but to you of saluatio{n}, and that of God.
For vnto you it is geuen for Christe, not only this to beleue on hym: but also this, to suffer for his sake,
Hauing the same fight, which ye sawe in me, and nowe heare in me.
IF [there be] therefore any consolation in Christe, yf any comfort of loue, if any felowship of {th}e spirite, yf any compassion and mercie,
Fulfyl ye my ioy, that ye be lyke mynded, hauyng the same loue, being of one accorde, of one mynde,
Let nothyng [be done] through stryfe or vayne glorie, but in mekenesse of mynde euery man esteeme one {th}e other better then hym selfe.
Loke not euery man on his owne thynges, but euery man also on the thynges of others.
Let {th}e same mynde be in you, which was in Christe Iesus:
Who beyng in the fourme of God, thought it not robbery to be equall with God.
But made hym selfe of no reputation, takyng on him the fourme of a seruau{n}t, and made in the lykenesse of men, and founde in figure as a man:
He humbled hym selfe, made obedient vnto death, euen the death of the crosse.
Wherfore God also hath highly exalted hym, and geuen hym a name which is aboue euery name.
That in the name of Iesus euery knee should bowe, [of thynges] in heauen, and [thynges] in earth, and [thinges] vnder the earth:
And that euery tongue should confesse that the Lorde, Iesus Christe [is] to the glorie of God the father.
Wherfore, my dearely beloued, as ye haue alwayes obeyed, not as in my presence only, but nowe much more in my absence, worke out your owne saluation with feare and tremblyng.
For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of good wyll.
Do all thyng without murmuryng and disputyng:
Thatye may be blamelesse and pure, the sonnes of God, without rebuke in the myddes of a croked and peruerse nation, among who{m} shyne ye as lightes in the worlde,
Holdyng fast the worde of lyfe, to my reioycyng in the day of Christe that I haue not runne in vayne, neither haue laboured in vayne.
Yea, and though I be offered vp vpo{n} the offeryng and seruice of your fayth, I reioyce, and reioyce with you all.
For the same cause also do ye reioyce, and reioyce with me.
But I trust in the Lorde Iesus, to sende Timotheus shortly vnto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I knowe your state.
For I haue no man lyke mynded, who wyll naturally care for your state.
For all seeke their owne, not the thynges which are Iesus Christes.
Ye knowe the profe of hym, that as a sonne with the father, he hath serued with me in the Gospell.
Hym therfore I hope to sende, assoone as I knowe my state.
But I trust in the Lorde, that I also my selfe shall come shortly.
But I supposed it necessarie to sende to you Epaphroditus, my brother and companion in labour, & felowe souldier, but your Apostle, and the minister of my neede.
For he longed after you all, and was full of heauinesse, because that ye had hearde that he had ben sicke.
And no doubt he was sicke nye vnto death, but God had mercie on hym, and not on hym only, but on me also, lest I shoulde haue sorowe vpon sorowe.
I sent him therfore the more diligentlie, that when ye see him againe, ye may reioyce, and that I may be the lesse sorowfull.
Receaue hym therfore in the Lorde with all gladnes, & make much of such:
Because, for the worke of Christe, he was nye vnto death, not regardyng his lyfe, to fulfyll your lacke of seruice towarde me.
MOreouer my brethren, reioyce ye in the Lord. It greeueth me not to write the same thyng often to you, for to you it is a sure thyng.
Beware of dogges, beware of euyll workers, beware of concision.
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirite, and reioyce in Christ Iesus, and haue no confidence in the fleshe:
Though I might also haue confidence in the fleshe. If any other man thinketh that he hath wherof he myght trust in the fleshe, more I:
Circumcised the eyght day, of the kinred of Israel, of the tribe of Beniamin, an Ebrue of the Ebrues, after the lawe a pharisee,
Concernyng feruentnesse, persecutyng the Churche: touchyng {th}e righteousnesse which is in {th}e lawe, I was blamelesse.
But the thynges that were vauntage vnto me, those I counted losse for Christes sake.
Yea, I thynke all thynges but losse, for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christe Iesus my Lorde: For whom I haue counted all thyng losse, & do iudge the{m} but vile, that I may winne Christe,
And be founde in hym, not hauyng myne owne ryghteousnesse which is of the lawe: but that which is through the fayth of Christ, the ryghteousnes which commeth of God through fayth:
That I may knowe hym, and the power of his resurrection, and the felowshippe of his passions, confirmable vnto his death,
If by any meanes, I myght attayne vnto the resurrection of the dead.
Not as though I had alredy attayned, either were alredy perfect: but I folowe, yf that I may comprehende, wherein also I am comprehended of Christe Iesus.
Brethren I count not my selfe as yet that I haue attained: but this one thing [I say] I forget those thinges which are behynde, and endeuour my selfe vnto those thynges which are before,
And I prease towarde the marke, for the price of the hye callyng of God in Christe Iesus.
Let vs therfore as many as be perfect, be thus mynded, and if ye be otherwyse mynded, God shall reueale the same also vnto you.
Neuerthelesse, vnto that which we haue attayned vnto, let vs proceade by one rule, that we may be of one accorde.
Brethren, be folowers together of me, and loke on them which walke so as ye haue vs for an ensample.
For many walke, of whom I haue tolde you often, & nowe tel you wepyng, [that they are] the enemies of the crosse of Christe:
Whose ende •is] dampnation, whose God [is their• belly, and glorie to their shame, which mynde earthly thynges.
But our conuersation is in heauen, from whence also we loke for the sauiour, the Lorde Iesus Christe:
Who shall chaunge our vyle body, that it may be fashioned lyke vnto his glorious body, according to the working wherby he is able to subdue all thynges vnto hym selfe.
THerfore my brethren beloued & longed for, my ioy and crowne, so continue in the Lorde ye beloued.
I pray Euodias, and beseche Syntyches, {tha}t they be of one accorde in the Lorde.
Yea, and I beseche thee also faythfull yockefelowe, helpe those [women] which laboured with me in the Gospell, and with Clement also, and with other my labour felowes, whose names [are] in the booke of lyfe.
Reioyce in the Lorde alway, and agayne I say reioyce.
Let your pacient mynde be knowen vnto all men: The Lorde [is] at hande.
Be carefull for nothyng: but in all thynges, let your petition be manifest vnto God, in prayer and supplication with geuyng of thankes.
And the peace of God, which passeth all vnderstandyng, shall kepe your heartes and myndes through Christe Iesus.
Furthermore brethren, whatsoeuer, thynges are true, whatsoeuer thynges (are) honest, whatsoeuer thynges (are) iuste, whatsoeuer thynges (are) pure, whatsoeuer thynges pertayne to loue, whatsoeuer thynges (are) of honest report: If there be any vertue, & yf there be any prayse, thynke on these thynges:
Which ye haue both learned, and receaued, and hearde, and seene in me: Those thinges do, and the God of peace shalbe with you.
But I reioyce in the Lorde greatly, that nowe at the last you are reuiued againe to care for me, in {tha}t wherin ye were also carefull, but ye lacked oportunitie.
I speake not because of necessitie. For I haue learned, in whatsoeuer estate I am, therwith to be content.
I knowe howe to be lowe, and I knowe howe to exceade. Euery where & in all thynges I am instructed, both to be ful, and to be hungry, both to haue plentie, and to suffer neede.
I can do all thynges through Christe, which strengtheneth me.
Notwithstandyng, ye haue well done {tha}t ye dyd communicate to my afflictions.
Ye Philippians knowe also, that in the begynnyng of the Gospell, when I departed fro{m} Macedonia, no Church communicated to me, as concernyng geuyng and receauyng, but ye only.
For euen in Thessalonica, ye sent once, & afterward agayne vnto my necessitie.
Not that I desire a gyft, but I desire fruite aboundyng to your accompt.
But I haue receaued al, & haue plentie. I was euen fylled after that I had receaued of Epaphroditus the thynges [which were sent] from you, an odoure of a sweete smel, a sacrifice acceptable, pleasaunt to God.
My God shall supplie all your neede, through his riches in glorie, in Christe Iesus.
Vnto God and our father, be prayse for euermore. Amen.
Salute all the saintes in Christe Iesus. The brethren which are with me, greete you.
All the saintes salute you, most of all, they that are of Caesars housholde.
The grace of our Lorde Iesu Christe [be] with you all. Amen.
PAul an Apostle of Iesus Christe, by the wyll of God, and Timotheus the brother.
To them which [are] in Colossa, saintes and faythfull brethren in Christe: Grace vnto you, & peace from God our father, and the Lorde Iesus Christe.
We geue thankes to God and father of our Lorde Iesus Christe, alwayes for you, praying:
Sence we hearde of your fayth in Christe Iesus, and of the loue which [is] to all saintes,
For the hopes sake which is layde vp for you in heauen, of which [hope] ye hearde before, in the worde of trueth of the Gospell,
Which is come vnto you, euen as [it is] into all the worlde, & is fruitfull, as it is also in you, from the day ye hearde [of it] and knewe the grace of God in trueth,
As ye also learned of Epaphras, our deare felowe seruaunt, which is for you a faythfull minister of Christe:
Who also declared vnto vs your loue in the spirite.
For this cause we also, sence {th}e day we hearde, haue not ceassed to pray for you, and to desire that ye myght be fulfylled with knowledge of his wyll, in all wisdome & spiritual vnderstandyng,
That ye myght walke worthie of the Lorde in all pleasyng, beyng fruitefull in all good workes, and encreasyng in the knowledge of God,
Strenthened with all might, through his glorious power, vnto all patience and long sufferyng with ioyfulnesse:
Geuyng thankes vnto {th}e father, which hath made vs meete to be partakers of the inheritaunce of the saintes in lyght.
Who hath delyuered vs from the power of darcknesse, and hath translated vs into the kingdome of his deare sonne.
In who{m} we haue redemptio{n} through his blood, the forgeuenesse of sinnes:
Who is the image of the inuisible God, the first borne of all creatures.
For by him were all thinges created, that are in heaue{n} and that are in earth, visible and inuisible, whether [they be] maiestie or lordeshippe, either rule or power: All thynges were created by hym and for hym.
And he is before all thynges, and in hym all thynges consist.
And he is the head of the body of the Churche: he is the begynnyng, the first borne of the dead, that in all thynges he myght haue the preeminence.
For it pleased [the father] that in hym shoulde all fulnesse dwell,
And by hym to reconcile all thynges vnto hym selfe, & to set at peace through the blood of his crosse by hym, both the thynges in earth, and thynges in heauen,
And you which were sometyme straungers, and enemies, by cogitation in euyll workes, hath he nowe yet reconciled,
In the body of his fleshe, through death, to present you holye, and vnblameable, & without fault in his syght:
If ye continue grounded & stablisshed in the fayth, and be not moued away from the hope of the Gospell, which ye haue hearde howe it is preached to euery creature which is vnder heauen, wherof I Paul am made a minister.
Nowe iowe I in my sufferynges for you, and fulfyll that which is behynde of the passions of Christe, in my fleshe, for his bodyes sake, which is {th}e Church:
Wherof I am made a minister, accordyng to the dispensation of God, which is geuen to me to you warde, to fulfyll the worde of God:
The misterie hyd sence the worlde began, and [sence the begynnyng of] generations: but nowe is opened to his saintes:
To whom God woulde make knowe{n} what [is] the riches of the glorie of this misterie among the gentiles, which is Christe in you, the hope of glorie:
Whom we preache, warnyng euery man, and teachyng euery man in all wisdome, to present all men perfect in Christe Iesus:
Wherunto I also labour striuyng, according to his workyng which worketh in me mightylie.
FOr I woulde that ye knew what great fight I haue for you, and for them that are at Laodicea, and for as many as haue not seene my face in the fleshe,
That their heartes myght be comforted, beyng knyt together in loue, and in al riches of certaintie of vnderstanding, to knowe the misterie of God, and of the father, and of Christe,
In whom are hyd all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge.
This I say, lest any man shoulde begyle you with perswasion of wordes.
For though I be absent in the fleshe, yet am I with you in the spirite, ioying and beholdyng your order, and your stedfast fayth in Christe.
As ye haue therfore receaued Christe Iesus the Lorde, [so] walke ye in hym:
Rooted and built in hym, & stablished in the fayth, as ye haue ben taught, aboundyng therin with thankes geuing.
Beware lest any man spoyle you through philosophie & vayne deceipt, after the tradition of men, and after the rudimentes of the worlde, and not after Christe.
For in hym dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead bodyly:
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principalitie and power,
In whom also ye are circumcised with circumcisio{n} made without handes, by puttyng of the body of sinnes of the fleshe, in the circumcision of Christe:
Buried with him in baptisme, in who{m} ye are also risen agayne through {th}e fayth of the operation of God, who hath raysed hym from the dead.
And ye beyng dead to sinne and to the vncircumcision of your fleshe, hath he quickened with him, forgeuyng all your trepasses,
And puttyng out the hande writing of ordinaunces, that was agaynst vs, and that hath he taken out of the way, fastenyng it to his crosse
Spoylyng all principalities & powers, hath made a shewe of them openly, triumphyng ouer them in it.
Let no man therfore iudge you in meate, or in drinke, or in part of an holyday, or of the newe moone, or of the Sabboth [dayes]:
Which are shadowes of thynges to come: but the body (is) of Christe.
Let no man begile you of victorie, in the humblenesse and worshippyng of Angels, intrudyng (hym selfe into those thinges) which he hath not seene, causelesse puft vp with his fleshly mynde,
And holdeth not the head, wherof all the body by ioyntes & bandes supported and knit together, encreaseth with the encrease of God.
Wherefore, yf ye be dead with Christe from {th}e rudimentes of the world: why, as though lyuyng in the worlde, are ye led with traditions,
Touche not, taste not, handle not?
Which all be in corruption, in abusyng after the commaundementes and doctrines of men.
Which thynges haue a shewe of wisdome, in superstition & humblenesse of mynde, and in hurtyng of the body, not in any honour to the satisfiyng of {th}e flesh.
IF ye then be rysen agayne with Christ, seke those things which are aboue, where Christe sitteth on the ryght hande of God.
Set your affection on thynges aboue, not on thinges on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your lyfe is hyd with Christe in God.
When soeuer Christe which is our life, shall appeare, then shall ye also appeare with hym in glorie.
Mortifie therefore your members which are vpon the earth▪ fornication, vncleannesse, inordinate affection, euyll concupiscence, and couetousnesse, which is worshippyng of images:
For which thynges sake, the wrath of God commeth on the children of disobedience,
In the which ye walked sometyme, when ye lyued in them.
But nowe put ye of also all, wrath, fiercenesse, maliciousnesse, blasphemie, filthie co{m}munication out of your mouth.
Lye not one to another, seyng that ye haue put of {th}e olde man with his workes:
Hauyng put on the newe man, which is renued into the knowledge after the image of hym that made hym,
Where is neither Greke nor Iewe, circumcision nor vncircumcision, Barbarian, Sythian, bonde, free: but Christe is all, and in all.
Put on therfore (as the elect of God, holy and beloued) bowels of mercie, kyndenesse, humblenesse of mynde, mekenesse, long sufferyng,
Forbearyng one another, and forgeuyng one another, yf any man haue a quarel agaynst any: euen as Christe forgaue you, so also [do] ye.
And aboue all thynges [put on] loue, which is the bonde of perfectnesse.
And let the peace of God haue the victorie in your heartes, to the which also we are called in one body: And see that ye be thankefull.
Let the worde of God dwell in you richly in all wisdome, teachyng and admonisshyng your owne selues, in psalmes, and hymnes, and spirituall songes, singyng with grace in your heartes to the Lorde.
And whatsoeuer ye do in worde or deede, [do] all in the name of the Lorde Iesus, geuyng thankes to God and the father by hym.
Wiues, submit your selues vnto your owne husbandes, as it is comely in the Lorde.
Husbandes, loue your wyues, and be not bitter agaynst them:
Chyldren, obey your fathers and mothers in all thynges, for that is well pleasyng vnto the Lorde.
Fathers, prouoke not your chyldren [to anger], lest they be discouraged.
Seruauntes, obey in all thynges to your bodyly maisters: not with eye seruice, as men pleasers, but in singlenesse of heart, fearyng God.
And whatsoeuer ye do, do it heartilie, as to the Lorde, and not vnto men:
Knowyng, that of the Lorde ye shall receaue the rewarde of inheritaunce, for ye serue the Lorde Christe:
But he that doth wrong, shall receaue for the wrong he hath done: And there is no respect of persons.
MAisters, do vnto your seruauntes that which is iust & equall, knowyng that ye also haue a maister in heauen.
Continue in prayer, and watche in the same with thankes geuyng:
Praying also for vs, that God may open vnto vs the doore of vtteraunce, that we may speake {th}e misterie of Christ, wherfore I am also in bondes:
That I may vtter it, as I ought to speake.
Walke in wisdome towarde the{m} that are without, redeemyng the tyme.
Let your speache be alway in grace, powdered with salt, to knowe howe ye ought to aunswere euery man.
All my state shall Tychicus declare vnto you, [who is] a beloued brother and faythfull minister, and felowe seruaunt in the Lorde:
Whom I haue sent vnto you for the same thyng, that he myght knowe your state, and comfort your heartes,
With Onesimus a faythfull and beloued brother, which is of you. They shall shewe you of all thynges which [are• here.
Aristarchus my prison felowe saluteth you, & Marcus Barnabas sisters sonne, (touchyng whom ye receaued commaundementes:) If he come vnto you, receaue hym:
And Iesus, which is called Iustus, which are of the circumcision. These only are my workefelowes vnto the kyngdome of God, which hath ben vnto my consolation.
Epaphras which is of you, a seruaunt of Christe, saluteth you, alwayes labouryng feruently for you in prayers, that ye may stande perfect and fylled in all the wyll of God.
For I beare him recorde, that he hath a great zeale for you, and them [that are] in Laodicea, and them [that are] in Hierapolis.
Deare Lucas the phisition greeteth you, and Demas.
Salute the brethren [which are] in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the Churche which is in his house.
And when the epistle is read of you, make that it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans: and that ye likewise reade the epistle from Laodicea.
And say to Archippus: take heede to the ministerie that thou hast receaued in the Lorde, that thou fulfyll it.
The salutation, by the hande of me, Paul. Remember my bondes. Grace be with you. Amen.
PAul & Siluanus and Timotheus, vnto the Churche of the Thessalonians, in God the father, and in the Lorde Iesus Christ: Grace [be] vnto you, & peace from God our father, and the Lorde Iesus Christe.
We geue thankes to God alwayes for all you, makyng mention of you in our prayers,
Without ceassyng, callyng to remembraunce the worke of your fayth, and labour of loue, and patient abidyng in the hope of our Lorde Iesus Christe, in the syght of God and our father.
Knowyng, brethren beloued, your election of God.
For our Gospell came not vnto you in worde only, but also in power, and in the holy ghost, and in much certayntie, as ye knowe after what maner we were among you for your sake.
And ye became folowers of vs, and of the Lorde, receauyng the worde in much affliction, with ioy of the holy ghost:
So that ye were an ensample to all that beleue in Macedonia and Achaia.
For from you, sounded out the worde of the Lorde, not only in Macedonia & Achaia: but also in euery place your faith to Godwarde is spread abroade, so that we neede not to speake any thyng.
For they them selues shewe of you, what maner of entryng in we had vnto you, and howe ye turned to God from images, to serue the lyuyng and true God.
And to tary for his sonne from heauen, whom he raysed from the dead: [euen] Iesus which delyuereth vs from the wrath to come.
FOr ye your selues, brethren, knowe our entraunce in vnto you, {tha}t it was not in vayne:
But euen after that we had suffred before, and were shamefully entreated as ye knowe, at Philippos, we were bolde in our God, to speake vnto you the Gospell of God, in much strynyng.
For our exhortation was not of deceit, neither of vncleannes, neither in guile:
But as it were alowed of God, to be put in credite with the Gospell: euen so we speake, not as pleasyng men, but God, which tryeth our heartes.
For neither at any tyme vsed we flatteryng wordes, as ye knowe, neither cloke of couetousnes, God [is] recorde,
Neither sought we prayse of men, neither of you, nor yet of others:
When we myght haue ben in auctoritie, as the Apostles of Christe, but we were tender among you, euen as a nour•e cherissheth her chyldren,
So, beyng tenderly affected towarde you, our good wyll was to haue dealt vnto you, not the Gospell of God only: but also our owne soules, because ye were deare vnto vs.
For ye remember brethren, our labour and trauayle. For we labouryng nyght & day, because we woulde not be chargeable vnto any of you, preached vnto you the Gospell of God.
Ye [are] witnesses, & God [also] howe holyly, and iustly, and vnblameably, we behaued our selues among you that beleue.
As ye knowe, howe that as a father his chyldren, so we haue exhorted, comforted, and besought euery one of you,
That ye woulde walke worthie of God, who hath called you vnto his kyngdome and glorie.
For this cause thanke we God also without ceassyng, because ye receauyng the worde which ye hearde of vs concernyng God, ye receaued it not as the worde of man, (but as it is in deede) the worde of God, which effectuously worketh also in you that beleue.
For ye brethren became folowers of the Churches of God, which in Iurie are in Christe Iesus: for ye haue suffred lyke thynges of your countreymen, as they haue of the Iewes:
Who both kylled the Lorde Iesus, and their owne prophetes, & haue persecuted vs: and God they please not, and are contrarie to all men:
And hynder vs to speake to the gentiles that they myght be saued, to fulfyll their sinnes alway. For the wrath [of God] is come on them to the vtmost.
Forasmuch brethren, as we are kept from you for a short season, in person, not in heart, we enforced {th}e more to see you personally with great desire.
And therfore we woulde haue come vnto you, (I Paul) once agayne: but Satan hyndered vs.
For what is our hope, or ioy, or crowne of reioycyng? Are not ye it in the presence of our Lorde Iesus Christe, at his commyng?
Yes, ye are our glorie and ioy.
WHerfore, sence we coulde no longer forbeare, we thought it good to remaine at Athens alone.
And sent Timotheus, our brother and minister of God, and felowe labourer in the Gospell of Christe, to stablishe you & to comfort you concernyng your faith.
That no man shoulde be moued in these afflictions: For ye your selues knowe, that we are appoynted there vnto.
For veryly when we were with you, we tolde you before that we shoulde suffer tribulation, euen as it came to passe, and [as] ye knowe.
For this cause, when I coulde no longer forbeare, I sent to knowe your fayth, lest by some meanes the tempter had tempted you, and our labour had ben vayne.
But nowe lately, when Timotheus came from you vnto vs, and brought vs good tydynges of your fayth and loue, and howe that ye haue good remembraunce of vs alwayes, desiryng to see vs, as we also [to see] you:
Therefore brethren we were comforted ouer you, in all our aduersitie and necessitie, because of your fayth.
For nowe we lyue, yf ye stande fast in the Lorde.
For what thankes can we recompence to God agayne for you, for all the ioye wherwith we ioy for your sakes before our God?
Praying nyght and daye exceedyngly to see you personally, and repayre the wantynges of your fayth?
Nowe God him selfe, and our father, and our Lord Iesus Christe, guyde our waye vnto you.
And the Lorde encrease you, & make you abounde in loue one towarde another, and towarde all men, euen as we also towarde you,
To stablyshe your heartes vnblameable, in holynesse before God and our father, in the commyng of our Lorde Iesus Christe, with all his saintes.
FVrthermore we besech you brethren, & exhorte you by the Lorde Iesus, that ye encrease more and more, as ye haue receaued of vs, how ye ought towalke and to please God.
For ye knowe what commaundementes we gaue you by the Lorde Iesus.
For this is the wyll of God, your holynesse, that ye should abstayne from fornication:
That euery one of you should knowe how to possesse his vessell in holynesse and honour:
Not in the lust of concupiscence, euen as the gentiles, which knowe not God.
That no man oppresse and defraude his brother in [any] matter, because that the Lorde is the auenger of all suche: as we also haue forewarned you, and testified.
For God hath not called vs vnto vncleanenesse, but into holynesse.
He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath geuen to you his holy spirite.
• But as touchyng brotherly loue, ye nede not that I write vnto you: For ye are taught of God to loue one another.
Yea and that thyng veryly ye do vnto all {th}e brethren which [are] in al Macedonia: But we beseche you brethren, that ye encrease more and more:
And that ye studie to be quiet, and to do your owne [busynesse] and to worke with your owne handes as we commaunded you:
That ye may walke honestly toward them that are without, & that nothyng be lackyng in you.
But I woulde not haue you to be ignoraunt brethren, concernyng them which sleepe, that ye sorowe not euen as other, which haue no hope.
For yf we beleue that Iesus dyed and rose agayne: euen so them also whiche sleepe by Iesus, wyll God bryng with hym.
For this say we vnto you in the worde of the Lorde, that we whiche lyue, remayning vnto the co{m}myng of the Lord, shall not preuent them which sleepe.
For the Lorde hym selfe shal descende from heauen in a shoute, [and] in the voyce of the Archangell, and in the trumpe of God: And the dead in Christ shall aryse first.
Than we which lyue, which remaine, shalbe caught vp together with them in the cloudes, to meete the Lorde in the ayre: And so shall we euer be with the Lorde.
Wherfore comfort your selues one another in these wordes.
BVt of the tymes & seasons brethre{n}, ye haue no neede that I write vnto you.
For ye your selues knowe perfectlye that the day of the Lord shall so come euen as a theefe in the nyght.
For when they shal say peace & safetie, then shall sodeyne destruction come vppon them, as sorowe vpon a woman with chylde, and they shall not escape.
But ye brethren are not in darknesse, that that day shoulde ouertake you as a theefe.
Ye are all the chyldren of lyght, and the chyldren of the daye: We are not of the nyght, neither of darkenesse.
Therefore let vs not sleepe, as [do] other: but let vs watche and be sober.
For they that sleepe, sleepe in the night: and they that be druncken, are druncken in the nyght.
But let vs which are of the day, be sober, puttyng on the brest plate of fayth and loue, and a helmet, the hope of saluation.
For God hath not appoynted vs to wrath: but to obtayne saluation, by our Lorde Iesus Christe,
Whiche dyed for vs, that whether we wake or sleepe, we shoulde lyue together with hym.
Wherefore comfort your selues together, and edifie euery one another, euen as ye do.
And we beseche you brethren to know them whiche labour among you, and haue the ouersight of you in the Lorde, and admonishe you:
That ye haue them in hye reputation, in loue for their worke, and be at peace among your selues.
We exhort you brethren, warne them that are vnruly, comfort the feeble mynded, lyft vp the weake, be pacient towarde all men.
See that none recompence euyll for euyll vnto any man: but euer folowe that whiche is good, both among your selues, and to all men.
Reioyce euer.
Pray continually.
In all thinges geue thankes. For this [is] the wyl of God in Christe Iesus towarde you.
Quenche not the spirite.
Despise not prophesiynges.
Examine all thynges, holde fast that which is good.
Abstayne from all appearaunce of euyll.
And the very God of peace santifie you throughout [And I pray God] that your whole spirite, and soule, and body, may be preserued blamelesse in the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christe.
Faythfull is he whiche called you, whiche wyll also do it.
Brethren, pray for vs.
Greete all the brethren in an holy kysse.
I charge you in the Lorde, that this epistle be read vnto al the holy brethren.
The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you. Amen.
PAul and Siluanus and Timotheus, vnto the Church of the Thessalonians in God our father, and the Lord Iesus Christe:
Grace vnto you and peace from God our father, & the Lorde Iesus Christe.
We are bound to thanke God alwayes for you brethren, as it is meete, because that your fayth groweth exceedyngly, and the loue of euery one of you toward another aboundeth:
So that we our selues reioyce in you in the Churches of God, ouer your pacience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye suffer,
[Which is] a token of the ryghteous iudgment of God, that ye may be counted woorthy of the kyngdome of God, for which ye also suffer.
For it is a ryghteous thing with God, to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you:
And to you whiche are troubled, reste with vs, in the reuelation of the Lorde Iesus from heauen, with the Angels of his power,
In flamyng fire, rendryng vengeance vnto them that knowe not God, and that obey not the Gospell of our Lorde Iesus Christe.
Which shalbe punisshed with euerlastyng dampnation, from the presence of the Lorde, & fro{m} the glorie of his power:
When he shall come to be glorified in his saintes, and to be made marueylous in all them that beleue (because our testimonie toward you was beleued) in that day.
Wherfore also we praye alwayes for you, that our God woulde make you worthy of the callyng, & fulfyll all good pleasure of goodnesse in the worke of fayth in power:
That the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe may be glorified in you, and ye in hym, accordyng to the grace of our God, and the Lorde Iesus Christe.
WE besech you brethren, by the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christe, and by our assembling vnto hym,
That ye be not sodenlye moued from [your] minde, nor be troubled, neither by spirite, nor by worde, nor yet by letter, as from vs, as though the daye of Christe were at hande.
Let no man deceaue you by any meanes, for [the Lorde shall not come] excepte there come a fallyng away first, & that that man of sinne be reuealed, the sonne of perdition,
[Whiche is] an aduersarie, and is exalted aboue all that is called God, or that is worshipped: so that he as God, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing hym selfe that he is God.
Remember ye not, that when I was yet with you, I tolde you these thynges?
And nowe ye knowe what withholdeth, that he myght be reuealed in his tyme.
For the misterie of iniquitie doth alredie worke, tyll he whiche nowe onlye letteth, be taken out of the way.
And then shall that wicked be reuealed, whom the Lorde shall consume with the spirite of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightnesse of his commyng:
[Euen hym] whose commyng is after the workyng of Satan, in all power & signes, and wonders, of lying,
And in all deceauablenesse of vnryghteousnesse, in them that peryshe: because they receaued not the loue of the trueth, that they myght be saued.
And therefore God shall sende them strong delusion, that they should beleue lyes:
That all they myght be dampned whiche beleued not the trueth, but had pleasure in vnryghteousnes.
But we are bounde to geue thankes alway to God for you, brethren beloued of the Lorde, because that God hath fro{m} the begynnyng chosen you to saluation in sanctifiyng of the spirite, & [in] fayth of the trueth:
Wherevnto he called you by our Gospell, to the obteyning of the glorie of our Lorde Iesus Christe.
Therfore brethren stande fast, and holde the ordinaunces whiche ye haue ben taught, whether it were by our preachyng, or by our epistle.
Our Lorde Iesus Christe, and God and our father, whiche hath loued vs, and hath geuen vs euerlastyng consolation, and good hope in grace,
Comfort your heartes, and stablysshe you in all good saying and doyng.
FVrthermore brethren, praye ye for vs, that the worde of the Lord may haue free passage and be glorified, euen as with you:
And that we may be delyuered from disordered and euyll men: For all men haue not fayth.
But the Lorde is faythfull, whiche shall stablyshe you, and kepe you from euyll.
And we haue confidence in the Lorde to youwarde, that ye both do, and wyll do the thynges whiche we commaunde you.
And the Lorde guyde your heartes to the loue of God, and to the pacient waytyng for Christe.
We commaunde you brethren in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe, that ye withdrawe your selues from euery brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the institution whiche he receaued of vs.
For ye your selues knowe howe ye ought to folowe vs: For we behaued not our selues inordinately among you,
Neither toke we breade of any man for nought: but wrought with labour and sweat nyght and daye, because we woulde not be chargeable to any of you.
Not but that we had auctoritie, but to make our selues an ensample vnto you to folowe vs.
For when we were with you, this we warned you of: that yf any woulde not worke, the same shoulde not eate.
For we haue heard that there are some which walke among you inordinately, workyng not at all, but be busy bodies.
Them that are such, we commaunde and exhort by our Lorde Iesus Christ, that they workyng in quietnesse, eate their owne breade.
And ye brethren, be not weery in well doyng.
Yf any man obey not our doctrine, signifie hym by an epistle, and haue no companie with hym, that he maye be ashamed.
Yet count him not as an enemie, but warne hym as a brother.
Nowe the very Lorde of peace geue you peace alwayes, by all meanes. The Lorde be with you all.
The salutation of me Paul with mine owne hande. This is the token in euery epistle. So I write.
The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
PAul an Apostle of Iesus Christ, by the commission of God our sauiour, and Lorde Iesus Christe [whiche is] our hope,
Vnto Timothie a natural sonne in the faith: Grace, mercie [and] peace from God our father and Iesus Christe our Lorde.
As I besought thee to abyde styll in Ephesus, when I departed into Macedonia [so do] that thou co{m}maunde some that they teache no other doctrine:
Neither geue heede to fables and endlesse genealogies, whiche breede questions, more then godly edifying which is in fayth.
But the ende of the commaundement, is loue out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, & of fayth vnfaigned.
From the whiche thynges, some hauyng erred, haue tourned vnto vayne ianglyng:
Couetyng to be doctours of the lawe, not vnderstandyng what they speake, neither wherof they affirme.
But we knowe that the lawe is good, yf a man vse it lawfully:
Knowyng this, that the lawe is not geuen vnto a ryghteous man, but vnto the lawlesse and disobedient, to the vngodly and to sinners, to vnholy and vncleane, to murtherers of fathers & murtherers of mothers, to manslears,
To whoremongers, to them that defyle them selues with mankynde, to manstealers, to lyers, to periured, and yf there be any other thyng that is contrarie to wholsome doctrine:
Accordyng to the Gospell of glorie of the blessed God, whiche is committed vnto me.
And I thanke Christ Iesus our Lord whiche hath made me strong: For he counted me faythfull, puttyng [me] into the ministerie,
Beyng a blasphemer, and a persecuter, and an oppressour: But yet I obtayned mercie, because I dyd it ignorauntly in vnbeliefe.
Neuerthelesse, the grace of our Lorde was exceedyng aboundaunt, with faith and loue, which is in Christe Iesus.
This is a faythfull saying, and by all meanes worthy to be receaued, that Christe Iesus came into the worlde to saue synners, of whom I am chiefe.
Notwithstandyng, for this cause was mercie shewed vnto me, that in me the first, Iesus Christe myght shewe all long sufferyng, to the example of them which shoulde beleue on hym to lyfe euerlastyng.
Nowe, vnto the kyng euerlastyng, immortall, inuisible, vnto God onlye wise [be] honour and glorie for euer and euer, Amen.
This commaundement commit I vnto thee sonne Timotheus, accordyng to the prophesies which went before vpon thee, that thou in them shouldest fyght a good fyght:
Hauyng fayth and good conscience, which some hauyng put awaye as concernyng fayth, haue made shipwracke.
Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I haue delyuered vnto Satan, that they maye learne not to blaspheme.
I Exhort therefore, that firste of all, prayers, supplications, intercessio{n}s and geuynge of thankes be made for all men:
For kynges, and for all that are in auctoritie, that we maye leade a quiete and peaceable lyfe, in all godlynesse and honestie.
For that is good and accepted in the syght of God our sauiour,
Who wyll haue all men to be saued, and to come vnto the knowledge of the trueth.
For [there is] one God, and one mediatour of God and men, the man Christe Iesus:
Who gaue him selfe a raunsome for all, a testimonie in due tymes.
Wherevnto I am ordeined a preacher and an apostle (I tell the trueth in Christe, and lye not) a teacher of the gentiles in fayth and veritie.
I wyll therefore, that the men praye euerywhere, lyftyng vp holy handes, without wrath and reasonyng.
Lykewyse also the women, that they araye them selues in comely apparell, with shamefastnesse, and discrete behauiour, not in brayded heere, either golde or pearles, or costly aray:
But (that becommeth women professyng godlynesse) through good workes.
Let the woman learne in scilence in all subiection.
But I suffer not a woman to teache, neither to vsurpe auctoritie ouer {th}e man, but to be in scilence.
For Adam was first fourmed, then Eue.
And Adam was not deceaued: but the woman beyng deceaued, was in the transgression.
Notwithstandyng through bearyng of chyldren she shalbe saued, yf they continue in fayth and loue, and holynesse, with modestie.
THis is] a faithful saying: Yf a man desire {th}e office of a bishop, he desireth a good worke.
A bishop therfore must be blamelesse, the husband of one wyfe, watchyng, sober, comely apparelled, a louer of hospitalitie, apt to teache,
Not geuen to ouermuch wine, no striker, not greedy of fylthy lucre: but gentle, abhorryng fyghtyng, abhorryng couetousnesse:
One that ruleth well his owne house, hauyng chyldren in subiection, with all grauitie.
For yf a man knowe not to rule his owne house, howe shall he care for the Churche of God?
Not a young scoler, lest he, beyng puffed vp, fall into the condempnation of the deuyll.
He must also haue a good report of the{m} which are without, lest he fall into the rebuke and snare of the deuyll.
Likewise must {th}e ministers be graue, not double tongued, not geuen to much wine, neither greedy of fylthy lucre:
Holdyng the misterie of the fayth in a pure conscience.
And let them first be proued, then let them minister, beyng blamelesse.
Euen so must their wyues be graue, not euyll speakers, sober, faythfull in all thynges.
Let the deacons be the husbandes of one wife, and such as can rule their children well, and their owne housholdes.
For they that haue ministred well, get them selues a good degree, and great libertie in the fayth [whiche is] in Christe Iesus.
These thynges write I vnto thee, hopyng to come shortly vnto thee:
But yf I tary long, that thou mayest knowe howe thou oughtest to behaue thy selfe in the house of God, whiche is the Church of the lyuyng God, the pyller and grounde of trueth.
And without doubt, great is that misterie of godlynesse: God was shewed in the flesshe, was iustified in the spirite, was scene among the angels, was preached vnto the gentiles, was beleued on in the worlde, and was receaued vp in glorie.
NOwe the spirite speaketh euidently, that in the latter tymes some shall depart from the fayth, geuing heede vnto spirites of errour, & doctrines of deuyls,
Which speake false in hypocrisie, hauyng their conscience seared with an hotte iron:
Forbidding to marrie [& commaunding] to abstayne from meates whiche God hath created to be receaued with geuing thankes, of them whiche beleue, and knowe the trueth.
For euery creature of God [is] good, and nothyng to be refused, yf it be receaued with thankes geuyng.
For it is sanctified by the worde of God and prayer.
Yf thou put the brethren in remembraunce of these thynges, thou shalt be a good minister of Iesus Christ, which hast ben norysshed vp in the wordes of fayth and of good doctrine, which thou hast continually folowed.
But cast away prophane & old wiues fables: Exercise thy selfe rather vnto godlynesse.
For bodyly exercise profiteth litle: but godlinesse is profitable vnto all thinges, hauing promise of the lyfe that is nowe, and of that which is to come.
[This is] a sure saying, & by all meanes worthy to be receaued.
For therfore we both labour, and suffer rebuke, because we haue hoped in the lyuyng God, whiche is the sauiour of all men, specially of those that beleue.
These thynges commaunde & teache.
Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou a paterne of the beleuers, in worde, in conuersation, in loue, in spirite, in fayth, in chastitie.
Tyll I come geue attendaunce to readyng, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Despise not the gyfte that is in thee, which was geuen thee through prophesie, with the laying on of handes by the auctoritie of the eldership.
Haue a care of these thinges, and geue thy selfe vnto them, that it may be seene howe thou profitest in all thynges.
Take heede vnto thy selfe, and vnto doctrine, and continue therein: For in doying this, thou shalt both saue thy selfe, and them that heare thee.
REbuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father, the younger men as brethren,
The elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, in all chastitie.
Honour wydowes, whiche are wydowes in deede.
But yf any wydowe haue chyldren or nephewes, let them learne first to rule their owne houses godly, and to recompence also their elder kynsefolkes: for that is good and acceptable before God.
And she that is a wydowe in deede, and left alone, hopeth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers nyght and day.
But she that liueth in pleasure, is dead beyng alyue.
And these thynges commaunde, that they may be blamelesse.
But if any prouide not for his owne, and specially for them of his housholde, he hath denyed the fayth, and is worse then an infidell.
Let not a wydowe be chosen vnder three score yeres olde, hauyng ben the wyfe of one man.
And well reported of in good workes, yf she haue brought vp chyldren, yf she haue lodged straungers, yf she haue wasshed the saintes feete, yf she haue ministred vnto them that were in aduersitie, yf she haue ben continually geuen to euery good worke.
But the yonger wydowes refuse: For whe{n} they haue begun to waxe wanton agaynst Christe, they wyll marrie:
Hauyng dampnation, because they haue cast away their first fayth.
They learne to wander about from house to house idle: yea not idle only, but also tatlers and busybodies, speakyng thynges which are not comely.
I wyll therefore that the yonger women do marrie, to beare chyldren, to guyde the house, to geue none occasion to {th}e aduersarie to speake slaunderously.
For certaine of them are alredy turned backe after Satan.
Yf any man or woman that beleueth haue wydowes, let them susteine them, & let not the Churches be charged, that there maye be sufficient for them that are wydowes in deede.
The elders that rule well are worthy of double honour, most speciallye they which labour in the worde & teachyng.
For the scripture sayth: Thou shalt not moosel the oxe that treadeth out the corne: And, the labourer is worthy of his rewarde.
Agaynst an elder receaue none accusation, but vnder two or three witnesses.
Them that sinne, rebuke before all, that other also may feare.
I testifie before God, and the Lorde Iesus Christe, and the elect angels, that thou obserue these thinges without hastynesse of iudgement, and do nothyng after parcialitie.
Lay handes sodenly on no man, neither be partaker of other mens sinnes. Kepe thy selfe chaste.
Drinke no longer water, but vse a litle wine for thy stomackes sake & thine often diseases.
Some mens sinnes are open beforehande, hastyng before vnto iudgement, and in some they folowe after.
Lykewise also, good workes are manifest before hande, and they that are otherwyse can not be hyd.
LEt as many seruauntes as are vnder the yoke, count their maisters worthy of all honour, that the name of god and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
And they whiche haue beleuyng maisters, despise them not because they are brethren: but rather do seruice, forasmuch as they are beleuyng and beloued and partakers of the benefite. These thynges teache and exhort.
Yf any man teache otherwyse, and consenteth not vnto the wholsome wordes of our Lorde Iesus Christe, and to the doctrine whiche is accordyng to godlynesse:
He is puft vp, knowyng nothing, but dotyng about questions and strifes of wordes, wherof commeth enuie, stryfe, raylynges, euyll surmysynges,
Vayne disputations of men of corrupte myndes, destitute of the trueth, thynkyng lucre to be godlynesse. From suche be thou separate.
Godlynesse is great lucre, if a man be content with that he hath.
For we brought nothyng into the worlde, and it is certayne that we may carry nought away.
But hauyng foode and rayment, we must therwith be content.
For they that wyll be riche, fall into temptations and snares, and into many folishe & noysome lustes, which drowne men in perdition and destruction.
For loue of money, is the roote of all euyll, whiche whyle some lusted after, they erred from the fayth, & pearced the{m} selues through with many sorowes.
But thou O man of God, flee these thynges, and folow after righteousnes, godlynes, faith, loue, pacience, mekenes.
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hand on eternall lyfe, wherevnto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
I geue thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all thynges, and before Iesus Christe, which vnder Pontius Pilate witnessed a good profession,
That thou kepe the commaundement without spot, vnrebukeable, vntyll the appearyng of our Lorde Iesus Christ:
Which in his tymes he shall shewe that is blessed and prince only, the kyng of kynges, and Lorde of Lordes,
Who only hath immortalitie, dwelling in the light that no man can attayne vnto, Whom no man hath seene, neither can see, vnto whom be honour & power euerlastyng. Amen.
Charge them which are riche in this world, that they be not hie minded, nor trust in vncertayne riches: but in {th}e lyuyng God, which geueth vs aboundauntly all thinges to enioy:
That they do good, that they be riche in good workes, that they be redye to geue, glad to distribute:
Laying vp in store for them selues a good foundation agaynst the tyme to come, that they may lay holde on eternall lyfe.
O Timotheus, saue that which is geuen thee to kepe, auoydyng prophane [and] vayne bablynges, and oppositions of science, falslie so called:
Which some professyng, haue erred concernyng the fayth. Grace [be] with thee. Amen.
PAul an Apostle of Iesus Christe by the wyll of God, according to the promise of lyfe, which is in Christ Iesus,
To Timothie a beloued sonne: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the father, and Christe Iesus our Lorde.
I thanke God whom I worshippe from [my] forefathers in pure conscience, that without ceassyng I haue remembrau{n}ce of thee in my prayers night & day
Desiryng to see thee, myndefull of thy teares: that I may be fylled with ioy.
When I call to remembraunce the vnfaigned fayth that is in thee, whiche dwelt first in thy graundmother Lois, and in thy mother Eunica: and I am assured that [it dwelleth] in thee also.
Wherfore I put thee in reme{m}braunce that thou stirre vp the gyft of God, which is in thee by the puttyng on of my handes.
For God hath not geuen to vs the spirite of feare: but of power, and of loue, and of a sounde mynde.
Be not thou therfore ashamed of the testimonie of our Lorde, neither of me his prisoner: but suffer thou aduersitie with the Gospell, accordyng to the power of God,
Who hath saued vs, & called vs with an holy callyng, not accordyng to our workes: but accordyng to his owne purpose and grace, which was geuen vs in Christe Iesus, before the world began:
But is nowe made manifest by the appearyng of our sauiour Iesus Christ, who hath put away death, and hath brought life and immortalitie vnto light through the Gospell:
Wherunto I am appoynted, a preacher and Apostle, and a teacher of the gentiles:
For the which cause I also suffer these thynges. Neuerthelesse, I am not ashamed: For I knowe whom I haue beleued, and I am perswaded that he is able to kepe that which I haue committed to hym, agaynst that day.
See thou haue the paterne of wholesome wordes, which thou hast hearde of me in fayth & loue, [that is] in Christe Iesus.
That good thyng which was committed to thy keping, holde fast through the holy ghost which dwelleth in vs.
This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia, be turned from me: of who{m} are Phygellus & Hermogenes.
The Lorde geue mercie vnto {th}e house of Onesiphorus, for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chayne.
But whe{n} he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and founde [me].
The Lorde graunt vnto hym, that he may fynde mercie with the Lorde in that day: And in howe many thynges he ministred vnto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
THou therfore my sonne, be strong in the grace that is in Christe Iesus.
And the thynges that thou haste hearde of me by many witnesses, the same commit thou to faythfull men, which shalbe apt to teache other also.
Thou therfore suffer afflictions as a good souldier of Iesus Christe.
No man that warreth, entangleth hym selfe with thaffayres of [this] lyfe, that he may please hym which hath chosen hym to be a souldier.
And if a man also wrestle, yet is he not crowned except he wrestle lawfullie.
The labouryng husbandman, must first be partaker of the fruites.
Consider What I say: and the Lorde geue thee vnderstandyng in all thinges.
Remember that Iesus Christe, of the seede of Dauid, was raysed from the dead, accordyng to my Gospell,
Wherin I suffer trouble as an euyll doer, euen vnto bondes: But the worde of God is not bounde.
Therfore I suffer all thynges for the electes sakes, that they myght also obtaine the saluation, which is in Christ Iesus, with eternall glorie.
It is a faythfull saying: for yf we be dead with hym, we shall also lyue with hym:
If we be patient, we shall also raigne with hym: If we denie hym, he also shall denie vs.
If we be vnfaythful, he abideth faithfull, he can not denie hym selfe.
Of these thynges put them in remembraunce, testifie before the Lorde, that they striue not about wordes to no profite, [but] to the peruertyng of {th}e hearers.
Studie to shewe thy selfe approued vnto God, a workman not to be ashamed, rightlie deuidyng the worde of trueth.
But prophane voyces of vanitie passe ouer: For they wyll encrease vnto greater vngodlynesse.
And their worde shall fret as doth a cancker: of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus,
Which about the trueth haue erred, saying that the resurrection is past alredie, & do ouerthrowe the fayth of some.
But the strong foundation of God standeth styl, hauyng this seale: The Lorde knoweth the{m} that are his: And, let euery one that nameth the name of Christe, depart from iniquitie.
But in a great house are not onely vessels of golde, and of siluer, but also of wood and of earth: some to honour, and some vnto dishonour.
If a man therfore pourge hym selfe from these, he shalbe a vessell vnto honour, and meete for {th}e vses of the Lorde, and prepared vnto euery good worke.
Lustes of youth auoyde, but folowe ryghteousnesse, fayth, loue, peace, with them that call on the Lorde out of a pure heart.
But foolishe & vnlearned questions put from thee, knowyng that they do but gender strife.
And the seruaunt of the Lorde must not striue: but be gentle vnto all men, apt to teache, sufferyng euyll in mekenesse,
Instructing the{m} which are contrarie mynded, yf God at any tyme wyll geue them repentaunce, to the knowledge of the trueth:
And that they may come to the{m} selues agayne, out of the snare of the deuyll, which are holden captyue of hym at his wyll.
THis knowe also, that in the last dayes, perylous tymes shalbe at hande.
For men shalbe louers of their owne selues, couetous, boasters, proude, blasphemers, disobedient to fathers and mothers, vnthankefull, vngodlye:
Without naturall affection trucebreakers, false accusers, riotous, fierce, despisers of them which are good,
Traytours, headdy, hye mynded, louers of pleasures more then louers of God:
Hauyng a fourme of godlynesse, but denying the power therof: turne away from these.
These are they, which enter into houses, & leade captiue [simple] women laden with sinne, caryed with diuers lustes:
Euer learnyng, and neuer able to come vnto the knowledge of the trueth.
For as Iannes and Iambres withstoode Moyses, so do these also resist the trueth: Men of corrupt myndes, reprobate concernyng the fayth:
But they shall preuayle no longer. For their madnesse shalbe manifest vnto all [men] as also theirs was.
But thou hast folowed my doctrine, fashion of lyuyng, purpose, fayth, long sufferyng, loue, patience,
Persecutions, afflictions, which came vnto me at Antioche, at Iconium, at Lystra, which persecutions I suffred patiently: And from them all, the Lord deliuered me.
Yea, and all that wyll lyue godly in Christe Iesus, shall suffer persecution.
But the euyll men and deceauers, shall waxe worse and worse, deceauyng and deceaued.
But continue thou in the thynges which thou haste learned, which also were committed vnto thee, knowyng of whom thou hast learned [them]:
And that from an infant thou hast knowen the scriptures, which are able to make thee wyse vnto saluation, thorowe fayth which is in Christe Iesus.
All scripture is geuen by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable to doctrine, to reproue, to correction, to instruction which is in ryghteousnesse,
That the man of God may be perfect, instructed vnto all good workes.
I Testifie therefore before God, & the Lorde Iesus Christe, which shall iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearyng, and his kingdome.
Preache the worde, be instant in season, out of season: Improue, rebuke, exhort in all long sufferyng and doctrine.
For the tyme wyll come, when they shall not suffer wholsome doctrine: but after their owne lustes, shal they whose eares itche, get the{m} an heape of teachers:
And shall turne away their hearyng from the trueth, and shalbe turned vnto fables.
But watche thou in all thynges, suffer afflictions, do the worke of an Euangelist, fulfyll thy ministerie:
For I am nowe redie to be offered, & the tyme of my dissolution is at hande.
I haue fought a good fyght, I haue fulfylled [my] course, I haue kept {th}e faith.
Hencefoorth there is layde vp for me a crowne of ryghteousnesse, which the Lorde, the ryghteous iudge, shall geue me at that day: not to me only, but vnto the{m} also {tha}t haue loued his appearyng.
Do thy diligence to come shortly vnto me.
For Demas hath forsaken me, hauing loued this present worlde, and is departed vnto Thessalonica, Cres•ens to Galatia, Titus vnto Dalmatia.
Only Luke is with me. Takyng Marke and bryng him with thee, for he is profitable vnto me for {th}e ministration.
And Tychicus haue I sent to Ephesus.
The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, whe{n} thou commest bring with thee, and the bookes, but specially the parchementes.
Alexander the coppersmith shewed me much euyll: The Lorde rewarde hym accordyng to his deedes.
Of whom be thou ware also: For he hath greatly withstande our preaching.
At my first aunsweryng, no man assisted me, but all forsoke me, [I pray God] {tha}t it may not be layde to their charges:
Notwithstandyng, the Lorde assisted me, and strengthed me, that by me the preachyng should be fulfylled to the vtmost, and that all the gentiles should heare, and I was deliuered out of the mouth of the Lion.
And the Lorde shall delyuer me from euery euyll worke, & will preserue me vnto his heauenly kingdome: To who{m} [be] prayse for euer and euer. Amen.
Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the housholde of Ouesiphorus.
Erastus abode at Corinthum: But Trophimus haue I left at Miletum sicke.
Do thy dilige{n}ce to come before winter. Eubolus greeteth thee, and Pudens, & Linus, and Claudia, & all the brethre{n}.
The Lorde Iesus Christe [be] with thy spirite: Grace be with you. Amen.
PAul a seruaunt of God, & an Apostle of Iesus Christe, according to the fayth of Gods elect, & the knowledge of {th}e trueth, whiche is after godlynesse,
In the hope of eternall lyfe, which God that can not lye, promised before the worlde began:
But hath made manifest his worde, at {th}e time appoynted through preaching, which is committed vnto me, according to the ordinaunce of God our sauiour:
To Titus a natural sonne after the common fayth: Grace, mercie, peace, from God the father, and the Lorde Iesus Christe our sauiour.
For this cause left I thee in Creta, that thou shouldest refourme {th}e thynges that are left, and ordayne elders in euerye citie, as I had appoynted thee:
If any be blamelesse, the husbande of one wyfe, hauyng faythfull chyldren, not accusable of riote, or vntractable.
For a bishop must be blamelesse, as the stewarde of God: not stubborne, not angry, not geuen to wyne, no striker, not geuen to filthie lucre:
But a louer of hospitalitie, a louer of goodnes, sober, ryghteous, godly, temperate,
Holdyng fast the faythfull worde, which is accordyng to doctrine, that he may be able both to exhort in wholsome doctrine, and to improue them that say agaynst it.
For there are many vnruly and vayne talkers, and deceauers of myndes, specially they [that are] of {th}e circumcision,
Whose mouthes must be stopped, which subuert whole houses, teachyng thynges which they ought not, for fylthie lucre sake.
One of them selues [euen] a prophete of their owne, sayde: The Cretians [are] alwayes lyers, euyll beastes, slowe bellyes.
This witnesse is true: wherfore rebuke them sharpely that they may be sounde in the fayth,
Not takyng heede to Iewes fables and co{m}maundementes of men, turnyng from the trueth.
Vnto the pure, [are] all thynges pure: but vnto them that are defyled and vnbeleuyng, [is] nothyng pure, but euen the mynde and conscience of them is defyled.
They confesse that they knowe God: but with workes they denie hym, seyng they are abhominable and disobedient, and vnto euery good worke reprobate.
BVt speake thou the thynges which become wholsome doctrine.
That the elder men be watchyng, graue, sober, sounde in fayth, in loue, in pacience:
The elder women lykewyse, that they be in such behauiour as beco{m}meth holynesse, not false accusers, not geuen to much wine, teachers of good thinges,
To make the young women sober mynded, to loue their husbandes, to loue their chyldren,
(To be) discrete, chaste, house kepers, good, obedient vnto their owne husbandes, that the worde of God be not blasphemed.
Young men lykewyse exhort, to be sober mynded.
In all thynges shewyng thy selfe a paterne of good workes, in the doctrine, vncorruptnesse, grauitie, integritie,
Wholsome worde, vnrebukeable, that he which withstandeth, may be ashamed, hauyng no euyll thyng to say of you.
[Exhort] seruauntes, to be obedient vnto their owne maisters, and to please them in all thynges, not aunsweryng agayne:
Neither pickers, but shewing all good faythfulnesse, that they may adourne the doctrine of God our sauiour in all thynges.
For there hath appeared the grace of God [which is] healthful to all men,
Teachyng vs, that denying vngodlynesse and worldly lustes, we shoulde lyue soberlie and ryghteouslie, and godlie in this present worlde:
Lokyng for that blessed hope and appearyng of the glorie of the great God, and our sauiour Iesus Christe,
Which gaue hym selfe for vs, that he myght redeeme vs from all vnryghteousnesse, and pourge vs a peculier people vnto hym selfe, zelous of good workes.
These thynges speake and exhort, and rebuke with all aucthoritie. Let no man dispise thee.
WArne them to be subiect to rule & power, to obey magistrates, to be redie to euery good worke:
To blaspheme no man, to be no fyghters, [but] gentle, shewyng all mekenesse vnto all men.
For we our selues also were some tyme foolyshe, disobedient, deceaued, seruyng diuers lustes & voluptuousnes, lyuyng in maliciousnesse and enuie, full of hate, hatyng one another.
But after that the kyndenesse and loue of our sauiour God to manwarde appeared,
Not of workes which [be] in ryghteousnesse wrought, but accordyng to his mercie, he saued vs by the fountayne of regeneration and renuyng of the holy ghost,
Which he shed on vs richlie through Iesus Christe our sauiour:
That we iustified by his grace, should be made heyres accordyng to the hope of eternall lyfe.
[This is] a faythfull saying: And of these thynges I wyll, that thou confirme, that they which haue beleued in God, myght be carefull to shewe foorth good workes. These thynges are good and profitable vnto men.
But foolishe questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and striuinges about the lawe, auoyde: for they are vnprofitable and vayne.
A man that is an aucthour of sectes, after the first and the seconde admonition, auoyde:
Knowyng, that he that is such, is subuerted and sinneth, beyng dampned of hym selfe.
When I shall sende Artemas vnto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come vnto me vnto Nicopolis: For I haue determined there to wynter.
Bryng Zenas the lawyer, & Apollos, on their iourney diligently, that nothing be lackyng vnto them.
And let ours also learne to excell in good workes to necessarie vses, that they be not vnfruitefull.
All that are with me, salute thee. Greete them that loue vs in the fayth. Grace be with you all. Amen.
PAul a prisoner of Iesus Christ, and brother Timotheus: Vnto Philemo{n} the beloued, and our felowe labourer,
And to the beloued Apphia, and to Archippus our felowe souldier, and to the Churche in thy house:
Grace to you, and peace from God our father, and the Lorde Iesus Christ.
I thanke my God, makyng mention alwayes of thee in my prayers,
Hearyng of thy loue and fayth, which thou hast towarde the Lorde Iesus, and towarde all saintes:
That the felowshippe of thy fayth may be effectuall in the knowledge of euery good [worke] which is in you, towarde Christe Iesus.
For we haue great ioy & consolation in thy loue, because the bowels of the saintes are refresshed by thee, brother.
Wherfore, though I myght be much bolde in Christe, to inioyne thee that which is conuenient:
Yet for loues sake, I rather beseche thee, beyng such a one as Paul the aged, & nowe also a prisoner of Iesus Christe.
I beseche thee for my sonne Onesimus, whom I haue begotten in my bondes:
Which in tyme passed, was to thee vnprofitable, but nowe profitable to thee and to me.
Whom I haue sent agayne: Thou therefore receaue hym, that is, myne owne bowels,
Whom I woulde haue retayned with me, that in thy steade he myght haue ministred vnto me in the bondes of the Gospell:
But without thy mynde woulde I do nothyng, that thy benefite shoulde not be as it were of necessitie, but willingly.
For happyly he therfore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receaue hym for euer:
Not nowe as a seruaunt, but aboue a seruaunt, a brother beloued, specially to me: but howe much more vnto thee, both in the fleshe, and in the Lorde?
If thou count me therfore a felowe, receaue hym as my selfe.
If he haue iniuried, or oweth [thee ought] that lay to my charge.
I Paul haue written it with myne owne hande, I wyll recompence it: Albeit, I do not say to thee, howe that thou owest vnto me euen thyne owne selfe.
Yea brother, let me enioy this pleasure of thee in the Lorde: Comfort my bowels in the Lorde.
Trustyng in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowyng, that thou wilt also do more then I say.
Moreouer, prepare me also a lodgyng: for I trust that through your prayers, I shalbe geuen vnto you.
There salute thee Epaphras, my felowe prisoner in Christe Iesus.
Marcus, Aristarcus, Demas, Lucas, my felowe labourers.
The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ [be] with your spirite. Amen.
GOd which in time past, at sundrie tymes, and in diuers maners, spake vnto the fathers in the prophetes:
Hath in these last dayes, spoken vnto vs in the sonne, whom he hath appoynted heyre of all thynges, by whom also he made the worldes.
Who beyng the bryghtnesse of the glorie, and the very image of his substaunce, vpholdyng all thynges with the worde of his power, hauing by him selfe pourged our sinnes, hath syt on the ryght hande of the maiestie on hye:
Beyng so much more excellent then the Angels, as he hath by inheritaunce obtayned a more excellent name then they.
For vnto which of the Angels sayde he at any tyme: Thou art my sonne, this day haue I begotten thee?
And agayne, I wyll be to hym a father, and he shalbe to me a sonne? And agayne, when he bryngeth in the first begotten sonne into the worlde, he saith: And let all the Angels of God worship hym.
And vnto the Angels he sayth: He maketh his Angels spirites, and his ministers a flambe of fyre.
But vnto the sonne [he sayth] Thy seate O God, [shalbe] for euer and euer: The scepter of thy kyngdome [is] a scepter of ryghteousnesse.
Thou hast loued ryghteousnesse, and hated iniquitie: Therfore God, euen thy God, hath annoynted thee with the oyle of gladnesse, aboue thy felowes.
And thou Lorde, in the begynnyng hast layde the foundation of the earth: And the heauens are the workes of thy handes:
They shall perishe, but thou endurest, and they shall waxe olde as doth a garment:
And as a vesture shalt thou folde the{m} vp, and they shalbe chaunged: but thou art the same, & thy yeres shall not fayle.
But vnto which of {th}e Angels sayde he at any tyme: Sitte on my right hande, tyll I make thyne enemies thy foote stoole?
Are they not all ministring spirites, sent foorth into ministerie for their sakes which shalbe heyres of saluation?
WHerfore we ought to geue the more earnest heede to the thynges which we haue heard, lest at any tyme we should let them slippe.
For yf the worde spoken by Angels, was stedfast: And euery transgression and disobedience receaued a iust recompense of rewarde:
Howe shall we escape, yf we neglect so great saluation? which at the first began to be preached of the Lorde, and was confirmed vnto vswarde, by them that hearde it:
God bearyng witnesse therto both with signes & wonders also, and with diuers powers and gyftes of the holy ghost, accordyng to his owne wyll.
For vnto the Anges hath he not put in subiection the worlde to come, wherof we speake.
But one in a certayne place witnessed, saying: What is man, that thou arte myndeful of hym? Or the sonne of man, that thou wouldest loke vpon hym?
Thou madest hym for a litle whyle lower then the Angels, thou hast crowned him with glorie and honour, and hast set hym aboue the workes of thy handes.
Thou hast put all thynges in subiectio{n} vnder his feete. In {tha}t he put all thinges vnder hym, he left nothyng that is not put vnder hym. But nowe, we see not yet all thynges put vnder hym.
But hym that [for a whyle] was made lesse then the Angels, we see [that it was] Iesus, who through the sufferyng of death, was crowned with glorie and honour, that he by the grace of God, shoulde taste of death for all.
For it became hym, for whom are all thynges, and by whom are all thynges, after he had brought many sonnes vnto glorie, that he shoulde make the capitayne of their saluation perfect through afflictions.
For both he that sanctifieth, and they which are sanctified, [are] all of one. For which cause, he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Saying: I wyll declare thy name vnto my brethren, in the myddes of the Churche wyll I prayse thee.
And agayne: I wyll put my trust in hym. And agayne: Beholde here am I, and the chyldren whiche God hath geuen me.
Forasmuch then as the chyldren are partakers of flesshe and blood, he also hym selfe lykewyse toke part with the{m}, that through death he myght expell hym that had lordship ouer death, that is the deuyll:
And that he myght delyuer them, which through feare of death, were all their lyfe tyme in daunger of bondage.
For he in no place taketh on hym the Angels: but the seede of Abraham taketh he on hym.
Wherfore, in all thinges it became him to be made lyke vnto his brethren, that he myght be mercyfull, and a faythfull hye priest in thynges concernyng God, for to purge the peoples sinnes.
For in that he hym selfe suffered and was tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
THerfore holy brethren, partakers of the celestiall callyng, consider the apostle and hye priest of our profession Christe Iesus,
Beyng faythfull to hym that appoynted hym, as also [was] Moyses in all his house.
For this [man] is counted worthy of more glorie then Moyses, inasmuch as he which hath buylded the house, hath more honour then the house.
For euery house is buylded of some man: But he that buylded all thynges, is God.
And Moyses veryly [was] faythfull in al his house, as a minister, for a witnesse of those thynges whiche were to be spoken after:
But Christe as a sonne [hath rule] ouer his owne house, whose house are we, yf we holde fast the confidence and the reioycyng of that hope vnto the ende.
Wherfore, as the holy ghost saith: To day yf ye wyll heare his voyce,
Harden not your heartes, as in the prouokyng, in the day of the temptation in the wyldernesse,
Where your fathers tempted me, proued me, and sawe my workes .xl. yeres.
Wherfore I was greeued with that generation, and sayde: they do alway erre in heart, they veryly haue not knowen my wayes.
So that I sware in my wrath, yf they shall enter into my rest.
Take heede brethren, lest at any tyme there be in you an euyll heart of vnbeliefe, to depart from the lyuyng God:
But exhort ye one another dayly, whyle it is called to day, lest any of you be hardened, through the deceytfulnesse of sinne.
For we are made partakers of Christe, yf we kepe sure vnto the ende the begynnyng of the substaunce,
So long as it is said: to day yf ye wyll heare his voyce, harden not your heartes, as in the prouokyng.
For some when they had hearde, dyd prouoke: howe be it, not all that came out of Egypt by Moyses.
But with whom was he displeased fourtie yeres? Not with them that had sinned, whose carkases fell in the desert?
And to who{m} sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but vnto them that were not obedient?
And we see that they coulde not enter in, because of vnbeliefe.
LEt vs feare therfore, lest at any tyme, by forsakyng the promise of entryng into his reste, any of you shoulde be defrauded.
For vnto vs was the Gospell preached, aswell as vnto them: But the worde whiche they hearde dyd not profite them, not beyng coupled with fayth to them that hearde.
For we which haue beleued, do enter into his rest, as he sayde: Euen as I haue sworne in my wrath, if they shal enter into my rest. Although the workes were made perfecte from the foundation of the worlde.
For he spake in a certayne place of the seuenth daye on this wyse: And God dyd rest the seuenth daye from all his workes.
And in this place againe: yf they shall enter into my rest.
Seing therfore it foloweth, that some must enter there into, and they to who{m} the Gospell was first preached entred not therin for vnbeliefe.
Againe, he appoynteth a certaine day, by to day, saying in Dauid after so long a tyme (as it is sayde:) To day yf ye wyl heare his voyce, harde{n} not your hearts.
For yf Iesus had geuen them reste, then woulde he not afterwarde haue spoken of another day.
There remayneth therfore yet a rest to the people of God.
For he that is entred into his rest, hath ceassed also from his owne workes, as God [dyd] from his.
Let vs studie therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same ensample of disobedience.
For the worde of God is quicke, and myghtie in operation, and sharper then any two edged sword, and entreth thorowe, euen vnto the deuydyng a sunder of the soule & the spirite, and of the ioyntes & the marie, and is a discerner of the thoughtes and of the intentes of the heart:
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in the syght of hym: But all thinges are naked and open vnto the eyes of hym of whom we speake.
Seyng then that we haue a great hye priest, which is entred into heauens, Iesus the sonne of God, let vs holde faste the confession.
For we haue not an hye priest whiche can not be touched with the feelyng of our infirmities: but was in all poyntes tempted lyke as we are, and [yet] without sinne.
Let vs therfore come boldly vnto the throne of grace, that we may obteyne mercie, and fynde grace to helpe in time of neede.
FOr euery hye priest taken from among men, is ordeined for men, in things parteynyng to God, to offer gyftes & sacrifices for sinne:
Which can sufficiently haue compassion on the ignoraunt, & on them that erre out of the waye, forasmuche as he hym selfe also is compassed with infirmitie.
And for {th}e same [infirmitie] he is bounde to offer for sinnes, aswell for hym selfe, as for the people.
And no man taketh the honour vnto hym selfe, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
Euen so, Christ also glorified not hym selfe to be made {th}e hye priest: but he that sayde vnto hym, thou art my sonne, to day haue I begotten thee [gaue it hym.]
As he saith also in another place: thou art a priest for euer, after the order of Melchisedech.
Which in the dayes of his fleshe, when he had offered vp prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares, vnto hym that was able to saue hym from death, and was hearde in that which he feared:
Though he were the sonne, yet learned he obedie{n}ce, by these thinges which he suffred:
And being perfect, was made the aucthour of eternall saluation vnto al them that obey hym:
And is called of God an hye priest after the order of Melchisedech.
Of whom we haue many thynges to say, and harde to be vttered, seing ye are dull of hearyng.
For when as concernyng the tyme, ye ought to be teachers, yet haue ye nede againe that we teache you the first principles of the begynnyng of the worde of God, and are become such as haue nede of mylke, and not of strong meate.
For euery one that vseth mylke, is vnexpert of the worde of righteousnes, for he is a babe.
But strong meate belongeth to them that are perfecte, euen those whiche by reason of vse, haue their wittes exercised to discerne both good and euyll.
THerefore leauyng the doctrine of the begynnyng of Christe, let vs go foorth vnto perfection, not laying agayne the foundatio{n} of repentaunce from dead workes, and of fayth towarde God,
Of the doctrine of baptismes, and of laying on of handes, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternall iudgement.
And this wyll I do, yf God permit.
For it can not be that they which were once lighted, and haue tasted of the heauenly gyft, and were become partakers of the holy ghost,
And haue tasted of the good worde of God, and the powers of the worlde to come:
And they fall away, shoulde be renued agayne into repentaunce, hauyng crucified to the{m} selues the sonne of God a fresshe, and made a mocke of hym.
For the earth which drynketh in the rayne that commeth oft vppon it, and bringeth foorth hearbes meete for them by whom also it is dressed, receaueth blessyng of God:
But that grounde whiche beareth thornes and bryers, is reproued, and is nye vnto cursyng, whose ende is to be burned.
Neuerthelesse, deare frendes, we haue perswaded our selues better thynges of you, and thynges whiche accompanie saluation, though we thus speake.
For God is not vnryghteous, to forget your worke & labour of loue, whiche ye haue shewed towarde his name, hauyng ministred to the saintes, and [do] minister.
Yea and we desire that euery one of you do shewe the same diligence, to the full assuraunce of hope, vnto the ende,
That ye faynt not, but be folowers of them which through fayth and pacience inherite the promises.
For when God made promise to Abraham, because he had no greater to sweare by, he sware by hym selfe,
Saying: Surely, blessyng I wyll blesse thee, and multipliyng, multiplie thee.
And so after that he had taryed paciently, he enioyed the promise.
For men veryly sweare by the greater, and an oth for confirmation, is to them an ende of all stryfe.
Wherein God wyllyng very aboundauntly to shewe vnto the heires of promise, the stablenesse of his counsayle, confirmed by an oth:
That by two immutable thynges, in whiche it was vnpossible for God to lye, we myght haue a strong consolation, which haue fledde to holde fast the hope layde before vs:
Which [hope] we holde as an ancker of the soule both sure and stedfast, and entryng in, into that thing which is within the vayle:
Whyther the forerunner is for vs entred [euen] Iesus, after the order of Melchisedech made a priest for euer.
FOr this Melchisedech kyng of Salem, priest of the most hye God, who met Abraham returnyng from the slaughter of the kynges, and blessed hym:
To whom also Abraham gaue tythe of all thynges, first being called by interpretatio{n} king of righteousnes, & after {tha}t also, kyng of Salem, which is, kyng of peace.
Without father, without mother, without kynne, hauyng neither beginnyng of dayes, neither ende of lyfe, but lykened vnto the sonne of God, and continueth a priest for euer.
Nowe consider howe great this [man] was, vnto whom also the patriarche Abraham gaue tythe of the spoyles.
And veryly they which are of the children of Leuie, which receaue the office of the priesthood, haue a commaundement to take tythe of the people accordyng to the lawe, that is, of their brethren, though they came out of {th}e loynes of Abraham.
But he whose kynrede is not counted among them, receaued tythe of Abraham, and blessed hym that had the promises.
And without all controuersie, the lesse is blessed of the better.
And here men that dye, receaue tithes: but there he [receaueth them] of whom it is witnessed that he lyueth.
And to say the trueth, Leuie also whiche receaueth tythes, payed tythes in Abraham.
For he was yet in the loynes of his father, when Melchisedech met Abraham.
If therefore perfection was by the priesthood of {th}e Leuites (For vnder that priesthood the people receaued the law) what neded it furthermore that another priest shoulde rise after the order of Melchisedech, and not to be called after the order of Aaron?
For yf the priesthood be translated, of necessitie also there is made a translation of the lawe.
For he of whom these thynges are spoken, parteyneth vnto another tribe, of which no man stoode at the aulter.
For it is euident that our Lord sprong out of Iuda, of which tribe spake Moyses nothyng concernyng priesthood:
And it is yet a farre more euide{n}t thing, yf after the similitude of Melchisedech there aryse another priest,
Which is not made after the lawe of the carnall commaundement, but after the power of the endlesse lyfe:
For he testifieth that thou art a priest for euer, after the order of Melchisedech.
For there is truely a disanulling of the commaundement goyng before, for the weakenesse and vnprofitablenesse therof.
For the lawe made nothyng perfect, but [was] the bryngyng in of a better hope, by the whiche we drawe nygh vnto God.
And in as much as that was not without an oth (For those priestes were made without an oth:
But this priest with an oth, by hym that saide vnto him: The Lord sware and wyll not repent, thou art a priest for euer, after the order of Melchisedech.)
By so much was Iesus made a suertie of a better testament.
And among them many were made priestes, because they were forbidden by death to endure.
But this man, because he endureth euer, hath an vnchaungeable priesthood.
Wherefore he is able also euer to saue them to the vttermost that come vnto God by hym, seyng he euer lyueth to make intercession for them.
For such an hye priest became vs, whiche [is] holy, harmelesse, vndefyled, seperate from sinners, and made hygher then heauens:
Whiche nedeth not dayly, as those hie priestes, to offer vp sacrifice, first for his owne sinnes, and then for the peoples: for that dyd he once, when he offered vp hym selfe.
For the lawe maketh men hye priestes which haue infirmitie: but the word of the oth which (was) after the lawe (maketh) the sonne, whiche is perfecte for euermore.
BVt of the thinges whiche we haue spoken, [this is] {th}e summe: We haue such an hye priest that sitteth on {th}e ryght hand of {th}e throne of the maiestie in the heaue{n}s,
A minister of holy thynges, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pight, and not man.
For euery hye priest is ordeyned to offer gyftes and sacrifices: Wherefore it is of necessitie, that this man haue somewhat also to offer.
For he were not a priest, yf he were on the earth, seyng there are priestes that accordyng to the lawe offer gyftes,
Who serue vnto the example and shadowe of heauenly thinges, as Moyses was admonished of God, when he was about to finishe the tabernacle: For see, saith he, that thou make all thynges accordyng to the patterne shewed to thee in the mount.
But nowe hath he obteyned a more excellent office, by howe much also he is the mediatour of a better couenaunt, whiche was confirmed in better promises.
For yf that first [couenaunt] had ben founde fautlesse, then shoulde no place haue ben sought for the seconde.
For in rebukyng them, he saith: Beholde the dayes come, saith the Lord, and I wyll finishe vppon the house of Israel and vppon the house of Iuda a newe couenaunt:
Not lyke that that I made with their fathers, in the day when I toke them by the hande, to leade them out of the lande of Egypt: because they continued not in my couenaunt, and I regarded them not, saith the Lorde.
For this is the couenaunt that I wyll make with the house of Israel after those dayes, saith the Lord, geuyng my lawes into their mynde, and in their heart I wyl write them, and I wyll be to them a God, and they shalbe to me a people.
And they shall not teach euery man his neyghbour, and euery man his brother, saying, knowe the Lorde: for all shall knowe me, from the litle of them to the great of them.
For I wyll be mercyfull to their vnrighteousnes, and their sinnes and their iniquities wyll I thynke vpon no more.
In that he sayth a newe [couenaunt] he hath worne out the first: For that which is worne out and waxed olde, is redie to vanishe away.
THe first couenaunt then had verylye iustifiyng ordinaunces, seruinges of God, and worldlye holynesse.
For there was a fore tabernacle made, wherein was the lyght, and the table, and the shewe bread, whiche is called holy.
But after the seconde vayle [was] a tabernacle, which is called holyest of al:
Which had the golden senser, and the arke of the couenaunt ouerlaide rounde about with golde, wherin was the golden pot hauyng Manna, and Aarons rodde that had budded, and the tables of the couenaunt:
And ouer it, the Cherubins of glorie, shadowyng the mercie seate: Of which thynges we can not nowe speake particulerlie.
When these thynges were thus ordeyned, the priestes went alwayes into the first tabernacle, accomplishyng the seruice of God.
But into {th}e seconde (went) the hye priest alone once euery yere, not without blood, which he offered for hym selfe, & for the ignorauncies of the people.
The holy ghost this signifiyng, that the waye of holy thinges was not yet opened, whyle as yet the first tabernacle was standyng:
Whiche (was) a similitude for the tyme then prese{n}t, in which were offred giftes and sacrifices, that coulde not make the worshipper perfect as parteining to the conscience,
With only meates and drynkes, and diuers wasshynges, and iustifiynges of the flesshe, which were layde vp vntyll the tyme of reformation.
But Christe beyng come an hye priest of good thynges that shoulde be, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with handes, that is to say, not of this buyldyng,
Neither by the blood of Goates and Calues: but by his owne blood he entred in once into the holy place, & founde eternall redemption.
For if the blood of Oxen & of Goates, and the asshes of a young Cowe, sprinklyng the vncleane, sanctifieth to the purifiyng of the flesshe:
Howe much more the blood of Christe, which through the eternall spirite offered hym selfe without spot to God, shall purge your conscience fro{m} dead workes, to serue the lyuyng God?
And for this cause is he the mediatour of the newe couenaunt, that through death, which was for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] vnder the first couenaunt, they whiche are called myght receaue the promise of eternall inheritaunce.
For where as is a testament, there must also of necessitie be the death of him that maketh it.
For a testament is confirmed when men are dead: for it is yet of no value, as long as he that maketh the testame{n}t is alyue.
For which cause also, neither the firste [testament• was dedicated without blood.
For when Moyses had spoken euery precept to all the people according to the lawe, takyng the blood of Calues and of Goates, with water & purple wooll and ysope, he sprynkled both the booke it selfe, and all the people,
Saying: This [is] the blood of the testament, whiche God hath enioyned vnto you.
And lykewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministerie.
And almost all thynges are by {th}e lawe pourged with blood, and without sheddyng of blood is no remission.
It is neede then that the paterne of heauenly thynges, be purified with such thynges: but the heauenly thynges the{m} selues (be purified) with better sacrifices then are those.
For Christe is not entred into the holy places made with handes (which are) paternes of true thynges: but into heauen it selfe, nowe to appeare in the syght of God for vs.
Not that he shoulde offer him selfe often, as the hye priest entreth into the holy places euery yere in strau{n}ge blood:
(For then must he haue often suffred sence the foundation of the worlde) But nowe once in the ende of the world hath he appeared, to put away sinne, by the sacrifice of hym selfe.
And as it is appoynted vnto men once to dye, and after this the iudgement:
Euen so, Christe once offered to take away the sinnes of many, the seconde time shalbe seene without sinne, of them which wayte for hym vnto saluation.
FOr the lawe, hauyng the shadow of good thynges to come, and not the very fashion of the thinges the{m} selues, can neuer with those sacrifices whiche they offer yere by yere continually, make the commers therevnto perfect.
For woulde not then those [sacrifices] haue ceassed to haue ben offred, because that the offerers once pourged, shoulde haue had no more conscience of sinnes?
Neuerthelesse, in those (sacrifices) is mention made of sinnes euery yere.
For it is not possible that the blood of Bulles & of Goates shoulde take away sinnes.
Wherfore when he commeth into the worlde, he saith: Sacrifice and offring thou wouldest not haue, but a body hast thou ordeyned me.
In burnt sacrifices & sinne •offerynges) thou hast had no pleasure.
Then sayde I, lo I come (In the begynnyng of the booke it is written of me) to do thy wyll O God.
Aboue when he saith, that sacrifice, and offeryng, and burnt offeringes, and sinne [offerynges] thou wouldest not, neither haddest pleasure [therein] (which are offered by the lawe:)
Then sayde he, lo I come, to do thy wyll, O God. He taketh away {th}e first to stablyshe the seconde.
In {th}e which wyll we are made holy, euen by the offeryng of the body of Iesus Christe once for all.
And euery priest standeth dayly ministryng, & offeryng oftentymes the same sacrifices, whiche can neuer take away sinnes.
But this man, after he hath offered one sacrifice for sinnes, is sit downe for euer on the ryght hande of God:
From hencefoorth tarying tyl his foes be made his footstoole.
For with one offeryng hath he made perfite for euer them that are sanctified.
And the holy ghost also beareth vs recorde: For after that he tolde before,
This is the couenaunt that I wyll make vnto them after those dayes, (sayth the Lorde) geuyng my lawes in their heart, and in their myndes wyl I write them:
And their sinnes and iniquities wyll I remember no more.
And where remission of these thinges [is] there [is] no more offering for sinne.
Hauyng therefore brethren, libertie to enter into holy [places] in the blood of Iesus,
By the new and lyuing way, which he hath prepared for vs through the vayle, that is to say his flesshe:
And [seyng we haue] an hye priest ouer the house of God:
Let vs drawe nye with a true hearte, in assuraunce of fayth, sprinkeled in our heartes from an euyll conscience, and wasshed in body with pure water.
Let vs holde the profession of the hope without waueryng, (for he is faythfull that promised:)
And let vs consider one another to prouoke vnto loue and good workes,
Not forsakyng the assemblyng of our selues together, as the maner of some [is] but exhortyng one •another• and so much the more, as ye see the day approchyng.
For yf we sinne wyllyngly after that we haue receaued the knowledge of the trueth, there remayneth no more sacrifice for sinnes:
But a fearefull lokyng for of iudgement, and violent fire, whiche shall deuour the aduersaries.
He that despiseth Moyses lawe, dyeth without mercie vnder two or thre witnesses:
Of howe muche sorer punyshement (suppose ye) shall he be worthy, whiche treadeth vnder foote the sonne of God? and counteth the blood of the couenau{n}t wherein he was sanctified, an vnholye thyng, and doth despite to the spirite of grace?
For we knowe hym that hath sayde, vengeaunce [belongeth] vnto me, I wyl render saith the Lorde: And agayne, the Lorde shall iudge his people.
It is a fearefull thyng to fall into the handes of the lyuyng God.
Call to reme{m}braunce the former dayes, in the which after ye had receaued light ye endured a great fyght of aduersities:
Partly whyle ye were made a gasing stocke, both by reproches & afflictions, and partly whyle ye became companions of them whiche were so tossed to & fro.
For ye suffred also with my bondes, & toke in woorth the spoylyng of your goodes with gladnesse: knowyng in your selues how that ye haue in heauen a better and an enduryng substaunce.
Cast not awaye therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of rewarde.
For ye haue neede of pacience, that after ye haue done the wyll of God, ye myght receaue the promise.
For yet a very litle whyle, and he that shall come, wyll come, and wyll not tary.
And the iuste shall lyue by fayth: And yf he withdrawe hym selfe, my soule shall haue no pleasure in hym.
We are not of them that withdrawe our selues vnto perdition: but we parteyne vnto fayth, to the wynning of the soule.
FAyth is the grounde of thynges hoped for, the euidence of thynges not seene.
For by it, the elders obtayned a good report.
Through fayth, we vnderstande that the worldes were ordeined by the word of God, and that thynges whiche are seene, were made of thynges whiche were not seene.
By fayth Abel offered vnto God a more excellent sacrifice then Cain: by whiche he was witnessed to be ryghteous, God testifiyng of his gyftes: by which also he beyng dead, yet speaketh.
By fayth was Enoch translated, that he shoulde not see death, neither was he founde, for God had taken hym away: For afore he was taken away, he was reported of to haue pleased God.
But without fayth it is vnpossible to please hym: For he that co{m}meth to God, must beleue that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seeke him.
By fayth Noe beyng warned of God of thinges not seene as yet, moued with reuerence, prepared the arke to the sauyng of his house, through the whiche [arke] he condempned the worlde, and became heire of the righteousnes which is by fayth.
By fayth Abraham when he was called, obeyed, to go out into a place whiche he shoulde afterwarde receaue to inheritaunce: and he went out, not knowyng whyther he shoulde go.
By fayth he remoued into the lande of promise, as into a straunge countrey, whe{n} he had dwelt in tabernacles, with Isaac and Iacob, heires with hym of the same promise:
For he loked for a citie hauyng a foundation, whose buylder and maker is God.
Through fayth also Sara her selfe receaued strength to conceaue seede, and was delyuered of a chylde whe{n} she was past age, because she iudged hym faythfull which had promised.
And therfore sprang there of one, euen of one whiche was as good as dead [so many] in multitude, as are the starres in the skye, and as the sande the whiche is by the sea shore innumerable.
These all dyed according to fayth, not hauing receaued the promises, but seing them a farre of, and beleuyng, and salutyng, and confessyng that they were straungers and pilgrimes on the earth.
For they that saye suche thynges, declare that they seke a countrey.
Also yf they had ben myndfull of that [countrey] from whence they came out, they had leasure to haue returned:
But nowe they desire a better, that is, a heauenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a citie.
By fayth Abraham offered vp Isaac when he was proued: and he that had receaued the promises, offered vp his only begotten sonne:
To whom it was saide, that in Isaac shall thy seede be called.
For he considered that God was able to rayse the dead vp agayne, fro{m} whence also he receaued hym in a similitude [of the resurrection.]
By fayth did Isaac blesse Iacob and Esau, concernyng thynges to come.
By fayth Iacob when he was a dying, blessed both the sonnes of Ioseph, and worshypped towarde the toppe of his scepter.
By fayth Ioseph when he dyed, remembred the departyng of the chyldren of Israel, and gaue commaundement of his bones.
By fayth Moyses whe{n} he was borne, was hyd three monethes of his father and mother, because they sawe he was a proper chylde, neither feared they the kynges commaundement.
By fayth Moyses when he was great, refused to be called the sonne of Pharaos daughter:
Chosyng rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of God, then to enioye the pleasures of sinne for a season:
Esteemyng the rebuke of Christ, greater riches, then the treasures of Egypt: For he had respect vnto the recompence of the rewarde.
By fayth he forsoke Egypt, fearyng not the wrath of the kyng: For he endured, euen as though he had seene him which is inuisible.
Through fayth, he ordeyned the Passouer and the effusion of blood, lest he that destroyed the first borne, shoulde touche them.
By fayth, they passed through the redde sea, as by drye lande: which the Egyptians assaying to do, were drowned.
By fayth, the walles of Iericho fell downe, after they were compassed about seuen dayes.
By fayth, the harlot Rahab perished not with them that were disobedient, when she had receaued the spyes with peace.
And what shall I more say? for the tyme woulde fayle me, to rehearse of Gedeon, of Barac, and of Sampson, and of Iephte, of Dauid also and Samuel, and of the prophetes:
Which through faith subdued kingdomes, wrought righteousnesse, obteyned the promises, stopped the mouthes of the Lions,
Quenched the violence of fyre, escaped the edge of the sworde, out of weakenesse were made strong, waxed valiant in fyght, turned to flyght the armies of the aliantes.
The women receaued their dead, raysed to lyfe agayne: Other were racked, not lokyng for deliueraunce, that they might receaue a better resurrectio{n}.
And others were tryed with mockynges, and scourgynges: Yea, moreouer with bondes and prisonment:
They were stoned, were hewen asunder, were tempted, were slaine with sword, wandred about in sheepskinnes, and goates skinnes, beyng destitute, afflicted [and] tormented:
Of who{m} the worlde was not worthie: They wandred in wildernesse, and in mountaynes, and in dennes, and caues of the earth.
And these all through fayth, obteyned good report, and receaued not the promise:
God prouidyng a better thyng for vs, that they without vs shoulde not be made perfect.
WHerfore, seyng that we are compassed with so great a cloude of witnesses, lay away all that presseth downe, & the sinne that hangeth so fast on, let vs run with patience vnto the battayle that is set before vs:
Lokyng vnto Iesus, the captayne and finissher of our fayth, which for the ioy that was set before hym, endured the crosse, hauyng dispised the shame, and is set downe on the ryght hande of the throne of God.
Consider therfore hym that endured such speakyng agaynst hym of sinners, lest you shoulde be weryed, fayntyng in your myndes.
Ye haue not yet resisted vnto blood, stryuyng agaynst sinne.
And ye haue forgotten the exhortatio{n}, which speaketh vnto you as vnto chyldren: My sonne despise not thou the chastenyng of the Lorde, neither faynt when thou art rebuked of hym:
For whom the Lord loueth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth euery sonne that he receaueth.
If ye endure chastenyng, God offereth him selfe as vnto sonnes: For what sonne is he whom the father chasteneth not?
But yf ye be without chastisment, wherof all are partakers, then are ye bastardes, and not sonnes.
Furthermore, we haue had fathers of our fleshe, which corrected vs, and we gaue them reuerence: Shall we not then much rather be in subiection vnto the father of spirites, and lyue?
For they veryly, for a fewe dayes, chastened vs after their owne pleasure: but he, for our profite, that we myght be partakers of his holynesse.
No chastisyng for the present seemeth to be ioyous, but greeuous: Neuerthelesse, afterwarde it bryngeth the quiet fruite of ryghteousnesse, vnto the{m} which are exercised therby.
Strayghten vp therfore the handes which were let downe, and the weake knees:
And make ryght steppes vnto your feete, lest that which is haltyng, turne you out of the way: but let it rather be healed.
Folowe peace with all men, and holynesse, without the which, no man shall see the Lorde:
Takyng heede that no man fall away from the grace of God, lest any roote of bitternesse spryngyng vp, trouble you, and therby many be defyled.
Let there be no fornicator or vncleane person, as Esau, which for one morsell of meate, solde his birthryght.
For ye knowe, howe that afterwarde when he woulde haue inherited the blessyng, he was reprobated: For he founde no place of repentaunce, though he sought it with teares.
For ye are not come vnto the mount that is touched, & vnto burnyng fyre, and vnto storme and darkenesse, and tempestes of weather,
And sounde of a trompe, & the voyce of wordes: which [voyce] they that heard it, wisshed away, that the worde should not be spoken to them:
(For they dyd not abyde that which was commaunded. If a beast touche the mountaine, it shalbe stoned, or thrust through with a darte.
And so terrible was the syght which appeared, that Moyses sayde, I feare and quake.)
But ye are come vnto {th}e mount Sion, and to the citie of the lyuyng God, the celestiall Hierusalem, and to an innumerable companie of Angels,
And vnto the congregation of the first borne, written in heauen, and to God the iudge of all, and to the spirites of iust and perfect men:
And to Iesus the mediatour of the newe couenaunt, and to the blood of sprinklyng, that speaketh better then that of Abel.
See that ye despise not hym that speaketh: For yf they escaped not, which refused hym that spake on earth: much more shall we [not escape] yf we turne away from hym that [speaketh] from heauen:
Whose voyce then shoke the earth, & nowe hath declared, saying: Yet once more wyll I shake, not the earth only, but also heauen.
And this [yet once more] signifieth remouyng of those thynges which are shaken, as of thynges which are made: that the thynges which are not shaken, may remayne.
Wherfore, we receauyng a kingdome which can not be moued, let vs haue grace, wherby we may so serue God acceptablie, with reuerence & godly feare.
For our God [is] a consumyng fyre.
LEt brotherly loue continue.
Be not forgetfull to lodge straungers: For therby some hauyng lodged Angels, were vnawares therof.
Remember them that are in bondes, as bounde with them: And them which suffer aduersitie, as also ye your selues beyng in the body [suffered aduersitie].
Wedlocke is honorable among all men, and the bed vndefiled: But whoremongers and adulterers God wyll iudge.
Let your conuersation be without couetousnesse, beyng content with such thynges as ye haue. For he hath sayde: I wyll not fayle thee, neither forsake thee.
So that we may boldely saye, the Lorde is my helper, and I wyll not feare what man may do vnto me.
Remember them which haue the ouersyght of you, which haue spoken vnto you the worde of God: Whose ende of conuersation ye consideryng, folowe their fayth.
Iesus Christe yesterday and to day, and the same for euer.
Be not caryed about with diuers & strange doctrines: For it is a good thing that the heart be stablisshed with grace, & not with meates, which haue not profited the{m} that haue ben occupied therin.
We haue an aulter, wherof they haue no ryght to eate which serue in the tabernacle.
For the bodyes of those beastes whose blood is brought into the holy place by the hie priest for sinne, are burnt without the tentes.
Therfore Iesus also, that he myght sanctifie {th}e people with his owne blood, suffered without the gate.
Let vs go foorth therfore vnto hym out of the tentes, bearyng his reproche.
For here haue we no continuyng citie: but we seke one to come.
By hym therfore, do we offer sacrifice of laude alwayes to God: that is, the fruite of lippes confessyng his name.
To do good & to distribute forget not, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Obey them that haue the ouersight of you, and submit your selues: for they watche for your soules, as they that must geue accomptes, that they may do it with ioy, and not with griefe: for that is vnprofitable for you.
Pray for vs: For we trust we haue a good conscience, in all thynges wyllyng to lyue honestlie.
But I desire you the more earnestlie that ye so do, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
The God of peace, that brought agayne from the dead our Lorde Iesus the great sheephearde of the sheepe, through the blood of the euerlastyng couenaunt,
Make you perfect in all good workes to do his wyll, workyng in you that which is pleasaunt in his sight, through Iesus Christe, to whom be prayse for euer and euer. Amen.
And I beseche you brethren, suffer the worde of exhortation: for I haue written vnto you in fewe wordes.
Knowe ye, that brother Timothe is delyuered: With whom (yf he come shortly) I wyll see you.
Salute all them that haue the ouersight of you, and all the saintes. They of Italie salute you.
Grace be with you all. Amen.
IAmes a seruaunt of God, and of the lorde Iesus Christ, to {th}e twelue tribes which are scattred abroade, greetyng.
My brethren, count it all ioy whe{n} ye fall into diuers temptations:
Knowyng (this) that the trying of your fayth worketh patience:
And let patience haue [her] perfect worke, that ye may be perfect & sounde, lackyng nothyng.
If any of you lacke wisdome, let him aske of God, that geueth to all men indifferentlie, and casteth no man in the teeth: and it shalbe geuen hym.
But let hym aske in fayth, nothyng waueryng: For he that wauereth, is like a waue of the sea, tost of the wynde, and caryed with violence.
Neither let that man thynke that he shall receaue any thyng of the Lorde.
A double mynded man, [is] vnstable in all his wayes.
Let the brother of lowe degree, reioyce in that he is exalted:
Agayne, the riche, •n that he is made lowe: Because as the flowre of the grasse he shall passe away.
For the sunne hath rysen with heate, and the grasse hath withered, and his flowre hath fallen away, & the beautie of the fashion of it hath perished: So also shall the ryche man fade away in his wayes.
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: For when he is tryed, he shall receaue the crowne of lyfe, which the Lorde hath promised to them that loue hym.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God can not be tempted with euyl, neither tempteth he any man:
But euery man is tempted, when he is drawen away, & entised of his owne concupiscence.
Then, when lust hath conceaued, it bryngeth foorth sinne: and sinne when it is finished, bryngeth foorth death.
Do not erre my deare brethren.
Euery good geuyng, and euery perfect gyft is from aboue, and co{m}meth downe from the father of lyghtes, with who{m} is no variablenes, neither shadow of turnyng.
Of his owne wyll begat he vs with the worde of trueth, that we shoulde be the first fruites of his creatures.
Wherfore my deare brethre{n}, let euery man be swyft to heare, slowe to speake, slowe to wrath.
For the wrath of man, worketh not that which is ryghteous before God.
Wherfore, lay apart all filthinesse, and superfluitie of maliciousnes, and receaue with mekenesse, the worde that is graffed in you, which is able to saue your soules.
And be ye doers of the worde, and not hearers only, deceauyng your owne selues.
For yf any be a hearer of the worde, and not a doer, he is lyke vnto a man beholdyng his bodyly face in a glasse:
For he hath considered hym selfe, and is gone his wayes, & hath forgotten immediatly what his fashion was.
But who so loketh in the perfect lawe of libertie, and continueth [therin] he being not a forgetfull hearer, but a doer of the worke, shalbe blessed in his deede.
If any man among you seeme to be deuout, and refrayneth not his tongue, but deceaueth his owne heart, this mans deuotion is vayne.
Pure deuotion and vndefyled before God and the father, is this: To visite the fatherlesse and widdowes in their aduersitie, and to kepe hym selfe vnspotted of the worlde.
MY brethren, haue not the fayth of our Lorde Iesus Christe, the Lord of glorie, with respect of persons.
For yf there come into your companie a man wearing a golde ryng, clothed in goodly apparell, and there come in also a poore man in vile rayment:
And ye haue a respect to hym that weareth the gay clothyng, and say vnto hym, sitte thou here in a good place: & say vnto the poore, stande thou there, or sitte here vnder my footestoole:
Are ye not partiall in your selues, and are made iudges of euyll thoughtes?
Hearken my deare beloued brethren. Hath not God chosen the poore of this worlde, such as are riche in fayth, and heyres of the kyngdome, which he promised to them that loue hym?
But ye haue despised the poore. Do not riche men oppresse you by tirannie, and drawe you before the iudgementes seates?
Do not they blaspheme that good name by the which you are named?
If ye fulfyll the royal lawe, according to the scripture, thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe, ye do well:
But yf ye regarde one person more then another, ye commit sinne, and are rebuked of the lawe, as transgressours.
Whosoeuer shal kepe the whole lawe, and yet fayle in one poynt, he is gyltie of all.
For he that sayde, thou shalt not commit adulterie: sayde also, thou shalt not kyll. Though thou do none adulterie, yet yf thou kyll, thou art become a transgressour of the lawe.
So speake ye, and so do, as they that shalbe iudged by the lawe of libertie.
For he shall haue iudgement without mercie, that sheweth no mercie: And mercie reioyceth agaynst iudgement.
What profiteth it my brethren, though a man say he hath fayth, and hath not deedes? Can fayth saue hym?
If a brother or a sister be naked, and destitute of dayly foode,
And one of you say vnto them, depart in peace, be you warmed and fylled: notwithstandyng, ye geue them not those thinges which are nedefull to the body, what shall it profite?
Euen so, fayth, yf it haue not deedes, is dead in it selfe:
But some man wyll say, thou hast fayth and I haue deedes: shewe me thy fayth by thy deedes, and I wyll shewe thee my faith by my deedes.
Beleuest thou that there is one God? Thou doest well. The deuyls also beleue, and tremble.
But wylt thou knowe, O thou vayne man, that that fayth which is without workes, is dead?
Was not Abraham our father iustified through workes, when he had offered Isaac his sonne vpon the aulter?
Seest thou not, howe {th}e faith wrought with his deedes, and through {th}e deedes was the fayth made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfylled, which sayth: Abraham beleued God, and it was reputed vnto hym for ryghteousnesse: And he was called the friende of God.
Ye see then, howe that of deedes a man is iustified, and not of fayth only.
Lykewyse also, was not Rahab the harlot iustified through workes, when she had receaued the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirite is dead: euen so, fayth without workes, is dead [also]
MY brethren, be not mame maisters, knowyng howe that we shall receaue the greater damnation:
For in many thynges we sinne all. If a man sinne not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle all the body.
Beholde, we put bittes in the horses mouthes, that they may obey vs, and we turne about all the body of them:
Beholde also {th}e shippes, which though they be so great, and are dryuen of fierce windes, yet are they turned about with a very small helme, whither soeuer the violence of the gouernour wyll.
Euen so the tongue is a litle member also, & boasteth great thynges. Beholde how great a matter a litle fire kindleth.
And the tongue is fyre, euen a worlde of wickednesse. So is the tongue set among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fyre the course of nature, & it is set on fyre of hell.
All the natures of beastes, & of byrdes, and of serpentes, and thynges of the sea, are meeked and tamed of the nature of man:
But the tongue can no man tame, it is an vnruly euyll, full of deadly poyson.
Therwith blesse we God the father: and therwith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Out of one mouth proceadeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these thynges ought not so to be.
Doth a fountayne sende foorth at one place, sweete water, and bitter also?
Can the fygge tree, my brethren, beare oliue beries? either a vine beare figges? So can no fountayne geue both salt water and freshe also.
Who is a wise man, and endued with knoweledge among you? let him shewe his workes out of good conuersation with mekenesse of wisdome.
But yf ye haue bitter enuiyng & strife in your hearte, glorie not, neither be lyers agaynst the trueth.
For such wisdome descendeth not fro{m} aboue: but is earthlie, sensuall, and deuelishe.
For where enuiyng and strife is, there is sedition & all maner of euyll workes.
But the wisdome that is from aboue, is first pure, then peaseable, gentle, and easie to be entreated, full of mercie and good fruites, without iudgyng, without simulation:
Yea, and the fruite of ryghteousnes is sowen in peace, of the{m} that make peace.
FRom whence co{m}meth warre and fightyng among you? come they not here hence, euen of your lustes that fight in your members?
Ye lust, and haue not: Ye enuie, and haue indignation, and can not obtayne: Ye fyght and warre, ye haue not, because ye aske not.
Ye aske and receaue not, because ye aske amisse, euen to consume it vpon your lustes.
Ye adulterers & adultresses, knowe you not howe that the frendship of the world is enmitie with God? Whosoeuer therfore wylbe a friende of the worlde, is made the enemie of God.
Either do ye thynke that the scripture sayth in vayne, the spirite that dwelleth in vs, lusteth after enuie?
But [the scripture] offereth more grace, and therefore sayth, God resisteth the proude, but geueth grace vnto {th}e lowlie.
Submit your selues therfore to God: but resist the deuyll, and he wyll flee from you.
Drawe nye to God, and he wyll drawe nye to you. Clense your handes ye sinners, and purifie your heartes ye double mynded.
Suffer afflictions, and mourne, and weepe: Let your laughter be turned to mournyng, and your ioy to heauinesse.
Humble your selues in the sight of the Lorde, and he shall lyft you vp.
Backbite not one another brethren. He that backbiteth his brother, and he that iudgeth his brother, backbiteth {th}e lawe, and iudgeth the lawe: But and yf thou iudge the lawe, thou art not an obseruer of the lawe, but a iudge.
There is one lawe geuer, which is able to saue and to destroy. What art thou that iudgest another?
Go to nowe ye that say, to day and to morowe let vs go into such a citie, and continue there a yere, and bye and sell, and wynne:
And yet can not ye tel what shall happen on the morowe. For what thyng is your lyfe? It is euen a vapour, that appeareth for a litle tyme, and then he vanisheth away.
For that ye ought to say: If the Lorde wyll, and yf we lyue, let vs do this or that.
But now ye reioyce in your boastinges: All such reioycyng is euyll.
Therfore to hym that knoweth howe to do good, and doth it not, to hym it is sinne.
GO to nowe ye riche men, weepe and howle on your wretchednesse that shall come vpon you.
Your riches is corrupt, your garmentes are motheaten:
Your golde and siluer is cankred, and the rust of them shalbe a witnesse agaynst you, and shall eate your fleshe as it were fyre. Ye haue heaped treasure together in your last dayes.
Beholde, the hire of labourers, which haue reaped downe your fieldes, which hire is of you kept backe by fraude, cryeth: and the cryes of them which haue reaped, are entred into the eares of the Lorde Sabaoth.
Ye haue liued in pleasure on the earth, and ben wanton: Ye haue nourisshed your heartes, as in a day of slaughter.
Ye haue condempned and kylled the iust, and he hath not resisted you.
Be patient therfore brethren, vnto the commyng of the Lorde. Beholde, the husbandman wayteth for the precious fruite of the earth, and hath long patience thervpon, vntill he receaue the early and the later rayne.
Be ye also patient therfore, and settle your heartes, for the commyng of the Lorde draweth nye.
Grudge not one agaynst another brethren, lest ye be dampned: Beholde, the iudge standeth before the doore.
Take my brethren, the prophetes for an ensample of suffering aduersitie, and of patience, which spake in the name of the Lorde.
Beholde, we count the{m} happy which endure. Ye haue hearde of the patience of Iob, and haue knowen what ende the Lorde made: For the Lorde is very pitifull and mercifull.
But aboue all thynges my brethren, sweare not, neither by heauen, neither by earth, neither any other othe: Let your yea, be yea, and your nay nay, lest you fall into condempnation.
Is any among you afflicted? let hym pray. Is any mery? let him sing psalmes.
Is any diseased among you? let hym call for the elders of the Churche, and let them pray for him, and annoynt him with oyle in the name of the Lorde:
And the prayer of fayth shall saue the sicke, and the Lorde shall raise him vp: and yf he haue committed sinnes, they shalbe forgeuen hym.
Knowledge your faultes one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed: For {th}e feruent prayer of a ryghteous man auayleth much.
Elias was a man vnder infirmities euen as we are, and he prayed in his prayer that it myght not rayne: and it rayned not on the earth by the space of three yeres and sixe monethes.
And he prayed againe, and the heauen gaue rayne, & the earth brought foorth her fruite.
Brethren, yf any of you do erre from the trueth, and another conuert hym,
Let the same knowe, that he which conuerteth the sinner from going astray out of his way, shall saue a soule from death, and shall hyde the multitude of sinnes.
PEter, an Apostle of Iesus Christ, to them that dwell here and there as straungers, throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia:
Elect accordyng to the foreknoweledge of God the father, vnto the sanctifiyng of the spirite, through obedience & sprinklyng of {th}e blood of Iesus Christ: Grace & peace be multiplied vnto you.
Blessed be God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe, which accordyng to his aboundaunt mercie begat vs agayne vnto a lyuely hope, by that that Iesus Christe rose agayne from death,
To and inheritaunce immortall, and vndefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserued in heauen for you,
Which are kept by the power of God through fayth vnto saluation, which is prepared alredie to be shewed in the last tyme.
In the which ye reioyce, though nowe for a season •yf nede require ye are in heauinesse through manifolde temptations:
That the triall of your fayth, beyng much more precious then golde that perisheth, though it be tried with fyre, myght be founde vnto laude, glorie, and honour, at the appearyng of Iesus Christe,
Whom ye haue not seene, and yet loue hym, in whom euen nowe though ye see hym not, yet do you beleue, & reioyce with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious:
Receauyng the ende of your fayth, euen the saluation of your soules.
Of which saluation haue {th}e prophetes enquired & searched, which prophesied of the grace that should come vnto you:
Searchyng when or at what tyme the spirite of Christ which was in them, shoulde signifie, which spirite testified before, the passions that should happen vnto Christe, and the glorie that shoulde folowe after.
Vnto which prophetes it was also declared, that not vnto them selues, but vnto vs, they shoulde minister {th}e thinges which are nowe shewed vnto you of them, which by the holy ghost sent downe from heauen, haue in the Gospell preached vnto you, the thynges which the Angels desire to beholde.
Wherfore girde vp the loynes of your mynde, be sober, and trust perfectly on the grace that is brought vnto you, by the reuelation of Iesus Christe:
As obedient chyldren, not fashionyng your selues vnto the former lustes of your ignoraunce:
But as he which called you is holy, euen so be ye holy also in all maner of conuersation:
Because it is written, be ye holy, for I am holy.
And yf so be that ye call on the father, which without respect of person iudgeeth accordyng to euery mans worke, see that ye passe the tyme of your dwellyng here, in feare:
Forasmuch as ye knowe, howe that ye were not redeemed with corruptible thynges, as siluer and golde, from your vayne conuersation which ye receaued by the tradition of the fathers:
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lambe vndefiled, & without spot:
Which was ordeyned beforehande, euen before the worlde was made, but was declared in the last tymes for your sakes:
Which by his meanes do beleue on God that raysed hym vp from death, and glorified hym, that ye might haue fayth and hope towarde God:
Euen ye which haue purified your soules through the spirite in obeying the trueth, with brotherly loue vnfayned, see that ye loue one another with a pure heart feruentlye:
For ye are borne a newe, not of mortal seede: but of immortal, by the worde of God, which lyueth and lasteth for euer.
For all fleshe is as grasse, and all the glorie of man, is as the flowre of grasse. The grasse withereth, and the flowre falleth away:
But the worde of the Lorde endureth euer. And this is the worde, which by the Gospell was preached vnto you.
WHerefore lay asyde all maliciousnesse, and all guile, and faynednesse, and enuie, and all backbityng,
And as newe borne babes, desire ye {th}e milke of the worde, which is without deceipt: that ye may growe therby [vnto saluatio{n}]
If so be that ye haue tasted howe gratious the Lorde is:
To whom ye come, as vnto a lyuyng stone, disalowed of men, but chosen of God and precious:
And ye as lyuely stones, be you made a spirituall house, an holy priesthood, for to offer vp spirituall sacrifices, acceptable to God by Iesus Christe.
Wherefore it is conteyned also in the scripture: beholde, I put in Sion a stone to be laide in the chiefe corner, elect and precious, and he that beleueth on hym, shall not be confounded.
Vnto you therfore which beleue, he is precious: but vnto them whiche beleue not, the stone which the buylders refused, the same is made the head of the corner:
And a stone that men stumble at, and a rocke wherat they be offended, whiche stumble at the worde, and beyng disobedient, vnto the whiche thing they were euen ordeyned.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royall priesthood, an holy nation, a peculier people: that ye should shewe foorth the vertues of hym that called you out of darknesse into his marueylous lyght.
Which in time past were not a people, but are nowe the people of God: which sometime had not obteyned mercy, but nowe haue obteyned mercy.
Dearely beloued, I beseche you as strau{n}gers and pilgrimes, abstaine from fleshly lustes, whiche fight agaynst the soule:
And see that ye haue honest conuersation among the gentiles: that where as they backbite you as euyll doers, they may by your good workes whiche they shall see, prayse God in the day of visitation.
Submit your selues therfore vnto al maner ordinaunce of ma{n} for the Lordes sake: whether it be vnto the king, as hauyng the preeminence:
Other vnto rulers, as vnto them that are sent of hym for the punyshment of euyll doers, but for the lande of them that do well.
For so is the wyll of God, that with well doyng, ye may stoppe the mouthes of foolishe and ignoraunt men:
As free, and not as hauyng the libertie for a cloke of maliciousnes, but euen as the seruauntes of God.
Honour all men. Loue brotherly felowship. Feare God. Honour the kyng.
Seruauntes, obey your maisters with all feare, not only yf they be good & curteous, but also though they be frowarde.
For it is thanke worthy, yf a man for co{n}science toward god, endure griefe, and suffer wrong vndeserued.
For what prayse is it, yf when ye be buffeted for your faultes, ye take it paciently? But yf when ye do well ye suffer wrong, & take it paciently, then is there thanke with God.
For herevnto veryly were ye called, for Christe also suffered for vs, leauyng vs an ensample, that ye should folowe his steppes.
Which did no sinne, neyther was there guyle founde in his mouth.
Whiche when he was reuiled, reuiled not agayne: when he suffred, he threatned not, but committed the vengeaunce to him that iudgeth righteously.
Which his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the tree, that we beyng deliuered from sinne, shoulde liue vnto ryghteousnes: By whose strypes ye were healed.
For ye were as sheepe goyng astray: but are nowe turned vnto the sheephearde and Byshop of your soules.
LIkewise ye wyues, be in subiectio{n} to your husbandes, that euen they whiche obey not the word, may without the word, be wonne by the co{n}uersation of {th}e wiues,
Whyle they beholde your chaste conuersation coupled with feare.
Whose apparel shal not be outward with brayded heere, & hanging on of gold, eyther in putting on of gorgeous apparel.
But let the hid man whiche is in the heart, be without all corruption, so that the spirite be at rest and quiet, whiche [spirite] is before god a thing much set by.
For after this maner in the olde tyme dyd the holy women, whiche trusted in God, tyre them selues, and were obedient vnto theyr husbandes.
Euen as Sara obeyed Abraham, and called hym Lorde, whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well, and are not afrayde for any terrour.
Lykewyse ye husbandes dwell with them accordyng to knowledge, geuyng honour vnto the wyfe, as vnto the weaker vessell, and as vnto them that are heires also of the grace of lyfe, that your prayers be not hyndered.
In conclusion, be ye all of one minde, of one heart, loue as brethren, be pitiful, be curteous,
Not rendryng euyl for euyll, or rebuke for rebuke: but contrarywyse blesse, knowyng that ye are therevnto called, euen that ye shoulde be heyres of the blessyng.
For he that doeth long after lyfe, and loueth to see good dayes, let hym refrayne his tongue from euyll, and his lippes, that they speake no guyle.
Let hym eschewe euyll and do good, let hym seke peace and ensue it.
For the eyes of the Lorde are ouer the ryghteous, and his eares are open vnto their prayers: Againe, the face of the Lorde is ouer them that do euyll.
Moreouer, who is it that wyll harme you, yf ye folowe that which is good?
Yea, happy are ye if any trouble happen vnto you for ryghteousnes sake: Be not ye afrayde for any terrour of them, neither be ye troubled:
But sanctifie the Lorde God in your heartes. Be redy alwayes to geue an aunswere to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you,
And that with mekenesse and feare, hauyng a good conscience: that where as they backebite you as euyll doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conuersation in Christe.
For it is better, yf the wyll of God be so, that ye suffer for wel doyng, then for euyll doyng.
Forasmuch as Christe hath once suffered for sinnes, the iust for the vniust to bryng vs to God, and was kylled as parteynyng to the fleshe, but was quickened in the spirite.
In which spirite, he also went & preached vnto the spirites that were in pryson,
Which sometime had ben disobedient, when once the long sufferyng of God abode in {th}e dayes of Noe, whyle the Arke was a preparyng, wherein fewe, that is to say eyght soules, were saued in the water:
To the which also the figure agreeth that nowe saueth vs, euen baptisme, not the puttyng away of the fylth of the fleshe, but in that a good conscience maketh request to God, by the resurrection of Iesus Christe:
Which is on the ryght hande of God, and is gone into heauen, angels, powers, and myght subdued vnto hym.
FOr as muche then as Christ hath suffered for vs in the fleshe, arme ye your selues lykewise with the same mynde: for he which suffereth in the fleshe, ceasseth from sinne:
That he hence forwarde shoulde lyue, as much tyme as remayneth in {th}e fleshe, not after the lustes of men, but after the wyll of God.
For it is sufficient for vs that we haue spent the tyme that is paste of the lyfe, after the wyll of the gentiles, walkyng in wantonnesse, lustes, in excesse of wynes, in excesse of eatyng, in excesse of drynkyng, and abominable idolatrie.
And it seemeth to them an inconuenient thyng, that ye runne not also with them vnto the same excesse of riote, and therefore speake they euyll of you:
Whiche shall geue accomptes to hym that is redy to iudge quicke and dead.
For vnto this purpose veryly was the Gospel peached also vnto {th}e dead, that they shoulde be iudged lyke other men in the fleshe, but should lyue before God in the spirite.
The ende of all thynges is at hande.
Be ye therefore sober, and watche vnto prayer.
But aboue all thynges, haue feruent loue among your selues: For loue shall couer the multitude of sinnes.
Be ye harberous one to another, without grudgyng.
As euery man hath receaued the gyft, eue{n} so minister the same one to another, as good ministers of the manifold grace of God.
If any man speake, [let hym talke] as the wordes of God. If any man minister, let him do it as of the abilitie which God ministreth vnto hym, that God in all thinges may be glorified through Iesus Christe, to whom be prayse and dominion for euer and euer. Amen.
Dearely beloued, thinke it not straunge concerning the fierie triall, which thing is to trye you, as though some straunge thyng happened vnto you.
But reioyce, in as much as ye are partakers of Christes passions: that when his glory appeareth, ye maye be mery and glad.
Yf ye be rayled vpon for the name of Christe, happy are ye. For the spirite of glory and of God, resteth vpon you: On their part he is euyll spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
See that none of you be punished as a murtherer, or as a thiefe, or an euyll doer, or as a busie body in other mens matters.
Yf any [man suffer] as a Christian man, let hym not be ashamed, but let him glorifie God on this behalfe.
For the tyme is [come] that iudgement must begin at the house of God. Yf it first [begin] at vs, what shall the ende be of them whiche beleue not the Gospell of God?
And if the ryghteous scacely be saued, where shall the vngodly and the sinner appeare?
Wherefore, let them that are troubled accordyng to the wyll of God, commit their soules to him with well doyng, as vnto a faythfull creatour.
THe elders which are among you, I exhort, whiche am also an elder, & a wytnesse of the afflictions of Christe, and also a partaker of H. L. the glory that shalbe opened:
Feede you God his flocke, whiche is committed vnto you, takyng the ouersight of them not as compelled therto, but wyllyngly, not for the desyre of fylthy lucre, but of a good mynde:
Not as though ye were Lordes ouer God his heritage: but that ye be an ensample to the flocke.
And when the chiefe shephearde shall appeare, ye shall receaue an incorruptible crowne of glory.
Likewise ye younger, submit your selues vnto the elder: Submit your selues euery man one to another, decke your selues inwardly in lowlynes of mynde: For God resisteth the proude, and geueth grace to the humble.
Submit your selues therfore vnder the mightie hande of God, that he may exalt you when the tyme is come.
Cast all your care vpon hym, for he careth for you.
Be sober, & watche, for your aduersarie the deuyll, as a roaryng Lion walketh about seking who{m} he may deuour:
Whom resist stedfast in the fayth, knowyng that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the worlde.
But the God of all grace whiche hath called vs vnto his eternall glory by Christe Iesus, shal his owne selfe, after that ye haue suffered a litle affliction, make you perfite, setle, strength, and stablyshe you.
To hym be glory and dominion, for euer and euer. Amen.
By Syluanus a faythfull brother, vnto you, as I suppose, haue I wrytten briefly, exhortyng and testifiyng, howe that this is the true grace of God, wherin ye stande.
The Churche that is at Babylon elected together with you, saluteth you, and so doeth Marcus my sonne.
Greete ye one another with the kysse of loue. Peace be with you all which are in Christe Iesus. Amen.
SImon Peter, a seruaunt and an Apostle of Iesus Christe, to them which haue obteined lyke precious faith with vs, thorowe the ryghteousnes of our god and sauiour Iesus Christe:
Grace and peace be multiplied vnto you, through the knowledge of God, and of Iesus our Lorde:
Accordyng as his godly power hath geuen vnto vs all thynges that parteine vnto lyfe and godlynesse, through the knowledge of hym that hath called vs vnto glorie and vertue:
By the which are geuen vnto vs excellent and most great promises, that by the meanes thereof, ye might be partakers of the godly nature, yf ye flee the corruption of worldly lust.
And herevnto geue all diligence: in your fayth minister vertue, in vertue knowledge,
In knowledge temperaunce, in temperaunce pacience, in pacience godlynesse,
In godlynesse brotherly kyndnesse, in brotherly kyndnesse loue.
For yf these thynges be among you, and be plenteous, they wyll make you that ye neither shalbe idle nor vnfruitefull in the knowledge of our Lorde Iesus Christe.
But he that lacketh these thynges, is blynde, and can not see farre of, & hath forgotten that he was purged from his olde sinnes.
Wherfore brethren, geue the more diligence for to make your callyng and election sure: For yf ye do such thynges, ye shall neuer fall.
Yea, and by this meanes an entryng in shalbe ministred vnto you abouda{n}tlye, into the euerlastyng kyngdome of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christe.
Wherfore I wyll not be negligent to put you alwayes in remembraunce of suche thynges, though ye knowe them your selues, and be stablysshed in the present trueth.
Notwithstandyng I thynke it meete, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stirre you vp by puttyng you in remembraunce:
Forasmuch as I am sure that shortly I must put of this my tabernacle, euen as our Lorde Iesus Christe shewed me.
I wyll euer also geue my diligence {tha}t ye may haue wherwith to stirre vp the remembraunce of these thynges after my departyng.
For we haue not folowed deceitfull fables, when we opened vnto you the power and commyng of our Lorde Iesus Christe, but with our eyes we sawe his maiestie:
Euen then veryly when he receaued of God the father honour and glorie, & when there came suche a voyce to hym from the excellent glorie: This is my deare beloued sonne in whom I delyte.
This voyce we heard come from heauen, when we were with him in the holye mount.
We haue also a ryght sure worde of prophesie, wherevnto yf ye take heede, as vnto a lyght that shyneth in a darke place, ye do well, vntyll the day dawne, and the day starre arise in your heartes.
So that ye first knowe this, that no prophesie in the scripture is of any priuate motion.
For the prophesie came not in olde time by the wyll of man: but holy men of God, spake as they were moued by the holy ghost.
THere were false prophetes also among the people, eue{n} as there shalbe false teachers among you, whiche pryuyly shal bryng in damnable heresies, euen denying the Lorde that hath bought them, and bryng vpo{n} them selues swyft damnation.
And many shall folowe their damnable wayes, by whom the way of trueth shalbe euyll spoken of:
And through couetousnesse, shall they with fayned wordes make marchau{n}dize of you, whose iudgement is nowe not farre of, and their damnation sleepeth not.
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them downe into hell, and delyuered them into chaynes of darknesse, to be kept vnto iudgement:
Neither spared the olde worlde, but saued Noe the eyght [person] a preacher of ryghteousnesse, and brought in the flood vpon the worlde of the vngodly,
And turned their cities of Sodome & Gomorrhe into asshes, ouerthrewe the{m}, dampned them, and made of them an ensample vnto those that after shoulde lyue vngodly:
And iust Lot, vexed with {th}e vncleane conuersatio{n} of the wicked, deliuered he.
For he beyng ryghteous, & dwellyng among them, in seyng and hearyng, vexed his ryghteous soule from daye to daye with their vnlawfull deedes.
The Lorde knoweth howe to delyuer the godly out of temptation, and to reserue the vniust vnto the day of iudgement for to be punished:
But chiefely them that walke after the fleshe in the lust of vncleanenesse, and despise auctoritie. Presumptious are they, and stande in their owne conceyte, whiche feare not to speake euyl of them that excell in worship.
When the Angels whiche are greater both in power and might, geue not raylyng iudgement against them before the Lorde.
But these, as bruite beastes ledde with sensualitie, and made to be taken and destroyed, speake euyll of the thynges that they vnderstande not, and shall perishe through their owne corruption,
And receaue the rewarde of vnryghteousnesse, they count it pleasure to lyue deliciouslye for a season: Spottes they are and blottes, delighting them selues in their deceauynges, in feastyng with you.
Hauyng eyes full of adulterie, & that can not ceasse from sinne, begylyng vnstable soules: Heartes they haue exercised with robberie, they are cursed chyldren,
Which haue forsaken the ryght waye, and are gone astray, folowyng the way of Balaam the sonne of Bosor, which loued the rewarde of vnrighteousnesse:
But was rebuked of his iniquitie. The dumbe beast, and vsed to the yoke, speaking with mans voyce, forbad the madnesse of the prophete.
These are welles without water, cloudes that are caryed with a tempest, to whom the mist of darknesse is reserued for euer.
For when they haue spoken the great swellyng wordes of vanitie, they entice through lustes in the voluptuousnesse of the fleshe, them that were cleane escaped, from them whiche are wrapped in errour,
Whyle they promise them libertie, where as they them selues are {th}e bonde seruauntes of corruption. For of whom a man is ouercome, vnto the same is he brought in bondage.
For yf they, after they haue escaped from the fylthynesse of the worlde, thorowe the knowledge of the Lord, & the sauiour Iesus Christe, are yet tangled agayne therein, and ouercome, then is the later end worse with them then the begynnyng.
For it had ben better for them not to haue knowen the way of righteousnes, then after they haue knowen it, to turne from the holy commaundement that was geuen vnto them.
But the same is happened vnto them that is vsed to be spoken by the true prouerbe: The dogge is tourned to his owne vomite againe, and the sowe that was wasshed, is turned againe to her wallowyng in the myre.
THis is the seconde epistle that I now wryte vnto you, dearely beloued, wherwith I stirre vp & warne your pure myndes,
By puttyng you H. L. in remembraunce, that ye may be myndfull of the wordes which were tolde before of the holy prophetes, and also the commaundement of vs, whiche be Apostles of the Lorde and sauiour.
This first vnderstande, that there shall come in the laste dayes mockers, whiche wyll walke after their owne lustes,
And say: Where is the promise of his commyng? For sence the fathers dyed, all thynges continue a lyke from the begynnyng of the creation.
For this they knowe not (and that wylfully) howe that the heauens were of olde, and the earth that was of the water, and by the water, by the worde of God:
By the which thinges the world that then was, perisshed, beyng then ouerrunne with water.
But the heauens and earth whiche are nowe, be kept by his worde in store, and reserued vnto fire, agaynst the day of iudgement and perdition of vngodly men.
Dearely beloued, be not ignoraunt of this one thyng, howe that one day is with the Lorde as a thousande yere, & a thousande yere as one day.
The Lorde that hath promised, is not slacke, as some men count slacknesse, but is pacient to vswarde [forasmuch] as he woulde haue no man lost, but wyll receaue all men to repentaunce.
Neuerthelesse the day of the Lorde wyll come as a theefe in the nyght, in the which the heauens shal passe away with a noyse, and the elementes shall melt with heate, the earth also and the workes that are therein shall burne.
Seyng then that all these thynges shall perisshe, what maner persons ought ye to be in holy conuersation and godlynesse:
Lokyng for, and hastyng vnto the co{m}myng of the day of God, by whom the heauens shall perishe with fire, and the elementes shall melt with heate?
Neuerthelesse, we accordyng to his promise, loke for a newe heauen, and a newe earth, wherein dwelleth ryghteousnesse.
Wherfore dearely beloued, seyng that ye loke for such thynges, be diligent that ye may be founde of hym in peace, without spot, and vndefyled:
And suppose that the long suffering of the Lord is saluatio{n}, euen as our dearely beloued brother Paul also, accordyng to the wisedome geuen vnto hym, hath written vnto you:
Yea almost in euery epistle, speakyng of such thinges: among which, are manye thynges harde to be vnderstande, which they that are vnlearned and vnstable, peruert, as they do also the other scriptures, vnto their owne destruction.
Ye therfore beloued, seyng ye be warned afore hande, beware lest ye with other men be also plucked away through the errour of the wicked, and fall from your owne stedfastnesse:
But growe in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christe, to whom be glorie both nowe and for euer. Amen.
THat whiche was fro{m} the beginning, whiche we haue heard, which we haue seene with our eyes, whiche we haue loked vpo{n}, & our handes haue handeled of, the worde of lyfe:
(And the lyfe appeared, and we haue seene, and beare witnesse, and shewe vnto you that eternall lyfe which was with the father, and appeared vnto vs.)
That which we haue seene and heard declare we vnto you, that ye also maye haue felowship with vs, and that our felowship may be with the father, and his sonne Iesus Christe.
And this write we vnto you, that your ioy may be full,
And this is the tydynges whiche we haue hearde of hym & declare vnto you, that God is lyght, & in hym is no darkenesse at all.
If we saye that we haue felowship with hym, and walke in darkenesse, we lye, and do not the trueth.
But and yf we walke in light, euen as he is in lyght, then haue we felowship one with another, and the blood of Iesus Christ his sonne clenseth vs from all sinne.
If we say that we haue no sinne, we deceaue our selues, and the trueth is not in vs.
If we knowledge our sinnes, he is faythfull & iust to forgeue vs our sinnes, and to clense vs from all vnryghteousnesse.
If we say we haue not sinned, we make hym a lyer, and his worde is not in vs.
MY litle chyldren, these thynges write I vnto you, that ye sinne not. And yf any man sinne, we haue an aduocate with the father, Iesus Christe the ryghteous.
And he is {th}e attonement for our sinnes: not for our sinnes only, but also for the sinnes of all the worlde.
And hereby we are sure that we knowe hym, yf we kepe his co{m}maundementes.
He that sayth I knowe hym, and kepeth not his commaundementes, is a lyer, and the veritie is not in hym:
But who so kepeth his worde, in him is the loue of God perfect in deede. Hereby knowe we that we are in hym.
He that sayth he bydeth in him, ought to walke euen as he walked.
Brethren, I write no newe co{m}maundement vnto you, but that olde co{m}maundement which ye haue had from the begynnyng. The olde commaundement is the worde which ye haue hearde fro{m} the begynnyng.
Agayne, a newe commaundement I write vnto you, that is true in hym, and [the same is true] also in you: For the darkenesse is past, and the true lyght nowe shyneth.
He that sayth howe that he is in the lyght, and yet hateth his brother, is in darkenesse, euen vntyll this tyme.
He that loueth his brother, abydeth in the lyght, and there is none occasion of euyll in hym.
He that hateth his brother, is in darknesse, and walketh in darkenesse, & can not tell whyther he goeth, because that darkenesse hath blynded his eyes.
Babes I write vnto you, because your sinnes are forgeuen you for his names sake.
I write vnto you fathers, because ye haue knowen hym that is from the begynnyng. I write vnto you young men, because you haue ouercome the wicked.
I write to you little chyldren, because ye haue knowe{n} the father. I haue written to you fathers, because ye haue knowen hym that is from the begynnyng. I haue written vnto you young men, because, ye are stronge, and the worde of God abydeth in you, and ye haue ouercome the wicked.
See that ye loue not the worlde, neither the thynges that are in the worlde. If any man loue the worlde, the loue of the father is not in hym.
For all that is in the worlde, as the lust of the fleshe, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the father, but of the worlde.
And the worlde passeth away, and the luste thereof: but he that fulfylleth the wyll of God, abydeth for euer.
Litle chyldren, it is the last time, and as ye haue hearde howe that antichrist shall come, euen nowe are there many antichristes, whereby we knowe that it is the last tyme.
They went out from vs, but they were not of vs: For yf they had ben of vs, they woulde no doubt haue continued with vs: But that it myght appeare that they were not of vs.
Neuerthelesse, ye haue an oyntment of hym that is holy, and ye knowe all thynges.
I haue not written vnto you, as though ye knewe not the trueth: but because ye knowe it, and that no lye is of the trueth.
Who is a lyer, but he that denieth that Iesus is Christe? The same is antichrist that denyeth the father and the sonne.
Whosoeuer denyeth the sonne, the same hath not the father [But he that knowledgeth the sonne, hath the father also.]
Let therfore abyde in you, that same whiche ye hearde from the begynnyng. If that whiche ye hearde from the begynnyng shall remayne in you, ye also shall continue in the sonne, and in the father.
And this is the promise that he hath promised vs, euen eternall lyfe.
These thynges haue I written vnto you, concerning them that deceaue you:
And the annoyntyng whiche ye haue receaued of hym dwelleth in you: And ye nede not that any man teach you, but as the same annoynting teacheth you of all thynges, and it is true, and not lying: and as it taught you, ye shall abyde in it.
And nowe babes abide in him, that when he shal appeare, we may be bolde and not be made ashamed of hym at his commyng.
If ye knowe that he is ryghteous, knowe also that euery one whiche doth righteousnes, is borne of hym.
BEholde what loue the father hath shewed on vs, that we shoulde be called the sonnes of god: For this cause the worlde knoweth you not, because it knoweth not hym.
Dearely beloued, nowe are we the sonnes of God, and yet it doth not appeare what we shalbe: But we knowe that when he shall appeare, we shalbe lyke hym, for we shall see hym as he is.
And euery man that hath this hope in hym, purgeth hym selfe, euen as he also is pure.
Whosoeuer committeth sinne, transgresseth also the lawe: for sinne is the transgression of the lawe.
And ye know that he appeared to take away our sinnes, & in hym is no sinne.
As many as byde in hym, sinne not: whosoeuer sinneth, hath not seene him, neither knowen hym.
Babes, let no man deceaue you: He that doeth righteousnes, is ryghteous, euen as he is righteous.
He that committeth sinne, is of the deuyll: for the deuyll sinneth sence the beginning. For this purpose appeared the sonne of God, to loose the workes of the deuyll.
Whosoeuer is borne of God, sinneth not: for his seede remayneth in him, and he can not sinne, because he is borne of God.
In this are {th}e children of God knowe{n}, and the chyldren of the deuyll: Whosoeuer doth not ryghteousnesse, is not of God, neither he that loueth not his brother.
For this is the tidynges that ye heard from the begynnyng, that ye shoulde loue one another.
Not as Cain, which was of that wicked, and slewe his brother: And wherfore slewe he hym? Because his owne workes were euyll, and his brothers good.
Maruayle not my brethren though the worlde hate you.
We knowe, that we are translated from death vnto lyfe, because we loue the brethren. He that loueth not his brother, abideth in death.
Whosoeuer hateth his brother, is a manslear: And ye knowe that no manslear, hath eternall life abidyng in hym.
Hereby perceaue we loue, because he layde downe his lyfe for vs, & we ought to lay downe our lyues for the brethren.
But who so hath this 〈◊〉 good, and seeth his brother haue neede, and shutteth vp his compassion from hym• howe dwelleth the loue of God in hym?
My babes, let vs not loue in worde, neither in tongue: but in deede and in veritie.
Hereby we knowe that we are of the trueth, and shall assure our heartes before hym.
For yf our heart condempne vs, God is greater then our heart, and knoweth all thynges.
Dearely beloued, yf our heart condempne vs not, then haue we boldnesse towarde God.
And whatsoeuer we aske, we receaue of hym, because we kepe his commaundementes, and do those thynges which are pleasyng in his syght.
And this is his co{m}maundement, that we beleue on the name of his sonne Iesus Christe, and loue one another, as he gaue commaundement.
And he that kepeth his commaundementes, dwelleth in him, and he in him: and hereby we knowe that he abideth in vs, euen by the spirite which he hath geuen vs.
DEarly beloued, beleue not euery spirite: but proue the spirites whether they are of God or not: for many false prophetes are gone out into the worlde.
Hereby shall ye knowe the spirite of God: Euery spirite that confesseth that Iesus Christe is come in the fleshe, is of God:
And euery spirite which confesseth not that Iesus Christe is come in the fleshe, is not of God. And this is that spirite of antichriste, of whom ye haue hearde howe that he shoulde come: and euen nowe alredy is he in the worlde.
Litle chyldren, ye are of God, & haue ouercome them: for greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the worlde.
They are of the world, therfore speake they of the worlde, & the world heareth them.
We are of God. He that knoweth God, heareth vs: he that is not of God, heareth vs not. Hereby knowe we the spirite of veritie, and the spirite of errour.
Dearely beloued, let vs loue one another, for loue commeth of God: And euery one that loueth, is borne of God, and knoweth God.
He that loueth not, knoweth not God: for God is loue.
In this appeared the loue of God to vs warde, because God sent his only begotten sonne into the worlde, that we myght lyue through hym.
Herein is loue, not that we loued God, but that he loued vs, and sent his sonne to be the agreement for our sinnes.
Dearely beloued, yf God so loued vs, we ought also to loue one another.
No man hath seene God at any time. If we loue one another, God dwelleth in vs, and his loue is perfect in vs.
Hereby knowe we that we dwell in hym, & he in vs: because he hath geuen vs of his spirite.
And we haue seene, and do testifie that the father sent the sonne to be the sauiour of the worlde.
Whosoeuer confesseth that Iesus is the sonne of God, in him dwelleth God, and he in God.
And we haue knowen and beleued the loue that God hath to vs. God is loue, and he that dwelleth in loue, dwelleth in God, and God in hym.
Herein is the loue perfect in vs, that we shoulde haue boldnesse in the day of iudgement: For as he is, euen so are we in this worlde.
There is no feare in loue, but perfect loue casteth out feare: for feare hath paynefulnesse. He that feareth, is not perfect in loue.
We loue hym, for he loued vs first.
If a man say, I loue God, & yet hate his brother, he is a lyer: For how can he {tha}t loueth not his brother whom he hath seene, loue God who{m} he hath not seene?
And this commaundement haue we of hym: that he which loueth God, shoulde loue his brother also.
WHosoeuer beleueth that Iesus is Christe, is borne of God: And euerie one that loueth him which begat, loueth hym also which is begotten H. L. of hym.
By this we knowe that we loue the chyldren of God, when we loue God, and kepe his commaundementes.
For this is the loue of God, that we kepe his commaundementes, and his commaundementes are not greeuous.
For all that is borne of God, ouercommeth the worlde. And this is the victorie that ouercommeth {th}e worlde, [euen] our fayth.
Who is it that ouercommeth {th}e worlde, but he which beleueth that Iesus is the sonne of God?
This Iesus Christe, is he that came by water and blood: not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the spirite that beareth witnesse, because the spirite is trueth.
For there are three which beare recorde in heauen, the father, the worde, and the holy ghost, and these three are one.
And there are three which beare recorde in earth, the spirite, and water, and blood, and these three agree in one.
If we receaue the witnesse of men, the witnesse of God is greater: For this is the witnesse of God [that is greater] which he testified of his sonne.
He that beleueth on the sonne of God, hath the witnesse in hym selfe: He that beleueth not God, hath made hym a lyer, because he beleued not the recorde that God gaue of his sonne.
And this is the recorde, how that God hath geuen vnto vs eternall lyfe, and this lyfe, is in his sonne.
He that hath the sonne, hath lyfe: and he that hath not the sonne of God, hath not lyfe.
These thynges haue I written vnto you that beleue on {th}e name of the sonne of God, that ye may knowe howe that ye haue eternall lyfe, and that ye may beleue on the name of the sonne of God.
And this is the trust that we haue in hym: that yf we aske any thyng accordyng to his wyll, he heareth vs.
And yf we knowe that he heare vs, whatsoeuer we aske: we know that we haue {th}e petitions that we desire of hym.
If any man see his brother sinne a sinne not vnto death, let hym aske, and he shal geue him life for them that sinne not vnto death. There is a sinne vnto death: I say not that thou shouldest pray for it.
All vnrighteousnes is sinne: and there is sinne vnto death.
We knowe that whosoeuer is borne of God, sinneth not: but he that is begotten of God, kepeth hym selfe, and that wicked toucheth hym not.
We knowe that we are of God, & the whole worlde lieth in wickednesse.
We knowe that the sonne of God is come, & hath geuen vs a minde to know hym which is true: and we are in hym that is true, through his sonne Iesus Christe. This same is very God, and eternall lyfe.
Babes kepe your selues from idols. Amen.
THE elder to the elect Lady & her chyldren, whom I loue in the trueth: and not I only, but also all that haue knowen {th}e trueth:
For the truthes sake which dwelleth in vs, and shalbe in vs for euer:
Grace be with you, mercie, and peace from God the father, & from the Lorde Iesus Christe the sonne of the father, in trueth and loue.
I reioyced greatly, that I founde of thy chyldren walkyng in trueth, as we haue receaued a commaundement of the father.
And nowe beseche I thee Lady, not as though I wrote a newe commaundement vnto thee: but that same which we haue had from the begynnyng, that we shoulde loue one another.
And this is the loue, that we shoulde walke after his co{m}maundement. This commaundement is, that as ye haue hearde from the begynnyng, ye shoulde walke in it.
For many deceauers are entred into the worlde, which confesse not that Iesus Christe is come in the fleshe. This is a deceauer and an antichriste.
Loke on your selues, that we loose not that we haue wrought: but that we may haue a full rewarde.
Whosoeuer transgresseth, and bideth not in the doctrine of Christe, hath not God: He that endureth in the doctrine of Christe, hath both the father and the sonne.
If there come any vnto you, and bring not this learnyng, hym receaue not to house: neither byd hym God speede.
For he that byddeth hym God speede, is partaker of his euyll deedes.
I had many thynges to write vnto you: neuerthelesse, I woulde not write with paper & inke, but I trust to come vnto you, and speake with you mouth to mouth, that our ioy may be full.
The sonnes of thy elect sister greete thee. Amen.
THe elder vnto {th}e beloued Gaius, whom I loue in the trueth.
Beloued, I wishe in all thynges that thou prosperedst and faredst H. L. well, euen as thy soule prospereth.
For I reioyced greatly, when the brethren came & testified of the trueth that is in thee, how thou walkest in {th}e trueth.
I haue no greater ioy, the{n} for to heare how that my sonnes walke in veritie.
Beloued, thou doest faythfully whatsoeuer thou doest to the brethren, and to straungers,
Which beare witnesse of thy loue before the Churche. Which brethren, yf thou bryng forwardes of their iourney after a godly sorte, thou shalt do well.
Because that for his names sake they went foorth, and toke nothyng of the gentiles.
We therfore ought to receaue such, that we myght be helpers to the trueth.
I wrote vnto the Churche: but Diotrephes which loueth to haue the preeminence among the{m}, receaueth vs not.
Wherfore yf I come, I wyll declare his deedes which he doth, iestyng on vs with malicious wordes, neither is therwith content: not only he hym selfe receaueth not the brethren: but also he forbiddeth the{m} that woulde, and thrusteth them out of the Churche.
Beloued, folow not that which is euyl, but that which is good. He that doth well, is of God: but he that doth euyll, seeth not God.
Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the trueth it selfe: Yea, and we our selues also beare recorde, and ye knowe that our recorde is true.
I haue many thynges to write: but I wyll not with inke and penne write vnto thee.
I trust I shal shortly see thee, and we shall speake mouth to mouth. Peace be vnto thee. The louers salute thee. Greete the louers by name.
IVde the seruaunt of Iesus Christe, the brother of Iames: To them which are called and sanctified in God the father, and preserued in Iesus Christe:
H. L. Mercy vnto you, and peace and loue be multiplied.
Beloued, when I gaue all diligence to write vnto you of the common saluation, it was nedeful for me to write vnto you, to exhorte you, that ye shoulde earnestly contende for the fayth which was once geuen vnto the saintes.
For there are certayne vngodly men craftily crept in, which were before of olde ordeyned to this condemnation: They turne the grace of our God vnto wantonnesse, and denye God which is the only Lorde, and our Lorde Iesus Christe.
My mynde is therfore to put you in remembraunce: forasmuch as ye once knowe this, howe that the Lorde, after that he had delyuered the people out of Egypt, destroyed the{m} which afterward beleued not.
The Angels also which kept not their first estate, but left their owne habitation, he hath reserued in euerlastyng chaynes vnder darkenesse, vnto the iudgement of the great day.
Euen as Sodome and Gomorrhe, and the cities about them, which in lyke maner defiled them selues with fornication, and folowed straunge fleshe, are set foorth for an ensample, and suffer the payne of eternall fyre.
Lykewyse, these beyng deceaued by dreames, defyle the flesh, despise rulers, and speake euyll of them that are in aucthoritie.
Yet Michael the Archangel, when he stroue agaynst the deuyll, and disputed about the body of Moyses, durst not geue raylyng sentence, but sayde, the Lorde rebuke thee.
But these speake euyl of those thinges which they knowe not: & what thinges they know naturally, as beastes which are without reason, in those thynges they corrupt them selues.
Wo be vnto the{m}, for they haue folowed the way of Cain, and are vtterly geuen to the errour of Balaam for lucres sake, and perishe in the gaynsaying of Core.
These are spottes in your feastes of charitie, whe{n} they feast with you, without al feare feedyng the{m}selues: cloudes they are without water, caryed about of windes, corrupt trees, and without fruite, twise dead, and plucked vp by the rootes:
They are the ragyng waues of the sea, fomyng out their owne shame: They are wandryng starres, to whom is reserued the mist of darknes for euer.
Enoch the seuenth from Adam, prophesied before of such, saying: Beholde, the Lorde shall come with thousandes of saintes,
To geue iudgement agaynst all men, and to rebuke all that are vngodly among them, of all their vngodly deedes, which they haue vngodly committed, and of all their cruel speakynges, which vngodly sinners haue spoken agaynst hym.
These are murmurers, complayners, walkyng after their owne lustes, whose mouthes speake proude thynges. They haue men in great reuerence because of aduantage.
But ye beloued, remember the wordes which were spoken before, of the Apostles of our Lorde Iesus Christe.
Howe that they tolde you, that there shoulde be begilers in {th}e last tyme, which should walke after their owne vngodly lustes.
These are makers of sectes, fleshlie, hauyng not the spirite.
But ye dearely beloued, edifie your selues in your most holy fayth, praying in the holy ghost,
And kepe your selues in the loue of God, lokyng for the mercie of our Lord Iesus Christe, vnto eternall lyfe.
And haue compassion of some, seperatyng them:
And other saue with feare, pullyng them out of the fyre, and haue compassion on the other, and hate euen the garment spotted by the fleshe.
Vnto him that is able to kepe you free from sinne, and to present you faultlesse before the presence of his glory with ioy,
To God our sauiour, which only is wyse, be glorie, maiestie, dominion, and power, nowe and euer. Amen.
THE reuelation of Iesus Christ, which God gaue vnto hym, for to shewe vnto his seruau{n}tes thyngs which must shortlye come to passe: And when he had sent, he shewed by his Angel, vnto his seruaunt Iohn,
Which bare recorde of the worde of God, and of the testimonie of Iesus Christe, and of all thinges that he sawe.
Happy is he that readeth, and they that heare the wordes of this prophesie, and kepe those thynges which are written therin, for the tyme is at hande.
Iohn to the seuen Churches in Asia: Grace be vnto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come: and from the seuen spirites which are before his throne,
And from Iesus Christe, which is a faythfull witnesse, and first begotten of the dead, and Lorde ouer the kynges of the earth: Vnto hym that loued vs, and wasshed vs from our sinnes in his owne blood,
And made vs kynges and priestes vnto God his father, be glorie and dominion for euermore. Amen.
Beholde, he commeth with cloudes, and all eyes shall see hym, and they also which pearsed hym: And all kinredes of the earth shall wayle before hym. Euen so. Amen.
I am Alpha and Omega, the begynnyng and the endyng, sayth the Lorde almyghtie, which is, and which was, and which is to come.
I Iohn, your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdome and patience of Iesus Christe, was in the Ile that is called Pathmos, for {th}e worde of God, and for the witnessyng of Iesus Christe.
I was in the spirite on the Lordes day, and hearde behynde me a great voyce, as it had ben of a trumpe,
Saying: I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: That thou seest, write in a booke, and sende it vnto the seuen Churches which are in Asia, vnto Ephesus, and vnto Smyrna, and vnto Pergamos, and vnto Thyatira, and vnto Sardis, and vnto Philadelphia, and vnto Laodicea.
And I turned backe to see the voyce that spake to me: And whe{n} I was turned, I sawe seuen golden candlestickes,
And in {th}e middes of the candlestickes, one lyke vnto the sonne of man, clothed with a garment downe to the feete, and girde about the pappes with a golden girdle.
His head, and his heeres were whyte as whyte wooll, and as snowe, and his eyes were as a flambe of fyre.
And his feete lyke vnto fine brasse, as though they brent in a furnace, and his voyce as the sounde of many waters.
And he had in his ryght hande, seuen starres: And out of his mouth went a sharpe two edged sworde: And his face shone, euen as the sunne in his strength.
And when I sawe hym, I fell at his feete euen as dead: And he layde his ryght hande vpon me, saying vnto me, feare not, I am the first and the last,
And am alyue, and was dead: And beholde, I am alyue for euermore, Amen, and haue the keyes of hell and of death.
Write therfore the thinges which thou hast seene, and the thynges which are, and the thinges which must be fulfilled hereafter.
The misterie of the seuen starres which thou sawest in my ryght hande, and the seuen golde{n} candlestickes. The seuen starres, are the Angels of the seue{n} Churches: And the seuen candlestickes whiche thou sawest, are the seuen Churches.
VNto the Angel of the Churche at Ephesus, write: these thynges sayth he that holdeth the seuen starres in his ryght hande, and that walketh in the middes of the seuen golden candlestickes:
I knowe thy workes, and thy labour, and thy patience, and howe thou canst not forbeare them which are euyll: and hast examined them which say they are Apostles, and are not, and hast founde them lyers:
And hast suffred, and hast patience, and for my names sake hast laboured, and hast not faynted.
Neuertheles, I haue [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first loue.
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first workes: Or els I wyll come vnto thee shortly, & wyll remoue thy candlesticke out of his place, except thou repe{n}t.
But this thou hast, because thou hatest the deedes of the Nicolaitans, which (deedes) I also hate.
Let hym that hath an eare, heare what {th}e spirite sayth vnto the Churches. To hym that ouercommeth, wyll I geue to eate of the tree of lyfe, which is in the middes of the paradise of God.
And vnto the Angel of the Churche of Smyrna, write: These thynges sayth he that is first and the last, which was dead, and is alyue.
I knowe thy workes, and tribulation, and pouertie: but thou art riche. And I know the blasphemie of them which cal them selues Iewes, and are not, but (are) the synagogue of Satan.
Feare none of those thynges, which thou shalt suffer: Beholde, the deuyll shall caste some of you into prison, to tempt you, and ye shall haue tribulation ten dayes. Be faythfull vnto the death, and I wyll geue thee a crowne of lyfe.
Let hym that hath an eare, heare what the spirite sayth vnto {th}e Churches. He that ouercommeth, shall not be hurt of the seconde death.
And to the Angell of the Churche in Pergamos, write: This saith he which hath {th}e sharpe sword with two edges:
I knowe thy workes, and where thou dwellest, euen where Satans seate is, and thou kepest my name, and hast not denyed my fayth: Euen in those dayes when Antipas my faythfull martir was slayne among you, where Satan dwelleth.
But I haue a fewe thynges agaynst thee, because thou hast there, them that maynetayne the doctrine of Balaam, whiche taught in Balacke, to put a stumblyng blocke before the chyldren of Israel, that they shoulde eate of meate dedicate vnto idols, & commit fornicatio{n}.
Euen so hast thou the{m} that maintayne the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thyng I hate.
Repent, or els I wyll come vnto thee shortly, and wyll fyght agaynst them with the sworde of my mouth.
Let hym that hath an eare, heare what {th}e spirite sayth vnto the Churches. To hym that ouercommeth, wyll I geue to eate Manna that is hyd, and wyll geue hym a white stone, and in the stone a newe name written, which no man knoweth, sauyng he {tha}t receaueth it.
And vnto the Angell of the Churche of Thyatira, write: This saith {th}e sonne of God, who hath eyes lyke vnto a flambe of fyre, and his feete are like fine brasse.
I knowe thy workes, and thy loue, seruice, and fayth, and thy patience, and thy deedes, which are mo at the last the{n} at the first.
Notwithstandyng, I haue a fewe thynges agaynst thee, because thou sufferest that woman Iesabel, which called her selfe a prophetisse, to teache, and to deceaue my seruauntes, to make them commit fornication, and to eate meates offred vp vnto idols.
And I gaue her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not.
Beholde, I wyll cast her into a bed, and them that commit fornication with her into great aduersitie, except they turne from their deedes:
And I wyll kyll her chyldren with death, & all the Churches shall knowe, that I am he which searcheth the raynes and heartes: And I wyll geue vnto euery one of you, accordyng vnto his workes.
Vnto you I say, and vnto other of the{m} of Thyatira, as many as haue not this learnyng, & which haue not knowe{n} the deepenesse of Satan, as they say, I wyll put vpon you none other burthen:
But that which ye haue alredy, holde fast tyll I come,
And whosoeuer ouercommeth, and kepeth my workes vnto the ende, to hym wyll I geue power ouer nations,
And he shall rule them with a rodde of yron: and as the vessels of a potter, shall they be broken to sheuers:
Euen as I receaued of my father, so wyll I geue hym the mornyng starre.
Let hym that hath an eare, heare what the spirite sayth to the Churches.
AND write vnto the Angel of the Churche that is at Sardis, this sayth he that hath the seuen spirites of God, and the seuen starres. I knowe thy workes: thou hast a name that thou lyuest, and thou art dead.
Be awake, and strength the thynges which remayne, that are redie to dye: For I haue not founde thy workes perfect before God.
Remember therfore howe thou hast receaued and heard, and holde fast, and repent. If thou shalt not watche, I wyll come on thee as a thiefe, and thou shalt not knowe what houre I wyll come vpon thee.
Thou hast a fewe names in Sardis, which haue not defiled their garme{n}tes, and they shall walke with me in white, for they are worthie.
He that ouercommeth, shalbe thus clothed in whyte aray, and I wyll not put out his name out of the booke of life, and I will confesse his name before my father, and before his Angels.
Let him that hath an eare, heare what the spirite sayth vnto the Churches.
And write vnto {th}e Angel of the Church of Philadelphia, this sayth he that is holy and true, which hath the key of Dauid, which openeth, and no man shutteth, and shutteth, and no man openeth.
I knowe thy workes: Beholde, I haue set before thee an open doore, and no man can shut it, for thou hast a litle strength, & hast kept my sayinges: and hast not denyed my name.
Beholde, I make them of the synagogue of Satan, which call them selues Iewes and are not, but do lye: Behold, I wyll make them that they shal come and worshyp before thy feete, and shall knowe that I haue loued thee.
Because thou hast kept the wordes of my patience, therfore I wyll kepe thee from the houre of temptation, which wyll come vpon all the worlde, to trie them that dwel vpon the earth.
Beholde, I come shortly: Holde that which thou haste, that no man take away thy crowne.
Hym that ouerco{m}meth, wyll I make a pyller in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: And I wyll write vpon him the name of my God, and the name of the citie of my God, newe Hierusalem, which commeth downe out of heauen from my God, and [I wyll write vpon hym] my newe name.
Let hym that hath an eare, heare what the spirite sayth vnto {th}e Churches.
And vnto the Angel of the Churche which is in Laodicea, write: This saith Amen, the faythfull and true witnesse, the begynnyng of the creatures of God.
I knowe thy workes, that thou arte neither colde nor hotte: I woulde thou were colde or hotte.
So the{n}, because thou art luke warme, and neither colde nor hotte, I wyll spewe thee out of my mouth:
Because thou sayest, I am riche and increased with goodes, and haue neede of nothyng: & knowest not howe that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poore, and blynde, and naked.
I counsel thee to bye of me gold tryed in the fyre, that thou mayest be riche, and whyte rayment, that thou mayest be clothed, that thy fylthie nakednesse do not appeare, and annoynt thyne eyes with eye salue, that thou mayest see.
As many as I loue, I rebuke and chasten: Be feruent therfore, & repent.
Beholde, I stande at the doore and knocke: If any man heare my voyce, and open the doore, I wyll come in to hym, and wyll suppe with hym, and he with me.
To hym that ouercommeth, wyll I graunt to sitte with me in my throne, euen as I ouercame, and haue sitten with my father in his throne.
Let hym {tha}t hath an eare, heare what the spirite sayth vnto the Churches.
AFter this, I loked, and beholde a doore was open in heaue{n}: and the first voyce which I heard, was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, which saide: Come vp hyther, and I wyll shewethee thynges which must be fulfylled hereafter.
And immediatly I was in the spirite, and behold, a throne was set in heauen, and one sate on the throne.
And he that sate, was to loke vppon like vnto a Iasper stone and a Sardine stone: and there was a raynebowe about the throne, in sight like to an Emeralde.
And about {th}e throne were .xxiiij. seates, and vpon the seates .xxiiij. elders sitting, clothed in whyte rayment, and had on their heades crownes of golde.
And out of the throne proceaded lightnynges, and thundrynges, and voyces, and there were seue{n} lampes of fire burnyng before the throne, whiche are the seuen spirites of God.
And before the throne there was a sea of glasse, lyke vnto cristall, and in the myddest of the throne, & rounde about the throne, were foure beastes, full of eyes before and behynde.
And the first beast was lyke a Lion, and the seconde beast lyke a Calfe, & the thirde beast had a face as a Man, and the fourth beast was like a fleyng Egle.
And the foure beastes had eche one of them sixe wynges about hym, and they were full of eyes within: and they had no rest day neither night, saying: Holy, holy, holy Lorde God almightie, which was, and is, and is to come.
And when those beastes gaue glorie, and honour, and thankes to hym that sate on the throne, which lyueth for euer and euer:
The xxiiij. elders fell downe before him that sate on the throne, and worshipped hym that lyueth for euer, and cast their crownes before the throne, saying:
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receaue glorie, and honour, and power: for thou hast created all thynges, and for thy pleasures sake they are & were created.
ANd I sawe in the right hande of hym that sate on the throne, a booke written within, and on the backe syde, sealed with seuen seales.
And I sawe a strong angell, whiche preached with a loude voyce: Who is worthy to open the booke, and to loose the seales therof?
And no man in heauen, nor in earth, neither vnder the earth, was able to open the booke, neither to loke theron.
And I wept muche, because no man was founde worthy to open & to reade the booke, neither to loke theron.
And one of the elders sayde vnto me, wepe not: behold a Lion of the tribe of Iuda, the roote of Dauid, hath obteyned to open the booke, and to loose the seuen seales therof.
And I behelde, and loe in the middes of the throne and of the foure beastes, and in the middes of the elders, stoode a lambe as though he had ben kylled, hauyng seuen hornes & seuen eyes, whiche are the seuen spirites of God, sent into all the worlde.
And he came, and toke the booke out of the right hande of him that sate vpon the throne.
And when he had taken the booke, the foure beastes and .xxiiij. elders fell downe before the lambe, hauyng euery one of them harpes, and golden vyals full of odours, which are the prayers of saintes:
And they song a newe song, saying: Thou art worthy to take the booke and to open the seales therof: for thou wast kylled, and hast redeemed vs to God by thy blood, out of al kinrede, and tongue, and people, and nation:
And hast made vs vnto our God kinges and priestes, and we shall raigne on the earth.
And I beheld, and I heard the voyce of many angels about the throne, and [about] the beastes and the elders, and hearde thousande thousandes,
Saying with a loude voyce: Worthy is the lambe that was kylled to receaue power, and richesse, and wisedome, and strength, and honor, and glorie, and blessyng.
And all the creatures whiche are in heauen, and on the earth, and vnder the earth, and in the sea, and all that are in them, hearde I, saying: Blessyng, honour, glorie, and power be vnto hym that sitteth vpon the throne, and vnto the lambe for euermore.
And the foure beastes sayde, Amen. And the .xxiiij. elders fell vpon their faces, and worshipped hym that lyueth for euermore.
AND I sawe when the lambe opened one of the seales, and I heard one of the foure beastes say, as it were the noyse of thunder, come and see: and I sawe.
And behold, there was a whyte horse, and he that sate on hym had a bowe, & a crowne was geuen vnto hym, and he went foorth conqueryng, and for to ouercome.
And when he had opened the seconde seale, I hearde the seconde beast saye, come and see.
And there went out another horse that was redde, and power was geuen to him that sate theron to take peace from the earth, and that they should kyll one another: and there was geuen vnto hym a great sworde.
And when he had opened the thirde seale, I hearde the third beast say, come and see. And I behelde, and loe, a blacke horse, and he that sate on hym hadde a payre of balaunces in his hande.
And I hearde a voyce in the myddes of the foure beastes saye: A measure of wheate for a penie, and three measures of barly for a penie, and oyle and wine see thou hurt not.
And when he had opened the fourth seale, I hearde the voyce of the fourth beast say, come and see.
And I loked, and behold a pale horse, & his name that sate on him was death, and hell folowed after hym, and power was geuen vnto them ouer the fourth part of the earth, to kyll with sworde, & with hunger, and with death, and with the beastes of the earth.
And when he had opened the fift seale, I sawe vnder the aulter the soules of them that were kylled for the worde of God, and for the testimonie which they had.
And they cryed with a loude voyce, saying: Howe long taryest thou Lorde, holy and true, to iudge and to auenge our blood on the{m} that dwell on {th}e earth?
And long whyte garmentes were geuen vnto euery one of them: and it was sayde vnto them, that they should reste yet for a litle season, vntyll the number of their felowes, and brethren, and of them that shoulde be kylled as they were, were fulfylled.
And I behelde when he had opened the sixt seale, and loe there was a great earthquake, & the sunne was as blacke as sackcloth made of heere, & the moone waxed all euen as blood:
And the starres of heauen fell vnto the earth, euen as a figge tree casteth her vntimely figges when she is shaken of a myghtie wynde.
And heauen vanished awaye as a scroule when it is roulled together, and all mountaynes and yles were moued out of their places.
And the kynges of the earth, and the great men, and the ryche men, and the chiefe capitaines, and the myghtie men, and euery bonde man, and euery free man, hyd them selues in dennes and in rockes of the hylles:
And sayde to the hylles & rockes, fall on vs, and hyde vs from the presence of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the lambe:
For the great day of his wrath is come: and who is able to endure?
AND after that, I sawe foure angels stande on the foure corners of the earth, holding the foure wyndes of {th}e earth, that the wynde shoulde not blowe on the earth, neither on the sea, neither on any tree.
And I sawe another angell ascende from the rysing of the sunne, which had the seale of the lyuyng God, and he cryed with a loude voyce to the foure angels to whom power was geuen to hurt the earth and the sea,
Saying: Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, neither the trees, tyll we haue sealed the seruau{n}tes of our God in their foreheades.
And I hearde the number of them which were sealed: And there were sealed an C. and xliiii. thousande, of all the tribes of the chyldren of Israel.
Of the tribe of Iuda were sealed .xij. thousande. Of the tribe of Ruben were sealed .xij. thousande. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed .xij. thousande.
Of the tribe of Aser were sealed .xij. thousande. Of the tribe of Nephthali were sealed .xij. thousande. Of {th}e tribe of Manasses were sealed .xij. thousande.
Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed xij. thousande. Of {th}e tribe of Leui were sealed .xij. thousande. Of {th}e tribe of Isachar were sealed .xij. thousande.
Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed xii. thousande. Of the tribe of Ioseph were sealed .xii. thousande. Of the tribe of Beniamin were sealed xii. thousand.
After this I behelde, and we a great multitude which no man could number of all nations, and kinredes, and people, and tongues, stoode before the throne, and before the lambe, clothed with long whyte garmentes, and palmes in their handes,
And cryed with a loude voyce, saying: Saluation be ascribed to hym that sitteth vpon the throne of our God, and vnto the lambe.
And all the angels stoode in the compasse of the throne, and of the elders, & of the foure beastes, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshypped God,
Saying, Amen: Blessyng, and glorie, and wisedome, and thankes, & honour, and power, and myght, be vnto our God for euermore, Amen.
And one of the elders aunswered, saying vnto me: What are these which are arayed in long whyte garmentes? and whence came they?
And he sayde vnto hym, Lorde thou wotest. And he sayde to me: These are they which came out of great tribulation, and haue wasshed their long robes, and made them whyte by the blood of the lambe.
Therefore are they in the presence of the throne of God, and serue hym daye and nyght in his temple, and he that sitteth in the throne, wyll dwell among them.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst, neither shall the sunne lyght on them, neither any heate.
For the lambe which is in the myddes of the throne shall feede them, and shall leade them vnto fountaynes of lyuyng water, and God shall wype awaye all teares from their eyes.
AND when he had opened the seuenth seale, ther was scilence in heaue{n} about the space of halfe an houre:
And I sawe the seuen angels standyng before God, and to them were geuen seuen trumpets.
And another angell came and stoode before the aulter, hauyng a golden senser, and much of odours was geuen vnto hym, that he should offer of the prayers of all saintes vpon the golden aulter which was before the throne.
And the smoke of the odours whiche came of the prayers of all sainte• ascended vp before God, out of the angels hande.
And the angel toke the senser, and fylled it with fire of the aulter, and cast it into the earth: and voyces were made, and thundrynges, and lyghtnynges, & earthquake.
And the seuen angels whiche had the seuen trumpettes, prepared them selues to blowe.
The first angell blewe, & there was made hayre & fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast into the earth, and the thirde part of trees was burnt, and all greene grasse was burnt.
And the seconde angell blewe, and as it were a great mountayne burnyng with fire was cast into the sea, and the thirde part of the sea turned to blood.
And the thirde part of the creatures whiche were in the sea, and hadde lyfe, dyed, and the thirde part of shippes were destroyed.
And the third angell blewe, and there fell a great starre from heauen, burning as it were a lampe, and it fell into the thirde part of the ryuers, and into fountaynes of waters▪
And the 〈◊〉 of the stares is called wormewood, and the thirde part was turned to wormewood, and many men dyed of the waters, because they were made bitter.
And the fourth angell blewe, and the thirde part of the sunne was smytten, and the thirde part of the moone, and the thirde part of starres, so that the thirde part of them was 〈…〉 the day was smitten, that 〈…〉 of it shoulde not s•yne, and lyke 〈◊〉 the nyght.
And I behelde, and hearde an angell fleyng through the myddes of heauen, saying with a loude voyce, wo, wo, wo to the inhabiters of the earth, because of the voyces to come of the trumpe of the three angels which were yet to blowe.
AND the fift angell blewe, and I sawe a starre fall from heauen vnto {th}e earth: and to hym was geuen the key of the bottomlesse pit.
And he opened the bottomlesse pit, and the smoke of the pit arose, as the smoke of a great fornace, and the sunne and the ayre were darkened by the reason of the smoke of the pit.
And there came out of the smoke locustes vpon the earth, and vnto them was geuen power, as the scorpions of the earth haue power.
And it was commaunded them that they shoulde not hurt the grasse of the earth, neither any greene thing, neither any tree: but only those men which haue not the seale of God in their forheades.
And to them was commaunded that they should not kyll them, but that they shoulde be vexed fiue monethes, and their paine was as the payne that commeth of a scorpion when he hath stong a man.
And in those dayes shall men seke death, and shall not fynde it, and shall desire to dye, and death shall flee from them.
And the similitude of the locustes was like vnto horses prepared vnto battayle, and on their heades were as it were crownes lyke vnto golde, and their faces were as it had ben the faces of men.
And they had heere as the heere of women, & their teeth were as {th}e teeth of Lions.
And they had habbergions as it were habbergions of iron, and the sounde of their wynges was as {th}e sounde of charrettes when many horses runne together to batayle.
And they had tayles lyke vnto scorpions, and there were stynges in their tayles: and their power was to hurt men fiue monethes.
And they had a king ouer them, which is the angell of the bottomlesse pytte, whose name in the Hebrue tongue is Abadon, but in {th}e Greke tongue Apollyon, [that is to say, a destroyer.]
One woe is past, & beholde two woes come yet after this.
And the sixt angell blewe, & I hearde a voyce from the foure hornes of the golden aulter, which is before God,
Saying to the sixt angell whiche had the trumpe: Loose the foure angels which are bounde in the great riuer Euphrates.
And the foure angels were loosed, whiche were prepared for an houre, for a day, for a moneth, and for a yere, for to slea the thirde part of men.
And the number of horsemen of warre were twentie thousand times ten thousande, & I hearde the number of them.
And thus I sawe the horses in a vision, and them that sate on them, hauing fierie habbergions of a iacinct colour, and brymstone, and the heades of the horses were as the heades of lions, and out of their mouthes went foorth fire, and smoke, and brymstone.
And of these three was the third part of men kylled [that is to say] of fire, smoke and brymstone, which proceaded out of the mouthes of them.
For their power was in their mouthes, & in their tayles: for their tayles were lyke vnto serpentes, and had heades, & with them they dyd hurt.
And the remnaunt of the men whiche were not killed by these plagues, repented not of the deedes of their handes, that they shoulde not worship deuyls, and idoles of golde, and syluer, & brasse, and stone, and of wood, whiche neither can see, neither heare, neither go:
Also they repented not of their murther, & of their sorcerie, neither of their fornication, neither of their theft.
AND I sawe another myghtie Angel come downe fro{m} heaue{n}, clothed with a cloude, and {th}e raynebowe vpon his head, and his face as it were the sunne, and his feete as it were pillers of fyre.
And he had in his hande a litle booke open, and he put his ryght foote vpon the sea, and his left foote on the earth:
And cryed with a loude voyce, as whe{n} a Lion roreth: And when he had cryed, seuen thunders vttered their voyces.
And when the seuen thunders had vttered their voyces, I was about to write: and I hearde a voyce from heauen, saying vnto me: seale vp those thinges which the seuen thunders vttered, and write them not.
And the Angel which I sawe stande vpon the sea and vpon the earth, lyft vp his hande to heauen,
And sware by hym that lyueth for euermore, which created heauen and the thynges that therin are, & the earth and the thinges that therin are, and the sea, and the thynges which therin are, that there shoulde be no longer tyme.
But in the dayes of the voyce of the seuenth Angel, when he shall begyn to blowe, euen the misterie of God shalbe finished, as he declared to his seruau{n}tes the prophetes.
And the voyce which I hearde from heauen, spake vnto me agayne, & sayde: Go, and take the litle booke which is open in the hande of the Angel, which standeth vpon the sea and vpon {th}e earth.
And I went vnto the Angel, & sayde vnto hym, geue me the litle booke. And he sayde vnto me, take it and eate it vp, and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shalbe in thy mouth as sweete as hony.
And I toke the litle booke out of the Angels hande, and ate it vp, and it was in my mouth as sweete as hony: and assoone as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
And he sayde vnto me, thou must prophesie agayne among the people, and nations, and tongues, & to many kinges.
ANd the{n} was geuen me a reede lyke vnto a rod, and the angel stoode by, saying: Rise & meate {th}e temple of God, & the aulter, and them that worshippe therein:
But the court which is without the temple, cast out, and meate it not: for it is geuen vnto the gentiles, and the holy citie shall they treade vnder foote fourtie and two monethes.
And I wyl geue power vnto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesie a thousande, two hundred, and threescore dayes, clothed in sackcloth.
These are two oliue trees, and two candle stickes, standyng before the God of the earth.
And yf any man wyll hurt them, fyre shal proceade out of their mouthes, & co{n}sume their enemies: And if any man wil hurt them, this wyse must he be kylled.
These haue power to shut heauen, that it rayne not in the dayes of their prophesiyng: and haue power ouer waters, to turne them to blood, and to smite the earth with all maner plagues, as often as they wyll.
And whe{n} they haue finished their testimonie, the beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit, shall make warre against them, and shal ouercome them, and kyll them.
And their bodyes shall lye in {th}e streates of the great citie, which spiritually is called Sodome and Egypt, where our Lorde was crucified.
And they of the people, and kinredes, and tongues, and they of the nations, shall see their bodyes three dayes and an halfe, & shall not suffer their bodyes to be put in graues.
And they that dwell vpon the earth shal reioyce ouer them, and be glad, and shall sende gyftes one to another: for these two prophetes vexed them that dwelt on the earth.
And after three dayes and an halfe, the spirite of lyfe [commyng] from God, shall enter into them: And they shall stande vp vpon their feete, & great feare shall come vpon the{m} which sawe them.
And they shall heare a great voyce from heauen, saying vnto them, come vp hyther. And they shall ascende vp to heauen in a cloude, and their enemies shall see them.
And the same houre shall there be a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the citie shall fall, and in the earthquake shalbe slaine names of men seuen thousande: and the remnaunt shalbe afraide, and geue glorie to the God of heauen.
The seconde wo is past, and beholde the thirde wo wyll come anone.
And the seuenth angell blewe, & there were made greate voyces in heauen, saying: the kyngdomes of this worlde are our Lordes, and his Christes, and he shall raigne for euermore.
And the .xxiiii. elders which sit before God on their seates, fel vpon their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying: we geue thee thankes, O Lorde God almyghtie, which art, and wast, and art to come: for thou hast receaued thy great myght, & hast raigned.
And the nations were angrie, and thy wrath is come, and the tyme of the dead that they shoulde be iudged, and that thou shouldest geue rewarde vnto thy seruauntes the prophetes and saintes, and to them that feare thy name, small and great, and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
And the temple of God was opened in heauen, and there were seene in his temple the arke of his testament: and there folowed lyghtninges, and voyces, and thundringes, and earthquake, and much hayle.
AND there appeared a great wonder in heauen: A woman clothed with the sunne, & the moone vnder her feete, and vpo{n} her head a crowne of twelue starres:
And she was with chylde, and cryed, trauaylyng in birth, and payned redy to be delyuered.
And there appeared another wonder in heauen, for beholde, a great redde dragon, hauing seuen heades, and tenne hornes, and seuen crownes vpon his heades.
And his tayle drue the thirde part of the starres of heauen, and cast them to the earth: And the dragon stoode before the woman which was redie to be deliuered, for to deuoure her chylde assoone as it were borne.
And she brought foorth a man chylde, which shoulde rule all nations with a rodde of yron: And her sonne was taken vp vnto God, and to his throne.
And the woman fled into wildernesse, where she had a place prepared of God, that they should feede her there a thousande two hundreth and threscore days.
And there was a battayle in heauen, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels,
And preuayled not, neither was their place founde any more in heauen.
And the great dragon, that olde serpent, called the deuyll & Satanas, was cast out, which deceaueth all the world: And he was cast into the earth, and his angels were cast out with hym.
And I hearde a loude voyce saying in heauen: Nowe is made saluation, & strength, & the kingdome of our God, & the power of his Christ: For the accuser of our brethren is cast downe, which accused them before our God day & nyght,
And they ouercame hym by the blood of the Lambe, and by the worde of their testimonie, and they loued not their lyues vnto the death.
Therfore reioyce heauens, and ye that dwell in them. Wo to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea: for the deuyll is come downe vnto you, which hath great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short tyme.
And when the dragon sawe that he was cast vnto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought foorth the man chylde.
And to the woman were geuen two winges, of a great Egle, that she myght flee into the wildernesse into her place, where she is norished for a tyme, tymes, and halfe a tyme, from the presence of the serpent.
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water after the woman as it had ben a fludde, that he myght cause her to be caryed away of the fludde.
And the earth holpe the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swalowed vp the ryuer which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went and made warre with the remnaunt of her seede, which kepe the commaundementes of God, & haue the testimonie of Iesus Christe.
And I stoode on the sea sande.
AND I sawe a beast ryse out of the sea, hauing seuen heades, and ten hornes, & vpon his hornes ten crownes, and vpon his head the name of blasphemie.
And the beast which I sawe, was like a Leoparde, and his feete were as [the feete] of a Beare, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion: And the dragon gaue hym his power, and his seate, and great aucthoritie.
And I sawe one of his heades, as it were wounded to death, and his deadly wounde was healed: And all the world wondred after the beast.
And they worshipped the dragon which gaue power vnto the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying: Who is lyke vnto the beast? who is able to warre with hym?
And there was geuen vnto hym a mouth, that spake great thynges and blasphemies, and power was geuen vnto hym, to do .xlij. monethes.
And he opened his mouth vnto blasphemie agaynst God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heauen.
And it was geuen vnto hym to make warre with the saintes, & to ouercome them: And power was geuen him ouer all kinredes, and tongues, and nations,
And al {tha}t dwel vpon the earth, worshipped him whose names are not writte{n} in the booke of lyfe of {th}e lambe, which was killed from the beginnyng of the world.
If any man haue an eare, let hym heare.
He that leadeth into captiuitie, shall go into captiuitie: He that kylleth with a sworde, must be kylled with a sworde. Here is the patience and the fayth of the saintes.
And I behelde another beast commyng vp out of the earth, and he had two hornes lyke a lambe, and he spake as dyd the dragon.
And he dyd all that {th}e first beast coulde do in his presence, & he caused the earth and them which dwell therein, to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
And he dyd great wonders, so that he made fyre come downe from heauen on the earth in the syght of men.
And deceaued them that dwelt on the earth, by the meanes of those signes which he had power to do in the syght of the beast, saying to them that dwelt on the earth, that they shoulde make the image of the beast which had the wounde of a sworde, and dyd lyue.
And he had power to geue a spirite vnto the image of the beast that the image of the beast shoulde speake, and shoulde cause that as many as woulde not worship the image of the beast, shoulde be kylled.
And he made all both smal & great, rich & poore, free & bonde, to receaue a marke in their right hand, or in their forheads.
And that no man myght bye or sell, saue he that had the marke or {th}e name of the beast, other {th}e number of his name.
Here is wisdome. Let hym that hath witte, count {th}e number of the beast: For it is the number of a man, & his number is sixe hundred threescore and sixe.
AND I loked, and lo, a lambe stoode on the mount Sion, and with hym an hundreth fourtie and foure thousande, hauyng his fathers name written in their foreheades.
And I hearde a voyce from heauen, as the sounde of many waters, and as the voyce of a great thunder: And I hearde the voyce of harpers harpyng with their harpes:
And they song as it were a newe song before the throne, and before the foure beastes, & the elders, and no man coulde learne that song, but the hundreth and fourtie & foure thousande, which were redeemed from the earth.
These are they which were not defiled with wome{n}, for they are virgins: These folowe the lambe whither soeuer he goeth: These were redeemed fro{m} men, beyng the first fruites vnto God, and to the lambe.
And in their mouthes was founde no guile: For they are without spot before the throne of God.
And I sawe another angell flee in the middes of heauen, hauyng the euerlastyng Gospell, to preache vnto them that sit and dwel on the earth, and to all nations, and kinredes, and tongues, and people,
Saying with a loude voyce: Feare God, and geue honour to hym, for the houre of his iudgement is come: and worshippe hym that made heauen and earth, and the sea, and fountaynes of water.
And there folowed another angell, saying: Babylon is fallen is fallen that great citie, for she made all nations drinke of the wyne of the wrath of her fornication.
And the thirde angell folowed them, saying with a loude voyce: If any man worshippe the beast and his image, and receaue his marke in his foreheade, or on his hande,
The same shall drynke of the wyne of the wrath of God: yea, of the pure wyne which is powred in {th}e cup of his wrath: And he shalbe punisshed in fyre & brimstone, before the holy angels, and before the lambe.
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp euermore: And they haue no rest day nor nyght which worship the beast and his image, and whosoeuer receaueth the prynt of his name.
Here is the pacience of the saintes: Here are they that kepe the commaundementes of God, and the fayth of Iesus.
And I hearde a voyce from heauen, saying vnto me, write: Blessed are the dead, which hereafter dye in the Lorde. Euen so sayth the spirite, that they rest from their laboures, and their workes folowe them.
And I loked, and beholde a whyte cloude, and vpon the cloude one sittyng lyke vnto the sonne of man, hauyng on his head a golden crowne, and in his hande a sharpe sickle.
And another angell came out of the temple, crying with a loude voyce to hym that sate on the cloude: Thrust in thy sickle & reape, for the time is come to reape: for the haruest of {th}e earth is ripe.
And he that sate on the cloude thrust in his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
And another angell came out of the temple which is in heauen, hau•ng also a sharpe sickle.
And I sawe another angell came out from the aulter, which had power ouer fyre, and cryed with a loude crye to hym that had the sharpe sickle, and sayde: Thrust in thy sharpe sickle, and gather the clusters of the vineyarde of {th}e earth, for her grapes are ripe.
And the angell thrust in his sharpe sickle on the earth, and cut downe the grapes of the vineyarde of the earth, and cast them into the great wynefat of the wrath of God.
And the wynefat was troden without the citie, and blood came out of the fat, euen vnto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand & sixe hundreth furlonges▪
AND I sawe another signe in heauen, great & marueylous, seuen angels hauyng the seuen last plagues, for in them is fulfylled the wrath of God.
And I sawe as it were a glassie sea mingled with fyre, and them that had gotten the victorie of the beast, and of his image, and of his marke, and of the number of his name, stande on {th}e glassie sea, hauyng the harpes of God.
And they sang the song of Moyses the seruaunt of God, and the song of the lambe, saying: Great and marueylous are thy workes Lorde God almightie, iust and true are thy wayes thou kyng of saintes.
Who shall not feare thee O Lorde, and glorifie thy name? for thou only art holy: And all gentiles shal come and worship before thee, for thy iudgeme{n}tes are made manifest.
And after that I loked, and beholde, the temple of the tabernacle of testimonie was open in heauen:
And the seuen angels came out of the temple, which had the seuen plagues, clothed in pure and bryght lynnen, and hauing their brestes girded with golden girdels.
And one of the foure beastes, gaue vnto the seuen angels seuen golden vials, full of the wrath of God which lyueth for euermore.
And the temple was full of the smoke of the glorie of God, and of his power: and no man was able to enter into the temple, tyll the seuen plagues of the seuen angels were fulfylled.
AND I hearde a great voyce out of the temple, saying to {th}e seuen angels: Go your wayes, powre out your vials of wrath vpon the earth.
And the first angell went and powred out his vial vpon the earth, and there fell a noysome and a sore botch vpon the men which had the marke of the beast, and vpon them which worshipped his image.
And the second angell shed out his vial vpon the sea, and it turned as it were into the blood of a dead man: and euery lyuyng thyng dyed in the sea.
And the thirde angell shed out his viall vpon the ryuers and fountaynes of waters, and they turned to blood.
And I hearde the angell of the waters say: Lorde, which art, and wast, thou art ryghteous & holy, because thou hast geuen such iudgementes:
For they shed out the blood of saintes and prophetes, and therfore hast thou geuen them blood to drynke: for they are worthie.
And I heard another out of the aulter say: euen so Lorde God almightie, true and ryghteous are thy iudgementes.
And the fourth angell powred out his viall on the sunne, & power was geuen vnto hym to vexe men with heate of fyre.
And men boyled in great heate, and blasphemed the name of God whiche hath power ouer these plagues, & they repented not, to geue hym glorie.
And the fifth angell powred out his viall vpon the seate of the beast, and his kyngdome waxed darke, & they gnewe their tongues for sorowe,
And blasphemed the God of heauen for their sorowe, and for theirs sores, and repented not of their deedes.
And the sixt angell powred out his vial vpon the great riuer Euphrates, and the water dryed vp, that the wayes of the kynges of {th}e east should be prepared.
And I sawe three vncleane spirites like frogges, come out of the mouth of {th}e dragon, & out of the mouth of the beast, & out of the mouth of the false prophete.
For they are the spirites of deuyls workyng miracles, to go out vnto the kynges of the earth, and of the whole worlde, to gather them to the battayle of that great day of God almightie.
Beholde, I come as a theefe, Happie is he that watcheth and kepeth his garmentes, lest he walke naked, and men see his fylthynesse.
And he gathered them together into a place, called in the Hebrue tongue Armagedon.
And the seuenth angell powred out his viall into the ayre: And there came a great voyce out of the temple of heauen, from the throne, saying: it is done.
And there folowed voyces, thundringes, & lyghtnynges: and there was a great earthquake, such as was not sence men were vpon the earth, so mightie an earquake and so great.
And the great citie was deuided into three partes, and the cities of all nations fell: And great Babylon came in remembraunce before God, to geue vnto her the cup of the wyne of the fearcenesse of his wrath.
Euery Ile also fledde away, and the mountaynes were not founde.
And there fell a great hayle, as it had ben talentes, out of heauen vpon the men, and the men blasphemed God, because of the plague of the hayle: for the plague therof was exceadyng great.
AND there came one of the seue{n} angels, which had the seuen vials, & talked with me, saying vnto me: Come, I wyll shewe vnto thee the iudgement of the great whore that sitteth vpon many waters:
With whom haue committed fornication the kynges of the earth, and the inhabiters of the earth are dronken with the wyne of her fornication.
So he caryed me away in the spirite into the wildernesse: And I sawe a woman sit vpon a scarlet coloured beast, ful of names of blasphemie, which had seuen heades, and ten hornes.
And the woman was arayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with golde, precious stone, and pearles, and had a cup of golde in her hande, full of abhominations and fylthynesse of her fornication.
And in her forehead was a name written, a misterie, great Babylon, the mother of whoredome & abhominations of the earth.
And I sawe {th}e woman dronken with the blood of the martirs of Iesus: And when I sawe her, I wondred with great maruayle.
And the angell sayde vnto me: wherfore maruaylest thou? I wyll shewe thee the misterie of the woman, and of the beast that beareth her, which hath seuen heades, and ten hornes.
The beast that thou seest, was, and is not, and shall ascende out of the bottomlesse pyt, and shall go into perdition, and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder (whose names are not written in the booke of lyfe from the begynnyng of the world) when they beholde the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
And here is a mynde that hath wisdome. The seuen heades, are seuen mountaynes on whiche the woman sitteth: They are also seuen kynges.
Fyue are fallen, & one is, and another is not yet come: And whe{n} he commeth, he must continue a short space.
And the beast that was, and is not, is euen the eyght, and is one of the seuen, and shall go into destruction.
And the ten hornes which thou sawest, are ten kynges, which haue receaued no kyngdome as yet: but shall receaue power as kynges at one houre with the beast.
These haue one mynde, and shal geue their power & strength vnto the beast.
These shall fyght with the lambe, and the lambe shall ouercome them: For he is Lorde of Lordes, and Kyng of Kynges, and they that are on his syde, are called, and chosen, and faythfull.
And he sayde vnto me: The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are people, and folke, & nations, and tongues.
And the ten hornes which thou sawest vpon the beast, are they that shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eate her fleshe, and burne her with fire.
For God hath put in their heartes to fulfyll his wyll, and to do with one consent, for to geue their kyngdome vnto the beast, vntyll the wordes of God be fulfylled.
And the woman which thou sawest, is that great citie which raigneth ouer the kynges of the earth.
AND after that, I sawe another angell come from heauen▪ hauyng great power, and the earth was lyghtened with his glorie.
And •e tryed myghtyly with a strong voyce saying: Great Babylon is fallen•s, fallen, and is become the habitation of deuyls, and the holde of all foule spirites, and a cage of •ll vncleane and hatefull byrdes:
For all nations haue dronken of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, & the kinges of the earth haue committed fornication with her, & the marchauntes of the earth are waxed riche of the aboundaunce of her pleasures.
And I hearde another voyce from heauen say: Come awaye from her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sinnes, and that ye receaue not of her plagues.
For her sinnes are gone vp to heauen, and God hath remembred her wickednesse.
Rewarde her euen as she rewarded you, and geue her double accordyng to her workes, and powre in double to her in the same cuppe which she fylled vnto you.
And as much as she glorified her selfe & lyued wantonly, so much powre ye in for her of punishement & sorowe: for she said in her heart, I sit being a queene, and am no wydowe, and shall see no sorowe.
Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and sorowe, and hunger, and she shalbe brent with fire: for strong is the Lorde whiche shall iudge her.
And they shal bewayl her, & the kinges of the earth shall lament for her, which haue committed fornication with her, & haue lyued wantonly with her, when they shal see the smoke of her burnyng.
And shall stande a farre of for feare of her punishment, saying: Alas, alas, that great citie Babylon, that myghtie citie, for at one houre is thy iudgement come.
And the marchauntes of the earth shall wepe and wayle ouer her, for no man wyll bye their ware any more.
The ware of golde and siluer, and precious stones, neither of pearle, & raynes, and purple, and sylke, and skarlet, and all thinne wood, and all maner vessels of yuorie, and all maner vessels of most precious wood, and of brasse, and yron, and marble,
And synamon, and odours, and oyntmentes, and frankensence, and wine, and oyle, and fine floure, and wheate, & beastes, and sheepe, and horses, & charrets, and bodies, and soules of men.
And the apples that thy soule lusted after are departed from thee, and all thynges which were daintie and had in price are departed from thee, and thou shalt fynde them no more.
The marchauntes of these thynges whiche were waxed ryche, shall stande a farre of fro{m} her for feare of the punishment of her, wepyng and waylyng,
And saying: Alas, alas, that great citie, that was clothed in raynes, and purple, and skarlet, and decked with golde and precious stones, and pearles:
For at one houre so great ryches is come to naught. And euery shippe gouernour, & all they that occupie shippes, and shippemen which worke in the sea, stoode a farre of,
And cryed, when they sawe the smoke of her burnyng, saying: what citie is lyke vnto this great citie?
And they cast dust on their heades, & cryed, wepyng & waylyng, and saying: Alas, alas, that great citie, wherein were made riche all that had shippes in the sea, by reason of her costlynesse, for at one houre is she made desolate.
Reioyce ouer her thou heauen, and ye holy apostles and prophetes: for God hath geuen your iudgement on her.
And a myghtie angell toke vp a stone lyke a great mylstone, and cast it into the sea, saying: With suche violence shall that great citie Babylon be cast, & shalbe founde no more.
And the voyce of harpers, and musitions, & of pypers, and trumpetters, shall be heard no more in thee, and no craftes man, of whatsoeuer craft he be, shall be founde any more in thee, and the sounde of a myll shall be heard no more in thee:
And the lyght of a candle shall shyne no more in thee, and the voyce of the brydegrome and of the bryde shall be hearde no more in thee: for thy marchaunts were the great men of {th}e earth, and with thyne inchauntment were deceaued all nations:
And in her was founde the blood of the prophetes, and of the saintes, and of all that were slayne vpon the earth.
ANd after that I heard a great voyce of much people in heauen, saying Alleluia: Saluation, and glory, and honour, and power, be ascribed to the Lorde our God:
For true and ryghteous are his iudgementes, for he hath iudged the great whore which dyd corrupt {th}e earth with her fornication, and hath auenged the blood of his seruauntes of her hande.
And agayne they sayde Alleluia: and her smoke rose vp for euermore.
And the xxiiij. elders & the foure beastes fell downe, & worshipped God that sate on the throne, saying Amen, Alleluia.
And a voyce came out of the throne, saying: Praise our Lord God all ye that are his seruauntes, & ye that feare hym both small and great.
And I hearde the voyce of much people, euen as the voyce of many waters, and as the voyce of strong thundringes, saying, Alleluia: for the Lorde our God omnipotent raigneth.
Let vs be glad, & reioyce, & geue honor to hym: for the mariage of the lambe is come, & his wyfe made her selfe redy.
And to her was graunted that she should be arayed with pure and goodly raynes: For the raynes is the ryghteousnes of saintes.
And he sayde vnto me, write: Happy are they which are called vnto the supper of the lambes mariage. And he said vnto me: These are the true sayinges of God.
And I fell at his feete to worship him. And he saide vnto me: See thou do it not, for I am thy felowe seruaunt, and of thy brethren, euen of them that haue the testimonie of Iesus. Worship God: For the testimonie of Iesus, is the spirite of prophesie.
And I sawe heauen open, & beholde a white horse, and he that sate vpon him was called faythfull and true, and in ryghteousnesse he doth iudge and make battayle.
His eyes were as a flambe of fire, and on his head were many crownes, and he had a name written, that no man knewe but he hym selfe.
And he was clothed with a vesture dipt in blood, and his name is called the worde of God.
And the warryers which were in heauen folowed hym vppon whyte horses, clothed with whyte and pure raynes.
And out of his mouth went a sharpe sworde, that with it he shoulde smyte the heathen: and he shall rule the{m} with a rodde of yron. And he trode the winefat of fiercenesse and wrath of almightie God.
And hath on his vesture and on his thygh a name written, King of kinges, and Lorde of lordes.
And I sawe an angell stande in the sunne, and he cryed with a loude voyce, saying to all the fowles that flee by the myddes of heauen: Come, and gather your selues together vnto the supper of the great God:
That ye may eate the fleshe of kinges, and the fleshe of hye capitaynes, and the fleshe of myghtie men, and the fleshe of horses, and of them that syt on them, and the fleshe of all free men, and bonde men, and of small and great.
And I sawe the beast, and the kinges of the earth, and their warryers gathered together, to make battayle agaynst hym that sate on the horse, and agaynst his souldyers.
And the beast was taken, and with hym that false prophete that wrought miracles before hym, with which he deceaued them that receaued the beastes marke, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast quicke into a ponde of fire, burnyng with brymstone:
And the remnaunt were slayne with the sworde of hym that sate vppon the horse, whiche sworde proceaded out of his mouth, and all the fowles were fylled with their fleshe.
AND I sawe an angel come downe from heauen, hauyng the key of the bottomelesse pytte, and a great chaine in his hand
And he toke the dragon, that olde serpent, which is the deuyll and Satanas, and he bounde hym a thousand yeres.
And cast hym into the bottomlesse pit, and he shut hym vp, and set a seale on hym, that he shoulde deceaue the people no more, tyll the thousande yeres were fulfylled: and after that, he must be loosed for a litle season.
And I sawe thrones, and they sate vpon them, and iudgement was geuen vnto them: and I sawe the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Iesus, and for the word of God, and whiche had not worshipped the beast neither his image, neither had taken his marke vpon their foreheades, or in their handes: and they lyued and raigned with Christe a thousand yeres.
But the other of the dead men shall not lyue agayne, vntyll the thousande yeres be finished. This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: For on such shal the seconde death haue no power, but they shalbe the priestes of God and of Christe, and shall raigne with hym a thousande yeres.
And when the thousande yeres are expired, Satan shalbe loosed out of his pryson.
And shall go out to deceaue the people which are in the foure quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battayle, whose number is as the sande of the sea.
And they went vp in the playne of the earth, and compassed the tentes of the saintes about, and the beloued citie: and fire came downe from God out of heauen, and deuoured them:
And the deuyll that deceaued them, was cast into a lake of fire & brymstone, where the beast and the false prophete shalbe tormented day & nyght for euermore.
And I sawe a great whyte throne, and him that sate on it, fro{m} whose face fledde away both the earth and heauen, and their place was no more founde.
And I sawe the dead both great and small stand before God, and the bookes were opened: and another booke was opened, which is [the booke] of lyfe, and the dead were iudged of those thynges whiche were written in the bookes, accordyng to their deedes.
And the sea gaue vp her dead whiche were in her, and death and hell delyuered vp the dead whiche were in them: and they were iudged euery man accordyng to his deedes.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fyre. This is the seconde death.
And whosoeuer was not founde written in the booke of lyfe, was cast into the lake of fire.
AND I sawe a newe heauen & a new earth: for the first heauen & the first earthwere vanisshed awaye, & there was no more sea.
And I Iohn sawe the holy citie newe Hierusalem come downe from God out of heauen, prepared as a bride garnisshed for her husbande.
And I hearde a great voyce out of heauen, saying: Beholde, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he wyll dwell with them, and they shalbe his people, and God hym selfe shalbe with them, and be their God.
And God shall wype away all teares from their eyes: and there shalbe no more death, neither sorowe, neither crying, neither shall there be any more payne, for the former thynges are gone.
And he that sate vpon the throne, said: Beholde, I make all thynges newe. And he sayde vnto me, write: for these wordes are faythfull and true.
And he sayde vnto me, it is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the begynnyng and the ende: I wyll geue to hym that is a thirst of the well of the water of lyfe freely.
He that ouercommeth, shall inherite all thynges, and I wyl be his God, and he shalbe my sonne.
But the fearefull and vnbeleuing, and the abhominable, and murtherers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, & all lyers, shall haue their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brymstone: which is the seconde death.
And there came vnto me one of the seuen angels whiche had the seuen vyals full of the seuen last plagues, and talked with me, saying: Come hyther, I wyll shewe thee the bryde, the lambes wyfe.
And he caryed me away in the spirite to a great and an hye mountayne, and he shewed me the great citie holy Hierusalem, descendyng out of heauen fro{m} God,
Hauing the glorie of God: and her shining was lyke vnto a stone most precious, euen lyke a Iasper, cleare as Cristall.
And had walles great and hye, & had xij. gates, and at the gates .xij. angels, & names written, which are the names of the .xij. tribes of Israel.
On the east syde three gates, and on the north syde three gates, and towards the south three gates, and fro{m} the west three gates.
And the wall of the citie had .xij. foundations, and in them the .xij. names of the lambes .xij. Apostles.
And he that talked with me had a golden reede to measure the citie withall, and the gates thereof, and the wall therof.
And the citie was buylt foure square, & the length was as large as {th}e breadth: and he measured the citie with the reede twelue thousande furlonges, and the length, and the breadth, and the heyght of it were equall.
And he measured the wall thereof an hundreth and fourtie and foure cubites, by the measure of man, that is of the angell.
And the buylding of the wall of it was of Iasper, and the citie was pure golde lyke vnto cleare glasse.
And the foundations of the wall of the citie were garnisshed with all maner of precious stones. The first foundation was Iasper, the seconde Saphire, the third a Chalcedonie, the fourth an Emeralde,
The fifth Sardonix, {th}e sixth Sardius, the seuenth Chrysolite, the eygth Beryl, the ninth a Topas, the tenth a Chrysoprasus, the eleue{n}th a Iacinct, {th}e twelfth an Amatist.
The .xij. gates were .xij pearles, euery gate was of one pearle, and the streate of the citie was pure golde, as through shynyng glasse.
And I sawe no temple therin: For the Lorde God almightie and the Lambe, are the temple of it.
And the citie hath no neede of the sunne, neither of the moone to lighten it: For the glorie of God dyd lighten it, and the Lambe is the lyght of it.
And the people which are saued, shall walke in the lyght of it: and the kynges of the earth shall bryng their glorie and honor vnto it.
And the gates of it are not shut by day, for there shalbe no nyght.
And they shall bring the glory and honor of the gentiles vnto it.
And there shall enter into it none vncleane thyng, neither whatsoeuer worketh abhomination, or maketh lyes: but they only which are written in the lambes booke of lyfe.
AND he shewed me a pure ryuer of water of lyfe, cleare as Cristall, proceadyng out of the throne of god, and of the lambe.
In the middes of the streate of it, H. L. and of either side of the ryuer, was there wood of lyfe, which bare twelue maner of fruites, and gaue fruite euery moneth: and the leaues of the wood serued to heale the people withall.
And there shalbe no more curse, but the throne of God and the lambe shalbe in it: and his seruauntes shal serue hym.
And they shall see his face, & his name shalbe in their foreheades.
And there shalbe no nyght there, and they neede no candle, neither lyght of the sunne: for the Lorde God geueth them lyght, and they shall raigne for euermore.
And he sayde vnto me: these sayinges are faythfull and true. And the Lorde God of the holy prophetes, sent his angell to shewe vnto his seruauntes, the thynges which must shortly be fulfilled.
Beholde, I come shortly: Happy is he that kepeth {th}e saying of the prophecie of this booke.
I Iohn sawe these thynges, & hearde them: And when I had hearde and seene, I fell downe to worship before the feete of the angell, which shewed me these thynges.
And he sayde vnto me: see thou do it not, for I am thy felowe seruaunt, and the felowe seruaunt of thy brethren the prophetes, and of them which kepe the sayinges of this booke: But worshippe God.
And he sayde vnto me, seale not the sayinges of the prophecie of this booke: For the tyme is at hande.
He that doeth euyll, let hym do euyll styll: and he which is filthie, let hym be filthie styll: and he that is ryghteous, let hym be ryghteous styll: and he that is holy, let hym be holy styll.
And beholde, I come shortly, and my rewarde is with me, to geue euery man accordyng as his deedes shalbe.
I am Alpha and Omega, the begynnyng and the ende, the first and the last.
Blessed are they that do his commaundementes, that their power may be in the tree of lyfe, and may enter in through the gates into the citie.
For without shalbe dogges, and inchaunters, and whoremongers, and murtherers, and idolaters, and whosoeuer loueth or maketh •easynges.
I Iesus sent myne angell, to testifie vnto you these thynges in {th}e Churches. I am the roote and the generation of Dauid, and the bryght mornyng starre.
And the spirite and the bride say, come. And let hym that heareth, say also, come. And let hym that is a thirst, come. And let whosoeuer wyll, take of the water of lyfe, freely.
I testifie vnto euery man that heareth the wordes of {th}e prophecie of this booke: If any man shall adde vnto these thynges, God shall adde vnto hym the plagues that are written in this booke.
And yf any man shall minishe of the wordes of the booke of this prophecie, God shal take away his part out of the booke of lyfe, and out of the holy citie, and from the thynges which are writte{n} in this booke.
He which testifieth these thynges, sayth surely, I come quickly. Amen. Euen so, come Lorde Iesus.
The grace of our Lord Iesus Christe be with you all. Amen.
