,,the ,,children',s ,,bible ,,selections ,,from ,,the ,,old ,,and ,,new ,,testaments ,,translated ,,and ,,arranged ,,by ,,henry ,a4 ,,sherman ,,head ,,of ,,the ,,department ,,of ,,religious ,,literature ,,of ,,charles ,,scribner',s ,,sons ,,and ,,charles ,,foster ,,kent ,,woolsey ,,professor ,,of ,,biblical ,,literature ,,in ,,yale ,,university ,illustration3 7,c7 ,curtis ,publishing ,company ,suffer the little children to come unto me1 and forbid them not3 for of such is the kingdom of ,god ,,new ,,york ,,charles ,,scribner',s ,,sons ,,mcmxxxvi ,,copyright1 #aibb1 ,,by ,,charles ,,scribner',s ,,sons ,all rights reserved1 including that of translation into foreign languages1 including ,scandinavian ,printed in the ,united ,states of ,america ,,preface ,the ,children's ,bible provides1 in simple ,english1 a translation of selections from both the ,old and the ,new ,testament4 ,these selections have been made as a result of more than twenty-five years of observation and study4 ,the text is that of the ,bible itself1 but in the language of the child1 so that it may easily be read to the younger children and by those who are older4 ,it is not in words of one syllable1 for while the child is reading the ,bible he should gradually learn the meaning of new words and idioms4 ,the ,bible contains the foundations on which the religious life of the child must be built4 ,the immortal stories and songs of the ,old and ,new ,testaments are his richest inheritance from the past4 ,to give him this heritage in language and form that he can understand and enjoy is the duty and privilege of his parents and teachers4 ,it is hoped that ,the ,children's ,bible will meet the need and the demand1 which parents and educators alike have long felt and often expressed1 for a simple translation of selections from the ,bible most suited to the needs and the interests of the child4 ,it is also believed that after the child has learned to appreciate and love these stories and songs1 he will be eager and able to read the ,bible as a whole with genuine interest and understanding4 ,,contents ,,the ,,old ,,testament ,,page ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,creation #c ,,god',s ,,good ,,gifts ,,to ,,man #d ,,the ,,first ,,disobedience #e ,,cain ,,and ,,his ,,brother ,,abel #f ,,noah ,,and ,,the ,,great ,,flood #g ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,tower ,,of ,,babel #i ,,abraham ,,the ,,friend ,,of ,,god ,,and ,,man #aj ,,lot',s ,,escape ,,from ,a ,,wicked ,,city #aa ,,god',s ,,care ,,for ,,the ,,boy ,,ishmael #ad ,,abraham',s ,,loyalty ,,to ,,god #ad ,,how ,,rebekah ,,became ,,the ,,wife ,,of ,,isaac #ae ,,how ,,jacob ,,deceived ,,his ,,father #ai ,,jacob',s ,,dream #ba ,,the ,,deceiver ,,deceived #bb ,,meeting ,a ,,brother ,,who ,,had ,,been ,,wronged #bd ,,joseph ,,sold ,,as ,a ,,slave ,,by ,,his ,,brothers #bf ,,joseph',s ,,eagerness ,,to ,,help ,,others #bg ,a ,,prisoner ,,who ,,became ,a ,,mighty ,,ruler #bi ,,the ,,testing ,,of ,,joseph',s ,,brothers #cb ,,joseph',s ,,forgiveness ,,of ,,his ,,brothers #cf ,,joseph',s ,,loyalty ,,to ,,his ,,family #ch ,,the ,,boyhood ,,and ,,training ,,of ,,moses #dj ,,the ,,voice ,,from ,,the ,,bush #db ,,pharaoh ,,the ,,stubborn ,,ruler #dd ,,the ,,cost ,,of ,,being ,,cruel ,,and ,,stubborn #de ,,the ,,escape ,,from ,,egypt #di ,,god',s ,,commands ,,to ,,the ,,people #eb ,,our ,,duties ,,to ,,god ,,and ,,man #ed ,,the ,,report ,,of ,,the ,,hebrew ,,spies #ee ,,the ,,last ,,words ,,of ,,moses #ef ,,crossing ,,the ,,river ,,jordan #eg ,,the ,,capture ,,of ,,jericho ,,and ,,ai #fj ,,women ,,who ,,saved ,a ,,nation #fb ,,gideon',s ,,brave ,,band #fd ,,jephthah',s ,,foolish ,,promise #fg ,,samson ,,who ,,did ,,to ,,others ,,as ,,they ,,did ,,to ,,him #fi ,a ,,strong ,,man ,,who ,,lost ,,his ,,strength #ga ,,the ,,devotion ,,of ,,ruth #gd ,,samuel ,,the ,,boy ,,prophet #gh ,,the ,,ark ,,among ,,the ,,philistines #ha ,,how ,,samuel ,,found ,a ,,leader #hd ,,jonathan',s ,,brave ,,deed #hg ,,david',s ,,victory ,,over ,,the ,,giant #ij ,,saul',s ,,mean ,,jealousy #ic ,,jonathan',s ,,love ,,for ,,david #id ,,the ,,cost ,,of ,a ,,lie #ig ,a ,,soldier ,,who ,,spared ,,his ,,enemy #ih ,,abigail',s ,,sensible ,,advice #aja ,,making ,,the ,,best ,,of ,,trouble #ajc ,,the ,,death ,,of ,,two ,,brave ,,warriors #ajf ,a ,,shepherd ,,boy ,,who ,,was ,,called ,,to ,,lead ,a ,,nation #aji ,,jerusalem ,,made ,,the ,,capital ,,city #aaa ,,david',s ,,kindness ,,to ,,jonathan',s ,,son #aab ,a ,,rich ,,man ,,who ,,was ,a ,,thief #aac ,,absalom ,,the ,,ungrateful ,,son #aae ,a ,,broken-,,hearted ,,father #aai ,,how ,,solomon ,,became ,,the ,,ruler ,,of ,,israel #abj ,a ,,young ,,man',s ,,wise ,,choice #abc ,,building ,a ,,great ,,temple #abd ,a ,,ruler ,,who ,,wronged ,,his ,,people #abe ,,rehoboam',s ,,great ,,mistake #abg ,,elijah ,,and ,,the ,,widow',s ,,son #abh ,,the ,,prophet ,,of ,,fire #acj ,,god',s ,,low ,,whisper #acb ,,ahab ,,the ,,thief #acd ,,micaiah',s ,,courage ,,in ,,telling ,,the ,,truth #ace ,,the ,,mantle ,,of ,,elijah #acg ,,elisha ,,healing ,,the ,,sick ,,boy #ach ,a ,,slave ,,girl ,,who ,,helped ,,her ,,master #aci ,,elisha',s ,,way ,,of ,,treating ,,enemies #ada ,,the ,,end ,,of ,,ahab',s ,,selfish ,,family #add ,,the ,,boy ,,joash ,,on ,,the ,,throne ,,of ,,judah #adf ,a ,,young ,,man ,,who ,,said1 ,,send ,,me #adg ,,jeremiah',s ,,call ,,to ,,do ,a ,,hard ,,task #adh ,,the ,,young ,,josiah ,,and ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,the ,,law #adi ,,the ,,writing ,,of ,,an ,,ancient ,,book #aea ,a ,,prophet ,,who ,,saved ,a ,,great ,,city #aec ,,jeremiah',s ,,courage ,,in ,,danger #aee ,,the ,,sad ,,fate ,,of ,a ,,guilty ,,nation #aef ,,the ,,courage ,,of ,,four ,,captives #aeh ,a ,,king',s ,,strange ,,dream #aei ,,the ,,test ,,by ,,fire #afb ,,the ,,handwriting ,,on ,,the ,,wall #afd ,,daniel ,,in ,,the ,,lions' ,,den #aff ,,queen ,,esther',s ,,love ,,for ,,her ,,people #afg ,,rebuilding ,,the ,,temple #agd ,,nehemiah',s ,,answer ,,to ,a ,,call ,,for ,,help #age ,,overcoming ,,great ,,difficulties #agg ,a ,,brave ,,knight #agi ,,jonah ,,the ,,narrow-,,minded ,,patriot #ahj ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,job #ahb ,,the ,,king ,,of ,,glory #aij ,,god ,,the ,,loving ,,creator #aia ,,god ,,the ,,loving ,,father #aic ,,god ,,from ,,whom ,,all ,,good ,,things ,,come #aid ,,god',s ,,goodness ,,and ,,mercy #aid ,,god ,,the ,,all-,,seeing #aie ,,god ,,who ,,always ,,watches ,,over ,,his ,,people #aig ,,god ,,who ,,protects ,,from ,,all ,,danger #aig ,,god',s ,,protection ,,of ,,those ,,who ,,trust ,,in ,,him #aii ,,god',s ,,loving ,,care #bjj ,,trusting ,,in ,,god',s ,,care #bja ,a ,,prayer ,,of ,,trust #bja ,,safety ,,in ,,god',s ,,care #bjb ,,god ,,our ,,refuge #bjc ,,the ,,joy ,,of ,,worshipping ,,god #bjd ,,what ,,god ,,asks ,,of ,,those ,,who ,,worship ,,him #bje ,a ,,call ,,to ,,praise ,,god #bjf ,,the ,,united ,,song ,,of ,,praise #bjf ,,man',s ,,place ,,in ,,god',s ,,world #bjh ,,the ,,reward ,,of ,,doing ,,right #bjh ,a ,,prayer ,,for ,,forgiveness #bji ,,the ,,rewards ,,of ,,listening ,,to ,,the ,,advice ,,of ,,the ,,wise #baa ,,what ,,god ,,likes ,,and ,,dislikes #bab ,,god',s ,,care ,,for ,,those ,,who ,,try ,,to ,,do ,,right #bac ,,the ,,way ,,to ,,be ,,well ,,and ,,happy #bad ,,the ,,importance ,,of ,,being ,,willing ,,to ,,learn #bad ,,how ,,to ,,honor ,,your ,,parents #bae ,,the ,,troubles ,,of ,,those ,,who ,,are ,,lazy #baf ,,things ,,that ,,are ,,better ,,than ,,riches #baf ,,right ,,eating ,,and ,,drinking #bag ,,the ,,right ,,use ,,of ,,the ,,tongue #bah ,,the ,,control ,,of ,,the ,,temper #bah ,,what ,,it ,,means ,,to ,,be ,,modest #bai ,,being ,,generous ,,and ,,loving #bai ,,the ,,new ,,testament ,,jesus ,,is ,,born ,,at ,,bethlehem #bbc ,,the ,,wise ,,men ,,bring ,,gifts ,,to ,,the ,,young ,,child #bbd ,,the ,,boy ,,jesus ,,asks ,,questions #bbe ,,john ,,the ,,baptist ,,tells ,,of ,,jesus' ,,work #bbe ,,jesus ,,decides ,,how ,,he ,,will ,,do ,,his ,,work #bbf ,,jesus ,,wins ,,devoted ,,friends #bbg ,,the ,,wedding ,,at ,,cana #bbh ,,the ,,healing ,,of ,,the ,,ten ,,lepers #bbi ,,healing ,,the ,,man ,,at ,,the ,,pool #bbi ,,jesus ,,talks ,,with ,a ,,samaritan ,,woman #bcj ,,giving ,,life ,,to ,a ,,widow',s ,,son #bca ,,jesus ,,heals ,,the ,,sick #bcb ,,jesus ,,cures ,a ,,man ,,who ,,cannot ,,walk #bcc ,,jesus ,,makes ,,even ,,wrong-,,doers ,,his ,,friends #bcc ,,jesus ,,finds ,,joy ,,in ,,all ,,his ,,work #bcd ,,jesus ,,calms ,,the ,,storm #bce ,,jesus ,,heals ,a ,,little ,,girl #bcf ,,jesus ,,visits ,,his ,,old ,,home #bcg ,,jesus ,,calls ,,together ,,his ,,friends ,,and ,,helpers #bch ,,what ,,jesus ,,asks ,,of ,,his ,,friends ,,and ,,helpers #bch ,,the ,,way ,,to ,,learn ,,from ,,jesus #bci ,,the ,,rewards ,,for ,,following ,,jesus' ,,teachings #bda ,,god',s ,,love ,,even ,,for ,,sinners #bdb ,,god',s ,,readiness ,,to ,,answer ,,prayer #bdc ,,how ,,to ,,pray #bdd ,,why ,,we ,,should ,,trust ,,god #bde ,,the ,,kingdom ,,of ,,god #bde ,,the ,,two ,,great ,,commandments #bdg ,,the ,,rewards ,,of ,,modesty ,,and ,,unselfishness #bdg ,,how ,,to ,,use ,,money #bdh ,,different ,,ways ,,of ,,using ,,talents #bdi ,,the ,,good ,,samaritan #bej ,,the ,,way ,,to ,,treat ,,those ,,who ,,wrong ,,us #bej ,,the ,,golden ,,rule #bea ,,the ,,people ,,who ,,are ,,really ,,happy #beb ,,jesus ,,sends ,,out ,,the ,,first ,,missionaries #beb ,,jesus ,,praises ,,john ,,the ,,baptist #bec ,,jesus ,,feeds ,,the ,,hungry #bed ,,jesus ,,tells ,,what ,,it ,,means ,,to ,,be ,,clean #bef ,,jesus ,,is ,,kind ,,to ,a ,,stranger #bef ,,jesus ,,makes ,,an ,,heroic ,,choice #beg ,,jesus ,,is ,,glorified #beh ,,jesus ,,tells ,,how ,,one ,,may ,,become ,,great #beh ,,jesus ,,makes ,,the ,,wicked ,,zaccheus ,,his ,,friend #bei ,,jesus ,,is ,,gladly ,,welcomed ,,by ,,the ,,people #bei ,,jesus ,,fights ,,wrong ,,in ,,the ,,temple #bfj ,,jesus ,,condemns ,,those ,,who ,,pretend ,,to ,,be ,,good #bfb ,,jesus ,,warns ,,his ,,disciples #bfc ,,jesus ,,cures ,a ,,blind ,,man #bfd ,,jesus ,,tells ,,what ,,he ,,came ,,to ,,do #bfe ,,jesus ,,brings ,,lazarus ,,back ,,to ,,life #bff ,,jesus ,,praises ,a ,,woman ,,who ,,gave ,,her ,,best #bfh ,,jesus ,,eats ,,the ,,last ,,supper ,,with ,,his ,,disciples #bfh ,,jesus ,,encourages ,,his ,,friends ,,and ,,helpers #bfi ,,jesus ,,is ,,seized ,,by ,,the ,,mob #bga ,,jesus ,,in ,,the ,,hands ,,of ,,his ,,enemies #bgb ,,jesus ,,is ,,crucified ,,by ,,his ,,enemies #bgd ,,jesus ,,conquers ,,death #bgf ,,jesus ,,walks ,,and ,,talks ,,with ,,two ,,of ,,his ,,disciples #bgg ,,jesus ,,gives ,,his ,,last ,,command ,,to ,,his ,,helpers #bgh ,,the ,,wonders ,,of ,,the ,,day ,,of ,,pentecost #bhj ,,the ,,healing ,,of ,,the ,,lame ,,man ,,at ,,the ,,beautiful ,,gate #bha ,,the ,,generosity ,,of ,,the ,,early ,,christians #bhc ,,stephen ,,the ,,first ,,christian ,,martyr #bhd ,,philip ,,and ,,the ,,ethiopian #bhf ,,peter ,,and ,,the ,,roman ,,officer #bhg ,,peter',s ,,escape ,,from ,,prison #bhi ,,paul',s ,,account ,,of ,,what ,,he ,,saw ,,and ,,heard ,,on ,,his ,,way ,,to ,,damascus #bij ,,the ,,christian ,,church ,,at ,,antioch #bia ,,paul ,,and ,,barnabas ,,in ,,foreign ,,lands #bib ,,why ,,paul ,,went ,,to ,,macedonia #bie ,,paul ,,and ,,silas ,,in ,,macedonia #bif ,,paul',s ,,great ,,speech ,,at ,,athens #bih ,,paul ,,writes ,,to ,,his ,,friends ,,at ,,thessalonica #bii ,,paul',s ,,work ,,at ,,corinth #cja ,,paul ,,writes ,,to ,,his ,,friends ,,in ,,corinth #cja ,,the ,,new ,,life ,,after ,,death #cjd ,,ways ,,of ,,showing ,,love #cje ,,paul',s ,,trials ,,and ,,victories ,,at ,,ephesus #cje ,,paul ,,writes ,,to ,,the ,,christians ,,at ,,rome #cjg ,,paul',s ,,last ,,journey ,,to ,,jerusalem #cjh ,,paul',s ,,narrow ,,escape ,,from ,,death #caj ,a ,,prisoner ,,who ,,preached ,,to ,,his ,,judges #cac ,,paul',s ,,shipwreck #cae ,,the ,,end ,,of ,,paul',s ,,long ,,journey #cah ,,paul',s ,,last ,,words ,,to ,,his ,,friends #cai ,,the ,,meaning ,,of ,,faith #cba ,,the ,,importance ,,of ,,doing ,,what ,,is ,,right #cbb ,,the ,,love ,,that ,,makes ,,men ,,brothers #cbc ,,the ,,glory ,,and ,,honor ,,that ,,jesus ,,has ,,won #cbd ,,the ,,reward ,,of ,,the ,,faithful #cbf ,,the ,,new ,,heaven ,,on ,,earth #cbg ,,illustrations ,,in ,,color ,the ,lord ,is ,my ,shepherd ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor ,cover ,suffer the ,little ,children to ,come ,unto ,me ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor ,title page ,,facing ,,page ,hagar and ,ishmael in the ,wilderness ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor #ad ,rebekah ,comes to ,isaac ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor #ah ,saul and ,david ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor #ij ,the ,parting of ,elijah and ,elisha ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor #ach ,the ,prophet ,isaiah ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor #adh ,lo1 ,children ,are a ,heritage of the ,lord ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor #aid ,i ,will ,lift ,up ,mine ,eyes ,unto the ,hills ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor #aih ,the ,nativity ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor #bbc ,the ,three ,wise ,men ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor #bbd ,o ,little ,town of ,bethlehem ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor #bbf ,seeking the ,lost ,sheep ,painted by ,herbert ,moore #bdb ,the ,prodigal ,son ,painted by ,herbert ,moore #bdd ,the ,good ,samaritan ,painted by ,herbert ,moore #bej ,among the ,lowly ,painted by ,l4 ,l'hermitte #bef ,,in ,,duotone ,,facing ,,page ,building the ,tower of ,babel ,painted by ,j4 ,james ,tissot #aj ,the ,testing of ,abraham ,painted by ,fritz von ,uhde #af ,joseph ,converses with ,judah1 ,his ,brother ,painted by ,j4 ,james ,tissot #cf ,the ,finding of ,moses ,painted by ,juliaan de ,vriendt #db ,ruth ,painted by ,henry ,ryland #gf ,daniel's ,answer to the ,king ,painted by ,briton ,riviere #aff ,esther ,denouncing ,haman ,painted by ,ernest ,normand #agd ,christ and the ,fishermen ,painted by ,e4 ,zimmerman #bbh ,raising the ,daughter of ,jairus ,painted by ,leon ,gerome #bcf ,christ with ,mary and ,martha ,painted by ,h4 ,siemiradzki #bch ,the ,sower ,painted by ,herbert ,moore #bdj ,christ on the ,hilltop ,painted by ,c4 ,a4 ,slade #beb ,christ in the ,temple ,painted by ,c4 ,a4 ,slade #bfj ,the ,last ,supper #bfh ,the ,walk to ,emmaus ,painted by ,eugene ,girardet #bgh ,st4 ,paul ,preaching at ,athens ,painted by ,raphael #bih ,,the ,,old ,,testament ,,the ,,children',s ,,bible ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,creation ,in the beginning ,god made the heavens and the earth1 and while the earth was still unformed1 ,god said1 ,let there be light1 and there was light4 ,and ,god saw that the light was good4 ,then ,god separated the light from the darkness4 ,and ,god called the light ,day and the darkness ,night4 ,and there was an evening and a morning1 making the first day4 ,and ,god said1 ,let there be a sky and let it divide the waters that are below from the waters that are above the sky4 ,and it was done4 ,and ,god called the sky the ,heavens4 ,and there was an evening and a morning1 making the second day4 ,and ,god said1 ,let the waters under the heavens be brought together1 and let the dry land appear4 ,and it was done4 ,and ,god called the dry land ,earth and the waters that were brought together ,seas4 ,and ,god saw that it was good4 ,and ,god said1 ,let plants and trees grow from the earth4 ,and it was done4 ,and plants and trees grew from the earth1 each plant bringing forth its own kind of seed and each tree its own kind of fruit1 and ,god saw that it was good4 ,and there was an evening and a morning1 making the third day4 ,and ,god said1 ,let there be lights in the heavens to separate the night from the day4 ,let them be signs to mark the seasons1 the days1 and the years4 ,let them be lights in the heavens to light the earth4 ,and it was done4 ,so ,god made the two great lights 7the sun and the moon73 the greater to rule the day and the lesser to rule the night4 ,god made the stars also and placed them in the heavens to throw light upon the earth4 ,and ,god saw that it was good4 ,and there was an evening and a morning1 making the fourth day4 ,and ,god said1 ,let the waters bring forth many living creatures and let birds fly above the earth and in the sky4 ,and ,god made large sea-monsters and all kinds of living creatures with which the waters abound1 and all kinds of birds4 ,and ,god saw that it was good4 ,and he blessed them1 saying1 ,increase and fill the waters in the seas1 and let the birds increase on the earth4 ,and there was an evening and a morning1 making the fifth day4 ,and ,god said1 ,let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures1 cattle and creeping things and wild beasts4 ,and it was done4 ,so ,god made all the different kinds of wild beasts1 and the cattle1 and everything that crawls upon the ground4 ,and ,god saw that it was good4 ,and ,god said1 ,let us make man like ourselves4 ,let him rule over the fish in the sea1 the birds of the sky1 the cattle1 the wild beasts and all the living things that crawl upon the ground4 ,and ,god made man like himself1 like ,god he made him4 ,he made them male and female4 ,and ,god blessed them1 and said to them1 ,have children1 increase1 live all over the earth1 and conquer it2 rule over the fish of the sea1 the birds of the sky1 and over every living thing that crawls upon the ground4 ,and ,god said1 ,see1 to you ,i give every plant which grows on all the earth1 and every tree which bears fruit with its own kind of seed4 ,it shall be food for you4 ,and to every wild beast and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that crawls on the earth and is alive1 ,i give every green herb for food4 ,and it was done4 ,and when ,god saw everything that he had made1 he saw that it was very good4 ,and there was an evening and a morning1 making the sixth day4 ,and the heavens and the earth were finished and all that there was in them4 ,and on the seventh day when ,god had finished the work which he had done1 he rested from all his work4 ,and ,god blessed the seventh day and made it holy1 for in it he rested from all the work which he had done4 ,,god',s ,,good ,,gifts ,,to ,,man ,at the time when ,jehovah made earth and heaven1 no trees or plants grew on the earth1 for ,jehovah had not yet sent the rain2 and there was no man to till the soil2 but a mist rose from the earth and watered the ground4 ,then ,jehovah made man out of dust taken from the ground and breathed into him the breath of life2 and man became a living being4 ,and ,jehovah planted a garden in ,eden1 far in the ,east2 and out of the ground he made grow all kinds of trees that are pleasant to look at and good for food1 also the tree of life and the tree that gives the knowledge of good and evil4 ,then ,jehovah took the man and put him in the garden of ,eden to till it and to care for it4 ,and ,jehovah gave the man this command3 ,you may eat all you wish from every tree of the garden1 except from the tree that gives the knowledge of good and evil2 from this you shall not eat1 for if you eat from it you shall surely die4 ,then ,jehovah said1 ,it is not good for the man to be alone2 ,i will make a companion for him4 ,so out of the ground ,jehovah made all the wild beasts and birds1 and brought them to the man to see what he would name them2 and whatever he called each living thing that became its name4 ,but for the man himself there was found no companion suited to him4 ,then ,jehovah made the man fall into a deep sleep2 and while he slept1 he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh4 ,the rib which he had taken from the man1 ,jehovah made into a woman and brought her to the man4 ,then the man said1 ,because she was made from my body1 she shall be called ,woman4 ,,the ,,first ,,disobedience ,now the serpent was more deceitful than any other animal that ,jehovah had made2 and it said to the woman1 ,has ,god really said1 ',you shall not eat from any tree of the garden'8 ,the woman answered1 ,we may eat of the fruit of all the trees of the garden except the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden1 for ,god has said1 ',you shall not eat from it1 nor shall you touch it2 for if you do1 you shall die4' ,then the serpent said to the woman1 ,you shall not surely die2 for ,god knows that as soon as you eat of it your eyes will be opened1 and you will know what is good and what is evil4 ,when the woman saw that the tree was good for food1 beautiful to look at and that it would make her wise1 she took some of its fruit and ate it4 ,then she gave some to her husband who was with her1 and he ate4 ,then the eyes of both of them were opened1 so that they knew that they were naked2 and they sewed fig-leaves together and made girdles for themselves4 ,when they heard the sound of the footsteps of ,jehovah1 as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day1 the man and his wife hid from him among the trees of the garden4 ,and ,jehovah called to the man and said to him1 ,where are you8 and he answered1 ,i heard the sound of thy footsteps in the garden and ,i was afraid1 because ,i was naked2 so ,i hid myself4 ,jehovah said1 ,who told you that you were naked8 ,have you eaten from the tree from which ,i forbade you to eat8 ,the man answered1 ,the woman whom thou didst give to me--she gave me fruit from the tree and ,i ate4 ,jehovah said to the woman1 ,what is this that you have done8 ,the woman replied1 ,the serpent deceived me1 and ,i ate4 ,then ,jehovah said to the serpent1 ,because you have done this1 you shall be hated more than all beasts4 ,you shall crawl on your belly and eat dust all your life1 and men and serpents shall always be enemies4 ,they shall bruise your head1 and you shall wound them on the heel4 ,to the woman he said1 ,i will greatly increase your trouble and your pain1 and you shall be subject to your husband1 and he shall rule over you4 ,but to the man he said1 ,because you have listened to your wife and have eaten of the tree from which ,i forbade you to eat1 as long as you live you shall earn a living only by hard work4 ,by hard work shall you raise food to eat4 ,and you shall die and your body go back to the ground1 for from dust you were made1 and to dust you shall return6 ,and ,jehovah made garments of skins for the man and his wife1 and clothed them4 ,and he sent them out of the garden of ,eden to till the ground4 ,,cain ,,and ,,his ,,brother ,,abel ,adam named his wife ,eve1 because she was the mother of all living beings4 ,she had two sons1 ,cain and ,abel4 ,abel was a shepherd1 but ,cain was a farmer4 ,one day ,cain brought1 as an offering to ,jehovah1 some fruit and grain that he had grown4 ,abel1 too1 brought some of the best animals of his flock and sacrificed their fat pieces to ,jehovah4 ,jehovah was pleased with ,abel and his offering1 but ,cain and his offering did not please him4 ,this made ,cain very angry and his face showed it4 ,so ,jehovah said to ,cain1 ,why are you angry and why do you scowl8 ,if you do what is right and good1 will not your offering be accepted8 ,but if you do wrong1 sin crouches like a wild beast at the door and the desire to sin will overcome you2 but you should master it4 ,cain said to his brother ,abel1 ,let us go into the field4 ,and while they were in the field1 ,cain struck his brother ,abel and killed him4 ,when ,jehovah said to ,cain1 ,where is your brother ,abel8 ,cain answered1 ,i do not know2 am ,i my brother's keeper8 ,jehovah said1 ,what have you done8 ,hark6 your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground4 ,even now you are condemned by the very ground that has opened to receive your brother's blood from your hand4 ,whenever you till the ground1 it shall no longer yield to you its strength2 you shall be a tramp and a wanderer on the earth4 ,then ,cain said to ,jehovah1 ,my punishment is more than ,i can bear4 ,see1 thou hast driven me out to-day from this land1 and ,i shall no longer be able to worship thee2 ,i shall become a tramp and a wanderer on the earth1 and whoever finds me will kill me4 ,but ,jehovah said to him1 ,if any one kills you1 he shall be punished sevenfold4 ,so ,jehovah placed a mark on ,cain1 to keep any one who found him from killing him4 ,and ,cain went out from ,jehovah's presence and lived as a wanderer1 away from ,eden4 ,,noah ,,and ,,the ,,great ,,flood ,when ,jehovah saw that men were growing more wicked in the world and that their thoughts were always evil1 he was greatly grieved and regretted that he had made man4 ,therefore1 ,jehovah said1 ,i will completely destroy all living beings from off the earth1 for ,i regret that ,i have made them4 ,but ,noah had won ,jehovah's favor4 ,so ,jehovah said to ,noah1 ,i have decided to put an end to all living beings1 for the earth is filled with their wicked acts4 ,i am going to destroy them from the earth4 ,make yourself an ark of cypress wood4 ,build rooms in the ark1 and cover it within and without with pitch4 ,this is how you shall build it3 the ark shall be five hundred feet long1 eighty feet wide1 and fifty feet high4 ,make a roof for it and place the door on the side4 ,build it with lower1 second1 and third stories4 ,for ,i am about to bring floods of water upon the earth to destroy every living creature in which is the breath of life4 ,every creature that is on the earth shall die4 ,then ,jehovah said to ,noah1 ,enter with all your household into the ark1 for ,i see that of all the people who are now alive you alone are upright4 ,of all the beasts that are fit for food and sacrifice you shall take with you seven1 the male and the female2 but of the beasts that are not fit for food and sacrifice two1 the male and the female2 and of the wild birds that are fit for food and sacrifice seven1 to keep each kind alive on all the earth4 ,after seven days ,i will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights2 and ,i will destroy every living thing that ,i have made4 ,then ,noah did all that ,jehovah commanded him4 ,when the waters of the flood came upon the earth1 he1 his sons1 his wife1 and his sons' wives1 together with the beasts that were fit for food and sacrifice and the beasts that were not fit1 and the birds1 and everything that creeps upon the ground1 entered the ark because of the waters of the flood4 ,the rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights1 and ,jehovah shut ,noah in the ark4 ,and the waters rose higher and higher and raised up the ark1 and it was lifted high above the earth4 ,all creatures living on the land died4 ,noah only was left and they who were with him in the ark4 ,then ,god remembered ,noah and all the beasts and all the animals that were with him in the ark4 ,and ,god caused a wind to blow over the earth1 and the flood went down1 the rain from heaven ceased1 and the waters withdrew more and more from the land4 ,after forty days ,noah opened the window of the ark and sent out a raven2 and it kept going to and fro until the waters were dried up on the earth4 ,he also sent out a dove to see if the waters had gone from the surface of the earth4 ,but the dove found no rest for her foot1 and so returned to him to the ark1 for the waters covered the whole earth4 ,therefore1 ,noah reached out his hand and took her and brought her back into the ark4 ,then he waited seven days longer and again sent out the dove from the ark4 ,and the dove came in to him at dusk2 and in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive-leaf4 ,so ,noah knew that the waters had gone from the earth4 ,and he waited seven days more and again sent out the dove1 but it did not return to him4 ,so ,noah took off the covering of the ark and looked and saw that the surface of the ground was dry4 ,then he1 with his sons1 his wife1 and his sons' wives1 went out of the ark4 ,and ,noah built an altar to ,jehovah and took one of every beast and bird that was fit for sacrifice and offered burnt-offerings on the altar4 ,and ,jehovah said to himself1 ,i will never again condemn the ground because of man1 nor will ,i again destroy every living creature1 as ,i have done4 ,while the earth remains1 seedtime and harvest1 cold and heat1 summer and winter1 day and night1 shall not cease4 ,and ,god said1 ,this is the sign of the solemn agreement that ,i make for all time between me and you and every living creature that is with you3 ,i have placed my rainbow in the cloud and it shall be the sign of the solemn agreement between me and the people who live on the earth4 ,whenever ,i bring a cloud over the earth and the rainbow is seen in the cloud1 ,i will remember the agreement which is between me and you and every living creature2 and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy them4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,tower ,,of ,,babel ,all the people of the earth spoke one language2 and as they travelled westward1 they found a broad valley in the land of ,babylonia1 and made their home there4 ,then they said one to another1 ,come1 let us make bricks and thoroughly bake them4 ,so they had bricks for stone and asphalt for mortar4 ,and they said1 ,come1 let us build us a city1 and a tower whose top will touch the heavens1 and thus make a landmark1 that we may not be scattered over all the earth4 ,but when ,jehovah came down to see the city and the tower men had built1 he said1 ,see1 they are one people and all have one language4 ,this is but the beginning1 and now nothing which they plan to do will seem too difficult for them4 ,come1 let us go down and confuse their language1 that they may not understand one another4 ,so ,jehovah scattered them from there over all the earth2 and they stopped building the city4 ,therefore they named it ,babel1 which means ,confusion1 for there ,jehovah confused the language of all the people on the earth and scattered them over the whole world4 ,,abraham1 ,,the ,,friend ,,of ,,god ,,and ,,man ,the sons of ,noah who came out of the ark were ,shem1 ,ham and ,japheth4 ,terah1 a descendant of ,shem1 was the father of ,abraham1 ,nahor and ,haran2 and ,haran was the father of ,lot4 ,jehovah said to ,abraham1 ,go from your country1 your relatives1 and your father's house to the land that ,i will show you4 ,and ,i will make of you a great nation2 and ,i will surely bless you and make your name famous1 so that you shall be a blessing4 ,and all the families of the earth shall ask for themselves a blessing like your own4 ,so ,abraham set out1 as ,jehovah had commanded him2 and ,lot went with him4 ,abraham was seventy-five years old when he left ,haran4 ,he took ,sarah his wife and ,lot his brother's son and everything that they had1 and started for the land of ,canaan4 ,abraham passed through the land to a place called ,shechem1 to the oak of ,moreh4 ,there ,jehovah appeared to ,abraham and said1 ,to your children will ,i give this land4 ,there ,abraham built an altar to ,jehovah who had appeared to him4 ,from there he removed to the hill near ,bethel and pitched his tent with ,bethel on one side and ,ai on the other1 and there too he built an altar to ,jehovah and prayed to him4 ,now ,abraham was very rich in cattle1 in silver1 and in gold2 ,lot also1 who went with ,abraham1 had so many flocks and herds and tents that the land was not rich enough to support them both4 ,so when there was a quarrel between ,lot's herdsmen and ,abraham's herdsmen1 ,abraham said to ,lot1 ,i beg of you1 let there be no quarrel between me and you1 nor between my herdsmen and yours1 for we are relatives4 ,is not the whole land before you8 ,i beg of you1 separate yourself from me4 ,if you go to the left1 then ,i will go to the right2 or if you go to the right1 then ,i will go to the left4 ,illustration3 ,building the ,tower of ,babel ,painted by ,j4 ,james ,tissot ,so ,lot looked about and saw that all the plain of the ,jordan1 as far as ,zoar1 was well watered everywhere1 like a garden of ,jehovah4 ,so ,lot chose for himself all the valley of the ,jordan1 and lived in the cities of the plain and moved his tent as far as ,sodom4 ,but the men of ,sodom were very wicked and sinned against ,jehovah4 ,jehovah said to ,abraham1 after ,lot had gone away from him1 ,lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are northward1 southward1 eastward and westward1 for all the land that you see ,i will give to you and to your children forever4 ,i will make them as many as the dust of the earth1 so that if a man can count the dust of the earth1 then your children may also be counted4 ,rise1 walk through the length and breadth of the land1 for ,i will give it to you4 ,then ,abraham moved his tent and lived in the oak grove of ,mamre1 which is in ,hebron1 and built there an altar to ,jehovah4 ,jehovah also appeared to ,abraham by the oaks of ,mamre1 as he was sitting at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day2 and1 as he looked up1 three men stood there before him4 ,as soon as he saw them1 he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed to the ground and said1 ,sirs1 if you are willing to do me a favor1 do not1 ,i beg of you1 pass by your servant4 ,since you have come to your servant1 let a little water be brought1 that you may wash your feet1 and lie down under the tree4 ,and let me bring some food1 that you may refresh yourselves2 afterward you may go on your way4 ,they replied1 ,do as you have said4 ,so ,abraham hastened to ,sarah's tent and said1 ,make ready quickly four measures of fine meal1 knead it1 and make cakes4 ,abraham also ran to the herd1 and took a calf that was tender and good1 and gave it to the servant1 and he prepared it quickly4 ,then ,abraham took curd and milk1 with the calf which he had prepared1 and served them2 and he waited on them under the tree1 while they ate4 ,then they said to him1 ,where is your wife8 ,he said1 ,there1 within the tent4 ,one of them said1 ,i will surely return to you about nine months from now1 and then1 ,sarah your wife shall have a son4 ,,lot',s ,,escape ,,from ,a ,,wicked ,,city ,and ,abraham went along with them to start them on their way4 ,jehovah said1 ,the complaint has come that the people of ,sodom and ,gomorrah have committed great and terrible sins4 ,i will go down and see whether they have done exactly as the complaint comes to me2 and if they have not1 ,i will know4 ,then the men turned from there and looked off in the direction of ,sodom4 ,then ,abraham drew near to ,jehovah and said1 ,wilt thou sweep away the righteous with the wicked8 ,suppose there are within the city fifty people who are righteous4 ,wilt thou sweep away and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it8 ,far be it from thee to do this3 to slay the righteous with the wicked6 ,and that the righteous should be treated as the wicked1 far be it from thee6 ,shall not the ,judge of all the earth do what is just8 ,jehovah said1 ,if ,i find in the city of ,sodom fifty who are righteous1 ,i will spare the whole place for their sake4 ,abraham answered1 ,i have dared to speak to ,jehovah1 even though ,i am but dust and ashes4 ,suppose there be five lacking of the fifty righteous4 ,wilt thou sweep away all the city for lack of five8 ,jehovah said1 ,i will not sweep it away1 if ,i find forty-five there4 ,then ,abraham spoke to him again1 and said1 ,suppose forty are found there8 ,he replied1 ,for the sake of forty ,i will not do it4 ,then ,abraham said1 ,oh1 let not ,jehovah be angry1 but let me speak4 ,suppose thirty are found there8 ,he answered1 ,i will not do it1 if ,i find thirty there4 ,then ,abraham said1 ,thou seest that ,i have dared to speak to ,jehovah4 ,suppose twenty are found there8 ,he replied1 ,for the sake of twenty ,i will not destroy it4 ,then ,abraham said1 ,oh1 let not ,jehovah be angry1 but let me speak just once more4 ,suppose ten are found there8 ,and he said1 ,for the sake of the ten ,i will not destroy it4 ,then ,jehovah went his way1 and ,abraham returned home4 ,two angels in human form came to ,sodom in the evening1 as ,lot was sitting at the gate of ,sodom4 ,when ,lot saw them1 he rose up to meet them1 and he bowed with his face to the earth and said1 ,sirs1 turn aside1 ,i beg of you1 into your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet2 then you can rise up early and go on your way4 ,they said1 ,no1 we will spend the night in the street4 ,but he urged them so strongly that they went with him and entered his house4 ,and he made a feast for them and baked bread made without yeast1 and they ate4 ,but before they had lain down1 the people of ,sodom1 both young and old1 all the people from every quarter1 surrounded the house4 ,and they called out to ,lot1 ,where are the men who came in to you to-night8 ,bring them out to us that we may do to them what we desire4 ,then ,lot went out to them at the entrance of his house1 but he shut the door after him4 ,and he said1 ,i beg of you1 my friends1 do not do what is wrong4 ,do nothing to these men1 for they have come under the shadow of my roof4 ,but they replied1 ,stand back1 or we will treat you worse than them4 ,and they pressed hard against ,lot and advanced to break the door4 ,but the men reached out and drew ,lot to them into the house and shut the door4 ,then they smote the men who were at the door of the house1 both small and great1 with blindness1 so that they grew tired of searching for the door4 ,then the men said to ,lot1 ,have you any one else here8 ,bring your sons-in-law1 your sons1 and daughters1 and whoever you have in the city out of this place1 for we are about to destroy it1 because great complaint concerning the people has come to ,jehovah and he has sent us to destroy it4 ,so ,lot went out and said to his sons-in-law1 ,up1 go out of this place1 for ,jehovah will destroy the city4 ,but his sons-in-law thought he was only jesting4 ,when the dawn appeared1 the angels urged ,lot1 saying1 ,get up1 take your wife and your two daughters that you may not be swept away in the punishment of the city4 ,when he hesitated1 the men took him by the hand and led him and his wife and his two daughters outside the city1 for ,jehovah was merciful to him4 ,when they had brought them outside1 they said1 ,run for your life2 do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain4 ,escape to the heights1 that you may not be swept away6 ,but ,lot said to them1 ,oh1 sirs1 not so6 ,see1 your servant has found favor with you1 and you have shown great mercy to me in saving my life4 ,i cannot escape to the heights1 lest some evil overtake me1 and ,i die4 ,see now1 this village is near enough to run to1 and it is small4 ,oh1 let me escape there1 and my life will be saved4 ,jehovah said to him1 ,i have also granted you this favor1 in that ,i will not destroy the village of which you have spoken4 ,make haste1 escape to it1 for ,i can do nothing until you arrive there4 ,the sun had risen when ,lot came to ,zoar4 ,then ,jehovah caused brimstone and fire from heaven to rain upon ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 and he destroyed those cities and all the plain1 with all the people who lived in it and all that grew on the ground4 ,but ,lot's wife1 who was following him1 looked back1 and she became a pillar of salt4 ,early in the morning ,abraham rose and went to the place where he had stood before ,jehovah2 and as he looked toward ,sodom and ,gomorrah and all the plain1 he saw the smoke of the land going up as the smoke of a smelting-furnace4 ,,god',s ,,care ,,for ,,the ,,boy ,,ishmael ,jehovah remembered what he had told ,sarah1 and he did as he had promised4 ,so ,sarah had a son1 and when the child grew up1 ,abraham made a great feast on the day that he was weaned4 ,but ,sarah saw the son of ,hagar the ,egyptian and of ,abraham playing with her son ,isaac4 ,and she said to ,abraham1 ,drive out this slave girl and her son1 for the son of this slave girl shall not be heir with my son ,isaac4 ,this request was very displeasing to ,abraham because the boy was his son4 ,but ,jehovah said to ,abraham1 ,do not be displeased because of the boy and because of your slave girl4 ,listen to all that ,sarah says to you1 for ,isaac only and his children shall bear your name4 ,but ,i will also make of the son of the slave girl a great nation1 because he is your son4 ,then ,abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to ,hagar2 and he put the boy upon her shoulder and sent her away4 ,so she set out and wandered in the desert of ,beersheba4 ,when the water in the skin was gone1 she left the child under one of the desert shrubs and went a short distance away and sat down opposite him1 for she said1 ,let me not see the child die4 ,while she sat there1 the boy began to cry2 and ,jehovah heard the cry of the boy1 and said1 ,what troubles you1 ,hagar8 ,fear not1 for ,jehovah has heard the cry of the boy4 ,rise1 lift him up1 and hold him fast by the hand1 for ,i will make him a great nation4 ,and ,jehovah opened her eyes and she saw a well of water4 ,then she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink4 ,and ,jehovah cared for the boy2 and when he grew up1 he lived in the wilderness of ,paran and became a bowman4 ,and his mother secured a wife for him from ,egypt4 ,,abraham',s ,,loyalty ,,to ,,god ,later ,jehovah tested ,abraham1 saying to him1 ,abraham2 and he answered1 ,here am ,i4 ,jehovah said1 ,take your son1 your only son ,isaac1 whom you love1 and go to the land of ,moriah1 and offer him there as a burnt-offering on one of the mountains of which ,i shall tell you4 ,illustration3 7,c7 ,curtis ,publishing ,company ,hagar and ,ishmael in the ,wilderness ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor ,so ,abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his ass and took two of his servants with him1 and his son ,isaac4 ,when he had split the wood for the burnt-offering1 he set out for the place of which ,god had told him4 ,on the third day1 when ,abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance1 he said to his servants1 ,stay here with the ass1 while ,i and the lad go over there4 ,when we have worshipped1 we will come back to you4 ,then ,abraham took the wood for the burnt-offering and laid it on ,isaac1 his son4 ,and he took the fire and the knife1 and they both went on together4 ,and ,isaac spoke to ,abraham his father and said1 ,my father6 and ,abraham answered1 ,yes1 my son4 ,isaac said1 ,here is the fire and the wood1 but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering8 ,abraham answered1 ,my son1 ,god will himself provide a lamb for a burnt-offering4 ,so the two went on together4 ,when they came to the place of which ,god had told him1 ,abraham built the altar there and laid the wood on it and bound ,isaac his son and laid him on the altar upon the wood4 ,then ,abraham reached out his hand1 and took the knife to kill his son4 ,but the angel of ,jehovah called to him from heaven1 saying1 ,abraham1 ,abraham6 and he answered1 ,here am ,i4 ,and he said1 ,do not put your hand upon the boy1 nor do anything to him1 for now ,i know that you love ,god1 for you have not refused to give your son1 your only son1 to him4 ,then ,abraham looked up1 and he saw a ram caught in the thicket by his horns4 ,so ,abraham took the ram and offered him up as a burnt-offering instead of his son4 ,and he named the place ,jehovah-jireh1 which means1 ,jehovah will ,provide4 ,the angel of ,jehovah again called to ,abraham and said1 ,jehovah declares1 ',because you have done this thing and have not kept back your son1 your only son1 ,i will surely bless you1 and ,i will make your children as many as the stars of the heavens and as the sand1 which is on the seashore1 so that they shall conquer their enemies1 and all the nations of the earth shall ask for themselves a blessing like theirs1 because you have obeyed my command4' ,,how ,,rebekah ,,became ,,the ,,wife ,,of ,,isaac ,when ,abraham was very old and ,jehovah had blessed him in every way1 ,abraham said to the eldest of his household servants1 who had charge of all his affairs1 ,put your hand under my hip1 while ,i make you promise by ,jehovah1 the ,god of heaven and earth1 that you will not let my son marry one of the daughters of the ,canaanites1 among whom ,i live1 but that you will go to my own country and to my relatives and there get a wife for my son ,isaac4 ,the servant said to him1 ,perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land4 ,must ,i then take your son back to the land from which you came8 ,abraham said to him1 ,see to it that you do not take my son back there4 ,jehovah1 the ,god of heaven1 who took me from my father's house and from my native land and who solemnly promised me1 ',to your children ,i will give this land1' will send his angel before you and there you will get a wife for my son4 ,but if the woman is not willing to come with you1 then you will be free from this promise to me2 only never take my son back there4 ,so the servant put his hand under ,abraham's hip and made the promise4 ,then the servant took ten of his master's camels and set out with precious gifts from his master4 ,so he went to the town of ,nahor4 ,and he made the camels kneel down outside the town by the well in the evening1 at the time when women go out to draw water4 ,then he said1 ,o ,jehovah1 the ,god of my master ,abraham1 give me1 ,i pray thee1 success to-day1 and show kindness to my master ,abraham4 ,here ,i am standing by the spring of water1 and the daughters of the men of the town are coming out to draw water4 ,may that young woman to whom ,i shall say1 ',please let down your water-jar that ,i may drink'2 and who answers1 ',drink and ,i will also water your camels1' may she be the one thou hast chosen for thy servant ,isaac4 ,by this ,i shall know that thou hast shown kindness to my master4 ,then even before he was through speaking1 ,rebekah1 who was the grand-daughter of ,nahor1 ,abraham's brother1 came out with her water-jar upon her shoulder4 ,she was very beautiful and unmarried4 ,she went down to the spring1 filled her jar1 and came up4 ,then the servant ran to meet her and said1 ,please let me drink a little water from your jar4 ,she answered1 ,drink1 sir1 and quickly let down her water-jar from her shoulder upon her hand and gave him a drink4 ,illustration3 ,the ,testing of ,abraham ,painted by ,fritz von ,uhde ,when she had finished giving him a drink she said1 ,i will draw water for your camels also1 until they have finished drinking4 ,so she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water1 and drew for all his camels4 ,meanwhile the man was silently gazing at her in order to find out whether ,jehovah had made his journey successful or not4 ,as soon as the camels had finished drinking1 the man took a gold ring1 five ounces in weight1 and put it in her nose1 and put on her arms two golden bracelets weighing five ounces1 and said1 ,whose daughter are you8 ,tell me1 ,i beg of you4 ,is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night8 ,she answered1 ,i am the grand-daughter of ,milcah and ,nahor4 ,we have plenty of straw and feed1 and there is a place for you to spend the night4 ,then the man bowed his head and worshipped ,jehovah1 saying1 ,blessed be ,jehovah1 the ,god of my master ,abraham1 who has continued to show his mercy and his faithfulness toward my master4 ,as for me1 ,jehovah has led me on the way to the house of my master's relatives4 ,then the young woman ran and told these things to her mother's family4 ,now ,rebekah had a brother named ,laban2 and ,laban ran out to the man at the spring4 ,and when he saw the bracelets on his sister's hands and the ring1 and when he heard ,rebekah say1 ,this is what the man said to me1 he went to the man1 who was still standing by the camels at the spring1 and said1 ,come in1 you who are blessed by ,jehovah6 ,why do you stand outside8 ,for ,i have cleared the house and have room for the camels4 ,so he brought the man into the house and took the packs off the camels and furnished straw and feed for them1 and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him4 ,but when food was set before him to eat1 he said1 ,i will not eat until ,i have made known my errand4 ,they answered1 ,speak4 ,he said1 ,i am ,abraham's servant2 and ,jehovah has blessed my master greatly1 so that he has become very rich4 ,he has given him flocks and herds1 silver and gold1 servants1 and camels and asses4 ,now ,sarah1 my master's wife1 had a son when she was old1 and my master has given him all that he has4 ,my master also made me promise1 saying1 ',do not let my son marry one of the daughters of the ,canaanites1 in whose land ,i live1 but go to my father's home and to my relatives and there find a wife for my son4' ,when ,i said to my master1 ',what if the woman will not follow me8' he said to me1 ',jehovah1 whom ,i love and serve1 will send his angel with you and make you successful1 and you will find for my son a wife from among my relatives and my father's family4 ,then you shall be free from your promise to me4 ,but if you go to my family and they do not give her to you1 you shall also be free from your promise to me4' ,so ,i came to-day to the spring and said1 ',o ,jehovah1 the ,god of my master ,abraham1 see1 ,i am standing by the spring of water1 if thou wilt make the errand on which ,i am going successful1 then let the young woman who comes to draw1 to whom ,i say1 ,please give me a little water from your jar to drink1 and who shall say to me1 ,drink1 and ,i will also draw for your camels1 let that one be the woman whom ,jehovah has chosen for my master's son4' ,even before ,i was through speaking1 ,rebekah came out with her water-jar on her shoulder and went down to the spring and drew water4 ,and when ,i said to her1 ',please let me drink1' she quickly let down her water-jar from her shoulder and answered1 ',drink1 and ,i will also water your camels4' ,so ,i drank1 and she also watered the camels4 ,then ,i asked her1 ',whose daughter are you8' ,and she said1 ',the grand-daughter of ,nahor and ,milcah4' ,so ,i put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms4 ,and ,i bowed my head and worshipped and blessed ,jehovah the ,god of my master ,abraham who had led me on the right way to find the daughter of my master's brother for his son4 ,tell me whether or not you will deal kindly and truly with my master1 so that ,i shall know what to do6 ,then ,laban and his family answered1 ,the matter is in the hands of ,jehovah4 ,we cannot say either 'yes' or 'no4' ,see1 ,rebekah is before you2 take her and go and let her be the wife of your master's son1 as ,jehovah has said4 ,when ,abraham's servant heard their words1 he bowed to the ground before ,jehovah4 ,then he brought out gold and silver ornaments and clothing and gave them to ,rebekah4 ,he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother4 ,and he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there4 ,when they rose in the morning1 the servant said1 ,send me away to my master4 ,but ,rebekah's brother and mother answered1 ,let the young woman stay with us a month or at least ten days2 after that she may go4 ,but he said to them1 ,do not delay me1 for ,jehovah has given me success4 ,send me away that ,i may go to my master4 ,illustration3 7,c7 ,curtis ,publishing ,company ,rebekah ,comes to ,isaac ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor ,then they said1 ,we will call the young woman and ask her4 ,so they called ,rebekah and said to her1 ,will you go with this man8 ,she answered1 ,i will go4 ,so they sent away their sister ,rebekah and her nurse with ,abraham's servant and his men4 ,they also blessed ,rebekah1 saying to her1 ,our sister6 may your children and their children become thousands and thousands6 ,then ,rebekah set out with her maids and1 riding upon the camels1 they followed the man4 ,so the servant took ,rebekah and went away4 ,now ,abraham had given all that he had to ,isaac and had breathed his last1 dying in a good old age1 satisfied with living4 ,in the evening1 when ,isaac had gone out in the field to meditate1 he looked up and saw camels coming4 ,rebekah too looked up1 and when she saw ,isaac1 she quickly alighted from the camel and said to the servant1 ,who is this man walking in the field to meet us8 ,when the servant said1 ,it is my master1 she took her veil and covered her face4 ,then the servant told ,isaac all that he had done4 ,and ,isaac brought ,rebekah to the tent of ,sarah his mother1 and she became his wife2 and he loved her4 ,,how ,,jacob ,,deceived ,,his ,,father ,now ,isaac prayed to ,jehovah for his wife1 because she had no children2 and ,jehovah heard his prayer1 and ,rebekah became the mother of twin boys4 ,they named one ,esau and the other ,jacob4 ,as they grew up1 ,esau became a skilful hunter1 a man who lived out in the fields2 but ,jacob was a quiet man who stayed about the tents4 ,isaac loved ,esau1 for he was fond of game2 but ,rebekah loved ,jacob4 ,once when ,jacob was preparing a stew1 ,esau came in from the fields1 and he was very hungry2 so he said to ,jacob1 ,let me swallow some of that red stew1 for ,i am very hungry4 ,but ,jacob said1 ,sell me first of all your right as the eldest4 ,esau replied1 ,see1 ,i am nearly dead now6 ,so of what use is this birthright to me8 ,jacob said1 ,first solemnly promise to give it to me4 ,so ,esau solemnly promised and sold his birthright to ,jacob4 ,then ,jacob gave ,esau bread and stewed lentils1 and when he had had something to eat and drink1 he got up and went away4 ,in this way ,esau gave away his birthright4 ,when ,isaac was so old and so nearly blind that he could not see1 he called ,esau his oldest son and said to him1 ,my son4 ,esau answered1 ,here am ,i4 ,then ,isaac said1 ,see1 ,i am old and do not know how soon ,i may die4 ,now1 therefore1 take your quiver and your bow and go out into the fields and hunt game for me and prepare for me savory food1 such as ,i love1 and bring it to me that ,i may eat and that ,i may bless you before ,i die4 ,rebekah was listening when ,isaac spoke to his son ,esau4 ,so when ,esau went into the fields to hunt game1 ,rebekah said to her son ,jacob1 ,i just now heard your father say to your brother ,esau1 ',bring me game and prepare for me savory food that ,i may eat it and bless you before ,i die4' ,now1 my son1 do as ,i tell you3 ,go to the flock and bring me from there two good kids1 and ,i will make of them savory food for your father1 such as he loves4 ,then take it to him1 that he may eat1 so that he may bless you before he dies4 ,but ,jacob said to ,rebekah his mother1 ,you know that my brother ,esau is a hairy man1 while ,i am smooth4 ,perhaps my father will feel of me2 then ,i shall appear to him as a deceiver1 and ,i shall bring blame upon me and not a blessing4 ,but his mother said to him1 ,upon me be the blame1 my son2 only obey me and go1 bring the kids to me4 ,so he went and brought them to his mother1 and his mother made savory food such as his father loved4 ,rebekah also took the fine clothes of her older son ,esau1 which she had with her in the tent1 and put them on her younger son ,jacob4 ,then she put the skins of the kids upon his hands and upon the smooth part of his neck1 and she placed the savory food and the bread which she had prepared in his hand1 and he went to his father and said1 ,my father4 ,isaac answered1 ,here am ,i2 who are you1 my son8 ,jacob said1 ,i am ,esau your oldest son4 ,i have done as you commanded me4 ,sit up and eat of my game1 that you may bless me4 ,isaac said to his son1 ,how very quickly you have found it1 my son4 ,he answered1 ,yes1 because ,jehovah your ,god gave me success4 ,then ,isaac said to ,jacob1 ,come here1 my son1 that ,i may feel of you to find out whether you are really my son ,esau or not4 ,so ,jacob went near to ,isaac his father1 and he felt of him and said1 ,the voice is the voice of ,jacob1 but the hands are the hands of ,esau4 ,are you really my son ,esau8 ,jacob answered1 ,i am4 ,and ,isaac did not recognize him1 for his hands were hairy like his brother ,esau's4 ,so he blessed him4 ,then ,isaac said1 ,bring the food to me1 that ,i may eat of my son's game and bless you4 ,so he brought it to him1 and he ate4 ,jacob also brought him wine1 and he drank4 ,then his father ,isaac said to him1 ,come near now and kiss me1 my son4 ,as he came near and kissed him1 he smelled the smell of his garment1 and blessed him4 ,as soon as ,isaac had given ,jacob his blessing1 and ,jacob was about to leave his father1 ,esau his brother came in from his hunting4 ,he also had made savory food and was bringing it to his father4 ,so he said to him1 ,father1 rise and eat of your son's game1 that you may bless me4 ,but ,isaac his father said to him1 ,who are you8 ,he answered1 ,i am your son1 your oldest1 ,esau4 ,then ,isaac trembled and said1 ,who then is he that has hunted game and brought it to me1 so that ,i ate plentifully before you came1 and blessed him8 ,also blessed shall he be6 ,when ,esau heard the words of his father1 he uttered a loud and bitter cry and said to his father1 ,bless me1 even me also1 ,o my father4 ,but ,isaac said1 ,your brother came with deceit and has taken away your blessing4 ,esau said1 ,is it not because he was named ,jacob1 which means ,supplanter1 that he has supplanted me these two times3 he took my birthright1 and now he has taken my blessing6 ,then he said1 ,have you kept a blessing for me8 ,isaac answered ,esau1 ,see1 ,i have made him your master and ,i have given to him all his relatives as servants and grain and wine as his food4 ,what then can ,i do for you1 my son8 ,esau said to his father1 ,is that the only blessing you have1 my father8 and ,esau began to weep aloud4 ,then ,isaac his father answered him3 ,you shall live far from earth's fertile places1 ,and away from the dew of heaven4 ,by your sword you shall live1 ,and your brother you shall serve4 ,,jacob',s ,,dream ,esau hated ,jacob because of the blessing which his father had given him4 ,and ,esau said to himself1 ,my father will soon die2 then ,i will kill ,jacob1 my brother4 ,when the words of her older son ,esau were told to ,rebekah1 she sent for her younger son ,jacob and said to him1 ,your brother1 ,esau1 is going to kill you4 ,now therefore1 my son1 listen to me3 run away to my brother ,laban at ,haran and stay with him for a time until your brother is no longer angry and he forgets what you have done to him4 ,then ,i will send and bring you back4 ,why should ,i lose both of you in one day8 ,then ,jacob set out from ,beersheba and went toward ,haran4 ,and when he arrived at a certain place1 he passed the night there1 because the sun had set4 ,and he took one of the stones from its place and put it under his head and lay down to sleep4 ,then he dreamed and saw a ladder set up on the earth1 and its top reached to heaven2 and the angels of ,god were going up and down on it4 ,jehovah also stood beside him and said1 ,i am ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,abraham and the ,god of ,isaac4 ,the land on which you lie ,i will give to you and to your children4 ,see1 ,i am with you1 and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you again to this land2 for ,i will not leave you until ,i have done what ,i have promised you4 ,when ,jacob awoke from his sleep1 he said1 ,surely ,jehovah is in this place1 and ,i did not know it4 ,and he was filled with awe and said1 ,this place is the house of ,god1 and this is the gate of heaven4 ,so ,jacob rose early in the morning and took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil upon the top of it4 ,and he named that place ,bethel1 which means ,house of ,god4 ,jacob also made this promise1 ,if ,god will be with me and protect me on this journey which ,i am making and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on1 and if ,i return safe and sound to my father's house1 then ,jehovah shall be my ,god1 and this stone which ,i have set up as a pillar shall be a house of ,god4 ,and of all that thou shalt give me ,i will surely give a tenth to thee4 ,,the ,,deceiver ,,deceived ,then ,jacob went on his journey and arrived at the land of the children of the ,east4 ,and he looked and saw a well in the field1 and there were three flocks of sheep lying down by it2 for from that well they watered the flocks2 but there was a large stone over the well4 ,when all the flocks were gathered there1 they used to roll away the stone and water the sheep and then put the stone back in its place over the well4 ,jacob said to the men1 ,my friends1 from where do you come8 ,they said1 ,we are from ,haran4 ,then he said to them1 ,do you know ,laban the son of ,nahor8 ,and they said1 ,we know him4 ,and he said to them1 ,is all well with him8 ,and they said1 ,all is well2 indeed1 this is ,rachel his daughter coming with the sheep4 ,and he said1 ,see1 the sun is still high6 ,it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together4 ,water the sheep and feed them4 ,but they said1 ,we cannot until all the flocks are gathered together1 and they roll away the stone from the well2 then we will water the sheep4 ,while he was still speaking with them1 ,rachel came with her father's sheep2 for she was a shepherdess4 ,when ,jacob saw ,rachel the daughter of ,laban1 his mother's brother1 and ,laban's sheep1 he went up and rolled the stone from the well and watered the flock of ,laban his mother's brother4 ,then ,jacob kissed ,rachel and wept aloud4 ,and when ,jacob told ,rachel that he was a relative of her father and that he was ,rebekah's son1 she ran and told her father4 ,as soon as ,laban heard about ,jacob1 his sister's son1 he ran to meet him1 put his arms around him1 kissed him many times1 and brought him to his home4 ,when ,jacob told ,laban all about these things1 ,laban said to him1 ,surely you are my bone and my flesh4 ,so he remained with him a whole month4 ,then ,laban said to ,jacob1 ,should you serve me for nothing simply because you are related to me8 ,tell me what shall be your wages8 ,now ,laban had two daughters3 the name of the older was ,leah1 and the name of the younger was ,rachel4 ,leah's eyes were weak1 but ,rachel was beautiful4 ,jacob loved ,rachel1 and so he said1 ,i will serve you seven years for ,rachel your younger daughter4 ,and ,laban said1 ,it is better for me to give her to you than to give her to any other man4 ,stay with me4 ,so ,jacob served seven years for ,rachel1 and they seemed to him but a few days1 because he loved her so4 ,then ,jacob said to ,laban1 ,give me my wife1 for my time is up1 and let me marry her4 ,so ,laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast4 ,in the evening he took ,leah his daughter and brought her to him1 and ,jacob received her as his wife4 ,when in the morning ,jacob found it was ,leah1 he said to ,laban1 ,what is this you have done to me8 ,did ,i not serve you for ,rachel8 ,why then have you deceived me8 ,laban said1 ,it is not the custom among us to give the younger in marriage before the older4 ,remain with this one during the marriage week1 then we will give you the other also for the service which you shall give me during seven more years4 ,jacob did so3 he remained with ,leah during the marriage week4 ,then ,laban gave him ,rachel his daughter to be his wife1 but ,jacob loved ,rachel more than ,leah4 ,so he had to serve ,laban seven years more4 ,,meeting ,a ,,brother ,,who ,,had ,,been ,,wronged ,in time ,jacob became very wealthy1 and he had large flocks1 slaves1 and asses4 ,but he heard ,laban's sons say1 ,jacob has taken all that was our father's1 and from that which was our father's he has gotten all this wealth4 ,he also saw that ,laban did not act toward him the same as before4 ,so ,jacob rose and put his sons and his wives upon the camels and drove away all his cattle4 ,he deceived ,laban1 for he did not tell him that he was fleeing away4 ,so he fled across the river ,euphrates1 with all that he had1 and set out on his way toward ,mount ,gilead4 ,then ,jacob sent messengers before him to his brother ,esau4 ,and he gave them this command1 ,say to my lord ,esau3 ',your servant ,jacob declares1 ,i have lived with ,laban and have stayed until now4 ,i have oxen and asses1 flocks and slaves1 and ,i have sent to tell my lord1 in order that ,i may win your favor4' ,the messengers returned to ,jacob with the report1 ,we came to your brother ,esau1 even as he was coming to meet you with four hundred men4 ,then ,jacob was greatly alarmed and worried4 ,so he divided the people that were with him and the flocks and the herds and the camels into two parts and said1 ,if ,esau comes to the one and attacks and destroys it1 then the other which is left can escape4 ,jacob also prayed1 ,o ,god of my father ,abraham and ,god of my father ,isaac1 deliver me1 ,i pray thee1 from the hand of my brother1 from the hand of ,esau1 for ,i fear that he will come and attack me and kill the mothers and the children4 ,then ,jacob took as a present for his brother ,esau1 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats1 two hundred ewes and twenty rams1 thirty milch camels and their young1 forty cows and ten bulls1 twenty female asses and ten young asses4 ,these he put1 each drove by itself1 in the care of his servants and said to them1 ,go on before me and leave a space between the droves4 ,he gave those in front this command3 ,when my brother ,esau meets you and asks you1 ',to whom do you belong8 and where are you going8 and whose are these before you8' then you shall say1 ',to your servant ,jacob2 it is a present sent by him to my lord ,esau2 and ,jacob himself is just behind us4' ,jacob also commanded the second1 and the third1 and all that followed the droves1 to make the same answer1 and to say1 ,jacob himself is just behind us4 ,for he said to himself1 ,i will please him with the present that goes before me1 and then1 when ,i meet him1 perhaps he will welcome me4 ,so he sent the present over before him2 but he himself spent that night in the camp4 ,later that night he rose up and took his two wives1 his two maid servants1 and his eleven children1 and sent them over the river ,jabbok4 ,jacob was left alone1 and one wrestled with him until daybreak4 ,when he saw that he did not win against ,jacob1 he struck the socket of his hip1 and the socket of ,jacob's hip was strained1 as he wrestled with him4 ,then he said1 ,let me go1 for the dawn is breaking4 ,but ,jacob replied1 ,i will not let thee go unless you bless me4 ,so he said to him1 ,what is your name8 ,he answered1 ,jacob4 ,then he said1 ,your name shall be no longer ,jacob1 but ,israel1 which means ,struggler with ,god2 for you have struggled with ,god and with men and have won4 ,so he blessed him there4 ,and ,jacob called the place ,penuel1 which means ,face of ,god1 for he said1 ,i have seen ,god face to face1 and my life has been saved4 ,when ,jacob looked up1 he saw ,esau coming with four hundred men4 ,and he put the maid servants and their children in front1 ,leah and her children next1 and ,rachel and her son ,joseph in the rear4 ,then ,jacob himself went in front of them1 and he bowed down to the ground seven times1 as he drew near to his brother4 ,esau ran to meet him1 threw his arms about his neck1 and kissed him1 and they wept4 ,when ,esau looked up and saw the women and the children1 he said1 ,who are these with you8 ,jacob answered1 ,the children whom ,god has so kindly given me4 ,then the maid servants with their children came up and bowed down to the ground4 ,leah and her children also came and bowed down1 and afterward ,joseph and ,rachel came up and bowed down before ,esau4 ,esau asked1 ,what do you mean by all this company which ,i met8 ,jacob answered1 ,to win your friendship1 my lord4 ,esau said1 ,i have enough1 my brother2 keep what you have4 ,but ,jacob replied1 ,no1 if now ,i have won your favor1 receive this present from me to show that you are my friend4 ,take1 ,i beg of you1 the gift that ,i bring to you1 for ,god has been generous to me1 and ,i have enough4 ,so he urged ,esau until he took it4 ,then ,esau said1 ,let me at least leave with you some of the people who are with me4 ,but ,jacob replied1 ,what need is there8 ,let me only enjoy your friendship1 my ,lord4 ,so ,esau turned back that day on his way to ,seir4 ,,joseph ,,sold ,,as ,a ,,slave ,,by ,,his ,,brothers ,when ,joseph was seventeen years old1 he and his brothers were shepherds1 but he made them angry1 for he brought a bad report about them to their father4 ,now ,jacob loved his son ,joseph1 who was born in his old age2 and he made him a long coat with sleeves4 ,when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his other sons1 they hated ,joseph and would not speak to him in a friendly way4 ,joseph had a dream which he told to his brothers2 and they hated him still more4 ,this is what he said to them1 ,i dreamed that1 as we were binding sheaves in the field1 my sheaf rose up and remained standing1 while your sheaves came around and bowed down to my sheaf4 ,his brothers said to him1 ,will you really be king over us8 ,will you indeed rule over us8 ,so they hated him still more because of his dreams and his words4 ,then he had another dream and told it to his brothers1 saying1 ,i have had another dream1 and it seemed to me that the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me4 ,but when he told it to his father and his brothers1 his father reproved him and said1 ,what is this dream that you have dreamed8 ,shall ,i and your mother and your brothers indeed come and bow down to the earth before you8 ,therefore his brothers were jealous of him2 but his father remembered the dream4 ,when his brothers went to pasture his father's flocks in ,shechem1 ,jacob said to ,joseph1 ,go1 see whether all goes well with your brothers and with the flock1 and bring me back word4 ,so he sent him out1 and a certain man found him1 as he was wandering in the field1 and the man asked him1 ,what are you looking for8 ,he said1 ,i am looking for my brothers2 tell me1 ,i beg of you1 where they are pasturing the flock4 ,the man said1 ,they have gone away1 for ,i heard them say1 ',let us go to ,dothan4' ,so ,joseph went after his brothers and found them in ,dothan4 ,when they saw him in the distance1 before he came to them1 they planned together to kill him4 ,and they said one to another1 ,see1 here comes that great dreamer6 ,come1 let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits1 and we will say1 ',a fierce beast has devoured him4' ,then we shall see what will become of his dreams6 ,judah1 however1 when he heard it1 saved ,joseph's life by saying1 ,let us not take his life4 ,reuben also said to them1 ,do not shed blood2 throw him into this pit1 here in the wilderness2 but do not harm him4 ,reuben said this to save ,joseph from their hands so that he could bring him back to his father4 ,so when ,joseph came to his brothers1 they took off his long coat with sleeves and threw him into the pit4 ,but the pit was empty1 there being no water in it4 ,then they sat down to eat and1 when they looked up1 they saw a band of ,ishmaelites coming from ,gilead2 and their camels were loaded with spices1 gum1 and ladanum on their way to carry it down to ,egypt4 ,and ,judah said to his brothers1 ,what do we gain if we kill our brother and hide his blood8 ,come1 let us sell him to the ,ishmaelites1 and let us do him no harm1 for he is our brother1 our own flesh and blood4 ,so his brothers listened to him2 and1 drawing up ,joseph1 they sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the ,ishmaelites1 who brought him to ,egypt4 ,then his brothers took ,joseph's long coat1 killed a he-goat1 dipped the coat in the blood1 and brought it to their father1 and said1 ,we found this2 see whether it is your son's coat or not4 ,he recognized it and said1 ,it is my son's coat6 ,a wild beast has devoured him6 ,joseph surely is torn in pieces4 ,then ,jacob tore his clothes1 put sackcloth about his waist1 and mourned for his son many days4 ,all his sons and his daughters tried to comfort him1 but he refused to be comforted1 saying1 ,i shall go down to the grave mourning for my son4 ,thus ,joseph's father mourned for him4 ,,joseph',s ,,eagerness ,,to ,,help ,,others ,joseph was taken down to ,egypt1 and ,potiphar1 an ,egyptian1 one of ,pharaoh's officers1 the captain of the guard1 bought him from the ,ishmaelites4 ,now ,jehovah was with ,joseph1 so that he prospered2 and he was in the house of his master1 the ,egyptian4 ,when his master saw that ,jehovah was with him and made everything succeed that he undertook1 he trusted him and made him his own servant4 ,he also made him overseer of his household and placed all that he had in his care4 ,from the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had1 ,jehovah blessed the ,egyptian's household for ,joseph's sake1 and the blessing of ,jehovah was upon all that he had in the house and in the field4 ,potiphar left all that he had in ,joseph's charge1 and he knew nothing about his affairs except about the food which he ate4 ,and ,joseph was handsome and attractive4 ,after these honors had come to ,joseph1 his master's wife tried to tempt him to be unfaithful to his trust4 ,but he refused1 saying to her1 ,see1 my master knows nothing about what ,i do in the house1 and he has put all that he has in my charge4 ,how then can ,i do this great wrong and sin against ,god8 ,day after day she tempted ,joseph1 but he did not listen to her4 ,one day1 however1 when he went into the house to do his work and when none of the men of the household were at home1 she caught hold of his garment and again tried to tempt him1 but he left his garment in her hand and fled out of the house4 ,she kept his garment by her until his master came home2 then she said to him1 ,the ,hebrew slave whom you have brought to us came to me to insult me2 and when ,i cried aloud1 he left his garment with me and fled4 ,when ,joseph's master heard what his wife said to him1 he was very angry2 and he took ,joseph and put him into the prison1 in the place where the king's prisoners were kept4 ,so he was left there in prison4 ,but ,jehovah was with ,joseph and showed kindness to him and helped him to win the friendship of the keeper of the prison1 so that he placed all the prisoners in ,joseph's charge and made him responsible for whatever they did there4 ,after these things the butler of the king of ,egypt and his baker offended their master the king of ,egypt1 and ,pharaoh was so angry with these two officers that he put them in the same prison where ,joseph was4 ,and the captain of the guard appointed ,joseph to wait on them2 and they stayed in prison for some time4 ,and the butler and the baker of the king of ,egypt1 who were in the prison1 both had dreams the same night1 each with a different meaning4 ,when ,joseph came in to them in the morning1 he saw plainly that they were sad4 ,so he asked ,pharaoh's officers1 ,why do you look so sad to-day8 ,they answered1 ,we have had a dream1 and there is no one who can tell what it means4 ,then ,joseph said to them1 ,is not ,god the one who knows what dreams mean8 ,tell them to me1 if you will4 ,then the chief butler told his dream to ,joseph and said to him1 ,in my dream ,i saw a vine before me1 and on the vine were three branches1 and the buds put out blossoms1 and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes4 ,pharaoh's cup was in my hand1 and ,i took the grapes and squeezed the juice into his cup and gave the cup to ,pharaoh4 ,then ,joseph said to him1 ,this is what it means3 the three branches are three days4 ,within three days ,pharaoh will let you out of prison and restore you to your office1 and you will give ,pharaoh's cup into his hand as you used to do when you were his butler4 ,but when all goes well with you1 remember me1 show kindness to me and speak for me to ,pharaoh and bring me out of this prison2 for ,i was unjustly stolen from the land of the ,hebrews1 and here also ,i have done nothing that they should put me in the dungeon4 ,when the chief baker saw that the meaning of the butler's dream was good1 he said to ,joseph1 ,i also saw something in my dream3 there were three baskets of white bread on my head1 and in the upper basket there were all kinds of baked food for ,pharaoh1 and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head4 ,joseph answered1 ,this is what it means3 the three baskets are three days2 within three days ,pharaoh will take off your head and hang you on a tree1 and the birds shall eat your flesh4 ,now on the third day1 which was ,pharaoh's birthday1 he made a feast for all his servants4 ,then he set free the chief butler and the chief baker4 ,he restored the chief butler to his office1 so that he again gave the cup to ,pharaoh2 but the chief baker he hanged1 as ,joseph had told them4 ,yet the chief butler did not remember ,joseph1 but forgot him4 ,a ,,prisoner ,,who ,,became ,a ,,mighty ,,ruler ,two years later ,pharaoh had a dream3 as he stood by the river ,nile1 he saw coming up from the water seven cows1 well fed and fat1 for they had been feeding in the river grass4 ,then seven other cows came up after them out of the ,nile1 poorly fed and thin1 and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the ,nile4 ,the poorly fed1 lean cows ate up the seven well-fed1 fat cows4 ,then ,pharaoh awoke4 ,afterward he slept and had a second dream and saw seven ears1 plump and good1 growing up on one stalk4 ,also seven ears1 thin and withered by the east wind1 grew up after them4 ,the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump1 full ears4 ,then ,pharaoh awoke1 and knew that it was only a dream4 ,in the morning ,pharaoh was worried4 ,so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of ,egypt and told them his dreams2 but no one could tell him what they meant4 ,then the chief butler said to ,pharaoh1 ,i now remember my sins3 ,pharaoh was very angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in prison in the house of the captain of the guard4 ,we both had dreams the same night1 each with a different meaning4 ,there was also with us a young ,hebrew1 a servant of the captain of the guard4 ,we told him our dreams and he told each of us what our dreams meant4 ,and our dreams came true just as he said they would3 ,i was restored to my office1 but the chief baker was hanged4 ,then ,pharaoh sent for ,joseph1 and they quickly brought him out of the dungeon2 and he shaved his face1 changed his clothes1 and came to ,pharaoh4 ,pharaoh said to ,joseph1 ,i have had a dream1 and there is no one who can tell what it means4 ,now ,i have heard that when you hear a dream1 you can tell what it means4 ,joseph answered ,pharaoh1 ,not ,i2 ,god alone can give ,pharaoh a true answer4 ,then ,pharaoh said to ,joseph1 ,in my dream as ,i stood on the bank of the ,nile1 ,i saw seven cows1 fat and well fed1 which had been feeding in the river grass4 ,there came up after them seven more cows1 poorly fed and thin1 worse than ,i ever saw in all the land of ,egypt2 and the lean and poorly fed cows ate up the first seven fat cows4 ,when they had eaten them up1 one could not tell that they had eaten them1 for they were still as thin as at the beginning4 ,then ,i awoke4 ,again ,i dreamed and saw seven ears1 plump and good1 grow up on one stalk2 then seven thin ears1 withered with the east wind1 sprang up after them2 and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears4 ,i have told the dream to the magicians1 but there is no one who can tell me what it means4 ,then ,joseph said to ,pharaoh1 ,pharaoh's two dreams mean the same thing2 ,god has made known to ,pharaoh what he is about to do4 ,the seven good cows are seven years1 and the seven good ears are seven years4 ,it is one dream4 ,the seven lean and poorly fed cows that came up after them are seven years1 and the seven empty ears withered with the east wind mean seven years of famine4 ,that is why ,i said to ,pharaoh1 ',god has shown to ,pharaoh what he is about to do4' ,seven years of great plenty all through the land of ,egypt are coming4 ,they shall be followed by seven years of famine1 so that all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of ,egypt4 ,the famine will use up all that the land produces2 and plenty will not be known in the land because of that famine which follows1 for it will be very severe4 ,the dream came twice to ,pharaoh to show that the famine will surely come1 and that ,god will soon make the dream come true4 ,now therefore let ,pharaoh pick out a man who is sensible and wise and place him in charge of the land of ,egypt4 ,let ,pharaoh act quickly and put overseers over the land and collect one-fifth of all that grows in the land of ,egypt in the seven years of plenty4 ,let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of ,pharaoh1 and let them hold it in the cities for food4 ,the food will supply the land during the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of ,egypt1 so that the people of the land may not die because of the famine4 ,the plan pleased ,pharaoh and all his people2 and he said to his people1 ,can we find one like this1 a man in whom is the spirit of ,god8 ,so ,pharaoh said to ,joseph1 ,as ,god has shown you all this1 there is no one so sensible and wise as you4 ,you shall be at the head of my country1 and all my people shall be ruled as you command4 ,only on the throne ,i will be above you4 ,so ,pharaoh said to ,joseph1 ,see1 ,i have placed you over all the land of ,egypt4 ,and ,pharaoh took off his signet-ring from his finger and put it upon ,joseph's finger and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a golden collar about his neck4 ,he also made him ride in the second chariot which he had2 and they cried before him1 ,attention6 ,so he placed him over all the land of ,egypt4 ,pharaoh also said to ,joseph1 ,i am ,pharaoh1 but without your consent no man shall lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of ,egypt4 ,pharaoh gave him as a wife ,asenath1 the daughter of ,potiphera4 ,and ,joseph was thirty years old when he was made the ruler of the land of ,egypt4 ,in the seven years of plenty there were large harvests1 and ,joseph gathered up all the food of the seven years of plenty1 which were in the land of ,egypt1 and stored the food in the cities1 putting in each city the food that grew in the fields about it4 ,joseph stored up grain as the sand of the sea1 in great quantities1 until he no longer kept account1 because it could not be measured4 ,when the seven years of plenty in the land of ,egypt were over1 the seven years of famine began1 as ,joseph had said4 ,there was famine in all lands1 but all through the land of ,egypt there was food1 for when all the land of ,egypt was hungry1 the people cried to ,pharaoh for bread1 and ,pharaoh said to all the ,egyptians1 ,go to ,joseph and do what he tells you4 ,so when the famine was over all the country1 ,joseph opened all the storehouses and sold food to the ,egyptians3 but the famine was severe in the land of ,egypt4 ,the peoples of all lands came to ,joseph in ,egypt to buy grain1 for everywhere the famine was severe4 ,,the ,,testing ,,of ,,joseph',s ,,brothers ,when ,jacob learned that there was grain for sale in ,egypt1 he said to his sons1 ,why do you stand looking at each other8 ,i have heard that there is grain for sale in ,egypt2 go down there and buy some for us1 that we may live and not die4 ,so ,joseph's ten brothers went down to buy grain from ,egypt4 ,but ,jacob did not send ,benjamin1 ,joseph's own brother1 with his brothers1 for he feared that some harm might come to him4 ,so the sons of ,jacob went with others to buy grain1 for the famine was in the land of ,canaan4 ,now ,joseph was the governor over ,egypt2 it was he who sold grain to all the people of the land4 ,so ,joseph's brothers came and bowed before him with their faces to the earth4 ,when ,joseph saw his brothers1 he knew them2 but he acted as a stranger toward them and spoke harshly to them and said1 ,where do you come from8 ,they said1 ,from the land of ,canaan to buy food4 ,so ,joseph knew his brothers1 but they did not know him4 ,joseph also remembered the dreams which he had had about them and said to them1 ,you spies6 you have come to see how defenseless the land is4 ,but they said to him1 ,no1 my lord2 your servants have come to buy food4 ,we are all sons of one man2 we are honest men2 your servants are not spies4 ,but he again said to them1 ,no1 you have come to see how defenseless the land is4 ,they answered1 ,we1 your servants1 are twelve brothers1 the sons of one father in the land of ,canaan4 ,the youngest is to-day with our father1 and one is dead4 ,joseph said to them1 ,it is just as ,i said to you1 ',you are spies4' ,by this you shall be tested3 as sure as ,pharaoh lives you shall not go away unless your youngest brother comes here4 ,send one of you1 and let him bring your brother1 while you remain in prison1 that it may be proved whether you are telling the truth or not4 ,or else1 as sure as ,pharaoh lives1 you are indeed spies4 ,so he put them all into prison for three days4 ,then ,joseph said to them on the third day1 ,do this and live1 for ,i fear ,god3 if you are honest men1 let one of your brothers stay in prison1 but you go1 carry grain for the needs of your households and bring your youngest brother to me4 ,so you will prove that you have told the truth and you shall not die4 ,they did as ,joseph commanded1 but they said to one another1 ,we are indeed guilty because of the way we treated our brother1 for when we saw his trouble and when he pleaded with us1 we would not listen4 ,that is why this trouble has come upon us4 ,reuben added1 ,did ,i not say to you1 ',do not sin against the boy1' but you would not listen8 ,they did not know1 however1 that ,joseph understood them1 for he had spoken to them through an interpreter4 ,but he turned away from them and wept4 ,then he came back and spoke to them1 and taking ,simeon from among them1 bound him before their eyes4 ,then ,joseph gave orders to fill their vessels with grain and to put every man's money back in his sack and to give them food for the journey2 and thus it was done to them4 ,so they loaded their asses with their grain and went away4 ,when they came to ,jacob their father in the land of ,canaan1 they told him all that had happened1 saying1 ,the man who is master in that land spoke harshly to us and put us in prison as spies4 ,we said to him1 ',we are honest men2 we are not spies2 we are twelve brothers1 sons of the same father2 one is no longer living1 and the youngest is to-day with our father in the land of ,canaan4' ,but the man who is master in that land said to us1 ',this is how ,i shall know that you are honest men3 leave one of your brothers with me and take the grain to supply the needs of your households and go4 ,bring your youngest brother to me2 then ,i shall know that you are not spies1 but that you are honest men2 and ,i will give your brother back to you and you shall be free to go about in the land4' ,as they were emptying their sacks1 they found that each man's purse with his money was in his sack2 and when they and their father saw their purses and the money1 they were afraid and they turned trembling to one another with the question1 ,what is this that ,god has done to us8 ,jacob their father said to them1 ,you have robbed me of my children3 ,joseph is no longer living and ,simeon is no longer here1 and now you would take ,benjamin also6 ,all this trouble has come to me6 ,but ,reuben said to his father1 ,you may put my two sons to death1 if ,i do not bring him to you4 ,put him in my charge and ,i will bring him back to you4 ,then ,jacob said1 ,my son shall not go down with you1 for his brother is dead and he only is left4 ,if harm should come to him on the way by which you go1 then you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave4 ,the famine was severe in the land2 and when ,joseph's brothers had eaten up the grain which they had brought from ,egypt1 their father said to them1 ,go again1 buy us a little food4 ,but ,judah said to him1 ,the man plainly said to us3 ',you shall not see me again unless your brother is with you4' ,if you will send our brother with us1 we will go down and buy you food1 but if you will not send him1 we will not go down2 for the man said to us1 ',you shall not see me unless your brother is with you4' ,jacob said1 ,why did you bring trouble upon me by telling the man you had another brother8 ,they replied1 ,the man asked all about us and our family1 saying1 ',is your father still alive8 ,have you another brother8' ,so we answered his questions as he asked them4 ,how were we to know that he would say1 ',bring your brother down'8 ,then ,judah said to ,jacob1 his father1 ,send the lad with me1 and we will go at once1 that both we and you and our little ones may live and not die4 ,i will be responsible for him2 from me you may demand him4 ,if ,i do not bring him to you and set him before you1 let me bear the blame forever2 for if we had not waited so long1 surely we would by this time have come back the second time4 ,so their father said to them1 ,if it must be so1 then do this3 take some of the fruits of the land in your jars and carry a present to the man1 a little balsam1 a little syrup1 spices1 ladanum1 pistachio nuts1 and almonds4 ,take twice as much money with you1 carrying back the money that was put in your sacks4 ,perhaps it was a mistake4 ,take also your brother and go again to the man4 ,may ,god ,almighty grant that the man may be merciful to you and free ,benjamin and your other brother4 ,but if ,i am robbed of my sons1 ,i am bereaved indeed6 ,so the men took the present and twice as much money and ,benjamin1 and went down to ,egypt and stood before ,joseph4 ,when ,joseph saw ,benjamin with them1 he said to the steward of his house1 ,bring the men into the house1 kill animals1 and prepare the meal1 for these men will dine with me at noon4 ,the steward did as ,joseph ordered1 and brought the men into ,joseph's house4 ,but the men were afraid1 because they were brought into ,joseph's house1 and they said1 ,we are being brought in on account of the money that was put in our grain sacks at our first visit1 that he may accuse us and fall upon us and take us as slaves1 together with our asses4 ,so when they came near to ,joseph's steward1 they spoke to him at the door of the house and said1 ,oh1 my lord1 we came down the first time only to buy food2 but when we reached home1 we opened our sacks and found that each man's money was in the mouth of his sack1 our money in its full weight2 and we have brought it back with us4 ,we have brought down with us more money with which to buy food4 ,we do not know who put our money into our sacks4 ,he replied1 ,peace be to you1 fear not2 your ,god and the ,god of your father has given you the treasure in your sacks2 your money came to me4 ,then he brought ,simeon out to them4 ,the steward also took the men to ,joseph's house and gave them water with which to wash their feet1 and he gave their asses fodder4 ,then they made ready the present for ,joseph1 when he should come at noon1 for they had heard that they were to eat there4 ,when ,joseph came into the house1 they gave him the present which they had brought and bowed down low before him4 ,he asked them about their welfare and said1 ,is your father well1 the old man of whom you spoke8 ,is he still living8 ,they replied1 ,your servant1 our father1 is well2 he is still alive4 ,then they bowed their heads and knelt down before him4 ,when ,joseph looked up and saw ,benjamin his brother1 his own mother's son1 he said1 ,is this your youngest brother of whom you spoke to me8 ,and he added1 ,god be gracious to you1 my son4 ,then because of his longing for his brother he sought a place in which to weep4 ,so he went into his room and wept there4 ,then he bathed his face and came out and said1 ,bring on the food4 ,so they brought food for him by himself and for them by themselves and for the ,egyptians who ate with him by themselves1 because the ,egyptians would not eat with the ,hebrews1 for to do so was hateful to them4 ,joseph's brothers were seated before him1 the eldest first1 as was his right as the oldest1 and the youngest last1 and the men looked at each other in astonishment4 ,then ,joseph had portions served to them from the food before him4 ,but ,benjamin's portions were five times as much as any of theirs4 ,so they drank and were merry with him4 ,then he gave this command to the steward of his household3 ,fill the men's grain sacks with food1 as much as they can carry1 and put my cup1 the silver cup1 in the mouth of the sack of the youngest and the money too that he paid for his grain4 ,and the steward did as ,joseph commanded4 ,as soon as the morning light appeared1 the men were sent away with their asses4 ,when they had gone out of the city1 but were not yet far away1 ,joseph commanded his steward1 ,follow after the men and when you overtake them1 say to them1 ',why have you returned evil for good8 ,why have you stolen my silver cup1 that from which my master drinks8 ,you have done wrong in so doing4' ,so the steward overtook them and said these words to them4 ,they said to him1 ,why does my lord speak such words as these8 ,far be it from your servants to do such a thing6 ,remember that we brought back to you from the land of ,canaan the money which we found in our sacks4 ,why then should we steal silver or gold from your master's house8 ,let that one of your servants with whom it is found die1 and we will be my lord's slaves4 ,he said1 ,let it now be as you have said3 he with whom it is found shall be my slave2 but you shall be innocent4 ,then each one quickly took down his sack and opened it4 ,the steward searched1 beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest2 and the cup was found in ,benjamin's sack4 ,then they tore their clothes1 and every man loaded his ass and returned to the city4 ,,joseph',s ,,forgiveness ,,of ,,his ,,brothers ,illustration3 ,joseph ,converses with ,judah1 his ,brother ,painted by ,j4 ,james ,tissot ,when ,judah and his brothers came back to ,joseph's house1 ,joseph was still there2 and they threw themselves before him on the ground4 ,joseph said to them1 ,what deed is this that you have done8 ,do you not know that a man like me can always tell where things are8 ,judah replied1 ,what shall we say to my lord8 ,what shall we speak or how shall we clear ourselves8 ,god has found out the guilt of your servants4 ,see1 both we and he also with whom the cup was found are my lord's slaves4 ,but ,joseph said1 ,far be it from me that ,i should do so6 ,the man with whom the cup was found shall be my slave2 but you yourselves go up in peace to your father4 ,then ,judah came close to him and said1 ,oh1 my lord1 let your servant1 ,i beg of you1 speak a word in my lord's ears1 and let not your anger be aroused against your servant1 for you are even as ,pharaoh4 ,my lord asked his servants1 saying1 ',have you a father or a brother8' ,and we said to my lord1 ',we have a father1 an old man1 and a child of his old age1 a little one4 ,as his brother is dead1 he is the only son of his mother who is left2 and his father loves him4' ,you said to your servants1 ',bring him down to me1 that ,i may see him4' ,but we said to my lord1 ',the boy cannot leave his father2 for if he should leave his father1 his father would die4' ,then you said to your servants1 ',unless your youngest brother comes down with you1 you shall not see me again4' ,when we went up to your servant1 my father1 we told him the words of my lord2 and our father said1 ',go again1 buy us a little food4' ,but we said1 ',we cannot go down4 ,if our youngest brother is with us1 then we will go2 for we cannot see the man again unless our youngest brother is with us4' ,your servant1 my father1 said to us1 ',you know that my wife had two sons2 and one went from me1' and ,i said1 ',surely he is torn in pieces2 and ,i have not seen him since4 ,if you take this one also from me1 and harm come to him1 you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave4' ,now if ,i return to your servant1 my father1 and ,benjamin with whose life his heart is bound up is not with us1 and he sees that there is no boy1 he will die1 and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave4 ,for your servant became responsible for the boy to my father1 when ,i said1 ',if ,i do not bring him to you1 then ,i will bear the blame before my father forever4' ,now1 therefore1 let me1 instead of the boy1 remain as a slave to my lord1 ,i beg of you2 but let the boy go back with his brothers4 ,for how can ,i go back to my father1 if the boy is not with me1 lest ,i should see the sorrow that would come upon my father8 ,then ,joseph could not control himself before all those who were standing by him2 so he cried out1 ,let every man leave me4 ,so no ,egyptian was present while ,joseph made himself known to his brothers4 ,but he wept so loudly that the ,egyptians and ,pharaoh's court heard4 ,and ,joseph said to his brothers1 ,i am ,joseph4 ,is my father still alive8 ,but his brothers could not answer him1 for they were too ashamed to look him in the face4 ,then ,joseph said to his brothers1 ,come near to me1 ,i beg of you4 ,so they came near4 ,he said1 ,i am ,joseph1 your brother1 whom you sold into ,egypt4 ,do not be troubled nor angry with yourselves that you sold me here1 for ,god sent me before you to save your lives4 ,for the famine has already been two years in the land1 and there are still five years in which there shall be neither ploughing nor harvest4 ,god sent me before you to save your lives through a great deliverance and thus give you children on the earth4 ,so now it is not you who sent me here1 but ,god4 ,he has made me like a father to ,pharaoh and master of all his household and ruler over all the land of ,egypt4 ,go up quickly to my father and say to him1 ',your son ,joseph says3 ,god has made me master of all ,egypt4 ,come down to me without delay4 ,you shall live in the land of ,goshen1 and you shall be near me with your children and your grandchildren1 with your flocks and your herds and all that you have1 so that you1 with your household and all that you have1 may never want4 ,there ,i will provide for you1 for there will be five more years of famine4' ,now you and my brother ,benjamin see that it is ,i who am speaking to you4 ,tell my father all about my honor in ,egypt and what you have seen2 and you must quickly bring him down here4 ,then he fell upon his brother ,benjamin's neck and wept1 and ,benjamin wept upon his neck4 ,he also kissed all his brothers and wept upon them4 ,after that his brothers talked with him4 ,,joseph',s ,,loyalty ,,to ,,his ,,family ,the news that ,joseph's brothers had arrived became known in ,pharaoh's palace2 and it pleased ,pharaoh and his servants greatly4 ,pharaoh said to ,joseph1 ,say to your brothers1 ',do this3 load your beasts1 go to the land of ,canaan1 and take your father and your families and come to me1 and ,i will give you the best there is in the land of ,egypt1 and you shall eat the best that the land can give4 ,now you are commanded to do this3 take wagons from the land of ,egypt for your little ones and for your wives1 and bring your father and come4 ,also do not pay any attention to your household goods1 for the best of all there is in the land of ,egypt is yours4' ,and the sons of ,jacob did as they were commanded4 ,so ,joseph gave them wagons1 as ,pharaoh ordered1 and what was needed for the journey4 ,to each of them he gave a change of clothing1 but to ,benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing4 ,to his father he sent this gift3 ten asses loaded with the best products of ,egypt and ten asses loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father on the journey4 ,so he sent his brothers away1 and1 as they went1 he said to them1 ,see that you do not quarrel on the journey6 ,so they went up out of ,egypt and came into the land of ,canaan to ,jacob their father1 and told him1 ,joseph is still alive1 and he is ruler over all the land of ,egypt6 ,then ,jacob's heart stood still1 for he could not believe them4 ,but when they told him all that ,joseph had said to them and when he saw the wagons which ,joseph had sent to carry him1 the spirit of ,jacob their father revived1 and he said1 ,it is enough2 ,joseph my son is still alive4 ,i will go and see him before ,i die4 ,then ,jacob set out on his journey with all that he had4 ,he first went to ,beersheba and offered sacrifices to the ,god of his father ,isaac4 ,god spoke to him in a vision by night and said1 ,jacob1 ,jacob4 ,he answered1 ,here am ,i4 ,god said1 ,i am ,god1 the ,god of your father4 ,do not fear to go down into ,egypt1 for there ,i will make of you a great nation4 ,i myself will go down with you into ,egypt2 ,i will surely bring you back again2 and ,joseph shall close your dying eyes4 ,when ,jacob left ,beersheba1 his sons carried him and their little ones and their wives in the wagons that ,pharaoh had sent4 ,jacob also sent ,judah before him to ,joseph1 that he might show him the way to ,goshen4 ,when they came into the land of ,goshen1 ,joseph made ready his chariot1 and went up to ,goshen to meet ,jacob his father4 ,when he met him1 ,jacob fell on his neck and wept there a long time4 ,then ,jacob said to ,joseph1 ,now let me die1 for ,i have seen your face and know that you are still alive4 ,but ,joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household1 ,i will go up and tell ,pharaoh and will say to him1 ',my brothers and my father's family who were in the land of ,canaan have come to me4 ,now the men are shepherds1 for they have been keepers of cattle2 and they have brought their flocks and cattle and all that they have4' ,when ,pharaoh calls you1 and asks1 ',what is your business8' you shall say1 ',your servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now1 both we and our fathers4' ,say this that you may live in the land of ,goshen1 for every shepherd is looked down upon by the ,egyptians4 ,then ,joseph went in and told ,pharaoh and said1 ,my father and my brothers with their sheep and cattle and all that they possess have come from the land of ,canaan2 and now they are in the province of ,goshen4 ,and he took five of his brothers and presented them to ,pharaoh4 ,pharaoh said to them1 ,what is your business8 ,they answered1 ,your servants are shepherds1 both we and our fathers4 ,they also said to ,pharaoh1 ,we have come to live in your country2 because the famine is severe in the land of ,canaan1 and there is no pasture for your servants' flocks4 ,now1 therefore1 we beg of you1 let your servants stay in the land of ,goshen4 ,then ,pharaoh said to ,joseph1 ,let them stay in the land of ,goshen2 and if you know any able men among them1 put them in charge of my cattle4 ,joseph also brought in ,jacob his father and presented him to ,pharaoh2 and ,jacob blessed ,pharaoh4 ,then ,pharaoh said to ,jacob1 ,how many years have you lived8 ,jacob answered1 ,i have lived a hundred and thirty years2 few and evil have been the years of my life1 and they have not been as many as those that my forefathers lived on earth4 ,after ,jacob had blessed ,pharaoh1 he went out from ,pharaoh's presence4 ,so ,joseph gave his father and his brothers a place to live in and a home in the land of ,goshen1 in the best part of the land of ,egypt1 as ,pharaoh had commanded4 ,joseph also provided food for his father and his brothers and all his father's family according to the number of the little children4 ,so the ,israelites lived in ,egypt1 in the land of ,goshen1 and there they grew wealthy and had many children4 ,,the ,,boyhood ,,and ,,training ,,of ,,moses ,after the death of ,joseph and his brothers1 the ,israelites increased so rapidly and became so many and powerful that the land was filled with them4 ,but a new king who did not know ,joseph ruled over ,egypt4 ,he said to his people1 ,see1 the ,israelites are becoming too many and powerful for us4 ,come1 let us deal wisely with them1 for fear that they become so many that1 if war is begun against us1 they will join our enemies and fight against us and leave the land4 ,so the ,egyptians set taskmasters over them to put burdens upon them4 ,and they built for ,pharaoh the store-cities1 ,pithom and ,rameses4 ,but the more the ,egyptians afflicted them1 the more numerous they became and the more they spread everywhere1 so that the ,egyptians dreaded what they might do4 ,and the ,egyptians were cruel and made slaves of them1 making their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and brick1 and by all kinds of hard work in the field4 ,pharaoh also gave this command to all his people1 ,you shall throw into the river every son that is born to the ,hebrews1 but every daughter you shall save alive4 ,now a man of the tribe of ,levi married a woman of the same tribe1 and she had a son4 ,when she saw that he was a beautiful child1 she hid him for three months4 ,but when she could no longer hide him1 she took a basket made of papyrus reeds1 daubed it with mortar and pitch1 and put the child in it4 ,then she placed it in the reeds by the bank of the river ,nile1 while his sister stayed near by to see what would happen to him4 ,the daughter of ,pharaoh came down to bathe in the ,nile1 and while her maids were walking along the river's bank1 she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her waiting-maid to bring it4 ,when she opened it and saw the child1 the boy was crying2 and she felt sorry for him and said1 ,this is one of the ,hebrew children4 ,then his sister said to ,pharaoh's daughter1 ,shall ,i go and call one of the ,hebrew women to nurse the child for you8 ,pharaoh's daughter said to her1 ,go4 ,so the maiden went and called the child's mother1 and ,pharaoh's daughter said to her1 ,take this child away and nurse it for me1 and ,i will pay you your wages4 ,then the woman took the child and nursed it4 ,when the child had grown up1 she brought him to ,pharaoh's daughter1 and he became her son2 and she named him ,moses1 for she said1 ,i drew him out of the water4 ,one time1 after ,moses had grown up1 he went out to his own people2 and as he was watching them at their hard labor1 he saw an ,egyptian beating a ,hebrew1 one of his own race4 ,he looked around and seeing that there was no one in sight1 he killed the ,egyptian and hid him in the sand4 ,on the next day ,moses went out1 and saw two ,hebrews struggling together2 and he said to the one who was in the wrong1 ,why do you strike your fellow workman8 ,the man replied1 ,who made you a ruler and a judge over us8 ,do you intend to kill me as you killed the ,egyptian8 ,then ,moses was afraid and said1 ,what ,i have done is known6 ,when ,pharaoh heard what had taken place1 he tried to put ,moses to death2 but ,moses left the country and made his home in the land of ,midian4 ,as he was sitting by a well1 the seven daughters of the priest of ,midian came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock1 but the shepherds came and drove them away4 ,then ,moses stood up and protected the women and watered their flock4 ,when they came to their father1 he said1 ,how is it that you have come back so early to-day8 ,they replied1 ,an ,egyptian protected us from the shepherds1 and besides1 he drew water for us and watered the flock4 ,then he said to his daughters1 ,where is he8 ,why have you left the man8 ,ask him to eat with us4 ,so ,moses made his home with the man2 and he gave ,moses his daughter ,zipporah to be his wife4 ,she had a son1 and ,moses named him ,gershom4 ,,the ,,voice ,,from ,,the ,,bush ,after a long time the king of ,egypt died4 ,moses was taking care of the flock of ,jethro his wife's father4 ,once he led the flock to the other side of the pasture and came to ,horeb1 the mountain of ,god4 ,there the angel of ,jehovah appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a thorn bush4 ,as he looked1 the bush flamed up without being burned4 ,moses said1 ,i will stop here and see this wonderful sight1 why the bush is not burned up4 ,illustration3 ,the ,finding of ,moses ,painted by ,juliaan de ,vriendt ,when ,jehovah saw that ,moses stopped to look1 he called to him from the midst of the bush1 ,moses1 ,moses4 ,moses answered1 ,here am ,i4 ,then ,god said1 ,do not come near2 take your shoes off your feet1 for the place where you are standing is holy ground4 ,he also said1 ,i am the ,god of your forefathers1 the ,god of ,abraham1 the ,god of ,isaac1 and the ,god of ,jacob4 ,then ,moses covered his face2 for he was afraid to look upon ,god4 ,but ,jehovah said1 ,i have certainly seen the suffering of my people who are in ,egypt and have heard their cry of distress because of their taskmasters1 for ,i know their sorrows4 ,i have come down to rescue them from the power of the ,egyptians and to bring them out of that land into a land that is beautiful and wide1 to a land with plenty of milk and honey4 ,i have heard the cry of the ,israelites and ,i have seen how they suffer at the hands of the ,egyptians4 ,come now1 ,i will send you to ,pharaoh that you may bring my people1 the ,israelites1 out of ,egypt4 ,but ,moses said to ,god1 ,who am ,i1 that ,i should go to ,pharaoh and should bring the ,israelites out of ,egypt8 ,he answered1 ,i will surely be with you2 and this shall be the sign to you that ,i have sent you3 when you have brought the people out of ,egypt1 you shall worship ,god upon this mountain4 ,then ,moses said to ,god1 ,if ,i go to the ,israelites and say to them1 ',the ,god of your forefathers has sent me to you1' and they ask me1 ',what is his name8' what shall ,i answer them8 ,god said to ,moses1 ,i ,,am ,,what ,i ,,am2 and he said1 ,declare to the ,israelites3 ',i ,,am has sent me to you4' ,go and gather the leaders of ,israel together and say to them1 ',jehovah the ,god of your forefathers1 the ,god of ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 has appeared to me and said1 ,i have surely remembered you and have seen what is being done to you in ,egypt1 and ,i have declared that ,i will bring you up out of the suffering in ,egypt to a land with plenty of milk and honey4' ,they will listen to your voice2 and you1 together with the leaders of ,israel1 shall go to the king of ,egypt and say to him1 ',jehovah1 the ,god of the ,hebrews1 has appeared to us4 ,now let us go three days' journey into the wilderness1 that we may offer a sacrifice to ,jehovah our ,god4' ,but ,i know that the king of ,egypt will not let you go unless he is made to do so by a mighty power4 ,therefore ,i will use my power and overwhelm ,egypt with all the marvellous deeds that ,i will do there4 ,after that he will let you go4 ,moses said to ,jehovah1 ,o1 ,lord ,i am not able to speak well2 for ,i am slow to speak and slow in saying what ,i think4 ,jehovah said to him1 ,who has given man a mouth8 ,or who makes one deaf or dumb1 or blind or able to see8 ,is it not ,i1 ,jehovah8 ,now go1 and ,i will be with you and teach you what you shall say2 and your brother ,aaron shall speak for you to the people4 ,then ,moses went back to ,jethro1 his wife's father1 and said to him1 ,let me go again to my people in ,egypt to see whether they are still alive4 ,jethro answered ,moses1 ,go1 with my blessing4 ,,pharaoh ,,the ,,stubborn ,,ruler ,then ,jehovah said to ,aaron1 ,go into the wilderness to meet ,moses4 ,so he went and met him on the mountain of ,god and kissed him4 ,and ,moses told ,aaron all that ,jehovah had sent him to declare4 ,so ,moses and ,aaron gathered all the leaders of the ,israelites1 and ,aaron repeated all the words which ,jehovah had spoken to ,moses4 ,the people believed2 and when they heard that ,jehovah had remembered the ,israelites and that he had seen their suffering1 they bowed their heads and worshipped4 ,then ,moses and ,aaron went to ,pharaoh and said to him1 ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,israel commands1 ',let my people go that they may hold a feast in my honor in the wilderness4' ,but ,pharaoh said1 ,who is ,jehovah that ,i should obey his command to let ,israel go8 ,i do not know ,jehovah1 and ,i will not let ,israel go4 ,they said1 ,the ,god of the ,hebrews has appeared to us2 let us go three days' journey into the wilderness that we may offer a sacrifice to ,jehovah our ,god1 that he may not attack us with pestilence or with the sword4 ,but the king of ,egypt replied1 ,moses and ,aaron1 why do you try to turn the people from their work8 ,go to your tasks6 ,the same day ,pharaoh gave this command to the taskmasters who were over the people3 ,you shall no longer give the people straw for making bricks as before4 ,let them go and gather straw for themselves4 ,but you shall demand of them the same number of bricks that they have been making before2 you shall not lessen the number at all1 for they are lazy2 that is why they cry out1 ',let us go and offer a sacrifice to our ,god4' ,let heavier work be laid upon the men1 that they may be kept so busy that they will not pay attention to lying words4 ,so the taskmasters who were over the people went out and said to them1 ,this is ,pharaoh's order1 ',i will no longer give you straw4 ,go yourselves1 get straw wherever you can find it2 but your work shall not be made less4' ,so the people were scattered over all the land of ,egypt to gather stubble for straw4 ,the taskmasters urged them on1 saying1 ,you must finish your daily task just as when there was straw4 ,the overseers of the ,israelites1 whom ,pharaoh's taskmasters had put over them1 were also beaten and asked1 ,why have you not finished to-day as many bricks as yesterday8 ,then the overseers of the ,israelites went to ,pharaoh and said1 ,why do you deal in this way with your servants8 ,no straw is given to your servants1 and yet they say to us1 ',make bricks4' ,see how your servants are beaten and how you wrong your people4 ,but he said1 ,you are lazy1 you are lazy2 therefore you say1 ',let us go and offer a sacrifice to ,jehovah4' ,now go and work1 for no straw shall be given you2 yet you must make the same number of bricks4 ,then ,moses turned again to ,jehovah and said1 ,jehovah1 why hast thou brought misfortune upon this people8 ,why is it that thou has sent me8 ,for since ,i came to ,pharaoh to speak in thy name he has wronged this people1 and thou hast done nothing at all to rescue thy people4 ,jehovah answered ,moses1 ,now you shall see what ,i will do to ,pharaoh2 for compelled by a mighty power he shall surely let them go1 and compelled by a mighty power he shall drive them out of his land4 ,,the ,,cost ,,of ,,being ,,cruel ,,and ,,stubborn ,then ,jehovah said to ,moses1 ,pharaoh is stubborn2 he will not let the people go4 ,go to ,pharaoh early in the morning1 as he is going out on the water1 and stand by the bank of the ,nile to meet him4 ,say to him1 ',jehovah1 the ,god of the ,hebrews1 has sent me to you with this command3 ,let my people go that they may worship me in the wilderness1 but so far you have not listened4 ,jehovah declares1 ,by this you shall know that ,i am ,jehovah3 ,see1 ,i will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand and they shall be changed into blood4 ,the fish1 too1 that are in the ,nile shall die1 and the ,nile shall become foul1 so that the ,egyptians will hate to drink its water4' ,then ,moses lifted up the staff and in the presence of ,pharaoh and his servants struck the waters that were in the river ,nile2 and all its waters were changed into blood4 ,the fish1 too1 that were in the ,nile died1 and the river became so foul that the ,egyptians could not drink its water1 but dug round about the ,nile for water to drink4 ,seven days later ,jehovah gave this command to ,moses1 ,go in to ,pharaoh and say to him1 ',jehovah commands3 ,let my people go that they may worship me4 ,if you refuse to let them go1 then ,i will afflict all your land with frogs2 and the ,nile shall swarm with frogs which shall go up and come into your house1 into your sleeping chamber1 upon your bed1 into the houses of your servants1 upon your people1 and into your ovens and kneading-troughs2 and the frogs shall come up even upon you and your people and all your servants4' ,then ,jehovah said to ,moses1 ,say to ,aaron3 ',stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers1 over the canals1 and over the pools1 and cause frogs to come up over the land of ,egypt4' ,so ,aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of ,egypt2 and the frogs came up and covered the land of ,egypt4 ,then ,pharaoh called for ,moses and ,aaron and said1 ,pray to ,jehovah to take away the frogs from me and my people2 then ,i will let the people go1 that they may offer a sacrifice to ,jehovah4 ,moses said to ,pharaoh1 ,will you do yourself the honor of telling me at what time ,i shall pray to ,jehovah in your behalf and in behalf of your servants and people1 that the frogs be destroyed from your palaces and be left only in the ,nile8 ,pharaoh answered1 ,to-morrow4 ,then ,moses said1 ,let it be as you say2 that you may know that there is none like ,jehovah our ,god1 the frogs shall depart from you1 from your palaces1 and from your servants and people2 they shall be left only in the ,nile4 ,when ,moses and ,aaron had gone out from ,pharaoh1 ,moses prayed to ,jehovah to remove the frogs which he had brought upon ,pharaoh2 and ,jehovah did as ,moses asked4 ,the frogs died in the houses1 in the courts1 and in the fields1 and the people gathered them together in many heaps2 and the land was filled with a vile odor4 ,but when ,pharaoh saw that relief had come1 he was stubborn and1 as ,jehovah had said1 did not listen to ,moses and ,aaron4 ,then ,jehovah said to ,moses1 ,get up early in the morning and stand before ,pharaoh1 just as he goes out to the water1 and say to him1 ',jehovah commands3 ,let my people go that they may worship me4 ,if you will not let my people go1 ,i will send swarms of flies upon you1 upon your servants1 and upon your people and into your palaces1 so that the houses of the ,egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies1 as well as the ground upon which they stand4 ,but at that time ,i will set apart the land of ,goshen in which my people live1 and no swarms of flies shall be there1 so that you may know that ,i1 ,jehovah1 am in the midst of the earth4' ,and ,jehovah did so3 a vast swarm of flies came upon ,pharaoh's palace and into the homes of his servants2 and all the land of ,egypt was ruined by the swarms of flies4 ,then ,pharaoh called for ,moses and ,aaron and said1 ,i will let you go that you may offer a sacrifice to ,jehovah your ,god in the wilderness2 only you must not go far away4 ,pray for me4 ,moses replied1 ,i will go out and will pray to ,jehovah that the swarms of flies may depart from ,pharaoh1 from his servants and from his people to-morrow2 only let not ,pharaoh again act deceitfully by refusing to let the people go to offer a sacrifice to ,jehovah4 ,so ,moses went out from ,pharaoh and prayed to ,jehovah4 ,and ,jehovah did as ,moses asked2 but this time also ,pharaoh was stubborn and would not let the people go4 ,then ,jehovah said to ,moses1 ,go to ,pharaoh and tell him1 ',jehovah the ,god of the ,hebrews commands3 ,let my people go that they may worship me4 ,for if you refuse to let them go and still hold them1 then the power of ,jehovah will bring a very severe pest upon your cattle which are in the field1 upon the horses1 the asses1 the camels1 the herds1 and the flocks4 ,but ,jehovah will make a difference between the cattle of ,israel and the cattle of ,egypt1 and not one that belongs to the ,israelites shall die4' ,so ,jehovah set a fixed time1 saying1 ,to-morrow ,jehovah will do this in the land4 ,jehovah did this on the next day1 and all the cattle of the ,egyptians died2 but none of the cattle of the ,israelites4 ,then ,pharaoh sent and found that not even one of the cattle of the ,israelites was dead2 but ,pharaoh was stubborn and would not let the people go4 ,then ,jehovah said to ,moses1 ,get up early in the morning and stand before ,pharaoh1 and say to him1',jehovah1 the ,god of the ,hebrews1 commands3 ,let my people go1 that they may worship me4 ,do you still set yourself against my people1 so that you will not let them go8 ,to-morrow about this time ,i will send down a very heavy fall of hail1 such as has not been in ,egypt from the day that it became a nation until now4' ,so ,jehovah sent down hail upon the land of ,egypt1 and the lightning flashing in the midst of the hail was very severe1 such as had not been before in all ,egypt since it became a nation4 ,through the whole land of ,egypt the hail struck down everything that was in the field1 both man and beast4 ,the hail also struck down all the growing plants and broke all the trees in the fields4 ,only in the land of ,goshen1 where the ,israelites were1 there was no hail4 ,again ,pharaoh sent and called for ,moses and ,aaron and said to them1 ,i have sinned this time2 ,jehovah is right and ,i and my people are wrong4 ,pray to ,jehovah1 for there has been enough of these mighty thunderings and hail1 and ,i will let you go1 and you shall stay no longer4 ,moses said to him1 ,as soon as ,i have gone out of the city1 ,i will spread out my hands in prayer to ,jehovah2 the thunders shall stop1 and there shall be no more hail1 that you may know that the earth is ,jehovah's4 ,but as for you and your servants1 ,i know that even then you will not fear ,jehovah4 ,so ,moses went out of the city from ,pharaoh and spread out his hands to ,jehovah2 and the thunders and hail stopped1 and the rain was no longer poured upon the earth4 ,but when ,pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders had stopped1 he sinned again1 and he and his servants became stubborn1 and he would not let the ,israelites go4 ,so ,moses and ,aaron went to ,pharaoh1 and said to him1 ,jehovah1 the ,god of the ,hebrews1 commands3 ',how long will you refuse to obey me8 ,let my people go that they may worship me4 ,for if you refuse to let my people go1 then to-morrow ,i will bring locusts into your land1 and they will cover the surface of the earth1 so that no one will be able to see the ground1 and they shall eat the rest of that which is left to you from the hail1 and they shall eat all your trees which grow in the field4' ,then ,moses and ,aaron were driven out from ,pharaoh's presence1 but ,moses stretched out his staff over the land of ,egypt1 and ,jehovah caused an east wind to blow over the land all that day and night4 ,in the morning the east wind brought the locusts1 and they went over all the land of ,egypt and settled down in all the land of ,egypt1 a very large swarm1 more locusts than there ever were before or ever will be again4 ,for they covered the surface of the whole land1 so that the land was darkened and nothing green was left1 neither tree nor growing plants1 anywhere in all the land of ,egypt4 ,then ,pharaoh called for ,moses in haste and said1 ,i have sinned against ,jehovah your ,god and against you4 ,now therefore forgive my sin only this once1 and pray to ,jehovah your ,god to take away from me this deadly plague4 ,so ,moses went out from ,pharaoh and prayed to ,jehovah1 and ,jehovah made a very strong west wind to blow which took up the locusts and drove them into the ,red ,sea2 not a single locust was left in all the land of ,egypt4 ,but ,jehovah let ,pharaoh's heart remain stubborn1 so that he would not let the ,israelites go4 ,then ,jehovah said to ,moses1 ,stretch out your hand toward heaven1 that there may be darkness over the land of ,egypt1 so dark that it may be felt4 ,so ,moses stretched out his hand toward heaven2 and there was complete darkness in all the land of ,egypt for three days2 no one could see another1 nor did any one move about for three days4 ,but the ,israelites had light in their homes4 ,then ,pharaoh called ,moses and said1 ,go1 worship ,jehovah2 only let your flocks and your herds stay behind2 let your little ones go with you4 ,but ,moses said1 ,you must also give us animals for sacrifices and burnt-offerings1 that we may offer a sacrifice to ,jehovah our ,god4 ,our cattle too must go with us2 not a hoof shall be left behind1 for we must take these to offer to ,jehovah our ,god1 and we do not know what we must offer to ,jehovah until we arrive there4 ,but ,jehovah let ,pharaoh's heart remain stubborn1 and he would not let them go4 ,and ,pharaoh said to him1 ,go away from me2 take care that you never come to me again2 for on the day that you come to me you shall die4 ,moses replied1 ,you have spoken truly1 ,i shall never see you again4 ,moses said to ,pharaoh1 ,jehovah declares3 ',about midnight ,i will go through all of ,egypt4 ,all the eldest sons in the land of ,egypt shall die1 from the eldest son of ,pharaoh who sits upon his throne1 even to the eldest son of the slave girl who is behind the mill1 and all the first-born of the cattle4 ,there shall be a great cry of sorrow all over the land of ,egypt1 such as has never been before and never shall be again4' ,but not a single dog shall bark at any of the ,israelites nor their animals1 that you may know that ,jehovah does make a difference between the ,egyptians and ,israelites4 ,all these your servants shall come to me and bow down before me1 saying1 ',go away1 together with all the people that follow you4' ,after that ,i will go away4 ,and ,moses went from ,pharaoh in great anger4 ,,the ,,escape ,,from ,,egypt ,moses called together all the leaders of ,israel1 and said to them1 ,take lambs from the herds according to your families and kill the passover lamb4 ,you shall also take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin and strike the lintel and the two door posts with the blood that is in the basin4 ,and not one of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning1 for ,jehovah will pass through to kill the ,egyptians1 and when he sees the blood upon the lintel and on the two door posts1 he will pass over the door and will not let the destroyer come into your houses to destroy you4 ,you and your children shall observe this event as a custom forever4 ,when your children shall say to you1 ',what do you mean by this service8' you shall say1 ',it is the sacrifice of the passover of ,jehovah1 for he passed over the houses of the ,israelites in ,egypt1 when he destroyed the ,egyptians and released our people4' ,then the people bowed their heads and worshipped2 and the ,israelites went and did as ,jehovah had commanded ,moses and ,aaron4 ,at midnight ,jehovah destroyed all the eldest sons in the land of ,egypt1 from the eldest son of ,pharaoh who sat on his throne to the eldest son of the captive who was in prison4 ,then ,pharaoh arose in the night1 together with all his servants and all the ,egyptians1 and there was a great cry of sorrow1 for there was not a house in ,egypt in which there was not one dead4 ,pharaoh called ,moses and ,aaron at night and said1 ,go away from among my people1 both you and the ,israelites2 go1 worship ,jehovah as you have asked4 ,also take with you your sheep and your cattle1 as you have asked1 go and ask a blessing for me also4 ,the ,egyptians also told the people to hasten out of the land1 for they said1 ,we shall all perish4 ,so the people took their dough before the yeast had worked1 and their kneading-troughs were bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders4 ,the ,israelites went on foot from ,rameses to ,succoth2 and a mixed multitude went with them1 and they had a great many flocks and herds4 ,they baked unraised cakes of the dough which they had brought with them from ,egypt1 for there was no yeast in it1 because they had been driven out of ,egypt and could not wait1 neither had they prepared for themselves any food for the journey4 ,and they went from ,succoth and camped at ,etham on the border of the wilderness4 ,jehovah went before them by day in a pillar of cloud1 to show them the way1 and at night in a pillar of fire1 to give them light1 that they might march both by day and by night2 the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire at night stayed in front of the people4 ,when the king of ,egypt was told that the people had fled1 the feeling of ,pharaoh and his servants toward them was changed1 and they said1 ,why have we done this and let the ,israelites escape from serving us8 ,so he made ready his chariot and took his people with him4 ,he also took six hundred chosen chariots and the rest of the chariots of ,egypt with captains over all of them2 and ,jehovah let the heart of ,pharaoh1 king of ,egypt1 remain stubborn1 so that he followed the ,israelites1 because they had defied him4 ,when ,pharaoh drew near to them the ,israelites looked up and saw the ,egyptians marching after them2 and they were very much afraid and cried to ,jehovah4 ,and they said to ,moses1 ,why have you misled us by bringing us out of ,egypt8 ,is not this what we told you in ,egypt1 when we said1 ',let us alone1 that we may serve the ,egyptians8 ,for it is better for us to serve the ,egyptians than to die in the wilderness4' ,but ,moses said to the people1 ,do not be frightened1 remain quiet and you will see how ,jehovah will save you to-day2 for as surely as you now see the ,egyptians you shall never see them again4 ,jehovah will fight for you1 and you are to keep still4 ,then the angel of ,god who went before the army of ,israel changed his position and went behind them4 ,the pillar of cloud also changed its position from in front of them and stood behind them1 coming between the army of the ,egyptians and the army of the ,israelites4 ,on the one side the cloud was dark and on the other side it lighted up the night1 so that throughout all the night neither army came near the other4 ,then ,moses stretched out his hand over the sea1 and ,jehovah by means of a strong east wind caused the sea to go back all that night and made the bed of the sea dry4 ,and the ,israelites crossed over on the dry bed of the sea4 ,the ,egyptians followed and all of ,pharaoh's horses1 his chariots1 and his horsemen went after them into the sea4 ,in the morning before sunrise1 ,jehovah looked out through the pillar of fire and of cloud upon the army of the ,egyptians and threw them into confusion4 ,he also bound their chariot wheels1 so that they dragged heavily4 ,therefore the ,egyptians said1 ,let us flee from the ,israelites1 for ,jehovah fights for them against us4 ,then ,jehovah said to ,moses1 ,stretch out your hand over the sea1 that the waters may come back upon the ,egyptians1 upon their chariots1 and upon their horsemen4 ,so ,moses stretched out his hand over the sea1 and toward morning the sea returned to its ordinary level while the ,egyptians were flying before it4 ,so ,jehovah overthrew the ,egyptians in the midst of the sea1 and the waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen1 and all the army of ,pharaoh that went after them into the sea1 so that not one of them was left4 ,thus ,jehovah saved the ,israelites that day from the power of the ,egyptians2 and they saw the ,egyptians dead upon the seashore4 ,when the ,israelites saw the great work which ,jehovah did to the ,egyptians1 the people feared ,jehovah and believed in him and in his servant ,moses4 ,and ,miriam the prophetess1 the sister of ,aaron1 took a tambourine in her hand2 and as all the women followed her with tambourines and with dancing1 she sang with them3 ,sing to ,jehovah1 for he has triumphed gloriously3 ,both horse and rider has he hurled into the sea4 ,then ,moses and the ,israelites sang this song to ,jehovah3 ,i will sing to ,jehovah1 for he has triumphed gloriously3 ,both horse and rider he has hurled into the sea4 ,jehovah is my strength and song1 he has delivered me2 ,he is my ,god1 ,i will praise him2 my father's ,god whom ,i honor4 ,,god',s ,,commands ,,to ,,the ,,people ,moses led the ,israelites forward from the ,red ,sea until they came to the wilderness of ,sinai1 and there the ,israelites camped before the mountain4 ,moses went up into the presence of ,god1 and ,jehovah called to him from the mountain and said1 ,tell the ,israelites3 ',you have seen what ,i did to the ,egyptians and how ,i bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself4 ,now therefore1 if you will listen to my voice and keep your solemn agreement with me1 you shall be my own treasure taken from among all peoples1 for all the earth is mine4 ,you shall be a nation of priests1 a people devoted to my service4' ,so ,moses called together the leaders of the people and told them all these words1 as ,jehovah had commanded him4 ,and all the people answered together1 ,we will do all that ,jehovah has commanded4 ,when ,moses told ,jehovah the answer of the people1 ,jehovah said to him1 ,see1 ,i come to you in a thick cloud1 that the people may hear when ,i speak and may always believe in you4 ,and ,jehovah said to ,moses1 ,go to the people and keep them pure to-day and to-morrow1 and let them wash their garments and be ready on the third day1 for on the third day ,i will come down on ,mount ,sinai within sight of all the people4 ,on the third day1 when morning came1 there were thunderings and lightnings and a thick cloud rested upon the mountain1 and a very loud trumpet blast sounded1 so that all the people who were in the camp trembled4 ,then ,moses brought the people out of the camp to meet ,god2 and they stood at the foot of the mountain4 ,mount ,sinai was entirely covered with smoke1 because ,jehovah came down upon it in fire4 ,and from it smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace1 and the entire mountain shook violently4 ,then ,god spoke all these words3 ,i am ,jehovah your ,god who brought you out of the land of ,egypt1 from a place where you were slaves4 ,,thou ,,shalt ,,have ,,no ,,other ,,gods ,,except ,,me4 ,,thou ,,shalt ,,not ,,make ,,for ,,thyself ,a ,,graven ,,image1 nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above1 on the earth beneath1 or in the waters that are under the earth4 ,thou shalt not bow down before them1 nor serve them1 for ,i ,jehovah thy ,god am a jealous ,god visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation1 but showing acts of kindness to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commands4 ,,thou ,,shalt ,,not ,,take ,,the ,,name ,,of ,,jehovah ,,thy ,,god ,,in ,,vain1 for ,jehovah will not leave him unpunished who takes his name in vain4 ,,remember ,,the ,,sabbath ,,day ,,to ,,keep ,,it ,,holy4 ,six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work2 but the seventh day is the ,sabbath of ,jehovah thy ,god4 ,in it thou shalt not do any work1 neither thou1 nor thy son1 nor thy daughter1 nor thy male servant1 nor thy female servant1 nor thy cattle1 nor the guest who is with thee1 for in six days ,jehovah made the heavens and the earth1 the sea and all that in them is1 and rested on the seventh day4 ,therefore ,jehovah blessed the ,sabbath day and made it holy4 ,,honor ,,thy ,,father ,,and ,,thy ,,mother1 that thou mayest live long on the land which ,jehovah thy ,god giveth thee4 ,,thou ,,shalt ,,not ,,murder4 ,,thou ,,shalt ,,not ,,commit ,,adultery4 ,,thou ,,shalt ,,not ,,steal4 ,,thou ,,shalt ,,not ,,bear ,,false ,,witness ,,against ,,thy ,,neighbor4 ,,thou ,,shalt ,,not ,,covet ,,thy ,,neighbor',s ,,house2 thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife1 nor his male servant1 nor his female servant1 nor his ox1 nor his ass1 nor anything that belongs to thy neighbor4 ,then ,jehovah said to ,moses1 ,write down these words1 for in accord with these words ,i have made a solemn agreement with you and with ,israel4 ,,our ,,duties ,,to ,,god ,,and ,,man ,hear ,o ,israel3 ,jehovah our ,god is the one ,lord4 ,you shall love ,jehovah your ,god with all your heart1 with all your soul1 and with all your strength4 ,behold1 the heavens1 the highest heavens1 the earth and all that is on it belong to ,jehovah your ,god4 ,jehovah showed his love to your fathers more than to any other people1 and he has chosen their children after them and you out of all the nations4 ,therefore1 open your heart to him and no longer refuse to be guided by him4 ,for ,jehovah your ,god is ,god of gods and ,lord of lords1 the great1 the mighty1 the wonderful ,god1 who shows no favors and takes no bribes1 who sees that what is right is done to the orphan and widow1 who loves the foreigner and gives him food and clothing4 ,love ,jehovah your ,god and always keep his laws and his commands4 ,you shall not deceive one another4 ,you shall not lie to one another4 ,you shall not swear falsely in my name4 ,you shall not wrong nor rob your neighbor4 ,you shall not curse the deaf4 ,you shall not put a stumbling-block before the blind4 ,you shall not tell stories about one another4 ,you shall not hate any one4 ,you shall not take vengeance nor bear a grudge against any one4 ,you shall love your neighbor as yourself4 ,you shall rise before the hoary head and honor an old man4 ,if a foreigner lives in your land1 you shall do him no wrong4 ,you shall treat him as one of your own people and you shall love him as yourself4 ,,the ,,report ,,of ,,the ,,hebrew ,,spies ,moses sent certain men to explore the land of ,canaan and said to them1 ,go up into the ,south ,country and on into the highlands1 and see what the land is and whether the people who live there are strong or weak1 whether they are few or many1 and whether the land in which they live is good or bad1 and what kinds of cities they live in1 whether in camps or in strongholds4 ,see whether the land is fertile or barren1 whether there is wood in it or not4 ,be courageous and bring some of the fruit of the land1 for it was the time when the grapes first begin to ripen4 ,so they went up to the ,south ,country and came to ,hebron4 ,when they came to the valley of ,eshcol1 they cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes and brought it away on a pole carried by two men4 ,they also took some pomegranates and figs4 ,that place was called the valley of the ,grape ,cluster because of the cluster which the ,israelites cut down there4 ,then they returned to ,moses and ,aaron and all the ,israelites at ,kadesh and brought back word to them and showed them the fruit of the land4 ,they reported to ,moses1 ,we went to the land to which you sent us2 and it indeed is full of milk and honey2 and this is some of its fruit4 ,but the people who live in the land are strong1 and the cities are very large and have high walls about them4 ,then ,caleb quieted the people and said1 ,let us go up at once and take it1 for we are well able to conquer it4 ,but the men who had gone up with him said1 ,we are not able to conquer the people1 for they are stronger than we1 and all the people whom we saw there are very tall and large4 ,there we saw the giants2 we were as grasshoppers in our own sight1 and so we seemed to them4 ,all the people wept that night and cried out1 ,why did ,jehovah bring us to this land to fall by the sword8 ,our wives and our little ones will be taken captive4 ,would it not be better for us to return to ,egypt8 ,so they said to one another1 ,let us choose a leader and return to ,egypt4 ,then ,moses and ,aaron bowed low before all the ,israelites who were gathered there1 and ,joshua and ,caleb1 who were among those who explored the land1 tore their clothes and said to them1 ,the land which we went to explore is a very good land4 ,if ,jehovah is pleased with us1 he will bring us into this land and give it to us1 a land which is full of milk and honey4 ,only do not rebel against ,jehovah4 ,fear not the people of the land1 for they will supply us with food4 ,their defense is taken away from over them1 and ,jehovah is with us2 fear them not4 ,but the people would not trust ,jehovah4 ,then ,jehovah said to ,moses1 ,how long will this people despise me8 ,how long will they refuse to trust me in spite of all of the wonders which ,i have performed before their eyes8 ,i will send sickness upon them and destroy them1 and ,i will make you and your family a nation greater and mightier than theirs4 ,but ,moses said to ,jehovah1 ,when the ,egyptians hear it1 they will say1 ',jehovah has killed them in the wilderness because he was not able to bring this people into the land which he solemnly promised to them4' ,forgive1 ,i pray thee1 the guilt of this people1 because thy love is great1 even as thou hast forgiven them from the time they left ,egypt even until now4 ,jehovah said1 ,i have forgiven as you have asked2 but as surely as ,i live and as surely as the whole earth shall be filled with the glory of ,jehovah1 none of the men who have seen my glory and my wonders which ,i performed in ,egypt and in the wilderness1 and yet have tested me these ten times and have not listened to my voice1 shall see the land which ,i have solemnly promised to their fathers1 neither shall any of those who despise me see it4 ,but ,i will bring my servant ,caleb to the land to which he went1 for he has shown a different spirit and has faithfully followed me1 and his children shall possess it4 ,but your little ones1 who1 you said1 would be captives of war1 ,i will bring in1 and they shall possess the land which you have refused4 ,your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness1 and your children shall be wanderers there forty years and shall suffer for your unfaithfulness until your bodies have all decayed in the wilderness4 ,,the ,,last ,,words ,,of ,,moses ,when ,moses was old1 he said to all the ,israelites1 ,i am a hundred and twenty years old this day4 ,i can no longer go out and come in1 and ,jehovah has said to me1 ',you shall not go over this river ,jordan4' ,jehovah your ,god is going over before you4 ,he will destroy these nations before you1 and you shall drive them out2 and ,joshua is going over to lead you as ,jehovah has commanded4 ,be brave and strong1 do not be afraid of them1 for ,jehovah your ,god is leading you2 he will not fail you nor forsake you4 ,moses also called ,joshua and said to him in the presence of all ,israel1 ,be brave and strong1 for you shall bring this people into the land which ,jehovah has promised to their fathers to give them2 and you shall give it to them4 ,jehovah is going before you2 he will be with you1 he will not fail nor forsake you2 fear not1 nor be frightened4 ,then ,moses went up on the plains of ,moab to ,mount ,nebo to the summit of ,pisgah opposite ,jericho4 ,and ,jehovah showed him all the land1 and said to him1 ,this is the land which ,i have solemnly promised to ,abraham1 to ,isaac1 and to ,jacob1 saying1 ',i will give it to your children4' ,i have let you see it with your own eyes1 but you shall not go over there4 ,so ,moses1 the servant of ,jehovah1 died there in the land of ,moab as ,jehovah had said4 ,and ,jehovah buried him in the deep valley in the land of ,moab2 but to this day no man knows the place where he was buried4 ,moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died1 but his eye was not dim nor had he lost his strength4 ,the ,israelites wept for ,moses on the plain of ,moab thirty days1 and then the days of weeping and mourning for ,moses were ended4 ,joshua the son of ,nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom1 for ,moses had laid his hands upon him2 and the ,israelites listened to him and did as ,jehovah commanded ,moses4 ,but in ,israel no prophet had yet arisen whom ,jehovah knew as well as he did ,moses4 ,,crossing ,,the ,,river ,,jordan ,after the death of ,moses1 ,jehovah said to ,joshua1 ,moses' helper1 ,moses my servant is dead3 ,now arise1 go over the ,jordan with all this people to the land which ,i am about to give to the ,israelites4 ,as long as you live no one will be able to stand against you4 ,as ,i was with ,moses1 so ,i shall be with you3 ,i will not fail you nor forsake you4 ,be brave and strong1 for you shall give this people the land which ,i solemnly promised their fathers ,i would give them4 ,only be brave and strong to keep faithfully all the law1 as ,moses my servant commanded you4 ,turn not from it to the right nor to the left1 and you shall have success wherever you go4 ,have ,i not commanded you8 ,be brave and strong2 fear not nor be afraid1 for ,jehovah your ,god is with you wherever you go4 ,then ,joshua gave this order to the officers who were over the people3 ,go through all the camp and give this command3 ',prepare food for yourselves1 for within three days you are to cross this ,jordan1 to go in and take the land which ,jehovah your ,god has given you as your own4' ,while ,joshua was at ,shittim1 he secretly sent two men as spies1 with the command3 ,go1 explore the land and especially ,jericho4 ,so they went and entered the house of a woman named ,rahab1 and stayed there4 ,it was reported to the king of ,jericho1 ,some men came here to-night from the ,israelites to explore the land4 ,therefore the king of ,jericho sent to ,rahab and said1 ,bring out the men who entered your house1 for they have come to explore all the land4 ,now the woman had taken the two men and hidden them2 so she said1 ,it is true1 some men came to me1 but ,i did not know where they came from4 ,when the time came to shut the gate at night1 the men went out and ,i do not know where they have gone4 ,follow after them quickly1 for you may overtake them4 ,she1 however1 had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax which she had spread out there4 ,so the men of ,jericho followed after them in the direction of the fords of the ,jordan2 and as soon as the men of ,jericho had gone out1 the gate was closed4 ,the spies had hardly lain down when ,rahab came up to them on the roof and said1 ,i know that ,jehovah has given you the land and that fear of you has seized us and that because of you all who live in the land are losing heart4 ,now therefore swear to me by ,jehovah1 since ,i have treated you with kindness1 that you will also treat my family kindly1 and promise me that you will save the lives of my father1 my mother1 my brothers1 and my sisters1 together with all that they have1 and will not put us to death4 ,the men said to her1 ,we are ready to give our lives for you1 if you do not tell what we are doing2 and when ,jehovah gives us the land1 we will treat you kindly and faithfully4 ,then she let them down by a rope through the window1 for the house in which she lived was built into the city wall4 ,she said to them1 ,go into the hills1 that the men who are looking for you may not find you1 and hide yourselves there three days until they have returned4 ,then you may go on your way4 ,the men said to her1 ,we shall be free from our solemn promise to you1 unless1 when we come into the land1 you bind this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down and gather your father1 your mother1 your brothers1 and all your family into your house4 ,if any one goes out of the doors of your house into the street1 he shall be responsible for his death and we shall be innocent4 ,if any one stays with you in the house1 we will be responsible for his death if any one lays hands on him4 ,but if you tell what we are doing1 we shall be free from our solemn promise to you4 ,she replied1 ,it shall be as you say4 ,so she sent them away4 ,and when they were gone1 she bound the scarlet cord in the window4 ,so they left and went into the hills and stayed there three days until those who were looking for them had returned4 ,they sought for them in every direction but did not find them4 ,then the two men came down from the hills1 crossed the river1 and came to ,joshua and told him all that had happened to them4 ,joshua rose up early in the morning and set out from ,shittim4 ,and he and all the ,israelites came to the ,jordan and spent the night there before crossing4 ,and ,joshua said to the people1 ,consecrate yourselves1 for to-morrow ,jehovah will do wonders among you4 ,come and hear the words of ,jehovah your ,god4 ,by this you shall know that a living ,god is with you3 the ark of the ,lord of all the earth is about to pass over before you into the ,jordan4 ,when the priests who bear the ark of the ,lord of all the earth step into the waters of the ,jordan1 its waters shall be cut off1 so that the waters that come down from above will stand still in a heap4 ,so when the people left their tents to pass over the ,jordan1 the priests1 who were carrying the ark were in front of them4 ,and when the bearers of the ark came to the ,jordan1 and the feet of the priests who were carrying the ark dipped in the brink of the water--for the ,jordan overflows all its banks during the harvest time--the waters that came down from above stood still and its waters rose in a heap a long distance up the river at ,adam1 the city that is near ,zarethan4 ,the waters that went down toward the ,dead ,sea were wholly cut off1 while the people crossed over opposite ,jericho4 ,the priests who were carrying the ark of ,jehovah stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the ,jordan1 while all the ,israelites passed over on dry ground1 until the whole nation had completed the crossing of the ,jordan4 ,when they had all crossed1 ,jehovah said to ,joshua1 ,command them to take from the middle of the ,jordan1 out of the place where the priests' feet stood1 twelve stones and carry them over with you and lay them down in the camping-place1 where you pass the night1 that this may be a reminder to them4 ,then when your children ask from time to time3 ',what do these stones mean to you8' you shall say to them1 ',they are reminders that the waters of the ,jordan were cut off before the ark of ,jehovah1 when it passed over the ,jordan4' ,these stones shall be a constant reminder to the ,israelites4 ,so the ,israelites did as ,joshua commanded and took up out of the middle of the ,jordan twelve stones corresponding to the number of the tribes of the ,israelites4 ,they carried them over with them to the place where they camped and laid them down there4 ,then the waters of the ,jordan returned to their place and the river overflowed all its banks as before4 ,,the ,,capture ,,of ,,jericho ,,and ,,ai ,now ,jericho had closed its gates because of the ,israelites1 and no one went in or out4 ,but ,jehovah said to ,joshua1 ,see1 ,i have given ,jericho to you with its king and its able warriors4 ,you shall march around the city1 all the soldiers going about the city once4 ,you shall do this for six days1 and on the seventh day the people shall make the attack1 each man going up straight before him4 ,then ,joshua said to the people1 ,march around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of ,jehovah4 ,you shall not shout the battle-cry nor let your voice be heard2 not a word shall escape from your mouth until the day ,i say to you1 ',shout the battle-cry'2 then you shall shout6 ,so he had the ark of ,jehovah carried around the city once2 then they returned to the camp and spent the night there4 ,the second day they also marched around the city once and returned to the camp4 ,thus they did six days4 ,the seventh day they rose early at dawn and made the circuit of the city in the same way1 only on that day they marched about the city seven times4 ,the seventh time the priests blew the trumpets1 and ,joshua said to the people1 ,shout the battle-cry2 for ,jehovah has given you the city4 ,the city and all that is in it shall be sacrificed to ,jehovah2 only ,rahab and those who are with her in her house shall live1 because she hid the messengers whom we sent4 ,so the people shouted the battle-cry and the wall fell down and they went straight up into the city and captured it4 ,but ,joshua spared the lives of ,rahab and her father's family and all that she had1 because she hid the messengers whom ,joshua sent to explore ,jericho2 and they have lived among the ,israelites even to this day4 ,then ,joshua set out with all the warriors to go up to ,ai4 ,and he selected thirty thousand brave soldiers and sent them out at night with this command1 ,hide somewhere beyond the town1 not very far from it1 but be ready to act4 ,i and all the people who are with me will go toward the town1 but when they come out against us1 we will flee before them4 ,they will come out after us1 until we have drawn them away from the town2 for they will say1 ',they are fleeing before us4' ,then you shall rise up from where you are hiding1 and take the town4 ,when you have captured it1 set it on fire4 ,so ,joshua sent them out1 and they went to the place where they were to hide and placed themselves on the west side of ,ai4 ,joshua spent that night among the people1 and rose early the next morning and gathered them1 and he went up1 together with the rulers of ,israel1 before the people to ,ai4 ,and the warriors who were with him went up and came before the town4 ,when the king of ,ai saw it1 the men of the town quickly rose up and went out to fight against the ,israelites1 but the king did not know that men were hiding behind the town to rise up and attack him4 ,then ,joshua and the ,israelites pretended to be beaten and fled toward the wilderness2 and all the people that were in the town were called together to pursue them4 ,so they left the town unguarded and pursued the ,israelites4 ,then the men who were hiding rose quickly out of their place and set the town on fire4 ,when the men of ,ai looked back1 they saw the smoke of the town rising to heaven2 and they had no chance to flee this way or that1 for the ,israelites who had been fleeing to the wilderness turned back upon those who were following them4 ,when the smoke of the town rose up1 the rest of the ,israelites came out of the town against them2 so they were surrounded by the ,israelites1 some on this side1 and some on that1 so that they let none of the people of ,ai remain or escape4 ,,women ,,who ,,saved ,a ,,nation ,later ,sisera1 who had nine hundred iron chariots1 cruelly oppressed the ,israelites for twenty years4 ,then the prophetess ,deborah1 the wife of ,lappidoth1 delivered ,israel4 ,she used to sit under the palm-tree of ,deborah between ,ramah and ,bethel in the highlands of ,ephraim2 and the ,israelites went to her to have her decide their disputes4 ,she sent and called ,barak1 the son of ,abinoam1 from ,kadesh ,naphtali and said to him1 ,does not ,jehovah the ,god of ,israel command you3 ',go1 march to ,mount ,tabor and take with you ten thousand of the ,naphtalites and of the ,zebulunites8 ,then ,i will draw out to you at the brook ,kishon ,sisera with his chariots and his troops1 and ,i will deliver him into your hands4' ,barak said to her1 ,if you will go with me1 ,i will go1 but if you will not go with me1 ,i will not go4 ,she replied1 ,i will certainly go with you1 only you will not have the glory in this expedition on which you are going1 for ,jehovah will deliver ,sisera into the hands of a woman4 ,so ,deborah arose and went with ,barak to ,kadesh4 ,barak called the ,zebulunites and the ,naphtalites together at ,kadesh and ten thousand men followed him2 and ,deborah also went up with him4 ,now ,heber the ,kenite had left the ,kenites1 the children of ,jethro the father-in-law of ,moses1 and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak which is near ,kadesh4 ,when it was reported to ,sisera that ,barak the son of ,abinoam had gone up to ,mount ,tabor1 ,sisera gathered together all his chariots1 nine hundred iron chariots1 and all his people from the heathen city ,harosheth to the brook ,kishon4 ,then ,deborah said to ,barak1 ,to the attack6 for to-day ,jehovah has delivered ,sisera into your hands4 ,has not ,jehovah gone out before you8 ,so ,barak went down from ,mount ,tabor followed by ten thousand men2 and at the attack of ,barak's swordsmen ,jehovah put to flight ,sisera and his chariots and all his forces1 and ,sisera got down from his war-chariot and fled on foot4 ,but ,barak pursued the chariots and the forces to ,harosheth2 and all the army of ,sisera was destroyed by the sword2 not a single man was left4 ,on that day ,deborah and ,barak1 the son of ,abinoam1 sang this song3 ,o ,jehovah1 when thou wentest from ,seir1 ,marching from the region of ,edom1 ,earth trembled1 the heavens swayed1 ,the clouds also dripped water2 ,the hills quaked before ,jehovah1 ,yon ,sinai1 before ,israel's ,god4 ,in the days of ,anath's son1 ,shamgar1 ,in ,jael's days the roads were unused1 ,and travellers walked through byways4 ,leaders disappeared in ,israel1 ,until you1 ,o ,deborah1 rose1 ,till you rose as a mother in ,israel4 ,my heart is with the commanders of ,israel1 ,who volunteered among the people4 ,bless ,jehovah6 ,you who ride on tawny asses1 ,who sit upon rich saddle-cloths2 ,you who walk by the way1 tell of it4 ,far from sounds of dividing the spoil1 ,in the places where water is drawn1 ,let them tell of ,jehovah's righteous acts1 ,and the righteous deeds of his leaders6 ,then the people of ,jehovah ,went down to the gates1 crying3 ',awake1 awake1 ,o ,deborah1 ,awake1 awake1 sing a battle-song6 ,rise up1 rise up1 ,o ,barak1 ,take your captives1 ,o son of ,abinoam6' ,so they went down against the powerful1 ,the ,lord's people against the mighty4 ,from ,machir1 commanders went down1 ,from ,zebulun1 standard-bearers1 ,issachar's princes with ,deborah1 ,and with ,barak1 the men of ,naphtali2 ,into the valley they streamed after him4 ,zebulun risked its life1 ,naphtali on the heights of the field4 ,rulers came1 they fought1 ,the rulers of ,canaan fought ,at ,taanach by the waters of ,megiddo4 ,they took no booty of silver1 ,for from heaven the very stars fought1 ,from their courses they fought against ,sisera4 ,the brook ,kishon swept them away1 ,that ancient brook1 the brook ,kishon4 ,o my soul1 march on with strength6 ,then did their horse hoofs pound ,with the gallop1 gallop of steeds4 ,blessed above women shall ,jael be1 ,that wife of ,heber1 the ,kenite1 ,more blessed than all nomad women6 ,water he asked1 milk she gave1 ,curdled milk she brought him ,in a bowl well fitted for lords6 ,she put her hand to the tent-pin1 ,her right hand to the workman's hammer4 ,she struck ,sisera1 crushing his head1 ,she shattered1 she pierced his temples4 ,at her feet he sank down and lay still1 ,at her feet he sank1 he fell2 ,there he fell1 a victim slain6 ,through the window she peered and cried1 ,through the lattice1 the mother of ,sisera3 ',why so long his chariot in coming8 ,why tarry the hoof-beats of steeds8' ,then the wisest of her ladies replied1 ,she herself also answered her question1 ',are they not dividing the spoil8 ,a woman or two for each warrior1 ,for ,sisera a spoil of dyed stuffs1 ,a spoil of dyed stuffs embroidered1 ,some pieces of lace for his neck8' ,so perish thy foes1 ,o ,jehovah6 ,but may those who love him be as the sun1 ,rising up in invincible splendor6 ,,gideon',s ,,brave ,,band ,in course of time the ,midianites conquered the ,israelites4 ,to escape them the ,israelites made for themselves dens in the mountains and caves and strongholds4 ,when the ,israelites had sown their crops1 the ,midianites would come up and leave nothing for the ,israelites to live on1 neither sheep1 nor ox1 nor ass2 for they came up with their cattle and their tents4 ,the ,israelites were so robbed by the ,midianites1 that they cried to ,jehovah for help4 ,then the angel of ,jehovah came and sat down under the oak which was in ,ophrah that belonged to ,joash the ,abiezerite2 and his son1 ,gideon1 was beating out wheat in the wine-press to hide it from the ,midianites4 ,the angel of ,jehovah appeared to him and said1 ,jehovah is with you1 able warrior6 ,gideon said to him1 ,o my lord1 if ,jehovah is with us1 why then has all this overtaken us8 ,where are all his wonderful acts of which our fathers told us1 saying1 ',did not ,jehovah bring us from ,egypt8' ,but now ,jehovah has cast us off and given us into the power of the ,midianites4 ,then ,jehovah turned to him and said1 ,with this strength which you have go and save ,israel from the rule of the ,midianites3 do ,i not send you8 ,but ,gideon said to him1 ,o ,jehovah1 how can ,i save ,israel8 ,see1 my family is the poorest in ,manasseh1 and ,i am the least in my father's house4 ,jehovah said to him1 ,i will surely be with you1 and you shall overthrow the ,midianites as if they were only one man4 ,then the spirit of ,jehovah took possession of ,gideon1 and he sounded the war trumpet1 and the ,abiezerites assembled under his leadership4 ,he also sent messengers throughout all the land of the ,manassites1 and they assembled under his leadership2 and he sent messengers to the ,asherites1 the ,zebulunites1 and the ,naphtalites1 and they went up to join him4 ,but ,jehovah said to ,gideon1 ,you have too many people with you2 if ,i give the ,midianites up to the ,israelites they will boast1 ',we have saved ourselves6' ,therefore1 proclaim to your people1 ',whoever is afraid may go home4' ,then ,gideon separated them1 so that twenty-two thousand of the people went back home1 but ten thousand stayed4 ,but ,jehovah said to him1 ,the people are still too many2 take them down to the water1 and ,i will try them out for you there4 ,every one of whom ,i say to you1 ',this one shall go with you1' shall go with you2 and every one of whom ,i say to you1 ',this one shall not go with you1' shall not go4 ,so ,gideon brought the people down to the water4 ,and ,jehovah said to him1 ,you shall put by themselves all who lap the water with their tongues1 as a dog laps1 and all who kneel down on their knees to drink by themselves4 ,the number of those who lapped with their tongue1 putting their hand to their mouth1 were three hundred men2 but all the rest of the people knelt down on their knees to drink4 ,then ,jehovah said to ,gideon1 ,by the three hundred men who lapped ,i will save you and deliver the ,midianites into your hands4 ,let all the rest of the people go home4 ,so they took the food that the people had in their hands1 and their trumpets2 and ,gideon sent home all the other ,israelites1 keeping only the three hundred men4 ,then ,gideon came to the ,jordan and crossed it1 and the three hundred men were with him1 faint yet pursuing4 ,and he said to the men of ,succoth1 ,give1 ,i beg of you1 loaves of bread to the people who follow me1 for they are faint and ,i am pursuing after ,zebah and ,zalmunna1 the kings of ,midian4 ,but the rulers of ,succoth said1 ,are ,zebah and ,zalmunna already in your power that we should give bread to your band8 ,gideon replied1 ,when ,jehovah has delivered ,zebah and ,zalmunna into my power1 for this insult ,i will thrash your bare flesh with desert thorns and briers4 ,he went on from there to ,penuel and made the same request of the men of ,penuel1 but they made the same answer as the men of ,succoth4 ,to the men of ,penuel he also said1 ,when ,i come back victorious1 ,i will break down this tower4 ,zebah and ,zalmunna were in ,karkor1 and their forces were with them1 in all about fifteen thousand men4 ,gideon went up by the caravan road and surprised the horde as it was encamped with no fear of being attacked4 ,he divided the three hundred men into three companies4 ,into the hands of all of them he put horns and empty earthen jars4 ,in each jar was a torch4 ,he also said to them1 ,watch me and do as ,i do4 ,when ,i reach the outside of the camp and those who are with me blow a blast on the horn1 then you also shall blow your horns on every side of the camp and cry1 ',for ,jehovah and ,gideon6' ,so ,gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outside of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch1 when guards had just been posted2 and they blew the horns and broke in pieces the jars that were in their hands4 ,the two other companies also broke their jars1 took the torches in their left hands and their swords in their right1 and cried1 ,the ,sword of ,jehovah and of ,gideon4 ,and as they stood where they were1 about the camp1 the entire horde awoke1 sounded the alarm1 and fled4 ,zebah and ,zalmunna also fled2 but ,gideon followed and captured the two kings of ,midian and threw all the horde into a panic4 ,when ,gideon returned from the battle1 he captured a young man who lived at ,succoth4 ,at ,gideon's request he wrote down for him the names of the rulers of ,succoth and its leading men4 ,there were seventy-seven in all4 ,when ,gideon came to the men of ,succoth1 he said1 ,see1 here are ,zebah and ,zalmunna about whom you mocked me1 saying1 ',are ,zebah and ,zalmunna already in your power that we should give bread to your men who are weary8' ,then he took desert thorns and briers1 and with these he thrashed the leading men of ,succoth4 ,he also broke down the tower of ,penuel and put to death the men of the town4 ,then ,gideon said to ,zebah and ,zalmunna1 ,what kind of men were those whom you killed at ,tabor8 ,they replied1 ,they were just like you2 each of them looked like a prince4 ,gideon said1 ,they were my own brothers1 the sons of my mother4 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives1 if you had saved them alive1 ,i would not kill you now4 ,then he said to ,jether1 his oldest son1 ,up and kill them4 ,but the boy did not draw his sword1 because he was afraid1 for he was only a boy4 ,then ,zebah and ,zalmunna said1 ,get up yourself and fall upon us2 for a man has a man's strength6 ,so ,gideon rose and killed ,zebah and ,zalmunna1 and took the crescents that were on their camels' necks4 ,then the men of ,israel said to ,gideon1 ,rule over us1 and not only you but your son and your son's son after you1 for you have saved us from the power of the ,midianites4 ,gideon said to them1 ,i will not rule over you1 nor shall my son rule over you2 ,jehovah shall rule over you2 but let me make one request of you3 let every man give me the ear-rings from his spoil 7for they had golden ear-rings1 because they were desert dwellers74 ,they answered1 ,certainly1 we will give them4 ,so they spread out a blanket and each man threw into it the ear-rings from his spoil4 ,the weight of the golden ear-rings for which he had asked was nearly seventy pounds of gold4 ,then ,gideon made of the gold a priestly robe to wear when asking questions of ,jehovah1 and placed it in his own city1 ,ophrah4 ,gideon died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of ,joash1 his father1 in ,ophrah of the ,abiezerites4 ,,jephthah',s ,,foolish ,,promise ,jephthah1 the ,gileadite1 was an able warrior1 but he was the son of a wicked woman1 and had fled from his relatives and lived in the land of ,tob4 ,there certain rascals gathered about him1 and they used to go out on raids with him4 ,after a time the ,ammonites made war against the ,israelites4 ,then the elders of ,gilead went to bring ,jephthah from the land of ,tob1 and they said to him1 ,come and be our commander1 that we may fight against the ,ammonites4 ,but ,jephthah said to the elders of ,gilead1 ,are you not the men who hated me and drove me out of my father's house8 ,why then do you come to me now when you are in trouble8 ,but the elders of ,gilead said to ,jephthah1 ,this is why we have now turned to you1 that you may go with us and fight against the ,ammonites1 and you shall be our chief1 even over all the people who live in ,gilead4 ,then ,jephthah said to the rulers of ,gilead1 ,if you take me back to fight against the ,ammonites and ,jehovah gives me the victory over them1 ,i shall be your chief4 ,the elders of ,gilead replied1 ,jehovah shall be a witness between us2 we swear to do as you say4 ,then ,jephthah went with the elders of ,gilead1 and the people made him chief and commander over them4 ,jephthah also made this vow to ,jehovah3 ,if thou wilt deliver the ,ammonites into my power1 then whoever comes out of the door of my house to meet me1 when ,i return victorious from the ,ammonites1 shall be ,jehovah's1 and ,i will offer that one as an offering to be burned with fire4 ,so ,jephthah went out to fight against the ,ammonites2 and ,jehovah gave him the victory over them1 and delivered them into his hands4 ,but when he came home to ,mizpah1 his daughter was just coming out to meet him with tambourines and choral dances4 ,she was his only child2 besides this one he had neither son nor daughter4 ,so when he saw her1 he tore his clothes and said1 ,oh1 my daughter1 you have stricken me6 ,it is you who are the cause of my woe6 for ,i have made a solemn vow to ,jehovah and cannot break it4 ,she said to him1 ,my father1 you have made a solemn vow to ,jehovah2 do to me what you have promised1 since ,jehovah has punished your enemies the ,ammonites4 ,but let this favor be granted me3 spare me two months that ,i may go out upon the mountains with those who would have been my bridesmaids and lament because ,i will never become a wife and mother4 ,he said1 ,go4 ,so he sent her away for two months with her friends1 and she mourned on the mountains because she would never become a wife and mother4 ,at the end of two months she returned to her father1 who did what he had vowed to do1 even though she had never been married4 ,so it became a custom in ,israel3 each year the women of ,israel go out for four days to bewail the death of the daughter of ,jephthah1 the ,gileadite4 ,,samson ,,who ,,did ,,to ,,others ,,as ,,they ,,did ,,to ,,him ,there was a certain man of ,zorah1 of the clan of the ,danites1 named ,manoah2 and he and his wife had no children4 ,but the angel of ,jehovah appeared to the woman and said to her1 ,see1 you have no children2 but now be careful not to drink any wine nor strong drink1 and do not eat anything unclean1 for you are about to have a son4 ,no razor shall be used upon your son's head1 for from birth the boy shall belong to ,god4 ,so the woman had a son and named him ,samson4 ,once ,samson went down to ,timnah and saw there a ,philistine woman4 ,when he came back he said to his father and mother1 ,i have seen a ,philistine woman in ,timnah4 ,get her as a wife for me4 ,but his father and mother said to him1 ,is there no woman in your own tribe or among all our people1 that you must marry a wife from among the heathen ,philistines8 ,but ,samson said to his father1 ,get her for me1 for she suits me4 ,so ,samson went with his father and mother to ,timnah2 and just as they came to the vineyards of ,timnah1 a full-grown young lion came roaring toward him4 ,the spirit of ,jehovah came upon ,samson and1 although he had nothing in his hand1 he tore the beast in two as one tears a kid4 ,but he did not tell his father and mother what he had done4 ,then he went down and talked with the woman1 and she suited him4 ,when he returned after a while to marry her1 he turned aside to see what was left of the lion1 and there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass4 ,he scraped the honey out into his hands and went on1 eating it as he went4 ,when he came to his father and mother1 he gave some to them1 and they ate2 but he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion4 ,then ,samson went down to the woman2 and he gave a feast there 7for so bridegrooms used to do74 ,when the ,philistines saw him1 they provided thirty comrades to be with him4 ,and ,samson said to them1 ,let me now tell you a riddle4 ,if you can tell me what it is within the seven days of the feast1 ,i will give you thirty fine linen robes and thirty suits of clothes2 but if you cannot tell me1 then you shall give me thirty fine linen robes and thirty suits of clothes4 ,they said to him1 ,tell your riddle1 that we may hear it4 ,and he said to them3 ,out of the eater came something to eat1 ,and out of the strong came something sweet4 ,but for six days they could not solve the riddle4 ,on the seventh day they said to ,samson's wife1 ,tease your husband until he tells us the riddle1 or else we will burn up you and your father's house4 ,did you invite us here to make us poor8 ,so ,samson's wife wept before him and said1 ,you only hate me and do not love me at all6 ,you have told a riddle to my fellow countrymen and not told me what it is4 ,he said to her1 ,see1 ,i have not told it to my father or my mother1 and shall ,i tell you8 ,so she wept before him as long as their feast lasted1 but on the seventh day he told her1 because she kept asking him2 and she told the riddle to her fellow countrymen4 ,so the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down1 ,what is sweeter than honey8 ,and what is stronger than a lion8 ,and he said to them3 ,if with my heifer you did not plough1 ,you had not solved my riddle now4 ,then he was suddenly given divine strength1 and he went down to ,ashkelon and killed thirty of their men and took the spoil from them and gave the suits of clothes to those who had guessed the riddle4 ,but he was very angry and returned to his father's house4 ,and his bride was given to his comrade who had been his best man4 ,after a while1 at the time of wheat harvest1 ,samson went to visit his wife with a kid as a present2 but when he said1 ,let me go into the inner room to my wife1 her father would not let him go in1 but said1 ,i thought that you must surely hate her1 so ,i gave her to your best man4 ,is not her younger sister fairer than she8 ,take her then1 instead4 ,but ,samson said to him1 ,this time ,i shall be justified if ,i do the ,philistines an injury4 ,so he went and caught three hundred foxes1 turned them tail to tail1 and put a torch between every pair of tails4 ,when he had set the torches on fire1 he let them go into the standing grain of the ,philistines and burned up not only the shocks and the standing grain1 but the olive orchards as well4 ,then the ,philistines said1 ,who has done this8 ,the reply was1 ,samson1 the son-in-law of the ,timnite1 because that man took ,samson's wife and gave her to his best man4 ,so the ,philistines went up1 and burnt her and her father4 ,then ,samson said to them1 ,if this is the way you do1 ,i will not stop until ,i have had my revenge on you6 ,so he fought fiercely and killed many of them2 then he went and stayed in a cavern in the cliff of ,etam4 ,when the ,philistines went up and camped in ,judah and made a raid on ,lehi1 the ,judahites said1 ,why have you come up against us8 ,they replied1 ,we have come up to bind ,samson1 to do to him what he has done to us4 ,then three thousand men of ,judah went down to the cavern in the cliff of ,etam and said to ,samson1 ,do you not know that the ,philistines are our rulers8 ,what are you doing to us8 ,he replied1 ,i have done to them as they did to me4 ,they said to him1 ,we have come down to bind you1 to turn you over to the ,philistines4 ,samson said to them1 ,swear to me that you will not attack me yourselves4 ,they said to him1 ,no2 we will simply bind you securely and deliver you to them2 but we will not kill you4 ,so they bound him with two new ropes1 and brought him up from the cliff4 ,when he came to ,lehi1 the ,philistines shouted when they met him4 ,then he was suddenly given divine strength1 and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that has been burned in the fire1 and his bonds melted from his hands4 ,and he found a fresh jaw-bone of an ass1 and having seized it1 he killed a thousand men with it4 ,then ,samson said3 ,with the jaw-bone of an ass have ,i piled them1 mass on mass2 ,a thousand warriors have ,i slain with the jaw-bone of an ass4 ,a ,,strong ,,man ,,who ,,lost ,,his ,,strength ,afterward1 ,samson fell in love with a woman in the valley of ,sorek1 named ,delilah4 ,then the rulers of the ,philistines came to her and said1 ,find out by teasing him how it is that his strength is so great and how we may overpower and bind him that we may torture him4 ,then we will each one of us give you eleven hundred pieces of silver4 ,so ,delilah said to ,samson1 ,tell me how it is that your strength is so great and how you might be bound to torture you8 ,samson said to her1 ,if they should bind me with seven green bowstrings which have not been dried1 ,i would become weak like any other man4 ,then the rulers of the ,philistines brought her seven green bowstrings which had not been dried1 and she bound him with them4 ,she had the men lying in wait in the inner room1 but when she said to him1 ,the ,philistines are upon you1 ,samson6 he snapped the bowstrings as a piece of yarn is snapped when it comes near the fire2 so they did not find out the secret of his strength4 ,then ,delilah said to ,samson1 ,you have deceived me and lied to me2 now tell me with what you can be bound fast4 ,he said to her1 ,if they should bind me securely with new ropes with which no work has been done1 ,i would become weak like any other man4 ,so ,delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him1 ,the ,philistines are upon you1 ,samson6 ,men were also lying in wait in the inner room2 but he snapped the ropes from his arms like thread4 ,again ,delilah said to ,samson1 ,so far you have deceived me and lied to me2 tell me now with what you can be bound fast4 ,he said to her1 ,if you should weave the seven braids on my head along with the web and beat it into form with the weaving pin1 ,i would become weak like any other man4 ,so while he was asleep1 she took the seven braids of his hair and wove it with the web and beat it into form with the pin1 and said to him1 ,the ,philistines are upon you1 ,samson6 ,but he awoke out of his sleep and pulled up the loom and the web4 ,then she said to him1 ,how can you say1 ',i love you1' when you do not trust me8 ,you have deceived me three times already and have not told me the secret of your great strength4 ,but in time1 since she daily begged and urged him1 he was wearied to death1 and told her all that he knew1 saying1 ,a razor has never touched my head2 for ,i have belonged to ,god from my birth4 ,if ,i should be shaved1 my strength would be gone1 and ,i would become weak like any other man4 ,when ,delilah saw that he had told her all that he knew1 she sent and called for the rulers of the ,philistines and said1 ,come at once1 for he has told me all that he knows4 ,then the rulers of the ,philistines came up to her and brought the money with them4 ,after she had put ,samson to sleep on her knees1 she called for a man and had him shave off the seven braids on his head4 ,then she began to tease him1 and his strength went from him2 and she said1 ,the ,philistines are upon you1 ,samson6 ,and he awoke out of his sleep and thought1 ,i will get up as ,i have done at other times and shake myself free2 for he did not know that ,jehovah had left him4 ,so the ,philistines seized him and bored out his eyes4 ,then they brought him down to ,gaza and bound him with chains of brass1 and then he was set to grinding in the prison4 ,but the hair of his head began to grow again as soon as he was shaved4 ,then the rulers of the ,philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to their god ,dagon and to rejoice1 for they said1 ,our god has given ,samson1 our enemy1 into our power4 ,when the people saw him1 they also praised their god1 saying3 ,our god has laid low our foe1 ,he who brought our country woe1 ,he who slew us with many a blow4 ,when they were in high spirits1 they said1 ,call ,samson that he may amuse us4 ,so they called ,samson from the prison and he amused them2 and they placed him between the pillars4 ,then ,samson said to the young man who held him by the hand1 ,let me touch the pillars on which the building rests1 that ,i may lean against them4 ,now the building was full of men and women1 and all the rulers of the ,philistines were there1 and on the roof about three thousand men and women were looking on while ,samson amused them4 ,samson called on ,jehovah and said1 ,o ,jehovah1 remember me and strengthen me1 ,i pray thee1 just this once1 ,o ,god1 that by one act ,i may avenge myself on the ,philistines for the loss of my two eyes4 ,then ,samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the building rested1 one with his right hand and the other with his left1 and leaned against them4 ,and ,samson said1 ,let me die with the ,philistines4 ,then he bent over with all his strength1 and the house fell upon the rulers and upon all the people who were in it4 ,so those whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed during his lifetime4 ,then his brothers and all his family came down and took him away and buried him between ,zorah and ,eshtaol in the burying-place of ,manoah his father4 ,,the ,,devotion ,,of ,,ruth ,during the days of the judges1 there was once a famine in the land2 and a certain man from ,bethlehem in ,judah took his wife and two sons to live in the territory of ,moab4 ,his name was ,elimelech and his wife's ,naomi1 and his two sons were ,mahlon and ,chilion4 ,after they had been living in ,moab for some time1 ,elimelech died1 and ,naomi was left with her two sons4 ,they married ,moabite women1 named ,orpah and ,ruth4 ,after they had lived there about ten years1 ,mahlon and ,chilion both died1 and ,naomi was left without husband or children4 ,so she set out with her daughters-in-law to return from the land of ,moab1 for she had heard that ,jehovah had remembered his people and given them food4 ,as they were setting out on the journey to ,judah1 ,naomi said to her daughters-in-law1 ,go1 return each of you to the home of your mother4 ,may ,jehovah be kind to you1 as you have been kind to the dead and to me4 ,jehovah grant that each of you may find peace and happiness in the house of a new husband4 ,then she kissed them2 but they began to weep aloud and said to her1 ,no1 we will return with you to your people4 ,but ,naomi said1 ,go back1 my daughters2 why should you go with me8 ,can ,i still have sons who might become your husbands8 ,go back1 my daughters1 go your own way1 for ,i am too old to have a husband4 ,even if ,i should say1 ',i have hope1' even if ,i should have a husband to-night and should have sons1 would you wait for them until they were grown up8 ,would you remain single for them8 ,no1 my daughters6 ,i am sorry for you1 for ,jehovah has afflicted me4 ,then they again wept aloud1 and ,orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by1 but ,ruth stayed with her4 ,naomi said1 ,see1 your sister-in-law is going back to her own people and to her own gods2 go along with her6 ,but ,ruth answered1 ,do not urge me to leave you or to go back1 for wherever you go ,i will go1 and wherever you stay ,i will stay2 your people shall be my people1 and your ,god my ,god2 ,i will die where you die and be buried there4 ,may ,jehovah bring a curse upon me1 if anything but death separate you and me4 ,when ,naomi saw that ,ruth had made up her mind to go with her1 she ceased urging her to return4 ,so they travelled on until they came to ,bethlehem4 ,when they arrived there1 the whole town was interested1 and the women said1 ,is this ,naomi8 ,but she said to them1 ,do not call me ,naomi which means ,sweetness3 call me ,mara which means ,bitterness1 for the ,almighty has given me a bitter lot4 ,i had plenty when ,i left1 but ,jehovah has brought me back empty-handed4 ,why should you call me ,naomi1 now that ,jehovah has turned against me1 and the ,almighty has afflicted me8 ,so ,naomi and ,ruth returned from ,moab2 and they came to ,bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest4 ,now ,naomi was related through her husband to ,boaz1 a very wealthy man of the family of ,elimelech4 ,ruth1 the ,moabitess1 said to ,naomi1 ,let me now go into the fields and pick up the scattered heads of grain after him whose favor ,i should win4 ,naomi said to her1 ,go1 my daughter4 ,so she went to pick up grain in the field after the reapers2 and it was her good fortune to pick up grain in that part of the field which belonged to ,boaz1 who was of the family of ,elimelech4 ,when ,boaz come from ,bethlehem and said to the reapers1 ,jehovah be with you1 they answered him1 ,may ,jehovah bless you4 ,then ,boaz said to his servant who had charge of the reapers1 ,whose maiden is this8 ,the servant replied1 ,it is the ,moabite maiden who came back with ,naomi from the land of ,moab2 and she said1 ',let me pick up the scattered grain and gather sheaves after the reapers4' ,so she came and has worked all the time until now1 and she has not rested a moment in the field4 ,then ,boaz said to ,ruth1 ,listen1 my daughter4 ,do not go to pick up grain in another field nor leave this place1 but stay here with my maidens4 ,i have told the young men not to trouble you4 ,when you are thirsty1 go to the jars and drink of that which the young men have drawn4 ,then she bowed low and said to him1 ,why are you so kind to me1 to take interest in me who am from another land8 ,boaz replied1 ,i have heard what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband1 and how you left your father and mother and your native land to come to a people that you did not know before4 ,may ,jehovah repay you for what you have done1 and may you be fully rewarded by the ,god of ,israel1 under whose wings you have come to take refuge4 ,then she said1 ,i trust ,i may please you1 my lord1 for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant1 although ,i am not really equal to one of your own servants4 ,at noonday ,boaz said to her1 ,come here and eat some of the food and dip your piece of bread in the wine4 ,so she sat beside the reapers2 and he passed her the roasted grain1 and she ate until she had had enough and had some left4 ,when she rose to gather grain1 ,boaz gave this order to his young men3 ,let her gather grain even among the sheaves and do not disturb her4 ,also pull out some for her from the bundles and leave it for her to gather and do not find fault with her4 ,so she gathered grain in the field until evening1 then beat out that which she had gathered2 and it was about a bushel of barley4 ,then she took it up and went into the city and showed her mother-in-law what she had gathered4 ,she also brought out and gave her that which she had left from her meal after she had had enough4 ,her mother-in-law said to her1 ,where did you gather grain to-day and where did you work8 ,a blessing on him who took interest in you6 ,then she told her mother-in-law where she had worked1 and said1 ,the name of the man with whom ,i worked to-day is ,boaz4 ,naomi said to her daughter-in-law1 ,may the blessing of ,jehovah rest upon him who has not ceased to show his love to the living and to the dead4 ,naomi also said to her1 ,the man is a near relative of ours4 ,ruth the ,moabitess added1 ,he said to me1 ',you must keep near my young men until they have completed all my harvest4' ,naomi said to ,ruth1 ,it is best1 my daughter1 that you should go out with his maidens and that no one should find you in another field4 ,so she gathered grain with the maidens of ,boaz until the end of the barley and wheat harvest2 but she lived with her mother-in-law4 ,illustration3 7,c7 ,photographische ,gesellschaft1 ,berlin ,ruth ,painted by ,henry ,ryland ,then ,naomi said to her1 ,my daughter1 shall ,i not try to find a home for you where you will be happy and contented8 ,is not ,boaz1 with whose maidens you have been1 a relative of ours8 ,this very night he is going to winnow barley on the threshing-floor4 ,so bathe and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing-floor2 but do not make yourself known to the man until he is through eating and drinking4 ,then when he lies down1 you mark the place where he lies4 ,go in1 uncover his feet1 lie down1 and then he will tell you what to do4 ,ruth said to her1 ,i will do as you say4 ,so she went down to the threshing-floor and did just as her mother-in-law told her4 ,when ,boaz was through eating and drinking and was in a happy mood1 he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain4 ,then ,ruth came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down4 ,at midnight the man was startled and turned over1 and there was a woman lying at his feet4 ,he said1 ,who are you8 ,she answered1 ,i am ,ruth your servant2 spread therefore your skirt over your servant1 for you are a near relative4 ,he said1 ,may you be blest by ,jehovah1 my daughter2 for you have shown me greater favor now than at first1 for you have not followed young men1 whether poor or rich4 ,my daughter1 have no fear2 ,i will do for you all that you ask2 for all my townsmen know that you are a good woman4 ,now it is true that ,i am a near relative2 yet there is one nearer than ,i4 ,stay here to-night1 and then in the morning1 if he will marry you1 well1 let him do it4 ,but if he1 being your nearest relative1 will not marry you1 then as surely as ,jehovah lives1 ,i will do so4 ,lie down until morning4 ,so she lay at his feet until morning1 but rose before any one could tell who she was1 for ,boaz said1 ,let it not be known that a woman came to the threshing-floor4 ,he also said1 ,bring the cloak which you have on and hold it4 ,so she held it while he poured into it six measures of barley and laid it on her shoulders4 ,then he went into the city4 ,when ,ruth came to her mother-in-law1 ,naomi said1 ,is it you1 my daughter8 ,then ,ruth told ,naomi all that the man had done for her4 ,she said1 ,he gave me these six measures of barley2 for he said1 ',do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed4' ,naomi said1 ,wait quietly1 my daughter1 until you know how this will turn out1 for the man will not rest unless he settles it all to-day4 ,then ,boaz went up to the gate and sat down4 ,just then the near relative of whom ,boaz had spoken came along4 ,to him ,boaz said1 ,ho6 calling him by name1 come here and sit down4 ,so he stopped and sat down4 ,boaz also took ten of the town elders and said1 ,sit down here4 ,so they sat down4 ,then he said to the near relative1 ,naomi1 who has come back from the country of ,moab1 is offering for sale the piece of land which belonged to our relative ,elimelech1 and ,i thought that ,i would lay the matter before you1 and ask you to buy it in the presence of these men who sit here and of the elders of my people4 ,if you will buy it and so keep it in the family1 do so2 but if not1 then tell me1 that ,i may know2 for no one but you has the right to buy it1 and ,i am next to you4 ,he said1 ,i will buy it4 ,then ,boaz said1 ,on the day you buy the field from ,naomi1 you must also marry ,ruth the ,moabitess1 the widow of ,mahlon1 that a son may be born to bear his name and to receive this field4 ,the near relative said1 ,i cannot buy it for myself1 for fear ,i should lose what already belongs to me4 ,you take my right of buying it as a relative1 for ,i cannot do so4 ,now in those days this was the custom in ,israel3 to make an agreement between two men the one drew off his shoe and gave it to the other4 ,so when the near relative said to ,boaz1 ,buy it for yourself1 ,boaz drew off the man's shoe4 ,then ,boaz said to the elders and to all the people1 ,you are witnesses at this time that ,i have bought all that was ,elimelech's and all that was ,chilion's and ,mahlon's from ,naomi4 ,moreover1 ,i have secured ,ruth1 the ,moabitess1 the widow of ,mahlon1 to be my wife so that she may have a son who will receive this land and carry on ,mahlon's name4 ,you are witnesses this day4 ,then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said1 ,we are witnesses4 ,may ,jehovah make the woman who is coming into your house like ,rachel and ,leah1 and make you also famous in ,bethlehem4 ,so ,boaz married ,ruth1 and she became his wife2 and ,jehovah gave to her a son4 ,then the women said to ,naomi1 ,blessed be ,jehovah who has not left you at this time without a near relative1 and may his name be famous in ,israel4 ,this child will bring back your strength and take care of you in your old age2 for your daughter-in-law who loves you1 who is worth more to you than seven sons1 has a son6 ,so ,naomi took the child in her arms and she became its nurse4 ,her neighbors also said1 ,naomi has a son6 and they named him ,obed2 he became the father of ,jesse1 who was the father of ,david4 ,,samuel ,,the ,,boy ,,prophet ,elkanah1 a ,zuphite of the hill country of ,ephraim1 lived at ,ramah with his two wives1 ,hannah and ,peninnah4 ,peninnah had children1 but ,hannah had none4 ,this man used to go up from his village each year to worship and offer a sacrifice to ,jehovah of hosts at ,shiloh4 ,whenever the day came for ,elkanah to offer a sacrifice he gave portions to his wife ,peninnah and to all his sons and daughters2 but although he loved ,hannah1 he gave her only one portion1 for ,jehovah had given her no children4 ,peninnah made her angry by mocking her1 for ,jehovah had given her no children4 ,elkanah did this year after year2 but whenever ,hannah went up to the temple of ,jehovah1 ,peninnah made her so angry that she wept and would not eat4 ,so ,elkanah her husband said to her1 ,hannah1 why do you weep and why do you not eat8 ,why are you so troubled8 ,am ,i not more to you than ten sons8 ,after they had eaten in ,shiloh1 ,hannah arose and stood before the temple of ,jehovah1 while ,eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside the door posts of the temple4 ,with a sad heart she prayed earnestly to ,jehovah and wept bitterly4 ,she also made this sacred promise3 ,o ,jehovah of hosts6 ,if thou wilt look at my affliction1 ,and remember1 not forgetting thy servant1 ,but wilt give thy servant a son1 ,then ,i will give him to thee1 ,throughout all the days of his life2 ,and no razor shall touch his head4 ,while she continued praying before ,jehovah1 ,eli watched her mouth4 ,she spoke to herself2 her lips moved1 but her voice was not heard1 so that ,eli thought that she was drunk and said to her1 ,how long will you act like a drunken woman8 ,put away your wine and go from the presence of ,jehovah4 ,but ,hannah answered1 ,no1 my lord1 ,i am an unhappy woman2 ,i have not drunk wine nor any strong drink1 but ,i have been pouring out my heart before ,jehovah4 ,do not think that your servant is a wicked woman1 for ,i have gone on speaking until now because my grief and vexation are so great4 ,eli answered1 ,go in peace1 and may the ,god of ,israel grant what you have asked of him4 ,she said1 ,may your servant have your approval6 ,so the woman went away and ate1 and her face was no longer sad4 ,early in the morning she and her husband rose2 and after they had worshipped ,jehovah1 they returned to their home at ,ramah4 ,in the course of the year ,hannah had a son and named him ,samuel1 saying1 ,i asked him of ,jehovah4 ,elkanah and all his household again went to offer the yearly sacrifice to ,jehovah1 but ,hannah did not go up1 for she said to her husband1 ,when the child is weaned1 then ,i will take him1 and he shall go to ,jehovah's temple and live there the rest of his life4 ,elkanah said to her1 ,do what seems best to you2 wait until you have weaned him2 only may ,jehovah help you to do what you have promised4 ,so the woman waited and nursed her son until she weaned him4 ,then she took him with her1 and a three-year-old ox1 a bushel of flour1 and a skin of wine1 and brought him to the temple of ,jehovah at ,shiloh4 ,then they killed the ox1 and ,hannah brought the child to ,eli and said1 ,oh1 my lord1 as surely as you live1 ,i am the woman who stood near you here praying earnestly to ,jehovah4 ,this is the boy for whom ,i prayed4 ,jehovah has granted what ,i asked of him4 ,therefore ,i have given him to ,jehovah2 as long as he lives he belongs to ,jehovah4 ,elkanah returned to his home in ,ramah1 but the boy stayed to serve ,jehovah under the direction of ,eli the priest4 ,so ,samuel--a young boy dressed in a linen robe--did the duties of a priest in the temple4 ,his mother also made him a little robe and each year brought it to him when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice4 ,eli blessed ,elkanah and said1 ,jehovah repay you with children from this woman for the gift which she has given to ,jehovah4 ,then they returned to their home2 and ,hannah had three more sons and two daughters4 ,meantime the boy ,samuel grew up in the temple of ,jehovah4 ,the sons of ,eli were very wicked4 ,they knew not ,jehovah1 and they despised the offerings which were brought to him4 ,eli was very old1 and whenever he heard that his sons were doing wrong he said to them1 ,why do you do such things1 for ,i hear of your wicked deeds from all the people4 ,no1 my sons3 it is not a good report that ,i hear from the people of ,jehovah4 ,but they did not listen to the words of their father4 ,the boy ,samuel grew and won the favor both of ,jehovah and of men4 ,he continued to serve ,jehovah under the direction of ,eli2 but in those days not many messages came from ,jehovah4 ,one day ,eli was lying in his room4 ,his eyes had begun to grow dim so that he could not see4 ,while the lamp of ,god was still burning1 and ,samuel was lying in the temple of ,jehovah where the ark of ,god was1 ,jehovah called1 ,samuel6 ,samuel6 ,he answered1 ,here am ,i4 ,then he ran to ,eli and said1 ,here am ,i1 for you called me4 ,but ,eli said1 ,i did not call1 lie down again4 ,so he went and lay down4 ,then ,jehovah called again1 ,samuel6 ,samuel6 ,samuel rose and went to ,eli and said1 ,here am ,i1 for you called me4 ,but ,eli answered1 ,i did not call1 my son2 lie down again4 ,now ,samuel did not yet know ,jehovah nor had a message from ,jehovah been given to him4 ,so when ,jehovah called ,samuel again the third time1 he rose and went to ,eli and said1 ,here am ,i1 for you called me6 ,then ,eli knew that ,jehovah was calling the boy4 ,so he said to ,samuel1 ,go1 lie down1 and if you are called1 say1 ',speak1 ,jehovah1 for thy servant is listening4' ,so ,samuel went and lay down in his place4 ,then ,jehovah came and called as at other times1 ,samuel6 ,samuel6 ,and ,samuel answered1 ,speak1 for thy servant is listening4 ,jehovah said to ,samuel1 ,see1 ,i am about to do a thing in ,israel that will make the ears of every one who hears it tingle4 ,on that day ,i will do to ,eli all that ,i have said that ,i would do to his family from the first to the last4 ,for ,i have told him that ,i will punish his family forever for the crime of which he knew his sons were guilty1 for they did not do what ,god commanded and he did not stop them4 ,samuel lay until morning1 and then he opened the doors of the temple of ,jehovah4 ,he was afraid to tell the vision to ,eli4 ,but when ,eli called him and said1 ,samuel1 my son1 he said1 ,here am ,i4 ,eli asked1 ,what is the thing that ,jehovah said to you8 ,keep nothing from me2 may ,god do to you whatever he will1 if you keep from me a word of all that he said to you4 ,so ,samuel told him everything1 and kept nothing from him4 ,and ,eli said1 ,it is ,jehovah2 let him do what seems good to him4 ,,the ,,ark ,,among ,,the ,,philistines ,in those days the ,israelites went out to meet the ,philistines1 and in a hard-fought battle the ,israelites were defeated by the ,philistines4 ,when the people returned to the camp1 the leaders of ,israel said1 ,why has ,jehovah let us be beaten to-day by the ,philistines8 ,let us bring the ark of our ,god from ,shiloh4 ,he may then go out with us and deliver us from our enemies4 ,so the people sent to ,shiloh and took from there the ark of ,jehovah of hosts4 ,when it came to the camp1 all the ,israelites shouted so loud that the earth resounded4 ,the ,philistines heard the sound of the shouting and said1 ,what does this sound of great shouting in the camp of the ,hebrews mean8 ,when they knew that the ark of ,jehovah had come to the camp1 they were afraid1 for they said1 ,their god has come to their camp4 ,woe to us6 for it has never been so before2 but be strong and act like men4 ,so the ,philistines fought1 and the ,israelites were defeated and each fled to his tent4 ,the same day a ,benjamite from the ranks ran to ,shiloh with his clothes torn and with earth on his head4 ,as he came1 ,eli was sitting on his seat by the gate watching the road1 for his heart was trembling for the ark of ,god4 ,when the man came and told the people of the city1 they all cried out4 ,eli heard the sound of crying and said1 ,what is this uproar8 ,so the man came quickly and told ,eli1 ,i am the man who came from the battle1 for ,i fled from the ranks4 ,eli said1 ,how did it go1 my son8 ,the messenger answered1 ,israel fled from the ,philistines1 and many people were killed1 and your two sons are dead1 and the ark of ,god has been captured4 ,when he spoke of the ark of ,god1 ,eli fell off his seat backward beside the gate1 and his neck was broken1 for he was old and heavy1 and he died4 ,the ,philistines took the ark of ,god and brought it to the temple of ,dagon in ,ashdod and set it up by the side of ,dagon4 ,when the people of ,ashdod rose early the next day and came to the temple of ,dagon1 there was ,dagon on the ground flat on his face before the ark of ,jehovah4 ,then they raised up ,dagon and set him in his place again4 ,but when they rose early on the following morning1 there was ,dagon on the ground flat on his face before the ark of ,jehovah4 ,the head of ,dagon and both his hands were broken off on the door sill1 and only his body was left4 ,jehovah severely punished the people of ,ashdod1 for he punished them with boils4 ,when the men of ,ashdod saw this1 they said1 ,the ark of the god of ,israel shall not stay with us1 for he is severely punishing us and ,dagon our god4 ,so they sent for all the rulers of the ,philistines and asked1 ,what shall we do with the ark of the god of ,israel8 ,they answered1 ,let it be carried around to ,gath4 ,so they carried the ark of the ,god of ,israel around to ,gath4 ,then ,jehovah punished the men of that city1 both young and old1 with boils4 ,therefore they sent the ark of the ,god of ,israel to ,ekron2 but when it came to ,ekron1 the ,ekronites cried out1 ,they have brought around the ark of the god of ,israel to kill us and our people6 ,they sent1 therefore1 and gathered all the rulers of the ,philistines and said1 ,send the ark of the god of ,israel back to its own place1 so that it will not kill us and our people6 ,then the ,philistines called the priests and diviners and asked1 ,what shall we do with the ark of ,jehovah8 ,tell us with what we shall send it to its place4 ,they said1 ,if you send back the ark of the god of ,israel1 you must not send it away empty1 but must return to him an offering to repay him for all that you have done to the ark4 ,then you shall be healed1 and you shall know why he has continued to punish you4 ,they said1 ,what offering shall we send back in order to repay him8 ,they said1 ,five golden boils and five golden mice1 the same number as the rulers of the ,philistines2 for one plague was upon you as well as upon your rulers4 ,now therefore prepare a new cart and two milch cows that have never worn a yoke1 and fasten the cows to the cart1 but leave their calves behind them at home4 ,then take the ark of ,jehovah and place it upon the cart and put in a box at its side the golden objects which you are sending to them as an offering to repay him4 ,then send it away4 ,if it goes on the way to its own border1 to ,bethshemesh1 then it is ,jehovah who has done us this great harm2 but if not1 then we shall know that it is not he who has punished us2 it was only an accident4 ,the men did so1 and the cows took a straight course along the ,bethshemesh road4 ,they went along the highway1 lowing as they went1 and did not turn aside to the right nor to the left4 ,the rulers of the ,philistines also went after them as far as ,bethshemesh4 ,the inhabitants of ,bethshemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley1 and when they looked up and saw the ark1 they rejoiced at the sight4 ,when the ark came into the field of ,joshua1 the ,bethshemeshite1 it stood still there4 ,and a great stone was there2 so they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt-offering to ,jehovah4 ,when the five rulers of the ,philistines saw it1 they returned to ,ekron the same day4 ,,how ,,samuel ,,found ,a ,,leader ,there was a rich ,benjamite named ,kish1 who lived at ,gibeah4 ,he had a son named ,saul1 a man full grown and handsome2 no one among the ,israelites was more handsome than he4 ,from his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people4 ,now the asses of ,kish1 ,saul's father1 were lost4 ,so ,kish said to ,saul1 ,take one of the servants with you and go1 look for the asses4 ,they went through the highlands of ,ephraim and the land of ,shalishah1 but did not find them4 ,then they crossed into the land of ,shaalim1 but the asses were not there4 ,they also went through the land of ,benjamin1 but did not find them4 ,they had come into the land of ,zuph when ,saul said to his servant who was with him1 ,come1 let us go back1 that my father may not stop thinking of the asses and be anxious about us4 ,the servant answered him1 ,there is a man of ,god in this town who is held in honor2 all that he says is sure to come true4 ,now let us go there2 perhaps he can tell us the way we should go4 ,saul said to his servant1 ,but1 suppose we go1 what shall we take to the man1 for the bread is gone from our sacks1 and there is no present to take to the man of ,god8 ,what have we8 ,the servant answered ,saul again and said1 ,see1 ,i have with me a quarter of a silver shekel4 ,give it to the man of ,god that he may tell us our way4 ,then ,saul said to his servant1 ,your advice is good2 come1 let us go4 ,so they went to the town where the man of ,god was4 ,as they were going up to the town1 they met young women going out to draw water and said to them1 ,is the seer here8 ,they answered them1 ,he is there2 he is before you4 ,make haste1 for he has just come into the town1 for the people have a sacrificial feast to-day at the sacred place on the hilltop4 ,as soon as you come to the town1 you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat1 for the people will not eat until he comes1 for he blesses the sacrifice1 and then the guests eat4 ,therefore go up now1 for at this time you will find him4 ,so they went up to the town1 and when they came inside the gate1 ,samuel was just coming out toward them to go up to the high place4 ,now ,jehovah had told ,samuel the day before ,saul came1 ,about this time to-morrow ,i will send you a man out of the land of ,benjamin1 and you shall anoint him to be a prince over my people ,israel4 ,he shall deliver my people from the power of the ,philistines2 for ,i have seen the suffering of my people1 because their cry has come to me4 ,when ,samuel saw ,saul1 ,jehovah told him1 ,this is the man of whom ,i spoke to you6 ,he it is who shall rule over my people4 ,so when ,saul met ,samuel in the gate1 and said1 ,tell me1 if you will1 where the seer's house is1 ,samuel answered ,saul1 ,i am the seer2 go up before me to the high place1 for you shall eat with me to-day2 and in the morning ,i will let you go and will tell you all that is in your mind4 ,as for your asses that were lost three days ago1 do not trouble yourself about them for they have been found4 ,and to whom belongs all that is best in ,israel8 ,does it not belong to you and to your father's house8 ,saul answered and said1 ,am ,i not a ,benjamite1 of the smallest of the tribes of ,israel1 and is not my family the least of all the families of the tribe of ,benjamin8 ,why then do you speak to me in this way8 ,but ,samuel took ,saul and his servant and brought them into the hall and made them sit at the head of the guests 7who were about thirty in number74 ,samuel also said to the cook1 ,bring the part which ,i gave you and told you to put aside4 ,so the cook took up the leg and what was on it and placed them before ,saul4 ,then ,samuel said1 ,see what has been kept for you6 ,set it before you and eat1 for it was kept for you until the appointed time1 that you might eat with the people whom ,i have invited4 ,so ,saul ate with ,samuel that day4 ,after they came down from the high place into the town1 they spread a bed for ,saul on the roof1 and he lay down4 ,then at daybreak ,samuel called to ,saul on the roof1 saying1 ,rise1 that ,i may send you away4 ,so ,saul rose1 and he and ,samuel went out into the street4 ,as they were going out of the town1 ,samuel said to ,saul1 ,tell the servant to go on before us1 but you stand here that ,i may tell you the message from ,god4 ,then ,samuel took the flask of oil and poured it on ,saul's head1 and kissed him and said1 ,has not ,jehovah anointed you to be a prince over his people ,israel8 ,you shall rule over ,jehovah's people and deliver them from the power of their enemies on every side4 ,this is the sign that ,jehovah has anointed you to be a prince over his own people3 when you go from me to-day you shall find two men at ,rachel's tomb2 and they will say to you1 ',the asses that you went to seek are found1 and now your father is thinking no more about the asses but is worrying about you1 saying1 ,what shall ,i do for my son8' ,then you shall go on from there and come to the oak of ,tabor4 ,there three men going up to ,god at ,bethel will meet you1 one carrying three kids1 another carrying three loaves of bread1 and another carrying a skin of wine4 ,they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread which you shall take from their hand4 ,after that you shall come to ,gibeah4 ,as you come to the city you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a lyre1 a tambourine1 a flute1 and a harp before them1 while they prophesy4 ,then the spirit of ,jehovah will come suddenly upon you1 and you shall prophesy with them1 and shall be changed into another man4 ,when these signs come to you1 do whatever you can1 for ,god is with you4 ,so when ,saul turned away from ,samuel1 ,god gave him a new heart1 and all those signs came to pass that day4 ,saul's uncle also said to him and to his servant1 ,where did you go8 ,he said1 ,to seek the asses2 and when we saw that they were not to be found1 we went to ,samuel4 ,saul's uncle said1 ,tell me what ,samuel said to you4 ,saul replied1 ,he told us that the asses were surely found4 ,but ,saul did not tell him that ,samuel had said he should become the ruler4 ,after about a month1 ,nahash1 the ,ammonite1 came up and besieged ,jabesh in ,gilead2 and all the men of ,jabesh said to ,nahash1 ,make terms with us and we will serve you4 ,but ,nahash1 the ,ammonite1 said to them4 ,on this condition will ,i make terms with you3 that ,i bore out the right eye of each of you1 and so bring disgrace upon all ,israel4 ,the elders of ,jabesh said to him1 ,let us have seven days in which to send messengers through all the land of ,israel4 ,then1 if there are none to save us1 we will come to you4 ,so the messengers came to ,gibeah where ,saul lived and told the facts in the hearing of the people1 and they all set up a loud wail4 ,just then ,saul was coming from the field behind the oxen1 and he said1 ,what is the trouble with the people that they are wailing8 ,then they told him what the men of ,jabesh had said4 ,when he heard it1 the spirit of ,jehovah came suddenly upon him and he became very indignant4 ,he took a pair of oxen1 cut them in pieces1 and sent them through all the land of ,israel by messengers1 who said1 ,whoever does not come out after ,saul and after ,samuel1 the same shall be done to his oxen6 ,then a terror from ,jehovah fell upon the people1 and they all gathered together4 ,and ,saul said to the messengers who came1 ,say to the men of ,jabesh in ,gilead1 ',to-morrow by the time the sun grows hot help shall come to you4' ,so the messengers went and told the men of ,jabesh1 and they were glad4 ,therefore the men of ,jabesh said to the ,ammonites1 ,to-morrow we will come out to you1 and you shall do to us whatever you please4 ,so on the following day1 ,saul divided the people into three divisions2 and they went into the midst of the camp early in the morning1 and fought against the ,ammonites until noon4 ,the ,ammonites who stayed behind were so scattered that not two of them were left together4 ,then all the people went to ,gilgal and there in the presence of ,jehovah made ,saul their ruler1 and they offered sacrifices there to ,jehovah2 and ,saul and all the men of ,israel were very happy4 ,,jonathan',s ,,brave ,,deed ,saul picked out three thousand men from the ,israelites4 ,two thousand were with ,saul in ,michmash and on the highland of ,bethel1 and a thousand were with his son ,jonathan in ,gibeah4 ,but ,saul had sent the rest of the people each to his home4 ,then ,jonathan attacked the company of the ,philistines in ,gibeah2 and the ,philistines heard of it4 ,but ,saul sounded a call to arms throughout all the land1 saying1 ,let the ,hebrews hear6 ,so all ,israel heard the report that ,saul had attacked the ,philistines1 and also that ,israel was hated by them4 ,then the ,philistines were gathered together to fight with ,israel3 three thousand chariots1 six thousand horsemen1 and foot soldiers as many as the sand of the seashore4 ,they came up and camped in ,michmash4 ,when the men of ,israel saw that they were in a tight place 7for the people were hard pressed71 the people hid themselves in caves1 in holes1 in the rocks1 in tombs1 and in pits4 ,also many people crossed over the ,jordan to the land of ,gad and ,gilead4 ,then ,saul counted the people who were with him and found that there were about six hundred men4 ,and ,saul and his son ,jonathan1 together with the people who were with them1 remained in ,gibeah1 while the ,philistines camped in ,michmash4 ,then the ,philistines came out of the camp in three divisions to steal whatever they could find3 one division turned toward ,ophrah1 in the land of ,shual1 another toward ,bethhoron1 and another toward the hill that looks down over the valley of ,zeboim4 ,but the garrison of the ,philistines went out to the pass of ,michmash4 ,now on that day ,jonathan the son of ,saul said to the young man who carried his armor1 ,come1 let us go over against the ,philistines' garrison that is on the other side4 ,but he did not tell his father4 ,meantime ,saul was sitting just outside of ,gibeah under the pomegranate-tree which is near the threshing-floor1 and there were with him about six hundred men4 ,but the people did not know that ,jonathan had gone4 ,along the ravine by which ,jonathan tried to go over against the ,philistines there was a steep rock on one side1 and a steep rock on the other2 one was named ,the ,shining1 and the other ,the ,thorny4 ,one rock rose up north of ,michmash1 and the other south of ,geba4 ,so ,jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor1 ,come1 let us go over to the camp of these heathen ,philistines4 ,perhaps ,jehovah will act for us1 for there is nothing that can keep ,jehovah from delivering his people either by many or by few4 ,his armor-bearer replied1 ,do whatever you wish1 ,i will do my best to help you4 ,then ,jonathan said1 ,see1 we will cross over to the men and show ourselves to them4 ,if they say to us1 ',stand still until we can reach you1' then we will stand still in our place1 and will not go up to them4 ,but if they say1 ',come up to us1' then we will go up2 for this shall be the proof that ,jehovah has given them into our power4 ,when both of them showed themselves to the ,philistines1 the ,philistines said1 ,there are ,hebrews coming out of the holes where they have hidden4 ,so they called to ,jonathan and his armor-bearer1 ,come up to us1 and we will show you something6 ,then ,jonathan said to his armor-bearer1 ,come up after me1 for ,jehovah has given them into the power of ,israel4 ,so ,jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet and his armor-bearer after him4 ,and the ,philistines fell before ,jonathan1 and his armor-bearer followed and put them to death4 ,in the first attack ,jonathan and his armor-bearer killed about twenty men with spears and rocks from the field4 ,then there was a great panic in the camp1 in the open field1 and among all the ,philistines4 ,even those who were out robbing were panic-stricken1 and the earth quaked1 so that it produced a ,god-sent panic4 ,the watchmen of ,saul in ,gibeah looked and saw the great company of ,philistines melting away and rushing here and there4 ,then ,saul said to the people who were with him1 ,look now and see who is gone from us4 ,when they searched they found that ,jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there4 ,so ,saul said to ,ahijah1 ,bring the ark of ,god here1 for at that time it was with the ,israelites4 ,while ,saul was still speaking to the priest1 the noise and disorder among the ,philistines kept on increasing4 ,therefore1 ,saul said to the priest1 ,do not wait to consult ,jehovah6 ,then ,saul and all the people that were with him gathered together and went into battle4 ,and every ,philistine's sword was turned upon his fellow1 so that there was a very great confusion among them4 ,the ,hebrews who once were on the side of the ,philistines and who had joined their army also went over to the side of the ,israelites who were with ,saul and ,jonathan4 ,likewise all the men of ,israel who were hiding in the highlands of ,ephraim1 when they heard that the ,philistines had fled1 closely followed them in the battle4 ,so ,jehovah delivered ,israel that day1 and the battle passed over beyond ,bethhoron4 ,but ,saul made a great mistake that day1 for he strictly commanded the people1 saying1 ,the man who shall eat any food until evening and until ,i take vengeance on my enemies shall be punished4 ,so none of the people tasted food4 ,now there was honey on the surface of the ground2 and when the people came to the forest1 they saw a stream of honey1 but no one put his hand to his mouth1 for the people feared the punishment4 ,but ,jonathan had not heard when his father commanded the people4 ,therefore he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth1 and he felt refreshed4 ,then one of the people spoke up and said1 ,your father strictly commanded the people1 saying1 ',the man who eats food this day shall be punished4' ,but ,jonathan replied1 ,my father has brought great trouble on the land4 ,see how ,i have been refreshed because ,i tasted a little of this honey4 ,if only the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies1 many more of the ,philistines would have been slain4 ,then ,saul said1 ,let us go down after the ,philistines by night and take spoil until daybreak1 and let us not leave one of them4 ,they said1 ,do whatever you think best4 ,but the priest said1 ,let us ask of ,god4 ,so ,saul asked of ,god1 ,shall ,i go down after the ,philistines8 ,wilt thou deliver them over to ,israel8 ,but he did not answer him that day4 ,therefore ,saul said1 ,come here1 all you leaders of the people1 and find out who has done wrong to-day4 ,for as surely as ,jehovah the deliverer of ,israel lives1 even though it be ,jonathan my son1 he shall die4 ,but not one of the people answered him4 ,then he said to all ,israel1 ,you be on one side1 and ,i and ,jonathan my son will be on the other4 ,the people said to ,saul1 ,do what you think best4 ,therefore ,saul said1 ,jehovah1 ,god of ,israel1 why hast thou not answered thy servant this day8 ,if the sin be mine or that of ,jonathan my son1 ,jehovah1 ,god of ,israel1 show it by the lot marked ,urim2 but if the sin lies with thy people ,israel1 show it by the lot marked ,thummim4 ,then the lot fell on ,jonathan and ,saul and not on the people4 ,so ,saul said1 ,cast the lot between me and ,jonathan my son4 ,he whom ,jehovah selects must die4 ,the people said to ,saul1 ,it shall not be so6 ,but ,saul made the people do as he said1 and they cast the lot between him and ,jonathan his son2 and it fell on ,jonathan4 ,then ,saul said to ,jonathan1 ,tell me what you have done4 ,so ,jonathan told him1 ,i did indeed taste a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand4 ,here ,i am6 ,i am ready to die4 ,saul said1 ,god do so to me and more too2 ,jonathan1 you shall surely die6 ,but all the people said to ,saul1 ,shall ,jonathan die who has brought this great deliverance to ,israel8 ,far from it6 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives1 not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground1 for he has done this day what ,god wished4 ,so the people saved ,jonathan from death4 ,,david',s ,,victory ,,over ,,the ,,giant ,as long as ,saul lived there was bitter war with the ,philistines4 ,whenever ,saul saw a strong or able man1 he would take him into his service4 ,illustration3 7,c7,curtis ,publishing ,company ,saul and ,david ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor ,now the spirit of ,jehovah had left ,saul and an evil spirit from ,jehovah troubled him4 ,so ,saul's servants said to him1 ,see now1 an evil spirit from ,jehovah is troubling you4 ,let your servants who are here advise you1 and let them seek a man skilled in playing the lyre4 ,then1 whenever the evil spirit comes upon you1 he shall play on the lyre1 and you will be well4 ,saul said to his servants1 ,find me a man who plays well1 and bring him to me4 ,then one of the young men said1 ,i have seen a son of ,jesse the ,bethlehemite who is a skilled musician1 a strong and able man1 a soldier1 careful in speech1 handsome1 and ,jehovah is with him4 ,so ,saul sent messengers to ,jesse with the command1 ,send me ,david your son1 who is with the flock4 ,then ,jesse took ten loaves of bread1 a skin of wine1 and a kid1 and sent them to ,saul by his son ,david4 ,so ,david came to ,saul and entered his service2 and ,saul loved him and he became his armor-bearer4 ,saul sent this message to ,jesse3 ,let ,david remain in my service1 for ,i am well pleased with him4 ,and whenever the evil spirit from ,god came upon ,saul1 ,david would take the lyre and play1 and ,saul would breathe more easily and would be well1 and the evil spirit would depart from him4 ,now the ,philistines gathered their forces for war1 and camped between ,socoh and ,ezekah in ,ephesdammim4 ,saul and the men of ,israel came together and camped in the valley of ,elah2 and they were drawn up ready for battle against the ,philistines4 ,the ,philistines were standing on the hill on one side1 and the ,israelites were standing on the hill on the other side with the valley between them4 ,then there came out from the ranks of the ,philistines a champion named ,goliath1 who was about ten feet tall4 ,he had a helmet of bronze on his head and wore a bronze breastplate of scales which weighed one hundred and fifty pounds4 ,he also had bronze greaves upon his legs and a bronze back-plate between his shoulders4 ,the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam1 and the head of his iron spear weighed about twenty pounds2 and his shield-bearer went before him4 ,he stood and called to the ranks of ,israel3 ,why have you come out to form the line of battle8 ,am ,i not a ,philistine and you servants of ,saul8 ,choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me4 ,if he is able to fight with me and kill me1 then we will become your servants2 but if ,i conquer and kill him1 then you shall become our servants and serve us4 ,the ,philistine added1 ,i defy the ranks of ,israel to-day2 give me a man that we may fight together4 ,when ,saul and all the ,israelites heard these words of the ,philistine1 they were terrified4 ,but ,david said to ,saul1 ,let not my lord's courage fail him2 ,i will go and fight this ,philistine4 ,saul said to ,david1 ,you are not able to go and fight against this ,philistine1 for you are only a youth and he has been a warrior from his youth4 ,but ,david said to ,saul1 ,your servant kept his father's sheep1 and whenever a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock1 ,i would go out after him and kill him and rescue it from his mouth4 ,if he attacked me1 ,i would seize him by his throat and kill him with a blow4 ,your servant has killed both lion and bear4 ,now this heathen ,philistine shall be like one of them1 for he has defied the armies of the living ,god4 ,jehovah who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will save me from the hand of this ,philistine4 ,so ,saul said to ,david1 ,go1 and may ,jehovah be with you4 ,saul clothed ,david with his own garments1 and put a helmet of bronze on his head and gave him a coat of mail4 ,and ,david fastened on his sword over his coat and was not able to walk1 for he was not used to them4 ,so he said to ,saul1 ,i cannot go with these1 for ,i am not used to them4 ,so ,david took them off4 ,then he took his club in his hand1 and he chose five smooth stones from the bed of the brook and put them in his bag1 and he took his sling in his hand and drew near to the ,philistine4 ,when the ,philistine looked and saw ,david1 he despised him1 for he was but a fair and ruddy youth4 ,so the ,philistine said to ,david1 ,am ,i a dog that you come against me with a club8 ,and he cursed ,david by his gods1 and said1 ,come to me that ,i may give your flesh to the birds of the heavens and to the beasts of the field4 ,then ,david answered the ,philistine1 ,you come to me with a sword and spear and javelin1 but ,i come to you in the name of ,jehovah of hosts and of the ,god of the armies of ,israel whom you have insulted this day4 ,jehovah will deliver you into my hand that ,i may kill you and cut off your head4 ,when the ,philistine started to attack him1 ,david put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone1 and slung it and struck the ,philistine in the forehead4 ,the stone sank into his forehead1 and he fell on his face to the earth4 ,then ,david ran and stood over the ,philistine1 and drawing his sword from its sheath1 he killed him and cut off his head with it4 ,when the ,philistines saw that their champion was dead1 they fled4 ,the men of ,israel and of ,judah rose up and raised the battle-cry and followed the ,philistines to the entrance to ,gath and to the gates of ,ekron1 so that the wounded of the ,philistines fell all the way from the battle-field even to ,gath and ,ekron4 ,,saul',s ,,mean ,,jealousy ,when the ,israelites and ,david returned from slaying the ,philistines1 the women came out from all the cities of ,israel1 singing and dancing1 to meet ,saul with tambourines1 with cries of rejoicing1 and with cymbals4 ,the women sang gaily to each other and said1 ,saul has slain his thousands1 ,and ,david his tens of thousands4 ,saul was very angry1 for their words displeased him1 and he said1 ,to ,david they give credit for ten thousands1 but to me only thousands2 what more can he have but the rulership8 ,so ,saul kept his eye on ,david from that day onward4 ,saul feared ,david and did not let him stay near him4 ,he made him commander over a thousand men2 and ,david went out and came in at the head of the soldiers4 ,in all that he did ,david acted wisely and had success1 for ,jehovah was with him4 ,when ,saul saw that he acted wisely1 he was still more afraid of him4 ,but all ,israel and ,judah loved ,david1 for he went out and came in at their head4 ,michal1 ,saul's daughter1 also loved ,david1 and when they told ,saul1 he was pleased1 for he said1 ,i will give her to him1 that she may lead him to destruction and that the ,philistines may capture him4 ,so ,saul commanded his servants1 ,say to ,david secretly3 ',see1 the ruler is pleased with you and all his servants love you2 now therefore become his son-in-law4' ,when ,saul's servants told this to ,david1 he said1 ,do you think it easy for me to become the son-in-law of a ruler when ,i am poor and have no reputation6 ,when ,saul's servants told him ,david's answer1 he commanded1 ,say to ,david3 ',saul wishes no price for his daughter except the proof that you have killed a hundred ,philistines2' for ,saul thought that ,david would be killed by them4 ,so ,david went with his men and killed a hundred ,philistines2 and ,saul gave him his daughter ,michal as his wife4 ,then ,saul knew that ,jehovah was with ,david and that all ,israel loved him1 so he feared ,david still more4 ,then ,saul commanded his son ,jonathan and all his servants to put ,david to death4 ,but ,jonathan was very fond of ,david4 ,and ,jonathan spoke well of ,david to ,saul his father and said to him1 ,do not sin against your servant ,david1 for he has not wronged you and his behavior toward you has been excellent2 for he risked his life and killed the ,philistine1 so that ,jehovah saved all ,israel4 ,you saw it and rejoiced4 ,why then will you sin by shedding innocent blood in killing ,david without cause8 ,so ,saul listened to ,jonathan and gave his solemn promise3 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives1 he shall not be put to death4 ,then ,jonathan called ,david and told him all these things4 ,and ,jonathan brought ,david to ,saul and he was with him as before4 ,but there was war again1 and ,david went out and fought against the ,philistines and killed so many of them that they fled before him4 ,then an evil spirit from ,jehovah came upon ,saul while he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand and while ,david was playing on the lyre4 ,saul tried to pin ,david to the wall with the spear1 but ,david slipped away so that ,saul drove the spear into the wall2 and ,david fled and so escaped4 ,that night ,saul sent messengers to ,david's house to watch him1 so as to kill him in the morning4 ,but ,michal1 ,david's wife1 told him1 ,if you do not save your life to-night1 you will be killed to-morrow4 ,so ,michal let ,david down through the window2 and he fled away and escaped4 ,then ,michal took the household god and laid it in the bed1 and she put a pillow of goat's hair under its head and covered it with a garment4 ,and when ,saul sent messengers to seize ,david1 she said1 ,he is sick4 ,again ,saul sent the messengers to the house of ,david with the command1 ,bring him up to me on the bed1 that ,i may put him to death4 ,when the messengers came in1 there was the household god in the bed with the pillow of goat's hair under its head4 ,saul said to ,michal1 ,why have you deceived me thus and let my enemy go8 ,michal answered ,saul1 ,he said to me3 ',let me go2 why should ,i kill you8' ,,jonathan',s ,,love ,,for ,,david ,then ,david went and found ,jonathan and said1 ,what have ,i done8 ,what is my guilt1 and what is my sin in the mind of your father1 that he is seeking my life8 ,jonathan replied1 ,no1 no6 ,you shall not die4 ,you know that my father does nothing great or small that he does not tell me1 and why should my father hide this from me8 ,he surely will not4 ,david answered1 ,your father well knows that you are fond of me1 and he is saying to himself1 ',do not let ,jonathan know this that he may not be grieved4' ,but as surely as ,jehovah lives and as you live1 there is only a step between me and death4 ,then ,jonathan said to ,david1 ,what do you wish me to do for you8 ,david answered1 ,to-morrow is the festival of the ,new ,moon and ,i ought to sit at the table with ,saul1 but let me go and ,i will hide myself in the field until evening4 ,if your father misses me1 then say1 ',david asked permission of me to run to ,bethlehem1 his native town1 for the yearly sacrifice is there for all his family4' ,if he says1 ',good1' then it is well with your servant2 but if he gets angry1 then you will know that he is planning to harm me4 ,now show kindness to your servant1 for in the presence of ,jehovah you have made a solemn agreement with your servant4 ,but if ,i am at all guilty1 kill me yourself1 for why should you bring me to your father8 ,jonathan said1 ,that shall never be6 ,if ,i learn that my father is planning to do you harm1 ,i will tell you4 ,then ,david said to ,jonathan1 ,who will tell me if your father answers you harshly8 ,jonathan answered1 ,jehovah the ,god of ,israel be witness that about this time to-morrow ,i will find out how my father feels4 ,if he feels kindly toward you1 then ,i will send and tell you4 ,should my father wish to do you harm1 ,god do to ,jonathan whatever he will and more too if ,i do not tell you and send you away that you may go in peace4 ,may ,jehovah be with you1 as he has been with my father4 ,and if ,i am yet alive1 ,o may you show me kindness like that of ,jehovah himself6 ,but if ,i should die1 you must never cease to be kind to my family4 ,and if1 when ,jehovah destroys all the enemies of ,david from the face of the earth1 the family of ,jonathan should be destroyed by the family of ,david1 may ,jehovah punish the crime by the hand of ,david's enemies4 ,so ,jonathan renewed his solemn promise to ,david1 because he loved him2 for he loved him as much as he loved his own life4 ,then ,jonathan said to him1 ,to-morrow is the festival of the ,new ,moon and you will be missed1 for your seat will be empty4 ,on the third day1 when you will be greatly missed1 go to the place where you hid yourself when my father attacked you1 and sit down beside the heap of stones4 ,i will shoot three arrows on one side of it1 as though ,i shot at a mark4 ,then ,i will send the boy1 saying1 ',go1 find the arrows4' ,if ,i call to the boy1 ',see1 the arrows are on this side of you2 pick them up6'--then come2 for all goes well with you1 and as surely as ,jehovah lives1 there is nothing to fear4 ,but if ,i call to the boy1 ',see1 the arrows are beyond you1' then go1 for ,jehovah sends you away4 ,and as for the promises which you and ,i have made1 ,jehovah is witness between you and me forever4 ,so ,david hid himself in the field2 and when the festival of the ,new ,moon came1 ,saul sat down at the table to eat4 ,he sat on his seat1 as usual1 by the wall1 and ,jonathan sat opposite1 and ,abner sat beside ,saul2 but ,david's seat was empty4 ,saul1 however1 did not say anything that day1 for he thought1 ,it is an accident4 ,but on the next day when ,david's place was again empty1 ,saul said to ,jonathan1 ,why has not the son of ,jesse come to the table1 either yesterday or to-day8 ,jonathan answered1 ,david asked permission to go to ,bethlehem1 for he said1 ',let me go1 for we have a family sacrifice in the town1 and my brother has commanded me to be there4 ,now if you approve1 let me go away that ,i may see my family4' ,therefore1 he has not come to your table4 ,then ,saul's anger was aroused against ,jonathan1 and he said to him1 ,son of a rebellious slave girl6 ,do ,i not know that you are making the son of ,jesse your friend to your own shame and to your mother's shame8 ,for as long as the son of ,jesse lives1 neither you nor your rule will be safe4 ,therefore1 send now and bring him to me1 for he is doomed to die4 ,then ,jonathan answered ,saul his father and said1 ,why should he be put to death8 ,what has he done8 ,but ,saul flung his spear at him to strike him4 ,so ,jonathan knew that his father had made up his mind to put ,david to death4 ,and ,jonathan rose from the table in hot anger and ate no food on the second day of the month1 for he felt hurt because his father had insulted ,david4 ,the next morning ,jonathan went out into the field to the place agreed upon with ,david1 and a small boy was with him4 ,he said to his boy1 ,run1 find now the arrows which ,i shoot4 ,as the boy ran1 he shot an arrow beyond him4 ,when the boy came to the place where the arrow which ,jonathan had shot lay1 ,jonathan called to him1 ,is not the arrow beyond you8 ,hurry1 be quick1 do not stop6 ,so ,jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows1 and brought them to his master4 ,but the boy knew nothing about the signal4 ,only ,jonathan and ,david understood4 ,,the ,,cost ,,of ,a ,,lie ,then ,david went to ,nob1 to ,ahimelech the priest who came trembling to meet ,david and said to him1 ,why are you alone1 and no one with you8 ,david answered ,ahimelech the priest1 ,saul has given me orders about some business and has said to me1 ',let no one know anything about the business on which ,i am sending you and about which ,i have given you orders4' ,i have also directed the young men to meet me at a certain place4 ,therefore1 if you have at hand five loaves of bread1 give them to me or whatever can be found4 ,the priest answered ,david1 ,there is no plain bread at hand1 but only holy bread4 ,so the priest gave him holy bread1 for there was no other bread there except that which had been removed from the temple to be replaced at once by hot bread4 ,now ,doeg1 the ,edomite1 the chief of ,saul's herdsmen1 was there that day4 ,and ,david said to ,ahimelech1 ,have you not here at hand a spear or sword8 ,for ,i did not bring my sword or my weapons with me1 since the king's business required haste4 ,the priest said1 ,the sword of ,goliath the ,philistine whom you slew in the valley of ,elah is there1 wrapped in a cloth4 ,if you wish to take that1 do so1 for there is no other except that here4 ,david answered1 ,there is none like that2 give it to me4 ,then ,david went from there and escaped to the stronghold of ,adullam4 ,when his brothers and all his father's clan heard of it1 they went down there to him4 ,every one who was in trouble and every one who was in debt1 and every one who was discontented gathered about him1 and he became their leader4 ,about four hundred men were with him4 ,when ,saul heard that ,david and the men with him had been found1 he was sitting in ,gibeah1 under the tamarisk-tree at the high place1 with his spear in his hand4 ,and all his servants were standing about him4 ,saul said to his servants who stood about him1 ,hear1 ,o ,benjamites6 ,will the son of ,jesse give all of you fields and vineyards8 ,will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds8 ,is it not true that all of you have plotted against me so that no one tells me that my son has made an agreement with the son of ,jesse1 and that none of you has pity upon me or tells me that my son has made my servant ,david my enemy as he now is8 ,then ,doeg the ,edomite1 who was standing by the servants of ,saul1 spoke up and said1 ,i saw the son of ,jesse go to ,nob1 to ,ahimelech1 the son of ,ahitub4 ,and the priest inquired of ,god for him and gave him food and the sword of ,goliath the ,philistine4 ,then ,saul sent for ,ahimelech the priest1 and all his family and the priests who were in ,nob2 and all of them came to him4 ,then ,saul said1 ,listen1 son of ,ahitub6 ,he answered1 ,here ,i am1 my lord6 ,saul said to him1 ,is it not true that you and the son of ,jesse have plotted against me and that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of ,god for him1 that he might rebel against me8 ,ahimelech answered ,saul1 ,who among all your servants is trusted like ,david1 your son-in-law1 chief over your subjects1 and honored in your household8 ,is this the first time ,i have inquired of ,god for him8 ,far be it from me to be disloyal6 ,do not think that ,i or any of my clan have any evil intention1 for your servant does not know the slightest thing about all this4 ,but ,saul said1 ,ahimelech1 you shall surely die1 you and all your family4 ,then ,saul said to the guards who were standing about him1 ,turn and kill the priests of ,jehovah1 for they have plotted with ,david2 and although they knew that he was fleeing1 they did not tell me4 ,but ,saul's servants would not raise their hands to kill the priests of ,jehovah4 ,then ,saul said to ,doeg1 ,turn and kill the priests4 ,so ,doeg1 the ,edomite1 turned and killed them4 ,on that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the priestly robes4 ,but ,abiathar1 one of the sons of ,ahimelech1 escaped and fled to ,david4 ,when ,abiathar told ,david that ,saul had killed the priests of ,jehovah1 ,david said to him1 ,i knew that day1 because ,doeg the ,edomite was there1 that he would surely tell ,saul4 ,i myself am responsible for the death of all your family4 ,stay with me1 have no fear1 for whoever seeks your life must first take mine1 for you are placed in my charge4 ,a ,,soldier ,,who ,,spared ,,his ,,enemy ,now when ,david was told1 ,the ,philistines are fighting against ,keilah and are robbing the threshing-floors1 he inquired of ,jehovah1 ,shall ,i go and attack these ,philistines8 ,jehovah said to ,david1 ,go1 attack the ,philistines and save ,keilah4 ,but ,david's men said to him1 ,see1 we are afraid here in ,judah2 how much more will we be if we go to ,keilah against the armies of the ,philistines8 ,when ,david again inquired of ,jehovah1 ,jehovah answered him1 ,arise1 go down to ,keilah1 for ,i will give the ,philistines into your hand4 ,so ,david and his men went to ,keilah and fought with the ,philistines and drove away their cattle and killed a great many of them4 ,in this way ,david delivered the people of ,keilah4 ,now when ,abiathar1 the son of ,ahimelech1 fled to ,david in ,keilah1 he came down with the priestly robe used in consulting ,jehovah in his hand4 ,and when ,saul was told that ,david had come to ,keilah1 ,saul said1 ,god has given him into my power1 for by entering a town that has doors and bars he has let himself be trapped4 ,so ,saul called all the people to arms to go down to ,keilah to besiege ,david and his men4 ,but when ,david knew that ,saul was plotting evil against him1 he said to ,abiathar the priest1 ,bring here the priestly robe4 ,then ,david said1 ,o ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,israel1 thy servant has surely heard that ,saul is planning to come to ,keilah1 to destroy the town because of me4 ,will ,saul come down1 as thy servant has heard8 ,o ,jehovah1 ,god of ,israel1 tell thy servant4 ,jehovah said1 ,he will come down4 ,then ,david said1 ,will the men of ,keilah turn me and my men over to ,saul8 ,jehovah said1 ,they will4 ,then ,david and his men1 who were about six hundred1 left ,keilah1 and wandered from one place to another4 ,when it was reported to ,saul that ,david had escaped from ,keilah1 he no longer followed him4 ,so ,david lived in the ,wilderness of ,ziph and stayed in the mountain strongholds4 ,then the ,ziphites came to ,saul at ,gibeah1 saying1 ,is not ,david hiding in the hill country of ,hachilah8 ,so ,saul went down to the ,wilderness of ,ziph with three thousand men of ,israel to hunt for ,david4 ,and ,saul camped in the hill country of ,hachilah2 but ,david stayed in the wilderness4 ,when ,david saw that ,saul was following him into the wilderness1 he sent out scouts and learned that ,saul had come to the place just in front of him4 ,david then arose and went to the place where ,saul had camped4 ,and he saw the place where ,saul lay1 with ,abner the son of ,ner1 the commander of his army2 and ,saul was within the barricade1 and the people were camped about him4 ,then ,david turned to ,ahimelech the ,hittite and to ,abishai the son of ,zeruiah1 ,joab's brother1 and said1 ,who will go down with me to ,saul's camp8 ,abishai said1 ,i will go with you4 ,so ,david and ,abishai came to the people by night1 and ,saul was lying asleep inside the barricade1 with his spear stuck into the earth at his head and with ,abner and the soldiers lying about him4 ,then ,abishai said to ,david1 ,god has given your enemy to you to-day4 ,now let me pin him to the earth with his spear at one stroke1 for ,i will not need to strike him twice6 ,david replied1 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives1 either ,jehovah will smite him1 or his day will come to die1 or he will go down into battle and meet his end4 ,jehovah forbid that ,i should harm him whom ,jehovah has called to rule6 ,but now take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water1 and let us go4 ,so ,david took the spear and the jug of water from ,saul's head1 and they departed4 ,but no man saw it or knew it1 for they were all asleep1 and no one awoke1 for a deep sleep from ,jehovah had fallen upon them4 ,then ,david went across and stood on the top of a hill at a distance with a great space between them4 ,and ,david called to the soldiers and to ,abner1 the son of ,ner1 and said1 ,do you make no answer1 ,abner8 ,abner answered1 ,who are you that calls8 ,david said to ,abner1 ,are you not a man1 and who is like you in ,israel8 ,why then have you not kept guard over your lord the ruler of ,israel8 ,for one of the people came to destroy your lord4 ,you have not done what is right4 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives you ought to be put to death1 for you have not kept watch over your master whom ,jehovah has called to rule4 ,now see where his spear is and his jug of water that was at his head4 ,saul knew ,david's voice and said1 ,is this your voice1 my son ,david8 ,david replied1 ,it is my voice1 my lord4 ,and he added1 ,why is it that my lord is following his servant8 ,for what have ,i done8 ,or of what am ,i guilty8 ,now therefore let my lord listen to me4 ,if ,jehovah has stirred you up against me1 let him accept an offering4 ,but if men have stirred you up against me1 let them be cursed before ,jehovah1 for they have driven me out to-day1 saying1 ',go serve other gods1' so that ,i have no share in the land which ,jehovah has given to his people4 ,may ,i not meet my end far away from the presence of ,jehovah1 for the ruler of ,israel has come out to seek my life1 as one hunts a partridge on the mountains4 ,then ,saul said1 ,i have done wrong4 ,come back1 my son ,david1 for ,i will do you no more harm1 for you have spared my life to-day4 ,i have acted foolishly and have made a great mistake4 ,david answered1 ,here is ,saul's spear6 ,let one of the young men come over and take it4 ,may ,jehovah reward each one who does right and is faithful2 for ,jehovah gave you to me to-day1 but ,i would not harm one whom ,jehovah had called to rule4 ,just as your life was of great value in my sight so may my life be of great value in ,jehovah's sight1 and may he deliver me from all trouble4 ,then ,saul said to ,david1 ,may you be blessed1 my son ,david6 ,you shall do great deeds and shall surely succeed6 ,so ,david went his way1 but ,saul returned home4 ,,abigail',s ,,sensible ,,advice ,then ,david went away into the ,wilderness of ,maon4 ,now there was a man in ,maon1 whose property was in ,carmel4 ,the man was very rich2 he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats1 and he was shearing his sheep at ,carmel4 ,his name was ,nabal1 and his wife's name was ,abigail4 ,the woman was sensible and beautiful1 but the man was rough and ill-mannered2 and he was a ,calebite4 ,when ,david heard in the wilderness that ,nabal was shearing his sheep1 he sent ten young men with the command1 ,go up to ,carmel and enter ,nabal's house and greet him in my name4 ,you shall say to him and to his family1 ',peace and prosperity be to you and your family and to all that you have4 ,now ,i have heard that you have sheep-shearers4 ,your shepherds were with us1 and we did not insult them1 and nothing of theirs was missing all the while they were in ,carmel4 ,ask your young men and they will tell you4 ,therefore receive my young men favorably1 for we have come on a feast-day4 ,give also whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son ,david4' ,when ,david's young men came1 they spoke to ,nabal for ,david as they were told1 and then waited4 ,but ,nabal answered ,david's servants1 ,who is ,david8 ,and who is the son of ,jesse8 ,many are the slaves these days who break away from their masters6 ,should ,i then take my bread and my water and my meat that ,i have prepared for my shearers and give it to men of whom ,i know nothing8 ,so when ,david's young men returned and told him1 he said to them1 ,let every man put on his sword4 ,so they all put on their swords4 ,david also put on his sword2 and about four hundred men followed ,david1 and two hundred stayed with the baggage4 ,but one of the young men told ,abigail1 ,nabal's wife1 ,david has just sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master1 but he insulted them4 ,the men have been very good to us and we have not been harmed nor have we missed anything1 as long as we were with them in the open country4 ,they were as a wall about us both night and day all the time we were near them guarding the sheep4 ,now therefore decide what you will do1 for evil is planned against our master and against all his household1 for he is such an ill-tempered man that no one can say a word to him4 ,then ,abigail quickly took two hundred loaves of bread1 two skins of wine1 five roasted sheep1 five baskets of parched grain1 a hundred bunches of raisins1 and two hundred cakes of figs1 and loaded them on asses4 ,she said to her young men1 ,go on ahead of me2 see1 ,i am coming after you4 ,but she said nothing about it to her husband ,nabal4 ,as she was riding on the ass and coming down under cover of a hill1 ,david and his men were coming down toward her1 so that she met them4 ,david had just said1 ,it was in vain that ,i guarded all that belongs to this fellow in the wilderness1 so that nothing of his was missing1 for he has returned me evil for good4 ,may ,god bring a similar judgment upon ,david and more too1 if by daybreak ,i leave a single man of all those who belong to him4 ,when ,abigail saw ,david1 she dismounted quickly from her ass and bowed down before him with her face to the ground4 ,as she fell at his feet she said1 ,upon me1 my lord1 upon me be the blame4 ,only let your servant speak to you1 and listen to her words4 ,let not my lord pay any attention to that mean man ,nabal1 for as his name is1 so is he4 ',fool' is his name and folly rules him4 ,but your servant did not see the young men of my lord1 whom you sent4 ,now1 my lord1 as surely as ,jehovah lives and as you live1 since ,jehovah has kept you from murder and from avenging yourself by your own hand1 may your enemies and those who seek to harm my lord be like ,nabal4 ,let this present which your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow him4 ,i beg of you1 forgive the wrong done by your servant1 for ,jehovah will certainly make my lord's family strong1 for my lord is fighting for ,jehovah1 and you shall not be guilty of any evil deed as long as you live4 ,should a man rise up to pursue you and seek your life1 ,jehovah your ,god will care for you1 but he will cast away the lives of your enemies as from a sling4 ,when ,jehovah has done for you all the good that he has promised and has made you ruler over ,israel1 you will not have to be sorry that you shed blood without cause or that you were revenged by your own hand4 ,when ,jehovah gives prosperity to my lord1 then too remember your servant4 ,david said to ,abigail1 ,blessed be ,jehovah the ,god of ,israel1 who sent you this day to meet me1 and blessed be your good sense4 ,a blessing on you1 who have kept me this day from murder and from avenging myself by my own hand4 ,for as surely as ,jehovah the ,god of ,israel lives1 who has kept me from doing you harm1 unless you had quickly come to meet me1 truly by daybreak not one man would have been left to ,nabal4 ,so ,david received from her all which she had brought him4 ,and he said to her1 ,go back in peace to your house4 ,see1 ,i have listened to your advice and granted your request4 ,when ,abigail returned to ,nabal1 he was holding a feast in his house like a king4 ,he was feeling merry1 for he was very drunk2 so she told him nothing whatever until daybreak4 ,but in the morning1 when the effects of the wine were gone1 his wife told him what she had done4 ,then his heart stopped beating and he became like a stone4 ,about ten days later he had a stroke from which he died4 ,when ,david heard that ,nabal was dead1 he said1 ,thanks be to ,jehovah who has punished ,nabal's insult to me and has kept me from doing wrong1 for ,jehovah has visited ,nabal's crime upon his own head4 ,then ,david sent to ask ,abigail to become his wife4 ,when his servants came to her at ,carmel and said1 ,david has sent us to you to take you to him to be his wife1 she rose and bowed her face to the earth and said1 ,see1 your slave is willing to be even a servant to wash the feet of my lord's servants4 ,then ,abigail quickly rose and mounted an ass2 and five of her maids followed as servants4 ,so she went with the messengers of ,david1 and became his wife4 ,,making ,,the ,,best ,,of ,,trouble ,then ,david said to himself1 ,i shall be killed some day by the hand of ,saul4 ,there is nothing better for me than to escape into the land of the ,philistines4 ,then ,saul will give up hope and search no more for me in all the land of ,israel2 and so ,i will escape from him4 ,david1 therefore1 with the six hundred men who were with him went over to ,achish1 king of ,gath4 ,and ,david and his men lived with ,achish at ,gath1 each with his family4 ,when ,saul was told that ,david had fled to ,gath1 he gave up looking for him4 ,david said to ,achish1 ,if now you will grant me the favor1 give me a place in one of the towns in the open country1 that ,i may live there2 for why should your servant live in the royal city with you8 ,so ,achish gave him ,ziklag1 and ,david lived in the open country of the ,philistines a year and four months4 ,and ,david and his men went up and made a raid upon the ,geshurites1 the ,girzites1 and the ,amalekites2 for these tribes live in the land which extends from ,telem to the land of ,egypt4 ,as often as ,david made a raid on the land1 he did not leave alive man or woman1 but taking the sheep1 the oxen1 the asses1 the camels1 and the clothing1 he returned and went to ,achish4 ,then when ,achish said1 ,where have you made a raid to-day8 ,david answered1 ,against the ,south ,country of ,judah1 or against the ,south ,country of the ,jerahmeelites1 or against the ,south ,country of the ,kenites4 ,and ,achish trusted ,david1 thinking1 ,he has made his people ,israel hate him2 therefore he will be my servant forever4 ,now in those days the ,philistines gathered their forces to make war against ,israel4 ,and ,achish said to ,david1 ,you and your men shall surely go with me in the army4 ,david replied1 ,you shall then know what your servant can do4 ,achish said to ,david1 ,in that case ,i will make you the captain of my body-guard from this time on4 ,then the ,philistines gathered all their forces at ,aphek1 and the ,israelites camped at the fountain in ,jezreel4 ,when the rulers of the ,philistines were marching past1 by hundreds and by thousands1 and ,david and his men were marching in the rear with ,achish1 the commanders of the ,philistines said1 ,what are those ,hebrews doing here8 ,achish said to them1 ,is this not ,david1 the servant of ,saul the ruler of ,israel1 who has been with me these two years1 and ,i have found no fault in him from the time that he came to me to the present8 ,but the commanders of the ,philistines were displeased and said to him1 ,send the man back to the place where you had stationed him4 ,do not let him go down with us into battle1 lest we have a foe in the camp2 for how could this fellow better win back the favor of his master than with the heads of these men8 ,is not this the ,david of whom they sang to one another in the dances3 ',saul has slain his thousands1 ,and ,david his ten thousands8' ,then ,achish called ,david and said to him1 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives1 you are upright1 and your conduct toward me both in and out of the camp has been satisfactory1 for ,i have found nothing wrong in you from the time that you came to me to the present2 but you are not trusted by the other rulers4 ,go back home1 therefore1 in peace1 that you may do nothing to displease the rulers of the ,philistines4 ,david said to ,achish1 ,but what have ,i done8 ,what have you found in your servant from the day that ,i entered your service1 that ,i may not go out and fight the enemies of my lord the king8 ,achish answered1 ,i know that you are as faithful to me as an angel of ,god1 but the commanders of the ,philistines have said1 ',he shall not go with us into battle4' ,therefore1 you and those who came with you are to rise early in the morning1 and go to the place where ,i have stationed you4 ,do not plan any evil1 for ,i trust you1 but rise early in the morning and1 as soon as it is light1 depart4 ,so ,david and his men arose early in the morning to return to the ,philistine land1 but the ,philistines went up to ,jezreel4 ,on the third day1 when ,david and his men returned to ,ziklag1 the ,amalekites had made a raid on the ,south ,country and on ,ziklag1 and had attacked ,ziklag and burned it with fire1 and had also carried away captive all who were in it1 including the women and children4 ,they had not killed any but had carried them away with them4 ,then ,david and the people who were with him wept aloud until they were no longer able to weep4 ,david was in great trouble1 for the people spoke of stoning him1 because they all felt bitter1 having lost their sons and daughters3 but ,david took courage1 for he trusted in ,jehovah his ,god4 ,so ,david with his six hundred followers went on to the ,brook ,besor1 where those who were too tired to cross the brook stayed behind4 ,they found there an ,egyptian in the open field and brought him to ,david and gave him food to eat and water to drink4 ,then ,david said to him1 ,to whom do you belong1 and where do you come from8 ,he replied1 ,i am an ,egyptian lad1 an ,amalekite's servant1 and my master left me behind because three days ago ,i fell sick4 ,we marched into the ,south ,country of the ,cherethites and into that which belongs to ,judah and into the ,south ,country of ,caleb1 and ,ziklag we destroyed by fire4 ,david said to him1 ,will you guide me to this robber band8 ,he replied1 ,swear to me by your ,god1 that you will neither kill me nor turn me over to my master1 and ,i will guide you to this band4 ,when he had brought him down1 the ,amalekites were scattered over all the land1 eating and drinking and dancing1 because of all the great spoil that they had taken from the land of the ,philistines and from the land of ,judah4 ,david fought against them from twilight to the evening of the next day1 and only four hundred young men who were mounted on camels escaped4 ,so ,david took from the ,amalekites all that they had carried away and rescued his two wives2 nothing at all was missing4 ,then he took all the flocks and the herds and drove those animals before the people1 and they said1 ,this is ,david's spoil4 ,when ,david came to the two hundred men who had been so faint that they could not follow him1 all the wicked1 mean fellows who went with him said1 ,because these men did not go with us1 let us not give them any of the spoil that we have taken1 except that each man may take his wife and children and depart4 ,david answered1 ,my brothers1 you shall not do so with that which ,jehovah has given us1 after he has saved our lives and given this robber band that attacked us into our power4 ,those who stay with the baggage shall have an equal share with those who fight4 ,so from that day to the present he made this a law and a rule in ,israel4 ,when ,david came to ,ziklag1 he sent some of the spoil to the leaders of ,judah and to his relatives1 saying1 ,see6 a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of ,jehovah4 ,,the ,,death ,,of ,,two ,,brave ,,warriors ,samuel had died and all ,israel had mourned for him and had buried him in his own town ,ramah4 ,saul1 too1 had put the mediums and those who had messages from the spirits of the dead out of the land4 ,then the ,philistines came and camped in ,shunem1 and ,saul gathered all the ,israelites and camped in ,gilboa4 ,but when he saw the army of the ,philistines1 he was terrified and filled with fear4 ,so he asked of ,jehovah whether he should go against them1 but ,jehovah did not answer him either by dream or by lot or by the prophets4 ,then ,saul said to his servants1 ,find for me a woman who is a medium1 that ,i may go and ask through her4 ,his servants said to him1 ,there is such a woman at ,endor4 ,so ,saul did not let any one know who he was1 but put on other clothes and went1 taking two men with him4 ,and they came to the woman at night4 ,he said1 ,ask for me through some departed spirit and bring up for me the one for whom ,i shall ask4 ,the woman said to him1 ,you know what ,saul has done1 how he has driven from the land the mediums and those who have messages from the spirits of the dead4 ,why then are you trying to catch me1 to put me to death8 ,but ,saul swore to her by ,jehovah1 saying1 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives1 no punishment will come to you from this act4 ,then the woman said1 ,whom shall ,i bring up to you8 ,saul said1 ,bring up ,samuel4 ,when the woman saw ,samuel1 she screamed and said to ,saul1 ,why have you deceived me1 for you are ,saul8 ,saul replied1 ,do not be afraid6 ,what do you see8 ,the woman said to ,saul1 ,i see a god coming out of the earth4 ,saul asked1 ,what does he look like8 ,she said1 ,an old man is coming up1 and he is wrapped in a cloak4 ,then ,saul knew that it was ,samuel2 and he bowed with his face to the earth and worshipped4 ,samuel said to ,saul1 ,why have you disturbed me by bringing me up8 ,saul answered1 ,i am in great trouble1 for the ,philistines are making war against me1 and ,god has turned from me and answers me no more1 neither by prophets nor by dreams4 ,so ,i have called you to tell me what ,i shall do4 ,samuel said1 ,why do you ask of me when ,jehovah has turned from you and become your enemy8 ,he has taken the authority from your hand and given it to another1 even to ,david4 ,to-morrow you1 with your sons beside you1 shall fall1 and ,jehovah will deliver the army of ,israel into the power of the ,philistines4 ,then ,saul fell at full length upon the earth1 for the words of ,samuel filled him with fear1 so he had no strength left1 for he had not eaten any food all that day and night4 ,when the woman came to ,saul and saw that he was in great trouble1 she said to him1 ,see1 ,i have taken my life in my hand and have done what you asked me4 ,now therefore1 listen also to my advice and let me set before you a little food1 and eat that you may have strength to go on your way4 ,saul refused and said1 ,i will not eat2 but his servants1 as well as the woman1 urged him1 until he listened to their advice4 ,then he rose from the earth and sat upon the couch4 ,and the woman had a fat calf in the house which she quickly killed4 ,and she took flour and kneaded it and baked from it bread without yeast4 ,she set it before ,saul and his servants1 and they ate4 ,then they rose up and went away that night4 ,the ,philistines fought against ,israel1 but the ,israelites fled from them and fell dead on ,mount ,gilboa4 ,then the ,philistines closely followed ,saul and his sons2 and they killed ,jonathan and ,abinadab and ,malchishua1 the sons of ,saul4 ,so the battle went against ,saul1 and when the archers found out where he was1 he was severely wounded4 ,then ,saul said to his armor-bearer1 ,draw your sword and kill me with it1 so that these heathen ,philistines may not come and make sport of me4 ,but his armor-bearer would not1 for he was very much afraid4 ,saul1 therefore1 took his own sword and fell upon it4 ,when his armor-bearer saw that ,saul was dead1 he also fell upon his sword and died with him4 ,so ,saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer died on the same day4 ,when the ,israelites who were in the towns of the lowland and across the ,jordan saw that the ,israelites had fled and that ,saul and his sons were dead1 they left their towns and fled1 and the ,philistines came and took them4 ,on the next day1 the ,philistines came to rob the dead1 and found that ,saul and his three sons had fallen on ,mount ,gilboa4 ,they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers through all the land of the ,philistines to bring the good news to their idols and to the people4 ,and they put his armor in the temple of ,ashtarte and fastened his body on the wall of ,bethshan4 ,when the inhabitants of ,jabesh in ,gilead heard what the ,philistines had done to ,saul1 their brave men rose up and marched all night1 and they took the bodies of ,saul and his sons from the wall of ,bethshan and brought them to ,jabesh and mourned over them there4 ,then they took their bones and buried them under the oak-tree in ,jabesh and ate no food for seven days4 ,on the third day after ,david returned to ,ziklag1 after defeating the ,amalekites1 a man came from the camp of ,saul with his clothes torn and with earth upon his head4 ,when he came to ,david1 he fell on the ground before him4 ,david said to him1 ,where do you come from8 ,he answered1 ,i have escaped from the camp of ,israel4 ,david said to him1 ,how did the battle go8 ,tell me4 ,he answered1 ,the people fled from the battle-field1 and many of them fell1 and ,saul and ,jonathan his son are dead6 ,then ,david and all the men who were with him tore their clothes and mourned and wept and went without food until evening1 because ,saul and ,jonathan his son and the people of ,jehovah had fallen by the sword4 ,david then sang this dirge over ,saul and ,jonathan3 ,weep1 ,o ,judah6 ,grieve1 ,o ,israel6 ,on your heights are the slain6 ,how the mighty have fallen6 ,saul and ,jonathan1 beloved and lovely6 ,in life and in death they were never parted2 ,they were swifter than eagles1 ,they were stronger than lions4 ,o ,jonathan1 your death has mortally wounded me1 ,o ,jonathan1 my brother1 for you ,i am sorrowing4 ,you were ever a friend to me most dear1 ,your love meant far more than the love of women6 ,how the mighty have fallen1 ,and the weapons of war vanished6 ,a ,,shepherd ,,boy ,,who ,,was ,,called ,,to ,,lead ,a ,,nation ,after this ,david asked of ,jehovah1 ,shall ,i go up into one of the towns of ,judah8 ,jehovah answered1 ,go up4 ,when ,david asked1 ,to which shall ,i go8 he said1 ,to ,hebron4 ,so ,david went up with his two wives1 ,ahinoam and ,abigail4 ,and ,david brought the men who were with him1 each with his family1 and they lived in the towns about ,hebron4 ,then the men of ,judah came there and made ,david ruler over the people of ,judah4 ,when they told ,david about the men of ,jabesh in ,gilead who had buried ,saul1 ,david sent messengers to them and said1 ,may you be blessed by ,jehovah because you have shown this kindness to your master ,saul and have buried him4 ,even so may ,jehovah show kindness and faithfulness to you4 ,i also will repay you for this kind deed which you have done4 ,therefore be brave and courageous2 for ,saul your master is dead1 and the people of ,judah have made me ruler over them4 ,now ,abner1 the commander of ,saul's army1 had taken ,ishbaal the son of ,saul and brought him over to ,mahanaim and made him ruler over ,gilead and all ,israel4 ,but the people of ,judah remained loyal to ,david4 ,there was constant war between the followers of ,saul and those of ,david4 ,but ,david kept growing stronger while the followers of ,saul grew weaker4 ,then ,rechab and ,baanah1 the sons of ,rimmon1 went about midday to the palace of ,ishbaal1 as he was taking his rest at noon4 ,the doorkeeper of the palace was cleaning wheat1 but he grew drowsy and slept4 ,so ,rechab and ,baanah his brother slipped in and1 attacking ,ishbaal1 they killed him and cut off his head4 ,then all the tribes of ,israel came to ,david at ,hebron and said1 ,see1 we are your relatives4 ,when ,saul was ruler over us1 it was you who led the ,israelites1 and ,jehovah has said to you1 ',you shall be shepherd of my people ,israel1 and you shall become the leader of ,israel4' ,so all the leading men of ,israel came to ,david1 and he made an agreement with them in ,hebron in the presence of ,jehovah1 and they made ,david ruler over ,israel4 ,david was thirty years old when he began to rule and he ruled forty years4 ,when the ,philistines heard that they had made ,david ruler over ,israel1 all the ,philistines went up to search for ,david2 but when he heard of this he went down to the fortress4 ,three of ,david's thirty warriors went down to him to the top of the rock1 to the fortress of ,adullam1 while a force of the ,philistines was camped in the ,valley of ,rephaim4 ,david was at that time in the fortress1 and a company of the ,philistines was in ,bethlehem4 ,and ,david said1 longingly1 ,o that some one would bring me a drink of water from the well of ,bethlehem which is near the gate6 ,then the three famous warriors broke through the line of the ,philistines and drew water out of the well of ,bethlehem which was near the gate and brought it to ,david4 ,he would not drink of it1 however1 but poured it out as an offering to ,jehovah and said1 ,jehovah forbid that ,i should drink it4 ,this is the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives4 ,therefore he would not drink it4 ,when the ,philistines came and spread out over the ,valley of ,rephaim1 ,david asked of ,jehovah3 ,shall ,i go out against the ,philistines8 ,wilt thou give them into my hand8 ,jehovah said to ,david1 ,go2 for ,i will certainly give the ,philistines into your hand4 ,so ,david went to ,baal-perazim1 and defeated them there2 and he said1 ,jehovah has broken down my enemies before me1 like waters which break through their banks4 ,then the ,philistines came up again and spread out over the ,valley of ,rephaim4 ,when ,david asked of ,jehovah1 he said1 ,you shall not make a direct attack4 ,go around behind them and attack them opposite the balsam-trees4 ,when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsams1 act quickly1 for then ,jehovah will have gone out before you to overthrow the army of the ,philistines4 ,david did as ,jehovah commanded him and drove the ,philistines from ,gibeon as far as ,gezer4 ,,jerusalem ,,made ,,the ,,capital ,,city ,david and his men went to ,jerusalem against the ,jebusites1 the people of the land who had said to ,david1 ,you shall not come in here1 for the blind and the lame will turn you back1 for they thought1 ,david cannot come in here4 ,but ,david took the fortress of ,zion1 and lived there4 ,he also built a wall around it1 and called it the ,city of ,david4 ,david continued to grow more powerful1 for ,jehovah of hosts was with him4 ,and ,hiram1 king of ,tyre1 sent messengers to him1 and cedar-trees and carpenters and masons1 and they built a palace for him4 ,so ,david knew that ,jehovah had made him ruler over ,israel and his kingdom powerful for the sake of his people ,israel4 ,david again gathered all the chief men of ,israel1 thirty thousand in all1 and went with all the people to ,baal-,judah1 to bring up from there the ark of ,god4 ,they placed the ark of ,god upon a new cart and brought it out of the house of ,abinadab on the hill4 ,uzzah and ,ahio1 the sons of ,abinadab1 guided the cart4 ,uzzah went beside the ark of ,god1 while ,ahio went before it4 ,david and all the people of ,israel danced before ,jehovah with all their might to the music of harps and lyres and drums and castanets and cymbals4 ,when they came to the threshing-floor of ,nachon1 ,uzzah stretched out his hand to hold up the ark of ,god1 for the oxen stumbled4 ,then the anger of ,jehovah was aroused against ,uzzah and he struck him down there1 because he had stretched out his hand to the ark2 so he died there in the presence of ,god4 ,david was afraid of ,jehovah that day1 and said1 ,how can the ark of ,jehovah come to me8 ,so ,david was not willing to remove the ark of ,jehovah to the ,city of ,david1 but carried it aside to the house of ,obed-edom1 the ,gittite1 and it remained there three months4 ,but ,jehovah blessed ,obed-edom and all his family4 ,when the report came to ,david1 ,jehovah has blessed ,obed-edom and all his family because of the ark of ,god1 ,david joyfully brought up the ark from the house of ,obed-edom to the ,city of ,david4 ,when the bearers of the ark of ,jehovah had gone six paces1 ,david offered an ox and a fat animal as a sacrifice2 and he danced before ,jehovah with all his might1 and he had about his waist a priestly garment made of linen4 ,so ,david and all the house of ,israel brought up the ark of ,jehovah with shouting and the blare of trumpets4 ,when they had brought in the ark of ,jehovah and had set it in its place in the tent that ,david had built for it1 he offered burnt-offerings and sacrifices to ,jehovah4 ,when ,david had finished offering these sacrifices1 he blessed the people in the name of ,jehovah of hosts and gave to each of the many ,israelites who were there1 to both men and women1 a roll of bread1 a portion of meat1 and a cake of raisins4 ,then all the people went back to their homes4 ,this message also from ,jehovah came to ,nathan1 the prophet3 ,you shall say to my servant ,david3 ',jehovah of hosts declares1 ,i took you from the pasture from following the sheep to be chief over my people ,israel4 ,i have been with you wherever you went1 to destroy all your enemies before you1 and ,i will make you a name1 like that of the great in the earth4 ,when your life is ended and you are buried with your fathers1 ,i will raise up your son after you1 and ,i will make his rule strong4 ,i will be a father to him1 and he shall be my son4 ,when he goes astray ,i will gently correct him4 ,i will not withdraw my favor from him as ,i withdrew it from ,saul4 ,your house and your dominion shall always stand firm before me2 your authority shall stand forever4' ,,david',s ,,kindness ,,to ,,jonathan',s ,,son ,then ,david asked1 ,is any one left of the family of ,saul to whom ,i may show kindness for ,jonathan's sake8 ,and there was a servant of ,saul named ,ziba4 ,when they called him before ,david1 he said to him1 ,are you ,ziba8 ,he replied1 ,your servant4 ,david said1 ,is there any one else belonging to the family of ,saul to whom ,i may show kindness like that which ,god shows to us8 ,ziba answered1 ,a son of ,jonathan is still living1 but he is lame in his feet4 ,david inquired1 ,where is he8 ,ziba replied1 ,he is in the house of ,machir in ,lodebar4 ,then ,david sent and brought him from the house of ,machir2 and when ,meribaal the son of ,jonathan came to ,david1 he bowed down to the ground before him4 ,david said1 ,meribaal6 ,he answered1 ,here is your servant6 ,david said to him1 ,fear not1 for ,i will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father ,jonathan1 and ,i will give back to you all the land of your grandfather ,saul2 and you shall always eat at my table4 ,meribaal bowed down and said1 ,what is your servant that you should look favorably upon one as unworthy as ,i8 ,then ,david called to ,ziba1 ,saul's servant1 and said to him1 ,i have given to your master's son all that belongs to ,saul and to his family4 ,you with your sons and servants shall cultivate the land for him and harvest the fruits1 that your master's son may have food to eat2 but ,meribaal1 your master's son1 shall always eat at my table4 ,now ,ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants2 and he said to ,david1 ,your servant will do all that my lord commands4 ,so ,meribaal ate at ,david's table like one of his own sons4 ,meribaal also had a young son1 whose name was ,mica4 ,and all who lived in the house of ,ziba were ,meribaal's servants4 ,so ,meribaal lived in ,jerusalem1 and though he was lame in both feet1 he always ate at ,david's table4 ,a ,,rich ,,man ,,who ,,was ,a ,,thief ,one evening1 while ,joab was besieging ,rabbath ,ammon1 ,david rose from his bed and walked upon the roof of the royal palace4 ,from the roof he saw a woman bathing2 and she was very beautiful4 ,and ,david sent to ask about the woman2 and some one said1 ,is not this ,bathsheba1 the wife of ,uriah the ,hittite8 ,then ,david sent messengers to bring her2 and she came to him1 but later returned to her home4 ,then ,david wrote a letter to ,joab and sent it by ,uriah4 ,in the letter1 he said1 ,place ,uriah in the front line where there is the fiercest fighting1 then draw back from behind him1 that he may be struck down and die4 ,so ,joab1 in posting guards over the city1 sent ,uriah to the place where he knew there were brave men4 ,when the men of the city went out to fight against ,joab1 some of the soldiers of ,david fell1 and ,uriah the ,hittite was killed4 ,then ,joab sent to tell ,david all about the war1 and he gave this command to the messenger3 ,if1 after you have finished telling the ruler all about the war1 he is angry and says to you1 ',why did you go so near to the city to fight8 ,did you not know that they would shoot from the wall8 ,who struck down ,abimelech the son of ,jerubbaal8 ,did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall1 so that he died at ,thebez8 ,why did you go near the wall8' then say1 ',your servant ,uriah the ,hittite is dead also4' ,so the messenger of ,joab went to ,jerusalem and told ,david all that ,joab commanded him4 ,then ,david said to the messenger1 ,say to ,joab1 ',let not this thing trouble you1 for the sword takes one and then another4 ,go on fighting against the city and capture it1' and encourage him4 ,when ,bathsheba heard that ,uriah her husband was dead1 she mourned for him as was the custom4 ,when the mourning was over1 ,david sent for her1 and she became his wife and she had a son4 ,what ,david had done displeased ,jehovah and he sent the prophet ,nathan to ,david4 ,nathan went to him and said1 ,there were two men in one city1 the one rich and the other poor4 ,the rich man had many flocks and herds2 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb which he had bought4 ,he fed it1 and it grew up with him and with his children4 ,it used to eat of his own small supply of food and drink out of his own cup1 and it lay in his bosom and was like a daughter to him4 ,now a traveller came to the rich man2 and he spared his own flock and did not take an animal from it nor from his own herd to make ready for the traveller who had come to him1 but took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the guest who had come4 ,then ,david was very angry1 and he said to ,nathan1 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives1 the man who has done this deserves to die2 he shall repay seven times the value of the lamb1 because he showed no pity4 ,nathan said to ,david1 ,you are the man6 ,jehovah the ,god of ,israel declares3 ',i made you ruler over ,israel and ,i delivered you out of the hand of ,saul4 ,i gave you your master's house and your master's wives to be your own1 and ,i gave you the nations of ,israel and ,judah4 ,if that were too little1 ,i would add as much again4 ,why have you despised ,jehovah by doing that which is wrong in his sight8 ,you have struck down ,uriah the ,hittite with the sword1 and have taken his wife to be your wife1 and have killed him with the sword of the ,ammonites4 ,now1 therefore1 the sword shall never cease to smite your family1 because you have despised me and have taken the wife of ,uriah the ,hittite to be your wife4' ,david said to ,nathan1 ,i have sinned against ,jehovah6 ,then ,nathan said to ,david1 ,jehovah has also put away your sin so that you shall not die4 ,yet1 because by this deed you have shown contempt for ,jehovah1 the child that is born shall surely die4 ,then ,nathan went to his house4 ,and ,jehovah smote ,bathsheba's child so that it fell sick4 ,david prayed to ,god for the child1 and ate no food but went in and lay all night in sackcloth upon the earth4 ,the older men in his house stood over him to raise him up from the earth2 but he would not rise nor eat with them4 ,when on the seventh day the child died1 the servants of ,david were afraid to tell him that the child was dead1 for they said1 ,while the child was yet alive1 we spoke to him and he paid no attention to our voice4 ,how can we tell him that the child is dead1 for he will do some harm6 ,but when ,david saw that his servants were whispering together1 he knew that the child was dead1 and said to his servants1 ,is the child dead8 ,they replied1 ,he is dead4 ,then ,david rose from the earth1 washed and put oil on himself1 changed his clothes1 and went into the temple of ,jehovah and worshipped4 ,after that he went to his own house2 and he asked for bread1 and when they set it before him1 he ate4 ,his servants said to him1 ,what is this you have done8 ,you ate no food and cried for the child while it was alive1 but when the child died1 you rose and ate bread4 ,he replied1 ,while the child was yet alive1 ,i ate no food and cried aloud1 for ,i said1 ',who knows whether ,jehovah will have mercy1 so that the child will live8' ,but now that he is dead1 why should ,i eat no food8 ,can ,i bring him back8 ,i am going to him1 but he will not come back to me4 ,,absalom ,,the ,,ungrateful ,,son ,some time later ,absalom1 ,david's son1 prepared a chariot and horses and fifty men to run before him4 ,he used to rise early and stand beside the highway which led to the city gate4 ,he would call to him every man who had a suit that was to come before the ruler for judgment and say1 ,of what city are you8 ,when the man replied1 ,your servant is from one of the tribes of ,israel1 ,absalom would say to him1 ,your claims are good and right2 but the ruler has not appointed any one to hear you4 ,oh1 that some one would make me judge in the land1 so that every man who has any complaint or cause would come to me1 and ,i would see that he received justice6 ,and whenever a man came near to bow before him1 he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him4 ,in this way ,absalom treated all the ,israelites who came to ,david for justice4 ,thus1 ,absalom stole from ,david the hearts of the ,israelites4 ,at the end of four years1 ,absalom said to his father1 ,i should like to go and keep my promise1 which ,i have made to ,jehovah in ,hebron4 ,david said to him1 ,go in peace4 ,so he went to ,hebron2 but ,absalom sent messengers to all the tribes of ,israel to say1 ,as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet1 cry1 ',absalom has become ruler in ,hebron4' ,with ,absalom there went two hundred men from ,jerusalem1 who were invited and went innocently1 knowing nothing at all of what he was going to do4 ,absalom also sent for ,ahithophel1 ,david's adviser1 from the city of ,giloh1 while he was offering the sacrifices4 ,and the plot was strong1 for more and more people kept going over to ,absalom4 ,when a messenger came to ,david1 saying1 ,the hearts of the men of ,israel have gone over to ,absalom1 ,david said to all his servants who were with him at ,jerusalem1 ,up1 let us flee2 for1 if we do not1 none of us will escape from ,absalom4 ,go at once1 or he may quickly overtake us and bring evil upon us and kill the people of the city4 ,then ,david's servants said to him1 ,it shall be done as our lord wishes2 we are your servants4 ,so ,david and all the people who followed him went out and stood at the last house1 while all the officers and the royal body-guard and all the men of ,ittai the ,gittite1 the six hundred who had followed him from ,gath1 passed on before him4 ,then ,david said to ,ittai1 ,why do you also go with us8 ,go back and stay with the new ruler1 for you are a foreigner and away from your own land4 ,yesterday you came1 and to-day shall ,i make you go up and down the land with us1 while ,i go where ,i may8 ,go back and take your men with you1 and may ,jehovah show you kindness and faithfulness4 ,but ,ittai answered1 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives and as my lord the ruler of ,israel lives1 wherever my lord is1 whether dead or living1 there your servant will be6 ,david said to ,ittai1 ,march on4 ,so ,ittai marched on with all his men and with all the children who were with him4 ,all the people were weeping aloud while ,david stood in the ,kidron valley1 and they went by before him on the way to the wilderness4 ,and ,zadok and ,abiathar came carrying the ark of ,jehovah and set it down until all the people had passed4 ,then ,david said to ,zadok1 ,carry the ark of ,god back into the city4 ,if ,i win ,jehovah's favor1 he will bring me back and show me both it and the place where he dwells4 ,but if he declares1 ',i have no trust in you1 then here am ,i1 let him do to me as he thinks best4' ,so ,zadok and ,abiathar carried the ark of ,god back to ,jerusalem and stayed there4 ,but ,david went up1 weeping as he climbed the ,mount of ,olives with his head covered and his feet bare4 ,all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up1 weeping as they went4 ,and when ,david came to the summit1 where one worships ,god1 ,hushai the ,archite with his garment torn and earth upon his head1 came to meet him4 ,david said to him1 ,if you go on with me you will be a burden to me4 ,but if you go back to the city1 and say to ,absalom1 ',your brothers have gone away and your father has gone after them2 ,i will be your servant1 ,o king2 as ,i have been your father's servant in the past1 so now ,i will be your servant1' you can defeat for me the advice of ,ahithophel4 ,and have you not there with you ,zadok and ,abiathar the priests8 ,see1 they have there with them their two sons1 ,ahimaaz1 ,zadok's son1 and ,jonathan1 ,abiathar's son4 ,by them you shall send word to me of everything that you hear4 ,so ,hushai1 ,david's friend1 went into the city1 when ,absalom came to ,jerusalem4 ,then ,david and all the people who were with him1 reached the ,jordan tired out1 but he refreshed himself there4 ,and ,absalom1 with all the men of ,israel1 came to ,jerusalem1 and ,ahithophel was with him4 ,when ,hushai1 ,david's friend1 came to ,absalom1 ,hushai said to him1 ,may the king live1 may the king live6 ,but ,absalom said to ,hushai1 ,is this your love for your friend8 ,why did you not go with your friend8 ,hushai answered1 ,no6 to him whom ,jehovah and his people and all the men of ,israel have chosen1 to him will ,i belong and with him will ,i stay4 ,also whom should ,i serve8 ,should it not be his son8 ,as ,i have served your father1 so will ,i serve you4 ,the advice which ,ahithophel gave in those days was thought by ,david and ,absalom to be the same as if it had come from ,god himself4 ,and ,ahithophel said to ,absalom1 ,let me now pick out twelve thousand men1 and set out and follow ,david to-night4 ,thus ,i will come upon him when he is tired and weak and will frighten him1 and all the people who are with him will flee4 ,then ,i will kill only the king1 and ,i will bring back all the people to you as the bride turns to her husband4 ,seek only the life of one man1 and all the people will be at peace4 ,this advice pleased ,absalom and all the leaders of ,israel4 ,then ,absalom said1 ,call now ,hushai and let us hear also what he has to say4 ,when ,hushai came to ,absalom1 ,absalom said to him1 ,thus ,ahithophel has spoken2 shall we act as he advises8 ,if not1 you advise us4 ,then ,hushai said to ,absalom1 ,the advice that ,ahithophel has given this time is not good4 ,you know that your father and his men are mighty warriors and are now angry1 like a bear robbed of her cubs4 ,your father is also a soldier and will not stay at night with the people4 ,even now he has hidden himself in one of the caves or in some other place4 ,if some of the people fall at first1 whoever hears it will say1 ',there is a slaughter among the people who follow ,absalom4' ,then even he who is brave1 whose heart is like the heart of a lion1 will completely lose courage2 for all ,israel knows that your father is a great warrior1 and they who are with him are brave men4 ,but ,i advise1 let all the ,israelites be gathered to you1 from ,dan to ,beersheba1 as many as the sand that is by the sea1 with you yourself marching in the midst of them4 ,in this way we will come upon him in some place where he will be found1 and we will fall upon him as the dew falls on the ground2 and of him and of all the men who are with him not even one shall be left4 ,if he goes into a city1 then all ,israel will bring ropes to that city1 and we will pull it down into the valley1 until not even a small stone is found there4 ,absalom and all the men of ,israel said1 ,the advice of ,hushai is better than the advice of ,ahithophel4 ,for ,jehovah had planned to defeat the good advice of ,ahithophel1 so that ,jehovah might bring evil upon ,absalom4 ,then ,hushai said to ,zadok and to ,abiathar the priests1 ,this is what ,ahithophel advised ,absalom and the leaders of ,israel2 and this is what ,i advised4 ,so now send quickly and say to ,david1 ',do not spend this night at the fords of the wilderness1 but by all means cross over1 for fear that ,david and all the people with him be killed4' ,now ,jonathan and ,ahimaaz were staying at ,enrogel2 and a maid-servant was to go and bring them news1 and they were to go and tell ,david1 for they must not be seen coming into the city4 ,but a boy saw them and told ,absalom4 ,then they both went away quickly and entered into the house of a man in ,bahurim1 who had a well in his courtyard into which they descended4 ,the women took and spread the covering over the mouth of the well1 and scattered dried fruit upon it1 so that nothing was known4 ,and when ,absalom's servants came to the woman at the house and said1 ,where are ,ahimaaz and ,jonathan8 the woman answered1 ,they have gone over the brook4 ,when they had searched and could find nothing1 they returned to ,jerusalem4 ,but as soon as the men had gone away1 ,ahimaaz and ,jonathan came up out of the well1 and went and told ,david and said1 ,get up1 cross quickly over the water1 for so has ,ahithophel advised in regard to you4 ,then ,david and all the people who were with him rose and crossed the ,jordan4 ,by daybreak there was not one left behind4 ,a ,,broken-,,hearted ,,father ,after ,absalom and all the men of ,israel crossed the ,jordan1 ,david counted the troops who were with him1 and put over them commanders of thousands and of hundreds4 ,and he divided the troops into three divisions2 one was under the command of ,joab1 another under ,abishai1 and another under the command of ,ittai4 ,then ,david said to the people1 ,i too will surely go out with you4 ,but the people said1 ,you shall not go out2 for if we are defeated1 or if half of us die1 it will make no difference1 for you are equal to ten thousand of us4 ,it is therefore more important for you to be ready to help us from the city4 ,david said to them1 ,i will do what you think best6 ,so he stood beside the gate1 while all the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands4 ,david commanded ,joab and ,abishai and ,ittai1 ,deal gently for my sake with the young man1 with ,absalom6 ,all the people heard when he gave the commanders this order about ,absalom4 ,so the troops went out into the field against ,israel4 ,the battle was fought in the forest of ,ephraim4 ,and the soldiers of ,israel were defeated there by those who were loyal to ,david1 and the loss of life on that day was great--twenty thousand men4 ,the battle spread over the whole country2 and the dense thickets killed more people than were killed by the sword4 ,absalom happened to meet the soldiers of ,david while riding upon his mule1 and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak1 and ,absalom's head caught fast in the oak1 and he was hung between heaven and earth1 while the mule that was under him went on4 ,a certain man saw it and told ,joab1 ,i saw ,absalom hanging in an oak4 ,joab said to the man who told him1 ,you saw him6 ,why did you not strike him to the ground8 ,i would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt4 ,but the man said to ,joab1 ,if ,i were to feel the weight of a thousand pieces of silver in my hand1 ,i would not raise my hand against the ruler's son1 for in our hearing he commanded you and ,abishai and ,ittai1 ',take care of the young man ,absalom4' ,if ,i had treacherously taken his life1 nothing would have been hidden from the ruler of ,israel1 and you yourself would not have tried to save me4 ,joab answered1 ,i will not waste time with you4 ,so he took three spears in his hand and drove them into ,absalom's heart1 while he was still alive in the midst of the oak4 ,then ,joab said to a negro slave1 ,go1 tell the ruler of ,israel what you have seen4 ,and the negro bowed before ,joab and ran off4 ,now ,david was sitting between the two gates1 and when the negro came1 he said1 ,let my lord receive the good news2 ,jehovah has punished for you this day all those who rose up against you4' ,david said to the negro1 ,is it well with the young ,absalom8 ,the negro answered1 ,may the enemies of my lord and all who rebel against you to harm you be as that young man6 ,then ,david was very sad and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept4 ,as he wept he said1 ,my son ,absalom1 my son1 ,o my son ,absalom6 ,oh that ,i had died for you1 ,absalom1 my son1 my son6 ,and it was reported to ,joab1 ,the ruler of ,israel is weeping and mourning for ,absalom4 ,so for all the people the victory that day was turned to mourning1 because they heard that ,david was mourning for his son4 ,therefore1 the people stole away into the city1 as people who are ashamed steal away when they have run away in battle4 ,but ,david covered his face and cried aloud1 ,my son ,absalom1 ,absalom1 my son1 my son6 ,,how ,,solomon ,,became ,,the ,,ruler ,,of ,,israel ,now when ,david was old1 ,adonijah thought1 ,i will be ruler of ,israel4 ,so he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run before him4 ,his father1 ,david1 had never in his life troubled him by saying1 ,why have you done thus and so8 ,adonijah was very good-looking and was the next younger son after ,absalom4 ,he also had made an agreement with ,joab and with ,abiathar the priest to help him4 ,but ,zadok the priest and ,benaiah and ,nathan the prophet1 as well as ,shimei and ,rei and ,david's famous warriors1 were not on his side4 ,adonijah held a feast and killed for it sheep1 oxen1 and fat beasts by the ,serpent's ,stone1 which is beside the ,fuller's ,spring2 and he invited to the feast all his brothers and all the royal officials of ,judah2 but he did not invite the prophet ,nathan nor ,benaiah nor the famous warriors nor his brother ,solomon4 ,then ,nathan said to ,bathsheba the mother of ,solomon1 ,have you not heard that ,adonijah has been made ruler without ,david our lord knowing it8 ,now1 therefore1 let me advise you that you may save your own life and the life of your son ,solomon4 ,go at once to ,david and say to him1 ',did you not1 my lord1 solemnly promise your servant that ,solomon your son should rule after you8 ,why then has ,adonijah been made ruler8' ,while you are still talking with him1 ,i will come in and repeat your words4 ,so ,bathsheba went into ,david's room2 he was very old1 and ,abishag the ,shunamite was caring for him4 ,when ,david said1 ,what do you wish8 she said to him1 ,my lord1 you solemnly promised your servant by ,jehovah3 ',solomon your son shall rule after me4' ,but now ,adonijah has been made ruler without your knowledge1 my lord6 ,now1 my lord1 all the ,israelites are looking to you1 to tell them who shall rule after you4 ,if you do not tell them1 then1 when my lord dies1 ,i and my son ,solomon will be treated as criminals4 ,while she was still talking with ,david1 ,nathan the prophet came in4 ,and they told ,david1 ,nathan the prophet is here4 ,so he came in and bowed before ,david with his face to the ground4 ,then ,nathan said1 ,my lord1 have you said1 ',adonijah shall rule after me8' ,for he has gone down this day and killed many oxen and fat beasts and sheep and has invited all your sons and the commanders of the army and ,abiathar the priest2 and there they are eating and drinking before him and saying1 ',may the new ruler ,adonijah live6' ,but he has not invited me1 even me your servant1 nor ,zadok1 the priest1 nor ,benaiah nor your servant ,solomon4 ,if you have done this1 my lord1 you have failed to show your servants who is to rule after my lord4 ,david answered1 ,call ,bathsheba to me4 ,so she came in and stood before him4 ,then ,david made this solemn promise2 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives1 who has delivered me from all trouble1 as ,i have solemnly promised to you by ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,israel1 saying1 ',solomon your son shall rule after me'2 so ,i will certainly do to-day4 ,then ,bathsheba bowed her face to the earth and said1 ,may my lord live forever4 ,then ,david said1 ,call to me ,zadok the priest1 ,nathan the prophet1 and ,benaiah the son of ,jehoiada4 ,when they came before him1 he said to them1 ,take with you the servants of your lord4 ,let ,solomon my son ride upon my own mule1 bring him down to ,gihon1 and there let ,zadok the priest and ,nathan the prophet make him ruler over ,israel and blow the trumpet and say1 ',may ,solomon the ruler live6' ,then you shall go up after him1 and he shall go in and sit upon my throne1 for he shall rule after me2 and ,i have appointed him to be chief over ,israel and ,judah4 ,benaiah answered ,david1 ,so may it be6 ,may ,jehovah confirm the words of my lord4 ,as ,jehovah has been with my lord1 even so may he be with ,solomon1 and may he make his throne greater than the throne of my lord ,david6 ,then ,zadok1 ,nathan1 and ,benaiah together with the ,philistine body-guards1 went down and put ,solomon on ,david's mule and brought him to ,gihon4 ,zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the tent and poured oil on ,solomon's head1 and they blew the trumpet1 and all the people said1 ,may ,solomon live6 ,then all the people followed him and the people played on flutes and rejoiced so loudly that the earth seemed to be shaken by the sound that they made4 ,adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it just as they had finished eating4 ,and they were terrified and each rose up and went away4 ,but ,adonijah in his fear of ,solomon went and caught hold of the horns of the altar4 ,when it was reported to ,solomon1 ,see1 ,adonijah fears ,solomon the ruler1 for he has caught hold of the horns of the altar and says1 ',let ,solomon solemnly promise me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword1' ,solomon said1 ,if he shall show himself a worthy man1 not one of his hairs shall be touched1 but if he is found guilty of disloyalty1 he shall die4 ,so ,solomon had him brought from the altar4 ,and he came and bowed before ,solomon the ruler4 ,and ,solomon said to him1 ,go to your home4 ,then ,david died and was buried in the ,city of ,david1 after having ruled over ,israel forty years4 ,a ,,young ,,man',s ,,wise ,,choice ,solomon went to ,gibeon to offer a sacrifice there1 for that was the great high place4 ,he offered upon that altar a thousand animals as a burnt-offering4 ,in ,gibeon ,jehovah appeared to ,solomon in a dream by night and said1 ,ask what ,i shall give you4 ,solomon said1 ,thou hast showed to thy servant ,david my father great kindness4 ,now1 ,o ,jehovah my ,god1 thou hast made thy servant ruler in the place of ,david my father1 although ,i am but a child who does not know how to go out or come in4 ,give thy servant1 therefore1 an understanding mind to rule thy people1 that ,i may see clearly what is good and what is evil2 for who is able to rule this thy great people8 ,jehovah was pleased that ,solomon had asked this2 and ,god said to him1 ,because you have asked this and have not asked for yourself long life nor riches nor the life of your enemies1 but have asked for yourself understanding to see clearly what is just1 ,i have now granted what you ask2 ,i have given you a wise and understanding mind4 ,i have also given you that which you have not asked1 both riches and honor4 ,when ,solomon awoke1 he found that it was a dream2 and he returned to ,jerusalem4 ,once two women came to ,solomon and stood before him4 ,the one woman said1 ,oh1 my lord1 this woman and ,i live in the same house4 ,while with her in the house ,i had a child4 ,three days later this woman also had a child1 and we were alone by ourselves in the house4 ,while we two were alone this woman's child died in the night1 because she lay upon it4 ,then she rose at midnight and took my son from beside me1 while your servant slept1 and laid it on her breast and laid her dead child on mine4 ,when ,i rose at dawn to nurse my child1 there it was dead2 but when ,i looked at it closely in the morning1 ,i found that it was not my son4 ,then the other woman said1 ,no2 the living is my son1 and the dead child is your son4 ,so they quarrelled before ,solomon4 ,then ,solomon said1 ,one says1 ',this one who is alive is my son1 and your son is dead4' ,but the other says1 ',no2 your son is dead1 and my son is the one that is alive4' ,bring me a sword4 ,so they brought him a sword4 ,then he said1 ,divide the living child in two and give half to the one and half to the other4 ,at that the woman to whom the living child belonged spoke to ,solomon--for she loved her son with all her heart--and said1 ,oh1 my lord1 give her the living child and on no account put it to death4 ,but the other said1 ,it shall be neither mine nor yours6 ,divide it6 ,then ,solomon said1 ,give the first woman the living child1 and on no account put it to death2 she is its mother4 ,when all ,israel heard of the decision which ,solomon had given1 they had great respect for him1 for they saw that he had divine wisdom to decide questions justly4 ,,building ,a ,,great ,,temple ,in the fourth year of ,solomon's rule over ,israel he built the temple of ,jehovah4 ,the temple was ninety feet long1 thirty feet wide1 and forty-five feet high4 ,the porch before the large room of the temple was thirty feet wide and fifteen feet deep4 ,solomon made windows for the temple with casings1 broad on the inside and narrow on the outside4 ,the temple was built with stone which had been made ready at the quarry2 neither hammer nor chisel nor any iron tool was heard while the temple was building4 ,against the wall of the temple on the outside ,solomon built wings1 both around the larger room and the inner room1 and made side-chambers around the temple4 ,the entrance to the lower side-chambers was on the south side of the temple4 ,winding stairs led to the second floor1 and from the second to the third4 ,solomon built the wings against the sides of the temple1 each seven and a half feet high2 and they were joined to the temple with timbers of cedar4 ,he covered the walls of the temple on the inside with boards of cedar from the floor of the temple to the rafters3 and he covered the floor of the temple with boards of cypress4 ,he also made a room thirty feet square in the back part of the temple with boards of cedar reaching from the floor to the rafters4 ,he built it as an inner room1 even as the most holy place4 ,the temple1 that is the large room in front of the inner room1 was sixty feet long4 ,and there was cedar inside the temple with carving in the form of gourds and open flowers4 ,all was cedar1 no stone was seen4 ,solomon prepared the inner room as a place for the ark4 ,in the inner room ,solomon made two winged bulls of olive wood4 ,the height of each was fifteen feet4 ,each of their wings measured seven and a half feet across1 fifteen feet from the end of one wing to the end of the other4 ,he set these up in the inner room of the temple2 and their wings were stretched out so that the wing of the one touched the one wall1 while the wing of the other touched the other wall1 and their wings touched each other in the middle of the temple2 and he covered them with gold4 ,then ,solomon gathered in ,jerusalem the leaders of ,israel to bring up the ark of ,jehovah out of ,zion1 the ,city of ,david1 at the time of the autumn festival in ,september4 ,when all the leaders of ,israel had come1 the priests took up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the sacred vessels that were in the tent4 ,so the priests brought in the ark of ,jehovah to its place in the inner room of the temple under the wings of the winged bulls4 ,there was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone which ,moses put there at ,horeb4 ,and when the priests came out from the inner room1 the cloud filled the temple of ,jehovah1 so that the priests could not stand and perform their service on account of the cloud1 for the glory of ,jehovah filled his temple4 ,then ,solomon said3 ,jehovah has set the sun in the heavens1 ,but has said that he will dwell in thick darkness4 ,so ,i have built thee a temple as a lofty dwelling1 ,a place for thee to abide in forever4 ,as ,solomon stood before the altar of ,jehovah in the presence of all the assembly of ,israel1 he spread out his hands toward heaven and said1 ,o ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,israel1 there is no ,god like thee in heaven above or on earth beneath1 who keepest thy solemn agreement and showest kindness to thy servants who serve thee whole-heartedly1 who hast kept with thy servant ,david my father the promise that thou didst make to him4 ,but will ,god actually dwell on earth8 ,indeed heaven and the highest heaven cannot hold thee2 how much less this temple that ,i have built6 ,a ,,ruler ,,who ,,wronged ,,his ,,people ,solomon was building his palace thirteen years before he finished it4 ,he also built the throne-hall where he judged the people4 ,this room was the ,hall of ,judgment2 and it was covered with cedar from floor to ceiling4 ,his palace where he lived1 in another court farther in from the ,hall of ,judgment1 was of the same workmanship4 ,he made a palace1 too1 similar to this hall1 for ,pharaoh's daughter whom he had married4 ,all these buildings were of costly stones1 hewn according to measurements1 sawed with saws1 both on the inside and outside4 ,solomon also gathered together chariots and horsemen2 he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he placed in the chariot cities and with him at ,jerusalem4 ,and ,solomon had twelve officers over all ,israel who provided food for him and for his household3 each man had to provide food for a month in the year4 ,when the queen of ,sheba heard of the fame of ,solomon1 she came to test him with puzzling questions4 ,so she came to ,jerusalem with a very large number of servants1 with camels that carried spices and a great amount of gold and precious stones4 ,as soon as she came to ,solomon1 she told him all that was in her mind4 ,and ,solomon answered all her questions3 nothing was too difficult for him to answer4 ,when the queen of ,sheba had seen all the wisdom of ,solomon1 the palace that he had built1 the food on his table1 the housing of his officers1 the way his waiters served him1 their clothing1 his cup-bearers1 and the burnt-offering which he offered at the temple of ,jehovah1 she was greatly surprised4 ,she said to ,solomon1 ,what ,i heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom was true4 ,but ,i would not believe the words until ,i came and saw with my own eyes2 but as it is1 the half was not told me2 your wisdom and prosperity are even greater than what was reported to me4 ,now ,solomon loved women2 and he married many foreign wives--,moabites1 ,canaanites1 ,edomites1 ,sidonians1 ,hittites1 and ,ammonites4 ,he had seven hundred wives of princely birth1 and three hundred concubines4 ,when ,solomon was old1 his wives influenced him to worship other gods1 and he was not loyal to ,jehovah his ,god4 ,solomon built a place of worship for ,chemosh1 the god of ,moab1 on the hill that is opposite ,jerusalem1 and for ,milcom1 the god of the ,ammonites4 ,he did the same for all his foreign wives1 burning incense and offering sacrifices to their gods4 ,then ,god raised up as a foe against him ,rezon1 the son of ,eliada1 who had fled from his master1 ,hadadezer1 king of ,zobah4 ,he gathered men about him and became commander of a robber band1 and he went to ,damascus and lived and reigned there4 ,he was a foe to ,israel as long as ,solomon lived4 ,jeroboam1 the son of ,nebat1 was a man of great ability4 ,when ,solomon saw that the young man was industrious1 he placed him over all the men of the tribe of ,joseph who were working for the ruler4 ,once upon a time1 when ,jeroboam went away from ,jerusalem1 the prophet ,ahijah of ,shiloh met him on the way and took him aside4 ,now ,ahijah had put on a new garment1 and while they two were alone in the field1 ,ahijah took hold of the new garment he had on and tore it in twelve pieces4 ,then he said to ,jeroboam1 ,take for yourself ten pieces2 for ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,israel1 declares1 ',i will tear the kingdom out of the hand of ,solomon and will give ten tribes to you1 but he shall have only one tribe4' ,so ,jeroboam also rebelled against ,solomon4 ,solomon1 therefore1 wanted to kill ,jeroboam4 ,but ,jeroboam arose and fled to ,egypt1 and he was in ,egypt until the death of ,solomon4 ,,rehoboam',s ,,great ,,mistake ,when ,solomon died1 ,rehoboam his son ruled after him4 ,as soon as ,jeroboam1 who was still in ,egypt1 heard that ,solomon had died1 he returned at once to his home town1 ,zeredah in ,mount ,ephraim4 ,rehoboam went to ,shechem1 for all the ,israelites had come to ,shechem to make him ruler4 ,but they said to ,rehoboam1 ,your father laid a heavy yoke upon us4 ,now make the hard service of your father and the heavy yoke that he laid upon us lighter1 and we will serve you4 ,he said to them1 ,go away for three days2 then come again to me4 ,so the people went away4 ,then ,rehoboam asked advice from the old men who had been in the service of ,solomon his father during his lifetime and inquired1 ,what answer do you advise me to give this people8 ,they said to him1 ,if now you will serve this people and give them a favorable answer1 then they will be your servants forever4 ,but he rejected the advice which the old men had given him and asked the young men who had grown up with him and had been in his service4 ,and he said to them1 ,what answer do you advise that we give to this people who have said to me1 ',make the yoke that your father laid upon us lighter'8 ,the young men who had grown up with him said to him1 ,make this answer to them3 ',my little finger is thicker than my father's loins6 ,while my father loaded you with a heavy yoke1 ,i will make your yoke heavier2 my father punished you with whips1 but ,i will punish you with scourges4' ,so when all the people came to ,rehoboam the third day1 as he had directed1 he answered the people harshly and did not follow the advice which the old men had given him1 but spoke to them as the young men had advised1 saying1 ,my father made your yoke heavy1 but ,i will make your yoke still heavier2 my father punished you with whips1 but ,i will punish you with scourges4 ,so ,rehoboam paid no attention to the demand of the people4 ,when all ,israel saw that he paid no attention to their demand they gave him this answer3 ,what interest have we in ,david8 ,we have nothing in common with the son of ,jesse6 ,to your tents1 ,o ,israel6 ,now look out for your house1 ,o ,david6 ,so the ,israelites went to their homes4 ,then ,rehoboam sent to them ,adoniram1 who was over the men who did forced labor4 ,but when all the ,israelites stoned him to death1 ,rehoboam quickly mounted his chariot and fled to ,jerusalem4 ,so ,israel has refused to obey the house of ,david to the present day4 ,as soon as all ,israel heard that ,jeroboam had returned1 they sent and called him to the assembly of the people and made him ruler over all ,israel4 ,none remained loyal to the house of ,david except the tribe of ,judah4 ,,elijah ,,and ,,the ,,widow',s ,,son ,when ,asa had been ruler of ,judah for thirty-one years ,omri became ruler over ,israel1 and he ruled twelve years4 ,he bought the hill ,samaria from ,shemer for two talents of silver2 and he built a city on the hill and named it ,samaria1 after ,shemer1 the owner of the hill4 ,when ,omri died1 ,ahab his son ruled in his place4 ,but ,ahab displeased ,jehovah more than all the kings who had ruled before him4 ,he married ,jezebel1 the daughter of ,ethbaal1 king of the ,sidonians1 and then began to worship the ,phoenician god ,baal4 ,he also built an altar for ,baal in the temple of ,baal1 which he built in ,samaria4 ,then ,elijah from ,tishbe in ,gilead said to ,ahab1 ,as surely as ,jehovah the ,god of ,israel lives1 whom ,i serve1 there shall be no dew nor rain for years except as ,i announce it4 ,then this message from ,jehovah came to ,elijah3 ,go from here and hide yourself near the ,brook ,cherith that is east of the ,jordan4 ,you shall drink from the brook1 and ,i have commanded the ravens to feed you there4 ,so he obeyed the command of ,jehovah and lived near the ,brook ,cherith4 ,the ravens brought him bread every morning and meat every evening1 and he drank from the brook4 ,but after a while the brook dried up1 for there had been no rain in the land4 ,then this message from ,jehovah came to him1 ,arise1 go to ,zarephath which belongs to ,sidon1 and live there4 ,i have commanded a widow there to provide for you4 ,so he went to ,zarephath4 ,when he came to the gate of the city1 a widow was there gathering sticks4 ,calling to her1 he said1 ,bring me1 ,i beg of you1 a little water in a vessel1 that ,i may drink4 ,as she was going to get it1 he called after her1 ,bring also a bit of bread with you4 ,she replied1 ,as surely as ,jehovah your ,god lives1 ,i have nothing baked1 and only one handful of meal in the jar and a little oil in the jug4 ,now ,i am gathering a few sticks1 that ,i may go in and prepare it for myself and my son1 that we may eat it and die4 ,elijah said to her1 ,fear not2 go and do as you have said1 but first bake for me a little dough and bring it to me4 ,afterward make some for yourself and your son4 ,for ,jehovah the ,god of ,israel declares3 ',the jar of meal shall not be empty1 nor the jug of oil fail1 until ,jehovah sends rain upon the earth4' ,so she did as ,elijah directed2 and she and her child1 as well as ,elijah1 had food to eat4 ,from that day the jar of meal was never empty and the jug of oil did not fail1 as ,jehovah had said through ,elijah4 ,now after this the woman's son fell sick2 and his sickness was so severe that he stopped breathing4 ,so she said to ,elijah1 ,what have ,i to do with you1 ,o man of ,god8 ,you have come to me to remind me of my sin by taking the life of my son6 ,he said to her1 ,give me your son4 ,so he took him out of her arms and carried him up into the upper room where he was staying and laid him on his own bed4 ,then he prayed earnestly to ,jehovah and said1 ,o ,jehovah1 my ,god1 hast thou also brought misfortune upon this widow1 with whom ,i am staying1 by taking the life of her son8 ,and he stretched himself upon the child three times and prayed to ,jehovah and said1 ,o ,jehovah1 my ,god1 ,i pray thee1 give back this child's life to him again4 ,so ,jehovah listened to ,elijah's prayer2 and the life of the child came back to him1 and he sat up4 ,then ,elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house and gave him to his mother2 and said1 ,see1 your son lives6 ,the woman said to him1 ,now ,i know that you are a man of ,god and that the message of ,jehovah that you speak is true4 ,,the ,,prophet ,,of ,,fire ,in the third year of the famine this command came from ,jehovah to ,elijah3 ,go1 show yourself to ,ahab2 and ,i will send rain upon the earth4 ,so ,elijah went to show himself to ,ahab4 ,the famine was so severe in ,samaria that ,ahab had called ,obadiah1 the overseer of the palace4 ,obadiah was very loyal to ,jehovah2 for when ,jezebel tried to kill the prophets of ,jehovah1 he took a hundred and hid them in a cave and kept them supplied with bread and water4 ,ahab said to ,obadiah1 ,come1 let us go through the land to all the springs and to all the brooks1 in the hope that we may find grass1 so that we can save the horses and mules and not lose all of them4 ,so they divided the land between them1 ,ahab going in one direction and ,obadiah in another4 ,while ,obadiah was on the way1 ,elijah suddenly met him4 ,as soon as ,obadiah knew him1 he fell on his face and said1 ,is it you1 my lord ,elijah8 ,he answered1 ,it is2 go1 tell your master3 ',elijah is here4' ,but ,obadiah said1 ,what sin have ,i done1 that you would give your servant over to ,ahab to kill me8 ,as surely as ,jehovah your ,god lives1 there is no nation nor kingdom where my lord has not sent to find you2 and when they said1 ',he is not here1' he made each of the kingdoms and nations take an oath1 that no one had found you4 ,now you say1 ',go1 tell your lord1 ,elijah is here6' ,as soon as ,i have left you the spirit of ,jehovah will carry you to a place unknown to me1 so that when ,i come and tell ,ahab and he cannot find you1 he will put me to death1 although ,i1 your servant1 have been loyal to ,jehovah from my youth6 ,have you not been told what ,i did when ,jezebel killed the prophets of ,jehovah1 how ,i hid a hundred by fifties in a cave and fed them continually with bread and water8 ,elijah answered1 ,as surely as ,jehovah of hosts lives1 before whom ,i stand1 ,i will show myself to ,ahab to-day4 ,so ,obadiah went to ,ahab and told him2 and ,ahab went to meet ,elijah4 ,as soon as ,ahab saw ,elijah1 he said to him1 ,is it you1 you who have brought trouble to ,israel8 ,he answered1 ,i have not brought trouble on ,israel1 but you and your father's house have2 because you have failed to follow the commands of ,jehovah and have run after the ,phoenician gods4 ,now therefore call together to me at ,mount ,carmel all the ,israelites and the four hundred and fifty prophets of the god ,baal who eat at ,jezebel's table4 ,so ,ahab sent for all the ,israelites and gathered the prophets together at ,mount ,carmel4 ,then ,elijah came to the people and said1 ,how long are you going to falter between worshipping ,jehovah or ,baal8 ,if ,jehovah is the true ,god1 follow him1 but if ,baal1 then follow him4 ,but the people were silent4 ,then ,elijah said to the people1 ,i1 even ,i only1 am left as a prophet of ,jehovah1 but there are four hundred and fifty prophets of ,baal4 ,let us take two oxen2 let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood1 without lighting any fire1 and ,i will dress the other ox and lay it on wood1 without lighting any fire4 ,then you call on your god and ,i will call on ,jehovah4 ,the god who answers by fire is the true ,god4 ,all the people answered and said1 ,it is a fair offer4 ,then ,elijah said to the prophets of ,baal1 ,choose one of the oxen for yourselves and dress it first1 for you are many1 and call on your god1 without lighting any fire4 ,so they took the ox which he gave them and dressed it1 and called on their god from morning until noon1 saying1 ,o ,baal1 hear us4 ,but there was no voice nor answer1 although they leaped about the altar which they had built4 ,when it was noon1 ,elijah mocked them1 saying1 ,call loudly1 for he is a god2 either he is thinking1 or he has gone out1 or he is on a journey1 or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened6 ,then they called loudly and cut themselves1 as was their custom1 with swords and lances until the blood gushed out upon them4 ,when noon was past1 they cried out in frenzy until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice2 but there was neither voice nor answer nor was any attention paid to their cry4 ,then ,elijah said to all the people1 ,come near to me4 ,and all the people drew near to him1 and he rebuilt the altar of ,jehovah which had been thrown down4 ,then around the altar he made a ditch that would hold about two bushels of seed4 ,when he had placed the pieces of wood in order1 he cut up the ox and laid it on the wood4 ,then he said1 ,fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt-offering and on the pieces of wood4 ,and he said1 ,do it the second time2 and they did it the second time4 ,he said1 ,do it the third time2 and they did it the third time1 so that the water ran round the altar4 ,and he also filled the ditch with water4 ,when it was time to offer the evening sacrifice1 ,elijah the prophet came near and said1 ,o ,jehovah1 ,god of ,abraham1 of ,isaac1 and of ,israel1 let it be known this day that thou art ,god in ,israel1 that ,i am thy servant1 and that ,i have done all these things at thy command4 ,hear me1 ,o ,jehovah1 hear me1 that this people may know that thou1 ,jehovah1 art ,god1 and that thou mayst win their hearts4 ,then the fire of ,jehovah fell and burned up the burnt-offering and the wood1 the stones and the dust1 and licked up the water that was in the trench4 ,when all the people saw it1 they fell on their faces and cried1 ,jehovah1 he is ,god2 ,jehovah1 he is ,god4 ,but ,elijah commanded them1 ,take the prophets of ,baal2 do not let one of them escape6 ,so they took them down to the ,brook ,kishon and there put them to death4 ,then ,elijah said to ,ahab1 ,go1 eat and drink2 for there are signs of a heavy rain4 ,so ,ahab went to eat and drink4 ,but ,elijah went up to the top of ,carmel and crouched down upon the earth1 with his face between his knees4 ,and he said to his servant1 ,go up now1 look toward the sea4 ,so he went up and looked and said1 ,there is nothing4 ,but seven times he said1 ,go again4 ,so the servant went back seven times1 but the seventh time he said1 ,there is a cloud as small as a man's hand rising out of the sea4 ,then ,elijah said1 ,go1 say to ,ahab1 ',make ready your chariot2 go down1 that the rain may not stop you4' ,in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind1 and there was a heavy rain4 ,and as ,ahab rode toward ,jezreel1 ,elijah was given divine strength1 so that he tightened his belt and ran before ,ahab to the entrance to ,jezreel4 ,,god',s ,,low ,,whisper ,now when ,ahab told ,jezebel that ,elijah had put the prophets to death with the sword1 she sent a messenger to ,elijah1 saying1 ,as surely as you are ,elijah and ,i am ,jezebel1 may the gods do to me what they will and more too1 if ,i do not make your life as the life of one of those prophets by to-morrow about this time4 ,then he was afraid and fled for his life4 ,and he came to ,beersheba1 which belongs to ,judah1 and left his servant there4 ,but he went on a day's journey into the wilderness and sat down under a desert tree1 and he asked that he might die1 saying1 ,it is enough2 now1 ,o ,jehovah1 take my life1 for ,i am no better than my fathers4 ,then he lay down and slept under the desert tree1 but an angel touched him and said to him1 ,rise1 eat6 ,when he looked1 he saw there at his head a loaf1 baked on hot stones1 and a jar of water4 ,so he ate and drank and lay down again4 ,but the angel of ,jehovah came again the second time and touched him and said1 ,rise1 eat1 or else the journey will be too long for you4 ,so he rose and ate and drank and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to ,horeb the mountain of ,god4 ,then ,jehovah passed by1 and a very violent wind tore the mountain apart and broke the rocks in pieces before ,jehovah2 but ,jehovah was not in the wind4 ,and after the wind an earthquake2 but ,jehovah was not in the earthquake4 ,and after the earthquake a fire2 but ,jehovah was not in the fire4 ,after the fire there was the sound of a low whisper4 ,as soon as ,elijah heard it1 he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave4 ,then he heard a voice saying1 ,what are you doing here1 ,elijah8 ,he replied1 ,i have been very jealous for ,jehovah the ,god of hosts1 for the ,israelites have forsaken thee1 thrown down thine altars1 and slain thy prophets with the sword1 and ,i only am left2 and they seek to take my life4 ,then ,jehovah said to him1 ,on your way back go to the wilderness of ,damascus1 and when you arrive there1 anoint ,hazael to rule over ,aram1 ,jehu1 the son of ,nimshi1 to rule over ,israel1 and ,elisha1 the son of ,shaphat1 to be prophet in your place4 ,then every one who escapes the sword of ,hazael1 ,jehu shall put to death2 and every one who escapes the sword of ,jehu1 ,elisha shall put to death4 ,yet ,i will spare seven thousand in ,israel--all who have not worshipped ,baal and kissed his image4 ,after he had left1 ,elijah found ,elisha the son of ,shaphat1 as he was ploughing with twelve pairs of oxen4 ,when ,elijah went up to him and threw his mantle upon him1 he left the oxen and ran after ,elijah and said1 ,let me kiss my father and my mother1 and then ,i will follow you4 ,elijah said to him1 ,go back1 for what have ,i done to you8 ,so ,elisha turned back and took one pair of oxen and offered them as a sacrifice and1 using the wooden ploughs and yokes as fuel1 boiled their flesh1 and gave it to the people to eat4 ,then he arose and followed ,elijah and served him4 ,,ahab ,,the ,,thief ,now ,naboth1 the ,jezreelite1 had a vineyard in ,jezreel next to the palace of ,ahab1 who ruled at ,samaria4 ,so ,ahab said to ,naboth1 ,give me your vineyard1 that ,i may have it as a vegetable-garden1 for it is near my palace2 and ,i will give you a better vineyard for it2 or1 if it is more pleasing to you1 ,i will pay you its value in money4 ,but ,naboth answered ,ahab1 ,may ,jehovah save me from the crime of giving you what has come down to me from my fathers6 ,so ,ahab went into his house sullen and in bad humor because of what ,naboth had said to him4 ,and he lay down on his bed and covered his face and would eat no food4 ,but ,jezebel his wife came to him and said1 ,why are you in such bad humor that you will not eat8 ,he replied1 ,because ,i made this offer to ,naboth1 ',give me your vineyard for its value in money1 or else1 if it is more pleasing to you1 ,i will give you another vineyard for it4' ,but he answered1 ',i will not give you my vineyard4' ,then ,jezebel his wife said to him1 ,are you not the one who now rules in ,israel8 ,rise1 eat1 and set your mind at rest4 ,i will give you the vineyard of ,naboth4 ,so she wrote letters in ,ahab's name and sealed them with his seal and sent the letters to the leaders and officials who lived in ,naboth's city4 ,in the letters she wrote1 ,proclaim a fast and put ,naboth in front of the people4 ,then set up two base men before him and let them bring this charge against him3 ',you cursed ,god and the ruler of ,israel4' ,then carry him out and stone him to death4 ,the leaders and officials of ,naboth's city did as ,jezebel commanded in her letters to them4 ,they proclaimed a fast and put ,naboth in front of the people4 ,then the two base men came in and sat before him1 and the scoundrels in the presence of the people said1 ,naboth cursed ,god and the ruler of ,israel4 ,then they carried him out of the city and stoned him to death4 ,and they told ,jezebel1 ,naboth has been stoned to death4 ,as soon as ,jezebel heard that ,naboth had been stoned to death1 she said to ,ahab1 ,rise1 take the vineyard of ,naboth which he refused to sell you1 for ,naboth is not alive but dead4 ,as soon as ,ahab heard that ,naboth was dead1 he went down to the vineyard of ,naboth to take it4 ,but this command came from ,jehovah to ,elijah1 the ,tishbite1 ,rise1 go down to meet ,ahab1 the ruler of ,israel1 who lives in ,samaria2 he is just now in the vineyard of ,naboth1 where he has gone to take it4 ,say to him1 ',this is the message of ,jehovah1 ,have you killed and also taken his vineyard8 ,in the very place where the dogs licked the blood of ,naboth there they shall also lick your blood4' ,ahab said to ,elijah1 ,have you found me1 ,o my enemy8 ,he answered1 ,i have4 ,and ,jehovah has declared3 ',the dogs shall eat ,jezebel in the district of ,jezreel4' ,when ,ahab heard those words1 he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and ate no food4 ,,micaiah',s ,,courage ,,in ,,telling ,,the ,,truth ,for three years there was no war between ,aram and ,israel4 ,but in the third year1 when ,jehoshaphat the ruler of ,judah came to visit the ruler of ,israel1 ,ahab said to his followers1 ,do you not know that ,ramoth in ,gilead belongs to us2 yet we sit still instead of taking it from the king of ,aram8 ,then he asked ,jehoshaphat1 ,will you go with me to attack ,ramoth in ,gilead8 ,jehoshaphat replied1 ,i am with you1 my people are as your people1 my horses as your horses4 ,and ,jehoshaphat said to the ruler of ,israel1 ,ask now what ,jehovah has to say4 ,so ,ahab gathered the prophets together 7in all about four hundred men71 and asked them1 ,shall ,i go to fight against ,ramoth in ,gilead or shall ,i not8 ,they said1 ,go up2 for ,jehovah will give it into your hands4 ,but ,jehoshaphat said1 ,is there any other prophet of ,jehovah1 that we may ask him8 ,the ruler of ,israel answered1 ,there is another by whom we may ask of ,jehovah1 ,micaiah1 the son of ,imlah1 but ,i hate him2 for he prophesies for me nothing good1 but only evil4 ,jehoshaphat said1 ,do not say so4 ,then the ruler of ,israel called a servant and said1 ,bring quickly ,micaiah1 the son of ,imlah4 ,the messenger who went to call ,micaiah said to him1 ,see1 the prophets have all of them promised the ruler of ,israel success4 ,agree with them1 and prophesy success4 ,but ,micaiah said1 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives1 ,i will speak what he says to me4 ,when he came to ,ahab1 he said to him1 ,micaiah1 shall we go to ,ramoth in ,gilead to fight1 or shall we not8 ,he answered him1 ,go up and conquer6 ,jehovah will give it into your hands6 ,but ,ahab said to him1 ,how many times shall ,i warn you to speak nothing to me in the name of ,jehovah but the truth8 ,he said1 ,i saw all the ,israelites scattered upon the mountains as sheep that have no shepherd4 ,and ,jehovah said1 ',these have no master2 let each of them go home in peace6' ,the ruler of ,israel said to ,jehoshaphat1 ,did ,i not tell you that he would prophesy for me nothing good1 but only evil8 ,micaiah said1 ,hear then the message from ,jehovah3 ,i saw ,jehovah sitting on his throne and all the host of heaven standing about him4 ,and ,jehovah said1 ',who will deceive ,ahab1 so that he will go up and fall at ,ramoth in ,gilead8' ,one suggested one thing and another1 another1 until a spirit came out and stood before ,jehovah and said1 ',i will deceive him4' ,jehovah said to him1 ',by what means8' ,he said1 ',i will go out and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets4' ,then ,jehovah said1 ',you shall succeed in deceiving him4 ,go out and do so4' ,so ,jehovah has now put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours1 for he has decided to bring evil upon you4 ,then ,zedekiah came near and struck ,micaiah a blow on the cheek and said1 ,how was it that the spirit of ,jehovah went from me to speak to you8 ,micaiah replied1 ,indeed1 you shall see on the day when you shall go from one hiding-place to another4 ,then the ruler of ,israel said1 ,take ,micaiah back to ,amon1 the governor of the city1 and to ,joash1 the ruler's son1 and say1 ',this is the ruler's command3 ,put this fellow in prison and feed him with a scanty fare of bread and water until ,i return successful4' ,micaiah said1 ,if you indeed return successful1 ,jehovah has not spoken by me4 ,then ,ahab1 the ruler of ,israel1 and ,jehoshaphat1 the ruler of ,judah1 went up to ,ramoth in ,gilead4 ,and the ruler of ,israel said to ,jehoshaphat1 ,i will dress myself so that no one will know me1 and go into the battle1 but you can put on your robes4 ,but a certain man shot an arrow1 and by chance it struck the ruler of ,israel between the breastplate and the lower part of his armor4 ,so ,ahab said to the driver of his chariot1 ,turn about and carry me out of the battle1 for ,i am wounded4 ,but the battle grew more intense1 so that ,ahab stayed until evening propped up in his chariot in the sight of the ,arameans1 and the blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot4 ,and that evening he died4 ,about sunset the cry went out through the army1 ,each to his town and each to his land1 for the ruler is dead6 ,so they went to ,samaria and buried ,ahab there4 ,and when they washed the chariot by the pool of ,samaria1 the dogs licked up his blood just as ,jehovah had said4 ,,the ,,mantle ,,of ,,elijah ,when ,jehovah took up ,elijah to heaven in a whirlwind1 he was going with ,elisha from ,gilgal4 ,and ,elijah said to ,elisha1 ,stay here1 for ,jehovah has sent me as far as ,bethel4 ,but ,elisha said1 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives and as you live1 ,i will not leave you4 ,so they went down to ,bethel4 ,then the followers of the prophets at ,bethel came out to ,elisha and said1 ,do you know that to-day ,jehovah will take away your master from you8 ,he said1 ,yes1 ,i know it2 say no more4 ,and ,elijah said to him1 ,elisha1 stay here1 for ,jehovah has sent me to ,jericho4 ,but he said1 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives and as you live1 ,i will not leave you4 ,so they came to ,jericho4 ,then the followers of the prophets at ,jericho came near to ,elisha and said1 ,do you know that to-day ,jehovah will take your master from you8 ,he answered1 ,yes1 ,i know it2 say no more4 ,and ,elijah said to him1 ,stay here1 for ,jehovah has sent me to the ,jordan4 ,but he said1 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives and as you live1 ,i will not leave you4 ,so they both went on4 ,fifty followers of the prophets stood opposite them at a distance1 while they two stood by the ,jordan4 ,then ,elijah rolled up his mantle and with it struck the waters2 and they were divided1 so that they two went over on dry ground4 ,when they had gone over1 ,elijah said to ,elisha1 ,ask what ,i shall do for you before ,i am taken from you4 ,elisha said1 ,let a double portion of your spirit be upon me4 ,he replied1 ,you have asked what is difficult2 but if you see me when ,i am taken from you1 it shall come to you2 but if you do not1 it shall not come4 ,as they were going on their way talking1 a fiery chariot with horses of fire suddenly came and separated the two2 and ,elijah went up in a whirlwind to heaven4 ,when ,elisha saw it1 he cried1 ,my father1 my father6 the chariots and the horsemen of ,israel6 ,and he saw ,elijah no more1 but he took hold of his own robes and tore them in two4 ,then he took up the mantle that had fallen from ,elijah4 ,,elisha ,,healing ,,the ,,sick ,,boy ,one day ,elisha went over to ,shunem where a rich woman lived1 and she asked him to be her guest4 ,afterward1 whenever he passed by1 he stopped there to eat4 ,so she said to her husband1 ,now ,i see that this is a holy man of ,god who is constantly passing by our door4 ,let us make a little chamber on the roof1 and put there for him a bed1 a table1 a seat1 and a candlestick1 so that whenever he comes to us1 he can stay there4 ,one day when he came1 he went into the upper room and lay down there4 ,then he said to ,gehazi his servant1 ,call this ,shunamite4 ,so he called her1 and she stood before him4 ,elisha said to ,gehazi1 ,say now to her1 ',see1 you have been so anxious to care for us2 what can be done for you8 ,may ,i ask the ruler or the commander of the army to do a favor for you8' ,she answered1 ,i am living among my own people4 ,elisha said1 ,what then can be done for her8 ,gehazi answered1 ,verily1 she has no son1 and her husband is old4 ,then ,elisha said1 ,call her4 ,so he called her1 and she stood at the door4 ,then ,elisha said1 ,at this time a year from now you shall hold a son in your arms6 ,but she said1 ,no1 my lord1 ,o man of ,god1 do not deceive your servant6 ,but the next year the woman had a son at the very time ,elisha had promised her4 ,when the child had grown up he went out one day to his father to the reapers4 ,and he called to his father1 ,my head1 my head6 ,so his father said to his servant1 ,carry him to his mother4 ,when he had been taken to his mother1 the boy sat on her lap until noon and then died4 ,his mother went up and laid him on the bed of the man of ,god1 and shut the door as she went out4 ,illustration3 7,c7 ,curtis ,publishing ,company ,the ,parting of ,elijah and ,elisha ,painted by ,w4 ,t4 ,taylor ,then she called her husband and said1 ,send me one of the servants and one of the asses1 that ,i may go quickly to the man of ,god and return4 ,he said1 ,why do you go to him to-day1 for it is neither the feast of the new moon nor the sabbath8 ,she said1 ,i have good reason4 ,then she saddled an ass and said to her servant1 ,drive on fast1 do not stop until ,i tell you4 ,so she went to the man of ,god on ,mount ,carmel4 ,but when ,elisha saw her at a distance1 he said to ,gehazi1 his servant1 ,see1 there is the ,shunamite6 ,run down to meet her and say to her1 ',is all well with you8 ,is your husband well8 ,is the child well8' ,and she answered1 ,all is well4 ,but when she came to the man of ,god on the mountain1 she caught hold of his feet4 ,when ,gehazi tried to push her away1 ,elisha said1 ,let her alone1 for she is deeply troubled and ,jehovah has not told me the reason4 ,then she said1 ,did ,i ask a son of my lord8 ,did ,i not say1 ',do not deceive me8' ,elisha said to ,gehazi1 ,tighten your belt1 take my staff in your hand and go6 ,if you meet any one1 do not speak to him1 and if any one speaks to you do not answer him1 and lay my staff on the face of the child4 ,but the mother of the child said1 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives and as you live1 ,i will not leave you4 ,so he rose and went with her4 ,and ,gehazi had gone on before them and had laid the staff upon the face of the child1 but there was neither sound nor sign of life in the boy4 ,so he went back to meet him and told him1 ,the child has not awakened4 ,when ,elisha came into the house1 there was the child lying dead on his bed4 ,so he went in and shut the door after them and prayed to ,jehovah4 ,he also went up and lay upon the child and put his mouth upon his mouth1 his eyes upon his eyes1 and his hands upon his hands4 ,as he lay upon him1 the flesh of the child became warm4 ,then he turned and walked backward and forward in the house1 and again went up and lay upon him1 and the child sneezed seven times1 and then opened his eyes4 ,calling ,gehazi1 he said1 ,call this ,shunamite woman4 ,so he called her4 ,and when she came in to him1 he said1 ,take up your son4 ,then she went nearer1 fell at his feet1 and bowed to the ground2 after that she took up her son and went out4 ,a ,,slave ,,girl ,,who ,,helped ,,her ,,master ,naaman1 the commander of the army of the king of ,aram1 was a man who was beloved by his master and was held in high honor1 for through him ,jehovah had given victory to ,aram4 ,he was an able man1 but he was a leper4 ,now the ,arameans had gone out to rob and had brought away captive from the land of ,israel a little maid who became the servant of ,naaman's wife4 ,she said to her mistress1 ,o that my master were with the prophet who is in ,samaria6 ,then he would cure him of his leprosy4 ,so ,naaman went in and told the king what the maid from the land of ,israel had said4 ,the king of ,aram said1 ,go now1 and ,i will send a letter to the ruler of ,israel4 ,so ,naaman set out and took with him a thousand pounds of silver and six thousand gold pieces and ten suits of fine clothes4 ,he also brought to the ruler of ,israel the letter1 which read3 ,this letter is to tell you that ,i have sent ,naaman1 my servant1 to you1 that you may cure him of his leprosy4 ,when the ruler of ,israel read the letter1 he tore his clothes and said1 ,am ,i a god1 who can kill and make alive1 that this king sends a man to me to cure him of his leprosy8 ,but you can clearly see that he is seeking a quarrel with me6 ,when ,elisha the man of ,god heard that the ruler of ,israel was tearing his clothes1 he sent this message to him3 ,why are you tearing your clothes8 ,let him come now to me and he shall know that there is a prophet in ,israel6 ,so ,naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of ,elisha's house4 ,and ,elisha sent a messenger to him to say1 ,go and wash seven times in the ,jordan and your flesh will again be well and clean4 ,but ,naaman went away in a rage1 saying1 ,i expected that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of ,jehovah his ,god and wave his hand over the place1 and so cure the leper4 ,are not ,amana and ,pharpar1 the rivers of ,damascus1 better than all the waters of ,israel8 ,could ,i not wash in them and be clean8 ,so he turned and went away in a rage4 ,but his servants came near and said to him1 ,if the prophet had told you to do some great thing1 would you not have done it8 ,why not1 then1 when he says to you1 ',wash and be clean6' ,so he went down and dipped himself seven times in the ,jordan as the man of ,god commanded2 and his flesh became again like the flesh of a little child1 and he was cured of his leprosy4 ,then ,naaman1 with all his followers1 returned to the man of ,god4 ,when he arrived1 he stood before him and said1 ,now ,i know that there is no god in all the earth1 but in ,israel2 therefore accept a present from your servant4 ,but ,elisha said1 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives1 before whom ,i stand1 ,i will take nothing4 ,and although he urged him to take it1 he would not4 ,then ,naaman said1 ,if not1 at least give your servant a load of earth1 what two mules can draw1 for your servant will from this time on offer burnt-offering and sacrifice to no other god but ,jehovah4 ,and ,elisha said to him1 ,go1 and may good fortune attend you4 ,but when he had gone from him a short distance1 ,gehazi1 the servant of ,elisha the man of ,god1 thought to himself1 ,my master has let this ,naaman the ,aramean go without accepting what he brought6 ,as surely as ,jehovah lives1 ,i will run after him and take something from him4 ,so ,gehazi ran after ,naaman2 and when ,naaman saw some one running after him1 he stepped down from the chariot to meet him and said1 ,is all well8 ,gehazi replied1 ,all is well4 ,my master has sent me to say1 ',just now two young men of the followers of the prophets have come to me from the highland of ,ephraim4 ,give them a hundred pounds of silver and two suits of fine clothes4' ,naaman said1 ,agree to take twice as much silver4 ,so he urged him and bound up two hundred pounds of silver in two bags1 with two suits of fine clothes1 and laid them on two of his servants1 and they carried them before ,gehazi4 ,but when he came to the hill1 he took them from their hand and hid them in the house and let the men go4 ,then he went in to ,elisha2 but when he stood before his master1 ,elisha said to him1 ,where do you come from1 ,gehazi8 ,he answered1 ,your servant has not been anywhere4 ,but ,elisha said to him1 ,was ,i not in spirit with you when the man turned from his chariot to meet you8 ,now you have received money and you may get clothes1 olive yards1 vineyards1 sheep1 oxen1 and slaves2 but the leprosy of ,naaman shall stick to you and to your children forever4 ,then ,gehazi went from ,elisha's presence a leper as white as snow4 ,,elisha',s ,,way ,,of ,,treating ,,enemies ,once while the king of ,aram was at war with ,israel1 he said to his officers1 ,in such and such a place we shall hide and surprise them4 ,but ,elisha1 the man of ,god1 sent word to the ruler of ,israel1 ,take care that you do not pass that place1 for the ,arameans are hiding there4 ,so the ruler of ,israel sent soldiers to the place of which the man of ,god had told him4 ,thus he warned him many times1 so that he could there be on his guard4 ,the king of ,aram was very much troubled by this1 and he called his officers and said to them1 ,can you not tell me who has betrayed us to the ruler of ,israel8 ,one of his officers replied1 ,no one1 my lord1 ,o king1 for ,elisha1 the prophet in ,israel1 tells the ruler of ,israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber4 ,the king said1 ,go and see where he is1 that ,i may send and seize him4 ,and they told the king1 ,elisha is now in ,dothan4 ,so the king sent horses and chariots there and a great army4 ,and they arrived at night and surrounded the city4 ,when the man of ,god rose early the next morning and went out1 an army with horses and chariots was about the city2 so that his servant said to him1 ,alas1 my master6 ,what shall we do8 ,he answered1 ,fear not1 for they who are with us are more than they who are with them4 ,and ,elisha prayed and said1 ,jehovah open his eyes1 that he may see4 ,then ,jehovah opened the eyes of the young man1 and he saw that the highlands around about ,elisha were full of horses and chariots of fire4 ,when the ,arameans came toward him1 ,elisha prayed to ,jehovah1 and said1 ,make this people blind4 ,so ,jehovah made them blind1 as ,elisha asked4 ,then ,elisha said to them1 ,this is not the way nor the city4 ,follow me1 and ,i will bring you to the man whom you seek6 ,so he led them to ,samaria4 ,but as soon as they came to ,samaria1 ,elisha said1 ,o ,jehovah1 open the eyes of these men1 that they may see4 ,and ,jehovah opened their eyes1 so that they could see1 and there they were in ,samaria4 ,when the ruler of ,israel saw them1 he said to ,elisha1 ,my father1 shall ,i cut them down8 ,elisha answered1 ,you shall not cut them down2 would you cut down those whom you have not taken captive with your sword nor with your bow8 ,set bread and water before them1 that they may eat and drink and go to their master4 ,so he prepared a great feast for them2 and when they had had food and drink1 he sent them back to their master4 ,so the robber bands of ,arameans no longer invaded the land of ,israel4 ,later1 ,benhadad1 king of ,aram1 gathered all his army and besieged ,samaria4 ,the famine was so severe in ,samaria while they were besieging it1 that an ass's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver4 ,once as the ruler of ,israel was passing by on the wall1 a woman cried out to him1 ,help1 my lord4 ,he answered1 ,if ,jehovah does not help you1 from where can ,i bring help to you8 ,from the threshing-floor or from the wine-press8 ,however1 the ruler of ,israel said to her1 ,what is the trouble with you8 ,she answered1 ,this woman said to me1 ',give your son1 that we may eat him to-day1 and we will eat my son to-morrow6' ,so we cooked my son and ate him1 and ,i said to her on the next day1 ',give your son that we may eat him'2 but she has hidden her son4 ,when the ruler of ,israel heard the words of the woman1 he tore his clothes2 and as he was passing by on the wall1 the people looked and saw that he wore sackcloth next to his skin4 ,now ,elisha was sitting in his house with the elders beside him2 and while he was still talking with them1 the ruler of ,israel came down to him and said1 ,see1 this is the evil that comes from ,jehovah6 ,why should ,i put my hope in ,jehovah any longer8 ,but ,elisha said1 ,hear the word of ,jehovah1 for he says1 ',to-morrow about this time a peck of fine meal shall be sold for a piece of silver and two pecks of barley for a piece of silver in the gate of ,samaria4' ,then the charioteer on whose arm the ruler of ,israel leaned answered the man of ,god1 ,if ,jehovah himself should make windows in heaven1 could this be possible8 ,he said1 ,you shall see it with your own eyes4 ,now there were four lepers just outside the gate2 and they said one to another1 ,why do we sit here until we die8 ,if we say1 ',we will enter the city1' then1 since there is famine in the city1 we shall die there2 but if we sit here1 we shall die too4 ,now1 come1 let us go over to the army of the ,arameans4 ,if they spare our lives1 we shall live2 and if they kill us1 we shall but die4 ,so they set out in the evening to go over to the camp of the ,arameans4 ,but when they came to the edge of the camp of the ,arameans1 no one was there1 for the ,lord had made the army of the ,arameans hear a noise of chariots and of horses and of a great army1 and they said to one another1 ,surely the ruler of ,israel has hired the kings of the ,hittites and the kings of the ,egyptians to attack us4 ,so they rose and fled in the twilight2 and they left their tents1 their horses and their asses1 even the camp as it was1 and fled for their lives4 ,when these lepers came to the edge of the camp1 they went into one tent and ate and drank and carried away silver and gold and clothing and hid them4 ,then they came back and entered another tent and carried away what was in it and went and hid that4 ,then they said to one another1 ,we are not doing right2 this day is a day of good news4 ,if we keep still and wait until morning punishment will overtake us4 ,now1 come1 let us go and tell those in the palace4 ,so they called the watchmen at the city gate and said to them1 ,we went to the camp of the ,arameans1 but there was no one there and no sound of men's voices4 ,the horses and asses were tied and the tents were just as they had been4 ,the watchmen at the city gate shouted this news to those in the palace4 ,and the ruler of ,israel rose in the night and said to his servants1 ,i will now tell you what the ,arameans have done3 they know that we are hungry2 so they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field1 thinking1 ',when they come out of the city1 we will take them alive and get into the city4' ,but one of his servants spoke up and said1 ,let some men take a pair of the horses which are left here4 ,if they die1 they will be like most of the ,israelites who are dying6 ,let us send and find out4 ,so they took two men on horseback1 and the ruler of ,israel sent them after the army of the ,arameans with the command1 ,go and see4 ,they followed them to the ,jordan2 and all the way was filled with clothes and weapons which the ,arameans had thrown away in their haste4 ,so the messengers returned and told the ruler of ,israel4 ,then the people went and carried things away from the camp of the ,arameans4 ,so a peck of fine meal was sold for a piece of silver1 and two pecks of barley for a piece of silver1 just as ,jehovah had said4 ,,the ,,end ,,of ,,ahab',s ,,selfish ,,family ,elisha the prophet called one of the followers of the prophets and said to him1 ,tighten your belt1 take this flask of oil in your hand and go to ,ramoth in ,gilead4 ,when you arrive there1 look for ,jehu1 the son of ,jehoshaphat1 and when you go in take him into an inner room1 away from those who are with him4 ,then from the flask pour oil on his head1 and say1 ',jehovah declares1 ,i have anointed you to rule over ,israel4' ,then open the door and flee without delay4 ,so the young man went to ,ramoth in ,gilead4 ,when he arrived1 the officers of the army were sitting together4 ,and he said1 ,commander1 ,i have a message for you4 ,jehu said1 ,to which of us8 ,he replied1 ,to you1 ,o commander4 ,then ,jehu rose and went into the house2 and the young man poured the oil on his head and said to him1 ,jehovah the ,god of ,israel says1 ',i have anointed you to rule over ,jehovah's people1 over ,israel6' ,then he opened the door and hurried away4 ,when ,jehu came out to the servants of his master1 they asked him1 ,is all well8 ,why did this insane fellow come to you8 ,he answered1 ,you know the man and his message4 ,but they said1 ,you are deceiving us4 ,you must tell us4 ,jehu replied1 ,he said this to me3 ',jehovah says1 ,i have anointed you to rule over ,israel4' ,then each quickly took his garment1 laid it at his feet on the bare stairs1 and blew the horn and cried1 ,jehu is the ruler of ,israel4 ,so ,jehu plotted against ,joram4 ,now ,joram1 with all the ,israelites1 had been defending ,ramoth in ,gilead against ,hazael king of ,aram1 but ,joram had gone back to ,jezreel to recover from the wounds which he had received from the ,arameans when he fought with ,hazael king of ,aram4 ,so ,jehu said1 ,if it is your will1 let no one escape from the city to bring news to ,jezreel4 ,then ,jehu mounted his chariot and went toward ,jezreel4 ,while the watchman was standing on the tower of ,jezreel1 he saw the cloud of dust about ,jehu1 as he came1 and said1 ,i see a cloud of dust4 ,joram said1 ,send a horseman to meet him and ask whether he comes with peaceful purpose4 ,so the horseman went out to meet him and said1 ,the ruler of ,israel asks1 ',do you come with peaceful purpose8' ,jehu replied1 ,what have you to do with peace8 ,turn and follow me4 ,so the watchman said1 ,the messenger went to them1 but does not return4 ,then ,joram sent out a second horseman who went to them and said1 ,the ruler of ,israel asks1 ',do you come with peaceful purpose8' ,jehu answered1 ,what have you to do with peace8 ,turn and follow me4 ,so the watchman said1 ,he also went to them but does not return2 however1 the driving is like the driving of ,jehu1 for he drives very fast4 ,then ,joram said1 ,get my chariot ready1 and when it was ready he went to meet ,jehu and found him in the field of ,naboth the ,jezreelite4 ,when ,joram saw ,jehu1 he said1 ,do you come with peaceful purpose1 ,jehu8 ,then ,joram turned to flee1 but ,jehu drew his bow and struck ,joram between the shoulders1 so that the arrow went through his heart1 and he fell down in his chariot4 ,then ,jehu said to ,bidkar1 his charioteer1 ,take him up and throw him into the field of ,naboth the ,jezreelite1 for ,i well remember that1 as you and ,i rode together after ,ahab1 his father1 ,jehovah pronounced this sentence upon him3 ',surely ,i saw yesterday the blood of ,naboth and his sons1 and ,i will punish you on this same piece of land4' ,so throw him into this piece of land1 as ,jehovah said4 ,then ,jehu arrived at ,jezreel4 ,as soon as ,jezebel heard of it1 she painted her eyes1 arranged her hair1 and looked out of the window4 ,as ,jehu came in at the gate1 she said1 ,is all well with you1 you traitor1 you murderer of your master8 ,but he looked up to the window and cried1 ,who is on my side8 who8 ,two or three slaves looked down at him1 and he said1 ,throw her down4 ,and they threw her down and the horses trampled on her4 ,when ,jehu had gone in and had had something to eat and drink1 he gave this command1 ,look after this woman and bury her1 for she is a king's daughter4 ,but when they went to bury her1 they found no more of her than the skull1 the feet1 and the hands4 ,when they went back and told ,jehu1 he said1 ,this is what ,jehovah declared by his servant ,elijah when he said1 ',on the piece of land at ,jezreel the dogs shall eat ,jezebel's flesh1 and her body shall be as refuse on the surface of the field1 so that no one can say1 ,this is ,jezebel4' ,,the ,,boy ,,joash ,,on ,,the ,,throne ,,of ,,judah ,when ,joram had ruled twelve years over ,israel1 ,ahaziah the son of ,jehoram began to rule over ,judah4 ,and he went down to ,jezreel to visit ,joram1 who was ill4 ,when ,jehu struck down ,joram1 ,ahaziah saw it and fled toward ,beth-gannim4 ,but ,jehu followed after him with the words1 ,shoot him down1 too1 in the chariot4 ,so they shot him down on the way up to ,gur1 near ,ibleam1 but he escaped to ,megiddo and died there4 ,when ,athaliah1 the mother of ,ahaziah1 learned that her son was dead1 she rose and put to death all of ,ahaziah's children except ,joash1 whom his aunt1 ,jehosheba1 secretly took and placed with his nurse in the bedchamber4 ,in this way she hid him from ,athaliah1 so that he was not put to death4 ,he was with her1 hid in the temple of ,jehovah1 six years1 while ,athaliah ruled over the land4 ,but in the seventh year ,jehoiada the priest called together the officers of the royal guard and brought them into the temple of ,jehovah4 ,after he had made them make a solemn promise1 he showed them ,ahaziah's son1 and gave them these orders1 ,this is what you shall do3 a third part of you who go in on the ,sabbath to guard the palace shall keep watch over it4 ,two divisions of you1 including all who go out on the ,sabbath to guard the temple of ,jehovah1 shall surround ,joash1 each with his weapons in his hand4 ,and let every one who comes within the ranks be put to death4 ,thus you shall guard ,joash1 when he goes out and when he comes in4 ,the officers did as ,jehoiada the priest commanded4 ,and he brought out ,ahaziah's son and put the crown and the royal ornaments upon him2 and they made him ruler over ,judah and poured oil upon his head and clapped their hands1 crying1 ,long live the ruler6 ,but when ,athaliah heard the people shouting1 she came to them in the temple of ,jehovah4 ,when she saw ,joash standing by the pillar1 as was the custom1 and the officers and the trumpeters by him1 and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets1 she tore her clothes and cried1 ,treason6 ,treason6 ,but ,jehoiada the priest gave this order to the officers3 ,bring her out between the ranks1 and kill with the sword whoever follows her1 for the priest said1 ,let her not be put to death in the temple of ,jehovah4 ,so they seized her1 and she was killed as she went through the horses' entry to the palace4 ,jehoiada made a solemn agreement between ,jehovah and the new ruler and the people1 that they should be ,jehovah's people2 also between the ruler and the people1 and ,joash ruled forty years in ,jerusalem4 ,a ,,young ,,man ,,who ,,said1 ,,send ,,me ,uzziah1 ,joash's grandson1 was sixteen years old when he began to rule over ,judah and he ruled fifty-two years in ,jerusalem4 ,he fought against the ,philistines1 and broke down the wall of ,gath and of ,jabneh and of ,ashdod and built cities near ,ashdod and among the ,philistines4 ,and ,god helped him against the ,philistines4 ,the ,ammonites also paid tribute to ,uzziah1 for he became very strong4 ,and ,uzziah built towers in ,jerusalem at the ,corner ,gate and at the ,valley ,gate and at the corner of the wall1 and fortified them4 ,he also built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns1 for he had many herds in the lowland and farmers in the plain and vine-dressers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields1 for he loved to cultivate the ground4 ,but he was a leper to the day of his death4 ,he lived in his own house1 while ,jotham1 his son1 was at the head of the royal household1 ruling the people of the land4 ,and ,uzziah died2 and they buried him with his fathers in the city of ,david1 and ,jotham1 his son1 became ruler in his place4 ,isaiah said it was in the year that ,uzziah1 the ruler of ,judah1 died that ,i saw the ,lord sitting on a high and lofty throne2 and the train of his robe filled the temple4 ,guardian angels stood above him4 ,each had six wings1 one pair to cover the face1 another pair to cover the feet1 and another pair with which to fly4 ,and they cried to one another3 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 is ,jehovah of hosts1 ,the whole earth is full of his glory4 ,the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of those who called1 and the temple was filled with smoke4 ,then ,i said3 ,woe is me6 ,i am ruined2 for ,i am a man with unclean lips1 and ,i live among a people with unclean lips2 for my eyes have seen the ,king1 ,jehovah of hosts6 ,but one of the guardian angels flew to me with a hot coal in his hand that he had taken from off the altar1 and with it he touched my mouth and said3 ,see1 this has touched your lips2 your guilt is taken away and your sin forgiven4 ,then ,i heard the voice of the ,lord1 saying3 ,whom shall ,i send1 ,and who will go for us8 and ,i said1 ,here am ,i1 send me4 ,illustration3 7,c7 ,curtis ,publishing ,company ,the ,prophet ,isaiah ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor ,,jeremiah',s ,,call ,,to ,,do ,a ,,hard ,,task ,this was the message which came to me from ,jehovah3 ,before you were born ,i knew you and prepared you for your work4 ,i have appointed you to be a prophet to the nations4 ,but ,i 7,jeremiah7 said3 ,o ,lord ,jehovah6 ,i do not know how to speak in public1 for ,i am only a youth4 ,then ,jehovah said to me3 ,do not say1 ',i am only a youth1' for you shall go to all to whom ,i send you1 and you shall speak whatever ,i command you4 ,do not be afraid of them1 for ,i am with you to protect you4 ,then ,jehovah stretched out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me3 ,see4 ,i have put my words in your mouth1 and ,i have appointed you this day over the nations and kingdoms1 to tear up and break down1 to destroy and to overthrow1 to build and to plant4 ,again this message came from ,jehovah1 ,what do you see8 ,i answered1 ,a great kettle brewing hot1 and it faces from the north4 ,then ,jehovah said to me3 ,from the north trouble is brewing for all the people of the land4 ,for ,i am about to call all the kingdoms of the north1 and they shall come and each set up his throne at the entrance to the gates of ,jerusalem and around its walls and against all the cities of ,judah4 ,and ,i will pass judgment upon ,jerusalem and these cities for all their wickedness1 for they have been disloyal to me and offered sacrifices to other gods and have worshipped that which their own hands have made4 ,therefore make ready1 rise1 speak to them all that ,i command you4 ,do not be afraid of them1 for see1 ,i myself will make you this day like a fortified city1 and like a bronze wall against the rulers of ,judah1 its leaders1 its priests1 and the common people4 ,though they fight against you1 they will not overcome you1 for ,i am with you to protect you4 ,,the ,,young ,,josiah ,,and ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,the ,,law ,josiah was eight years old when he began to rule1 and he ruled thirty-one years in ,jerusalem4 ,in the eighteenth year of his rule he sent ,shaphan1 the scribe1 to the temple of ,jehovah with the command1 ,go up to ,hilkiah1 the chief priest1 and see that1 when he has taken the money that is brought into the temple of ,jehovah and that which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people1 they give it to the workmen who have charge of the temple of ,jehovah4 ,then let them give it to the carpenters1 the builders1 and the masons who are in the temple of ,jehovah1 to repair the breaks in it and to buy timber and cut stone to restore it4 ,but no account was asked of them for the money that was given to them1 for they dealt honestly4 ,then ,hilkiah1 the chief priest1 said to ,shaphan1 the scribe1 ,i have found the book of the law in the temple of ,jehovah4 ,and ,hilkiah gave the book to ,shaphan1 and he read it4 ,then ,shaphan went to ,josiah and told him1 ,your servants have taken the money that was found in the temple and have turned it over to the workmen who have charge of the temple of ,jehovah4 ,shaphan1 the scribe1 also said to ,josiah1 ,hilkiah1 the priest1 has given me a book4 ,and ,shaphan read it to him4 ,when ,josiah had heard the words of the book of the law1 he tore his clothes4 ,then he gave this command to ,hilkiah1 the priest1 to ,ahikam1 the son of ,shaphan1 to ,achbor1 the son of ,micaiah1 to ,shaphan1 the scribe1 and to ,asaiah1 his servant1 ,go1 ask of ,jehovah for me and for the people and for all ,judah about the words of this book that has been found2 for ,jehovah must be very angry with us1 because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book nor done all that we are there commanded to do4 ,so ,hilkiah1 the priest1 and ,ahikam and ,achbor went to ,huldah1 the prophetess1 who lived in ,jerusalem and talked with her4 ,she said to them1 ,this is the message of ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,israel3 ',tell the man who sent you to me1 ,jehovah says1 ,i am now about to bring evil upon this place and upon its people even all that is written in the book which the ruler of ,judah has read4 ,but you shall say to him who sent you to ask of ,jehovah1 ,jehovah the ,god of ,israel declares1 ,because you listened and humbled yourself before ,jehovah and have wept before me1 ,i also have heard you1' ,so they brought back word to ,josiah4 ,then at his command they got together all the leaders of ,judah and of ,jerusalem4 ,and ,josiah went up to the temple of ,jehovah1 and with him all the men of ,judah and all the people of ,jerusalem1 as well as the priests and the prophets and all the people1 including the children4 ,and he read to them all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the temple of ,jehovah4 ,and ,josiah stood by the pillar and made a solemn promise before ,jehovah to obey all the commands and carry out the rules written in this book4 ,and all the people also agreed to do so4 ,then ,josiah commanded ,hilkiah1 the chief priest1 and the second priest and the doorkeepers to bring out from the temple of ,jehovah all the things that were made for ,baal and for the ,canaanite goddess of fortune1 and for the ,babylonian star gods4 ,and he burned them outside ,jerusalem in the lime-kilns by the ,kidron1 and carried their ashes to ,bethel4 ,he also put away the idolatrous priests1 whom the rulers of ,judah had appointed to offer sacrifice at the temples on the heights in the towns of ,judah and in the places about ,jerusalem2 those also who offered sacrifices to ,baal1 to the sun1 the moon1 and the planets and all the starry host4 ,he also destroyed ,topheth1 which is in the valley of ,ben-,hinnom1 so that no man could ever make his son or his daughter pass through the fire to ,molech4 ,he removed the horses at the entrance of the temple of ,jehovah1 which the rulers of ,judah had given to the sun1 and burned the chariots of the sun4 ,josiah broke down and crushed in pieces the altars that were on the roof1 which the rulers of ,judah had made4 ,josiah also tore down the altar and the old temple at ,bethel1 broke its stones in pieces1 and beat it to dust4 ,then he gave this command to all the people3 ,keep the passover to ,jehovah your ,god1 as is commanded in this book of the covenant4 ,such a passover as this had not been kept from the days of the judges who ruled ,israel and during the period of the rulers of ,israel and of ,judah2 but this passover was kept in ,jehovah's honor in ,jerusalem for the first time in the eighteenth year of ,josiah's rule4 ,josiah put away all the mediums1 the wizards1 the idols and all the evil things that were discovered in the land of ,judah and in ,jerusalem1 that he might carry out the words of the law which were written in the book that ,hilkiah1 the priest1 found in the temple of ,jehovah4 ,josiah was the first ruler who turned to ,jehovah with all his heart1 with all his soul1 and with all his strength in exact accord with the law of ,moses1 nor were any of the rulers that followed like him4 ,,the ,,writing ,,of ,,an ,,ancient ,,book ,when ,jehoiakim1 the son of ,josiah1 had been ruler for four years1 this message came to ,jeremiah from ,jehovah1 ,take a parchment roll and write on it all the words that ,i have spoken to you about ,jerusalem and ,judah and all the nations from the time of ,josiah to the present4 ,perhaps the people of ,judah will pay attention to all the evil which ,i intend to bring upon them1 so that they will turn each from his evil way1 that ,i may forgive their guilt and sin4 ,then ,jeremiah called ,baruch1 the son of ,neriah2 and ,baruch wrote on a parchment roll as ,jeremiah told him all the words which ,jehovah had spoken to him4 ,and ,jeremiah commanded ,baruch1 saying1 ,i am not permitted to go to the temple of ,jehovah4 ,therefore you go and read in the temple on the fast day the words of ,jehovah from the roll which you have written at my command4 ,you shall read them to all the people of ,judah who have come from their towns4 ,perhaps they will pray to ,jehovah and each turn from his evil way2 for great is the anger and wrath of ,jehovah against this people4 ,so ,baruch did as ,jeremiah1 the prophet1 commanded him1 reading in the temple from the writing the words of ,jehovah4 ,the next year1 when all the people who had come to ,jerusalem from the cities of ,judah were observing a fast in the temple courts1 ,baruch read to them all from the writing the words of ,jeremiah4 ,when ,micaiah1 the grandson of ,shaphan1 had heard all the words of ,jehovah1 he went down to the palace1 where all the court officials were sitting1 and told them all that he had heard when ,baruch read the book to the people4 ,then all the nobles sent ,jehudi1 the son of ,nethaniah1 to ,baruch to say3 ,take the roll from which you have read to all the people and come here4 ,so ,baruch took the roll in his hand and went to them4 ,and they said to him1 ,sit down now and read it to us4 ,so ,baruch read it to them4 ,but when they had heard all1 they turned in fear to one another and said to ,baruch1 ,we must surely tell ,jehoiakim all this4 ,so they asked ,baruch1 ,tell us now3 how did you write all this8 ,baruch answered1 ,jeremiah told it all to me and ,i wrote it down in ink4 ,then the nobles said to ,baruch1 ,go1 hide both yourself and ,jeremiah1 and let no one know where you are4 ,but after they had put the roll in the room of ,elishama1 the chancellor1 they went to ,jehoiakim's room1 and told all these things to him4 ,then he sent ,jehudi to bring the roll1 and he brought it out of the room of ,elishama1 the chancellor4 ,and ,jehudi read it to him and to all the leaders who were with him4 ,now ,jehoiakim was sitting in the winter house with a brazier burning before him4 ,when ,jehudi had read three or four double columns1 ,jehoiakim cut it with a paper-knife and threw it into the fire that was on the brazier1 and the entire roll was burned up4 ,but neither he nor any of his servants who were present1 were disturbed or tore their garments4 ,elnathan and ,delaiah and ,gemariah begged ,jehoiakim not to burn the roll1 but he would not listen to them4 ,he also ordered ,jerahmeel1 his son1 and ,seraiah1 the son of ,azriel1 and ,shelemiah1 the son of ,abdeel1 to seize ,baruch1 the scribe1 and ,jeremiah1 the prophet1 but ,jehovah kept them hidden4 ,then ,jeremiah took another roll and gave it to ,baruch1 the scribe1 who wrote on it as ,jeremiah spoke to him1 all the words of the book which ,jehoiakim1 the ruler of ,judah1 had burned in the fire2 and many other similar words were added4 ,a ,,prophet ,,who ,,saved ,a ,,great ,,city ,once the king of ,assyria sent a high official with a great army to ,jerusalem4 ,when they arrived at ,jerusalem1 they called for ,hezekiah the ruler of ,judah1 ,eliakim1 the son of ,hilkiah1 ,shebnah1 the scribe1 and ,joah1 the son of ,asaph1 and they came out to them4 ,and the high official said to them1 ,why are you so confident8 ,to whom do you look for help that you have rebelled against me8 ,you count on ,egypt to help you4 ,pharaoh1 king of ,egypt1 is as weak as a broken reed4 ,but if you say1 ',we trust in ,jehovah our ,god1' is not he the one whose high places and altars ,hezekiah has destroyed8 ,now therefore make a bargain with my master1 the king of ,assyria1 and ,i will give you two thousand horses1 if you are able on your part to set riders upon them4 ,how then can you conquer one of the least of my master's servants8 ,have ,i now come up against this place to destroy it without ,jehovah's approval8 ,jehovah it was who said to me1 ',go up against this land and destroy it4' ,then ,eliakim and ,shebnah and ,joah said to the high official1 ,speak1 ,i pray you1 to your servants in the ,aramaic language1 for we understand it2 but do not speak with us in the ,jewish language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall4 ,but the high official said to them1 ,has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words8 ,is it not rather to the men who sit on the wall1 who will suffer most from the siege8 ,then the high official stood and cried with a loud voice1 in the ,jewish language1 saying1 ,hear the message of the great king1 the king of ,assyria4 ',thus saith the king1 ,let not ,hezekiah deceive you2 for he will not be able to save you from my hand4 ,neither let ,hezekiah make you trust in ,jehovah by saying1 ,jehovah will surely save us1 and this city shall not be given into the power of the king of ,assyria4' ,do not listen to ,hezekiah1 for thus says the king of ,assyria1 ',make your peace with me and come over to me2 then each one of you shall eat from his own vine and his own fig-tree and drink the waters of his own cistern1 until ,i come and take you away to a land like your own land1 a land full of grain and new wine1 a land full of bread and vineyards1 a land full of olive-trees and honey1 that you may live and not die4 ,but do not listen to ,hezekiah1 when he deceives you by saying1 ,jehovah will save us4 ,has any of the gods of the nations ever saved his land from the power of the king of ,assyria8 ,have the gods of the land of ,samaria saved ,samaria from my power8 ,who are they among all the gods of the countries1 that have saved their country from my power1 that ,jehovah should save ,jerusalem from my power8' ,then the people were silent and made no answer2 for the ruler's command was1 ,do not answer him4 ,but ,eliakim1 the steward of the palace1 and ,shebnah1 the scribe1 and ,joah1 the son of ,asaph1 came to ,hezekiah with torn clothes and told him the words of the high official4 ,and as soon as ,hezekiah heard it1 he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the temple of ,jehovah4 ,and he sent ,eliakim1 who was in charge of the palace1 and ,shebnah1 the scribe and the oldest of the priests1 covered with sackcloth1 to ,isaiah1 the prophet4 ,and they said to him1 ,hezekiah says1 ,this is a day of trouble1 of discipline and of shame4 ,it may be ,jehovah your ,god will hear all the words of the high official1 whom his master1 the king of ,assyria1 has sent to defy the living ,god1 and will punish him for them2 therefore lift up your prayer for the people4 ,when the servants of ,hezekiah came to ,isaiah1 ,isaiah said to them1 ,take back this answer to your master3 ,jehovah says1 ',do not be afraid of the words that you have heard1 with which the servants of the king of ,assyria have insulted me4 ,i will put a spirit in him1 so that he will hear bad news and return to his own land2 and ,i will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land4' ,so the high official returned and found the king of ,assyria making war against ,libnah1 for he had heard that he had gone from ,lachish4 ,but the king of ,assyria had heard that ,tirkakah1 king of ,ethiopia1 had come out to fight against him4 ,now that very night the angel of ,jehovah went out and struck down in the camp of the ,assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand4 ,and when men arose early the next morning1 these were all dead4 ,then ,sennacherib1 king of ,assyria1 went away and returned to ,nineveh4 ,while he was worshipping in the temple of ,nisroch his god1 his sons struck him down with the sword2 and they escaped into the land of ,ararat4 ,and ,esarhaddon1 his son1 became king in his place4 ,,jeremiah',s ,,courage ,,in ,,danger ,the command came to ,jeremiah from ,jehovah1 ,stand in the door of the temple and speak this message3 ',hear the word of ,jehovah1 all you people of ,judah who enter these gates to worship him4 ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,israel1 says3 ,change your ways and your deeds and ,i will let you live in this place4 ,trust not in misleading words1 thinking1 this is the temple of ,jehovah4 ,for if you really change your ways and your deeds1 if you faithfully see that justice is done between a man and his neighbor1 if you do no wrong to the foreigners who live among you1 to the fatherless nor to the widow1 and do not shed the blood of the innocent in this place nor follow other gods to your hurt1 then ,i will let you stay in this place1 in the land that ,i gave to your fathers1 forever and ever4 ',but now you are trusting in misleading words that are useless4 ,will you steal1 murder1 tell lies and offer sacrifice to ,baal1 and follow other gods whom you have not known1 and then come and stand before me in this house which bears my name and say1 ,we are free to do all these shameful deeds8 ,is this my house1 which bears my name1 in your eyes a den of robbers8 ,i myself have seen these shameful deeds1' says ,jehovah4 ',then go to my temple which was at ,shiloh1 where people used to worship me at first1 and see what ,i did to it because of the wickedness of my people ,israel4 ,now because you have done all these deeds1 and have paid no attention1 although ,i spoke to you earnestly and often2 and have not answered1 although ,i called you1 ,i will destroy the temple which bears my name1 in which you trust1 and the place which ,i gave to you and to your fathers1 as ,i did at ,shiloh4 ,i will also send you from my sight1 as ,i have sent away your relatives1 even all the ,northern ,israelites4' ,when ,jeremiah had finished speaking all that ,jehovah had commanded him to say1 the priests and prophets seized him and said1 ,you must die4 ,why have you said in the name of ,jehovah that this temple shall be like ,shiloh and this city shall be deserted1 with no one living in it8 ,and all the people were gathered about ,jeremiah in the temple of ,jehovah4 ,but when the public officials of ,judah heard of these things1 they came up from the palace to the temple of ,jehovah and held court at the entrance1 at the new gate of the temple4 ,then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to the people1 ,this man should be put to death1 for he has prophesied against this city as you have heard with your own ears4 ,but ,jeremiah answered the officials and all the people1 ,it was ,jehovah who sent me to prophesy against this temple and city all that you have heard4 ,now therefore change your ways and your deeds and listen to ,jehovah your ,god2 and he will not do the evil things that he has threatened to do to you4 ,but as for me1 see1 ,i am in your power2 do to me as you think right and proper4 ,only remember that1 if you put me to death1 you will bring upon yourselves and upon this city and upon its inhabitants guilt for shedding innocent blood1 for ,jehovah has indeed sent me to you to tell you all these things4 ,then the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets1 ,this man does not deserve to die1 for he has spoken to us in the name of ,jehovah our ,god4 ,certain of the elders of the land rose and said to the assembly of the people1 ,micah prophesied in the days when ,hezekiah ruled over ,judah1 and said to the people of ,judah1 ',jehovah of hosts says3 ,zion shall be ploughed as a field1 ,jerusalem shall become a ruin1 ,the temple-mount an overgrown hill4' ,did ,hezekiah and the people of ,judah put him to death8 ,did they not rather fear ,jehovah and ask him to forgive them1 so that he did not do the evil things that he had threatened to do to them8 ,but we are in danger of doing great harm to ourselves8 ,,the ,,sad ,,fate ,,of ,a ,,guilty ,,nation ,jerusalem was taken in the eleventh year of the rule of ,zedekiah1 on the ninth day of the fourth month4 ,an opening was made through the walls1 and all the princes of the king of ,babylon came and sat in the middle gate4 ,when ,zedekiah1 the ruler of ,judah1 and all the warriors saw them1 they fled and left the city by night by the way of the royal garden1 through the gate between the two walls1 and went out toward the ,arabah4 ,but the army of the ,chaldeans followed them and captured ,zedekiah on the plains of ,jericho4 ,then they brought him up to ,nebuchadrezzar1 king of ,babylon1 who was then at ,riblah in the land of ,hamath4 ,and the king of ,babylon killed the sons of ,zedekiah before his eyes4 ,and the king of ,babylon put to death all the nobles of ,judah4 ,moreover1 he put out ,zedekiah's eyes and bound him in chains to carry him to ,babylon4 ,in the nineteenth year of the reign of ,nebuchadrezzar1 king of ,babylon1 ,nebuzaradan1 the commander of the body-guard1 an officer of the king of ,babylon1 came to ,jerusalem4 ,he burned the temple of ,jehovah and the royal palace and all the houses in ,jerusalem4 ,all the soldiers of the ,chaldeans1 who were with the commander of the body-guard1 broke down the walls around ,jerusalem4 ,the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had gone over to the king of ,babylon1 ,nebuzaradan carried away captive4 ,but he left some of the poorest of the people to take care of the vineyards and farms4 ,the pillars of brass that were in the temple of ,jehovah1 and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the temple of ,jehovah the ,chaldeans broke in pieces and carried the brass from them to ,babylon4 ,also the pots1 the shovels1 the snuffers1 the bowls1 and all the vessels of brass1 with which sacrifices were offered in the temple1 they took away4 ,the fire-pans and the basins of silver and of gold1 the commander of the body-guard also melted and took away4 ,the commander of the body-guard carried away ,seraiah1 the chief priest and ,zephaniah1 the second priest1 and the three doorkeepers and brought them to the king of ,babylon at ,riblah4 ,and the king of ,babylon put them to death at ,riblah in the land of ,hamath4 ,so the people of ,judah were carried away captive from their own homeland4 ,nebuchadrezzar made ,gedaliah1 the grandson of ,shaphan1 governor over the people he had left in the land of ,judah4 ,now ,nebuchadrezzar1 king of ,babylon1 had given this command about ,jeremiah to ,nebuzaradan1 the commander of the body-guard1 ,take good care of him1 and do him no harm2 but do to him as he shall tell you4 ,so ,nebuzaradan1 the commander of the body-guard1 said to him1 ,see1 ,i release you this day from the chains which are upon your hand4 ,if it seems best to you to come with me to ,babylon1 come1 and ,i will look out for you4 ,but if you do not wish to come with me to ,babylon1 do not come2 go back to ,gedaliah1 whom the king of ,babylon has made governor over the cities of ,judah1 and live with him among the people1 or go wherever it seems right for you to go4 ,so the commander of the body-guard gave ,jeremiah food and a present1 and sent him away4 ,then ,jeremiah went to ,gedaliah1 who was at ,mizpah1 and lived with him among the people who were left in the land4 ,,the ,,courage ,,of ,,four ,,captives ,nebuchadrezzar1 the king of ,babylon1 commanded ,ashpenaz1 the chief of his servants1 to bring to him certain of the ,israelites and some of their princes and nobles4 ,they were to be young men who were strong and handsome1 well taught and quick to learn and able to serve in the king's palace4 ,and they were to be taught the learning and the language of the ,chaldeans4 ,the king gave to them each day some of his rich food and some of the wine which he drank4 ,he also commanded that they should be taught for three years1 and that at the end of that time they should enter the royal service4 ,among these young men were3 ,daniel1 ,hananiah1 ,mishael1 and ,azariah2 but the chief of the king's servants gave other names to them4 ,to ,daniel he gave the name ,belteshazzar1 and to ,hananiah1 ,shadrach1 and to ,mishael1 ,meshach1 and to ,azariah1 ,abednego4 ,but ,daniel made up his mind not to injure himself with the rich food of the king nor with the wine which he drank4 ,so he asked the chief of the king's servants not to make him injure himself4 ,and ,god helped ,daniel to win the kindness and favor of the chief of the king's servants4 ,but the chief of the king's servants said to ,daniel1 ,i fear that my lord1 the king1 who has given you your food and your drink will see that your faces are sadder than those of young men who are your own age1 and so you will endanger my head with the king4 ,daniel said to the guardian whom the chief of the king's servants had put over ,daniel1 ,hananiah1 ,mishael1 and ,azariah1 ,try your servants ten days2 and let us have vegetables to eat and water to drink4 ,then compare the way we look with that of the young men who eat of the king's rich food4 ,then do to us as seems best4 ,so he did as they asked and tried them ten days4 ,at the end of ten days they looked better and they were fatter than all the young men who ate of the king's rich food4 ,so the guardian took away their rich food and the wine and gave them vegetables4 ,to these four young men ,god gave knowledge1 learning1 and wisdom2 and ,daniel understood all kinds of visions and dreams4 ,at the end of the days which the king had fixed for bringing them in1 the chief of his servants brought them in to ,nebuchadrezzar1 and the king talked with them4 ,but not one of all the young men was found equal to ,daniel1 ,hananiah1 ,mishael1 and ,azariah4 ,so they began to serve the king4 ,on every subject which called for wisdom and understanding and about which the king questioned them1 he found them ten times better than all the wise men and magicians who were in his entire kingdom4 ,a ,,king',s ,,strange ,,dream ,nebuchadrezzar in the second year of his reign had dreams1 and his mind was so troubled that he could not sleep4 ,then the king sent for the magicians and the wise men1 and those who studied the stars to tell him what his dreams meant4 ,so they came in before the king1 and he said to them1 ,i have had a dream and my mind is troubled1 for ,i want to know what the dream means4 ,then those who studied the stars said to the king3 ,o king1 live forever6 ,tell the dream to your servants and we will tell you what it means4 ,the king answered1 ,what ,i now say is certain3 if you do not tell me the dream and what it means1 you shall be torn limb from limb and your houses shall be made ash-heaps4 ,but if you tell the dream and what it means1 you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honors2 therefore tell me the dream and what it means4 ,they answered the second time1 ,let the king tell the dream to his servants1 and we will tell what it means4 ,the king replied1 ,i see clearly that you wish to gain time1 for you know that what ,i have said is certain1 and that if you do not tell the dream to me1 you will all suffer the same punishment4 ,so you have planned to speak lying and false words before me1 until the time when it is to happen has passed4 ,therefore tell me the dream1 and ,i shall know that you can tell me what it means4 ,the ,chaldeans answered the king1 ,there is no man on earth who can do what the king asks1 for no king1 however great and powerful1 has ever asked such a thing of any wise man or magician1 or of one who studies the stars4 ,what the king asks is too hard4 ,there is no one else who can tell it to the king1 except the gods1 who do not live with men4 ,this made the king very angry and he ordered all the wise men of ,babylon put to death4 ,so the command was given that the wise men were to be put to death4 ,and search was made for ,daniel and his friends that they too might be put to death4 ,then ,daniel spoke wisely1 to ,arioch1 the captain of the king's guard1 who had gone out to put the wise men of ,babylon to death1 and said1 ,why is the king's command so harsh8 ,when ,arioch told ,daniel the facts1 he went to the king and asked that he give him time to tell what the dream meant4 ,then ,daniel went to his house and told the facts to his friends1 ,hananiah1 ,mishael1 and ,azariah1 that they might ask the ,god of heaven to be kind to them and to tell ,daniel this secret1 so that they might not die with the rest of the wise men of ,babylon4 ,then the secret was told to ,daniel in a vision at night1 and he praised the ,god of heaven and said3 ,blessed be the name of ,god ,from everlasting to everlasting6 ,for wisdom and power are his4 ,he gives wisdom to the wise1 ,and knowledge to those who have insight4 ,he shows the deep1 secret things2 ,he knows what is in the darkness1 ,and the light of truth dwells in him4 ,i give thee thanks and praise1 ,for thou givest me wisdom and strength1 ,and hast made known the things we asked2 ,thou hast made known to us the king's secret6 ,then ,daniel went to ,arioch1 whom the king had commanded to kill the wise men of ,babylon1 and said to him1 ,do not kill the wise men of ,babylon4 ,take me to the king1 and ,i will tell him what his dream means4 ,then ,arioch quickly brought ,daniel to the king and said to him1 ,i have found a man among the captives from ,judah who will tell you what this dream means4 ,the king said to ,daniel 7whose name was ,belteshazzar71 ,can you make known to me the dream which ,i have had and what it means8 ,daniel answered1 ,the secret which the king asks is something that neither wise men1 magicians1 nor those who study the stars can make known to him2 but there is a ,god in heaven who tells secrets1 and he has made known to ,king ,nebuchadrezzar what shall come in the future4 ,your dream and the visions which you had as you lay asleep are these3 ,you1 ,o king1 had a vision and saw a great image4 ,that image was large and it was exceedingly bright as it stood before you1 and its appearance was terrible4 ,the head of the image was of fine gold1 its breast and its arms of silver1 its body and its thighs of brass1 its legs of iron1 its feet part of iron and part of clay4 ,you looked at it until a stone was cut out1 not by the hands of men1 which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay and broke them in pieces4 ,then the iron1 the clay1 the brass1 the silver1 and the gold were all broken in pieces and became like the chaff which blows from the summer threshing-floors1 and the wind carried them away so that nothing was left of them4 ,but the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the earth4 ,this is the dream1 and we will tell the king what it means3 ,o king1 you are the king of kings to whom ,god has given the rule1 the power1 the strength1 and the glory4 ,over the whole world he has given into your power1 men1 the wild beasts and the birds1 and has made you rule over them all4 ,you are the head of gold4 ,after you shall rise another kingdom not so strong as you are1 and a third kingdom of brass1 which shall rule over the whole earth4 ,a fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron1 for iron breaks in pieces and shatters all things1 and like iron which crushes1 it shall break in pieces and crush all things4 ,as you saw the feet and toes1 part clay and part iron1 it shall be a divided kingdom2 but there shall be in it some of the strength of the iron1 for you saw the iron mixed with clay4 ,as the toes of the feet were part iron and part clay1 so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly broken4 ,you saw the iron mixed with clay1 for the rulers will marry one another1 but they will not stick together1 even as iron does not stick to clay4 ,during the reigns of these kings the ,god of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed1 nor shall the power be left to another people2 but it shall break in pieces and destroy all these kingdoms1 and it shall stand forever4 ,this is shown by the fact that you saw a stone cut out of the mountain1 but not with the hands of men4 ,and it broke in pieces the iron1 the brass1 the clay1 the silver1 and the gold4 ,the great ,god has made known to the king what is to come1 and the dream is real and this meaning true4 ,then ,king ,nebuchadrezzar fell upon his face and worshipped ,daniel1 and ordered that a sacrifice and sweet odors should be offered to him4 ,the king also said to ,daniel1 ,your ,god is the ,god of gods and the ,lord of kings1 and one who tells his secrets to his servant1 for you have been able to tell this great secret4 ,then the king gave ,daniel a high position and many costly gifts1 and made him ruler over all of ,babylon and chief over all the wise men in ,babylon4 ,and at ,daniel's request the king placed ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego in charge of the province of ,babylon2 but ,daniel stayed in the king's court4 ,,the ,,test ,,by ,,fire ,nebuchadrezzar1 the king1 made an image of gold ninety feet high and nine feet wide4 ,he set it up in the plain of ,dura1 in the province of ,babylon4 ,then he sent for the officers1 the governors1 the judges1 the treasurers1 and all the rulers of the provinces4 ,so they all came together and stood before the image that ,nebuchadrezzar had set up4 ,then the herald cried aloud1 ,to you it is commanded1 ,o peoples1 nations3 ',the moment you hear the sound of the trumpet1 flute1 lute1 harp1 bagpipe1 and all kinds of musical instruments1 you shall fall down and worship the golden image4 ,whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a burning1 fiery furnace4' ,so when all the people heard the sound of the trumpet1 flute1 lute1 harp1 bagpipe1 and all kinds of musical instruments1 all the peoples1 nations1 and races fell down and worshipped the golden image that ,king ,nebuchadrezzar had set up4 ,but at that time certain ,chaldeans came near to the king and made this charge against the ,jews3 ,o king1 live forever6 ,o king1 you have commanded that every man who hears the sound of the trumpet1 flute1 lute1 harp1 bagpipe1 and all kinds of musical instruments shall fall down and worship the golden image1 and that whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a burning1 fiery furnace4 ,there are certain ,jews1 ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego1 whom you have placed in charge of the province of ,babylon4 ,these men1 ,o king1 have not obeyed your command2 they do not serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up4 ,then ,nebuchadrezzar in his rage and fury gave command to bring in ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego4 ,when they were brought before the king1 ,nebuchadrezzar said to them1 ,is it true1 ,o ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego1 that you do not serve my god nor worship the golden image which ,i have set up8 ,if you are now ready1 as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet1 flute1 lute1 harp1 bagpipe1 and all kinds of musical instruments1 to fall down and worship the image which ,i have made1 well2 but if you do not worship1 you shall at once be thrown into a burning1 fiery furnace4 ,where is there a god who can deliver you out of my hands8 ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego replied1 ,o king1 there is no need of our answering you about this4 ,our ,god whom we serve is able to save us from the burning1 fiery furnace2 he will save us out of your hand1 ,o king4 ,but if not1 know1 ,o king1 that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up4 ,then ,nebuchadrezzar was very angry and the appearance of his face changed1 as he looked at ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego4 ,he ordered that the furnace should be heated seven times hotter than usual4 ,he also commanded certain strong men who were in his army to bind ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego1 and throw them into the burning1 fiery furnace4 ,then these men were bound in their cloaks1 their tunics1 their robes1 and their other garments1 and were thrown into the burning1 fiery furnace4 ,as the king's command was urgent and the furnace very hot1 the flames destroyed the men who took up ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego4 ,but ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego1 fell down1 bound1 into the midst of the burning1 fiery furnace4 ,nebuchadrezzar1 the king1 was so astonished that he rose up hastily and said to his counsellors1 ,did we not throw three men1 bound1 into the fire8 ,they answered1 ,true1 ,o king4 ,he said1 ,now ,i see four men1 unbound1 walking in the midst of the fire1 and they are unhurt1 and the fourth looks like an angel4 ,then ,nebuchadrezzar went near the door of the burning1 fiery furnace and said1 ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego1 servants of the ,most ,high ,god1 come out4 ,then ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego came out of the fire4 ,and the officers1 governors1 and counsellors who were there saw that the fire had no power over the bodies of these men1 and that the hair of their heads was not singed and that their cloaks were not harmed1 and that there was no smell of fire4 ,and ,nebuchadrezzar said1 ,blessed be the ,god of ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego1 who has sent his angel to save his servants who trusted in him and refused to obey the king's command and have offered their bodies1 that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own4 ,therefore ,i command that every people1 nation1 and race that shall say anything against the ,god of ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego shall be cut in pieces and their house shall be made an ash-heap1 for there is no other god who is so able to save as is this one4 ,then the king gave high positions1 in the province of ,babylon1 to ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego4 ,,the ,,handwriting ,,on ,,the ,,wall ,belshazzar1 the king1 made a great feast for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine before them all4 ,under the influence of wine1 he gave command to bring the gold and silver utensils which his father1 ,nebuchadrezzar1 had taken from the temple at ,jerusalem1 that the king1 his nobles1 his wives1 and the others of his household might drink from them4 ,so they brought the golden vessels which were taken from the temple of ,god which was at ,jerusalem4 ,and the king1 his nobles1 his wives1 and the others of his household drank from them4 ,they drank wine and praised the gods of gold1 of silver1 of brass1 of iron1 of wood1 and of stone4 ,at that moment the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace2 and the king saw the palm of the hand that wrote4 ,then the king grew pale1 and his thoughts troubled him1 his legs trembled and his knees knocked together4 ,the king called for the magicians and those who study the stars and said to the wise men of ,babylon1 ,whoever shall read this writing and tell what it means shall be clothed in purple and have a chain of gold about his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom4 ,then all the king's wise men came in1 but they could not read the writing nor tell the king what it meant4 ,so ,king ,belshazzar was greatly troubled1 and his face grew pale1 and his nobles were thrown into confusion4 ,now the queen1 because of what the king and his nobles had said1 came into the banquet-house and said1 ,o king1 live forever2 let not your thoughts trouble you nor let yourself grow pale4 ,there is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods1 and in the days of your father he was found to have light and understanding and wisdom1 like the wisdom of the gods4 ,now let ,daniel be called1 and he will tell what it means4 ,so ,daniel was brought in before the king1 and the king said to him1 ,are you that ,daniel1 one of the men who were carried away captive1 whom the king1 my father1 brought from ,judah8 ,i have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you1 and that you have understanding and great wisdom4 ,the wise men and the magicians have been brought in before me to read this writing and to tell what it means2 but they are not able4 ,i have heard that you can tell what dreams mean and answer hard questions4 ,now if you can read the writing and tell what it means1 you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold about your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom4 ,then ,daniel answered the king1 ,keep your gifts and give your rewards to another4 ,without them ,i will read the writing to the king1 and tell what it means4 ,o king1 the ,most ,high ,god gave ,nebuchadrezzar1 your father1 the kingdom and power1 glory and majesty4 ,because of the power that he gave him1 all peoples1 nations1 and races trembled and feared him4 ,he killed or kept alive as he wished2 and he raised up or put down whom he pleased4 ,but when he became proud and haughty1 he was made to come down from his kingly throne and his glory was taken from him1 and he was driven away from men1 and his mind became like that of the beasts1 and he lived with the wild asses2 he was fed with grass like oxen1 and his body was wet with the dew of heaven1 until he learned that the ,most ,high ,god rules over the kingdom of men and that he sets up over it whom he will4 ,but you1 his son1 ,o ,belshazzar1 have not been humble1 though you knew all this1 but you have raised yourself against the ,lord of heaven1 and have had the utensils of his temple brought before you1 and you1 your nobles1 your wives1 and the others of your household have drunk wine from them4 ,you have given praise to the gods of silver1 of gold1 of brass1 of iron1 of wood1 and of stone1 which cannot see nor hear nor know2 and you have not praised the ,god in whose control are your very breath and all that you do4 ,then the hand was sent out before him and traced this writing3 ,,mene1 ,,tekel1 ,,peres ,this is what it means3 ,mene3 ,god has numbered your kingdom and brought it to an end4 ,tekel3 you are weighed in the scales and found wanting4 ,peres3 your kingdom is divided and given to the ,medes and ,persians4 ,then at ,belshazzar's command ,daniel was clothed with purple and a chain of gold was put about his neck1 and he was proclaimed the third ruler in the kingdom4 ,but on that very night ,belshazzar1 the ,chaldean king1 was killed1 and ,darius1 the ,mede1 received the kingdom4 ,,daniel ,,in ,,the ,,lions' ,,den ,it pleased ,darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty officers who ruled the whole kingdom1 and over them three chief officials1 of whom ,daniel was one1 that these officers might report to them and that the king should lose nothing4 ,daniel was better than the other chief officials and the officers1 for he had a fine spirit2 and the king intended to set him over the whole empire4 ,then the chief officials and the officers tried to find a way to accuse ,daniel of not having done his duty1 but they could not find anything against him1 for he was faithful and was not guilty of any mistake or wrong-doing4 ,then these men said1 ,we shall not find any way to accuse this ,daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his ,god4 ,so these chief officials and officers all went to the king1 and said to him1 ,king ,darius1 live forever4 ,all the chief officials of the kingdom1 the counsellors and the officers1 the judges and the governors1 have consulted together to have the king make a law and give a strong command that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days1 except of you1 ,o king1 shall be thrown into a den of lions4 ,now1 ,o king1 give the command and sign the law that1 like the law of the ,medes and ,persians1 it may not be changed4 ,so ,king ,darius signed the law and the command4 ,when ,daniel knew that the law was signed1 he went into his house4 ,his windows were open in his room toward ,jerusalem1 and he knelt upon his knees three times a day and prayed1 and gave thanks to his ,god as he had done before4 ,then these men rushed in and found ,daniel praying and calling upon his ,god4 ,so they went before the king and spoke to him about the royal command3 ,have you not signed a command1 that every man who shall ask a petition of any man or god within thirty days1 except of you1 ,o king1 shall be thrown into the den of lions8 ,the king answered1 ,the rule is fixed according to the law of the ,medes and ,persians1 which cannot be changed4 ,then they went on to say to the king1 ,that ,daniel1 who is one of the captives from ,judah1 pays no attention to you1 ,o king1 nor to the command that you have signed1 but prays three times a day4 ,illustration3 ,reproduced by permission of ,thomas ,agnew ,sons1 owners of the copyright ,daniel's ,answer to the ,king ,painted by ,briton ,riviere ,when the king heard these words1 he was greatly displeased1 and set his heart on saving ,daniel1 and he worked until the sun set to save him4 ,then these men all went to the king and said to him1 ,know1 ,o king1 that it is a law of the ,medes and ,persians1 that no command nor law which the king gives may be changed4 ,so the king gave his command1 and they brought ,daniel and threw him into the den of lions4 ,but the king said to ,daniel1 ,your ,god1 whom you always serve1 will save you4 ,then a stone was brought and laid at the entrance to the den2 and the king sealed it with his own seal-ring and with those of his nobles1 that no change might be made so as to rescue ,daniel4 ,then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting4 ,at dawn1 as soon as it was light1 the king rose and hurried to the den of lions4 ,when he came near to the den where ,daniel was1 he cried with a very sad voice1 ,o ,daniel1 servant of the living ,god1 has your ,god1 whom you always serve1 been able to save you from the lions8 ,daniel said to the king1 ,o king1 live forever4 ,my ,god has sent his angel and has closed the lions' mouths1 and they have not hurt me1 for ,i was innocent before him2 and also before you1 ,o king1 ,i have done no wrong4 ,then the king was very glad and commanded that they should take ,daniel up out of the den4 ,so ,daniel was taken up out of the den1 and it was found that he was not injured1 for he had trusted in his ,god4 ,then the king commanded that those men who had accused ,daniel should be brought and thrown into the den of lions4 ,and ,king ,darius wrote to all the peoples1 nations1 and races in all his kingdom1 ,may your peace be great6 ,i make a law that throughout all my kingdom1 men tremble and fear before the ,god of ,daniel2 for he is the living ,god1 and is the same forever1 and his kingdom is one that shall not be destroyed2 and his rule shall be without end4 ,he saves and rescues1 and does wonderful things in heaven and earth2 it is he who has saved ,daniel from the power of the lions4 ,so ,daniel was successful and happy during the reign of ,darius4 ,,queen ,,esther',s ,,love ,,for ,,her ,,people ,after ,xerxes had been king of ,persia for three years1 he gave a feast for all his officials1 officers1 and servants4 ,the commanders of the armies of ,persia and ,media1 the nobles and governors were before him2 while for one hundred and eighty days he showed them the wonderful riches of his kingdom and the costliness of his magnificent regalia4 ,when these days were ended1 the king made a seven days' feast in the enclosed garden of the royal palace1 for all classes of people who were in the royal palace at ,susa4 ,vashti1 the queen1 also gave a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to ,king ,xerxes4 ,on the seventh day1 when ,king ,xerxes had been drinking wine1 he commanded his seven court attendants to bring ,vashti1 the queen1 before him with the royal crown on her head1 to show the peoples and the officials her beauty1 for she was very fair4 ,but ,queen ,vashti refused to come as the king commanded4 ,therefore the king was very angry4 ,in his anger the king said to the wise men1 ,according to law what shall we do to ,queen ,vashti8 ,memucan1 one of the seven high officials1 said before the king and his officers1 ,vashti1 the queen1 has done wrong not only to the king but also to all the officials and to all the peoples in all of the king's provinces4 ,for the refusal of the queen will be reported to all the women so that they will disobey their husbands1 for they will say1 ',king ,xerxes commanded ,vashti1 the queen1 to be brought in before him1 but she did not come6' ,and this very day the ladies of ,persia and ,media who have heard of the refusal of the queen will tell it to all the king's officials1 and there will be contempt and strife6 ,if it seems best to the king1 let him send out a royal command1 and let it be written among the laws of ,persia and ,media1 in order that it may not be changed1 that ,vashti may never again come before ,king ,xerxes2 and let the king give her place as queen to another who is better than she4 ,and when the king's command shall be heard throughout his kingdom--great as it is--the wives of all classes will give honor to their husbands6 ,the plan pleased the king and the officials1 and the king did as ,memucan advised4 ,then the king's pages who waited upon him said1 ,let beautiful young girls be sought for the king1 and let the king appoint officers to all the provinces of his kingdom to gather them all to the palace at ,susa4 ,then give them what is needed to make them beautiful1 and let the girl who pleases the king be queen instead of ,vashti4 ,the plan pleased the king and he did so4 ,there was in the royal palace at ,susa1 a certain ,jew named ,mordecai1 who had been carried away from ,jerusalem with the captives by ,nebuchadrezzar1 the king of ,babylon4 ,he had adopted ,esther1 his uncle's daughter1 for she had neither father nor mother4 ,the girl was attractive and beautiful1 and after her father and mother died1 ,mordecai took her as his own daughter4 ,so when the king's command was made known1 and when many girls were brought to the royal palace at ,susa1 ,esther also was taken into the king's palace and placed in the charge of ,hegai1 who took care of the women4 ,the girl pleased him and won his favor1 so that he quickly gave her what she needed to make her more beautiful and her allowance of food and the seven maids chosen from the king's household4 ,he also moved her and her maids to the best place in the women's quarters4 ,esther had not told who were her people or her family1 for ,mordecai had told her not to tell4 ,every day ,mordecai used to walk in front of the court of the women's quarters to ask after ,esther's health and what had been done with her4 ,when ,esther's turn came to go in to the king1 he loved her more than all the other women1 and she became his favorite and won his love1 so that he placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of ,vashti4 ,then the king gave a great feast to all his officials and servants in honor of ,esther4 ,in those days while ,mordecai was sitting in the king's gate1 two of the king's servants1 who guarded the entrance of the palace1 became enraged and tried to kill ,king ,xerxes4 ,but ,mordecai learned of the plot and told it to ,queen ,esther1 and she told the king in ,mordecai's name4 ,when the truth was known1 the men who plotted against the king were both hanged on a tree2 and it was written down in the daily record of events that was kept before the king4 ,after these events ,king ,xerxes promoted ,haman1 the ,agagite1 and gave him a place above all the officials who were with him4 ,all the king's servants who were in the king's gate used to bow down before ,haman1 for so the king had commanded4 ,but ,mordecai did not bow down before ,haman4 ,then the king's servants1 who were in the king's gate1 said to ,mordecai1 ,why do you disobey the king's command8 ,when they had spoken to him day after day without his listening to them1 they told ,haman1 so as to find out whether ,mordecai's acts would be permitted1 for he had told them that he was a ,jew4 ,when ,haman saw that ,mordecai did not bow down before him1 he was very angry2 but as they had told him that ,mordecai was a ,jew1 he decided not to lay hands on him alone but to plot to destroy all the ,jews in the whole kingdom of ,xerxes4 ,so ,haman said to ,king ,xerxes1 ,there is a certain people scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom1 whose laws differ from those of every other and who do not keep the king's laws4 ,therefore it is not right for the king to leave them alone4 ,if it seems best to the king1 let an order be given to destroy them1 and ,i will pay ten thousand silver talents into the royal treasury4 ,so the king took off his ring from his hand and gave it to ,haman1 ,the money is yours and the people also to do with them as you wish4 ,so messages were sent by men on horses to all the king's provinces1 to destroy1 to kill1 and to put an end to all the ,jews1 young and old1 little children and women1 on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month1 and to rob them of all that they had4 ,then the king and ,haman sat down to drink1 but the people of ,susa were troubled4 ,when ,mordecai learned all that had been done1 he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and put ashes on his head1 and went out into the city and raised a loud and bitter cry of sorrow4 ,and he went as far as the king's gate1 for no one could enter the gate clothed with sackcloth4 ,in every province1 wherever the king's command went1 there was great mourning1 fasting1 weeping1 and wailing among the ,jews2 and many of them sat in sackcloth and ashes4 ,when ,esther's maids and servants told her about it1 she was greatly troubled4 ,she sent garments for ,mordecai to put on1 that he might take off his sackcloth2 but he would not accept them4 ,so ,esther called ,hathach1 one of the king's servants whom he had appointed to wait on her1 and ordered him to go to ,mordecai to learn what this meant and how it had happened4 ,so ,hathach went to ,mordecai at the city square in front of the king's gate4 ,and ,mordecai told him all that had happened to him and the exact sum of money that ,haman had promised to pay into the king's treasury4 ,also he gave him a copy of the order to destroy them1 that had been given out in ,susa1 to show to ,esther that she might know about it4 ,he also urged her to go to the king and ask his mercy and plead with him for her people4 ,when ,hathach came and told ,esther what ,mordecai had said1 she commanded ,hathach to go and say to ,mordecai1 ,all the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that death is the punishment for every man or woman who goes to the king into the inner court without being called1 except for the one to whom the king may hold out the golden sceptre1 which means that he may live4 ,but now for thirty days ,i have not been called to go in to the king4 ,when ,mordecai was told what ,esther had said1 he sent back this answer to ,esther1 ,do not think that you alone of all the ,jews will escape because you belong to the king's household4 ,if you keep silent at this time1 help will come to the ,jews from somewhere else1 but you and your family will perish4 ,who knows but that you have been raised to the throne for a time like this8 ,then ,esther sent this message to ,mordecai3 ,go1 gather all the ,jews in ,susa and fast for me2 do not eat nor drink anything for three days and nights4 ,i and my maids will fast also1 and so ,i will go in to the king1 although it is against the law4 ,and if ,i perish ,i perish4 ,so ,mordecai went away and did as ,esther directed4 ,on the third day1 ,esther put on her royal garments and stood in the inner court of the royal palace opposite the king's house4 ,the king was sitting on his throne in the palace1 opposite the entrance4 ,when he saw ,esther1 the queen1 standing in the court1 she won his favor1 and he held out to her the golden sceptre that was in his hand4 ,so ,esther went up and touched the top of the sceptre4 ,then the king said to her1 ,whatever you wish1 ,queen ,esther1 and whatever you ask1 it shall be granted1 even if it is the half of the kingdom4 ,esther said1 ,if it seems best to the king1 let the king and ,haman come to-day to the feast that ,i have prepared for him4 ,then the king said1 ,bring ,haman quickly1 that ,esther's wish may be granted4 ,so the king and ,haman went to the feast that ,esther had prepared4 ,while they were drinking wine1 the king said to ,esther1 ,whatever you ask shall be granted1 even if it takes the half of my kingdom4 ,esther answered1 ,if ,i have won the king's favor and if it seems best to the king to grant what ,i ask1 let the king and ,haman come to the feast which ,i shall prepare for them2 and to-morrow ,i will do as the king wishes4 ,so ,haman went out that day joyful and happy1 but when he saw ,mordecai in the king's gate and noticed that he neither stood up nor moved for him1 he was furiously angry with ,mordecai4 ,but ,haman controlled his temper and went home4 ,then he called together his friends and ,zeresh1 his wife1 and told them the greatness of his wealth1 how many children he had1 and all the ways in which the king had honored him1 and how he had given him a place above the officials and the royal servants4 ,haman said1 ,queen ,esther brought no one in with the king to the feast which she had prepared but me1 and to-morrow also ,i am invited by her along with the king4 ,yet all this does not satisfy me as long as ,i see ,mordecai1 the ,jew1 sitting at the king's gate4 ,then ,zeresh1 his wife1 and all his friends said to him1 ,let a gallows seventy-five feet high be built and in the morning speak to the king and let ,mordecai be hanged on it4 ,then go merrily with the king to the feast4 ,the advice pleased ,haman1 and so he had the gallows built4 ,on that night the king was unable to sleep2 so he gave orders to bring the books that told of great deeds2 and they were read before the king4 ,and it was written how ,mordecai had told about the two servants of the king who had tried to kill ,king ,xerxes4 ,then the king said1 ,how has ,mordecai been honored and rewarded for this8 ,when the king's pages who waited on him replied1 ,nothing has been done for him1 the king said1 ,who is in the court8 ,now ,haman had just entered the outer court of the king's house to speak to the king about hanging ,mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him4 ,so the king's pages said to him1 ,haman is standing there in the court4 ,the king said1 ,let him enter4 ,so ,haman entered1 and the king said to him1 ,what shall be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor8 ,haman said to himself1 ,whom besides me does the king wish to honor8 ,so ,haman said to the king1 ,for the man whom the king wishes to honor let a royal garment be brought1 which the king has worn1 and the horse on which the king has ridden and on whose head a royal crown has been placed4 ,then let the garment and the horse be placed in charge of one of the king's noble officials and let him clothe the man whom the king longs to honor and make him ride on the horse through the city square and proclaim before him1 ',this is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to honor4' ,then the king said to ,haman1 ,make haste and take the garment and the horse1 as you have said1 and do thus to ,mordecai1 the ,jew1 who sits in the king's gate4 ,do not fail to do all you have said4 ,so ,haman took the garment and the horse and clothed ,mordecai1 and made him ride through the city square and proclaimed before him1 ,this is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to honor4 ,mordecai returned to the king's gate1 but ,haman hurried to his house1 mourning1 with his head covered4 ,and ,haman told ,zeresh1 his wife1 and all his friends everything that had happened to him4 ,then his wise men and ,zeresh1 his wife1 said to him1 ,if ,mordecai before whom you have already been disgraced is of the ,jewish race1 you can do nothing against him1 but you will surely fall before him4 ,while they were still talking with him1 the king's servants came and quickly took ,haman to the feast that ,esther had prepared4 ,so the king and ,haman went to drink with ,queen ,esther4 ,and the king said to ,esther1 as they were drinking wine1 ,whatever you ask1 ,queen ,esther1 it shall be granted you1 even if it takes half of the kingdom4 ,then ,queen ,esther answered1 ,if ,i have won your favor1 ,o king1 and if it seems best to the king1 let my life and my people be given me at my request1 for ,i and my people have been sold to be destroyed1 to be killed1 and to perish6 ,the ,king ,xerxes said to ,queen ,esther1 ,who is he and where is he who dares to do so8 ,esther answered1 ,a foe1 an enemy1 this wicked ,haman4 ,then ,haman shrank in terror before the king and the queen1 and ,harbonah1 one of those who waited on the king1 said1 ,there1 standing in the house of ,haman1 are the gallows1 seventy-five feet high1 which ,haman built for ,mordecai1 who spoke a good word for the king4 ,the king said1 ,hang him on them4 ,so they hanged ,haman on the gallows that he had prepared for ,mordecai4 ,then the wrath of the king was quieted4 ,at that time ,king ,xerxes gave the property of ,haman1 the ,jews' enemy1 to ,queen ,esther4 ,and ,mordecai was made one of the king's advisers1 for ,esther had told of his relationship to her4 ,the king also drew off his signet-ring1 which he had taken from ,haman1 and gave it to ,mordecai2 and ,esther placed ,mordecai in charge of ,haman's property4 ,then ,esther came again before the king and fell at his feet and with tears begged him to prevent the evil that ,haman had planned against the ,jews4 ,the king held out to her the golden sceptre1 and she arose and stood before him4 ,then ,king ,xerxes said to ,queen ,esther and to ,mordecai1 the ,jew1 ,write in behalf of the ,jews1 as seems best to you1 in the king's name and seal it with the king's ring2 for what is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's ring no one may disobey4 ,so ,mordecai wrote in the name of ,king ,xerxes and sealed it with the king's ring4 ,and he sent by messengers1 who rode the king's swift horses1 mules1 and camels1 the king's command that the ,jews who were in every city should gather together and protect their lives4 ,the command had also been given out in the royal palace at ,susa2 and ,mordecai had gone out from the presence of the king in royal garments of violet and white and with a great crown of gold and with a robe of fine linen and purple4 ,the people of ,susa shouted and were glad4 ,to the ,jews there came light and gladness and joy and honor4 ,and in every country and city1 where the king's command came1 there was gladness and joy among the ,jews1 and a holiday4 ,on the fourteenth day of the month ,adar1 the ,jews rested and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing4 ,therefore the ,jews who live in the country villages keep the fourteenth day of the month ,adar as a day of rejoicing and feasting and a holiday1 and as a day on which they send gifts to one another4 ,but the ,jews in ,susa rested on the fifteenth day of the same month and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing4 ,the ,jews made it a custom for them1 and for their children1 and for all who should join them1 so that it might not be changed1 that they should observe these two days as feasts each year4 ,for ,haman had plotted to destroy the ,jews completely1 and he cast pur1 that is1 the lot1 to destroy them4 ,for this reason these days are called ,purim4 ,,rebuilding ,,the ,,temple ,that the promise made by ,jehovah through the mouth of ,jeremiah might be fulfilled1 ,jehovah influenced ,cyrus1 king of ,persia1 in the first year of his reign to make this written law throughout all his kingdom1 ,thus commands ,cyrus1 king of ,persia3 ',jehovah1 the ,god of heaven1 has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has charged me to build him a temple in ,jerusalem in ,judah4 ,whoever among you of all his people wishes to return1 may his ,god be with him1 and let him go up to ,jerusalem1 in ,judah1 and rebuild the temple of ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,israel4 7,he is the ,god who lives at ,jerusalem47 ,in every place where any who are left of ,jehovah's people now live1 let the men of that place help with silver1 with gold1 with goods1 and with animals1 in addition to the offering each man wishes to give for the house of ,god at ,jerusalem4' ,illustration3 7,c7 ,ernest ,normand ,esther ,denouncing ,haman ,painted by ,ernest ,normand ,then the heads of the families of ,judah and ,benjamin and the priests and the ,levites1 including all whom ,god had influenced to build the temple of ,jehovah at ,jerusalem1 started to return4 ,and all their neighbors supplied them with silver1 with gold1 with goods1 with animals1 and with precious things in addition to all that each man wished to give4 ,cyrus1 king of ,persia1 had the vessels of the temple of ,jehovah1 which ,nebuchadrezzar had carried from ,jerusalem1 brought out under the direction of ,mithredath1 the treasurer1 and given to ,sheshbazzar1 the prince of ,judah2 and he carried them to ,jerusalem1 with the people who returned from captivity in ,babylon4 ,and ,jehovah commanded them1 through ,haggai1 the prophet1 ,go up to the mountains and bring wood and rebuild the temple1 then ,i will be pleased with it and ,i will show my glory4 ,then ,zerubbabel and ,joshua1 the high priest1 with all the rest of the people obeyed the command of ,jehovah their ,god2 and they came and worked on the temple of ,jehovah their ,god4 ,they finished the building as the ,god of ,israel commanded4 ,,nehemiah',s ,,answer ,,to ,a ,,call ,,for ,,help ,in the twentieth year of ,artaxerxes' reign1 in the month of ,november1 ,i 7,nehemiah7 was in ,shushan1 the royal palace1 when ,hanani1 one of my brothers1 and certain men came from ,judah4 ,i asked them about ,jerusalem and about the ,jews who were left from the captivity4 ,they told me1 ,those still living there in the province are in great trouble and disgrace4 ,the wall of ,jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been destroyed by fire4 ,when ,i heard these words ,i sat down and wept and mourned several days4 ,then ,i fasted and offered this prayer to the ,god of heaven1 ,i pray thee1 ,o ,jehovah1 the ,god of heaven1 who showest kindness to those who love and follow thy commands1 let thine ears now be open to hear the prayers of thy servant which ,i am now making before thee day and night for the ,israelites1 thy servants1 while ,i confess the sins which we have committed4 ,these are thy servants and thy people1 whom thou hast saved by thy great power and by thy strong hand4 ,o ,lord1 ,i pray thee1 let thine ear be open to the petition of thy servant and to the petitions of thy servants who take pleasure in worshipping thee1 and give success to thy servant this day1 and grant that he may win this man's sympathy4 ,now ,i was cupbearer to the king1 and in the month of ,march in the twentieth year of the reign of ,artaxerxes1 the king1 ,i had charge of the wine offered to the king4 ,up to this time ,i had not been sad2 so the king said to me1 ,why is your face sad1 for you are not sick8 ,this is nothing else but sorrow of heart4 ,then ,i was greatly afraid1 and ,i said to the king1 ,let the king live forever6 ,why should not my face be sad1 when the city1 the place where my fathers are buried1 lies in ruins and its gates are destroyed by fire8 ,then the king said to me1 ,what do you wish8 ,so ,i prayed to the ,god of heaven and said to the king1 ,if it please the king and if your servant has won your favor1 then send me to ,judah1 to the city where my fathers lie buried1 that ,i may rebuild it4 ,the king said to me 7and the queen was also sitting by him71 ,how long will your journey take1 and when will you return8 ,then ,i told him when ,i would return1 so that the king was willing to let me go4 ,i also said to the king1 ,if the king is willing1 let letters be given me to the governors of the province west of the ,euphrates1 that they may let me pass through until ,i come to ,judah1 and a letter to ,asaph1 the keeper of the king's park1 that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the castle which guards the temple and for the wall of the city and for the house in which ,i shall live4 ,the king granted me all this1 for my ,god kindly cared for me4 ,then ,i went to the governors of the province and gave them the king's letters4 ,the king had sent with me officers and horsemen2 and when ,sanballat1 the ,horonite1 and ,tobiah1 the ,ammonite slave1 heard of it1 it troubled them greatly1 that one had come to look out for the welfare of the ,israelites4 ,so ,i arrived at ,jerusalem4 ,after ,i had been there three days ,i rose in the night1 together with a few of my followers4 ,i told no one what my ,god had put into my mind to do for ,jerusalem1 and ,i had no animal with me except the one upon which ,i rode4 ,i went out by night through the ,valley ,gate1 toward the ,dragon's ,well and to the ,dung ,gate2 and ,i examined carefully the walls of ,jerusalem which were broken down and the places where its gates had been destroyed by fire4 ,then ,i went on to the ,fountain ,gate and to the ,king's ,pool1 but there was no place for the animal on which ,i rode to pass4 ,i also went up in the night along the ,brook ,kidron and examined the wall2 then ,i turned back and entered by the ,valley ,gate and so returned4 ,the rulers did not know where ,i went or what ,i did1 and ,i had not as yet told my plan to the ,jews or to the priests or to the nobles or to the rulers or to the others who did the work4 ,then ,i said to them1 ,you see the bad condition in which we are1 how ,jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates are destroyed by fire4 ,come and let us rebuild the wall of ,jerusalem1 that we may no longer be in disgrace4 ,i told them too how my ,god had kindly cared for me and the words which the king had spoken to me4 ,they said1 ,let us go to work and build8 ,so they entered heartily into the good work4 ,,overcoming ,,great ,,difficulties ,now when ,sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall1 he was so angry and indignant that he mocked the ,jews4 ,he spoke before his tribesmen and the army of ,samaria and said1 ,what are these feeble ,jews doing8 ,will they leave it to ,god8 ,will they offer a sacrifice8 ,will they finish the work in a day8 ,will they recover the stones from the heaps of rubbish even after they have been destroyed by fire8 ,tobiah1 the ,ammonite1 was with him1 and he said1 ,this stone wall which they are building--if a fox should go up on it1 he would break it down6 ,but we went on rebuilding the wall2 and all the wall was joined together to half its height1 for the people were eager to work4 ,but when ,sanballat and ,tobiah and the ,arabians and the ,ammonites and the ,ashdodites heard that the rebuilding of the walls of ,jerusalem was going on1 so that the broken places began to be closed1 they were very angry4 ,and they all planned together to come and fight against ,jerusalem and frighten the people there4 ,but we prayed to our ,god and set a watch as a protection against them day and night4 ,when our enemies heard that their plan was known to us and that ,god had not let them carry it out1 we all returned to the wall1 each to his own work4 ,from that time on1 while half of my servants were at work1 half of them held the lances1 the shields1 the bows and the coats of mail2 and the rulers stood behind all the people of ,judah4 ,those who built the wall and those who carried burdens were also armed1 each using one of his hands for the work1 and was ready with the other to grasp his spear4 ,and each builder worked with his sword fastened at his side4 ,the man who sounded the alarm was by me2 and ,i said to the nobles and to the rulers and to the rest of the people1 ,the work is great and spread out1 and we on the wall are far from each other4 ,wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet1 gather about us2 our ,god will fight for us4 ,so we worked hard1 while half of them held the lances from early in the morning until the stars came out4 ,and ,i said at that time to the people1 ,let each man with his servant stay in ,jerusalem1 that they may protect us at night and work during the day4 ,so neither ,i1 nor any of my relatives1 nor my servants1 nor the men of the guard who accompanied me took off our clothes1 but each kept his spear in his right hand4 ,after fifty-two days the wall was finished4 ,when our enemies heard of it1 all the nations around us were afraid1 and it seemed very wonderful to them1 and they knew that this work had been done by our ,god4 ,after the wall had been built and ,i had set up the doors1 and the porters and the singers and the ,levites had been appointed1 ,i placed my brother ,hanani1 the commander of the castle1 in charge of ,jerusalem1 for he was a faithful man and more ,god-fearing than many4 ,and ,i said to them1 ,let not the gates of ,jerusalem be opened until after sunrise2 and at night1 while the watchmen are still on guard1 let them shut the doors and bar them4 ,also let the people who live in ,jerusalem be on guard1 each at his post opposite his own house4 ,now the city was wide and large1 but there were few people in it1 and the houses had not been rebuilt4 ,so my ,god put it into my mind to gather together the nobles and the officials and the people4 ,the officials lived in ,jerusalem4 ,the rest of the people drew lots that one out of every ten should live in ,jerusalem1 the sacred city1 while the others stayed in the villages4 ,then ,i had the officials of ,judah take their place on the wall1 and ,i formed two great processions4 ,the first marched to the right upon the wall toward the ,dung ,gate2 and behind them went ,hoshaiah and half of the officials of ,judah4 ,at the ,fountain ,gate they went straight up the stairs of the ,city of ,david by the ascent along the wall above the ,house of ,david to the ,water ,gate on the east of the city4 ,the other procession went to the left on the wall above the ,tower of the ,furnaces1 and ,i after them1 with half of the people1 to the broad wall and above the ,gate of ,ephraim and past the ,old ,gate1 the ,fish ,gate1 the ,tower of ,hananel1 and the ,tower of the ,hundred to the ,sheep ,gate4 ,then they stood in the ,gate of the ,guard4 ,so the two processions took their position in the temple and ,i and half of the rulers who were with me4 ,then the singers sang loudly1 and the people offered many sacrifices that day and rejoiced1 for ,god had given them great cause for joy4 ,the women and children rejoiced1 too1 so that the cries of joy at ,jerusalem were heard far away4 ,a ,,brave ,,knight ,then the common people and their wives raised a loud cry against their fellow ,jews4 ,some said1 ,we must give up our sons and our daughters in pledge to get grain that we may eat and live4 ,others said1 ,we must give up our fields and our vineyards and our houses1 that we may get grain because there is so little4 ,others said1 ,we have borrowed money to pay the king's taxes4 ,although our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers1 our children as their children2 yet we must sell our sons and our daughters as slaves4 ,some of our daughters have already been made slaves1 and it is not in our power to stop it1 for our fields and our vineyards belong to the nobles4 ,when ,i heard their cry and these words1 ,i was very angry4 ,after ,i had thought about it1 ,i rebuked the nobles and the rulers and said to them1 ,you make each of your fellow ,jews pay what you loan him4 ,then ,i called a great meeting to protest against what they were doing4 ,and ,i said to them1 ,we ourselves have1 as far as we could1 bought back our fellow ,jews who have been sold to foreigners4 ,would you sell your fellow ,jews1 and should they be sold to us8 ,then they were silent and could not find a word to say4 ,so ,i said1 ,what you are doing is not good4 ,ought you not to live in the fear of ,god1 so as not to be an object of shame to our foreign foes8 ,i1 too1 my relatives1 and my servants lend the people money and grain4 ,let us stop taking anything for what we lend4 ,give back to them at once their fields1 their vineyards1 their olive-yards1 and their houses1 and whatever you have made them pay for the money1 the grain1 the new wine and the oil4 ,then they said1 ,we will give them back and will ask nothing from them2 we will do even as you say4 ,then ,i called the priests and made them solemnly promise that they would do as they had said4 ,for twelve years from the time that ,i was appointed to be their governor in the land of ,judah1 ,i and my relatives did not eat the food which was my right as governor4 ,but the governors who were before me were an expense to the people and took from them bread and wine and forty pieces of silver each day4 ,their servants also were cruel to the people4 ,but ,i did not do so1 for ,i feared ,god4 ,i also gave myself to the work on the wall1 and we did not buy any land1 but all my servants were gathered there for work4 ,also a hundred and fifty of the ,jews and rulers1 beside those who came to us from other nations1 were fed at my table4 ,each day one ox and six choice sheep and fowls were prepared at my expense1 and once in ten days plenty of wine for all4 ,yet with all this expense1 ,i did not demand the food which was due me as governor1 because the public work was a heavy burden upon this people4 ,remember to my credit1 ,o my ,god1 all that ,i have done for them6 ,,jonah ,,the ,,narrow-,,minded ,,patriot ,this message from ,jehovah came to ,jonah1 the son of ,amittai3 ,arise1 go to that great city1 ,nineveh1 and preach against it2 for their wickedness is known to me4 ,but ,jonah started to flee to ,tarshish from the presence of ,jehovah4 ,he went down to ,joppa and found a ship going to ,tarshish4 ,so he paid the fare and went aboard to go with them to ,tarshish from the presence of ,jehovah4 ,but ,jehovah made a furious wind blow over the sea1 and there was such a great storm that the ship was in danger of breaking to pieces4 ,then the sailors were afraid and each cried for help to his own god4 ,they threw into the sea the things that were in the ship1 in order to make it lighter4 ,but ,jonah had gone down into the bottom of the ship and lay fast asleep4 ,then the captain of the ship went and said to him1 ,how is it that you are asleep8 ,call on your god2 perhaps that god will think of us1 so that we may not be lost4 ,and they said to one another1 ,come1 let us cast lots1 that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us4 ,so they cast lots1 and the lot fell upon ,jonah4 ,then they said to him1 ,tell us1 what is your business1 and where do you come from8 ,what is your country and to what race do you belong8 ,he said to them1 ,i am a ,hebrew1 and a worshipper of ,jehovah1 the ,god of heaven1 who made the sea and the dry land4 ,then the men were greatly frightened and said to him1 ,what is this you have done8 ,for they knew that he was fleeing from the presence of ,jehovah1 because he had told them4 ,then they said to him1 ,what shall we do to you1 that the sea may be calm for us8 for the sea grew more and more stormy4 ,he said to them1 ,take me up and throw me into the sea1 and the sea will be calm for you1 for ,i know that on account of me this great storm has overtaken you4 ,but the men rowed hard to get back to the land2 they could not1 however1 for the sea grew more and more stormy ahead4 ,therefore they cried to ,jehovah and said1 ,we pray thee1 ,o ,jehovah1 we pray thee1 let us not die for this man's life1 nor let us be guilty of shedding innocent blood1 for thou art ,jehovah2 thou hast done as it pleases thee4 ,so they took up ,jonah1 and threw him into the sea2 and the sea became calm4 ,then the men greatly feared ,jehovah1 and they offered a sacrifice and made promises to him4 ,but ,jehovah prepared a great fish to swallow ,jonah1 and ,jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights4 ,there ,jonah prayed to ,jehovah his ,god2 and ,jehovah spoke to the fish1 and it threw ,jonah out upon the dry land4 ,this message from ,jehovah came to ,jonah the second time1 ,arise1 go to that great city1 ,nineveh1 and give to it the message that ,i tell you4 ,so ,jonah started for ,nineveh1 as ,jehovah commanded4 ,now ,nineveh was so large a city1 that it took three days' journey to cross it4 ,and ,jonah began by going through the city a day's journey1 and he said1 ,forty days more and ,nineveh shall be overthrown4 ,and the people of ,nineveh believed ,god2 and they ordered a fast and put on sackcloth1 from the greatest to the least of them4 ,and when word came to the king of ,nineveh1 he rose from his throne1 took off his robe1 dressed in sackcloth1 and sat in ashes4 ,and he gave this order3 ,by the order of the king and his nobles3 ,man1 beast1 herd1 and flock shall not taste anything2 let them not eat nor drink water4 ,let both man and beast put on sackcloth and let them cry earnestly to ,god2 let them turn each from his evil way and from the deeds of violence which they are doing4 ,who knows but ,god may be sorry for us and turn away his fierce anger1 that we may not die4 ,when ,god saw that they turned from their evil way1 he was sorry for the evil which he said he would do to them1 and did not do it4 ,but this displeased ,jonah very much and he was angry4 ,and he prayed to ,jehovah and said1 ,ah1 ,jehovah1 was not this what ,i said when ,i was still in my own country8 ,that was why ,i fled at once to ,tarshish2 for ,i knew that thou art a ,god1 gracious and merciful1 patient1 and loving and ready to forgive4 ,therefore1 ,o ,jehovah1 take now1 ,i beg of thee1 my life from me2 for it is better for me to die than to live6 ,but ,jehovah said1 ,are you doing right in being angry8 ,then ,jonah went out of the city and sat down on the east side1 and there made a hut for himself and sat under it1 until he might see what would become of the city4 ,and ,jehovah prepared a gourd and made it grow up over ,jonah as a shade for his head4 ,so the gourd gave ,jonah great pleasure2 but at dawn the next day ,god prepared a worm which injured the gourd1 so that it wilted4 ,and when the sun rose1 ,god prepared a hot east wind4 ,and the sun beat upon ,jonah's head1 so that he was faint and begged that he might die1 saying1 ,it is better for me to die than to live4 ,but ,god said to ,jonah1 ,are you doing right in being angry about the gourd8 ,he replied1 ,it is well for one to be angry1 even to death6 ,jehovah said1 ,you care for a gourd which has cost you no trouble and which you have not made grow1 which came up in a night and wilted in a night4 ,should ,i not care for the great city ,nineveh1 in which there are one hundred and twenty thousand people who do not know their right hand from their left2 besides much cattle8 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,job ,in the land of ,uz there lived a man named ,job2 and he was blameless and upright1 one who revered ,god and avoided evil4 ,he had seven sons and three daughters4 ,he owned seven thousand sheep1 three thousand camels1 five hundred yoke of oxen1 five hundred asses2 and he had many servants1 so that he was the richest man among all the peoples of the ,east4 ,one day when the sons of ,god came before ,jehovah1 ,satan came with them4 ,jehovah said to ,satan1 ,from where do you come8 ,satan answered1 ,from going back and forth on the earth1 and walking up and down on it4 ,and ,jehovah said to ,satan1 ,have you seen my servant ,job8 ,for there is no man like him on the earth1 blameless and upright1 who reveres ,god and avoids evil4 ,satan answered1 ,but is it for nothing that ,job reveres ,god8 ,have you not yourself made a hedge all about him1 about his household1 and about all that he has8 ,you have blessed whatever he does1 and his possessions have greatly increased4 ,but just put out your hand now and take away all he has2 he certainly will curse you to your face4 ,then ,jehovah said to ,satan1 ,see1 everything that he has is in your power2 only do not lay hands on ,job himself4 ,so ,satan left the presence of ,jehovah4 ,one day1 as ,job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking in the oldest brother's house1 a messenger came to ,job and said1 ,the oxen were ploughing and the asses were grazing near them when ,sabeans suddenly attacked and seized them2 the servants were put to the sword1 and ,i alone have escaped to tell you4 ,while he was still speaking1 another messenger came and said1 ,lightning has fallen from heaven and has completely burned up the sheep and the servants1 and ,i alone have escaped to tell you4 ,while this man was still speaking1 another messenger came and said1 ,the ,chaldeans1 attacking in three bands1 raided the camels and drove them away2 the servants were put to the sword1 and ,i alone have escaped to tell you4 ,while this one was still speaking1 another messenger came and said1 ,your sons and daughters were eating and drinking in their oldest brother's house when a great wind came from across the wilderness1 struck the four corners of the house1 and it fell upon the young men and killed them4 ,i alone have escaped to tell you4 ,then ,job rose1 tore his robe1 shaved his head1 threw himself on the ground and worshipped1 saying3 ,jehovah gave1 ,jehovah has taken away2 ,blessed be the name of ,jehovah6 ,in all this ,job did not sin nor blame ,god4 ,on another day when the sons of ,god came before ,jehovah1 ,satan came with them4 ,and ,jehovah said to ,satan1 ,from where do you come8 ,satan answered1 ,from going back and forth on the earth1 and from walking up and down on it4 ,jehovah said to ,satan1 ,have you seen my servant ,job8 ,for there is no man like him on the earth1 blameless and upright1 one who reveres ,god and avoids evil2 he still is faithful1 although you led me to ruin him without cause4 ,satan answered ,jehovah1 ,skin for skin1 yes1 a man will give all that he has for his life4 ,but just put out your hand now1 and touch his bone and his flesh2 he certainly will curse you to your face4 ,jehovah said to ,satan1 ,see1 he is in your power2 only spare his life4 ,so ,satan left the presence of ,jehovah1 and afflicted ,job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head with leprosy so terrible that ,job took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself4 ,as he sat among the ashes1 his wife said to him1 ,are you still holding to your piety8 ,curse ,god and die4 ,but he said to her1 ,you speak like a senseless woman4 ,we accept prosperity from ,god1 shall we not also accept misfortune8 ,in all this ,job said nothing that was wrong4 ,when ,job's three friends heard of all this trouble that had befallen him1 they came each from his own home3 ,eliphaz the ,temanite1 ,bildad the ,shuhite1 and ,zophar the ,naamathite1 for they had arranged to go together and show their sympathy for him and comfort him4 ,but when they saw him in the distance1 they did not at first know him4 ,then they all wept aloud and tore their robes and threw dust upon their heads4 ,and they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights without any one saying a word to him1 for they saw that he was in great trouble4 ,then ,job began to speak and said3 ,why did ,i not die at birth1 ,breathe my last when ,i was born8 ,i should then have lain down in quiet1 ,should have slept and been at rest ,with kings and counsellors of earth1 ,who built themselves great pyramids2 ,with princes rich in gold1 ,who filled their houses with silver4 ,there the wicked cease from troubling1 ,there the weary are at rest2 ,captives too at ease together1 ,hearing not the voice of masters4 ,there the small and great are gathered1 ,there the slave is free at last4 ,then ,eliphaz1 the ,temanite1 answered3 ,if one dares to speak1 will it vex you8 ,but who can keep from speaking8 ,see6 you have instructed many1 ,and strengthened the drooping hands4 ,your words have upheld the fallen1 ,giving strength to tottering knees4 ,but now that trouble comes1 you are impatient1 ,now that it touches you1 you lose courage4 ,is not your religion your confidence2 ,your blameless life1 your hope8 ,remember6 ,what innocent man ever perished8 ,or where were the upright ever destroyed8 ,happy the man whom ,god corrects2 ,therefore1 spurn not the ,almighty's chastening4 ,for he causes pain but to comfort1 ,and wounds1 that his hands may heal4 ,then ,job answered3 ,what strength have ,i1 that ,i should endure8 ,and what is my future1 that ,i should be patient8 ,is my strength the strength of stones1 ,or is my body made of brass8 ,a friend should be kind to one fainting1 ,though he lose his faith in the ,almighty4 ,teach me1 and ,i will keep silent4 ,show me how ,i have sinned4 ,then ,bildad1 the ,shuhite1 answered3 ,is ,god a ,god of injustice8 ,or can the ,almighty do wrong8 ,if your children sinned against him1 ,he has let them suffer the penalty2 ,but you should earnestly seek him1 ,and devoutly beseech the ,almighty4 ,if you are pure and upright1 ,he will surely answer your prayer1 ,and will prosper your righteous abode4 ,then ,job answered3 ,to be sure1 ,i know that it is so2 ,but how can a man be just before ,god8 ,he is wise in mind and mighty in strength1 ,who has ever defied him and prospered1 ,blameless ,i am6 ,i regard not myself2 ,i hate my life2 it is all one to me4 ,therefore1 ,i openly declare3 ,he destroys the blameless as well as the wicked4 ,then ,zophar1 the ,naamathite1 answered3 ,if you would cleanse your heart1 ,and stretch out your hands to ,god1 ,and put away sin from your hand1 ,and let no wrong dwell in your tent1 ,you would then lift your face without spot1 ,you would then be steadfast and fearless4 ,then ,job answered3 ,verily you are the people1 ,and with you wisdom shall die6 ,but ,i have a mind as well as you1 ,and who does not know all this8 ,oh1 that my words were now written1 ,that they were inscribed in a book1 ,that with an iron pen and with lead ,in rock they were carved forever6 ,for ,i know that my ,defender lives1 ,that at last he shall stand upon earth2 ,and after this skin is destroyed4 ,freed from my flesh1 ,i shall see him1 ,whom ,i shall behold for myself2 ,my own eyes shall see1 and no stranger's4 ,job again spoke and said3 ,oh1 to be as in months of old1 ,as in days when ,god guarded my steps1 ,when his lamp shone above my head1 ,and ,i walked by his light through the darkness2 ,as ,i was in my prosperous days1 ,when ,god protected my tent2 ,when still the ,almighty was with me1 ,and my children were all about me6 ,when ,i went to the gate of the city1 ,and took my seat in the open1 ,the youths1 when they saw me1 retired1 ,and the aged rose up and stood2 ,the princes refrained from talking1 ,and laid their hands on their mouths2 ,the voices of nobles were hushed1 ,and their tongues stuck fast to their palates4 ,he who heard of me called me happy1 ,he who saw me bore me witness1 ,for ,i saved the poor who cried1 ,and the orphan with none to help him4 ,the suffering gave me their blessing1 ,and ,i made the widow's heart glad4 ,eyes was ,i to the blind1 ,feet was ,i to the lame1 ,and a father to those who were needy4 ,i defended the cause of the stranger1 ,i shattered the jaws of the wicked1 ,and wrested the prey from his teeth4 ,men listened to me eagerly1 ,and in silence awaited my counsel4 ,after my words they spoke not1 ,and my speech fell as rain-drops upon them4 ,but they sing of me now in derision1 ,and my name is a by-word among them4 ,oh1 for some one to hear me6 ,behold my defense all signed6 ,let now the ,almighty answer1 ,let ,jehovah write the charge6 ,on my shoulder ,i would bear it1 ,as a crown ,i would bind it round me2 ,i would tell him my every act2 ,like a prince ,i would enter his presence6 ,then out of the whirlwind ,jehovah answered ,job3 ,where were you when ,i founded the earth8 ,you have knowledge and insight1 so tell me4 ,you must know6 ,who determined its measures8 ,or who measured it off with a line8 ,on what were its foundations placed8 ,or who laid its corner-stone1 ,when the morning stars all sang together1 ,and the sons of ,god shouted for joy8 ,can you lift up your voice to the clouds1 ,that abundance of water may answer you8 ,can you send on their missions the lightnings2 ,to you do they say1 ',here we are'8 ,does the hawk soar because of your wisdom1 ,and stretch her wings to the south wind8 ,does the eagle mount up at your bidding1 ,and build her nest on high8 ,will the fault-finder strive with ,almighty8 ,he who argues with ,god1 let him answer4 ,will you set aside my judgment1 ,and condemn me1 that you may be justified8 ,then ,job answered the ,lord3 ,how small ,i am6 what can ,i answer8 ,i lay my hand on my mouth4 ,i spoke once1 but will do so no more2 ,yes1 twice1 but will go no further4 ,i know thou canst do all things1 ,and that nothing with thee is impossible4 ,i spoke1 therefore1 without sense1 ,of wonders beyond my knowledge4 ,i had heard of thee but by hearsay1 ,but now my eye has seen thee2 ,therefore ,i despise my words1 ,and repent in dust and ashes4 ,then ,jehovah gave back to ,job1 twice as much as he had before4 ,and ,jehovah blessed the last part of ,job's life more than the first part2 and he had fourteen thousand sheep1 six thousand camels1 a thousand yoke of oxen1 and a thousand asses4 ,he also had seven sons and three daughters4 ,and after this ,job lived an hundred and forty years4 ,,psalms ,,the ,,king ,,of ,,glory ,the earth is the ,lord's in its fulness1 ,the world and those who live in it2 ,he founded it upon the seas1 ,and established it upon the floods4 ,who may go up to the hill of the ,lord8 ,who may stand in his holy place8 ,the man with clean hands and pure heart1 ,who plans no evil purpose1 ,nor promises in order to deceive4 ,he shall win from the ,lord a blessing1 ,and approval from ,god his ,saviour4 ,such is the man who may worship him1 ,who may enter thy presence1 ,o ,god of ,jacob4 ,lift up your heads1 ,o gates1 ,be lifted up1 ,o everlasting doors1 ,let the ,king of ,glory come in6 ,who is this ,king of ,glory8 ,the ,lord1 strong and mighty1 ,the ,lord1 mighty in battle6 ,lift up your heads1 ,o gates1 ,be lifted up1 ,o everlasting doors1 ,that the ,king of ,glory may come in4 ,who is this ,king of ,glory8 ,the ,lord1 the ,god of hosts1 ,he is the ,king of ,glory6 ,,god ,,the ,,loving ,,creator ,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul6 ,o ,lord1 my ,god1 thou art great2 ,thou art clothed with glory and majesty1 ,thou hast put on light as a mantle2 ,thou hast stretched the heavens like a tent1 ,thou framest thy upper stories in the waters1 ,thou makest the clouds thy chariot1 ,thou ridest on the wings of the wind1 ,thou makest winds thy messengers1 ,flames of fire are thy servants4 ,thou didst fix the earth on its foundations1 ,that it should not be moved forever4 ,thou didst cover it with the sea as with a garment4 ,the waters stood far above the mountains1 ,but at thy reproof they fled1 ,at the sound of thy thunder they hastened away1 ,not to pass the bound thou hadst set1 ,not to return to cover the earth4 ,mountains rose1 valleys sank1 ,to the place which thou hadst prepared for them4 ,thou sendest the springs to the valleys1 ,they run down between the mountains1 ,they give drink to every wild beast1 ,the wild asses quench their thirst4 ,the birds make their home beside them1 ,they sing from among the branches4 ,thou waterest the mountains from thine upper stories2 ,the earth is filled with the fruit of thy works4 ,thou makest grass spring up for the cattle1 ,and green herbs for the service of man1 ,causing food to spring from the earth1 ,wine to gladden man's heart1 ,oil that makes his face shine1 ,and bread to strengthen his heart4 ,the trees of the ,lord are full of sap1 ,the cedars of ,lebanon1 which he has planted1 ,where the birds build their nests2 ,the stork has her home in the fir-trees4 ,the high mountains are for the wild goats1 ,the rocks are a hiding-place for the marmots4 ,thou createst the moon to divide the year1 ,the sun knows when it should set4 ,thou makest darkness1 and it is night1 ,in which wild beasts creep forth2 ,the young lions roar for their prey1 ,and seek their food from ,god4 ,when the sun arises they disappear1 ,and lay themselves down in their dens4 ,man goes out to his work1 ,to toil until evening comes4 ,o ,lord1 how many are thy works6 ,wisely thou madest them all2 ,the earth is full of thy creatures4 ,there is the sea1 great and wide1 ,with its crawling things innumerable1 ,living things both small and great2 ,there go the monsters of the sea1 ,and the dragon thou madest to play4 ,these all wait for thee1 ,to give them their food in due season4 ,when thou givest to them1 they gather it2 ,thou openest thy hand1 they are satisfied4 ,thou hidest thy face1 they are frightened2 ,thou takest their breath1 they die1 ,and return to the dust from which they came4 ,thou sendest thy spirit1 and they are created2 ,thou refillest the earth with living things4 ,may the glory of the ,lord be eternal1 ,let the ,lord rejoice in his works4 ,he looks at the earth1 and it trembles1 ,he touches the mountains1 and they smoke4 ,i will sing to the ,lord as long as ,i live1 ,i will sing praise to my ,god while ,i exist4 ,may my thoughts be pleasing unto him2 ,i myself find my joy in the ,lord4 ,,god ,,the ,,loving ,,father ,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul1 ,and all that is within me1 bless his holy name4 ,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul1 ,and forget not all his benefits1 ,who forgives all your iniquities1 ,and heals all your diseases1 ,who redeems your life from the grave1 ,and crowns you with love and tender mercy1 ,who satisfies your mouth with good things1 ,so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's4 ,the ,lord is a doer of righteous acts1 ,and of justice to all the oppressed4 ,he made known his laws to ,moses1 ,his deeds to the people of ,israel4 ,the ,lord is merciful and gracious1 ,patient and full of love4 ,he will not always chide1 ,nor keep his anger forever4 ,he has not dealt with us according to our sins1 ,nor rewarded us according to our iniquities4 ,for as high as the heavens are above the earth1 ,so great is his love toward those who revere him4 ,as far as the east is from the west1 ,so far has he removed our wrong deeds from us4 ,as a father loves his children1 ,so the ,lord loves those who revere him1 ,for he understands our nature1 ,he remembers that we are dust4 ,frail man--his days are as grass2 ,as a flower of the field he flourishes1 ,for the wind passes over it1 and it is gone1 ,and its place knows it no more4 ,but the love of the ,lord is eternal1 ,and his righteousness to children's children1 ,to those who keep their covenant with him1 ,and remember to obey his commands4 ,he has established his throne in the heavens1 ,and his rule extends over all4 ,bless the ,lord1 his angels1 ,you strong ones who do his bidding4 ,bless the ,lord all his hosts1 ,you servants who do his will1 ,bless the ,lord1 all his works1 ,in every place where he rules1 ,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul4 ,,god ,,from ,,whom ,,all ,,good ,,things ,,come ,unless the ,lord builds the house1 its builders labor in vain4 ,unless the ,lord guards the city1 the watchman wakens in vain4 ,it is vain for you to rise up early1 to sit down at your meal late1 ,and so eat the bread of toil2 for he gives to his loved ones sleep4 ,children too are a gift from the ,lord1 they are a reward4 ,as arrows in the hand of a warrior1 so are the children of youth4 ,happy indeed is the man whose quiver is full of them1 ,he shall not be put to shame when he argues with foes in the court4 ,illustration3 7,c7 ,curtis ,publishing ,company ,lo1 ,children are a ,heritage of the ,lord ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor ,,god',s ,,goodness ,,and ,,mercy ,the ,lord is gracious and merciful1 ,patient1 and full of loving-kindness4 ,the ,lord is good to all1 ,showing mercy to all his creatures4 ,all thy works give thee thanks1 ,o ,lord1 ,and those who love thee praise thee1 ,they speak of thy glorious rule1 ,and proclaim thy mighty power1 ,that men may know thy great deeds1 ,and the glorious splendor of thy rule4 ,thy rule is an everlasting rule1 ,thy dominion endures forever4 ,the ,lord lifts up all who fall1 ,and raises up all who are bowed down4 ,the eyes of all wait for thee1 ,and thou givest them food in due season4 ,thou it is who openest thy hand1 ,and satisfiest the desires of all creatures4 ,the ,lord is righteous in all his ways1 ,and gracious in all his acts4 ,he is near all who call upon him1 ,to all who call upon him in truth4 ,he fulfils the desire of his worshippers1 ,he hears their cry and saves them4 ,he takes care of all who love him1 ,but destroys all those who do wrong4 ,my mouth shall speak the praise of the ,lord4 ,let all flesh praise his holy name forever4 ,,god ,,the ,,all-,,seeing ,o ,lord1 thou searchest and knowest me1 ,whether ,i sit or stand1 thou knowest1 ,thou readest my thought afar off1 ,when ,i walk or lie down thou dost know it4 ,thou knowest all my ways4 ,there is not a word on my tongue ,that thou1 ,o ,lord1 dost not know6 ,behind and before thou enfoldest me1 ,over me thou dost lay thy hand4 ,such knowledge for me is too wonderful6 ,too high1 ,i cannot attain it4 ,where shall ,i go from thy spirit1 ,where shall ,i flee from thy presence8 ,if ,i climb into heaven1 thou art there1 ,if ,i lie down in the grave1 thou art there4 ,should ,i take the wings of the morning1 ,and dwell on the most distant sea1 ,even there thy hand would grasp me1 ,thy right hand would hold me fast4 ,if ,i say1 ,the darkness will hide me1 ,and the night throw its curtain about me1 ,even darkness for thee is not dark1 ,but the night shines clear as the day4 ,thou didst form my vital parts1 ,thou didst make me from the beginning1 ,i thank thee1 for ,i am wonderfully made2 ,fearful and marvellous are thy works4 ,how precious to me are thy thoughts1 ,o ,god6 ,how great is the sum of them all6 ,should ,i count them1 they would be more than the sand2 ,when ,i awake1 ,i am still with thee4 ,search me1 ,o ,god1 and know my heart1 ,try me1 and know my secret thoughts1 ,and see if ,i have any evil in me1 ,and lead me in the way to eternal life4 ,,god ,,who ,,always ,,watches ,,over ,,his ,,people ,i will lift up my eyes to the hills2 from whence comes my help8 ,my help comes from the ,lord1 who made heaven and earth4 ,he will not let your foot be moved2 he who keeps you does not slumber2 ,behold1 he who keeps ,israel neither slumbers nor sleeps6 ,the ,lord is your protector2 the ,lord is your shade upon your right hand2 ,the sun shall not smite you by day1 nor the moon by night6 ,the ,lord will keep you from all evil2 he will preserve your life2 ,the ,lord will protect your going out and your coming in forevermore6 ,,god ,,who ,,protects ,,from ,,all ,,danger ,give thanks to the ,lord1 for his goodness1 ,for his love endures forever4 ,let those he has redeemed say so1 ,whom he has set free from the hand of the foe1 ,and gathered together from many lands1 ,from the east1 from the west1 ,from the north and the south4 ,some strayed in the barren wilderness1 ,finding no inhabited city1 ,hungry1 indeed1 and thirsty1 ,their very life ebbing away4 ,then they cried to the ,lord in their trouble1 ,and he saved them from their distresses4 ,he led them along the right way1 ,till they reached an inhabited city4 ,let them praise the ,lord for his love1 ,and his wonderful works unto men6 ,for he satisfies the longing soul1 ,and the hungry he fills with good things4 ,some dwelt in darkness and gloom1 ,being bound in affliction and iron1 ,because they had rebelled against ,god1 ,and despised the counsel of the ,most ,high4 ,he humbled their heart with sorrow2 ,when they fell1 there was none to help them4 ,then they cried to the ,lord in their trouble1 ,and he saved them from their distresses4 ,out of darkness and gloom he brought them1 ,and broke their bonds in pieces4 ,let them praise the ,lord for his love1 ,and his wonderful works unto men6 ,for he shattered the gates of brass1 ,and hewed bars of iron asunder4 ,fools because of their wrong-doing1 ,and because of their sins were afflicted2 ,they hated all kinds of food1 ,and drew near to the gates of death4 ,then they cried to the ,lord in their trouble1 ,and he saved them from all their distresses4 ,he sent his command to heal them1 ,and saved their life from destruction4 ,let them praise the ,lord for his love1 ,and his wonderful works unto men6 ,let them sacrifice to him a thank-offering1 ,and with joy recount his deeds4 ,illustration3 7,c7 ,curtis ,publishing ,company ,i will ,lift up mine ,eyes unto the ,hills ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor ,those who go to the sea in ships1 ,who do business in great waters1 ,they see the works of the ,lord1 ,and his wonders in the great deep4 ,when he speaks1 the tempest rises1 ,and tosses the waves on high4 ,up to heaven1 then down they go1 ,their courage melts at the danger1 ,they stagger and reel like drunkards1 ,and their skill is all exhausted4 ,then they cry to the ,lord in their trouble1 ,and he saves them from their distresses4 ,he makes the tempest a calm1 ,and the waves of the sea are still4 ,they are glad when the waves go down2 ,to the haven they long for he brings them4 ,let them praise the ,lord for his love1 ,for his wonderful works unto men2 ,in the popular assembly extol him1 ,in the council of elders praise him4 ,,god',s ,,protection ,,of ,,those ,,who ,,trust ,,in ,,him ,i will bless the ,lord at all times1 ,his praise is continually in my mouth1 ,my soul glories in the ,lord1 ,let the afflicted hear and rejoice4 ,o exalt the ,lord with me1 ,let us praise his name together4 ,i sought the ,lord and he answered me1 ,from all my fears he delivered me4 ,he who looks to him1 becomes radiant1 ,and his face is not covered with shame4 ,this afflicted man cried and he heard him1 ,and from all his distresses delivered him4 ,the angel of the ,lord encamps ,about those who revere him1 and saves them4 ,taste and see that the ,lord is good2 ,happy the man who seeks refuge with him4 ,revere the ,lord1 ,o holy ones1 ,for those who revere him lack nothing4 ,though young lions feel want and suffer hunger1 ,those who seek the ,lord shall not lack any good thing4 ,come1 children1 listen to me2 ,i will teach you true religion3 ,who of you desires to live1 ,loves long life that he may enjoy happiness8 ,then keep your tongue from evil1 ,and your lips from speaking falsehood2 ,turn from evil and do good1 ,seek for peace and pursue it4 ,the ,lord is against evil-doers1 ,to cut off their memory from the earth4 ,the ,lord watches over the upright1 ,his ear is open to their cry4 ,when they cry to the ,lord1 he hears1 ,and saves them from all their troubles4 ,the ,lord is near those who are broken-hearted1 ,he delivers those whose spirits are crushed4 ,the misfortunes of the upright are many1 ,but the ,lord delivers him from them all4 ,the ,lord guards all his bones1 ,not one of them is broken4 ,misfortune shall slay the wicked1 ,those who hate the upright shall be condemned2 ,but the ,lord redeems his servants1 ,and none who takes refuge in him shall be condemned4 ,,god',s ,,loving ,,care ,the ,lord is my shepherd2 ,i shall not want4 ,he makes me lie down in green pastures1 ,he leads me to the still waters1 ,he restores my soul4 ,he guides me in straight paths for his name's sake2 ,though ,i walk through the valley of death1 ,i will fear no evil1 for thou art with me1 ,thy rod and thy staff--they comfort me4 ,thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies1 ,thou anointest my head with oil1 my cup runs over2 ,surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life1 ,and ,i shall dwell in the house of the ,lord forever4 ,,trusting ,,in ,,god',s ,,care ,be not disturbed because of the wicked1 ,nor be envious of those who do wrong2 ,for like grass they shall quickly wither1 ,and fade like the green herbs4 ,trust in the ,lord and do right1 ,live in the land and act faithfully4 ,then the ,lord shall be your delight1 ,he will grant you your heart's desire4 ,commit your way to the ,lord1 ,trust in him1 and he will work with you1 ,he will bring to light your honesty1 ,and make it as clear as the noonday4 ,a ,,prayer ,,of ,,trust ,to thee1 ,o ,god1 ,i lift up my soul1 ,all the day long do ,i wait for thee4 ,i trust in thee1 ,o ,god1 let me not be ashamed2 ,let not my enemies exult over me1 ,and let none who hope in thee be ashamed2 ,but let wicked traitors be disgraced4 ,show me thy ways1 ,o ,lord1 ,teach me thy way to live4 ,lead me in thy truth and teach me1 ,for thou art the ,god who saves me1 ,and in thee do ,i hope continually4 ,remember thy tender mercies1 ,o ,lord1 ,and thy loving deeds1 for they are eternal4 ,do not recall the sins of my youth1 ,but in thy love remember thou me1 ,because of thy goodness1 ,o ,lord4 ,good and upright is the ,lord1 ,so he teaches sinners the way1 ,he guides the humble aright1 ,and teaches the meek his way1 ,all his rules are loving and true1 ,to those who follow his law and commands4 ,for thy name's sake1 ,o ,lord1 ,pardon my guilt1 for it is great4 ,who is the man that reveres the ,lord8 ,he will teach him the way to choose4 ,that man shall continue to prosper1 ,and his children inherit the land4 ,he is friendly with those who revere him1 ,and with his covenant he makes them acquainted4 ,my eyes are ever turned toward the ,lord1 ,for he saves my feet from the net4 ,turn to me and be gracious1 ,for ,i am alone and afflicted2 ,relieve the troubles of my heart1 ,and deliver me from my distresses2 ,look on my affliction and suffering1 ,and pardon all my sins4 ,consider my enemies1 for they are many1 ,and they hate me with violent hatred2 ,oh save my life and deliver me1 ,let me not be ashamed1 for ,i trust thee4 ,let innocence and uprightness preserve me1 ,for ,i wait for thee1 ,o ,lord4 ,,safety ,,in ,,god',s ,,care ,you who dwell in the shelter of the ,most ,high1 ,who abide in the shadow of the ,almighty1 ,who say to the ,lord1 ,thou art my refuge1 ,and my fortress1 my ,god in whom ,i trust1 ,he will surely deliver you from the snare1 ,when entrapped from the destructive pit4 ,with his pinions he will cover you1 ,and under his wings you may hide4 ,his faithfulness is a shield and defense1 ,you shall not be afraid of the terror by night1 ,nor of the arrow that flies by day1 ,of the pestilence that stalks in darkness1 ,nor the destruction that wastes at noonday4 ,a thousand may fall at your side1 ,and ten thousand at your right hand1 ,but it shall not come near unto you4 ,you need but look with your eyes1 ,to see how the wicked are punished4 ,because the ,lord is your refuge1 ,and you have made the ,most ,high your abode1 ,there shall no evil befall you1 ,no plague come near your tent2 ,for he will give his angels charge over you1 ,to keep you in all your ways2 ,they shall bear you up on their hands1 ,lest you strike your foot on a stone4 ,you shall tread on the lion and adder1 ,you shall trample on the young lion and dragon4 ,because of his love for me ,i will deliver him1 ,i will exalt him1 for he knows my name4 ,he shall call upon me and ,i will answer him1 ,in time of trouble ,i will be with him1 ,i will deliver him and bring him honor1 ,with long life will ,i satisfy him1 ,and show him my power to save4 ,,god ,,our ,,refuge ,god is our refuge and strength1 ,an ever-present help in trouble4 ,so we fear not1 though the earth trembles1 ,and mountains tumble into the heart of the sea2 ,though its waters roar and foam1 ,though mountains quake at its uproar4 ,the ,lord of hosts is with us1 ,the ,god of ,jacob is our refuge4 ,as the brooks refresh the city of ,god1 ,so the ,most ,high makes holy his abiding-place2 ,god is in her midst1 she cannot be moved1 ,god will help her at the turn of the morn4 ,nations were in tumult1 kingdoms fell1 ,he uttered his voice1 the earth melted4 ,the ,lord of hosts is with us1 ,the ,god of ,jacob is our refuge4 ,come1 see the mighty works of the ,lord1 ,who makes wars cease to the end of the earth ,he snaps the bow1 and breaks the spear1 ,and burns up the chariots with fire4 ,be still1 and know that ,i am ,god1 ,exalted over the nations1 exalted on earth4 ,the ,lord of hosts is with us1 ,the ,god of ,jacob is our refuge4 ,,the ,,joy ,,of ,,worshipping ,,god ,oh come1 let us sing to the ,lord1 ,let us shout to the ,rock who saves us1 ,let us come before him with thanksgiving1 ,let us sing to him joyful songs2 ,for the ,lord is indeed a great ,god1 ,a great ,king above all gods1 ,in whose hand are the depths of the earth1 ,the heights of the mountains are his1 ,the sea is his1 for he made it1 ,and his hands prepared the dry land4 ,oh come1 let us worship and bow down1 ,let us kneel before the ,lord1 our ,maker2 ,for he is the ,lord our ,god1 ,and we are his people1 the sheep of his pasture4 ,shout with joy to the ,lord1 all the earth1 ,serve the ,lord with gladness1 ,come into his presence with singing1 ,know that the ,lord is ,god1 ,he has made us and we are his1 ,his people1 the flock that he tends4 ,enter his gates with thanksgiving1 ,his courts with songs of rejoicing1 ,give thanks to him1 praise his name1 ,he is good1 his kindness eternal1 ,and his faithfulness unto all generations4 ,,what ,,god ,,asks ,,of ,,those ,,who ,,worship ,,him ,o ,lord1 who may be a guest in thy tent8 ,who may dwell on thy holy hill8 ,he who lives blamelessly and does right1 ,and speaks the truth in his heart1 ,who utters no slander with his tongue1 ,who does no wrong to his friend1 ,who makes no charge against his neighbor2 ,in whose sight the vile are despised1 ,but he honors those who revere the ,lord4 ,he keeps his oath at all costs1 ,his money he puts not out to usury1 ,and cannot be bribed to injure the innocent4 ,he who does this can never be moved4 ,a ,,call ,,to ,,praise ,,god ,oh1 sing to the ,lord a new song2 ,sing to the ,lord1 all the earth1 ,sing to the ,lord1 praise his name1 ,proclaim his salvation each day2 ,tell his glory among the heathen1 ,his wonders among all peoples4 ,god is great1 and worthy of praise1 ,above all gods should he be revered1 ,for all the gods of the peoples are idols1 ,but it is the ,lord who made the heavens4 ,honor and majesty are in his presence1 ,strength and beauty are in his sanctuary4 ,give to the ,lord1 you tribes of the nations1 ,give to the ,lord glory and strength4 ,give to the ,lord the glory that is due him2 ,bring an offering1 and enter his courts4 ,oh1 worship the ,lord in holy attire1 ,tremble before him1 all the earth4 ,say to the nations1 ,the ,lord reigns1 ,and he will rule the peoples justly4 ,let the heavens be glad1 and the earth rejoice1 ,let the sea roar and all of its inhabitants1 ,let the fields exult1 and all that is in them1 ,let the trees of the forest sing with joy ,before the ,lord1 for he has come1 ,for he has come to rule the earth2 ,he will rule the world with justice1 ,he will rule the nations with faithfulness4 ,,the ,,united ,,song ,,of ,,praise ,praise the ,lord from the heavens1 ,praise him on the heights4 ,praise him1 all his angels1 ,praise him1 all his host6 ,praise him1 sun and moon1 ,praise him1 all stars of light6 ,praise him1 heavens of heavens1 ,and waters above the heavens6 ,let them praise the name of the ,lord1 ,for at his command they were made2 ,he fixed them forever and ever1 ,set a bound they must not pass4 ,praise the ,lord from the earth1 ,sea-monsters and all deeps6 ,fire1 hail1 snow1 and vapor1 ,storm wind1 fulfilling his word6 ,mountains and all hills1 ,fruit-trees and all cedars6 ,wild beasts and all cattle1 ,creeping things and winged birds6 ,kings of earth and all peoples1 ,all rulers and judges of earth1 ,young men and maidens too1 ,old men and children together6 ,let them praise the name of the ,lord1 ,for his name alone is exalted4 ,over heaven and earth is his majesty1 ,he has strengthened the might of his people2 ,he is praised by all who are faithful1 ,by the ,israelites1 who are near him4 ,praise ,god in his holy place1 ,praise him for his mighty firmament1 ,praise him for his deeds of power1 ,praise him for his infinite greatness4 ,praise him with the blast of the horn1 ,praise him with lyre and harp1 ,praise him with timbrel and dance1 ,praise him with strings and pipe1 ,praise him with clanging cymbals1 ,praise him with clashing cymbals4 ,let all that breathes praise the ,lord6 ,,man',s ,,place ,,in ,,god',s ,,world ,o ,lord1 our ,god1 how glorious ,is thy name in all the earth6 ,thou hast spread thy splendor over the heavens2 ,at the cry of babes and infants ,thou hast set up a bulwark1 because of thine enemies1 ,to silence the foe and avenger4 ,when ,i see thy heavens1 the work of thy fingers1 ,the moon and stars which thou hast made2 ,what is man that thou art mindful of him2 ,or the son of man that thou visitest him8 ,yet thou hast made him little less than divine1 ,and hast crowned him with glory and honor1 ,making him lord of creation1 ,so that all things are subject to him4 ,the sheep and the oxen1 all of them1 ,yes1 and the beasts of the field1 ,the birds of the air and the fish1 ,that dart through the paths of the sea4 ,o ,lord1 our ,god1 how glorious ,is thy name in all the earth6 ,,the ,,reward ,,of ,,doing ,,right ,happy is the man ,who follows not the counsel of the wicked1 ,nor takes his stand with sinners1 ,nor sits among the scoffers1 ,but delights in the law of the ,lord1 ,and day and night meditates on it4 ,for he is like a tree planted by streams of water1 ,which yields its fruit in due season1 ,whose leaf never withers1 ,and all that he does prospers4 ,not so the wicked6 ,they are like the chaff driven by the wind4 ,so the wicked shall not rise up at the judgment1 ,nor sinners where the righteous are gathered2 ,for the ,lord directs the way of the righteous1 ,but the way of the wicked leads to ruin4 ,a ,,prayer ,,for ,,forgiveness ,have mercy upon me1 ,o ,god1 ,according to thy loving-kindness1 ,according to the multitude of thy tender mercies1 ,blot out all my transgressions1 ,wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity1 ,and cleanse me from my sin4 ,for well do ,i know my misdeeds1 ,and my sin is always before me4 ,against thee1 thee only have ,i sinned1 ,and done what is wrong in thy sight2 ,therefore thou art right when thou speakest1 ,and just when thou pronouncest thy judgment4 ,verily ,i was born in iniquity1 ,and in sin did my mother conceive me4 ,yet thou desirest truth in the heart1 ,in my inner soul thou wouldst teach me wisdom4 ,cleanse me with hyssop that ,i may be clean1 ,wash me whiter than snow4 ,fill me with joy and gladness1 ,that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice4 ,hide thy face from my sins1 ,and blot out all mine iniquities4 ,create in me a clean heart1 ,o ,god1 ,and renew a right spirit within me4 ,cast me not away from thy presence1 ,withdraw not thy holy spirit from me4 ,give me back the glad sense of thy help1 ,and with a willing spirit sustain me4 ,then ,i will teach sinners thy ways1 ,and wrong-doers shall turn unto thee4 ,save me from bloodshed1 ,o ,god1 ,that my tongue may sing of thy righteousness4 ,o ,lord1 open thou my lips1 ,that my mouth may declare thy praise6 ,for thou takest no pleasure in sacrifice1 ,no delight in gifts of burnt-offering4 ,the sacrifices pleasing to thee ,are a broken and a contrite spirit4 ,,the ,,sayings ,,of ,,the ,,wise ,,the ,,rewards ,,of ,,listening ,,to ,,the ,,advice ,,of ,,the ,,wise ,my son1 if you heed my words1 ,and store my commands in your mind1 ,pay close attention to wisdom1 ,and give careful heed to reason4 ,if you will but seek her as silver1 ,and search for her as for hid treasures1 ,you shall then understand true religion1 ,and gain a knowledge of ,god4 ,for wisdom shall enter your mind1 ,and knowledge shall be pleasant to you1 ,discretion shall watch over you1 ,and understanding shall guard you1 ,to keep you from doing wrong1 ,from men whose words are evil1 ,who leave the paths of right ,to walk in ways that are dark1 ,who rejoice in doing wrong1 ,and take pleasure in evil deeds4 ,happy the man who finds wisdom1 ,and he who gains understanding4 ,in her right hand is long life1 ,in her left are riches and honor4 ,her ways are pleasant ways1 ,and all her paths are peaceful4 ,she gives life to those who seek her1 ,they are happy who hold her fast4 ,you shall then go on your way securely1 ,and your foot shall never stumble4 ,when you sit down1 you shall not be afraid1 ,when you lie down1 your sleep shall be sweet4 ,,what ,,god ,,likes ,,and ,,dislikes ,the eyes of the ,lord are all-seeing1 ,keeping watch on both wicked and good4 ,a man thinks all that he does is right1 ,but the ,lord tests the motive4 ,a man plans the way in his mind1 ,but the ,lord directs his steps4 ,the ,lord detests a false balance1 ,but a just balance is his delight4 ,to do what is just and right ,is more acceptable to the ,lord than sacrifice4 ,the conduct of the wicked is hateful to him1 ,but he loves the man eager to do right4 ,the ,lord detests the evil-minded1 ,but is well pleased with him who lives uprightly4 ,the sacrifice of the wicked is hateful to the ,lord1 ,but the prayer of the upright is a delight to him6 ,the ,lord holds aloof from the wicked1 ,but hears the prayer of the upright4 ,lying lips are hateful to the ,lord1 ,but they who act honestly are his delight4 ,there are six things that the ,lord hates1 ,yes1 seven are detestable to him3 ,haughty eyes and a lying tongue1 ,and hands that shed innocent blood1 ,a mind that plans wicked schemes1 ,feet that make haste to do evil1 ,a false witness who utters lies1 ,and he who sows strife between brothers4 ,,god',s ,,care ,,for ,,those ,,who ,,try ,,to ,,do ,,right ,the curse of the ,lord is on the house of the wicked1 ,but he blesses the home of him who does right4 ,surely he scoffs at the scoffers1 ,but to the modest he ever shows favor4 ,the ,lord does not let the righteous go hungry1 ,but he disappoints the desire of the wicked4 ,the ,lord is a stronghold to him who lives rightly1 ,but he brings destruction to those who do wrong4 ,the name of the ,lord is a strong tower1 ,to which the righteous runs and is safe4 ,every word of ,god is true2 ,he is a shield to those who trust him4 ,say not1 ,i will be revenged for a wrong2 ,wait for the ,lord1 he will save you4 ,for the ,lord gives wisdom1 ,from his mouth come knowledge and understanding2 ,he stores up sound wisdom for the upright1 ,he is a shield to those who live clean lives1 ,that he may guard the course of justice1 ,and protect the way of his faithful ones4 ,reverence for the ,lord is the beginning of knowledge1 ,but the foolish despise wisdom and discipline4 ,reverence comes through wise instruction1 ,and before honor goes modesty4 ,trust in the ,lord with all your heart1 ,depend not on your own understanding2 ,in all you do make him your friend1 ,and he will direct your paths4 ,be not wise in your own eyes4 ,revere the ,lord1 and avoid sin4 ,then you will have health of body ,and your bones will be refreshed4 ,honor the ,lord with your wealth1 ,with the best of all you receive1 ,then your barns will be filled with grain1 ,and your vats overflow with wine4 ,a greedy man stirs up strife1 ,but he who trusts in the ,lord will prosper4 ,intrust what you do to the ,lord1 ,then your plans will succeed4 ,,the ,,way ,,to ,,be ,,well ,,and ,,happy ,many a man tells of his own kindness4 ,but a trustworthy man who can find8 ,a child is known by his acts1 ,whether his work is pure and right4 ,worry in a man's mind makes it sad1 ,but a kind word makes it happy4 ,a man's spirit upholds him in sickness1 ,but who can raise up a broken spirit8 ,a calm mind is the life of the body1 ,but jealousy rots the bones4 ,a joyful heart makes a cheerful face1 ,but by inward sorrow the spirit is broken4 ,a joyful heart is good medicine1 ,but a broken spirit dries up the bones4 ,,the ,,importance ,,of ,,being ,,willing ,,to ,,learn ,the lips of the wise speak knowledge1 ,but the fool does not understand4 ,a fool's way seems right in his sight1 ,but a wise man listens to advice4 ,a fool despises his father's correction1 ,but he who regards reproof acts wisely4 ,listen to advice and receive instruction1 ,that you may be wise in your later life4 ,advice in a man's mind is like deep water1 ,but a man of sense will draw it out4 ,hold fast instruction1 let it not go2 ,keep it1 for it is your life4 ,my son1 reject not the discipline of the ,lord1 ,and do not spurn his reproof1 ,for whom he loves he reproves1 ,even as a father the son of whom he is fond4 ,he who rejects correction despises his own self1 ,but he who listens to reproof gains understanding4 ,,how ,,to ,,honor ,,your ,,parents ,my son1 hear the instruction of your father1 ,and forsake not the teaching of your mother2 ,they shall be a crown of beauty for your head1 ,and a necklace about your neck4 ,listen to your father who begat you1 ,and despise not your mother when she is old4 ,he who does what he is told is a wise son4 ,but he who makes friends of spendthrifts1 ,brings disgrace on his father4 ,he who robs father or mother1 ,saying1 ,there is no wrong in it1 ,is like him who is a destroyer4 ,he who curses his father or mother1 ,his lamp shall go out in the blackest of darkness4 ,a wise son makes a glad father1 ,but a foolish son despises his mother4 ,a foolish son is a grief to his father1 ,and brings bitterness to her who bore him4 ,be wise1 my son1 and make glad my heart1 ,that ,i may answer the one who reproaches me4 ,let your father be filled with joy1 ,and let her who bore you rejoice4 ,,the ,,troubles ,,of ,,those ,,who ,,are ,,lazy ,the lazy man says1 ,a lion is outside6 ,i shall be killed in the streets6 ,as the door turns on its hinges1 ,so the lazy man turns on his bed4 ,he dips his hand in the dish1 ,but does not bring it to his mouth6 ,the lazy man is wiser in his own mind1 ,than seven who can answer intelligently4 ,the way of the lazy is hedged in with thorns1 ,but the path of the diligent is a well-built highway4 ,i went by the field of the lazy man1 ,by the vineyard of him who lacked sense1 ,it was all overgrown with thorns1 ,its surface was covered with nettles1 ,and its stone wall was broken down4 ,then ,i beheld and reflected1 ,i saw and received instruction3 ,a little sleep1 a little slumber1 ,a little folding of the hands to rest1 ,and your poverty comes as a robber1 ,and your want as a well-armed man4 ,,things ,,that ,,are ,,better ,,than ,,riches ,better is a poor man who lives uprightly ,than one who is dishonest1 though he be rich4 ,better is a little with righteousness ,than great abundance with injustice4 ,better is a modest spirit with the humble1 ,than to divide spoil with the proud4 ,a good name is better than great riches1 ,more highly valued than silver and gold4 ,he who trusts in riches shall fail1 ,but the upright flourish like a green leaf4 ,toil not that you may become rich2 ,cease through your own understanding4 ,should you set your eyes upon it1 it is gone6 ,for riches fly away1 ,like an eagle that flies toward heaven4 ,better is little with reverence for the ,lord ,than great treasure and trouble as well4 ,two things ,i ask of thee1 ,o ,god1 ,deny me them not ere ,i die3 ,put far from me deceit and lying1 ,give me neither poverty nor riches2 ,provide me with the food that ,i need1 ,that ,i may not be filled to the full and deny thee1 ,and say1 ,who is the ,lord8 ,or else be poor and steal1 ,and disgrace the name of my ,god4 ,,right ,,eating ,,and ,,drinking ,if you find honey1 eat only what you need1 ,that you may not be too full and be ill4 ,wine is a mocker1 strong drink makes one quarrelsome1 ,and whoever is misled by it is not wise4 ,who cries1 ,woe8 who1 ,alas8 ,who has quarrels8 ,who complains8 ,who has wounds without cause8 ,who has redness of eyes8 ,they who linger long over wine1 ,they who go in to taste mixed wine4 ,so look not on wine when it is red1 ,when it sparkles in the cup1 ,and glides down smoothly4 ,at last it bites like a snake1 ,and stings like an adder4 ,then you will see strange things1 ,and your mind will be confused4 ,you will be like one sleeping at sea1 ,like one asleep in a violent storm4 ,i have been struck1 but ,i feel no pain2 ,i have been beaten1 but ,i know it not4 ,when shall ,i awake from my wine8 ,i will seek it yet again4 ,,the ,,right ,,use ,,of ,,the ,,tongue ,do you see a man who speaks before he thinks8 ,there is more hope for a fool than for him4 ,he who answers before he hears ,covers himself with confusion4 ,he who is sparing of words has knowledge1 ,and he who has a cool spirit is a man of sense4 ,even a fool1 if he keeps still1 is considered wise2 ,prudent1 if he keeps his lips shut4 ,he who guards his mouth and tongue ,guards himself against trouble4 ,life and death are in the power of the tongue2 ,they who are fond of using it must eat its fruit4 ,a man has joy from the utterance of his mouth1 ,and a word in season1 how good it is6 ,a word fitly spoken ,is like golden fruit in silver settings4 ,pleasant words are like honeycomb1 ,sweet to the taste and healing to the body4 ,,the ,,control ,,of ,,the ,,temper ,a mild answer turns away wrath1 ,but a harsh word stirs up anger4 ,a man without self-control ,is a ruined city whose wall is broken4 ,a fool gives way to his wrath1 ,but a wise man restrains his anger4 ,a fool's anger is known at once1 ,but a sensible man heeds not an insult4 ,a man's wisdom makes him patient1 ,it is his glory to overlook faults4 ,he who is patient is better than a warrior1 ,and he who rules his temper than he who takes a city4 ,,what ,,it ,,means ,,to ,,be ,,modest ,do not boast what you will do to-morrow1 ,for you know not what a day may bring forth4 ,do you see a man wise in his own opinion8 ,there is more hope for a fool than for him6 ,pride goes before destruction1 ,and a haughty spirit before a fall4 ,when pride comes1 then comes disgrace1 ,but with the modest is wisdom4 ,it is not good to eat much honey2 ,but to seek the glory of others is glorious4 ,let another man praise you1 not your own mouth2 ,some other1 and not your own lips4 ,,being ,,generous ,,and ,,loving ,he who returns evil for good1 ,from his house evil shall not depart4 ,it is an honor for a man to avoid strife2 ,only a fool is quarrelsome4 ,charcoal for embers1 and wood for fire1 ,and a quarrelsome man to kindle strife6 ,strive not with a man without cause1 ,if he has done you no harm4 ,the beginning of strife is as when one lets out water2 ,therefore leave off strife before quarrelling begins4 ,better a dry crust with quietness ,than a house full of feasting with strife4 ,a just man regards the life of his beast1 ,but the heart of the wicked is cruel4 ,he who oppresses the poor reviles his ,maker1 ,but he who has pity on the needy honors him4 ,he who listens not to the cry of the poor1 ,he also shall call and not be answered4 ,he who pities the poor1 lends to the ,lord ,and he will repay him for his good deed4 ,if your enemy hungers1 give him food2 ,if he thirsts1 give him water to drink2 ,for you will heap coals of fire on his head1 ,and the ,lord will reward you4 ,hatred stirs up strife1 ,but love overlooks faults4 ,better a meal of herbs where love is1 ,than a fatted ox with hate4 ,let not love and truth leave you1 ,bind them about your neck2 ,so you will enjoy favor and a good reputation ,in the sight of ,god and man4 ,,the ,,new ,,testament ,illustration3 7,c7 ,curtis ,publishing ,company ,the ,nativity ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor ,,jesus ,,is ,,born ,,at ,,bethlehem ,the angel ,gabriel was sent from ,god to a young woman named ,mary in ,nazareth1 a town of ,galilee4 ,she was to be married to a man named ,joseph of the family of ,david4 ,when he came to her the angel said3 ,hail1 highly honored one6 ,god is with you6 ,she was startled by his words and wondered what such a greeting might mean4 ,but the angel said to her1 ,fear not1 ,mary1 for you have found favor with ,god4 ,you will have a son and will name him ,jesus4 ,he will be great and will be called the ,son of the ,most ,high4 ,then ,mary said to the angel1 ,how can this be1 for ,i am not yet married4 ,the angel answered her1 ,the ,holy ,spirit will come upon you and the power of the ,most ,high will cover you2 therefore your child will be called holy1 the ,son of ,god4 ,mary said3 ,i am ,god's servant4 ,may it be with me as you say4 ,then the angel left her4 ,in those days the ,emperor ,augustus commanded that every one should be registered4 ,so all went to be registered1 each to his own town4 ,joseph1 because he was of the family of ,david1 went to be registered with ,mary1 his wife1 from the town of ,nazareth in ,galilee to ,bethlehem in ,judea where ,david was born4 ,while they were there ,mary's first son was born4 ,and she wrapped him in swaddling-clothes and laid him in a manger1 because there was no room for them in the inn4 ,in that country there were shepherds living in the fields and keeping watch over their flocks by night4 ,and an angel from ,god stood by them and a heavenly light shone around them1 and they were frightened4 ,but the angel said to them3 ,fear not1 for behold ,i bring you good news ,of great joy which shall be for all the people4 ,for to you is born this day in the town of ,david ,a ,saviour who is ,god's ,anointed4 ,this will be a sign to guide you3 ,you will find a baby in swaddling-clothes lying in a manger4 ,then suddenly there was with the angel a great number of the heavenly ones singing praise to ,god and saying3 ,glory to ,god on high1 ,and on earth peace1 good-will among men4 ,when the angels had gone away from them into heaven1 the shepherds said to one another1 ,let us go now to ,bethlehem to see this which ,god has made known to us4 ,so they went quickly and found ,mary and ,joseph2 and the baby was lying in a manger4 ,when they had seen him1 they made known what had been told them about this child4 ,all who heard the words of the shepherds wondered1 but ,mary kept these things to herself and often thought about them4 ,and the shepherds returned1 thanking and praising ,god for what they had heard and seen1 as it had been foretold4 ,,the ,,wise ,,men ,,bring ,,gifts ,,to ,,the ,,young ,,child ,when ,jesus was born in ,bethlehem1 wise men from the east came to ,jerusalem and asked1 ,where is the newly born ,king of the ,jews8 ,for we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him4 ,when ,herod heard these things1 he and every one else in ,jerusalem were greatly troubled4 ,so when he had gathered all the high priests and scribes together1 he asked them where the ,christ was to be born4 ,they said to him1 ,in ,bethlehem of ,judea4 ,illustration37,c7 ,curtis ,publishing ,company ,the ,three ,wise ,men ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor ,then ,herod privately called the wise men and asked them exactly how long the star had been seen since it appeared in the east4 ,and he sent them to ,bethlehem with the command1 ,go and search carefully for the young child1 and when you have found him1 come and let me know1 that ,i also may go and worship him4 ,when they had heard the king1 they went away1 and the star which they had seen in the east went before them until it stood over the place where the young child was4 ,they were overjoyed at the sight2 and when they came into the house and saw the child with ,mary1 his mother1 they knelt down and worshipped him4 ,opening their treasures they presented to him gifts of gold1 frankincense and myrrh4 ,but being warned in a dream not to return to ,herod1 they went back to their own country by another way4 ,,the ,,boy ,,jesus ,,asks ,,questions ,after ,joseph and ,mary had done all that the law commanded1 they returned to ,galilee to their own town of ,nazareth4 ,and the boy ,jesus grew and became strong in body and mind4 ,and the blessing of ,god was upon him4 ,now his parents went every year to ,jerusalem to the ,feast of the ,passover1 and when he was twelve years old they went up as usual4 ,after they had stayed the full number of days and were returning1 the boy ,jesus remained behind in ,jerusalem4 ,his parents did not know this2 but1 supposing him to be in the caravan1 they travelled on for a whole day4 ,then they searched for him among their relatives and friends4 ,when they did not find him1 they returned to ,jerusalem1 still looking for him4 ,after three days they found him in the ,temple1 sitting with the teachers1 listening to them and asking them questions4 ,all who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers4 ,when his parents saw him1 they were astonished2 and his mother said to him1 ,son1 why have you treated us like this8 ,your father and ,i have been anxiously looking for you4 ,he said to them1 ,why did you look for me8 ,did you not know that ,i must be in my ,father's house8 ,but they did not understand what he meant4 ,then he went down with them and came to ,nazareth2 and he was obedient to them2 but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart4 ,and ,jesus grew in wisdom and body and in favor with ,god and man4 ,,john ,,the ,,baptist ,,tells ,,of ,,jesus' ,,work ,while ,pontius ,pilate was governor of ,judea and ,herod was ruler of ,galilee1 a man named ,john1 the son of ,zachariah1 lived in the desert country4 ,and ,god commanded him and he went into all the country around the river ,jordan calling upon men to be baptized to show that they were sorry for their sins and wished to be forgiven4 ,those who were truly sorry for their sins1 he baptized in the river ,jordan4 ,this ,john wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt1 and his food was locusts and wild honey4 ,then the people of ,jerusalem and all ,judea and the country around the ,jordan began to go out to him to confess their sins and to be baptized by him in the ,jordan4 ,to the crowds that went out to be baptized by him he said1 ,you children of vipers6 ,who warned you to flee from the coming wrath8 ,bear fruits1 then1 that will prove that you are truly sorry for what you have done4 ,do not say to yourselves1 ',we are children of ,abraham'2 for ,i tell you1 ,god can raise up children for ,abraham from these stones4 ,already the axe lies at the root of the trees4 ,every tree1 therefore1 that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire4 ,the crowds kept asking him1 ,what must we do8 ,he answered them1 ,let him who has two coats share with him who has none2 and let him who has food do the same4 ,when the tax-gatherers came to be baptized1 they said to him1 ,teacher1 what must we do8 ,he said to them1 ,do not take more from any one than rightfully belongs to you4 ,soldiers also asked him1 ,and what must we do8 ,to them he said1 ,do not take money from anybody by force1 nor make false charges1 but be content with your wages4 ,now as the people were wondering whether ,john might possibly be the ,christ1 ,john said to them all1 ,i indeed baptize you with water2 but ,one is coming mightier than ,i1 whose shoe-strings ,i am not worthy to untie4 ,he will baptize you with the ,holy ,spirit and with fire4 ,his fan is in his hand1 and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor1 and will gather the wheat into his storehouse2 but the chaff he will burn up with fire that cannot be put out4 ,in this way1 and with many other earnest words1 he told the good news to the people4 ,,jesus ,,decides ,,how ,,he ,,will ,,do ,,his ,,work ,at this time ,jesus came from ,nazareth in ,galilee and was baptized by ,john in the ,jordan4 ,and as he was coming up from the water1 he saw the heavens opening and the ,spirit1 like a dove1 coming down upon him4 ,and a voice from heaven said1 ,thou art my beloved ,son1 ,in thee ,i am well pleased4 ,illustration3 7,c7 ,curtis ,publishing ,company ,o ,little ,town of ,bethlehem ,painted by ,w4 ,l4 ,taylor ,then ,jesus was led by the ,spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil4 ,and after he had fasted forty days and forty nights he was hungry4 ,then the tempter came and said to him1 ,if you are the ,son of ,god1 command these stones to become bread4 ,but ,jesus answered1 ,it is written1 ',man is not to live on bread alone1 ,but on every word that comes from ,god4' ,then the devil took him to the holy city and1 setting him on the highest point of the ,temple1 said to him1 ,if you are the ,son of ,god1 throw yourself down2 for it is written1 ',he will give his angels charge of you1 ,and on their hands they will bear you up1 ,lest you strike your foot against a stone4' ,jesus said to him1 ,it is also written1 ',you shall not tempt the ,lord your ,god4' ,once more the devil took him to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory1 and he said to him1 ,all these things ,i will give you if you will fall down and worship me4 ,jesus said to him1 ,away with you1 ,satan6 for it is written1 ',you shall worship the ,lord your ,god1 ,and him only shall you serve4' ,,jesus ,,wins ,,devoted ,,friends ,herod seized ,john the ,baptist and bound him1 and put him in prison because of ,herodias1 his brother ,philip's wife1 for ,john said to him1 ,it is not right for you to have her4 ,and although ,herod wanted to put him to death1 he was afraid of the people1 for they believed ,john to be a prophet4 ,now after ,john was put in prison1 ,jesus came into ,galilee1 preaching ,god's good news3 ,the time has come2 repent of your sins and believe in the good news1 for the kingdom of ,god is at hand4 ,leaving ,nazareth1 ,jesus went to live in ,capernaum1 which is on the ,sea of ,galilee4 ,as he was passing along the shore of the ,sea of ,galilee1 he saw ,simon and ,andrew his brother casting their nets into the sea1 for they were fishermen4 ,jesus said to them1 ,come with me1 and ,i will make you fishers of men4 ,and they at once left their nets and followed him4 ,and going a little farther on1 he saw ,james1 the son of ,zebedee1 with ,john his brother1 who were in their boat mending their nets4 ,he called them1 and they at once left their father1 ,zebedee1 in the boat with the hired men1 and went with him4 ,then ,jesus found ,philip and said to him1 ,come with me4 ,now ,philip was from ,bethsaida1 the home of ,andrew and ,peter4 ,philip1 finding ,nathanael1 said to him1 ,we have found him of whom ,moses in the law and also the prophets wrote3 ,jesus of ,nazareth1 the son of ,joseph4 ,but ,nathanael said to him1 ,can anything good come out of ,nazareth8 ,philip replied1 ,come and see4 ,jesus saw ,nathanael coming to him and said to him1 ,here is a true ,israelite1 in whom there is no deceit4 ,nathanael said to him1 ,how do you know me8 ,jesus answered1 ,before ,philip called you1 when you were under the fig-tree1 ,i saw you4 ,nathanael answered him1 ,rabbi1 you are the ,son of ,god1 you are the ,king of ,israel4 ,jesus replied1 ,do you believe because ,i said to you1 ',i saw you under the fig-tree'8 ,you shall see greater things than these6 ,illustration3 ,courtesy of the ,hanfstaengl ,gallery ,christ and the ,fishermen ,painted by ,e4 ,zimmerman ,,the ,,wedding ,,at ,,cana ,two days later there was a wedding at ,cana in ,galilee2 and the mother of ,jesus was there4 ,jesus and his disciples had also been invited4 ,when the wine had all been used1 ,jesus' mother said to him1 ,they have no wine4 ,jesus answered1 ,what is that to me8 ,my time has not yet come4 ,his mother said to the servants1 ,do whatever he tells you4 ,six stone water-jars 7such as the ,jews used in washing7 were there2 each jar would hold about twenty gallons4 ,jesus said1 ,fill up the jars with water4 ,so they filled them to the brim4 ,then ,jesus said1 ,pour some out1 and take it to the one in charge of the feast4 ,and they did so4 ,when the one in charge of the feast tasted the water which had become wine1 he did not know where it came from 7although the servants who had poured out the water knew71 so he called the bridegroom and said to him1 ,every one serves the good wine first1 and the wine that is not so good after men have drunk freely2 but you have kept the good wine until now4 ,this the first of his wonderful signs1 showing his power1 ,jesus did at ,cana in ,galilee2 and his disciples believed in him4 ,,the ,,healing ,,of ,,the ,,ten ,,lepers ,on their way to ,jerusalem1 ,jesus and his disciples passed through ,samaria and ,galilee4 ,when he entered a certain village1 he was met by ten lepers1 who cried to him from a distance1 ,jesus1 ,master1 have pity on us4 ,when ,jesus saw them he said to them1 ,go1 and show yourselves to the priests4 ,and as they went1 they were made clean4 ,one of them1 when he saw that he was healed1 turned back1 and with a loud voice praised ,god2 and he fell down at the feet of ,jesus with his face to the ground and thanked him2 and this man was a ,samaritan4 ,jesus said to him1 ,were not ten made clean8 ,where are the other nine8 ,was there no one who returned to give praise to ,god except this stranger8 ,and ,jesus said to him1 ,arise1 and go on your way1 your faith has made you well4 ,,healing ,,the ,,man ,,at ,,the ,,pool ,there was a festival of the ,jews in ,jerusalem1 and ,jesus went there4 ,in ,jerusalem there is a pool beside the sheep gate4 ,in ,hebrew it is called1 ,bethesda4 ,it has five porches1 and a crowd of people who were sick1 blind1 lame or helpless were lying there1 waiting for the water to move1 for an angel of the ,lord went down into the pool at certain times and stirred the water2 and the first person who stepped into the water after it was stirred was made well1 no matter what disease he had4 ,one man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years4 ,jesus saw him lying there1 and knew that he had been ill for a long time2 and he said to him1 ,do you want to be made well8 ,the sick man answered1 ,sir1 ,i have no one to put me in the pool when the water is stirred1 and while ,i am getting in1 some one else steps in before me4 ,jesus said to him1 ,arise1 take up your bed1 and walk4 ,immediately the man was made well1 and he took up his bed and walked4 ,,jesus ,,talks ,,with ,a ,,samaritan ,,woman ,when ,jesus left ,judea and went back into ,galilee1 he had to pass through ,samaria2 and he came to a city of ,samaria called ,sychar1 near the piece of ground that ,jacob gave his son ,joseph4 ,now ,jacob's well was there4 ,jesus1 therefore1 being wearied by the journey1 sat down by the well4 ,it was about noon and a woman of ,samaria came to draw water4 ,jesus said to her1 ,give me a drink4 7,for his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food47 ,the ,samaritan woman said to him1 ,how is it that you1 a ,jew1 ask a drink of me who am a ,samaritan8 for the ,jews have nothing to do with ,samaritans4 ,jesus answered her1 ,if you knew the gift of ,god and who it is who says to you1 ',give me a drink1' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water4 ,the woman said to him1 ,sir1 you have nothing with which to draw and the well is deep2 where then do you get that living water8 ,are you greater than our father ,jacob who gave us the well and himself drank from it1 together with his children and his cattle8 ,jesus answered her1 ,whoever drinks of this water will thirst again2 but whoever drinks of the water that ,i will give shall never thirst4 ,the water that ,i give him will become in him a well of water springing up into eternal life4 ,the woman said to him1 ,sir1 give me this water1 that ,i may not thirst again nor have to come here to draw4 ,jesus said to her1 ,go1 call your husband1 then come back here4 ,the woman answered1 ,i have no husband4 ,jesus said to her1 ,you are right in saying1 ',i have no husband1' for you have had five husbands1 and he whom you now have is not your husband2 in saying that1 you spoke the truth4 ,the woman said to him1 ,sir1 ,i see that you are a prophet4 ,our fathers worshipped in this mountain2 and you ,jews say that ,jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship4 ,jesus said to her1 ,woman1 believe me1 the time will come when you will worship the ,father neither on this mountain nor at ,jerusalem4 ,the time is coming1 yes1 has already come1 when the true worshippers will worship the ,father in spirit and in truth2 for such worshippers the ,father seeks4 ,god is a spirit1 and they who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth4 ,the woman said to him1 ,i know that the ,messiah 7which means ,christ7 is coming4 ,when he comes he will explain all things to us4 ,jesus said to her1 ,i who am talking to you am he4 ,at this point the disciples came up and were astonished that he was talking with a woman2 but none of them said1 ,what do you want8 or1 ,why are you talking to her8 ,then the woman left her water-pot and going into the city said to the men1 ,come1 see a man who told me all that ,i ever did4 ,is not this the ,messiah8 ,and they set out from the town on their way to him4 ,meanwhile ,jesus' disciples urged him1 saying1 ,master1 take some food2 but he said to them1 ,i have food to eat of which you know not4 ,so they said to one another1 ,has any one brought him something to eat8 ,jesus said to them1 ,my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to carry out his work4 ,do not say1 ',four months and then comes the harvest'2 ,i say to you1 lift up your eyes and see these fields white for the harvest6 ,already the reaper is receiving his wages and gathering in a crop for eternal life1 that the sower and reaper may rejoice together4 ,for here the proverb holds true1 ',one sows and another reaps4' ,i sent you to reap a harvest for which you had not toiled2 other men have toiled and you are sharing the results of their toil4 ,because of the words of the woman who had said1 ,he told me everything that ,i ever did1 many ,samaritans from the town believed in ,jesus2 and when they came to him1 they begged him to stay with them4 ,and he stayed there two days1 and many more believed because of what he himself said4 ,to the woman they said1 ,now we believe1 not because of your words but because we have heard for ourselves and know that this is indeed the ,saviour of the world4 ,,giving ,,life ,,to ,a ,,widow',s ,,son ,jesus went to a town called ,nain2 and his disciples went with him followed by a large crowd4 ,just as ,jesus came to the gate of the town1 he saw one who was dead being carried out4 ,he was the only son of his mother who was a widow4 ,many people of the town were with her4 ,when ,jesus saw her1 he had sympathy for her and said to her1 ,do not weep4 ,and he came and touched the coffin1 and those who carried it stood still4 ,jesus said3 ,young man1 ,i say to you1 arise4 ,and he who had been dead sat up and began to speak4 ,and ,jesus gave him back to his mother4 ,and all the people were filled with fear and praised ,god1 saying1 ,a great prophet has appeared among us1 and ,god has visited his people4 ,and the story of what ,jesus had done was told in all of ,judea and the country around there4 ,,jesus ,,heals ,,the ,,sick ,jesus and his disciples entered ,capernaum2 and on the next ,sabbath he went into the synagogue and began to teach4 ,and the people were astonished at his teaching1 for he taught them as one who had authority1 and not as the scribes4 ,in their synagogue that day was a man under the power of an unclean spirit1 who cried out1 ,what have you to do with us1 ,jesus of ,nazareth8 ,have you come to destroy us8 ,i know you are ,god's ,holy ,one4 ,but ,jesus reproved the unclean spirit1 saying1 ,be still1 and come out of him4 ,then the unclean spirit1 after convulsing the man1 came out of him with a loud cry4 ,the people were so astonished that they began to ask one another1 ,what is this8 ,is it a new teaching8 ,with authority he commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him4 ,so the news about ,jesus spread at once in every direction all through the country about ,galilee4 ,after leaving the synagogue they went straight to the house of ,simon and ,andrew2 and ,james and ,john went with them4 ,the mother of ,simon's wife was ill in bed with a fever2 so at once they told ,jesus about her4 ,he went to her and1 taking her by the hand1 lifted her up4 ,then the fever left her1 and she began to wait upon them4 ,in the evening1 after the sun had set1 they brought to him all who were sick or under the control of evil spirits1 until all the people of the city were gathered at the door4 ,he healed many who were sick with different kinds of diseases1 and cast out many evil spirits1 but would not let them speak1 because they knew who he was4 ,one day a leper came to him and on bended knees begged him3 ,if you will1 you can make me clean4 ,feeling sorry for him1 ,jesus stretched out his hand and touched him1 and said1 ,i will2 be cleansed6 ,at once the leprosy left him and he was cleansed4 ,then ,jesus1 after strictly warning him1 sent him away with the command1 ,see that you do not say a word to any one1 but go1 show yourself to the priest and offer what ,moses commanded as proof to them that you are clean4 ,but the man went away and began to tell every one about it1 so that ,jesus could no longer enter a city openly1 but had to stay outside in lonely places2 and people from everywhere came to him4 ,,jesus ,,cures ,a ,,man ,,who ,,cannot ,,walk ,when ,jesus entered ,capernaum again1 after some days1 it was reported that he was at home1 and so many people gathered about him that there was no longer room for them1 not even at the door4 ,while ,jesus was preaching to them1 four men came1 carrying a man who was paralyzed and could not move4 ,as they could not get near to ,jesus on account of the crowd1 they tore up the roof over his head4 ,when they had made a hole1 they let down the bed on which the man who could not move was lying4 ,seeing their faith1 ,jesus said to him1 ,son1 your sins are forgiven4 ,but some of the scribes sitting there said to themselves1 ,why should this man say such a thing8 ,he is blaspheming6 ,who can forgive sins except ,god alone8 ,knowing at once what they were saying1 ,jesus said to them1 ,why do you say these things to yourselves8 ,which is easier3 to say to the man who cannot move1 ',your sins are forgiven'2 or to say1 ',get up1 take your bed1 and walk'8 ,but that you may know that the ,son of ,man has the power on earth to forgive sins 7he said to the man who could not walk7 ,i say to you1 ,rise1 take up your bed1 and go to your home4 ,then the man rose and at once took up his bed and went out in the presence of them all1 so that they were all filled with wonder and praised ,god1 saying1 ,we have never seen anything like this4 ,,jesus ,,makes ,,even ,,wrong-,,doers ,,his ,,friends ,then ,jesus went out again beside the ,sea of ,galilee2 and all the crowd came to him1 and he taught them4 ,as he passed along he saw ,levi1 the son of ,alphaeus1 sitting at the house where taxes were collected1 and he said to him1 ,come with me4 ,so ,levi arose and followed him4 ,now while ,jesus was eating dinner in ,levi's house1 many tax-gatherers and sinners sat down with ,jesus and his disciples4 ,the scribes and ,pharisees1 seeing this1 said to his disciples1 ,does he eat with tax-gatherers and sinners8 ,on hearing this1 ,jesus said to them1 ,not those who are well1 but those who are sick have need of a physician4 ,i did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance4 ,at another time one of the ,pharisees invited ,jesus to dine with him4 ,so ,jesus entered the ,pharisee's house and sat down at the table4 ,in the town was a wicked woman who1 when she heard that ,jesus was sitting at the table in the ,pharisee's house1 brought an alabaster jar of perfume4 ,she stood behind at his feet1 weeping2 and as her tears began to wet his feet1 she wiped them with her hair4 ,and she tenderly kissed his feet and poured the perfume over them4 ,when the ,pharisee who had invited him saw it1 he said to himself1 ,if this man were a prophet1 he would know about the woman who is touching him1 for she is a sinner4 ,jesus answered him1 ,simon1 ,i have a word to say to you4 ,he replied1 ,say it1 ,master4 ,there were two men who owed a certain money-lender some silver3 one owed him five hundred silver pieces and the other fifty4 ,neither of them was able to pay anything2 so he forgave them both4 ,now which of them will love him the more8 ,simon answered1 ,i suppose the man who owed the most4 ,jesus said to him1 ,you have decided rightly4 ,turning to the woman1 ,jesus said to ,simon1 ,you see this woman8 ,when ,i came into your house1 you gave me no water for my feet2 but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair4 ,you gave me no kiss1 but she1 since ,i came in1 has not ceased tenderly to kiss my feet4 ,you did not pour any oil on my head1 but she has poured perfume on my feet4 ,therefore1 ,i say to you1 her sins1 though they be many1 are forgiven1 for she has loved much4 ,he to whom little is forgiven1 loves little4 ,then ,jesus said to her1 ,your sins are forgiven4 ,and the other guests began to say to themselves1 ,who is this man who even forgives sins8 ,but he said to the woman1 ,your faith has saved you2 go and be at peace4 ,,jesus ,,finds ,,joy ,,in ,,all ,,his ,,work ,once when ,john's disciples and the ,pharisees were keeping a fast1 people came to ,jesus and said1 ,why do the disciples of ,john and the disciples of the ,pharisees fast1 but your disciples do not fast8 ,jesus said to them1 ,can guests fast at a wedding while the bridegroom is with them8 ,as long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast4 ,but the time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them2 then they will fast4 ,no one sews a piece of new cloth on an old coat2 otherwise the patch breaks away from it1 the new from the old1 and the tear is made worse4 ,no man pours new wine into old wine-skins2 otherwise the new wine bursts the skins1 and both the wine and the wine-skins are lost4 ,instead new wine is poured into fresh wine-skins4 ,one ,sabbath ,jesus was walking through the grain-fields2 and his disciples1 as they made their way through1 began to pull off the heads of the grain4 ,the ,pharisees said to him1 ,sir1 why are they doing things that on the ,sabbath are unlawful8 ,he said to them1 ,have you never read what ,david did when he and his followers were in need and hungry8 how he went into the house of ,god1 when ,abiathar was high priest1 and ate the holy bread which only the priests are allowed to eat1 and gave it also to those who were with him8 ,and ,jesus said to them1 ,the ,sabbath was made for man1 and not man for the ,sabbath2 so that the ,son of ,man is master even of the ,sabbath4 ,at another time he went into a synagogue4 ,a man was there whose hand was shrivelled4 ,and they watched ,jesus to see whether he would heal him on the ,sabbath day1 that they might bring a charge against him4 ,jesus said to the man whose hand was shrivelled1 ,rise and come forward4 ,then he said to them1 ,is it lawful on the ,sabbath day to do good or to do harm8 ,to save life or to kill8 ,who of you1 if he has but one sheep and it falls into a hole on the ,sabbath1 will not take hold of it and lift it out8 ,is not a man of much greater value than a sheep8 ,but they did not answer4 ,then looking around upon them with sorrow and indignation because they had no sympathy1 he said to the man1 ,stretch out your hand4 ,he stretched it out1 and his hand was entirely cured4 ,but the ,pharisees went out and at once began to plot with the ,herodians against him1 how they might put him out of the way4 ,,jesus ,,calms ,,the ,,storm ,jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples1 and a crowd followed him from ,galilee4 ,also from ,judea1 ,jerusalem1 ,idumea the other side of the ,jordan1 and from the country about ,tyre and ,sidon a great number1 having heard what he was doing1 came to him4 ,so he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him to keep him from being crushed by the crowd2 for he had healed so many that all who were sick and in trouble were pressing forward to touch him4 ,and whenever those who had evil spirits saw him1 they fell down before him and cried1 ,you are the ,son of ,god4 ,but again and again he commanded them not to tell who he was4 ,in the evening ,jesus said to his disciples1 ,let us cross to the other side4 ,so1 leaving the crowd1 they took him with them in the boat just as he was2 and there were other boats with his4 ,a heavy wind-storm arose and the waves began to break into the boat so that it was filling2 but ,jesus was in the stern asleep on the cushion4 ,so they woke him and said to him1 ,master1 is it nothing to you that we are lost8 ,and he awoke and reproved the wind1 and said to the sea1 ,peace1 be still6 ,and immediately the wind ceased and the sea was calm2 and he said to them1 ,why are you afraid8 ,why do you not have faith8 ,but they were filled with wonder and said to one another1 ,who then is he1 that even the wind and the sea obey him8 ,,jesus ,,heals ,a ,,little ,,girl ,when ,jesus again crossed the ,sea of ,galilee in a boat to the other side1 a large crowd had gathered to meet him2 so he stayed beside the sea4 ,one of the rulers of the synagogue1 ,jairus by name1 came up1 and1 on seeing ,jesus1 fell at his feet and earnestly begged him1 saying1 ,my little daughter is dying2 come1 ,i beg of you1 and place your hands on her that she may be cured and live4 ,so ,jesus went with him1 and a great crowd followed and pressed about him4 ,in the crowd was a woman who had suffered from hemorrhage for twelve years and had been treated by many physicians1 spending all that she had1 yet was none the better1 but rather had grown worse4 ,having heard about ,jesus1 she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his robe1 for she said to herself1 ,if ,i can but touch his garments1 ,i shall be cured4 ,illustration3 ,raising the ,daughter of ,jairus ,painted by ,leon ,gerome ,immediately the hemorrhage stopped1 and she knew that she was cured of her disease4 ,jesus1 knowing at once that healing power had gone from him1 turned around in the crowd and said1 ,who touched my garments8 ,his disciples said to him1 ,you see the crowd pressing around you1 and yet do you ask1 ',who touched me8' ,but still he looked for her who had done this1 until the woman1 frightened and trembling1 knowing what had happened to her1 came forward and fell down before him and told him the truth4 ,he said to her1 ,daughter1 your faith has cured you4 ,go and live in peace1 and be healed of your disease4 ,while ,jesus was still speaking1 messengers came from the house of the ruler of the synagogue1 saying1 ,your daughter is dead4 ,why trouble the ,master further8 ,but ,jesus1 overhearing the message1 said to the ruler of the synagogue1 ,have no fear1 only trust4 ,jesus would allow no one to go with him except ,peter and ,james and ,john the brother of ,james4 ,when they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue1 he found a crowd of people weeping aloud and wailing4 ,entering1 ,jesus said to them1 ,why are you making an uproar and weeping8 ,the child is not dead1 but asleep4 ,and they laughed at him scornfully4 ,but he sent them out and took the father and mother of the child and those who were with him into the room where she was4 ,then1 taking her by the hand1 he said to her1 ,talitha koumi1 which means1 ,little girl1 arise4 ,to the astonishment of all1 the little girl 7who was twelve years of age7 got up at once and walked about4 ,but ,jesus charged them strictly to let no one know of this1 and told them to give the little girl something to eat4 ,,jesus ,,visits ,,his ,,old ,,home ,jesus went to ,nazareth where he had been brought up4 ,as was his custom1 he went into the synagogue on the ,sabbath1 and stood up to read the lesson4 ,and he was given the scroll of the prophet ,isaiah1 and on unrolling it he found the place where it is written3 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon me1 ,for he has called me to preach good news to the poor1 ,he has sent me to proclaim release to captives1 ,and recovery of sight to the blind1 ,to set free those who have been crushed by cruelty1 ,to proclaim the year when the ,lord will show favor4 ,then1 having rolled up the scroll1 he handed it back to the attendant and sat down4 ,the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him1 and he said to them1 ,to-day what is here written is fulfilled in your sight4 ,as he went on to teach in the synagogue1 many who heard him were astonished and said3 ,where did he get these teachings8 ,what is this wisdom which has been given him8 and what are these wonderful acts of healing that he does8 ,is he not the carpenter1 the son of ,mary and the brother of ,james and ,joses and ,judas and ,simon8 ,are not his sisters living here among us8 ,and they would not believe in him4 ,jesus said to them1 ,a prophet is not without honor except in his own country and among his relatives and in his own home4 ,in that place he could do no wonderful acts except laying his hands on a few sick people and healing them2 and he was astonished at their lack of faith4 ,so he went about the near-by villages teaching4 ,,jesus ,,calls ,,together ,,his ,,friends ,,and ,,helpers ,jesus went up on the hillside near ,capernaum and called to him the men whom he wanted1 and they came to him4 ,he appointed twelve to be with him and to go out to preach1 with power to cast out evil spirits4 ,these were the twelve disciples3 ,simon to whom he gave also the name ,peter1 ,james the son of ,zebedee and ,john his brother1 whom he called ,sons of ,thunder1 ,andrew1 ,philip1 ,bartholomew1 ,matthew1 ,thomas1 ,james the son of ,alphaeus1 ,thaddeus1 ,simon the ,zealot1 and ,judas ,iscariot1 who at last betrayed him4 ,then ,jesus went into a house and the crowd gathered again so that it was impossible even to eat a meal4 ,when his relatives heard of this1 they set out to get hold of him1 for they said1 ,he is out of his mind4 ,standing outside1 his mother and his brothers sent word to him to come out to them4 ,he was in the midst of a crowd seated about him when some one said to him1 ,here are your mother and your brothers and sisters outside hunting for you4 ,he answered1 ,who are my mother and my brothers8 ,then looking around at those who sat in a circle about him1 he said1 ,here are my mother and my brothers4 ,whoever does the will of ,god is my brother and sister and mother4 ,,what ,,jesus ,,asks ,,of ,,his ,,friends ,,and ,,helpers ,illustration3 ,christ with ,mary and ,martha ,painted by ,h4 ,siemiradzki ,once ,jesus entered a certain village where a woman named ,martha invited him to her house4 ,she had a sister named ,mary who seated herself at ,jesus' feet and listened to his words4 ,but ,martha was worried by her desire to wait on him1 and came and said to him1 ,lord1 do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work alone8 ,tell her to help me4 ,but ,jesus said to her1 ,martha1 ,martha1 you are anxious and troubled about many things1 but few things are necessary1 really only one4 ,mary has chosen the better part1 which shall not be taken away from her4 ,once when ,jesus and his disciples were walking along the road1 some one said to him1 ,i will follow you wherever you go4 ,jesus said to him1 ,the foxes have holes and the wild birds their nests1 but the ,son of ,man has no place to lay his head4 ,he said to another1 ,follow me2 but the man said1 ,let me first go and bury my father4 ,jesus said to him1 ,let the dead bury their dead1 but you go and tell about the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,still another said1 ,i will follow you1 ,lord1 but let me first say good-by to my people at home4 ,jesus said to him1 ,no one who looks back after having put his hand to the plough is fit for the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,once1 when crowds were following him1 he turned and said to them1 ,if any one who comes to me is not willing to give up his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters1 yes1 and his very life1 he cannot be my disciple4 ,whoever does not carry his own cross1 as he follows me1 cannot be my disciple4 ,who of you1 if he wishes to build a tower1 does not first sit down and count the cost1 to see whether he has money enough to finish it8 ,otherwise1 if he has laid the foundation and is unable to finish the building1 all who see it make fun of him and say1 ',this man began to build but could not finish6' ,,the ,,way ,,to ,,learn ,,from ,,jesus ,jesus taught his disciples1 saying1 ,do not think that ,i came to set aside the old law or the teachings of the prophets4 ,i did not come to set them aside but to complete them4 ,come to me1 all you who labor and are heavily burdened1 and ,i will give you rest4 ,take my yoke upon you and learn of me1 for ,i am kind and sympathetic1 and you will find rest1 for my yoke is easy and my burden light4 ,he who hears these words of mine and keeps them in mind will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock4 ,the rain fell1 the floods came1 the winds blew and beat upon that house2 yet it did not fall1 for its foundation was built on the rock4 ,he who hears these words of mine but does not keep them in mind will be like a foolish man who built his house upon sand4 ,the rain fell1 the floods came1 the winds blew and beat upon that house1 and it fell1 and great was its downfall4 ,at another time when ,jesus was teaching beside the lake1 such a large crowd gathered about him that he entered a boat and sat in it1 while the crowd stayed on the shore4 ,he then taught them many truths by means of stories1 and said1 ,listen to me4 ,the sower went out to sow1 and as he sowed1 some of the seed fell on the road where birds came and ate it up4 ,some fell on rocky ground1 where it had but little soil1 and because there was no depth of earth it began to grow at once2 but when the sun rose1 it was scorched with the heat1 and having no root it withered away4 ,some of the seed fell among thorns1 and the thorns grew up and choked it so that it bore nothing4 ,other seed fell on good soil1 and sprouted and grew and bore at the rate of thirty1 sixty1 and a hundredfold4 ,and he said to them1 ,let him who has ears to hear1 remember this4 ,when ,jesus was alone1 those who were with him and the twelve disciples asked him what this story meant4 ,he said to them1 ,do you not see the meaning of this8 ,how then will you understand all my other stories8 ,the sower sows his teaching4 ,the teaching that is sown along the road is like some people who hear but immediately ,satan comes and takes away the teaching which has been sown in them4 ,and the seed that has been sown on rocky places1 is like those people who hear the teaching and receive it at once with joy1 but it takes no root in them and they remember it only for a short time4 ,the seed sown among thorns is like those who hear the teaching but the pleasures of this life1 the desire for wealth and other things makes them forget the teaching1 and so it bears no fruit4 ,but the seed sown on good soil is like those people who hear the teaching and remember it1 and it bears fruit2 some thirty1 some sixty1 and some a hundredfold4 ,can a blind man guide a blind man8 ,will not both fall into a ditch8 ,a disciple is not above his teacher2 but every pupil when perfectly trained will be like his teacher4 ,no good tree bears rotten fruit2 neither does a rotten tree bear good fruit2 for each tree is known by its own fruit4 ,figs are not gathered from thorns1 nor grapes picked from a bramble-bush4 ,from the good stored in his heart the good man brings forth goodness1 but the evil man from his evil store brings forth evil2 for the mouth speaks that with which the heart is filled4 ,illustration3 7,c7 ,curtis ,publishing ,company ,the ,sower ,painted by ,herbert ,moore ,you are the light of the world4 ,a city on a hill cannot be hidden4 ,one does not light a candle to put it under a basket but on a stand1 where it shall give light to all who are in the house4 ,so let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your heavenly ,father4 ,,the ,,rewards ,,for ,,following ,,jesus' ,,teachings ,james and ,john1 the sons of ,zebedee1 once came to ,jesus and said1 ,master1 we want you to do for us what we shall ask4 ,so he said1 ,what do you want me to do for you8 ,they answered1 ,when you enter into your kingly glory1 let one of us sit on your right hand and one on your left4 ,but ,jesus said to them1 ,you do not know what you are asking4 ,can you drink the cup of woe that ,i am to drink1 or be baptized with the baptism of suffering with which ,i am to be baptized8 ,they said to him1 ,we can4 ,jesus said1 ,you will drink the cup that ,i am to drink and be baptized with my baptism1 but to sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give2 for it is for those for whom it has been prepared4 ,when the ten other disciples heard this request1 they were at first angry with ,james and ,john1 but ,jesus called them to him and said1 ,you know that those who are rulers in foreign countries lord it over those under them1 and their great men have authority over them2 but it is not so among you4 ,whoever wishes to be great among you must serve you1 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be ready to be the servant of all4 ,for ,i did not come to be served but to be of service to others1 and to give my life so as to secure freedom for many4 ,then he took a little child and set him in their midst4 ,and taking him in his arms1 he said to them1 ,whoever receives a little child like this1 in my name1 receives me2 and whoever receives me receives not only me1 but ,god who sent me4 ,whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink because he is my disciple will1 ,i tell you1 not lose his reward4 ,when the ,son of ,man comes in his glory and with him all the angels1 he will sit upon his glorious throne1 and all people shall be gathered before him4 ,and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats1 placing the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left4 ,then the ,king will say to those on his right1 ',come1 you whom my ,father has blessed1 enter into possession of the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world2 for ,i was hungry and you gave me food1 ,i was thirsty and you gave me drink1 ,i was a stranger and you welcomed me1 ,i was naked and you clothed me1 ,i was sick and you cared for me1 ,i was in prison and you came to me4' ,then the upright will answer him1 ',lord1 when did we see you hungry and feed you8 ,or thirsty and give you drink8 ,when did we see you a stranger and welcome you8 ,or naked and clothe you8 ,or when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you8' ,the ,king will answer them1 ',truly1 ,i say to you1 as you have done it even to the least of these my brothers1 you have done it to me4' ,,god',s ,,love ,,even ,,for ,,sinners ,because tax-gathers and sinners kept coming to ,jesus to hear him1 the ,pharisees and scribes complained1 ,this man welcomes sinners and even eats with them6 ,so he told them this story3 ,what man of you1 if he has a hundred sheep and loses one1 does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go and hunt for the lost sheep until he finds it8 ,and when he has found it1 he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and when he gets home calls together his friends and says1 ',rejoice with me1 for ,i have found the sheep that ,i lost4' ,so1 ,i tell you1 there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who is truly sorry and promises to do right than over ninety-nine upright men who have no need to do so4 ,or which one of you women1 if she has ten silver coins but has lost one1 does not light a lamp1 sweep the house thoroughly1 and search carefully until she finds it8 ,after finding it she calls together her friends and neighbors and says1 ',rejoice with me1 for ,i have found the coin that ,i lost4' ,so1 ,i tell you1 there is rejoicing among the angels of ,god over one sinner who is truly sorry and promises to do right4 ,illustration3 7,c7 ,curtis ,publishing ,company ,seeking the ,lost ,sheep ,painted by ,herbert ,moore ,jesus said1 ,there was a man who had two sons4 ,the younger said to his father1 ',father1 give me the part of your property that belongs to me4' ,so the ,father divided his property between his two sons4 ,a few days later1 the younger son got together all that he had and went into a distant country where he wasted his money in reckless living4 ,after he had spent it all1 there was a great famine in the land1 and he began to be in want4 ,so he agreed to work for a man of that country1 who sent him into his fields to feed swine2 and he was ready to eat even the pods that the swine were eating1 for no one gave him food4 ,but when he came to himself he said1 ',how many of my father's hired servants have more than enough to eat while ,i die here of hunger6 ,i will go to my father and say1 ',father1 ,i have sinned against ,god and against you4 ,i am no longer worthy to be called your son4 ,treat me as one of your hired servants4' ,so he went to his father4 ,but while he was still a long way off1 his father saw him and felt pity for him1 and ran and threw his arms about his neck and tenderly kissed him4 ,then his son said to him1 ',father1 ,i have sinned against ,god and against you4 ,i am no longer worthy to be called your son4' ,but the father said to his servants1 ',quick1 bring a coat1 the best1 and put it on him and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet4 ,and bring the fatted calf1 kill it1 and let us eat and be merry2 for this son of mine was dead but has come back to life1 he was lost but has been found4' ,so they began to make merry4 ,now the elder son was out in the fields1 and as he came near the house he heard music and dancing4 ,and he called one of the servants and asked what all this meant4 ,the servant said to him1 ',your brother has come1 and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has him back safe and sound4' ,and he was angry and would not go in so his father came out to reason with him1 but he answered1 ',see all these many years ,i have worked for you and never disobeyed one of your commands1 yet you never gave me so much as a young goat that ,i might have a feast with my friends4 ,but now when this son of yours comes1 who has wasted your money with wicked women1 you kill the fatted calf for him6' ,his father answered1 ',son1 you are with me always and all that ,i have is yours2 but it was right to make merry and rejoice because of your brother1 for he was dead but has come back to life1 he was lost but has been found4' ,,god',s ,,readiness ,,to ,,answer ,,prayer ,jesus said3 ,ask and you will receive1 seek and you will find1 knock and the door will be opened to you2 for every one who asks receives1 and he who seeks finds1 and to him who knocks the door will be opened4 ,what man is there among you1 who if his son asks him for a loaf of bread1 will give him a stone8 ,or if he asks for a fish1 will give him a snake8 ,then if you1 evil as you are1 know how to give good gifts to your children1 how much more will your ,father in heaven give good things to those who ask him4 ,also ,i tell you3 if two of you on earth agree about that for which you ask1 it will be granted to you by my ,father in heaven4 ,for where two or three have gathered together in my name1 ,i am there with them4 ,,how ,,to ,,pray ,the apostles said to ,jesus1 ,help us to have greater faith4 ,but he said1 ,if you had faith even the size of a mustard-seed and said to this mulberry-tree1 ',be rooted up and be planted in the sea1' it would obey you4 ,again he said to them1 ,have faith in ,god4 ,indeed ,i tell you that if any one will say to this hill1 ',throw yourself into the sea1' and has no doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will come to pass1 it shall be done for him4 ,therefore1 ,i say to you1 believe that whatever you ask for in prayer you have received1 and it shall be yours4 ,and whenever you stand up to pray1 if any one has done wrong to you1 forgive him1 that your ,father in heaven may also forgive you your wrong-doing4 ,when ,jesus was praying at a certain place and had finished1 one of his disciples said to him1 ,lord1 teach us to pray as ,john taught his disciples4 ,so he said to them1 ,when you pray1 say3 ',our ,father who art in heaven1 hallowed be thy name1 thy kingdom come1 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven4 ,give us this day our daily bread1 and forgive us our wrong-doings as we have forgiven those who have wronged us4 ,help us to resist temptation and deliver us from evil4' ,when you pray1 do not do as the hypocrites who like to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the main streets so as to be seen by men4 ,i tell you1 they have received their full reward6 ,but when you pray1 go into your room1 close the door1 and pray to your ,father who is found in secret1 and your ,father who sees what is done in secret will give you your reward4 ,illustration3 7,c7 ,curtis ,publishing ,company ,the ,prodigal ,son ,painted by ,herbert ,moore ,when you pray do not say the same things over and over as do the heathen1 who believe that they will be heard because of their many words4 ,do not do as they do4 ,your ,father knows what things you need before you ask him4 ,,why ,,we ,,should ,,trust ,,god ,do not be anxious about your life1 what you shall eat1 or what you shall wear4 ,does not life mean more than food1 and the body more than clothing8 ,consider how the birds of the air neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns1 and yet your heavenly ,father feeds them4 ,are you not worth far more than they8 ,are not two sparrows sold for a penny8 ,yet not one of them falls to the ground without your ,father's knowledge4 ,as for you1 the very hairs of your head are numbered4 ,then have no fear1 for you are worth far more than the sparrows4 ,which of you by being anxious can add a single foot to his height8 ,and why be anxious about what you wear8 ,consider the lilies of the field1 how they grow6 ,they neither toil nor spin1 and yet ,i tell you1 not even ,solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of these4 ,now if ,god so clothes the grass of the field which is alive to-day but to-morrow is thrown into the oven1 is it not far more certain that he will clothe you1 ,o men of little faith8 ,do not be anxious then and say1 ',what shall we eat or what shall we drink or with what shall we be clothed8' ,for all these things the heathen are seeking1 but your heavenly ,father knows that you need all these things4 ,seek first to do right as he would have you do1 and all these other things will be given to you4 ,therefore1 do not be anxious about to-morrow1 for to-morrow will take care of itself4 ,,the ,,kingdom ,,of ,,god ,once when little children were brought to ,jesus that he might touch them1 the disciples found fault with those who brought them4 ,when ,jesus saw it1 he was displeased and said to his disciples1 ,allow the little children to come to me2 and do not forbid them1 for of such as these is the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,i tell you1 whoever will not accept the ,kingdom of ,god like a little child1 will never enter it4 ,then he took the children in his arms1 laid his hands on them1 and lovingly blessed them4 ,one ,sabbath day ,jesus went to dine at the house of a leading ,pharisee4 ,one of the guests said to him1 ,fortunate is he who will have a share in the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,but ,jesus said to him1 ,a man once gave a great dinner and invited many guests4 ,at dinner-time he sent out his servant to say to those who had been invited1 ',come1 for everything is now ready4' ,but all of them began to make excuses4 ,the first said1 ',i have bought a field and must go and look at it4 ,i must ask you to excuse me4' ,another said1 ',i have bought five yoke of oxen and am on my way to try them4 ,i must ask you to excuse me4' ,another said1 ',i have just married and so ,i cannot come4' ,the servant returned and reported these answers to his master4 ,then the master of the house was angry and said to his servant1 ',go out at once into the streets and alleys of the city1 and bring in the poor1 the crippled1 the blind1 and the lame4' ,when the servant reported1 ',sir1 your order has been carried out1 yet there is still room1' the master said to him1 ',go out into the highways and the country lanes and compel people to come1 so that my house may be filled2 for ,i tell you1 that not one of those who were first invited shall taste of my dinner4' ,once when ,jesus was walking along the road1 a man ran up and knelt before him and asked1 ,good ,master1 what must ,i do that ,i may be sure of eternal life8 ,jesus said to him1 ,why do you call me good8 ,no one is good except one only3 ,god4 ,you know the commandments3 ',do not commit adultery4 ,do not murder4 ,do not steal4 ,do not bear false witness4 ,do not be dishonest4 ,honor your father and mother4' ,he said to him1 ,master1 ,i have kept all these commands from my youth4 ,looking upon him1 ,jesus loved him and said1 ,one thing you lack2 go1 sell all that you have and give to the poor1 and you will have treasure in heaven4 ,then come with me4 ,but when the man heard this1 he looked sad1 and he went away in sorrow1 for he had great wealth4 ,then ,jesus looked around and said to his disciples1 ,how hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the ,kingdom of ,god6 ,they were surprised at his words1 but again he said1 ,children1 how hard it is for those who trust in wealth to enter the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,and they were so astonished that they said1 ,then who can be saved8 ,jesus looked at them and said1 ,with men it is impossible1 but not with ,god1 for with ,god everything is possible4 ,,the ,,two ,,great ,,commandments ,once a lawyer asked ,jesus1 ,what is the most important of all the commandments8 ,jesus answered1 ,the most important is3 ',the ,lord our ,god is one ,lord2 and you shall love the ,lord your ,god with your whole heart1 with your whole soul1 with your whole mind and with your whole strength4' ,the second is this3 ',you shall love your neighbor as yourself4' ,there is no other commandment greater than these4 ,the lawyer said to him1 ,teacher1 you have rightly and truly said1 ',there is one ,god and there is none other4 ,also to love him1 with all one's heart1 and with all one's understanding1 and with all one's strength1 and to love one's neighbor as one loves himself is far more than all whole-burnt offerings and sacrifices4' ,when ,jesus saw that the lawyer had answered wisely1 he said to him1 ,you are not far from the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,,the ,,rewards ,,of ,,modesty ,,and ,,unselfishness ,once ,jesus went into the house of a leading ,pharisee to dine4 ,when he saw how the guests chose the best places1 he gave them this advice3 ,when any one invites you to a marriage feast1 do not sit down in the best place1 for perhaps the host has invited some one of higher rank than yourself4 ,then the host will come to you and say1 ',make room for this man1' and with shame you will take the lowest place4 ,instead1 when you are invited1 go and sit down in the lowest place1 so that when your host comes he may say to you1 ',friend1 come up higher4' ,then you will be honored in the sight of all your fellow guests4 ,for every one who puts himself forward will be humbled1 but he who does not put himself forward will be honored4 ,then ,jesus said to his host1 ,when you give a dinner or a supper1 do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors1 for they will invite you in return and you be repaid4 ,but when you give a feast1 invite the poor1 the crippled1 the lame and the blind4 ,then you will be blessed4 ,for they have no way of repaying you1 and you will be rewarded when the upright rise from the dead4 ,peter said to him1 ,but we have left everything and have followed you4 ,jesus answered1 ,i tell you1 there is no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the good cause1 who does not receive a hundredfold as much at this present time3 houses1 brothers1 sisters1 mothers1 children1 and lands1 along with persecution1 and in the time to come eternal life4 ,but many who are first now will be last1 and the last will be first4 ,,how ,,to ,,use ,,money ,a man from the crowd once said to ,jesus1 ,master1 tell my brother to give me my share of the property that belongs to us4 ,jesus answered1 ,man1 who made me your judge to divide between you8 ,then to the people he said1 ,take care that you do not become greedy for wealth1 for life does not consist in having more things than you need4 ,and he told them this story3 ,the land of a certain rich man bore large crops2 so he thought to himself1 ',what am ,i to do1 for ,i have no place to store my crops4' ,then he said1 ',this is what ,i will do3 ,i will pull down my barns and build larger ones in which ,i can store all my grain and goods4 ,then ,i will say to myself1 ,now you have plenty of things laid up for many years to come2 take your ease1 eat1 drink and be happy4' ,but ,god said to him1 ',foolish man6 ,this very night your life is required of you1 and who will have all the things that you have gathered8' ,so it is with the man who lays up wealth for himself instead of that which in the sight of ,god is the true wealth4 ,do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy1 and where thieves break in and steal2 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys1 and where thieves do not break in and steal4 ,for where your treasure is1 there will your heart be also4 ,no man can serve two masters3 either he will hate one and love the other1 or else he will be loyal to one and untrue to the other4 ,you cannot worship both ,god and wealth4 ,once as ,jesus was sitting opposite the treasury of the ,temple1 he watched the way in which the people put in their money4 ,many rich men were putting in large sums1 but a poor woman came and dropped in two small coins worth less than a penny4 ,he called his disciples and said to them1 ,i tell you1 this poor widow has given more than all the rest who have put their money into the treasury1 for they have given out of their plenty1 but she out of her poverty has given all that she has1 even that which is needed to keep her alive4 ,,different ,,ways ,,of ,,using ,,talents ,the ,kingdom of ,heaven is like a man who before going abroad called his servants and gave what he had into their charge4 ,to one he gave five talents1 to another two1 and to another one1 each according to what he was able to do4 ,then the man went on his journey4 ,the servant who had received five talents went at once and traded with them and gained five more talents4 ,in the same way the one who had received two gained two more4 ,but he who had received one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money4 ,after a long time the master of those servants came back and settled his accounts with them4 ,when the one who had received five talents came bringing five more1 he said1 ',master1 you gave me five talents4 ,see1 ,i have gained five more4' ,his master said to him ',well done1 good and faithful servant6 ,you have been faithful over a few things1 ,i will put you in charge of many things4 ,share your master's happiness4' ,the one who had received the two talents also came and said1 ',master1 you gave me two talents4 ,see1 ,i have gained two more4' ,his master said to him1 ',well done1 good and faithful servant6 ,you have been faithful over a few things1 ,i will put you in charge of many things4 ,share your master's happiness4' ,then he who had received one talent came and said1 ',master1 ,i knew that you are a hard man1 reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not winnowed2 so ,i was afraid and hid your talent in the ground4 ,there you have what belongs to you4' ,but his master answered1 ',idle1 worthless servant6 ,you knew that ,i reap where ,i have not sown and gather where ,i have not winnowed4 ,you ought therefore to have put my money in the hands of bankers and on my return ,i would have received it with interest4 ,take my talent away from him and give it to the servant who has the ten talents2 for to every one who has shall more be given and he shall have plenty2 but from him who has only a little1 even what he has shall be taken away4 ,throw this worthless servant into the outer darkness where men shall wail and grind their teeth4' ,,the ,,good ,,samaritan ,once a lawyer stood up to test ,jesus with this question1 ,master1 what shall ,i do to receive eternal life8 ,jesus said to him1 ,what is written in the law8 ,how does it read8 ,he answered1 ,you shall love the ,lord your ,god with all your heart1 with all your soul1 and with all your strength and with all your mind2 also your neighbor as yourself4 ,jesus said to him1 ,you have answered correctly2 do this and you will live4 ,but wishing to justify himself he said to ,jesus1 ,who is my neighbor8 ,jesus answered1 ,a certain man going down from ,jerusalem to ,jericho fell in with robbers who after stripping and beating him went away1 leaving him half dead4 ,now it happened that a certain priest was going by the same road1 but when he saw the man1 he passed by on the other side4 ,in the same way a ,levite1 when he came to the place1 looked at the man and passed by on the other side4 ,but a ,samaritan1 travelling along1 came near to where the man was1 and when he saw him he was filled with pity4 ,he came to him and bound up his wounds1 pouring on them oil and wine4 ,then he set him on his own beast1 brought him to an inn1 and took care of him4 ,the next day he took out two pieces of money and gave them to the inn-keeper1 saying1 ',take care of him1 and whatever more you spend ,i will pay you when ,i return4' ,which of these three do you think proved neighbor to the man who fell in with robbers8 ,he said1 ,the man who took pity on him4 ,jesus said to him1 ,then go and do likewise4 ,,the ,,way ,,to ,,treat ,,those ,,who ,,wrong ,,us ,if your brother wrongs you1 go1 show him his fault when you and he are alone4 ,if he listens to you1 you have won over your brother4 ,even though he wrongs you seven times in a day1 if he turns to you seven times and says1 ',i am sorry1' you shall forgive him4 ,illustration3 7,c7 ,curtis ,publishing ,company ,the ,good ,samaritan ,painted by ,herbert ,moore ,peter came and said to ,jesus1 ,master1 how often am ,i to let my brother wrong me and forgive him8 ,seven times8 ,jesus said to him1 ,i tell you1 not seven times but seventy times seven4 ,that is why the ,kingdom of ,heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle his accounts with his servants4 ,when he had begun to settle them1 a man was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents2 but as he was unable to pay1 the master ordered that he be sold1 together with his wife and children and all that he had1 in payment of the debt4 ,at this the servant threw himself on the ground and begged of him1 ',master1 have patience with me and ,i will pay you all ,i owe you4' ,then the master out of pity for him let him go and forgave him his debt4 ,but as soon as the servant went out1 he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one-sixtieth of a talent1 and he seized him by the throat and said1 ',pay me what you owe me4' ,the man fell down and begged him1 ',have patience with me and ,i will pay you4' ,but he would not and had him imprisoned until he should pay what was due4 ,now when his fellow servants saw what had been done1 they were troubled and came and told their master what had happened4 ,then the master called him and said1 ',you wicked servant6 ,when you begged of me1 ,i forgave you all your debt4 ,should you not then show the same mercy to your fellow that ,i showed to you8' ,and in anger his master turned him over to the jailers until he should pay all that was due4 ,so also will my heavenly ,father do to you unless each of you sincerely forgives his brother4 ,,the ,,golden ,,rule ,you have heard the saying1 ',you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy4' ,but ,i say to you1 love your enemies1 bless those who curse you1 do good to those who hate you1 and pray for those who persecute you1 that you may become sons of your ,father in heaven2 for he makes his sun to rise on the wicked and the good alike1 and sends rain on both those who do right and those who do wrong4 ,for if you love only those who love you1 what reward have you earned8 ,do not even the tax-gatherers as much8 ,and if you show courtesy only to your friends1 what more are you doing than others8 ,do not even the heathen do as much8 ,you must therefore become perfect1 even as your heavenly ,father is perfect4 ,therefore1 whatever you wish that men should do to you1 do even so to them4 ,,the ,,people ,,who ,,are ,,really ,,happy ,jesus said to his disciples3 ,blessed are the poor in spirit1 ,for theirs is the ,kingdom of ,heaven4 ,blessed are the meek1 ,for they shall inherit the earth4 ,blessed are they who mourn1 ,for they shall be comforted4 ,blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness1 ,for they shall be satisfied4 ,blessed are the merciful1 ,for they shall receive mercy4 ,blessed are the pure in heart1 ,for they shall see ,god4 ,blessed are the peacemakers1 ,for they shall be called the sons of ,god4 ,blessed are they who are persecuted because of their righteousness1 ,for theirs is the ,kingdom of ,heaven4 ,blessed are you when you are reviled1 persecuted1 and falsely maligned because of loyalty to me2 ,rejoice and be glad1 for great is your reward in heaven1 for so the prophets were persecuted who came before you4 ,,jesus ,,sends ,,out ,,the ,,first ,,missionaries ,illustration3 ,christ on the ,hilltop ,painted by ,c4 ,a4 ,slade ,jesus went through all the towns and villages1 teaching in their synagogues1 preaching the good news about the ,kingdom of ,god1 and healing all kinds of diseases and weaknesses4 ,at sight of the crowds1 troubled and scattered like sheep without a shepherd1 he was filled with pity1 and said to his disciples1 ,this is a large harvest1 but the laborers are few4 ,pray to the lord of the harvest to send laborers into his fields4 ,then calling the twelve disciples1 he sent them out two by two2 and he gave them power over evil spirits4 ,he told them to take nothing for their journey but a staff4 ,also he said1 ,go your way4 ,remember that ,i send you out as lambs among wolves4 ,take with you neither purse nor bag nor an extra pair of shoes1 and do not stop to greet any one on the road4 ,whatever household you first enter1 say1 ',peace to this house6' ,and if the man living there is worthy1 your peace will rest upon him2 but if not1 it shall return to you4 ,stay at the same house1 eating and drinking what they give you1 for the laborer deserves his wages4 ,do not go from one house to another4 ,also in whatever town you enter1 if the people receive you1 eat what they set before you4 ,heal those in that town who are ill1 and tell them1 ',the ,kingdom of ,god is near you4' ,but if you enter any town where the people do not receive you1 go out into its streets and say1 ',even the dust of your town which clings to our feet1 we wipe off in protest against you4' ,but know this3 that the ,kingdom of ,god is at hand4 ,i tell you1 on that day it will be better for ,sodom than for that city4 ,do not give to the dogs that which is sacred1 nor throw your pearls before swine1 for fear that they trample them under their feet and then turn back to attack you4 ,he who hears you1 hears me2 he who rejects you1 rejects me2 he who rejects me1 rejects him who sent me4 ,so ,jesus' disciples went out and preached so as to lead men to be sorry for their sins and live as they should4 ,they also cast out many evil spirits and cured many sick by pouring oil upon them4 ,then returning to ,jesus they told him what they had done and taught4 ,,jesus ,,praises ,,john ,,the ,,baptist ,when ,john heard in prison what ,jesus was doing1 he sent his disciples to ask him1 ,are you the ,promised ,one who is coming1 or are we to look for some one else8 ,jesus answered them1 ,go and tell ,john what you see and hear3 the blind see1 the lame walk1 the lepers are made clean1 the deaf hear1 the dead are brought back to life1 and the poor have the good news told to them4 ,blessed is the man who does not lose faith in me4 ,as the disciples of ,john went away1 ,jesus talked to the people about ,john3 ,what did you go into the wilderness to see8 ,a reed shaken by the wind8 ,then what did you go out to see8 ,a man wearing fine clothes8 ,men dressed like that live in palaces4 ,but why did you go out8 ,to see a prophet8 ,yes1 ,i tell you1 and more than a prophet6 ,this is he of whom it is written3 ',behold1 ,i send my messenger before you1 ,who shall make the way ready for you4' ,i tell you1 no man has appeared who is greater than ,john the ,baptist2 and yet he who is least in the ,kingdom of ,god is greater than he4 ,to what shall ,i compare the people of to-day8 ,they are like children sitting in the market-places1 who call to their playmates and say3 ',we played the pipes for you but you would not dance2 ,we cried but you would not lament4' ,for ,john came neither eating nor drinking1 and men said1 ',he has an evil spirit6' ,the ,son of ,man came eating and drinking1 and men say1 ',he is a great eater and drinker1 a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners6' ,but what ,i do shows that ,i am wise and right4 ,now when ,herod's birthday came1 the daughter of ,herodias danced in public and delighted him4 ,thereupon he promised with an oath that he would give her whatever she might ask4 ,prompted by her mother1 she said to him1 ,give me here on a dish the head of ,john the ,baptist4 ,although the king did not wish to do it1 yet because of his oath and his guests he ordered that it be given her4 ,so he commanded that ,john be beheaded in prison1 and his head was brought on a dish and given to the girl1 and she brought it to her mother4 ,then ,john's disciples came and carried away the body to bury it4 ,,jesus ,,feeds ,,the ,,hungry ,when ,herod the ruler of ,galilee heard what ,jesus was doing1 he was greatly puzzled1 for some said that ,john had come back from the dead1 some that ,elijah had appeared1 and others that one of the old prophets had come to life again4 ,herod said1 ,i have beheaded ,john2 but who is this of whom ,i hear these stories8 ,and he tried to find him4 ,then ,jesus said to his disciples1 ,come by yourselves to some quiet place and rest a while2 for so many people were coming and going that the disciples could not find time even to eat4 ,so they went in a boat by themselves to a quiet place2 but many people saw and knew them as they went1 and1 running from all the towns1 they arrived before them4 ,when ,jesus landed he found a large crowd waiting for him4 ,feeling sorry for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd1 he began to teach them many things4 ,as it was already late in the day1 his disciples came to him and said1 ,this place is far away from any town and it is now late4 ,send the people away to the neighboring farms and villages to buy food for themselves4 ,but he answered ,give them some food4 ,they replied1 ,are we to go and buy two hundred silver pieces' worth of food for them8 ,he said1 ,go and see how many loaves you have4 ,when they found out1 they said1 ,five1 and two fishes4 ,then he commanded them to make the people sit down in groups on the green grass4 ,so they sat down in companies of a hundred and of fifty4 ,then ,jesus took the five loaves and the two fishes1 and1 looking up to heaven1 he blessed the loaves1 and broke them in pieces2 and he gave to the disciples to set before the people4 ,he also divided the two fishes among them1 and all ate and had enough4 ,then they picked up twelve baskets full of broken pieces of the bread and fish1 although the number of the people who had shared them was five thousand4 ,then ,jesus had his disciples enter the boat and cross before him to ,bethsaida1 while he himself sent away the crowd4 ,after sending them away1 he climbed a hill to pray4 ,when evening came the boat was in the middle of the sea and he alone on the land4 ,seeing that they were having trouble as they rowed1 for the wind was against them1 he went to them at about three o'clock in the early morning1 walking on the sea as if he intended to pass them4 ,when they saw him walking on the sea1 they believed that he was a ghost and cried out1 for all saw him and were frightened2 but he spoke to them at once1 saying1 ,have courage1 it is ,i2 do not be afraid4 ,then he went on board the boat and the wind dropped1 but they were greatly astonished for they had not learned the lesson of the loaves1 for they were slow to understand its meaning4 ,after crossing the sea they landed at ,gennesaret and fastened the boat4 ,as soon as they had gone ashore1 the people knew ,jesus and searched all that part of the country1 and whenever they heard that he had come to a certain place1 they brought to him the sick on their beds4 ,in every city or town or village to which he went people would lay their sick in the market-place and beg him to let them touch even the edge of his robe4 ,and all who touched him were made well4 ,,jesus ,,tells ,,what ,,it ,,means ,,to ,,be ,,clean ,the ,pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from ,jerusalem went together to ,jesus1 because they had seen that some of his disciples ate their food without washing their hands as the scribes thought necessary4 ,for the ,pharisees and all the ,jews always wash their hands up to the wrists before eating4 ,so the ,pharisees and scribes asked him1 ,why do not your disciples obey the old custom instead of eating food with unwashed hands8 ,jesus said to them1 ,well did ,isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites3 ',this people honors me with their lips1 but their heart is not with me2 their worship is worthless1 for they teach what are only commands of men4' ,you set aside the command of ,god and follow that of men4 ,moses said1 ',honor your father and your mother1' and1 ',he who speaks evil of father or mother shall die4' ,but you say1 ',if a man says to his father or to his mother1 ,what you were to have received from me is given to ,god1' you hold that he need not do anything for his father or mother4 ,in this way you set aside the command of ,god in favor of the teaching which you have handed down2 and you do many other things like that4 ,then calling the crowd to him again1 he said to them1 ,hear me1 all of you1 and understand4 ,nothing can make a man unclean by going into him from outside4 ,it is what comes from him that makes him unclean1 for from within1 from the heart of man1 come evil thoughts1 acts of theft1 murder1 greed1 wickedness1 deceit1 impure thoughts1 envy1 slander1 pride1 and recklessness4 ,all these evil things come from within1 and they make a man unclean4 ,illustration3 ,among the ,lowly ,painted by ,l4 ,l'hermitte4 ,in the ,metropolitan ,museum of ,art ,,jesus ,,is ,,kind ,,to ,a ,,stranger ,certain ,pharisees came to ,jesus and said to him1 ,go away from here2 for ,herod wishes to kill you4 ,he said to them1 ,go and tell that fox1 ',see1 ,i cast out evil spirits and cure the sick to-day and to-morrow1 but on the third day ,i must go on my way2 for it cannot be that a prophet will be put to death anywhere except in ,jerusalem4' ,jesus left ,capernaum and went into the land of ,tyre and ,sidon4 ,going into a house1 he wished that no one should know that he was there1 but he could not escape notice4 ,soon a woman whose little daughter had an evil spirit heard of him and came and knelt at his feet4 ,now the woman was a heathen of the ,phoenician race4 ,she begged him to drive the evil spirit out of her daughter1 but he said to her1 ,let the children of ,israel first be fed1 for it is not fair to take their bread and throw it to the dogs6 ,she answered him1 ,true1 sir1 yet the little dogs under the table do eat the children's crumbs4 ,he said to her1 ,because of this answer go to your home2 the evil spirit has gone out of your daughter4 ,on returning home she found the child lying on the bed and the evil spirit gone from her4 ,jesus again left the land of ,tyre and passed through ,sidon to the ,sea of ,galilee1 crossing the land of ,decapolis4 ,the people brought to him a deaf man1 who also stammered2 and they begged ,jesus to lay his hand on him4 ,jesus took the man away from the crowd1 put his fingers into the man's ears1 touched his tongue with saliva1 and looking up to heaven1 sighed1 and said to him1 ,ephphatha 7which means ,open74 ,and at once1 the man could hear and could talk without stammering4 ,then ,jesus told them to tell no one1 but in spite of what he said the people kept telling about it1 saying3 ,how well he has done everything6 ,he even makes the deaf hear1 and the dumb speak4 ,,jesus ,,makes ,,an ,,heroic ,,choice ,on their way to the villages of ,caesarea ,philippi ,jesus asked his disciples1 ,who do people say ,i am8 ,they told him1 ,john the ,baptist2 others say1 ',elijah'2 some say1 ',one of the prophets4' ,then he said to them1 ,but you yourselves1 who do you say that ,i am8 ,peter answered him1 ,you are the ,christ4 ,but he strictly charged them to tell no one that he was the ,christ4 ,then ,jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and high priests and scribes and be killed1 but that after three days he would rise from the dead4 ,this he said openly2 and ,peter tried to reprove him4 ,but ,jesus turned and1 looking upon his disciples1 reproved ,peter1 saying1 ,away with you1 ,satan1 for your mind is not on the things of ,god but of men4 ,then ,jesus called the crowd and his disciples to him1 and said to them1 ,if any one wishes to follow me1 let him forget himself1 take up his cross1 and come with me4 ,for any one who is thinking only of saving his life1 will lose it2 but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the sake of the good news1 will save it4 ,what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul8 ,for what could a man give in exchange for his soul8 ,whoever is ashamed of me and my teachings in this sinful world1 of him ,i will be ashamed when ,i come in the glory of my ,father with the holy angels4 ,,jesus ,,is ,,glorified ,six days later ,jesus took ,peter1 ,james and ,john up a high mountain where they were alone1 and in their presence he was transfigured4 ,his clothes glistened with a dazzling whiteness such as no bleaching could give on earth4 ,and there appeared to them ,elijah and ,moses1 who talked with ,jesus4 ,then ,peter said1 ,master1 it is fortunate that we are here4 ,let us make three tabernacles1 one for you1 one for ,moses1 and one for ,elijah4 7,for in his terror he did not know what to say47 ,then a cloud came and overshadowed them1 and a voice from the cloud said1 ,this is my ,beloved ,son2 give heed to him4 ,and suddenly1 looking around1 they saw no one with them but ,jesus4 ,as they came down from the mountain1 he commanded them to tell no one what they had seen until after he had risen from the dead4 ,and they obeyed the command but discussed among themselves what rising from the dead meant4 ,therefore they asked him1 ,how is it that the scribes say1 ',elijah must first come'8 ,he answered1 ,elijah is to come first to restore everything4 ,and what is written about the ,son of ,man8 ,is it not that he is to endure great suffering and be despised8 ,but ,i tell you1 ,elijah has come1 and they have done to him what they pleased1 even as it is written of him4 ,,jesus ,,tells ,,how ,,one ,,may ,,become ,,great ,leaving ,caesarea ,philippi1 ,jesus and his disciples passed through ,galilee2 but he wished no one to know of this1 for he was teaching his disciples4 ,he said to them1 ,the ,son of ,man will be betrayed and men will put him to death1 but in three days he will rise from the dead4 ,but they did not understand his meaning and were afraid to ask4 ,when they had reached ,capernaum and were in the house1 he asked them1 ,what were you arguing about on the way8 ,but they made no reply1 for they had been disputing on the way about which of them was greatest4 ,sitting down1 he called the twelve disciples1 and said1 ,if any one wishes to be first1 he will be last of all and servant of all4 ,then he took a little child and set him by his side and with his arm around him said to them1 ,whoever receives a little child like this in my name1 receives me1 and whoever receives me1 receives not only me1 but ,god who sent me4 ,,jesus ,,makes ,,the ,,wicked ,,zaccheus ,,his ,,friend ,as ,jesus passed through ,jericho a man named ,zaccheus1 who was the chief tax-gatherer and rich1 tried to see what ,jesus was like1 but could not on account of the crowd and because he was short4 ,so he ran ahead and climbed into a sycamore-tree to see ,jesus1 for he was to pass that way4 ,when ,jesus came to the place1 he looked up and said to him1 ,zaccheus1 come down1 for to-day ,i must stay at your house4 ,and ,zaccheus came down quickly and welcomed him joyfully4 ,then all who saw this began to find fault1 saying1 ,he has gone to eat with a man who is a sinner4 ,but ,zaccheus stood up and said to ,jesus1 ,lord1 ,i will give half of all that ,i have to the poor2 and to every man whom ,i have cheated out of anything ,i will give back four times as much4 ,and ,jesus said to him1 ,to-day salvation has come to this house1 for you have proved yourself to be a true son of ,abraham4 ,for the ,son of ,man came to seek and to save the lost4 ,,jesus ,,is ,,gladly ,,welcomed ,,by ,,the ,,people ,as ,jesus was leaving ,jericho with his disciples1 followed by a large crowd1 there sat by the road a blind beggar1 ,bartimaeus 7the son of ,timaeus74 ,when he heard that it was ,jesus of ,nazareth1 he cried out1 ,jesus1 son of ,david1 have pity on me6 ,many reproved him1 saying1 ,keep still1 but he cried out the more1 ,son of ,david1 have pity on me6 ,jesus stopped and said1 ,call him4 ,so they called the blind man and said1 ,have courage6 ,get up1 he has sent for you4 ,throwing off his cloak1 he sprang up and came to ,jesus4 ,jesus said to him1 ,what do you want me to do for you8 ,the blind man answered1 ,master1 let me receive my sight4 ,then ,jesus said to him1 ,go your way1 your faith has healed you4 ,and at once he received his sight1 and followed ,jesus along the road4 ,when ,jesus and those with him were drawing near to ,jerusalem and had reached ,bethpage and ,bethany1 near the ,mount of ,olives1 he sent two of his disciples ahead1 saying1 ,go into the village over there4 ,as soon as you enter it1 you will find a colt tied1 which no one has ever ridden4 ,untie it and bring it here4 ,if any one asks you1 ',why are you doing that8' say1 ',the ,master needs it and will immediately send it back4' ,so they left him and found a colt tied1 outside a door1 on the street4 ,as they untied it1 some of the men standing there said1 ,what are you doing1 untying the colt8 ,the disciples answered as ,jesus had told them1 and the men let them take it4 ,when they had brought it to ,jesus1 they threw their cloaks upon it1 and he mounted it4 ,many also spread their clothes on the road1 while others strewed leafy branches cut from the fields2 and people in front and behind kept shouting3 ,god save him6 ,blessed is he who comes in the name of the ,lord6 ,blessed is the coming ,kingdom of our father ,david6 ,god on high1 save him6 ,jesus entered ,jerusalem and went into the ,temple4 ,and when he had looked about1 because it was already late in the day1 he went out to ,bethany with his twelve disciples4 ,,jesus ,,fights ,,wrong ,,in ,,the ,,temple ,about this time certain people came to tell ,jesus of the ,galileans whom ,pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices4 ,he said to them1 ,do you believe that these ,galileans were worse sinners than the rest8 ,no1 ,i tell you2 and unless you are sorry for your sins and do right1 you too will all likewise perish4 ,or those eighteen men who were killed by the fall of the tower of ,siloam--do you suppose that they were worse sinners than the rest of the people of ,jerusalem8 ,no1 ,i tell you2 and unless you are sorry for your sins and do right1 you too will all perish4 ,illustration3 ,christ in the ,temple ,painted by ,c4 ,a4 ,slade ,then ,jesus went into the ,temple1 and drove out those who were buying and selling there4 ,he upset the tables of the money-changers1 and the seats of those who sold doves1 and would allow no one to carry any goods through the ,temple4 ,for he said to them1 ,is it not written1 ',my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'8 ,but you have made it a den of robbers6 ,when the chief priests and scribes heard of it1 they began to look for some way of putting him to death1 for they feared him because all the people were deeply stirred by his teachings4 ,but each evening he and his disciples left the city4 ,then once more ,jesus and his disciples entered ,jerusalem1 and as he was walking about the ,temple1 some high priests and scribes and elders came and asked him1 ,by what right are you doing these things1 and who gave you this right8 ,jesus answered1 ,i will ask you a question2 answer me1 and ,i will tell you by what right ,i do such things4 ,what about ,john's baptism8 ,was it from ,god or from men8 ,answer me4 ,they argued among themselves1 saying1 ,if we answer1 ',from ,god1' he will ask1 ',why then did you not believe in him8' ,but if we say1 ',from men'--they were afraid of the people1 for the people believed that ,john was truly a prophet4 ,so they answered ,jesus1 ,we do not know4 ,he said to them1 ,then ,i will not tell you by what right ,i do these things4 ,but give me your opinion4 ,a man who had two sons went to one of them and said1 ',son1 go and work in the vineyard to-day4' ,and the young man answered1 ',i will not'2 but afterward changed his mind and went4 ,then the man went with the same request to the other son1 who said1 ',i will go1 sir'2 but he did not go4 ,which of the two did as his father wished8 ,they answered1 ,the first4 ,jesus said to them1 ,i tell you that tax-gatherers and sinners will enter the ,kingdom of ,god before you2 for ,john showed you the way to an upright life1 and you did not believe him4 ,but the tax-gatherers and sinners believed him2 and even when you saw1 you would not say that you were wrong and believe in him4 ,listen to this3 ,there was a landowner who planted a vineyard1 and set a hedge around it1 dug a pit for the wine-press1 and built a watch-tower4 ,then he leased it to tenants and went to another country4 ,at vintage time he sent his servants to the tenants to collect the fruits of the vineyard1 but they took the servants and flogged one1 stoned another1 and killed another4 ,then he sent other servants1 more than at first1 but they did the same to these4 ,finally he sent his son1 saying to himself1 ',they will respect my son4' ,but the tenants said to one another1 ',this is the heir4 ,come1 let us kill him and get his inheritance4' ,so they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him4 ,now1 when the owner of the vineyard comes1 what will he do to these tenants8 ,they said1 ,he will destroy the wretches and lease the vineyard to others who will give him the fruits in their season4 ,jesus said to them1 ,have you never read in the scriptures3 ',the stone which the builders rejected ,has been made the chief corner-stone2 ,this is the ,lord's doing1 ,and marvellous in our sight4' ,when the high priests and the ,pharisees heard these stories1 they knew that he was speaking about them1 and they wished to seize him but were afraid of the common people who regarded him as a prophet4 ,,jesus ,,condemns ,,those ,,who ,,pretend ,,to ,,be ,,good ,the common people were listening to ,jesus eagerly4 ,as he taught he said1 ,be on your guard against the scribes1 who like to walk about in long robes and to have the people bow to them in the market-places4 ,they like to sit in the front seats in the synagogue and in the best places at feasts4 ,these1 who use up the property of widows and then to cover their guilt make long prayers1 will receive the greater condemnation4 ,he also said1 ,woe to you scribes6 ,for you load men with burdens heavy to bear1 which you yourselves do not touch with one of your fingers4 ,woe to you1 scribes and ,pharisees1 hypocrites6 ,you shut in men's faces the door to the ,kingdom of ,god2 for you neither enter yourselves nor let those enter who wish to come in4 ,woe to you1 scribes and ,pharisees1 hypocrites6 ,for you carefully pay to the ,temple the tenth part of what grows in your garden1 but you do not show justice1 mercy1 and faithfulness4 ,blind guides1 who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel6 ,woe to you1 scribes and ,pharisees1 hypocrites6 ,for you make clean the outside of the cup and the plate1 and then fill them with your greed and selfishness4 ,blind ,pharisee6 first make clean the inside of the cup1 that the outside as well may become clean4 ,woe to you1 scribes and ,pharisees1 hypocrites6 ,for you are like whitewashed tombs1 beautiful outside1 but inside full of dead men's bones and filth4 ,so you yourselves appear upright1 but inside you are full of hypocrisy and sin4 ,,jesus ,,warns ,,his ,,disciples ,as ,jesus went out of the ,temple1 one of his disciples said to him1 ,master1 see what great stones and what a beautiful building6 ,then ,jesus answered1 ,this ,temple1 made by man's hands1 shall be destroyed4 ,but another will soon arise1 made without hands4 ,and as he sat on the ,mount of ,olives opposite the ,temple1 ,peter and ,james and ,john and ,andrew asked him privately1 ,tell us1 when shall these things happen1 and what is to be the sign to show when all these things are about to happen8 ,jesus said to them1 ,no one knows the day or the hour when this will happen1 not even the angels in heaven1 nor the ,son1 but only the ,father4 ,the ,kingdom of ,god shall be like ten maidens who took their torches and went out to meet the bridegroom4 ,five of them were foolish and five were wise4 ,for the foolish ones1 when they took their torches1 took no oil with them2 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their torches4 ,now while the bridegroom delayed1 they all slumbered and slept4 ,and at midnight a cry was raised3 ',look6 ,the bridegroom6 ,come out to meet him6' ,then all those maidens rose1 and trimmed their torches4 ,and the foolish ones said to the wise1 ',give us some of your oil2 for our torches are going out4' ,but the wise maidens answered1 ',there may not be enough for us and for you4 ,go rather to those who sell1 and buy for yourselves4' ,now while they went away to buy1 the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast2 and the door was shut4 ,afterward the other maidens came also and said1 ',sir1 open to us4' ,but he answered1 ',i tell you truly1 ,i do not know you4' ,watch1 therefore1 for you do not know the day nor the hour when the ,kingdom of ,god shall come4 ,,jesus ,,cures ,a ,,blind ,,man ,as ,jesus was passing along the road he saw a man who was born blind1 and the disciples asked him1 ,master1 for whose sin1 his own or his parents'1 was this man born blind8 ,jesus answered1 ,neither for his own sin nor his parents'1 but that ,god's power to heal may be shown in him4 ,we must do the work of him who sent me while day lasts2 night is coming when no man can work4 ,while ,i am in the world1 ,i am the light of the world4 ,when he had said this1 he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva1 put the clay on the eyes of the blind man1 and said to him1 ,go1 wash in the ,pool of ,siloam4 ,so he went off and washed1 and returned able to see4 ,then the neighbors and those who before had seen him begging said1 ,is not this the man who used to sit and beg8 ,some said1 ,it is he4 ,others said1 ,no1 but he is like him4 ,he said1 ,i am the man4 ,so they said to him1 ,how then were your eyes opened8 ,he answered1 ,the man who is called ,jesus made clay and put it upon my eyes1 and said to me1 ',go to the ,pool of ,siloam and wash4' ,so ,i went away and washed1 and ,i received my sight4 ,they asked him1 ,where is he8 ,he answered1 ,i do not know4 ,then they brought the man who had once been blind to the ,pharisees4 ,now it was on the ,sabbath that ,jesus had made the clay and opened his eyes4 ,therefore the ,pharisees asked him again how he had received his sight1 and he told them1 ,jesus put clay on my eyes and ,i washed them and can see4 ,then some of the ,pharisees said1 ,this man does not come from ,god1 for he does not keep the ,sabbath4 ,others said1 ,how can a sinner do such wonderful deeds of healing8 ,and they could not agree among themselves4 ,so they asked the blind man once more1 ,what have you to say about him1 for it was your eyes that he opened8 ,the man replied1 ,he is a prophet4 ,now the ,jews would not believe that he had been born blind and had received his sight until they called his parents and asked them1 ,is this your son who you say was born blind8 ,how is it that he now can see8 ,his parents answered them1 ,we know that this is our son and that he was born blind1 but we do not know why he can now see nor who opened his eyes4 ,he is of age2 ask him1 he can speak for himself4 ,his parents said this because they were afraid of the ,jews2 for the ,jews had already agreed that any one who said that ,jesus was the ,christ should be put out of the synagogue4 ,that was why his parents said1 ,he is of age1 ask him4 ,so the ,jews again called the man who had been born blind1 and said to him1 ,give ,god the praise2 we know that this man ,jesus is a sinner4 ,he answered and said1 ,i do not know whether he is a sinner2 one thing ,i do know1 that1 although ,i was blind1 ,i now see4 ,so they said to him1 ,what did he do to you8 ,how did he give you your sight8 ,he replied1 ,i have told you already1 but you would not listen to me4 ,why do you want to hear it again8 ,do you also wish to become his disciples8 ,then they reviled him and said1 ,you are his disciple1 but we are disciples of ,moses4 ,we know that ,god spoke to ,moses1 but we do not know where this man came from4 ,the man answered1 ,this is strange6 ,you do not know where he comes from1 and yet he gave me my sight6 ,we know that ,god does not listen to sinners but that he does listen to him who worships him and does his will4 ,since the world began no one has ever heard of sight being given to a man born blind4 ,if this man were not from ,god1 he could do nothing4 ,they answered1 ,you were born wholly bad1 and yet you would teach us8 ,then they put him out of the synagogue4 ,jesus heard that they had put him out1 and meeting him said1 ,do you believe in the ,son of ,god8 ,he answered1 ,who is he1 sir8 ,tell me that ,i may believe4 ,jesus said to him1 ,not only have you seen him but he is now talking to you4 ,the man said1 ,then ,i do believe1 ,master1 and he worshipped him1 and ,jesus said to him1 ,it is to right wrongs that ,i have come to this world1 that the blind may see and that those who see may become blind4 ,hearing this1 some of the ,pharisees who were with him said1 ,and are we blind8 ,jesus replied1 ,if you were blind you would not be guilty2 but you say1 ',we can see1' and so your sin remains4 ,,jesus ,,tells ,,what ,,he ,,came ,,to ,,do ,jesus said to the people1 ,i am the light of the world2 he who follows me shall not walk in darkness1 but shall have the light which gives life4 ,as ,jesus spoke these words many believed in him4 ,then he said to the ,jews who had believed in him1 ,if you faithfully do what ,i say1 you are truly my disciples1 and you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free4 ,they answered him1 ,we are ,abraham's descendants and have never been slaves to any man4 ,what do you mean by saying1 ',you shall be set free'8 ,jesus answered them1 ,truly1 ,i tell you1 every one who sins is a slave of sin4 ,the slave does not remain in the household forever1 but the ,son remains forever4 ,if therefore the ,son sets you free1 you shall be free indeed4 ,i am the ,door2 if any man enters by me he shall be saved and shall go in and go out and find pasture4 ,the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy4 ,i have come that they may have life1 and that they may have it more abundantly4 ,i am the ,good ,shepherd2 the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep4 ,but a hired man1 who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep1 leaves them and runs away when he sees the wolf coming1 and the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them4 ,the hired man runs away because he is only a hired man and does not care for the sheep4 ,i am the ,good ,shepherd and know my own1 and my own know me1 just as the ,father knows me and ,i know the ,father1 and ,i lay down my life for the sheep4 ,i have other sheep which do not belong to this fold2 ,i must lead them also1 and they will hear my voice1 and they will be one flock and one shepherd4 ,,jesus ,,brings ,,lazarus ,,back ,,to ,,life ,now a certain man1 ,lazarus of ,bethany1 was sick4 ,he was the brother of ,martha and of the ,mary who anointed the ,master with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair4 ,jesus loved ,martha1 and her sister1 and ,lazarus4 ,so the sisters sent word to him1 ,master1 he whom you love is sick4 ,but when ,jesus heard it he said1 ,this sickness is not to end in death1 but it is for the glory of ,god1 that the ,son of ,god may be glorified by it4 ,so when he heard that ,lazarus was sick1 he stayed where he was two days4 ,after that he said to the disciples1 ,let us go again into ,judea4 ,our friend ,lazarus has fallen asleep1 but ,i am going to waken him4 ,the disciples said to him1 ,master1 if he has fallen asleep he will get well4 ,now ,jesus had spoken of his death1 but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep4 ,so ,jesus said to them plainly1 ,lazarus is dead1 and for your sakes ,i am glad that ,i was not there1 so that you may learn to believe4 ,but let us go to him4 ,when ,jesus came he found that ,lazarus had been in the tomb four days4 ,now ,bethany was only about two miles from ,jerusalem1 and many of the ,jews had come to comfort ,mary and ,martha about their brother4 ,when ,martha heard that ,jesus was coming1 she went out to meet him1 while ,mary stayed at home4 ,martha said to ,jesus1 ,master1 if you had been here my brother would not have died1 but ,i know that even now ,god will give you whatever you ask him4 ,jesus said to her1 ,your brother shall rise again4 ,martha said to him1 ,i know that he shall rise again1 at the resurrection on the last day4 ,jesus said to her1 ,i am the resurrection and the life4 ,he who believes in me shall live even though he die2 and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die4 ,do you believe this8 ,she said to him1 ,yes1 ,master1 ,i do believe that you are the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god who was to come into the world4 ,when ,martha had said this she went away to call ,mary1 her sister1 telling her secretly1 ,the ,master is here and is calling you4 ,when ,mary heard this she rose quickly and went to him4 ,jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where ,martha met him4 ,when the ,jews who were trying to comfort ,mary in the house saw her rise up quickly and go out1 they followed her1 supposing that she was going to weep at the tomb4 ,but when ,mary reached the place where ,jesus was and saw him1 she fell at his feet1 saying to him1 ,master1 if you had been here1 my brother would not have died4 ,when ,jesus saw her and the ,jews who came with her weeping1 he was deeply moved1 and said in great distress1 ,where have you laid him8 ,they said to him1 ,master1 come and see4 ,jesus wept4 ,the ,jews therefore said1 ,see how he loved him6 ,some of them said1 ,could not this man who gave sight to the blind have also kept ,lazarus from dying8 ,jesus was again deeply moved1 as he came to the tomb4 ,it was a cave1 and a stone lay against it4 ,jesus said1 ,take away the stone4 ,martha1 the dead man's sister1 said to him1 ,master1 by this time his body has begun to decay1 for he has been dead four days4 ,jesus said to her1 ,did ,i not tell you that if you only would believe you should see the glory of ,god8 ,so they removed the stone1 and ,jesus lifted up his eyes and said1 ,father1 ,i thank thee that thou hast heard me4 ,i knew that thou always dost listen to me1 but ,i spoke for the sake of the people standing near1 that they may believe that thou hast sent me4 ,when he had said this1 he cried in a loud voice1 ,lazarus1 come forth4 ,then he who was dead came forth with his hands and feet wrapped in bandages and his face bound with a cloth4 ,jesus said to them1 ,untie him and let him go4 ,then many of the ,jews who had come with ,mary and had seen what ,jesus did1 believed in him4 ,,jesus ,,praises ,a ,,woman ,,who ,,gave ,,her ,,best ,while ,jesus was at dinner at ,bethany in the house of ,simon1 the jar-maker1 a woman came in with an alabaster jar of pure perfume1 which was very costly4 ,breaking the jar she poured the perfume over his head4 ,some said to each other in indignation1 ,why this waste of perfume8 ,it might have been sold for more than three hundred silver pieces and the money given to the poor4 ,but because they found fault with her1 ,jesus said1 ,let her alone1 why do you trouble her8 ,she has done me a beautiful service4 ,the poor are with you always2 to them you can do good whenever you wish1 but me you will not always have4 ,she has done what she could2 she has poured oil on my body beforehand for burial4 ,i tell you1 wherever through all the world the good news is told1 this deed of hers will be told in memory of her4 ,,jesus ,,eats ,,the ,,last ,,supper ,,with ,,his ,,disciples ,judas ,iscariot1 one of the twelve disciples1 went to the high priests with the intention of betraying ,jesus4 ,and when they heard1 they rejoiced1 promising to give him money2 and he began to look for an opportunity to betray him4 ,on the first day of the ,feast of ,unleavened ,bread1 when the ,jews kill the lambs that are sacrificed at the ,passover ,feast1 ,jesus' disciples said to him1 ,where do you wish us to make ready for your passover meal8 ,illustration3 ,the ,last ,supper ,so ,jesus sent two of his disciples1 saying to them1 ,go into the city1 where you will meet a man carrying a jar of water4 ,follow him and say to the owner of whatever house he enters1 ',the ,master says1 ,where is my room in which ,i may eat the passover meal with my disciples8' ,he will show you a large upper room already furnished4 ,there make ready for us4 ,so the disciples went into the city and found things as he had said they would2 and they prepared for the ,passover4 ,when it was evening ,jesus came with his twelve disciples2 and while they were eating at the table1 he said1 ,i know surely that one of you now eating with me will betray me4 ,in deep sorrow the disciples said to him1 one after the other1 ,surely it is not ,i8 ,he said to them1 ,it is one of the twelve1 one who is dipping his fingers into the dish with me4 ,the ,son of ,man will depart as it has been foretold of him1 but woe to that man by whom the ,son of ,man is betrayed6 ,it would be better for that man if he had never been born6 ,then ,jesus took the bread and1 when he had given thanks to ,god1 he broke it and said1 ,this is my body which is broken for you2 do this in remembrance of me4 ,in the same way1 after he had eaten1 ,jesus took the cup1 and when he had given thanks to ,god1 he gave it to his disciples and they drank of it4 ,then he said1 ,this is the new covenant made by my blood which is shed for many4 ,as often as you drink this cup1 do it in remembrance of me4 ,then after singing a hymn they went out to the ,mount of ,olives4 ,there ,jesus said to them1 ,you will all desert me1 for it is written in the scriptures3 ',i will smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered4' ,but after ,i have risen1 ,i will go before you into ,galilee4 ,peter said to him1 ,though all others should desert you1 ,i will not4 ,jesus said to him1 ,indeed ,i tell you1 this very night before the cock crows you will deny three times that you know me4 ,but ,peter said more emphatically1 ,even if ,i have to die with you1 ,i will never deny you4 ,and all of them said the same4 ,,jesus ,,encourages ,,his ,,friends ,,and ,,helpers ,jesus said1 ,let not your heart be troubled2 you believe in ,god1 believe also in me4 ,in my ,father's house are many homes2 if it were not so1 ,i would have told you1 for ,i go to prepare a place for you4 ,and if ,i go and prepare a place for you1 ,i will return and take you to be with me that where ,i am1 you may be also2 and you know the way to the place where ,i am going4 ,thomas said to him1 ,master1 we do not know where you are going2 how then can we know the way8 ,jesus said to him1 ,i am the way1 the truth1 and the life2 no man comes to the ,father except through me4 ,if you had learned to know me1 you would have known my ,father also2 from now on you know him and have seen him4 ,philip said to him1 ,master1 let us see the ,father and we will be satisfied4 ,jesus said to him1 ,have ,i been all this time with you and yet you do not know me1 ,philip8 ,he who has seen me has seen the ,father2 then how can you say1 ',let us see the ,father'8 ,do you not believe that ,i am in the ,father and the ,father in me8 ,the words that ,i speak do not come from me but from the ,father who lives in me4 ,believe me1 that ,i am in the ,father and the ,father in me1 or else believe me because of the work itself4 ,i say to you1 he who believes in me will do the work which ,i do and still greater works than these1 for ,i go to the ,father4 ,and whatever you shall ask in my name ,i will do1 that the ,father may be glorified through the ,son4 ,if you ask anything in my name1 ,i will do it4 ,if you love me you will keep my commands1 and ,i shall ask the ,father and he will give you another ,helper to be with you forever1 even the ,spirit of truth4 ,in a little while the world will see me no more2 but you shall see me1 because ,i live and you shall live also4 ,he who has my commands and obeys them is the one who loves me2 and he who loves me will be loved by my ,father1 and ,i will love him and will reveal myself to him4 ,i have told you all this while ,i am still with you2 but the ,helper1 the ,holy ,spirit1 whom the ,father will send in my name1 will teach you everything and remind you of all that ,i have said to you4 ,peace ,i leave with you1 my own peace ,i give to you2 not as the world gives do ,i give to you4 ,let not your heart be troubled nor afraid4 ,you have heard me tell you that ,i go away and am coming back to you4 ,if you love me you will be glad because ,i am going to the ,father1 for the ,father is greater than ,i4 ,i have told you this now1 before it takes place1 that when it does you may believe4 ,i am the true vine and my ,father is the vine-dresser4 ,he cuts away each of my branches that does not bear fruit1 and cleans every branch that bears fruit so as to make it bear more4 ,you are already clean because of the word which ,i have spoken to you4 ,remain united with me and ,i will remain with you4 ,just as the branch cannot bear fruit unless it remains united with the vine1 neither can you bear fruit unless you remain united with me4 ,i am the vine1 you are the branches4 ,he who remains united with me and ,i with him bears much fruit1 but apart from me you can do nothing4 ,if you remain united with me and my words remain in you1 ask whatever you will and you shall have it4 ,it is by your bearing much fruit and being my true disciples that my ,father is glorified4 ,as the ,father has loved me1 so have ,i also loved you2 continue in my love4 ,if you keep my commands1 you will continue in my love1 even as ,i have kept my ,father's commands and continue in his love4 ,i have told you all this that my joy may be yours1 and that your joy may be complete4 ,this is my command3 ',love one another even as ,i have loved you4' ,no man has greater love than that which leads him to lay down his life for his friends4 ,you are my friends if you do whatever ,i command you4 ,i call you servants no longer1 for the servant does not know what his master does2 but ,i call you friends1 for ,i have told you everything that ,i have heard from my ,father4 ,you did not choose me1 but ,i chose you and appointed you to bear fruit that will remain1 so that whatever you ask of the ,father in my name he will give you4 ,,jesus ,,is ,,seized ,,by ,,the ,,mob ,when ,jesus and his disciples came to a certain place called ,gethsemane1 he said to them1 ,sit here while ,i pray2 but he took with him ,peter and ,james and ,john4 ,and as he suffered greatly from deep sorrow1 he said to them1 ,my heart is heavy with sadness4 ,stay here and watch4 ,then he went forward a short distance and threw himself on the ground and prayed that if possible he might be spared this agony1 saying1 ,father1 with thee all things are possible4 ,take away this cup of agony from me4 ,yet not my will1 but thy will be done4 ,when he came back1 he found his disciples asleep2 and he said to ,peter1 ,simon1 are you asleep8 ,could you not watch for one hour8 ,watch and pray that you may overcome temptation4 ,the spirit indeed is willing1 but the body is weak4 ,again he went away and prayed the same prayer4 ,and when he returned1 again he found them asleep1 for they were very drowsy2 and they did not know what to say to him4 ,then he came the third time and said to them1 ,sleep on now and take your rest4 ,it is enough2 the hour has come2 already the ,son of ,man has been betrayed into the hands of wicked men4 ,rise1 let us go2 for here is the one who has betrayed me4 ,while ,jesus was still speaking1 ,judas1 one of the ,twelve1 came up1 followed by a mob with swords and clubs1 who had come from the high priests and the scribes and the elders4 ,judas had arranged a signal3 ,he whom ,i shall kiss1 he said1 is the man4 ,take him1 and lead him away without letting him escape4 ,as soon as he came1 he went up to ,jesus1 saying1 ,master1 and kissed him4 ,then they seized ,jesus and took him2 but one of those who were with him drew his sword1 and1 striking the servant of the high priest1 cut off his ear4 ,jesus turned and said1 ,have you come out with swords and clubs to seize me as you would a robber8 ,day after day ,i have been with you teaching in the ,temple1 yet you never seized me4 ,then ,jesus' disciples left him and fled4 ,one young man1 however1 followed him with only a linen sheet thrown about him2 but when the men tried to seize him1 he left the linen sheet and fled away naked4 ,the mob led ,jesus away and brought him to the house of the high priest4 ,peter followed at a distance1 and when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together1 he too sat down among them4 ,a certain maid1 seeing him there by the firelight1 looked at him closely and said1 ,this man also was with him4 ,but he denied it1 saying1 ,woman1 ,i do not know him4 ,after a little while another person who saw ,peter said1 ,you too are one of them2 but he said1 ,man1 ,i am not4 ,about an hour later another man said1 ,certainly this fellow also was with ,jesus1 for he is a ,galilean4 ,but ,peter said1 ,man1 ,i do not know what you are talking about4 ,immediately while he was still speaking1 the cock crowed4 ,and ,jesus turned and looked straight at ,peter4 ,then ,peter remembered how the ,lord had said to him1 ,before the cock crows to-day you will deny me three times4 ,and ,peter went out and wept bitterly4 ,,jesus ,,in ,,the ,,hands ,,of ,,his ,,enemies ,the men who seized ,jesus mocked him and flogged him4 ,they also blindfolded him and said1 ,prophet1 tell us who is it that struck you8 ,and they said many other things1 insulting him4 ,at daybreak they brought him before the council at which were gathered the elders1 both the chief priests and the scribes4 ,and they tried to get evidence against him to have him put to death1 but could not find any1 for though many made false statements1 they did not agree4 ,some men stood up and falsely said1 ,we heard him say1 ',i will destroy this temple made by the hands of men and within three days ,i will build another made without hands4' ,but the statements even of these men did not agree4 ,then the high priest arose and asked ,jesus1 ,do you not answer8 ,what about these statements that these men make against you8 ,but he was silent and made no answer4 ,and the high priest asked him1 ,are you the ,christ8 ,if you are1 tell us4 ,he said to them1 ,if ,i tell you1 you will not believe1 and if ,i ask you questions1 you will not answer me4 ,but after this the ,son of ,man will be seated at the right hand of ,god ,almighty4 ,then they all said to him1 ,are you then the ,son of ,god8 ,he replied1 ,it is as you say2 ,i am4 ,so they said1 ,what further need have we of evidence8 ,we have heard it from his own lips4 ,then all the high priests and scribes rose and brought ,jesus before ,pilate1 and began to accuse him1 saying1 ,we found this man leading our people astray1 forbidding them to pay taxes to the ,roman emperor1 and saying that he himself is ,christ1 the ,king4 ,pilate asked him1 ,are you the ,king of the ,jews8 ,he answered1 ,i am4 ,pilate said to the high priests and the crowd1 ,i do not find that this man has done anything wrong4 ,but they insisted1 saying1 ,he stirs up the people by teaching through all ,judea4 ,he began in ,galilee1 and now he has come even here4 ,when ,pilate heard this he asked whether ,jesus was a ,galilean1 and when he learned that he was and that he came under ,herod's rule1 he sent him to ,herod ,antipas1 who was also in ,jerusalem at this time4 ,herod was glad to see ,jesus4 ,he had long wished to see him because of what he had heard about him1 and because he also hoped to see him do some wonderful deed4 ,although ,herod asked him many questions1 ,jesus made no answer1 and the high priests and the scribes loudly shouted their charges against him4 ,then ,herod1 and his soldiers1 after mocking him1 and dressing him in a bright colored robe1 sent him back to ,pilate4 ,pilate then called together the high priests and other officials and the people1 and said1 ,you brought me this man on the charge that he stirred up the people to rebel4 ,now ,i have examined him before you and found no guilt in him of those things of which you accuse him2 no1 nor has ,herod1 for he has sent him back to us4 ,you see that he has done nothing that calls for death4 ,i will therefore have him flogged and then release him 7for it was the custom at this feast to release for them one man74 ,but they all cried out1 ,away with him and release for us ,barabbas 7a man who had been put into prison because of a riot which had occurred in the city1 and on the charge of murder74 ,pilate spoke to them again1 because he wished to release ,jesus2 but still they shouted1 ,crucify him6 ,crucify him6 ,he said to them for the third time1 ,why1 what crime has this man committed8 ,i have found no reason to put him to death4 ,i will therefore have him flogged and then release him4 ,but they shouted and demanded that he should be crucified4 ,and so ,pilate1 wishing to please the people1 released ,barabbas1 but ,jesus he turned over to them to be crucified4 ,,jesus ,,is ,,crucified ,,by ,,his ,,enemies ,the soldiers led ,jesus to the courtyard of the governor's palace and called together the whole company4 ,then they clothed him in a purple robe and1 making a crown of thorns1 they put it on his head and began to salute him1 ,hail1 ,king of the ,jews6 ,they struck him on the head with a reed and spat on him1 and on bended knee paid homage to him4 ,after they had made sport of him1 they stripped off the purple robe and put on his own clothes1 and led him out to be crucified4 ,they forced a man named ,simon1 of ,cyrene1 who was coming in from the country1 to carry his cross4 ,so they brought ,jesus to the place called ,golgotha1 which means1 the place of the skull4 ,and they offered him wine mixed with myrrh1 but he would not take it4 ,then they crucified him and divided his clothes among them1 drawing lots to decide what each should take4 ,it was nine in the morning when they crucified him4 ,the inscription over his head stating the charge against him read3 ,,the ,,king ,,of ,,the ,,jews ,with him they crucified two robbers1 one on his right and one on his left4 ,and those who passed by scoffed at him1 shaking their heads in derision and saying1 ,ha6 you who were to destroy the ,temple and rebuild it in three days1 save yourself and come down from the cross6 ,in the same way the high priests and the scribes mocked him among themselves and said1 ,he saved others1 but he cannot save himself4 ,let the ,christ1 the ',king of ,israel1' now come down from the cross1 that we may see and believe6 ,but ,jesus said1 ,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do4 ,one of the criminals who was crucified also scoffed at him1 saying1 ,are you not the ,christ8 ,save yourself and us6 ,but the other said in rebuke1 ,have you no fear of ,god even though you are being put to death8 ,we are suffering justly1 receiving what we deserve for our crimes1 but he has done no wrong4 ,then he said1 ,jesus1 remember me when you enter your kingdom4 ,jesus said to him1 ,this very day you will be with me in paradise4 ,now beside the cross of ,jesus stood his mother4 ,seeing her and the disciple whom he loved standing near1 ,jesus said to her1 ,woman1 he is your son6 ,and to the disciple he said1 ,she is your mother6 ,and from that hour the disciple took her into his own home4 ,darkness covered the whole land from noon until three o'clock in the afternoon4 ,at that hour ,jesus cried aloud1 ,eloi1 ,eloi1 lama sabachthani1 which means1 ,my ,god1 my ,god1 why hast thou forsaken me8 ,when they heard it1 some who stood by1 said1 ,he is calling ,elijah4 ,and a man ran and1 soaking a sponge in vinegar1 put it on the end of a reed and was about to give it to him to drink when the others said1 ,stop1 let us see if ,elijah will come to take him down4 ,but ,jesus uttered a loud cry and gave up his life4 ,and the curtain of the ,temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom4 ,when the ,roman captain who stood facing him saw in what way he died1 he said1 ,surely this man was a son of ,god4 ,looking on from a distance were some women also1 among them ,mary of ,magdala1 ,mary the mother of ,james1 the younger1 and of ,joses1 and ,salome1 who had followed him and waited on him when he was in ,galilee1 and many other women who had come up with him to ,jerusalem4 ,because it was now evening of the day before the ,sabbath1 ,joseph of ,arimathaea1 an honorable member of the ,jewish national council1 who was himself looking for the coming of the ,kingdom of ,god1 went to ,pilate and had the courage to ask him for the body of ,jesus4 ,pilate1 surprised that he was dead1 called the captain and asked whether ,jesus was already dead1 and when he learned this from the captain he gave the body to ,joseph4 ,after ,joseph had taken ,jesus from the cross1 he wrapped him in a linen sheet which he had bought1 and laid him in a tomb cut out of rock2 and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb4 ,and ,mary of ,magdala and ,mary the mother of ,joses1 watched to see where ,jesus was laid4 ,,jesus ,,conquers ,,death ,when the ,sabbath was over1 ,mary of ,magdala1 ,mary the mother of ,james1 and ,salome bought spices to embalm ,jesus4 ,soon after sunrise on the first day of the week they went to the tomb1 and they said to one another1 ,who will roll away the stone for us from the door8 ,but they found that the stone1 although very large1 had been rolled to one side4 ,on entering the tomb they saw a young man in a white robe sitting on the right1 and they trembled and were afraid4 ,but he said to them1 ,do not be afraid4 ,you are looking for ,jesus of ,nazareth1 who was crucified4 ,he is risen2 he is not here4 ,see the place where he was laid6 ,but go and tell his disciples and ,peter1 ',he is going before you into ,galilee2 there you will see him1 as he told you4' ,then they remembered ,jesus' words1 and returning from the tomb they told these things to the eleven disciples and to all the others2 but to them1 the story seemed to be nonsense1 and they were not believed4 ,peter1 however1 ran to the tomb1 but when he looked in he saw only the linen bandages2 and he went home wondering what had happened4 ,but ,mary of ,magdala stood weeping outside the tomb4 ,as she wept1 she stooped down and looked into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting1 one at the head and the other at the feet1 where the body of ,jesus had lain4 ,they said to her1 ,woman1 why are you weeping8 ,she said1 ,because they have taken away my ,master and ,i do not know where they have laid him6 ,when she had said this1 she turned around and saw ,jesus standing there1 but she did not know that it was ,jesus4 ,woman1 said he1 ,why are you weeping8 ,for whom are you looking8 ,supposing that he was the gardener1 she said1 ,sir1 if you have carried him away1 tell me where you have laid him1 and ,i will take him away4 ,jesus said to her1 ,mary6 ,she turned to him and cried out1 ,master6 ,jesus said1 ,do not touch me1 for ,i have not yet ascended to the ,father2 but go to my brothers and tell them1 ',i am ascending to my ,father and to your ,father1 to my ,god and your ,god4' ,mary went to the disciples with the news1 ,i have seen the ,master1 and to tell them what he had said to her4 ,,jesus ,,walks ,,and ,,talks ,,with ,,two ,,of ,,his ,,disciples ,on the same day two of ,jesus' disciples were on their way to a village called ,emmaus1 about seven miles from ,jerusalem2 and as they talked together about what had happened1 ,jesus himself drew near and went with them2 but their eyes were kept from knowing him4 ,he said to them1 ,what are you talking about so earnestly as you walk along8 ,and they stood still1 looking sad1 and one of them1 named ,cleopas1 answered1 ,are you only a stranger stopping in ,jerusalem8 ,do you not know the things that have happened there within these last few days8 ,he asked1 ,what things8 ,they answered1 ,why1 about ,jesus of ,nazareth1 who proved himself a prophet1 mighty in word and deed before ,god and all the people1 and how our high priests and rulers gave him over to be sentenced to death and had him crucified4 ,but we were hoping that he was the one to save ,israel4 ,it is now the third day since these things happened4 ,yet some of our women who were at the tomb early this morning1 amazed us4 ,they told us that they had not found his body but that they had seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive4 ,then some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it as the women had said4 ,but him they did not see4 ,then ,jesus said to them1 ,o foolish men1 so slow of heart to believe in what the prophets have spoken6 ,was it not necessary for the ,christ to suffer and so win his glory8 ,when they came to the village to which they were going1 he seemed to be going farther on1 but they urged him1 saying1 ,stay with us1 for it is almost evening1 the day is nearly over4 ,so he went in to stay with them4 ,as he sat with them at table1 he took the bread1 blessed it1 broke it1 and passed it to them4 ,then their eyes were opened so that they knew him2 but he disappeared from their sight4 ,they said to one another1 ,did not our hearts glow while he was talking with us on the way6 ,at once they started back to ,jerusalem1 where they found the eleven disciples gathered with their companions1 and from them they learned that the ,lord had really risen and that he had appeared to ,simon4 ,then they told of their own experience on the road1 and how they knew him when he broke the bread4 ,,jesus ,,gives ,,his ,,last ,,commands ,,to ,,his ,,helpers ,while the two disciples were speaking1 ,jesus himself stood among them4 ,and they were frightened and believed that they saw a ghost2 but he said to them1 ,why are you so frightened8 ,why do you doubt8 ,see my hands and my feet1 that it is ,i myself4 ,touch me and see1 for a ghost has not flesh and bones as you see that ,i have4 ,while they were still unable for very joy and wonder to believe1 he said to them1 ,have you anything to eat here8 ,and when they gave him a piece of broiled fish1 he ate before them4 ,then he said to them1 ,this is what ,i told you when ,i was still with you1 that everything written about me in the law of ,moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled4 ,then he helped them to understand the scriptures1 and said1 ,it is written that the ,christ must suffer and on the third day rise from the dead1 and that in his name all nations must be called upon to turn from their sins and gain ,god's forgiveness4 ,you yourselves1 beginning at ,jerusalem1 are to tell men about these things4 ,now ,thomas1 one of the twelve disciples1 who was called ,the ,twin1 was not with them when ,jesus came4 ,the other disciples told him1 ,we have seen the ,master4 ,but he said to them1 ,unless ,i see the marks of the nails in his hands and put my finger where they were and put my hand in his side1 ,i will not believe4 ,eight days later ,jesus' disciples were again together1 and ,thomas was with them4 ,though the doors were closed1 ,jesus came and stood among them and said1 ,peace be with you4 ,then he said to ,thomas1 ,put your finger here and look at my hands1 and put your hand here in my side4 ,do not be a doubter but a believer4 ,thomas answered him1 ,my ,master and my ,god6 ,jesus said to him1 ,you believe because you have seen me8 ,blessed are those who believe though they have never seen me6 ,illustration3 7,c7 #aijc1 ,braun ,clement et ,cie ,the ,walk to ,emmaus ,painted by ,eugene ,girardet ,later ,jesus appeared to his disciples by the ,sea of ,galilee1 and in this way4 ,as ,simon ,peter1 ,thomas1 ,nathanael from ,cana in ,galilee1 and the sons of ,zebedee1 were together with two other of his disciples1 ,simon ,peter said to them1 ,i am going fishing4 ,we will go too1 they said1 and they set out and went on board the boat2 but that night they caught nothing4 ,at daybreak ,jesus stood on the beach1 though the disciples did not know that it was he4 ,he said to them1 ,children1 have you anything to eat8 ,they answered1 ,no4 ,and he said1 ,throw your net over on the right side of the boat and you will catch something4 ,so they threw over the net1 and now they could not haul it in because of the great number of fish4 ,then the disciple whom ,jesus loved said to ,peter1 ,it is the ,master4 ,as soon as ,simon ,peter heard that it was the ,master1 he put on his fisherman's coat 7for he was stripped for his work71 and jumped into the water2 but the other disciples1 being only about one hundred yards from the shore1 came in the small boat dragging the net full of fish4 ,when they landed1 they saw a charcoal fire burning1 and over it a fish cooking1 and some bread4 ,jesus said to them1 ,bring some of the fish that you have just caught4 ,so ,simon ,peter went aboard the boat and hauled the net ashore filled with large fish2 and although there were so many1 the net was not torn4 ,then ,jesus said to them1 ,come and eat breakfast4 ,not one of the disciples had courage to ask1 ,who are you8 for they knew that it was the ,master4 ,jesus came and gave them the bread and also the fish4 ,this was the third time he appeared to his disciples after he had risen from the dead4 ,after breakfast ,jesus said to ,simon ,peter1 ,simon1 son of ,john1 do you love me more than these8 ,he said1 ,surely1 ,master1 you know ,i love you4 ,jesus said to him1 ,feed my lambs4 ,then he asked him a second time1 ,simon1 son of ,john1 do you love me8 ,and he answered1 ,surely1 ,master1 you know that ,i love you4 ,jesus said to him1 ,tend my sheep4 ,jesus said to him a third time1 ,simon1 son of ,john1 do you love me with all your heart8 ,peter was grieved because ,jesus asked a third time1 ,do you love me8 ,and he answered1 ,master1 you know everything1 you know that ,i love you4 ,jesus said to him1 ,feed my sheep4 ,and ,jesus said to them1 ,all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth4 ,go you1 therefore1 and make disciples of all the nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,spirit1 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever ,i commanded you2 and1 lo1 ,i am with you always1 even to the end of the world4 ,jesus showed his disciples1 by many proofs1 that he still lived1 revealing himself to them during forty days and telling them about the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,when he and his disciples were together he told them not to leave ,jerusalem but to wait for what the ,father had promised--the promise1 he said1 of which you have heard me speak2 for ,john baptized with water1 but before many days have passed you will be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,while they were together they asked him1 ,master1 is this the time when you are going to restore the rulership to ,israel8 ,jesus said to them1 ,it is not for you to know the time or the season which the ,father has fixed by his own authority2 but you will receive power when the ,holy ,spirit comes upon you1 and you will be my witnesses at ,jerusalem1 throughout all ,judea and ,samaria and to every part of the earth4 ,when he had said this and while they were still looking at him1 he was lifted up1 and a cloud took him out of their sight4 ,and while they were staring into heaven1 as he went up1 two men clothed in white stood beside them1 who said1 ,men of ,galilee1 why do you stand looking up into heaven8 ,this ,jesus1 who has been taken from you into heaven1 will come back in the same way as you have seen him go4 ,on the ,day of ,pentecost1 as they were all together1 suddenly1 there came from heaven a sound like the rushing blast of a mighty wind which filled the whole house where they were seated4 ,and they were filled with the ,holy ,spirit and began to speak in a strange way and to cry aloud and shout4 ,when this was reported a crowd gathered1 astonished and perplexed1 and asked one another1 ,what can it mean8 ,others with a sneer said1 ,they are full of new wine6 ,but ,peter1 together with the eleven apostles1 stood up and addressed them3 ,men of ,judea and all who live in ,jerusalem1 understand this and listen to what ,i say3 these men are not drunk as you suppose1 for it is only nine in the morning1 but this is what was foretold by the prophet ,joel3 ',in the last days1' ,god declared1 ',i will pour out my ,spirit on all mankind2 ,your sons and your daughters shall prophesy1 ,your young men shall see visions4 ',and your old men shall dream dreams1 ,even upon my slaves and slave-girls ,in those days ,i will pour out my ,spirit1 ,and they shall prophesy4' ,men of ,israel1 hear these words3 ,by the help of lawless men you nailed to the cross and murdered ,jesus of ,nazareth1 a man who was proved to be from ,god through the deeds of healing and the wonderful acts which ,god performed by him among you1 as you yourselves know4 ,but ,god released him from the bonds of death and raised him to life1 for death could not hold him4 ,lifted on high at ,god's right hand and having received from the ,father the promised ,holy ,spirit1 he has poured it upon us as you now see and hear4 ,let the whole nation of ,israel know beyond a doubt that ,god has made this ,jesus1 whom you crucified1 both ,lord and ,christ4 ,when they heard this1 their conscience troubled them1 and they said to ,peter and the rest of the apostles1 ,brothers1 what are we to do8 ,peter answered1 ,say that you are sorry for your sins1 and let each of you be baptized in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 that your sins may be forgiven2 then you will receive the gift of the ,holy ,spirit1 for it is promised to you1 and to your children1 and to all in distant lands1 to any and to all whom the ,lord our ,god shall call4 ,with many other words he warned and urged them to save themselves from this wicked time4 ,so those who believed what he taught were baptized2 and on that day about three thousand were added to the brotherhood4 ,,the ,,healing ,,of ,,the ,,lame ,,man ,,at ,,the ,,beautiful ,,gate ,by agreement the believers met together daily in the ,temple4 ,they had their meals from house to house1 eating their food with gladness and simple-heartedness1 praising ,god and having the good-will of all the people4 ,day by day ,god added many to the number of the saved4 ,one day ,peter and ,john were on their way to the ,temple for the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon4 ,a man who had been lame from birth1 and who was placed daily at what was called the ,beautiful ,gate of the ,temple1 was being carried there to beg from the people who went in4 ,when he saw that ,peter and ,john were about to go in1 he asked them to give him something4 ,but ,peter fixed his eyes on him1 and ,john did also1 and said1 ,look at us4 ,and the man looked attentively1 expecting to receive something from them4 ,peter said1 ,i have neither silver nor gold1 but what ,i have ,i give you4 ,in the name of ,jesus ,christ of ,nazareth1 walk6 ,and he took him by the right hand and raised him up4 ,and immediately his feet and his ankles received strength and he leaped up1 stood on his feet1 walked about and went with them into the ,temple1 walking1 and leaping and praising ,god4 ,when the people who saw him walking about and praising ,god knew that he was the man who used to sit begging at the ,beautiful ,gate of the ,temple1 they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him2 and as he still kept close to ,peter and ,john1 the astonished crowd rushed to them in what was called ,solomon's ,porch4 ,then ,peter said to the people3 ,men of ,israel1 why do you wonder at this8 ,or why do you stare at us as though we had made him walk by some power or goodness of our own8 ,the ,god of ,abraham and of ,isaac and of ,jacob1 the ,god of our forefathers1 has honored ,jesus his servant1 whom you delivered up and denied before ,pilate when he had decided to let him go4 ,but you denied the ,holy and ,just ,one and asked that a murderer be set free and put to death the ,one who brings life to men6 ,but ,god brought him back from the dead1 as we bear witness4 ,jesus1 through faith in his name1 has given strength to this man whom you see and know4 ,yes1 it is faith in him that has made this man perfectly well in the presence of you all4 ,and now1 brothers1 ,i know that you acted in ignorance1 as did also your rulers4 ,turn then to ,god and live right lives that your sins may be forgiven1 so that ,god may send you strength4 ,after raising his ,servant from the grave1 ,god sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wickedness4 ,while they were speaking to the people1 they were interrupted by the priests1 the officer in charge of the ,temple1 and the ,sadducees1 who were angry because they were teaching the people and telling how ,jesus rose from the dead4 ,they arrested the apostles and1 as it was already evening1 put them in prison until the following day4 ,the next morning a meeting of their rulers1 elders and scribes was held in ,jerusalem at which the high priest ,annas1 and ,caiaphas1 ,john1 ,alexander and all the members of the high priest's family were present4 ,they made the apostles stand before them and inquired1 ,by whose power and in whose name have you done this8 ,then ,peter was filled with the ,holy ,spirit and said to them1 ,rulers of the people and elders of ,israel1 if we are being examined this day for a good deed done to a lame man1 to find out how he was healed1 you and all the people of ,israel should know that this man stands before you completely cured through the name of ,jesus ,christ of ,nazareth1 whom you crucified and whom ,god raised from the dead4 ,he is the stone despised by you builders that has become the chief corner-stone4 ,and salvation comes by none other1 for there is no other name under heaven revealed among men through which we can be saved4 ,when they saw how bold ,peter and ,john were and found out that they were uneducated and ignorant men1 they were astonished but they remembered that they had been with ,jesus4 ,ordering them to go out from the council1 they said among themselves1 ,what are we to do with these men8 ,all the people who live in ,jerusalem know that a wonderful miracle has been done by them1 and we cannot deny it4 ,but to keep this thing from spreading any farther among the people let us stop them by threats from speaking in the future to any one in the name of ,jesus4 ,so they called them and ordered them not to teach nor speak a word in the name of ,jesus4 ,but ,peter and ,john replied1 ,decide for yourselves whether it is right before ,god to obey you rather than ,god2 for we cannot give up speaking of what we have seen and heard4 ,seeing the man who had been healed standing beside them1 the rulers could say nothing4 ,so1 after further threatening them1 they let them go1 being unable to find any reason for punishing them on account of the people1 for they were all praising ,god for what had been done4 ,,the ,,generosity ,,of ,,the ,,early ,,christians ,all of the believers were as one in heart and mind2 and not one of them called what he had his own1 but they all shared with one another4 ,no one among them was in want1 for those who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the money that came from the sale to the apostles4 ,the money was then given to whoever needed it4 ,joseph1 whom the apostles called ,barnabas1 sold his farm and brought the money to the apostles4 ,but a man named ,ananias and his wife ,sapphira sold some property1 and with her approval kept back part of the price and brought only a part of it to the apostles4 ,ananias1 said ,peter1 why has ,satan put into your heart the desire to deceive the ,holy ,spirit and keep back part of the price of the land8 ,while the land remained unsold1 was it not your own8 ,even after it was sold1 was not the money yours to do with as you pleased8 ,how could you plan a thing like this8 ,you have lied not to man but to ,god4 ,when ,ananias heard these words1 he fell down and died2 and great fear seized all who heard of it4 ,the younger men arose1 wrapped up the body1 and carried it away to be buried4 ,about three hours later his wife came in1 knowing nothing of what had taken place4 ,peter said to her1 ,tell me1 did you sell the land for so much8 ,and she answered1 ,yes1 for so much4 ,peter said to her1 ,how is it that you two agreed together to test the ,spirit of the ,lord8 ,the men who have buried your husband are here at the door and they shall carry you out4 ,instantly she fell dead at his feet2 so when the young men came in and found her dead1 they carried her out and buried her beside her husband4 ,then great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things4 ,many miracles and wonders were done among the people by the apostles4 ,even from the towns about ,jerusalem crowds gathered1 bringing sick people1 and all were healed4 ,,stephen ,,the ,,first ,,christian ,,martyr ,during these days1 while the number of the disciples was rapidly increasing1 the ,jews who came from lands where ,greek was spoken began to complain against those who were born and lived in ,palestine1 because their widows were neglected when the food was given out each day4 ,therefore the twelve apostles called together all the disciples and said1 ,it is not right that we should give up our preaching so as to wait on tables4 ,brothers1 choose seven of your own number1 men of good reputation1 wise and spiritually-minded1 whom we will put in charge of this work4 ,but we will continue to give ourselves to prayer and to preaching the good news4 ,this plan pleased all the disciples2 so they chose ,stephen1 a man of strong faith and spiritual power1 ,philip1 ,prochorus1 ,nicanor1 ,timon1 ,parmenas1 and ,nicolaus1 who came from ,antioch but had become a ,jew4 ,these men they brought before the apostles1 who after praying laid their hands upon them4 ,and the message of the ,lord continued to spread1 and the number of disciples in ,jerusalem was greatly increased4 ,a large number of the priests also accepted the faith4 ,stephen1 who had personal charm and power1 did great wonders and miracles among the people4 ,some belonging to the ,synagogue of the ,libyans1 and ,jews from ,cyrene1 ,alexandria1 ,cilicia1 and the province of ,asia began to argue with ,stephen2 but they were unable to get the better of him because of the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke4 ,then secretly they bribed certain men to say1 ,we have heard him speaking blasphemous words against ,moses and ,god4 ,in this way they stirred up the people1 the elders and the scribes1 so that they seized ,stephen and took him before the council4 ,they also brought in false witnesses who said1 ,this man is always talking against this holy place and the law4 ,we have heard him say that this ,jesus of ,nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which ,moses handed down to us6 ,then all who were sitting in the council fixed their eyes on ,stephen and saw that his face shone like the face of an angel4 ,but the high priest said1 ,are these charges true8 ,stephen answered1 ,brothers and fathers1 listen4 ,the ,most ,high ,god does not live in houses made by men4 ,you stubborn and evil-minded people6 you always resist the ,holy ,spirit1 as did your fathers before you4 ,which of the prophets did they not persecute8 ,they also killed those who foretold the coming of the ,just ,one1 whose betrayers and murderers you have become--you who received the law given through angels1 and have not kept it6 ,when they heard these words1 they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him4 ,but ,stephen1 filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 looked up into heaven and saw the glory of ,god1 and ,jesus standing at the right hand of ,god4 ,look1 ,i see heaven open1 he said1 and the ,son of ,man standing at the right hand of ,god4 ,but they stopped their ears and with a howl rushed at him all together4 ,then they threw him out of the city and stoned him4 ,the witnesses who threw the first stones1 laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named ,saul4 ,as they stoned ,stephen1 he prayed1 ,lord1 ,jesus1 receive my spirit6 ,then he knelt down and cried aloud1 ,lord1 do not lay this sin to their charge6 ,when he had said this1 he fell asleep4 ,certain devout men buried ,stephen1 mourning deeply for him4 ,but ,saul consented to his murder4 ,he also tried to destroy the church1 entering into every house1 and dragging out men and women1 put them in prison4 ,,philip ,,and ,,the ,,ethiopian ,when ,stephen was stoned to death a great persecution broke out against the church in ,jerusalem1 and all except the apostles were scattered throughout ,judea and ,samaria4 ,those who were scattered went in different directions telling the good news about ,jesus4 ,philip went down to the city of ,samaria1 where he told the people about ,jesus1 the ,christ4 ,and the crowds1 when they saw the miracles he performed1 paid attention to what he said4 ,many who could not walk or were lame were healed4 ,so there was great joy in that city4 ,both the men and women who believed ,philip1 as he told the good news about the ,kingdom of ,god and the name of ,jesus1 were baptized4 ,when the apostles at ,jerusalem heard that the ,samaritans had believed ,god's message1 they sent ,peter and ,john to them1 who1 when they came1 prayed that the ,samaritans might receive the ,holy ,spirit1 for it had not yet come upon any of them2 they had only been baptized in the name of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,then ,peter and ,john laid their hands on them1 and they received the ,holy ,spirit4 ,when the apostles had told the people about ,jesus and preached the word of the ,lord1 they went back to ,jerusalem2 and as they went1 they told the good news in many villages of the ,samaritans4 ,but an angel of the ,lord said to ,philip1 ,rise1 and go south along the desert road from ,jerusalem to ,gaza4 ,as he went on his way he met an ,ethiopian who had charge of the treasures of ,candace1 the queen of the ,ethiopians4 ,he had gone to ,jerusalem to worship and was on his way home4 ,as the ,ethiopian sat in his chariot reading from the prophet ,isaiah1 the ,spirit said to ,philip1 ,go up and speak to the man in the chariot4 ,as ,philip ran up and heard him reading from the prophet ,isaiah1 he asked1 ,do you understand what you are reading8 ,how can ,i1 said the ,ethiopian1 unless there is some one to tell me what it means8 ,so he begged ,philip to come up and sit beside him4 ,now the passage of scripture that he was reading was this3 ,he was led like a sheep to the slaughter1 ,and as a lamb is dumb before the shearer1 ,so he opened not his mouth4 ,the ,ethiopian said to ,philip1 ,i beg of you1 tell me of whom is the prophet speaking8 ,of himself or of some one else8 ,then ,philip1 taking this verse as his text1 told him the good news about ,jesus4 ,as they went along1 they came to some water1 and the ,ethiopian said1 ,here is water4 ,what prevents my being baptized8 ,so he ordered the chariot to stop1 and both went down into the water1 and ,philip baptized the man4 ,after they had come up from the water1 the ,spirit of the ,lord sent ,philip on his way1 and the ,ethiopian did not see him again1 but went away happy4 ,but ,philip told the good news in every town until he reached ,caesarea4 ,,peter ,,and ,,the ,,roman ,,officer ,while ,peter was going through the whole country1 he stayed for a long time at ,joppa1 in the house of ,simon1 a tanner4 ,cornelius1 the captain of the ,italian guard1 lived in ,caesarea4 ,he was a righteous man and he and all his household worshipped ,god4 ,he gave many gifts to the poor people1 and prayed to ,god at all times4 ,one day1 about three o'clock in the afternoon1 ,cornelius had a vision2 and he saw an angel of ,god coming and saying to him1 ,cornelius4 ,looking straight at him1 although he was afraid1 ,cornelius said1 ,what is it1 ,lord8 ,the angel said to him1 ,your prayers and your gifts to the poor are pleasing to ,god4 ,now send men to ,joppa1 and bring a certain ,simon1 whose other name is ,peter4 ,he is staying with ,simon1 a tanner1 whose house is by the seaside4 ,when the angel who spoke to him had gone away1 ,cornelius called two of his household servants1 and a trusted soldier who constantly waited on him4 ,after he had explained everything to them1 he sent them to ,joppa4 ,on the next day1 about noon1 as they were on their way1 and were coming near to ,joppa1 ,peter went up to the housetop to pray4 ,while he was praying1 the men who were sent by ,cornelius1 having found the way to ,simon's house1 stood before the gate1 and called out to ask whether ,simon1 whose other name was ,peter1 was staying there4 ,the ,spirit said to ,peter1 ,see1 three men are looking for you4 ,rise and go down1 and do not hesitate to go with them2 for ,i have sent them4 ,so ,peter went down to the men and said1 ,i am the man you are looking for2 what do you want8 ,they said1 ,cornelius1 a captain of the guard1 a righteous man and one who worships ,god and is well spoken of by all the ,jews1 was told by a holy angel to send for you and ask you to come to his house1 that he may hear what you have to say4 ,so ,peter invited them in and they stayed all night4 ,the next day he rose and went with them1 and some of the disciples from ,joppa went with him4 ,the next day after that1 they reached ,caesarea4 ,cornelius was waiting for them1 having called together his relatives and his near friends4 ,when ,peter came in1 ,cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him4 ,but ,peter said1 ,stand up1 ,i am only a man1 like you4 ,after he had talked with him1 he went in1 and found many people there4 ,then ,cornelius said1 ,just four days ago1 in the afternoon1 ,i was praying in my house1 when a man stood before me in bright clothing1 and said1 ',cornelius1 your prayer is heard1 and your gifts to the poor are pleasing to ,god4 ,send therefore to ,joppa1 and call for ,simon1 whose other name is ,peter2 he is staying in the house of ,simon1 a tanner1 by the seaside4' ,so ,i sent to you at once2 and you have done well in coming4 ,now therefore we are all here in the presence of ,god1 to listen to whatever the ,lord has commanded you to say4 ,peter said1 ,i see1 truly1 that ,god shows no partiality2 but in every nation1 the man who reveres him1 and does what is right1 is pleasing to him4 ,while ,peter was still speaking1 the ,holy ,spirit filled all those who heard the word4 ,and the ,jewish disciples who came with ,peter were amazed1 because the gift of the ,holy ,spirit was poured out on those who were not ,jews4 ,for the ,jews heard them shout and praise ,god4 ,then ,peter said1 ,can any one refuse to baptize those who1 as well as we1 have received the ,holy ,spirit8 ,and he commanded that they be baptized in the name of ,jesus ,christ4 ,then they begged him to stay with them several days4 ,when ,peter came up to ,jerusalem1 the ,jewish followers of ,jesus found fault with him for preaching to those who were not ,jews4 ,but ,peter explained the matter to them1 saying1 ,i was in the city of ,joppa praying2 and while ,i was praying1 three men stood before the house in which we were staying1 having been sent to me from ,caesarea4 ,and the ,spirit told me to go with them1 even though they were not ,jews4 ,these six brothers here went with me also2 and we went into the man's house4 ,he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house1 and saying1 ',send to ,joppa1 and bring ,simon1 whose other name is ,peter1 who shall tell you certain things through which you and your whole family shall be saved4' ,as ,i began to speak1 the ,holy ,spirit came upon them1 even as on us at the beginning4 ,and ,i remembered the word of the ,lord1 how he said1 ',john indeed baptized with water1 but you shall be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4' ,if then ,god gave to them the like gift as he gave also to us1 when we believed on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who was ,i1 that ,i could stand against ,god8 ,when they heard these things1 they stopped finding fault1 and praised ,god1 saying1 ,then also to those who are not ,jews1 ,god has given1 that they may turn from their wicked deeds and live4 ,,peter',s ,,escape ,,from ,,prison ,now about that time ,herod1 the king1 began to persecute the members of the church2 and he killed ,james1 the brother of ,john1 with the sword4 ,when ,herod saw that it pleased the ,jews1 he seized ,peter also4 ,this was during the feast of the unleavened bread4 ,therefore when he arrested ,peter1 he put him in prison1 and gave him into the keeping of four bands of four soldiers each4 ,and he planned to bring him out to the people after the ,passover4 ,so ,peter was kept in prison2 but the members of the church prayed earnestly to ,god for him4 ,on the very night before the day on which ,herod meant to bring him up for trial1 ,peter was sleeping between two soldiers1 fastened to them with two chains4 ,watchmen were also on guard at the doors4 ,all at once an angel of the ,lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell4 ,and he struck ,peter on the side and awoke him1 saying1 ,get up quickly4 ,and his chains fell off his hands4 ,the angel said to him1 ,put on your belt and your sandals4 ,and ,peter did so4 ,the angel said to him1 ,throw your coat around you1 and follow me4 ,so ,peter went out with him2 and he did not know that what had been done by the angel was really true1 but he thought he was dreaming4 ,they went past the first and the second guards1 and came to the iron gate that leads into the city2 and it opened to them of itself4 ,they went out1 and passed on through one street2 and all at once the angel left him4 ,when ,peter found himself alone1 he said1 ,now ,i know for certain that the ,lord has sent his angel1 and saved me from the hand of ,herod and from all that the ,jews were expecting he would do to me4 ,and after he had thought what to do1 he went to the house of ,mary1 the mother of ,john ,mark4 ,now many people had gathered together there for prayer4 ,when he knocked at the door a girl named ,rhoda came to answer4 ,and hearing ,peter's voice1 she was so glad that she forgot to open the door1 but ran in1 and told that ,peter was standing outside4 ,they said to her1 ,you are out of your mind4 ,but she insisted that it was so4 ,they said1 ,it is his angel4 ,but ,peter kept on knocking3 and when they opened the door and saw him1 they were amazed4 ,but he motioned to them with the hand to be silent1 and told them how the ,lord had brought him out of prison4 ,and he said1 ,go and tell ,james and the other brothers4 ,then he left the house and went to another place4 ,now as soon as it was morning1 there was great excitement among the soldiers1 as to what had become of ,peter4 ,after ,herod had searched for him1 and had failed to find him1 he questioned the guards1 and commanded that they should be executed4 ,,paul',s ,,account ,,of ,,what ,,he ,,saw ,,and ,,heard ,,on ,,his ,,way ,,to ,,damascus ,i am a ,jew1 born at ,tarsus in ,cilicia1 but ,i was brought up in ,jerusalem1 educated as a disciple of ,gamaliel in the strict way laid down in the laws received from our fathers1 and devoted to ,god1 as you all are4 ,you know what ,i did in the past among the ,jews4 ,you know how bitterly ,i persecuted the church of ,god and tried to destroy it and how in my zeal for the laws and customs handed down from my forefathers ,i did more than any of my fellow countrymen4 ,i indeed believed that it was my duty to do all in my power to oppose the cause of ,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,this ,i did in ,jerusalem4 ,with authority from the high priests1 ,i put many of ,jesus' followers in prison4 ,when they were put to death1 ,i voted against them4 ,in all the synagogues ,i often punished them and tried to make them speak against the name of ,jesus1 and in my insane fury ,i followed them even to distant cities4 ,when ,i was travelling to ,damascus on this business1 with written authority from the high priests1 ,i saw1 on the road in the middle of the day1 a light from heaven1 more dazzling than the glare of the sun1 shining around me and those who were travelling with me4 ,we fell to the ground1 and ,i heard a voice say to me in ,hebrew1 ,saul1 ,saul1 why do you persecute me8 ,it is hard for you to kick against the goads4 ,i asked1 ,who art thou1 ,lord8 and the ,lord answered1 ,i am ,jesus whom you are persecuting4 ,rise and stand on your feet1 for ,i have appeared to you to appoint you to be my servant and a witness to what you have seen and to the things that ,i will show you4 ,i chose you from the ,jews and the other peoples to whom ,i am sending you to open their eyes1 that they may turn from darkness to light1 from the power of ,satan to ,god1 so that they may receive forgiveness of their sins and a place among those who have given themselves to me because they believe in me4 ,when the ,god1 who had set me apart even from my birth and called me by his love1 chose to reveal his ,son in me that ,i might tell to other races the good news about him1 ,i at once went into ,arabia instead of talking with any one else or going up to ,jerusalem to see those who had been apostles before me4 ,when ,i came back ,i preached first to those at ,damascus4 ,there the governor1 appointed by ,king ,aretas1 put guards in the city to arrest me1 but ,i was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and so escaped from their hands4 ,after three years ,i went up to ,jerusalem to visit ,peter and stayed with him fifteen days4 ,i saw no other apostle except ,james the brother of ,jesus4 ,,the ,,christian ,,church ,,at ,,antioch ,the disciples who had been scattered by the persecution which came after the killing of ,stephen went to ,phoenicia and ,cyprus and ,antioch1 but told about ,jesus only to ,jews4 ,some of them1 citizens of ,cyprus and ,cyrene1 when they reached ,antioch also told the good news about the ,lord ,jesus to the ,greeks4 ,the power of the ,lord was with them1 and a large number believed and turned to him4 ,when the news of this reached the church in ,jerusalem1 they sent ,barnabas to ,antioch4 ,after he saw the proofs of ,god's goodness1 he was very glad and urged all to remain loyal to the ,lord2 and many more believed4 ,then ,barnabas went to ,tarsus to look for ,paul1 whose name had been ,saul4 ,when he had found him1 he brought him to ,antioch1 and for a whole year they were with the church there and taught a large number of people4 ,it was at ,antioch also that the disciples were first called ,christians4 ,during these days some prophets came to ,antioch from ,jerusalem4 ,one of them1 ,agabus1 under the influence of the ,spirit1 told that a severe famine would come all through that part of the world1 and this famine came when ,claudius was emperor4 ,therefore1 the disciples1 each as he was able1 sent something to help the brothers living in ,judea4 ,they sent their gifts to the elders by ,barnabas and ,paul4 ,after ,barnabas and ,paul had done that for which they were sent1 they returned from ,jerusalem1 bringing with them ,john1 who was also called ,mark4 ,now in the church at ,antioch there were prophets and preachers3 ,barnabas1 ,symeon 7called ,niger71 and ,lucius the ,cyrenean1 besides ,manean 7a childhood friend of ,herod the ruler71 and ,paul4 ,as they were worshipping the ,lord and fasting1 the ,holy ,spirit said1 ,set apart for me ,barnabas and ,paul for the work to which ,i have called them4 ,then when they had fasted and prayed1 they gave them their blessing and sent them on their way4 ,,paul ,,and ,,barnabas ,,in ,,foreign ,,lands ,paul and ,barnabas1 sent by the ,holy ,spirit1 went to ,seleucia and from there sailed to ,cyprus4 ,when they came to ,salamis1 they1 with ,mark as their helper1 told ,god's message in the ,jewish synagogue4 ,when they had gone over the whole island as far as ,paphos1 they set sail1 and ,paul and his companions came to ,perga in ,pamphylia4 ,there ,mark left them to return to ,jerusalem1 but they went on to ,antioch4 ,on the ,sabbath they went into the synagogue and sat down4 ,after the reading of the law and the prophets the men in charge of the synagogue service sent word to them1 ,brothers1 if you have any word of encouragement for the people1 say it4 ,so ,paul stood up and motioning with his hand said1 ,listen1 men of ,israel and you who worship ,god4 ,the ,god of this people ,israel chose our fathers4 ,while they were in ,egypt he made them a great people1 and then with wonderful signs of his power he led them out of that land4 ,after destroying seven nations in the land of ,canaan1 he gave them that land to have as their own and later made ,david their king4 ,from ,david's family ,god brought to ,israel1 as he had promised1 a ,saviour1 ,jesus4 ,brothers1 sons of ,abraham's race1 and all among you who worship ,god1 to us has been sent this saving message4 ,the people of ,jerusalem and their rulers did not believe ,jesus1 and though they could find no reason why he should be killed1 they asked ,pilate to put him to death4 ,but ,god raised him from the dead1 and for many days he was seen by those who had come with him from ,galilee to ,jerusalem4 ,they are now his witnesses to the people4 ,so we bring you the good news that ,god1 by raising ,jesus from the dead1 has fulfilled for our children the promise made to our fathers4 ,as ,paul and ,barnabas were going out1 the people begged that this be repeated to them on the following ,sabbath4 ,after the congregation broke up1 many of the ,jews and religious ,greeks followed ,paul and ,barnabas1 who spoke to them1 urging them through ,god's help to remain loyal4 ,on the next ,sabbath nearly all the people of the city came to hear the message of the ,lord4 ,but when the ,jews saw the crowd1 they were jealous and began to contradict what ,paul said1 and to insult him4 ,but ,paul and ,barnabas spoke out fearlessly and said1 ,it was necessary that ,god's message should be spoken first to you2 but since you will not hear it and prove yourselves unworthy of eternal life1 here and now we turn to those who are not ,jews4 ,for this is the ,lord's command to us3 ',i have set you as a light to other races1 to bring salvation to the ends of the earth4' ,when those who were not ,jews heard this1 they were glad and gave thanks for ,god's message2 and as many as were ordained to receive eternal life believed1 and ,god's message was carried far and wide throughout the country4 ,but the ,jews1 with the help of women of high rank and the leading men in the city1 started a persecution against ,paul and ,barnabas and drove them from the city4 ,so the apostles shook the dust from their feet as a protest against them1 and went on to ,iconium4 ,the new disciples1 however1 were filled with joy and the ,holy ,spirit4 ,at ,iconium1 ,paul and ,barnabas went into the ,jewish synagogue and spoke1 so that a great number of both ,jews and ,greeks believed4 ,but the ,jews who did not believe stirred up the other races and poisoned their minds against the apostles4 ,the people of the town were divided1 some being on the side of the ,jews and others on the side of the apostles4 ,an attempt was made both by the other races and by the ,jews1 with the help of their rulers1 to attack and stone the apostles2 but they learned of it and escaped to the towns of ,lystra and ,derbe1 and there they continued to preach the good news4 ,at ,lystra there was a man who could not move his feet1 who had been lame from his birth and had never walked4 ,as this man listened to ,paul's preaching1 the apostle fixed his eyes on him and1 seeing that he had faith enough to make him well1 said in a loud voice1 ,stand up on your feet4 ,and the man sprang up and began to walk4 ,when the crowds saw what ,paul had done1 they shouted in their language1 ,the gods have come down to us in the form of men6 ,barnabas they called ,zeus1 and ,paul ,hermes1 because he was the chief speaker4 ,the priests of the temple of ,zeus1 which stood in front of the town1 brought oxen and wreaths to the gates1 so as to join the crowds in offering sacrifice to them4 ,but when ,barnabas and ,paul heard this1 they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd1 shouting1 ,men1 why are you doing this8 ,we are but men like yourselves1 and are bringing you the good news so that you may turn from these idols and worship the living ,god who made the heaven1 the earth1 the sea1 and all that is in them4 ,in past ages he allowed all nations to worship as they pleased2 yet as the bountiful ,giver he did not leave himself without a witness1 for he gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and makes your hearts happy with food and good cheer4 ,yet even with these words they could hardly keep the crowd from sacrificing to them4 ,but ,jews came from ,antioch and ,iconium and won over the crowds1 who stoned ,paul1 and then1 believing him dead1 dragged him out of the city4 ,however1 when the disciples had gathered about him1 he got up and went into the city4 ,the next day he went with ,barnabas to ,derbe4 ,after they had preached the good news to that city and had won many disciples1 they returned to ,lystra1 ,iconium1 and ,antioch1 and encouraged the disciples urging them to be true to the faith4 ,then they passed through ,pisidia and came to ,pamphylia1 and after preaching in ,perga1 they went down to ,attaleia4 ,from there they set sail for ,antioch4 ,when they reached ,antioch1 they called together the members of the church and told everything that ,god had done with them1 and how he had opened the door of faith to those who were not ,jews4 ,and they stayed there a long time with the disciples4 ,,why ,,paul ,,went ,,to ,,macedonia ,after they had stayed at ,antioch for some time1 ,paul said to ,barnabas1 ,let us return and visit the brothers in all the cities where we have told the good news from the ,lord1 and see how they are getting on4 ,barnabas wished to take ,mark with them1 but ,paul did not think it wise to take with them one who had deserted them in ,pamphylia instead of going on with them to work in ,pisidia4 ,so they parted company1 and ,barnabas took ,mark with him to ,cyprus4 ,paul chose ,silas and went away1 commended by the brothers to the gracious care of the ,lord4 ,he went through ,syria and ,cilicia1 encouraging the churches4 ,he also went to ,derbe and ,lystra4 ,at ,lystra there was a disciple1 called ,timothy1 the son of a ,christian ,jewess and a ,greek father4 ,as he had a good reputation among the brothers at ,lystra and ,iconium1 ,paul wished to have him go with him4 ,and the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily4 ,then ,paul and his companions crossed the ,phrygian and ,galatian country1 but were prevented by the ,holy ,spirit from preaching in the province of ,asia4 ,when they reached ,mysia they tried to enter ,bithynia1 but the ,spirit of ,jesus did not permit them2 so passing by ,mysia they went down to ,troas4 ,one night ,paul had a vision3 a man of ,macedonia was standing and begging him1 ,come over into ,macedonia and help us4 ,as soon as ,paul saw the vision1 we were eager to start at once for ,macedonia1 believing that ,god had called us to tell the good news to them4 ,so1 setting sail from ,troas1 we ran straight to ,samothrace1 and on the next day to ,neapolis4 ,from there we went to ,philippi1 which is the principal city in that part of ,macedonia4 ,in that city we spent some days4 ,on the ,sabbath we went outside the city gate by the river1 where we believed there was a place of prayer4 ,and we sat down and talked to the women who had gathered4 ,among them was a woman named ,lydia1 a dealer in purple cloth from the city of ,thyatira1 who was already a worshipper of ,god4 ,the ,lord opened her mind1 so that she listened to what ,paul was saying2 and when she and her household had been baptized1 she urged us1 saying1 ,if you are sure that ,i am a true believer in the ,lord1 come and stay at my house4 ,and she made us do so4 ,,paul ,,and ,,silas ,,in ,,macedonia ,one day as we were going to the place of prayer1 a slave girl met us who was under the control of a spirit that made her clairvoyant1 so that she brought great gain to her owners by fortune-telling4 ,she kept following ,paul and the rest of us1 crying1 ,these men are servants of the ,most ,high ,god2 they proclaim to you the way of salvation4 ,this she did for many days until ,paul1 unable to stand it longer1 turned and said to the spirit1 ,in the name of ,jesus ,christ ,i command you to come out of her4 ,and it left her at once4 ,but when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone1 they seized ,paul and ,silas and dragged them into the public square before the city officials4 ,bringing them before the military rulers1 they said1 ,these are ,jews who are making a disturbance in our city2 they proclaim customs which it is not lawful for us as ,romans to adopt or follow4 ,the mob also joined in the attack upon them1 so the military rulers tore their garments off them and ordered them to be beaten with rods4 ,after beating them severely1 they threw them in prison and ordered the jailer to be sure to keep them safely4 ,on receiving this strict order1 he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks4 ,about midnight1 as ,paul and ,silas were praying and singing hymns to ,god1 and while the prisoners were listening to them1 there was suddenly such a great earthquake that the very foundations of the prison were shaken4 ,immediately all the doors were opened and the chains that bound all the prisoners were loosened4 ,when the jailer suddenly awoke and saw the prison doors wide open1 he drew his sword and was about to kill himself1 thinking the prisoners had escaped4 ,but ,paul shouted1 ,do no harm to yourself1 for we are all here6 ,so calling for lights1 the jailer rushed in1 and trembling with fear1 fell down before ,paul and ,silas4 ,then bringing them out of the prison he said1 ,sirs1 what must ,i do to be saved8 ,they answered1 ,believe in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and you and your household will be saved4 ,so ,paul and ,silas preached the word of the ,lord to him and to all his family4 ,then the jailer took them at that very hour of the night and washed their wounds1 and he and all his family were at once baptized4 ,he then brought them to his house and gave them food to eat1 and greatly rejoiced with all his family that they had come to believe in ,god4 ,the next morning the city officials sent the police with the order1 ,release these men4 ,so the jailer told ,paul1 ,the police have brought an order to have you released2 now you may come out and go in peace4 ,but ,paul answered1 ,they have beaten us publicly without trial1 although we are ,roman citizens1 and they put us in prison6 ,now they are going to send us out secretly6 ,no1 indeed4 ,let them come here themselves and take us out4 ,the police reported this to the military rulers1 who1 when they heard that they were ,roman citizens1 were afraid and came to make peace with them1 and when they had brought them out of prison1 they begged them to leave the city4 ,so ,paul and ,silas left the prison1 and went to ,lydia's house2 and after they had seen the brothers and encouraged them1 they left the city4 ,after they had passed through ,amphipolis and ,apollonia1 they came to ,thessalonica1 where the ,jews had a synagogue4 ,as usual1 ,paul went in1 and for three weeks he argued with them1 to prove to them from the scriptures that the ,christ had to suffer and rise from the dead1 and ,paul said that this ,jesus ,i proclaim to you is the ,christ4 ,some of the ,jews and a large number of ,god-fearing ,greeks and many of the leading women believed and threw in their lot with ,paul and ,silas4 ,but the ,jews were jealous and got hold of the loafers in the market-place1 and raised a mob and started a riot in the city4 ,they attacked ,jason's house1 so as to bring ,paul and ,silas out before the people1 and when they did not find them1 they dragged ,jason and some of the brothers before the city officials1 shouting1 ,these men who have upset the whole world have come here too6 ,jason has welcomed them4 ,they do not keep the laws of ,caesar and declare that some one else called ,jesus is king4 ,on hearing this the crowd and the city officials were greatly troubled2 but after ,jason and the others had pledged to keep the peace1 they let them go4 ,then the brothers at once sent ,paul and ,silas away by night to ,beroea4 ,when they arrived there1 they went to the ,jewish synagogue1 where the people were of a nobler spirit than at ,thessalonica1 for they were very ready to hear the teaching about ,jesus1 and studied their scriptures daily to see if what ,paul said was true4 ,many of the ,jews believed and also prominent ,greek women and many men4 ,as soon as the ,jews at ,thessalonica learned that ,god's message was being proclaimed by ,paul at ,beroea1 they came there also to stir up the people to riot4 ,then the brothers at once sent ,paul on his way to the sea-coast1 but ,silas and ,timothy stayed at ,beroea4 ,the friends who escorted ,paul went with him as far as ,athens1 and left him there1 after receiving instructions that ,silas and ,timothy were to come to him as soon as possible4 ,,paul',s ,,great ,,speech ,,at ,,athens ,while ,paul was waiting at ,athens for ,silas and ,timothy1 his anger was aroused when he saw that the city was filled with idols4 ,so he argued in the synagogue with the ,jews and with the ,greeks who joined in their worship1 and every day with those whom he happened to meet in the market-place4 ,a few of the philosophers also met him4 ,some of them said1 ,what has this picker-up of scraps of learning to say8 ,others said1 ,he seems to be a herald of some new deities4 ,this was because he had been telling the good news about ,jesus and how he rose from the dead4 ,and they took him to the ,court of ,areopagus and said1 ,may we hear what this new teaching of yours is8 ,for the things you are saying sound strange to us2 so we want to know what they mean4 7,for all the ,athenians and the foreign visitors spent their time doing nothing but telling or hearing something new47 ,so ,paul stood in the middle of the ,court and said1 ,men of ,athens1 ,i see wherever ,i go that you are very religious1 for as ,i passed along and looked at your objects of worship1 ,i found an altar with the inscription1 ,,to ,,an ,,unknown ,,god ,whom1 therefore1 you worship without knowing1 him ,i proclaim to you4 ,the ,god who made the world and all things in it is ,lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by men4 ,he is not served by men's hands1 as though he needed anything1 for he it is who gives to all men life and breath and all things4 ,he has made all nations from one family that they may live over the whole earth4 ,he has also fixed for them when and where they are to live1 that they should seek ,god in the hope that1 as they feel after him1 they may find him1 for he is not far from each one of us2 for it is in him that we live1 and move1 and have our being1 as in fact1 some of your own poets have said1 ',we also are his children4' ,illustration3 ,st4 ,paul ,preaching at ,athens ,painted by ,raphael ,therefore1 as the children of ,god1 we ought not to think of the divine nature as being like gold or silver or stone1 carved by man's art and invention4 ,god overlooked the ages of ignorance1 but now he commands all men everywhere to repent1 for he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world justly by the one whom he has appointed1 and he has given proof of this to all mankind by raising him from the dead4 ,when they heard of raising one from the dead1 some sneered1 but others said1 ,we will hear what you have to say about that some other time4 ,so ,paul went out from among them4 ,some men1 however1 joined him and believed1 among whom were ,dionysius1 a member of the ,court of the ,areopagus1 a woman named ,damaris1 and several others4 ,after this ,paul left ,athens and went to ,corinth4 ,,paul ,,writes ,,to ,,his ,,friends ,,at ,,thessalonica ,paul and ,silas and ,timothy to the church of the ,thessalonians which lives in ,god the ,father and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,may good-will and peace be granted to you4 ,we thank ,god always for you all and mention you in our prayers1 for we constantly remember before our ,god and ,father your active faith and loving service and firm hope in our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,you yourselves know1 brothers1 that our visit to you was not without results4 ,at ,philippi1 as you remember1 we had the courage through divine help to tell you the good news of ,god even though we had been ill treated and insulted4 ,we loved you so much and you had become so dear to us that we would gladly have given to you not only ,god's good news1 but also our very lives4 ,brothers1 you remember our hard labor and toil1 how we worked at our trade night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you1 while we told you ,god's good news4 ,you are witnesses1 and so is ,god1 that our dealings with you who believe in ,christ were pure1 just1 and beyond reproach1 and that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children1 persuading and encouraging you1 and appealing to you to live so that you would be worthy of the ,god who calls you to his own ,kingdom and glory4 ,we thank ,god constantly for this also1 that when you received ,god's message from us you accepted it not as a mere word of man but for what it really is1 the message of ,god1 which even now is doing its work in the hearts of you who believe4 ,you have begun to follow the example of the churches of ,god in ,judea which are united with ,jesus ,christ1 for you have suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they have suffered from the ,jews who killed the ,lord ,jesus4 ,brothers1 when we were torn away from you for a little time 7out of sight but not out of mind671 we were exceedingly eager to see you face to face4 ,we did want to come to you--,i1 ,paul1 did more than once1 but ,satan put difficulties in our way4 ,for who is our hope1 our joy1 our crown of which we have a right to be proud8 ,is it not you8 ,for you are our glory and our joy6 ,so when ,i could stand it no longer1 ,i decided that it was best to remain alone at ,athens and send ,timothy1 our brother and ,god's servant in telling the good news about ,christ1 to strengthen your faith and so to encourage you that none of you might be disturbed by the troubles through which you are passing1 for you know that we must have them4 ,but now that ,timothy has just come back and brought me the good news of your faith and love and how you always remember me lovingly1 longing to see me as ,i long to see you1 ,i have been comforted1 brothers1 in all my distress and trouble by your faith4 ,how can we thank ,god enough for all the joy that comes to us through you8 ,night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see your faces and supply whatever is lacking in your faith4 ,may our ,god and ,father himself and our ,lord ,jesus direct our way to you1 and may the ,lord make your love for one another and for all men grow ever greater1 even as does our love for you1 so as to make your hearts strong and your characters without fault in the sight of our ,god and ,father4 ,i solemnly charge you in the name of the ,lord to have this letter read aloud to all the brothers4 ,the love of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ be with you4 ,,paul',s ,,work ,,at ,,corinth ,and ,paul left the place and went to the home of ,titius ,justus1 who worshipped ,god1 whose house was next to the synagogue4 ,crispus1 the president of the synagogue1 and all his family1 believed in the ,lord2 and many of the ,corinthians when they heard ,paul1 believed and were baptized4 ,one night the ,lord said to ,paul in a vision1 ,do not be afraid1 but speak and do not stop1 for ,i am with you and no one shall harm you2 ,i have many followers in this city4 ,so ,paul lived there a year and a half and taught them the word of ,god4 ,but when ,gallio was governor of ,greece1 the ,jews joined in an attack on ,paul and brought him before the court on the charge that he led people to worship ,god contrary to the law4 ,but just as ,paul was about to speak1 ,gallio said to the ,jews1 ,if it were something about wrong-doing or a serious crime1 there would be some reason for my listening to you1 ,o ,jews2 but if these are only questions about names and your own law1 take care of them yourselves4 ,i do not wish to be a judge of matters like these4 ,and he drove them out of the court4 ,then all the people caught hold of ,sosthenes1 the president of the synagogue1 and beat him in front of the court2 but ,gallio paid no attention to these things4 ,paul1 after staying some time longer in ,corinth1 said good-by to the brothers and with ,priscilla and ,aquila1 sailed for ,syria4 ,,paul ,,writes ,,to ,,his ,,friends ,,in ,,corinth ,paul1 called to be an apostle of ,christ ,jesus by the will of ,god1 and brother ,sosthenes to the church of ,god at ,corinth4 ,i thank ,god continually for the blessing which he has given you through ,jesus ,christ4 ,through him you have been so richly and fully gifted with every kind of speech and knowledge that you have proved the truth of the testimony which ,i bore to ,christ when ,i was with you4 ,brothers1 in the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ ,i beg of you all to agree in your statement of faith4 ,there must be no quarrels among you1 but you must be one both in your way of thinking and in your purpose4 ,for ,i have been told1 brothers1 by the members of ,chloe's household1 that there are quarrels among you4 ,avoid all impurity6 ,every other sin that a man commits is outside the body1 but the impure man sins against his own body4 ,do you not know that your body is the temple of the ,holy ,spirit that is within you1 which you have received from ,god8 ,you do not belong to yourselves1 for you were bought for a price4 ,be sure to honor ,god with your bodies4 ,no temptation has come to you that is beyond your power to resist4 ,god is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond what you can stand2 but when the temptation comes1 he will provide the way of escape1 so that you will have strength to endure4 ,in all things ,i can do as ,i like1 but they are not all good for me4 ,in all things ,i can do as ,i like1 but they do not all make me a better man4 ,each of us must seek not only his own good but that of his neighbor4 ,do you not know that in a race1 though all run1 only one wins the prize8 ,so run that you may win the prize4 ,every athlete exercises self-restraint in every way2 but while they do this to win a crown that perishes1 we do it to secure one that is eternal4 ,so then ,i run as one who is sure of his goal4 ,i do not plant my blows as a boxer who beats the air2 rather ,i constantly train my body and keep it under control for fear that ,i1 who told others of the contest1 might myself be disqualified4 ,now brothers1 ,i wish you to understand about spiritual gifts4 ,there are different kinds of gifts1 but all are given by the same ,spirit4 ,there are different ways of serving1 but all are for the same ,master4 ,there are different ways in which ,god's power is shown1 but the same ,god is working in all of you in all these ways4 ,each is given his own gift of the ,spirit for the common good4 ,just as a man's body has many parts1 and these parts1 although many1 form only one body1 so it is with ,christ4 ,for we have all been baptized by the one ,spirit so as to form one body4 ,whether we were ,jews or ,greeks1 slaves or freemen1 we have all been given the same ,spirit4 ,for the body consists not of one part but of many4 ,if the foot were to say1 ,because ,i am not the hand ,i do not belong to the body1 that would not make it any less a part of the body4 ,if the ear were to say1 ,because ,i am not an eye1 ,i do not belong to the body1 it would be1 for all that1 a part of the body4 ,if the whole body were an eye1 where would the hearing be8 ,if the whole body were an ear1 where would the sense of smell be8 ,but as it is1 ,god gave each part of the body its proper place1 exactly as he wished4 ,if they were all only one part1 where would the body be8 ,as it is1 while there are many parts1 there is only one body4 ,the eye cannot say to the hand1 ,i have no need of you1 nor can the head say to the feet1 ,i have no need of you4 ,on the contrary1 even those parts of the body which seem weaker are necessary4 ,if one part suffers1 all parts suffer with it4 ,if one part is honored1 all the parts share its honor4 ,now you are one body--the body of ,christ1 and each of you are parts of it4 ,and ,god gave each his proper place in the church3 apostles first1 prophets next1 teachers third1 then workers of miracles1 healers1 helpers1 and directors4 ,are all apostles8 ,are all prophets8 ,are all teachers8 ,are all able to work miracles8 ,are all healers8 ,are all able to tell what their words mean8 ,but always seek to attain the highest gifts4 ,yet ,i will show you a far better way4 ,though ,i speak with the tongues of men and of angels but have not love1 ,i am only sounding brass or a clanging cymbal4 ,even though ,i have the gift of prophecy1 and can understand all mysteries and all knowledge1 and have faith enough to remove mountains1 but have not love1 ,i am nothing4 ,and if ,i give all ,i have to feed the poor and my body to be burned1 but have not love1 ,i gain nothing4 ,love is patient and kind2 love is not envious2 love is not boastful1 is not conceited1 does not act rudely1 is not selfish1 is never provoked1 does not resent wrong2 rejoices not in evil1 but rejoices in the truth4 ,love forgives all things1 believes all things1 hopes for all things1 endures all things4 ,love never fails4 ,as for prophecies they shall come to an end4 ,as for tongues they shall cease4 ,as for knowledge it also shall come to an end2 for we know in part1 and we prophesy in part4 ,but when that which is perfect has come1 that which is imperfect shall come to an end4 ,when ,i was a child1 ,i spoke as a child1 ,i felt as a child1 ,i thought as a child2 but now that ,i am a man ,i have put away childish ways4 ,for now we see only the dim reflection in a mirror1 but then face to face4 ,now ,i know only in part1 but then ,i shall know fully1 even as also ,i am fully known4 ,and now abide faith1 hope1 and love1 these three2 but the greatest of these is love4 ,,the ,,new ,,life ,,after ,,death ,now1 brothers1 remember the good news ,i preached to you1 that ,christ died for our sins1 and that he was buried and rose again the third day4 ,now if we preach that ,christ rose from the dead1 why do some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead8 ,if there is no such thing as a resurrection of the dead1 then ,christ did not rise2 and if ,christ did not rise then our preaching is of no value and your faith also is of no value4 ,but some one will say1 ,how do the dead rise and what kind of body will they have when they come back8 ,foolish one6 ,the seed you sow does not come to life again unless it dies4 ,what you sow is not the body that will be1 but a mere grain1 perhaps of wheat or of some other seed4 ,god gives it the kind of body that he sees fit1 to each kind of seed a body of its own4 ,all flesh is not the same2 there is human flesh1 another flesh of beasts1 another flesh of birds1 and another of fishes4 ,there are heavenly bodies and also earthly bodies1 but the splendor of the heavenly is one thing and that of the earthly is another4 ,there is one splendor of the sun1 another splendor of the moon1 and another splendor of the stars2 for one star differs from another in splendor4 ,so it is with a man's body when he rises from the dead4 ,it is sown a perishable thing1 it is raised imperishable2 it is sown without honor1 it is raised in glory2 it is sown in weakness1 it is raised in power2 it is sown a natural body1 it is raised a spiritual body4 ,if there is a natural body1 there is also a spiritual body4 ,in a moment1 in the twinkling of an eye1 we shall be changed and this perishable body must put on the imperishable and this mortal body put on immortality4 ,then shall come true what is written in ,scripture ,death is swallowed up by victory4 ,o grave1 where is your victory8 ,o death1 where is your sting8 ,thanks be to ,god who gives us the victory through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,,ways ,,of ,,showing ,,love ,now about the collection for ,god's people in ,jerusalem1 you must carry out the same directions that ,i gave to the churches in ,galatia4 ,on the first day of every week let each one put aside a certain part of what he has gained1 so that the money will not have to be collected when ,i come4 ,when ,i arrive ,i will send those whom you select1 with letters1 to carry your gift to ,jerusalem1 and if it is worth while for me to go too1 they shall go with me4 ,i will come to you after ,i have passed through ,macedonia1 for ,i am going there4 ,perhaps ,i shall spend some time1 or even pass the winter with you1 that you may start me on my way1 wherever ,i may be going4 ,i do not wish to see you merely in passing1 for my hope is to stay some time with you1 if the ,lord permits4 ,but ,i will stay in ,ephesus until the ,feast of ,pentecost1 for ,i have a great opportunity here for work1 and there are many foes4 ,if ,timothy comes1 see that he has nothing to fear while among you1 for he is carrying on the ,lord's work even as ,i am4 ,so let no one slight him1 but see him safely on his way that he may come to me1 for ,i am waiting for him along with the other brothers4 ,be watchful1 stand firm in the faith1 be men1 be strong6 ,let all that you do be done in love4 ,the churches of the province in ,asia send you greetings4 ,aquila and ,prisca1 with the church that meets in their home1 also send you greetings1 and so do all the brothers4 ,i1 ,paul1 add this greeting with my own hand3 ,the ,love of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ be with you4 ,my love be with you all in ,christ ,jesus4 ,,paul',s ,,trials ,,and ,,victories ,,at ,,ephesus ,after spending some time at ,antioch ,paul went off on a trip to ,galatia and ,phrygia to strengthen the faith of all the disciples2 then he returned to ,ephesus4 ,there ,paul entered the synagogue1 and spoke out fearlessly for three months1 arguing and trying to convince people about the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,but as some were stubborn and refused to be convinced and publicly slandered the ,christian way of thinking and living1 ,paul1 taking the disciples with him1 left the synagogue and continued his teaching every day in the lecture-room of ,tyrannus4 ,this continued for two years1 so that all the people who lived in the province of ,asia1 both ,jews and ,greeks1 heard the message of the ,lord4 ,and ,god did wonderful miracles through ,paul1 and the name of the ,lord ,jesus was held in high honor4 ,many who believed in him came to confess and to tell all the wicked things they had done4 ,about that time a great disturbance arose over the ,christian way of teaching and living4 ,a silversmith1 by the name of ,demetrius1 made silver models of the temple of ,artemis which brought much profit to his workmen4 ,he gathered the workmen together1 and others who were in the same kind of business1 and said to them1 ,men1 you know that we get our wealth from this business of ours4 ,you also see and hear that1 not only at ,ephesus but throughout the whole province of ,asia1 this ,paul has drawn away many people by telling them that gods made by human hands are not gods at all4 ,there is danger not only that this business will be hurt1 but also that the temple of the great goddess ,artemis will be neglected1 and that she will even lose her importance in all the province of ,asia and throughout the world4 ,when they heard this they were greatly enraged1 and shouted1 ,great is ,artemis of the ,ephesians6 ,the uproar spread throughout the whole city until the people all rushed into the theatre1 dragging along ,gaius and ,aristarchus1 men of ,macedonia1 who were ,paul's travelling companions4 ,paul wanted to enter the assembly1 but the disciples would not let him4 ,some of the leading religious officers of the province of ,asia1 who were friends of his1 also sent messages begging him not to risk going into the theatre4 ,some of the people shouted one thing and some another1 for the assembly was all in confusion1 and most of those present did not know why they had come together4 ,for about two hours they shouted1 ,great is ,artemis of the ,ephesians6 ,when the city recorder had quieted the mob1 he said3 ,men of ,ephesus1 what man is there who does not know that this city is the guardian of the temple of the great ,artemis and of the statue that fell from heaven8 ,as these facts cannot be denied1 you should keep calm and do nothing reckless4 ,you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess4 ,if ,demetrius and his fellow workers have a complaint against anybody1 there are the courts and the ,roman officials2 let both sides state their charges4 ,but if there is anything else you want1 it must be settled in the regular assembly4 ,we are indeed in danger of being charged with riot because of what we have done to-day1 for there is no good reason that we can give for this gathering4 ,with these words he dismissed the assembly4 ,when the uproar had ceased1 ,paul sent for the disciples and encouraged them4 ,then1 after bidding them good-by1 he started for ,macedonia4 ,,paul ,,writes ,,to ,,the ,,christians ,,at ,,rome ,paul1 a servant of ,jesus ,christ1 called to be an apostle1 set apart to tell ,god's good news about ,jesus ,christ our ,lord1 to all ,god's loved ones who are in ,rome and have been called to be his people3 ,love to you1 and peace from ,god our ,father and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,first of all ,i thank my ,god through ,jesus ,christ for you all1 because your faith is reported throughout the whole world4 ,the ,god whom ,i serve with my spirit1 as ,i tell the good news about his ,son1 is my witness how often ,i speak of you in my prayers1 asking that at last the way may be opened for me to come to you1 if it is ,god's will4 ,for ,i long to see you that ,i may give you some spiritual gift1 that you may be strengthened2 or rather that we may each be encouraged by the other's faith1 ,i by yours1 and you by mine4 ,brothers1 ,i also wish you to know that many times ,i planned to come to you 7but thus far was prevented7 that ,i might gather some fruit from my labors among you1 as ,i have already in the other nations4 ,i have a duty to perform both to ,greeks and to barbarians2 both to the wise and to the ignorant2 so ,i am eager to tell the good news to you also who are in ,rome4 ,i am not ashamed of the good news1 for it is the power of ,god that is able to save every one who believes it1 the ,jew first and the ,greek as well4 ,do not follow the example of those who have not heard the good news1 but be made different by a complete change of mind1 so that you may be able to know what is the will of ,god1 even what is good and perfect and acceptable to him4 ,let your love be sincere2 abhor that which is evil1 cling to that which is good4 ,in your love for your brothers1 feel genuine devotion for one another4 ,be eager to honor one another4 ,never let your zeal grow less2 keep alive your enthusiasm2 serve the ,lord2 rejoice in your hope4 ,be patient in trouble1 persevering in prayer2 share with fellow ,christians in need1 be friendly and generous4 ,bless those who persecute you1 bless and curse not4 ,rejoice with those who rejoice1 and weep with those who weep4 ,be sympathetic with one another4 ,set not your heart on high things but be ready to do humble tasks4 ,do not be conceited4 ,do not pay back evil for evil2 aim to do what is honorable in the eyes of all men4 ,if possible1 as far as it depends on you1 live at peace with all men4 ,never seek revenge1 dear friends1 but let ,god punish those who wrong you4 ,therefore1 if your enemy is hungry1 feed him2 if he is thirsty1 give him drink1 for in so doing you will heap coals of fire upon his head4 ,do not let evil overcome you1 but overcome evil with good4 ,owe no man anything1 except to love one another1 for he who loves his neighbor has done what the law demands4 ,for all the commandments are summed up in this one command3 ,you shall love your neighbor as yourself4 ,love never wrongs a fellow man2 that is why love meets all the demands of the law4 ,i have1 for several years1 been longing to visit you when ,i go to ,spain4 ,i am hoping to see you on my way there1 and to be sent on my journey by you after ,i have first enjoyed being with you for a time4 ,but now ,i am on my way to ,jerusalem to do a service for ,god's people2 for the ,christians in ,macedonia and ,greece have been good enough to make a contribution for the poor ,christians at ,jerusalem4 ,now ,i beg of you1 brothers1 in the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ and by the love which his ,spirit inspires1 that you join me in earnest prayer to ,god in my behalf4 ,pray that ,i may be delivered from those in ,judea who refuse to believe in ,jesus1 that my mission to ,jerusalem may prove acceptable to ,god's people1 and that ,i may through the will of ,god come to you joyfully and find rest with you4 ,may the ,god who gives peace be with you all4 ,amen4 ,,paul',s ,,last ,,journey ,,to ,,jerusalem ,after we had said good-by to the elders of ,ephesus we sailed to ,syria and landed at ,tyre1 where the ship was to unload her cargo4 ,there we found certain ,christian disciples and stayed a week with them4 ,speaking under the influence of the ,spirit1 they told ,paul not to set foot in ,jerusalem2 but when it was time for us to go1 we went on our way1 and they all1 with their wives and children1 came with us until we were out of the city4 ,then kneeling on the beach1 we prayed and said good-by to one another2 we went on board and they returned home4 ,sailing from ,tyre to ,ptolemais1 we completed our voyage4 ,after greeting the ,christian brothers who lived there1 we spent a day with them4 ,the next morning we set out and reached ,caesarea1 where we went to the house of ,philip the evangelist1 who was one of the ,seven1 and stayed with him4 ,he had four daughters who had the gift of prophecy4 ,during our stay there1 which lasted a number of days1 a prophet named ,agabus came down from ,judea4 ,coming up to us1 he took ,paul's belt1 bound his own feet and hands with it1 and said3 ,this is what the ,holy ,spirit says1 ',in the same way the ,jews will bind the owner of this belt at ,jerusalem and will turn him over to the ,romans4' ,when we and the brothers who lived there heard this1 we begged ,paul not to go up to ,jerusalem1 but ,paul answered1 ,what do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart8 ,for ,i am ready not only to be bound but to die in ,jerusalem for the cause of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,so when he could not be kept from going1 we stopped pleading and said3 ,the ,lord's will be done4 ,after some days we started for ,jerusalem4 ,some of the disciples from ,caesarea went with us and brought us to the house of ,mnason of ,cyprus1 one of the early disciples1 with whom we were to stay4 ,when we reached ,jerusalem the brothers welcomed us gladly4 ,the next day ,paul went with us to see ,james1 and all the elders of the church were present4 ,after ,paul had greeted them1 he told1 one by one1 all the things that ,god had done among the foreign peoples through his ministry4 ,when they heard it they praised ,god and said to him1 ,brother1 you see how many thousands of ,christian believers there are among the ,jews and that they are all eager to have men keep the law4 ,they have been told that you teach all ,jews living in foreign lands not to keep the law of ,moses4 ,now what is to be done8 ,they will certainly hear that you have come2 therefore do this3 we have here four men who have solemnly promised to make certain offerings at the ,temple4 ,join with them1 pay their expenses1 and all will know that there is no truth in the stories told about you1 but that you live as the law of ,moses commands4 ,so ,paul joined the men the next day and went with them into the ,temple to give notice of the time when sacrifice was to be offered for every one of them4 ,,paul',s ,,narrow ,,escape ,,from ,,death ,the seven days during which the men had promised to make special offerings were almost over when some ,jews from ,asia1 who saw ,paul in the ,temple1 stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him1 shouting1 ,men of ,israel1 help6 ,this is the man who teaches all men1 everywhere1 to despise the ,jewish people1 the ,jewish law1 and this sacred place4 ,so the whole city was aroused4 ,the people rushed together1 seized ,paul1 and dragged him outside the ,temple2 and at once the doors were closed4 ,the people were trying to kill ,paul when it was reported to the commander of the soldiers that all ,jerusalem was in an uproar4 ,he at once took some soldiers and officers and rushed down among them4 ,when they saw the commander and the soldiers1 they stopped beating ,paul4 ,then the commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains1 and inquired1 ,who is he and what has he done8 ,some of the crowd shouted one thing1 some another2 and as the commander could not learn the real truth on account of the uproar1 he ordered ,paul to be taken to the castle4 ,when ,paul reached the steps1 he had to be carried by the soldiers on account of the violence of the crowd1 for all the people followed1 shouting1 ,kill him6 ,just as ,paul was being taken into the castle1 he said to the commander1 ,may ,i say something to you8 ,the commander said3 ,do you speak ,greek8 ,then you are not the ,egyptian who some time ago started a rebellion and led four thousand outlaws into the desert8 ,paul answered1 ,i am a ,jew1 of ,tarsus in ,cilicia1 a citizen of a great city4 ,i beg of you1 let me speak to the people4 ,so when the commander had given him permission1 ,paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people1 and when there was a great silence1 he spoke to them in ,hebrew3 ,brothers1 and fathers1 listen to the defense ,i now make before you4 ,when they heard him speaking to them in ,hebrew they were all the more quiet2 so he went on to say1 ,i am a ,jew1 born in ,tarsus in ,cilicia1 but brought up in this city1 educated under ,gamaliel in all the strictness of our law4 ,i was as eager to serve ,god as you all are to-day4 ,i persecuted and even killed the followers of ,jesus4 ,i bound and put in prison both men and women1 as the high priest himself and all the elders can testify4 ,it was also from them that ,i had letters to our fellow ,jews in ,damascus1 and ,i was on my way to bring the ,christians who were there back to ,jerusalem in chains for punishment4 ,while ,i was on my way not far from ,damascus1 suddenly1 about noon1 a bright light from heaven shone around me4 ,i fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me1 ',saul1 ,saul1 why do you persecute me8' ',who art thou1 ,lord8' ,i asked4 ,he answered1 ',i am ,jesus of ,nazareth1 the one whom you are persecuting4' ,and ,i said1 ',what shall ,i do1 ,lord8' ,and the ,lord said to me1 ',rise1 and go to ,damascus1 and there it shall be told you what you are to do4' ,and when ,i could not see because of the bright light1 ,i went to ,damascus1 led by the hand of those who were with me4 ,and one ,ananias1 a religious man1 well thought of by the ,jews1 came and1 standing beside me1 said1 ',brother ,saul1 receive your sight1' and that very minute ,i received my sight and saw him4 ,and he said to me1 ',the ,god of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the ,righteous ,one4 ,for you shall be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard4' ,and the ,lord said to me1 ',go1 for ,i will send you far away to those who are not ,jews4' ,up to this time the people had listened to him1 but when they heard these words they shouted1 ,away with such a fellow from the earth1 for he is not fit to live1 and they threw off their clothes and flung dust into the air until the commander ordered ,paul to be taken into the castle and examined1 by flogging1 to find out why the people had shouted so against him4 ,when they had tied him up with straps1 ,paul said to the officer who was standing by1 ,is it lawful for you to flog a ,roman citizen without trial8 ,when the officer heard this he reported it to the commander and said3 ,take care what you do1 for this man is a ,roman citizen4 ,then the commander came to ,paul and said1 ,tell me1 are you a ,roman citizen8 ,he said1 ,yes4 ,the commander answered1 ,i paid a large sum for this citizenship2 and ,paul said1 ,but ,i was born a ,roman citizen4 ,the men who were to have examined him1 at once left him4 ,and the commander1 when he learned that ,paul was a ,roman citizen1 was also afraid because he had bound him4 ,the next day the commander1 so as to find out just what charge the ,jews had made against ,paul1 unbound him and ordered the high priests and all the members of the council to come together4 ,then they brought ,paul down and placed him before them4 ,paul1 looking straight at the members of the council1 said3 ,brothers1 ,i have done my duty1 with a clear conscience before ,god1 up to the present moment4 ,when ,paul saw that some of the council were ,sadducees and some ,pharisees1 he cried out1 ,brothers1 ,i am a ,pharisee1 a son of ,pharisees4 ,it is because of my hope that the dead will live again that ,i am on trial6 ,when he said this a quarrel arose between the ,pharisees and the ,sadducees1 and there was a great difference of opinion among them4 ,for the ,sadducees say that there is no life after death1 nor angel1 nor spirit2 but the ,pharisees believe in all these2 so there was a great uproar4 ,some of the scribes who belonged to the party of the ,pharisees sprang to their feet and protested1 ,we find this man guilty of no crime4 ,what if some spirit or an angel has spoken to him8 ,when the uproar became so great that the commander was afraid that ,paul would be torn in pieces by them1 he ordered the troops to go down and take him from among them by force and bring him into the castle4 ,the next night the ,lord stood beside ,paul and said1 ,be of good cheer1 for as you have spoken for me at ,jerusalem1 so you must speak also at ,rome4 ,early the next morning the ,jews plotted together and solemnly promised not to eat or drink until they had killed ,paul1 and there were more than forty who made this promise4 ,they went to the high priests and elders and said1 ,we have made a solemn promise to taste no food until we have killed ,paul4 ,now you and the council must tell the commander that you wish him to bring ,paul down to you1 as though you wanted to examine more carefully the charges brought against him4 ,we shall be ready to kill him before he comes here4 ,but ,paul's sister's son heard of their plot and went to the castle and told ,paul4 ,and ,paul called one of the officers and said1 ,take this young man to the commander1 for he has something to tell him4 ,so the officer took him to the commander and said1 ,paul the prisoner asked me to bring this young man to you1 for he has something to tell you4 ,the commander then took him by the hand1 and after he had led him aside1 asked him privately1 ,what is it that you have to tell me8 ,he said1 ,the ,jews have agreed to ask you to bring ,paul down to-morrow to the council pretending that they wish to examine his case more carefully4 ,now do not grant their request1 for more than forty are lying in wait for him and have solemnly promised not to eat or drink until they have killed him4 ,even now they are ready1 only waiting for your consent4 ,the commander let the young man go1 bidding him1 ,tell no one that you have informed me of this4 ,then he called two officers and said1 ,get ready two hundred soldiers1 seventy horsemen1 and two hundred spearmen by nine o'clock to-night to go as far as ,caesarea4 ,he also told them to provide horses for ,paul to ride on so as to bring him safely to ,felix the governor4 ,so the soldiers1 as they had been commanded1 took ,paul and brought him by night to ,antipatris4 ,the next day the soldiers returned to the castle1 leaving the horsemen to go on with him4 ,when they reached ,caesarea they brought ,paul to the governor4 ,a ,,prisoner ,,who ,,preached ,,to ,,his ,,judges ,some days later ,felix came with his wife1 ,drusilla1 who was a ,jewess1 and sent for ,paul and heard what he had to say about the faith in ,christ ,jesus4 ,but when he talked about upright living1 self-control1 and the future judgment1 ,felix became alarmed and said1 ,you may go for the present2 when ,i can find a convenient time ,i will send for you4 ,all the time ,felix was hoping that ,paul would give him money1 and for this reason he sent for him often and talked with him4 ,but after two years had passed ,felix was succeeded by ,porcius ,festus1 who1 wishing to win the favor of the ,jews1 left ,paul in prison4 ,after ,festus had been governor three days1 he went up from ,caesarea to ,jerusalem4 ,then the high priests and the leading ,jews made charges to him against ,paul and begged ,festus as a favor to send and have him brought to ,jerusalem1 for they were plotting to kill him on the way4 ,but ,festus answered that ,paul would be kept in ,caesarea and that he himself was going there in a short time4 ,therefore1 he said1 let your leading men go down with me and let them charge the man with whatever crime he has committed4 ,after staying eight or ten days in ,jerusalem1 ,festus went back to ,caesarea4 ,the next day ,festus took his place on the judgment seat and ordered ,paul to be brought in4 ,when he came1 the ,jews who had come down from ,jerusalem surrounded him and brought many and serious charges against him which they were unable to prove4 ,in answer to them ,paul said1 ,i have committed no crime against the ,jewish law or the ,temple or the ,emperor4 ,but as ,festus wished to win the favor of the ,jews1 he interrupted ,paul with the question1 ,are you willing to go up to ,jerusalem and be tried before me there on these charges8 ,paul said1 ,i am standing before the ,emperor's judgment seat1 where ,i ought to be tried4 ,i have done no wrong to the ,jews1 as you yourself very well know4 ,if1 however1 ,i have broken the law or have committed any crime that deserves death1 ,i am willing to die4 ,but if there is no truth in any of their charges against me1 then no man has the right to give me up to them4 ,i appeal to the ,emperor6 ,after talking with the council1 ,festus answered1 ,you have appealed to the ,emperor1 to the ,emperor you shall go4 ,after some days had passed1 ,king ,agrippa and ,bernice arrived at ,caesarea to visit ,festus4 ,as they remained there for many days1 ,festus laid ,paul's case before the ,king4 ,agrippa said to ,festus1 ,i should like to hear the man myself4 ,you shall hear him to-morrow1 said ,festus4 ,so the next day ,agrippa and ,bernice came with much pomp to the court-room1 along with the commanders and the leading citizens2 and at the command of ,festus ,paul was brought in4 ,and ,agrippa said to ,paul1 ,you have permission to speak for yourself4 ,at this ,paul stretched out his hand and began his defense3 ,i am happy1 ,king ,agrippa1 that ,i am permitted this day to defend myself before you against all the charges which the ,jews have brought against me1 for you know all about the ,jewish customs and questions4 ,so ,i beg of you to hear me patiently4 ,all the ,jews know the kind of life ,i lived from my youth1 among the men of my own nation and in ,jerusalem4 ,as a ,pharisee ,i lived according to the standards of the strictest party in our religion4 ,i indeed believed that it was my duty to do all in my power to oppose the cause of ,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,this ,i did in ,jerusalem4 ,with authority from the high priests1 ,i put many of ,jesus' followers in prison4 ,when they were put to death1 ,i voted against them4 ,in all the synagogues ,i often punished them and tried to make them speak against the name of ,jesus1 and in my insane fury ,i followed them even to distant cities4 ,when ,i was travelling to ,damascus on this business1 with written authority from the high priests1 ,i saw1 on the road in the middle of the day1 a light from heaven1 more dazzling than the glare of the sun1 shining around me and those who were travelling with me4 ,we fell to the ground1 and ,i heard a voice say to me in ,hebrew1 ',saul1 ,saul1 why do you persecute me8 ,it is hard for you to kick against the goads4' ,i asked1 ',who art thou1 ,lord8' and the ,lord answered1 ',i am ,jesus whom you are persecuting4 ,rise and stand on your feet1 for ,i have appeared to you so as to appoint you my servant and a witness to what you have seen and to the things that ,i will show you4 ,i chose you from the ,jews and the other peoples to whom ,i am sending you to open their eyes1 that they may turn from darkness to light1 from the power of ,satan to ,god1 so that they may receive forgiveness of their sins and a place among those who have given themselves to me because they believe in me4' ,o1 ,king ,agrippa1 ,i have not disobeyed the heavenly vision4 ,to this day ,i have had the help of ,god and have stood firm and1 without adding a single word beyond what the prophets and ,moses said would take place1 ,i have testified to small and great how the ,christ was to suffer and to be the first to rise from the dead and to proclaim the message of light not only to the ,jews but to all peoples4 ,when ,paul said these words in his defense1 ,festus cried1 ,paul1 you are mad6 ,your great learning is driving you insane6 ,but ,paul said1 ,i am not insane1 most noble ,festus1 but ,i am speaking the sober truth4 ,for the ,king1 to whom ,i can speak freely1 knows about these things1 for ,i am sure that nothing escaped his notice1 since this has not been done in a corner4 ,king ,agrippa1 do you believe the prophets8 ,i know that you do4 ,but ,agrippa said to ,paul1 ,with but little persuasion you would make me a ,christian6 ,paul replied1 ,i pray to ,god that whether with little or much not only you but also every one who hears me this day may become a ,christian as ,i am4 ,then the ,king1 together with the governor and ,bernice and those who had been sitting with them1 rose and1 when they were alone1 they said to one another1 ,this man has done nothing deserving of death or of imprisonment4 ,and ,agrippa said to ,festus1 ,this man might have been set free if he had not appealed to the ,emperor4 ,,paul',s ,,shipwreck ,when it was decided that we were to sail for ,italy1 ,paul and certain other prisoners were placed in charge of ,julius1 an officer of the ,emperor's regiment4 ,we went on board a ship which was bound for the seaports of ,asia ,minor4 ,the next day we stopped at ,sidon1 where ,julius very kindly allowed ,paul to visit his friends and be entertained by them4 ,putting to sea again1 we sailed under the lee of ,cyprus1 for the wind was against us4 ,then after sailing past ,cilicia and ,pamphylia1 we came to ,myra in ,lycia4 ,there the officer found a ship from ,alexandria bound for ,italy and put us on board4 ,for many days we made slow progress and it was only with great difficulty that we arrived off ,cnidus4 ,then as the wind was against us we sailed under the lee of ,crete1 opposite ,cape ,salmone1 and after coasting along with great difficulty came to a place called ,fair ,havens1 near the city of ,lasea4 ,as our voyage had taken some time and sailing had become dangerous 7for it was already late in ,october7 ,paul warned them1 saying1 ,men1 ,i see that the voyage will mean serious injury and loss1 not only to the cargo and the ship but also to our own lives4 ,but the officer paid more attention to the captain and to the owner of the ship than to what ,paul said4 ,as the harbor was not a good one in which to winter1 most of them advised putting to sea from there1 hoping that they could get to ,phoenix 7a safe harbor7 so as to winter there4 ,when a light breeze from the south sprang up1 they thought that they could reach ,phoenix4 ,so1 after lifting up the anchor1 they ran close along the coast of ,crete3 but in a short time a tempestuous wind called a ,northeaster beat down upon them4 ,the ship was caught in it and was unable to keep her head to the wind4 ,so we had to give up and run before it4 ,running under the lee of a little island called ,cauda1 we managed with difficulty to haul in the ship's boat4 ,after lifting it on board1 the men used ropes to bind together the lower part of the ship4 ,as they were afraid that they might run ashore on the ,african quicksands1 they lowered the sail and drifted4 ,but as we were being terribly battered by the storm1 the next day the men began to throw out the ship's cargo4 ,on the third day1 with their own hands1 they threw overboard the ship's tackle4 ,for many days neither sun nor stars were seen and the heavy gale continued1 so at last all hope that we would be saved was given up4 ,when the men had gone a long time without food1 ,paul stood up among them and said1 ,men1 you should have listened to me and not have sailed from ,crete1 then you would have escaped this hardship and loss4 ,but now ,i urge you to cheer up1 for there will be no loss of life1 but only of the ship4 ,for last night1 an angel of the ,god1 to whom ,i belong and whom ,i serve1 stood beside me and said1 ',paul1 have no fear1 for you must stand before the ,emperor4 ,god also has granted you the lives of all of those who sail with you4' ,therefore1 men1 cheer up6 ,for ,i believe ,god and am sure that it will be just as ,i have been told2 but we will be wrecked on a certain island4 ,when the fourteenth night came and we were drifting about in the ,adriatic ,sea1 the sailors about midnight thought that they were nearing land4 ,so they took soundings and found one hundred and twenty feet of water2 and when they had gone a little farther they found ninety feet4 ,fearing that we might be wrecked on the rocks1 they threw out four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight4 ,the sailors wanted to escape from the ship and had even lowered the boat into the sea1 pretending that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow1 when ,paul said to the officer and to the soldiers1 ,unless these men stay on board1 we cannot be saved4 ,then the soldiers cut the ropes which held the boat and let her drift away4 ,just before daybreak ,paul begged them all to take some food1 and said1 ,this is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly on the watch1 taking little or no food4 ,take some food1 then1 ,i beg of you1 because this will keep you alive1 for not one of you will lose even a hair from his head4 ,when he had said this1 he took bread1 and gave thanks to ,god before them all1 and he broke the bread and began to eat it4 ,then they were all cheered up and they also took food4 ,there were about seventy-six of us on board4 ,when they had eaten enough1 they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea4 ,when it was day they could not make out what land it was2 but they saw an inlet with a sandy beach on which they planned1 if possible1 to run the ship ashore4 ,so cutting away the anchors they left them in the sea4 ,at the same time unloosing the ropes which tied the rudders and hoisting the foresail to the wind1 they made for the beach2 but coming to a place where two seas met they ran the ship aground4 ,the prow stuck fast and could not be moved1 but the stern began to break up under the beating of the waves4 ,then the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners for fear some of them might swim ashore and escape4 ,but as the officer wished to save ,paul1 he kept them from carrying out their plan1 and ordered those who could swim to jump overboard and get first to the land2 the rest followed1 some on planks and some on other things from the ship4 ,in this way they all got safely to land4 ,after we had escaped we found that the island was called ,malta4 ,,the ,,end ,,of ,,paul',s ,,long ,,journey ,the natives of the island showed us unusual kindness1 for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all1 because of the pouring rain and the cold4 ,now ,paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and was laying it on the fire when a poisonous snake1 driven out by the heat1 fastened itself on his hand4 ,when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand1 they said to one another1 ,surely this man is a murderer2 although he has been saved from the sea1 justice will not let him live4 ,but he shook the creature off into the fire and was unhurt4 ,they expected that he would at once swell up or fall down dead2 but after they had waited a long time and saw that no harm had come to him1 they changed their minds and said that he was a god4 ,on the part of the island where we landed there was an estate belonging to ,publius the governor4 ,he welcomed us and entertained us most generously for three days4 ,now it happened that the father of ,publius was lying ill from fever and dysentery4 ,so ,paul went to see him and prayed1 and1 laying his hands on him1 cured him4 ,after this the other sick people in the island came and were cured4 ,they also presented us with many gifts1 and when we sailed1 they put on board everything we needed4 ,after three months we set sail on a ship from ,alexandria called ,the ,twin ,brothers1 which had wintered at the island4 ,we put in at ,syracuse1 and remained there three days4 ,then we tacked around and came to ,rhegium4 ,the next day a south wind sprang up1 and we arrived on the following day at ,puteoli1 where we found ,christian brothers who asked us to spend a week with them1 and so we reached ,rome4 ,the brothers there1 when they heard about us1 came as far as the ,market of ,appius and the ,three ,taverns to meet us4 ,when ,paul saw them1 he thanked ,god and took courage4 ,when we reached ,rome1 ,paul received permission to live by himself with the soldier who guarded him4 ,three days after our arrival1 ,paul invited the leading ,jews to meet him and said to them1 ,brothers1 although ,i have done nothing against the ,jewish law or the customs of our fathers1 ,i was handed over as a prisoner from ,jerusalem to the ,romans1 who1 when they had examined me1 were willing to set me free1 for ,i was innocent of any crime deserving of death4 ,but the ,jews objected2 so ,i was forced to appeal to the ,emperor--not that ,i had any charge to bring against my nation4 ,this is the reason why ,i have asked to see you and speak with you1 for it is on account of ,israel's hope that ,i am bound4 ,they replied1 ,we have received no letters about you from ,judea nor has any brother come here with any bad report or statement about you2 but we wish to hear from you what you teach1 for we know that the ,christian sect is everywhere attacked4 ,so they fixed a day and many of them came to him to the place where he was staying4 ,then from morning until evening he explained his teachings and told them about the ,kingdom of ,god1 and tried to lead them to believe in ,jesus by proofs from the law of ,moses and from the prophets4 ,some believed what he taught and others would not believe4 ,when they could not agree among themselves they departed after ,paul had said to them3 ,well did the ,holy ,spirit say to your fathers through the prophet ,isaiah3 ',go to this people and say to them1 ,you will hear and hear but never understand1 ,you will look and look but never see2 ,for this people's mind is stupid1 ,and their ears are too dull to hear1 ,and they have closed their eyes1 ,to keep them from seeing with their eyes1 ,or hearing with their ears1 ,or understanding with their minds1 ,and turning back that ,i may heal them4' ,remember1 therefore1 that this opportunity to be saved1 that ,god has given you1 is given to other peoples1 and they will listen to it4 ,for two whole years ,paul lived in his own hired house4 ,he welcomed all who came to him1 and preached the ,kingdom of ,god1 and taught about the ,lord ,jesus ,christ openly1 no one stopping him4 ,,paul',s ,,last ,,words ,,to ,,his ,,friends ,paul and ,timothy1 servants of ,jesus ,christ1 to all of ,christ's followers in ,philippi1 as well as to the ministers and their helpers4 ,may love and peace be granted you from ,god our ,father and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,i hope1 if the ,lord permits1 to send ,timothy to you before long1 that ,i too may be cheered by news about you4 ,i have no other like him who will take a genuine interest in you1 for every one is looking out for his own interests1 not those of ,christ ,jesus4 ,but you know how ,timothy has stood the test1 how like a son working with his father he has served with me in spreading the good news4 ,so ,i hope to send him shortly1 as soon as ,i see how it will go with me2 though ,i am confident1 if the ,lord permits1 that ,i myself will come to you before long4 ,rejoice in the ,lord always4 ,again1 ,i say1 rejoice4 ,let all know that you are patient4 ,do not be anxious1 but always make your requests known to ,god in earnest prayer and thanksgiving2 so shall the peace of ,god1 which is beyond all human understanding1 keep guard over your hearts and your minds in union with ,christ ,jesus4 ,finally1 brothers1 whatever is true1 whatever is honorable1 whatever is just1 whatever is pure1 whatever is lovely1 whatever is of good report1 if there be any virtue or anything worthy of praise1 consider the value of these things4 ,practise also what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me1 and then the ,god of peace will be with you4 ,it is a great joy to me as a ,christian brother to know that you are again thoughtful of me4 ,indeed1 you have always been thoughtful1 but you did not have an opportunity to show it4 ,not that ,i speak of want1 for ,i have learned1 wherever ,i am1 to be content4 ,i know how to live simply2 ,i know1 too1 how to live in prosperity4 ,i have learned in all things the secret of being content1 both when ,i have plenty and when ,i am hungry1 when ,i am in prosperity and when ,i am in want4 ,i can do everything through ,christ who strengthens me4 ,but you acted nobly in sharing my affliction4 ,even when ,i was in ,thessalonica1 more than once you sent money for my needs4 ,it is not the gift ,i am seeking1 but the growing reward that is to your credit6 ,i have enough of everything1 and more than enough4 ,i am fully supplied by what ,i received from you through ,epaphroditus4 ,it is like fragrant incense1 a sacrifice acceptable and well pleasing to ,god4 ,my ,god will supply your every need out of his glorious wealth in ,christ ,jesus4 ,now to ,god our ,father be glory forever and ever4 ,already my life-blood is poured out and the time for me to go has come4 ,i have fought the good fight4 ,i have finished the course1 ,i have kept the faith4 ,now the crown for right-doing awaits me which the ,lord1 the righteous judge1 will give to me on that day1 and not to me only but to all who have loved and longed for his appearing4 ,,the ,,meaning ,,of ,,faith ,now faith is the confidence that we shall receive the things for which we hope1 the proof of the reality of things we do not see4 ,it was because of their faith that the men of old were approved by ,god4 ,through faith we know that the universe was made perfect by ,god's command and that what is seen was made out of what is not seen4 ,through faith ,abel offered ,god a better sacrifice than ,cain1 and so received the assurance that he was an upright man1 for ,god approved of his gifts4 ,though dead1 yet because of his faith he still speaks4 ,through faith ,noah1 having been told by ,god about things still unseen1 in reverent obedience built an ark to save his household2 and in doing so he condemned the world and became heir to the righteousness that comes through faith4 ,through faith ,abraham obeyed1 when he was called to go to the place which he was to receive as an inheritance1 and he set out1 not knowing where he was going4 ,through faith he made his home in the land that had been promised to him as in a foreign country1 living in tents with ,isaac and ,jacob1 who shared the same promise with him4 ,through faith ,abraham1 when put to the test1 sacrificed ,isaac1 yes1 was ready to sacrifice his only son1 although he had received the divine promises and had been told1 ,it is through ,isaac that your family name will be carried on1 for he believed that ,god was able to raise men even from the dead4 ,in a sense1 he did receive his son back from the dead4 ,through faith1 also1 ,isaac blessed ,jacob and ,esau1 even telling them of things to come4 ,through faith ,joseph1 as he was dying1 thought of the time when the ,israelites would go out of ,egypt and gave orders about his own bones4 ,through faith ,moses was hidden by his parents for three months after birth because they saw that the child was beautiful1 and because they did not fear the ,king's command4 ,through faith ,moses1 when he had grown up1 refused to be called the son of ,pharaoh's daughter1 choosing rather to share ill treatment with ,god's people than to enjoy for a short time the pleasures of sin4 ,through faith he left ,egypt1 not because he feared the ,king's wrath1 but like one who saw the ,unseen ,king he never faltered4 ,through faith the ,israelites crossed the ,red ,sea as through dry land1 and when the ,egyptians tried to cross they were drowned4 ,what more shall ,i say8 ,for time would fail me if ,i tried to tell of ,gideon and ,barak and ,samson and ,jephthah1 of ,david and ,samuel and the prophets--they who through faith conquered kingdoms1 did righteous acts1 received promises from ,god1 closed the mouths of lions1 quenched the power of fire1 escaped the edge of the sword1 in the hour of weakness were made strong1 who proved mighty in war and put to flight foreign armies6 ,women received back their dead restored to life4 ,others were tortured1 refusing release1 that they might be raised to a better life4 ,others stood the test of taunts and blows1 yes1 even chains and imprisonment4 ,they were stoned1 they were burned1 they were sawn in two1 they were killed by the sword4 ,they went about in skins of sheep and goats1 lacking everything1 persecuted1 ill treated 7men of whom the world was unworthy71 wandering in lonely places and among the hills1 in caves and in holes in the ground4 ,through faith they all won ,god's approval1 but they did not receive the promised blessing1 for ,god had planned something better for us1 that apart from us they should not be made perfect4 ,therefore1 surrounded as we are by such a host of witnesses1 let us also lay aside every handicap and the sin which clings so closely to us1 and let us run with patience the race that is set before us1 fixing our eyes on ,jesus1 the ,author and ,perfecter of faith1 who for the joy which lay before him1 patiently endured the cross1 thinking nothing of the shame1 and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of ,god4 ,,the ,,importance ,,of ,,doing ,,what ,,is ,,right ,james1 a servant of ,god and of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 to the true ,israelites scattered among the nations1 greeting4 ,my brothers1 regard it as only a cause for joy1 when you fall into all kinds of trials4 ,know that the testing of your faith develops patience2 but let your patience do its perfect work1 that you may be perfect and complete1 lacking nothing4 ,if any of you lacks wisdom1 let him ask ,god who gives to all men liberally and without reproach1 and it will be given him4 ,only let him ask with faith1 with never a doubt1 for the man who doubts is like the waves of the sea1 driven and tossed by the winds4 ,let not such a man think1 that a half-hearted man1 unstable in all his ways1 will receive anything from ,god4 ,blessed is the man who endures temptation2 for when he has stood the test1 he will receive the crown of life which is promised to all who love ,god4 ,let no man say when he is being tempted3 ,i am tempted of ,god1 for ,god cannot be tempted to do wrong1 and he himself tempts no one4 ,each man is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire4 ,then the evil desire gives birth to sin1 and sin1 when it is full grown1 brings death4 ,do not be deceived1 my beloved brothers4 ,every good gift and every perfect blessing comes from above1 from the ,father who is the source of all light1 with whom there is no variation nor shadow made by turning4 ,know this1 my beloved brothers3 let every one be quick to hear1 slow to speak1 slow to be angry1 for a man's anger does not promote the righteousness that ,god approves4 ,so putting away all that is vile and wicked1 receive with humility the message of truth that is deeply rooted in you which is able to save your soul4 ,do what that message commands1 and do not merely hear it and deceive yourselves4 ,for if any one hears that message but does not do as it commands1 he is like a man who looks at his own face in the mirror1 for he looks at himself1 goes off1 and at once forgets what he is like4 ,but he who looks into the perfect law of freedom and continues to do so1 not merely listening to it and then forgetting1 but does real work1 will be blessed in what he does4 ,if any one thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives himself1 his religion is worthless4 ,religion that is pure and stainless1 such as ,god our ,father approves is this3 to visit the orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself clean from the evil of the world4 ,,the ,,love ,,that ,,makes ,,men ,,brothers ,we know what love is by this1 that ,christ laid down his life for us2 so we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers4 ,but if any one has this world's wealth and looks on while his brother is in need and shows no sympathy for him1 how can the love of ,god remain in him8 ,my dear children1 let us show our love not with words nor with our lips only1 but by deeds and sincerity4 ,beloved1 let us love one another1 for love comes from ,god and every one who loves is a child of ,god and knows ,god4 ,he who loves not man does not know ,god1 for ,god is love4 ,god showed his love for us1 for he sent his only ,son into the world that through him we might have life4 ,his love is shown in this1 not that we loved ,god1 but that he loved us and sent his ,son to be the sacrifice that made possible the forgiveness of our sins4 ,beloved1 if ,god so loved us1 then we ought also to love one another4 ,no one has ever seen ,god2 but if we love one another1 then ,god lives in us1 and the love which is his is made perfect in us4 ,by this we know that we shall live in him and he in us1 because he has given us a portion of his own ,spirit1 and we have seen and bear witness that the ,father has sent the ,son to be the ,saviour of the world4 ,we ourselves know and believe in the love that ,god has for us4 ,god is love1 and he whose life is full of love lives in ,god and ,god lives in him4 ,in love there is no fear1 but perfect love drives out all fear1 for fear means punishment1 and he who fears has not become perfect in love4 ,we love him because he first loved us4 ,if any one says1 ,i love ,god1 and yet hates his brother1 he is a liar2 for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen1 cannot love ,god whom he has not seen4 ,and we have this command from him1 that he who loves ,god is to love his brother also4 ,every one who believes that ,jesus is the ,christ1 is a child of ,god2 and every one who loves the ,father1 loves every child of his4 ,we know that we are his children when we love him and obey his commands1 for love for ,god means obeying his commands4 ,and his commands are not hard to follow1 for whatever is born of ,god conquers the world4 ,and our faith is the power that conquers the world4 ,who is the conqueror of the world but he who believes that ,jesus is the ,son of ,god8 ,now the confidence that we have in ,god is this1 that he listens to us whenever we ask anything in accordance with his will4 ,and if we know that he listens to whatever we ask1 we know that we have the things which we have asked from him4 ,,the ,,glory ,,and ,,honor ,,that ,,jesus ,,has ,,won ,john1 to the seven churches in the province of ,asia4 ,may a blessing be granted you and peace from him who is and was and ever shall be1 and from the seven spirits before his throne1 and from ,jesus ,christ who is the faithful witness1 the first of the dead to be restored to life and the ruler of the kings of the earth4 ,i1 ,john1 your brother who shares with you the distress1 the dominion1 and the patient endurance which we have through our faith in ,jesus1 found myself in the island called ,patmos because of my loyalty to ,god's message and to the testimony of ,jesus4 ,on the ,lord's ,day ,i was under the influence of the ,spirit1 and ,i heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet calling1 ,write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches4 ,then ,i turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me2 and on turning around ,i saw seven golden lamps and in the midst of the lamps ,one1 like a ,son of man1 clothed in a long robe and with a belt of gold around his breast4 ,his head and hair were white as wool1 white as snow2 his eyes were like a flame of fire1 his feet were like burnished bronze melted in the furnace1 his voice was like the sound of many waters4 ,in his right hand he held seven stars2 a sharp1 two-edged sword came out from his mouth1 and his face shone like the sun in its full strength4 ,when ,i saw him1 ,i fell at his feet as if ,i were dead2 but he laid his hand on me and said3 ,do not be afraid2 ,i am the ,first and the ,last1 ,i was dead but now ,i am alive for evermore4 ,therefore write down what you see and what is now and shall be hereafter4 ,as for the secret meaning of the seven stars which you have seen in my right hand and of the seven golden lamps--the seven stars represent the angels of the seven churches1 and the seven lamps represent the seven churches4 ,after this ,i saw a door opening into heaven4 ,and the voice like a trumpet which ,i had previously heard talking with me1 said3 ,come up here1 and ,i will show you what must take place in the future4 ,at once ,i found myself under the influence of the ,spirit1 and there stood a throne in heaven whose appearance was like a diamond or ruby and ,one was sitting on the throne4 ,encircling the throne was a rainbow which looked like an emerald2 also around the throne were twenty-four other thrones1 and on these thrones were seated twenty-four elders1 clothed in white robes with golden crowns upon their heads4 ,from the throne came flashes of lightning and voices and peals of thunder1 while in front of the throne were seven flaming torches1 which were the seven spirits of ,god4 ,in front of the throne there appeared to be a sea of glass which looked like crystal4 ,in the space about the throne and encircling it were four living creatures1 and day and night they never ceased chanting3 ,holy1 holy1 holy is the ,lord ,god ,almighty1 ,who was and is and ever shall be4 ,then ,i saw1 lying at the right hand of him who was seated on the throne1 a book sealed with seven seals4 ,and ,i saw a mighty angel saying in a loud voice3 ,who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals8 ,but no one was worthy1 either in heaven or on the earth or under the earth to open the book or look into it4 ,so ,i began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the book or look into it2 but one of the elders said to me3 ,weep not2 behold the ,lion of ,judah's tribe1 the ,scion of ,david--he has won the right to open the book and its seven seals4 ,then in the space between the throne and the four living creatures ,i saw a ,lamb standing among the elders4 ,he seemed to have been slain1 but he had seven horns and seven eyes4 ,and he came and took the book out of the right hand of him who was seated on the throne4 ,and when he took the book1 the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the ,lamb1 each with his harp1 and with his golden bowls full of incense which represent the prayers of the saints4 ,they were singing this new song3 ,thou art worthy to take the book and open its seals1 for thou wast slain and by thy blood thou hast ransomed for ,god1 men from every tribe and language and people and nation2 thou hast made them a kingdom and priests for our ,god1 and they shall reign on the earth4 ,and ,i looked and ,i heard the voice of many angels around the throne and of the living creatures and of the elders1 numbering ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands1 crying aloud1 ,worthy is the ,lamb that has been slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing4 ,and ,i heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all things that are in them crying1 ,to him who is seated on the throne and to the ,lamb1 be blessing and honor and praise and dominion forever and ever6 ,then the four living creatures said1 ,amen1 and the elders fell down and worshipped4 ,,the ,,reward ,,of ,,the ,,faithful ,after that ,i saw a vast host1 which no one could count1 from every nation and tribe and people and language1 standing before the throne and before the ,lamb1 dressed in white robes1 with palm branches in their hands4 ,they cried aloud1 ,it is to our ,god who is seated on the throne and to the ,lamb that we owe our salvation6 ,then one of the elders turned to me and said3 ,who are these dressed in white robes1 and from where have they come8 ,i said to him1 ,you know1 my lord4 ,so he told me1 ,these are the people who have come through the great persecution and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb4 ,for this reason they are now before the throne of ,god and serve him day and night within his temple4 ,he who is sitting on the throne will shelter them2 never again will they be hungry or thirsty2 never again will the sun or any scorching heat smite them1 for the ,lamb that stands in the space before the throne will be their shepherd and will guide them to fountains of living water2 and ,god will wipe away all tears from their eyes4 ,then ,i saw another angel flying in mid-heaven with an eternal message of good news for the inhabitants of the earth1 for every nation1 tribe1 language1 and people4 ,he cried aloud1 ,revere ,god1 praise him1 for the hour of his judgment has come4 ,worship him who made heaven and earth1 the sea and the flowing springs4 ,and ,i saw a great white throne and ,one seated upon it from whose presence earth and sky fled away1 and were no more to be found4 ,and ,i saw the dead1 the great and the lowly1 standing before the throne4 ,then books were opened2 also another book1 the ,book of ,life1 was opened1 and the dead were judged by what was written in the books according to what they had done4 ,the sea gave up its dead1 and ,death and the ,abode of the ,departed also gave up their dead1 and all were judged according to what they had done4 ,,the ,,new ,,heaven ,,on ,,earth ,then ,i saw a new heaven and a new earth1 for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and the sea was no more4 ,and ,i saw the ,holy ,city1 the ,new ,jerusalem1 coming down from ,god out of heaven1 all ready like a bride attired to meet her husband4 ,i also heard a loud voice from the throne which said3 ,behold1 ,god's dwelling-place is with men1 and he shall dwell among men1 and they shall be his people1 and ,god himself will be with them4 ,he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes1 and death shall be no more2 neither shall there be mourning nor wailing1 nor pain1 for the first things have passed away4 ,the ,one who is seated on the throne said3 ,behold1 ,i make all things new6 ,and he added1 ,write this3 ',these words are faithful and true4' ,and he said to me1 ,all is over6 ,i am the ,alpha and the ,omega1 the ,first and the ,last4 ,i will let the thirsty drink freely of the fountain of life4 ,he who conquers shall obtain this1 and ,i will be his ,god and he shall be my son4 ,the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give it light1 for the glory of ,god illumines it and its light is the ,lamb4 ,its gates shall never be shut by day and there shall be no night there4 ,nothing unclean nor any one who does what is shameful or deceitful shall enter it1 but only those whose names are written in the ,lamb's book of life4 ,then he showed me the river of the water of life1 clear as crystal1 flowing through the streets of the city from the throne of ,god and the ,lamb4 ,on both sides of the river grew the tree that gives life1 which bore twelve kinds of fruit and yielded its fruit each month2 and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations4 ,and the throne of ,god and the ,lamb will be in that city2 and his servants will serve and worship him2 they will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads4 ,there will be no more night there1 and they will have no need of the light of lamp or sun1 for the ,lord ,god will be their light1 and they will reign forever and ever4 ,and he said to me3 ,do not keep secret the prophetic words contained in this book1 for the time of their fulfilment is near4 ,he who does wrong1 let him still do wrong1 and he who is filthy1 let him still be filthy1 and he who is righteous1 let him still do right1 and he who is pure1 let him still be pure4 ,know that ,i am coming quickly and ,i will bring my rewards to repay each for what he has done4 ,i am the ,alpha and the ,omega1 the ,first and the ,last1 the ,beginning and the ,end4 ,blessed are those who wash their robes1 that they may have a right to the tree of life and to go through the gates into the city4 ,i1 ,jesus1 have sent my angel to testify to you for the churches4 ,i am the ,scion and ,offspring of ,david1 the bright1 the ,morning ,star4 ,both the ,spirit and the ,bride say1 ',come4' ,let him who hears say1 ',come1' let him who is thirsty come1 and whoever will1 let him take of the water of life freely4 ,for ,god so loved the world1 that he gave his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth in him1 should not perish1 but have everlasting life4 ,scribner ,illustrated ,classics for ,younger ,readers 99 99 99 99 99 ,stories which have been loved by young readers for several generations are included in the ,scribner ,illustrated ,classics4 ,they are all books of rare beauty and tested literary quality1 presented in handsome format and strikingly illustrated in color by such famous artists as ,n4 ,c4 ,wyeth1 ,maxfield ,parrish1 ,jessie ,willcox ,smith1 and others4 ,no other series of books for youthful readers can compare with them2 they make gifts of lasting value which will be cherished into adult years4 ,they are to be found in one of two groups--the popular group1 issued at a remarkably low price1 and the ,quality ,group1 published at a higher but still very reasonable price4 ,check over the following complete list4 ,the volume you want will be available in one of the two groups4 ,by ,robert ,louis ,stevenson ,,david ,,balfour ,,the ,,black ,,arrow ,,kidnapped ,,treasure ,,island ,a ,,child',s ,,garden ,,of ,,verses ,by ,eugene ,field ,,poems ,,of ,,childhood ,by ,jules ,verne ,,michael ,,strogoff ,,the ,,mysterious ,,island ,,twenty ,,thousand ,,leagues ,,under ,,the ,,sea ,by ,frances ,hodgson ,burnett ,,little ,,lord ,,fauntleroy ,a ,,little ,,princess ,by ,j4 ,m4 ,barrie ,,peter ,,pan ,,and ,,wendy 99 99 99 99 99 ,,hans ,,brinker ,by ,,mary ,,mapes ,,dodge ,,the ,,deerslayer ,by ,j4 ,,fenimore ,,cooper ,,quentin ,,durward ,by ,,sir ,,walter ,,scott1 ,bart4 ,,smoky ,by ,,will ,,james ,,lone ,,cowboy ,by ,,will ,,james ,,drums ,by ,,james ,,boyd ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,siegfried ,by ,,james ,,baldwin ,,the ,,children',s ,,bible ,by ,,henry ,a4 ,,sherman and ,,charles ,,foster ,,kent ,,jinglebob ,by ,,philip ,,ashton ,,rollins ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,roland ,by ,,james ,,baldwin ,,the ,,little ,,shepherd ,,of ,,kingdom ,,come ,by ,,john ,,fox1 ,,jr4 ,,the ,,scottish ,,chiefs ,by ,,jane ,,porter ,,westward ,,ho6 ,by ,,charles ,,kingsley ,,grimm',s ,,fairy ,,tales ,,the ,,last ,,of ,,the ,,mohicans ,by ,j4 ,,fenimore ,,cooper ,,the ,,boy',s ,,king ,,arthur ,by ,,sidney ,,lanier ,,the ,,arabian ,,nights ,,the ,,children ,,of ,,dickens ,by ,,samuel ,,mcchord ,,crothers ,,the ,,wind ,,in ,,the ,,willows ,by ,,kenneth ,,grahame ,,the ,,queen',s ,,museum ,,and ,,other ,,fanciful ,,tales ,by ,,frank ,r4 ,,stockton 99 99 99 99 99