Apocrypha are very well attested in surviving manuscripts of the Christian Bible. (See for example Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus, Vulgate, and Peshitta.) After the Lutheran and Catholic canons were defined by Luther (c. 1534) and Trent (April 8, 1546) respectively, early Protestant editions of the Bible (notably the Luther Bible in German and 1611 King James Version in English) did not omit these books, but placed them in a separate Apocrypha section apart from the Old and New Testaments to indicate their status. The 1647 Westminster Confession of Faith during the English Civil War (1642–1651) specifically excluded the Apocrypha, thus Bibles printed by English Protestants who separated from the Church of England began to exclude these books.
The Book of Baruch
Chapter 1
1 AND THESE are the words of the book, which Baruch the son of Nerias, the son of Maasias, the son of Sedecias, the son of Asadias, the son of Chelcias, wrote in Babylon,
2 In the fifth year, and in the seventh day of the month, what time as the Chaldeans took Jerusalem, and burnt it with fire.
3 And Baruch did read the words of this book in the hearing of Jechonias the son of Joachim king of Judah, and in the ears of all the people that came to hear the book,
4 And in the hearing of the nobles, and of the king's sons, and in the hearing of the elders, and of all the people, from the lowest unto the highest, even of all them that dwelt at Babylon by the river Sud.
5 Whereupon they wept, fasted, and prayed before the Lord.
6 They made also a collection of money according to every man's power:
7 And they sent it to Jerusalem unto Joachim the high priest, the son of Chelcias, son of Salom, and to the priests, and to all the people which were found with him at Jerusalem,
8 At the same time when he received the vessels of the house of the Lord, that were carried out of the temple, to return them into the land of Judah, the tenth day of the month Sivan, namely, silver vessels, which Sedecias the son of Josias king of Jada had made,
9 After that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away Jechonias, and the princes, and the captives, and the mighty men, and the people of the land, from Jerusalem, and brought them unto Babylon.
10 And they said, Behold, we have sent you money to buy you burnt offerings, and sin offerings, and incense, and prepare ye manna, and offer upon the altar of the Lord our God;
11 And pray for the life of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and for the life of Balthasar his son, that their days may be upon earth as the days of heaven:
12 And the Lord will give us strength, and lighten our eyes, and we shall live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and under the shadow of Balthasar his son, and we shall serve them many days, and find favor in their sight.
13 Pray for us also unto the Lord our God, for we have sinned against the Lord our God; and unto this day the fury of the Lord and his wrath is not turned from us.
14 And ye shall read this book which we have sent unto you, to make confession in the house of the Lord, upon the feasts and solemn days.
15 And ye shall say, To the Lord our God belongeth righteousness, but unto us the confusion of faces, as it is come to pass this day, unto them of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
16 And to our kings, and to our princes, and to our priests, and to our prophets, and to our fathers:
17 For we have sinned before the Lord,
18 And disobeyed him, and have not hearkened unto the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in the commandments that he gave us openly:
19 Since the day that the Lord brought our forefathers out of the land of Egypt, unto this present day, we have been disobedient unto the Lord our God, and we have been negligent in not hearing his voice.
20 Wherefore the evils cleaved unto us, and the curse, which the Lord appointed by Moses his servant at the time that he brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, to give us a land that floweth with milk and honey, like as it is to see this day.
21 Nevertheless we have not hearkened unto the voice of the Lord our God, according unto all the words of the prophets, whom he sent unto us:
22 But every man followed the imagination of his own wicked heart, to serve strange gods, and to do evil in the sight of the Lord our God.
Chapter 2
1 THEREFORE the Lord hath made good his word, which he pronounced against us, and against our judges that judged Israel, and against our kings, and against our princes, and against the men of Israel and Judah,
2 To bring upon us great plagues, such as never happened under the whole heaven, as it came to pass in Jerusalem, according to the things that were written in the law of Moses;
3 That a man should eat the flesh of his own son, and the flesh of his own daughter.
4 Moreover he hath delivered them to be in subjection to all the kingdoms that are round about us, to be as a reproach and desolation among all the people round about, where the Lord hath scattered them.
5 Thus we were cast down, and not exalted, because we have sinned against the Lord our God, and have not been obedient unto his voice.
6 To the Lord our God appertaineth righteousness: but unto us and to our fathers open shame, as appeareth this day.
7 For all these plagues are come upon us, which the Lord hath pronounced against us,
8 Yet have we not prayed before the Lord, that we might turn every one from the imaginations of his wicked heart.
9 Wherefore the Lord watched over us for evil, and the Lord hath brought it upon us: for the Lord is righteous in all his works which he hath commanded us.
10 Yet we have not hearkened unto his voice, to walk in the commandments of the Lord, that he hath set before us.
11 And now, O Lord God of Israel, that hast brought thy people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and high arm, and with signs, and with wonders, and with great power, and hast gotten thyself a name, as appeareth this day:
12 O Lord our God, we have sinned, we have done ungodly, we have dealt unrighteously in all thine ordinances.
13 Let thy wrath turn from us: for we are but a few left among the heathen, where thou hast scattered us.
14 Hear our prayers, O Lord, and our petitions, and deliver us for thine own sake, and give us favor in the sight of them which have led us away:
15 That all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our God, because Israel and his posterity is called by thy name.
16 O Lord, look down from thine holy house, and consider us: bow down thine ear, O Lord, to hear us.
17 Open thine eyes, and behold; for the dead that are in the graves, whose souls are taken from their bodies, will give unto the Lord neither praise nor righteousness:
18 But the soul that is greatly vexed, which goeth stooping and feeble, and the eyes that fail, and the hungry soul, will give thee praise and righteousness, O Lord.
19 Therefore we do not make our humble supplication before thee, O Lord our God, for the righteousness of our fathers, and of our kings.
20 For thou hast sent out thy wrath and indignation upon us, as thou hast spoken by thy servants the prophets, saying,
21 Thus saith the Lord, Bow down your shoulders to serve the king of Babylon: so shall ye remain in the land that I gave unto your fathers.
22 But if ye will not hear the voice of the Lord, to serve the king of Babylon,
23 I will cause to cease out of the cites of Judah, and from without Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of joy, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: and the whole land shall be desolate of inhabitants.
24 But we would not hearken unto thy voice, to serve the king of Babylon: therefore hast thou made good the words that thou spakest by thy servants the prophets, namely, that the bones of our kings, and the bones of our fathers, should be taken out of their place.
25 And, lo, they are cast out to the heat of the day, and to the frost of the night, and they died in great miseries by famine, by sword, and by pestilence.
26 And the house which is called by thy name hast thou laid waste, as it is to be seen this day, for the wickedness of the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
27 O Lord our God, thou hast dealt with us after all thy goodness, and according to all that great mercy of thine,
28 As thou spakest by thy servant Moses in the day when thou didst command him to write the law before the children of Israel, saying,
29 If ye will not hear my voice, surely this very great multitude shall be turned into a small number among the nations, where I will scatter them.
30 For I knew that they would not hear me, because it is a stiff-necked people: but in the land of their captivities they shall remember themselves.
31 And shall know that I am the Lord their God: for I will give them an heart, and ears to hear:
32 And they shall praise me in the land of their captivity, and think upon my name,
33 And return from their stiff neck, and from their wicked deeds: for they shall remember the way of their fathers, which sinned before the Lord.
34 And I will bring them again into the land which I promised with an oath unto their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they shall be lords of it: and I will increase them, and they shall not be diminished.
35 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them to be their God, and they shall be my people: and I will no more drive my people of Israel out of the land that I have given them.
Chapter 3
1 O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, the soul in anguish the troubled spirit, crieth unto thee.
2 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy; for thou art merciful: and have pity upon us, because we have sinned before thee.
3 For thou endurest for ever, and we perish utterly.
4 O Lord Almighty, thou God of Israel, hear now the prayers of the dead Israelites, and of their children, which have sinned before thee, and not hearkened unto the voice of thee their God: for the which cause these plagues cleave unto us.
5 Remember not the iniquities of our forefathers: but think upon thy power and thy name now at this time.
6 For thou art the Lord our God, and thee, O Lord, will we praise.
7 And for this cause thou hast put thy fear in our hearts, to the intent that we should call upon thy name, and praise thee in our captivity: for we have called to mind all the iniquity of our forefathers, that sinned before thee.
8 Behold, we are yet this day in our captivity, where thou hast scattered us, for a reproach and a curse, and to be subject to payments, according to all the iniquities of our fathers, which departed from the Lord our God.
9 Hear, Israel, the commandments of life: give ear to understand wisdom.
10 How happeneth it Israel, that thou art in thine enemies' land, that thou art waxen old in a strange country, that thou art defiled with the dead,
11 That thou art counted with them that go down into the grave?
12 Thou hast forsaken the fountain of wisdom.
13 For if thou hadst walked in the way of God, thou shouldest have dwelled in peace for ever.
14 Learn where is wisdom, where is strength, where is understanding; that thou mayest know also where is length of days, and life, where is the light of the eyes, and peace.
15 Who hath found out her place? or who hath come into her treasures ?
16 Where are the princes of the heathen become, and such as ruled the beasts upon the earth;
17 They that had their pastime with the fowls of the air, and they that hoarded up silver and gold, wherein men trust, and made no end of their getting?
18 For they that wrought in silver, and were so careful, and whose works are unsearchable,
19 They are vanished and gone down to the grave, and others are come up in their steads.
20 Young men have seen light, and dwelt upon the earth: but the way of knowledge have they not known,
21 Nor understood the paths thereof, nor laid hold of it: their children were far off from that way.
22 It hath not been heard of in Chanaan, neither hath it been seen in Theman.
23 The Agarenes that seek wisdom upon earth, the merchants of Meran and of Theman, the authors of fables, and searchers out of understanding; none of these have known the way of wisdom, or remember her paths.
24 O Israel, how great is the house of God! and how large is the place of his possession!
25 Great, and hath none end; high, and unmeasurable.
26 There were the giants famous from the beginning, that were of so great stature, and so expert in war.
27 Those did not the Lord choose, neither gave he the way of knowledge unto them:
28 But they were destroyed, because they had no wisdom, and perished through their own foolishness.
29 Who hath gone up into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down from the clouds?
30 Who hath gone over the sea, and found her, and will bring her for pure gold?
31 No man knoweth her way, nor thinketh of her path.
32 But he that knoweth all things knoweth her, and hath found her out with his understanding: he that prepared the earth for evermore hath filled it with fourfooted beasts:
33 He that sendeth forth light, and it goeth, calleth it again, and it obeyeth him with fear.
34 The stars shined in their watches, and rejoiced: when he calleth them, they say, Here we be; and so with cheerfulness they shewed light unto him that made them.
35 This is our God, and there shall none other be accounted of in comparison of him.
36 He hath found out all the way of knowledge, and hath given it unto Jacob his servant, and to Israel his beloved.
37 Afterward did he shew himself upon earth, and conversed with men.
Chapter 4
1 THIS is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that endureth for ever: all they that keep it shall come to life; but such as leave it shall die.
2 Turn thee, O Jacob, and take hold of it: walk in the presence of the light thereof, that thou mayest be illuminated.
3 Give not thine honor to another, nor the things that are profitable unto thee to a strange nation.
4 O Israel, happy are we: for things that are pleasing to God are made known unto us.
5 Be of good cheer, my people, the memorial of Israel.
6 Ye were sold to the nations, not for your destruction: but because ye moved God to wrath, ye were delivered unto the enemies.
7 For ye provoked him that made you by sacrificing unto devils, and not to God.
8 Ye have forgotten the everlasting God, that brought you up; and ye have grieved Jerusalem, that nursed you.
9 For when she saw the wrath of God coming upon you, she said, Hearken, O ye that dwell about Zion: God hath brought upon me great mourning;
10 For I saw the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting brought upon them.
11 With joy did I nourish them; but sent them away with weeping and mourning.
12 Let no man rejoice over me, a widow, and forsaken of many, who for the sins of my children am left desolate; because they departed from the law of God.
13 They knew not his statutes, nor walked in the ways of his commandments, nor trod in the paths of discipline in his righteousness.
14 Let them that dwell about Zion come, and remember ye the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting hath brought upon them.
15 For he hath brought a nation upon them from far, a shameless nation, and of a strange language, who neither reverenced old man, nor pitied child.
16 These have carried away the dear beloved children of the widow, and left her that was alone desolate without daughters.
17 But what can I help you?
18 For he that brought these plagues upon you will deliver you from the hands of your enemies.
19 Go your way, O my children, go your way: for I am left desolate.
20 I have put off the clothing of peace, and put upon me the sackcloth of my prayer: I will cry unto the Everlasting in my days.
21 Be of good cheer, O my children, cry unto the Lord, and he will deliver you from the power and hand of the enemies.
22 For my hope is in the Everlasting, that he will save you; and joy is come unto me from the Holy One, because of the mercy which shall soon come unto you from the Everlasting our Saviour.
23 For I sent you out with mourning and weeping: but God will give you to me again with joy and gladness for ever.
24 Like as now the neighbors of Zion have seen your captivity: so shall they see shortly your salvation from our God which shall come upon you with great glory, and brightness of the Everlasting.
25 My children, suffer patiently the wrath that is come upon you from God: for thine enemy hath persecuted thee; but shortly thou shalt see his destruction, and shalt tread upon his neck.
26 My delicate ones have gone rough ways, and were taken away as a flock caught of the enemies.
27 Be of good comfort, O my children, and cry unto God: for ye shall be remembered of him that brought these things upon you.
28 For as it was your mind to go astray from God: so, being returned, seek him ten times more.
29 For he that hath brought these plagues upon you shall bring you everlasting joy with your salvation.
30 Take a good heart, O Jerusalem: for he that gave thee that name will comfort thee.
31 Miserable are they that afflicted thee, and rejoiced at thy fall.
32 Miserable are the cities which thy children served: miserable is she that received thy sons.
33 For as she rejoiced at thy ruin, and was glad of thy fall: so shall she be grieved for her own desolation.
34 For I will take away the rejoicing of her great multitude, and her pride shall be turned into mourning.
35 For fire shall come upon her from the Everlasting, long to endure; and she shall be inhabited of devils for a great time.
36 O Jerusalem, look about thee toward the east, and behold the joy that cometh unto thee from God.
37 Lo, thy sons come, whom thou sentest away, they come gathered together from the east to the west by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.
Chapter 5
1 PUT off, O Jerusalem, the garment of mourning and affliction, and put on the comeliness of the glory that cometh from God for ever.
2 Cast about thee a double garment of the righteousness which cometh from God; and set a diadem on thine head of the glory of the Everlasting.
3 For God will shew thy brightness unto every country under heaven.
4 For thy name shall be called of God for ever The peace of righteousness, and The glory of God's worship.
5 Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high, and look about toward the east, and behold thy children gathered from the west unto the east by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the remembrance of God.
6 For they departed from thee on foot, and were led away of their enemies: but God bringeth them unto thee exalted with glory, as children of the kingdom.
7 For God hath appointed that every high hill, and banks of long continuance, should be cast down, and valleys filled up, to make even the ground, that Israel may go safely in the glory of God,
8 Moreover even the woods and every sweet smelling tree shall overshadow Israel by the commandment of God.
9 For God shall lead Israel with joy in the light of his glory with the mercy and righteousness that cometh from him.
1 AND THESE are the words of the book, which Baruch the son of Nerias, the son of Maasias, the son of Sedecias, the son of Asadias, the son of Chelcias, wrote in Babylon,
2 In the fifth year, and in the seventh day of the month, what time as the Chaldeans took Jerusalem, and burnt it with fire.
3 And Baruch did read the words of this book in the hearing of Jechonias the son of Joachim king of Judah, and in the ears of all the people that came to hear the book,
4 And in the hearing of the nobles, and of the king's sons, and in the hearing of the elders, and of all the people, from the lowest unto the highest, even of all them that dwelt at Babylon by the river Sud.
5 Whereupon they wept, fasted, and prayed before the Lord.
6 They made also a collection of money according to every man's power:
7 And they sent it to Jerusalem unto Joachim the high priest, the son of Chelcias, son of Salom, and to the priests, and to all the people which were found with him at Jerusalem,
8 At the same time when he received the vessels of the house of the Lord, that were carried out of the temple, to return them into the land of Judah, the tenth day of the month Sivan, namely, silver vessels, which Sedecias the son of Josias king of Jada had made,
9 After that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away Jechonias, and the princes, and the captives, and the mighty men, and the people of the land, from Jerusalem, and brought them unto Babylon.
10 And they said, Behold, we have sent you money to buy you burnt offerings, and sin offerings, and incense, and prepare ye manna, and offer upon the altar of the Lord our God;
11 And pray for the life of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and for the life of Balthasar his son, that their days may be upon earth as the days of heaven:
12 And the Lord will give us strength, and lighten our eyes, and we shall live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and under the shadow of Balthasar his son, and we shall serve them many days, and find favor in their sight.
13 Pray for us also unto the Lord our God, for we have sinned against the Lord our God; and unto this day the fury of the Lord and his wrath is not turned from us.
14 And ye shall read this book which we have sent unto you, to make confession in the house of the Lord, upon the feasts and solemn days.
15 And ye shall say, To the Lord our God belongeth righteousness, but unto us the confusion of faces, as it is come to pass this day, unto them of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
16 And to our kings, and to our princes, and to our priests, and to our prophets, and to our fathers:
17 For we have sinned before the Lord,
18 And disobeyed him, and have not hearkened unto the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in the commandments that he gave us openly:
19 Since the day that the Lord brought our forefathers out of the land of Egypt, unto this present day, we have been disobedient unto the Lord our God, and we have been negligent in not hearing his voice.
20 Wherefore the evils cleaved unto us, and the curse, which the Lord appointed by Moses his servant at the time that he brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, to give us a land that floweth with milk and honey, like as it is to see this day.
21 Nevertheless we have not hearkened unto the voice of the Lord our God, according unto all the words of the prophets, whom he sent unto us:
22 But every man followed the imagination of his own wicked heart, to serve strange gods, and to do evil in the sight of the Lord our God.
Chapter 2
1 THEREFORE the Lord hath made good his word, which he pronounced against us, and against our judges that judged Israel, and against our kings, and against our princes, and against the men of Israel and Judah,
2 To bring upon us great plagues, such as never happened under the whole heaven, as it came to pass in Jerusalem, according to the things that were written in the law of Moses;
3 That a man should eat the flesh of his own son, and the flesh of his own daughter.
4 Moreover he hath delivered them to be in subjection to all the kingdoms that are round about us, to be as a reproach and desolation among all the people round about, where the Lord hath scattered them.
5 Thus we were cast down, and not exalted, because we have sinned against the Lord our God, and have not been obedient unto his voice.
6 To the Lord our God appertaineth righteousness: but unto us and to our fathers open shame, as appeareth this day.
7 For all these plagues are come upon us, which the Lord hath pronounced against us,
8 Yet have we not prayed before the Lord, that we might turn every one from the imaginations of his wicked heart.
9 Wherefore the Lord watched over us for evil, and the Lord hath brought it upon us: for the Lord is righteous in all his works which he hath commanded us.
10 Yet we have not hearkened unto his voice, to walk in the commandments of the Lord, that he hath set before us.
11 And now, O Lord God of Israel, that hast brought thy people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and high arm, and with signs, and with wonders, and with great power, and hast gotten thyself a name, as appeareth this day:
12 O Lord our God, we have sinned, we have done ungodly, we have dealt unrighteously in all thine ordinances.
13 Let thy wrath turn from us: for we are but a few left among the heathen, where thou hast scattered us.
14 Hear our prayers, O Lord, and our petitions, and deliver us for thine own sake, and give us favor in the sight of them which have led us away:
15 That all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our God, because Israel and his posterity is called by thy name.
16 O Lord, look down from thine holy house, and consider us: bow down thine ear, O Lord, to hear us.
17 Open thine eyes, and behold; for the dead that are in the graves, whose souls are taken from their bodies, will give unto the Lord neither praise nor righteousness:
18 But the soul that is greatly vexed, which goeth stooping and feeble, and the eyes that fail, and the hungry soul, will give thee praise and righteousness, O Lord.
19 Therefore we do not make our humble supplication before thee, O Lord our God, for the righteousness of our fathers, and of our kings.
20 For thou hast sent out thy wrath and indignation upon us, as thou hast spoken by thy servants the prophets, saying,
21 Thus saith the Lord, Bow down your shoulders to serve the king of Babylon: so shall ye remain in the land that I gave unto your fathers.
22 But if ye will not hear the voice of the Lord, to serve the king of Babylon,
23 I will cause to cease out of the cites of Judah, and from without Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of joy, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: and the whole land shall be desolate of inhabitants.
24 But we would not hearken unto thy voice, to serve the king of Babylon: therefore hast thou made good the words that thou spakest by thy servants the prophets, namely, that the bones of our kings, and the bones of our fathers, should be taken out of their place.
25 And, lo, they are cast out to the heat of the day, and to the frost of the night, and they died in great miseries by famine, by sword, and by pestilence.
26 And the house which is called by thy name hast thou laid waste, as it is to be seen this day, for the wickedness of the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
27 O Lord our God, thou hast dealt with us after all thy goodness, and according to all that great mercy of thine,
28 As thou spakest by thy servant Moses in the day when thou didst command him to write the law before the children of Israel, saying,
29 If ye will not hear my voice, surely this very great multitude shall be turned into a small number among the nations, where I will scatter them.
30 For I knew that they would not hear me, because it is a stiff-necked people: but in the land of their captivities they shall remember themselves.
31 And shall know that I am the Lord their God: for I will give them an heart, and ears to hear:
32 And they shall praise me in the land of their captivity, and think upon my name,
33 And return from their stiff neck, and from their wicked deeds: for they shall remember the way of their fathers, which sinned before the Lord.
34 And I will bring them again into the land which I promised with an oath unto their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they shall be lords of it: and I will increase them, and they shall not be diminished.
35 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them to be their God, and they shall be my people: and I will no more drive my people of Israel out of the land that I have given them.
Chapter 3
1 O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, the soul in anguish the troubled spirit, crieth unto thee.
2 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy; for thou art merciful: and have pity upon us, because we have sinned before thee.
3 For thou endurest for ever, and we perish utterly.
4 O Lord Almighty, thou God of Israel, hear now the prayers of the dead Israelites, and of their children, which have sinned before thee, and not hearkened unto the voice of thee their God: for the which cause these plagues cleave unto us.
5 Remember not the iniquities of our forefathers: but think upon thy power and thy name now at this time.
6 For thou art the Lord our God, and thee, O Lord, will we praise.
7 And for this cause thou hast put thy fear in our hearts, to the intent that we should call upon thy name, and praise thee in our captivity: for we have called to mind all the iniquity of our forefathers, that sinned before thee.
8 Behold, we are yet this day in our captivity, where thou hast scattered us, for a reproach and a curse, and to be subject to payments, according to all the iniquities of our fathers, which departed from the Lord our God.
9 Hear, Israel, the commandments of life: give ear to understand wisdom.
10 How happeneth it Israel, that thou art in thine enemies' land, that thou art waxen old in a strange country, that thou art defiled with the dead,
11 That thou art counted with them that go down into the grave?
12 Thou hast forsaken the fountain of wisdom.
13 For if thou hadst walked in the way of God, thou shouldest have dwelled in peace for ever.
14 Learn where is wisdom, where is strength, where is understanding; that thou mayest know also where is length of days, and life, where is the light of the eyes, and peace.
15 Who hath found out her place? or who hath come into her treasures ?
16 Where are the princes of the heathen become, and such as ruled the beasts upon the earth;
17 They that had their pastime with the fowls of the air, and they that hoarded up silver and gold, wherein men trust, and made no end of their getting?
18 For they that wrought in silver, and were so careful, and whose works are unsearchable,
19 They are vanished and gone down to the grave, and others are come up in their steads.
20 Young men have seen light, and dwelt upon the earth: but the way of knowledge have they not known,
21 Nor understood the paths thereof, nor laid hold of it: their children were far off from that way.
22 It hath not been heard of in Chanaan, neither hath it been seen in Theman.
23 The Agarenes that seek wisdom upon earth, the merchants of Meran and of Theman, the authors of fables, and searchers out of understanding; none of these have known the way of wisdom, or remember her paths.
24 O Israel, how great is the house of God! and how large is the place of his possession!
25 Great, and hath none end; high, and unmeasurable.
26 There were the giants famous from the beginning, that were of so great stature, and so expert in war.
27 Those did not the Lord choose, neither gave he the way of knowledge unto them:
28 But they were destroyed, because they had no wisdom, and perished through their own foolishness.
29 Who hath gone up into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down from the clouds?
30 Who hath gone over the sea, and found her, and will bring her for pure gold?
31 No man knoweth her way, nor thinketh of her path.
32 But he that knoweth all things knoweth her, and hath found her out with his understanding: he that prepared the earth for evermore hath filled it with fourfooted beasts:
33 He that sendeth forth light, and it goeth, calleth it again, and it obeyeth him with fear.
34 The stars shined in their watches, and rejoiced: when he calleth them, they say, Here we be; and so with cheerfulness they shewed light unto him that made them.
35 This is our God, and there shall none other be accounted of in comparison of him.
36 He hath found out all the way of knowledge, and hath given it unto Jacob his servant, and to Israel his beloved.
37 Afterward did he shew himself upon earth, and conversed with men.
Chapter 4
1 THIS is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that endureth for ever: all they that keep it shall come to life; but such as leave it shall die.
2 Turn thee, O Jacob, and take hold of it: walk in the presence of the light thereof, that thou mayest be illuminated.
3 Give not thine honor to another, nor the things that are profitable unto thee to a strange nation.
4 O Israel, happy are we: for things that are pleasing to God are made known unto us.
5 Be of good cheer, my people, the memorial of Israel.
6 Ye were sold to the nations, not for your destruction: but because ye moved God to wrath, ye were delivered unto the enemies.
7 For ye provoked him that made you by sacrificing unto devils, and not to God.
8 Ye have forgotten the everlasting God, that brought you up; and ye have grieved Jerusalem, that nursed you.
9 For when she saw the wrath of God coming upon you, she said, Hearken, O ye that dwell about Zion: God hath brought upon me great mourning;
10 For I saw the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting brought upon them.
11 With joy did I nourish them; but sent them away with weeping and mourning.
12 Let no man rejoice over me, a widow, and forsaken of many, who for the sins of my children am left desolate; because they departed from the law of God.
13 They knew not his statutes, nor walked in the ways of his commandments, nor trod in the paths of discipline in his righteousness.
14 Let them that dwell about Zion come, and remember ye the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting hath brought upon them.
15 For he hath brought a nation upon them from far, a shameless nation, and of a strange language, who neither reverenced old man, nor pitied child.
16 These have carried away the dear beloved children of the widow, and left her that was alone desolate without daughters.
17 But what can I help you?
18 For he that brought these plagues upon you will deliver you from the hands of your enemies.
19 Go your way, O my children, go your way: for I am left desolate.
20 I have put off the clothing of peace, and put upon me the sackcloth of my prayer: I will cry unto the Everlasting in my days.
21 Be of good cheer, O my children, cry unto the Lord, and he will deliver you from the power and hand of the enemies.
22 For my hope is in the Everlasting, that he will save you; and joy is come unto me from the Holy One, because of the mercy which shall soon come unto you from the Everlasting our Saviour.
23 For I sent you out with mourning and weeping: but God will give you to me again with joy and gladness for ever.
24 Like as now the neighbors of Zion have seen your captivity: so shall they see shortly your salvation from our God which shall come upon you with great glory, and brightness of the Everlasting.
25 My children, suffer patiently the wrath that is come upon you from God: for thine enemy hath persecuted thee; but shortly thou shalt see his destruction, and shalt tread upon his neck.
26 My delicate ones have gone rough ways, and were taken away as a flock caught of the enemies.
27 Be of good comfort, O my children, and cry unto God: for ye shall be remembered of him that brought these things upon you.
28 For as it was your mind to go astray from God: so, being returned, seek him ten times more.
29 For he that hath brought these plagues upon you shall bring you everlasting joy with your salvation.
30 Take a good heart, O Jerusalem: for he that gave thee that name will comfort thee.
31 Miserable are they that afflicted thee, and rejoiced at thy fall.
32 Miserable are the cities which thy children served: miserable is she that received thy sons.
33 For as she rejoiced at thy ruin, and was glad of thy fall: so shall she be grieved for her own desolation.
34 For I will take away the rejoicing of her great multitude, and her pride shall be turned into mourning.
35 For fire shall come upon her from the Everlasting, long to endure; and she shall be inhabited of devils for a great time.
36 O Jerusalem, look about thee toward the east, and behold the joy that cometh unto thee from God.
37 Lo, thy sons come, whom thou sentest away, they come gathered together from the east to the west by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.
Chapter 5
1 PUT off, O Jerusalem, the garment of mourning and affliction, and put on the comeliness of the glory that cometh from God for ever.
2 Cast about thee a double garment of the righteousness which cometh from God; and set a diadem on thine head of the glory of the Everlasting.
3 For God will shew thy brightness unto every country under heaven.
4 For thy name shall be called of God for ever The peace of righteousness, and The glory of God's worship.
5 Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high, and look about toward the east, and behold thy children gathered from the west unto the east by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the remembrance of God.
6 For they departed from thee on foot, and were led away of their enemies: but God bringeth them unto thee exalted with glory, as children of the kingdom.
7 For God hath appointed that every high hill, and banks of long continuance, should be cast down, and valleys filled up, to make even the ground, that Israel may go safely in the glory of God,
8 Moreover even the woods and every sweet smelling tree shall overshadow Israel by the commandment of God.
9 For God shall lead Israel with joy in the light of his glory with the mercy and righteousness that cometh from him.
THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
I
1 I cried unto the Lord when I was in distress, unto God when sinners assailed.
2 Suddenly the alarm of war was heard before me; I said, He will hearken to me, for I am full of righteousness.
3 I thought in my heart that I was full of righteousness, Because I was well off and had become rich in children.
4 Their wealth spread to the whole earth, And their glory unto the end of the earth.
5 They were exalted unto the stars; They said they would never fall.
6 But they became insolent in their prosperity, And they were without understanding,
7 Their sins were in secret, And even I had no knowledge of them.
8 Their transgressions went beyond those of the heathen before them; They utterly polluted the holy things of the Lord.
II. A Psalm Of Solomon. Concerning Jerusalem.
1 When the sinner waxed proud, with a battering-ram he cast down fortified walls, And Thou didst not restrain him.
2 Alien nations ascended Thine altar, They trampled it proudly with their sandals;
3 Because the sons of Jerusalem had defiled the holy things of the Lord, Had profaned with iniquities the offerings of God.
4 Therefore He said: Cast them far from Me;
5 It was set at naught before God, It was utterly dishonored;
6 The sons and the daughters were in grievous captivity, Sealed was their neck, branded was it among the nations.
7 According to their sins hath He done unto them, For He hath left them in the hands of them that prevailed.
8 He hath turned away His face from pitying them, Young and old and their children together;
9 For they had done evil one and all, in not hearkening.
10 And the heavens were angry, And the earth abhorred them;
11 For no man upon it had done what they did,
12 And the earth recognized all Thy righteous judgments, O God.
13 They set the sons of Jerusalem to be mocked at in return for the harlots in her; Every wayfarer entered in in the full light of day.
14 They made mock with their transgressions, as they themselves were wont to do; In the full light of day they revealed their iniquities. And the daughters of Jerusalem were defiled in accordance with Thy judgment,
15 Because they had defiled themselves with unnatural intercourse.
16 I am pained in my bowels and my inward parts for these things. And yet I will justify Thee, O God, in uprightness of heart, For in Thy judgments is Thy righteousness displayed, O God.
17 For Thou hast rendered to the sinners according to their deeds, Yea according to their sins, which were very wicked.
18 Thou hast uncovered their sins, that Thy judgment might be manifest;
19 Thou hast wiped out their memorial from the earth. God is a righteous judge, And He is no respecter of persons.
20 For the nations reproached Jerusalem, trampling it down; Her beauty was dragged down from the throne of glory.
21 She girded on sackcloth instead of comely raiment, A rope was about her head instead of a crown.
22 She put off the glorious diadem which God had set upon her,
23 In dishonor was her beauty cast upon the ground.
24 And I saw and entreated the Lord and said, Long enough, O Lord, has Thine hand been heavy on Israel, in bringing the nations upon them.
25 For they have made sport unsparingly in wrath and fierce anger;
26 And they will make an utter end, unless Thou, O Lord, rebuke them in Thy wrath.
27 For they have done it not in zeal, but in lust of soul,
28 Pouring out their wrath upon us with a view to rapine.
29 Delay not, O God, to recompense them on their heads, To turn the pride of the dragon into dishonor.
30 And I had not long to wait before God showed me the insolent one Slain on the mountains of Egypt, Esteemed of less account than the least on land and sea;
31 His body, too, borne hither and thither on the billows with much insolence, With none to bury him, because He had rejected him with dishonor. He reflected not that he was man.
32 And reflected not on the latter end;
33 He said: I will be lord of land and sea; And he recognized not that it is God who is great, Mighty in His great strength.
34 He is king over the heavens, And judgeth kings and kingdoms.
35 It is He who setteth me up in glory, And bringeth down the proud to eternal destruction in dishonor, Because they knew Him not.
36 And now behold, ye princes of the earth, the judgment of the Lord, For a great king and righteous is He, judging all that is under heaven.
37 Bless God, ye that fear the Lord with wisdom, For the mercy of the Lord will be upon them that fear Him, in the Judgment;
38 So that He will distinguish between the righteous and the sinner, And recompense the sinners for ever according to their deeds;
39 And have mercy on the righteous, delivering him from the affliction of the sinner, And recompensing the sinner for what he hath done to the righteous.
40 For the Lord is good to them that call upon Him in patience, Doing according to His mercy to His pious ones, Establishing them at all times before Him in strength.
41 Blessed be the Lord for ever before His servants.
III. A Psalm Of Solomon. Concerning the righteous.
1 Why sleepest thou, O my soul, And blessest not the Lord?
2 Sing a new song, Unto God who is worthy to be praised. Sing and be wakeful against His awaking, For good is a psalm sung to God from a glad heart.
3 The righteous remember the Lord at all times, With thanksgiving and declaration of the righteousness of the Lord's judgments
4 The righteous despiseth not the chastening of the Lord; His will is always before the Lord.
5 The righteous stumbleth and holdeth the Lord righteous: He falleth and looketh out for what God will do to him;
6 He seeketh out whence his deliverance will come.
7 The steadfastness of the righteous is from God their deliverer; There lodgeth not in the house of the righteous sin upon sin.
8 The righteous continually searcheth his house, To remove utterly all iniquity done by him in error.
9 He maketh atonement for sins of ignorance by fasting and afflicting his soul,
10 And the Lord counteth guiltless every pious man and his house.
11 The sinner stumbleth and curseth his life, The day when he was begotten, and his mother's travail.
12 He addeth sins to sins, while he liveth;
13 He falleth -verily grievous is his fall- and riseth no more. The destruction of the sinner is for ever,
14 And he shall not be remembered, when the righteous is visited.
15 This is the portion of sinners for ever.
16 But they that fear the Lord shall rise to life eternal, And their life shall be in the light of the Lord, and shall come to an end no more.
IV. A Conversation of Solomon with the Men-pleasers.
1 Wherefore sittest thou, O profane man, in the council of the pious, Seeing that thy heart is far removed from the Lord, Provoking with transgressions the God of Israel?
2 Extravagant in speech, extravagant in outward seeming beyond all men, Is he that is severe of speech in condemning sinners in judgment.
3 And his hand is first upon him as though he acted in zeal, And yet he is himself guilty in respect of manifold sins and of wantonness.
4 His eyes are upon every woman without distinction; His tongue lieth when he maketh contract with an oath.
5 By night and in secret he sinneth as though unseen, With his eyes he talketh to every woman of evil compacts.
6 He is swift to enter every house with cheerfulness as though guileless.
7 Let God remove those that live in hypocrisy in the company of the pious, Even the life of such an one with corruption of his flesh and penury.
8 Let God reveal the deeds of the men-pleasers, The deeds of such an one with laughter and derision;
9 That the pious may count righteous the judgment of their God, When sinners are removed from before the righteous,
10 Even the man- pleaser who uttereth law guilefully.
11 And their eyes are fixed upon any man's house that is still secure, That they may, like the Serpent, destroy the wisdom of . . . with words of transgressors,
12 His words are deceitful that he may accomplish his wicked desire.
13 He never ceaseth from scattering families as though they were orphans, Yea, he layeth waste a house on account of his lawless desire.
14 He deceiveth with words, saying, There is none that seeth, or judgeth.
15 He fills one house with lawlessness, And then his eyes are fixed upon the next house, To destroy it with words that give wing to desire. Yet with all these his soul, like Sheol, is not sated.
16 Let his portion, O Lord, be dishonored before thee; Let him go forth groaning and come home cursed.
17 Let his life be spent in anguish, and penury, and want, O Lord; Let his sleep be beset with pains and his awaking with perplexities.
18 Let sleep be withdrawn from his eyelids at night; Let him fail dishonorably in every work of his hands.
19 Let him come home empty-handed to his house, And his house be void of everything wherewith he could sate his appetite.
20 Let his old age be spent in childless loneliness until his removal by death.
21 Let the flesh of the men-pleasers be rent by wild beasts, And let the bones of the lawless lie dishonored in the sight of the sun.
22 Let ravens peck out the eyes of the hypocrites.
23 For they have laid waste many houses of men, in dishonor, And scattered them in their lust;
24 And they have not remembered God, Nor feared God in all these things;
25 But they have provoked God's anger and vexed Him. May He remove them from off the earth, Because with deceit they beguiled the souls of the flawless.
26 Blessed are they that fear the Lord in their flawlessness;
27 The Lord shall deliver them from guileful men and sinners, And deliver us from every stumbling-block of the lawless men.
28 Let God destroy them that insolently work all unrighteousness, For a great and mighty judge is the Lord our God in righteousness.
29 Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon all them that love Thee.
V. A Psalm Of Solomon
1 O Lord God, I will praise Thy name with joy, In the midst of them that know Thy righteous judgments.
2 For Thou art good and merciful, the refuge of the poor;
3 When I cry to Thee, do not silently disregard me.
4 For no man taketh spoil from a mighty man;
5 Who, then, can take aught of all that Thou hast made, except Thou Thyself givest?
6 For man and his portion lie before Thee in the balance; He cannot add to, so as to enlarge, what has been prescribed by Thee. O God,
7 when we are in distress we call upon Thee for help, And Thou dost not turn back our petition, for Thou art our God.
8 Cause not Thy hand to be heavy upon us, Lest through necessity we sin.
9 Even though Thou restore us not, we will not keep away; But unto Thee will we come.
10 For if I hunger, unto Thee will I cry, O God; And Thou wilt give to me.
11 Birds and fish dost Thou nourish, In that Thou givest rain to the steppes that green grass may spring up, So to prepare fodder in the steppe for every living thing;
12 And if they hunger, unto Thee do they lift up their face.
13 Kings and rulers and peoples Thou dost nourish, O God; And who is the help of the poor and needy, if not Thou, O Lord?
14 And Thou wilt hearken -for who is good and gentle but Thou?- Making glad the soul of the humble by opening Thine hand in mercy.
15 Man's goodness is bestowed grudgingly and . . ., and if he repeat it without murmuring, even that is marvelous.
16 But Thy gift is great in goodness and wealth, And he whose hope is set on Thee shall have no lack of gifts.
17 Upon the whole earth is Thy mercy, O Lord, in goodness.
18 Happy is he whom God remembereth in granting to him a due sufficiency;
19 If a man abound over much, he sinneth.
20 Sufficient are moderate means with righteousness, And hereby the blessing of the Lord becomes abundance with righteousness.
21 They that fear the Lord rejoice in good gifts, And Thy goodness is upon Israel in Thy kingdom. Blessed is the glory of the Lord for He is our king.
VI. In Hope. Of Solomon.
1 Happy is the man whose heart is fixed to call upon the name of the Lord;
2 When he remembereth the name of the Lord, he will be saved.
3 His ways are made even by the Lord, And the works of his hands are preserved by the Lord his God.
4 At what he sees in his bad dreams, his soul shall not be troubled;
5 When he passes through rivers and the tossing of the seas, he shall not be dismayed.
6 He ariseth from his sleep, and blesseth the name of the Lord:
7 When his heart is at peace, he singeth to the name of his God, And he entreateth the Lord for all his house.
8 And the Lord heareth the prayer of every one that feareth God, And every request of the soul that hopes for Him doth the Lord accomplish.
9 Blessed is the Lord, who showeth mercy to those who love Him in sincerity.
VII. Of Solomon. Of turning.
1 Make not Thy dwelling afar from us, O God; Lest they assail us that hate us without cause.
2 For Thou hast rejected them, O God; Let not their foot trample upon Thy holy inheritance.
3 Chasten us Thyself in Thy good pleasure; But give us not up to the nations;
4 For, if Thou sendest pestilence, Thou Thyself givest it charge concerning us; For Thou art merciful, And wilt not be angry to the point of consuming us.
5 While Thy name dwelleth in our midst, we shall find mercy;
6 And the nations shall not prevail against us. For Thou art our shield,
7 And when we call upon Thee, Thou hearkenest to us;
8 For Thou wilt pity the seed of Israel for ever And Thou wilt not reject them: But we shall be under Thy yoke for ever, And under the rod of Thy chastening.
9 Thou wilt establish us in the time that Thou helpest us, Showing mercy to the house of Jacob on the day wherein Thou didst promise to help them.
VIII. Of Solomon. Of the chief Musician.
1 Distress and the sound of war hath my ear heard; The sound of a trumpet announcing slaughter and calamity,
2 The sound of much people as of an exceeding high wind, As a tempest with mighty fire sweeping through the Negeb.
3 And I said in my heart; Surely God judgeth us;
4 A sound I hear moving towards Jerusalem, the holy city.
5 My loins were broken at what I heard, my knees tottered:
6 My heart was afraid, my bones were dismayed like flax.
7 I said: They establish their ways in righteousness. I thought upon the judgments of God since the creation of heaven and earth; I held God righteous in His judgments which have been from of old.
8 God laid bare their sins in the full light of day; All the earth came to know the righteous judgments of God.
9 In secret places underground their iniquities were committed to provoke Him to anger;
10 They wrought confusion, son with mother and father with daughter;
11 They committed adultery, every man with his neighbor's wife. They concluded covenants with one another with an oath touching these things;
12 They plundered the sanctuary of God, as though there was no avenger.
13 They trode the altar of the Lord, coming straight from all manner of uncleanness; And with menstrual blood they defiled the sacrifices, as though these were common flesh.
14 They left no sin undone, wherein they surpassed not the heathen.
15 Therefore God mingled for them a spirit of wandering; And gave them to drink a cup of undiluted wine, that they might become drunken.
16 He brought him that is from the end of the earth, that smiteth mightily;
17 He decreed war against Jerusalem, and against her land.
18 The princes of the land went to meet him with joy: they said unto him: Blessed be thy way! Come ye, enter ye in with peace.
19 They made the rough ways even, before his entering in; They opened the gates to Jerusalem, they crowned its walls.
20 As a father entereth the house of his sons, so he entered JerusaIem in peace; He established his feet there in great safety.
21 He captured her fortresses and the wall of Jerusalem;
22 For God Himself led him in safety, while they wandered.
23 He destroyed their princes and every one wise in counsel; He poured out the blood of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, like the water of uncleanness.
24 He led away their sons and daughters, whom they had begotten in defilement.
25 They did according to their uncleanness, even as their fathers had done:
26 They defiled Jerusalem and the things that had been hallowed to the name of God.
27 But God hath shown Himself righteous in His judgments upon the nations of the earth;
28 And the pious servants of God are like innocent lambs in their midst.
29 Worthy to be praised is the Lord that judgeth the whole earth in His righteousness.
30 Behold, now, O God, Thou hast shown us Thy judgment in Thy righteousness;
31 Our eyes have seen Thy judgments, O God. We have justified Thy name that is honored for ever;
32 For Thou art the God of righteousness, judging Israel with chastening.
33 Turn, O God, Thy mercy upon us, and have pity upon us;
34 Gather together the dispersed of Israel, with mercy and goodness;
35 For Thy faithfulness is with us. And though we have stiffened our neck, yet Thou art our chastener;
36 Overlook us not, O our God, lest the nations swallow us up, as though there were none to deliver.
37 But Thou art our God from the beginning, And upon Thee is our hope set, O Lord;
38 And we will not depart from Thee, For good are Thy judgments upon us.
39 Ours and our children's be Thy good pleasure for ever O Lord our Saviour, we shall never more be moved.
40 The Lord is worthy to be praised for His judgments with the mouth of His pious ones; And blessed be Israel of the Lord for ever
IX. Of Solomon. For rebuke.
1 When Israel was led away captive into a strange land, When they fell away from the Lord who redeemed them,
2 They were cast away from the inheritance, which Lord had given them. Among every nation were the dispersed of Israel according to the word of God,
3 That Thou mightest be justified, O God, in Thy righteousness by reason of our transgressions:
4 For Thou art a just judge over all the peoples of the earth.
5 For from Thy knowledge none that doeth unjustly is hidden,
6 And the righteous deeds of Thy pious ones are before Thee, O Lord, Where, then, can a man hide himself from Thy knowledge, O God?
7 Our works are subject to our own choice and power To do right or wrong in the works of our hands,
8 And in Thy righteousness Thou visitest the sons of men.
9 He that doeth righteousness layeth up life for himself with the Lord; And he that doeth wrongly forfeits his life to destruction;
10 For the judgments of the Lord are given in righteousness to every man and his house.
11 Unto whom art Thou good, O God, except to them that call upon the Lord?
12 He cleanseth from sins a soul when it maketh confession, when it maketh acknowledgment;
13 For shame is upon us and upon our faces on account of all these things.
14 And to whom doth He forgive sins, except to them that have sinned?
15 Thou blessest the righteous, and dost not reprove them for the sins that they have committed; And Thy goodness is upon them that sin, when they repent.
16 And, now, Thou art our God, and we the people whom Thou hast loved: Behold and show pity, O God of Israel, for we are Thine; And remove not Thy mercy from us, lest they assail us.
17 For Thou didst choose the seed of Abraham before all the nations, And didst set Thy name upon us, O Lord,
18 And Thou wilt not reject us for ever. Thou madest a covenant with our fathers concerning us;
19 And we hope in Thee, when our soul turneth unto Thee. The mercy of the Lord be upon the house of Israel for ever and ever.
X. A Hymn Of Solomon.
1 Happy is the man whom the Lord remembereth with reproving, And whom He restraineth from the way of evil with strokes, That he may be cleansed from sin, that it may not be multiplied.
2 He that maketh ready his back for strokes shall be cleansed, For the Lord is good to them that endure chastening.
3 For He maketh straight the ways of the righteous, And doth not pervert them by His chastening.
4 And the mercy of the Lord is upon them that love Him in truth, And the Lord remembereth His servants in mercy.
5 For the testimony is in the law of the eternal covenant, The testimony of the Lord is on the ways of men in His visitation.
6 Just and kind is our Lord in His judgments for ever, And Israel shall praise the name of the Lord in gladness.
7 And the pious shall give thanks in the assembly of the people; And on the poor shall God have mercy in the gladness of Israel;
8 For good and merciful is God for ever, And the assemblies of Israel shall glorify the name of the Lord. The salvation of the Lord be upon the house of Israel unto everlasting gladness!
XI. Of Solomon. Unto expectation.
1 Blow ye in Zion on the trumpet to summon the saints,
2 Cause ye to be heard in Jerusalem the voice of him that bringeth good tidings; For God hath had pity on Israel in visiting them.
3 Stand on the height, O Jerusalem, and behold thy children, From the East and the West, gathered together by the Lord;
4 From the North they come in the gladness of their God, From the isles afar off God hath gathered them.
5 High mountains hath He abased into a plain for them;
6 The hills fled at their entrance. The woods gave them shelter as they passed by;
7 Every sweet-smelling tree God caused to spring up for them, That Israel might pass by in the visitation of the glory of their God.
8 Put on, O Jerusalem, thy glorious garments; Make ready thy holy robe; For God hath spoken good concerning Israel, for ever and ever.
9 Let the Lord do what He hath spoken concerning Israel and Jerusalem; Let the Lord raise up Israel by His glorious name. The mercy of the Lord be upon Israel for ever and ever.
XII. Of Solomon. Against the tongue of transgressors.
1 O Lord, deliver my soul from the lawless and wicked man, From the tongue that is lawless and slanderous, and speaketh lies and deceit.
2 Manifoldly twisted are the words of the tongue of the wicked man, Even as among a people a fire that burneth up their beauty.
3 So he delights to fill houses with a lying tongue, To cut down the trees of gladness which setteth on fire transgressors,
4 To involve households in warfare by means of slanderous lips. May God remove far from the innocent the lips of transgressors by bringing them to want And may the bones of slanderers be scattered far away from them that fear the Lord!
5 In flaming fire perish the slanderous tongue far away from the pious!
6 May the Lord preserve the quiet soul that hateth the unrighteous; And may the Lord establish the man that followeth peace at home.
7 The salvation of the Lord be upon Israel His servant for ever; And let the sinners perish together at the presence of the Lord; But let the Lord's pious ones inherit the promises of the Lord.
XIII. Of Solomon. A Psalm. Comfort for the righteous.
1 The right hand of the Lord hath covered me; The right hand of the Lord hath spared us.
2 The arm of the Lord hath saved us from the sword that passed through, From famine and the death of sinners.
3 Noisome beasts ran upon them: With their teeth they tore their flesh, And with their molars crushed their bones. But from all these things the Lord delivered us,
4 The righteous was troubled on account of his errors, Lest he should be taken away along with the sinners;
5 For terrible is the overthrow of the sinner; But not one of all these things toucheth the righteous.
6 For not alike are the chastening of the righteous for sins done in ignorance, And the overthrow of the sinners
7 Secretly is the righteous chastened, Lest the sinner rejoice over the righteous.
8 For He correcteth the righteous as a beloved son, And his chastisement is as that of a firstborn.
9 For the Lord spareth His pious ones, And blotteth out their errors by His chastening. For the life of the righteous shall be for ever;
10 But sinners shall be taken away into destruction, And their memorial shall be found no more.
11 But upon the pious is the mercy of the Lord, And upon them that fear Him His mercy.
XIV. A Hymn. Of Solomon.
1 Faithful is the Lord to them that love Him in truth, To them that endure His chastening, To them that walk in the righteousness of His commandments, In the law which He commanded us that we might live.
2 The pious of the Lord shall live by it for ever; The Paradise of the Lord, the trees of life, are His pious ones.
3 Their planting is rooted for ever; They shall not be plucked up all the days of heaven: For the portion and the inheritance of God is Israel.
4 But not so are the sinners and transgressors, Who love the brief day spent in companionship with their sin; Their delight is in fleeting corruption,
5 And they remember not God. For the ways of men are known before Him at all times, And He knoweth the secrets of the heart before they come to pass.
6 Therefore their inheritance is Sheol and darkness and destruction, And they shall not be found in the day when the righteous obtain mercy;
7 But the pious of the Lord shall inherit life in gladness.
XV. A Psalm. Of Solomon. With a Song.
1 When I was in distress I called upon the name of the Lord, I hoped for the help of the God of Jacob and was saved;
2 For the hope and refuge of the poor art Thou, O God.
3 For who, O God, is strong except to give thanks unto Thee in truth?
4 And wherein is a man powerful except in giving thanks to Thy name?
5 A new psalm with song in gladness of heart, The fruit of the lips with the well-tuned instrument of the tongue, The firstfruits of the lips from a pious and righteous heart--
6 He that offereth these things shall never be shaken by evil; The flame of fire and the wrath against the unrighteous shall not touch him,
7 When it goeth forth from the face of the Lord against sinners, To destroy all the substance of sinners,
8 For the mark of God is upon the righteous that they may be saved. Famine and sword and pestilence shall be far from the righteous,
9 For they shall flee away from the pious as men pursued in war; But they shall pursue sinners and overtake them, And they that do lawlessness shall not escape the judgment of God; As by enemies experienced in war shall they be overtaken,
10 For the mark of destruction is upon their forehead.
11 And the inheritance of sinners is destruction and darkness, And their iniquities shall pursue them unto Sheol beneath.
12 Their inheritance shall not be found of their children,
13 For sins shall lay waste the houses of sinners. And sinners shall perish for ever in the day of the Lord's judgment,
14 When God visiteth the earth with His judgment.
15 But they that fear the Lord shall find mercy therein, And shall live by the compassion of their God; But sinners shall perish for ever.
XVI. A Hymn. Of Solomon. For Help to the Pious.
1 When my soul slumbered being afar from the Lord, I had all but slipped down to the pit, When I was far from God,
2 my soul had been well nigh poured out unto death, I had been nigh unto the gates of Sheol with the sinner,
3 when my soul departed from the Lord God of Israel-- Had not the Lord helped me with His ever lasting mercy.
4 He pricked me, as a horse is pricked, that I might serve Him, My savior and helper at all times saved me.
5 I will give thanks unto Thee, O God, for Thou hast helped me to my salvation; And hast not counted me with sinners to my destruction.
6 Remove not Thy mercy from me, O God, Nor Thy memorial from my heart until I die.
7 Rule me, O God, keeping me back from wicked sin, And from every wicked woman that causeth the simple to stumble.
8 And let not the beauty of a lawless woman beguile me, Nor any one that is subject to unprofitable sin.
9 Establish the works of my hands before Thee, And preserve my goings in the remembrance of Thee.
10 Protect my tongue and my lips with words of truth; Anger and unreasoning wrath put far from me.
11 Murmuring, and impatience in affliction, remove far from me, When, if I sin, Thou chastenest me that I may return unto Thee.
12 But with goodwill and cheerfulness support my soul; When Thou strengthenest my soul, what is given to me will be sufficient for me.
13 For if Thou givest not strength, Who can endure chastisement with poverty?
14 When a man is rebuked by means of his corruption, Thy testing of him is in his flesh and in the affliction of poverty.
15 If the righteous endureth in all these trials, he shall receive mercy from the Lord.
XVII. A Psalm. Of Solomon. With Song. Of the King.
1 O Lord, Thou art our King for ever and ever, For in Thee, O God, doth our soul glory.
2 How long are the days of man's life upon the earth? As are his days, so is the hope set upon him.
3 But we hope in God, our deliverer; For the might of our God is for ever with mercy,
4 And the kingdom of our God is for ever over the nations in judgment.
5 Thou, O Lord, didst choose David to be king over Israel, And swarest to him touching his seed that never should his kingdom fail before Thee.
6 But, for our sins, sinners rose up against us; They assailed us and thrust us out; What Thou hadst not promised to them, they took away from us with violence.
7 They in no wise glorified Thy honorable name; They set a worldly monarchy in place of that which was their excellency;
8 They laid waste the throne of David in tumultuous arrogance. But Thou, O God, didst cast them down and remove their seed from the earth,
9 In that there rose up against them a man that was alien to our race.
10 According to their sins didst Thou recompense them, O God; So that it befell them according to their deeds.
11 God showed them no pity; He sought out their seed and let not one of them go free.
12 Faithful is the Lord in all His judgments Which He doeth upon the earth.
13 The lawless one laid waste our land so that none inhabited it, They destroyed young and old and their children together.
14 In the heat of His anger He sent them away even unto the west, And He exposed the rulers of the land unsparingly to derision.
15 Being an alien the enemy acted proudly, And his heart was alien from our God.
16 And all things whatsoever he did in Jerusalem, As also the nations in the cities to their gods.
17 And the children of the covenant in the midst of the mingled peoples surpassed them in evil. There was not among them one that wrought in the midst of Jerusalem mercy and truth.
18 They that loved the synagogues of the pious fled from them, As sparrows that fly from their nest.
19 They wandered in deserts that their lives might be saved from harm, And precious in the eyes of them that lived abroad was any that escaped alive from them.
20 Over the whole earth were they scattered by lawless men.
21 For the heavens withheld the rain from dropping upon the earth, Springs were stopped that sprang perennially out of the deeps, that ran down from lofty mountains. For there was none among them that wrought righteousness and justice; From the chief of them to the least of them all were sinful;
22 The king was a transgressor, and the judge disobedient, and the people sinful.
23 Behold, O Lord, and raise up unto them their king, the son of David, At the time in the which Thou seest, O God, that he may reign over Israel Thy servant
24 And gird him with strength, that he may shatter unrighteous rulers,
25 And that he may purge Jerusalem from nations that trample her down to destruction. Wisely, righteously
26 he shall thrust out sinners from the inheritance, He shall destroy the pride of the sinner as a potter's vessel. With a rod of iron he shall break in pieces all their substance,
27 He shall destroy the godless nations with the word of his mouth; At his rebuke nations shall flee before him, And he shall reprove sinners for the thoughts of their heart.
28 And he shall gather together a holy people, whom he shall lead in righteousness, And he shall judge the tribes of the people that has been sanctified by the Lord his God.
29 And he shall not suffer unrighteousness to lodge any more in their midst, Nor shall there dwell with them any man that knoweth wickedness,
30 For he shall know them, that they are all sons of their God. And he shaIl divide them according to their tribes upon the land,
31 And neither sojourner nor alien shall sojourn with them any more. He shall judge peoples and nations in the wisdom of his righteousness. Selah.
32 And he shall have the heathen nations to serve him under his yoke; And he shall glorify the Lord in a place to be seen of all the earth;
33 And he shall purge Jerusalem, making it holy as of old:
34 So that nations shall come from the ends of the earth to see his glory, Bringing as gifts her sons who had fainted,
35 And to see the glory of the Lord, wherewith God hath glorified her. And he shall be a righteous king, taught of God, over them,
36 And there shall be no unrighteousness in his days in their midst, For all shall be holy and their king the anointed of the Lord.
37 For he shall not put his trust in horse and rider and bow, Nor shall he multiply for himself gold and silver for war, Nor shall he gather confidence from a multitude for the day of battle.
38 The Lord Himself is his king, the hope of him that is mighty through his hope in God. All nations shall be in fear before him,
39 For he will smite the earth with the word of his mouth for ever.
40 He will bless the people of the Lord with wisdom and gladness,
41 And he himself will be pure from sin, so that he may rule a great people. He will rebuke rulers, and remove sinners by the might of his word;
42 And relying upon his God, throughout his days he will not stumble; For God will make him mighty by means of His holy spirit, And wise by means of the spirit of understanding, with strength and righteousness.
43 And the blessing of the Lord will be with him: he will be strong and stumble not;
44 His hope will be in the Lord: who then can prevail against him? He will be mighty in his works, and strong in the fear of God,
45 He will be shepherding the flock of the Lord faithfully and righteously, And will suffer none among them to stumble in their pasture.
46 He will lead them all aright, And there will be no pride among them that any among them should be oppressed.
47 This will be the majesty of the king of Israel whom God knoweth; He will raise him up over the house of Israel to correct him.
48 His words shall be more refined than costly gold, the choicest; In the assemblies he will judge the peoples, the tribes of the sanctified.
49 His words shall be like the words of the holy ones in the midst of sanctified peoples.
50 Blessed be they that shall be in those days, In that they shall see the good fortune of Israel which God shall bring to pass in the gathering together of the tribes.
51 May the Lord hasten His mercy upon Israel! May He deliver us from the uncleanness of unholy enemies! The Lord Himself is our king for ever and ever.
XVIII. A Psalm. Of Solomon. Again of the Anointed of the Lord.
1 Lord, Thy mercy is over the works of Thy hands for ever; Thy goodness is over Israel with a rich gift.
2 Thine eyes look upon them, so that none of them suffers want;
3 Thine ears listen to the hopeful prayer of the poor. Thy judgments are executed upon the whole earth in mercy;
4 And Thy love is toward the seed of Abraham, the children of Israel. Thy chastisement is upon us as upon a first-born, only-begotten son,
5 To turn back the obedient soul from folly that is wrought in ignorance.
6 May God cleanse Israel against the day of mercy and blessing, Against the day of choice when He bringeth back His anointed.
7 Blessed shall they be that shall be in those days, In that they shall see the goodness of the Lord which He shall perform for the generation that is to come,
8 Under the rod of chastening of the Lord's anointed in the fear of his God, In the spirit of wisdom and righteousness and strength;
9 That he may direct every man in the works of righteousness by the fear of God, That he may establish them all before the Lord,
10 A good generation living in the fear of God in the days of mercy. Selah.
11 Great is our God and glorious, dwelling in the highest.
12 It is He who hath established in their courses the lights of heaven for determining seasons from year to year, And they have not turned aside from the way which He appointed them
13 In the fear of God they pursue their path every day, From the day God created them and for evermore.
14 And they have erred not since the day He created them. Since the generations of old they have not withdrawn from their path, Unless God commanded them so to do by the command of His servants.
Letter of Jeremiah
A copy of an epistle, which Jeremy sent unto them which were to be led captives into Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to certify them, as it was commanded him of God.
[1] Because of the sins which ye have committed before God, ye shall be led away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians.
[2] So when ye be come unto Babylon, ye shall remain there many years, and for a long season, namely, seven generations: and after that I will bring you away peaceably from thence.
[3] Now shall ye see in Babylon gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood, borne upon shoulders, which cause the nations to fear.
[4] Beware therefore that ye in no wise be like to strangers, neither be ye and of them, when ye see the multitude before them and behind them, worshipping them.
[5] But say ye in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship thee.
[6] For mine angel is with you, and I myself caring for your souls.
[7] As for their tongue, it is polished by the workman, and they themselves are gilded and laid over with silver; yet are they but false, and cannot speak.
[8] And taking gold, as it were for a virgin that loveth to go gay, they make crowns for the heads of their gods.
[9] Sometimes also the priests convey from their gods gold and silver, and bestow it upon themselves.
[10] Yea, they will give thereof to the common harlots, and deck them as men with garments, [being] gods of silver, and gods of gold, and wood.
[11] Yet cannot these gods save themselves from rust and moth, though they be covered with purple raiment.
[12] They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, when there is much upon them.
[13] And he that cannot put to death one that offendeth him holdeth a sceptre, as though he were a judge of the country.
[14] He hath also in his right hand a dagger and an ax: but cannot deliver himself from war and thieves.
[15] Whereby they are known not to be gods: therefore fear them not.
[16] For like as a vessel that a man useth is nothing worth when it is broken; even so it is with their gods: when they be set up in the temple, their eyes be full of dust through the feet of them that come in.
[17] And as the doors are made sure on every side upon him that offendeth the king, as being committed to suffer death: even so the priests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest their gods be spoiled with robbers.
[18] They light them candles, yea, more than for themselves, whereof they cannot see one.
[19] They are as one of the beams of the temple, yet they say their hearts are gnawed upon by things creeping out of the earth; and when they eat them and their clothes, they feel it not.
[20] Their faces are blacked through the smoke that cometh out of the temple.
[21] Upon their bodies and heads sit bats, swallows, and birds, and the cats also.
[22] By this ye may know that they are no gods: therefore fear them not.
[23] Notwithstanding the gold that is about them to make them beautiful, except they wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten did they feel it.
[24] The things wherein there is no breath are bought for a most high price.
[25] They are borne upon shoulders, having no feet whereby they declare unto men that they be nothing worth.
[26] They also that serve them are ashamed: for if they fall to the ground at any time, they cannot rise up again of themselves: neither, if one set them upright, can they move of themselves: neither, if they be bowed down, can they make themselves straight: but they set gifts before them as unto dead men.
[27] As for the things that are sacrificed unto them, their priests sell and abuse; in like manner their wives lay up part thereof in salt; but unto the poor and impotent they give nothing of it.
[28] Menstruous women and women in child bed eat their sacrifices: by these things ye may know that they are no gods: fear them not.
[29] For how can they be called gods? because women set meat before the gods of silver, gold, and wood.
[30] And the priests sit in their temples, having their clothes rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.
[31] They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.
[32] The priests also take off their garments, and clothe their wives and children.
[33] Whether it be evil that one doeth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: they can neither set up a king, nor put him down.
[34] In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money: though a man make a vow unto them, and keep it not, they will not require it.
[35] They can save no man from death, neither deliver the weak from the mighty.
[36] They cannot restore a blind man to his sight, nor help any man in his distress.
[37] They can shew no mercy to the widow, nor do good to the fatherless.
[38] Their gods of wood, and which are overlaid with gold and silver, are like the stones that be hewn out of the mountain: they that worship them shall be confounded.
[39] How should a man then think and say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves dishonour them?
[40] Who if they shall see one dumb that cannot speak, they bring him, and intreat Bel that he may speak, as though he were able to understand.
[41] Yet they cannot understand this themselves, and leave them: for they have no knowledge.
[42] The women also with cords about them, sitting in the ways, burn bran for perfume: but if any of them, drawn by some that passeth by, lie with him, she reproacheth her fellow, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken.
[43] Whatsoever is done among them is false: how may it then be thought or said that they are gods?
[44] They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing else than the workmen will have them to be.
[45] And they themselves that made them can never continue long; how should then the things that are made of them be gods?
[46] For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after.
[47] For when there cometh any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them.
[48] How then cannot men perceive that they be no gods, which can neither save themselves from war, nor from plague?
[49] For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with silver and gold, it shall be known hereafter that they are false:
[50] And it shall manifestly appear to all nations and kings that they are no gods, but the works of men's hands, and that there is no work of God in them.
[51] Who then may not know that they are no gods?
[52] For neither can they set up a king in the land, nor give rain unto men.
[53] Neither can they judge their own cause, nor redress a wrong, being unable: for they are as crows between heaven and earth.
[54] Whereupon when fire falleth upon the house of gods of wood, or laid over with gold or silver, their priests will flee away, and escape; but they themselves shall be burned asunder like beams.
[55] Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies: how can it then be thought or said that they be gods?
[56] Neither are those gods of wood, and laid over with silver or gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers.
[57] Whose gold, and silver, and garments wherewith they are clothed, they that are strong take, and go away withal: neither are they able to help themselves.
[58] Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power, or else a profitable vessel in an house, which the owner shall have use of, than such false gods; or to be a door in an house, to keep such things therein, than such false gods. or a pillar of wood in a a palace, than such false gods.
[59] For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their offices, are obedient.
[60] In like manner the lightning when it breaketh forth is easy to be seen; and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country.
[61] And when God commandeth the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are bidden.
[62] And the fire sent from above to consume hills and woods doeth as it is commanded: but these are like unto them neither in shew nor power.
[63] Wherefore it is neither to be supposed nor said that they are gods, seeing, they are able neither to judge causes, nor to do good unto men.
[64] Knowing therefore that they are no gods, fear them not,
[65] For they can neither curse nor bless kings:
[66] Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.
[67] The beasts are better than they: for they can get under a cover and help themselves.
[68] It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are gods: therefore fear them not.
[69] For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing: so are their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold.
[70] And likewise their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold, are like to a white thorn in an orchard, that every bird sitteth upon; as also to a dead body, that is east into the dark.
[71] And ye shall know them to be no gods by the bright purple that rotteth upon then: and they themselves afterward shall be eaten, and shall be a reproach in the country.
[72] Better therefore is the just man that hath none idols: for he shall be far from reproach.
[1] Because of the sins which ye have committed before God, ye shall be led away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians.
[2] So when ye be come unto Babylon, ye shall remain there many years, and for a long season, namely, seven generations: and after that I will bring you away peaceably from thence.
[3] Now shall ye see in Babylon gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood, borne upon shoulders, which cause the nations to fear.
[4] Beware therefore that ye in no wise be like to strangers, neither be ye and of them, when ye see the multitude before them and behind them, worshipping them.
[5] But say ye in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship thee.
[6] For mine angel is with you, and I myself caring for your souls.
[7] As for their tongue, it is polished by the workman, and they themselves are gilded and laid over with silver; yet are they but false, and cannot speak.
[8] And taking gold, as it were for a virgin that loveth to go gay, they make crowns for the heads of their gods.
[9] Sometimes also the priests convey from their gods gold and silver, and bestow it upon themselves.
[10] Yea, they will give thereof to the common harlots, and deck them as men with garments, [being] gods of silver, and gods of gold, and wood.
[11] Yet cannot these gods save themselves from rust and moth, though they be covered with purple raiment.
[12] They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, when there is much upon them.
[13] And he that cannot put to death one that offendeth him holdeth a sceptre, as though he were a judge of the country.
[14] He hath also in his right hand a dagger and an ax: but cannot deliver himself from war and thieves.
[15] Whereby they are known not to be gods: therefore fear them not.
[16] For like as a vessel that a man useth is nothing worth when it is broken; even so it is with their gods: when they be set up in the temple, their eyes be full of dust through the feet of them that come in.
[17] And as the doors are made sure on every side upon him that offendeth the king, as being committed to suffer death: even so the priests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest their gods be spoiled with robbers.
[18] They light them candles, yea, more than for themselves, whereof they cannot see one.
[19] They are as one of the beams of the temple, yet they say their hearts are gnawed upon by things creeping out of the earth; and when they eat them and their clothes, they feel it not.
[20] Their faces are blacked through the smoke that cometh out of the temple.
[21] Upon their bodies and heads sit bats, swallows, and birds, and the cats also.
[22] By this ye may know that they are no gods: therefore fear them not.
[23] Notwithstanding the gold that is about them to make them beautiful, except they wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten did they feel it.
[24] The things wherein there is no breath are bought for a most high price.
[25] They are borne upon shoulders, having no feet whereby they declare unto men that they be nothing worth.
[26] They also that serve them are ashamed: for if they fall to the ground at any time, they cannot rise up again of themselves: neither, if one set them upright, can they move of themselves: neither, if they be bowed down, can they make themselves straight: but they set gifts before them as unto dead men.
[27] As for the things that are sacrificed unto them, their priests sell and abuse; in like manner their wives lay up part thereof in salt; but unto the poor and impotent they give nothing of it.
[28] Menstruous women and women in child bed eat their sacrifices: by these things ye may know that they are no gods: fear them not.
[29] For how can they be called gods? because women set meat before the gods of silver, gold, and wood.
[30] And the priests sit in their temples, having their clothes rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.
[31] They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.
[32] The priests also take off their garments, and clothe their wives and children.
[33] Whether it be evil that one doeth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: they can neither set up a king, nor put him down.
[34] In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money: though a man make a vow unto them, and keep it not, they will not require it.
[35] They can save no man from death, neither deliver the weak from the mighty.
[36] They cannot restore a blind man to his sight, nor help any man in his distress.
[37] They can shew no mercy to the widow, nor do good to the fatherless.
[38] Their gods of wood, and which are overlaid with gold and silver, are like the stones that be hewn out of the mountain: they that worship them shall be confounded.
[39] How should a man then think and say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves dishonour them?
[40] Who if they shall see one dumb that cannot speak, they bring him, and intreat Bel that he may speak, as though he were able to understand.
[41] Yet they cannot understand this themselves, and leave them: for they have no knowledge.
[42] The women also with cords about them, sitting in the ways, burn bran for perfume: but if any of them, drawn by some that passeth by, lie with him, she reproacheth her fellow, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken.
[43] Whatsoever is done among them is false: how may it then be thought or said that they are gods?
[44] They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing else than the workmen will have them to be.
[45] And they themselves that made them can never continue long; how should then the things that are made of them be gods?
[46] For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after.
[47] For when there cometh any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them.
[48] How then cannot men perceive that they be no gods, which can neither save themselves from war, nor from plague?
[49] For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with silver and gold, it shall be known hereafter that they are false:
[50] And it shall manifestly appear to all nations and kings that they are no gods, but the works of men's hands, and that there is no work of God in them.
[51] Who then may not know that they are no gods?
[52] For neither can they set up a king in the land, nor give rain unto men.
[53] Neither can they judge their own cause, nor redress a wrong, being unable: for they are as crows between heaven and earth.
[54] Whereupon when fire falleth upon the house of gods of wood, or laid over with gold or silver, their priests will flee away, and escape; but they themselves shall be burned asunder like beams.
[55] Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies: how can it then be thought or said that they be gods?
[56] Neither are those gods of wood, and laid over with silver or gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers.
[57] Whose gold, and silver, and garments wherewith they are clothed, they that are strong take, and go away withal: neither are they able to help themselves.
[58] Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power, or else a profitable vessel in an house, which the owner shall have use of, than such false gods; or to be a door in an house, to keep such things therein, than such false gods. or a pillar of wood in a a palace, than such false gods.
[59] For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their offices, are obedient.
[60] In like manner the lightning when it breaketh forth is easy to be seen; and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country.
[61] And when God commandeth the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are bidden.
[62] And the fire sent from above to consume hills and woods doeth as it is commanded: but these are like unto them neither in shew nor power.
[63] Wherefore it is neither to be supposed nor said that they are gods, seeing, they are able neither to judge causes, nor to do good unto men.
[64] Knowing therefore that they are no gods, fear them not,
[65] For they can neither curse nor bless kings:
[66] Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.
[67] The beasts are better than they: for they can get under a cover and help themselves.
[68] It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are gods: therefore fear them not.
[69] For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing: so are their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold.
[70] And likewise their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold, are like to a white thorn in an orchard, that every bird sitteth upon; as also to a dead body, that is east into the dark.
[71] And ye shall know them to be no gods by the bright purple that rotteth upon then: and they themselves afterward shall be eaten, and shall be a reproach in the country.
[72] Better therefore is the just man that hath none idols: for he shall be far from reproach.
The First Book of Esdras
Chapter one
[1] Josiah kept the passover to his Lord in Jerusalem; he killed the passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month,
[2] having placed the priests according to their divisions, arrayed in their garments, in the temple of the Lord.
[3] And he told the Levites, the temple servants of Israel, that they should sanctify themselves to the Lord and put the holy ark of the Lord in the house which Solomon the king, the son of David, had built;
[4] and he said, "You need no longer carry it upon your shoulders. Now worship the Lord your God and serve his people Israel; and prepare yourselves by your families and kindred,
[5] in accordance with the directions of David king of Israel and the magnificence of Solomon his son. Stand in order in the temple according to the groupings of the fathers' houses of you Levites, who minister before your brethren the people of Israel,
[6] and kill the passover lamb and prepare the sacrifices for your brethren, and keep the passover according to the commandment of the Lord which was given to Moses."
[7] And Josiah gave to the people who were present thirty thousand lambs and kids, and three thousand calves; these were given from the king's possessions, as he promised, to the people and the priests and Levites.
[8] And Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officers of the temple, gave to the priests for the passover two thousand six hundred sheep and three hundred calves.
[9] And Jeconiah and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brother, and Hashabiah and Ochiel and Joram, captains over thousands, gave the Levites for the passover five thousand sheep and seven hundred calves.
[10] And this is what took place. The priests and the Levites, properly arrayed and having the unleavened bread, stood according to kindred
[11] and the grouping of the fathers' houses, before the people, to make the offering to the Lord as it is written in the book of Moses; this they did in the morning.
[12] They roasted the passover lamb with fire, as required; and they boiled the sacrifices in brass pots and caldrons, with a pleasing odor,
[13] and carried them to all the people. Afterward they prepared the passover for themselves and for their brethren the priests, the sons of Aaron,
[14] because the priests were offering the fat until night; so the Levites prepared it for themselves and for their brethren the priests, the sons of Aaron.
[15] And the temple singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their place according to the arrangement made by David, and also Asaph, Zechariah, and Eddinus, who represented the king.
[16] The gatekeepers were at each gate; no one needed to depart from his duties, for their brethren the Levites prepared the passover for them.
[17] So the things that had to do with the sacrifices to the Lord were accomplished that day: the passover was kept
[18] and the sacrifices were offered on the altar of the Lord, according to the command of King Josiah.
[19] And the people of Israel who were present at that time kept the passover and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.
[20] No passover like it had been kept in Israel since the times of Samuel the prophet;
[21] none of the kings of Israel had kept such a passover as was kept by Josiah and the priests and Levites and the men of Judah and all of Israel who were dwelling in Jerusalem.
[22] In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this passover was kept.
[23] And the deeds of Josiah were upright in the sight of the Lord, for his heart was full of godliness.
[24] The events of his reign have been recorded in the past, concerning those who sinned and acted wickedly toward the Lord beyond any other people or kingdom, and how they grieved the Lord deeply, so that the words of the Lord rose up against Israel.
[25] After all these acts of Josiah, it happened that Pharaoh, king of Egypt, went to make war at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him.
[26] And the king of Egypt sent word to him saying, "What have we to do with each other, king of Judea?
[27] I was not sent against you by the Lord God, for my war is at the Euphrates. And now the Lord is with me! The Lord is with me, urging me on! Stand aside, and do not oppose the Lord."
[28] But Josiah did not turn back to his chariot, but tried to fight with him, and did not heed the words of Jeremiah the prophet from the mouth of the Lord.
[29] He joined battle with him in the plain of Megiddo, and the commanders came down against King Josiah.
[30] And the king said to his servants, "Take me away from the battle, for I am very weak." And immediately his servants took him out of the line of battle.
[31] And he got into his second chariot; and after he was brought back to Jerusalem he died, and was buried in the tomb of his fathers.
[32] And in all Judea they mourned for Josiah. Jeremiah the prophet lamented for Josiah, and the principal men, with the women, have made lamentation for him to this day; it was ordained that this should always be done throughout the whole nation of Israel.
[33] These things are written in the book of the histories of the kings of Judea; and every one of the acts of Josiah, and his splendor, and his understanding of the law of the Lord, and the things that he had done before and these that are now told, are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
[34] And the men of the nation took Jeconiah the son of Josiah, who was twenty-three years old, and made him king in succession to Josiah his father.
[35] And he reigned three months in Judah and Jerusalem. Then the king of Egypt deposed him from reigning in Jerusalem,
[36] and fined the nation a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
[37] And the king of Egypt made Jehoiakim his brother king of Judea and Jerusalem.
[38] Jehoiakim put the nobles in prison, and seized his brother Zarius and brought him up out of Egypt.
[39] Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign in Judea and Jerusalem, and he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.
[40] And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him with a chain of brass and took him away to Babylon.
[41] Nebuchadnezzar also took some holy vessels of the Lord, and carried them away, and stored them in his temple in Babylon.
[42] But the things that are reported about Jehoiakim and his uncleanness and impiety are written in the chronicles of the kings.
[43] Jehoiachin his son became king in his stead; when he was made king he was eighteen years old,
[44] and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.
[45] So after a year Nebuchadnezzar sent and removed him to Babylon, with the holy vessels of the Lord,
[46] and made Zedekiah king of Judea and Jerusalem.
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old, and he reigned eleven years.
[47] He also did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not heed the words that were spoken by Jeremiah the prophet from the mouth of the Lord.
[48] And though King Nebuchadnezzar had made him swear by the name of the Lord, he broke his oath and rebelled; and he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart and transgressed the laws of the Lord, the God of Israel.
[49] Even the leaders of the people and of the priests committed many acts of sacrilege and lawlessness beyond all the unclean deeds of all the nations, and polluted the temple of the Lord which had been hallowed in Jerusalem.
[50] So the God of their fathers sent by his messenger to call them back, because he would have spared them and his dwelling place.
[51] But they mocked his messengers, and whenever the Lord spoke, they scoffed at his prophets,
[52] until in his anger against his people because of their ungodly acts he gave command to bring against them the kings of the Chaldeans.
[53] These slew their young men with the sword around their holy temple, and did not spare young man or virgin, old man or child, for he gave them all into their hands.
[54] And all the holy vessels of the Lord, great and small, and the treasure chests of the Lord, and the royal stores, they took and carried away to Babylon.
[55] And they burned the house of the Lord and broke down the walls of Jerusalem and burned their towers with fire,
[56] and utterly destroyed all its glorious things. The survivors he led away to Babylon with the sword,
[57] and they were servants to him and to his sons until the Persians began to reign, in fulfilment of the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah:
[58] "Until the land has enjoyed its sabbaths, it shall keep sabbath all the time of its desolation until the completion of seventy years."
Chapter two
[1] In the first year of Cyrus as king of the Persians, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished,
[2] the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of the Persians, and he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
[3] "Thus says Cyrus king of the Persians: The Lord of Israel, the Lord Most High, has made me king of the world,
[4] and he has commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judea.
[5] If any one of you, therefore, is of his people, may his Lord be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord of Israel -- he is the Lord who dwells in Jerusalem,
[6] and let each man, wherever he may live, be helped by the men of his place with gold and silver,
[7] with gifts and with horses and cattle, besides the other things added as votive offerings for the temple of the Lord which is in Jerusalem."
[8] Then arose the heads of families of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, and all whose spirit the Lord had stirred to go up to build the house in Jerusalem for the Lord;
[9] and their neighbors helped them with everything, with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with a very great number of votive offerings from many whose hearts were stirred.
[10] Cyrus the king also brought out the holy vessels of the Lord which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and stored in his temple of idols.
[11] When Cyrus king of the Perians brought these out, he gave them to Mithridates his treasurer,
[12] and by him they were given to Sheshbazzar the governor of Judea.
[13] The number of these was: a thousand gold cups, a thousand silver cups, twenty-nine silver censers, thirty gold bowls, two thousand four hundred and ten silver bowls, and a thousand other vessels.
[14] All the vessels were handed over, gold and silver, five thousand four hundred and sixty-nine,
[15] and they were carried back by Sheshbazzar with the returning exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem.
[16] But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, Bishlam, Mithridates, Tabeel, Rehum, Beltethmus, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, living in Samaria and other places, wrote him the following letter, against those who were living in Judea and Jerusalem:
[17] "To King Artaxerxes our lord, Your servants Rehum the recorder and Shimshai the scribe and the other judges of their council in Coelesyria and Phoenicia:
[18] Now be it known to our lord the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem and are building that rebellious and wicked city, repairing its market places and walls and laying the foundations for a temple.
[19] Now if this city is built and the walls finished, they will not only refuse to pay tribute but will even resist kings.
[20] And since the building of the temple is now going on, we think it best not to neglect such a matter,
[21] but to speak to our lord the king, in order that, if it seems good to you, search may be made in the records of your fathers.
[22] You will find in the chronicles what has been written about them, and will learn that this city was rebellious, troubling both kings and other cities,
[23] and that the Jews were rebels and kept setting up blockades in it from of old. That is why this city was laid waste.
[24] Therefore we now make known to you, O lord and king, that if this city is built and its walls finished, you will no longer have access to Coelesyria and Phoenicia."
[25] Then the king, in reply to Rehum the recorder and Beltethmus and Shimshai the scribe and the others associated with them and living in Samaria and Syria and Phoenicia, wrote as follows:
[26] "I have read the letter which you sent me. So I ordered search to be made, and it has been found that this city from of old has fought against kings,
[27] and that the men in it were given to rebellion and war, and that mighty and cruel kings ruled in Jerusalem and exacted tribute from Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
[28] Therefore I have now issued orders to prevent these men from building the city and to take care that nothing more be done
[29] and that such wicked proceedings go no further to the annoyance of kings."
[30] Then, when the letter from King Artaxerxes was read, Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates went in haste to Jerusalem, with horsemen and a multitude in battle array, and began to hinder the builders. And the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.
Chapter three
[1] Now King Darius gave a great banquet for all that were under him and all that were born in his house and all the nobles of Media and Persia
[2] and all the satraps and generals and governors that were under him in the hundred and twenty-seven satrapies from India to Ethiopia.
[3] They ate and drank, and when they were satisfied they departed; and Darius the king went to his bedroom, and went to sleep, and then awoke.
[4] Then the three young men of the bodyguard, who kept guard over the person of the king, said to one another,
[5] "Let each of us state what one thing is strongest; and to him whose statement seems wisest, Darius the king will give rich gifts and great honors of victory.
[6] He shall be clothed in purple, and drink from gold cups, and sleep on a gold bed, and have a chariot with gold bridles, and a turban of fine linen, and a necklace about his neck;
[7] and because of his wisdom he shall sit next to Darius and shall be called kinsman of Darius."
[8] Then each wrote his own statement, and they sealed them and put them under the pillow of Darius the king,
[9] and said, "When the king wakes, they will give him the writing; and to the one whose statement the king and the three nobles of Persia judge to be wisest the victory shall be given according to what is written."
[10] The first wrote, "Wine is strongest."
[11] The second wrote, "The king is strongest."
[12] The third wrote, "Women are strongest, but truth is victor over all things."
[13] When the king awoke, they took the writing and gave it to him, and he read it.
[14] Then he sent and summoned all the nobles of Persia and Media and the satraps and generals and governors and prefects,
[15] and he took his seat in the council chamber, and the writing was read in their presence.
[16] And he said, "Call the young men, and they shall explain their statements." So they were summoned, and came in.
[17] And they said to them, "Explain to us what you have written." Then the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine, began and said:
[18] "Gentlemen, how is wine the strongest? It leads astray the minds of all who drink it.
[19] It makes equal the mind of the king and the orphan, of the slave and the free, of the poor and the rich.
[20] It turns every thought to feasting and mirth, and forgets all sorrow and debt.
[21] It makes all hearts feel rich, forgets kings and satraps, and makes every one talk in millions.
[22] When men drink they forget to be friendly with friends and brothers, and before long they draw their swords.
[23] And when they recover from the wine, they do not remember what they have done.
[24] Gentlemen, is not wine the strongest, since it forces men to do these things?" When he had said this, he stopped speaking.
Chapter four
[1] Then the second, who had spoken of the strength of the king, began to speak:
[2] "Gentlemen, are not men strongest, who rule over land and sea and all that is in them?
[3] But the king is stronger; he is their lord and master, and whatever he says to them they obey.
[4] If he tells them to make war on one another, they do it; and if he sends them out against the enemy, they go, and conquer mountains, walls, and towers.
[5] They kill and are killed, and do not disobey the king's command; if they win the victory, they bring everything to the king -- whatever spoil they take and everything else.
[6] Likewise those who do not serve in the army or make war but till the soil, whenever they sow, reap the harvest and bring some to the king; and they compel one another to pay taxes to the king.
[7] And yet he is only one man! If he tells them to kill, they kill; if he tells them to release, they release;
[8] if he tells them to attack, they attack; if he tells them to lay waste, they lay waste; if he tells them to build, they build;
[9] if he tells them to cut down, they cut down; if he tells them to plant, they plant.
[10] All his people and his armies obey him. Moreover, he reclines, he eats and drinks and sleeps,
[11] but they keep watch around him and no one may go away to attend to his own affairs, nor do they disobey him.
[12] Gentlemen, why is not the king the strongest, since he is to be obeyed in this fashion?" And he stopped speaking.
[13] Then the third, that is Zerubbabel, who had spoken of women and truth, began to speak:
[14] Gentlemen, is not the king great, and are not men many, and is not wine strong? Who then is their master, or who is their lord? Is it not women?
[15] Women gave birth to the king and to every people that rules over sea and land.
[16] From women they came; and women brought up the very men who plant the vineyards from which comes wine.
[17] Women make men's clothes; they bring men glory; men cannot exist without women.
[18] If men gather gold and silver or any other beautiful thing, and then see a woman lovely in appearance and beauty,
[19] they let all those things go, and gape at her, and with open mouths stare at her, and all prefer her to gold or silver or any other beautiful thing.
[20] A man leaves his own father, who brought him up, and his own country, and cleaves to his wife.
[21] With his wife he ends his days, with no thought of his father or his mother or his country.
[22] Hence you must realize that women rule over you! "Do you not labor and toil, and bring everything and give it to women?
[23] A man takes his sword, and goes out to travel and rob and steal and to sail the sea and rivers;
[24] he faces lions, and he walks in darkness, and when he steals and robs and plunders, he brings it back to the woman he loves.
[25] A man loves his wife more than his father or his mother.
[26] Many men have lost their minds because of women, and have become slaves because of them.
[27] Many have perished, or stumbled, or sinned, because of women.
[28] And now do you not believe me? "Is not the king great in his power? Do not all lands fear to touch him?
[29] Yet I have seen him with Apame, the king's concubine, the daughter of the illustrious Bartacus; she would sit at the king's right hand
[30] and take the crown from the king's head and put it on her own, and slap the king with her left hand.
[31] At this the king would gaze at her with mouth agape. If she smiles at him, he laughs; if she loses her temper with him, he flatters her, that she may be reconciled to him.
[32] Gentlemen, why are not women strong, since they do such things?"
[33] Then the king and the nobles looked at one another; and he began to speak about truth:
[34] "Gentlemen, are not women strong? The earth is vast, and heaven is high, and the sun is swift in its course, for it makes the circuit of the heavens and returns to its place in one day.
[35] Is he not great who does these things? But truth is great, and stronger than all things.
[36] The whole earth calls upon truth, and heaven blesses her. All God's works quake and tremble, and with him there is nothing unrighteous.
[37] Wine is unrighteous, the king is unrighteous, women are unrighteous, all the sons of men are unrighteous, all their works are unrighteous, and all such things. There is no truth in them and in their unrighteousness they will perish.
[38] But truth endures and is strong for ever, and lives and prevails for ever and ever.
[39] With her there is no partiality or preference, but she does what is righteous instead of anything that is unrighteous or wicked. All men approve her deeds,
[40] and there is nothing unrighteous in her judgment. To her belongs the strength and the kingship and the power and the majesty of all the ages. Blessed be the God of truth!"
[41] He ceased speaking; then all the people shouted, and said, "Great is truth, and strongest of all!"
[42] Then the king said to him, "Ask what you wish, even beyond what is written, and we will give it to you, for you have been found to be the wisest. And you shall sit next to me, and be called my kinsman."
[43] Then he said to the king, "Remember the vow which you made to build Jerusalem, in the day when you became king,
[44] and to send back all the vessels that were taken from Jerusalem, which Cyrus set apart when he began to destroy Babylon, and vowed to send them back there.
[45] You also vowed to build the temple, which the Edomites burned when Judea was laid waste by the Chaldeans.
[46] And now, O lord the king, this is what I ask and request of you, and this befits your greatness. I pray therefore that you fulfil the vow whose fulfilment you vowed to the King of heaven with your own lips."
[47] Then Darius the king rose, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him to all the treasurers and governors and generals and satraps, that they should give escort to him and all who were going up with him to build Jerusalem.
[48] And he wrote letters to all the governors in Coelesyria and Phoenicia and to those in Lebanon, to bring cedar timber from Lebanon to Jerusalem, and to help him build the city.
[49] And he wrote for all the Jews who were going up from his kingdom to Judea, in the interest of their freedom, that no officer or satrap or governor or treasurer should forcibly enter their doors;
[50] that all the country which they would occupy should be theirs without tribute; that the Idumeans should give up the villages of the Jews which they held;
[51] that twenty talents a year should be given for the building of the temple until it was completed,
[52] and an additional ten talents a year for burnt offerings to be offered on the altar every day, in accordance with the commandment to make seventeen offerings;
[53] and that all who came from Babylonia to build the city should have their freedom, they and their children and all the priests who came.
[54] He wrote also concerning their support and the priests' garments in which they were to minister.
[55] He wrote that the support for the Levites should be provided until the day when the temple should be finished and Jerusalem built.
[56] He wrote that land and wages should be provided for all who guarded the city.
[57] And he sent back from Babylon all the vessels which Cyrus had set apart; everything that Cyrus had ordered to be done, he also commanded to be done and to be sent to Jerusalem.
[58] When the young man went out, he lifted up his face to heaven toward Jerusalem, and praised the King of heaven, saying,
[59] "From thee is the victory; from thee is wisdom, and thine is the glory. I am thy servant.
[60] Blessed art thou, who hast given me wisdom; I give thee thanks, O Lord of our fathers."
[61] So he took the letters, and went to Babylon and told this to all his brethren.
[62] And they praised the God of their fathers, because he had given them release and permission
[63] to go up and build Jerusalem and the temple which is called by his name; and they feasted, with music and rejoicing, for seven days.
Chapter five
[1] After this the heads of fathers' houses were chosen to go up, according to their tribes, with their wives and sons and daughters, and their menservants and maidservants, and their cattle.
[2] And Darius sent with them a thousand horsemen to take them back to Jerusalem in safety, with the music of drums and flutes;
[3] and all their brethren were making merry. And he made them go up with them.
[4] These are the names of the men who went up, according to their fathers' houses in the tribes, over their groups:
[5] the priests, the sons of Phinehas, son of Aaron; Jeshua the son of Jozadak, son of Seraiah, and Joakim the son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, of the house of David, of the lineage of Phares, of the tribe of Judah,
[6] who spoke wise words before Darius the king of the Persians, in the second year of his reign, in the month of Nisan, the first month.
[7] These are the men of Judea who came up out of their sojourn in captivity, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon
[8] and who returned to Jerusalem and the rest of Judea, each to his own town. They came with Zerubbabel and Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Resaiah, Bigvai, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Reeliah, Rehum, and Baanah, their leaders.
[9] The number of the men of the nation and their leaders: the sons of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two. The sons of Shephatiah, four hundred and seventy-two.
[10] The sons of Arah, seven hundred and fifty-six.
[11] The sons of Pahathmoab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.
[12] The sons of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four. The sons of Zattu, nine hundred and forty-five. The sons of Chorbe, seven hundred and five. The sons of Bani, six hundred and forty-eight.
[13] The sons of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-three. The sons of Azgad, one thousand three hundred and twenty-two.
[14] The sons of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-seven. The sons of Bigvai, two thousand and sixty-six. The sons of Adin, four hundred and fifty-four.
[15] The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, ninety-two. The sons of Kilan and Azetas, sixty-seven. The sons of Azaru, four hundred and thirty-two.
[16] The sons of Annias, one hundred and one. The sons of Arom. The sons of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-three. The sons of Jorah, one hundred and twelve.
[17] The sons of Baiterus, three thousand and five. The sons of Bethlehem, one hundred and twenty-three.
[18] The men of Netophah, fifty-five. The men of Anathoth, one hundred and fifty-eight. The men of Bethasmoth, forty-two.
[19] The men of Kiriatharim, twenty-five. The men of Chephirah and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three.
[20] The Chadiasans and Ammidians, four hundred and twenty-two. The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one.
[21] The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two. The men of Bethel, fifty-two. The sons of Magbish, one hundred and fifty-six.
[22] The sons of the other Elam and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-five. The sons of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five.
[23] The sons of Senaah, three thousand three hundred and thirty.
[24] The priests: the sons of Jedaiah the son of Jeshua, of the sons of Anasib, nine hundred and seventy-two. The sons of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two.
[25] The sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven. The sons of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.
[26] The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel and Bannas and Sudias, seventy-four.
[27] The temple singers: the sons of Asaph, one hundred and twenty-eight.
[28] The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, in all one hundred and thirty-nine.
[29] The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon, the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah,
[30] the sons of Akkub, the sons of Uthai, the sons of Ketab, the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hana, the sons of Cathua, the sons of Gahar,
[31] The sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Chezib, the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Hasrah, the sons of Besai, the sons of Asnah, the sons of the Meunites, the sons of Nephisim, the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Asur, the sons of Pharakim, the sons of Bazluth,
[32] the sons of Mehida, the sons of Cutha, the sons of Charea, the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.
[33] The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda, the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Lozon, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Shephatiah,
[34] the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Sarothie, the sons of Masiah, the sons of Gas, the sons of Addus, the sons of Subas, the sons of Apherra, the sons of Barodis, the sons of Shaphat, the sons of Ami.
[35] All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were three hundred and seventy-two.
[36] The following are those who came up from Telmelah and Telharsha, under the leadership of Cherub, Addan, and Immer,
[37] though they could not prove by their fathers' houses or lineage that they belonged to Israel: the sons of Delaiah the son of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred and fifty-two.
[38] Of the priests the following had assumed the priesthood but were not found registered: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Jaddus who had married Agia, one of the daughters of Barzillai, and was called by his name.
[39] And when the genealogy of these men was sought in the register and was not found, they were excluded from serving as priests.
[40] And Nehemiah and Attharias told them not to share in the holy things until a high priest should appear wearing Urim and Thummim.
[41] All those of Israel, twelve or more years of age, besides menservants and maidservants, were forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty;
[42] their menservants and maidservants were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; there were two hundred and forty-five musicians and singers.
[43] There were four hundred and thirty-five camels, and seven thousand and thirty-six horses, two hundred and forty-five mules, and five thousand five hundred and twenty-five asses.
[44] Some of the heads of families, when they came to the temple of God which is in Jerusalem, vowed that they would erect the house on its site, to the best of their ability,
[45] and that they would give to the sacred treasury for the work a thousand minas of gold, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.
[46] The priests, the Levites, and some of the people settled in Jerusalem and its vicinity; and the temple singers, the gatekeepers, and all Israel in their towns.
[47] When the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were each in his own home, they gathered as one man in the square before the first gate toward the east.
[48] Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, with his kinsmen, took their places and prepared the altar of the God of Israel,
[49] to offer burnt offerings upon it, in accordance with the directions in the book of Moses the man of God.
[50] And some joined them from the other peoples of the land. And they erected the altar in its place, for all the peoples of the land were hostile to them and were stronger than they; and they offered sacrifices at the proper times and burnt offerings to the Lord morning and evening.
[51] They kept the feast of booths, as it is commanded in the law, and offered the proper sacrifices every day,
[52] and thereafter the continual offerings and sacrifices on sabbaths and at new moons and at all the consecrated feasts.
[53] And all who had made any vow to God began to offer sacrifices to God, from the new moon of the seventh month, though the temple of God was not yet built.
[54] And they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food and drink
[55] and carts to the Sidonians and the Tyrians, to bring cedar logs from Lebanon and convey them in rafts to the harbor of Joppa, according to the decree which they had in writing from Cyrus king of the Persians.
[56] In the second year after their coming to the temple of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with their brethren and the Levitical priests and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity;
[57] and they laid the foundation of the temple of God on the new moon of the second month in the second year after they came to Judea and Jerusalem.
[58] And they appointed the Levites who were twenty or more years of age to have charge of the work of the Lord. And Jeshua arose, and his sons and brethren and Kadmiel his brother and the sons of Jeshua Emadabun and the sons of Joda son of Iliadun, with their sons and brethren, all the Levites, as one man pressing forward the work on the house of God. So the builders built the temple of the Lord.
[59] And the priests stood arrayed in their garments, with musical instruments and trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals,
[60] praising the Lord and blessing him, according to the directions of David king of Israel;
[61] and they sang hymns, giving thanks to the Lord, because his goodness and his glory are for ever upon all Israel.
[62] And all the people sounded trumpets and shouted with a great shout, praising the Lord for the erection of the house of the Lord.
[63] Some of the Levitical priests and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the former house, came to the building of this one with outcries and loud weeping,
[64] while many came with trumpets and a joyful noise,
[65] so that the people could not hear the trumpets because of the weeping of the people. For the multitude sounded the trumpets loudly, so that the sound was heard afar;
[66] and when the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin heard it, they came to find out what the sound of the trumpets meant.
[67] And they learned that those who had returned from captivity were building the temple for the Lord God of Israel.
[68] So they approached Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the heads of the fathers' houses and said to them, "We will build with you.
[69] For we obey your Lord just as you do and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of the Assyrians, who brought us here."
[70] But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the heads of the fathers' houses in Israel said to them, "You have nothing to do with us in building the house for the Lord our God,
[71] for we alone will build it for the Lord of Israel, as Cyrus the king of the Persians has commanded us."
[72] But the peoples of the land pressed hard upon those in Judea, cut off their supplies, and hindered their building;
[73] and by plots and demagoguery and uprisings they prevented the completion of the building as long as King Cyrus lived. And they were kept from building for two years, until the reign of Darius.
Chapter six
[1] Now in the second year of the reign of Darius, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews who were in Judea and Jerusalem, they prophesied to them in the name of the Lord God of Israel.
[2] Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, with the help of the prophets of the Lord who were with them.
[3] At the same time Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia and Sathrabuzanes and their associates came to them and said,
[4] "By whose order are you building this house and this roof and finishing all the other things? And who are the builders that are finishing these things?"
[5] Yet the elders of the Jews were dealt with kindly, for the providence of the Lord was over the captives;
[6] and they were not prevented from building until word could be sent to Darius concerning them and a report made.
[7] A copy of the letter which Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, and their associates the local rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, wrote and sent to Darius:
[8] "To King Darius, greeting. Let it be fully known to our lord the king that, when we went to the country of Judea and entered the city of Jerusalem, we found the elders of the Jews, who had been in captivity,
[9] building in the city of Jerusalem a great new house for the Lord, of hewn stone, with costly timber laid in the walls.
[10] These operations are going on rapidly, and the work is prospering in their hands and being completed with all splendor and care.
[11] Then we asked these elders, `At whose command are you building this house and laying the foundations of this structure?'
[12] And in order that we might inform you in writing who the leaders are, we questioned them and asked them for a list of the names of those who are at their head.
[13] They answered us, `We are the servants of the Lord who created the heaven and the earth.
[14] And the house was built many years ago by a king of Israel who was great and strong, and it was finished.
[15] But when our fathers sinned against the Lord of Israel who is in heaven, and provoked him, he gave them over into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of the Chaldeans;
[16] and they pulled down the house, and burned it, and carried the people away captive to Babylon.
[17] But in the first year that Cyrus reigned over the country of Babylonia, King Cyrus wrote that this house should be rebuilt.
[18] And the holy vessels of gold and of silver, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the house in Jerusalem and stored in his own temple, these Cyrus the king took out again from the temple in Babylon, and they were delivered to Zerubbabel and Sheshbazzar the governor
[19] with the command that he should take all these vessels back and put them in the temple at Jerusalem, and that this temple of the Lord should be rebuilt on its site.
[20] Then this Sheshbazzar, after coming here, laid the foundations of the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, and although it has been in process of construction from that time until now, it has not yet reached completion.'
[21] Now therefore, if it seems wise, O king, let search be made in the royal archives of our lord the king that are in Babylon;
[22] and if it is found that the building of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem was done with the consent of King Cyrus, and if it is approved by our lord the king, let him send us directions concerning these things."
[23] Then Darius commanded that search be made in the royal archives that were deposited in Babylon. And in Ecbatana, the fortress which is in the country of Media, a scroll was found in which this was recorded:
[24] "In the first year of the reign of Cyrus, King Cyrus ordered the building of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, where they sacrifice with perpetual fire;
[25] its height to be sixty cubits and its breadth sixty cubits, with three courses of hewn stone and one course of new native timber; the cost to be paid from the treasury of Cyrus the king;
[26] and that the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, both of gold and of silver, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the house in Jerusalem and carried away to Babylon, should be restored to the house in Jerusalem, to be placed where they had been."
[27] So Darius commanded Sisinnes the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, and their associates, and those who were appointed as local rulers in Syria and Phoenicia, to keep away from the place, and to permit Zerubbabel, the servant of the Lord and governor of Judea, and the elders of the Jews to build this house of the Lord on its site.
[28] "And I command that it be built completely, and that full effort be made to help the men who have returned from the captivity of Judea, until the house of the Lord is finished;
[29] and that out of the tribute of Coelesyria and Phoenicia a portion be scrupulously given to these men, that is, to Zerubbabel the governor, for sacrifices to the Lord, for bulls and rams and lambs,
[30] and likewise wheat and salt and wine and oil, regularly every year, without quibbling, for daily use as the priests in Jerusalem may indicate,
[31] in order that libations may be made to the Most High God for the king and his children, and prayers be offered for their life."
[32] And he commanded that if any should transgress or nullify any of the things herein written, a beam should be taken out of his house and he should be hanged upon it, and his property should be forfeited to the king.
[33] "Therefore may the Lord, whose name is there called upon, destroy every king and nation that shall stretch out their hands to hinder or damage that house of the Lord in Jerusalem.
[34] "I, King Darius, have decreed that it be done with all diligence as here prescribed."
Chapter seven
[1] Then Sisinnes the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, and their associates, following the orders of King Darius,
[2] supervised the holy work with very great care, assisting the elders of the Jews and the chief officers of the temple.
[3] And the holy work prospered, while the prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied;
[4] and they completed it by the command of the Lord God of Israel. So with the consent of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of the Persians,
[5] the holy house was finished by the twenty-third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of King Darius.
[6] And the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of those from the captivity who joined them, did according to what was written in the book of Moses.
[7] They offered at the dedication of the temple of the Lord one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs,
[8] and twelve he-goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the twelve leaders of the tribes of Israel;
[9] and the priests and the Levites stood arrayed in their garments, according to kindred, for the services of the Lord God of Israel in accordance with the book of Moses; and the gatekeepers were at each gate.
[10] The people of Israel who came from the captivity kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, after the priests and the Levites were purified together.
[11] Not all of the returned captives were purified, but the Levites were all purified together,
[12] and they sacrificed the passover lamb for all the returned captives and for their brethren the priests and for themselves.
[13] And the people of Israel who came from the captivity ate it, all those who had separated themselves from the abominations of the peoples of the land and sought the Lord.
[14] And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days, rejoicing before the Lord,
[15] Because he had changed the will of the king of the Assyrians concerning them, to strengthen their hands for the service of the Lord God of Israel.
Chapter eight
[1] After these things, when Artaxerxes the king of the Persians was reigning, Ezra came, the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum,
[2] son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, son of Amariah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, son of Abishua, son of Phineas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest.
[3] This Ezra came up from Babylon as a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which was given by the God of Israel;
[4] and the king showed him honor, for he found favor before the king in all his requests.
[5] There came up with him to Jerusalem some of the people of Israel and some of the priests and Levites and temple singers and gatekeepers and temple servants,
[6] in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, in the fifth month (this was the king's seventh year); for they left Babylon on the new moon of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the new moon of the fifth month, by the prosperous journey which the Lord gave them.
[7] For Ezra possessed great knowledge, so that he omitted nothing from the law of the Lord or the commandments, but taught all Israel all the ordinances and judgments.
[8] The following is a copy of the written commission from Artaxerxes the king which was delivered to Ezra the priest and reader of the law of the Lord:
[9] "King Artaxerxes to Ezra the priest and reader of the law of the Lord, greeting.
[10] In accordance with my gracious decision, I have given orders that those of the Jewish nation and of the priests and Levites and others in our realm, who freely choose to do so, may go with you to Jerusalem.
[11] Let as many as are so disposed, therefore, depart with you as I and the seven friends who are my counselors have decided,
[12] in order to look into matters in Judea and Jerusalem, in accordance with what is in the law of the Lord,
[13] and to carry to Jerusalem the gifts for the Lord of Israel which I and my friends have vowed, and to collect for the Lord in Jerusalem all the gold and silver that may be found in the country of Babylonia,
[14] together with what is given by the nation for the temple of their Lord which is in Jerusalem, both gold and silver for bulls and rams and lambs and what goes with them,
[15] so as to offer sacrifices upon the altar of their Lord which is in Jerusalem.
[16] And whatever you and your brethren are minded to do with the gold and silver, perform it in accordance with the will of your God;
[17] and deliver the holy vessels of the Lord which are given you for the use of the temple of your God which is in Jerusalem.
[18] And whatever else occurs to you as necessary for the temple of your God, you may provide out of the royal treasury.
[19] "And I, Artaxerxes the king, have commanded the treasurers of Syria and Phoenicia that whatever Ezra the priest and reader of the law of the Most High God sends for, they shall take care to give him,
[20] up to a hundred talents of silver, and likewise up to a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, and salt in abundance.
[21] Let all things prescribed in the law of God be scrupulously fulfilled for the Most High God, so that wrath may not come upon the kingdom of the king and his sons.
[22] You are also informed that no tribute or any other tax is to be laid on any of the priests or Levites or temple singers or gatekeepers or temple servants or persons employed in this temple, and that no one has authority to impose any tax upon them.
[23] "And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of God, appoint judges and justices to judge all those who know the law of your God, throughout all Syria and Phoenicia; and those who do not know it you shall teach.
[24] And all who transgress the law of your God or the law of the kingdom shall be strictly punished, whether by death or some other punishment, either fine or imprisonment."
[25] Blessed be the Lord alone, who put this into the heart of the king, to glorify his house which is in Jerusalem,
[26] and who honored me in the sight of the king and his counselors and all his friends and nobles.
[27] I was encouraged by the help of the Lord my God, and I gathered men from Israel to go up with me.
[28] These are the principal men, according to their fathers' houses and their groups, who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:
[29] Of the sons of Phineas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Gamael. Of the sons of David, Hattush the son of Shecaniah.
[30] Of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him a hundred and fifty men enrolled.
[31] Of the sons of Pahathmoab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred men.
[32] Of the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred men. Of the sons of Adin, Obed the son of Jonathan, and with him two hundred and fifty men.
[33] Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Gotholiah, and with him seventy men.
[34] Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zeraiah the son of Michael, and with him seventy men,
[35] Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and twelve men.
[36] Of the sons of Bani, Shelomith the son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred and sixty men.
[37] Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight men.
[38] Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him a hundred and ten men.
[39] Of the sons of Adonikam, the last ones, their names being Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them seventy men.
[40] Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai the son of Istalcurus, and with him seventy men.
[41] I assembled them at the river called Theras, and we encamped there three days, and I inspected them.
[42] When I found there none of the sons of the priests or of the Levites,
[43] I sent word to Eliezar, Iduel, Maasmas,
[44] Elnathan, Shemaiah, Jarib, Nathan, Elnathan, Zechariah, and
Meshullam, who were leaders and men of understanding;
[45] and I told them to go to Iddo, who was the leading man at the place of the treasury,
[46] and ordered them to tell Iddo and his brethren and the treasurers at that place to send us men to serve as priests in the house of our Lord.
[47] And by the mighty hand of our Lord they brought us competent men of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebiah with his sons and kinsmen, eighteen;
[48] also Hashabiah and Annunus and Jeshaiah his brother, of the sons of Hananiah, and their sons, twenty men;
[49] and of the temple servants, whom David and the leaders had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty temple servants; the list of all their names was reported.
[50] There I proclaimed a fast for the young men before our Lord, to seek from him a prosperous journey for ourselves and for our children and the cattle that were with us.
[51] For I was ashamed to ask the king for foot soldiers and horsemen and an escort to keep us safe from our adversaries;
[52] for we had said to the king, "The power of our Lord will be with those who seek him, and will support them in every way."
[53] And again we prayed to our Lord about these things, and we found him very merciful.
[54] Then I set apart twelve of the leaders of the priests, Sherebiah and Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen with them;
[55] and I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the holy vessels of the house of our Lord, which the king himself and his counselors and the nobles and all Israel had given.
[56] I weighed and gave to them six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels worth a hundred talents, and a hundred talents of gold,
[57] and twenty golden bowls, and twelve bronze vessels of fine bronze that glittered like gold.
[58] And I said to them, "You are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are vowed to the Lord, the Lord of our fathers.
[59] Be watchful and on guard until you deliver them to the leaders of the priests and the Levites, and to the heads of the fathers' houses of Israel, in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of our Lord."
[60] So the priests and the Levites who took the silver and the gold and the vessels which had been in Jerusalem carried them to the temple of the Lord.
[61] We departed from the river Theras on the twelfth day of the first month; and we arrived in Jerusalem by the mighty hand of our Lord which was upon us; he delivered us from every enemy on the way, and so we came to Jerusalem.
[62] When we had been there three days, the silver and the gold were weighed and delivered in the house of our Lord to Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah;
[63] and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Moeth the son of Binnui, the Levites.
[64] The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded at that very time.
[65] And those who had come back from captivity offered sacrifices to the Lord, the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams,
[66] seventy-two lambs, and as a thank offering twelve he-goats -- all as a sacrifice to the Lord.
[67] And they delivered the king's orders to the royal stewards and to the governors of Coelesyria and Phoenicia; and these officials honored the people and the temple of the Lord.
[68] After these things had been done, the principal men came to me and said,
[69] "The people of Israel and the leaders and the priests and the Levites have not put away from themselves the alien peoples of the land and their pollutions, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Edomites.
[70] For they and their sons have married the daughters of these people, and the holy race has been mixed with the alien peoples of the land; and from the beginning of this matter the leaders and the nobles have been sharing in this iniquity."
[71] As soon as I heard these things I rent my garments and my holy mantle, and pulled out hair from my head and beard, and sat down in anxiety and grief.
[72] And all who were ever moved at the word of the Lord of Israel gathered round me, as I mourned over this iniquity, and I sat grief-stricken until the evening sacrifice.
[73] Then I rose from my fast, with my garments and my holy mantle rent, and kneeling down and stretching forth my hands to the Lord
[74] I said, "O Lord, I am ashamed and confounded before thy face.
[75] For our sins have risen higher than our heads, and our mistakes have mounted up to heaven
[76] from the times of our fathers, and we are in great sin to this day.
[77] And because of our sins and the sins of our fathers we with our brethren and our kings and our priests were given over to the kings of the earth, to the sword and captivity and plundering, in shame until this day.
[78] And now in some measure mercy has come to us from thee, O Lord, to leave to us a root and a name in thy holy place,
[79] and to uncover a light for us in the house of the Lord our God, and to give us food in the time of our servitude.
[80] Even in our bondage we were not forsaken by our Lord, but he brought us into favor with the kings of the Persians, so that they have given us food
[81] and glorified the temple of our Lord, and raised Zion from desolation, to give us a stronghold in Judea and Jerusalem.
[82] "And now, O Lord, what shall we say, when we have these things? For we have transgressed thy commandments, which thou didst give by thy servants the prophets, saying,
[83] `The land which you are entering to take possession of it is a land polluted with the pollution of the aliens of the land, and they have filled it with their uncleanness.
[84] Therefore do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons, and do not take their daughters for your sons;
[85] and do not seek ever to have peace with them, in order that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.'
[86] And all that has happened to us has come about because of our evil deeds and our great sins. For thou, O Lord, didst lift the burden of our sins
[87] and give us such a root as this; but we turned back again to transgress thy law by mixing with the uncleanness of the peoples of the land.
[88] Wast thou not angry enough with us to destroy us without leaving a root or seed or name?
[89] O Lord of Israel, thou art true; for we are left as a root to this day.
[90] Behold, we are now before thee in our iniquities; for we can no longer stand in thy presence because of these things."
[91] While Ezra was praying and making his confession, weeping and lying upon the ground before the temple, there gathered about him a very great throng from Jerusalem, men and women and youths; for there was great weeping among the multitude.
[92] Then Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the men of Israel, called out, and said to Ezra, "We have sinned against the Lord, and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; but even now there is hope for Israel.
[93] Let us take an oath to the Lord about this, that we will put away all our foreign wives, with their children,
[94] as seems good to you and to all who obey the law of the Lord.
[95] Arise and take action, for it is your task, and we are with you to take strong measures."
[96] Then Ezra arose and had the leaders of the priests and Levites of all Israel take oath that they would do this. And they took the oath.
Chapter nine
[1] Then Ezra rose and went from the court of the temple to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib,
[2] and spent the night there; and he did not eat bread or drink water, for he was mourning over the great iniquities of the multitude.
[3] And a proclamation was made throughout Judea and Jerusalem to all who had returned from the captivity that they should assemble at Jerusalem,
[4] and that if any did not meet there within two or three days, in accordance with the decision of the ruling elders, their cattle should be seized for sacrifice and the men themselves expelled from the multitude of those who had returned from the captivity.
[5] Then the men of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within three days; this was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month.
[6] And all the multitude sat in the open square before the temple, shivering because of the bad weather that prevailed.
[7] Then Ezra rose and said to them, "You have broken the law and married foreign women, and so have increased the sin of Israel.
[8] Now then make confession and give glory to the Lord the God of our fathers,
[9] and do his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from your foreign wives."
[10] Then all the multitude shouted and said with a loud voice, "We will do as you have said.
[11] But the multitude is great and it is winter, and we are not able to stand in the open air. This is not a work we can do in one day or two, for we have sinned too much in these things.
[12] so let the leaders of the multitude stay, and let all those in our settlements who have foreign wives come at the time appointed,
[13] with the elders and judges of each place, until we are freed from the wrath of the Lord over this matter."
[14] Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah undertook the matter on these terms, and Meshullam and Levi and Shabbethai served with them as judges.
[15] And those who had returned from the captivity acted in accordance with all this.
[16] Ezra the priest chose for himself the leading men of their fathers' houses, all of them by name; and on the new moon of the tenth month they began their sessions to investigate the matter.
[17] And the cases of the men who had foreign wives were brought to an end by the new moon of the first month.
[18] Of the priests those who were brought in and found to have foreign wives were:
[19] of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren, Maaseiah, Eliezar, Jarib, and Jodan.
[20] They pledged themselves to put away their wives, and to give rams in expiation of their error.
[21] Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah and Maaseiah and Shemaiah and Jehiel and Azariah.
[22] Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, and Nathanael, and Gedaliah, and Elasah.
[23] And of the Levites: Jozabad and Shimei and Kelaiah, who was Kelita, and Pethahiah and Judah and Jonah.
[24] Of the temple singers: Eliashib and Zaccur.
[25] Of the gatekeepers: Shallum and Telem.
[26] Of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Asibias, and Benaiah.
[27] Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah and Zechariah, Jehiel and Abdi, and Jeremoth and Elijah.
[28] Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Othoniah, Jeremoth, and Zabad and Zerdaiah.
[29] Of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan and Hananiah and Zabbai and Emathis.
[30] Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal and Jeremoth.
[31] Of the sons of Addi: Naathus and Moossias, Laccunus and Naidus, and Bescaspasmys and Sesthel, and Belnuus and Manasseas.
[32] Of the sons of Annan, Elionas and Asaias and Melchias and Sabbaias and Simon Chosamaeus.
[33] Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai and Mattattah and Zabad and Eliphelet and Manasseh and Shimei.
[34] Of the sons of Bani: Jeremai, Maadai, Amram, Joel, Mamdai and Bedeiah and Vaniah, Carabasion and Eliashib and Machnadebai, Eliasis, Binnui, Elialis, Shimei, Shelemiah, Nethaniah. Of the sons of Ezora: Shashai, Azarel, Azael, Shemaiah, Amariah, Joseph.
[35] Of the sons of Nebo: Mattithiah, Zabad, Iddo, Joel, Benaiah.
[36] All these had married foreign women, and they put them away with their children.
[37] The priests and the Levites and the men of Israel settled in Jerusalem and in the country. On the new moon of the seventh month, when the sons of Israel were in their settlements,
[38] the whole multitude gathered with one accord into the open square before the east gate of the temple;
[39] and they told Ezra the chief priest and reader to bring the law of Moses which had been given by the Lord God of Israel.
[40] So Ezra the chief priest brought the law, for all the multitude, men and women, and all the priests to hear the law, on the new moon of the seventh month.
[41] And he read aloud in the open square before the gate of the temple from early morning until midday, in the presence of both men and women; and all the multitude gave attention to the law.
[42] Ezra the priest and reader of the law stood on the wooden platform which had been prepared;
[43] and beside him stood Mattathiah, Shema, Anaiah, Azariah, Uriah, Hezekiah, and Baalsamus on his right hand,
[44] and on his left Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Lothasubus, Nabariah, and Zechariah.
[45] Then Ezra took up the book of the law in the sight of the multitude, for he had the place of honor in the presence of all.
[46] And when he opened the law, they all stood erect. And Ezra blessed the Lord God Most High, the God of hosts, the Almighty;
[47] and all the multitude answered, "Amen." And they lifted up their hands, and fell to the ground and worshiped the Lord.
[48] Jeshua and Anniuth and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah and Kelita, Azariah and Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, taught the law of the Lord, at the same time explaining what was read.
[49] Then Attharates said to Ezra the chief priest and reader, and to the Levites who were teaching the multitude, and to all,
[50] "This day is holy to the Lord" -- now they were all weeping as they heard the law --
[51] "so go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet, and send portions to those who have none;
[52] for the day is holy to the Lord; and do not be sorrowful, for the Lord will exalt you."
[53] And the Levites commanded all the people, saying, "This day is holy; do not be sorrowful."
[54] Then they all went their way, to eat and drink and enjoy themselves, and to give portions to those who had none, and to make great rejoicing;
[55] because they were inspired by the words which they had been taught. And they came together.
The Book of Judith
Chapter one
[1] In the twelfth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled over the Assyrians in the great city of Nineveh, in the days of Arphaxad, who ruled over the Medes in Ecbatana --
[2] he is the king who built walls about Ecbatana with hewn stones three cubits thick and six cubits long; he made the walls seventy cubits high and fifty cubits wide;
[3] at the gates he built towers a hundred cubits high and sixty cubits wide at the foundations;
[4] and he made its gates, which were seventy cubits high and forty cubits wide, so that his armies could march out in force and his infantry form their ranks --
[5] it was in those days that King Nebuchadnezzar made war against King Arphaxad in the great plain which is on the borders of Ragae.
[6] He was joined by all the people of the hill country and all those who lived along the Euphrates and the Tigris and the Hydaspes and in the plain where Arioch ruled the Elymaeans. Many nations joined the forces of the Chaldeans.
[7] Then Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians sent to all who lived in Persia and to all who lived in the west, those who lived in Cilicia and Damascus and Lebanon and Antilebanon and all who lived along the seacoast,
[8] and those among the nations of Carmel and Gilead, and Upper Galilee and the great Plain of Esdraelon,
[9] and all who were in Samaria and its surrounding towns, and beyond the Jordan as far as Jerusalem and Bethany and Chelous and Kadesh and the river of Egypt, and Tahpanhes and Raamses and the whole land of Goshen,
[10] even beyond Tanis and Memphis, and all who lived in Egypt as far as the borders of Ethiopia.
[11] But all who lived in the whole region disregarded the orders of Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians, and refused to join him in the war; for they were not afraid of him, but looked upon him as only one man, and they sent back his messengers empty-handed and shamefaced.
[12] Then Nebuchadnezzar was very angry with this whole region, and swore by his throne and kingdom that he would surely take revenge on the whole territory of Cilicia and Damascus and Syria, that he would kill them by the sword, and also all the inhabitants of the land of Moab, and the people of Ammon, and all Judea, and every one in Egypt, as far as the coasts of the two seas.
[13] In the seventeenth year he led his forces against King Arphaxad, and defeated him in battle, and overthrew the whole army of Arphaxad, and all his cavalry and all his chariots.
[14] Thus he took possession of his cities, and came to Ecbatana, captured its towers, plundered its markets, and turned its beauty into shame.
[15] He captured Arphaxad in the mountains of Ragae and struck him down with hunting spears; and he utterly destroyed him, to this day.
[16] Then he returned with them to Nineveh, he and all his combined forces, a vast body of troops; and there he and his forces rested and feasted for one hundred and twenty days.
Chapter two
[1] In the eighteenth year, on the twenty-second day of the first month, there was talk in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians about carrying out his revenge on the whole region, just as he said.
[2] He called together all his officers and all his nobles and set forth to them his secret plan and recounted fully, with his own lips, all the wickedness of the region;
[3] and it was decided that every one who had not obeyed his command should be destroyed.
[4] When he had finished setting forth his plan, Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians called Holofernes, the chief general of his army, second only to himself, and said to him,
[5] "Thus says the Great King, the lord of the whole earth: When you leave my presence, take with you men confident in their strength, to the number of one hundred and twenty thousand foot soldiers and twelve thousand cavalry.
[6] Go and attack the whole west country, because they disobeyed my orders.
[7] Tell them to prepare earth and water, for I am coming against them in my anger, and will cover the whole face of the earth with the feet of my armies, and will hand them over to be plundered by my troops,
[8] till their wounded shall fill their valleys, and every brook and river shall be filled with their dead, and overflow;
[9] and I will lead them away captive to the ends of the whole earth.
[10] You shall go and seize all their territory for me in advance. They will yield themselves to you, and you shall hold them for me till the day of their punishment.
[11] But if they refuse, your eye shall not spare and you shall hand them over to slaughter and plunder throughout your whole region.
[12] For as I live, and by the power of my kingdom, what I have spoken my hand will execute.
[13] And you -- take care not to transgress any of your sovereign's commands, but be sure to carry them out just as I have ordered you; and do not delay about it."
[14] So Holofernes left the presence of his master, and called together all the commanders, generals, and officers of the Assyrian army,
[15] and mustered the picked troops by divisions as his lord had ordered him to do, one hundred and twenty thousand of them, together with twelve thousand archers on horseback,
[16] and he organized them as a great army is marshaled for a campaign.
[17] He collected a vast number of camels and asses and mules for transport, and innumerable sheep and oxen and goats for provision;
[18] also plenty of food for every man, and a huge amount of gold and silver from the royal palace.
[19] So he set out with his whole army, to go ahead of King Nebuchadnezzar and to cover the whole face of the earth to the west with their chariots and horsemen and picked troops of infantry.
[20] Along with them went a mixed crowd like a swarm of locusts, like the dust of the earth -- a multitude that could not be counted.
[21] They marched for three days from Nineveh to the plain of Bectileth, and camped opposite Bectileth near the mountain which is to the north of Upper Cilicia.
[22] From there Holofernes took his whole army, his infantry, cavalry, and chariots, and went up into the hill country
[23] and ravaged Put and Lud, and plundered all the people of Rassis and the Ishmaelites who lived along the desert, south of the country of the Chelleans.
[24] Then he followed the Euphrates and passed through Mesopotamia and destroyed all the hilltop cities along the brook Abron, as far as the sea.
[25] He also seized the territory of Cilicia, and killed every one who resisted him, and came to the southern borders of Japheth, fronting toward Arabia.
[26] He surrounded all the Midianites, and burned their tents and plundered their sheepfolds.
[27] Then he went down into the plain of Damascus during the wheat harvest, and burned all their fields and destroyed their flocks and herds and sacked their cities and ravaged their lands and put to death all their young men with the edge of the sword.
[28] So fear and terror of him fell upon all the people who lived along the seacoast, at Sidon and Tyre, and those who lived in Sur and Ocina and all who lived in Jamnia. Those who lived in Azotus and Ascalon feared him exceedingly.
Chapter three
[1] So they sent messengers to sue for peace, and said,
[2] "Behold, we the servants of Nebuchadnezzar, the Great King, lie prostrate before you. Do with us whatever you will.
[3] Behold, our buildings, and all our land, and all our wheat fields, and our flocks and herds, and all our sheepfolds with their tents, lie before you; do with them whatever you please.
[4] Our cities also and their inhabitants are your slaves; come and deal with them in any way that seems good to you."
[5] The men came to Holofernes and told him all this.
[6] Then he went down to the seacoast with his army and stationed garrisons in the hilltop cities and took picked men from them as his allies.
[7] And these people and all in the country round about welcomed him with garlands and dances and tambourines.
[8] And he demolished all their shrines and cut down their sacred groves; for it had been given to him to destroy all the gods of the land, so that all nations should worship Nebuchadnezzar only, and all their tongues and tribes should call upon him as god.
[9] Then he came to the edge of Esdraelon, near Dothan, fronting the great ridge of Judea;
[10] here he camped between Geba and Scythopolis, and remained for a whole month in order to assemble all the supplies for his army.
Chapter four
[1] By this time the people of Israel living in Judea heard of everything that Holofernes, the general of Nebuchadnezzar the king of the Assyrians, had done to the nations, and how he had plundered and destroyed all their temples;
[2] they were therefore very greatly terrified at his approach, and were alarmed both for Jerusalem and for the temple of the Lord their God.
[3] For they had only recently returned from the captivity, and all the people of Judea were newly gathered together, and the sacred vessels and the altar and the temple had been consecrated after their profanation.
[4] So they sent to every district of Samaria, and to Kona and Beth-horon and Belmain and Jericho and to Choba and Aesora and the valley of Salem,
[5] and immediately seized all the high hilltops and fortified the villages on them and stored up food in preparation for war -- since their fields had recently been harvested.
[6] And Joakim, the high priest, who was in Jerusalem at the time, wrote to the people of Bethulia and Betomesthaim, which faces Esdraelon opposite the plain near Dothan,
[7] ordering them to seize the passes up into the hills, since by them Judea could be invaded, and it was easy to stop any who tried to enter, for the approach was narrow, only wide enough for two men at the most.
[8] So the Israelites did as Joakim the high priest and the senate of the whole people of Israel, in session at Jerusalem, had given order.
[9] And every man of Israel cried out to God with great fervor, and they humbled themselves with much fasting.
[10] They and their wives and their children and their cattle and every resident alien and hired laborer and purchased slave -- they all girded themselves with sackcloth.
[11] And all the men and women of Israel, and their children, living at Jerusalem, prostrated themselves before the temple and put ashes on their heads and spread out their sackcloth before the Lord.
[12] They even surrounded the altar with sackcloth and cried out in unison, praying earnestly to the God of Israel not to give up their infants as prey and their wives as booty, and the cities they had inherited to be destroyed, and the sanctuary to be profaned and desecrated to the malicious joy of the Gentiles.
[13] So the Lord heard their prayers and looked upon their affliction; for the people fasted many days throughout Judea and in Jerusalem before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty.
[14] And Joakim the high priest and all the priests who stood before the Lord and ministered to the Lord, with their loins girded with sackcloth, offered the continual burnt offerings and the vows and freewill offerings of the people.
[15] With ashes upon their turbans, they cried out to the Lord with all their might to look with favor upon the whole house of Israel.
Chapter five
[1] When Holofernes, the general of the Assyrian army, heard that the people of Israel had prepared for war and had closed the passes in the hills and fortified all the high hilltops and set up barricades in the plains,
[2] he was very angry. So he called together all the princes of Moab and the commanders of Ammon and all the governors of the coastland,
[3] and said to them, "Tell me, you Canaanites, what people is this that lives in the hill country? What cities do they inhabit? How large is their army, and in what does their power or strength consist? Who rules over them as king, leading their army?
[4] And why have they alone, of all who live in the west, refused to come out and meet me?"
[5] Then Achior, the leader of all the Ammonites, said to him, "Let my lord now hear a word from the mouth of your servant, and I will tell you the truth about this people that dwells in the nearby mountain district. No falsehood shall come from your servant's mouth.
[6] This people is descended from the Chaldeans.
[7] At one time they lived in Mesopotamia, because they would not follow the gods of their fathers who were in Chaldea.
[8] For they had left the ways of their ancestors, and they worshiped the God of heaven, the God they had come to know; hence they drove them out from the presence of their gods; and they fled to Mesopotamia, and lived there for a long time.
[9] Then their God commanded them to leave the place where they were living and go to the land of Canaan. There they settled, and prospered, with much gold and silver and very many cattle.
[10] When a famine spread over Canaan they went down to Egypt and lived there as long as they had food; and there they became a great multitude -- so great that they could not be counted.
[11] So the king of Egypt became hostile to them; he took advantage of them and set them to making bricks, and humbled them and made slaves of them.
[12] Then they cried out to their God, and he afflicted the whole land of Egypt with incurable plagues; and so the Egyptians drove them out of their sight.
[13] Then God dried up the Red Sea before them,
[14] and he led them by the way of Sinai and Kadesh-barnea, and drove out all the people of the wilderness.
[15] So they lived in the land of the Amorites, and by their might destroyed all the inhabitants of Heshbon; and crossing over the Jordan they took possession of all the hill country.
[16] And they drove out before them the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Jebusites and the Shechemites and all the Gergesites, and lived there a long time.
[17] As long as they did not sin against their God they prospered, for the God who hates iniquity is with them.
[18] But when they departed from the way which he had appointed for them, they were utterly defeated in many battles and were led away captive to a foreign country; the temple of their God was razed to the ground, and their cities were captured by their enemies.
[19] But now they have returned to their God, and have come back from the places to which they were scattered, and have occupied Jerusalem, where their sanctuary is, and have settled in the hill country, because it was uninhabited.
[20] Now therefore, my master and lord, if there is any unwitting error in this people and they sin against their God and we find out their offense, then we will go up and defeat them.
[21] But if there is no transgression in their nation, then let my lord pass them by; for their Lord will defend them, and their God will protect them, and we shall be put to shame before the whole world."
[22] When Achior had finished saying this, all the men standing around the tent began to complain; Holofernes' officers and all the men from the seacoast and from Moab insisted that he must be put to death.
[23] "For," they said, "we will not be afraid of the Israelites; they are a people with no strength or power for making war.
[24] Therefore let us go up, Lord Holofernes, and they will be devoured by your vast army."
Chapter six
[1] When the disturbance made by the men outside the council died down, Holofernes, the commander of the Assyrian army, said to Achior and all the Moabites in the presence of all the foreign contingents:
[2] "And who are you, Achior, and you hirelings of Ephraim, to prophesy among us as you have done today and tell us not to make war against the people of Israel because their God will defend them? Who is God except Nebuchadnezzar?
[3] He will send his forces and will destroy them from the face of the earth, and their God will not deliver them -- we the king's servants will destroy them as one man. They cannot resist the might of our cavalry.
[4] We will burn them up, and their mountains will be drunk with their blood, and their fields will be full of their dead. They cannot withstand us, but will utterly perish. So says King Nebuchadnezzar, the lord of the whole earth. For he has spoken; none of his words shall be in vain.
[5] "But you, Achior, you Ammonite hireling, who have said these words on the day of your iniquity, you shall not see my face again from this day until I take revenge on this race that came out of Egypt.
[6] Then the sword of my army and the spear of my servants shall pierce your sides, and you shall fall among their wounded, when I return.
[7] Now my slaves are going to take you back into the hill country and put you in one of the cities beside the passes,
[8] and you will not die until you perish along with them.
[9] If you really hope in your heart that they will not be taken, do not look downcast! I have spoken and none of my words shall fail."
[10] Then Holofernes ordered his slaves, who waited on him in his tent, to seize Achior and take him to Bethulia and hand him over to the men of Israel.
[11] So the slaves took him and led him out of the camp into the plain, and from the plain they went up into the hill country and came to the springs below Bethulia.
[12] When the men of the city saw them, they caught up their weapons and ran out of the city to the top of the hill, and all the slingers kept them from coming up by casting stones at them.
[13] However, they got under the shelter of the hill and they bound Achior and left him lying at the foot of the hill, and returned to their master.
[14] Then the men of Israel came down from their city and found him; and they untied him and brought him into Bethulia and placed him before the magistrates of their city,
[15] who in those days were Uzziah the son of Micah, of the tribe of Simeon, and Chabris the son of Gothoniel, and Charmis the son of Melchiel.
[16] They called together all the elders of the city, and all their young men and their women ran to the assembly; and they set Achior in the midst of all their people, and Uzziah asked him what had happened.
[17] He answered and told them what had taken place at the council of Holofernes, and all that he had said in the presence of the Assyrian leaders, and all that Holofernes had said so boastfully against the house of Israel.
[18] Then the people fell down and worshiped God, and cried out to him, and said,
[19] "O Lord God of heaven, behold their arrogance, and have pity on the humiliation of our people, and look this day upon the faces of those who are consecrated to thee."
[20] Then they consoled Achior, and praised him greatly.
[21] And Uzziah took him from the assembly to his own house and gave a banquet for the elders; and all that night they called on the God of Israel for help.
Chapter seven
[1] The next day Holofernes ordered his whole army, and all the allies who had joined him, to break camp and move against Bethulia, and to seize the passes up into the hill country and make war on the Israelites.
[2] So all their warriors moved their camp that day; their force of men of war was one hundred and seventy thousand infantry and twelve thousand cavalry, together with the baggage and the foot soldiers handling it, a very great multitude.
[3] They encamped in the valley near Bethulia, beside the spring, and they spread out in breadth over Dothan as far as Balbaim and in length from Bethulia to Cyamon, which faces Esdraelon.
[4] When the Israelites saw their vast numbers they were greatly terrified, and every one said to his neighbor, "These men will now lick up the face of the whole land; neither the high mountains nor the valleys nor the hills will bear their weight."
[5] Then each man took up his weapons, and when they had kindled fires on their towers they remained on guard all that night.
[6] On the second day Holofernes led out all his cavalry in full view of the Israelites in Bethulia,
[7] and examined the approaches to the city, and visited the springs that supplied their water, and seized them and set guards of soldiers over them, and then returned to his army.
[8] Then all the chieftains of the people of Esau and all the leaders of the Moabites and the commanders of the coastland came to him and said,
[9] "Let our lord hear a word, lest his army be defeated.
[10] For these people, the Israelites, do not rely on their spears but on the height of the mountains where they live, for it is not easy to reach the tops of their mountains.
[11] Therefore, my lord, do not fight against them in battle array, and not a man of your army will fall.
[12] Remain in your camp, and keep all the men in your forces with you; only let your servants take possession of the spring of water that flows from the foot of the mountain --
[13] for this is where all the people of Bethulia get their water. So thirst will destroy them, and they will give up their city. We and our people will go up to the tops of the nearby mountains and camp there to keep watch that not a man gets out of the city.
[14] They and their wives and children will waste away with famine, and before the sword reaches them they will be strewn about in the streets where they live.
[15] So you will pay them back with evil, because they rebelled and did not receive you peaceably."
[16] These words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, and he gave orders to do as they had said.
[17] So the army of the Ammonites moved forward, together with five thousand Assyrians, and they encamped in the valley and seized the water supply and the springs of the Israelites.
[18] And the sons of Esau and the sons of Ammon went up and encamped in the hill country opposite Dothan; and they sent some of their men toward the south and the east, toward Acraba, which is near Chusi beside the brook Mochmur. The rest of the Assyrian army encamped in the plain, and covered the whole face of the land, and their tents and supply trains spread out in great number, and they formed a vast multitude.
[19] The people of Israel cried out to the Lord their God, for their courage failed, because all their enemies had surrounded them and there was no way of escape from them.
[20] The whole Assyrian army, their infantry, chariots, and cavalry, surrounded them for thirty-four days, until all the vessels of water belonging to every inhabitant of Bethulia were empty;
[21] their cisterns were going dry, and they did not have enough water to drink their fill for a single day, because it was measured out to them to drink.
[22] Their children lost heart, and the women and young men fainted from thirst and fell down in the streets of the city and in the passages through the gates; there was no strength left in them any longer.
[23] Then all the people, the young men, the women, and the children, gathered about Uzziah and the rulers of the city and cried out with a loud voice, and said before all the elders,
[24] "God be judge between you and us! For you have done us a great injury in not making peace with the Assyrians.
[25] For now we have no one to help us; God has sold us into their hands, to strew us on the ground before them with thirst and utter destruction.
[26] Now call them in and surrender the whole city to the army of Holofernes and to all his forces, to be plundered.
[27] For it would be better for us to be captured by them; for we will be slaves, but our lives will be spared, and we shall not witness the death of our babes before our eyes, or see our wives and children draw their last breath.
[28] We call to witness against you heaven and earth and our God, the Lord of our fathers, who punishes us according to our sins and the sins of our fathers. Let him not do this day the things which we have described!"
[29] Then great and general lamentation arose throughout the assembly, and they cried out to the Lord God with a loud voice.
[30] And Uzziah said to them, "Have courage, my brothers! Let us hold out for five more days; by that time the Lord our God will restore to us his mercy, for he will not forsake us utterly.
[31] But if these days pass by, and no help comes for us, I will do what you say."
[32] Then he dismissed the people to their various posts, and they went up on the walls and towers of their city. The women and children he sent home. And they were greatly depressed in the city.
Chapter eight
[1] At that time Judith heard about these things: she was the daughter of Merari the son of Ox, son of Joseph, son of Oziel, son of Elkiah, son of Ananias, son of Gideon, son of Raphaim, son of Ahitub, son of Elijah, son of Hilkiah, son of Eliab, son of Nathanael, son of Salamiel, son of Sarasadai, son of Israel.
[2] Her husband Manasseh, who belonged to her tribe and family, had died during the barley harvest.
[3] For as he stood overseeing the men who were binding sheaves in the field, he was overcome by the burning heat, and took to his bed and died in Bethulia his city. So they buried him with his fathers in the field between Dothan and Balamon.
[4] Judith had lived at home as a widow for three years and four months.
[5] She set up a tent for herself on the roof of her house, and girded sackcloth about her loins and wore the garments of her widowhood.
[6] She fasted all the days of her widowhood, except the day before the sabbath and the sabbath itself, the day before the new moon and the day of the new moon, and the feasts and days of rejoicing of the house of Israel.
[7] She was beautiful in appearance, and had a very lovely face; and her husband Manasseh had left her gold and silver, and men and women slaves, and cattle, and fields; and she maintained this estate.
[8] No one spoke ill of her, for she feared God with great devotion.
[9] When Judith heard the wicked words spoken by the people against the ruler, because they were faint for lack of water, and when she heard all that Uzziah said to them, and how he promised them under oath to surrender the city to the Assyrians after five days,
[10] she sent her maid, who was in charge of all she possessed, to summon Chabris and Charmis, the elders of her city.
[11] They came to her, and she said to them, "Listen to me, rulers of the people of Bethulia! What you have said to the people today is not right; you have even sworn and pronounced this oath between God and you, promising to surrender the city to our enemies unless the Lord turns and helps us within so many days.
[12] Who are you, that have put God to the test this day, and are setting yourselves up in the place of God among the sons of men?
[13] You are putting the Lord Almighty to the test -- but you will never know anything!
[14] You cannot plumb the depths of the human heart, nor find out what a man is thinking; how do you expect to search out God, who made all these things, and find out his mind or comprehend his thought? No, my brethren, do not provoke the Lord our God to anger.
[15] For if he does not choose to help us within these five days, he has power to protect us within any time he pleases, or even to destroy us in the presence of our enemies.
[16] Do not try to bind the purposes of the Lord our God; for God is not like man, to be threatened, nor like a human being, to be won over by pleading.
[17] Therefore, while we wait for his deliverance, let us call upon him to help us, and he will hear our voice, if it pleases him.
[18] "For never in our generation, nor in these present days, has there been any tribe or family or people or city of ours which worshiped gods made with hands, as was done in days gone by --
[19] and that was why our fathers were handed over to the sword, and to be plundered, and so they suffered a great catastrophe before our enemies.
[20] But we know no other god but him, and therefore we hope that he will not disdain us or any of our nation.
[21] For if we are captured all Judea will be captured and our sanctuary will be plundered; and he will exact of us the penalty for its desecration.
[22] And the slaughter of our brethren and the captivity of the land and the desolation of our inheritance -- all this he will bring upon our heads among the Gentiles, wherever we serve as slaves; and we shall be an offense and a reproach in the eyes of those who acquire us.
[23] For our slavery will not bring us into favor, but the Lord our God will turn it to dishonor.
[24] "Now therefore, brethren, let us set an example to our brethren, for their lives depend upon us, and the sanctuary and the temple and the altar rest upon us.
[25] In spite of everything let us give thanks to the Lord our God, who is putting us to the test as he did our forefathers.
[26] Remember what he did with Abraham, and how he tested Isaac, and what happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia in Syria, while he was keeping the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother.
[27] For he has not tried us with fire, as he did them, to search their hearts, nor has he taken revenge upon us; but the Lord scourges those who draw near to him, in order to admonish them."
[28] Then Uzziah said to her, "All that you have said has been spoken out of a true heart, and there is no one who can deny your words.
[29] Today is not the first time your wisdom has been shown, but from the beginning of your life all the people have recognized your understanding, for your heart's disposition is right.
[30] But the people were very thirsty, and they compelled us to do for them what we have promised, and made us take an oath which we cannot break.
[31] So pray for us, since you are a devout woman, and the Lord will send us rain to fill our cisterns and we will no longer be faint."
[32] Judith said to them, "Listen to me. I am about to do a thing which will go down through all generations of our descendants.
[33] Stand at the city gate tonight, and I will go out with my maid; and within the days after which you have promised to surrender the city to our enemies, the Lord will deliver Israel by my hand.
[34] Only, do not try to find out what I plan; for I will not tell you until I have finished what I am about to do."
[35] Uzziah and the rulers said to her, "Go in peace, and may the Lord God go before you, to take revenge upon our enemies."
[36] So they returned from the tent and went to their posts.
Chapter nine
[1] Then Judith fell upon her face, and put ashes on her head, and uncovered the sackcloth she was wearing; and at the very time when that evening's incense was being offered in the house of God in Jerusalem, Judith cried out to the Lord with a loud voice, and said,
[2] "O Lord God of my father Simeon, to whom thou gavest a sword to take revenge on the strangers who had loosed the girdle of a virgin to defile her, and uncovered her thigh to put her to shame, and polluted her womb to disgrace her; for thou hast said, `It shall not be done' -- yet they did it.
[3] So thou gavest up their rulers to be slain, and their bed, which was ashamed of the deceit they had practiced, to be stained with blood, and thou didst strike down slaves along with princes, and princes on their thrones;
[4] and thou gavest their wives for a prey and their daughters to captivity, and all their booty to be divided among thy beloved sons, who were zealous for thee, and abhorred the pollution of their blood, and called on thee for help -- O God, my God, hear me also, a widow.
[5] "For thou hast done these things and those that went before and those that followed; thou hast designed the things that are now, and those that are to come. Yea, the things thou didst intend came to pass,
[6] and the things thou didst will presented themselves and said, `Lo, we are here'; for all they ways are prepared in advance, and thy judgment is with foreknowledge.
[7] "Behold now, the Assyrians are increased in their might; they are exalted, with their horses and riders; they glory in the strength of their foot soldiers; they trust in shield and spear, in bow and sling, and know not that thou art the Lord who crushest wars; the Lord is thy name.
[8] Break their strength by thy might, and bring down their power in thy anger; for they intend to defile thy sanctuary, and to pollute the tabernacle where thy glorious name rests, and to cast down the horn of thy altar with the sword.
[9] Behold their pride, and send thy wrath upon their heads; give to me, a widow, the strength to do what I plan.
[10] By the deceit of my lips strike down the slave with the prince and the prince with his servant; crush their arrogance by the hand of a woman.
[11] "For thy power depends not upon numbers, nor thy might upon men of strength; for thou art God of the lowly, helper of the oppressed, upholder of the weak, protector of the forlorn, savior of those without hope.
[12] Hear, O hear me, God of my father, God of the inheritance of Israel, Lord of heaven and earth, Creator of the waters, King of all thy creation, hear my prayer!
[13] Make my deceitful words to be their wound and stripe, for they have planned cruel things against thy covenant, and against thy consecrated house, and against the top of Zion, and against the house possessed by thy children.
[14] And cause thy whole nation and every tribe to know and understand that thou art God, the God of all power and might, and that there is no other who protects the people of Israel but thou alone!"
Chapter ten
[1] When Judith had ceased crying out to the God of Israel, and had ended all these words,
[2] she rose from where she lay prostrate and called her maid and went down into the house where she lived on sabbaths and on her feast days;
[3] and she removed the sackcloth which she had been wearing, and took off her widow's garments, and bathed her body with water, and anointed herself with precious ointment, and combed her hair and put on a tiara, and arrayed herself in her gayest apparel, which she used to wear while her husband Manasseh was living.
[4] And she put sandals on her feet, and put on her anklets and bracelets and rings, and her earrings and all her ornaments, and made herself very beautiful, to entice the eyes of all men who might see her.
[5] And she gave her maid a bottle of wine and a flask of oil, and filled a bag with parched grain and a cake of dried fruit and fine bread; and she wrapped up all her vessels and gave them to her to carry.
[6] Then they went out to the city gate of Bethulia, and found Uzziah standing there with the elders of the city, Chabris and Charmis.
[7] When they saw her, and noted how her face was altered and her clothing changed, they greatly admired her beauty, and said to her,
[8] "May the God of our fathers grant you favor and fulfil your plans, that the people of Israel may glory and Jerusalem may be exalted." And she worshiped God.
[9] Then she said to them, "Order the gate of the city to be opened for me, and I will go out and accomplish the things about which you spoke with me." So they ordered the young men to open the gate for her, as she had said.
[10] When they had done this, Judith went out, she and her maid with her; and the men of the city watched her until she had gone down the mountain and passed through the valley and they could no longer see her.
[11] The women went straight on through the valley; and an Assyrian patrol met her
[12] and took her into custody, and asked her, "To what people do you belong, and where are you coming from, and where are you going?" She replied, "I am a daughter of the Hebrews, but I am fleeing from them, for they are about to be handed over to you to be devoured.
[13] I am on my way to the presence of Holofernes the commander of your army, to give him a true report; and I will show him a way by which he can go and capture all the hill country without losing one of his men, captured or slain."
[14] When the men heard her words, and observed her face -- she was in their eyes marvelously beautiful -- they said to her,
[15] "You have saved your life by hurrying down to the presence of our lord. Go at once to his tent; some of us will escort you and hand you over to him.
[16] And when you stand before him, do not be afraid in your heart, but tell him just what you have said, and he will treat you well."
[17] They chose from their number a hundred men to accompany her and her maid, and they brought them to the tent of Holofernes.
[18] There was great excitement in the whole camp, for her arrival was reported from tent to tent, and they came and stood around her as she waited outside the tent of Holofernes while they told him about her.
[19] And they marveled at her beauty, and admired the Israelites, judging them by her, and every one said to his neighbor, "Who can despise these people, who have women like this among them? Surely not a man of them had better be left alive, for if we let them go they will be able to ensnare the whole world!"
[20] Then Holofernes' companions and all his servants came out and led her into the tent.
[21] Holofernes was resting on his bed, under a canopy which was woven with purple and gold and emeralds and precious stones.
[22] When they told him of her he came forward to the front of the tent, with silver lamps carried before him.
[23] And when Judith came into the presence of Holofernes and his servants, they all marveled at the beauty of her face; and she prostrated herself and made obeisance to him, and his slaves raised her up.
Chapter eleven
[1] Then Holofernes said to her, "Take courage, woman, and do not be afraid in your heart, for I have never hurt any one who chose to serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of all the earth.
[2] And even now, if your people who live in the hill country had not slighted me, I would never have lifted my spear against them; but they have brought all this on themselves.
[3] And now tell me why you have fled from them and have come over to us -- since you have come to safety.
[4] Have courage; you will live, tonight and from now on. No one will hurt you, but all will treat you well, as they do the servants of my lord King Nebuchadnezzar."
[5] Judith replied to him, "Accept the words of your servant, and let your maidservant speak in your presence, and I will tell nothing false to my lord this night.
[6] And if you follow out the words of your maidservant, God will accomplish something through you, and my lord will not fail to achieve his purposes.
[7] Nebuchadnezzar the king of the whole earth lives, and as his power endures, who had sent you to direct every living soul, not only do men serve him because of you, but also the beasts of the field and the cattle and the birds of the air will live by your power under Nebuchadnezzar and all his house.
[8] For we have heard of your wisdom and skill, and it is reported throughout the whole world that you are the one good man in the whole kingdom, thoroughly informed and marvelous in military strategy.
[9] "Now as for the things Achior said in your council, we have heard his words, for the men of Bethulia spared him and he told them all he had said to you.
[10] Therefore, my lord and master, do not disregard what he said, but keep it in your mind, for it is true: our nation cannot be punished, nor can the sword prevail against them, unless they sin against their God.
[11] "And now, in order that my lord may not be defeated and his purpose frustrated, death will fall upon them, for a sin has overtaken them by which they are about to provoke their God to anger when they do what is wrong.
[12] Since their food supply is exhausted and their water has almost given out, they have planned to kill their cattle and have determined to use all that God by his laws has forbidden them to eat.
[13] They have decided to consume the first fruits of the grain and the tithes of the wine and oil, which they had consecrated and set aside for the priests who minister in the presence of our God at Jerusalem -- although it is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch these things with their hands.
[14] They have sent men to Jerusalem, because even the people living there have been doing this, to bring back to them permission from the senate.
[15] When the word reaches them and they proceed to do this, on that very day they will be handed over to you to be destroyed.
[16] "Therefore, when I, your servant, learned all this, I fled from them; and God has sent me to accomplish with you things that will astonish the whole world, as many as shall hear about them.
[17] For your servant is religious, and serves the God of heaven day and night; therefore, my lord, I will remain with you, and every night your servant will go out into the valley, and I will pray to God and he will tell me when they have committed their sins.
[18] And I will come and tell you, and then you shall go out with your whole army, and not one of them will withstand you.
[19] Then I will lead you through the middle of Judea, till you come to Jerusalem; and I will set your throne in the midst of it; and you will lead them like sheep that have no shepherd, and not a dog will so much as open its mouth to growl at you. For this has been told me, by my foreknowledge; it was announced to me, and I was sent to tell you."
[20] Her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, and they marveled at her wisdom and said,
[21] "There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, either for beauty of face or wisdom of speech!"
[22] And Holofernes said to her, "God has done well to send you before the people, to lend strength to our hands and to bring destruction upon those who have slighted my lord.
[23] You are not only beautiful in appearance, but wise in speech; and if you do as you have said, your God shall be my God, and you shall live in the house of King Nebuchadnezzar and be renowned throughout the whole world."
Chapter twelve
[1] Then he commanded them to bring her in where his silver dishes were kept, and ordered them to set a table for her with some of his own food and to serve her with his own wine.
[2] But Judith said, "I cannot eat it, lest it be an offense; but I will be provided from the things I have brought with me."
[3] Holofernes said to her, "If your supply runs out, where can we get more like it for you? For none of your people is here with us."
[4] Judith replied, "As your soul lives, my lord, your servant will not use up the things I have with me before the Lord carries out by my hand what he has determined to do."
[5] Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she slept until midnight. Along toward the morning watch she arose
[6] and sent to Holofernes and said, "Let my lord now command that your servant be permitted to go out and pray."
[7] So Holofernes commanded his guards not to hinder her. And she remained in the camp for three days, and went out each night to the valley of Bethulia, and bathed at the spring in the camp.
[8] When she came up from the spring she prayed the Lord God of Israel to direct her way for the raising up of her people.
[9] So she returned clean and stayed in the tent until she ate her food toward evening.
[10] On the fourth day Holofernes held a banquet for his slave only, and did not invite any of his officers.
[11] And he said to Bagoas, the eunuch who had charge of his personal affairs, "Go now and persuade the Hebrew woman who is in your care to join us and eat and drink with us.
[12] For it will be a disgrace if we let such a woman go without enjoying her company, for if we do not embrace her she will laugh at us."
[13] So Bagoas went out from the presence of Holofernes, and approached her and said, "This beautiful maidservant will please come to my lord and be honored in his presence, and drink wine and be merry with us, and become today like one of the daughters of the Assyrians who serve in the house of Nebuchadnezzar."
[14] And Judith said, "Who am I, to refuse my lord? Surely whatever pleases him I will do at once, and it will be a joy to me until the day of my death!"
[15] So she got up and arrayed herself in all her woman's finery, and her maid went and spread on the ground for her before Holofernes the soft fleeces which she had received from Bagoas for her daily use, so that she might recline on them when she ate.
[16] Then Judith came in and lay down, and Holofernes' heart was ravished with her and he was moved with great desire to possess her; for he had been waiting for an opportunity to deceive her, ever since the day he first saw her.
[17] So Holofernes said to her. "Drink now, and be merry with us!"
[18] Judith said, "I will drink now, my lord, because my life means more to me today than in all the days since I was born."
[19] Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had prepared.
[20] And Holofernes was greatly pleased with her, and drank a great quantity of wine, much more than he had ever drunk in any one day since he was born.
Chapter thirteen
[1] When evening came, his slaves quickly withdrew, and Bagoas closed the tent from outside and shut out the attendants from his master's presence; and they went to bed, for they all were weary because the banquet had lasted long.
[2] So Judith was left alone in the tent , with Holofernes stretched out on his bed, for he was overcome with wine.
[3] Now Judith had told her maid to stand outside the bedchamber and to wait for her to come out, as she did every day; for she said she would be going out for her prayers. And she had said the same thing to Bagoas.
[4] So every one went out, and no one, either small or great, was left in the bedchamber. Then Judith, standing beside his bed, said in her heart, "O Lord God of all might, look in this hour upon the work of my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.
[5] For now is the time to help thy inheritance, and to carry out my undertaking for the destruction of the enemies who have risen up against us."
[6] She went up to the post at the end of the bed, above Holofernes' head, and took down his sword that hung there.
[7] She came close to his bed and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, "Give me strength this day, O Lord God of Israel!"
[8] And she struck his neck twice with all her might, and severed it from his body.
[9] Then she tumbled his body off the bed and pulled down the canopy from the posts; after a moment she went out, and gave Holofernes' head to her maid,
[10] who placed it in her food bag. Then the two of them went out together, as they were accustomed to go for prayer; and they passed through the camp and circled around the valley and went up the mountain to Bethulia and came to its gates.
[11] Judith called out from afar to the watchmen at the gates, "Open, open the gate! God, our God, is still with us, to show his power in Israel, and his strength against our enemies, even as he has done this day!"
[12] When the men of her city heard her voice, they hurried down to the city gate and called together the elders of the city.
[13] They all ran together, both small and great, for it was unbelievable that she had returned; they opened the gate and admitted them, and they kindled a fire for light, and gathered around them.
[14] Then she said to them with a loud voice, "Praise God, O praise him! Praise God, who has not withdrawn his mercy from the house of Israel, but has destroyed our enemies by my hand this very night!"
[15] Then she took the head out of the bag and showed it to them, and said, "See, here is the head of Holofernes, the commander of the Assyrian army, and here is the canopy beneath which he lay in his drunken stupor. The Lord has struck him down by the hand of a woman.
[16] As the Lord lives, who has protected me in the way I went, it was my face that tricked him to his destruction, and yet he committed no act of sin with me, to defile and shame me."
[17] All the people were greatly astonished, and bowed down and worshiped God, and said with one accord, "Blessed art thou, our God, who hast brought into contempt this day the enemies of thy people."
[18] And Uzziah said to her, "O daughter, you are blessed by the Most High God above all women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, who created the heavens and the earth, who has guided you to strike the head of the leader of our enemies.
[19] Your hope will never depart from the hearts of men, as they remember the power of God.
[20] May God grant this to be a perpetual honor to you, and may he visit you with blessings, because you did not spare your own life when our nation was brought low, but have avenged our ruin, walking in the straight path before our God." And all the people said, "So be it, so be it!"
Chapter fourteen
[1] Then Judith said to them, "Listen to me, my brethren, and take this head and hang it upon the parapet of your wall.
[2] And as soon as morning comes and the sun rises, let every valiant man take his weapons and go out of the city, and set a captain over them, as if you were going down to the plain against the Assyrian outpost; only do not go down.
[3] Then they will seize their arms and go into the camp and rouse the officers of the Assyrian army; and they will rush into the tent of Holofernes, and will not find him. Then fear will come over them, and they will flee before you,
[4] and you and all who live within the borders of Israel shall pursue them and cut them down as they flee.
[5] But before you do all this, bring Achior the Ammonite to me, and let him see and recognize the man who despised the house of Israel and sent him to us as if to his death."
[6] So they summoned Achior from the house of Uzziah. And when he came and saw the head of Holofernes in the hand of one of the men at the gathering of the people, he fell down on his face and his spirit failed him.
[7] And when they raised him up he fell at Judith's feet, and knelt before her, and said, "Blessed are you in every tent of Judah! In every nation those who hear your name will be alarmed.
[8] Now tell me what you have done during these days." Then Judith described to him in the presence of the people all that she had done, from the day she left until the moment of her speaking to them.
[9] And when she had finished, the people raised a great shout and made a joyful noise in their city.
[10] And when Achior saw all that the God of Israel had done, he believed firmly in God, and was circumcised, and joined the house of Israel, remaining so to this day.
[11] As soon as it was dawn they hung the head of Holofernes on the wall, and every man took his weapons, and they went out in companies to the passes in the mountains.
[12] And when the Assyrians saw them they sent word to their commanders, and they went to the generals and the captains and to all their officers.
[13] So they came to Holofernes' tent and said to the steward in charge of all his personal affairs, "Wake up our lord, for the slaves have been so bold as to come down against us to give battle, in order to be destroyed completely."
[14] So Bagoas went in and knocked at the door of the tent, for he supposed that he was sleeping with Judith.
[15] But when no one answered, he opened it and went into the bedchamber and found him thrown down on the platform dead, with his head cut off and missing.
[16] And he cried out with a loud voice and wept and groaned and shouted, and rent his garments.
[17] Then he went to the tent where Judith had stayed, and when he did not find her he rushed out to the people and shouted,
[18] "The slaves have tricked us! One Hebrew woman has brought disgrace upon the house of King Nebuchadnezzar! For look, here is Holofernes lying on the ground, and his head is not on him!"
[19] When the leaders of the Assyrian army heard this, they rent their tunics and were greatly dismayed, and their loud cries and shouts arose in the midst of the camp.
Chapter fifteen
[1] When the men in the tents heard it, they were amazed at what had happened.
[2] Fear and trembling came over them, so that they did not wait for one another, but with one impulse all rushed out and fled by every path across the plain and through the hill country.
[3] Those who had camped in the hills around Bethulia also took to flight. Then the men of Israel, every one that was a soldier, rushed out upon them.
[4] And Uzziah sent men to Betomasthaim and Bebai and Choba and Kola, and to all the frontiers of Israel, to tell what had taken place and to urge all to rush out upon their enemies to destroy them.
[5] And when the Israelites heard it, with one accord they fell upon the enemy, and cut them down as far as Choba. Those in Jerusalem and all the hill country also came, for they were told what had happened in the camp of the enemy; and those in Gilead and in Galilee outflanked them with great slaughter, even beyond Damascus and its borders.
[6] The rest of the people of Bethulia fell upon the Assyrian camp and plundered it, and were greatly enriched.
[7] And the Israelites, when they returned from the slaughter, took possession of what remained, and the villages and towns in the hill country and in the plain got a great amount of booty, for there was a vast quantity of it.
[8] Then Joakim the high priest, and the senate of the people of Israel who lived at Jerusalem, came to witness the good things which the Lord had done for Israel, and to see Judith and to greet her.
[9] And when they met her they all blessed her with one accord and said to her, "You are the exaltation of Jerusalem, you are the great glory of Israel, you are the great pride of our nation!
[10] You have done all this singlehanded; you have done great good to Israel, and God is well pleased with it. May the Almighty Lord bless you for ever!" And all the people said, "So be it!"
[11] So all the people plundered the camp for thirty days. They gave Judith the tent of Holofernes and all his silver dishes and his beds and his bowls and all his furniture; and she took them and loaded her mule and hitched up her carts and piled the things on them.
[12] Then all the women of Israel gathered to see her, and blessed her, and some of them performed a dance for her; and she took branches in her hands and gave them to the women who were with her;
[13] and they crowned themselves with olive wreaths, she and those who were with her; and she went before all the people in the dance, leading all the women, while all the men of Israel followed, bearing their arms and wearing garlands and with songs on their lips.
Chapter sixteen
[1] Then Judith began this thanksgiving before all Israel, and all the people loudly sang this song of praise.
[2] And Judith said, Begin a song to my God with tambourines, sing to my Lord with cymbals. Raise to him a new psalm; exalt him, and call upon his name.
[3] For God is the Lord who crushes wars; for he has delivered me out of the hands of my pursuers, and brought me to his camp, in the midst of the people.
[4] The Assyrian came down from the mountains of the north; he came with myriads of his warriors; their multitude blocked up the valleys, their cavalry covered the hills.
[5] He boasted that he would burn up my territory, and kill my young men with the sword, and dash my infants to the ground and seize my children as prey, and take my virgins as booty.
[6] But the Lord Almighty has foiled them by the hand of a woman.
[7] For their mighty one did not fall by the hands of the young men, nor did the sons of the Titans smite him, nor did tall giants set upon him; but Judith the daughter of Merari undid him with the beauty of her countenance.
[8] For she took off her widow's mourning to exalt the oppressed in Israel. She anointed her face with ointment and fastened her hair with a tiara and put on a linen gown to deceive him.
[9] Her sandal ravished his eyes, her beauty captivated his mind, and the sword severed his neck.
[10] The Persians trembled at her boldness, the Medes were daunted at her daring.
[11] Then my oppressed people shouted for joy; my weak people shouted and the enemy trembled; they lifted up their voices, and the enemy were turned back.
[12] The sons of maidservants have pierced them through; they were wounded like the children of fugitives, they perished before the army of my Lord.
[13] I will sing to my God a new song: O Lord, thou are great and glorious, wonderful in strength, invincible.
[14] Let all thy creatures serve thee, for thou didst speak, and they were made. Thou didst send forth thy Spirit, and it formed them; there is none that can resist thy voice.
[15] For the mountains shall be shaken to their foundations with the waters; at thy presence the rocks shall melt like wax, but to those who fear thee thou wilt continue to show mercy.
[16] For every sacrifice as a fragrant offering is a small thing, and all fat for burnt offerings to thee is a very little thing, but he who fears the Lord shall be great for ever.
[17] Woe to the nations that rise up against my people! The Lord Almighty will take vengeance on them in the day of judgment; fire and worms he will give to their flesh; they shall weep in pain for ever.
[18] When they arrived at Jerusalem they worshiped God. As soon as the people were purified, they offered their burnt offerings, their freewill offerings, and their gifts.
[19] Judith also dedicated to God all the vessels of Holofernes, which the people had given her; and the canopy which she took for herself from his bedchamber she gave as a votive offering to the Lord.
[20] So the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for three months, and Judith remained with them.
[21] After this every one returned home to his own inheritance, and Judith went to Bethulia, and remained on her estate, and was honored in her time throughout the whole country.
[22] Many desired to marry her, but she remained a widow all the days of her life after Manasseh her husband died and was gathered to his people.
[23] She became more and more famous, and grew old in her husband's house, until she was one hundred and five years old. She set her maid free. She died in Bethulia, and they buried her in the cave of her husband Manasseh,
[24] and the house of Israel mourned for her seven days. Before she died she distributed her property to all those who were next of kin to her husband Manasseh, and to her own nearest kindred.
[25] And no one ever again spread terror among the people of Israel in the days of Judith, or for a long time after her death
The Book of Tobit
Tob.1
1] The book of the acts of Tobit the son of Tobiel, son of Ananiel, son of Aduel, son of Gabael, of the descendants of Asiel and the tribe of Naphtali,
[2] who in the days of Shalmaneser, king of the Assyrians, was taken into captivity from Thisbe, which is to the south of Kedesh Naphtali in Galilee above Asher.
[3] I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I performed many acts of charity to my brethren and countrymen who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nineveh.
[4] Now when I was in my own country, in the land of Israel, while I was still a young man, the whole tribe of Naphtali my forefather deserted the house of Jerusalem. This was the place which had been chosen from among all the tribes of Israel, where all the tribes should sacrifice and where the temple of the dwelling of the Most High was consecrated and established for all generations for ever.
[5] All the tribes that joined in apostasy used to sacrifice to the calf Baal, and so did the house of Naphtali my forefather.
[6] But I alone went often to Jerusalem for the feasts, as it is ordained for all Israel by an everlasting decree. Taking the first fruits and the tithes of my produce and the first shearings, I would give these to the priests, the sons of Aaron, at the altar.
[7] Of all my produce I would give a tenth to the sons of Levi who ministered at Jerusalem; a second tenth I would sell, and I would go and spend the proceeds each year at Jerusalem;
[8] the third tenth I would give to those to whom it was my duty, as Deborah my father's mother had commanded me, for I was left an orphan by my father.
[9] When I became a man I married Anna, a member of our family, and by her I became the father of Tobias.
[10] Now when I was carried away captive to Nineveh, all my brethren and my relatives ate the food of the Gentiles;
[11] but I kept myself from eating it,
[12] because I remembered God with all my heart.
[13] Then the Most High gave me favor and good appearance in the sight of Shalmaneser, and I was his buyer of provisions.
[14] So I used to go into Media, and once at Rages in Media I left ten talents of silver in trust with Gabael, the brother of Gabrias.
[15] But when Shalmaneser died, Sennacherib his son reigned in his place; and under him the highways were unsafe, so that I could no longer go into Media.
[16] In the days of Shalmaneser I performed many acts of charity to my brethren.
[17] I would give my bread to the hungry and my clothing to the naked; and if I saw any one of my people dead and thrown out behind the wall of Nineveh, I would bury him.
[18] And if Sennacherib the king put to death any who came fleeing from Judea, I buried them secretly. For in his anger he put many to death. When the bodies were sought by the king, they were not found.
[19] Then one of the men of Nineveh went and informed the king about me, that I was burying them; so I hid myself. When I learned that I was being searched for, to be put to death, I left home in fear.
[20] Then all my property was confiscated and nothing was left to me except my wife Anna and my son Tobias.
[21] But not fifty days passed before two of Sennacherib's sons killed him, and they fled to the mountains of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon, his son, reigned in his place; and he appointed Ahikar, the son of my brother Anael, over all the accounts of his kingdom and over the entire administration.
[22] Ahikar interceded for me, and I returned to Nineveh. Now Ahikar was cupbearer, keeper of the signet, and in charge of administration of the accounts, for Esarhaddon had appointed him second to himself. He was my nephew.
Tob.2
[1] When I arrived home and my wife Anna and my son Tobias were restored to me, at the feast of Pentecost, which is the sacred festival of the seven weeks, a good dinner was prepared for me and I sat down to eat.
[2] Upon seeing the abundance of food I said to my son, "Go and bring whatever poor man of our brethren you may find who is mindful of the Lord, and I will wait for you."
[3] But he came back and said, "Father, one of our people has been strangled and thrown into the market place."
[4] So before I tasted anything I sprang up and removed the body to a place of shelter until sunset.
[5] And when I returned I washed myself and ate my food in sorrow.
[6] Then I remembered the prophecy of Amos, how he said, "Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your festivities into lamentation." And I wept.
[7] When the sun had set I went and dug a grave and buried the body.
[8] And my neighbors laughed at me and said, "He is no longer afraid that he will be put to death for doing this; he once ran away, and here he is burying the dead again!"
[9] On the same night I returned from burying him, and because I was defiled I slept by the wall of the courtyard, and my face was uncovered.
[10] I did not know that there were sparrows on the wall and their fresh droppings fell into my open eyes and white films formed on my eyes. I went to physicians, but they did not help me. Ahikar, however, took care of me until he went to Elymais.
[11] Then my wife Anna earned money at women's work.
[12] She used to send the product to the owners. Once when they paid her wages, they also gave her a kid;
[13] and when she returned to me it began to bleat. So I said to her, "Where did you get the kid? It is not stolen, is it? Return it to the owners; for it is not right to eat what is stolen."
[14] And she said, "It was given to me as a gift in addition to my wages." But I did not believe her, and told her to return it to the owners; and I blushed for her. Then she replied to me, "Where are your charities and your righteous deeds? You seem to know everything!"
Tob.3
[1] Then in my grief I wept, and I prayed in anguish, saying,
[2] "Righteous art thou, O Lord; all thy deeds and all they ways are mercy and truth, and thou dost render true and righteous judgment for ever.
[3] Remember me and look favorably upon me; do not punish me for my sins and for my unwitting offences and those which my fathers committed before thee.
[4] For they disobeyed thy commandments, and thou gavest us over to plunder, captivity, and death; thou madest us a byword of reproach in all the nations among which we have been dispersed.
[5] And now thy many judgments are true in exacting penalty from me for my sins and those of my fathers, because we did not keep thy commandments. For we did not walk in truth before thee.
[6] And now deal with me according to thy pleasure; command my spirit to be taken up, that I may depart and become dust. For it is better for me to die than to live, because I have heard false reproaches, and great is the sorrow within me. Command that I now be released from my distress to go to the eternal abode; do not turn thy face away from me."
[7] On the same day, at Ecbatana in Media, it also happened that Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, was reproached by her father's maids,
[8] because she had been given to seven husbands, and the evil demon Asmodeus had slain each of them before he had been with her as his wife. So the maids said to her, "Do you not know that you strangle your husbands? You already have had seven and have had no benefit from any of them.
[9] Why do you beat us? If they are dead, go with them! May we never see a son or daughter of yours!"
[10] When she heard these things she was deeply grieved, even to the thought of hanging herself. But she said, "I am the only child of my father; if I do this, it will be a disgrace to him, and I shall bring his old age down in sorrow to the grave.
[11] So she prayed by her window and said, "Blessed art thou, O Lord my God, and blessed is thy holy and honored name for ever. May all thy works praise thee for ever.
[12] And now, O Lord, I have turned my eyes and my face toward thee.
[13] Command that I be released from the earth and that I hear reproach no more.
[14] Thou knowest, O Lord, that I am innocent of any sin with man,
[15] and that I did not stain my name or the name of my father in the land of my captivity. I am my father's only child, and he has no child to be his heir, no near kinsman or kinsman's son for whom I should keep myself as wife. Already seven husbands of mine are dead. Why should I live? But if it be not pleasing to thee to take my life, command that respect be shown to me and pity be taken upon me, and that I hear reproach no more."
[16] The prayer of both was heard in the presence of the glory of the great God.
[17] And Raphael was sent to heal the two of them: to scale away the white films of Tobit's eyes; to give Sarah the daughter of Raguel in marriage to Tobias the son of Tobit, and to bind Asmodeus the evil demon, because Tobias was entitled to possess her. At that very moment Tobit returned and entered his house and Sarah the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper room.
Tob.4
[1] On that day Tobit remembered the money which he had left in trust with Gabael at Rages in Media, and he said to himself;
[2] "I have asked for death. Why do I not call my son Tobias so that I may explain to him about the money before I die?"
[3] So he called him and said, "My son, when I die, bury me, and do not neglect your mother. Honor her all the days of your life; do what is pleasing to her, and do not grieve her.
[4] Remember, my son, that she faced many dangers for you while you were yet unborn. When she dies bury her beside me in the same grave.
[5] "Remember the Lord our God all your days, my son, and refuse to sin or to transgress his commandments. Live uprightly all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of wrongdoing.
[6] For if you do what is true, your ways will prosper through your deeds.
[7] Give alms from your possessions to all who live uprightly, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from any poor man, and the face of God will not be turned away from you.
[8] If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have.
[9] So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity.
[10] For charity delivers from death and keeps you from entering the darkness;
[11] and for all who practice it charity is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High.
[12] "Beware, my son, of all immorality. First of all take a wife from among the descendants of your fathers and do not marry a foreign woman, who is not of your father's tribe; for we are the sons of the prophets. Remember, my son, that Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our fathers of old, all took wives from among their brethren. They were blessed in their children, and their posterity will inherit the land.
[13] So now, my son, love your brethren, and in your heart do not disdain your brethren and the sons and daughters of your people by refusing to take a wife for yourself from among them. For in pride there is ruin and great confusion; and in shiftlessness there is loss and great want, because shiftlessness is the mother of famine.
[14] Do not hold over till the next day the wages of any man who works for you, but pay him at once; and if you serve God you will receive payment. "Watch yourself, my son, in everything you do, and be disciplined in all your conduct.
[15] And what you hate, do not do to any one. Do not drink wine to excess or let drunkenness go with you on your way.
[16] Give of your bread to the hungry, and of your clothing to the naked. Give all your surplus to charity, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you made it.
[17] Place your bread on the grave of the righteous, but give none to sinners.
[18] Seek advice from every wise man, and do not despise any useful counsel.
[19] Bless the Lord God on every occasion; ask him that your ways may be made straight and that all your paths and plans may prosper. For none of the nations has understanding; but the Lord himself gives all good things, and according to his will he humbles whomever he wishes. "So, my son, remember my commands, and do not let them be blotted out of your mind.
[20] And now let me explain to you about the ten talents of silver which I left in trust with Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media.
[21] Do not be afraid, my son, because we have become poor. You have great wealth if you fear God and refrain from every sin and do what is pleasing in his sight."
Tob.5
[1] Then Tobias answered him, "Father, I will do everything that you have commanded me;
[2] but how can I obtain the money when I do not know the man?"
[3] Then Tobit gave him the receipt, and said to him, "Find a man to go with you and I will pay him wages as long as I live; and go and get the money."
[4] So he went to look for a man; and he found Raphael, who was an angel,
[5] but Tobias did not know it. Tobias said to him, "Can you go with me to Rages in Media? Are you acquainted with that region?"
[6] The angel replied, "I will go with you; I am familiar with the way, and I have stayed with our brother Gabael."
[7] Then Tobias said to him, "Wait for me, and I shall tell my father."
[8] And he said to him, "Go, and do not delay." So he went in and said to his father, "I have found some one to go with me." He said, "Call him to me, so that I may learn to what tribe he belongs, and whether he is a reliable man to go with you."
[9] So Tobias invited him in; he entered and they greeted each other.
[10] Then Tobit said to him, "My brother, to what tribe and family do you belong? Tell me. "
[11] But he answered, "Are you looking for a tribe and a family or for a man whom you will pay to go with your son?" And Tobit said to him, "I should like to know, my brother, your people and your name."
[12] He replied, "I am Azarias the son of the great Ananias, one of your relatives."
[13] Then Tobit said to him, "You are welcome, my brother. Do not be angry with me because I tried to learn your tribe and family. You are a relative of mine, of a good and noble lineage. For I used to know Ananias and Jathan, the sons of the great Shemaiah, when we went together to Jerusalem to worship and offered the first-born of our flocks and the tithes of our produce. They did not go astray in the error of our brethren. My brother, you come of good stock.
[14] But tell me, what wages am I to pay you -- a drachma a day, and expenses for yourself as for my son?
[15] And besides, I will add to your wages if you both return safe and sound." So they agreed to these terms.
[16] Then he said to Tobias, "Get ready for the journey, and good success to you both." So his son made the preparations for the journey. And his father said to him, "Go with this man; God who dwells in heaven will prosper your way, and may his angel attend you." So they both went out and departed, and the young man's dog was with them.
[17] But Anna, his mother, began to weep, and said to Tobit, "Why have you sent our child away? Is he not the staff of our hands as he goes in and out before us?
[18] Do not add money to money, but consider it as rubbish as compared to our child.
[19] For the life that is given to us by the Lord is enough for us."
[20] And Tobit said to her, "Do not worry, my sister; he will return safe and sound, and your eyes will see him.
[21] For a good angel will go with him; his journey will be successful, and he will come back safe and sound." Tob 5:[22] So she stopped weeping.
Tob.6
[1] Now as they proceeded on their way they came at evening to the Tigris river and camped there.
[2] Then the young man went down to wash himself. A fish leaped up from the river and would have swallowed the young man;
[3] and the angel said to him, "Catch the fish." So the young man seized the fish and threw it up on the land.
[4] Then the angel said to him, "Cut open the fish and take the heart and liver and gall and put them away safely."
[5] So the young man did as the angel told him; and they roasted and ate the fish. And they both continued on their way until they came near to Ecbatana.
[6] Then the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azarias, of what use is the liver and heart and gall of the fish?"
[7] He replied, "As for the heart and liver, if a demon or evil spirit gives trouble to any one, you make a smoke from these before the man or woman, and that person will never be troubled again.
[8] And as for the gall, anoint with it a man who has white films in his eyes, and he will be cured."
[9] When they approached Ecbatana,
[10] the angel said to the young man, "Brother, today we shall stay with Raguel. He is your relative, and he has an only daughter named Sarah. I will suggest that she be given to you in marriage,
[11] because you are entitled to her and to her inheritance, for you are her only eligible kinsman.
[12] The girl is also beautiful and sensible. Now listen to my plan. I will speak to her father, and as soon as we return from Rages we will celebrate the marriage. For I know that Raguel, according to the law of Moses, cannot give her to another man without incurring the penalty of death, because you rather than any other man are entitled to the inheritance."
[13] Then the young man said to the angel, "Brother Azarias, I have heard that the girl has been given to seven husbands and that each died in the bridal chamber.
[14] Now I am the only son my father has, and I am afraid that if I go in I will die as those before me did, for a demon is in love with her, and he harms no one except those who approach her. So now I fear that I may die and bring the lives of my father and mother to the grave in sorrow on my account. And they have no other son to bury them."
[15] But the angel said to him, "Do you not remember the words with which your father commanded you to take a wife from among your own people? Now listen to me, brother, for she will become your wife; and do not worry about the demon, for this very night she will be given to you in marriage.
[16] When you enter the bridal chamber, you shall take live ashes of incense and lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish so as to make a smoke.
[17] Then the demon will smell it and flee away, and will never again return. And when you approach her, rise up, both of you, and cry out to the merciful God, and he will save you and have mercy on you. Do not be afraid, for she was destined for you from eternity. You will save her, and she will go with you, and I suppose that you will have children by her." When Tobias heard these things, he fell in love with her and yearned deeply for her.
Tob.7
[1] When they reached Ecbatana and arrived at the house of Raguel, Sarah met them and greeted them. They returned her greeting, and she brought them into the house.
[2] Then Raguel said to his wife Edna, "How much the young man resembles my cousin Tobit!"
[3] And Raguel asked them, "Where are you from, brethren?" They answered him, "We belong to the sons of Naphtali, who are captives in Nineveh."
[4] So he said to them, "Do you know our brother Tobit?" And they said, "Yes, we do." And he asked them, "Is he in good health?"
[5] They replied, "He is alive and in good health." And Tobias said, "He is my father."
[6] Then Raguel sprang up and kissed him and wept.
[7] And he blessed him and exclaimed, "Son of that good and noble man!" When he heard that Tobit had lost his sight, he was stricken with grief and wept.
[8] And his wife Edna and his daughter Sarah wept. They received them very warmly; and they killed a ram from the flock and set large servings of food before them. Then Tobias said to Raphael, "Brother Azarias, speak of those things which you talked about on the journey, and let the matter be settled."
[9] So he communicated the proposal to Raguel. And Raguel said to Tobias, "Eat, drink, and be merry;
[10] for it is your right to take my child. But let me explain the true situation to you.
[11] I have given my daughter to seven husbands, and when each came to her he died in the night. But for the present be merry." And Tobias said, "I will eat nothing here until you make a binding agreement with me."
[12] So Raguel said, "Take her right now, in accordance with the law. You are her relative, and she is yours. The merciful God will guide you both for the best."
[13] Then he called his daughter Sarah, and taking her by the hand he gave her to Tobias to be his wife, saying, "Here she is; take her according to the law of Moses, and take her with you to your father." And he blessed them.
[14] Next he called his wife Edna, and took a scroll and wrote out the contract; and they set their seals to it.
[15] Then they began to eat.
[16] And Raguel called his wife Edna and said to her, "Sister, make up the other room, and take her into it."
[17] so she did as he said, and took her there; and the girl began to weep. But the mother comforted her daughter in her tears, and said to her,
[18] "Be brave, my child; the Lord of heaven and earth grant you joy in place of this sorrow of yours. Be brave, my daughter."
Tob.8
[1] When they had finished eating, they escorted Tobias in to her.
[2] As he went he remembered the words of Raphael, and he took the live ashes of incense and put the heart and liver of the fish upon them and made a smoke.
[3] And when the demon smelled the odor he fled to the remotest parts of Egypt, and the angel bound him.
[4] When the door was shut and the two were alone, Tobias got up from the bed and said, "Sister, get up, and let us pray that the Lord may have mercy upon us."
[5] And Tobias began to pray, "Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers, and blessed be thy holy and glorious name for ever. Let the heavens and all thy creatures bless thee.
[6] Thou madest Adam and gavest him Eve his wife as a helper and support. From them the race of mankind has sprung. Thou didst say, `It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make a helper for him like himself.'
[7] And now, O Lord, I am not taking this sister of mine because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that I may find mercy and may grow old together with her."
[8] And she said with him, "Amen."
[9] Then they both went to sleep for the night. But Raguel arose and went and dug a grave,
[10] with the thought, "Perhaps he too will die."
[11] Then Raguel went into his house
[12] and said to his wife Edna, "Send one of the maids to see whether he is alive; and if he is not, let us bury him without any one knowing about it."
[13] So the maid opened the door and went in, and found them both asleep.
[14] And she came out and told them that he was alive.
[15] Then Raguel blessed God and said, "Blessed art thou, O God, with every pure and holy blessing. Let thy saints and all thy creatures bless thee; let all thy angels and thy chosen people bless thee for ever.
[16] Blessed art thou, because thou hast made me glad. It has not happened to me as I expected; but thou hast treated us according to thy great mercy.
[17] Blessed art thou, because thou hast had compassion on two only children. Show them mercy, O Lord; and bring their lives to fulfilment in health and happiness and mercy."
[18] Then he ordered his servants to fill in the grave.
[19] After this he gave a wedding feast for them which lasted fourteen days.
[20] And before the days of the feast were over, Raguel declared by oath to Tobias that he should not leave until the fourteen days of the wedding feast were ended,
[21] that then he should take half of Raguel's property and return in safety to his father, and that the rest would be his "when my wife and I die."
Tob.9
[1] Then Tobias called Raphael and said to him,
[2] "Brother Azarias, take a servant and two camels with you and go to Gabael at Rages in Media and get the money for me; and bring him to the wedding feast.
[3] For Raguel has sworn that I should not leave;
[4] but my father is counting the days, and if I delay long he will be greatly distressed."
[5] So Raphael made the journey and stayed over night with Gabael. He gave him the receipt, and Gabael brought out the money bags with their seals intact and gave them to him.
[6] In the morning they both got up early and came to the wedding feast. And Gabael blessed Tobias and his wife.
Tob.10
[1] Now his father Tobit was counting each day, and when the days for the journey had expired and they did not arrive,
[2] he said, "Is it possible that he has been detained? Or is it possible that Gabael has died and there is no one to give him the money?"
[3] And he was greatly distressed.
[4] And his wife said to him, "The lad has perished; his long delay proves it." Then she began to mourn for him, and said,
[5] "Am I not distressed, my child, that I let you go, you who are the light of my eyes?"
[6] But Tobit said to her, "Be still and stop worrying; he is well."
[7] And she answered him, "Be still and stop deceiving me; my child has perished." And she went out every day to the road by which they had left; she ate nothing in the daytime, and throughout the nights she never stopped mourning for her son Tobias, until the fourteen days of the wedding feast had expired which Raguel had sworn that he should spend there. At that time Tobias said to Raguel, "Send me back, for my father and mother have given up hope of ever seeing me again."
[8] But his father-in-law said to him, "Stay with me, and I will send messengers to your father, and they will inform him how things are with you."
[9] Tobias replied, "No, send me back to my father."
[10] So Raguel arose and gave him his wife Sarah and half of his property in slaves, cattle, and money.
[11] And when he had blessed them he sent them away, saying, "The God of heaven will prosper you, my children, before I die."
[12] He said also to his daughter, "Honor your father-in-law and your mother-in-law; they are now your parents. Let me hear a good report of you. " And he kissed her. And Edna said to Tobias, "The Lord of heaven bring you back safely, dear brother, and grant me to see your children by my daughter Sarah, that I may rejoice before the Lord. See, I am entrusting my daughter to you; do nothing to grieve her."
Tob.11
[1] After this Tobias went on his way, praising God because he had made his journey a success. And he blessed Raguel and his wife Edna. So he continued on his way until they came near to Nineveh.
[2] Then Raphael said to Tobias, "Are you not aware, brother, of how you left your father?
[3] Let us run ahead of your wife and prepare the house.
[4] And take the gall of the fish with you." So they went their way, and the dog went along behind them.
[5] Now Anna sat looking intently down the road for her son.
[6] And she caught sight of him coming, and said to his father, "Behold, your son is coming, and so is the man who went with him!"
[7] Raphael said, "I know, Tobias, that your father will open his eyes.
[8] You therefore must anoint his eyes with the gall; and when they smart he will rub them, and will cause the white films to fall away, and he will see you."
[9] Then Anna ran to meet them, and embraced her son, and said to him, "I have seen you, my child; now I am ready to die." And they both wept.
[10] Tobit started toward the door, and stumbled. But his son ran to him
[11] and took hold of his father, and he sprinkled the gall upon his father's eyes, saying, "Be of good cheer, father."
[12] And when his eyes began to smart he rubbed them,
[13] and the white films scaled off from the corners of his eyes.
[14] Then he saw his son and embraced him, and he wept and said, "Blessed art thou, O God, and blessed is thy name for ever, and blessed are all thy holy angels.
[15] For thou hast afflicted me, but thou hast had mercy upon me; here I see my son Tobias!" And his son went in rejoicing, and he reported to his father the great things that had happened to him in Media.
[16] Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate of Nineveh, rejoicing and praising God. Those who saw him as he went were amazed because he could see.
[17] And Tobit gave thanks before them that God had been merciful to him. When Tobit came near to Sarah his daughter-in-law, he blessed her, saying, "Welcome, daughter! Blessed is God who has brought you to us, and blessed are your father and your mother." So there was rejoicing among all his brethren in Nineveh.
[18] Ahikar and his nephew Nadab came,
[19] and Tobias' marriage was celebrated for seven days with great festivity.
Tob.12
[1] Tobit then called his son Tobias and said to him, "My son, see to the wages of the man who went with you; and he must also be given more."
[2] He replied, "Father, it would do me no harm to give him half of what I have brought back.
[3] For he has led me back to you safely, he cured my wife, he obtained the money for me, and he also healed you."
[4] The old man said, "He deserves it."
[5] So he called the angel and said to him, "Take half of all that you two have brought back."
[6] Then the angel called the two of them privately and said to them: "Praise God and give thanks to him; exalt him and give thanks to him in the presence of all the living for what he has done for you. It is good to praise God and to exalt his name, worthily declaring the works of God. Do not be slow to give him thanks.
[7] It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God. Do good, and evil will not overtake you.
[8] Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold.
[9] For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness will have fulness of life;
[10] but those who commit sin are the enemies of their own lives.
[11] "I will not conceal anything from you. I have said, `It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God.'
[12] And so, when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the dead, I was likewise present with you.
[13] When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, but I was with you.
[14] So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah.
[15] I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One."
[16] They were both alarmed; and they fell upon their faces, for they were afraid.
[17] But he said to them, "Do not be afraid; you will be safe. But praise God for ever.
[18] For I did not come as a favor on my part, but by the will of our God. Therefore praise him for ever.
[19] All these days I merely appeared to you and did not eat or drink, but you were seeing a vision.
[20] And now give thanks to God, for I am ascending to him who sent me. Write in a book everything that has happened."
[21] Then they stood up; but they saw him no more.
[22] So they confessed the great and wonderful works of God, and acknowledged that the angel of the Lord had appeared to them.
Tob.13
[1] Then Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing, and said:
"Blessed is God who lives for ever, and blessed is his kingdom.
[2] For he afflicts, and he shows mercy; he leads down to Hades, and brings up again, and there is no one who can escape his hand.
[3] Acknowledge him before the nations, O sons of Israel; for he has scattered us among them.
[4] Make his greatness known there, and exalt him in the presence of all the living; because he is our Lord and God, he is our Father for ever.
[5] He will afflict us for our iniquities; and again he will show mercy, and will gather us from all the nations among whom you have been scattered.
[6] If you turn to him with all your heart and with all your soul, to do what is true before him, then he will turn to you and will not hide his face from you. But see what he will do with you; give thanks to him with your full voice. Praise the Lord of righteousness, and exalt the King of the ages. I give him thanks in the land of my captivity, and I show his power and majesty to a nation of sinners. Turn back, you sinners, and do right before him; who knows if he will accept you and have mercy on you?
[7] I exalt my God; my soul exalts the King of heaven, and will rejoice in his majesty.
[8] Let all men speak, and give him thanks in Jerusalem.
[9] O Jerusalem, the holy city, he will afflict you for the deeds of your sons, but again he will show mercy to the sons of the righteous.
[10] Give thanks worthily to the Lord, and praise the King of the ages, that his tent may be raised for you again with joy. May he cheer those within you who are captives, and love those within you who are distressed, to all generations for ever.
[11] Many nations will come from afar to the name of the Lord God, bearing gifts in their hands, gifts for the King of heaven. Generations of generations will give you joyful praise.
[12] Cursed are all who hate you; blessed for ever will be all who love you.
[13] Rejoice and be glad for the sons of the righteous; for they will be gathered together, and will praise the Lord of the righteous.
[14] How blessed are those who love you! They will rejoice in your peace. Blessed are those who grieved over all your afflictions; for they will rejoice for you upon seeing all your glory, and they will be made glad for ever.
[15] Let my soul praise God the great King.
[16] For Jerusalem will be built with sapphires and emeralds, her walls with precious stones, and her towers and battlements with pure gold.
[17] The streets of Jerusalem will be paved with beryl and ruby and stones of Ophir;
[18] all her lanes will cry `Hallelujah!' and will give praise, saying, `Blessed is God, who has exalted you for ever.'"
Tob.14
[1] Here Tobit ended his words of praise.
[2] He was fifty-eight years old when he lost his sight, and after eight years he regained it. He gave alms, and he continued to fear the Lord God and to praise him.
[3] When he had grown very old he called his son and grandsons, and said to him, "My son, take your sons; behold, I have grown old and am about to depart this life.
[4] Go to Media, my son, for I fully believe what Jonah the prophet said about Nineveh, that it will be overthrown. But in Media there will be peace for a time. Our brethren will be scattered over the earth from the good land, and Jerusalem will be desolate. The house of God in it will be burned down and will be in ruins for a time.
[5] But God will again have mercy on them, and bring them back into their land; and they will rebuild the house of God, though it will not be like the former one until the times of the age are completed. After this they will return from the places of their captivity, and will rebuild Jerusalem in splendor. And the house of God will be rebuilt there with a glorious building for all generations for ever, just as the prophets said of it.
[6] Then all the Gentiles will turn to fear the Lord God in truth, and will bury their idols.
[7] All the Gentiles will praise the Lord, and his people will give thanks to God, and the Lord will exalt his people. And all who love the Lord God in truth and righteousness will rejoice, showing mercy to our brethren.
[8] "So now, my son, leave Nineveh, because what the prophet Jonah said will surely happen.
[9] But keep the law and the commandments, and be merciful and just, so that it may be well with you.
[10] Bury me properly, and your mother with me. And do not live in Nineveh any longer. See, my son, what Nadab did to Ahikar who had reared him, how he brought him from light into darkness, and with what he repaid him. But Ahikar was saved, and the other received repayment as he himself went down into the darkness. Ahikar gave alms and escaped the deathtrap which Nadab had set for him; but Nadab fell into the trap and perished.
[11] So now, my children, consider what almsgiving accomplishes and how righteousness delivers." As he said this he died in his bed. He was a hundred and fifty-eight years old; and Tobias gave him a magnificent funeral.
[12] And when Anna died he buried her with his father. Then Tobias returned with his wife and his sons to Ecbatana, to Raguel his father-in-law.
[13] He grew old with honor, and he gave his father-in-law and mother-in-law magnificent funerals. He inherited their property and that of his father Tobit.
[14] He died in Ecbatana of Media at the age of a hundred and twenty-seven years.
[15] But before he died he heard of the destruction of Nineveh, which Nebuchadnezzar and Ahasuerus had captured. Before his death he rejoiced over Nineveh
The Book of Daniel (Translated from the Greek Septuagint)
1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 1:2 The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
1:3 The king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in certain of the children of Israel, even of the royal line and of the nobles, 1:4 youths in whom there was no blemish, but who were well-favored and skillful in all wisdom, and endowed with knowledge and understanding science, and such as had the ability to stand in the king’s palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans. 1:5 The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, so that they would be nourished for three years and at its end they would stand before the king. 1:6 Now among these were, of the children of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 1:7 The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel, he gave the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. 1:8 But Daniel decided in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
1:9 Now God caused Daniel to find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs. 1:10 The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink, for why should he see your faces looking worse than the youths who are of your own age? So would you endanger my head with the king.” 1:11 Then Daniel said to the steward, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 1:12 “Test your servants, I beg you, for ten days; and let them give us roots to eat and water to drink. 1:13 Then let our faces be examined before you, and the face of the youths who eat of the king’s delicacies; and as you see, deal with your servants.” 1:14 So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. 1:15 At the end of ten days their faces appeared fairer and they were fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate of the king’s delicacies. 1:16 So the steward took away their delicacies and the wine that they should drink, and gave them roots.
1:17 Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 1:18 At the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 1:19 The king talked with them; and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they stood before the king. 1:20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm. 1:21 Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.
2:1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep went from him. 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
2:3 The king said to them, “I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 2:4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in the Syrian language, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream and we will show the interpretation.” 2:5 The king answered the Chaldeans, “The thing is forgotten by me; if you don’t make it known to me, the dream and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces and your houses shall be made a dunghill. 2:6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor; therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” 2:7 They answered the second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream and we will show the interpretation.” 2:8 The king answered, “I know with certainty that you are stalling for time, because you see the thing is forgotten by me. 2:9 But if you don’t make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you: for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the time be changed; therefore tell me the dream and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” 2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can reveal the king’s mind, because no king, lord, or ruler has asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter, or Chaldean. 2:11 It is an unusual thing that the king requires, and there is no one who can reveal it to the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
2:12 For this reason, the king was angry and very furious, and he commanded the destruction of all the wise men of Babylon. 2:13 So the decree went forth and the wise men were to be slain; and they sought Daniel and his companions to be slain. 2:14 Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone forth to kill the wise men of Babylon; 2:15 he answered Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree so urgent from the king?” Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 2:16 Daniel went in and requested of the king, that if he would appoint him a time, he would show the king the interpretation.
2:17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 2:18 so that they would ask for mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret; so that Daniel and his companions would not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 2:19 Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 2:20 Daniel answered, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his. 2:21 He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; 2:22 he reveals the deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. 2:23 I thank you and praise you, the God of my fathers, who has given me wisdom and might, and has now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king’s mind.”
2:24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said this to him: “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king and I will reveal the interpretation to the king.” 2:25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said this to him, “I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.”
2:26 The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”
2:27 Daniel answered before the king and said, “The secret which the king has demanded neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, can reveal to the king; 2:28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in latter days; your dream and the visions of your head on your bed are such as these.
2:29 “As for you, O king, your thoughts came into your mind on your bed, what should happen hereafter; and he who reveals secrets has made known to you what shall happen. 2:30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.
2:31 “You, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty and whose brightness was excellent, stood before you; and its aspect was awesome. 2:32 As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of brass, 2:33 its legs of iron, its feet part of iron and part of clay. 2:34 You looked on until a stone was cut out without hands; it struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay and broke them in pieces. 2:35 Then the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, was broken in pieces together and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them; and the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 2:36 This is the dream and we will tell its interpretation before the king.
2:37 “You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the strength and the glory; 2:38 and wherever the children of men dwell, he has given the animals of the field and the birds of the sky into your hand and has made you to rule over them all; you are the head of gold. 2:39 After you another kingdom shall arise inferior to you; and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. 2:40 The fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, because iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things; and as iron crushes all these, so shall it break in pieces and crush. 2:41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it the strength of iron, because you saw the iron mixed with miry clay. 2:42 As the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly broken. 2:43 Whereas you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the offspring of men; but they shall not cling to one another, even as iron does not mingle with clay.
2:44 “In the days of those kings, the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 2:45 Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what shall happen hereafter; and the dream is certain and its interpretation sure.”
2:46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and worshiped Daniel, and he commanded that they should offer an oblation and fragrant incense to him. 2:47 The king answered Daniel and said, “Truly, your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.” 2:48 Then the king made Daniel great and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and the chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon. 2:49 Daniel requested of the king, and so he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel was in the gate of the king.
3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits; he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image, which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3:3 Then the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces were gathered together for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
3:4 Then the herald cried aloud, “To you it is commanded, peoples, nations, and languages, 3:5 that whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up; 3:6 and whoever doesn’t fall down and worship shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” 3:7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3:8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near and brought accusation against the Jews. 3:9 They spoke and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king, “O king, live for ever. 3:10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image; 3:11 and whoever doesn’t fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 3:12 There are certain Jews, whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have disregarded you; they don’t serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.”
3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar answered them, “Is it on purpose, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don’t serve my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 3:15 If you are now ready, whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, it is well. But if you don’t worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god who shall deliver you out of my hands?” 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 3:18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.”
3:19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the form of his appearance was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Therefore he spoke and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 3:20 He commanded certain mighty men, who were in his army, to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 3:21 Then these men were bound in their pants, their tunics, and their mantles, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 3:22 Therefore, because the king’s commandment was urgent and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 3:23 These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
3:24 And they walked in the midst of the fire, praising God and blessing the Lord. 3:25 Then Azariah stood up and prayed in this way; and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said, 3:26 “Blessed are you, O Lord God of our fathers; your name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore: 3:27 For you are righteous in all the things which you have done to us; yes, true are all your works, your ways are right, and all your judgments are truth. 3:28 In all the things which you have brought upon us and upon the holy city of our fathers, even Jerusalem, you have executed true judgment; for according to truth and judgment you brought all these things upon us because of our sins. 3:29 For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from you. 3:30 In all things have we trespassed and not obeyed your commandments, nor kept them, neither have we done as you have commanded us, so that it might go well with us. 3:31 Therefore all that you have brought upon us and everything which you have done to us, you have done in true judgment. 3:32 And you delivered us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful forsakers of God, and to an unjust king, the most wicked in all the world. 3:33 And now we cannot open our mouths; we have become a shame and a reproach to your servants and to those who worship you. 3:34 Yet do not deliver us up completely, for your name’s sake, nor completely annul your covenant. 3:35 And do not cause your mercy to depart from us, for your beloved Abraham’s sake, for your servant Isaac’s sake, and for your holy Israel’s sake, 3:36 to whom you have spoken and promised that you would multiply their seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand which lies upon the seashore. 3:37 For we, O Lord, have become less than any nation and are oppressed this day in all the world because of our sins. 3:38 Neither is there at this time any prince, or prophet, or leader, or burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place, to sacrifice before you in order to find mercy. 3:39 Nevertheless, with a contrite heart and a humble spirit, let us be accepted. 3:40 Just as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and just as in ten thousands of fat lambs, so let it be with our sacrifice in your sight on this day; and grant that we may completely follow you, for those who put their trust in you shall not be confounded. 3:41 And now we follow you with all our heart; we fear you and seek your face. 3:42 Do not put us to shame, but deal with us according to your loving kindness and according to the multitude of your mercies. 3:43 Deliver us also according to your marvelous works and give glory to your name, O Lord; and let all those who do harm to your servants be ashamed; 3:44 and let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let their strength be broken; 3:45 and let them know that you are God, the only God, and glorious over the whole world.”
3:46 And the king’s servants, who put them in, continued to make the oven hot with resin, pitch, tow, and small wood, 3:47 so that the flame streamed forth above the furnace for forty nine cubits. 3:48 And it passed through and burned those Chaldeans it found around the furnace. 3:49 But the angel of the Lord came down into the oven, together with Azariah and his peers, and drove the flame of the fire out of the oven, 3:50 and made the middle of the furnace like a moist whistling wind, so that the fire didn’t touch them at all and neither hurt nor troubled them. 3:51 Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed God in the furnace, saying:
3:52 “Blessed are you, O Lord God of our fathers; and praised and exalted above all for ever. And blessed is your glorious and holy name; and praised and exalted above all for ever. 3:53 Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory; and praised and glorified above all for ever. 3:54 Blessed are you on the glorious throne of your kingdom; and praised and glorified above all for ever. 3:55 Blessed are you, who beholds the abyss while sitting upon the cherubims; and praised and exalted above all for ever. 3:56 Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven; and above all praised and glorified for ever. 3:57 All works of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:58 Heavens, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:59 Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever.
3:60 All waters above the sky, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:61 All powers of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:62 Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:63 Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:64 Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:65 All winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:66 Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:67 Winter and summer, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever.
3:68 Dews and storms of snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:69 Ice and cold, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:70 Frost and snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:71 Nights and days, bless the Lord; bless and exalt him above all for ever. 3:72 Light and darkness, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:73 Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:74 Let the earth bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:75 Mountains and little hills, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever.
3:76 All things which grow upon the earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:77 Seas and rivers, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:78 Fountains, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:79 Whales and all that moves in the waters, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:80 All fowls of the air, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:81 All beasts and cattle, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever.
3:82 Children of men, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:83 Israel, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:84 Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever.
3:85 Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:86 Spirits and souls of the righteous, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:87 Holy and humble men of heart, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 3:88 Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. He has delivered us far from hell, and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the furnace and burning flame; even out of the midst of the fire he has delivered us. 3:89 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is gracious, for his mercy endures for ever. 3:90 All you who worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise him and give him thanks, for his mercy endures for ever.”
3:91 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and rose up in haste. He spoke and said to his counselors, “Didn’t we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O king.” 3:92 He answered, “Look, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are unharmed; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of god!” 3:93 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace. He spoke and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God, come forth and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth out of the midst of the fire.”
3:94 The satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king’s counselors, who were gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power on their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their pants changed, nor had the smell of fire passed onto them. 3:95 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, “Blessed is the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him and have changed the king’s word and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 3:96 Therefore I make a decree: that every people, nation, and language, who speaks anything evil against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces and their houses shall be made a dunghill, because there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” 3:97 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
4:1 *“Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
4:2 “It has seemed good to me to reveal the signs and wonders which the Most High God has worked toward me. 4:3 How great are his signs and how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and his dominion is from generation to generation.
4:4 “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at peace in my house and flourishing in my palace. 4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 4:6 Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, so that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 4:7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in; and I told the dream to them, but they didn’t make known to me its interpretation. 4:8 But at last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and I told the dream to him, saying:
4:9 ‘Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream which I have seen and its interpretation. 4:10 Thus were the visions of my head on my bed: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth and its height was great. 4:11 The tree grew and was strong and its height reached to the sky and its sight to the end of all the earth. 4:12 The leaves of it were beautiful and its fruit plentiful, and in it was food for all; the animals of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. 4:13 I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from the sky.
4:14 “‘He cried aloud, and said thus, “Cut down the tree and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit; let the animals get away from under it and the birds from its branches. 4:15 Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of the sky; and let his portion be with the animals in the grass of the earth. 4:16 Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let an animal’s heart be given to him; and let seven times pass over him. 4:17 This sentence is by decree of the watchers, and this demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever he will and sets up over it the lowest of men.”
4:18 This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’”
4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for a while and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or the interpretation trouble you.”
Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, the dream is for those who hate you and its interpretation is for your adversaries. 4:20 The tree that you saw, which grew and was strong, whose height reached to the sky and its sight to all the earth, 4:21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit plentiful, and in it was food for all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the birds of the sky had their habitation; 4:22 it is you, O king, who has grown and become strong; for your greatness is grown and reaches to the sky, and your dominion to the end of the earth. 4:23 Whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from the sky, and saying, ‘Cut down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of the sky; and let his portion be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him.’
4:24 “This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 4:25 that you shall be driven from men and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field and you shall be made to eat grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever he will. 4:26 Whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be safeguarded for you, after you have understood that the heavens rule. 4:27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you and break away from your sins by means of righteousness, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; so that there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.” 4:28 All this came on the king Nebuchadnezzar.
4:29 At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon. 4:30 The king spoke and said, “Is this not great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?” 4:31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from the sky, saying, “O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom is separated from you, 4:32 and you shall be driven from men; and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field; you shall be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever he will.” 4:33 The same hour this was fulfilled for Nebuchadnezzar; and he was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until his hair was grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
4:34 “At the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion and his kingdom from generation to generation. 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth count as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ 4:36 At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me; and my counselors and my lords searched for me; and I was established in my kingdom and excellent greatness was added to me. 4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are Truth and his ways Justice; and those who walk in pride, he is able to abase.”
5:1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and he drank wine before the thousand. 5:2 Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the Temple which was in Jerusalem; so that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from them. 5:3 Then they brought the golden vessels, which were taken out of the Temple of the House of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them. 5:4 They drank wine and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
5:5 In the same hour, the fingers of a man’s hand came forth and wrote, opposite the lamp stand, on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 5:6 Then the king’s face was changed in him and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened and his knees struck one against another. 5:7 The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever shall read this writing and show me its interpretation shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
5:8 Then all the king’s wise men came in; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation. 5:9 Then king Belshazzar was greatly troubled and his face was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed. 5:10 Now the queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house. The queen spoke and said, “O king, live forever; don’t let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your face be changed. 5:11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and, in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I say, your father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers, 5:12 because an excellent spirit and knowledge and understanding, interpreting dreams and revealing dark judgments and dissolving doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called and he will show the interpretation.”
5:13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah? 5:14 I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 5:15 Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, so that they would read this writing and make known to me its interpretation; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing. 5:16 But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and dissolve doubts; now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
5:17 Then Daniel answered before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself and give your rewards to another; nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. 5:18 You, king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom and greatness and glory and majesty; 5:19 and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; and whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he put down. 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened, so that he behaved proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne and they took his glory from him; 5:21 and he was driven from the sons of men and his heart was made like the animals’, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; he was fed with grass like oxen and his body was wet with the dew of the sky; until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whomever he will. 5:22 You, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, 5:23 but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his House before you; and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, nor hear, nor know; yet the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, you have not glorified. 5:24 Then the part of the hand was sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed. 5:25 This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 5:26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom and brought it to an end; 5:27 TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances and are found wanting. 5:28 PERES; your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
5:29 Then Belshazzar commanded, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck and made proclamation concerning him, so that he would be the third ruler in the kingdom. 5:30 In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain. 5:31 Darius the Mede received the kingdom; he was about sixty-two years old.
6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, who would be throughout the whole kingdom, 6:2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; so that these satraps might give account to them, and so that the king would suffer no loss. 6:3 Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
6:4 Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find grounds against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no grounds nor fault, because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 6:5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any grounds against this Daniel, unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” 6:6 Then these presidents and satraps assembled together before the king and said this to him, “King Darius, live forever. 6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a strong prohibition, that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 6:8 Now, O king, establish the prohibition and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians which doesn’t alter.” 6:9 Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the prohibition.
6:10 When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, (now his windows were open in his room facing Jerusalem,) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he did before. 6:11 Then these men assembled together and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. 6:12 Then they came near and spoke before the king concerning the king’s prohibition: “Haven’t you signed a prohibition, so that every man who shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians which doesn’t alter.” 6:13 Then they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, disregards you, O king, and the prohibition which you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
6:14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him. 6:15 Then these men assembled together before the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no prohibition or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.” 6:17 A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
6:18 Then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting; no instruments of music were brought before him; and his sleep fled from him. 6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 6:20 When he came near to the den, he cried to Daniel with a lamentable voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?” 6:21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever. 6:22 My God has sent his angel and has shut the lions’ mouths and they have not hurt me; because innocence was found in me before him; and also before you, O king, have I done no wrong.” 6:23 Then was the king exceeding glad and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found in him because he had trusted in his God. 6:24 The king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overcame them and broke all their bones in pieces, before they reached the bottom of the den.
6:25 Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 6:26 I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men shall tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God and steadfast forever, His kingdom is that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even to the end. 6:27 He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” 6:28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions in his head on his bed; then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matter. 7:2 Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the sky broke forth on the great sea. 7:3 Four great animals came up from the sea, different one from another. 7:4 The first was like a lion and had eagle’s wings; I watched as its wings were plucked and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man; and a man’s heart was given to it. 7:5 Behold, another animal, a second, like a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and they said this to it, ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ 7:6 After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the animal had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth animal, awesome and powerful and exceedingly strong; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped the residue with its feet; and it was different from all the animals that were before it; and it had ten horns. 7:8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things. 7:9 I watched as thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat; his clothing was white as snow and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames and its wheels burning fire. 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him; thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgment was set and the books were opened. 7:11 I saw, at that time, what became of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke; I watched even as the animal was slain and its body destroyed and it was given to be burned with fire. 7:12 As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
7:13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 7:14 He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that all the peoples, nations, and languages would serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom is that which shall not be destroyed. 7:15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body and the visions of my head troubled me. 7:16 I came near to one of those who stood by and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things.
7:17 “‘These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth. 7:18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’ 7:19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was different from all of them and exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; 7:20 and concerning the ten horns which were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, and even that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke great things, whose appearance was more powerful than its peers. 7:21 I watched as the same horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them; 7:22 until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. 7:23 Thus he said, ‘The fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth and shall tread it down and break it in pieces. 7:24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise; and another shall arise after them; and he shall be different from the former, and he shall put down three kings. 7:25 He shall speak words against the Most High and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. 7:26 But the judgment shall be set; and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. 7:27 The kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’
7:28 Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly and my face was changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart.”
8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar, a vision appeared to me, even to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at first. 8:2 I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was in Susa the palatial city, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river Ulai.
8:3 Then I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns; and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. 8:4 I saw the ram advancing westward, and northward, and southward; and no animals could stand before him, neither was there any who could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will and magnified himself. 8:5 As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west over the surface of the whole earth and didn’t touch the ground; and the goat had a prominent horn between his eyes. 8:6 He came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran against him in the fury of his power. 8:7 I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and struck the ram and broke his two horns; and there was no power in the ram to stand before him; but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him; and there was none who could deliver the ram out of his hand. 8:8 The male goat magnified himself exceedingly; and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four prominent horns toward the four winds of the sky.
8:9 Out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew exceeding great, toward the south and toward the east and toward the glorious land. 8:10 It grew great, even before the multitude of heaven; and some of the multitude and of the stars it cast down to the ground and trampled on them. 8:11 Yes, it magnified itself, even before the prince of the multitude; and it took away from him the continual burnt offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 8:12 And a multitude was given over to it, together with the continual burnt offering by reason of transgression; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did as it pleased and prospered. 8:13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who spoke, “How long shall be the vision concerning the continual burnt offering, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the multitude to be trodden under foot?” 8:14 He said to me, “To two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” 8:15 It happened when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and behold, there stood before me the appearance of a man. 8:16 I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called and said, “Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision.” 8:17 So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man; for the vision belongs to the time of the end.” 8:18 Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face toward the ground; but he touched me and set me upright.
8:19 He said, “Behold, I will give you knowledge of what shall be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongs to the appointed time of the end. 8:20 The ram, which you saw, had two horns; they are the kings of Media and Persia. 8:21 The rough male goat is the kingship of Greece; and the great horn which is between his eyes is the first king. 8:22 As for that which was broken, in the place where four stood up, four kingdoms shall rise up out of the nation, but not with his power. 8:23 In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark judgments, shall rise up. 8:24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy astonishingly and shall prosper and do his pleasure; and he shall destroy the mighty ones and the holy people. 8:25 Through his tactics, he shall cause craftiness to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in their security he shall destroy many; he shall also rise up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 8:26 The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true; but seal up the vision; for it belongs to many days to come.”
8:27 I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for some days; then I rose up and did the king’s business; and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it.
9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, offspring of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, 9:2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the books the number of the years about which the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, to accomplish the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years. 9:3 I set my face towards the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
9:4 I prayed to Yahweh my God, and made confession and said, “Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments, 9:5 we have sinned and have dealt perversely and have done wickedly and have rebelled, even turning aside from your precepts and from your ordinances; 9:6 neither have we listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 9:7 Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but confusion of face to us, and on this day, to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to all Israel, who are near and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you. 9:8 Lord, confusion of face belongs to us, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him; 9:10 neither have we obeyed the voice of Yahweh our God to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 9:11 Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, even turning aside so that they would not obey your voice: therefore has the curse been poured out on us and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God; for we have sinned against him. 9:12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing on us a great evil; for under the whole sky has not been done as has been done upon Jerusalem. 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, so all this evil has come upon us; yet have we not entreated the favor of Yahweh our God, so that we would turn from our iniquities and have discernment in your truth. 9:14 Therefore Yahweh has watched over the evil and brought it on us; for Yahweh our God is righteous in all his works which he does and we have not obeyed his voice. 9:15 Now, Lord our God, who brought your people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and made yourself renowned as on this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 9:16 Lord, according to all your righteousness, let your anger and please let your wrath be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; because, for our sins and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a reproach to all who are around us. 9:17 Now therefore, our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his petitions and cause your face to shine on your sanctuary which is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. 9:18 My God, turn your ear and hear; open your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by your name; for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies’ sake. 9:19 Lord, hear; Lord, forgive; Lord, listen and do; don’t defer, for your own sake, my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”
9:20 While I was speaking and praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my God for the holy mountain of my God, 9:21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, who was made to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening offering.
9:22 He instructed me and talked with me and said, “Daniel, I have now come forth to give you wisdom and understanding. 9:23 At the beginning of your petitions, the commandment went forth and I have come to tell you; for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter and understand the vision. 9:24 Seventy weeks of years are decreed on your people and on your holy city, to finish disobedience and to make an end of sins and to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness and to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. 9:25 Know therefore and discern that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem, to the arrival of the anointed one, the prince, shall be seven weeks, and also sixty-two weeks; and so it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times. 9:26 After the sixty-two weeks, the anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing; and the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and its end shall be with a flood, and even to the end shall be war; desolations are determined. 9:27 He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, what is determined shall be poured out on the desolate.”
10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, something was revealed to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, even a great warfare; and he understood the thing and had understanding of the vision. 10:2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks. 10:3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came meat nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled. 10:4 In the twentieth-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel, 10:5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, whose thighs were adorned with pure gold of Uphaz; 10:6 his body also was like beryl, and his face like the appearance of lightning and his eyes like flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. 10:7 I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; for the men who were with me didn’t see the vision; but a great quaking fell on them and they fled to hide themselves. 10:8 So, I was left alone and saw this great vision and there remained no strength in me; for my wholesomeness was turned in me into corruption and I retained no strength. 10:9 Yet I heard the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, I then fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground. 10:10 Behold, a hand touched me, which set me on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 10:11 He said to me, “Daniel, you man greatly beloved, understand the words which I speak to you and stand upright; for to you am I now sent.” When he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling. 10:12 Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel; for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come for your words’ sake. 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but, behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 10:14 Now I have come to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the latter days; for the vision is for yet many days.” 10:15 And when he had spoken to me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground and was mute. 10:16 Behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who stood before me, “My lord, by reason of the vision, my sorrows are turned on me and I retain no strength. 10:17 For how can the servant of you my lord, talk with you my lord? For, as for me, immediately there remained no strength in me, neither was there breath left in me.” 10:18 Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man and he strengthened me. 10:19 He said, “Greatly beloved man, don’t be afraid. Peace be to you, be strong, yes, be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak; for you have strengthened me.” 10:20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia. When I go forth, behold, the prince of Greece shall come. 10:21 But I will tell you that which is inscribed in the writing of truth; and there is none who holds with me against these, but Michael your prince.” 11:1 “As for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I rose up to confirm and strengthen him. 11:2 Now I will show you the truth. Behold, there shall rise up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than them all; and when he has grown strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. 11:3 A mighty king shall rise up, who shall rule with great dominion and do according to his will. 11:4 When he shall rise up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of the sky, but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides these.
11:5 “The king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion. 11:6 At the end of years, they shall join themselves together; and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the strength of her arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm; but she shall be given up, and those who brought her, and he who became the father of her, and he who strengthened her in those times.
11:7 “But out of a shoot from her roots shall rise up one in his place, who shall come to the army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them and shall prevail. 11:8 Also their gods, with their molten images and with their goodly vessels of silver and of gold, he shall carry captive into Egypt; and he shall refrain some years from the king of the north. 11:9 He shall come into the realm of the king of the south, but he shall return into his own land. 11:10 His sons shall war and shall assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall advance and overflow and pass through; and they shall return and war, even to his fortress. 11:11 The king of the south shall be moved with anger and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north; and he shall set forth a great multitude, and the multitude shall be given into his hand. 11:12 The multitude shall be lifted up, and his heart shall be exalted; and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. 11:13 The king of the north shall return and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former; and he shall advance at the end of the times, even of years, with a great army and with much wealth.
11:14 “In those times, many shall rise up against the king of the south; also the children of the violent among your people shall lift themselves up to establish the vision; but they shall fall. 11:15 So the king of the north shall come and cast up a mound and take a well-fortified city; and the forces of the south shall not stand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to stand. 11:16 But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him; and he shall stand in the glorious land and in his hand shall be destruction. 11:17 He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do; and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her; but she shall not stand, nor be for him.
11:18 “After this he shall turn his face to the islands and shall take many; but a prince shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; yes, moreover, he shall cause his reproach to turn on him. 11:19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall and shall not be found. 11:20 Then one shall rise up in his place who will cause a tax collector to pass through the kingdom to maintain its glory; but within a few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.
11:21 “In his place shall rise up a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom; but he shall arrive in a time of security and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 11:22 The overwhelming forces shall be overwhelmed from before him and shall be broken; yes, also the prince of the covenant. 11:23 After the treaty made with him, he shall work deceitfully; for he shall rise up and shall become strong with a small people. 11:24 In a time of security, he shall advance even on the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them prey and spoil and wealth; yes, he shall devise his schemes against the strongholds, even for a time.
11:25 “He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise schemes against him. 11:26 Yes, those who eat of his delicacies shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain. 11:27 As for both these kings, their hearts shall be set to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not succeed; for the end shall yet be at the time appointed. 11:28 Then he shall return into his land with great wealth; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do as he pleases and return to his own land.
11:29 “At the time appointed, he shall return and advance into the south; but it shall not be in the latter time as it was in the former. 11:30 For ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall do as he pleases; he shall even return and give support to those who forsake the holy covenant. 11:31 Forces shall rise on his behalf, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt offering, and they shall set up the abomination which makes desolate. 11:32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant, he shall pervert by flatteries; but the people who know their God shall be strong and do exploits. 11:33 Those who are wise among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, for many days. 11:34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves to them with flatteries. 11:35 Some of those who are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed.
11:36 “The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper until the indignation be completed; for that which is determined shall be done. 11:37 Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all. 11:38 But in his place, he shall honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers didn’t know he shall honor with gold and silver and with precious stones and pleasant things. 11:39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god; whoever acknowledges him he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many and shall divide the land for a price.
11:40 “At the time of the end, the king of the south shall contend with him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots and with horsemen and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through. 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 11:42 He shall stretch forth his hand also on the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 11:43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 11:44 But news out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many. 11:45 He shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end and none shall help him.”
12:1 “At that time Michael shall rise up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book. 12:2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 12:3 Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the heavens; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. 12:4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end; many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased.”
12:5 Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, there stood another two, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river on that side. 12:6 One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” 12:7 I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever, say that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 12:8 I heard, but I didn’t understand; then I said, “My lord, what shall be the result of these things?” 12:9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 12:10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand. 12:11 From the time that the continual burnt offering shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days. 12:12 Blessed is he who waits and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days. 12:13 But you, go your way until the end; for you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of days.”
13:1 There dwelt a man in Babylon, called Joakim. 13:2 And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a very fair woman and one who feared the Lord. 13:3 Her parents also were righteous and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses. 13:4 Now Joakim was a great rich man and had a beautiful garden next to his house; and the Jews turned to him for help, because he was more honorable than all others.
13:5 The same year, two of the elders of the people were appointed to be judges, such ones as the Lord spoke of, “Wickedness came from Babylon, from ancient judges, who seemed to govern the people.” 13:6 These spent much time at Joakim’s house, and all those who had any lawsuits came to them. 13:7 Now when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband’s garden to walk. 13:8 And the two elders saw her going in every day and walking, so that their lust was inflamed toward her. 13:9 And they perverted their own mind and turned away their eyes, so that they would not look to heaven, nor remember just judgments. 13:10 And although they both were wounded with her love, yet each dared not show the other his grief. 13:11 For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her. 13:12 Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see her. 13:13 And the one said to the other, “Let us go home now, for it is dinner time.” 13:14 So when they had gone out, they each parted from the other, and turning back again they came to the same place; and after they had asked each another the reason, they acknowledged their lust, then they both appointed themselves a time when they might find her alone.
13:15 And it happened, as they watched for a fitting time, that she went in as before with two maids only, and she intended to wash herself in the garden, for it was hot. 13:16 And there was no one there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and watched her. 13:17 Then she said to her maids, “Bring me oil and washing balls and shut the garden doors, so that I may wash myself.” 13:18 And they did as she asked them, and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves through private doors to fetch the things that she had commanded them; but they didn’t see the elders, because they were hidden. 13:19 Now when the maids were gone, the two elders rose up and ran to her, saying, 13:20 “Behold, the garden doors are shut, so that no man can see us, and we are in love with you; therefore consent to us and lie with us. 13:21 If you will not, we will bear witness against you that a young man was with you, and therefore you sent your maids away from you.” 13:22 Then Susanna sighed and said, “I am hemmed in on every side; for if I do this thing, it is death to me; and if I do not do it, I cannot escape your hands. 13:23 It is better for me to fall into your hands and not do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.” 13:24 With that, Susanna cried with a loud voice, and the two elders cried out against her. 13:25 Then the one ran and opened the garden door. 13:26 So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in through the private door to see what had happened to her. 13:27 But, when the elders had declared their story, the servants were greatly ashamed, for there was never such a report made of Susanna.
13:28 And it came to pass the next day, when the people were assembled before her husband Joakim, that the two elders also came, full of mischievous imagination against Susanna to put her to death; 13:29 And they said before the people, “Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, Joakim’s wife.” And so they sent for her. 13:30 So she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred. 13:31 Now, Susanna was a very delicate woman and beautiful to behold. 13:32 And these wicked men commanded her to uncover her face, (for she was covered,) that they might be filled with her beauty. 13:33 Therefore, her friends and all that saw her wept. 13:34 Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people and laid their hands upon her head. 13:35 And she looked up toward heaven weeping, for her heart trusted in the Lord. 13:36 And the elders said, “As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids and shut the garden doors and sent the maids away. 13:37 Then a young man, who was hidden there, came to her and lay with her. 13:38 Then, standing in a corner of the garden, we saw this wickedness and ran towards them. 13:39 And when we saw them together, the man we could not hold, for he was stronger than us, and he opened the door and leaped out. 13:40 But having taken this woman, we asked her who the young man was, but she would not tell us; to these things we testify.” 13:41 Then the assembly believed them because they were the elders and judges of the people; so they condemned her to death.
13:42 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said, “O everlasting God, who knows the secrets and knows all things before they be: 13:43 You know that they have borne false witness against me, and behold I must die; though I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me.” 13:44 And the Lord heard her voice. 13:45 Therefore, when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young youth whose name was Daniel, 13:46 who cried with a loud voice, “I am free of the blood of this woman.” 13:47 Then all the people turned toward him and said, “What do these words you have spoken mean?” 13:48 So, standing in their midst, he said, “Are you such fools, you sons of Israel, that you have condemned a daughter of Israel without examination or knowledge of the truth? 13:49 Return again to the place of judgment, for they have borne false witness against her.”
13:50 Therefore all the people returned again in haste, and the elders said to him, “Come, sit down among us and teach us, since that God has given you the honor of an elder.” 13:51 Then Daniel said to them, “Put these two aside, one far from another, and I will examine them.” 13:52 So, when they were put apart one from another, he called one of them and said to him, “O you who has grown old in wickedness, now your sins, which you have committed before this time, have come to light. 13:53 For you have pronounced false judgment and have condemned the innocent and have let the guilty go free; even though the Lord says, ‘The innocent and righteous you shall not slay.’ 13:54 Now then, if you saw her, tell me, under what tree did you see them consorting together?” He answered, “Under a mastick tree.” 13:55 And Daniel said, “Very well; you have lied against your own head; for even now the angel of God has received the sentence of God to cut you in two.” 13:56 So he put him aside and commanded them to bring the other, and he said to him, “O you, offspring of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you and lust has perverted your heart. 13:57 Thus have you dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they out of fear consorted with you; but the daughter of Judah would not tolerate your wickedness. 13:58 Now therefore, tell me, under what tree did you find them consorting together?” He answered, “Under an holm tree.” 13:59 Then Daniel said to him, “Well, you also have lied against your own head; for the angel of God waits with the sword to cut you in two, that he may destroy you.”
13:60 With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice and praised God, who saves those who trust in him. 13:61 And they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth. 13:62 And, according to the law of Moses, they did to them in the same way as they maliciously intended to do to their neighbor; and they put them to death. Thus, innocent blood was saved that same day. 13:63 Therefore Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joakim her husband and all their kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her. 13:64 From that day forth, Daniel had a great reputation in the sight of the people.
14:1 And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus of Persia received his kingdom. 14:2 And Daniel conversed with the king and was honored above all his friends. 14:3 Now the Babylons had an idol, called Bel, and every day twelve great measures of fine flour and forty sheep and six vessels of wine were spent upon him. 14:4 And the king worshipped it and went daily to adore it; but Daniel worshipped his own God. And the king said to him, “Why do you not worship Bel?” 14:5 He answered and said, “Because I may not worship idols made with hands, but only the living God, who has created the heaven and the earth and has sovereignty over all flesh.” 14:6 Then the king said to him, “Do you not think that Bel is a living God? Do you not see how much he eats and drinks every day?” 14:7 Then Daniel smiled and said, “O king, be not deceived; for this is only clay within and brass without, and never ate or drank anything.” 14:8 So the king was angry and called for his priests, and said to them, “If you do not tell me who it is that devours these expenses, you shall die! 14:9 But, if you can prove to me that Bel devours them, then Daniel shall die, for he has spoken blasphemy against Bel.” And Daniel said to the king, “Let it be according to your word.”
14:10 Now the priests of Bel were seventy, besides their wives and children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel. 14:11 So Bel’s priests said, “Lo, we go out; but you, O king, set out the meat and prepare the wine, and shut the door fast and seal it with your own signet; 14:12 And tomorrow when you come in, if you do not find that Bel has eaten all, we will suffer death, or else Daniel, who speaks falsely against us.” 14:13 And they had little concern about it because under the table they had made a private entrance, whereby they entered in continually and consumed those things. 14:14 So when they had gone, the king set out the meats before Bel. Now Daniel had commanded his servants to bring ashes, and those they strewed throughout the entire temple in the presence of the king alone; then they went out and shut the door, and sealed it with the king’s signet, and so departed. 14:15 Now in the night the priests with their wives and children came, as they were accustomed to do, and they ate and drank it all.
14:16 In the early morning the king arose, and Daniel with him. 14:17 And the king said, “Daniel, are the seals whole?” And he said, “Yes, O king, they are whole.” 14:18 And as soon as he had opened the door, the king looked upon the table and cried with a loud voice, “Great you are, O Bel, and with you is no deceit at all!” 14:19 Then Daniel laughed, and held the king back so that he would not go in, and he said, “Behold now the pavement, and mark well whose footsteps these are.” 14:20 And the king said, “I see the footsteps of men, women, and children.” And then the king was angry, 14:21 and he took the priests with their wives and children, who showed him the private doors where they came in and consumed such things as were on the table. 14:22 Therefore the king slew them, and delivered Bel into Daniel’s power, who destroyed him and his temple.
14:23 And in that same place there was a great dragon, which they of Babylon worshipped. 14:24 And the king said to Daniel, “Will you also say that this is of brass? Lo, he lives, he eats and drinks; you cannot say that he is no living god; therefore, worship him.” 14:25 Then Daniel said to the king, “I will worship the Lord my God; for he is the living God. 14:26 But give me permission, O king, and I shall slay this dragon without sword or staff.” The king said, “I give you permission.” 14:27 Then Daniel took pitch and fat and hair, and boiled them together, and made lumps thereof; this he put in the dragon’s mouth, and so the dragon burst apart; and Daniel said, “Lo, these are the gods you worship.”
14:28 When they of Babylon heard this, they took great indignation and conspired against the king, saying, “The king has become a Jew and he has destroyed Bel; he has slain the dragon and put the priests to death.” 14:29 So they came to the king and said, “Deliver Daniel to us or else we will destroy you and your house.” 14:30 Now when the king saw that they pressed him severely, being constrained, he delivered Daniel to them; 14:31 they cast him into the lions’ den, where he was for six days. 14:32 And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given them every day two carcasses and two sheep, which then were not given to them, to the intent that they might devour Daniel.
14:33 Now there was among the Jews a prophet, called Habbakuk, who had made pottage and had broken bread in a bowl, and was going into the field, to bring it to the reapers. 14:34 But the angel of the Lord said to Habbakuk, “Go, carry the dinner that you have into Babylon to Daniel, who is in the lions’ den.” 14:35 And Habbakuk said, “Lord, I never saw Babylon; neither do I know where the den is.” 14:36 Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown, and carried him by the hair of his head, and through the vehemence of his spirit set him in Babylon over the den. 14:37 And Habbakuk cried, saying, “O Daniel, Daniel, take the dinner which God has sent you.” 14:38 And Daniel said, “You have remembered me, O God; neither have you forsaken those who seek you and love you.” 14:39 So Daniel arose and ate; and the angel of the Lord set Habbakuk in his own place again immediately.
14:40 Upon the seventh day the king went to bewail Daniel; and when he came to the den, he looked in, and behold, Daniel was sitting. 14:41 Then the king cried with a loud voice, saying, “Great are you, Lord God of Daniel, and there is no other beside you!” 14:42 And he drew him out, and cast those who were the cause of his destruction into the den; and they were devoured in a moment before his face.
*The Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate number chapter 4, verses 1-3 as chapter 3, verses 98-100. Consequently chapter 4, verses 4 to the end of the chapter are numbered 3 less in those editions.
Book of Baruch (or I Baruch)
Psalms of Solomon
Letter of Jeremiah
I Esdras
Book of Judith
Book of Tobit
Greek Book of Daniel
The Book of Baruch, occasionally referred to as 1 Baruch, is called a deuterocanonical book of the Bible. Although not in the Hebrew Bible, it is found in the Septuagint and in the Vulgate Bible, and also in Theodotion's version. It is grouped with the prophetical books which also include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the twelve minor prophets. It is named after Baruch ben Neriah, Jeremiah's scribe. Some scholars propose that it was written during or shortly after the period of the Maccabees. In the Vulgate, the King James Bible Apocrypha, and many other versions, the Letter of Jeremiah is appended to the end of the Book of Baruch as a sixth chapter; in the Septuagint and Orthodox Bibles chapter 6 is usually counted as a separate book, called the Letter or Epistle of Jeremiah.
One of the Pseudepigrapha, the Psalms of Solomon is a group of eighteen psalms (religious songs or poems) that are not part of any scriptural canon (they are, however, found in copies of the Peshitta and the Septuagint). The 17th of the 18 Psalms has a similarity to Psalm 72 from the Book of Psalms, which claims attribution to Solomon, and hence may be the reason that the Psalms of Solomon have their name. An alternate view is that the psalms were so highly regarded that Solomon's name was attached to it to keep them from being ignored or forgotten.
The Letter of Jeremiah, also known as the Epistle of Jeremy, is a deuterocanonical book of the Old Testament; this letter purports to have been written by Jeremiah to the Jews who were about to be carried away as captives to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. It is included in Catholic Bibles as the final chapter of the Book of Baruch. It is also included in Orthodox Bibles as a standalone book. The title of this work is misleading, for it is neither a letter nor was it written by the prophet Jeremiah.
1 Esdras (Greek Έσδράς Αˊ), Greek Ezra, is an ancient Greek version of the biblical Book of Ezra in use among ancient Jewry, the early church, and many modern Christians with varying degrees of canonicity. First Esdras is substantially the same as Masoretic Ezra, with one notable addition corresponding to the middle of Ezra Chapter 4. As part of the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament, it is regarded as canonical in the churches of the East, but Apocryphal in the West. First Esdras is found in Origen's Hexapla. Greek and related versions of the Bible include both Esdras α and Esdras β (Ezra-Nehemiah) in parallel.
The Book of Judith is a deuterocanonical book, included in the Septuagint and the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christian Old Testament of the Bible, but excluded by Jews and Protestants. The book contains numerous historical anachronisms, which is why many scholars now accept it as non-historical; it has been considered a parable or perhaps the first historical novel.
The Book of Tobit (Book of Tobias in the Vulgate; from the Greek: τωβιθ, and Hebrew: טובי Tobi "my good", also called the Book of Tobias from the Hebrew טוביה Tobiah "Yahweh is my good") is a book of scripture that is part of the Catholic and Orthodox biblical canon, pronounced canonical by the Council of Carthage of 397 and confirmed for Roman Catholics by the Council of Trent (1546). It is listed as a book of the "Apocrypha" in Article VI of the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England. Tobit is regarded by Protestants as apocryphal because it has never been included within the Tanakh and considered canonical by ancient Judaism. However, it is found in the Greek Hebrew Bible (the Septuagint), and Aramaic and Hebrew fragments of the book are in the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were discovered in Cave IV at Qumran in 1952. These fragments are in agreement with the Greek text, which exists in three different recensions.
There are three main versions of the Book of Daniel; a twelve-chapter version preserved in the Masoretic Text and two longer Greek versions (the original Septuagint version, c. 100 BCE, and the later Theodotion version, c. 2nd century CE). Both the Greek versions contain chapters that are not found in the Masoretic Text. Theodotion's translation is much closer to the Masoretic Text and became so popular that it replaced the original Septuagint version of Daniel in all but two manuscripts of the Septuagint itself. The Septuagint version appears to agree more with the Qumran fragments than the Masoretic Text reflected in modern translations. Three additional narratives are preserved in the Septuagint and the Theodotion versions, and are considered apocryphal by Protestant Christians and Jews, and deuterocanonical by Catholic and Orthodox Christians. These additions to Daniel are The Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children, the stories of Susannah and the Elders and Bel and the Dragon.
Psalms of Solomon
Letter of Jeremiah
I Esdras
Book of Judith
Book of Tobit
Greek Book of Daniel
The Book of Baruch, occasionally referred to as 1 Baruch, is called a deuterocanonical book of the Bible. Although not in the Hebrew Bible, it is found in the Septuagint and in the Vulgate Bible, and also in Theodotion's version. It is grouped with the prophetical books which also include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the twelve minor prophets. It is named after Baruch ben Neriah, Jeremiah's scribe. Some scholars propose that it was written during or shortly after the period of the Maccabees. In the Vulgate, the King James Bible Apocrypha, and many other versions, the Letter of Jeremiah is appended to the end of the Book of Baruch as a sixth chapter; in the Septuagint and Orthodox Bibles chapter 6 is usually counted as a separate book, called the Letter or Epistle of Jeremiah.
One of the Pseudepigrapha, the Psalms of Solomon is a group of eighteen psalms (religious songs or poems) that are not part of any scriptural canon (they are, however, found in copies of the Peshitta and the Septuagint). The 17th of the 18 Psalms has a similarity to Psalm 72 from the Book of Psalms, which claims attribution to Solomon, and hence may be the reason that the Psalms of Solomon have their name. An alternate view is that the psalms were so highly regarded that Solomon's name was attached to it to keep them from being ignored or forgotten.
The Letter of Jeremiah, also known as the Epistle of Jeremy, is a deuterocanonical book of the Old Testament; this letter purports to have been written by Jeremiah to the Jews who were about to be carried away as captives to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. It is included in Catholic Bibles as the final chapter of the Book of Baruch. It is also included in Orthodox Bibles as a standalone book. The title of this work is misleading, for it is neither a letter nor was it written by the prophet Jeremiah.
1 Esdras (Greek Έσδράς Αˊ), Greek Ezra, is an ancient Greek version of the biblical Book of Ezra in use among ancient Jewry, the early church, and many modern Christians with varying degrees of canonicity. First Esdras is substantially the same as Masoretic Ezra, with one notable addition corresponding to the middle of Ezra Chapter 4. As part of the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament, it is regarded as canonical in the churches of the East, but Apocryphal in the West. First Esdras is found in Origen's Hexapla. Greek and related versions of the Bible include both Esdras α and Esdras β (Ezra-Nehemiah) in parallel.
The Book of Judith is a deuterocanonical book, included in the Septuagint and the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christian Old Testament of the Bible, but excluded by Jews and Protestants. The book contains numerous historical anachronisms, which is why many scholars now accept it as non-historical; it has been considered a parable or perhaps the first historical novel.
The Book of Tobit (Book of Tobias in the Vulgate; from the Greek: τωβιθ, and Hebrew: טובי Tobi "my good", also called the Book of Tobias from the Hebrew טוביה Tobiah "Yahweh is my good") is a book of scripture that is part of the Catholic and Orthodox biblical canon, pronounced canonical by the Council of Carthage of 397 and confirmed for Roman Catholics by the Council of Trent (1546). It is listed as a book of the "Apocrypha" in Article VI of the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England. Tobit is regarded by Protestants as apocryphal because it has never been included within the Tanakh and considered canonical by ancient Judaism. However, it is found in the Greek Hebrew Bible (the Septuagint), and Aramaic and Hebrew fragments of the book are in the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were discovered in Cave IV at Qumran in 1952. These fragments are in agreement with the Greek text, which exists in three different recensions.
There are three main versions of the Book of Daniel; a twelve-chapter version preserved in the Masoretic Text and two longer Greek versions (the original Septuagint version, c. 100 BCE, and the later Theodotion version, c. 2nd century CE). Both the Greek versions contain chapters that are not found in the Masoretic Text. Theodotion's translation is much closer to the Masoretic Text and became so popular that it replaced the original Septuagint version of Daniel in all but two manuscripts of the Septuagint itself. The Septuagint version appears to agree more with the Qumran fragments than the Masoretic Text reflected in modern translations. Three additional narratives are preserved in the Septuagint and the Theodotion versions, and are considered apocryphal by Protestant Christians and Jews, and deuterocanonical by Catholic and Orthodox Christians. These additions to Daniel are The Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children, the stories of Susannah and the Elders and Bel and the Dragon.