Apocrypha. CHAP. XL. Apocrypha. shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks || godly: so to the sinners they are turned into unto the Lord in his prayer. 7 He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate. 8 He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord. 9 Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation. evil. 28 There be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their fury lay on sore strokes; in the time of destruction they pour out their force, and appease the wrath of him that made them. 29 Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance; 30 Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword, punishing the wicked to destruction. 10 Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise. 11 If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand and if he live, he shall in-shall not transgress his word. crease it. 31 They shall rejoice in his commandment, and they shall be ready upon earth, when need is; and when their time is come, they 12 Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full. 13 Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field: 14 And give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a lily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in all his works. 15 Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with ye harps, and in praising him shall say this manner : after 16 All the works of the Lord are exceed ing good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season. 17 And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time convenient they shall all be sought out: at his commandment the waters stood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters. 18 At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save. 19 The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes. 20 He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him. 21 A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses. 22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood. 23 As he hath turned the waters into saltness so shall the heathen inherit his wrath. 24 As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumbling blocks unto the wicked. 25 For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sin ners. 26 The principal things for the whole use of man's life are water, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing. 27 All these things are for good to the 32 Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in writing. 33 All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season. 34 So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved. 35 And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the name of the Lord. CHAP. XL. 1 Many miseries in a man's life. 17 A virtuous wife and an honest friend rejoice the heart. NREAT travail is created for every man, and an heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day that they go out of their mother's womb, till the day that they return to the mother of all things. 2 Their imagination of things to come, and the day of death, [trouble] their thoughts, and [cause] fear of heart; 3 From him that sitteth on a throne of glory, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes; 4 From him that weareth purple and a crown, unto bim that is clothed with a linen frock. 5 Wrath, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of death, and anger, and strife, and in the time of rest upon his bed his night sleep, do change his knowledge. 6 A little or nothing is his rest, and afterward he is in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he were escaped out of a battle. 7 When all is safe, he awaketh, and marvelleth that the fear was nothing. 8 [Such things happen] unto all flesh, both man and beast, and that is seven fold more upon sinners. 9 Death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, calamities, famine,tribulation, and the scourge; 10 These things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came the flood. 11 All things that are of the earth shall turn to the earth again: and that which is of the waters doth return into the sea, Apocrypha. ECCLESIASTICUS. 12 All bribery and injustice shall be blotted out but true dealing shall endure for ever. 13 The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall vanish with noise, like a great thunder in rain. 14 While he openeth his hand he shall rejoice: so shall transgressors come to nought. 15 The children of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches: but are as unclean roots upon a hard rock. 16 The weed growing upon every water and bank of a river shall be pulled up before all grass. 17 Bountifulness is as a most fruitful garden, and mercifulness endureth for ever. 18 To labour, and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweet life: but he that findeth a treasure is above them both. Аростурва. 2 O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto the needy, and unto him whose strength faileth, that is now in the last age, and is vexed with all things, and to him that despaireth, and hath lost patience! 3 Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been before thee, and that come after; for this is the sentence of the Lord over all flesh. 4 And why art thou against the pleasure of the Most High? there is no inquisition in the grave, whether thou have lived ten, or an hundred, or a thousand years: 5 The children of sinners are abominable children, and they that are conversant in the dwelling of the ungodly. 6 The inheritance of sinners' children shall perish, and their posterity shall have a perpetual reproach. 19 Children and the building of a city continue a man's name: but a blameless wifely is counted above them both. 20 Wine and musick rejoice the heart: but the love of wisdom is above them both. 21 The pipe and the psaltery make sweet melody: but a pleasant tongue is above them both. 22 Thine eye desireth favour and beauty: but more than both, corn while it is green. 23 A friend and companion never meet amiss but above both is a wife with her husband. 26 Riches and strength lift up the heart: but the fear of the Lord is above them both: there is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to seek help. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fruitful garden, and covereth him above all glory. 28 My son, lead not a beggar's life; for better it is to die than to beg. 29 The life of him that dependeth on another man's table is not to be counted for a life; for he polluteth himself with other men's meat but a wise man well nurtured will beware thereof. 30 Begging is sweet in the mouth of the shameless: but in his belly there shall burn a fire. 7 The children will complain of an ungodfather, because they shall be reproached for his sake. 8 Woe be unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the most high God! for if ye increase, it shall be to your destruction: 9 And if ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse: and if ye die, a curse shall be your portion. 10 All that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: so the ungodly shall go from a curse to destruction. 11 The mourning of men is about their bodies: but an ill name of sinners shall be blotted out. 12 Have regard to thy name; for that shall continue with thee above a thousand great treasures of gold. 13 A good life hath but few days: but a good name endureth for ever. 14 My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them both? 15 A man that hideth his foolishness is better than a man that hideth his wisdom. 16 Therefore be shamefaced according to my word: for it is not good to retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether approved in every thing. 17 Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother and of a lie before a prince and a mighty man; 18 Of an offence before a judge and ruler ; of iniquity before a congregation and people; of unjust dealing before thy partner and friend; 19 And of theft in regard of the place where thou sojournest, and in regard of the. truth of God and his covenant; and to lean with thine elbow upon the meat; and of scorn DEATH, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions, unto the man that hath nothing to give and take; ing to vex him, and that hath prosperity in all things: yea, unto him that is yet able to receive meat! 20 And of silence before them that salute thee; and to look upon an harlot ; 21 And to turn away thy face from thy Apocrypha. CHAP. XLIII. kinsman; or to take away a portion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man's wife; 22 Or to be over busy with his maid, and come not near her bed; or of upbraiding || speeches before friends; and after thou hast given, upbraid not; 23 Or of iterating and speaking again that which thou hast heard; and of revealing of secrets. 24 So shalt thou be truly shamefaced, and find favour before all men. CHAP. XLII. 1 Whereof rve should not be ashamed. works and greatness of God. OF 15 The F these things be not thou ashamed, and accept no person to sin thereby : 2 of the law of the Most High, and his covenant; and of judgment to justify the ungodly; 3 Of reckoning with thy partners and travellers; or of the gift of the heritage of friends;|| 4 Of exactness of balance and weights; or of getting much or little ; 5 And of merchants indifferent selling; of much correction of children; and to make the side of an evil servant to bleed. 6 Sure keeping is good, where an evil wife is; and shut up, where many hands are. 7 Deliver all things in number and weight; and put all in writing that thou givest out, or receivest in. 8 Be not ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish, and the extreme aged that contendeth with those that are young: thus shalt thou be truly learned, and approved of all men living. 9 The father waketh for the daughter, when no man knoweth ; and the care for her taketh away sleep when she is young, lest she pass away the flower of her age; and being married, lest she should be hated: 10 In her virginity, lest she should be defiled and gotten with child in her father's house; and having an husband, lest she should misbehave herself; and when she is married, lest she should be barren. 11 Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter, lest she make thee a laughing-stock to thine enemies, and a byword in the city, and a reproach among the people, and make thee ashamed before the multitude. 12 Behold not every body's beauty, and sit not in the midst of women. 13 For from garments cometh a moth, and from women wickedness. 14 Better is the churlishness of a man than a courteous woman, a woman, I say, which bringeth shame and reproach. 15 I will now remember the works of the Lord, and declare the things that I have seen in the words of the Lord are his works. 16 The sun that giveth light looketh upon all things, and the work thereof is full of the glory of the Lord. Apocrypha. 17 The Lord hath not given power to the saints to declare all his marvellous works, which the Almighty Lord firmly settled, that whatsoever is, might be established for his glory. 18 He sceketh out the deep, and the heart, and considereth their crafty devices: for the Lord knoweth all that may be known, and he beholdeth the signs of the world. 19 He declareth the things that are past, and for to come, and revealeth the steps of hidden things. 20 No thought escapeth him, neither any word is hidden from him. 21 He hath garnished the excellent works of his wisdom, and he is from everlasting to everlasting: unto him may nothing be added, neither can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any counsellor. 22 O how desirable are all his works! and that a man may see even to a spark. : 23 All these things live and remain for ever for all uses, and they are all obedient. 24 All things are double one against another and he hath made nothing imperfect. 25 One thing establisheth the good of another: and who shall be filled with beholding his glory? CHAP. XLIII. The works of God in heaven, in earth, and in the sea, are exceeding glorious and wonderful. HE pride of the height, the clear firma rious shew; beauty glo 2 The sun when it appeareth, declaring at his rising a marvellous instrument, the work of the Most High: 3 At noon it parcheth the country, and who can abide the burning heat thereof ? 4 A man blowing a furnace is in works of heat, but the sun burneth the mountains three times more; breathing out fiery vapours, and sending forth bright beams, it dimmeth the eyes. 5 Great is the Lord that made it; and at his commandment it runneth hastily. 6 He made the moon also to serve in her season for a declaration of times, and a sign of the world. 7 From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreaseth in her perfection. 8 The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her changing, being an instrument of the armies above, shining in the firmament of heaven; 9 The beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament giving light in the highest places of the Lord. 10 At the commandment of the Holy One they will stand in their order, and never faint in their watches. 11 Look upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it; very beautiful it is in the brightness thereof. 12 It compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, and the hands of the Most High have bended it. 13 By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and sendeth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment. 14 Through this the treasures are opened: and clouds fly forth as fowls. 15 By his great power he maketh the clouds firm, and the hailstones are broken small. 16 At his sight the mountains are shaken, and at his will the south wind bloweth. 17 The noise of the thunder maketh the earth to tremble: so doth the northern storm and the whirlwind: as birds flying he scattereth the snow, and the falling down thereof is as the lighting of grasshoppers: 18 The eye marvelleth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the raining of it. 19 The hoar frost also as salt he poureth on the earth, and being congealed, it lieth on the top of sharp stakes. 20 When the cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into ice, it abideth upon every gathering together of water, and clotheth the water as with a breastplate. 21 It devoureth the mountains, and burneth the wilderness, and consumeth the grass as fire. 22 A present remedy of all is a mist coming speedily: a dew coming after heat refresheth. 23 By his counsel he appeaseth the deep, and planteth islands therein. 24 They that sail on the sea tell of the danger thereof; and when we hear it with our ears, we marvel thereat. 25 For therein be strange and wonderous works, variety of all kinds of beasts and whales created. || Аростурка. 2 The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning. 3 Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies : 4 Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent in their instructions: 5 Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing: 6 Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations: All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times. 8 There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported. 9 And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them. 10 But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten. 11 With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant. 12 Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes. 13 Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out. 14 Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore. 15 The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise. 16 Enoch pleased the Lord, and was trans26 By him the end of them hath prosper-lated, being an example of repentance to all qus success, and by his word all things consist. generations. 27 We may speak much, and yet come short wherefore in sum, he is all. 28 How shall we be able to magnify him? for he is great above all his works. 29 The Lord is terrible and very great, and marvellous is his power. 30 When ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; for even yet will he far exceed and when ye exalt him, put forth all your strength, and be not weary; for ye can never go far enough. : 31 Who hath seen him that he might tell us ? and who can magnify him as he is? 32 There are yet hid greater things than these be, for we have seen but a few of his works. 33 For the Lord hath made all things; and to the godly hath he given wisdom. CHAP. XLIV. The praise of certain boly men. Lefathers that begat us. ET us now praise famous men, and our 17 Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he was taken in exchange [for the world]; therefore was he left as a remnant unto the earth, when the flood came. 18 An everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh should perish no more by the flood. 19 Abraham was a great father of many people: in glory was there none like unto him ; 20 Who kept the law of the Most High, and was in covenant with him he established the covenant in his flesh; and when he was proved, he was found faithful. 21 Therefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the nations in his seed, and that he would multiply him as the dust of the earth, and exalt his seed as the stars, and cause them to inherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the land. Apocrypha. CHAP. XLVI. Apocrypha. 22 With Isaac did he establish likewise || 14 Their sacrifices shall be wholly con [for Abraham his father's sake] the blessing sumed every day twice continually. of all men, and the covenant, 15 Moses consecrated him, and anointed 23 And made it rest upon the head of Ja-him with holy oil: this was appointed unto cob. He acknowledged him in his blessing, and gave him an heritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part them. CHAP. XLV. 1 The praise of Moses, 6 of Aaron, 23 and of Phinees. AND he brought out of him a merciful man, which found favour in the sight of all flesh, even Moses, beloved of God and men, whose memorial is blessed. 2 He made him like to the glorious saints, and magnified him, so that his enemies stood in fear of him. 3 By his words he caused the wonders to cease, and he made him glorious in the sight of kings, and gave him a commandment for his people, and shewed him part of his glory. 4 He sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness, and chose him out of all men. 5 He made him to hear his voice, and brought him into the dark cloud, and gave him commandments before his face, even the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob his covenants, and Israel his judgments. 6 He exalted Aaron, an holy man like unto him, even his brother, of the tribe of Levi. 7 An everlasting covenant he made with him, and gave him the priesthood among the people; he beautified him with comely ornaments, and clothed him with a robe of glory. 8 He put upon him perfect glory; and strengthened him with rich garments, with breeches, with a long robe, and the ephod. 9 And he compassed him with pomegranates, and with many golden bells round about, that as he went there might be a sound, and a noise made that might be heard in the temple, for a memorial to the children of his people; || || 10 With an holy garment, with gold, and blue silk, and purple, the work of the embroiderer, with a breastplate of judgment,|| and with Urim and Thummim ; 11 With twisted scarlet, the work of the cunning workman, with precious stones graven like seals, and set in gold, the work of the jeweller, with a writing engraved for a memorial, after the number of the tribes of Israel. 12 He set a crown of gold upon the mitre, wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, the desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful. 13 Before him there were none such, neither did ever any stranger put them on, but only his children and his children's children perpetually. him by an everlasting covenant, and to his seed, so long as the heavens should remain, that they should minister unto him, and execute the office of the priesthood, and bless the people in his name. 16 He chose him out of all men living to offer sacrifice to the Lord, incense, and a sweet savour, for a memorial, to make reconciliation for his people. 17 He gave unto him his commandments, and authority in the statutes of judgments, that he should teach Jacob the testimonies, and inform Israel in his laws. 18 Strangers conspired together against him, and maligned him in the wilderness, even the men that were of Dathan's and Abiron's side, and the congregation of Core, with fury and wrath. 19 This the Lord saw, and it displeased him, and in his wrathful indignation were they consumed: he did wonders upon them, to consume them with the fiery flame. 20 But he made Aaron more honourable, and gave him an heritage, and divided unto him the first fruits of the increase; especially he prepared bread in abundance: 21 For they eat of the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave unto him and his seed. 22 Howbeit, in the land of the people he had no inheritance, neither had he any portion among the people: for the Lord himself is his portion and inheritance. 23 The third in glory is Phinees the son of Eleazar, because he had zeal in the fear of the Lord, and stood up with good courage of heart when the people were turned back, and made reconciliation for Israel. 24 Therefore was there a covenant of peace made with him, that he should be the chief of the sanctuary and of his people, and that he and his posterity should have the dig nity of the priesthood for ever: 25 According to the covenant made with David son of Jesse, of the tribe of Juda, that the inheritance of the king should be to his posterity alone: so the inheritance of Aaron should also be unto his seed. 26 God give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in righteousness, that their good things be not abolished, and that their glory may endure for ever. |
