# ACV_verses

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And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence,


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to a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.


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Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?


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Also we certify to you, that concerning any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, upon them.


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And thou, Ezra, according to the wisdom of thy God, that is in thy hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of thy God, and teach ye him who does not know them.


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And whoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.


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Blessed be Jehovah, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem,


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and has extended loving kindness to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty rulers. And I was strengthened according to the hand of Jehovah my God upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.


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Now these are the heads of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:


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of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males a hundred and fifty;


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And of the sons of Adonikam, who were the last, and these are their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males;


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And I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava, and there we encamped three days. And I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.


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Then I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men, also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, who were teachers.


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And I sent them forth to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say to Iddo, and his brothers the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.


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And according to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen,


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and of the Nethinim, whom David and the rulers had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim. All of them were mentioned by name.


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Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.


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For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all those who seek him, for good, but his power and his wrath are against all those who forsake him.


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Then I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them,


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and weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his rulers, and all Israel there present, had offered.


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I weighed into their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and a hundred talents of silver vessels, a hundred talents of gold,


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and twenty bowls of gold, of a thousand darics, and two vessels of fine bright brass, precious as gold.


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And I said to them, Ye are holy to Jehovah, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to Jehovah, the God of your fathers.


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Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the rulers of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Jehovah.


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So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.


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Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the ambushment by the way.


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And on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levite,


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The sons of the captivity, who came out of exile, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to Jehovah.


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And they delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps, and to the governors beyond the River. And they furthered the people and the house of God.


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Now when these things were done, the rulers drew near to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.


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For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands. Yea, the hand of the heads and rulers has been chief in this trespass.


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And when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.


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Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel were assembled to me, because of the trespass of those of the captivity, and I sat confounded until the evening oblation.


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And at the evening oblation I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands to Jehovah my God,


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and I said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God, for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens.


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Since the days of our fathers we have been exceedingly guilty to this day. And for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.


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And now for a little moment grace has been shown from Jehovah our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.


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For we are bondmen, yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the ruins of it, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.


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which thou have commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, to which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness.


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Now therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever, that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your sons forever.


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And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that thou our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant,


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shall we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples who do these abominations? Would thou not be angry with us till thou had consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape?


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O Jehovah, the God of Israel, thou are righteous, for we are left a remnant that is escaped, as it is this day. Behold, we are before thee in our guiltiness, for none can stand before thee because of this.


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Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children, for the people wept very much.


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And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land. Yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing.


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Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the law.


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Then Ezra arose, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they swore.


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Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib. And when he came there, he ate no bread, nor drank water, for he mourned because of the trespass of those of the captivity.


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And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the sons of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem.


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And that whoever did not come within three days, according to the counsel of the rulers and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the assembly of the captivity.


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Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month, and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.


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And Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, Ye have trespassed, and have married foreign women to increase the guilt of Israel.


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Now therefore make confession to Jehovah, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure, and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.


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Then all the assembly answered and said with a loud voice, As thou have said concerning us, so must we do.


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But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside. Neither is this a work of one day or two, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.


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Let now our rulers be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter be dispatched.


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Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.


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And the sons of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers, after their fathers' houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart. And they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.


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And they made an end with all the men who had married foreign women by the first day of the first month.


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And among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women, namely, of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.


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And they gave their hand that they would put away their wives. And being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt.


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And of the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.


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And of Israel: Of the sons of Parosh, Ramiah, and Izziah, and Malchijah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.


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And of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.


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The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,


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that Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, that were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.


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And they said to me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. Also the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates of it are burned with fire.


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And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days. And I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,


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and said, I beseech thee, O Jehovah, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments:


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Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou may hearken to the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the sons of Israel thy servants while I confess the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father's house have sinned.


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We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which thou commanded thy servant Moses.


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Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commanded thy servant Moses, saying, If ye trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples,


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but if ye return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the outermost part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.


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Now these are thy servants and thy people whom thou have redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.


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O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who delight to fear thy name, and, I pray thee, prosper thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king.


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And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not formerly been sad in his presence.


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And the king said to me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very much afraid.


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And I said to the king, Let the king live forever. Why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchers, lies waste, and the gates of it are consumed with fire?


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And I said to the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant has found favor in thy sight, that thou would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' sepulchers, that I may build it.


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And the king said to me (the queen also sitting by him), For how long shall thy journey be? And when will thou return? So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time.


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Moreover I said to the king, If it please the king, let letters be given to me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through till I come to Judah,


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and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the castle which appertains to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.


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Then I came to the governors beyond the River, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen.


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And when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there came a man to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.


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And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me. I neither told any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem, nor was there any beast with me except the beast that I rode upon.


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And I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the jackal's well and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates of it were consumed with fire.


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Then I went on to the fountain gate and to the king's pool, but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.


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Then I went up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall. And I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned.


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And the rulers did not know where I went, or what I did, neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the ranking men, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work.


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Then I said to them, Ye see the evil condition that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and the gates of it are burned with fire. Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem that we be no more a reproach.


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And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work.


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But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? Will ye rebel against the king?


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Then I answered them, and said to them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us. Therefore we his servants will arise and build, but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.


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Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate. They sanctified it, and set up the doors of it, even to the tower of Hammeah they sanctified it, to the tower of Hananel.


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And the sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They laid the beams of it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it.


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And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired.


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And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their ranking men did not put their necks to the work of their lord.


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And the old gate Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired. They laid the beams of it, and set up the doors of it, and the bolts of it, and the bars of it.


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And next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, who pertained to the throne of the governor beyond the River, repaired.


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Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. And next to him Hananiah one of the perfumers repaired. And they fortified Jerusalem even to the broad wall.


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And next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired.


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Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired another portion, and the tower of the furnaces.


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And next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.


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Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah, repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it, and a thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate.


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And Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the dung gate. He built it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it.


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And Shallun the son of Col-hozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the fountain gate. He built it, and covered it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it, and the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king's garden, even to the stairs that go down from the city of David.


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After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to the place opposite the sepulchers of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men.


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After him the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani, repaired. Next to him Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district.


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After him their brothers, Bavvai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired.


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And next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired another portion opposite the ascent to the armory at the turning of the wall.


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After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.


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After him Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another portion, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.


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After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah repaired beside his own house.


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After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another portion, from the house of Azariah to the turning of the wall, and to the corner.


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Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the turning of the wall, and the tower that stands out from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh repaired.


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(Now the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel, to the place opposite the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.)


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After him the Tekoites repaired another portion, opposite the great tower that stands out, and to the wall of Ophel.


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After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. And after him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate, repaired.


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After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another portion. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired opposite his chamber.


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After him Malchijah one of the goldsmiths to the house of the Nethinim, and of the merchants, repaired opposite the gate of Hammiphkad, and to the ascent of the corner.


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But it came to pass that, when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.


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And he spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burnt?


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Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox goes up he shall break down their stone wall.


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Hear, O our God, for we are despised, and so turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity,


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and do not cover their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee, for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.


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So we built the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half the height of it, for the people had a mind to work.


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But it came to pass that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very angry,


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and all of them together conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein.


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And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens has become feeble, and there is much rubbish, so that we are not able to build the wall.


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And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.


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And it came to pass that, when the Jews who dwelt by them came, they said to us ten times, From all places from where ye shall return to us they will be upon you.


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Therefore I set in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places, I set there the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.


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And I looked, and rose up, and said to the ranking men, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.


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And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to naught, that we returned all of us to the wall, every man to his work.


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And it came to pass from that time forth, that half of my servants labored in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail. And the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.


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They all built the wall, and those who bore burdens loaded themselves, every man with one of his hands labored in the work, and with the other held his weapon,


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and the builders, every man had his sword girded by his side, and so built. And he who sounded the trumpet was by me.


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And I said to the ranking men, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.


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In whatever place ye hear the sound of the trumpet, gather ye there to us, our God will fight for us.


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So we labored in the work, and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.


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Likewise at the same time I said to the people, Let each with his servant lodge within Jerusalem that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day.


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So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us put off our clothes, everyone went with his weapon to the water.


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For there were who said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain that we may eat and live.


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There were some also who said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain because of the dearth.


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There were also who said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and our vineyards.


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Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our sons as their sons. And, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already. Neither is it in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.


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Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the ranking men and the rulers, and said to them, Ye exact usury, everyone of his brother. And I held a great assembly against them.


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And I said to them, According to our ability we have redeemed our brothers the Jews, who were sold to the nations, and would ye even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us? Then they were silent, and found not a word.


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Also I said, The thing that ye do is not good. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?


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And I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.


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Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.


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Then they said, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them, so will we do, even as thou say. Then I called the priests, and took an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.


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Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, who does not perform this promise, even thus be he shaken out and emptied. And all the assembly said, Truly, and praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise.


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Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.


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But the former governors who were before me charged the people, and took bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people. But I did not so, because of the fear of God.


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Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither did we buy any land. And all my servants were gathered there to the work.


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Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, a hundred and fifty men, besides those who came to us from among the nations that were round about us.


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Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep, also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this I did not demand the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.


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Now it came to pass, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it, (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),


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that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.


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And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it, and come down to you?


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in which was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel, for which cause thou are building the wall. And thou would be their king according to these words.


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And thou have also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah. And now it shall be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.


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Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as thou say, but thou imagine them out of thine own heart.


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For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work that it not be done. But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands.


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And I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up, and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple. For they will come to kill thee, yea, they will come to kill thee in the night.


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And I said, Should such a man as I flee? And who is there, that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.


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And I discerned, and, lo, God had not sent him, but he pronounced this prophecy against me, and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.


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For this cause he was hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.


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Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, who would have put me in fear.


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And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard of it, that all the nations that were around us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.


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Moreover in those days the ranking men of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them.


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For there were many in Judah sworn to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah to wife.


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Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.


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Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,


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that I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the castle, charge over Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.


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And I said to them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot, and while they stand on guard, let them shut the doors, and bar ye them. And appoint watchmen of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and everyone to be opposite his house.


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And my God put into my heart to gather together the ranking men, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first. And I found written therein:


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These are the sons of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city,


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who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:


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the sons of Pahath-moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen;


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The porters: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, a hundred thirty-eight.


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And these were those who went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not show their fathers' house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel:


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And of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.


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These sought their registration among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found. Therefore they were deemed polluted and put from the priesthood.


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And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.


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besides their men-servants and their maid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven. And they had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women.


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And some from among the heads of fathers gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.


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And some of the heads of fathers gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pounds of silver.


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And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and sixty-seven priests' garments.


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So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities. And when the seventh month came, the sons of Israel were in their cities.


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And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate. And they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel.


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And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.


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And he read in it before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.


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And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand, and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.


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And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people), and when he opened it, all the people stood up.


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And Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God. And all the people answered, Truly, Truly, with the lifting up of their hands. And they bowed their heads, and worshiped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.


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Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law. And the people stood in their place.


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And they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly, and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.


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And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to Jehovah your God; do not mourn nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.


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Then he said to them, Go your way, eat fat things, and drink sweet things, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord; neither be ye grieved, for the joy of Jehovah is your strength.


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So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, Be silent, for the day is holy, neither be ye grieved.


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And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.


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And on the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law.


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And they found written in the law how that Jehovah had commanded by Moses that the sons of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month,


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and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth to the mount, and fetch olive branches, and branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.


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So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, each one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.


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And all the assembly of those who came again out of the captivity made booths, and dwelt in the booths, for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the sons of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.


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Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.


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Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth upon them.


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And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.


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And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God a fourth part of the day, and another fourth part they confessed, and worshiped Jehovah their God.


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Then Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, stood up upon the stairs of the Levites, and cried with a loud voice to Jehovah their God.


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Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless Jehovah your God from everlasting to everlasting. And blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.


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Thou are Jehovah, even thou alone, thou have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are on it, the seas and all that is in them, and thou preserve them all. And the host of heaven worships thee.


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Thou are Jehovah, the God who chose Abram, and brought him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham,


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and found his heart faithful before thee, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it to his seed, and have performed thy words, for thou are righteous.


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and showed signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land, for thou knew that they dealt proudly against them, and got thee a name, as it is this day.


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And thou divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land. And thou cast their pursuers into the depths as a stone into the mighty waters.


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Moreover in a pillar of cloud thou led them by day, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go.


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Thou also came down upon mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,


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and made known to them thy holy sabbath, and commanded them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by Moses thy servant.


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And thou gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commanded them that they should go in to possess the land which thou had sworn to give them.


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But they and our fathers dealt proudly and stiffened their neck, and did not hearken to thy commandments,


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and refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou did among them, but stiffened their neck. And in their rebellion they appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But thou are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and did not forsake them.


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Yea, when they had made a molten calf for them, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations,


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yet thou in thy manifold mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud did not depart from over them by day to lead them in the way, neither the pillar of fire by night to show them light, and the way in which they should go.


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Thou also gave thy good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold thy manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.


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Yea, forty years thou sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing; their clothes did not grow old, and their feet did not swell.


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Moreover thou gave them kingdoms and peoples, which thou allotted after their portions. So they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.


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Their sons thou also multiplied as the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land concerning which thou said to their fathers that they should go in to possess it.


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So the sons went in and possessed the land. And thou subdued the inhabitants of the land before them, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would.


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And they took fortified cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.


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Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their back, and killed thy prophets who testified against them to turn them again to thee, and they wrought great provocations.


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Therefore thou delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them. And in the time of their trouble, when they cried to thee, thou heard from heaven, and according to thy manifold mercies thou gave them saviors who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries.


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But after they had rest, they again did evil before thee. Therefore thou left them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them. Yet when they returned, and cried to thee, thou heard from heaven, and many times thou delivered them according to thy mercies,


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and testified against them, that thou might bring them again to thy law. Yet they dealt proudly, and did not hearken to thy commandments, but sinned against thine ordinances (which if a man does, he shall live in them), and withdrew the shoulder, and stiffened their neck, and would not hear.


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Yet many years thou bore with them, and testified against them by thy Spirit through thy prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore thou gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.


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Nevertheless in thy manifold mercies thou did not make a full end of them, nor forsake them, for thou are a gracious and merciful God.


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Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness, let not all the travail seem little before thee, that has come upon us, on our kings, on our rulers, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.


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However thou are just in all that has come upon us, for thou have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly,


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neither have our kings, our rulers, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened to thy commandments and thy testimonies with which thou testified against them.


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For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gave them, and in the large and fat land which thou gave before them, neither did they turn from their wicked works.


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Behold, we are servants this day, and as for the land that thou gave to our fathers to eat the fruit of it and the good of it, behold, we are servants in it.


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And it yields much increase to the kings whom thou have set over us because of our sins. Also they have power over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.


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And yet for all this we make a sure covenant, and write it, and our rulers, our Levites, and our priests, seal to it.


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And the rest of the people-the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and understanding-


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they clung to their brothers, their ranking men, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of Jehovah our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes.


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And that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons.


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And if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy from them on the sabbath, or on a holy day. And that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.


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Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God,


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for the showbread, and for the continual meal offering, and for the continual burnt offering, for the sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.


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And we cast lots, the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn upon the altar of Jehovah our God, as it is written in the law,


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and to bring the first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all manner of trees, year by year, to the house of Jehovah,


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also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God,


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and that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our heave offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, the new wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithes of our ground to the Levites, for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.


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And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure-house.


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For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the heave offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, to the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers. And we will not forsake the house of our God.


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And the rulers of the people dwelt in Jerusalem. The rest of the people also cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities.


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Now these are the chiefs of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem. But in the cities of Judah everyone dwells in his possession in their cities, namely, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and the sons of Solomon's servants.


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And in Jerusalem certain of the sons of Judah, and of the sons of Benjamin dwelt. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez;


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and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite.


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And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah.


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And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.


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Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God,


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and their brothers who did the work of the house, eight hundred twenty-two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,


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and his brothers, chiefs of fathers, two hundred forty-two; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,


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and their brothers, mighty men of valor, a hundred twenty-eight, and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.


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And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni,


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and Shabbethai and Jozabad of the chiefs of the Levites who had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God,


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and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.


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Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were a hundred seventy-two.


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And the rest of Israel, of the priests, the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance.


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The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the business of the house of God.


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For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.


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And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.


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And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the sons of Judah dwelt in Kiriath-arba and the towns of it, and in Dibon and the towns of it, and in Jekabzeel and the villages of it,


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Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and the fields of it, Azekah and the towns of it. So they encamped from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.


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The sons of Benjamin also dwelt from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, and at Bethel and the towns of it,


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Now these are the priests and the Levites who went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,


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Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.


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Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brothers.


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And in the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah, of Jeremiah, Hananiah,


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As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, there were recorded the heads of fathers, also the priests, in the reign of Darius the Persian.


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The sons of Levi, heads of fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.


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And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers opposite them, to praise and give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch next to watch.


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Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the watch at the store-houses of the gates.


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These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest the scribe.


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And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.


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And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites,


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also from Beth-gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built for them villages round about Jerusalem.


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And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.


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Then I brought up the rulers of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies that gave thanks and went in procession, one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate,


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and certain of the priests' sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,


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and his brothers, Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe was ahead of them.


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And by the fountain gate, and straight before them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, even to the water gate eastward.


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And the other company of those who gave thanks went to meet them, and I after them, with the half of the people, upon the wall, above the tower of the furnaces, even to the broad wall,


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and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, and the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate. And they stood still in the gate of the guard.


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So stood the two companies of those who gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me,


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and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets,


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and Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.


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And they offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy. And the women also and the children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.


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And on that day men were appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the heave offerings, for the first-fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, according to the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Levites. For Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites who served.


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And they kept the charge of their God, and the charge of the purification, and also the singers and the porters, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.


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For in the days of David and Asaph of old there was a chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.


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And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters as every day required. And they set apart that which was for the Levites, and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.


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On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people, and in it was found written that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,


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because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them. However our God turned the curse into a blessing.


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And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.


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Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah,


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had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the heave offerings for the priests.


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But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after certain days I asked leave of the king,


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and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.


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And it grieved me greatly. Therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.


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Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers. And there I brought again the vessels of the house of God, with the meal offerings and the frankincense.


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And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each one to his field.


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Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.


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And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah, and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah. For they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute to their brothers.


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Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the observances of it.


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In those days I saw in Judah some men treading wine-presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys therewith, as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. And I testified against them in the day in which they sold foods.


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There dwelt men of Tyre also in it who brought in fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the sabbath to the sons of Judah, and in Jerusalem.


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Then I contended with the ranking men of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?


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Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? Yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.


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And it came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath. And I set some of my servants over the gates that there should be no burden brought in on the sabbath day.


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Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why do ye lodge outside the wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth they came no more on the sabbath.


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And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember to me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy loving kindness.


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And their sons spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.


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And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.


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Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet there was no king like him among many nations, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless foreign women caused even him to sin.


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Shall we then hearken to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?


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And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me.


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Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.


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Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners, and appointed charges for the priests and for the Levites, each one in his work,


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and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.


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Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces),


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that in those days, when king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,


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in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his rulers and his servants, the power of Persia and Media, the ranking men and rulers of the provinces, being before him


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when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and eighty days.


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And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast to all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.


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There were hangings of white cloth, of green, and of blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble. The couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red and white and yellow and black marble.


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And they gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another), and royal wine in abundance according to the bounty of the king.


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And the drinking was according to the law, none could compel. For so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.


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Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.


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On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains who ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,


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to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown to show the peoples and the rulers her beauty, for she was fair to look on.


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But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by the chamberlains. Therefore the king was very angry, and his fury burned in him.


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Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for so was the king's manner toward all who knew law and judgment,


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and next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven rulers of Persia and Media who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom),


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What shall we do to queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?


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And Memucan answered before the king and the rulers, Vashti the queen has not done wrong only to the king, but also to all the rulers, and to all the peoples that are in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus.


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For this deed of the queen will come abroad to all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes when it shall be reported, King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she did not come.


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And this day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen will say the like to all the king's rulers. So there will arise much contempt and wrath.


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If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.


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And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.


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For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.


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After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.


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Then the king's servants who ministered to him said, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king.


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And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hegai the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women. And let their things for purification be given them,


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and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king, and he did so.


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There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,


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who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.


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And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter. For she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful. And when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.


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So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to Shushan the palace to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king's house to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.


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And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. And he quickly gave her things for purification, with her portions, and the seven maidens who were suitable to be given her out of the king's house. And he removed her and her maidens to the best place of the house of the women.


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Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred, for Mordecai had charged her that she should not make it known.


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And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house to know how Esther did, and what would become of her.


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Now when the turn of every maiden came to go in to king Ahasuerus, after it had been done to her according to the law for the women twelve months (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, namely, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women),


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then the maiden came to the king in this way: Whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to the king's house.


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In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.


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Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked upon her.


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So Esther was taken to king Ahasuerus into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.


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And the king loved Esther above all the women. And she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.


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Then the king made a great feast to all his rulers and his servants, even Esther's feast, and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts according to the bounty of the king.


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And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate.


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Esther had not yet made known her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her. For Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, as when she was brought up with him.


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In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the threshold, were angry, and sought to lay hands on king Ahasuerus.


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And the thing became known to Mordecai, who showed it to Esther the queen, and Esther told the king of it in Mordecai's name.


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And when inquiry was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree. And it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.


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After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the rulers that were with him.


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And all the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down, nor do him reverence.


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Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, Why do thou transgress the king's commandment?


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Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he did not hearken to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew.


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And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down, nor do him reverence, then Haman was full of wrath.


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But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.


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In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.


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And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom, and their laws are diverse from those of every people, nor do they keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not for the king's profit to endure them.


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If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed. And I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who have the charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.


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And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.


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And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to thee.


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Then the king's scribes were called in the first month, on the thirteenth day of it. And there was written according to all that Haman commanded to the king's satraps, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the rulers of every people, to every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, in the name of king Ahasuerus it was written. And it was sealed with the king's ring.


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And letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little sons and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.


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A copy of the writing that the decree should be given out in every province was published to all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.


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The posts went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.


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Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry.


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And he came even before the king's gate, for none might enter inside the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.


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And in every province, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.


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And Esther's maidens and her chamberlains came and told it to her. And the queen was exceedingly grieved. And she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take his sackcloth from off him, but he did not receive it.


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Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's chamberlains whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why it was.


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And Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews to destroy them.


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Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Esther, and to declare it to her, and to charge her that she should go in to the king to make supplication to him, and to make request before him for her people.


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All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, know, that whoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter that he may live. But I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.


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Then Mordecai bade them return answer to Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shall escape in the king's house more than all the Jews.


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For if thou altogether keep quiet at this time, then relief and deliverance will arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father's house will perish. And who knows whether thou have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?


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Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I also and my maidens will fast in like manner. And so I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law. And if I perish, I perish.


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Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, opposite the king's house. And the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, opposite the entrance of the house.


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And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.


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Then the king said to her, What will thou, queen Esther? And what is thy request? It shall be given thee even to the half of the kingdom.


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And Esther said, If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.


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Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste that it may be done as Esther has said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.


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And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? And it shall be granted thee. And what is thy request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.


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if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.


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Then Haman went forth that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he did not stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.


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Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home, and he sent and fetched his friends and Zeresh his wife.


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And Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his sons, and all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the rulers and servants of the king.


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Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself, and tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king.


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Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak thou to the king that Mordecai may be hanged on it. Then go thou in merrily with the king to the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman, and he caused the gallows to be made.


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On that night the king could not sleep. And he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king.


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And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, of those who kept the threshold, who had sought to lay hands on king Ahasuerus.


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And the king said, What honor and dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then the king's servants who ministered to him said, There is nothing done for him.


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And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman came into the outward court of the king's house to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.


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And the king's servants said to him, Behold, Haman stands in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.


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So Haman came in. And the king said to him, What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman said in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?


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let royal apparel be brought which the king uses to wear, and the horse that the king rides upon, and on the head of which a royal crown is set.


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And let the apparel and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble rulers, that they may array the man therewith whom the king delights to honor, and cause him to ride on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.


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Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou have said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Let nothing fail of all that thou have spoken.


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Then Haman took the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.


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And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hastened to his house, mourning and having his head covered.


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And Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had befallen him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, If Mordecai, before whom thou have begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, thou shall not prevail against him, but shall surely fall before him.


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While they were yet talking with him, the king's chamberlains came, and hastened to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.


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And the king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? And it shall be granted thee. And what is thy request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.


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Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.


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For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king's damage.


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Then king Ahasuerus spoke and said to Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, who dares presume in his heart to do so?


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And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.


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And the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden. And Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen, for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.


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Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine, and Haman was fallen upon the couch on which Esther was. Then the king said, Will he even force the queen before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.


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Then Harbonah, one of the chamberlains who were before the king said, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman has made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, stands in the house of Haman. And the king said, Hang him on it.


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So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath was pacified.


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On that day king Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman the Jews' enemy to Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her.


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And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.


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And Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.


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And she said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews that are in all the king's provinces.


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For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?


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Then the king Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.


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Write ye also to the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring, for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.


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Then the king's scribes were called at that time, in the third month Sivan, on the twenty-third day of it. And it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and rulers of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, a hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.


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And he wrote the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by post on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service bred of the stud,


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in which the king granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province who would assault them, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,


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upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.


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A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.


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So the posts that rode upon swift steeds that were used in the king's service went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace.


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And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple. And the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.


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And in every province, and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. And many from among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews was fallen upon them.


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Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have rule over them (whereas it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over those who hated them),


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the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt. And no man could withstand them, for the fear of them fell upon all the peoples.


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And all the rulers of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and those who did the king's business, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.


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For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew greater and greater.


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And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they would to those who hated them.


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the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jew's enemy, but they did not lay their hand on the spoil.


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And the king said to Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is thy petition? And it shall be granted thee, or what is thy request further? And it shall be done.


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Then Esther said, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.


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And the king commanded it so to be done. And a decree was given out in Shushan, and they hanged Haman's ten sons.


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And the Jews who were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and killed three hundred men in Shushan, but they did not lay their hand on the spoil.


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And the other Jews who were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them. But they did not lay their hand on the spoil.


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This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar. And on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.


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But the Jews who were in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day of it, and on the fourteenth of it, and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.


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Therefore the Jews of the villages, who dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.


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And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far,


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to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,


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as the days in which the Jews had rest from their enemies. And the month which was turned to them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day, that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.


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because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them.


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But when the matter came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.


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Therefore they called these days Purim, after the name of Pur. Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come to them,


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the Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves to them, so that it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to the writing of it, and according to the appointed time of it, every year.


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And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the remembrance of them perish from their seed.


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Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim.


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And he sent letters to all the Jews, to the hundred twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,


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to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had ordained for themselves and for their seed in the matter of the fastings and their cry.


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And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, to what the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?


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For Mordecai the Jew was next to king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brothers, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.


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There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.


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His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-donkeys, and a very great household, so that this man was the greatest of all the sons of the east.


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And his sons went and held a feast in the house of each one upon his day, and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.


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And it was so, when the days of their feasting were completed, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts. Thus Job did continually.


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Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them.


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And Jehovah said to Satan, From where do thou come? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.


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And Jehovah said to Satan, Have thou considered my servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.


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Have thou not made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has, on every side? Thou have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.


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And Jehovah said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in thy power, only upon himself do not put forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.


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And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,


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that there came a messenger to Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them,


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and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away. Yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and only I alone have escaped to tell thee.


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While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God fell from heaven, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and only I alone have escaped to tell thee.


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While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and only I alone have escaped to tell thee.


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While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house.


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And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead, and only I alone have escaped to tell thee.


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Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshiped.


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And he said, Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. Jehovah gave, and Jehovah has taken away, blessed be the name of Jehovah.


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Again it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Jehovah.


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And Jehovah said to Satan, From where did thou come? And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.


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And Jehovah said to Satan, Have thou considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although thou moved me against him, to destroy him without cause.


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And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man has he will give for his life.


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But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce thee to thy face.


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So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah, and smote Job with severe boils from the sole of his foot to his crown.


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But he said to her, Thou speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips.


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Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that came upon him, they came each one from his own place-Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite-and they made an appointment together to come to bemoan him and to comfort him.


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And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and did not recognize him, they lifted up their voice, and wept. And each one tore his robe, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.


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So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights. And none spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.


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Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own. Let a cloud dwell upon it. Let blackness come upon it.


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As for that night, let thick darkness seize upon it. Let it not rejoice among the days of the year. Let it not come into the number of the months.


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Let the stars of the twilight of it be dark. Let it look for light, but have none, nor let it behold the eyelids of the morning.


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If a man tries to converse with thee, will thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?


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The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.


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It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance of it. A form was before my eyes. There was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,


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How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!


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His sons are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate. Neither is there any to deliver them,


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whose harvest the hungry eat up, and takes it even out of the thorns, and the snare gapes for their substance.


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Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise thou the chastening of the Almighty.


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Thou shall be hid from the scourge of the tongue. Neither shall thou be afraid of destruction when it comes.


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For thou shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.


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And thou shall know that thy tent is in peace, and thou shall visit thy fold, and shall miss nothing.


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For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison of which my spirit drinks up. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.


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And be it still my consolation, yea, let me exult (in pain that does not spare), that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.


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To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be from his friend, even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.


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When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of tossing to and fro to the dawning of the day.


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The eye of him who sees me shall behold me no more. Thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be.


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Therefore I will not refrain my mouth. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.


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If I have sinned, what do I do to thee, O thou watcher of men? Why have thou set me as a mark for thee, so that I am a burden to myself?


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And why do thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lie down in the dust, and thou will seek me diligently, but I shall not be.


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How long will thou speak these things? And how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a mighty wind?


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If thy sons have sinned against him, and he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression,


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if thou were pure and upright, surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.


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For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out


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He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand. He shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure.


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Though I be righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.


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The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of the judges of it. If not he, who then is it?


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My soul is weary of my life. I will give free reign to my complaint. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.


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Is it good to thee that thou should oppress, that thou should despise the work of thy hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?


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Remember, I beseech thee, that thou have fashioned me as clay. And will thou bring me into dust again?


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If I be wicked, woe to me. And if I be righteous, yet I shall not lift up my head, being filled with shame, and looking upon my affliction.


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And if my head exalts itself, thou hunt me as a lion. And again thou show thyself marvelous upon me.


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Thou renew thy witnesses against me, and increase thine indignation upon me. Changes and warfare are with me.


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Why then have thou brought me forth out of the womb? I would have given up the spirit, and no eye had seen me.


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the land dark as midnight, of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as midnight.


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and that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacts of thee less than thine iniquity deserves.


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Surely then thou shall lift up thy face without spot. Yea, thou shall be steadfast, and shall not fear.


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And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday. Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.


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And thou shall be secure, because there is hope. Yea, thou shall search about thee, and shall take thy rest in safety.


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But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall have no way to flee. And their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit.


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But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who does not know such things as these?


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I am as a man who is a laughing-stock to his neighbor. I who called upon God, and he answered. The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.


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In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for calamity. It is ready for those whose foot slips.


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The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure. Into whose hand God brings abundantly.


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But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee.


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Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again. He shuts up a man, and there can be no opening.


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Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.


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He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.


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Thou also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. Thou set a bound to the soles of my feet.


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Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with thee, and thou have appointed his bounds that he cannot pass,


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For there is hope of a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch of it will not cease.


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so man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be roused out of their sleep.


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O that thou would hide me in Sheol, that thou would keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou would appoint for me a set time, and remember me!


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If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my warfare I would wait till my release should come.


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The waters wear the stones. The overflowings of it wash away the dust of the earth. So thou destroy the hope of man.


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His sons come to honor, and he does not know it, and they are brought low, but he does not perceive it of them.


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The wicked man travails with pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.


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He wanders abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? He knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.


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Because he has stretched out his hand against God, and behaves himself proudly against the Almighty.


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And he has dwelt in desolate cities, in houses which no man inhabited, which were ready to become heaps.


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He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.


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He shall not depart out of darkness. The flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of God's mouth he shall go away.


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I also could speak as ye do, if your soul were in my soul's stead. I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.


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And thou have laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me. And my leanness rises up against me; it testifies to my face.


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He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me. He has gnashed upon me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes upon me.


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They have gaped upon me with their mouth. They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.


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I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yea, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his mark.


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His archers encompass me round about. He splits my reins apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall upon the ground.


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Upright men shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall stir himself up against the profane.


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Yet the righteous shall hold on his way. And he who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger.


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Thou who tear thyself in thine anger, shall the earth be forsaken for thee? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?


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There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his. Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.


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Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, and this is the place of him who does not know God.


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whom I, even I, shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. My heart is consumed within me.


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be ye afraid of the sword. For wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.


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He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.


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He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.


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That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.


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For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.


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In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come upon him.


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When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, and will rain it upon him while he is eating.


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He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body, yea, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors are upon him.


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All darkness is laid up for his treasures. A fire not blown shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.


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How often is it that the lamp of the profane is put out, that their calamity comes upon them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger,


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Ye say, God lays up his iniquity for his sons. Let him recompense it to himself that he may know it.


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The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. And all men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.


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Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou are righteous? Or is it gain to him that thou make thy ways perfect?


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Saying, Surely those who rose up against us are cut off, and the remnant of them, the fire has consumed.


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If thou return to the Almighty, thou shall be built up, thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents.


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Thou shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to thee. And light shall shine upon thy ways.


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He will deliver even him who is not innocent. Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.


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on the left hand, when he works, but I cannot behold him. He hides himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.


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I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips, I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.


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Behold, as wild donkeys in the desert, they go forth to their work, seeking diligently for food. The wilderness yields them bread for their sons.


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From out of the populous city men groan, and the soul of the wounded cries out. Yet God does not regard the folly.


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These are of those who rebel against the light. They do not know the ways of it, nor abide in the paths of it.


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The eye also of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me. And he disguises his face.


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In the dark they dig through houses. They shut themselves up in the daytime. They do not know the light.


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For the morning is to all of them as thick darkness. For they know the terrors of the thick darkness.


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Swiftly they pass away upon the face of the waters. Their portion is cursed in the earth. They do not turn into the way of the vineyards.


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The womb shall forget him. The worm shall feed sweetly on him. He shall be no more remembered. And unrighteousness shall be broken as a tree.


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They are exalted. Yet a little while, and they are gone. Yea, they are brought low. They are taken out of the way as all others, and are cut off as the tops of the ears of grain.


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Lo, these are but the periphery of his ways. And how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?


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I hold fast my righteousness, and will not let it go. My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.


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This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty.


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If his sons be multiplied, it is for the sword. And his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.


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Man sets an end to darkness, and searches out to the furthest bound the stones of obscurity and of thick darkness.


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He breaks open a shaft away from where men sojourn, paths forgotten by the foot. They hang afar from men; they swing to and fro.


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And to man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.


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The blessing of him who was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.


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I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and they did not cast down the light of my countenance.


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I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as a man who comforts the mourners.


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But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.


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Upon my right hand rise the rabble. They thrust aside my feet, and they cast up against me their ways of destruction.


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Terrors are turned upon me. They chase my honor as the wind, and my welfare is passed away as a cloud.


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if my step has turned out of the way, and my heart walked after my eyes, and if any spot has clung to my hands,


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(no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and her I have guided from my mother's womb);


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(this also is an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have denied the God that is above);


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because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me so that I kept silence, and did not go out of the door-


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O that I had someone to hear me (Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me), and that I had the indictment which my adversary has written!


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if I have eaten the fruits of it without money, or have caused the owners of it to lose their lives,


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Then the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was kindled. His anger was kindled against Job because he justified himself rather than God.


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His anger was also kindled against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.


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And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old. Therefore I held back, and dared not show you my opinion.


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Yea, I attended to you. And, behold, there was none who convinced Job, or who answered his words among you.


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My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart, and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.


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If there be with him an agent, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,


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then God is gracious to him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom.


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He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.


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He sings before men, and says, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me.


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Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.


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saying, I have not sinned, nor committed unrighteousness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity to go with the profane.


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For thou should not say, There shall be no visitation to a man, whereas visitation is to him from the Lord.


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Therefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding. Far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and pervert righteousness before the Almighty.


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who does not respect the persons of rulers, nor regards the rich more than the poor. For they all are the work of his hands.


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In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.


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Therefore he takes knowledge of their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.


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When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hides his face, who then can behold him? It is the same whether to a nation, or to a man,


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Shall his recompense be as thou desire, that thou refuse it? For thou must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what thou know.


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so that we may not add to our sins, and lawlessness will be reckoned against us, speaking many words before the Lord.


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What is this thou think in judgment? Who are thou that thou said, I am righteousness before the Lord?


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That thou said, What advantage will it be to thee? And, What profit shall I have more than if I had sinned?


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If thou have sinned, what do thou effect against him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what do thou to him?


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Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out. They cry for help because of the arm of the mighty.


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He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but he sets them forever with kings upon the throne, and they are exalted.


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If they hearken and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.


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Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress into a broad place, where there is no confinement, and that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.


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and there shall be wrath upon the impious because of the ungodliness of bribes which the unrighteous receive.


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After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard.


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For he says to the snow, Fall thou on the earth, likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.


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and it is turned round about by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them upon the face of the habitable world.


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And now men do not see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.


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O the Almighty, we cannot find him out. He is excellent in power. And in justice and abundant righteousness he will not afflict.


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that thou should take it to the bound of it, and that thou should discern the paths to the house of it?


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Do thou know the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? Or can thou mark when the hinds do calve?


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Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go forth, and return not again.


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Will thou confide in him that he will bring home thy seed, and gather the grain of thy threshing-floor?


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She deals hardly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor be in vain, she is without fear,


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He swallows the ground with fierceness and rage, nor does he believe that it is the voice of the trumpet.


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As often as the trumpet sounds he says, Aha! And he smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.


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Behold, if a river overflows, he does not tremble. He is confident though a Jordan swell even to his mouth.


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When he raises himself up the mighty are afraid. Because of consternation they are beside themselves.


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If a man lays at him with the sword it cannot avail, nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.


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Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.


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And it was so, that, after Jehovah had spoken these words to Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends. For ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.


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Now therefore, take to you seven bullocks and seven rams. And go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for him I will accept, that I not deal with you after your folly. For ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.


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So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did according as Jehovah commanded them, and Jehovah accepted Job.


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And Jehovah turned back the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends. And Jehovah gave Job twice as much as he had before.


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Then there came to him all his brothers, and all his sisters, and all those who had been of his acquaintance before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they bemoaned him, and comforted him concerning all the evil that Jehovah had brought upon him. Each man also gave him a piece of money, and each one a ring of gold.


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So Jehovah blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. And he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-donkeys.


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And he called the name of the first, Jemimah, and the name of the second, Keziah, and the name of the third, Keren-happuch.


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And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job. And their father gave them inheritance among their brothers.


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And after this Job lived a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.


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Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers,


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And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. And whatever he does shall prosper.


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Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.


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The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying,


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Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the outermost parts of the earth for thy possession.


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Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.


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Arise, O Jehovah. Save me, O my God. For thou have smitten all my enemies upon the cheek bone. Thou have broken the teeth of the wicked.


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Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness. Thou have enlarged me in distress. Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.


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O ye sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? Will ye love vanity, and seek after falsehood? Selah.


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But know that Jehovah has set apart for himself him who is holy. Jehovah will hear when I call to him.


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Many there are who say, Who will show us good? Jehovah, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.


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O Jehovah, in the morning thou shall hear my voice. In the morning I will direct to thee, and will keep watch.


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But as for me, in the abundance of thy loving kindness I will come into thy house. In thy fear I will worship toward thy holy temple.


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Lead me, O Jehovah, in thy righteousness because of my enemies. Make thy way straight before my face.


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For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their inward part is very wickedness. Their throat is an open sepulcher. With their tongue they deceive.


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Hold them guilty, O God. Let them fall by their own counsels. Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions. For they have rebelled against thee.


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But let all those who take refuge in thee rejoice. Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defend them. Let those also who love thy name be joyful in thee.


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For thou will bless the righteous man, O Jehovah. Thou will encompass him with favor as with a shield. Selah.


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Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah, for I am withered away. O Jehovah, heal me, for my bones are troubled.


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All my enemies shall be put to shame and greatly troubled. They shall turn back. They shall be put to shame suddenly.


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if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me, (yea, I have delivered him without cause who was my adversary),


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let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it. Yea, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. Selah.


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Arise, O Jehovah, in thine anger. Lift up thyself against the rage of my adversaries, and awake for me the justice thou have commanded.


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Jehovah shall judge the peoples. Judge me, O Jehovah, according to my righteousness, and to my integrity that is in me.


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O let the wickedness of the wicked man come to an end, but establish thou the righteous man. For the righteous God tries the minds and hearts.


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Behold the wicked man, he travails with iniquity. Yea, he has conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.


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I will give thanks to Jehovah according to his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of Jehovah Most High.


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O Jehovah, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth, who has set thy glory upon the heavens!


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Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou have perfected praise, because of thine adversaries, that thou might still the enemy and the avenger.


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When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou have ordained,


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Thou make him to have dominion over the works of thy hands. Thou have put all things under his feet.


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Thou have rebuked the nations. Thou have destroyed the wicked. Thou have blotted out their name forever and ever.


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The enemy have come to an end. They are desolate forever, and the cities which thou have overthrown. The very memory of them is perished,


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and he will judge the world in righteousness. He will minister justice to the peoples in uprightness.


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And those who know thy name will put their trust in thee, for thou, Jehovah, have not forsaken those who seek thee.


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Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah. Behold my affliction from those who hate me, thou who lifts me up from the gates of death


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that I may show forth all thy praise. In the gates of the daughter of Zion I will rejoice in thy salvation.


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The nations are sunk down in the pit that they made. In the net which they hid, their own foot is taken.


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Jehovah has made himself known. He has executed justice. The wicked man is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.


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In the pride of the wicked man the poor man is hotly pursued. Let them be taken in the devices that they have conceived.


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For the wicked man boasts of his heart's desire. And the greedy man renounces, yea, despises Jehovah.


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The wicked man, in the pride of his countenance, says, He will not require it. All his thoughts are, There is no God.


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His ways are profane at all times. Thy judgments are far above out of his sight. As for all his adversaries, he puffs at them.


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He sits in the lurking-places of the villages. In the covert places he murders the innocent man. His eyes are secretly set against the poor man.


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He lurks in secret as a lion in his covert. He lies in wait to catch the poor man. He catches the poor man when he draws him in his net.


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Thou have seen. For thou behold mischief and spite, to repay with thy hand. The poor man commits himself to thee. Thou have been the helper of the fatherless.


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Break thou the arm of the sinner and the evil man. His wickedness shall be sought, and shall not be found.


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Jehovah, thou have heard the desire of the humble. Thou will prepare their heart, thou will cause thine ear to hear,


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For, lo, the wicked bend the bow. They make ready their arrow upon the string that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.


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Jehovah is in his holy temple. Jehovah's throne is in heaven. His eyes, behold, his eyelids try, the sons of men.


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He will rain snares upon sinners. Fire and brimstone and burning wind shall be the portion of their cup.


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They speak falsehood everyone with his neighbor. With flattering lip, and with a double heart, they speak.


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Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, now I will arise, says Jehovah. I will set him in the safety he gasps for.


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The words of Jehovah are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, purified seven times.


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How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?


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The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt. They have done abominable works. There is none that does good.


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Jehovah looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there were any who understood, who sought after God.


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Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon Jehovah?


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O that the salvation of Israel came out of Zion! When Jehovah brings back the captivity of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.


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he who does no slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor,


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in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear Jehovah, he that swears to his own hurt, and changes not,


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he who puts not his money out to interest, nor takes a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.


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Their sorrows shall be multiplied who give gifts for another god. Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take their names upon my lips.


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Hear the right, O Jehovah, attend to my cry. Give ear to my prayer, that goes not out of feigned lips.


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Thou have proved my heart. Thou have visited me in the night. Thou have tried me, and find nothing. I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.


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I have called upon thee, for thou will answer me, O God. Incline thine ear to me, and hear my speech.


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Show thy marvelous loving kindness, O thou who saves by thy right hand those who take refuge from those who rise up.


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from men by thy hand, O Jehovah, from men of the world whose portion is in this life, and whose belly thou fill with thy treasure. They are satisfied with sons, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.


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As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy form.


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Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I will take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.


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In my distress I called upon Jehovah, and cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry before him came into his ears.


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Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken because he was angry.


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He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion round about him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.


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Jehovah also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire.


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Then the channels of waters appeared, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at thy rebuke, O Jehovah, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.


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Jehovah has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands he has recompensed me.


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Therefore Jehovah has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.


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Thou have also given me the shield of thy salvation, and thy right hand has held me up, and thy gentleness has made me great.


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Thou have delivered me from the strivings of the people. Thou have made me the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known shall serve me.


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He rescues me from my enemies. Yea, thou lift me up above those who rise up against me. Thou deliver me from the violent man.


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Therefore I will give thanks to thee, O Jehovah, among the Gentiles, and will sing praises to thy name.


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Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tabernacle for the sun,


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His going forth is from the end of the heavens, and his circuit to the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat of it.


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The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul. The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making a simple man wise.


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The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes.


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The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever. The ordinances of Jehovah are true, and righteous altogether.


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More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold. Sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb.


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Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be upright, and I shall be clear from great transgression.


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Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer.


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We will triumph in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. Jehovah fulfill all thy petitions.


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Now I know that Jehovah saves his anointed. He will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.


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Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will make mention of the name of Jehovah our God.


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For the king trusts in Jehovah. And through the loving kindness of the Most High he shall not be moved.


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Thou will make them as a fiery furnace in the time of thine anger. Jehovah will swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.


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For thou will make them turn their back. Thou will make ready with thy bowstrings against their face.


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I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; it is melted within me.


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My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue clings to my jaws, and thou have brought me into the dust of death.


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For dogs have encompassed me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They pierced my hands and my feet.


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Ye who fear Jehovah, praise him. All ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all ye the seed of Israel.


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For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, neither has he hid his face from him, but when he cried to him, he heard.


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The meek shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise Jehovah who seek after him. Let your heart live forever.


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All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Jehovah, and all the kinfolk of the nations shall worship before thee.


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All the fat ones of the earth shall eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust shall bow before him, even he who cannot keep his soul alive.


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They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, that he has done it.


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Yea, tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou are with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.


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Thou prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Thou have anointed my head with oil. My cup runs over.


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Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah forever.


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He who has clean hands, and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully.


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Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory will come in.


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Lift up your heads, O ye gates. Yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory will come in.


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Yea, none who wait for thee shall be put to shame. They shall be put to shame who deal treacherously without cause.


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Guide me in thy truth, and teach me. For thou are the God of my salvation. For thee do I wait all the day.


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Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. According to thy loving kindness remember thou me, for thy goodness' sake, O Jehovah.


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All the paths of Jehovah are loving kindness and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.


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Judge me, O Jehovah, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in Jehovah without wavering.


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Jehovah is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?


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When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.


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Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident.


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One thing I have asked of Jehovah, that I will seek after, that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Jehovah, and to inquire in his temple.


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For in the day of trouble he will hide me in his pavilion. In the covert of his tabernacle he will hide me. He will lift me up upon a rock.


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And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies round about me. And I will offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy. I will sing, yea, I will sing praises to Jehovah.


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Hide not thy face from me. Put not thy servant away in anger. Thou have been my help. Cast me not off, nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.


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Deliver me not over to the will of my adversaries. For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.


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To thee, O Jehovah, I will call. My rock, be not thou deaf to me, lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like those who go down into the pit.


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Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.


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Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.


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Give them according to their work, and according to the wickedness of their doings. Give them after the operation of their hands. Render to them their recompense,


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because they regard not the works of Jehovah, nor the operation of his hands. He will break them down and not build them up.


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Jehovah is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise him.


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The voice of Jehovah makes the hinds to calve, and strips the forests bare. And in his temple everything says, Glory.


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I will extol thee, O Jehovah, for thou have raised me up, and have not made my foes to rejoice over me.


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O Jehovah, thou have brought up my soul from Sheol. Thou have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.


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For his anger is but for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy is in the morning.


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Thou, Jehovah, of thy favor had made my mountain to stand strong. Thou hid thy face; I was troubled.


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What profit is there in my blood when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare thy truth?


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Thou have turned for me my mourning into dancing. Thou have loosed my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness,


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to the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Jehovah my God, I will give thanks to thee forever.


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In thee, O Jehovah, do I take refuge. Let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in thy righteousness.


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Bow down thine ear to me. Deliver me speedily. Be thou to me a strong rock, a house of defense to save me.


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I will be glad and rejoice in thy loving kindness, for thou have seen my affliction. Thou have known my soul in adversities,


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Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah, for I am in distress. My eye wastes away with grief, yea, my soul and my body.


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For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are wasted away.


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I have become a reproach because of all my adversaries, yea, to my neighbors exceedingly, and a fear to my acquaintances. Those who saw me outside fled from me.


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For I have heard the slander of many. Fear was on every side, while they took counsel together against me. They devised to take away my life.


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Let me not be put to shame, O Jehovah, for I have called upon thee. Let the wicked be put to shame. Let them be silent in Sheol.


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Let the lying lips be dumb, which speak against the righteous man insolently, with pride and contempt.


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O how great is thy goodness, which thou have laid up for those who fear thee, which thou have wrought for those who take refuge in thee before the sons of men!


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In the covert of thy presence thou will hide them from the plotting of man. Thou will keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.


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As for me, I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes. Nevertheless thou heard the voice of my supplications when I cried to thee.


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O love Jehovah, all ye his sanctified. Jehovah preserves the faithful, and plentifully repays him who deals proudly.


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For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me. My moisture was changed as with the drought of summer. Selah.


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I acknowledged my sin to thee, and I did not hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Jehovah, and thou forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.


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For this let everyone who is devout pray to thee in a time when thou may be found. Surely when the great waters overflow they shall not reach to him.


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Thou are my hiding-place. Thou will preserve me from trouble. Thou will encompass me around with songs of deliverance. Selah.


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I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shall go. I will counsel thee with my eye upon thee.


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Become ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding, whose trappings must be bit and bridle to hold them in, else they will not come near to thee.


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Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he who trusts in Jehovah, loving kindness shall encompass him about.


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Jehovah brings the counsel of the nations to naught. He makes the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.


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There is no king saved by the multitude of an army. A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.


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The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Jehovah shall not want any good thing.


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(The face of Jehovah is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.)


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Jehovah redeems the soul of his servants, and none of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.


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Strive thou, O Jehovah, with those who strive with me. Fight thou against those who fight against me.


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Draw out the spear also, and stop the way against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, I am thy salvation.


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Let them be put to shame and brought to dishonor who seek after my soul. Let them be turned back and confounded who devise my hurt.


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For without cause they have hid their net for me in a pit. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.


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Let destruction come upon him unawares, and let his net that he has hid catch himself. Let him fall in it with destruction.


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All my bones shall say, Jehovah, who is like thee, who delivers a poor man from him who is too strong for him, yea, a poor and needy man from him who robs him?


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But as for me, when they were sick my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into my own bosom.


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I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as he who bewails his mother.


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But in my adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The wretches gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not. They tore me, and ceased not.


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Lord, how long will thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.


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Let not those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me. Neither let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.


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Let them not say in their heart, Aha, so would we have it. Let them not say, We have swallowed him up.


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Let them be put to shame and confounded together who rejoice at my hurt. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.


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Let them shout for joy, and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yea, let them say continually, Jehovah be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.


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He devises iniquity upon his bed. He sets himself in a way that is not good. He does not abhor evil.


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Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God. Thy judgments are a great deep. O Jehovah, thou preserve man and beast.


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How precious is thy loving kindness, O God, and the sons of men take refuge under the shadow of thy wings.


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They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and thou will make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.


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O continue thy loving kindness to those who know thee, and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.


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Rest in Jehovah, and wait patiently for him. Fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.


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For yet a little while, and the wicked man shall not be. Yea, thou shall diligently consider his place, and he shall not be.


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The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill such as are upright in the way.


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They shall not be put to shame in the time of evil, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.


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But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of Jehovah is as the fat of lambs: they shall disintegrate; they shall disintegrate away into smoke.


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For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land, and those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.


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I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen a righteous man forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.


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For Jehovah loves justice, and forsakes not his sanctified. They are preserved forever, but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.


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Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way, and he will exalt thee to inherit the land. When sinners are cut off, thou shall see it.


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I have seen a wicked man in great power, and spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.


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and Jehovah helps them, and rescues them. He rescues them from sinners, and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him.


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There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine indignation, nor is there any health in my bones because of my sin.


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Those also who seek after my life lay snares for me. And those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all the day long.


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I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked man is before me.


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Jehovah, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is. Let me know how frail I am.


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Behold, thou have made my days as handbreadths, and my life-time is as nothing before thee. Surely every man at his best condition is altogether vanity. Selah.


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Surely every man walks in a shadow. Surely they are disquieted in vain. He heaps up, and knows not who shall gather them.


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When thou have corrected man with rebukes for iniquity, thou make his beauty to disintegrate like a moth. Surely every man is vanity. Selah.


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Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear to my cry. Keep not silent at my tears, for I am a stranger with thee, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.


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He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and he set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.


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And he has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Jehovah.


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Blessed is the man who makes Jehovah his trust, and respects not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.


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Many, O Jehovah my God, are the wonderful works which thou have done, and thy thoughts which are toward us. They cannot be set in order to thee. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.


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Sacrifice and offering thou did not desire, but a body thou have prepared for me. Whole burnt offering and sacrifice for sin thou did not require.


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I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly. Lo, I will not refrain my lips. O Jehovah, thou know.


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I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart. I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy loving kindness and thy truth from the great assembly.


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Withhold thou not thy tender mercies from me, O Jehovah. Let thy loving kindness and thy truth continually preserve me,


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for innumerable evils have encompassed me around. My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed me.


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Let them be put to shame and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt.


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Let all those who seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee. Let such as love thy salvation say continually, Jehovah be magnified.


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But I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinks upon me. Thou are my help and my deliverer. Make no delay, O my God.


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Jehovah will preserve him, and keep him alive, and he shall be blessed upon the earth. And thou do not deliver him to the will of his enemies.


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And if he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood. His heart gathers iniquity to itself. When he goes abroad, he tells it.


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Yea, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.


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These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, how I went with the throng, and led them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping holyday.


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Why are thou cast down, O my soul? And why are thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.


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O my God, my soul is cast down within me. Therefore I remember thee from the land of the Jordan, and the Hermons, from the hill Mizar.


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Yet Jehovah will command his loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, even a prayer to the God of my life.


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I will say to God my rock, Why have thou forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?


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As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries reproach me; while they continually say to me, Where is thy God?


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Why are thou cast down, O my soul? And why are thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, the help of my countenance, and my God.


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Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against a profane nation. O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.


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For thou are the God of my strength. Why have thou cast me off? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?


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O send out thy light and thy truth. Let them lead me. Let them bring me to thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.


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Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise thee upon the harp, O God, my God.


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We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou did in their days, in the days of old.


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Thou drove out the nations with thy hand, but thou planted them. Thou afflicted the peoples, but thou spread them abroad.


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For they did not get the land in possession by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them, but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou were favorable to them.


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Through thee we will push down our adversaries. Through thy name we will tread them under who rise up against us.


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Thou make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and a derision to those who are round about us.


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All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten thee, nor have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.


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My heart overflows with a good matter. I speak the things which I have made concerning the king. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.


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Thou are fairer than the sons of men. Grace is poured into thy lips. Therefore God has blessed thee forever.


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And in thy majesty ride on prosperously because of truth and gentleness and righteousness. And thy right hand shall teach thee awesome things.


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Thou have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy companions.


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All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia. Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made thee glad.


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Kings' daughters are among thy honorable women. At thy right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.


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Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear. Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house.


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And the daughter of Tyre shall adore him with a gift. The rich among the people shall entreat thy favor.


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She shall be led to the king in broidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to thee.


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I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples shall give thee thanks forever and ever.


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Therefore we will not fear, though the earth changes, and though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas,


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though the waters of it roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with the swelling of it. Selah.


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There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.


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He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow, and cuts the spear in two. He burns the chariots in the fire.


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Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.


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The nobles of the peoples are gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God. He is greatly exalted.


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Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.


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As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God, God will establish it forever. Selah.


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As is thy name, O God, so is thy praise to the ends of the earth. Thy right hand is full of righteousness.


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For he shall see it. Wise men die. The fool and the brutish alike perish, and leave their wealth to others.


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Their inward thought is that their houses are forever, their dwelling-places to all generations. They call their lands after their own names.


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They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for it.


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The Mighty One, God, Jehovah, has spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof.


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Our God comes, and does not keep silence. A fire devours before him, and it is very tempestuous round about him.


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But to the wicked man God says, What have thou to do to declare my statutes, and that thou have taken my covenant in thy mouth,


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These things thou have done, and I kept silence. Thou thought that I was altogether such a one as thyself. But I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.


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Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me. And to him who orders his way aright I will show the salvation of God.


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Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness. According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.


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Against thee, thee only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, that thou may be justified when thou speak, and may prevail when thou are criticized.


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Behold, thou desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part thou will make me to know wisdom.


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Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation. And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.


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The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise.


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Then thou will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offering and in whole burnt offering. Then they will offer bullocks upon thine altar.


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God will likewise destroy thee forever. He will take thee up, and pluck thee out of thy tent, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.


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Lo, this is the man who did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.


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But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the loving kindness of God forever and ever.


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I will give thee thanks forever, because thou have done it. And I will hope in thy name in the presence of thy sanctified, for it is good.


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The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity. There is none who does good.


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God looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there were any who understood, who seek after God.


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Every one of them has gone back. They have together become filthy. There is none who does good, no, not one.


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Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon God?


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There they were in great fear, where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against thee. Thou have put them to shame because God has rejected them.


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O that the salvation of Israel came out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.


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For strangers are risen up against me, and violent men have sought after my soul. They have not set God before them. Selah.


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With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to thee. I will give thanks to thy name, O Jehovah, for it is good.


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because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they persecute me.


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Day and night they go about it, upon the walls of it. Iniquity and mischief also are in the midst of it.


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For it was not an enemy who reproached me. Then I could have borne it. Neither was it he who hated me that magnified himself against me. Then I would have hid myself from him.


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Let death come suddenly upon them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.


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God will hear, and respond to them, (even he who abides of old), Selah, men who have no changes, and who fear not God.


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His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.


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(Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee. He will never allow the righteous man to be moved.)


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But thou, O God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in thee.


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In God I will praise his word. In God I have put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?


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They gather themselves together. They hide themselves. They mark my steps, even as they have waited for my soul.


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For thou have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.


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Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in thee. Yea, in the shadow of thy wings I will take refuge until calamities be passed by.


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He will send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him who would swallow me up. Selah. God will send forth his loving kindness and his truth.


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My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.


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They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They have dug a pit before me. They are fallen into the midst of it themselves. Selah.


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I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to thee among the nations.


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Let them melt away as water that runs with haste. When he aims his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off,


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as a snail which melts and passes away, as the untimely birth of a woman, that has not seen the sun.


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Before your pots can feel the thorns, he will take them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike.


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A righteous man shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,


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so that men shall say, Truly there is a reward for the righteous man. Truly there is a God who judges in the earth.


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For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Jehovah.


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Even thou, O Jehovah God of hosts, the God of Israel, arise to visit all the nations. Be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.


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Kill them not, lest my people forget. Scatter them by thy power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield,


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for the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips. Let them even be taken in their pride, and for cursing and lying which they speak.


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Consume them in wrath, consume them, so that they shall be no more. And let them know that God rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth. Selah.


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But I will sing of thy strength. Yea, I will sing aloud of thy loving kindness in the morning. For thou have been my high tower, and a refuge in the day of my distress.


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Thou have given a banner to those who fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.


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God has spoken in his holiness. I will exult. I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.


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From the end of the earth I will call to thee when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.


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How long will ye set upon a man, that ye may kill, all of you, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?


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They only consult to thrust him down from his dignity. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.


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Trust in him at all times, ye people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.


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Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than vanity.


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Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery. If riches increase, set not your heart on it.


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O God, thou are my God. I will earnestly seek thee. My soul thirsts for thee, my flesh longs for thee, in a dry and weary land, where is no water.


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My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. And my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips


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But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him shall glory, for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.


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that they may shoot in secret places at a blameless man. Suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.


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They encourage themselves in an evil purpose. They converse of laying snares secretly. They say, Who will see them?


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They search out iniquities, saying, We have accomplished a diligent search. And the inward part of man and the heart are deep.


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So they shall be made to stumble, their own tongue being against them. All who see them shall wag the head.


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And all men shall fear. And they shall declare the work of God, and shall wisely consider of his doing.


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A righteous man shall be glad in Jehovah, and shall take refuge in him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.


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Blessed is the man whom thou choose and cause to approach, that he may dwell in thy courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, thy holy temple.


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By awesome things thou will answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, thou who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of those who are afar off upon the sea,


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They also who dwell in the outermost parts are afraid at thy signs. Thou make the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.


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Thou visit the earth, and water it; thou greatly enrich it. The river of God is full of water. Thou provide them grain when thou have so prepared the earth.


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Thou water its furrows abundantly. Thou settle the ridges of it. Thou make it soft with showers. Thou bless the springing of it.


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The pastures are clothed with flocks. The valleys also are covered over with grain. They shout for joy; they also sing.


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Say to God, How awesome are thy works! Through the greatness of thy power thine enemies shall submit themselves to thee.


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He rules by his might forever. His eyes observe the nations. Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.


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Thou caused men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water. But thou brought us out into a wealthy place.


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I will offer to thee burnt offerings of fatlings, with the incense of rams. I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.


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O let the nations be glad and sing for joy. For thou will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.


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As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.


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Sing to God, sing praises to his name. Cast up a highway for him who rides through the deserts. His name is Jehovah, and exult ye before him.


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God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners into prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.


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the earth trembled, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God, Sinai at the presence of God, the God of Israel.


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Though ye lie between two boundaries, it is as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her pinions with yellow gold.


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Why look ye askance, ye high mountains, at the mountain which God has desired for his abode? Yea, Jehovah will dwell in it forever.


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The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands. The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the sanctuary.


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Thou have ascended on high. Thou have led captivity captive. Thou have received gifts among men, yea, among the rebellious also, that Jehovah God might dwell with them.


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But God will smite through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of him who still goes in his guiltiness.


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that thou may dash thy foot in blood, that the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from enemies.


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The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, in the midst of the damsels playing with timbrels.


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There is little Benjamin their ruler, the rulers of Judah and their council, the rulers of Zebulun, the rulers of Naphtali.


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Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, trampling under foot the pieces of silver. He has scattered the peoples that delight in war.


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to him who rides upon the heaven of heavens, which are of old. Lo, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.


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O God, awesome out of thy holy places, the God of Israel, he gives strength and power to his people. Blessed be God.


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I sink in deep mire where there is no standing. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.


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Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who would cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. That which I took not away I have to restore.


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Let not those who wait for thee be put to shame through me, O lord Jehovah of hosts. Let not those who seek thee be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.


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For the zeal of thy house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach thee have fallen upon me.


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But as for me, my prayer is to thee, O Jehovah. In an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of thy loving kindness, answer me in the truth of thy salvation.


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Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.


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Let not the water flood overwhelm me, nor let the deep swallow me up. And let not the pit shut its mouth upon me.


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Answer me, O Jehovah, for thy loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of thy tender mercies turn thou to me,


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Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.


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Let their table before them become a snare, and when they are in peace, a trap, and for a stumbling block, and for a retribution to them.


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For they persecute him whom thou have smitten, and they tell of the sorrow of those whom thou have wounded.


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For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah. And they shall abide there, and have it in possession.


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Let them be put to shame and confounded who seek after my soul. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt.


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Let all those who seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee. And let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.


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But I am poor and needy. Make haste to me, O God. Thou are my help and my deliverer, O Jehovah. Delay thou not.


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Be thou to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually resort. Thou have given commandment to save me, for thou are my rock and my fortress.


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Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of a wicked man, out of the hand of an unrighteous and cruel man.


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By thee I have been held up from the womb. Thou are he who took me out of my mother's bowels. My praise shall be continually of thee.


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Let them be put to shame and consumed who are adversaries to my soul. Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor who seek my hurt.


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I will come with the mighty acts of the lord Jehovah. I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.


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Yea, even when I am old and gray headed, O God, forsake me not, until I have declared thy strength to a generation, thy might to everyone who is to come.


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Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, thou who have done great things. O God, who is like thee?


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Thou, who have shown us many and great troubles, will revive us again, and will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.


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I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God. To thee I will sing praises with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.


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My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long. For they are put to shame, for they are confounded, who seek my hurt.


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He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the sons of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor.


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The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall render tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.


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He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. And their blood will be precious in his sight,


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and they shall live. And to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba. And men shall pray for him continually. They shall bless him all the day long.


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There shall be abundance of grain in the earth upon the top of the mountains. The fruit of it shall shake like Lebanon. And they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.


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His name shall endure forever. His name shall be continued as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in him. All nations shall call him blessed.


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And blessed be his glorious name forever. And let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Truly, and Truly.


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If I had said, I will speak thus, behold, I would have dealt treacherously with the generation of thy sons.


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For, lo, those who are far from thee shall perish. Thou have destroyed all those who go a whoring from thee.


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But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have made the lord Jehovah my refuge, that I may tell of all thy works.


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Remember thy congregation, which thou have gotten of old, which thou have redeemed to be the tribe of thine inheritance, and mount Zion, at which thou have dwelt.


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Thine adversaries have roared in the midst of thine assembly. They have set up their ensigns for signs.


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They have set thy sanctuary on fire. They have profaned the dwelling-place of thy name to the ground.


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They said in their heart, Let us make havoc of them altogether. They have burned up all the meeting-places of God in the land.


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Thou break the heads of leviathan in pieces. Thou gave him to be food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.


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Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Jehovah, and that a foolish people has blasphemed thy name.


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O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove to the wild beast. Forget not the life of thy poor forever.


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Have respect to the covenant, for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of violence.


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Forget not the voice of thine adversaries. The tumult of those who rise up against thee ascends continually.


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We give thanks to thee, O God. We give thanks, for thy name is near. Men tell of thy wondrous works.


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when the earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved. I have set up the pillars of it. Selah.


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For in the hand of Jehovah there is a cup, and the wine foams. It is full of mixture, and he pours out of the same, surely to the dregs of it. All the wicked of the earth shall drain them, and drink them.


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All the horns of the wicked I will also cut off, but the horns of a righteous man shall be lifted up.


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The stouthearted are made a spoil. They have slept their sleep, and none of the men of might have found their hands.


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Surely the inward thought of man shall praise thee, even the residue of inward thought will observe a festival to thee.


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Vow, and pay to Jehovah your God. Let all who are round about him bring presents to him who ought to be feared.


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In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and slacked not. My soul refused to be comforted.


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I call to remembrance my song in the night. I commune with my own heart, and my spirit makes diligent search.


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The voice of thy thunder was in the whirlwind. The lightnings lightened the world. The earth trembled and shook.


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We will not hide them from their sons, telling to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, and his strength, and his wondrous works that he has done.


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For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their sons,


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that the generation to come might know, even the sons who should be born, who should arise and tell to their sons,


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and might not be as their fathers: a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.


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Behold, he smote the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide flesh for his people?


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Therefore Jehovah heard, and was angry. And a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also went up against Israel,


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when the anger of God went up against them, and killed of the fattest of them, and smote down the young men of Israel.


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But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity, and destroyed not. Yea, many a time he turned his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.


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He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, a band of agents of evil.


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He made a path for his anger. He spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence,


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And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, to this mountain, which his right hand had gotten.


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He also drove out the nations before them, and allotted them for an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.


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but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.


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For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.


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He brought him from following the ewes that have their young, to be the shepherd of Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.


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So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.


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O God, the nations have come into thine inheritance. They have defiled thy holy temple. They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.


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They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be food to the birds of the heavens, the flesh of thy sanctified to the beasts of the earth.


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We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and derision to those who are round about us.


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Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that do not know thee, and upon the kingdoms that do not call upon thy name.


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Do not remember against us the iniquities of our forefathers. Let thy tender mercies speedily meet us, for we are brought very low.


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Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name. And deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name's sake.


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Why should the nations say, Where is their God? Let the avenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed be known among the nations in our sight.


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Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee. According to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those who are appointed to death,


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and render to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach with which they have reproached thee, O Lord,


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so we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks forever. We will show forth thy praise to all generations.


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Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou who lead Joseph like a flock. Thou who sit above the cherubim, shine forth.


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Turn again, we beseech thee, O God of hosts. Look down from heaven, and, behold, and visit this vine,


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Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou made strong for thyself,


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He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard a language that I knew not.


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Thou called in trouble, and I delivered thee. I answered thee in the secret place of thunder. I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.


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I am Jehovah thy God who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.


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He would feed them also with the finest of the wheat. And I would satisfy thee with honey out of the rock.


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They know not, nor do they understand. They walk to and fro in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken.


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They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.


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My soul longs, yea, even faints for the courts of Jehovah. My heart and my flesh cry out to the living God.


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Yea, the sparrow has found her a house, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts, my King and my God.


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Passing through the valley of weeping they make it a place of springs. Yea, the early rain covers it with blessings.


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For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.


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For Jehovah God is a sun and a shield. Jehovah will give grace and glory. He will withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly.


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I will hear what God, Jehovah, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, and to his sanctified. But let them not turn again to folly.


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For thou, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in loving kindness to all those who call upon thee.


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All nations whom thou have made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord, and they shall glorify thy name.


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O God, the proud have risen up against me, and a company of violent men have sought after my soul, and have not set thee before them.


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But thou, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.


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O turn to me, and have mercy upon me. Give thy strength to thy servant, and save the son of thy handmaid.


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Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it, and be put to shame, because thou, Jehovah, have helped me, and comforted me.


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I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon as among those who know me. Behold, Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia: This man was born there.


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Yea, of Zion it shall be said, this and that man was born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her.


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cast off among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom thou remember no more, and they are cut off from thy hand.


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Thou have put my acquaintances far from me. Thou have made me an abomination to them. I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.


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My eye wastes away because of affliction. I have called daily upon thee, O Jehovah, I have spread forth my hands to thee.


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I will sing of the loving kindness of Jehovah forever. With my mouth I will make known thy faithfulness to all generations.


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For I have said, Mercy shall be built up forever. Thy faithfulness thou will establish in the very heavens.


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And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Jehovah, thy faithfulness also in the assembly of the sanctified.


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a God very awesome in the council of the holy ones, and to be feared above all those who are round about him?


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O Jehovah God of hosts, who is a mighty one like thee, O Jehovah? And thy faithfulness is round about thee.


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Thou have broken Rahab in pieces, as a wounded man. Thou have scattered thine enemies with the arm of thy strength.


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The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine, the world and the fullness of it; thou have founded them.


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Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne. Loving kindness and truth go before thy face.


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Blessed is the people who know the joyful sound. They walk, O Jehovah, in the light of thy countenance.


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Then thou spoke in a vision to thy sanctified, and said, I have laid help upon a mighty man. I have exalted a chosen man out of the people.


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but my faithfulness and my loving kindness shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted.


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What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.


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with which thine enemies have reproached, O Jehovah, with which they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.


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Before the mountains were brought forth, or thou had ever formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou are God.


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For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.


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Thou carry them away as with a flood. They are as a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up.


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The days of our years are threescore years and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for it is soon gone, and we fly away.


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Make us glad according to the days in which thou have afflicted us, and the years in which we have seen evil.


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And let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us. And establish thou the work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.


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He will cover thee with his pinions, and under his wings shall thou take refuge. His truth is a shield and a buckler.


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A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come near thee.


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Thou shall tread upon the lion and adder. The young lion and the serpent thou shall trample under foot.


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Because he has set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high because he has known my name.


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He shall call upon me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him.


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When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is that they shall be destroyed forever,


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For, lo, thine enemies, O Jehovah, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish. All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.


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Jehovah reigns! He is clothed with majesty. Jehovah is clothed with strength; he has girded himself with it. The world also is established that it cannot be moved.


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The floods have lifted up, O Jehovah, the floods have lifted up their voice, the floods lift up their waves.


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Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?


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And he has brought upon them their own iniquity, and will cut them off in their own wickedness. Jehovah our God will cut them off.


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For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, O that ye would hear his voice!


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Forty years long I was grieved with that generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways.


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Say among the nations, Jehovah reigns! The world also is established that it cannot be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.


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before Jehovah, for he comes. For he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.


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Clouds and darkness are round about him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.


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The mountains melted like wax at the presence of Jehovah, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.


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Let all those be put to shame who serve graven images, who boast themselves of idols. Bow yourselves to him, all ye gods.


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O ye who love Jehovah, hate evil. He preserves the souls of his sanctified. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.


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O sing to Jehovah a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand, and his holy arm, has wrought salvation for him.


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Jehovah has made known his salvation. He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations.


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He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.


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before Jehovah, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.


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The king's strength also loves justice. Thou establish equity. Thou execute justice and righteousness in Jacob.


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Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those who call upon his name, they called upon Jehovah, and he answered them.


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He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud. They kept his testimonies, and the statute that he gave them.


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Thou answered them, O Jehovah our God. Thou were a God who forgave them, though thou took vengeance on their doings.


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Know ye that Jehovah, he is God. It is he who has made us, and we are his. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.


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Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, and bless his name.


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I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when will thou come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.


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I will set no base thing before my eyes. I hate the work of those who turn aside. It shall not cleave to me.


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He who slanders his neighbor secretly, him I will destroy. He who has a high look and a proud heart I will not endure.


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My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me. He who walks in a perfect way, he shall minister to me.


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He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house. He who speaks falsehood shall not be established before my eyes.


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Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked of the land, to cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of Jehovah.


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Hide not thy face from me in the day of my distress. Incline thine ear to me. In the day when I call answer me speedily.


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Thou will arise, and have mercy upon Zion, for it is time to have pity upon her, yea, the set time has come.


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This shall be written for the generation to come. And a people which shall be created shall praise Jehovah.


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I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days. Thy years are throughout all generations.


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They shall perish, but thou shall endure. Yea, all of them shall grow old like a garment. As a vesture thou shall change them, and they shall be changed,


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For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.


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But the loving kindness of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him, and his righteousness to son's sons,


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Bless Jehovah, ye his agents, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, hearkening to the voice of his word.


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Bless Jehovah, O my soul. O Jehovah my God, thou are very great. Thou are clothed with honor and majesty,


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who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters, who makes the clouds his chariot, who walks upon the wings of the wind,


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He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herbage for the service of man, that he may bring forth food out of the earth,


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and wine that makes glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man's heart.


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O Jehovah, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom have thou made them all. The earth is full of thy riches.


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Yonder is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable creeping things, both small and great beasts.


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Thou hide thy face, they are troubled. Thou take away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.


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Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless Jehovah, O my soul. Praise ye Jehovah.


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that I may see the prosperity of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.


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Our fathers did not understand thy wonders in Egypt. They did not remember the multitude of thy loving kindnesses, but were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.


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He also rebuked the Red Sea, and it was dried up. So he led them through the depths as through a wilderness.


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And he saved them from the hand of him who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.


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Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy.


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and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. And the land was polluted with blood.


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Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their counsel, and were brought low in their iniquity.


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And he remembered his covenant for them, and relented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.


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Save us, O Jehovah our God, and gather us from among the nations, to give thanks to thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.


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Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, Truly. Praise ye Jehovah.


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O that men would praise Jehovah for his loving kindness, and for his wonderful works to the sons of men!


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They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble.


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He also blesses them, so that they are multiplied greatly, and he does not allow their cattle to decrease.


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He who is wise will give heed to these things, and they will consider the loving kindnesses of Jehovah.


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I will give thanks to thee, O Jehovah, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to thee among the nations.


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for they have opened against me the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit. They have spoken to me with a lying tongue.


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Let there be none to extend kindness to him, nor let there be any to have pity on his fatherless sons.


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Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with Jehovah, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.


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because he did not remember to show kindness, but persecuted the poor and needy man, and the broken in heart, to kill.


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Yea, he loved cursing, and it came to him. And he did not delight in blessing, and it was far from him.


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He also clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, and it came into his inward parts like water, and like oil into his bones.


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Let it be to him as the raiment with which he covers himself, and for the belt with which he is girded continually.


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But deal thou with me, O Jehovah the Lord, for thy name's sake. Because thy loving kindness is good, deliver thou me,


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Let them curse, but bless thou. When they arise, they shall be put to shame, but thy servant shall rejoice.


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Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor, and let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.


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Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion. Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.


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Thy people offer themselves willingly in the day of thy power, in holy array. Out of the womb of the morning thou have the dew of thy youth.


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He will judge among the nations. He will fill with dead bodies. He will strike through the head in many countries.


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Praise ye Jehovah. I will give thanks to Jehovah with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation.


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He has sent redemption to his people. He has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and reverend is his name.


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The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom, and all who act accordingly have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.


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He has scattered, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn shall be exalted with honor.


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A wicked man shall see it, and be grieved. He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away. The desire of wicked men shall perish.


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Not to us, O Jehovah, not to us, but to thy name give glory. For thy loving kindness, and for thy truth's sake.


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They have hands, but they handle not. They have feet, but they walk not, nor do they speak through their throat.


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Jehovah has been mindful of us. He will bless, he will bless the house of Israel. He will bless the house of Aaron.


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The cords of death encompassed me, and the pains of Sheol got hold upon me. I found trouble and sorrow.


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O Jehovah, truly I am thy servant. I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid. Thou have loosed my bonds.


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They encompassed me around, yea, they encompassed me around. In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.


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They encompassed me around like bees. They are quenched as the fire of thorns. In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.


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The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. The right hand of Jehovah does valiantly.


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Jehovah is God, and he has given us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar.


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I will also lift up my hands to thy commandments, which I have loved, and I will meditate on thy statutes.


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I know, O Jehovah, that thy judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness thou have afflicted me.


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Let the proud be put to shame, for they have overthrown me wrongfully. I will meditate on thy precepts.


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Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Jehovah, and teach me thine ordinances.


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Hear my voice according to thy loving kindness. Enliven me, O Jehovah, according to thine ordinances.


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where the tribes go up, even the tribes of Jehovah, for an ordinance for Israel, to give thanks to the name of Jehovah.


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Behold, as the eyes of servants to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are to Jehovah our God, until he has mercy upon us.


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Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.


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Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.


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As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so Jehovah is round about his people from this time forth and for evermore.


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For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous, that the righteous not put forth their hands to iniquity.


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But as for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, Jehovah will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.


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Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, Jehovah has done great things for them.


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He who goes forth and weeps, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with joy, bringing his sheaves.


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Unless Jehovah builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless Jehovah guards the city, the watchman wake but in vain.


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It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of toil, for so he gives sleep to his beloved.


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Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate.


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Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of thy house, thy sons like olive plants round about thy table.


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Neither do those who go by say, The blessing of Jehovah be upon you. We bless you in the name of Jehovah.


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O Israel, hope in Jehovah, for with Jehovah there is loving kindness, and with him is plentiful redemption.


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Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I exercise myself in grand matters, or in things too wonderful for me.


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Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child with his mother. Like a weaned child is my soul within me.


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Jehovah has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: From the fruit of thy body I will set upon thy throne.


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If thy sons will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their sons also shall sit upon thy throne for evermore.


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It is like the precious oil upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that came down upon the skirt of his garments,


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like the dew of Hermon, that comes down upon the mountains of Zion. For there Jehovah commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.


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who causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain, who brings forth the wind out of his treasuries,


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who sent signs and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants,


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For there those who led us captive required of us songs, and those who wasted us, mirth, saying, Sing for us one of the songs of Zion.


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Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember thee, if I do not prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.


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Remember, O Jehovah, the day of Jerusalem against the sons of Edom, who said, Raze it, raze it, even to the foundation thereof.


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O daughter of Babylon, who is to be destroyed, happy shall he be who rewards thee as thou have served us.


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I will worship toward thy holy temple, and give thanks to thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth. For thou have magnified thy word above all thy name.


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All the kings of the earth shall give thee thanks, O Jehovah, for they have heard the words of thy mouth.


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Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou will revive me. Thou will stretch forth thy hand against the wrath of my enemies, and thy right hand will save me.


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Jehovah will perfect that which concerns me. Thy loving kindness, O Jehovah, is forever. Forsake not the works of thine own hands.


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even the darkness hides not from thee, but the night shines as the day. The darkness and the light are both alike to thee.


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I will give thanks to thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are thy works, and that my soul knows right well.


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My frame was not hidden from thee, when I was made in secret, curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.


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Thine eyes saw my unformed substance, and in thy book they were all written, even the days that were ordained, when as yet there was none of them.


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Do I not hate them, O Jehovah, who hate thee? And am I not grieved with those who rise up against thee?


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and men who devise mischievous things in their heart. They gather themselves continually together for war.


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Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of a wicked man. Preserve me from violent men, who have purposed to thrust aside my steps.


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The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords. They have spread a net by the wayside. They have set snares for me. Selah.


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Grant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked man. Do not further his evil device. They exalt themselves. Selah.


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Let burning coals fall upon them. Let them be cast into the fire, into deep pits, from where they shall not rise.


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An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth. Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.


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Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.


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Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. And let me not eat of their dainties.


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Let a righteous man smite me, as a kindness. And let him reprove me, as oil upon the head. Let not my head refuse it. For even in their wickedness my prayer shall continue.


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Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. And they shall hear my words, for they are sweet.


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When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, thou knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have hidden a snare for me.


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Look on my right hand, and see, for there is no man who knows me. Refuge has failed me. No man cares for my soul.


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Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.


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Bring my soul out of prison that I may give thanks to thy name. The righteous shall encompass me around, for thou will deal bountifully with me.


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Hear my prayer, O Jehovah. Give ear to my supplications. In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.


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For the enemy has persecuted my soul. He has smitten my life down to the ground. He has made me to dwell in dark places as those who have been long dead.


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Make haste to answer me, O Jehovah, my spirit fails. Hide not thy face from me, lest I become like those who go down into the pit.


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Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning, for in thee do I trust. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to thee.


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Teach me to do thy will, for thou are my God. Thy Spirit is good, lead me in the land of uprightness.


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And in thy loving kindness cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul, for I am thy servant.


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my loving kindness, and my fortress, my high tower, and my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me.


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Jehovah, what is man, that thou take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that thou make account of him?


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Stretch forth thy hand from above. Rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hand of aliens,


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Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, whose mouth speaks deceit, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.


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That our sons shall be as plants grown up in their youth, and our daughters as cornerstones hewn according to the fashion of a palace,


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our garners are full, affording all manner of store, our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields,


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who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. Jehovah releases the prisoners.


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Jehovah opens the eyes of the blind. Jehovah raises up those who are bowed down. Jehovah loves the righteous.


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Jehovah preserves the sojourners. He upholds the fatherless and widow. But the way of the wicked he turns upside down.


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Praise ye Jehovah, for it is good to sing praises to our God. For it is pleasant, and praise is comely.


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who covers the heavens with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow upon the mountains.


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He has not dealt so with any nation. And as for his ordinances, they have not known them. Praise ye Jehovah.


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Let them praise the name of Jehovah, for his name alone is exalted. His glory is above the earth and the heavens.


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And he has lifted up the horn of his people, the praise of all his sanctified, even of the sons of Israel, a people near to him. Praise ye Jehovah.


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that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning, and that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsels,


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If they say, Come with us. Let us lay wait for blood. Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.


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She cries in the chief place of concourse, at the entrance of the gates, in the city. She utters her words:


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How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?


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Turn back at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you. I will make my words known to you.


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when your fear comes as a storm, and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.


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Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me,


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For the backsliding of the simple shall kill them, and the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.


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Let not kindness and truth forsake thee. Bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart,


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When thou lie down, thou shall not be afraid. Yea, thou shall lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.


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Do not say to thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give, when thou have it by thee.


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The curse of Jehovah is in the house of a wicked man, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.


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But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, that shines more and more to the perfect day.


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a loving hind and a pleasant doe. Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times, and be thou ravished always with her love.


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For why should thou, my son, be ravished with an interloping woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?


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Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, since thou have come into the hand of thy neighbor. Go, humble thyself, and importune thy neighbor.


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When thou walk, it shall lead thee. When thou sleep, it shall watch over thee. And when thou awake, it shall talk with thee.


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For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life,


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For the price of a harlot is as much as a piece of bread, but the adulteress hunts for the precious life.


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He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who would destroy his own soul does it.


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With her much fair speech she causes him to yield. With the flattering of her lips she forces him along.


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He goes after her straightaway, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,


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till an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hastens to the snare. And he does not know that it is for his life.


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For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.


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The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil. Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate.


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when he gave to the sea its bound that the waters should not transgress his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,


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He who corrects a scoffer gets himself reviling. And he who reproves a wicked man gets himself a bruise.


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Give opportunity to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.


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He who is simple, let him turn in here. And as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,


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The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.


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Jehovah will not allow the soul of a righteous man to famish, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.


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In the lips of him who has discernment wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.


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When the whirlwind passes, the wicked man is no more, but the righteous man is an everlasting foundation.


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The way of Jehovah is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.


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The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.


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The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way, but the wicked man shall fall by his own wickedness.


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The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.


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The hypocrite destroys his neighbor with his mouth, but the righteous shall be delivered through knowledge.


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When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.


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By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.


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He who goes around as a tale-bearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.


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Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah, but such as are perfect in their way are his delight.


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Hand in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished, but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.


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There is he who scatters, and increases yet more, and there he is who withholds more than is proper, but only to want.


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The people shall curse him who withholds grain, but a blessing shall be upon the head of him who sells it.


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He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. And a foolish man shall be servant to a wise man of heart.


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Behold, a righteous man shall be recompensed in the earth, how much more the wicked man and the sinner!


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A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but she who makes ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.


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A man shall be commended according to his wisdom, but he who is of a perverse heart shall be despised.


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Better is he who is lightly esteemed, and has a servant, than he who honors himself, and lacks bread.


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He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who pursues vanities is void of understanding.


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A wicked man is snared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous shall come out of trouble.


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A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the actions of a man's hands shall be rendered to him.


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The slothful man roasts not that which he took in hunting, but the substance of a diligent man is precious.


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There is he who makes himself rich, yet has nothing, and he who makes himself poor, yet has great wealth.


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He who despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who fears the commandment shall be rewarded.


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The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, but it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.


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A good man leaves an inheritance to his son's sons, and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.


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In the multitude of people is the king's glory, but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.


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Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the inward part of fools is made known.


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The king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath will be to him who causes shame.


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The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.


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The way of a wicked man is an abomination to Jehovah, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.


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Where there is no counsel, plans are disappointed, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.


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The heart of a righteous man meditates to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.


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Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah. Hand in hand, he shall not be unpunished.


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How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.


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He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.


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A servant who deals wisely shall have rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brothers.


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The beginning of strife is like letting out water. Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.


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He who justifies a wicked man, and he who condemns a righteous man, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.


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Wisdom is before the face of him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.


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A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and such contentions are like the bars of a castle.


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A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the increase of his lips he shall be satisfied.


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He who makes many friends does it to his own destruction, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.


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All the brothers of a poor man regard him inferior, how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues with words, but they are gone.


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A foolish son is the calamity of his father, and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.


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The fear of Jehovah is life to a man, and he shall abide satisfied. He shall not be visited with evil.


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Smite a scoffer, and a simple man will learn prudence. And reprove him who has understanding, and he will understand knowledge.


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He who does violence to his father, and chases away his mother, is a son that causes shame and brings reproach.


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The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger sins against his own life.


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The sluggard will not plow because of the winter. Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.


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He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets. Therefore do not associate with him who opens wide his lips.


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The way of him who is laden with guilt is exceedingly crooked, but as for a pure man, his work is right.


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When a scoffer is punished, a simple man is made wise, and when a wise man is instructed, he receives knowledge.


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Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.


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For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, if they be established together upon thy lips.


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to make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou may carry back words of truth to those who send thee?


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See thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before obscure men.


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Will thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For it certainly makes itself wings, like an eagle that flies toward heaven.


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For as he thinks within himself, so is he. Eat and drink, he says to thee, but his heart is not with thee.


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The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise son will have joy of him.


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Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?


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Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.


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Yea, thou shall be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, or as he who lies upon the top of a mast.


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They have stricken me, thou shall say, and I was not hurt. They have beaten me, and I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.


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If thou say, Behold, we did not know this, Does not he who weighs the hearts consider it? And he who keeps thy soul, does he not know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his work?


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My son, eat thou honey, for it is good, and the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to thy taste,


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so the knowledge of wisdom is to thy soul. If thou have found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy hope shall not be cut off.


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Lay not in wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting place.


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For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.


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And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns. The face of it was covered with nettles, and the stone wall of it was broken down.


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For it is better that it be said to thee, Come up here, than that thou should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom thine eyes have seen.


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Go not forth hastily to strive. What will thou do in the end of it when thy neighbor has put thee to shame?


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As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters.


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Have thou found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled with it, and vomit it.


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As he who takes off a garment in cold weather, and vinegar upon soda, so is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.


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As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless does not alight.


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Though his hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shown before the assembly.


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Forsake not thine own friend, and thy father's friend. And go not to thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity. Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far off.


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Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge who is surety for a strange woman.


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He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be considered a curse to him.


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He who keeps the fig tree shall eat the fruit of it, and he who regards his master shall be honored.


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Though thou should pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.


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The hay is carried, and the tender grass shows itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.


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And then will be goats' milk enough for thy food; for the food of thy household, and maintenance for thy maidens.


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For the transgression of a land many are the rulers of it. But by men of understanding and knowledge the state shall be prolonged.


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Better is the poor man who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.


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He who augments his substance by interest and increase, gathers it for him who has pity on the poor.


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He who causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit. But the perfect shall inherit good.


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He who covers his transgressions shall not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them shall obtain mercy.


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The ruler who lacks understanding is also a great oppressor, but he who hates covetousness shall prolong his days.


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He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who follows after vanity shall have poverty enough.


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A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.


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He who robs his father or his mother, and says, It is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer.


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He who is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife, but he who puts his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.


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He who, being often reproved, hardens his neck shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.


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When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man bears rule, the people sigh.


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He who loves wisdom delights his father, but he who keeps company with harlots wastes his substance.


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A righteous man takes knowledge of the cause of the poor. A wicked man has no such understanding to know.


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If a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.


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When the wicked are increased, transgression increases, but the righteous shall look upon their fall.


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An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to a wicked man.


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Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou know?


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Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,


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lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is Jehovah? or lest I be poor, and steal, and use the name of my God profanely.


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There is a generation whose teeth are swords, and their jaw teeth, knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.


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The leach has two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four that do not say, Enough:


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Sheol, and the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that does not say, Enough.


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The eye that mocks at his father, and despises to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.


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The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a maiden.


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So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, I have done no iniquity.


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If thou have done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou have thought evil, lay thy hand upon thy mouth.


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For the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood, so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.


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It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?


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She also rises while it is yet night, and gives food to her household, and their task to her maidens.


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The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually in its course, and the wind returns again to its circuits.


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All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place from where the rivers come, there they go again.


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All things are full of weariness, man cannot utter it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.


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That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is that which shall be done. And there is no new thing under the sun.


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Is there a thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.


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There is no remembrance of the former things, nor shall there be any remembrance of the latter that are to come, among those who shall come after.


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And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven. It is a great tribulation that God has given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.


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I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.


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I communed with my own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten for me great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yea, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.


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And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.


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I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure. And, behold, this also was vanity.


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I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine (my heart yet guiding me with wisdom), and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life.


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I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem.


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I also gathered for me silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got for me men-singers and women-singers, and the luxuries of the sons of men, and a wife and wives.


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So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.


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And whatever my eyes desired I kept not from them. I did not withhold my heart from any joy. For my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.


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Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do, and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.


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And I turned myself to behold wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Even that which has been done long ago.


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The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.


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Then I said in my heart, As it happens to the fool, so it will happen even to me, and why then was I more wise? Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.


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For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance forever, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how the wise man dies even as the fool!


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So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous to me. For all is vanity and a striving after wind.


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And I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who shall be after me.


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And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.


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Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.


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For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skillfulness, yet he shall leave it to a man who has not labored in it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.


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For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart in which he labors under the sun?


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For all his days are but sorrows, and his travail is grief, yea, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.


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There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.


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For to the man who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.


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a time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted,


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a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing,


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He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also he has set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.


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And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor. It is the gift of God.


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I know that, whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it. And God has done it that men should fear before him.


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That which is, has been long ago, and that which is to be, has long ago been. And God seeks again that which has passed away.


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And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.


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I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous man and the wicked man, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.


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I said in my heart, It is because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are beasts.


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For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts, even one thing befalls them; as the one dies, so dies the other. Yea, they all have one breath, and man has no preeminence above the beasts; for all is vanity.


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Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth?


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Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion. For who shall bring him back to see what shall be after him?


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Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And, behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter. And on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter.


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Yea, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.


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Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.


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There is one man who is alone, and he has not a second, yea, he has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end of all his labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, he says, do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a great travail.


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For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow, but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and has not another to lift him up.


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And if a man prevails against him who is alone, two shall withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.


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Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who does not know how to receive admonition any more.


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I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, who stood up in his stead.


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There was no end of all the people, even of all those over whom he was. Yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.


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Keep thy foot when thou go to the house of God, for to draw near to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools. For they know not that they do evil.


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Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth. Therefore let thy words be few.


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When thou vow a vow to God, defer not to pay it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou vow.


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Do not allow thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, nor say thou before the agent, that is was an error. Why should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?


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If thou see the oppression of a poor man, and the violent wresting of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter. For a man higher than the high is observing, and there are higher men than they.


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He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.


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When goods increase, they are increased who eat them. And what advantage is there to the owner of it, except the beholding of them with his eyes?


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The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the fullness of the rich will not allow him to sleep.


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There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches were kept by the owner of it to his hurt.


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And those riches perish in a bad venture. And if he has begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.


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As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.


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And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he that he labored for the wind?


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Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be fitting is for a man to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor in which he labors under the sun all the days of his life which God has given him, for this is his portion.


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Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God.


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For he shall not much remember the days of his life, because God answers him in the joy of his heart.


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A man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.


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If a man begets a hundred sons, and lives many years so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial, I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.


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Yea, though he lives a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoys no good, do not all go to one place?


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For what advantage has the wise man more than the fool? What has the poor man, who knows how to walk before the living?


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Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.


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Whatever has been, the name of it was given long ago, and it is know what man is. Neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.


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For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?


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It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting. For that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart.


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Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of it. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.


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Say thou not, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou do not inquire wisely concerning this.


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For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense. But the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.


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In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider. Yea, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.


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All this I have seen in my days of vanity. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evil-doing.


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It is good that thou should take hold of this, yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand. For he who fears God shall come forth from them all.


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I turned about, and my heart was set to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.


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And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are chains. He who pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.


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which my soul still seeks, but I have not found: among a thousand I have found one man, but among all those I have not found a woman.


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Behold, this only I have found: That God made man upright, but they have sought out many contrivances.


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Who is as the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.


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Be not hasty to go out of his presence. Persist not in an evil matter, for he does whatever pleases him.


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He who keeps a commandment shall know no evil thing. And a wise man's heart discerns the time and decision.


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There is no man who has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, nor has he power over the day of death. And there is no discharge in war. Neither shall wickedness deliver him who is given to it.


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All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.


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So I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were praised in the city where they had so done. This also is vanity.


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Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.


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Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and prolongs his days, yet surely I know that it shall be well with those who fear God, who fear before him.


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But it shall not be well with a wicked man, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he did not fear before God.


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There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked, again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.


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Then I commended joy, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be cheerful. For that shall abide with him in his labor all the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.


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When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also there is he who sees sleep with his eyes neither day nor night),


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then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. Because however much a man labors to seek it out, yet he shall not find it. Yea moreover, though a wise man thinks to know it, yet he shall not be able to find it.


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For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God. No man understands, either love or hatred. All is before them.


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All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous man and to the wicked man, to the good man, and to the clean man, and to the unclean man, to him who sacrifices and to him who does not sacrifice, as is the good man, so is the sinner, and he who swears, as he who fears an oath.


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This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all. Yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.


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Because to him who is joined with all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.


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For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know not anything, nor have they any more a reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.


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As well their love, as their hatred and their envy, has perished long ago, nor have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.


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Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart, for God has already accepted thy works.


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Live joyfully with the wife whom thou love all the days of thy life of vanity, which he has given thee under the sun, all thy days of vanity. For that is thy portion in life, and in thy labor in which thou labor under the sun.


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Whatever thy hand finds to do, do with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where thou go.


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I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill, but time and chance happens to them all.


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For man also does not know his time. As the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time when it falls suddenly upon them.


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There was a little city, and few men within it. And there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.


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Now there was found in it a poor wise man. And he by his wisdom delivered the city, yet no man remembered that same poor man.


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Then I said, Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.


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Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.


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Yea also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.


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If the spirit of the ruler rises up against thee, leave not thy place, for deference allays great offenses.


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There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceeds from the ruler:


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If the iron be blunt, and he does not whet the edge, then he must increase strength. But wisdom is advantageous to make right.


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The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.


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A fool also multiplies words; yet man knows not what shall be, and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?


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Happy are thou, O land, when thy king is the son of noble men, and thy rulers feast in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!


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Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought, and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber. For a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.


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If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth, and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.


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As thou know not what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, even so thou know not the work of God who does all.


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In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand, for thou know not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.


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Yea, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.


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Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes. But know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.


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Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.


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Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shall say, I have no pleasure in them,


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before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,


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in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows shall be darkened,


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and the doors shall be shut in the street, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low,


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yea, they shall be afraid of height, and terrors shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail, because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets,


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before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,


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And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yea, he pondered, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.


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The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly-words of truth.


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The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies. They have been given from one shepherd.


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And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.


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This is the end of the matter, all has been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole of man.


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Draw me, we will run after thee. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will be glad and rejoice in thee. We will make mention of thy love more than of wine. Rightly do they love thee.


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I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.


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Look not upon me, because I am swarthy, because the sun has scorched me. My mother's sons were incensed against me. They made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept.


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Tell me, O thou whom my soul loves, where thou feed thy flock, where thou make it to rest at noon. For why should I be as she who is veiled beside the flocks of thy companions?


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If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.


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As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.


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I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake love, until it please.


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My beloved is like a roe or a young hart. Behold, he stands behind our wall. He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice.


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The flowers appear on the earth. The time of the singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.


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The fig tree ripens her green figs, and the vines are in blossom. They give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.


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O my dove, who are in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the steep place, let me see thy countenance; let me hear thy voice. For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.


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Until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.


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I said, I will rise now, and go around the city. In the streets and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I did not find him.


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It was but a little that I passed from them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me.


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Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?


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They all handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword upon his thigh, because of fear in the night.


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He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the seat thereof of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, from the daughters of Jerusalem.


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Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown with which his mother has crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.


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Behold, thou are fair, my love, behold, thou are fair. Thine eyes are doves behind thy veil. Thy hair is as a flock of goats that lie along the side of mount Gilead.


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Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes that are newly shorn, which have come up from the washing, of which every one has twins, and none is bereaved among them.


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Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy mouth is comely. Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind thy veil.


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Thy neck is like the tower of David built for an armory, on which there hang a thousand bucklers, all the shields of the mighty men.


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Until the day is cool, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.


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Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, with me from Lebanon. Look from the top of Amana, from the top of Senir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.


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Thou have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride. Thou have ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.


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How fair is thy love, my sister, my bride! How much better is thy love than wine, and the fragrance of thine oils than all manner of spices!


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Thy lips, O my bride, drop the honeycomb. Honey and milk are under thy tongue, and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.


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spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.


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Awake, O north wind, and come, thou south, blow upon my garden, that the spices of it may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his precious fruits.


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I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey. I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends. Drink, yea. Drink abundantly, O beloved.


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I was asleep, but my heart awoke. It is the voice of my beloved who knocks, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled. For my head is filled with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.


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I rose up to open to my beloved, and my hands drops with myrrh, and my fingers with liquid myrrh, upon the handles of the bolt.


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I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone. My soul had failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him. I called him, but he gave me no answer.


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The watchmen who go about the city found me. They smote me, they wounded me. The keepers of the walls took away my mantle from me.


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I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him that I am sick from love.


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What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou do so adjure us?


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His cheeks are as a bed of spices, banks of sweet herbs. His lips are lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.


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His legs are pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold. His aspect is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.


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His mouth is most sweet. Yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.


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Where has thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Where has thy beloved turned, that we may seek him with thee?


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My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.


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Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me. Thy hair is as a flock of goats that lie along the side of Gilead.


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Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes, which have come up from the washing, of which every one has twins, and none is bereaved among them.


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My dove, my undefiled, is but one. She is the only one of her mother. She is the choice one of her who bore her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed, yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.


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Who is she who looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, sublime as an army with banners?


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I went down into the garden of nuts, to see the green plants of the valley, to see whether the vine budded, and the pomegranates were in flower.


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Return, return, O Shulammite, return, return, that we may look upon thee. Why will ye look upon the Shulammite, as upon the dance of two armies?


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How beautiful are thy feet in sandals, O prince's daughter! Thy rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a skilful workman.


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Thy body is a round goblet, no mingled wine is wanting. Thy waist is a heap of wheat set about with lilies.


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Thy neck is like the tower of ivory. Thine eyes, the pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.


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Thy head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thy head like purple. The king is held captive in the tresses.


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I said, I will climb up into the palm tree. I will take hold of the branches of it. Let thy breasts be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy breath like apples,


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and thy mouth like the best wine, that goes down smoothly for my beloved, gliding through the lips and teeth.


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Let us get up early to the vineyards. Let us see whether the vine has budded, its blossom is open, the pomegranates are in flower. There I will give thee my love.


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The mandrakes give forth fragrance. And at our doors are all manner of precious fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.


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Oh that thou were as my brother, who sucked the breasts of my mother! When I should find thee outside, I would kiss thee. Yes, and none would despise me.


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I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me. I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate.


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Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple tree I awoke thee. There thy mother was in travail with thee. There she who brought thee forth was in travail.


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Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thine arm. For love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as Sheol. The flashes of it are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame.


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Many waters cannot quench love, nor can floods drown it. If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned.


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We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?


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If she is a wall, we will build upon her a turret of silver. And if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.


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Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon. He let out the vineyard to keepers. Every one for the fruit of it was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.


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My vineyard, which is mine, is before me. Thou, O Solomon, shall have the thousand, and those who keep the fruit of it, two hundred.


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The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.


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Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for Jehovah has spoken. I have nourished and brought up sons, and they have rebelled against me.


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The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master's crib, but Israel does not know; my people does not consider.


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Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, sons who deal corruptly! They have forsaken Jehovah. They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They have gone away backward.


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Why will ye still be stricken, that ye revolt more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.


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From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds, and bruises, and fresh stripes. They have not been closed nor bound up nor soothed with oil.


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Your country is desolate. Your cities are burned with fire. Your land-strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.


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And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a shed in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.


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Unless Jehovah of hosts had left to us a seed, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like Gomorrah.


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Hear the word of Jehovah, ye rulers of Sodom, give ear to the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.


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What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says Jehovah. I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts. And I do not delight in the blood of bullocks or of lambs or of he-goats.


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Bring no more vain oblations. Incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies-I cannot bear iniquity and the solemn meeting.


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Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They are a trouble to me. I am weary of bearing them.


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And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood.


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Come now, and let us reason together, says Jehovah, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.


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But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword, for the mouth of Jehovah has spoken it.


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How the faithful city has become a harlot! She who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.


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Thy rulers are rebellious, and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They judge not the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come to them.


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Therefore says the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of my adversaries, and avenge me of my enemies.


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And I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, and will take away all thy tin.


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And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning. Afterward thou shall be called the city of righteousness, a faithful town.


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But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and those who forsake Jehovah shall be consumed.


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For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.


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And the strong man shall be as flax, and his work as a spark. And they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.


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And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow to it.


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And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.


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And he will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.


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For thou have forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they are filled with things from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines. And they strike hands with the children of foreigners.


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And their land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures. Their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots.


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Their land is also full of idols. They worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made,


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Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty.


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The lofty looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.


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For there shall be a day of Jehovah of hosts upon all that is proud and haughty, and upon all that is lifted up, and it shall be brought low,


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And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low, and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.


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And men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth mightily.


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In that day men shall cast away their idols of silver, and their idols of gold, which have been made for them to worship, to the moles and to the bats,


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to go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth mightily.


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For, behold, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and staff, the whole support of bread, and the whole support of water,


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the captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counselor, and the expert craftsman, and the skilful enchanter.


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And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor. The child shall behave himself proudly against the old man, and the base against the honorable.


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When a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, Thou have clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand,


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in that day he shall lift up his voice, saying, I will not be a healer, for in my house is neither bread nor clothing. Ye shall not make me ruler of the people.


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For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen, because their tongue and their doings are against Jehovah, to provoke the eyes of his glory.


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The show of their countenance witnesses against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have done evil to themselves.


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As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, those who lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.


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Jehovah will enter into judgment with the elders of his people, and the rulers of it. It is ye who have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of a poor man is in your houses.


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What do ye mean that ye crush my people, and grind the face of the poor? says the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.


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Moreover Jehovah said, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet,


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therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and Jehovah will lay bare their secret parts.


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In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, and the hair nets, and the crescents,


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And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet spices there shall be rottenness, and instead of a girdle, a rope, and instead of well set hair, baldness, and instead of a robe, a girding of sackcloth, branding instead of beauty.


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And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel. Only let us be called by thy name; take thou away our reproach.


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In that day the branch of Jehovah shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be excellent and comely for those who have escaped from Israel.


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And it shall come to pass, that he who is left in Zion, and he who remains in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even everyone who is written among the living in Jerusalem,


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when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst of it, by the spirit of justice, and by the spirit of burning.


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And Jehovah will create over the whole habitation of mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night, for over all the glory, a covering.


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And there shall be a pavilion for a shade in the daytime from the heat, and for a refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.


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Let me sing for my well-beloved a song of my beloved concerning his vineyard. My well-beloved had a vineyard in a very fruitful hill.


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And he dug it, and gathered out the stones of it, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also hewed out a winepress in it. And he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.


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And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, between me and my vineyard.


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What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes?


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And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will take away the hedge of it, and it shall be eaten up. I will break down the wall of it, and it shall be trodden down.


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And I will lay it waste. It shall not be pruned nor hoed, but there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.


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For the vineyard of Jehovah of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant. And he looked for justice, but behold, oppression, for righteousness, but behold, a cry.


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Woe to those who join house to house, who lay field to field, till there is no room, and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land!


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In my ears says Jehovah of hosts, of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.


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Woe to those who rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink, who tarry late into the night, till wine inflame them!


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And the harp and the lute, the tambourine and the pipe, and wine, are in their feasts, but they do not regard the work of Jehovah, nor have they considered the operation of his hands.


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Therefore my people have gone into captivity for lack of knowledge, and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude are parched with thirst.


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Therefore Sheol has enlarged its desire, and opened its mouth without measure. And their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he who rejoices among them, descend into it.


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And the common man is bowed down, and the great man is debased, and the eyes of the lofty are humbled,


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Then the lambs shall feed as in their pasture, and wanderers shall eat the waste places of the fat ones.


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who say, Let him make speed, let him hasten his work, that we may see it. And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it!


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Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!


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Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust, because they have rejected the law of Jehovah of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.


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Therefore the anger of Jehovah is kindled against his people, and he has stretched forth his hand against them, and has smitten them. And the mountains tremble, and their dead bodies are as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.


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And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will whistle for them from the end of the earth, and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly.


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None shall be weary nor stumble among them. None shall slumber nor sleep, nor shall the belt of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken,


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whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent. Their horses' hoofs shall be accounted as flint, and their wheels as a whirlwind.


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Their roaring shall be like a lioness. They shall roar like young lions. Yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and carry it away safe, and there shall be none to deliver.


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And they shall roar against them in that day like the roaring of the sea. And if a man looks to the land, behold, darkness and distress, and the light is darkened in the clouds of it.


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In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.


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Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings, with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.


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And one cried to another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory.


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And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who cried, and the house was filled with vapor.


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Then I said, Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. For my eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts.


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Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar.


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And he touched my mouth with it, and said, Lo, this has touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin forgiven.


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And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Lo, send me.


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And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but do not understand, and see ye indeed, but do not perceive.


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Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and be healed.


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Then I said, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until cities be waste without inhabitant, and houses without man, and the land become utterly waste,


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And if there be yet a tenth in it, it also shall in turn be eaten up. As a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stock remains when they are felled, so the holy seed is the stock of it.


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And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.


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And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is allied with Ephraim. And his heart trembled, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest tremble with the wind.


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Then Jehovah said to Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the fuller's field.


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And say to him, Take heed, and be quiet. Fear not, nor let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.


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Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach in it for us, and set up a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeel,


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For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. And within sixty-five years Ephraim shall be broken in pieces, so that is shall not be a people.


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And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.


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And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David. Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that ye will weary my God also?


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Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.


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For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings thou abhor shall be forsaken.


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Jehovah will bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah-even the king of Assyria.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will whistle for the fly that is in the outermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.


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And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the clefts of the rocks, and upon all thorn-hedges, and upon all pastures.


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In that day the Lord will shave with a razor what is hired in the parts beyond the River, even with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet, and it shall also consume the beard.


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And it shall come to pass, that because of the abundance of milk which they shall give he shall eat butter. For everyone who is left in the midst of the land shall eat butter and honey.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silver coins, shall be for briers and thorns.


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And all the hills that were dug with the mattock, thou shall not come there for fear of briers and thorns, but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of sheep.


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And Jehovah said to me, Take thee a great tablet, and write upon it with the pen of a man, For Maher-shalal-hash-baz.


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And I will take to me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.


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And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived, and bore a son. Then Jehovah said to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz.


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For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and, My mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be carried away before the king of Assyria.


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Inasmuch as this people have refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son,


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now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up upon them the waters of the River, strong and many, even the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it shall come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks,


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and it shall sweep onward into Judah. It shall overflow and pass through; it shall reach even to the neck. And the stretching out of its wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.


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Make an uproar, O ye peoples, and be broken in pieces. And give ear, all ye of far countries. Gird yourselves, and be broken in pieces. Gird yourselves, and be broken in pieces.


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Take counsel together, and it shall be brought to nothing. Speak the word, and it shall not stand, for God is with us.


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For Jehovah spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,


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Say ye not, A conspiracy, concerning all of which this people shall say, A conspiracy, nor fear ye their fear, nor be in dread of it.


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And he shall be for a sanctuary, but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a net and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


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And I will wait for Jehovah, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will be a man who has trusted in him.


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Behold, I and the children whom Jehovah has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from Jehovah of hosts, who dwells in mount Zion.


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And when they shall say to you, Seek for those who have familiar spirits and for the wizards, who chirp and who mutter, should not a people seek for their God? On behalf of the living seek to the dead?


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Seek to the law and to the testimony! If they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.


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And they shall pass through it, greatly distressed and hungry. And it shall come to pass that, when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse by their king and by their God, and turn their faces upward.


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And they shall look to the earth, and, behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish, and into thick darkness to be driven away.


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But there shall be no gloom to her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.


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The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them the light has shone.


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Thou have multiplied the nation. Thou have increased their joy. They joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.


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For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou have broken as in the day of Midian.


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For all the armor of the armed man in the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall be for burning, for fuel of fire.


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For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. And the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.


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Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even forever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.


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And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart,


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The bricks are fallen, but we will build with hewn stone, the sycamores are cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.


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Therefore Jehovah will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies,


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the Syrians in front, and the Philistines behind, and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.


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Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, nor will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows. For everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.


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For wickedness burns as the fire. It devours the briers and thorns. Yea, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.


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Through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts is the land burnt up, and the people are as the fuel of fire; no man spares his brother.


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And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry. And he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied. They shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm-


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Manasseh, Ephraim, and Ephraim, Manasseh, and together they shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.


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to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!


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And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? To whom will ye flee for help? And where will ye leave your glory?


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They shall only bow down under the prisoners, and shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.


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I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people of my wrath. I will give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.


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However he does not so reason, nor does his heart so think, but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few.


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As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose graven images excelled those of Jerusalem and of Samaria,


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Therefore it shall come to pass, that, when the Lord has performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.


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For he has said, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding. And I have removed the bounds of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures. And like a valiant man I have brought down those who sit on thrones.


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And my hand has found as a nest the riches of the peoples. And like a gathering of eggs that are forsaken, I have gathered all the earth. And there was none that moved the wing, or that opened the mouth, or chirped.


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Shall the axe boast itself against him who hews with it? Shall the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up him who is not wood.


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Therefore will the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, send among his fat ones, leanness, and under his glory there shall be kindled a burning like the burning of fire.


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And the light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame, and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.


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And he will consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body. And it shall be as when a standard-bearer faints.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and those who are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again lean upon him who smote them, but shall lean upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.


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For though thy people, Israel, be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them shall return. A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.


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For a full end, and that determined, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, will make in the midst of all the earth.


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Therefore thus says the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, O my people who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian, though he smites thee with the rod, and lifts up his staff against thee, according to the manner of Egypt.


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For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall be accomplished, and my anger is to his destruction.


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And Jehovah of hosts will stir up against him a scourge as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb. And his rod will be over the sea, and he will lift it up according to the manner of Egypt.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall depart from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of fatness.


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They have gone over the pass. They have taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah trembles. Gibeah of Saul has fled.


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This very day he shall halt at Nob. He shakes his hand at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.


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Behold, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, will lop off the boughs with terror. And the high of stature shall be hewn down, and the lofty shall be brought low.


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And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse. And a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.


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And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah.


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And his delight shall be in the fear of Jehovah. And he shall not judge according to the sight of his eyes, nor decide according to the hearing of his ears,


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but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.


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And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.


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And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together. And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.


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And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.


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They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters cover the sea.


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And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, and he who arises to rule over the Gentiles. In him shall the Gentiles hope, and his resting-place shall be glorious.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, who shall remain, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.


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And he will set up an ensign for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.


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Also the envy of Ephraim shall depart, and those who vex Judah shall be cut off. Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.


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And they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines on the west. Together they shall despoil the sons of the east. They shall put forth their hand upon Edom and Moab, and the sons of Ammon shall obey them.


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And Jehovah will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea. And with his scorching wind he will wave his hand over the River, and will smite it into seven streams, and cause men to march over dry shod.


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And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, who shall remain, from Assyria, like as there was for Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.


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And in that day thou shall say, I will give thanks to thee, O Jehovah, for though thou were angry with me. Thine anger is turned away and thou comfort me.


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Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust, and will not be afraid, for Jehovah, even Jehovah, is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation.


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And in that day ye shall say, Give thanks to Jehovah. Call upon his name. Declare his doings among the peoples. Make mention that his name is exalted.


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Cry aloud and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion, for great in the midst of thee is the Holy One of Israel.


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Set ye up an ensign upon the bare mountain. Lift up the voice to them. Wave the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.


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I have commanded my consecrated ones, yea, I have called my mighty men for my anger, even my proudly exulting ones.


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The noise of a multitude in the mountains, as of a great people! The noise of a tumult of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together! Jehovah of hosts is mustering the army for the battle.


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They come from a far country, from the outermost part of heaven, even Jehovah, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.


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And they shall be dismayed. Pangs and sorrows shall take hold. They shall be in pain as a woman in travail. They shall look in amazement one at another, their faces, faces of flame.


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Behold, the day of Jehovah comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation, and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it.


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For the stars of heaven and the constellations of it shall not give their light. The sun shall be darkened in its going forth, and the moon shall not cause its light to shine.


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And I will punish the world for the evil, and the wicked for their iniquity. And I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.


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Therefore I will make the heavens to tremble, and the earth shall be shaken out of its place, in the wrath of Jehovah of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.


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And it shall come to pass, that as the chased roe, and as sheep that no man gathers, they shall turn every man to his own people, and shall flee every man to his own land.


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Their infants also shall be dashed in pieces before their eyes. Their houses shall be rifled, and their wives ravished.


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Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, who shall not regard silver, and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.


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And their bows shall dash the young men in pieces. And they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.


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And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.


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It shall never be inhabited, nor shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. Neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there, nor shall shepherds make their flocks to lie down there.


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But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there, and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures. And ostriches shall dwell there, and wild goats shall dance there.


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And wolves shall cry in their castles, and jackals in the pleasant palaces. And her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.


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For Jehovah will have compassion on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land. And the sojourner shall join himself with them, and they shall cling to the house of Jacob.


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And the peoples shall take them, and bring them to their place. And the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of Jehovah for servants and for handmaids. And they shall take them captive whose captives they were, and they shall rule over their oppressors.


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And it shall come to pass in the day that Jehovah shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy trouble, and from the hard service in which thou were made to serve,


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that thou shall take up this taunt against the king of Babylon, and say, How has the oppressor ceased, the golden city ceased!


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who smote the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, who ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained.


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Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou are laid low, no hewer has come up against us.


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Sheol from beneath is moved for thee, to meet thee at thy coming. It stirs up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth. It has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.


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Thy pomp is brought down to Sheol, and the noise of thy viols. The worm is spread under thee, and worms cover thee.


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How thou are fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! How thou are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low!


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And thou said in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the outermost parts of the north.


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Those who see thee shall gaze at thee. They shall consider thee, saying, Is this the man who made the earth to tremble, who shook kingdoms,


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who made the world as a wilderness, and overthrew the cities of it, who did not let loose his prisoners to their home?


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But thou are cast forth away from thy sepulcher like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain, who are thrust through with the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, as a dead body trodden under foot.


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Thou shall not be joined with them in burial, because thou have destroyed thy land. Thou have slain thy people. The seed of evildoers shall not be named forever.


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Prepare ye slaughter for his sons for the iniquity of their fathers, that they not rise up, and possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with cities.


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And I will rise up against them, says Jehovah of hosts, and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and son and son's son, says Jehovah.


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I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water. And I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, says Jehovah of hosts.


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Jehovah of hosts has sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought, so shall it come to pass, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,


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that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and tread him under foot upon my mountains. Then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulder.


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This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.


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For Jehovah of hosts has purposed, and who shall annul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?


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Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of thee, because the rod that smote thee is broken. For out of the serpent's root shall come forth an adder, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.


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And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety. And I will kill thy root with famine, and thy remnant shall be slain.


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Howl, O gate, cry, O city. Thou are melted away, O Philistia, all of thee. For there comes a smoke out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks.


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What then shall a man answer the messengers of the nation? That Jehovah has founded Zion, and in her shall the afflicted of his people take refuge.


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The burden of Moab. For in a night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing. For in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing.


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They have gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep. Moab wails over Nebo, and over Medeba. On all their heads is baldness. Every beard is cut off.


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In their streets they gird themselves with sackcloth. On their housetops, and in their broad places, everyone wails, weeping abundantly.


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And Heshbon cries out, and Elealeh. Their voice is heard even to Jahaz. Therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud. His soul trembles within him.


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My heart cries out for Moab. Her nobles flee to Zoar, to Eglath-shelishi-yah. For they go up with weeping by the ascent of Luhith. For they raise up a cry of destruction in the way of Horonaim.


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For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate, for the grass is withered away. The tender grass fails. There is no green thing.


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Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, they shall carry away over the brook of the willows.


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For the cry has gone round about the borders of Moab, the wailing of it to Eglaim, and the wailing of it to Beer-elim.


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For the waters of Dimon are full of blood. For I will bring yet more upon Dimon, a lion upon those of Moab who escape, and upon the remnant of the land.


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Send ye the lambs for the ruler of the land from Selah to the wilderness, to the mount of the daughter of Zion.


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For it shall be that, as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be at the fords of the Arnon.


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Give counsel, execute justice, make thy shade as the night in the midst of the noonday. Hide the outcasts. Do not betray the fugitive.


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Let my outcasts dwell with thee. As for Moab, be thou a covert to him from the face of the destroyer. For the extortioner is brought to nothing. Destruction ceases. The oppressors are consumed out of the land.


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And a throne shall be established in loving kindness, and he shall sit on it in truth, in the tent of David, judging, and seeking justice, and swift to do righteousness.


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We have heard of the pride of Moab, that he is very proud, even of his arrogance, and his pride, and his wrath. His boastings are nothing.


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Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab, everyone shall wail. Ye shall mourn for the raisin-cakes of Kir-hareseth, utterly stricken.


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For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah. The lords of the nations have broken down the choice branches of it, which reached even to Jazer, which wandered into the wilderness. Its shoots were spread abroad. They passed over the sea.


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Therefore I will weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah. I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh. for upon thy summer fruits and upon thy harvest the battle shout has fallen.


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And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the fruitful field. And in the vineyards there shall be no singing nor joyful noise. No treader shall tread out wine in the presses. I have made the vintage shout to cease.


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And it shall come to pass, when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself upon the high place, and shall come to his sanctuary to pray, that he shall not prevail.


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But now Jehovah has spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of a hireling, the glory of Moab shall be brought into contempt, with all his great multitude. And the remnant shall be very small and of no account.


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The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.


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The cities of Aroer are forsaken. They shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.


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And the fortress shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus. And the remnant of Syria, they shall be as the glory of the sons of Israel, says Jehovah of hosts.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall grow lean.


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And it shall be as when the harvestman gathers the standing grain, and his arm reaps the ears. Yea, it shall be as when he gleans ears in the valley of Rephaim.


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Yet there shall be gleanings left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree-two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost branches of a fruitful tree, says Jehovah, the God of Israel.


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In that day men shall look to their maker, and their eyes shall have respect for the Holy One of Israel.


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And they shall not look to the altars, the work of their hands, nor shall they have respect for that which their fingers have made, either the Asherim, or the sun-images.


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In that day their strong cities shall be as the forsaken places in the woodland and on the mountain top, which were forsaken from before the sons of Israel, and it shall be a desolation.


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For thou have forgotten the God of thy salvation, and have not been mindful of the rock of thy strength. Therefore thou plant pleasant plants, and set it with foreign slips.


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In the day of thy planting thou hedge it in, and in the morning thou make thy seed to blossom. But the harvest flees away in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.


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Ah, the uproar of many peoples, who roar like the roaring of the seas, and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters!


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The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters, but he shall rebuke them. And they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm.


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At eventide, behold, terror, and before the morning they are not. This is the portion of those who despoil us, and the lot of those who rob us.


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that sends ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people fearful from their beginning onward, a nation that metes out and treads down, whose land the rivers divide!


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All ye inhabitants of the world, and ye dwellers on the earth, when an ensign is lifted up on the mountains, see ye, and when the trumpet is blown, hear ye.


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For thus Jehovah has said to me, I will be still, and I will behold in my dwelling-place, like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.


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For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the sprigs with pruning-hooks, and he will take away and cut down the spreading branches.


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They shall be left together to the ravenous birds of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth. And the ravenous birds shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.


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In that time a present shall be brought to Jehovah of hosts from a people tall and smooth, even from a people fearful from their beginning onward, a nation that metes out and treads down, whose land the rivers divide, to the place of the name of Jehovah of hosts, the mount Zion.


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The burden of Egypt. Behold, Jehovah rides upon a swift cloud, and comes to Egypt. And the idols of Egypt shall tremble at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.


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And I will stir up the Egyptians against the Egyptians, and they shall fight each one against his brother, and each one against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.


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And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst of it, and I will destroy the counsel of it. And they shall seek for the idols, and for the charmers, and for those who have familiar spirits, and for the wizards.


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And I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a cruel lord. And a fierce king shall rule over them, says the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.


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And the rivers shall become foul. The streams of Egypt shall be diminished and dried up. The reeds and flags shall wither away.


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The meadows by the Nile, by the brink of the Nile, and all the sown fields of the Nile, shall become dry, be driven away, and be no more.


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And the fishermen shall lament, and all those who cast a hook into the Nile shall mourn, and those who spread nets upon the waters shall languish.


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And the pillars of Egypt shall be broken in pieces. All those who work for hire shall be grieved in soul.


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The rulers of Zoan are utterly foolish. The counsel of the wisest counselors of Pharaoh has become brutish. How will ye say to Pharaoh, I am the son of wise men, the son of ancient kings?


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Where then are thy wise men? And let them tell thee now, and let them know what Jehovah of hosts has purposed concerning Egypt.


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The rulers of Zoan have become fools. The rulers of Memphis are deceived. They have caused Egypt to go astray, the chief of her tribes.


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Jehovah has mingled a spirit of perverseness in the midst of her, and they have caused Egypt to go astray in every work of it, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.


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In that day the Egyptians shall be like women, and they shall tremble and fear because of the shaking of the hand of Jehovah of hosts, which he shakes over them.


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And the land of Judah shall become a terror to Egypt. Everyone to whom mention is made of it shall be afraid because of the purpose of Jehovah of hosts, which he purposes against it.


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In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan, and swear to Jehovah of hosts. One shall be called The city of destruction.


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In that day shall there be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to Jehovah at the border of it.


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And it shall be for a sign and for a witness to Jehovah of hosts in the land of Egypt. For they shall cry to Jehovah because of oppressors, and he will send them a savior, and a defender, and he will deliver them.


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And Jehovah shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know Jehovah in that day. Yea, they shall worship with sacrifice and oblation, and shall vow a vow to Jehovah, and shall perform it.


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And Jehovah will smite Egypt, smiting and healing, and they shall return to Jehovah. And he will be entreated by them, and will heal them.


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In that day there shall be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria. And the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall worship with the Assyrians.


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In that day Israel shall be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,


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in that Jehovah of hosts has blessed them, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.


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In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it,


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at that time Jehovah spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go, and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put thy shoe from off thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.


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And Jehovah said, Just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia,


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so shall the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt, and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.


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And they shall be dismayed and confounded because of Ethiopia their confidence, and of Egypt their glory.


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And the inhabitant of this coastland shall say in that day, Behold, such is our trust, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria. And we, how shall we escape?


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The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land.


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A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam. Besiege, O Media, all the sighing of it I have made to cease.


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Therefore my loins are filled with anguish. Pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail. I am pained so that I cannot hear. I am dismayed so that I cannot see.


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My heart flutters. Horror has frightened me. The twilight that I desired has been turned into trembling to me.


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They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink. Rise up, ye rulers, anoint the shield.


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and when he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop of camels, he shall hearken diligently with much heed.


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And he cried out as a lion, O Lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and am set in my ward whole nights,


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and, behold, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. And he answered and said, Fallen, fallen is Babylon. And all the graven images of her gods are broken to the ground.


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O my threshing, and the grain of my floor! That which I have heard from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared to you.


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The burden of Dumah. He calls to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?


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The watchman said, The morning comes, and also the night. If ye will inquire, inquire ye; turn ye back, come.


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To him who was thirsty they brought water. The inhabitants of the land of Tema met the fugitives with their bread.


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For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.


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For thus the Lord has said to me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall fail.


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And the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, shall be few. For Jehovah, the God of Israel, has spoken it.


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The burden of the valley of vision. What troubles thee now, that thou have wholly gone up to the housetops?


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O thou that are full of shoutings, a tumultuous city, a joyous town. Thy slain are not slain with the sword, nor are they dead in battle.


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All thy rulers fled away together. They were bound by the archers. All who were found of thee were bound together; they fled afar off.


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Therefore I said, Look away from me. I will weep bitterly. Labor not to comfort me for the destruction of the daughter of my people.


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For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity, from the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, in the valley of vision, a breaking down of the walls, and a crying to the mountains.


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And it came to pass, that thy choicest valleys were full of chariots, and the horsemen set themselves in array at the gate.


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And he took away the covering of Judah, and thou looked in that day to the armor in the house of the forest.


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And ye saw the breaches of the city of David, that they were many. And to fortify the wall, ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool,


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Ye also made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But ye did not look to him who had done this, nor had ye respect to him who purposed it long ago.


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And in that day the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, called for weeping, and for mourning, and for baldness, and for girding with sackcloth.


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And, behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die.


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And Jehovah of hosts revealed himself in my ears, Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you till ye die, says the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.


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Thus says the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, Go, get thee to this treasurer, even to Shebna, who is over the house, and say,


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What are thou doing here? And whom have thou here, that thou have hewed thee out here a sepulcher? Hewing him out a sepulcher on high, carving a habitation for himself in the rock!


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Behold, Jehovah, like a strong man, will hurl thee away violently. Yea, he will wrap thee up closely.


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He will surely wind thee round and round, tossing like a ball into a large country. There thou shall die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be, thou shame of thy lord's house.


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And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy belt. And I will commit thy government into his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.


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And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder, and he shall open, and none shall shut, and he shall shut, and none shall open.


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And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place, and he shall be for a throne of glory to his father's house.


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And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, every small vessel, from the cups even to all the flagons.


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In that day, says Jehovah of hosts, the nail that was fastened in a sure place shall give way, and it shall be hewn down, and fall. And the burden that was upon it shall be cut off, for Jehovah has spoken it.


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The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in. It is revealed to them from the land of Kittim.


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Be still, ye inhabitants of the coast, thou whom the merchants of Sidon, who pass over the sea, have replenished.


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And on great waters the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue, and she was the mart of nations.


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Be thou ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying, I have not travailed, nor brought forth, neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.


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Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days, whose feet carried her afar off to sojourn?


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Who has purposed this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose merchants are rulers, whose traders are the honored of the earth?


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Jehovah of hosts has purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.


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He has stretched out his hand over the sea. He has shaken the kingdoms. Jehovah has given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strongholds of it.


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And he said, Thou shall no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, pass over to Kittim, even there shall thou have no rest.


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Behold, the land of the Chaldeans. This people once was not. The Assyrian founded it for those who dwell in the wilderness. They set up their towers. They raised up the palaces of it. Then they made it a ruin.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. After the end of seventy years it shall be to Tyre as in the song of the harlot:


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Take a harp, go about the city, thou harlot who has been forgotten. Make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou may be remembered.


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And it came to pass after the end of seventy years, that Jehovah examined Tyre, and she has repented of her gift, that she play the harlot with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.


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And her merchandise and her pay shall be holiness to Jehovah. It shall not be treasured nor laid up, for her merchandise shall be for those who dwell before Jehovah, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.


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Behold, Jehovah makes the earth empty, and makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters abroad the inhabitants of it.


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And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest, as with the servant, so with his master, as with the maid, so with her mistress, as with the buyer, so with the seller, as with the creditor, so with the debtor, as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him.


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The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away. The lofty people of the earth languish.


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The earth also is polluted under the inhabitants of it, because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.


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Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are found guilty. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.


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There is a crying in the streets because of the wine. All joy is darkened. The mirth of the land is gone.


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For thus shall it be in the midst of the earth among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.


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These shall lift up their voice. They shall shout. For the majesty of Jehovah they cry aloud from the sea.


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Therefore glorify ye Jehovah in the east, even the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel, in the isles of the sea.


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From the outermost part of the earth we have heard songs. Glory to the righteous. But I said, I pine away, I pine away. Woe is me! The treacherous have dealt treacherously, yea, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.


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And it shall come to pass, that he who flees from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit, and he who comes up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare. For the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.


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The earth shall stagger like a drunken man, and shall sway to and fro like a hammock. And the transgression of it shall be heavy upon it, and it shall fall, and not rise again.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will punish the host of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.


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And they shall be gathered together as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison. And after many days they shall be visited.


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Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, for Jehovah of hosts will reign in mount Zion and in Jerusalem. And glory shall be before his elders.


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O Jehovah, thou are my God. I will exalt thee. I will praise thy name. For thou have done wonderful things, even counsels of old, in faithfulness and truth.


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For thou have made of a city a heap, of a fortified city a ruin, a palace of strangers to be no city. It shall never be built.


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For thou have been a stronghold to a poor man, a stronghold to a needy man in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, when the blast of the oppressors is as a storm against the wall.


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As the heat in a dry place thou will bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat by the shade of a cloud, the song of the oppressors shall be brought low.


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And in this mountain Jehovah of hosts will make to all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the dregs, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the dregs well refined.


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And he will destroy on this mountain the face of the covering that covers all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations.


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He will swallow up death in victory, and the lord Jehovah will wipe away tears from off all faces. And he will take away the reproach of his people from off all the earth. For Jehovah has spoken it.


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And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God. We have waited for him, and he will save us. This is Jehovah. We have waited for him. We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.


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For the hand of Jehovah will rest on this mountain. And Moab shall be trodden down in his place, even as straw is trodden down in the water of the dunghill.


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And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of it as he who swims spreads forth his hands to swim. But Jehovah will lay low his pride together with the craft of his hands.


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And the high fortress of thy walls he has brought down, laid low, and brought to the ground, even to the dust.


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In that day this song shall be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city. He will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks.


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For he has brought down those who dwell on high. The lofty city, he lays it low. He lays it low even to the ground. He brings it even to the dust.


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Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Jehovah, we have waited for thee, to thy name. Even to thy memorial, is the desire of our soul.


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With my soul I have desired thee in the night. Yea, with my spirit within me I will seek thee earnestly. For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.


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Let favor be shown to a wicked man, yet he will not learn righteousness. In the land of uprightness he will deal wrongfully, and will not behold the majesty of Jehovah.


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Jehovah, thy hand is lifted up, yet they do not see. But they shall see thy zeal for the people, and be put to shame. Yea, fire shall devour thine adversaries.


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O Jehovah our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over us, but by thee only we will make mention of thy name.


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Being dead, they shall not live. Being deceased, they shall not rise. Therefore thou have visited and destroyed them, and made all remembrance of them to perish.


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Thou have increased the nation, O Jehovah, thou have increased the nation. Thou are glorified. Thou have enlarged all the borders of the land.


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Jehovah, in trouble they have visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.


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As a woman with child, who draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain and cries out in her pangs, so we have been before thee, O Jehovah.


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We have been with child. We have been in pain. We have as it were brought forth wind. We have not wrought any deliverance in the earth, nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen.


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Thy dead shall live. My dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, ye who dwell in the dust, for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast forth the dead.


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Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors around thee. Hide thyself for a little moment until the indignation be passed over.


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For, behold, Jehovah comes forth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.


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In that day Jehovah with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan the swift serpent, and leviathan the crooked serpent, and he will kill the monster that is in the sea.


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I Jehovah am its keeper, I will water it every moment. Lest any hurt it, I will guard it night and day.


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Wrath is not in me. Would that the briers and thorns were against me in battle! I would march upon them. I would burn them together.


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Or else let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me. Yea, let him make peace with me.


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In days to come Jacob shall take root; Israel shall blossom and bud. And they shall fill the face of the world with fruit.


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Has he smitten them as he smote those who smote them? Or are they slain according to the slaughter of those who were slain by them?


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In measure, in sending it forth, thou contend with it. He has removed with his rough blast in the day of the east wind.


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Therefore by this the iniquity of Jacob shall be forgiven. And this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: that he makes all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten apart, so that the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more.


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For the fortified city is solitary, a habitation deserted and forsaken like the wilderness. There the calf shall feed, and there he shall lie down, and consume the branches of it.


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When the boughs of it are withered, they shall be broken off. The women shall come, and set them on fire, for it is a people of no understanding. Therefore he who made them will not have compassion upon them, and he who formed them will show them no favor.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will beat off his fruit, from the flood of the River to the brook of Egypt. And ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye sons of Israel.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great trumpet shall be blown. And they shall come who were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and those who were outcasts in the land of Egypt. And they shall worship Jehovah in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.


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Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley of those who are overcome with wine!


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Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one. As a tempest of hail, a destroying storm, as a tempest of mighty waters overflowing, he will cast down to the earth with the hand.


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And the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be as the first-ripe fig before the summer, which, when he who looks upon it sees, while it is yet in his hand, he eats it up.


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In that day Jehovah of hosts will become a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the residue of his people,


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and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.


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And even these reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink. The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink. They are swallowed up of wine. They stagger with strong drink; they err in vision; they stumble in judgment.


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Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts?


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For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.


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to whom he said, This is the rest. Give ye rest to him who is weary. And this is the refreshing. Yet they would not hear.


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Therefore the word of Jehovah shall be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.


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Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and we are at agreement with Sheol. When the overflowing scourge shall pass through it shall not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hid ourselves under falsehood.


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Therefore thus says the lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation. He who believes in him shall, no, not be shamed.


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And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet. And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.


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And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.


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As often as it passes though, it shall take you. For morning by morning it shall pass through, by day and by night. And it shall be nothing but terror to understand the report.


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For the bed is shorter than what a man can stretch himself on it, and the covering narrower than what he can wrap himself in it.


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For Jehovah will rise up as in mount Perazim. He will be angry as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work, and bring to pass his act, his strange act.


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Now therefore be ye not scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong. For I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, upon the whole earth.


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When he has leveled the face of it, does he not cast abroad the chick-peas, and scatter the cummin, and put in the wheat in rows, and the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in the border of it?


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For the chick-peas are not threshed with a sharp instrument, nor is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin, but the chick-peas are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.


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Bread grain is ground, for he will not be always threshing it. And though the wheel of his cart and his horses scatter it, he does not grind it.


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Then I will distress Ariel, and there shall be mourning and lamentation, and she shall be to me as Ariel.


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And I will encamp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with posted troops. And I will raise siege works against thee.


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And thou shall be brought down, and shall speak out of the ground. And thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be as of he who has a familiar spirit, out of the ground. And thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.


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But the multitude of thy foes shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones as chaff that passes away. Yea, it shall be in an instant suddenly.


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She shall be visited by Jehovah of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.


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And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her stronghold, and that distress her, shall be as a dream, a vision of the night.


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And it shall be as when a hungry man dreams, and, behold, he eats. But he awakes, and his soul is empty. Or as when a thirsty man dreams, and, behold, he drinks. But he awakes, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul has appetite. So shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against mount Zion.


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Tarry ye and wonder, take your pleasure and be blind. They are drunken, but not with wine. They stagger, but not with strong drink.


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For Jehovah has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes. The prophets, and your heads, the seers, he has covered.


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And all vision has become to you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to a man who is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee. And he says, I cannot, for it is sealed.


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And the book is delivered to him who is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee. And he says, I am not learned.


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And the Lord said, Inasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but have removed their heart far from me, but in vain they worship me, teaching the commandments and doctrines of men.


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Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder. I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.


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Woe to those who hide deep their counsel from Jehovah, and whose works are in the dark, and who say, Who sees us? and, Who knows us?


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Ye turn things upside down! Shall the potter be esteemed as clay, that the thing made should say of him who made it, He did not make me, or the thing formed say of him who formed it, He has no understanding?


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Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?


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And in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.


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The meek also shall increase their joy in Jehovah, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.


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For the terrible one is brought to nothing, and the scoffer ceases. And all those who watch for iniquity are cut off,


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who make a man an offender in his cause, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and turn aside the just with a thing of nothing.


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Therefore thus says Jehovah, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob shall not now be ashamed, nor shall his face now grow pale.


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But when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name. Yea, they shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall stand in awe of the God of Israel.


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They also who err in spirit shall come to understanding, and those who murmur shall receive instruction.


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Woe to the rebellious sons, says Jehovah, who take counsel, but not of me, and who make a league, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin,


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who set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt!


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Therefore the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.


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They shall all be ashamed because of a people who cannot profit them, who are not a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.


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The burden of the beasts of the South. Through the land of trouble and anguish, from where come the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of young donkeys, and their treasures upon the humps of camels, to a people who shall not profit them.


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Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it on a scroll, that it may be for the time to come forever and ever.


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who say to the seers, Do not see, and to the prophets, Do not prophesy to us right things. Speak to us smooth things. Prophesy deceits.


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Get you out of the way. Turn aside out of the path. Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.


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Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely on it,


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therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly in an instant.


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And he shall break it as a potter's vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing, so that there shall not be found among the pieces of it a shard with which to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.


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For thus said the lord Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, Ye shall be saved in returning and rest. Your strength shall be in quietness and in confidence. And ye would not,


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but ye said, No, for we will flee upon horses. Therefore ye shall flee. And ye said, We will ride upon the swift. Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.


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One thousand shall flee at the threat of one. Ye shall flee at the threat of five, till ye are left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on a hill.


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And therefore Jehovah will wait, that he may be gracious to you. And therefore he will be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you, for Jehovah is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him.


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For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem. Thou shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to thee at the voice of thy cry. When he shall hear, he will answer thee.


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And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet thy teachers shall not be hidden anymore, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers.


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And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.


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And ye shall defile the overlaying of thy graven images of silver, and the plating of thy molten images of gold. Thou shall cast them away as an unclean thing. Thou shall say to it, Get thee away.


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And he will give the rain for thy seed, with which thou shall sow the ground, and bread of the increase of the ground, and it shall be fat and plenteous. In that day thy cattle shall feed in large pastures.


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Likewise the oxen and the young donkeys that till the ground shall eat savory provender, which has been winnowed with the shovel and with the fork.


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And there shall be upon every lofty mountain, and upon every high hill, brooks and streams of waters, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.


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Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that Jehovah binds up the hurt of his people, and heals the stroke of their wound.


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Behold, the name of Jehovah comes from far, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke. His lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a devouring fire,


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and his breath is as an overflowing stream that reaches even to the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction. And a bridle that causes to err shall be in the jaws of the peoples.


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Ye shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as he who goes with a pipe to come to the mountain of Jehovah, to the Rock of Israel.


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And Jehovah will cause his glorious voice to be heard, and will show the coming down of his arm with the indignation of his anger, and the flame of a devouring fire, with a blast and tempest and hailstones.


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And every stroke of the appointed staff, which Jehovah shall lay upon him, shall be with the sound of tambourine and harps. And he will fight with them in battles with the brandishing of his arm.


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For a Topheth is prepared of old, yea, it is made ready for the king. He has made it deep and large. The pile of it is fire and much wood. The breath of Jehovah kindles it, like a stream of brimstone.


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Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they look not to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek Jehovah!


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Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity.


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Now the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses flesh, and not spirit. And when Jehovah shall stretch out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall, and they shall all be consumed together.


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For thus says Jehovah to me, As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, even if a multitude of shepherds are called forth against him, he will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them, so Jehovah of hosts will come down to fight upon mount Zion, and upon the hill of it.


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As birds hovering, so Jehovah of hosts will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver. He will pass over and preserve.


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For in that day they shall cast away every man his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made to you for a sin.


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And the Assyrian shall fall by the sword, not of man, and the sword, not of men, shall devour him. But he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become subject to task work.


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And his rock shall pass away because of terror, and his rulers shall be dismayed at the ensign, says Jehovah, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.


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And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest, as streams of water in a dry place, as the shade of a great rock in a weary land.


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And the heart of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.


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For the fool will speak folly, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice profaneness, and to utter error against Jehovah, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.


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And the instruments of the churl are evil. He devises wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaks right.


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For ye shall be troubled days beyond a year, ye careless women. For the vintage shall fail; the ingathering shall not come.


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Tremble, ye women who are at ease. Be troubled, ye careless ones. Strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.


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Thorns and briers shall come up on the land of my people, yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city.


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For the palace shall be forsaken. The populous city shall be deserted. The hill and the watch-tower shall be for dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks,


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until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest.


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And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.


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And my people shall abide in a peaceable habitation, and in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting-places.


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Woe to thee who destroys, and thou were not destroyed, and deal treacherously, and they did not deal treacherously with thee! When thou have ceased to destroy, thou shall be destroyed, and when thou have made an end of dealing treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.


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O Jehovah, be gracious to us, we have waited for thee. Be thou our arm every morning, also our salvation in the time of trouble.


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At the noise of the tumult the peoples have fled. At the lifting up of thyself the nations are scattered.


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And your spoil shall be gathered as the caterpillar gathers. As locusts leap, men shall leap upon it.


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And there shall be stability in thy times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of Jehovah is thy treasure.


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The highways lie waste. The wayfaring man ceases. The enemy has broken the covenant. He has despised the cities. He does not regard man.


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The land mourns and languishes. Lebanon is confounded and withers away. Sharon is like a desert, and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.


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The sinners in Zion are afraid. Trembling has seized the profane. Who among us can dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?


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He who walks righteously, and speaks uprightly. He who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes away his hands from taking a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil.


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He shall dwell on high. His place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks. His bread shall be given. His waters shall be sure.


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Thy heart shall muse on the terror. Where is he who counted? Where is he who weighed the tribute? Where is he who counted the towers?


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Thou shall not see the fierce people, a people of a deep speech that thou cannot comprehend, of a strange tongue that thou cannot understand.


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Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities. Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tent that shall not be removed. The stakes of which shall never be plucked up, nor shall any of the cords of it be broken.


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But Jehovah will be with us there in majesty. A place of broad rivers and streams, in which shall go no galley with oars, nor shall a gallant ship pass thereby.


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Thy tacklings are loosed. They could not strengthen the foot of their mast. They could not spread the sail. Then the prey of a great spoil was divided. The lame took the prey.


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And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick. The people who dwell in it shall be forgiven their iniquity.


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Come near, ye nations, to hear. And hearken, ye peoples. Let the earth hear, and the fullness thereof, the world, and all things that come forth from it.


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For Jehovah has indignation against all the nations, and wrath against all their host. He has utterly destroyed them. He has delivered them to the slaughter.


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Their slain also shall be cast out. And the stench of their dead bodies shall come up, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.


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And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll. And all their host shall fade away as the leaf fades from off the vine, and as a fading leaf from the fig tree.


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For my sword has drunk its fill in heaven. Behold, it shall come down upon Edom, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.


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The sword of Jehovah is filled with blood. It is made fat with fatness, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams, for Jehovah has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.


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And the wild oxen shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls. And their land shall be drunken with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.


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And the streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch, and the dust of it into brimstone. And the land thereof shall become burning pitch.


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It shall not be quenched night nor day. The smoke of it shall go up forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste. None shall pass through it forever and ever.


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But the pelican and the porcupine shall possess it. And the owl and the raven shall dwell in it. And he will stretch over it the line of confusion, and the plummet of emptiness.


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They shall call the nobles of it to the kingdom, but none shall be there. And all its rulers shall be nothing.


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And thorns shall come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses of it. And it shall be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.


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And the wild beasts of the desert shall meet with the wolves. And the wild goat shall cry to his fellow. Yea, the screech owl shall settle there, and shall find her a place of rest.


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There the dart-snake shall make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shade. Yea, there the vultures shall be gathered, each one with her mate.


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Seek ye out of the book of Jehovah, and read. No one of these shall be missing. None shall want her mate. For my mouth, it has commanded, and his Spirit, it has gathered them.


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And he has cast the lot for them, and his hand has divided it to them by line. They shall possess it forever. From generation to generation they shall dwell therein.


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The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad. And the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.


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It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of Jehovah, the excellency of our God.


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Say to those who are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.


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Then the lame man shall leap as a hart, and the tongue of the mute shall sing. For waters in the wilderness shall break out, and streams in the desert.


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And the glowing sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. In the habitation of jackals, where they lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.


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And a highway shall be there, and a way. And it shall be called The way of holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for the redeemed, the wayfaring men. Yea fools shall not err in it.


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No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up in it. They shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.


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And the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing to Zion. And everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain gladness and joy. And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.


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Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.


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And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem to king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field.


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Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah came forth to him, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder.


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And Rabshakeh said to them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: What confidence is this in which thou trust?


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I say, thy counsel and strength for the war are but vain words. Now on whom do thou trust that thou have rebelled against me?


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Behold, thou trust upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand, and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust on him.


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But if thou say to me, We trust in Jehovah our God. Is that not he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?


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And have I now come up without Jehovah against this land to destroy it? Jehovah said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.


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Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it. And speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people who are on the wall.


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But Rabshakeh said, Has my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words, and not to the men who sit upon the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own urine with you?


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Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.


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Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in Jehovah, saying, Jehovah will surely deliver us. This city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.


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Hearken not to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria, Make your peace with me, and come out to me, and eat ye everyone of his vine, and everyone of his fig tree, and drink ye everyone the waters of his own cistern,


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until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.


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Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, Jehovah will deliver us. Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?


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Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? And have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?


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Who are they among all the gods of these countries that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Jehovah should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?


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But they held their peace, and answered him not a word. For the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.


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Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah came, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.


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And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.


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And they said to him, Thus says Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy, for the sons have come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.


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It may be Jehovah thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Jehovah thy God has heard. Therefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.


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And Isaiah said to them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus says Jehovah: Be not afraid of the words that thou have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.


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And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He has come out to fight against thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,


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Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trust deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.


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Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed, Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar?


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O Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, who sit above the cherubim, thou are the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. Thou have made heaven and earth.


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Incline thine ear, O Jehovah, and hear. Open thine eyes, O Jehovah, and see, and hear all the words of Sennacherib, who has sent to defy the living God.


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and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they have destroyed them.


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Now therefore, O Jehovah our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou are Jehovah, even thou only.


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Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus says Jehovah, the God of Israel, Whereas thou have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria,


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this is the word which Jehovah has spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion has despised thee and laughed thee to scorn. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at thee.


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By thy servants thou have defied the Lord, and have said, With the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon. And I will cut down the tall cedars of it, and the choice fir trees of it, and I will enter into its farthest height, the forest of its fruitful field.


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Have thou not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? Now I have brought it to pass, that it should be thine to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.


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Therefore their inhabitants were of small power. They were dismayed and confounded. They were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb. As the grass on the housetops, and as a field of grain before it is grown up.


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And this shall be the sign to thee. Ye shall eat this year that which grows of itself, and in the second year that which springs of the same, and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of it.


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For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and out of mount Zion those who shall escape. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.


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Therefore thus says Jehovah concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there. Neither shall he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it.


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By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come to this city, says Jehovah.


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And the agent of Jehovah went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand. And when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.


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And it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.


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and said, Remember now, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept greatly.


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Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus says Jehovah, the God of David thy father. I have heard thy prayer. I have seen thy tears. Behold, I will add to thy days fifteen years.


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And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.


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And this shall be the sign to thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do this thing that he has spoken:


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Behold, I will cause the shadow on the steps, which has gone down on the dial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps on the dial on which it had gone down.


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I said, In the noontide of my days I shall go into the gates of Sheol. I am deprived of the residue of my years.


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I said, I shall not see Jehovah, even Jehovah in the land of the living. I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.


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My dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me as a shepherd's tent. I have rolled up, like a weaver, my life. He will cut me off from the loom. From day even to night thou will make an end of me.


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I quieted myself until morning. As a lion, so he breaks all my bones. From day even to night will thou make an end of me.


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Like a swallow or a crane, so I chattered. I moaned as a dove. My eyes fail with looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed, be thou my surety.


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What shall I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it. I shall go softly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.


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O Lord, by these things men live, and wholly therein is the life of my spirit. Therefore recover thou me, and make me to live.


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Behold, for peace I had great bitterness. But thou have by love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption. For thou have cast all my sins behind thy back.


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For Sheol cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee. Those who go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.


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The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day. The father to the sons shall make known thy truth.


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Jehovah is ready to save me. Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of Jehovah.


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Now Isaiah had said, Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover.


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At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.


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And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah did not show them.


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Then Isaiah the prophet came to king Hezekiah, and said to him, What did these men say? And from where did they come to thee? And Hezekiah said, They have come from a far country to me, even from Babylon.


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Then he said, What have they seen in thy house? And Hezekiah answered, They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.


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Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in thy house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says Jehovah.


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And of thy sons who shall issue from thee, whom thou shall beget, they shall take away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.


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Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, The word of Jehovah which thou have spoken is good. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.


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Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry to her, that her warfare has been completed, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of Jehovah's hand double for all her sins.


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The voice of a man crying out in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of Jehovah, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.


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Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. And the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places smooth.


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And the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. For the mouth of Jehovah has spoken it.


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The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness of it is as the flower of the field.


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The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of Jehovah blows upon it. Surely the people is grass.


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O thou who tell good news to Zion, get thee up on a high mountain. O thou who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength. Lift it up, be not afraid, say to the cities of Judah, Behold, your God!


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Behold, the lord Jehovah will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him. Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.


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He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those who have their young.


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Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?


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With whom did he take counsel. And who instructed him, and taught him in the path of justice. And taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding?


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Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are accounted as the small dust of the balance. Behold, he takes up the isles as a very little thing.


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All the nations are as nothing before him. They are accounted by him as less than nothing, and vanity.


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The image, a workman has cast it, and the goldsmith overlays it with gold, and casts for it silver chains.


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He who is too impoverished for such an oblation chooses a tree that will not rot. He seeks for him a skilful workman to set up a graven image that shall not be moved.


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Have ye not known? Have yet not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?


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It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers, who stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in,


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Yea, they have not been planted. Yea, they have not been sown. Yea, their stock has not taken root in the earth. Moreover he blows upon them, and they wither, and the whirlwind takes them away as stubble.


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Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these, who brings out their host by number. He calls them all by name, by the greatness of his might. And because he is strong in power, not one is lacking.


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Why do thou say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, My way is hid from Jehovah. And the justice due to me is passed away from my God?


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Have thou not known? Have thou not heard? The everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, nor is weary. There is no searching of his understanding.


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But those who wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run, and not be weary. They shall walk, and not faint.


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Keep silence before me, O islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come near, then let them speak. Let us come near together to judgment.


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Who raised up the righteous man from the east, calls him to his foot, gives nations before him, and makes him rule over kings? He gives them as the dust to his sword, as the driven stubble to his bow.


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Who has wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, the first, and with the last, I am he.


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So the carpenter encourages the goldsmith, he who smoothes with the hammer, him who smites the anvil, saying of the soldering, It is good, and he fastens it with nails, that it should not be moved.


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thou whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, and called from the corners thereof, and said to thee, Thou are my servant, I have chosen thee and not cast thee away.


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Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee. Yea, I will help thee. Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.


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Behold, all those who are incensed against thee shall be put to shame and confounded. Those who strive with thee shall be as nothing, and shall perish.


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Thou shall seek them, and shall not find them, even those who contend with thee. Those who war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of naught.


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Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel. I will help thee, says Jehovah, and thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.


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Behold, I have made thee as a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth. Thou shall thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shall make the hills as chaff.


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Thou shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them. And thou shall rejoice in Jehovah. Thou shall glory in the Holy One of Israel.


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The poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst. I, Jehovah, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.


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I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.


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I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, and the myrtle, and the oil tree. I will set in the desert the fir tree, the pine, and the box tree together,


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that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of Jehovah has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.


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Let them bring forth, and declare to us what shall happen. Declare ye the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them, or show us things to come.


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Declare the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods. Yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.


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I have raised up him from the north, and he has come, him who calls upon my name from the rising of the sun. And he shall come upon rulers as upon mortar, and as the potter treads clay.


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Who has declared it from the beginning, that we may know, and beforetime, that we may say, He is right? Yea, there is none who declares. Yea, there is none who shows. Yea, there is none who hears your words.


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And when I look, there is no man. Even among them there is no counselor, that, when I ask of them, can answer a word.


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Behold, all of them, their works are vanity and nothing. Their molten images are wind and confusion.


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Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights. I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.


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A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench, but he will bring forth justice in truth.


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He will not fail nor be discouraged till he has set justice in the earth. And in his name Gentiles will hope.


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Thus says God, Jehovah, he who created the heavens, and stretched them forth, he who spread abroad the earth and that which comes out of it, he who gives breath to the people upon it, and spirit to those who walk in it,


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I, Jehovah, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles,


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to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison-house.


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I am Jehovah. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to graven images.


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Behold, the former things have come to pass, and I declare new things. Before they spring forth I tell you of them.


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Sing to Jehovah a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye who go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.


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Let the wilderness and the cities of it lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing. Let them shout from the top of the mountains.


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Jehovah will go forth as a mighty man. He will stir up his zeal like a man of war. He will cry, yea, he will shout aloud. He will do mightily against his enemies.


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I have for a long time held my peace. I have been still, and refrained myself. Now I will cry out like a travailing woman. I will gasp and pant together.


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I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs. And I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools.


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And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not. I will lead them in paths that they know not. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do, and I will not forsake them.


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They shall be turned back, they shall be utterly put to shame, who trust in graven images, who say to molten images, Ye are our gods.


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Who is blind, but my servant, or deaf, as my messenger that I send? Who is blind as he who is at peace with me, and blind as Jehovah's servant?


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But this is a people robbed and plundered. They are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison-houses. They are for a prey, and none delivers, for a spoil, and none says, Restore.


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Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not Jehovah? He against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, nor were they obedient to his law.


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Therefore he poured upon him the fierceness of his anger, and the strength of battle. And it set him on fire round about, yet he knew not. And it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.


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But now thus says Jehovah who created thee, O Jacob, and he who formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy name, Thou are mine.


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When thou pass through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. When thou walk through the fire, thou shall not be burned, nor shall the flame kindle upon thee.


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For I am Jehovah thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior. I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in thy stead.


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Since thou have been precious in my sight, and honorable, and I have loved thee, therefore I will give men in thy stead, and peoples instead of thy life.


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I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Keep not back. Bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the end of the earth,


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everyone who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yea, whom I have made.


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Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. Who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring their witnesses that they may be justified, or let them hear, and say, It is truth.


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Ye are my witnesses, says Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen, that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after me.


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I have declared, and I have saved, and I have shown, and there was no strange god among you. Therefore ye are my witnesses, says Jehovah, and I am God.


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Yea, since the day was I am he, and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. I will work, and who can hinder it?


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Thus says Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring down all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.


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who brings forth the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they lie down together; they shall not rise; they are extinct; they are quenched as a wick):


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Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth. Shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.


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The beasts of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,


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Thou have not brought me from thy sheep for burnt offerings, nor have thou honored me with thy sacrifices. I have not burdened thee with offerings, nor wearied thee with frankincense.


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Thou have bought me no sweet cane with money, nor have thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices. But thou have burdened me with thy sins. Thou have wearied me with thine iniquities.


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I, even I, am he who blots out thy transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember thy sins.


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Therefore I will profane the rulers of the sanctuary, and I will make Jacob a curse, and Israel a reviling.


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Thus says Jehovah who made thee, and formed thee from the womb, who will help thee: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, and thou, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.


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For I will pour water upon him who is thirsty, and streams upon the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.


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One shall say, I am Jehovah's, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his hand to Jehovah, and surname himself by the name of Israel.


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Thus says Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last, and besides me there is no God.


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And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? And let them declare the things that are coming, and that shall come to pass.


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Fear ye not, nor be afraid. Have I not declared to thee of old, and shown it? And ye are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Yea, there is no Rock. I know not any.


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Those who fashion a graven image are all of them vanity. And the things that they delight in shall not profit. And their own witnesses see not, nor know, that they may be put to shame.


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Behold, all his fellows shall be put to shame, and the workmen. They are of men. Let them all be gathered together. Let them stand up. They shall fear. They shall be put to shame together.


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The smith makes an axe, and works in the coals, and fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. Yea, he is hungry, and his strength fails. He drinks no water, and is faint.


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The carpenter stretches out a line. He marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes. And he marks it out with the compasses, and shapes it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house.


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He hews down cedars for him, and takes the holm tree and the oak, and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir tree, and the rain nourishes it.


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Then it shall be for a man to burn. And he takes of it, and warms himself. Yea, he kindles it, and bakes bread. Yea, he makes a god, and worships it. He makes it a graven image, and falls down to it.


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He burns part of it in the fire. With part of it he eats flesh. He roasts roast, and is satisfied. Yea, he warms himself, and says, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire.


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And the residue of it he makes a god, even his graven image. He falls down to it and worships, and prays to it, and says, Deliver me, for thou are my god.


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They do not know, nor do they consider. For he has shut their eyes, that they cannot see, and their hearts, that they cannot understand.


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And none calls to mind, nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire. Yea, I have also baked bread upon the coals of it. I have roasted flesh and eaten it. And shall I make the residue of it an abomination? Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?


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He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?


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Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for thou are my servant. I have formed thee. Thou are my servant, O Israel, thou shall not be forgotten by me.


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I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins. Return to me, for I have redeemed thee.


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Sing, O ye heavens, for Jehovah has done it. Shout, ye lower parts of the earth. Break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein. For Jehovah has redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel.


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Thus says Jehovah, thy Redeemer, and he who formed thee from the womb: I am Jehovah, who makes all things, who stretches forth the heavens alone, who spreads abroad the earth (who is with me?),


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who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad, who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish,


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who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, She shall be inhabited, and of the cities of Judah, They shall be built, and I will raise up the waste places of it,


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who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built, and of the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.


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Thus says Jehovah to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held to subdue nations before him. And I will loose the loins of kings to open the doors before him. And the gates shall not be shut.


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I will go before thee, and make the rough places smooth. I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut apart the bars of iron.


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And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou may know that it is I, Jehovah, who call thee by thy name, even the God of Israel.


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For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called thee by thy name. I have surnamed thee, though thou have not known me.


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I am Jehovah, and there is none else. Besides me there is no God. I will gird thee, though thou have not known me,


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that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me. I am Jehovah, and there is none else.


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I form the light, and create darkness. I make peace, and create evil. I am Jehovah who does all these things.


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Distil, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open that it may bring forth salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up together. I, Jehovah, have created it.


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Woe to him who strives with his maker, a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashions it, What are thou making? or thy work, He has no hands?


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Woe to him who says to a father, What are thou begetting? or to a woman, With what are thou travailing?


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Thus says Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel and his maker: Ask me of the things that are to come concerning my sons. And command ye me concerning the work of my hands.


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I have made the earth, and created man upon it. I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host I have commanded.


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I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways. He shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward, says Jehovah of hosts.


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Thus says Jehovah: The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to thee, and they shall be thine. They shall go after thee. In chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down to thee. They shall make supplication to thee, saying, Surely God is in thee, and there is none else, no God.


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They shall be put to shame, yea, confounded, all of them. They shall go into confusion together who are makers of idols.


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But Israel shall be saved by Jehovah with an everlasting salvation. Ye shall not be put to shame nor confounded world without end.


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For thus says Jehovah who created the heavens, the God who formed the earth and made it, who established it and did not create it a waste, who formed it to be inhabited: I am Jehovah, and there is none else.


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I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I did not say to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. I, Jehovah, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right.


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Assemble yourselves and come, draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations. They have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray to a god that cannot save.


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Declare ye, and bring it forth. Yea, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Have not I, Jehovah? And there is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior. There is none besides me.


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By myself I have sworn, the word has gone forth from my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue will confess to God.


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Only in Jehovah, it is said of me, is righteousness and strength. Even to him men shall come, and all those who were incensed against him shall be put to shame.


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Bel bows down, Nebo stoops, their idols are upon the beasts, and upon the cattle. The things that ye carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary beast.


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They stoop, they bow down together. They could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.


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Hearken to me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from their birth, who have been carried from the womb.


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And even to old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear, yea, I will carry, and will deliver.


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Such as lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, they hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god. They fall down, yea, they worship.


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They bear it upon the shoulder. They carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands. From its place it shall not remove. Yea, he may cry to it, yet it cannot answer, nor save him out of his trouble.


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Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is none else. I am God, and there is none like me,


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declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure,


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calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. Yea, I have spoken. I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed. I will also do it.


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I bring near my righteousness. It shall not be far off. And my salvation shall not tarry, and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.


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Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans. For thou shall no more be called tender and delicate.


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Take the millstones, and grind meal. Remove thy veil, strip off the train, uncover the leg, pass through the rivers.


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Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen. I will take vengeance, and will spare no man.


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Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans, for thou shall no more be called The mistress of kingdoms.


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I was angry with my people. I profaned my inheritance, and gave them into thy hand. Thou showed them no mercy. Upon the aged thou have laid thy yoke very heavily.


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And thou said, I shall be mistress forever, so that thou did not lay these things to thy heart, nor remembered the latter end of it.


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Now therefore hear this, thou who are given to pleasures, who sit securely, who say in thy heart, I am, and there is none else besides me. I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of sons.


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But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day: the loss of sons, and widowhood. In their full measure they shall come upon thee, in the multitude of thy sorceries, and the great abundance of thine enchantments.


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For thou have trusted in thy wickedness. Thou have said, None sees me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it has perverted thee. And thou have said in thy heart, I am, and there is none else besides me.


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Therefore evil shall come upon thee. Thou shall not know the dawning of it. And mischief shall fall upon thee. Thou shall not be able to put it away. And desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou know not.


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Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, in which thou have labored from thy youth, if so be thou shall be able to profit, if so be thou may prevail.


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Thou are wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the star-gazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from the things that shall come upon thee.


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Behold, they shall be as stubble. The fire shall burn them. They shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame. It shall not be a coal to warm at, nor a fire to sit before.


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Thus shall be the things to thee, in which thou have labored. Those who have trafficked with thee from thy youth shall wander each one to his quarter. There shall be none to save thee.


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Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and have come forth out of the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of Jehovah, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness


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(for they call themselves of the holy city, and steady themselves upon the God of Israel, Jehovah of hosts is his name):


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I have declared the former things from of old. Yea, they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them. Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.


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therefore I have declared it to thee from of old. Before it came to pass I showed it to thee, lest thou should say, My idol has done them. And my graven image, and my molten image, has commanded them.


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Thou have heard it, behold all this, and ye, will ye not declare it? I have shown thee new things from this time, even hidden things, which thou have not known.


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They are created now, and not from of old. And thou have not heard them before this day, lest thou should say, Behold, I knew them.


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Yea, thou heard not. Yea, thou knew not. Yea, from of old thine ear was not opened. For I knew that thou dealt very treacherously, and were called a transgressor from the womb.


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For my name's sake I will defer my anger, and for my praise I will refrain for thee, that I not cut thee off.


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For my own sake, for my own sake, I will do it. For how should my name be profaned? And I will not give my glory to another.


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Yea, my hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand has spread out the heavens. When I call to them, they stand up together.


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Assemble yourselves, all ye, and hear: Who among them has declared these things? He whom Jehovah loves shall perform his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm, the Chaldeans.


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I, even I, have spoken, yea, I have called him. I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.


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Come ye near to me, hear ye this: From the beginning I have not spoken in secret. From the time that it was, there I am. And now the lord Jehovah and his Spirit has sent me.


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Thus says Jehovah, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am Jehovah thy God, who teaches thee to profit, who leads thee by the way that thou should go.


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Oh that thou had hearkened to my commandments! Then thy peace would have been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.


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Thy seed also would have been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the grains of it. His name would not be cut off nor destroyed from before me.


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Go ye forth from Babylon. Flee ye from the Chaldeans. With a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth. Say ye, Jehovah has redeemed his servant Jacob.


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And they did not thirst when he led them through the deserts. He caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them. He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out.


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Listen, O isles, to me, and hearken, ye peoples from far. Jehovah has called me from the womb. From the bowels of my mother he has made mention of my name.


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And he has made my mouth like a sharp sword. He has hid me in the shadow of his hand, and he has made me a polished shaft. He has kept me close in his quiver.


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But I said, I have labored in vain. I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity. Yet surely the justice due to me is with Jehovah, and my recompense with my God.


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And now says Jehovah who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and that Israel be gathered to him (for I am honorable in the eyes of Jehovah, and my God has become my strength),


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yea, he says, It is too light a thing that thou should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel. I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou may be my salvation to the end of the earth.


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Thus says Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers. Kings shall see and arise, rulers, and they shall worship, because of Jehovah who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen thee.


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Thus says Jehovah, In an acceptable time I have heard thee, and in a day of salvation I have helped thee. And I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages,


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saying to those who are bound, Go forth; to those who are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pasture shall be on all bare heights.


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They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor sun smite them. For he who has mercy on them will lead them. He will guide them even by springs of water.


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Lo, these shall come from far, and, lo, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Sinim.


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Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth, and break forth into singing, O mountains. For Jehovah has comforted his people, and will have compassion upon his afflicted.


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Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, these may forget, yet I will not forget thee.


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Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold. All these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, says Jehovah, thou shall surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and gird thyself with them, like a bride.


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For, as for thy waste and thy desolate places, and thy land that has been destroyed, surely now thou shall be too narrow for the inhabitants, and those who swallowed thee up shall be far away.


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The sons of thy bereavement shall yet say in thine ears, The place is too narrow for me. Give a place to me that I may dwell.


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Then thou shall say in thy heart, Who has begotten these for me, seeing I have been bereaved of my sons, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering to and fro? And who has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone, these, where were they?


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Thus says the lord Jehovah: Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my ensign to the peoples. And they shall bring thy sons in their bosom, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.


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And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers. They shall bow down to thee with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of thy feet. And thou shall know that I am Jehovah, and those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.


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But thus says Jehovah, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered. For I will contend with him who contends with thee, and I will save thy sons.


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And I will feed those who oppress thee with their own flesh. And they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine. And all flesh shall know that I, Jehovah, am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.


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Thus says Jehovah, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, with which I have put her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities ye were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was put away.


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Why, when I came, was there no man? When I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea. I make the rivers a wilderness. Their fish stink because there is no water, and die for thirst.


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The lord Jehovah has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary. He awakens morning by morning. He awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.


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I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair. I did not hide my face from shame and spitting.


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For the lord Jehovah will help me. Therefore I have not been confounded. Therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.


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He is near who justifies me. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.


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Behold, the lord Jehovah will help me. Who is he who shall condemn me? Behold, all they shall grow old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.


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Who is among you that fears Jehovah, who obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness, and has no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely upon his God.


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Behold, all ye who kindle a fire, who gird yourselves about with firebrands, walk ye in the flame of your fire, and among the brands that ye have kindled. This ye shall have from my hand. Ye shall lie down in sorrow.


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Hearken to me, ye who follow after righteousness, ye who seek Jehovah. Look to the rock from where ye were hewn, and to the hold of the pit from where ye were dug.


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Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you. For when he was but one I called him, and I blessed him, and made him many.


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For Jehovah has comforted Zion. He has comforted all her waste places, and has made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Jehovah. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.


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Attend to me, O my people, and give ear to me, O my nation. For a law shall go forth from me, and I will establish my justice for a light of the peoples.


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My righteousness is near. My salvation has gone forth, and my arms shall judge the peoples. The isles shall wait for me, and on my arm they shall trust.


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Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath. For the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall grow old like a garment, and those who dwell in it shall die in like manner. But my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.


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Hearken to me, ye who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law. Fear ye not the reproach of men, nor be ye dismayed at their revilings.


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For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool. But my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation to all generations.


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Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Jehovah. Awake, as in the days of old, the generations of ancient times. Is it not thou who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the monster?


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Is it not thou who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?


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And the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing to Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.


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I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are thou, that thou are afraid of man who shall die, and of the son of man who shall be made as grass,


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and have forgotten Jehovah thy maker, who stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth, and fear continually all the day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he makes ready to destroy? And where is the fury of the oppressor?


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The captive exile shall speedily be loosed, and he shall not die in the pit, nor shall his bread fail.


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For I am Jehovah thy God, who stirs up the sea so that the waves of it roar. Jehovah of hosts is his name.


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And I have put my words in thy mouth, and have covered thee in the shadow of my hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say to Zion, Thou are my people.


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Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, who have drunk at the hand of Jehovah the cup of his wrath. Thou have drunk the bowl of the cup of staggering, and drained it.


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There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she has brought forth, nor is there any who takes her by the hand among all the sons that she has brought up.


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These two things have befallen thee (Who shall bemoan thee?): Desolation and destruction, and the famine and the sword. How shall I comfort thee?


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Thy sons have fainted. They lie at the head of all the streets, as an antelope in a net. They are full of the wrath of Jehovah, the rebuke of thy God.


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Thus says thy lord Jehovah, and thy God who pleads the cause of his people: Behold, I have taken out of thy hand the cup of staggering, even the bowl of the cup of my wrath. Thou shall no more drink it again.


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And I will put it into the hand of those who afflict thee, who have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over, and thou have laid thy back as the ground, and as the street, to those who go over.


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Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion. Put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city. For henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.


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Shake thyself from the dust. Arise, sit up, O Jerusalem. Loose thyself from the bonds of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.


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For thus says the lord Jehovah, My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there. And the Assyrian has oppressed them without cause.


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Now therefore, what do I do here, says Jehovah, seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them howl, says Jehovah, and because of you my name is continually blasphemed among the Gentiles.


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Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore they shall know in that day that I am he who speaks, Behold, it is I.


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How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Thy God reigns!


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The voice of thy watchmen! They lift up the voice; they sing together. For they shall see eye to eye, when Jehovah returns to Zion.


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Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem, for Jehovah has comforted his people. He has redeemed Jerusalem.


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Jehovah has made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.


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Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from there. Touch no unclean thing. Go ye out of the midst of her. Cleanse yourselves, ye who bear the vessels of Jehovah.


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For ye shall not go out in haste, nor shall ye go by flight. For Jehovah will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rearward.


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Just as many were astonished at thee (his visage was so marred, more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men),


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so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at him. For that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall understand.


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For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground. He has no form nor comeliness. And when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.


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He was despised, and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. And as him from whom men hide their face he was despised, and we esteemed him not.


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Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. Yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.


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But he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed.


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All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned every one to his own way, and Jehovah has laid on him the iniquity of us all.


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He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth. As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that is mute before its shearers, so he opened not his mouth.


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In his humiliation his justice was taken away. And as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?


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And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death. Although he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.


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Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him. He has put him to grief. When thou shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed. He shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand.


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He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied. By the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many, and he shall bear their iniquities.


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Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors. Yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.


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Sing, O barren, thou who did not bear. Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou who did not travail with child. For more are the sons of the desolate than the sons of the married woman, says Jehovah.


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Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations. Spare not. Lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.


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For thou shall spread abroad on the right hand and on the left. And thy seed shall possess the nations, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.


