\NormalFont\ShortTitle{The Wisdom Of Solomon}
{\MT THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON.

\par }\PoetryChap{1}{\Q \VerseOne{1}Love righteousness, ye that be judges of the earth,
\par }{\Q Think ye of the Lord
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:1 }
Gr.
in goodness.
} with a good mind,
\par }{\Q And in singleness of heart seek ye him;
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Because he is found of them that tempt him not,
\par }{\Q And is manifested to them that do not distrust him.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}For crooked thoughts separate from God;
\par }{\Q And the
{\ADD{supreme
}} Power, when it is brought to the proof,
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 1:3 }
Gr.
convicteth.
} putteth to confusion the foolish:
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Because wisdom will not enter into a soul that deviseth evil,
\par }{\Q Nor dwell in a body that is held in pledge by sin.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}For a holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit.
\par }{\Q And will start away from thoughts that are without understanding,
\par }{\Q And will be
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 1:5 }
Gr.
convicted.
} put to confusion when unrighteousness hath come in.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}For
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 1:6 }
Some authorities read
the spirit of wisdom is loving to man.
} wisdom is a spirit that loveth man,
\par }{\Q And she will not hold a
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:6 }
Or,
reviler
} blasphemer guiltless for his lips;
\par }{\Q Because God beareth witness of his reins,
\par }{\Q And is a true overseer of his heart,
\par }{\Q And a hearer of his tongue:
\par }{\Q \VS{7}Because the spirit of the Lord hath filled
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 1:7 }
Gr.
the inhabited earth.
} the world,
\par }{\Q And that which holdeth all things together hath knowledge of
{\ADD{every
}} voice.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Therefore no man that uttereth unrighteous things shall be unseen;
\par }{\Q \FTNT{‡}{{\FR 1:8 }
Some authorities read
Nor indeed.
} Neither shall Justice, when it convicteth, pass him by.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}For in
{\ADD{the midst of
}} his counsels the ungodly shall be searched out;
\par }{\Q And the sound of his words shall come unto the Lord
\par }{\Q To bring to conviction his lawless deeds:
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Because
{\ADD{there is
}} an ear of jealousy
{\ADD{that
}} listeneth to all things,
\par }{\Q And the noise of murmurings is not hid.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Beware then of unprofitable murmuring,
\par }{\Q And refrain your tongue from backbiting;
\par }{\Q Because no secret utterance shall go on its way void,
\par }{\Q And a mouth that belieth destroyeth a soul.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}Court not death in the error of your life;
\par }{\Q Neither draw upon yourselves destruction by the works of your hands:
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Because God made not death;
\par }{\Q Neither delighteth he when the living perish:
\par }{\Q \VS{14}For he created all things that they might have being:
\par }{\Q And\FTNT{§}{{\FR 1:14 }
Or, all
the races
of creatures
in the world
} the generative powers of the world
{\ADD{are
}} healthsome,
\par }{\Q And there is no poison of destruction in them:
\par }{\Q Nor hath Hades
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:14 }
Or,
a royal house
} royal dominion upon earth,
\par }{\Q \VS{15}For righteousness is immortal:
\par }{\Q \VS{16}But ungodly men by their hands and their words called
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 1:16 }
Or,
Hades
Gr.
him.
} death unto them:
\par }{\Q Deeming him a friend they
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 1:16 }
Or,
were consumed
with love of him
} consumed away,
\par }{\Q And they made a covenant with him,
\par }{\Q Because they are worthy to be of his portion.
\par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{2}{\Q \VerseOne{1}For they said
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 2:1 }
Or,
among
} within themselves, reasoning not aright,
\par }{\Q Short and sorrowful is our life;
\par }{\Q And there is no healing when a man cometh to his end,
\par }{\Q And none was ever known that
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 2:1 }
Or,
returned out of Hades
} gave release from Hades.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Because by mere chance were we born,
\par }{\Q And hereafter we shall be as though we had never been:
\par }{\Q Because the breath in our nostrils is smoke,
\par }{\Q And
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 2:2 }
Or,
reason is a spark
kindled
by the beating of our heart
} while our heart beateth reason is a spark,
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Which being extinguished, the body shall be turned into ashes,
\par }{\Q And the spirit shall be dispersed as thin air;
\par }{\Q \VS{4}And our name shall be forgotten in time,
\par }{\Q And no man shall remember our works;
\par }{\Q And our life shall pass away as the traces of a cloud,
\par }{\Q And shall be scattered as is a mist,
\par }{\Q When it is chased by the beams of the sun,
\par }{\Q And
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 2:4 }
Gr.
weighed down.
} overcome by the heat thereof.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}For our alloted time is the passing of a shadow,
\par }{\Q And
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 2:5 }
Or,
there is no putting back of our end
} our end retreateth not;
\par }{\Q Because it is fast sealed, and none
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 2:5 }
Or,
cometh again
} turneth it back.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}Come therefore and let us enjoy the good things
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 2:6 }
Or,
that are
} that
{\ADD{now
}} are;
\par }{\Q And let us use the creation
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 2:6 }
Gr.
earnestly.
} with all our soul
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 2:6 }
Some authorities read
even as our youth.
} as youth’s
{\ADD{possession.}}
\par }{\Q \VS{7}Let us fill ourselves with costly wine and perfumes;
\par }{\Q And let no flower of
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 2:7 }
Some authorities read
air.
} spring pass us by:
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds, before they be withered:
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Let none of us go without his share in our proud revelry:
\par }{\Q Everywhere let us leave tokens of
{\ADD{our
}} mirth:
\par }{\Q Because this is our portion, and our lot is this.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Let us oppress the righteous poor;
\par }{\Q Let us not spare the widow,
\par }{\Q Nor reverence the hairs of the old man gray for length of years.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}But let our strength be
{\ADD{to us
}} a law of righteousness;
\par }{\Q For that which is weak is
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 2:11 }
Gr.
convicted.
} found to be of no service.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}But let us lie in wait for the righteous man,
\par }{\Q Because he is of disservice to us,
\par }{\Q And is contrary to our works,
\par }{\Q And upbraideth us with sins against
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 2:12 }
Or,
law
} the law,
\par }{\Q And layeth to our charge sins against our discipline.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}He professeth to have knowledge of God,
\par }{\Q And nameth himself
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 2:13 }
Or,
child
} servant of the Lord.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}He became to us a reproof of our thoughts.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}He is grievous unto us even to behold,
\par }{\Q Because his life is unlike other men’s,
\par }{\Q And his paths are of strange fashion.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}We were accounted of him as base metal,
\par }{\Q And he abstaineth from our ways as from uncleannesses.
\par }{\Q The latter end of the righteous he calleth happy;
\par }{\Q And he vaunteth that God is his father.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}Let us see if his words be true,
\par }{\Q And let us try what shall befall in the ending of his
{\ADD{life.
}}
\par }{\Q \VS{18}For if the righteous man is God’s son, he will uphold him,
\par }{\Q And he will deliver him out of the hand of his adversaries.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}With outrage and torture let us put him to the test,
\par }{\Q That we may learn his gentleness,
\par }{\Q And may prove his patience under wrong.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
\par }{\Q For
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 2:20 }
Gr.
there shall be a visitation of him out of his words.
} he shall be visited according to his words.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{21}Thus reasoned they, and they were led astray;
\par }{\Q For their
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 2:21 }
Or,
malice
} wickedness blinded them,
\par }{\Q \VS{22}And they knew not the mysteries of God,
\par }{\Q Neither hoped they for wages of holiness,
\par }{\Q Nor did they judge
{\ADD{that there is
}} a prize for blameless souls.
\par }{\Q \VS{23}Because God created man for incorruption,
\par }{\Q And made him an image of his own
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 2:23 }
Some authorities read
everlastingness.
} proper being;
\par }{\Q \VS{24}But by the envy of the devil death entered into the world,
\par }{\Q And they that are of his portion make trial thereof.

\par }\PoetryChap{3}{\Q \VerseOne{1}But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
\par }{\Q And no torment shall touch them.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died;
\par }{\Q And their departure was accounted
{\ADD{to be their
}} hurt,
\par }{\Q \VS{3}And their journeying away from us
{\ADD{to be their
}} ruin:
\par }{\Q But they are in peace.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}For even if in the sight of men they be punished,
\par }{\Q Their hope is full of immortality;
\par }{\Q \VS{5}And having borne a little chastening, they shall receive great good;
\par }{\Q Because God made trial of them, and found them worthy of himself.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}As gold in the furnace he proved them,
\par }{\Q And as a whole burnt offering he accepted them.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}And in the time of their visitation they shall shine forth,
\par }{\Q And as sparks among stubble they shall run to and fro.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}They shall judge nations, and have dominion over peoples;
\par }{\Q And the Lord shall reign over them for evermore.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}They that trust on him shall understand truth,
\par }{\Q And
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 3:9 }
Or,
they that are faithful through love shall abide with him
} the faithful shall abide with him in love;
\par }{\Q Because grace and mercy are to his chosen.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}But the ungodly shall be requited even as they reasoned,
\par }{\Q They which lightly regarded
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 3:10 }
Or,
that which is righteous
} the righteous
{\ADD{man,
}} and revolted from the Lord;
\par }{\Q \VS{11}(For he that setteth at nought wisdom and discipline is miserable;)
\par }{\Q And void is their hope and their toils unprofitable,
\par }{\Q And useless are their works:
\par }{\Q \VS{12}Their wives are foolish, and wicked are their children;
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Accursed is their begetting.
\par }{\Q Because happy is the barren that is undefiled,
\par }{\Q She who hath not conceived in transgression;
\par }{\Q She shall have fruit when
{\ADD{God
}} visiteth souls.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}And
{\ADD{happy is
}} the eunuch which hath wrought no lawless deed with his hands,
\par }{\Q Nor imagined wicked things against the Lord;
\par }{\Q For there shall be given him for his faithfulness
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 3:14 }
Or,
the grace of
God’s
chosen
Gr.
a chosen grace.
} a peculiar favour,
\par }{\Q And a lot in the sanctuary of the Lord more delightsome
{\ADD{than wife or children.
}}
\par }{\Q \VS{15}For good labours have fruit of great renown;
\par }{\Q And the root of understanding cannot fail.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}But children of adulterers shall not come to maturity,
\par }{\Q And the seed of an unlawful bed shall vanish away.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}For if they live long, they shall be held in no account,
\par }{\Q And at the last their old age shall be without honour.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}And if they die quickly, they
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 3:18 }
Some authorities read
have
} shall have no hope,
\par }{\Q Nor in the day of decision
{\ADD{shall they have
}} consolation.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}For
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 3:19 }
Gr.
the ends...are grievous.} the end of an unrighteous generation is alway grievous.

\par }\PoetryChap{4}{\Q \VerseOne{1}Better
{\ADD{than this
}} is childishness with virtue;
\par }{\Q For in the memory
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 4:1 }
Gr.
of it.
} of virtue is immortality:
\par }{\Q Because it is recognised both before God and before men.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}When it is present,
{\ADD{men
}} imitate it;
\par }{\Q And they long after it when it is departed:
\par }{\Q And
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 4:2 }
Gr.
in the age.
} throughout all time it marcheth crowned in triumph,
\par }{\Q Victorious in the strife for the prizes that are undefiled.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}But the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall be of no profit,
\par }{\Q And
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 4:3 }
Gr.
from
} with bastard
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 4:3 }
Or,
offshoots
} slips they shall not strike deep root,
\par }{\Q Nor shall they establish a sure hold.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}For even if these
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 4:4 }
Gr.
in boughs flourish.
} put forth boughs and flourish for a season,
\par }{\Q {\ADD{Yet,
}} standing unsure, they shall be shaken by the wind,
\par }{\Q And by the violence of winds they shall be rooted out.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}{\ADD{Their
}} branches shall be broken off before they come to maturity,
\par }{\Q and their fruit
{\ADD{shall be
}} useless,
\par }{\Q Never ripe to eat, and fit for nothing.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}For children unlawfully begotten are witnesses of wickedness
\par }{\Q Against parents when
{\ADD{God
}} searcheth them out.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}But a righteous man, though he die before his time, shall be at rest.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}(For honourable old age is not that which standeth in length of time,
\par }{\Q Nor is its measure given by number of years:
\par }{\Q \VS{9}But understanding is gray hairs unto men,
\par }{\Q And an unspotted life is ripe old age.)
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Being found well-pleasing unto God he was beloved
{\ADD{of him,
}}
\par }{\Q And while living among sinners he was translated:
\par }{\Q \VS{11}He was caught away, lest
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 4:11 }
Or,
malice
} wickedness should change his understanding,
\par }{\Q Or guile deceive his soul.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}(For the bewitching of naughtiness bedimmeth the things which are good,
\par }{\Q And the giddy whirl of desire perverteth an innocent mind.)
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Being made perfect in a little while, he fulfilled long
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 4:13 }
Gr.
times.
} years;
\par }{\Q \VS{14}For his soul was pleasing unto the Lord:
\par }{\Q Therefore
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 4:14 }
Or,
he hastened
him
away
} hasted he out of the midst of wickedness.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}But as for the peoples, seeing and understanding not,
\par }{\Q Neither laying
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 4:15 }
Gr.
such a thing as this.
} this to heart,
\par }{\Q That grace and mercy are with his chosen,
\par }{\Q And that
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 4:15 }
Gr.
his visitation is with.
} he visiteth his holy ones:-
\par }{\Q \VS{16}But a righteous man that is dead shall condemn the ungodly that are living,
\par }{\Q And youth that is quickly perfected the many years of an unrighteous man’s old age;
\par }{\Q \VS{17}For
{\ADD{the ungodly
}} shall see a wise man’s end,
\par }{\Q And shall not understand what the Lord purposed concerning him,
\par }{\Q And for what he safely kept him:-
\par }{\Q \VS{18}They shall see, and they shall despise;
\par }{\Q But them the Lord shall laugh to scorn.
\par }{\Q And after this they shall become a dishonoured carcase,
\par }{\Q And
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 4:18 }
Or,
be for outrage
} a reproach among the dead for ever:
\par }{\Q \VS{19}Because he shall dash them speechless to the ground,
\par }{\Q And shall shake them from the foundations,
\par }{\Q And they shall
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 4:19 }
Or,
be a perpetual desolation
} lie utterly waste, and they shall be in anguish,
\par }{\Q And their memory shall perish.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{20}They shall come,
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 4:20 }
Or,
when they reckon up their sins
} when their sins are reckoned up, with coward fear;
\par }{\Q And their lawless deeds shall convict them to their face.

\par }\PoetryChap{5}{\Q \VerseOne{1}Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness
\par }{\Q Before the face of them that afflicted him,
\par }{\Q And them that make his labours of no account.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}When they see
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 5:2 }
Or,
him
} it, they shall be troubled with terrible fear,
\par }{\Q And shall be amazed at the marvel of
{\ADD{God’s
}} salvation.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}They shall say
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:3 }
Or,
among
} within themselves repenting,
\par }{\Q And for distress of spirit shall they groan,
\par }{\Q This was he whom aforetime we had in derision,
\par }{\Q And
{\ADD{made
}} a parable of
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:3 }
Or,
reproach, we fools: we accounted
} reproach:
\par }{\Q \VS{4}We fools accounted his life madness,
\par }{\Q And his end without honour:
\par }{\Q \VS{5}How was he numbered among sons of God?
\par }{\Q And
{\ADD{how
}} is his lot among saints?
\par }{\Q \VS{6}Verily we went astray from the way of truth,
\par }{\Q And the light of righteousness shined not for us,
\par }{\Q And the sun rose not for us.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}We
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:7 }
See Prov. xiv. 14.
} took our fill of the paths of lawlessness and destruction,
\par }{\Q And we journeyed through trackless deserts,
\par }{\Q But the way of the Lord we knew not.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}What did our arrogancy profit us?
\par }{\Q And what good have riches
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 5:8 }
Gr.
with
} and vaunting brought us?
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Those things all passed away as a shadow,
\par }{\Q And as a message that runneth by:
\par }{\Q \VS{10}As a ship passing through the billowy water,
\par }{\Q Whereof, when it is gone by, there is no trace to be found,
\par }{\Q Neither pathway of its keel in the billows:
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Or as when a bird flieth through the air,
\par }{\Q No token of
{\ADD{her
}} passage is found,
\par }{\Q But the light wind, lashed with the stroke of her pinions,
\par }{\Q And rent asunder
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:11 }
Or,
with the violent rush, is passed through by the motion of her wings
} with the violent rush of the moving wings, is passed through,
\par }{\Q And afterwards no sign of
{\ADD{her
}} coming is found therein:
\par }{\Q \VS{12}Or as when an arrow is shot at a mark,
\par }{\Q The air disparted closeth up again immediately,
\par }{\Q So that men know not where it passed through:
\par }{\Q \VS{13}So we also, as soon as we were born,
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 5:13 }
Gr.
failed.
} ceased to be;
\par }{\Q And of virtue we had no sign to shew,
\par }{\Q But in our wickedness we were utterly consumed.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}Because the hope of the ungodly man is as chaff carried by the wind,
\par }{\Q And
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 5:14 }
Gr.
as foam chased to thinness:
or,
as thin foam chased.
} as
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 5:14 }
Most Greek authorities read
hoar frost:
some authorities, perhaps rightly,
a spider’s web.} foam vanishing before a tempest;
\par }{\Q And is scattered as smoke
{\ADD{is scattered
}} by the wind,
\par }{\Q And passeth by as the remembrance of a guest that tarrieth but a day.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}But the righteous live for ever,
\par }{\Q And in the Lord is their reward,
\par }{\Q And the care for them with the Most High.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}Therefore shall they receive the crown of royal dignity
\par }{\Q And the diadem of beauty from the Lord’s hand;
\par }{\Q Because with his right hand shall he cover them,
\par }{\Q And with his arm shall he shield them.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}He shall take his jealousy as complete armour,
\par }{\Q And shall make the
{\ADD{whole
}} creation his weapons
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 5:17 }
Or,
to repel his enemies
} for vengeance on
{\ADD{his
}} enemies:
\par }{\Q \VS{18}He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate,
\par }{\Q And shall array himself with judgement unfeigned as with a helmet;
\par }{\Q \VS{19}He shall take holiness as an invincible shield,
\par }{\Q \VS{20}And he shall sharpen stern wrath for a sword:
\par }{\Q And the world shall go forth with him to fight against
{\ADD{his
}} insensate
{\ADD{foes.}}
\par }{\Q \VS{21}Shafts of lightning shall fly with true aim,
\par }{\Q And from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they leap to the mark.
\par }{\Q \VS{22}And
{\ADD{as
}} from an engine of war shall be hurled hailstones full of wrath;
\par }{\Q The water of the sea shall be angered against them,
\par }{\Q And rivers shall sternly overwhelm them;
\par }{\Q \VS{23}A mighty blast shall encounter them,
\par }{\Q And as a tempest shall it winnow them away:
\par }{\Q And
{\ADD{so
}} shall lawlessness make all the land desolate,
\par }{\Q And their evil-doing shall overturn the thrones of princes.
\par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{6}{\Q \VerseOne{1}Hear therefore, ye kings, and understand;
\par }{\Q Learn, ye judges of the ends of the earth:
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Give ear, ye that have dominion over much people,
\par }{\Q And make your boast
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 6:2 }
Or,
in the multitudes of your nations
} in multitudes of nations.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Because your dominion was given you from the Lord,
\par }{\Q And your sovereignty from the Most High;
\par }{\Q Who shall search out your works,
\par }{\Q And shall make inquisition of your counsels:
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Because being officers of his kingdom ye did not judge aright,
\par }{\Q Neither kept ye
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 6:4 }
Or,
the law
} law, nor walked after the counsel of God.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}Awfully and swiftly shall he come upon you;
\par }{\Q Because a stern judgement befalleth them that be in high place:
\par }{\Q \VS{6}For the man of low estate may be pardoned in mercy,
\par }{\Q But mighty men shall be
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 6:6 }
Gr.
put to the test.
} searched out mightily.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}For the Sovereign Lord of all will not refrain himself for any
{\ADD{man’s
}} person,
\par }{\Q Neither will he reverence greatness;
\par }{\Q Because it is he that made
{\ADD{both
}} small and great,
\par }{\Q And alike he taketh thought for all;
\par }{\Q \VS{8}But
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 6:8 }
Gr.
strong.
} strict is the scrutiny that cometh upon the powerful.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Unto you therefore, O princes, are my words,
\par }{\Q That ye may learn wisdom and
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 6:9 }
Gr.
fall not aside.
} fall not from the right way.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}For they that have kept holily the things that are holy shall
{\ADD{themselves
}} be
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 6:10 }
Or,
accounted holy
} hallowed;
\par }{\Q And they that have been taught them shall find what to answer;
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Set your desire therefore on my words;
\par }{\Q Long for
{\ADD{them,
}} and ye shall be
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 6:11 }
Gr.
disciplined.
} trained by
{\ADD{their
}} discipline.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}Wisdom is radiant and fadeth not away;
\par }{\Q And easily is she beheld of them that love her,
\par }{\Q And found of them that seek her.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}She forestalleth them that desire
{\ADD{to know her,}} making herself first known.
\VS{14}He that riseth up early to
{\ADD{seek}} her shall have no toil,
\par }{\Q For he shall find her sitting at his gates.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}For to think upon her is perfectness of understanding,
\par }{\Q And he that watcheth for her sake shall quickly be free from care.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}Because she goeth about, herself seeking them that are worthy of her,
\par }{\Q And in their paths she appeareth unto them graciously,
\par }{\Q And in every purpose she meeteth them.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}For
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 6:17 }
Or,
her beginning is the true desire
} her
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 6:17 }
Gr.
truest.
} true beginning is desire of discipline;
\par }{\Q And the care for discipline is love
{\ADD{of her;
}}
\par }{\Q \VS{18}And love
{\ADD{of her
}} is observance of her laws;
\par }{\Q And to give heed to
{\ADD{her
}} laws confirmeth incorruption;
\par }{\Q \VS{19}And incorruption
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 6:19 }
Gr.
maketh to be near.
} bringeth near unto God;
\par }{\Q \VS{20}So then desire of wisdom promoteth to a kingdom.
\par }{\Q \VS{21}If therefore ye delight in thrones and sceptres, ye princes of peoples,
\par }{\Q Honour wisdom, that ye may reign for ever.
\par }{\Q \VS{22}But what wisdom is, and how she came into being, I will declare,
\par }{\Q And I will not hide mysteries from you;
\par }{\Q But I will trace
{\ADD{her
}} out
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 6:22 }
Or,
from her first beginning
} from the beginning of creation,
\par }{\Q And bring the knowledge of her into clear light,
\par }{\Q And I will not pass by the truth;
\par }{\Q \VS{23}Neither indeed will I take
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 6:23 }
Gr.
wasted.
} pining envy for my companion in the way,
\par }{\Q Because
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 6:23 }
Gr.
this
} envy shall have no fellowship with wisdom.
\par }{\Q \VS{24}But a multitude of wise men is salvation to the world,
\par }{\Q And an understanding king is tranquillity to
{\ADD{his
}} people.
\par }{\Q \VS{25}Wherefore be disciplined by my words, and
{\ADD{thereby
}} shall ye profit.
\par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{7}{\Q \VerseOne{1}I myself also am
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 7:1 }
Many authorities read
a mortal man.} mortal, like to all,
\par }{\Q And am sprung from one born of the earth,
{\ADD{the man
}} first formed,
\par }{\Q \VS{2}And in the womb of a mother was I moulded into flesh in the time of ten months,
\par }{\Q Being compacted in blood of the seed of man and pleasure that came with sleep.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}And I also, when I was born, drew in the common air,
\par }{\Q And fell upon the
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 7:3 }
Gr.
of like qualities.
} kindred earth,
\par }{\Q Uttering, like all, for my first voice, the selfsame wail:
\par }{\Q \VS{4}In swaddling clothes was I nursed, and
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 7:4 }
Gr.
in.
} with
{\ADD{watchful
}} cares.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}For no king had any other first beginning;
\par }{\Q \VS{6}But all men have one entrance into life, and a like departure.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}For this cause I prayed, and understanding was given me:
\par }{\Q I called upon
{\ADD{God,
}} and there came to me a spirit of wisdom.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}I preferred her before sceptres and thrones,
\par }{\Q And riches I esteemed nothing in comparison of her.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem,
\par }{\Q Because all the gold
{\ADD{of the earth
}} in her presence is a little sand,
\par }{\Q And silver shall be accounted as clay before her.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Above health and comeliness I loved her,
\par }{\Q And I chose to have her rather than light,
\par }{\Q Because her bright shining is never laid to sleep.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}But with her there came to me all good things together,
\par }{\Q And in her hands innumerable riches:
\par }{\Q \VS{12}And I rejoiced over
{\ADD{them
}} all because wisdom leadeth them;
\par }{\Q Though I knew not that she was the
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 7:12 }
Some authorities read
first origin.
} mother of them.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}As I learned without guile, I impart without grudging;
\par }{\Q I do not hide her riches.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}For she is unto men a treasure that faileth not,
\par }{\Q And they that use it
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 7:14 }
Gr.
prepare for themselves.
} obtain friendship with God,
\par }{\Q Commended
{\ADD{to him
}}
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 7:14 }
Gr.
for the sake of the presents that come of discipline.
} by the gifts which they through discipline present
{\ADD{to him.
}}
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}But to me may God give to speak
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 7:15 }
Or,
according to
his
mind
Or,
according to
my
mind
} with judgement,
\par }{\Q And to conceive thoughts worthy of what
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 7:15 }
Some authorities read
is said.
} hath been given
{\ADD{me;
}}
\par }{\Q Because himself is one that guideth even wisdom and that correcteth the wise.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}For in his hand are both we and our words;
\par }{\Q All understanding, and
{\ADD{all
}} acquaintance with divers crafts.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}For himself gave me an unerring knowledge of the things that are,
\par }{\Q To know the constitution of the world, and the operation of the elements;
\par }{\Q \VS{18}The beginning and end and middle of times,
\par }{\Q The alternations of the solstices and the changes of seasons,
\par }{\Q \VS{19}The circuits of years and the
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 7:19 }
Or,
constellations
} positions of stars;
\par }{\Q \VS{20}The natures of living creatures and the ragings of wild beasts,
\par }{\Q The violences of
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 7:20 }
Or,
spirits
} winds and the thoughts of men,
\par }{\Q The diversities of plants and the virtues of roots:
\par }{\Q \VS{21}All things that are either secret or manifest I learned,
\par }{\Q \VS{22}For she that is the artificer of all things taught me,
{\ADD{even
}} wisdom.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q For there is in her a spirit quick of understanding, holy,
\par }{\Q \FTNT{‡}{{\FR 7:22 }
Gr.
Sole-born.
} Alone in kind, manifold,
\par }{\Q Subtil, freely moving,
\par }{\Q Clear in utterance, unpolluted,
\par }{\Q Distinct, unharmed,
\par }{\Q Loving what is good, keen, unhindered,
\par }{\Q \VS{23}Beneficent, loving toward man,
\par }{\Q Stedfast, sure, free from care,
\par }{\Q All-powerful, all-surveying,
\par }{\Q And penetrating through all spirits
\par }{\Q That are quick of understanding, pure, most subtil:
\par }{\Q \VS{24}For wisdom is more mobile than any motion;
\par }{\Q Yea, she pervadeth and penetrateth all things by reason of her pureness.
\par }{\Q \VS{25}For she is a
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 7:25 }
Gr.
vapour.
} breath of the power of God,
\par }{\Q And a clear effluence of the glory of the Almighty;
\par }{\Q Therefore can nothing defiled find entrance into her.
\par }{\Q \VS{26}For she is an effulgence from everlasting light,
\par }{\Q And an unspotted mirror of the working of God,
\par }{\Q And an image of his goodness.
\par }{\Q \VS{27}And she, being one, hath power to do all things;
\par }{\Q And remaining in herself, reneweth all things:
\par }{\Q And from generation to generation passing into holy souls
\par }{\Q She maketh
{\ADD{men
}} friends of God and prophets.
\par }{\Q \VS{28}For nothing doth God love save him that dwelleth with wisdom.
\par }{\Q \VS{29}For she is fairer than the sun,
\par }{\Q And above
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 7:29 }
Gr.
every arrangement of stars.
} all the constellations of the stars:
\par }{\Q Being compared with light, she is found
{\ADD{to be
}} before it;
\par }{\Q \VS{30}For
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 7:30 }
Gr.
to this.
} to the light
{\ADD{of day
}} succeedeth night,
\par }{\Q But against wisdom evil doth not prevail;

\par }\PoetryChap{8}{\Q \VerseOne{1}But she
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 8:1 }
Or,
reacheth from end onward unto end mightily
} reacheth from one end
{\ADD{of the world
}} to the other with full strength,
\par }{\Q And ordereth all things
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 8:1 }
Or,
unto good use
} graciously.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{2}Her I loved and sought out from my youth,
\par }{\Q And I sought to take her for my bride,
\par }{\Q And I became enamoured of her beauty.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}She glorifieth
{\ADD{her
}} noble birth in that it is given her to live with God,
\par }{\Q And the Sovereign Lord of all loved her.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}For she is initiated into the knowledge of God,
\par }{\Q And she
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 8:4 }
Some authorities read
deviseth
for him.
} chooseth out
{\ADD{for him
}} his works.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}But if riches are a desired possession in life,
\par }{\Q What is richer than wisdom, which worketh all things?
\par }{\Q \VS{6}\FTNT{§}{{\FR 8:6 }
The Greek text of this clause is perhaps corrupt.
} And if understanding worketh,
\par }{\Q Who more than
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 8:6 }
Gr.
she.
} wisdom is an artificer of the things that are?
\par }{\Q \VS{7}And if a man loveth righteousness,
\par }{\Q \FTNT{†}{{\FR 8:7 }
Gr.
Her labours are.
} The fruits of wisdom’s labour are virtues,
\par }{\Q For she teacheth soberness and understanding, righteousness and courage;
\par }{\Q And there is nothing in life for men more profitable than these.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}And if a man longeth even for much experience,
\par }{\Q She knoweth
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 8:8 }
Some authorities read
how to divine the things of old and the things to come.
} the things of old, and
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 8:8 }
Gr.
conjectureth.
} divineth the things to come:
\par }{\Q She understandeth subtilties of speeches and interpretations of dark sayings:
\par }{\Q She foreseeth signs and wonders, and the issues of seasons and times.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}I determined therefore to take her unto me to live with me,
\par }{\Q Knowing that she is one who would
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 8:9 }
Or,
hold counsel with me for good things, and...against cares and grief
} give me good
{\ADD{thoughts
}} for counsel,
\par }{\Q And
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 8:9 }
Or,
exhort
Or,
advise
} encourage me in cares and grief.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Because of her I shall have glory among multitudes,
\par }{\Q And honour in the sight of elders, though I be young.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}I shall be found of a quick conceit when I give judgement,
\par }{\Q And in the presence of
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 8:11 }
Or,
mighty men
} princes I shall be admired.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}When I am silent, they shall wait for me;
\par }{\Q And when I open my lips, they shall give heed unto me;
\par }{\Q And if I continue speaking, they shall lay their hand upon their mouth.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Because of her I shall have immortality,
\par }{\Q And leave behind an eternal memory to them that come after me.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}I shall govern peoples,
\par }{\Q And nations shall be subjected to me.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}Dread princes shall fear me when they hear
{\ADD{of me:
}}
\par }{\Q Among
{\ADD{my
}}
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 8:15 }
Gr.
multitude.
} people I shall shew myself a good
{\ADD{ruler,
}} and in war courageous.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}When I am come into my house, I shall find rest with her;
\par }{\Q For converse with her hath no bitterness,
\par }{\Q And to live with her hath no pain, but gladness and joy.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}When I considered these things in myself,
\par }{\Q And took thought in my heart how that in kinship unto wisdom is immortality,
\par }{\Q \VS{18}And in her friendship is good delight,
\par }{\Q And in the labours of her hands is wealth that faileth not,
\par }{\Q And in
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 8:18 }
Gr.
practice of communion.
} assiduous communing with her is understanding,
\par }{\Q And great renown in having fellowship with her words,
\par }{\Q I went about seeking how to take her unto myself.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}Now I was
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 8:19 }
Or,
a goodly child
} a child of parts, and a good soul fell to my lot;
\par }{\Q \VS{20}Nay rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.
\par }{\Q \VS{21}But perceiving that I could not otherwise
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 8:21 }
This is the probable sense: the Greek text is perhaps defective.
} possess
{\ADD{wisdom
}} except God gave
{\ADD{her
}} me
\par }{\Q (Yea and to know
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 8:21 }
Gr.
of whom is the grace.
} by whom the grace is given, this
{\ADD{too
}} came of understanding),
\par }{\Q I pleaded with the Lord and besought him, and with my whole heart I said,
\par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{9}{\Q \VerseOne{1}O God of the fathers, and
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 9:1 }
Gr.
Lord of thy mercy.
Compare 2 Sam. vii. 15; Ps. lxxxix. 49.
} Lord who keepest thy mercy,
\par }{\Q Who madest all things
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:1 }
Gr.
in.
} by thy word;
\par }{\Q \VS{2}And by thy wisdom thou formedst man,
\par }{\Q That he should have dominion over the creatures that were made by thee,
\par }{\Q \VS{3}And rule the world in holiness and righteousness,
\par }{\Q And execute judgement in uprightness of soul;
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Give me wisdom, her that sitteth by thee on thy
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:4 }
Gr.
thrones.
} throne;
\par }{\Q And reject me not from among thy
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:4 }
Or,
children
} servants:
\par }{\Q \VS{5}Because I am thy bondman and the son of thy handmaid,
\par }{\Q A man weak and short-lived,
\par }{\Q And of small power to understand judgement and laws.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}For even if a man be perfect among the sons of men,
\par }{\Q {\ADD{Yet
}} if the wisdom that cometh from thee be not with him, he shall be held in no account.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}Thou didst choose me before
{\ADD{my brethren
}} to be king of thy people,
\par }{\Q And to do judgement for thy sons and daughters.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Thou gavest command to build a sanctuary in thy holy mountain,
\par }{\Q And
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 9:8 }
Or,
a place of sacrifice
} an altar in the city of thy
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:8 }
Gr.
tabernacling.
} habitation,
\par }{\Q A copy of the holy tabernacle which thou preparedst aforehand from the beginning.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}And with thee is wisdom, which knoweth thy works,
\par }{\Q And was present when thou wast making the world,
\par }{\Q And which understandeth what is pleasing in thine eyes,
\par }{\Q And what is right
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:9 }
Gr.
in.
} according to thy commandments.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Send her forth out of the holy heavens,
\par }{\Q And from the throne of thy glory bid her come,
\par }{\Q That being present with me she may toil
{\ADD{with me,
}}
\par }{\Q And
{\ADD{that
}} I may learn what is well-pleasing before thee.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}For she knoweth all things and hath understanding
{\ADD{thereof,
}}
\par }{\Q And in my doings she shall guide me in
{\ADD{ways of
}} soberness,
\par }{\Q And she shall guard me in her glory.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}And
{\ADD{so
}} shall my works be acceptible,
\par }{\Q And I shall judge thy people righteously,
\par }{\Q And I shall be worthy of my father’s
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:12 }
Gr.
thrones.
} throne.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}For what man shall know the counsel of God?
\par }{\Q Or who shall conceive what the Lord willeth?
\par }{\Q \VS{14}For the thoughts of mortals are
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 9:14 }
The Greek text here is perhaps corrupt.
} timorous,
\par }{\Q And our devices are prone to fail.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}For a corruptible body weigheth down the soul,
\par }{\Q And the earthy frame lieth heavy on a mind that
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:15 }
Or,
museth upon many things
} is full of cares.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}And hardly do we
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:16 }
Gr.
conjecture.
} divine the things that are on earth,
\par }{\Q And the things that are close at hand we find with labour;
\par }{\Q But the things that are in the heavens who
{\ADD{ever yet
}} traced out?
\par }{\Q \VS{17}And who
{\ADD{ever
}} gained knowledge of thy counsel, except thou
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:17 }
Or,
hadst given...and sent
} gavest wisdom,
\par }{\Q And sentest thy holy spirit
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 9:17 }
Gr.
from the highest.
} from on high?
\par }{\Q \VS{18}And it was thus that the ways of them which are on earth were corrected,
\par }{\Q And men were taught the things that are pleasing unto thee;
\par }{\Q And through wisdom were they saved.
\par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{10}{\Q \VerseOne{1}\FTNT{*}{{\FR 10:1 }
Gr.
She.
} Wisdom guarded to the end the first formed father of the world, that was created alone,
\par }{\Q And delivered him out of his own transgression,
\par }{\Q \VS{2}And gave him strength to get dominion over all things.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}But when an unrighteous man fell away from her in his anger,
\par }{\Q He perished himself in the rage wherewith he slew his brother.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}And when for his cause the earth was drowning with a flood,
\par }{\Q Wisdom again saved it,
\par }{\Q Guiding the righteous man’s course by a poor piece of wood.
\par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}Moreover, when nations consenting together in wickedness had been confounded,
\par }{\Q \FTNT{†}{{\FR 10:5 }
Gr.
She
} Wisdom knew the righteous man, and preserved him blameless unto God,
\par }{\Q And kept him strong when his heart yearned toward his child.
\par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}While the ungodly were perishing,
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 10:6 }
Gr.
she
} wisdom delivered a righteous man,
\par }{\Q When he fled from the fire that descended out of heaven on
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 10:6 }
That is,
the region of the five cities.
} Pentapolis.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}To whose wickedness a smoking waste still witnesseth,
\par }{\Q And plants bearing fair fruit that cometh not to ripeness;
\par }{\Q {\ADD{Yea and
}} a
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 10:7 }
Or,
distrustful
} disbelieving soul hath a memorial
{\ADD{there,
}} a pillar of salt
{\ADD{still
}} standing.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}For having passed wisdom by,
\par }{\Q Not only were they disabled from recognising the things which are good,
\par }{\Q But they also left behind them
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 10:8 }
Or,
by their life
} for
{\ADD{human
}} life a monument of their folly;
\par }{\Q To the end that
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 10:8 }
Gr.
wherein.
} where they
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 10:8 }
Gr.
stumbled.
} went astray they might fail even to be unseen:
\par }{\Q \VS{9}But wisdom delivered out of troubles those that waited on her.
\par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}When a righteous man was a fugitive from a brother’s wrath,
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 10:10 }
Gr.
she.
} wisdom guided him in straight paths;
\par }{\Q She shewed him God’s kingdom, and gave him knowledge of holy things;
\par }{\Q She prospered him in his toils, and multiplied the fruits of his labour;
\par }{\Q \VS{11}When in their covetousness
{\ADD{men
}} dealt hardly with him,
\par }{\Q She stood by him and made him rich;
\par }{\Q \VS{12}She guarded him from enemies,
\par }{\Q And from those that lay in wait she kept him safe,
\par }{\Q And over his sore conflict she watched as judge,
\par }{\Q That he might know that godliness is more powerful than
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 10:12 }
Gr.
every one.
} all.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}When a righteous man was sold,
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 10:13 }
Gr.
she.
} wisdom forsook him not,
\par }{\Q But
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 10:13 }
Or,
from the sin
of his brethren...into a pit
} from sin she delivered him;
\par }{\Q She went down with him into a dungeon,
\par }{\Q \VS{14}And in bonds she left him not,
\par }{\Q Till she brought him the sceptre of a kingdom,
\par }{\Q And authority over those that dealt tyrannously with him;
\par }{\Q She shewed them also to be false that had mockingly accused him,
\par }{\Q And gave him eternal glory.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}\FTNT{*}{{\FR 10:15 }
Gr.
she.
} Wisdom delivered a holy people and a blameless seed from a nation of oppressors.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}She entered into the soul of a servant of the Lord,
\par }{\Q And withstood terrible kings in wonders and signs.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}She rendered unto holy men a reward of their toils;
\par }{\Q She guided them along a marvellous way,
\par }{\Q And became unto them a covering in the day-time,
\par }{\Q And a flame of stars through the night.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}She brought them over the Red sea,
\par }{\Q And led them through much water;
\par }{\Q \VS{19}But their enemies she drowned,
\par }{\Q And out of the bottom of the deep she cast them up.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}Therefore the righteous spoiled the ungodly;
\par }{\Q And they sang praise to thy holy name, O Lord,
\par }{\Q And extolled with one accord thy hand that fought for them:
\par }{\Q \VS{21}Because wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb,
\par }{\Q And made the tongues of babes to speak clearly.
\par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{11}{\Q \VerseOne{1}She prospered their works in the hand of a holy prophet.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{2}They journeyed through a desert without inhabitant,
\par }{\Q And in trackless regions they pitched their tents.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}They withstood enemies, and
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 11:3 }
Or,
took vengeance on foes
} repelled foes.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}They thirsted, and they called upon thee,
\par }{\Q And there was given them water out of
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 11:4 }
Or,
the steep rock
} the
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 11:4 }
See Deut. viii. 15; Ps. cxiv. 8.
} flinty rock,
\par }{\Q And healing of their thirst out of the hard stone.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}For by what things their foes were punished,
\par }{\Q By these they in their need were benefited.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}\FTNT{§}{{\FR 11:6 }
The text of this verse is perhaps corrupt.
} When
{\ADD{the enemy
}} were troubled with clotted blood instead of a river’s ever-flowing fountain,
\par }{\Q \VS{7}To rebuke the decree for the slaying of babes,
\par }{\Q Thou gavest them abundant water beyond all hope,
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Having shewn
{\ADD{them
}} by
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 11:8 }
Gr.
the then thirst.
} the thirst which they had suffered how thou didst punish the adversaries.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}For when they were tried, albeit but in mercy chastened,
\par }{\Q They learned how the ungodly were tormented, being judged with wrath:
\par }{\Q \VS{10}For these, as a father, admonishing them, thou didst prove;
\par }{\Q But those, as a stern king, condemning them, thou didst search out.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Yea and whether they were far off
{\ADD{from the righteous
}} or near
{\ADD{them,
}} they were alike distressed;
\par }{\Q \VS{12}For a double grief took hold on them,
\par }{\Q And a groaning at the remembrance of things past.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}For when they heard that through their own punishments the others
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 11:13 }
Some authorities read
were being.
} had been benefited,
\par }{\Q They felt
{\ADD{the presence of
}} the Lord;
\par }{\Q \VS{14}For him who long before was
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 11:14 }
Some authorities read
cast forth in hatred they.
} cast forth and exposed they left off mocking:
\par }{\Q In the last issue of what came to pass
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 11:14 }
Or,
they marvelled
at him
} they marvelled,
\par }{\Q Having thirsted in another manner than the righteous.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}But in requital of the senseless imaginings of their unrighteousness,
\par }{\Q Wherein they were led astray to worship irrational reptiles and wretched vermin,
\par }{\Q Thou didst send upon them a multitude of irrational creatures for vengeance;
\par }{\Q \VS{16}That they might learn, that by what things a man sinneth, by these he is punished.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}For thine all-powerful hand,
\par }{\Q That created the world out of formless matter,
\par }{\Q Lacked not means to send upon them a multitude of bears, or fierce lions,
\par }{\Q \VS{18}Or
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 11:18 }
Some authorities read
unknown wild beasts, full of new-created rage.
} new-created wild beasts, full of rage,
{\ADD{of
}} unknown
{\ADD{kind,
}}
\par }{\Q Either breathing out a blast of fiery breath,
\par }{\Q Or blowing forth
{\ADD{from their nostrils
}} noisome smoke,
\par }{\Q Or flashing dreadful sparkles from their eyes;
\par }{\Q \VS{19}Which had power not only to consume them by their
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 11:19 }
Gr.
harmfulness.
} violence,
\par }{\Q But to destroy them even by the terror of their sight.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}Yea and without these might they have fallen by a single breath,
\par }{\Q Being pursued by Justice, and scattered abroad by the breath of thy power.
\par }{\Q But by measure and number and weight thou didst order all things.
\par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{21}For to be greatly strong is thine at all times;
\par }{\Q And the might of thine arm who shall withstand?
\par }{\Q \VS{22}Because the whole world before thee is as
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 11:22 }
Gr.
that which just turneth.
} a grain
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 11:22 }
Gr.
from.
} in a balance,
\par }{\Q And as a drop of dew that at morning cometh down upon the earth.
\par }{\Q \VS{23}But thou hast mercy on all men, because thou hast power to do all things,
\par }{\Q And thou overlookest the sins of men to the end they may repent.
\par }{\Q \VS{24}For thou lovest all things that are,
\par }{\Q And abhorrest none of the things which thou didst make;
\par }{\Q For never wouldest thou have formed anything if thou didst hate it.
\par }{\Q \VS{25}And how would anything have endured, except thou hadst willed it?
\par }{\Q Or that which was not called by thee,
{\ADD{how would
}} it have been preserved?
\par }{\Q \VS{26}But thou sparest all things, because they are thine,
\par }{\Q O Soverign Lord, thou lover of
{\ADD{men’s
}}
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 11:26 }
Or,
souls
} lives;

\par }\PoetryChap{12}{\Q \VerseOne{1}For thine incorruptible spirit is in all things.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Wherefore thou convictest by little and little them that
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 12:2 }
Gr.
fall aside.
} fall from the right way,
\par }{\Q And, putting them in remembrance by the
{\ADD{very
}} things wherein they sin, dost thou admonish them,
\par }{\Q That escaping from their wickedness they may believe on thee, O Lord.
\par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}For verily the old inhabitants of thy holy land,
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Hating
{\ADD{them
}} because they practised detestable works of enchantments and unholy rites
\par }{\Q \VS{5}\FTNT{†}{{\FR 12:5 }
The words rendered
slaughters
and
impious
in verses 5 and 6 differ but slightly from the readings of the Greek text, which here yield no sense.
}(Merciless slaughters of children,
\par }{\Q And sacrificial banquets of men’s flesh and of blood),
\par }{\Q \VS{6}Confederates in an impious fellowship,
\par }{\Q And murderers of their own helpless babes,
\par }{\Q It was thy counsel to destroy by the hands of our fathers;
\par }{\Q \VS{7}That the land which in thy sight is most precious of all
{\ADD{lands
}}
\par }{\Q Might receive a worthy colony of God’s
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 12:7 }
Or,
children
} servants.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Nevertheless even these thou didst spare as
{\ADD{being
}} men,
\par }{\Q And thou sentest
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 12:8 }
Or,
wasps
} hornets as forerunners of thy host,
\par }{\Q To cause them to perish by little and little;
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Not that thou wast unable to subdue the ungodly under the hand of the righteous in battle,
\par }{\Q Or by terrible beasts or by
{\ADD{one
}} stern word to make away with them at once;
\par }{\Q \VS{10}But judging them by little and little thou gavest them a place of repentance,
\par }{\Q Not being ignorant that their nature by birth was evil, and their wickedness inborn,
\par }{\Q And that their manner of thought would in no wise ever be changed,
\par }{\Q \VS{11}For they were a seed accursed from the beginning:
\par }{\Q Neither was it through fear of any that thou didst leave them
{\ADD{then
}} unpunished for their sins.
\par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}For who shall say, What hast thou done?
\par }{\Q Or who shall withstand thy judgement?
\par }{\Q And who shall accuse thee for the perishing of nations which thou didst make?
\par }{\Q Or who shall come and stand before thee as an avenger for unrighteous men?
\par }{\Q \VS{13}For neither is there any God beside thee that careth for all,
\par }{\Q That thou mightest shew
{\ADD{unto him
}} that thou didst not judge unrighteously:
\par }{\Q \VS{14}Neither shall king or prince be able to look thee in the face
{\ADD{to plead
}} for those whom thou hast punished.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}But being righteous thou rulest all things righteously,
\par }{\Q Deeming it a thing alien from thy power
\par }{\Q To condemn one that doth not himself deserve to be punished.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}For thy strength is the beginning of righteousness,
\par }{\Q And thy sovereignty over all maketh thee to forbear all.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}For when men believe not that thou art perfect in power, thou shewest thy strength,
\par }{\Q \FTNT{*}{{\FR 12:17 }
The Greek text here is perhaps corrupt.
} And
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 12:17 }
Or,
in them
} in dealing with them that know
{\ADD{it
}} thou puttest their boldness to confusion.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}But thou, being sovereign over
{\ADD{thy
}} strength, judgest in gentleness,
\par }{\Q And with great forbearance dost thou govern us;
\par }{\Q For the power is thine whensoever thou hast the will.
\par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{19}But thou didst teach thy people by such works as these,
\par }{\Q How that the righteous must be a lover of men;
\par }{\Q And thou didst make thy sons to be of good hope,
\par }{\Q Because thou givest repentance when men have sinned.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}For if on them that were enemies of thy
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 12:20 }
Or,
children
} servants and due to death
\par }{\Q Thou didst take vengeance with so great heedfulness and indulgence,
\par }{\Q Giving them times and place whereby they might escape from their wickedness;
\par }{\Q \VS{21}With how great carefulness didst thou judge thy sons,
\par }{\Q To whose fathers thou gavest oaths and covenants of good promises!
\par }{\Q \VS{22}While therefore thou dost chasten us, thou scourgest our enemies ten thousand times more,
\par }{\Q To the intent that we may ponder thy goodness when we judge,
\par }{\Q And when we are judged may look for mercy.
\par }{\Q \VS{23}Wherefore also the unrighteous that lived in folly of life
\par }{\Q Thou didst torment through their own abominations.
\par }{\Q \VS{24}For verily they went astray very far
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 12:24 }
Or,
even beyond
} in the ways of error,
\par }{\Q Taking as gods those
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 12:24 }
Gr.
living creatures:
and so elsewhere in this book.
} animals which even among their enemies were held in dishonour,
\par }{\Q Deceived like foolish babes.
\par }{\Q \VS{25}Therefore, as unto unreasoning children, thou didst send thy judgement to mock them.
\par }{\Q \VS{26}But they that would not be admonished
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 12:26 }
Or,
by a correction, which was as children’s play
Gr.
by child-play of correction.
} by a mocking correction as of children
\par }{\Q Shall have experience of a judgement worthy of God.
\par }{\Q \VS{27}For through the sufferings whereat they were indignant,
\par }{\Q Being punished in these creatures which they supposed to be gods,
\par }{\Q They saw, and recognised as the true God him whom before they
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 12:27 }
Or,
denied that they knew
} refused to know:
\par }{\Q Wherefore also the last end of condemnation came upon them.
\par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{13}{\Q \VerseOne{1}For verily all men by nature
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 13:1 }
Or, are
}
{\ADD{were but
}} vain who had no perception of God,
\par }{\Q And from the good things that are seen they gained not power to know him that is,
\par }{\Q Neither by giving heed to the works did they recognise the artificer;
\par }{\Q \VS{2}But either fire, or wind, or swift air,
\par }{\Q Or
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 13:2 }
Gr.
circle of stars.
} circling stars, or raging water, or
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 13:2 }
Or,
luminaries of heaven, rulers of the world, they thought to be gods
} luminaries of heaven,
\par }{\Q They thought to be gods that rule the world.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}And if it was through delight in their beauty that they took them to be gods,
\par }{\Q Let them know how much better than these is their Sovereign Lord;
\par }{\Q For the first author of beauty created them:
\par }{\Q \VS{4}But if it was through astonishment at their power and
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 13:4 }
Gr.
efficacy.
} influence,
\par }{\Q Let them understand from them how much more powerful is he that formed them;
\par }{\Q \VS{5}For from the
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 13:5 }
Some authorities read
greatness and beauty of.
} greatness of the beauty
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 13:5 }
Some authorities omit
even.
} even of created things
\par }{\Q \FTNT{‡}{{\FR 13:5 }
Or,
Correspondently
} In like proportion
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 13:5 }
Gr.
is the first maker of them beheld.
} does man form the image of their first maker.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}But yet for these
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 13:6 }
Or,
things
} men there is but small blame,
\par }{\Q For they too peradventure do
{\ADD{but
}} go astray
\par }{\Q While they are seeking God and desiring to find him.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}For
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 13:7 }
Or,
being occupied with
} living among his works they make diligent search,
\par }{\Q And they
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 13:7 }
Or,
trust their sight that the things
} yield themselves up to sight, because the things that they look upon are beautiful.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}But again even they are not to be excused.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}For if they had power to know so much,
\par }{\Q That they should be able to explore
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 13:9 }
Or,
life
Or,
the world
Gr.
the age.
} the course
{\ADD{of things,
}}
\par }{\Q How is it that they did not sooner find the Sovereign Lord of these
{\ADD{his works?
}}
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}But miserable
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 13:10 }
Or, are
}
{\ADD{were
}} they, and
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 13:10 }
Or,
amongst
} in dead things
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 13:10 }
Or, are
}
{\ADD{were
}} their hopes,
\par }{\Q Who called them gods which are works of men’s hands,
\par }{\Q Gold and silver, wrought with careful art, and likenesses of animals,
\par }{\Q Or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Yea and if some
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 13:11 }
Gr.
carpenter who is a woodcutter.
} woodcutter, having sawn down a
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 13:11 }
Gr.
plant.
The Greek word, slightly changed, would mean
trunk
} tree that is easily moved,
\par }{\Q Skilfully strippeth away all its bark,
\par }{\Q And fashioning it in comely form maketh a vessel useful for the service of life;
\par }{\Q \VS{12}And burning the refuse of his handywork to dress his food, eateth his fill;
\par }{\Q \VS{13}And taking the very refuse thereof which served to no use,
\par }{\Q A crooked piece of wood and full of knots,
\par }{\Q Carveth it with the diligence of his idleness,
\par }{\Q And shapeth it by the skill of his
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 13:13 }
Or,
leisure
} indolence;
\par }{\Q \FTNT{‡}{{\FR 13:13 }
Or, And
}
{\ADD{Then
}} he giveth it the semblance of the image of a man,
\par }{\Q \VS{14}Or maketh it like some paltry animal,
\par }{\Q Smearing it with vermilion, and with
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 13:14 }
Gr.
rouge.
} paint colouring it red,
\par }{\Q And smearing over every stain that is therein;
\par }{\Q \VS{15}And having made for it a chamber worthy of it,
\par }{\Q He setteth it in a wall, making it fast with iron.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}While then he taketh thought for it that it may not fall down,
\par }{\Q Knowing that it is unable to help itself;
\par }{\Q (For verily it is an image, and hath need of help;)
\par }{\Q \VS{17}When he maketh his prayer concerning goods and his marriage and children,
\par }{\Q He is not ashamed to speak to that which hath no life;
\par }{\Q \VS{18}Yea for health he calleth upon that which is weak,
\par }{\Q And for life he beseecheth that which is dead,
\par }{\Q And for aid he supplicateth that which hath least experience.
\par }{\Q And for a
{\ADD{good
}} journey that which cannot so much as move a step,
\par }{\Q \VS{19}And for gaining and
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 13:19 }
Or,
handywork
} getting and good success of his hands
\par }{\Q He asketh ability of that which with its hands is most unable.
\par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{14}{\Q \VerseOne{1}Again, one preparing to sail, and about to journey over raging waves,
\par }{\Q Calleth upon a piece of wood more rotten than the vessel that carrieth him;
\par }{\Q \VS{2}For that
{\ADD{vessel
}} the hunger for gains devised,
\par }{\Q And an artificer,
{\ADD{even
}} wisdom, built it;
\par }{\Q \VS{3}And thy providence, O Father, guideth it along,
\par }{\Q Because even in the sea thou gavest a way,
\par }{\Q And in the waves a sure path,
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Shewing that thou canst save out of every
{\ADD{danger,
}}
\par }{\Q That
{\ADD{so
}} even without art a man may put to sea;
\par }{\Q \VS{5}And it is thy will that the works of thy wisdom should be not idle;
\par }{\Q Therefore also do men intrust their lives to a little piece of wood,,
\par }{\Q And passing through the surge
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 14:5 }
Gr.
by.
} on a raft are brought safe
{\ADD{to land.
}}
\par }{\Q \VS{6}For
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 14:6 }
The Greek text here is perhaps corrupt.
} in the old time also, when proud giants were perishing,
\par }{\Q The hope of the world, taking refuge on a raft,
\par }{\Q Left to
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 14:6 }
Or,
future time
Gr.
age.
} the race of men a seed of generations
{\ADD{to come,
}}
\par }{\Q Thy hand guiding the helm.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}For blessed
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 14:7 }
Or,
is
} hath been wood through which cometh righteousness:
\par }{\Q \VS{8}But the
{\ADD{idol
}} made with hands is accursed, itself and he that made it;
\par }{\Q Because his was the working, and the corruptible thing was named a god:
\par }{\Q \VS{9}For both the ungodly doer and his ungodliness are alike hateful to God;
\par }{\Q \VS{10}For verily the deed shall be punished together with him that committed it.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Therefore also
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 14:11 }
Or,
upon
Gr.
in.
} among the idols of the nations shall there be a visitation,
\par }{\Q Because, though formed of things which God created, they were made an abomination,
\par }{\Q And stumblingblocks to the souls of men,
\par }{\Q And a snare to the feet of the foolish.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}For the devising of idols was the beginning of fornication,
\par }{\Q And the invention of them the corruption of life:
\par }{\Q \VS{13}For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever;
\par }{\Q \VS{14}For by the vaingloriousness of men they entered into the world,
\par }{\Q And therefore was a speedy end devised for them.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}For a father worn with untimely grief,
\par }{\Q Making an image of the child quickly taken away,
\par }{\Q Now honoured him as a god which was then a dead man,
\par }{\Q And delivered to those that were under him mysteries and solemn rites.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}Afterward the ungodly custom, in process of time grown strong, was kept as a law,
\par }{\Q And by the commandments of princes the graven images received worship.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}And when men could not honour them in presence because they dwelt far off,
\par }{\Q Imagining the likeness from afar,
\par }{\Q They made a visible image of the king whom they honoured,
\par }{\Q That by their zeal they might flatter the absent as if present.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}But unto a yet higher pitch was worship raised even by them that knew
{\ADD{him
}} not,
\par }{\Q Urged forward by the ambition of the artificer:
\par }{\Q \VS{19}For he, wishing peradventure to please one in authority,
\par }{\Q Used his art to force the likeness toward a greater beauty;
\par }{\Q \VS{20}And the multitude, allured by reason of the grace of his handywork,
\par }{\Q Now accounted as an object of devotion him that a little before was honoured as a man.
\par }{\Q \VS{21}And this became
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 14:21 }
Gr.
an ambush.
} a hidden danger unto life,
\par }{\Q Because men, in bondage either to calamity or to tyranny,
\par }{\Q Invested stones and stocks with the incommunicable Name.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{22}Afterward it was not enough for them to go astray as touching the knowledge of God;
\par }{\Q But also, while they live
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 14:22 }
Or,
for
} in
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 14:22 }
Gr.
a great war of ignorance.
} sore conflict through ignorance
{\ADD{of him.
}}
\par }{\Q That multitude of evils they call peace.
\par }{\Q \VS{23}For either slaughtering children in solemn rites, or celebrating secret mysteries,
\par }{\Q Or holding frantic revels of strange ordinances,
\par }{\Q \VS{24}No longer do they
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 14:24 }
Or,
keep unstained either life or marriage
} guard either life or purity of marriage,
\par }{\Q But one brings upon another either death by treachery, or anguish by adulterate offspring.
\par }{\Q \VS{25}And all things confusedly are filled with blood and murder, theft and deceit,
\par }{\Q Corruption, faithlessness, tumult, perjury,
\par }{\Q \VS{26}\FTNT{†}{{\FR 14:26 }
Or,
troubling of the good, forgetfulness of favours
} turmoil,
\par }{\Q Ingratitude for benefits
{\ADD{received,
}}
\par }{\Q Defiling of souls, confusion of
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 14:26 }
Or,
kind
} sex,
\par }{\Q Disorder in marriage, adultery and wantonness.
\par }{\Q \VS{27}For the worship of
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 14:27 }
Or,
idols that may not be named
See Ex. xxiii. 13; Ps. xvi. 4; Hos. ii. 17.
} those
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 14:27 }
See ver. 21.
} nameless idols
\par }{\Q Is a beginning and cause and end of every evil.
\par }{\Q \VS{28}For
{\ADD{their worshippers
}} either make merry unto madness, or prophesy lies,
\par }{\Q Or live unrighteously, or lightly forswear themselves.
\par }{\Q \VS{29}For putting their trust in lifeless idols,
\par }{\Q When they have sworn a wicked oath, they expect not to suffer harm.
\par }{\Q \VS{30}But for both
{\ADD{sins
}} shall the just doom pursue them,
\par }{\Q Because they had evil thoughts of God by giving heed to idols,
\par }{\Q And swore unrighteously in deceit through contempt for holiness.
\par }{\Q \VS{31}For it is not the power of them by whom men swear,
\par }{\Q But it is
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 14:31 }
Gr.
the Justice of them that sin.
} that Justice which hath regard to them that sin,
\par }{\Q That visiteth always the transgression of the unrighteous.
\par }{\BB \par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{15}{\Q \VerseOne{1}But thou, our God, art gracious and true,
\par }{\Q Longsuffering, and in mercy ordering all things.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}For even if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy dominion;
\par }{\Q But we shall not sin, knowing that we have been accounted thine:
\par }{\Q \VS{3}For to be acquainted with thee is
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 15:3 }
Gr.
entire.
} perfect righteousness,
\par }{\Q And to know thy dominion is the root of immortality.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}For neither were we led astray by any evil device of men’s art,
\par }{\Q Nor yet by painters’ fruitless labour,
\par }{\Q A form stained with varied colours;
\par }{\Q \VS{5}The sight whereof leadeth fools into
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 15:5 }
Some authorities read
reproach.
} lust:
\par }{\Q {\ADD{Their
}} desire is for the breathless form of a dead image.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}Lovers of evil things, and worthy of such hopes
{\ADD{as these,}}
\par }{\Q Are both they that do, and they that desire, and they that worship.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}For a potter, kneading soft earth,
\par }{\Q Laboriously mouldeth each several
{\ADD{vessel
}} for our service:
\par }{\Q Nay, out of the same clay doth he fashion
\par }{\Q Both the vessels that minister to clean uses, and those of a contrary sort,
\par }{\Q All in like manner;
\par }{\Q But what shall be the use of each
{\ADD{vessel
}} of either sort,
\par }{\Q The
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 15:7 }
Gr.
worker in clay.
} craftsman
{\ADD{himself
}} is the judge.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}And also, labouring to an evil end, he mouldeth a vain god out of the same clay,
\par }{\Q He who, having but a little before been made of earth,
\par }{\Q After a short space goeth his way
{\ADD{to the earth
}} out of which he was taken,
\par }{\Q When he is required to render back the
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 15:8 }
Or,
life
} soul which was lent him.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Howbeit he hath anxious care,
\par }{\Q Not because his powers must fail,
\par }{\Q Nor because his span of life is short;
\par }{\Q But he matcheth himself against goldsmiths and
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 15:9 }
Gr.
silver-founders.
} silversmiths,
\par }{\Q And he imitateth moulders in
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 15:9 }
Or,
copper
} brass,
\par }{\Q And esteemeth it glory that he mouldeth counterfeits.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}His heart is ashes,
\par }{\Q And his hope of less value than earth,
\par }{\Q And his life of less honour than clay:
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Because he was ignorant of him that moulded him,
\par }{\Q And of him that inspired into him
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 15:11 }
Gr.
a soul that moveth to activity.
} an active
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 15:11 }
Or,
life
} soul,
\par }{\Q And breathed into him a vital spirit.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}But
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 15:12 }
Some authorities read
they accounted.
} he accounted our
{\ADD{very
}} life to be a
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 15:12 }
Or,
sport
} plaything,
\par }{\Q And our
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 15:12 }
Or,
way of life
} lifetime a gainful
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 15:12 }
Or,
keeping of festival
} fair;
\par }{\Q For, saith he, one must get gain whence one can, though it be by evil.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}For this man beyond all others knoweth that he sinneth,
\par }{\Q Out of earthy matter making brittle vessels and graven images.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}But most foolish
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 15:14 }
Or,
are
}
{\ADD{were
}} they all, and
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 15:14 }
Gr.
more wretched than the soul of a babe.
} of feebler soul than a babe,
\par }{\Q The enemies of thy people, who oppressed them;
\par }{\Q \VS{15}Because they even accounted all the idols of the nations
{\ADD{to be
}} gods;
\par }{\Q Which have neither the use of eyes for seeing,
\par }{\Q Nor nostrils for drawing breath,
\par }{\Q Nor ears to hear,
\par }{\Q Nor fingers for handling,
\par }{\Q And their feet are helpless for walking.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}For a man made them,
\par }{\Q And one whose own spirit is borrowed moulded them;
\par }{\Q For no one hath power,
{\ADD{being
}} a man, to mould a god like unto himself,
\par }{\Q \VS{17}But, being mortal, he maketh a dead thing by the work of lawless hands;
\par }{\Q For he is better than the objects of his worship,
\par }{\Q \FTNT{‡}{{\FR 15:17 }
Most authorities read
Of which, he indeed.
} Forasmuch as he indeed had life, but they never.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{18}Yea, and the creatures that are most hateful do they worship,
\par }{\Q \FTNT{§}{{\FR 15:18 }
The Greek text here is perhaps corrupt.
} For, being compared as to want of sense, these are worse than all others;
\par }{\Q \VS{19}Neither, as seen beside
{\ADD{other
}} creatures, are they beautiful, so that one should desire them,
\par }{\Q But they have escaped both the praise of God and his blessing.

\par }\PoetryChap{16}{\Q \VerseOne{1}For this cause were
{\ADD{these men
}} worthily punished through
{\ADD{creatures
}} like
{\ADD{those which they worship,
}}
\par }{\Q And tormented through a multitude of vermin.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Instead of which punishment, thou, bestowing benefits on thy people,
\par }{\Q Preparedst quails for food,
\par }{\Q {\ADD{Food of
}}
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 16:2 }
Gr.
strange.
} rare taste, to
{\ADD{satisfy
}} the desire of
{\ADD{their
}} appetite;
\par }{\Q \VS{3}To the end that
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 16:3 }
Gr.
those.
} thine enemies, desiring food,
\par }{\Q Might for the hideousness of the
{\ADD{creatures
}} sent among them
\par }{\Q Loathe even the necessary appetite;
\par }{\Q But these,
{\ADD{thy people,
}} having for a short space suffered want,
\par }{\Q Might even partake of
{\ADD{food of
}}
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 16:3 }
Gr.
strange.
} rare taste.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}For it was needful that upon those should come inexorable want in their tyrannous dealing,
\par }{\Q But that to these it should only be shewed how their enemies were tormented.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}For even when terrible raging of wild beasts came upon
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 16:5 }
Gr.
them.
} thy people,
\par }{\Q And they were perishing by the bites of crooked serpents,
\par }{\Q Thy wrath continued not to the uttermost;
\par }{\Q \VS{6}But for admonition were they troubled for a short space,
\par }{\Q Having a token of salvation,
\par }{\Q To put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law:
\par }{\Q \VS{7}For he that turned toward it was not saved because of that which was beheld,
\par }{\Q But because of thee, the Saviour of all.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Yea, and in this didst thou persuade our enemies,
\par }{\Q That thou art he that delivereth out of every evil.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}For them verily the bites of locusts and flies did slay,
\par }{\Q And there was not found a healing for their life,
\par }{\Q Because they were worthy to be punished by such
{\ADD{as these;
}}
\par }{\Q \VS{10}But thy sons not the very teeth of venomous dragons overcame,
\par }{\Q For thy mercy passed by where they were, and healed them.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}For they were
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 16:11 }
Gr.
pricked
} bitten, to put them in remembrance of thine oracles;
\par }{\Q And were quickly saved, lest, falling into deep forgetfulness,
\par }{\Q They should become
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 16:11 }
Some authorities read
bereft of help from thy beneficence.
} unable to be
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 16:11 }
Gr.
distracted,
or,
drawn away.
The meaning is somewhat obscure.
} roused by thy beneficence:
\par }{\Q \VS{12}For of a truth it was neither herb nor mollifying plaister that cured them,
\par }{\Q But thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things;
\par }{\Q \VS{13}For thou hast authority over life and death,
\par }{\Q And thou leadest down to the gates of Hades, and leadest up again.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}But though a man
{\ADD{may
}} slay by his
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 16:14 }
Or,
malice
} wickedness,
\par }{\Q Yet the spirit that is gone forth he turneth not again,
\par }{\Q Neither giveth release to the soul that
{\ADD{Hades
}} hath received.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}But thy hand it is not possible to escape;
\par }{\Q \VS{16}For ungodly men,
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 16:16 }
Or,
denying that they knew thee
} refusing to know thee, were scourged in the strength of thine arm,
\par }{\Q Pursued with strange rains and hails and showers inexorable,
\par }{\Q And utterly consumed with fire;
\par }{\Q \VS{17}For, what was most marvellous
{\ADD{of all,
}}
\par }{\Q In the water which quencheth all things the fire wrought yet more mightily;
\par }{\Q For the world fighteth for the righteous.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}For at one time the flame lost its fierceness,
\par }{\Q That it might not burn up the creatures sent against the ungodly,
\par }{\Q But that
{\ADD{these
}} themselves as they looked might
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 16:18 }
Some authorities read
know.
} see that they were chased through the judgement of God:
\par }{\Q \VS{19}And at another time even in the midst of water it burneth above the power of fire,
\par }{\Q That it may destroy the
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 16:19 }
Gr.
products
} fruits of an unrighteous land.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}Instead whereof thou gavest thy people angels’ food to eat,
\par }{\Q And bread ready
{\ADD{for their use
}} didst thou provide for them from heaven without
{\ADD{their
}} toil,
\par }{\Q {\ADD{Bread
}} having the virtue of every pleasant savour,
\par }{\Q And agreeing to every taste;
\par }{\Q \VS{21}For
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 16:21 }
Some authorities read
the substance
thereof.
} thy
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 16:21 }
Or,
creation
Gr.
substance.
} nature manifested thy sweetness toward
{\ADD{thy
}} children;
\par }{\Q While
{\ADD{that bread,
}} ministering to the desire of the eater,
\par }{\Q Tempered itself according to every man’s choice.
\par }{\Q \VS{22}But snow and ice endured fire, and melted not,
\par }{\Q That
{\ADD{men
}} might know that fire was destroying the fruits of the enemies,
\par }{\Q Burning in the hail and flashing in the rains;
\par }{\Q \VS{23}And
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 16:23 }
Some authorities omit
that.
} that this
{\ADD{element
}} again, in order that righteous men may be nourished,
\par }{\Q Hath even forgotten its own power.
\par }{\Q \VS{24}For the creation, ministering to thee its maker,
\par }{\Q Straineth its force against the unrighteous, for punishment,
\par }{\Q And slackeneth it in behalf of them that trust in thee, for beneficence.
\par }{\Q \VS{25}Therefore at that time also, converting itself into all forms,
\par }{\Q It ministered to thine all-nourishing bounty,
\par }{\Q According to the desire of them that
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 16:25 }
Or,
had need
} made supplication;
\par }{\Q \VS{26}That thy sons, whom thou lovedst, O Lord, might learn
\par }{\Q That it is not the
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 16:26 }
Gr.
generations.
} growth of
{\ADD{the earth’s
}} fruits that nourisheth a man,
\par }{\Q But that thy word preserveth them that trust thee.
\par }{\Q \VS{27}For that which was not marred by fire,
\par }{\Q When it was simply warmed by a faint sunbeam melted away;
\par }{\Q \VS{28}That it might be known that
{\ADD{we
}} must rise before the sun to give thee thanks,
\par }{\Q And must plead with thee at the dawning of the light:
\par }{\Q \VS{29}For the hope of the unthankful shall melt as the winter’s hoar frost,
\par }{\Q And shall flow away as water that hath no use.
\par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{17}{\Q \VerseOne{1}For great are thy judgements, and hard to
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 17:1 }
Or,
set forth
} interpret;
\par }{\Q Therefore souls undisciplined went astray.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}For when lawless men had supposed that they held a holy nation in their power,
\par }{\Q They,
{\ADD{themselves,
}} prisoners of darkness, and bound in the fetters of a long night,
\par }{\Q Close kept beneath their roofs,
\par }{\Q Lay exiled from the eternal providence.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}For while they thought that they were unseen in
{\ADD{their
}} secret sins,
\par }{\Q They were
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 17:3 }
Gr.
scattered by.
} sundered one from another by a dark curtain of forgetfulness,
\par }{\Q Stricken with terrible awe, and sore troubled by spectral forms.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}For neither did
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 17:4 }
Gr.
the recess.
} the dark recesses that held them guard them from fears,
\par }{\Q But sounds
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 17:4 }
Some authorities read
troubling them sore.
} rushing down rang around them,
\par }{\Q And phantoms appeared, cheerless with unsmiling faces.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}And no force of fire prevailed to give
{\ADD{them
}} light,
\par }{\Q Neither were the brightest flames of the stars strong enough to illumine that gloomy night:
\par }{\Q \VS{6}But only there appeared to them the glimmering of a fire self-kindled, full of fear;
\par }{\Q And in terror they deemed the things which they saw
\par }{\Q To be worse than that sight, on which they could not gaze.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}\FTNT{*}{{\FR 17:7 }
Some authorities read
And the mockeries of magic art lay low, and shameful was the rebuke \&c.
} And they lay
{\ADD{helpless,
}} made the sport of magic art,
\par }{\Q And a shameful rebuke of their vaunts of understanding:
\par }{\Q \VS{8}For they that promised to drive away terrors and troublings from a sick soul,
\par }{\Q These were
{\ADD{themselves
}} sick with a ludicrous fearfulness:
\par }{\Q \VS{9}For even if no troublous thing affrighted them,
\par }{\Q Yet, scared with the creepings of vermin and hissings of serpents,
\par }{\Q \VS{10}they perished
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 17:10 }
Or,
trembling, and refusing to
} for very trembling,
\par }{\Q Refusing even to look on the air, which could on no side be escaped.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 17:11 }
This is the probable sense: the Greek text is perhaps slightly corrupt.
} For wickedness, condemned by a witness within, is a coward thing,
\par }{\Q And, being pressed hard by conscience, always
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 17:11 }
Most authorities read
hath added.
} forecasteth the worst
{\ADD{lot:
}}
\par }{\Q \VS{12}For fear is nothing else but a surrender of the succours which reason offereth;
\par }{\Q \VS{13}And from within
{\ADD{the heart
}} the expectation
{\ADD{of them
}} being less
\par }{\Q Maketh of greater account the ignorance of the cause that bringeth the torment.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}But they, all through the night which was powerless indeed,
\par }{\Q And which came upon them out of the recesses of powerless Hades,
\par }{\Q {\ADD{All
}} sleeping the same sleep,
\par }{\Q \VS{15}Now were haunted by monstrous apparitions,
\par }{\Q And now were paralysed by their soul’s surrendering;
\par }{\Q For fear sudden and unlooked for
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 17:15 }
Some authorities read
was poured upon them.
} came upon them.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}So then
{\ADD{every man,
}} whosoever it might be, sinking down
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 17:16 }
Gr.
there.
} in his place,
\par }{\Q Was kept in ward shut up in that prison which was barred not with iron:
\par }{\Q \VS{17}For whether he were a husbandman, or a shepherd,
\par }{\Q Or a labourer whose toils were in the wilderness,
\par }{\Q He was overtaken, and endured that inevitable necessity,
\par }{\Q For with one chain of darkness were they all bound.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}Whether there were a whistling wind,
\par }{\Q Or a melodious noise of birds among the spreading branches,
\par }{\Q Or a measured fall of water running violently,
\par }{\Q \VS{19}Or a harsh crashing of rocks hurled down,
\par }{\Q Or the swift course of animals bounding along unseen,
\par }{\Q Or the voice of wild beasts harshly roaring,
\par }{\Q Or an echo rebounding from
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 17:19 }
Or,
a hollow
} the hollows of the mountains,
\par }{\Q {\ADD{All these things
}} paralysed them with terror.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}For the whole world
{\ADD{beside
}} was enlightened with clear light,
\par }{\Q And was occupied with unhindered works;
\par }{\Q \VS{21}While over them alone was spread a heavy night,
\par }{\Q An image of the darkness that should afterward receive them;
\par }{\Q But yet heavier than darkness were they unto themselves.

\par }\PoetryChap{18}{\Q \VerseOne{1}But for thy holy ones there was great light;
\par }{\Q And
{\ADD{the Egyptians,
}} hearing their voice but seeing not their form,
\par }{\Q Counted it a happy thing that they too had suffered,
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Yet for that they do not hurt them
{\ADD{now,
}} though wronged
{\ADD{by them
}} before, they are thankful;
\par }{\Q And because they had been at variance
{\ADD{with them,
}} they made supplication
{\ADD{to them.
}}
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Whereas thou didst provide
{\ADD{for thy people
}} a burning pillar of fire,
\par }{\Q To be a guide for
{\ADD{their
}} unknown journey,
\par }{\Q And withal a
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 18:3 }
Gr.
unharmful.
} kindly sun for
{\ADD{their
}}
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 18:3 }
Or,
aspiring
} proud exile.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}For well did
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 18:4 }
Gr.
they.
} the Egyptians deserve to be deprived of light and imprisoned by darkness,
\par }{\Q They who had kept in close ward thy sons,
\par }{\Q Through whom the incorruptible light of the law was to be given to
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 18:4 }
Or,
future time
Gr.
the age.
} the race of men.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}After they had taken counsel to slay the babes of the holy ones,
\par }{\Q And when a single child had been cast forth and saved
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 18:5 }
Or,
to be
to them
a rebuke
} to convict
{\ADD{them of their sin,
}}
\par }{\Q Thou tookest away from them their multitude of children,
\par }{\Q And destroyedst all
{\ADD{their host
}} together in a mighty flood.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}Of that night were our fathers made aware beforehand,
\par }{\Q That, having sure knowledge, they might be cheered by the oaths which they had trusted:
\par }{\Q \VS{7}{\ADD{So
}} by thy people was expected salvation of the righteous and destruction of the enemies;
\par }{\Q \VS{8}For as thou didst take vengeance on the adversaries,
\par }{\Q \FTNT{†}{{\FR 18:8 }
Gr.
By this.
} By the same means, calling us unto thyself, thou didst glorify us.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}For holy children
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 18:9 }
Or,
of blessing
Gr.
of good
men, or,
of good
things.
} of good men offered sacrifice in secret,
\par }{\Q And with one consent they took upon themselves the covenant of the
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 18:9 }
Gr.
law of divineness.
} divine law,
\par }{\Q That
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 18:9 }
Some authorities read
the saints would partake...perils; already leading the fathers’ songs of praise.
} they would partake alike in the same good things and the same perils;
\par }{\Q The fathers already leading the sacred songs of praise.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}But there sounded back in discord the cry of the enemies,
\par }{\Q \FTNT{†}{{\FR 18:10 }
Some authorities read
And was piteously borne abroad in lamentation for children.
} And a piteous voice of lamentation for children was borne abroad.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}And servant along with master punished with a like just doom,
\par }{\Q And commoner suffering the same as king,
\par }{\Q \VS{12}Yea, all
{\ADD{the people
}} together, under one form of death,
\par }{\Q Had
{\ADD{with them
}} corpses without number;
\par }{\Q For the living were not sufficient even to bury them,
\par }{\Q Since at a single
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 18:12 }
Gr.
turn of the scale.
} stroke their
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 18:12 }
Or,
more cherished
} nobler offspring was consumed.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}For while they were disbelieving all things by reason of the enchantments,
\par }{\Q Upon the destruction of the firstborn they confessed the people to be God’s son.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}For while peaceful silence enwrapped all things,
\par }{\Q And night in her own swiftness was in mid course,
\par }{\Q \VS{15}Thine all-powerful word leaped from heaven out of
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 18:15 }
Or, thy
}
{\ADD{the
}} royal
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 18:15 }
Gr.
thrones.
} throne,
\par }{\Q A stern warrior, into the midst of the
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 18:15 }
Or,
destroying
} doomed land,
\par }{\Q \VS{16}Bearing as a sharp sword thine unfeigned commandment;
\par }{\Q And standing it filled all things with death;
\par }{\Q And while it touched the heaven it trode upon the earth.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}Then forthwith apparitions in dreams terribly troubled them,
\par }{\Q And fears came upon them unlooked for.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}And
{\ADD{each,
}} one thrown here half dead, another there,
\par }{\Q Made manifest wherefore he was dying:
\par }{\Q \VS{19}For the dreams, perturbing them, did foreshew this,
\par }{\Q That they might not perish without knowing why they were afflicted.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{20}But it
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 18:20 }
Gr.
touched.
} befell the righteous also to make trial of death,
\par }{\Q And a multitude were stricken in the wilderness:
\par }{\Q Howbeit the wrath endured not for long.
\par }{\Q \VS{21}For a blameless man hasted to be their champion:
\par }{\Q Bringing the weapon of his own ministry,
\par }{\Q {\ADD{Even
}} prayer and the propitiation of incense,
\par }{\Q He withstood the indignation, and set an end to the calamity,
\par }{\Q Shewing that he was thy servant.
\par }{\Q \VS{22}And he overcame the
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 18:22 }
The word rendered
anger
differs only by the transposition of two letters from the reading of the Greek text, which here yields no sense.
} anger,
\par }{\Q Not by strength of body, not by efficacy of weapons;
\par }{\Q But
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 18:22 }
Or,
to a word did he subject
} by word did he subdue
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 18:22 }
Gr.
him who was punishing.} the minister of punishment,
\par }{\Q By bringing to remembrance oaths and covenants made with the fathers.
\par }{\Q \VS{23}For when the dead were already fallen in heaps one upon another,
\par }{\Q Standing between he stopped the
{\ADD{advancing
}} wrath,
\par }{\Q And
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 18:23 }
Gr.
cleft asunder.
} cut off the way to the living.
\par }{\Q \VS{24}For upon
{\ADD{his
}} long
{\ADD{high-priestly
}} robe was the whole world,
\par }{\Q And the glories of the fathers
{\ADD{were
}} upon the graving of the four rows of
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 18:24 }
Gr.
stone.
} precious stones,
\par }{\Q And thy majesty
{\ADD{was
}} upon the diadem of his head.
\par }{\Q \VS{25}To these the destroyer gave place, and these
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 18:25 }
Some authorities read
he feared.
}
{\ADD{the people
}} feared;
\par }{\Q For it was enough only to make trial of the wrath.
\par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{19}{\Q \VerseOne{1}But upon the ungodly there came unto the end indignation without mercy;
\par }{\Q For their future also
{\ADD{God
}} foreknew,
\par }{\Q \VS{2}How that, having changed their minds to
{\ADD{let thy people
}} go,
\par }{\Q And having speeded them eagerly on their way,
\par }{\Q They would repent themselves and pursue them.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}For while they were yet in the midst of their mourning,
\par }{\Q And making lamentation at the graves of the dead,
\par }{\Q They drew upon themselves another counsel of folly,
\par }{\Q And pursued as fugitives those whom with intreaties they had cast out.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}For
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 19:4 }
Or,
their desert by necessity was
} the doom which they deserved was drawing them
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 19:4 }
Some authorities read
unto this at last.
} unto this end,
\par }{\Q And it made them forget the things that had befallen them,
\par }{\Q That they might fill up the punishment which was yet wanting to their torments,
\par }{\Q \VS{5}And that thy people might
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 19:5 }
Some authorities read
make trial of.
} journey on by a marvellous road,
\par }{\Q But they
{\ADD{themselves
}} might find a strange death.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}For the whole creation,
{\ADD{each part
}} in its several kind, was fashioned again anew,
\par }{\Q Ministering to
{\ADD{thy
}} several commandments,
\par }{\Q That thy
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 19:6 }
Or,
children
} servants might be guarded free from hurt.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}{\ADD{Then
}} was beheld the cloud that shadowed the camp,
\par }{\Q And dry land rising up out of what before was water,
\par }{\Q Out of the Red sea an unhindered highway,
\par }{\Q And a grassy plain out of the violent surge;
\par }{\Q \VS{8}\FTNT{*}{{\FR 19:8 }
Or,
Through
} By which they passed over with all their hosts,
\par }{\Q These that were covered with thy hand,
\par }{\Q Having beheld strange marvels.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}For like horses they roamed at large,
\par }{\Q And they skipped about like lambs,
\par }{\Q Praising thee, O Lord, who wast their deliverer.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}For they still remembered the things that came to pass in the time of their sojourning,
\par }{\Q How that instead of
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 19:10 }
Or,
birth of cattle
} bearing
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 19:10 }
Gr.
living creatures.
} cattle the land brought forth
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 19:10 }
Or,
sandflies
} lice,
\par }{\Q And instead of
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 19:10 }
Gr.
creatures of the waters.
} fish the river cast up a multitude of frogs.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}But afterwards they saw also a new
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 19:11 }
Or,
production
Gr.
generation.
} race of birds,
\par }{\Q When, led on by desire, they asked for luxurious dainties;
\par }{\Q \VS{12}For, to solace them, there came up for them quails from the sea.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}And upon the sinners came the punishments
\par }{\Q Not without the tokens that were given
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 19:13 }
Some authorities omit
beforehand.
} beforehand by the force of the thunders;
\par }{\Q For justly did they suffer through their own wickednesses,
\par }{\Q For
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 19:13 }
Or,
yet more grievous was
} grievous indeed was the hatred which they practised toward guests.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}\FTNT{*}{{\FR 19:14 }
The Greek text of this and the following verse is perhaps corrupt.
} For whereas the
{\ADD{men of Sodom
}} received not
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 19:14 }
Gr.
them who knew them not.
} the strangers when they came among
{\ADD{them;
}}
\par }{\Q \FTNT{‡}{{\FR 19:14 }
Gr.
These.
} The Egyptians made slaves of guests who were their benefactors.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}And not only so,
{\ADD{but God
}} shall
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 19:15 }
Or,
visit them...sort: since
the men of Sodom
received...aliens
} visit
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 19:15 }
Gr.
them.
} the men of Sodom after another sort,
\par }{\Q Since they received as enemies them that were aliens;
\par }{\Q \VS{16}Whereas these
{\ADD{first
}} welcomed with feastings,
\par }{\Q And
{\ADD{then
}} afflicted with dreadful toils,
\par }{\Q Them that had already shared
{\ADD{with them
}} in the same rights.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}And moreover they were stricken with loss of sight
\par }{\Q (Even as were those
{\ADD{others
}} at the righteous man’s doors),
\par }{\Q When, being compassed about with yawning darkness,
\par }{\Q They sought every one the passage through his own door.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}For as the notes of a psaltery vary the character of the rhythm,
\par }{\Q Even so
{\ADD{did
}} the elements, changing their order one with another,
\par }{\Q Continuing always
{\ADD{the same, each
}} in its
{\ADD{several
}} sound;
\par }{\Q As may clearly be
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 19:18 }
Gr.
conjectured.
} divined from the sight of the things that are come to pass.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}For creatures of the dry land were turned into creatures of the waters,
\par }{\Q And creatures that swim trode
{\ADD{now
}} upon the earth:
\par }{\Q \VS{20}Fire kept the mastery of its own power in
{\ADD{the midst of
}} water,
\par }{\Q And water forgat its quenching nature:
\par }{\Q \VS{21}Contrariwise, flames wasted not the flesh of perishable creatures that walked among them;
\par }{\Q Neither
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 19:21 }
The Greek authorities read
could be melted.
The Latin seems to have preserved the original Greek text.
} melted they the
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 19:21 }
Gr.
ice-like kind.
} ice-like grains of ambrosial food, that were
{\ADD{of nature
}} apt to melt.
\par }{\Q \VS{22}For in all things, O Lord, thou didst magnify thy people,
\par }{\Q And thou didst glorify them and not lightly regard them;
\par }{\Q Standing by their side in every time and place.
\par }