And Jacob
sent messengers
before him
to Esau his brother
unto the land
of Seir,
the country
of Edom.
And
he commanded them,
saying,
Thus
shall
ye speak
unto my lord Esau;
Thy servant Jacob
saith thus,
I have sojourned
with Laban,
and stayed
there until now:
And I
have oxen,
and asses,
flocks,
and menservants,
and womenservants:
and
I have sent
to tell
my lord,
that I
may find
grace in thy sight.
And the messengers
returned
to Jacob,
saying,
We came
to thy brother Esau,
and also
he cometh to meet thee,
and four hundred men
with him.
Then Jacob
was greatly afraid
and distressed:
and he
divided
the people
that was with him,
and the flocks,
and herds,
and the camels,
into two bands;
And said,
If Esau
come
to the one company,
and smite it,
then
the other company
which is left
shall escape.
And Jacob said,
O God
of my father Abraham,
and God
of my father Isaac,
the LORD which saidst
unto me,
Return unto thy country,
and to thy kindred,
and
I will deal well
with thee:
I am not worthy
of the least
of all the mercies,
and
of all the truth,
which thou
hast shewed
unto thy servant;
for with my staff
I passed
over this Jordan;
and
now
I am become
two bands.
Deliver me,
I pray thee,
from the hand
of my brother,
from the hand
of Esau:
for I
fear him,
lest
he will come
and smite me,
and the mother
with the children.
And thou saidst,
I will surely do thee good,
and make thy
seed
as the sand
of the sea,
which cannot be numbered
for multitude.
And
he lodged there
that same night;
and took
of that
which came
to his hand a present
for Esau his brother;
Two hundred
she goats,
and twenty
he goats,
two hundred ewes,
and twenty rams,
Thirty milch camels
with their colts,
forty kine,
and ten bulls,
twenty she asses,
and ten foals.
And
he delivered them
into the hand
of his servants,
every drove by themselves;
and said
unto his servants,
Pass over
before me,
and put
a space
betwixt drove
and drove.
And
he commanded
the foremost,
saying,
When Esau my brother
meeteth thee,
and asketh thee,
saying,
Whose art thou?
and whither goest thou?
and whose are
these before thee?
Then
thou shalt say,
They
be
thy servant Jacob's;
it is
a present sent
unto my lord Esau:
and,
behold,
also he
is behind us.
And so
commanded
he the second,
and the third,
and all
that followed
the droves,
saying,
On this manner
shall
ye speak
unto Esau,
when ye find him.
And say ye
moreover,
Behold,
thy servant Jacob
is behind us.
For he said,
I will appease him
with the present that
goeth
before me,
and afterward
I will see
his face;
peradventure
he will accept of me.
So went
the present over
before him:
and himself
lodged
that night
in the company.
And Jacob
heard that
he had defiled Dinah
his daughter:
now his sons
were with his cattle
in the field:
and Jacob
held his peace
until they
were come.
And Jacob
said
to Simeon
and Levi,
Ye have troubled me
to make me
to stink
among the inhabitants
of the land,
among the Canaanites
and the Perizzites:
and
I being few
in number,
they shall gather themselves
together against me,
and slay me;
and
I shall be destroyed,
I and my house.
Now therefore let Pharaoh
look
out a man
discreet
and wise,
and set him
over the land
of Egypt.
Let Pharaoh
do this,
and let him
appoint officers
over the land,
and take up
the fifth part
of the land
of Egypt
in the seven plenteous years.
And let them
gather all the food
of those
good years that come,
and lay up corn
under the hand
of Pharaoh,
and let them
keep food
in the cities.
And that food
shall be
for store
to the land
against the seven years
of famine,
which shall be
in the land
of Egypt;
that the land
perish not
through the famine.
And the thing
was good
in the eyes
of Pharaoh,
and in the eyes
of all his servants.
And Pharaoh
said
unto his servants,
Can we
find
such a one
as this is,
a man in
whom
the Spirit of God is?
And Pharaoh
said
unto Joseph,
Forasmuch as God
hath shewed thee all this,
there is none
so discreet
and wise
as thou art:
Thou shalt be
over my house,
and according
unto thy
word
shall all
my people
be ruled:
only in the throne
will
I be greater than thou.
And Pharaoh
said
unto Joseph, See,
I have set thee
over all
the land
of Egypt.
And Pharaoh
took off
his ring
from his hand,
and put it
upon Joseph's hand,
and arrayed him
in vestures
of fine linen,
and put
a gold chain
about his neck;
And
he made him
to ride
in the second chariot
which he had;
and they
cried
before him,
Bow the knee:
and
he made him ruler
over all
the land
of Egypt.
And Pharaoh
said
unto Joseph,
I am Pharaoh,
and without thee
shall no man
lift up his hand
or foot
in all the land
of Egypt.
And Pharaoh
called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah;
and he
gave him
to wife Asenath
the daughter
of Potipherah priest of On.
And Joseph
went out
over all
the land
of Egypt.
And Joseph
was
thirty years old
when he
stood
before Pharaoh king
of Egypt.
And Joseph
went out
from the presence
of Pharaoh,
and went throughout all
the land
of Egypt.
And
in the seven plenteous years
the earth
brought forth
by handfuls.
And he
gathered
up all
the food
of the seven years,
which were in the land
of Egypt,
and laid up
the food
in the cities:
the food
of the field,
which was round
about every city,
laid
he up
in the same.
And Joseph
gathered corn
as the sand
of the sea,
very much,
until he left numbering;
for it
was without number.
And unto Joseph
were born
two sons
before the years
of famine came,
which Asenath the daughter
of Potipherah priest
of On
bare unto him.
And Joseph
called
the name
of the firstborn Manasseh:
For God,
said he,
hath made me
forget all
my toil,
and all my father's house.
And the name
of the second called
he Ephraim:
For God
hath caused me
to be fruitful
in the land
of my affliction.
And the seven years
of plenteousness,
that was in the land
of Egypt,
were ended.
And the seven years
of dearth
began
to come,
according
as Joseph
had said:
and the dearth
was in all lands;
but in all
the land
of Egypt
there was bread.
And
when all
the land
of Egypt
was famished,
the people
cried to Pharaoh
for bread:
and Pharaoh
said
unto all
the Egyptians,
Go unto Joseph;
what
he saith to you,
do.
And the famine
was over all
the face
of the earth:
and Joseph
opened all
the storehouses,
and sold
unto the Egyptians;
and the famine
waxed sore
in the land
of Egypt.
And all countries
came
into Egypt
to Joseph for to
buy corn;
because
that the famine
was so sore
in all lands.
And
Moses' father
in law
said unto him,
The thing
that thou
doest is not good.
Thou wilt surely wear away,
both thou,
and this people
that is
with thee:
for this thing
is too heavy
for thee;
thou art not able
to perform it thyself alone.
Hearken now
unto my voice,
I will give
thee counsel,
and God
shall be
with thee:
Be thou
for the people
to God-ward,
that thou
mayest bring
the causes
unto God:
And
thou shalt teach them ordinances
and laws,
and shalt shew them
the way
wherein they
must walk,
and the work that
they must do.
Moreover thou
shalt provide
out of all
the people able men,
such as
fear God,
men of truth,
hating covetousness;
and place such
over them,
to be rulers
of thousands,
and rulers
of hundreds,
rulers
of fifties,
and rulers
of tens:
And let them
judge the people
at all seasons:
and it
shall be,
that every great matter
they shall bring
unto thee,
but every small matter
they shall judge:
so shall
it be easier
for thyself,
and
they shall bear
the burden
with thee.
If thou
shalt do
this thing,
and God
command thee so,
then
thou shalt be able
to endure,
and all this people
shall also go to their place
in peace.
And
when
they came
unto the borders
of Jordan,
that are in the land
of Canaan,
the children
of Reuben
and the children
of Gad
and the half tribe
of Manasseh
built there
an altar
by Jordan,
a great altar
to see to.
And the children
of Israel heard say,
Behold,
the children
of Reuben
and the children
of Gad
and the half tribe
of Manasseh
have built
an altar
over against the land
of Canaan,
in the borders
of Jordan,
at the passage
of the children
of Israel.
And
when the children
of Israel
heard of it,
the whole congregation
of the children
of Israel
gathered themselves
together
at Shiloh,
to go up to war
against them.
And the children
of Israel
sent
unto the children
of Reuben,
and to the children
of Gad,
and
to the half tribe
of Manasseh,
into the land
of Gilead,
Phinehas the son
of Eleazar the priest,
And with him ten princes,
of each chief
house a prince
throughout all
the tribes
of Israel;
and each one
was an head
of the house
of their fathers
among the thousands of Israel.
And they
came
unto the children
of Reuben,
and to the children
of Gad,
and
to the half tribe
of Manasseh,
unto the land
of Gilead,
and
they
spake with them,
saying,
Thus
saith
the whole congregation
of the LORD,
What
trespass
is this
that
ye have committed
against the God
of Israel,
to turn away
this day
from following the LORD,
in that
ye have builded
you an altar,
that ye
might rebel
this day
against the LORD?
Is the iniquity
of Peor too little
for us,
from which
we are not cleansed until
this day,
although there was a plague
in the congregation
of the LORD,
But that
ye must turn away
this day
from following the LORD?
and it
will be,
seeing
ye rebel to day
against the LORD,
that to morrow
he will be wroth
with the whole congregation
of Israel.
Notwithstanding,
if the land
of your possession
be unclean,
then pass
ye over
unto the land
of the possession
of the LORD,
wherein
the LORD's tabernacle dwelleth,
and take possession
among us:
but rebel not
against the LORD,
nor
rebel against us,
in building
you an altar
beside the altar
of the LORD our God.
Did not Achan
the son
of Zerah
commit a trespass
in the accursed thing,
and wrath
fell
on all
the congregation
of Israel?
and
that man
perished not alone
in his iniquity.
Then the children
of Reuben
and the children
of Gad
and
the half tribe
of Manasseh answered,
and said
unto the heads
of the thousands of Israel,
The LORD God
of gods,
the LORD God
of gods,
he knoweth,
and Israel
he shall know;
if it
be in rebellion,
or if
in transgression
against the LORD,
(save us not
this day,)
That we
have built us
an altar to turn
from following the LORD,
or if
to offer
thereon burnt
offering
or meat offering,
or if
to offer peace offerings thereon,
let the LORD himself
require it;
And
if we
have not
rather done it
for fear
of this thing,
saying,
In time
to come
your children
might speak
unto our children,
saying,
What
have
ye to do
with the LORD God
of Israel?
For the LORD
hath made
Jordan a border
between us
and you,
ye children
of Reuben
and children
of Gad;
ye have
no part
in the LORD:
so shall
your children
make our children
cease from fearing
the LORD.
Therefore we said,
Let us
now prepare
to build us
an altar,
not for burnt offering,
nor
for sacrifice:
But
that it
may be a witness
between us,
and you,
and our generations
after us,
that we
might do
the service
of the LORD
before him
with our burnt offerings,
and
with our sacrifices,
and
with our peace offerings;
that your children
may not say
to our children
in time to
come,
Ye have
no part
in the LORD.
Therefore said we,
that it
shall be,
when
they should so
say
to us or
to our generations
in time to
come,
that we
may say again,
Behold the pattern
of the altar
of the LORD,
which our fathers made,
not for burnt offerings,
nor for sacrifices;
but it
is a witness
between us and you.
God forbid
that we
should rebel
against the LORD,
and turn
this day
from following the LORD,
to build an altar
for burnt offerings,
for meat offerings,
or for sacrifices,
beside the altar
of the LORD
our God
that is
before his tabernacle.
And
when Phinehas
the priest,
and the princes
of the congregation
and heads
of the thousands of Israel
which were with him,
heard the words
that the children
of Reuben
and the children
of Gad
and the children
of Manasseh spake,
it pleased them.
And Phinehas
the son
of Eleazar
the priest
said
unto the children
of Reuben,
and to the children
of Gad,
and to the children
of Manasseh,
This day
we perceive
that the LORD
is among us,
because
ye have not committed
this trespass
against the LORD:
now
ye have delivered
the children
of Israel
out of the hand
of the LORD.
And Phinehas
the son
of Eleazar the priest,
and the princes,
returned
from the children
of Reuben,
and from the children
of Gad,
out of the land
of Gilead,
unto the land
of Canaan,
to the children
of Israel,
and brought them
word again.
And the thing pleased
the children
of Israel;
and the children
of Israel
blessed God,
and did not intend
to go up
against them in battle,
to destroy
the land
wherein the children
of Reuben and Gad dwelt.
And the children
of Reuben
and the children
of Gad
called the altar Ed:
for it
shall be
a witness
between us that
the LORD is God.
And Saul said,
There shall not a man
be put
to death
this day:
for to day
the LORD
hath wrought salvation
in Israel.
And David
went out whithersoever Saul
sent him,
and behaved
himself wisely:
and Saul set him
over the men
of war,
and
he was accepted in the sight
of all
the people,
and
also in the sight
of Saul's servants.
And it
came
to pass
as they came,
when David
was returned
from the slaughter
of the Philistine,
that the women
came out of all cities
of Israel,
singing and dancing,
to meet king Saul,
with tabrets,
with joy,
and with instruments
of musick.
And the women
answered one
another
as they played,
and said,
Saul hath slain
his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.
And Saul
was very wroth,
and the saying
displeased him;
and he said,
They
have ascribed
unto David ten thousands,
and to me
they have ascribed
but thousands:
and
what can
he have more
but the kingdom?
And Saul
eyed David
from that day
and forward.
And it
came
to pass
on the morrow,
that the evil spirit
from God
came upon Saul,
and he
prophesied
in the midst
of the house:
and David
played
with his hand,
as at other times:
and there was
a javelin
in Saul's hand.
And Saul cast
the javelin;
for he said,
I will smite David
even to the wall
with it.
And David
avoided
out of his presence twice.
And Saul
was afraid
of David,
because
the LORD
was with him,
and was departed
from Saul.
Therefore Saul
removed him from him,
and made him
his captain
over a thousand;
and
he went out
and came in
before the people.
And David
behaved
himself
wisely in all his ways;
and the LORD
was with him.
Wherefore
when Saul
saw that
he behaved
himself
very wisely,
he was afraid
of him.
But all Israel
and Judah
loved David,
because
he went out
and came in
before them.
And Saul
said
to David,
Behold my elder daughter Merab,
her will
I give thee
to wife:
only be
thou valiant
for me,
and fight
the LORD's battles.
For Saul said,
Let
not mine hand
be upon him,
but let
the hand
of the Philistines
be upon him.
And David
said
unto Saul,
Who am I?
and
what is my life,
or my father's family
in Israel,
that I
should be son
in law
to the king?
But it
came to pass
at the time
when Merab Saul's daughter
should have been given
to David,
that she
was given
unto Adriel
the Meholathite
to wife.
And Michal Saul's daughter
loved David:
and
they told Saul,
and the thing
pleased him.
And Saul said,
I will give him her,
that she
may be a snare
to him,
and
that the hand
of the Philistines
may be against him.
Wherefore
Saul
said
to David,
Thou shalt this day
be my son
in law
in the one
of the twain.
And Saul
commanded
his servants,
saying,
Commune
with David secretly,
and say,
Behold,
the king
hath
delight
in thee,
and all
his servants love thee:
now therefore be
the king's son
in law.
And Saul's servants
spake those words
in the ears
of David.
And David said,
Seemeth it
to you a light thing
to be a king's son
in law,
seeing that
I am a poor man,
and lightly esteemed?
And the servants
of Saul
told him,
saying,
On this manner
spake David.
And Saul said,
Thus
shall
ye say to David,
The king
desireth not
any dowry,
but an hundred foreskins
of the Philistines,
to be avenged
of the king's enemies.
But Saul
thought
to make David fall
by the hand
of the Philistines.
And
when his servants
told
David these words,
it pleased David well
to be the king's son
in law:
and the days
were not expired.
Wherefore David
arose and went,
he and his men,
and slew of the Philistines
two hundred men;
and David
brought their foreskins,
and
they gave them
in full tale
to the king,
that he
might be
the king's son
in law.
And Saul
gave him
Michal his daughter
to wife.
And Saul
saw
and knew
that the LORD
was with David,
and that Michal Saul's daughter
loved him.
And Saul
was yet
the more afraid
of David;
and Saul
became
David's enemy continually.
Then the princes
of the Philistines
went forth:
and it
came
to pass,
after they went forth,
that David
behaved himself
more wisely
than all
the servants
of Saul;
so that
his name
was much
set by.
Then Abigail made haste,
and took two hundred loaves,
and two
bottles of wine,
and five sheep ready dressed,
and five measures
of parched corn,
and an hundred
clusters
of raisins,
and two hundred cakes
of figs,
and laid them
on asses.
And she
said
unto her servants,
Go on before me;
behold,
I come
after you.
But
she told not
her husband Nabal.
And it
was so,
as she
rode on the ass,
that she
came down
by the covert
on the hill,
and,
behold,
David
and his men
came down
against her;
and she met them.
Now David
had said,
Surely in vain
have
I kept all
that this fellow
hath
in the wilderness,
so that nothing
was missed of all
that pertained unto him:
and
he hath requited me evil
for good.
So and more also do God
unto the enemies
of David,
if I
leave
of all
that pertain
to him
by the morning light any
that pisseth against the wall.
And
when Abigail
saw David,
she hasted,
and lighted
off the ass,
and fell
before David
on her face,
and bowed herself
to the ground,
And fell
at his feet,
and said,
Upon me,
my lord,
upon me let
this iniquity be:
and let
thine handmaid,
I pray thee,
speak
in thine audience,
and hear
the words
of thine handmaid.
Let not my lord,
I pray thee,
regard this man
of Belial,
even Nabal:
for as his name is,
so is he;
Nabal is his name,
and folly
is with him:
but
I thine handmaid
saw not
the young men
of my lord,
whom
thou didst send.
Now therefore,
my lord,
as the LORD liveth,
and as thy soul liveth,
seeing
the LORD
hath withholden thee
from coming
to shed blood,
and
from avenging thyself
with thine own hand,
now let thine enemies,
and
they
that seek evil
to my lord,
be as Nabal.
And now
this blessing
which thine handmaid
hath brought
unto my lord,
let it
even be given
unto the young men
that follow
my lord.
I pray thee,
forgive the trespass
of thine handmaid:
for the LORD
will certainly make my lord
a sure house;
because
my lord
fighteth
the battles
of the LORD,
and evil
hath not been found
in thee all thy days.
Yet a man
is risen
to pursue thee,
and to seek
thy soul:
but
the soul
of my lord
shall be bound in the bundle
of life
with the LORD thy God;
and the souls
of thine enemies,
them shall
he sling out,
as out of the middle
of a sling.
And it
shall come
to pass,
when the LORD
shall have done
to my lord
according to all
the good that
he hath spoken concerning thee,
and shall have appointed
thee ruler
over Israel;
That this
shall be
no grief
unto thee,
nor offence
of heart
unto my lord,
either that thou
hast shed blood causeless,
or that my lord
hath avenged himself:
but when the LORD
shall have dealt well
with my lord,
then remember
thine handmaid.
Unto whom
David said,
If thou
passest on with me,
then
thou shalt be a burden
unto me:
But
if thou
return to the city,
and say
unto Absalom,
I will be
thy servant,
O king;
as I
have been
thy father's servant hitherto,
so will
I now also be
thy servant:
then mayest
thou
for me defeat
the counsel
of Ahithophel.
And hast
thou not
there with thee Zadok
and Abiathar
the priests?
therefore it
shall be,
that what thing
soever thou
shalt hear
out of the king's house,
thou shalt tell it
to Zadok
and Abiathar
the priests.
Behold,
they have there
with them their two sons,
Ahimaaz Zadok's son,
and Jonathan Abiathar's son;
and by them ye
shall send
unto me every thing
that ye can hear.
So Hushai David's friend
came
into the city,
and Absalom
came
into Jerusalem.
And
they
spake unto him,
saying,
If thou
wilt be a servant
unto this people
this day,
and wilt serve them,
and answer them,
and speak good words
to them,
then
they will be thy servants
for ever.
And
when he
saw that,
he arose,
and went for his life,
and came
to Beersheba,
which belongeth
to Judah,
and left
his servant there.
But
he himself
went
a day's journey
into the wilderness,
and came
and sat down
under a juniper tree:
and he
requested
for himself
that he
might die;
and said,
It is enough;
now,
O LORD,
take away
my life;
for I
am not
better
than my fathers.
And the king
arose
in the night,
and said
unto his servants,
I will now shew you
what the Syrians
have done to us.
They know that
we be hungry;
therefore are
they gone
out of the camp
to hide themselves
in the field,
saying,
When
they come
out of the city,
we shall catch them alive,
and get
into the city.
And one
of his servants answered
and said,
Let some take,
I pray thee,
five of the horses
that remain,
which are left
in the city,
(behold,
they are as all
the multitude
of Israel
that are left in it:
behold,
I say,
they are
even as all
the multitude
of the Israelites
that are consumed:)
and let us
send and see.
And I
arose
in the night,
I and some few men
with me;
neither told
I any man
what my God
had put in
my heart
to do
at Jerusalem:
neither was there any beast
with me,
save the beast
that I
rode upon.
And I
went out
by night
by the gate
of the valley,
even before the dragon well,
and
to the dung port,
and viewed
the walls
of Jerusalem,
which were broken down,
and the gates
thereof were consumed
with fire.
Then
I went on
to the gate
of the fountain,
and
to the king's pool:
but there was
no place
for the beast
that
was under me to pass.
Then went
I up
in the night
by the brook,
and viewed
the wall,
and turned back,
and entered
by the gate
of the valley,
and so returned.
And the rulers
knew not whither
I went,
or what I did;
neither had
I as yet told
it to the Jews,
nor
to the priests,
nor
to the nobles,
nor
to the rulers,
nor to the rest
that did the work.
Therefore set
I in the lower
places
behind the wall,
and
on the higher places,
I even set the people
after their families
with their swords,
their spears,
and their bows.
And I looked,
and rose up,
and said
unto the nobles,
and
to the rulers,
and to the rest
of the people,
Be not
ye afraid
of them:
remember the LORD,
which is
great
and terrible,
and fight
for your brethren,
your sons,
and your daughters,
your wives,
and your houses.
And it
came
to pass,
when our enemies
heard
that it
was known unto us,
and God
had brought
their counsel
to nought,
that we
returned
all of us
to the wall,
every one
unto his work.
And it
came to pass
from that time forth,
that the half
of my servants
wrought in the work,
and the other half
of them held
both the spears,
the shields,
and the bows,
and the habergeons;
and the rulers
were behind all
the house
of Judah.
They which
builded
on the wall,
and
they that bare burdens,
with those
that laded,
every one
with one
of his hands
wrought in the work,
and
with the other hand
held a weapon.
For the builders,
every one
had
his sword
girded
by his side,
and so builded.
And he
that
sounded
the trumpet
was by me.
And I
said
unto the nobles,
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.
In what
place therefore ye
hear the sound
of the trumpet,
resort
ye thither
unto us:
our God
shall fight for us.
So we
laboured
in the work:
and half
of them held the spears
from the rising
of the morning
till the stars appeared.
Likewise
at the same time said
I unto the people,
Let every one
with his servant lodge
within Jerusalem,
that in the night
they may be a guard
to us,
and labour
on the day.
So neither I,
nor my brethren,
nor my servants,
nor the men
of the guard which
followed me,
none of us
put off
our clothes,
saving that every one
put
them off for washing.
For the ear
trieth words,
as the mouth
tasteth meat.
Let us
choose
to us judgment:
let us
know
among ourselves
what is good.
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
is
before me.
A good man
sheweth favour,
and lendeth:
he will guide his affairs
with discretion.
My son,
if thou
be surety
for thy friend,
if thou
hast stricken thy hand
with a stranger,
Thou
art snared
with the words
of thy mouth,
thou
art taken
with the words
of thy mouth.
I wisdom
dwell
with prudence,
and find out knowledge
of witty inventions.
A talebearer
revealeth secrets:
but he
that is
of a faithful spirit
concealeth the matter.
He that is surety
for a stranger
shall smart
for it:
and he
that
hateth
suretiship is sure.
He that
troubleth
his own house
shall inherit
the wind:
and the fool
shall be servant
to the wise
of heart.
A man
shall be commended according to
his wisdom:
but he
that is
of a perverse heart
shall be despised.
A fool's wrath
is presently known:
but a prudent man
covereth shame.
A prudent man
concealeth knowledge:
but the heart
of fools
proclaimeth foolishness.
Every prudent man
dealeth with knowledge:
but a fool
layeth
open his folly.
The wisdom
of the prudent
is to understand
his way:
but the folly
of fools is deceit.
The simple believeth every word:
but the prudent man looketh
well to his going.
A wise man feareth,
and departeth from evil:
but the fool rageth,
and is confident.
The simple
inherit folly:
but the prudent
are crowned
with knowledge.
A fool
despiseth his father's instruction:
but he
that
regardeth
reproof is prudent.
Without counsel
purposes
are disappointed:
but in the multitude
of counsellors
they are established.
He that
handleth
a matter
wisely shall find good:
and whoso
trusteth in the LORD,
happy is he.
The wise in heart
shall be called prudent:
and the sweetness
of the lips
increaseth learning.
A wise servant
shall have
rule over a son
that causeth shame,
and shall have
part
of the inheritance
among the brethren.
A man
void
of understanding striketh hands,
and becometh surety
in the presence
of his friend.
The heart
of the prudent
getteth knowledge;
and
the ear
of the wise
seeketh knowledge.
A man's gift
maketh room
for him,
and bringeth him
before great men.
Also,
that the soul
be
without knowledge,
it is not good;
and he
that
hasteth with his feet sinneth.
Counsel
in the heart
of man
is like deep water;
but a man
of understanding
will draw it out.
Take
his garment
that is surety
for a stranger:
and take
a pledge
of him for a strange woman.
Every purpose
is established
by counsel:
and
with good advice make war.
The thoughts
of the diligent
tend only
to plenteousness;
but of every one
that is hasty only
to want.
There is
treasure
to be desired
and oil
in the dwelling
of the wise;
but a foolish man
spendeth it up.
Whoso
keepeth
his mouth
and his tongue
keepeth
his soul
from troubles.
A prudent man
foreseeth the evil,
and hideth himself:
but the simple pass on,
and are punished.
The rich
ruleth over the poor,
and the borrower
is servant
to the lender.
Be not
thou one
of them that strike hands,
or of them that
are sureties
for debts.
If thou
hast nothing
to pay,
why should
he take away thy
bed from
under thee?
When thou
sittest
to eat
with a ruler,
consider diligently what
is before thee:
And put
a knife
to thy throat,
if thou
be a man
given
to appetite.
Be not desirous
of his dainties:
for they
are deceitful meat.
Speak not
in the ears
of a fool:
for he
will despise the wisdom
of thy words.
For by wise counsel
thou shalt make
thy war:
and in multitude
of counsellors
there is safety.
Prepare thy
work without,
and make it
fit
for thyself
in the field;
and afterwards build
thine house.
Go not forth
hastily to strive,
lest
thou know not
what
to do
in the end thereof,
when thy neighbour
hath put thee
to shame.
Debate
thy cause
with thy neighbour himself;
and discover not
a secret
to another:
Lest
he that heareth it
put thee
to shame,
and thine infamy
turn
not away.
Answer not
a fool
according to his folly,
lest
thou also be
like unto him.
Answer a fool
according to his folly,
lest
he be wise
in his own conceit.
A prudent man
foreseeth the evil,
and hideth himself;
but the simple pass on,
and are punished.
Scornful men
bring a city
into a snare:
but wise men
turn away wrath.
Be not righteous
over much;
neither make thyself
over wise:
why shouldest thou
destroy thyself ?
Be not
over much wicked,
neither be
thou foolish:
why shouldest thou
die before thy time?
I counsel thee
to keep
the king's commandment,
and
that in regard
of the oath
of God.
Be not hasty
to go
out of his sight:
stand not
in an evil thing;
for he
doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
Dead flies
cause the ointment
of the apothecary
to send
forth a
stinking savour:
so doth
a little folly him
that is
in reputation
for wisdom and honour.
If the iron
be blunt,
and
he do not whet
the edge,
then must
he put
to more strength:
but wisdom
is profitable
to direct.
Then rose
up certain
of the elders
of the land,
and spake to all
the assembly of the people,
saying,
Micah the Morasthite
prophesied
in the days
of Hezekiah king
of Judah,
and spake to all
the people
of Judah,
saying,
Thus
saith
the LORD
of hosts;
Zion shall be plowed like
a field,
and Jerusalem
shall become heaps,
and the mountain
of the house
as the high places
of a forest.
Did Hezekiah king
of Judah
and all Judah put him at
all to death?
did
he not fear
the LORD,
and besought
the LORD,
and the LORD
repented him
of the evil
which he
had pronounced against them?
Thus
might
we procure great evil
against our souls.
And there was also
a man
that prophesied
in the name
of the LORD,
Urijah the son
of Shemaiah
of Kirjathjearim,
who prophesied
against this city
and
against this land
according to all
the words
of Jeremiah.
And
when Jehoiakim
the king,
with all
his mighty men,
and all
the princes,
heard his words,
the king
sought to
put him to death:
but
when Urijah
heard it,
he was afraid,
and fled,
and went into Egypt;
And Jehoiakim
the king
sent men
into Egypt,
namely,
Elnathan the son
of Achbor,
and certain men
with him
into Egypt.
And they
fetched
forth Urijah
out of Egypt,
and brought him
unto Jehoiakim the king;
who slew him
with the sword,
and cast
his dead body
into the graves
of the common people.
But Daniel
purposed
in his heart
that he
would not defile himself
with the portion
of the king's meat,
nor with the wine
which he drank:
therefore he
requested
of the prince
of the eunuchs
that
he might not defile himself.
Now God
had brought Daniel
into favour
and tender
love
with the prince
of the eunuchs.
And
the prince
of the eunuchs
said unto Daniel,
I fear
my lord the king,
who hath appointed
your meat
and your drink:
for why
should
he see
your faces worse liking
than the children which
are of your sort?
then shall
ye make me
endanger my head
to the king.
Then said Daniel
to Melzar,
whom the prince
of the eunuchs
had set
over Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael,
and Azariah,
Prove thy servants,
I beseech thee,
ten days;
and let them
give us
pulse to eat,
and water
to drink.
Then let
our countenances
be looked upon
before thee,
and the countenance
of the children
that eat
of the portion
of the king's meat:
and as thou seest,
deal with thy servants.
So he
consented
to them
in this matter,
and proved them
ten days.
Who is wise,
and
he shall understand
these things?
prudent,
and
he shall know them?
for the ways
of the LORD
are right,
and the just shall walk
in them:
but the transgressors
shall fall therein.
Therefore the prudent
shall keep silence
in that time;
for it
is an evil time.
Then Joseph her husband,
being a just man,
and not willing
to make
her a publick example,
was minded
to put her
away privily.
Agree with thine
adversary quickly,
whiles
thou art
in the way
with him;
lest at any
time the adversary
deliver thee
to the judge,
and the judge
deliver thee
to the officer,
and
thou be cast
into prison.
Verily
I say unto thee,
Thou shalt by no
means
come out thence,
till thou
hast paid
the uttermost farthing.
Give not
that which
is holy
unto the dogs,
neither cast
ye your pearls
before swine,
lest
they trample them
under their feet,
and turn again
and rend you.
And their eyes
were opened;
and Jesus
straitly charged them,
saying,
See that no man
know it.
Then the Pharisees went out,
and held
a council
against him,
how they
might destroy him.
But
when Jesus
knew it,
he withdrew himself
from thence:
and great multitudes
followed him,
and
he healed them all;
And charged them that
they should not make him known:
Then charged
he his disciples
that they
should tell no man
that he
was Jesus
the Christ.
But Jesus
withdrew himself with his disciples
to the sea:
and a great multitude
from Galilee
followed him,
and from Judaea,
And
he straitly charged them that
they should not make him known.
And
he charged them straitly
that no man
should know it;
and commanded
that something
should be given
her to eat.
And
he charged them that
they should tell
no man:
but the more
he charged them,
so much
the more a great deal
they published it;
And
he charged them that
they should tell no man
of him.
And as they
came down
from the mountain,
he charged them that
they should tell no man
what things
they had seen,
till the Son
of man
were risen
from the dead.
For which of you,
intending
to build a tower,
sitteth not
down first,
and counteth the cost,
whether he
have sufficient
to finish it?
Lest haply,
after he
hath laid
the foundation,
and is not able
to finish it,
all that
behold it
begin
to mock him,
Saying,
This man
began to build,
and was not able
to finish.
Or what king,
going to make
war against another king,
sitteth not
down first,
and consulteth
whether he
be able
with ten thousand
to meet him
that cometh against him
with twenty thousand?
Or else,
while the other
is yet
a great way off,
he sendeth an ambassage,
and desireth
conditions
of peace.
But
when his brethren
were gone up,
then went
he also up
unto the feast,
not openly,
but as it
were in secret.
Then gathered
the chief priests
and the Pharisees a council,
and said,
What do we?
for this man
doeth many miracles.
If we let him thus alone,
all men
will believe on him:
and the Romans
shall come
and take away
both our place
and nation.
And one
of them,
named Caiaphas,
being the high priest
that same year,
said unto them,
Ye know nothing
at all,
Nor consider
that it
is expedient
for us,
that one man
should die
for the people,
and
that the whole nation
perish not.
And this
spake
he
not of himself:
but being high priest
that year,
he prophesied
that Jesus
should die
for that nation;
And not for that nation only,
but that also
he should gather together
in one
the children
of God
that were scattered abroad.
Then
from that day
forth they
took counsel together for to
put him
to death.
Jesus
therefore walked
no more
openly among the Jews;
but went thence
unto a country near
to the wilderness,
into a city called Ephraim,
and there continued
with his disciples.
While ye
have light,
believe
in the light,
that ye
may be the children
of light.
These things
spake Jesus,
and departed,
and
did hide himself from them.
But he,
beckoning
unto them
with the hand
to hold their peace,
declared
unto them how
the Lord
had brought him
out of the prison.
And he said,
Go shew
these things
unto James,
and
to the brethren.
And he departed,
and went into another place.
They were ware of it,
and fled
unto Lystra
and Derbe,
cities
of Lycaonia,
and
unto the region
that lieth round about:
Him would
Paul
have to go forth with him;
and took
and circumcised him
because
of the Jews
which were in those quarters:
for they
knew all
that his father
was a Greek.
And the brethren
immediately sent away Paul
and Silas
by night
unto Berea:
who coming thither
went into the synagogue
of the Jews.
These were more noble
than those
in Thessalonica,
in that
they received
the word
with all readiness
of mind,
and searched
the scriptures daily,
whether those things
were so.
Therefore many
of them believed;
also of honourable women
which were Greeks,
and of men,
not a few.
But
when
the Jews
of Thessalonica
had knowledge that
the word
of God
was preached of Paul
at Berea,
they came thither also,
and stirred
up the people.
And
then immediately
the brethren
sent away
Paul
to go as it
were to the sea:
but Silas
and Timotheus abode
there still.
And
they
that conducted
Paul
brought him
unto Athens:
and receiving
a commandment
unto Silas
and Timotheus
for to come to him
with all speed,
they departed.
And the whole city
was filled
with confusion:
and having caught Gaius
and Aristarchus,
men of Macedonia,
Paul's companions
in travel,
they rushed
with one accord
into the theatre.
And
when Paul
would have entered in
unto the people,
the disciples
suffered him not.
And certain
of the chief
of Asia,
which were his friends,
sent unto him,
desiring him that
he would not
adventure himself
into the theatre.
Some therefore cried one thing,
and some another:
for the assembly was confused:
and the more part
knew not wherefore they were come
together.
And
they drew Alexander
out of the multitude,
the Jews putting him forward.
And Alexander
beckoned
with the hand,
and would have made
his defence
unto the people.
But
when
they knew
that he
was a Jew,
all with one voice
about the space
of two hours cried out,
Great is Diana
of the Ephesians.
And
when the townclerk
had appeased
the people,
he said,
Ye men
of Ephesus,
what man
is there
that knoweth not how
that the city
of the Ephesians
is a worshipper
of the great goddess Diana,
and of the image
which fell down
from Jupiter?
Seeing
then
that these things
cannot be spoken against,
ye ought to be quiet,
and
to do nothing rashly.
For ye
have brought hither
these men,
which are neither robbers
of churches,
nor yet blasphemers
of your goddess.
Wherefore
if Demetrius,
and the craftsmen
which are with him,
have a matter
against any man,
the law
is open,
and there are
deputies:
let them implead one
another.
But
if ye
enquire
any thing
concerning other matters,
it shall be determined
in a lawful assembly.
For we
are in danger
to be called in
question
for this day's uproar,
there being
no cause whereby
we may give an account
of this concourse.
And
when
he had thus spoken,
he dismissed
the assembly.
And now,
behold,
I go
bound
in the spirit
unto Jerusalem,
not knowing
the things
that shall befall
me there:
Save
that the Holy Ghost
witnesseth in every city,
saying that bonds
and
afflictions abide me.
But none of
these things
move me,
neither count
I my life dear
unto myself,
so that
I might finish
my course
with joy,
and the ministry,
which I
have received
of the Lord Jesus,
to testify the gospel
of the grace
of God.
And now,
behold,
I know that
ye all,
among whom
I have gone
preaching
the kingdom
of God,
shall see
my face no more.
And
they all wept sore,
and fell
on Paul's neck,
and kissed him,
Sorrowing most of
all for the words
which he spake,
that they
should see
his face no more.
And
they accompanied him
unto the ship.
And as we
tarried there
many days,
there came down
from Judaea
a certain prophet,
named Agabus.
And
when
he was come unto us,
he took Paul's girdle,
and bound
his own
hands
and feet,
and said,
Thus saith the Holy Ghost,
So shall
the Jews
at Jerusalem
bind the man
that owneth this girdle,
and shall deliver him
into the hands
of the Gentiles.
And
when
we heard
these things,
both we,
and
they
of that place,
besought him not
to go up to Jerusalem.
Then Paul answered,
What
mean
ye to weep and
to break mine heart?
for I
am ready not
to be bound only,
but
also to die
at Jerusalem
for the name
of the Lord Jesus.
And
when
he would not be persuaded,
we ceased,
saying,
The will of the Lord
be done.
And
when
they heard it,
they glorified
the Lord,
and
said unto him,
Thou seest,
brother,
how many thousands of Jews
there are
which believe;
and
they are all zealous
of the law:
And
they are informed
of thee,
that thou
teachest all
the Jews which
are among the Gentiles
to forsake Moses,
saying
that they
ought not
to circumcise
their children,
neither to walk
after the customs.
What is it therefore?
the multitude
must needs come together:
for they
will hear
that thou art come.
Do therefore
this that
we say to thee:
We have four men
which have
a vow
on them;
Them take,
and purify thyself
with them,
and be
at charges with them,
that they
may shave
their heads:
and all may know
that those things,
whereof
they were informed concerning thee,
are nothing;
but
that thou thyself
also walkest
orderly,
and keepest the law.
As touching
the Gentiles
which believe,
we have written
and concluded that
they observe
no such thing,
save only
that
they keep themselves
from things
offered to idols,
and from blood,
and from strangled,
and
from fornication.
Then Paul
took the men,
and the next day
purifying himself
with them entered
into the temple,
to signify
the accomplishment
of the days
of purification,
until that
an offering
should be offered
for every one
of them.
But when Paul
perceived
that the one part
were Sadducees,
and the other Pharisees,
he cried out
in the council,
Men and brethren,
I am a Pharisee,
the son
of a Pharisee:
of the hope
and resurrection
of the dead
I am called in question.
Let not
then your good
be evil spoken of:
All things
are lawful
unto me,
but all things
are not expedient:
all things
are lawful
for me,
but
I will not be brought
under the power
of any.
But meat
commendeth us not
to God:
for neither,
if we eat,
are
we the better;
neither,
if we
eat not,
are we the worse.
But take
heed lest by any
means
this liberty
of your's become
a stumblingblock
to them
that are weak.
For if any man
see thee
which hast
knowledge
sit
at meat
in the idol's temple,
shall not the conscience
of him which
is weak
be emboldened
to eat
those things
which are offered
to idols;
And through thy knowledge
shall
the weak brother perish,
for whom Christ died?
But
when ye
sin so
against the brethren,
and wound
their weak conscience,
ye sin
against Christ.
Wherefore,
if meat
make my brother
to offend,
I will eat
no flesh
while the world standeth,
lest
I make
my brother
to offend.
Whatsoever is sold
in the shambles,
that eat,
asking no
question
for conscience sake:
For the earth
is the Lord's,
and the fulness
thereof.
If any
of them that
believe not bid you
to a feast,
and
ye be disposed to go;
whatsoever is set
before you,
eat,
asking no
question
for conscience sake.
But
if any man
say unto you,
This
is offered
in sacrifice
unto idols,
eat not
for his sake
that shewed it,
and
for conscience sake:
for the earth
is the Lord's,
and the fulness
thereof:
Conscience,
I say,
not thine own,
but of the other:
for why
is
my liberty
judged
of another
man's conscience?
For if
I by grace
be a partaker,
why am
I evil spoken of
for that
for which
I give thanks?
Whether therefore
ye eat,
or drink,
or whatsoever
ye do,
do all
to the glory
of God.
Give none offence,
neither to the Jews,
nor
to the Gentiles,
nor to the church
of God:
Even as
I please all men
in all things,
not seeking
mine own profit,
but the profit
of many,
that they
may be saved.
Avoiding this,
that no man
should blame us
in this abundance
which is administered by us:
Walk in wisdom
toward them that
are without,
redeeming
the time.
Wherefore,
my beloved brethren,
let every man
be swift
to hear,
slow to speak,
slow to wrath: