But ask now
the beasts,
and
they shall teach thee;
and the fowls
of the air,
and
they shall tell thee:
Or speak
to the earth,
and it
shall teach thee:
and the fishes
of the sea
shall declare
unto thee.
Who knoweth not
in all
these that the hand
of the LORD
hath wrought this?
In whose hand
is the soul
of every living thing,
and the breath
of all mankind.
Doth not
the ear
try words?
and the mouth
taste his meat?
With the ancient
is wisdom;
and
in length
of days understanding.
With him is wisdom
and strength,
he hath
counsel
and understanding.
Behold,
he breaketh down,
and it
cannot be built again:
he shutteth up a man,
and there can be
no opening.
Behold,
he withholdeth the waters,
and they dry up:
also he
sendeth them out,
and
they overturn
the earth.
With him is strength
and wisdom:
the deceived
and the deceiver
are his.
But none saith,
Where is God
my maker,
who giveth songs
in the night;
Who teacheth us more than
the beasts
of the earth,
and maketh us wiser
than the fowls
of heaven?
There
they cry,
but none
giveth answer,
because
of the pride
of evil men.
At this
also my heart trembleth,
and is moved
out of his place.
Hear attentively the noise
of his voice,
and the sound
that goeth out of his mouth.
He directeth it
under the whole heaven,
and his lightning
unto the ends
of the earth.
After it
a voice roareth:
he thundereth with the voice
of his excellency;
and
he will not stay them
when his voice
is heard.
God thundereth marvellously
with his voice;
great things
doeth he,
which we
cannot comprehend.
For he
saith to the snow,
Be thou
on the earth;
likewise
to the small rain,
and
to the great rain
of his strength.
He sealeth up the hand
of every man;
that all men
may know
his work.
Then the beasts
go into dens,
and remain
in their places.
Out of the south
cometh the whirlwind:
and cold
out of the north.
By the breath
of God
frost
is given:
and the breadth
of the waters
is straitened.
Also by watering
he wearieth the thick cloud:
he scattereth his bright cloud:
And it
is turned round about
by his counsels:
that they
may do whatsoever
he commandeth them upon the face
of the world
in the earth.
He causeth it
to come,
whether for correction,
or for his land,
or for mercy.
Hearken unto this,
O Job:
stand still,
and consider
the wondrous works
of God.
Dost thou
know
when God
disposed them,
and caused
the light
of his cloud
to shine?
Dost thou
know the balancings
of the clouds,
the wondrous works
of him which
is perfect
in knowledge?
How thy garments
are warm,
when he
quieteth
the earth
by the south wind?
Hast
thou with him spread out
the sky,
which is strong,
and
as a molten looking glass?
Teach us
what
we shall say unto him;
for we
cannot order our speech
by reason
of darkness.
Shall
it be told him that
I speak?
if a man speak,
surely
he shall be swallowed up.
And now men
see not
the bright light which
is in the clouds:
but the wind passeth,
and cleanseth them.
Fair
weather
cometh out of the north:
with God
is terrible majesty.
Touching the Almighty,
we cannot find him out:
he is excellent
in power,
and in judgment,
and in plenty
of justice:
he will not afflict.
Men do therefore fear him:
he respecteth not
any that
are wise
of heart.
O LORD,
our Lord,
how excellent
is
thy name
in all the earth!
who hast set
thy glory above
the heavens.
Out of the mouth
of babes
and sucklings
hast
thou ordained strength
because of thine enemies,
that thou
mightest still
the enemy
and the avenger.
When
I consider
thy heavens,
the work
of thy fingers,
the moon
and the stars,
which thou
hast ordained;
What is man,
that thou art mindful
of him?
and the son
of man,
that thou
visitest him?
For thou
hast made him
a little lower
than the angels,
and hast crowned him
with glory and honour.
Thou madest him
to have dominion
over the works
of thy hands;
thou hast put all things
under his feet:
All sheep
and oxen,
yea,
and the beasts
of the field;
The fowl
of the air,
and the fish
of the sea,
and
whatsoever passeth
through the paths
of the seas.
O LORD our Lord,
how excellent
is
thy name
in all the earth!
The heavens
declare the glory
of God;
and the firmament
sheweth his handywork.
Day unto day
uttereth speech,
and night
unto night
sheweth knowledge.
There is
no speech
nor language,
where their voice
is not heard.
Their line
is gone out
through all the earth,
and their words
to the end
of the world.
In them hath
he set
a tabernacle
for the sun,
Which is as a bridegroom
coming out of his chamber,
and rejoiceth as a strong man
to run a race.
His going
forth is from the end
of the heaven,
and his circuit
unto the ends of it:
and there is
nothing hid from the heat
thereof.
Master,
which is
the great commandment
in the law?
Jesus
said unto him,
Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God
with all thy heart,
and
with all thy soul,
and
with all thy mind.
This is the first
and great commandment.
And the second
is like unto it,
Thou
shalt love
thy neighbour
as thyself.
On these
two commandments
hang all the law
and the prophets.
Then Peter
opened his mouth,
and said,
Of a truth
I perceive
that God
is no respecter
of persons:
But in every nation
he that
feareth him,
and worketh righteousness,
is accepted with him.
Nevertheless
he left not
himself
without witness,
in that
he did good,
and gave us
rain from heaven,
and fruitful seasons,
filling our hearts
with food and gladness.
For as I
passed by,
and beheld
your devotions,
I found an altar
with this inscription,
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
Whom therefore
ye ignorantly worship,
him declare
I unto you.
God that
made
the world
and all things
therein,
seeing that
he is Lord
of heaven
and earth,
dwelleth not
in temples
made with hands;
Neither is worshipped
with men's hands,
as though
he needed any thing,
seeing
he giveth to all life,
and breath,
and all things;
And hath made
of one blood all nations
of men
for to dwell
on all the face
of the earth,
and hath determined
the times
before appointed,
and the bounds
of their habitation;
That they
should seek
the Lord,
if haply
they might feel
after him,
and find him,
though he
be not far
from every one of us:
For in him we live,
and move,
and have
our being;
as certain
also of your own poets
have said,
For
we are also
his offspring.
For the wrath
of God
is revealed
from heaven
against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness
of men,
who hold
the truth
in unrighteousness;
Because
that
which may be known
of God
is manifest in them;
for God
hath shewed it
unto them.
For the invisible things
of him
from the creation
of the world
are clearly seen,
being understood
by the things
that are made,
even his eternal power
and Godhead;
so that
they are without excuse:
There is therefore now
no condemnation
to them
which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not
after the flesh,
but after the Spirit.
For the law
of the Spirit
of life
in Christ Jesus
hath made me
free from the law
of sin
and death.
For what
the law
could not do,
in that
it was weak
through the flesh,
God sending
his own Son
in the likeness
of sinful flesh,
and for sin,
condemned
sin
in the flesh:
That the righteousness
of the law
might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not
after the flesh,
but after the Spirit.
Brethren,
my heart's desire
and prayer
to God
for Israel is,
that they
might be saved.
For I
bear them
record that
they have
a zeal
of God,
but
not according to knowledge.
For they
being ignorant
of God's righteousness,
and going about
to establish
their own righteousness,
have not submitted themselves
unto the righteousness
of God.
For Christ
is the end
of the law
for righteousness
to every one that believeth.
But
they have not all obeyed
the gospel.
For Esaias saith,
Lord,
who hath believed
our report?
So then faith
cometh
by hearing,
and hearing
by the word
of God.
But I say,
Have
they not heard?
Yes verily,
their sound
went into all
the earth,
and their words
unto the ends
of the world.
Though I
speak
with the tongues
of men
and of angels,
and have not
charity,
I am become
as sounding brass,
or a tinkling cymbal.
And
though I
have the gift
of prophecy,
and understand
all mysteries,
and all knowledge;
and
though I
have all faith,
so that
I could remove
mountains,
and have not
charity,
I am nothing.
And
though I
bestow all
my goods
to feed
the poor,
and
though I
give my body
to be burned,
and have not
charity,
it profiteth me
nothing.
Charity suffereth long,
and is kind;
charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth not
itself,
is not puffed up,
Doth not behave
itself unseemly,
seeketh not
her own,
is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not
in iniquity,
but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things,
believeth all things,
hopeth all things,
endureth all things.
Charity never faileth:
but whether
there be prophecies,
they shall fail;
whether there be
tongues,
they shall cease;
whether there be
knowledge,
it shall vanish away.
For we
know in part,
and
we prophesy in part.
But
when that which
is perfect
is come,
then that which
is in part shall be done
away.
When
I was a child,
I spake as a child,
I understood
as a child,
I thought
as a child:
but
when
I became a man,
I put away
childish things.
For now
we see
through a glass,
darkly;
but
then face to face:
now
I know in part;
but
then shall
I know
even as also
I am known.
And
now abideth faith,
hope,
charity,
these three;
but the greatest
of these is charity.
But
the fruit
of the Spirit
is love,
joy,
peace,
longsuffering,
gentleness,
goodness,
faith,
Meekness,
temperance:
against such
there is no law.
And they
that
are Christ's
have crucified
the flesh
with the affections
and lusts.
If we
live
in the Spirit,
let us
also walk
in the Spirit.
See that none
render evil for evil
unto any man;
but ever follow
that which
is good,
both among yourselves,
and to all men.
In every thing
give thanks:
for this
is
the will
of God
in Christ Jesus
concerning you.
Despise not
prophesyings.
Prove all things;
hold
fast
that which
is good.
Abstain
from all appearance
of evil.
And the very God
of peace
sanctify
you wholly;
and I
pray God
your whole spirit
and soul
and body
be preserved blameless
unto the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pure religion
and undefiled
before God
and the Father
is this,
To visit
the fatherless
and widows
in their affliction,
and
to keep himself unspotted
from the world.
If ye fulfil
the royal law
according to the scripture,
Thou
shalt love
thy neighbour
as thyself,
ye do well:
But
if ye
have respect
to persons,
ye commit sin,
and are convinced
of the law
as transgressors.
For whosoever
shall keep
the whole law,
and yet offend
in one point,
he is guilty
of all.
For he
that said,
Do not commit adultery,
said also,
Do not kill.
Now
if thou
commit no adultery,
yet if thou kill,
thou art become
a transgressor
of the law.
So speak ye,
and so do,
as they
that shall be judged
by the law
of liberty.
For he
shall have judgment
without mercy,
that hath shewed
no mercy;
and mercy
rejoiceth against judgment.
What doth
it profit,
my brethren,
though a man
say
he hath faith,
and have not works?
can faith
save him?
If a brother
or sister
be naked,
and destitute
of daily food,
And one
of you
say unto them,
Depart in peace,
be ye
warmed
and filled;
notwithstanding
ye give them not those things which
are needful
to the body;
what doth
it profit?
Even so faith,
if it
hath not works,
is dead,
being alone.
Yea,
a man
may say,
Thou hast faith,
and I
have works:
shew me thy faith
without thy works,
and I
will shew
thee my faith
by my works.
Thou believest
that there is
one God;
thou doest well:
the devils
also believe,
and tremble.
But wilt
thou know,
O vain man,
that faith
without works
is dead?
Was not
Abraham our father
justified
by works,
when
he had offered
Isaac his son
upon the altar?
Seest
thou
how faith
wrought
with his works,
and by works
was faith
made perfect?
And the scripture
was fulfilled which
saith,
Abraham believed God,
and it
was imputed
unto him
for righteousness:
and he
was called
the Friend
of God.
Ye see then
how that
by works a man
is justified,
and
not by faith only.
Likewise
also was not
Rahab the harlot
justified
by works,
when
she had received
the messengers,
and had sent them
out another way?
For as the body
without the spirit
is dead,
so faith
without works
is dead also.
And beside this,
giving all diligence,
add
to your faith virtue;
and
to virtue knowledge;
And
to knowledge temperance;
and
to temperance patience;
and
to patience godliness;
And
to godliness
brotherly kindness;
and
to brotherly kindness charity.
For if these things
be in you,
and abound,
they make you
that ye
shall
neither be barren
nor unfruitful
in the knowledge
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But he
that
lacketh
these things
is blind,
and
cannot see afar off,
and hath forgotten
that he
was purged
from his old sins.
But ye,
beloved,
building up yourselves
on your most holy faith,
praying
in the Holy Ghost,
Keep yourselves
in the love
of God,
looking for the mercy
of our Lord Jesus Christ
unto eternal life.