PREFACE

Who does not know that in the holy Scriptures—that is, the legal, the prophetic, the evangelical, and the apostolic, endowed with canonical authority—some things are so set down that they are only to be known and believed, as it is that in the beginning God made heaven and earth (Gen 1:1), and that in the beginning was the Word (John 1:1), and whatever divine or human deeds are narrated simply to be known; while other things are commanded in such a way that they should be observed and done, or forbidden, so that they should not be done, as it is: Honor your father and mother (Exod 20:12; Matt 15:4); and: You shall not commit adultery (Exod 20:14; Matt 5:27)? Now of those things that are written by way of command and prohibition, some are veiled in the mysteries of the sacraments, things which were enjoined upon that people of the Old Testament to be done in great number, and which are not now done by the Christian people but are only required and treated to be understood—such as the Sabbath for a visible rest (See Deut 5:12), such as the unleavened bread without yeast, the Passover in the slaying of a lamb (See Exod 12:3-21), such as the many kinds of sacrifices and of foods to be avoided, and the new moons, and the yearly solemnities (See Num 28:16-31), which the Jews observe even to this day; and those ordinances of justification which do not properly pertain to works of righteousness but are understood to signify something. For what Christian is compelled in the seventh year to restore his slave to freedom, and, if the slave is unwilling to depart, to bore through his ear with an awl against the doorpost (See Exod 21:2, 6), and other things of this kind? But other things are to be done even now, if they have been commanded to be done; and not to be done, if they have been forbidden—such as those I have mentioned: Honor your father and mother; and: You shall not commit adultery. Concerning those things, then, that are so set down in the sacred writings, whether by commanding, forbidding, or permitting, as still to pertain even now—that is, in the time of the New Testament—to the practice of a devout life and to conduct, I have undertaken to compose this work which I have taken in hand; so that, as far as God helps me, I may gather all such things from the canonical books and, that they may easily be inspected, may collect them into one place as it were a Mirror. For it was fitting that they be set down by our authors in the way they are set down, so that precepts figured in narratives or proper to the discussions themselves, and proper things mingled with figured ones, while the order of events is preserved, or answer is made to adversaries, or those who are to be taught are instructed, or those who disdain what is ready and open are in a manner renewed by the discovery of what is hidden. We, however, in this work neither lead the unbeliever nor build him up to the faith; nor do we exercise the wit and attention of learners by certain wholesome difficulties; but we admonish the one who, already believing, has resolved to obey God, that he may inspect himself here and consider how far he has advanced in good conduct and works, and how much he still lacks. For thus he can both give thanks for the things he has, and, for the things he does not have so as to have them, take sufficient action; and on account of preserving the former and attaining the latter, apply the care and prayers of faithful devotion. But in all these things which I have determined to set forth for inspection, whatever shall seem to be contrary to one another must afterward be explained and resolved by questions proposed. Of course, the punishments of misdeeds and the rewards of right deeds, though I have thought some of them worth recalling, yet who does not know that in the New Testament they are unlike those of old? Let us begin, then, our starting point from the very Law that was given through Moses, of the divine precepts such as we have promised to recall.

THESE ARE FROM THE BOOK OF THE LAW, WHICH IS CALLED EXODUS

1. 1. [Ex 20]. You shall not have strange gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven thing, nor any likeness that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth: you shall not adore them, nor worship them [20:3-5].
Likewise: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who has taken the name of the Lord his God in vain [20:7].
And a little later: Honor your father and your mother, that you may be long-lived upon the land which the Lord your God will give you. You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor's house, nor desire his wife; not his manservant, not his maidservant, not his ox, not his ass, nor any of the things that are his [20:12-17].
Likewise after the Decalogue, in other places, these precepts of living are found in the same book: You shall not make gods of silver with me, nor shall you make gods of gold for yourselves [20:23].

2. 2. [Ex 21]. And somewhat later: He who strikes a man, willing to kill him, let him die the death. But he who did not lie in wait, and into whose hands God delivered him, I will appoint you a place to which he may flee. If a man kill his neighbor on purpose and by lying in wait, you shall take him away from my altar, that he may die. He who strikes his father or mother, let him die the death. He who steals a man and sells him, being convicted of the crime, let him die the death. He who curses his father or mother, let him die the death. If men quarrel, and one strike his neighbor with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but lies in bed; if he rise again and walk abroad upon his staff, he who struck him shall be innocent: yet so that he make restitution for his work and his expenses on the physicians. He who strikes his manservant or maidservant with a rod, and they die under his hands, shall be guilty of the crime: but if they survive a day or two, he shall not be subject to the penalty, because it is his own money. If men quarrel, and one strike a pregnant woman, and she miscarry indeed but herself live; he shall be subject to such damages as the woman's husband shall demand and the arbiters shall award: but if her death follow thereupon, he shall render life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. If anyone strike the eye of his manservant or maidservant and leave them but one eye, he shall let them go free for the eye he has put out. Also if he knock out a tooth of his manservant or maidservant, he shall in like manner let them go free. If an ox gore a man or a woman, and they die, it shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; and the owner of the ox shall be innocent. But if the ox was wont to gore yesterday and the day before, and they warned its owner, and he did not shut it up, and it kill a man and a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and they shall kill its owner. But if a price be laid upon him, he shall give for his life whatever shall be demanded. If he gore a son or a daughter, he shall be subject to a like sentence. If it attack a manservant or a maidservant, he shall give thirty shekels of silver to the master; but the ox shall be stoned. If anyone open a cistern and dig it and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall into it; the owner of the cistern shall pay the price of the beasts: but what is dead shall be his own. If one man's ox wound another's ox, and it die; they shall sell the live ox and divide the price; and the carcass of the dead one they shall part between them. But if he knew that the ox was wont to gore yesterday and the day before, and its owner did not keep it; he shall render ox for ox, and shall receive the whole carcass [21:12-36].

3. 3. [Ex 22]. If anyone steal an ox or a sheep, and kill or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for one ox, and four sheep for one sheep. If a thief be found breaking into a house, or undermining it, and being wounded die; the one who struck him shall not be guilty of blood. But if he did this after sunrise, he has committed murder, and he himself shall die. If he have not the means to make restitution for the theft, he shall be sold. But if what he stole be found with him alive, whether ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double. If anyone damage a field or a vineyard, and let his beast loose to feed upon what is another's: whatever best he has in his own field or vineyard, he shall restore according to the estimate of the damage. If a fire break out and catch in thorns, and lay hold of stacks of grain, or standing crops in the fields; he who kindled the fire shall make good the damage. If anyone entrust money or a vessel to a friend for safekeeping, and they be taken away by theft from the one who received them; if the thief be found, he shall restore double: if he be hidden, the master of the house shall be brought to the gods, and shall swear that he did not put forth his hand to his neighbor's goods, to commit fraud, as well in the ox as in the ass, and the sheep and the garment, and whatever can cause loss; and the cause of both shall come before the gods; and if they so judge, he shall restore double to his neighbor. If anyone entrust to his neighbor an ass, an ox, or a sheep, and any beast for safekeeping, and it die, or be hurt, or be taken by enemies, and no one saw it; there shall be an oath between them, that he did not put forth his hand to his neighbor's goods; and the owner shall accept the oath, and the other shall not be compelled to make restitution. But if it were taken away by theft, he shall make good the damage to the owner. If it were eaten by a beast, let him bring to him what was slain, and he shall not make restitution. He who borrows from his neighbor any of these things, and it be hurt or die, the owner not being present; shall be compelled to make restitution. But if the owner was present, he shall not make restitution, especially if it had come hired for the wages of its work. If anyone seduce a virgin not yet betrothed, and lie with her; he shall endow her, and shall have her to wife. If the virgin's father will not give her, he shall pay money according to the measure of the dowry which virgins are wont to receive. You shall not suffer wizards to live. He who lies with a beast, let him die the death. He who sacrifices to gods shall be slain, save to the Lord alone. You shall not grieve the stranger, nor afflict him: for you yourselves were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not hurt the widow or the orphan. If you hurt them, they will cry out to me, and I will hear their cry, and my fury shall be roused up, and I will strike you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children orphans. If you lend money to my poor people who dwell with you, you shall not press him as an extortioner, nor oppress him with usury. If you take your neighbor's garment in pledge, restore it to him before sunset; for it is the only covering wherewith the clothing of his flesh is covered, nor has he any other to sleep in: if he cry out to me, I will hear him, because I am merciful. You shall not speak ill of the gods, nor curse the ruler of your people. You shall not delay to offer your tithes and your firstfruits. You shall give me the firstborn of your sons [22:1-29].

4. 4. [Ex 23]. And a little later: You shall not receive the voice of a lie, nor join your hand to bear false witness for a wicked man. You shall not follow the crowd to do evil, nor in judgment yield to the opinion of the many, so as to stray from the truth. Neither shall you pity the poor man in judgment. If you meet your enemy's ox, or his ass going astray, bring it back to him. If you see the ass of one who hates you lying under his burden, you shall not pass by, but shall lift it up with him. You shall not turn aside in the judgment of the poor. You shall flee from lying. The innocent and the just you shall not put to death; for I abhor the wicked. Take no gifts, which blind even the prudent, and pervert the words of the just. You shall not be troublesome to the sojourner: for you know the souls of strangers, since you yourselves also were strangers in the land of Egypt [23:1-9].
And after certain things are interposed, when he was speaking of the foreigners: You shall not adore their gods, nor worship them. You shall not do their works, but shall destroy them, and break their statues: and you shall serve the Lord your God [23:24-25].

5. 5. [Ex 34]. And after many things in the same book concerning the gods of the Gentiles: But destroy their altars, break their statues, and cut down their groves. Do not adore a strange god; the Lord, whose name is Jealous, he is a jealous God. Make no covenant with the men of those regions; lest, when they have committed fornication with their gods and adored their idols, someone call you to eat of what is sacrificed. Neither shall you take a wife of their daughters for your sons; lest, after they themselves have committed fornication, they make your sons also commit fornication with their gods. You shall not make for yourself molten gods [34:13-17].
And a little later: You shall offer the firstfruits of the fruits of your land in the house of the Lord your God [34:26].

FROM LEVITICUS

6. 6. [Lev 18]. No man, he says, shall approach to one near of kin to his own blood, to uncover her nakedness. I am the Lord. The nakedness of your father and the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover: she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness. The nakedness of your father's wife you shall not uncover; for it is your father's nakedness. The nakedness of your sister by your father or by your mother, whether born at home or abroad, you shall not uncover. The nakedness of your son's daughter, or of your granddaughter by your daughter, you shall not uncover; because it is your own nakedness. The nakedness of the daughter of your father's wife, whom she bore to your father, and who is your sister, you shall not uncover. The nakedness of your father's sister you shall not uncover; because it is your father's flesh. The nakedness of your mother's sister you shall not uncover; because it is your mother's flesh. The nakedness of your father's brother you shall not uncover, nor approach to his wife, who is joined to you by affinity. The nakedness of your daughter-in-law you shall not uncover; because she is your son's wife; nor shall you uncover her shame. The nakedness of your brother's wife you shall not uncover; because it is your brother's nakedness. The nakedness of your wife and her daughter you shall not uncover. You shall not take her son's daughter and her daughter's daughter, to uncover her shame; because they are her flesh, and such intercourse is incest. You shall not take your wife's sister for a rival to her, nor uncover her nakedness while the other is yet living. You shall not approach a woman who suffers her monthly courses, nor uncover her uncleanness. You shall not lie with your neighbor's wife, nor be defiled with the mingling of seed. You shall not give of your seed to be consecrated to the idol Moloch, nor profane the name of your God. I am the Lord. You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; because it is an abomination. You shall not lie with any beast, nor be defiled with it. A woman shall not submit to a beast, nor mingle with it; because it is a wickedness. Do not defile yourselves in any of these things [18:6-24].

7. 7. [Lev 19]. And after a little: Let everyone fear his mother and his father [19:3].
And after one verse: Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molten gods. I am the Lord your God [19:4].
And a little later: Neither, he says, shall you gather the ears of grain that remain, nor collect the clusters and the falling grapes in your vineyard; but you shall leave them to be picked by the poor and the strangers. I am the Lord your God. You shall not steal. You shall not lie. Neither shall anyone deceive his neighbor. You shall not swear falsely in my name, nor profane the name of your God. I am the Lord. Neither shall you slander your neighbor, nor oppress him by force. The work of your hired servant shall not abide with you until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind: but you shall fear the Lord your God, because I am the Lord. You shall not do what is unjust, nor judge unjustly. Neither consider the person of the poor, nor honor the countenance of the mighty: judge your neighbor justly. You shall not be an accuser and a whisperer among the people. You shall not stand against the blood of your neighbor. I am the Lord. Do not hate your brother in your heart: but reprove him openly, lest you incur sin on his account. Do not seek revenge, nor be mindful of the wrong done by your fellow citizens. You shall love your friend as yourself. I am the Lord. Keep my laws [19:9-19].
And a little later: You shall not eat with blood. You shall not divine, nor observe dreams. Neither shall you cut your hair round, nor shave your beard. And you shall not cut your flesh for the dead: nor make any figures or marks upon yourselves. I am the Lord. Do not prostitute your daughter, lest the land be defiled and filled with wickedness [19:26-29].
And after one verse: I am the Lord. Do not turn to magicians, nor inquire anything of soothsayers, to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God. Rise up before the hoary head, and honor the person of the aged, and fear your God. I am the Lord. If a stranger dwell in your land and abide among you, do not reproach him; but let him be among you as a native, and you shall love him as yourselves: for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God. Do not anything unjust in judgment, in rule, in weight, in measure. Let the balance be just and the weights equal; the bushel just, and the sextary fair. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Keep all my precepts and all my judgments, and do them. I am the Lord [19:30-37].

8. 8. [Lev 20]. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: These things you shall say to the children of Israel: A man of the children of Israel, and of the strangers who dwell in Israel, if anyone give of his seed to the idol Moloch, let him die the death; the people of the land shall stone him: and I will set my face against him, and will cut him off from the midst of his people, because he has given of his seed to Moloch and defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name. But if the people of the land be negligent, and as it were making little of my authority, let go the man who has given of his seed to Moloch, and be unwilling to kill him; I will set my face upon that man and his kindred; and I will cut off both him and all who consented with him, to commit fornication with Moloch, from the midst of their people. The soul that turns aside to magicians and soothsayers, and commits fornication with them; I will set my face against it, and will destroy it from the midst of its people. Be sanctified, and be holy; because I, the Lord your God, am holy. Keep my precepts and do them. I am the Lord who sanctify you. He who curses his father or mother, let him die the death. He who curses his father and mother, let his blood be upon him. If a man commit adultery with the wife of another, and perpetrate adultery with the spouse of his neighbor; let both the adulterer and the adulteress die the death. He who lies with his stepmother and uncovers his father's shame; let them both die the death: their blood be upon them. If anyone lie with his daughter-in-law, let both die; because they have wrought a wickedness: their blood be upon them. He who lies with a male as with a woman, both have wrought an abomination; let them die the death: their blood be upon them. He who takes the mother together with the daughter as wife has wrought a wickedness; he shall be burned alive with them, nor shall so great a wickedness remain in your midst. He who lies with a beast or with cattle, let him die the death: kill the beast also. The woman that submits to any beast shall be slain together with it; their blood be upon them. He who takes his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she look upon her brother's shame, they have wrought a nefarious deed; they shall be slain in the sight of the people, because they have uncovered their own nakedness to one another; and they shall bear their iniquity. He who lies with a woman in her monthly flow, and uncovers her nakedness, and she lay open the fountain of her blood, both shall be destroyed from the midst of their people. The nakedness of your mother's sister and of your father's sister you shall not uncover. He who does this has laid bare the shame of his own flesh; they shall both bear their iniquity. He who lies with the wife of his father's brother or his mother's brother, and uncovers the shame of his kindred; they shall both bear their sin; they shall die without children. He who takes his brother's wife does an unlawful thing: he has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be without children [20:1-21].
And in another place: A man or a woman in whom there is a python spirit or a spirit of divination, let them die the death; they shall stone them: their blood be upon them [20:27].

9. 9. [Lev 21]. And likewise in another place, when he was speaking of the high priest: He shall take to wife a virgin, he says; a widow, or one repudiated, or defiled, or a harlot he shall not take, but a maiden of his own people: lest he mingle the stock of his lineage with the common people of his nation; for I am the Lord who sanctify him [21:13-15].

10. 10. [Lev 24]. And after many things: The man who curses his God shall bear his sin. And he who blasphemes the name of the Lord, let him die the death: all the multitude shall stone him, whether he be a citizen or a stranger. He who blasphemes the name of the Lord, let him die the death. He who strikes and kills a man, let him die the death. He who strikes an animal shall make it good, that is, life for life. He who inflicts a blemish on any of his fellow citizens, as he has done, so shall it be done to him: he shall restore fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever blemish he inflicted, the like shall he be compelled to suffer. He who strikes a beast shall render another. He who strikes a man shall be punished. Let the judgment be equal among you, whether a stranger or a citizen has sinned; for I am the Lord your God [24:15-22].

11. 11. [Lev 26]. And after a little: You shall not make for yourselves an idol or a graven thing, nor set up pillars, nor place a remarkable stone in your land, to adore it. For I am the Lord your God [26:1].

FROM NUMBERS

12. 12. [Num 27]. When a man dies without a son, his inheritance shall pass to his daughter. If he has no daughter, his brothers shall be his successors. But if he has no brothers either, you shall give the inheritance to his father's brothers. And if he has no uncles either, the inheritance shall be given to those who are next of kin to him: and this shall be holy to the children of Israel by a perpetual law, as the Lord commanded Moses [27:8-11].

13. 13. [Num 35]. And after many things. No one shall be condemned on the testimony of a single witness. You shall not accept a price from one who is guilty of blood [35:30-31].

FROM DEUTERONOMY

14. 14. [Deut 1]. There shall be no distinction of persons: you shall hear the small as the great, nor shall you accept anyone's person; because it is the judgment of God [1:17].

15. 15. [Deut 4]. And after very many things are interposed, where he repeats the Decalogue: Keep therefore your souls carefully. You saw no likeness in the day that the Lord spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: lest perhaps, being deceived, you make for yourselves a graven likeness, or the image of male or female; the likeness of all the beasts that are upon the earth, or of the birds that fly under heaven; and of the creeping things that move on the earth, or of the fishes that abide in the waters under the earth; lest perhaps, lifting up your eyes to heaven, you see the sun and the moon, and all the stars of heaven, and being deceived by error you adore and worship the things which the Lord your God created for the service of all the nations that are under heaven [4:15-19].
And a little later: Beware, he says, lest at any time you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you; and make for yourself a graven likeness of those things which the Lord has forbidden to be made: because the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God [4:23-24].

16. 16. [Deut 5]. And in another place: You shall not have strange gods in my sight. You shall not make for yourself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any things that are in heaven above, and that are in the earth beneath, and that abide in the waters under the earth. You shall not adore them, nor worship them. For I am the Lord your God, a jealous God, repaying the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation, to those who hate me; and showing mercy unto many thousands to those who love me and keep my precepts. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain: for he shall not be unpunished who takes his name upon a vain thing [5:7-11].
And after a little: Honor, he says, your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you; that you may live a long time, and it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is about to give you. You shall not kill, neither shall you commit adultery, and you shall not steal, nor bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, not his house, not his field, not his manservant, not his maidservant, not his ox, not his ass, and all the things that are his [5:16-21].

17. 17. [Deut 6]. And elsewhere in the same book: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole strength [6:5].
And a little later: When you have eaten and are filled, beware diligently lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall fear the Lord your God, and shall serve him only, and shall swear by his name. You shall not go after the strange gods of all the nations that are round about you: because the Lord your God is a jealous God in your midst; lest at any time the fury of the Lord your God be angry against you, and take you away from the face of the earth. You shall not tempt the Lord your God [6:12-16].

18. 18. [Deut 7]. Likewise a little later, when he was speaking of the foreigners: Neither shall you make marriages with them; you shall not give your daughter to his son, nor take his daughter for your son. For she will seduce your son not to follow me, and rather to serve strange gods: and the fury of the Lord will be angry, and will quickly destroy you. But rather you shall do these things to them: overthrow their altars, break their statues, cut down their groves, and burn their graven things with fire [7:2-5].

And after a little while: Their graven things you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver and gold of which they are made, nor take any of it for yourself, lest you offend; because it is an abomination to the Lord your God. Neither shall you bring anything of the idol into your house; lest you become an accursed thing, as it also is: you shall detest it as filth, and abhor it as defilement and uncleanness; because it is an accursed thing [7:25-26].

19. 19. [Deut 8]. And in another place: Observe and beware lest at any time you forget the Lord your God, and neglect his commandments and judgments and ceremonies, which I command you this day: lest, after you have eaten and are filled, have built fair houses and dwelt in them; and have had herds and flocks of sheep, and abundance of silver and gold and of all things, your heart be lifted up, and you remember not the Lord your God [8:11-14].
And after a few verses: At the last, he says, he had mercy on you; lest you say in your heart: My strength and the might of my hand have furnished me all these things: but that you may remember the Lord your God, that it was he who gave you strength [8:16-18].

20. 20. [Deut 11]. And after a little: That you may eat and be filled. Beware lest perhaps your heart be deceived, and you depart from the Lord God, and serve strange gods and adore them; and the Lord, being angry, shut up heaven [11:15-17].

21. 21. [Deut 12]. And after a little: Overthrow all the places in which the nations whom you shall possess worshiped their gods, upon the high mountains and the hills, and under every leafy tree. Destroy their altars, and break their statues; burn their groves with fire, and grind their idols to pieces: blot out their names from those places [12:2-3].
And after certain things are interposed, when he was speaking of the foreigners: Beware lest you imitate them, after they have been overthrown at your coming in, and seek out their ceremonies, saying: As these nations worshiped their gods, so will I also worship. You shall not do likewise to the Lord your God. For all the abominations which the Lord abhors they have done to their gods, offering their sons and daughters, and burning them with fire. What I command you, this only do to the Lord; neither add anything, nor diminish [12:30-32].

22. 22. [Deut 13]. If there rise up in your midst a prophet, or one who says he has seen a dream, and foretell a sign and a wonder; and it come to pass which he has spoken, and he say to you: Let us go and follow strange gods, whom you know not, and let us serve them; do not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer: because the Lord your God tests you, that it may be made plain whether you love him or not, with your whole heart and your whole soul. Follow the Lord your God, and fear him: keep his commandments, and hear his voice: him shall you serve, and to him shall you cleave. But that prophet or feigner of dreams shall be slain; because he has spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage; that he might make you stray from the way which the Lord your God commanded you; and you shall take away the evil from your midst. If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or daughter, or the wife in your bosom, or the friend whom you love as your own soul, would persuade you, saying secretly: Let us go and follow strange gods, whom you and your fathers know not, of all the nations round about, that are near or far off, from the beginning to the ends of the earth; do not consent to him, nor listen, neither let your eye spare him to pity and conceal him: but you shall kill him at once; let your hand be first upon him, and after you let all the people lay their hand: he shall be stoned and killed, because he sought to draw you away from the Lord your God [13:1-10].

23. 23. [Deut 14]. And after a little while: You shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness for the dead: because you are a holy people to the Lord your God [14:1-2].

24. 24. [Deut 15]. And in another place: If one, he says, of your brothers who dwells within the gates of your city, in the land which the Lord your God is about to give you, come to poverty; you shall not harden your heart, nor draw back your hand: but you shall open it to the poor man, and lend him what you perceive him to need. Beware lest perhaps an impious thought creep upon you, and you say in your heart: The seventh year of remission is at hand; and you turn away your eyes from your poor brother, unwilling to lend him what he asks; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be reckoned to you as sin: but you shall give to him; nor shall you do anything craftily in relieving his needs: that the Lord your God may bless you at all times, and in all things to which you put your hand. The poor shall not be wanting in the land of your habitation: therefore I command you to open your hand to your needy and poor brother, who dwell with you in the land [15:7-11].

25. 25. [Deut 16]. And somewhat later: You shall appoint judges and magistrates in all your gates, which the Lord your God shall give you, throughout your several tribes, that they may judge the people with just judgment: nor shall they turn aside to either part. You shall not accept persons, nor gifts; because gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and change the words of the just. You shall justly pursue what is just, that you may live and possess the land which the Lord your God shall give you [16:18-20].
And after a few words: Neither shall you make and set up for yourself a statue, which the Lord your God hates [16:22].

26. 26. [Deut 17]. Likewise after a few words: When there shall be found among you, within one of your gates which the Lord your God shall give you, a man or a woman who do evil in the sight of the Lord your God, and transgress his covenant, so as to go and serve strange gods, and adore them, the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; and this be told you, and hearing it you inquire diligently, and find it to be true, and that an abomination has been done in Israel: you shall bring forth the man and the woman who have perpetrated the most wicked thing, to the gates of your city, and they shall be stoned. He who is to be put to death shall perish on the word of two or three witnesses. Let no one be slain on a single witness testifying against him. The hand of the witnesses shall first kill him, and the hand of the rest of the people shall be put forth last; that you may take away the evil from your midst [17:2-7].
Likewise after a little: But he who shall be proud, unwilling to obey the command of the priest who ministers at that time to the Lord your God, and the decree of the judge; that man shall die: and you shall take away the evil from Israel; and all the people hearing it shall fear, that no one thereafter swell with pride [17:12-13].

27. 27. [Deut 18]. And after certain things are interposed, when he was admonishing concerning the foreigners: Beware, he says, lest you wish to imitate the abominations of those nations. Neither let there be found in you one who purifies his son or daughter by leading them through fire, or one who consults soothsayers, and observes dreams and auguries; let there be no wizard, no enchanter, neither consult pythons nor diviners, nor seek the truth from the dead. For the Lord abhors all these things [18:9-12].

28. 28. [Deut 19]. And after a little: One witness shall not stand against anyone, whatever that sin and crime may be: but in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word stand. If a lying witness stand against a man, accusing him of transgression; they shall both stand, whose cause it is, before the Lord in the sight of the priests and judges who shall be in those days: and when, searching most diligently, they shall find that the false witness has spoken a lie against his brother; they shall render to him as he thought to render to his brother; and you shall take away the evil from your midst: that the rest, hearing it, may have fear, and by no means dare to do such things. You shall not pity him; but shall exact life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot [19:15-21].

29. 29. [Deut 21]. And elsewhere in the same book: If a man beget a stubborn and unruly son, who will not hear the command of his father and mother, and being corrected refuses to obey; they shall lay hold of him, and bring him to the elders of that city, and to the gate of judgment, and shall say to them: This son of ours is unruly and stubborn, he has scorned to hear our admonitions, he gives himself to reveling and lust and feasting: the people of the city shall stone him, and he shall die; that you may take away the evil from your midst, and all Israel hearing it may be afraid [21:18-21].

30. 30. [Deut 22]. And after a few words: You shall not see your brother's ox or his sheep going astray, and pass by; but you shall bring them back to your brother: even if your brother is not near to you, nor do you know him, you shall lead them to your house, and they shall be with you until your brother seek them; and you shall restore them. You shall do likewise with the ass and the garment, and with everything of your brother's that is lost: if you find it, do not neglect it as though it were another's. If you see your brother's ass or ox fallen on the way, you shall not overlook it, but shall lift it up with him. A woman shall not be clothed with man's apparel, nor shall a man use a woman's garment: for he who does these things is abominable before the Lord [22:1-5].
Likewise after a few words: When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet around the roof; lest blood be shed in your house, and you be guilty if another slip and fall headlong [22:8].
Likewise a little later: If a man take a wife, and afterward hate her; and seek occasions to put her away, charging her with a most evil name, and say: I took this woman to wife, and going in to her I did not find her a virgin: her father and mother shall take her, and shall bring with them the tokens of her virginity to the elders of the city who are in the gate; and the father shall say: I gave my daughter to this man to wife, and because he hates her, he charges her with a most evil name, so as to say: I did not find your daughter a virgin: and behold, these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. They shall spread out the garment before the elders of the city: and the elders of that city shall lay hold of the man, and shall beat him; condemning him besides in a hundred shekels of silver, which he shall give to the girl's father; because he has spread a most evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and he shall have her to wife, and shall not be able to put her away all the days of his life. But if what he charges be true, and virginity be not found in the girl; they shall cast her out of the doors of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her, and she shall die; because she has done a wicked thing in Israel, to commit fornication in her father's house: and you shall take away the evil from your midst. If a man lie with another's wife, they shall both die, that is, the adulterer and the adulteress; and you shall take away the evil from Israel. If a man have betrothed a virgin girl, and someone find her in the city, and lie with her; you shall bring forth both to the gate of that city, and they shall be stoned; the girl, because she did not cry out, being in the city; the man, because he humbled his neighbor's wife: and you shall take away the evil from your midst. But if a man find in the field a girl who is betrothed, and laying hold of her lie with her, he alone shall die: the girl shall suffer nothing, nor is she guilty of death: for as a robber rises up against his brother and slays his soul, so also has the girl suffered: she was alone in the field, she cried out, and there was none to free her. If a man find a virgin girl who has no betrothed, and laying hold of her lie with her, and the matter come to judgment; he who lay with her shall give to the girl's father a hundred shekels of silver, and shall have her to wife, because he humbled her: he shall not be able to put her away all the days of his life. A man shall not take his father's wife, nor uncover his father's covering [22:13-30].

31. 31. [Deut 23]. And after a little while: There shall be no harlot of the daughters of Israel, nor whoremonger of the sons of Israel [23:17].
And after a little while: You shall not lend to your brother at usury money, nor grain, nor any other thing; but to another [23:19-20].
And after a few verses: When you have vowed a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to fulfill it; because the Lord your God will require it, and if you delay, it shall be reckoned to you as sin. If you are unwilling to promise, you shall be without sin: but what has once gone out of your lips you shall observe, and shall do as you promised to the Lord your God, and have spoken with your own will and with your mouth [23:21-23].

32. 32. [Deut 24]. And a little later: You shall not take in pledge the lower or the upper millstone, because he has pledged his life to you. If a man be found enticing his brother of the children of Israel, and selling him take a price, he shall be put to death: and you shall take away the evil from your midst [24:6-7].
And after a few verses: When you ask back, he says, from your neighbor anything that he owes you, you shall not go into his house to take a pledge; but you shall stand outside, and he shall bring out to you what he has. But if he is poor, the pledge shall not lodge with you overnight; but you shall restore it to him at once before sunset, that sleeping in his garment he may bless you, and you may have justice before the Lord your God. You shall not deny the wages of your needy and poor brother, or of the stranger who dwells with you in the land and is within your gates: but the same day you shall pay him the price of his labor, before sunset; because he is poor, and with it he sustains his life: lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be reckoned to you as sin. Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers; but everyone shall die for his own sin [24:10-16].
And after a few verses: When you reap the harvest in your field, and have forgotten and left a sheaf; you shall not return to take it: but you shall suffer the stranger, the orphan, and the widow to take it away; that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. If you gather the fruits of the olives, whatever remains on the trees, you shall not return to gather; but you shall leave it for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. If you harvest your vineyard, you shall not gather the clusters that remain; but they shall fall to the use of the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. Remember that you also served in Egypt, and therefore I command you to do this thing [24:19-22].

33. 33. [Deut 25]. If there be a cause between any, and they appeal to the judges; whom they shall perceive to be just, to him they shall give the palm of justice; whom they shall perceive to be wicked, they shall condemn of wickedness. But if they shall see that he who sinned is worthy of stripes; they shall throw him down, and shall cause him to be beaten before them. According to the measure of the sin shall be the measure of the stripes also: yet so that they exceed not the number of forty, lest your brother, foully torn, perish before your eyes [25:1-3].
And after a little while: If men have a quarrel between them, and one begin to fight against the other, and the wife of the one, wishing to deliver her husband from the hand of the stronger, put forth her hand, and lay hold of his private parts; you shall cut off her hand, nor shall you be bent by any pity toward her. You shall not have in your bag diverse weights, a greater and a less; nor shall there be in your house a greater and a less bushel. You shall have a just and true weight; and the bushel shall be equal and true to you [25:11-15].

34. 34. [Deut 27]. And after very many things: Cursed be the man who makes a graven and molten thing, an abomination to the Lord, the work of craftsmen's hands, and sets it up in a hidden place: and all the people shall answer and say: Amen. Cursed be he who does not honor his father and mother: and all the people shall say: Amen. Cursed be he who removes his neighbor's landmarks: and all the people shall say: Amen. Cursed be he who makes the blind to wander out of the way: and all the people shall say: Amen. Cursed be he who perverts the judgment of the stranger, the orphan, and the widow: and all the people shall say: Amen. Cursed be everyone who lies with his father's wife, and uncovers the covering of his bed: and all the people shall say: Amen. Cursed be he who lies with any beast: and all the people shall say: Amen. Cursed be he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother: and all the people shall say: Amen. Cursed be he who lies with his mother-in-law: and all the people shall say: Amen. Cursed be he who secretly strikes his neighbor: and all the people shall say: Amen. Cursed be he who accepts gifts to strike the life of innocent blood: and all the people shall say: Amen [27:15-25].

FROM JOSHUA

35. 35. [Josh 22]. Return, and go into your tents and into the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord delivered to you beyond the Jordan: yet so that you carefully keep, and fulfill in deed, the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord enjoined you; that you love the Lord your God, and walk in all his ways, and keep his commandments, and cleave to him, and serve him with all your heart and with all your soul [22:4-5].

36. 36. [Josh 23]. And in another place: Lest, after you have come in, he says, among the nations that shall be among you, you swear by the name of their gods, and serve them, and adore them: but cleave to the Lord your God, as you have done unto this day [23:7-8].

FROM THE PSALMS

37. 37. [Ps 1]. Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of scoffers. But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he will meditate day and night [1:1-2].

38. 38. [Ps 2]. Now therefore, you kings, understand; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice with trembling. Worship purely, lest at any time he be angry, and you perish from the way. When his fury shall blaze up after a little while, blessed are all who hope in him [2:10-13].

39. 39. [Ps 4]. Sons of men, how long, my honored ones, will you love vanity to your dishonor, seeking after a lie? [4:3].
And a little later: Be angry, and do not sin: speak in your hearts upon your beds, and be silent. Offer the sacrifice of justice, and trust in the Lord [4:5-6].

40. 40. [Ps 5]. For you are not a God who wills iniquity. Neither shall the malignant dwell beside you; the unjust shall not stand in the sight of your eyes. You hate all who work iniquity, you will destroy all who speak a lie. The bloody and deceitful man the Lord will abhor [5:5-7].

41. 41. [Ps 15 (14)]. Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? and who shall dwell on your holy mountain? He who walks without blemish, and works justice, and speaks the truth in his heart: who is not loose with his tongue, nor has done evil to his friend, nor borne reproach against his neighbor. In his eyes the wicked man is despised, but he glorifies those who fear the Lord. He swears to his own hurt, and does not change. He has not given his money at usury, nor accepted gifts against the innocent. He who does these things shall not be moved forever [15:1-5 (14:1-5)].

42. 42. [Ps 24 (23)]. Who shall ascend the mountain of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He who is innocent of hands and clean of heart, who has not lifted up his soul in vain, and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and justice from God his savior [24:3-5 (23:3-5)].

43. 43. [Ps 27 (26)]. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? [27:1 (26:1)].
And after four verses: If camps stand against me, my heart shall not fear. If war rise up against me, in this will I trust. One thing I have asked of the Lord, and this will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; that I may see the beauty of the Lord, and behold his temple [27:3-4 (26:3-4)].
And in another place: My heart has said to you: I have sought your countenance; your face, O Lord, will I seek [27:8 (26:8)].
And afterward: Wait for the Lord, take courage, and let your heart be strengthened, and bear with the Lord [27:14 (26:14)].

44. 44. [Ps 28 (27)]. Do not deliver me up with the wicked, and with those who work iniquity; who speak peace with their friends, while evil is in their hearts [28:3 (27:3)].

45. 45. [Ps 31 (30)]. Take courage, and let your heart be strengthened, all you who wait for the Lord [31:25 (30:25)].

46. 46. [Ps 32 (31)]. Do not become like the horse and the mule, in whom there is no understanding. With bit and bridle bind fast the jaws of those who do not draw near to you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked; but mercy shall surround the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you just; and exult, all you upright of heart [32:9-11 (31:9-11)].

47. 47. [Ps 33 (32)]. Praise the Lord, you just; praise befits the upright [33:1 (32:1)].
And in another place: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom the Lord has chosen for his inheritance [33:12 (32:12)].

48. 48. [Ps 34 (33)]. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall ever be in my mouth. In the Lord shall my soul be praised; let the meek hear and be glad. Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together [34:2-4 (33:2-4)].
And after a few verses: Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who hopes in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints; for there is no want to those who fear him. The lions have lacked and gone hungry; but to those who seek the Lord no good thing shall be wanting. Come, children, hear me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life, loving to see good days? Keep your tongue from evil, and let your lips not speak deceit. Turn away from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it [34:9-15 (33:9-15)].
And after seven verses: The Lord is near to the contrite of heart, and will save the humble of spirit [34:19 (33:19)].

49. 49. [Ps 37 (36)]. Do not contend with the malignant, nor envy those who work iniquity. For like grass they shall quickly wither away; and like green herbs they shall fade. Hope in the Lord, and do good; sojourn in the land, and feed on faith. And delight in the Lord, and he will give you the petitions of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, and trust in him, and he will act. And he will bring forth your justice like the light, and your judgment like the noonday. Be silent before the Lord, and wait for him: do not contend against him who prospers in his way, against the man who does what he plots. Cease from anger, and forsake fury; do not contend so as to do evil. For those who do evil shall perish; but those who wait for the Lord, they shall inherit the land. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall be no more; and you will think upon his place, and it shall not stand. But the meek shall inherit the land, and shall delight in abundance of peace [37:1-11 (36:1-11)].
And a little later: Better is a little to the just man, than the many riches of the wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; but the Lord upholds the just [37:16-17 (36:16-17)].
And after a little: Turn away from evil, and do good [37:27 (36:27)].
And elsewhere: Wait for the Lord, and keep his way; and he will exalt you to possess the land. Keep simplicity, and behold what is right; for there shall be peace at the last for the man [37:34, 37 (36:34, 37)].

50. 50. [Ps 40 (39)]. Blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and has not turned aside to the prides and pomps of falsehood [40:5 (39:5)].

51. 51. [Ps 44 (43)]. In the Lord will we rejoice all the day, and in your name we will give praise forever [44:9 (43:9)].
And a little later: All these things have come upon us; and we have not forgotten you, nor dealt falsely in your covenant. Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps strayed from your path. For you have cast us down in a place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death. If we have forgotten the name of our God, and stretched out our hands to a strange god; will not God search this out? For he knows the thoughts of the heart. For your sake are we put to death all the day; we are counted as a flock for the slaughter [44:18-22 (43:18-22)].

52. 52. [Ps 47 (46)]. Sing to God, sing: sing to our king, sing. For God is king of all the earth, sing wisely [47:7-8 (46:7-8)].

53. 53. [Ps 50 (49)]. Offer to God the sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the Most High. And call upon me in the day of tribulation: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. But to the wicked God has said: Why do you tell of my precepts, and take my covenant in your mouth? You who hate discipline, and have cast my words behind you. If you saw a thief, you ran with him; and your portion was with adulterers. Your mouth has abounded in malice; and your tongue framed deceit. Sitting, you spoke against your brother; and against your mother's son you devised reproach. These things you did, and I was silent: you thought, wickedly, that I would be like yourself; I will reprove you, and set them before your eyes. Understand this, you who forget God; lest at any time he seize you, and there be none to deliver. He who offers the sacrifice of praise glorifies me; and to him who walks in the right way I will show the salvation of God [50:14-23 (49:14-23)].

54. 54. [Ps 51 (50)]. Cleanse me from my iniquity, and from my sin. For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is always before me [51:4-5 (50:4-5)].

And elsewhere: A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not despise [51:19 (50:19)].

55. 55. [Ps 52 (51)]. Why do you glory in malice, you who are mighty? The mercy of God endures all the day. Your tongue plots treacheries, like a sharp razor working deceit. You have loved evil more than good, falsehood more than to speak justice. You have loved all words of devouring, O deceitful tongue. But God will destroy you forever; he will terrify you, and pluck you out of your dwelling, and root you out of the land of the living. The just shall see, and shall fear, and shall laugh at him: Behold the man who did not make God his strength: but hoped in the abundance of his riches; he was strengthened in his treacheries. But I, like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God, have hoped in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise you forever, because you have acted; and I will wait on your name, for it is good in the sight of your saints [52:3-11 (51:3-11)].

56. 56. [Ps 62 (61)]. Hope in him at all times, you peoples; pour out your hearts before him: God is our hope. Yet vain are the sons of Adam, the sons of men are a lie: in deceitful balances they act fraudulently together. Do not trust in extortion, and do not be made vain in robbery. If riches abound, do not set your heart on them [62:9-11 (61:9-11)].

57. 57. [Ps 64 (63)]. The just man shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in him [64:11 (63:11)].

58. 58. [Ps 69 (68)]. For your sake I have borne reproach; confusion has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, and a foreigner to my mother's sons. For the zeal of your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproached you have fallen upon me. And I wept and afflicted my soul with fasting; and it became a reproach to me. And I made sackcloth my garment; and I became a byword to them. They who sat in the gate spoke against me, and those who drank wine sang of me [69:8-13 (68:8-13)].
And somewhat later: I will praise the name of God in song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. And it shall please the Lord better than a young bullock that brings forth horns and hoofs. Let the meek see and be glad. You who seek the Lord, your soul shall live. For the Lord has heard the poor [69:31-34 (68:31-34)].

59. 59. [Ps 73 (72)]. For behold, those who remove themselves far from you shall perish; you have destroyed everyone who plays the harlot away from you. But for me it is good to draw near to God: I have put my hope in the Lord God, that I may declare all your announcements [73:27-28 (72:27-28)].

60. 60. [Ps 76 (75)]. Make vows, and pay them to the Lord your God; all who are round about him shall offer gifts to the terrible one, who takes away the spirit of princes, who is terrible to the kings of the earth [76:12-13 (75:12-13)].

61. 61. [Ps 78 (77)]. Hear, my people, my law; incline your ear to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter dark sayings of old [78:1-2 (77:1-2)].
And in another place: And they shall tell their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget his deeds, and may keep his commandments [78:6-7 (77:6-7)].

62. 62. [Ps 81 (80)]. Praise God our strength, shout with joy to the God of Jacob [81:2 (80:2)].
And in another place: Israel, if you will hear me, let there be no strange god in you, and you shall not adore a foreign god. I am the Lord your God [81:9-11 (80:9-11)].

63. 63. [Ps 82 (81)]. How long will you judge iniquity, and accept the persons of the wicked? Judge for the poor and the orphan, do justice to the needy and the destitute [82:2-3 (81:2-3)].

64. 64. [Ps 84 (83)]. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, they shall still praise you. Blessed is the man whose strength is in you, who has set ascents in his heart: passing through the valley of weeping, they make it a fountain. The teacher too shall be clothed with blessing: they shall go from strength to strength; they shall appear before God in Zion [84:5-8 (83:5-8)].
And a little later: For better is one day in your courts than a thousand. I have chosen to be cast aside in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tents of wickedness [84:11 (83:11)].

65. 65. [Ps 92 (91)]. It is good to give praise to the Lord, and to sing to your name, O Most High [92:2 (91:2)].

66. 66. [Ps 94 (93)]. Understand, you foolish among the people; and you senseless, at length be wise [94:8 (93:8)].
And a little later: Blessed is the man whom you instruct, O Lord, and teach out of your law. That you may give him rest from the days of affliction, until a pit be dug for the wicked [94:12-13 (93:12-13)].

67. 67. [Ps 95 (94)]. Come, let us adore and bow down, let us kneel before the face of the Lord our maker [95:6 (94:6)].
And after two verses: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts; as in the provocation, as in the day of temptation in the wilderness [95:8-9 (94:8-9)].

68. 68. [Ps 96 (95)]. Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name: announce his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his wonders among all peoples [96:1-3 (95:1-3)].
And after six verses: Bring to the Lord, you families of peoples, bring to the Lord glory and strength. Bring to the Lord glory to his name; take up offerings, and enter into his courts. Adore the Lord in the beauty of his sanctuary [96:7-9 (95:7-9)].

69. 69. [Ps 97 (96)]. You who love the Lord, hate evil [97:10 (96:10)].
And after three verses: Be glad, you just, in the Lord, and give praise to the memory of his holiness [97:12 (96:12)].

70. 70. [Ps 98 (97)]. Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth; cry aloud, and rejoice, and sing [98:4 (97:4)].

71. 71. [Ps 99 (98)]. Exalt the Lord our God, and adore his footstool, for it is holy [99:5 (98:5)].

72. 72. [Ps 100 (99)]. Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth, serve the Lord with gladness. Come into his presence with praise. Know that the Lord himself is God; he made us, and we are his [100:2-3 (99:2-3)].
And after one verse: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise; give praise to him [100:4 (99:4)].

73. 73. [Ps 101 (100)]. I will walk in the simplicity of my heart in the midst of my house. I will not set before my eyes any word of Belial. I have hated those who commit transgressions, nor has it cleaved to me. The perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know evil. The one who in secret slanders his neighbor, him will I put to death. The proud of eye and haughty of heart, with him I cannot dwell. My eyes are upon the faithful of the earth, that they may dwell with me: he who walks in the way uprightly, he shall minister to me. He who works deceit shall not dwell in the midst of my house: he who speaks a lie shall not please in the sight of my eyes. In the morning I destroyed all the wicked of the earth, that I might cut off from the city of the Lord all who work iniquity [101:2-8 (100:2-8)].

74. 74. [Ps 103 (102)]. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting and unto everlasting upon those who fear him. And his justice upon the children of their children, to those who keep his covenant, and remember his precepts to do them [103:17-18 (102:17-18)].

75. 75. [Ps 105 (104)]. Give praise to the Lord, and call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, and play to him: tell of all his wonders. Glory in his holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and his power, seek his face continually. Remember his wonders which he has done, his signs and the judgments of his mouth [105:1-5 (104:1-5)].

76. 76. [Ps 108 (107)]. My heart is ready, O God; I will sing and play: yes, my glory too. Arise, psaltery and harp; I will arise in the morning. I will praise you among the peoples, O Lord, I will sing to you among the nations [108:2-4 (107:2-4)].

77. 77. [Ps 111 (110)]. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the council of the just and in the congregation [111:1 (110:1)].
And in another place: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding to all who do it; his praise endures continually [111:10 (110:10)].

78. 78. [Ps 112 (111)]. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments [112:1 (111:1)].
And after five verses: The good man is merciful and lends, he shall order his words in judgment; for he shall not be moved forever. The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance; he shall not fear an evil report. His heart is ready, trusting in the Lord; his heart is firm, he shall not fear until he looks upon his enemies. He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor: his justice remains forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. The wicked shall see and be angry, he shall gnash with his teeth, and pine away: the desire of the wicked shall perish [112:5-10 (111:5-10)].

79. 79. [Ps 113 (112)]. Praise the Lord, you servants, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and forever. From the rising of the sun unto its setting, the name of the Lord is worthy of praise [113:1-3 (112:1-3)].

80. 80. [Ps 115 (113)]. The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, and shall not speak; they have eyes, and shall not see. They have ears, and shall not hear [115:4-6 (113:12-14)].
And a little later: Let those who make them become like them, and all who trust in them. Israel has trusted in the Lord; he is their helper and protector. The house of Aaron has trusted in the Lord; he is their helper and protector. But those who fear the Lord trust in the Lord; he is their helper and protector [115:8-11 (113:16-19)].

81. 81. [Ps 116 (115)]. I have believed, therefore have I spoken; but I have been afflicted exceedingly [116:10 (115:10)].
And after a little: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things that he has rendered to me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints [116:12-15 (115:12-15)].
And after three verses: To you will I offer the sacrifice of praise, and will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people; in the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem [116:17-19 (115:17-19)].

82. 82. [Ps 117 (116)]. Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise him together, all you peoples [117:1 (116:1)].

83. 83. [Ps 118 (117)]. Give praise to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let Israel now say that his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Aaron now say that his mercy endures forever. Let those who fear the Lord now say that his mercy endures forever. In my tribulation I called upon the Lord, and the Lord heard me and set me at large [118:1-5 (117:1-5)].
And after five verses: It is better to hope in the Lord, than to hope in man. It is better to hope in the Lord, than to hope in princes [118:8-9 (117:8-9)].
And after eight verses: The Lord is my strength and my praise, and he has become my salvation. The voice of praise and salvation is in the tents of the just [118:14-15 (117:14-15)].

84. 84. [Ps 119 (118)]. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart [119:1-2 (118:1-2)].
And in another place: And I will walk at large, because I have sought your precepts. And I will speak of your testimonies before kings, and will not be confounded. And I will delight in your commandments, which I have loved. And I will lift up my hands to your commandments, which I have loved; and I will be exercised in your precepts [119:45-48 (118:45-48)].
And after four verses: I have not turned aside from your law. I have remembered your judgments of old, O Lord, and have been comforted. Horror took hold of me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law. Your precepts were songs to me, in the house of my pilgrimage. In the night I remembered your name, O Lord, and kept your law. This befell me, because I sought your precepts. My portion, O Lord, I said, is to keep your word. I entreated your countenance with my whole heart; have mercy on me according to your word. I considered my ways, and turned my feet to your testimonies. I made haste, and did not neglect to keep your commandments. The cords of the wicked have entangled me; I have not forgotten your law. At midnight I rose to give praise to you, for the justice of your justifications. I am a partaker with all who fear you, and who keep your precepts [119:51-63 (118:51-63)].
And after a few verses: But I with my whole heart kept your precepts. Their heart is grown fat like milk, but I have meditated on your law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn your precepts. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver [119:69-72 (118:69-72)].
And after a few verses: For your law is my delight [119:77 (118:77)].
And after a little: But I will be exercised in your precepts [119:78 (118:78)].
Likewise a little later: I have not forgotten your precepts [119:83 (118:83)].
And after two verses: The proud have dug pits for me, which were not according to your law [119:85 (118:85)].
And after two verses: They had almost made an end of me upon the earth; but I did not forsake your precepts [119:87 (118:87)].
And after seven verses: Unless your law had been my delight, I would perhaps have perished in my distress. I will never forget your precepts; for by them you have given me life. I am yours, save me; for I have sought your precepts. The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me; I will consider your testimony. I have seen an end of all perfection; your commandment is exceedingly broad. How I have loved your law! it is my meditation all the day [119:92-97 (118:92-97)].
And a little later: I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep your words. I have not departed from your judgments, because you have enlightened me. How sweet are your words to my throat! more than honey to my mouth. I considered your precepts; therefore I hated every way of falsehood. Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path [119:101-105 (118:101-105)].
And after five verses: My soul is continually in my hands, and I have not forgotten your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts. Your testimonies are my inheritance forever; for they are the joy of my heart. I have inclined my heart to do your justices forever, for the reward. I hated the wicked, and loved your law. You are my protection and my shield: in your word I have greatly hoped. Depart from me, you malignant; and I will keep the commandments of my God [119:109-115 (118:109-115)].
And after seven verses: You have counted all the wicked of the earth as dross; therefore I have loved your testimonies. My flesh has shuddered for fear of you, and I have been afraid of your judgments. I have done judgment and justice; do not give me up to those who slander me [119:119-121 (118:119-121)].
And after a few verses: Therefore I have loved your commandments above gold and topaz. Therefore I directed myself to all your precepts; I have hated every way of falsehood. Wonderful are your testimonies; therefore my soul has kept them [119:127-129 (118:127-129)].
And after two verses: I opened my mouth, and drew breath; because I longed for your commandments [119:131 (118:131)].
And in another place: My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten your words. Your word is exceedingly tried, and your servant has loved it. I am small and despised; but I have not forgotten your precepts [119:139-141 (118:139-141)].
And after three verses: Your commandments are my will [119:143 (118:143)].
And a little later: See my affliction, and deliver me; for I have not forgotten your law [119:153 (118:153)].
And after six verses: Many are they who persecute me and afflict me; but I have not turned aside from your testimonies. I saw the transgressors, and I pined away; because they kept not your word. See that I have loved your precepts, O Lord; give me life according to your mercy [119:157-159 (118:157-159)].
And after four verses: I rejoice in your words, like one who finds great spoils. I have hated and abhorred falsehood; but your law I have loved. Seven times a day I have given praise to you, for the judgments of your justice. Much peace have they who love your law, and to them there is no stumbling block. I waited for your salvation, O Lord, and did your commandments. My soul has kept your testimonies, and has loved them exceedingly. I have kept your precepts and your testimonies, because all my ways are in your sight [119:162-168 (118:162-168)].
And after eight verses: Let your hand be my helper; for I have chosen your precepts. I have longed for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my will [119:173-174 (118:173-174)].
And after two verses: I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commandments [119:176 (118:176)].

85. 85. [Ps 120 (119)]. I spoke peaceable things, but they made war upon them [120:7 (119:7)].

86. 86. [Ps 122 (121)]. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: let it be well with those who love it [122:6 (121:6)].
And after two verses: For the sake of my brothers and my neighbors, I spoke peace concerning you. For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I sought good things for you [122:8-9 (121:8-9)].

87. 87. [Ps 123 (122)]. To you have I lifted up my eyes, you who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of the maidservant are on the hand of her mistress; so are our eyes on the Lord our God, until he have mercy on us [123:1-2 (122:1-2)].

88. 88. [Ps 125 (124)]. Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion; Jerusalem, immovable and to be inhabited forever [125:1 (124:1)].

89. 89. [Ps 128 (127)]. Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways [128:1 (127:1)].

90. 90. [Ps 130 (129)]. I have waited for the Lord, my soul has waited, and in his word I have hoped [130:4 (129:4)].

91. 91. [Ps 131 (130)]. Lord, my heart is not lifted up, nor are my eyes haughty; nor have I walked in great matters, nor in wonders above me. If I was not humbly minded, but lifted up my soul; as a child that is weaned toward his mother, so was my soul weaned toward me. Let Israel hope in the Lord, from this time forth and forever [131:1-3 (130:1-3)].

92. 92. [Ps 133 (132)]. Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity [133:1 (132:1)].

93. 93. [Ps 134 (133)]. Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord; you who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. In the nights lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the Lord [134:1-2 (133:1-2)].

94. 94. [Ps 135 (134)]. Praise the name of the Lord; praise the Lord, you his servants. You who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant [135:1-3 (134:1-3)].
And a little later: The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the works of men's hands. They have mouths, and shall not speak; they have eyes, and shall not see [135:15-16 (134:15-16)].
And after a few words: Let those who make them become like them, and all who trust in them. House of Israel, bless the Lord; house of Aaron, bless the Lord; you who fear the Lord, bless the Lord [135:18-20 (134:18-20)].

95. 95. [Ps 136 (135)]. Give praise to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Give praise to the God of gods, for his mercy endures forever. Give praise to the Lord of lords, for his mercy endures forever [136:1-3 (135:1-3)].
And at the end of the psalm: Give praise to the God of heaven, for his mercy endures forever [136:26 (135:26)].

96. 96. [Ps 137 (136)]. If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten. Let my tongue cleave to my throat, if I do not remember you, O Jerusalem. If I do not set Jerusalem at the beginning of my joy [137:5-6 (136:5-6)].

97. 97. [Ps 139 (138)]. Have I not hated those who hate you, O Lord, and pined away because of your adversaries? With a perfect hatred I hated them; they have become enemies to me [139:21-22 (138:21-22)].

98. 98. [Ps 140 (139)]. Give me not up, O Lord, to the desire of the wicked; do not let his crimes pour forth and be exalted [140:9 (139:9)].
And after four verses: The man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth [140:12 (139:12)].

99. 99. [Ps 141 (140)]. Let the just man correct me in mercy, and reprove me: but let not the oil of the bitter one fatten my head [141:5 (140:5)].
And after five verses: For to you, O Lord, are my eyes: in you have I hoped; take not away my soul [141:8 (140:8)].

100. 100. [Ps 142 (141)]. With my voice I cried to the Lord, with my voice I made supplication to the Lord. I pour out my words in his sight, I declare my trouble before him [142:2-3 (141:2-3)].
And after seven verses: I cried to you, O Lord; I said: You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living [142:6 (141:6)].

101. 101. [Ps 143 (142)]. I meditated on all your works, I mused on the deeds of your hands. I stretched forth my hands to you; my soul is like a thirsty land toward you [143:5-6 (142:5-6)].
And after three verses: Make me hear your mercy in the morning, for in you have I trusted. Make known to me the way in which I should walk, for to you have I lifted up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord: to you I have fled for protection [143:8-9 (142:8-9)].

102. 102. [Ps 144 (143)]. Deliver me, and rescue me out of the hand of the sons of strangers; whose mouth has spoken vanity, and their right hand is the right hand of falsehood. That our sons may be like plants growing up in their youth. Our daughters like corner-pillars adorned after the likeness of a temple. Our storehouses full, overflowing from this into that. Our sheep in thousands, and numberless in our streets: our oxen fat. There is no breach, and no going out, and no crying in our streets. Blessed is the people that has such things; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord [144:11-15 (143:11-15)].

103. 103. [Ps 145 (144)]. I will extol you, O Lord my God the king, and I will bless your name forever and beyond. Every day I will bless you, and I will praise your name forever continually [145:1-2 (144:1-2)].
And after two verses: Generation after generation shall praise your works, and they shall declare your mighty deeds. They shall speak of the beauty of the glory of your greatness, and the words of your wonders. And they shall tell of the strength of your terrible deeds, and shall declare your greatness. They shall publish the memory of your abundant goodness, and shall praise your justices [145:4-7 (144:4-7)].
And after three verses: And your saints shall bless you. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and shall tell of your power. That they may make known to the sons of men his might, and the glory of the beauty of his kingdom [145:10-12 (144:10-12)].
And a little later: The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. He will do the will of those who fear him, and will hear their cry, and will save them. The Lord keeps all who love him; but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and continually [145:18-21 (144:18-21)].

104. 104. [Ps 146 (145)]. Praise the Lord, O my soul: I will praise the Lord in my life, I will sing to my God as long as I am. Do not trust in princes, in the son of man, in whom there is no salvation [146:2-3 (145:2-3)].
And after two verses: Blessed is he whose helper is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God [146:5 (145:5)].

105. 105. [Ps 147 (146)]. Praise the Lord, for he is good: a song to our God, for it is pleasant, praise is beautiful [147:1 (146:1)].
And after seven verses: The Lord lifts up the meek; he brings down the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving, sing to our God [147:6-7 (146:6-7)].
And after seven verses: His will is not in the strength of the horse, nor is he pleased with the legs of a man. The Lord is pleased with those who fear him, and who hope in his mercy [147:10-11 (146:10-11)].

106. 106. [Ps 148]. Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, young men and maidens, old men with children, let them praise the name of the Lord [148:11-12].

107. 107. [Ps 149]. Sing to the Lord a new song; his praise be in the assembly of the saints. Let Israel be glad in his maker, let the sons of Zion rejoice in their king [149:1-2].
And after three verses: He will exalt the meek in salvation. The saints shall rejoice in glory, they shall be glad in their beds; the high praises of God shall be in their throats [149:5-6].

108. 108. [Ps 150]. Praise the Lord in his holy place, praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts, praise him according to the multitude of his greatness [150:1-2].
And at the end of the psalm: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord [150:6].

These things we have gathered from the book of Psalms, in which let each one inspect his own life, if he aspires to make progress. Here I admonish the reader that the things I have set down from the Psalms he should read consecutively, as though one psalm, passing over my own words, which I have interposed for this purpose, so that, if he wishes, he may inspect where what I have set down is written—that is, at which verse or in what place of the same psalm. For if, leaving these aside, he inspect by continuous reading the words of the Psalms alone, he will be much more pleasantly, and therefore more usefully, moved by the divine utterances. Now from the books of Solomon we will gather what seems necessary for this work: and first from Proverbs; which book, if it be well understood, will avail almost entirely for forming devout conduct. But the things that are obscure I pass over: let readers and lovers of spiritual letters have them, that they may be exercised by them; we have determined in this work to set down those things which, easily understood, bear upon the conduct of life. Although I may seem to many to have passed over the plainest things; and some things here are rather closed off, where they are thought to be clear. For what seems so clear, and what is done so ineptly, if you would take it in its proper sense, as that which is written there: Keep away from another's water, and do not drink from another's fountain (Prov 9:18 (LXX))? Or what avails it for correcting conduct, unless a deeper meaning be sought there, that which is said: Poverty humbles a man, but the hands of the strong make him rich (Prov 10:4)? Since neither to be free of poverty, nor to be strong of hand, is in the power of good men, but has befallen many of the worst as well; and this proverb, ill understood, might provoke the poor and strong to think they ought to grow rich by robbery. And who would not laugh, if he thought it set down in its proper sense, what is read there: For children are not born to the malignant (Prov 24:20)? All such things, then, we will leave aside, along with those in which something is urged at somewhat greater length, when what is urged and enjoined is not obscure, and that rather is to be set down in this Mirror, where those may inspect themselves who have already been persuaded to live well and laudably, but who, in order to do this, ask what they should desire and observe. These things, therefore, we believe should be set down from the Proverbs of Solomon.

FROM PROVERBS

109. 109. [Prov 1]. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my son, the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother [1:7-8].
And after fourteen verses, when he was speaking of murderers: These very ones, he says, lie in wait against their own blood, and contrive frauds against their own souls. So are the paths of every covetous man: they seize the souls of those who possess them [1:18-19].
Likewise after four verses: How long, you little ones, will you love childishness, and fools desire the things that are harmful to them, and the imprudent hate knowledge? [1:22].
And after eleven verses: Then they will call upon me, and I will not hear; they will rise early, and will not find me: because they have hated discipline, and have not received the fear of the Lord, nor consented to my counsel, but have slighted all my reproof. They shall therefore eat the fruits of their own way, and shall be filled with their own counsels. The turning away of the little ones shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But he who hears me shall rest without terror, and shall enjoy abundance, the fear of evils being taken away [1:28-33].

110. 110. [Prov 2]. And after four verses: For if you call upon wisdom, and incline your heart to prudence; if you seek it like money, and dig for it like treasure: then you shall understand the fear of the Lord, and shall find the knowledge of God; for the Lord gives wisdom, and out of his mouth come knowledge and prudence. He will guard the salvation of the upright, and protect those who walk in simplicity: keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of the saints. Then you shall understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and every good path. If wisdom enter your heart, and knowledge please your soul; counsel shall keep you, and prudence shall preserve you; that you may be rescued from the evil way, and from the man who speaks perverse things. Those who forsake the right path, and walk by dark ways: who rejoice when they have done evil, and exult in the worst things: whose ways are perverse, and their steps infamous. That you may be rescued from the strange woman, and from the foreigner who softens her words, and has forsaken the guide of her youth, and forgotten the covenant of her God [2:3-18].

111. 111. [Prov 3]. And after thirteen verses: Let mercy and truth not forsake you: bind them about your throat, and write them on the tablets of your heart; and you shall find grace and good discipline before God and men. Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own prudence. In all your ways think on him, and he will direct your steps. Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear God, and depart from evil [3:3-7].
And after one verse: Honor the Lord with your substance, and with the firstfruits of all your produce [3:9].
And after two verses: The discipline of the Lord, my son, do not cast away; nor faint when you are reproved by him. For whom the Lord loves he reproves; and as a father in his son he takes delight. Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and who abounds in prudence. The getting of it is better than the trade in silver, and its fruit better than the finest gold: it is more precious than all riches; and all things that are desired are not to be compared with it [3:11-15].
And after ten verses: My son, let not these things flow away from your eyes: keep the law and counsel [3:21].
And after nine verses: Do not forbid him who is able to do good; if you can, do good yourself also. Do not say to your friend: Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give you; when you can give at once. Do not contrive evil against your friend; when he has confidence in you. Do not contend against a man without cause [3:27-30].
And after seven verses: The scorners he will himself mock, and to the meek he will give grace [3:34].

112. 112. [Prov 4]. And after forty-three verses: With all watchfulness keep your heart; for from it life proceeds. Remove from yourself the perverse mouth, and let detracting lips be far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead; and let your eyelids go before your steps. Make straight the path for your feet, and all your ways shall be established. Turn not aside to the right or to the left. Turn your foot away from evil. For the ways that are on the right hand the Lord knows; but perverse are those on the left. He himself makes your courses straight, and will bring your journeys forth in peace [4:23-27].

113. 113. [Prov 5]. My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline your ear to my prudence; that you may keep your thoughts, and your lips preserve discipline. For the lips of a harlot are a dripping honeycomb, and her throat smoother than oil. But her latter end is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down into death, and her steps penetrate to hell [5:1-5].

114. 114. [Prov 6]. And after ninety-seven verses: Let not your heart covet her beauty, lest you be caught by her glances. For the price of a harlot is scarcely one loaf of bread: but a woman captures the precious soul of a man. Can a man hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn? or walk upon coals, and his soles not be scorched? So he who goes in to his neighbor's wife shall not be clean when he has touched her. The fault is not great when one has stolen: for he steals to fill his hungry soul; and being caught he shall restore sevenfold, and shall hand over all the substance of his house. But he who is an adulterer, through want of heart shall destroy his own soul [6:25-32].

115. 115. [Prov 7]. And after four verses: My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with you. Keep my commandments, and live, and my law as the apple of your eye [7:1-2].

116. 116. [Prov 8]. And after fifty-seven verses: Understand, you little ones, shrewdness; and you senseless, take notice [8:5].
And after two verses: My throat shall meditate truth, and my lips shall detest the wicked [8:7].
And after three verses: Receive my discipline and not money; love instruction rather than gold. For wisdom is better than all the most precious things; and nothing that is desirable can be compared to it [8:10-11].
And after two verses: The fear of the Lord hates evil; it detests arrogance, and pride, and the perverse way, and the double-tongued mouth [8:13].
And after six verses: I love those who love me; and those who watch early for me shall find me. With me are riches and glory, lofty wealth and justice. My fruit is better than gold and precious stone, and my produce than choice silver. I walk in the ways of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment; that I may enrich those who love me, and fill their treasures [8:17-21].
And after twenty-three verses: Blessed is the man who hears me, who watches daily at my doors, and waits at the posts of my gateway. He who finds me shall find life, and shall draw salvation from the Lord. But he who sins against me shall harm his own soul. All who hate me love death [8:34-36].

117. 117. [Prov 9]. And after nine verses: Forsake childishness, and live, and walk by the ways of prudence. He who instructs a scorner does himself an injury; and he who reproves the wicked begets a blemish for himself. Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you: reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give occasion to a wise man, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach a just man, and he will make haste to receive. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of the holy is prudence [9:6-10].

118. 118. [Prov 10]. And after eighteen verses: Treasures of iniquity shall profit nothing; but justice shall deliver from death [10:2].
And after four verses: He who gathers in the harvest is a wise son: but he who snores in summer is a son of confusion [10:5].
And after four verses: The wise of heart shall receive precepts; the fool is struck down by his lips. He who walks in simplicity walks confidently: but he who corrupts his ways shall be found out. He who winks with the eye shall cause sorrow; the fool shall be beaten with his lips. The mouth of the just is a vein of life; and the mouth of the wicked covers iniquity. Hatred stirs up quarrels; and love covers all offenses. In the lips of the wise wisdom is found; and a rod on the back of him who lacks heart. The wise lay up wisdom: but the mouth of the fool is next to confusion [10:8-14].
And after four verses: The way of life for him who keeps discipline: but he who forsakes reproofs goes astray. Lying lips hide hatred. He who utters insult is foolish. In much talking sin shall not be wanting: but he who moderates his lips is most prudent. The tongue of the just is choice silver: the heart of the wicked is worth nothing. The lips of the just instruct many: but those who are untaught shall die in the want of heart. The blessing of the Lord makes rich, nor shall affliction be joined to it. The fool works wickedness as if in sport: but wisdom is prudence to a man. What the wicked man fears shall come upon him: the desire of the just shall be granted them [10:17-24].
And after two verses: As vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes; so is the slothful to those who sent him. The fear of the Lord shall add days; and the years of the wicked shall be shortened. The expectation of the just is gladness: but the hope of the wicked shall perish. The strength of the simple is the way of the Lord; and dread to those who work evil. The just man shall not be moved forever: but the wicked shall not dwell in the land. The mouth of the just shall bring forth wisdom: the tongue of the perverse shall perish. The lips of the just consider what is pleasing, and the mouth of the wicked perverse things [10:26-32].

119. 119. [Prov 11]. A deceitful balance is an abomination before God; and a just weight is his will. Where pride is, there also will be insult: but where humility is, there also is wisdom. The simplicity of the just shall guide them; and the supplanting of the perverse shall destroy them. Riches shall not profit in the day of vengeance: but justice shall deliver from death. The justice of the simple shall make straight his way; and the wicked shall fall in his own wickedness. The justice of the upright shall deliver them; but the unjust shall be caught in their own snares. When the wicked man is dead, there shall be no more hope, and the expectation of the anxious shall perish [11:1-7].
And after five verses: He who despises his friend is wanting in heart: but a prudent man will hold his peace. He who walks fraudulently reveals secrets: but he who is faithful of mind conceals what is committed to him. Where there is no governor, the people shall fall: but there is safety where there is much counsel. He shall be afflicted with evil who goes surety for a stranger: but he who guards against snares shall be secure [11:12-15].
And after two verses: The merciful man does good to his own soul: but he who is cruel casts off even his kindred [11:17].
And after three verses: A perverse heart is abominable to the Lord; and his will is in those who walk in simplicity. Hand in hand, the evil man shall not be innocent: but the seed of the just shall be saved [11:20-21].
And after two verses: The desire of the just is all good: the expectation of the wicked is fury. Some divide their own goods, and grow richer: others seize what is not theirs, and are always in want. The soul that blesses shall be made fat: and he who inebriates shall himself also be inebriated. He who hides up grain is cursed among the peoples: but a blessing is upon the head of those who sell. He shall rise well at dawn who seeks good things: but he who is a searcher of evils shall be oppressed by them. He who trusts in his riches shall fall: but the just shall spring up like a green leaf [11:23-28].
And after four verses: If the just man receives in the land, how much more the wicked and the sinner? [11:31].

120. 120. [Prov 12]. He who loves discipline loves knowledge: but he who hates reproofs is senseless. He who is good shall draw grace from the Lord: but he who trusts in his own thoughts acts wickedly. A man shall not be strengthened by wickedness, and the root of the just shall not be moved [12:1-3].
And after some verses: The desire of the wicked is a fortress of the worst: but the root of the just shall flourish. By the sins of the lips ruin draws near to the evil man: but the just shall escape out of distress. From the fruit of his own mouth shall each one be filled with good things, and according to the works of his hands shall it be repaid to him. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he who is wise listens to counsel [12:12-15].
And after four verses: There is one who promises, and is pricked as with the sword of conscience: but the tongue of the wise is health. The lip of truth shall be firm forever: but he who is a hasty witness frames a lying tongue. Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evils: but joy shall follow those who enter into counsels of peace. Whatever shall befall the just shall not grieve him: but the wicked shall be filled with evil. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but those who act faithfully please him. A cunning man conceals knowledge: and the heart of the senseless will provoke folly [12:18-23].
And after two verses: Grief in the heart of a man shall humble him, and with a good word he shall be made glad. He who neglects loss for the sake of a friend is just: but the way of the wicked shall deceive them. The fraudulent man shall not find gain, and the substance of a man shall be worth its weight in gold. And in the path of justice is life: but the byway leads to death [12:25-28].

121. 121. [Prov 13]. A wise son is the discipline of his father: but he who is a scorner does not listen when he is reproved. From the fruit of his own mouth a man shall be filled with good things: but the soul of transgressors is unjust. He who keeps his mouth keeps his soul: but he who is heedless in speaking shall feel evils. The slothful man wills and does not will: but the soul of those who labor shall be made fat. The just man shall detest a lying word: but the wicked man confounds and is confounded. Justice keeps the way of the innocent: but wickedness overthrows the sinner. There is one who is as it were rich, when he has nothing; and there is one who is as it were poor, when he is in great riches. The ransom of a man's soul is his riches: but he who is poor does not endure reproof. The light of the just gives gladness: the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. Among the proud there are always quarrels: but those who do all things with counsel are ruled by wisdom. Substance gotten in haste shall be diminished: but what is gathered little by little with the hand shall be multiplied. Hope that is deferred afflicts the soul: a tree of life is the desire that comes. He who detracts from anything binds himself for the future: but he who fears the commandment shall dwell in peace. The law of the wise is a fountain of life, that he may decline from the ruin of death. Good doctrine shall give grace: in the way of scorners there is a pit [13:1-15].
And after some verses: He who spares the rod hates his son; but he who loves him chastens him diligently. The just man eats and fills his soul: but the belly of the wicked is insatiable [13:24-25].

122. 122. [Prov 14]. And after two verses: He who walks by the straight path, and fears God, is despised by him who walks the way of infamy. In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride: the lips of the wise keep them [14:2-3].
And after two verses: A faithful witness will not lie: a deceitful witness utters falsehood. The scorner seeks wisdom, and finds it not: the learning of the wise is easy. Go against a foolish man, and you shall not know the lips of imprudence. The wisdom of the shrewd is to understand his own way; and the imprudence of fools goes astray. The fool shall mock sin: but among the just shall grace abide. The heart that knows the bitterness of its own soul, in its joy a stranger shall not share. The house of the wicked shall be wiped out: but the tents of the just shall flourish. There is a way which seems just to a man; but its latter end leads to death. Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning takes hold of the end of joy [14:5-13].
And after three verses: The wise man fears, and declines evil: the fool leaps over, and trusts. The impatient man shall work folly; and the cunning man is hateful [14:16-17].
And after four verses: He who despises his neighbor sins: but he who has mercy on the poor shall be blessed. They go astray who work evil: mercy and truth prepare good things. In every work there shall be abundance: but where there are many words, there is frequent want [14:21-23].
And after four verses: In the fear of the Lord is the confidence of strength; and there shall be hope for his children. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that he may decline from the ruin of death [14:26-27].
And after two verses: He who is patient is governed by much prudence: but he who is impatient exalts his own folly. The health of the heart is the life of the flesh: envy is the rotting of the bones. He who calumniates the needy reproaches his maker: but he honors him who has mercy on the poor [14:29-31].

123. 123. [Prov 15]: And after seven verses: A soft answer breaks anger: a harsh word stirs up fury. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge: the mouth of fools bubbles out folly [15:1-2].
And after seventeen verses: The pestilent man does not love him who reproves him, nor does he go to the wise [15:12].
And after five verses: Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great and insatiable treasures. Better is it to be called to herbs with love, than to a fatted calf with hatred. An angry man provokes quarrels: but he who is patient calms those stirred up. The way of the slothful is like a hedge of thorns: the way of the just is without stumbling block. A wise son makes his father glad: but a foolish man despises his mother [15:16-20].
And after two verses: Thoughts are scattered where there is no counsel: but where there are many counselors, they are confirmed. A man is glad in the sentence of his mouth; and a word in season is best of all. The path of life is above the learned man, that he may decline from the lowest hell [15:22-24].
And after four verses: He who follows after greed troubles his own house: but he who hates gifts shall live. The mind of the just shall meditate on obedience: the mouth of the wicked overflows with evils. The Lord is far from the wicked; and he will hear the prayers of the just. The light of the eyes gladdens the soul: a good name fattens the bones. The ear that hears the reproofs of life shall abide in the midst of the wise. He who casts away discipline despises his own soul: but he who yields to reproofs is master of his heart. The fear of the Lord is the discipline of wisdom; and humility goes before glory [15:27-33].

124. 124. [Prov 16]. It is man's part to prepare the mind, and God's to govern the tongue. All the ways of men are open to his eyes: the Lord weighs the spirits. Reveal your works to the Lord, and your thoughts shall be directed. The Lord has made all things for his own sake; the wicked also for the evil day. Every arrogant man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand be in hand, he shall not be innocent. By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed, and in the fear of the Lord one declines from evil. When the ways of a man please the Lord, he will turn even his enemies to peace. Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity. The heart of man disposes his way; but it is the Lord's to direct his steps. Divination is on the lips of the king; in judgment his mouth shall not err. Weight and balance are the judgments of the Lord, and all the weights in the bag are his work. They who act wickedly are abominable to the king; for the throne is established by justice. Just lips are the will of kings: he who speaks right things shall be directed. The wrath of a king is a messenger of death; and a wise man will appease it. In the cheerfulness of the king's countenance is life; and his clemency is like the latter rain. Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold: and get prudence, for it is more precious than silver. The path of the just declines evils; he who guards his own soul keeps his way. Pride goes before destruction; and the spirit is exalted before a fall. It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud. He who is learned in word shall find good things; and he who hopes in the Lord is blessed. He who is wise of heart shall be called prudent; and he who is sweet of speech shall attain greater things [16:1-21].
And after seventeen verses: The patient man is better than the strong; and he who rules his own soul, than he who storms cities. Lots are cast into the lap; but they are disposed by the Lord [16:32-33].

125. 125. [Prov 17]. Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife. A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brothers. As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace; so the Lord tries hearts. The evil man obeys an unjust tongue, and the deceitful man hearkens to lying lips. He who despises the poor reproaches his maker; and he who rejoices at another's ruin shall not be unpunished. The crown of old men is their children's children; and the glory of children is their fathers. Composed words do not become a fool, nor a lying lip a prince. The expectation of one who waits is a most pleasing jewel; wherever he turns, he shall understand prudently. He who conceals a fault seeks friendships: he who repeats it in another word separates allies. Reproof profits more with a prudent man, than a hundred stripes with a fool. The evil man always seeks quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him. It is better to meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs, than a fool trusting in his own folly. He who renders evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. He who lets out water is the head of quarrels; and before he suffers insult, he abandons judgment. He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both are abominable before the Lord [17:1-15].
And after sixteen verses: The wicked man takes gifts out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment. In the face of the prudent wisdom shines: the eyes of fools are at the ends of the earth [17:23-24].
And after three verses: He who moderates his words is learned and prudent, and a man of precious spirit is well taught [17:27].

126. 126. [Prov 18]. And after two verses: He who wishes to depart from a friend seeks occasions; at all times he shall be reproachable [18:1].
And after six verses: To accept the person of the wicked is not good, so as to turn aside from the truth of judgment [18:5].
And after six verses: He who is soft and slack in his work is brother to him who lays waste his own works. The name of the Lord is a most strong tower: to it the just man runs, and shall be exalted [18:9-10].
And after two verses: Before he is broken, the heart of man is exalted; and before he is glorified, he is humbled [18:12].
And after seven verses: The just man is the first accuser of himself; his friend comes, and shall search him out. The lot represses contradictions, and decides even among the mighty. A brother who is helped by his brother is like a strong city, and judgments are like the bars of cities [18:17-19].
Likewise after two verses: Death and life are in the hand of the tongue; those who love it shall eat its fruits. He who finds a good woman finds a good thing; and shall draw delight from the Lord. The poor man shall speak with entreaties; and the rich shall speak roughly. A friendly man is for fellowship, and shall be more a friend than a brother [18:21-24].

127. 127. [Prov 19]. Better is a poor man who walks in his simplicity, than a rich man who twists his lips, and is a fool. Where there is no knowledge of the soul, there is no good; and he who is hasty stumbles with his feet. The folly of a man supplants his steps, and against God he rages in his heart. Riches add many friends: but from a poor man even those he had are separated. A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he who speaks lies shall not escape. Many court the person of the mighty, and are friends of him who gives gifts. The brothers of a poor man hate him; moreover, his friends too have departed far from him. He who follows only after words shall have nothing: but he who is master of his mind loves his own soul [19:1-8].
And after nine verses: Slothfulness brings on a deep sleep, and the slack soul shall go hungry. He who keeps the commandment keeps his own soul; but he who neglects his ways shall be put to death. He who has mercy on the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him his recompense. Instruct your son, do not despair [19:15-18].
And after six verses: A needy man is merciful; and better is a poor man than a lying man. The fear of the Lord is unto life, and he shall abide in plenty without the visitation of the worst [19:22-23].
And after two verses: When the pestilent man is scourged, the fool shall be wiser: but if you reprove a wise man, he shall understand discipline. He who afflicts his father, and flees from his mother, is disgraceful and unhappy. Cease not, my son, to hear instruction, nor be ignorant of the words of knowledge. An unjust witness mocks judgment; and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. Judgments are prepared for scorners, and hammers striking on the bodies of fools [19:25-29].

128. 128. [Prov 20]. Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness tumultuous: whoever delights in these shall not be wise [20:1].
And after some verses: Weight and weight, measure and measure, both are abominable before God. By his pursuits a child is known, whether his works be clean and right [20:10-11].
And after two verses: Do not love sleep, lest want oppress you: open your eyes, and be filled with bread [20:13].
And after seventeen verses: Weight and weight is an abomination before God; a deceitful balance is not good [20:23].

129. 129. [Prov 21]. And after twenty-five verses: He who stops his ear at the cry of the poor, shall himself also cry, and shall not be heard. A hidden gift extinguishes anger, and a present in the bosom the greatest indignation. It is joy to the just to do judgment; and dread to those who work iniquity. The man who strays from the way of doctrine shall be reckoned in the company of the giants [21:13-16].
And after nine verses: He who keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from straits. The proud and arrogant man is called unlearned, who works pride in anger. Desires kill the slothful man; for his hands have refused to work anything. All the day he covets and desires: but the just man shall give, and shall not cease. The sacrifices of the wicked are abominable; because they are offered out of wickedness. A lying witness shall perish: a man who speaks well shall tell of victory [21:23-28].

130. 130. [Prov 22]. And after five verses: A good name is better than many riches [22:1].
And after fifteen verses: He who is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his own bread he has given to the poor. Cast out the scorner, and quarreling will go out with him, and lawsuits and insults shall cease [22:9-10].
And after four verses: The slothful man says: There is a lion outside, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets [22:13].
And after three verses: He who calumniates a poor man to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one richer, and shall be in want [22:16].
And after eight verses: Do no violence to a poor man, because he is poor, nor crush the needy in the gate; for the Lord will judge his cause, and will pierce those who have pierced his soul. Do not be a friend to an angry man; nor walk with a furious man: lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take a stumbling block for your soul. Do not be with those who pledge their hands, and who offer themselves as sureties for debts [22:22-26].

131. 131. [Prov 23]. And after a little: Do not withhold discipline from a child: for if you strike him with the rod, he shall not die. You strike him with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from hell [23:13-14].
And after eight verses: Do not be at the banquets of drinkers, nor at the revels of those who bring meats to eat [23:20].
And after twenty verses: Do not gaze on the wine when it grows golden, when its color shines in the glass. It goes in pleasantly; but in the end it will bite like a serpent, and like a basilisk it will spread its venom [23:31-32].

132. 132. [Prov 24]. And after seven verses: Do not envy, he says, evil men, nor desire to be with them; for their mind meditates robberies, and their lips speak frauds [24:1].
Likewise after sixteen verses: Rescue those who are led to death, and cease not to deliver those who are dragged to destruction. If you say: My strength is not sufficient: he who beholds the heart, he understands; and nothing escapes the keeper of your soul, and he will render to a man according to his works [24:11-12].
Likewise after nine verses: When your enemy falls, do not rejoice, and at his ruin let not your heart exult: lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his anger from him. Do not contend with the worst men, nor envy the wicked [24:17-19].
And after two verses: Fear the Lord, my son, and the king; and do not mingle with detractors: for their destruction shall rise up suddenly; and who knows the ruin of both? These things also for the wise: To know a person in judgment is not good. He who says to the wicked: You are just; the peoples shall curse him, and the tribes shall detest him. Those who reprove shall be praised, and upon them shall come a blessing. He shall kiss the lips who answers right words [24:21-26].
And after two verses: Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor, nor cajole anyone with your lips. Nor say: As he has done to me, so will I do to him: I will render to each one according to his work. I passed through the field of the slothful man, and through the vineyard of the foolish man; and behold, nettles had filled it all, thorns had covered its surface: and the wall of stones was destroyed. And when I had seen it, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I learned discipline [24:28-32].

133. 133. [Prov 25]. And after twenty verses: What your eyes have seen, do not bring forth hastily in a quarrel; lest afterward you be unable to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend. Treat your cause with your friend; and do not reveal a secret to a stranger; lest perhaps he insult you when he has heard it, and cease not to reproach you. He who speaks a word in its season is like golden apples on beds of silver. He who reproves a wise man and an obedient ear is like a golden earring and a shining pearl [25:8-12].
And after seventeen verses: He who sings songs to a wicked heart is like vinegar on niter. And if your enemy is hungry, feed him; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink: for you shall heap coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you [25:20-22].
And after ten verses: As a city that is open and without a circuit of walls, so is the man who cannot restrain his spirit in speaking [25:28].

134. 134. [Prov 26]. And after two verses: As a bird flying off elsewhere, and a sparrow going wherever it pleases; so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon someone. A whip for the horse, and a bit for the ass, and a rod for the back of the imprudent. Do not answer a fool according to his folly; lest you be made like him. Answer a fool according to his folly; lest he seem wise to himself [26:2-5].
And after ten verses: As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is the imprudent man who repeats his folly. Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? a fool shall have more hope than he. The slothful man says: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the paths. As a door turns on its hinge, so does the slothful man on his bed. The slothful man hides his hands under his armpit, and is wearied if he should turn them to his mouth. The slothful man seems wiser to himself than seven men who speak sentences. As one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so is he who, impatient, passes by and meddles in another's quarrel. As a harmful man who hurls lances and arrows unto death; so is the man who fraudulently harms his friend, and when he is caught says: I did it in jest. When the wood fails, the fire is put out; and when the whisperer is removed, quarrels die down. As coals to embers, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirs up quarrels. The words of a whisperer seem simple, and they reach to the inmost parts of the belly [26:11-22].
And after three verses: An enemy is known by his lips, while in his heart he plots deceits. When he lowers his voice, do not trust him; for there are seven wickednesses in his heart. He who covers hatred fraudulently, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly. He who digs a pit shall fall into it; and he who rolls a stone, it returns upon him. A deceitful tongue loves not the truth; and a slippery mouth works ruin [26:24-28].

135. 135. [Prov 27]. Do not boast for tomorrow, not knowing what the coming day may bring forth. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips [27:1-2].
And after four verses: Open reproof is better than hidden love. Better are the wounds of one who loves, than the deceitful kisses of one who hates [27:5-6].
And after three verses: Do not forsake your friend, and your father's friend [27:10].
And after some verses: Hell and perdition are not filled: in like manner the eyes of men are insatiable. As silver is tried in the melting-pot, and gold in the furnace; so is a man tried by the mouth of one who praises him. Though you should bray a fool in the mortar, as with a pestle striking down on grain, his folly shall not be taken from him [27:20-22].

136. 136. [Prov 28]. And after some verses: A poor man who calumniates the poor is like a violent shower in which famine is prepared. Those who forsake the law praise the wicked: those who keep it are inflamed against him. Evil men do not consider judgment: but those who seek the Lord take notice of all things. Better is a poor man who walks in his simplicity, than a rich man in crooked ways [28:3-6].
And after two verses: He who heaps up riches by usury and interest, gathers them for one who is generous to the poor. He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, his prayer shall be detestable. He who deceives the just in an evil way shall fall in his own destruction, and the simple shall possess his goods [28:8-10].
And after four verses: He who hides his crimes shall not be directed: but he who confesses and forsakes them shall obtain mercy. Blessed is the man who is always fearful: but he who is of a hard mind shall fall into evil [28:13-14].
Likewise after twelve verses: A faithful man shall be much praised: but he who hastens to grow rich shall not be innocent. He who in judgment respects a person does not do well; even for a morsel of bread that man forsakes the truth. The man who hastens to grow rich and envies others, does not know that want shall come upon him. He who reproves a man shall afterward find favor with him, more than he who deceives by the flatteries of the tongue. He who takes away anything from his father and mother, and says: This is no sin, is partaker with a murderer. He who boasts and puffs himself up stirs up quarrels: but he who hopes in the Lord shall be healed. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool: but he who walks wisely, he shall be saved. He who gives to the poor shall not want: he who despises the suppliant shall suffer penury [28:20-27].

137. 137. [Prov 29]. And after ten verses: The man who speaks with flattering and feigned words to his friend spreads a net for his steps [29:5].
And after twenty-five verses: A servant cannot be taught by words; because he understands what you say, and disdains to answer. Have you seen a man swift to speak? more is to be hoped from folly than from his correction [29:19-20].
And after four verses: Humility follows the proud, and glory shall uphold the humble of spirit. He who shares with a thief hates his own soul; he hears one putting him on oath, and does not disclose it. He who fears man shall quickly fall: but he who hopes in the Lord shall be lifted up. Many seek the face of the prince, but the judgment of each one comes forth from the Lord. The just abominate the wicked man; and the wicked abominate those who are in the right way [29:23-27].

138. 138. [Prov 30]. And after fourteen verses: Two things I have asked of you, do not deny them to me before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lying words. Give me neither beggary nor riches; grant me only what is necessary for my sustenance: lest perhaps, being filled, I be enticed to deny, and say: Who is the Lord? or, compelled by want, I steal, and forswear the name of my God. Do not accuse a servant to his master, lest perhaps he curse you, and you fall [30:7-10].

139. 139. [Prov 31]. And after a little: Open your mouth, discern what is just, and judge the needy and the poor [31:9].

FROM ECCLESIASTES

140. 140. [Eccl 2]. Take only a little. And I saw that wisdom excelled folly as much as light differs from darkness. The eyes of the wise are in his head: the fool walks in darkness [2:13-14].

141. 141. [Eccl 4]. And after a little: Guard your foot when you enter the house of God. For obedience is much better than the sacrifices of fools, who do not know what evil they do [4:17].

142. 142. [Eccl 5]. Do not speak anything rashly, nor let your heart be swift to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few. Many cares follow dreams, and in many words folly is found. If you have vowed anything to God, do not delay to pay it; for an unfaithful and foolish promise displeases him: but whatever you have vowed, pay it: and it is much better not to vow, than after a vow not to pay what was promised. Do not give your mouth to make your flesh to sin, nor say before the angel: There is no providence; lest perhaps God, angry at your word, scatter all the works of your hands. Where there are many dreams, there are very many vanities and innumerable words: but do you fear God [5:1-6].
And after six verses: The covetous man shall not be satisfied with money; and he who loves riches shall reap no fruit from them [5:9].

143. 143. [Eccl 7]. And after a little: It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: for in the former all men are admonished of the end of all, and the living thinks of what is to come. Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected. The heart of the wise is where there is sadness; and the heart of fools where there is gladness. It is better to be reproved by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools: for as the crackling of burning thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool [7:3-7].
And after four verses: The patient man is better than the arrogant. Do not be swift to anger; for anger rests in the bosom of a fool. Do not say: What do you think is the cause that the former times were better than now? for such a question is foolish [7:9-11].
And after three verses: But learning and wisdom have this advantage, that they give life to their possessor [7:13].

144. 144. [Eccl 8]. And somewhat later: I observe the mouth of the king, and the precepts of the oath of God. Do not hasten to depart from his face, nor continue in an evil work [8:2-3].
And a little later: Because a sinner, he says, does evil a hundred times, and is borne with through patience, I have known that it shall be well with those who fear God, who reverence his face. Let it not be well with the wicked, nor let his days be prolonged; but let them pass as a shadow, who do not fear the face of God [8:12-13].

145. 145. [Eccl 9]. And after a little: I said that wisdom is better than strength [9:16].
And after four verses: Wisdom is better than weapons of war: and he who sins in one thing shall lose many good things [9:18].

146. 146. [Eccl 10]. And after two verses: Wisdom and a little glory are more precious than folly for a time [10:1].
And after thirteen verses: He who digs a pit shall fall into it; and he who breaks down a hedge, a serpent shall bite him. He who removes stones shall be hurt by them; and he who splits wood shall be wounded by it. If the iron be blunt, and this not as before, but be dulled; it is sharpened with much labor, and after diligence wisdom follows. If a serpent bite in silence, he who slanders secretly is no better than it. The words of a wise man's mouth are grace, and the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong [10:10-12].

147. 147. [Eccl 11]. And a little later: Rejoice therefore, young man, in your youth; and let your heart be in good in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; and know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Remove anger from your heart, put away malice from your flesh. For youth and pleasure are vain things [11:9-10].

148. 148. [Eccl 12]. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth [12:1].
And after thirty-three verses: Fear God, and keep his commandments [12:13].

There remains that book of Solomon whose title is The Song of Songs. But what can we transfer from it into this work, since the whole of it commends the holy loves of Christ and the Church in figurative speech, and proclaims them with prophetic loftiness? Except that in it, although it is most difficult to understand, we can nevertheless easily perceive how greatly that divine and divinely inspired love is to be sought after, and how highly to be valued: since it is not said there once only, but is repeated again a second and a third time, now in one place, now in another.

FROM THE SONG OF SONGS

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and the harts of the fields, that you stir not up, nor make the beloved to awake, until she herself wills (Song 2:7; 3:5). I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the powers and forces of the field, if you stir up love until she wills (Song 8:4).
For the Church—in which indeed we are—exhorts her daughters with these words, that is, exhorts herself, established as she is in many members. She is the most fruitful field of God, whose powers and forces are great, to which the martyrs have attained by loving Christ. For how far does he wish the love of his beloved to be stirred up, for the present in this life, except as far as he himself taught by his word, and exhorted by his own example, saying: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13): and what he said, doing it? Therefore, lest this should seem to pertain to him alone, John says in his Epistle: As Christ laid down his life for us, so we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:16): this, then, is until she wills.

149. 149. [Song 2]. It is also read in the same Song: Set love in order within me [2:4].

150. 150. [Song 6]. Christ himself also says there: You are beautiful, my love, sweet and comely as Jerusalem [6:3].

151. 151. [Song 7]. And elsewhere: How beautiful you are, and how comely, my dearest, in delights! [7:6].

152. 152. [Song 8]. And in another place: Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm: for love is strong as death, jealousy hard as hell [8:6].
And after one verse: Many waters could not extinguish love, nor shall the floods overwhelm it. If a man should give all the substance of his house for love, they shall despise it as nothing [8:7].

FROM THE BOOK OF JOB

153. 153. [Job 24]. Those who knew him do not know his days. Some have removed landmarks, plundered flocks, and carried them off. They have driven away the ass of orphans, and taken the widow's ox for a pledge [24:1-3].
And after five verses: They reap a field not their own; and they gather the vintage of his vineyard whom they have oppressed by force. They send men away naked, taking their garments, who have no covering in the cold [24:6-7].
And after three verses: They have done violence to the orphan in plundering, and have stripped the common poor. From the naked and those who go without clothing and from the hungry they have taken the ears of grain [24:9-10].
And after two verses: Out of the cities they made men groan; and the soul of the wounded cried out; and God does not suffer it to go unavenged. They were rebels against the light: they knew not his ways, nor turned back by his paths [24:12-13].
And after twenty-one verses: Let him be broken like an unfruitful tree. For he fed the barren woman, and her who does not bear; and did no good to the widow. He brought down the strong by his strength [24:20-22].

154. 154. [Job 29]. And somewhat later: The ear that heard me blessed me; and the eye that saw bore witness to me, because I had delivered the poor man who cried out, and the orphan who had no helper. The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I comforted the heart of the widow. I clothed myself with justice, and arrayed myself in my judgment as in a robe and a diadem. I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame. I was a father to the poor; and the cause I did not know, I diligently searched out. I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and from his teeth I took away the prey [29:11-17].

155. 155. [Job 31]. And somewhat later: If I have walked in vanity, and my foot has hastened in deceit; let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity. If my step has turned aside from the way; and if my eye has followed my heart, and a blemish has cleaved to my hands [31:5-7].
And after two verses: If my heart has been deceived over a woman; and if I have lain in wait at my friend's door [31:9].
And after two verses: For this is a wickedness, and a most grievous iniquity. It is a fire devouring even unto destruction, and rooting out all that springs up. If I have despised to submit to judgment with my manservant and my maidservant, when they had a dispute against me [31:11-13].
And after six verses: If I have denied the poor what they wished, and made the eyes of the widow wait. If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the orphan has not eaten of it. For from my infancy mercy grew up with me, and it came forth with me from my mother's womb. If I have despised one perishing because he had no garment, and the poor man without covering. If his sides have not blessed me, and he was warmed with the fleeces of my sheep. If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan, even when I saw myself superior in the gates [31:16-21].
And after five verses: If I have thought gold my strength, and said to fine gold: My confidence. If I have rejoiced over my many riches, and because my hand had gotten very much [31:24-25].
And after six verses: If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, and exulted that evil had found him [31:29].
And after four verses: The stranger did not stay outside; my door was open to the traveler. If I have hidden my sin as a man, and concealed my iniquity in my bosom. If I was afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of my kindred terrified me; and did I not rather keep silence, nor go out of doors. Who will grant me a hearer, that the Almighty may hear my desire, and that he who judges may himself write the book; that I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me like a crown? At every step of mine I will declare it, and offer it as to a prince. If my land has cried out against me, and its furrows weep with it. If I have eaten its fruits without money, and afflicted the soul of the farmers [31:32-39].

FROM THE BOOK OF HOSEA

156. 156. [Hos 4]. Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord has a judgment with the inhabitants of the land. For there is no truth, and no mercy, and no knowledge of God in the land. Cursing, and lying, and killing, and theft, and adultery have overflowed, and blood has touched blood [4:1-2].
And after twelve verses: Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you, that you shall not exercise the priesthood for me [4:6].
And after fifteen verses: Because they have forsaken the Lord in not keeping faith. Fornication, and wine, and drunkenness take away the heart [4:10-11].
And after sixteen verses: Because they consorted with harlots, and sacrificed with the effeminate. And the people that does not understand shall be beaten. If you commit fornication, O Israel, at least let Judah not transgress. And do not enter into Gilgal; and do not go up to Bethaven; nor swear: The Lord lives [4:14-15].

157. 157. [Hos 5]. And after eighteen verses: They will not set their thoughts to return to the Lord their God; for the spirit of fornication is in their midst, and they have not known the Lord [5:4].

158. 158. [Hos 6]. And after sixty-one verses: Your judgments shall go forth like the light. For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than holocausts [6:5-6].

159. 159. [Hos 10]. And after a little: Sow for yourselves in justice, and reap in the mouth of mercy: break up for yourselves fallow ground. But it is the time to seek the Lord, when he comes who has taught you justice [10:12].

160. 160. [Hos 12]. And after seventy-eight verses: And you shall turn to the Lord your God: keep mercy and judgment; and hope in the Lord your God always [12:6].

161. 161. [Hos 13]. And after fifty-one verses: But I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt; and you shall know no lord but me, and there is no savior besides me [13:4].

162. 162. [Hos 14]. And after thirty-nine verses: Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God; for you have fallen down in your iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord; say to him: Take away all iniquity, and receive the good, and we will render the calves of our lips [14:2-3].

FROM THE BOOK OF JOEL

163. 163. [Joel 1]. Awake, you drunkards, and weep, and wail, all you who drink wine in sweetness; for it is cut off from your mouth. For a nation has come up upon my land, strong and innumerable [1:5-6].

164. 164. [Joel 2]. And after a little: Now therefore the Lord says: Turn to me with all your heart, in fasting and in weeping, and in mourning; and rend your hearts, and not your garments: and turn to the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful [2:12-13].

FROM THE BOOK OF AMOS

165. 165. [Amos 2]. Thus says the Lord: For three crimes of Judah, and for four, I will not turn him away; because they have cast off the law of the Lord, and have not kept his commandments. For their idols deceived them, after which their fathers had gone [2:4].
And after two verses: Thus says the Lord: For three crimes of Israel, and for four, I will not turn him away; for that they have sold the just man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of shoes. They crush the heads of the poor upon the dust of the earth, and turn aside the way of the humble. And the son and his father have gone in to the same girl, to violate my holy name [2:6-7].
And after one verse: and they drank, he says, the wine of the condemned in the house of their God [2:8].

166. 166. [Amos 5]. And somewhat later: For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek me, and you shall live [5:4].
And after three verses: Seek the Lord, and live [5:6].
And after eight verses: They hated him who reproved in the gate, and they abhorred him who spoke perfectly. Therefore, because you plundered the poor, and took choice spoil from him [5:10-11].
And after three verses: For I have known your many crimes, and your grievous sins. You are enemies of the just, taking a bribe, and oppressing the poor in the gate [5:12].
And after two verses: Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and the Lord God of hosts shall be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love good, and establish judgment in the gate; if perhaps the Lord God of hosts may have mercy on the remnant of Joseph [5:14-15].

167. 167. [Amos 6]. And after fifty verses: You who sleep on beds of ivory, and are wanton on your couches. You who eat the lamb of the flock, and the calf out of the midst of the herd. You who sing to the sound of the psaltery: like David they thought they had instruments of music; drinking wine in bowls, and anointed with the best ointment, and they suffered nothing over the affliction of Joseph [6:4-6].

168. 168. [Amos 8]. And after a little: Hear this, you who crush the poor, and make the needy of the land to fail, saying: When will the month pass, that we may sell our wares; and the Sabbath, that we may open the grain: to lessen the measure, and increase the shekel, and substitute deceitful balances; that we may possess the needy for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes, and sell the refuse of the grain [8:4-6].

FROM THE BOOK OF MICAH

169. 169. [Mic 2]. Woe to you who plot what is useless, and work evil on your beds. In the morning light they do it; because their hand is against God. And they coveted fields, and took them by violence, and seized houses; and they oppressed a man and his house, a man and his inheritance [2:1-2].

170. 170. [Mic 3]. And somewhat later: Hear this, you princes of the house of Jacob, and judges of the house of Israel, who abhor judgment, and pervert all that is right. You who build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. Her princes judged for bribes; and her priests taught for hire; and her prophets divined for money, and they leaned upon the Lord, saying: Is not the Lord in our midst? No evils shall come upon us [3:9-11].

171. 171. [Mic 6]. Likewise somewhat later: I will show you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: namely, to do judgment, and to love mercy, and to walk solicitously with your God [6:8].
And after three verses: There is still a fire in the house of the wicked, treasures of iniquity, and a scant measure full of wrath. Shall I justify the wicked balance, and the deceitful weights of the bag? By which her rich men were filled with iniquity, and those who dwelt in her spoke lies, and their tongue was fraudulent in their mouth [6:10-12].

172. 172. [Mic 7]. And after twelve verses: Woe is me, for I have become like one who gathers the clusters of the vintage in autumn. There is no cluster to eat; my soul longed for the early figs. The holy man has perished from the earth, and there is none upright among men: all lie in wait for blood; each one hunts his brother to death: the evil of their hands they call good. The prince demands, and the judge is for a reward, and the great man has spoken the desire of his soul [7:1-3].

FROM THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK

173. 173. [Hab 1]. Judgment has been given against me, and contradiction more powerful. Because of this the law is torn apart, and judgment does not reach its end: because the wicked man prevails against the just, therefore perverse judgment goes forth [1:3-4].

174. 174. [Hab 2]. And a little later: But the just man shall live by his faith. And as wine deceives the one who drinks it, so shall it be with the proud man, and he shall not be honored [2:4-5].
And after a little: What does the graven thing profit, for its maker has carved it a molten thing and a false image; for the maker has hoped in his own creation, to make mute idols? Woe to him who says to wood: Awake; Arise, to the silent stone. Can it teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in its inward parts. But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before his face [2:18-20].

FROM THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH

175. 175. [Zeph 1]. I will destroy, he says, out of this place the remnants of Baal, and the names of the temple-keepers with the priests; and those who adore the host of heaven upon the housetops, and adore and swear by the Lord, and swear by Melchom; and those who turn away from following the Lord; and those who have not sought the Lord, nor searched after him. Be silent before the face of the Lord; for the day of the Lord is at hand [1:4-7].
And after sixteen verses: And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and will visit the men who are settled in their dregs, who say in their hearts: The Lord will do neither good nor evil [1:12].

176. 176. [Zeph 2]. And after eighteen verses: Come together, be gathered, O nation not worthy to be loved, before the decree bring forth the day as dust that passes, before the wrath of the Lord's fury come upon you, before the day of the Lord's fury come upon you. Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have wrought his judgment. Seek the just, seek the meek; if perhaps you may be hidden in the day of the Lord's fury [2:1-3].

177. 177. [Zeph 3]. And after a little: And I will leave in your midst a poor and needy people; and the remnant of Israel shall hope in the name of the Lord: they shall do no iniquity, nor speak a lie, and a deceitful tongue shall not be found in their mouth [3:12-13].

FROM THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH

178. 178. [Zech 5]. When he was speaking of the scroll, which he saw in spirit: And he said to me: This is the curse that goes forth over the face of the whole earth: for every thief, as it is written there, shall be judged, and everyone who swears shall likewise be judged from this. I will bring it forth, says the Lord of hosts, and it shall come to the house of the thief, and to the house of him who swears falsely by my name; and it shall abide in the midst of his house, and shall consume it, with its timbers and its stones [5:3-4].

179. 179. [Zech 7]. And after a little: And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Judge true judgment, and show mercy and compassion each one to his brother; and do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the poor; and let no man devise evil against his brother in his heart [7:8-10].

180. 180. [Zech 8]. Likewise after a little: Speak the truth each one to his neighbor: judge truth and the judgment of peace in your gates; and let none of you devise evil against his friend in your hearts, and love no false oath. For all these are things that I hate, says the Lord [8:16-17].

FROM THE BOOK OF MALACHI

181. 181. [Mal 1]. The son honors the father, and the servant his master: if then I am a father, where is my honor? and if I am a master, where is my fear, says the Lord of hosts? [1:6].

182. 182. [Mal 2]. And a little later: I have made you contemptible and base to all peoples, as you have not kept my ways, and have respected persons in the law. Is there not one father of us all? did not one God create us? Why then does each one of us despise his brother, violating the covenant of our fathers? Judah has transgressed, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holiness of the Lord, which he loved, and has taken the daughter of a strange god. May the Lord destroy the man who does this, the master and the disciple, out of the tents of Jacob, and the one who offers a gift to the Lord of hosts. And this again you have done: you covered the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and bellowing, so that I no longer regard the sacrifice, nor accept anything acceptable from your hand. And you have said: For what cause? Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, whom you have despised: and she is your partner, and the wife of your covenant. Did not one make her, and is she not the residue of his spirit? And what does each one seek, but the seed of God? Keep then your spirit; and do not despise the wife of your youth. When you have hated her, put her away, says the Lord God of Israel: but iniquity shall cover his garment, says the Lord of hosts. Keep your spirit, and do not despise. You have wearied the Lord with your words, and you have said: In what have we wearied him? In this, when you said: Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and such please him; or surely where is the God of judgment? [2:9-17].

183. 183. [Mal 3]. And after fifteen verses: And I will come near to you, he says, in judgment, and I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, and those who defraud the hired man of his wages, the widows and the orphans, and oppress the stranger, and have not feared me, says the Lord of hosts. For I am the Lord, and I do not change; and you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed. For from the days of your fathers you have departed from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts [3:5-7].
And after fifteen verses: Your words have grown strong against me, says the Lord. And you have said: What have we spoken? You have said: It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his precepts, and that we have walked sorrowful before the Lord of hosts? Therefore now we call the arrogant blessed: for those who work iniquity are built up, and have tempted God, and are saved. Then those who feared God spoke, each one with his neighbor. And the Lord gave heed, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear the Lord, and think upon his name: and they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I act, for a special possession; and I will spare them, as a man spares his son who serves him. And you shall turn, and shall see the difference between the just and the wicked, and between him who serves God and him who does not serve him [3:13-18].

184. 184. [Mal 4]. For behold, the day shall come kindled like a furnace, and all the proud and all who work iniquity shall be stubble; and the coming day shall set them on fire, says the Lord of hosts, and it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear my name the sun of justice shall arise, and health in its wings: and you shall go forth, and shall leap like calves of the herd; and you shall tread down the wicked, when they shall be ashes under the sole of your feet, in the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts [4:1-3].

FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH

185. 185. [Isa 1]. Wash yourselves, be clean, take away the evil of your thoughts from my eyes. Cease to act perversely, learn to do good, seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge for the orphan, defend the widow; and come and reprove me, says the Lord [1:16-18].
And after eight verses: Your silver has turned to dross; your wine is mixed with water. Your princes are companions of thieves: they all love gifts, they follow after rewards, they do not judge for the orphan, and the cause of the widow does not come before them [1:22-23].

186. 186. [Isa 2]. And a little later: Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. For you have cast off your people, the house of Jacob; because they are filled as in times past, and have had soothsayers like the Philistines, and have cleaved to strange children [2:5-6].
And after three verses: Their land is filled with idols; they have adored the work of their own hands, which their fingers have made [2:8].
And after five verses: Because the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon everyone who is proud and lofty, and upon everyone who is arrogant, and he shall be humbled [2:12].

187. 187. [Isa 3]. And a little later: My people, their exactors have despoiled them, and women have ruled over them. My people, those who call you blessed, they themselves deceive you, and lay waste the way of your steps [3:12].
And after four verses: For you have eaten up my vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your house. Why do you grind down my people, and crush the faces of the poor, says the Lord of hosts? And the Lord said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and have walked with stretched-out necks, and went with glances of their eyes, and clapped their hands, and walked, and stepped daintily with their feet [3:14-16].

188. 188. [Isa 5]. And a little later: Woe to you who join house to house, and couple field to field even to the end of the place [so as to take away from your neighbor: Symmachus and Theodotion rendered it until there is no room left, or until there is no place]: will you dwell alone in the midst of the earth? These things are in my ears, says the Lord of hosts [5:8-9].
And after three verses: Woe to you who rise up early to pursue drunkenness, and to drink till evening, that you may be inflamed with wine. The harp, and the lyre, and the timbrel, and the pipe, and wine are in your feasts; and you do not regard the work of the Lord, nor consider the works of his hands [5:11-12].
And after seventeen verses: Woe to you who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe to you who are wise in your own eyes, and prudent in your own sight. Woe to you who are mighty to drink wine, and strong men to mix drunkenness. You who justify the wicked for rewards, and take away the justice of the just from him [5:20-23].

189. 189. [Isa 10]. And somewhat later: Woe to those who make unjust laws, and writing have written injustice, to oppress the poor in judgment, and to do violence to the cause of the humble of my people; that widows might be their prey, and that they might plunder the orphans [10:1-2].

190. 190. [Isa 11]. And after a little: The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and godliness, and the spirit of the fear of the Lord shall fill him. He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears: but he shall judge the poor in justice, and shall reprove in equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. And justice shall be the girdle of his loins, and faith the girdle of his reins [11:2-5].

191. 191. [Isa 12]. And after sixty verses: Behold, God is my savior, I will act confidently, and will not fear. For the Lord God is my strength and my praise, and he has become my salvation. You shall draw waters with joy out of the savior's fountains: and you shall say in that day: Give praise to the Lord, and call upon his name, make his works known among the peoples, remember that his name is high. Sing to the Lord, for he has done great things: declare this in all the earth. Rejoice and praise, O dwelling of Zion; for the Holy One of Israel is great in your midst [12:2-6].

192. 192. [Isa 13]. And after forty verses: And I will cause the pride of the unbelievers to cease, and I will humble the arrogance of the strong [13:11].

193. 193. [Isa 17]. Likewise after a little: The Lord God of Israel says: In that day a man shall bow down to his maker, and his eyes shall look to the Holy One of Israel; and he shall not bow down to the altars which his hands have made, and which his fingers have wrought; he shall not look to the groves and the shrines [17:6-8].

194. 194. [Isa 22]. And after a little: The Lord God of hosts shall call, he says, in that day to weeping and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth. And behold joy and gladness, the slaying of calves, and the killing of rams, the eating of flesh, and the drinking of wine. Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die. And the voice of the Lord of hosts was revealed in my ears: Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you till you die, says the Lord God of hosts [22:12-14].

195. 195. [Isa 26]. Likewise after a little: Open the gates, and let the just nation enter, the nation that keeps the truth. The old error is gone; you will keep peace; peace, because we have hoped in you. You hope in the Lord forever and ever, in the Lord God mighty forever [26:2-4].
And after six verses: In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we have waited for you; your name and your remembrance are the desire of the soul. My soul has desired you in the night; yes, and with my spirit in my inmost being I will watch for you in the morning. When you shall have done your judgments in the earth, the inhabitants of the earth shall learn justice. Let us have pity on the wicked man, and he will not learn to do justice. In the land of the saints he has done wicked things, and he shall not see the glory of God [26:8-10].

196. 196. [Isa 29]. And after a little: He who prevailed has failed, the scorner is consumed, and all those are cut off who watched for iniquity, who made men to sin by a word [29:20-21].

197. 197. [Isa 30]. And after ten verses: Woe to you, deserting children, says the Lord, that you would take counsel, and not from me; and would weave a web, and not by my spirit; that you might add sin upon sin [30:1].
And a little later: Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: If you return and rest, you shall be saved. In silence and in hope shall be your strength; and you would not [30:15].
And after twenty verses: You shall defile the plates of your graven images of silver, and the garment of your molten thing of gold, and shall scatter them like the uncleanness of a menstruous woman [30:22].

198. 198. [Isa 31]. And after a little: Turn, as you had deeply revolted, O children of Israel. For in that day a man shall cast away the idols of his silver, and the idols of his gold, which your hands have made for you unto sin [31:6-7].

199. 199. [Isa 33]. Likewise after a little: And there shall be faith in your times: wisdom and knowledge are the riches of salvation; the fear of the Lord is itself his treasure [33:6].
And a little later: Which of you can dwell with devouring fire? which of you shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He who walks in justice, and speaks truth; who casts away avarice gotten by extortion, and shakes his hands free of every gift; who stops his ears that he may not hear of blood, and shuts his eyes that he may see no evil. He shall dwell on high; the strongholds of the rocks shall be his height. Bread is given him, and his waters are sure [33:14-16].

200. 200. [Isa 44]. And somewhat later: Remember these things, O Jacob and Israel, for you are my servant: I have formed you, you are my servant, O Israel, do not forget me. I have blotted out your iniquities as a cloud, and your sins as a mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you [44:21-22].

201. 201. [Isa 46]. Likewise after a little: Remember this, and be ashamed; return, you transgressors, to the heart. Remember the former age; for I am God, and there is no God beside, nor is there any like me [46:8-9].

202. 202. [Isa 50]. And somewhat later: Who has walked in darkness, and has no light? Let him hope in the name of the Lord, and lean upon his God [50:10].

203. 203. [Isa 51]. Likewise after a little: Hear me, you who know the just one, O people; my law is in their heart. Do not fear the reproach of men, and do not fear their blasphemies. For the worm shall eat them up as a garment; and the moth shall devour them as wool: but my salvation shall be forever, and my justice from generation to generation [51:7-8].

204. 204. [Isa 55]. And after a little: Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked man forsake his way, and the unjust man his thoughts, and return to the Lord; and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he is bountiful to forgive [55:6-7].

205. 205. [Isa 56]. And after twenty verses: Thus says the Lord: Keep judgment, and do justice, for my salvation is near to come, and my justice to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold of it; who keeps the Sabbath so as not to profane it, who keeps his hands from doing any evil [56:1-2].

206. 206. [Isa 57]. And after not much: You who take comfort in gods under every leafy tree, sacrificing little children in the torrents, under the overhanging rocks. In the portions of the torrent is your portion. This is your lot; and to them you have poured out a libation, you have offered sacrifice. Shall I not be angry over these things? [57:5-6].

207. 207. [Isa 58]. Likewise after a little: For they seek me from day to day, and wish to know my ways, as a nation that has done justice, and that has not forsaken the judgment of its God. They ask of me the judgments of justice, they wish to draw near to God. Why have we fasted, and you have not regarded? we have humbled our souls, and you have not taken notice? Behold, in the day of your fast your own will is found, and you exact all your debtors. Behold, you fast for strife and contention, and strike wickedly with the fist. Do not fast as you have done until this day, that your cry may be heard on high. Is this such a fast as I have chosen, for a man to afflict his soul for a day? to twist his head about like a ring, and to spread sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this rather the fast that I have chosen? Loose the bands of wickedness, undo the bundles that oppress. Let those who are broken go free; and break asunder every burden. Break your bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the wanderers into your house: when you see one naked, clothe him, and do not despise your own flesh [58:2-7].
And after four verses: If you take away the chain out of your midst, and cease to stretch out the finger, and to speak what does not profit: when you pour out your soul to the hungry; and satisfy the afflicted soul; your light shall rise in darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday; and the Lord will give you rest forever [58:9-11].

208. 208. [Isa 65]. And after many things: A people who provoke me to anger before my face continually; who sacrifice in gardens, and offer sacrifice upon bricks; who dwell in the tombs, and sleep in the shrines of idols [65:3-4].
And after two verses: Who say: Depart from me, do not come near me, for you are unclean. These shall be smoke in my fury, a fire burning all the day. Behold, it is written before me: I will not be silent, but will render and repay into their bosom your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, says the Lord. Those who sacrificed upon the mountains and upon the hills reproached me, and I will measure back their former work into their bosom [65:5-7].
And after ten verses: And you, he says, who have forsaken the Lord, who have forgotten my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune, and pour out libations upon it: I will number you for the sword, and you shall all fall in the slaughter; because I called, and you did not answer, I spoke, and you did not listen: and you did evil in my eyes, and chose the things that I did not will [65:11-12].

209. 209. [Isa 66]. And a little later: Thus says the Lord: Heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool. What is this house that you will build for me? and what is this place of my rest? My hand made all these things, and all these things were made, says the Lord. But to whom shall I look, except to the poor little one, and the contrite of spirit, and him who trembles at my words? [66:1-2].
And after seven verses: I will choose their mockeries, and will bring upon them the things they feared: because I called, and there was none who answered; I spoke, and they did not hear; and they did evil in my eyes, and chose the things I did not will. Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word. Your brothers who hate you, and cast you out for my name's sake, have said: Let the Lord be glorified, and we shall see in your joy; but they themselves shall be confounded [66:4-5].

FROM THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH

210. 210. [Jer 2]. Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel. Thus says the Lord: What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and have become vain? [2:4-5].
And after ten verses: You have made my inheritance an abomination. The priests did not say: Where is the Lord? And those who held the law did not know me, and the shepherds transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and followed idols [2:7-8].
And a little later: Does a virgin forget her ornament, or a bride the band upon her breast? But my people have forgotten me for days without number. Why do you strive to show your way good in seeking love, you who have moreover taught your ways with your wickedness; and on your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor and innocent? I did not find them in pits, but in all the things I have mentioned above. And you have said: I am without sin and innocent, and therefore let your fury be turned away from me. Behold, I will contend with you in judgment, because you have said: I have not sinned. How exceedingly vile you have become, repeating your ways! and you shall be confounded by Egypt, as you were confounded by Assyria. For from her also you shall go forth, and your hands shall be upon your head; because the Lord has crushed your confidence [2:32-37].

211. 211. [Jer 3]. And a little later: Return, you backsliding children, says the Lord, for I am your husband [3:14].

212. 212. [Jer 4]. Likewise a little later: If you will return, O Israel, return, says the Lord, to me. If you will take away your stumbling blocks from before my face, you shall not be moved. And you shall swear: The Lord lives, in truth, and in judgment, and in justice; and the nations shall bless him, and shall praise him [4:1-2].
And a little later: My foolish people have not known me: they are senseless children, and without heart; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have not known how [4:22].

213. 213. [Jer 5]. And after thirty verses: Go about the streets of Jerusalem, and look, and consider, and seek in its broad places, whether you can find a man who does judgment, and seeks faith, and I will be merciful to it. But even if they say: The Lord lives, even this they will swear falsely. O Lord, your eyes look upon faith. You struck them, and they did not grieve; you bruised them, and they refused to receive discipline: they made their faces harder than rock, they refused to return. But I said: Perhaps they are poor and foolish, not knowing the way of the Lord, the judgment of their God. I will go therefore to the great men, and will speak to them; for they have known the way of the Lord, the judgment of their God: and behold, these together have rather broken the yoke, and burst the bonds [5:1-5].
And after six verses: Your children have forsaken me, and swear by those who are not gods. I fed them to the full, and they committed adultery, and rioted in the harlot's house. They became as wanton horses and stallions: each one neighed after his neighbor's wife. Shall I not visit for these things, says the Lord? and shall not my hand take vengeance on such a nation? [5:7-9].
And after forty verses: I who set the sand as a bound for the sea, an everlasting precept which it shall not pass over; and they shall toss themselves, and shall not prevail, and its waves shall swell, and shall not pass over it. But this people has gotten an unbelieving and provoking heart: they have departed and gone away; and they have not said in their heart: Let us fear the Lord our God [5:22-24].
And after seven verses: There are found, he says, among my people wicked men, lying in wait like fowlers, setting snares and traps to catch men. As a snare full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great and rich; they are grown fat and gross; and have most wickedly transgressed my words. They did not plead the cause of the orphan, and did not judge the judgment of the poor. Shall I not visit for these things, says the Lord? or shall not my soul take vengeance on such a nation? Astonishment and wondrous things are done in the land. The prophets prophesied falsehood, and the priests clapped their hands, and my people loved such things: what then shall be done in the end of it? [5:26-31].

214. 214. [Jer 6]. And after thirty verses: To whom shall I speak? and whom shall I call to witness, that he may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, and they cannot hear: behold, the word of the Lord has become a reproach to them, and they will not receive it [6:10].

215. 215. [Jer 7]. And a little later: Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah, who enter in through these gates to adore the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Make your ways and your pursuits good, and I will dwell with you in this place. Do not trust in lying words, saying: The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, it is the temple of the Lord. For if you order your ways and your pursuits well, if you do judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place, and do not walk after strange gods to your own hurt; I will dwell with you in this place, in the land which I gave to your fathers, from age to age. Behold, you put your trust in lying words, which shall not profit you, to steal, to kill, to commit adultery, to swear falsely, to offer libations to the Baals, and to go after strange gods, whom you do not know. And you came and stood before me in this house, in which my name has been invoked; and you said: We are delivered, because we have done all these abominations. Has then this house, in which my name has been invoked, become a den of robbers in your eyes? I, I myself, I have seen it, says the Lord. Go to my place in Shiloh, where my name dwelt from the beginning, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. And now, because you have done all these works, says the Lord, and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, and you did not hear; and I called you, and you did not answer: I will do to this house, in which my name has been invoked, and in which you have confidence, and to the place which I gave to your fathers, as I did to Shiloh; and I will cast you away from my face, as I cast away all your brethren, the whole seed of Ephraim. Therefore, do not pray for this people, nor take up praise and prayer for them, and do not withstand me; for I will not hear you. Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women sprinkle the fat, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to offer libations to strange gods, and to provoke me to anger. Do they provoke me to anger, says the Lord? do they not rather provoke themselves, to the confusion of their own faces? [7:2-19].

216. 216. [Jer 8]. And a little later: Shall not he who falls rise again? And he who has turned away, shall he not return? Why then has this people in Jerusalem turned away with a contentious turning away? They have laid hold of falsehood, and have refused to return. I attended and listened; no one speaks what is good: there is none who does penance for his sin, saying: What have I done? [8:4-6].
And after nine verses: How do you say: We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Truly the lying pen of the scribes has wrought falsehood. The wise are confounded, dismayed, and taken. For they have cast away the word of the Lord, and there is no wisdom in them [8:8-9].

217. 217. [Jer 9]. And a little later: Who will set me in the wilderness as a lodging-place for travelers, that I may forsake my people, and depart from them? for they are all adulterers and a company of transgressors; and they have stretched out their tongue like a bow of falsehood, and not of truth: they have grown strong in the land, for they have gone from evil to evil, and they have not known me, says the Lord. Let each one guard himself against his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother of his: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every friend will walk fraudulently; and a man shall mock his brother, and they shall not speak the truth. For they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they have labored to act unjustly. Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit. Through deceit they have refused to know me, says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will melt and try them. For what else shall I do before the daughter of my people? Their tongue is a wounding arrow, it has spoken deceit in its mouth: with his mouth one speaks peace to his friend, and secretly lays snares for him. Shall I not visit for these things, says the Lord? or shall not my soul take vengeance on such a nation? [9:2-9].
And a little later: Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, and let not the strong man glory in his strength, and let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, to know and understand me, that I am the Lord, who exercise mercy, and judgment, and justice in the earth. For these things please me, says the Lord [9:23-24].

218. 218. [Jer 10]. And after sixteen verses: Thus says the Lord: Do not learn according to the ways of the nations, and do not fear the signs of heaven which the nations fear; for the laws of the peoples are vain. For the workman's hand has cut a tree out of the forest with the axe: he has adorned it with silver and gold; he has put it together with nails and hammers, that it may not fall apart. They are made in the likeness of a palm tree, and shall not speak: they must be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not fear them, then, for they can neither do evil nor good. There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and great is your name in might. Who shall not fear you, O King of nations? for honor is yours among all the wise of the nations, and in all their kingdoms there is none like you. They shall all be proved foolish and senseless. The doctrine of their vanity is wood. Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the craftsman and of the hand of the coppersmith. Blue and purple are their clothing, all these are the work of craftsmen. But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and the everlasting King. At his indignation the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not endure his threatening. Thus then shall you say to them: The gods who have not made heaven and earth, let them perish from the earth, and from those things that are under heaven [10:2-11].

219. 219. [Jer 17]. And somewhat later: Thus says the Lord: Cursed be the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like the tamarisk in the desert, and shall not see when good comes; but shall dwell in dryness in the desert, in a salt and uninhabitable land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and the Lord shall be his confidence. And he shall be like a tree that is transplanted by the waters, that sends its roots toward moisture; and it shall not fear when the heat comes: and its leaf shall be green, and in the time of drought it shall not be anxious, nor shall it ever cease to bear fruit [17:5-8].

220. 220. [Jer 22]. Likewise somewhat later: Thus says the Lord: Do judgment and justice, and deliver the one oppressed by force from the hand of the calumniator; and do not grieve the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, nor oppress them unjustly; and do not shed innocent blood in this place [22:3].

221. 221. [Jer 23]. And a little later: Woe to the shepherds who scatter and tear the flock of my pasture, says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel to the shepherds who feed my people: You have scattered my flock, and have cast them out, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the malice of your pursuits, says the Lord [23:1-2].
Likewise a little later: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you and deceive you. They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say to those who blaspheme me: The Lord has spoken: You shall have peace; and to everyone who walks in the depravity of his own heart they have said: No evil shall come upon you. For who has stood in the counsel of the Lord? [23:16-18].
And after eleven verses: I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. If they had stood in my counsel, and had made my words known to my people, I would surely have turned them away from their evil way, and from their wicked thoughts [23:21-22].
And after four verses: I have heard what the prophets said, prophesying falsehood in my name, and saying: I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long is this in the heart of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, and who prophesy the seductions of their own heart; who seek to make my people forget my name, through their dreams which each one tells to his neighbor, as their fathers forgot my name for Baal? The prophet who has a dream, let him tell the dream; and he who has my word, let him tell my word truly. What has chaff to do with wheat? says the Lord. Are not my words like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? Therefore behold, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who steal my words, each one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who take up their own tongues, and say: The Lord says. Behold, I am against the prophets who dream falsehood, says the Lord, who have told them and seduced my people by their lying and by their wonders, when I had not sent them, nor commanded them; who have profited this people nothing, says the Lord [23:25-32].

222. 222. [Jer 25]. And a little later: And the Lord sent to you all his servants the Prophets, rising early and sending them; and you did not hear, nor incline your ears to hear, when he said: Return each one from his evil way, and from your wicked thoughts; and you shall dwell in the land which the Lord gave to you and to your fathers, from age to age; and do not go after strange gods, to serve them and adore them, nor provoke me to anger by the works of your hands, and I will not afflict you. And you did not hear me, says the Lord [25:4-7].

223. 223. [Jer 48]. And somewhat later: Cursed be he who does the work of the Lord fraudulently [48:10].

224. 224. [Lam 3]. Likewise after a little: The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good to wait with silence for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man when he has borne the yoke from his youth. He shall sit solitary and keep silence; because he has taken it up upon himself. He shall put his mouth in the dust, if perhaps there be hope. He shall give his cheek to him who strikes him, he shall be filled with reproaches; for the Lord does not cast off forever [3:25-32].

FROM THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL

225. 225. [Ezek 3]. And when seven days had passed, the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel, and you shall hear the word from my mouth, and shall announce it to them from me. If, when I say to the wicked man: You shall die the death, you do not announce it to him, nor speak to him, that he may turn away from his wicked way and live; that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but I will require his blood at your hand. But if you announce it to the wicked man, and he is not converted from his wickedness and from his wicked way; he indeed shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your soul. Moreover, if the just man turns away from his justice and commits iniquity, I will lay a stumbling block before him, and he shall die, because you did not announce it to him. He shall die in his sin, and the justices he had done shall not be remembered; but I will require his blood at your hand. But if you announce to the just man that the just man should not sin, and he does not sin; he shall surely live, because you announced it to him, and you have delivered your soul [3:16-21].

226. 226. [Ezek 9]. And after a little: And the Lord said to him: Pass through the midst of the city, in the midst of Jerusalem, and mark the letter Tau upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and grieve over all the abominations that are done in its midst. And to the others he said, while I heard: Pass through the city after him, and strike; let not your eye spare, neither have pity: kill utterly the old man, the young man, and the virgin, the little one, and the women. But upon anyone on whom you see the Tau, do not kill: and begin from my sanctuary [9:4-6].

227. 227. [Ezek 13]. And somewhat later: Because you have caused the heart of the just to mourn falsely, whom I had not grieved, and have strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his evil way and live [13:22].

228. 228. [Ezek 16]. Likewise after a little: Behold, this was the iniquity of Sodom your sister: pride, fullness of bread, and abundance, and the idleness of her and of her daughters; and they did not put forth their hand to the needy and the poor: and they were lifted up, and committed abominations before me; and I took them away, as you have seen [

16:49-50].

229. 229. [Ezek 18]. And after a little: If a man is just, and does judgment and justice; eats not on the mountains, and lifts not up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; defiles not his neighbor's wife, and approaches not a menstruous woman; grieves not any man, restores the pledge to the debtor, takes nothing away by force; gives his bread to the hungry, and covers the naked with a garment; lends not at usury, and takes no more than he gave; turns his hand away from iniquity, does true judgment between man and man; walks in my precepts, and keeps my judgments, so as to do truth: this man is just; he shall surely live, says the Lord God. But if he begets a son who is a robber, a shedder of blood, and who does one of these things; and who does not indeed do all these things, but eats on the mountains, and defiles his neighbor's wife; grieves the needy and the poor, takes away by violence, restores not the pledge; and lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abominations; lends at usury, and takes more: shall he live? He shall not live: since he has done all these detestable things, he shall die the death; his blood shall be upon him. But if he begets a son who, seeing all the sins of his father which he did, fears, and does not do the like; eats not on the mountains, and lifts not up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; defiles not his neighbor's wife; grieves not any man, withholds not the pledge, and takes nothing away by robbery; gives his bread to the hungry, and covers the naked with a garment; turns away his hand from wronging the poor, takes neither usury nor increase; does my judgments, and walks in my precepts: this man shall not die for the iniquity of his father, but shall surely live. His father, because he oppressed and did violence to his brother, and worked evil in the midst of his people; behold, he has died in his iniquity. And you say: Why has the son not borne the iniquity of the father? Plainly because the son has done judgment and justice; he has kept all my precepts and done them: he shall surely live. The soul that sins, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, and the father shall not bear the iniquity of the son. The justice of the just shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked man does penance for all his sins which he has committed, and keeps all my precepts, and does judgment and justice; he shall surely live, and shall not die. I will not remember all his iniquities which he has done; in his justice which he has wrought he shall live. Is it my will that the wicked should die, says the Lord God, and not that he should be converted from his ways and live? But if the just man turns away from his justice, and commits iniquity according to all the abominations which the wicked man is wont to work; shall he live? All the justices which he had done shall not be remembered. In the transgression by which he has transgressed, and in his sin which he has sinned, in these he shall die. And you have said: The way of the Lord is not equitable. Hear therefore, O house of Israel: Is my way not equitable, and are not your ways rather perverse? For when the just man turns away from his justice and commits iniquity, he shall die for them: in the injustice which he has wrought he shall die. And when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has wrought, and does judgment and justice, he shall give life to his own soul. For he considered, and turned himself away from all his iniquities which he had wrought; he shall surely live, and shall not die. And the children of Israel say: The way of the Lord is not equitable. Are not my ways equitable, O house of Israel, and are not your ways rather perverse? Therefore I will judge each one according to his ways, O house of Israel, says the Lord God. Be converted, and do penance for all your iniquities, and iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions by which you have transgressed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit: and why will you die, O house of Israel? For I do not will the death of him who dies, says the Lord God: return, and live [18:5-32].

230. 230. [Ezek 22]. And somewhat later: Behold, the princes of Israel, each one according to his strength, were in you to shed blood. They treated father and mother with contempt in you; they oppressed the stranger in your midst; they grieved the orphan and the widow with you. You despised my sanctuaries, and profaned my Sabbaths. There were slanderers in you to shed blood; and they ate upon the mountains in you: they wrought wickedness in your midst. They uncovered the father's shame in you, they humbled in you the woman in her uncleanness. And each one wrought an abomination with his neighbor's wife: and the father-in-law wickedly defiled his daughter-in-law; the brother oppressed his sister, his father's daughter, in you. They took bribes in you to shed blood; you took usury and increase, and greedily oppressed your neighbors, and you forgot me, says the Lord God [22:6-12].
And after a little: And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, say to her: You are an unclean land, not rained upon in the day of wrath. There is a conspiracy of prophets in her midst. Like a roaring lion seizing the prey, they have devoured souls, they have taken riches and price, they have multiplied her widows in her midst. Her priests have despised my law, and profaned my sanctuaries: they made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and did not discern between the polluted and the clean [22:23-26].
And after two verses: Her princes in her midst are like wolves seizing the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, and greedily to pursue gain. And her prophets daubed them without tempering, seeing vain things, and divining lies, saying: Thus says the Lord God; when the Lord had not spoken. The people of the land devised oppression, and seized by violence, afflicted the needy and the poor, and oppressed the stranger by calumny without judgment. And I sought among them for a man who might set up a hedge, and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I might not destroy it; and I found none. And I poured out my indignation upon them, and consumed them in the fire of my wrath. I have rendered their way upon their own head, says the Lord God [22:27-31].

231. 231. [Ezek 33]. And somewhat later: And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among their last, and set him over themselves as a watchman; and he sees the sword coming upon the land, and sounds the trumpet, and warns the people: then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him; his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon him. But if he had warned himself, he would have saved his soul. And if the watchman sees the sword coming, and does not sound the trumpet, and the people do not take warning, and the sword comes and takes a soul from among them: that soul indeed is taken in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. And you, son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel: hearing therefore the word from my mouth, you shall announce it to them from me. When I say to the wicked man: O wicked man, you shall die the death; if you do not speak, that the wicked man may keep himself from his way: that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you announce to the wicked man, that he may be converted from his ways, and he is not converted from his way: he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. You therefore, son of man, say to the house of Israel: Thus you have spoken, saying: Our iniquities and our sins are upon us, and in them we pine away; how then can we live? Say to them: As I live, says the Lord God, I do not will the death of the wicked, but that the wicked man be converted from his way and live: be converted from your wicked ways; and why will you die, O house of Israel? You therefore, son of man, say to the children of your people: The justice of the just man shall not deliver him on whatever day he sins; and the wickedness of the wicked man shall not harm him on whatever day he is converted from his wickedness: and the just man shall not be able to live in his justice on whatever day he sins. Even though I say to the just man that he shall surely live, if, trusting in his justice, he commits iniquity; all his justices shall be forgotten, and in his iniquity which he has wrought, in that he shall die. But if I say to the wicked man: You shall die the death, and he does penance for his sin, and does judgment and justice, and the wicked man restores the pledge, gives back what he had taken by robbery, walks in the commandments of life, and does nothing unjust; he shall surely live, and shall not die. None of his sins which he has sinned shall be imputed to him. He has done judgment and justice, he shall surely live. And the children of your people have said: The way of the Lord is not of equal weight. And it is their own way that is unjust. For when the just man turns away from his justice and commits iniquities, he shall die in them. And when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness, and does judgment and justice, he shall live in them. And you say: The way of the Lord is not right. I will judge each one according to his ways, O house of Israel [33:1-20].
And after forty-nine verses: And you, son of man, the children of your people who talk about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses, and say one to another, each man to his neighbor, saying: Come, and let us hear what word goes forth from the Lord. And they come to you, as if a crowd were coming in; and they sit before you, my people, and they hear your words, and do not do them: for they turn them into a song of their own mouth, and their heart follows after their own greed. And you are to them like a musical song, which is sung with a sweet and pleasant sound; and they hear your words, and do not do them. And when that which was foretold comes to pass—for behold, it is coming—then they shall know that a prophet has been among them [33:30-33].

232. 232. [Ezek 34]. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, prophesy concerning the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who fed themselves: are not the flocks fed by the shepherds? You ate the milk, and clothed yourselves with the wool, and you killed what was fat, but you did not feed my flock. What was weak you did not strengthen; and what was sick you did not heal; what was broken you did not bind up; and what was cast away you did not bring back; what was lost you did not seek: but with harshness and with power you ruled over them. And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd: and they became the food of all the beasts of the field, and were scattered; and my flocks wandered over all the mountains, and over every high hill; and over all the face of the earth my flocks were scattered. And there was none who searched for them: there was none, I say, who searched for them. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, says the Lord God, because my flocks have become a prey, and my sheep the food of all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd (for my shepherds did not seek my flock; but the shepherds fed themselves, and did not feed my flocks): therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I myself am against the shepherds, I will require my flock at their hands, and I will make them cease feeding the flock, nor shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; and I will deliver my flock from their mouth, and it shall be no more food for them [34:1-10].
And after thirty-four verses: But as for you, my flocks, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the ram and the he-goat. Was it not enough for you to feed on good pasture? Moreover, you trampled with your feet the remainder of your pastures; and when you drank the purest water, you fouled the rest with your feet: and my sheep fed on what your feet had trampled; and what your feet had fouled, this they drank. Therefore thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I myself judge between the fat cattle and the lean; because you pushed with your sides and shoulders, and butted with your horns all the weak cattle, until they were scattered abroad [34:17-21].

233. 233. [Ezek 45]. And after a little: Thus says the Lord God: Let it be enough for you, O princes of Israel; leave off iniquity and robberies, and do judgment and justice, and separate your borders from my people, says the Lord God. You shall have a just balance and a just ephah; and blessed is the just man [45:9-10].

FROM THE BOOK OF WISDOM

234. 234. [Wis 1]. Love justice, you who judge the earth. Think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart. For he is found by those who do not tempt him; and he appears to those who have faith in him. For perverse thoughts separate from God: but his power, when it is tried, reproves the foolish. For wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a body subject to sins. For the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from the deceitful; and will withdraw himself from thoughts that are without understanding; and he shall be driven out by iniquity when it comes upon him. For the spirit of wisdom is kind, and will not free the evil-speaker from his lips; for God is witness of his reins, and the true searcher of his heart, and the hearer of his tongue. For the spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world; and that which contains all things has knowledge of the voice. Therefore he who speaks unjust things cannot be hidden, nor shall the chastising judgment pass him by. For inquiry shall be made into the thoughts of the wicked: and the hearing of his words shall come to the Lord, for the chastising of his iniquities. For the ear of jealousy hears all things, and the tumult of murmurings shall not be hidden. Keep yourselves, then, from murmuring, which profits nothing; and refrain your tongue from detraction: for an obscure word shall not go for nothing. But the mouth that lies slays the soul [1:1-11].

235. 235. [Wis 3]. And a little later: Those who trust in him shall understand the truth; and the faithful in love shall rest in him: for grace and peace are for his elect. But the wicked shall have chastisement according to what they have thought, who neglected justice, and departed from the Lord. For he who casts away wisdom and discipline is unhappy [3:9-11].
And after six verses: For blessed is the barren and undefiled woman, who has not known a bed in sin; she shall have fruit in the visitation of souls: and the eunuch who has not wrought iniquity with his hands, nor thought wicked things against the Lord [3:13-14].

236. 236. [Wis 6]. And after a little: Hear, then, you kings, and understand; learn, you judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, you who rule the multitude, and please yourselves in crowds of nations. For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the Most High, who will examine your works, and search out your thoughts. For when you were ministers of his kingdom, you did not judge rightly, nor keep the law of justice, nor walk according to the will of God. Horribly and swiftly will he appear to you; for a most severe judgment shall be for those who govern. For to the little one mercy is granted; but the mighty shall be mightily tormented. For God will not except any man's person, nor will he stand in awe of any man's greatness; for he made the little and the great, and he has equal care for all. But to the stronger a stronger torment is at hand. To you, then, O wicked kings, are these my words, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall away. For those who have kept just things justly shall be justified; and those who have learned these things shall find what to answer. Covet, then, my words, love them, and you shall have discipline. For wisdom is bright, and never fades; and is easily seen by those who love her; and is found by those who seek her. She prevents those who covet her, so that she first shows herself to them. He who watches for her at daybreak shall not labor: for he shall find her sitting at his doors. For to think about her is perfect understanding; and he who watches for her shall quickly be secure. For she goes about seeking those who are worthy of her, and shows herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meets them with all providence. For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline. The care, then, of discipline is love; and love is the keeping of her laws: and the keeping of her laws is the confirmation of incorruption; and incorruption brings near to God. The desire, then, of wisdom leads to the everlasting kingdom. If then you delight in thrones and scepters, O kings of the people, love wisdom, that you may reign forever [6:2-22].

237. 237. [Wis 8]. And a little later: And if anyone loves justice, her labors have great virtues. For she teaches sobriety and wisdom, and justice and virtue, than which nothing is more useful in the life of men [8:7].

FROM ECCLESIASTICUS

238. 238. [Sir 1]. The fear of the Lord is the religiousness of knowledge. Religiousness shall keep and justify the heart, it shall give joy and gladness. It shall be well with him who fears the Lord, and in the days of his end he shall be blessed. The fullness of wisdom is to fear God, and fullness comes from her fruits [1:17-20].
And after two verses: The crown of wisdom is the fear of the Lord [1:22].
And after four verses: The root of wisdom is to fear God: for her branches are long-lived. In the treasures of wisdom is understanding, and the religiousness of knowledge: but wisdom is an abomination to sinners. The fear of the Lord drives out sin. For he who is without fear cannot be justified. For the wrath of his high spirit is his ruin. The wise man will hold his peace till the right time, and afterward joy shall be rendered. The good understanding will hide his words for a time, and the lips of many shall declare his understanding [1:25-30].
If you desire wisdom, keep justice; and God will give her to you. For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline; and what is well pleasing to him is faith and meekness, and he will fill up your treasures. Be not incredulous to the fear of the Lord, and do not approach him with a double heart. Be not a hypocrite in the sight of men, and let not your lips be a stumbling block to you. Watch over them, lest perhaps you fall, and bring dishonor upon your soul; and God reveal your hidden things, and cast you down in the midst of the assembly. Because you approached the Lord wickedly, and your heart is full of deceit and guile [1:33-40].

239. 239. [Sir 2]. Son, when you come to the service of God, stand in fear and justice, and prepare your soul for temptation; and humble your heart, and endure. Incline your ear, and receive the words of understanding, and do not hasten in the time of darkness. Wait for God's sustaining; join yourself to God, and endure, that your life may increase at the last. Take all that shall be brought upon you; and in your sorrow endure, and in your humiliation have patience. For gold and silver are tried in the fire; but acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. Believe God, and he will recover you; and direct your way, and hope in him. Keep his fear, and grow old in it [2:1-6].
You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and turn not away from him, lest you fall. You who fear the Lord, believe him, and your reward shall not be made void. You who fear the Lord, hope in him, and mercy shall come to you for your delight. You who fear God, love him, and your hearts shall be enlightened. Consider, my children, the generations of men, and know: who ever hoped in the Lord and was confounded? who remained in his commandments and was forsaken? and who called upon him and was despised by him? For God is compassionate and merciful, and will forgive sins in the day of tribulation to all who seek him in truth [2:7-13].
Woe to the double heart, and to wicked lips, and to hands that do evil, and to the sinner who walks on the earth two ways. Woe to those who are dissolute of heart, who do not believe God; therefore they shall not be protected by him. Woe to those who have lost endurance, who have forsaken the right ways, and turned aside into crooked ways. And what will you do when God begins to examine? Those who fear the Lord will not be incredulous to his word; and those who love him will keep his way. Those who fear the Lord will seek out what is well pleasing to him; and those who love him will be filled with his law. Those who fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and will sanctify their souls in his sight. Those who fear the Lord keep his commandments, and will have patience until his visitation, saying: If we do not penance, we shall fall into the hands of God, and not into the hands of men. For according to his greatness, so also is his mercy with him [2:14-23].

240. 240. [Sir 3]. The children of wisdom are the assembly of the just; and their nation is obedience and love. Hear, beloved children, the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved [3:1-2].
And after two verses: He who loves God will pray for his sins, and will refrain himself from them; and in the prayer of days he shall be heard. And as one who lays up treasure, so is he who honors his mother. He who honors his father shall have joy in his own children. He who honors his father shall live a longer life; and he who obeys his father shall be a comfort to his mother. He who fears God honors his parents; and will serve those who gave him birth as his masters. In deed, and in word, and in all patience, honor your father, that a blessing may come upon you from the Lord.
And after three verses: Do not glory in the dishonor of your father [3:12].
And after three verses: Son, support the old age of your father, and do not grieve him in his life. And if his understanding fails, have patience with him, and do not despise him in your strength [3:14-15].
And after four verses: How ill-famed is he who forsakes his father! and he is cursed by God who angers his mother. Son, do your works in meekness, and you shall be loved above the glory of men. The greater you are, humble yourself in all things; and you shall find grace before God: for great is the power of God alone, and he is honored by the humble. Seek not the things that are too high for you, and search not into things above your strength: but the things that God has commanded you, think on them always; and be not curious in many of his works. For it is not necessary for you to see with your eyes those things that are hidden [3:18-23].
And after three verses: For their own suspicion has led many astray, and held their minds in vanity. A hard heart shall fare ill at the last; and he who loves danger shall perish in it. A heart that goes two ways shall not have success; and the perverse of heart shall be scandalized in them. A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows; and the sinner will add sin to sin [3:26-29].
And after two verses: A wise heart is understood by wisdom; and a good ear will hear wisdom with all desire. A wise and understanding heart will abstain from sins, and shall have success in works of justice. Water quenches a flaming fire; and almsgiving resists sins: and God is the beholder of him who renders kindness, he remembers him afterward; and in the time of his fall he shall find a sure support [3:31-34].

241. 241. [Sir 4]. Son, do not defraud the poor of alms, and do not turn away your eyes from the poor man. Do not despise the hungry soul, and do not provoke the poor in his need. Do not afflict the heart of the needy, and do not put off giving to him who is in distress. Do not reject the petition of one in tribulation, and do not turn away your face from the needy. Do not turn away your eyes from the poor man because of anger, and do not leave those who seek you cause to curse you behind your back. For the prayer of him who curses you in the bitterness of his soul shall be heard. And he who made him will hear him. Make yourself affable to the assembly of the poor, and humble your soul to the elder, and bow your head to the great man. Bow down your ear to the poor without sadness, and pay your debt, and answer him peaceably in meekness. Deliver him who suffers wrong out of the hand of the proud; and bear it not heavily in your soul. In judging, be merciful, like a father to the orphans, and as a husband to their mother; and you shall be like an obedient son of the Most High, and he will have mercy on you more than a mother [4:1-11].
Wisdom breathes life into her children, and receives those who seek her, and will go before them in the way of justice. And he who loves her loves life; and those who watch for her shall embrace her sweetness. Those who hold her fast shall inherit life, and where she enters, God will bless. Those who serve her shall be obedient to the Holy One; and those who love her, God loves. He who listens to her shall judge nations; and he who looks upon her shall remain secure. If he believes her, he shall inherit her, and his offspring shall be in confirmation. For in temptation she walks with him, and chooses him among the first. She will bring fear and dread and trial upon him, and will torment him in the tribulation of her teaching; until she tries him in his thoughts, and trusts his soul. And she will strengthen him, and lead him by a straight way to herself, and will make him glad; and will reveal her secrets to him, and will store up upon him knowledge and the understanding of justice. But if he goes astray, she will forsake him, and deliver him into the hands of his enemy [4:12-22].
Son, observe the time, and avoid evil. For your soul be not ashamed to speak the truth. For there is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that brings glory and grace. Do not accept a person against your own face, nor a lie against your own soul. Do not be in awe of your neighbor in his fall, nor keep back a word in the time of salvation. Do not hide your wisdom in its beauty. For by the tongue wisdom and understanding are discerned, and knowledge and doctrine in words of truth, and steadfastness in works of justice. Do not contradict the truth in any way, and be ashamed of the lie of your own ignorance. Be not ashamed to confess your sins, and do not subject yourself to any man for sin. Do not resist the face of the mighty, and do not strive against the stream of the river. Strive for justice for your soul, and even unto death contend for justice; and God will fight your enemies for you. Do not be hasty in your tongue, and useless and slack in your works. Do not be like a lion in your house, overthrowing your household, and oppressing those who are subject to you. Let not your hand be stretched out to take, and shut when you should give [4:23-36].

242. 242. [Sir 5]. Do not set your heart on unjust possessions, and do not say: I have enough for my life. For it shall profit nothing in the time of vengeance and darkness. Do not follow the desire of your heart, and do not say: How have I been able? or who will subject me for my deeds

? For God, the avenger, will surely avenge. Do not say: I have sinned, and what sad thing has befallen me? For the Most High is a patient rewarder. Be not without fear concerning sin forgiven; and do not add sin upon sin; and do not say: The mercy of God is great; he will have mercy on the multitude of my sins. For mercy and wrath quickly draw near from him, and his wrath looks upon sinners. Do not delay to be converted to the Lord, and do not put it off from day to day. For his wrath shall come suddenly, and in the time of vengeance he will destroy you. Be not anxious for unjust riches: for they shall not profit you in the day of darkness and vengeance [5:1-10].
Do not winnow yourself with every wind, and do not go into every way. For so is every sinner proved by a double tongue. Be steadfast in the way of God, and in the truth of your understanding and knowledge; and let the word of peace and justice follow you. Be meek to hear the word of God, that you may understand; and with wisdom give a true answer. If you have understanding, answer your neighbor: but if not, let your hand be upon your mouth; lest you be caught in an unwise word, and be confounded. Honor and glory are in the speech of the wise: but the tongue of the imprudent is his own undoing. Do not be called a whisperer in your life, and be not caught and confounded in your tongue. For upon the thief is confusion and repentance, and a most evil mark upon the double-tongued: but to the whisperer, hatred, and enmity, and reproach. Justify the small and the great alike [5:11-18].

243. 243. [Sir 6]. Do not become an enemy to your neighbor instead of a friend: for the evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, as shall every envious and double-tongued sinner. Do not exalt yourself in the thought of your soul, like a bull; lest perhaps your strength be dashed down through folly [6:1-2].
And after seven verses: Let many be at peace with you; and let one of a thousand be your counselor. If you would acquire a friend, acquire him by testing; and do not lightly trust yourself to him. For there is a friend according to his own occasion, and he will not abide in the day of tribulation; and there is a friend who turns to enmity: and there is a friend who will lay bare hatred and strife and reproaches. And there is a friend who is a companion at table, and he will not abide in the day of need. A friend, if he remains steadfast, shall be to you as your equal, and shall deal confidently with your household. If he humbles himself before you, and hides himself from your face, you shall have a good friendship of one mind. Separate yourself from your enemies; and be on guard with your friends. A faithful friend is a strong protection: and he who has found him has found a treasure. To a faithful friend there is no comparison, and no weight of gold and silver is worthy of the goodness of his fidelity. A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality; and those who fear the Lord shall find him. He who fears God shall likewise have good friendship; for his friend shall be like himself. Son, from your youth receive instruction, and even to your gray hairs you shall find wisdom. Come to her as one who plows and sows, and wait for her good fruits. For in working at her you shall labor a little, and shall soon eat of her produce. How very harsh is wisdom to the unlearned, and the senseless man does not abide in her. She shall be to them like a touchstone for trial, and they shall not delay to cast her away [6:6-22].
And after two verses: But to those by whom she is known, she remains even to the sight of God. Hear, my son, and receive the counsel of understanding, and do not reject my counsel. Put your foot into her fetters, and your neck into her chain. Bow down your shoulder, and bear her, and do not be grieved with her bonds. Come to her with all your soul, and keep her ways with all your strength. Search her out, and she shall be made known to you; and when you have laid hold of her, do not let her go: for in the end you shall find rest in her, and she shall be turned to your delight; and her fetters shall be a protection of strength to you, and supports of virtue, and her chain a robe of glory [6:23-30].
And after four verses: Son, if you attend to me, you shall learn; and if you apply your soul, you shall be wise. And if you incline your ear, you shall receive instruction; and if you love to hear, you shall be wise. Stand in the multitude of prudent elders, and join yourself from your heart to their wisdom, that you may hear every discourse of God, and that the proverbs of praise may not escape you. And if you see a man of understanding, watch for him early, and let your foot wear out the steps of his doors. Have your thoughts upon the precepts of God, and be most assiduous in his commandments; and he himself will give you a heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given to you [6:33-37].

244. 244. [Sir 7]. Do no evil, and it shall not lay hold of you. Depart from the unjust, and evils shall depart from you. Do not sow evils in the furrows of injustice, and you shall not reap them sevenfold. Do not seek from man rulership, nor from the king a seat of honor. Do not justify yourself before God; for he is the knower of the heart: and before the king do not wish to seem wise. Do not seek to become a judge, unless you have strength enough to break through iniquities; lest perhaps you fear the face of the mighty, and lay a stumbling block in your own integrity. Do not sin against the multitude of the city, nor cast yourself into the crowd: nor bind yourself with double sins; for not even in one shall you be guiltless. Do not be faint-hearted in your soul. Do not despise to pray and to give alms. Do not say: God will look upon the multitude of my gifts, and when I offer to the Most High God, he will accept my offerings. Do not mock a man in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one who humbles and exalts, even God. Do not plow up a lie against your brother, nor do the like to a friend. Do not wish to tell any lie at all: for the habit of it is not good. Do not be wordy in the multitude of the elders [7:1-15].
And after twelve verses: Do not wrong the servant who labors in truth, nor the hired man who gives his life. Let a sensible servant be dear to you as your own soul: do not defraud him of liberty, nor leave him needy [7:22-23].
And after two verses: Do you have children? instruct them, and bend them from their childhood. Do you have cattle? look after them. Do you have daughters? keep their bodies, and do not show a cheerful face toward them. Give your daughter in marriage, and you shall have done a great work; and give her to a sensible man. If you have a wife after your own soul, do not cast her off; and do not trust yourself wholeheartedly to one who is hateful. Honor your father, and do not forget the groanings of your mother. Remember that but for them you would not have been born; and repay them as they also have done for you. With all your soul fear God, and reverence his priests. With all your strength love God who made you; and do not forsake his ministers. Honor God with all your soul; and honor the priests [7:25-33].
And after six verses: Stretch out your hand to the poor, that your blessing may be perfected. Let a gift be given in the sight of every living one, and do not withhold kindness even from the dead. Do not fail to comfort those who weep, and walk with those who mourn. Do not be slow to visit the sick: for by these things you shall be confirmed in love. In all your works remember your last end, and you shall never sin [7:36-40].

245. 245. [Sir 8]. Do not quarrel with a powerful man; lest perhaps you fall into his hands. Do not contend with a rich man, lest perhaps he bring a suit against you. For gold has destroyed many; and reached even to the heart of kings, and turned them. Do not quarrel with a man of tongue, and do not heap wood upon his fire [8:1-4].
And after two verses: Do not despise a man who turns away from sin, nor reproach him: remember that we are all under correction. Do not despise a man in his old age: for we too grow old. Do not rejoice over your dead enemy, knowing that we all die, and do not wish to come into joy. Do not despise the discourse of wise elders, and be conversant with their proverbs. For from them you shall learn the doctrine of understanding, and how to serve the great without complaint. Let not the discourse of the elders escape you; for they too learned from their parents. For from them you shall learn understanding, and an answer in the time of need [8:6-12].
And after sixteen verses: Do not take counsel with the foolish: for they cannot love anything but what pleases them. Do not take counsel before a stranger: for you do not know what it will bring forth [8:20-21].

246. 246. [Sir 9]. And after two verses: Do not be jealous of the wife of your bosom [9:1].
And after seven verses: Do not desire a virgin, lest perhaps you be scandalized in her beauty. Do not give your soul to harlots in any way, lest you destroy yourself and your inheritance [9:5-6].
And after two verses: Turn away your face from an adorned woman, and do not gaze upon another's beauty [9:8].
And after twelve verses: Do not forsake an old friend: for the new will not be like him. New wine, a new friend; let it grow old, and you shall drink it with pleasure. Do not be jealous of the glory and riches of a sinner: for you do not know what his ruin shall be. Let not the wrong done by the unjust please you [9:14-17].
And after two verses: Keep far from the man who has power to kill, and you shall not suspect the fear of death. And if you do come to him, commit no fault; lest perhaps he take away your life. And conduct your affairs with the wise and prudent. Let just men be your guests; and let your glory be in the fear of God [9:18-22].

247. 247. [Sir 10]. And after fifty-three verses: The offspring of men that fears God shall be honored: but that offspring of men shall be dishonored which transgresses the commandments of the Lord. In the midst of their brothers their ruler is in honor; and those who fear the Lord shall be in his eyes. The glory of the rich, of the honored, and of the poor, is the fear of God. Do not despise a just man who is poor, and do not magnify a sinful man who is rich. Great is the judge, and mighty in honor, and there is none greater than he who fears God. The free serve a sensible servant: a prudent and well-disciplined man will not murmur when reproved [10:23-28].
And after five verses: Son, in meekness keep your soul, and give it honor according to its desert [10:31].

248. 248. [Sir 11]. And after six verses: The wisdom of the humble shall lift up his head, and shall make him sit in the midst of the great. Do not praise a man for his beauty, nor despise a man for his appearance. The bee is small among flying things, but her fruit has the chief place of sweetness. Do not ever glory in your clothing, nor be lifted up in the day of your honor [11:1-4].
And after six verses: Before you inquire, do not blame anyone; and when you have inquired, reprove justly. Before you hear, do not answer a word; and do not interrupt in the midst of the elders. Do not contend about a matter that does not trouble you; and do not stand in the judgment of sinners. Son, let not your affairs be in many things; and if you are rich, you shall not be free from offense. For if you pursue, you shall not overtake; and you shall not escape, if you run ahead [11:7-10].
And after twenty verses: Do not abide in the works of sinners: but trust in God, and stay in your place [11:22].
And after some verses: Before death praise no man whatever [11:30].
And after one verse: Do not bring every man into your house: for many are the snares of the deceitful. For as the bowels of the young belch out, and as the partridge is led into the snare, and as the roe into the trap, so is the heart of the proud; and like one who watches, seeing his neighbor's fall. For turning good into evil he lies in wait, and on the elect he will lay a blemish. From one spark a fire is increased, and by one deceitful man blood is increased. For a sinful man lies in wait for blood. Beware of the pestilent man, for he contrives evils: lest perhaps he bring upon you a derision forever. Admit a stranger to you, and he shall overthrow you in a turmoil, and shall estrange you from your own [11:31-36].

249. 249. [Sir 12]. If you do a kindness, know to whom you do it, and there shall be much thanks for your good deeds. Do good to the just man, and you shall find great recompense; and if not from him, surely from God. There is no good for those who are constant in evils, and who give no alms; for the Most High also hates sinners, and has had mercy on the penitent. Give to the merciful, and do not receive a sinner. Do good to the humble, and do not give to the wicked. Forbid bread to be given him, lest thereby he be mightier than you: for you shall find double evils in all the good you do to him; for the Most High also hates sinners, and will take vengeance on the wicked [12:1-4].
And after four verses: Never trust your enemy: for as a brass pot rusts, so does his malice. And though he go humbly with downcast looks, set your mind to it, and beware of him. Do not set him beside you, nor let him sit at your right hand; lest, turning, he stand in your place: lest perhaps, turning into your place, he seek your seat, and at the last you acknowledge my words, and be pricked by my sayings. Who will pity an enchanter struck by a serpent, or any who come near to wild beasts? So is it with him who keeps company with an unjust man, and is wrapped up in his sins: for one hour he will abide with you; but if you decline, he will not bear it. With his lips an enemy speaks sweetly, but in his heart he lies in wait to overthrow you into a pit. With his eyes an enemy weeps; and if he find the time, he shall not be satisfied with blood. If evils come upon you, you shall find him there first. With his eyes an enemy weeps, and as if helping you he will dig under your feet. He will shake his head, and clap his hand; and whispering much, he will change his countenance [12:10-19].

250. 250. [Sir 13]. And after sixty-one verses: Good is the substance that has no sin on the conscience: and most wicked is the poverty in the mouth of the wicked man [13:30].
And after three verses: Blessed is the man who has not slipped by a word out of his mouth, and has not been pricked with the sorrow of sin. Happy is he who has had no sadness of his mind, and has not fallen away from his hope. Substance is without reason to a covetous and grasping man; and to an envious man what good is gold? [14:1-3].

251. 251. [Sir 14]. And after fourteen verses: Son, if you have, do good to yourself, and offer to God worthy offerings. Remember that death does not delay, and the testament of hell, because it has been shown to you: for the testament of this world shall surely die. Before death do good to your friend, and according to your means stretch out your hand and give to the poor [14:11-13].
And after sixteen verses: Blessed is the man who shall abide in wisdom, and who shall meditate on his own justice, and in his mind shall think on the all-seeing eye of God: who searches out her ways in his heart, and understands her secrets [14:22-23].

252. 252. [Sir 15]. And after twenty-five verses: Foolish men shall not lay hold of her; but sensible men shall meet her. Foolish men shall not see her; for she is far from pride and deceit. Lying men shall not be mindful of her; but truthful men are found in her, and shall have success even to the sight of God. Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner; for wisdom comes from God. For the praise of wisdom shall stand by the wisdom of God; and shall abound in a faithful mouth, and the Ruler shall give it to him. Do not say: It is through God that she is wanting; for what he hates you should not do. Do not say: He has led me astray: for he has no need of wicked men. God hates every abomination of error, and it shall not be lovely to those who fear him. God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel. He added his commandments and precepts: if you will keep them, they shall preserve you, and they shall make you always keep the faith that pleases him. He has set water and fire before you; stretch out your hand to whichever you will. Before man is life and death, good and evil; whichever pleases him shall be given to him. For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, seeing all men without ceasing. The eyes of God are upon those who fear him, and he knows every work of man. He has commanded no man to do wickedly; and he has given no man license to sin. For he does not desire a multitude of unfaithful and unprofitable children [15:7-22].

253. 253. [Sir 16]. And do not delight in wicked children, if they multiply: do not take pleasure in them, if the fear of God is not with them. Do not trust their life, and do not look to their labors. For better is one who fears God, than a thousand wicked children: and it is better to die without children, than to leave wicked children [16:1-4].
And after twenty-one verses: Do not say: I shall be hidden from God, and who from on high will remember me? [16:16].

254. 254. [Sir 17]. And a little later: Their covenants are not hidden by their iniquity, and all their iniquities are in the sight of God. The almsgiving of a man is as a seal with him, and he will keep the kindness of a man as the apple of his eye: and afterward he shall rise up, and shall render them their reward, to every one upon their heads, and shall turn them down into the inner parts of the earth. But to the penitent he has given the way of justice, and has strengthened those who were failing to endure, and has appointed for them the lot of truth. Turn to God, and forsake your sins: pray before his face, and lessen your offenses. Return to God, and turn away from your injustice, and greatly hate the abomination [17:17-23].
And after nine verses: How great is the mercy of God, and his forgiveness toward those who turn to him! For all things cannot be in men; since the son of man is not immortal [17:28-29].

255. 255. [Sir 18]. And after thirty verses: May he have mercy who receives the teaching of mercy, and those who hasten in his judgments. Son, in your good deeds make no complaint, and in any gift do not give the sadness of an evil word. Shall not the dew cool the heat? So a word is better than a gift. Behold, is not a word better than a good gift? but both are with a justified man. A fool will upbraid bitterly, and the gift of an undisciplined man makes the eyes to waste away. Before judgment prepare justice for yourself, and learn before you speak. Before sickness apply medicine, and before judgment examine yourself; and you shall find forgiveness in the sight of God. Before sickness humble yourself, and in the time of infirmity show your manner of life. Do not be hindered from praying always, and do not be afraid to be justified even unto death; for the reward of God abides forever. Before prayer prepare your soul, and do not be like a man who tempts God [18:14-23].
And after six verses: A wise man will fear in everything, and in the days of sins will beware of sloth [18:28].
And after five verses: Do not go after your lusts, and turn away from your own will. If you grant your soul her desires, she will make you a joy to your enemies. Do not take pleasure in crowds, nor delight in immoderate things [18:30-32].

256. 256. [Sir 19]. And after five verses: And he who despises small things shall fall little by little. Wine and women make wise men fall away, and shall rebuke the sensible [19:1-2].
And after four verses: He who is light of heart to believe shall be lessened; and he who sins against his own soul shall be held in low esteem [19:4].
And after two verses: And he who hates much talking quenches malice [19:5].
And after eight verses: Have you heard a word against your neighbor? let it die within you, trusting that it will not burst you. From the face of a word the fool is in travail, like the groaning of a woman in childbirth. As an arrow that sticks in the flesh of the thigh, so is a word in the heart of a fool. Reprove a friend, lest perhaps he did not understand, and say: I did not do it; or if he did it, that he do it no more. Reprove your neighbor, lest perhaps he did not say it; and if he said it, that he say it no more. Reprove a friend; for often an offense is committed: and do not believe every word. There is one who slips with his tongue, but not from his heart. For who is there who has not offended with his tongue? Reprove your neighbor before you threaten him; and give place to the fear of the Most High: for all wisdom is the fear of God, and in it is the fear of God [19:10-18].
And after five verses: Better is the man who lacks wisdom, and who lacks understanding in fear, than he who abounds in understanding, and transgresses the law of the Most High [19:21].

257. 257. [Sir 20]. And after sixteen verses: How much better it is to reprove than to be angry! [20:1].
And after twelve verses: And he who unjustly assumes power to himself shall be hated [20:8].
And after eight verses: A wise man by his words makes himself beloved [20:20-22].
And after thirteen verses: The slip of a false tongue is like one who falls on the pavement: so does the downfall of the wicked come hastily. A graceless man is like a vain fable, and shall be continually in the mouth of the undisciplined. A parable shall be rejected from the mouth of a fool: for he does not speak it in its season [20:24-29].
And after two verses: There is one who loses his soul through shame, and who through an imprudent person will lose it; and by accepting the person of another he will destroy himself. There is one who through shame makes promises to a friend, and gains him for an enemy without cause. A lie is a foul reproach in a man, and shall be continually in the mouth of the undisciplined. A thief is better than a man who is constantly lying: but both shall inherit destruction. The manners of lying men are without honor, and their confusion is with them without ceasing. A wise man by his words advances himself [20:24-29].
And after four verses: Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and like a muzzle in the mouth they turn away their reproofs. Hidden wisdom, and an unseen treasure, what profit is there in either? Better is the man who hides his folly, than he who hides his wisdom [20:31-33].

258. 258. [Sir 21]. Son, you have sinned; do not add to it again: but pray for your past sins, that they may be forgiven you. Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent; and if you come near them, they will lay hold of you. The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men: all iniquity is like a two-edged sword; for its wound there is no healing [21:1-4].
And after four verses: He who hates correction is in the path of the sinner; and he who fears God will turn to his own heart [21:7].
And after five verses: The way of sinners is paved with stones; and at their end are hell and darkness and punishments. He who keeps justice shall control his understanding. The fullness of the fear of God is wisdom and understanding [21:11-13].
And after seven verses: A wise word, whatever the knowing man hears, he will praise, and add to himself: the wanton hears it, and it displeases him, and he casts it behind his back. The talk of a fool is like a burden on the road: but in the lips of the sensible grace shall be found. The mouth of the prudent is sought in the assembly, and they shall consider his words in their hearts [21:18-20].
And after two verses: Instruction is to a fool as fetters on the feet, and like bonds on the right hand. A fool lifts up his voice in laughter: but a wise man will scarcely laugh quietly. Instruction is to the prudent as an ornament of gold, and like a bracelet on the right arm [21:22-24].
And after eight verses: In the mouth of fools is their heart, and in the heart of the wise is their mouth. While the wicked man curses the devil, he curses his own soul. The whisperer shall defile his own soul, and shall be hated in all things; and he who abides with him shall be hateful: the silent and sensible man shall be honored [21:29-31].

259. 259. [Sir 22]. The sluggard is pelted with a lump of dung, and everyone will speak of his contemptibleness (22:1).
And after four verses: A sensible daughter is an inheritance to her husband; for she who brings shame becomes a disgrace to him who begot her. She who is brazen brings shame upon her father and her husband, and she will not be thought little of by the wicked; but she will be dishonored by both. Music in mourning is an ill-timed tale; but stripes and instruction are wisdom in every season. He who teaches a fool is like one who glues a potsherd together. He who tells a word to one who does not heed is like one who rouses a sleeper from a deep sleep. He who relates to a stupid man speaks with one who is asleep, and at the end he says: Who is this? Weep over the dead, for the light has failed him; and weep over the fool, for understanding has failed him. Weep but little over the dead, for he is at rest; but the worthless life of the worthless man is worse than the death of the fool. Mourning for the dead is seven days; but for the fool and the wicked, it is all the days of their life (22:4-13).
And after twenty-one verses: Whoever throws a stone at birds will scare them away; and so he who reproaches his friend will break up the friendship. Even if you have drawn a sword on a friend, do not despair; for there is a way back. If you have opened a grim mouth against a friend, do not be afraid; for there can be a reconciliation; except for reproach, and insult, and pride, and the disclosure of a secret, and a treacherous blow: in all these a friend will flee away (22:25-27).
And after ten verses: Who will set a guard over my mouth, and a sure seal upon my lips, that I may not fall by them, and that my tongue may not destroy me? (22:33).

260. 260. [Sir 23]. O Lord, Father and ruler of my life, do not forsake me, and do not let me fall by them. Who will set scourges over my thoughts, and the discipline of wisdom over my heart, so that they may not spare me in my errors, and that my faults may not go unseen; lest my errors increase, and my faults be multiplied, and my sins abound, and I fall before my adversaries, and my enemy rejoice over me? O Lord, Father and God of my life, do not leave me to their devices. Do not give me haughtiness of eyes, and turn away all evil desire from me. Take from me the cravings of the belly, and let no lust of the flesh lay hold of me; and do not hand me over to a shameless and senseless soul. Hear, my children, the discipline of the mouth; and he who keeps it will not be caught by his lips, nor be brought to ruin by wicked deeds. The sinner is caught in his own vanity, and the proud man and the slanderer will be brought down by them. Do not accustom your mouth to swearing; for there are many falls in it. And let the naming of God not be continually in your mouth, nor mingle the names of the saints with your speech; for you will not be guiltless in these things. For just as a slave constantly questioned will not be without bruises, so everyone who swears and invokes the name will not be cleansed of sin. A man who swears much will be filled with iniquity, and the scourge will not depart from his house. And if he plays false, his fault will be upon him; and if he overlooks it, he sins doubly. And if he swears in vain, he will not be justified; for his house will be filled with retribution (23:7-14).
And after four verses: Do not accustom your mouth to coarse speech; for in it is the word of sin. Remember your father and your mother, for you sit in the midst of great men: lest God forget you in their sight, and you, made a fool by your habits, suffer reproach, and wish you had never been born, and curse the day of your birth. A man accustomed to abusive words will never be corrected all his days. Two kinds of men multiply sins, and a third brings on wrath and ruin. A hot soul, like a burning fire, will not be quenched until it has swallowed something; and a man who is wicked in the appetites of his flesh will not cease until he has kindled a fire (23:17-23).
And after two verses: Every man who transgresses against his own bed, despising his own soul, and saying: Who sees me? Darkness surrounds me, and the walls cover me, and no one looks at me; whom should I fear? The Most High will not remember my sins—and he does not understand that the eye of God sees all things, and that such a man's fear drives out the fear of God from himself, and that the eyes of men fear him. And he does not know that the eyes of the Lord are far brighter than the sun, watching over all the ways of men, and the depth of the abyss, and beholding the hearts of men in their hidden parts (23:25-28).

261. 261. [Sir 25]. And a little later: The things you did not gather in your youth, how will you find them in your old age? How fitting is judgment to gray hairs, and for elders to know counsel! How fitting is wisdom to the aged, and understanding and counsel to those held in honor! Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory (25:5-8).
And after ten verses: The fear of God is set above all things. Blessed is he to whom it is given to have the fear of God. To whom shall he be likened who fears him? (25:14-15).
And after twenty verses: Do not look upon a woman's beauty, and do not desire a woman for her beauty (25:28).

262. 262. [Sir 26]. And after twenty-eight verses: A drunken woman is a great wrath; and her insolence and her shamelessness will not be hidden. A woman's unchastity is known by the haughtiness of her eyes and by her eyelids. Keep strict watch over a daughter who does not turn from you, lest, finding an opportunity, she misuse herself. Beware of every shamelessness of the eyes; and do not be surprised if she slights you (26:11-14).
And after four verses: The grace of a diligent woman will delight her husband, and her good sense will put fat on his bones. A sensible and silent woman is a gift of God: there is no exchange for a well-instructed soul. Grace upon grace is a holy and modest woman. And no weight is worthy of a self-controlled soul (26:16-20).
And after twelve verses: And him who passes over from justice to sin, God has prepared for the sword (26:27).

263. 263. [Sir 27]. And after four verses: And he who seeks to grow rich turns away his eye (27:1).
And after three verses: Sin will be ground out. If you do not hold yourself steadfast in the fear of the Lord, your house will quickly be overturned. As when a sieve is shaken, the refuse remains, so does a man's filth in his thinking. The furnace tests the potter's vessels, and the trial of tribulation tests just men. As the cultivation of a tree shows its fruit, so does a word show the thought of a man's heart. Do not praise a man before he has spoken; for this is the test of men. If you pursue justice, you will lay hold of it, and put it on like a robe of honor; and you will dwell with it, and it will protect you forever, and in the day of recognition you will find a firm foundation. Birds flock to their own kind, and truth returns to those who practice it. The lion lies in wait for its prey always; so do sins for those who work iniquity. A holy man abides in wisdom like the sun; but the fool changes like the moon. In the midst of senseless men keep a word for its time; but in the midst of thoughtful men be constant. The talk of sinners is hateful, and their laughter is in the wantonness of sin. Talk full of swearing makes the hair stand on end, and its irreverence makes one stop the ears. The shedding of blood is in the quarreling of the proud, and their cursing is grievous to hear. He who lays bare the secrets of a friend will lose his trust, and will not find a friend to his soul. Love your neighbor, and join yourself to him in good faith; but if you lay bare his secrets, do not pursue after him. For as a man who has destroyed his friend, so is he who destroys the friendship of his neighbor. And as one who lets a bird go from his hand, so have you let your neighbor go, and you will not catch him again. Do not pursue him, for he is far off. He has escaped like a gazelle from the snare; for his soul has been wounded; and you will be able to bind him no more. And for one cursed there is reconciliation; but to lay bare a friend's secrets is the despair of an unhappy soul. He who winks with his eyes plots evil things, and no one will cast him off. In your sight he will make his speech sweet, and will marvel at your words; but at the last he will twist his mouth, and in your words he will find occasion for offense. I have hated many things, but none like him; and the Lord will hate him (27:3-27).
And after two verses: He who digs a pit will fall into it; and he who sets a stone in his neighbor's way will stumble on it; and he who lays a snare for another will perish in it. To him who works wicked counsel, it will roll back upon himself; and he will not know whence it comes upon him. Mockery and reproach are for the proud, and vengeance will lie in wait for him like a lion. They will perish in the snare who delight in the fall of the just (27:29-32).

264. 264. [Sir 28]. And after three verses: He who wishes to be avenged will find vengeance from God, and he will surely keep account of his sins. Forgive your neighbor who has wronged you, and then, when you pray, your sins will be loosed. One man cherishes anger against another, and does he seek healing from God? He has no mercy on a man like himself, and does he beg pardon for his own sins? He, being but flesh, nurses anger, and does he ask God for atonement? Who will entreat pardon for his sins? Remember your last days, and cease from enmity; for corruption and death are at hand among the commandments of God. Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with your neighbor. Remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook your neighbor's ignorance. Refrain from strife, and you will lessen your sins. For an angry man kindles strife; and a sinful man troubles friends, and sows enmity in the midst of those who are at peace (28:1-11).
And after four verses: A hasty contention kindles a fire, and a hasty quarrel sheds blood, and a tongue that bears witness brings death. If you blow on a spark, it will burn like fire; and if you spit on it, it will be put out: and both come forth from the mouth. The whisperer and the double-tongued is accursed; for he has troubled many who were at peace. The third tongue has shaken many, and scattered them from nation to nation. It has destroyed the fortified cities of the rich, and overthrown the houses of great men. It has cut down the strength of peoples, and broken up strong nations. The third tongue has cast out brave women, and deprived them of the fruits of their labors. He who heeds it will have no rest, nor will he have a friend in whom to find rest (28:13-20).
And after twenty-three verses: Make a balance and weights for your words, and a proper bridle for your mouth; and take heed lest you slip with your tongue, and fall before enemies lying in wait for you, and your fall be incurable, unto death (28:29-30).

265. 265. [Sir 29]. He who shows mercy lends to his neighbor; and he who is strong of hand keeps the commandments. Lend to your neighbor in the time of his need; and again, repay your neighbor in his own time. Keep your word, and deal faithfully with him; and at all times you will find what you need. Many have thought a loan to be a windfall, and have caused trouble to those who helped them (29:1-4).
And after thirteen verses: Yet be patient with one who is lowly in spirit, and do not keep him waiting for your alms. For the sake of the commandment help the poor man, and because of his need do not send him away empty. Lose your money for the sake of a brother and a friend, and do not hide it under a stone, to be lost. Lay up your treasure according to the precepts of the Most High; and it will profit you more than gold. Shut up alms in the heart of the poor; and it will pray for you against all evil: better than the shield of a mighty man, and better than a spear, it will fight against your enemy. A good man gives surety for his neighbor; and he who has lost his sense of shame abandons him. Do not forget the kindness of the one who gives surety; for he has given his own life for you. The sinner and the unclean flee from one who gives surety. The sinner counts a surety's goods as his own, and the man without gratitude abandons the one who set him free. A man stands surety for his neighbor, and when he has lost his self-respect, he is forsaken by him. Wicked suretyship has destroyed many who were prospering, and tossed them about like the waves of the sea. It has driven mighty men into exile, and they have wandered among foreign nations. The sinner who transgresses the commandments of the Lord will fall into a wicked suretyship (29:11-26).
And after one verse: Help your neighbor according to your means, and take heed to yourself that you do not fall (29:27).

266. 266. [Sir 30]. And after sixteen verses: He who loves his son chastises him often, that he may rejoice in him at the last. He who instructs his son will have joy in him (30:1-2).
And after ten verses: An untamed horse turns out stubborn, and a son left to himself turns out headstrong. Pamper a son, and he will make you tremble; play with him, and he will grieve you. Do not laugh with him, lest you suffer, and at the last your teeth be set on edge. Do not give him liberty in his youth, and do not overlook his follies. Bend his neck in his youth, and beat his sides while he is a child; lest he grow stubborn, and disobey you, and your soul be grieved. Instruct your son, and labor over him, lest you be put to shame by his disgrace. Better is a poor man who is healthy and strong in body, than a rich man who is feeble and afflicted with disease. Health of soul in the holiness of justice is better than all gold and silver; and a sound body, than immense wealth. There is no wealth above the wealth of bodily health; and no delight above joy of heart. Better is death than a bitter life, and eternal rest than continual sickness. Good things hidden in a closed mouth are like dishes of food set around a grave (30:8-18).
And after five verses: Do not give your soul to sorrow, and do not afflict yourself in your own counsel. Gladness of heart is the life of a man, and an unfailing treasure of holiness; and the joy of a man is length of days. Have mercy on your own soul by pleasing God, and restrain yourself; and gather up your heart in his holiness, and drive sorrow far from you. For sorrow has killed many, and there is no profit in it. Envy and anger shorten one's days, and anxiety brings on old age before its time (30:22-26).

267. 267. [Sir 31]. And after ten verses: He who loves gold will not be justified; and he who pursues gain will be filled by it. Many have been brought to ruin for the sake of gold, and their destruction lay before their eyes. It is a stumbling block to those who sacrifice to it: woe to those who run after it, and every imprudent man will perish by it. Blessed is the rich man who is found without blemish, and who has not gone after gold, nor put his hope in money and treasures. Who is he, that we may praise him? for he has done wonderful things in his life. Who has been tested by it, and been found perfect? It will be to him for everlasting glory. Who could transgress and did not transgress; and could do evil and did not do it: therefore his goods are made secure in the Lord, and the assembly of the saints will declare his almsgiving (31:5-11).
And after ten verses: Use as a thrifty man the things that are set before you, lest, if you eat much, you be hated. Be the first to leave off, for discipline's sake, and do not be excessive, lest you give offense. And if you sit in the midst of many, do not reach out your hand before them, nor be the first to ask for drink. How sufficient a little wine is for a well-bred man! (31:19-22).
And after sixteen verses: Do not provoke those who are devoted to wine; for wine has destroyed many (31:30).

268. 268. [Sir 32]. And after twenty-five verses: Speak, you who are older, for it is fitting for you; but with sound knowledge, and do not hinder the music. Where there is listening, do not pour out talk; and do not unseasonably display your wisdom (32:4-6).
And after five verses: Young man, speak in your own cause scarcely when it is necessary. If you are asked twice, let your answer be brief. In many things act as if you knew nothing, and listen in silence, and at the same time inquire. In the midst of great men do not presume to speak; and where there are elders, do not talk much. Lightning goes before the hailstorm, and grace goes before modesty, and for your reverence good favor will come to you. But hasten home before others, and there withdraw, and there amuse yourself, and indulge your fancies, yet not in sins or proud words. And above all these things bless God, who made you, and gives you to drink your fill of all his good things. He who fears God will receive his instruction; and those who watch for him will find his blessing. He who seeks the law will be filled with it; and the hypocrite will be tripped up by it. Those who fear the Lord will find just judgment, and will kindle justice like a light. A sinful man will shun reproof, and will find an excuse to suit his own will. A man of counsel will not neglect understanding (32:10-22).
And after four verses: My son, do nothing without counsel; and after you have done it you will not regret it (32:24).
And after six verses: He who trusts in God will attend to the commandments; and he who has confidence in him will not be brought low (32:28).

269. 269. [Sir 33]. No evils will meet the man who fears the Lord; but in temptation God will preserve him, and deliver him from evils. A wise man does not hate the commandments and the precepts of justice; and he will not be dashed about like a ship in a storm. A man of sense trusts in the law of God, and the law is faithful to him. He who clears up a question will prepare a word (33:1-4).

270. 270. [Sir 34]. And a little later: Vain hope and falsehood are for the senseless man; and dreams lift up the imprudent. As one who grasps at a shadow, and chases the wind, so is he who heeds lying visions. This is like that: the vision of dreams is the likeness of a man before a man's face. What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can be told by the liar? Divination of error, and lying omens, and the dreams of evildoers, are vanity. And like a woman in labor, your heart suffers fantasies, unless a visitation is sent from the Most High: do not give your heart to them. For dreams have led many astray, and those who hoped in them have fallen. Without falsehood the law will be fulfilled, and wisdom will be perfected in a faithful mouth (34:1-8).
And after five verses: I have seen many things in my travels, and many customs of words. Sometimes I have been in peril of death because of these things, and I have been delivered by the grace of God. The spirit of those who fear God is sought out, and in his regard they will be blessed. For their hope is in him who saves them; and the eyes of God are upon those who love him. He who fears the Lord will tremble at nothing, and will not be afraid; for he himself is his hope. Blessed is the soul of one who fears the Lord. To whom does he look? and who is his strength? The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him: he is a protector of power, a support of strength, a shelter from the heat and a shade from the noonday; a guard against stumbling and a help against falling; he lifts up the soul and gives light to the eyes; he gives health, and life, and blessing. The offering of one who sacrifices from what is unjustly gained is defiled, and the mockeries of the unjust are not well pleasing. The Lord is for those alone who wait for him in the way of truth and justice. The Most High does not approve the gifts of the wicked, nor does he regard the offerings of the wicked, nor will he be appeased for their sins by the multitude of their sacrifices. He who offers a sacrifice from the substance of the poor is like one who slays a son before his father's eyes. The bread of the needy is the life of the poor; he who defrauds him of it is a man of blood. He who takes away the bread earned by sweat is like one who kills his neighbor. He who sheds blood, and he who defrauds the laborer of his wages, are brothers. When one builds and another tears down, what do they gain but toil? When one prays and another curses, whose voice will God hear? He who washes after touching a dead body, and touches it again, what does his washing profit him? So is a man who fasts for his sins, and then does the same things again: what does he gain by humbling himself? who will hear his prayer? (34:12-31).

271. 271. [Sir 35]. He who keeps the law multiplies offerings. It is a saving sacrifice to heed the commandments, and to depart from all iniquity; and it is an atoning offering to turn away from injustice, and a supplication for sins to draw back from injustice (35:1-5).
And after a few verses: You shall not appear before God empty. For all these things are done because of the commandments of the Lord. The offering of the just man makes the altar rich, and is a sweet odor in the sight of the Most High. The sacrifice of the just is accepted, and the Lord will not forget the remembrance of it. Give glory to God with a good heart, and do not diminish the firstfruits of your hands. In every gift make your face cheerful, and sanctify your tithes with gladness. Give to the Most High according to what he has given you, and with a generous eye do what your hands have found; for the Lord is a rewarder, and he will repay you sevenfold. Do not offer corrupt gifts; for he will not accept them. Do not look to an unjust sacrifice; for the Lord is judge, and with him there is no respect of persons. The Lord will not show partiality against a poor man, and he will hear the prayer of one who is wronged. He will not despise the prayers of the orphan, nor of the widow, when she pours out her tale of groaning. Does not the tear run down the cheek, and the cry rise up from the cheek because of what makes it fall? (35:6-18).
And after four verses: The prayer of one who humbles himself will pierce the clouds (35:21).

272. 272. [Sir 37]. And after a while: Be constant with a holy man, whomever you know to keep the fear of God, whose soul is according to your own soul (37:15-16).
And after five verses: And in all these things entreat the Most High, that he may direct your way in truth (37:19).
And after twenty-one verses: My son, test your soul in your life; and if it is wicked, do not give it power. For not all things are good for all, and not every kind pleases every soul. Do not be greedy in any feasting, and do not pour yourself out upon every food (37:30-32).

273. 273. [Sir 38]. And after four verses: Honor the physician for the need you have of him; for the Most High created him. For healing is from God, and he will receive a gift from the king. The skill of the physician will lift up his head, and he will be praised in the sight of great men. The Most High created medicines out of the earth, and a prudent man will not despise them. Was not the bitter water made sweet by wood? The power of these things has come to the knowledge of men, and the Most High has given knowledge to men, that he may be honored in his wonders. By these he heals and soothes their pain (38:1-7).
And after four verses: My son, in your sickness do not despair; but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you. Turn away from sin, and order your hands aright, and cleanse your heart from every fault (38:9-10).
And after one verse: And make your offering rich, and give place to the physician; for the Lord created him: and let him not depart from you, for his works are necessary. For there is a time when you fall into their hands; and they will entreat the Lord, that he may direct their care and their healing toward the patient's recovery (38:11-14).
And after one verse: My son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to lament as one who has suffered grievously. And according to custom cover his body, and do not neglect his burial. For fear of slander, mourn his death bitterly for one day, and be comforted, for your sorrow; and make your mourning according to what he deserved, for a day or two, to avoid reproach. For sorrow hastens death, and overpowers strength, and grief of heart bows down the neck (38:19).
And after one verse: Do not give your heart over to sorrow (38:21).
And after nine verses: The wisdom of the scribe comes in his time of leisure, and he who is occupied with little will gain wisdom (38:25).

274. 274. [Sir 39]. And a little later: Say with one voice: Hearken to me, you holy fruits of the waters, and bring forth fruit like the rose planted by the stream. Give a sweet fragrance like Lebanon. Blossom like the lily, give forth a fragrance, and put out leaves for grace, and join in the song, and bless the Lord in his works. Ascribe greatness to his name, and acknowledge him with the voice of your lips, with songs of the lips and with harps; and thus you shall say in your acknowledgment: All the works of the Lord are exceedingly good. At his word the water stood like a heap, and at the word of his mouth like reservoirs of water. For at his command good favor is shown, and there is no failing in his salvation. The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing is hidden from his eyes. From age to age he looks down; and nothing is wonderful in his sight. There is no saying: What is this? or what is that? for all things will be sought out in their time (39:17-26).

275. 275. [Sir 40]. And a little later: Grace is like a paradise in blessings, and mercy abides forever (40:17).
And after twelve verses: Brothers are a help in the time of tribulation; but mercy will deliver more than they (40:24).

276. 276. [Sir 41]. And a little later: Hidden wisdom and an unseen treasure—what use is there in either? Better is a man who hides his folly, than a man who hides his wisdom (41:17-18).

277. 277. [Sir 43]. And somewhat later: When you bless the Lord, exalt him as much as you can; for he is greater than all praise. When you exalt him, gather up your strength (43:33-34).

278. 278. [Sir 51]. And after much else: Draw near to me, you who are untaught, and gather yourselves into the house of instruction. Why are you still slow in these things? and what do you still say about them? Your souls thirst exceedingly. I opened my mouth and spoke: Buy wisdom for yourselves without silver, and bend your neck to her yoke, and let your soul receive instruction. For she is near at hand to find. See with your own eyes that I have labored but little, and have found much rest for myself. Take up instruction at the cost of much silver, and possess abundant gold in her. Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and you will not be put to shame in his praise. Do your work before the time, and he will give you your reward in his own time (51:31-38).

FROM THE BOOK OF TOBIT

279. 279. [Tob 4]. You shall honor your mother all the days of her life. For you ought to remember what great dangers she suffered for you in her womb (4:3-4).
And after two verses: All the days of your life keep God in mind, and take heed never to consent to sin, or to neglect the commandments of the Lord your God. Out of your substance give alms, and do not turn away your face from any poor man: for so it will come to pass that the face of the Lord will not be turned from you. Be merciful in whatever way you are able. If you have much, give abundantly; if you have little, take care to share even the little gladly. For you lay up for yourself a good reward against the day of need. For alms deliver from every sin and from death, and will not allow the soul to go into darkness. Alms will be great confidence before the most high God for all who do it. Take heed to yourself, my son, against all unchastity, and never allow yourself to know any crime besides your own wife. Never permit pride to rule in your mind or in your speech; for in it all ruin had its beginning. Whoever has done any work for you, repay him his wages at once; and let the wages of a hired man by no means remain with you. See that you never do to another what you would hate to have done to yourself. Eat your bread with the hungry and the needy, and with your garments cover the naked (4:6-17).
And after two verses: Always seek counsel from a wise man. At all times bless God, and ask him to direct your ways, and that all your counsels may abide in him (4:19-20).
And after seven verses: Do not be afraid, my son: we lead a poor life indeed, but we will have many good things, if we fear God, and depart from every sin, and do what is good (4:23).

280. 280. [Tob 12]. And after much else: Then Raphael said to them secretly: Bless the God of heaven, and acknowledge him before all the living, because he has shown his mercy to you. For it is good to keep close the secret of a king; but it is honorable to reveal and acknowledge the works of God. Prayer is good with fasting, and alms more than to lay up treasures of gold. For alms deliver from death, and it is alms that purge away sins, and will obtain eternal life. But those who commit sin and iniquity are enemies of their own soul (12:6-10).

281. 281. [Tob 14]. And a little later: Hear, then, my children, your father: Serve the Lord in truth, and seek to do what is pleasing to him; and charge your children to do justice and almsdeeds, to be mindful of God, and to bless him at all times, in truth and with all their strength (14:10-11).

On His Third Letter

425. 425. [3 Jn]. Beloved, it is a loyal thing you do when you render any service to the brethren, especially to strangers, who have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey as befits God's service. For they have set out for the sake of his name, taking nothing from the Gentiles. So we ought to support such people, that we may be fellow workers in the truth (3 Jn 5-8).
And a little later: Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen God (3 Jn 11).

On the Letter of the Apostle Jude

426. 426. [Jude]. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly persons who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 4).
And a little after: These are blemishes on your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, feeding themselves (Jude 12).
And in another place: These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own passions; and their mouth speaks blasphemy, flattering people to gain advantage. But you, beloved, must remember the words spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said to you that in the last time there will come scoffers, following their own ungodly passions. It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, awaiting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And convince some, who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; on others have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh (Jude 16-23).

On the Book Whose Name Is the Revelation of John

427. 427. [Rev 2]. If human beings are understood to be admonished—indeed, because they are—when the angels are admonished, then in all these same precepts we learn that false brethren are to be borne patiently for the sake of God's name, that one must return through repentance to the first good works, that persecutions must be endured for the faith even unto death, and that one must serve in love (Rev 2:2, 14-16).

428. 428. [Rev 21]. Now near the end of the book, when he was speaking of the holy city: But nothing unclean shall enter it, he says, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood (Rev 21:27).

429. 429. [Rev 22]. And elsewhere: Blessed are those who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the impure and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. I Jesus have sent my angel to testify these things to you (Rev 22:14-16).