ECCLESIASTICUS

XXXIX. 15^c

[With songs of the harp and of stringed instruments,

and thus with a shout shalt thou say;

16

All [the works of] God are good,

and he supplieth every need in its season.

17^c

. . . . appraise . . . .

and the utterance of his mouth is his treasure.

18

In [his] place he maketh his pleasure to prosper,

and there is no restraint to his salvation.

19

The works of all flesh are before him,

and there is nothing hid from before his eyes.

20

He beholdeth from everlasting to everlasting:

[is there] limit to his salvation?

20^c

There is nothing small or light with him,

and there is nothing too wonderful or hard for him.

21

None may say, Wherefore is this?

or all things are chosen for their uses.

21^c

None may [say], This is worse than that,

for all things prevail in their season.

22

He maketh his blessings to overflow as the Nile,

and it saturateth the land like a river.

23

For his wrath dispossesseth nations,

and he turneth a watered land into salt.

24

[The path]s of the perfect man are plain,

so to strangers do they oppose themselves.

25

[Good things] he allotted to the [g]ood from the beginning,

so to the evil good and evil;

26

[The chief things] for the life of man are water,

and fire, and iron, and salt,

26^c

[Flour of wheat], milk, and honey,

the blood of the grape, fresh oil, and clothing.

27

All th[ese] bring good to the [g]ood,

so for the evil they are turned to evil;

28

There be w[inds which are formed [for vengeance],

. . . [they] remove mountains.

28^c

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

29

Fire and hail, evil and pestilence,

these also are [formed] for judgement.

30

Beast of tooth, scorpion and cobra,

and a sword of vengeance to ban [the wicked].

30^c

All these are created for their uses,

and they are in his treasure-house, against the time when they are required.

31

When he commandeth them they rejoice,

and in their prescribed tasks they rebel not against his word.

32

Therefore from the beginning I took my stand, and I considered, and set it down in writing;

33

All the works of God are good;

he sufficeth for every need in its season.

34

None may say, This is evil, What is this?

for he maketh all things to prevail in their season.

35

Now with all (your) heart sing aloud,

and bless the name of the H[oly One].

XL. 1

Great occupation hath God allotted,

and a heavy yoke is upon the sons of men;

1^c

From the day of his coming forth from his mother's womb,

until the day of his returning to the mother of all living;

3

From him that sitteth loftily on a throne,

even unto him that is clothed in dust and ashes.

4

From him that weareth a diadem and (priestly) plate,

even unto him that weareth a mantle [of poverty]:

5

Anger, jealousy, anxiety, and fear,

the terror of death, strife, and contention:

5^c

And in the time when he resteth upon his bed,

the sleep of night changeth [his thoughts];

6

A little . . . . for a moment he is quiet,

and from the midst of terror[s he is perturbed?];

6^c

. . . . . from the vision of his soul,

(he is) as a fugitive [hurrying on before] the pursuer.

9

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [aw]aketh

. . . visions (?) . . . rest.

8

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

[Pestile]nce and bloodshed, fever and drought,

devastation and destruction, evil and death.

10

Against the wicked, evil is created,

and because of him ruin departeth [not?].

11

All things that are from the earth return to the earth,

and that which is from the height (returneth) to the height.

13

Riches born of (?) riches are like an ever-flowing stream,

and as a mighty water-course in the flashing of thunder:

14

With his lifting up of (his) hands men rejoice,

for suddenly he perisheth for ever.

15

The branch of violence shall not be unpunished,

for the root of the godless is on the point of a crag.

16

Like axes (?) upon the bank of a stream,

 before all rain they are extinguished.

17

But kindness shall never be moved,

and righteousness (or almsgiving) shall be established for ever.

18

A life of wine and strong drink is sweet,

but he that findeth a treasure is above them both.

19

A child and a city establish a name,

but he that findeth wisdom is above them both.

19^c

Offspring (of cattle) and planting make a name flourish,

but a woman beloved is above them both.

20

Wine and strong drink cause the heart to exult,

but the love of lovers is above them both.

21

Pipe and harp make sweet the song,

but a sincere tongue is above them both.

22

[Grace and beauty] delight the eye,

but the growing things of the field are above them both.

23

[A friend and a partner] behave [as occasion requires],

but a prudent wife is above them both.

24

A brother [and a helper are for a ti]me of adversity,

but righteousness (or almsgiving) delivereth above them both.

25

Gold and silver [make the foot stand sure]:

but [good counsels] is above them both.

26

Riches and strength lift up the heart,

but the fear of God is above them both.

26^c

In the fear of the Lord there is no want,

and it needeth not to seek for [treasure] with it.

27

The fear of God is as an Eden of blessing,

and so all glory is its canopy.

28

My son, live not a life that subsists on giving:

better is he that is taken away (in death) than he that is importunate.

29

A man that looketh at the table of a stranger,

his life is not to be numbered as a life;

29^c

His dainties are a loathing of the soul;

to a man that hath understanding (they are as) pains of the bowels.

30

Begging is sweet to the greedy man,

but in his inward parts it burneth as fire.

XLI. 1

Ah Death! how [bit]ter is the remembrance of thee

to a man that liveth qui[etly] in his place;

1^c

To a man that is at ease and prospereth in all things,

and that hath yet strength to receive pleasure.

2

Aha Death! for acceptable (lit. good) is thy sentence

unto him that hath no might, and lacketh strength;

2c

(To) the man that stumbleth and striketh against all things,

who loveth contradiction and hath lost hope.

3

Be not afraid of death (which is) thy sentence,

remember that they which went before and they which come after (will be) with thee.

4

This is the portion of all flesh from God,

and why dost thou refuse the law of the Most High?

4^c

Whether it be for a thousand years, or an hundred, or ten,

there are no corrections in Sh[eo]l.

5

A reprobate progeny is a byword of the evil,

and the offspring of the foolish is [. . . of the wic]ked.

6

From an unrighteous son cometh a rule of evil,

[and with his] seed [abideth want]

7

An ungodly father a [chi]l[d] doth curse,

because [on his] acc[ount he suffereth reproach].

8

[Woe] to [you, ye wicked,

because ye have forsaken the law of the Most] High.

9

If [ye increase, it shall be into] the hands of bodily mishap;

[and if ye] beget, it shall be for sighing.

If ye stumble, it shall be for perpetual joy;

9^b

and if ye die, it shall be for a curse.

10

All things from nothing turn to nothing again,

so the godless (go) from emptiness to emptiness.

11

The vanity of man is in his body,

but a godly name shall not be cut off.

12

Fear for (thy) name, for that will accompany thee,

more than thousands of precious treasures.

13

The goodness of life hath days that may be numbered,

but goodness of name hath days without number.

14^b

Buried wisdom and a hidden treasure,

what profit is in them both?

15

Better is a man that hideth his foolishness,

than a man that hideth his wisdom.

The discipline of shame.

14^a

Hearken, O children, to the discipline of shame,

16

and be abashed according to my judgement.

16^b

Not every kind of shame is it fitting to retain,

nor is every kind of abashment approved.

17

Be ashamed before father and mother, of whoredom;

before a prince sitting (in judgement), of a lie;

18

Before master and mistress of deceit;

before the congregation and the people, of transgression;

18^c

[Before a partner] and a friend, of trespass;

19

and before the place where thou sojournest, of [a stranger;

19^b

[Of breaking an oath and a covenant,

of stretching out the elbow at meat;

19^d

Of refusing to grant a request;

21

of reckoning the face of thy friend;

21b

Of reckoning the dividing of a portion;

20

before him that saluteth, of silence;

20^b

Of gazing on a woman [that is a harlot?];

21^c

and of . . . . .

22^c

Before a friend, of reproachful [word]s;

and after giving, spurn not.

XLII. 1

Of repeating a word that thou hearest,

and of laying bare any secret counsel:

l^c

So shalt thou be truly shamefast,

and finding favour in the sight of all living.

1^e

But of these things be not ashamed,

and accept not persons unto sin:

2

Of the law of the Most High and the statute,

and of judgement to do justice to the wicked,

3

Of reckoning with a partner and a master,

and of the division of an inheritance and a property,

4^a

Of the small dust of the scales and balance,

5^a

and of exchange by ephah and stone (weight),

4^b

Of buying between much and little,

5^c

and of smiting a deceitful [servant].

6

Upon an evil woman sets a seal,

but a place of weak hands thou mayest open.

7

In the place where thou committest a deposit, [count,

and let giving and receiving all be in writing.

8

(Be not ashamed) of the correction of the simple and the fool,

or of him that is grey-headed and very aged, and that (yet) taketh counsel for whoredom.

8^c

So shalt thou be well-advised in truth,

and lowly before all living.

9

A daughter is to a father a deceptive treasure,

and the care of her [putteth away his sleep]:

9^c

In her youth lest she commit adultery,

and in her virginity lest [she be defiled],

10

In her virginity lest she be seduced,

and in the house of [her lord lest she bear not?],

10^c

In the house of her father lest [she play the harlot?],

and in the house of her hu[sband lest] . . . .

11

[My son, keep a strict watch over thy daughter,

lest she make thee] a name of evil odour,

11^c

A byword in the city and a cursing of the people,

and shame thee [in the congregation of the gate.

11e

In the place where she lodgeth let there be no lattice,

nor a chamber looking upon the entrance round about.

12

Let her not show her beauty to any male,

and in the house of women let her not converse.

13

For from a garment cometh forth a moth,

and from a woman a woman's wickedness.

14

Better is the wickedness of a man than the goodness of a woman,

and the house of her that causeth shame poureth forth reproach.

15

I will remember now the works of God,

and that which I have seen I will recount.

15^c

By the word of God is his pleasure,

and him that doeth his pleasure he hath accepted.

16

The rising sun is revealed over all things,

so the glory of the Lord is over all his works.

17

The saints of God do not suffice

to recount the wonders of the Lord'.

17^c

God hath given strength unto his hosts,

that they may endure firmly before his glory.

18

 He searcheth out the deep and the heart,

and understandeth all their nakednesses;

19

Declaring things that are past and that are to come,

and revealing the remotest of hidden things.

20

No knowledge is lacking to him,

and no matter escapeth him.

21

[The might of his wisdom] he hath regulated,

he is one from everlasting.

21c

Nothing [hath been added (unto him), or] diminished (from him),

and he hath no need of any instructor.

23a

He [establisheth all things for ever],

25^a

one thing upon another for the sake of its good.

25^b

And who can [be filled with [beholding (his) beauty?]

XLIII. 1^a

. . . . . . . . . .

XLIII. 1^b

And the body of heaven beholding his majesty,

XLII. 23^b

and all things are obedient to every use.

24

All of them are different, one from another,

and he hath made none of them [in vain].

XLIII. 2

The sun, when he goeth forth, poureth out warmth:

how terrible are the works of the Lord!

3

By his shining he heateth the world;

before his drought who can maintain himself?

4

A fierce furnace is established by them (?),

the sun being sent forth setteth the mountains in a blaze.

4^c

A tongue of light consumeth the inhabited(country),

and with its fire the eye is scorched;

5

For great is the Lord that made him,

and (with) his words he maketh brilliant (?) his mighty ones.

6

Moreover moon by moon the seasons return,

(for) a limited rule, but an everlasting sign;

7

By her are the appointed feast and the prescribed times,

and in her circuit [she doeth] (her) business;

8

With every (new) month she is renewed,

how terrible is she in her changing!

8^c

An instrument of the host of the (rain-)vessels on high,

paving the firmament with her shining:

9

The beauty of heaven, and the glory of a star,

and her light shining in the heights of God.

10

By the word of God a statute is established,

and they sleep not in their watches.

11

Behold the (rain)bow, and bless him that made it,

for exceeding majestic is it [in glory;

12

It compasseth with its glory the vault (of heaven),

and the hand of God  hath stretched it out in [its pride].

13

His might marketh out the lightning,

and maketh brilliant the flashes [in judgement].

14

On that account he hath created a treasure-house,

and hath made [the clouds?] to fly forth . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17

The voice of his thunder maketh his land to be in anguish,

the hot winds of the north, the tempest, and the whirlwind.

17^c

Like darting flashes he sheddeth abroad his snow,

and like locusts (when) they settle is the falling down thereof;

18

The beauty of its whiteness dazzleth the eyes,

and the heart is disquieted at the raining of it.

19

The hoar-frost also he poureth out like salt,

and maketh it to bloom with flowers like sapphire.

20

The cold of the north wind he causeth to blow,

and congealeth his spring like rottenness (?).

20^c

Over every standing water he spreadeth a crust,

and a pond putteth on as it were a breastplate.

21

It burneth up the produce like drought,

and the stateliness of growing things as a flame.

22

The dropping of a cloud healeth all things,

(even) dew releasing (?) the parched young grass.

23

His counsel burneth up (?) the great (deep),

and he planteth islands in the ocean.

24

They that go down to the sea tell of its bounds,

when we hear it with our ears, we are astonished.

25

Therein are wonders, the marvels of his work,

variety of all things living, and the mighty things of the great (deep).

26

By reason of him [his] messenger prospereth,

and by his words he performeth (his) pleasure.

27

More like this we will not add,

and the conclusion of the matter is, He is all.

28

Let us still be magnifying him, for we shall not search him out,

and he is great beyond all his works.

29

[The Lord is] exceeding [terrible],

and wonderful are his mighty acts.

30

[Ye that magnify the Lord], lift up your voice all that ye can, for there is yet more;

30^c

ye that exalt him, renew your strength, and be not weary, for ye will not [search (him) out].

32

Many [hidden things hath he established (?) more than] these;

a little only have I seen of his works.

33

All things [hath the Lord made],

and to [the godly hath he given wisdom].

XLIV. 1

Let me now praise godly men,

our fathers in their generations.

2

Great glory the Most High allotted (to them),

and they were great from days of old;

3

Rulers of the earth in their royalty,

and men of renown in their might;

3^c

Who gave counsel by their understanding,

and saw all things in their prophecy;

4

Princes of nations in their prudence,

and potentates in their care;

4^c

Wise of meditation in their writing,

and governing in their watchfulness;

5

Who sought out music according to rule,

and took up the proverb in writing;

6

Men of worth, and supported with strength,

and that lived quietly upon their places.

9

All these in their generation (were honoured),

and from their birth was their glory.

8

There be of them that have left a name,

that men might tell of it in their inheritance;

9

And there be of them which have no memorial,

and have ceased as they have ceased;

9^c

They were as though they had not been,

and their children after them.

10

Nevertheless these were godly men,

and their hope [shall not perish;

11

With their seed their goodness remaineth sure,

and their inheritance unto chil[dren's children];

13

Their memory standeth fast for ever,

and their righteousness [shall not be forgotten];

14

[Their bodies were buried in p]eac[e,

but their name liveth] unto all generations a.

16

Enoch [was f]ound perfect, and walked with the Lord, and was taken,

being an example (lit. sign) of knowledge to all generations.

17

Noah the righteous was found perfect,

in a season of destruction he became the successor;

17^c

For his sake was there a remnant,

and through the covenant with him, the flood ceased;

18

By an everlasting sign was it made with him,

that he would not destroy all flesh.

19

Abraham was the father of a multitude of nations,

he put no blemish upon his glory;

20

Who kept the commandment of the Most High,

and entered into a covenant with him;

20^c

In his flesh he made him an ordinance,

and when he was proved he was found faithful.

21

Therefore he promised him with an oath,

that he would bless the nations in his seed,

21^e

To cause them to inherit [from se]a to sea,

and from the River unto the ends of the earth.

22

To Isaac also did he raise up a son,

for the sake of Abraham his father;

22^c

He gave him (?)the covenant of every ancestor,

23

and the blessing rested on the head of Israel;

23^b

And he confirmed him in the blessing,

and gave him his inheritance;

23^d

And he set him in tribes,

in twelve parts.

23^f

[And he brought ou]t of him a man,

who found favour in the sight of all living,

XLV. 1

[A man beloved of] God and men,

(even) Moses, whose memory is unto good'.

2

[And G]od 9 glorified him

and strengthened him in the heights (of heaven).

3

By [his words] . . . . . . . . . . .,

and gave him boldness before the king;

3^c

And gave him a charge unto [his people],

and sh[ewed him of his glory].

4

For his faithfulness and meekness,

he chose him out of all [flesh];

5

And made him to hear his voice,

and caused him to draw near into the thick darkness;

5^c

And set a commandment in his hand,

even the law of life and understanding;

5^e

To teach in Jacob his statutes,

and his testimonies and judgements unto Israel.

6

And he exalted a holy man, even Aaron of the tribe of Levi,

7

and set him for an everlasting ordinance;

7^b

And put majesty upon him,

and he ministered unto him in his glory.

7^d

And he girded him about (as) with the towering horns of a wild-ox,

and clothed him with bells.

8

And he clothed him with the perfection of adornment,

and adorned him with glory and strength;

8^c

The breeches, the coats, and the robe,

9

and [compassed him] with bells,

9^b

And pomegranates, a multitude round about,

to make music with his steps;

9^d

To make the sound of him to be heard in the inmost temple,

for a memorial to the children of his people.

10

Holy garments, of gold, blue, and purple,

the work of the designer:

10^c

The breastplate of judgement, the ephod, and the waist-cloth,

11

and scarlet, the work of the weaver;

11^b

Pleasant stones upon the breast-plate,

the engravings of a signet with settings;

11^d

Every precious stone for a memorial with graven writing,

according to the number of [the tribes of Israel;

12

The crown of pure gold, the robe, and the mitre,

and the plate, [having engraven on it, as on a signet,] Holiness;

12^c

Majesty, glory, and the praise of strength,

the desire [of the eyes, and the perfection of b]eauty.

13

Be[fore them were no]t [any such,

and no] stranger [should put them on for ever].

33^c

He [trusted him and] his sons after this manner,

and thus (should) his sons (do) throughout their generations;

14

His meal-offering should be wholly burnt,

and every day twice continually.

15

And Moses filled his hand,

and anointed him with the holy oil.

15^c

And it was unto him an everlasting covenant,

and to his seed as the days of heaven,

15^e

To minister and to execute the priest's office unto him,

and to bless his people in his name.

16

And he chose him out of all living,

to bring near the burnt-offering and the fat pieces;

16^c

And to burn a sweet savour and a memorial,

and to make atonement for the children of Israel.

17

And he gave him his commandments,

and made him to have authority over statute and judgement.

17^c

So he taught his people statutes,

and judgements unto the children of Israel.

18

But strangers were incensed against him,

and were jealous of him in the wilderness;

18e

The men of Dathan and Abiram,

and the congregation of Korah in the violence of their anger.

19

And the Lord saw it and was angered,

and consumed them in the heat of his anger;

19^c

And he brought upon them a sign,

and devoured them with his flaming fire.

20

And [he increased] to Aaron his glory,

and gave him his inheritance;

20^e

The holy f[irst-fruits] he gave to him for bread,

21^a

that they should eat the fire-offerings of the Lord;

20^d

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . they should divide,

21^b

and (they should be) a gift to him and to his seed;

22

Only [in the land of his people] he should not inherit,

and amongst them he should not divide an inheritance;

22^e

The fire-offerings of the Lord [should be their portion and their inheritance]

. . . . . . . . Israel.

23

Moreover Phinehas, the son of Eleazar,

in might . . . . .

23^c

In his jealousy for the God of all,

and stood in the breach of his people.

23^e

Whose heart made him willing,

and he made atonement for the children of Israel.

24

Therefore for him also did he establish an ordinance,

a covenant of peace to maintain the sanctuary;

24^c

Which should be to him and to his seed,

an high priesthood for ever.

25

Also his covenant (was) with David

the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah.

25^a

An inheritance of fire in presence of his glory

was the inheritance of Aaron unto all his seed.

25^e

And now bless ye the Lord, the good,

who hath crowned you with glory;

26

And given you wisdom of heart,

26^c

that your goodness [and] your [mig]ht be not forgotten through perpetual generations.

XLVI. 1

A mighty man of valour was Joshua the son of Nun,

the minister of Moses in prophecy,

1^c

Who was formed that there might be in his days

a great salvation to his chosen ones;

l^e

To execute vengeance upon the enemy,

and to give Israel his inheritance.

2

How glorious was he when he stretched out his hand,

when he swung the javelin against the city!

3

Who was he that could stand before him?

for he fought] the battles of the Lord.

4

Did not the sun stand still by his hand,

so that one day [became two]?

5

For he called unto God Most High,

when he was pressed upon [round about].

5^c

And God Most High answered him with stones

of [hail and coa]ls [of fir]e;

6

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

and in [the descent]

6^c

That every banned nation [might kn]ow

that the Lord watched their battles.

6^e

[Yea], because he followed fully after God,

7

and in the days of Moses wrought godliness,

7^b

[H]e, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh,

in standing fast when the assembly cast off restraint,

7^d

To turn away wrath from the congregation,

and to still the evil report;

8

Therefore they also, two alone, were reserved,

out of six hundred thousand men on foot,

8^e

To bring them into their inheritance,

a land flowing with milk and honey.

9

And he gave strength unto Caleb,

and even unto old age it remained with him;

9^c

To make him to tread upon the high places of the land,

and that his seed also should possess an inheritance;

10

That all the seed of Jacob might know

that it was good to follow fully after the Lord.

11

Also the judges every one by his name,

every one whose heart had not turned aside,

11^c

And who drew not back from (following) after God--

may their memory be blessed, 12^b and their name succeed to their sons.

13

The lover of his people, & acceptable to his Maker,

(was) he who was lent from his mother's womb,

13^c

A nazirite of the Lord in prophecy,

Samuel, who was judge and priest.

13^e

[The pro]phet of God established a kingdom,

and anointed leaders' over the people.

14

By [his law he commanded the congregation,

and the God of Jacob visited (them).

13

By . . . . he was [san]ctified a gazer (prophet),

and by his word also he was confirmed as a shepherd.

16

He also [called] unto God,

[when] his [ene]mies [pressed hi]m round about,

16^c

When he offered up [a sucking lamb,

17

and [the Lord] thun[dered out of heaven];

17^b

With a mighty crash his voice was heard,

18

and he subdued the garrisons of the foe, and des[troy]ed all the lords of the Philistines.

19

And at the time of his resting upon his (last) bed, he called the Lord and his anointed to witness, (saying,)

19^c

From [whom] have I [taken] a ransom or a secret gift? and no man answered against him.

19^e

Also till the time of his end he was found prudent in the sight of the Lord and in the sight of all living.

20

And even after his death he was sought, and declared to the king his ways, 20^c and lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy.

XLVII. 1

Moreover after him rose up Nathan,

to stand before David.

2

For like fat separated from the holy (offering),

so was David (separated) from Israel.

3

He mocked at lions as at a kid,

and at bears as at the herds of Bastian.

4

In his youth he smote a mighty man,

and took away an everlasting [reproach],

4^c

When he swung his hand upon the sling,

and brake the pr[id]e of Goliath.

5

For he called unto God Most High,

and he put strength in his right hand,

5^c

To thrust away the man skilled in battles,

and to exalt the horn of his people.

6

Therefore the daughters sang of him,

and titled him with ten thousand.

6^c

When he had put on the diadem he fought,

7

and subdued the adversary round about;

7^b

And set nakedness among the Philistines,

and brake [their h]orn in pieces unto this day.

8

In all his works he gave thanks to God

Most High [with words of glory,

8^c

With his whole heart loving him that made him,

and every [day] . . . . . . .

9

Stringed instruments of song (he sets) be[fore the altar],

and the sound of [. . . . and of harps he set in order.

10

. . . . . . .

. . . . [year by y]ear.

10^c

While [they praised his holy name,

the sanctuary resounded before the morning.

11

. . . . the Lord took away his transgression,

and exalted his horn for ever,

11^c

[And ga]ve him the ordinance of the kingdom,

and established his throne over Jerusalem.

12

[And] among the people there arose none after him,

an understanding son, dwelling securely.

13

Solomon reigned in days of prosperity,

and God gave rest to him round about,

13^c

Who established an house for his name,

and set up a sanctuary for ever.

14

How wast thou wise in thy youth!

and didst make instruction to overflow like the Nile:

15

The earth . . . . . . . . . .

and thou didst celebrate song in the height (?);

16

With songs, proverbs, dark sayings, and figures,

thou didst greatly move the nations:

17

Thou wast called by the glorious name,

which is called over Israel,

18^c

And thou didst heap up gold as iron,

and didst multiply silver like lead;

29

But thou gavest thy loins unto women,

and lettest them have dominion over thy body;

20

So [thou] didst put a blemish upon thy glory,

and didst profane thy couch,

20^c

[To bring] wrath upon thy issue,

and sighing upon thy bed;

21

That [they should become] two tribes,

and that out or Ephraim a kingdom of violence (might arise).

22

[Nevertheless] God forsaketh not mercy,

nor letteth any of his words fall to the ground.

22^c

He will not [cut off from his chosen] progeny and offspring,

nor destroy them that [lo]ve him;

22^e

So he gave unto [Jacob a remnant],

and to [David] . . . .

23

And Solomon slept. . . . . . . .

and left of his [seed] af[ter him].

23^c

Ample in foolishness and lacking understanding,

Rehoboam by [his counsel let loose [the people;

23^e

Until there arose--let him have no memorial!--Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made [Israel to si]n.

23^g

And he gave unto Ephraim a stumbling-block,

24^b

to drive them out [of] their land.

24^a

And his sin was great exceedingly,

25

and he sold himself to all evil.

XLVIII. 1

Till there arose a prophet like fire,

whose words were like a burning furnace.

2

And he brake for them the staff of bread,

and by his jealousy made them few in number.

3

By the word of God he shut up the heavens,

. . . . . . . . . . fires.

4

How terrible wast thou, O Elijah!

he who is like thee may glory!

5

Who didst raise up one that expired from death,

and from Sheol, according to the will of the Lord;

6

Who broughtest down kings to the pit,

and honourable men [from] their beds;

8

Who anointedst one filled with retribution,

and a prophet to succeed in thy place;

7

Who heardest reproofs in Sinai,

and judgements of vengeance in Horeb;

9

Who wast taken up by a whirlwind on high,

and by troops of fire [into heaven];

10

Who art written down as ready for a season,

to snake anger to cease before . . . . . .

10^c

To turn the heart of the fathers to the children,

and to give understanding to the tr[ibes of Isra]el.

11

Happy he that saw thee and died (?) . . . .

. . . . .

12

Elijah. . . . . . . .

and Elisha . . . . . . . .

12^c

With a do[uble] measures he multiplied signs,

and he was learned in every utterance of his mouth.

12^e

All his life long he quaked before none,

and no flesh had dominion over his spirit;

13

No matter was too hard for him,

and from its place his flesh prophesied;

14

In his life he did wonders,

and in his death marvellous works.

15

For all this the people turned not,

and ceased not from their sins,

15^c

Till they were rooted up from their land,

and were scattered through all the earth.

15^e

But there were left to Judah a few,

and still a judge to the house of David.

16

There were of them that dealt uprightly,

and there were of them that trespassed wondrously.

17

Hezekiah strengthened his city,

when he turned aside waters into the midst of it,

17^c

And hewed the rocks with brass,

and stopped up mountains for a pool.

18

In his days came up Sennacherib,

and sent Rabshakeh;

18^c

And he stretched out his hand against Sion,

and blasphemed God in his pride.

19

[Then were] they melted in the pride of their heart,

and were in anguish as a woman in travail;

20

So they called] unto God Most High,

and spread forth their hands unto him;

20^c

And he [heard] the voice of their prayer,

and saved them by the hand of Isaiah;

21

And [he smote the c]amp of the Assyrian,

and discomfited them with the plague.

22

[For Hezekiah [did] that which was go[od,

and] was strong in the ways of David.

22^c

. . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . .

23

. . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . .

24

By a spirit of might he saw the end,

and comforted the mourners of Sion.

25

For ever he declared things that should be,

and hidden things before they came.

XLIX. 1

The name of Josiah is like incense of sweet spices,

salted, the work of the perfumer;

1^c

His memory is sweet as honey on the palate,

and as music at the banquet of wine.

2

For he was grieved for our backslidings,

and he made the abominations of vanity to cease;

3

And he made his heart perfect toward God,

and in days of violence he wrought godliness.

4

Except David, Hezekiah, and Josiah,

they all did corruptly;

4e

And forsook the law of the Most High,

the kings of Judah, till they were ended.

5

So he turned their horn backward,

and (gave) their glory to a foolish, foreign nation;

6

And they set on fire the holy city,

and made her ways desolate.

6^e

By the hand of Jeremiah, for they afflicted him,

yet from the womb he was formed (to be) a prophet,

7^c

To pluck up and to break down and to destroy (and) to overthrow,

and in like manner to build up, to plant, and to make strong.

8

Ezekiel saw the vision,

and declared divers kinds of chariot.

9

Also he made mention of Job,

who maintained all the w[ays of righ]teousness.

10

Moreover the twelve prophets,

may their strength flou[rish out of their pla]ces.

10^c

Who recovered Jacob to health,

and restored him by . . . . . . . .

11

[How shall we magni]fy [Zerubbabel]?

. . . . . . . . . .

12

. . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . .