4fiotryphe. Chap. xvii. any remedy for their life: for they were worthy to be punished by such. 10 But thy sons not the very teeth of v.enomous dragons overcame: for thy mercy was ever by them, and healed them. Ii For they were pricked, that they should remember thy words; and were quickly saved, that not falling into deep forgetfulness, they might be continually mindful of thy goodness. I* For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaifter, that restored them to aealth: but thy word, O Lord, which lealeth all things. 13 For thou hast power of life and ieatb : thou leadest to the gates of hell, ind bringest up again. 14 A man indeed killeth through his vialice: and the spirit, when it is gone 7orth, retumeth not; neither the foul •eceived up cpmeth again. 15 But it is not possible to escape thine hand. 16 For the ungodly, that denied to enow thee, were scourged by the strength as thine arm: with strange rains, hails, ind showers, were they persecuted, that they could not avoid, and through fire were they consumed. 17 For, which is most to be wondered »t, the fire had more force in the water, that quencheth all things: for the world ighteth for the righteous. 18 For sometime the flame was mitigated, that it might not burn up the leasts that were sent against the ungody; but themselves might fee and per:eive, that they were persecuted with :he judgement of God. 19 And at another time it burneth ;ven in the midst of water above the jower of fire, that it might destroy the ruits of an unjust land. ao Instead whereof thou feddest thine iwn people with angels' food, and didst "end them from heaven bread prepared without their labour, able to content ;very man's delight, and agreeing to :very taste. »i For thy sustenance declared thy weetnese unto thy children, and serving :o the appetite of the eater, tempered tself to every man's liking. ai But snow and ice endured the fire, ind melted not, that they might know :hat fire burning in the hail, and sparking in the rain, did destroy the fruits of Apocrypka. »4 For the creature that serveth thee, who art the Maker, increaseth his strcngthagainsttheunrighteousforth«ir punishment, and abateth his strength for the benefit of such as put their trust in thee. »5 Therefore even then was it altered into all fashions, and was obedient to thy grace, that nourifheth all things, according to the desire ef them that had need: 16 That thy children, O Lord, whom thou loveft, might know, that it is not the growing of fruits that nourifheth man: but that it is thy word, which preserveth them that put their trust in thee. »7 For that which was not destroyed of the fire, being warmed with a little sunbeam, soon melted away: 38 That it might be known, that we must prevent the sun to give thee thanks, and at the dayspring pray unto thee. »9 For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter's hoar frost, and shall run away as unprofitable water. CHAP. XVII. I Why the Egyptians tvtre punijhed tviti darkness. 11 The terrors ef an ill con science. IVOR great; SP cannot be < .he enemies. are thy judgements, and expressed: therefore unnurtured fouls have erred. » For when unrighteous men thought to oppress the holy nation; they being shut up in their houses, the prisoners ot darkness, and fettered with the bond* of a long night, lay [there] exiled from the eternal providence. 3 For while they supposed to lie hid in their secret fins, they were scattered undera dark veil of forgetfulness, being horribly astonished, and troubled with [Itrange] apparitions. 4 For neither might the corner that held them keep them from fear: but noises [as of waters] falline do«n, founded about them, and fad visions appeared unto them with heavy countenances. 5 No power of the fire might give them light: neither could the bright flames of the stars endure to lighten that horrible night. 6 Only there appeared unto them a fire kindled of itself, very dreadful: for being much terrified, they thought the things which they saw to be worse than the sight they saw not. 7 As for the illusions of art magick, they were put down, and their vaunting in wisdom waa reproved with disgrace; t F % .. % for Apocrypha. 8 For they, that promised to drive away terrors and troubles from a sick foul, were sick themselves of fear, worthy to be laughed at. 9 for though no terrible thing did fear them; yet beinj; seired with beasts that passed bv, and hilling of serpents, 10 They died fur fear, denying that they saw the air, which could of no side be avoided. ir % For wickedness, condemned by her own witness, it verv timorous, arid being pressed with conscience, always forecalleth grievous things. 11 For tear is nothing eise hut a betraying of the succours which reason ©ffereth. . . 13 And the expectation from within, being less,counteth the ignorance more than the cause which bringeiu the torment. 14 But they sleeping the same sleep that night w hich was indeed intolerable, and which came upon them out of the bottoms of inevitable hell, 15 Were partly vexed with monstrous apDaritions, and partly fainted," their heart failing them: for a sudden fear, and not looked for, came upon them. 16 So then whosoever there fell down was straightly kept, shut up iu a prison without iron bars. 17 For whether he were husbandman, «>r shepherd, or a labourer in the field, }ie was overtaken, and endured that neVcssity. which could not he avoided: for they were all bound with one chain of darkness. jg Whether it were a whistling wind, ora melodious noise of birds among the Ipreading branches, or a pleasing fall of viater running violently. 19 Or a terrible found of stones cast down, or a running tha: could not be seen of skipping beasts, or a roaring •voice of molt savage wild brails, or ,1 rebounding echo from t!'t hollow mountains: these things made them to swoon tor fear. *o For the »hole world llihied with ■clear lis:ht, and none were hindered in •their labour: »i Over them only was spread an h»a«y night. .in image 0fth.1t darkness whicii should afterward receive them: but vet-we're they uuto themselves more trlevou* than the darkness. CHAP. xvnr. .4 tt'hy F.gi-plvuu Jiuii!j!i:4 ■«.-// h lar kits; t 1 atic 'with III" dc'dh of tllcti ckiUnn. i."] fcverthclefj thv faint & bad a very X^i great tight, whose voice they hear WISDOM of SOLOMON Aft^ha. ing, and not feeing their shape, because Jlpccrypha. Chap they also had not suffered the same things, they counted them happy. » But for that they did not hurt them no-w, of whom they hid been wronged before, thev thanked them, aud besought them pardon for that they had been enemies. , 3 Instead whereof thou gavesi" them a burning pillar of fire, both to be a guide of the unknown journev, and an harmless sun to entertain them honourably. 4 T For they were worthy to be deprived of light, and imprisoned in darkness, who had kept thy sons (hut up, by whom the uncorrupt light of the law was to be given unto the world. 5 H And when they had determined to flay the babes of the faints, one child being cast forth, and saved, to reprove them, thou tookest away the multitude of their children, and destroyedft them altogether in a mighty water. 6 Of that night were our fathers certified afore, that assuredly knowing unto what oaths they had given credence, they might afterwards be of good cheer: 7 So of thy people was accepted both the salvation of the righteous, and destruction of the enemies. 8 For wherewith thou didst punish our adversaries, by the fame thou didst glorify us, whom thou hadst called. 9 For the righteous children of good men did sacrifice secretly, and with one consent made a holy law, that the saints should be like partakers of the fame good and evil, the fathers now singing out the songs of praise. 10 B^t on the other side there sounded an ill according cry ot the enemies, aad a lam-.-ntable noise tvas carried abroad for children that were hevrailcd. 11 The master and the servant were punished after one manner; and lite a« the king, so suffered the common per* son. 11 So th?y altogether had innumerable dead with one kind of death; neither v.ere the living sufficient to bury them: form one moment the noblest off-piing of them was destroyed. 13 For whereas they would not believe any tning by reason of the inchantmen's; upon the destruction of the ri;Bborn, they acknowledged thio people to be the sous of God. 14 For while all things were in quiet silence, and that night was ia the midst of her swift course, li Thine i j Thine almighty word leaped down from heaven out of thy royal throne, as a fierce man of war into the midst of a land of destruction, 16 And broughtthine unfeigned commandment as a lharp sword, and standing up filled all things with death; and it touched the heaven, box it stood upon she earth. «7 Then suddenly vision* of horrible dreams troubled them fore, and terrors came upon them unlooked for. 18.And one thrown here, and another there, half dead, shewed the cause of bis death. 19 For the dreams that troubled them, did forelhew this, lest they ihould perish, and not know wny they were afflicted. ao Yea, the tasting of death touched the righteous also, and there was a destruction of the multitude in the wilderness: but the wrath endured not Ion:,-. »i For then the blameless man made baste, and stood forth to defend them; and bringing the shield of his proper ministry, even prayer, and the propitiation of incense set himself against the wrath, and so brought the calamity to an end, declaring that he was thy servant. a* So he overcame the destroyer, not with strength of body, nor force of arms, but with a word subdued he him that punished, alledging the oaths and covenants made with the fathers. •3 For when the dead were now fallen down by heaps one upon another, standing between, he stayed the wrath, and parted the way to the living. 44 For in the long garment was the whole world, and in the four rows of the stones was the glory of the fathers graven, and thy Majesty upon the diadem ot his head. »5 Unto these the destroyer gave platr, and was afr.-.id ot them: for it was enough that ihey only tasted of the wrath. CHAP. XIX. I Why Godjhi-wmi n» m:ny to the Egyptians, 5 and hvw wonderfully Ae dealt •viith hn people. AS for the ungodly, wrath came upon them without mercy unto the end: for he knew before what they would do j i How that having given them leave to depart, and sent them hastily away, they would tepeiit and purlue them. j For whilst they were yrt mourning ■ xiS. Afocrypha. and making lamentation at the grafts of the dead, they added another foolish device, and pursued them as fugitives whom they had intreated to be gone. 4 For the destiny, whereof they were worthy, drew them unto this end, and made them forget the things that had already happened, that they might fulfil the punishment which was wanting ta their torments i 5 1 And that thy people migh/ pass a wonderful way: but they might find ;i strange death. 6 For the whole creature in his proper kind was fashioned again anew,serv^ ing the peculiar commandments that were given unto them, that thy children might be kept without hurt: 7 As namely, a cloud shadowing the camp; and where water stood before1, dry land appeared; and out of the Re<} sea a way without impediment; and out of the violent stream a green field': 8 Wherethrough all the people went that were defended with thy hind, seeing thy marvellous strange wonders. 9 For they went at large like horse?, and leaped like lambs, praising thee, O Lord, who hadft delivered them. io For they were yet mindful of the thingB that were done while they so* journed in the strange land, how the ground brought forth flies instead of cattle, and how the river cast up a multitude of frogs instead of fishes. Ii But atter«ards they saw a new generation of fowls, wheo being led with their appetite, they asked delicate meats. ii For quails came up unto then} from the Tea, for their contentment. 13 And punishments came upon the sinners, not without former signs by the force of thunders: for they suffered justly, according to their o*n wickedness, insomuch as they used a more hard and hateful behaviour towards ft ran er • ers. 14 For the Sodomites did not receive thole whom they knew not when they came: but these brought friends into bondage, that had well deserved of them, 15 And not onlysi), but, peradventure soir.e respect shall be hail of those, because they used strangers not friendly: 16 But these very grievously afflicted them, whom they had received with feasting?, and were already made partakers of the lame laws with them. 17 Therefore even with blindness were these stricken,as those were at the doors tF.3 o»' Apocrypha. ECCLESIASTICUS.. Apocrypha.. of the righteous man: when .being compassed about with horrible great darkness, every one sought the passage of his own doors. 18 For the elements were changed in themselves by a kind of harmony, like as in a psaltery note* change the name of the tune, and yet are always sounds; which may well be perceived by the sight of the things that have been done. 19 For earthly things were turned into watery, and the things, that before swam in the water, now went upon the ground. ao The fire had power in the water. forgetting his own virtue: and the water forgat his own quenching nature. »i On the other side, the flames wafted not the flesh of the corruptible living things, though they walked therein; neither melted they the icy kind of heavenly meat, that was of nature apt to melt. »i For in all things, O Lord, thou didst magnify thy people, and glorify them, neither didst thou lightly regard them: but didst assist them in every time and place. The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sit ach, or ECCLESIASTICUS. A Prologue made by an uncertain Author. THIS Jesus was the son of Sirach, and grandchild to Jesus of the fame name with him: this man therefore lived in the latter times, after the people bad been led away captive, and called home again, and almost after all the prophets. Now his grandfather Jesus, as he himself witnesseth, was a man of great diligence and wisdom among the Hebrews, who did not only gather the grave and fl»ort sentences of wife men, that had been before him, but himself also uttered some of his own, full of much understanding and wisdom. When as therefore the firit Jesus died, leaving this book almost perfected, Sirach his son receivingit after him eft it to his own son Jesus, who, having gotten it into his hands, compiled it all orderly into one volume, and called it Wisdom, intituling it both by his own name, his father's name, and his grandfather's; alluring the hearer by the very name of Wisdom to have a greater love to the study of this book. It containeth therefore wife sayings, dark sentence!!, and parables, and certain particular ancient godlv stories of men that pleased God; also his prayer and song; moreover what bench's God had vouchsafed his people, and what plagues he had heaped upon their enemies. This Jesus did imitate Solomon, and was no less famous for wisdom and learning, both being indeed a man of great learning, and so reputed also. The Prologue of the Wisdom os Jesus the Son «f Sirach. WHEREAS many and great things have been delivered unto us by the la* and the prophets, and by others that have followed their steps, for the which things Israel ought to be commended for learning and wisdom; and whereof not only the readers must needs become skilful themselves, but also they that desire to learn, be able to profit them which are without, both by speaking and writing: my grandfather Jesus, when he had much given himself to the reading of the lav, and the prophets, and other books of our fathers, and had gotten therein good judgement, was drawn on also himself to write something pertaining to learning and wisdom; to the intent, that those which are desirous to learn, and are addielcd to these things, might profit much more in living according to the law. Wherefore let me intreat you to read it with favour and attention, and to pardon us, wherein we may seem to come (hort of some words, which we have laboured to interpret. For the fame things uttered in Hebrew, and translated into another tongue, have not the same force"in them: and not only these things, but the law itself, and the prophets, and the rest of the books, have 110 small difference, when they are spoken in their own language. For in the eight and thirtieth year coming into Egypt, when Euergetea was king, and continuing there some time, I found a book of no small learning: therefore I thought it most necefiary for roe to bestow some diligence and travail to interpret it; using great watchfulness and skill in that space, to brin; the book to an end, and set it forth for them also, which in a strange country are willing to learn, being prepared before in manners to live after the law, CHAP, Apocrypha. CHAP. I. t AU wisdom is si om Cod: 1 o he giveth AL L wisdom cometh from the 3 Who can find out the height of heaven, and the breadth < ( the earth, and the deep, and wisdom r 4 Wisdom hath been created before all things, and the understanding of prudence from everlasting. 5 The word of God most high is the fountain of wisdom; and her ways are everlasting commandments. 6 To whom hath the root of wisdom been revealedI or who hath known her wise counsels? 7 [Unto whom hath the knowledge of wisdom been made manifest? and who hath understood her great experience?] 8 There is one wife and greatly to be feared, the Lord fitting upon his throne. 9 He created her, and saw her, and numbered her, and poured her out upon all his works. 10 H She // with all flelh according to his gift, and he hath given her to them that love him. tx The fear of the Lord is honour, and glory, and gladness, and a crown of rejoicing. l» 1 The fear of the Lord maketh a merry heart, and giveth joy, and gladness, and a long life. 13 Whoso feareth the Lord, it (hall go well with him at the last, and he shall find favour in the day of his death. 14 To fear the Lord it the beginning of wisdom: and it was created with the faithful in the womb. 15 She hath built zn everlasting foundation with men, and (he (hall continue with their feed. 16 To fear the Lord is fulness of wisdom, and filleth men with her fruits. 17 She filleth all their house with things desirable, and the garners with her increase. 18 The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom .making peace and perfect health to flourilh, both which are the grists of God: and it enlargeth their rejoicing |ihat love him. 19 Wisdom raineth down (kill and knowledge of understanding, and ewlt Chap. ii. Apocrypha. eth them to honour that hold her fast. 20 The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and the branches thereof are long life. 41 The fear of the Lord driveth away fins: and where it is present, it turneth. away wrath. »A furious man cannot be justified; for the sv.ay of his fury (hall be his destruction. a j A patient man will bear for a time, and afterward joy (hall spring up unto him. 44 He will hide his words for a time, and the lips of many (hall declare his wisdom. 15 The parables of knowledge are in the treasures of wisdom: but godliness is an abomination to a (inner. 46 If thou desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord (hall give her unto thee. 47 For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction: and faith and meekness are his delight. 48 Distrust not the fear of the Lord, when thou art poor: and come not unto him with a double heart. 49 Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed what thou speakeft. 30 Exalt not thyself lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon thy soul, and so God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down in the midst of the congregation, because thou earnest not in truth to the fear of the Lord, but thy heart is full of deceit. CHAP. II. r God's servants must look for troubh, 7 and be patient, and trust in him: t% Jor -woe to them that do not so! MY son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation. 4 Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble. 3 Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end. 4 Whatsoever is brought upon thee, take cheerfully, and be p.itient when thou art changed to a low estate. 5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. 6 Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust in him. 7 5 Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy, and go not aside lest ye fall.* |