ever.

ever.

3 For thou endurest for ever, in the way of God, thou shouldand we perish utterly.

est have dwelled in peace for 4 O Lord Almighty, thou God of Israel, hear now the 14 But thou hast afflicted the prayers of the dead Israelites, meek, thou hast hurt the

peaceand of their children, which able, thou hast loved liars, and have sinned before thee, and not destroyed the dwellings of them hearkened unto the voice of thee that brought forth fruit, and their God.

hast cast down the walls of such 5 Remember not the iniqui- as did thee no harm. ties of our forefathers: but think 15 Therefore is thy wrongful upon thy power and thy name dealing come up unto the Highnow at this time.

est, and thy pride unto the 6 For thou art the Lord our Mighty. God, and thee, O Lord, will we ( 16 O Lord, thou art just, praise.

and all thy works and all thy 7 And for this cause thou ways are mercy and truth, and hast put thy fear in our hearts, thou judgest truly and justly for to the intent that we should call upon thy name, and praise thee 17 Remember me, and look in our captivity : for we have on me, punish me not for my called to mind all the iniquity sins and ignorances, and the of our forefathers, that sinned sins of my fathers, who have before thee.

sinned before thee: 8 Behold, we are yet this day 18 For they obeyed not thy in our captivity, where thou commandments: wherefore thou hast scattered us, for a reproach hast delivered us for a spoil, and and a curse, and to be subject unto captivity, and unto death, to payments, according to all and for a proverb of reproach the iniquities of our fathers, to all the nations

among

whom which departed from the Lord we are dispersed. our God.

19 And now thy judgements 9. Hear, Israel, the com- are many and true : deal with mandments of life: give ear to me according to my sins and understand wisdom.

my fathers’: because we have 10 How happeneth it, Israel, not kept thy commandments, that thou art in thine enemies' neither have walked in truth land, that thou art waxen old before thee. in a strange country, that thou 20 Now therefore deal with art defiled with the dead, me as seemeth best unto thee,

11 That thou art counted and command my spirit to be with them that go down into taken from me, that I may be the grave?

dissolved, and become earth : 12 Thou hast forsaken the for it is profitable for me to die fountain of wisdom.

rather than to live, because I 13 For if thou hadst walked have heard false reproaches, and

1

:

1

have much sorrow : command go into the everlasting place : therefore that I may now be de- turn not thy face away from livered out of this distress, and

me.

SECTION VIII.-Trust in God.

LESSON XVI.

founded ? or did any abide in

his fear, and was forsaken? or My son, if thou come to serve whom did he ever despise, that the Lord, prepare thy soul for called upon him? temptation.

12 For the Lord is full of 2 Set thy heart aright, and compassion and mercy, longconstantly endure, and make suffering, and very pitiful, and not haste in time of trouble. forgiveth sins, and saveth in

3 Cleave unto him, and de- time of affliction. part not away, that thou may- (13 Woe be to fearful hearts, est be increased at thy last end. and faint hands, and the sinner

4 There shall no evil happen that goeth two ways! unto him that feareth the Lord; 14 For wickedness, condemnbut in temptation even he willed by her own witness, is very deliver him.

timorous, and being pressed with 5 Whatsoever is brought up- conscience, always forecasteth on thee take cheerfully, and be grievous things. patient when thou art changed 15 For fear is nothing else to a low estate.

but a betraying of the succours 6 For gold is tried in the which reason offereth. fire, and acceptable men in the 16 Woe unto him that is furnace of adversity.

fainthearted ! for he believeth 7 Believe in him, and he will not; therefore shall he not be help thee; order thy way aright, defended. and trust in him.

17 Woe unto you that have 8 Ye that fear the Lord, wait lost patience ! and what will ye for his mercy; and go not aside, do when the Lord shall visit you? lest ye fall. Do that which is 18 They that fear the Lord good, and no evil shall touch will not disobey his word; and you.

they that love him will keep 9 Ye that fear the Lord, be- his ways. lieve him; and your reward 19 They that fear the Lord shall not fail.

will seek that which is well10 Ye that fear the Lord, hope pleasing unto him; and they for good, and for everlasting joy that love him shall be filled with

the law. 11 Look at the generations 20 They that fear the Lord of old, and see; did ever any will prepare their hearts, and trust in the Lord, and was con- humble their souls in his sight,

and mercy:

21 Saying, We will fall into him to help us, and he will hear the hands of the Lord, and not our voice, if it please him. into the hands of men : for as 33 Love him that made his majesty is, so is his mercy. thee with all thy strength, and

22 And thus consider ye forsake not his ministers. throughout all ages, that none 34 The spirit of those that that put their trust in him shall fear the Lord shall live; for be overcome.

their hope is in him that saveth 23 Fear not then the words them. of a sinful man : for his glory

35 Whoso feareth the Lord shall be dung and worms. shall not fear nor be afraid; for

24 Today he shall be lifted He is his hope. up, and tomorrow he shall not 36 Blessed is the soul of him be found, because he is returned that feareth the Lord : to whom into his dust, and his thought is doth he look? and who is his come to nothing.

strength? 25 Wherefore be valiant, and 37 For the eyes of the Lord show yourselves men in the be

are upon

them that love him, half of the law; for by it shall he is their mighty protection ye obtain glory.

and strong stay, a defence from 26 The fear of the Lord is heat, and a cover from the sun honour, and glory, and glad- at noon, a preservation from ness, and a crown of rejoicing. stumbling, and an help from

27 The fear of the Lord ma- falling. keth a merry heart, and giveth 38 He raiseth up the soul, joy, and gladness, and a long and lighteneth the eyes : he life.

giveth health, life, and bless28 Whoso feareth the Lord, ing. it shall

go

well with him at the 39 With the God of heaven last, and he shall find favour in it is all one, to deliver with a the day of his death.

great multitude, or a small com29 To fear the Lord is the pany: beginning of wisdom: and it 40 For the victory of battle was created with the faithful in standeth not in the multitude the womb.

of an host; but strength com30 The fear of the Lord dri- eth from heaven. veth away

sins: and where it is present, it turneth away wrath.

LESSON XVII. 31 Riches and strength lift up the heart: but the fear of Hear, O ye my beloved, saith the Lord is above them both: the Lord : behold, the days of there is no want in the fear of trouble are at hand, but I will the Lord, and it needeth not to deliver you from the same. seek help.

2 Be ye not afraid, neither 32 Therefore let us wait for doubt; for God is your guide, salvation of him, and call upon 3 And the guide of them who

:

see hell.

keep my commandments and

8. The heathen shall envy precepts, saith the Lord God: thee, but they shall be able to let not your sins weigh you do nothing against thee, saith down, and let not your ini- the Lord. quities lift up themselves.

9 My hands shall cover thee, 4 Abide still, O my people, so that thy children shall not and take thy rest, for thy quietness shall come.

10 Be joyful, O thou mother, 5 Nourish thy children, O with thy children; for I will dethou good nurse; stablish their liver thee, saith the Lord. feet.

11 Remember thy children 6 As for the servants whom that sleep, for I shall bring them I have given thee, there shall out of the sides of the earth, not one of them perish; for I and shew mercy unto them : will require them from among for I am merciful, saith the thy number.

Lord Almighty. 7 Be not weary : for when 12 Embrace thy children unthe day of trouble and heavi- til I come and shew mercy unness cometh, others shall weep to them : for my wells run over, and be sorrowful, but thou shalt and my grace shall not fail. be merry

and have abundance.

Section IX.-Fute of the Righteous and of the Wicked

contrasted.

LESSON XVIII. sinner : for thou knowest not

what shall be his end. BLESSED is the man that hath 6 Delight not in the thing not slipped with his mouth, and that the ungodly have pleasure is not pricked with the multi- in; but remember they shall tude of sins.

not go unpunished unto their 2 Blessed is he whose con

grave. science hath not condemned 7 The blessing of the Lord him, and who is not fallen from is in the reward of the godly, his hope in the Lord.

and suddenly he maketh his 3 Be steadfast in thy cove- blessing to flourish. nant, and be conversant therein, 8 Say not, What profit is and wax old in thy work. there of my service ? and what

4 Marvel not at the works good things shall I have hereof sinners; but trust in the after? Lord, and abide in thy labour : 9 Again, say not, I have for it is an easy thing in the enough, and possess many sight of the Lord on the sudden things, and what evil can come to make a poor man rich. to me hereafter ?

5 Envy not the glory of a 10 In the day of prosperity

:

his ways.

there is a forgetfulness of afflic of the Lord : love, and the way tion: and in the day of affliction of good works, are from him. there is no more remembrance 21 Error and darkness had of prosperity.

their beginning together with 11 The affliction of an hour sinners : and evil shall wax old maketh a man forget pleasure: with them that glory therein. and in his end his deeds shall be 22 The gift of the Lord rediscovered.

maineth with the godly, and 12 For it is an easy thing his favour bringeth prosperity unto the Lord in the day of death for ever. to reward a man according to 23 For glorious is the fruit

of good labours : and the root 13 Judge none blessed be- of wisdom shall never fall fore his death : for a man shall away. be known in his children. 14 Better it is to have no

LESSON XIX. children, and to have virtue : for the memorial thereof is im- Say not thou, It is through the mortal; because it is known Lord that I fell away : for thou with God and with men. oughtest not to do the things

15 When it is present, men that he hateth. take example at it; and when 2 Say not thou, He hath it is gone, they desire it: it caused me to err: for he hath weareth a crown, and triumph- no need of the sinful man. eth for ever, having gotten the 3 The Lord hateth all abomi. victory, striving for undefiled nation; and they that fear God rewards.

love it not. T16 There is one that la- 4 He himself made man from boureth and taketh pains, and the beginning, and left him in maketh haste, and is so much the hand of his counsel : the more behind.

5 If he will, to keep the com17 Again, there is another mandments, and to perform acthat is slow, and hath need of ceptable faithfulness. help, wanting ability, and full 6 He hath set fire and water of poverty; yet the eye of the before thee : stretch forth thy Lord looked upon him for good, hand unto whether thou wilt. and set him up from his low 7 Before man is life and estate,

death; and whether him liketh 18 And lifted up his head shall be given him. from misery; so that many that 8 For the wisdom of the saw it marvelled at him. Lord is great, and he is mighty

19 Prosperity and adversity, in power, and beholdeth all life and death, poverty and things : riches, come of the Lord.

9 And his
eyes are upon

them 20 Wisdom, knowledge, and that fear him, and he knoweth understanding of the law, are every work of man.