Woe unto them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Sa maria, Which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: Then go down to Gath of the Philistines: Be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border? Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, And eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; That chant to the sound of the viol, And invent to themselves instruments of music, like David; That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: But they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. MICAH. BUT in the last days it shall come to pass, That the mountain of the house of the Lord And it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: And rebuke strong nations afar off; And they shall beat their swords into plough-shares, Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig-tree; For the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, And we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, And I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; And her that was cast far off a strong nation: Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord's controversy, For the Lord hath a controversy with his people, O my people, what have I done unto thee? And wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me. And I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, And bow myself before the high God? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, NAHUM. THE Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: And the earth is burned at his presence, Yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? And who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; And he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, And darkness shall pursue his enemies. Behold upon the mountains the feet of him That bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: For the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off. He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: Keep the munition, watch the way, But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. For there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture. And the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, And much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness. And the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid? And filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin, And the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard. Woo to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery: The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: SOLOMON. REMEMBER now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain; In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond-tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return Counsel of Wisdom. WISDOM crieth without; course, In the openings of the gates: In the city she uttereth her words, 'How long, ye simple ones, And fools hate knowledge? you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye fused; re But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, And shall be quiet from fear of evil.' Excellence of Wisdom. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth under- For the merchandise of it is better are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; And in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, I have stretched out my hand, and no She is a tree of life to them that lay man regarded; hold upon her: But ye have set at nought all my And happy is every one that retaineth counsel, And would none of my reproof: And your destruction cometh as a When distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, And did not choose the fear of the They would none of my counsel: of their own way, her. The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; By understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are bro ken up, And the clouds drop down the dew. Keep sound wisdom and discretion: Then shalt thou walk in thy way And thy foot shall not stumble. be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy And be filled with their own devices. shall slay them, And the prosperity of fools shall de-Forsake ye not my law. Tender and only beloved in the sight That shineth more and more unto the of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: Neither decline from the words of my perfect day. Call of Wisdom. And understanding put forth her She standeth in the top of high places, Forsake her not; and she shall pre- At the entry of the city, serve thee: Love her, and she shall keep thee. At the coming in at the doors. Wisdom is the principal thing; there- And my voice is to the sons of man. O ye simple, understand wisdom: fore get wisdom: And with all thy getting get under- And, ye fools, be ye of an understand ing heart. standing. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: Hear; for I will speak of excellent She shall bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an orna ment of grace: things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; A crown of glory shall she deliver to And wickedness is an abomination to thee. my lips. Hear, O my son, and receive my say- All the words of my mouth are in ings; righteousness;. And the years of thy life shall be many. There is nothing froward or perverse I have taught thee in the way of wis dom; I have led thee in right paths. be straitened; in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, When thou goest, thy steps shall not And right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; And when thou runnest, thou shalt not And knowledge rather than choice stumble. gold. Take fast hold of instruction; let her For wisdom is better than rubies; not go: Keep her; for she is thy life. Turn from it, and pass away. And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. And all the things that may be desired ventions. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: And the evil way, and the froward Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: For they eat the bread of wickedness, I am understanding; I have strength. And drink the wine of violence. By me kings reign, But the path of the just is as the shin-And princes decree justice. |