Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible Part 111

EpJer 6:42 Yet they cannot understand this themselves, and leave them: for they have no knowledge.

EpJer 6:43 The women also with cords about them, sitting in the ways, burn bran for perfume: but if any of them, drawn by some that pa.s.seth by, lie with him, she reproacheth her fellow, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken.

EpJer 6:44 Whatsoever is done among them is false: how may it then be thought or said that they are G.o.ds?

EpJer 6:45 They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing else than the workmen will have them to be.

EpJer 6:46 And they themselves that made them can never continue long; how should then the things that are made of them be G.o.ds?

EpJer 6:47 For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after.

EpJer 6:48 For when there cometh any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them.

EpJer 6:49 How then cannot men perceive that they be no G.o.ds, which can neither save themselves from war, nor from plague?

EpJer 6:50 For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with silver and gold, it shall be known hereafter that they are false:

EpJer 6:51 And it shall manifestly appear to all nations and kings that they are no G.o.ds, but the works of men's hands, and that there is no work of G.o.d in them.

EpJer 6:52 Who then may not know that they are no G.o.ds?

EpJer 6:53 For neither can they set up a king in the land, nor give rain unto men.

EpJer 6:54 Neither can they judge their own cause, nor redress a wrong, being unable: for they are as crows between heaven and earth.

EpJer 6:55 Whereupon when fire falleth upon the house of G.o.ds of wood, or laid over with gold or silver, their priests will flee away, and escape; but they themselves shall be burned asunder like beams.

EpJer 6:56 Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies: how can it then be thought or said that they be G.o.ds?

EpJer 6:57 Neither are those G.o.ds of wood, and laid over with silver or gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers.

EpJer 6:58 Whose gold, and silver, and garments wherewith they are clothed, they that are strong take, and go away withal: neither are they able to help themselves.

EpJer 6:59 Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power, or else a profitable vessel in an house, which the owner shall have use of, than such false G.o.ds; or to be a door in an house, to keep such things therein, than such false G.o.ds, or a pillar of wood in a a palace, than such false G.o.ds.

EpJer 6:60 For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their offices, are obedient.

EpJer 6:61 In like manner the lightning when it breaketh forth is easy to be seen; and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country.

EpJer 6:62 And when G.o.d commandeth the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are bidden.

EpJer 6:63 And the fire sent from above to consume hills and woods doeth as it is commanded: but these are like unto them neither in shew nor power.

EpJer 6:64 Wherefore it is neither to be supposed nor said that they are G.o.ds, seeing, they are able neither to judge causes, nor to do good unto men.

EpJer 6:65 Knowing therefore that they are no G.o.ds, fear them not,

EpJer 6:66 For they can neither curse nor bless kings:

EpJer 6:67 Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen, nor s.h.i.+ne as the sun, nor give light as the moon.

EpJer 6:68 The beasts are better than they: for they can get under a cover and help themselves.

EpJer 6:69 It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are G.o.ds: therefore fear them not.

EpJer 6:70 For as a scarecrow in a garden of cuc.u.mbers keepeth nothing: so are their G.o.ds of wood, and laid over with silver and gold.

EpJer 6:71 And likewise their G.o.ds of wood, and laid over with silver and gold, are like to a white thorn in an orchard, that every bird sitteth upon; as also to a dead body, that is east into the dark.

EpJer 6:72 And ye shall know them to be no G.o.ds by the bright purple that rotteth upon them: and they themselves afterward shall be eaten, and shall be a reproach in the country.

EpJer 6:73 Better therefore is the just man that hath none idols: for he shall be far from reproach.

The Book of Susanna [in Daniel]

[The History of Susanna [in Daniel]]

Set apart from the beginning of Daniel, because it is not in the Hebrew, as neither the Narration of Bel and the Dragon.

Sus 1:1 There dwelt a man in Babylon, called Joacim:

Sus 1:2 And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord.

Sus 1:3 Her parents also were righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.

Sus 1:4 Now Joacim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all others.

Sus 1:5 The same year were appointed two of the ancients of the people to be judges, such as the Lord spake of, that wickedness came from Babylon from ancient judges, who seemed to govern the people.

Sus 1:6 These kept much at Joacim's house: and all that had any suits in law came unto them.

Sus 1:7 Now when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband's garden to walk.

Sus 1:8 And the two elders saw her going in every day, and walking; so that their l.u.s.t was inflamed toward her.

Sus 1:9 And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments.

Sus 1:10 And albeit they both were wounded with her love, yet durst not one shew another his grief.

Sus 1:11 For they were ashamed to declare their l.u.s.t, that they desired to have to do with her.

Sus 1:12 Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see her.

Sus 1:13 And the one said to the other, Let us now go home: for it is dinner time.

Sus 1:14 So when they were gone out, they parted the one from the other, and turning back again they came to the same place; and after that they had asked one another the cause, they acknowledged their l.u.s.t: then appointed they a time both together, when they might find her alone.