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Apocrypha.

SONG OF THE THREE HOLY CHILDREN.

or enemies: how can it then be thought or said that they be gods?

57 Neither are those gods of wood, and laid over with silver or gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers.

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

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 gods; or to be a door in an house, to keep such things safe as be therein, than such false gods; or a pillar of wood in a palace, than such false gods.

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

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.

62 And when God commandeth the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are bidden.

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.

Аростурка.

64 Wherefore it is neither to be supposed nor said that they are gods, seeing they are able neither to judge causes, nor to do good unto men.

65 Knowing therefore that they are no gods, fear them not.

66 For they can neither curse nor bless kings: 67 Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.

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68 The beasts are better than they for they can get under a covert, and help themselves. 69 It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are gods: therefore fear them not.

70 For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing: so are their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold.

71 And likewise their gods 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 cast into the dark.

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

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

The Song of the Three Holy Children, which followeth in the third Chapter of DANIEL, after this place,-fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace-verse 23. That which followeth is not in the Hebrew, to wit, And they walked-unto these words, Then Nebuchadnezzar—verse 24.

"AND they walked in the midst of the fire, praising God, and blessing the Lord.

2 Then Azarias stood up, and prayed in this manner; and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, said,

3 Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers thy name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore:

12 And cause not thy mercy to depart from us, for thy beloved Abraham's sake, for thy servant Isaac's sake, and for thy holy Israel's sake;

13 To whom thou hast spoken and promised, that thou wouldest multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that lieth upon the sea-shore.

4 For thou art righteous in all the things 14 For we, O Lord, are become less than that thou hast done to us: yea, true are all thy any nation, and be kept under this day in all the works, thy ways are right, and all thy judg-world because of our sins. ments truth. 15 Neither is there at this time prince, or

5 In all the things which thou hast brought prophet, or leader, or burnt-offering, or sacriupon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers, fice, or oblation, or incense, or place to sacrifice even Jerusalem, thou, hast executed true judg- before thee, and to find mercy. ment for according to truth and judgment 16 Nevertheless in a contrite heart and an didst thou bring all these things upon us be-humble spirit let us be accepted. cause of our sins.

17 Like as in the burnt-offerings of rams and

6 For we have sinned and committed ini- bullocks, and like as in ten thousands of fat quity, departing from thee. lambs: so let our sacrifice be in thy sight this 7 In all things have we trespassed, and not day, and grant that we may wholly go after obeyed thy commandments, nor kept them, nei-thee: for they shall not be confounded that put ther done as thou hast commanded us, that it their trust in thee. might go well with us.

8 Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment.

9 And thou didst deliver us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful forsakers of God, and to an unjust king, and the most wicked in all the world.

10. And now we cannot open our mouths. we are become a shame and reproach to thy servants, and to them that worship thee.

11 Yet deliver us not up wholly, for thy name's sake, neither disannul thou thy cove

nant:

18 And now we follow thee with all our heart, we fear thee, and seek thy face.

19 Put us not to shame: but deal with us after thy loving-kindness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies.

20 Deliver us also according to thy marvellous works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord and let all them that do thy servants hurt be ashamed;

21 And let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let their strength be broken;

22 And let them know that thou art Lord, the only God, and glorious over the whole world.

Apocrypha.

SUSANNA.

Apocrypha. 23 ¶ And the king's servants, that put them in, 46 O ye dews and storms of snow, bless yo ceased not to make the oven hot with rosin, the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for pitch, tow, and small wood;

24 So that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty and nine cubits.

25 And it passed through, and burned those Chaldeans it found about the furnace.

26 But the angel of the Lord came down into the oven together with Azarias and his fellows, and smote the flame of the fire out of the oven; 27 And made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor

troubled them.

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35 O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord praise and exalt him above all for ever. 36 O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

37 O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 38 O all ye waters that be above the heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

39 O all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for

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ever.

47 O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord : praise and exalt him above all for ever. 48 O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 49 O ye ice and cold, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

50 O ye frost and snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 51 O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 52 Olet the earth bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

53 O ye mountains and little hills, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

54 O all ye things that grow on the earth, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

55 O ye fountains, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

56 O ye seas and rivers, bless ye the Lord : praise and exalt him above all for ever.

57 O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

58 O all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 59 O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 60 O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

61 O Israel, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

62 O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 63 O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

64 O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

65 O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

66 O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever: for he hath delivered us from hell, and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the furnace and burning flame: even out of the midst of the fire hath he delivered us.

67 O give thanks unto the Lord, because he is gracious: for his mercy endureth for ever.

68 O all ye that worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise him, and give him thanks: for his mercy endureth for ever.

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

HERE dwelt a man in Babylon, called resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all others.

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

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

4 Now Joacim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house: and to him

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.

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

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SUSANNA.

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7 Now when the people departed away at 30 So she came with her father and mother, noon, Susanna went into her husband's garden her children, and all her kindred. to walk.

8 And the two elders saw her going in every day, and walking; so that their lust was inflamed toward her.

9 And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judg

ments.

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

11 For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her. 12 Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see her.

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

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 they had asked one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust then appointed they a time both together, when they might find her alone.

31 Now Susanna was a very delicate woman, and beauteous to behold.

32 And these wicked men commanded to uncover her face, (for she was covered,) that they might be filled with her beauty.

33 Therefore her friends and all that saw her wept.

34 Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head.

35 And she weeping looked up toward heaven for her heart trusted in the Lord.

36 And the elders said, As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the garden-doors, and sent the maids away.

37 Then a young man, who was there hid, came unto her, and lay with her.

38 Then we that stood in a corner of the garden, seeing this wickedness, ran unto them. 39 And when we saw them together, the man we could not hold: for he was stronger than we, and opened the door, and leaped out.

15 And it fell out, as they watched a fit 40 But having taken this woman, we asked time, she went in as before with two maids only, who the young man was, but she would not tell and she was desirous to wash herself in the gar-us: these things do we testify. den for it was hot.

41 Then the assembly believed them, as those that were the elders and judges of the people : so they condemned her to death.

16 And there was no body there save the two elders, that had hid themselves, and watched her. 17 Then she said to her maids, Bring me oil 42 Then Susanna cried out with a loud and washing-balls, and shut the garden-doors, voice, and said, O everlasting God, that knowthat I may wash me. est the secrets, and knowest all things before they be:

18 And they did as she bade them, and shut the garden-doors, and went out themselves at privy doors to fetch the things that she had commanded them: but they saw not the elders, because they were hid.

19 Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders rose up, and ran unto her, saying, 20 Behold, the garden-doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we are in love with thee; therefore consent unto us, and lie with us.

21 If thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a young man was with thee: and therefore thou didst send away thy maids

from thee.

22 Then Susanna sighed, and said, I am straitened on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death unto me: and if I do it not, I cannot escape your hands.

23 It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not to do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.

24 With that Susanna cried with a loud voice and the two elders cried out against her.

25 Then ran the one, and opened the garden-door.

43 Thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me, and behold, I must die; whereas I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me.

44 And the Lord heard her voice.

45 Therefore when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young youth, whose name was Daniel:

46 Who cried with a loud voice, I am clear from the blood of this woman.

47 Then all the people turned them toward him, and said, What mean these words that thou hast spoken?

48 So he standing in the midst of them said, Are ye such fools, ye sons of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth ye have condemned a daughter of Israel?

49 Return again to the place of judgment: for they have borne falce witness against her.

50 Wherefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said unto him, Come, sit down among us, and shew it us, seeing God hath given thee the honour of an elder.

51 Then said Daniel unto them, Put these two aside one far from another, and I will ex

26 So when the servants of the house heard amine them. the cry in the garden, they rushed in at a privy| door, to see what was done unto her.

27 But when the elders had declared their matter, the servants were greatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made of Susanna.

52 So when they were put asunder one from another, he called one of them, and said unto him, O thou that art waxen old in wickedness, now thy sins which thou hast committed afore time are come to light.

53 For thou hast pronounced false judg 23 ¶ And it came to pass the next day, when ment, and hast condemned the innocent, and the people were assembled to her husband hast let the guilty go free; albeit the Lord Joacim, the two elders came also full of mis- saith, The innocent and righteous shalt thou chievous imagination against Susanna to put not slay.

her to death;

54 Now then, if thou hast seen her, tell me,

29 And said before the people, Send for Su- Under what tree sawest thou them companying sanna, the daughter of Chelcias, Joacim's wife. together? Who answered, Under a mastick And so they sent.

tree.

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OF BEL AND THE DRAGON.

55 And Daniel said, Very well; thou hast lied against thine own head; for even now the angel of God hath received the sentence of God to cut thee in two.

56 So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said unto him, O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thine heart. 57 Thus have ye dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for fear companied with you: but the daughter of Juda would not abide your wickedness.

58 Now therefore tell me, Under what tree didst thou take them companying together? Who answered, Under an holm-tree.

59 Then said Daniel unto him, Well; thou hast also lied against thine own head for the angel of God waiteth with the sword to cut

Apocrypha.

thee in two, that he may destroy you.
60 With that all the assembly cried out with
a loud voice, and praised God, who saveth them
that trust in him.

61 And they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth :

62 And according to the law of Moses they did unto them in such sort as they maliciously intended to do to their neighbour and they put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved the same day.

63 Therefore Chelcias and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joacim her husband, and all the kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her.

64 From that day forth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people.

The History of the Destruction of Bel and the Dragon, cut off from the end of Daniel.

A of sewed in

ND king Astyages was gathered to his manded his servants to bring ashes, and those

kingdom.

2 And Daniel conversed with the king, and was honoured above all his friends.

3 Now the Babylonians had an idol, called Bel,| and there were spent upon him every day twelve great measures of fine flour, and forty sheep, and six vessels of wine.

4 And the king worshipped it, and went daily to adore it but Daniel worshipped his own God. And the king said unto hiin, Why dost not thou worship Bel?

presence of the king alone: then went they out and shut the door, and sealed it with the king's signet, and so departed.

15 Now in the night came the priests with their wives and children, as they were wont to do, and did eat and drink up all.

16 In the morning betime the king arose, and Daniel with him.

17 And the king said, Daniel, are the seals whole? And he said, Yea, O king, they be whole.

5 Who answered and said, Because I may 18 And as soon as he had opened the door, not worship idols made with hands, but the living the king looked upon the table, and cried with God, who hath created the heaven and the earth, a loud voice, Great art thou, O Bel, and with and hath sovereignty over all flesh. thee is no deceit at all. 6 Then said the king unto him, Thinkest 19 Then laughed Daniel, and held the king thou not that Bel is a living God? seest thou that he should not go in, and said, Behold now not how much he eateth and drinketh every the pavement, and mark well whose footsteps day? are these.

Then Daniel smiled, and said, O king, be 20 And the king said, I see the footsteps of not deceived: for this is but clay within, and men, women, and children. And then the king brass without, and did never eat or drink any was angry,

thing.

21 And took the priests with their wives So the king was wroth, and called for his and children, who shewed him the privy doors, priests, and said unto them, If ye tell me not where they came in, and consumed such things who this is that devoureth these expenses ye as were upon the table.

shall die.

9 But if ye can certify me that Bel devoureth them, then Daniel shall die: for he hath spoken blasphemy against Bel. And Daniel said unto the king, Let it be according to thy word.

22 Therefore the king slew them, and delivered Bel into Daniel's power, who destroyed him and his temple.

23 And in that same place there was a great dragon, which they of Babylon worshipped. 10 Now the priests of Bel were threescore 24 And the king said unto Daniel, Wilt thou and ten, beside their wives and children. And also say that this is of brass? lo, he liveth, he the king went with Daniel into the temple of eateth and drinketh; thou canst not say that he Bel. is no living god; therefore worship him. 11 So Bel's priests said, Lo, we go out: but 25 Then said Daniel unto the king, I will thou, O king, set on the meat, and make ready worship the Lord my God: for he is the living the wine, and shut the door fast, and seal it God. with thine own signet;

12 And to-morrow when thou comest in, if thou findest not that Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death; or else Daniel, that speaketh falsely against us.

13 And they little regarded it: for under the table they had made a privy entrance, whereby they entered in continually, and consumed those things.

26 But give me leave, O king, and I shall slay this dragon without sword or staff. The king said, I give thee leave.

27 Then Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and did seethe them together, and made lumps thercof: this he put in the dragon's mouth, and so the dragon burst in sunder: and Daniel said, Lo, these are the gods ye worship.

28 When they of Babylon heard that, they 14 So when they were gone forth, the king took great indignation, and conspired against set meats before Bel. Now Daniel had com- the king, saying, The king is become a Jew

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1. MACCABEES. and he hath destroyed Bel, he hath slain the 36 Then the angel of the Lord took him by dragon, and put the priests to death. the crown, and bare him by the hair of his head, and through the vehemency of his spirit set him in Babylon over the den.

29 So they came to the king, and said, Deliver us Daniel, or else we will destroy thee and thine house.

37 And Habbacuc cried, saying, O Daniel, 30 Now when the king saw that they pressed Daniel, take the dinner which God hath sent him sore, being constrained, he delivered Daniel thee. unto them:

38 And Daniel said, Thou hast remembered 31 Who cast him into the lions' den: where ine, O God: neither hast thou forsaken them he was six days. that seek thee and love thee.

32 And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given them every day two carcasses, and two sheep: which then were not given to them, to the intent they might devour Daniel.

33 Now there was in Jewry a prophet, called Habbacuc, who had made pottage, and had broken bread in a bowl, and was going into the field,| for to bring it to the reapers.

34 But the angel of the Lord said unto Habbacuc, Go, carry the dinner that thou hast into Babylon unto Daniel, who is in the lions' den.

35 And Habbacuc said, Lord, I never saw Babylon; neither do I know where the den is.

39 So Daniel arose, and did eat: and the angel of the Lord set Habbacuc in his own place again immediately.

40 Upon the seventh day the king went to bewail Daniel: and when he came to the den, he looked in, and behold, Daniel was sitting.

41 Then cried the king with a loud voice, saying, Great art thou, O Lord God of Daniel, and there is none other beside thee.

42 And he drew him out, and cast those that were the cause of his destruction into the den: and they were devoured in a moment before his face.

The Prayer of MANASSES, king of Judah, when he was holden captive in

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Babylon.

LORD, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed; who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof; who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name; whom all men fear, and tremble before thy power; for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and thine angry threatening toward sinners is importable: but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable; for thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, long-suffering, very merciful, and repentest of the evils of men. Thou, O Lord, according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee: and of thine infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved. Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God of the just, hast not appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner: for I have sinned above the num ber of the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied: my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of mine iniquities. I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot lift up mine head, neither have any release: for I have provoked thy wrath, and done evil before thee: I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments: I have set up abominations, and have multiplied offences. Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart beseeching thee of grace. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities: wherefore I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with mine iniquities. Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me into the lower parts of the earth. For thou art the God, even the God of them that repent; and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy. Therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life: for all the powers of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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¶ The First Book of the MACCABEES.

CHAP. I.

ND it happened, after that Alexander son

5 And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die.

6 Wherefore he called his servants, such as of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out were honourable, and had been brought up with of the land of Chettiim, had smitten Darius him from his youth, and parted his kingdom king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned among them, while he was yet alive.

in his stead, the first over Greece,

2 And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and slew the kings of the earth,

3 And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch that the earth was quiet before him; whereupon he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up.

4 And he gathered a mighty strong host, and ruled over countries, and nations, and kings. who became tributaries unto him.

7 So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died.

8 And his servants bare rule every one in his place.

9 And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth.

10 And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of

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