Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

the air, there is no token of her way to be found, but the light air being beaten with the stroke of her wings, and parted with the violent noise and motion of them, is passed through, and therein afterwards no sign where she went is to be found or like as when an arrow is shot at a mark, it parteth the air, which immediately cometh together again, so that a man cannot know where it went through. Even so we, in

like manner, as soon as we were born, began to draw to our end, and had no sign of virtue to shew; but were consumed in our own wickedness. For the hope of the ungodly is like dust that is blown away with the wind; like a thin froth that is driven away with the storm; like as the smoke which is dispersed here and there with a tempest, and passeth away as the remembrance of a guest that tarrieth but a day. But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of thein is Therefore shall they re

with the Most High.

ceive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord's hand: for with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them.

Proverbs.

Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. The Lord is' far from the wicked; but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing but righteousness delivereth from death. The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

From the same.

Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them: for their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be

thou envious at the wicked: for there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is an end, and thine expectation shall not be cut off. The hope of the righteous shall be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. The memory of the just is blessed but the name of the wicked shall rot. The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many : but fools die for want of wisdom. The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion. The fear of the wicked it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not his resting place for a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Ecclesiastes.

:

God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy but to the sin ner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked for there is a time there for every purpose, and for every work. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous and the wise, and their works, are in the hands of God.

Ecclesiasticus.

Envy not the glory of a sinner knowest not what shall be his end.

man,

for thou Delight not

in the thing that the ungodly, have pleasure in ; but remember they shall not go unpunished unto their grave. Great travail is created for every and an heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day that they go out of their mother's womb, till the day that they return to the mother of all things. Their imagination of things to come, and the day of death trouble their thoughts, and cause fear of heart; from him that sitteth on a throne of glory, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes; from him that weareth purple and a crown, unto him that is clothed with a linen frock. Wrath, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of death, and anger, and strife, and in the time of rest upon his bed his night sleep, do change his knowledge. A little or nothing is his rest, and afterwards he is in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he were escaped out of a battle. When all is safe, he awaketh, and marvelleth that the fear was nothing. Such things happen unto all flesh, both man and beast, and that is sevenfold more upon sinners. All bribery and injustice shall be blotted out: but true dealing

[blocks in formation]
« ZurückWeiter »